This is a (very) belated birthday present for beadbird and a thank you for all the support she's given me this last year.

Chapter One

Brains had been in a lot of difficult, unpleasant and downright dangerous situations since joining forces with the Tracys to set up International Rescue, yet he'd rarely felt as uncomfortable as he did that night.

He and Tin-Tin had been in London for the past few days, presenting some new designs to Jeff Tracy's people in Britain. That part of the trip he'd enjoyed. Despite being the most nervous of men, prone to stuttering and blushing uncontrollably when he found himself the centre of attention, when he got into his stride and started talking about one of his prototypes, he lost his inhibitions, forgot where he was and gave a good account of himself. Plus, he knew these people well, knew he commanded their respect and didn't feel he had to prove himself, nor that he'd be found wanting. All in all, he'd enjoyed himself. It was such a shame it had had to end this way...

Just a couple of hours ago he and Tin-Tin had been in their hotel rooms preparing for an evening out with Lady Penelope. He'd been looking forward to it - the perfect way to end his trip. Tin-Tin, too, had been excited, all the more so since she'd decided that a completely new outfit would be required. Whereas Brains had returned to the hotel after his work was done and got straight down to work with John on some upgrades to Five's communications network, she had hit the shops, returning each day with so many bags that Brains wondered how they'd fit them all in the jet when they left.

When the girl had appeared in the lounge they shared, slowly twirled around and asked Brains what he thought, the man had been even more tongue-tied than usual. How could he tell her she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen? She was Alan Tracy's girlfriend, and even if she'd been single, she was way out of his league. Not that Brains thought he actually had a league - he was terrified of any woman who wasn't a work colleague. Not that he had any interest in any of them. How could any of them compare to the woman standing in front of him?

Fortunately, Tin-Tin didn't seem to mind his inarticulate response, too busy tweaking her hair and admiring her shoes with their - to Brains, at least - impossibly high heels. It was just as well Parker would be picking them up in FAB1, he thought, and that they'd be sitting down at the dinner table for most of the evening. If any walking was involved he'd probably have to carry Tin-Tin home - and the thought made him turn scarlet.

"Are you alright, Brains?" Tin-Tin asked. "You look a bit flushed."

Brains was saved from replying by the vibration of his watch. "L-Lady Penelope," he announced, relieved to think that in a few minutes he'd have Penny and Parker to distract him from Tin-Tin.

But it didn't work out that way. As soon as he activated the tiny vid-screen, he knew their plans were about to change. The normally immaculate Lady Penelope was decidedly dishevelled, her hair a mess and her face smeared with blotches of what looked like ash.

"Brains, darling, I'm so sorry - I'm going to have to cancel our plans for tonight. I'm afraid a situation arose this afternoon. MI5, so you'll understand that I can't give you too many details. I was hoping it would all be over and done with by now, but it turned out to be a little more complicated than I was anticipating. I- Oh, do excuse me, Brains."

She disappeared from view for a moment, her cry of: Parker, look out! Get off him, you ruffian! quickly followed by the sounds of a fight, then a body hitting the ground. Tin-Tin and Brains stared at each other anxiously for a moment, until Penny reappeared, her hair even more of a mess.

"I'm terribly sorry. Really, my manners are quite dreadful this evening. Letting you both down like this, it's unforgivable."

"We understand, Penny." It was Tin-Tin who replied, catching hold of Brain's arm to manoeuvre his watch towards her and completely failing to notice that he was blushing again. "You concentrate on whatever you're doing. Don't worry about us."

"I'll make it up to you. Ascot? Or Henley, maybe? I don't think you've been to either."

"Ascot would be wonderful," Tin-Tin smiled, already thinking of new outfits. "Brains, what do you think?"

Brains shrugged. He didn't think either sounded much fun, not when he could be back in his lab where the most complicated fashion choice he had to make each day was whether or not to change into a fresh lab coat.

"Take care, Penny," Tin-Tin said, and Brains echoed the sentiments before ending the call.

Tin-Tin sank onto one of the sofas and sighed. "That's a shame. I was looking forward to a night out."

Brains was already loosening his tie. "D-do you w-want to order r-room service or go d-down to the r-restaurant?"

Tin-Tin was silent for a moment, staring at her shoes again. Then she looked up at him, and Brains, knew from the way she gazed at him so appealingly, that he was in trouble.

"What I really want to do," she said. "Is go out. There's a new club I've been hearing about. I'd love to give it a try. What do you think, Brains?"

Brains thought it was his idea of hell. He was the last man in the world to want to spend an evening in a nightclub. But Tin-Tin had been looking forward to a night out in London and she'd got all dressed up. Not to mention that now she had her head turned to the side and was staring at him all wide-eyed and hopeful...

What he wanted to say was, "Not a chance." What he heard himself saying was, "A-Alright. M-maybe just for a-an hour or t-two."

The smile he got in return made him think the hell he was about to endure might just be worth it.

Tin-Tin felt only the tiniest bit of remorse at dragging Brains out. It would do him good, she thought, as they sat in their taxi. Okay, so she'd really gone for it with the puppy-dog eyes, knowing he'd cave, but he'd worked so hard, not just during the London trip, but in the weeks leading up to it. He hardly ever left Tracy Island, and when he did, it was for work, not pleasure. He needed a complete break, and she'd see to it that, even if he didn't think he was going to enjoy this, he'd have a good time.

She needed a break too, anyway. She'd worked equally as hard on the presentation they'd made, enjoying the chance to be an engineer rather than a combined secretary/nurse/lab assistant as she was on Tracy Island. Not that she'd change anything, of course. Being part of International Rescue was worth all the sacrifices she made, giving up the kind of life she'd love to lead. If only she could have a night out like this every week, the way most people did. She just wished Alan could have been with her... He'd tried to get permission to come along, but his father - her boss - had made it clear this was a business trip. Alan would only get bored stuck in the hotel all day while she and Brains went to work, and a bored Alan was just asking for trouble. No, it was probably better the way it was. It was such a shame about missing a night out with Penny, though. Tin-Tin loved the woman's company, not to mention the access she offered to the more exclusive London nightspots. The last time they'd been out, several months ago, Tin-Tin had actually got to meet the King! Still, there would be plenty more opportunities for them to meet up, and at least she wasn't going to waste this new outfit, not to mention all the time she'd spent perfecting her hair and make-up.

She glanced across at Brains, sitting rigidly, his heavy coat buttoned up to his neck. The British summertime might be once again failing to live up to the name, but it wasn't that bad, not even when you'd been living on a tropical island. She hadn't bothered with a coat herself, not wanting to spoil the impact she'd make when she stepped out of the taxi in her new dress.

Sure enough, heads turned when Tin-Tin got out of the taxi. The doorman, a short, muscle-bound man who would probably rip the seams of his tuxedo if he had to swing his arms for a punch, rushed to help her out, pausing to stare in disbelief at Brains as he came round from the other side to join her.

Revelling in all the attention, Tin-Tin slipped her arm through Brains' and together they walked past the waiting queue as the doorman ushered them through the VIP entrance. A beaming smile from Tin-Tin would have been reward enough, but he was more than happy to pocket the money Brains handed him, once again wondering how on earth a man like him had managed to get a girl like that. Must be rolling in it, he thought. Then again, the tip hadn't been that generous. Shaking his head, the man went back outside, his eyes scanning the queue for potential troublemakers. It all looked peaceful enough. Still, with the threatening phone calls his boss had been getting lately as his gambling debts were called in - debts the man didn't seem to have a hope of paying - it was best to stay alert...