I've recently rediscovered the Thunderbirds! Yep, I've known these guys since I was just a little girl. A little, innocent girl who couldn't figure out if the men she was seeing on T.V were human, or just very strange looking dolls… Anyway, this is a story set during the boy's childhood, when they are still living in rural Kansas. Inspiration came from reading all the Thunderbirds fan fiction I could find on the Internet. Yes, it took me a very long time.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Thunderbirds.

Virgil Tracy was not in the best of moods. He was cold, he was wet, he was hungry, and his leg was throbbing. A fresh wave of shivers racked his body, jarring his injured limb and igniting a flare of pain. He tried hard, but he couldn't help the small, wounded sound that escaped his lips. The arm around his shoulders tightened and he felt Scott's eyes on him.

"How are you holding up, Virg?"

"I'm okay," he said quietly, but his voice was laced with fear and pain. The older boy just pulled him close.

"Hey, Scott."

"Yeah?"

"Maybe we shouldn't have left the house this morning."

………………………………

"And just what might you be up to young man?"

Fifteen year-old Scott Tracy froze with his hand half way to the fridge door and took a moment to silently curse his bad luck. According to his usually reliable sources, the one who had just caught him was supposed to be occupied in a different section of the house. Obviously the information had been wrong, and he made a point to have Gordon double check his facts next time.

With well-practiced ease, he plastered on his most charming smile and turned to face the formidable force standing in the doorway. "Nothing, Grandma."

Behind the round glasses, her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't happen to be stealing food from my kitchen now, would you?"

"No, of course not!" he said hurriedly, taking a small step back. The look on his grandmother's face was murderous and, although it was taking all of his self-control not to burst out laughing, he couldn't help but feel a little bit scared.

Getting the feeling that something wasn't right, he ventured forward carefully. "What happened, Grandma? Did Virgil raid the pantry again?"

With a sigh, the old woman's anger seemed to deflate. Her hands dropped from her hips, and the expression on her face changed to one of frustration. "I swear, that boy is going to eat us out of house and home!"

Scott felt himself grin at that comment. Virgil had always had a monster appetite, but it had pretty much reached the point of ridiculousness once he turned thirteen. The kid ate constantly, and the fact that he didn't seem to gain any weight at all was a mystery to the entire household.

Noticing the smirk, Grandma Tracy frowned and surveyed him suspiciously, her eyes coming to rest on the rucksack dangling over his left shoulder. "Are you planning on going out, Scott?"

Following her gaze, he suddenly remembered the reason he had entered the kitchen in the first place and nodded. "Yeah, just for a bit of a wander around the fields. I came in to grab some water," he said, with a vague motion towards the fridge behind him.

She frowned again. "You're father doesn't like you boys going out on your own."

Inwardly, Scott winced; that was true. Being a slightly overprotective father, Jeff Tracy didn't like the idea of any of his boys wandering around the Kansas countryside alone. For this reason, expeditions were generally undertaken in pairs. Occasionally, they would go out in groups, but the younger boys were limited as to how far they could stray from home, which didn't make for very exciting adventures for the others.

"I was going to go with John," Scott said in his defence - and he wasn't lying. But the fact was that his fair-haired brother had come down with a cold two days ago, and was currently tucked up in bed, unable to leave the house. Scott had spoken with him before he came down, and John didn't mind being left behind. He said they could go together once he was feeling better.

His grandmother nodded understandingly, but she still didn't look convinced. "I'm just going to scout out the area, Grandma," he said lightly. "Nothing dangerous, I promise."

He smiled reassuringly, and after a few moments the old woman nodded. "Alright," she said. "But make sure you're home well before dinner time."

"Thanks, Grandma," Scott replied, turning to grab two bottles of water from the fridge before making his way out of the kitchen, pausing only briefly to give his grandmother a quick kiss on the cheek.

Yeah, this chapter was a tad boring, but you got a sneak peak of what's to come ;) Reviews and constructive criticism are most welcome :)