Hope

I peered out of my cockpit's window to see if I could see my destination. Nothing. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I had been flying my little jet for about 3 hours and was beginning to get sick of only being able to see the ocean.

My name's Nadia Patience. It means hope. I gave it to myself after I escaped. I was kidnapped at the age of 9 hours and taken to a place that for 14 years I had called home. There I learnt to walk, talk, read, write, draw, sing and dance. I was cared for by people I called mum and dad. My kidnappers. I lead a normal life, until the day I learnt about genetics at school. When I came home I asked my 'parents' why I didn't look anything like them and they decided to tell me the truth. What a mistake on their behalf.

I looked down at my radar and saw a little green dot straight ahead. I looked out the window and saw it. Tracy Island. International rescue headquarters. I picked up my radio and said, "This is Sunspot 2 calling Tracy Island. Repeat. Sunspot 2 calling Tracy Island. Come in please." I didn't have to wait long for a response.

"Hey! Agent 6! You didn't tell us you were passing by!"

"Hey Virgil! Last minute decision, you know. Oh, and please call me by my name."

Virgil laughed, "Okay, Nada."

"It's Nadia." I said through gritted teeth.

"Nada sounds better." He concluded. I rolled my eyes.

"See you in a couple of minutes then."

"See ya!"

As I approached the small island I reduced my throttle to a minimum and put my wheels down. I pulled back on the joystick slightly as my plane descended and finally touched down. I didn't know how long I was going to stay so I decided not to taxi her into the hanger. I was just about to jump out when the cliff face began to collapse right in front of me. It slowly descended into the ground to reveal a rather stunning Thunderbird 2. I saw Vigil appear at one side of the entrance to the secret hanger. I gave him a confused look and he motioned for me to open my window.

"You might as well park her up in there. Father says you might as well stay for a couple of weeks if you're going to stay at all." He shouted.

"Fair enough!" I shouted back and restarted my engines. In no time at all I had her parked up in the far corner of the hanger in order to keep it out of Thunderbird 2's way if she's needed on a rescue operation. I jumped out.

"Hey, Nada!" Gordon called.

I looked up to see four of the Tracy brothers racing towards me. I gave a small surprised yelp as they crammed me into the middle of a group hug. And yes I did notice what he called me.

"Okay boys, that's enough." Jeff said, appearing at the door. They let go of me laughing. He walked over to me and shook my hand. "It's good to see you Nadia." He said and then brought me into a hug as well. I'm telling you, I have never in my life known such a loving family.

"So, what brings you here on a fine day like this?" he asked when he finally let go of me.

"Oh you know, just passing by and I thought I might drop in!" In truth I had deliberately come here. I felt loved around these people and that was something I had never felt before. Not truly. I could only spend so long alone in my house staring blankly at a television screen watching my life waste away. Sure I occasionally got a call from base but that's only twice a year. I don't know what it was but that day I had just felt a need to and see them.

"May I ask where you were heading?" Jeff asked me bring me back to earth.

"Nowhere in particular. I just had to get out the house you know." I meant every word I said.

Jeff laughed, "Well then we can set you up the guest room and you can stay here for a while. Maybe even go on a rescue or two!" He said putting a hand behind my back and leading me towards the house.

"Are you sure I won't get in the way?" I asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you won't! It's an honour to have you in our household, isn't it boys!" He said, grinning widely.

"Defiantly!" they all said together. I smiled. I really didn't want to be in their way. I pretty much owed them with my life. After all, they were the ones that rescued me.

After my kidnappers had told me the truth, obviously I retaliated. That's when the abuse began. Jeff and his family had actually lived just round the corner from us and I went to the same school as the Tracy brothers and was even in the same class as Gordon. Everyone called us the twins because our birthdays were on the same day and apparently we looked alike. Over the years we all became very good friends and when we were young played games on the street but as we grew older they all started getting friends that were their own age. Well, Scott, John and Virgil did anyway. Gordon, Alan and I stuck together. That was until the abuse began. I stopped going out to meet them because I didn't want them to worry if they saw my cuts or bruises. But then there was school. I stopped hanging out with them and sat under a tree by myself instead. Gordon and I were always separated in class anyway so that wasn't a problem. One break time though, Gordon had come up to me and without a word sat down beside.

"So, who's the guy?" He had asked.

"Guy, what guy?"

"Nadia it's obvious why you've stopped hanging out with us. Who's your boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend."

"You don't?" He said looking a little relived when I shook my head but then he looked confused, "So why have you stopped hanging out with us?"

"I… you won't understand." I said. I turned my back to him but my sleeve got caught on the tree and pulled it back to reveal a swollen boot shaped bruise. Gordon gasped and pulled me back to get a better look.

"Who did this to you?" he whispered, his caring eyes questioningly staring into mine.

"You won't… I…I can't…" I stuttered before bursting into tears. Gordon didn't really know what to do in this situation and so awkwardly gathered me into a comforting hug. It felt like a lifeline. I knew that someone in the world cared. It turned out that Alan had found some other friends now and Gordon was only hanging around with a bunch of people because they would accept him because he and his family were rich. He began to hang out with me again and would listen whenever I wanted to tell him something. I never did tell him who was abusing me but it didn't take him long to work out.

The next week, I was locked up under the stairs as I always was after school when the police rung the doorbell.

"Mrs Foal?"

"Yes?"

"My we have a word about your daughter?"

"What about her?"

"It is believed that you and you husband are abusing her."

"Nonsense! Who would say such a thing?"

"A Mr Jeff Tracy. He is your neighbour I do believe."

My thoughts were interrupted as I entered the lounge and was greeting by Ruth, Tin-Tin, Kyrano and Brains.

"Oh Nadia dear, it's so good to see that you are well after all these years! Here sit down I'll go sort out the guest bedroom." Ruth said sitting me down in the sofa and then running off before I could say thank you.

"Miss Nadia, may I get you anything to drink?" Kyrano asked me.

"Um, I think a glass of water would do me fine thanks." I replied.

"Certainly." He said bowing quickly before scurrying off into the kitchen.

"Is that all you ever drink?" Alan asked, sitting down on the sofa opposite me.

"Now, now Alan. She's just got here!" Tin-Tin said coming up behind him and giving him a playful shove and then coming to sit next to me.

"Nadia, it's been a long time!" she said.

"Yes it has been hasn't it?" I said running my fingers through my hair.

"I have so much to show you! I need your opinion on the dresses I have designed. I need to know which ones to make." She said.

"Sounds good!" I said.

"Tomorrow! First someone call John and tell him Nadia's here will you?" she said turning to the brothers.

"No need" Scott said as the eyes on john portrait started flashing. Jeff was behind his desk in and instant.

"Go ahead John."

"No emergency father, it's just I looked down at the radar and saw that agent 6 is on the island." He said confused.

"That's true John. Nadia is here. She's going to be staying for a while." Jeff informed him.

"Hi!" I said just to prove that I was there.

"Oh, hey Nada! How long you staying?" He asked cheerfully from his place on the wall.

"My name is Nadia and don't worry, I'm sure I'll still be here when you swap places with Alan. Why is everyone calling me Nada?" I asked.

The five brothers pretended to think for a moment and then concluded with, "Because it sounds better!" causing me to give a defeated moan and hang my head.

"Oh stop it boys! Call her by her by her name is the least you can do." Tin-Tin cut in, causing them all to laugh again.

"Okay, so thank for clearing that up but I'd better go, lots of conversations to be listening into you know!" John said interrupting the laughter.

"F.A.B John." Jeff said from behind his desk, obviously missing the last part of his sentence.

"Bye!" said John and with that signed off, still laughing.