A BROTHER'S CRY

By Grumpymagrat & Magratconvert

Disclaimer: We don't own the Thunderbirds. Not now, not ever.

Chapter One – A Brother Is Hurt

I have to get to him. I was at the Lagoon when I got the call that he was in the sickroom. I knew instantly that I was responsible. We had a huge fight and I had literally run from the villa. I'm not sure what happened to my brother but I knew I had hurt him.

I am back at the house. I must have broken all the speed records getting from the lagoon to here. My lungs are screaming for air. My legs and back are strenuously protesting the violent treatment of the run. None of that matters. All that matters is getting to my brother. The brother that I had hurt. I can't believe this happened. All he wanted to do was help me and I took all my anger at myself out on him. God, I am such a shithead. I don't deserve a brother like him. I know for sure that he doesn't deserve a rotten brother like me.

The house seems deserted. I know that they are all downstairs waiting for news. I have run all this way to be with him, but now I am afraid to find out how badly he is hurt. I am afraid of his reaction to me. I am afraid that I will hurt him more. Not physically, I mean. I am afraid that my presence will upset him. After what I have done, I wouldn't blame him if he never wants to see me again. I have been hurting him for the last three weeks. He wanted me to talk about my feelings, but I kept pushing him away. I couldn't face my own feelings. So I certainly didn't want to share them. The more he tried to help, the more I pushed him away. Maybe, deep down, I wanted someone else to hurt as badly as I was hurting.

I've reached the door to the sickroom. I feel sick myself. I stand at the door. I can hear muffled voices inside. I know my dad and other brothers are in there. My thoughts are spinning out of control. Hell, my whole life is spinning out of control. My family will be furious when they find out what really happened. I don't know if I can face them.

Man, it's hot in here. It shouldn't be hot. The interior of the house is climate-controlled. Then I realize that it is my fear that is making me sweat not the temperature. I can't seem to make my hands stop shaking. I reach for the door sensor, but I stop. I want to run away: run away from the island, run away from International Rescue, run away from my family, and especially run away from the brother that I put in the sickroom.

I turned to leave. I just can't go in there. Then I hear him. I hear him calling my name. I know that I have to go in there. Even if he hates me forever, I have to be there for him right now.

I open the door and walk in. Before I knew what was happening, my other two brothers grabbed my arms and pushed me back out the door.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I can't believe you would show your face after what you did."

"You left him lying on the floor unconscious and bleeding."

"Why don't you leave and not come back?"

"Are you back to finish the job?"

"You are an irresponsible bastard."

My brothers had pinned me against the wall in the hallway. I knew that they would be angry but this pure hatred that I see in their eyes shocks me to the core. I hear him call my name again. I have to get to him.

"Please, I have to see him. It was an accident. I swear. I have to tell him I'm sorry."

"There is no way that we are going to let you anywhere near him. Do you hear me?" growled my brother.

I hear him call my name again. I have to get in there. I have to.

"Please, he is calling me. I have to get in there." I plead.

"No way."

I am openly sobbing now. All I can think about is getting to his bedside. I need to get away from my brothers. My only concern is my one brother who is lying in that bed, in pain and calling my name.

"Boys."

All it took was one word from my father and the hands holding me let go. Without looking at either of my brothers, I run into the sickroom. I am shocked at what I saw. His wrist is in a splint. His arm is in a sling. The worst are the bandages wrapped around his head.

I sit in one of the chairs next to the bed. I take my brother's hand. It lies limp in my hand. I try to brush the tears from my eyes, but new tears just take their place.

I look at my dad. "How bad is he?" I drop my head. I just couldn't look him in the eyes.

I hear a snort behind me. "Like you care."

My dad shoots a look over my shoulder to silence my brother. "Well, he has a broken wrist, a dislocated shoulder, a two inch gash on the back of the head, and a mild concussion." After a brief pause, he continued. "He has been in and out of consciousness. He told us you did this to him. I was hoping that when he has a clearer head, he would say that he was mistaken when he said that. But he won't will he, son. You did this to him, didn't you?"

I can't answer him. The tears are flowing faster. Harsh sobs are escaping my throat. All I can do is nod my head. I hear a scuffle behind me. I know one of my brothers is trying to come after me and the other is holding him back. It doesn't matter which is which. I know they both hate me. My place in this family has been completely and utterly destroyed. As soon as I know he will be all right, I will leave this island, this family behind. I know that it will be best for my family. It is the least that I can do after what has happened.

I didn't know that my dad had even moved until I felt his arm come around my shoulders.

"Ssh, we will work this all out. I don't know what all happened, but I won't let this tear our family apart. We will work this out together, as a family." My dad says softly.

Hearing the concern and love in my father's words, I lose what little control I had on my emotions. Still holding my brother's hand, I lean into my dad's chest and sob uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry. So sorry. I didn't mean to hurt him. I was so mad. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I didn't know he was hurt. I swear to God that I didn't know. I never would have left him if I had known." I choked out between sobs.

My dad wrapped both arms around me and rocked me gently. "Ssh, I know son. I know. Ssh, we will get through this. I promise. Ssh, I love you, son."

Suddenly, I feel my brother's hand tighten around mine. My throat tightens when I look into my brother's pain-filled eyes.

"I am so sorry. I never meant this to happen. Please forgive me." I plead.

"It's alright," he said as his eyes drifted closed once again.

I know that my brother has forgiven me. The only question is: How do I ever forgive myself? No answers come but the darkness does.

In the sickroom, Jeff calls for Brains as his son collapses half in the chair and half in his arms.

TBC

Author's note: Wow, are we mean or what? Please be kind in the reviews. Grumpy has already climbed under her rock and is hiding. Chapter 2 will be up soon. We promise.