Silent Tears
By Puzzler
Disclaimer – Thunderbirds is owned by Gerry Anderson and Working Title Films. I'm only borrowing them for fun.
Summary – After the death of their mother, the lives of the Tracy brothers change dramatically. How did they get through this traumatic time, and become the family of heroes we now know? Slightly AU.
Notes – This story is based on the Thunderbirds Film, not the puppet series. In this story, Jeff Tracy left the Space Agency soon after Virgil was born (1990) and set up a company called Tracy Industries, which has grown to be a multi-national company in the space of about 10 years. This has made Jeff one of the richest men in the world, and will eventually enable him to set up and run International Rescue.
Setting (at the start of the story) – July (summer holidays) 2000 – about 10 years before film
Ages/Birthdays (I thought I'd better tell you first what ages I am using before anyone gets too confused). These are right for when the story starts, and I'll have to change them if there are any 'time jumps'.
John is 13 – 8th October 1986
Scott is 12 – 4th April 1988
Virgil is 9 (very nearly 10) – 15th August 1990
Gordon is 8 – 14th February 1992
Alan is 4 – 12th March 1996
A/N – I am writing this to avoid reviews saying 'Scott is the oldest'
I KNOW that in the puppet series, Scott is definitely the oldest, and I have already written another story based on that (Accidents). However, this story is based on the movie and I have read two official books on the movie and they couldn't agree on the order of the brother's ages. I think John 'acts' older than Scott in the movie, so in my story, John IS older.
I'm sorry if that annoys you, but that is what I am using for my story.
Silent Tears
Chapter 1 – SnowA holiday log cabin, Switzerland, July 2000
"Virgil! Help make snowman!" 4-year-old Alan 'demanded' of his older brother. Virgil looked over to his father, but he was talking with his mother, John and Scott.
"Alright Alan. Gordon, do you want to make a snowman with us?"
"Another one!" 8-year-old Gordon exclaimed, looking around the cabin at the group of snowmen already made over the last few days. "OK, I'm in."
Alan was happily chattering away to Virgil when Gordon caught up with them. "How many snowmen do you want to have built before we go home Alan?"
Alan stopped, looking thoughtful. "Army of snowmen!" He said, spreading his arms wide.
"We won't have enough hats and scarves for that many Alan." Virgil said jokingly.
FABFAB
"Are you sure about this Jeff? It is supposed to be a holiday for you as well." Lucille said, clearly at the end of their conversation
"Go on, have some fun. You are a more experienced skier that the rest of us. I'll handle this lot for a few hours." Jeff answered, gesturing towards the rest of his sons.
"Alright Jeff. I'll be on the main ski slope if you need me for anything."
"Go on." Jeff said encouragingly. Lucille started to walk back to the cabin to get her skis when John caught up with her.
"Can I come and watch you mum?"
"OK, but make sure you tell your father where you're going first."
"Dad, please." Scott begged, "I won't be too long."
"That's what you said yesterday Scott and you ended up being late for dinner. The point of coming here for a holiday was to have fun outside and with the rest of us, not in a video arcade."
"But I do enjoy it. I'll try not to spend all my money."
"Fine, but I want you back here in 2 hours."
"Thanks dad." Scott ran off down the snow-covered hill towards a larger group of cabins. Virgil, Alan and Gordon had already started on their snowman.
"You want some help over there boys?" Jeff called once he was alone.
"Please dad. I think Alan wants this one to be the largest one yet."
FABFAB
"Mum, how long have you known how to ski?" John asked as he walked beside his mother towards the main ski slope. "I'm not very good at it."
"It takes practice John. Give yourself time to learn. And, as you asked, I went on a skiing trip in high school; it was about the only sport I really got involved in. I guess I've liked the sport ever since."
"At least it's better than some of the sports Scott keeps pulling me into. I don't know how many bruises I had after he roped me into playing football with some of his friends a while ago."
"You're not a person who goes in for sports and Scott knows that. You're too much like me for that, perfectly happy with a good book and some peace and quiet."
"Strange." John said thoughtfully. "Everyone usually compares me to dad, always at my telescope. I wish I could go up there, like he did."
"Nothing could pull you away from the stars John. You were born to be an astronaut, like your father." Lucille said, turning to her eldest son.
"I know, but Gordon wouldn't like the idea." John said with a laugh, changing the subject.
"Gordon is far more at home in the water than anything else, even if I don't know where he gets it from. Come on, let's go have some fun." Lucille and John finished their walk to the slopes in thoughtful silence.
"I'm going to find a good seat to watch." John said, pointing towards the sheltered seats on one side of the slope.
"Alright. I'll meet you when I come back up." Lucille knelt down to strap on her skis, and then was off.
John watched from his seat as his mother expertly navigated the slopes and flags of the course, never loosing her concentration or her smile. She didn't try to go as fast as some of the other skiers, or show off with extravagant stunts, but how much she enjoyed it was evident on her face all the way down. When she reached the bottom and then walked towards the ski lift to bring her back up, John almost jumped from his seat to go and meet her.
"What did you think of it John?" Lucille said as she climbed off the ski lift and walked to where John was standing, beaming at her.
"It was wonderful! You always seem so happy when you're on the slopes."
"With practice, you'll know how it feels too."
"I don't think so. You seem so graceful, avoiding all the flags and other skiers and…"
"Yes, well, you can tell your brothers all about it when we get back to the cabin."
"So soon? Can't you show me once more, mum, please?" John smiled at her, trying to look very innocent.
"Alright, but only because it was you who asked." The stern look on her face quickly melted into a warm smile. "You really do amaze me sometimes John. You do so much for your brothers, but rarely ever ask for anything in return. I guess that's what comes from being the eldest and very reliable." She looked at him and saw the huge smile on his face. "Go find your seat again."
"OK."
Lucille went back to the top of the slope and took off, just as graceful as ever. Gradually, the skiers around her got more edgy and she looked anxiously over her shoulder. A slight trembling could be felt through the ground and a roar was building from the top of the slope. Within the next 30 seconds, everyone could see the vague outline of tons of snow coming down from the mountainside.
The whole area erupted into chaos. Skiers on the slopes were frantically trying to reach the bottom or some kind of shelter before the sheer force of snow caught up with them, yet many still fell. Spectators looked on, horrified, knowing that there was nothing that could be done to stop the sheer force of nature. Lucille raced towards a large boulder on the slope that several skiers were already hiding behind, hoping it would protect them, but as she closed the distance, a shard of wood broken from the ski of one of the skiers behind her embedded itself sharply in her back and threw her off-balance into the snow. John could only watch, horrified and frozen, from the spectator stands as she was covered by the force of the avalanche.
There were a few moments of silence before everyone realised what had happened. Spectators and resort personnel started streaming onto the now still slopes hoping to find survivors, the few medical staff on hand fighting to try to keep everyone safe and calm. John ran, practically falling through the snow, towards the place where he had last seen his mother, the top of the boulder could just be seen above the new layer of snow. He dreaded what he might find and what could happen to his family if she was now lost to them.
Movement in the area he was heading to raised his hopes, but it turned out to be two of the skiers who had managed to reach the boulder in time. They saw the look on John's face as he approached and quickly helped try to find Lucille in the snow.
When John found her he could hardly stop himself from crying. She looked so peaceful, except for the jagged wound in her back that was quickly staining the snow beneath her. John reached out a tentative hand and touched her long, light brown-blond hair.
Lucille opened her eyes as she felt someone touch her, and slowly touched John's face with a pale hand as he knelt next to her. "John…I had hoped you would never have to see something like this." She whispered weakly, finding it difficult to talk at all.
"Mum, don't talk like that. We'll get you out of here." John pleaded, tears now falling down his cheeks and over Lucille's hand. One of the skiers next to him quickly left to try to find help.
"Don't give in. I need you to be strong, to be there for your brothers, as you always have. Don't ever change John."
"Please mum, we need you. You can't leave us."
"Promise me, John…that you'll be there for your brothers."
"I…I promise, but I don't know if we can go on without you."
"You will survive, I know you will. You have to stick together, be there…for each other. I love you all, my son…" her voice trailed off as her eyes closed, leaving a slight smile on her face that she knew her family would continue on without her. John collapsed into the snow, not being able to believe that she was really gone. The remaining skier near him was left to look on hopelessly.
TBC…
