Tin Tin

Jeff leaned on the balcony outside his office, looking southeast over the island and down toward the pool area. He could see his second youngest doing laps in the lower pool. Stifling a yawn, the patriarch looked at his watch. It had just gone 10:15am and he'd only had the one cup of coffee at 4:20 with John that morning. He heard a knock on his office door and he turned to head back indoors. Calling out that the door was open, Jeff moved to his desk. Tin Tin entered, carrying a tray. Jeff couldn't help but smile at the Malaysian girl as she set the tray with a few of Onaha's cookies and a cup of coffee on his desk.

"Thank you, Tin Tin," the billionaire said. Tin Tin returned his smile. The man frowned when he realised that the young girl was nervous around him. Before the Bank of London, she hadn't been nervous of him. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Mr Tracy, did you really mean what you said?" She finally made herself look up at the businessman and only saw confusion written on his face. "Last week, after we came back to the Island."

"About the Thunderbirds needing you, Fermat and Alan? I rarely say things I don't mean." Jeff smiled, trying to put the fifteen-year-old at ease. It didn't work as well as he'd hoped. He picked up the cup of coffee she'd brought and took a sip.

Tin Tin shifted uncomfortably under Jeff's scrutiny. "I heard about some of your arguments with Alan. Sometimes we can't control what we say, or who we are..."

Jeff's eyes widened in surprise. As far as he could recall, Tin Tin had not even mentioned her relation to the Hood or what that entailed. He sighed and put his cup down. "You are right in saying that, Tin Tin. I know better than most I've let my temper get the best of me. And you can't help who you're related to, but do you want to know something? I am glad you were there. I nearly stopped breathing when I heard you cry out, but you have to be one of the bravest women I know. You saved my son, and in doing that, you have helped keep this family together. If Alan..." Jeff trailed off and looked back out his office windows. He didn't really understand why he was telling Tin Tin these things, but like all the staff he employed on the island, she was easily trusted. He swallowed hard. Sometimes he forgot Tin Tin was only fifteen, and as such, he treated her much older. Perhaps it was because the only company she kept near her own age was his own boys. He sighed and turned back to look at her. "I don't really want to think about what would've happened if you hadn't been there, Tin Tin."

"Do you really mean that, Mr Tracy?"

Jeff nodded. "You mean a lot to this family. All of your family does. I think of you as the daughter I never had." He gave her a rare smile. He had hardly smiled all week. "Don't ever doubt what you mean to me and the boys. You are so much better than the Hood, just because you have your parents, and you have us. If ever you need us, we'll be there for you."

Tin Tin smiled fully. "Thanks Mr Tracy." She looked down at the tray she had brought and continued, "Mom said that lunch would be at the usual time, so don't work yourself too hard."

Jeff nodded and sat at his desk. "Do thank Onaha for me." He held up a cookie just as Tin Tin was at the door and then took a bite. The girl smiled at him and left him to his work.

The businessman ran a hand over his face and leaned back on his chair. He was really thankful for Tin Tin, Kyrano and Onaha. To him, it didn't matter in the slightest that they were related to the Hood. The abilities that Tin Tin had shown in the Bank of London had unnerved him when he first thought back on those events (in fact, if he was honest, they still did a bit), but without them, he wasn't sure if Alan would still be alive. And that would have just broken him. If Alan had died, he wouldn't stop blaming himself. The other boys would blame him...

Jeff shuddered. He didn't want to think about what would happen, but each night the same nightmare plagued him. Or similar. One was where Alan was left alone, and the other (both equally terrifying) was where he had to witness his baby, his last gift and surprise from his late wife. He looked down at the photograph on his desk, the last one taken of Lucy with the boys.

He was pulled from his morbid thoughts when the klaxon sounded. Quickly stacking the papers he was working on (for Tracy Enterprises), he placed his hand on the security device that converted his office to the Command and Control Centre. As the room changed, the five boys, plus Tin Tin, Brains and Fermat, reported for duty.

Jeff quickly scanned the incoming report. "Okay boys. All hands on deck. There's a raging fire in a warehouse, North Dakota. The fire department are hard pressed to get it under control and are afraid of the fire spreading to the bushland. Suit up and let's go."

All five boys nodded and headed to their respective portraits. Jeff gave them a tight smile and watched as they disappeared down to their 'birds. Please be with them, Lucy. Don't let them get hurt...