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Scott P.O.V
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Scott keyed up his mike and contacted the emergency medical center. He had to notify the hospital of two patients that were in need of urgent medical care. It had since been 20 minutes since Virgil had to use forceful traction to set Alan's broken arm. Fermat had woken up from the sedation and had begun to have an asthma attack because the smoke inhalation has burned his airway. Alan had lost consciousness from the pain, and each time he regained consciousness all he would do is moan, vomit and cry.
"Attention Massachusetts General: This is Thunderbird op 1. Come in Mass Gen." Scott said in an effort to get some help.
"This is Mass. Gen. emergency services. Go ahead." The air control operator answered back.
"Yeah Mass. Gen. I am flying in, I have two ICD.9 youths on my hands, severe burns to the lower extremities, trunk and broken arm on one and severe burns to other youth's lower extremities with apparent broken ankle. Second youth is an asthmatic and is having difficulty breathing. Do you copy?" Scott relayed the information to the air control operator.
"Thunderbird op 1 we copy, we will have trauma bay 1 and 2 open for your arrival. When you land, we will have some people outside with a couple gurneys for transport. Do you copy?" The air control operator replied.
"Copy that. Youth one just lost consciousness, and keeps vomiting upon regaining conciousness. Please stand by." Scott informed the operator.
"Roger that Op 1. We are standing by with the proper equipment necessary. What is your ETA?" The operator questioned Scott.
"ETA is 10 minutes. Over."
"Roger that Op 1, we will be watching. Over and out."
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Gordon P.O.V
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Scott hollered at Virgil over his shoulder to contact dad and Brain's to let them know where they were taking Alan and Fermat. I took the liberty to contact them, just so I could leave the sight of my broken brother. My stomach was still doing somersaults and it was not helping my nausea to see my little brother vomit as well.
"Thunderbird 1 to Team." I contacted the team line, so that I would not have to make individual calls to the family.
When I saw the faces of dad, my brother John and friend Brain's, I felt tears gather in my eyes. I knew the news I was about to tell them was not good. Far from it. And now I dreaded taking responsibility for having to place this call to our family. Blinking back the tears and clearing my throat, I prepared myself for telling our family the news.
"Team to Thunderbird 1, how did the rescue go?" dad inquired.
"Yeah the rescue went good. Everybody got out. But…" I felt the emotion close up my throat.
"But, but what? What is it Gordo?" John questioned. He had a sinking feeling that the news was not going to be good.
"Thunderbird 1 is currently escorting two injured youths to Massachusetts General. Severe burns to lower extremities and trunks. They are going into shock. The two youths suffered a few broken bones, and have heavy smoke inhalation." I blinked. As I exhaled deeply, I heard a gasp. I didn't have to have my eyes open to know that gasp belonged to my father.
"Were you guys able to rescue Alan and Fermat, are they okay? Answer me damn it!" dad worried at the look on my face.
"Alan and Fermat…they are the two youths we are taking to Massachusetts General. When we arrived, we were getting ready to run into the blaze when the two boys came running out. The headmaster had been keeping count and said that the two boys were the last out of the fire." I relayed to my family and friend.
"How bad are the burns to Alan and Fermat?" John asked.
"Alan has the worst of the burns. He…uh…his feet are…uh…bleeding and raw." I took a moment to try to quell the nausea I was feeling at describing their injuries. "The burns travel up to almost mid-thigh. His trunk and arms are burned pretty badly as well. His hair was singed and he has what appears to be a 1st degree burn on his face. He keeps losing consciousness, but when he does come to he throws up. Virgil has him on an oxygen cannula because he can hardly breathe and his right humerus was broken. Virgil had to use forceful traction to set the bone and trust me you would not have wanted to hear that." I stopped to allow the news of Alan's injuries to sink in before continuing on with the extent of Fermat's injuries.
"Fermat was the luckier of the two. The burns on his body are not as bad as the ones on Alan's body. His feet are similar to Alan's, but his ankle appears to be broken. Then the burns travel up to just above the knee. He has some 2nd degree burns on his back and his glasses were a little melted. His hands were burned as well, same as Alan. He is having difficulty breathing from the smoke inhalation, but Virgil has got him on an oxygen mask to keep his O2 stats up." I bit my lip. I was nervous about the reaction of my family and friend at the extent of our loved one's injuries.
"Our ETA is within the next 5 minutes, I am going to have to go so I can prepare the boys for a gurney ride. Thunderbird op 1 out." With that I cut the link and went back into the medi-bay to help Virgil prepare our brothers for transport.
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General P.O.V
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Jeff's eyes were wide when he heard the news about Alan and Fermat. Brain's was getting ready to come back with John from Thunderbird 5. They had put Thunderbird 5 into auto-pilot for the time being. Jeff stood up to go gather some clothing for the boys and to inform Onaha and Kyrano that he and the boys would be gone for quite some time. He told them about the injuries to the boys, but asked that it be kept quiet from Tin-Tin for the time being. He didn't want her to worry until they found out about how bad the burns were from a specialist.
As Jeff left the kitchen and dining hall, he made a mental note to grab some pajamas for Alan and to allow Brain's to grab some for Fermat. When they were ready to come home, he knew they would not be allowed to wear regular clothing for a while until the doctor told them otherwise. Making his way into Alan's bedroom, he spotted a picture of Alan and some of his friends from Wharton's. Alan's eyes were closed and he appeared to be laughing in merriment. Some of the guys in the picture were wearing cocky grins and had their arms around each other's shoulders. Fermat sat in the front smiling and of course then it was made apparent why Alan was laughing…somebody in the picture had snuck up behind Fermat and gave him bunny ears. Jeff smiled warmly at the scene. However he noticed somebody who was not with the group of friends scowling in the background. He appeared to be directing his angered gaze at the group of boys. Jeff thought it odd that the angry boy would be in the picture. Gazing around the room he found a photo album that he often found Alan gazing at with a smile. Jeff grabbed the album in hopes that maybe looking at it would cheer up Alan whilst he was in the hospital. Grabbing some cotton pajamas and slippers Jeff left the room.
When John and Brain's arrived back on the island, Jeff was there to greet them. He informed Brain's they would be leaving as soon as Brain's went to gather some clothing for Fermat. As Brain's took off to his and Fermat's home Jeff walked up to Tracy 1. John walked up and gave his dad a hug. Jeff looked into John's eyes and he could see the tears swimming in his second oldest son's eyes. Jeff knew that John his sensitive, quiet boy was very upset at hearing how badly hurt his baby brother was. Jeff pulled John into a fierce hug trying to offer comfort to his son. It surprised him when John started talking.
"I can't get the images of Fermat and Alan calling in about the fire out of my head. I can still hear Alan coughing harshly, seeing Fermat's eyes fill with tears from the smoke and I can still hear the roar of the flames. I can't even begin to imagine how those two felt while they ran through the flames." As John finished speaking, he couldn't help but to start crying. The images kept replaying in his head. He repeated everything that occurred in the emergency call to his dad.
~FLASHBACK~
Fearing the worst, he activated the monitor to Fermat's watch and his pupils dilated when he saw an image of Fermat covering his face with a dripping washcloth. He heard coughing coming from two sources. Fermat started to shout at whoever was coughing. He could hear a loud deafening roar and it drowned out Fermat's voice. He promptly began hollering into his mike in order to get Fermat's attention.
"Fermat! What is the matter? Are you okay?" John watched with baited breath as Fermat opened his eyes and gazed at the watch on his wrist. Closing his eyes he started hacking. He barely managed to get the words "dorm on fire" out before he was coughing again.
John took notice then that the other set of coughing had never stopped. He recognized the cough as Alan's. Being a big brother he had his share of tending to sick little brothers. He noticed the screen kept fading from dark to light. He realized the source of coughing must be smoke!
"Fermat what is going on? Why are you and Alan coughing? Please answer me!" John pleaded with Fermat to give him an answer. The watch monitor came into focus and Fermat began to shout in order to be heard over the deafening roar of flames. However Fermat's voice kept on occasionally being drowned out by that roar.
"Went to bed…woke up…past curfew…couldn't breathe…dorm…fire…Alan…can't breathe." Fermat dissolved into a coughing fit before he could continue. "Shower…cold water…going to run…4th floor…no fire escape…please help!"
~END FLASHBACK~
John shuttered at the memory of hearing the roaring flames and the sight of the smoke filtering around Alan and Fermat. Chancing a glance at his father, he noticed his dad was deathly pale. John feared his dad was going to pass out, but then he shook his head and took a deep breath before motioning for John to climb into the cockpit of Tracy 1. Jeff had already contacted Lady Penelope and informed her of what had occurred. She surprised him, by telling him that she would contact Scott to let him know to leave Thunderbird 1 at the hangar in Manhattan while Jeff would fly in with Tracy 1 and get them all.
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Brain's P.O.V
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To hear how badly injured my son and Alan was, was heart breaking. I always thought that at Wharton's they would be safe from all harm. I never imagined that a fire would break out at the school and cause what we and the boys might see as irreparable damage. Alan had severe burns over a good portion of his body and his feet from the way Gordon described it were raw and bleeding, that would signify that the flesh might have been burnt away entirely. If that was the case he will need many surgeries to have skin grafts and provided that his body didn't refuse the grafts he would need to learn to walk again. That in and of itself would be not only very painful, but the treatments would be extensive. I know that Alan could do it, but he might also need psychological treatment…Fermat as well. I am somehow dreading seeing the state that my little boy is in. The both of them will be in the burn ward for a prolonged amount of time.
As I hurry up the stairs to my own home, I can't help but feel my throat close up with emotion. I could have lost my little boy today. I thank God for the Thunderbirds…regardless if I am a small part of them or not. It was my good friend's sons who took action to give urgent medical care to my son and their brother. It made me proud to be a part of this organization. I run up the stairs and enter my boy's room. As I look around I spot a photograph sitting on his bedside table. Fermat told me that one of their teachers took the picture after they had won some sort of competition.
The picture showed Alan who was laughing and had his eyes closed. He had his arms around the shoulders of two friends opposite him. Fermat was kneeling if front of the group and he had what appeared to be a pair of bunny ears from the fingers of another friend who was kneeling behind him. The group of 5 boys all wore matching outfits, but they were not Wharton's assigned uniforms. Their clothes were white button up shirts that were open in the front to show off black tank tops. Black dress pants and black dress shoes. However all the boys wore matching black and white striped fedora hats. It was interesting to see the boys dressed as such, when I could not remember having ever purchased such an outfit for my son. Come to think of it, I don't even think Alan owned such an outfit himself. All I had ever seen him wear when he was on the island was either jeans and t-shirts or swim trunks. When he was leaving for school with Fermat, they normally left wearing their uniforms. I became puzzled as I could not remember whether Fermat had told me what sort of competition this picture was for, but I couldn't help but notice a boy that stood in the distant background who looked livid. He had his arms crossed and was glaring at the group of boys. Seeing his displeasure sent a chill down my spine.
I shrugged it off and proceeded to gather some pajamas for my son and some items from home that would keep him occupied and as comfortable as he could be while he was recovering in the hospital. However as I lifted a notebook on Fermat's desk, I found a medium sized box that was covered in Christmas wrapping paper. It was addressed to dad from Alan. However dad and Alan were obviously written in Alan's hand writing not Fermat's so I knew Alan must have hidden a Christmas present for his dad in Fermat's bedroom, because it would be one of the less likely places that his dad would ever look for a Christmas present. That is if Jeff was one of those pokey individuals that would pester you for their Christmas present early…which Jeff was not…that trait belonged to Gordon. Regardless, Christmas was a week away and Alan and Fermat would be unable to return home due to the injuries they received escaping the fire. The boys had been home for Thanksgiving, so he very well could have hidden the present with Fermat then. Replacing Alan's gift to his dad back on Fermat's desk I made a mental note to ask Alan if he wanted me to fly back to get it…being mindful to ask when Alan was coherent and not on a pleasant high from the pain medications the hospital would undoubtedly have him on. Turning from Fermat's bedroom I hurried to make my way to the hangar to board Tracy 1 so I could see my son and surrogate nephew.
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General P.O.V
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Jeff looked around to make sure he was clear for take-off and heard the door open and spotted Brain's coming in with a rucksack slung over his shoulder. Brain's offered what Jeff knew to be an anxious smile up to his friend and John nodded at Brain's to acknowledge that the both of them had noticed his arrival. John had just finished logging the flight plan, and confirmed it before they took off to Massachusetts General Hospital. All three males prayed that their boys were alright and would recover in record time. Jeff estimated that it would be a 5 hour flight in the right weather conditions and that appeared to be in their favor so far. There weren't even any fast moving winds that would hinder their build up in speed. Jeff closed his eyes as he prayed.
"Oh Lucy. Please protect our baby make his recovery a speedy one. You know how determined Alan is. He would rather walk around on injured limbs than lay in a bed. Also if it is not too much trouble could you also put in a good word for Fermat? God only knows how brave these two were to flee from a fire regardless of any injuries sustained. Please Lucy my love. Here my prayer!"
Giving the jet the throttle needed, Tracy 1 lifted off with no problems. Once they were airborne Jeff rang in to Scott's mike. He desperately wanted to hear word on his youngest son's condition. He felt like a knife was being twisted around in his stomach and it made him feel so sick. He felt relieved to hear Scott's voice. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for any bad news that may have been told by doctors to Scott.