John and Gordon climbed back on the rock.
"Absolutely nothing". Gordon sighed.
He sat down next to Scott and buried his head in his hands. John looked at his brothers and felt how the panic was coming up to him.
No! He thought. I can't panic…I just can't…
John froze when he suddenly got another series of stings in his back.
"What's wrong"? Scott asked. He was about to stand up.
"No don't get up". John said. "Just stepped into a little sharp stone, that's all".
He sat against the wall again. The coldness felt pretty good against his wounds. John saw Scotts face turn into pain.
"How's the arm"? He asked.
"The stings are getting worse…"Scott panted.
John knew exactly what Scott meant. The pain he felt when he broke his arm in Thunderbird 5 were almost unbearable.
"I'll check for parts of Thunderbird 1 one more time". Gordon said.
John and Scott saw how he jumped into the water. John sighed and laid his head in his hands. He noticed he was sweating, though his arms were full of goose bumps.
Great! He thought. I'm getting the flue, again!
"Hey, I found the radio"! They heard Gordon shout.
Scott and John saw how the radio appeared, followed by Gordon. John helped Gordon on the rock, trying to keep his back to the wall.
"Does it work"? Scott asked.
"I don't know". Gordon said. "I don't know 1 as well as 3".
"You have to push the grey button and flip the second lever". Scott said.
Gordon followed Scotts instructions and now they could hear some cracking noises.
"This is Gordon Tracy for Thunderbird 2". Gordon said. "Does anyone hear me"?
"Thank god"! He could hear Jeff say.
"Dad"! Gordon said glad.
"Are the others with you"? Jeff asked.
"Yeah, John, Scott and me". Gordon said.
"Is everyone okay"? Jeff asked.
"Scott has a broken arm, but John and I are fine". Gordon said. "We're in an underwater cave".
"Alan and Virgill are looking for you in Thunderbird 4, I'll let them know where you are". Jeff said.
The radio contact stopped. Gordon smiled at his brothers.
"You were right John". He said. "We should stay positive".
John looked at Gordon and gave him a small nod. His back and head were on fire, but the rest of him was shivering.
Suddenly they could hear something in the water. Something yellow was coming up.
"Well that's quick"! Scott said with a laugh.
The Thunderbird 4 was approaching the rock and they could see Alan and Virgill wave at them from the inside. Gordon and Scott waved back at them.
"We thought we'd never find you"! Virgill said when he opened the door.
"What do you mean, didn't dad tell you where we are"? Scott asked.
Alan appeared next to Virgill.
"Dad just told me where you are, but I guess we were a bit quicker then him". He said.
"Come on let's get out of here". Gordon said.
He and Alan helped Scott to get into the yellow submarine. John slowly stood up and walked after Gordon.
"Alright, let's go". Alan said.
The Thunderbird 4 went back underwater. Unfortunately Alan hit a small rock.
"Be careful Alan, those rocks can get a hole through the iron". Virgill said.
Alan nodded and adjusted immediately. After a few minutes they were out of the cave. John, Scott and Gordon closed their eyes when they were on the surface. After all that time in a dark cave, they had to get used to the sunlight.
"There's the Thunderbird 2". Alan said when he pointed to the beach of the nearest island.
The Thunderbird 4 sailed to the beach and the five boys could see their father wave heavily at them.
Gordon and Virgill helped Scott to get on land, followed by Alan and John. Gordon fell on his knees and kissed the sand. Jeff ran to them and hugged all of his sons. John almost screamed when Jeff held his hands on his back.
"I am so glad that you're alright"! Jeff said. "Scott let me have a look at that arm".
The Tracy family sat down and Gordon and Scott told what had happened to them.
"Wow, that's something…"Alan said. "I guess I would have gone mad if I were one of you".
"Well I almost did". Gordon said. "But luckily for me, John stayed calm and got us through it".
They all looked at John and saw his face was white and he was still shivering, though the sweat was on his forehead.
"John are you alright"? Jeff asked.
John looked at his fathers concerned face.
"Yeah, I'm fine". He said. "I'll check if the Thunderbird 4 got any damage from that crash against a rock"….
He stood up and walked to the 4. Halfway the beach, the stings in his back got more worse then ever. John screamed and fell on his knees. He could hear how someone called his name and footsteps were getting closer. Someone put his hands on his shoulder and turned him around.
"John, can you hear me"? Gordon asked.
"Yes, I'm alright". John said. "Just tripped over a stupid rock"….
He tried to stand up but Gordon pushed him back.
"You're not alright". He said angry. "You've got the flue and something's wrong with your back".
Alan and Jeff ran to them.
"What's wrong"? Jeff asked.
"Something's wrong with his back but he won't tell me". Gordon said.
"Alan, Gordon, go and see if you can do anything for Scott". Jeff said.
Both boys nodded and walked back.
Jeff sat next to John and looked at the sea.
"What are you waiting for"? John asked.
"What do you mean"? Jeff asked at his turn.
"Where is that; You know you don't have to be strong speech; of you"? John asked.
Jeff sighed. "You have done a great job" He said. "Taking care of your brothers while you weren't feeling that well'.
He looked at his second son. He could see the tears in his eyes.
Don't you dare start crying! John thought. You already showed them how weak you are when you were in bed for weeks after that attack of The Hood.
He stood up and walked away. He didn't want anyone to see his tears. But what he forgot was that now his father could see his back.
Jeff's heart stood still when he saw the bleeding wounds on his sons back. John had told him weeks ago that they were gone. Why would he lie about that?
John felt how his back hurt more and more. The tears were rolling of his cheek now. He got light in his head and things were starting to get vague around him.