Fragile

Chapter 4

Kayo listened in on the GDF coms. She was close to the Hood's ship. Her uncle's ship, she wasn't going to let him hurt John. She gripped the controls of Thunderbird S wishing she had a better opportunity. She flew underneath the ship looking for a way in.

"Kayo, you need to stand down. We don't know what he has in there." Said Colonel Casey over the coms.

"I do he has John." She said rather flatly. She wasn't going to lose to her uncle today. Frustration mounted when the large air ship sped up.

Doing her best to keep up it hovered over an empty field. Figuring this was her best time to strike when she noticed something. There was a hatch open and she saw a figure standing there holding something that looked like an over grown rag doll. The person tossed the rag doll out when it dawned on her. "John!" she screamed. She realized that the Hood's ship was low enough that John wouldn't get hurt from the fall. More than likely her uncle was probably using John as a distraction.

If that was the case it worked. She landed her craft around where she seen them toss out John. She sprinted over to him shouting his name as she heard the roar of the hood's ship go back into the sky. She called it in to the GDF as reached John. "John," she lowered down to him.

He was in a bad way bruises darkened his normally pale skin, a trail of blood was leaking out of his lips. She checked his pulse which was good. She let out a long held breath. Placing a hand on his hand. "You're going to be alright Johnny." She said but he still didn't stir. She called in the GDF again for a medical evac. She hated that she couldn't take him home but this looked to be too much for Virgil and Brains.

An air ship came along and stepped out was Colonel Casey and some paramedics. The paramedics surrounded the ginger haired man leaving Kayo standing there feeling useless.

"Did you call them yet?" Casey asked.

Kayo shook her head. "No not yet I was… worried." She gestured to his fallen form Casey figured what she meant.

"Go ahead I'm sure they'd want to know."

Kayo reached for her com when John suddenly sat up. He gasped for air and looked around like a wild man. He shoved the paramedics away. Kayo reached out to him and grabbed his arm. "Calm down." She said softly. She couldn't believe she had to tell him to calm down he was the most composed out of the brothers. He just stared at her not speaking not doing anything really. She got on her knees beside him and pulled in for a hug. She wasn't a big hugger but she was happy to see him in one piece. "I got you, your safe." He never hugged her back he just stared at her with his cold green blue eyes as if it wasn't registering what was happening. "John… Johnny?" she rarely called him that as he wasn't the biggest fan of that nickname saying that was something you called a child. He remained silent and still scared looking.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Let him go, Kayo. Call his family and let the paramedics treat him." Said Colonel Casey

Kayo nodded and got up from him. He kept staring off into space as she hailed Tracy Island.

"Kayo," Scott answered, "Any news yet?"

"Well… we got John." She said hesitant she could hear the family cheer with the good news however,

"So what happened you don't sound too happy?" asked Scott he was good at reading people from time to time almost as good as John.

"Scott he's…" she looked down at John who was still looking around looking lost again. "There's something wrong with him he's not… talking or anything."

Scott let out a sigh. "He's shutting down… he does that when he's stressed about something. Let me talk to him."

Kayo nodded and got close to John with her com. "Scott wants to talk to you."

Scott gasped out loud when he saw his brother's face noting the bruises and blood. "John… Johnny you in there buddy?"

John focused his green eyes on the com and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He turned his head away and never said a word.

Kayo brought her wrist up to her face as the paramedics finished up with John. "I'm worried Scott."

"Me too Kayo… I never seen him like that." Scott ran his hand through his dark hair.

A paramedic walked over to her and spoke to Scott. "International Rescue we are taking you're man to a secure GDF hospital for a full examination."

Scott nodded then spoke to Kayo. "Go with them. I want a familiar face with John. I'll," he shook his head. "Someone will be along shortly."

"FAB Scott." She shut off the com and followed the medical team to the hospital in Thunderbird S.

The hospital was at a secure base outside of London closely guarded at all times. She landed her bird at a secure place. Armed guards surrounded the plane as she exited.

"Colonel Casey sent us to guard your craft." Said one of the guards.

"Thanks boys." She said as she headed into the hospital. With very little questions she was walked right to John's room.

They had him in a secure area with an armed guard nearby. She walked through the door with a nod to the guard. John was in the bed already attached to a few machines. He was staring at his hands with a blank expression on his face.

She sat down in a chair nearby. She hated small talk and wasn't real sure how to approach he situation. He was a quiet man the quietest out of all of them. Instead of talking she reached out and took his hand. She remained that way watching his unfocused eyes staring down at their hands remaining quiet. "Oh John what happened to you?"

Scott was looking at his brothers. He knew they wanted to see John. He wanted to too but was unable because of his busted leg. He decided instead of being a passenger and making a brother worry about him on top of John he'd stay. "All of us can't go." He said looking them over. Colonel Casey had contacted them and told them that the GDF wanted them to stay off of rescues until the situation was resolved. Meaning they had no idea what the Hood did to John yet, either.

"I'm going." Said Virgil he crossed his arms across his chest in a challenging tone.

Alan stood up. "Me too I can't…"

Scott looked over at Alan. He knew that John was hurting but the youngest had never seen their brother completely shut down before he wasn't sure the youngest was ready for it yet. "Alan,"

"I'm going and that's that." He said crossing his arms much like Virgil did.

He nodded. "Fine, me and Gordon will stay here."

Gordon nodded. "I'll keep Scott out of trouble."

"We'll let you know how it goes." Said Virgil

The two brothers headed to the hospital in their family jet. They didn't want to take a Thunderbird and bring more attention to themselves. The two remained quiet the whole time there.

"You think… you think John is going to be alright?" asked Alan

Virgil shrugged as they left the plane. "Maybe… I don't want to,"

"Get my hopes up."

They headed into he hospital. Kayo greeted them by the door.

"Took you boys long enough."

"Has there been any changes?" asked Virgil

She shook her head. "I got him to drink some water that's about it. He's acting like I'm not even there."

Virgil felt his heart sank. John acted similarly when their mother died. He shut himself off from the outside world, he did it when he was bullied and was starting to do it again recently. Pushing people away was John's defense mechanism. If he could hide from the world he couldn't hurt him.

The three headed down to where his room was. Virgil was the first to go in. John was still sitting there this time he was staring out the window. A tray of food was nearby remaining untouched.

"Run any tests on him?" he asked Kayo

She nodded. "Yeah a blood test, and MRI and so forth." She sighed. "They can't figure out what happened to him yet. Said there was traces of something in his blood…"

"Something?"

She frowned. "It's too small to tell what it is yet. They are testing it still. Other than that he's healthy."

Virgil sat beside the bed and Alan walked in. The young blond boy just stared at John with a look of disbelief.

"Hello John." Said Virgil, he moved so his brown eyes met his green ones hoping to snap him out of his trance like state. "How are you?"

He remained quiet and unmoved. Virgil sighed this was going to be hard. He looked over at the sun that was about to set. "It's going to be night soon… you want to tell me about the stars?"

John still didn't say anything. From behind a shaky voice called out. "John… it's me Alan." Alan walked around to where Virgil was. He was trying to remain strong seeing his older brother like this hurt him on a lot of levels. "I… I brought EOS to the island…she was happy to hear that you were okay."

John was still focused on the window. He slowly looked at Alan when he mentioned the AI.

"She's happy on the island likes talking to everyone…" he bit his quivering lip. This was harder for him than he expected.

Virgil placed his hand on his shoulder. "Allie if you want we can leave."

He shook his head forcedly. Kayo came over to help support the youngest as well. "I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to leave John." He clinched his fists and fought back tears. He wasn't going to cry. "Please Johnny… look at me say something." He cried. He was feeling like a crumbled heap when Virgil offered support. Crying into his older brother's chest he let it all out again for the second time that day. He felt someone touch his arm he looked down and saw long fingers holding onto his arm. He blinked back tears and let out a "What?" He turned his head to the bed and seen John looking at him focusing on him.

"Don't cry Alan." He said. His voice was weak and strained but it was John. His calm soft and yet stern voice.

Alan's blue eyes lit up and he let go of Virgil who was shocked as well. Alan ran over to John and slung his arms around him crushing into him with his weight.

"Be careful… I have bruised ribs." He said softly

Alan long given up on not crying began to cry again this time with joy. "I thought I was never going to see you again."

John tried to sooth his littlest brother. "I didn't think I'd see you guys again either." He said looking up at Virgil this time.

"How do you feel?" asked Virgil

He frowned as if thinking. "I'm not sure I… I know I'm sore and my brain feels fuzzy."

Virgil tilted his head wondering what the Hood drugged him with. He went to speak again but John stopped him.

"I feel like… I did something terrible…" He looked up at Virgil his green eyes full of concern. "But I can't remember. I don't know what happened to me."

Kayo frowned. "The GDF are going to have a lot of questions for you about the Hood."

He nodded. "I don't know what I can tell them… I really don't remember a thing."

"What do you remember?" asked Virgil worry was noted in his voice as he tried to remain composed.

John frowned and looked down at Alan who was still clinging to him as if letting him go would make him disappear. "I remember coming home, I remember talking to Scott that morning, and I remember the rescue… Scott broke his leg… we were upset with him… he… me and him fought. I don't remember anything after that."

Virgil filled in the details that they knew about him getting kidnapped by the Hood. "But that's all we know."

He shrugged. "About as much as I know."

Colonel Casey walked in about that time. "If you can't remember anything then we'll hold off the questions." She cast a glance over them. "As it stands John will be free to go tomorrow. He's got a clean bill of health."

"What about the stuff in his blood?" asked Virgil

"No idea what it is, yet. After talking to the doctors I talked them into letting go earlier. We can't risk you're guys secrets coming out. Plus I think John will do better at home anyways." She said looking at the brothers. "He's got a good family system. That's what I told them."

"Thanks." Said Virgil as she left the room. He was happy to be able to take his brother home so soon. He's medical experience plus Brains should be enough if they needed to treat him he hoped. He looked at his older brother who still looked a little confused. He hoped everything would be okay.

"I'm getting tired." Said Alan yawning. It had been a long day for all of them.

John let go of his brother and scooted over in the bed making room for the youngest Tracy. Alan laid down and immediately fell asleep, John soon followed after him.

"I'm going to call Scott and tell him what's going on." Whispered Virgil to Kayo as he stepped out of the room. Kayo gave him a nod she was laying on a couch in the room looking like she was about to go to sleep too.

Virgil walked out of the room and called Scott once he got to a quiet area. He filled him in on everything he knew. "John is talking now… Scott I think the Hood did something to him."

"It sounds like it… bastard if I get ahold of him I'm going to beat the crap out of him." Said Scott anger clearly in his voice.

"Me too Scott but… what if he gave Hood information on us?"

Scott paused Virgil could tell he was thinking. "What makes you say that?"

"They said they found traces of something in John's blood. I don't know if it was a drug or what."

"You think he drugged him for information?"

"Seems likely."

There was another pause. "Okay, we'll keep an eye on him when he gets back. We'll figure it out."

"FAB Scott."

"Tell him I…"

Virgil shook his head. "No Scott you do it when I bring him home."

Virgil shut off the com and headed back to the room. His brothers were fast asleep in the bed and Kayo was asleep on the couch. He got on a different couch and stretched out. He had been under so much stress after John vanished. He studied his older brother as he slept peacefully a small smile came across his face thinking about how happy he was to have him back. He hoped his brother was having peaceful dreams as he began to drift off to sleep himself. His mind was still wondering what did the Hood do to him? And would it impact them later down the road? His mind was forced to shut down as sleep took over him.