Disclaimer: see chapter one

AN: A little later than the self imposed deadline for this chapter, but I was away from the internet over the past week. Whale tracking with a research group meant that I was on the water for that time, and water + non-water resistant electronic devices = potential disaster.

Thank you to everyone that's read and reviewed, and I hope you like the next chapter.

Chapter Four

0940 hours

Brains' Lab, Tracy Island

Brains was puzzled. Something that didn't happen often to the man whose IQ was so high, it couldn't be measured accurately. He couldn't quite believe the impact Mary Sue had had on him and in such a short period of time too. His insides liquefied when he heard her voice, his knees went weak when he saw her and butterflies rampaged around in his tummy when he had physical contact with her, when he had to examine her in Sick Bay. There was something about Mary Sue that made her intoxicating. As the brothers had pointed out before, everything about her was absolutely perfect, right down to her hair, her eyes, even her scent that was, well, in essence, quite cloying.

Not that she would ever look his way, not with the Tracy boys also taken with her, Brains concluded.

Actually, that would be a good thing. Brains' one true love was Science. His calling was with International Rescue. He didn't have time to waste on preening, flirting and dating. Nor did he feel that he had the confidence to pull it off successfully. Not to mention the fact that about five minutes after he left her presence, he felt like he had reverted back to what passed for normal.

Impressing members of the fairer sex was best left to Scott, John (when he was dirtside), Virgil, Gordon and Alan, although that could be a recipe for disaster, based on past experience. When the entire International Rescue clan had moved out to the Island for the first time, Brains could remember stumbling over the three eldest brothers squabbling over a stuffed teddy bear given to them by their mother, with Scott pulling one arm, Virgil pulling the other and John tugging with all his might on the teddy bear's legs until it had been stretched out of shape and was horribly mangled. In the end, Jeff had confiscated the toy, but Scott, Virgil and John had sulked at each other for the remainder of the week.

It was inevitable that another fight would ensue over Mary Sue, and Brains was certain that the end result would not be pretty. After all, Mary Sue was a real female, with real arms and legs.

From the bench top, one of the consoles beeped, alerting Brains to an incoming call from Thunderbird Five.

"Brains," John's voice came through the speaker, somewhat tinny, riddled with static. Raiding his radio to scrounge for spare parts for his experiments had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now Brains was beginning to regret that decision.

"Brains, we need to talk. It's important."

"W-w-what can I, uh, do for you, uh, John?"

"It's about Mary Sue."

There was silence. Brains waited for John to continue without prompting, but he didn't. Or so Brains thought.

"They all like her and it's driving me barmy, but not in the way I thought it would."

The conversation had definitely taken an uncomfortable turn.

"I'm flipping out, but not as much as would if I actually gave two damns about her. Know what I mean?"

The honest answer would have been for Brains to shake his head, disconnect and carry on with his own projects, allowing John to work this one out on his own. Sadly, the honest answer was not the right answer, and as John's friend (well, Brains hoped so – understanding social interactions wasn't his forte), the right answer would be the one that was most appreciated.

Brains simply nodded, smiled and agreed with John.

"And the weirdest part? After she left, I felt back to normal. I don't get my reaction, and that's making me freak out. I'm just…" John raked a hand through his peroxide forelock. "I'm very confused."

Well, that made two of them. But what John had mentioned had gotten the cogs turning in Brains' mind. Perhaps Mary Sue had compromised them in some way, but then Brains began to wonder why Tin-Tin hadn't been affected by it. It was definitely something that warranted further investigation.

Needing to put his friend at ease (although he doubted his theory would do that - after all, who really wanted to know that they may have been poisoned?), Brains told John of his suspicions.

The blond furrowed his brow. "That is worth following up because this could have undue consequences for International Rescue. Let me know what the results are. John, out."

The link between the two dissolved into static. Brains swivelled once in his chair; the blue prints for the new sonic drive to the Mole caught his eye. John was absolutely right – with the men of International Rescue vulnerable with Mary Sue's presence, it was imperative that Brains found a solution to the problem. He didn't want Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan returning home after a rescue injured, or worse, not returning home at all, thanks to the effects of Mary Sue. The Tracys were the closest thing Brains knew as family, and he was not about to let anything ruin that.

No time like the present, Hackenbacker. Better start thinking.

Tin-Tin seemed like a good place to start. Pushing a button on his communications console, Brains cleared his throat.

"Brains, uh, calling Tin-Tin."

Tin-Tin's voice filtered through the speakers. "Go ahead, Brains."

"I, er, I am conducting, uh, an experiment, and I, uh, require your, uh, assistance, if you would be so kind."

There was a hesitant pause.

"Does this have to do with Mary Sue?"

"Uh, yes."

Another pause. Tin-Tin actually seemed to be deliberating over the request, which irked Brains. Under normal circumstances, he would not have been facing this inquisition; Tin-Tin would have been down in his lab in the blink of an eye.

"Does it involve needles?"

"Uh, yes," Brains stammered out. Well, there really was no need to tell Tin-Tin that the needles being used were not for Mary Sue, but actually to collect samples of her blood… yet.

The responding voice was too sweet, too saccharine. Tin-Tin was planning something that had to do with the needles, and it seemed that Mary Sue was her intended victim. "I'll be right down, Brains."