I don't know how long I was out for but it seemed like years. I slowly came to when I felt Gordon let go of my waist and heard Dad talking to someone. As I slowly became conscious I became more aware of the conversation. Or at least the person on the other end. Alan. My brother was ok! then, John broke my reverie.

"Confirmed! We're back online!" A few seconds after, I felt myself falling back to the floor.

"Oof!" I said as I hit the floor with a loud thud. I opened my eyes and met Scott's gaze.

"You Ok?" He asked gently as he helped me to sit up, one arm behind my back. I started to nod, when, a sharp pain shot down my side. I cried out and clung to Scott's suit. He rubbed my back gently and called Virgil over. I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself down. To convince myself that the pain wasn't so bad. However, just as I thought this, another sharp pain shot down my body and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from crying out again. Tears were filling my eyes and it took all of my energy not to let them spill over. I heard Dad finish the conversation with my brother and I knew that we would soon be leaving. I couldn't wait much longer. I struggled free of Scott's grasp and shakily stood up. I grasped onto something metal – I didn't know what it was. All I knew was, at that point it was the only thing keeping me upright. I saw my brothers stand up and watch me carefully. We all jumped as Dad suddenly called,

"OK guys we are outta here." Those were the words we had all been waiting to hear for the past four hours. Virgil and Gordon went to open the hatch and I watched as John put his arm around Dad's shoulder to help him walk. I took a deep breath, ignoring the pain that caused me and took a hesitant step forward. And then another. Until I promptly tripped over something (my own feet probably) and fell into Scott's arms.

"Easy Abs." He said softly as he helped me up and put his arm round my back again to support me. With his help, we eventually made it to Thunderbird 3 but it took what little energy I had left. I collapsed into the seat and Scott had to put the seat restraint over me. He smiled down at me and turned to go but I grabbed his hand before he could do so. He looked at me in surprise.

"Thanks Scotty." I mumble. He looked pleased, but confused. He turned to face me and crouched down in front of me.

"Thanks for what?"

"For looking after me. You're the best." He smiles at me and brushes a stray strand of hair out of my eyes.

"You're welcome Abby." He whispers before standing up and walking to his seat, a grin still on his face. I smiled to myself. I knew I'd just made his day. But I honestly didn't say it just to pleas Scott, I honestly did mean it. I groaned as I sat up straight in my seat. The pain wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. I sighed. I guess I'll just have to get used to it. At least the ride was still relatively smooth. We'd lost one of the boosters during our stay but it didn't seem to be affecting us yet. Almost as if he'd read my mind, I heard Gordon announce in his best 'air hostess' voice:

"Ladies and Gentlemen if you could make sure your seat restraints are securely fastened we will be hitting the atmosphere in approximately one and a half minutes. We apologise in advance for the quality of the ride as someone" Gordon shoots a mocking glare at John who's trying hard not to laugh "decided to blow up their craft thereby damaging the rescue vehicle." At this point, me and John both lose control and burst out laughing. I look at Dad and see he's trying his best not to laugh as well. "Anyway," Gordon continues, "if you could also ensure your seats are in the upright position and any luggage has been securely stowed we will begin our descent. Thank you for choosing to fly with Thunderbird Airlines…" at that point dad reached forward and gently smacked Gordon upside the head and said,

"Thank you for that Gordon but is it too much to ask for some assistance with the 'descent'?" By now we're all rolling about in our seats laughing. Trust Gordon to try to lighten the mood.

"FAB" Gordon replies smirking slightly. Just in time too because then we hit the atmosphere. The ride was awful. I was pressed back into my seat and I couldn't stop shaking. You wouldn't think losing one booster would make such a difference but it really does. The pain was incredible. I thought walking was hard but it's nothing compared to this. The vibrations shaking through the rocket constantly hit my body making the pain unbearable. It's all I can do not to give in to the blackness that's once again threatening to overcome me.

Eventually, the shaking stops. The signal that we're back on earth. I'm in too much pain to be happy though. I try to mask my discomfort from my family. The last thing I want is for them to be fussing over me. I lean back in my seat and concentrate on my breathing. Blocking everything else out. in the background, I hear Dad talking to Brains but I don't listen. I just focus on breathing in and out, in and out. Trying to stop the pain from breaking me. I'm dreading the time when we land and I have to get out again.

That time comes all too soon. I hear Dad preparing for landing and then feel the huge red rocket turn so the nose it pointing up towards the sky. The rocket jolts slightly as we land and I bite down on my lip to stop me from making a sound as another round of pain rushes through my body. I follow everyone else, standing up from my seat and pushing my body past its limits to run to the side of the River Thames with the rest of my family. I scan the water for Thunderbird 4. Knowing that my brother and Tin Tin are inside, completing their first ever mission inside the Thunderbirds. Suddenly, I see the yellow fin of Thunderbird 4 break the surface followed by the monorail that fell into the river when the Hood drilled through the supports with the Mole. I join in with the cheering and hugging, the pain forgotten for a moment. Because, in that moment, nothing else mattered to me. My family was alive and together and nothing was ever going to come between us. I remembered what Scott had said only yesterday, but it felt like a lifetime ago now. "I'm not going to let a bit of wind stop me from getting home am I?" We weren't going to let the Hood tear us apart. Not now, not ever. That would be letting him win. With that thought in mind, I pushed through the pain that coursed through my body as I ran, with my family to where my brother was waiting for us.