AN/ Thank you so much for reading. I love you all xx

All was quiet at Tracy Island. On any other day, it would have been welcome. Pleasant. The inhabitants were all too aware of this and that seemed to heighten the general feeling of unease.

Gordon was unusually reluctant to leave his room. He blamed his concussion. It was very mild, yes, but a concussion all the same. His only outward venture was to wash the smell of smoke from his hair and this was done peacefully, without nearly taking the bathroom door from its hinges in order to get Alan out.

Alan, who hated solitude, retired quietly to the hanger where he proceeded to tinker around Thunderbird 5 with his headphones on full blast. When offered help by Brains, he refused. He was just looking over a few things, that was all.

Virgil's art easel stood alone, the piano sat silent. He loitered around the living room, occasionally shooting wistful glances at the alarm. When the alarm had sat silent for longer than he could bear, he made his way to the kitchen, to loiter there.

That was were Scott found him, his head in the fridge and his hands and mouth filled with snacks. Scott then swept around the rest of the house, finding each brother in their own little cocoon of isolation. Frowning, he made his way to the rooftop where John was facing out to sea, his head thrown back to let his face drink the heat of the sun. Scott realised he had never considered the simple things that John was missing. Space had always been intriguing to him, sure, but it wasn't home.

He sank down beside his younger brother and was welcomed by his usual shy smile. A night's sleep at home seems to have cured him, Scott thought. Of course a guy was going to have a few funny spells after living apart from humanity for weeks on end. Looking over at John, his blue eyes straining at the light from the waves and his pale skin almost translucent, Scott made a mental note to shorten his shifts up on 5. Yet, nothing but calm radiated from him. Even when Scott had spent time in the Air Force, he had met no one more mentally lucid than John. He could make everything seem so coherent, no problem was too complicated for John to unfurl and smooth out.

The John that Virgil had carried into 2 the day before was not a John that Scott had seen for a very, very long time. Rambling and writhing out from his brother's grip, the wild, desperate look in his eyes had been frightening, "Come back, Tina, come back, Tina, Tina, Tina..."

What if there was some truth in what Virgil and Gordon were saying? Scott furrowed his brow.

How could there be.

"Something on your mind?"

John's gentle voice brought him out of his thoughts. Scott shook his head.

"Nah, Johnny. It's just the others have been moping around all morning. It's not like them at all, is it? Certainly not with you home, they're usually climbing all over you."

John grinned, "can't complain about that. Maybe they're tired, it was quite a technical rescue yesterday."

"Even more reason for Gordon to be regaling us with the details. He hasn't made a peep all morning." Scott suddenly turned serious. "How are you, John? You gave us all a scare yesterday."

John looked at his shoes, the anxious look that contorted his features nearly made Scott regret asking.

"I'm fine now. I don't know what came over me. It - um - it must have just been the smoke." He looked at Scott, tried to smile reassuringly.

"Yeah, Johnny, the smoke."

John sighed, looked out to sea again. Scott didn't believe him, but what else was there to believe?

Just as John opened his mouth to say something else, their father's voice called from below them.

"Boys? Are you two up there? Come down for a minute. I need to talk to all of you."

John looked inquisitively at Scott who shook his head. He didn't know either. As they made their way to the office they met Gordon who was sleepily plodding out of his room in his pyjamas.

"Can't wait for this little conference to go down," he said, sarcasm dripping, "I bet it'll end with at least one of us with a boot in our ass. I nominate you, Scott."

"No thanks, Gords. Do you think he's mad about something?"

"Not mad, but it's about something."

"Informative."

Alan and Virgil were already in the office, perched stiffly on the sofa in front of the senior Tracy's desk. The man himself was sat in his chair, hands linked firmly across his middle, chin raised to survey his entire brood.

"Have a seat, boys."

This was definitely about something.

Jeff took a deep, exasperated breath and rolled his eyes up to the heavens. Scott could feel Alan begin to tense with nervous giggles and gave him a subtle elbow in the ribs.

"Can one of you, boys," he began, "tell me what on earth is the matter with the pack of you?"

Tense silence ensued.

"Ok. Virgil, care to enlighten me?"

"What about, dad? I think we're all fine! Well, sort of..." Scott rolled his eyes. Virgil couldn't lie and their dad knew it.

"Yes, Virgil. Sort of." Their dad was clearly worried but Scott could detect a hint of amusement.

"Now boys, I've known you all since you were born, and this is extremely strange behaviour from all of you. All of you at once. As your father, and also as chief of International Rescue, I need to know what exactly went on yesterday. Because I know that's what the problem is."

Damn, he's too good.

"Well," Gordon began, "what do you think happened yesterday, dad?"

"Don't try that with me. All I want is a straight answer, and then you can continue with your day."

The silence continued.

"No one died yesterday, did they?" Jeff asked.

There was an explosion of protests from Virgil and Gordon. His father distracted, Scott glanced over at John beside him, John held his gaze and gave a stiff shake of his head. A silent request. Scott nodded, it was up to John to decide when to tell. If at all. That was if the others could keep it quiet which was looking very doubtful.

"Alright, alright so no one died."

"That's right." Said Gordon, "although, the beating I got from-"

Gordon cut off with a yelp. Either Alan or Virgil got him just in time.

"What was that, Gordon? Someone was attacking you?" Their father's eyes were wide.

"No, no, no dad. His equipment was faulty, Brains is looking into it right now!"

"Yep, that's right. You know me. Always joking around!" Gordon sounded winded.

"Who would attack us, dad? Gordon just had a bad fall!"

"Alan, you weren't there, his equipment was faulty."

Scott grimaced, this was pitiful.

"Scott and John. You two are very quiet. Anything you'd like to share?" Their dad turned to them with his eyebrows raised.

"No, sir," Scott tried to keep his voice as steady as he could. "I thought it went successfully yesterday."

John stifled a yawn.

"Well John, I would be tired too if I was making mystery phone calls to England at midnight."

John froze, he gave a nervous bark of a laugh, "I was just phoning Lady P, haven't seen her in a while."

Virgil leaned forward in his seat. "What was she saying?"

"Ooooh watch out, Johnny! Someone's jealous!"

"I am not, I was just interested to know-"

"Boys! Boys! Please!" Jeff shook his head. "I've never known you all to be so difficult, it's like getting blood from a stone today!"

From where he was, Scott could feel Alan fidgeting in his seat. That was never a good sign.

"Alan? Do you know anything? Your older brothers seem to all be hiding something."

"Well..." he began.

"Yes, Alan?"

"Alan, don't you dare." Scott murmured under his breath, he could hear his threat being echoed by his brothers, but they knew as well as he did that Alan was ready to burst.

"They think John saw Tina!"

Scott let his head fall backwards in defeat. Alan could hide nothing from their father.

Jeff's face was unreadable. The silence could be cut with a knife.

"Great job, kiddo." Gordon muttered. Virgil brought up his hand to shield his eyes, his face reddening.

Their father seemed to age before them. The stern look on his face was replaced with one of deep sadness, directed at John.

"It was probably just the smoke." John whispered, stricken.

The phone began to ring, making them all jolt.

"It's Lady P, I should get it," Virgil said, his voice tight.

Jeff put his hand down, blocking Virgil's outstretched arm

"Not now, Brains will get it. It won't be important."

Scott didn't know whether to put his arm around John, his dad, answer the phone or punch Alan.

"I saw her too."

Gordon, no.

Jeff span slowly to him, incredulous.

"She was the one who hit me, dad. She was real, I don't know how but I just know it was her. I saw her run off after being with John." Gordon had the excited, rambling tone he took when he was sure of something.

Their father's face had turned to steel but the raw emotion was visible beneath the control.

"Gordon, this is nothing to joke about and you know it."

"I'm serious! I am! I've never been as sure about something in my life! Virgil, you believe me, right?"

Virgil sighed, "I suppose I do. Don't know why, but I just do."

John had began to tremble beside Scott, but he had the tiniest of smiles quirking his mouth.

The phone still rang, shrill and insistent.

"Kyrano! Brains! Could one of you please get that?" Jeff's voice had an audible crack. The phone stopped ringing as Brains picked up from his office. Jeff turned back round to his sons.

"Scott? What do have to say about this?"

Scott faltered, his father was pleading with him to talk sense like he always did. Someone always had to. Yet, things just didn't seem sensible.

"Dad, I- " he stopped, Brains had appeared ashen faced in the doorway.

"M-Mr Tracy?"

"Please, not now, Brains."

"B-b-but, Mr Tracy-"

"What?" Jeff snapped.

Brains, startled. "It's Lady P-P-Penelope on the phone." He took in the row of stricken faced Tracy sons on the sofa, "and you aren't going to believe who she has with her."