Always there, but never noticed

Disclaimer - I do not own the Thunderbirds.

A/N - Italics are flashbacks

Chapter 10

Calliope stared darkly at her reflection. It had been five days since the 'incident' with The Hood and she was almost back to her old self; bar the occasional scar. Her ankle and ribs where healed all that remained was her broken wrist.

She grunted in disgust as her fingers traced the faint bruising of The Hood's fingers that were only just visible on her neck. She gritted her teeth as she began to apply a thin layer of foundation, something she never previously had to do, but due to a scar trailing down her cheek (along the smile lines of her mouth) she resorted to the gloopey product to cover it up.

"Cal? C'mon sis, we need to leave in five minutes if we are going to make it on time for you to see Ali and the others." John's headed leaned around her bathroom door and studied her curiously as she nodded at him dully.

It wasn't just the blonde Tracy that had noticed a difference in his sister; her brothers and father had all noticed she was much less enthusiastic than before. And dark bags sagged deeply under her once sparkling eyes due to the lack of sleep that the residents of Tracy Island all knew about her sleep issues.

John sat calmly in his room, his telescope propped up against his balcony door. The second oldest Tracy was sleepily doodling star constellations in his notepad whilst pondering his recent exploits.

The young man thought deeply about his new position; he was to go back up to Thunderbird five at the end of the holiday and return for Christmas – after that it had been discussed Fermat was to go up with him after so he would be able to teach him the innermost workings of the satellite.

Fermat was to learn as he was to begin to swap with John every couple of months. John – of course- had been pleased with news, he would now be able to spend more time with his family. He smiled slightly to himself, humming along to some song Virgil had recently been playing on his piano when an ear splitting scream echoed through the house.

John's head shot up at the noise and his mind blanked as he tried to disclose as to who's scream it actually was. Minutes later he leapt from his bed and tore to his sister's room, Alan and Scott close behind him.

Upon entering he saw his only sister thrashing violently in her covers; Virgil was already there and was unsuccessfully attempting to wake her up. This was before her cries soon joined the screaming.

"NO! Please, not him!" She sobbed pitifully into her pillow. "Scott, Gordon don't let him take Alan! Please, it's all my fault!"

Alan choked on his breath and he reached for the brunette's hand but withdrew it quickly as she flinched away from him.

"No let me go! I have to help him, I'm meant to protect him! It's all my fault."

Tears slid rapidly down her skin as she began to calm and mutter.

"It's all my fault. All my fault." Her face scrunched in pain which was reflected by Alan. Gordon, who had entered just a moment before, pulled his younger brother to him. Jeff had joined Virgil on the floor and was fruitlessly trying to wake the young girl from her restful sleep.

"She thinks it's her fault The Hood hurt me, doesn't she?" John heard Alan ask the older auburn boy. Gordon frowned at this and looked to his older siblings meaningfully.

The look was soon deflected as Calliope awoke with a loud gasp and she shot up into a sitting position, breathing heavily. Her eyes crossed slightly as she tried to make out the figures in the room and her gaze wavered but held once she saw Alan, before bursting in to a new set of tears, the sobs wracked her body.

The dreams happened every night, and every night it appeared it was someone different she worried about. Three nights ago it had been Gordon, two nights it had been someone called Natalia and last night it had been him. John.

The blonde shook himself from his stupor as a hand waved its self maniacally in front of his eyes. The female Tracy staring at him, eyebrow raised.

"Ready?" He questioned, before he nodded as he received a 'duh' look from his sister. The two left the room, walking in a comforting silence towards the front of the house, where they were to meet Gordon.

As the door closed behind them they greeted Lady Penelope warmly. The blonde was to escort them across to England where Callie was to meet Aliona, Ivan, Ollie and Grace. Excited to see her friends again she fidgeted in her seat repeatedly until Gordon snapped at her to stop. To which she did immediately, but sent Gordon a hurt look and turned to face out the window.

John sent his younger brother a reproachful look and Gordon grimaced apologetically. The blonde boy rolled his eyes as the other boy mimed that the fidgeting was getting on his nerves and turned to the 16 year old.

"Callie, what are you gunna tell your friends about your wrist? And any other injury that they happen to notice?" Calliope looked thoughtful for a moment prior to snapping her fingers as she thought of an idea.

"I'll say that you guys convinced me to go rock climbing and I slipped and fell. I'm rather clumsy at school so it won't come as a surprise to them. " She grinned triumphantly until Gordon snorted in mirth.

"Cal, I'm sorry but you're not only clumsy at school. Your bloody clumsy everywhere!" Lady Penelope coughed from in front of the three Tracy siblings.

"Sorry Lady P!" Gordon apologized for his language as Calliope silently mocked him, laughing at her brothers embarrassed look before sobering up.

"Guys, I have a question." She told them seriously. The brothers exchanged worried glances as they nodded, signalling her to continue.

"When do you reckon Alan's going to ask Tin-tin out?" She questioned equally seriously. The blonde and auburn haired boys looked at her in disdain.

"You are joking right?" John asked her.

"What? No, of course not, it was a serious question!" She exclaimed indignantly as her brothers cackled from next to her.

"Yeah, but you asked us of all people! Like we know when he's going to ask her out, you're the sister, you're meant to know already." Gordon explained. His sister humphed in annoyance.

"He won't tell me though! He says that I'll tell if he does." She told them moodily. Parker stifled his laughter from the front of the pink Cadillac but immediately contained himself as the brunette girl shot him a dark look.

John shook his head helplessly as Gordon began to tease her ruthlessly. He was glad they were almost in England.

"Aliona!" Calliope screamed excitedly as the tackled a petite auburn haired girl, the two girls almost toppling over due to the force of the hug. A blonde boy chuckled to himself as a curly haired brunette boy darted forward to support the two giggling girls.

"Jeeze, Cal! I would have thought after last time you wouldn't have done that again." A pretty girl with shocking deep black hair stepped forward, freeing her hand from the blondes clutches.

John and Gordon watched with amusement a small distance ahead as they saw their sister stick her tongue out immaturely at the other girl.

"Oi, watch it Brown!" She snapped, before flinging herself at the girl. The blonde boy laughed again as the dark haired girl grunted in pain.

"Oops, sorry, Grace." She laughed lightly and turned to the two boys.

"My boys, Ollie, Ivan; how are you both?" She smiled as she pulled each one into a hug.

John and Gordon cleared their throats obnoxiously when the curly haired one seemed to hug her a little too tightly for their liking.

Calliope grimaced as the two boys –men –stepped forward to her and her friends.

"Guys, this is Aliona, Grace, Ollie and Ivan. I think you've met Ali and Grace before." She introduced her brothers.

"Dudes and dudettes, these are my brothers Gordon and John." She reversed the introductions.

"Hey, yeah, Cal, we met them – and your other brothers – at the end of year awards last year." Grace reminded her friend brightly.

"Anyway.. What do you want? I thought you'd have left by now." She glared at them menacingly.

"We'll meet you at 6pm here okay? Please try not to injure yourself further." The two Tracy boys bade the group goodbye before they headed in the opposite direction.

"What do they mean inj- ?" Ivan began but stopped as Calliope lifted her arm begrudgingly.

"Holy shit Cal! What the hell did you do?" Aliona screeched in shock at the cast that resided on her best friends wrist.

The brunette in question shrugged sheepishly. "They convinced me to go rock climbing and I – "

"You fell didn't you." Ollie didn't ask his friend, he stated. It was so like her to get herself into some issue every chance she could.

"Am I that obvious?" The Tracy girl raised an eyebrow at the simultaneous nods from her friends. "C'mon, give me a break! It's not like I do it on purpose!" She whined childishly.

Aliona and Grace rolled their eyes at her before linking their arms through the brunettes and steering her towards the nearest shop; the boys following along behind.

"To the shops!" Aliona cried.

Grace and Calliope shared identical grins.

"To the shops!"