Disclaimer: I don't own the Tracys, International Rescue, or the Thunderbirds. Any and all stories I write in this fandom are a desperate attempt to maintain some semblance of sanity.
A/N: I had hoped that my muse would hang around this time but she took off again. Real life has been incredibly busy with work, committees, family, and now EMT classes/clinicals. Having said that, updates are going to be sporadic until June-ish or I take my national boards.
Little Brother, Big Protector
"Hey, Johnny, is you awake?" Not getting a response, Gordon stared up at the ceiling. Humming quietly, he went through his ABC's, his version of "I'm a little teapot", and finally to practicing his numbers. All were done in an attempt to keep his mind off an ever-increasing need. "Johnny, is you awake yet? I gots to go to the potty." Gently poking Johnny in the shoulder, he sighed, "You's going to be sorry if I don't make it to the potty. Sorry and all wet."
The blond rolled away from his brother…right off the bed and on the floor with a loud thump. Gordon scooted off the bed and stood next to his brother for a moment before running off to the bathroom. "Daddy, Johnny fell down and I gots to pee." His voice carried along the quiet upstairs hallway and woke not only Jeff but Scott and Grandma as well. Virgil heard him but merely pulled his pillow over his head and continued sleeping.
Jeff hurried out of his room and into his youngest sons' room. Johnny was still lying on the floor, curled up in a tight ball. "Johnny? Son, are you okay?" Kneeling down next to his quiet son, he reached out and brushed the blond hair back so he could see Johnny's face.
Tears slowly leaked from his closed eyes. He pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked around the room.
"Johnny?" Jeff made to pick his son up only to find himself knocked off balance as Johnny threw himself against his father. His small arms wrapped tightly around Jeff's neck and his little face was buried against his shoulder. "Shh, it's okay, Son."
"Where's Gordy?" His words were so quiet that Jeff almost missed them.
"Where's Gordy?" Feeling him nod against his shoulder, Jeff began to speak, "He—"
"I'm right here, Johnny. I had to get to the potty 'cause I had to pee and Grandma don't like it none when I have an accident." Sighing, he put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I reckon you should go potty, too. You don't wants to pee on Daddy."
Jeff shook his head, staring at his son. "Gordon, Johnny isn't going to do that. He's a big boy."
"I'm a big boy, too, Daddy. But Grandma says accidents happen whenever I'm around."
Reaching out, he ruffled the copper hair of his son. "You are a big boy." Johnny squirmed out of his dad's embrace and ran out of the bedroom. "Johnny?"
Gordon ran after his brother but stopped at the bedroom door. "It's okay, Daddy, he just went to the potty." He turned back to face his father who was staring at the floor. "Daddy, what's you doing?"
Jeff picked up a small toy from the floor and frowned. Looking back up, he stood and hurried to the bathroom. Johnny was at the sink washing his hands. Jeff picked him up and looked at him. "Johnny, did you get hurt when you fell?"
Nodding his head a bit, he tilted his head back. There on his chin where he'd gotten hurt the day before was some fresh blood. Jeff sighed in relief when he saw that Johnny had just irritated the scrapes, causing them to bleed a tiny bit. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?" Johnny sat still whilst his father cleaned his chin. Not once did he say a word. He merely stared at his father and communicated with a shrug, nod, or shake of his head.
"C'mon, Johnny, it's time for breakfast and Grandma fixed French toast," Gordon said from the doorway. "Do you know why they call it French toast?" Tugging on his brother's hand, he kept up his one-sided conversation with his increasingly quiet older brother. The younger boy didn't seem to be bothered that he wasn't getting a verbal response.
Jeff watched them head down the stairs, hand-in-hand. The rest of the day passed by with the boys playing outdoors. Grandma and Jeff watched as Johnny interacted with his brothers but continued to stay silent. "Gordon hasn't left his side, has he?"
"Not that much and if he does, Johnny follows him as soon as he notices it."
Unaware that they were the topic of discussion, Gordon and Johnny continued playing with their brothers. After dinner and bath time, Gordon firmly declared that Johnny was again sleeping in his bed. "I reckon he'll sleep better, Daddy."
"No, he needs to sleep in his own bed, Gordon," Jeff said.
Johnny stood in the doorway with his pillow and with a longing glance at his brother's bed; he turned towards his own room. "Daddy, please let him sleep with me? He gets lonely and scared and…and I wants to make him feel safe." Gordon continued to beg even as he was picked up and put in his bed. "Please, Daddy?"
Intervention came from Grandma as she carried Johnny and his pillow into the bedroom. "Gordon, lie down. Jeff, take Johnny's pillow and put it next to Gordon's. Johnny, I love you." She gave him a kiss and laid him down next to his younger brother. She tucked both boys in and leaned over to give Gordon a goodnight kiss as well. "Sleep well, boys. Jeff, tuck them in and come down for a nightcap." She stopped long enough at Alan's bedside to straighten his blankets and kiss him before leaving the room.
Knowing he was beat, Jeff kissed his boys goodnight and left the room.
"Goodnight, Johnny, I love you."
Johnny rolled on his side and faced his brother. Unsure and hesitant, he reached out and hugged Gordon. Surprised that his brother had instigated a hug, Gordon quickly responded by hugging his brother back. "Sleep well, Johnny."
Quiet as ever, he nodded and stared at his brother until his eyes slowly drifted shut.