I can't help but upload these chapters quickly. John and Karen are an impatient duo. And I love them for it, because I can be a procrastinator most other times and a kick up the butt is sorely needed.
Hello to all readers and reviewers, to the guys who've mailed me recently, lamsey2010, Spev and Fran and Donna with words of encouragement and orders to keep smiling.
Spev, thanks for the John Wayne inspiration!
Disclaimers: TV Verse. Tracys and other Thunderbirds characters belong to someone else, Karen and all Ocs belong to me.
Rated M for adult themes and swearing. (Not much in this chapter.)
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Karen's Monday morning alarm rang at 7.30am, rousing her out of a surprisingly deep sleep. She opened her eyes to find her vision impeded. For one horrifying moment she thought she'd gone blind, then she realised John's shirt was still draped over her head. She screwed it up and threw it off, pulling herself into a sitting position, yawning widely and raking tangles of knotted hair out of her face. She felt like shit. Alcohol was nice and everything, but she had never learned not to overdo it. Especially on a work night.
She swung her legs out of bed, stood up stiffly. Her back and legs ached, her shoulders throbbed. She was suffering the after effects of two solid days of sex, and all the bruises were coming out now. She wondered if John was feeling the same way- after all, he'd been taking most of the strain. His legs and lower back must be killing him, too.
She walked- wincing, and a little like John Wayne- to the bathroom, where she threw the oversized T-Shirt she was wearing into the laundry basket. She got into the shower and turned the water on. She stood under the warm jets, letting the water relax her. She remembered the antics she and John had got up to in here on Saturday morning. Showers would never be the same again.
She brushed her teeth in the shower to save time, and soaped thoroughly using almond shower crème from the Walburn's gift bag. It reminded her of John's naked body, lean and supple and golden in the glow of candlelight, of the way he looked at her through those cat-like eyes, that languorous smile weaving across his lips. She caressed herself and tried to pretend it was him caressing her. After a few minutes of unsatisfactory fondling, she sighed, rinsed herself and got out.
She grabbed a towel, went back to the bedroom to get dressed for work. Luckily she could dress casually for the library, as long as she was presentable and not in jeans or sneakers she could pretty much wear what she liked.
When she entered the bedroom, the first thing she could smell was John. Not just his shirt, but the very essence of him, strong and masculine. She filled her lungs with it until she got a dizzy spell. They had spent nearly two days having wild sex in that bed. She could smell his sweat and her perfume mingled together. There were still pizza crumbs scattered underfoot all over the floor and rug.
She picked up her phone and idly turned it over in her hands. He hadn't called since yesterday afternoon. When he had said "I love you."
Well, when he had blurted out "I love you."
It was not like a man to make such an extraordinary confession after two days. Men didn't say those three little words even after two years sometimes. Not unless they wanted something. Either sex or peace and quiet. But then, John was no ordinary man. He was very different. He seemed completely self-possessed with a quiet self-confidence. He wouldn't say something if he didn't mean it. He would not choose his words so lightly.
She put the phone back down on the bed and began getting dressed. Be careful, she told herself, pulling a yellow sweater over her head. Don't give him attributes that he may not possess. Don't over romanticise him. She had done that with Alex, and Alex had betrayed her in the worst way.
She pulled on a dark green skirt, smoothed the sweater over it. She slipped comfortable but trendy flats onto her feet, knowing she'd be running up and down stairs all day. She went into her tiny kitchen to make coffee and toast and apply her usual minimal amount of makeup.
She switched the radio on for the news, drank a small glass of orange juice, grimaced at the taste of it after just having brushed her teeth. She busied herself buttering her toast as the coffee percolated. She wished she had the guts to call him and say good morning. She didn't even know what time it was where he lived.
Come to think of it, she didn't actually know where he lived at all.
How had he managed to avoid telling her that?
He could be hours behind, or hours ahead. He could actually be in the same Time Zone. He might not even have flown abroad- he just said he was a long way from home, like Lucky Luke, the poor lonesome cowboy.
She munched her toast, poured a mug of steaming coffee. The newsreader on the radio was talking about property values. She hated the money report, it depressed her. She did the same thing she always did at this time on a work morning, she switched over to Rock FM and hoped they'd be playing a song and not just droning on and on about themselves. She was out of luck. The DJ was laughing hysterically about something that had happened to him at a party. She switched the radio off and stood at the window to start applying her eyeliner.
What would John think if she called? She looked at her phone, lying on the counter in front of her. It would only be to say hello. She had to get to work, after all. The worst thing that could happen would be that his phone was switched off.
No, the worst thing that could happen would be if a woman answered and there were kids in the background.
She sipped coffee, picked the phone up. She ran her thumb over the keypad. He said he loved her. How could he mind a quick hello?
####
John sat in the lounge waiting for Scott to appear. He just wanted to get moving now. Virgil and Gordon had already begun teasing him for falling into the sea with Tin-Tin. What were you doing in the sea with Tin-Tin, Johnny? Looking at her legendary water mamba? That had been Gordon.
She's very selective about who sees her water mamba. I don't think Johnny's reached the water mamba stage, yet. That had been Virgil. It had continued, on and on.
"Have you seen Tin-Tin's legendary water mamba, Virgil?"
"I've caught a glimpse, Gordon, I've caught a glimpse. It moved a little too fast for me to get a good look, though."
Then they had descended into childish innuendo and sniggering and John had got fed up listening to them. He had gone over to the sofa and plonked himself down with his travel bag. He didn't care how long he had to wait for Scott, he was staying right here until his brother arrived.
He felt the vibration go off in his pocket a split second before the ring tone started up. The sound caught Virgil's attention, and his older brother raised an eyebrow inquisitively. John dug the ringing cell phone out of his pocket, stared at the name flashing on the screen.
Well, hardly a name, just an initial. K.
He wasn't prepared for the way his heart suddenly lurched in his chest. He forgot where he was, what he was supposed to be doing. He pressed the green key and held the phone tightly to his ear. His palm was already sweating.
"Hello?" he uttered, his throat dry.
"Heyy." her voice was warm and soft and laced with relief. John could hear the sounds of a busy street in the background, and the tap, tap, tap of her footsteps. "How are you?"
"I'm good," he said, his heart beating nineteen to the dozen. "How are you?"
"I'm good too. I'm just on my way to work, it's kinda noisy." On cue, a car horn blared.
"Was that a car?" John asked. "Honey, are you crossing the road?"
She laughed. "No, John, that wasn't me. I'm nowhere near the road, don't worry."
"Okay, but you shouldn't talk on your phone when you're crossing the road. Promise me you won't do that, okay?"
"I promise," she said, solemnly. "So? What are you up to, honey? You at work yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm just waiting for my transport..."
At that moment Scott appeared, his loud voice carrying into their conversation as he passed the sofa and went over to his father's desk. Jeff was somewhere in another part of the house, possibly Brains' lab. If he had been in the lounge, John would not have answered his phone.
"Who's that?" asked Karen.
"Uh, that's my brother. The test pilot."
Another car horn blared.
"Karen, I'm not happy with you talking on the phone in the middle of traffic," John said, his voice almost pleading. "It ruins your concentration. You could get hit."
"John, baby, I'm nowhere near the road, I promise." There was laughter in her voice, and the way she called him 'baby' made his head spin.
Scott came over to the sofa and landed on it with a thud. "Hey, Space cadet. You ready?"
John looked at Scott with just a little irritation, pointing at the phone pressed against his ear.. "Yeah, I'm just talking to..."
"Don't worry, keep talking. We'll get going, anyway. Virgil, send us down, will you?"
Virgil acknowledged Scott's request and activated the controls that operated Thunderbird 3's secret sofa transportation system.
John had already said his goodbyes earlier, but rapid movement caught his eye and he looked up just as Gordon and Tin-Tin rushed into the lounge from the balcony and started waving madly at him as the sofa began descending through the floor.
"Goodbye, John! Goodbye! See you in four weeks time! We love you!" cried Tin-Tin, her musical, lilting voice carrying straight down John's phone and into Karen's ear.
"Goodbye, guys," John answered, waving back, acutely conscious of the silence that had formed on the other end.
The sofa descended from the lounge and the empty one passed them on the way up. Scott sat a mere foot away, a smile playing on his lips, pretending he hadn't heard. John pulled a face. His eldest brother was far too knowing at times.
"Who was that?" Karen asked at last.
He knew the question had been coming. "That was Tin-Tin," he replied. "She lives with us. But, before you draw any conclusions, there's no need to worry about her, she's heavily involved with my brother."
"The test pilot?"
"No, the one who likes cars. The test pilot hasn't been out with a girl in years." He squirmed sideways as Scott gave him a playful, though still quite solid, punch on the arm.
Scott pulled John's phone away from his ear and despite John's indignant protests spoke directly to Karen. "Hey, the test pilot's seen more action in the last year than Mr. Moonlight here has seen in the last decade."
"Well, whoever you are, he's certainly been making up for lost time," Karen retorted, "If you know what I mean."
Scott gave a hearty laugh. "I'm Scott. I make sure he stays out of trouble. Actually, I make sure they all stay out of trouble."
"And do they?"
"No, not really. But it doesn't stop me trying."
"Can I have my phone back, please?" said John, making a grab for it.
"I'm Karen," she said to Scott. "I'd be happy to take over from you if you wanted. I like it when John's a bad boy."
John finally succeeded in wrestling the phone away from his laughing brother just as they approached the final part of the journey to Thunderbird 3's vast hangar beneath the Round House.
"Whatever it was you said to him, he's got a great, big smirk on his face now," John told her.
"He seems nice," Karen said, the smile coming out in her voice, "if a little dominant. But I'd much rather talk to you."
"I know. Me too. It's too bad, huh. I wish I'd..." he stopped, acutely aware of Scott, and what he had almost said out loud. I wish I'd never come home.
"I know. Life's a bitch, baby. I miss you already. The bed was way too empty when I woke up."
"Mine was too." John looked up. The sofa was beginning its ascent into the bowels of Thunderbird 3. He was going to have to end the call. "Listen, sweetheart, I have to go now. Scott and I are travelling in a minute, and you know how I feel about phones and concentration and stuff."
"I know, my darling. You're a Major League worrywart," she chuckled.
"That's me," he concurred with a smile. "Anyway, Karen, I promise I will call you later on, when I'm settled at work. Okay? I promise."
"Okay. John, I miss you. I really do miss you."
They were inside the huge red rocket now. Scott made a sympathetic face and a winding up motion with his hand. John nodded, briefly held up a finger. "Karen, I miss you too, And you know what I said yesterday, I realise it was a bit abrupt and everything, but...I meant it. Really."
Scott tapped his watch. John nodded. "Baby, I really, really have to go. Scott's having a cow. I'll talk to you soon. Have a great day at work, okay? Be safe."
"I will, John, I will. I...I love you too. 'Bye, sweetheart, 'bye. Talk to you later."
Karen hung up first. John sat on the sofa staring at the blank screen, hardly believing what he'd just heard. She loved him too.
"Come on, Romeo," said Scott, giving John a brotherly squeeze around the shoulders, trying to shake the look of happy bewilderment off John's face. "Get yourself up into that command module. You remember how to fly this thing, don't you?"
"She just told me she loves me," John uttered. "Scott, she just told me she loves me."
"Well, that's great, isn't it? She feels the same way you do. What's the problem?"
"There isn't one. I guess."
"Well, stop looking like someone who lost a hundred dollars and found ten. Move your skinny butt into that command module and get us out of here. I'll come up in a few minutes and you can do all the crying you want." Scott swivelled John by the shoulders towards the elevator shaft and gave him a gentle push. John stepped into the elevator without another word, and rode it up through the belly of the great rocket into the command module situated in the nose cone.
Once in the command module, John activated the switch that opened the recess where all the uniforms were kept. Spare ones for all of them, with Tin-Tin's and Brains' having recently been added. He rotated the circular rack until he found his. He pulled it off the hook and held it up.
As he began stripping off, he thought to himself that if there was one thing that made him feel proud of who he was, it was this innocuous looking pile of blue and lilac. Pulling the uniform trousers up his legs, he began to feel his identity altering. Pulling the top half over his head, he started feeling like a different man. When he slipped his feet into the lilac trimmed blue boots, he felt himself stand taller. And when he settled the lilac sash emblazoned with the powerful insignia of International Rescue onto his left shoulder, he felt complete.
No-one had been vain enough to install a full-length mirror in the command module of Thunderbird 3, but John knew what he looked like in his uniform. He looked like a forceful, intelligent, capable man. That wasn't vanity, that was understandable pride in who he was and what he stood for.
If Karen could see him now.
He settled himself into the command chair and activated the control panel. Thunderbird 3 whined and then roared as it woke up. The whole ship shuddered, straining at the leash like a greyhound. John engaged ignition, and the tremors increased as the huge rocket began to lift, rising steadily up through its hangar, through the middle of the Round House, and onwards on its journey into space and the place John Tracy liked to call his second home.
####
Karen skipped up the library steps and entered the building. Her first encounter was with a woman called Cathy who warned her that she was late.
"Three minutes," said Karen, looking at her watch.
"Teela's on the rampage this morning," Cathy responded. "She's out for blood."
"Why, did someone return their Danielle Steel a day late?" Karen muttered. Teela Murphy was their supervisor. A more catty, shrewish woman she had yet to meet.
"She got me for talking to Anise from the Languages Department. Bitch."
"Well, I don't give a crap about Teela today. I've got other things on my mind. First though, I need a coffee."
She went into the staff quarters and put her bag in her locker. Then she went over to the kitchenette area and filled the kettle over the sink full of cold tea bags. Didn't anybody clean up in here? John would have a fit if he saw this mess. Not just cold tea bags, but circular coffee stains all over the counter and sticky puddles of spilled sugar. They'd have ants before long if they weren't careful. She grabbed a cloth and began wiping.
"Ah, Miss Meadows."
Karen felt her stomach clench. Teela Murphy. Not now.
"You're late."
"Three minutes, big deal," Karen muttered. She turned to look at her po-faced supervisor. "I have time for a coffee," she said calmly.
"Make it quick," said Murphy, and stalked out again.
Karen flipped the middle fingers of both hands at the woman's receding back. "Swivel on these," she said under her breath.
She took her coffee and went to sit by the window. The view from it was singularly uninspiring, just a concreted yard with some bicycles chained to a series of metal U-poles, some ornamental flower pots and some garbage bins. There was a cat nosing around and some pigeons strutting in circles around each other. She put her chin in her hand and drifted off into space.
What she wanted to do today was investigate John Tracy. Just to see if there was anything he wasn't telling her. She wanted to find his books, read the sleeve notes. She wanted to find a picture of him and gaze at it all day. She was going to take his books home with her and read the very words he had written. She wanted to immerse herself thoroughly in his world of constellations and star maps. She reached up and touched her nose. He called my freckles stars, she thought dreamily.
"Oh my God, Karen," said Cathy, coming into the staff room. "Don't let Teela catch you staring out the window. You need to get up on the second floor pronto. There's children everywhere."
"Dinosaur exhibition again?" Karen smiled. Their library catered well for school parties. The children's section was full of different exhibitions at different times of the year. They were affiliated with the museum three blocks down and often the teachers would bring the children in to learn more about the museum's offerings in a more controlled environment. Not that the children ever remained controlled.
Karen drank the remains of her coffee and got up to start the day. This was going to be fun. She loved the kids. She always had a laugh watching them running around. They really seemed to enjoy learning when it was made fun. She wondered what John thought about kids. Obviously he didn't have any of his own, but she could picture him showing them the stars through a telescope, talking at great length about the Magellanic Clouds. Perhaps he'd take them to an observatory. She imagined he'd be fantastic with children.
She shook her head quickly to get rid of the thought that was already forming, of a little tow-headed blond boy looking up at her with John's eyes and calling her "Mommy." Get a grip, Meadows, she told herself. Thinking about that already! How to make a man run a mile in the opposite direction!
But it was hard not to think along those lines when you loved someone the way she had already begun to love John. Anyway, fantasies were okay, weren't they?
It's not as if fantasies ever came true.
####
With Thunderbird 3 well on its way, John gave Scott permission to come up to the command module. Scott arrived a couple of minutes later, grinning at the sight of John sitting smartly at the controls in his uniform.
"I see it didn't take long for you to get back into the swing of things," he observed.
"Someone has to keep the show running smoothly," John replied, arching his golden eyebrows.
"Alan's sure gonna be glad to get home, anyway. Five weeks away from Tin-Tin?" Scott made a whistling noise through his teeth. "I'm just glad my room isn't next to theirs."
"I just hope he hasn't clogged the drainage pipes with wads of tissue, if you know what I'm saying," said John.
"John, I do know what you're saying, and thank you for the mental image."
"You're welcome. I'm the one who's gonna have to clean them out, anyway."
"So, moving swiftly on," said Scott. "This Karen. Love, huh? For both of you?"
"Yeah," said John, blushing. "Crazy, isn't it? My whole life has changed after just one weekend. It's pretty incredible to think that four days ago I was on my own, and now I'm head over heels in love with the most amazing woman I've ever met. Am I dreaming?"
"No, John, there's no way I would appear in one of your dreams by choice," Scott teased. "This is real, buddy."
"The only problem is dad. How do I break the news? 'Dad, I think I've met my future wife and mother of my children. Is it okay if I tell her about our organization?' I think, Scott, and this is just a wild guess, that he'd hit the roof."
"I don't know, John. If you were genuine and he knew it was serious, there's be no point in him hitting the roof. He'd have to accept it, eventually. You're a grown man, after all."
"He'd make it difficult though. I'm dreading ever inviting her over to the island and going through all that Operation Cover Up business. Virgil lolling around in a cravat and everyone acting like nonchalant rich kids."
Scott laughed, shook his head amiably. "But you know that business is necessary, John. Dad's right to worry in a way. We can't afford any of our secrets to leak out. No matter that Karen sounds like the nicest girl in the world, dad still needs to be convinced."
"I'll need to talk to him soon." said John. "Just to get it over with."
"Well, maybe when you're settled back into your routine and you and dad are communicating every day, you can find a quiet time, say when he's just checking in, to tell him. Try and catch him when he's having his after dinner brandy."
John smiled. "Maybe I'll wait until he's had two, and have one myself."
"So, you had a Girls' Night In with Tin-Tin and told her. It won't be long before Alan finds out. You going to tell him yourself?"
"No. You can do it on the journey back to Base. I'm not in the mood for a million questions from Alan right now."
"Okay, if you want me to. Then that just leaves dad who doesn't know."
"And Brains."
"Brains?" Scott grinned. "I wouldn't be so sure Brains doesn't know."
"He can be a dark horse," John admitted. "Anyway, please tell Alan to keep it from dad. I just need to work out a plan of action. I'd have egg on my face if this didn't work out and I'd already convinced everyone I was one step away from the altar."
Scott stared at his younger brother wide-eyed. "Man. You really do have it bad, don't you?"
"I do indeed have it bad, Scott. It's killing me to be away from her right now."
Scott put his arm around John's shoulders. "Listen to big brother," he said. "Everything will be all right. Keep that sharp little chin of yours up. You're in the uniform, Johnny. The uniform. The best goddamned uniform in the world. And out of the world, too."
John puffed his chest out. "Damn right I am," he said in his most manly tone. Which was actually quite manly when he thought about it.
"Karen should see you now," Scott shook his head. "Damn, she'd be impressed."
"I'd show her, huh. International Rescue's finest."
"Actually Johnny, International Rescue's finest would be me, but I'll let you have that one for now. Seeing as it makes you feel better and all."
John laughed, gave Scott's hair a ruffle. "What did I tell you, Scott? My lady prefers brains over brawn."
"And don't I have them both?" Scott smiled sweetly, batting his surprisingly long eyelashes.
"Ah, maybe, but you don't got what I got." John tipped his eyebrow, gave Scott the look that said 'beat that'.
"I got something similar. Works just as well."
"I bet it doesn't."
They bantered back and forth about the functionality of each other's attributes for a while, and then John picked up the signal from Thunderbird 5 that effectively acted as a tractor beam, setting the huge rocket on a steady course towards the entrance of the space station's docking tube and eventually guiding her in.
"You're going to be okay, John," said Scott, warmly. "You can get through these next four weeks easily. You'll have the supply run in two weeks, that'll break it up a bit. I'll try to come back then if you want."
John looked at his brother with fondness. Scott could be quite perceptive at times. Especially when it came to his family. "Sure, Scott. Be nice to see you. Thanks, I appreciate it."
Scott grinned, thumped his brother on the back, winding him slightly. "Okay. Let's get this baby docked. Our little brother will be climbing the walls by now."
Thunderbird 3 locked successfully into the boarding tube and powered down. John bid his brother farewell and climbed out into the access tunnel. No sooner had his booted foot touched the metal floor than the entry hatch slid open and Alan appeared in the space beyond, frowning and tapping at his watch. "What time do you call this?" he muttered, shaking his white blond head in exasperation.
"Eleven forty three?" replied John coolly.
"Funny guy. I see you haven't changed."
"Alan my man, little do you know." John stepped through the hatch, put his bag down on the floor and enveloped Alan in a bear hug, surprising the youngest Tracy into silence. "Good to see you, fella. I'll excuse your lack of manners for now."
"Ah, you know I'm only joshing," Alan said, clapping his brother on the back. "Good to see you too, bro. Nice vacation?"
"The best, Alan, the best. Scott will fill you in on the details."
"Why can't you?"
"Because you need to get back to Base,and besides, I don't think I could take any more teasing right now. I've had an earful of it from Gordo and Virgil already."
Alan's blue eyes grew wide. "You met someone. Oh my God, you met someone! You're blushing!"
John grinned. "Yep, I met someone. But like I said, Scott will tell you. He'll also tell you not to breathe a word of it to dad. Loose lips sink ships, okay Al?"
"Duh, John, I know how to keep a secret. Well, I'll be. John Tracy has a girlfriend!" Chuckling with considerable amusement, Alan picked up his own bag and made for the access tube. He stepped through, then turned back just before John closed the hatch. "And you actually came back to this?"
"Okay, Alan, I'm warning you, get moving before I throw something at you."
Laughing, the youngest Tracy brother disappeared down the tunnel and John pressed the button that would close the hatch and seal him inside the artificial atmosphere of Thunderbird 5 for the next four weeks. The hatch slid down with a soft hiss and a clunk. Well, that's it now JT, he thought. No getting away from it. Four more weeks of non-stop solitude.
####
Karen worked diligently all morning, picking up books that the children had discarded and retrieving small plastic dinosaurs from beneath tables. She directed old ladies to the Romantic Fiction section, knowing full well they were after the racy stuff. She directed a monotone-voiced gentleman towards the elevators and let him talk to her about the knee operation he'd had which meant that he couldn't climb up too many stairs. She chased a couple of teenage boys away from the restrooms, certain that they had been intending to smoke an illegal substance in there. She warned them that if they didn't leave the premises then she'd call for security. She ignored their insolent cat calls as they slunk away, scowling.
And people thought libraries were nice, quiet places.
When her first coffee break arrived, instead of heading down to the staff quarters, she went to the computer room and found a quiet terminal away from prying eyes. She sat down and logged in and called up the search engine. She typed in the name John Tracy and waited for the information to load.
She was surprised when the first John Tracy description fitted him exactly. She hit the link and waited another few seconds while the computer went through the motions.
And then there he was. A beautiful picture of him standing proud in a charcoal grey suit jacket and white turtleneck sweater, in what looked like an observatory setting, a large gleaming telescope positioned behind him.
'John Tracy, astronomer and respected author', stated the caption. She gazed adoringly at the photo for a few moments, refamiliarising herself with his features, remembering what it felt like to kiss those soft, curved lips, stroke that gleaming hair. His forelock had been tamed back, but she knew it was only for the photo. Within ten minutes it would have been flopping down over his forehead again. She smiled. She touched the computer screen, feeling like a lovelorn teenager.
She went on to read the information given.
'John Tracy, third son of eminent former astronaut Jefferson Tracy, has written several books on astronomy and related subjects. He has also discovered a new quasar system now known as the Tracy System in honour of his father.
John Tracy was born and raised in Kansas, USA. He attended Harvard University where he studied electronics and laser communications. His passion for all things astronomical led him to train as an astronaut and has enabled him to follow in his father's footsteps.
Further information on astronomy and related subjects can be found at...'
There followed several links that Karen didn't really have time to look at. Besides, she was too busy staring at that last sentence. An astronaut?
She sat back, her eyes wide.
Her John was an astronaut?
####
To be continued...