Jeff sighed sadly the next morning, he had just finished with a call from Penny that was anything but happy. She had decided that she should call him before
delivering the bad news to John. She had tried several times the day before to get a message from John delivered to Victoria. Finally one of the guards had taken
the note and said he would deliver it, but Parker had witnessed the man throwing the note away after reading it. Jeff himself had tried to get in touch with the
lawyer with no luck. Either it had to do with the profile of the case or it had to do with how much power Jack's uncle really had. Jeff shuddered and hoped that the
latter was not the reason and that John didn't think about that possibility. Jeff began to consider cutting John's stint short and bringing him home where he would be
surrounded by a support system rather than millions of miles away and totally alone. Reaching a decision he stood up and went in search of Brains and his son, since
they were to take the next rotation.
After making sure that everything was fine with Brains on going up early he came back and sitting down pressed the button to call John. He became a little more
worried when after several minutes John had not answered. He was about to call Scott in to get Thunderbird Three ready when John finally appeared on the screen.
Jeff winced at the depressed look in his son's eyes, "John, Penny called me. Maybe you should come back down early. Brains and Fermat are getting their
things ready now. Scott can bring them up and get you. How about it?"
John looked down thinking about what his father had said, he shook his head as he looked up, "I don't think that is such a good idea dad. I'm not good company
and I definitely won't be any good going out on a rescue right now. This is the best place for me right now, don't worry I'll be fine. I just hate waiting is
all."
Jeff nodded sympathetically, "Alright son, but I'm going to have them stay on standby just in case you change your mind. I want you to call me the minute
you feel you need to come home, okay"
John smiled slightly, "I will dad, thanks. John out."
Jeff stared sadly at the blank screen for a moment before he realized that there were others in the room. Looking up he saw the forlorn faces of his other sons.
Scott frowned deeply, "Dad maybe I should go get him anyway, I don't like the idea of him being up there in his state."
Jeff sighed as his other sons nodded, "Unfortunately he's right Scott, as much as I hate him being up there alone right now, I would be reluctant to send
him on a mission right now. Let me think about this for a while and maybe come up with a better solution."
Reluctantly they agreed with their father's decision. But a solution was not able to prevent itself as fate saw fit to inundate them with rescues, but that helped in
itself. John was kept busy and had little time to dwell on his fears and regrets. Three weeks later, the same day he was to come home from space, fate turned again
and ripped the rug right out from under him.
