Disclaimer: I don't own the Thunderbirds, International Rescue, or the Tracys.

Search and Comfort

"Boys, has anyone seen Johnny?" Grandma asked, glancing around the toy and game strewn family room.

Scott shook his head. "I thought he was in the kitchen with you, Grandma." Grinning weakly, he added, "We'll get this cleaned up before dinner."

Virgil peered around his easel, "I saw Johnny going upstairs. Want me to go get him?"

"I can go and gets him with you, Virgie," Gordon volunteered. The two boys made their way around the toy littered floor and up the stairs. "Virgie, why Johnny not talk anymore?"

The older boy shook his head, "I don't know, Gordy."

Holding his older brother's slightly larger hand, he sighed, "I miss him talking and laughing with us."

"Me, too," Virgil admitted, looking into Johnny's bedroom. "Johnny?"

Gordon slipped under his older brother's arm and into the bedroom. "Johnny, where is you?" Dropping to his hands and knees, he peered under the bed. "Johnny, is you under there?"

"Gordy, why would he be under his bed?" Virgil asked.

"It's a good hiding spot for eating cookies." The younger boy stood up and dusted his hands off. "Oops, forgets I said that, Virgie, okay?"

"You'd best not let Grandma find any cookie crumbs under your bed."

A mischievous grin lit up his eyes, "I won't."

Narrowing his eyes at his little brother, "Or under mine or Scott's bed, either?"

"Okey dokey," he said, cheerfully. "Did yous find Johnny yet?"

Virgil rolled his eyes, "How could I find him if I've been talking to you?"

"Oh. Johnny, where is you?" Gordon called, pulling open the closet door. "Is you in here?" The two brothers continued to look in any possible place their middle brother could have hidden in his bedroom. "Virgie, he isn't in here."

"Nope, so let's go to the next room and see if he's there," Virgil suggested. He looked down the hallway when he stepped out of Johnny's room. "Johnny?"

Gordon shot out of his next oldest brother's room. "Where is Johnny?" He glanced wildly along the hallway, trying to find his brother. It didn't take him long to see what had caught Virgil's attention and had him running. "Johnny, what's you doing here?"

Virgil squatted next to his younger brothers. His attention to detail picked up what Gordon was too young to notice. "Johnny, it's okay to miss Mom. We all do and we wish you would talk to us again."

Pulling his afghan tighter against him, the silent blond stared at the closed door directly across from him. Tears slid down his face though he maintained his silent suffering. After a moment, he glanced up at his next oldest brother and pointed to the locked door.

Virgil sighed and shook his head, "You know we aren't allowed in there. Dad has the door locked so Mom's stuff doesn't get broken."

Gordon had walked over to the door and tugged on the handle. To his surprise, the door opened and he fell into the room. "It's not lockeded."

"Gordon, get back over here before you get in trouble," Virgil said, glancing down the hallway as if expecting their father to appear. Johnny made no move to get up but gazed into the room. Virgil kept his hand on his shoulder and could feel the tension leave his brother as a light fragrant perfume wafted into the hallway.

Gordon scooted back to where his brothers were, "It smells like Mommy. Has she comed back to see us?"

"No, Gordy, Mommy…" Virgil's voice cracked as he struggled with his emotions. "Mommy is gone and she's never coming home but…but she's watching over us…and loving us forever."

Johnny looked up at his big brother and reached out a hand to wipe the tears from his brother's face. "Yes." The single word was barely a whisper but the first time he'd spoken in just over a week.

"Yes what, Johnny?" Virgil asked, surprised.

Johnny shook his head and moved his hand down to his brother's chest, right over his heart. His eyes met his brother's as he tried to get him to understand. Gordon stared at his brothers for a minute. "Mommy in our hearts?" Johnny shifted his gaze to his younger brother and nodded. Gordon scooted closer to the blond and leaned against him. "Johnny, I wants you to talk to us again. I miss you reading to me. I reckon, I wants you to tell me about the stars."

Johnny wrapped his arm around his brother whilst leaning into Virgil. The three boys sat there long enough that Grandma came upstairs looking for them. Her sharp eyes immediately picked up on the open door before falling on her grandsons. A gentle smile lit up her eyes as she noticed that each of the sleeping boys were leaning against one another. Each comforting the other as well as drawing comfort that they so obviously needed and wanted.