A call for help
It was just before Lunch when Scott was called to the radio by his brother John.
"Scott, I don't know what else to do." John confessed he was grimacing with each word as he sat doubled over. "My temperature is a hundred and two and it feels like I have a knife in my gut."
Scott sent for his medical bag and Gordon while he gathered all the information he could from his brother.
"Don't you think we should call Dad?" Gordon questioned when Scott announced to John they were on their way.
"Dad said he would be hard to get a hold of. Brains can tell him what we're dealing with when he next checks in," Scott spoke with his, father given, authority, "You saw John, we need to move it!"
Wasting no time at all Scott and Gordon used every thruster to get to Thunderbird five, the space station orbiting the earth, with record breaking speed. Racing on board Scott performed diagnostic tests including an ultrasound to find an obviously infected, ready to burst appendix.
This was out of Scott's league, he had to have some help. He thought to try and contact his father but what could his father do anyway? John couldn't wait to get back to earth in his condition, that Scott felt certain of. Hesitantly he dug into his medical bag and pulled the surgical kit out of the bottom. In a special sealed pocket was a pamphlet, on the front of it was printed, 'If you think you need this kit, open and read first.'
Scott cut the pocket open and pulled out the pamphlet opening it he read the large print.
"If you think you need this kit, you need to talk to an expert. Have all your information ready to transmit then call one of the following."
Scott quickly scanned the list of three names, only the last name on the list looked familiar and like someone he could trust, Laura Linstone.
Jeff was still standing in the parlor shaking the comic book in his hand. He had no idea what was going on but he made it very clear that he expected to find out, fast.
"Jeff this is going to take some time to explain," Lady Penelope was quietly trying to calm Jeff down, "and this is not the time or the place."
"Laura Linstone saved my son's life, she is the most unselfish person I've ever known I'm not going to let you take advantage of her because she is running herself ragged in some third world country and doesn't know what's going on."
Jeff stood his ground, he was careful not to speak too loud because he didn't want to upset his old friend that lay dying just a few yards away. Martin loved his Granddaughter who he had raised since the death of his oldest son and his family. Only LauraLynn survived to carry on. No matter how much trouble he had to bail her out of, she was still the apple of his eye. Jeff still couldn't stand by and let her steal someone else's work like this.
"This contract was Laura's idea," LauraLynn defied Jeff's claims, "Most of the proceeds will go to support her work."
"Jeff please, trust me," Lady Penelope pleaded in an intense whisper.
There was a stiff silence that filled the room as four people stared at each other. One angry the other three scared.
The silence was broken by the sound of a phone. After the third ring LauraLynn pulled the phone out of her dress pocket and placed it to her ear.
"Hello." LauraLynn said tentatively, never taking her eyes off Jeff. Then her face changed expression as she listened to the voice on the other end. "This is her."
LauraLynn then took a deep breath and gave the phone more of her attention. "What were those numbers again?" She asked over the phone her French accent gone again. "Did you do an ultra sound?"
"Okay, hang on a minute. I have to get to where I can receive your transmission."
LauraLynn then looked at Jeff and without saying another word grabbed him by the hand and began pulling him toward a staircase at the back of the house. Holding her dress in one hand and Jeff's hand in the other she began to scale the stairs two at a time, leaving her high-heeled shoes on the second step. After she reached the top step, she ran to another set of stairs and began to climb them with the same speed. Lady Penelope was right behind them, and Parker was at the end of the line doing his best to keep up carrying LauraLynn's shoes.
Onward and up ward they went, till they reached the highest room of the house. Huffing and puffing, Laura reached for a trunk in the corner and began to drag it toward the bed. Parker came forward, grabbing the other handle and helped to lift it onto the bed. LauraLynn placed the phone back to her ear as she unlatched the trunk with her other hand.
"Are you still there?" She asked. "Start transmitting your data to the frequency on the card next to my name." LauraLynn threw the trunk lid up to reveal what looked like a mini mobile version of the control room on Tracy Island. LauraLynn pressed a few buttons and in seconds her monitors came to life with pictures that Jeff didn't understand but LauraLynn clearly did.
Suddenly Jeff began to understand. He knew that LauraLynn had gone to medical School but after an explosion at the hospital where she was practicing it was believed that she gave up her medical license. The media had a field day with her name whenever they could, giving all kinds of unauthorized quotes and publishing all kinds of rumors. But as Jeff was watching he could tell clearly that the articles were wrong, she was a Doctor. Judging by the equipment that LauraLynn was using Jeff guessed she must work with Laura Linstone. Jeff looked LauraLynn over once again in her silken floor length gown and fancy hairdo styled to show off her famed and storied birthmark. Not to mention the life of comfort she was well accustomed to. Surely she didn't spend much, if any, time in the wilds of third world countries, living in a tent and treating dirty unclothed children and people with leprosy. She must be one of the people that Laura's group calls to talk them through a difficult procedure, Jeff assumed. Jeff even figured that LauraLynn could be practiced in the remote robotic surgery that was gaining popularity in remote regions of the world.
"It looks to me like you have a really hot appendix there." LauraLynn carried on like this was everyday business. "What's your ETA to the closest Medical facility?"
Jeff listened in, wondering whom it was that she was talking to.
Suddenly LauraLynn got a surprised look on her face.
"You're where?" LauraLynn exclaimed. "You're in Outer What!"
Jeff started getting a funny feeling as LauraLynn stared at him intently with a troubled look on her face.
"And just how many G's can one expect coming home from outer space?" LauraLynn asked, still looking at Jeff as she talked.
It was a good thing Scott answered her question because Jeff was unable to, having just realized for certain that she was talking to his son and if they were in outer space they were on Thunderbird 5. Suddenly Jeff was wracked with guilt. John had made mention of stomach cramps a few days before he was sent to do his tour of duty on the space station. Why hadn't he gotten him looked at before he sent him up there?
"He'll never make it home safely," LauraLynn spoke in to her phone driving panic into Jeff like a stake. "The G force will burst it, guaranteed."
There was a moment of silence as LauraLynn looked at Jeff then spoke into the phone again. "You know what has to be done, don't you?" she paused to hear the answer, "Are you up to it?" Pause. "What does your brother say about all this?"
LauraLynn looked at Jeff again and finally Jeff realized she was measuring him against the crisis at hand.
"Your father's here I think I better put you on speaker so he can hear what's going on."
LauraLynn held the phone to her side to mute the sounds in the room from entering the phone.
She took in a deep breath and let it out before proclaiming. "I can't think like this."
Then she did something that stunned Jeff even more. Pulling the hairpiece from her hair she gave a violent shake with her head and her hair fell loose around her shoulders.
As Jeff's jaw dropped she placed her phone into a slot in her control panel and pushed a button. "Can you here me alright?"
"Loud and clear." Scott's voice came from the trunk on the bed.
"You're coming in clear too. Now what's your brother's name?"
"John," Both Scott and Jeff said at the same time.
Jeff's eyes were still glued on this person in front of him as he felt a chair being pushed against the back of his knees forcing him to sit. With her hair down he finally realized that LauraLynn Mikealson didn't work with Laura Linstone. LauraLynn Mikealson was Laura Linstone.
But how could they possibly be one in the same? They are total opposites.
"You're… But… How?… Why?" Jeff stammered as he stared at Laura
"I haven't got time to explain," Laura answered while holding the mute button on her console, then in a serious tone, "Are we ready to deal with this matter?"
Jeff was jolted into the crisis at hand, he took a deep breath then nod his head. His lack of trust was gone; he knew Laura would do everything possible to save his son.
"Hi John, can you hear me?" Laura called out, "You're brother tells me your not feeling all that terrific."
"That's an understatement." John groaned, "I can't take this pain much longer." He pleaded
"Hold on John," Jeff spoke up, "We're working on it."
"John," Laura spoke, "The tests your brother took show you have an appendix that is about to rupture."
Laura took a deep breath and looked at Jeff before she continued. "It won't hold up during reentry back to earth and I don't think it's going to wait for anyone to get up there to take care of it."
"So what are you telling me?" John questioned. Jeff could hear the concern in his son's voice.
"How do you feel about being your brother's first surgery patient? I'm going to talk him through every step of the way."
In the space station John sat doubled over in pain looking up at his brother and swallowing hard. "I guess this is your chance to get even with me for everything I've ever done to you." Then speaking a little louder so that he could be heard over the radio, "Let's just get on with it."
Laura looked at Jeff who nod his approval, "Scott have you added anything to your medical bag?"
"No, just replaced what's been used." Scott answered quickly.
"Do you have help or is it just you and the patient?"
"Gordon's here."
"Get the Electro-stimulator out. Then show Gordon how to hold the ultrasound wand."
Laura gave instructions to use the Electro-stimulator to relieve some of John's pain while they finished setting up, then the moment came.
"Gordon, your job is to hold the ultrasound wand steady and to keep John entertained. Now would be a good time to agree on a war story or two you want to talk about for the next little while. Are you up to that?"
"That's easy enough." Gordon answered.
"Alright John," Laura looked a little nervous but she hid it from her voice as she spoke, "Are you ready?"
John gave his brothers each a good look then called out. "Let's go."
"Alright Scott your up." Laura positioned herself in the chair she was sitting in then reached for a cleansing wipe and removed her makeup to complete the transformation from LauraLynn Mikealson to Laura Linstone. "Turn the Electro-stimulator up one setting at a time till you get to setting 12."
"But it says right on the unit not to use a setting higher than 8" Scott challenged.
"You read instructions, that's good." Laura praised, "This is one reason there are settings higher than 8. It will cause temporary paralysis but we need that right now."
Scott looked at his brother and took a deep breath, John gave the signal to go a head.
"Setting 8, , 9, , 10, , 11," Scott counted out loud, "12"
"Alright Scott, this is it." Laura tensed up but still kept a calm voice. "There is a slight time delay from there to here so I want you to move slowly. I'll be watching every move you make through the ultrasound and I'll be talking to you every step of the way. Just remember to keep it slow and don't make any move until I tell you to do it."
"FAB," Scott responded hesitantly
"What?" Laura was confused.
"He's ready to go," Jeff informed.
"Alright Scott, insert the needle about one half inch at the mark you made earlier." Laura instructed while keeping her eyes glued to her monitor. "Now carefully hold the puncture sheath steady and at the same time carefully push only the inner tube forward. From now on, only work with the inner tube. Remember that there is a time delay, so only move a centimeter at a time watch for the end of the extractor to show up on the ultrasound."
Laura proceeded to coax every centimeter forward as everyone else in the room watched.
"You're there now Scott, dilate the extractor to setting eight and turn the suction on low." Laura continued talking. "The suction will pull the tube down around the appendix so just let it do its job. If it feels like it's snagging, dilate the extractor farther till it slips easily over the appendix. How's your patient doing? I'm not hearing any war stories in the back ground."
"He's glued to the monitor." Scott answered.
"This is pretty exciting stuff." John chimed in.
"We're almost done now." Laura encouraged. "The appendix is completely covered by the tube now. Scott you need to carefully close just the tip of the extractor and activate cauterizing. You do remember how to do that don't you? Have your brother twist the knob if you need to."
"Got it" Scott answered "I have a green light on the cauterizer."
"Hold the wand steady and press the button holding it down for the count of three."
After a moment delay Scott reported. "Done,"
"Now open the end of the tip and pull the wand back about two millimeters and do it again, This time for a count of five." Laura continued.
"Done," Scott took a deep breath and glanced at his brothers before concentrating back on the ultrasound monitor.
"Now let's see if we got it right." Laura watched her screen intently. "Pull the wand back very slowly, stop if you feel any resistance. You're watching for the tube to pull away from the colon freely."
All eyes were glued to the monitors and everyone was holding their breath.
"That's it," Laura let out a deep sigh, "You have successfully separated John from his appendix."
Everyone relaxed and let out the breath they were holding.
"Way to go Scott. How are you feeling John?" Jeff congratulated his boys.
"Let's not get ahead of our selves." Laura cautioned. "We still have to finish up."
The atmosphere returned to tense silence
"Scott, now I want you to gently pull the extractor out, it is bigger than when it went in so there will be some drag but the muscle and tissue will stretch to accommodate it. Continue the suction till you have the device out." Laura instructed, "Okay now pull the extractor out slow and steady."
There was a tense moment for Jeff and his group as they waited to hear from Scott.
"Done" Scott broke the silence.
"Now open the tip into a specimen container and reverse the suction blowing the appendix into the container. Then apply a bandage to the puncture site and get ready to put some feeling back into John's legs."
"I'm fine Dad" John called out into the radio. "I even get a glow-in-the-dark Band-Aid."
"That's great John, just don't get crazy I've seen what happens when you do too much too soon and it's not pretty," Jeff counseled.
"He'll take it easy or Scott and I will sit on him." Gordon added playfully.
Jeff noticed Laura sitting with her face in her hands and wondered about Scott.
"Your brother owes you a big one Scott, what a way to keep your cool." Jeff praised his son hoping for a response. He hated not having visual with his boys.
At the space station, Scott let out a deep breath; now that the pressure was off he started to tremble a little. "I suggest that no one is allowed to come up here unless they've already had their appendix out. I really don't want to do that again."
"You did great Scott," Laura chimed in "now you can claim to be a seasoned pro."
"I don't think I'm ready to solo yet." Scott clarified.
Laura instructed Scott on the details of turning the Electro-stimulator down slowly and started to discuss when John should come home from space.
She had just finished instructions when a voice came over the intercom in her room advising LauraLynn to join the family in her grandfather's room.
"I'll be right there." Laura spoke into the speaker her French accent returning, then she looked at Lady Penelope who had remained surprisingly silent so far.
"I guess this is it," Laura said in a somber trembling voice taking a deep breath and forcing control of her emotions.
"Mr. Tracy, you keep talking to the guys and if they have any difficulty, push this blue button here. It will trigger a vibrator on my watchband and I'll know to get back here fast."
Laura took hold of the doorknob and grabbed another deep breath.
"Milady!" Parker got her attention. When she turned to see what he wanted Lady Penelope silently touched her own face and hair.
Laura let a breath of air escape from pursed lips before closing her eyes and nodding, "right." She said then moved slowly toward a mirror.
"I'll fix your hair while you reapply your makeup." Lady Penelope offered and the transformation of Laura Linstone back into LauraLynn Mikealson took place.
Jeff silently watched the transformation take place with amazement at how different the two really looked from each other. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes he would have never guessed they were the same person. In fact he still wasn't sure he believed his own eyes.
LauraLynn stepped out of the room stopping to remind Jeff to 'buzz 'her if she was needed before shutting the door behind her.
With LauraLynn gone Jeff looked at Penelope and Parker but a quick shake of Penny's head told him he still had longer to wait for an explanation.
There was stiff silence in the room that Jeff would break every few minutes to check on his sons while Penelope paced back and forth and Parker checked his watch periodically.