Disclaimer: see chapter one
AN: Ooh- I'm so excited about writing this chapter! You'll see why if you read on.
A quick side note- for those that don't know, Vegemite is a yeast extract in a jar. I have tried the craving in this chapter, and it is not very nice. Please don't try this. It will make you sick, and you can trust me on that.
Chapter Twenty Six- The Hood Acts II
Scott and Virgil landed in New York. Scott was there for the second ultrasound scan, and Virgil had to go to Tracy Industries on Jeff's behalf.
"So, I'll see you this arvo?" Virgil asked.
"You know you will, unless I can sprout wings and fly home." Scott rolled his eyes.
"Point taken." Virgil was browsing through the car key collection.
"Virg, why don't you take the subway? It's faster than a car."
"I forgot my Metro-card."
Scott rolled his eyes again. "How can you be so organised when you paint, or are in a rescue, but be so absent-minded when you have to pack a bag or go on holiday?"
"Again, point taken. Now scoot, otherwise you'll be stuck here all day."
Just like the month before, Scott walked through the terminal, looking for a head of vibrant, red hair. He spotted her instantly.
"Hey there." He wrapped his arms around her swollen stomach.
"I was wondering when you would come."
"How have you two been?"
"I am fine. I am a bit worried about the baby though." Tash whispered.
"Why?"
"It's been four months, and I haven't felt the baby move. Not even one ki-" Tash broke off, as she felt a flutter of movement.
"I think you should stop worrying now." Scott murmured. He felt tiny fluttering from under his hand.
Tash smiled warmly. She glanced down at her watch. "We'd better go now, otherwise we'll be late."
The sonographer applied the gel to Tash's bump, and Scott wisely didn't say anything this time.
"Have you felt the baby move yet?" the sonographer asked.
Tash nodded. "Yep. It started earlier today."
"OK." The sonographer's hand moved around the gelled up area. "That's your baby. The fact that the baby is moving is a good sign." The screen showed the baby kick again. "From that kick, I can tell that your child will grow up to be a soccer player."
"It sure feels like it." Tash agreed.
The sonographer fell quiet, and she listened for the baby's heartbeat. "And from that heartbeat, you have one very strong, healthy baby."
Virgil sat in a board room, bored out of him mind. Why was he chosen to attend this meeting? 'Plastellique,' a plastic compound that was as strong as metal, didn't even interest him.
'Why couldn't Scott take this meeting?' he moaned in his head. 'He would actually pay attention to the meeting.' Hie eyes travelled to a clock on the wall. 'Only three more hours before the meeting is over, and I am free from torture.'
Scott and Tash had returned back to her apartment. Just like last month, they were sitting on the sofa.
Scott placed his hand on her bump. "Hey, it's Daddy again. Have you been good over the past month?"
The baby wriggled in reply.
"Yes, the baby has been very good over the past month." Tash agreed. "Except for the cravings."
"What's wrong with the cravings?"
"I have some in my fridge; would you like to try some?" Tash replied, indirectly answering Scott's question.
"OK." Scott then wondered what he had gotten himself into.
Tash pulled out a plate from the fridge. "Close your eyes." She instructed. She placed the plate down in front of him, and put a spoon in his hand.
Scott managed to find the food, with difficultly, and scooped some into his mouth.
He grimaced, and reluctantly swallowed the mouthful. "That's disgusting! What is it?"
"Peanut butter, jelly and Vegemite. I find it quite tasty, myself."
"I think I'm going to be sick from that." Scott moaned.
"You'll be fine, Scott." Tash dismissed his worry, and finished off the food.
Tash placed the plate in the sink, and sat back down on the sofa. Scott sat back down beside her, and placed his head on her bump. "I don't get it." He said to the bump. "How can you like that stuff? It's horrible."
The baby wriggled and kicked in response.
Virgil sighed in relief. He had survived the board meeting, and he still had most of his sanity left.
He glanced down at his watch. Five thirty. He pulled out his mobile, and sent Scott a text, telling him that he would be at the airport in forty-five minutes. Then they could fly back to the island.
The Hood stood in his temporary lair. "Transom," he called out, "is the software ready?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. The date for the blast is for today. Your one and a half months to perfect the software is over."
Transom tapped away at the keyboard on her laptop. "The date has been programmed into the bomb. All we need is someone to place the bomb on the subway."
The Hood's eyes travelled over to one of his inferior minions. He called the minion over, and explained the latest mission to him.
"And be warned. I will know if you have done it wrong."
Scott and Virgil were sitting on the sofa, in the lounge.
"You know, things have really quiet on the rescue front over the last couple of months." Virgil said conversationally to Scott.
"Yeah, they have. And knowing our luck, there will probably be a huge line of rescues coming up soon."
"So, when are you going back to New York?"
"Two weeks from today, for the next scan."
"Do you know what they're doing today?" Virgil asked.
"Tash said that they might catch the subway and head out of the city for some down-time."
Jeff suddenly sprinted in the room, John and Gordon following him.
"Turn on the news." Jeff's voice was urgent and harsh.
Virgil obliged, all five pairs of eyes were glued to the screen.
"There has been a series of bomb blasts on the New York subways. The authorities have started to clean up and have been arranging help for the injured civilians. A plea is being sent out to the Thunderbirds. If they are watching this, please come and help out in New York."
Scott jumped up, and ran to his portrait. He didn't even wait for Jeff to tell him that Thunderbirds were go.
Scott pushed TB1 to fly at maximum speed. Worry bounced around his head, teasing him and taunting him.
'What if Tash was on that train? Would she be OK? Would his baby be OK? Oh, God, what if she was-?'
Scott's train of thought broke off. He couldn't think like that. He wouldn't think like that. He had to stay strong, and positive. He couldn't afford to make this rescue personal.
"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2. I have just landed at the rescue scene. It's bad. Real bad. How far out are you?"
"We're battling against some headwinds. ETA is ten minutes."
"FAB." Scott glanced around at the surrounding scene. "Listen, I can't wait for you and John and Gordon. I'm going down there now. I'm taking the first-aid kit with me. Let me know when you land."
"FAB. Thunderbird Two out."
Scott carried out first-aid kit in one hand, and as a precaution, he took a helmet. He climbed down into the subway, and observed the sight before him. It looked worse in reality, than it did on TV.
The wreckage was tremendous. He pulled sheets of metal away and created a hole large enough for him to crawl through.
If seeing the wreckage was terrible, then listening to the agonising screams of people in pain and panicking was enough to make Satan sick.
"It's OK." Scott reassured the panicking masses. "I'm here to help. I need you to tell me if any of you are injured or hurt in any way."
"Most of us are fine. Just shaken up and a bit bruised." A civilian called out. "There is someone down further in the wreck you might want to go to. She sounded bad."
"Thanks for the information. Did she tell you anything else?" Scott enquired. Every bit of information would help Scott treat the person in question.
"Yes. She said that she was four and a half months pregnant."
Scott's heart stilled, just for a moment. He had to make sure that the person was OK. "I need to check on the other person. Will you guys be alright for a moment? My team-mates should be here in a few minutes, and they will get you out."
Without waiting for an answer, Scott crawled deeper into the wreck. He soon found the person he was meant to be rescuing.
His worst suspicions were confirmed. "Tash, are you OK?"
Green eyes stared back into concerned blue ones.
"Scott?"
AN: So, Tash has found out about Scott and IR. Will she be angry? Will Jeff be angry? Is that a stupid question? Find out in the chapter. Please review.