7:58 p.m.

Virgil was asleep when Jeff finally returned to the hospital room.

He laid a hand on John's shoulder. "How is he?"

"Given the go ahead to have the operation."

Jeff closed his eyes for a moment, and John saw tension leave him. "Thank heavens." He opened his eyes again. "Your brothers have already left to get Brains, Tin-Tin and Kyrano. I'd hate for it to be a wasted trip."

"Just having the family together will mean it's not wasted."

Jeff smiled. "True."

"I guess you want to sit here?" John stood and stretched. "Any idea where Grandma is?"

"At your place."

John started the sideways shuffle between the bed and the wall. "Maybe I should head back over there."

"Good idea. It's dark and I don't like the idea of your grandmother walking the streets on her own."

"Why? Do you think the local muggers wouldn't know what hit them?" John waited until his father had squeezed himself back into the chair. "I set up a conference call with the guys and Grandma. ACE was with them in the lounge at the house, so Virgil was able to talk to them all. I think he feels better now that he's actually seen that everyone's okay."

Jeff looked down at his bedridden son who, aside from the wonderful sight of his chest rising and lowering, hadn't moved. "That's good."

"He wants to see the family before he goes in for the operation."

"We'll have to see if we can make that happen." Jeff looked back over at John. "I thought you were going to save the local louts from your grandmother's wrath."

John nodded, but seemed reluctant to leave. "Have you seen the house yet?"

"No. I've been in a meeting with Colin Eden. The FDA showed up."

Alarm showed on John's face. "They didn't try to stop the operation, did they?"

"They did. Carter Cyval stopped them."

"Good."

"Once the FDA had gone Colin told me that his daughter Ana is going to assist Brains."

"That's a good way of phrasing it. I don't think Virgil's that keen on the idea of a machine performing the operation, and it sounds better to say that, rather than she's going to assist Brains assist the robot."

"I'll talk to him," Jeff promised, "and make him understand that the robot's going to be under human control all the time. Also, Colin Eden's going to be the anaesthesiologist."

John stared at his father. "What!?"

"He's only been G.M. of this place for the last four months. He was the head of anaesthesiology before that… And his daughter's in her last years of training to be a surgeon."

John was frowning. "No offence intended to either of them, but neither of them sound like the best people to be performing an experimental operation."

"They won't be performing the operation," Jeff reminded him. "Ana's assisting and Colin's returning to his passion."

"Knocking people out."

Jeff chuckled. "If I could find two other doctors willing and able to fly here to assist, and they had the time to prepare that those two have had, then I wouldn't hesitate to employ them. But I honestly don't think that will be possible. I think we've got to trust Colin to make the right call."

"Do you trust him?"

Jeff held up his phone. "I did a bit of research before I came in here. Colin Eden was top of his field and Ana's consistently scored in the top 5% of her class. I don't think we're putting Virgil's life any more at risk by letting them assist."

There was silence.

"Are you all right, John?"

There was a pause as John thought. "I don't know, Dad… I don't know if I'm steaming mad or ridiculously happy."

"John?"

"Did you know that they're going to replace his fingers and his legs with fully functioning limbs?"

Jeff's jaw dropped. "What?!"

"Brains just told Virgil that they can replace everything and that, with luck, they'll be as good as new. We've been stressing over how Virgil's going to react to finding out that he's had his fingers amputated…"

"Having nearly killed him when we tried to prevent it."

Although he didn't understand what his father was alluding to, John continued. "All along Brains has known that the amputations are reversible! He even believes Virgil will be able to play the piano again! How come he didn't tell us!?"

"Calm down," Jeff advised, with a worried glance at the sleeping figure. "Things have been as stressful for Brains as they have been for us, just in a different way. We've always relied on him to come up with the technological answer and, for many hours, the one time that we needed him to pull something out of a hat, he couldn't. And since then he had to deal with people he only knew by reputation and trust them to save Virgil's life. And remember that's before he tried to fly to the States through a cyclone; and then believed that even though he had the solution he was too late to help." He glanced down at his son, but Virgil was still asleep. "I think I can excuse Brains from assuming that we'd realise that when he said this operation had the potential to lead to a complete recovery, that he meant a complete recovery."

"I don't want to be mad at Brains," John stared at his hands. "But I'm not sure that I can excuse him."

"You're tired, John. You're tired, and you're worried, and you're stressed. We all are. Once the operation's over and you've had a rest, I'm sure you'll be able to forgive him."

"I hope so."

So did Jeff. "I thought you were heading back to the house."

"I want to check the communications link."

"You can't do that standing there."

Jeff's son's blue eyes regarded the sleeping figure at the other end of the bed. "I don't want to leave him. Not without… Not without saying something to him. What if I never get the chance again?"

"John…"

"And even if the operation is a success it's going to be months before he'll be able to get out of bed, let alone come home. Brains says they're going to have to paralyse his body, including his lungs, and make him breathe artificially to reduce the stresses on his abdomen." John stared at his sleeping brother. "He's scared, Dad, and I promised him that we wouldn't leave him alone."

"And we won't," Jeff declared. "The only thing you need to worry about is making sure that there aren't any issues with the radio link between Australia and here… and that your grandmother makes it back to the hospital safely."

"W'r' sh'?"

John grinned down on his brother. "At the house?"

"H's?"

"The one the four of us bought. I told you… remember?"

Virgil frowned. "W'r'm I?"

"At the hospital."

Virgil's frown deepened.

"Don't worry about it." John tried to sound light-hearted. "You're in the best place to get better. And when you're feeling better we'll give you the grand tour. We've already got a room set aside for you."

"R'm?"

"Bedroom. You can decide what colour you want the walls and we'll paint it so it's ready when you're ready to move in. And now…" John pushed himself away from the end of the bed. "I've got to go and check that the robot's got a clear line of communication with Australia."

"R'b'?"

"The one that's going to… that's going to assist Brains with your operation."

"'Pr'sh'n?"

"The one that's going to give you back…" John received a warning glance from his father. "…Make you feel better. Brains would be here now, but he couldn't fly through a cyclone. Do you remember Brains telling you about the operation?"

Virgil's frown deepened. "N'. W't do?"

"It's going to repl… Repair…" John realised that he was beginning to sound a bit desperate. He took a steadying breath and shared a look with his father. "It's going to make you better, Virg, that's all you need to remember. Now I've got to go and collect Grandma, so we'll see you later. Okay?"

"'K'."

John glanced at the status board above the bed, noting that his brother's temperature had gone up a few points. Deciding, or at least hoping that this was what was causing Virgil's confusion, he resolved to mention it to the nurse as he left. "See you guys later."

"Bye, John."

"B'." Virgil's eyes drooped.

After informing the nurse of his concerns, John finally left the room, with the fear that the raised temperature would cause a delay to the start of the operation.

Virgil didn't awaken when the nurse came over to check on him. "His temperature's up a little," she confirmed, pulling a screen around the bed.

"He seemed more confused than he was earlier," Jeff told her. "Is that why?"

"Probably. I'll see what we can do to get it down again. We don't want anything to stop the operation, do we?"

Jeff agreed with all his heart.

"Sorry, but I need to get closer to examine him, Mr Tracy. Could you excuse me for a moment?"

"Of course," Jeff squeezed his way out until he was standing at the foot of the bed.

The nurse went to lift the sheet and then stopped. "You may not be comfortable seeing this. Perhaps if you were to stand on the other side of the screen?"

Jeff was about to tell her that, if anything, he'd seen worse in the past. That was until the sheet was pulled back and a single bandaged stump exposed. Then he went and stood against the far wall; out of sight of the nurse's examination, but where he wouldn't intrude on the other patients' space.

The man in the bed at the far side of the room still didn't have someone to sit with him and Jeff wondered what his story was. Was he alone in the world? Was someone missing him? Were his family frantically trying, and failing, to reach him?

Squashed in between a blood filtration machine and the middle bed, Billy Eagles held Angela's hand and talked to her.

There was a sound at the door and Amelia Eagles stepped into the room, looking just as frightened as she had earlier. Seeing her hesitate, her husband left Angela's side and took his wife by the arm, guiding her to their daughter's bed. Then Billy kissed Amelia on the temple, told Angela that her mother was there and that she was to behave herself, and left.

Once again Jeff's heart went out to the couple. No one could say that Virgil was out of danger, but at least they had some hope. All the Eagles had was fear and the vast yawning abyss of the unknown.

-F-A-B-

8:26 pm

Grandma Tracy was standing at the kitchen sink when John arrived at his house.

She turned upon hearing him enter. "Hello, John."

"Hi." John realised that she was up to her elbows in soapy water as a plate was carefully balanced against a cup. "Are you washing dishes?"

"Yes. The dishwasher isn't plumbed in yet."

"Oh." Without saying another word, John picked up a tea towel and started drying, only speaking to ask where a dish or piece of cutlery went.

Finally, her chore was finished, and Grandma wiped down the sink and taps. "You're quiet."

John grunted.

"Is something wrong…? The saucepan goes in that cupboard over there."

Her grandson obediently put away the pot.

"John?"

John regarded the tea towel in his hands. "I think I need a hug."

Grandma wiped her hands on a towel and then took both of his, leading him to the foot of the stairs. She stood on the bottom step, turned, and faced him, opening her arms. "Now it'll be easier for both of us… Come here, Honey," she said, pulling him into an embrace.

John held her tight; not saying or doing anything, just absorbing her love and the feeling of security.

Finally, he moved back. "Thanks." He looked down at the platform beneath her feet. "I shall always think of that as Grandma's step."

"Then we'll stay here." Grandma sat on one that was a convenient height, pulling John down next to her.

He sat on a step two lower, so they were at the same eye level.

Grandma took his hand between hers. "Why did you need a hug, Darling?"

"Lots of things. Because I'm worried about Virgil. Because in that short time that I was with him he seemed to deteriorate and I'm worried that when Brains gets here he won't be strong enough for the operation… Because… Because I'm mad at Brains and I don't want to be mad at Brains."

Surprised, Grandma chose to ask about her grandson's most unlikely concern. "Why are you mad at Brains?"

"I set up the phone so that he could explain to Virgil what the operation entailed, so Virg could make an informed decision about whether or not he wanted to take the chance."

"Which he did want."

"Not really. I got the impression that he was feeling like he was caught between a black hole and a supernova and that neither option was palatable. He was scared, Grandma, so scared that he was shaking. He seemed more scared in that hospital room, being given a chance of a new life, than he was under all that steel and metal, convinced he was going to die."

"And you're mad at Brains because he scared Virgil?"

"No. I'm mad at Brains because we've all assumed that once Virgil had the amputations that was it; his legs and fingers were gone forever."

Grandma's eyes were wide behind her spectacles. "Aren't they?"

John shook his head. "Virgil asked him straight out if he'd get them back. I thought I was going to be sick, thinking that I knew the answer and that Virgil wasn't going to like it… And Brains, calm as you like, said that if things progress as they should, Virgil would walk and play the piano again. Despite all the stresses we've been going through, Brains never thought to tell us not to panic if Virgil had to have major surgery to save his life." Dropping his grandmother's hands, John got to his feet and began pacing. "The last conversation I had with Virgil, back at ACE before everything turned pear-shaped and I cracked my head, was about how he was limping because he'd stubbed his toe. To most people that's nothing, but for the last, I don't know how many hours, I've been stressing because… assuming that he lived… I thought Virgil was never going to feel the pain of a stubbed toe again. It's been looping over and over in my mind how his life is going to change; be irrevocably changed; and how he would never be able to do the things that he loves, ever again… How he'd never be able to repair stuff again. How he'd never be able to engineer anything again. How he'd never be able to play the piano again… Yet Brains knew it wasn't an issue!"

"John…"

"I know it's been difficult for Brains, trying to find a solution from half a world away. I know he's worried about Virgil. I know he's having to put his trust into something that hasn't been fully tested. I know he probably assumed that we'd realised the full extent of the cure; he may have even thought that he had told us when he hadn't. I know I'm tired and that once the operation's under way and I've had some sleep I won't feel like this, but I do! And I don't like it! I just keep thinking about how sick I've been feeling over Virgil's future, and what Dad had to go through authorising the amputations, and what not having Virgil as part of the team means to International Rescue… If Gordon's going to be piloting Thunderbird Two, he can't pilot Thunderbird Four as well…"

A throat was cleared behind him. "Ah… John…"

John blanched and turned. "Oh… Ah… Hi, Bruce… Grandma and I were just discussing, ah…the… the chores that Virgil's not going to be able to do for a while. You know? Like…" He thought frantically. "Ah… The tennis courts' ride-on mower? We call it Thunderbird Two. And Thunderbird Four is… um…"

"John," Bruce repeated. "I've been to your place and I know the courts have artificial grass. I also know you guys are International Rescue… Remember? You saved my life."

John groaned. "Of course, you do." Feeling a fool, he slumped against the back of the newly installed sofa. "I'm so tired I forgot."

"When you're more awake I think you'll need to come up with a better excuse than the one you just gave me."

John managed a wry grin. "When I'm more awake I usually can. My brothers would probably tell you that I'm at my speak first, think second stage of tiredness…" He saw his grandmother nod. "And you don't have to agree!"

"At least you've answered one question for me," Bruce smiled at Grandma as John assisted her to her feet. "I wasn't sure if you were aware that they were International Rescue or not. I couldn't see how you couldn't know, not when you live all on the same small island, but I didn't want to risk saying something I shouldn't." He jerked a thumb at John. "Like your grandson here."

He fancied that he saw her swell a little with pride. "Jeff told me about his plans before he told the boys."

Bruce chuckled. "Wanted his mother's seal of approval first, huh?"

"He needed to know that he wasn't losing his mind in thinking that it was possible, and to get a second opinion about whether I thought the boys would want to join the organisation. I thought they were a little young to make such a decision, Alan and Gordon especially; Alan wasn't even a teenager; but I also thought that Jeff needed to tell Scott before he got so entrenched in the Air Force that he wouldn't dream of leaving. We both agreed that without Scott leading the way in the field, International Rescue was a non-starter."

"And Scott was the one of us who was the most convinced that the idea was stupid, impractical, and doomed to failure," John admitted. "Dad must have thought his dream was over before it had begun."

"My understanding was that you weren't that keen either," Grandma reminded him. She raised an eyebrow. "Something about not being able to put a satellite into space and keeping its location secret?"

John laughed. "I've never been so glad to be so wrong."

"What did Virgil think?" Bruce asked.

"He loved the idea; or at least loved the idea of seeing those machines that were only drawings on paper come to life. I don't think he thought International Rescue was a starter either."

"So, none of you were keen?"

"I wouldn't say we weren't keen. We could see the merit in an international rescue organisation, but I don't think that any of us in our wildest imaginations so much as dreamed that Dad would be able to make it work. And then he told us about this guy he was bankrolling who'd promised that he'd make Dad's dream into reality… And we all thought that Brains was a conman trying to scam Dad out of his millions."

Grandma snorted. "That boy? Your father would have seen through him right away." She turned to Bruce. "Don't forget to help yourself to some coffee."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll be awake all night if I do."

"Well the machine's always on. Tell the others that any of you can come in and help yourselves whenever you want it."

"Thanks… But…" Bruce became serious. "I know we all appreciate the fact that you've made this part of the house a communal area, but maybe you should consider keeping ACE away? In case you ever need to have a meeting about something that some of us don't know about?"

John shook his head. "We'll make Virgil's bedroom into a family lounge. Hopefully by the time he needs to use it, you'll all be back in your own homes."

"Not wanting to appear unappreciative of your generosity, nor wish Virgil a slow recovery, I hope we're back in our own homes well before he becomes an outpatient… Is everyone else at the hospital?"

"Dad is. The guys have gone to get Brains. Once he's here to oversee things then the operation will start." John remembered Virgil's confusion. "We hope."

"Well, I'm here because I've got some news that Virgil might like to hear. Mega… erm, I mean Mr Watts has heard from his family. They're okay."

Grandma clapped her hands together. "That's wonderful news! He must be so relieved."

"He's pretending that he hasn't been concerned, but we can tell that it's a weight off his mind. Even Greg's happy for him. He said that Mr Watts should let Mr T know his good news, but Mr Watts reckons that Mr T doesn't want to be bothered with something as insignificant as his Production Manager's family."

"But he should tell Jeff," Grandma stated. "He'll be delighted. Are they in Bearston?"

"No. At a medical centre not far from their home. From what I understand, George was in a recording studio when the quake hit. The building was old and made of bricks and couldn't withstand the shaking. It collapsed."

"Oh, my!"

"He's okay," Bruce soothed, "apart from some scratches and bruises, but he was trapped for some hours until a rescue team was able to get to him, and they've kept him under observation overnight. I think the worst injury he suffered is disappointment that his guitar was crushed in the 'quake… Maybe you'd better not tell Virgil that part," he added quickly. "It's probably not something that another musician would want to hear."

John nodded. "You're probably right."

"And Mrs Watts?" Grandma asked. "How is she?"

"Mr Watts didn't say, so I'm assuming she's okay."

Grandma turned to her grandson. "There must be some way we can reunite the family."

John thought. "We can't send Penny and Parker to get them. The roads are probably impassable in places and the last thing the local emergency authorities will need is a big car making a bad situation worse." He ran his hand through his hair. "Maybe Scott's got some ideas? I've got something I need to tell them anyway…" He raised his arm and then lowered it. "We are alone, aren't we?"

Bruce ducked back to the door and looked out of it. "I can't see anyone."

"Good." John raised his arm again. Then he winked at Bruce. "Thunderbird Five calling Thunderbirds One, Four and Three."

Bruce heard Gordon's voice closely followed by Alan's.

"Reading you, John."

"Strength Five, John."

"Scott's listening, but he's concentrating on flying the helijet. Who are you showing off to, Johnny?"

"Bruce."

"Yeah? Hiya, Bruce."

John twisted his arm so that Bruce could see his watch's face. But instead of the standard dial, Bruce saw two Tracys. "Hi, Guys."

"What can we do for you?"

John reclaimed his watch. "A couple of things. Firstly…" he glanced at his grandmother, who was taking her powder compact from out of her pocket and allowing Bruce to watch the larger image. "Brains has been thinking about Virgil's operation…"

"I should hope so," Alan said. "We don't want him thinking about anything else apart from getting here on time."

"He told me, well, he told Virgil, that he's come to the conclusion that there's a chance that the operation will be able to reinstate the amputations."

Gordon gaped at the tiny screen. "Virgil will get his fingers back?!"

"Yep. He'll even be able to play the piano."

"Legs too?"

"Apparently."

"Will they have enough material?" Alan asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… They're supposed to use the patient's own bones, and muscles, and nerves to start the rebuilding process, right?"

"Right."

"Right."

"But they've hacked off a heck of a lot already…"

"Alan!"

"I've got Grandma here, Alan, so watch what you're saying."

Grandma huffed. "I don't know why you boys think I'm about to faint at the merest mention of something unpleasant."

"Sorry, Grandma. But you know what I mean. Will there be enough, ah, tissue remaining to, erm, seed the framework?"

"I don't know," John admitted. "Brains must think so, otherwise he wouldn't have got Virg's hopes up."

"Maybe they'll do bone grafts or something?" Gordon suggested.

"He's going to look like a patchwork quilt."

"Alan!"

"Alan!"

"Sorry."

"We can ask Brains how he did it after the operation is over," John suggested. "The second thing I wanted to discuss with you guys is that Mr Watts has finally contacted his family."

"Great!"

"Wonderful!"

"Where are they, John?"

"Is that you, Scott? Still in the earthquake zone with no way to get out. Dad would want to reunite the family, but I think FAB1's not an option this time."

"I'd suggest that we collect them in this helijet once we've dropped Brains off at the hospital, but I don't want to leave there until after Virgil's operation. Also, as I don't think any of us have had a lot of sleep over the last two days, piloting's going to become dangerous soon."

"That's what I thought."

"Has Penny got her helijet licence?"

"You know she has. You helped train her."

"Give her a call, John, and see if she'd be willing to take this girl. We've hired it for 24 hours. And you'd better check if Penny's going to be happy night flying."

"Okay."

"It could work in our favour. It'll mean that Penny can collect the helijet at Bearston, go and get the Watts, drop them off at our place, and then return the helijet to the hire company. Parker can meet her there in FAB1. We won't have to worry about the helijet and can concentrate on Virgil."

"Suits me. I'll give Penny a call and see if she's willing."

"Thanks, John."

"When do you think you'll be back in Bearston?"

"We're approaching the coast now. Brains and Tin-Tin are about point eight three of an hour away from Tracy Island. All things being equal, we should all arrive at Barduq at about the same time. We'll be back in Bearston about midnight."

"About midnight? Don't you want to attempt a Virgil and give me your ETA down to the nearest second…?" John realised the tactlessness of his words. "Forget I said that."

"Go get some sleep, John."

"I'll get some sleep when we all can get some sleep. How are you holding up? Maybe you should get Tin-Tin to fly you back to Bearston?"

Silence on the airwaves told everyone what Scott thought of that suggestion.

"We'll talk to you guys later," John promised. "Call us when you get to Barduq."

"Will do."

"F-A-B, Thunderbird Five. Thunderbird Four out."

John chuckled at Gordon's pronouncement and relaxed his arm, giving it a shake to reinstate the circulation. "See, I told you International Rescue would have never got off the ground without Scott organising everyone."

Bruce was goggling at the watch telecom. "Now that's more convenient than a cell phone. Any chance I could get one? Then I could keep it with me at work without the brass knowing…" He grimaced. "…which is not the thing to say to my boss's mother and son."

John chuckled. "We'll have to see if we can make you into one of our agents, then Hamish won't be able to complain about you wearing it… I'd better call Penny." He raised his arm again. "John to Lady Penelope…"

FAB1's drive to the helijet hire company had been made in near silence. Lady Penelope, recognising her friends' preoccupation, had decided that it was not her place to try to make idle chitchat. She was therefore glad to hear from one of the Tracy Boys. "How may I help you, John?"

"Do you feel up to a bit of night flying, Penny?"

"I should enjoy it tremendously. In which craft?"

"The helijet. Sorry we're only using you as a taxi service."

"That is quite acceptable. Whom shall I be transporting?"

"The wife and son of ACE's Production Manager. George was trapped in a building and Mr Watts has only just regained contact with them."

"Then we shall not keep them apart for longer than is necessary. Where are they at present?"

"Erm…" John glanced at Bruce who shrugged. "We don't know. We'll know by the time the guys are back with Brains. We'll let you know in plenty of time."

"The helijet can comfortably seat six. Perhaps I can effect a rescue of my own and release some other poor souls from the continuing aftershocks."

John grinned. "That sounds like a plan. Once we've found out how you can contact the Watts family, can we leave you to make all the arrangements?"

"Of course."

"We won't need the helijet once you've finished your mission of mercy. So, we were thinking that you could return it to the hire company and Parker could pick you up from there. That way we'd fuel two Thunderbirds in one hangar."

Lady Penelope made no comment on the weakness of his metaphor. "This has the hallmarks of a Scott Tracy plan."

"That's because it is one. I'll get back to you when we've got more information, Penny."

"I shall look forward to it, John."

John lowered his arm and grinned at Bruce. "There y'are. Thunderbirds are go."

"Shall I ask Mr M. if he knows where George and his mother are staying?" Bruce asked. "We could make it a surprise for Mr Watts."

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

Grandma drew her Grandson's attention away from more frivolous thoughts. "Weren't you going to check on the communication link with the robot?"

John lost his grin. "Yes, I was. I'd better grab my computer and get back over there. See you later, Bruce." He headed in the direction of his room.

Bruce started walking backwards towards the door. "Will you let us know when the operation's going to start, Mrs T.?"

"Of course, I will," Grandma promised. "And we'll tell Virgil you're all thinking of him."

"Thanks."

Bruce disappeared through the back door, just as John descended the stairs again. "I'm sure everything's okay, I just want to double check."

"I know… John…"

"Yes, Grandma?" John was surprised when he received a peck on the cheek. "What's that for?"

"That's for not upsetting your brothers. Brains has enough to worry about without enduring a tense ride before surgery."

-F-A-B-

Far away and growing farther, a not too dissimilar conversation was occurring.

"Isn't that great news about Virgil's fingers?" Alan exclaimed.

Gordon nodded his agreement. "I'll say. Home wouldn't be home without his piano playing."

"We'll have to dig out some recordings to inspire him. It's going to be a long time before we'll hear him again."

"I can live with that, just so long as he lives."

"It's almost unbelievable. Do you think he'll be able to re-join International Rescue one day?"

"I hope so. Then he can take control of Thunderbird Two leaving me free to pilot Thunderbird Four. I hope Brains is right with his theory."

"Passing over the coast…" Scott looked up from the GPS. "The way you guys are talking, I'd almost think that you think that this is something that Brains has only just thought of."

The two younger Tracys looked at the helijet's pilot. "What do you mean?" Alan asked.

"I mean: Do you honestly believe that Brains has pulled the theory that they are going to be able to grow two legs and two fingers out of thin air? Something like that has got to have been thought about long and hard. They won't have had time to print out the appropriate bones and tissues if those researchers have only just concluded that it's feasible."

Gordon gaped at his big brother. "You mean Brains knew! And he didn't tell us?"

"He probably thought he had, or reasoned that, based on what the operation entails, we'd make that assumption. These last two days must have been nearly as stressful for him as it has been for the rest of the family."

Alan was frowning. "John must be really tired if he didn't realise."

"I think John knew, but he was trying to keep it from us. He didn't actually say when Brains came to the conclusion. He didn't want to upset us, because he didn't want us to upset Brains."

Alan flopped back on his seat. "I must be really tired if I didn't realise."

"We're all tired, Alan."

"Tired enough that you're going to let Tin-Tin fly us back to Bearston?"

Scott rotated his shoulders, trying to loosen the muscles. "Maybe."

Gordon grinned. "Tired enough that you're going to let Penny collect the Odonata?"

"No chance."

-I-R-

-F-A-B-

9:44pm

Back at the hospital Jeff had reclaimed his seat next to the bed; experiencing relief as the temperature gauge on the wall had fallen and Virgil's conversation had become more coherent and less rambling.

"Did Brains explain everything to you?" he asked.

"T'in' so."

"In that case, could you explain it to me? It all sounds like black magic." Jeff checked his watch. "They should be reaching Barduq any moment. Two hours after that and Brains will be in Bearston and they'll be able to start the operation." He felt the weak fingers tighten about his own. "Don't worry," he soothed. "Brains wouldn't put you through this if he didn't think it was for the best. Besides, you'll be sleeping right through it. You'll have one of the best anaesthesiologists in the country looking after you." He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

Next thing he knew, something electronic had started screaming.

Jeff's immediate reaction was to look down at his son to ensure that he was all right, but Virgil appeared just as bewildered as he was.

"Angela!"

Jeff's head snapped around to the bed next door. The amount of activity there had increased and, from Amelia Eagle's agonised cry and the purposeful way that the nurse was scurrying about, it hadn't happened for a good reason.

"Get out of the way!" the nurse demanded of the wailing mother as another nurse rushed into the room to assist.

"Angela!" Amelia cried again. But she didn't move from her daughter's side.

Jeff decided that it was time for action. "Mrs Eagles…" He stood, hurried around Virgil's bed as quickly as he could and gently, but firmly, took her by the arm. "Come with me. Let them do what they need to do." He guided her to the foot of Virgil's bed, so she could still see what was happening, but wasn't intruding on the frantic activity.

Angela's bed was pulled out into the centre of the room to allow the medical staff greater access to their patient.

"Angela," Amelia keened. "My baby."

"Your daughter's getting the best care possible," Jeff told her, and averted his eyes as more skin than he considered acceptable was exposed.

Amelia released a sob.

"Surgical team to triage room four. STAT!" someone told the radio. The radio responded with unintelligible noise.

"Angela!"

As she made a lunge for her daughter, Jeff struggled to hold the young woman's mother back. "Please… Let them do their job."

The sheet was withdrawn from over the injured leg and at the sight of the blackened foot, Amelia let out a little scream before burying her face into Jeff's shoulder so she couldn't see. "They're going to amputate!" She looked up at Jeff. "Aren't they?"

"I don't know," he responded; trying to be tactful even though he thought she was probably correct. "Is your family in the motorhome? You should be with Mr Eagles and Freddy now. Why don't I take you there?"

"I should be with Angela!" She pushed away from him. "She needs me."

Jeff caught her by the arm. "Angela needs the care she's getting," he told the distraught woman, as various pieces of equipment were hung off Angela's bed and it was manoeuvred towards the door. "You and your family need to be together."

"You don't know what I need!" Amelia hissed.

"I understand…" Jeff began.

"You don't understand!" Amelia pointed at the patient in the bed against the back wall. "Your son's still alive AND in one piece!"

Jeff, glad that Virgil was in the middle of one of his many micro-naps, didn't correct her.

Angela was being wheeled out into the corridor, and Amelia attempted to follow her. Once again, Jeff held her back.

"Let me go!"

"No!" Jeff softened his voice. "No, Mrs Eagles. I'm not going to let you go. Not until you agree to let the surgeons do what's best for Angela."

She let out another sob and all the fight seemed to go out of her. She nodded.

"Good." Jeff relaxed. "Now… How about I take you out to the motorhome?" He found a discarded box of tissues and handed it to her.

Pulling a couple of tissues out of the box and dabbing her tears with them, Amelia Eagles nodded again.

Jeff looked over to where a pair of brown eyes were watching him. "I'm going to take Mrs Eagles to her family. Will you be okay for a few minutes, Virgil?"

This time it was Virgil who nodded and Jeff, vowing that he was not going to waste any time, led her towards the door. Keeping a gentle, but firm grip across her shoulders, he turned the sobbing woman away from the theatres and towards the exit.

Despite the number of days that they'd been at Bearston General, Jeff still wasn't sure of the best way to the motorhomes. It was only by recognising and following a few directional signs that he found the most discreet way out into the carpark where the temporary accommodation resided. Walking through the darkness of night and hoping that he was heading towards the right one, Jeff stopped outside a door. He knocked.

There as a scuffling sound inside and the door cracked open a fraction. An eye appeared before, with a "Mr Tracy!" the entrance was exposed.

At the sight of her son, Amelia Eagles burst into tears.

Billy Eagles appeared at the door. "Amelia?"

"Angela's been taken into surgery," Jeff said quickly, mindful that the worst possible scenario was probably playing through the Eagles' minds. "I thought you would all prefer to be together until she's back in her room. I'm heading back there now," he added, "so I can call you when she's ready to hear you again."

Freddy's face was white under his black hair, but he nodded his thanks. "I don't have my cell phone. Can I give you Dad's number?" He dictated a series of digits.

Jeff entered them into his phone.

"How's Virgil?"

"Better than we could have hoped," Jeff admitted. "But he's not out of the woods yet. We're hoping that he'll be operated on in a couple of hours and that once that's over we'll have a better idea of his prognosis."

"I hope it works," Freddy admitted.

"And I hope Angela's okay," Jeff said truthfully.

Freddy managed a minute smile. "Thank you, Mr Tracy. I appreciate all you've done for my family; especially in light of what you've got to deal with."

"If we all do what we can for each other, we'll make this ordeal much easier to bear," Jeff told him. "I'd better get back to Virgil, but I'll contact you if I hear anything about Angela."

"Thank you."

Jeff was hurrying back to the hospital room before the motorhome's door had even closed.

"Shall I make us a cup of coffee?" Freddy offered.

His mother burst into tears again. "We should be with Angela!" she wailed.

"There's nothing we can do," Billy told her. "She's getting the best care possible under the circumstances."

"You sound like him!" Amelia flipped her head in the general direction of the departing Jeff Tracy. "He's got all his money and all he has to do is snap his fingers and the hospital comes running. All I could do was sit there and hope. And now Angela's going to lose her leg and maybe her life. I don't need his platitudes. Not when his son's still alive and in one piece."

Freddy, a steaming kettle in his hand gaped at his mother. "You didn't say that to him, did you?"

Amelia lifted her chin in defiance. "I did."

"Amy!" Billy scolded. "It's thanks to Jeff Tracy that we're here with Angela… And Freddy," he added belatedly.

Freddy put the kettle on the bench top. "Do you know how sick Virgil Tracy is?"

Amelia lost some of her defiance. "No."

"There's a reason why he's in the same room as Angela." Freddy sat down so he was facing his mother. "He's on amputation watch as well."

"But he seems to well, comparatively speaking. He was having a conversation with his father."

"I think they've adjusted his medication," Freddy admitted, "but I do know that he's sick… Really sick."

"He can't be that sick," Amelia persisted stubbornly.

Leaning forward, Freddy took his mother's hands into his own and held them tight. "The Tracys were told that Virgil had died."

Both of Freddy's parents were astonished by the revelation. "What?"

"But he's alive!" Amelia stated. "I just saw him!"

"I know. I think there was a computer error that happened when things were at the most hectic at the hospital. The Tracys were told that Virgil had died, and I was there when Mr Tracy told us… At least he tried to. He was too upset."

Amelia was beginning to lose some of her animosity towards Jeff Tracy. "How horrible!"

"It was after that that the family were told that Virgil was in a coma and was dying, and that each of them had only a limited time to say goodbye… I had to listen to Mr Tracy say goodbye to his son."

"Oh, that poor man! But he didn't die…? Virgil?"

"No… But when he'd come out of the coma, Mr Tracy had to tell him that he'd had both legs amputated."

Amelia Eagles stared at her own son. She now had an understanding of what Jeff Tracy had gone through and had to admit that that her fear of losing Angela had made her lash out at the nearest target; even though that target hadn't been deserving of her animosity. She reflected that there were some situations when all the money in the world couldn't help those you loved. "Both legs?" she whispered.

"And he's lost two of his fingers… so far."

Horrified by the scenario, and what she'd said to a man who had every understanding of what she was going through and more, Amelia's hand went to her mouth. "Oh… Freddy…" She resolved to apologise to Jeff at the first opportunity she could.

"I was there when Mr Tracy told Virgil that they'd amputated his legs. Virgil just…" Freddy grimaced at the memory. "He went crazy. I had to help Mr Tracy calm him down."

Amelia burst into tears once again. "Poor Mr Tracy. And here I go accusing him of not understanding! What must he think of me?"

"I don't know him that well," Freddy admitted, "but what I do know makes me think that he won't hold it against you. He knows that this is a tough time for everyone."

-F-A-B-

Jeff was thinking along those lines when he returned to Virgil's room. He looked at the recently vacated space and hoped that things weren't as bad as they feared. Then he walked past the machinery to the bed at the end of the room. "That wasn't too long, was it?"

He thought he saw lines of stress lessen behind the oxygen mask. He did see a hand lift off the bed as if his son was reaching for him. Taking the hint, Jeff struggled back to his seat and sat down, picking up the hand as he did so.

"I' she…" Virgil glanced at where the neighbouring bed had been.

"They're going to operate to try to save her life."

"Amp'ta'?"

"I don't know."

Virgil frowned. "Wom'n 'pset."

"Yes, she was. That's Amelia Eagles. Freddy's mother. Do you remember Freddy from ACE?"

Virgil gave a tiny nod. He glanced back over to the vacated area. "Fr'dy?"

"Freddy's sister. Angela. I think she's going to lose her leg."

"Bra' 'lp?"

"Could Brains help her? I don't know, Virgil. His focus is on you at the moment."

"Th'n 'lp 'er."

"We'll see," Jeff patted his son's hand. "We'll see."

-F-A-B-

9:44p.m.

"Barduq dead ahead," Scott announced.

Alan pointed at the radar. "Looks like we've got an escort."

A bright beam shot out of the darkness and lit up the runway. "Thunderbird Two to helijet," Tin-Tin's voice announced. "You can land first."

Under normal circumstances Scott wouldn't have any issues with landing the helijet in the darkness, but this time he felt tired enough to appreciate the chance to land in almost full light. "Thanks, Tin-Tin." He landed the aircraft, taking care to ensure that he left plenty of room for Thunderbird Two to land and then reverse into shelter.

The two groups met in the hangar, Tin-Tin hugging each of the Tracys in turn. "You look exhausted," she told Scott.

"Maybe not exhausted, but close," he admitted. "Have you had enough sleep to consider flying this girl?"

"I have."

"Would you mind?"

Tin-Tin knew that he wouldn't have made the request if he didn't have concerns over his own flying abilities. It made her glad that she'd made a point of getting regular naps over the last few days. "Not at all."

"Thanks."

"H-How was Virgil when you left?" Brains asked.

"Awake… Communicating…" Alan shrugged. "We, personally, haven't seen him since we had to… Were told to…" Just as tired as Scott, his voice caught as his emotions relating to the last words he'd spoken to his brother surfaced. Tin-Tin put her arms about him and held him close, and for once no one made a comment or thought anything of it.

"I am sure that they will permit you to see him before the operation," Kyrano offered.

"Even if they don't, we'll make 'em," Gordon folded his arms defiantly. "But I'm sure he'll want to see all of us, you guys too, before they take him in."

"And how is Mr Tracy? Mrs Tracy?"

"Grandma's happier now she's got a kitchen to keep her occupied. Dad… We haven't seen him for as long as Virgil's been awake."

"Mister John?"

"As tired as the rest of us. He was going to check the communications relay one last time to make sure everything's A-OK."

Scott indicated the big transporter. "Do you need anything out of Thunderbird Two, Brains?"

"N-No." Brains indicated a case in his hand. "I have, ah, everything I need here."

Scott turned to the Kyranos. "How about you two?"

"We have our bags, Scott."

"I require nothing more, Mister Scott."

"Okay. Let's get this show on the road." Out of habit, Scott almost climbed into the pilot's seat, veering off towards the rear door of the craft at the last moment. His brothers climbed in beside him, leaving the front seats for Brains and the Kyranos.

To be continued…