~#~ (Chapter 36)
Jeff, Grandma and the boys spent another half an hour in the seclusion of the sitting room before splitting off and spreading out all over the house. Grandma, confident that Kyrano wouldn't question her about the family meeting, retreated to the kitchen to help the Malaysian man put together the evening meal. Gordon went straight out to the pool and quickly swam several lengths but his heart wasn't really in it and he soon gave up, flipped onto his back and floated, deep in thought, on the surface of the water.
Virgil stayed on the sofa for a short while before getting slowly to his feet and heading for his piano. Jeff looked as if he was going to follow but Scott jumped up before he could manage it. "I've got him," he whispered as he moved to follow Virgil from the room.
Jeff sent a worried look in Virgil's direction and then gave Scott a tight smile before reaching out to clasp his eldest son's hands tightly as he walked by. Scott started slightly as Jeff clung to him but as he looked deep into Jeff's eyes it was immediately obvious how worried the older man actually was. "Don't worry, Father. We'll be fine…Tracys stick together, remember?"
Jeff nodded and sunk back against the edge of his desk before looking up at the still-live feed from Alan. "You going to be alright up there on your own?" he asked. "I promise I'll do all I can to get you back on terra-firma just as soon as I can. OK?" Alan nodded so Jeff continued. "I'm going to call Penny in a moment so I can let her and Brains know what's going on. At the same time I'll try to get a better indication as to when Brains is likely to return. In the meantime, I know there's been a lot to take in this afternoon so I'll tell you what I told John…if you feel the need to talk, you can always call me. Don't…Alan, don't sit up there and stew…just call. And it doesn't matter what time, day or night, OK?"
Alan nodded. "I understand, Father," he said. "…and thank you." After a short pause he spoke again. "I'd leave it a while before you call Penelope, Father. I think it's probably a bit too early there at the moment, especially for news like that."
Jeff looked at his watch and realised it was still set to Tasmanian time. Leaning over to look at the clock on his computer, he worked out what the time would be in England and grimaced. "I see what you mean," he agreed. "I know she wouldn't complain but I don't really think Penny would appreciate me calling quite that early. I guess I'll leave it until later on."
Alan chuckled. "No, I don't suppose she would. I'll see you soon, Father."
"See you soon, Alan…and take care of yourself." Jeff watched as Alan leant across to cut the connection, leaving his father to a rare moment of total peace.
Jeff crossed the room and sat down on the sofa where Scott and Virgil had been. The discussion with the boys and Grandma had gone better than he had hoped, even if it had brought up the issue of manning Thunderbird 5 before he'd really had a chance to think about it.
The tranquil sounds of a piano melody began to flow through the house and Jeff sat and listened as he sorted through his thoughts and memories of the last few days.
The next thing he knew was Scott gently shaking him awake and telling him that it was time for dinner.
~#~
After dinner was over and the dishes had been washed and put away, the boys made themselves scarce. Jeff gathered Kyrano, Onaha and Tin-Tin on the chairs around the pool and told them about Jacob. He asked whether Onaha would mind helping with the day to day care of Jacob and also explained that Virgil would be approaching her over the next few days in regards to the stocking of the infirmary with child-friendly medicines and remedies.
Onaha had helped her mother raise her eight younger brothers and sisters and had always planned to have a large family herself. Nature unfortunately had different plans for the gentle Malaysian woman though as Onaha had needed an emergency hysterectomy just hours after giving birth to Tin-Tin. She was overjoyed and very excited at being asked to help out with Jacob, even if it was for only a few hours a day while the Tracys worked or sometimes just to give John a break. She also agreed to start thinking about the infirmary so that when Virgil eventually came to speak to her she would have some ideas for him. She quickly made her excuses and left the pool area at a trot. Jeff watched her go and couldn't help but think that she was probably going straight off to start planning.
Kyrano watched as Onaha scurried down the path towards their home. Unflappable as always, he told Jeff that he understood the need for privacy earlier that afternoon and then congratulated him on his new status of grandfather. He thanked Jeff for giving Onaha the opportunity to help out with Jacob because, hopefully, there wouldn't be any grandchildren in their own family for quite some time yet. He said this with a pointed look towards Tin-Tin which made her blush furiously. "Father, please," she squeaked. "You know there's no chance of that." She held her hand in the two men's direction to prove to them that Alan's promise ring was still in place. "That is definitely not going to happen any time soon."
Kyrano smiled and inclined his head in Tin-Tin's direction. Jeff watched the interaction between the two and it became clear to him that this particular conversation, or one very much like it, had obviously taken place several times before. Tin-Tin had been wearing Alan's ring for several years and it remained on her finger at all times, even during the now-legendary arguments that occasionally exploded between the pair. Tin-Tin's easy-going nature was usually the perfect counterbalance to Alan's fiery temper but even she knew that there were times when she had to step back, let Mount-Alan erupt and then do her best to help clear up the potentially-devastating aftermath.