Date: 2022

Location: Thunderbird 2

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Scott, after pushing Virgil back down on his bed, moved quickly over to the side of John's bed and placing an arm around his brother's shoulders, spoke calmly to him, "It's alright, John. She's fine. The little information we received on her stated that they had her sleep and waking cycles very controlled. She sleeps for four hours and works for eight. Brain's said that for her right now it's like a switch being turned off. He said it should be easy to slowly change her over to a more normal schedule but we'll ask Lady Penelope's friend what she thinks about it. Calm down little brother she's just sleeping."

Cradling his daughter in his arms John looked up at his older brother, pain and anger darkening his blue eyes, "Four Hours……! How could…… they…… she's just……. a baby! She needs….. more sleep…… than that……! She did….. what for……. eight hours?! What kind……. of work…… did they….. have her…… doing?"

Looking down at the small face resting against his chest John's voice softened, "Scott what have…… they done……….? Why would they……. do something……. like this......... to a child……? Will she ever be……. like your Ciara……..? Will she ever….. be able….. to be a…. normal little girl?"

Scott sighed squeezing his brother's shoulder his voice tinged with sadness, "Oh, Johnny, of course she'll learn to be more like Ciara as time goes by. All children learn as they grow. Raeden has never been around other children so she doesn't know how to be one. But given how smart she is and obviously how much she yearns for family and to have you in her life, I think she'll do just fine. There is so much more you need to know about Raeden, but right now is not the time for that. You, all three of you, need rest. I'll push one of the other beds over here in between the two of yours and we'll put Raeden on that one. Then I expect my two little brother's to follow my niece into dreamland."

Scott, after checking on Virgil who lay with one arm over his eyes to hide the tears, pushed one of the other medical beds over and placed it between John's and Virgil's. Then pushing the three beds together he locked them back down.

A very reluctant John allowed his older brother to take Raeden and place her on the middle bed before helping Scott to cover her with a soft blanket.

A protest rose to his lips as Scott removed the glasses but his older brother just smiled with a wink, "She won't wake up for four hours. By then we'll be home and her world won't be so um…colorful anymore. You're right this much green would have been too much for her, it's too much for me. Especially this shade…..hey!"

John bit back a laugh as he watched Virgil smack their older brother up side of the head with his pillow, a mock frown on his face.

Scott, his heart happy that he'd been able to help his brothers once again, backed out of the room his hands held up in mock surrender, "Alright, alright! Have mercy, bother of mine, your 'lady' is beautiful! Now lights out, see you when we get home." With that he lowered the lights to almost off and left the room.

Virgil, grumbling about older brothers and revenge, pulled his blanket over his head and curled up on his side before slipping off to sleep.

John, fighting the pull of sleep, lay on his side and gazed at the small form between them in the darkened room. Finally closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep lulled by the sound of his daughter's soft even breaths.