Disclaimer: see chapter one

AN: As promised, the next chapter of the story. Am hopefully over that nasty cold I had, so I will probably go back to my old updating habits- one every two days, maybe even one everyday if you're lucky.

Chapter Thirty Six- It Helps to Talk

Two weeks had past since Scott had been held for ransom, and the Thunderbirds were on a relatively quiet patch. There had only been two rescues in that time, and they were both underwater rescues.

Life was returning back to normal on Tracy Island. Virgil could be found behind his beloved piano or easel.

Alan was spending time with Tin-Tin, and discovering the hidden places of the island.

Gordon could be found in the pool, or in the games room, playing with the family's Wii.

John had been sent back up to Thunderbird Five, and was glued to his telescope, while listening out for emergency calls.

It was night-time on Tracy Island, and all was peaceful. Well, most of Tracy Island was peaceful.

Scott wasn't having a good night. He was being plagued by nightmares. Panicking, Scott's eyelids flew open. The door in his room was closed, and the curtains were drawn. No light could enter the room.

When did it become so dark?

He was trapped. Again. And, he had to get out.

He flung the bed covers off, and ran towards the door, into the hallway.

The darkness was closing in on him.

His breathing increased tenfold.

He had to get out, now. He couldn't go through that again. He wasn't strong enough, he couldn't cope.

Once was bad enough, twice would be a living hell.

In a frenzied state, Scott's eyes swept the room, trying to find a way out. There was a sliver of light at the end of the hallway, through the lounge. Scott sprinted towards it, but no matter how fast or far he ran, the distance between him and the light increased.

He ran faster, his feet thundering on the floorboards, as he passed Jeff's room.

Finally! He had reached the silver-ish light of the moon. Scott wrenched the doors to the balcony open, and breathed in relief.

He was safe. They couldn't get him. He leaned on the balcony railings, as the last of his adrenaline rushed through his veins.

Jeff roused himself from his sleeping state. He heard some-one wandering around the house.

He stepped out of the room, pulling on his dressing gown. His instinct was right. Some-one was, or had been, wandering around the house. Jeff knew this because he could feel a cool draught was breezing throughout the lounge.

He stood in the lounge, watching his eldest son stare out into the ocean, trying to battle with his nightmares on his own.

He was studying his son so intently; he didn't hear gentle footfalls sneak up behind him.

"So this is where he disappeared to."

Jeff jumped about a foot in the air. "You surprised me, Tash." He said, clutching his heart. "I thought you were sleeping."

"I thought so too. But Junior had different ideas." She placed her hand on her bump, and felt her child wriggle restlessly.

"Ah, I understand." Jeff nodded. He glanced down at her bump. "How many months have gone?"

"About six."

"May I?"

Tash nodded and Jeff placed his hands over her bump. Jeff smiled. "Scott was just like this as well." His eyes travelled sadly back to Scott. "He's not coping, is he? I've tried to talk to him, but he clams up, and shuts down. I'm going to give him two weeks leave, just so that he can get his head together and deal with this." Jeff's lips quirked into a smile. "He can cosider going on a honeymoon."

Tash placed a reassuring hand on Jeff's arm. "I'll go talk to him."

"So, this is your hiding spot."

Scott turned and looked at her with his piercing blue gaze. Tash moved closer to him, and placed her arm around him.

"What are you doing out here? I thought you were asleep."

Tash sat down on chair. "Junior was missing his or her Dad."

"I see."

Tash sighed. "I know you're having nightmares, Scott. I can feel you thrashing around."

Scott remained silent.

"Your family are worried about you. They don't think you're coping."

Scott still didn't respond

"I'm worried about you."

"Don't."

"I can't help but worry about you. You need to talk about it. I'm willing to listen. It's unhealthy to keep it bottled up inside."

"I don't want to burden you with this. This is my problem, and I need to sort it out by myself."

"You won't be burdening me with this. I'm willing to listen."

Scott tilted his head to the side. Tash knew that Scott was contemplating her idea.

"It started off like a normal rescue." Scott began. "it should have been straightforward, simple, safe. Nothing should have gone wrong. Textbook rescue- that was what it should have been. But it wasn't.

Virgil and I split up. We were looking for any trapped people, and there were a few more rooms we had to search. It could have been him, then. They would have hurt him then.

They grabbed me, and drugged me. I don't remember much after that. I know I woke up briefly, and found my hands and ankles had been tied tightly. My watch was missing, and I didn't know where I was. It worried me. They drugged me again, and the world went black.

Then I was in a box. It was dark, and cramped. All they had left me was a gun, some glow-sticks and a message." Scott paused, to gather his breath.

"What did the message say?" Tash steeled herself for the response. From what she had heard, the attackers were ruthless.

"Just that, I should use the gun, and end my suffering quickly, and I quote; 'either way, you're going to die.' That I didn't have a chance of seeing the outside world. That was it. I would remain trapped in a box, and no-one would find me."

Tash felt sick. She didn't want to hear anymore, but she knew she had to. Who could do that to someone who risked his life for the good of mankind?

"I didn't touch it, at first. I promised myself that I wouldn't use the gun, unless I had to. It was a strong resolve. It worked. Until the light came on. It cut off the cool air supply. The box became stuffier and stuffier. I picked up the gun, and shot the light. It was so dark." Scott's eyes were closed, as he relived his memories. "Bad mistake. The shot cracked the box, and the ants crawled into the box."

Unconsciously, he ran a hand up and down his arm, where the ants had bitten him. "It was agony. Just pain in its purest form. No matter how still I lied, they kept on biting. It was like I was a feast for them. The constant stinging was more than I thought I could bear."

Tash placed a comforting hand on Scott's shoulder as he sat down beside her.

"It seemed so easy to pick up the gun, and end it all. And that scared me. And then it made me angry, because I was ready to give up. I wasn't strong enough. I was going against the IR motto- never give up."

"But you didn't." Tash responded.

"But I was ready to." Scott argued. "I was ready to pull the trigger in the dark. I would have died before they found me."

"But you didn't." She repeated. "And that just goes to show that you are stronger than you realised. And you will get through this, but it will take time."

"I know." He smiled at her. "Thanks for listening."

"Not a problem." Tash stood up. "I reckon Junior might let me get some sleep, if Dad joins me."

Scott stood up, and placed his arm around Tash as they walked inside.

Jeff nodded, as he observed them. They would get through this, as a family.

AN: Please review.