It is several minutes of stony silence while the news sinks in. None of the five boys have any idea how to react to what their grandma is telling them. There is a range of emotions on the five faces. Scott's is shock and disbelief, Johns is denial, Virgil's is confusion, Gordon's is inevitably and Alan's is half asleep and no idea what this means.
Alan remembers what happened when Gordon went missing, and that was awful, the weeks spent at the hospital not knowing if his brother would ever be the same again.
And it is Alan who speaks up first. Jumping down from Johns knee he pulls grandma to her feet.
"What are we waiting for. Let's go to the hospital and go and get him!" He tells her excitedly.
"Alan dear no, that's not how this works" she tells him seriously.
"But that's what we did when Gordy was missing. We went and got him from the hospital!" Alan insists.
Sighing grandma sits back down and pulls him onto her lap.
"What happened?" Scott asks. "He was on a business trip? How can he have vanished on a business trip?"
"He was taking the TV21 on a long test flight over the Pacific Ocean and back when it appears something went wrong and they lost contact with the plane and your father. I'm sorry boys, there are people out searching, and we will be flying to California in the afternoon. I need you boys to work together now, go and pack a suitcase each. Scott; you Virgil and John are in charge of making sure Alan and Gordon's cases are packed properly and this time don't let Gordon sneak fireworks into his hand luggage. We are flying commercial and last time he nearly got arrested!"
Happy to have something to do and keep busy, the 5 boys all head back to their rooms to pack.
*TB*
Jeff can feel his skin burning under the hot pacific sun most of his body is protected by his flight suit but he is baking underneath it. The inflatable life boat underneath him moves with the waves of the ocean. And the emergency kit did not come with sunblock as they didn't believe he would need it. Making a mental note to add that to the standard supplies in case he is ever found.
He knows that the longer he stays out here the more the boys will be worrying. His boys. His brave, beautiful clever sons. Those boys are his whole world and more than ever he regrets what he did to Gordon. This is his punishment. He's sure of it.
He's been out here alone for hours, and not one plane has flown overhead, there are no signs of life anywhere and he has limited food and water supplies. And there is no signs of land for miles around him.
Breaking open the food supplies he carefully counts out the rations he has available. Enough to keep him going for at least a week. Lying back his head rested against the back of the boat feeling more helpless than ever as he waits for someone, anyone to find him.
*TB*
The airport is as busy as ever as the two taxis grandma hired instead of taking the cars pull up in front of the main terminal.
"Assume the position Squid" Scott tells Gordon before they head to security. Gordon rolls his eyes at Scott but lets him search him for banned substances!
"I'm impressed, I thought you would have snuck something contraband in!" Scott tells him smiling.
"Yeah well, this is an emergency! I didn't have time." Gordon tells him unable to hide a small grin.
They have about 45 minutes until their flight is called, so grandma treats them to lunch. It feels good to keep busy there is no way they could have stayed home while their dad was missing. John hasn't even mentioned his attendance record. That's the last thing on his mind right now.
They are fast tracked through boarding and seated in first class, without any trouble. No tantrum from Alan, no trouble from Gordon and no correcting the flight attendants grammar from John. They're all on their very best behaviour.
It isn't a long flight, and grandma has a mini bus waiting for them at the other end to go straight to the office for an update.
"Uncle Lee! We are here now. Where is daddy?" Alan asks.
They all look expectantly up at their dads best friend.
"Boys you made it, let's go inside and I will explain everything." Looking over at their grandma, she looks like she has aged 10 years over night. He flashes her a welcoming smile and they retreat into the air conditioned office.
"We can't be sure yet, but we think a rival company sabotaged the plane in an attempt to get hold of the plans for it. Jeff didn't want anyone to worry but there have been numerous attempts over the last week to get the plans from the office."
"Before or after Gordon's birthday?" Scott asks in horror.
"After, if this was happening before we would never have let Gordon go out in it." Lee confirms. "Safety first Scott. That's always been your dads motto."
"So where did this happen exactly?" Scott asks. Trying to fathom what is happening and where they are searching.
"Somewhere over the Mariana Trench" Lee replies.
"But that's humongous" Gordon tells him wide eyed.
"I know Gordo, but we are going to keep searching. We haven't given up finding your dad" he reassures him.
"I want to help" Scott tells him.
"Me too" Virgil chimes in.
"Me three!" John adds.
"And Me" Gordon adds.
Alan just looks confused.
"Scott is old enough to help with the rescue search, John if you, Virgil and Gordon can help man the radio communications for me, Scott and I can get out there and help.
All four boys agree to their job roles instantly. Grandma agreeing to let Scott go out in one of the search planes. And she will keep an eye on Alan.
It has been over 12 hours since they heard the news and they are not giving up on their dad. They know if the roles were reversed he wouldn't stop looking for them.
*TB*
Jeff has hit land. A harsh unforgiving island with a dense jungle. He has no idea where he is, but the island does not appear to be populated. Wandering around he finds a fresh water spring and gratefully drinks from it, filling his empty water bottles with the cool water before making a camp on the beach and lighting a fire for the rescue boats.
The island is interesting, and would make an amazing home if he ever found the time to retire! He finds himself imagining building a home here, there is room for a pool for Gordon, and ample space for their living quarters, enough for them all to have their own rooms with rooms to spare. If he ever gets rescued.
As the sun starts to set on his first day Jeff starts to feel a chill in the air, moving closer to his fire he places some more of the dry wood he gathered on the flames. Wishing he had another blanket to go with the one from the survival kit. Or a pillow for his head, he lies back on the sandy beach drifts into an uneasy sleep. Being jolted awake by the slightest of sounds.
*TB*
"Time to call it a night Scott, we will land here and head back out in the morning" Lee tells him.
"One more sweep" Scott insists.
"No, there is no point. It's too dark Scott" Lee replies.
"Okay fine, but I'm going to keep looking while you fly us back." Scott tells him.
"Good! We will land in Tokyo in about an hour and stay there tonight okay? It will take to long to go back to California" Lee tells him.
They book into a hotel for the night and are back up and out at 7:00 the following morning. Scott woke up famished and not for the first time was grateful for his gold status Tracy credit card as he emptied the breakfast bar of the hotel. And stocked up on coffee.
With the time difference he has no idea what time it is in California or even how long he has been out here for, all he knows is that he desperately needed that sleep.
The first full day of searching seems fruitless as again they sweep the area, concentrating on a different area today, this one has several islands spread hundreds of miles apart.
They're just about to give up for the night as once again it is starting to get dark, when Scott spots something unusual.
"Lee! Down there! On that island. It's on the map as unpopulated so either there is someone down there or it's on fire. I think we need to check it out".
Lee is just about to agree when the unmistakable sight of a distress flare is shot up into the sky.
"That's a flare! Lee let's get down there!" Scott insists urgency in his voice now.
Lee doesn't reply, he just spins the plane around and starts his descent.
"Heading into land now. Scott don't get your hopes up"
"It doesn't matter if that's not dad. It's someone who needs our help" Scott replies.
"Your dad would be so proud of you right now" Lee replies.
Jeff can't believe someone saw his flare. Glad for once that he is a light sleeper. He starts to wave his arms in case they see him.
"Dad?" Scott calls as soon as he is on the ground.
"Scott?!" Jeff responds in disbelief. "How?"
"Jeff?" Lee joins in calling.
"OVER HERE!" Jeff yells as loudly as he can.
Scott starts running towards the voice. "Dad!" He calls now sure that it is his father he has found. Throwing his arms around him almost knocking him off his feet.
"We thought we had lost you!" He tells him once he has released him.
"Don't do that again Jeff" Lee tells his best friend. "Come on let's get out of here, that sunburn looks nasty Jeff" flashing the torch onto his face illuminating his burned and blistered skin.
Scott helps his dad put the fire out, and together the three of them get into the rescue plane and head for home.
"We have him" Scott calls out over the radio. To a sense of relief back in California.
"Really?! You've found dad?" Virgil asks. Barely able to believe what he is saying.
"We have. We are on our way back now" Scott confirms.
"That's the best news I have heard in a long time" grandma tells them relieved.
Virgil and John have not slept in nearly 48 hours. Gordon is asleep on the sofa with Alan wrapped up in grandmas coat, having tried to stay awake as long as he possibly could but eventually succumbing to sleep.
There is an ambulance waiting for them the second they land and Jeff is taken to hospital to be checked over.
He grabs Scott's wrist as he is being loaded into the ambulance.
"Scott. I'm sorry, I know you were looking forward to going out in the TV21 for your birthday" he tells him.
"Dad, none of that matters. What matters is you're okay. Planes can be replaced. And besides there is one other thing I wouldn't have said no too" Scott tells him grinning.
"How much will it cost me?" Jeff answers.
"Not much, but this car is the coolest car available to buy right now. And look it has additional safety features so my brothers will be much safer in it while I drive them to school!" Scott tells him grinning.
"It only has 2 seats Scott!" Jeff tells him
"Exactly, the bus they will have to get instead is a lot safer!" Scot tells him.
"Mmmm" is all Jeff will say on the matter!
Apart from being dehydrated and suffering from sunburn he is uninjured and released after a few hours on a drip with instructions to rest for a few days.
Lee decides to travel back to Kansas with them for a few days. Jeff has asked him for some help with a potential new project and he needs to talk to him in person about his plans.
They get Jeff settled on the sofa, While grandma packs all 5 boys off to bed to sleep. Realising when none of them protest about being ordered to bed at 2:30 in the afternoon that exhaustion is a feeling felt by all.
"Lee, I wanted to say thank you for not giving up on me. I honestly thought no one was ever going to find me on that island. But it got me to thinking. The TV21 was a fun project, but it's not what I want to do anymore. I want to help people. To save them. Like you and the boys did for me.
"That island would make the most amazing secret location for a rescue organisation. It's big enough for what we need, it's discreet, you can build for miles into the cliff face and no one would ever know. And I would love my best friend to help me. And the boys when they're old enough. If they want too. We can make this a family business. Saving people. Making a real difference to people's lives. I don't want to be a selfish billionaire playboy anymore."
"Jeff! You have never been a selfish playboy! You're the most down to earth family man I have ever met. This is an incredibly noble idea and I'm in! This is our chance to give back to the world." Lee tells him happily.
"I was hoping you would agree, I will contact brains in the morning, and Kyrano and Lord Creighton-Ward, I know they'll all be delighted to help". Jeff tells him smiling.
His nose is itchy from where it has burnt and blistered but he can't scratch it without it leaking, but he has never been happier. He has his best friend by his side for his most ambitious project, his five boys are happy and healthy and his mom is asleep and not baking him cookies!
