Part 7

A week had passed. A long and painful week for both the inhabitants of Tracy Island and of John in captivity. John refused to tell Mr. Lennox where their base was and had suffered for it. All of his fingers on his left hand were broken by now and a few ribs had been broken as well. Still John refused to let Lennox get his wish through. He didn't care if it meant he truly did die. What he wanted was to keep his brothers safe, his family safe. Luckily for him it turned out Lennox and his men had only found Five due to dumb luck. Lennox had been tracking IR for years but had never been able to find them. He had however concluded that they must have a satellite for calls to reach them. What he and his men had planned was sabotaging that satellite and bring IR to them… they had not suspected to find a station in orbit with someone living on it. They had just sent out a fake signal John had replied to weeks ago and had followed that around in space until they had found him. John looked at his hand, his fingers looked horrendous because Lennox refused to call a doctor. John had not asked for one but he knew Lennox would try to bargain for one. He laid on the bed in his cell and looked out through the tiny window. Their newest method was starving him. He had gotten water because they didn't want him to die of thirst… but they had not given him food for two days.

"Doesn't matter", John told himself. "I will not… I will not give in to them." He looked at the moon outside and thought of his brothers. "I miss you guys so much…" He had felt his watch vibrate a few times and figured it was his brothers trying to get in contact with him… just to check… to be sure. His watch was sadly trapped underneath the shackle around his wrist. He had tried pressing against the cuff to activate the watch but had not been successful. He sighed and then winced because breathing hurt… actually, doing anything hurt like hell. But he would hold out… until he found a way to get out of here. That videophone would not help him… Lennox would surely be able to track it so he could not call anyone. He heard a scraping sound and saw the little hatch at the top of his door open and Lennox's face appeared.

"Ready to talk Mr. Bhalsich?" Lennox asked.

"About what", John asked.

"Don't play dumb. Tell me where your base is and this can all stop."

"I told you… never."

"Mai, Mai, Mai if your people cared about you would they not have come for you? You don't owe them anything."

"I owe them everything."

"But thy have abandoned you."

"No."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I am pretty sure they think me dead… but when they realize I'm not… you better hope Mr. Tracy can save you because nothing and I mean nothing will keep you safe from my friends and team."

"You have such faith in them."

"Yes."

"How? How can you have so much faith in them?"

"It's easy", John felt weak due to pain and the lack of food but he was not going to show any weakness to this man. "P-Peter is… is the oldest and he is very protective of everyone on the team. He is the bravest man I know but he is also like a honey badger or a Tasmanian devil. Give him a pray and he will not let it go. Just pray you never become his prey because he will massacre you, he will disembody you and you won't know it or realize the danger until it's too late. Shane is usually very collected but angered, when someone on his team is in danger he transforms into Captain America, that really old superhero super-soldier-person from waaaaay back."

"Dully noted", Lennox spat.

"And David H, he is the strongest person I know and the most reliable. Nothing can stop him when he gets going. He is determent and practical. There is not a problem in the world he won't find a solution to given the time. Don't make him angry though, you wouldn't like him when he is angry."

"Let me guess, he turns into a bear."

"No but a Hulk. You know that really green and angry superhero."

"Interesting."

"Then there is David G. He's a real funny guy but the most stubborn and mischievous person you can imagine. He doesn't let anything keep him down and I mean anything. He is one of the brightest people I know, but he often get underestimated because people think he is too childish and immature. He's brilliant though and I wish I had just a tiny bit of his resolve. He's the most determent person I know and that's saying something. I guess in a way he is like that superhero… what's his face… Iron-Dude or something like that. My grandmother used to talk about them, she liked them a lot. Tony Stank I think his true identity was."

"So a brave soldier, a strong and reliable giant and a determent busy-body are part of your team? Anything else?"

"A young man trying to prove his worth to the world. One of the most caring and ambitious people I know. But he is still young and makes a lot of mistakes. Which I why he have me to help keep him and the others grounded. He's smarter than he gives himself credit for and a bit too… big-headed, but he is young and he will learn humility in time. He has earned the right to brag a bit though, I won't deny that and he is, just like Peter, very brave and daring. Yeah Matt will go far, just you wait and see."

"And when he gets angry he turns into Mr. Fantastic?"

"Nah more like that little spider dude. Spidey I think grandma called him."

"And who are you then Mr. Bhalsich?"

"Just a guy at the end of the line, waiting to receive your call."

"You're not a superhero?"

"Not really superhero material."

"If you say so. Now then back to my question. Where is your base?"

"I. Won't. Tell. You."

"Mr. Bhalsich my patience is running out."

"Fill it up then."

"If you will not tell me by tomorrow, I will begin with more drastic methods to get you to speak!" John glanced at his hand and then back at Lennox.

"Looking forward to it", he said, even though his whole being screamed with fear. Lennox swore and slammed the hatch shut. John gasped in pain then and turned to look at the moon. "I'm sorry guys… I might not be able to escape after all." That is when he saw it. There was a thin nail stickinh out in the window frame. He sat up on his bed. If he stood up… could he reach it? He got onto his toes and stretched and he almost cried in relief when his hand firmly gripped the thin piece of metal and it came loose. Now he was getting somewhere.

The week had been tough on the family as well. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had been a very sad affair. All the gifts were still under the tree because no one had felt the need or wish to celebrate. Penny had come to the island to figure out why she could not contact them and when she found out why she had been just as upset as the rest. Even Parker had shed a few tears. She did however start investigating at once. If Five had been destroyed like that someone would know about it! If a missile launch had been performed there should be records and if someone had launched a ship into space armed with weapons that would also be recorded somewhere. She had phoned some of her contacts and contacted other IR agents across the globe to find out what they could. John might be dead but she swore that she would catch his killers, no matter what.

John's brothers had wanted to try and help, but didn't know how. They also couldn't really do much either because they were still grieving. They had taken the loss badly, very badly. Jeff had taken it far worse. He had not spoken a word since John's death and spent all his time going through old mission logs, trying to find a reason for someone targeting them. Brains had been busy trying to figure out how Five had exploded without warning. When on Five John and Alan would daily back up her systems on the island and Brains were going through those backups now. It was however a lot of data, various types of data. Brains was not as skilled as hacker as John had been so it would take time to go through and sort through it all. Alan and Tin-Tin helped him at times but it still took time. At this exact moment Virgil was in the glade he and John had found. He had needed to get out of the house. Scott was grieving and when he grieved he got angry and snappy. Gordon would not stop swimming laps and Ala buried himself in work. Grandma wouldn't stop crying and Jeff didn't speak. Virgil had to get away for a bit. He'd brought his sketchbook with him but he had not been able to draw anything. He sighed and leaned back against a tree, looking up at the grey sky. He held his watch in his hands, fingering the buttons carefully. When Five was offline John had programmed them to bounce off a multitude of different satellites so that they could still work… if you pressed the correct button. It had not happened before so it had taken a few days for the boys to remember. Almost daily Virgil would press the button that would connect him to John. He knew a reply would never come but it was a small comfort for him. He pressed the button right at that moment and waited. He sighed and leaned his head back.

"Johnny can you hear me?" Virgil whispered to himself. "Johnny, can you see me? Johnny can you find me in the night? Johnny are you near me? Johnny can you hear me? Johnny can you help me not be frightened?" Virgil looked at the sky. "Looking at the sky I seem to see a million eyes which ones are yours? Where are you now that yesterday has waved goodbye and closed its doors? The night is so much darker and the wind is so much colder, the world I see is so much bigger now that you are gone. Johnny please forgive me, can you hear me praying? I remember everything you told me, every book we've ever read. Can all the words in all the books help me to face what lies ahead? The trees are so much taller and I feel so much smaller… the moon is twice as lonely and the stars are half as bright. Johnny how I love you… Johnny how I need you… Johnny how I miss you. Telling me goodnight…" He looked at his sketchbook and noticed that while he talked he'd drawn a withering tree. He sighed and put the book aside again.

"Quoting musical songs is one thing", he told the grey sky. "but speaking from the heart is better, but also more difficult. Johnny… I miss you. More and more each day. It's just… we never got to say goodbye or were there to say goodbye. You were just… ripped from us so suddenly. Without warning… which makes it so much harder. I hope that… wherever you are now you are keeping an eye on us like you always have. I just wish we knew what happened… I wish…" He pressed the button again. "I wish you would pick up John."

"Virgil, can you hear me?"

Virgil stared at the watch in his hand. It… it wasn't possible, but there was no mistaking that voice.

"J-Johnny?" Virgil asked.

"Virgil thank God", he got as a reply. "You remembered the backup satellites."

"John… is… is that really you?"

"Yeah."

"Why can't I see you?"

"It's just very dark here, no lights and I can't risk them finding out I'm talking to you."

"Them? Who?"

"The people that kidnapped me."

"What?" Virgil asked, his temper starting to flare.

"I'll tell you later. Right now I need you to get Brains to track this signal."

"Right, stay on the line John." Virgil got up and started running. He ran faster than he ever had before. He ignored Grandma scolding him when he ran into the house. He ignored Scott's angry shout and Alan and Tin-Tin's questioning calls. He stormed down the stairs to Brains' lab, tore the door open and flew inside.

"Brains!" he shouted and the poor engineer jumped.

"V-Virgil w-what-"

"No time. I need you to track the signal from my watch. Now!"

"O-okay b-but why?"

"Because…" Virgil looked at the watch. "You tell him." At first there was nothing and Virgil's heart fell. Had he dreamt it all? But then:

"Brains… I need… your help", John groaned and Brains tore the watch from Virgil's hands and disappeared into a room to the side. Virgil was about to run after when he realized someone else was in the room. He turned and saw Penny stare at him with big eyes.

"Was that…" she asked and Virgil felt tears well up in his eyes and he smiled the biggest smile ever.

"It is", he sobbed. "John's alive!"

Jeff Tracy was staring at the pages on his desk. He had been going through old mission reports every day since Five was destroyed. He needed to find out why someone had attacked them. He needed to know why he had lost one of his precious boys. What a stupid thing to think… he knew why. Jeff had lost his son because he was too selfish. He had locked John away in space to keep him safe, to make sure he did not lose the last reminder of Lucy. True all his sons reminded him of Lucy constantly but it was only John who both looked and acted like her. Jeff had told himself that he could not let anything happen to John, not now, not ever. So he had tucked him away, hidden him away in the place he thought was safest on this Earth. Or rather off it. He had been wrong though… so wrong. Someone had found Thunderbird Five and her space monitor and this someone had destroyed both. But why? For revenge? Why would someone want revenge on them? Was it because of a rescue gone wrong? Had someone they had tried to help died and this was their loved ones getting back at them for failing to rescue someone they held dear? Was it someone who had figured out Jeff's secrets and had decided that he did not deserve his sons? Was it God's retribution for not being a fair father?

Jeff was aware that he was not fair to his sons. He treated some with more respect and love than others. He saw the strengths and value of some but not all… he treasured them all… but not the same. The boys he treasured most were the two he had nearly lost. Firstly it was John who had been with both Grant and Lucy in the slopes when the avalanche hit. The only one of his sons who fully took after both Lucy and Grant. The second one was Gordon who had nearly died in that accident. Jeff had nearly lost both of them and had told himself that it would never happen again. Which was why he often kept Gordon back at base and John in space. He had nearly lost both of them once… never again… only… he had lost John. This time there had been no miracle that spared his son. This time he had been all alone and had died… angry. Angry at Jeff for the cruel things he had said. Only Jeff never meant any of it. He only said it to make sure John would want to stay up there… stay away and stay safe.

He had lied to Scott and Virgil. He did… had not kept John up at the station to spare himself from looking at the constant reminder of Lucy. He did it… to protect that very reminder. He hated it… had hated it when John went out on rescues because he could not protect him then. Which was why he had torn him another one after that stunt with the chain. Jeff understood why he did it… Jeff's constant display of lacking faith in him had forced John into proving himself time and time again. That wasn't how Jeff truly felt. He had always had the utmost faith in his son and in his abilities- He just… had not want to risk those abilities leading him to an accident… leading him away from the family… leading him to his own death. It was ironic… Jeff had did everything he could to protect John and it was that… his protectiveness that had sealed his fate. John had died because Jeff had kept him where someone had gotten to him… he had put him in danger, thinking he was protecting him when he in truth… gave someone the opportunity to rip Jeff's son from him.

Jeff looked up at the portrait of John and found he could not look away from those blue eyes. John's eyes had always been able to read you like an open book. John had always been the best at reading people. He always knew when someone was lying and he had always been able to tell the lie… and to see things that did not fit in. Jeff figured that was why John had always been such a great programmer and hacker. He could find faulty code faster than anyone and he could see patterns much quicker than anyone else. Jeff had once had to tell Penny firmly no when she had suggested John became one of IR's agents, working with her instead for working as a main operative. It would have put him in unnecessary danger and would have kept him too far from the island.

"I'm sorry John", he whispered and looked at the portrait. "I never should have treated you the way I did… I'm sorry you had to suffer for my mistakes." Something wet hit his papers. "I'm sorry for everything." Jeff broke down, hiding his face in his hands as he wept. His whole boy wracked with sobs. "I'm sorry I never told you or your brothers how much you all mean to me. I am sorry I made it look as if I didn't care. I'm sorry I acted like some of you were more important than the rest. I'm sorry I was never a fair father. I'm sorry you all had to suffer for my ego and my dreams. I'm sorry I never took the time for any of you. I'm sorry for everything!"

"Johnny knows that", a soft voice said and Jeff felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Scott. His oldest, his steady rock… his pillar of strength. His right-hand-man. His loyal soldier… his Flyer. "Wherever he is he is looking out for us still and he knows… knows how we feel."

"Oh Scott", Jeff said and pulled his oldest into a tight hug. "Can you forgive me?"

"For what?"

"For taking your brother from you."

"Dad it wasn't your fault."

"I put him there Scott. He died because of what I did. My decision cost my son his life and cost my sons to lose their brother."

"No dad… whoever decided to blow up Five did that."

"Scott's right father", Alan said as he and Gordon made their presence known. Gordon was wrapped up in a bathrobe and had a towel around his shoulders. Judged by Alan's half-drown state the youngest had probably dragged his brother out of the pool.

"Yeah", Gordon said. "We don't blame you for this so you shouldn't either." Jeff got up and walked over and pulled his youngest boys tightly to him. Both young men clung to him and hid their faces in his shoulders as tears slowly started falling. Scott sniffled and walked over to join the hug. Jeff and his brothers let him.

"Dad!" they heard shouted and all four looked up as Virgil came running in with Penny and Brains on his heels. "Dad!"

"Virgil?" Jeff asked worriedly when Virgil crashed into a table, slipping on the floor. "Son be careful. What-"

"Dad, dad we've found it!" Virgil shouted.

"Found what?"

"We found his location dad! We know where he is!"

"Who?" Scott asked. "The bastard who blew up Five?"

"Probably that too but no!"

"Son", Jeff said and grabbed Virgil's arms. "Slow down. What is going on?" The pure joy in his son's eyes caught Jeff a little off guard. How could Virgil be happy at a time like this?

"He's alive dad!" Virgil said and tears welled up in his eyes. Happy tears. "John's alive!"

Across the ocean, in a dank, dark cell John Glenn Tracy looked up at the moon after snapping his shackles back onto his wrist. His family would know now. They would know and they would come. He knew they would. He knew and come morning… he would be ready to meat them.

TBC Merry Christmas everybody! Extra Christmas candies to the people who figure out why John used the names he did :)