Thank you to all the visitors so far and Cantanatova and islandsandstars for your lovely reviews. I managed to get some time in so here's the next installment for you!

Chapter 2

Klaxons blared across the island; Gordon was mid length in the pool. He quickly swam over and hoisted himself onto the edge. Tin-tin hastily passed him a large beach towel from her lounger. "Thanks." He had to get to the lounge stat, his brothers were still in bed from the last call out - mere hours ago. Gordon was sure he would be needed this time. He sped up the steps and through the lounge doors just before the klaxons ceased. Scott arrived dressed and ready moments after, closely followed by Virgil and a bleary-eyed Alan. They all sat down except for Gordon who was still ruffling the towel through his auburn hair. He waved at John cheerily who smiled in return. They didn't get to spend much time together but Gordon was fond of his second eldest brother, despite not having much in common.

"Right boys; John has just taken a call from NASA. The Crawler being used to transport the X-90 space shuttle has failed. The track has come clean off the rear wheels which caused the cables securing the shuttle to snap. It hit the floor so hard that one of the rocket's fuel tanks has been compromised, causing the toxic chemicals to leak all over the runway. Usually, it wouldn't be a problem but a wildfire has broken out twenty-five kilometres away and threatens to engulf the whole site before they can mop up the chemical spill. Most have been evacuated but the astronaut crew of six were in transit on the shuttle at the time. They're trapped by they way the rocket has landed.

"Surely they can't have long father? A fire on that scale…" Scott knew it didn't bode well.

"Exactly. I want you airborne immediately for Florida. See what you can make of the area and if the cordon needs extending to include the neighbouring towns to the East."

"Yes sir." Scott grabbed the lamps, his bandaged hand holding on gingerly as he spun out of view.

"Virgil, Alan; take pod one with the fire truck and firefly. Brains go with them; they are likely to need your expertise in dealing with the chemical spill."

"Y-yes Mr Tracy." He rose off the sofa to join Alan in the lift.

"Dad Alan must be tired from last time, why don't I go?"

"That may be Gordon, but your brother is an astronaut first and foremost and therefore familiar with the shuttles operating systems to be able to extract those trapped astronauts." Jeff turned his attention back to Virgil and Alan. "Off you go boys."

John couldn't help notice Gordon slink off to his room or Tin-tin looking on in sympathy. Jeff turned at his desk. "John, you can let the launch centre know the boys are on route."

"F.A.B" He replied before signing off.

Gordon threw a shirt over his head, shoulders tense as he heard Scott rocket out of the pool. The long scar down his back was visible to him briefly in the mirror. It no longer bothered him like it used to but the memories were more painful than the disfigurement. Gordon flumped down on the bed, staring dejectedly out the window.

He was annoyed but not willing to admit it. Twice now he'd been denied going on a mission. He was just as skilled at electronic operating systems as Alan - in fact they were not so different to nuclear submarines. The family seem to forget he was forced into astronaut training when International rescue started operations anyway so he new the deal even if he hadn't frequented space much. It was his father that had insisted! He ran a hand through his damp fringe pushing it back from his forehead. Oh well; yet another free afternoon to try and amuse himself, what to do to pass the time? He'd already done his pool session for today and his physio. Maybe he would go and hone his skills on the firing range?

Virgil yawned mid flight across the pacific. He hated days like this where it was just one call after another, they seemed to be getting all too common of late too. He had just about caught up on his sleep but didn't feel quite on form. Alan was quiet too; which in a way was a blessing, usually he would chat the whole way but he was obviously too tired as well.

"I wish all these rescues would stop. I'm going to be knackered when I take Tin-tin to the Nürburgring ring next month. I'm trying out my new Mustang GT850R."

Ah! thought Virgil I jinxed the peace. He checked his position before responding. "I'm sure Tin-tin will be really thrilled to go to another high-octane track weekend."

Alan looked mildly affronted at his brother's polite sarcasm. "She loves coming to the race days, she gets to meet up with Ned and Jed's girls in the box and they have a great time. Then in the evening we all go for a meal together at the hard rock café." Alan adjusted his controls to match Virgil, smiling at the thought of spending some quality time with Tin-tin. Alan and Tin-tin had never really discussed their relationship, it was just kind of a mutual coupling. He really liked her but didn't want to commit just yet and he wasn't sure if she did either. They were both young after all, they had time.

"Thunderbird one to Thunderbird two, what's your E.T.A because we need you here yesterday." Scott's clipped tone resonated around the cabin.

"E.T.A of approximately ten minutes Scott." Virgil replied his calm tone at odds with Scott's call for urgency.

"Great. Make it five and land on sector twenty-four. The whole perimeter is ablaze - there's a chemical smog to contend with and all. You'll need respirators and protective suits."

"F.A.B"

"Well, can't be worse than evacuating five hundred odd people from the tallest building in the west." Alan stated optimistically.

Turns out rattling around in an empty villa on your own is no fun, especially when you knew your family was risking life and limb and there was nothing you could do about it. Gordon had tried his luck on the range below but found he couldn't concentrate, even though he wasn't a part of the rescue he still felt he needed to be within earshot of his father's desk in case there was anyway he could help. Brains was on the rescue too so he couldn't even sit with him. Instead he sat reading his diver's magazine instead absentmindedly skimming the articles. Midway down the page on the What's on listings, he came across the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving convention in California. It was scheduled for next month. Gordon was an associate member from his previous years serving in W.A.S.P and the Submarine service. He knew a lot of his ex-comrades would be in attendance and it served well to keep up with the latest news and practices. Weapons were one of his specialties. He wasn't getting off this island on a rescue, he might as well try for vacation.

Gordon's eyes flicked above the magazine, his father was sat at his desk consulting some business contract or other whilst waiting for Scott or John to check in. He debated internally for a moment before deciding to just go for it - he knew what the answer would be anyway but if you don't try, you don't get. "Say Dad?"

"Yes son." Jeff didn't look up from frowning at the paperwork in his hand.

"The MWC convention is on next month in California, it's been a while since I've attended one and I'd really like to go. Is there any chance? I haven't taken any leave this year." He had walked over to the desk in a bid to command his father's attention.

Jeff pulled his diary out of the drawer to his right. "Date?"

"Twenty-first of May. It's a two-day conference so I could be back on the evening of the twenty-third at the earliest."

Jeff thumbed the pages of the diary till he came to the date in question. He looked up. "I'm sorry Gordon, Alan's already got that weekend booked out for his race practice."

Gordon refrained from scowling. Again? His brother was always off cavorting on the race track, his bedroom was overflowing with trophies and his lock up in Kansas stashed with a showroom's worth of sports cars. Gordon swiftly re-consulted his options, time to try a different tactic. He hadn't been off the island for three months, not even for a rescue and there had been eighteen of them in that time. He hadn't complained or asked for leave till now. He was sick of being told no; well now he had a solution.

"Dad, is there any way he could go the weekend before or the month after? They only run this convention every two years and its full of vital information that would be beneficial to international rescue; such as the latest chartered underwater mine beds and new detection technology. This year there's even a practical training session with the US Navy bomb disposal squad. I want to go as a refresher for my own personal development as well as to put the skills learned to use out in the field on missions. Only three months ago I had to rescue that fishing vessel whose nets got ensnared with that old Baltic mine near Mexico. If I hadn't been able to disable the mine it would have been a catastrophe." Gordon crossed his fingers behind his back. His father wouldn't be able to refuse him now. finally, he would feel like he was doing something worthwhile and would be in a stronger position to go on call outs in the future - if he could prove he was a useful asset.

Jeff mulled over the proposal; weighing up Gordon's counter argument. He placed the contracts down and folded his arms. "Well, I agree it would be beneficial for you to undergo a refresher and you may very well come across technology that could be of use to us in the future." Jeff focused his second youngest. "I'll grant your leave" Gordon tried not to jump for joy, "but on the condition of wanting a full report on the skills and knowledge you have learned and how they in turn, can be put into immediate practice. Agreed?"

"Fine by me! Thanks Dad!" Gordon grinned, flushed with his success. Jeff allowed himself a brief smile noting the echoes of resemblance to his late wife in Gordon's joyful demeanour.

"You're welcome but don't thank me just yet, you have the arduous task of informing your brother why his leave has to be rescheduled."

Gordon groaned; Jeff chuckled to himself as he watched his son leave. There would be tantrums but they were adults now, it was time they learned to sort out their own problems. Like most parents, Jeff may have underestimated his younger son's conflict resolution abilities.