Thank you so much for the reviews and follows its definitely helping motivate me to keep writing. Trouble is brewing!

Chapter 6

It was late morning on Tracy island, most of the boys had risen around mid-morning (Except Gordon and Scott who were natural early risers). Tin-tin had also risen early, there were a few supplies the island needed that couldn't wait till the next delivery plane so she had gone to buy what they needed and to meet up with a friend for coffee in Auckland. Alan would have gone with her but he was still exhausted from the run of rescues. The one they had raced back to the villa for on Friday turned out to be a false alarm just as they were set to launch. It was now Sunday morning and so far, it was quiet.

When he had eventually got up out of his pit and breakfasted, he decided to head to the games room where he found Scott and Gordon playing a game of pool. Virgil was nowhere to be seen, most likely still in bed reflected Alan.

Gordon sharpened his cue as Scott paced the end of the table, crouching down at points to eye up his shot. They were down to the last ball each. "Hey" He called in greeting.

"Hey fellas, how's it going?" Alan pulled up a bar stool.

"Scott's posturing his way to glory because he can't beat my master class of a game."

"If you're aiming to distract me with your whittering, it won't work." Scott forcibly Shot the cue ball into the edge of the table using the momentum to split off his ball from where it rested next to the eight ball and Gordon's. His striped ball rocketed straight into the far pocket leaving the eight spinning slowly on its axis. He stood up leaning on his cue with an award-winning smile, dimples on full display.

"I think it's time you proved yourself." Alan nodded towards the table.

Gordon gave an easy grin before turning his attention to the shot. It was slightly misaligned, not ideal but also not impossible, bit of a pain it was in the centre of the table though. He had to lean over, one leg off the ground to reach. He had an opportunity here; he deftly took his shot, the cue ball clacking with the intended target which whizzed off into the far-left pocket, the number eight then spun straight into the middle pocket. "YEEESSSS!" He plonked the cue on the table whilst Scott looked on in disbelief.

"Lucky shot." Huffed Scott from the wall.

"I think the word you're looking for is skill." Scott glowered at him. Gordon winked before Scott broke into a bark of laughter.

They both grabbed a glass of juice before pulling up next to Alan at the bar. Scott flipped round so he was resting backwards with his elbows propped up on the counter. "So, anyone got any plans for today?"

"Nope." Gordon twirled a straw around in his pint glass.

"I might play some tennis with Tin later but other than that no not really. Why have you got plans?" He looked across to Scott.

"Hah, I should be so lucky. If I was over in the UK, I'd have many plans." It was his turn to looked dejected as he took a mouthful of his drink.

"How's that going?" Alan asked - he was never one for tact.

"Ah you know, I love the girl, she loves me but we live over twenty-two thousand miles apart. I think we were both kidding ourselves that we could be together like a normal couple."

"That's a real shame. I think you guys are swell together but you'll find a way; if there's a problem to solve, you're the man to go to. I thought you offered to move with her to a remote location in the UK?"

"I did, I found the perfect location on Dartmoor, even squared it with dad and the MOD but she refused because she didn't want International rescue to be exposed or Thunderbird one to become a target." He looked on bitterly.

How did he do it? Bulldozer Alan had achieved more in two minutes than Gordon and Virgil had in weeks. They had been trying to coax this conversation out of Scott but getting him to open up was tougher than cracking a clam open. It must be something about being the youngest.No filter required. Gordon dared not interrupt.

"That's rough, if its any consolation you've got someone pretty special there who cares for you and and international rescue and does a great job at protecting our secret."

"Yeah, she's certainly dedicated to her job." He snorted.

"And to you."

"How so?" He sat up straighter.

"Isn't it obvious? When you said she doesn't want Thunderbird one falling into the wrong hands, what about the pilot? There are some people out there who we know would literally kill to have international rescue's secrets. Why would she want you on the mainland when she knows your safe here, especially when she was hurt so badly trying to protect you and that was before she was in love with you." Alan casually swigged his drink unaware of the impact of his words. Both of his brothers stared at him dumbstruck before Scott sprang off his stool and ruffled Alan affectionately on the head.

"Hey! Knock it off! What did I say?"

"You know Alan, your wiser than you look sometimes." Scott grabbed Alan's head in his hands and kissed him on the forehead before bouncing out of the room. Alan furiously scrubbed at the middle of his forehead.

"Well; I think you just made his day." Gordon commented.

"Happy to be of assistance if it stops him being so withdrawn and snappy. I thought he knew what girls wanted. I never had him down for floundering in a relationship."

"Happens to the best of us."

"Hmm. Well, I can't hang around here all day, I need to prep for the upcoming track day. Been training in the simulator for weeks."

Oh no! Gordon had forgot he needed to have his conversation - well to stop procrastinating about it. He suddenly remembered his fathers' terms and inwardly cursed. He really wanted to go, sure he felt bad about letting Alan down at short notice but he really needed this. He was desperate for some other company and a place where his experience and knowledge would be welcome. How to break it to him?

"Yeah...about that…. I er booked a Mine warfare and clearance conference on the same weekend."

Alan whipped round to face him. "You did what? Well, you can't go. I've had this booked since Christmas." He replied haughtily.

"Well Dad has asked if you can reschedule as this would be a good training opportunity for me in regards to international rescue. It's a business trip not for leisure." Gordon was fretting with a paper coaster.

"RE-SHEDULE! Are you kidding me? No, no, no, NO Way! You will just have to go to the next one."

"They only occur every two years. Come on Alan, please. I've not been off the island in just over a year and this is an excellent opportunity to develop and maintain my skills. You know Dad's policy on leave."

"Gordon, I have everything booked! The Hotel, the track, the car's being imported. Tin's coming with me. Your being unreasonable."

"Me? Unreasonable. Seriously you want to play that one? Unreasonable is making John say in space an extra month after Christmas so you could go and get wasted with your buddies on New year. Unreasonable is you hogging the bandwidth to catch up with your racing crew and live races. Unreasonable is never taking responsibility for your own maintenance checks. You also went on leave just last month." Gordon stood; he was never quick to anger but it was building. The stool clattered to the floor unnoticed.

"One night doesn't count as leave! This is outrageous. I'm going to father."

"You can try but it won't get you anywhere!" Gordon treaded upstairs after him across the landing that led to their bedrooms and up to where they would enter the lounge. Alan rushed past the ornate brass statue in the corner, past the screen and stormed into the lounge. Virgil looked up from his painting, caught Alan's look of fury and decided against any further interaction. He selected another colour before shooting Gordon an inquisitive glance. He just shook his head and went to stand behind Alan.

Jeff was at his desk again, blissfully unaware of the trouble that had brewed in the basement. "Father?"

"One minute Alan." Jeff peered at the remaining project plan with his glasses half way down his nose. Alan's brow crinkled at the bridge of his nose. It wasn't his finest look. His hands we balled into fists. Gordon had flopped down onto a nearby chair, he wasn't going to get worked up over nothing.

With that done Jeff looked up and chucked his glasses on the desk. "I take it you wanted to see me."

"Gordon tells me my leave has been revoked." It took all of his remaining tolerance to remain polite and to the point. The vein in his temple was throbbing with his barely controlled restraint.

Jeff stared critically at Gordon. "What did you tell him?"

"That I've booked the conference and it's a training opportunity to refresh my skills for IR and a knowledge seeking exercise. It's a Training opportunity."

"Then I don't see what the problem is, Alan you can go next weekend or the weekend after." Case dismissed, Jeff thought to himself.

"Dad, I've had this booked since Christmas! Like I said to Gordon the hotel is already booked, the car's being imported and the race is scheduled for two pm."

"It's a track day, is it not? There are races scheduled every day." Jeff replied unperturbed.

"Yes, but this race is special Ned, Jed and Frankie are going to be there, this was the only one we could do altogether and this year's potential sponsors have been invited. There's to be a networking event afterwards."

Uh oh. Money, Alan was playing the money card. If there was one thing their father prioritised it was income for international rescue. It was common knowledge Alan gave most of his sponsorship money to International Rescue as a charitable donation. It certainly helped bolster the coffers which was needed when you had a satellite, a rocket and two powerful aircraft to maintain as part of the fleet. Gordon could see it coming, he had lost.

"Please dad, I can't let this one go. It's too important and I've already pulled out of Monte Carlo this year. If I hadn't already got everything lined up then of course I would cancel and let Gordon go but I can't lose this income. This is the beginning of the season, if I don't set things up now, I can't guarantee my salary. Thunderbird three has already gone through a couple of fuselages this year and the replacements weren't cheap."

"Alan this decision is non-negotiable and Tracy industries is not yet in such dire straits that I can't outfit my own rescue organisation. Now that's enough." He added sternly.

Alan hissed at Gordon. "See what you've done! Are you happy with yourself? It's literally in a couple of weeks, I barely have any time to reschedule, I'll be a joke!"

"You already are." Muttered Gordon.

"What did you say?" Alan growled; his tone sharp.

"Boys! That is enough!"

"No Dad! It's not fair, I've have been on non-stop rescues yet and all he's done is sit here! If anyone needs some leave and respite it's me! I was looking forward to being able to fully relax! I'm due to relieve John on the Monday so it's not like I can go the weekend after. Not when I already extended his duty in January." He folded his arms.

Jeff rubbed his temple. To be fair, it had been a while since his boys had a bust up but if he didn't nip this in the bud, he could see it coming back to bite him. Alan wasn't one to let something go, he was too hot headed.

"Credit to you Alan where its due; you did actually follow my instructions and didn't leave it till last to book your leave like you usually do. You have also worked hard this month." Jeff paused weighing up his decision. "Alan you can go, I'm sorry Gordon you'll just have to sit this one out." Alan knew better then to gloat but his eyes said enough.

Sit this one out? Sit this one out? No change there then. Why was he surprised? and why was he surprised that hurt so much. One strop from Alan and that was it, dad just changed his mind again!

He worked hard to keep his voice light but it was laced with passive sarcasm."Oh well, I guess I'll just have to book my leave for two years' time from now on then, it's fine. Would have been boring anyway." Gordon gave his brother one last withering glance whilst ignoring his father completely and strode out the room.

Jeff sighed. Why did he feel this wouldn't be the end of it?