The wedding
Chapter 18: everyone home safely almost
Back on Tracy Island, everyone was waiting for The Thunderbirds to return home. Jo was standing back on the balcony looking out over the ocean as Lady Penelope walked over towards her.
"Jo darling are you ok with all of this?" Asked Penny because her little sister looked worried as anything.
"I'm fine Penny honest, just didn't expect to be seeing Virgil go out on a mission this soon you know." She explained, her grip on the railing tightening.
"I know it's hard Jo but you will get used to it, Virgil is really good at his job and to be truthful with you I think that he is the most careful of them all. He doesn't take many risks, only when he has too."
"Mummy?" A small voice came from behind them.
"Yes sweetie?" said Jo as she lifted Robyn into her arms and placed her on her hip.
"I really miss Daddy where did he go?" Asked Robyn.
"Daddy is away working honey but he is on his way home now, isn't he Grandpa?" Said Jo as she looked over at Jeff.
"He sure is Robyn and will be very glad to see you."
"Robyn?"
"Yes Auntie Penny?"
"Why don't we go and get your drawing pads so that your mummy and Granddad can have a chance to talk a bit?"
"Ok Auntie Penny." said Robyn as Jo handed her over to her sister and Lady Penelope left the office with Robyn.
"Jo look I am so sorry, if I had of known that Virgil was going to be a father I am sure that he would have been there for you. He evening told me that he planned on marrying just before I called him up about IR. If only I had of known..."
"It's ok Jeff at least Virgil is here now and Robyn loves him to bits, you know I am so glad that Virgil didn't walk away from me once I told him about Robyn." It was something she'd thought long and hard about.
"Well Robyn is such a great child, and she is a lot like Virgil when he was Robyn's age. "Jeff said, his mind flicking back to when Virgil was a child.
"I am just so glad that Virgil is here now Jeff, I don't have to worry about being on my own again."
"I know what you mean there Jo." And he know, having been a single parent for so long he understood it perfectly.
"Thanks for welcoming me into the family as quick as you did."
"That's no problem Jo, always wondered how you and Penny were so close and how you came to live next door to us."
"Yeah I had some good nights at yours, babysitting Alan and Gordon was good too, still can't believe how these two have grown." She couldn't help smiling as she thought back to those nights.
"But once you get them together..."
"You keep well out of the way then."
"How did you know about that?" Asked Jeff.
"Let's just say that Virgil gave me a bit of warning before we came here."
"TB2 calling base." The voice coming through the speaker interrupted their talk.
"This is base go ahead TB2."
"Just want to get clearance for landing, TB1 was delayed taking off for some reason but Scott told us to go on."
"Ok son you are clear for landing." said Jeff as he looked at the computer screen.
"Thanks Dad see you soon"
"Virgil?"
"Yeah Dad?"
"Did Scott tell you why he was delayed taking off?"
"No Dad, but Scott never gets delayed unless something is wrong." In truth Virgil was worried about his brother.
"TB2 and Base from TB5."
"Hey John, son has this got anything to do why Scott was delayed while getting back home."
"It has Dad, Scott has just sent his panic single to me and it's not good." Jeff could tell from Johns face that the news was more than not good.
"What do you mean by not good?" said Virgil as he was coming into land on TB2.
"Well I think Scott has lost all control of TB1 and I can't get the hold of him to ask him about it." It was clear that John was panicking now and that was definitely not like John.
"Are you still tracking him?" Asked Jeff.
"Yeah I am Dad but wait a minute..."
"What is it John?"
"Well I hate to tell you this but TB1 has just gone down over the sea and Scott's signal has just disappeared." Jeff felt his whole body go numb, how could this be happening?
"John can you get a location on it, so me and Gordon can go and look." asked Virgil in a panicked voice as Alan and Gordon put their hands on Virgil's shoulders.
"Yeah I do have one."
"Ok John patch it though to Virgil, Virgil I want you to pick up TB4 and go after Scott but don't worry about TB1 we can get her out later or replace her at least but make sure that Scott is ok."
"F.A.B. Dad"
"Alan?"
"Yes Dad?
"When Gordon gets Scott on TB2 I want you to fly TB2 back to the island while Virgil takes care of Scott once he gets rescued."
"Ok Dad. F.A.B."
TB2 quickly picked up TB4 and began to get ready for take off.
"I don't understand it Virg, Scott flew home in front of us and something goes wrong with TB1, like you say its unlike Scott not to tell us if he is been delayed."
"The only thing we can do Gordon is pray and hope that Scott is alright then we can investigate what happened with TB1 later." Virgil had to try hard to keep his voice from shaking.
"TB2 to base."
"Go ahead Virgil."
"Have picked up TB4 now getting ready to head out to get Scott and we kind of left Alan behind in the hanger. He said he needed the toilet."
"Ok F.A.B. on that son, don't worry about Alan, I will get him to take Jo down to the sickbay and get it ready for Scott."
"Ok Dad, Was Jo ok while we were gone?" Asked Virgil
"She was fine but Robyn started to ask where you were so Penny took her to do something, and I had a good chat to Jo getting to know her better."
"That is so good to hear Dad she will get used to it but I think it's going to take a while."
"Ok Virgil you are clear for take-off again, let us know as soon as you have Scott."
"F.A.B. Dad TB2 out."
Virgil and Gordon were both in TB2 tracking TB1, after a few minutes Virgil got the location and went straight there, relieved to find it wasn't that far from the Island.
"Ok Gordon you better get down to TB4 and rescue Scott, once you get Scott on TB4 I am going to put 2 on auto and come and help you down at the sickbay."
"Ok Virg." said Gordon as he left the cockpit for TB4
"TB2 to base, Dad we have Scott located and Gordon is going down now in 4 to see what the situation is."
"Copy that TB2, Jo is now going down to the sickbay now and Alan is joining her to give her a hand with Scott once he comes in." said Jeff.
"We'll all I am saying Dad is good luck to Jo for taking on Scott because I know what a pain he can be when he is in the sickbay."
"Well if Jo can handle Scott well put it this way, she'd be a big part to IR." Jeff tried to keep the conversation light but he was struggling, he was just so worried.
"Ok I am about to drop the pod, will call once we have Scott on TB2."
"Keep us posted Virgil."
"I will Dad TB2 out, TB2 to TB4."
"TB4 here Virg." Gordons voice came over the speaker loud and clear.
"I am about to drop the pod Gordon, get down there and see what is going on."
"Ok Virg."
Virgil dropped the pod and Gordon took TB4 out under the water.
"Ah Virg..."
"Yeah Gordon what have you found?"
"Well it looks like TB1 is still water tight and I think that Scott is trapped in the cockpit, Scott is really going to hate me for this. But I need to go and cut Scott out Virg. I can't seem to unlock the cockpit because it won't open."
"Ok Gordon try your best not to do too much damage to TB1. We are going to have to work out how we are going to get her out of the water and back to base. But for now let's just get Scott out of there." Explained Virgil, relieved to know that his brother was still alive.
"You know bro. I really feel sorry for Jo when she gets Scott, she'll not know what hit her." Virgil couldn't help echoing his brothers statement.