Dear Readers, I have a problem. When I wrote 'Those Tracy Boys' it was as a quick snapshot – a look at the boys through Tin Tin's eyes. It was never intended to be a full length story. But my Muse had other ideas and gave me this chapter. So the problem is that the first chapter was written from Tin Tin's point of view. This chapter, as you will soon see, cannot possibly be done in the same way. So please forgive the change of style – it's a question of 'If I was going there, I wouldn't start from here' – and I hope you enjoy the story.

quiller

PS There WILL be a third chapter, I promise  – I'll try not to keep you waiting too long!

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The go-between

John walked along the beach towards the headland. He had been home nearly a week now, and this was the first chance he had had to fulfil his promise to Alan. Just as he was about to leave the space station after his last tour of duty, Alan had stopped him. "John, can you do me a favour?"

"Sure thing, Alan – what is it?"

Alan seemed to find it hard to meet his eye. Looking out of the window he said "Do you think you can find out what's bugging Tin Tin? She always seems to be a bad mood with me these days, and I can't think what I've done to upset her."

John had promised to do his best, and when he saw her setting off along the beach after lunch today, he thought it would be a good opportunity. He found her sitting where he thought he would. Just around the headland was a group of rocks where he often came himself if he wanted some privacy; you were out of sight of the house, yet near enough to return if an emergency call came through.

Tin Tin was sitting on a rock, her chin resting on her hands, gazing out to sea. At the sound of his footsteps she turned and waved. "Hi there, John. Out for a walk?"

"Hi yourself. Do you mind some company, or shall I keep going?"

"No, I don't mind" She gestured. "Pull up a rock."

He sat down beside her, then bent forward and picked up a handful of pebbles and began skimming them across the waves.

She watched for a minute. "You're good at that."

"Yes" he answered, "it's nice to know I haven't lost my touch." He glanced sideways at her, then said in a quiet voice, "Want to talk about it?"

"About what?" she answered, somewhat sharply.

"Come on, little sis. This is me you're talking to. I've known since I got back home that something wasn't right. What's the problem? Are you missing that brother of mine?"

She shot him a glance that would have curdled milk. "To be honest John, at the moment I don't know which is worst – when Alan isn't here, or when he is."

John inhaled sharply – this didn't sound good. "Hey, what's going on? You two had a row or something?"

"Nothing's 'going on' as you put it. That's the trouble." She pounded on her knees with her fists. "Sometimes I could scream at him 'For God's sake, DO something'. What's he waiting for? At this rate I shall be old and grey before he ever makes a move." She looked at John. "And do you know something? He never touches me."

"What do you mean? Don't forget I very rarely see the two of you together."

"Just that. He'll stand near me, or sit next to me, but he never touches me. And if I touch him, even accidentally, he flinches – it's like I'm red hot or something." She looked at John. "I'm getting tired of it, John. I'm at the end of my tether here, but I don't know what to do."

John picked up some more pebbles and started skimming again while he thought. "Have you tried giving him some sort of ultimatum? After all, he's not the only fish in the sea."

She smiled. "Has Virgil been talking to you as well?"

"Virgil?" The next pebble sank without trace. "Why should he?"

"Well, I know the others all go to you when they've got problems." She paused. "Why is that?"

"Probably because I'm the one who listens. If you want something done, you go to Scott. If you just want to talk you go to your friendly 'Agony Uncle' John."

She looked at him closely. "And what about you, John. Who do you go to?"

"Quis custodes ipsos custodiet, eh?"

"What was that?"

"Sorry, showing off there," he flashed a grin, for a second looking about ten years old. "It's Latin. 'Who will guard the guardians?' I go to me, too. It all goes in my diary."

"Oh, yes, I've heard Gordon tease you about that."

John gave a mock shudder. "I'd sooner give Ned Cook and his camera crew a tour of this island than let that prankster brother of mine anywhere near my diary. But why did you mention Virgil, anyway?"

She smiled. "I've always had the feeling that he was fond of me."

He looked at her for a moment, then said quietly "We're all fond of you, Tin Tin. Never forget that."

"Oh, John, that's so sweet." She leaned forward, putting an arm round his shoulders, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Next time I see that youngest brother of mine I'll give him a good talking-to. Maybe if I tell him that he's got some competition down here it might spur him to get a move on."

"Thanks, John – you've made me feel a lot better." She stood up. "I think I'll head back to the house now. Are you coming?"

He shook his head. "No, I think I'll sit here for a bit longer. Bye now"

John watched her walk away, waited until she had disappeared round the headland, then slumped forward, burying his head in his hands. 'John, you stupid fool! - you total, utter idiot. You are never going to get another chance like that if you live to be a hundred. WHY didn't you say something? You're the one who's supposed to be good at words. It isn't even as if the words are very complicated. You could have told her. "I love you, too, Tin Tin" See? It's not that hard.' He picked up another handful of pebbles. How long had it been going on? It must be more than ten years now. Yes, that's right, he was in his last year at school when he first became aware of his feelings for her. That's when he started this 'Little sis' business, both to hide his true feelings, and also to remind himself that she was off limits. Even then it was pretty obvious that she only had eyes for Alan. Well, he had done such a good job of it that that was obviously how she saw him now – as a big brother, a person to go to for advice, a shoulder to cry on. He stood up and flung the last pebble with all his strength, far out into the bay.

He'd done what he'd been asked to do; he'd fulfil his role as go-between and report back to Alan, but maybe with a word of warning that the competition was getting a bit fierce, and if Alan didn't make a move he might find himself lagging behind. And Virgil too? That was something he hadn't realised. He would have to keep an eye on his middle brother. It was always the quiet ones you had to watch out for.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he turned back along the beach.