This is my first go at a Thunderbirds fan fic so be nice, most of it is written, but I'm having a little difficulty with the ending.
Earthquake.
Chapter 1 Forced Vacation.
"We'll see you in a few days then?"Scott said with a smile at his brother. The look that Virgil shot his older brother could have withered a whole forest of trees. Scott grinned back at him, knowing that going to this high school reunion had not been on his list of priorities, but of all the brothers working at Tracy island Virgil was the only one that had not yet had a proper vacation. A fact that a concerned Scott had pointed out to his father when a week ago he had begun to note that Virgil was beginning to tire more easily especially after a particular difficult rescue. Concerned Scott had talked to his father. It was only then that they had realised that Virgil had not had a vacation in two years. Virgil had protested when told he would be going away, but their father had remained firm. He couldn't even use the excuse that the jet was out of commission , his father saying that Scott could use Thunderbird one to drop him off. That stopped any further argument from Virgil. His father never would have let them use TB1 for this reason if he wasn't so concerned about him.
"I could have rested at home just as easily," He said testily. Scott scoffed.
"Yeah right!"He said sarcastically."And as soon as a call came in you'd be in thunderbird 2 before anyone could stop you,"Virgil again glared at him, then sighed and smiled ruefully.
"I suppose your right" He finally admitted. "But you tell Alan if there so much as a scratch on TB 2 when I get back there will be hell to pay," Scott smiled knowing that Virgil had left their younger brother with a list of instructions on the care of thunderbird 2. But he was also grateful that last he seemed to except the idea that he did need a break.
"Just think,"He said with a smile."You'll be able to found out exactly what they're all doing now and know that you're doing one hell of a lot more than them,"
"Not likely to get voted most successful though!"He said with another quick grin. He grabbed his holdall and descended to the ground walked a short distance from Thunderbird 1,then turned and watched as Scott took off. Sighing he walked up to the small side road not far from the drop off point, he spotted the car that had been left by one of international rescues agents. The keys were inside on one of the seats opening the trunk he placed his holdall inside went round and sat down behind the steering wheel waiting for a moment while the driving seat altered to provide the best driving position for him. He started up the engine and drove down into LA. Knowing at least the most painful part of this vacation was the stupid reunion at least it was tonight, after that he could at least relax a little bit and sight see. He had thought of avoiding going, but knew that somehow his father would find out if he didn't go.
Virgil Tracey was not the only one that was dreading this reunion sitting in a apartment she had hired for a couple of months sat Kathleen Lawrence she looked at her self in the mirror and gave a sad smile. She even doubted that anyone would even recognize her, plastic surgery after a bad car accident two years previously about the only things that were the same was her auburn hair and bright blue eyes. Sighing again she arranged her hair up into a bun with a couple of wisps of hair hanging down in ringlets down each side of her face to hide the still remaining scars. She wore a simple powder blue dress, gave herself alight dusting of make up telling herself that would do she doubted that anyone would really take any notice of her.
Virgil arrived unenthusiastically about the whole performance, he recognize some people as soon as he arrived, people like Melissa Raines were easy to recognise still as spoilt as ever he had to laugh to himself wondering what he had ever seen in her. His dad was right she was shallow he must remember to thank his father when he got home for stopping him from asking her to marry him. Some how he couldn't imagine her being able to keep International Rescue a secret had said hello to a few people he recognize. He retreated to the bar deciding that he needed some fortification before going to say hello to the likes of Melissa and her old group. Arriving at the bar he order a vodka knowing that at least tonight he was not going to be called upon to help rescue anybody. On Tracy Island alcohol was virtually unheard of not knowing when an emergency could happen. Thinking of a possible emergency did not improve his temper much. What he was thinking must have shown on his face.
"Looks like you were looking foreword to this as much as me," A voice at the side of him said amused, turning round he found himself face to face with a young women with something of a bitter sweet smile on her face. She was familiar but he couldn't quite place her, she was he decided very pretty not startling attractive, then suddenly he remembered her.
"Kathleen Lawrence isn't it?" She looked startled, then smiled at him,
"I thought that if anyone would recognize me it would probably be you,"She said sadly, Virgil liked that smile and wished she would again. They were interrupted by a shout.
"Virgil darling,"Melissa Raines came across to them at the bar and hugged Virgil whose response was definitely unenthusiastically about it.
"Hello Melissa," The women then turned to Kathleen and looked at the other woman with contempt that she didn't even try to hide.
"Well hello Kathleen," she gave a sneer" I'm surprised to see you here after all this is LA your Fathers calculations said that the earth quake device would fail before now," Kathleen's face paled with anger." And lord who was your plastic surgeon dear because if I were you I'd sue him," Kathleen regained control of her anger. Insulting her was something she could handle but insults to her late father were something else.
"The surgery was not exactly voluntary Melissa,"She said holding her head up high, she turned to Virgil, "it was pleasant to see you again Virgil,"Turning she left the room.
"Oh dear I was it something I said,"Melissa said with no hint of apology. Virgil turned to her and barely controlling his anger.
"Most probably!" He sneered, he swallowed his drink down in one swig and walked away from her and after Kathleen, he caught up with her outside trying to hail down a taxi, he took a hold of arm, she looked back at him surprised.
"You hungry?" He asked."Being that I don't think I could have eaten anything in there anyway,"
"Yes!" She said genuinely grateful. Virgil smiled down at her. He managed to hail a taxi, when he sat down in the cab,
"Where to sir," The driver said with a friendly smile, Virgil smiled back at the man,
"Actually,"He said "I was hoping you might know of somewhere we might be able to eat that has vacancy?" The driver smiled back.
"Plans cut short then I take it?"
"You could say that," Virgil laughed.
"I know the perfect place then;" still smiling Virgil sat back in the seat.
The driver took them to a small restaurant near the old docks,
"There will be no problem here," He said "My brother owns the place, he always has a spare table,"
"Thanks," He said as he got out "Have you got a card so we can phone for you later," The driver smiled more broadly than ever now especially as Virgil had given the man a large tip, he handed him a card,
"Here and just ask for number 243 and you'll get me," He watched the cab pull away and turned back to Kathleen,
"You do realise that this place could be terrible,"She said with a laugh, Virgil shrugged.
"Well if it is I'll ask for 242 to go back your place," She cocked her eyebrow at him, he only then realised how that last statement had sounded and he quickly corrected himself."I do have to drop you off before I go back to my hotel,"
Fears about the quantity of food and service where quickly allayed however, Kathleen was surprised by how much different he was to how he had been when he was at school, during desert,
"You've changed a lot form how you were before," She said.
"Not as shallow,"He joked back.
"No!" She protested." You were never shallow," He smiled at her "More mature than I would of expected,"
"I suppose I was a little immature at school,"He sighed slightly."I suppose at college was the only time I could act my age,"
"I'm sorry,"She said quickly"I didn't mean to bring back bad memories," She found she could kick herself for reminding him of his mothers death trying to repair any damage."You managed to do well in Denver?" She could still remember the crush she had on him in school. But they never really mixed coming from different backgrounds. He was already in with Melissa's crowd before she started at the school. It was always a surprise to her that he was in that crowd until she heard from her father just how wealthy the Tracy family was. Melissa it appeared was even that early age thinking of making a good marriage.
"Yes," He said modestly. " I Work for my father now;"well he told himself that wasn't exactly a lie."What do you do?"Smoothly diverting anymore questions about his own job, he always hated having to lie to people and it didn't come easy to him.
"I'm a doctor qualified in ER work,"she said."Temporarily based here in LA,"
"So that was why you where there tonight?"She nodded sadly.
"I suppose I should have known better than to go," She sighed again." But I didn't truly expect any to recognise me," A certain professional interest took over and he could stop himself from asking her.
"How did it happen?" Remembering her comment to Melissa earlier about the plastic surgery not being voluntary.
"A car accident two years ago," She said her eyes reflecting a pain." The police assumed that a drunk driver forced me off the road, but they were never caught," Virgil felt a stab of anger"How come you came?"She said quickly changing the subject.
"Dad decided I needed a vacation," He said at least he could be truthful on that score," and he found out about the reunion and decided I should come," Kathleen smiled she had meet Jeff Tracey a few times when her father was alive, and could imagine him delivering an ultimatum like that. She had the feeling that he wasn't being totally truthful with her but she didn't mind it wasn't as if they were going out together." Which hospital do you work at?"
"I don't as yet,"She said."I'm due to start next week;" Virgil nodded suddenly feeling that this vacation may not be as bad as he first thought. It was quite late when he phoned for the taxi back, they were stood waiting for a ten minutes, they were both taken by surprise when a rumbling that began under their feet. Virgil realised what it was instantly, grabbing Kathleen around the waist he pulled her into a doorway forcing her down towards the floor he covered her body with his own. Kathleen fathers warning suddenly came to mind he also knew that they shouldn't be able to feel this quake. Thankfully the quake lasted only for a few minutes both shaken they got to their feet, Kathleen's face was pale.
"You all right?"Virgil asked her, she nodded, he could see that she was troubled. The taxi turned up at that moment and they got in, even the taxi driver was pale, Kathleen gave the man her address, but Virgil concerned about people asked.
"Is there any damage that you know of?"
"Haven't heard of anything major,"He said then he seamed to get some of his former confidence back."It wasn't a stronger one felt stronger before the anti quake was installed;" Virgil nodded and turned back to Kathleen. She looked shaken her face was pale and she was preoccupied, they arrived back at her apartment and Virgil asked the driver to wait for him while he walked her to her door,
"May I see you tomorrow?" He asked hoping that she wouldn't say no, his question did seam to pull her away from her thoughts.
"I have to check on something first thing,"
"We can do it together,"
"Do you have a car?"
"Yes," She looked at him and smiled.
"Okay,"She said slowly."As long as you don't mind a boring couple of hours,"
"No problem,"He said."Pick up at nine?"
"Prefect,"She smiled up at him, he took her hand and lightly kissed it, then turned and left.
When he got back into the taxi he felt a tingling against his wrist from his watch. He smiled realising word of the quake had just reached his father. He waited until he reached his hotel room before he answered the call, pressing the button on the side of the watch and saw his father's anxious face,
"You all right son?"
"Fine dad,"
"Why didn't you answer right away?"
"I wasn't in a position to right away," Jeff Tracey nodded now reassured that his son was okay, he could admit to his self he was worried when Virgil hadn't answered his call right away, but Scott was right.
"Any problems there?"Now out of worried father mode and back in as leader of international rescue.
"None that I know of,"Virgil stated."There didn't appear to be any damage that I saw, though its frightened a lot of people,"
"I can understand that,"Jeff nodded."I'll think I'll get Brains to look into it,"
"I meet up with Kathleen Lawrence tonight, John Lawrence daughter,"He paused slightly."I'm meeting her again tomorrow I'll see if she has any of his research with her,"
"Good idea son,"Jeff said then back in father mode,"Goodnight son,"
"Night dad,"Virgil broke off the connection not mentioning the fact he intended to see her any way. He had to admit it had been a surprise seeing her there, no Virgil he told himself you were surprised at how beautiful she had grown. The accident meant that some things were different to what they would normally have been he could remember her at school, normally very quiet and kept much to herself. The likes of Melissa were cruel to her he knew that but at the time he had been so head over heels for her that he had ignored her cruel traits. Some thing that his father had not. Dad was right Melissa only looked out for one person and that was herself. He smiled to his self-knowing that attitude would not fit in International Rescue at all. He settled in to bed looking forward to tomorrow and hoping that there wasn't a problem with the quake device the death toll if it did go wrong would be beyond imagining.