Chapter 6 In trouble.

Arriving back at the surface it seamed strange, looking around her Kathleen began to see the city had now began to resemble a war zone building in various states of collapse it was painfully obvious which buildings had been pre quake device as they were still surviving fairly intact. Kathleen could not stop tears rolling down her face as she looked around her knowing that this could have been avoided if they had just listened to what her father had tried to tell them, she felt Virgil's arms wrap around her.

"It's virtually empty now,"He said softly to her,"Mainly the army and National Guard doing their last sweeps,"She nodded.

"I suppose it's a case of wondering what happens next,"She sighed.

"We haven't been able to work that one out,"He sighed."To many variables,"She nodded;"Areas in the tidal wave area have been evacuated as well,"

Alan came over to them both,

"We're ready to leave,"Kathleen felt her heart sink knowing that he would again have to leave, she didn't notice Scott come across to them, when she noticed him she looked puzzled at Virgil,

"What's going on?"She asked suspiciously, Virgil gave a smile,

"I left you behind once,"He said,"And I won't repeat that mistake,"Scott came forward he to was smiling,

"Your totally exhausted,"He said,"I've spoken to Dr Murray and he told me how long you've been on duty for,"

"You need some proper rest,"Virgil told her,"So your coming with us, even if I have to carry onto thunderbird two," Alan and Gordon joined their brothers, Kathleen saw the determination on all their faces and knew that they all would make good on Virgil's threat,

"It seams I have little choice,"

"That's right,"Virgil said with a tight grin,"You don't,"

"Come lets get home before dad dose his nut about staying too long,"Alan said,"Plus we have got a certain amount of work to do at home,"Scott nodded knowing that they had to secure the island against the tidal wave could hit them as well. Virgil with his arm still around Kathleen led the way back to Thunderbird two.

"Meet you back at base!" Scott shouted across to them Virgil waved back then he and the others entered the craft, Kathleen settled herself in the seat behind Virgil, while they did the count down checks. Just as they finished another earthquake began beneath their feet.

"Hold on!" Virgil said and quickly opened up the engines, and they lifted up off the ground. Alan heaved a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad we're out of there," He said. With feeling.

"Amen to that," Gordon said. Kathleen was puzzled over one thing.

"How come the army left me with you guys anyway?" Alan grinned at her.

"We just said that after your help today," He said.

"That we would take you to a relative ourselves," Gordon finished. Kathleen laughed.

"You think of everything,"

"We certainly try," Alan answered. Virgil rolled his eyes upwards making Kathleen laugh. As hard as she tired she could not manage to keep awake and as she fell asleep Alan fetched a blanket and covered her with it. He then moved up behind Virgil. "I hope you and Scott know what you're doing," He said seriously.

"Why do you object?" Virgil asked him.

"Me! No I don't," Alan smiled." Tin-Tin will be glad of some female company other than grandma and being a doctor it's a bonus, its just dad's reaction," Virgil sighed.

"It'll probably be best if you and Gordon disappeared when we get back,"

"No way!" Gordon said coming up to them." We both agree that this was the right thing to do, leaving her behind after everything that's she has done and been through just wouldn't have been right," Virgil smiled gratefully at them, he hadn't expected help from his two younger brothers. An hour later they arrived back at the island.

"You're clear to land Virgil," A female voice told him.

"Thanks Tin-Tin," Virgil landed the craft with practiced ease, then sat and watched the door come back up and hide the sea view.

"Home sweet home," Gordon said softly, he and Alan left the machine leaving Virgil alone with the still sleeping Kathleen, and his headache was now coming back with a vengeance. He knew that the possible confrontation with his father wasn't helping any, but looking at the sleeping Kathleen suddenly seamed to make it all worth while. Smiling he bent down at her side and very gently brushed away the hair that had fallen across her face then lent forward and lightly kissed her. He hated to wake her but she would sleep better after a something to eat and a shower.

"Kathleen," He said gently shaking her, she stirred and her eyes opened. "We've arrived," She sat up looking around her slightly bemused, and he pulled her up and into his arms and lightly kissed her. Then smiled down at her." You can get a shower and something to eat then you'll be able to sleep," She smiled wearily up at him.

"It seams a long time since I last slept," She told him. With his arm still around her they left thunderbird two. Kathleen was too tired to really take much notice of her surroundings they entered an elevator that took them into what appeared a to be a main living area. Scott was there still in uniform as well as Alan and Gordon, also a young woman who she didn't know. Kathleen could feel the tension in the room and knew it was connected to her being here.

"Tin-Tin would you please show Dr Lawrence to a guestroom so she can shower and change," A voice said. A chair, which was situated behind a desk, turned around and she recognised Jeff Tracy his expression was unreadable.

"Yes Mr Tracy," The young woman walked over to where she stood. Kathleen looked at Virgil and he nodded that she was to go with her. She left the room wondering exactly what would be said when she left. Turning to Tin-Tin she said.

"They're in trouble for bringing me back aren't they?" Tin-Tin smiled at her.

"Only a little," She said with a small laugh. "Mainly because they didn't ask first," They arrived at the guestroom." Here you go Doctor,"

"Thank you," She said," And my name is Kathleen," Tin-Tin smiled at her again. Kathleen found herself liking the younger woman.

"I'll bring you some clean clothes," She said. Also taking a liking to the older woman. "We seem too much the same size,"

"Thank you," She entered the room and looked around taken a back when she saw the views that the room had. She then made her way to the bathroom and entered the shower glad at last to be washing away the dirt and sweat from the past few days.

Jeff watched her go, then turned to his sons he wasn't as angry as he pretended more annoyed that they didn't ask before taking this course of action.

"Well?" He asked. Virgil stepped forward.

"This was my doing dad," He said." I wasn't going to leave her behind again;" Scott came to his brother's side.

"It wouldn't have been right just to leave her father not after what she's been through," Both Alan and Gordon agreed.

" I'm not talking of that," He said" What I'm talking of is compromising the security of this base," Virgil felt his own anger raise, Scott moved forward and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Father security was already compromised," He said firmly." Kathleen had already recognised Virgil any way," Jeff nodded.

"You boys should go and get cleaned up," Turning to Virgil he said in a more concerned tone," How the head?" Virgil gave a wry grin.

"Aching, " He said. Jeff nodded at his son and then smiled.

" I have to admit," He told him." It will be good having a doctor on the team," Virgil looked at his father and smiled realising that he had just given his approval of Kathleen. Jeff sighed." She proved herself to be what we want, by coming after you when she had no idea of who you were," He turned back to his paper work." Go get cleaned up. Once we've eaten we have to get the island secure,"

Virgil went back to his own room and showered and dressed. When he was back in his own room he noticed Kyrano had left a glass of water and a painkiller at the side of the bed for him, which he took gratefully.

Kathleen had showered and dressed in a cream dress that Tin-Tin had placed on the bed for her and some adjustable sandals. Then she sat on the bed not sure if she should leave the room yet. It was half an hour later that there was a knock at the door, when she opened it Virgil stood there.

"I wasn't sure whether to come out or not," She said with a grin. Virgil smiled at her.

"Its safe," He told her, " We're just about to eat," He slipped his arm around her as she came out of the room, using the other hand he brushed back her hair from her forehead and noticed the cut from the crash." That needs cleaning up first though,"

"I'm not surprised. I only did it rough at the time," Virgil led her to another part of the house and into a room that wouldn't have looked out of place in a hospital. Virgil got her to sit down on the edge of one of the beds in the room. "Nice set up;" She winced as he used a remover for the skin glue.

"Dad set this all up before we became operational," He put some fresh skin glue on the wound," Thankfully we haven't had to use it to often," She nodded." There it shouldn't leave too much of a scar,"

"It'll go with the others," She quipped. Virgil face darkened, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He didn't want to release her, but he could tell by the dark rings around her eyes that she needed something to eat then to sleep.

"Come on," He said. Then lightly kissed the top of her head." Let's get something to eat," She nodded her agreement.

"I have to admit that my stomach feels like my mouth has gone on strike;" She turned to him her face concerned." Just how much trouble did you get into with your father?" He turned to her

.

"Not that much really," He grinned at her. "He actually has taken a liking to you," Her eyes widened. They arrived in the dining room the others were already there, along with an older woman. Jeff looked up at her and smiled.

"Come and sit down and eat," He said. Pointing at an empty place next to him. Kathleen sat down noting that Virgil's place was down the other end of the table. She felt incredibly nervous and she knew her hands were shaking Virgil pulled the chair out for her and she sat down. Jeff again smiled at her and lent forward and whispered.

"I don't bite," He told her amused. She smiled back at him and Jeff understood why Virgil had fallen for her, she was a very attractive girl. "Now eat," He said. "You haven't eaten for a while have you?"

"To be honest I don't think I can remember when I last had a hot meal," Jeff again smiled at her, then looked at the much older woman who was sitting next to her.

"This is my mother;" Kathleen smiled at the older woman.

"Its a pleasure to meet you my dear," She patted Kathleen's arm," Now eat up it won't do to let Kyrano's lovely cooking go cold," It was then that an older Asian came into the room and placed a meal down in front of her. She had to admit that it smelt wonderful and it reminded her of how hungry she was. Jeff had by now focused his attention on another young man sitting at the table.

"Any idea's on how much longer we have until the device fails?" He asked him.

"Iit will only be a mmatter of a few hours," He answered back." Iit has lasted longer than Ii thought it would,"

"Good job it did to," Alan said from further down the table." The evacuation took longer than they expected,"

"It was a big area for them," Scott said sombrely, "With the earthquakes going on around them and getting stronger all the time," He shrugged.

"Ii intend to use the satellite to record what happens next," Brains said. "Ii'm still not totally sure on what is going to happen,"

"We'll secure the base all the same," Jeff said. "Better to be safe than sorry in the circumstances," He looked across at Virgil. "When Kathleen has finished eating you can take her down to the bunker and she can get some sleep down there it'll save us disturbing you,"

"But!" She started to protest. "If you need help," Jeff looked at her and said firmly.

"You're exhausted and need sleep," He said in such a tone that she knew better than to argue with him. The dinner was wonderful and she had to admit when she finished she felt a lot better for it.

"Kyrano is an expert at making food for energy," Jeff mother told her, Rachel smiled though even that seemed to take a lot to do. Jeff looked at her with some concern, then turned to Virgil and noted he had finished his dinner to.

"I think its time for her to get some sleep son;" Virgil nodded and came around the table. It took sometime for Kathleen to persuade her legs to move, but as she stood her legs began to buckle out from beneath her. Virgil was quickly at her side and picked her up, he could feel her body shaking in his arms.

"I'll get her down into the bunker," He said. Jeff nodded.

"Poor girl," Grandma said. "Totally exhausted," Jeff nodded.

Virgil carried Kathleen down to the bunker. He laid her on the bed and gently kissed her. She smiled up at him wearily.

"Get some sleep," He pulled up the blanket and covered her with it. She was asleep before he had left the room.