Disclaimer: I still don't own Thunderbirds, despite my protests (ha!) and I
have made no money from this fic.
Author's Note: Aww, thanks for the reviews everyone! And cgruber – The difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes is type 1 is insulin-dependant and type 2 is not. ;-)
Thank you all!!! (again)
Fate
By Suzi Roberts
Chapter 7 – Which Tracy? Part B – Two Brothers Talk.
Scott looked at Virgil questioningly.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Sure."
Virgil sat on the bed again, closely followed by Scott, who perched on the very edge of the mattress.
There was an uneasy silence between the two brothers as Scott wondered what to say. In the end he sighed.
"Dad's upset, you know." He knew this wasn't the most intelligent thing he could say at that moment; but at least it was a start.
"I know." Virgil replied, looking at his lap.
"He was trying as hard as he could, Virg. Not to upset you, I mean. He knows how difficult you're finding this, despite trying to show everyone you don't really care."
Virgil opened his mouth and closed it again. Scott looked at him.
"Virg?"
"I do care Scott. I'm sorry if I upset Dad."
"You ought to tell him that yourself," Scott said gently.
"I will. It's just I'm so worried. The doctor says that one of you have to donate a kidney to me – what if one of you dies? The family would collapse..."
"And have you thought about how we'd feel if you were the one to..."
Scott couldn't bring himself to say the word "die" – but thankfully Virgil didn't need to hear it.
"Of course I have Scott. I'm just worried about all of you..."
"I think, Virg," Scott said gently, "that for once you need to worry about yourself."
Virgil didn't reply.
"We've got to face this with a positive attitude," Scott proceeded, "And once it's over, it's OVER, right?"
Virgil looked up with a new hope inside.
"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, you're right, Scott. Ever since earlier all I've thought about is what happens when something goes wrong. I haven't even stopped to think about what'd happen if it all went RIGHT."
"That's the spirit, Virg!" Scott grinned, glad he'd managed to break through to his brother. "Now, come on. You've got something to say to Dad."
Virgil's smile faded a little.
"Yes I have. I feel terrible."
"Well, don't feel TOO terrible. I think he might make an exception. Just this once, of course." Scott smiled jokingly.
Feeling more light-hearted, Virgil followed Scott from the room, closing the door behind him.
*******
The door to the Tracy lounge hissed open. Virgil stepped inside, no longer accompanied by Scott. In fact, the lounge was completely empty, a rarity for such a busy household.
Well, the room was NEARLY completely empty. Jeff sat at his desk, as usual , head buried somewhere in the newspaper.
Virgil cleared his throat.
"Err...Dad?" he said quietly.
Jeff put down his paper and smiled.
"Hello, son. Feeling any better?"
"Sure Dad. Scott came and spoke to me earlier."
Jeff grinned inwardly. Scott had always known how to get to Virgil, ever since they were children.
"Listen, Dad. I'm really sorry for what happened earlier. I felt under so much pressure...if I hadn't have left I would have..."
"Exploded?" Jeff smiled. "You're just like your mother, you are."
Virgil stood still, momentarily distracted. It had been the first time Jeff had mentioned his mother with ease for nearly twenty two years. Virgil walked slowly closer to the desk.
"Like I said," Virgil started carefully, "I really am sorry."
"It's OK, Virgil." Jeff reached over to give him a hug, then backed out and patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks Dad." Virgil smiled back. "There's just one more thing..."
"What son?" Jeff looked at him worriedly.
"Until the transplant, can I still go out on rescues?"
Jeff shook his head, smiling.
"Yes son. Of course you can. But only if you feel up to it!"
******
"OK, Dr Jackson. Thursday? Right. Yes, they'll be there. I'm sorry, I'm afraid only the two of them can make it that day. Yes. Thank you. 'Bye."
Jeff put down the telephone. It was a rare occasion on which he used it, but a radio link wasn't exactly practical for a personal call.
He turned to Scott and Alan.
"OK, you two. The doctor wants you to take your tests on the coming Thursday. On your return, Alan will travel to the space station in Thunderbird Three to relieve John of his duties whilst he is tested with Gordon on the approaching Friday."
"Yes, Sir."
"OK, Dad."
"Oh, Dad," Scott began, "Virgil just called while you were on the phone. He says he's on his way back and should be here by eleven."
"Thanks, Scott. How did he sound?"
"OK, Dad. He said he's getting to used to it by now."
Jeff chuckled. Virgil had been having dialysis for two days and he reckoned he was already "used to it".
It had been relatively quiet for the past two days and the whole family had been relaxing. Where they lived, every day was perfect to be spent in the pool, or catching the rays.
As Scott and Alan dived in the pool to cool off that extraordinarily hot day, Jeff couldn't help but watch and wonder which one of these lively boys would be alongside Virgil in an operating theatre in the next few months.
******
The eyes of Virgil's portrait flashed.
"Go ahead son. How's the situation?"
"Good, father. A couple of the people are injured, but not severely. Everyone else had a lucky escape, I guess."
"Good work, son. How're you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Dad. Boy, is it weird without Thunderbird One!"
Jeff laughed.
"Yes, son, I guess it is. But we got the problem sorted, that's the main thing. Right. Back to base!"
The link closed.
Jeff ran a hand over his brow. It hadn't been a long rescue; but it had been a difficult one.
It had started earlier that morning, when a lorry had smashed into the side of a star hotel and blown up within minutes; the driver barely escaping with his life.
A fire had started at the ground floor of the building, the flames licking their way to the first floor before the fire had been detected.
The Fire Services had been called, but the fire had already gone beyond their help. International Rescue had been their last hope.
Virgil had set out alone that day with Gordon and Brains. Both Scott and Alan were having their tests done, so there had been no-one to fly Thunderbird One. It had been agreed that Virgil could manage this with Thunderbird two alone, and Gordon on Mobile Control.
They'd set out immediately, reaching the location in New York in record time.
They'd worked hard and fast, with Virgil digging his way in with the Mole, and Gordon and he kitted out for the blaze whilst Brains handled Mobile Control.
Virgil and Gordon had fought their way in, and, with the help of the Fire Services, had managed to rescue everyone AND eventually extinguish the fire.
Jeff had feared that it may have been to stressful for Virgil; but he seemed OK. It was like that, he'd said. Some days he'd be fine; others he wouldn't.
******
ONE WEEK LATER.
Jeff sat with Virgil in the waiting room. Virgil twiddled his fingers and ran his hand through his hair; Jeff watched each patient go in and out of the doctors office, both men equally nervous of what they were going to hear.
When eventually "Tracy" was called, they both jumped and rose from their seats simultaneously; welcomed by a smiling Dr Jackson.
"Right," he said, flicking through the file. "we have the results of your brothers' tests, Virgil."
He stopped to find the correct page.
"Ah. We have two matches..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
End Note: Chapter 8 coming soon. I hope this chapter wasn't a disappointment to anyone. If it was, I'm sorry and the next chapter will make up for it! Drop me a review if you have time...
Author's Note: Aww, thanks for the reviews everyone! And cgruber – The difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes is type 1 is insulin-dependant and type 2 is not. ;-)
Thank you all!!! (again)
Fate
By Suzi Roberts
Chapter 7 – Which Tracy? Part B – Two Brothers Talk.
Scott looked at Virgil questioningly.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Sure."
Virgil sat on the bed again, closely followed by Scott, who perched on the very edge of the mattress.
There was an uneasy silence between the two brothers as Scott wondered what to say. In the end he sighed.
"Dad's upset, you know." He knew this wasn't the most intelligent thing he could say at that moment; but at least it was a start.
"I know." Virgil replied, looking at his lap.
"He was trying as hard as he could, Virg. Not to upset you, I mean. He knows how difficult you're finding this, despite trying to show everyone you don't really care."
Virgil opened his mouth and closed it again. Scott looked at him.
"Virg?"
"I do care Scott. I'm sorry if I upset Dad."
"You ought to tell him that yourself," Scott said gently.
"I will. It's just I'm so worried. The doctor says that one of you have to donate a kidney to me – what if one of you dies? The family would collapse..."
"And have you thought about how we'd feel if you were the one to..."
Scott couldn't bring himself to say the word "die" – but thankfully Virgil didn't need to hear it.
"Of course I have Scott. I'm just worried about all of you..."
"I think, Virg," Scott said gently, "that for once you need to worry about yourself."
Virgil didn't reply.
"We've got to face this with a positive attitude," Scott proceeded, "And once it's over, it's OVER, right?"
Virgil looked up with a new hope inside.
"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, you're right, Scott. Ever since earlier all I've thought about is what happens when something goes wrong. I haven't even stopped to think about what'd happen if it all went RIGHT."
"That's the spirit, Virg!" Scott grinned, glad he'd managed to break through to his brother. "Now, come on. You've got something to say to Dad."
Virgil's smile faded a little.
"Yes I have. I feel terrible."
"Well, don't feel TOO terrible. I think he might make an exception. Just this once, of course." Scott smiled jokingly.
Feeling more light-hearted, Virgil followed Scott from the room, closing the door behind him.
*******
The door to the Tracy lounge hissed open. Virgil stepped inside, no longer accompanied by Scott. In fact, the lounge was completely empty, a rarity for such a busy household.
Well, the room was NEARLY completely empty. Jeff sat at his desk, as usual , head buried somewhere in the newspaper.
Virgil cleared his throat.
"Err...Dad?" he said quietly.
Jeff put down his paper and smiled.
"Hello, son. Feeling any better?"
"Sure Dad. Scott came and spoke to me earlier."
Jeff grinned inwardly. Scott had always known how to get to Virgil, ever since they were children.
"Listen, Dad. I'm really sorry for what happened earlier. I felt under so much pressure...if I hadn't have left I would have..."
"Exploded?" Jeff smiled. "You're just like your mother, you are."
Virgil stood still, momentarily distracted. It had been the first time Jeff had mentioned his mother with ease for nearly twenty two years. Virgil walked slowly closer to the desk.
"Like I said," Virgil started carefully, "I really am sorry."
"It's OK, Virgil." Jeff reached over to give him a hug, then backed out and patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks Dad." Virgil smiled back. "There's just one more thing..."
"What son?" Jeff looked at him worriedly.
"Until the transplant, can I still go out on rescues?"
Jeff shook his head, smiling.
"Yes son. Of course you can. But only if you feel up to it!"
******
"OK, Dr Jackson. Thursday? Right. Yes, they'll be there. I'm sorry, I'm afraid only the two of them can make it that day. Yes. Thank you. 'Bye."
Jeff put down the telephone. It was a rare occasion on which he used it, but a radio link wasn't exactly practical for a personal call.
He turned to Scott and Alan.
"OK, you two. The doctor wants you to take your tests on the coming Thursday. On your return, Alan will travel to the space station in Thunderbird Three to relieve John of his duties whilst he is tested with Gordon on the approaching Friday."
"Yes, Sir."
"OK, Dad."
"Oh, Dad," Scott began, "Virgil just called while you were on the phone. He says he's on his way back and should be here by eleven."
"Thanks, Scott. How did he sound?"
"OK, Dad. He said he's getting to used to it by now."
Jeff chuckled. Virgil had been having dialysis for two days and he reckoned he was already "used to it".
It had been relatively quiet for the past two days and the whole family had been relaxing. Where they lived, every day was perfect to be spent in the pool, or catching the rays.
As Scott and Alan dived in the pool to cool off that extraordinarily hot day, Jeff couldn't help but watch and wonder which one of these lively boys would be alongside Virgil in an operating theatre in the next few months.
******
The eyes of Virgil's portrait flashed.
"Go ahead son. How's the situation?"
"Good, father. A couple of the people are injured, but not severely. Everyone else had a lucky escape, I guess."
"Good work, son. How're you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Dad. Boy, is it weird without Thunderbird One!"
Jeff laughed.
"Yes, son, I guess it is. But we got the problem sorted, that's the main thing. Right. Back to base!"
The link closed.
Jeff ran a hand over his brow. It hadn't been a long rescue; but it had been a difficult one.
It had started earlier that morning, when a lorry had smashed into the side of a star hotel and blown up within minutes; the driver barely escaping with his life.
A fire had started at the ground floor of the building, the flames licking their way to the first floor before the fire had been detected.
The Fire Services had been called, but the fire had already gone beyond their help. International Rescue had been their last hope.
Virgil had set out alone that day with Gordon and Brains. Both Scott and Alan were having their tests done, so there had been no-one to fly Thunderbird One. It had been agreed that Virgil could manage this with Thunderbird two alone, and Gordon on Mobile Control.
They'd set out immediately, reaching the location in New York in record time.
They'd worked hard and fast, with Virgil digging his way in with the Mole, and Gordon and he kitted out for the blaze whilst Brains handled Mobile Control.
Virgil and Gordon had fought their way in, and, with the help of the Fire Services, had managed to rescue everyone AND eventually extinguish the fire.
Jeff had feared that it may have been to stressful for Virgil; but he seemed OK. It was like that, he'd said. Some days he'd be fine; others he wouldn't.
******
ONE WEEK LATER.
Jeff sat with Virgil in the waiting room. Virgil twiddled his fingers and ran his hand through his hair; Jeff watched each patient go in and out of the doctors office, both men equally nervous of what they were going to hear.
When eventually "Tracy" was called, they both jumped and rose from their seats simultaneously; welcomed by a smiling Dr Jackson.
"Right," he said, flicking through the file. "we have the results of your brothers' tests, Virgil."
He stopped to find the correct page.
"Ah. We have two matches..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
End Note: Chapter 8 coming soon. I hope this chapter wasn't a disappointment to anyone. If it was, I'm sorry and the next chapter will make up for it! Drop me a review if you have time...
