Disclaimer: Thunderbirds is not mine, and I make no money from my fics. They are for the pure enjoyment of other fans on the Net.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews – and Jules? I went back and edited Chapter 16, as you suggested. Nice one.

Chapter 17 is here!

Fate

By Suzi Roberts

Chapter 17 – Recovery

Scott glared irritably at that wretched clock that hung on the wall. He'd looked at it so many times he felt the numbers should have faded out of sight.

Jeff had been concerned at the news Scott had delivered to him the week before, and had alerted the consultant.

He had explained that the paralysis could be temporary or permanent, but the chances were high that it was only a temporary complication. A physiotherapist had been called immediately.

That was who Scott was waiting for now. He was impatient and wanted to up and out of bed as soon as possible. That was also the main priority of the physiotherapist.

It had been decided that she would spend two hours a day working with Scott – and hour in the morning and an hour at night.

Right now it was ten minutes to her arrival.

Scott put his back on the pillow and gazed at the ceiling. It was funny, he thought to himself, how time could fly when you needed it to slow down, and how slow it ticked round the clock when you wanted it to be fast.

He slowly sat up as he heard the click of the door.

"Hello, Scott," smiled the physiotherapist. "How're you feelin' today?"

"Alright, Megan." He replied to the cheerful looking woman in front of him.

"Well perhaps tomorrow we'll see if we can get you to walk a few steps, eh?"

Scott's handsome features lit up at the thought. Well, it'd be something to do, even if it would be a challenge, walking on legs you couldn't feel.

They were working through their exercises, when Scott squirmed.

"Scott? What is it?" Megan asked, concern on her face.

"When you did... that," he replied, gesturing to the area they'd been exercising on his right leg, "I could feel you."

She looked surprised and repeated her action.

"Can you still feel it?"

"Yeah."

Megan took out her notes and wrote it down carefully. Then she smiled.

"Well that good news, Scott. You might make a full recovery yet,"

Scott grinned at her.

"Are you goin' to tell your dad?"

Scott opened his mouth to reply, "of course", but then he stopped.

"No," he replied, grinning wickedly at Megan's questioning look. "I think I'd like to wait until I can show my father what I can do."

Megan returned his wicked grin and waved as she left the room.

*****

They were home.

After all this time of worrying, sitting around in hospitals, just WAITING – things were beginning to look up.

Virgil had gone from strength to strength and was healing well. His treatment had been changed so he an insulin pump instead of shots, which saved him time and aggravation.

He'd been discharged from the hospital a few days earlier. Despite becoming easily tired, he'd been doing great.

Scott was awake and had defeated the doctor's predictions.

He was not fully recovered. He was still in the hospital and unable to walk, but intense physiotherapy had begun immediately and he'd been moved from I.C.U to a regular ward. Jeff no longer needed to stay at the hospital, he'd returned home under protest, but had promised to visit every day.

According to the call Jeff had received from the hospital earlier that morning, Scott was making astounding progress and was likely to fully recover within just two weeks.

It had been lucky, during this time, that International Rescue had been on a quiet period. There'd been a single rescue during the three leaders' absence; one which was luckily a water rescue and, as Gordon and Alan had both been present, had not needed any help with. In fact, for the first time in three months, the Tracy's lives were looking up.

*****

Today was the day.

No more laying around in bed.

Today was the day, Scott Tracy had decided, that he would most definitely walk the length of the short ward corridor if it killed him.

Megan arrived an hour earlier after changing her schedules so that Scott didn't have to wait as long.

Behind her she dragged a walking frame.

Scott didn't look amused.

"You don't expect me to use THAT, do you?" he scrunched up his face in disgust.

"Well, if you wanna walk today, you're gonna HAVE to damn well use it!" Megan chuckled. "Come on – it's just to help you get started. You're too impatient, Scott."

Scott took the handles on each side of the frame and slowly tried to haul himself up. As he brought himself to his feet his legs buckled a little.

"Whoa, there." Megan said, supporting him. "OK, try it again."

Leaning heavily on the frame, Scott pulled himself upright. His legs still felt numb...but not completely. They were tingling as he stood there shakily.

"There you go! You're standing!" Megan praised. "And don't even think about complaining over that walkin' frame!" she added as Scott's eyes drifted downwards.

Scott stood there for a few minutes, trying to "find his feet."

"Wanna try a little walk, then?" Megan encouraged gently.

Despite his protests at having to use it, Scott leant heavily on the frame as he shakily put one foot very slowly in front of the other. He took five steps to the other side of the room and the five steps back again.

"Well done, Scott!" she grinned as he sank back onto the bed. "How do you feel now?"

"I'll feel a lot better when that thing's gone!" he joked, pointing at the frame. Megan shook her head and tutted.

"Well, I'll be back this evening."

"Oh, err...Megan?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"That's OK Scott. My pleasure."

"Megan?"

"Y-e-e-e-e-s?"

"I don't suppose you could come a little earlier, could you? I mean, so you can help me." Scott blushed a little. "I want to walk out and greet my dad when he gets here."

Megan pretended to be cross.

"Well, you sure have a cheek, Scott Tracy. I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, thanks, Megan. You're a star."

"Don't try sweet talkin' me, you!" she added as she left his side-room.

*********

Jeff walked up the long corridor, not hating the sight of it as much as he had the last few weeks.

Well, it had been the first time he'd walked up it to finally receive some good news.

He strolled along at a rather leisurely pace, knowing he was little early for visiting times.

He finally reached the ward just as the doors were opening.

*****

"OK, Scott," Megan said, looking through the window of his room that led onto the corridor.

Scott waited nervously in front of the door.

"Ready?" Megan asked, watching him.

"As I'll ever be," he grinned back.

"Do you want to me to help you from behind or can you do it on your own?"

Scott chuckled.

"You have no idea how wrong that sounds," he grinned at her exasperated expression. "it's OK – I think I'll go it alone."

"Well, you be careful."

Scott hobbled out slowly on the frame, just in time to see his father coming in the opposite direction.

Jeff stopped dead when he saw his son in front of him.

"Hi, Dad! How are you?"

It had been a long time, but Jeff could finally say he'd been rendered speechless.

"Scott..." Jeff showed his praise and approval with a pat on the shoulder. "You're doing very well."

That was enough for Scott, and he walked slowly back to his room, accompanied by his father.

"You did it, Scott!" Megan smiled, perhaps more excited about his achievement than he was.

"Yeah, well it's all thanks to you, Megan."

"Trash." She smiled back. "You did that all by yourself Scott Tracy and you know it."

Glancing at the clock, she extended a hand to Jeff.

"Megan Parsons, Mr Tracy, Scott's physiotherapist. I'm sorry I can't stay longer but I have another appointment. You've got one hell of a determined son, there, Sir."

"Miss Parsons, on behalf of myself and my family, we can't thank you enough. Scott wouldn't be where he is right now without you and we're all grateful for that."

Megan blushed.

"Oh, Mr Tracy, I wouldn't say that," she replied, patting his hand with her own. "It's Scott who's done all the real work. Now I'm afraid I must be going. I'll see you again tomorrow, Scott. Bye, Mr Tracy."

Jeff watched her leave the room.

"Very pleasant young lady," Jeff commented.

"Yeah. Yeah, she is very nice." Scott replied vaguely.

"You're doing very well, son. I'm very pleased with the progress you've made."

"Well I can't wait to walk properly so I can get back to you-know-what," Scott grinned.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, son. Right now, you finish getting yourself fixed up."

*****

"OK," Megan fixed her blue-eyed gaze on Scott. "Today we're putting that thing..." she gestured towards the walking frame, "...away."

Scott had never felt more pleased.

He got to his feet with ease. Then he and Megan walked up and down the ward corridor, slowly, but surely – Scott was walking unaided.

"How do your legs feel, Scott?" she asked.

"I can feel them again now, apart from around the ankles. It's still a bit funny there."

"Well. I expect that'll heal itself in time. Can't run before you can walk."

Scott returned his concentration back to walking.

"Do you think I'll be in here much longer?" he asked.

"Shouldn't think so, Scott. Another week, very tops. I should say they'll let you out Thursday. Maybe even tomorrow?"

Scott grinned at the thought, though he didn't reply.

*****

He sat on the edge of his bed, fully-clothed for the first time in weeks.

Jeff would be here to collect him at 1.00pm.

12.30 pm.

Dr Jackson returned for Scott's final full check-up.

"We are, once again, truly sorry for what happened to you under our care, Mr Tracy."

"No worries Doctor. It wasn't your fault, really. It was just bad luck."

"We're very glad to see you've made a full recovery, Mr Tracy. All the best."

"Same to you, doctor."

12.45pm.

Scott sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window.

"Scott?"

He heard a familiar voice behind him.

Megan came into the centre of the room and sat down next to him on the bed.

"Megan," Scott began. "I want to thank you for everything you've done. If it weren't for you, I don't know where I'd be right now."

"That's alright, Mushy." She grinned back.

"Megan, I'm serious. I mean it."

"Well Scott, I accept your thanks."

She reached out to give him a handshake.

Scott took her extended hand and kissed it.

___________________________________________________________________

End Note: Sorry guys! Didn't think that chapter was ever going to end! I enjoyed writing this one. It was much more light-hearted and I do like a little happiness for the long suffering Gerry Anderson creations. Chapter 18 – Home Sweet Home Coming soon.