Author's Note- Thank you for your continued review of this story and constructive reviews. I would like to acknowledge the invaluable help and suggestions of Lady Viva, The Captain and Yvette. Even I'm stressed after this Chapter! mcj
CHAPTER 11 - FAMILY COMMITMENT - THE BIRTH OF LUCY TRACY
PART 3 - TERROR
Alan Tracy had forgotten how completely exhausted he was as he frantically threw his belongings into his bag while trying stripping himself of his International Rescue uniform.
"I'm coming baby." he cried, his chest heaving with panic. "I'm so sorry. Please be OK. Please. "
He could hear Scott's masterful voice booming throughout Thunderbird Five as he pulled on his clothes in preparation to leave the satellite.
"This is Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Come in Alan."
He made no attempt to respond. His thoughts were only with Tin-Tin and his baby daughter. Why hadn't anyone told him about this pre-eclampsia thing? He'd exploded at Gordon and called him for everything a few moments ago and would still have been doing so except that Gordon had shut down the frequency to allow Scott to take it over. Tin-Tin was his wife for God's sake. He had a right to know what was going on with her. Just how bad were things if his Father had sent Thunderbird Three without telling him? What the hell was pre-eclampsia anyway? He hadn't stopped railing long enough at Gordon to ascertain that.
How could she have developed complications? Everything had been fine when he'd left. She had been feeling tired but she was all right. He'd made sure she had been given the best medical care throughout her pregnancy. Now it was obvious that medical care hadn't been enough. He was about to fail her again. She didn't deserve this. She deserved to have their baby with her husband beside her. Why did he always have to let her down?
"Oh God." he swallowed feeling tears burning in the back of his eyes. "If I lose her or Lucy I'll never forgive myself for being up here. I'll never forgive Dad for making me do this rotation. I won't... I swear..."
His hands swept up the two boxes he had carried with him for over a month; the gift for his little girl; the gift for Tin-Tin. He jammed them into his pocket and sat on the unmade bed as he quickly laced his shoes. He tried to calm himself down but after a few unsuccessful deep breaths he knew that was asking the impossible. How could a man be calm when his wife was being taken to San Diego without him...to give birth alone.
His thoughts overran him as he felt himself becoming more and more hysterical with each passing minute.
"I promised her I'd be there. I promised her I'd always be there for her. I promised Kyrano. Look where I am when it counts! I'm holed up here unable to do anything. I need to get back to earth. Thunderbird Three can do it in fifty five minutes if I take her out to maximum speed again. I've only ever flown at that speed once and Dad bawled me out when I did it but I know it can be done. I don't care if he bawls me out for the rest of my life. I'll do anything for her... anything."
Scott vainly continued to try to get Alan to take the call.
"This is Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Come in Alan damn it!"
No response.
"Alan for God's sake answer in the affirmative." he commanded pausing to look at John who simply shook his head.
He turned back to the radio. "Alan...do you hear me? You've got to initiate the automating of Thunderbird Five now. Please respond."
There was still no answer. Scott and John exchanged worried looks. It was looking more and more like one of them was now going to have to automate Thunderbird Five. That would waste another ten minutes. They didn't have another ten minutes. Their Father's instructions were to have Alan in San Diego before the baby was taken. Thunderbird One would be in San Diego now.They had to leave the satellite.
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Jeff Tracy's mouth was fixed in a grim line of determination as Thunderbird One began its descent into San Diego. He frowned with the tension in his body and the worry he was feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Virgil Tracy sat beside him wearing the same mask of worry. He was past being tense as he glanced behind him every now and then to where Tin-Tin was propped up next to her Father. She was now unconscious. He was extremely apprehensive.
His eyes met Kyrano's. Kyrano was grey with fear and the furrows in his forehead made him appear twenty years older. Virgil watched nervously as her body appeared to be having small spasms. She lay limply supported by her Father.
"I don't like the look of this." he thought guardedly. He turned to his Father.
"Can't we go any faster Dad?"
Jeff swallowed. Thunderbird One had been at maximum speed. Now he had to bring her down. "Easy boy." he said as much for his own benefit as Virgil's.
Kyrano stroked Tin-Tin's head and spoke gently to her. His voice shook with the strain.
"TInarda. My dear, sweet, precious little girl."
No reply. The only sound was the sound of Thunderbird One.
" Be strong for me and for your little one. We are almost there now. You must not give up. "
No reply. Still only the engines of Thunderbird One.
"I am with you. Mr. Alan is on his way. Until then I am here for you."
No reply. Still only the sound of Thunderbird One.
Virgil gulped as he looked at his Father.
"Dad..." he said his voice showing the strain he felt." She's really bad back there."
His Father nodded. He didn't need reminding. He could hear Kyrano and the genuine dread in his voice.
He was feeling that dread too as he remembered the events of the past few days and focussed on what was now the most important thing of all to him.
Tinarda Kyrano.
A pretty little girl whose education he had offered to sponsor in exchange for her Father taking over the responsibility of managing his rabble of a household in New York. Five boys aged between nine and eighteen, his Mother whom he wanted to finally have some sort of life after helping him raise his sons, him, a widower and a workaholic with a business bigger than he'd ever imagined it would be, and very, very big plans for the future.
A pretty little girl whose Father could not bear to call her by her given name as the mere utterance of it brought pain to his heart and longing to his soul. His wife Narda had left him eight years earlier and she had been named after her mother. He had decided to refer to her as Tin-Tin instead. Tin-Tin had suited her and its meaning was "sweet". And she was a sweet little girl in every possible way. She was introduced to everyone as Tin-Tin Jane Kyrano. Even to him.
She had smiled at him the day he showed her around his home and thanked him for agreeing to sponsor her education. She promised to study hard and do her best. At the time he felt he should have been thanking her. He knew that this pretty, delicate and delightful nine year old would be so good for his sons and the atmosphere in his home.
He had hoped that by introducing Tin-Tin to his family he was giving his sons the opportunity to experience the sister he and Lucy had never managed to give them and by opening his heart and his home to the Kyrano family, life could only improve for them all.
Life did.
Kyrano made such a difference to their day to day lives and so did Tin-Tin. A girl in the house seemed to tame his brash young sons to a certain extent and that had been good for them all. She also blossomed in knowledge in the appropriate schools he had selected for her and as a result grew into a fine young lady who headed off to College and returned with honours in two degrees.
Tinarda Kyrano; his Assistant Engineer.
A beautiful young woman who did not hesitate to join International Rescue when he approached her. She had smiled at him and thanked him again for the opportunity. She was an elegant, articulate, and delightful twenty-one year old who had mastered mathematics and was able to work out formulas with competent ease.
She was a brilliant girl. She had obtained her pilot's licence at his request. She worked with Brains far into the night without complaint.
She was brave and willingly went on the occasional rescue to assist despite the dangers. She had nearly lost her life alongside two of his sons not long ago as they risked everything including themselves to save the Sunprobe from certain destruction. She had been prepared to die for International Rescue that day.
Die for him. Jeff Tracy. She had been prepared to die for his dream.
She was versatile, innovative and reliable. There was no doubt she was an undisputed asset to International Rescue.
Tinarda Tracy; his daughter-in-law.
A stunning young woman who had captured the heart of his youngest son and accidentally fallen pregnant as a result of his wild and reckless ways.
A frightened young woman who had married his son in such sad and unhappy circumstances, a marriage he didn't approve of but had been forced to accept.
It was a marriage he feared was eventually going to fail despite what everyone else seemed to think.
A determined young woman who refused to let her pregnancy stand in the way of her role as his Assistant Engineer. As Head of International Rescue he had hinted she should stand down for a while, but when she did not, he callously continued to act as an employer and expected her to fulfil her role without regard for herself or the child she carried.
He knew he should have taken her aside as her father-in-law and asked her to stand down for the good of the baby and herself. Hinting was not enough.Why hadn't he done that?
He knew he should not have indicated that it was her fault the boys had died in the mine but he done so even though his motives had been good. What was he thinking saying that to a girl who was nearly nine months pregnant whatever the motive?
An independent young woman who had experienced over half of her first pregnancy alone as he expected his son to continue to man Thunderbird Five on a rotational basis. The same son he insisted went to New York for a further week after the rotation because he owed him money and needed to be taught a lesson. It left her without a husband for five weeks out of eight. Neither of them dared to complain. They had both simply accepted they had no choice.
He thought back to when Lucy was pregnant with Scott. He had been there every night from the time they knew about the baby until the day she gave birth to him. He would not have allowed anything else. Lucy had been everything to him.
He thought about Alan and Tin-Tin. It had never occurred to him that maybe Tin-Tin was everything to Alan just as Lucy had been to him. Tin-Tin was about to give birth to his grandchild without Alan by her side. How could he have allowed this to happen?
He had never really realised how important this girl was to him until now as he faced the very real possibility of losing her.
He had loved her as a daughter until she had married his son. He had somehow then felt the need to become hard and make the two of them focus on not mixing their careers with their marriage.
He was worried sick the marriage wouldn't work out. Not fatherly worry that if one of them walked away, his grandchild would lose their Daddy or Mommy. In his eyes until this moment, his only worry had been if Alan walked he lost one of his Astronauts. If she walked he lost his valuable Assistant Engineer. He knew International Rescue couldn't afford to lose either of them.
But could his grandchild afford to lose either of them either?
"What am I doing?" he berated himself. "These kids and this new baby...they are my family."
He shuddered as he realised if their marriage didn't work he would be partially if not totally to blame. He should have been more flexible. He should have done something with the satellite in the last month so that Alan was here with her now, not in Thunderbird Five.
He would have walked out on NASA to be at Scott's birth whatever the price. He would not have allowed Lucy to go through that experience alone. It was a value he had placed on family as a young man. Yet he hadn't given his own son the same choice. Alan couldn't just walk out of International Rescue way up in space but as Jeff Tracy pondered on the point he knew Alan more than likely would have if he could. Now Tin-Tin faced this risky birth without him.
"Dear God." he thought desolately. "Mother was right. I was never like this when I had Lucy in my life. Since I've lost her, I seem to have lost sight of everything including myself over the years."
The hospital grounds were now in sight and the emergency landing area appeared to be clear. Jeff Tracy glanced up at the camera detector. It was working. Despite his jumbled personal thoughts and feelings of guilt, International Rescue's security risk ran as the major undercurrent in his mind.
He peered at the landing area trying to determine if his requests had been met by the hospital. He could see an ambulance. Four other people were standing on the tarmac. Jeff assumed them to be the Head of the Hospital and the three Doctors.
"I'm taking her in Virgil." he said. "Be ready to take over on landing. Once you get Tin-Tin safely off, take back off again straight away for base. You'll need to be there to refuel before John returns with Alan. Let Scott bring Alan in. Virgil..."
His second son looked at him as Thunderbird One landed.
"Yes Dad?"
"Don't let your Grandmother come in."
Virgil's eyes widened. He had to be kidding! Try and leave Grandma behind? Did he think he had a death wish or something?
"Dad you promised Grandma…" he began.
Jeff glanced behind him and looked at Tin-Tin as Virgil stood up to disembark.
"I know but if anything happens to that girl or that baby I'm not going to be able to deal with your brother and your grandmother as well."
"Sir I know but..."
"Virgil." Jeff Tracy said firmly, his eyes like stone. "Alan's not going to be able to deal with this as it is let alone if anything goes wrong."
"Dad we're talking about Grandma."
Jeff Tracy was in no mood to be argued with.
"Virgil. Just do as I say." he snapped.
Thunderbird One's hatch was opening. He had to become Jeff Tracy; Billionaire; Father-In-Law. He stood up and adjusted his clothing before stepping out onto the tarmac with Kyrano.
Hopefully Thunderbird Three would be on its' way back now with Alan.
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Thunderbird Three had finally reached the satellite. John Tracy prepared the huge rocket ship to connect with the air lock.
Scott rose from his seat as the two Thunderbirds met.
"Johnny." he warned. "Opening that airlock will be like exposing a wildcat. You're gonna have to stand your ground with him. He'll want the controls."
Blue eyes met blue.
"Do you want me to automate then?" John asked. "It'd be quicker if you did it though. I can stay prepared for blast-off then."
Scott nodded. "All right but only if you can guarantee me you can handle Alan."
John frowned and rolled his eyes. What did Scott take him for? Some kind of weakling?
"Alan's just a kid." he snapped. "Of course I can handle him."
Scott wondered stonily if Virgil, John and Gordon had taken the time to notice the change in their little brother over these past six months. Obviously not, because if they had John would appreciate that Alan wasn't anything like he used to be.
"Alan isn't a kid any more John. Respect that. I'm warning you." he cautioned.
"Yeah well respect the fact that I can handle him OK." John retorted. He hated it when Scott patronised him.
The air lock opened and Scott grimaced as his worst fears were realised. Down the airlock tore Alan, out of control as usual and looking absolutely panic-stricken. He took a sharp intake of breath as he faced his youngest brother. Alan went to push past him on his way to the flight deck. Scott grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him.
"Hey kid. Calm down now." he said.
Alan wrenched his arm free.
"Cut it Scott. I've got to get home. We've got to take off now." he demanded.
"That's why I needed you to automate Thunderbird Five." Scott replied. "Now you've got to stand by until I do."
"What the hell? I don't care a dime about that. I'm taking Thunderbird Three and if you want to get back to earth you'd better stay on board big brother."
Scott knew he didn't have time to argue. They couldn't and wouldn't be taking off until the automation was done. He strode up the air lock praying John could contain Alan for the ten minutes it was going to take.
Alan entered the flight deck of Thunderbird Three where John Tracy sat in the seat of command.
"Johnny." he said. "Give me the controls. I can do this in fifty five minutes."
John looked at his youngest brother. For the first time he noticed Alan had lost his baby-faced appearance. Facing him now was a man not a whining little boy. A distraught man with only one thing on his mind at the moment and that something was everything to him. That something was his wife.
"Relax Alan. I've got it covered." he said quietly. "I'll get you home."
Alan stood up to his full height.
"I said give me the controls." he said deliberately.
John continued to look him straight in the eye as he made his point slowly and clearly.
"I'm the senior astronaut here Alan and I'm currently in command of this ship. Now obey my orders. Go down and seat yourself for blast-off. Blast-off will happen immediately Scott's on board."
Alan grasped his brother's collar and pulled him from the controls.
"I can't wait John. You don't understand that every second counts. I've got to get back before anything happens to Tin-Tin. You can't make Thunderbird Three do the speed I can. You're too straight down the line man."
John Tracy pushed him to the ground.
"Do you think I'm some sort incompetent fool Alan? I'm an astronaut for God's sake. I was in NASA flying simulators when you were still in College. I know what speeds this Thunderbird can do and I know how to handle them better than you ever will. Now follow my orders and get ready to blast-off."
Alan stood back up, his eyes burning with rage.
"Get out of my way John."
"No Alan."
"I'm warning you."
"No."
Alan launched himself at his brother with a power that John had never experienced before.
Scott Tracy was on the radio when he heard the altercation in Thunderbird Three.
"Sweet mother of God." he swore as he ran back down the airlock to find his two blonde brothers in a full fist fight. He grabbed Alan from behind and held him with strength only the eldest Tracy son possessed. As Alan struggled against him, Scott barked at John.
"Finish automating the darned thing. Virgil's just radioed in. He's left San Diego. We've got to get this kid back on the double!"
John nodded woodenly and almost ran back down the airlock as he grimaced in pain at the hit he'd just taken to his left cheek.
Scott continued to restrain his distraught brother.
"Easy...easy Al." he said trying to remain calm himself. "Johnny and I have been sent to bring you home."
"I can get there myself Scott. Let me go."
"Trust me kid. We'll get you there."
"Scott. I mean it. I'll hit you if I have to...I swear"
"I'm sure you will but you have to trust me."
"I don't trust anyone. None of you told me the truth about Tin-Tin. Not even you."
Scott said nothing. "C'mon John. C'mon." he urged under his breath. Boy this kid was strong.
Finally John returned to the Thunderbird. He glared at Alan and said in a voice Scott Tracy had never heard his middle brother use before. The voice of command usually reserved for him and his father.
"I'm closing the hatch Scott. Get that kid the hell out of my cabin. I'm preparing for blast-off. "
Scott's grip loosened. Alan stood in front of them both in silence. John took the pilot's seat as Scott spoke to him firmly.
"Alan. I've never let you down have I?"
Alan lips trembled with emotion.
"No Sir." he replied shakily.
Scott patted his back and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Well trust me now. I'll get you to San Diego kid. "
Alan nodded woodenly. He knew he could rely on Scott. As he followed him to the elevator he glanced at his middle brother who was setting his course for earth as Thunderbird Three's engines blasted back into life again. John would take the safe speed, just like his Father would.
"Johnny you've got to do this in fifty five minutes." Alan pleaded. "Please."
John glared at him and barked. "I want both of you in high pressure suits on the double. You're going to need them."
"Do you mean that John?" Scott asked.
"Of course I mean it." John Tracy snapped wiping his dishevelled blonde hair from his eyes and not looking up. "At maximum speed this baby does it in forty three minutes and that's what we're about to do."
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Josie Tracy paced up and down in front of her son's desk waiting for someone to radio in with a new update.
She looked up anxiously at the wall where the portraits of her five grandsons hung. Five handsome young men, all involved in a mighty worrisome family situation right now and she was feeling more frightened than all of them put together.
The fourth of those young men sat in front of her looking like he wished the floor could swallow him up. She walked over to the desk and gave him a quick pat on the back. He looked like he needed it. She'd heard Alan explode at him and the tirade that followed it and she could imagine there was going to be an even bigger outburst when that same young man got to San Diego and started asking questions about his wife's condition.
"You're handling yourself well young man." she smiled reassuringly.
At Gordon's soulful look she added. "Your brother didn't mean what he said to you sweetie. He's only worried about his little lady."
Gordon shrugged. If Grandma thought he was worried about Alan's major outburst she was wrong. He was used to his bad temper and expected nothing less. If the truth was known all he wanted was to get out of this chair and be Gordon Tracy, Aquanaut, again.
He'd spoken to Virgil on the radio and knew his ETA was twenty six minutes. At that point he'd contacted Thunderbird Five. Scott had admitted he was still automating. Thunderbird Three's ETA would not be for another sixty five minutes. Another forty two minutes back to San Diego. It would be well over an hour and a half before they could get Alan there.
Gordon closed his eyes and hoped Tin-Tin was all right and could hold on to the baby for that long. She hadn't looked too good. Gordon tried not to let the gnawing fear in his stomach manifest itself on his face. He didn't want Grandma to see how worried he was.
The eyes of John's portrait flashed.
"Thunderbird Three to base."
Josie Tracy breathed a sigh of relief. Good at least someone was saying something. John and Scott must be on their way with Alan.
" Base to Thunderbird Three. Go ahead John." Gordon replied.
"Base I'm giving you an altered ETA. I know Scott said sixty five minutes. I'd like to correct that please to forty three minutes."
Josie's eyes widened. She didn't think so. What was that middle Grandson of hers trying to prove? She came to stand beside Gordon so that he could clearly see her face.
"Young man." she began sternly. "This is no time for you to be holding some sort of aerial Olympics with that rocket ship. Your father would certainly not approve of you taking that sort of risk with two of your brothers on board."
"Grandma..." John began. "It was Dad who gave me orders to fly at maximum speed."
"Maximum speed according to young Alan is fifty five minutes not forty three." she began. "Don't you play charades with me."
She clearly remembered the day Alan had been rebuked by his father for flying at such a risky speed. The normal trip home was well over ninety minutes. Jeff had been furious.
"Grandma." John scoffed, "My little brother may drive his car at maximum speed but he's still got a heck of a lot to learn about his own Thunderbird. Trust me you'll see us in forty three minutes from now. I'm in command. There's no need to worry."
"You just get that brother of yours back here in one piece do you hear me John." Josie replied in a worried tone, still not quite believing her normally retiring young Grandson was flying at such a suicidal speed and appeared to be quite exhilarated by it all. She was surprised that eldest worry-wart of a brother of his was allowing such a thing to happen in the first place. However Josie knew from experience that Scott would have his hands full with young Alan.
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Down in the hull of Thunderbird Three Scott Tracy marvelled at the speed Thunderbird Three had reached. It was incredible. He was glad John suggested the high pressure suits. "Actually I don't think he suggested anything." Scott thought to himself. "I think my little brother actually ordered me."
Scott turned his attention to Alan and watched his youngest brother's resignation as he endured the journey back to earth. Alan was a mess. He was extremely anxious; that was clearly obvious by the way he twisted his hands together and looked at the floor in silence. Every now and then he would shake his head and rub his eyes. Tears or exhaustion? Scott didn't know and he wasn't about to ask. All he knew was that he wouldn't like to be in Alan's position right now. He must be scared out of his wits.
His Father's words came back to him.
"For God's sake keep him calm."
"Hey kid." he said softly.
Alan lifted his head. "What?"
Just as he had suspected.
Tears.
"She'll be OK."
Alan contemplated him in silence for a few minutes. Scott had always been there for him. He was here now. But even Scott couldn't give him the kind of reassurance he needed at the moment. He felt so guilty at her developing this Pre-eclampsia thing.
"Scott. Do you know what this thing is that she's developed?" he asked after the silence began to feel uncomfortable.
"No Alan I don't." Scott replied honestly.
"How could Tin-Tin have gotten anything when I made sure she saw the Doctor regularly?"
"I have no idea Alan."
"Gordon said she worked ten hours yesterday and I know Dad's had her working on that new machinery with Brains this past week or so. It wouldn't have been from that would it?"
Scott started to become nervous. He knew what his Father had been trying to achieve with Tin-Tin and she had been so strong-willed it hadn't worked. She had worked herself to the bone until the job was done despite how bad she felt. It was her trademark.
He opened his mouth to say something about her working too hard but decided to stay out of the situation that had arisen between his Father and Tin-Tin.
"I doubt it." he said instead but by the way Alan looked at him he got the distinct feeling that he wasn't totally convinced by his tentative reply.
"Scott."
"Yeah Al?"
"I'm not like Dad."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can't raise a baby by myself."
"Tin-Tin will be fine Alan."
"But what if she isn't?"
"She will be."
"Scott..."
"What Al?"
"That night Mom died. Were you there when Dad said goodbye?"
"Alan…Tin-Tin isn't going to die."
"Scott…I need to know. If you were there, what did Dad say to her?"
"Alan…"
"Scott…If I have to do it, I want to do it right."
Scott shook his head despite what he remembered. The four of them had been taken out into the hospital corridor by their Grandmother before his Father had said goodbye to their mother. He had lingered at the door to look at her one more time and that heart-wrenching memory laid buried deep in his own personal vault. He remembered his Father, still young and handsome with his arms around his dying mother sobbing profusely and gasping between sobs how sorry he was to have done this to her. Scott remembered his Father saying it was all his fault. He remembered both of them crying as they looked at Alan in the crib beside them, their heads side by side, her mortally injured body pressed to his. He remembered his Father whispering "I love you baby. Please don't leave me alone like this. Please."
Then Grandma had closed the door.
No…he decided hesitantly. Alan didn't need to hear about that especially the way he was feeling right now.
"None of us were in the room Alan." he finally said knowing it was the truth but stretching it a little. "But it's not going to come to that OK? Dad and Kyrano will make the right decisions. Come on now. You have to settle down kid."
Alan heaved a huge sigh and looked at his watch. If John was doing this in forty three minutes, they still had twenty five minutes to go. Twenty five minutes plus the trip from Tracy Island to San Diego was a long time for Tin-Tin and Lucy Josephine to hold out.
"Please be OK Tin-Tin." he whispered to himself as he closed his eyes wearily and leaned his head back against the wall. "Please."
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The two of them sat facing each other in the waiting room. Neither of them spoke. It was nearly four o'clock in the morning and the silence that surrounded the empty hospital corridors around them gave the room an eerie feel.
Jeff Tracy's feet moved anxiously as they waited. His eyes looked about as he remembered the last time he had sat like this...waiting for news of his wife's condition after the massive haemorrhage she had suffered in theatre. Back then he had been thirty-five years old. Young enough and arrogant enough to still believe nothing could possibly go wrong with his wife while simply giving birth to their last baby.
He had sat there back then and tried to convince himself nothing was wrong despite the fact that clearly there was. Doctors came and went and with each hour that passed the looks they gave him and each other were grim.
"It's just a bit of a scare" he kept telling himself. "Lucy's only thirty three. She'll be all right. I know she will be. She has to be fine. We've got five kids to raise."
He couldn't take this sense of deja vu any longer as he sat there waiting to see what the situation was with his daughter-in-law. She was only twenty-two years old. Surely nothing could go wrong with a girl that young. Remnants of youth and arrogance lent him that thought. But he was no longer young and no longer arrogant. He had learned from experience and pain that life played no favourites young or old. Life delivered shocking blows and then left you floundering to deal with them. He knew that first hand. It had happened to him.
"This girl has to be fine." he told himself. "She's my son's wife. He can't be left to raise a baby alone. Not like I was. Alan wouldn't know where to start. No this whole pre-eclampsia thing has to just be a bit of a scare."
Kyrano sat bolt upright in the uncomfortable seat. What was taking so long? They'd been in there over thirty minutes taking blood samples and doing tests.
His child lay in there. His only daughter. She was worth more to him than anything in the world. She held his grandchild within her. Even now he couldn't imagine her as a mother although he knew she would be a fine one once she found her feet. Gentle, firm and loving. Little Tin-Tin was certainly all of those things and the tiny Tracy baby would be exceptionally fortunate to have such a special woman as its mother.
But what if it came to a choice that one must die so the other could live? The child or his daughter?
He and Jeff Tracy needed to discuss this matter especially as Jeff Tracy was currently representing his son.
"Err...Mr Tracy." he began quietly.
Jeff lifted his tired eyes to Kyrano's "Yeah Kyrano?"
"You and I must talk."
"Not just yet Kyrano." Jeff replied. He wanted to hear the prognosis first.
"No Mr. Tracy. We must talk now and prepare."
"All right Kyrano. Say what's on your mind."
"I feel that if this comes down to a choice we must agree on what should occur."
"It will be up to Alan to make that choice." Jeff said quietly.
"Mr. Tracy your son is not here. You saw my daughter. You saw how ill she is. We must be prepared in the event of a choice needing to be made."
"And what would be your choice then Kyrano?" he asked quite taken back at Kyrano's directness.
"The child."
Jeff Tracy's eyes bore a look of absolute disbelief. Tin-Tin was everything to Kyrano. How could he say that he would choose a Tracy child over her? Kyrano saw his confused face and continued.
"I know that is what Tin-Tin would want Mr. Tracy and that is what I will choose for her."
"Well my son certainly would not agree with you." Jeff Tracy began.
"Your son or yourself Mr. Tracy? I fear that losing your wife may have tempered with your judgement of what is best in this case."
"There can always be other children Kyrano."
"Not where my Tin-Tin is concerned. She would give her life for this child just as she would give her life for you Mr. Tracy. Has she still not proven herself to you enough for you to realise this?"
"Kyrano. I won't let you make a choice like that. Not when I've been through the outcome of it. "
"Do you think as Tin-Tin's Father I would not go through anything should this happen?"
"Of course you would but you're also talking about putting my son though what I went through and I won't have it Kyrano. I simply won't have it I tell you."
"As I said most clearly Mr. Tracy, I will choose for Tin-Tin should the need arise and I assure you that I will choose the child."
"Well let's hope you don't have to choose then Kyrano." Jeff Tracy warned. "Because I will not let you make that choice without my son."
Both of them looked at each other defiantly; both as determined as each other. This was the first argument they had ever had.
"Tinarda I know what you would want me to do," Kyrano thought silently. "and I know you will forgive me if I decide to do it. But despite this you are my only daughter and I do not know if I have the courage..."
"He can't possibly mean this." Jeff Tracy thought. "Surely he wouldn't let his own daughter die if it comes to it. Besides that he himself understands what it's like to raise a child alone. He can't want that for Alan. Even if he does I won't let him do it. It's the worst thing that could happen to anyone."
However, the conversation appeared not to be untimely. As the uncomfortable silence between them continued, the door to Tin-Tin's room opened. Before the two of them now stood Tin-Tin's obstetrician... with a face of stone.
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John Tracy scanned the controls. ETA to Tracy Island was now only fifteen minutes. Never before in his life had he experienced such a rush of adrenalin as he was right now. The speed of Thunderbird Three was incredible. "Thank goodness for high-pressure suits," he thought.
"This is Base to Thunderbird Three." Gordon's voice boomed over the link. "Come in Johnny."
"This is Thunderbird Three. I am receiving you base. What's doing?"
"What's your ETA? Still fifteen minutes?"
"FAB Base."
There was silence for a few moments as Gordon tried to collect himself. His voice shook as he began.
"Johnny...I've just heard from Dad. He wants you to abort the Tracy Island landing. You are to change course for San Diego immediately."
"San Diego? What's happened?"
"Is the kid with you?"
"No."
"Is the frequency open in Thunderbird Three?"
"No."
"Johnny..." he gasped as he began to break down. "Ummm…Word is that Tin-Tin's critical. According to Dad, the Doctors don't think she's going to make it."
Gordon stopped speaking for a few moments trying to control himself. He loved Tin-Tin like a sister. This was tearing him up inside. Doggedly he continued.
"Dad wants Alan there on the double. He said I've got to work out how to get him down. I'm not sure on what I should do. Can you get Scott up on the deck with you so I can get some advice please?"
"FAB. Hold the line open Gordo."
Feeling tears prick his own eyes as he thought about Tin-Tin, John lifted his wrist communicator and spoke to Scott.
"Scott. I need you up here pronto. I have Base wanting to talk to you."
He added quietly, "I can't open the frequency if you know what I mean."
Scott looked towards where Alan sat and started to worry about why.
"Alan will you be OK for a minute?" he asked briskly.
Alan shrugged. He wasn't going anywhere and this trip was taking forever.
Scott appeared in the elevator and strode in to stand beside his brother.
"What's doing John?" he asked.
John raised his eyes to where Scott stood. Scott saw the tears in them.
"Scott...Tin-Tin's critical." he whispered.
Scott Tracy looked as if he had been slapped. This couldn't be right. Not the girl he loved as a sister.
"Oh no." he breathed. "That can't be."
"Dad's given Gordon orders that we're to go straight to San Diego." John added quietly. "It has to be bad if he's done that. I'm altering course now."
Scott grabbed the radio. "Gordo do you read me?" he demanded. "This isn't one of your stupid practical jokes is it?"
Gordon's voice came over the radio, full of emotion, strain and distress. His voice faltered.
"As if I'd... joke about something like this. What sort of person do you think I am? This is Tin-Tin. I don't joke where she's concerned. Grandma's crying too. I can't leave this stupid desk to make her feel any better. Virgil's landed but I haven't seen him yet. Scott what... what should I do about the landing? It's a rocket ship you're bringing in this time not Thunderbird One."
Scott collected his thoughts and bit his lips as he pondered over the best action to take.
"Gordo..." he began. "It's possible Alan could parachute out if Johnny could bring Thunderbird Three in close enough to the hospital. Do you think you could handle that John?"
John Tracy nodded with some trepidation. He'd never done anything like that before but he guessed it was possible. He'd have to be careful descending to such a low altitude. This was Thunderbird Three, one big and mighty powerful piece of machinery. At John's concurrence Scott continued.
"OK that's a good option. John could take her straight back up without landing if we do it fast enough. The sweep would be so quick that people will think they imagined things. Mmm... All right. That's what we do. Tell Dad Alan will be there in... Johnny what's the new ETA?"
John Tracy quickly checked his altered co-ordinates as his stomach filled with anxiety.
"ETA San Diego ten minutes Scott."
"Gordo. I'll have to tell Alan. He can't be told this when he gets to the hospital."
"Scott...you'd better tell him one other thing then."
"What?"
"Dad said Kyrano is insisting the Caesarean happens now. Apparently the baby is in big trouble. Dad said Alan has to be the one to choose not Kyrano."
Scott swallowed.
"Johnny?" he asked without saying another word.
"I know what you're thinking Scott... but I can't without extreme risk." John replied.
"Do it. Everything's at risk at the moment anyway."
John Tracy closed his eyes and took Thunderbird Three over maximum speed. John knew Brains had designed it to take short bursts in a dire emergency and this was as dire as it was going to get he supposed but he didn't like how the engines were struggling under his skilful hand.
He forced himself to remain in control. "I can do this." he thought to himself. "Easy does it Johnny." He then spoke in a clear and deadly calm voice.
"ETA now six minutes. Scott get Alan to prepare for emergency ejection. Countdown to commence in five minutes thirty seconds."
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"No!" Jeff Tracy shouted. "I won't let you do this Kyrano. Not until that girl is stabilised."
"There is no more time to stabilise her. She will lose her child if you delay this much longer Mr. Tracy." shouted Kyrano in return.
Dr. Kingsley, Tin-Tin's Obstetrician stood quietly watching the altercation between the two men. He needed a direction from one of them. Above all he needed a signature to allow him to do anything.
It had now come to a choice. Tin-Tin had entered the full Eclampsia stage. She teetered on the edge a fatal stroke. Neither father truly appreciated just how dangerously ill she and her unborn baby were in there. He could not stabilise her until the baby was delivered. His colleague could not deliver the baby without risk until she was stabilised.
"Gentlemen." he said quietly. "This matter is fast becoming one of extreme urgency. I can't wait much longer. When do you expect Mr. Tracy to arrive?"
"Hopefully he will be here soon." Jeff Tracy snapped and looking at Kyrano he said clearly. "And nothing will happen until such time as he is here."
The Doctor turned to face him. He had to know the truth.
"Mr. Tracy. I have strong fears that the child's placenta may soon start to detach. If this occurs the child will receive very little oxygen. I am sure that you understand this presents a great risk of brain damage...or death."
Jeff Tracy turned away and dropped his head into his hand. He didn't have to be reminded what a lack of oxygen meant. He remembered all too well.
Lucy screaming in fear and agony as they begged her not to push any longer because Alan's cord was around his neck. "Mrs. Tracy please, he's getting no oxygen!" her Doctor had implored. Her screaming to get the baby out before it was too late. Her screaming the words he'd never forget as they began the horrible operation that cost her life.
"Jeff…I need you…"
The words he had said in return. "Lucy I'm here for you."
Despite what had happened that day, he had always been comforted by the fact that she had known he had been there when it counted.
Despite his stomach heaving with the grief these memories were tearing from his heart it came down to that important fact.
He had been there for Lucy in her time of need. Alan needed the opportunity to be there for Tin-Tin's.
"These fears you have for the child." he said in his deep and authoritative voice as he turned back around to address the Doctor. "Are they a reality yet?"
"No. Not as yet Mr. Tracy. However…"
"In that case we will wait for my son." he said grimly.
Both Kyrano and Doctor Kingsley burst into furious protests.
Jeff Tracy eyed them dangerously.
"I said we wait."
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It was as if the world had fallen in on top of him as he stood there stunned listening to Scott break the news about Tin-Tin and his baby and inform him that he needed to eject into the hospital grounds by parachute in less than five minutes.
"No Scott." he whispered as tears welled in his eyes. "No. This can't be happening to Tin-Tin. No. I don't believe you."
"Alan you have to get that parachute on." Scott demanded anxiously. "John's taking Thunderbird Three in. You haven't got much time."
Alan hung his head and buried his face in his hands.
"No I can't face this." he cried. " I ... can't watch her die... I can't..."
"Alan." Scott barked. "You have to face it. Now get it on and that's an order!"
"Scott..." John's voice, still rigidly calm came over the frequency. "I'm taking her down."
Scott yelled. "Alan I said now!"
Alan pulled on his equipment over his high pressure suit with the assistance of his brother. His lips trembled and silent tears ran down his face as he secured his parachute. What was he going to have to face when he got there? What if he had lost them both before he arrived? What if he had to say goodbye to one of them? Or worse still have to be the one to choose between them?
He broke down as Thunderbird Three descended over San Diego with a deafening roar.
Scott pulled him to his chest in a fatherly embrace.
"Come on kid. Pull yourself together. You've got to be strong now for Tin-Tin. You're a married man."
Alan clung to him like a child.
"Scott if she dies this has all been for nothing." he sobbed. "I've changed everything about myself for her and that baby just so I could keep her love and have Kyrano think I'm worthy of her. I can't lose them now... I just can't. "
John Tracy's voice of command echoed through Thunderbird Three as all three of them felt the Thunderbird begin to nosedive.
"Prepare to eject. Thirty...twenty nine... twenty eight..."
Scott released him.
His powerful, fatherly voice…
"Alan you've loved her for a long time. Don't let her down when she needs you the most. Now get yourself in position to bail out!"
John Tracy's strong, unwavering voice in the background...
"Twenty three….twenty two…"
Alan Tracy's tired and worried voice...
"Yes Sir."
John Tracy's voice.
"Nineteen…eighteen…seventeen…"
Scott Tracy's voice.
"Besides Uncle Scott wants to meet that baby of yours."
Alan wiped his eyes and prepared himself to eject. Scott was right. He had promised never to let her down. He wouldn't let her down. He closed his eyes and listened to the countdown.
Alan Tracy's voice.
"I love you baby." he whispered. "I'm coming."
"Twelve...eleven...ten.."
He turned to his eldest brother.
"Scott..."
Scott Tracy smiled fondly at his baby brother. He was no longer a baby but a strong and courageous young man. For one moment Scott Tracy felt a surge of pride in himself and how he had helped make him that man.
"It's OK kid. I know what you're going to say." he said. "Good luck."
"Three…Two…One...Alan go…!"
As Alan Tracy parachuted into the grounds of San Diego hospital John Tracy arched Thunderbird Three skywards again and within minutes the huge red rocket ship had disappeared from view.
John breathed a sigh of relief as his altitude climbed. Boy that had been close. He'd nearly lost control during the descent.
He waited until he'd collected himself and his heart had stopped pounding before reaching for the radio.
"Thunderbird Three to base."
"Base to Thunderbird Three. Go ahead Johnny."
"Mission accomplished Gordo. Tell Dad he's there. I don't know what state he's in, but he's there."
"Will do. See you in a bit."
"ETA to Base eleven minutes. Thunderbird Three out."
As the radio shut down, John Tracy closed his eyes and thought out aloud.
"That had to be the most nerve-racking thing I've ever done in my entire life. Old terra firma got mighty damned close in that last few seconds. "
"Yeah you sure surprised me." a voice from behind him exclaimed.
John riveted around to see his eldest brother standing behind him and frowned.
"What do you mean I surprised you?"
Scott placed his hand on his middle brother's shoulder.
"I've never seen you in control of a situation quite so completely little brother. I'll hand it to you; you give a top call under pressure."
John Tracy eyed him. Was that so? Well he was glad he realised it then. It was about time someone did. He was tired of being overlooked by his Father and overshadowed by his brothers. Alan's comment that he was too straight down the line had fired him up. Fired him up to command as his Father would.
"Yeah well I'm a Tracy son too." he muttered in a disconcerted tone. "You're not the only one who can fly and give orders around here you know."
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She had to be kidding! Now she wanted him to give orders as well?
This had to be absolutely the worst day of his life. No ifs, buts or maybes. It was only five o'clock in the morning and he felt like he had been in charge for nearly twenty four hours.
His Father had woken him less than three hours ago and informed him in no uncertain terms that the sister-in-law he loved was dangerously ill. Then he'd been told she would be flown to hospital and he was required to make some telephone calls on behalf of his Father.
All of a sudden and he still didn't know how, he found himself in charge of International Rescue.
Then he'd drawn the short straw and was told he had to break the news about Tin-Tin to his little brother... then he had to ensure that same hysterical brother got to San Diego via Tracy Island… then he had to get him straight to San Diego...then he'd had to worry about how he got him out of Thunderbird Three without it landing. And now…now just when he thought things couldn't get any worse Grandma was in front of him wanting him to give orders to the older brother she was arguing with.
"I want you to tell this brother of yours to take me in to the hospital right this instant young man." she was demanding to his shrinking ears. "Your youngest brother and your father need me at the moment and so does that little girl."
"Grandma I…" Gordon stammered.
"Grandma." Virgil interrupted. "Dad feels it would be better if you waited until it's all over. I'd be happy to fly you in then."
"All over? I'm not waiting until then. You are not hearing me Virgil. I need to be with your Father with all this going on. He's still got one hell of a big hole in his heart over that mother of yours and more than a big dose of guilt over what's happened with young Tin-Tin. Now that's a combination I'm worried out of my wits over."
"Grandma I know but..." Virgil tried to interject but Josie Tracy was in no mood to be argued with. Her jaw was set firm and so was her tone.
"You mark my words, if that youngest brother of yours catches on to what's been going on around here with Tin-Tin working herself into the ground over some stupid piece of drilling equipment there's going to be fireworks in that hospital in San Diego and you'll be able to see them all the way from Tracy Island. Do you want that without me there to keep the peace?"
"No of course not Grandma but Dad's given his orders."
Josie Tracy reeled around to look at Gordon who shrank further into his Father's chair.
"Are you supposed to be in charge around here at the moment?" she demanded.
Gordon opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. His older brother was glaring at him and so was his Grandmother. Finally he replied nervously.
"I guess so ma'am."
"Right then! Now I want you give you brother an order to take me to San Diego and I'm not going in Tracy One either. I'm a member of International Rescue and you can take me in Thunderbird One."
"Grandma!" Gordon exclaimed in severe discomfort as Virgil gave him a dreadful look. "I can't order Virgil to do anything!"
"Yes you can and I'm asking you to do it." she demanded.
"Virg?" Gordon said looking helplessly towards his brother.
"Gordo Dad said no." Virgil replied quietly.
Gordon frowned. Now that he thought about it, why couldn't Grandma go? If anything went wrong Grandma always knew what to do or what to say to make things right and no-one could say things weren't going terribly wrong at the moment. He had been on the receiving end of Alan's wrath less than an hour ago because of it. As Grandma had just pointed out, he could imagine what was going to happen if Alan found out about Tin-Tin's state of overwork and exhaustion. Wrath would not be the word for it. He still remembered the extent of Alan's anger that morning on the beach over a simple slip of the tongue.
No. It would be better if Grandma was there.
"Virgil." he said. "Please take Grandma to San Diego."
"No Gordo." Virgil said nervously. "Dad gave me his orders."
Josie Tracy hit boiling point. Gordon saw her face darken and pictured the impending explosion. Oh no! He didn't need one of her "reality checks."
"Virgil." he said authoritatively. "I'm in charge at the moment and I think Dad's wrong in this case. Please take Grandma to San Diego."
Virgil gave him a warning look which reeked with approval nonetheless.
"This one will be on your head as far as Dad's concerned Gordo." he said quietly.
"But for what it's worth I totally agree with you."
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He had never run so fast in his life but at least he didn't have to run far. Alan Tracy silently thanked his brother John for his pinpoint accuracy as his parachute took him to within two hundred metres of San Diego hospital.
He'd stripped himself of his pressure suit and parachute and dashed into the hospital as he tried to tuck in his shirt. He was almost incoherent as he tried to explain to the receptionist who he was and why she needed to hurry in finding where he needed to go. The receptionist nodded. Once he had uttered his name she knew he was to be directed to maternity immediately. This was the Father of the Tracy baby.
"Maternity is on seventh floor Mr. Tracy." she said pointing to the elevator and beginning her explanation on how to find it. She need not have bothered. Alan Tracy was gone.
He stood anxiously in the elevator as he willed it to go faster. Once it reached the seventh floor, he strode out and the doors leading to the maternity unit opened in front of him. He heard his Father's voice and Kyrano's. He must be hearing things. They both sounded like they were arguing.
"Dad." he called breathlessly as he ran down the corridor towards them.
Jeff Tracy closed his eyes with relief.
"Alan. Thank God." he breathed.
He came to stand in front of his Father; his chest heaving.
"Sir, I came as fast as I could." he began breathlessly, his eyes darting everywhere. "Dad where is she? Is she all right? How did this happen? I don't understand. I…"
Before Jeff Tracy could say anything, a firm and insistent voice came from behind him.
"Mr Tracy I need to speak with you urgently."
Alan turned towards the voice. He recognised Dr. Kingsley, Tin-Tin's Doctor immediately. He had been the one to confirm their baby was a girl just over a month before. Alan's stomach sank as he looked at the graveness of his face.
Dr Kingsley looked at Jeff Tracy's insistent face and the equally insistent face of Kyrano.
"Mr. Tracy." he said forcefully. "…in private."
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Dr. Reginald Kingsley was a renowned Obstetrician with many years of experience. He had delivered countless babies in his time under many different circumstances from families whose backgrounds were as diverse as their circumstances.
But this baby stood apart from most. This was a Tracy baby. Anything that was associated with the name "Tracy" stood apart from most. Jeff Tracy meant money. Jeff Tracy meant influence. This baby was the grandchild of Jeff Tracy.
In the past hour Dr. Kingsley had witnessed the extent of the power and wealth of the Tracy family first-hand.
Nothing demonstrated authority more clearly than the Tracy grandfather asserting his dominance in the corridor only a few moments before.
Nothing demonstrated influence more than Jeff Tracy managing to obtain the services of International Rescue to bring young Tin-Tin to hospital. Kingsley was amazed such a top secret high-level organisation would accede to the needs of Tracy family. That fact alone had to indicate power in the extreme.
The family also somehow managed to engage Dr. Henry Chan, the renowned surgeon who never operated unless it was a Tuesday and after his beloved morning golf game. Dr. Michael Sommerville, one of the finest paediatricians had driven his Jaguar into San Diego hospital car-park at 3.30am.
These two Doctors would have come at a tremendous price and Dr. Kingsley knew it would have taken nothing less than sheer clout to have Dr. Chan in theatre at this time of the morning.
Those two Doctors were waiting in theatre now for the decision of the youngest Tracy son; the son who now stood in front of him.
Dr. Kingsley had grown to like the tall, blonde-haired Tracy son and his pretty young wife in the past few months. He had visualised that coming from a family with as much wealth as they had, the two of them would be a trifle condescending. Nothing had been further from the truth. Both of them had always addressed him as "Sir" and from what he had seen in the corridor it appeared that was how the Tracy sons addressed everyone.
"A sign of good breeding." he thought approvingly.
He now had to somehow inform this young man of the situation and by whatever means get him to agree to let them do what they needed to do to save his child.
A caesarean section had to occur. There was no room for negotiation.
Dr. Sommerville had voiced his grave fears for the baby in no uncertain terms and wanted it to occur immediately, however both he and Dr. Chan had reservations regarding Tin-Tin surviving the operation at present.
The three of them had discussed the options and agreed it was more likely that one or the other could be saved if the whole focus of the operation went in one direction. No-one could make the decision on which way to channel the focus other than the person with the most to lose as a result of it. That person was the young man in front of him.
Dr. Kingsley felt a deep sympathy for Alan Tracy as he prepared himself to break the news.
"Sir, please inform me of where things stand at the moment," began Alan before he had the opportunity to speak. "I've been away from home these past three weeks and I don't understand what this condition is that she has."
"Mr. Tracy." he began. "We have very little time to discuss this. However your wife's condition is one that simply develops quite suddenly and is only detectable by tests."
"But how would she have developed it? Didn't I see to her care well enough Sir?"
Dr. Kingsley shook his head. "Mr.Tracy, Mrs.Tracy has received more than adequate care. Please allow yourself to be assured of that fact. Your wife's condition is not common. Most times it simply develops but in my experience I admit I have seen inadequate rest and sometimes stress start it off. Opinions are divided on the subject. But Mr. Tracy we don't have time to discuss the causes now. What I need from you is a decision."
Alan's stomach fell. "Please don't ask me to make a choice Dr. Kingsley." he thought desolately. "I simply can't do it."
He tried to remain focussed on what the Doctor was saying to him but the words leaving his mouth were like bullets from a gun firing into his heart, each shot more damaging than the last.
The bullet: "Mr. Tracy, my colleagues and I all agree that your child can be saved if a caesarean section is performed immediately."
The heart: "At least that's good news."
The bullet: "However this operation, whilst routine, would present a very great risk to your wife."
The heart: "How can something routine be a risk?"
The bullet: "She has now passed into the eclampsia stage of the condition and will not tolerate theatre particularly well."
The heart: "If she can't tolerate theatre how can she have the operation?"
The bullet: "Her condition at the moment is extremely unstable."
The heart: "Well we will have to wait until she is stable then."
The bullet: "The most difficult part for all of us is the knowledge that delivering your daughter will actually help stabilise her."
The heart: "Well she should have the operation then."
The bullet:" Her body may be able to cope better if the strain of the child is removed and I would be extremely hopeful that this will be the case."
The heart: "OK. Let's go ahead with the operation."
He paused for a moment and looked directly at the youngest of the Tracy sons.
The fatal bullet: "Unfortunately Mr. Tracy there is a genuine risk we will lose her."
Alan closed his eyes and took a sharp intake of breath as those words were uttered.
The fatally wounded heart cried out once only and that cry was expressed with nothing other than pure devastation; the cry of young man whose whole world was about to change forever.
"No. "he whispered as he fought to retain his composure. "Please don't say that to me Sir."
Dr. Kingsley stood in silence; now devoid of any further words to try to soften or lessen the blow for this tragically young Father.
"Mr. Tracy." he said quietly. "I know this must be difficult for you but I have to ask that you give me your instructions immediately or you will not need to choose at all."
"Meaning Sir?" he breathed as his lips began to tremble with grief.
"Mr. Tracy. Your wife is dangerously ill and your daughter fast approaching the point where she may die too. Please, I understand how you must be feeling about this but we need to operate if your daughter is to have any chance of survival at all."
Alan had to turn away from him in an attempt to control himself.
To his mind came every last detail of how he had felt as a six year old when he was informed by Gordon that he was responsible for their mother's death. John had told Gordon and Gordon had told him. Grandma had said John was wrong and had no business saying anything like that.
Disbelieving and distraught and despite what Grandma had said he had gone to confront John. He remembered standing in the shadows overhearing John speaking to his angry Grandmother.
"Alan did so kill mommy Grandma. She wasn't sick like you said. Daddy said Mommy died because the Doctors had to hurt her for Alan. I heard Daddy say so and my Daddy doesn't lie."
He had lived with that guilt and heartache for years and still felt responsible whenever his Father looked contemplative or sad or showed obvious distress when their Mother was mentioned.
Lucy Josephine…his daughter
He saw himself in six years time trying to explain to Lucy why she didn't have a mommy like everyone else or having to tell her that he had killed her mommy just like he had killed his own.
Lucy was destined to be a motherless little girl like Tin-Tin had been when they had first met. Lucy would be a little girl with a Father who loved her dearly but a little girl destined to endure growing into a woman without the love and guidance of her mother. She could meet a little boy who teased her about becoming that woman. She could meet someone like him.
Worse still, a thoughtless remark like John's, overheard by Lucy, would make her believe it had been her that had killed her mother. She would feel the same guilt and pain as he had. No-one understood how deeply his childhood had been affected by that guilt and Lucy could never be allowed to feel that. She would never feel that while there was breath in his body to tell her otherwise. The choice was his. It would be his fault not hers.
Tinarda Jane…Tin-Tin… his best friend.
The girl with the prettiest face and the daintiest features he had ever seen. A face made in heaven that he tilted to his just to gaze at its beauty. Features so delicate she reminded him of a porcelein doll.
The girl with the reddest lips and most captivating smile he had even seen. Lips he had pressed his own against, sometimes gently, many times ardently but always lovingly. The smile that had won his heart and completely taken his breath away.
The girl with the most beautiful brown eyes and the longest eyelashes he had ever seen. Eyes that shone with love for him despite his wild and sometimes thoughtless ways. Eyelashes he had kissed gently that special night on the beach.
The girl with the shiniest, straightest and blackest hair he had ever seen. Hair like silk that he ran his hands through over and over again as she lay in his arms.
The girl he had been totally smitten with for more years than he could remember and the one he had fallen head over heels in love with at nine years of age despite taking him twelve years to get to the stage where he admitted it.
The girl who had given herself to him utterly that special March evening when he least expected it.
The girl who then became his wife.
Lucy Josephine; the little girl the two of them had inadvertently created together when they moved past the boundaries of friendship into a relationship of physical love. The little girl conceived on his birthday, the very first night they had been together. The little girl he had not wanted. The little girl he had tried to abort. The little girl who had her Daddy around her little finger already and he was yet to meet her face to face. He wanted to meet her more than anything in the world but not at the expense of the girl he loved more than his own life.
But what would Tin-Tin say to him if she awoke from all of this to be told that Lucy Josephine had died because he did not have the courage to take the risk to save her? Tin-Tin would not listen to his words of comfort or accept that there would be other babies. She would never forgive him for his cowardice. She would point out through her tears that he willingly risked his own life over and over to save people in distress as a member of International Rescue but he had failed in his most important rescue of all; saving their little girl.
Alan knew he would risk his own life to save Lucy's. He just couldn't bring himself to risk Tin-Tin's.
"Baby. I know what you'd want me to do." he whispered in despair. "I can't live without you but if I know if I allow Lucy to die I can't live with you either."
"Mr. Tracy I don't want to appear anxious…"
Alan listened to Doctor Reginald Kingsley and knew the time had come where he had to make a choice. He swallowed and turned around to face him. His tired, strained blue eyes came up to look at him. Doctor Kingsley saw the pain and torment in Alan Tracy's soul as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sir." he said in a low and emotional voice. "I understand that you need to take the baby."
Doctor Kingsley nodded and turned to go in the direction of the operating theatre. "Thank you Mr. Tracy. I understand how difficult this has been but you are doing the right thing. Rest assured we will do all we can for your wife."
"Sir…" Alan pleaded as his voice wavered and his self-control began to give way.
Dr. Kingsley stopped and looked back towards the devastated young man who began to sob.
"Please give me the chance to say goodbye."
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NEXT CHAPTER - PART 4 - FACING TRAGEDY
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CHAPTER 11 - FAMILY COMMITMENT - THE BIRTH OF LUCY TRACY
PART 3 - TERROR
Alan Tracy had forgotten how completely exhausted he was as he frantically threw his belongings into his bag while trying stripping himself of his International Rescue uniform.
"I'm coming baby." he cried, his chest heaving with panic. "I'm so sorry. Please be OK. Please. "
He could hear Scott's masterful voice booming throughout Thunderbird Five as he pulled on his clothes in preparation to leave the satellite.
"This is Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Come in Alan."
He made no attempt to respond. His thoughts were only with Tin-Tin and his baby daughter. Why hadn't anyone told him about this pre-eclampsia thing? He'd exploded at Gordon and called him for everything a few moments ago and would still have been doing so except that Gordon had shut down the frequency to allow Scott to take it over. Tin-Tin was his wife for God's sake. He had a right to know what was going on with her. Just how bad were things if his Father had sent Thunderbird Three without telling him? What the hell was pre-eclampsia anyway? He hadn't stopped railing long enough at Gordon to ascertain that.
How could she have developed complications? Everything had been fine when he'd left. She had been feeling tired but she was all right. He'd made sure she had been given the best medical care throughout her pregnancy. Now it was obvious that medical care hadn't been enough. He was about to fail her again. She didn't deserve this. She deserved to have their baby with her husband beside her. Why did he always have to let her down?
"Oh God." he swallowed feeling tears burning in the back of his eyes. "If I lose her or Lucy I'll never forgive myself for being up here. I'll never forgive Dad for making me do this rotation. I won't... I swear..."
His hands swept up the two boxes he had carried with him for over a month; the gift for his little girl; the gift for Tin-Tin. He jammed them into his pocket and sat on the unmade bed as he quickly laced his shoes. He tried to calm himself down but after a few unsuccessful deep breaths he knew that was asking the impossible. How could a man be calm when his wife was being taken to San Diego without him...to give birth alone.
His thoughts overran him as he felt himself becoming more and more hysterical with each passing minute.
"I promised her I'd be there. I promised her I'd always be there for her. I promised Kyrano. Look where I am when it counts! I'm holed up here unable to do anything. I need to get back to earth. Thunderbird Three can do it in fifty five minutes if I take her out to maximum speed again. I've only ever flown at that speed once and Dad bawled me out when I did it but I know it can be done. I don't care if he bawls me out for the rest of my life. I'll do anything for her... anything."
Scott vainly continued to try to get Alan to take the call.
"This is Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Come in Alan damn it!"
No response.
"Alan for God's sake answer in the affirmative." he commanded pausing to look at John who simply shook his head.
He turned back to the radio. "Alan...do you hear me? You've got to initiate the automating of Thunderbird Five now. Please respond."
There was still no answer. Scott and John exchanged worried looks. It was looking more and more like one of them was now going to have to automate Thunderbird Five. That would waste another ten minutes. They didn't have another ten minutes. Their Father's instructions were to have Alan in San Diego before the baby was taken. Thunderbird One would be in San Diego now.They had to leave the satellite.
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Jeff Tracy's mouth was fixed in a grim line of determination as Thunderbird One began its descent into San Diego. He frowned with the tension in his body and the worry he was feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Virgil Tracy sat beside him wearing the same mask of worry. He was past being tense as he glanced behind him every now and then to where Tin-Tin was propped up next to her Father. She was now unconscious. He was extremely apprehensive.
His eyes met Kyrano's. Kyrano was grey with fear and the furrows in his forehead made him appear twenty years older. Virgil watched nervously as her body appeared to be having small spasms. She lay limply supported by her Father.
"I don't like the look of this." he thought guardedly. He turned to his Father.
"Can't we go any faster Dad?"
Jeff swallowed. Thunderbird One had been at maximum speed. Now he had to bring her down. "Easy boy." he said as much for his own benefit as Virgil's.
Kyrano stroked Tin-Tin's head and spoke gently to her. His voice shook with the strain.
"TInarda. My dear, sweet, precious little girl."
No reply. The only sound was the sound of Thunderbird One.
" Be strong for me and for your little one. We are almost there now. You must not give up. "
No reply. Still only the engines of Thunderbird One.
"I am with you. Mr. Alan is on his way. Until then I am here for you."
No reply. Still only the sound of Thunderbird One.
Virgil gulped as he looked at his Father.
"Dad..." he said his voice showing the strain he felt." She's really bad back there."
His Father nodded. He didn't need reminding. He could hear Kyrano and the genuine dread in his voice.
He was feeling that dread too as he remembered the events of the past few days and focussed on what was now the most important thing of all to him.
Tinarda Kyrano.
A pretty little girl whose education he had offered to sponsor in exchange for her Father taking over the responsibility of managing his rabble of a household in New York. Five boys aged between nine and eighteen, his Mother whom he wanted to finally have some sort of life after helping him raise his sons, him, a widower and a workaholic with a business bigger than he'd ever imagined it would be, and very, very big plans for the future.
A pretty little girl whose Father could not bear to call her by her given name as the mere utterance of it brought pain to his heart and longing to his soul. His wife Narda had left him eight years earlier and she had been named after her mother. He had decided to refer to her as Tin-Tin instead. Tin-Tin had suited her and its meaning was "sweet". And she was a sweet little girl in every possible way. She was introduced to everyone as Tin-Tin Jane Kyrano. Even to him.
She had smiled at him the day he showed her around his home and thanked him for agreeing to sponsor her education. She promised to study hard and do her best. At the time he felt he should have been thanking her. He knew that this pretty, delicate and delightful nine year old would be so good for his sons and the atmosphere in his home.
He had hoped that by introducing Tin-Tin to his family he was giving his sons the opportunity to experience the sister he and Lucy had never managed to give them and by opening his heart and his home to the Kyrano family, life could only improve for them all.
Life did.
Kyrano made such a difference to their day to day lives and so did Tin-Tin. A girl in the house seemed to tame his brash young sons to a certain extent and that had been good for them all. She also blossomed in knowledge in the appropriate schools he had selected for her and as a result grew into a fine young lady who headed off to College and returned with honours in two degrees.
Tinarda Kyrano; his Assistant Engineer.
A beautiful young woman who did not hesitate to join International Rescue when he approached her. She had smiled at him and thanked him again for the opportunity. She was an elegant, articulate, and delightful twenty-one year old who had mastered mathematics and was able to work out formulas with competent ease.
She was a brilliant girl. She had obtained her pilot's licence at his request. She worked with Brains far into the night without complaint.
She was brave and willingly went on the occasional rescue to assist despite the dangers. She had nearly lost her life alongside two of his sons not long ago as they risked everything including themselves to save the Sunprobe from certain destruction. She had been prepared to die for International Rescue that day.
Die for him. Jeff Tracy. She had been prepared to die for his dream.
She was versatile, innovative and reliable. There was no doubt she was an undisputed asset to International Rescue.
Tinarda Tracy; his daughter-in-law.
A stunning young woman who had captured the heart of his youngest son and accidentally fallen pregnant as a result of his wild and reckless ways.
A frightened young woman who had married his son in such sad and unhappy circumstances, a marriage he didn't approve of but had been forced to accept.
It was a marriage he feared was eventually going to fail despite what everyone else seemed to think.
A determined young woman who refused to let her pregnancy stand in the way of her role as his Assistant Engineer. As Head of International Rescue he had hinted she should stand down for a while, but when she did not, he callously continued to act as an employer and expected her to fulfil her role without regard for herself or the child she carried.
He knew he should have taken her aside as her father-in-law and asked her to stand down for the good of the baby and herself. Hinting was not enough.Why hadn't he done that?
He knew he should not have indicated that it was her fault the boys had died in the mine but he done so even though his motives had been good. What was he thinking saying that to a girl who was nearly nine months pregnant whatever the motive?
An independent young woman who had experienced over half of her first pregnancy alone as he expected his son to continue to man Thunderbird Five on a rotational basis. The same son he insisted went to New York for a further week after the rotation because he owed him money and needed to be taught a lesson. It left her without a husband for five weeks out of eight. Neither of them dared to complain. They had both simply accepted they had no choice.
He thought back to when Lucy was pregnant with Scott. He had been there every night from the time they knew about the baby until the day she gave birth to him. He would not have allowed anything else. Lucy had been everything to him.
He thought about Alan and Tin-Tin. It had never occurred to him that maybe Tin-Tin was everything to Alan just as Lucy had been to him. Tin-Tin was about to give birth to his grandchild without Alan by her side. How could he have allowed this to happen?
He had never really realised how important this girl was to him until now as he faced the very real possibility of losing her.
He had loved her as a daughter until she had married his son. He had somehow then felt the need to become hard and make the two of them focus on not mixing their careers with their marriage.
He was worried sick the marriage wouldn't work out. Not fatherly worry that if one of them walked away, his grandchild would lose their Daddy or Mommy. In his eyes until this moment, his only worry had been if Alan walked he lost one of his Astronauts. If she walked he lost his valuable Assistant Engineer. He knew International Rescue couldn't afford to lose either of them.
But could his grandchild afford to lose either of them either?
"What am I doing?" he berated himself. "These kids and this new baby...they are my family."
He shuddered as he realised if their marriage didn't work he would be partially if not totally to blame. He should have been more flexible. He should have done something with the satellite in the last month so that Alan was here with her now, not in Thunderbird Five.
He would have walked out on NASA to be at Scott's birth whatever the price. He would not have allowed Lucy to go through that experience alone. It was a value he had placed on family as a young man. Yet he hadn't given his own son the same choice. Alan couldn't just walk out of International Rescue way up in space but as Jeff Tracy pondered on the point he knew Alan more than likely would have if he could. Now Tin-Tin faced this risky birth without him.
"Dear God." he thought desolately. "Mother was right. I was never like this when I had Lucy in my life. Since I've lost her, I seem to have lost sight of everything including myself over the years."
The hospital grounds were now in sight and the emergency landing area appeared to be clear. Jeff Tracy glanced up at the camera detector. It was working. Despite his jumbled personal thoughts and feelings of guilt, International Rescue's security risk ran as the major undercurrent in his mind.
He peered at the landing area trying to determine if his requests had been met by the hospital. He could see an ambulance. Four other people were standing on the tarmac. Jeff assumed them to be the Head of the Hospital and the three Doctors.
"I'm taking her in Virgil." he said. "Be ready to take over on landing. Once you get Tin-Tin safely off, take back off again straight away for base. You'll need to be there to refuel before John returns with Alan. Let Scott bring Alan in. Virgil..."
His second son looked at him as Thunderbird One landed.
"Yes Dad?"
"Don't let your Grandmother come in."
Virgil's eyes widened. He had to be kidding! Try and leave Grandma behind? Did he think he had a death wish or something?
"Dad you promised Grandma…" he began.
Jeff glanced behind him and looked at Tin-Tin as Virgil stood up to disembark.
"I know but if anything happens to that girl or that baby I'm not going to be able to deal with your brother and your grandmother as well."
"Sir I know but..."
"Virgil." Jeff Tracy said firmly, his eyes like stone. "Alan's not going to be able to deal with this as it is let alone if anything goes wrong."
"Dad we're talking about Grandma."
Jeff Tracy was in no mood to be argued with.
"Virgil. Just do as I say." he snapped.
Thunderbird One's hatch was opening. He had to become Jeff Tracy; Billionaire; Father-In-Law. He stood up and adjusted his clothing before stepping out onto the tarmac with Kyrano.
Hopefully Thunderbird Three would be on its' way back now with Alan.
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Thunderbird Three had finally reached the satellite. John Tracy prepared the huge rocket ship to connect with the air lock.
Scott rose from his seat as the two Thunderbirds met.
"Johnny." he warned. "Opening that airlock will be like exposing a wildcat. You're gonna have to stand your ground with him. He'll want the controls."
Blue eyes met blue.
"Do you want me to automate then?" John asked. "It'd be quicker if you did it though. I can stay prepared for blast-off then."
Scott nodded. "All right but only if you can guarantee me you can handle Alan."
John frowned and rolled his eyes. What did Scott take him for? Some kind of weakling?
"Alan's just a kid." he snapped. "Of course I can handle him."
Scott wondered stonily if Virgil, John and Gordon had taken the time to notice the change in their little brother over these past six months. Obviously not, because if they had John would appreciate that Alan wasn't anything like he used to be.
"Alan isn't a kid any more John. Respect that. I'm warning you." he cautioned.
"Yeah well respect the fact that I can handle him OK." John retorted. He hated it when Scott patronised him.
The air lock opened and Scott grimaced as his worst fears were realised. Down the airlock tore Alan, out of control as usual and looking absolutely panic-stricken. He took a sharp intake of breath as he faced his youngest brother. Alan went to push past him on his way to the flight deck. Scott grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him.
"Hey kid. Calm down now." he said.
Alan wrenched his arm free.
"Cut it Scott. I've got to get home. We've got to take off now." he demanded.
"That's why I needed you to automate Thunderbird Five." Scott replied. "Now you've got to stand by until I do."
"What the hell? I don't care a dime about that. I'm taking Thunderbird Three and if you want to get back to earth you'd better stay on board big brother."
Scott knew he didn't have time to argue. They couldn't and wouldn't be taking off until the automation was done. He strode up the air lock praying John could contain Alan for the ten minutes it was going to take.
Alan entered the flight deck of Thunderbird Three where John Tracy sat in the seat of command.
"Johnny." he said. "Give me the controls. I can do this in fifty five minutes."
John looked at his youngest brother. For the first time he noticed Alan had lost his baby-faced appearance. Facing him now was a man not a whining little boy. A distraught man with only one thing on his mind at the moment and that something was everything to him. That something was his wife.
"Relax Alan. I've got it covered." he said quietly. "I'll get you home."
Alan stood up to his full height.
"I said give me the controls." he said deliberately.
John continued to look him straight in the eye as he made his point slowly and clearly.
"I'm the senior astronaut here Alan and I'm currently in command of this ship. Now obey my orders. Go down and seat yourself for blast-off. Blast-off will happen immediately Scott's on board."
Alan grasped his brother's collar and pulled him from the controls.
"I can't wait John. You don't understand that every second counts. I've got to get back before anything happens to Tin-Tin. You can't make Thunderbird Three do the speed I can. You're too straight down the line man."
John Tracy pushed him to the ground.
"Do you think I'm some sort incompetent fool Alan? I'm an astronaut for God's sake. I was in NASA flying simulators when you were still in College. I know what speeds this Thunderbird can do and I know how to handle them better than you ever will. Now follow my orders and get ready to blast-off."
Alan stood back up, his eyes burning with rage.
"Get out of my way John."
"No Alan."
"I'm warning you."
"No."
Alan launched himself at his brother with a power that John had never experienced before.
Scott Tracy was on the radio when he heard the altercation in Thunderbird Three.
"Sweet mother of God." he swore as he ran back down the airlock to find his two blonde brothers in a full fist fight. He grabbed Alan from behind and held him with strength only the eldest Tracy son possessed. As Alan struggled against him, Scott barked at John.
"Finish automating the darned thing. Virgil's just radioed in. He's left San Diego. We've got to get this kid back on the double!"
John nodded woodenly and almost ran back down the airlock as he grimaced in pain at the hit he'd just taken to his left cheek.
Scott continued to restrain his distraught brother.
"Easy...easy Al." he said trying to remain calm himself. "Johnny and I have been sent to bring you home."
"I can get there myself Scott. Let me go."
"Trust me kid. We'll get you there."
"Scott. I mean it. I'll hit you if I have to...I swear"
"I'm sure you will but you have to trust me."
"I don't trust anyone. None of you told me the truth about Tin-Tin. Not even you."
Scott said nothing. "C'mon John. C'mon." he urged under his breath. Boy this kid was strong.
Finally John returned to the Thunderbird. He glared at Alan and said in a voice Scott Tracy had never heard his middle brother use before. The voice of command usually reserved for him and his father.
"I'm closing the hatch Scott. Get that kid the hell out of my cabin. I'm preparing for blast-off. "
Scott's grip loosened. Alan stood in front of them both in silence. John took the pilot's seat as Scott spoke to him firmly.
"Alan. I've never let you down have I?"
Alan lips trembled with emotion.
"No Sir." he replied shakily.
Scott patted his back and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Well trust me now. I'll get you to San Diego kid. "
Alan nodded woodenly. He knew he could rely on Scott. As he followed him to the elevator he glanced at his middle brother who was setting his course for earth as Thunderbird Three's engines blasted back into life again. John would take the safe speed, just like his Father would.
"Johnny you've got to do this in fifty five minutes." Alan pleaded. "Please."
John glared at him and barked. "I want both of you in high pressure suits on the double. You're going to need them."
"Do you mean that John?" Scott asked.
"Of course I mean it." John Tracy snapped wiping his dishevelled blonde hair from his eyes and not looking up. "At maximum speed this baby does it in forty three minutes and that's what we're about to do."
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Josie Tracy paced up and down in front of her son's desk waiting for someone to radio in with a new update.
She looked up anxiously at the wall where the portraits of her five grandsons hung. Five handsome young men, all involved in a mighty worrisome family situation right now and she was feeling more frightened than all of them put together.
The fourth of those young men sat in front of her looking like he wished the floor could swallow him up. She walked over to the desk and gave him a quick pat on the back. He looked like he needed it. She'd heard Alan explode at him and the tirade that followed it and she could imagine there was going to be an even bigger outburst when that same young man got to San Diego and started asking questions about his wife's condition.
"You're handling yourself well young man." she smiled reassuringly.
At Gordon's soulful look she added. "Your brother didn't mean what he said to you sweetie. He's only worried about his little lady."
Gordon shrugged. If Grandma thought he was worried about Alan's major outburst she was wrong. He was used to his bad temper and expected nothing less. If the truth was known all he wanted was to get out of this chair and be Gordon Tracy, Aquanaut, again.
He'd spoken to Virgil on the radio and knew his ETA was twenty six minutes. At that point he'd contacted Thunderbird Five. Scott had admitted he was still automating. Thunderbird Three's ETA would not be for another sixty five minutes. Another forty two minutes back to San Diego. It would be well over an hour and a half before they could get Alan there.
Gordon closed his eyes and hoped Tin-Tin was all right and could hold on to the baby for that long. She hadn't looked too good. Gordon tried not to let the gnawing fear in his stomach manifest itself on his face. He didn't want Grandma to see how worried he was.
The eyes of John's portrait flashed.
"Thunderbird Three to base."
Josie Tracy breathed a sigh of relief. Good at least someone was saying something. John and Scott must be on their way with Alan.
" Base to Thunderbird Three. Go ahead John." Gordon replied.
"Base I'm giving you an altered ETA. I know Scott said sixty five minutes. I'd like to correct that please to forty three minutes."
Josie's eyes widened. She didn't think so. What was that middle Grandson of hers trying to prove? She came to stand beside Gordon so that he could clearly see her face.
"Young man." she began sternly. "This is no time for you to be holding some sort of aerial Olympics with that rocket ship. Your father would certainly not approve of you taking that sort of risk with two of your brothers on board."
"Grandma..." John began. "It was Dad who gave me orders to fly at maximum speed."
"Maximum speed according to young Alan is fifty five minutes not forty three." she began. "Don't you play charades with me."
She clearly remembered the day Alan had been rebuked by his father for flying at such a risky speed. The normal trip home was well over ninety minutes. Jeff had been furious.
"Grandma." John scoffed, "My little brother may drive his car at maximum speed but he's still got a heck of a lot to learn about his own Thunderbird. Trust me you'll see us in forty three minutes from now. I'm in command. There's no need to worry."
"You just get that brother of yours back here in one piece do you hear me John." Josie replied in a worried tone, still not quite believing her normally retiring young Grandson was flying at such a suicidal speed and appeared to be quite exhilarated by it all. She was surprised that eldest worry-wart of a brother of his was allowing such a thing to happen in the first place. However Josie knew from experience that Scott would have his hands full with young Alan.
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Down in the hull of Thunderbird Three Scott Tracy marvelled at the speed Thunderbird Three had reached. It was incredible. He was glad John suggested the high pressure suits. "Actually I don't think he suggested anything." Scott thought to himself. "I think my little brother actually ordered me."
Scott turned his attention to Alan and watched his youngest brother's resignation as he endured the journey back to earth. Alan was a mess. He was extremely anxious; that was clearly obvious by the way he twisted his hands together and looked at the floor in silence. Every now and then he would shake his head and rub his eyes. Tears or exhaustion? Scott didn't know and he wasn't about to ask. All he knew was that he wouldn't like to be in Alan's position right now. He must be scared out of his wits.
His Father's words came back to him.
"For God's sake keep him calm."
"Hey kid." he said softly.
Alan lifted his head. "What?"
Just as he had suspected.
Tears.
"She'll be OK."
Alan contemplated him in silence for a few minutes. Scott had always been there for him. He was here now. But even Scott couldn't give him the kind of reassurance he needed at the moment. He felt so guilty at her developing this Pre-eclampsia thing.
"Scott. Do you know what this thing is that she's developed?" he asked after the silence began to feel uncomfortable.
"No Alan I don't." Scott replied honestly.
"How could Tin-Tin have gotten anything when I made sure she saw the Doctor regularly?"
"I have no idea Alan."
"Gordon said she worked ten hours yesterday and I know Dad's had her working on that new machinery with Brains this past week or so. It wouldn't have been from that would it?"
Scott started to become nervous. He knew what his Father had been trying to achieve with Tin-Tin and she had been so strong-willed it hadn't worked. She had worked herself to the bone until the job was done despite how bad she felt. It was her trademark.
He opened his mouth to say something about her working too hard but decided to stay out of the situation that had arisen between his Father and Tin-Tin.
"I doubt it." he said instead but by the way Alan looked at him he got the distinct feeling that he wasn't totally convinced by his tentative reply.
"Scott."
"Yeah Al?"
"I'm not like Dad."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can't raise a baby by myself."
"Tin-Tin will be fine Alan."
"But what if she isn't?"
"She will be."
"Scott..."
"What Al?"
"That night Mom died. Were you there when Dad said goodbye?"
"Alan…Tin-Tin isn't going to die."
"Scott…I need to know. If you were there, what did Dad say to her?"
"Alan…"
"Scott…If I have to do it, I want to do it right."
Scott shook his head despite what he remembered. The four of them had been taken out into the hospital corridor by their Grandmother before his Father had said goodbye to their mother. He had lingered at the door to look at her one more time and that heart-wrenching memory laid buried deep in his own personal vault. He remembered his Father, still young and handsome with his arms around his dying mother sobbing profusely and gasping between sobs how sorry he was to have done this to her. Scott remembered his Father saying it was all his fault. He remembered both of them crying as they looked at Alan in the crib beside them, their heads side by side, her mortally injured body pressed to his. He remembered his Father whispering "I love you baby. Please don't leave me alone like this. Please."
Then Grandma had closed the door.
No…he decided hesitantly. Alan didn't need to hear about that especially the way he was feeling right now.
"None of us were in the room Alan." he finally said knowing it was the truth but stretching it a little. "But it's not going to come to that OK? Dad and Kyrano will make the right decisions. Come on now. You have to settle down kid."
Alan heaved a huge sigh and looked at his watch. If John was doing this in forty three minutes, they still had twenty five minutes to go. Twenty five minutes plus the trip from Tracy Island to San Diego was a long time for Tin-Tin and Lucy Josephine to hold out.
"Please be OK Tin-Tin." he whispered to himself as he closed his eyes wearily and leaned his head back against the wall. "Please."
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The two of them sat facing each other in the waiting room. Neither of them spoke. It was nearly four o'clock in the morning and the silence that surrounded the empty hospital corridors around them gave the room an eerie feel.
Jeff Tracy's feet moved anxiously as they waited. His eyes looked about as he remembered the last time he had sat like this...waiting for news of his wife's condition after the massive haemorrhage she had suffered in theatre. Back then he had been thirty-five years old. Young enough and arrogant enough to still believe nothing could possibly go wrong with his wife while simply giving birth to their last baby.
He had sat there back then and tried to convince himself nothing was wrong despite the fact that clearly there was. Doctors came and went and with each hour that passed the looks they gave him and each other were grim.
"It's just a bit of a scare" he kept telling himself. "Lucy's only thirty three. She'll be all right. I know she will be. She has to be fine. We've got five kids to raise."
He couldn't take this sense of deja vu any longer as he sat there waiting to see what the situation was with his daughter-in-law. She was only twenty-two years old. Surely nothing could go wrong with a girl that young. Remnants of youth and arrogance lent him that thought. But he was no longer young and no longer arrogant. He had learned from experience and pain that life played no favourites young or old. Life delivered shocking blows and then left you floundering to deal with them. He knew that first hand. It had happened to him.
"This girl has to be fine." he told himself. "She's my son's wife. He can't be left to raise a baby alone. Not like I was. Alan wouldn't know where to start. No this whole pre-eclampsia thing has to just be a bit of a scare."
Kyrano sat bolt upright in the uncomfortable seat. What was taking so long? They'd been in there over thirty minutes taking blood samples and doing tests.
His child lay in there. His only daughter. She was worth more to him than anything in the world. She held his grandchild within her. Even now he couldn't imagine her as a mother although he knew she would be a fine one once she found her feet. Gentle, firm and loving. Little Tin-Tin was certainly all of those things and the tiny Tracy baby would be exceptionally fortunate to have such a special woman as its mother.
But what if it came to a choice that one must die so the other could live? The child or his daughter?
He and Jeff Tracy needed to discuss this matter especially as Jeff Tracy was currently representing his son.
"Err...Mr Tracy." he began quietly.
Jeff lifted his tired eyes to Kyrano's "Yeah Kyrano?"
"You and I must talk."
"Not just yet Kyrano." Jeff replied. He wanted to hear the prognosis first.
"No Mr. Tracy. We must talk now and prepare."
"All right Kyrano. Say what's on your mind."
"I feel that if this comes down to a choice we must agree on what should occur."
"It will be up to Alan to make that choice." Jeff said quietly.
"Mr. Tracy your son is not here. You saw my daughter. You saw how ill she is. We must be prepared in the event of a choice needing to be made."
"And what would be your choice then Kyrano?" he asked quite taken back at Kyrano's directness.
"The child."
Jeff Tracy's eyes bore a look of absolute disbelief. Tin-Tin was everything to Kyrano. How could he say that he would choose a Tracy child over her? Kyrano saw his confused face and continued.
"I know that is what Tin-Tin would want Mr. Tracy and that is what I will choose for her."
"Well my son certainly would not agree with you." Jeff Tracy began.
"Your son or yourself Mr. Tracy? I fear that losing your wife may have tempered with your judgement of what is best in this case."
"There can always be other children Kyrano."
"Not where my Tin-Tin is concerned. She would give her life for this child just as she would give her life for you Mr. Tracy. Has she still not proven herself to you enough for you to realise this?"
"Kyrano. I won't let you make a choice like that. Not when I've been through the outcome of it. "
"Do you think as Tin-Tin's Father I would not go through anything should this happen?"
"Of course you would but you're also talking about putting my son though what I went through and I won't have it Kyrano. I simply won't have it I tell you."
"As I said most clearly Mr. Tracy, I will choose for Tin-Tin should the need arise and I assure you that I will choose the child."
"Well let's hope you don't have to choose then Kyrano." Jeff Tracy warned. "Because I will not let you make that choice without my son."
Both of them looked at each other defiantly; both as determined as each other. This was the first argument they had ever had.
"Tinarda I know what you would want me to do," Kyrano thought silently. "and I know you will forgive me if I decide to do it. But despite this you are my only daughter and I do not know if I have the courage..."
"He can't possibly mean this." Jeff Tracy thought. "Surely he wouldn't let his own daughter die if it comes to it. Besides that he himself understands what it's like to raise a child alone. He can't want that for Alan. Even if he does I won't let him do it. It's the worst thing that could happen to anyone."
However, the conversation appeared not to be untimely. As the uncomfortable silence between them continued, the door to Tin-Tin's room opened. Before the two of them now stood Tin-Tin's obstetrician... with a face of stone.
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John Tracy scanned the controls. ETA to Tracy Island was now only fifteen minutes. Never before in his life had he experienced such a rush of adrenalin as he was right now. The speed of Thunderbird Three was incredible. "Thank goodness for high-pressure suits," he thought.
"This is Base to Thunderbird Three." Gordon's voice boomed over the link. "Come in Johnny."
"This is Thunderbird Three. I am receiving you base. What's doing?"
"What's your ETA? Still fifteen minutes?"
"FAB Base."
There was silence for a few moments as Gordon tried to collect himself. His voice shook as he began.
"Johnny...I've just heard from Dad. He wants you to abort the Tracy Island landing. You are to change course for San Diego immediately."
"San Diego? What's happened?"
"Is the kid with you?"
"No."
"Is the frequency open in Thunderbird Three?"
"No."
"Johnny..." he gasped as he began to break down. "Ummm…Word is that Tin-Tin's critical. According to Dad, the Doctors don't think she's going to make it."
Gordon stopped speaking for a few moments trying to control himself. He loved Tin-Tin like a sister. This was tearing him up inside. Doggedly he continued.
"Dad wants Alan there on the double. He said I've got to work out how to get him down. I'm not sure on what I should do. Can you get Scott up on the deck with you so I can get some advice please?"
"FAB. Hold the line open Gordo."
Feeling tears prick his own eyes as he thought about Tin-Tin, John lifted his wrist communicator and spoke to Scott.
"Scott. I need you up here pronto. I have Base wanting to talk to you."
He added quietly, "I can't open the frequency if you know what I mean."
Scott looked towards where Alan sat and started to worry about why.
"Alan will you be OK for a minute?" he asked briskly.
Alan shrugged. He wasn't going anywhere and this trip was taking forever.
Scott appeared in the elevator and strode in to stand beside his brother.
"What's doing John?" he asked.
John raised his eyes to where Scott stood. Scott saw the tears in them.
"Scott...Tin-Tin's critical." he whispered.
Scott Tracy looked as if he had been slapped. This couldn't be right. Not the girl he loved as a sister.
"Oh no." he breathed. "That can't be."
"Dad's given Gordon orders that we're to go straight to San Diego." John added quietly. "It has to be bad if he's done that. I'm altering course now."
Scott grabbed the radio. "Gordo do you read me?" he demanded. "This isn't one of your stupid practical jokes is it?"
Gordon's voice came over the radio, full of emotion, strain and distress. His voice faltered.
"As if I'd... joke about something like this. What sort of person do you think I am? This is Tin-Tin. I don't joke where she's concerned. Grandma's crying too. I can't leave this stupid desk to make her feel any better. Virgil's landed but I haven't seen him yet. Scott what... what should I do about the landing? It's a rocket ship you're bringing in this time not Thunderbird One."
Scott collected his thoughts and bit his lips as he pondered over the best action to take.
"Gordo..." he began. "It's possible Alan could parachute out if Johnny could bring Thunderbird Three in close enough to the hospital. Do you think you could handle that John?"
John Tracy nodded with some trepidation. He'd never done anything like that before but he guessed it was possible. He'd have to be careful descending to such a low altitude. This was Thunderbird Three, one big and mighty powerful piece of machinery. At John's concurrence Scott continued.
"OK that's a good option. John could take her straight back up without landing if we do it fast enough. The sweep would be so quick that people will think they imagined things. Mmm... All right. That's what we do. Tell Dad Alan will be there in... Johnny what's the new ETA?"
John Tracy quickly checked his altered co-ordinates as his stomach filled with anxiety.
"ETA San Diego ten minutes Scott."
"Gordo. I'll have to tell Alan. He can't be told this when he gets to the hospital."
"Scott...you'd better tell him one other thing then."
"What?"
"Dad said Kyrano is insisting the Caesarean happens now. Apparently the baby is in big trouble. Dad said Alan has to be the one to choose not Kyrano."
Scott swallowed.
"Johnny?" he asked without saying another word.
"I know what you're thinking Scott... but I can't without extreme risk." John replied.
"Do it. Everything's at risk at the moment anyway."
John Tracy closed his eyes and took Thunderbird Three over maximum speed. John knew Brains had designed it to take short bursts in a dire emergency and this was as dire as it was going to get he supposed but he didn't like how the engines were struggling under his skilful hand.
He forced himself to remain in control. "I can do this." he thought to himself. "Easy does it Johnny." He then spoke in a clear and deadly calm voice.
"ETA now six minutes. Scott get Alan to prepare for emergency ejection. Countdown to commence in five minutes thirty seconds."
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"No!" Jeff Tracy shouted. "I won't let you do this Kyrano. Not until that girl is stabilised."
"There is no more time to stabilise her. She will lose her child if you delay this much longer Mr. Tracy." shouted Kyrano in return.
Dr. Kingsley, Tin-Tin's Obstetrician stood quietly watching the altercation between the two men. He needed a direction from one of them. Above all he needed a signature to allow him to do anything.
It had now come to a choice. Tin-Tin had entered the full Eclampsia stage. She teetered on the edge a fatal stroke. Neither father truly appreciated just how dangerously ill she and her unborn baby were in there. He could not stabilise her until the baby was delivered. His colleague could not deliver the baby without risk until she was stabilised.
"Gentlemen." he said quietly. "This matter is fast becoming one of extreme urgency. I can't wait much longer. When do you expect Mr. Tracy to arrive?"
"Hopefully he will be here soon." Jeff Tracy snapped and looking at Kyrano he said clearly. "And nothing will happen until such time as he is here."
The Doctor turned to face him. He had to know the truth.
"Mr. Tracy. I have strong fears that the child's placenta may soon start to detach. If this occurs the child will receive very little oxygen. I am sure that you understand this presents a great risk of brain damage...or death."
Jeff Tracy turned away and dropped his head into his hand. He didn't have to be reminded what a lack of oxygen meant. He remembered all too well.
Lucy screaming in fear and agony as they begged her not to push any longer because Alan's cord was around his neck. "Mrs. Tracy please, he's getting no oxygen!" her Doctor had implored. Her screaming to get the baby out before it was too late. Her screaming the words he'd never forget as they began the horrible operation that cost her life.
"Jeff…I need you…"
The words he had said in return. "Lucy I'm here for you."
Despite what had happened that day, he had always been comforted by the fact that she had known he had been there when it counted.
Despite his stomach heaving with the grief these memories were tearing from his heart it came down to that important fact.
He had been there for Lucy in her time of need. Alan needed the opportunity to be there for Tin-Tin's.
"These fears you have for the child." he said in his deep and authoritative voice as he turned back around to address the Doctor. "Are they a reality yet?"
"No. Not as yet Mr. Tracy. However…"
"In that case we will wait for my son." he said grimly.
Both Kyrano and Doctor Kingsley burst into furious protests.
Jeff Tracy eyed them dangerously.
"I said we wait."
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It was as if the world had fallen in on top of him as he stood there stunned listening to Scott break the news about Tin-Tin and his baby and inform him that he needed to eject into the hospital grounds by parachute in less than five minutes.
"No Scott." he whispered as tears welled in his eyes. "No. This can't be happening to Tin-Tin. No. I don't believe you."
"Alan you have to get that parachute on." Scott demanded anxiously. "John's taking Thunderbird Three in. You haven't got much time."
Alan hung his head and buried his face in his hands.
"No I can't face this." he cried. " I ... can't watch her die... I can't..."
"Alan." Scott barked. "You have to face it. Now get it on and that's an order!"
"Scott..." John's voice, still rigidly calm came over the frequency. "I'm taking her down."
Scott yelled. "Alan I said now!"
Alan pulled on his equipment over his high pressure suit with the assistance of his brother. His lips trembled and silent tears ran down his face as he secured his parachute. What was he going to have to face when he got there? What if he had lost them both before he arrived? What if he had to say goodbye to one of them? Or worse still have to be the one to choose between them?
He broke down as Thunderbird Three descended over San Diego with a deafening roar.
Scott pulled him to his chest in a fatherly embrace.
"Come on kid. Pull yourself together. You've got to be strong now for Tin-Tin. You're a married man."
Alan clung to him like a child.
"Scott if she dies this has all been for nothing." he sobbed. "I've changed everything about myself for her and that baby just so I could keep her love and have Kyrano think I'm worthy of her. I can't lose them now... I just can't. "
John Tracy's voice of command echoed through Thunderbird Three as all three of them felt the Thunderbird begin to nosedive.
"Prepare to eject. Thirty...twenty nine... twenty eight..."
Scott released him.
His powerful, fatherly voice…
"Alan you've loved her for a long time. Don't let her down when she needs you the most. Now get yourself in position to bail out!"
John Tracy's strong, unwavering voice in the background...
"Twenty three….twenty two…"
Alan Tracy's tired and worried voice...
"Yes Sir."
John Tracy's voice.
"Nineteen…eighteen…seventeen…"
Scott Tracy's voice.
"Besides Uncle Scott wants to meet that baby of yours."
Alan wiped his eyes and prepared himself to eject. Scott was right. He had promised never to let her down. He wouldn't let her down. He closed his eyes and listened to the countdown.
Alan Tracy's voice.
"I love you baby." he whispered. "I'm coming."
"Twelve...eleven...ten.."
He turned to his eldest brother.
"Scott..."
Scott Tracy smiled fondly at his baby brother. He was no longer a baby but a strong and courageous young man. For one moment Scott Tracy felt a surge of pride in himself and how he had helped make him that man.
"It's OK kid. I know what you're going to say." he said. "Good luck."
"Three…Two…One...Alan go…!"
As Alan Tracy parachuted into the grounds of San Diego hospital John Tracy arched Thunderbird Three skywards again and within minutes the huge red rocket ship had disappeared from view.
John breathed a sigh of relief as his altitude climbed. Boy that had been close. He'd nearly lost control during the descent.
He waited until he'd collected himself and his heart had stopped pounding before reaching for the radio.
"Thunderbird Three to base."
"Base to Thunderbird Three. Go ahead Johnny."
"Mission accomplished Gordo. Tell Dad he's there. I don't know what state he's in, but he's there."
"Will do. See you in a bit."
"ETA to Base eleven minutes. Thunderbird Three out."
As the radio shut down, John Tracy closed his eyes and thought out aloud.
"That had to be the most nerve-racking thing I've ever done in my entire life. Old terra firma got mighty damned close in that last few seconds. "
"Yeah you sure surprised me." a voice from behind him exclaimed.
John riveted around to see his eldest brother standing behind him and frowned.
"What do you mean I surprised you?"
Scott placed his hand on his middle brother's shoulder.
"I've never seen you in control of a situation quite so completely little brother. I'll hand it to you; you give a top call under pressure."
John Tracy eyed him. Was that so? Well he was glad he realised it then. It was about time someone did. He was tired of being overlooked by his Father and overshadowed by his brothers. Alan's comment that he was too straight down the line had fired him up. Fired him up to command as his Father would.
"Yeah well I'm a Tracy son too." he muttered in a disconcerted tone. "You're not the only one who can fly and give orders around here you know."
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She had to be kidding! Now she wanted him to give orders as well?
This had to be absolutely the worst day of his life. No ifs, buts or maybes. It was only five o'clock in the morning and he felt like he had been in charge for nearly twenty four hours.
His Father had woken him less than three hours ago and informed him in no uncertain terms that the sister-in-law he loved was dangerously ill. Then he'd been told she would be flown to hospital and he was required to make some telephone calls on behalf of his Father.
All of a sudden and he still didn't know how, he found himself in charge of International Rescue.
Then he'd drawn the short straw and was told he had to break the news about Tin-Tin to his little brother... then he had to ensure that same hysterical brother got to San Diego via Tracy Island… then he had to get him straight to San Diego...then he'd had to worry about how he got him out of Thunderbird Three without it landing. And now…now just when he thought things couldn't get any worse Grandma was in front of him wanting him to give orders to the older brother she was arguing with.
"I want you to tell this brother of yours to take me in to the hospital right this instant young man." she was demanding to his shrinking ears. "Your youngest brother and your father need me at the moment and so does that little girl."
"Grandma I…" Gordon stammered.
"Grandma." Virgil interrupted. "Dad feels it would be better if you waited until it's all over. I'd be happy to fly you in then."
"All over? I'm not waiting until then. You are not hearing me Virgil. I need to be with your Father with all this going on. He's still got one hell of a big hole in his heart over that mother of yours and more than a big dose of guilt over what's happened with young Tin-Tin. Now that's a combination I'm worried out of my wits over."
"Grandma I know but..." Virgil tried to interject but Josie Tracy was in no mood to be argued with. Her jaw was set firm and so was her tone.
"You mark my words, if that youngest brother of yours catches on to what's been going on around here with Tin-Tin working herself into the ground over some stupid piece of drilling equipment there's going to be fireworks in that hospital in San Diego and you'll be able to see them all the way from Tracy Island. Do you want that without me there to keep the peace?"
"No of course not Grandma but Dad's given his orders."
Josie Tracy reeled around to look at Gordon who shrank further into his Father's chair.
"Are you supposed to be in charge around here at the moment?" she demanded.
Gordon opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. His older brother was glaring at him and so was his Grandmother. Finally he replied nervously.
"I guess so ma'am."
"Right then! Now I want you give you brother an order to take me to San Diego and I'm not going in Tracy One either. I'm a member of International Rescue and you can take me in Thunderbird One."
"Grandma!" Gordon exclaimed in severe discomfort as Virgil gave him a dreadful look. "I can't order Virgil to do anything!"
"Yes you can and I'm asking you to do it." she demanded.
"Virg?" Gordon said looking helplessly towards his brother.
"Gordo Dad said no." Virgil replied quietly.
Gordon frowned. Now that he thought about it, why couldn't Grandma go? If anything went wrong Grandma always knew what to do or what to say to make things right and no-one could say things weren't going terribly wrong at the moment. He had been on the receiving end of Alan's wrath less than an hour ago because of it. As Grandma had just pointed out, he could imagine what was going to happen if Alan found out about Tin-Tin's state of overwork and exhaustion. Wrath would not be the word for it. He still remembered the extent of Alan's anger that morning on the beach over a simple slip of the tongue.
No. It would be better if Grandma was there.
"Virgil." he said. "Please take Grandma to San Diego."
"No Gordo." Virgil said nervously. "Dad gave me his orders."
Josie Tracy hit boiling point. Gordon saw her face darken and pictured the impending explosion. Oh no! He didn't need one of her "reality checks."
"Virgil." he said authoritatively. "I'm in charge at the moment and I think Dad's wrong in this case. Please take Grandma to San Diego."
Virgil gave him a warning look which reeked with approval nonetheless.
"This one will be on your head as far as Dad's concerned Gordo." he said quietly.
"But for what it's worth I totally agree with you."
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He had never run so fast in his life but at least he didn't have to run far. Alan Tracy silently thanked his brother John for his pinpoint accuracy as his parachute took him to within two hundred metres of San Diego hospital.
He'd stripped himself of his pressure suit and parachute and dashed into the hospital as he tried to tuck in his shirt. He was almost incoherent as he tried to explain to the receptionist who he was and why she needed to hurry in finding where he needed to go. The receptionist nodded. Once he had uttered his name she knew he was to be directed to maternity immediately. This was the Father of the Tracy baby.
"Maternity is on seventh floor Mr. Tracy." she said pointing to the elevator and beginning her explanation on how to find it. She need not have bothered. Alan Tracy was gone.
He stood anxiously in the elevator as he willed it to go faster. Once it reached the seventh floor, he strode out and the doors leading to the maternity unit opened in front of him. He heard his Father's voice and Kyrano's. He must be hearing things. They both sounded like they were arguing.
"Dad." he called breathlessly as he ran down the corridor towards them.
Jeff Tracy closed his eyes with relief.
"Alan. Thank God." he breathed.
He came to stand in front of his Father; his chest heaving.
"Sir, I came as fast as I could." he began breathlessly, his eyes darting everywhere. "Dad where is she? Is she all right? How did this happen? I don't understand. I…"
Before Jeff Tracy could say anything, a firm and insistent voice came from behind him.
"Mr Tracy I need to speak with you urgently."
Alan turned towards the voice. He recognised Dr. Kingsley, Tin-Tin's Doctor immediately. He had been the one to confirm their baby was a girl just over a month before. Alan's stomach sank as he looked at the graveness of his face.
Dr Kingsley looked at Jeff Tracy's insistent face and the equally insistent face of Kyrano.
"Mr. Tracy." he said forcefully. "…in private."
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Dr. Reginald Kingsley was a renowned Obstetrician with many years of experience. He had delivered countless babies in his time under many different circumstances from families whose backgrounds were as diverse as their circumstances.
But this baby stood apart from most. This was a Tracy baby. Anything that was associated with the name "Tracy" stood apart from most. Jeff Tracy meant money. Jeff Tracy meant influence. This baby was the grandchild of Jeff Tracy.
In the past hour Dr. Kingsley had witnessed the extent of the power and wealth of the Tracy family first-hand.
Nothing demonstrated authority more clearly than the Tracy grandfather asserting his dominance in the corridor only a few moments before.
Nothing demonstrated influence more than Jeff Tracy managing to obtain the services of International Rescue to bring young Tin-Tin to hospital. Kingsley was amazed such a top secret high-level organisation would accede to the needs of Tracy family. That fact alone had to indicate power in the extreme.
The family also somehow managed to engage Dr. Henry Chan, the renowned surgeon who never operated unless it was a Tuesday and after his beloved morning golf game. Dr. Michael Sommerville, one of the finest paediatricians had driven his Jaguar into San Diego hospital car-park at 3.30am.
These two Doctors would have come at a tremendous price and Dr. Kingsley knew it would have taken nothing less than sheer clout to have Dr. Chan in theatre at this time of the morning.
Those two Doctors were waiting in theatre now for the decision of the youngest Tracy son; the son who now stood in front of him.
Dr. Kingsley had grown to like the tall, blonde-haired Tracy son and his pretty young wife in the past few months. He had visualised that coming from a family with as much wealth as they had, the two of them would be a trifle condescending. Nothing had been further from the truth. Both of them had always addressed him as "Sir" and from what he had seen in the corridor it appeared that was how the Tracy sons addressed everyone.
"A sign of good breeding." he thought approvingly.
He now had to somehow inform this young man of the situation and by whatever means get him to agree to let them do what they needed to do to save his child.
A caesarean section had to occur. There was no room for negotiation.
Dr. Sommerville had voiced his grave fears for the baby in no uncertain terms and wanted it to occur immediately, however both he and Dr. Chan had reservations regarding Tin-Tin surviving the operation at present.
The three of them had discussed the options and agreed it was more likely that one or the other could be saved if the whole focus of the operation went in one direction. No-one could make the decision on which way to channel the focus other than the person with the most to lose as a result of it. That person was the young man in front of him.
Dr. Kingsley felt a deep sympathy for Alan Tracy as he prepared himself to break the news.
"Sir, please inform me of where things stand at the moment," began Alan before he had the opportunity to speak. "I've been away from home these past three weeks and I don't understand what this condition is that she has."
"Mr. Tracy." he began. "We have very little time to discuss this. However your wife's condition is one that simply develops quite suddenly and is only detectable by tests."
"But how would she have developed it? Didn't I see to her care well enough Sir?"
Dr. Kingsley shook his head. "Mr.Tracy, Mrs.Tracy has received more than adequate care. Please allow yourself to be assured of that fact. Your wife's condition is not common. Most times it simply develops but in my experience I admit I have seen inadequate rest and sometimes stress start it off. Opinions are divided on the subject. But Mr. Tracy we don't have time to discuss the causes now. What I need from you is a decision."
Alan's stomach fell. "Please don't ask me to make a choice Dr. Kingsley." he thought desolately. "I simply can't do it."
He tried to remain focussed on what the Doctor was saying to him but the words leaving his mouth were like bullets from a gun firing into his heart, each shot more damaging than the last.
The bullet: "Mr. Tracy, my colleagues and I all agree that your child can be saved if a caesarean section is performed immediately."
The heart: "At least that's good news."
The bullet: "However this operation, whilst routine, would present a very great risk to your wife."
The heart: "How can something routine be a risk?"
The bullet: "She has now passed into the eclampsia stage of the condition and will not tolerate theatre particularly well."
The heart: "If she can't tolerate theatre how can she have the operation?"
The bullet: "Her condition at the moment is extremely unstable."
The heart: "Well we will have to wait until she is stable then."
The bullet: "The most difficult part for all of us is the knowledge that delivering your daughter will actually help stabilise her."
The heart: "Well she should have the operation then."
The bullet:" Her body may be able to cope better if the strain of the child is removed and I would be extremely hopeful that this will be the case."
The heart: "OK. Let's go ahead with the operation."
He paused for a moment and looked directly at the youngest of the Tracy sons.
The fatal bullet: "Unfortunately Mr. Tracy there is a genuine risk we will lose her."
Alan closed his eyes and took a sharp intake of breath as those words were uttered.
The fatally wounded heart cried out once only and that cry was expressed with nothing other than pure devastation; the cry of young man whose whole world was about to change forever.
"No. "he whispered as he fought to retain his composure. "Please don't say that to me Sir."
Dr. Kingsley stood in silence; now devoid of any further words to try to soften or lessen the blow for this tragically young Father.
"Mr. Tracy." he said quietly. "I know this must be difficult for you but I have to ask that you give me your instructions immediately or you will not need to choose at all."
"Meaning Sir?" he breathed as his lips began to tremble with grief.
"Mr. Tracy. Your wife is dangerously ill and your daughter fast approaching the point where she may die too. Please, I understand how you must be feeling about this but we need to operate if your daughter is to have any chance of survival at all."
Alan had to turn away from him in an attempt to control himself.
To his mind came every last detail of how he had felt as a six year old when he was informed by Gordon that he was responsible for their mother's death. John had told Gordon and Gordon had told him. Grandma had said John was wrong and had no business saying anything like that.
Disbelieving and distraught and despite what Grandma had said he had gone to confront John. He remembered standing in the shadows overhearing John speaking to his angry Grandmother.
"Alan did so kill mommy Grandma. She wasn't sick like you said. Daddy said Mommy died because the Doctors had to hurt her for Alan. I heard Daddy say so and my Daddy doesn't lie."
He had lived with that guilt and heartache for years and still felt responsible whenever his Father looked contemplative or sad or showed obvious distress when their Mother was mentioned.
Lucy Josephine…his daughter
He saw himself in six years time trying to explain to Lucy why she didn't have a mommy like everyone else or having to tell her that he had killed her mommy just like he had killed his own.
Lucy was destined to be a motherless little girl like Tin-Tin had been when they had first met. Lucy would be a little girl with a Father who loved her dearly but a little girl destined to endure growing into a woman without the love and guidance of her mother. She could meet a little boy who teased her about becoming that woman. She could meet someone like him.
Worse still, a thoughtless remark like John's, overheard by Lucy, would make her believe it had been her that had killed her mother. She would feel the same guilt and pain as he had. No-one understood how deeply his childhood had been affected by that guilt and Lucy could never be allowed to feel that. She would never feel that while there was breath in his body to tell her otherwise. The choice was his. It would be his fault not hers.
Tinarda Jane…Tin-Tin… his best friend.
The girl with the prettiest face and the daintiest features he had ever seen. A face made in heaven that he tilted to his just to gaze at its beauty. Features so delicate she reminded him of a porcelein doll.
The girl with the reddest lips and most captivating smile he had even seen. Lips he had pressed his own against, sometimes gently, many times ardently but always lovingly. The smile that had won his heart and completely taken his breath away.
The girl with the most beautiful brown eyes and the longest eyelashes he had ever seen. Eyes that shone with love for him despite his wild and sometimes thoughtless ways. Eyelashes he had kissed gently that special night on the beach.
The girl with the shiniest, straightest and blackest hair he had ever seen. Hair like silk that he ran his hands through over and over again as she lay in his arms.
The girl he had been totally smitten with for more years than he could remember and the one he had fallen head over heels in love with at nine years of age despite taking him twelve years to get to the stage where he admitted it.
The girl who had given herself to him utterly that special March evening when he least expected it.
The girl who then became his wife.
Lucy Josephine; the little girl the two of them had inadvertently created together when they moved past the boundaries of friendship into a relationship of physical love. The little girl conceived on his birthday, the very first night they had been together. The little girl he had not wanted. The little girl he had tried to abort. The little girl who had her Daddy around her little finger already and he was yet to meet her face to face. He wanted to meet her more than anything in the world but not at the expense of the girl he loved more than his own life.
But what would Tin-Tin say to him if she awoke from all of this to be told that Lucy Josephine had died because he did not have the courage to take the risk to save her? Tin-Tin would not listen to his words of comfort or accept that there would be other babies. She would never forgive him for his cowardice. She would point out through her tears that he willingly risked his own life over and over to save people in distress as a member of International Rescue but he had failed in his most important rescue of all; saving their little girl.
Alan knew he would risk his own life to save Lucy's. He just couldn't bring himself to risk Tin-Tin's.
"Baby. I know what you'd want me to do." he whispered in despair. "I can't live without you but if I know if I allow Lucy to die I can't live with you either."
"Mr. Tracy I don't want to appear anxious…"
Alan listened to Doctor Reginald Kingsley and knew the time had come where he had to make a choice. He swallowed and turned around to face him. His tired, strained blue eyes came up to look at him. Doctor Kingsley saw the pain and torment in Alan Tracy's soul as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sir." he said in a low and emotional voice. "I understand that you need to take the baby."
Doctor Kingsley nodded and turned to go in the direction of the operating theatre. "Thank you Mr. Tracy. I understand how difficult this has been but you are doing the right thing. Rest assured we will do all we can for your wife."
"Sir…" Alan pleaded as his voice wavered and his self-control began to give way.
Dr. Kingsley stopped and looked back towards the devastated young man who began to sob.
"Please give me the chance to say goodbye."
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NEXT CHAPTER - PART 4 - FACING TRAGEDY
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