chapter 4

"How could that just have happened? John was barely breathing when we hauled him from under the leg of the tower. Thankfully the person whom he had saved had not been that badly injured. A concussion and a few bruised ribs. But Johnny was a mess a real mess."

Scott thought to himself on his way back to Tracy Island after they had sorted out the disaster at the tower. Scott had suspected that it had been a terrorist attack as it was only one leg that had been cut straight through and pushed over.

Thankfully once they had hauled John out of the rubble a young English Doctor named Haley Smith had come to help. Thankfully she had been willing to move John but on the condition that she went all the way with him to their secret head quarters. Scott had disagreed but the woman was so persistent and she said she would not say a word about anything she saw. Scott just had to agree, he just had to trust this woman, as John meant a hell of a lot to all of his family.

Now he was heading back to Tracy island in Thunderbird One whilst his 3 brothers were in Thunderbirds 2. Granted it had all the life saving equipment but he'd be damned if his ship wasn't faster.

"Scott what is your ETA" Jeff boomed over the intercom, trying to stay calm but under the façade was an utter wreak.

"About 5 minutes until I come in for landing. Is there any more news on John, Father?"

"Virgil had said that he was on breathing equipment and still comatose. I'll wait and see how he is once he comes in. The young Doctor with him seems to be confident that he will be alright. She has already asked for all the things she needs. She also said it is a bit like a waiting game if he is in a coma."

"I'll let you know when I'm coming in for landing, FAB".

"FAB" said Jeff as he cut out the communication between him and Thunderbird 1.

Jeff thought to himself.

"How could this happen? My son, my beautiful blonde son injured! This wasn't right! He had to pull through this. He couldn't cope with losing his son."

Jeff suddenly remembered the horrible time when Gordon had been involved in a hydrofoil incident. He had though nothing worse in the world could happen than that, and now he was about to relive that horrid time with his second eldest son.

"Permission to land." boomed Scott's voice through the intercom.

"Permission granted." said Jeff before suddenly calling thunderbird 2 to find out their ETA as he was anxious to get John into a medical room and sorted out.

"Around 10 more minutes, we are flying at maximum speed. I would do more if I could." said Virgil.

"No, no just be safe/careful, please be careful, Virgil. Any update on John?"

"The doctor said that he had around 3 broken ribs, a bad concussion and a broken femur. He's still unconscious and she said that basically it is a waiting game. She also wants to take scans to make sure there isn't any internal bleeding in his chest and head. She wants to know that if there is any bleeding, sir, that you would be able to have a hospital on call from the mainland."

"Yes, I've already called a medical team and they are on standby, at a near by hospital. FAB"

The moment Thunderbird 2 had landed, Jeff ran from his study down to its silo in aid of his son. By the time he got there John had been moved out of thunderbird 2 and was about to be moved to the medical room on Tracy island. John had been interbated and placed flat on his back; he had heart monitors attached to his chest. Tubes connecting drips and all sorts of strange things Jeff didn't recognise or understand. Brains etched forward to greet the boys back and tell Haley that he had the X-ray machine and scanner ready to check John out. Haley nodded and went with Brains and John to the surgery where she set John up to all the monitors. She then did the scans and X-rays to see to what extend John was injured. Thankfully John had only a few broken bones, but he was in a coma that warned her that there might be brain damage.

In the mean while, all 3 of Jeff's uninjured sons sat in front of him in his main office, as he debriefed them on their latest mission. Jeff silently nodded whilst Scott explained, about how he though it had been a terrorist attack as the leg gave way with a clean cut. He also went on to explain how it was only the leg that had fallen.

"It became more obvious that it was a terrorist attack when the leg that had been secured, broke into more pieces when Gordon and Virgil were further securing it."

All Jeff did was nod. He was far more concerned on seeing to his son in the medical room.

Scott went onto explain about Dr Smith how she had refused to let them take John unless she went too.

"Dad, she refused to let him go and we couldn't risk security if John went to a French hospital. She promised she would not breathe a word."

"I understand son, I will speak with Dr Smith and get all legal issues sorted out later. I suppose it won't hurt to have a doctor by John's side at this time. OK boys that will be all. I'll inform Alan and tell him that he may need to spend a bit more time up in Thunderbird 5, after I check on John's status.

"FAB" the boys chorused in unison as each of them headed off to their rooms to reflect on what had happened.

"Thunderbird 5 this is base do you read me"

"Thunderbird 5 hearing you loud and clear." said Alan looking his innocent self as usual.

"How'd the mission go?"

"I'm afraid, there were some complications. John was injured pretty badly. He has several broken ribs a broken leg and a sever concussion which has led to a coma. There is a doctor with him and she seems hopeful that he will make a full recovery. Alan? Are you OK? You look very pale."

"D-D-Dad, how could this happen? A coma! He might not make it if he is in a coma!"

"Alan I don't want you to even think of that." The though had crossed Jeff's mind and he was pretty scared about this fact but he knew he had to be strong for all his sons, and right now he was beginning to think that maybe he should bring Alan back from Thunderbird 5 as he wasn't looking as if he was taking the news well.

"Dad." A long silence passed. Alan knew he had to tell his father of Pipa and Lucy but boy it was going to be hard.

"Alan, I think I'd better send your brothers up to get you. I don't think it is safe for you to be up there in this state." Jeff was starting to worry about his youngest. He didn't quite know that the bond between the two had become so strong.

"Dad I think you better sit down I have something to tell you, sir, that you aren't going to like."

TBC hope you are enjoying