Gordon smiled as he entered the door into the lounge.
"Hey guys," he said as he lugged his bag in. "Miss me?"
"Nope," said Alan.
"Not for a minute," said Scott, sitting down and reading his paper. Virgil didn't even glance up from the piano.
"Well, I didn't miss you either," said Gordon. Then a beeping sound filled the lounge. The eyes on the large portrait of John, Gordon's next older brother, started flashing. Jeff entered hurriedly and pressed an unobtrusive button on his desk.
"Go ahead, John."
"Hey dad, just called to say welcome back to my favourite brother," John said cheerily, his face filling the screen that had replaced the potrait. Gordon grinned.
"Hey dude, I'm glad to see someone cares enough to say hi. This lazy bunch didn't even look up!" Gordon jerked a thumb in his brothers' direction. John nodded knowingly.
"Don't I know it! When I come home from my lonely vigil, who's the one who says hi first? It's you, no one else bothers."
"Mmm, tell me about it." Gordon and John grinned at each other. They'd spent a lot of time together growing up when Scott and Virgil had gone off to College, leaving John and Gordon together at high school. A lot of their high school experiences had been learned together, and this was passed down to Alan when he joined Gordon later on. But John and Gordon shared a sort of "middle child" bond, which the others weren't a part of.
"Lies! All lies!" exclaimed Virgil, getting up from the piano. "I had a tune in my head I had to play and I couldn't look up or I'd lose it. Welcome back, Gord. We missed ya. How's Adelaide?"
"She's hot," commented Scott. Gordon coloured a little.
"Shuddup."
"No," rejoined Scott, "She's married, though, dammit." Virgil looked disappointed.
"For a second there, I thought I was in with the big time!"
"HA! You wish. She's so got it for me," Scott shot back. Gordon frowned, uncomfortable with their conversation.
"Look, zip it guys, alright? She's my best friend off this island. I don't want you guys slagging her off like that."
"Sorry, Gord," said Virgil. "Scott said she was hot, I was just appreciating that."
"Yeah, okay."
"Dinner!" Grandma called from the dining room.
"I better go. Talk to you later, okay Gordon?"
"Yeah, later John." John's portrait flicked back to its normal appearance. Grandma bustled into the room.
"Hello, Gordon, good holiday?"
"Yes thanks, Grandma," Gordon said, walking to her and giving her a hug. "I had a great time."
"Oh good. I made your favourite for tea, macaroni cheese with bacon and corn, plenty of cheese, just how you like it!"
"Oh, wow, thanks Grandma! I've sure missed your cooking!" Gordon grinned and walked with her back to the kitchen, his brothers and father following behind. In the kitchen, Tin Tin rose from her seat and kissed his cheek.
"We're so glad you're back, Gordon, it's been so quiet without you," she said, her eyes twinkling. Gordon grinned.
"Yeah, I know, I rock. Let's eat!"
~~ (IR)/=
It was the next afternoon that the call came in. It was a fishing ship in distress, caught on a reef. It was slowly sinking, and it would take too long for the local rescue authorities to get to them. Jeff gave the go ahead, and the Thunderbirds departed.
"Base to Thunderbird Two. What is your ETA?"
"ETA eighteen point five minutes, father."
"Good. Keep me posted to your arrival."
"FAB." Virgil turned to grin at Gordon. "You came back just in time, as per usual." Gordon nodded and smirked.
"But of course, Virg! What would you do without me?"
"Uh-"
"Don't answer that. I'm going to suit up."
"FAB." The huge green rescue machine soared to it's destination, the sleek silver rocket that was Thunderbird One shooting ahead. Virgil looked ahead.
"Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One and Base. Am now reaching Danger Zone."
"FAB, Virg," came back Scott's voice. "You'll have to stay in the air, she's too tricky to land."
"Alrighty. Gordon, I'm dropping Pod Four now."
"FA-Yikes! Give me some warning next time!" Gordon's voice yelped through the radio. Virgil grinned.
"Sorry, little bro, I guess my hand slipped!"
"Slipped my Aunt Fanny. Launching Thunderbird Four now."
"You don't have an Aunt Fanny," reply Virgil. Gordon's mind was already ticking over with ideas to get Virgil back as the little yellow sub scooted down the ramp into the water. He drove ahead to the boat, careful to steer clear of the waves and the reef. Bringing her to the surface, Gordon opened the hatch.
"Hoi! Anyone aboard?" he called. A relieved face appeared over the edge of the rail.
"Hey, International Rescue! Are we gald to see you! My mate George has slipped and sprained his leg, I think," called back the man. Gordon nodded.
"How many of you are there?"
"Seven, eight counting Fluffy," he called back. Gordon frowned. Fluffy? Oh well. He'd figure it out later. In the mean time, he climbed aboard the sinking ship.
"I'm the Captain," said the man. "Captain Jerry." Gordon nodded.
"Okay, Captain, well get you all off here in no time. Grab important stuff only. We'll have you off in a jiffy." He smiled reassuringly and grabbed his radio.
"Gordon to Thunderbird Two, we have eight persons requiring assistance, one injury."
"Thunderbird Two to Gordon, I'll have an air lift to you in 30 seconds."
"FAB." Gordon turned back to the captain. "Well, where's your people? Get them all up here." The captain nodded and ran off to gather his crew and important documents. Overhead, Thunderbird Two hovered closer, air lift ready. Gordon tapped his foot impatiently.
"Come on, Captain!" he called, going to the top of the companion way. Below his he could see the crew helping their injured friend up the stairs. Gordon stepped aside so as not to get in the way. As soon as the men were on deck, however, Gordon assisted George to the air lift. He did a quick head-count. "There's only seven, where's the eighth?" he asked. The Captain looked worried.
"I dunno, it's not like her to hide."
"Who?"
"Fluffy. The ship's cat."
"Oh." Gordon nodded, understanding at last, but a sudden feeling of panic hitting him. A cat? How was he meant to find a cat on this boat?
"She stowed away when we left, and we couldn't turf her over. Lovely wee thing. She's grey and stripey."
'Great. A grey cat on a grey ship of a grey day. Well, I can't leave her,' thought Gordon. Out loud, he said, "Gordon to Thunderbird Two. All passengers secure. I'm going back for the last one. Haul them up."
"Gordon, that boat's going down any minute!"
"I know, but I can't leave her! Hang tight," he called to the crew.
"Alright, Gordon, go get her. Lifting air lift now."
"FAB." And Gordon turned and disappeared below deck. The crew watched him go in amazement.
"I don't believe it," said the captain, respect and wonder evident in his face as they were pulled aboard and the hatch closed after them.
"Believe what?" asked Alan, entering the loading bay. "Alright, everyone off." Alan helped everyone off before turning back to the captain. "Believe what?"
"Your mate," the captain said with awe. "He went back for the cat."
"He WHAT??" Alan's jaw hung slack. "Virg! He went back for a stupid CAT!" he cried down the radio. In the cockpit, Virgil blanched.
"He went back to possible death for a CAT? Idiot! Thunderbird Two to Gordon, read me NOW!"
"Gordon to Thunderbird Two, what's the matter?"
"Get OUT of there! It's only a cat! It's not worth your life!"
"I've nearly found her," came back Gordon's voice, calm and cool. Virgil glowered down at the boat which was rocking precariously.
"How can you 'nearly' find a cat? Either you have, or you haven't! Gordon, get out of there! NOW! And that's an order!" Virgil's figers gripped the steering wheel tightly, anger coming from fear.
"Here, puss puss puss," called Gordon. "There she is! Hey pusscat! Come here-" And Gordon's radio cut out.
*
A/N: Ooooh, cliffy! Will Gordon find Fluffy and get out alive? More soon!