CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Calm Before The Storm

"Gordon, if you don't answer This Minute, then you're in trouble young man," Jeff barked for the fiftieth time. Still no responce. He looked up at Scott.

"Still no luck, father?"

"No." Jeff sat back, his face a mask of calm. Scott felt worried. He rarely saw his father so worried and angry. He bit his lip.

"Perhaps we should get John to place him. I mean, he's been gone all day, and he still isn't answering, maybe it's worse than we thought." Scott hated to do this, but there was no other way. He'd tried to put it off, stop his father calling John until the last possible minute, give Gordon a chance to get back on his own. But it was taking too long.

"Base to Thunderbird Five, come in."

"Thunderbird Five to Base, what's up, father?" John replied promptly. Jeff faced the monitor.

"John, I need you to place Gordon for me on the automatic fixer."

"Gordon?" John's face creased into a worried frown. "Isn't he at home?"

"No he isn't John, and I need you to find him." John nodded without asking furthur questions and left. He came back a minute later.

"He's in Lyttleton, father."

"What the blazes-!" burst out Scott, anger falling over his own features. He's bunked off for a girl- Jeff held up a calming hand. Years of rescues, as well as having five sons and the troubles that came with them, meant he was good at masking his own emotions.

"Thank you John. Scott, I want you to go find him." Scott snapped to attention and nodded.

"Yes sir."

(IR)/

Gordon lowered his head, holding Addie's hand tightly. "Man, I wish I'd found you sooner."

"Me too," Addie replied. Gordon sighed. He was quickly finding himself falling in love with this girl. There was still a nagging discomfort about his father at the back of his mind, but for now he ignored it.

The two were at the wharf at Lyttleton harbour, looking out across the water. The day had been perfect, blue and clear. A perfect day to be alive. The perfect day for a funeral. Gordon kissed Addie's cheek.

"I hate being apart so much," Addie murmured, hugging him. "I know its useless asking but, why can't you just come back to WASP?"

"I can't, Ad."

"I know." They stood together in silence, watching the sun set, Addie snuggled into Gordon's shoulder. "Let's go back, huh?"

"Yeah, okay." They strolled back together, arms around each other's waists, talking softly.

"...and you should have seen Scott's face! You remember, don't you?"

"Oh yeah, I remember!" The two laughed softly.

"I'm glad I can be here to cheer you up," Gordon said quietly. Addie smiled up at him., and Gordon leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Hello, Gordon. Remember me?" Gordon froze, and looked around quickly. Addie glanced up at his suddenly serious and horrified face.

"What?" She looked around. "Oh." Scott standing on the footpath in front of them, looking dangerous. Gordon swallowed.

"Scott. Hi! What brings you to this neck of the woods?" Scott sent a death glare his way. Gordon flinched and looked down at the pavement.

"Get your stuff, Gordon, I'm taking you home." Gordon nodded and let go of Addie, going to walk past Scott. Scott grabbed his arm. Gordon made as if to jerk away, and looked up at his oldest brother's face. Scott's eyes were barely readable. Gordon at least had the good sense to look sorry. "And put your watch back on." He flinched away, going ahead to gather his stuff. Addie bit her lip.

"Listen, Scott, don't be mad at him, I was the one who asked him to come, and..." she was stared down into silence. Scott shook his head.

"I'm not mad at him. Not in comparison to my father."

"Oh." Gordon walked back towards them, his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Lets go." Scott headed off. Gordon squeezed Addie's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I guess I should have asked permission."

"Gordon! What am I going to do with you?" She rolled her eyes. But all the same, I'm glad you came.

"I'd do it all again in an instant." He smiled a little, trying to lighten the mood. Addie smiled.

"Bye, Gordie."

Gordon waved and walked after Scott, leaving Addie feeling pretty bad. Scott said nothing all the way back to the Ladybird. Gordon tried not to think about what was awaiting him. The two climbed aboard, Scott in the pilot's seat, and the plane took off. They sat in silence for ten minutes, until Gordon ventured to speak.

"Is Dad mad?"

"What do you think?"

"Oh."

"What you did was unbelievably stupid, Gordon. What if there'd been a rescue? What if you got hurt? What if-"

"I know, okay Scott? I know!" Gordon sat back, arms folded.

"I'll save the lecture for Dad."

"Good." And then there was silence. All the way home. All five hours of it.

"Ladybird to Base, request clearance to land."

"Clearance given." The plane began its decent into the storm that awaited them.

(IR)/

Everyone was waiting for them in the lounge. Virgil and Alan fidgeted on the sofa, both uneasy. Tin Tin flustered about. Kyrano sat composed, but not wanting to be there. Grandma sat with her hands folded in the armchair. Jeff was at his desk, completely still.

They all looked up as Scott entered, followed by Gordon. The whole room stilled.

"Uh, hi, everyone," said Gordon, trying on a grin, but falling flat with it. Scott went and sat down next to Virgil, leaving Gordon to stand alone.

"Welcome back, Gordon. Enjoy your trip?" spoke Jeff, dangerously calm. A flash of regret mingled with resolve went across Gordon's face, before he dropped his bag on the floor and came to stand in front of Jeff. Jeff looked up, hands clasped on the desk. Gordon took a deep breath.

"Father. I'm sorry I took off without permission. It was wrong and stupid of me." Everyone held their breath. Jeff stared daggers into Gordon's eyes, daring him to look away.

"Your actions were inexcusable, Gordon," said Jeff at last. Gordon nodded.

"I know, and I'm sorry. But-"

"Sorry doesn't cut it. It's too late for sorry. What if there'd been a rescue and we needed you, or you got hurt and we couldn't find you, or something happened here and you wouldn't know would you because you took off your communicator and ignored my calls. You were selfish and incredibly stupid to take off. You could have asked permission-"

"It was an emergency!" burst out Gordon. Jeff's eyes flashed.

"SILENCE!!" he thundered, rising to his feet. Gordon took an involuntary step back. Kyrano sidled out of the room. "You just didn't think at all! Was this about a girl? No- don't answer that. I don't expect you to live like monks but I would expect that you would come to me before galavanting off on little personal excursions. I am shocked at your irresponsibility! And because you're so irresponsible, you will learn. You will not go on a single rescue until I say you may. When the others return, you will clean down all the equipment used, and also any pod vehicles used, and ready them for the next rescue. You will also keep them all clean and serviced in between rescues. You will not leave this island until you have learned to be more responsilbe. Have I made myself clear, boy?" Jeff's eyes never left Gordon's face. Gordon looked back.

"Yes sir," he said in a quiet voice.

"You are dismissed." Gordon nodded, picked up his bag and left the room. Alan breathed a sigh. Scott exhaled slowly, glanced at his brothers and jerked his head towards the door. Both nodded. All three rose and quietly left. Tin-tin had already disappeared into the kitchen.

"Woah, father came down hard on Gordon," said Alan as soon as they were out of ear-shot. Scott shook his head.

"Well, he was worried. I know. But there's something else..." he trailed off, biting his lip thoughtfully.

"What's that, Scott?" asked Virgil. Scott frowned.

"No one's bothered to ask just why he took off. And Gordon hasn't ventured anything himself. He probably doesn't want anyone to catch on to anything. He does't want us to know."

"Why wouldn't he?" Alan raised an eyebrow. Scott glanced at the two.

"Swear not to tell anyone?"

"Promise."

"Sure Scott, but why the secrecy?" Scott took a deep breath.

"I think it's a girl."

"Huh?" Alan screwed up his nose, totally confused. Virgil raised his eyebrows.

"How do you know that, Scott?"

"Because when I was looking for him, he was walking with a girl. His friend, Adelaide, remember, he met her on leave? It was her. And they looked pretty close, if you know what I mean." Both Alan and Virgil looked sombre at that news.

"Really? That's crazy!"

"I thought he said she was married!"

"He did," said Scott, "but I suspect he wasn't exactly honest on that point."

"Oh."

"So, what do we do?"

"Nothing." Virgil shook his head. "It's Gordon's problem to solve, he's in deep enough shite with father right now without us sticking our oars in. Let him figure it out. He'll talk to us if he needs us."

But Gordon didn't talk. There was a rescue call that very evening, making Gordon feel worse as he almost certainly wouldn't have been back yet ordinarily, and he watched as Alan went with Virgil and Scott in his place. A building had collapsed into mud because of soggy foundations. When the two Thunderbird planes returned that evening, Gordon was waiting on hand to start cleaning up. Virgil, Alan and Scott came back up to the house and went straight to the showers, then returned. Virgil and Scott sat down on the sofa. Alan went to continue doing a jigsaw with Tin-tin by the window. Jeff was concentrating at his desk.

"Yo, Alan, hasn't Gordon come up yet?" Virgil called.

"Nope," replied Alan, glancing up. Virgil shrugged and seated himself at the piano and began to play. Scott grabbed the paper off the coffee table.

An hour later, the doors slid back. The boys glanced up. Gordon entered, his eyes two white spots in his almost black face.

"Finished?" asked Scott. Gordon nodded.

"That darned mud! Gets into everything!" he said cheerfully. "And I had to refill the gas tanks in the Firefly, so I did that and saw that the laser cutters needed servicing, so I did that, and then I saw a couple more things that needed doing, then I put everything back where I found it and wiped the mud off the walls. Everything's in order for the next rescue, sir." He gave his father a smart salute and headed off to the bathroom. Jeff glanced up at Gordon's retreating back.

"Good," he said. He was the only one, however, who saw Gordon's shoulder's slump tiredly and then steady himself against the doorframe for a second as he exited the room. Jeff frowned and went off to see his mother.

(IR)/

"Do you think I was too hard on him, mother?" Jeff asked despondantly of his mother. Grandma Tracy shook her head.

"No, dear, he's got to learn sometime."

"But maybe I shouldn't have pushed him so hard, and made him miss the rescues, and then clean up everything, and-"

"Jeff, dear," interrupted Grandma, folding her arms. "You did what you thought was right. You have to stick by it. Gordon's a tough boy, he can take it. And he won't hold it against you, he knows why you did what you did. If it would make you feel any better, go and talk to him."

"Yeah, maybe..." Jeff trailed off, still uncertain. Grandma patted his hand.

"You go to bed and rest. This will sort itself out. You'll see."

(IR)/ TWO WEEKS LATER (IR)/

Scott flopped down on the sofa with an exhausted sigh, stroking the cat which was curled up on a cushion.

"That was a tough rescue," he sighed, his eyelids drooping. Jeff looked up, swiftly counting everyone in the room.

"Where's Gordon?" he asked quickly. Virgil looked around as he left the lounge for the shower.

"Why, cleaning up, of course," he said with a yawn, leaving the room. Jeff sighed and sat back on his chair to wait for his second youngest son's return. Minutes ticked by. All the others went to bed. Jeff waited. When the clock struck 1 am, Jeff stood and went down into the hangar.

The hanger was dimly lit. Someone had turned the lights down, except for one spot far off near to Thunderbird Two. Jeff walked quickly over.

"Gordon? Gordon! Son?" He rounded the back of the big green machine, then sighed. Gordon was still there alright, but he was asleep, slumped against the caterpillar wheels of the Mole, rag still in hand. His clothes were covered in dirt and grease and his face and hair filthy from the accumulated dirt from the rescue. Jeff walked over and gently touched his shoulder.

"Son? Come on, it's time you went to bed," he said. Gordon stirred and looked blearily around at his father's face. He blinked.

"Sorry, sir, I was just resting my legs for a second, I'm almost done, then I'll wash down Pod 2, right away sir," he mumbled, climbing to his feet. Jeff took the rag from his hand.

"No son. Do it tomorrow. I'm sure Virgil wouldn't mind helping you, I know he's felt bad for you. Come on, time to rest." Gordon looked at him, then nodded in submission.

"Yeah, okay, dad." He smiled a little, then yawned widely. Jeff laughed.

"Come on then, it's way past your bedtime." The two headed back up, both recognising in an informal way that Gordon's punishment was over. Gordon grinned sleepily as he climbed into bed.

"About time too, Dad," he sighed, as he fell asleep. Jeff tucked the duvet around him and left the room.

"Yeah, about time you stopped calling me 'sir' all the time," he mumbled.

A/N: There. I like that much better. There you go, Pen! Happy? Good. You may be wondering why Gordon didn't just tell the truth to his father. Its because he doesn't want anyone to know about his relationship just yet, he wants to make sure it'll last first.