It was the end of John's shift up on Thunderbird 5, and Gordon and Jeff were loading all of Jeff's things into the docking bay of Thunderbird 3 before they took off. As a little surprise, the five boys had each chosen something to give to their Dad while he was up in space, and it was all packed in a small box along with a short note from each of them.
Alan, Scott and Virgil were just drying off from a free for all water fight they
had just had, and John was clearing up his mess on Thunderbird 5.
"Best change these screensavers before Dad gets up..." John said to himself, looking at his computers at the rather rude screensavers he had. He finally settled for one with a load of tropical fish on. Next, his bedroom.
There was only one bedroom in the space station, as there was only ever one person up there at a time, and it was mainly either John or Alan up there. The room was mainly tidy, as John wasn't too keen on mess, but he didn't think his father would appreciate the busty blonde women on the walls as much as he and Alan did, so John pulled them all down and hid them in a shelf at the top of the wardrobe.
"Are we ready to go yet Dad? Jon will be waiting, and if we're late you know who's gonna get the wedgie..." Gordon complained. That was one of John's little jokes that he liked to play, seeing as Gordon hardly ever turned up on time for shift change over.
"Yes, all ready now, let me just find your brothers so I can say goodbye" Jeff said and went into the living room. There he found Virgil, Alan and Scott, watching some kind of nature program. 'Strange...' Jeff thought to himself. 'They hardly ever watch educational programs...' His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden roar of laughter from Alan and Virgil.
"Look!" Alan cried to Scott. "They're humping each other!"
Virgil wasn't making any noise he was laughing so much, and he almost fell off his chair.
"You two can be so childish sometimes..." Scott sighed, changing the channel. "Oh, hey Dad" he said as he noticed Jeff stood at the doorway, one eyebrow raised. "I swear this wasn't my influence"
"I just came to say goodbye..." Jeff said slowly "But I'm having second thoughts leaving you all here alone"
"Oh don't worry Dad, it won't happen again, I'm sorry" Scott apologised.
"Bye Dad" Alan said, giving his father a cuddle before going into the kitchen to get a snack.
"Yeah see you Dad, have fun" Virgil said, also hugging his Dad, and then following Alan.
"Don't worry Dad, I can handle them" Scott said after seeing his father's worried face. "And I'll get in touch every day to let you know what the brats are doing"
"F.A.B Scott, I'll talk to you soon" Jeff said, giving his son a hug before going back to Gordon.
"What took you so long? I'm guaranteed a wedgie now!" Gordon moaned.
"I won't let him Gordo, don't worry" Jeff reassured him with a smile.
John had almost finished sorting Thunderbird 5 out; he was just double checking everywhere to make sure there wasn't any chocolate bar wrappers or pictures of woman lying around the place. "Everything looks okay I think..." he said and looked at his watch. "Gordo's in for it when he gets here" John grinned.
Just over half an hour later, Jeff and Gordon entered Thunderbird 5, Jeff was welcomed with a hug, and Gordon with his monthly wedgie.
"Ow John! Do you know how much they hurt?" Gordon shouted.
"No, but I like watching the way you walk afterwards" John laughed. "You look like a penguin"
"Okay boys, that's enough, you'll be spending the next month with each other so you might as well try to get along" Jeff said.
Once John and Gordon had helped un-pack all of their father's things, Jeff noticed the extra box lying on the floor, and went to open it.
"Ah ah ah...not yet." Gordon warned. "John needs to put something in first. It's just a box with something all of us gave you to remind you of us while you miss us so terribly" he said with a grin.
John picked up the box and took it off into the bedroom, to add his small gift and note, and then brought it back.
"Well, all is unpacked, I guess we best be off" John said.
"Yeah, have fun up here Dad, and thanks" Gordon said, and gave his Dad a hug.
"Bye Dad!" John said, smiling.
"Bye sons" Jeff replied. And with that the two of them had gone, leaving Jeff alone in Thunderbird 5.