John slowly stirred and frowned as he heard again the sound that had disturbed him. His eyes blinked open and he squinted in the bright morning light that flooded in from the large window. It took a moment for him to get his bearings and he looked around at the unfamiliar lounge. The noise that had woken him then repeated and he frowned as he lifted his head and saw that a children's cartoon was glaring from the television. John rested his head back down amid the cushions of the sofa and smiled as he watched the crazy antics of the characters that raced around the screen.
He could remember coming back inside and playing endless computer games with the others. One by one though, they had all then gradually succumbed to the vast amounts of alcohol they had drunk and had staggered upstairs to crash in one of the many spare bedrooms.
John lifted his arm and winced as the still healing damage to his shoulder throbbed painfully. He frowned as he forced himself to ignore the pain and focused on trying to read the time on his watch. It was a little after 10am. His frown grew as he realised that this was possibly the latest he had slept for longer than he could remember. He then froze as movement behind him made his heart race and he heard her mumble sleepily.
John leaned back slightly and craned his neck to look at her. He had assumed he was lying against the back of the sofa and his pulse picked up even more speed as he saw her stretched out behind him, her body pressed close against his.
It was a little too much to take in all at once; not only had he apparently slept soundly for more than six hours but he had been curled up with her. Again he frowned as he tried to recall whether they had in fact simply slept on the same sofa or whether much more than that had happened. They were both fully clothed and apparently unruffled and he settled back down on his side as he tried to figure out if he was relieved or disappointed at this fact.
A gentle snoring from somewhere across the lounge then interrupted John's musing and he lifted his head again to see a familiar form stretched out along one of the other sofas. He couldn't help the smile that pulled at his mouth as he contemplated the idea of having gotten up to mischief while his brother slept nearby and he sighed happily.
The lounge door creaked gently as it was opened and John watched as Freddy's mother leaned her head around the door. She saw that he was awake and smiled in greeting.
"Breakfast?" Mrs. Forrester asked quietly.
John nodded and slowly raised himself up onto one elbow. He indicated to Mrs. Forrester that he'd wake his companions and watched her nod before then backing out of the room.
Carefully sliding his legs out off of the sofa, John perched on the edge and turned to look down at Alex's soundly sleeping form. She looked so peaceful and he was loath to wake her but then he saw her stir slightly and he smiled as she turned her head and looked up at him.
Alex yawned noisily and stretched her arms out above her head. "Morning!" She husked and then relaxed back against the cushions with a smile. "I guess we didn't quite make it upstairs then."
John shrugged a reply and frowned as he tried to recall the point at which he had fallen asleep.
"What is it?" Alex asked carefully.
John shook his head and his smile returned. "Nothing. Freddy's mom is cooking breakfast."
"Oh, what a woman!" Alex chuckled and pulled herself up to sit beside him. She rubbed her eyes and yawned again as she stood slowly. "I'd better go and freshen up!"
John watched her stumble out of the lounge and then turned to look at the still sleeping form of his brother. He quickly began to think of various ways to wake Scott and grinned mischievously as he stood from the sofa.
"Whatever you're thinking. Don't." Scott warned suddenly.
John gasped and stepped back from his brother. "Oh, you're no fun!"
Scott smiled and opened his eyes to look up at John. "I live with three younger brothers, dude."
John groaned in dismay and put down the cushion that he had intended to pummel his brother with.
"Did I hear talk of breakfast?" Scott enthused and slowly sat up. He watched his brother nod an affirmative and he chuckled merrily. "Good old Pam!"
John smiled and then a frown settled over his eyes. "Did Freddy say something about us all going out on his dad's boat today?"
"Yeah," Scott nodded, "That was one suggestion. You want to hang with these guys a little longer?"
"No, I'd rather go back."
"Sure." Scott shrugged, "I guess we can annoy Penny for a few more days."
"No." John's frown grew. "I mean back home."
"Oh."
John reached behind him to rub as his aching shoulder and took a deep breath as his smile returned. "I need to get back to the station."
"Alright, Johnny!" Scott laughed in delight. "You feeling better?"
John nodded and his smile grew. "I've decided that I need to just suck it in and get over it."
Scott's smile faltered and he sank back against the sofa. "God, I'm sorry, John … I didn't mean that…"
"Yeah, you did." John countered softly, "And you were right."
"I was?" Scott frowned.
"Yeah." John laughed, "But let's not make an issue out of it!" He stood and wandered out of the lounge.
Freddy's mother had finally relented to Alex's offer to help clear up after breakfast and chatted animatedly to her as she dried the washed pots and pans. John collected together the last of the plates and smiled at them both in greeting as he wandered into the kitchen.
"Thank you, dear." Mrs. Forrester nodded and then frowned slightly. "Freddy tells me you have to leave soon."
John nodded in agreement and he recalled how Freddy's initial disappointment had soon been distracted with the realisation that he and Max now had the ladies to themselves.
"Well, Reg and I will be going into town later and we're giving Alex here a lift to the station. Are you boys heading that way, too?"
"Yeah, that'd be great." John smiled, "And thanks for breakfast."
"Oh, it's no trouble." Mrs. Forrester shrugged, "Freddy's away so much now, it makes a nice change to have company. And Scott will tell you I don't mind who crashes here."
"Well, thank you." John urged, "Please. Let me help Alex finish up in here."
"Okay." Mrs. Forrester shrugged merrily and handed him the towel. "It was good to meet you both."
"You, too." John agreed and watched her head back through to the dining room.
"She's so sweet!" Alex enthused. "I asked to use the phone to call a taxi and she insisted they drive me!"
John nodded and glanced through the open door to see Freddy's mother now fussing over the others as they finished their coffee. "I can understand why my brother likes to come here and get pampered." He turned back to Alex and shrugged slightly, "Our mum died when we were little."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Alex sighed.
John was lost in a memory for a moment and then took a deep breath. "Are you not staying?"
"No. I'm gonna head back into the city and see if I can pull my life back together."
John nodded and stepped closer to help her load the last few pieces of crockery into the dishwasher. "So … are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah." Alex smiled at him warmly and turned to lean back against the sink as she dried her hands. "Thanks. And you?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Alex nodded slowly, her smile fading as she watched the brief moment of hesitation that moved across his face. She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "We can do this."
John looked into her dark eyes and swallowed hard. After a moment, he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. "Here."
Alex unfolded the paper and frowned slightly.
"It's a radio frequency." John explained, "I figured you'd have a radio at work and this frequency isn't used by anyone else but I can pick it up clearly in my lab." He stumbled hurriedly, "I'd give you my phone number but it's always busy and e-mail isn't always secure and … well … I'd like to hear how you are." He shrugged. "Only if you want to." He added quickly.
Alex nodded and folded the paper back up before sliding it into her trouser pocket. "Thank you." She lifted her head and smiled up at him. "I'll call."
John tried to read her expression and felt his stomach lurch as he thought he saw in her eyes that she was simply humouring him.
"I will call." Alex urged, "It'll be good to hear your voice again." She laughed suddenly and moved her hand up to rest on his cheek. "Who else can I rant to when it all goes pants?"
"Pants?!" John laughed. "That's a new one!"
"Actually, it's an old one but you know how these things come round."
"If you say so." John shrugged.
Alex pulled her hand back and checked her watch. "I should go and say cheerio to the others." She smiled and stepped past him to head into the lounge.
John leaned back against the hard seat and felt the gentle pressure of the G-forces as the craft picked up speed now they were over the ocean. He began to realise that the journey was not making him feel sick and he smiled in relief.
"That good, huh?"
John turned to see Scott grinning over at him and his smile grew as he shrugged slightly.
"Thought so." Scott chuckled softly.
John shook his head and tried to glare a warning at his brother but, in truth, he was impressed; until now, Scott had not said a single word about Alex since leaving Freddy's and that had to be a record. Even when Penny had urged for further detail regarding their escapades the previous night, Scott had simply smiled and said that they had both had a good time.
"You gonna see her again?" Scott asked in interest.
"I don't know."
"Do you want to?"
John laughed and nodded enthusiastically.
"Then you will."
"It's not that simple." John countered.
"Sure it is," Scott urged, "You want something, you make it happen."
John smiled and settled back against the seat to look out at the endless blue above the clouds. Sometimes Scott sounded so much like their father; he had the same courage and determination, the same black and white view of the world. John felt a lump in his throat as he recalled how their father would often tell him that his more discerning, apprehensive nature was more like their mother.
"You okay, buddy?" Scott asked softly.
"No," John replied honestly, "I miss Mom."
"So do I." Scott nodded slowly. "I think we all have over the past few days. We could have done with her around."
John turned to look at Scott and saw the sadness that crossed his brother's face. He frowned as he realised how badly he had misjudged Scott or was it simply that he was not around him often enough to see this more sensitive side of him.
"But … she's never far away." Scott continued quietly and managed a thin smile. He read John's expression as confusion and shrugged his shoulders. "Why d'you think Gordy and Virg have to call you up almost every day?"
John gasped and tears welled in his eyes.
Scott's smile grew affectionately, "Alan was too little to remember much of her … but even he can sense that there's something more of Mom in you."
John closed his eyes and hung his head, his mind racing. Scott was right and John knew it. He had always known it. He saw more of their mother in his reflection each day. And it hurt to think that the very things he tried to hide from with distance and bleach were exactly what his family needed from him.
"You okay?" Scott asked worriedly.
John nodded and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. He lifted his head and turned to Scott, frowning slightly in an attempt to convey his regret at having assumed Scott was somehow not capable of expressing the kind words he had just said. His brother shrugged and took a deep breath, the moment fading as quickly as it appeared and John watched Scott fidget in his seat, his discomfort with emotion another paternal trait.
"You'll be fine." Scott offered merrily, "You'll be fine."
John nodded slightly, unsure if Scott's words were meant as reassurance or some kind of order. Scott had now focused his attention back on their flight and was frowning in concentration. John took the silence as he presumed it was intended and did not pursue their conversation further but he secretly hoped that perhaps one night Scott might call him for a deep and meaningful chat across the distance.
Looking back out amid the blurred clouds, John was filled with renewed determination to get back to the station. He was needed, important, relied upon. And he would never fail them again. His thoughts wandered back to the same determination he had seen in Alex's eyes that morning when they had said farewell and he smiled happily.
It was never going to be easy. He knew that it would take time but it was still disappointing to be standing before the computer terminals and be filled with such dread. His back was wet with sweat and his legs were shaking. It took all his strength to simply stay upright and he groaned in dismay.
"We're ready to leave now."
John turned and watched Virgil heading down the corridor towards him. He nodded and then looked back at the newly repaired computer consoles. Mending the damaged hull and support struts had been relatively easy but piecing together all the delicate electrical equipment was painstakingly slow and still not quite completed.
Virgil stepped up onto the raised platform beside John and placed his hand on his shoulder. "You sure about this?"
John took a deep breath and nodded. Virgil had offered to stay up here with him for a few nights but John was determined that this was something he had to do alone. He turned to look at his brother and saw the concern in his gentle eyes. Virgil had been delighted when he had answered the call from the island and John had asked him to come and collect him. Of course, he had moaned about going back and forth and whined at John to make his mind up but his smiling eyes had betrayed his happiness.
The journey back to the station had been difficult for John and he had tried very hard to keep that fact from his brother. Virgil had chatted animatedly throughout the trip and had kept John distracted from his increasing anxiety as they had travelled up into orbit. John appreciated that his brother was simply trying to help him as best he knew and he had even let the repeated jokes about vomit wash over him.
"I think I should stay." Virgil said softly.
John was torn from his thoughts and shook his head slowly. "No." He sighed loudly and stepped forward to sit down in the chair in front of the computer console. "Thanks, Virg." He added and smiled up at his brother.
"Okay." Virgil shrugged and turned to head back along to the airlock. "But don't be calling me back again – I'm not acab company, y'know."
John laughed and watched Virgil disappear through the door. After a few minutes, the monitor before him blinked into life and he opened a channel.
"Thunderbird 3 ready to depart." Gordon smiled down at John from the screen above him.
"Acknowledged." John nodded, "Safe journey guys."
"See you in 3 weeks." Gordon offered, his half smile conveying the reassurance that they would be back in a heartbeat if John had any problems.
"Thanks." John smiled and closed the link. He watched the digital display that tracked the process of Thunderbird 3's detachment from the docking arm and sensed the low rumble through the station as the boosters fired. Soon the bright red hull of the craft moved past the large window beside John and he swallowed hard as Thunderbird 3 eased out of sight. "Get a grip, John." He husked into the empty station and turned his attention to scanning through the various communications channels.
This was stupid. He had been completely fine for the past three days aboard the station. Not a hint of nausea and hardly a thought spared to the missile attack. He had worked with his brothers and Brains to complete the repairs and had even been outside to help fix the damage to the outer hull.
John closed his eyes and smiled as he recalled the indescribable feeling of hanging among the stars. It was here that he felt truly privileged. He had allowed himself a few minutes to simply float beside the station and gaze up at the billions of bright stars around him. It was almost as if he could simply reach out and touch them. Suddenly he had been drawn back to the memory of sitting with Alex in the garden. For a moment a gentle peace had settled in his thoughts and then he had thought about all that she had been through and how vulnerable their lives were and instantly he had been thrown back into helpless terror mode.
Wandering through to the small bathroom in the centre of the station, John splashed his face with cold water and took a moment to compose himself. It seemed that every second was lasting a life age up here and he had been watching the clock for hours now. He desperately wanted to get back to a time when he was perfectly happy to spend hours doing nothing but studying stars and reading research papers. Now it seemed that as soon as he was still, his mind was filled with the memory of smoke-filled pain and burning.
And Alex.
Why had she not called? He so wanted to talk to her again; to hear her voice and feel again the inner calm that her presence seemed to bring. But there had been no contact from her and John was beginning to wonder if there ever would be.
John padded through to his modest bedroom and yawned wearily. He frowned as he saw the cardboard box that sat on his bed and he approached cautiously. There was a small post-it note stuck on top and his frown grew as he recognised Alan's messy scrawl.
For emergencies only!
John sat down on the bed and opened the box. His frown faded as he peered inside and saw the individually wrapped parcels contained within. Each packet had a number written on it and he then saw the note on the inside of the lid.
Start with number 1 and then the next one as necessary. They get worse as they go on so if you get to number 5 then call home and we'll come and rescue you!
John laughed and frowned in intrigue. He lifted out the packet labelled number one and tore open the paper. In the small box was an intricate puzzle that the packaging declared was impossible and he smiled in delight. Placing the box containing the rest of the parcels on his bedside table, he carried the puzzle through to the main computer terminal and sighed happily as he sat cross-legged on the floor beside the consoles and opened the box. Here there was another note, this time from Virgil:
I know you love these things but I also know how much of a genius you are. So I took one piece out! Have fun big brother!
"Bastard!" John declared in shock and then grinned in pleasure; okay, so Virgil knew him too well. Fine. He would now have great delight in completing the puzzle and showing Virgil that he could not beat the great jigsaw supremo! He took out the pieces and examined them in interest. He then looked up towards his bedroom and frowned in intrigue, wondering what the other four parcels contained. But the instructions were clear and he would happily go through them in order; if there was one thing he did have that his brothers didn't, it was patience.
John was so engrossed in the puzzle that it took a few seconds for the bleeping to register in his mind. When he did eventually look up and see the gently blinking light on one of the displays, he gasped and threw the pieces back into the box before then jumping up and checking the monitor. A frown settled over his eyes as he flicked a switch and the comm. crackled into life.
" … Rescue! Calling International Rescue!"
"This is International Rescue." John replied calmly and clearly. "Go ahead." His heart was racing and he held his breath as he listened to the broken English transmission and simultaneously identified the location of the source. He suddenly realised that he had not panicked as he had thought he might and was dealing with the emergency call just as he would ever have done. "Message received." He offered quickly as the caller concluded the details of the crisis. "We're on our way. Stay on this line."
John allowed himself a brief smile of greeting as his father's image appeared on the screen above him and Jeff nodded in concerned interest.
"Hyderabad, India, Dad. Sudden rainstorm and a local river has flooded the surrounding villages. No casualties involved yet but they're asking for our help to evacuate the area." John explained. "Sending you co-ordinates now."
Jeff frowned thoughtfully. "Understood. Send Scott further details as you get them."
"F.A.B., Dad."
Jeff nodded and then his sincere face broke into a warm smile. "Good to have you back in business, Thunderbird 5."
John gave a gentle laugh and shrugged his shoulders. "It's good to be back, Dad. Thunderbird 5 out."