Many thanks for the reviews, guys - and thanks for your faith ... here's hoping it's well placed!
Usual disclaimer: the next trio of chapters contain T'Birds characters and references not created by me but borrowed from the genius of the Andersons - we're not worthy!!
There was no mistaking it. The radio frequency was identical. For the past few days he had hoped that he would receive this signal and now he could hardly believe it. John smiled and sat down in his chair with a sigh. He opened the channel and heard the slight crackle of the connection.
"John? Are you there?" Her voice rang out through the comm. and seemed to fill the empty station.
"Yeah." John replied merrily, "Hi, Alex."
"Hey!" She sighed in relief and then there was a slight pause. "I wasn't sure if this was going to work."
John shrugged and closed his eyes as he recalled how it felt to be close to her. "I told you it would work."
"I know." Alex agreed quietly, a slight click signalling her closing her connection on the handset.
"It's as if we're sat side by side." John smiled.
"Except we're not."
John opened his eyes and frowned at the slight tremor in her voice. His heart began to race and he leaned closer to the console. "You okay?"
"No."
John waited patiently for her to continue and wondered whether Brains would let him give her a video capable transmitter; it was suddenly so hard not to be able to see her.
"It was my first day back today." Alex continued after a moment. "That's why I haven't called till now – I had to sneak this thing home first." She explained and then sighed heavily. "It was a horrible day."
John closed his eyes and nodded in understanding, quickly realising that this was no use. "Was it pants?" He asked gently.
Alex laughed briefly, "You could say that." She husked.
"Oh." John suddenly found himself feeling guilty for having seemingly coped so well with this return back to the station and wondered whether she would lose interest if he seemed to no longer share her anxieties.
"I asked not to be put behind a desk, like you said, I wanted to just get out there and face it. So they put me on patrol and I thought that would be okay – you basically sit in a car and cruise the streets."
"That sounds okay." John agreed softly, suddenly wondering what Alex looked like in her uniform.
"Ten minutes in and we get a 999 call to a domestic disturbance."
"Oh." John groaned and shook his head to focus on what she was telling him, as opposed to what the sound of her husky voice was doing to him.
"It was hard enough to have to wear my vest – I nearly didn't leave the changing room 'cos I couldn't breathe … then we get faced with a similar house and that was it … freak city." Alex sighed and sniffed loudly. "It was horrible. We're edging our way up the front drive and I'm fucking shaking and sweating … no good to anyone."
John nodded in understanding as he recalled how he had reacted on his first trip back up here and the palpitations that simply slipping into his uniform caused.
"It was horrible, John." Alex repeated.
John clenched his fists and tried to stay calm. He could hear her fighting back sobs and began to wonder if this was a bad idea; it was torture to not be able to hold her right now. "What happened?"
"We got in there and arrested the fucker." Alex chuckled suddenly and took a deep breath. "But I think I might have used more force than was necessary."
John smiled and nodded in understanding. "It wasn't all that pants, then."
"Yeah, right!" Alex laughed gently, "That was the best part. We then get back to the station and I crumble in a heap. They sent me to see the shrink and he signed me off for the rest of the day."
"Oh."
"Yeah, exactly!" Alex sighed, "Oh."
John frowned in thought and tried to think how best to respond.
"They'll put me behind a desk now and I'll just die …"
"But perhaps, if they think that's best then - "
"No fucking way!" Alex shouted suddenly, "I can't! I need to be out there!"
"Okay," John soothed, "So tell them that."
The comm. was quiet for a moment and then again there was the click of her opening the connection. "I know …" She sighed, "I'm sorry … I didn't mean to call you just to moan …"
"That's okay. I'm here for you whatever." John replied and his smile faltered as he suddenly realised how much he meant that. He listened to the silence amid the crackling radio signal and his heart raced as he wondered if he had said too much.
"You felt it, too, then?" Alex asked quietly.
John smiled and nodded a reply. "I did, yeah."
"I thought maybe it was just the intensity of the conversation." Alex offered.
John closed his eyes and could suddenly smell her hair. He could recall the slight saltiness of her tearstained skin and the warmth of her breath against his neck.
"Where are you?" Alex asked after a moment.
John opened his eyes and looked out at the stars. "At work, in my lab."
"In the States?"
John smiled; well he was in a stationary orbit over the Pacific. It was close enough. "Yeah."
"How are you doing?"
"Not bad." John shrugged. At least, definitely not now he was talking with her.
"What time is it there?"
John looked at the various readouts and his eyes rested on the display that showed island time. "Almost midnight." He replied.
"Yesterday?" Alex laughed gently.
"I guess!" John agreed and then frowned as he realised what time it was in London. "So, are you just getting up or have you not been to bed?"
"You got me." Alex sighed, "I couldn't sleep. I've been flicking through music channels for hours."
"Ugh!" John groaned, "How many IQ points have you dropped in one night then?"
Alex laughed again and sighed in mock annoyance. "It was the only thing on. Although, now I'm realising that I should have called you long ago."
John smiled, "Actually, this was good timing." Thunderbird 1 and 2 had arrived home from India about two hours ago and his younger brothers had just finished their exciting debrief to him, which was not necessary due to his involvement in the mission but nonetheless entertaining.
"You're working late." Alex suddenly realised, "Is it some mega-vital research?"
John looked down at the pieces of puzzle on the floor beside him. "Not really." He then turned back to the constantly scanning monitors and shrugged his shoulders. "Well … yeah, actually."
"But you can't say what."
"No." John replied honestly and added to himself that it didn't matter how much he hated lying to her; recent events had clearly demonstrated why secrecy was so vital in their operation. He had heard Alex sigh again and he shook his head slightly. "Will you stop doing that!"
"What?" Alex enquired.
"It's hard enough to be thousands of miles from you, without you sighing through the radio." John explained and grinned as he heard her giggling mischievously. "And you can stop that, as well."
Alex laughed and mumbled an apology, keeping the connection open as she tried to think how to respond.
John listened to the sound of her breathing, which suddenly seemed hypnotically loud around him.
"I've not stopped thinking about you." Alex offered quietly.
John smiled and realised that, between fixing the station and keeping an eye on what his brothers were doing with delicate, somewhat expensive equipment and then co-ordinating the India rescue, she had never been far from his thoughts.
"I guess it'll be a while before we can see each other again."
"About three weeks." John replied softly and watched the date on the clock change as midnight came and went. "Two weeks, five days."
"Hey?" Alex urged, "Are you coming back to England?"
"If you want me to."
The connection was quiet for a moment and then clicked open again. "You've no idea how much." Alex sighed.
John closed his eyes and nodded in understanding.
"But this is cool." Alex offered merrily, "It's good to be able to talk to you."
"And three weeks is nothing." John agreed.
"Two weeks, five days." Alex reminded him with a yawn.
"Sorry." John smiled and then frowned slightly. "Have you not got to go in to work today?"
"Not 'till this afternoon." Alex yawned again.
"Maybe you should get some sleep anyhow."
"Am I keeping you from your work?"
"No," John replied quickly, "I'm just thinking of you – you must be exhausted."
"I am." Alex agreed and then moaned happily. "And I might be able to sleep now I've heard your voice."
John listened to her yawn even louder and smiled merrily. "I'm that interesting, huh?"
"No, it's not that!" Alex quickly assured, "It's just … the noise in my head seems quieter when you're near." She chuckled softly, "And even though you're not actually here, it feels like you are – if you know what I mean."
"Yeah. I do."
"I wish you were." Alex continued, "Here, I mean."
John nodded and closed his eyes. "I know."
"Except, I'd probably feel so relaxed that I'd be asleep in moments!" Alex laughed.
John smiled and recalled waking up in Freddy's house with her snuggled up behind him. Suddenly he could remember clearly how it felt to hold her and he took a deep breath. "That wouldn't be so bad."
"Oh, John … maybe this isn't such a good idea." Alex said suddenly.
"What?" John gasped.
"Well … we're so far apart and … oh, I don't know …"
John shook his head and again moved closer to the comm. "But we have something here, Alex … I don't know what it is or where it will go but … it's worth a try." He frowned and listened to the crackling of her silence. "Isn't it?"
"I guess we'll find out." Alex replied after a moment, "In two weeks five days."
John smiled and relaxed back against his chair.
"Will you be here tonight?"
"Call anytime." John agreed, frowning as he thought how best to rig an alarm to signal her transmission so he could run to answer the comm. from anywhere on the station.
"Okay."
John could picture her curling up in bed but somehow could not quite recall the exact details of her face. He would have to find a photograph of her somehow and he smiled as an idea crept into his mind.
"Goodnight, John."
John groaned inwardly but could hear the exhaustion in her quiet voice. "Yeah … sweet dreams."
It had been a long night. Somewhere shortly after Alex had called he had completed the puzzle and danced a brief celebratory jig around the central console. He had then forced himself to take a disjointed two hour power nap and had since spent the past half hour clock watching.
There was no written rule as to how early was too early but he figured he ought to be polite. He knew she would not mind what time he called but also knew that she would not let on that she was annoyed even if she was and he would worry. It could all be so very confusing.
It was now a little after 2.30 am island time; 10.30 am London time. John settled down before the console and reached out to send the signal. He then leaned back into his chair and clutched his mug of coffee in both hands as he patiently waited.
He had planned what he was going to say and had rehearsed the conversation over and over in his mind but suddenly being faced with Penny's half smile of intrigue and amusement had thrown him.
"Why?" Penelope asked evenly.
John shrugged his shoulders. "She's a potential contact."
Penelope laughed softly. "Whom you just happened to meet the other night."
John held his breath and looked away from the screen to study his coffee.
"It's alright, John." Penelope offered softly.
John looked up at her warm smile and managed to return one of his own.
"Honestly, darling, you don't need to try and be all cloak and dagger. I can keep a secret." Her smile grew and she swept a lock of fringe back behind her ear. "And besides, I knew something was different when you came back from Freddy's."
"Women's intuition, huh?" John nodded.
"No, you smelled of perfume."
John laughed in amusement and could feel his cheeks flushing.
"So." Penelope took a deep breath, "Give me the details so I can check her out."
John laughed softly, "I've already done that."
Penelope groaned slightly, "I suppose I asked for that one." A smile danced on her lips and she sighed heavily. "That's the last time I'll urge you to spend more time around Scott's bad influence."
John grinned mischievously and then became sincere. "Thanks for doing this, Pen."
"No problem." Penelope smiled, "Just don't tell your father what I'm using all this expensive equipment for!" She laughed softly and then a frown settled over her eyes as she looked away from the screen to make a note of the little John knew about Alex. "Alright …" Penelope nodded thoughtfully, "I've got a morning meeting to get to and I'll do some research as soon as I get back."
"Thanks." John smiled.
"Although, maybe you should just go with your instinct." Penelope offered, "I mean, I'm guessing she doesn't really know who you are but she's taking a chance."
John shrugged slightly.
"Perhaps that's half the fun." Penelope continued, "The mystery and the excitement of getting to know someone."
"I guess …" John took a deep breath and shook his head slowly. "But I just can't risk it."
Penelope regarded him thoughtfully and then gave a slight nod. "I suppose."
"I wish it could be different." John offered, "But … after last weekend I … I just can't."
"I understand." Penelope's smile returned. "I'll speak to you later."
"Thanks." John agreed and leaned forward to switch off the connection.
It could only have been about 30 minutes, enough time for him to shave and shower, before a gentle alarm signalling an incoming transmission rang through the station. John padded out of the bathroom, pulling his towel tighter around his waist and frowning in interest at the icon on the screen. Figuring she had seen it all before, John switched on audio and visual and blushed as he was met with the amused quirk of one of her eyebrows.
"Penny." John smiled in greeting, "That didn't take long."
"I know," Penelope shrugged slightly, "I was intrigued."
"And?"
"Luckily I have some clearance with police documents and I have managed to track down your girl."
John nodded and waited patiently for her to continue.
Penelope glanced at something off screen and smiled in amusement. "She's certainly one of the prettiest International Rescue contacts …"
"I know." John agreed with a slight grin and then he cleared his throat. "But does her file look okay?"
Penelope nodded and took a deep breath before she then began to read through the information. "Alexandra Josephine Winter, born in Winchester, Hampshire – it would be rude of me to tell you when – exemplary school record and joined the police training academy in 2003." Penelope paused for a moment and looked back at him with a smile. "Are you sitting comfortably?"
John sighed and grinned back at her. "Don't tease."
"I'm sorry – are you in a hurry?"
"I've got things to do, yeah." John nodded.
"Oh?" Penelope's smile grew. "All is quiet according to my hardware."
"I'm dripping onto the floor." John protested with a slight shiver.
"I can always call back later."
"No!" John closed his eyes for a moment as his sudden shout was absorbed into the relative quiet of the station. "Sorry."
Penelope's smile faded slightly and she turned to face the screen squarely. "You look tired."
"I'm fine." John looked back up at her and smiled thinly. "Please … continue?"
Penelope frowned slightly and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe you should ask her the rest."
John closed his eyes and hung his head. "Pen …" He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and could feel his anxiety building inside him again. "I can't …" After a moment he looked up and saw her frown grow in concern. "Okay, just tell me if there's anything suspicious."
"Of course not." Penelope replied, her frown softening a little. "From what I can tell, she's an unmarried Metropolitan Police Constable and you like her. What more do you need?"
John smiled suddenly and nodded in agreement. "I guess."
Penelope shrugged and glanced back at the information. "She was in hospital last week?"
John nodded again. "She was hurt in an arrest."
"She wasn't involved at the weekend then?"
John shook his head, "Not that she would tell me anyway – they were all sworn to secrecy after we closed down the scene."
Penelope nodded in agreement, "Yes, Charles assured me of that."
"Charles?" John asked in interest.
"Commissioner Charles Browning." Penelope explained and then laughed softly, "And, before you ask, no!"
John grinned up at her, "Just another coffee morning buddy, huh?"
"International Rescue contact, actually." Penelope countered evenly, "But he does play a mean hand of golf."
"It's a tough life." John laughed softly.
Penelope smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "I manage."
"Thanks, Penny." John leaned forward to end their connection and then suddenly paused. "Can you send me a picture?"
Penelope's smile grew and she nodded an affirmative. "Now go and dry yourself off before you catch a chill!"
"Yes, ma'am." John laughed.
"And John?" Penelope added quickly, "Just go with it … you'll be fine."