"I'm so glad to see you two," Gordon said as Jeff and Scott made there way through the airlock and onto Thunderbird 5 as he pushed himself off the wall which he had been leaning against.
"What, no luggage waiting next to the airlock," Jeff said jokingly.
"I didn't want to look too desperate," Gordon replied with a smile.
"Yeah, and the fifty calls this morning didn't already give us that impression," Scott replied his own bag over one shoulder.
"I only called three times," Gordon told him.
"Seemed like fifty."
"Okay, you two," Jeff said chuckling softly at his two sons banter. "Gordon why don't you get your stuff so we can head on back," Jeff told him anxious to get back.
"Okay Dad," Gordon said anxious to get back himself. He headed toward the sleeping quarters on Thunderbird 5 with Scott not far behind him.
Gordon grabbed his packed bag off of the bed and turned to find Scott just standing in the door way. His older brother had a far away look on his face.
"Scott are you okay?" Gordon asked concerned about his older brother.
"What?" Scott asked as if he hadn't heard Gordon's question. Gordon had a feeling that he hadn't as Scott had seemed lost in his own thoughts there for a little while.
"I asked if you were okay," Gordon told him still looking at his brother.
"Yeah Gordo, I'm fine," Scott told him putting on a fake smile. Gordon wasn't buying it though.
"Look Scott, maybe it isn't such a great idea for you to be up here right now," Gordon said thinking that Scott's daze might have something to do with recent events. Scott and Alan were the two to find John when . . well, Gordon really didn't want to think about that. "Maybe I should just stay a little longer."
"What and have you calling us every five seconds," Scott told him. He knew exactly what Gordon was getting at and even though he wasn't about to admit it to his brother, Gordon was right on the money. The second he had walked into the room the scene he had walked in on only a few weeks ago flooded his mind. The image of John holding the gleaming blade close to his wrist.
"I don't think so," Scott told Gordon trying to put the image out of his head. Now, get going. You're keeping Dad waiting," Scott told him stepping to one side and gesturing toward the door.
Gordon opened his mouth in protest but never got the chance to say anything.
"Go, I'm fine," Scott said again.
Gordon could tell by the tone of Scott's voice that arguing the point would get him nowhere. Scott had made up his mind and it didn't matter what anyone said to him, he wasn't budging. Sometimes his eldest brother could be so stubborn.
"Okay," Gordon said giving in and heading for the door. "If you need to talk thought don't hesitate to call. Doesn't matter what time it is."
"I will," Scott told him.
Scott watched as Gordon headed out the door and back to the airlock. Scott quickly tossed his own bag on the bed and then followed his brother to say good-bye to his Dad.
"How did the rescue go?" Scott asked John over the link later that evening. John, Virgil, and Gordon had to go help save some loggers in Canada from a river and had just come back as Scott was talking to Jeff.
"I didn't do anything to Thunderbird 1. She's still in one piece and running fine," John told him.
"Did I say anything?" Scott said defensively.
"You didn't have to," John replied and everyone in the room had a laugh. Scott was almost as protective of Thunderbird 1 as he was his brothers.
"I'm hurt," Scott said with mock hurt. "I trust you John."
"You don't even trust me when it comes to Thunderbird 1," Jeff Tracy put in before any of the boys had a chance to reply to Scott's comment.
"You know Scott, I think your slacking a little," John commented. "Thunderbird one looked like it could use a good coat of paint."
"Yeah, you know I think I saw some lovely fusca hanging around the storage shed," Virgil added.
"You two wouldn't dare,"Scott said slightly alarmed.
"Okay guys. I think you've tormented your brother enough," Jeff said not liking where the conversation was going. He could actually see John, Virgil, or Gordon, or even all three of them. repainting Thunderbird 1 just to torment Scott.
"I think its time for dry clothes anyways," John commented heading for the door. His uniform was still damp from river water. Gordon and Virgil were right behind him.
"They were just kidding about the paint, weren't they Dad?" Scott asked when it was just the two of them again.
"I'm sure they were son," Jeff said with a smile. 'At least I hope they were," he silently added to himself.
Jeff and Scott talked a little bit longer about potential situations developing around the globe before cutting communications.
As Scott closed the link with his father he glanced over the computer monitors once again. Nothing had changed. He knew staying there and staring at them wasn't going to change anything. He knew he couldn't put off going into the sleeping quarters off much longer. He still had to unpack his bag not to mention that it was getting late and he was getting tired.
Setting the computer to sound an alert if something came up that needed his attention, Scott stood up and left the command deck.