AN: Okay, after a three month break here's chapter 13. If you read my other t-bird fic this first scene might seem a little familiar but it was written here first. I also realize that Mrs. Tracy died in an avalanche not a fire ( I missed the avalanche reference in the movie when I watched it in the theater). I've thought about going back and rewriting to make this story fit but I haven't thought of a good way to do it yet.
"Virgil, none of these readings are making sense," Gordon said just a little bit panicked. He was in Thunderbird 2 with Virgil.
The call had seemed pretty straight forward. A group of teenagers had taken a field trip into the Rocky Mountains. Three of the teenagers had gotten loss from the group and search and rescue had been sent out to find them before a incoming thunderstorm descended on the area. The local search and rescue had asked for International Rescues assistance as they were racing against mother nature.
"What do you mean they're not making sense?" Virgil asked without looking over at his brother. He was concentrating on flying the bulky green rocket.
"I don't think the sensors are working right," Gordon told him. "Thunderbird 2 to Thunderbird 5, Scott, are the other searchers reporting any sensor problems?"
"Affirmative Gordon," Scott replied. "Something down there must be interfering with sensor readings down there."
"What about Thunderbird 5's sensors?" Virgil asked.
"I'm getting mild interference but I have a reading on the school group. I'll scan for any other life signs in the area," Scott told them as he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't have to look back to know that it was John. Thunderbird 3 had been on final approach to the station when the call had come through.
Scott heard an alarm start beeping. He immediately started looking to see what it was for.
Knowing Thunderbird 5 better, John instantly knew what the alarm was for. He reached past Scott to key communications to Thunderbird 2.
"Virgil, veer off, you're on a collision course with one of the rescue helicopters," John said urgently into the mike. There was silence on the end during which both Scott and John hoped Virgil had made the necessary course corrections in time.
"That was close," Virgil's voice came back over a short time later letting them both know that he was fine. "Thanks John."
"These senors aren't working at all," Gordon said frustration in his voice. "We're flying blind Virgil."
"Boys, maybe you should head back to base," Jeff Tracy's voice chimed in from Thunderbird 3.
"Dad, we'll be fine,"Virgil said. "Those kids need to be found."
"Okay, but be careful. Scott, John you're going to have to relay information to Thunderbird 2 from up there."
"FAB, Dad," Scott said.
"Virgil, I'm picking up three life signs about five miles north-northwest of you," John said.
"FAB. Changing course to check it out," Virgil said.
There was a moment of silence over the intercom and then they heard Gordon's voice.
"I've got visual confirmation," Gordon said as he spotted the three figures in the Thunderbird 2's searchlight. "One may be injured," he said as he noticed that two of them were kneeling next to the third person.
"I'm landing in a near-by clearing," Virgil said and then there was silence as he and Gordon presumably left the rocket to assist the lost students.
"I hate this part," Scott muttered under his breath.
"So do I," John said softly from beside him, just having barely heard his older brother's remark.
Scott looked over at his brother who wasn't looking at him. John was still scanning the information coming in from Thunderbird 5's sensors. He had never really thought about it before but John was left in the dark quite often when they were on missions. Left wondering if Virgil, Gordon, Dad, or himself was okay. Yet he did it without complaining unlike the rest of them did.
Scott knew he and the rest of his brothers griped a lot about having to do there time up in Thunderbird 5. They didn't really have a right to though. It had always been John that shouldered the bulk of the responsibilities up here. Maybe he needed to have a talk with Dad about changing that. Possibly finding a way that John was down on Tracy Island with them more.
"I guess I should go unpack," John said standing up from the chair he had been sitting in as Jeff Tracy welcomed Thunderbird 2 back to the island.
Scott looked over his shoulder watching his brother leave the control area. He watched as John retrieved the bag he had left by the end of the access corridor, trying to decide if he should follow his brother or not.
As John started down the corridor and toward the sleeping corridor, Scott made up his mind. He remembered what it was like when he had first walked into that room. He wasn't about to let John face it alone.
Scott switched Thunderbird 5's controls over to auto and left the control deck himself. By the time Scott reached the sleeping quarters John was already by one of the beds. He had set his bag down on one of the beds and was simply standing there. Scott walked over to his younger brother.
"John," he said softly laying a hand gently on his brother's shoulder. John had a far away look on his face.
Scott had a feeling he now knew what Gordon had been feeling not long ago when he had first come back up here. He waited for John to say something but his brother didn't. Scott was about to suggest that they have Dad come back up to Thunderbird 5 for him when John finally did speak up.
"It was Alan that kept me from following through with it," John said his voice just barely above a whisper.
Scott didn't dare move or say anything as he didn't want to keep John from getting this out. As far as he knew, this was the first time that John had talked about what had happened. About what he had been thinking and feeling. Scott knew that if he did anything to interrupt him now, his brother might never bring the subject up again.
"I just felt like I couldn't keep it inside anymore and everyone else seemed to be dealing with it just fine on there own. I tried to tell Dad what was going on when I called him that night but I held back. He had always tried to change the subject when I brought it up and I figured he would just do it again. I figured anything was better than the pain I was going through. One cut and soon it would all be over."
"It was Alan's voice that made me stop. I started thinking about him and Gordon, you and Virgil and Dad and knew that even though the pain might be over for me, my death would only cause you all more pain." John looked up at Scott and Scott could see the tears glistening in his brothers eyes. "Scott, if you and Alan hadn't come up here that night I would've gone through with it. I know I would have," John told him the last of his words deteriorating into sobs.
Scott put his arms around his brother and pulled him close.
"It's okay," Scott whispered softly to his brother as he held him tight. "I love you John. No matter what, I'll always love you."
Scott held his brother tightly, as the answers to the questions he had been asking this whole past month started sinking in. He knew now how close he had come to losing a brother. If he hadn't listened to Alan, hadn't been able to convince Dad to let them come up the outcome would've been much different. He would've have been mourning a brother instead of helping him through a difficult time. As bad as this last month had been, Scott was suddenly thankful that it hadn't been worse.