AN: Thanks to ladc, moonlightbear, I-like-chickens, Marblez, and darkhelmeti for there wonderful reviews. This may be the last chapter. I'm trying to decide wheather to leave it as it is as I kind of like the end of this chapter as the ending or to write one more story as I had a different ending in mind. Feel free to let me know what you think as I ponder the issue. Meanwhile enjoy this chapter.

John Tracy stood alone on Thunderbird 5. The soft sounds of the air recycling system and the sounds of the computers working the only sounds. He was alone again. Something that had never before bothered him. Now, somehow, the station seemed emptier.

John made his way to one of the view ports that and looked out. He watched as Thunderbird 3 undocked from the station. Within minutes, the red rocket had disengaged and started down toward earth and soon was out of sight. It was just him and the stars again.

"John, maybe this isn't such a good idea," Scott had said to him as his dad and brothers had prepared to leave the station. The others had been finishing up the cleaning.

"Scott, you're needed down there. Dad, Virgil, and Gordon are running themselves ragged trying to do everything."

"I know they need me but I can't help but wonder if maybe you need me more," Scott told him looking into his brothers eyes.

John looked back at his brother. He knew avoiding Scott's gaze would show the doubt he felt inside. John just prayed that the doubt didn't show in his eyes. He had to do this for his family. He had already put them through enough.

"I'll be fine, Scott," John told him. He had loss count of how many times he had repeated those words in the last couple of hours, first to Virgil, then his dad. Gordon hadn't said anything about it but John had been able to read the question on his face.

"I wasn't really thinking this morning," Scott continued, "I wouldn't have even suggested it."

"Why because of my birthday?"

"Yeah."

"This won't be the first birthday I spent up here alone."

"I know. I just think this year is different."

"Scott I just want everything to go back to how it use to be. I just want you all to start trusting me again."

"John, its not that we don't trust you," Scott said surprise in his voice. "It's never been about that."

"That's what it feels like at times though," John told him unable to meet Scott's gaze anymore.

"We're all just worried about you," Scott told him.

"I hate to interrupt," came their father's voice as he came out of the kitchen area of the space station. Gordon and Virgil were right behind him. "But we need to get going. It's getting late."

"Thanks for the impromptu birthday party," John told them thankful to be able to put and end to the uncomfortable conversation he and Scott had been having.

"Anytime," Jeff replied with a slight smile, still regretful that he had forgotten about his son's twenty-third birthday. "If you need anything just call," Jeff said as he hugged John.

"I will," John told him.

Good-bye said, Jeff headed toward the docking arm that led to Thunderbird 3. Scott gave his brother a quick hug and followed him, knowing his earlier conversation with John had come to and end.

"Keep in touch," Gordon said to him as he walked toward the docking arm. As he got close to John he paused in front of him unsure of what to do. Part of him wanted to hug him and the other part wasn't sure if that would be the right thing to do. He could tell that everyone's concern about John being up here alone was getting to his brother. He didn't want to add to that.

John could see the conflicting emotions on his brothers face. Of all his family members, Gordon seemed to be having the most trouble dealing with everything that had happened. John could see that he was still uneasy around him. Still walking on "egg shells" around him, not wanting to upset him.

John wasn't sure what to do about it. He had talked to Gordon a couple of times but it hadn't seemed to help. John wondered if things would ever be right between him and Gordon again or if there would always be this feeling of awkwardness between them.

"I will," John told him as Gordon started walking again toward the docking arm.

"I'll keep an eye on him," John heard Virgil say. He felt Virgil's hand come to rest reassuringly on his upper arm.

John turned away from the viewport. His gaze fell on the book that Virgil and Gordon had made for him. He walked toward the bed, sat down and picked the book up. Sitting it in his lap he started to flip through it again.

When he had opened it, he hadn't been able to find the words to thank his two brothers. Couldn't put into words just how much their gift had meant to him.

As he got to the middle of the book he found an envelope in between the pages. Curious, John picked the envelope up and sat the book aside. Opening the envelope he took out a piece of paper and unfolded it. By the handwriting, he knew instantly that it had been written by Gordon without needing to see the name at the bottom.

John,

Maybe this isn't the best time to do this, but I'm going to do it before I chicken out

and decide not to go through with this.

I remember your words the night of your outburst and you're right - you did scare

me. You scared me because you've always been the rock of this family. When any

thing went wrong, you were the one who helped us through it. The one we could

all turn to. After mom died it was always you trying to break up fights and settle

arguments. I lost count of how many cuts and scrapes you cleaned and bandaged for me,

and the number of times you ran interference for me with Dad because of one of my

pranks even when you were the one I pulled the prank on.

This time though you were the one who needed us and I know I didn't do a very

good job at helping you through all this. I guess I just didn't know what to do. How to

help you and I was afraid of doing something to make things worse rather than better.

For that, I'm sorry.

I still don't know what to do. I don't know what I can say to make things better or

what I can do to help you through this. I know you've talked things through with the

others and I can't even seem to do that.

Mostly I just want you to know that I love you. That I'm not mad at you. I may not

understand what you're going through but I know that you would never want to hurt

any of us. I just wish that we could have been there for you the same way you've always

been there for us all these years.

You're our anchor. Nothing you could do could ever tear this family apart.

-Gordon

John folded the letter back up as he tried to blink away the tears in his eyes. He folded the piece of paper back up and placed it back in the envelope. Then he put the envelope back into the book. He knew he had to have a talk with Gordon but it was going to have to wait. This was one talk that he wanted to have face to face and not over the radio.

Jeff Tracy turned and looked at the clock. Ten o'clock.

He had laid down an hour ago, but couldn't seem to fall asleep. He kept asking himself if he had done the right thing. Part of him wanted to go to his office and put a call into the station. At the same time he didn't want John thinking that he didn't trust him.

In frustration, Jeff threw back the covers. He would go to his office for a little while. There were things he could get done and if John happened to call he would be right there.

As he approached the office he heard voices coming from inside.

"Just how did you get the couch anyways?" came Scott's question. He sounded just a little frustrated.

"I was here first," came Virgil's sleepy reply.

Curious, Jeff kept walking the door opening up for him at his approach. The lights came on in the office as he walked through the door. Mildly surprised, he found that his three sons had decided to camp out in his office. Virgil was sprawled out on the couch while Gordon and Scott both had sleeping bags on the floor.

"Hi Dad," Scott said shielding his eyes with his hands, as they had gotten accustomed to the light.

"What are you boys up to?" Jeff couldn't help but ask.

"Well, I figured I'd sleep in here tonight just in case John decided to call. Gordon and Scott ended up getting the same idea so we all decided to stay," Virgil told him.

Jeff shook his head. Sometimes his five boys drove him crazy with all the bickering, fighting, and teasing that went on between them. And then other times, like right now, he couldn't be prouder of them. Despite there differences and disagreements, they were always there for each other when it counted.

"Well enjoy your slumber party," Jeff told them as he turned to head back to his room. He was suddenly very tired. Knowing Virgil, Scott, and Gordon would be there if John called had eased his worries.

"Girls have slumber parties," Gordon said indignantly.

"Then you should feel right at home," Jeff heard Virgil remark. As the door closed behind him he heard the soft thump of a pillow hitting the wall. Jeff shook his head again. Seemed as if some things would never change.