Chapter 4: Morning

It was 0700 when Christine woke up. 'Wow, I really slept in', her usual wake up time being 0600, but it was a long night and she's not in the USAF anymore so there's no need to worry about getting an earful by her superiors.

She changed into her athletic shorts and tank top and put on her runners and favourite baseball cap for her morning run. Right when she was about to leave the room she grabbed her mp3 player and put on 'My World' by Avril Lavigne, which is her favourite song to jog to.

When she entered the living room/kitchen she was surprised to see Kyrano making coffee and an ever sleepy Alan Tracy barely able to keep his eyes open sitting at the table "Good morning gentlemen." Kyrano looked up greeted her and continued making coffee. "Why are you up so early Alan?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh…good morning… Tin-Tin wants me to go hiking with her this morning to see the sunrise" replied Alan.

Christine batted her eyelashes "Awww, How romantic."

"Very funny Christine and what's wrong with that?" grinned Alan. "Why are you up so early?"

"I'm actually going out for my morning jog along the beach."

"OOhhh, then you might run into Scott out there. He should be up shortly and he goes for a run too. Would you like some pepper spray?" teased Alan.

Christine laughed "No thanks. I brought my own just in case."

Both Alan and Kyrano laughed quietly. Then she waved goodbye and started off along the beach.

After a half and hour she decided to turn back. While she was running she noticed Gordon and Virgil sitting on the beach donning their dive gear to explore the local reef before breakfast. She ran up to them and without missing a step ruffled their hair, turned around and waved. They both looked at her and waved back smiling.

Christine looked up at the distant cliff and saw Alan and Tin-Tin cuddling and watching the sun rise. She smiled 'Ahh, young love' and continued back to the house after taking a glance at the sun rising herself.

Then she saw Scott jogging towards her and started to get nervous again. She decided to through caution into the wind, so right when she ran past him she said "Good Morning Scooter!" and winked. Scooter was Scott's nickname when they were kids and Alan told her last night that they haven't called him that in years because it made him feel like a little kid. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around blushing, then continued on. Christine was positive that she saw a hint of a smile.

When Christine reached the house she saw John in his swimsuit dozing off in the deck chair by the pool. She smiled evilly and grabbed his ice water that was on the nearby table and poured some of it on his stomach. John, being taken by surprise, jumped right out of the chair and glared at her.

"You're going to get it now!" said John failing miserably to wipe the smile off his face.

"Pardon? I have my mp3 player on I can't hear you! You're going to have to speak up!" she mockingly yelled back.

John grabbed the mp3 player, tossed it on the chair, grabbed Christine and jumped in the pool with her in his arms. When they got to the surface she said "If you wanted to go for a swim you could have just asked." They both started laughing and got into a splashing fight.

Scott returned to see John and Christine splashing in the pool, shaking his head he continued to the house. He unfortunately wasn't fast enough when two pairs of arms grabbed him and threw him in the pool. Scott came sputtering to the surface seeing John and Christine sitting on the pool deck from laughing so hard. "That's for yesterday" said John, after seeing the surprised look on Scott's face. "You thought I wouldn't find out, but Gordon always tell the truth when you tickle him"

"It was his idea, he made me help throw you into the pool" giggled Christine.

Scott put his hands on his hips attempting to be annoyed, but a bout of laughter threatened to emerge "You have to be the worst liar I have ever met Christine"

John tried to push Christine in the pool, but from her training in the Air Force she easily dodged him and pushed him in, then jumped in laughing. All three continued the splashing fight. After awhile they got out and dried off.

Christine was wringing out her hat "Well, that was refreshing. Scott, remind me never to splash John again"

John chuckled "Well that's what you get for dealing with a sleepy Tracy." Christine laughed and smacked John in the arm. Then she left to go get ready for breakfast. "You know what? I'm glad she's back" he turned to Scott, who was staring at her leaving. "Hellooo? Thunderbird 5 to Scott? Are you there?" he said waving his hand in front of Scott's face.

Scott snapped back to reality "Huh…oh sorry, what did you say?"

"What's with you Scott? You've been wonky ever since Christine arrived last night. Do you have the hots for her or something?"

Scott blushed "Oh no…you know she's…just different than I remember"

"So you do like her" stated John. Scott just blushed more. "Hey bro, it's okay to tell me. It's not like you're talking to dad"

Scott scratched his head "I know…it's just…I've gone out with a lot of girls…and she…somehow makes me weak at the knees. I don't know…that just sounded really corny, didn't it?"

"No it didn't. I think Christine is the first girl that is down to earth and is more like you than those ditzy girls that you dated" said John. They both stood there in silence thinking. Then all of a sudden John put his older brother in a headlock and gave him a noogie. "Come on, last one at the table gets no bacon" he laughed and ran to the house with Scott not far behind.

A now dry Christine sat at the table ready to eat anything in sight, because you know splashing in the pool really takes a lot of energy. Kyrano and Onaha came out with the best breakfast she hasn't seen in a very long time. When everybody was finishing their breakfast and idly chatting, Jeff turned to Christine "So you ready for today?"

"Oh, yes sir. I couldn't even sleep I was so excited" she said.

"Good, I'm going to show you the desk control centre in my den, introduce you to the 'birds and start you in the simulator today" informed Jeff. Everybody just stopped eating and slowly turned their heads at Jeff and Christine with astonished looks on their faces. "Oh I forgot to tell you all… Christine is the new member of International Rescue I've been talking about for months" he smiled. Everybody got up and gave Christine their congratulations.

"I thought it was going to be some pig-headed fighter pilot" said Alan "no offence Scott and Christine"

"None taken" they both said unanimously which made everyone laugh. Jeff was so happy that the boys took the news so well.

(TBC)