A BROTHER'S CRY

By: GrumpyMagrat & Magratconvert

Disclaimer: We don't own the Thunderbirds. Not now, not ever.

Chapter Twenty-Two – A Brother Rescued

The scene that the three brothers came upon stopped them dead in their tracks. Alan sat next to an unconscious Gordon begging him to wake up. Gordon was laying face down in the middle of the path. He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead, which he received after hitting a rock as he fell. The most terrifying thing though was the large tree branch that laid across his back.

Scott looked at John. "Take care of Alan. We'll take care of Gordon. Also get a hold of Dad. Brains will need to set up the sickroom."

John put his arm around Alan's shoulders. "Come on Al, you need to move so that Scott and Virgil can help Gordon."

For the first time since their arrival, Alan acknowledged his brothers. "Oh God, John." He cried as the tears mixed with the rain streaming down his face. "He saved my life."

"What happened, Alan?" John asked.

"We were on our way back." Alan explained haltingly. "The storm was really picking up. We were trying to get back as quickly as possible. I heard a noise and when I turned, I saw the tree branch falling. The next thing I knew Gordon had pushed me away and he was on the ground under the tree. He's going to be ok, isn't he, John?"

John's heart was breaking. Alan sounded like a lost, little boy when he asked that question. "We are going to do what we can. We'll know more when Brains has a chance to examine him."

Scott interrupted. "John, we need help moving this branch."

"Ok Scott," John said moving to help. The rain was turning the path into mud, making it hard to get a good foothold.

"We need to do this carefully." Scott commanded. "Once we lift the branch, we need to move it in one motion. Above all else, we can't drop it. Gordon's already been hit once by it. We don't want to injure him further."

The brothers lined themselves up along the tree branch. Alan had even pulled himself together enough to help. In a matter of minutes the branch was safely off Gordon. Scott and Virgil worked to get Gordon securely on a backboard and on the stretcher. Alan softly spoke to his brother encouraging him to wake up. John put in a call to their father.

"John," Jeff said acknowledging the incoming call. "What is going on out there?"

"Dad," John said. "Gordon is injured. Brains needs to have the sickroom ready. We'll be back in approximately twenty minutes."

"Injured? How?" Jeff wanted to know.

"He was hit by a falling tree branch." John explained. "He was a cut on his forehead. He is unconscious at this time." John hesitated for a moment then continued. "He may also have a back injury."

"His back?" Jeff said in alarm.

Quietly John told him. "That's where the branch hit him."

"Ok John," Jeff said. "We'll be ready and waiting for you. Just get him here as quickly as you can."

"F-A-B, Dad." John cut the communication and went to help Scott and Virgil.

Jeff spent the next twenty minutes pacing the sickroom. Brains was setting out the equipment that he expected to need.

Dr. Shipman was also there watching Jeff. "Are you ok, Jeff?" He asked.

"It's hard, Frank." Jeff said. "I hate waiting when I know that one of my sons is hurt. Time seems to move at a snail's pace. God, where are they?"

"They will be here soon." Dr. Shipman said. "John said twenty minutes. It's only been…" He was interrupted by the sound of the brothers in the hallway.

Jeff watched as his sons entered the room. They all were wet and muddy. Scott and Virgil carefully guided the stretcher into the sickroom.

"Any change?" Jeff asked.

Scott shook his head. "No, he hasn't shown any sign of regaining consciousness."

Jeff nodded at his oldest son when suddenly he found his youngest son in his arms. "It's going to be all right, Alan." He said trying to comfort his son.

"But it's my fault." Alan cried. "He pushed me out of the way. It should be me that's hurt, not him."

"It's not your fault." Jeff said trying to calm Alan. "He chose to push you out of the way. He knew that it would be dangerous."

"But if I hadn't gone to the bluff, he wouldn't have been out there at all." Alan argued.

"No buts." Jeff said firmly. "You didn't know that this was going to happen. It was an accident. Accidents just happen. Nobody is at fault."

Brains interrupted at this point. "I n-n-need you to leave s-so that I can examine G-G-Gordon."

Alan exploded. "Leave? I am not leaving until I know that he is ok."

"Look," Brains said. "I need to do a f-f-full examination. I can't d-do that with all of you h-hovering around here. Go c-c-clean up. By the time you have s-showered and changed into dry clothes, I hope to have f-f-finished the examination and have an update f-for you."

"Go ahead boys," Jeff commanded. "Go get cleaned up."

The four brothers quietly left the sickroom. Each one headed to their own rooms to get cleaned up. Jeff walked to Gordon's bedside and took his son's hand.

"M-M-Mr. Tracy," Brains began. "I also need you to l-leave."

"Me? But Brains, I need to be here for him." Jeff argued.

"Please, Jeff," Brains said quietly. "Let m-me do my job. Dr. Shipman c-can help me."

"Frank isn't an MD." Jeff continued his argument.

"N-Neither are you." Brains said. "It really is best if you left. P-P-Please I wouldn't ask you to if I didn't f-feel it was important. I p-p-promise to let you know as s-soon as I have some answers."

"Ok Brains," Jeff reluctantly agreed. "Keep me informed." He said as he walked out of the sickroom.

One by one the four brothers joined their father outside the sickroom. They all alternated between leaning against the walls and pacing the hallway. Kyrano came down and offered coffee to the men, but they turned him down. They were too upset to put anything in their stomachs.

"How long has it been?" Alan demanded.

"About forty-five minutes." John said looking at his watch.

"Why is it taking so long?" Alan asked.

"Brains just wants to be thorough." Jeff replied. "He promised…" He stopped when Brains stepped out of the sickroom.

"If you w-w-would all go to my office, I will explain Gordon's c-c-condition." Brains told them.

It was hard for the Tracy family to walk through the sickroom. They could see Gordon lying in the bed. His face was pale with a bandage around his forehead. Various machines sat next to the bed monitoring his condition. Dr. Shipman was there watching the machines and recorded any changes on his chart.

"Would any of you l-l-like a seat?" Brains asked pointing to the two chairs in front of his desk. The five Tracys shook their heads.

"What have you found out Brains?" Jeff asked.

"Well, f-f-first off," Brains began. "His vitals are good. His h-heart rate is strong and his respiration is steady. He d-did incur a head injury. The g-good news is that there is no evidence of a s-s-skull fracture or intercranial pressure or b-b-bleeding. The fact that he has not regained consciousness had m-m-me slightly concerned, but h-head injuries can be unpredictable. It could be nothing."

"What about his back?" Jeff asked quietly.

Brains sighed. "Well, that is m-more complicated. The examination showed d-d-definite swelling around the s-spinal cord. At this point in time, his lower reflexes are n-n-non-reactive."

"What are you saying?" Alan demanded.

"He's paralyzed. Isn't he?" Scott said.

"B-B-Before anyone panics, it may be only t-t-temporary." Brains said. "We w-will have to wait until the swelling g-g-goes down."

"But it could be permanent." Scott stated, his voice choking with emotion.

"Yes Scott, it could be." Brains said resignedly.

"Oh God, Dad." Alan cried.

Jeff held his youngest son, while Alan cried his grief into his father's shoulder.

Virgil sagged against John. "Not again. It can't be happening again. Not to Gordon."

John put his arm around Virgil's shoulders. "He's strong. He beat it once. He can do it again. We have to be strong for him."

Scott stared at the floor. A myriad of emotions ran through him: Relief that Gordon was going to live, Grief that he may be paralyzed, guilt over the way that he had treated Gordon, fear that Gordon won't recover, sadness at the pain that this situation is causing his entire family, and most of all anger at his lack of ability to fix it.

Scott left Brains' office and went to his brother's bedside. He held his brother's limp hand between his own and prayed.

Dr. Shipman could see that Scott was battling his emotions. ""Scott, are you all right?" He asked.

Scott thought back to Gordon's answer when he asked his brother that same question a month before. "Sure," Scott said quietly. "I'm not the one that's paralyzed." One lone tear escaped and made it's way down his face.

TBC

Author's note - Alright, everyone who wants to strangle us raise your hand. Yep, we thought so. Be warned, if you kill us now, you won't find out what happens at the end of the story. Just a few more chapters to go.

Fiona Belagant – Glad you are enjoying the story. Some of your questions have been answered. Others remain a mystery.

Rachie Loves Donald Duck – Well Gordon saved Alan. How is that going to sit with Scott?

throwra-angel – Glad to hear back from you. Sorry about the cliff-hanger but what better way to make sure you come back. Yeah, Gordon is hurt but is he going to be okay? You'll have to wait and see.

andrewjameswilliams – Things are coming to a head with Scott and Gordon. Will Scott break through Gordon's wall of anger?

barb from utah – Glad you liked the cliff-hanger. More Scott and Gordon interaction coming soon.