Thanks for the reviews I'm relieved my story is going down well considering I haven't been writing for that long.
Thanks for the help Meercat I'll try to incorporate what you said into my story. Your Phoenix Rising story was one of the first fanfics I ever read (great story it had me gripped!) and its great to have your insight.
To all readers: Please be patient as future chapter uploads may be a little slow in coming but they will come.
CHAPTER FOUR - Concerned
"Virgil, give me Alan's location!"
"Dad he's about 90 yards from your location. If you head south of your position 40 yards then take the left corridor and then go straight ahead." Virgil replied quickly.
"FAB. Stay there and stand by boys." Jeff cut the transmission.
"Be careful." Virgil whispered more to himself. Back in the Firefly Virgil and Gordon had been listening to their progress when Alan's radio went dead. Virgil and Gordon shared worried looks, as all they could do was wait and pray for their brother's safety.
Back in the building the dust had settled and silence filled the dining hall.
Alan moaned as he slowly regained consciousness.
'Mmm…….what the hell was that?' Alan's sluggish mind slowly came back into reality as the thought appeared.
'Man, I feel like I was run over by the mole', he smiled at the thought and then grimaced as pain exploded in his head.
Frowning he slowly opened his eyes, squinting in the smoky air he was momentarily surprised to be greeted by three horrified faces.
"Mister are you alright?" said the boy in a very strong French accent.
"Yeah I'm fine." Alan lied as he slowly raised himself into a sitting position unsettling the dust that had fallen on him. The movement made him feel nauseous, closing his eyes tightly and breathing deeply he tried to block out the feeling.
Alan noticed that the kids were starting to cough more from the mixture of smoke and dust, and then he noticed it…the fire had reached the dining hall! 'Probably due to the ceiling collapsing' Alan thought.
"Come on, we can't stay here." Slowly he raised himself to his feet. As he stood his legs started to give way and he grabbed hold of a large wooden beam for support.
He slowly led the kids through the dining hall moving around and climbing over the wooden beams and plaster that had fallen from the ceiling. Alan also noticed that he was having trouble focusing, 'probably a concussion, just what I need right now'.
"Dad can you hear me?"
There was no answer.
"Dad, this is Alan come in?"
Nothing.
"Scott, Virgil, Gordon, any of you guys reading me?"
Nothing.
"Thunderbird Five come in. John do you read me?"
Alan received nothing but static.
"Radio must be damaged." Alan breathed heavily as they had made it safely to the other side of the dining hall.
"Ok guys lets go." He led the kids out and into the burning corridor.
"Dad, Dad Alan's locater signal is moving!" Virgil called in relief.
"Thank god. Where is he heading?" Jeff slowed his pace down the corridor.
"He's heading in your direction, you should be able to see him soon." Virgil answered his father.
"FAB Virgil."
"Dad I see him…..and the kids, they're alright." Scott shouted back at his father in relief as they both ran up to greet them.
"Hey squirt you had us all worried." Scott clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder in greeting. Even this movement caused Alan to almost lose his already fragile equilibrium and he swayed putting his hand on his brother's opposite shoulder for support.
"Alan are you alright?" Scott asked in concern grabbing his brother's arms.
"I'm fine." Alan replied weakly trying to stop the corridor from spinning by closing his eyes and trying to wriggle out of his brother's grip at the same time with little success.
"Alan what happened?" Jeff looked at his youngest son in concern.
"He got hit on zee head when zee ceiling came down." one of the girls answered looking up at Jeff.
Jeff looked at her in surprise at her statement realizing that that was the crashing sound they all heard over the radio.
"Alan we've got to get out of here fast and your going straight to the med bay when we do." Jeff said in a voice that left little room for negotiation.
"Dad I'm ok, really!" Alan argued as he finally freed himself from his brother's grasp.
"It's not a request Alan it's an order, now lets go before the fire traps us inside." Jeff grabbed the hands of two of the children while Scott took hold of the other kid. Jeff led the way as Alan followed and Scott brought up the rear to watch their backs…..and to secretly keep an eye on Alan.
Jeff radioed ahead to inform Virgil and Gordon that they had found Alan and the missing children and that they were on their way out.
They reached the stairs and made their way down. The kids continued to cough from the smoke as they reached the bottom. Flames licked at the walls on each side and the smoke was blinding. Jeff walked cautiously with the kids behind him hanging onto his fire suit. Suddenly a ceiling beam came crashing down behind them. Jeff heard Scott shout as he looked back.
"RUN!" came Scott's cry as the whole ceiling started coming down.
Jeff bodily picked up the two girls behind him, one under each arm and ran as fast as he could for the exit. Scott scooped the boy up into his arms and ran following in Alan's footsteps.
"GUYS HURRY!" Virgil shouted frantically over the radio.
They ran out the entrance just in time as a huge explosion echoed through the night air. When Jeff reached the Firefly he looked back at the school and realized that the whole internal structure of the building had just caved in.
Breathing a sigh of relief he put the kids down.
"You two alright?" Jeff asked them both.
"Oui sir"
"Merci" the girls said.
Jeff gave them a thumbs up before the paramedics took them off to the waiting ambulance. Scott deposited the boy into the waiting arms of a female paramedic then walked over to his father and Alan who were recovering from the run.
Well…that was exhilarating".
Jeff raised an eyebrow at Scott's idea of exhilarating. Scott laughed at the look he received.
At that point Virgil and Gordon hopped down from the Firefly.
"That was awesome! It was like an action movie!" Gordon said excitedly grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah, you sure were cutting it close." Virgil said in quiet relief.
"We're fine. Sorry to worry you all, but it was an outstanding job boys well done," Jeff admitted smiling at his sons.
Jeff looked back at the burning building where the firefighters had finally got the blaze under control and in retreat.
"I think they can take it from here. Lets go home." Jeff finished, and he and Gordon started back towards Thunderbird Two.
"Alan? Are you feeling ok?" Virgil asked watching his brother sway on his feet next to him.
The rest of the family looked back just in time to watch Alan fall. Standing next to him Virgil reached out to catch him and lay him down on the ground.
"ALAN" Jeff shouted running back and kneeling by his youngest son.
"Dad what's wrong with him?" Virgil asked. A look of shock on his face.
"One of the kids said a part of the ceiling fell on him when he was trying to get them out." Jeff admitted quietly.
"Gordon go get a stretcher from Thunderbird Two. Hurry!" Jeff commanded and Gordon ran off at high speed back to Thunderbird Two.
Scott knelt down next Alan's head and started to slowly remove his fire helmet, being careful not to hurt him. As he slowly eased the helmet over his head their eyes widened as they could see one half of Alan's face was smeared with blood. Jeff quickly put his fingers to Alan's neck to feel for a pulse and to his immense relief he felt a strong pulse under his fingers.
"It could be concussion." Scott said looking up at them.
"Well we'll give him a thorough check over once we get him back to Thunderbird Two's med bay." Jeff stood up as Gordon came running up to them with a carry stretcher under his arm.
They carefully moved him onto the stretcher and strapped him in and working together carried him back to Thunderbird Two.
TBC
Well there you go.
Please review it's much appreciated.