Dinner time at the Tracy household had always been a bit of an event. With so many brothers to feed, all with massive appetites, their Grandma had always had a bit of a challenge on her hands, but one which she never failed. She smiled warmly at Jeff, Brains, Gordon and Alan who sat around the table, placing down a steaming pot of macaroni cheese, topped with juicy tomato slices.

"You're too good to us Grandma!" Alan said, grabbing a spoon and digging in. Gordon followed suit, the two piling their plates high. Jeff was quiet, looking at the vacant space where his eldest should have been sitting.

"Where's Scott?" his mother asked as she took her place next to Jeff.

"I'd better find him." Jeff got to his feet slowly, making his way to the Thunderbird 2 hanger where he was certain Scott would be. In the months since Virgil had left the island, Jeff had watched him sneak down there where he would sit in silence for hours, probably thinking of all the things he really should have been telling Virgil. As Jeff opened the door, the sound of his footsteps echoing around the hanger, Scott hid his face. Jeff's heart sank; Scott was never one for a show of emotion, but he realised without someone to tell all to, Scott had nothing left to do, but keep it all inside. His eldest was suffering without his brother and Jeff had, as so many times before, been so caught up with his own anger and guilt and sadness that he'd failed to see that of his son.

"He's not coming back, is he?" Scott said after a while, still not looking at his father. Jeff swallowed audibly, Scott speaking words he'd feared would come true.

"I love him…but I hate him…" Scott continued, his voice taking on a harsh tone as he fought to keep any more tears at bay. Jeff remained silent; he was well aware that he would have never heard this confession normally, but Scott was desperate, he needed to say something before he broke.

"You know, the times I watched him almost die…like the time he was shot down…I was so scared I was going to lose him for good…when he crash landed back here, I thought he was dead and I was preparing myself for the grief…but this, what I feel right now, I think it's worse. It's not like I can resign myself to never seeing him again…I can't, because I know he's still out there…" Scott leaned forwards in the chair, his elbows resting on his knees, his knuckles pressed into his eyes.

"You can talk to me Scott," Jeff said quietly after a moment. He wanted to reach out and embrace his son, but was fearful of his reaction. Scott was silent for what seemed like an age before he sniffed loudly.

"Can I? Can any of us Dad? You know, maybe one of the reasons Virgil left was that he couldn't even begin to imagine how to tell you really how he felt…"

"He didn't tell you," Jeff retorted automatically, not willing to take the blame for his son's departure.

"It wasn't my advice, my comforting words he needed," Scott said. "I'm not the head of International Rescue." Scott quickly got to his feet, pushing the chair back and turning to face his father for the first time since he'd entered the hanger. His father was furious, but Scott stayed still, fixing his penetrating eyes on those of his father.

"Dinner is on the table Scott. Gordon and Alan will have probably eaten most of it by now, you better get up there if you want any," Jeff said, his voice devoid of any emotion. He stared past Scott, as his eldest brushed past him, taking a moment to regard his father, waiting for tears, for yelling, for something…it didn't come and Scott left him alone, a solitary figure.

So here are three chapters for you to get your teeth stuck into...hope it's enjoyable.please tell me what you like and don't like and i'll get more up as soon as possible