Without a moment's hesitation, Jeff abandoned his quarry and scrabbled over to Penny. He held his breath as he watched Parker gently cupping her chin and lifting her heavy head, blood from the wound at her temple trickling down her cheek.
"Oh god - " Jeff reached her side and looked up into her pale face, his heart sinking.
Parker reached behind Penny and grabbed a lacy napkin from the long dining table. He pressed the white cloth against the bleeding wound and both men sighed in relief as Penny flinched in response.
"Sorry, m'Lady." Parker offered softly, frowning at her in concern as her eyes blinked open.
"Goodness … that smarts rather." Penny smiled thinly.
"Oh, thank god!" Jeff groaned and rested his head against her arm with another sigh of relief.
"Oh, you Americans and your over-exaggeration!" Penny suddenly offered lightly. "I'm fine! I've got a tough bonce, y'know."
Parker indicated for Jeff to take over applying pressure to the wound and then hurried round to free Penny's hands.
Jeff watched Penny for a moment, seeing the pain behind her smile. "Bonce?" He queried in sudden amusement.
"Bonce." Penny nodded, wincing at the pain the action caused. "Noggin." She chuckled at his confusion, "Head." She sighed in mock exasperation and then her hands were suddenly untied and she reached up to replace Jeff's hand with her own.
Jeff paused for a moment, worry – and a whole lot of anger – pulling at his tired face.
"I'll be fine." Penny urged, her heart racing as she saw the fury that nestled amid the sadness of his weary expression.
Jeff conceded slowly and sat back from her, noting the shift in her gaze and then suddenly remembering his prisoner. He spun round and was surprised to see the woman still sprawled on the floor, watching the three of them warily.
"I guess I am rather fortunate that you are such a rotten aim." Penny commented merrily.
The woman shook her head emphatically, slowly rolling onto her knees. "I really didn't – I mean, I wasn't - "
"I know." Penny agreed quietly.
Jeff turned back to Penny, more than a little confused.
Penny smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders. "We were just starting to get acquainted. And then you two brutes come charging in to rescue me." She rolled her eyes and instantly regretted doing so, clutching her head in slight annoyance.
Parker stood beside Penny, his perplexity almost perfectly matching Jeff's.
"I must say, the surgeon's work is rather good." Penny continued, in a tone far lighter than Parker and Jeff evidently deemed suitable for the situation.
Jeff's frown grew and he looked between Penny and the Penny look-a-like. "So you know …"
"Oh, it's obvious!" Penny laughed suddenly, "I mean, I must admit I am rather ashamed of myself for taking as long as I did in deducing her identity."
Jeff was speechless, watching Penny with an incredulous bafflement and wondering if perhaps most of her brain had indeed been blasted from her head.
"And you, Parker," Penny turned and smiled up at him. "Why, you've quite let the side down."
"I have?" Parker stumbled, looking across at the woman and shrugging his shoulders, still none the wiser.
"Indeed." Penny giggled mischievously, "I will talk to you later about exactly how you allowed yourself to be so compromised." She shot him a cheeky smile and then slowly stood, swaying a little unsteadily as she did so. Having taken a moment to catch her breath, she then walked past Jeff and leaned down to retrieve the small pistol from the folds of the dishevelled silk rug.
"Wait! I meant what I said!" The woman recoiled suddenly, raising her hands above her head in a mixture of defence and surrender. "About your offer. I'll do it."
"Oh, I know you will." Penny agreed quietly, the merriment suddenly gone. She crouched down and removed the napkin from her forehead, examining the blood-soaked material for a moment and frowning in irritation. She then looked back up at the woman and all traces of her smile had vanished.
"I'm sorry." The woman offered suddenly, her head dropping to her chest with a slight sob.
Penny leaned closer and waited patiently for the woman to look back up at her. "One wrong move and it won't be me you have to worry about." She saw the fear in the eyes that regarded her warily and swallowed hard. She turned her head so her colleagues could not read her lips and dropped her voice to all but a whisper to say quickly: "Fuck with us again and I'll tell them exactly who you are."
It was all she needed to say. The woman glanced at Jeff and suddenly knew precisely what Penny was suggesting.
"Jemima Featherstone." Penny announced suddenly, getting back up onto her feet and turning to Jeff with a smile.
Jeff still looked confused. "Is that name supposed to mean something …?"
"Featherstone …" Parker echoed quietly, realisation then coming to him with a gasp of surprise. "Of course!"
Penny nodded and glanced back briefly at the woman still cowering before her, silently urging her to please – for the love of god – play along.
"She was that crazy college nut that was stalking Professor Hackenbacker a few years back." Parker explained hurriedly. "He was her tutor at MIT and she claimed that he'd stolen some of her ideas."
Jeff frowned in thought, "I think I remember something of that … but …"
Penny watched the woman warily, waiting for a response.
"He did steal my designs!" The woman urged suddenly, lifting her head to glare defiantly at the three of them. "I was only trying to prove that when the police then arrested me. They deported me back here and I've spent all this time trying to find a way to get revenge. My whole career was ruined!"
Penny held her breath as she slowly turned to try and gauge Jeff and Parker's reactions. The woman's performance was pantomime at best and Penny knew she would have to try and throw in some prompts to ensure the two men could be convinced. Brains, on the other hand, was a whole different matter.
Parker stepped forward and shook his head in dismay as he looked down at the woman before them. "You created a lot of trouble back then, missy. And now you're looking to start some more, eh?"
The woman looked up at Penny for assistance.
"Actually," Penny answered lightly, "Jemima is going to work for us, now."
The woman nodded emphatically, "I can help you track down the people that tried to destroy you."
"And in return?" Jeff demanded.
"We let her go." Penny replied quickly, "No questions asked."
Jeff regarded the pair of them suspiciously and then slowly nodded in agreement. "Fine."
"Good." Penny sighed in relief, "Now … where's Brains?"
Scott sat in the small office and sipped at his coffee, glad for the refreshment but also acutely aware of the needs of the others that remained hidden inside Thunderbird 2. Deciding that he would take something back for them upon his return, Scott forced the guilt from his thoughts and turned his attention back to the two personnel sat opposite him.
Flight Sergeant Wellington was much younger than he had expected and had shaken his hand with enthusiasm, evidently unable to restrain her delight at meeting him despite the precarious circumstances.
Squadron Leader Hanover was far more reserved, and something of a cliché with his enormous frame and well-groomed moustache. Scott was almost too tired to hold back the amused giggle that had leapt into his throat when they had first met.
"It's been all over the news for the past twenty minutes or so." Wellington continued and stood to switch on the old style television set that was suspended from a bracket near the top of the office wall.
Scott looked up and watched with fascination as indeed every news channel was running a similar report; images of the Thunderbirds craft at various rescues, hastily edited together with a narration telling of their wonders and the scrolling headline at the bottom of the screen explaining the exclusive news.
"Everyone's talking about it." Wellington smiled down at Scott and took her seat again. "It seems most of the world is on your side."
Scott nodded silently, trying to take it all in and wondering how their father was going to react to it all. He had been adamant after the attack on Thunderbird 5 that they should keep their anonymity and not chance their security by asking for help with repairs. They had lied to the British and American governments during the subsequent investigation in London and although he knew why their father had ordered them to do so, he could also understand why that might have slightly upset the various agencies involved.
"They're saying it's a conspiracy to destroy you." Hanover offered softly.
Scott suddenly smiled and put down his coffee. "That's sure what it feels like, sir."
Wellington frowned in concern, "And you've no idea who or why or - "
"Nothing," Scott shrugged, "It could be a small few crazies … it could be the entire espionage world."
"Not our guys, surely?" Wellington urged, "I mean, it was MI5 that called us in to protect you."
Hanover smiled suddenly, "But they could have done so to cover their own arses."
Scott nodded, "Welcome to our world."
"Hmm." Hanover frowned intensely, "Well … if there's a way that we can prove that we're on your side, let us know … in the meantime, you're free to hide here or leave … it's your choice."
"Thanks," Scott shrugged slightly, "It's nothing personal. I mean, there's nothing more that I'd like other than to believe you but …" He sighed heavily.
"No offence taken." Hanover smiled.
Scott nodded his appreciation and then remembered John and Alex. "There is one thing, though – you guys got any medics or supplies?"
Wellington frowned in concern.
"Sorry." Hanover shrugged, "We're 32 Squadron, Royal and VIP protection and transport. Just us lads and a few private aircraft." He turned to Wellington, "Unless you chaps have anything that can help?"
"Just the four Harriers." Wellington watched Scott worriedly and shook her head in dismay. "Someone's hurt?"
Scott nodded. "It's why we were in London – for St Thomas'. But they found us and we had to get out of there."
"You should have said." She sighed, "I'm so sorry, if we'd known, we could have escorted you to a military hospital or - "
Scott raised his hand and smiled, "It's not your fault."
"Well, we can still take you." Wellington stood quickly, "There's one not far from here and - "
"Thanks but no." Scott responded softly, "I think, under the circumstances, we're safer where there's less people."
Hanover nodded slowly, "I guess you've got as much to fear from your fans, now."
Scott paused for a moment. Fans? Suddenly images of rescues being hindered by hordes of adoring autograph-seekers filled his thoughts and he shuddered. Nope. Dad wasn't going to like this one little bit.
"I bet you'd like to meet the chap that leaked the story." Hanover offered in amusement.
Scott gripped the arm of his chair and forced himself to take a deep, steady breath.
Once freed, Brains had headed straight for the concealed comm. panel in Penny's study and was deep in conversation with Alan as Penny strode into the room behind him.
"It's okay," Brains urged softly, "We'll be heading h-h-h-to the island soon and we'll come get you."
Penny looked at the comm. screen and saw the worried, ashen face of the youngest of the Tracy family. She sighed in dismay but it only served to prove that her decision was correct and Jeff could not be allowed to know who it was they had in custody; there was no way he could be trusted to stay calm where his family was at stake. Not that she blamed him.
The conversation was coming to a natural conclusion and Penny waited patiently. She watched Brains sign off and then smiled as he turned to her.
Brains stood slowly and offered a slight shrug of reassurance. "Scott and the others are hiding out in L-L-L-RAF Northolt. They're waiting for orders."
Penny nodded slowly. "And poor Alan …?"
Brains smiled suddenly, "He hasn't got Virgil's un-un-un-patience or John's maturity. He's too much like Scott. Or Mr Tracy." He sighed noisily, "But he'll be okay and back to his usual self once he's home and having a good rant about being st-st-st-assigned to the station during all this."
Penny regarded Brains fondly for a moment and nodded slightly, "You have a good way with him."
"Only because my son explains him to me." Brains countered and then took a deep breath, shaking off his concerns as he turned to the task at hand. "So … what's our next move?"
"He can't know, Hiram." Penny began suddenly.
Brains paused and frowned down at her.
"I know you know who she is."
Brains' shoulders sank and he turned away from her. "I had hoped I was wr-wr-wr-mistaken …"
Penny shook her head slowly and watched him sit back down at the comm. console that had returned to its disguise as an old writing bureau.
"She has links to whoever is behind this," Penny continued softly, stepping across to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "She could be a valuable resource to us."
Brains looked up at Penny and frowned dubiously.
"I told them she's Jemima Featherstone."
Brains shuddered involuntarily and looked down at his hands.
"She fits the profile and we already have an explanation as to her not looking anything like Jemima …" Penny watched Brains studying his hands, deep in thought, and she then chuckled softly, "Honestly, Professor! You do have a knack of attracting crazy women!"
Brains smiled briefly, the momentary amusement then suddenly replaced with sadness.
"I'm sorry." Penny offered quietly, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"No, it's okay …" Brains glanced up at her and forced his smile back. "You're r-r-r-you have a point … the only 'normal' one was … well … I wouldn't have Fermat if …" He was lost for a moment in a distant memory and then suddenly shook himself back to the present.
"You know I'm right about this." Penny urged carefully.
Brains looked up again into her sombre face. "What … about lying to them all?"
Penny sighed and closed her eyes. "God, you know what he's like! And after all that they've been through, if they knew - "
"If they knew it was her …" Brains echoed quietly.
"She started all this, Brains … she found the way into the fortress and paved the way through for everything else that has happened …"
"When you put it that way," Brains looked down at his hands, "I wouldn't mind getting a piece of revenge for myself …"
Penny watched him warily for a moment. "We're better than that." She insisted softly, "And Jeff will understand why we - "
"Why we don't tell him that that thing in there is Transom." Brains concluded sadly.
Penny nodded slowly. "Not Jeff, not Alan, not Scott, not John - " She closed her eyes and felt tears welling as the memories flooded in, and she was almost too tired to keep them abated. "Because god knows what they will do to her …"
Tbc …