Chapter 13: Tin Tin's POV

A/N: Well, here it is, finally. Tin Tin's point of view. I'm sorry it took so long. It turned out I had real trouble getting into her 'head', understanding her. And that makes writing someone's point of view rather difficult. Many thanks go to my friend Dewi, who has helped me understand the Malaysian girl. Not many chapters left to go now. We're nearing the end. Thanks to all who reviewed. And thanks to white rose01 for beta-reading.

IloveSam – Thanks for the wonderful review! I'm glad you liked Kyrano's point of view. At first I thought that would be the most difficult one to figure out, as we hardly see him in the TV-series, but somehow that went quite well. It was his daughter I had the most problems with. ;) About pregnancy and space, well, I did some research, but it turns out the 'experts' don't know for sure either. Most pregnant people (who know they are pregnant), don't fly just in case. In the military of the US pregnant people are 'grounded', but that's the best I could dig up. As for John having survived… well, you could keep hoping, but well… I'm not sure whether it's of any use. /I'm mean, I'm mean, and I don't care/ ;) Thanks for the review, and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too.

Fried Eeyore – Heya, I hope you're doing better now. Thanks for the review. I also hope your beta reader has gotten over it. ;) I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

White rose01 – Internet problems… yuck! Thanks, I enjoyed writing from Kyrano's POV, so I'm glad you liked it. And well, you didn't have this chapter all that soon, but you already knew that. ;)

Gismo – Hey! That's ok. I have the same problem sometimes. Thanks for the compliment! And Rummikub… yes, well, I play it often with my grandmother and with my cousin. (Last holiday my cousin and I have played 'only' about 5 games a day… on average that is.) I don't know whether other people from around the world know it, but it's Jewish from origin, if I'm not mistaken. Oh well, thanks for the review, here's Tin Tin's POV.

Rachie Tracy – Hi, thanks for the review! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter too!

And that was it for the reviews. I hope you'll all enjoy the chapter!

The black-haired woman sat at the corner of her bed, perched against two walls. Her sobs had ceased. She was now just staring in front of her. She heard her father's soft footsteps stop at her door. She willed him to move away. He did. The door to the room next to hers opened and closed. Then the silence returned.

Wrapping her arms around her knees she tried to think of anything but today. Today just didn't exist. Today had yet to come. Alan would go to Thunderbird 5 in a few hours. Scott would return home with John. Grandma would bustle around her second-eldest grandson, muttering that he was too pale and too thin.

John, long since used to his grandma's behaviour, would lovingly comment, eat something, and then refuse more. Grandma would continue muttering, but this time satisfied, even though she tried to hide it. After all, if John ever ate slightly more than usual, it was when Josie would cook at his homecoming. But for the rest he never ate more than he needed. He would never be fat.

Fat. Suddenly she thought back to the time when she thought she was fat.

Flashback:

"Father!" The young woman yelled, standing in front of her mirror. The Malaysian man hurried to his daughter's room.

"What's wrong, Dear?"

"I'm fat."

"What do you mean? You're not fat." Kyrano said surprised, looking over his daughter's body, not an ounce of fat in sight.

"I am. Look at me."

"I just did. I only see my beautiful daughter, who is so much like her mother. You have a perfect… how do you say… shape?"

"You're only saying that because you're my father. You're not objective."

Kyrano looked at her uncertainly. "What is 'objective'?"

"Ehm… it eh, it means that you can give an opinion without letting it being influenced by any positive or negative feelings that already existed before your opinion was asked… At least that's what I think it means. So you can't give an objective answer, 'cause you're my father, so you're bound to say nice things to me."

Kyrano still looked slightly puzzled. "But, it is not an opinion, it is a fact that you are not fat. To state a fact you do not need to be objective, do you?"

Tin Tin looked disconcerted. "Eh… well… You've been talking to John too much!"

"As long as you know, I would still love you, no matter whether you were thick or thin." Kyrano turned around and left the room at his easy pace.

Later that day, during lunch, Tin Tin reached for the sugar, stopped halfway and sipped her tea without sugar. Gordon, who was sitting next to her, noticed.

"Hey, I thought you always had two lumps of sugar in your tea?"

Tin Tin grimaced in disgust as she tasted the tea. "Yes, I usually do. And it's disgusting without sugar."

"Then why don't you put sugar in your tea?" Gordon asked in wonder.

"Because I'm fat, and I should lose weight."

Gordon eyes became as large as saucers. "I beg your pardon! Did you just say you think you're fat and should lose weight?"

"Yes."

"Why! You're so thin you could fit into my pants twice!"

Tin Tin looked at him. "That's not saying anything Gordon!"

Gordon looked down at himself. "What? What's wrong? What did I say? Did you just imply I am fat?"

"No, not fat necessarily. But you're broader than I am… lucky me! I would really be fat if I would be broader than you!"

Gordon looked at her, unable to follow her train of thoughts, so he just shook his head and let her be. However Virgil had heard the conversation. Some time after lunch he followed Tin Tin to the swimming pool.

"Hey, Tin Tin."

"Yes?" She started to put off her clothes, underneath which she had her bathing suit.

"I eh, I picked up your conversation with Gordon during lunch, and eh. You're not thick. Or fat. Or overweight. You're how you should be."

"You're just saying that to be nice." Virgil raised his eyebrows.

"Eh, no. I'm saying that because it's true."

"Not, 'cause then you would be saying I am right, and that I should lose weight!"

"What kind of reasoning is that?"

"Mine."

"Eh… right. OK. I'll eh, see you later." With a confused look, Virgil turned around woodenly and walked back inside the house. 'Women.'

When Tin Tin climbed out of the swimming pool after some time spent swimming laps, she went to her room. On her way there she met Alan, who immediately joined her, still oblivious to her newest obsession. They entered the room and Alan closed the door behind him and went to embrace Tin Tin. However, the Malaysian girl turned away. Baffled, Alan asked her: "What's wrong?"

"How can you like me?"

His eyes bulged. "What do you mean? I love you."

"How can you? How can you love someone as fat as me?"

Alan started to laugh uncertainly. "You're kidding right? I'd rather encourage you to eat more!" From her expression however, he could deduce she was not joking.

"What in the world makes you think you're fat!"

"If you'd look, you'd see!"

Alan smiled and opened his arms again to embrace her. "What I see is the beautiful woman who I love. And I'd love you even if you were the most ugly person in the world!"

At this Tin Tin looked at him angrily. "You think I'm ugly!"

"No! No! I didn't say that! I said 'even if', not that you are! I'm just saying I'd like you no matter how you look! But you're not ugly, and you're not fat!"

"I don't believe you!"

Alan sighed. "How can I convince you?"

"You can't! Please leave!"

Frustrated, Alan left the room. He met up with Scott and told the story. Scott nodded. He had heard Virgil and Gordon talk about it already.

"Do you know how to convince her?" Alan asked. Scott shrugged helplessly.

"I have no clue."

"But you're the one with the most experience with women."

Scott swallowed uncomfortably. "Well, yeah, maybe, but ehm, they never had this kind of… problem. And it weren't that many women!"

"Oh great, no help from you either then. What should we do!"

"Maybe it'll be over by tomorrow?"

Alan looked at his oldest brother doubtfully. "You think?"

"I don't know. It could be."

"OK, we'll wait for tomorrow."

And so they waited for eleven days. By that time everyone was fed up with Tin Tin and her latest obsession. Finally Alan decided to call John. After that he really didn't know what to do.

"Hey John." He said, as soon as he saw his older brother. John looked surprised to see him. Alan didn't usually call John. "Hey Alan, what's up?"

"Have you heard about Tin Tin and her 'I-am-fat-obsession'?"

"A little. Why?"

"Well, she's been whining about it for days now, and we just can't convince her that she's not."

Alan told John how they had attempted to convince her. When he was finished John was silent for a while, pondering over something.

"So, she won't accept your answers when you tell her she's not fat?"

"No. We're at the end of our rope here, John. No one knows what to do or say anymore. She's hardly eating, swimming and training a lot." John nodded.

"Do you know anything?" Alan asked desperately. John slowly nodded.

"I think I have an idea, but let me work it out first. Do you think you can manage another three days, just until the end of my rotation."

Alan nodded. "For once I'm looking forward to it!"

John chuckled. "That's a first. Hang in there, bro. Help's on its way."

"Thanks John! You've just made my day."

"I haven't even done anything yet!"

"That must show how desperate we are. Just the idea of a 'possible' solution cheers us up immensely."

The older of the two men grinned. "I'll see you in three days."

"Bye John! Oh! Wait, is there still enough chocolate up there?"

John rolled his eyes. "Alan. Do you remember how much you stacked up here?"

Alan nodded. "Well, I didn't take anything from it, so everything is still there. Please don't take any more! I already had to put the temperature slightly down in order to make sure the chocolate doesn't melt! And here's a hint: bring warm pyjamas and thick socks!"

The ex-racer chuckled. "I'll keep it in mind!"

They broke the connection. John worked out the idea that had sprung to mind, and half an hour later he called Virgil. He would need his help in this.

Three days later Alan relieved John on Thunderbird 5, although for Alan it felt more as if John was relieving him from Tin Tin. Alan especially had been the target of Tin Tin's anger.

On the way back to Tracy Island, Scott tried to get John to tell his plan, but John just kept silent and told him in no uncertain terms he would tell him when the brothers were all together. Scott was annoyed. He had already tried to get Virgil to spill the beans, but Virgil insisted he didn't know the whole plan either.

They arrived at Tracy Island, and within an hour John had gathered his brothers and his grandmother into his room, Alan also present through a family painting on the wall.

"Well, I suppose you all know that I have a plan for Tin Tin's…'situation'. I can imagine you're not sure why Grandma is here. Neither is she. But I need her in on the plan in order for it to work. Now, as for the plan itself…"

During dinner Tin Tin wasn't aware of the excitement in the air. Grandma, who had tried to put large portions of the meal on Tin Tin's plate lately, only put a tiny bit on her plate this time. Tin Tin was surprised at first, but then thought that maybe Grandma had finally accepted that she really was thick. She wanted to take a piece of bread with it, but Gordon, who sat next to her again, beat her to it, and put the tray with bread out of her reach. When Tin Tin looked at him, he shrugged.

"You can't have that. You're too fat." Tin Tin blinked, as did Jeff and Kyrano. The last two were about to say something about it when they caught the wink John sent their way. The two men looked at each other in puzzlement but decided to keep silent for the moment.

Continuously during the meal, whenever Tin Tin reached for something to eat, someone would take it from her and say something about that she shouldn't eat it if she wanted to lose weight. Tin Tin was getting irritated, but tried not to let it show. They were finally agreeing with her, and while this should have made things easier, she was surprised it only annoyed her.

After two days, about two hours before dinner, John went to find Tin Tin, wearing his trunks and a towel hanging around his neck. He knocked on her door and she opened it, expecting her father now that Alan was in Thunderbird 5.

"John! What's up?"

"Oh, I was wondering. You look a little… chubby, so I decided to ask you to join me on my laps. You could use the exercise."

Tin Tin's jaw almost fell open, but she recovered just in time. "Eh, yeah, sure. Thanks." 'I think.'

John nodded. "I'll see you in five minutes at the swimming pool then."

Tin Tin could only nod. What was up with those people? They had kept denying her more food than she was given by Grandma, which was strangely little. They kept saying she was really fat or thick and she should do something about it, and more of those things. And now even John said she looked thick. If he noticed after being home only for two days, it must be really bad. But it wasn't that bad, was it?

As she closed the door, she didn't see the satisfied smile that crossed John's features. The blond man nodded at his artistic brother as he passed him in the corridor, and Virgil immediately disappeared to his room.

John swam endless laps, and was able to get Tin Tin to continue with him all the way, even though John was used to swim many laps, while Tin Tin usually stopped long before him. Finally, when John saw Tin Tin was getting quite tired, he called it quits and walked her to her room. The Malaysian nodded and said a weary "Thank you".

She closed the door and turned around, but as she did this she caught herself in the mirror. And there, looking back at her was a very realistic painting of herself in her swimming gear. However, this 'Tin Tin' was really fat. It looked so ridiculous that Tin Tin started giggling. She was still giggling when she heard a knock on her door. She opened it with a smile and somehow wasn't surprised to find Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon there, all smiling at her.

"You guys are weird." She smiled. "Come in."

They all walked into her room and Scott turned to Tin Tin. "You of course know by now that the comments we've made the past few days, are rubbish." Gesturing to the painting he said: "This is what you perhaps would look like if you were fat. But that's not how you look." Virgil took away the painting, and put it next to the mirror. "You look great as you are."

Tin Tin smiled, realising she had been greatly exaggerating. "Thanks guys. Virgil, I really hope I'll never look like that, no matter how well you've painted it."

Virgil smiled and nodded. Then Tin Tin turned towards John, who had been silent so far, but stood against the wall with a satisfied grin, towel again around his neck.

"And you, John. I'm never going to join you with swimming anymore! I thought Gordon was bad!"

Everyone chuckled. "Well, I must admit, I did train a lot with Gordon. But Gordon is still worse, don't worry. He may swim less laps, but he swims faster."

Tin Tin grinned. "OK, OK, you're not all that bad."

"Great, why am I the bad guy here?" Gordon grumbled good-naturedly.

"That would be because you are, Copperhead," came the reply from Scott's direction. Gordon glared at Scott. But it wasn't Scott's voice that had said it. Virgil grinned. "It's from the watch!" Scott looked at his watch, and indeed, there he was. Scott looked quickly up at Gordon, before looking back at his youngest brother. "I'm roughly translating here, but this message comes from Gordon." Immediately Scott glared at Alan, and everyone burst out in laughter. Then Tin Tin clapped in her hands to get everyone's attention.

"I'm sorry for the last two weeks. I must have been a pain in the neck for you guys to resort to this kind of tactic. My apologies for that. And now, I want a decent meal!"

End of Flashback

Later Alan had told her it had been John's idea, and she had gone to John to thank him again. He had waved it off, saying it was alright. In his exact words: "You're as close to me as a sister could be. And that means we help each other out, when it's necessary."

His words echoed through her mind. No one could help John out now. Not anymore.

This wasn't right. Hadn't this family suffered enough yet? The Tracy-family had already lost Lucille. And now they had also lost the brother that was most like their mother. It wasn't right. And Nicole…poor soul. She must feel terrible. To have lost her husband to her own rescue. Suddenly Tin Tin's heart chilled. She could lose Alan too. Of course, they had talked about it before. Everyone knew the risks of their involvement with International Rescue. But this brought it all home. Suddenly the risks weren't so intangible. They were real. Very real.

A/N: And that's it for now. We're nearing the end now!