Again, I don't own 'em so please don't sue. Thanks for the reviews, glad you're all enjoying it.
"Almost done Johnny."
"Thank God for small favors." John muttered from his place face down on the table.
"Got it!" There was a small 'ping' as Virgil dropped the piece of metal on a tray. "Just have to stitch you up. What color do you want?"
"I don't care."
"How about blue? To match your eyes. Or yellow, for your hair." Virgil teased. John merely grunted in reply. There was silence in the room as Virgil continued to stitch up his brother. "There, all set. You can get up now."
John carefully eased himself into a sitting position. The room tilted crazily for a moment, and John closed his eyes, swaying unsteadily. Brains wrapped one arm around his shoulders for support. "T-t-take it slow John. We needed to use more anesthetic than we thought. You'll probably be a little d-d-d-lightheaded."
"Thanks Brains." John shook his head to try and clear it, then winced.
"Easy John. Don't tear those stitches. Why don't we help you to your room? I want you to take it easy for the rest of the day." Virgil told him.
John cautiously got to his feet. The room spun around him again. "I think that's a good idea Virgil." He said, reaching out to the table for support.
"Easy brother mine." Virgil placed a steadying arm on John.
John stood still until the room came back into focus. "I'm OK now."
"A-a-are you s-s-s-positive?" Brains asked.
John nodded, carefully. "So, let's see this shrapnel." Virgil held out the tray and John picked up the small one inch piece of metal. "This is it? This is what's been killing me for nearly a month?"
Virgil nodded. "That's it. I had to go in deeper than I thought, so you'll have to keep the stitches in for a while. I'll pay you a visit up on TB5 in a couple of weeks to take them out."
"Great. Something to look forward to." John muttered. He slowly made his way towards the door.
"I'll start c-cleaning these up." Brains took the surgical instruments and went into the other room.
"Virgil?" Virgil looked up. John had paused in the doorway. "Thanks. I seem to be saying that alot lately." He said quietly.
Virgil smiled. "Any time John. Now get some rest."
John waved as he walked out the door. He met up with Scott on the way to his room. "Hey, how'd it go?"
"Good. Tell me, what color did he use?" John turned so his back faced Scott.
"What?"
"What color thread? He told me blue, but I don't believe him."
Scott looked closely at John, then started to laugh. "I hate to tell you this brother, but it's pink."
"Pink! What do you mean pink?" John quickly went into his room and tried to see his back in the mirror. "Dammit, it is pink."
"Told you." Scott laughed. "But it's nice on you. Makes you even prettier." He tousled John's white-blonde hair.
John scowled. "Bite me Scott." He sat down on the bed, and eased himself back with a groan. "Don't you have work to do?"
Scott made himself comfortable at the other end of the bed. "Nope. My sole purpose in life is to cater to you." He grinned.
"Then go find me a chocolate bar." John grinned back.
"What, your stash under the bed run out?"
John threw a pillow at his older brother. "Get out, I want to take a nap."
Scott got up and started towards the door. "I'll come by later and see how you're doing. See ya Pinky!" Laughing he shut the door behind him.
John groaned as he retrieved his pillow. "Brothers…can't live with them, can't live without them."
John woke to the beeping of his communicator. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was barely six in the morning. Sitting up too quickly, he winced and grabbing a shirt, pulled it on as he hurried out into the hall. He ran into Gordon. "What's going on?"
Gordon shook his head and yawned. "Not sure. It can't be an emergency since the alarms didn't go off." They hurried down the hall into the Command-Control center. The others had already gathered. "Dad, what's up?" Gordon asked.
Jeff punched up an image on the large screen. "That typhoon has moved faster than we expected. Alan, Fermat, I need you packed and ready to leave for school by tomorrow morning."
Alan started to protest, but Fermat cut him off. "Y-y-yes Mister Tracy."
Jeff then turned to John. "John, that means you too. I'll take the boys in the jet, and Gordon, Scott and Virgil will take you up in Thunderbird 3."
John stood ramrod straight. "FAB Dad."
"Dad, c'mon! Why do I have to go back to school?" Alan whined.
"Alan." Jeff sighed. "Look, I'll make you a deal. You work on your grades, and don't blow up the school," Alan blushed. "And we'll talk about home schooling you in the fall. Agreed?" Jeff asked.
"Agreed." Alan said sullenly. "Let's go pack Fermat."
"I'll help." Tin-Tin added, throwing Alan a dazzling smile. He blushed pink and together, the three younger members of the team left the room.
"I will go start breakfast Mister Tracy." Onaha nodded to Jeff.
"Thanks Onaha. Sorry to have woken you all."
"It is no trouble. I was already awake." Onaha smiled at John. "I think I'll do something special for our last meal together tonight. Would you like Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner Master John?"
John smiled. "My favorite Onaha."
"And I will make spaghetti for Alan and Fermat." Onaha bowed to Jeff and she and Kyrano followed after the boys.
"I-I-I'll go make sure the b-b-b-kids don't forget anything." Brains hurried after them.
Penelope turned to Parker. "Parker, be a dear and please bring the car around." Penny asked her butler.
Parker nodded. "Yes Milady."
"Pen? Are you leaving?" Jeff asked, surprised.
"Not for long love. I have a few errands to do before I get stuck here on the island." She looked sideways at John and winked. John blushed and looked away. Jeff didn't seem to notice. John's brothers did however and shared a glance.
"Well, if you're sure you have to go…" Jeff told her hesitantly.
"Tell you what Jeff. After this little storm has blown itself out, why don't you come to England and spend a few days with me." She smiled up at him.
"I'd love to Penny." His brown eyes twinkled at her. They stood staring down at each other, oblivious to everyone else in the room.
"Hel-lo! Earth to Dad!" Gordon called out.
Jeff looked up, blushing. Penny and the boys laughed. She hooked her arm through Jeff's. "Walk me to the car dear. And don't any of you lovely boys leave before I get back." She winked again at John.
The others waited until they were out of sight before they burst out laughing.
Virgil turned to John. "So, want to tell me what that was all about?"
"What was what all about?" John replied, busying himself with papers on the desk.
"You and Lady P., that's what!" Gordon piped in.
"We all saw the look she gave you. C'mon John, spill it." Scott prodded.
"I have no idea what you guys are talking about." John hedged. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go finish packing." He tried to push past his brothers, but they stood firm.
"No way bro. Not until you tell us." Scott blocked the door with his body, arms folded across his chest.
"You're all imagining things." John tried to edge past anyway.
"Are you guys having some illicit affair behind Dad's back?" Virgil joked.
"Yeah, what kind of secrets are you two hiding?" Scott had the satisfaction of seeing his younger brother blush.
"It's nothing. Leave me alone." John said firmly his face still pink.
"If it's nothing, why are you getting so riled up Johnny boy?" Virgil grinned at his older brother's discomfiture.
Gordon's head snapped up. "She's your source!" John groaned and sat on the couch, his face in his hands.
"What?" Virgil and Scott said together.
Gordon turned to face his older brothers. "His source! His secret chocolate supplier!" He whirled to face John, still sitting on the couch. "Deny it!"
"I can't." John said simply.
"HA!" Gordon yelled triumphantly.
Scott stood in front of John. "Is this true? She's the one who gets you those cases of European chocolate bars to bring up to TB5?"
John blushed again and nodded.
"This is too funny!" Virgil added laughing. "We've always tried to figure out how you get them. I mean, you rarely leave the island on your trips home."
"And you never spend any money." Gordon quipped.
"But how'd she know?" Scott asked.
John shrugged. "We talk sometimes. She knows how lonely I get, and called to chat one night about a year ago. Somehow, the subject came up and she's bought me them ever since." He said quietly.
Scott sensed there was more, and held his tongue. "All right then, mystery solved."
"But—" Gordon started.
"Gord, why don't you go see how much you can torment Alan and Fermat before they go." Virgil told him after catching Scott's glance.
Gordon's eyes lit up. "Great idea. See you later." With a wave, he fled out the door.
"I guess I should go finish packing." John told his two remaining brothers, but made no move to get off the couch.
Virgil shared a look with Scott. Scott shook his head. Virgil decided to change the subject. "What do you guys think about Dad and Lady P.? I mean, really think?"
John looked up in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, they're…together."
"And your point would be?" Scott drawled.
Virgil sighed and glanced over to the mural on the wall. "I'm just thinking about Mom I guess." He said quietly.
His brothers followed his gaze. Lucy Tracy smiled out at them from her picture. "I don't think Mom would have wanted Dad to be alone for the rest of his life." John said carefully.
"Neither do I." Scott added.
Virgil looked back at his brothers. "That's not what I meant. It's just weird, seeing them together, like that I mean." He sighed. "We're really the only ones who remember Mom. Gordon's got some hazy memories, and Alan was just a baby, but us, we remember her."
John sighed. "Yeah, we do." He stared at the picture of the woman he resembled so closely. "I think…I think she would be happy for Dad. For all of us." He turned back to his brothers. "Penelope has been a part of our life for over ten years now. I can't imagine International Rescue without her."
"Neither could I." Scott smiled. "I think she and Dad are good for each other. Dad can be so…focused about things sometimes."
"And she's got him focused on other things at the moment." Virgil grinned slyly.
Scott frowned at his brother. "What do you have on your devious little mind?"
"And he does mean 'little'." John added.
"What do you say we have some fun with dear old Dad?" Virgil asked, his face all innocence.
"What kind of fun?" Scott asked hesitantly.
"Just follow my lead." Virgil looked up as the door opened and his father walked in. "Hey Dad, Lady P. all set?"
Jeff looked up in surprise. "I figured you three would be off getting things finished up by now, but yes, she and Parker are off. Doing what, I have no idea." He sat down at his desk and started going through some reports.
John blushed scarlet, and idly leafed through a magazine to hide it.
Virgil winked at his brothers and cleared his throat. "Dad, can we talk to you for a minute?" He asked seriously.
Jeff continued with his paperwork. "Sure son, what's on your mind?"
"It's about Lady Penelope."
That caught Jeff's attention and he looked up at his sons. "What about her?" All three of his boys were looking at him with solemn looks on their faces. Well, John was bright red, but still looked grim. "What's going on?" Jeff demanded coming over to stand in front of his desk, arms folded defensively across his chest.
"Well you see Dad, there are things you need to know about having a relationship with a woman." Virgil started. At his father's startled expression, Virgil continued. "Sometimes, when a man and a woman begin to get close, things start happening to your body."
Scott caught on instantly. "Don't be scared Dad, these things are just a normal part of growing up."
Jeff finally figured out what they were doing. "Why you little—"
"Now Dad, we're just telling you this to be safe." John pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it to his father. "Be careful out there." He said seriously.
Jeff turned bright red, and stared down at the small package in his hand. He looked up at his son and glared. "This is a mint."
"Of course it's a mint. I'm up there alone on Thunderbird 5 for weeks at a time, what did you think it would be?" John grinned at his father.
Scott and Virgil burst out laughing, and after a moment Jeff joined in. Scott clapped his father on the shoulder. "We really had you there Dad."
"You should have seen your face when John tossed you that mint." Virgil laughed, tears running down his face.
Jeff rolled his eyes heavenward. "Get out of here, all of you!"
The three boys continued laughing down the hall. "Virgil, I've got to hand it to you, that was great." John told his little brother.
Virgil bowed. "It was one of my better performances wasn't it?"
They walked down the hallway, still laughing, until they reached John's room. John opened the door, and they followed him inside. Scott planted himself in the chair near the desk, and he and Virgil eyed John's room in surprise.
Half packed boxes were stacked in various places around the room. The floor was covered with books and computer discs. "Wow, for a guy who's leaving for space in the morning, you sure have alot of packing left to do." Virgil quipped.
John picked up a box and started piling books in it. "I lost almost everything I had up there in the attack. I didn't think I'd be headed back so soon. I'll be lucky to get it all done in time." He grew quiet and the silence grew thick in the room. John seemed not to notice and continued packing, more like an automaton than his usual self.
Virgil frowned and glanced up at Scott who shrugged. "Well, I guess I'll see you guys later. Got something I forgot to do." Virgil fled the room.
Smooth Virgil, real smooth. Scott thought to himself. He turned to John. "So, need any help?"
John smiled thinly. "Naw, I'm just about finished anyway."
"You sure? Dad's just going to put me to work unless I look busy elsewhere." Scott grinned at John.
John smiled back, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm positive. Go see Alan. I'm sure he must need rescuing from Gordon right about now."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Scott got to his feet and tried to keep his voice casual. "Don't pack too much or TB3 won't make it up there. Catch you later." He waved as he walked out the door.
Scott made his way to the library, and lay down on one of the couches, his hands behind his head and his thoughts in turmoil. Dammit Johnny, I wish you would just talk to me! He sighed and lay there, alone in his thoughts until finally he drifted off to sleep.