Hope you all had Happy Holidays. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Again, I don't own the Thunderbirds...woe is me.

Dinner that night was happier than it had been in nearly a week. Scott and John had gone over the events in Thunderbird 5, wisely omitting John's breakdown, and told how they had gotten back home. Jeff went pale, thinking of how close it had been. Now they were together in the dining room, happily eating a small feast prepared by Kyrano and Onaha.

Scott wanted a play-by-play of the two rescues, so Virgil and Gordon happily obliged. Jeff and Brains discussed different ways of trying to track the boys and Penny. Tin-Tin chatted with her parents, but kept sending covert glances in John's direction. John sat quietly, barely picking at his dinner. The others were so engrossed in their conversations, they didn't notice. Finally John gave up all pretense of eating and got up wincing, carrying his plate to the kitchen. Tin-Tin whispered something to her mother and Onaha nodded, following John into the kitchen.

"John? Is everything all right?" She asked him.

He sent her a small smile. "I'm fine Onaha."

She walked past him and placed her dishes in the sink. "You did not eat much dinner."

He shrugged. "I guess I'm just not very hungry."

Something in his voice made her turn to look at him. "John?" She called softly. He was staring out the window, and started at her call. She walked over and ran her hand over his cheek. His face was pale, and the barest of stubble covered his chin. Deep circles highlighted his eyes.

John took her hand in his and kissed it. "I'm fine. Thanks for dinner Onaha." He turned and walked stiffly out of the room.

She watched him go, her forehead creased in worry. Of all "her" boys, John was the quietest. She knew something was bothering him, and not just because Tin-Tin had told her. Before she could start after him, Virgil entered the kitchen, his arms full of plates.

"Hey Onaha! Dinner was great as usual. Where should I put these?" He grinned.

She smiled as she took the plates from him and started putting them in the dishwasher. "Virgil, go talk to John." She said quietly.

Virgil looked up in surprise. "Why? What's wrong?" He asked sensing her concern.

Onaha shook her head. "I am not sure. But he needs you."

"I'll get Scott." He started into the dining room.

Onaha placed her hand on his arm. "He does not need Scott, he needs you." Her chocolate eyes bored into his hazel ones.

Virgil didn't reply, but hurried out in the direction John had taken. He caught his brother halfway down the hallway leading to their rooms. "Hey Johnny! Wait a sec!"

John turned. "Virgil, what's up?" He asked wearily.

"Nothing much. Got sick of all the rescue talk." He said as they continued down the hallway.

John smiled in reply and opened the door to his room. "Come on in. It'll save me from going to look for you later."

Virgil frowned at John's cryptic remark. Before he could respond, John had disappeared into the bathroom. Virgil sat down at the desk, propping his feet on the edge of the bed and looked around the room.

The bedroom was a reflection of John himself, neat and organized. There was nothing unnecessary or out of place. A large telescope stood in front of the glass door leading to the terrace, and books on space and physics filled the shelves. The walls were a deep blue, with the only pictures being those Virgil had painted. The ceiling too was dark, covered with glow-in-the-dark stars arranged in a map of the constellations. Virgil thought privately, that his older brother had the coolest room out of all of them. Too bad he's never around to actually spend any time in it.

"So John, how's TB5 running? Before Hood hit it I mean."

"Not bad. Few computer glitches, but nothing I won't be able to fix in time. Same with this new attack. From the initial inspection, it looks like just the computer and communications arrays were hit. I didn't have enough spare parts to fix either one up there, but after this is all said and done, we can load the parts onto Thunderbird 3 and the repairs should go pretty quickly." John replied from the other room.

"That's good." Virgil called back.

John came back into the room and glared until Virgil moved his feet off the bed. Virgil grinned and John rolled his eyes. "You've been hanging around Gordon too much."

"He's like one of those barnacles he's always studying, always there, but no one knows his true purpose in life." Virgil flashed his brother a toothy grin. John couldn't help it and laughed.

"That's better. Haven't seen you laugh in too long now Johnny." Virgil glanced down and picked up the duffel bag on the floor. It was wet and had left a puddle on the carpet. "Onaha'll kill you if she sees this mess."

"Damn I forgot." John took the bag and peered inside. "I hope these aren't corroded from the salt water." He pulled out some computer discs and put them on the desk, dropping the damp bag on Virgil's lap.

"Hey!" Virgil yelped. The bag was heavy. "What else have you got in here? Moon rocks?" He reached in and found a nearly empty whiskey bottle. "Johnny?"

John looked up. "Oh, that. Scott brought it up with him. I figured Dad shouldn't find it when he went up for repairs. You know how he is about drinking on the job."

Virgil thought for a moment. "True." He put the bottle on the desk. "What's on the discs?"

"My data from TB5. I didn't want to risk transmitting it and having it fall into Hood's hands. I'm hoping between Brains and I, we can find Alan and the others."

Virgil nodded and John grew quiet again. "John? What's up?" Virgil asked a few minutes later. "I mean, it's pretty obvious something's bothering you."

John sighed and turned to stare out the window. "Virgil? I need to ask you a favor, but I don't want the others to know."

"No problem, what is it?"

There was a long pause. "Could you…could you get me something to help me sleep?"

The request came so softly, Virgil could hardly hear it. "Not sleeping well?"

John shook his head. "No. In fact, I wouldn't even call it sleeping." He paced the length of the room. "I can't remember the last time I actually closed my eyes. And when I do, the nightmares…" He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

Virgil looked closely at his brother, noticing for the first time, his pallor and the deep circles under his eyes. Knowing instinctively, that now was the wrong time to pry, Virgil nodded. "Sure John. I'll go now. Be right back." He hurried down to the infirmary, and scanning the shelves, grabbed a mild sedative. Hoping to avoid the rest of his family, he shoved the bottle in his pocket and headed back to John's room. He knocked quickly on the door, and without waiting for an answer, walked in. "John!"

John looked up startled. He was in the process of pulling on an old t-shirt. The left side of his chest was covered with an ugly bruise. "What happened to you?" Virgil exclaimed as he knelt down in front of his brother to examine the bruises.

"It's nothing."

John let out a yelp as Virgil gently probed his chest. "Like hell it's nothing." Virgil muttered. "You've re-broken at least one rib. How did this happen?" He demanded.

John shrugged then winced as he pulled his shirt over his head. "Either during the latest attack on Thunderbird 5 or when we crashed into the drink. Really doesn't matter now does it?"

Virgil frowned at his brother's tone. "I want you down in the infirmary. You need X-rays."

John shook his head. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"No choice John. Either come willingly, or I tell Dad." Hazel eyes locked on blue.

John refused to back down. "It's nothing." He insisted.

Virgil merely folded his arms across his chest and glared. Finally John sat down gingerly on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands. "Virg, I'll be all right. Just a little tired. I told you…I haven't been sleeping. I try, but the nightmares…they just won't stop."

"You said that before. What kind of nightmares?"

"About the attack. There's fire and pain." A pause. "And how I thought all of you were never going to get there." He whispered.

Virgil softened and he sat down next to his brother. "Here. Take these. They'll help with the pain too." Virgil handed John the pills.

"Thanks." John took two pills, swallowed them and placed the bottle on the nightstand. "I'll let you look at me in the morning."

Virgil nodded. "If you're not there right after breakfast, I come hunting for you." He paused a moment. "After I tell Dad."

"Deal." John eased himself down on the bed.

Virgil gripped his brother's shoulder. "Rest Johnny." He said quietly. John merely grunted in reply as Virgil slipped from the room.

Outside in the hallway, Virgil leaned against the wall, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Gordon spied his brother and called out to him. "Hey Virg! Dad wants us to get the 'birds ready so we can take off as soon as—What's wrong?" He looked around, realizing where Virgil was standing. "Is it John?" He asked anxiously.

Virgil shook his head. "No…Yes…C'mon, in here." Virgil pulled Gordon into his room. Artwork covered the walls and the desk, and sheet music nearly buried the small keyboard in the corner. Gordon shoved some papers onto the floor, and sat down at the desk. Virgil plopped down on the bed.

"Well!" Gordon asked when the silence grew too long.

Virgil sighed and sat up. "We're fucked Gordy."

Gordon started. His older brother seldom stooped to profanity, saying it was an uncreative outlet for the English language. "How so?" He asked hesitantly.

"John's a wreck. And I don't mean just mentally. He's re-broken at least one rib and his body's a mass of bruises." Virgil replied.

"Broke a rib? How?" Gordon frowned. "The attack."

Virgil nodded. "That's what he says. Either that or the landing with the pod." Virgil sighed again. "There's more. He just asked me for something to help him sleep."

Gordon started. "John?" Their elder brother was well known for scorning most medicines, even aspirin unless absolutely necessary.

Virgil nodded. "He told me he hasn't slept in days. And Scott told me he hasn't been eating much either. I watched John at dinner, take a good look at him and you'll see it's true."

"Virgil, what do we do?"

"I don't know Gordon. I'm torn between keeping it quiet and telling Dad."

Gordon shot to his feet. "Of course you've got to tell Dad."

Virgil shook his head. "No Gord. He trusted me. I can't say anything to anyone, I shouldn't have even told you." He tried to change the subject. "Where's Scott?"

"In Dad's office. I think they're discussing what happened up there." Gordon pointed a thumb to the sky. "I heard some of it. John froze when Hood attacked. If Scott hadn't been there…let's just say we'd be mourning John for real this time."

Virgil closed his eyes and shook his head. "Damn." He whispered.

Now Gordon paced the room. "Is John…Is he OK? I mean, is he going to be able to help us with Alan and the Hood?"

Virgil shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, I don't know."

"So what do we do?"

"First I need to get him to the infirmary and see how bad his injuries are. After that, I have no idea. I'm not qualified to deal with inside his head."

"What about that doc you told me about, the one treating Parker in Boston."

"Dad's supposed to call and talk to him. But even if he agrees to join us, he'll never get here before the Hood's deadline."

Gordon stared out Virgil's window at the sea. "This sucks Virg, this really sucks."

"Tell me about it." They stood quietly a few minutes staring out at the waves.

"Virgil, I think you should tell Dad." Gordon said softly.

"I can't! He trusts me to keep my mouth shut!" Virgil protested.

Gordon looked at his brother. "And what happens when John goes with us to find Alan and he freezes up again? Or worse. He's a liability Virgil. And we can't afford someone like that on our team right now."

Virgil's face reddened. "Do you hear yourself Gordon? He's not a liability, he's our brother!" He shot back angrily.

"I know that. But right now he's not in any shape to help us, physically or mentally." Gordon was silent a moment, then spoke quietly. "What if his actions or in this case inactions, get some one, like one of us, killed?"

Virgil sat down heavily on the bed. "You're right. I have no choice. I have to tell Dad." He said hoarsely.

Gordon placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Come on big brother, we'll tell him together."

Penny looked up from where she was sitting on the bed, as the door burst open and Hood and his two cronies barged in. "Haven't you people ever heard of knocking?" She asked venomously.

Hood marched forward, his evil red eyes glittering angrily. "Where are they?" He demanded.

"Whom are you talking about?" She replied archly.

"You know whom I'm talking about. Alan and his little friend! They've escaped!"

Penelope kept her expression neutral, but her heart was pounding in excitement. "Seeing as you've had me locked in here for God knows how long, I have no idea where they would be. As a matter of fact, I don't even know where here is."

Mullion raised a fist to her. Penny met his gaze fearlessly. "Try it. I promise you won't like what happens to you." She told the big man blandly.

Mullion snarled menacingly and moved towards her again, this time striking her across the face, knocking her to the floor.

"Mullion! Control yourself. You can have her after I dispose of Jeff Tracy." Hood stared at his goon until the man backed off. Hood turned back to Penny. "Now, tell me where the boys are." His pupils narrowed and Penny cried out in pain and clutched her head. "I grow tired of this game Lady Penelope." His eyes narrowed again and Penny fell to her knees.

"I—I don't know…please…" Tears ran down her face.

Hood stared at her a moment longer. "You seem to be telling the truth. Transom, Mullion search everywhere. Do not come back until you find them. Use the cameras. They couldn't have gotten far."

Both nodded and hurried out the door. Hood cast one last look at Penny, and laughing evilly, left her alone on the floor of the room.