Again, I don't own 'em. If I did, John would be here with me now.
"John! John wait!" Scott pounded down the beach after his brother. Guy moves pretty fast with two broken ribs. He could see John in the distance, heading towards the rocks at the edge of the beach. Scott started jogging towards him. "John!"
John didn't look back but came to a stop, sitting on a large rock. Scott finally caught up to him. "Jesus Johnny!" He panted.
"Get away from me Scott."
"No way bro." Scott settled himself on another rock near his brother. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"
John shrugged, one arm pressed up against his chest. "Does it really matter?"
"It does to me!" Scott said angrily. "Dammit John! Why won't you talk to me!"
John shrugged again and refused to look up at his brother. "Just, leave me alone."
"John…"
John got to his feet, eyes blazing in fury. "What Scott? What do you want me to say? That everything Dad said up there isn't true?"
"Of course it's not true—" Scott started.
"Bullshit!" John exploded. "Dad's right! I'm not capable of doing my job! I am mentally unstable! If you hadn't been up on TB5, Alan probably wouldn't have been kidnapped. And I'm sick to death of you all pretending otherwise!"
Scott's own temper flared. "Now listen here John, whether you believe it or not, we care about what happens to you." John snorted. Scott went on. "And I for one, do not think you're mentally unstable, and neither does anyone else."
John muttered something unintelligible under his breath. "Just leave me alone." He said finally.
"No." Scott stood and marched over to his brother, spinning him around so John was forced to look at him. "We're the Thunderbirds. Our job is to help people, and right now one of our own is in trouble. Are you going to just sit here and let your brother die? Knowing that you could have helped save him?" Grey eyes locked on blue. After a moment, Scott shook his head. "I thought you were the smart one John." He started back towards the house. Suddenly he stopped and turned back to John. "This is your chance John. You can help bring down the Hood and get some of your own back." He paused. "Or are you going to stay here and prove to our father that he was right after all?" Without another word, Scott continued his track back to the villa, leaving John staring out over the water, alone with his thoughts.
Jeff looked up as the familiar sound of Thunderbird 1's engines reached his ears. He hurried to the window, getting there just in time to see the rocket shoot up from the pool and disappear into the sky. "Dammit Scott!" He keyed up the radio. "Tracy Island to Thunderbird 1. Scott what do you think you're doing?"
There was no reply.
"Scott come in!" Jeff demanded. By now, Gordon and Virgil had entered the room. "Scott answer me!"
"Hello, you have reached International Rescue. We are unable to take your call right now, but please leave your name, number, and the nature of your emergency, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank-you and have a nice day." Scott's voice abruptly shut off.
Gordon tried hard to stifle his laugh, turning it into a cough instead. Jeff glared. Virgil met his father's gaze unflinchingly, his arms folded across his chest. "Do either of you know where he's gone?" Jeff asked.
Both boys shook their heads. "If I had to guess, I'd say he's gone to get Alan." Gordon commented dryly.
Jeff scowled and marched out the door towards the control center, Virgil and Gordon following close behind. They met Brains on the way. "J-J-Jeff, why did Th-Th-Th-Scott launch?"
Jeff shook his head. "Track him for me. And see if you can find John."
Brains nodded and sat down, activating the Command Center. Jeff turned to his sons. "Go fire up Thunderbird 2, we're leaving." Virgil nodded in reply, and he and Gordon hurried to the chutes.
"Jeff, John is a-a-aboard Thunderbird 1, as is Scott." Brains told him.
Jeff nodded. "I figured as much." He clenched his eyes shut. He looked up when he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Mr. Tracy, let it go. You anger is not helping anyone, least of all yourself." Kyrano's brown eyes met Jeff's fearlessly. "It will be all right. This I know."
Jeff smiled. "Thanks Kyrano." He straightened and turned to Brains. "We'll keep you posted." He hurried toward the chute.
When Jeff got to the ship, he was surprised to find Tin-Tin, in uniform, waiting for him. "Tin-Tin, you're not coming. Not this time." Jeff said, shaking his head.
The young woman held up a hand in protest. "Mr. Tracy, I have to go. I'm the only one who can help you stop the Hood." She paused a moment. "You know my abilities, I can do this."
Jeff stared at her a minute, his thoughts on London a month ago. Finally he relented. "You're right, go strap in." He followed her up the ramp and settled himself in his seat. Virgil was in the pilot's seat, doing the pre-flight checks. Gordon sat next to him assisting. They both looked up when Jeff and Tin-Tin came in.
"Tin-Tin? You joining us?" Gordon asked. Virgil just stared in surprise.
Jeff nodded and they turned back to the controls. "Let's move, your brothers are waiting. Thunderbirds are go."
"What's our ETA?" Scott asked his brother.
John rolled his eyes. "Do you have to do that?" John snapped.
Scott looked startled. "Do what?"
"Ask our ETA. It's equivalent to 'Are we there yet?', which you've been asking since you were six, and it's annoying as hell." John checked the computer. "About twenty minutes."
Scoot raised an eyebrow at his brother's outburst, but didn't say anything. "Let me know when we're close, I don't want to land right on top of the mine." He smiled thinly. "I guess Dad gave up trying to contact us."
John grinned in spite of himself. "That message was pretty good. Gordon would be so proud."
Scott laughed, half amazed that he could still do so with all that had happened, then turned his attention back to the controls. He busied himself flying for a while, until John's muttering next to him finally broke through his concentration. "And you say I'm annoying. Do you always talk to yourself while you work?" Scott grumbled.
John looked up surprised. "I guess I never thought about it. I'm alone up there on TB5, and I sometimes just talk to hear my own voice." John bent back over the computer.
Scott mentally kicked himself. Idiot, you just had to open your big mouth. He sighed.
"Scott, it's OK." Scott looked up into his brother's blue eyes. John smiled tentatively and after a moment, Scott did too. "Now, I downloaded the map of the mine into our hand scanners. There's a place about half a mile from the original entrance that both the 'birds will be able to land. It's going to be a short take-off for TB2, but Virgil's done it before, so it shouldn't be much of a problem."
"Where'd you get the info?" Scott asked.
"From the rescue three years ago. I'm sure more has caved in by now, but I'll bet there's still plenty of tunnels open for Hood and his cronies to be hiding in." John replied.
Scott nodded in agreement. He glanced down at his control panel. "We're just about there. I'd better get in touch with the others." He flipped a switch. "Thunderbird 1 calling Thunderbird 2, do you copy?"
"Thunderbird 2 here. What's up Scott?" Virgil asked.
"We've found a good landing spot, what's your— " Scott glanced at John, who frowned. "How long until you get here?"
"We're thirty minutes behind you."
"See you soon. Thunderbird 1 out." Scott started to cut his connection, but his father's voice stopped him.
"Scott, under no condition are you or your brother to go in there alone. Wait until we get there, is that understood?"
Scott looked over at John who scowled. "Sorry Father, I didn't catch that. The signal seems to be breaking up." Scott shut off the radio. "That's the end of that." He circled his ship in an easy arc, and landed where John had indicated. "Think they heard us?" Scott asked, hurrying out of the seat and rummaging in the equipment locker.
John shook his head. "With the cloaks on it's doubtful, but we'd better watch our step." He unbuckled his safety hardness and sat staring at the computer for a moment. He took a deep breath and got to his feet, turning towards his brother. "Scott? What are you doing?"
Scott looked up. "John…"
"A gun Scott? You're taking a gun?" John stared at his brother in disbelief.
Scott nodded as he buckled the holster around his waist. "We're not going to get taken by surprise again. One way or another, this ends now." He said, his voice hard.
John shook his head. "I'm not carrying one."
"I won't ask you to. As long as you don't ask me to leave it here."
"Where'd you get it?"
"It's my service revolver."
John grew quiet a moment. "Do you think Dad has his?"
"Probably." Scott sighted the weapon, then snapped on the safety and tucked it into his belt.
"I mean it Scott, I won't use it." John persisted.
"I know." Scott grinned at his brother. "Besides, you shoot like a girl." He said, trying to lighten the mood.
John narrowed his eyes. "I'll be sure to tell Penny you said that."
Scott laughed. "Let's go."
They cautiously crept outside. "I take it we're not waiting for the others?" John asked sarcastically.
Scott sent him a disdainful look. "Looks that way. Move out. Alan's waiting." They disappeared into the jungle.
Virgil set Thunderbird 2 down close to his brother's ship. Jeff was out of his seat before Virgil had shut down the engines. "Try and raise your brothers again." Jeff commanded.
"I have been. They're not answering." Gordon replied.
"Damn Scott! I told him to stay put!" Jeff seethed.
Virgil marched up to his father. "What did you expect Dad? After the things you said to them them? And to me?" He snapped. "You think I'm happy to be here with you, because I'm not. I'm doing this for Alan, Fermat and Penny. And John in the hopes that this will help him. Personally I wish you had stayed back on the island."
Jeff took a startled step back at Virgil's tone. He looked to Gordon for support, but Gordon was staring impassively at them both. He shook his head and together, he and Tin-Tin left for the cargo bay.
Jeff felt his own temper start to boil. "You're no better Virgil. Once again, you hid John's injuries from me. Injuries, I might add, that may compromise this rescue."
"Don't you try and pin this on me." Virgil snarled. "Gordon and I were on our way to talk to you last night, but I couldn't find you. I figured I'd wait until morning, after I had examined John, before worrying anyone. I tried to talk to you this morning, but we all know how that turned out." Virgil snapped. "For your information Father, John has two cracked ribs and a nice variety of bruises, probably from the crash. Mentally, he's shot. In fact, he asked me for a sleeping aid last night." Jeff's eyes widened in surprise as Virgil continued. "Scott's not complaining, but I'm sure he's got the same bumps and bruises. The rest of us are fine, other than being mentally unstable and unable to follow orders." Virgil's hazel eyes were bright with anger. "So there's your update. Now I'd appreciate it if you got the hell off my ship."
Jeff narrowed his eyes at his son's tone, but instead of retorting, made his way outside.
Gordon looked up as he father and brother marched down the ramp. He arched an eyebrow up at Virgil, who shook his head. Gordon handed each of them a scanner. "John downloaded the schematics of the mine for us." He pressed a button on his. "They're at the main entrance, but from this info, it's blocked. They're moving, so I'd guess they're going to look for an airshaft. No sign of Fermat's signal yet, but I'm hoping that's just because the battery finally died."
"There's another entrance here." Tin-Tin pointed to the screen. "It's big so I'm guessing that's where you went in with the Mole last time."
Gordon nodded then continued. "I've been trying to reach them on the communicators, but they're not answering. If I had to guess, I'd say we're being jammed."
Jeff stared thoughtfully at the scanner. "I think we should get inside then split into two groups of two. We should be able to cover more ground that way. There's a back entrance here." Jeff pointed to the screen. "We can start there."
They nodded in agreement. "Tin-Tin, you're with me." Virgil marched off into the jungle.
Tin-Tin glanced at Gordon who winked and mouthed, Good luck! before hurrying after Virgil.