This one's for a certain person who begged me-you know who you are. ;)
WARNING: This chapter contains more language and violence than in previous chapters. Younger readers please take note.
John groaned as he stumbled to his brother's side. "Scott! Scott!"
Scott moaned and rolled off Mullion to lean up against the wall. "Tie him up. I managed to knock his head against the floor. Lucky for me there was a good sized rock under his head."
John fastened the cuffs around Mullion's wrists. Then for good measure, took a pair from his own pack and added them as well. Spying the gun, John checked to make sure the safety was on, and stuffed it down the front of his uniform. "Scott, you alright?" He called over his shoulder. Scott didn't answer and John looked over at his brother.
Scott was sitting on the floor, half in the shadows. "Scott?" John made his way over him. "Scotty? You alright?" John peered closely at his brother and was stunned to see red blossoming over the right shoulder of his uniform. "Scott!"
Scott opened his eyes and winced. "It's not that bad."
"Like hell it isn't. You've been shot!" He knelt down and probed gently at his brother's shoulder. Scott yelped in pain. John rummaged around in his backpack and pulled out the small med-kit they all carried. "Looks like it went through clean. I'm not Virgil, but it may have cracked your collarbone." John told him as he carefully pulled the material away from the wound and bandaged it. He then pulled off his belt, and used it to make a crude sling.
Scott shifted slightly and grimaced. "Yeah, I think you're right." He looked up at John. "What about you?" He asked, seeing the pain in his brother's eyes.
John smiled thinly. "Let's just say I've felt better." He carefully helped his brother to his feet.
Scott clenched his teeth against the pain and took a shuddering breath. "I'm OK."
"Sure you are…" John started to reply when his communicator went off.
"John, Scott, can you hear me?"
"Dad? Where are you?" John exclaimed in surprise.
"In Hood's command center. I've got the boys and Penny. Virgil's here but Gordon was caught in a cave-in."
John and Scott shared a worried glance. "Is he alright? What about Alan and the others?" John asked.
"They're all fine. I don't know about Gordon. He's not responding. We're headed back out to Thunderbird 2 to get the Mole and alert the authorities. Transom has been taken care of. Have you seen Mullion?" Jeff asked.
"We got him Dad, but not before he got us. Scott's been shot." Scott sent John a scathing look.
There was a pause before Jeff answered. "Shot? What happened?"
"Mullion jumped us and things got a bit out of hand. It doesn't look serious, but I want Virgil to take a look at him."
"I want both of you out of there now. We'll meet you at TB2." Jeff's tone booked no argument.
"What about the Hood?" Scott joined in the conversation.
"Leave him for now. I want you both out of there." Jeff said again.
"FAB Dad. See you soon." John closed the connection. "Can you walk?" He asked Scott.
Scott nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. What about him?" He nudged Mullion with his toe.
"Leave him. He's not going anywhere." They started off down the tunnel. Scott moved slowly, occasionally gritting his teeth against the pain in his shoulder. John glanced at him worriedly, and finally stopped. "Look Scott, you're not fooling me. How bad is it?"
Scott leaned his body against the wall, and idly gripped his bad shoulder. "OK, so it hurts." His face was pale, and sweat shone on his forehead. He took a shuddering breath and tried to smile. "But I'll live. What about you?"
John frowned then shrugged. "Bastard hit me in the ribs. I don't think he broke anything, but sure as hell aggravated what I already had." He sighed. "Neither of us are in any condition to climb out of here. I say we try the elevator."
Scott nodded wearily. "I agree." He shuddered as a rat skittered off into the darkness in front of them.
John laughed and wrapped an arm around his brother's waist for support. "C'mon big guy. Let's go home."
After nearly fifteen minutes of walking, they came to the elevator. John pressed the UP button and they heard the hum of the car as it came towards them. John glanced over at his brother. The bandage must have stopped most of the bleeding, for Scott had more color in his face and his breathing had steadied out. I still want us the hell out of here. This place gives me the creeps. The sudden opening of the elevator door interrupted his musings.
As John started towards the door, he ran smack into someone. Both looked up at each other in surprise. "You!" John exclaimed.
The Hood placed his hand on the door frame to stop it from closing. "Why John, Scott, what a pleasant surprise." He smiled and his eyes glittered an evil red.
A piercing pain shot through John's head and he cried out, his hands clutching his temples. "John!" Scott reached for his brother, only to be stopped as his head exploded in agony. As abruptly as it started, the attack stopped. Scott glared up at the Hood. "You won't get away with this." He seethed.
The Hood merely smiled. "Now then, what have you done with Mullion?"
"How do you know we did anything to him?" John replied sullenly.
Hood focused his eyes on the young astronaut and John doubled over, his hands clenched against his head. Scott took a step towards his brother, but stopped when Hood increased his power, knocking John to his knees. "Now then, are you ready to answer me?"
John staggered to his feet, Scott using his good arm to steady him. "He's back down that way." He said, nodding to the tunnel behind him.
"Good. Lead the way."
John shook his head. "No."
Hood narrowed his eyes. "You find pleasure in pain John?" He asked as John cried out again.
"Stop! Leave him alone!" Scott stepped in front of his brother. "We'll take you, just knock it off."
"Scott—"
"Shut up John." Scott fixed his steel grey eyes on his brother. John scowled and nodded." Scott turned back to their captor. "He's back down where the tunnel splits."
"Then shall we?" Hood gestured for them to start walking. John took the lead, but kept glancing back at his brother. Scott seemed fine, except for the pallor of his skin. The bleeding in his shoulder seemed to have stopped and keeping it immobile was keeping the worst of the pain at bay.
John tried to ignore the residual pain in his head. How stupid were we, just walking into the Hood like that. Where the hell is Dad anyway? He should have caught up with us by now. Scott needs medical attention, no matter how well he's handling this. Not to mention my head is killing me. John sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to will the headache away.
"Problems John? Wondering when your dear father will find you?" Hood asked silkily.
John started in surprise. "I don't know what you're talking about. My father isn't here. We came alone." He said firmly.
"Yes, alone. You're always alone aren't you John. Up there on Thunderbird 5."
John stopped and glared at him. "I'm not alone."
"Sure you aren't. You have your family to talk to whenever you wish. Where are they again? Oh yes, back on earth." Hood smiled evilly.
"I'm not alone." John said again, less forcefully this time.
Hood said nothing but only smiled, and they continued on their way.
Damn him. He knows nothing. I'm not alone. I have my family. John thought to himself.
"John…Don't you wonder why your father leaves you, out of all his sons, up there in space. Certainly the others are more than capable of doing your job."
John started at the voice in his head, but ignored it and marched on.
"And where is your father now? Shouldn't he have gotten here by now? Or perhaps he's forgotten about you…again."
John finally made the connection and whirled on the Hood, his face pale and his blue eyes flashing angrily. "Get out of my head you son of a bitch!" He yelled startling his brother.
"Temper, temper John." Hood told him, smiling. "Mustn't get all worked up now. You never know what might happen to you."
Scott watched the confrontation, his face mirroring his confusion. "John?"
"Forget it Scott." A sudden beeping caused John to jump. He glanced down at his communicator. Great timing Dad…
"Well, answer it." Hood commanded.
John shared a quick glance with Scott, who nodded. "John here."
"We're almost to Thunderbird 2 John, why haven't you gotten out yet?" Jeff demanded without preamble.
"We've run into a bit of a predicament."
"Scott?"
"No sir. Worse." John replied.
There was silence for a moment. "The Hood."
"You got it Dad. Seems he—ARUGH!" Once again, blinding pain seared through John's head and he dropped to the floor moaning.
"John what happened? John? JOHN!"
Faster than Scott believed possible, Hood rushed forward and wrenched the communicator off John's wrist. Instantly Scott's communicator started beeping. He started to reach for it, but one look from Hood, made him stay where he was.
Hood held out his hand and Scott place his communicator in it. "Hello Jeff." Hood said pleasantly.
"What did you do to my son? Where's Scott?" The anger was evident in Jeff's voice.
"They're both here I assure you. Safe and sound. Whether they stay that way is up to you." Hood replied.
"What do you want?"
Hood laughed. "Jeff, I thought you were an intelligent man?" His tone changed. "I want you. Preferably dead."
"Then let my sons go and come and get me."
"I don't think so Jeff." Hood's voice lowered to a growl. "You know I won't hesitate to kill them."
"Dad don't!" John yelled.
Hood turned to face John. "That's quite enough from you." His eyes turned scarlet.
John dropped to the floor screaming, blood pouring from his nose. Scott knelt at his brother's side. "Damn you." He growled.
"Oh, would you like to join the party?" Hood laughed evilly and once again his eyes blazed fire.
Scott felt the wound in his shoulder tear open and nearly passed out from the pain. Blood seeped through the bandages, and he gripped his shoulder tightly trying to stem it.
Mullion staggered out of the tunnel. He stopped in surprise, then grinned. "Your little escape didn't work too well, did it?" He laughed and nudged Scott with his toe.
"Take the cuffs off him." Hood ordered, nodding at John.
John looked up, his eyes filled with pain, yet blazing in fury. "No."
Hood glared at him. "You're a glutton for punishment, aren't you? I'll tell you again, take the cuffs off." They stood staring at each other for a long moment.
John slowly got to his feet, one hand pinching his nose shut. "Make me."
"Are you sure you want me to do that John?" Hood laughed evilly.
"John, don't…" Scott moaned softly.
John glanced over at his brother, then back to the Hood. "Fine. Just back off and leave my brother alone."
"I don't think you're in any place to bargain." Hood replied. John stood his ground. "Very well." Hood looked over at Scott. Scott took a shuddering breath, and nodded to his brother.
John slowly made his way over to the Hood's henchman. He punched in the combination to the cuff's lock and Mullion pulled his hands free. But before John could move away, the giant's fists rammed into his abdomen. John staggered back, hearing rather than feeling, a rib crack. He fell back to the floor and sat there gasping, one arm pressed tightly against his chest.
Mullion marched over and hauled John to his feet. He frisked him quickly and found the gun. "I'll be taking care of this." He sneered as he dropped John with another punch.
"Scott, John, what's going on?" Jeff called over the communicator.
Hood smiled evilly and dropped both communicators to the ground, then stepped on them. Jeff's voice went silent and the Hood turned back to the boys. "Now then, where were we?"
"Scott, John, answer me!" Jeff ordered into his communicator.
Virgil and the others stared at him. "Dad, what happened?"
"I've lost contact with your brothers." Jeff told him. Penny placed a reassuring hand on his shoulders. He sighed. "All right. I want all of you to hightail it back to Thunderbird 2. Get in touch with INTERPOL and explain what's going on. Virgil, keep trying your brothers, all of them. Get the Mole ready. We need to get Gordon out. I'll handle the Hood."
Virgil shook his head. "Not alone you're not."
"I agree." Penny added.
Jeff shook his head. "I'm not losing anyone else to this madman."
"But Dad!" Alan protested.
"Alan." Jeff stared at his son until Alan looked away. "Now get going."
Virgil nodded curtly, and grabbing his brother by the arm, practically dragged him off down the hallway.
Jeff looked at Penny. "Penny, you too."
She drew herself up haughtily. "I am not one of your Thunderbirds Jeff, I go where I please." Jeff started to shake his head, but Penny interrupted. "No Jeff, I'm going with you. End of discussion."
Jeff scowled, but seeing it was pointless to argue, he took Penny's hand and they started off to find John and Scott.