Thanks to everyone who's enjoying this story. A special thanks goes to Sam1 for helping me with all the medical details. Again, I don't own the Thunderbirds, so please don't sue!
John watched as the great green behemoth that was Thunderbird 2, launched into the sky. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and turned to his youngest brother and his friends. "You three get the pre-flight checks started on TB 1. Hopefully INTERPOL will be here soon so we can get the hell out of here." No sooner than the words had left his mouth, a helicopter appeared. "Go. Don't let them see you." The kids rushed to Thunderbird 1 as John turned to meet the officials.
It took over an hour, and in the end, John had to ride on the back of an ATV and lead them to the prone bodies of Hood and Mullion. Another group of officers made their way to the control room and found a furious Transom locked in the closet.
Finally John informed them that he had had enough and was returning to his base. The officials, noticing for the first time how weary and worn out John looked, nodded their thanks and assured him that Hood and his cronies would be taken care of.
John made his way back to Thunderbird 1, and after taking one last glance around at the officers securing the area, and stepped inside. After the steamy tropics that had surrounded him, the coolness of the ship felt cold, and John suppressed a shiver. His head and ribs were beginning to hurt in earnest, and he wondered idly how he could get Alan to fly home without making it obvious that he was doing so.
John sighed and walked into the cockpit. Alan looked up and vacated the pilot's seat, buckling himself into the chair next to it. John sat down and rubbed the heels of his hands over his eyes.
"John?" He looked up into Alan's concerned face. "Is everything alright?"
John smiled ruefully. "Everything's fine Alan." He turned his attention to the control panel. "Are we all set here?"
Alan nodded. "Flight track to Tracy Island has been set. We're ready for take-off."
"Everyone buckled in back there?" John asked, glancing back. Tin-Tin and Fermat nodded. "Perimeter clear?"
Alan looked out the windows. "All clear John. They've backed away to give us room."
"FAB. Thunderbirds are go." John started the giant rocket and within moments was airborne. He circled the area once, then headed out in a northerly direction.
"John? This isn't the way home." Alan said cautiously.
John smiled. "I know Sprout. This is just to throw any followers off our tail." A red light began flashing on the control panel. "See, what did I tell you. Not only are we being followed, but they pinned a homing device on us. Watch this." John pressed a few buttons and a shudder went through the ship. Everyone got lightheaded a moment, but the feeling quickly passed.
"What was that?" Alan asked.
"I reversed the polarity throughout the hull. It'll knock off anything that isn't supposed to be there." John told him.
"What about the planes following us?" Tin-Tin asked.
"They can't follow what they can't see. Hang on." John pushed the throttle down and Thunderbird 1 leaped forward soon reaching a speed of 10,000 mph, leaving their pursuers far behind. The g-forces pushed them all back in their seats, and a fresh wave of pain through John's head and chest sent him greying out. John bit back a moan as his hands shook on the yoke and the giant rocket wavered in its course.
"John!" Alan yelled as Thunderbird 1 took a nosedive.
John forced his eyes open and pulled the yoke back. Immediately, the rocket righted itself. He decreased speed and eased the ship around in a large arc, heading back towards Tracy Island. A wave of nausea washed over him and he clenched his jaw until the feeling passed. He opened his eyes and took a shuddering breath.
"John? Are you all right?" Alan asked, his voice full of concern.
John paused before answering. "No. Take her." He got up from the pilot's seat and stumbled towards the back of the rocket, disappearing out the door.
Alan watched for a moment then moved over. "Fermat!"
"C-C-Coming Alan." Fermat limped forward and buckled himself into the seat Alan had just vacated. "What's wrong with J-J-your brother?"
Alan shook his head. "I don't know." He looked back at Tin-Tin.
"I'll go check on him." She sent Alan a dazzling smile before following John's path out the door. She paused in front of the door leading to the ship's small restroom and knocked on the door. "John? Can I help you?"
The door opened a few seconds later and John staggered out. His face was ashen, his eyes glazed in pain and confusion. "Tin-Tin?" He swayed dizzily.
Her heart in her throat, Tin-Tin eased John down on one of the pull-out beds. "Tell me what's wrong."
John moaned. "My head…I can't breathe…" He gasped, his left arm held tightly against his chest. Blood began to flow from his nose.
Tin-Tin quickly helped him to a sitting position and waded up some bandages and pressed them to his nose. She felt the pulse in his wrist and was alarmed to find it so weak and unsteady. His skin was cold and clammy and he seemed to be gasping for breath. "Stay here and don't move. I'll be right back." John nodded, his face a mask of pain. She draped a blanket around his shoulders and hurried back to the cockpit. "Alan! How long until we get home?"
Alan glanced down at the computer. "Twenty minutes, less if I speed her up."
Tin-Tin shook her head, frowning. "No, I think that would make him worse."
"What's wrong with John?" Alan demanded.
She met his gaze, her coffee eyes filled with fear. "I don't know. His nose is bleeding again and he's having trouble breathing. I think he was sick in the bathroom too. He's not good Alan."
"I-I-I'll let my father know what's going on." Fermat turned to the radio.
Alan looked back as Tin-Tin made her way back to the door. "Tin-Tin…take care of him." She sent him another smile, and nodding, disappeared.
"T-T-Thunderbird 1 to Tracy Island." Fermat called.
"This is Tracy Island. Fer-Fer-Son? What's going on?" Brains asked.
"We have an emergency. John's hurt. P-P-Pretty bad from what Tin-Tin says." Fermat replied.
"FAB. We'll have the infirmary on standby."
"Hey Brains!" Alan interrupted.
"Yes Alan?"
Alan gulped. "I—I never landed TB 1 before. Not in the silo anyway."
There was a pause on the other end. "Put her down on the r-r-runway. We can put her back where she belongs l-l-later. What's your ETA?"
"Another twenty minutes or so." Fermat told his father.
"FAB Thunderbird 1. We'll be w-w-waiting for you. Tracy Island out." Brains signed off.
The next twenty minutes were the longest in Alan's life. It seemed like forever before Tracy Island came into view. He guided Thunderbird 1 around to the back side of the island, and set her down on the runway. He took a deep breath and exchanged a look with Fermat. "We did it."
Fermat smiled and punched a few buttons on the computer. "I put the s-s-ship in stealth mode. Radar w-w-won't be able to pick us up."
"Thanks Fermat." Alan unbuckled and hurried to the back. The sight of his older brother stopped him in his tracks.
John's face was so pale, it was almost translucent. Tin-Tin had placed and oxygen mask over his face, trying to ease his ragged breathing. His nosebleed had stopped, but his face and uniform were covered in blood.
"I'll go get my f-f-father!" Fermat limped quickly down the ramp.
"John!" Alan knelt by his side. "Can you walk?"
John's eyes flickered open and he nodded. "I…I think so."
Alan wrapped one arm around John's waist and eased him to a sitting position. Together he and Tin-Tin got John to his feet. He swayed unsteadily for a moment, and Alan tightened his grip. "Easy John, I've got you." John nodded and together they started down the ramp. They made it to the ground just as Brains and Kyrano came running. Together they eased John down on the stretcher.
Brains gave Fermat a quick hug and turned his attention to John. He gave the young astronaut a brief examination and looked up at Kyrano. "He's going into sh-sh-shock. We n-n-need to get him in-in-inside." Kyrano nodded and they quickly pushed the stretcher into the hanger.
Once inside, they swiftly made their way to the infirmary and placed John on one of the diagnostic beds. The alarms began to wail almost immediately.
"What's wrong? Is he all right?" Alan asked, an edge of panic to his voice.
Onaha placed her arm around his shoulders. "I am sure John will be fine. Come, let them tend you your brother. It is good to have you all home." She deftly steered the three of them out of the infirmary.
Kyrano looked from John to Brains. "He is not fine." He said quietly.
Brains nodded in agreement. "I think he has a pneu-pneu-collapsed lung. Among other things."
"Can you help him?" Kyrano asked as John began to thrash and moan.
Brains shook his head. "This is b-b-beyond my abilities. He needs a hos-hospital."
"I do not think it would be wise to move him. Perhaps Master Virgil?" Brains nodded. "Very well, I will see to it." He placed his hand on John's forehead, whispered a brief prayer, then hurried from the room.