Here's another one. Glad you're all still enjoying it! Don't own 'em so please don't sue!

Scott rolled over in his sleep and inadvertently jarred his injured shoulder. Cursing, he sat up, clutching it until the pain receded a bit. He glanced over at the clock.

2:30. Great.

He got to his feet and padded out the door. He made his way to the kitchen intending to grab a glass of milk and swallow some pain meds. It's been two weeks, you'd think I'd be feeling better by now. A sound from the lounge made him pause. He slipped inside. "Hello?" He called into the darkened room.

"Hello."

"John?"

"Yeah."

Scott walked in and turned on a lamp. "What are you doing?"

John blinked owlishly up at his brother and shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. You?"

Scott shook his head. "Banged the shoulder." He sat down next to John and noticed the half empty liquor bottle. "John? What's this?"

"Don't Scott. It's nothing. I just needed a little to help me get back to sleep." John got to his feet, swayed unsteadily for a minute, and staggered over to put the bottle back in the cabinet.

"How much did you have?" Scott asked, keeping his voice neutral.

John's blue eyes flashed angrily. "That's none of your damn business." He snapped.

"I think it is."

"Oh, I get it. Since I've cracked up so badly, you've decided to become my keeper." John spat.

Scott held up his hand in surrender. "No, I just care about you."

"Bullshit!" John paced angrily around the room. "You, Dad, none of you really give a damn about me."

"What are you talking about?" Scott asked, incredulous. "Dad was a wreck while you were recovering. We all were."

"Guilt is more like it." John muttered.

Scott frowned at his younger brother. "What brought all this on?"

"Nothing, just leave me alone." Without a backward glance, John marched out the door. A few minutes later, Scott heard the outside door slam, and he knew John had left the villa. He toyed with following him, but decided to wait until they both calmed down. Or at least until I can talk to Dad.

Scott searched the house the next morning, looking for his father. He finally ended up in the lab where Brains was working on planet side repairs to Thunderbird 5.

"Hey there Brains!"

"G-G-Good morning Scott." Brains bent back over his computer.

"What are you working on?" Scott asked, walking over.

"Trying to re-engage the l-l-life support systems on TB 5." He answered.

"How's she looking?"

"B-Better. I've managed to get the c-c-computer going and I'm getting signals back. She's in r-r-rough shape, but it's nothing we can't f-f-f-repair." Brains smiled.

"That is good news." Scott paused a moment. "Have you seen Dad this morning?"

Brains nodded. "H-H-He took Dr. Mac-Mac-Steve and Lady P. back to Boston. He is going to take her and P-Parker back to London and be home tomorrow." He caught something in Scott's tone. "Is everything al-al-OK?"

Scott smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, just wanted to talk to him. I'll catch him when he gets home." He sighed. "Guess I'll go see what the others are up to. Talk to you later Brains." He waved half-heartedly as he left the room.

He made his way out to the pool and sat down on a lounge chair. Gordon was doing laps, Alan and Fermat cheering him on. Tin-Tin sat with her parents at a table, watching and laughing. There was no sign of Virgil, but it was a good hour before he usually showed up.

John was conspicuous by his absence. Even now when he was healing, he was usually the first one up. Scott decided not to draw attention to that fact, and settled himself down in the chair, intending to spend a quiet day before his father returned.

Jeff sat down on Penny's pale pink leather couch and stared into the fire in the pink marble fireplace. He held a scotch in one hand and fingered a small box in the other. He quickly shoved the box in his pocket as Penny walked in.

"Parker all settled?" He asked her.

She nodded and poured herself a drink before joining Jeff on the couch. "He is most upset over the loss of FAB 1, but I reassured him that Brains would be putting a new one together shortly."

"We'll get to work on it as soon as we complete the repairs to Thunderbird 5."

She snuggled close to him. "Until then, I suppose it would be easier if I just stayed with you."

"You'd think so wouldn't you." Jeff laughed as he wrapped his arm around her.

They sat there quietly watching the fire for a long time. Finally Jeff broke the silence. "Pen, can I ask you something?"

"Anything Jeff."

He pulled the box out of his pocket and took a deep breath. "Penelope, will you marry me?"

Penny looked at the ring in his hand. "Oh Jeff…" She breathed.

"It's a pink diamond. I know how much you like the color." He smiled.

Penny got to her feet and nervously paced the living room. "Pen?" Jeff called out, puzzled.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with tears. "Jeff, I can't."

Jeff went cold. "What?"

She shook her head. "I can't marry you."

"Why not?" Jeff walked over and stood in front of her. "We're both consenting adults, we've known each other for years and love each other…or so I thought."

"Jeff I do love you, so very much."

He gripped her shoulders. "Then marry me."

"I can't." Penny said again as she broke free of his grasp.

Jeff walked the length of the room coming to a stop in front of the large back window at the far end. "The least you could do is tell me why."

Though he spoke softly, Penelope could hear the anger in his tone. "Jeff, I'm your unfettered hand. Your agent. I go places that no married woman should be. How can I do that if I'm your wife?"

"Who would know?" Jeff asked.

"People would notice Jeff." She walked over and took his hand. "Please darling, try and understand. How can I still do my job for International Rescue if I'm married? You know I have to sometimes…get close to my assignments."

"How many have you slept with Penny?" Jeff asked coldly, pulling his hand free.

Penny stepped back, hurt flashing in her eyes. "Not that it's any of your business, but I've never slept with anyone I don't respect or doesn't respect me."

Jeff merely shrugged and turned away. "Jeff, please…" Her eyes filled with tears.

He turned back, his face expressionless. "I guess that's it then."

"What do you mean?" Fear creeping into her heart.

"What's the point of going on together?" There was no mistaking the hurt in his voice.

"I love you!" She cried brokenly.

He shook his head. "But not enough to marry me." He walked over to the door. Jeff paused on the threshold and turned back. "Good-bye Penny."

Penny watched him leave, not believing what had just happened. A few minutes later, she heard the sound of the rental car leaving and she sank to the floor, her face in her hands.