DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimer applies. We don't own the Thunderbirds. Neither are we making any money off this endeavor.

Chapter 5 – COMPLICATIONS

Scott saw Virgil move and a second later heard the gunshot. He brought the butt of the rifle down on to the side of the guards head, rendering him unconscious again. Scott picked up the hand gun and checked the guard for any other weapons.

Jeff had been forced to the ground when Virgil rushed him. Both Virgil and Jeff sat up and looked in the direction of Franklin. They gasped at the sight that greeted them.

The bullet that had been meant for Jeff had found its mark in Franklin. He was on his back on the floor with a red spot growing across his chest. He was coughing and a trickle of blood leaked from his mouth. What was more alarming though was the puddle growing under the vial that was still in his hand.

"NO!" Jeff cried out as he and Virgil both headed toward Franklin.

Virgil reached Franklin's side first. He pried the vial out of Franklin's hand. He held the vial up. "The top was loosened but not completely off. Two-third of it has leaked out." He told his father while securing the cap back on the vial.

Enraged Jeff grabbed the lapels of Franklin's suit jacket. Lifting him slightly off the floor, Jeff yelled in his face. "You have more antidote. I know you do. You have to. Tell me where it is. Tell me now!" He began shaking Franklin in anger while demanding an answer.

By this time, Gordon and Brains had made their way into the room. They watched in silence the drama that was playing out before them.

John painfully made his way over to his dad. "Dad, stop. You've got to let him go. Dad, listen to me. Stop this right now." John told his father while trying to loosen his dad's hands from Franklin's jacket.

"Dad? He (cough) called you Dad. (cough, cough)" Franklin asked Jeff. An evil smile came to his blood-stained lips. "I win. (cough) I may have lost (cough) the secrets of Inter…(cough) International Rescue. (cough, cough) I will even (cough) lose my life. (cough) But you will lose too. (cough, cough) You will lose (cough) more than me. (cough) You will lose (cough) your son. (cough) Because of that, (cough, cough) I win. (cough) I…" Franklin exhaled his final breath. His now sightless eyes were still staring into Jeff's face.

"NO! No, you can't die! You son of a…" Jeff ranted against Franklin's corpse. "You can't let my son die."

"Dad, stop. This isn't helping." Scott said joining John in pulling his father off of Franklin.

Hearing a groan from John seemed to snap Jeff back to reality. "Your right, Scott, I guess I had let my emotions take over. OK, we need to secure the guards before the gas wears off. Gordon and Scott, you two take care of that." He began to give orders. "Virgil, I want you and Brains to search for anymore vials of the antidote. Start with the office first." As the boys headed to do their Dad's bidding, Jeff turned to John. "Let's get you to Thunderbird 2."

"But Dad, I want to help." John protested.

"You can help the most by getting out of here." Jeff told John. "We are worried enough about you. I want you somewhere safe, and Thunderbird 2 is as safe as we can get right now."

"OK," John said giving in to his father. "But you have to promise to keep me updated on what is going on."

"Promise." Jeff said as he put an arm around his son's waist and guided him out of the warehouse. They stepped out into the sunshine and headed toward the Thunderbirds. They stopped after a few steps when they realized that both the Thunderbirds were covered in camouflaged netting.

Jeff turned slightly back to the open warehouse door. "Gordon!" He roared.

Gordon appeared at the door. "Yeah, Dad?"

Motioning toward the Thunderbirds with his head, Jeff ordered. "Grab the laser cutters and get that garbage off those ships."

Gordon nodded. "F-A-B." He headed to do his dad's bidding but stopped when he heard his dad's voice again.

"And Gordon," Jeff said. "Neatness doesn't matter."

"You got it." Gordon said with a grin on his face and he continued on his way to get the laser cutter.

Jeff got John settled on a bed in Thunderbird 2's medical bay. "I'm going to go check on your brothers. Try to get some rest. We'll be back soon."

Gordon had finished cutting the netting off the Thunderbirds and had returned to help his brothers by the time that Jeff had returned to the warehouse. He found that Scott and Gordon had secured the guards in the same room that they had been held in. They were now helping Virgil and Brains search for the antidote. "Did you find anything?" Jeff asked.

"We found the dampening field controls." Virgil told his dad. "We turned it off and contacted the local authorities to take care of the guards. They said that it would take them about twenty minutes to get to this 'remote' location."

"But what about the antidote?" Jeff asked.

"No, sorry Dad." Virgil said.

"Nothing? Nothing at all?" Jeff asked incredulously.

"Mr. Tracy," Brains began. "It would have re-re-taken a well st-st-st-supplied lab to have cr-cr-cr-made this poison and anti-anti-cure. There is no in-in-in-sign of that here."

"So what you're saying is…" Jeff began but was interrupted by Scott.

"Franklin created the poison somewhere else and only brought what he needed for immediate use. The rest is probably locked away safe and sound wherever the lab is." Scott said.

"It's probably not too far away." Virgil said. At the confused looks on his father's and brothers' faces, he continued. "Remember, just after he injected John, he told us that Scott and I would also be poisoned if we didn't give in. The lab or at least where he is storing it has to be close by."

"OK, this is what we are going to do." Jeff began to give orders. "Virgil, do you still have that partial vial?"

"Right here." Virgil said holding up the vial.

"Good. Give it to Brains." Turning to Scott, Jeff continued. "Scott, I want you to fly Brains back to the Island in Thunderbird 1. Brains, I want you to analyze the remaining antidote and make a copy of it."

"That could take t-t-t-awhile." Brains said.

"According to Franklin, we still have a couple of days before it's too late." Jeff told him. "But make it as quick as you can. I hate seeing John suffer, and it's only supposed to get worse. Go, Scott."

"Should we take John with us?" Scott asked his dad.

"No, there is still a chance that we may find the antidote here." Jeff replied. "Besides, he would be more comfortable flying back in Thunderbird 2's medical bay where he can stretch out instead of being cramped in Thunderbird 1."

"You're right, of course." Scott said with a sigh. "Just keep me informed, OK?"

"Of course, I will." Jeff said. "Now please get going."

"F-A-B." Scott said and he and Brains left the warehouse.

"What about us?" Virgil asked.

Jeff ran a hand over his face. "OK, we need to wait for the police anyways. So while we are waiting for them to get here, we can use the computers on Thunderbird 2 to see if Franklin owned or rented any properties around there. If we can find any, those would be a good place to start looking for his lab. Also, these guards should be waking up soon. I want to question them. Maybe they know something."

"OK, Dad." Virgil said. "Maybe John can give us a hand with the computer."

"Only if he is still awake," Jeff said. "If he is already asleep, let him be. At least when he is asleep, he is not consciously feeling the pain."

Jeff spent the next few minutes pacing in front of Thunderbird 2 waiting for the police. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he went to check on his sons. John was asleep in the medical bay. Jeff could see the pain on John's face, even though he was sleeping. Jeff moved to the lab area where Virgil and Gordon were doing the computer research on Franklin.

"Have you found anything?" Jeff asked.

"Not much," Virgil said. "The first thing that we had to do was find the right 'Donald Franklin'. It's a pretty common name. The first search yielded 1,249 different men, so it took us a while to narrow it down."

"Are you sure that you have the right one?" Jeff asked, not wanting to spend time on a search for the wrong person.

Virgil nodded. "We were able to identify him from a picture that was posted on the net."

"So what have you found out?" Jeff asked.

"Most of what we have uncovered so far is his educational facts." Gordon said. "This man was a genius. He had a medical degree and a doctorate in chemistry also. In addition to that, he had master degrees in physics, biology and psychiatry. He spent twelve years as a highly respected professor in the science department at the University of Michigan. Then he spent seven years as a researcher for the Mayo clinic. The first five years, he had an exemplary work record, but the last two years he began to get more and more reprimands until finally he was fired for unethical testing practices. That was three years ago. He seemed to have disappeared after that. There are no employment records for him. I can't find any rental properties or sales to indicate where he had been living. Hell, I can't even find a driver's license for him."

Jeff could tell that Gordon was getting frustrated. "It's OK, Gordon. I know that you have done your best. Franklin was good at covering his tracks. Obviously he had been planning this for a long time."

"What's going on?" John's voice came from behind Jeff.

Jeff, Gordon and Virgil all turned and saw John leaning heavily against the wall, obviously in pain.

"John," Jeff said. "You should be lying down."

"No," John said adamantly. "I've laid down enough, and now I want to do something. I need to do something."

"All right, John," Jeff told him. "We were trying to dig up any record that might give us a clue to where Franklin's lab is."

"Yeah, but so far all we have come up with is a big fat zero." Gordon said in disgust.

"Let me give it a try." John said, as he made his way over to the chair which Gordon had just vacated for him.

"Have a go at it." Gordon said as he moved out of his brother's way.

Jeff knew that out of all of them, John was the most proficient on the computer. It also gave him something to think about other than his own plight. Jeff knew that if there was anything to be found, John would find it.

"Gordon," Jeff said to his young son. "The police will be here soon. As soon as we turn over these men to them, we will be taking off. I want you to take off now in the helijet. We will pick you up in Phoenix."

"What about Tracy Three?" Gordon asked.

"We'll leave it in Phoenix until all this gets straightened out." Jeff replied. "We can fly back later and get it."

"Are you sure that it is safe?" Gordon asked. "What if the police were on Franklin's payroll? They may want to finish what he started."

"We will be careful." Jeff told him. "I have no intention of walking into another trap. There will always be someone in Thunderbird 2. If the police do turn on us, they can take off and bring back reinforcements. OK?"

Gordon nodded his head. "OK Dad, I'll meet you in Phoenix." He said as he headed out of Thunderbird 2.

The police showed up a few minutes later. Things went as smoothly as expected. The police took custody of the prisoners and also took statements from the three remaining Tracys. After receiving a promise from Jeff that the other members of International Rescue would be in touch to give their statements, the police left.

When Jeff re-entered Thunderbird 2, he found John staring at the computer with a frown on his face. "John? Did you find anything?" Jeff asked.

"Absolutely nothing." John spat out. In an uncharacteristic display of anger, John pounded his clenched fist against the work station. He gasped in pain and pulled his arm back cradling it against his chest.

"Are you OK?" Jeff asked, moving quickly to his son's side.

"Not a smart move," John grimaced. "That's what I get for letting my emotions get the better of me."

"Well, if I were in your shoes, I know that my emotions would have gotten the better of me a long time ago." Jeff said. "You've handled this situation remarkably well so far. I wish that there was something that I could do for you."

"I know you do. Just be here for me because I really don't know how much longer I can keep myself together.' John said.

"Don't worry about that. I'll be here for you, so will your brothers." Jeff said. "We'll be back on the Island soon. Things will get better from here on out, I'm sure.'

"I certainly hope so.' John said resignedly.

"So, you didn't find anything at all on Franklin?" Jeff re-asked his question.

John sighed. "No, nothing since he left the Mayo clinic. It's like he fell off the face of the planet. There is just nothing out there to find. Franklin did an excellent job at hiding his tracks. You know, he was insane, but he was also a genius. He thought of all the different contingencies and thwarted each one."

"I know." Jeff said. "It's a shame that he was intent on evil. He could've used his intelligence to benefit mankind. Who knows what he could have done? You look beat. Why don't we get you settled in a bed for the trip home?"

John's simple "OK" told Jeff how badly John was feeling. Jeff helped John back to the bed and strapped him in for the flight home. He asked John. "Do you want something to help you sleep?"

John shook his head. "No, I want to be awake and alert for as long as I can. Time is starting to run out. Isn't it?"

"Don't talk like that." Jeff said sharply. Jeff regretted his tone when he saw John start. Softening his voice, he continued. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I'm sure that by the time that we get back to the Island Brains will have a copy of the antidote." Jeff keyed the inter-comm. "Virgil, we're ready back here. Let's grab Gordon and head home."

"F-A-B," came Virgil's response, as Thunderbird 2's engines fired.

By the time that Thunderbird 2 had reached Phoenix, John had fallen into a fitful sleep. Gordon entered through the rear hatch and headed straight to the medical bay. "How is…" he stopped talking when Jeff put his finger to his lips.

"Shhh… He just fell asleep a few minutes ago." Jeff told him. He keyed the inter-comm again. "Gordon's on board, Virgil. Let's get going." He said quietly.

Again the engines roared to life as Virgil acknowledged his dad's order with a "F-A-B."

In quiet tones Jeff and Gordon engaged in conversation.

"I can't believe that this is happening." Gordon said. "What is the human race coming to? I mean… What kind of sick human being could do this to another?"

"I wish I could tell you." Jeff said resignedly. "Franklin was power-hungry. He did horrible things to try to attain that power, but how a gifted medical researcher turned into the mad-man that we met here, I will never understand."

"Dad," Gordon began but stopped.

"Gordon?" Jeff questioned.

Gordon locked his gaze on his sleeping brother. In a choked voice, he quietly asked. "Is he going to die?"

Jeff's first instinct was to yell at Gordon for his negativity, but the look on Gordon's face stopped him. He reminded himself that even though Gordon was a member of International Rescue, he was still just a young man, a teenager actually, just having celebrated his nineteenth birthday a few months before. Jeff placed his hand on Gordon's shoulder and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "No, he is not going to die." He said. "Brains is working on duplicating the antidote. We have to have faith in him. He has never let us down yet."

"Yeah, but…" Gordon began but was interrupted by a series of moans from John.

Jeff moved to the bed and spoke to his ill child. "John? Can I get you anything?"

John continued to moan and he struggled against the safety restraints.

"John," Jeff said. "You need to calm down. You'll hurt yourse…" His words were cut off when John's eyes flew open.

"Dad." He gasped still struggling against the restraints. Swallowing hard he whispered. "Sick."

It only took that one word for Jeff to realize what was happening and why John was struggling. "Gordon, emesis basin, now." Jeff ordered as he began unfastening the restraints. He had gotten the shoulder restraint off and was working on the middle restraint. He had gotten it loosened but not off when John rolled himself to his side and began to vomit forcefully over the edge of the bed.

Gordon saw John move and tried to get the emesis basin to him, but he was a few seconds late. The vomit hit the floor and splattered against Jeff and Gordon's legs. Gordon screwed his face up and almost said something but the warning look on his dad's face stopped him. He silently held the basin for his brother who continued to be sick.

Jeff spoke what he hoped was soothing encouragement while helping support his son. When John's heaving stomach subsided, he asked. "Better now? Do you want some water?" John nodded his head even while he remained on his side. Gordon appeared a few seconds later with a bottle of water and a fresh basin. Jeff helped John sit up enough so he could rinse his mouth and then took a few sips of water.

"Oh God, that hurt." John groaned as Jeff settled him back on to the bed. "Sorry for throwing up on you guys."

"Don't worry about that. It's not like you could help it." Gordon said while he cleaned up the mess on the floor.

John looked at his father with a raised eyebrow. "You gave him 'a look', didn't you?"

Gordon choked back a laugh, but Jeff shrugged and in an indignant tone replied. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

This time Gordon couldn't stop the laugh from escaping his lips.

Even John smiled. "Sure Dad, you would never give any of us a look that says 'straighten up or else', now would you?"

Gordon let out another laugh.

"OK, I didn't want him to upset you. So sue me." Jeff said with a laugh.

"I'd rather be treated normally." John said. "Even if that means putting up with Gordon's smart-alec remarks, I… Oh God, not again." John clutched at his stomach. This time it was Gordon that supported John while Jeff held the basin. John endured another bout of vomiting. After he rinsed his mouth, he laid back down.

"Can I get you anything?" Jeff asked.

"No, I'm going to try to rest. Thanks anyways." John said.

Jeff keyed the comm. "Virgil, how much longer?"

"We are 22.7 minutes from the Island." Virgil replied.

"Can you push her any faster?" Jeff asked.

"No, why? What's happened?" Virgil asked with concern in his voice. Before Jeff could answer, he heard John moan "Oh God." He winced in sympathy as he heard John vomit. He could hear his Dad talking to Gordon.

"Let's try raising the head of the bed. Maybe he will feel more comfortable." Jeff was saying. "OK, grab a damp cloth and wipe his face."

"Dad?" Virgil asked over the open comm.

"Sorry Virgil, small interruption." Jeff said.

"How long has he been doing that?" He asked his father.

"This was the third time." Jeff explained. "Although this time it was mostly bile, since his stomach is pretty empty."

"Ok Dad, I'm going to try to get more speed out of her." Virgil said.

"Do your best, but don't take any chances." Jeff replied.

"F-A-B." Virgil said as he cut the link to his father. To his 'bird he said. "Come on baby, we need to get my brother home as quick as we can." He pushed the throttle forward and smiled as Thunderbird 2 increased her speed slightly. He was willing to take any increase no matter how small. He just wanted to get home.

Scott was waiting for them when Virgil backed Thunderbird 2 into her hanger. The sight that met him in the medical bay was heartbreaking. Gordon was sitting on the bed, holding John in his arms. John leaned against his brother with his arms wrapped tightly around his abdomen and his knees pulled upward to his chest. The bouts of vomiting that he had experienced had turned into painful dry heaves as there was nothing more in his stomach to expel. Agonizing whimpers escaped his lips as involuntary tears fell from his tightly closed eyes. Jeff was setting up the hover-stretcher.

"Dad?" Scott questioned his dad.

Jeff looked up when he heard Scott's voice. "Scott, good you're here." He said while at the same time Virgil joined them in the medical bay. "Both of you." He said acknowledging Virgil's presence. "I need you two to help Gordon get John down to the infirmary. I'm going to find Brains. We'll meet you there."

"Brains was in his lab, the last time I checked." Scott told him.

"Thanks, Scott." Jeff said as he headed for the door. He stopped next to Virgil and grasped his shoulder. "You did a good job getting us here as quick as you did. Thank you, son." He told Virgil.

Virgil just nodded as he tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.

Jeff found Brains in his lab. "Brains," he said to get the engineer's attention.

"M-M-Mr. Tracy." Brains said. "I didn't h-h-h-notice that you were b-b-b-here."

"We just got back." Jeff said. "The boys are taking John to the infirmary. I told them that we would meet them there. Is the antidote ready?"

"M-M-I-I-I Th-Th," Brains cleared his throat and looked Jeff straight in the eye. "We have a problem."

Author's note:

From Convert: Yikes! Grumpy and her posse have found me. I have to find a new place to hide.

From Grumpy: Come back here you coward! You will pay for what you have done to John!

OK, here's the next chapter. How mean are we? Just when you think that things are looking up. Problem? What kind of problem have they run in to now?