DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimer applies. We don't own the Thunderbirds. Neither are we making any money off this endeavor.
Chapter 8 – HEART TO HEART
Jeff and Virgil were already in the command center when Scott and Gordon arrived.
"What have we got?" Scott asked.
"There is a research vessel about fifty miles off the coast of Nome, Alaska that is floundering in a storm. The storm is keeping local authorities from affecting their own rescue. According to the ship's manifest there is a total of seven people on board." Jeff explained.
"It can't be that big of a ship with only seven people on board." Gordon observed. "They're probably really getting tossed in the storm."
"You're right." Jeff said. "We had better get out there. Scott head out. We'll be right behind you."
"Dad," Scott interrupted. "Why don't you stay here with John? The three of us can handle this."
"Are you sure?" Jeff asked.
"Of course," Scott replied. "I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think we could handle it."
Jeff looked at Gordon. "How about you, Gordon? Do you think you can handle it?"
"What?" Gordon asked with confusion written on his face.
"Your hand," Jeff said. "You're sporting a bandage now that you didn't have before."
"Oh yeah," Gordon glanced down at his hand. "I got a small cut from a broken glass. No big deal. I'm only wearing the bandage to protect it from infection."
Jeff nodded his head. "OK, you three head out. Keep me appraised of the situation. Use the watch-comm, since I will be down with John."
"F-A-B," Scott said as the three brothers disappeared from sight.
"What's going on?" John asked as his father entered the infirmary. "Big rescue?"
"Not too bad," Jeff said. "Just some boaters who need to be rescued from a storm. It should be pretty straight forward."
John gave a snort. "And we all know how well 'straight forward' rescues can go."
"Well, Scott is going to keep me informed." Jeff said. "If there is a problem Brains and I can head out there to help out, but I doubt we will be needed."
They kept the conversation light. John even dozed a couple of times. Two and a half hours later Scott radioed in.
"It should be pretty routine, Dad." Scott said. "We've been in radio contact with the ship. So far there are no injuries. Gordon is going to go down in the rescue platform. He is going to set down near the rear hatch. The people can go from the hatch right into the rescue platform. Virgil will then raise the platform. He will then drop the rescuees back off in Nome, and we are done."
"OK," Jeff replied. "It sounds like you have everything under control. Call me when you are on your way home."
"F-A-B Dad," Scott hesitated a moment before continuing. "And Dad, how are things at home? Anything from Brains?"
"No," Jeff sighed. "Things are still the same."
"Understood. I will talk to you shortly." Scott said as he cut the vid-link.
"Well, it appears your brothers have everything well in hand." Jeff told John.
"That's good." John said. "Dad?" He began but stopped.
"What is it John?" Jeff asked. "Do you need something? Do you want me to get Brains?"
"No, not Brains." John said, shifting uncomfortably in the bed. "But there is something that you can do for me."
"Anything John." Jeff replied.
"Bring Alan home." John said.
"Alan? Why?" Jeff asked. "Summer break begins next month. You can see him then."
John took a deep breath and winced. "I won't be here next month. You know that."
Jeff interrupted. "If you want to see Alan, I can send one of your brothers up to Five."
"That's not what I meant." John interrupted forcefully, wincing as he tried to control his breathing. "And you know it. You just don't want to admit it."
"John, you can't think like that." Jeff said. "Brains will find a solution. I know it."
"STOP IT! JUST STOP IT!" John said angrily. "You've got to quit pretending that everything is OK. I'm dying Dad. Admit it!" He bit his lip to stop the groan that welled up in him.
Jeff tried to respond, but he couldn't seem to get his voice to work. Instead he just stared at his hands. He knew that John was trying to get him to face the truth. A truth that Jeff knew he was running from. A truth that Jeff did not want to face. A truth that Jeff could not face.
John could see his dad struggling with his emotions. Softening his voice some, he continued. "Please Dad, please understand. As much as I want to believe that Brains will find a cure, I have to be prepared for the worst. I have things that I want to say to you, to my brothers, ALL my brothers. Please don't take this opportunity from me in a misguided attempt to keep hope alive. Please Dad, for me, bring Alan home."
Jeff still stared at his hands. How could he say no? His son wanted to see his baby brother. His…dying son…The tears began to flow. He buried his head in his hands and let the emotions out: the pain, the anger, the fear.
John could see that his father had finally broken down. "I'm sorry Dad. I know that this is hurting you. I just don't want to have regrets when my time comes. I love you Dad. I want you to know that. You have been an incredible father. You have been a wonderful role model. You have demonstrated your strength over and over again in your Air Force and NASA careers, in building Tracy Enterprises, in forming International Rescue, in raising five hyper and sometimes trouble making sons. But at the same time, you have shown your love and compassion. As you made money hand-over-fist, you gave generously to many different philanthrophical ventures. You began International Rescue to help people that you don't even know without the thought of payment. And then there's us boys, we have always known that you loved us. Even after Mom died, we watched you grieve and knew that it stemmed from the deep love that you two shared. We knew that we shared in that love. Even when you had to discipline us, we knew that you were trying to make us into better people. I couldn't have asked for a better family. I love you all." By this time, the tears had begun to fall from John's eyes.
Jeff moved to the bed and carefully gathered his son in his arms. "I'm sorry John. I've been so scared. I was hoping that if I put on a brave face that I could force myself to believe that everything was OK. I guess in the back of my mind, I knew that I was only trying to fool myself. I thought I needed to keep hope alive for you and your brothers."
Just then Jeff's watch beeped. He let go of John and brushed the tears from his eyes. He keyed his watch. "Go ahead Scott."
"Dad, I…" Scott began but stopped when he saw Jeff's face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Calm down Scott," Jeff said. "Nothing has happened. John and I have been having a heart to heart talk and things have gotten a little emotional that's all."
Scott nodded his head. "OK, I wanted to let you know that the rescue has been completed successfully. We are on our way back. E.T.A. to base is 2 hours 47 minutes."
"OK Scott, I'll see you when you get home." Jeff said. Turning back to John, he continued. "OK John, if you want me to bring Alan home, I will bring Alan home. However, by the time someone would get there now, it will be the middle of the night. Would it be ok, if I wait until first thing in the morning? I can have someone there at 8 am EST and then they can be back here by 8 am Island time.'
"OK Dad, we can do that." John said. He shifted in the bed and grimaced, but he continued speaking. "If this is my time to die, I want you to know that I don't blame you for any of this. I don't want you to blame yourself after I'm gone. I know you will. You blamed yourself for Mom's death even though there was nothing you could do to stop it. This situation was out of your control too. You couldn't have stop Franklin."
"I could have." Jeff interrupted. "I could have given him what he wanted."
"I wouldn't have let you." John said. "International Rescue is more than just a job to me. It has become my driving vision too."
"But how could I put the secrets of International Rescue over my own son's life?" Jeff asked addressing the question more to himself than to John.
"It wasn't just your decision." John argued. "We all understood and agreed that this was what had to be. I also know that I am in a better position than you."
"How so?" Jeff asked with confusion showing on his face.
"If I die…" John began.
"John…" Jeff interrupted.
John cut his father off. "I thought we were going to be honest and face the possibility." Jeff nodded his head and John continued. "If I die, my pain will be over, but yours will just be beginning. Promise me that you won't pull away from the boys. They will need your support and you will need theirs. Don't be afraid to show your emotions. Alan especially will need to know that it is OK to have natural human emotions. I know that you want to appear strong for us, but sometimes we need to see your human side. We need to know that as Tracys, it is not shameful to give into our emotions sometimes. This probably isn't making any sense to you and I'm sorry."
"No John," Jeff said. "You are making perfect sense. I'm the one who's sorry if I made you feel like you couldn't be honest with your feelings. I'll do better no matter what happens." He felt the tears building in his eyes. He pulled John into an emotional hug. White stars exploded behind John's eyes, and his face contorted in pain as Jeff held him tightly. "Dad… Please," he gasped. "Too tight…hurts."
"Oh God John, I'm sorry." Jeff said as he helped John settle back on to the bed.
John turned on his side and pulled himself into a protective ball. His eyes were shut tightly. He gulped as he tried to bring his breathing back under control.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean to hurt you." Jeff rambled on contritely.
"I know you didn't." John said opening his eyes and looking at his dad. "You were just showing honest emotion. That's what I wanted you to do. Don't beat yourself up about it. One way or another, it will be over soon."
"John, you're looking a little flushed, and you felt a little warm when I held you. Are you… has the… I think I should take your temperature." Jeff said, desperate to change subjects.
"You don't have too," John told him. "I know that I have moved into the next phase. That's why I want a chance to talk to everybody. I don't know how long the fever stage will last and once the delirium sets in, I will have lost my chance."
"Humor me. Let me take your temperature. Then I'll go talk to Brains." Jeff said. "Maybe he can give you a fever reducer."
"Just have him check it first." John replied. "I don't want to risk another reaction."
Jeff nodded his head. "Neither do I." He said as he left the room.
Jeff entered the lab and found Brains looking through a microscope. He also noticed that he was alone. "Hello Brains, where's Tin-Tin? I thought she was helping you."
"There was n-n-n-she did what she could." Brains replied. "I sent her to get some r-r-s-s-to get away for a while. I have l-l-l-found that she has a natural ap-ap-ap-that sciences come easy for her. We should start tr-tr-tr-teaching her."
"But she has been training with Alan and Fermat." Jeff interrupted.
"Their training has been on the th-th-ships." Brains explained. "I'm t-t-meaning specialized training in ch-ch-ch-bi-bi-special sciences, maybe even medicine. She would make a great as-as-as-contribution to International Rescue with her abilities."
"You're probably right." Jeff said. "I'll think about it once this problem is resolved. How are the antidotes coming?"
Brains sighed. "Two have already f-f-destabilized. They won't work."
"And the other two?" Jeff asked.
"I'm sorry Mr. T-T-Jeff," Brains began. "The more I re-re-study this poison, the more I don't th-th-believe these will work either. I'm at a l-l-l-standstill at what to do."
"So, you're saying that John is going to die?" Jeff asked with sadness in his voice.
"I'm really sorry. I'm still tr-tr-attempting to find a sol-sol-answer." Brains answered with regret.
Jeff cleared his throat. "Well, I came down here to tell you that John has moved into the next phase. He has begun to run a fever. His temperature is up to 100.7. Is there anything that you can give him to help?"
"Yes, Mr. Tracy," Brains said. "I have a f-f-f-temperature reducer ready. I did some t-t-t-experiments to make sure that it would not pr-pr-pr-bring on an adverse reaction."
Jeff gave a small laugh. "Thanks Brains, he did mention that when I said I was coming to get you."
Jeff and Brains re-entered the sickroom. John still lay curled up on his side with his eyes closed.
"John? Are you awake?" Jeff said quietly, not wanting to wake him if he had fallen asleep.
"Yeah, just resting." John said as he opened his eyes and rolled over to lie on his back.
"OK John," Brains said as he moved to the side of the bed and began checking the IV. "I'm going to g-g-g-add a fever reducer to the IV."
"No reaction, right Brains?" John asked.
"No reactions sh-sh-sh-became apparent in the tests." Brains said. "But I can't say for s-s-s-one hundred percent. Do you not want the m-m-m-injection?"
"Go ahead Brains. I trust you." John said.
After adding the fever reducer, Brains asked. "How are you h-h-dealing with the pain?"
"I'm handling it." John replied.
"No, he's not." Jeff interrupted. "He was in a lot of pain when I hugged him earlier."
"OK, I can in-in-go higher on the Ibuprofen. That should also h-h-h-aid with the fever too." Brains said.
John nodded his head. "OK Brains, whatever you think will help."
While Brains re-adjusted the IV, Jeff said to his son. "You look beat. Why don't you try to rest?"
John looked at his dad. "OK, but only if you promise that you will wake me when the boys get back. I still want to talk to them."
"I promise." Jeff said. "Now close your eyes. I'll sit with you until you fall asleep." In a matter of minutes, John was asleep.
Author's note: Poor John, poor, poor, John. Just when you think that things couldn't get worse, well, anyways, we hope you all enjoyed this chapter. More emotional talks are coming up. Please review. We really do enjoy them. Honest.