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

Chapter 17 – MISUNDERSTANDING

While Brains began to examine John, Alan moved to sit on the other bed. He keyed the comm.-link to his father. When his father's face appeared on the screen, he said. "Dad, you need to come to the infirmary. It's John…" Suddenly Alan found himself so overwhelmed by a sense of relief that he couldn't speak. A sob escaped his throat, and tears coursed down his face.

Jeff saw the tears on his son's face and immediately thought the worst. "I'll be right there." He said as he disconnected the comm.-link from his end. Jeff started to get up from the desk when Scott called from Thunderbird 1.

"Thunderbird 1 to base." Scott's voice came over the comm.

Jeff sat back down. Keying the comm-link, he said. "Go ahead Thunderbird 1."

"Requesting landing clearance." Scott said.

Jeff checked the monitors. "Landing clearance granted. What is Thunderbird 2's ETA?"

"Thunderbird 2 is 4.8 minutes behind me." Was Scott's reply.

"OK Scott. I need you to handle their clearance. Then I want the three of you to meet me in the infirmary." Jeff ordered.

Scott had a look of dread on his face. "Is John…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the question.

"I'm sorry, Scott." Jeff said. "I have to go to Alan."

"How is he doing?" Scott asked in concern.

"He's upset obviously. He couldn't even get the words out when he called me. I need to go. Alan needs me." Jeff answered.

"F-A-B Dad. We'll see you in a few minutes." Scott said resignedly.

Scott was waiting anxiously for Virgil to call in. He was fighting the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. Even though John's death was expected, the reality of it was hard to accept.

"Thunderbird 2 to base, requesting landing clearance." Virgil's voice interrupted Scott's thinking.

Scott did a quick check of the scanners. "You're clear to land Virgil," he said.

"Scott? Where's dad?" Virgil questioned, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Clearing his throat, Scott said. "He's in the infirmary." Even though he fought it, his voice still cracked with emotion.

"John's gone. Isn't he?" Virgil didn't know why he asked the question. He could already hear the truth is Scott's voice.

"Yeah, he is." Scott said as he felt the tears building.

"When?" Virgil asked quietly.

Scott could hear Tin-Tin crying in the background. "I don't know. Just a short time ago, I think. Dad was just leaving his office when I called in for clearance. He wants us to meet them there as soon as you land."

"F-A-B, Scott." Virgil said. "We'll be down in a minute."

Scott paced outside Thunderbird 2's silo. He could hear her as Virgil carefully backed her into the hidden hanger. He waited until he heard the engines come to a stop, and then he entered the hanger. The door opened and Tin-Tin exited first being gently guided from behind by Gordon. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Gordon spoke quiet words of comfort while trying to hold back his own tears.

Virgil disembarked Thunderbird 2 after Gordon and Tin-Tin. He locked his gaze with Scott for a moment. Scott could see the turmoil in Virgil's eyes, and opened his arms to his brother. Virgil moved into Scott's embrace. Even though Virgil wasn't crying, Scott could feel the despair emanating from Virgil as his embrace got tighter and tighter.

"I know Virgil." Scott said quietly in Virgil's ear. "I know. I wish I could change things, but…"

"I know Scott." Virgil said as he pulled back from the embrace. "I just thought deep down, that somehow that he would beat the odds. That Brains would come up with a miracle cure, and we would sit back and sigh in relief at the close call."

"So did I," Gordon said joining into the conversation, his own eyes red-rimmed from crying.

"We need to head to the infirmary." Scott said. Looking around the silo, he asked. "Where's Tin-Tin. Isn't she coming too? Alan could use her comfort right now."

Gordon cleared his throat. "She went to find Fermat. She said that they would come down later. She said that this time should be for family."

Putting an arm around each brother, he said. "OK, let's get going. Dad and Alan are waiting." The three brothers quietly headed toward the infirmary.

When Jeff walked into the infirmary, he expected to find an emotionally distraught Alan waiting for him. Instead Alan was at the end of John's bed, literally bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Alan?" Jeff asked in confusion.

Alan whirled around. "DAD!" He launched himself across the room into his dad's arms. Excitement and joy shone in his face. "He's awake. He's talking. He says that he's thirsty."

Jeff was really confused, but then he heard a voice, a voice that he thought that he would never hear again, call his name.

"Dad?" John called from the bed.

Jeff moved to the bed. "John? Is this real? Am I dreaming?" Jeff reached out a trembling hand.

John reached over to take his dad's hand. "No Dad, you're not dreaming."

"Oh my God," Jeff said in a rush. "When Alan called me with tears in his eyes, I just assumed…I mean…I never thought they could be tears of joy. In my rush I cut him off before he had a chance to tell me. Are you OK? How are you feeling?"

John rolled his eyes and let out a low groan. "I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck. It's a good thing that I'm lying down. I don't think that I have the strength to sit up. Although considering the alternative, I don't think that I will complain."

Jeff smiled at John's attempt to downplay the severity of the situation, until he heard Alan behind him.

"But he doesn't remember anything from the last two weeks." Alan interjected.

"What?" Jeff asked in alarm. Turning to Brains, he asked. "Is he OK? Why can't he remember?"

"It's not un-un-it's known to happen." Brains said. "Some people who c-c-c-awake from comas do seem to s-s-s-have some form of am-am-memory loss. It could be a result of the f-f-f-high temperature, or it could just be a s-s-s-normal effect of the poison."

"But there's no other permanent damage?" Jeff asked anxiously.

"Calm down Dad. I'm OK." John said trying to pacify his father, but Jeff was intent on finding out Brains' answer.

"As far as I can t-t-t-have determined," Brains began to explain. "I have not dis-dis-come across any long term effects. I will need to run ad-ad-ad-more tests though to be p-p-certain. I want to dr-dr-dr-take some blood samples to an-an-examine."

"All right Brains, just let me know what you find out." Jeff requested. He paused for a moment and then continued. "And Brains, thank you for saving my son's life."

"You should also thank Tin-Tin and Ky-Ky-her father." Brains replied. "They pr-pr-pr-gave me the crucial missing piece."

"I will make sure that I do that the next time that I see them." Jeff said.

"I can't wait to see the others." John said. "Alan said they were on their way back from a rescue. How much longer until they get home?"

"Oh no, your brothers," Jeff whispered as realization dawned.

"What?" Alan demanded. "Did something happen on the rescue that you didn't tell me?"

"No, nothing like that." Jeff said quickly. "It's just that Scott called in for clearance just after I talked to Alan. I told him what I thought had happened. I told him that you died."

John's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no Dad, so they think I'm…" His words trailed off.

Jeff nodded his head. "Thunderbird 2 was five minutes out. Scott was going to handle their clearance, and then they were all supposed to meet us here. I'm sure that Scott told Virgil and Gordon…well…you know. They should be here anytime. I'm going to have to do some explaining when they get here."

Alan looked at his dad's and John's serious faces and suddenly he felt laughter brewing in his chest. He tried to hide it but John saw through him.

"Alan, this isn't funny." John admonished. "How would you feel in their place?"

"I know John." Alan began, but that came out amongst the laughs that he was fighting against. Clearing his throat, he tried to force himself to be serious. He tried again. "I know John. I don't know why I have this sudden urge to laugh." That's as far as Alan got before dissolving into laughter again.

Alan gave up trying to fight the laughter. He plopped into the chair that he had used earlier. Through the laughs he said. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Scott, Virgil and Gordon think you're dead. That must be horrible for them and here I am laughing like some idiot hyena. I don't know. Maybe it's the sudden lack of tension. Scott'll pound me for sure if he finds me like this."

John found that as Alan tried to explain, his laughter also became infectious. He had laughter in his own voice when he asked. "Is that before or after Gordon throws you in the pool?"

Jeff watched as his two sons dissolved into fits of laughter. Soon he found himself chuckling along with them. He prayed that they could bring themselves under control before the other boys got there. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Brains shake his head in confusion as he headed out the door toward his lab with John's blood samples.

Scott, Virgil and Gordon had made their way silently to the infirmary. Just shy of the door, Gordon stopped.

"Gordon?" Scott questioned.

"I can't do it. I can't go in there." Gordon replied in a hoarse whisper.

Virgil placed a reassuring hand on Gordon's shoulder. "It's all right Gords. We are here for you."

Before Gordon had a chance to answer, the door to the infirmary opened and Brains came out. During the short time that the door was open, the three brothers could have sworn that they heard…laughter?

"Brains, how are things in there?" Scott asked.

"They're fine." Brains answered distractedly. "I have to get to the l-l-l-my workspace." With that he was gone.

"Scott, did I hear laughter when the door opened?" Virgil asked in confusion.

"That's what it sounded like to me too." Gordon interjected.

Scott stared at the infirmary door. Finally he said. "Only one way to find out." He opened the door and the three of them walked in.

The three Tracys already in the infirmary turned slightly when they heard the door open. Alan and Jeff tried to compose themselves when they saw the three other brothers enter the room.

John though knew that his brothers could not see him because of the way his dad was sitting on the bed. He couldn't help himself. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he said in a stage whisper. "Uh-oh, BUSTED!"

Alan dissolved back into such a laughing fit that tears rolled down his face. Jeff shot John a look of shock as he tried not to laugh out loud, but his shoulders shook with the suppressed laughter.

Scott, Virgil and Gordon all shared a look of confusion. Scott was the first to speak. "Would someone please tell us what is going on? What could possibly be so funny?"

John opened his mouth to say something, but Jeff shot him a warning look. This caused Alan to laugh even more. Alan tried to compose himself when Jeff gave him a warning look too. He succeeded only as long as he stared at a spot on the wall and did not look at anyone.

Jeff turned to his sons. "I'm sorry boys. I know the feelings of grief that you have been going through. There was a miscommunication though and I made a mistake."

"What are you saying, Dad?" Scott asked not sure if he should get his hopes up.

This time John would not be denied. "What he is saying is that I'm not dead." He answered.

Jeff gave John an exasperated look. "I was hoping to break it a little more gently."

Alan dissolved back into his fit of laughter.

The three brothers stood for a moment in stunned silence. John's words finally sunk in, and Scott and Gordon were at John's bedside as fast as their feet could carry them. They both began to ask questions. John tried to answer, but was cut off by more questions.

"John, you're awake!"

"Well, obviously…"

"The antidote worked?"

"Yeah, it…"

"When did this happen?"

"You guys were…"

"What did Brains have to say?"

"He took some…"

"How are you feeling?"

"Overwhelmed right now."

Amid the chaos of the questioning, Alan was the first to notice that Virgil had not moved from his spot just inside the door. He appeared to be in a state of shock. Alan moved to where his brother stood. He gently placed a hand on Virgil's arm. "Virg? You OK?" He asked.

From the corner of his eye, Jeff saw Alan move. His gaze followed Alan as he moved to Virgil's side. Jeff became concerned when he saw the dazed look on Virgil's face. He also made his way to Virgil's side. He heard Alan ask Virgil if he was OK.

Virgil turned and looked at his youngest brother. "He's alive? He's really going to be OK?" He whispered. Suddenly Virgil felt his knees give out from beneath him, and he started to fall.

Jeff and Alan saw Virgil start to fall, and each grabbed him on either side of him.

"Whoa Virgil, take it easy." Jeff said. "Let's get you in a chair."

Jeff and Alan carefully maneuvered Virgil to the chair that Alan had vacated. By this time, Scott, Gordon and John had become aware of the problem.

"What happened? Is he OK?" Scott wanted to know.

"I think that this all just got to be too much for him." Jeff said, trying to take Virgil's pulse inconspicuously.

John looked at his brother. Virgil was pale, shaking and sweating. All were signs of shock. John began to feel guilty for not letting their dad break the news more gently to his brothers. "Virg, I'm really sorry for blurting out the news. I should have been more sensitive to your feelings." He said.

Virgil locked eyes with John. "I can't believe it. You're alive. I'm so afraid that this is a dream and when I wake up you'll be dead." Virgil turned away as he battled his tears.

John motioned for Scott. "Help me sit up, Scott." He requested. Scott helped him sit up and propped a few pillows behind him to help him keep upright. "Come sit next to me Virg." John asked holding his open arms out to his brother.

Virgil hesitated for a moment before he moved to his brother's side. He felt John's arms encircle him. Stiffly he returned John's embrace.

John quietly told his brother. "It's OK, Virgil. You can relax. I'm still here. It's not a dream. I promise you that."

Virgil gave into his emotions. He let the tears fall as he leaned into John's chest. "I'm sorry. My emotions are in such a jumble. I don't know whether to cry, laugh or scream."

John pulled back some and smiled at Virgil. "Well, you have the crying down. If you want to scream, you might want to go outside so you don't get complaints about the noise. As far as the laugh…" John reached out and poked a ticklish spot between Virgil's ribs.

"Hey," Virgil yelped as he jumped back a bit. He looked at his brother. He saw the mischievous glint in John's eyes and the sly smile on his lips. Virgil felt the cloud of doom lift. He laughed and threw his arms around John again. Hugging his brother close, he said. "Thanks John, I love you."

"You're welcome." John said patting Virgil's back as they moved out of the embrace.

Virgil looked around and saw the rest of the family smiling at them. Rubbing a hand over his face, he said with embarrassment. "You guys must think that I'm a baby."

"It's OK Virg." Alan said. "I cried…"

"Yeah, but we expect you to cry." Gordon interrupted. "You are the BABY after all."

"Hey," Alan said indignantly, crossing his arms and he began to pout.

The rest of the Tracys laughed.

Gordon shook his head. "Relax Alan. I'm just joking with you. Boy it feels good to laugh again."

"That it does, Gordon." Jeff said. "And I'm sorry for jumping the gun and telling you that he was dead."

"How did that happen, Dad?" Scott asked.

"It was my fault." Alan jumped in. "When I called dad to tell him that John was awake, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I didn't intend to cry, but the tears slipped out anyways."

Jeff broke in. "No, it's my fault. I didn't let Alan finish talking. I saw the tears and just assumed that the end had come. Then when you, Scott, called in I just passed my assumption along as fact."

"And I, for one, am glad your assumption was wrong." John broke in. "Now let's all quit blaming ourselves and just enjoy being together. I'm hungry. What's to eat?"

More laughter circulated the room. "That famous Tracy appetite," Jeff said. "John, if you feel up to the continued company, I'll ask Onaha to bring supper down here."

John nodded. "Sounds good. My body feels weak, but my mind is alert. So as long as you don't expect me to get out of bed and do some jumping jacks, you can stay."

Jeff moved back to speak to Onaha over the comm. He watched his five sons talking and joking with each other, silently thanking God that they still could.

Author's notes: Yep, those poor Tracys. What a misunderstanding. It's good that they can laugh about it at the end. Of course, just that fact that John lived would be enough to bring the smiles back to their faces. We hope you enjoyed this chapter. Just one more to go to tie up the loose ends.