Miracles

Virgil touched down in the park just around the block, almost exactly on the spot where his father had instructed him to land. As the three brothers exited their aircraft, they were overwhelmed by the scene that surrounded them. People were running everywhere. Some were screaming and crying. Some had radios and were issuing orders. Others just wandered aimlessly, appearing to be in shock.

Gordon did a double take and gasped aloud as he noticed a young woman ambling towards them. She didn't seem too steady on her feet and her face and blouse were covered with blood. Gordon's hands went out just in time to catch her as she collapsed in his arms.

"Tin Tin!" he exclaimed. The second time sounded more like a prayer. "Tin Tin, thank God."

> > > > > > > > > >

Jeff wasn't sure if he was conscious or not. He couldn't see, couldn't feel, but then he realized that he could hear because he could tell that there was still a small amount of debris raining down from the roof...the roof! He tried to shake himself back to awareness, knowing he'd been successful when a sharp stab of pain shot up his spine, making him grit his teeth and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He decided that next time he wanted to wake himself up, he'd pinch himself instead. The pain did make him sure of one fact. He was alive, at least for now. How, he didn't know. It occurred to him that he was lying on top of something. It was warm, but not too soft. His hand trailed down and felt someone lying beneath him. He groped around desperately in the dark, hoping. Damn, where is it? It's here, I know it is. Still nothing, and then...Yes! Jeff hugged the torchlight to his body, delighted to have found it still intact. He shined the bright beam on the still figure below him and his heart sank. "Oh, Scott."

> > > > > > > > > >

This was one of the few times that the Tracy men could remember when International Rescue's arrival went virtually unheralded. Everyone was so caught up in the chaos and confusion of the moment that they barely noticed the great green bird that had landed in the middle of their city or the three men in blue that had come walking out of her.

The Tracys, on the other hand, could not remember having felt more helpless. As they tended to Tin Tin's injuries in Thunderbird Two's infirmary, they became assured that she would recover with no lasting physical affects, but what of Alan, and what of the hundreds of others that were still missing?

When she had regained consciousness, Tin Tin had told Gordon, John and Virgil that she had survived by leaping into a stairwell near the exit and that she had tried to pull Alan in with her, only to have him ripped from her grasp. They made a promise to her and to each other that they would find their brother. She insisted that she would be fine alone and that all three of them should help with the search for victims.

Reluctantly, they left her and went back outside to assess the situation and decide what type of equipment they would need. They came prepared for almost anything they might encounter and Pod Three was loaded to full capacity. John remarked that Scott would've been proud of them for having been so prepared. It was then that Virgil realized he hadn't spoken to his big brother since they had found their "little sister."

He raised his wrist comm. and spoke into it. "Thunderbird Two to Scott. Come in, Scott."

When that didn't prompt a response, he tried again. "Scott, this is Virgil, we've found Tin Tin, do you read me?"

When he still didn't receive an answer, he knew something had to be wrong. He was just about to ask John to try calling on his device when a voice that was somehow familiar, somehow not, transmitted a barely audible signal.

"This is Jeff Tracy. Thunderbird Two, do you read?"

Three voices responded in unison. "Dad!"

Jeff went on, not wanting to field any questions. "Listen, Scott and I are inside the destroyed nightclub. We were on the rooftop and it collapsed under us. I can't really give you an exact location but you can trace my signal. Scott is hurt pretty badly. He broke my fall on the way down. You've got to get him out of here."

Virgil swallowed hard before responding. "What about you, Father?"

"I'll be fine, just a couple of cracked ribs."

Jeff glanced down at Scott's motionless form, a hint of urgency creeping into his voice. "You've got to hurry!"

They didn't like Jeff's tone and the Tracy sons knew that the situation must be desperate. They responded back with a chorus of Yes, Fathers! and promptly cut the link. John then re-established a link between Thunderbird Five's main tracking systems and his communicator in order to try to locate his father and brother inside the ruined structure.

He hadn't told his father yet but the reason they had not been able to locate Alan and Tin Tin with it was because there was still a bug or two in the automation system. He would have to get with Brains on that as soon as they returned to the island and he could only hope it would work now, for Jeff and Scott.

> > > > > > > > > >

Inside the ruined nightclub, Jeff had moved into a sitting position and was cradling Scott's head in his lap. He was staring into nothing as he stroked his boy's thick, wavy hair, the way he did when he was a small child. He just chatted away about anything and everything, hoping the sound of his voice would have a soothing effect on his gravely injured son. He didn't know if he could hear him or not, but in any case, talking to him couldn't hurt.

At last he heard Scott moan, faintly, and felt his son stir a little. The moaning became louder and Jeff tried to get through to his eldest and bring him back to him.

"Scott. Scott, son, can you hear me? It's all right now. I'm here with you and I'm going to take care of you. Please, wake up."

Scott was becoming slightly agitated, as if he were in the throes of a nightmare. Jeff tried again, his tone firmer now.

"Scott Jefferson Tracy, this is your father speaking. I want you to listen to me, young man. The time has come for you to wake up and I don't want any excuses, do you hear me?"

He wasn't at all surprised to hear a soft "Yes, sir" escape from Scott's lips.

Jeff replied with a stern "Good. Report, soldier. That's an order!"

Miraculously, his first-born's eyelids flickered open but it took him a minute to recognize Jeff. He raised a hand to try and touch his father's face, but didn't have the strength and it fell back down to his side. Jeff grabbed the hand and touched it to his face to let his boy know he was there for him.

Scott smiled slightly. "Dad, what're you doing here?"

"Oh, you know, I had nothing better to do on a Saturday night so I thought I'd crash the party."

Scott started to chuckle but ended up with his body being racked by coughs.

"Easy, son, easy. You know, you really didn't need to catch me. I could have found a good enough place to land all on my own." His smile was warm and affectionate.

When he was able to talk again without coughing, Scott responded with, "Well, you know (more coughing), I am the field commander. Nobody goes it alone on my watch."

His voice was weak, but his smile was dazzling.

"Well, I think this was a bit above and beyond the call of duty if you ask me."

"Hey, somebody's gotta look out for the boss, eh?"

He dissolved into another paroxysm of wheezing and coughing.

"Shhh, don't talk, son. Save your strength."

"Hey." He coughed again. "That'd be a first for me, huh...keeping my mouth shut?" He swallowed hard. "I'm cold, Dad."

This alarmed Jeff but he did his best not to show it. He lay down and cuddled up next to his son, being mindful not to hurt him. He was afraid that Scott might have internal injuries. He just hoped they'd be rescued before...Think positive Jeff, a vital element of survival.

He would lay there for as long as it took, keeping Scott warm and watching over him. Jeff continued to talk to him in a soothing manner, trying to keep him alert. But the effort was draining Scott and it finally proved to be too much. Jeff listened as his breathing slowed and the son he was so very proud of drifted back into unconsciousness for what he hoped would not be the final time. Jeff realized that he too must have drifted off as he was awakened after an unknown passage of time by someone shaking him ever so gently. He looked up into the concerned face of his third son.

"Dad? It's me, John. How do you feel?"

Jeff was so happy to see John that he forgot about his injuries and attempted to quickly roll over. He was instantly reminded.

"Ugh! Ask me again in a month. Boy!" he exclaimed. "Are you three a sight for sore eyes!"

John looked over at Gordon and gave him the See, I told you he was too ornery to die wink.

Jeff watched as his eldest was being strapped to a gurney. "How's Scott?"

This time, it was Virgil putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Dad. He's got internal injuries but I think we got to him in time. You guys actually landed on some insulating material. Otherwise, it would have been much worse.

"Well, thank the powers that be for small miracles. What about Alan and Tin Tin?"

Gordon piped up. "Well, Tin Tin actually found us and Alan was discovered by some emergency workers in a field just a few yards from here. It seems he was blown clear of the rubble. Talk about your dumb luck. If he were a cat, I'd say he was pushing it with the nine lives thing. He's unconscious with a severe concussion, but he should be up and about in a few days. I guess the three of them won't be frequenting discos again anytime soon, which is probably just fine with Scott. Now let's see about getting you out of here, Father."

Small miracles indeed, Jeff thought to himself. Actually, they were rather large ones, ranging in height from 6'0 to 6'2 and he'd been thankful for them every day since the first one was born.

Virgil bent down to help him up onto the second stretcher.

"Here's your ride. Hey, Dad?" Virgil asked. "Whatever happened to not becoming part of the problem?"

Well, actually, maybe thankful wasn't quite the right word.