Scott spun his head towards TinTin and stared at her in shock. "Lying?" He echoed quietly.
TinTin nodded slightly. "It was obvious."
"But …" Scott regarded her in disbelief, "She said - "
"What you all needed to hear." TinTin agreed, "But not the truth. I mean, I don't know which part was false or why or … she just wasn't being honest."
Scott groaned and let his head fall back against the leather headrest.
"Sorry." TinTin offered, musing over how odd it was that the tables had turned.
Scott smiled thinly.
"So …" TinTin prompted after a moment. "Where were you coming back from?"
Scott took a deep breath and sat upright, shaking off his disappointment and glad for a change of topic, even though the overall feeling of unease remained. He told her about the loss of his friend and the funeral. And all that had transpired since.
TinTin stared up at him in wonder. "The president?"
"Yeah," Scott laughed softly, "That was Dad's least favourite part, too."
"And …? What did you tell her?"
"Everything." He glanced at her and gave a short chuckle, "She knew too much already. It wasn't like I was putting us in any more danger than we already are."
"And … she knows …?"
Scott nodded, "And swears she'll keep it secret. Not that there seems to be any point."
"What do you mean?"
Scott glanced up at the immense bulk of Thunderbird 2 and his smile faded. "So much has changed, Tin …" He sighed loudly, "It got dangerous for us out there so we had to carefully pick a few useful allies but when it came to President Mitchell we kinda had no choice."
TinTin nodded slowly, "That whole part, Alan did tell me. He told it like it was an exciting action movie and I was sure he was exaggerating."
Scott shook his head and smiled in sympathy, wishing he could confirm that it was not as bad as it had actually been.
"Is One fixed now?"
"Yeah. And I guess it's good to have such a powerful friend but … at what price, Tin? I mean; John's gone, Dad's spending most of his time watching over his shoulder and the rest of us are waiting for the next disaster and praying that it's not us." He frowned in thought, "And now there seems to be just as many enemies. I wasn't sure which way the President was gonna go at first. When she first showed me John's picture I thought … well …"
TinTin couldn't help but smile. "Now you sound like Alan and his seen-to-many-movies over reactions."
"Oh, she was damned convincing, Tin!" Scott grinned, "But it was all a front for the Secret Service. She asked me if I had a signal scrambler and then relaxed as soon as we could talk safely. And I'm sure glad we have her on side. She's real pissed at whoever tried to level her house!"
TinTin laughed in delight.
Scott laughed with her, "I had my doubts about a female president but seeing her so pissed cos her lawn got ruined. Dude, I wouldn't wanna be in their shoes when she finds them."
"Mmm … makes you wonder who they should be more scared of – her or John?"
Scott's laughter died.
TinTin faced him in equal sincerity. "And it's my un- the Hood. Isn't it."
Scott nodded slowly, "It would certainly seem that way. I mean, no one has seen definite proof but they did a voice match on the call to the White House and are pretty sure it was him."
TinTin took a moment to absorb this. "And John's gone after him, too?"
Another nod.
"But Alan said you got a call from Switzerland?"
Scott shrugged, "Who knows what they were doing there."
"Penny does."
Scott frowned suddenly and watched her in interest. "So … how exactly does it work …?"
TinTin looked back up at him and frowned in confusion.
"Your powers. They're like his?"
"No!" TinTin laughed suddenly and let out a sigh of relief. "No, thank god!" She looked down at her hands and considered her response. "I don't really understand it yet and … well … short of being Brains' latest science project, there isn't really anywhere I can go to find out more." She studied her hands in interest and shook her head. "It's like sort of an increased intuition really … like a sixth sense."
"Wo!" Scott chuckled merrily, "You see dead people?"
TinTin shot him a look that would have floored twenty Alans and shook her head firmly. "No."
Scott's smile faded. "Sorry." He watched her face become troubled and reached out to place his hand on her shoulder.
TinTin leaned into his touch and moaned appreciatively as he pulled her into a tight hug. She nestled her face into his chest and closed her eyes tightly.
"But …" Scott chose his words carefully. "Alan says you can control animals."
"Alan exaggerates!" TinTin retorted, "I can use gentle persuasion on simple creatures but that's about it."
"And … in London …?"
TinTin shuddered at the memory and leaned further into his embrace.
Scott's heart was racing. He had the distinct feeling that this was perhaps the first time she had talked to anyone about her abilities. Really talked. He felt bad that he had not given her the chance to chat previously and wondered if he ought to have sat with her and asked her about everything. But talking through things was never his greatest strong point. That was Virgil. Or John. Or at least, it used to be John. And suddenly tears were stinging in his eyes.
"He was already weakened." TinTin suddenly explained in a quiet voice.
Scott was pulled back to the present and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
"Alan had already weakened him. I didn't do anything really …"
"That's not how Alan tells it."
"Yeah," TinTin groaned, "And that so helps when it comes to convincing the olds that I'm not a freak."
"Hmm, I guess." Scott agreed quietly, "But they're only doing what they think is right … and they've never been faced with something like this before. You can't blame them for worrying."
"I know." TinTin hugged him closer and closed her eyes, "I almost wish … I mean … the only person who could really help me is ... well...""
"I know …" Scott leaned his head against hers and gave her a gentle squeeze. "But I really don't think it would help."
TinTin smiled, "Now look who can read minds!"
Scott laughed softly, "No … it's obvious, honey … and I've wondered the same thing but … even when he was supposedly helping us escape in Kazakhstan there was something about him … something - "
"Evil."
Scott shuddered. "Yeah."
TinTin sighed deeply, "Which is why my olds pray every night for a cure." She gave a small laugh, "Strange they haven't tried an exorcism yet!"
"Oh, honey, don't say that."
"I know … I'm sorry." She nestled her face further into the cotton of his shirt. "I just wish there was some way I could understand this more – maybe even increase my power or something. It might prove useful."
Scott opened his eyes and leaned back from her. He looked down and could just about see her sorrowful face. "What does Brains say about it all?"
"That the Hood made his research look like fourth grade science." TinTin replied, "I've already tried that route. He won't dare go near anything remotely brain-related. He said he's frightened of hurting me."
Scott considered this for a moment, his mind searching through the possible avenues they could try and his heart sinking as he realised that one possible resource had since been removed from the island in a body bag.
A chirping melody then interrupted them and Scott quickly dove into his jeans pocket to pull out his cell phone. He frowned at the caller ID and then sighed loudly.
TinTin sat back from him and watched in intrigue.
Scott let the answer-phone intercept the call and tucked the handset back into his pocket. He glanced at TinTin and smiled thinly. "I think it'll be John calling … every time."
TinTin fell back against him, hugging him even tighter and mumbling in sympathy. She then smiled and leaned her head back to look up at him. "Well …?"
"Well, what?"
"Who's Ruth?"
Scott's cheeks flushed and he couldn't hide the smile that danced on his mouth. "An old friend."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah." Scott's cheeks deepened in their crimson shade.
"Oh." TinTin nodded, "One of 'those' kinds of friends, huh?"
Scott gasped and was about to ask her just what she was implying and how the hell she knew about such things anyway but he then met her gaze and looked into dark eyes far older than her years. "Yeah. Not that anything will ever come of it." He shrugged, "She's married."
"Happily?"
Scott was momentarily stunned and then nodded slowly. "Which is the hardest part of it all."
TinTin smiled thinly, conveying understanding and sympathy.
Scott watched her for a moment and shook his head slowly. "God, Tin … when did you suddenly grow up?"
"During spring break." Was TinTin's immediate, honest answer.
Scott groaned and slipped his arm around her shoulders once again. He held her close and could feel her trembling as fresh tears threatened. "How the hell do you put up with my childish younger brother?"
"Easy. He's one of the simple creatures I can control."
Scott laughed in delight.
TinTin chuckled merrily and then hugged him close once more. "But even Alan has grown up lately."
"Mmm …" Scott muttered, "Everyone has changed …"
"I wish they hadn't," TinTin observed, her voice tight, "I wish we could go back to how things used to be."
"Yeah, honey …" Scott agreed quietly. "You and me both."
Tbc …