John fought the urge to check for Alan's pulse. Instead he disconnected Alan from the pod's oxygen supply and replaced it with the attachment on the canister Ridley gave him. When John was sure Alan was connected up, he slipped in behind his brother and grabbed his brother's wrist. The smashed communicator confirmed why Alan hadn't got in touch, but John could still connect to it and brought up the readings from Alan's suit. Relief flooded John and he couldn't stop the tears that fell down his cheeks. He wrapped his arms around his baby brother. There was a pulse, faint and slow, and his respiration rate was next to non-existent, but it was there. Alan was alive! John knew his brother wasn't out the woods, and that he could still loss him, but at least Alan had a chance. He'd beaten the odds so far, and now John could give him the best chance of recovery.

John looked up and saw that Ridley had manoeuvred the ship in front of the pod and opened the cargo bay. The bay was just big enough for the pod, and John removed Alan's hands from the controls. The red oxygen low warning still lit up the screen, but the fuel warning was amber, and John carefully guided the pod into the GDF ship. The bay re-pressurised and Ridley rushed in with a medical kit and a stretcher. She climbed onto the pod and helped John extract his brother's limp body. They hurried to the medical bay; Alan still attached to John via the oxygen tube. Once in the medical bay they transferred him to the bed and strapped him down. John prepared to remove Alan's helmet while Ridley got an oxygen mask ready.

"On three." He said. "One. Two. Three."

John opened the helmet and Ridley held the mask over Alan's mouth. John removed the helmet completely and slipped the straps behind Alan's head. Stepping back, John looked Alan over as Ridley scanned him with a medical scanner. Together, they peered at the display. Alan's body temperature was on the low side of the normal range, and there were some large areas of bruising on his back and arms. Ridley moved to Alan's head and scanned his head again, slowly and thoroughly. John held his breath as she came to view the more detailed scans.

"There's definitely some signs of cerebral hypoxia, dehydration, and possibly a concussion too. He needs urgent medical attention."

John nodded. Alan may be alive but he needed care they couldn't give, and what he needed was over a day away.

"John, could you remove his uniform?"

John found the seams and carefully pulled them back and removed Alan's uniform. He folded them and lay the baldric on top, before strapping up the bundle. Alan looked so pale in the bright light in only his black underclothes. Ridley carefully prepared the items she required, so they won't float off, and carefully inserted a central venous catheter into Alan's left arm. She then attached a specialised zero-g saline drip to the port and placed pads and sensors over his brother's body to replace the ones they'd just removed.

"I'll get us heading back to Earth. I'll inform the GDF of our estimated time of arrival and Alan's condition, but I'll let them know that you'll be informing your family of the developments. John, call Scott. He needs to know."

Ridley left the medical bay after placing Alan's uniform in a compartment, which John made a mental note of. He floated beside his brother. He grabbed Alan's arm and shook it gently.

"Alan, can you hear me? Alan, please wake up."

John watched Alan for any movement. The sooner his brother woke up the better. John grasped his brother's hand and stroked the back of it. John floated by his brother; they had no idea how long he'd been out for, but it had definitely caused some damage. How reversible it would be, was something only Alan could show him, in the months he'd take to recover. But first Alan had to wake up. John placed his hand on the side of his brother's face, and stroked Alan's cheek where the mask wasn't covering his skin.

"Come on, Alan. Wake up. I need you awake so I can call Scott. We can't have him worrying too much now. You've already given him enough grey hairs, haven't you Alan?"

John watched and waited. Looking for any sign of a response. Alan's chest was steadily rising up and down. His eyes flicked to the bio-readings on the display. All the basics were normal for an unconscious man. John squeezed Alan's hand, and let his eyes fall on Alan's face. John froze. Was that a twitch? John glanced down and watched as Alan's eyes moved beneath his eyelids. John squeezed Alan's hand again and slowly his brother's eyes opened. John peered into them. They were unfocused and there was no recognition in them, but seeing those blue eyes caused hope to flood John's heart.

"Alan, it's John. I'm here and you're safe."

Alan's eyes stayed unfocused and he didn't move or squeeze back. John grabbed the scanner and scanned Alan's brain. There were parts functioning, but there were some parts that weren't as active as they should be. As John studied the scan it lit up. He looked at Alan and his brother was shaking. A seizure! Alan strained against the straps that stopped him floating about. John kept back and was relieved when Ridley came in. She stayed quiet as they waited for the seizure to pass. The jerking of Alan's body slowed down and soon he stilled. Ridley grabbed a medical kit and started getting to work on his brother. She took out a vial and syringe.

"Has Alan ever had any reactions to drugs?"

"No."

"Good. I'm going to give him a small dose of an anti-seizure drug, to try keep him stable."

Ridley inserted the drug into Alan's system. John took a deep breath. He needed to stay calm. He floated over to Alan's head and looked into the young man's face. His eyes were shut again, but Alan had regained consciousness, if only temporarily. That was a good sign. The seizure was not so good, but he knew they could go away. Alan was a Tracy. He had the stubbornness to get through and overcome this.

Ridley tidied up before floating over to him and putting an arm around his shoulder. John lent into her body, craving the comfort as silent tears fell. Ridley quickly mopped them up before they could float away and cause problems.

"He did really well to get this far, and everything's set for a quick transfer to Earth. You just need to let Scott know."

John nodded, eyes on his baby brother. He sighed and moved out of Ridley's touch. He had to tell Scott. At least he has good news. Scott would still be worried and fret but at least Alan was still alive to fret over. Ridley ran a few checks on Alan.

"I'm heading to the mess. I'll give you fifteen minutes before I return with food for you."

John nodded and tried to slip into rescue mode. He tapped his communicator and called Scott, who answered immediately. Scott looked better that he had last time. His eldest brother had shaved, neatened his hair and although he still had dark circles under his eyes, there was more energy in him. It was anxious energy, but energy none the less. It also meant he was in a good condition to hear the news.

"John, we're one hour from take-off here, I'll be in orbit in a few hours. How is it going? How far from Thunderbird 3 are you?"

John swallowed. Time to spill the beans.

"We're on our way back. We'll be rendezvousing with you in less than a day."

"John, what do you mean!? You have to get to Thunderbird 3! You have to find Alan."

John took in his brother and the pain in the elder's features. Instead of answering John angled his wrist so that Alan was being projected to Scott, instead of himself.

"Alan?" Scott whispered, his face full of shock. "How? John, how?"

"EOS detected what could have been the space pod on the scanners heading for Earth. But her calculations showed that there was only the smallest possibility that we could get to Alan before his oxygen ran out. We intercepted the pod and it was Alan onboard. We're bringing him home."

Scott's face was a picture of surprise and John watched many emotions run through it.

"Is he...Did you..." Scott stammered. John's heart ached for his brother.

"He's alive, Scott. He's got cerebral hypoxia but probably only mildly. He's woken up but had shown no sign of recognition, and he's had a seizure."

"But he's alive?"

"Yes, Scott, he's alive. But we won't know the extent of the damage for months."

"We'll make it work, John." Tears slipped down Scott's face. "He's alive and whatever else happens, we'll deal with it."

John nodded, fighting back the tears of his own. They both needed family and comfort, but both knew they won't be satisfied until Alan was safely home.

"We need to let the others know." Scott looked John in the eye, a silent message passed between them. 'You do it, John, you'd be better' was what Scott told him with a glance. John appreciated the confidence Scott had in him and nodded his agreement.

"Thank you, John."

Scott looked smaller than he had in years. John wanted to place his hand in his brother's shoulder, but distance didn't allow it.

"You're welcome, Scott."


Virgil was sitting on the sofa with Grandma. She was worried sick. She had lost her son, and despite watching her grandson's head into danger on a near daily basis, this hurt so much more. This was the real deal. She could lose her youngest grandchild. Virgil himself, had cried with her. Her tears had brought on his. He knew as well as Brains' how much oxygen was on Three. Brains' has given him that look when he tried to ask the question. It was the look that said Virgil knew the answer. Alan wasn't coming home alive without a miracle. But to tell that to his Grandma, the one who'd become a mother to Alan, who'd raised him, alongside Dad, and then Scott. He couldn't tell his Grandma.

Scott had stepped straight into action. Practicalities came first, grief could wait for later. Virgil had seen Scott race off the island, though had grabbed his arm before he left. The silent conversation that happened in the those few seconds was all Virgil needed to know. Scott was going to hold on to hope until he saw it for himself. Alan wasn't dead until Scott had seen him. Virgil gave his elder brother a hug before he left and started preparing his heart for a big brother's worst nightmare.

Gordon was sitting on the other couch with Brains. Kayo was leaning against the wall, while Penelope was on the other side of Grandma to Virgil, holding her other hand, when John called. Virgil was surprised to hear from him so soon, though he couldn't help but notice how emotional exhausted his brother looked.

"John." Virgil said, his hand still rubbing circles on his Grandma's back.

"Hello Virgil." John's hologram looked around the room. "I'm glad you're all here already. I have an update."

Virgil felt his heart rate accelerate, and his hand froze on his Grandma's back. Scott had said it'd take two days to get to Three. He felt the older woman shiver then straightened.

"Go on, Hun." Grandma encouraged. John nodded.

"Alan's alive and we're on our way back to Earth..."

The rest of the conversation was caught in snippets, but Virgil got the information he needed. Alan was hurt but alive. That was all that mattered. Tears of relief fell down his Grandma's face. Gordon was silent for once, just absorbing the new information. Virgil wrapped his arms around his grandmother and pulled her close. Then he let his tears fall. How could he have doubted Alan? Then John had had his doubts too. Alan had a way of surprising them all. The guilt and relief flooded Virgil as he wept.


John ended the call to his family. He'd given them hope, something to hold on to. He turned to Alan. Alan's eyes were open again, but he still didn't respond or react to John's voice or touch. John floated next to his brother and took his hand.

"It's John, Alan. You're big brother, John." John stoked his hand. "We're going home, Alan and I'm not leaving your side."


Scott floated in the passageway of the shuttle. Alan and John were less than half an hour away and he was struggling to hold himself together. He looked at the airlock that Alan would be transported through. He wanted to be by his baby brother's side as soon as he could. He'd felt relief when he first heard Alan was alive, but Captain O'Bannon had transmitted the scans and readings taken from Alan and the GDF had kicked in action. They had delayed the launch again, but this time Scott didn't argue. They had assembled the best team of medical personnel who had experience and training in zero-g emergencies. The equipment required to keep Alan stable through re-entry was gathered with haste, and Scott couldn't help but marvel at the mountains Cornel Casey moved to make sure that Alan, her godson, got home safe. Once everything was onboard and secure the ship took off, only just making the safe launch window.

Scott had hoovered in the makeshift medical bay once in orbit. He had listened to the medics rattling off the equipment, drugs and roles they would be taking. He had watched as they verbally ran through scenarios that could occur. What happened if he had a seizure during re-entry? What was the first thing they had to do if his heart stopped once under the effect of normal gravity? Who would be the first to respond? Who would head resuscitation? Scott's blood ran cold. These were the risks, no matter how small, that his already injured baby brother had to face, had to beat. The fear in Scott's heart was real. He wished he could sit with his brother the entire time during decent, however they all needed to be strapped in. He had flown in Thunderbird Three enough to know the strength of the forces put on the body during re-entry. He hoped Alan's history, the fact that he had done it so many times, would work in his favour. His body was used to it.

As the smaller ship came into dock, the medical team started to gather. All prepared to grab the stretcher and take control of Alan. He knew they didn't want him there, that he might get in their way, but he had to be there for Alan. Even just to hold his hand. The airlock opened and there was John. Scott was shocked at how haggard he looked compared with the holoprojection he'd spoken with less than a day ago. His brother nodded at him, before floating to the side and revealing the stretcher containing Alan. John started rattling off Alan's stats, medication and condition, but it faded into the background for Scott. Alan's pale body, oxygen mask over his face, was all he could concentrate on. He looked so small, so fragile, and Scott had sent him into space. There were small patches of mottled bruising, a line connected to a drip and various sensors. John passed the stretcher to the medical staff, who grabbed the corners. Scott watched the bottom half pass before grabbing Alan's hand when it came into reach. He pushed himself along so not to tug on his little brother, keeping pace with the medical staff.

They took him into the medical bay and started to hook him up to new monitors, they took new scans and gave Alan more medication. The worked around Scott who just held Alan's hand. Scott gazed at the young astronaut's face, his eyes were open, his pupils were responding, and they followed the light when asked. All positive signs.

"Would you speak to him for us? See if he recognises you?" The doctor on his left said, moving away.

Scott grabbed the side of the stretcher and pulled himself closer, so he was looking Alan in the eye.

"Hello Alan. It's Scott. I'm here, Alan, I'm hear with you."

Scott watched as Alan's eyes flickered slightly, and they appeared to look at him, but he could see that Alan was struggling to focus. Scott squeezed Alan's hand.

"It's okay, Alan. We've got you now."

Scott stroked Alan's hair, as he had all Alan's life when trying to soothe the boy. His voice may not have done to trick but Scott could see some of Alan's muscles relax at the touch. The medics came up beside him and Scott moved back. A hand fell on his shoulder, and Scott turned to see John. John's eyes were full of concern and sympathy. In an instant Scott understood. John had stayed awake and by Alan's side all this time.

"We need to prepare Alan for re-entry," the most senior medic informed them, "would you two please take your seats."

Scott took one last look at Alan, gave his hand one last squeeze before letting go and following John out the room and towards the seats they had been assigned. The brothers strapped themselves in, both silent. Nothing needed to be said. They both knew how the other was feeling. They watched as the medical staff filtered in, until the last one sat down. The astronaut at the helm, announced that they were ready for decent and Scott lay his head back and braced himself. There was no way anyone could give Alan medical attention during this time; Alan was on his own again.

The descent was routine and uneventful for Scott, and once they were on the ground, the medical team were up and at Alan's side. John held Scott back from the room as the staff prepared Alan for transfer. The brothers watched as Alan was quickly taken from the shuttle. Scott put his arm under John's shoulder as they hurried after the convoy. John lent on Scott, using him to aid his balance as he walked on Earth for the first time in two months. They headed into the GDF flyer and took their seats on the bench along the side. Their eyes rested on the stretcher with their brother. John gripped Scott's arm and Scott obeyed the command, his face stern with worry. The flight was short with the Quadjet landing on the helipad of the hospital. The brothers stood back again and watched the GDF staff hand over to the hospital doctors. A tall confident woman approached them, and Scott looked her in the eye.

"Welcome to John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. I'm Charity Adebayo, and I will be your family liaison." She smiled at them, "I'm sure you are worried about you brother, but please be aware that we have excellent neurological expertise and he will be getting the best care we have on offer. I'll take you to Alan's room where you can wait for him."

Charity lead them off the helipad and into the building. They entered the maze of the hospital, eager to get to the room where they would be reunited with their brother. She opened the door to a spacious private room. The Tracy name worked wonders sometimes.

"The GDF have already sent forward all the scans they have, and the doctors already have an extensive treatment and rehabilitation plan ready to put in place. They are just taking a few more detailed scans and their own evaluations first, before they inform you of the possible outcomes for your brother. I'll leave you two for a while and will return with your brother."

Charity left and John was immediately on his communicator. Scott watched, always baffled at the calm way John could handle disaster, as the hologram of Grandma popped up above his wrist. He rattled off the hospital name and room number and Grandma confirmed they would be there soon. John contacted EOS and asked her to secure a slot and aviation bay at the local airfield. Scott placed his arm on John's shoulder.

"What you did, John. You saved Alan. Thank you."

"He would…did…the same for me."

Scott pulled John in close remembering the time when they had almost lost their other astronaut. John rested in Scott's arms, exhausted. They stayed like that until Alan was brought into the room. Once the medical staff moved away, Scott moved over and grabbed Alan's hand, while John grabbed the other. The brothers sat there waiting for the rest of the family to join them.


Alan blinked. His mind was such a muggle, but things were starting to become clearer. The colours in his vision started to come back into focus and things started to make sense. His chest felt better, no longer fighting to pull oxygen into his body. He still felt sleepy, but it wasn't the oxygen starvation sleepy he had fought in the pod. There were sounds around him, words he couldn't put together, and the various contact that he felt, most of which brought him familiarity and comfort.

He blinked and he felt his eyes open again. The room was dark, but there was some dim lighting. He blinked and blinked. The tiles on the ceiling were now in focus. He looked lower and saw the door. His heart lurched at the sight of a hospital door, causing an increase in the steady bleeping that was coming from his right. It slowly dawned on him he had been in space. That he had been alone. Now he was in hospital. Had he made it to Earth? How? A squeeze on his hand brought Alan out of his thoughts.

"Alan?"

A familiar voice whispered to his left. Tears welled in his eyes as his Grandma's face moved into his view. He'd been in space. He had been looking at Earth. Now, here was his Grandma, her blue eyes looking at him, and she was squeezing his hand. The tears fell down his cheeks.

"Oh, Alan."

Her voice was soft, and she let go of his hand and pulled him into a hug. He tried to hug her back, but he struggled to move his arms higher than her waist. So, he gripped her weakly as more tears fell. Alan's head rested on her shoulder, and as he blinked away the next tears, his eyes could focus on the sight over Grandma's shoulder. Six chairs, each filled with a sleeping figure. Each one held a member of his family. Alan relaxed into his Grandma's arms, as the realisation that came to him. His wish had been granted.