Author's note: Thanks for the review!

Kayo sits on the edge of her bed. It's clear that she's lost.

She doesn't speak. Her eyes drift around her room listlessly. It hasn't changed. Nobody's dared to touch anything in it other than for the occasional dust. Even then, everything had been so very carefully put back where it was so that when Kayo Kyrano finally returned home, she wouldn't be able to notice. The room that she finds herself in is exactly the same as it was when she left on a seemingly mundane mission six months ago.

If the surroundings are the same, the young woman is not.

She hasn't said enough to explain just what exactly just what it is that troubles her so. The way that she stands there, it's apparent that she herself doesn't quite know, can't quite put a finger on it. She can't seem to focus on anything in particular and the way that she stares at everything, it's as if it's all brand new and she can't quite figure out what any of it is or if it even belongs to her in the first place. Kayo's eyes are wide and frightened as she rediscovers a world she had thought lost to her. It's all familiar and yet at the same time it's all strange. A couple of times, it looks as if she might have something to say. She opens her mouth but no words come out and once more she slips into silence.

Her family give her some space, standing the doorway. It's hard not to stare but what else is there to say? They're not about to insist that she open up and spill all of her heart and soul. Even standing there becomes awkward. It's not too clear if they are intruding or not. Kayo is usually pretty transparent when it comes to such things, making it very much apparent when the presence of another is appreciated or not. Right now, she only gives off mixed signals. Sometimes, they get the distinct impression that the young woman would much rather be left alone with her thoughts for a little while so that she can come to terms with everything in peace for a short while. Then, in the space of a few seconds, it seems as if she wants and indeed needs nothing more than for those who love her to come and put their arms around her, ensuring that she's kept safe.

She needs her rest. She's made that much clear. At the same time, it's not easy to contemplate leaving her here by herself.

The hardest part is when she turns to them.

Her eyes are wet, although tears haven't yet come yet. It's to her family that she turns to for guidance. Desperately, she looks to them for something. Grandma Tracy steps forwards cautiously. She settles down next to Kayo who can only stare at the woman as if she's some sort of apparition and might vanish at any moment. She places a hand on her shoulder:

"You call if you need anything. Anything at all, okay? Painkillers, something to eat or drink, to talk… Anything. Don't try to tough it out. We're all here for you."

"I- I'm fine… I-" She shakes her head slowly. "Thank you. All of you."

It's the signal that they need. Slowly but surely, the rest of her family drift in to the room. They give her a chance to back away if she wishes. She doesn't. She lowers her eyes, doing her best to shield her eyes from them as her pride returns once more, prompting her to try and conceal her emotions. One by one, Kayo Kyrano is wrapped up in the arms of those who she loves. They hold her close. Only Scott hangs back a little bit, cautious. In some ways, he almost looks as lost as his friend does in some ways. Nobody pays it any attention. Right now, there's somebody else who they have to be with, to comfort.

It's a wordless promise: she's safe. Nobody's going to be hurting her here now or ever again. The young woman closes her eyes and leans into them. She allows herself to be encircled by her family, to fall into them and the safety and comfort that they offer.

"Welcome home." Jeff tells her.

Kayo fought like a lion. Even as she was bound, she continued to struggle. When her arms and legs were taken away from her, she threw herself as best as she could with all of her weight into Fuse. It was a futile effort. One which was met more with bemusement than anything else as the brute laughed at her efforts whilst his sister did what she could to ensure that their prisoner was restrained. Finally, with some effort, the brother managed to sling the head of security of his shoulder, cursing and swearing as she went.

She raised her eyes to her friend, looking to him for a rescue.

Scott continued to pound against the steel of the door, helpless, as if somehow it actually stood a chance of breaking beneath his blows. It did no such thing. Periodically, he broke off, looking for some sort of solution, something somewhere that he might have missed. There was no console to hack. Even if there had have been, he didn't have the knowledge to do so or anyone on Tracy Island who could possibly assist him. He had his laser but that would take far too long… He was going to lose her. That fact hit home suddenly and with all the weight of impact of a ton of bricks.

"No. No! NO!" Panic took hold suddenly. "Kayo!"

His cry caused her to look up to him. He could read it in her eyes. Right now, there was nothing that she could do other than make herself a nuisance. She needed a rescue.

The young woman was carried out of his sight a few moments later, another door closing and blocking his view once more. He could still hear her protesting and fighting all the way. Ironically, it was all that it took for Scott to realize just what it was that he needed to do. There was still a chance, if he was quick enough.

He didn't think that he'd ever ran faster than he had in those few minutes. His lungs heaved so much so that he could scarcely breathe, sweat poured down his brow and his muscles were on fire by the time he emerged from the base. He practically screamed what had happened to a couple of GDF officers as he raced on past. Understandably they were confused, staring at the International Rescue operative aware that something must have happened but not entirely sure just what exactly it was. Somewhere along the line. They understood that something terrible must have happened.

He makes it back to Thunderbird 1 in record time. He'd practically taken off before he'd even climbed into the seat of the cockpit. He could scarcely hear himself think over the pounding of his own heart. In truth, he wasn't even sure he was doing that. It was instinct that drove him caused him to take to the sky.

John's hologram materialized next to him before he'd even thought to call them.

"What happened to you two? You dropped off the radar and I'm getting some odd readings. Looks like there's some unauthorized aircraft activity in the-"

"They took her!"

"What?"

"The Chaos Crew! They took Kayo!"

He didn't quite register just what John said next. Probably something requesting more information or about notifying the others. Telling him not to panic… Something like that.

Scott found his attention instead to be claimed by a large form emerging from the ground. It tore into the sky. It wasted no time in speeding away. The eldest brother hesitated only a second before giving chase. Kayo would be on board, he knew it. Seeing the craft, there was nothing but anger building up inside of him. He ignored the beeping of his console, focusing instead on ensuring that he followed close behind. Already, his eyes scanned for some sort of opening, a weakness that he could exploit to either get inside or bring the ship down.

This was Kayo's domain of expertise. Had the situation been reversed, he was quite confident that he would have been rescued already by now. Sitting in his chair, he found himself to be trembling. It was adrenaline as much as fear. Finally, Brains appeared next to him:

"S-Scott, Thunderbird 1 isn't really designed for this sort of t-thing. You don't have the same defenses as Thunderbird S!"

It was all that it took for the eldest brother to realize that in his haste he had made a terrible, perhaps fatal mistake. He could have taken the head of security's T-Bird. It had been right next to his and would have been far better suited for this task.

An explosion a second later caused Thunderbird one to be knocked around as if it was little more than a paper bag in the wind.

Frantically, the pilot struggled to regain control. His consoles screaming at him. If there had any doubt about who he was pursuing or if they were armed it was quickly dismissed. Still, the eldest of the brothers wrestled for control with his controls. The engines spluttered unsure whether or not they were going to give up the ghost as the craft entered into the beginnings of a spin. He grit his teeth watching as the dials informed him that they had been struck by fire designed to take down an aircraft.

Thunderbird 1 came close to crashing. It was truly a testament to Brains' engineering that it didn't, the backup systems kicking in just in time to allow its pilot to guide it down to rest in the sands. Scott only just managed to stagger outside, his feet touching the ground as he looked to the sky. The last glimmer of hope and his friend disappearing into the horizon...