A/N - This short story was inspired by and based on the song 'Laugh Maker' by Bump of Chicken. I hope you enjoy reading it! I do not own the Thunderbirds.

It was a bad day.

It had been a really bad day.

Scott sat alone in a tear-soaked room, curled up with his back against the door and knees drawn up to his chest. His shoulders shook as sobs racked his whole body.

It had been an absolutely horrible day.

A knock on the door. Scott sat in silence for a moment. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, not with this face. He didn't feel like much of anything. But he had four younger brothers.

"Who is it? What do you want?" Scott called.

There wasn't an immediate response. He could hear shuffling outside the door and a few low murmurs but no response to his call. Whatever. He didn't care. He gave a few pathetic sniffles.

"It's not a great name."A voice sounded through the door, clearly meant for Scott to hear, "But someone once called me 'Laugh Maker' and I've brought a smile for you."

Scott dropped his head to his knees. Gordon. He really wasn't in the mood for his games. Unless it was an emergency, he just wanted to be left alone.

"It's cold out here. Can I come in?"

Scott balled his hands into fists. No. Not in the mood.

"Laugh Maker?" He said harshly. "This isn't a joke! I didn't call for you so just go away! Leave me alone."

It wasn't cold out in the hallway. Scott knew that much. And if Gordon was calling himself, 'Laugh Maker', then it clearly wasn't an emergency.

He needed to be alone. Scott wouldn't be able to cry if Gordon was in the room. He was the oldest. He had to hold everyone together and put on a good example for his younger brothers. He couldn't let them see him break down. He had to be strong.

But today he had a bad day. He couldn't be strong and he couldn't hold everyone together.

There wasn't a response. Scott was left in silence, frustration and anger building inside him. Fresh tears streamed down his face. Of course.

Soon enough, the room was heavily flooded with tears, and a knock sounded out.

Scott lifted his head. He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting there but he didn't feel even remotely better. His chest still hurt and now his head was starting to hurt. There was a heaviness that pulled on his limbs, dragging him down. He felt like new tears would spring at any moment.

He felt pathetic.

The knock sounded again. Was Gordon still there?

"I thought I told you to go away," Scott answered.

"You're the first person to tell me that in my life," Gordon stated through the door. "I'm really sad now. I think I might cry."

Scott scoffed. Yeah right. He definitely wasn't the first one to tell Gordon to go away.

"This isn't a joke, Laugh Maker!" Scott yelled. He couldn't put up with Gordon today. He couldn't be a big brother. Not right now. "I don't care if you cry. I'm the one who wants to cry. Just go away."

Scott dropped his head back to his knees. He let out a few sniffles before tears, once more, fell down his face. He didn't mean it. Of course, he cared if his younger brother cried. He just couldn't right now.

He buried his head in his arms, allowing himself to wallow in his own self depression. Then a sound pulled him out of his own mind. Sniffling. His brother was sobbing on the other side of the door.

Guilt hit Scott like a truck. His brother was trying to cheer him up but he had only pushed him away. Slowly, Scott uncurled, tears still streaming down his face. He leaned his head up against the door.

The sound of two people crying resounded through the room. Gordon's hiccups spurred fresh sobs from Scott. He let all his frustrations go as he listened to Gordon, allowing emotion to roll over him in waves. The two of them kept on until they were completely tired out.

"Do you still intend to make me laugh, Laugh Maker?" Scott called softly through the door.

"It's the only thing I live for." Gordon said through his sniffles, "If I don't make you laugh, I can't move on."

Scott slowly stood up, his knees popping as he did so. He felt lighter, not completely better, not OK, but lighter. Maybe he could deal with his brother now.

He unlocked the door and turned the handle but the door wouldn't open. The pressure from the flooded tears kept the door from opening. The water was up past Scott's knees now. He sniffled. No matter how much Scott pulled, the door wouldn't budge.

"Hey, Laugh Maker?" Scott said in a shaky voice. The realization that he was trapped was slowly setting in, "The door won't open. Can you push it from your side?"

Scott paused. No response. "Hey? Is something wrong?... Say something. Sniffle or something."

There was no response.

Scott's heart dropped to his stomach. His eyes widened and breathing hitched. No way. He was just beginning to open up. Just when he was beginning to believe in Gordon, he left. He left without a warning or care. He left Scott all alone. Trapped.

Scott gritted his teeth and pushed the palm of his hand into his eye, willing the tears to stop.

"THIS ISN'T A JOKE!" He yelled out.

The sound of a window breaking on the other side of the room had Scott snapping to attention. There stood Gordon, with a tear-streaked face and a metal pipe in his hands.

"I've brought a smile for you." He said.

Virgil climbed into the room before smacking Gordon upside the head. "You could have hurt him, Gordo."

"Hey!" Gordon rebutted, "He's not hurt. He was on the other side of the room."

Alan then clambered into the room followed by John. The room wasn't very big. It was getting crowded with all five of them there.

Gordon walked over to Scott and handed him a mirror.

"See? Even your sad face can smile." he said softly, "Plus tears don't really work on you, Scotty."

Scott blinked owlishly. He was stunned by the sudden appearance of his brothers, before looking at his reflection in the mirror. He looked terrible. His face was pale, tear-streaked with puffy red-rimmed eyes. Then he looked at his brothers. They all had soft looks of concern and determination. It was such a small gesture, but it brought a smile to Scott's face.

Then before he could blink, he found himself in the middle of a group hug. Four pairs of arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him together. He sniffled, tears streaming down his face.

Today, he couldn't be the older brother. Today, he couldn't hold it together.

But today, he didn't have to.