Alan brought Thunderbird 3 back into her hangar and was met by Scott who almost knocked the wind out of him in a hug.

"Geez Scott, can't a guy breathe on this island?"

"Are you okay? You risked a lot today," Scott held him back at arm's length.

"I was fine Scott, you need to stop worrying about me so much."

"I didn't think you and Brains were going to get off that planet in one piece."

Brains smiled as he rested his hand on Max's head, "it was fine Scott, we knew what we were doing, and Mr Gray handled it all."

Scott closed his eyes in relief then let go of Alan's shoulder, "the others are in the lounge, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Basically you needed to be a mother hen."

"I am not a mother hen."

Alan smirked. "Sure Scott, sure."

"Come on Max, let's get this mission filed," Brains led the robot away.

Alan followed Scott up to the lounge and sat down on the sofa under the portraits before anyone could grab him, "so, does anyone want to know what Mercury is like, or just if I'm okay?"

Virgil rolled his eyes from where he was sitting at the piano writing up a new composition, "both?"

Gordon sat cross-legged on one of the chairs, "mainly if you're okay. We heard that you managed to crash into a crater?"

"I didn't crash into one, the wheels of the crawler got stuck and I had to get myself out before we got caught by the sun. It was fine, I have had driving lessons."

Kayo looked around at the boys, "cut him some slack. Your first real solo mission Alan, and I think you nailed it," she smiled which made Alan's heart flutter. "Don't listen to these lot, they're just jealous they were called to Europe and not Mercury."

"That's not true!" Gordon gasped. "We had lots of fun, didn't we guys?"

Virgil shrugged, "if you call getting stuck down a ravine fun, then yeah."

"What?" Alan looked over towards the piano. "Are you okay Virgil?"

Virgil smiled, "I'm fine Alan, I wasn't stuck, just bored looking after Gordon. The usual."

Scott rested his arm back across the sofa, "so what is Mercury like?"

"Pretty desolate and very cold despite how close it is to the sun, and lots of craters. I wouldn't like to be doing work up there like Gray and Houseman are, it's too quiet. Very different to the conditions on Venus," he added looking over at Kayo who was leaning against Scott's shoulder. "Temperature, wise."

"Sorry none of us could come with you Al," Scott smiled.

"It's fine. Brains was great company and help, I think he had a good time up there too. I wouldn't have been able to complete the mission without him, he knew exactly what to do, I was clueless."

Virgil left the piano and stretched out on the sofa on the other side of the bonsai tree, "I'm sure you weren't clueless, you're a lot smarter than you think you are Alan."

"Thanks, Virg."

"It's true, you always doubt yourself but you know more than we do about space."

"Maybe, but I know nothing about music or engineering," Alan smiled at the raven-haired man across from him.

"That's only two things."

"Virgil's right Alan, we all have a subject we know backwards but you seem to cover everything," Scott smiled reassuringly.

"I only assisted really, it was quite simple once we fixed the rover. I just wish I had someone else with me. Brains won't be my co-pilot, I don't have one."

Scott looked at him sympathetically remembering that their dad used to go along on missions with Alan, "you don't need one Alan, you know Thunderbird 3 inside out."

"Thanks, Scott, but I do find it hard on my own," Alan stood up. "I'm going to have a shower, see you later."

Scott watched him go then sighed, "he's taking dad's absence hard."

Kayo held his hand in hers, "leave him for a bit, I think he needs some time to himself."

Virgil nodded, "Kayo is right, we'll talk to him later."

Alan lay down on his bed staring up at the ceiling. What had been his role up there? He felt like he was in charge but it was everyone around him who had been in control, he was just the glorified taxi driver to get Brains up there and assist Mr Gray with the solar panels. He sighed and rolled onto his side, he heard a beep and John's hologram appeared next to the bed.

"Hey, sleepyhead."

"Not in the mood John."

"What's wrong?"

"I wasn't of any use today, Brains could've got up there without me. I should've just stayed in Thunderbird 3."

"Don't be ridiculous Alan, if it wasn't for you getting those panels into the right position that team would be toast," John smiled.

Alan shrugged, "I didn't move the panels, I kept an eye out for the sun."

"Alan, come on? You did brilliantly, now stop feeling sorry for yourself," John rolled his eyes then moved round to face his brother. "Would you like me to be your co-pilot?"

"What?"

"Well, you're fine on your own but if you wanted someone to help you I could."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"I'll consider it John, thanks. Wouldn't EOS get lonely?"

John smirked. "I'd work on Thunderbird 5 but I'd come with you on missions. Seems fair right?"

Alan nodded, "thanks, John."

"Well done today."

"It was nothing," Alan waved his hand to the side.

"Take it easy Alan, I'll check in with you later."

Back in the lounge, the others were waiting for John to call them, the holoprojector came to life and Scott looked up from where he was sitting at the piano.

"Well, John?"

"He's alright, and he does like the idea of me being his co-pilot. I think he's just feeling lonely."

"I thought he liked solo missions?" Gordon raised an eyebrow.

Scott leant his elbow on the music stand, "I guess he prefers being in charge, the way I do."

"He does idolise you," Virgil smirked. "Alan's the best pilot out of all of us, and he knows it too."

Kayo laughed. "I never thought I'd hear you say that."

"It's the truth."

"Let him come to us for a chat. Maybe we should ask Brains what happened?" Scott looked down at the keys. "He was there after all."

"Scott, they were successful, so don't worry about it."

"At least he didn't come up against the Chaos Crew," Scott sighed as he continued to play. "They could be as ruthless as the Mechanic, or just a tool for your uncle, Kayo."

"Ugh don't remind me," Kayo rolled her eyes as she made her way over to the pool table. "I've come up against them already and they are not friendly."

Gordon laughed, "neither are their games. I don't want to come up against them again. I still get nightmares of hanging over the edges of cliffs or roads thanks to Fuse."

Virgil chuckled, "good thing I caught you then."

"Stop joking about that, you were in a landslide," John frowned down at the artist.

"John, I only came out with scratches, nothing more."

"Oh yeah, not to mention the cut which had to be tended to," John grimaced. "I haven't forgotten the other day."

Virgil looked down at his arm, "alright I got cut, but it wasn't terrible."

Gordon got to his feet, "I'm going to see Alan. No one follow me okay? He needs his fish."

"Whatever Gordo," Virgil went over to the pool table to join Kayo.

Alan sat up from his bed and ran a hand through his hair, he was about to start his mission log when he heard a knock, "ugh, leave me alone Scott."

"It's not Scott, thankfully. Imagine me looking like that."

"Gordon?"

Gordon opened the door cheerfully, "hey space noodle."

"Go away."

"Aww, that's not very nice. Need a hand on your mission report?"

"I can do it myself. Thanks."

"So, think you'll be going up to Mercury again at some point?" Gordon asked as he sat down in Alan's desk chair.

"I doubt it, they're perfectly safe up there. Out of the sun."

"Alan, you're not yourself, what's the matter buddy?"

Alan sighed, "I could've performed better up there, I didn't feel prepared. I didn't even know what we were doing, hence why I took Brains along."

"Your job was to assist and that's what you did. Don't worry about it."

"Assisting is nothing, I didn't rescue anyone."

"Yes you did, you rescued the whole team with Thunderbird 3, you pushed them out of harm's way."

"Yeah, but then I lost control and had to break off. I suck."

"No you don't, it's gravity and you know she can be a bitch," Gordon smirked. "Don't tell Scott I swore."

"Never."

"Don't let it get to you, we're proud of you and that's what counts right?"

Alan smiled, "really?"

"Of course, we always are."

Alan looked up at his brother, "cheers Gordo."

Gordon moved to the bed and wrapped an arm around his youngest brother, "I knew that's what you wanted to hear. Want to go back to the lounge?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Scott's entertaining."

"What?"

"He bagged the piano stool from Virgil."

"He's that worried about me he's resorted to music," Alan scoffed. "That's his way."

Gordon laughed, "if you say so. I just find it funny."