Wind began to whip around the lounge, spawning from nowhere that Virgil could discern. He couldn't explain what was happening, resorting to dragging John back over the lip of the couch for cover. Scott still stood, frozen in the middle of the room. Penelope had stepped back as well, but her expression was that of intrigued excitement.

The gusts grew in strength, encircling Gordon who watched them, a smile still on his face. Streaks of translucent blue began to travel up his bare arms and legs, across his chest and torso, dissolving the flesh until they could see right through him. At his center appeared to be a bright glow that intensified with the wind.

And then, the pool erupted into a swirling water spout, streams of fluid engulfing the figure and pulling him from the lounge. It grew in mass, the top solidifying into the magnified version of Penelope's companion. The base of him continued to spin like a crystalline tornado.

The bright white grin was unmistakable as Gordon smiled and crossed his immense arms over his chest. "To answer more clearly," his voice boomed around them. "I am the wielder of the universe's infinite power, able to command matter anywhere in the galaxy with the snap of my finger. I - Scott Tracy - am a genie."

His form shifted, floating forward and into the room to come face to face with the brunette. Scott didn't move, though his arms lifted to shield himself from the spray of water that traveled with the wind.

"Does this fulfill your wish?"

Virgil watched his brother nod hesitantly and the genie laughed, the sound bubbling with amusement. His size dramatically shrank and the translucent blue form coalesced back into the man from before. The tan skin spread over the blue and within seconds, the wind and spray were gone and it was as though nothing had happened.

"Gordon, boxers." Lady Penelope chastised, eyes averted.

It was almost comical to see the powerful being reduced to frantically searching for the lost garment. He found it and pulled them on, ignorant to the effect he'd had on the other men in the room.

"Holy shit!"

That caught Gordon's attention as he stumbled mid way into the boxers, a wholehearted laugh bursting from him. "There he goes. Feeling better? Not about to bust a vessel?"

"Hooooly sh-"

"It's alright, Scott," Penelope cut in to hand the genie his clothes.

"Can I get some help?" Gordon pointed to the water soaked shorts.

"I wish you boxers were dry," she didn't hesitate, ever her composed self.

There was another snap and a ball of water collected from the fabric, Gordon rolling it around in his hands before tossing it off the balcony with an audible smack into the pool below.

Virgil's mouth felt dry, wide open and unresponsive as he tried to comprehend what was happening. He felt John move and took the hint to move himself, holding onto his brother as they stood. The astronaut draped his arm over Virgil's shoulders, gravity working heavily on his muscles.

"Lady Penelope, how - how is this even possible?" The engineer stammered.

"Your guess is as good as mine," her smile said it wasn't at all important. "However, this is what I wanted to discuss with you all. Gordon is, in fact, a genie and I was hoping he could be of some assistance to your organization."

"Wait, what?" Scott had recovered from his stupor, attention redirected to the London agent. "What do you mean?"

"Gordon, here, has already witnessed what my job entails, and though he is quite useful, I believe his talents might be better suited for rescues." Penelope met each of their awestruck gazes and the possibilities of what she seemed to be proposing made their way across Virgil's mind. Could they simply wish people to safety like Penelope had done for Alan? Seal up an erupting volcano with the snap of his fingers?

But was this a secret? How would they explain how people were magically transported into Thunderbird 2 without using that exact terminology?

Too many questions were accompanying the news still freshly being digested and Virgil knew they would need time to think. "This is - a lot to take in, Lady Penelope."

"Understandably, which is why I requested an extended stay on Tracy Island," she clicked in another piece to the puzzle. "Get to know him, hopefully build a bit more trust, and then you can decide. All of you. Does that sound feasible?"

"It does," John answered, finally able to stay up right without Virgil's full support. "Scott?"

The eldest was still standing with the slack jawed expression, blue eyes staring at Gordon as if waiting for some kind of retribution. The blonde actually looked relaxed, staring out at the ocean like no one else was in the room.

"Okay…" The brunette seemed to find his voice. "He can stay, just - no more of that," he gestured to the pool. "Please."

"Not a problem," Gordon grinned, having returned his attention to the group. "Just don't wish for it again and you're all good."

"I wished for that?" Apparently, Scott's earlier anger had been squashed by the genie's reveal.

"Yeah, I'd say it was a waste, but I haven't been able to stretch like that in ages!" He laughed and the smile was infectious. "Thanks, Scott! I'll be sure to help you out next time."

"John," Virgil blinked with the realization of what his space bound brother had done to get here, but needing proof. "Your wish was to come home?"

The redhead nodded with a grimace. "In hindsight, not one of my more intelligent decisions, but what else do you do when a friend offers you a wish? Plus, I really wanted to go see how Alan was doing."

"Oh! Can we go see him? Tell him the news?" Gordon bounced eagerly.

Penelope regarded the brothers, expectantly. The ball was in their court now. She was trusting them to handle this - to trust Gordon with their family. The longer they were silent, however, the corner of the genie's smile twitched. And Virgil saw it. That crease of the forehead that Scott got when he was worried and the nervous tap of his bare foot on the hardwood. Gordon was asking permission because he was worried. He'd rescued their little brother from drowning after witnessing the trauma. He needed to know that the kid was okay as much as they liked to check in on the victims they rescued. It would be torture to deny him.

"We could," Virgil aimed towards Scott. "Brains should be finished with the scans."

The commander caught his eye, a mutual understanding floating between the two eldest, before a hand carded through the disheveled brunette strands. "Alright."

"That's a yes?" Bright didn't do justice to the inflection in Gordon's voice.

"It's a yes, but-" Scott's hand lifted to calm the genie's excitement. "We'll explain what's going on to Alan. Brains and Kayo will need to know too."

"That's fine with me," Gordon was bouncing from foot to foot. Virgil was just as eager to check on Alan, but now there was the added weight of what they'd just learned and the effects it might have on their little brother.

"I can go down first and give him a heads up," the engineer offered. "And take John with me." He took the astronaut's arm at the grumble in protest. "Your own fault you came down too fast."

There was no strong comeback for that, seeing as how well versed John was in his own safety. A nod from Scott and he helped lead the red-head to the elevator and to the next task at hand.

OoOoOoO

He'd been sent to retrieve the boards and his shoes, which was a welcome change to being scrutinized by Scott. The man had much more understanding, but that didn't exactly mean he trusted Gordon. The commander saw power that could be used against his family. The genie couldn't blame him for being weary.

Now that the boards were secure and he'd managed to grab his shoes on the way back, Gordon found himself somewhat reserved as they made their way to the infirmary. He didn't want to cause the kid any more trouble than someone with a head injury needed, but he also wanted to see if there was anything he could do.

As they neared their destination, however, all hesitation left at the excited chatter flowing from the open door. The smiling blonde on the bed was all Gordon needed to know things were going to be okay.

"Hey!" The wince that accompanied the greeting didn't help, though. "You're a genie?!"

"Right to it then?" Gordon laughed as he watched the ice pack reapplied by an irked Virgil. "Yes, yes I am."

"And you made Scott wet his pants?!"

There was a cacophony of laughter and shrieks in protest. Scott's face had grown red as he quickly explained how that was not the case and Virgil needed to get his facts straight. The engineer simply defended himself with a gentle flick of Alan's shoulder.

"So do we all get a wish or are there only three and these two wasted them?" A cleared throat from the red-head. "Sorry, John. So only one more wish?" Gordon had the impression that Alan would be bouncing on the spot if not for his brothers and the bag of ice on his head.

"Not quite, Al," and his grin grew. "I'm Lady Penelope's genie until she's no longer - alive." That explanation never got any easier and the eyes that flicked between himself and the London agent showed the rest of the group's discomfort. "She can make any and as many wishes as she likes. She allowed John and Scott to make one for the purpose of explaining my abilities."

The younger blonde frowned as he took this in, "so can we make more wishes?" His hand gestured to himself and Virgil, then to Kayo. Gordon quickly assumed the other two people in the room were Brains and Grandma.

His smile stayed in place as he turned to Penelope. "Up to her."

Of course, she nodded, more than happy to oblige her friends. She'd explained so much about them and what they did over the week before their visit. It was no wonder Penelope thought his services could be best used here.

As Gordon turned back to regard Alan, the kid's finger was pointing to his head. "Would you be able to get rid of this? The injury, I mean! Not my head."

He wanted to laugh, but the consequences of such a wish choked him before it could escape. "Not a good idea, kid." When he was met with confused frowns, he elaborated. "Wishes come with a price. Some are worth the risk. Others aren't. If you wish your injury away, it goes to someone else. I'm pretty sure, with your line of work, you wouldn't be willing to do that."

"I'll take it," Scott didn't hesitate to volunteer. It sent a warmth through the genie's chest to witness how willing the eldest was to take care of his family.

"No way, Scott," Alan practically growled. "Then you'd be hurt and it'd be my fault. No, I can handle being grounded."

"What if there's a rescue and Thunderbird 3 is needed?" The brunette continued in protest.

"I don't know, but I'm not going to make that wish." Two pairs of blue eyes flashed in defiance.

"And arguing isn't going to help you get better," Virgil interjected, pulling both back to reality. "Make a different wish, Sprout."

The ice pack shifted with the teen as his attention returned to Gordon and suddenly there was a heaviness written over his face. Like a wish that had always been there, but never able to be answered. His mouth opened to speak, but quickly closed as his eyes sought the help he needed to ask.

"What's your wish, Alan?" The genie coaxed gently.

The blonde swallowed as his eyes grew watery. Then his lips parted and the most painful of wishes left him.

"I wish I knew what happened to Dad."