Hello! Thank you for your reviews so far, i'm glad you're enjoying it. We've nearly reached the end. Apologies for the late update its been a very busy festive period!

Chapter five

"Come on, Come on!" Scott hit the heel of his hand on the dash in frustration, they were almost through. "John, talk to Alan, will you? Find a way to try and distract the poor kid till we get in there."

"Will do."

The excavator chugged away underneath him. He was using the setting that allowed for the snow to be converted into water and collected in the built-in tanks, as kicking snow out of the back would have only buried him again at this angle. Gordon was behind him in a machine with mechanical arms that was applying metal girders to stablise the tunnel that was being dug. Gordon also placed pins and steel rope to act as a handrail and a place to clip their harnesses to. It had taken over thirty minutes so far, but they were out of time. Alan had checked in only five minutes ago to report the girl wasn't breathing. Alan wasn't one to panic easily, the fact that he was so distressed was a red flag in itself. Scott suspected the girl may already be beyond help but they had to try.

He ground his teeth as the snow continued to flurry across the windscreen as he inched forwards. If not for the lights it would be pitch black, it must be pretty unnerving being stuck down here. Suddenly a beeping rang out in the cab. The proximity meters! He'd made it, there in front of him was a rear wheel arch and part of the hatch of the car that was still semi buried. He could make out the letters ACY in green neon.

"Gordon. I've got sight of them, back it up and let's clear this tunnel." Unfortunately, the tunnel was too tight for them to get out of the cabs and go straight in, so they were going to have crampon down as it was effectively a shaft running at seventy-five degrees. It was steep but short so he was hoping they could traverse it quickly.

"Okay." Gordon was already reversing back out of the entrance. Scott emerged moments later as Gordon made to go back down again.

"Scott? I've spoken to Alan. He's located a faint pulse and managed to clear Maddie's airway. He's trying to maintain it but struggling." John reported.

"Tell him we've broken through, E.T.A five to ten minutes."

"F.A.B"

"Stop Gordon." Scott was already putting on his gear.

"But that last section isn't secure."

"I know but we'll just have to chance it. The girl's almost unresponsive."

Moments later Virgil was attaching safety lines to Gordon's and Scott's harnesses. As a precaution he would maintain control of the ropes on a winch for the time they were in there. Both had their snow gear on to protect them from the elements. Gordon operated the hover stretchers whilst Scott saddled the first aid kit between his shoulders. They set off into the gloom once more their head torches lighting the way through the gloom in small arcs.

Alan was bone achingly cold, but he dared not move. He'd managed to open Maddie's airway enough that she could breathe but he knew it was unsustainable without medical aid. He held her head in his hands angling her neck back in a way that kept her airway clear, but she was virtually unconscious. "Maddie if you can hear me, helps arriving any minute and I want you to stay with me. I've decided I'm spending Christmas with you – no arguments. Christmas eve we're going to walk the Christmas markets then I'll take you to the fair where we'll have candyfloss and gingerbread. Then we'll go on the dodgems where I'll challenge you to race, don't say you'll win – you know I'm the champion." He half laughed, half sobbed as he tried to remain upbeat. He glanced down in the gloom, he just able to make out her closed eyes, his breath caught as he faltered, before soldiering on. "Then Christmas day we'll open our gifts and go for a drive on empty roads where we can have some real fun, followed by the best Turkey with all the trimmings. How does that sound?"

A light washed over him, tracking through the car. He hadn't even heard them come back. A tap resonated on the rear window. Alan squinted at the bright light; "International rescue – get back." Alan hunched his body around Maddie's, shielding her as Scott hammered the glass in. The safety glass held allowing him to remove it as a whole. After an initial sweep with the head torch Scott awkwardly squeezed his shoulders through the gap, pushing the medical kit in front of him.

"Hand me the respirator now." Alan ordered.

Scott opened the kit. "You ensure there's a good seal and I'll pump. Got it?"

Alan nodded tersely, already shifting into a better position whilst maintaining his hold on her head. Scott passed over the mask where Alan quickly fitted it flush against her face one handed. Scott quickly got an oximeter on her finger before then starting to manually pump knowing that he was now tied up till Gordon sorted out the next stage. Usually, Scott would have carried out a casualty check first but Alan had effectively done that.

"How are you holding up? Anything I need to be aware of?"

"J – just cold but fine. I l-lost my glove some time ago; may have been a mistake. M-my fingers are stiff and feel like they're on f-fire." Scott made a metal note to get Alan warmed up as soon as possible and to get the thermal mittens on him to safely restore function to his hands to reduce the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Scott could hear the cutting going on behind him. Shadowed sparks, plus the warmth wetting the snow beneath his waist were both indicators that Gordon was working swiftly to get rid of the mid door pillar so they could slide a stretcher in and lift Maddie out with greater ease. Her vitals were still poor, but she was now breathing marginally better with assistance. Hopefully well enough till they could get her to safety because moving her in this state was going to be a challenge.

"Scott I'm through!" Gordon called from behind, pushing up his visor.

"Right. Alan I'm going to need you to take over for a moment. Can you do that for me?" He nodded, already extending a hand poised to take over the pumping. One person to undertake both actions wasn't ideal but there was limited space and Scott had the stretcher to contend with. Scott retreated, ducking out of the shell of the car before turning around to prep the stretcher with Gordon.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

They pushed the stretcher alongside the car wreckage, aligning it with Maddie's prone form the best they could. Gordon was ready to transfer Maddie's mid-section and feet. Scott would be responsible for shoulders and torso. Alan would monitor her head and neck. Both of them looked upwards to Alan. "Alan are you ready? On your count."

"Y-yep. 3…2…1 and lift."

It was a smooth transmission with Alan still maintaining a firm grip on the apparatus as he double checked the seal and repositioned himself. Scott quickly shook out a blanket, securing it around the sides of her arms. Gordon tucked it around her feet before quickly securing the straps. Scott strapped her head and torso as Alan concentrated on maintaining her airways.

Scott quickly assessed the scene; patient was secure but getting her out was going to be a nightmare because of the steep ascent. They were out in the small cavern now where he had more space to work on her and could fit better equipment.

"Stop f-fussing o-over me and concentrate on her." Alan swatted Gordon away who was securing mittens and a blanket on him.

"Gee, calm down."

Scott had since managed to switch Maddie to an automated ventilation with oxygen tank in preparation for hovering her out of the shaft.

"Calling Thunderbird 2"

"Receiving you."

"Stretchers on its way to you. Get ready to receive patient and maintain vitals till we emerge or emergency services arrive."

"F.A.B"

Alan was already wearing spiked boots, but he was so stiff from the cold he was struggling to put one foot in front of the other, let alone effectively scrabble up a bank of compacted snow. He was determined to reach the top to go with Maddie. He walked forwards several feet before then managing to grab onto the rail his brother had installed. Alan dragged himself upwards, occasionally slipping as his frozen legs gave out below him. He had pins and needles in the right one from where Maddie had been resting on him for so long. At the moment it was numb, but he wasn't looking forward to it thawing out. Gordon was behind him to give him the occasional push when needed or to hoist him up in case he fell. Scott was already offering him a hand from the entrance to the shaft which he gratefully took. Scott securely gripped him by the shoulders, hoisting him up and out. Alan squinted, hiding his eyes under his arm holding the blanket as a shield. It was so bright. He felt himself being led towards Thunderbird Two.

"W-where's Maddie?"

"In that heli-jet over there." Scott pointed south. Its blades were just starting to whirl.

"I-I'm going with her."

"Dad wants you home to recover." Scott uttered under his breath making sure their were no witnesses.

Alan snatched himself out from under Scott's grip. "N-no way! I'm not going." He watched as the jet soared overhead. Gordon shared a look with Scott along the lines of I told you so.

"Look, just get in the pod and you can argue with father in there." He passed Alan to Gordon before marching off through the snow to explain they'd be taking their casualty to the nearest emergency department themselves as the medics had to leave swiftly with Maddie and their wasn't another air ambulance available.

Alan stomped up the ramp, the feeling painfully coming back to his limbs and his fingers. Walking himself into the cockpit he slumped gratefully into one of the passenger seats while burying his hand between his thighs in an attempt to warm it up. He swore vehemently, it was hurting like crazy.

"Hello." Virgil spun round, getting up from the cockpit and indicating Alan should show him his hand. It was pinkish and blotchy red in places. "Scott, have you got that water?"

"Yep." Scott entered the deck, carrying a tray full of warm water.

"Here take these, you're going to need them." Virgil offered a drink and some fast-acting painkillers. Using his good hand Alan chucked the pills in his mouth, necking them down with the water offered.

"What stage are you at?" Virgil enquired with his head cocked to one side as he surveyed the damage.

"Pins and needles – aggghhh!" Alan tried not to flinch as Virgil submerged his hand. "Bloody hell!"

Scott smiled at his wife's influence, despite the situation. Virgil made sure Alan kept his hand submerged. "Stick at it Alan."

Scott called up base and Thunderbird Five. "Father, we have him." There was an audible murmur of relief from Tin Tin and Brains. Scott could imagine that they were gathered around the desk anxiously waiting. "He's borderline hypothermic and has minor frostbite to one hand but fingers crossed he'll be alright."

"Well, that's a relief. Once he's stabilised, I want you boys to head home, including Alan."

"Dad No!"

Scott transferred the comms to the cabin. "I'll let you two work through this one." He resigned himself to the co-pilot seat before pulling out a protein bar. He was famished.

"Dad, I'm not coming home. Maddie's seriously ill and I'm not leaving till I know she is ok."

"Maddie is being attended to and I'm sure we can get you updates. I want you home. You need to rest you've barely escaped hypothermia and you've got frost bite. You need to be ready to take over on five by next week."

"Well dad" interjected John.

"No John. It's his turn." John closed his mouth. Seems his input wasn't required once again. He twiddled with one of the relays.

"Dad, you can't just lift me out of here, people will wonder where I've gone. I have interviews to conduct, the team's going to want to debrief. Not to mention I was last seen in Thunderbird Two."

Jeff slowly removed his glasses trying to retain some composure. Sometimes he really did wonder why they'd had five children. Why couldn't they just do as they were told? "Well get yourself booked into hospital; I want you to have a full check over. Then you're getting the next flight home. You were due home tomorrow anyway, then you'll have time to see the girl before you leave."

"But dad."

"No Alan! You were nearly killed! I want you home and that's the end of it."

Scott's eyes flicked to Alan, that was the closest his father was going to admit how rattled he was by this business. Virgil busied himself with changing the water once more, minding his own business. He was just happy Alan was safe. Gordon was busy packing up the ropes, but he still had one ear open to the conversation interested to see who would win out.

"Fine. Take me to hospital then and stop wasting my time. Agggghhh!" Virgil switched the water. Tears streamed down Alan's face unbidden, the pain was excruciating.

Jeff watched on in concern, frustrated at not being able to look after his son himself. "I'll leave you to it then. Alan let me know when you get that flight."

"Yeah sure." He growled, hissing in agony.

Scott signed off before swinging round in his seat, clapping his hands on his knees. "Alright; now the domestic is over I'll head home. Virgil will take Alan to the nearest accident and emergency -"

"The same as Maddie."

Scott frowned at the interruption. "The same as Maddie, then you're gonna get checked over and come home like father said. Then you can try to appeal to his better nature."

Alan snorted. "Better nature?"

"Look; he's worried about you, and you know full well why. I know you've had a tough day but buck it up a little. He just wants to see you for himself, to reassure himself you're okay. Chances are you'll get away with whatever little escapade you might be formulating - you always do." With that Scott stood, taking his leave and waving goodbye to the others before he throttled the youngest for his insensitivity.

"Well how do you like that?" Alan simmered looking sullen. He'd just been through absolute hell and back and that was how he was treated.

"Well, you were asking for it. The man did just spend the better part of day flying across half the world to dig you out when he was mid dinner with his in-laws. Having to cancel the third time in the last month. A little thank you wouldn't have gone amiss; he's been fretting about you all afternoon. We all have." Gordon took over the submerging duties as Virgil fired up the thrusters.

Alan bit his lip trying not to yell once more as the feeling started to return to frozen fingers. It was like they were being severed. He was grateful, he just couldn't muster the effort to express it at this given moment, plus he really was anxious to know how Maddie was faring. His father sent his sons into danger on a daily basis, he should be used to their mishaps by now. Alan knew it was more likely the circumstances of the incident was triggering his father after the way his mother and grandfather had died but Alan couldn't leave Maddie, not till he knew she was stable, and he could see if there was someone to care for her.

As Thunderbird Two finally took to the skies, Alan slumped back in his seat, his hand supported on a special gel cushion. The pain was so intense he wished he would just black out but unfortunately it looked like he would have to sit and suffer. At some point he felt Gordon wrap another blanket around him, but he was too exhausted to respond with anything more than a grunt of acknowledgement. The pain was all encompassing yet all he could think about was Maddie and the way she always seemed to live life on the periphery. It saddened him that she distanced herself in that way after years of disappointment in an attempt to safeguard herself. Well, he wouldn't stand for it, and he certainly wouldn't prove her right by abandoning her now. His father would come around eventually and really it wasn't like he could stop him if he wanted to, after all he was a grown man. He snuggled down deeper into the blanket, watching Virgil and Gordon in front with heavily lidded eyes as his body finally started to thaw out. Eventually he succumbed to drowsiness falling into a fitful doze.