Standard Disclaimer, don't own the thunderbirds.
A/N: Sorry this has taken so long, it's taken 3 weeks to get my PC back, {major withdrawal symptoms happening.} but here it is. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for all the great feed back, it really help in developing as a writer.
TBZ...
Double Trouble
Epilogue The marvel of brothers...
Jeff woke to the sounds of birds caroling and the sun streaming brightly into his room. For a moment he lay enjoying the peace and quiet. Peace and Quiet?... His drowsy relaxation is slowly consumed as the quiet of a house usually bursting with noise eats at his nerves. 'Where are the boys?' He wonders, the concerns raised the previous night my his mother along with distressing dreams has him quickly rising and pulling on a dressing robe, the same one Lucy had given him the Christmas before the accident, it was looking tatty but it made him feel closer to his late wife.
Quickly he hurries down the stairs reaching the bottom steps as the hall clock chimes 10. In the kitchen he finds his mother and youngest son baking, Alan covered in flour and surreptitiously eating the cookie dough. Grinning at his father Alan waves, "Hi Daddy I'm cooking." The little boy jumps down from the chair he has been standing on to greet his father with a hug, Jeff grimaces and holds the child away, "Alan you're filthy, go clean up." He pushes the boy towards the hallway as he turns to get a cup of coffee, "Where is everyone?" he asks his mother.
"Scott and Gordon are fishing, Johns in the lounge working on a project, Virgil is still asleep." Grandma Tracy states while watching the forlorn child tears pooling in his eye watching his father's back from the hallway door, she shuffles over hugging the small boy, "Come on sweet, let's get you cleaned up then we can put these in the oven."
"Don't fuss with him mother, he's old enough to wash himself. Alan I told you to go and get cleaned up. Now." Jeff rumbles.
"Jeff, he's five," Ruth Tracy glares at her son, "Alan come with me." Taking the child's hand she leads him down the hall to the bathroom to wash up.
Sighing in frustration Jeff refills his cup and returns upstairs to dress.
----
Upstairs Jeff stops at John and Virgil's bedroom, looking in on his middle son, his peaceful face so similar to the boys late mother, shaking his head Jeff shakes the child's shoulder, "Virgil, time to get up son, you're sleeping the day away."
Groggily Virgil looks at his father, "Tired."
"We'll you better get an early night tonight, get up now." Jeff replies walking out the room.
Groaning Virgil sits up and looks out the window the sun is high in the sky, its light heating the bedroom through the partially closed blinds. Virgil rubs his eyes, looking at his bed tempted, but knowing that his father will check on his way back down stairs and if found still in bed Virgil will be punished for slothfulness; truly a mortal sin in the Tracy household. With obvious reluctance Virgil pulls on clothes and trudges down the stairs to the kitchen, he finds his Grandmother and Alan sitting at the table, with the smell of cookies baking filling the room.
"Mornin'" he yawns and slumps in a chair, Alan climbs around the table to perch on a chair next to Virgil. "Hi Virge, me been cookin' cookies, want some?" The little boy asks with enthusiasm.
"Sounds good Sprout, but I better have breakfast first." Virgil replies, Grandma puts a bowl front of the sleepy boy, jumping down from the table Alan runs to get the milk from the fridge and box of cereal for his brother. While Virgil eats Alan sits chatting, Virgil nods and grunts of acknowledgement enough to encourage Alan's monologue.
Entering the kitchen with his mobile phone to his ear Jeff distractedly fills his coffee cup and nodding towards his office to his mother, leaves the kitchen without acknowledging either of the boys.
Ruth Tracy shakes her head, 'When is that boy of mine going to wake up.' She thinks to herself as she pulls the first batch of cookies out the oven, diverting an overly eager Alan away from the hot tray. "Wait until they have cooled sweet, you'll burn your fingers."
Having finished his breakfast, Virgil quickly washes his dish and glass and enquires about his brother's, "Where are the guys?"
"Scott and Gordon went down to the creek fishing, John's in the front room." Grandma answers.
"Com'on Sprout, let's see what Johnny's doin'" Virgil says, pulling a reluctant Alan away from the hot cookies. The two boys wander down the hall towards the front room, passing the open office door the boys look at their father sitting at his desk studying the computer screen, the phone rings, answering it Jeff notices his sons at the door, he stand and walking to the door, he shoos them away, closing the office door with a solid thump.
Alan looks up at Virgil, who shrugs, used to his father's distraction. "He's busy Sprout," Virgil hugs the smaller boy to his side, "Com'on." They continue down the hall to the front room.
They find John sitting on the floor with his laptop computer on a side table, oblivious to their presence. Virgil and Alan stand behind him watching as he manipulates the images on the screen, "Wow!" Alan exclaims causing John to jump.
"Alan, you made me mess that up!" John grouses.
Contrite Alan mumbles an apology, and sits down next to his older blonde brother, "What is it Johnny?"
Grinning John begins an in depth explanation of the working of his computer model space station. "Wow." The little boy exclaims again, "You gonna build it, like we builded the twee house?" Alan asks.
"This is a little harder than the tree house Allie," John shrugs, "But maybe one day someone will build something like this, you might even be able to visit it," John grins "One day when you're bigger."
Virgil studies the image turning his head from side to side, "You are going to add some colour, right?" he queries.
"It's got colour!" John defends.
Incredulous Virgil looks from the computer screen to John; pushing John away he has a closer look in case the different viewing angle of the screen is affecting the image. "What colour? Where?"
John points out areas of differing shades of grey, "There, and there, and there. Why what's wrong with it." He looks at his artistic brother ponderingly, "What colour would you use?" then adds, "Not Green!"
Virgil sits considering the images on the screen, "Weeeeelll, you could try some bluey grays, more black for definition, or midnight blue, that would look cool, Yeah." Getting into the swing of it Virgil picks up the mouse and starts adding colour, "Maybe some silver and gold and Red as a highlight, not too much 'cause it overpowers." Before long John's model is transformed from a monochromatic image into a bright living landscape of shapes and forms.
Surprised at the difference the colour makes John views his project with new eyes. "Wow… Virgil that's great. Thanks." He frowns, "What should I do with the outside, should that be coloured too."
Virgil nods, "Sure, you could use the same palate of colours, just chose a main colour, a secondary and then highlight with a couple of other, but not too much."
John makes a note on his pad of paper and starts working on adding colour to his model, grinning Virgil nods and touching Alan's shoulder indicates they should leave John to his work.
The two head out of the room, "Now what?" Alan asks. Virgil sighs, trying to think of something he and Alan can do together "Let's go outside."
The boys direct their steps down the hall towards the kitchen and the backyard, on the way through the kitchen the rich sweet aroma of cookies greets them. Spying the boys Grandma hands them a cooled cookie each and hustles them out the back door, "You can have some more after lunch."
----
Down by the creek in the same location that Gordon and Alan had been fishing the day before, Scott and Gordon are now perched on the edge of the bank intently watching their fishing poles.
Scott stands stretching his lanky frame and rubbing his stomach, which is still queasy from the party two nights ago. "Wonder if the apple tree has any fruit?" he mutters. Looking up at his eldest brother Gordon grins "Yep, Alan and I had some yesterday. Want me go get some. You still look sick."
Shaking his head Scott replies, "Oh no, I'm not letting you wander off on your own fish. You stay here, I'm fine, I'll go get 'em." With that Scott follows the path back towards the farm in search of the apple tree.
Crouching back down by the creek Gordon watches the lines waiting for the subtle tug that will tell him he has a catch. The slow flow of the water tugs gently at the lines bobbing the floats in the water, suddenly one float is tugged under the surface, Grabbing the fishing pole Gordon hauls on the line firmly, standing to gain more leverage, in his enthusiasm he doesn't notice the slippery ground he steps on, before he is able to regain his balance he tips over and tumbles into the water with a humongous splash. Miraculously he maintains his hold on the fishing pole, standing in the stream of water Gordon plants his feet solidly on the sludgy bottom and pulls at the fishing pole, drawing his catch closer and closer till it is within grabbing distance, holding the pole firmly in one hand he pulls the line in close, drops the pole and grabs at his slippery catch, dragging it close to his body he trudges to the bank and plonks the flopping catfish on the grassy bank.
Scott returning from his errand finds Gordon up to his knees in the water holding a flopping catfish on the bank. "Gordo, what happened," he grins "You know you're meant to pull the fish out of the water, not swap places with it." He quips to the sopping wet boy.
Huge grin steadfastly in place Gordon looks at his catch, "This is bigger even than the one you caught last time."
Screwing up his face in a mock frown Scott looks over the fish, "Maybe…" he concedes, "But only just." Dropping the apples and reaching out a hand he hauls his brother out of the water, "I still reckon I've got the bigger catch today though." He teases.
"What?" Gordon looks around, "You ain't caught nothin' yet."
Grabbing the wet boy in a rough hug and rubbing his knuckles on his scalp, Scott chuckles, "OH YEAH, This here fishy has to be the biggest one in the creek." Laughing at the joke Gordon collapses next to his catch. "Lets take this home for Grams," Scott says picking up the still floundering fish, "You need to wash up as well." They toss the fish in a bucket of creek water and collect their fishing poles and equipment. Munching apples contentedly the two head toward the farm.
"Thanks Scotty…" Gordon mutters bumping into Scott in a friendly fashion.
"What for?" Scott inquires.
Gordon looks up at his biggest brother, his hero in many respects, "Just 'cause." His eyes saying more than his words, putting an arm around the younger boy Scott hugs him close, "No prob' Fish, anytime."
Reaching the gate to the yard, Gordon pushes away, "Race ya." He bolts up the yard towards the backdoor, grinning Scott stretches into an easy lope, the bucket bouncing against his thigh, racing pass the younger boy and reaching the backdoor ahead of him. "I win so you have to clean the fish." Scott grins. Sighing in resignation Gordon takes the bucket of now near empty water and trudges into the kitchen to show his catch to his Grandma, knowing full well that she will clean and gut the fish, saving him the job.
Scott noticing movement in the shed wanders over to investigate, wiping absentmindedly at his wet jeans.
Inside the shed Virgil and Alan are busily repairing Virgil's go-cart, "Hand me the 12 mil spanner Al." Virgil instructs.
Alan kneeling beside the open tool box looks over the contents, "Nine, Ten, 'leven, Twevv." Alan counts up the line of spanners picking one up and handing it to Virgil proudly, "Twevv mill s'aner."
Virgil looks at the spanner confirming it's the right one, "Good one Allie, we'll make a mechanic of you yet." Virgil adjusts the nuts on the steering arm and hands back the spanner, while requesting another tool.
Scott leans against the doorway watching as the two younger boys interact, Virgil requesting tools and Alan passing them to him, while Virgil gives a commentary on what he is doing, and Alan observes intently taking it all in.
The idyllic moment is broken by Gordon's boisterous appearance, "Hey what ya doin'?"
Looking up in surprise Alan beams, "I'm Virgil's mec'n'ik."
"Me…can…ic." Virgil corrects automatically, he ruffles the blonde's hair. "He's doing well too. Gave me all the right tools, didn't you Allie."
Sidling into the shed Gordon wanders around the go-cart, "When can we go for a ride?"
Virgil looks at him a frown on his face, "I don't know it's not ready yet."
Scott chuckles, "What you mean is, you don't want to get it scratched."
Virgil shrugs self-consciously. "Yeah, well…" He's saved from further comment by a call to lunch.
----
After lunch which Jeff takes in his office; and a large plate of cookies the five boys adjourn to the front room to watch a video. John having completed his project sits on the floor with Alan's head resting in his lap. Behind the two blondes' Gordon is curled up between Scott and Virgil his head on Scott shoulder. They keenly watch the movie; a favourite science fiction classic, flickering on the large screen in front of them, while munching on the chips their grandmother has provided them.
Standing in the doorway Ruth Tracy marvels at the wonder that is her grandsons, the way they look after each other, not just the elder boys looking after the younger, but that the younger ones supporting and caring for their elder brother's as well. 'Lucy, you did yourself proud with these boys, you gave them something that can never be taken away, a love for each other,' she reflects.
Jeff looking for a refill for his coffee strolls pass the door, noticing his mother in the doorway he looks in to see the boys sitting watching a movie. He looks at his mother, happy tears shining in her eyes, "Did I miss something?" he asks quietly so as to not disturb the boys.
Ruth looks at him "Yes Jeff, yes you have…" She turns leaving her son to watch his sons, and wonder at her words.
The End.
Well there you go. Poor Jeff he really doesn't have a clue does he. In my mind this kind of slides into Little Miss Bumbs world from now on, but that's just me 'cause I love her work...(And I hope she doesn't mind me saying so.) Keep well all, and I'll try to get my next story up asap.
TBZ.