There, I'm back :D Took me long enough huh :P Hope you guys like.. :)

Juud 18

"Parker is a were-wolf.." Lady Penelope said, and took a sip of her tea. "Got himself bitten just five years ago.."

Scott shook his head, slightly in denial.. "So, you're a vampire too, and Parker's a werewolf.. How long have you been a vampire? You seem to be okay with it.. I still can't cope and I've been a vampire for nearly five months now.."

Lady Penelope answered with slight delay, nearly having forgotten when she was turned.. It had been a while.. "Nearly ten years or so.. It's still nothing on a vampire's life, but well, in that period you tend to learn to live with what you are.."

"I'll bet.." Scott muttered. So he wasn't the only one.. He might be able to learn more from Lady Penelope. How to control himself when he felt the vampire pushing it's way up, when it threatened to overwhelm him.. Lady Penelope might know, might teach him how to push the vampire aside and take control of the process himself, so he won't endanger his family again, even Gordon and Alan might come back if they realised he wasn't dangerous!

"Oh dear," Lady Penelope said, as she watched Scott's watch flash on the edges." I think you're needed."

Scott smiled at Lady Penelope in thanks, "We should talk some more when I get back!" He shouted as he ran off.

When Scott entered his father's office, all his brothers were already there, in the flesh or via a videoscreen..

Gordon and Alan shied away behind their father's chair when Scott arrived, but Scott himself was already so tuned to John relaying the dangerzone -and situation- he hardly payed attention to it. Now was not the time anyway.. People before his personal state of mind..

Virgil just wordlessly -and discreetly- put himself between Scott and Gordon and Alan to make things a bit easier for both parties. He was determined to stay on the lookout for Scott. Even though Scott was the oldest and he always looked out for the others, there had to be someone looking out for him..

"The exploration group weren't able to tell me how it happened, but they say they're stuck in that cave, so you might wanna be careful for danger of collapsing tunnels and maybe someone who could be responsible. You're gonna need everyone on this one, dad, it's a messy one..." John finished. He looked anxiously at his father. He saw that Alan and Gordon were standing behind him, and that Virgil was standing between them and Scott. It was with that, he realized Gordon and Alan were still scared of Scott. He looked at Scott and found him looking back with sharp blue eyes. John could tell the man was in full rescue mission mode, and wasn't seeing or at least acknowledging the scared party.. He probably knew they were there and almost hiding, but knowing Scott, he was placing the lives of innocents before himself.. Typical..

"Thank you, John." Jeff said, and closed the link with Thunderbird 5. He gave his orders to his sons and soon, they were all on their way. Alan and Gordon with Virgil in Thunderbird 2, and Scott in Thunderbird 1. Jeff prayed that things would turn out well for the boys. Things had gone wrong in less dangerous situations then this...

"Thunderbird 5 to Thunderbird 1." John called. He waited for Scott to answer and was rewarded by the weary face of his oldest brother. The rescue hadn't even started and he appeared tired already..

"Yes, John?" Scott sounded even wearier then his face had looked. John wondered if Scott had been getting any sleep lately. Probably not.. Do vampires even need sleep? Hmm..

"Just wanted to say good luck, and eh.." John tried to not look uncomfortable, he knew he was just prying a little, but he needed to let his brother know, "Gordon and Alan will come around soon enough.."

Scott's blue eyes widened for a second, and John could see how hurt he was by all that had happened. And the fact that Scott had slipped up and had made it possible for John to see, only added up to it.

"They will come around and see that you would never hurt them.." John added, and was surprised to see that Scott turned his head away, seemingly to look at a flightconsole.. "Just like I did. I know you would never hurt me or them, but they're not seeing it.. Give them time, Scott.. They will come around, I'm sure of it.."

"I hope so, John.." Scott muttered, sounding a little hoarse. "I'll talk to you later.." He cut the connection before John could answer.. The blond was certain now he was going to have to do something. He had to get Virgil in it as well.. It wasn't going to run well in the family if Gordon and Alan remained scared of Scott.

By the time Thunderbird 2 had landed with Virgil, Gordon and Alan, Scott had assessed the situation, asked around, and managed to get a map from a cabin nearby owned by the expeditionleader. He calmly relayed all this information to Virgil and agreed that they needed to go in as a group of four, meaning Scott had to come along into the field to help. Because, as John had said, things were dire and they needed all the hands they could get.

Soon they were inside the caves, and Scott took charge. Gordon and Alan walked behind him, brave enough to walk behind their oldest immortal brother as long as his back was turned, and Virgil on their six. With the help of the map, they made their way trough the route charted out on it, until they would eventually run across a closed tunnel.

When they finally did, they set to work quickly. Air was running out and they had to take things slow so the whole tunnel wouldn't collapse on them. Time was of the essence though, so the earlier they started...

They all worked in silence for a while, the only sound their heavy breathing from working so hard, and the falling of rocks they managed to pry loose. Scott set his mind to working, trying not to let his brain take over and make him think of other things, not now..

Virgil pried loose a rock and tossed it back for either Gordon or Alan to put away. If they didn't, the stones would pile up behind them, closing them in. He felt the sweat trickle down his back. He felt uncomfortable working with four strong in such a close space. He wasn't claustrophobic or anything, but he didn't like it. He had the nasty feeling something was going to happen.. He didn't know what, or to who, but something was going to go horribly wrong, he just knew it...

Virgil was right a few hours later when he stopped prying stones loose and looked back.

"Ehm, Scott?" he muttered, trying to get his brother's attention as well as his panic under control. He was just imagining things, they weren't really gone... Right?

"Yeah?" Scott answered. He kept on throwing rocks back to open up the tunnel. He wondered why Virgil had stopped, they weren't going to get far if he didn't help along. They were running out of time as it was.. He wanted to get out of here as fast as possible, get the expedition team out as fast as they could..

Virgil sounded a little farther away and more afraid when he finally asked:" Where are Gordon and Alan?"

Scott stopped digging. For about two seconds, it was silent.. Then..

"Damn it!"

So, now you'll have to wait again for a while I guess, two busy weeks up for me :) Tests and such, school stuff.. :( By the way, constructive comment on this anyone:P

Juud18