Thanks again to everyone who's read! And a special thanks goes to Sam 1 for helping me with Kyrano. Enjoy!

Gordon cut through the water in a powerful freestyle. He tapped the far end of the pool, took a breath and plunged back underwater in the opposite direction. After nearly fifteen minutes, he pulled himself up to the edge, and breathing heavily, looked around.

Alan had come out unnoticed, and now sat with his back to the pool, reading something. Kyrano was off to one side, tending to the plants. Gordon could hear the piano, which meant Virgil was awake, but a glance at Scott's window showed the shade still down. Wow, Virg is up before Scotty. That's a first. His shoulder must be bothering him more than he wants to admit.

Gordon glanced at Alan again, but his youngest brother hadn't moved. Scowling, Gordon sank back under water, and surfaced, this time working on his butterfly stroke. He was halfway through his third lap when a cramp struck. He doubled over sharply, inhaling water, and sank to the bottom of the pool.

Alan had been watching Gordon out of the corner of his eye. He made a mental note when Gordon started swimming again, and wasn't concerned when he heard him stop. He's either taking a break or if we're really lucky, he's drowned. Alan glanced up. There were no footprints leading from the pool. With a chill, Alan looked down.

Gordon was lying at the bottom of the pool. He wasn't moving.

"DAD!" Alan hit the water at a run.

Kyrano dropped his rake and rushed to the side of the pool. Virgil appeared on his terrace. "What's going on?"

Kyrano pointed. "Master Gordon!"

Virgil disappeared from view and a few moments later, he came flying down the steps. "What happened?" He demanded.

Alan's head popped up in the water. "V-Virgil! Help me!" He was struggling as he tried to keep Gordon's head above the water. Virgil dove in and together he and Alan pulled Gordon to the edge of the pool. Kyrano grabbed him just as Jeff and Scott arrived. Jeff and Kyrano pulled Gordon up and laid him on the ground.

"He's not breathing!" Jeff called out.

Virgil shoved his father out of the way, and began working on his brother. He tilted Gordon's head back and listened for breath sounds, then began administering CPR. Finally Gordon started to cough and Virgil quickly rolled him on his left side.

Gordon's eyes fluttered open as he coughed up water. Virgil pounded his brother on the back. "Gordon! Say something!"

Gordon finally stopped coughing and peered up at Virgil. "I love you very much Virgil, but could you keep your tongue out of my mouth?" He grinned weakly.

Virgil glared at his brother, then broke out into a shaky laugh. "Gord…"

"What happened Gordon?" Jeff asked, kneeling down next to his son.

Gordon gave another cough, and sat up. "I-I got a cramp."

"You alright now?" Scott asked.

Gordon nodded and got to his feet. He bent double for a moment and took a deep breath before straightening. "Yeah, I'm OK." He looked around. "Where's Alan?"

They all turned. "He was here a minute ago." Scott said.

"He helped pull you out." Virgil looked around. "I'd better go find him."

Jeff put a hand on Virgil's arm. "No, leave him a bit. I'll go look for him." He helped Gordon to his feet. "I want you taking it easy for the rest of the day, understand?"

Gordon nodded. "Yes sir." He walked into the house.

Jeff eyed Scott critically. His eldest had dark circles under his eyes and moved stiffly. "You too. In fact, I want you to march your butt down to the infirmary and let Virgil and Brains take a look at you." Scott started to protest. "Either that or I take you to Sydney." Jeff's tone booked no argument.

Scott scowled and marched inside. Virgil looked up and raised an eyebrow at his father. "You could've at least waited until he had his coffee."

Jeff shook his head. "I'm tired of him pretending nothing's wrong."

Virgil was quiet a moment. "I'd rather wait and have Steve look at him Dad."

"Virgil." Virgil looked up. "You haven't set foot in that infirmary since John left." Jeff said reprovingly.

"I-I…Dad what if I get it wrong?" Virgil said quietly, not meeting his father's eyes. "What if I screw up?" He shook his head. "No Dad, I can't." He got to his feet and disappeared inside.

Jeff stayed where he was by the side of the pool and sighed. What do I do now?

"Mister Tracy?" Jeff looked up. "May I?"

"Of course."

Kyrano sat down next to Jeff. "You are troubled."

Jeff nodded. "This family has fallen apart Kyrano. And I can't blame the Hood this time." He sighed. "It's my fault."

"Why do you think that?"

"If I hadn't pushed my sons to be what I wanted them to be, all this never would have happened." Jeff replied.

Kyrano nodded. "I see. So you are saying that you regret the path you have chosen for your life, and for theirs."

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"And International Rescue?"

Jeff shrugged. "I don't know Kyrano. If I hadn't started it, then all this wouldn't be happening. I never would have even known who the Hood was. Then he never would have attacked my family. To him, we wouldn't even exist."

"And neither would you have me."

Jeff looked up, startled. Kyrano continued. "And the people who have benefited from you and your sons, they would not be here either. Did you not consider that?"

Jeff grew very still for a long time. It was so quiet that they could hear the breakers down at the beach. "I miss them. My sons. The way it used to be." He smiled. "Scott vowing to fly every aircraft ever made. Virgil hammering on his piano day and night, until the piece sounded perfect. Gordon playing jokes on everyone. Alan pestering me about staying here and being a Thunderbird. And John…" Jeff sighed. "John was my rock. The one person who I could tell anything and everything to. And he used to do the same. I knew his greatest fears and his greatest ambitions. How did I lose that Kyrano? How can I get it back?"

Kyrano looked out over the ocean. "Parenthood is never an easy road to travel. There are many curves and twists before the road straightens again." He placed a hand on Jeff's shoulder. "Mister Tracy, you are on the twists of parenthood, yet your sons will find their way back to you and you to them. You will all be changed but whole again. Have faith in this my friend. And in yourselves."

"I wish I could believe that Kyrano." Jeff sighed and looked up at the house. "I should go check on Gordon. And Scott too." He said, but made no move to get up.

Kyrano smiled. "I will look after them my friend." He got to his feet and started across the terrace, then paused and turned back. "Just remember, by ignoring the elephant in the room, doesn't make him go away." With and enigmatic smile, he disappeared inside.

Jeff sat still pondering what Kyrano had told him. Finally, he sighed to himself and with one last look up at the heavens, he went into the house.

By dinnertime, Alan had yet to make an appearance. Jeff was starting to be concerned. He had searched all of Alan's usual haunts and came up empty. He had even tried tracking him on his wrist com, only to discover that Alan had left it in his room. Now he had Fermat in front of him. He had the feeling the young man knew exactly where Alan was, but was determined not to say.

"Fermat, I need to talk to Alan." Jeff stated.

Fermat shrugged and looked away. "H-He wants to be left a-a-a-by himself."

Jeff sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Just tell me, is he alright?"

Fermat nodded. "Y-Y-Yes Mr. Tracy."

"If you talk to him, please tell him I'm looking for him." Fermat nodded and hurried from the room.

Tin-Tin watched from the patio as Jeff walked out onto his terrace. Moving slowly as not to catch his attention, she melted into the bushes. Once out of sight of the house, she ran down to the beach, and then followed it until she reached a low outcropping of rocks. Skirting around them, she came to a small lagoon. As she suspected, Alan was sitting at the edge of the water, skipping stones. She walked over and sat down next to him.

"Hey."

"Hey." Alan didn't look up at her.

"Your father's looking for you. He even cornered Fermat."

This time Alan did look up. "What did Fermat say?"

Tin-Tin smiled. "That he didn't know where you were."

Alan chuckled to himself. "Go Fermat. I figured he'd cave."

"Me too." They both laughed, then Alan grew quiet again. "Gordon's OK. He said he got a cramp." Tin-Tin told him.

"Seeing him at the bottom of the pool like that." Alan shuddered. "I've never been so scared in my life. Well, maybe…" He sighed.

"Alan, it's alright to be scared." Tin-Tin said softly.

Alan shook his head. "No Tin-Tin. I'm a Tracy, we don't get scared."

"Are you kidding me? When you went missing, your father was freaking out."

"Dad? Dad doesn't freak out."

She nodded. "He wasn't eating or sleeping. All he did was try and find you."

"But he never told John. John didn't even know I was gone." Alan's voice was full of hurt.

"He had his reasons Alan. John is…not himself. Something happened to him." She frowned. "I think it's leftover from the first attack on Thunderbird 5. It changed him. He's afraid." She said, more to herself than Alan.

Alan shook his head firmly. "Not John, he's not afraid of anything."

Tin-Tin looked up at him, her coffee eyes boring into his. "You weren't there Alan. You didn't see what my un...what the Hood did to him. To all of them."

Alan's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

Tin-Tin sighed. "He—the Hood—he got inside John's head somehow. Inside his thoughts. He used them against John."

"Used them how?"

She looked out at the waves crashing on the shore. "John…John was nervous about going back to Thunderbird 5. He was afraid of being up there alone. He thinks he's useless." She said quietly.

Alan peered closely at her. "John told you this?"

Tin-Tin shook her head. "I heard him." She whispered.

"Heard him? Tin-Tin, you can read his mind?" Alan looked stunned.

"I…I didn't mean to. He thinks so loudly!"

Alan started to giggle, then burst out laughing. After a moment, Tin-Tin joined in. "If anyone ever could think too loud, it would have to be John." Alan said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Well, he does!" This set them both off again.

They finally got themselves under control and Alan turned to Tin-Tin. "Do you think the Hood is controlling John? Like he did…before? With the others?"

She shook her head. "I don't think he's that powerful. I think he merely inserted these thoughts into John's head, and it spiraled out from there."

"What kind of thoughts?"

She sighed. "Fear, helplessness." She looked at him. "He doesn't feel like he's part of the family anymore. That your father sent him away on purpose."

Alan shook his head. "That's not true. Dad would never do that."

"I know! But Hood has John all mixed up inside. And the more he thinks about it, the worse it gets."

Alan was quiet a few minutes. "That's why he left. He doesn't think we care, and by his leaving us, it gets proved right." He sighed. "This sucks."

"Yeah it does." They both sat, swinging their legs in the water.

"Tin-Tin, can you help John?" Alan asked.

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I'm not that powerful."

"Yet." Alan grinned.

She blushed. "Alan…"

They sat there quietly for a long while, until the sun started to set. "I suppose we should get back." Alan said tentatively.

"I guess so." Tin-Tin replied.

Neither moved.

Finally, it began to get dark. They got to their feet and started back to the villa. Tin-Tin stumbled on a rock and Alan grabbed her hand to steady her. She thanked him and they continued on, this time with Tin-Tin in the lead.

"Alan? I think you need to talk to Gordon. He's pretty upset about—" Her words were cut off as Alan stumbled into her this time.

"Sorry Tin-Tin!" Alan said. He was standing very close to her, his face inches from hers. For the first time, he noticed the tiny flecks of gold in her brown eyes. "Tin-Tin…" He leaned forward and placed his lips on hers. They were soft and warm. Suddenly he realized what he was doing and pulled back.

Tin-Tin held her breath as Alan kissed her. He started to move back, and she grabbed his shoulders, and pushed her lips back against his. After a long moment, they broke apart, each breathless.

Neither spoke. They didn't have to. Hand in hand, they walked up to the house.