No, it's not an April Fool's joke. Posted early, just because I can!

Thanks to my anonymous reviewers for your support. Glad everyone is enjoying this.

John sat up, his heart beating wildly. With a shaking hand, he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Glancing at Christa next to him, he carefully got out of bed and pulling on his shirt, went downstairs.

He made his way to the living room, and stopped in front of the liquor cabinet. Just a small one, to help me get back to sleep. He poured himself a shot of whiskey, then sat back on the couch. He downed the drink in one swallow, which would have been more impressive if he hadn't erupted in a coughing fit at the same time.

He groaned and put his head in his hands.

"If they had really wanted you to know, they would have found you."

"Shut up. You're not here."

"But I am here John. And your family is not."

"Leave me alone."

"You are alone John. No family, no one. Alone. Just like on Thunderbird 5."

John threw his glass across the room, where it hit the wall and shattered. "Get out of my head!"

"They could be right you know. Maybe you are going crazy."

John got to his feet and started up the stairs. "I'm not listening to this. I'm not listening to you!"

"Perhaps this will help."

John nearly screamed as the pain tore through his head. He fell to his knees, hands clutched to his temples. "No…please no…" He moaned.

Christa had awakenedwhen John had crept out of bed. She lay still listening for him and had just gotten up herself when she heard the crash. She hurried down the stairs, and heard John's cry. As she came to the bottom, she was stunned at the sight before her.

John was on his knees, rocking back and forth. He had one hand pressed to his head and the other trying to stop the blood flowing from his nose.

"John!" She rushed to his side.

He looked up at her with haunted eyes. "Christa…make him stop…please make him stop."

"Stay here! I'll be right back!" She rushed into the guest bathroom and grabbed a towel. She ran it under the cold water, and grabbing another one ran back to John. She pressed the cold towel to the back of his neck and the other under his nose. "Relax honey. Just relax."

John shook his head. "No…can't…." He burst out coughing again.

"I'm calling an ambulance." Christa started to get up, but John grabbed her by the wrist.

"No…I'll be alright…Just need—" His voice cut off as he moaned and gripped his head again. "Oh God…"

"John! I can't help you if you don't tell me what to do!" She said desperately.

He looked up at her, his blue eyes filled with pain. "My family…Tin-Tin…" He moaned again.

"John…"

"Call them…the office…please…" John clenched his eyes shut. "Get out! Leave me alone! Christa…help me…please…"

Christa bolted to her feet and ran to the office. Spying the video-phone, she quickly hit the redial button, praying it would connect to his family. She could hear John moaning in the hallway. "Hold on John! I'm calling!" She turned back to the screen. "Dammit someone answer!" Just then, a man's face came on. "Wow! John was right!" She shook her head. "What am I doing…Mr. Tracy?"

Jeff nodded. "I'm Jeff Tracy. Who are you?" He asked warily.

"My name is Christa Lynch. I'm a friend of John's. He told me to call. He told me he needed you and something called Tin-Tin."

Jeff frowned. "Where is John?"

"Please sir! He's sick. I'm not sure—" She turned as she heard a crash behind her. John had stumbled into the room and fell to his knees again. "John!" She rushed to his side.

"Need…Tin-Tin…" He moaned.

Christa helped him to the desk chair, only then becoming aware of Jeff yelling through the video phone.

"What is God's name is going on there? John?...JOHN!"

"Dad…I need Tin-Tin…" He clenched his eyes shut again. "No!" Blood began pouring out his nose again.

Christa turned to the screen. "Do you know what he's talking about?"

Jeff nodded. "She's on her way. Stay with us John!"

"I'm calling an ambulance." Christa started towards the landline phone.

"No!"

"No!" Both John and Jeff yelled at the same time. "Christa…please…"

"John!"

They both looked up at the screen. "Tin-Tin…he's here…please help me…" John pleaded.

Christa watched as the girl closed her eyes, and gripped a crystal around her neck. John too closed his eyes. Long minutes dragged, then John slumped forward on the desk, on the screen, the girl fell back into the arms of someone Christa couldn't see. "John?" She knelt next to him, feeling for a pulse. It was wild and erratic, but there. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"How is he?"

Christa looked up at the screen again to see John's father. "He's alright… I think. What the hell was that all about?" She demanded.

Jeff shook his head. "I'm not sure myself. John, can you hear me?"

John looked up, his face streaked with tears and blood. "Dad, you're home…" He rasped hoarsely.

Jeff smiled. "And in one piece, more or less. Which is more than I can say for you." His smile faded. "I'm coming out there."

John shook his head. "No Dad, I'll…be alright. I'll call you later."

"John…"

"I promise."

Jeff sighed. "Christa is it?" She nodded. "Thank-you."

"I'm not really sure what you're thanking me for sir." She told him.

Jeff smiled. "To tell the truth, I don't either. You're a nurse?" She nodded. "Can you give him something to help him sleep?"

"Yes. I have a mild sedative in my bag. I'll go—"

"NO!" They both looked up at John. "No. He can get in easier…when I sleep." He said, more to Jeff.

Jeff's eyes widened, then filled with concern. "John…I can be there by midday."

John shook his head again, wincing. "No Dad, please. I'll call you."

Jeff sighed. "All right. But if I don't hear from you by tomorrow, I'm on my way."

"Talk to you then Dad…Thanks." John said softly.

"Rest son. Christa." Jeff nodded then the screen went dark.

Christa waited a few moments then turned to John. "Want to tell me what that was all about?" She wasn't sure if she was more worried or angry.

"Christa…" His blue eyes were filled with pain.

Her anger melted away. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up." She helped him to his feet, and up the stairs to his room. She carefully peeled off his blood covered sweatshirt. "Feel up to taking a shower?" He nodded and she helped him into the bathroom. After turning on the water, she left him to get in, and went to sit on the window seat, staring up at the rain pattering against the window. A noise from the bath startled her and she hurried in to find John half out of the shower, gripping the wall for support. She quickly turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. He smiled gratefully as she led him to the bed. She handed him a clean pair of pants and a shirt, and watched as he collapsed onto the pillows. She sat next to him, gently running his fingers through his hair. "Can I get you anything?" She asked softly.

He smiled thinly. "No, just don't leave. Please don't leave me." He coughed, his hands moving automatically to his left side.

"Are you sure you don't want anything for the pain?"

He shook his head. "No." He cracked an eye open. "Christa?"

"Yes John?"

"I…I'm glad you're here." He whispered.

She turned off the lamp and lay down next to him. "I'll be here as long as you need me John. I'm not going anywhere."

He wrapped his arms around her. "I love you." He said quietly.

She rolled over and gently rubbed his head, until the pain lines around his eyes started to fade. "I'll never leave you."

Far away, in a London prison cell, the Hood smiled evilly, his red eyes glittering in pleasure. Soon, John. You'll be mine, all mine.

Jeff turned to face his sons and his friends. "Somebody better explain to me what the hell just happened." He said, his tone like steel.

No one answered, but Alan and Gordon both glanced up at Scott. Scott straightened and took a deep breath. "Alan, is she alright?" He asked.

Alan nodded and looked down at Tin-Tin who was just starting to stir. Kyrano had his hand on his daughter's forehead and he smiled. "She is fine. As is John. For now."

"I shall go get us all something to drink." Onaha cast one last look at her daughter and husband, and hurried from the room.

"I-I-I think I'll go help." Brains steered himself and Fermat out of the room.

Virgil shrugged and sat down on the couch. "Don't look at me." He said, his voice still hoarse from the smoke.

"Scott, what happened?" Jeff asked.

Scott sat down, wincing, in a chair. Virgil frowned at him, but Scott seemed not to notice. "I couldn't sleep, and was headed for the kitchen for something to drink. I ran into Tin-Tin and she told me she knew something was wrong with John. Alan heard us talking and we put in a call to Boston. There was no answer. Next think I know, Tin-Tin is doing…something and a few minutes later the phone rings. It's John telling me he's alright."

Jeff narrowed his eyes at his oldest. "When did this happen?"

"Right before the Fourth."

"And you didn't tell me?"

Scott sighed. "I never really got the chance Dad. The rescue call came in just as I was starting. Then with you and Virgil getting hurt…"

Jeff nodded. "All right then. Tin-Tin, what just happened?"

The young Malaysian girl was sitting up, leaning against Alan. "My uncle…the Hood attacked again."

Jeff shook his head. "What do you mean by attack?"

Tin-Tin looked down for a moment, and Alan squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. "The Hood has gotten into John's mind. He is torturing him with both pain and thoughts. He is warping John's memories, trying to turn him against us, against you."

"How do you know? Did John talk to you?" Jeff asked, confused.

Tin-Tin shook her head. "I can hear them." She said quietly.

"What?" Virgil looked up in surprise.

Alan looked at his father. "It's true Dad. She can hear John sometimes. Especially if he's thinking too loudly." He winked at Tin-Tin and she smiled back.

Jeff got stiffly to his feet and shook his head. "Wait, let me try and understand this. You can hear the Hood?"

Tin-Tin nodded. "Sometimes. Like when he's…attacking John. I can hear John crying for help."

"How does it work? Your powers?" Jeff asked.

Tin-Tin shrugged. "I'm not really sure. I'm still learning. But John has a strong mind. If he can find the courage to stand up to my uncle, he will be able to defeat him."

Virgil got to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? We should go to Boston and bring him back."

Scott shook his head. "No. John needs to do this on his own."

"That's crap and you know it!" Virgil shouted.

Jeff held up his hands. "Boys, enough. Virgil, much as I hate to say this, I agree with Scott. John can do this, we know he can. If we rush to his side, he'll assume it's out of pity, that once again we don't believe in him."

Virgil shook his head. "You really do hate him don't you?" He said, his voice deadly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jeff glared.

"You were in such a hurry to get him back up to Thunderbird 5 after the first attack, then just let him fly off to Boston, still injured and needing care." Virgil's hazel eyes glittered angrily.

"Watch your tone with me Virgil. I did nothing of the sort. What was I supposed to do? Chain him to the wall? Your brother made his own choice, and in the effort not to lose him forever, I let him go." Jeff replied his voice cool.

Virgil shook his head. "That's bullshit!" Everyone started. Virgil marched over and stood toe to toe with his father. "You got rid of him. Instead of helping him, you got rid of him. And managed to lose Penny at the same time! Well fuck you Dad. Fuck all of you." Virgil turned on his heels and marched out the door, leaving his family speechless.

Jeff turned to a grinning Gordon. "What are you laughing at?" He growled.

Gordon wiped the smile from his face. "Nothing at all sir." He said solemnly.

Jeff glared for a moment longer, then turned to stare out the window. "Leave me alone. All of you."

Gordon glanced at Scott, who shrugged, then both left the room. Alan helped Tin-Tin to her feet and they followed close behind.

Kyrano placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I will be here if you need me."

Jeff didn't answer, merely nodded his head and stood staring out at the sea.

Gordon sat by the edge of the pool, idly dangling his feet in the water. The sun was starting to set and he sighed. He heard footsteps behind him, and recognized them as Alan's. He figured his little brother would see him and turn back into the house, so Gordon was surprised when Alan sat down next to him.

"Hey." Alan said quietly.

"Hey."

"That was…intense."

"Yeah."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, the only sounds being the birds and the splash of the pool water.

"Did you know Scott was afraid of mice?"

"No." Gordon looked up at his little brother. "He is?"

Alan nodded. "Terrified, absolutely terrified."

Gordon broke into a grin, and a moment later he and Alan got up and together hurried into the house.