This one is for all of you who complained about my lack of cliffhangers. Enjoy!
Virgil arced Thunderbird 2 around and set the giant ship down a short distance away from Thunderbird 1. Almost before the ship had come to a stop, Gordon was unbuckling from his seat and heading out to the cargo bay. Virgil waved at Alan through the cock-pit windows and then headed outside.
The small village must have been beautiful once. Now it was a mass of broken buildings and debris from the effects of the earthquake. People wandered around, some aimlessly, seeming to be in shock, others trying to get some sort of recovery effort started.
Spying the others over near Thunderbird 1, Virgil hurried over. "Here's what's going on." Scott spread a large map on the table. "The quake caused major damage. Its epicenter is believed to be in this general area. Brains is still running scans to pinpoint the exact location." He pointed to a section on the map. "The main road in is totally destroyed. Rescue crews have to go the long way, it's nearly two hours out of the way."
"So we're it?" Alan asked.
Scott nodded. "We're it. Gordon, take the Thunderizer. Start moving some of this debris so we can get to the survivors."
Gordon nodded. "FAB."
"Virgil, get to the Firefly, see if we can shift some of this rubble. From what I gather, this was a school."
Virgil's eyes grew wide with concern. "Crap." He muttered, looking out over the area.
"Alan, you and Tin-Tin take the Mole and start digging out underneath these main buildings." Scott pointed to the map. "Steve, I think you should get a temporary field hospital started. I think we're the only ones here at the moment with any kind of emergency experience." Steve nodded in reply. Scott then gazed at the map again before looking up at them all. "Without Thunderbird 5, we need to really keep on our toes. Brains and Fermat will be monitoring from Base, but there is a significant time lag in information. Keep your communicators on at all times, is that understood?" Scott's voice matched the steely glare in his eyes. They all nodded. "Then move out."
They scattered, each to their respective assignments. Inside TB 2's cargo bay, Virgil paused and looked back out at his oldest brother. Scott showed no signs of the emotional rollercoaster he had been on before they left. While that could be because of the responsibility of the rescue, Virgil felt otherwise. He ducked into sick-bay for a moment, then hurried back to unload the Firefly.
Gordon meanwhile, had moved the Thunderizer out and headed towards the worst of the debris. The locals seemed to sense he was there to help, and cheered.
Alan and Tin-Tin climbed into the Mole and started up. "Tin-Tin, check with Scott. Tell him we're going in and have him clear the area." She didn't reply. "Tin-Tin?" Alan turned to look at her. They young woman sat very still, staring vacantly out the window at nothing. Alan shook her lightly. "Tin-Tin!"
She blinked and turned to him, her coffee eyes wide. "Alan…"
"What is it?" He asked, gripping her hand tightly.
"John…He…Something's happened."
Alan's blue eyes widened in fear. "Is he alright?"
"I don't know." She shook her head. "He's not hurt, I know that much."
Alan frowned. "But you don't know what's going on?"
She shook her head. "No. And we…we can't worry about John right now." She looked up at him, her eyes full of compassion. "We have a job to do."
"You're right." Alan sighed. "He called once, if he's in that much trouble, he'll do it again."
She smiled and leaning over, kissed him softly. "Yes, he will."
Alan smiled back. "Let's go."
Scott was wrong with his estimate. It took the local authorities nearly five hours to reach them. By that time, most of the casualties had been assessed and were being treated in the makeshift hospital tent Steve had set up near the town's center.
A native, covered in dust and blood chattered incoherently at Scott. Scott smiled and pointed in the direction of the hospital tent. The man bowed and limped off. He sighed. "Brains, any luck on the translators yet?"
"N-N-No Scott. I'm sorry. The main s-system is still frozen up on T-Thunderbird 5. I'm working on a new sys-sys-program, but it's going to take some time."
Scott swore under his breath and for the hundredth time, mentally cursed John. We wouldn't be having half these problems if we could just talk to some of them. "Thanks anyway Brains."
"What's the current situation Scott?" Jeff asked.
"We think we've managed to find all of the survivors. Steve and Virgil have been taking care of the injuries. Gordon, Alan and Tin-Tin are assisting with the search and rescue." And I'm standing here doing nothing.
"Good. The local emergency services should be there within the hour." Jeff told him.
"FAB Dad. Op 1 out." Scott wiped a shaking hand across his forehead. He had a headache, and could feel the throbbing of his shoulder in time with his pulse. Taking a deep breath, he looked around.
This area of the countryside seemed to have been hit hardest. Most if not all of the buildings had been destroyed. Scott took a shuddering breath and winced at the sharp pain in his shoulder. He glanced over to the hospital tent and spying his brother's green uniform, scowled. If he thinks I'm asking him for any help, he's got another thing coming. Glancing down at his equipment, he tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
"Scott?"
Scott jumped. "Gordon, what's up?"
Gordon frowned at his eldest brother. Scott was pale, and a faint sheen of sweat covered his forehead. His hands shook at the computer. "You OK?"
Scott nodded. "Just anxious to get this done so we can get home and in the pool."
Gordon grinned. "Can't blame you there Scotty. Where do you want me? I've finished excavating the far end of town. All the survivors are over with Steve and Virgil. And the dead…" He shuddered. "I sent Alan and Tin-Tin to secure the Thunderizer while I took care of them."
Scott's grey eyes filled with compassion. That was one part of the job they all hated. No matter how much they tried, they just couldn't save everyone. Scott sighed. "I know Gordon." Scott placed his good hand on Gordon's arm and smiled thinly. "Look, go make one last sweep of the school. Make sure we've got everyone out."
"FAB Scott." Gordon jogged off towards the building.
Scott stared down at the computer screen for a few minutes. Suddenly his stomach cramped painfully and he looked over at Triage again. The hell with this. Putting the computer on stand-by, he hurried over to Thunderbird 2. He quickly made his way to the med-locker. Finding it locked, he opened the cupboard where they kept the key. It wasn't there. Scott stood staring at the empty hook, then frantically tore through the cupboard looking for it. Not finding it, he moved onto the next, then the next until he had thoroughly searched them all. Breathing heavily, he stared once again at the locker, then scowling, exited the giant green ship and headed to Thunderbird 1.
Alan intercepted him half-way across the field. "Hey Scott! Scott wait!"
"What Alan?" Scott demanded shortly.
Alan took a step back at his brother's tone. "You alright?"
Scott nodded. "What do you want Sprout?" He asked, trying to keep his temper in check.
"Tin-Tin and I secured the Thunderizer and the Mole. What next?"
Scott too a shuddering breath. "Take the Firefly and go demolish that building before the aftershocks bring it down on someone."
Alan's eyes lit up. "Really? FAB Scott!" They young man raced off to the large bulldozer shaped vehicle. Within moments, he had it moving off to where Scott had indicated.
Scott didn't stick around to watch Alan leave, but instead hurried into his 'bird. He hurried to where the med-kit was kept. It was gone, leaving nothing but the empty brackets where it was supposed to be housed. Swearing loudly, he grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be a portable medical scanner. It shattered with a resounding crash as it hit the wall.
He stood there for a few minutes, his body quivering. He ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair, and sat down on the edge of the cot. He was feeling very nauseous at this point and his head was hurting enough to be sending flashes of light behind his eyes. He groaned and put his head in his hands.
"What the hell was that?"
Scott's head snapped up and he stared down at his communicator. "Gordon?"
"Scott! I think we're being hit with an aftershock. The whole place is shaking."
Scott quickly rushed out the door and headed towards Mobile Control. "Gords, I'm not registering anything."
"Dammit Scott! The whole place feels like it's about to fall on me!"
Scott frowned down at the screens in front of him. "Gordon, I don't know what's going on, but the screens are clear on my end."
"I don't give a fuck what the screens say! This whole place is quaking like a virgin on her wedding night!" Gordon's voice held an edge of panic to it.
"Hang on Gords…" Scott looked up as Tin-Tin came running over.
"Scott, what's happening?" She asked, her coffee eyes wide.
Scott shook his head. "I'm not sure. Gordon is reporting an aftershock, but nothing is reading on the scanners…Oh God!" The blood drained from his face. "Alan stop! Gordon's in there! Alan can you hear me!"
"Scott? What is it?" Alan sounded confused.
"Gordon's in there somewhere! Stop the demolition!" Scott shouted into the microphone.
"Gordon? What's he doing in—" Alan's voice was cut off by a scream from Gordon.
Scott and Tin-Tin watched in horror as the building containing Alan and Gordon collapsed with a thunderous roar.
John sighed in contentment as he lay face down on the blanket and closed his eyes. It was a beautiful summer day at the beach, and the sound of the waves was lulling John to relax totally for the first time in ages.
"Don't go to sleep." Christa warned.
"Why not?" John mumbled back.
"You'll fry in this sun. At least put some sun block on." John merely grunted in reply. "I mean it John, you'll get a heck of a sunburn on a day like this."
John cracked one eye open and smiled devilishly. "Then you better put some on me."
Christa laughed and dug the bottle of lotion out of her bag. She smiled to herself and poured the liquid onto John's back. He yelped in surprise as the cold lotion hit his hot skin. Christa merely laughed again and began rubbing the lotion into his back. She straddled him in order to reach his shoulders and leaned in close and whispered into his ear. "You know, it's a good thing this is a public beach or I'd do more than rub sun block on you."
John blushed red. "Christa…What am I going to do with you?"
"I thought I just told you we couldn't do that here." She laughed. "Now, roll over so I can get your other side."
John's blush grew deeper. "I don't think that's a good idea right now."
Christa looked puzzled for a moment, then started to giggle. The giggle turned into a chuckle and soon both of them were laughing as tears ran down their faces. "I love you." She said as she kissed him lightly on the lips.
John merely smiled and lay back, once again closing his eyes. "Love you too." He said softly.
They were quiet for a few minutes. "Do you want to go swimming?" Christa asked him finally.
"Nope."
"Why not? It's beautiful out. I'll bet the water is nice."
John glared up at her. "Nice? Nice! Are you kidding me? That ocean is probably no warmer than 60 degrees! Where I come from that isn't considered 'nice', it's considered insane."
"Wimp." Christa grinned.
John closed his eyes and refused to take the bait. "Yup."
"So you're telling me you're going to just lie here all day?"
"Yup."
She sighed. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"No chest pain?"
"Nope."
"Headache?"
"Nope."
"John…"
John looked up at her. "Look Christa, I just want to lie here and do nothing. Just bask in the sun for a while and relax. Not think about anyone or anything for a change OK?" His voice came out harsher than he intended and he sighed. "It's been three months today since my lab was attacked. I just want to be here with you and not think about any of it." He said quietly.
Christa smiled. "OK then. Sorry I pushed."
John closed his eyes. "Just don't let it happen again." He teased.
Christa rolled her eyes and pulled a paperback out of her bag. She settled down next to John and began to read. John tucked one hand in hers and dozed off.
"Help! Someone please help me!"
Both John and Christa's heads snapped up. "What was that?" John asked, his eyes scanning the beach. Before she could reply, the shout came again.
"My son! Help!"
A short distance down the beach, a woman was pointing out to sea. Far out in the water, John and Christa could see a group of people foundering in the water. A man started past John, and he grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Wait." John commanded.
The man paused. "There's kids out there! What are we waiting for?" He tried to pull free.
John's ice blue eyes scanned the water. "See that wave action? That's a rip-tide. It'll pull anyone who goes in it out in a heart beat."
By now a group had gathered around John. Christa had gone to comfort the woman, but looked over in John's direction. His mind whirled. "OK, anyone got a cell phone?" One woman nodded. "Call the Coast Guard and explain the situation. Some one get the rest of those people out of the water." Two young men ran towards the water, shouting and beckoning. Immediately the water started to empty.
John looked at the group around him. "Anyone here got experience in water rescues?"
Two people nodded. "I'm life-guard certified." One young woman answered.
"Former Navy SEAL." Another older man replied.
John nodded. "Good. We'll handle the rescue. The rest of you stay put. Rip-tides are only dangerous if you don't know what you're doing." They nodded. "Find some floats, boogie boards, anything like that." People scattered.
Christa hurried over. "You're not thinking of going out there?"
"No, I'm not thinking about it. I'm going."
"John you can't! Just because you grew up on an island doesn't qualify you to dive headlong into a rip current!"
John pulled his arm out of her grasp, his eyes still on the kids out at sea. "Yes I can. It's what I've been trained to do."
"What? Trained? John, what are you talking about?" Christa frowned in puzzlement.
Shit, shit, SHIT! "Look, can we discuss this later?" John rushed forward into the water. When he was knee deep, he turned to the two people next to him. The young woman handed him a Styrofoam boogie board. "Thanks. I'm John."
"Lisa." She replied.
"Walter." The Navy man told them.
"Nice to meet you. OK, rip-currents run horizontal to shore. They're usually pretty narrow, so when you get to the kids, swim parallel to the beach. With any luck, we'll swim out of it." John told them.
They nodded and the three of them dove into the waves. The icy water stung like needles into his skin. Almost instantly, John felt the current tugging at him. "Don't fight it!" John yelled. "Let it carry you out!" A few minutes later, John found himself far from the beach. Spying the kids, he quickly swam over to them. "Hey there! Everyone alright?" John asked, shoving his board into the arms of the nearest boy.
"Th-Th-Thanks!" The boy's lips were blue with cold.
Lisa had a child in her arms, and had given another her board. Walter had two boys, one under each arm. "Is this everyone?" Lisa asked.
The boy next to John nodded. "Y-Y-Yes."
"Then how about we head in?" Walter turned on his back, and swam north, away from the beach. Lisa followed close behind him, pushing the other boy on the boogie board.
"All set?" John asked. The boy nodded, and John quickly pulled him close, wrapping one arm around the child's chest. Together they made there way through the water. Soon, the boy's weight and the cold water began to take its toll on John and he started to tire. He tried to look forward, but Lisa and Walter had far outdistanced him. "Al…almost there…" He panted.
Soon, he felt the current ease off and he headed into shore. By the time he hit the breaker line, his arms and legs felt like lead, and his lungs felt as if they were on fire. You're sadly out of shape Johnny-boy… He felt someone pulling the boy from his grip, and two strong arms grabbed him about the shoulders and half dragged, half carried him to the beach.
John collapsed on the sand, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Christa pushed her way through the crowd and dropped to his side. "John!"
"Hey…babe…." John panted.
"Don't you babe me." She snapped, taking his wrist in her hands. Paramedics appeared behind her. "Pulse is steady but racing, reps ragged and uneven. He's got a cracked rib which may be part of the breathing problem."
John glared up at her. "You don't have…to talk about me…like I'm not here."
The paramedic laughed and took over from Christa. He pressed a stethoscope to John's chest and listened intently.
John pushed him away and sat up. "I'm fine. How are the kids?"
"A little cold, but they're all fine." The paramedic answered. He turned to Christa. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong, but I'd like to take him in for a thorough once over."
John bolted to his feet. "No! No way. I'm fine." He took a deep breath and winced, bending over to rest his hands on his knees.
"Sure you are." Christa folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
"Back off Christa." John growled, his eyes turning cold.
Christa refused to back down. "I want you to go get looked at."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes!"
"Go to hell Christa." John straightened up and marched off, leaving the others standing awkwardly staring after him.
Christa's indigo eyes flashed fire. She nodded her thanks to the paramedics and hurried after John.
John had stalked over to the blanket, and started throwing his things in his bag. People hovered around him yelling out questions but he ignored them. Christa once again pushed her way through the crowd. "That's it? You're leaving?"
John ignored her and finished packing up his things. "If you want a ride home, you'd better come now. Otherwise it's a long walk back to Boston." Without another word, John threw his bad over his shoulder and stormed off towards the parking lot.
Christa watched for a moment, then grabbing her bag and the blanket, ran after him. "John wait!" He didn't turn, but continued until he reached the Jeep. Christa marched up to him. "What the hell was that all about?" She demanded.
"I don't need any damned hospital." John snapped.
"Fine. But this goes deeper than that." Christa took a deep breath. "That was probably one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. Why did you go after those kids? The rescue personnel were on their way. You put yourself, those two people with you and the kids themselves in danger."
"I knew what I was doing." John growled as he unlocked the doors and threw his bag inside.
"Yes, it appears you did." She folded her arms across her chest. "Explain to me why an astrophysicist needs water rescue training."
John twitched. "That's none of your concern." He avoided her eyes.
Christa's eyebrows raised in astonishment. "None of my concern? Well excuse me for caring about you!"
"You're not my mother Christa, stop acting like it." John snapped angrily.
Christa took a few steps back at his tone. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I think I made myself perfectly clear."
"You arrogant son of a…" She marched over and stood toe to toe with him, her small frame barely reaching her shoulders. The fury in her voice made her seem larger however, as she poked John in the chest. "I know I am not your mother and I don't appreciate that remark. I am merely looking out for you, something that you're apparently not capable of doing."
"I can look after myself just fine thank you."
"Yeah, you've done a great job so far. Let's see, the plane crash, the World Police raid, jogging, a bar fight and a mugging. You're a pro John! Keep up the good work!"
John scowled and got into the Jeep. He waited a heartbeat then started the engine. Christa stood unmoving in front of it. "You getting in or not?" John asked.
She glared a moment longer, then climbed inside. Neither spoke as John threw the Jeep in gear and tore out of the parking lot.