Many thanks to Bluegrass for her help with parts of this chapter. Hope you're all still enjoying this.
Scott sighed in relief as he watched Thunderbird 3 undock from the space station. Unless they push it, they should be here in about three hours. He yawned and got to his feet, stretching carefully. "You all set here Fermat?"
The young man barely looked up from the computer he was working on. "I'll be f-f-OK Scott. Just working on re-establishing the m-m-main power links."
"I'll leave you to it then." With a wave, Scott left and headed outside to the terrace, stopping a moment to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen. He gingerly sat down on a chaise, and closed his eyes.
Gordon was doing better, doing a round of physical therapy at the moment. Steve had assured them all that there would be no lasting effects from the accident. Though to hear Virgil talk, I sent both Alan and Gordon in there on purpose. Grounded…
His shoulder sent a wave of pain and sat up gasping. "Dammit!" Carefully massaging the affected area, he sighed. Bloody thing still hurts. You'd think it would be better by now. Bet John's ribs aren't bothering him anymore. He scowled at the thought of his brother. So I take a few painkillers once in a while. At least I'm not drinking myself senseless every night. He stumbled to his feet and headed inside, intending to look for something to help with the pain. Med-locker is locked all of a sudden, and Virgil turned Steve against me so I can't ask him for anything either. Son of a bitch this hurts…He was just passing his father's office when the proximity alarm went off.
Bolting inside, he quickly scanned the computer screen. Kyrano came rushing in a moment later.
"Who is it?" The man asked.
Scott shook his head. "Not sure yet. Tracy Island to unidentified craft. You are trespassing in private airspace, please change your course immediately. Do you copy?"
There was no answer. Scott looked up at Kyrano and tried again. "Unknown craft, do you copy?"
There was sill no answer. Scott felt a chill despite the tropical warmth. He pressed a button on the desk, and a screen popped up on the computer.
"The system is now armed."
Scott looked up a Kyrano again and took a deep breath, his finger on the button. "This is Tracy Island, identify yourself at once or we will be forced to take extreme measures."
The radio crackled and a familiar sounding British accent came across the airwaves. "Now Scott dear, is that any way to speak to me?"
Scott sat back in relief, a grin spreading across his face. "Penny, it's been a long time." He watched as the pink Lear jet came into view. "Go ahead and have Parker land on the strip. We're not anticipating anything for a while."
"Very good. I shall see you shortly."
"FAB Penny." Scott quickly disarmed the defense system and sighed, watching the jet circle around to the runway. "Well, isn't this going to be an interesting reunion." Kyrano placed a comforting hand on Scott's good shoulder. Scott took a shuddering breath. "I don't know how much longer I can do this Kyrano. We should be coming together for each other, not drifting father apart. John should be here, not gallivanting around Boston. Dammit! Can't he see how much we need him? How much I need him?" He put his head in his hands.
"Scott." Scott looked up at Kyrano in surprise. The man never called them by their first names. "You have borne your brother's burdens for many days. But now it is time to look inside yourself. You cannot bear another man's pain, until you first deal with your own." Kyrano observed with his usual serene insight.
Scott shook his head. "I can't…" He said hoarsely. "I just can't."
Kyrano forced Scott to look up at him. "It is not a weakness to understand your own pain. Pain, whether it is physical or emotional, it must be dealt with for the healing to begin. Sometimes, our pain can be so great that we cannot deal with it on our own. It is not weakness to ask for help, but rather it is a strength. Mister Scott, this a strength I know you posses if you will only allow yourself to see it."
Scott shook his head and looked away. "Kyrano…"
The elderly manservant went on as if he hadn't heard. "And as for John, you cannot live another man's life for him, each man must walk his own path. You must start with yours." He continued with his sagely wisdom.
Scott sighed and his gaze went to the mural on the wall, showing his father and brothers, all standing around the pool. Behind it, he knew, were the alcoves leading to the Thunderbird silos. "We've made it through so much together. I guess I thought that nothing could ever tear us apart."
Kyrano followed his gaze. "Think of your family like this island. There are many tracks through the jungle. They may separate for a while, they may criss-cross, or they may come together, but eventually Mister Scott, all tracks lead back to this house. So, think of yourself and your brothers like these tracks, and do not worry where they start on their journey but where they will end."
Scott smiled. "Thanks Kyrano."
"None are needed. Your family is my family. When one is hurting, we all are. And that is something the animal that calls himself my brother will never understand." He squeezed Scott's shoulder one last time, and with a bow, left the room.
Scott pondered what the Malaysian man had said, so deep in thought he never heard Penny enter the room.
She stood in the doorway, shocked at the sight before her. Scott was always one of the neatest men she had ever known, other than Virgil. But now he had changed. His hair was longer than she had ever seen him wear it, falling almost to the nape of his neck. He wore a faded pair of denim cut-offs, and his shirt was loose and unbuttoned, showing how thin he had gotten. But all that wasn't what bothered her the most. It was his face. His skin was pale, and bore the stubble of someone who hadn't shaved in a few days. There were deep, dark circles under his eyes, and lines of what she guessed where pain, etched on his forehead.
"Scott?" She called out softly.
He started and turned. "Penny…"
There was such heartbreak in his voice that she swiftly crossed the room and took him in her arms. He resisted at first, then relaxed in her grip. "God…I've missed you." He said hoarsely.
She smiled and softly stroked his hair. "Scott, what a lovely thing to say."
Scott looked up at her and smiled. "Still into pink I see."
She laughed. "You devil, is there any other color?" She glanced warily around the office.
"He's not here."
She turned back, her eyes guarded. "Oh?"
"Dad and Virgil were up on Five, trying to get her back online. They're on their way back home now."
Penny frowned. "It's still not working? I would have thought John would have his 'bird up and running by now."
Scott sighed. "John's not here. He left almost two months ago."
Penny was stunned. "Left? Left where?"
Scott shook his head. "He's living in Boston. Quit IR, quit us, quit everything." There was more than a touch of bitterness in his voice.
"Oh Scott…I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Don't be. He made his choice. The rest of us just have to learn to live with it." Scott's grey eyes flashed with emotion.
"Scott, what happened?"
He shook his head and got to his feet, wincing. "Nothing. You may want to go down to the infirmary and see Gordon. There was an accident during our last rescue and he threw his back out."
Penny frowned, sensing there was more to the story than Scott was letting on. "I shall do that."
Scott paused at the door and turning back, smiled wryly. "It is good to see you Pen."
"It's good to be seen. Please do not tell your father I'm here. I'd like to tell him myself."
Scott nodded. "FAB." Then he was gone.
Penny glanced around Jeff's office for a few moments, then followed Scott out the door.
John hit one last key on his computer and sighed. "That's all I can do Brains."
"I-I-I think I can finish up. Thanks for your hel-hel-assistance John."
"No problem. Let me know if there's anything else I can do."
"FAB John."
Alan's face appeared on the screen and John smiled. "Hey Sprout."
"John! This place is great! Can I check out the zero-g room?" Alan's blue eyes were bright with excitement.
John laughed. "Be my guest, just don't throw up all over it."
Alan made a face. "My name's not Virgil."
"That's for sure. I've got to run Alan. Take care of my—of Thunderbird 5."
"FAB. Talk to you soon!" Alan closed the channel and John sat back in his chair, staring at the empty screen. He sighed. It's been three days. You'd think she would have called. He got to his feet and made his way downstairs. He walked into the living room and started towards the liquor cabinet. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey, then paused staring at it, his father's voice echoing in his head.
"You're drunk."
Very deliberately, John placed the bottle on the counter and took a step back.
"Not thirsty John?"
John started and he looked around the empty room. "You're not here."
"But I am here John. Here, inside you."
John shook his head. "No, you're not. You're in London, in prison."
"My body yes, but my mind is free."
"I don't have to listen to you." John started from the room.
"You enjoy being alone don't you John."
John froze at the door. "Please, just stop. Please."
"But John, I'm the only one who cares about you. Has your precious Christa called to see how you are faring? No. And your family? You're good enough to fix Thunderbird 5, yet have they thanked you?"
John closed his eyes and his fists clenched at his sides. "No." He whispered.
"Yet I am here. Here to help you."
"Help me how?"
"I can be your friend John."
"You tried to kill me."
"That was before. Are we not all entitled to a few mistakes? I am only human after all."
John snorted as he walked back to the bar. "Yeah right. Murder is always forgivable." He swallowed a large shot of whiskey.
"I am truly sorry John."
"Sure you are."
"I am here now am I not? Begging your forgiveness. Has your family done that? Has Gordon apologized for the things he said to you?"
John closed his eyes against the memories.
"Maybe if you had a set of balls on you and had fired at the missile, we wouldn't have thought you were dead in the first place." Gordon retorted hotly.
John's eyes narrowed angrily. "That's right, this was my fault. As the resident 'liability' it's not really a surprise the way I acted, now isn't it?"
"He's been moping around for two weeks now and I'm sick of it! Grow up!" Gordon snapped. "All this drama because Blondie here is too afraid to go back to his Thunderbird."
"Gordon's a jerk." John said, taking another drink.
"And Scott, has he come to your defense?"
John sighed. "No."
"You've been checking up on me?" John's voice was deadly calm. "How? Through my communicator or Steve?"
"John it's not like that!"
"What is it then Scott? You and Dad think I need a babysitter? That I'm not capable of taking care of myself?"
"Maybe if you weren't drinking yourself into an early grave we wouldn't have to check on you!" Scott retorted hotly.
John put his head in his hands, the bottle falling to the floor. "Please…stop…"
"And Christa?"
"You arrogant son of a…" She marched over and stood toe to toe with him, her small frame barely reaching his 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 moaned. "No….She loves me. She was just worried about me…"
"As your father was worried about you? Did he not go on a rescue instead of looking to see if you were alive? Or did he not want to believe Scott was dead. Did your welfare really matter to him?"
"I…"
"John, I am sorry for my past actions. Please, I beg you, forgive me."