OK, once again DISCLAIM ANY OWNERSHIP.

Chapter Five – Guys, Can You Do Me a Favor?

"Dad" Kate called through the main villa. "OK, Dad, I know you are responsible."

Alan and Tin-Tin looked up from where they had been resting on the couch after lunch. Scott, Virgil and Gordon were off on a rescue and Kate had been on Command and Control, saying she needed to be up and about. She had hushed Scott's worries, by reminding him that Jeff was due back from a meeting in Manhattan shortly and that if need be, Alan or Tin-Tin could take over for her.

Looking puzzled, Tin-Tin asked, "Is Mr. Tracy even home?"

"Yes, he is. The two of you were having lunch with your parents Tin-Tin and I encouraged him to go find you. But since a) he hasn't come here and b) my son is not in Scott's old room where I left him, I will ask one more time…"

"Kate, calm down. Jason is here." Jeff Tracy walked into the lounge, holding his almost week old grandson. "I just wanted to check on him, and then we got to talking and…"

"Dad, he isn't even a week old. Tracy Industries, International Rescue, the birds and the bees, the Red Sox – Yankees rivalry can wait until he is at least crawling, OK?"

Alan tried not to laugh at his sister-in-law's flash of temper. That wasn't safe. "Kate, do you want me to take over Command and Control for a while?"

"Please Alan, and thanks. Tin-Tin, please go with him as I need to remind someone that his grandson is being breastfed."

The teens could not escape the lounge quickly enough.

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Ears still red and ringing from the lecture Kate had given him, Jeff made his way back to his study/ command center. When he got there, he watched with some pride as his youngest son and Tin-Tin worked together efficiently, monitoring the rescue mission. While the couple could often be found snuggling or even outright kissing, if they were doing rescue work of any kind, the two showed a maturity beyond their years. Sometimes Jeff regretted that; sometimes the father wondered what he had stolen from his sons. Would Scott have made a successful career in the Air Force? What would NASA have had in store for John? Would Virgil be a famous artist or musician? Could Gordon have been a legendary acclaimed athlete? And Alan? He had never truly known life without the idea of International Rescue. Did he ever have any other dreams?

And now there was Kate and Tin-Tin. His daughters, after a fashion, were part of International Rescue as well. How did their real fathers feel about what path he had led their daughters on?

Maybe that is why John was still in Auckland. That first afternoon, Jeff's second son had called and said he was speaking with Dr. Haas, but that it may take a few days. John had gently hinted that he wanted to spend some of his week down in Auckland and not on the island. Jeff had been encouraging. Not only did the Thunderbirds leader want Dr. Haas to be part of the team (as well as part of the rebuilding effort for Akaroa), he had seen how interested John was in Emily Haas. Perhaps more than anyone, John had sacrificed so much, spending weeks away from his family, missing out on the special moments, spending most of the holidays on the space station. If enjoying a few days with a beautiful, intelligent woman like Dr. Haas were the cure for the blues that seemed to have settled on John lately, Jeff was all for it.

Kate re-entered the area carrying Jason. Motioning to the teenagers, she whispered to Jeff, "They have it in hand?" At her father-in-law's nod, Kate smiled and then suddenly yawned. Scooping his first grandchild from the mother's arms, Jeff shooed her to Scott's old room, telling her to take a nap, he had Jason. Strolling back to the lounge, the billionaire smiled at his grandson and began to tell him stories of rescues, of what fine, brave men his daddy and his uncles were. Other kids could have fairy tales. Jason Tracy had the Thunderbirds.

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After dinner that night, Alan went to his room to pack. Late tomorrow afternoon he would have to return to school and he didn't want to waste his last day packing. Pulling out a notebook from where it was hidden, Alan debated what to do with it. Kate knew about this and had encouraged him to do something with it. With a sigh, Alan concluded that his brother's wife was right – yet again. Neatly tearing the carefully printed pages out, Alan folded them and slipped them into an envelope. While he addressed and stamped the packet, Alan was not about to put it out with the family mail. Instead, he tucked the envelope into his suitcase, covering it with clothing. Covering the address: Sci-Fi Fics Monthly, P.O. Box 1967, New York, NY 12345-1117, ATT: Submissions Department.

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The Tracys were sitting down to lunch, but the family noticed that Jeff kept looking at his watch. John had not called in or shown up yet. Jeff and John were scheduled to leave soon for Thunderbird Five to bring the Hackenbackers back to Earth. Fermat had to get to school and Brains was needed for a meeting Jeff had in New York. The micro-processors again. Sigh.

While none of his brothers said anything, they were concerned as well. John was the consummate professional and was never late. Between the conversations ebbing around the room and Jason's babble, the family was still distracted enough that they never heard the plane come in for a landing.

"Hi!" John called out as he ran through the kitchen. "Dad, give me five minutes to change and I'll be ready." With that he was gone into the sleeping area.

Jeff smiled and shook his head. He supposed even John could have his moments. Turning to go put on his own flight suit and head to Thunderbird Three, the Tracy Patriarch never even noticed Dr. Emily Haas had entered the room after John.

"Dr. Haas, how are you?" Alan politely inquired. Emily smiled and began to check his fingers. Smiling wider at the looks sent her way, Emily shrugged. "Sorry, professional curiosity."

The Tracys smiled as Onaha virtually pushed the young doctor into a seat, insisting she have something. Onaha had found another chick to add to her brood. They had no idea had right they were.

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Jeff emerged within a couple of minute, to remind Alan to be ready when he came back. Before he could complete his thoughts, he noticed Emily sitting at the table, sipping on ice tea and assuring Onaha she and John had eaten in Auckland. "Dr. Haas? I didn't think doctors still made house calls," Jeff joked. Seeing the envelope by her plate, he recognized it as the one he had over- nighted to her several days ago. "If you have any questions John couldn't answer about that contract Dr. Haas, it will have to wait until I come back." Jeff grinned. "I have to go warm up the car to give my son a ride to work." With that sarcastic remark, Jeff Tracy headed out to Three for the pre-flight checks.

Without looking up from his son, Scott translated. "He is heading for Thunderbird Three, our rocket, to transfer John back up to his normal job on Thunderbird Five, our space station. John works up there three out of every four weeks." Picking up Jason to change the boy's diaper – it didn't seem like that long ago he had done this for Alan – Scott paused as John came running back into the kitchen.

Before anyone could greet him, the oldest blond Tracy pulled Emily to her feet and swept her into a passionate kiss. Turning to his shocked family as he let her go, John ran after his father calling out to said family, stunning them with his parting words.

"Look out for my wife for me, will ya guys?"

a/n - Yep, he sure can move fast when he wants to. And if I get enough reviews, I might have six up before I go to bed. Or I might anyhow... Bizarre that way. Enjoy.