I can't believe it's chapter 13 already! I can't believe all the lovely reviews I've been receiving - it's so encouraging for me when I get that lovely email giving me another review! Thanks everyone so much, and I hope you're all still enjoying the story!

P.S. in case you haven't already, go check out my other multi-chapter fic about the boys: Space Race. I hope you'll enjoy that one too!

baao xo

Chapter 13:

Alan hadn't heard anything from any member of his family since signing off with John and Gordon almost an hour ago. Gordon had been positively furious over the Hood's message to the world, whereas John had been silent, sitting on all his thoughts. This was nothing new, John had always been one to keep his thoughts to himself, and Alan, as the baby of the family, lacked the authority to demand John to tell him how he was feeling. This whole situation was taking its toll on Alan - his shift on Thunderbird Five ended in just a few days and he wanted nothing more at that point but to be curled up in his own bed back on base with all his family there. Swallowing the emotions that had forced their way up his throat, Alan concentrated on the task at hand: attempting to stop all of the transmissions from the Hood from being broadcasted to the entire world. It was a huge thing to do, to override someone else's live feed and only have it shown over a select number of computers (base and Thunderbird Five, plus Virgil's, John's, and Gordon's watches). For not the first time today, Alan wished John was here. He was far better at this sort of thing than he was, and more than once had feelings of despair threatened to overwhelm the youngest Tracy son.

Just as Alan was about to give in and call John and beg for help, an incoming call from his father stopped his thoughts and Alan quickly answered:

"Reading you, Dad, how did it go?"

"It's worse than I thought, Sprout - I think the Hood blames Scott for what happened in Malaysia, plus I'm certain that he wants to ruin International Rescue's reputation for good, though he's saying it'll be a surprise? The man's a maniac; I don't know how we're going to predict his next moves." replied Jeff, sighing.

"How's Scotty?" asked Alan delicately.

"A bit beat up, but he's had worse. He kicked their camera over and ended the transmission, so he's still got fight in him. He's seems angry more than anything else."

"Sounds like our Scotty, though I bet they're not pleased with him interrupting their conference call with you." said Alan worriedly, biting his lip absent-mindedly.

"He'll be alright, Sprout, don't worry." reassured Jeff, though no one could deny the falseness behind his smile "How were John and Gords?"

"Gordon seemed pretty pissed at the entire thing - wanted to run off there and then, though I think John managed to control him. Better than I did, at least."

"Spoken to either of them since?" asked Jeff.

"Nope, not a word. I can check in with them now, if you want?"

"Do that... I'll call Virg, see what the situation is with the public. You going to be alright, Allie?"

Alan contemplated telling his father exactly how he was feeling - that he was scared, and worried, and most of all, he was lonely. Realising that his dad didn't need to be stressed about his youngest son as well as his oldest, Alan answered with a nod of the head before signing off.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Alan prayed that his two brothers that remained in the station were safe - he wasn't sure he could cope with much more.

"So tell me, what are two members of the famous International Rescue doing skulking around a place like this, hmm?" the man sneered, not lowering his gun.

John and Gordon had been shoved into the exact room they had seen the man before them in. He was now standing opposite them, the gun's aim alternating between the brothers. Unsure of how to answer, neither Tracy spoke which only managed to infuriate the man standing before them.

"Well?" he asked again, slightly more aggressively this time and taking a step forward, making a point to jab the end of the gun into Gordon's chest.

"Don't you already know the answer?" replied Gordon, not impressed with this new inconvenience that they had come across.

John inwardly groaned - this was not the time for Gordon to be a smartarse. The man scowled, as unappreciative of Gordon's lip as John was. Moreover, like John, the mysterious man felt that violence was the best way to stop Gordon when he ran his mouth, but unlike John, the man felt that a backhand with the butt of the gun was a sufficient form of violence to show his displeasure. John winced as the gun collided with his younger brother's face and he reached out and caught Gordon's arm to steady him as he let out a grunt and spat a mouthful of blood onto the stone floor.

"Perhaps someone needs to learn some respect," spat the man, glaring at the Gordon.

The man looked angry, but similarly to the Hood (in the video both he and Gordon had watched in the control room); he had a slightly unhinged air to him. His mousey brown hair was ruffled, sticking up in all angles, and he had reddish smears across his right cheek. Swallowing hard, John could only pray it wasn't what he thought it was, but John could only assume this man was one of the Hood's henchmen, like the ones that were present in the film with Scott and was likely to be a guilty party in the murders of the workers.

"We obviously came in response to a distress signal sent to International Rescue earlier today concerning a nuclear meltdown at this power station." replied John tonelessly.

"Maybe I should rephrase myself: why are you skulking around here? I thought... Didn't he...?" the man trailed off, frowning and seemingly losing interest in the two men in front of him as he thought to himself.

John and Gordon exchanged looks, shrugging - maybe the man was under the impression that all members of International Rescue had been caught by the Hood, rather than just Scott. Unexpectedly, the man turned away from them and brought out a walkie-talkie (to contact his boss, no doubt), and Gordon took this as his chance. Taking one last guilty look at John, he sprang forward, tackling the man to the floor from behind.

The man let out a furious shout, which was accompanied by John's yell of surprise. The man was taller than Gordon, but years of swimming had given him a far more solid build and a strength that was often forgotten about. Gordon managed to pin the man to the floor, but in the adrenaline-fuelled fight, he couldn't hear John yelling him a warning about the forgotten gun. The man grabbed it, and swung his arm in front of him again in one swift movement, and before Gordon could react, he had fired.

Seems I can't resist a good cliffhanger so apologies there! Let me know what you think!