Thank you to everyone who responded to the last chapter, especially those I couldn't reply to directly: Whirlgirl, Lilyzinha, some french girl and Anon Ymus.
I think I've got some explaining to do... When I was writing 'Most Wanted' and Scott was hurt, I wondered if the story could really hold as much tension as I wanted it to, given that all my stories take place in the same timeline so people would know that I wouldn't really kill Scott. Well, of course I couldn't kill him - even though I did briefly consider it - but it got me thinking. I decided that the next story was going to be a death-fic, so then it was a question of deciding who would die. It came down to the Kyranos since I don't tend to do much with either of them. Tin-Tin's death would have the most impact on all the characters, not just Alan (those of you surprised that I was writing an Alan story can see why now) so in the end it had to be her. I wanted it to be as much of a shock to those reading as it was to the characters, hence the focus on the new base and the expansion of International Rescue rather than flagging it up as a tragedy right from the start.
Bee
Chapter Seven
For a long time the brothers just sat there, no one wanting to make the first move in the process of acknowledging Tin-Tin's death and dealing with the consequences. In the end, it was John's increasingly desperate pleas for information that got Scott moving. Forcing himself to get a grip, pushing his feelings aside in a way he'd never had to do before in all his years with the Air Force and International Rescue, he raised his watch to his face before hesitating and looking across to where his youngest brother sat beside the body of the girl he'd loved.
Alan was quiet now. Too quiet, Scott thought, though he couldn't face a repeat of his brother's initial outburst of grief. He lowered his wrist and shifted closer to Gordon.
"I need to tell Base," he murmured.
Gordon, white-faced and tense, nodded. He, too, looked across at Alan. "Not here," he whispered. "Al..."
"I know. I'll go back up. You'll be okay here?"
Scott hadn't thought it possible for his brother to look any more desolate, but Gordon managed it as he murmured, "I'd rather stay here forever than have to tell Kyrano."
It was a sentiment Scott echoed as he strapped himself into one of the harnesses they'd used to reach the reservoir.
Once he was back in the Mole, he took a deep breath and acknowledged his next-youngest brother.
"About time!" John snapped. He'd been going frantic ever since Virgil had called in with an incoherent account of Tin-Tin falling from the ladder. "How is she?"
For all he'd been preparing himself, Scott suddenly found that he couldn't say anything. He couldn't even look at his brother.
"Scott?" John's voice was little more than a whisper and he had to catch hold of the console in front of him in order to stop his legs from giving way. "No... Not Tin-Tin?"
"I'm sorry." Scott had a feeling he'd be saying - and hearing - that phrase a lot over the next few days. "It looks like she hit her head as she fell. She'd been underwater so long by the time Gordon pulled her out..."
"But surely you can do something?" John had found his voice again now and it rose sharply as he insisted that his brother must be mistaken. Tin-Tin couldn't be dead. She just couldn't.
"John... John! Stop it. She's gone. We did all we could but... It was no good."
John's face dipped out of view for a moment. Then he was back, clearly making an effort to hold himself together. John rarely showed emotion and Scott knew just how hard this had hit him.
"How's Alan?" the astronaut asked.
"How do you think?" Scott rubbed a hand over his face for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I need to let Base know."
John studied his brother for a moment, registering how utterly exhausted Scott looked, before coming to one of the hardest decisions of his life. "I'll tell them."
"No, Johnny, this is my job."
"Not this time. You've got enough to deal with down there. Get everyone home, Scott. I'll handle the rest."
Scott knew he should put up a fight. It wasn't just an eldest brother thing; he was the field commander, the one responsible for the well-being of the team. He should be the one to tell his father - to tell Tin-Tin's father.
But John was having none of it. Instructing his brother to take care of Alan, he signed off. Scott sighed, appreciating his brother's gesture but refusing to allow him to bear such a burden. Pressing the buttons which would put him through to Base, he raised his watch once more, only to find that it failed to respond.
"John..." Scott swallowed hard, realising what his brother had done. He didn't know if he was angry or relieved. He tried to picture the scene on Tracy Island right about now, but the image was far too painful. Making a conscious effort to push it out of his mind, he turned his attention to the matter of bringing Tin-Tin home.
John had only disconnected his link with Tracy Island, so Scott was able to contact Gordon and instruct him to send Virgil up. His middle brother was soon with him, swaying unsteadily as Scott undid the harness. He'd said nothing since they'd pronounced Tin-Tin dead and Scott knew that as the one who'd been with her at the end, Virgil was going to struggle to deal with what had happened.
"You okay?" Scott asked, snapping his fingers in his brother's face when Virgil just stared blankly at him, unsure whether he should be more worried about the shock or the concussion. "Virg?"
"Yeah." The word was barely audible but Scott was grateful for any response from his brother.
"Okay. Stay put."
Virgil didn't make any protest as Scott sat him down with his back against the wall, watching him anxiously for a moment before calling back down to Gordon. "I'm sending a harness down. Can you get Alan up next?"
Gordon did his best, but Alan refused to be parted from Tin-Tin. In the end, Scott had to go back down with a firm command to Virgil to stay right where he was. Virgil was still staring into space and Scott wasn't even sure his brother had heard him. He hated to leave him alone but his youngest brother needed him more.
No amount of persuasion would get through to Alan and in the end Scott and Gordon were forced to prise his hand away from Tin-Tin's. Scott decided to send the girl up next, figuring that it would be easier to get Alan up to join her than to make him leave her in the place where she'd died. He went up with her, making sure that the two winches started up at the same time, doing his best to stop the girl's limp body from swinging into the wall as she began her final journey home.
When they were all reunited at the top of the reservoir, Scott moved to pick Tin-Tin up but found himself pushed aside by Alan. Wordlessly he took her in his arms, then turned and started to walk. Gordon followed close behind, leaving Scott to pull Virgil to his feet and help his unsteady brother back to the Mole.
Until the first explosion - the one which had trapped Scott and Alan and injured Virgil - everything had been fine on Tracy Island. Jeff had asked Penny and Parker to join him as he waited for the Thunderbirds to land in Canada and the three discussed the plans for the expansion of International Rescue, with an occasional interruption as Jeff responded to a call from John or Scott. Grandma joined them just as Thunderbird Two approached the danger zone and, as her son turned his full attention to the rescue, she called to Kyrano to bring coffee, clearly pleased to finally have the opportunity to chat to Penny, who spent the next half an hour trying to find an excuse to make her escape. It wasn't that she disliked the old lady's company - far from it. The two of them usually got on well. Grandma loved to hear all about Penny's life back in England and the more scandalous the gossip, the better, as far as the old lady was concerned. But today, all she seemed to want to talk about was Simon Warrington-Farr and he was the last person Penny wanted to think about right now. She'd spent the past few months trying to push Scott Tracy out of her mind and Simon had certainly helped with that, even though she was well aware that his feelings for her were far stronger than hers for him. But of course, coming back to Tracy Island and seeing Scott had just brought back all her old feelings. She knew Grandma was no fool and she was painfully aware that the other woman could see right through her as she tried to speak enthusiastically about her forthcoming skiing trip with the English lord.
When the blast took place everyone was shaken. Penny did her best to pretend to be equally worried about everyone - Virgil, Tin-Tin and Alan as well as Scott - but she certainly hadn't deceived Grandma who, once she knew her grandsons were alive, sat back in satisfaction deciding that there was still hope. Of course, that feeling was only momentary as she learned that Virgil had been hurt and that Scott and Alan weren't faring so well after all. Patting Penny's hand gently, she caught her son's eye and made her way out to the kitchen where she found Kyrano searching through a cupboard.
"I'm afraid there's a problem," she told him, and he calmly put down the jar of spices he had in his hand and followed her back to the lounge.
Parker immediately got out of his chair, but Kyrano refused to take it, insisting that he was happier standing. The chauffeur was struck by his impassive manner whilst he listened to Tin-Tin's voice as she outlined her plan to blow a hole in the wall of the reservoir. He found himself glancing between Kyrano and Jeff Tracy, both fathers clearly concerned about their children and both doing their best not to show it. But only Kyrano seemed genuinely convinced that everything was going to be fine. Jeff was clearly on edge and his relief when Virgil seemed to be recovering was palpable.
When Tin-Tin set off the explosives early, a myriad of emotions passed over Jeff's face whilst Kyrano simply smiled, catching his friend's eye for a moment as Jeff told the girl off for her failure to follow procedure. Jeff nodded back at him, the hint of a smile appearing as he acknowledged Kyrano's unspoken suggestion that his boys would have done exactly the same thing.
When all seemed well and Scott and Alan were about to board the Mole, Kyrano informed them that he'd be getting back to work. "The boys will be hungry when they return," he commented, turning towards the kitchen.
"Kyrano," Jeff called.
"Yes, Mr Tracy?"
"She did well."
"Indeed. I am very proud of my daughter, as you are your sons."
With that he was gone, leaving the others to smile at what was, for Kyrano, an unusually effusive response.
Penny had just suggested to Parker that they make the most of their visit to Tracy Island and take a stroll along the beach, when Tin-Tin's voice came over the radio, frantically informing Gordon that the control room was about to fall in on her and Virgil.
"Should I get Kyrano?" Grandma asked, rising to her feet.
"Wait a moment," her son instructed, breaking into a smile as Tin-Tin berated Gordon before frowning again as she announced that the gantry was unstable and she didn't have much time to get herself and Virgil to safety.
"Good girl." Jeff let out the breath he'd been holding when Tin-Tin informed them that she and Virgil were safe. "You see," he said, turning to his mother. "Everything's fine. There was no need to worry Kyrano. That girl's-"
Then Virgil's voice came through, slurred and confused, yet with such an edge of panic that Jeff immediately shoved his chair away and jumped to his feet.
"M'hissus Tracy?" Parker moved to catch Grandma as she swayed.
"I'm alright, dear," Grandma told him, though she didn't let go of the tight grip she had on his hand. "Jeff, what's happening?"
"I don't know. John, what's going on?"
John's worried face appeared in place of his portrait. "Nothing from Tin-Tin or Virgil. The Mole's just breaking through. Scott will call us as soon as he knows anything."
"Kyrano?" Penny asked.
"I'll go." Jeff cast a last anxious look at the row of portraits on the wall before heading off to the kitchen. He'd been on the receiving end of bad news so many times when it came to his sons, but this was the first time he'd been the one who had to break it. Tin-Tin would be fine, he thought. His boys would make sure of that. Right now Alan was probably doing something stupidly heroic to save the day...
As he entered the kitchen, he froze. Kyrano was standing in the middle of the room and as Jeff watched, the bowl in his hand clattered to the floor, its contents spilling everywhere. The man didn't seem to notice.
"Kyrano?" Jeff took a step towards him and Kyrano registered his presence for the first time.
"Mr Tracy?" He looked down at the mess on the floor and blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry. For a moment I felt..."
"What?"
Kyrano hesitated. "I'm not sure." He looked at his employer. "Is something wrong?"
Jeff nodded. "Tin-Tin... she fell."
Kyrano nodded slowly. "I see. Yes, I understand now."
Jeff stared at him uncertainly. There were times he simply didn't understand his friend and this was one of them. How he could be so calm when his daughter was in desperate trouble he didn't know. "Come back to the lounge. There might be some news by now."
But it was another five minutes before John came through. He managed just a few words before stopping, swallowing hard before trying again.
Kyrano gently pushed Jeff away - the man had kept a strong hand on his shoulder all the way from the kitchen - and took a step towards John. "Do not distress yourself, Mister John," he said softly. "My Tin-Tin is gone."
He barely registered the gasp from Grandma or Penny's hurried instruction to Parker to catch the old lady before she fell, instead keeping his eyes locked on John's as the younger man nodded numbly.
"I'm so sorry, Kyrano," he said. "The guys did all they could but..."
"Sit down, Kyrano," Jeff said, guiding the man to the couch, trying to process what he'd just been told.
"Thank you." Kyrano sat down. Jeff's hand was back on his friend's shoulder but he didn't know what to say. All he could think about was that the thing he'd dreaded from the start, the loss of an International Rescue operative on a mission, had finally come to pass. But it wasn't one of his five sons who'd been lost, it was Kyrano's only child. It seemed so unfair, and yet, as much as he pitied the other man, the dominant emotion he felt right now was relief that his boys were safe - and he hated himself for it.
"Jeff?" Penny's voice was shaken and her eyes were tearful. "Your mother isn't well."
He looked across to where Grandma sat, her face grey and her breath coming in ragged bursts. He wanted to go to her, but the way he was shaking he thought his legs would probably give way the moment he stood up. He couldn't bring himself to leave Kyrano right now, anyway. "Call Brains," he said, then closed his eyes for a moment as he pictured the man's reaction to the news. He'd adored Tin-Tin - she'd probably been the only woman his own age he'd been able to hold a coherent conversation with. This was going to destroy him.
"I'll go," Penny said. "Parker, stay here."
Parker's "Yes, Milady," was lost as his voice cracked.
Scott's portrait flickered into life. His eyes met his father's for a moment, both taking in the other's shattered expression.
"We're ready to bring the Mole back up," he said, and the flat, shaken tone was one Jeff had never heard before. "Kyrano, I'm so sorry. We tried, really we did, but..."
"It was not your fault, Mister Scott. None of you are to blame yourselves."
"Thank you, Kyrano," Jeff muttered before raising his voice so that his son could hear him. "Come home, Scott."
FA-"
"But Mr Tracy, are there not other people awaiting rescue?"
Jeff stared at Kyrano. The man had just lost his daughter and he could still think of the mission? It had slipped Jeff's mind completely that there were other people relying on his boys to save them. Finally he turned back to Scott. His son's expression seemed to suggest that he, too, had forgotten about the other victims - and that the thought of continuing with the rescue wasn't appealing.
"I-I don't know. Virg doesn't look too well and Alan..."
"Please, Mister Scott. My daughter wanted to help those people. She should not die for nothing."
"We don't even know if they're still alive."
"But there may be a chance. You must take it."
"Can you do it, Scott?" Jeff wanted nothing more than to bring his sons home right now, but he couldn't bring himself to deny Kyrano this one request.
"I guess so. I'll talk to the guys."
"Thank you, Mister Scott." As Scott's vid-link shut down, Kyrano pushed Jeff's hand away and got to his feet.
"Kyrano?"
"I would like a moment to myself if you don't mind, Mr Tracy."
"Of course." Jeff didn't know what to say. Anyone else would be beside themselves with grief, maybe even blaming the person who'd set up the organisation which had ended up killing their child, but Kyrano was looking at him with nothing but sympathy.
"It is alright, Mr Tracy. Do not blame yourself. These things are meant to be."
And with that he was gone, making his way out onto the terrace that ran around the house.
Jeff turned his attention to his mother. She was crying now and he couldn't help feeling relieved. At least she no longer looked as if she was about to have a heart attack.
Then Scott was reporting in again. "Gordon's going to take the Mole down to the survivors - if there are any. I'll get the others back to Two."
"FAB, son. Thank you."
The news that the rescue was to continue hadn't gone down well. Gordon had accepted it easily enough, nodding tiredly and admitting that he too had forgotten about the men that Scott and Alan had been trying to free. "I guess we don't have a choice," he said. "But what about...?" He looked back at Alan, sitting on the floor beside Tin-Tin.
"One of us will have to stay with them," Scott said.
"You do it." There was real desperation in Gordon's voice. "I can't, Scott. I don't know what to say to him. He always used to say that I didn't understand about him and Tin-Tin, that all I ever did was tease him. You were the one he went to. And Virg needs you too. Please?"
"Okay," Scott sighed. "Let's get it over with, then."
Gordon prepared to return the Mole to Thunderbird Two as Scott, making a conscious effort to pull himself together, got out and headed back to Mobile Control, assuring the anxious scientists who had been waiting for news that everything was under control. He knew he didn't sound like his usual, calm, collected self, but he hoped his dishevelled appearance - his uniform was torn after his fall and he was covered in bruises and scrapes - would convince them that he'd had a tough time of it and was just reacting to that. He couldn't say a word about Tin-Tin, knowing that the authorities would insist on taking charge of the body. He stayed there long enough to give a brief progress report before heading back to the pod where Gordon was helping Virgil out of the Mole. Scott took over the task of supporting his brother, trying to get him to talk but with little success. He looked up as Alan, Tin-Tin in his arms once again, emerged from the Mole.
"Take care, Gords," Scott told his brother. The last thing he wanted was for them to be separated again, but he knew there was no choice. Gordon just nodded and headed back inside the Mole. A moment later the vehicle was on its way again and Scott turned his attention to getting the others up to sickbay.
The usual procedure when transporting a body was to place it in a body bag, but even the thought of that made Scott shudder. Instead he picked up a sheet, moving towards the bed where Alan had laid Tin-Tin, but as he made to draw it over her face his brother reached out and pushed him away. He said nothing, instead arranging the sheet neatly around her shoulders, before reaching under it to pull out her hand. Once again he clasped it in both of his, his eyes never leaving her face.
Virgil was just as still and silent as Alan, only managing the briefest of responses to Scott's questions, though at least his answers made sense. Scott thought he'd recover quickly - from the head injury at least. He picked up a penlight to check him out further, but when he realised that his hand was shaking so much that Virgil wouldn't have been able to follow his movements even if he wasn't concussed, he gave up. His brother was shivering and Scott wrapped a blanket around his shoulders before doing the same for Alan, realising that all three of them were still soaking wet. Turning the heat up higher he took a seat next to Virgil and prayed that Gordon would hurry up and make it back so they could finally be on their way.
In the end it took Gordon more than an hour to complete the rescue. The first group of men had been easy enough to pick up, but Kyrano had then insisted that he try to find the last set of victims, the ones they'd been convinced had no chance of survival. Gordon, backed up by Scott and John, had tried to argue this point, but Kyrano had been unusually forceful as he refused to allow him to give up. In the end, Jeff had put an end to the discussion, announcing that if Kyrano wanted the attempt to be made, Gordon should get on with it.
Gordon had thought the whole thing pointless. The fire was still raging in that part of the complex and the chances of finding any bodies, let alone survivors, was so slight as to be virtually nil. But if it helped Kyrano for him to try, he'd do it. Even so, the long journey down to the lowest levels of the complex had been one of the most miserable of his life. He'd never felt so lost and lonely, even though John kept in contact with him all the way there. He couldn't believe they'd lost Tin-Tin. How Alan would cope, he didn't know. In fact, he didn't know how any of them were going to get over it.
When he arrived at his destination and found that by some miracle two men were still alive - weak and exhausted to be sure, but alive all the same - he couldn't believe it. He just hoped the news would help Kyrano and give a little more meaning to his daughter's death.
He got the men into the Mole, handing out bottles of water and blankets, then turning back to lock the door. When one of the men began to complain bitterly about the long wait for rescue and the fact that International Rescue was clearly overrated if this was the best they could do, Gordon took a deep breath, reminded himself that the man had been in desperate fear for his life and had no idea what had happened to cause the delay. Then he snapped back at him anyway, informing him that if he didn't sit down and shut up he'd find himself thrown out of the Mole and left to fend for himself. Ignoring the surprised look he got in response, he returned to the pilot's seat and began the journey back up to the surface, saying nothing else, not even acknowledging the second man's attempts to apologise for his friend's comments.
It was a relief to kick the pair out and make his way back to Thunderbird Two. When he reached sickbay he was surprised to find Scott on his knees picking up various pieces of medical equipment that were scattered over the floor.
"What happened," he asked.
"Alan."
Gordon looked over at his youngest brother. He was still sitting beside Tin-Tin but the grip on her hand was loose now and he was slumped sideways in his seat, held in place by the safety straps.
"I should have left him alone," Scott said slowly. "But I was worried about Virgil and I wanted Alan to keep an eye on him during the flight home. I thought it might help him to have something else to think about. It took me ages to get him to focus on me, then just as I did, John told me you'd found survivors. He had a bit of a meltdown - kicked the trolley over, ranted about how unfair it was that those guys had survived when Tin-Tin didn't..." He grew silent for a moment and Gordon knew that Scott had been thinking exactly the same thing. He understood completely.
"Anyway, I got him calmed down," Scott said, trying to recover his usual air of capability. "Gave him some tea for the shock. I slipped a small dose of sedative in there in case he kicked off again during the flight."
"Good idea," Gordon agreed, having been worried about how he'd cope if anything happened whilst he was trying to fly.
"Virg will be okay, I think," Scott continued, glancing over towards their middle brother. "He knows he's got to stay awake. Johnny and Dad are going to keep him talking. How about you, Gords? You alright?"
"No," Gordon admitted. "You?"
Scott didn't answer. "Come on," he finally said. "Let's get going. I'll pace you back."
Gordon nodded. "Yeah. I'll step on it. We shouldn't make Kyrano wait any longer than he has to." He didn't realise he hadn't moved, that he was still staring at Tin-Tin's body, until Scott's hand on his shoulder roused him.
"Come on," Scott said softly. "Let's take her home."