Thunderbirds and the Tracy boys remain the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Chapter 6
Scott had been slipping in and out of consciousness but thankfully had suffered no more seizures. When Mike and Jenna entered the theatre with Jeff and Virgil he had just begun to stir again, groaning, mumbling with his breathing laboured, though by now Brains had an oxygen mask in place. That had been Jenna's first impression of Scott Tracy as she saw him tossing and straining against his straps, like some wild animal needing to be restrained. Her heart went out to him. Gordon had been doing his best to keep Scott comfortable and now withdrew to allow his father to be with him as Mike began his examination.
As Gordon came across to where Jenna and Virgil stood, Jenna introduced herself and after she had reassured the two boys that their brother was in the best possible hands she asked them what Scott's favourite music was. Virgil and Gordon gave her a blank look. It seemed such a trivial question in relation to the tense and emotional circumstances. She could see what they were thinking and went on to explain. Mike, like most surgeons, liked to play music in the theatre while he operated. Said it helped him relax and created a happy atmosphere. "I thought, seeing we were here, that it would be a good idea to play some of Scott's music; to give him something familiar to listen too, make him feel safe," she said softly. "So, what's his favourite music?"
Gordon and Virgil smiled, appreciating her thoughtfulness. "I'll go and get one of his CD's now," Gordon offered.
"Just make sure it's something soothing and relaxing," she laughed gently. "We can't afford to make Mike grumpy."
Gordon grinned as he headed for the door. On his way out of the infirmary he almost bumped into Alan who was rushing down to see how things were progressing, after having landed TB1. Wanting to know where he was off to in such a rush, Gordon explained. "I'll come with you," Alan offered and then unable to resist the temptation, he added. "Sure we can't swap one of our CD's?" he grinned.
Mike finished his examination to withdraw into a consultation with Brains and Jeff, discussing the procedure that would follow and any possible problems that might occur.
Jenna took this as her opportunity to introduce herself to her patient at last. As she came over to where he lay, she did not expect the feelings that almost threatened to overwhelm her as she gazed down on him. He seemed to stir in her a deep, primal instinct to protect and comfort that, which is helpless, injured and unable to look after itself. The feelings disturbed her; he disturbed her. He was touching a part of her heart she had kept closed to protect herself. She had nursed quite a few handsome, young men before but none had ever made her feel like this. She had to push those feelings aside; she had a job to do, she told herself.
He heard familiar voices; they were the only things that made him feel safe in this nightmare, though, now he heard another voice. It was one he didn't know but it was soothing, relaxing and reassuring, dripping all over him like warm, sweet honey. He turned to the source of the voice, though, try as he might he just couldn't focus his eyes; couldn't see her face, just a blurred shape.
She bent her face to his, gazing into intense cobalt blue eyes and talked to him softly; all the time reassuring him while stroking the back of his hand. One thing Jenna had learned over the years was that patients felt reassured by touch and this she did automatically in an effort to comfort. "Hi, I'm Jenna," she said softly. "We're going to send you to sleep in a little while. Your father and your brothers will be here when you wake up and I'm going to take care of you."
He continued to watch her, trying hard to focus and then he felt that awful sensation begin to take over his body, a feeling he couldn't control. His eyes went wide in momentary panic.
Jenna recognised the signs and noticing that Virgil was holding his brother's hand, spoke. "I would let go of his hand now, if I were you Virgil," she warned. "He won't mean to but he could crush your hand when he goes into spasm." Virgil complied immediately and within moments Scott went rigid with spasm, then his body started to tremble and shake. She cradled his face in her hands, making him watch her; while she kept assuring him it wouldn't last long. Thankfully, it didn't.
Periodically, Jeff had been watching her, gauging this young woman's attitude towards his son; after all, he had entrusted Scott's care to her completely. He couldn't fail to notice how tenderly she treated him.
"We need to get started," Mike ordered but with a measure of sympathy. "Will you get Scott ready please, Jenna?"
"Yeah sure, Mike," she replied, then turning to Virgil. "If you and your brothers want to say anything to Scott, then now is the time to do it and please, only a few moments," she pleaded. Virgil nodded; then went to get his younger brothers from next door. Jenna took the syringe with the muscle relaxant and injected it into the cannula in the back of Scott's hand; that Brains had inserted earlier. "This will help you to relax," she told Scott. It would also make it easier on his brothers and father, not having to watch him toss and turn. Within moments he was completely relaxed.
Virgil brought Gordon and Alan in. They each said a few words to their brother while Jenna stayed discreetly in the background; then Gordon handed her the CD as he ushered Alan back out to the infirmary. Jeff, too, had a few words with his son, gripping his hand as he spoke to him.
Jenna asked Jeff and Virgil if they would rather not leave now as she feared they might find this next part upsetting but Jeff was adamant he would stay as long as possible. Virgil wanted to stay to support his father and be with his brother. Jenna glanced at Mike; who nodded it was OK.
"All right, Brains; let's take him down," Mike said firmly. Brains keyed in a code on the control panel in front of him, placed the mask on Scott's face and his eyes flickered shut. He was going into deep sleep.
"OK. Hold him there," Mike asked. Mike tilted Scott's head back, inserted the metal device to keep his tongue depressed and put in the venting tube; which he then connected to the ventilator. "All right, take him all the way down now, Brains," Mike told him. Eventually Scott stopped breathing due to the deep sleep he was in and at that point Mike switched on the ventilator. The machine took over his breathing causing his chest to rise and fall in a steady rhythm.
Jenna asked them again if they wanted too stay as she now had to prepare his head for surgery. "We'll stay," Jeff nodded. She took the shaver and cut a swathe through his thick, dark hair. It fell to the floor. When she had finished shaving the area that Mike needed she turned to Jeff and Virgil. Putting her hand on Jeff's arm she said gently, "You really will have to go now. Mike's ready to start."
Before he left, Jeff crossed to where his eldest son lay; bent down and picked up a handful of his hair, clenching it in his fist as if he needed something tangible to hold on to. He kissed his forehead and then with Virgil's hand on his shoulder, they left.
