Thunderbirds and the Tracy Boys are the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Thanks again for all your kind reviews and I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Thank you again to my Technical Advisor, Fellowriverrat, for supplying me with the necessary information to make this story more realistic.
Chapter 22
Scott woke early next morning as Jenna came into the room towel drying her hair. She looked great just out of the shower, he thought.
"Well, we'd better get you over again and sitting up," she smiled. "Did you have a comfortable night?" Jenna asked as she got him into position again to turn him over. He indicated that he had so she didn't mention the fact that he had appeared restless yet again, only this time he was moaning softly in his sleep. Once upright Jenna did a check on all his vital statistics and smiled approvingly. "I've got good news for you, Scott," she said encouragingly. "Your vitals are stable so you can say goodbye to all of these," Jenna added, indicating the drips "though I do want to keep in a Heparin Lock, if I need to give you something for anymore headaches."
She explained to him what it was. A Heparin Lock was a special IV cannula, which allowed for medication to be introduced but yet was free from the tube connecting it to the saline bag. It allowed a patient to be mobile and free from an IV pole. Jenna then carefully and gently removed the unnecessary catheters, swabbed and dressed the injection sites.
"There you are, one more step on your road to recovery," she said brightly.
He felt good, finally knowing he was no longer hooked up; now, at least, he could try to get this arm back to normal. "Thanks Jen," Scott sighed gratefully as he flexed the fingers and hand of his still aching right arm. "Now what about this," he continued, indicating his feed tube.
"I guess I could take that out later for you," she replied "but I'll put one more bag through and we'll call it quits. Then you can have some real food," she added with a wry grin.
"Yeah, just make that one big, juicy steak, medium rare, with all the trimmings," he drooled, making his mouth water at the very thought of it.
Jenna laughed, "Hey, not so fast." "There'll be no steak for you yet," she said, feeling sorry for him. "Not unless I liquidize it first," she added with a wry grin "but I'm sure Grandma or Kyrano can fix you something tasty." The thought of liquidized steak made him screw up his face, which Jenna thought gave him a certain added charm and appeal.
Talking to him as she filled in his chart with the updated information, Jenna wondered why he hadn't answered. Looking up, she broke into a smile; he had fallen asleep again, so gently, she tipped his head back onto the pillows and lowered the bed slightly.
Not long after Jeff paid his usual morning visit and was pleased to see that his son had been disconnected from the IV drips, knowing that this was a good sign of progress. However, a frown clouded his face as he once again studied Scott's chart at the end of the bed. "I see Scott's still been having restless nights," he observed.
"Like I told you before, Jeff, it's nothing to worry about," Jenna assured him, although she could see that this was obviously bothering him.
"Jenna, I want to know, has Scott been dreaming?" he asked out of the blue, taking her totally unaware. The reason Jeff had asked was because he knew his son was prone to bad dreams and had often heard him calling out in the night. Once he had occasion to enter Scott's room to find his eldest son soaked in sweat, reliving a particularly bad dream; all of these dreams, of course, related to International Rescue.
"Jeff," she started to say, trying to gather her thoughts. "You know I can't tell you that."
"I need to know, has he been talking in his sleep?" Jeff insisted.
"I'm sorry, Jeff but I can't tell you that either. You must know that," Jenna replied with a calm efficiency but she knew now exactly what he was worried about; the problem being, she couldn't allay those worries for him without betraying patient confidentiality and that she was not prepared to do.
Jeff was well aware of patient confidentiality but felt that his need to know overrode any such protocol. "Jenna, I realise I'm putting you in an awkward position," Jeff tried reasoning. " But Scott is my son," he added a bit more firmly as if that would give credence to his argument.
"Yes, you are Jeff," Jenna answered, trying to keep a cool professionalism "and Scott is my patient." "Why is it," she thought angrily to herself "that he feels he has a right to keep his confidentiality in tact and expects me to give up mine. Men!" "Men in power think they can have one rule for them and another for everybody else," she continued to think.
I'm his father, Jenna and this is my home," Jeff argued as if trying to remind her of where she was.
"I'm well aware of that Jeff," she continued courteously although she could feel her hackles rising; she could feel he was trying to intimidate her. "But did you or did you not put me in charge of Scott's care?" Jenna asked, giving Jeff a cool glare.
"Yes, I did," he answered warily, wondering where this argument was going.
"Then, while Scott is my patient I am in charge here," Jenna replied determinedly "and I am not prepared to discuss with you anything other than your son's medical treatment."
After the initial shock of having been stood up to, especially in his own home, by this determined young woman Jeff broke into a defeated smile. "I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything less from you, young lady," he said admiringly.
If there was one thing he admired it was someone who carried out their duties with the utmost professionalism; that he could relate to with his career in NASA. The fact that she had not backed down, despite who he was, Jeff Tracy, billionaire, impressed him greatly; she had spirit, he would give her that. Another thought struck him, an almost scary thought, how alike she and his son were; determined, strong-willed and once she had dug her heels in there was no moving her. As he looked at his sleeping son he found himself thinking that Scott could do a lot worse than to have this young lady in his life and he realised that he would not be totally opposed to the idea. He had seen the compassionate way in which Jenna cared for his eldest son and wondered just how much of it was utter professionalism and how much might be personal. All he had ever wanted for his son, for all of his sons, was that they would be happy and if Scott thought he could find happiness with this attractive young woman then he knew he would not stand in his way.
Jenna relaxed a little. "Jeff, you have absolutely nothing to worry about," she responded reassuringly.
Just at that moment Tin-Tin came into the infirmary with her breakfast and informed Jeff that Grandma had his breakfast waiting for him up in the kitchen. A short time later as Jenna was finishing her breakfast, Virgil came in with what looked like a few letters or cards. He, too, was pleased that his brother was showing signs of progress when he saw that Scott was disconnected.
"Sleeping beauty not awake yet," he joked, looking over to his brother.
Before Jenna could answer. "I heard that," a sleepy voice sounded from the bed. "That you Virg, what've you got there?" he asked; now more awake and noticing he was holding something in his hand. Jenna raised the bed for him to get a better look as Virgil came over and sat down beside the bed.
"Oh, these came for you this morning," Virgil told him, giving him the envelopes into his right hand. "They came in the mail plane," he added.
Scott was intrigued, who knew he was ill, he wondered. He raised his right hand and tried to focus to see if he recognised the writing but the effort of holding his arm up became too much so he asked Virgil to open them. On opening the first one, Virgil smiled.
"Hey, it's from the guys at Tracy Aerospace," Virgil said, "The guys you're working with on that new prototype."
Scott smiled warmly, "Yeah, they're a good bunch of guys." "But how did they know?" he asked, slightly perplexed.
"Well, Dad told them you had an accident. He had to tell them something when he knew you weren't gonna be there for a while," Virgil explained carefully, mindful of his earlier emotional distress.
"I guess," Scott agreed; his absence would have to be explained somehow since he had been so closely involved in the whole project. He glanced momentarily at Jenna who returned his look, unnoticed by Virgil.
There were other cards of well wishes from the Executives and other personnel; Scott Tracy was a well-liked and respected person at Tracy Aerospace. One more card was left and on opening it Virgil burst out laughing causing Scott to frown and wonder who it could be from.
"Here, I think you'll want to have a look at this, Jen," Virgil said, most amused, handing the card to Jenna.
A grin spread across her face as she looked, first at Virgil, then at Scott who could barely contain his curiosity. "Well, who's it from?" he wanted to know.
"Seems like you're a very popular guy, Mr Tracy," Jenna beamed as she showed him the card.
Scott groaned while going various shades of red. The card was from the Secretarial Pool; on it, as well as various messages, there were kisses, hugs and numerous lipstick kisses. One message read 'I'll be your nurse any day'. Yes, it seemed like Scott Tracy was well liked and well fancied among the secretaries at Tracy Aerospace!
Virgil took his leave, saying he had chores to do, telling Scott that he and his brothers were dividing his chores among them, giving Scott a knowing look.
"We'll see you guys this afternoon, then," Jenna smiled, giving Scott a knowing look.
The rest of the morning followed it's normal routine with Scott enduring his 'sweet agony' and exercises. Before long, the door-com sounded. "They're here," she grinned, looking at Scott who, remarkably, all of a sudden, appeared to be asleep. Beaconing them in they could see Scott was 'sleeping' and thought maybe they should go and come back when he was awake.
"Oh, but boys, I could do with the company," Jenna simpered in her sweetest voice. "Stay, please," she begged, "Do you want some coffee? I'll make you some."
(Author's Note: OK Jen, just what are you up to. The last time you asked them did they want coffee you made them get it themselves. Maybe I should tell the boys to leave now while they can.)
