Thunderbirds and the Tracy boys are the creation of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson

Chapter 36

Even despite his normally tanned face Jenna could see that Scott had paled somewhat, his eyes half closed and brow pulled into a deep furrow. "What is it Scott? Have you got a headache?" Jenna asked, her voice full of concern.

"Yeah, just started," he winced, as the pain began to build. The light now hurt his eyes and he felt that sickening dizziness. "Aaggh, Jen. I've gotta get outta here. I just wanna lie down," he pleaded, wishing he were lying down this minute in a darkened room. Mike had told him he would suffer headaches until everything settled down, he just wished that day would hurry up and come.

"I know," she said sympathetically, as she tried in vain to attract the boys attention. "Here, put these back on," Jenna added, pulling his shades down over his eyes to try and block out the evening sun.

Feeling tired too from all the activity, as well as the headache, Scott now leant against her so Jenna put her arm around him in an attempt to stop him slipping off the seat. She tried again to call to the boys at the far end of the pool but it was a futile gesture due to the boisterousness nature of their play. The dilemma for Jenna was, that although she needed to go and get the boys to help Scott out of the pool she couldn't leave him to go and get them for fear that Scott could well feel dizzy, loose his balance and slip into the water and if he fell face first he may not be able to right himself.

"Isn't that typical," Jenna continued, feeling her annoyance growing with every passing second. "When we want to be alone they won't let us and when we need them to be nosey they choose to be discreet," she said irritably, her voice rising sarcastically.

"Yeah. You've just gotta love 'em, haven't ya," Scott replied, wincing as he laughed at the irony of the situation.

Jenna cupped his face in her hand as he lay against her. "I'm sorry. I should have taken you in earlier," she apologised, giving him a weak, smile and feeling guilty.

"No….don't be," Scott insisted, not wanting her to feel guilty, "it would probably have happened anyway."

"And I did have a good time, I'm glad you persuaded me to come out," he added reassuringly.

Jenna kissed his forehead in a tender loving gesture. It was at that moment Alan looked down to where they were and grinned but quickly changed his mind when he caught Tin-Tin eyeing him crossly as if to say, 'Don't you dare Alan Tracy'. Thinking they were just being affectionate Alan decided against incurring Tin-Tin's wrath and went back to the serious business of dunking his brothers. Jenna tried again in vain, waving with her free hand, only to have Gordon wave back before he dived under.

"Don't you worry. I'll get you out of here even if I have to drag you out myself," she promised in such a determined tone that Scott found himself laughing despite the serious discomfort he was in. With Scott being a well-built, all muscle guy and tall, and Jenna being shorter, feminine, and with curves in all the right places, it meant that she would have been no match for Scott Tracy's dead weight out of the water but he loved her for even thinking of trying.

"Jen….I….f.e.e.l…," Scott started to say as he felt everything around him begin to spin. Unable to tell any longer which was the right way up with the blue of the pool merging with the blue of the sky, Scott slid from the pool seat as Jenna tried to hold on to him.

Knowing she wasn't going to be able to hold him she slipped into the water with him, making sure he was on his back and once in she placed his left arm across his chest. Putting her hand under his chin to keep his face out of the water Jenna gently floated him backwards to the steps, where she sat down, bringing his head to rest on her lap. As the evening sun was now almost behind her she bent over Scott to offer him some shade and also to see if he had come round, while she began to gently stroke his forehead in an effort to bring him some relief.

Surely now the boys would realise there was something was wrong she thought to herself. It was John who first noticed that they were no longer sitting on the pool seat, as he was the first one to break the surface from their game of who could hold their breath the longest. Ducking back under he gave his brothers a sign of 'a thumbs up' jabbing up and down to the surface motion, meaning for them to get topside double quick. They lost no time in joining John on the surface, knowing that he was not given to panic easily and wondering what the emergency could be.

"It's…Scott. I think…there's…something wrong," he gasped out, still trying to catch his breath. As the boys looked down to the far end of the pool they could, indeed, see there was something wrong; their eldest brother was floating limply in the water while Jenna cradled his head in her lap.

It was the quickest length of the pool they had ever done, in fact, Gordon probably broke his own Olympic record, arriving first on the scene with the others not far behind. Jenna was glad to see them, although she let them know she was far from happy about the length of time it took to attract their attention for which they could only apologise.

"What's wrong, Jen?" Virgil asked, the concern evident in his voice.

"He sparked a headache," she explained, trying to keep calm. "Then started to feel dizzy because I couldn't get him out to lie down," she added accusingly, her voice becoming mildly irritable. "And that's when he passed out and slid off the seat. I just couldn't get your attention," Jenna finished, letting them know how hard she tried.

"Yeah, we're sorry Jen. Guess we just got carried away," Virgil said, apologising on behalf of everyone, including Tin-Tin who had joined them.

On hearing all the concerned voices Scott flickered his eyes open, much to Jenna and everyone's relief. "It's OK buddy. We're gonna get you outta here," Virgil assured his brother.

Gently they lifted him, two at either side and carefully negotiated the steps with Jenna and Tin-Tin following on behind. They brought Scott over to the nearest sun bed where Jenna had already put a towel down and laid him on his right side, bringing a sunshade into position to protect his eyes. Jenna then asked Alan to go and get the anti-grav stretcher so they could take him inside, knowing he wouldn't be comfortable sitting in the wheelchair.

"Here, take some of these," she instructed, handing out towels, "and help me get him dried off." She tenderly dried his face and gently towelled off his hair and left arm as Gordon and Virgil did the rest, then Jenna covered him with his towelling robe while they waited for Alan to come back.

Wondering if they had left the pool, when no noise of shouting or splashing could be heard, Jeff wondered out onto the balcony to be met with the sight of everyone crowded around one of the sun beds. Being also shielded by the sunshade he could not make out the figure lying there but knew instinctively that it was Scott. Hoping it wasn't another serious setback he hurried down the staircase and across the pool terrace.

Jenna explained what happened, although she left out the part where she had tried several times to attract the boys attention, not wishing them to incur Jeff's wrath by laying any blame; an action which did not go unnoticed either by Scott or his brothers. It made him smile to think that she shared the same instinctive protectiveness towards his brothers as he did.

The look of displeasure and disapproval was now evident on Jeff's face as he suggested that, perhaps, his son had been kept out longer than he should have been and while knowing his sons tendencies to get carried away when they're in the pool, made it quite clear that Jenna was in charge and should have exercised her authority.

While still in some degree of discomfort from his headache Scott was not going to have his father blame her in any way, and told him so, feeling a great protective surge well up in him for her. Jeff could see Scott was adamant and decided not to pursue the matter any further, though he did wonder, seeing the way they looked at each other now, as though there were no one else in the world, just what the strength of their feelings were and should he interfere. It was a dilemma he was going to have to ponder; he was Scott's father but Scott was a grown man, well capable of making his own decisions and he was also Jenna's employer, having contracted her to look after his ill son.

Alan now re-appeared with the anti-grav stretcher, Scott was transferred, and as they prepared to head back indoors Jenna noticed, despite Jeff's disapproval, how tired he was looking.

"You should go and get some rest, Jeff," Jenna said gently, thinking that his tiredness was due to his worry about Scott. "He'll be OK once he gets a good nights sleep," she reassured him. Jeff was going to follow them in to the infirmary but Jenna told him there was no need and insisted that he go and have an early night, advice that he followed after his sons joined in with Jenna's recommendation.

It wasn't long before Jenna had Scott settled back into bed in the infirmary. Having darkened the window and given him some pain relief she sat with him, massaging his temples until he fell asleep. While Scott enjoyed a rare good night's sleep, Jenna's slumber was far from restful as she thought over the decision she had made.

After breakfast, which Scott was now managing quite well for himself, Jenna helped him into his robe, onto the shower chair and took him into the bathroom. As with the previous day, above the noise of running water, laughter could be heard, followed then by only the sound of the shower. Her next task was to help him with his shaving routine, to encourage him to be able to do it himself. This was all part of Daily Living Skills, things that most people take for granted but for Scott they were tasks he was having to learn to cope with, having only the use of one arm.

"Will you concentrate, Mr Tracy," Jenna said laughingly, trying to chide him with mock indignation but obviously to no avail. Concentration was not foremost in the mind of Scott Tracy when he was in a playful mood and this morning he was, all trace of his headache having long gone.

With the task eventually completed it wasn't long before Gordon, John and Alan arrived to take Scott to the gym, where he was going to begin work on strengthening exercises for his legs and right arm as well as continuing to have his left arm worked on.

"Virg not coming?" Scott asked, wondering where his brother was.

"He's just doing some calibrations on Thunderbirds Two's control panel," Gordon offered, "He'll probably be along when he's finished."

The boys got Scott into his workout gear, which they had brought from his room, a black, muscle-enhancing tank top and grey workout shorts. Jenna had to admit they suited him very well, now that she was getting used to seeing him dressed. The boys, too, were dressed in an assortment of gym wear to take the opportunity for a workout as well as help Scott with his exercises. Gordon had the same as Scott, a tank top, only in grey and black shorts, while Alan and John opted for blue sleeveless muscle t-shirts, John wearing grey sweat pants instead of shorts. As Scott was being helped on board Thunderbird 7, Gordon gestured.

"Wanna fly Tracy Airways again, Jen?" Gordon grinned, earning him a sharp look from Scott.

"Don't even think about it little brother," Scott threatened, half laughing but being deadly serious at the same time. "Or your life won't be worth spit when I'm back on my feet," he added with a degree of relish and a wicked glint in his eye.

"Noo……I think I'll give this flight a miss," Jenna said, giving him a wry grin and already heading for the door.

The gym, which was on the same ground level as the infirmary, was a large, spacious, air-conditioned room with showers and locker room attached and Jenna shouldn't have been surprised at how well equipped it was, after all, the Tracy's didn't do anything by halves. There was every conceivable piece of workout equipment imaginable, which was only sensible, for considering the job they did, these guys needed to keep themselves fit and they weren't exactly handy to the nearest local gym.

"You not going to join us, Jen?" Scott asked, with that mischievous, boyish grin of his, "I'm sure we could find you something to wear."

"Are you kidding? All that pumping iron, testosterone and sweat," she replied, playfully screwing up her nose but in truth, Jenna had other things on her mind, something she was going to attend to when she got Scott settled into his exercises. "Maybe next time," she remarked lightly, though Scott could sense that her mind was elsewhere.

Gordon and John helped Scott straddle the angled back bench with the leg strengthening bars and began by helping him do warm up exercises and stretches as well as rubbing his calf muscles and thighs to loosen him up, all under the watchful eye of Jenna. That done, he placed his legs underneath and behind the bars so that the top bar was across his thighs and his shins were tucked in behind the bottom one, providing the resistance with which to push against.

Jenna warned him to take it easy and not to be trying to do too much too soon as it was only his first day and she didn't want him to wind up with torn muscles. That first attempt to lift the bar with his legs proved painful and he couldn't raise it much, something which frustrated Scott enormously for he normally had no trouble powering his way through leg raises. Gordon lowered the resistance on the bars to make it easier for him and Scott soon found he was better able to do the leg raises, although they were only half way to what he would normally achieve.

Watching him now as he fully concentrated Jenna couldn't help but be proud of him, his face taut with determination and effort as his face and body glistened with a fine sheen of sweat. Scott glanced up to see her watching him. Seeing the pride and admiration in her face was giving him all the drive and motivation he needed to get himself fit, for there were a few workouts he wanted to do with her that had nothing whatsoever to do with exercising. Turning back to his efforts Scott dug deep into his inner reserves of courage and will power, determined to get back on his feet.

John and Alan settled into their workout routine as Gordon crossed to the door where Jenna now stood. "He's lookin' good," Gordon stated proudly of his eldest brother, knowing the effort rehabilitation took.

"Yeah, he is," Jenna agreed with a loving smile, though perhaps, her definition of 'lookin' good' was a little different to Gordon's. "Keep an eye out, would you, Gordon," she asked, nodding in Scott's direction. "Don't let him push himself too hard. There's something I've got to go and take care of," she continued, her voice that little bit more serious and her face becoming strained.

"Sure thing, Jen. No problem," Gordon assured her, noticing that her mind seemed to be elsewhere. "Say, are you all right Jen?" he asked concerned, for he really was very fond of her, almost like a big sister and Gordon knew deep down she really appreciated his sense of fun; her mischief almost matching his own.

"Yeah, I'm fine Gordon," Jenna said, smiling to reassure him and, being touched by his concern, she left the gym, unnoticed by Scott.

Jenna made her way to the upper level of the villa, rehearsing a speech to herself as she went up in the elevator. No matter what way she tried to say it, it wasn't going to make it any easier; the best thing, she thought, was to come right out and say it. How Jeff was going to take it she didn't know but she knew the matter had to be addressed and the sooner now the better. To leave it any longer was only going to make it harder and, maybe, more awkward, for she could sense Jeff's awkwardness at the pool last night when Scott spoke up for her.

It wasn't that she doubted her feelings, she knew exactly how she felt, but it was just putting it into words and getting it out into the open. Jenna now stood, slightly nervous and apprehensive, in front of Jefferson Tracy's office door. "Jeff, I feel there's something you should know," she repeated to herself. "No, that's not right," she argued inwardly. She started again. "Jeff, there's something I want to tell you." "Oh…damn, why is this so hard. Jenna, just come right out and say it," she told herself sternly and getting annoyed that she didn't know quite how to start.

She looked down at the floor, took a couple of deep breaths and drew herself up to her full height. Holding her breath briefly and wishing she felt more confident than she did, Jenna knocked the door.

"Come in," a rather gruff voice emanated from the room beyond.