The Tracy Boys and Thunderbirds are the creation of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson

Chapter 40

About a minute after Jenna had left the gym to go to Jeff's office a wager was started. "So, how long would you give him?" Alan asked John and Gordon as he nodded towards Scott. They looked towards their eldest brother who had his head down and was deep in concentration on his leg lifts.

"Why don't we make this a bit more interesting first," John replied, with a smile of intrigue on his face.

"Well, what've ya got in mind, Johnny boy," Gordon responded, ever ready to face a challenge.

John mused for a few seconds before a wicked smile played across his mouth while nodding his head. "OK…..losers get to do the next coolant change on the Mole," he grinned with satisfaction. The Mole was their underground rescue vehicle and had proved it's worth on more than one occasion, getting it's name from the fact that it literally burrowed into the ground like a mole. Because of the giant corkscrew apparatus, which made up the front of the Mole, a coolant liquid was constantly needed to flow over the internal gears to prevent them from overheating but this had to be changed every so often, depending on the amount of rescues it was involved in.

Gordon and Alan looked at each other with something that amounted to a look of distain as they screwed up their faces. "Aw no, Johnny. Not that…….anything but that," Gordon whinged, wishing he hadn't asked. The reason for their sudden lack of enthusiasm was because the coolant change on the Mole was the dirtiest and smelliest job on the hangar floor as regards the maintenance of the rescue vehicles.

"Yeah…come on, Johnny," Alan agreed, joining in the protest. "That stuff really stinks," he added, continuing to screw up his nose as if he could already smell it.

But John was unmoveable. "Challenge is a challenge, guys," he said smugly, continuing to grin with satisfaction. "Of course…if you guys want to wimp out," John baited them, knowing they would never live it down if they did.

"Hey….no one calls us wimps, that right Al," Gordon grinned, rising good-naturedly to the bait. "And no one says the Joker isn't up for a challenge," he added, prepared to accept John's terms.

"Yeah, that's right," Alan agreed, after all, they had a reputation to defend. Deciding that they were all willing to accept the terms they quietly slapped hands to seal the agreement, not wanting to draw any attention from Scott.

"So Al….what's your best guess then?" John said, giving him the first shot, seeing he had been the one who set the idea in motion. "How long are you going to give him?" he added, giving no more than a glance towards Scott.

Alan studied his eldest brother for a few moments, pulling his face into a frown before looking down at his watch. "Well, seeing as he's only started…..and…he looks to be going pretty good," Alan mused, as if studying the form of a thorough-bred race horse. "I'll give him….10 minutes," he said, oozing with confidence.

That brought an instant snort of laughter from Gordon, making Alan frown heavily, as though Gordon thought his guess way wide of the mark. "No way," Gordon said adamantly. "He'll never go that distance," he conjectured with complete assurance.

"OK..hot shot," John said, offering him the next go. "What's your best guess?"

Now it was Gordon's turn to study Scott for a few moments. Scott continued to work away at his leg lifts, unaware that he was the object of study, his face and body now covered in a fine sheen of sweat due to his efforts. His muscles strained as he took in a deep breath every time he raised the bar with his legs, blowing out the breath as he lowered them to begin the process again.

"I'll give him 5 minutes," Gordon stated quite confidently as he grinned at his two brothers, causing Alan to frown even more as Gordon's guess was half that of his. John laughed quietly, shaking his head, as though his guess was totally absurd. "All right, Johnny boy," Gordon added, a frown now creasing his face, miffed that John should dismiss his guess outright. "Give us your best shot," he said, challenging John to do better.

"Yeah, let's hear what you've to offer," Alan joined in, defying him to do any better.

John exuded quiet confidence and composure under the now seemingly hostile stares of his younger brothers for, after all, they were now playing for high stakes; no one, but no one wanted to do the coolant change on the Mole. More often than not a lot of bribes were offered when it came to that job!

John didn't even need to study Scott, which brought suspicious and perturbed looks from Gordon and Alan, making them think he knew something that they didn't. John smiled, as he looked at his watch, before stating confidently, "You kids know absolutely nothing. I'll give him another minute."

This brought looks of amazement from the two boys, followed by amused laughter. "Well, this should be interesting," Gordon grinned cockily, more than satisfied now that he would not be doing that job.

All the boys now looked at their watches and agreeing on a start time eagerly awaited the outcome. Scott continued deep in concentration still unaware he had become the subject of a bet. The seconds ticked by and the tension mounted. With 20 seconds to go Gordon and Alan's grins got bigger as they were sure John was going to be, at least, one of the losers but their grins faded when they observed that John was not in the least bit worried.

At almost 10 seconds, though, John was beginning to wonder. "Come on Scotty, don't let me down," he quietly urged to himself while still smiling, in order that his two younger brothers shouldn't see his apprehension. It would be painful to have to admit defeat to those two. At 10 seconds Gordon and Alan were now sure of John's imminent defeat and prepared to high five each other as they grinned cockily at their brother, then the stand-off would be between the two of them.

The tension became unbearable, most of all for John but then. Suddenly Scott stopped what he was doing, and looking around anxiously as he wiped his face with the towel that was around his neck, asked, "Where's Jen?"

"Phew," John sighed, letting out the breath he had been holding and thankful that his eldest brother hadn't let him down. With a self-assured, smug and very satisfied smile he now turned to his brothers who were pouting like spoilt children. "Told ya. You kids know absolutely nothing about the concept of true love," John said, revelling in his victory. "Just make sure you guys have a good shower before you come anywhere near me," he grimaced, screwing up his nose as if he was smelling the used coolant, unable to resist that parting shot.

As they walked to another piece of equipment, John gave Gordon a poke in the ribs to encourage him to answer Scott's question, as for some reason, Gordon's thoughts seem to have become distracted, probably due to the fact he had suffered a bitter defeat, much to John's delight.

"What…oh yeah….yeah Scott. Jen said she was just poppin out to do something. I'm sure she'll be back soon," Gordon reassured his brother who seemed to accept his answer.

Scott returned to his exercise, working slowly and methodically at raising his legs, his pace being a lot slower than it normally would be, but then, it was only his second day out of bed. After a while, John urged him to take a rest as he went to the fridge and brought back a bottle of water. He was about to hand it to Scott, absent-mindedly forgetting that he wouldn't be able to get the top of himself, not unless he put the bottle between his thighs to twist off the cap. Without drawing attention to the fact John screwed off the cap and handed the bottle to his brother. John had to smile as he watched him down the cooling liquid in almost one go as if he hadn't tasted water in a long time.

A painful memory suddenly flashed through John's mind, of the time when his eldest brother had been trapped in that mine for 2 days. It had been a hard time for all of them, anxiously waiting for news, but he couldn't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for Scott; not only trapped in the dark but to be left without water. They had been informed, when Virgil and the others had broken through, of how hot and dusty it had been down there so it was no surprise that Scott had been left delirious and with a raging thirst. How he had survived was anybody's guess and they could only put it down to his self-determination and sheer, stubborn willpower to see his family again. He remembered the look on his brother's face the first time he took a drink of water from a tall glass, looking at it as if it was the most precious thing on earth before closing his eyes as he downed it in one go.

"Thanks John, sure needed that, " Scott grinned at his brother, handing him back the empty bottle and wiping his face of sweat with the towel that was draped round his neck. He looked, once again, towards the door; expecting Jenna to come back in at any minute only to bite back the disappointment when she didn't appear, to which John could only smile to himself. "Say guys, help me off this thing and take me over to the 'speed ball'," he asked, wanting to have a go at one of his favourite pieces of equipment. He always used this to work off any aggression he felt building, especially after a bad rescue, rather than take it out on anybody else.

The 'speed ball' was a boxer's practice ball that hung suspended from a canopy, allowing you to get into a rhythm of striking the ball with your fists, first one and then the other until the action became one easy fluid movement, alternating between fists without stopping.

His brothers stopped what they were doing and looked at each other dubiously, knowing very well that Scott was only going to frustrate himself with not being able to use his two fists but who was going to tell him that! "Aw no Scott…not the ball. Please…not the ball," they groaned to themselves collectively, knowing it may well mean having to replace yet another ball due to the aggressive nature of his workouts, for the more frustrated he would get the harder he would thump it with his right fist. These balls, along with the mechanism by which they were attached were supposed to last a long time but they had lost count of how many they had had to replace in the last couple of years because of their brother.

"Come on, you guys……what's keepin' ya?" Scott called out impatiently, eager to try a workout now on his right arm.

Reluctantly, Gordon, Alan and John helped him off the bench, taking him over to the 'speed ball' in the corner of the gym. The ball, suspended from its canopy, had the ability to be lowered or lifted to a comfortable height depending on who was using it, which proved to be useful, as Scott could not as yet stand for the task. While Scott sat in Thunderbird 7, Gordon lowered the canopy to the correct level for him and retired to a safe distance.

Virgil now made his way down the hallway to the gym but before he ever got to the door he could hear a familiar thump, although it wasn't in the easy fluid motion that he was used to hearing it. Knowing his brothers were all adept at using 'the ball' and given Scott's current condition it could only mean one thing.

On entering the gym he was proved right, as Scott was sitting with his back to the door and thumping the ball for all he was worth. Virgil glanced at his brothers who could only give him raised eyebrows and shrugged shoulders as if to say 'He wanted to use it, what could we do'.

"So, how long's he been on that, then?" Virgil asked concerned, not wanting to think his brother was overdoing it.

"Bout 20 minutes now," Alan offered, looking at his watch.

"Hey, you haven't seen Jen anywhere, have ya, Virg?" Gordon asked, as if it were imperative she come back soon. "He's been goin' nuts looking for her…..keeps lookin' at the door," he added with a grin on his face.

Virgil smiled to himself, having been proved right again; he really did know his eldest brother so well. "Yeah, she went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee," he replied truthfully but he kept the rest of the details to himself as it was nobody's business but Jenna's, only that he had happened to be there by accident.

As if sensing that someone had come in, Scott stopped what he was doing and turned eagerly, smiling weakly when it turned out to be Virgil. Virgil crossed to where his brother sat and put an encouraging hand on his shoulder. "You're lookin' good there, Scott," he said warmly and proud of his brother's efforts, "Just don't overdo it, eh."

"Yeah sure," Scott replied half-heartedly. "Haven't seen Jen, have ya?" he added casually, trying to give the impression he was only asking out of curiosity, causing Virgil to purposefully hold back a grin.

"Yeah…..she's up in the kitchen, far's I know, having a cup of coffee. I'm sure she'll be back soon," Virgil answered, putting his mind at rest. Scott nodded an acknowledgement and went back to thumping the ball. Virgil then headed for the locker room to change and get stuck into his workout.

It was, indeed, frustrating for Scott trying to find any sort of rhythm on the 'speed ball' with only having one fist, although he could keep a good rhythm and pace going one-handed. Instead, he resorted to working out all the aggression that he had previously kept locked up since receiving his injury, this being the first chance he had got to do so, by thumping that ball as hard as he could against it's metal canopy.

Taking her last sip of coffee and listening to the last of Grandma's stories about the boys when they were younger Jenna thanked her as she rose from the table, taking her cup to the sink, rinsing it and placing it on the draining board. Grandma's stories were certainly entertaining and Jenna had found her heart lightened as she drank. Grandma had told her not to bother rinsing the cup but she had done it automatically without realising; living alone and having to do everything for yourself having made her totally independent. Smiling her goodbyes Jenna made her way to the gym. Reflecting on the decision she had just made she took in a deep breath and sighed as if drawing in a new life and exhaling her old one, mentally telling herself, 'Done and dusted'. Feeling more relaxed and content she continued on her way.

On nearing the gym, Jenna was met with the unfamiliar sound of what seemed like something being thumped hard against something metal. She frowned in puzzlement as she entered only to relax into a soft smile as she observed the source of all the noise. By now Scott was so absorbed in every ball exploding thump and grunting every time he struck it that he hadn't heard when Jenna finally did come into the gym.

She crossed to where John, Gordon and Alan were standing as Virgil powered away on an exercise bike beside them. "How long has he been at that?" Jenna asked curiously with an added touch of concern as she looked towards Scott. She understood now the remark Virgil had made earlier about Scott nearly taking the ball off it's housing.

John glanced at his watch. "About half an hour or so," he replied. "But I've made sure he's taken plenty of water and had rests," he said, quick to reassure her that they were keeping an eye on him.

"Boy, we're sure glad you came back, Jen," Gordon remarked in a mock serious tone, causing her to look at him in puzzled amusement.

"Yeah…. he's been goin nuts wondering where you were," Alan joined in with the same tone as his brother as if expecting that Scott would take it out on them if she didn't come back.

Jenna blushed slightly, smiling as she glanced briefly at Virgil who just grinned and raised his eyebrows as if saying, 'Told ya so'.

"Yeah, we even took a bet……," Alan laughed before he was sharply elbowed in the ribs by an apologetically smiling John. "Aaagghh," Alan winced, making Virgil suck in his breath, grimace and wonder just how stupid his youngest brother could actually be.

"You….you..bet on your brother missing me," Jenna fumed, looking around the rest of the guilty party. Virgil was so, so glad he had an airtight alibi for this one, now having stopped his exercise to watch. Alan took a few steps back towards the protection of John, who had inched his way to Gordon as they saw she was flexing her fingers into what looked suspiciously like a fist. In the end, though, Jenna just rolled her eyes and shook her head exasperatedly at their juvenile antics. "Who won, by the way," she asked caustically.

"Eh…that would be me," John volunteered, shifting nervously on his feet.

"So, how long did you give him?" she asked, unable to help being a little curious, while still maintaining a serious face for their benefit.

"A minute," John confessed rather sheepishly, much to Virgil's amusement. Even he was amazed at how little time it took.

Jenna shook her head as she now crossed to where Scott was still thumping at the ball, though she couldn't help but smile broadly to herself that he had missed her so much and in so little time of her leaving. Coming up behind him she put her hands on his shoulders. "Hey tiger, not so hard," she urged softly.