Thunderbirds and The Tracy Family are the creation and brainchild of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson
Author's Note: Some sexual content.
Chapter 49
Virgil wandered through into the kitchen, wondering what he could snack up on, as he was still feeling peckish, even though they'd had a good meal some hours earlier. He became slightly alarmed, however, when he found his grandma busy beavering away with what looked like a tray of supper. Since everyone had eaten well at dinnertime and those who had wanted supper had already had something he could only surmise where the tray was headed for.
If, as he had hoped, Scott was finally getting around to talking to Jenna and telling her how he felt, then, knowing his brother, he guessed Scott would not want to be disturbed or even be hungry….well…not for food anyway. He couldn't blame Scott either; if he had fallen heavily in love and she with him and they had constantly been denied privacy, he would be feelin' kinda frustrated at not being able to express that love to it's fullest extent but, of course, this was all supposition. Scott may not be talking to her at all about his feelings and may even still be asleep, being exhausted from the emotion of the day, though, judging from the way his brother was watching her before he fell asleep, he had a pretty good idea that this would be his moment. Either way, he guessed Scott would not relish being disturbed.
"Didn't you get enough at dinnertime, Grandma?" Virgil quipped in a light-hearted manner in an effort to find out the tray's destination.
"Oh don't be silly Virgil….of course I did. Why…this isn't for me…it's for that grandson of mine and that young lady," she quickly retorted with an air of exasperation, Virgil's attempt at subtle humour being lost on her. "They didn't eat at dinnertime, you know…and that young lady needs to keep her strength up. Looking after you boys when you're sick is no easy job, I can tell you. And as for that grandson of mine...why...he's just lookin' so peaky this days. He needs a real good feedin' up, Virgil…and I'm going to see he gets it. That boy always did have a good appetite..and now…why…he's hardly eating anything at all," Grandma stated in no uncertain terms that meant, 'I am not to be trifled with, young man'.
Oh, oh…this was not looking good; this spelt trouble as far as Virgil was concerned. When his grandma was in this mood she was rarely to be shifted from her course of action and that meant this tray was going to be delivered to the infirmary whether it's occupants wanted it or not. He couldn't help but smile though, at his grandma's insistence that they should still be referred to as boys, even though they were full-grown men; he knew she would always think of them as such and he actually found it quite a comforting thought. He could also tell that she was desperately worried about Scott's leaner appearance and knew that she felt it was her duty and responsibility to 'fatten him up' again.
Sometimes it was easy to forget that, of course, Grandma would be just as worried about her eldest grandson as the rest of them. It was her motherly cuddles and advice along with Scott always having been there for them as kids that had gotten them through their early years and she always had a special place in her heart for her eldest at having so much responsibility heaped upon him at such a tender age. Not that she didn't love them all in equal measure but for Scott she always tried to make things that bit easier for him and deservedly so; they never minded that he usually got the biggest helping of apple pie….well…not always.
"Well..he's been ill, Grandma and that tube thingy that was feedin' him….he's only recently got that out," Virgil said gently by way of explanation to allay her worries. "He just needs a bit of time, that's all. He'll get his appetite back, you'll see…..and then he'll be eatin' us outta house and home," he added laughingly as he reassured her.
A sunny smile lit the elderly lady's 'long lived-in' features, causing Virgil to momentarily forget that he needed a delaying tactic, until, that is, she set about her task with even more gusto than before.
"Well then…all the more reason for me to get some good home cookin' into that boy. Virgil…be a good boy and get me that apple pie out of the oven….it should be ready. Why…that's his favourite…I made it special…just the way he likes it," she continued with fresh enthusiasm, making Virgil groan inwardly. It seems that instead of gently suggesting Scott might not want anything to eat right now he had only succeeded in convincing her of the opposite and that the sooner she tempted him with his favourite food the quicker his appetite would return.
"You know, Grandma, Scott's probably still sleeping. He was that tired…after this afternoon," he suggested, trying his hardest to dissuade her from her task. "Why…he even fell asleep right in front of us, he was that tired," he added, further trying to convince her, then screwing up his face and shaking his head as he realised he was turning into his grandma, adopting the same expression and tone of voice she always used. Well, Scott could still be sleeping, for all he knew, so he didn't feel too bad in thinking he had told his grandma a fib.
"Virgil Tracy! Why….you think I'm just a silly old woman. That I don't know what you're trying to tell me…you're trying to tell me that my eldest grandson won't like what I've made for him," she said as her face crumpled into a hurt expression.
Virgil paled visibly; he would never do anything to hurt his beloved grandma and found himself becoming flustered as he tried to back-pedal in an effort to undo the suggestion he felt he had created in her mind. "Oh no..Grandma…I...I didn't..mean that at all. It's…just that..eh…well…no, of course Scott loves your cookin' Grandma." Grandma Tracy eyed him warily; her mouth set tight-lipped in her stony little face, daring him to say something to the contrary. "He'll love what you made for him…you know he never could resist your apple pie…," he continued but before he could offer any more reasons for her not to take it down just now.
"Why…that's just what I thought, Virgil. I knew you'd agree with me that that boy needs feedin'…and needs feedin' now," Grandma stated, all vestige of her 'hurt' having miraculously disappeared in an instant, to be replaced by a look of smug satisfaction, leaving Virgil with the distinct feeling that somehow all this had suddenly become his idea.
Scratching his head he mentally reminded himself, "Virg, remember never to play poker with this wily old bird." He shuddered at the sudden image that flashed through his mind; that of his dear, sweet, little old grandma, visor shading her eyes, with a ciggy hanging out of the corner of her mouth and expertly shuffling and dealing cards like some card sharp in a game of 5-stud poker. He was brought back suddenly from his horrific reverie by a sharp smack on the arm with a wooden spoon.
"Why..don't just stand there Virgil…go get that pie out of the oven and help me get this ready. Those two young people are going to be starving down there," she ordered with all the authority and air of one who is used to having her orders obeyed. "Why….I bet he'll be sitting up begging for more," she added confidently.
"Yes Grandma," Virgil answered in defeat with all the air of one who has no choice but to obey. As he retrieved the pie from the oven, though, he couldn't help grin to himself. "Given what Jenna has to offer over this…I'll say he'll be sittin' up beggin' for more."
Before Virgil could think straight, Grandma Tracy had loaded up the tray and was already heading out the door. Doing the only thing now he could think of, he raced after her. "Whoa Grandma…..that tray's far too heavy for you to carry….here…let me…I'll take it down to them," Virgil offered, knowing that, at least, he could give them some warning he was coming.
Not taking the tray down was not an option as Grandma was more than likely to ask them how they enjoyed their meal; besides, it would be a shame to waste all that food she had so lovingly prepared. He had thought of it but then, what would he do with the food? Well…he knew of two 'bottomless pits' that would eat anything and always had room for more but then, he would have to explain why he was not taking Grandma's tray down to Scott and Jenna, and, of course, he couldn't be sure they were talking. Even if they weren't talking, he was fairly sure they would be making full use of every available private moment they did have to be as intimate as possible. No, the only way he could see, was to warn them first and then take his time bringing it down, especially as his grandma was now standing in the doorway, with her arms folded and watching him suspiciously, as though she expected him to scoff it all himself.
As Virgil was walking through the lounge Jeff Tracy looked up from where he was reading the evening paper and sniffed the air. "Smells like Grandma's special apple pie. I take it that's for Scott and Jenna," he remarked, to which Virgil gave a forced smile and an obligatory 'Uh huh'. "Well…if there's any left over…you know where I am," he grinned, never one to pass up his mother's favourite recipe.
Maybe this was an opportunity to divest himself of the tray he had suddenly found he was in charge of, for after all, if his father felt he could eat a bit more who was he to argue. "You know Dad…I'm sure Scott and Jen wouldn't mind if you had some now and Scott might be sleeping anyway….he was pretty tired after this afternoon," Virgil offered casually, lowering the tray to let his father see the tempting delicacies. He could see his father was on the verge of acceptance when Jeff Tracy quickly pulled back, feigning total disinterest.
"No…eh..better not….ahmm…perhaps you should…eh…take it down to Scott," Jeff coughed, going back to reading his paper.
Frowning in puzzlement, Virgil had wondered what had caused his father's sudden change of heart, knowing he had been about to cave in to the temptation. Jefferson Tracy had been about to reach out his hand for a piece of pie when he had glanced in the direction of the kitchen to see the diminutive form of his mother giving him the 'evil eye', as though chiding him for taking the very food out of his son's mouth. Virgil stiffened and winced, receiving his answer, as the shrill voice cut across the lounge.
"Virgil 'Gus' Grissom Tracy….whatever are you still doing here. Why haven't you taken that down yet? Do you want your brother to starve? Grandma called out, obviously irritated.
He hated it when Grandma called him by his full title, only doing so to show her displeasure. Virgil forced a smile as he turned and called back, "Just going, Grandma."
As he turned to leave his father chuckled from behind the newspaper, not daring to let his mother see him. Even though he had been proud to name his sons after the famous astronauts of the Mercury Missions of the early 1960's it was never his intention that they should be addressed by their full titles on a day-to-day basis. "Looks like Scott's gonna have to eat whether he's sleeping or not," Jeff remarked, still chuckling at the effect one small lady could have on a house full of grown men, men who were used to having their orders carried out.
Once in the hallway, Virgil looked around furtively, as though on a top-secret mission for which he didn't want to be discovered. Tentatively he set the tray on the floor while still on the alert for that shrill sounding voice, and, poised in front of the comm-link he cleared his throat, mentally going over the explanation he was going to give for disturbing them. Should he apologise straight away for disturbing them, giving rise to the fact that he feels they must be 'up to something' for which he is intruding, or, go on the presumption that Scott is sleeping and he's sorry for waking him. The latter sounded the better option and less embarrassing, perhaps.
Straightening himself and flexing his shoulders Virgil, once more, cleared his throat and punched in the access code to the infirmary. "Hi..Jen….ah…it's Virgil…em…look I..a..I know Scott's probably sleeping…em…but I thought you should know…Grandma's insisted on having a supper tray sent down to you guys…em…and you know what she's like when she insists," he apologised with a nervous laugh and not at all expecting a reply. "She was going to bring it herself but I told her I would bring it….thought you might…em…appreciate a little warning….get Scott wakened!" he added lamely and knowing he should quit while he was ahead, feeling that the more he talked the more he was digging himself into a hole. "Well…I'll be down shortly," he finished and with much relief at feeling he had done his duty he closed the link.
On bending down to retrieve the tray, he nearly jumped out of his skin at the shrill, cross voice that pierced his ears. With heart pounding and taking deep breaths, Virgil straightened himself up and turned to see his diminutive grandmother eyeing him suspiciously.
"Why…Virgil Tracy…what..are you still doing here? Haven't you gotten that tray down to your brother and that young lady yet? Why…they're not going to thank you for cold supper…now are they?" she went on crossly.
"Why..they're not gonna thank me for any supper…full stop," Virgil muttered under his breath through the gritted teeth of a forced grin.
"What's that you say, Virgil? Haven't I told you boys to speak clearly and not mumble your words," Grandma complained.
"Oh nothing, Grandma," he quickly replied. "Just feelin' a bit stiff…that's all," he added by way of explanation for the tray having been set on the floor. Virgil made a show of rotating and flexing his shoulders to emphasize the point.
"My, my…you young people these days….just don't know what a good day's work is all about," she grumbled and shook her head, causing Virgil to smile with much affection. She made to take a step towards the tray. "Why…I guess I'll just have to take it myself," she said exasperatedly.
Virgil hastily bent down and picked up the tray. "No need, Grandma….I'm fine now…I'm right on it," he assured her and bending down, kissed the top of her head.
"Well…..just see that you are, Virgil 'Gus' Grissom Tracy. And you needn't think you're going to get round me that easily," she grumbled in a spiky tone, though smiling to herself at his affectionate gesture, feeling it was her place to keep her grandsons on their toes.
Again Virgil winced and cringed at his full title but smiled politely as he turned and headed off down the hall, having the uncomfortable feeling that beady eyes were boring into his back, watching his progress. He relaxed and let out a sigh as the elevator doors closed, taking him down to the lower level. Feeling now he could take his time, he made his way slowly to the infirmary, though he couldn't quite get rid of the feeling that he might just hear his grandma's voice ringing in his ears again, chiding him for being far too slow.
Meanwhile….back in the infirmary!
Every slow caress of his mouth on her now, excited and thrilled her, stimulating her senses and sending immense waves of pleasure coursing through her body. Scott groaned at her reaction to his lovemaking, knowing he was pleasing her; her response to him being like a trigger, her body, soft, warm and responsive against him was driving him deeper into the passion that was thrilling them both. She knew he would be an exciting, passionate and sensual lover; softly moaning his name as she thought of what was yet to come. If these were the feelings he was creating in her now then their ultimate togetherness promised to take them into another place entirely, in terms of extraordinarily powerful and intense pleasure.
Another button of her dress uniform gave way and another was about to when……the comm.-link crackled into life. "Hi…Jen….ah….it's Virgil….."
Scott stopped in mid-kiss, Jenna both hearing and feeling him groan loudly, the groan of bitter disappointment at having been disturbed. "Aww damn it, Virg," he groaned, as he buried his face back into the softness of her body. Feeling, too, the disappointment of what would not now be but still with the glow of his sensual touch in her, she tenderly and lovingly embraced him, encircling his shoulder with one hand, while with the other she cradled the back of his head.
They listened to the message, the reason for them being denied, yet again, the full enjoyment of each other. "…..thought you should know…..Grandma's insisted on having a supper tray sent down to you guys…. …..might…em…appreciate a little warning….em…get Scott wakened!……" the message finishing with letting them know he would be down shortly.
With the heat of his body next to hers and his face still buried in her softness, Jenna had to smile to herself at the irony of that remark. "Get…Scott…wakened! He…was…wakened….and…fully…aroused," she breathed deeply, her heart still pounding. "At…least…he…was," she thought disappointingly.
Scott manoeuvred himself back up alongside her as she hastily did up her buttons, finally gazing at each other dejectedly and with a forlorn acceptance that it was going to be this way until he got out of here. "We're never gonna be alone here, are we?" he remarked, to which Jenna could only shake her head. "Aw Jen…I've gotta get outta here…out of this…'goldfish bowl'. This is killin' me. Do you know how much I want you…how much I love you? Do you know how much I want to make love to you?" Scott admitted, the ache in his voice quite clear and matching the physical ache in his unfulfilled body.
"I want you too," Jenna told him, as she now cuddled into him, affectionately and lovingly stroking his face. "It won't be for much longer….you're doing really well but we need to get you up on your feet first," she reminded him gently.
Scott covered her hand with his own as she held his face, curling his fingers firmly around hers. "Jen…I don't want this to be hurried between us. When I make love to you I want it to be long…and slow. I wanna make love to you all night long. Heck…when I get you to my room…we're not comin' out for a whole week. If the whole world falls down….then it'll just have to fall down around us," he stated with such enthusiastic passion and sincerity that Jenna had to bite her lower lip to try to stifle the affectionate smile she felt at his unrestrained burst of passionate ardour.
"A whole week, huh?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows in a questioning fashion. "Wouldn't we be hungry?" she asked teasingly.
"We'll satisfy each other," was his quick reply, as a cheeky, boyish grin took over his face.
She laughed and shook her head. "Make love for a whole week. You do that…Mr Tracy…and you're gonna wind-up back in here through sheer exhaustion," she said, laughing lightly at his obvious enthusiasm, causing them both to break out in spontaneous laughter.
"I've seen enough of this place to last me a life time," Scott groaned as he looked around the now very familiar surroundings. This must be the longest time he had ever spent in the infirmary.
Slipping her fingers around the back of his hand and curling them with his she gave him a warm smile. "I'm sure you have….but…I hope you'll forgive me…for seeing this place a bit differently," Jenna smiled, putting his hand to her mouth and kissing his palm tenderly. "This is where I found you and where I fell in love with you," she continued to smile warmly, looking about the room.
Scott looked about the room again with fresh eyes. "You're right Jen. This is where we found each other. This is where I woke up and you were here….and I fell in love with you," he said remembering, both looking lovingly into each other's eyes, as they leant forward until their foreheads touched. They played with each other's fingers as though they hadn't seen fingers before and Jenna couldn't help thinking how poignant it was that he should find the sensation of touch so fascinating; it was probably because he knew what it was to have lost that sense completely in his left arm and hand.
"Jen? Would…would you do me a favour?" Scott asked, feeling almost silly for asking.
"Of course…anything," she smiled, giving him a puzzled look.
"Would you sit on my other side….please," he asked pleadingly. "I…I just want to be able to put my arm around you…to hold you…..to know what it feels like," he added, sounding almost embarrassed at such a simple request.
That simple request made Jenna's eyes brim with a shiny tear. "Of course I will," she smiled softly, giving him a kiss on the cheek with all the tender love in her heart.
She moved around to his right side; Scott putting his protective arm around her as she snuggled comfortably against his chest with her arms wrapped round his waist. She felt safe and warm, protected and secure as his strong right arm encircled her; it was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
It felt good to hold her, to feel his arm around her, protecting her, he thought. To have her here…holding her like this...the woman he loved and knowing she loved him, it was almost too good to be true….he felt like he would wake up and find it was all a dream. He bent and kissed the top of her head in a loving gesture. Sighing a sigh of utter contentment and lifting her head from his chest she gazed into his eyes. Scott smiled as he bent to give her a loving kiss, pulling away before it threatened to become another burning desire.
And that was how Virgil found them; laughing and talking comfortably, completely at ease with each other, as though they belonged together. He had entered tentatively, after knocking, and Jenna calling for him to come in, to approach the table with an apologetic smile. He couldn't help noticing how happy and relaxed, confident and contented his brother looked with his arm draped protectively around her shoulder, more so than he had ever seen him before. Even before his injury, while his brother was always the epitome of confident, calm efficiency in any danger, Virgil observed he lacked that inner peace and contentment; the clear weight of his duties and responsibilities, both as eldest son and Field Commander of International Rescue constantly reflecting in his face.
It was not a responsibility that he wished to take on and didn't envy Scott his position, knowing his brother had to make life and death decisions on almost every rescue they attended; knowing his brother agonised over some of those decisions, especially when life was lost. He also knew the turmoil that his brother went through when he had to send them into life risking situations, wishing he could go himself rather than send them. Virgil knew that it sometimes made his brother to appear hard, cold and emotionless and how much it hurt Scott when anyone would think it was easy for him to make decisions about other peoples lives because they were strangers. Virgil had to admit that even they had sometimes given him a hard time over decisions involving others and themselves and he knew that that had hurt Scott most of all, his eyes becoming that little bit more dead each time as the joy of life was slowly being extinguished. More often than not, on return from a harrowing rescue where tough decisions had to be made, Scott could either be found pounding out his frustrations on the punch ball in the gym or disappearing for a long run along the beach, usually to his private place, a small hidden cove, accessed through the rock formations at the far end. On one occasion Virgil had been shocked to see his knuckles bloodied and raw, knowing his brother had used the rock face as his 'punch ball'.
He knew his brother to be, under that self-disciplined and efficient exterior, a man of immense warmth and compassion, lacking the arrogance that some in his position might display, never asking his brothers to do what he wouldn't be willing to do himself, often getting down and dirty with the rest of them; a man who had the capacity to give a lot of love if only he had the right person to help him release it.
The difference Virgil could see in his brother now was nothing short of astounding, his whole appearance spoke of contentment and being at peace with himself, a light burning brightly in his eyes, reflecting joy and happiness. These two had finally talked about their feelings, they had to have done, he thought to himself, for gone was the anxious and tortured expression that sometimes clouded his brother's face as he would watch her and Virgil couldn't have been happier for them both. He had to admit he felt somewhat of a relief, as it meant he would not now have to go head-to-head with his sometimes stubborn and mule-headed brother over the issue.
"Look…I..I'm sorry for disturbing you guys," Virgil apologised. "But..eh…Grandma insisted she feed you up, Scott….and you know what she's like when she insists. Why…I…eh…tried to tell her that you'd probably be sleepin'….that you wouldn't wanna be disturbed. She was comin' down herself…but…I..a..told her I would bring it…thought I could give you some warning," he added, continuing his apology a little nervously, as he laid the tray on the table and being aware that all the laughter from his brother had ceased. Had Virgil observed his brother's face a bit closer, though, he would have seen that Scott was trying his best to suppress a grin at Virgil's lapse into using their grandmother's habit of starting a sentence with the word 'Why'. "Well…eh…I guess I'll leave you to your supper," he finished, turning to go.
"Oh Virgil, wait," Jenna said and disentangling herself from Scott's embrace she went to give Virgil a big hug and kissed him on the cheek, causing him to redden.
"W..what's that for?" he asked awkwardly, his first reaction being to look towards Scott, who was glaring at him intently, though he thought he detected something else in his expression that he couldn't quite read.
"That's for being a sweet, sensitive and very thoughtful man. Isn't that right, Scott?" Jenna replied, turning to Scott for his affirmation.
"Oh yeah….our Virg is gettin to be a real sweetie, and perceptive too," Scott answered, his face set in an unreadable expression, making Virgil feel a bit uncomfortable, his brother appearing to be a 'funny' mood.
Jenna gave Scott a wry smile before turning back to Virgil. "Oh don't mind him, Virgil. He's in a funny mood. I think he's in love," she said casually, as though that were an adequate explanation.
"You guys have talked then…haven't you?" Virgil asked cautiously, breaking into a smile and thinking that must be the reason for his brother's seemingly odd remark.
"Yes Virgil…we've talked," Jenna replied, her face lit by the inner glow of someone who knows she is loved. "And I've told him everything," she added.
"You've told him everything!" Virgil exclaimed, gulping and smiling nervously.
"Yeah, Virg…I know everything," Scott replied with a fixed and almost manic smile.
"Hey now…wait a minute Scott….I can explain. I wasn't eavesdroppin….honest," Virgil babbled out an apology, turning then to Jenna for support. "You did tell him Jen, didn't you? I mean….you did explain. I only wanted…..," he continued, frantically wanting his brother to understand.
"Of course I did Virgil, he understands," Jenna assured him, making Virgil breathe a sigh of relief.
"Sure Virg….no worries….I understand. I understand perfectly well," Scott continued in a cool calmness that Virgil found kinda unnerving for when his eldest brother was that 'overly understanding' it usually spelt trouble. "Say…why don't you come a bit closer, Virg," he asked politely, almost too politely.
"Sure…Scott…em…what's up?" Virgil asked cautiously, though automatically taking a step closer to his brother.
"Oh nothin….just so's I can…rip your head off….that's all," Scott said quite casually, the same manic smile fixed to his face, causing Virgil to take a startled step backwards and respond with a dumbfounded 'Huh'.
"Scott!" Jenna said in a mocking rebuke, "Don't keep him going like that," she added, shaking her head exasperatedly.
"Aw Jen…can't I rip his head off….just a little….you can always patch him back up again," Scott pleaded, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"No, of course you can't," she playfully chided Scott, then turning to Virgil to try and put him at his ease. "Don't pay any attention, Virgil….he's just keepin' you going," Jenna assured him but Virgil wasn't totally convinced, looking from one to the other and beginning to feel like the bone between two dogs.
It suddenly dawned on him, though, from the expression that Scott used, that Scott had been made aware of how he knew his brother was in love. "Scott…you don't think I would...I wouldn't do that..honest….I knew you were…," Virgil started to stumble out an explanation.
"Plumb crazy in love," Scott offered, finishing his sentence while fixing him with a poker stare.
"Well…yeah. It was plain to see," Virgil responded and relaxed, feeling now his brother had no reason to be jealous.
"Really Virg! And that's why you felt you oughta flirt with her…the girl you knew I was in love with?" Scott continued in an eerie calm, along with the poker stare, his eyes glinting and the corners of his mouth beginning to twitch just a little. "Well now Virg….maybe…I'm just plumb crazy…..PERIOD!"
