Thunderbirds and The Tracy Family are the creation and brainchild of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

Author's Note: My grateful thanks and acknowledgement to FellowRiverrat, who as always is ever willing to supply me with the correct medical knowhow.

Chapter 63

Alan winced. He should have known it was too good to be true, that his father would have simply forgotten to mention the damage to Thunderbird One. It just wasn't Jefferson Tracy's way to tear strips of his sons in front of everybody else, instead preferring to have a one on one confrontation. The ideal thing, of course, would have been for Alan to just take his father's displeasure and let him rant, but Alan being Alan, his youthful impetuosity would get the better of him, that and feeling increasingly wound up through being made to sweat it out.

"I wasn't playing at anything Dad," Alan replied sourly. "I guess I just lost concentration……the…the conditions were bad out there you know."

"You…just…lost…concentration," Jeff repeated deliberately. He slapped his hands down forcefully on the desk and stared hard at his young son. "Damn it Alan….you can't afford to loose concentration….not for one minute…..not for one second…..not in a craft like Thunderbird One. And yes the conditions were bad out there….you knew that….so all the more reason you should have been concentrating 100 percent. It's no good pulling off a fancy stunt like you did in getting Gordon out of the Pod and then 5 minutes later you're nearly letting her get impaled on that Tower," he added. Straightening up he continued to look his son in the eye.

"It wasn't deliberate Dad….it kinda just happened," Alan responded testily, shifting uncomfortably as he stood before his father.

"That's just the point, Alan…..it shouldn't have just happened. You were advised to stay well away from those towers…..and what….you chose to ignore that advice….like you know better," Jeff bellowed, feeling increasingly frustrated by his youngest son's unwillingness to see things from his point of view. "With flying Thunderbird One you have to be aware….at all times….of the conditions around you….you have to think ahead….that they could change at any time. That's something Scott has learned…..assessment….it's part of what flying One is all about….and if you want to keep flying her….then you'd better learn it too….and fast….we can't afford to keep patching her up….she's not one of your race cars or to have her be out of commission because you're too damn proud to take a little advice. In fact….you would do well to take a few lessons from Scott and observe how he handles her in different situations…..most of his operational scenarios have been loaded into One's simulator….so I want you to spend some time down there and get yourself better acquainted….is that understood," he continued in his dressing down and finishing with what was more or less an order not to be ignored.

Jeff sat down heavily in his chair and with his elbow on the armrest he began rubbing at his temples as he waited for his son's response and acknowledgement. Now that he had expressed his official displeasure he was about to go on and point out some of his son's more positive actions for he always tried not to be totally negative but to be encouraging where he could. He hoped then that would be the end of the matter. But it was not to be.

"Yes….Sir," Alan responded automatically with an almost defiant tone. But Alan just couldn't leave well enough alone. He mumbled, not really intending his father to hear but not caring if he did. "And Golden Boy can do no wrong I suppose."

Jeff sat upright, his eyes narrowing, his face set in a heavy scowl. "And what the hell do you mean by a remark like that. ….if you intended me to hear that Boy….then, by gawd, you'd better be able to back it up," he challenged, glaring at his youngest son as he tried to keep his growing temper under control. Jeff Tracy had little time for those who uttered their opinion without having the fortitude to back up what they said and even less for those who didn't have the courage of their convictions to speak out plainly and openly. It was something he hoped he had instilled in his sons and he had to admit that that couldn't be said to be a failing of his eldest son who never had a problem in that department, plainly and openly speaking his mind on more than one occasion. Perhaps that's what irked him now, the fact his youngest son chose to mutter under his breath.

Alan momentarily froze, realising he was pushing his father to his limits but it was as though he was unable to stop himself. He loved and respected his eldest brother enormously, looked up to him for advice and direction but right now he did not want his brother's excellence and experience continually shoved at him.

"I mean, Dad….that I can never live up to Scott's excellence in your eyes…..you wouldn't have had to give him that advice," Alan shot back, his adrenalin rush making him bold.

"You're damn right I wouldn't have had to give him that advice……your brother has a wealth of experience behind him," Jeff responded venomously. "And you would do well to remember that, young man."

"And I'm not Scott…right….and never will be…..you've made that obvious enough…..maybe if I went and earned myself a Medal of Honour and a Purple Heart!……," Alan continued, letting his petulance get the better of him.

The Medal of Honour was the highest decoration any member of the Forces could be awarded; it was not earned or won but rather given freely for conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty. The fact it could not be earned had been lost on Alan due to his youthful immaturity. The Purple Heart, on the other hand, was a totally different kind of award, though of no less importance due to the fact it was given automatically for wounds received in action; the Purple Heart speaking of self-sacrifice and of blood shed in the defence of one's country.

"That's enough…..you have no idea what you're talking about," Jeff replied sternly, his voice icy cold. His face darkened but Alan was totally oblivious, so lost was he in his heady rush now of speaking his mind.

"Maybe you'd be proud of me then…..you think more of them than he does anyway…..I mean…he acts more like he's ashamed of them….what'd he do…..kill somebody!" he half laughed sarcastically.

The silence was ominous, the air hanging heavy between father and son as Jeff sat back in his chair and briefly closed his eyes. "Damn you Alan…why couldn't you just leave well enough alone," his father groaned to himself. Fixing his son with an icy stare he thundered, "How Scott came by those medals is no one's damn business but his."

In that moment a cold fear gripped the young man's heart. It was more in what his father didn't say that left him stunned. "Dad! We were always told he saved his comrade," Alan asked bewildered.

"Yes he did….and that's all you need to know….now just drop it….this topic is not open for discussion," Jeff said firmly, though he knew in his heart he hadn't heard the last of this, the seed now having been planted in his young son's mind where he guessed it would take root and grow until he found out what he wanted to know. "And besides….we're not talking about Scott….we're talking about you," he reminded him. "And that's another lesson you would do well to take from your brother….learn to take a dressing down…..that's part of the responsibility of flying One too. I've hauled Scott's ass over the coals on more than one occasion….some of it has been for covering for you all…..he hasn't always liked it…but he took it….because out there everything's his responsibility……just like it was yours," he went on, trying to instil in his impetuous young son a measure of maturity. His anger now, though, had been kindled and inflamed by what he saw as Alan's unprovoked attack and seeming jealousy of his eldest brother as well as the fact that Alan had inadvertently stumbled on a subject that was best left where it was, buried and in the past.

"And for your information, young man….that advice…it didn't come from me….it was your brother's. Unfortunately there's not much gets by him…..he knew you were out on a rescue….felt One leaving….he just had to know where you were going," Jeff told him with an almost far away look in his eyes, half laughing and shaking his head as he remembered the conversation. He turned his gaze back to Alan. "He was worried and concerned for you….he knew how unpredictable those conditions were out there…..and I'll tell you just how worried and concerned he was….he wouldn't want you to know this but he worked himself into a headache…so much so that Jenna had to sedate him….even wanted to come up to the lounge to tell you himself despite his being in pain….I had to even order him to stand down…so by gawd Boy….you'd better show your brother some damn respect before you go shooting off at the mouth," he flamed, throwing a pen he had idly picked up across the desk in obvious annoyance and taking deep breaths in an effort to keep his anger under control as he finished admonishing his son.

Still reeling and trying to get his head round what he thought he knew Alan suddenly became very subdued, a feeling of guilt washing over him. "He was! He…he did….sedated! I…I didn't know Dad," he blurted out. "And…and I do….I do respect him."

Jeff nodded and sighed deeply. It hadn't been his intention for this debriefing to go quite this way, his youngest and most headstrong son having taken them down a road he would rather not have gone. He could see now the change in his demeanour, his arrogance having dissipated with the knowledge he'd been given.

"No, of course you didn't know, Son…..I wasn't going to worry you with something like that….you needed to concentrate fully on what you were doing…and besides….Scott wouldn't have wanted you to know," Jeff responded, beginning to feel a little weary. He rose from his chair and crossed to the large panoramic windows that overlooked the calm and tranquillity of the island. Musing for a moment he turned to face his son. "Ahh Alan….if only you'd been a little more patient….willing to listen…..I was going to tell you that you did do a damn fine job keeping your head the way you did and bringing One out of that little calamity with the amount of damage she had…..it's true she's gonna need some fixing up but…it could have been a lot worse…and what's more Alan….you could have been killed," he added, his voice having quietened somewhat.

"Yes Sir," Alan acknowledged quietly and blinking in surprise at hearing his father's praise of his subsequent action.

Jeff's anger had by now disappeared and all he could see was a young man who must be feeling like the weight of the world was being thrust on his shoulders. "Son…I realise this must be hard for you….with what has happened to Scott….it's been hard on all of us as a family but I guess….now that International Rescue is back in operation….that you must feel under pressure at having to take over Scott's duties as Field Commander," he said, his voice having softened with fatherly understanding.

"I guess I have," Alan admitted, wincing now with guilt at how he'd been with his father earlier.

Jeff nodded. "Well I don't want you to be worrying any more on that score, Son," his father announced assuredly, causing Alan to look at him in puzzlement.

"I…don't understand….Dad…..who! How!….." Alan asked, his head now so full of questions that he was finding it hard to keep up. All he knew was…when Scott wasn't flying Thunderbird One…he was…and that meant if Scott wasn't available to be Field Commander it automatically fell to him. He couldn't think of who else would take over the job permanently, if that were called for, since everyone had their own specialised field and were in the best jobs suited to their abilities.

"That's all been taken care of….it's all in hand," Jeff added, seeing his son's continued bewilderment. "When Scott's well enough…..when Mike has discharged him officially….he's gonna ride desk for a while….so between the two of us….we'll cover Thunderbird One's duties," he informed him casually as if it should be the most natural thing in the world. Jeff walked back to his desk and took his seat, having left Alan momentarily speechless.

Wide-eyed in surprise Alan opened his mouth to speak but no words came, instead he found himself dumbly pointing to his father and then over to TB1's access panel in the wall as if trying to equate one with the other. Jeff Tracy glared at his youngest son, daring him to make some clever comment.

"Yes…that's right…..you wish to make something of it," his father challenged. "Because I've been through all this with Scott," Jeff added grumpily, remembering his eldest son's initial reaction.

"Yes Sir….I…I mean no Sir….I….I…mean…," Alan flustered, that solution never having entered his head. "And…eh….what does Scott think about it," he asked, trying not to sound too keenly interested, though he would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to have heard his eldest brother's reaction.

"Yes….well….never you mind," Jeff blustered. There was no way he was going to admit to this young whippersnapper that his eldest son was highly amused by the idea, after all, he had a certain degree of aloofness and decorum to maintain as Commander-In-Chief.

Thoughts had been whirling through the young man's mind that this sounded like only a temporary solution. His face initially set in a questioning frown. "Dad…..you said Scott was just gonna ride desk for a while…..does that mean he's gonna fully recover….he's gonna get the use of his arm back!" Alan asked, his young face brightening with hope as he spoke.

"We still don't know about that, Son," Jeff replied honestly.

"Then what, Dad! If you don't mind my speaking out….and I don't mean to be rude…but when we're out there on a rescue….well…we really need a continuity in our Field Commander…..I mean this temporary solution is one thing….but what about long term!" Alan responded, feeling decidedly confused and not understanding what his father was suggesting.

"Point taken….and I understand your concerns…but it's nothing for you to worry about…like I said…it's all in hand," his father assured him. For the second time during this confrontation Jefferson Tracy's face darkened, this time as he remembered his eldest son's drastic and ultimate solution. "If and when the time comes for you to know…you'll be informed….you'll all be informed…..until then…..we go with what I've told you," he added firmly, now back in professional mode.

Alan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Dad! What do you mean?" he queried but it was obvious that whatever plans his father had for long term he was going to keep them close to his chest as he had now donned his reading glasses and was busily studying corporate papers he had pulled from a drawer.

Lifting his head from his paperwork Jeff pulled his glasses slightly down his nose and peered over the rim. "That will be all Alan….you can go…..you can give me your full report tomorrow……and…as long as we understand each other….we'll say no more about this," Jeff stated, letting him know this debriefing was now at an end.

"Yes Sir…..and Dad…..I'm sorry….about earlier," Alan apologised sincerely, turning to a more intimate form of address after having formally acknowledged his father.

"Yes Son…I know," his father nodded. "Until the next time!" Jeff thought sadly to himself. "Now why don't you go and have a soak in the Hot Tub…I'm sure those muscles of yours are pretty sore," he suggested, as he pushed his glasses back up his nose and began reading again.

"Yes Sir……Dad!" Alan replied and then tried again to get clarification to some of his questions.

"That will be all Alan," Jeff said dismissively without looking up from his paperwork.

Alan turned and walked from the lounge. There were a lot of things he had to contemplate while soaking in the Tub. Once Alan had left the lounge Jeff sat back in his chair, taking his glasses off with a swipe and throwing them unceremoniously down on his desk. He sighed heavily as he rubbed idly at his temples, wearied by the confrontation.

"Mr Tracy….I have taken the liberty of bringing you some coffee….I thought…perhaps…you could do with some," the kindly, gentile voice of his long-time friend Kyrano offered.

Jeff looked up and smiled weakly as his friend crossed the room. "Ahh yes…thank you Kyrano….I could do with some right now."

"All does not go well with the young Mister Alan!" Kyrano observed.

Jeff chuckled at his friend's insight. "The young Mister Alan….I'm afraid….is one headstrong young man who would do well to reign in his mouth at times."

Kyrano smiled sympathetically. "Mister Alan is like the unbroken horse who does not wish to be broken."

"No Kyrano….I'd say Mister Alan is more like a stubborn headed mule than a horse," Jeff remarked, causing both men to break into companionable laughter.

Once Virgil and Gordon had left the lounge they made their way down to the infirmary. "Ya think Al's gonna be all right back there?" Gordon mused as nodded back in the direction of the lounge.

"With Dad! Well…if he can keep his mouth shut and just let Dad have his say," Virgil answered straightforwardly.

"Think that's likely?" Gordon asked with an amused expression.

"Nope….not a chance in hell," Virgil replied laughingly as one who knows his brother only too well.

On entering the infirmary both boys now were laughing and chatting, sharing their experiences, being fuelled by the adrenalin rush that sometimes follows a successful rescue. "I tell ya Virg…..when that baby hit…..I was shakin like a plate of Jello….the vibes….man that was somethin…….the seabed just opened up and…..bam!……that big sucker of a truck just disappeared…right before my eyes," Gordon grinned, giving Virgil a visual demonstration of his shakes.

"Yeah…..and man…I tell you….when that grab started slippin…..I thought she was gone for sure…..," Virgil added. Both now stopped dead in their tracks when they came fully into the room, their faces changing from one of jovial laughter to concern as they observed Jenna tenderly stroking their restless brother's forehead in an effort to soothe him.

Looking up she smiled and spoke softly. "Oh you're back….I'm glad you're safe. Your father said the rescue was a success….he also said you'd probably be needing some of that muscle rub."

"Ye…yeah…thanks Jen…..and yeah….it was a success…and we are kinda sore," Virgil said, his words stumbling out automatically, though his mind really wanted to know what was wrong with his brother. "But…but what's wrong with Scott?" he asked, his voice and face expressing his concern, a concern that was mirrored by Gordon as they went to his bedside.

Jenna smiled down lovingly at her restless charge, brushing her fingers through his hair. "He took a bad headache…..I had to sedate him," she told them.

"He…he is gonna be all right…isn't he Jen?" Gordon asked, the worry in his voice evident.

"Yeah, of course he is," she was quick to reassure them. "He just needs to sleep it off."

At that Scott began to groan and mumble. "Al….Al…..be…care….be carefull…..the tower….stay….stay away….the tow…tower."

Virgil and Gordon both looked alarmed to Jenna, his words having been clearly audible. "He was worried about you guys…Alan especially….," she began to explain and then suddenly she realised the subject of his ramblings was absent. "By the way…where is Alan? He is all right, isn't he?" now being her turn to ask with concern.

"Yeah Al's fine Jen," Virgil assured her. Gordon coughed, making Jenna look suspiciously from one to the other. "He's just up with Dad….giving him….his report," he added, searching for an appropriate phrase for he could hardly say he's up with the old man getting a hell of a dressing down for re-modelling Thunderbird One.

Jenna nodded, accepting of his explanation and relieved that he was safe and well turned her attention back to what she was telling them. "He knew you guys had went out on a rescue," she continued, looking down tenderly at Scott as stroked his forehead. On seeing their puzzlement at how he knew she went on. "He felt her leave…..Thunderbird One….he felt her taking off…..he didn't get to the window in time to see her…but he saw you guys leave…..and then he demanded to know from your father where you were going. I was in the Prep Room at the time…I heard him calling out….he was in pain by then….I helped him back to bed and gave him a shot….before he went under he wanted me to tell your father to warn Alan about the….tower!….and cables. I told your father but he said Scott had already told him too….wanted to make sure he would warn Alan of the danger. He's been like this since he started coming out of it," she finished off as she continued in her loving care.

A brief knowing look passed between Virgil and Gordon. "Hell…that's torn it Virg….he knows….he knows where we were…..he's gonna wanna know how it went!….he's gonna wanna know everything!" Gordon muttered through clenched teeth as he stood beside Virgil and giving Jenna a simpering smile when she looked bemused at the pair of them.

Virgil groaned at the thought. "Yeah….and we thought we'd left the storm behind. We might not have got to see Stormforce Dad….but something sure as hell tells me we're gonna witness Hurricane Scott," he muttered back.

"Hey Virg….do they ever reach Level 12!" Gordon whispered curiously.

Virgil gave a soft half-hearted laugh. "Try 112 Gordy……and it's lyin right there," he whispered back and nodding down at his still moaning brother.

"Are you two all right?" Jenna asked suspiciously as she looked up at a pair of innocently smiling faces. "Yeah...sure we are Jen," Virgil assured her. "So….Scott felt her powering up, huh….guess it was too much to hope he wouldn't know we were going out….not much gets by him…does it Gordy?" he remarked casually to his brother.

"Nope….you're right there Virg," Gordon agreed lightly. Jenna continued to eye the two boys. She couldn't quite figure out what was going on but they were certainly behaving strangely.

"Guess that's what comes of being so at one with your Bird….you can feel her every move," Virgil mused, almost artistically.

"Yeah….and I know another bird Scotty would definitely like to be at one with….and feel her every move!" Gordon whispered, grinning cheekily.

Virgil frowned, shaking his head exasperatedly at his joker of a brother. Trust him to bring everything down to a baser level, he thought but, of course, he had to agree with him wholeheartedly. "Gordon!" he quietly exclaimed, making the token gesture of disapproval. A discomforting pain suddenly shot through Virgil's shoulder making him wince, Gordon too was flexing his back and shifting about.

Jenna stood up, almost having forgotten they had come for some pain relief. "Oh I'm sorry guys….you'll be wanting something to rub on those muscles," she said as she felt the urge to wince in sympathy.

"Actually Jen I think I'm gonna need a bit more than that……I think I've done this shoulder again," Virgil winced as he tried to rotate it but it seemed to be getting stiffer.

"Let me have a look, Virgil...come and sit down here…," Jenna instructed kindly and offering him a chair, "…and you'll need to take off your top." He was wearing a fine white turtleneck, the sleeves casually rolled up his forearms, the boys having now taken to wearing them along with slacks and a light bomber-style jacket, still keeping the IR blue, of course, as a change of uniform.

Virgil winced as he tried to put the arm of his injured shoulder up and behind him to grasp hold of his top so that he could pull it over his head but it was proving too painful by now. He pulled with his other hand but only succeeded in getting it halfway over his head.

"Here…let me help you with that," Jenna offered, trying not to smile at the pickle he was getting himself into and unable to watch him struggle any longer.

"Thanks Jen," came a muffled voice from a seemingly headless body. Grabbing the back of his top she pulled it the rest of the way over his head, finally freeing him of his temporary restraint leaving a rather magnificent chest and shoulders exposed. Well, she was only human and couldn't fail to notice his well developed muscles, stemming from his years of wrestling with the great green transport and his chest hair, not as much as Scott, of course, which she had to admit she found very pleasing but enough to keep any woman interested, if indeed, that's what she liked. All the Tracy men, she noted, though of different stature and build, had excellent physiques, though of course, only one was of interest to her.

"Hey Virg…whatdaya think Scott would have to say if he knew you were gettin Jen to take your clothes off," Gordon grinned mischievously.

"Gordy……just put a sock in it….will ya," Virgil retorted as the pain now began to bite, taking the edge of his relative good mood.

"We're gettin a little testy there….aren't we, Virg!" Gordon responded lightly, not being put off in the slightest.

"Yeah Gordy…..I guess WE are," Virgil replied sarcastically.

"Say Jen…when you've done with that old creakin bag o bones, I've got a real body here for ya to massage…..my back is givin me jip," Gordon quipped, giving her a wink.

Virgil frowned and gave his brother a frosty look and all Jenna could do was bite her bottom lip and shake her head exasperatedly as she tried not to laugh. "Well you'll just have to wait Gordon……I've only got two hands….I'm not an oct……," she had started to say before suddenly stopping.

"You were gonna say octopus, Jen….weren't ya," Gordon smiled cheekily. "Go on….admit it."

"Yeah I was," she laughed. "But that's one creature I'd rather not be reminded of thank you very much."

Virgil arched and straightened his back, his muscles rippling involuntarily at the first touch of her soft, warm fingers as they pressed gently into his shoulder. "Hmmmm," Virgil moaned as she gently rotated his shoulder and pressed with her fingers.

Gordon was about to open his mouth, the mischief dancing in his eyes when Virgil shot him a look. "Just don't….Gordy……whatever…you were gonna say…..just don't," he urged in between grimaces.

"Your shoulder is inflamed Virgil….you've messed up your rotar cuff," Jenna said, wincing in sympathy and knowing it was giving him pain. "I'll give you a shot now to ease the pain and reduce the inflammation….and then I suggest you go and sit in the Jacuzzi for a while…see if that will help," she advised.

"Yeah, thanks Jen……think Brains gave me Kenelog and Lidocaine last time," Virgil informed her, Kenelog being an anti-inflammatory and Lidocaine a painkiller.

"You've done this before?" Jenna asked, though it shouldn't really have been a surprise.

"Oh yeah….same damn bridge too," Virgil grimaced painfully.

"Well I'll just check your file…….then I can see to your back," she said, turning to Gordon.

"Hey babe…I'm all yours……say…how long do ya figure lover boy here's gonna be out of it?" he grinned. Scott stirred, shifting as though uncomfortable.

Jenna and Virgil just looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "What..is..he..on?" she asked laughingly.

"Search me," Virgil replied.

"Guess it's what comes of nearly being swallowed up into the bowels of the earth….ya know….journey to the center of the earth and all that," Gordon quipped.

Of course Jenna had no idea of what he was talking about and shook her head. "I'll go and get you that shot, Virgil," she said and headed for the Prep Room after she had checked his file.

"Reckon it's hot down there, Virg?" Gordon asked, only to be looked at in puzzled bewilderment. "Down there….in the center of the earth, Virg," he added, nodding downwards to the floor as if it should be obvious what he meant.

"I don't know about the center of the earth Gordy….but it's gonna be mighty hot in here for you if you overstep the mark with Jen and Scott wakes up," Virgil warned, keeping his voice low and watching to make sure Jenna wasn't going to come back in.

"Aw Virg…I'm just funin," Gordon assured him.

"Yeah…I know that….and Jen might know that but will he," Virgil responded and nodding to indicate their still restless brother. "Don't forget….he's had a real b..a..d headache….he might not wake in the best of moods…..but don't say I didn't warn you," he added, feeling satisfied he'd said his piece.

Jenna came back with the loaded hypospray and pressing it to his shoulder the pain relief was released and soon began to do its job, reloading it then with the anti-inflammatory. "Thanks Jen…that's a big help….I'll go soak now for a while," Virgil said, grateful for the numbing ease he now felt.

"And I don't want you doin anything to overextend that shoulder…..not for the next week at least," Jenna instructed, giving him a look that meant she expected him to take her advice. Virgil nodded, picked up his top, gave his brother one last meaningful look and left.

"Just you and me now babe," Gordon grinned.

Jenna raised her eyebrows. "And aren't we forgetting someone!" she queried with amusement.

"Oh and Sleeping Beauty here," he added cheekily to which Jenna could only smile.

"Ok babe….wheredaya want me? Like I said….I'm all yours," Gordon continued in his jovial manner.

"Well…I guess you can start by takin your top off…..and lie face down on the bed there," Jenna instructed with a wry smile. "And I'll go get some oils."

"Don't be long hunny….don't keep me waiting," he laughed lightly as she headed back to the Prep Room to get what she needed, smiling to herself at his cheeky impertinence.

When she came back she almost did a double take for there, stretched out on the bed next to Scott, was Gordon, lying on his tummy. Not only had he removed his top but every other stitch of clothing as well, leaving him as naked as the day he was born, apart from a discreetly placed towel across his buttocks, which he had taken from the bedside locker.

"Well…I see you've made yourself comfortable," she mused as she laid the things she needed on the locker. "You did say your back!"

"Yeah….but it's…way low down, Jen…..and my legs too kinda ache…..and come to think of it….my butt hurts something awful…..guess it was all that bouncin around on Four's seat," Gordon replied, wincing and grimacing in a performance that was really worthy of an oscar.

"Really," Jenna mused dryly and trying hard not to laugh. After raising the bed to a suitable height she spread the oil on her hands, rubbing them together to induce heat. Placing them on his firm and athletic shoulders she began to manipulate his muscles, working her way down his back.

"Hmmmm….aahhhh…..Jen…ya know I'm madly in love with ya…don't ya," Gordon sighed, closing his eyes and relishing in the wonderfully relaxing massage.

"Are you Gordon….since when?" Jenna asked casually, smiling at his impishness as she worked.

"Oh yeah babe…..since you could do things like that with your hands," Gordon groaned, making her laugh.

He was sure he could hear voices, a woman's and a man's, they were laughing. He stirred and sleepily blinked open his eyes. Taking a few moments to focus where he was he turned in the direction of the voices. Scott was awake. He recognised the woman's voice as Jenna's and it looked like she was standing over someone lying on the next bed. After another few moments and coming fully awake he recognised the other voice to be Gordon's. So, they were back, he thought to himself but what was he doing lying on the bed with Jenna standing over him and, if he wasn't mistaken, it looked like he was naked. His eyes narrowed and his face became taut as he heard clearly his brother's next comments.

"Aahh come away with me and we'll live in Paradise…..and I'll feed you oysters…..you can be my girl Friday...come to think of it….you can be my every other day of the week as well….know what I mean!" Gordon quipped as he sighed contentedly. Jenna shook her head as she continued the massage. Unseen and unknown by Gordon, though, Scott's facial muscles began to twitch.

"But Gordon…we are living in Paradise……and oysters! Aren't they….like….slippery and…rubbery!" she replied laughingly.

"But they put ya in the mood for lovin…know what I mean," Gordon responded with a huge grin on his face.

"Yeah…I do know what you mean," she said wryly.

"Aahh….say you'll run away with me, Jen," Gordon continued in his fantasy. Sighing in his contentment he didn't hear or see his eldest brother quietly ease himself from his bed since he was faced the other way. Jenna, though, became aware of movement behind her and without ceasing her stroke she turned, her face breaking into a warm smile. Scott returned her smile before putting a finger to his lips. She turned back. This is going to be interesting she thought to herself.

"But what about Scott?" Jenna asked innocently.

"What about him," Gordon retorted casually. "Naw….what you need is a guy with a sense of humour…someone who'll make you laugh," he added, not realising he was just digging for himself one big, deep hole.

"Someone like you, Gordon," she mused, leading him along now by the nose.

"You got it babe," he replied, as he flexed and stretched.

"But Scott's funny….he makes me laugh," she responded, turning and looking over her shoulder, giving him another warm smile. Scott made his way quietly to her side and planted an equally quiet but very warm and very loving kiss on her lips to which she quietly responded.

"Scott! Funny! You're kiddin me….what've you been feedin him, Jen……a sense of humour for breakfast……and a couple of joke books for lunch," Gordon quipped lightly, laughing at his own funny wit.

Jenna winced. Scott's eyes narrowed even more and a quiet growl stirred in his throat as he looked down on his foolhardy younger brother.

"Well…whenever ya get tired of the old Rocket Jockey over there…..come and see me…..I'll take ya to my playground and we'll go ride the waves together," he went on, with reckless abandon.

That was it. Jenna could see Scott's face tense; his nostrils flare. Hurricane Scott was about to blow.

"That's gonna be kinda hard to do when you're in traction……isn't it...little brother," a deep and decidedly menacing voice threatened.