Thunderbirds and The Tracy Family are the creation of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson
Chapter 79
He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Surely Captain Conley had not said his son had been tortured. He was safe now, in an American military hospital. Perhaps she was exaggerating, perhaps her idea of torture was that the officers had questioned him for too long and had exhausted him, otherwise the ramifications were just too awful to contemplate.
Not for the first time a cold chill ran down the back of Jeff Tracy's spine for Captain Conley did not strike him as the type of person who was prone to exaggeration, it was just his mind had not wanted to accept what she was saying. He had been more than relieved that his son had evaded capture for he could not have borne the thought of his son being tortured and now he was hearing that very word.
"Torture! That is a very serious allegation, Captain Conley," Jeff reminded her, needing to be absolutely sure he was not mistaking what she said.
"I am very aware, Mr Tracy…...but I stand by what I've said. I have seen the results….and that's why we're having to work on him now," she replied, adamantly and yet being careful in what she told him.
Jeff was finding this hard to take in but he could tell by her pained and serious expression that she was telling the truth. It was then he heard the pitiful groan in the background, confirming the worst of his fears. His son was in pain. "What….what was done to my son, Captain?" he asked, needing to know and steeling himself for what he was about to hear.
"Mr Tracy….I'm not sure that's a good id…..," Sarah had started to say before she was cut short by one increasingly angry and anxious father. It wasn't that she was trying to keep him from knowing to protect the reputation of the Force, her only motivation was one of compassion for a father, distressed by finding out his son had been brutally treated.
"Just tell me….what was done to my son," Jeff demanded, in that abrupt manner that usually got him what he wanted.
Sarah shot a look to Cass and he gave her a very firm nod of encouragement. She drew a deep breath. "Mr Tracy….this isn't pleasant. His repair wound was opened…we don't know what with…and the initial bullet wound had been probed….we think with some sort of needle that delivers an electric shock….there are some burn marks on the surrounding tissue. He also has welts across the wound and his back….my Lieutenant tells me it's from a swagger stick," she told him, finding it very hard without feeling tears coming to her eyes again. She couldn't even begin to imagine what must be going on in this father's heart.
Jeff found himself automatically gripping the side of his desk as he listened. He felt sick, sick to his stomach for the pain his son must have endured, for what parent doesn't hurt when their children are suffering, no matter what age they are.
"Dear gawd in heaven….tell me this isn't true," he expressed but, of course, he knew it was and more groaning tore at his very soul. Something, though, in her manner told him there was more. "That's not all...is it?" he asked, wanting to know just what else had been done to him.
Captain Conley shook her head. "Mr Tracy….you know your son was brought in with cracked ribs…he was already very heavily bruised….now two of his ribs are broken. My Lieutenant tells me it was probably done with the swagger stick," she continued to inform him, wishing she could spare him these details.
Jeff closed his eyes against the torturous image in his mind, becoming more pained by the minute. "Is that all?" he ventured, praying that it was, for it was enough, more than his son should have to bear on top of what he had been through.
Sarah winced and drew another breath. "Your son's face….is swollen and marked….we're sure he has been hit about the face….and there's bruising on his throat….also we think from the stick. Mr Tracy….I'm so sorry you had to hear all that….I wish I could have spared you," she continued, with all the compassion she could give him.
Jeff involuntarily sucked in a breath and gripped the desk so tightly his knuckles turned white. His son had been well and truly brutalised and beaten and he could scarcely take it in that this had been done by officers in the United States Air Force, a Force he had once been proud to serve in, now, he felt he didn't know it anymore. Another pained groan in the background brought tears from a father's heartsick soul.
"Nooooo….not my son….not my son….why!" Jeff cried out in anguish for what had been done to his precious eldest son. He buried his face in his hands, as he tried to come to terms with what he had just heard, longing to be with his son.
Within a few moments, though, stone cold rage began to take over. He thought he had been angry before when told his son had been forced down because they weren't armed and couldn't defend themselves, he thought he had been angry when told about the advanced combat course his son had been sent on but this was anger on a different scale. This was the anger of a father whose son had been harmed deliberately by people he should have been able to trust. This was the anger of a father, a powerful and wealthy father, who would turn the world upside down if necessary to make those responsible pay for what they had done. This was the anger of a father who would make them sorry they ever dared laid hands on his son.
He brought his fist down so hard on the desk that it made the image on Captain Conley's screen shudder. "Who did this to my son?" Jefferson Tracy demanded to know.
"A Major Bauer and Captain Decker….but as I said, Mr Tracy, they didn't say exactly what department they were from," Sarah Conley informed him without hesitation, only too willing to drop them right in it. Jeff nodded and assured her he would find out. "We believe it was the Major who carried out the….the interrogation," she added.
"And this….Captain Decker…..he did nothing to help?" Jeff surmised, obvious by the state his son was in.
"No, Mr Tracy. We believe he was there to make sure the Major wasn't disturbed…to keep anyone from coming in. Lieutenant Grey Wolf tells me Captain Decker was sitting on the bed holding your son up….while….while Major Bauer was…was……," she went on to inform him but she just couldn't finish it. "His ribs were probably already broken at that stage….because….because Lieutenant Grey Wolf says Major Bauer was standing at his back when he came in….and your son didn't have his dressing on," she said, wincing with every detail at the pain it must have caused.
Jeff drew in another breath and closed his eyes as more detail emerged but for now he had to be strong, he couldn't afford to break down, there were things he had to do. Bauer! That name seared into his brain and he would not forget the part Captain Decker had to play either for he was equally reprehensible. Jeff steeled himself for what he knew he had to do. His son may be helpless but he was far from helpless and he would make the full weight of his fury felt but first! He was an astute businessman and as such never went into any meeting or engaged in any corporate contract without being fully prepared and he intended to be fully prepared this time for this time it involved his eldest son and his son was more important than any business he had ever done.
"Captain….you said you're working on my son. Have you closed his wound yet?" Jeff asked, trying not to let his emotion take hold of him again.
Sarah was slightly puzzled by his question, almost as though it was important that it wasn't. She looked to the nurse who had begun the preparation and she shook her head. "No, Mr Tracy. We've had to bathe the wound and irrigate it…wash it out with a sterile saline solution….to try and cut down on the risk of infection….since we don't know what the Major used on him….and we had to assess whether he needed more surgery to repair any muscle damage….but thankfully he doesn't. He will need a few internal stitches, though before we can close it up….and I'll do that myself," she told him, explaining just what needed done. She could see Jeff pale visibly and wince at the thought of his son suffering any more pain. "Don't worry, Mr Tracy….he won't feel anything…at least not from that. I'll freeze the area before I start…I promise…and he's already been given pain relief."
Jeff nodded. "I want to see it," he insisted bluntly.
Captain Conley winced, not thinking that was a good idea at all but then she was only thinking of it from a father's point of view and not from the purpose Jefferson Tracy had in mind. "Mr Tracy…I really don't…,"she said kindly, trying to dissuade him.
"You don't understand, Captain. These men tortured and brutalised my son…my helpless and defenceless son….and what I need is cold, hard evidence. I have contacts at the Pentagon, Captain….and I intend that they take a good look at what has been done to my son. So you see…for that I need physical evidence….evidence that they cannot deny….now please….let me see his wound," Jeff explained. Outwardly it may have appeared that Jefferson Tracy was treating this with cool, calm business-like efficiency but he knew it was going to pain him to see the results of the Major's persuasion but he needed to be strong for his son's sake if he was to seek, as Cass so aptly termed it, retribution.
"It is what he must do, Captain," Cass responded, telling her he fully agreed.
She nodded and as she positioned the screen to face Scott's back Jeff momentarily closed his eyes to steel himself for what he would see. What he saw both appalled and sickened him, that Air Force officers could do this to a young man who had proved his bravery and courage beyond question and why, for what purpose, what did they hope to gain? That would have to wait, though, for he knew they needed to stitch and close his wound. He froze the picture in time, recording the evidence of the brutality that was done to his son, every detail clear and visible including the angry welts across his back. He had also set this whole communication to be recorded, to have the testimony of Captain Conley and whoever else had vital information.
What tore at his heart now was seeing a little bit of his son for he could both hear and see how painful it was for him to breath, his breathing rapid and shallow, causing his back to rise and fall quickly. Jeff asked for the screen to be taken back a little and for the first time since he had been told his son was downed and missing in action he could see him, albeit his back. He had spoken to his son only a few days before they went missing, before this nightmare began and it broke his heart to think of the happy, healthy and carefree young man that he was then, asking after everyone and whether Alan was knuckling down to his studies with his usual big brotherly concern and now! Now he wondered how all this was going to affect him and if he would ever be quite the same again.
He could see his son lying supported against the chest of a male nurse, his head lying on his shoulder and he could see more clearly and pronounced his son's rapid and shallow breathing. It pained him to hear his son's agonised groans and every so often his body would jerk, obviously against the pain he was feeling.
"I need to see his ribs as well," Jeff said, as he tried to remain strong. He paled visibly at the sight of the heavy bruising, knowing now his ribs were broken, when Sarah had angled the screen to his side. Again the picture was frozen in time then she brought the screen back up to face her. "Why! Why did they do this? What did they want from my son?" Jeff asked in angry bewilderment.
"I don't know, Mr Tracy but I'm going to have to see to your son's wound," Captain Conley replied to which Jeff nodded but there was someone who did know.
"Excuse me, Ma'am….if you would allow me to speak with Mr Tracy….Chey'nah told me what the Major wanted," Cass informed her.
"I'm going to let you speak to my Lieutenant, Mr Tracy….he says he knows what they wanted but I need him first…if you'll just bare with me a few moments…I'm going to freeze your son's back," Sarah Conley explained. She offered to turn the screen away so he wouldn't have to see but Jeff insisted, wanting to feel as close to his son as possible, begging her not to deprive him now that he had seen him.
With the screen angled towards his son Jeff watched as Sarah told him what she was going to do, though just what Scott was taking in she wasn't sure for he was drifting in that in-between world. Jeff observed now how gently and carefully this male nurse held him as she prepared to insert a long needle, a needle long enough to penetrate deep into his muscle and Jeff was sure he could hear soft chanting.
Scott groaned loudly and writhed as he felt the sting of the needle pushed into his back, though Cass tried to hold him as still as he could. "Noooooo….wo…won't…tell…you…any…any…thing," he cried out.
It was then they realised what must be going through his mind and some of what the Major had been doing. "Oh dear gawd, Cass….he thinks we're trying to……he thinks the Major is still here," she said, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
Scott's cry tore at his father's heart and then he felt that cold rage of anger once again. Cass assured Scott he was safe, it was not the Major and his handiwork and whatever he was whispering to him it seemed to settle him. The needle had to be used three more times, going deep into his muscle, once more on one side of the wound and twice on the other before it was frozen enough to be worked on. Scott groaned and convulsed at each of the intrusions but within a few minutes the muscle and tissue around his wound was numbed and he felt nothing more there.
While she waited for the numbing effect to take place Sarah positioned the screen to face Cass. "Mr Tracy..….this is Lieutenant Cassidy Grey Wolf….he's been taking care of your son," she said, giving the introductions to which both men nodded politely. "Cass is also donating blood for your son, Mr Tracy….he has been bleeding from his wound and we had used up his blood group during his surgery," she added, as she now took out his donation line, pressed the needle mark with a small piece of gauze before finally covering it with a surgical tape, making Cass feel somewhat embarrassed for he didn't want any praise or recognition for his action but Sarah felt he deserved it none the less and wanted Jeff Tracy to know his son was being given the best care possible, despite what had happened. The blood was then hastily sent off to get processed. "In fact, Mr Tracy….the whole Base here offered to donate blood when they knew it was for your son….that's the respect he is held in," she further added, feeling it would do him good to know just how much well liked his son is.
Jeff choked back the emotion and his eyes shone with unshed tears. "Thank you….thank you for telling me ….and thank you Lt Grey Wolf for what you are doing for my son," he said with genuine gratitude.
By now the muscle and surrounding tissue was numbed enough to start work on so she made the preparations to begin, opening up the Suture Kit. Captain Conley thanked and dismissed the other nurse, saying she could manage from here, knowing too that there would be some sensitive information discussed, things that should only be kept between them for, somehow, things always managed to get out. Indeed, it wasn't long after that rumor was rife as to what Major Bauer had done to the brave young Lieutenant.
Now that they had privacy Jeff was anxious to hear what this man knew.
"Mr Tracy….please…call me Cass…everybody does. Chey'nah did tell me what the Major wanted to know," Cass told him, keeping his voice low but he could see now a questioning frown on Jefferson Tracy's face. He smiled weakly. "When I first came to tend your son….he was being a little….," he started to say, wondering just how he could put it into words and not be unkind but he needn't have worried for this father knew his eldest son well.
"Being a little obstinate!" Jeff offered, returning a weak smile.
Cass nodded. This father did, indeed, know his son well. "He would not let me use his name…so I gave him a name…Chey'nah…because of what I sense in him," Cass explained simply.
Jeff understood and nodded knowingly. He did not ask what the name meant or what Cass had sensed in his son for some things are meant to be private but he guessed that it was deeply personal and Jeff was well aware of and respected the beliefs held by others; after all, he had had his good friend, Kyrano, with him for many years so was quite used to a depth of spirituality not understood by most.
"Please…go on," Jeff now urged.
Cass winced a smile. "Mr Tracy…I'm not sure what you know of your son's ordeal in the jungle," he began tentatively, giving the impression that he did, for to understand what the Major wanted one would have to know the circumstances.
"That's alright, Cass….I am aware of what my son had to do….and what he has seen," Jeff informed him, wondering what it was he was going to hear.
Cass nodded. "Mr Tracy….Major Bauer wanted to know what it was like for your son to kill….Chey'nah told me the Major wanted to know how he felt when he took those men's lives….did he have any emotion. Mr Tracy…your son is also suffering deep emotional stress….he will not talk about anything that happened out there. I believe Major Bauer has also tortured him on a psychological level….in our hearing he called your son a…..," he explained, though here he stopped for a moment, knowing this would be hard for a father to hear about his son. "….he called your son a…cold blooded killer, Mr Tracy…..in fact….he said it was people like him who had made him so….and he was proud of the fact. Your son was very deeply distressed by it. Mr Tracy….we will be only too happy to give testimony to that if you need us to," Cass finished off.
Again a fist came down hard on the desk in stone cold anger, causing the image on the screen to shudder. "Damn that man….damn them all to hell," Jefferson Tracy thundered. So that was what they wanted, to know whether their course had been a success! His son would not give him the satisfaction of knowing and for that he paid this terrible price and who knew for how long after; the physical wounds would heal, yes but it was the emotional scars that would remain. Jeff felt sick, sick with disgust for these men, sick with disgust at those who allowed men such as Major Bauer to continue in the United States Air Force, a Force he had once thought stood for something honorable. He was also sick with anguish for his son's mental torment.
"Thank you, Cass…Captain Conley….yes I would appreciate you sending me a report because…I can assure you…I will take this to the very highest level….I will make that man pay….even if I have to bring down the whole gawd damn Government to do it," Jeff Tracy responded with such chilling assurance that they believed he just would at that. When Cass had spoken of the family's right to retribution I don't think even he realised the full force that was about to be unleashed.
Cass could see something else was bothering Jeff. "Is there anything else you would like to know, Mr Tracy?"
Another painful groan only served to remind him and he swallowed hard. "Yes, Cass….there is. I just can't help wondering why you were all not alerted to what was going on a lot sooner….I mean….his heart rate must have been sky high…..aren't the monitors linked to a central system or something?" Jeff asked with puzzled concern, needing now to know why his son had been left so long to suffer.
It was Cass, this time, who looked to his Captain and she nodded her agreement for him to tell Jeff Tracy what they had discovered. "Yes, Mr Tracy….you are right….his heart monitor is linked to the central bank at the Nurses Station but we weren't alerted to what was happening….because his heart rate was reading normal," Cass began to explain.
"Well how can that be possible!" Jeff exclaimed; he wasn't a doctor but even he knew the least amount of physical stress would send the heart rate up.
"Mr Tracy…we found a device….and it's definitely not part of our equipment….we've never seen anything like it before," Cass continued to explain.
Jeff frowned heavily; he didn't like the sound of this at all, it all sounded too sinister but then nothing about this Major Bauer was surprising him anymore. "A device! Do you still have it?" Jeff asked, hoping that they hadn't handed it over.
"Yes, Mr Tracy….we have it….I sure as hell wasn't going to hand it over for it to go conveniently missing," Cass replied. He asked Captain Conley to get it out of his tunic pocket and hold it up to the screen for Jeff to see.
Jeff winced a smile. Already he liked Cass and he had been smart. He narrowed his eyes as he studied what he could see of it. "It….it wasn't used on my son….was it!" he had to ask, fearing that it might also be some sort of device that delivered an electric shock while giving out a normal heart beat reading. He couldn't bear to think of his son having suffered any more.
"No, Mr Tracy….it wasn't used on your son….we found it attached to the heart monitor panel. It apparently has the ability to suppress the true reading and produce a steady, normal heartbeat. That's why we had no idea of what was happening to your son. We really are so sorry, Mr Tracy," Cass first of all assured him and then told him what he knew of it.
Jeff nodded and sighed a small relief and felt even more contempt and hate for this man who had been so callous and devious. It was obvious he had intended for no one to come to the aid of his son and the ramifications of that were just too terrible to think about. He would have carried on until, until his son's heart gave out and then what would have been said; that his son had died a hero, a Medal of Honor hero, whose heart succumbed to the stress of his jungle ordeal.
"That's all right….please don't blame yourselves. You should have been able to trust senior officers and this Major Bauer was obviously well prepared. Well now I am equally prepared…and I will make sure there is no stone that they can crawl under…there will be nowhere they can hide," Jeff stated adamantly. "Have you decided what to do with it yet?"
"Well…no, Mr Tracy….this sort of gadgetry isn't my speciality…..but perhaps you might suggest what I do with it," Cass replied knowingly, having sensed that they were on the same wave-length.
He certainly could at that. "Well, it is mine, Cass and I would see it as a big favor if you would pass it on to me. I can have my people at Tracy Aerospace in Houston take a good look at it….and I have a son who is an engineer….see if we can figure out if there's a way of knowing if it is ever being used again," Jeff suggested helpfully.
"It will be my pleasure, Mr Tracy. I can't think of any safer hands," Cass replied gladly. "And, Mr Tracy…I would like to say….you have a very exceptional young man for a son. He has proved himself brave and courageous, he has been noble and honorable and my people would have honored him with a black-tipped eagle's feather," Cass told him with genuine sincerity.
Jeff felt truly moved and a little emotional, guessing that this was the highest compliment that Cass could pay him. He coughed to clear his throat. "Th…thank you…for that, Cass…..I can see my son is in good hands," he said, acknowledging the compliment. Jeff then made arrangements for Cass to send the device, asking him to send it in a fairly innocent looking box marked, 'Spare Parts for Aircraft T-24' to Tracy Aerospace, Houston. "Now….I would like to speak to my son," Jeff added, pushing all other thoughts to the back of his mind, wanting only that his son would know he was thinking of him.
Captain Conley did a brief check of his vitals and found him to be holding steady, although still very weak, looking closely at the young man as he lay on Cass's shoulder, groaning soulfully and barely able to keep his eyes open. "Mr Tracy….your son is very weak….I don't know how much he'll be able to respond to you," Sarah told him sympathetically, not wanting to get his hopes up.
Jeff swallowed back his emotion and nodded. "I know, Captain Conley…..I don't expect him to talk to me...I….I just want to let him know his father is here…..that he knows I'm with him….in my heart. I just want to let him know how…how much he means to me. Please Captain….I've waited so long to see my son….I can't be with him in person…or I would never leave his side….this is the closest I can be…..I know he'll hear me. Please Captain….don't deprive me of seeing my son….not now," Jeff responded, unashamed to use his most heartfelt plea.
It was all Sarah Conley could do to keep from letting her tears fall at this father's moving plea. He may be the world's most powerful and wealthy businessman but when it came down to it he was just a father desperate to talk to his son. "Of course you can talk to your son, Mr Tracy….I just didn't want you to expect too much," she said with a kindly smile to which Jeff nodded his understanding.
She extended the arm out to its fullest and positioned the screen behind Cass and now facing Scott. Jeff drew a deep breath, feeling such a tight knot in his stomach at how emotional he was. The wait had been unbearable, coupled with the fact he hadn't expected to find his son like this and now he was so close, almost face to face with his eldest son. He couldn't help that a tear rolled down his cheek at seeing the familiar short black hair, his head that lay on Cass's shoulder and his left arm that hung limply, like a rag doll, down Cass's back. His soft groaning continued to pull at this father's heart.
He had to cough to clear his throat. He prayed he would remain strong and not break down, for his son's sake; his son needed him to be encouraging now, to give him motivation, to give him the will to live. "Son….can you hear me, Son….this is your father. I…I just want you to know I'm here for you, Son….we all are and we want you home…real soon. We need you….I need you, Son….I won't let you give up. Please, Son…just let me know you can hear me," Jeff begged, struggling now to hold himself together.
Captain Sarah Conley found herself having to turn away and wipe the tears from her eyes. She felt she was intruding on something deeply personal, between a father and his son but she had to stay close by the young Lieutenant should the trauma eventually have proved to much for him and they had to resuscitate. Cass, too, had to admit he found it emotional but he smiled inwardly to himself; it was what Chey'nah needed to hear, his father's call, for he sensed his Chey'nah came from a strong family and now he was proved right.
He was sure he had heard his father's voice in the distance but, of course, he was dreaming; his father was miles away, at home on their paradise island. It was probably the pain that was making him hallucinate and the pain relief he had been given earlier, though to be truthful he hadn't noticed much difference. Now he was sure he heard his father's voice again, much closer this time, almost as though he were right in front of him, urging him to answer him.
With an effort he lifted his head, his eyes closed with the exhaustion he felt. Slowly now he opened his eyes, heavy with pain, to see he hadn't been dreaming at all, he could see his father, pale and strained, an anguished smile breaking on his face and he would swear his father had been crying, his eyes were reddened and shining. That wasn't like his father, to be so openly emotional; was it because of him!
He hadn't wanted his family to see him like this but now that he saw his father he suddenly wished his father were here in person. "Da..Dad! Is…that…you!" Scott groaned, still thinking it might be a dream. "I…I…," he tried to speak but every word was an effort, every breath was an effort.
For the first time Jefferson Tracy saw the face of his precious eldest son, swollen and marked, as he lifted his head towards the screen. It was tearing the very heart out of him to see his son like this. He had wanted to rage and shout, he had wanted his hands round the throat of Major Bauer for he would have squeezed the very life out of him for what he had done and if the Major had wanted to know how he felt, he would have gladly told him, that he felt good. But for his son's sake he remained calm, his anger could be unleashed later; right now his son needed him. He froze the picture in time for his last piece of evidence then returned to real time.
"Yes, Son….it's…it's your father. Don't try to talk…save your strength," he urged. "Son….I know all about it…I know what's happened to you….and I know what happened to you out there….in the jungle. I know what you had to do, Son….and it's all right…you did what you had to do….and I'm proud of you, Son. You survived….and you can survive this….I know you can, Son….because you've got what it takes. I know what that Major did to you….and, by gawd, I'll make him pay….I know what he wanted from you…and you did the right thing," Jeff encouraged him.
His father knew! His father knew what he was. "Nooo…Dad…I…I…don't…want…you…to…look…at…me. I…kn…know…what I…am," Scott breathed painfully, turning his eyes from the screen.
Anguish gripped Jeff's heart. "Damn that man. Damn that man for how he's made my son feel," Jeff thought bitterly to himself. It seemed Cass was right, his son was suffering deep emotional stress.
"Look at me, Son….please look at me," Jeff begged for he couldn't let his son go on believing this about himself or that his family couldn't bear to look at him but he could see Scott was drifting again, groaning under the pain and Cass was doing his best to comfort him. Much as it was going to pain him to do this he had no choice. "Scott! Scott! You damn well look at me when I'm talking to you," he added sternly. It seemed to do the trick and pull Scott back from wherever he was, compelled to obey his father. Slowly he turned pain-filled eyes back to the screen and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Jeff smiled; anguish tearing at his soul. "You are not to listen to what he said….it's not true….do you hear. You are my son….the same person you have always been…..you are warm-hearted and generous….good and decent….and I want you to remember that….hold on to that, Son," his father encouraged him with all the love in his heart.
Scott sucked in a breath, as much as he could. "Da…Dad. I…I…didn't…tell…him…any…thing." he groaned, as if almost desperate for his father's approval.
Jeff gave him a pained smile. "I know you didn't, Son…..you did the right thing…..you were very brave," his father encouraged him.
"You…you…didn't…tell…them. Don't…want…them…to…know. Do…don't…want…them…to…be…afraid…of…me…Dad," Scott breathed out, an anxious look now on his face.
Jeff knew he meant his brothers and he closed his eyes against the mental anguish his son was in. Jeff knew Scott was probably not dealing well with what he'd had to do but it was only now he was getting a glimpse of what was going on in his son's mind. "No Son….I didn't tell them. All they know is you courageously rescued Jez and got shot getting to the helo. But they're your brother's, Son…..they would never be afraid of you," Jeff assured him gently.
"No…no…I…don't…want…them…to…know…pro…mise…me…Dad. Don't…want…them…to…know," Scott insisted anxiously, as he tried to lift himself up.
Jeff could see he was becoming more and more distressed, as could Captain Conley. "Please, Mr Tracy…your son mustn't be put under any more stress right now," she urged gently but firmly. She made another check of his heart and his breathing rate.
Jeff nodded; he would never knowingly cause his son any distress. "I'm sorry, Son. Of course I promise I won't tell them….I just wanted you to know," he continued to reassure him.
Another wave of deep pain made Scott contort in agony. "Agghhh……Dad…it…hurts," Scott groaned. Scott Tracy was not one to complain about every little ache and pain, indeed, he had quite a high tolerance level, as was borne out by his survival training but he had already been severely weakened even before the brutal treatment and now he felt he couldn't take any more.
It was more than Jefferson Tracy could bear and the tears that had been brimming in his eyes he could no longer keep from falling. He swallowed back the emotion and quickly wiped his face, not wanting his son to think he was upsetting his father. "I know, Son….I know. I wish there was something I could do …something to make it easier for you," his father told him, feeling utterly helpless; he hadn't felt this helpless since his beloved wife was taken from him. "Can't you do something for him? Can't you freeze his side the way you did his back for a while….just to give him some relief?" he pleaded with Sarah Conley.
"Mr Tracy…I know this must be hard for you but we are doing all we can for your son. I've given him the maximum relief already so I can't give him anything more for a while….it's just too dangerous. Your son is weak, Mr Tracy….any more just now could send him into coma," she tried to explain gently. "And I can't freeze his side….he would need a lot of it to be of any good and it's too risky…..it could affect his diaphragm….even paralyse his lungs….he wouldn't be able to breathe. But as soon as I can I'll give him everything I can….I promise," she added reassuringly.
Jeff nodded reluctantly, knowing she knew what he needed more than he did but then, he was looking at it from a father's point of view; all he knew was his son was in pain.
His father would be on the vid-link now, having arranged to be put through so he could talk to Scott in person and he couldn't wait to see and talk to his eldest brother. Virgil hurriedly made his way up from the newly constructed underground hangars that would eventually house the new hi-tech rescue craft. He had been working on the finer details of the design of the large transport vessel with a genius of a young scientist that his father had also brought onto the project and, indeed, had welcomed into the family; a young scientist by the name of Hiram Hackenbacker or, as he was fast becoming known, 'Brains'. He had been so engrossed in the size and capability of this craft he had almost forgotten his father should be through by now but he didn't intend on missing out speaking to his brother.
With eager anticipation Virgil burst into the lounge, hoping he wasn't too late. As he got nearer to his father's desk, however, he could see his father visibly paled and strained and, if he wasn't mistaken his father looked as if he had shed a few tears. Virgil instantly thought the worst, that his father must have had bad news about his brother and he felt that cold knot of fear.
"Dad! It's not Scott, is it! Tell me it's not bad news," Virgil pleaded anxiously.
"No Son….at least it's not that kind of news," his father answered, which only served to puzzle him.
"Then what!" Virgil asked, concerned that something had happened but before Jeff could stop him Virgil came around the desk to the vid- phone. What he saw shocked and upset him. He couldn't believe what a state his brother was in and he seemed to be in pain. "Scott! Scott! What's happened?" he called out, desperately anxious for his brother.
"Virgil! Not now," Jeff responded, shaking his head. "Your brother's been tortured….," he had started to say, while keeping his voice low. He knew he needed to give Virgil a brief explanation rather than have him ask his brother any more.
"Tort….!" Virgil was about to repeat but his father reminded him Scott may hear him.
"I'll fill you in later, Virgil…..what your brother needs now is to hear your voice….talk to him, Son," Jeff urged him gently.
He was drifting again but he was sure he could hear his brother Virgil's voice. "Virg!…Virg…is…that…you?" Scott gasped out in between painful breaths and trying hard now to focus his eyes.
Virgil could hardly bear his brother's plaintive cry. "Yeah….yeah…it's me buddy….I'm here," he answered, trying to sound positive.
Scott could see now that he was upset. "Gu…guess…this…means…I…ain't…that…good…lookin…any…more," he responded, feebly attempting a joke to which Virgil winced back a smile.
"Hey buddy…you weren't…that good-lookin to start with," Virgil replied, responding to his brother's brave attempt at humor.
Cass, too, could hear the conversation and smiled to himself but since his back was to the screen he couldn't see, though he guessed it was one of Chey'nah's brothers for it was definitely a brotherly comment, the kind he recognised.
Scott breathed out an agonised groan. "Scott….you Ok, buddy….how you doin?" Virgil asked with much concern.
"I'm…not…doin…so… good…Virg. It…hurts…..it…hurts…real…bad," Scott admitted.
That admission tore at his heart for it wasn't like Scott to freely admit something like that. Virgil knew he was bad. Suddenly an anger flamed in him for whoever had done this. "Scott!…Scott! Who did this to you?" Virgil asked, unable to hold it in to which his father gave him a frown and shook his head in a 'Not now' manner. "I'm sorry, Dad…but this is my brother…..look at him," he added, wanting his father to know how worried he was. Jeff understood all too well and gripped his shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Everything was moving away from him now, their faces were getting darker; it was getting harder to see. He could see their mouths moving, talking; he just couldn't hear them anymore. In a moving and heartbreaking gesture Scott lifted his left hand from where it hung limply and stretched his fingers out to touch the screen, as though trying to touch his family. Jeff choked back the well of emotion he was feeling and reached out his hand to touch his screen, to touch his son so far away. Virgil, too, put his hand on top of his father's, allowing the tips of his fingers to touch his brother's.
"We…love you, Son," Jeff told him, with all the feeling in his heart, a sentiment that Virgil echoed.
"I…I…love…you…guys," Scott breathed out, exhausted totally now by his efforts.
His hand fell from the screen; his head slumped down over Cass's shoulder, thankful that at last the dark oblivion had taken him.
"Scott! SCOTT!" Virgil shouted frantically.
