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

Author's Note: The information on the condition of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and the treatment of it with Neurontin is correct according to my research and advice from my Medical Advisor, FellowRiverrat. Thanks again for your invaluable help. I upgraded the medication to Neurontin II for the purposes of the story for since this is the future, well, there's always bound to be a new and improved form of the drug. Just a warning that there is some sexual activity alluded to at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 95

By the time Jenna got back to the infirmary Alan had left, having made his peace with his eldest brother.

"Mike says he'll be able to come over tomorrow, Scott. He rescheduled all his appointments so he can stay a couple of days. Isn't that good news? It will be good to see him again…..and your father's going to tell everyone he just brought his visit forward," Jenna told him, happy at the fact Mike was able to come over so soon to see Scott for himself and obviously happy at the prospect of seeing him again. She didn't fail to catch that Scott did not seem so overjoyed at the news but appeared to have something on his mind.

"Yeah…that is good news," he replied half-heartedly, though trying his best to sound a bit more enthusiastic.

"What is it, Scott?" Jenna asked quietly, coming and sitting beside him and caressing his arm in a comforting fashion. "You're anxious about actually seeing Mike again…aren't you?" she surmised, feeling his apprehension, though she guessed instinctively this was not about medical matters.

"Yeah…I guess," Scott sighed, wincing a smile.

"And…it isn't about what he might say about your hand….or how you're progressing….is it?" Jenna concluded warily. Scott shook his head. "It's about us….isn't it?" she asked gently, taking hold of his right hand and playing with his fingers.

He, in turn, started playing with her fingers. "I like Mike, Jen….I have a lot of respect for him…..and I…I stole his best Intensive Care Nurse. He brought you out here to do a job….and you ended up resigning ….because of me. I know he's been like a father to you…and has looked out for you…..and he probably feels responsible for you. I…I just don't want there to be any ill feeling, Jen," Scott replied sincerely with a much-troubled expression on his face.

It was one thing talking to Mike over the on-line consultations, for with Mike's time being precious there wasn't much time for small talk and things were kept more or less on a medical and professional level but it would be another thing to have Mike here again in the flesh in his home, especially if he was staying for a few days. Here, there would be more time for personal conversation and, perhaps, confrontation, with Mike feeling now was the time to get a few things of his chest and say what he really felt about this situation.

So that was it. She smiled gently. "Oh Scott…..I made my own decision about resigning. We neither of us knew how we were going to end up feeling about each other…..we didn't plan it….it just happened. And yes…I guess Mike has been like a father figure ….and he has looked out for me," Jenna reassured him and agreeing with a soft, reflective smile on Mike's status in her life. Cocking her head sideways, she then drew her brows together inquisitively as she studied him.

"Are you worried about getting the big, 'If you hurt her, you'll have me to deal with' speech!" she asked wonderingly, trying to contain a growing smile and rubbing his arm affectionately.

The way she worded it did make it all sound rather melodramatic, making him break into a wincing smile. "Yeah….something like that, I guess."

Jenna had to bite her lips together in an effort to keep the growing beam of an affectionate smile at bay, finding it all really rather sweet and touching. "Scott…Mike likes you a lot….he has a lot of respect for you too…..and he'll see how happy we are," she told him, giving him lots of reassurance. "But I suppose he does think of himself as being responsible for me…..so I can't guarantee that he won't give you the 'big' speech," she added with a mischievously, wry grin as she continued to rub his arm.

Scott returned a strained smile and curled his fingers around hers. "I don't ever want to hurt you, Jen. And I don't want him thinking this is something that isn't going to last……that it's just a patient/nurse thing," he responded with some concern.

"He won't think that, Scott….I'm sure of it. I told him how we feel about each other. Mike just wants me to be happy…..and he'll see that we are. So you have nothing to worry about," she smiled lovingly, caressing his face.

"I hope so, Jen….I hope so," Scott replied, though he couldn't truly relax about it until he knew what Mike's reaction was going to be. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, however, by something much more immediate. "Aghh….geez," he hissed, gritting his teeth and sucking in a breath. He automatically grasped at his left hand.

"More pain in your hand!" Jenna queried with sympathy.

"Yeah….I'll say. It's like real bad pins and needles and burning," Scott replied, squeezing his fingers in an effort to relieve the pain. "But it's a good pain….right! So I can live with it," he added with a wincing smile.

She smiled with warm affection, mixed with sympathy. "Yeah….it's a good pain…..but that doesn't mean you have to suffer with it. I can give you something to help with the pain," she suggested helpfully and went immediately to the medical supplies. This was a good sign for the more frequently he was experiencing these pains the more likely he was to get the feeling back and make a good recovery.

When Jenna found what she was looking for, she came back to where he was and, sitting beside him, quickly administered the pain relief, pressing the hypospray into his left forearm. "This is Neurontin II ….it's helpful for this type of pain," she assured him with a smile. Then, taking his left hand in hers, she started to massage it with a cream she had also brought back. How he longed to feel again, her hand in his, to be able to touch her and hold her in both his arms as he watched her massage his hand with loving care, listening to her explain. "This cream is just an anaesthetic type lotion….it should help give you some immediate relief and the medication is used for different types of pain…..it's very successful in the one most like yours…..Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. I know….that's a bit of a mouthful….isn't it," Jenna smiled when she realised Scott probably wouldn't have a clue what that was. Sometimes she just forgot herself, using medical terms that were familiar and easy to her but not to someone who didn't have that kind of medical knowledge.

Picking up on the only word that he recognised, Scott gave her a questioning look. "But I don't have Diabetes!" he queried with a frown.

"No…you don't. It's just the pain you're experiencing….the pins and needles effect….is the same as someone who does……," she explained helpfully and as simply as she could, going on to tell him that Neuropathy was a condition affecting the nerve sensations and the Peripheral related to the nerve endings on the outer extremities, such as legs and feet, the arms and hands. "It's like all the nerves in your hand and arm have gone to sleep. Think of it like this," she added, thinking of an easy way to explain it. "You know how, if you've lain on your arm for a while….and it goes to sleep….you're all numb and there's no feeling in it!"

Scott nodded in understanding, for that's exactly how his arm felt or rather, how his arm didn't feel.

"And you let it hang down and all the blood rushes down to your hand…..that's when you feel the pins and needles effect. It's your hand waking up again. Well, that's what we hope is happening to you….that your hand and arm are waking up. The only difference is….that when you've lain on your arm awkwardly the pins and needles usually only last for a few minutes until the feeling comes back again…this kind of pain will last a bit longer. So that's why I'm giving you the medication…..it will help to control the pain until it subsides," Jenna finished off on a note of sympathetic understanding, knowing the sensations couldn't be very pleasant for him.

"How long do you think that might take, Jen?" Scott asked tentatively.

"Well….if you continue to get these pains and sensations…it could take up to a week or more for feeling to come back fully into your hand and arm….but we just don't know. And we still don't know just how much feeling you might get back, Scott….you do know that…don't you?" she told him truthfully, adding that note of caution.

"Yeah…I know, Jen….I know," Scott nodded understandingly.

"But we are going to hope for the best….and pray," she continued, with positive optimism. Lifting his hand, she gently and lovingly kissed his fingers and she, too, found herself longing to be held in both his arms and to have his hands sensuously explore her body.

As Scott watched her massage the palm of his hand, he saw it, the sign that filled him with a little ray of hope. For what he witnessed was, once again, his fingers flinch, curling in towards the palm and straightening out.

"Did…did you see that, Jen!" he called out, eyes bright and shining with excitement, looking first to his fingers, then to her and back again. "They moved….they moved all by themselves. My fingers actually moved, Jen."

She couldn't help but smile with warm affection at his childlike excitement, his happiness at such a simple pleasure that most people take for granted. "Yes…I did see it….and they most certainly did move."

In a short of while of her massaging his hand with the cream and along with the medication, the pain subsided.

"Now….is there anything you would like to do this afternoon….although I think we can take a break from the gym for a while," Jenna asked, feeling a distraction was in order and not wanting him to put to much exertion on himself today, especially after the events of yesterday. "Would you like to go to the pool? It would be relaxing for you."

After a few moments thought! "Yeah….there is something I would like to do," Scott replied with a quiet smile. "I never did get round to showing you Thunderbird One…..did I!"

Jenna shook her head. "Are you sure you feel up to it, Scott? You don't have to….we can always do it another day," she suggested lovingly as she caressed his right arm, guessing it would be rather an emotional reunion and thinking he was feeling obligated for her sake.

"Yeah….I'm good. And besides….it seems to be the time for facing things," he assured her in quiet reflection.

She smiled with understanding. "I can understand if you want to do this by yourself, Scott. Really…I don't mind. I can always see her some other time," Jenna replied, totally appreciating the fact he may want this first visit back to be private and falling quite naturally into the way of attributing a personality to Thunderbird One in the form of 'her'.

It was something that Scott did not fail to miss; pleasing him immensely, the fact she referred to his craft as 'her' and not 'it', showed the depth of understanding she had of his relationship with this exceptional craft that he had invested so much time and effort in, right from 'her' inception.

"No, Jen….I want you to come with me…..I want to show her to you. I want you to meet the only other 'lady' in my life," Scott announced sincerely and with a measure of pride, taking her hand in his and squeezing it lovingly.

"Then I would be honoured," she smiled, giving him a polite little bow and feeling really deeply touched that he would want her to share what she knew was going to be an intensely personal moment for him, the first time he would see Thunderbird One since his injury. All the same, she just couldn't help a little playful teasing and cocked her head sideways in a mocking pout. "Although…I'm not sure that I shouldn't be just a little bit jealous…..knowing you have 'another lady' in your life…Mr Tracy."

At once Scott broke into a warm grin of a smile; his eyes alight with fire at her teasing. That was one of the things he loved about her, the way she had brought him so playfully alive. He knew she would never, ever make him choose so he was free to relax and enjoy it for what it was, mischievous and playful teasing.

"I think I like that…..you being jealous. But you have nothing to worry about, Jen….in fact….I would say it's more likely to be the other way round. 'She' would have every reason to be jealous of you, if 'she' could…..because you'll always be the Number One lady in my life from now on," Scott stated with such loving sincerity as he stroked her face that Jenna found her eyes misting over. He instinctively pulled her to him to enjoy a warm and very deep kiss.

They were just about to go when two visitors arrived, in the form of Virgil and Gordon, having taken a break from their labors on TB1, to come and see how their brother was now that he was awake.

"We just wanted to see how you were doin……you were sleeping all morning so we didn't want to disturb you. You Ok, buddy?" Virgil asked, the concern for his eldest brother very evident.

"Yeah….I'm good, Virg. Just brought back a lot of stuff….you know," Scott replied in quiet reflection to which Virgil nodded his understanding.

"Scott…look…I'm sorry. I know you didn't want……," Virgil had started to apologise.

"Virg…..it's alright….really," Scott interrupted him, knowing what he was going to say. "Alan told me what happened after I left the gym….that he asked you. And I kinda guessed that you would put them straight on what happened."

He then turned to Gordon, who he could see was just about to say something. "Gordon…look…I'm sorry I kept all that stuff from you and Alan….but I wanted to protect you guys….keep you from knowing what I had to do. I just wanted things to stay the same between us…..didn't want you to be looking at me different…wondering…you know. And I guess I wanted to protect myself from being hurt….I didn't want to see fear in your eyes. And there was other stuff too….things I had seen….things I wanted to protect you from….all of you," he explained with heartfelt emotion and turning to Virgil. "I didn't want you all having those images in your mind that I have. Please understand Gordon….I just wanted to bury everything….as deep as possible. I didn't wanna talk about it….and I didn't want to be reminded….and eventually….I was able to shut it out…for most of the time anyway. I didn't want to face it….and maybe that was wrong…I don't know. I just wasn't ready then….and the longer I left it ….the easier it was then not to deal with it at all….and just bury it…..and I guess…part of me was afraid …..afraid of what I might have become. And all those other things….if I didn't face them…..then maybe I could pretend they didn't happen," Scott continued, taking a deep, slow breath and wincing at the still very raw memories that were now fresh in his mind, as he begged for his brother's understanding.

Jenna gave him a warm and encouraging smile, caressing his feeling arm in a loving gesture. Very much appreciating her love and support and with eyes only for each other he returned her smile.

"But I guess now is the time to deal with it….the right time to face up to it….all of it. And I guess knowing that you and Alan know now…will make that a bit easier," Scott admitted, with a deep sigh and turning back to Gordon.

"Sure, Scott….of course I understand why you wanted to bury all that stuff….and I guess a lot of things make more sense now…knowing everything you've been through. But you don't ever need to be afraid of what you might have become….you wouldn't ever be that…never in a million years…..you won't ever be anything else other than the big brother we all love and are so proud of," Gordon assured him with absolute certainty. "And I know there's probably stuff you still don't wanna talk about….I respect that….but I just want you to know…if there's anything you want to talk about…you know we're here for you, Scott."

Choked with emotion, Scott nodded his appreciation. "Thanks Gordy….thanks for all that….and thanks for understanding….I really need you to. But yeah…there's stuff I don't want to talk about. It's not because I don't want to face it anymore….it's just…there are things you should never have to hear…..never have to imagine. So please….don't ask me. I am dealing with it…..but it'll just take time."

"Sure, Scott….I understand. What about Alan? You said he told you what happened after you left the gym! We know he couldn't wait to come and see you…..to apologise. And we all know what he's like….letting his mouth run ahead of his brain….but he's real sorry for startin up this whole business, Scott….," Gordon had to ask, wondering and hoping that they had been able to make up for he didn't want to think of either of his brothers as being hurt and left unhappy by this incident and intent on intervening on their youngest brother's behalf.

"No need to worry, Gordy. I've already seen Alan….and we're good," Scott assured him with a quiet smile. "Now, come here," he requested and with big brotherly affection held out his right arm, into which his copper-haired young brother gratefully went to be held in a tight and emotional embrace. "Hey…you too, Virg...come here," Scott added, wanting then to include his closest brother in a gesture that said, 'Everything's alright between us'.

Jenna had to admit to feeling a tiny bit emotional, happily emotional though, to see the three brothers in a group hug.

After a few minutes Gordon just couldn't resist, feeling somehow, as though a great weight had begun to lift. "Hey, Jen…there's room for one more in here," he grinned mischievously, holding out his arm to invite her to join in, beside him, naturally.

Scott narrowed his eyes in mock warning. "Just don't push it, Gordon Tracy. Big brotherly love will only go so far…..and you're just about to cross the line, little buddy. You know….I think there's some of that Freeze Spray left…..isn't there, Jen!" he responded, with just the merest hint of menace and a twinkle in his eye.

The look on Gordon's face was priceless, remembering only too well his 'punishment' from the other day for taking similar liberties. So much so, that when he instinctively lowered his hands, as if to protect his assets, it caused everyone else to burst into laughter, though Virgil found himself reddening a little with embarrassment at remembering how he'd been left in all his glory and the indignity of having to retreat, covered by nothing more than a supper tray.

It was good to see Scott laugh again, if only for a brief moment, Jenna thought to herself as she watched him and for that alone, she could have hugged Gordon. Life in this household would never be dull, that was for sure.

"Say…were you two about to go somewhere?" Virgil asked, thinking back on when he and Gordon had just come in.

"Yeah….I'm taking Jen to see Thunderbird One. We…eh…didn't seem to get round to doin that yesterday!" Scott replied with just a little hint of mocking sarcasm.

Gordon and Virgil shot each other a look, a look that didn't escape their eldest brother's notice.

"Something else I should know about, guys!" Scott queried in a somewhat commanding tone.

"No, no…of course not, Scott," Virgil was quick to assure him. "It's just….well….we only started work on her today….so she's still….you know….," he added with a wince.

Scott nodded. "Yeah…..I know…..but I still want to see her….no matter what shape she's in," he insisted with quiet determination that meant he was not going to be put off any more.

"Sure Scott….we understand. And listen…..we…eh…can take a break from the work for a while…give you guys some space," Virgil offered thoughtfully and being sensitive enough to his brother's feelings to know he would want time alone to reacquaint himself without the noise and banging of repair work going on.

"Sure Scott. We can start work again tomorrow," Gordon readily agreed.

"Thanks guys….I appreciate that," their eldest brother gratefully acknowledged. Turning to Jenna, Scott extended his right hand. "Ready to go!" he offered.

Jenna nodded and giving him a warm smile, placed her hand in his and together they left the infirmary. As they made their way to the upper level, Virgil put through a call to Alan, Tin-Tin and Brains, who were still at work in Thunderbird One's hangar, telling them that Scott was on his way over with Jenna and would they leave the repairs for a while to give them some time on their own.

She had to admit to feeling a little excited now at the prospect of getting to see Thunderbird One close up and what better guide to show her around than to have TB1's own pilot, for after all, who knew 'her' better. She hadn't known quite what to expect, though visions of a large and spacious hangar type place, capable of housing a rocket ship featured strongly in her imagination and since she remembered what Scott had told her, when they were doing his hydrotherapy session, of the secret that lay beneath them, under the pool, she had expected to be heading underground, away from the house; so it was a bit puzzling to her when Scott led her into the lounge.

"Aren't we going to see Thunderbird One right away then?" Jenna asked tentatively, wondering why Scott had brought her up here, as she looked around the empty lounge.

"Yes, we are," Scott replied simply, with a knowing smile, leaving her even more puzzled. Jenna had so much more to learn about the secrets of the Tracy family lounge.

And suddenly she remembered the surprise of seeing the couch, closest to Jeff's desk, disappearing down through the floor when John had returned to Thunderbird Five after his leaving party. "We're not going down through the floor….are we!" Jenna exclaimed in surprise.

Scott couldn't help but smile at her wide-eyed innocent wonderment. "Not quite. More like….going through the wall!" he responded with a wry grin.

Now she was really confused, looking first to him and then scanning the walls in bemusement to see if she could spot an entrance. She followed passively as Scott led her by the hand towards a panel on the wall. "Are there any more surprises in here that I don't know about!" she asked with a light laugh.

"Maybe," Scott replied with a nonchalant shrug and a wry smile, wondering just what she would make of Virgil's entrance to Thunderbird Two but that could wait for another time and even then, perhaps, it would be best to show her the passenger lift, though he had no doubt in his mind whatsoever that his lady was just about game for anything. On reaching his panel he stood with his back firmly against the wall and wrapping his arm around her waist he pulled her tight up against himself, gazing down into her eyes and knowing very well what he was doing to them both. "Now….put your arms round me and hold on," he instructed, though with a distinctive gleam in his eyes.

"Why Mr Tracy…..isn't this all rather public…..what if someone should come in!" Jenna teased him provocatively, though she obeyed his orders by happily draping her arms around his neck.

He smiled broadly at her flirtatious teasing and was more than content with their very close proximity. "Behave Nurse Rollins...and that would be Field Commander! And this is all entirely for your own safety….I can assure you. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you….so you'd better hold on tight….the tighter the better!" Scott returned in mocking seriousness.

"Then I'd better make sure I obey my Field Commander's orders fully. Is this tight enough….Sir!" Jenna continued in her provocative tease, pressing her body tighter against his.

He groaned with contentment; his eyes alight with the fire of pleasure. He so enjoyed these sensually playful and teasing banters, loving her for making him feel alive and filling him with a sense of playfulness. "Yeah….I'd say that was just about right, Nurse Rollins." Entering Thunderbird One's silo had never been quite so enjoyable before.

She rather liked the sound of his commanding air of authority. Apart from the fact she found it a huge turn-on, it gave her a sense of security and protection, made her feel all safe and warm inside. Despite their mutual teasing, though, she did realise there was a serious purpose behind his request.

Scott reached up his right hand to the light fixture and on pressing the hidden catch the panel swung them out of sight. He watched her face light up with child-like wonder, as she took in her new surroundings.

Rendered momentarily speechless, she could only gaze around in fascination, barely able to believe that just a few seconds ago she had been in the family lounge. But her attention was soon focused on the object of their visit, the awesome sight of Thunderbird One standing vertical in her silo, the sheer size and scale of her truly breathtaking close up. Jenna had only ever seen her in her horizontal position when she had landed to pick them up at Tracy Aerospace all those weeks ago and then again, as she took off from Tracy Island once they had been delivered, with the pretence, at that time, of heading back to her secret base, which proved to be a lot closer than she could ever have imagined.

"Oh Scott! This is….incredible. This is right next……I mean…..the lounge…..it's just in……," Jenna spluttered out in absolute fascination, pointing to all this and then back to the lounge, as if they had just stepped through some secret doorway into another world entirely, which, in a way, they had. It reminded her very much of an old children's classic, where the children stepped through an old wardrobe to emerge into a magical place.

She smiled now and shook her head, thinking of the many times she had been in the lounge and all the time this amazing secret lay hidden just behind the wall and somewhere close by, of course, the other Thunderbirds must be stored too.

He couldn't help but smile at her obvious delight. "Yeah…the lounge is just right next door. That allows for me to access her quickly. Thunderbird One is a 'first response' ship…so I have to be airborne within minutes. But yeah….I guess it is all pretty incredible," Scott explained helpfully and looking around, trying to imagine what it would be like seeing it all for the first time. He found himself filled with a mixture of emotions, for it had been some time since he had been in here himself.

Jenna could well understand, now, his caution and his instructions for her to hold on to him, for she suddenly became aware of just how high up they were, since they were level with TB1's nose cone, making her feel almost giddy as she looked down into chasm below.

"How high up are we, Scott?" she asked with interest.

"Well…Thunderbird One is 115ft from her base to the nose cone….and a wingspan of 80ft….when fully extended," he informed her proudly, knowing every inch and dimension of his craft.

With a little raise of her brows, Jenna nodded in acknowledgement. "That's impressive."

"She's not as big as Thunderbird Two, of course, but then she's built for speed and manoeuvrability," Scott added in defence of her.

Jenna smiled with warm affection for it was clear to her now, by how he spoke of 'her' just how he felt about his beloved craft and she could imagine what it meant for him to fly her and what it would mean if he couldn't do that any more. One thing, though, was now puzzling her.

"Scott! You told me before that Thunderbird One shoots up out of the pool…..but….we're right next to the lounge…in the house…..so how can that be!" she asked in bewilderment, having worked out that these two pieces of information were not compatible.

He was highly amused at her technical description of TB1's launch, though was quite impressed with her intelligent reasoning out. "That's very clever thinking, Miss Rollins. Well…..this is Thunderbird One's silo….where she stays when she's not operational…..but she has a separate launch bay," Scott explained. Standing behind her he rested his chin on Jenna's right shoulder and she rubbed her face affectionately against his with a warm smile, as he drew her attention off to the side. "Look down there. She's mounted on a trolley system that takes her from here….down that ramp….and through into her launch bay. That brings her under the pool for launch," he added, only too willing to tell her all she wanted to know, while pointing out just where he meant. "Maybe one day I'll…I'll get to show you," Scott reflected quietly.

Jenna sensed his mood changing a little, knowing he had just been caught up in seeing her fascination and wonder at it all but now he was reflecting on his own emotions. She turned to face him and held his face lovingly in her hand. "You Ok?" she asked with tender concern.

"I will be," Scott replied with a quiet smile and giving her a sweet kiss. "Or at least I think I will be!" he added, his voice changing tone as he fully took in the sight of what he was seeing. From his vantage point Scott now had a good view of what would be Thunderbird One's underbelly, were she horizontal, the newly acquired gash running practically the whole length of her hull, clearly visible. He lost no time in casting a critical eye over the damage to his craft. "Geez Al…..they weren't kidding," he swore mildly, shaking his head in exasperation.

He may have made it up with his youngest brother on an emotional level but that didn't make him immune from annoyance and irritation at Alan's carelessness on seeing this damage for himself and reminding him again of just how much danger Alan had put himself in, feeling himself now a little more in Field Commander mode.

Jenna winced in sympathy, clearly able to see why the boys had tried to put him off coming to see her and understanding why Scott was so obviously annoyed and probably a little upset. She rubbed his arm comfortingly. "Will it be difficult to fix, Scott!" she asked tentatively, not obviously knowing a great deal about these things.

"Not entirely….I guess. But we're not talking a quick spray job down at the body shop for a scratch on a car either," he sighed heavily, though, what was done, was done, after all and he just had to resign himself to that fact. "You want to go onboard?" Scott then asked, returning to a quiet, reflecting mood.

"Only if you feel up to it, Scott," Jenna replied sensitively, giving his arm an encouraging squeeze.

He nodded, since that was the reason he was in here in the first place. Hard and all as he knew this first visit was going to be and it was proving emotional for him, he wasn't going to back out now.

"Well…em….how do we get across, Scott!" she responded, asking a reasonable enough question on observing the chasm that lay between them and the entrance hatch to Thunderbird One, with no obvious visible means of getting there.

He smiled knowingly and placing himself now protectively in front of her, instructed her to hold on to the rails, which she immediately did. "The gantry extends across to the entrance hatch. It's perfectly safe….. but just hold on…..it takes a bit of getting used to," Scott explained helpfully and giving her an encouraging smile at noticing her slight apprehension, as she looked down over the sides into the depths below.

She relaxed, for she knew there was no way he would put her in any danger but, all the same, she gripped the rails tightly, not relishing the thought of falling from such a great height. Scott activated the gantry from a small panel mounted on the rail, setting it in motion. Jenna felt a thrill of excitement; lost in awe and wonderment, as they started moving across, with nothing more than the open mesh steel of the gantry floor beneath their feet.

It certainly wouldn't take one to be suffering from vertigo, she thought to herself but it brought home, very starkly to her, the potentially dangerous environment of this operational secret base and what these guys did on a daily basis in putting their lives on the line to save people they didn't know. Even the maintenance work on these awesome machines could be hazardous if one was just momentarily careless and did not concentrate fully on what they were doing.

As they moved slowly across, her attention became captivated by something else, something else a lot closer to home, causing her to bite her bottom lip in a provocative little smile and send a rush of desire racing through her body. She just couldn't help thinking how she loved the way his dark, black hair fell sexily on the back of his neck. It was just begging to be stroked and his hair played with but she knew perfectly well what that would do to him and, perhaps, since it was not a good idea to distract him in such a way, or herself for that matter, while up here, she reluctantly, with a sigh, resisted the temptation. There would always be other more suitable times for such distractions when, hopefully, they could give in completely to temptation and desire with wild abandon.

Within a short time the gantry stopped, having reached the hatch and Scott found that momentarily, for him, time seemed to stand still. It was a weird feeling, to say the least, for while, in one way, it had felt like a lifetime ago since he was last here, it also felt like just yesterday. And so much had happened to him in that time, the best of which was standing right behind him; finding the depth and strength of love of a beautiful woman that had borne him through his worst of times and would always be there to support him and be by his side.

He reached out and touched the cold, hard unyielding exterior of her hull in what could only be described as a loving and affectionate gesture, as if to convince himself that she really was there, as if he expected her to be just a figment of his imagination until he actually touched her.

It was such a tender and touching thing to witness that Jenna found herself choked with emotion, almost loathe to break into such an intensely private and intimate moment. "Scott……if you want to do this by yourself…I understand. I can always see her another time," she said softly and with sensitivity, as she reached out to touch his back.

With a sharp intake of breath he came back from his faraway thoughts and turned to face her. "No Jen….I want you to be here with me. I…I need you to be," Scott assured her with a plaintive smile and lifting her hand, he tenderly kissed the backs of her fingers.

Turning then he keyed in his access code on the small panel adjacent to the hatchway. It slid open with a hiss. Scott stepped down inside, turned and extended his hand to Jenna to help her down. While it was all very familiar to Scott this was all very new to her since, when she had been in here before, on her way to Tracy Island, she had been blindfolded.

Jenna looked around her in amazement and wonderment at what she was seeing, pride and admiration filling her for this man she loved that he was in command of such an awesome and highly advanced machine. After her initial rush of wonderment at taking it all in, though, her attention was firmly on Scott, to make sure he was coping with what, she was sure, for him, must be quite emotional. She stayed quietly in the background by the hatch just watching him, allowing him his space and her heart went out to him as she heard him take a shaky breath, probably at recalling his last memories of being in here and the many missions he had flown and wondering when he would get to do so again.

It was indeed an emotional journey for the Field Commander of International Rescue, feeling again that weird sense of it having been a lifetime ago and yet, like only yesterday, as he surveyed his surroundings. He stood for a moment, his gaze transfixed on the pilot's seat; his seat and the twin hand control levers, finding himself instantly transported back in time.

It had been a lousy journey home, that headache growing steadily worse and all he had wanted to do was get home and go lie down in a darkened room. How he had ever managed to land her, he would never know. Everything after that was hazy; his next recollected memory being of lying on those controls, obviously having come to, after falling forward and banging his head, again. He vaguely remembered the pool of blood beneath him as he looked down from his position, unable to move and unable to help himself and hoping someone would come. How long he had been there, drifting in and out of consciousness, he had no idea but his next memory was that of Virgil looking with grave concern up into his face and falling forward into his arms when he was released from his seat. He was told he had been confused, thinking he was actually still back at the rescue site but of that he had no memory.

Then it had just been a blur of faces, lights and motion, as he had obviously been taken to the infirmary, with his last memory, at which he allowed himself a ghost of a smile, being that of thinking he had seen the face of an angel, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen with the most soothing voice. It was that vision, her face he had carried with him into his unconsciousness, only to find out she had been real after all.

With a deep intake of breath Scott came back from his faraway thoughts. And now, here he was, with a paralysed arm, hopefully in the process of waking up but of that there was no guarantee or of just how much recovery there would be. One way or another, though, he would fly Thunderbird One again; of that he was sure and determined. Would it be with these two hands! Well, that remained to be seen.

Jenna moved in close behind him now to lovingly caress and kiss his back, causing him to turn and give her a warm smile.

"Well…what do you think of her, Jen?" Scott asked out of quiet interest.

"She's incredible. Just like her pilot," she smiled in warm response, making him redden a little and return an embarrassed smile. "She's like nothing I've ever seen," Jenna added, as she gazed around.

He studied her for a few moments, eyeing her with wry suspicion. "What…..you mean you didn't peak under your blindfold when you were coming here, Miss Rollins!"

She shot him a look of mock horror, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why….of course not, Mr Tracy. The very idea!" she replied with mock indignation, bringing an amused smile to his face.

"And….you weren't even tempted…….not even a little bit!" Scott inquired with a raise of his brows and pretending to be serious but not succeeding very well.

"Mr Tracy! Well…..maybe just the teeniest, tiniest little bit," she confessed, conveying an innocent child-like look. "But I promise you I didn't……absolutely not," she then added proudly.

"That's Ok…..I believe you," he returned with a laugh. And that was one thing he could always be sure of, that he would be able to trust her implicitly. He could see now that something was clearly puzzling to her; in fact, he could almost hear her mind ticking over as she obviously tried to reason something out.

"Scott! There's something I don't quite understand," Jenna queried in puzzled bewilderment, a bemused frown pulling at her brows, as she continued to look around.

"And…what might that be, Miss Rollins?" Scott responded, enjoying watching her thought processes at work and finding pleasure in the fact she was really interested in this craft that was so much a part of his life.

"Well…it's the pilot's seat! When Alan picked us up at Tracy Aerospace and when he dropped us off here….Thunderbird One was horizontal…..and I'm supposing the pilot's seat was the right way up…the way we were. But she's vertical now….and…the pilot's seat is still the right way up! How can that be, Scott! And where were we sitting!" she reasoned out and beginning to feel a bit disorientated.

"That's very well thought out, Miss Rollins," Scott acknowledged with a little raise of his brow, rather impressed with her powers of deduction. And nothing would give him greater pleasure than to explain it all to her. "It's simple really and….yet… rather ingenious. Thunderbird One is only vertical when she's here, in her silo…and for launch…..but most of the time she's horizontal….like a conventional jet fighter…..whether it's in flight or landing and taking off at rescue sites….so…the pilot's seat is mounted on a swing system…allowing the pilot to always remain upright. After the launch….when she changes to horizontal flight….it's the seat that remains upright….and she moves around it…into position," he explained proudly and as simply as possible in layman's terms.

"That must be a really strange feeling," Jenna mused, trying to imagine what that must be like.

"Yeah…I guess it does take a bit of getting used to," he smiled fondly, remembering back to when he had first flown her and enjoying seeing his Bird again through the eyes of someone for whom all this was new and fascinating. And in a strange way, it was like it was new to him, as he reacquainted himself with her all over again. "And you and Mike would have been sitting in the passenger seats…which would be below and to the side of the pilot when he's horizontal….but because we're now in vertical of course….they are actually in the floor…over here! Thunderbird One doesn't normally carry passengers, so the extra seating is stored away until it's needed," Scott further explained. Taking her by the hand he carefully guided her around the raised platform where the pilot's seat was mounted to show her. "There's not a lot of room in here when she's vertical, I'm afraid….so just be careful, Jen," he said in concern for her safety in almost apologetic tones.

She nodded in understanding, taking in everything he told her with great and genuine interest, appreciating the fact he was sharing all this with her and in ways she would understand. But that was to be one of the marks of their relationship, their loving care and consideration of one another. The kind of consideration that was patient and understanding, that took the time to explain things simply, in ways the other would understand; the kind of consideration that made them protective of one another and the kind of consideration that would always have him offer his hand to her, pull out chairs and open doors for her.

"Would you like to see the view from the pilot's seat, Jen?" Scott asked, to which she nodded eagerly. He stepped up onto the platform and, extending his hand to her, helped her up and watched her child-like wonder with delight as she sat in the seat, taking in everything around her, though of course, it all meant absolutely nothing to her.

Sitting now in the pilot's seat, though, Jenna could begin to get some sense of what it meant for him to fly her. The thrill of being in such a position of power, of being in control of such an awesome craft as this would be, indeed, intoxicating. Of some pilots, including her brother, she had even heard it said that they thought it better than sex and that was only flying conventional jet fighters. How much more so then must it be to fly a craft such as Thunderbird One! Of course, not being a pilot herself, she was not in a position to comment on that comparison but she couldn't help smile to herself as she thought of how she was just going to have to convince Mr Scott Tracy that that analogy just wasn't true!

Scott offered to show her some of the basic functions of the control panel and, on telling her it would be easier if he were sitting in the seat, they exchanged places. He thought nothing of pulling her down onto his lap, where she automatically put her arm round his neck, making for a much more cosy and intimate instructive lesson, as he pointed out the various things to her.

"Are you sure all this is allowed….my knowing this?" she asked with a wry smile.

"Thunderbird One is mine….and I'm in command here, Miss Rollins. I'll decide just what you're allowed to know," he stated, returning her wry smile with what she found to be a seriously sexy commanding tone and air of authority. "Of course, you know that knowing any of Thunderbird One's secrets means you're bound to me, Miss Rollins…..forever!" he added, a wicked gleam in his eye and obviously enjoying one of their many little verbal sparring games that had first lit his fire.

And she was more than happy to indulge him, knowing it was taking his mind off the deep emotional trauma he had just begun to face again, as well as embarking on this emotional journey and she smiled with loving tenderness at noticing how, despite it all, just how much more relaxed and deep down happy he was now that he had accepted he was loved, after trying to convince himself again that it wasn't possible.

"Forever! That's such a long time," she mused thoughtfully in pretence. "But I guess I can live with that, Mr Tracy….if you can. In fact, I can't think of a better way to spend forever!" she smiled warmly.

His eyes shone with the love he felt for her but, such was the love he felt for her, he had to think of the realities of just how much he did show her; not that he didn't want to but it was for her own safety. "Jen…..seriously, though….this is only basic stuff….but even this…you have to keep it to yourself. I want you to be familiar with her…to know your way around her but I…I can't tell you any more. It's not that I don't want to, or I think you won't understand it all…..it's for your safety….your protection. There are people out there who would stop at nothing to get their hands on the secrets of these craft…..you know that….so it's better for you not to know everything. You do understand, Jen….don't you?" Scott explained, his eyes now pleading.

"Of course I do, Scott. What you have shown me has been really interesting and I'm grateful you trusted me enough to show me. I promise you….I won't abuse that trust," she assured him, as she held his face in the palm of her hand. "And besides…..I have a real bad memory when it comes to a lot of technical stuff….it just goes right out of my head! In fact…I've 'forgotten' most of what you've told me already!" she quipped in wide-eyed innocence, giving him a knowing smile.

"That's my girl," he responded wryly, content they understood each other. As he looked around his console again, really looked and fingering the right-handed control lever, Scott, once more, became lost in reflective thought.

"What are you thinking, Scott?" Jenna asked quietly, while stroking his face in a loving gesture.

He drew in a breath and let out a sigh with a winced smile. "I was just thinking about the last time I was sitting here. I…I must've fallen onto the controls….when I blacked out…..that's when I got the gash on my forehead. I…I don't really remember…..just coming to…and finding myself looking at the floor. I don't even know how long I was here…..must have passed out again and the next thing…Virgil was here," Scott surmised, his face clouded over as he searched his memory.

So now, at last, she knew; the final pieces had been put in place for her, of just what happened to him in here, well, as much as he was ever going to remember. Jenna kissed him tenderly on the forehead, bringing a warm smile back to his face. He was so glad she was here with him; that he did not have to do this alone.

"Sounds to me like you need some new memories in here….to replace those old ones, Field Commander," she suggested with a mischievous smile that told him she already had something in mind.

Narrowed eyes now glinted with suspicious intrigue. "And just what do you have in mind, Nurse Rollins?" His heart raced excitedly as he watched her part her mouth, only to have her moisten her lips with slow and deliberate seduction.

She leant closer and whispered in his ear, causing him to close his eyes and emit a low groan as he rolled his head against the back of his seat at her suggestion. In truth, which of his brothers hadn't fantasised about such things happening to them in the cockpit of their own ship for it had to be every red-blooded male pilot's ultimate fantasy, apart from making out.

"Well, that sounds like a plan to me…..and who am I to refuse my nurse's choice of therapy!" he responded quietly, only too willing to have all his old memories washed away in such a fashion. This relationship would certainly never be dull that was for sure, especially when they would always be willing to be adventurous in pleasing each other in order to keep their passion alive.

"What are you doing, Scott!" Jenna asked, watching him with a bemused smile as he punched in codes on his console.

"Just ensuring we have a little privacy…that's all. I'm retracting the gantry and disabling the on-board surveillance camera…and locking them out," he informed her with a knowing smile as they held each other with an intent gaze. "Don't want anyone interrupting our private therapy session….now do we!"

And with them totally isolated now from the outside world, Scott enjoyed, to the fullest, the wicked, the very wicked new memories she gave him.