The Tracy Family and Thunderbirds are the sole creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Author's Note: Just a little bit of naughtiness in this chapter!
Chapter 104
These were to be the halcyon days of their romance, when they could just do all the things young lovers did together, like walking on the beach, hand in hand; not to mention visiting the cove quite often, where they enjoyed making hot and torrid love to the sound of nature's raw passion. He also took her on leisurely walks along the various jungle trails and to the many vantage points around the island, like up onto the grassy headland, where they spent lazy afternoons watching the ocean and the clear blue sky, talking and flirting. Well, flirting a lot actually before succumbing to burning kisses, which inevitably resulted in reaching the point of no return. And, of course, with living on an island, Scott took her sailing, taking pleasure in instructing her in the leisurely pursuit by wrapping his arm around her and guiding her hand on the tiller. It was all really rather romantic, just the two of them in each other's arms, sailing on the clear blue ocean.
Scott also began to take up his jogging routine again and, when they weren't locked in some heavy-duty lovemaking, they could be found enjoying a gentle run along the beach together before breakfast. He also introduced her to the benefits of his deep focus Tai Kwon Do exercises, usually down on the beach, which had the relaxing effect of the rhythmic ocean in the background. She had to admit to finding it all quite sensual, especially with her lover behind her, guiding her body into the various postures, as did Scott and invariably the only deep focusing they did was on each other.
They didn't, though, always keep themselves excluded from everyone else but enjoyed many family orientated activities, when his brothers were done with their chores, such as racquetball and handball, played on their own indoor court and playing tennis, with he and Jenna as a team, challenging all who would take them on. Larking about in the pool was, of course, a must as well as the odd game of water volleyball but oh how he loved just getting back into the pool and being able to swim properly again. Jenna smiled with quiet satisfaction as she watched the man that once had to be carried down into the pool, now power his bronzed body through the water. Apart from all these being simply recreational though, they also had the added benefit of being great strengthening exercises for his weakened arm.
A great source of entertainment for all, too, had to be when Tin-Tin and Jenna challenged Alan and Scott to some very highly competitive games of pool in the games room, with the girls promising to whoop them good and proper and demanding they be pampered when, not if, they won. It was a challenge, of course, that the overly confident guys could not turn down. Well, Tracy male pride was at stake here, so much so that even John tuned in to watch. And who won! Let's just say, the girls acquitted themselves pretty well and enjoyed a certain amount of pampering, as did the boys!
And Scott got to take her scuba diving in the lagoon, like he had promised, seeing the joy on her face as she proudly showed him all that she had learnt from before. Alan and Tin-Tin joined the party this time and Gordon, in particular, was pleased that his star pupil had retained so much of what he had taught her of the beautiful underwater kingdom and how easily she had taken to scuba diving. Of course, the trip wouldn't have been complete without Jenna showing Scott where she had almost met an untimely end with the little denizen of the deep and both she and Gordon pointed out to the others the red-flagged area that now marked the home of the deadly little Blue-ringed Octopus, an area they would all now make sure they stayed well clear of.
Tin-Tin too, couldn't resist the urge to ask them if they'd seen anything of that elusive Water Mamba, causing everyone to burst into laughter, except for Jenna who clearly thought there was something she was obviously missing out on.
"Water Mamba!" she queried in bemusement, knowing Gordon hadn't told her of any such creature.
"Yeah…..it was when Col Tim Casey….an old friend of Dad's arrived unannounced…..," Scott started to explain with amused pleasure, through his breathing apparatus and remembering how he had sat in Thunderbird One on the launch pad, waiting to be given the all clear to go. He then went on to explain. "I still can't believe he fell for that!" the ex-USAF pilot continued in amusement and making his lover smile at how the poor man was taken in but then, in all fairness, it was easily understandable to her for she would have been taken in herself since this was all still so very new to her.
Now that she seemed to have taken to this environment like a duck to water, it was only natural Scott would want her to feel at home in his. Later that evening they were all relaxing out by the pool, with the lovers reclining on their adjacent sun beds.
"You know, the next thing you'll have to try, Jen…is sky diving," Scott grinned with mischievous enjoyment at his lover, whose legs were lazily draped over his. "There's not a rush like it…..right guys!"
They all nodded enthusiastically, since after all, being pilots, they were all qualified skydivers, even Gordon, though perhaps Scott and Alan enjoyed the more extreme version of the sport.
"You…you mean like…ju…jump out of a plane!" she gulped nervously, while all the color visibly drained from her face. It was one thing to leisurely swim underwater but to go jumping out of a plane into….nothing….was an entirely different matter.
That brought an instant bout of laughter from the brothers along with an amused though sympathetic smile from her lover. "With a parachute, of course….but yeah babe….that's the…eh…general idea!"
"Yeah…like ya can't exactly sky dive when you're still sitting in the plane!" Gordon snorted in amusement.
"But hey…we wouldn't expect you to jump out by yourself…..," Scott started to reassure her.
"Well…not the first time anyway!" Alan piped up, with a cheeky grin.
"…..no baby…..we'd do a tandem jump. You'd be strapped to me," her dark-haired lover continued to reassure her.
At that she eyed him with a wry smile and, biting her bottom lip in a provocative manner, spoke in a lowered voice. "And I guess that means…you get to be on top!"
A languid seductive smile spread across his face, as his eyes smouldered. "Now lady….where else would I be!" he whispered huskily and then began nuzzling into her neck and making her giggle.
"Aww come on….cut that out, you two," Virgil called, as the lovers continued their playful smooching.
The young couple were then subjected to a barrage of towels and cushions, followed by much laughter.
Scott took great pleasure in showing her his island home and their various facilities, taking her out to the Roundhouse and showing her the view from the Cliff House balcony. It was also an opportunity for him and his brothers to introduce her to the rest of the Thunderbirds and their other machines, something that just totally took her breath away. The sheer scale of the craft in their cavernous hangars was, indeed, an awesome sight, though, while she still thought Thunderbird Four was 'cute', she also thought it was pretty amazing.
And the Field Commander got to play out another of his little fantasies, when he showed her round his office, tucked away in a corner on the floor of TB1's silo. He had wondered what it would be like to 'take' her there. Perhaps because it was, simply, his office space that it held the tantalizing, if not naughty, appeal of enjoying something pleasurable where business was conducted and then, of course, there was the dangerous excitement of the possibility of being caught. While it was his office, anyone working on Thunderbird One could, conceivably at any time, need access, since it was where all things relating to Thunderbird One, such as maintenance logs and blueprints on disk, were kept.
Once they were inside and the security lock-down was initiated, Scott very quickly felt his excitement, not to mention his arousal, growing rapidly, as he pinned her to the wall with his body. Their need for each other then became only all too apparent, with their hungry kisses and tearing at each other's clothes, their burning, heated passion threatening to sweep them away. Hands were everywhere and very soon, so were clothes, probably because they knew they wouldn't have much time; but that only seemed to add fuel to the fire.
With eyes dancing and alight with sexual arousal, Scott lifted her onto his hips and 'took' her, hard and determinedly up against the wall, causing her fingers to dig hard into the muscle of his back and gasp out his name, as she felt him fill her once more. Driven crazy now by the fact they were getting 'down and dirty' in his office and with their bodies on high overload, demanding quick satisfaction, Scott grasped hold of her and stumbled the few paces across to his desk. One purposeful sweep of his arm saw his desk cleared. The lovers fell onto it, where the fury of their hunger really took hold and it wasn't long before his hard, driving thrusts brought them to explosive fulfilment.
His desk had certainly never seen such 'energetic' activity before and as they lay, panting breathlessly from their efforts, Scott held in her embrace, he wondered how he was ever going to look at it in the same way again or how he was going to concentrate the next time his brothers or father worked there with him! Clothes were quickly retrieved, the contents of the desk reassembled and the security lock-down disengaged, all just in the nick of time, as Virgil walked through the door.
"Well…eh…thanks for showing me round…your…em…office…Scott!" Jenna quickly responded, as she flushed embarrassingly and hoping they didn't look too guilty, though she couldn't resist the playful quip, as she smiled knowingly at her lover. "It was certainly an…enjoyable experience!"
"Think nothing of it, Jen. It was…entirely…my pleasure! I just wanted you to see and get the…feel of the desk…where I…work so hard!" he smiled with seductive delight and enjoying the private sexual innuendo between them, causing her to bite her bottom lip in a coy smile, as her body still tingled and glowed from their union.
Virgil eyed the pair of them with wry suspicion. They were up to something or, more likely…had been up to something. Then he spotted something lying under the nearby high-tec computerised drawing board. Picking it up, he recognised the small object immediately and an eyebrow arched in understanding, as he put two and two together; the object being a replica model of TB1, made of pure platinum, given to Scott by his brothers, one birthday and which normally sat on his desk.
"I suggest…buddy….the next time you want Jen to get a…feel of your desk…you make sure you put everything back where it was!" Virgil suggested in a low voice to his eldest brother, with barely concealed amusement, as he put the model back in its rightful place.
Scott fixed him with cool, steely calm, giving nothing away, neither confirming nor denying his brother's suspicions, while Jenna felt her cheeks flush. "And…just what was it…you came down here for, Virg!" the Field Commander asked with cool detachment.
"Oh yeah……well…when I knew you were down here…I just thought we could show Jen round Two's hangar," the transport pilot replied, having suddenly remembered the reason and then the temptation for a saucy retort was just too much. "And I'd be more than happy to show Jen…my office. She could get a …feel of my desk….!"
Scott shot his brother a steely glint of definite warning.
"….let her see what a…real work station looks like!" Virgil continued in teasing banter.
The rivalry between all the brothers, especially when debating the amount of time and work each put into their craft, was legendary and the eldest Tracy's expression reflected the fact but, in the end, it was all just good healthy brotherly banter.
It wasn't the only time they practiced and enjoyed such dangerous liaisons! Being pumped after an energetic workout in the gym was always conducive to good hot, quick and satisfying sex and more than once found him straddling her on one of the weights benches. And he wasn't pumping iron either! Of course, it worked just as well the other way round too, which he found quite highly erotic, not to mention all the other pieces of equipment they tested out!
One morning, shortly after their disclosure, Jefferson Tracy summoned Jenna to his study and, as Scott accompanied her, she had to admit to feeling as though she'd just been summoned to the headmaster's office.
"Em…have I done something wrong, Scott! Breached some sort of protocol…..been somewhere I shouldn't….seen something terribly top secret!" she teased light-heartedly.
An amused smile spread across the handsome tanned features. "Like you haven't already seen everything top secret about us! No….it's nothing like that….so don't worry," Scott laughed and in fact, he looked so relaxed about it all, she was sure he knew more than he was letting on.
"You know something….don't you!" Jenna queried, eyeing him with wry suspicion, as they walked along the hallway.
"You'll see" was all he would reply, shrugging his shoulders in feigned innocence.
A few minutes later saw them in Jefferson Tracy's office, with no time left to wonder.
"Ah Jenna…..thank you for coming in to see me. Please…please sit down," the Tracy patriarch invited, gesturing with a sweep of his hand to the comfortable couch.
She did so, noting that Scott had not joined her but rather perched himself lazily on the corner of his father's desk, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
"Have you told Jenna yet…what this is all about, Son?" Jeff asked his eldest.
"No, Dad….I thought I'd leave the honors to you," Scott replied quite casually and leaving Jenna none the wiser, as she looked in bemusement from one man to the other.
It didn't help matters either then, when Jeff came around to the front of his desk and adopted almost the same stance as his second-in-command and Field Commander, sitting against the edge of the desk and eyeing her rather purposefully, after first glancing at his eldest son and nodding in acknowledgement. Somehow everything seemed to have taken on a professional air and she couldn't help the feeling that she was being…looked over, almost vetted, as if something was about to be put to her. And just for one fleeting instance, she had the ludicrously funny notion of being some sort of secret agent that they were about to send out on a highly classified mission, causing her an inward smile.
She had no idea, though, just what was about to be put to her.
"Well young lady…since it seems now you'll be staying on with us, officially…we have a serious proposal for you to consider," Jeff Tracy announced in all seriousness, making her continue to look in puzzled bewilderment from one to the other. "We're of the mind that Thunderbird Two's medical bay could certainly use someone of your nursing experience, Jenna. It would be useful to have someone there to look after the casualties until they could be transported to a hospital….especially when we're working out in remote areas where there is no medical backup….and…it would free up the boys to concentrate solely on the rescue," Jeff continued, now very much in his Commander-In-Chief mode.
Jenna could only stare incredulously from one to the other, as they waited expectantly for her response.
"You…you want me to be part of …International Rescue!" she stammered out, feeling totally stunned and overwhelmed.
"In a nursing capacity…yes. Scott feels it would be a shame to waste all your years of hard work and qualifications…by not putting them to good use…and I agree with him. Like I said, young lady…your nursing experience would be invaluable to us…and not only for the rescue victims but also should any of the boys be injured," the Commander-In-Chief continued.
That alone was a very sobering thought and brought home to her the reality and seriousness of what she was being offered. After all, that's how she came to be here in the first place, because of Scott's injury, sustained on a rescue. Was that something she could go through again! Nurse these men through serious injury or illness, now that they were no longer strangers but people she had come to love and care for very deeply; now that they were more like family!
"We would never put you in any danger, Jen," Scott was quick to assure her and not only from his position as Field Commander but as her lover. "You would remain in Two's medical bay and…if necessary, assist us…should we need advice on site…via the communication link."
"And…you would also take charge of the Infirmary here, too…on a permanent basis. You would have complete authority…as you have done during Scott's care…only that would now extend to treating the rest of the family…should we need it. That would enable Brains and Tin-Tin to carry on their scientific work and other duties…though they would always be at your disposal…should you need them," Jefferson Tracy further added. "Well….what do you say, young lady? I know this is a lot for you to take in…so maybe you'd like some time to think about it."
Scott, on the other hand, was not about to let her off the hook so easily.
"Of course….you could always just…sit around and do…nothing…..wile away your days lazing by the pool….!" her lover suggested, with an innocently casual shrug of his broad shoulders.
"So….no pressure then!" she laughingly commented, while flashing him a look of wry amusement.
The two locked eyes, to which Scott returned her a steady gaze of challenge and she guessed he was hoping she would take up the offer. It had certainly been a lot to take in and had come as a complete surprise but, of course, he knew her only too well, for she would not be happy without something meaningful to do.
Turning to the Tracy patriarch, she smiled. "No, Jeff…I don't need any more time to think about it. I would be only too happy to help out in whatever way I can….wherever I'm needed….whether it is here or with International Rescue."
The elder man nodded, pleased with her reply.
"One more thing then. I would like you trained up to paramedic status….in case of any emergency procedures that may need to be carried out," Jeff added, knowing from experience the different situations she was likely to encounter and to which she nodded in acknowledgement of his terms. "Obviously, I don't expect you to start until Scott has completed his recovery and is one hundred per cent fit for active duty….until then…he remains your first priority."
"Yes, of course," Jenna nodded in acknowledgement before turning to smile at her lover, being more than happy to continue her current assignment.
"All right then…now that that's all settled…..I'll leave Scott to fill you in on the necessary protocol….and just what he would expect from you…out in the field," the Commander-In-Chief finished up.
It all sounded so terribly professional that she was nearly tempted to salute, with a 'yes Sir' but she knew this was an extremely serious business. Still, she couldn't help give her lover a provocative little look, knowing he would enjoy, only all too well, telling her 'just what he would expect from her'. And, it seems she was right, for the Field Commander returned her a smile, a knowing raise of a brow, while his eyes danced with pure mischief.
Jenna rose from her seat and crossed to the desk, as Jefferson Tracy stood to meet her.
"Thank you, Jeff…for the chance to do something useful and to be a help to you all," she responded in emotional sincerity as, with a hug, she planted an affectionate kiss on his cheek, causing the elder man to gruff a little cough, while inwardly feeling quite delighted.
Although it wasn't the first time, this was something he was obviously going to have to get used to, the open, honest affection from this young woman, since the only other women in the house were his mother and Tin-Tin and he could well see why his eldest son was so drawn to her.
"Don't thank me," Jeff insisted with a chuckle. "Thank Scott here. He's the one who persuaded me we should put all that nursing experience of yours to good use."
She should have known; that he would have thought of her needs and wanted her to feel fulfilled. Turning to her lover, she managed to whisper out an emotional 'thank you', before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling her body in tight to his in an infinitely more intimate hug.
Instinctively, his arms went about her waist in response, as he whispered against her ear. "I know how much you loved your job, Jen….and I know what it cost you to give it up…for me. I…I just want you to be happy." Finishing with a soft kiss to her ear, Scott pulled back and gave a sigh. "Though…I'm not sure you should be thanking me….it can get pretty rough out there…and we see a lot of things we don't always want to see!"
Jenna nodded understandingly. "I know. But I've dealt with some very heartbreaking cases in ICU that don't always make it….and I've been down in ER when victims have been brought in….so I know what to expect," she quietly assured him.
Scott acknowledged her wealth of experience and knew she was not one to be easily fazed. Having now dealt with all the serious business it was time to take their leave.
"Well…now that everything's settled…let me fill you in on the protocol…Nurse Rollins," Scott began, with almost smug satisfaction, as he led her to the door. "First of all….you will…at all times…address me as 'Field Commander'…while we're in the field……"
"Yes…Field Commander," came the dutiful reply, as she tried hard to suppress a smile.
"….and…while we're on a mission…the Field Commander's word is law…..to be obeyed without question……," he continued the instruction.
"Yes…Field Commander," followed the dutiful reply.
"There will be no…flirting…with male patients…..and there will be…definitely…no flirting…with any of my men on Thunderbird Two's crew…..!" the Field Commander ordered, raising a serious eyebrow.
"Ohh…absolutely not…Field Commander," came the dutiful assurance, as she pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh.
"And….there will be no flirting with the Field Commander out in the field either……at least not in public or in front of the casualties…..!" he then added with a mischievous twinkle.
As they headed out the door and down the hall….!
"You're enjoying this…way too much….aren't you!" Nurse Rollins could be heard to say, followed by a hearty laugh.
Jefferson Tracy shook his head and chuckled quietly to himself as he sat back down at his desk to tackle the remaining paperwork.
One other afternoon saw Jenna happily reading a magazine in the lounge when her lover sought her out.
"Take a walk with me, Jen," he asked, extending out his hand to her.
She cocked her head and, furrowing her brow, eyed him rather quizzically for there was something oddly strange about him this afternoon, something she couldn't quite explain. He seemed to radiate a peaceful glow, a beautiful serene state of calm that so intrigued her, that when he asked again, "Walk with me", his intense blue eyes holding such pleading, she automatically took his hand and followed him, as he led her outside.
Soon they were walking, hand in hand, in the garden, surrounded by a myriad of color, both of native tropical plants she had no idea the name of and others she recognised. The scent wafting on the balmy afternoon breeze was both heady and intoxicating.
Scott could tell she was curious as to why he had brought her here.
"There's something I want to show you," was all he would say, which only made it all the more intriguing.
After a few minutes, they stopped…and there, in front of her, was the most beautiful and delicate bloom she had ever seen; an orchid so exquisite, it took your breath away. Instinctively, Jenna reached out to touch it, though almost afraid to, in case it should fall apart.
"Oh Scott….it's so beautiful," she breathed in awe and automatically leant in to inhale the heavenly scent.
Her lover smiled quietly to himself. "Yeah…it is…isn't it," he readily agreed. "This is one of Kyrano's special creations. He named it 'Lucille'….in honor of mom. So…whenever we're down here…and we can smell its scent…it reminds us of her…that she'll always be with us," Scott added with far away reflection, as he reached out to finger the delicate plant.
"That…that's a lovely idea….and a beautiful thing for him to do," Jenna smiled, feeling herself tear up a little, while lovingly caressing his arm.
With a deep breath, Scott brought himself back to the present and smiled. "Yeah…Kyrano's a very special man. Over the years, he's named only his very special creations after the family….and for his wife and Tin-Tin. So….you'll find…'us'…all over the garden!" he added in amusement, as he made a sweeping gesture of his arm.
Having then taken her on a tour and pointing out the other 'family members', including 'himself', Scott led her to another part of the garden and the real reason he had brought her down here. Stopping just short of where he wanted to take her, he made her close her eyes and promise to keep them closed, before they would proceed any further which, of course, had her even more intrigued than before.
But she did so, trusting him implicitly, as he led her along the path.
Within moments they stopped and, without opening her eyes, she breathed in the most wonderful fragrance, a fragrance that was distinctive and transcended all others around it.
"All right….we're here. You can open your eyes," her lover invited.
And when she did, opening her eyes ever so slowly, she became captivated and transfixed by what she saw. For there, before her, was the most exquisite rose, perfect in its form and beauty; the kind of beauty that for no other reason than its beauty, made you want to cry. Its soft velvety petals were of the most delicate shade of salmon, graduating to a deeper color towards the tight, perfectly formed bud and was just begging to be touched and its wonderful scent inhaled.
Like the orchid before it, Jenna could only gasp in wonderment and comment on its beauty.
"…..and what's this one called, Scott?" she asked, her face still alight with wonder, as she leant in to smell and touch it, for a rose so exquisite, she thought, must surely have a name.
"Well….that's the thing….," her lover began quietly. "This is one of Kyrano's latest creations…and he hasn't got round to giving it a name yet. So….I asked him if I could name it for him."
At that, Jenna straightened up and beamed him a smile.
"Let me guess! Something to do with that other…'ladylove'…of yours….something to do with Thunderbird One!" she ventured, in wry amusement.
"No….nothing like that," he smiled, quietly pleased with himself.
Now she was intrigued and eyed her lover quizzically but as she gazed once more at the roses, she fell into far away reflection.
"Mom loved roses….and Dad would bring her some whenever he could," she smiled, as she reached out to feel the velvety softness between her fingers and thumb.
"I know…I remember you telling me," Scott continued to smile in quiet response. "That's why I've called it….the Rollins Rose."
Jenna drew in a breath and spun round to face him, her eyes beginning to well up with shining tears. "Scott….did…did you say…."
"Yeah, Jen….the Rollins Rose…..," her lover repeated, while taking her hand lovingly in his. "….in honor of your parents….and Johnny too. I wanted you to have something you could remember them by ….here on the island…..so that whenever you come down here…and smell its fragrance….you will know they are always with you."
Bright and shinning tears now flowed freely down her face and she flung her arms around his neck, as he leant down to her embrace and held her tight. Her love for this man knew no bounds.
"Oh Scott…I…I don't know what to say. Yes, I do. Thank you….gawd…I love you so much, Scott Tracy," Jenna cried, as her words came tumbling out all at once.
Scott just held her tightly, softly stroking her hair and allowing her to weep against his chest.
"Hey baby…you okay now," he smiled lovingly and planting a soft kiss on her forehead, after a short while.
Drawing in a breath, Jenna straightened herself and, wiping away the last of her tears, she nodded a smile and assured him she was.
"Good. Then there's one more thing that has to be done," he replied rather mysteriously, causing her to give him another quizzical look. "Well….when a name is finally given to one of Kyrano's creations…he always has a naming ceremony. To sort of…make it official…I guess," Scott explained. "It's all very informal but it's really important to him….so…are you ready!" he added, with a loving smile.
She nodded and Scott lifted his arm to activate his watch. Within a short space of time they were joined in the rose garden by the rest of the family. It may have been informal but it was obviously an important enough occasion for the rest of the family to want to join in; even John was here by way of Scott's wristcom, which he took off and gave to his father and, suddenly, Jenna felt very humbled and deeply touched. That they should want to do this for her, to remember a family that they had never known, who were strangers to them but then, that's what set this family apart and marked them as being very special.
Kyrano, she noted, as well as Tin-Tin both looked resplendent in what she guessed were their finest native Malay robes of colorful silk and Kyrano carried with him a small silver bowl, filled with water. He began to speak in his native tongue, closing his eyes as he did so.
"He's making a prayer…..I guess!" Scott ventured, whispering in her ear, as he stood beside her with his arms wrapped round her waist, since he wasn't exactly fluent in Malay, though they all knew a few words that had been picked up over the years from the sagely man and Tin-Tin, of course.
"Yes….my father is making a prayer…..," Tin-Tin verified and quietly went on to translate.
Having finished, Kyrano then turned to the couple, while everyone continued to remain in respective silence. "What is to be the name of this rose?" he asked simply.
Jenna automatically looked to her lover and he gave her a smiling nod of encouragement to go ahead, allowing her to do the honors.
"It's name is to be…the Rol…the Rollins Rose," she replied, faltering a little, as her eyes welled up at thinking just how much her mom would have loved the exquisite bloom and of the times she had seen her mom's face light up when her dad had given her roses. And she couldn't help but smile, at wondering just what they would have thought of all this, having a rose, a very special and beautiful rose named just for them.
Scott gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
The little ceremony then continued, with Kyrano saying something more in his native tongue, while sprinkling the blooms with the water from the silver bowl, finishing with the only words she recognised, the name of rose.
"It is done. Now…and forever…this rose shall be known as…the Rollins Rose….," Kyrano stated with quiet serenity and bowing politely to the young nurse. "…..to for ever hold the memory of Miss Jenna's beloved family."
Fresh tears pooled in her eyes and brimmed over with the emotion of it all. She hadn't expected any of this and Scott was quick to pull her into his loving embrace, tenderly brushing away tears from her wet cheeks. It may have been a short little ceremony but it was beautiful in its simplicity and one she would remember and treasure for the rest of her life.
Pulling herself together then, Jenna smiled with warm affection at her host.
"That was beautiful, Kyrano…..thank you. And thank you for allowing Scott to name it…for my family," she gratefully acknowledged.
"For a love so great as his for you, Miss Jenna….I was happy to do so," the kindly man replied, bowing to the young couple, causing Scott to return him a somewhat embarrassed little bow. "And this rose could hold no more honourable name…than that of your family."
At that, she felt her emotion well up again and without hesitation, Jenna gave the Tracy manservant and confidante a warm hug and affectionate kiss on the cheek, making everyone smile at Kyrano's momentary uncertainty at the open display of affection, especially Jeff, having himself been on the receiving end.
And, as with after any ceremony, there are refreshments and this was no exception. The family made their way back to the lounge where Kyrano and Grandma had already laid out a delicious spread. The lovers lingered for just a few moments longer, however.
"I'll expect a lot more…'gratitude'…from you later…Miss Rollins," Scott groaned huskily, as he nuzzled at her ear.
"Yes…I thought you might," she laughed. "And I promise…I'll show you…just how grateful I am!"
With that, they headed back to the lounge, arms wrapped around each other's waist, to join the rest of the family. And, later that night, in the sanctuary of their room, she did indeed show him, just how grateful she was.
Although he was enjoying his time with Jenna, relaxing and doing all the things together that young lovers do, Scott also began to feel a sense of frustration, the stronger he became, at not being allowed back on full-time active duty. But then that didn't mean he couldn't begin preparing himself, so it was almost inevitable that one morning he should announce that he was going to get reacquainted with his 'Bird, by means of a test flight.
"Want me to sit in and monitor you, buddy?" Virgil offered helpfully.
"Think I'll have forgotten how to fly her, huh Virg!" Scott responded with a wry grin.
"Well…you might find the expert advice of an experienced pilot…useful there, buddy! Just in case you've forgotten how to get her to go faster than…Thunderbird Six!" Thunderbird Two's pilot teasingly bantered; Thunderbird Six being, of course, the little Tiger Moth bi-plane that so admirably proved itself in affecting the rescue from the stricken Skyship.
For a moment, the dark-haired pilot eyed his slightly younger brother with a steely blue glint then, burst into laughter.
"Yeah…sure, Virg. Though it would be good to have you sit in…and tell me if there's anything I need to tighten up on," Scott then acknowledged, since he was nothing if not professional and wasn't beyond admitting he may well be rusty in some areas, due to his many weeks of inactivity.
"Can I come and watch too?" Jenna asked tentatively, knowing this marked another important milestone for him on his road back.
Scott beamed her a warm smile. "Sure you can, Jen. Just go with Virg…he'll show you where you can watch. And I'll be back soon."
He gave her a long and lingering kiss.
Virgil sighed and rolled his eyes. "Aww come on, you two…knock it off. He's not going to be gone….that long!"
The lovers laughed and, with that…he was gone.
Jenna dutifully followed Virgil to a room, housing a bank of monitors and various other technical equipment that totally baffled but definitely impressed her.
"Here honey, come and sit by me," the brown-haired pilot invited, gesturing her to the seat beside him. "We can watch him from here."
He then went on to explain and point out what each of the monitors was focused on, as he brought them all on-line. "This one gives us a view of Thunderbird One's launch bay….and this one….is concentrated on the pool from above…so we can see him taking off and re-entering….and this one gives us a view of the airspace around Tracy Island…so we can track him in the air. And this one lets us see inside Thunderbird One's cockpit," he added, pointing to the last monitor. "Look….there he is."
Jenna smiled at seeing her lover sit comfortably in his pilot's seat, looking so much at home.
"Can he hear me?" she asked wonderingly, looking from the screen to Virgil and back again and to which Virgil affirmed he could.
"Yeah….I can hear you…and see you," Scott grinned back in acknowledgement, as he looked into his vid-link.
"Hi," she smiled lovingly, reaching out to touch the screen.
"Hi, baby," he smiled back with loving affection, while touching his side of the screen.
"Oh pleeease," Virgil groaned in good-natured exasperation. "Just whenever you're ready…Thunderbird One!"
With a self-satisfied grin, Scott affirmed that he was ready and switched immediately to serious pilot mode. Jenna knew enough now to keep silent, not wishing to be any sort of distraction and letting him concentrate fully, though watching everything with keen interest, as he went through all his checks. And finally, the mighty rocket was fired into action.
"Okay, Thunderbird One……you are…clear to go," Virgil announced, now in his professional mode.
They watched on the monitor as, slowly, the sleek silver grey rocket rose up from her launch pad with a thunderous roar and, switching to the next monitor, saw her rise out of the swimming pool. Within moments, Scott issued that most famous of all phrases, as he came to the designated height. "Switching to horizontal flight."
Jenna watched in fascination as, within the cockpit, Scott pushed forward a little on his controls and the interior angle slowly moved around the gimballed seat. Then, with another determined push forward on the controls, he was away.
Scott carried out a series of manoeuvres and appeared to be really enjoying himself, especially when he completed a barrel roll, with every move of his aerobatics being watched and carefully scrutinised by Virgil.
"You're looking good there, Scott," he called out encouragingly.
"Yeah….it's feeling good," Thunderbird One's pilot returned.
After a while, though, the effort needed in concentration was beginning to take its toll and Scott was starting to look visibly tired. Jenna touched Virgil's arm and he could see by her expression that she was concerned. He nodded in agreement.
"All right, buddy….you've done enough. What about wrapping it up for today!" Virgil suggested, though it had more the ring of being an order about it. He was half expecting and more than prepared for his eldest brother to protest, so was quite relieved when he didn't.
"Yeah…I think you're right, Virg. Thunderbird One…returning to Base," Scott acknowledged.
Both Jenna and Virgil watched on the appropriate monitors as the silver grey reconnaissance ship slowly descended back down through the open pool and into her launch silo. Everything was going well, until…!
Virgil frowned a little disconcertedly, as he scanned the silo monitor. "Scott….you need to re-align Thunderbird One….she's drifting."
Jenna shot a look from what Virgil was watching to Scott's cockpit monitor and noticed him wince in pain.
Virgil called out again, more urgently. "Scott! She's drifting. Re-align. You're going to hit the silo wall!"
"I'm trying, Virg. Aghhh…damn hand….it's gone into spasm," he hissed out in pain.
The next moment, Thunderbird One erupted in a ball of flame.
Author's Note: Kyrano's Naming Ceremony, as far as I'm aware, does not exist in Malay culture but was made up purely for the purposes of this story and so, remains mine.
