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

Author's Note: Okay, apologies for being out of circulation for a while but a little thing called a vacation got in the way and then, of course, there was the US Open. As well as that, I've been on a bit of a road to recovery myself. I know Scott understands only all too well but I want to thank you all for your patient understanding and assure you that I am still here and have no intention of abandoning him in his hour of need and that, indeed, we are almost at the end of the road.

And, just a warning that there is some sexual content in this chapter. Well, they have had to wait quite a while, haven't they!

Chapter 107

"So…if no one else has anything to add! No problems you feel need to be discussed!" Scott Tracy, as temporary Base Commander, inquired of his team, to which mutual shaking of heads indicated that they hadn't and everything had been satisfactory. "Good….then can I just say again, what an excellent job you all did on that…first part…of the operation," he added in congratulations, though, for obvious reasons they couldn't feel completely at ease, since it hadn't escaped the Tracy brothers notice that rather heavy emphasis had been placed on the 'first part' of the operation, meaning there was more to come and that Scott had neither forgotten nor was willing to let it pass!

Their eldest brother eyed them with cool regard from behind the desk, causing them to shift and fidget kind of nervously and, knowing Scott as they did, they knew he was making them sweat it out.

"And then, it all kinda went…pear-shaped…didn't it!" the young Commander intoned with wry amusing.

"I would've said, more…pig-shaped!" Gordon couldn't resist, in a loud whisper, loud enough for the assembled group to hear, causing stifled sniggers of laughter around the room. However, when his father threw him an icy glare, the copper-haired joker gave a sheepish smile and decided that, perhaps, he should refrain from making any more comments, for now anyway.

A concentrated effort at seriousness, hid the fact, the Base Commander found the comment humorous, though he couldn't entirely banish the little smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Y.e.a.h…. so maybe you can tell me again…just how International Rescue got roped into rescuing…a pig! Last I heard…we went out there to rescue kids!" Scott queried, with all the cool finesse of a man intent on making his younger brothers suffer, as he idly started playing with a pen on the desk.

"Yes…I wouldn't mind knowing that myself," their father cut in, casting an icy glare in his sons direction.

If Gordon thought he was going to be able to rely on that good old Tracy family solidarity, brothers-in-adversity type thing, he was sadly mistaken; on this occasion, at least. For, when he looked to his older brothers for support, he found that Virgil and John seemed to have taken more of a keen interest in the décor around them, since they were looking everywhere but in his direction! He had been, well and truly, left hung out to dry!

"Gordon!" Scott quizzed, emphasizing the fact he was waiting for an answer.

The jovial aquanaut pulled a sheepish grin. "Well…see….! It was like this. We knew Dad really wanted to be in on the rescue….you know…get involved in the action. Maybe it was all those hints he was droppin…like…'sure there isn't anything more I can do, boys!'... 'you only have to ask!'….and, 'I'd be only too glad to help out with the search!'"

"R.e.a.l.l.y! Is that a fact!" the dark-haired Base Commander exclaimed, shooting his father a questioning look in the light of this interesting little revelation.

Jefferson Tracy squirmed uncomfortably. "Yes….well…." But found he had nothing more to say, since he couldn't exactly deny the fact.

"And then, when you said…make sure you keep the old ma…eh…Dad, safe. Don't be lettin him go rescue any kids….," Gordon went on, enthusiastically, with his report.

Now it was Jefferson Tracy's turn to flash a questioning glare and his eldest son to squirm uncomfortably, in the light of the interesting revelation. "R.e.a.l.l.y! Is that a fact!"

Trust Gordon to be so totally honest and recount…every…little detail.

Scott cleared his throat, eager to hastily skip over those particular details. "Eh…yes…well. Let's move on, shall we."

"So…when the kids came to us and told us about 'Timmy'……!" Gordon shrugged, as if it should all be so perfectly obvious. "It just seemed like a good…compromise! Dad could be involved in the rescue…and we would still be doin what you told us to do," he added with a cheeky grin and feeling quite pleased with himself, bringing an embarrassed, wincing grimace from his eldest brother at being reminded of his overprotective nature.

Scott, though, nodded slowly as he mused over his younger brother's words. Seemed his prankster brother had covered all the bases, leaving him actually impressed by the simple logic. He turned to his father. "Well, Dad…..seems to me, as though you just got what you wanted…to be a little more hands on!"

The amusingly cool delivery brought stifled sniggers, from all, except Jefferson Tracy, who grumped and scowled.

"That's it!" their father returned, almost incredulously, when realising no reprimand to his other sons was forthcoming. He had expected his eldest son to show a bit more grit!

"Well, Dad. I don't see that they've actually done anything…wrong! And you have to admit….it is a good bit of PR for International Rescue…the fact we took time to rescue the kids pet!" the young Base Commander countered, much to the delight, of course, of his brothers but far from satisfactory for their father, who flashed his son a steely look.

Perhaps, though, the Tracy boys shouldn't be in too much of a hurry to celebrate their letting off just yet!

Their eldest brother faced them with something akin to amusement. "Oh fellas! Maybe now would be a good time to remind you! I'm not gonna be sitting behind this desk for much longer. Once this debriefing's finished…well…Dad takes over again!"

The veiled warning couldn't have been any more crystal clear…for both parties and neither the Tracy brothers nor their father failed to see the implications, bringing now a sudden change in reaction. For the boys, it spelt nothing but doom, eliciting from them despondent groans, though for Jeff Tracy it heralded the sweet sound of revenge.

The eldest Tracy son had very skilfully managed to extricate himself from a rather delicate situation, with all the diplomatic art of a politician; to leave the parties involved to sort this out between themselves. But then, this is Scott Tracy we're talking about; his mind as rapier sharp now as ever.

Thinking now that this was all but over, Jefferson Tracy set his steely mind to dishing out all sorts of appropriate 'punishments' for his all-too-clever sons and was just about to make his way back to his desk…!

"Eh…not so fast there, Dad," the still-in-command eldest Tracy son intervened, halting him in his tracks. "I think there's still an issue we need to talk about….don't you!" Scott added, eyeing him with cool regard.

A challenging flash of cold blue steel shot back to his son, as the room fell into hushed silence.

"So, Dad! Why don't you remind us all again, just what the procedures are, for manning Mobile Control!" Scott asked, totally undaunted and as though demanding of some junior subordinate to recount what was learnt in basic training, things that should be, by now, second nature.

You could have heard a pin drop. All eyes darted from the man still behind the desk to the man who was seeking to reclaim it, as though caught up in the most riveting of pro tennis matches.

For a moment, the standoff was tense, as both men eyeballed each other but, seeing his eldest son was not about to give way, Jefferson Tracy finally nodded in acknowledgement. "Alright, Son….you're right. I should not have left Mobile Control in such a hurry, without informing Base Command of my actions and reasons for doing so…or at least informed some of my field operatives of where I would be."

But if Jefferson Tracy thought that readily admitting to this infringement of the most basic of procedures was going to be enough to avoid the humiliation of having to recall, in front of his sons, the reasons just why such protocols are in place, then he couldn't have been more wrong. While the rescue may indeed be over and the mission completed from where the rescue team stood, from Scott's point of view, he still had duties to perform and, for him, this mission would not be complete until he was satisfied fully with his debriefing; for Scott Tracy had become a lot more adept and experienced over the years in handling Base Command and the aftermath of a mission than the first time he had had to take charge. He knew his father would expect nothing less of him and, he was not about to disappoint!

Scott nodded, accepting of his father's admission but decided that was not enough.

"And….just why is it, we do that!" he added in query, with a questioning glint of his deep blue eyes and wanting his father to spell it out quite clearly.

An audible intake of breath was heard and the atmosphere in the room grew even more tense. From under greying brows, narrowed eyes shot a look of cold steel to the young man behind the desk, yet they glittered with the excitement of a man locked in a battle of wills.

"Dammit Scott….is this really necessary!" the Tracy patriarch growled in frustration. "I wrote the damn procedures."

"Then you'll have no trouble recalling why they're in place…..will you….Dad!" came the ice-cool counter reply.

Faces froze in stunned awe, followed seconds later by a few strangled chokes. Had Scott just dared say that….to their father! Yes, he had.

After what seemed like an age, the Commander-In-Chief finally decided to give ground.

"Those protocols are in place so we don't worry the hell out've everyone back here at Base Command," Jeff gritted out in slow deliberation.

"Damn right, they are," the young Base Commander shot back, his cobalt blue eyes alight with the fire of battle. "And yet knowing that, the very first time you decide to go out on a rescue…you ignore the most basic of procedures! Dammit, Dad….you've no idea how worried I was when I couldn't reach you," he added in an almost childlike pout and creasing his face into a heavy frown, after first, very pointedly, reminding his father that it was his decision to go on this rescue.

The stunned silence hung heavy in the lounge, the atmosphere thick with tension, as all eyes shot immediately to their Commander-In-Chief, awaiting his reaction. In truth, everyone expected an explosion, for him to thunder and roar at being spoken to in such a fashion and in front of everybody present but after what seemed like another eternity!

Instead of a raised voice, the raising of a distinguished greying eyebrow was the only reaction. "Oh…I think I do, Son….I think I do."

It was then the young Base Commander realised the naivety of his previous comment and as the two men continued to exchange steely looks, Scott broke into a slow smile, eventually leading to mutual laughter from both men, which instantly relieved the heavy tension.

"Yeah, Dad…I guess you do, at that," his eldest son readily acknowledged. And, being fully satisfied there was now nothing more to be said! "Well, I think we can finally wrap this one up!"

"Y.e.s….and I think we've all learned a very valuable lesson," the returning Base Commander remarked, as his eldest son finally relinquished his chair.

"What's that, Dad!" Virgil asked curiously.

"That I should stick to what I know best and leave you…experts…to do what you do best!" the wily Commander-In-Chief admitted with some amusement.

And at that, the room erupted in laughter.

"You said it, Dad….you said it," John cheerily returned.

All in relatively good humor now, the family made their way through to the kitchen after Grandma had summoned them for supper but, unfortunately for Jefferson Tracy, he was not going to be allowed to forget his sorry encounter just yet.

"Hey, Kyrano….what's for supper?" the ever hungry jovial aquanaut asked, as he plonked himself down at the table.

"In honor of Mr Tracy's first rescue mission to Ireland…..," Kyrano began.

"Eh….that would be…Northern Ireland, Kyrano. They're still kinda prickly about that over there!" the ever-knowledgeable John Tracy quipped with a grin.

The quietly serene manservant bowed in acknowledgement. "Quite so, Mr John. In honor of Mr Tracy's visit to…Northern Ireland…I have prepared what, I believe, is known as 'champ'! A dish of mashed potatoes….," he started explaining.

"That would be 'spuds'," the copper haired prankster quipped in broad Ulster accent with a cheeky grin. "Well…I've been learning the lingo! Had a great little teacher!" he added in a shrug, followed by a wink.

"Thank you, Mr Gordon," Kyrano once again acknowledged. "It is a dish of…spuds…and spring onions, which I believe is quite popular," he had begun again in explanation, though without attempting the accent his young instructor had so masterfully displayed. "And I have also prepared honey glazed pork steaks to accompany it," Kyrano finished off, totally unaware of the irony in his choice of dish, not having known the full details of the rescue.

Coughs and barely-able-to-conceal sniggers of laughter began around the table, as the plates were laid in front of them, with no one being able to bring themselves to look at a grumping Jeff Tracy, seated at the head of the table.

"The meal does not please you, Mr Tracy!" the elderly manservant inquired in almost apology, not understanding his friend's hesitance at beginning his meal.

"No, Kyrano…I mean, yes. I mean….," Jeff flustered and floundered. "There's nothing wrong with the meal. As always, Kyrano, your cuisine is excellent."

"Yeah, Dad's got nothing to complain about. He doesn't have to chase down this little piggy," the mischievous aquanaut whispered, as he set about tucking into his supper. "These pork chops come ready served on a plate, with all the trimmings. And after the run-around that little pork chop gave Dad, he should be only too happy to get his fork stuck in!"

"Oh Gordon….that's terrible," Tin-Tin good-naturedly rebuked, while Virgil spontaneously choked on a mouthful of food, instinctively prompting Jenna to pat him on the back.

"Why, Virgil Grissom Tracy! You shouldn't be such 'a pig at the trough'," Grandma admonished, with a wag of a wizened finger. "And then you wouldn't be choking on your food."

"But, Grandma……!" Virgil protested, in the face of sniggered laughter from his brothers and the two girls. Poor Virgil, he was feeling very much hard done by.

"Yeah, Virg…you shouldn't be such a pig…and while you're at it…quit 'hoggin' all that champ and pass that bowl down here," his eldest brother ordered, finding it all most highly entertaining and amusing.

The piggy puns flew thick and fast all through supper. He was sure his boys were doing it on purpose, the grumping Tracy patriarch thought to himself. Why, even his own mother seemed to be in on the act!

With the meal finally over, the family retired to the lounge to engage in the usual leisurely evening activities, though it soon became clear, to anyone with even half an eye, that there was a decidedly restless quality about the younger members of the household. Like a party game of Chinese Whispers, whispers began to ripple round the room and, on a given signal from Gordon, they rose as one, including Brains and made to exit the lounge.

Jeff peered round the side of his paper and over the rim of his reading glasses. "Humph….where are you all off too?"

"Eh….nowhere special, Dad. Just gonna 'pig' out in Scotty and Jen's place and…watch a movie!" the cheeky prankster answered quite casually, bringing a choking snort, this time, from John.

"A movie? Anything good!" their father inquired stiffly, choosing to ignore yet another piggy pun. His sons were going to prove just too clever for their own good, if they kept this up, he determined to himself.

Anxious glances passed between the Tracy boys.

"Nothin you'd be interested in, Dad, just some…all-in wrestling!" Gordon quickly rallied with ice-cool nerve and causing everyone to look anywhere but at each other for fear they would burst into helpless laughter.

"Anyone I know?" their father continued to press, feeling he was no more than taking an interest in his sons activities.

"Naw…just some old guy and a little squealer," came the quick, witty retort from the fearless copper-haired prankster. How they all kept from losing it right there and then was anybody's guess. "G'night, Dad," he then added, with cool and daring aplomb.

"Yeah…g'night, Dad," came a united chorus, followed by a lot of pushing and shoving in their eagerness to just get the hell outta there, so they could finally let it all out and relieve their aching sides.

"Y.e.s…goodnight boys, Jenna, Tin-Tin, Brains," their father returned, somewhat suspiciously. Although he couldn't just quite put his finger on it, he was sure there was something going on and, if Jefferson Tracy had had the wherewithal to follow up on his instinct, he might well have wondered at the side-splitting, raucous laughter that came from his eldest son and his partner's suite a short while later, as they watched the taped account of their father's antics.

"……and then….and then…when Dad brought Timmy back….the little porker….," Gordon regaled in laughter, the tears literally streaming down his face, so much so, he couldn't carry on.

John took up the story. "Yeah…the little porker let go…everything….all down the front of his uniform."

"Oh no! Poor Jeff," Jenna exclaimed, trying to be sympathetic but it wasn't working and seconds later she snorted out the laughter she could no longer hold in, causing everyone to, once again, collapse.

"…..and then…and then John goes and says….'That'll be nerves, I expect…..the little fella's probably just…scared'," Virgil added on, equally pained with laughter and eager to tell his eldest brother everything.

"Yeah….shit scared," Gordon quickly chimed in, causing another bout of unrestrained laughing.

It took a while for the mental images to subside and the laughter to die down and, several boxes of tissues later!

"Hey, thanks fellas….that was a helluva night," Scott sighed, the hilarity leaving him feeling completely drained and exhausted but really good.

Jenna had noticed her lover tiring as the evening wore on but had put off wanting to finish it too early, knowing it was good for him. This evening of fun and laughter with his brothers and friends had lifted his spirits and, gawd knows, he needed that. It had been more of a tonic in aiding his recovery than any medications. Besides, he'd had a rather stressful day, beginning with that less than perfect ending to his simulation flight, which she knew bothered and upset him more than he let on. Follow that, the added pressure of unexpectedly having to assume the burden of Base Commander during a rescue mission and it wasn't surprising that he was beginning to flag a bit, prompting the young nurse to finally call it a day.

"I hate to break up a fun night, guys…but Scott really does need to rest now," she apologised, motioning quietly in Scott's direction.

And they didn't need to be told twice, seeing for themselves just what a toll the day had taken on the eldest of the Tracy brothers. After the round of happy 'goodnights' and thanks for a great evening, the small party took their leave, with Jenna seeing them to the door.

Now that they were finally alone, she could give her full attention to her dark-haired lover and became just a little concerned when, on turning back to him, found him lying back on the couch, eyes closed and rubbing at the side of his head.

"Gotta headache, babe," Jenna inquired softly, as she sat down beside him and began stroking his forehead and toying with his hair.

She always did have such a soothing touch. "Hmm…just a bit," he admitted, with a groan.

"Wait here…I'll get you something for it," she offered. Kissing him lightly on the face, she got up and headed to the bathroom, coming back a short while later with pills and a glass of water, which he gratefully downed. Then, taking him by the hand, Jenna encouraged him to his feet and led him towards their bedroom. "Come on…I've got just the thing to help you relax. And then we'll get you into bed."

A very pleasurable thought indeed…Jenna, getting him into bed! The dark-haired pilot smiled quietly to himself, despite the ache in his head. "Hmmm…yes, pleeease."

Guessing at just what was going on in his head, she could only shake her head and smile. Bypassing the bed, Jenna led him through into the bathroom, where he was more than pleased to see she had run him a nice warm bath and made all the more pleasurable and sensual by the fact the room was also bathed in a soft ambient light, creating a very relaxed and soothing atmosphere. It was just what he needed.

They watched each other with coy seductiveness, as she began to strip him of his clothes.

"I hope this means, you're gonna join me," he groaned in quiet contentment.

Without a word, and still watching each other intently, Jenna slipped off her clothes, took him by the hand and led him down into the warm water. He followed gladly, sliding comfortably into her embrace, between her thighs and laying his head back, to rest against the cushioned softness of her breasts. Scott sighed contentedly at having the ache in his head soothed by her gentle stroking of his forehead, interspersed by her sponging his shoulders and chest with warm water.

All in all, he was in his own private heaven and never more so than when she began massaging and caressing his body, stirring deep feelings of arousal within him. After that, it all became rather…erotic! Such was the arousal awakened in him, he instinctively turned his face; his hungry mouth seeking the comfort of her warm breast.

She all but lost her breath at the wonderful sensations that flooded her senses for Scott Tracy had the most sensuously erotic mouth and skilful hands it had ever been her pleasure to know. And he all but lost his, when, along with the beautiful rhythm of sucking heavily on his own personal comforter, her skilled hands brought him to the heights and ultimately made him feel good…..oh so very good! Now, he really was in heaven.

It was hard to leave such soothing relaxation but eventually they left the bath and Jenna helped him towel dry before finally getting him into bed. With his body wonderfully satisfied, Scott sleepily watched his lover dry her hair and give him the erotic thrill of watching her massage herself slowly, all over with body lotion. Sometimes the thrill came, in just the watching! He waited for the moment she would come to join him and when she did, he happily snuggled down into the warmth of her body, into her loving embrace. He was aware, though, that while he had had his 'needs' fulfilled, he hadn't reciprocated, as he would have wanted.

"Aww babe….I'm so sorry. You haven't been…..I haven't given you…..," he groaned in apology.

But she immediately pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. "Sshhh….that's not important. You're what's important tonight." Jenna sealed her loving concern for him with a brush of her lips against his forehead.

Once more, warm waves of feeling loved, so utterly and completely, washed over him, enveloping him like a warm blanket and, with a love so sacrificial in nature, always striving to put his needs first, how could he not be deeply contented. And, it was a love returned in equal measure, wanting nothing less than to give her everything and indeed, prepared to lay down the ultimate sacrifice, for he would give up his life to protect her.

"Gawd, lady….do you know how much I love you," Scott groaned with fervent passion. They settled into a long lingering kiss before finally falling asleep.

Some time later, in the early hours of the morning, Scott stirred. With his headache now gone and her warm body next to his, he became sleepily aroused and so, the next hours were spent fulfilling each other in the beautiful art of slow and sensual lovemaking.

The following days settled into a comfortable routine and, thankfully, no one seemed to need the services of International Rescue. One afternoon, Jenna went in search of her ever-increasingly elusive lover, not having seen him all morning, not since they had gotten up and shared a quick breakfast.

"Oh hi, Tin-Tin. Have you seen Scott about?" she asked of her young friend, when Tin-Tin came into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Jenna….I haven't. But I expect he's still down in Thunderbird One's hangar office," the young Malaysian girl offered in suggestion. "He asked me to bring him down some sandwiches for lunch."

"Ohh!" was the only response Jenna could think of.

She had tried to keep the note of hurt from her voice, the disappointment that her lover had not asked her to bring them down to him but it wasn't working. Was Scott after all, despite what he said, getting bored with their relationship, had it all been too much, too soon for him and he was feeling the pressure! Jenna immediately shook those thoughts from her mind.

No, it was more than likely Scott was working too hard, feeling he had a lot of catching up to do because of the length of time he had been off. Well, it was up to her to remind him not to overdo it, that he was still in a recovery period.

"I'll go down and make him some coffee….make sure he takes a break," the young nurse announced.

"And you can take him some of my cinnamon cookies, Jenna dear. They're just fresh baked out of the oven. Why…if there's anything guaranteed to get that grandson of mine to stop work…..it's my cinnamon cookies," Grandma Tracy offered, sharing the same concern over her eldest grandson's health.

Bless Grandma for being so practical. "Yes, Grandma…thank you. I'm sure they'll do just the trick," Jenna smiled and giving the elderly matriarch a kiss on the cheek as she took the plate. Armed with the deliciously tempting treat, Jenna made her way down to the lower levels of the hidden complex.

Meanwhile, down in that very same hangar office!

Scott Tracy was indeed hard at work, pouring over and putting the finishing touches to a sketch on the hi-tec, hi-resolution screen of his digital drawing board. So intensely concentrated was he that he didn't hear his office door open or the presence that suddenly manifested itself behind him.

"Hey, buddy…..what you got there?" the voice of Thunderbird Two's pilot sounded out, suddenly breaking into his thoughts.

"Aww geez, Virg….you scared the hell outta me. Don't creep up on a guy like that!" Scott sighed in sheer relief, although somewhat testily, after having first jumped clear out of his skin.

Virgil Tracy studied his eldest brother for a moment in quizzical amusement. "I didn't 'creep' up on you. So…what are you up to anyway that has you so engrossed," he couldn't help but ask curiously, as he looked over his brother's shoulder.

"Huh! Oh….nothing," came the rather vague reply, causing the artist of the family to be even more curious than ever. His brother sure was being mysterious.

When Scott Tracy spent such long hours in his hangar office, becoming a recluse to everyone, even to Jenna, then you could be pretty damn sure he wasn't just working on….nothing!

"Nothing, huh! Sure doesn't look like…nothing! So, what am I looking at here, Scott?" Virgil continued to press out of amused curiosity, as he looked, first this way and then that, at the sketched drawing on the board.

The engineer in him told him it must be something to do with Thunderbird One, since after all, this was his brother's office but he just couldn't quite figure out what it was he was looking at. The object, in itself, was well drawn, simple, elegant though quite, quite distinctive for Scott, although not the expressive arty artist that Virgil was, was an accomplished technical designer and, while he may never be able to turn out the masterpieces his brother was capable of, he could turn his hand to drawing any detailed, intricate design, usually of aircraft and their parts, that he needed.

"I…guess you could say it's a…component part!" Scott returned cryptically, remaining rather elusive.

Puzzled, the experienced engineer screwed up his face, as he continued to try and work out what it was he was looking at. "Component part! You sure! Don't recall anything like that in Thunderbird One….and there, sure as hell, isn't anything like that in my Bird. I know every nut, bolt and chip in her. Has Brains got you working on something!"

Scott couldn't help the wry smile that broke across his face. "No, Virg…this has nothing to do with Brains. And you're right….it's not anything in One…or any of our Birds and it's not part of any of our rescue vehicles," the dark-haired pilot went on to inform his brother.

"Then, Scott….just what in the hell is that!"