I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds.

Chapter 9 – A Last Shot Before We Go

Gordon almost fell out of his perch laughing. "John! Johnny, they are coming out. The last gunman got taken out by Fermat."

John's blonde eyebrows were practically in his hairline. "Excuse me, Gordy but I thought you said Fermat took out the last gunman."

Captain James reported over her radio, laughter in her voice. "Well, if Fermat is a slight young man with dark hair and glasses, he just managed to nail the last gunman in the crotch. An excellent kick, if you ask me. The bad guy is being dragged out by ummm… two adults…"

"Dad and Brains," Gordon interrupted.

"OK people," called James over the radio. "Last of the hostages and one gunman are coming out. The gunman will be the one clutching his… well, himself. As soon as the last of the five hostages clear the doorway, I want someone in there checking for anyone who may have been hiding and confirming that the third gunman is dead."

Once he was sure the radio was off, Gordon softly said. "He's dead."

"You can't be sure."

"I am," replied Gordon. "If this were small arms, Kate or Scott can easily outshoot me. But when it comes to long-range with a rifle…I never miss."

James smiled. "Really? That's kinda…hot."

Climbing down, she made her way to the communications center to join the other Tracys. Captain James missed the way Gordon stared at her with raised eyebrows before dissolving into a devilish grin. Starting down himself, he began to sing slightly off-key.

I feel lucky, I feel lucky, yeah
No Professor Doom gonna stand in my way
Mmmmm, I feel lucky today

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John and Emily made their way towards the hall entrance. Forcing their way past crowds of law enforcement, media and gawkers, the duo met up with Captain James and Gordon just as the doors burst open. Jeff Tracy and Professor Hackenbacker cheerfully relinquished their prisoner to two state police standing nearby. Alan, Fermat and Tin-Tin came out of the hall, smiling widely and accepting hugs from their gathered family members. Alan clucked his niece under the chin, nestled once more in her father's arms as Tin-Tin's parents hugged their daughter. Fermat was getting his hair ruffled by Gordon and being congratulated on having "a hell of a power kick."

Reporter Ana Nevada pushed her way towards the Tracy family. The Tracys were news and this time she was going to get her story. Planting herself in front of Gordon and Fermat, she gave a huge phony smile. "Gordon Tracy and ummm, you…what are you feelings at this moment? I mean, your father and brother were in the hands of madmen with guns. How do you feel knowing that they have escaped from a near death situation?" Gordon just eyed her with disgust and tried to push past her with Fermat in tow. But because of the reporter, he missed what happened next.

Kyle Wescott watched in disgust as once more Alan Tracy was surrounded by his family. Again, Tracy wins and basks in the love of his family, his heroes. The police had cuffed his hands in front of him. Glancing down at the officer next to him, Kyle waited for just the right moment. Seeing everyone distracted by the reporter, he seized his chance.

With a swift violent move, Kyle twisted out of the grasp of the two policemen and grabbed the service weapon from one of the officers. Clutching the gun in his hands, he once more pointed a gun at Alan's head. "I told you Tracy; only one of us is going to survive this day."

The shot that pierced the silence of the group was like an arrow to the heart.

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High above the Earth on Thunderbird Five, Kate Tracy watched the news monitors in horror. Tears, once from joy and relief, now from terror, fell from her brown eyes. On a separate monitor, she turned to the Thunderbird Field commander. "Scott, can you get any report on what is going on there? I saw Wescott raise his gun, but the camera was knocked over. All I can tell is there has been a gunshot and everyone seems to be on the ground."

Back on Tracy Island, Scott looked at his wife, longing desperately to hold and comfort her. Touching some of the pictures on his father's desk – one of his son and another with all five of the Tracy sons, Scott steeled himself for whatever would come next. "Sorry, Kate; we are seeing the same thing you are. I… wait, the reporter is getting back up…"

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Jeff Tracy had spun around in horror. Alan lay on the ground near Kyle Wescott, with his son's nemesis underneath a police officer. Tin-Tin had ripped herself from her parents' protective embrace and ran over to her fiancé. Grabbing desperately at his shoulders, she tearfully cried out his name. "Alan! Alan, are you OK? Are you hit?"

The Tracy family sighed with relief as Alan peeked up through the blond locks falling into his face. "Yeah, Tin, I am alright. I guess. But you wanna know something? I am getting real sick of this bull-" Looking up at his father, Alan sighed. "Nonsense. I am sick of this nonsense." Accepting a hand up from John and their father, Alan hugged both men before pulling Tin-Tin into a gentle embrace. "So," he mused, looking around, "Who shot who?"

Gordon grinned at his only younger brother. "The shooter was shot. And he don't look too happy about it, hmmm?"

Sure enough, Kyle Wescott was being helped up by several police officers. Emily ignored the gunshot wound in the young man and instead began to examine the cut on Alan's head. "Um, doc, don't you think you should help this guy first?" Emily glared at the officer and turned to check on Fermat instead. John began to laugh.

"You'd best get the paramedics over here for him, guys. Tracys tend to be unforgiving when someone tries to hurt family." Smirking at Wescott, he continued. "You're just lucky Katie isn't here. She wouldn't have clipped your shoulder to disarm you."

At the mention of the woman who had killed his brother, Kyle tried to lunge at John. Captain James once more raised her gun, still hot from the shot that had disabled Kyle earlier, and aimed it at Wescott. "I can assure you young man, I will shoot to kill if need be. Now be a good little boy and let the nice officers take you to the medics."

Gordon grinned at the police captain. "Wow. Now that was hot." The other Tracys raised brows and laughing glances were totally missed in the exchange of intense looks between the two.

As they led him away, Kyle Wescott looked back at the Tracy family. Seeing their loving embraces and caring touches filled him with rage. He had only ever had one person who cared about him and the Tracys had stolen that from him forever. He didn't know how and he didn't know when but he would have justice some day.

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Ana Nevada stuck a microphone in Tin-Tin's face. "Hi, you must be Alan's little girlfriend, right? How do you feel right now? I mean, you have nearly watched him die several times today. What do you have to say to the world honey, hmm?" As Tin-Tin glared at her, Ana cocked her head. Pushing forward, the reporter continued. "You do speak English don't you dear? Can – you – under – stand – me?"

A Tracy was finally pushed to their limit. The reporter found herself looking up at the couple from where Tin-Tin's well-placed punch had landed her. "MY NOWZ! She bwoke my nowz!"

Tin-Tin leaned down. "Listen you obnoxious bitch, you stay away from me, my fiancé and both of our families. I catch you within swinging distance of us again; I will not be responsible for my actions."

Alan kissed his fiancée. "Oh, pretty lady, remind me not to get you mad at me…"

"We've known each other since we were ten, Alan; I thought you already knew that."

Alan's sole response was to kiss her again. As the Tracys began to walk away, Ana turned to Captain James. "She assaulted me! I demand you arrest her."

The officer merely raised her brow. "First, you crossed the media line. Second, you were in a threatening position to them, so her actions can be viewed as self-defense. Finally, I don't like you. So go away before I arrest you."

The reporter stalked away. Gordon smiled at Captain James. "I am duly impressed… Hermoine, isn't it?"

"Listen Gordon, if you are interested in me you best not call me Hermoine. My friends call me Haj – my initials, if you are curious. Just so you know, I am thirty-five and I figure I am at least ten years your senior. I am divorced, with a seven-year-old son. who lives with my ex and his new wife. Strangely enough, I am fine with that. Heck, I introduced my ex to his new wife. In fact, I am godmother to their daughter. I have no desire to fall in love or have a permanent relationship." Gordon smiled at her speech.

"Haj – I am actually eleven years your junior, I lost my last girlfriend in a plane crash and have no desire to fall in love again at this point of my life. However, if I know my little brother and Fermat, they are currently convincing their fathers they are fine and want to stay for the graduation ceremony tomorrow. But, due to the events of the luncheon, Dad will insist that they have dinner in the hotel suite so reporters won't be harassing them. So, I am sure I can slip away for dinner. Know any place good?"

Haj grinned. "Yeah, I do." She pulled out a business card and wrote something on the back of it. "My cell phone is on the card, in case you can't get away. Otherwise, meet me at the address on the back of the card at seven."

Gordon looked at the card before pocketing it. Starting towards his family, he turned back to Captain James. "Hey, just out of curiosity; what kind of restaurant is it?"

The sensual smile she shot him drew a shiver from Gordon as she quietly responded. "Actually, I thought I would just get some Chinese take-out. I'm a lousy cook. But I am very good at many other things in this world."

As she walked away, Gordon stared after her before grinning at the card he had pulled from his pocket. Memorizing the address for Haj's condo, he returned the card to his pocket and turned to join his famil, once more singing slightly off-key.

But I feel lucky, oh oh oh, I feel lucky, yeah
No tropical depression gonna steal my sun away
Mmmmm, I feel lucky today

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Back on Tracy Island, Sarah smiled over at Kate on the screen. "Should we tell Gordon his wrist communicator is still on?"

"No," Kate laughed. "Let's just make sure it's off before he goes out to, umm, eat."

a/n - oh, yeah. Gordon - if you are curious - is one of the reason this has a T rating. No, Haj will not be the love of his life. But they will be friends. And, for the moment VERY friendly. Oh, and the song he sung - which I do not own either, is "I feel lucky" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was either that or "Older Women (Make Beautiful Lovers). And someone got to punch Ana Nevada. Is anyone surprised it was Tin-Tin? Do a review so I will be encourage to keep letting the Tracys all be lucky...