Disclaimer: Sadly, we still can't claim ownership of the Tracys or the Thunderbirds.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read and/or reviewed our little story so far. lissysue85 and sam1
Chapter 3
Jeff joined Alan as they prepared to head home once more. He noticed that his son was very quiet and concentrating overly hard on flying his craft. "Alan, are you okay?"
"Not really," admitted Alan, honestly. "You don't think Johnny really believes that we would leave him up there, do you?"
Jeff made sure that the Auto Pilot had activated and then moved over to his son. He gently turned the chair to face him and knelt before his baby boy. "No, Alan, I don't. John is just very ill and probably delirious. He knows that we would never leave him up there."
Swallowing hard, Alan met his father's gaze. "Dad, I've never seen him look so lost. So haunted. And I couldn't move to comfort him. I froze." He dropped his gaze and a lone tear fell from his eye. "He was so scared and I could see his fear. Dad, I could feel the fear radiating from him."
Jeff placed his fingers under Alan's chin and tilted his head back up to face him. "I know, Son, I could feel it, too."
Alan's watery blue eyes let his father know just how guilty he felt about not being able to approach his big brother. It didn't matter to the youngest Tracy that his big brother wasn't even aware that it was his family near him. What mattered is that he felt he'd let his big brother down. The same big brother who had always tried to make sure that he was available to any of his brothers if they needed him.
Jeff, sensing the inner turmoil in his son, closed the gap between them and pulled his baby boy into his arms. Alan didn't even try and move away from his father, showing just how much this had affected him. Instead he leaned into his father and took what comfort he needed before he felt ready to let go.
The moment was broken by the incoming call alarm. Alan pulled away from his father and spun back round to face the main console. "Thunderbird Three here, go ahead, Scott," he said, knowing it would be him.
"How is John? How come nobody called in to let us know what was going on?" Scott demanded, heatedly. Manning Base Control was not settling too well with the seasoned Field Commander. He was used to being in the thick of things not sitting out and twiddling his thumbs so to speak.
Alan spied the steaming coffee mug sitting off to Scott's left. "How much have you had to drink, Scotty?"
Scott's mouth opened and closed again. Then, "We're not talking about how much I've had to drink but you and Dad not answering my questions."
"Scott, breathe. Your brother will be fine. He is currently with Brains being checked out. It looks as though he may have a bad case of the flu." Jeff didn't want to tell Scott over the radio about John's delirium as it would only worry him further. And if there was one thing that the Tracy family knew without a doubt it was that a worried Scott hyped up on caffeine could be a tyrant until he could ascertain for himself that his family was safe and well.
"So, what cup number is that one then?" asked Alan.
Suddenly, a voice yelled out from off screen. "Fifth cup." Virgil then appeared beside his older brother and asked, "Dad, would you like me to get the sickbay ready for John?" Scott glared at his younger brother before turning his attention back to their dad and baby brother.
"Is he really bad enough to go to the sickbay?" Grabbing the mug of coffee, Scott took a couple of drinks. Alan saw how his hand shook and knew that if he didn't do something, Scott would be a huge problem. He'd experienced firsthand how his big brother was in a full out protective mode while drinking cup after cup of coffee.
"It's just a precaution, Son," reassured Jeff. "Virgil, could you take that cup away from your brother and make sure he doesn't make another one?" Alan breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad that his dad had noticed that Scott had had too much. Nodding, Virgil quickly pulled the cup out of his hand and handed it to Gordon.
Scott looked at his father in annoyance. "Dad, I'm fine. There's no need to confiscate my coffee."
Raising an eyebrow, Jeff looked directly at his eldest son. "When your hand is shaking then you have had way too much caffeine."
"Ha, told you so, Scotty," said Gordon. Glaring off-screen, Scott's eyes narrowed in annoyance just as laughter erupted from Virgil. Alan and Jeff looked at one another, wondering what was happening on Tracy Island. Then loud and clear, "Mm, this is pretty good coffee. Kyrano must have remembered to get the better blend this time."
Seeing his younger brother drinking his coffee, Scott lunged out of his chair. Out of sight but not hearing, Jeff could hear the ensuing struggle and argument. With a sigh, he looked at Virgil who had taken Scott's place. "Right we shall be landing in two hours. Virgil, go and make sure that sickbay is ready for us when we land." Raising his voice so that Scott and Gordon would hear him, "Gordon, go help Virgil. And then I want you waiting in Thunderbird Three's silo thirty minutes before we land. You and Alan will finish post-flight procedures."
Scott reappeared next to Virgil and nudged him. "Get up."
Jeff gazed for a moment at his eldest son, "And Scott, I mean what I said earlier, no more coffee."
"I don't think you have to worry about that, Dad." Gordon suddenly appeared next to Virgil. His hair wet and dark liquid rivulets streamed down his face and onto his t-shirt. "Virgil, I'll meet you in sickbay after I take a shower and change…again."
Before anyone could say a word, they heard a whimpered, "I'm being good. I don't want the darkness any more. I...NO, PLEASE!" Heart-wrenching screams could be heard in the cockpit of Three and on Base as well since communications were still open.