Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since our last update, we still don't own them.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been reading our story. Hopefully, we managed to respond to all the signed reviews. The support and continued feedback has been amazing. Thank you all so much.

MnM: Of course we just keep getting more evil. And we blame you and Will for that...wait, I was already corrupted. It's lissysue who is slowly edging to the dark side. hee hee Careful what you suggest, we can and usually do find a way to cause more pain for the Tracys. love ya lots. - lissysue and sam1

TBZ: Those boys are just a tad hardheaded but they'll eventually come around. Thanks for reading and reviewing. lissysue and sam1

Chapter 8

It wasn't until John's low groans of discomfort were heard that Jeff and Virgil realized the blond astronaut was waking up. Jeff hurried to his side and gently grasped the still restrained hand of his son. Watching him open his eyes, Jeff wondered briefly if John would be his normal or delirious self. "John? C'mon, Son, it's time to wake up."

Blinking up at his father, John grimaced. His throat was dry and he found it hard to speak. He glanced at the cup sitting on the table next to his dad. Jeff followed his son's gaze and picked up the cup. He was a little startled when an arm reached round him, placing a straw into the cup.

"Let me raise the head of his bed up so that he doesn't choke." Virgil pushed a button on the side of John's bed and watched as it slowly rose to the desired position. "Do you mind if I help him this time, Dad?" Jeff shrugged and handed the cup to Virgil before settling back down in his chair.

Neither Virgil nor Jeff noticed the tense posture John suddenly assumed. Nor did they realize that the sparkle that had been in John's eyes earlier before he'd fallen asleep was gone. Virgil sat down on the bed beside his brother and brought the cup closer so that John could take a drink. The water soon disappeared and Virgil stood up, taking the cup away.

John's eyes then found his father's and Jeff smiled down at him. "Feel better?"

Nodding wearily, John experimentally moved his hands and ankles against the restraints. With a barely audible moan of dismay, he closed his eyes again.

A cold tendril of warning crept up the back of Jeff's neck. "Son, is there anything wrong?"

John took a deep breath and forced his eyes opened. He was unwilling to let the shadow bully him any longer. "No. May I please have some more water?" As he spoke he glanced around the room, relieved that he couldn't see the shadow creeping towards him. Maybe it was finally going to leave him alone. What he wouldn't give for a moment's peace. A moment of total clarity and no fear of those black, icy shadows reaching for him. Impatiently, waiting for the perfect moment to end his life. Twice now they have been denied his soul. Would they allow a third time for him to escape their grip?

Looking back at his father, he saw a fresh cup before him and drank it slowly. His eyes still darting around the room for any sign of the shadow. When the glass was empty, Jeff moved it away and studied his son. He could still see fear in those blue eyes and wanted to know what had his usually calm son so freaked out.

Cupping his son's face in his hand, Jeff leaned towards him. "Talk to me, John. Tell me what's going on?"

His voice was low and tinged with just a bit of fear. "The shadow, Dad. It's waiting for me to be alone again. Please, please, don't leave me alone." Tears pooled in his eyes before trickling down his cheeks. "I don't want it to take me away from you, Dad. Or from my brothers. I don't want to die alone."

Jeff moved so that he could sit on the bed whilst being mindful of his son's arms and pulled him into a tight embrace. He fought against the lump in his throat, "You're not going to die, Son. And nobody is going to take you away from us, I promise."

Not realizing that his father and brother were talking, Virgil came out of the stockroom attached to the infirmary. His head was down, reading one of Brains' medical books. "Hey, Dad, I wonder if this is what John has. He is showing a few of the symptoms." Looking up, he realized that he had interrupted what obviously was a private moment between father and son. What he didn't expect was to see his normally calm brother glaring at him.

"Get out. I'm tired of sharing Dad with you. You and everyone else always take his time and then he forgets about me. You're not any better than me, Virgil. I'm his son too and he has to spend time to talk and be with me as well."

Virgil was so shocked by the anger in his brother's voice that he froze for a moment, unable to say anything. In the deafening silence of the room, all three men started a bit when the door to the infirmary opened. A moment later, Gordon walked in still red in the face from his confrontation with Scott. Snapped out of his shock by his younger brother's presence, Virgil moved away from the bed. Muttering quietly about needing to get something, he quickly exited the room.

Still seething, John snapped at his dad, "Go after him just like you always do when one of them need you. Don't worry about me; I'm used to being left alone." His anger suddenly spiraled out of control. Taking a deep breath, his eyes tearing over, he struggled against the restraints. "Let me go," he yelled, fighting hard to be free.

Gordon hurried to his brother's side. "Hey, man, calm down."

Jeff though wanting to go after his middle son, stayed by John's side. He tried not to let either of his sons see just how much it hurt him when John pulled away from him. "Leave me alone. Go after the crybaby." Breathing hard, John closed his eyes and lay back against his pillow. "Just leave me alone. 'M tired."

"Go, Dad, I'll stay here with him." Gordon offered, watching his brother as his eyes snapped open.

"I said leave me the hell alone. Now, GET. OUT."

Both Gordon and Jeff knew that there was no way John could get free and neither of them wanted to further anger him so they left. "Brains, John is alone in the infirmary, calming down. Please listen out for him." Jeff was glad for the watches that Brains had developed that allowed each of them to keep in contact both at home and at a rescue.

"O-okay, Mr. T-Tracy." Brains' face was replaced with the normal watch face.

Leaning against the wall, Gordon looked back towards the infirmary. "Dad, what the heck is wrong with him?"

"Brains suspects that John has an infection and is doing the lab work to figure out what type of infection."

"I know that but what's bringing on the changes in attitude and emotions?"

"I wish I knew, Son, I wish I knew." Looking towards where the hall split off, he sighed. "Right now, I need to find Virgil. I'm sure that what John said hurt him. What are you going to do?"

Shrugging, Gordon frowned a moment before heading towards his room. "I'm going to go swim some laps." Mumbling under his breath, "I need something routine to keep me from losing it again." He gave a half-hearted wave to his dad before running up the stairs.

"Okay, Virgil Grissom Tracy, where did you run off to?" Following his instinct, he headed towards Thunderbird Two's silo.

Quietly, he made his way back to the infirmary. Not proud of himself for having run off or hiding from his dad, he hesitated next to the infirmary door. He tried to keep his emotions calm as he walked towards his sleeping brother's bed. Noticing that the blanket John had asked for had fallen to the floor; he picked it up and covered him again before sitting down on the chair next to the bed.

"You're wrong, John. It wasn't you that Dad forgot or never had time for when we were younger. It was me. I'm the one he neglected and ignored. I'm the one he forgot. He may never have read that book to you but he did make time for you. It never hurt him to look at you or pained him when you did something you loved. He wouldn't let me play the piano or paint. He took away everything that I loved because it reminded him of her. Because I remind him of her." Standing up, Virgil walked away from the bed, in an effort to compose himself. He never noticed the flickering of his brother's eyes or the tear that trickled down his cheek at the heartbreaking words.

Unbeknownst to Virgil, Jeff stood just outside the infirmary, also listening. Hearing just how much he hurt his sons without having realized the damage he had done. "What have I done?" Turning away, he walked off for a little time alone.

In the shadows, a translucent figure watched as he walked away. "Rocket Man, don't give up. Our boys aren't themselves right now. They love and believe in you."

A/N: Criminally Charmed uses Rocket Man in some of her Thunderbirds' stories and was kind enough to let us borrow Lucy's nickname for Jeff in our story as well. Thanks, CC. - sam1