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Authors note: This is a really crap chapter, I apologise in advance! It really does suck . . . thanks monkey-chan for such enthusiasm! I like receiving reviews like that, it makes me so giggly and excited!
Somewhere In Between
By Bubblegum Thai
Chapter Eleven: Back to normal.
It had been a month a half since the Lea Valley Academy incident.
Jeff's legs were still in casts, though he was happy to be home and back in charge of International Rescue. He'd felt useless and weak in hospital and had almost cried with happiness when the Doctor had told him that he could go home.
Everything, for the moment was at peace, the boys were all getting along fine. John was in the process of publishing his sixth text book, so he and Alan were coming and going like there was no tomorrow, much to the annoyance of Alan, who was just beginning his new relationship with Tin-tin. At first, Jeff had been sceptical, though it didn't seem to bother either one work-wise so he guessed it would acceptable for the moment. They seemed happy enough, cuddled up around the island.
Gordon was happy enough, he'd discovered another underwater cave whilst scuba-ing last week and consequently was spending a lot of time investigating that. Scott seemed ok, there wasn't anything different about his life this year that hadn't been last year. He was just average. Virgil had gone quiet again, now that Suzan had gone away to Japan until Christmas. He seemed a little miserable, perhaps because he had no-one to really talk about art and music with, but he also seemed relatively happy. Just quiet.
As far as Jeff was aware, Suzan was fine. He'd just received a letter from her explaining what school was like and so on and so forth. She was at an English-run school just out side of Kobe, there were a lot of English and American children there, as well as a hand-full of other Europeans and Japanese.
In fact, he had been sitting there, holding the lavender stationary for a long time now. He'd read it three times, but was yet to place it down. He was just happy to hear from her. In the 'old days', months would've elapsed without a letter from his youngest.
At that point, his Mother walked in from the kitchen,
"Pork for dinner, Jeff, is that alright?"
"That's fine." Jeff said with a nod,
"Are you reading that letter again?" She giggled, giving him a soft shake of the head, "You know, it'll never get answered if you just read it." She chuckled, "What did she have to say, anyway?"
"That she's getting along fine. She's having a good time. She's got a new boyfriend . . . some Japanese musician she met one night when she was out with friends."
"Oh . . . that's nice!" Ruth beamed, "Let's hope you don't scare this one off . . . perhaps he could come over for New Year?"
"Mom! You can't be suggesting that we bring a stranger on to the island to stay!" Jeff scowled, "What if we get called out on a mission."
Ruth giggled mischievously,
"I'm sure Suzan can keep him occupied in the event of an emergency." She called over her shoulder as she returned to the kitchen,
"Hmmm . . ." Jeff murmured, finally placing the letter down and lowering his hand to the controls of his motorised hover-chair,
"I am so jealous of that thing," Scott observed as he entered in his swimming trunks, towel draped around his shoulders,
"Don't be." Jeff answered gruffly, "I hate this thing." He muttered,
"Heh, no worries, you'll be out of it within a month or so. You'll see."
Jeff muttered something under his breath as he headed towards the chess board where Brains sat, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully. It was time for their daily chess game,
"Have you seen Virgil, Father?"
Jeff shook his head,
"Not recently, no. Why?"
"Just wondered where he'd disappeared to."
"Maybe he's in his room." Jeff suggested with a shrug, "I'm not too sure."
- - -
Later that evening Alan and Tin-tin sat on the beach, staring out across the darkening ocean. Alan laid back against a smooth-textured rock, one leg bent, the other lying strait along the sand. Tin-tin was nestled between them, resting her back against his chest. She sighed happily,
"This is nice . . . away from the others for awhile . . ." She sighed,
"Hmmm . . . no Gordon to tease us . . ." He chuckled, stroking a hand through her hair, letting his eyes drift shut,
"You still owe me that date, Mr. Tracy!" She scolded playfully, "Don't you forget that!"
"I know . . . I know . . ." Alan sighed, "But no one can leave the island right now, we're down in numbers now that Suzan's gone, we can't even use her."
"I miss your sister," Tin-tin mumbled, "It was nice having someone closer to my age . . . a girl, I mean . . . to talk to about things I can't talk to you and Grandma Tracy about."
Alan smiled weakly,
"Yeah . . . she'll be back at Christmas and you guys can chat about shoes all you want!"
Tin-tin huffed and sat up, turning and glaring at him,
"Is that all you think I am? A pretty face with a superficial personality?"
"What? No!"
"Then what does it mean?"
"That you can talk to my sister about the more girly things . . ."
"Oh yes! Because all Suzan and I can possibly have to talk about is shoes and men?"
"Well . . . she's just a kid . . . it's not like you can talk to her about adult stuff, is it?"
Tin-tin rolled her eyes,
"If you don't know your own family, I don't know how I ever expected you to know me!" She muttered, shaking her head, "There is so much more than just . . . the things you obviously think . . ."
"I know that you're smart . . . you're beautiful and funny . . . there is so much more to you than what I said . . . Tin-tin, you're misunderstanding me!"
Just then, Jeff's voice floated up from Alan's watch,
"Alan," He began sternly, "There's an emergency. Virgil's going to need your help."
"Coming, Father . . ." Alan sighed, rising to his feet slowly. He looked down at Tin-tin who was staring down at the sand beneath her, "I'm sorry . . . we'll finish this later." He breathed, leaning down and placing a kiss to her forehead.
She smiled weakly before turning and watching after him as he ran off down the beach towards the villa.
- - -
The mission was simple enough. Run away fire . . . arson . . . family stuck in building . . . walls about to collapse . . . y'know . . . the usual. The International Rescue boys had seen so many instances like this, it was almost automatic the way that they handled it.
Just as they were preparing to leave, a familiar pink Roles Royce pulled up along side of the quartet. Parker stepped out and smiled, jogging around to open the door to let Lady Penelope step out,
"Hello, boys." She beamed, flashing them a pearly-white smile, "Good job!"
"Thanks, Lady Penelope." Scott answered, sending Virgil a sly sideways glance. He knew very well that his younger brother had fallen hard for the aristocratic young woman. She was only two years older than Virgil, Scott's age, so there was no major problem there, but Virgil was shy, especially around women, even one he'd known for many years like Penelope,
"Yeah . . ." Gordon agreed, "Thanks."
"So, uh, what're you doing out here?" Virgil asked, attempting to be smooth though inside his heart was racing,
"Well I was on my way home, I'd been visiting one of my girlfriends, when Parker noticed Thunderbird 2 over the trees."
"Oh, right."
"Father tells us that you'll be joining us on the island for Christmas and New Year." Scott said, adjusting his sash almost irritably,
"Yes," Lady Penelope answered with a smile, "It'll be a lovely vacation, right, Parker?"
"Oh, yes M'lady!"
"In fact, I spoke to your Father earlier today." Lady Penelope, "It would appear your Grandmother's talked him into letting Suzan have a friend over for New Years."
"Is this the new boyfriend, then?" Alan asked with a frown,
"I didn't know Suzan had a new boyfriend." Gordon said, astonished, "Lucky kid . . . she gets all the fun!"
"Yeah . . . Tin-tin told me."
"How did Tin-tin know?" Scott asked, furrowing his brow,
"Suzan told her. In a letter."
"Oh . . . so Dad and Tin-tin get letters, but I guess that we're just not privy." Gordon grumbled, "We only rescued her from near-death . . ."
Lady Penelope giggled,
"I'm sure there's a reason." She smiled, "Would you boys like to join me for some tea?"
"We really need to be getting back!" Alan cut in,
"Why? No rush . . ." Virgil answered,
"Uh . . . yeah . . . there is!"
"What?" The other three asked,
"I . . . uh . . . look, I don't have to tell you fellas anything!"
"Oh I get it . . ." Gordon snickered, "Having trouble with Tin-tin again?"
"It's none of your business!" Alan snapped,
"C'mon . . . I guess we should get back . . . it's probably for the best." Scott sighed.
The group all said their goodbyes to Lady Penelope before clambering into their respective crafts and heading back to Tracy Island.
- - -
"... oyobi ta no nyuusu de, International Rescue mouichido igirisu no minami no hi wo sukutta!"
"…and in other news, International Rescue once again saved the day in the South of England!"
Suzan whirled around as she prepared to exit the ramen bar she'd been seated in with her friends when she'd distinctly heard 'International Rescue' mentioned on the television behind the counter,
"…kesa no hayai de ha, hi ha shuto no kougai no seinen niyotte hajime rareru no hi houkoku sa re ta rondon. Sore ha sore wo houkoku sa reru International Rescue jikan inai no bamen ni ari hijou ni atsui ie kara no go no keiretsu wo kyuujo suru koto wo fuku de i ta te de sugu ni saigai wo motte i ta."
"…in the early hours of this morning, a fire was reported to of been started by youths on the outskirts of the capital, London. It is reported that International Rescue were on the scene within an hour and soon had the disaster in hand which included rescuing a family of five from their burning home."
Suzan jumped as a heavy hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned and was met by the concerned face of a surprisingly tall Japanese boy with sleek, strait, shoulder-length black hair and dark eyes. He smiled at her reassuringly,
"Yoi ka, Suzan-chan?" He asked,
"Are you ok, Suzan?"
"Hai Suguru-kun, watashi ha umaku aru. Watashi ha kono repooto nitsuite choudo kouki kokoro ga tsuyokatta sore ha subete de aru." She answered with a smile and a nod.
"Yes Suguru, I'm fine. I was just curious about this report, is all."
"Moushibu naku, yoku saa! Watashi tachi ha eiga wo nogaso u to omotte iru!"
"Alright, well, come on! We're going to miss the movie!"
"Kuru koto!"
"Coming!"
Suzan sighed, the news had changed now. She'd missed the end of the report from talking to Suguru. She'd have to call and ask Jeff later to find out and make sure everyone was alright. She was having far too much fun in Japan. Far more than a student should have at boarding school, but the country was so free and liberated, and the people so polite. She loved it, though she was looking forwards to Christmas.
In fact, she'd already begun shopping for her brothers and Father. As she jogged to catch up with Suguru, who'd headed off towards the cinema, she couldn't help but wonder if they missed her.
- - -
On the island, Virgil and Scott stood on the balcony, leaning against the railings,
"I think that this year could be it . . ." Scott said to Virgil with a smirk, "You should tell her how you feel."
"Are you kidding? What would she want with a guy like me?" Virgil snorted,
"What's wrong with you?"
"She's beautiful and sophisticated!" He muttered, "And I'm . . ."
"Talented and caring . . . a catch for any woman . . . I think that's what they're usually after . . ."
"Heh . . . but I'm not sophisticated! I'm a yank, remember? I don't know how to drink tea . . . or play cricket . . . or anything that she probably does!"
"Well, if you knew how to wear make-up . . . I'd worry." Scott joked,
"Scott! I'm serious! I don't deserve a woman like her!"
"Well I think you do!" Said the elder, "And if it kills me, I'll see you happy!" He stated with a nod,
"Dinner!" Called out Ruth to the boys,
"C'mon . . . we'll talk later . . ." Scott breathed, pushing off of the railings and heading inside with the others.
- - - To be continued . . .
Thanks again to all of my readers! Especially my regulars! If there's anything you want or if you have any ideas jot them down in a review and I'll do my best to bow down to your wishes! I live to serve!