Disclaimer: I can't believe that I'm still making myself do these things! I don't own it! I didn't create it . . . I wasn't even thought of when Thunderbirds was created . . . my Dad hadn't even hit double digits yet!
Authors note: We have some newbies! Yay! Thanks for taking an interest in the story! I'm glad that everyone's enjoying it so much! You're all writing some really lovely things and I truly appreciate it all!
Somewhere In Between
By Bubblegum Thai
Chapter Thirteen: Operation cover-up.
He'd been sitting, waiting for his plane for a good two hours.
It wasn't like he'd booked it at the last minute, he'd booked it in November, as soon as he'd managed to talk his Father into letting him go out to a lone island by himself for New Years. Not that his Father had much choice, he was nineteen, after all. Nineteen was the age of adulthood in Japan, so even if his Father had banned him from going, he would've.
After all, she was there.
He glanced up over the top of his Japanese magazine to see a man in navy blue overalls approaching him,
"Mister Hijikata?"
Suguru nodded, he wanted to keep conversation to a minimum, he was really struggling with English a little, it was, after all, one of the most difficult languages to learn, at least in his opinion. He didn't often struggle with foreign languages, but he was determined to not give up on this because he wanted to be able to talk to her family. He wanted to be able to talk to her . . . even though she was fluent in Japanese, he thought it might be nice for her to relax sometimes and speak in her own language,
"Your plane's ready, sir. Sorry about the delay, it's a very busy time of year."
"It's fine." Suguru answer, scooping up his duffle bag as he stood from the table he'd been sitting at,
"So you're headed over to Tracy Island, huh?" Asked the technician as he led Suguru to a small green plane,
"Yes, to visit my girlfriend."
"Ahh . . . is that the young Asian lady?"
"No." Suguru said with a frown, "Suzan."
"Ahh . . . young Miss Tracy, sorry, I thought that you'd be for the other girl there."
Suguru smiled weakly, tossing his duffle bag in the seat behind his and turned to hand the technician some money, purely and simply to get him to leave him alone,
"Well, thank you very much." He said, smiling again, before turning and clambering up into the pilot's seat, "Not long now . . ." He told himself, "So tired . . . I just want to curl up with her and fall asleep."
- - -
Suzan was hovering around impatiently on the balcony. The only other person around was Virgil who sat at the piano beside the French doors, composing something, Suzan guessed, though she wasn't a hundred percent sure,
"It's a nice day. He should be able to see the island quite clearly." Suzan called over her shoulder as she leant against the railings, staring out at the horizon,
"What time did he say that he was going to get here?" Virgil asked, looking up from the piano. She spun around grinning at him, "He didn't He just said that he were coming today. It's hard to predict times like that."
Virgil nodded understandingly, lowing his face back again,
"She really puts you to shame, y'know . . ." His inner-voice began to nag, "She has the courage to defy Father and make her own decisions. To show her care and affection for someone he doesn't approve of and you can't even tell the girl you love that you love here . . . and she's acceptable to Father! Though it's rejection you fear, right? Not Dad! Not your Father! Look, if you really are THAT pathetic, then ask her for help . . . ask your baby sister for help!"
"Virg' . . .?" Suddenly Suzan's voice broke into his thoughts, "Are you ok? You just growled . . ."
Virgil looked up, she was standing right beside him, long brunette hair tumbling down from behind a thick black head band that was wrapped around her skull, over her ears. Her large blue eyes were full of curiosity and concern, her brows knitted together slightly,
"I'm fine, kiddo . . ." He chuckled, raising a finger up and gently touching her chin in an adoring-older-brother kind-of way. She frustratedly tossed her head away to the side, rolling her eyes. Of course, he forgot. She wasn't five anymore. She was almost grown up now . . . she didn't need her weird big brother looking out for her anymore. She didn't need anyone anymore, she had this precious new boyfriend, "Sorry . . . I just . . . I'm frustrated with myself, that's all."
"Are you having problems?"
"A few . . ."
"It's not your music, huh? Let me guess, girl trouble, Virg'?" She asked, nudging him over with her hips and sitting beside him on the piano-stool, "Would you like some feminine advice?" She asked, matter-of-factly.
Virgil quirked an eyebrow,
"When did my baby sister become some worldly?" He asked, smiling sadly,
"When she grew up." She answered softly, "Heh . . . I never had a Mum, growing up, you know that . . . I've taught myself all this make-up malarkey and . . . and . . . I was left to my own devices when it came to dating."
"Y'know . . . when I was your age . . . I didn't date."
"Yeah . . . well . . . I imagine it would've been hard, half the population being consumed by dinosaurs and all that jazz!"
"OI!" Virgil exclaimed, grabbing her around the ribs, tickling her relentlessly, "I'm not THAT much older than you are, young lady!"
She screamed before laughing loudly, trashing her head and arms about,
"Vir . . . Virgil . . . s . . . STOP!" She pleaded though giggles, "Please!" She begged, "I can't . . . I can't breathe!"
"Are you killing our kid sister again, Virgil?" John asked as he entered, "I thought someone was dying in here from that scream!"
Scott was soon by his side, out of breath,
"What was the scream for!" He panicked,
"Virgil tickled me!" Suzan whined, crossing her arms over her chest,
"She called me old!"
"Wow . . . I guess that makes us older, huh Scott?"
"I guess . . ." Scott sighed,
"Hey guys . . .?" Suzan suddenly asked, "Uhm . . . I have a question to ask you three . . . I don't dare ask Gordon and especially not Alan . . . they'll only laugh, but I am taking a risk with you three . . ."
"What risk's that?" Virgil asked, "You know you can trust us with anything."
"You're the big brothers. The responsible ones . . . sometimes it feels like I can barely hold my breath without one of you three there to make sure I still have a pulse . . . so whatever you do, when I ask this, don't jump to conclusions!"
"So ahead!" John said, "We're listening."
"Someday . . . in the future . . . FAR future . . . when it comes time for me to, y'know . . . marry . . . ahem . . . what do you think Dad'll make me do?"
"I think he'll ask you to choose." Scott said honestly, "He'll ask you to say no and stay here with International Rescue . . . or he tell you to leave . . . and stay on the mainland . . ."
Suzan swallowed hard,
"Right."
"Why'd you ask? Planning on getting hitched!" John joked. She stared at him blankly,
"John, I'm sixteen." She said, plainly, flipping a strand of hair over her shoulder,
"Alright, kiddo . . . relax!" He cried defensively, his blonde quaff tumbling into his eye. He pushed it back with annoyance before smirking, "Though . . . who knows . . . it might be sooner than you think . . ."
"Yeah . . . if I wanna die by Dad's hands, but from the sounds of things, I'm destined to disappoint him. As much as I love you guys and am dedicated to saving and helping people . . . I am not going to waste my life away rotting in misery and loneliness on this god forsaken rock!" She declared proudly, "It would be a waste or talent and beauty!" She joked, adjusting the strap of her bright pink bikini-top which poked out from beneath a black tank-top.
"Well, that sure gives our lives meaning . . . huh?" Scott huffed, rolling his eyes,
"All you boys have more discipline than I do . . . I'm still young . . . I wanna see the world!" She exclaimed, wandering back out onto the balcony, "I'm just a kid, as you three keep saying . . . I want my chance to achieve things . . . to be somebody . . ." She trailed off, turning back around and regarding the trio, "To MEAN something to somebody! I mean . . . to REALLY matter to someone other than you guys!" She sighed, resting her hands on her thighs which were clad in black, baggy three-quarter-length surfer shorts with pink slogans etched up the sides. On her feet were pink flip flops as she wiggled her toes impatiently. She lifted one hand up and cupped the other elbow, looking somewhat embarrassed, "I know it seems silly . . . but you've all achieved so much . . . maybe it's time I got out there and wrote my chapter of the Tracy story."
This made the three men smirk. Their baby sister was all grown up now and making her own decisions,
"Well, that's a good thing . . . when the time comes, I'm sure you and Father can work something out!" Scott sighed, walking out onto the balcony also. Within a few seconds, he was pointing out towards the horizon, "Plane, Suz'."
Suzan whirled around and grinned,
"He's here! Oh that must be him!" She exclaimed, grinning at her eldest sibling before running off to find Gordon at the radio so that the little green plane could land.
Scott turned to John and Virgil who were now joining him on the balcony, wanting a first, sneaking glimpse of the Japanese man as he exited the plane. Sure, they could just about see the runway from here,
"You ready for this?" Scott sighed, "Somehow . . . she always manages to bring home the least acceptable ones."
"This one's an heir, though. Maybe he's different?" Virgil suggested with a shrug, though they soon knew that was just wishful thinking as a man, about the same height as Scott (though they couldn't tell that from their distance) stepped out from the plane, shoulder-length black hair with red streaks hid dark eyes and a pale face. He wore baggy and ripped blue jeans and a black t-shirt that showed his muscles pleasantly. Scott arched an eyebrow,
"Not too bad . . ." He mused,
"Wait til you see him up close, before you say that!" John warned, "You know what she's like."
And low and behold, John had been right. Scott was less impressed by his sister's choice of man when he saw him up close, a single ring through the corner of his lip, another through his eyebrow and a third through his earlobe. Scott used his blue eyes to trace an invisible 'join-the-dots' pattern across the teenager's face. He glanced at his Father, who had his lips pursed together tightly at the sight of this young man, though he shook his hand and Suguru bowed to him graciously,
"It is an honour to meet the man who raised Suzan." He said quietly and humbly, "I've wanted for this day, for so long." He said again with a smile, "Your daughter, she means a lot to me, Mister Tracy."
"Yes, she means a lot to me too." Jeff answered icily,
"Of course, I'd like you to know that I could never hurt a girl like Suzan . . . she's my world."
Jeff's eyes widened at this statement, since when were things so serious! Had she just decided to not tell him the truth or was she afraid to? Either way . . . he'd find out but now, he was contented with keeping an eye on this newcomer, he was more bothered that the household would have to be a nervous wreck for the three days he'd been spending there, though Suzan had agreed to keep him distracted in soundproof areas.
No. Jeff wasn't fooled by that promise, either.
Suguru then shook the four brother's hands, Scott first, then Gordon, the Virgil and finally John. He looked back at Suzan in confusion,
"Watashi ha iwa re ta go nin no kyoudai ga i ta koto wo kangae ta ka?" Suguru said with a frown. She nodded,
"Hai, kare ha shinnen no aida tachisara reru watashi ha kare kaigou de nai koto wo osore te iru. Gomen!"
"Uhm . . . subtitles?" Gordon asked, raising a single finger,
"He said that he thought I had five brothers. I said I did but Alan's gone away for New Years."
"Oh . . ." Everyone answered simply,
"If he struggles with English, I'll translate!" Suzan declared, "Though you're doing a great job, huh? Oh! This is my Grandma!"
"Grand . . . ma . . .?" Suguru frowned,
"Sobo."
"Ahh . . ." Suguru bowed to Ruth and smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Oh, Suzan!" She gasped, "He's lovely!"
Suzan giggled,
"Yeah . . . he is . . ." She agreed, though Jeff was not entirely convinced.
- - -
"Soooo . . .? Impressions!" Tin-tin asked as she dropped down onto the couch beside Scott who had both his arms draped along the back,
"I think he's just charming!" Lady Penelope declared, "Not conventional looking, I'll admit . . . but he's a lovely young man."
"I agree!" Ruth declared, "So polite and kind."
"Hmmm, he was a nice fella." Virgil agreed, "Compared to some of her previous." He muttered, knowing all too well about one in particular. He'd promised himself afterwards never to show that side of himself to his sister, or anyone for that matter, ever again. He closed his eyes, letting his head lull back on the arm chair,
"I am not going to waste my life away rotting in misery and loneliness on this god forsaken rock!"
Suzan's words had hurt him, though he didn't know why. Was she calling him pathetic in her round-a-bout way. That she thought he was wasting away his life and talents here. That maybe, he needed to pluck up the courage, as Alan had done all those months ago? Seeing as Alan wasn't around (he'd only tease him anyway) and his Father wasn't the best person to go to on these matters, he decided to find a few solitary minutes with Suguru and ask his advice on the Penelope situation. That is . . . if they could break down the language barrier . . . maybe diagrams would help?
All of a sudden, Virgil burst out laughing at the mental image of himself waving around a picture card of two people kissing with a heart above them,
"What on Earth!" Scott exclaimed,
"Virgil! Whatever's come over you!" Jeff asked,
"I'm . . . sorry . . ." He chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye, "I just . . . had a funny thought."
"Gonna share?" Gordon asked hopefully,
"Uhm . . . no . . . it's fine . . . really . . ." He smiled slightly, "It's more of a private joke . . ."
- - -
"Your family is nice." Suguru told Suzan as they sat out by the pool,
"We don't have to speak in English, y'know." She told him,
"I know, but this is good practise. I don't feel quite such an idiot if it's with you . . . I could yell my feelings for you at the top of my lungs in the middle of Tokyo and I wouldn't feel foolish."
Suzan blushed,
"That's sweet . . ." She murmured, "Look, if my brothers, if they ever give you hassle . . . don't be offended . . . especially Virgil . . ."
"Virgil?"
"Yeah . . . he, uh . . . he's my protector . . . Mum, she told him everyday after I was born before she died to take care of me and he has. Everyday since . . . he's been there . . . he's saved me from a lot of stuff . . . including a bad relationship."
"Go on . . ." Suguru urged, wrapping an arm around her comfortingly as she drew her knees up to her chest,
"I had this . . . guy . . . he . . . uhm, would hit me sometimes . . . it hurt but I was scared . . . anyway . . . Virgil . . . I tell him everything . . . whether I admit it to Scott or not, I do . . . I couldn't hide it from him anyway, he knows me so well, it's scary! He took care of the guy for me . . . I don't know how . . . and I'm sure he'd prefer it if I didn't know . . . but . . . I saw blood on his shirt. It scared me a little, that my big brother. MY Virgil could do that to anyone! He's . . . he's the nicest one of them all . . . I couldn't get my head around it . . . I was afraid of him then and then they moved out here and I hardly saw them again . . . I regret being afraid of my own brother . . . so . . . don't be afraid of him . . . of any of them . . . they're just there to protect me . . ."
"That's very honourable . . . what your brother did. What they do . . . it takes bravery to jump into someone's life and save them from something. Big or small. Your brother's protecting you is admirable . . . I respect men who stand up to the fight."
Suzan looked at him and grinned. If only she could tell him about International Rescue, it'd make it all so much better . . . if he knew . . . it'd be easier . . . but she couldn't, not now, and from what she heard, not ever,
"C'mon . . . it should be time for Dinner, soon." She said, standing and reaching down a hand to Suguru who took it and pushed himself up off of the floor.
- - - To be continued . . .