Heya Folks! Happy to say this update is substantially quicker than the last one!

As always I don't own the Thunderbirds – but man would I love to own Lex Shrapnels abs. However thanks to an EPIC day at comic con, I do now own a pretty bitchin' Thunderbirds Comic signed by Gerry Anderson….I'm so HAPPY!

But as always enjoy!

All Expenses Paid

Chapter 6

Brains stumbled into the kitchen, struggling to keep his eyes open. There was only one light on above the sink causing elongated shadows to stretch across the room and the figure sitting at the counter. Scott had his back turned to the scientist, but Brains' could tell from the tension in the shoulders that he was still awake.

Saying nothing, he passed by the other man and made his way to the coffee machine, flicking on the main light on his way. As he made his coffee he could see Scott's reflection in the coffee machine.

He had to say something.

He kept stirring his coffee, taking extra care in not letting it spill over the edge. He could hear Scott's soft breathing behind him. Had he not seen the mans' tired eyes and tense posture as he had entered the kitchen he would have thought he was asleep. But he knew that if he were to turn around he would see the eldest of the Tracy brothers staring at him, waiting for him to leave.

He wanted to say something.

When he did turn around he didn't see a pair of tired eyes staring at him. Instead Scott had his head down, eyes boring into the table. He looked…tired, in every way possible. The cup quietly came in contact with the table as Brains sat opposite Scott.

They sat in silence whilst Brains started and finished his coffee. Scott had yet to raise his head or even acknowledge Brains presence. He could see the first signs of dawn through the glass panelling behind Scott's still form. Pulling himself out of the chair Brains began to wash out his cup, keeping an eye on Scott with the aid of the coffee machine. He saw the blurry reflection raised its' head and turn in his direction. Then, as though struck, the reflection turned back and lifted its' fist only to let it drop quietly back onto the table.

"There's n-n-n-nothing we could have done" he stuttered as he turned to look at Scott, who was looking at him like a lost child "It couldn't b-b-b-b, have been stopped". Scott gave a slight nod before rising from his spot. As he headed out of the kitchen he stopped at the doorway and turned to Brains.

"You know…Virge is gonna kill you if you don't clean that coffee machine out". Brains gave a half smile and watched Scott leave the room.

John felt like he had been hit by a bus. Judging by Virgil's concerned gaze he can't have looked much better either. They were still in the same room they had been in when they had first awoken, except now they were shackled, and the remnants of the coffee table had been removed.

John could see Virgil on the other side of the room. He was more coherent than he had been since he had first regained consciousness, and had gone almost three hours without throwing up – but that may have had something to do with there being nothing left to throw up. Either way, he looked healthier, one less thing to worry about.

"So…any ideas how to pick a lock Virge?"

Virgil stared at him with something akin to amusement. "What Mr. Genius can't figure it out?"

"Well, I like to stay the right side of the law" John stated, then added "Unlike you Mr. 'Indecent Exposure at age eighteen'".

Throwing his head back against the wall Virgil gave a low groan "I am going to kill Gordon when we get out of this." He looked back at his brother who was chuckling with small wheezy breaths "But now you mention it Johnny, I think I have an idea."

Jeff had been watching Scott for close to half an hour, glad to see his son sleeping for the first time in twenty-four hours. His head was still swirling after the bottle of whiskey he had downed the day before, but he felt better. He looked back to Scott. He had three sons safe and sound. He had one of the world's top scientists on his side. But most importantly he was going to get John and Virgil back.

And The Hood was going to pay.

Virgil had almost got the shackles off, just a little to the left, and he had the second one off. He had never been more thankful for forcing himself to wear metal collar stiffners that morning, as they worked as perfect lock picks, when used effectively.

Rubbing his now red wrists he made his way across to John and set about removing his shackles as well, which took substantially less time as he could both see what he was doing and use both hands. Once both brothers were free Virgil help pull John into a standing position and lean him against the wall careful not to jostle his bruised ribs. "Virge I've said it before, and I'll deny it again – you're amazing" John said, clapping Virgil on the shoulder.

Rolling his eyes Virgil stepped away from his brother and faced the door "I may be amazing, but I hope to hell you have an idea on how to get out that door".

The alarms were blaring through Tracy Island, and this is what Scott awoke to. As he rushed through the corridors and into the Control room the alarms cut out as he saw his father and Brains sitting at the panel. He made his way over to the two men and watched over their shoulders at the grainy picture on the monitor. "What's going on Alan?" Jeff said, straight into commander mode. That was when Scott noticed something, his brothers were smiling.

Gordon pushed Alan off screen "We know where John and Virge are!"

"How?! Where?" Jeff asked now entirely focussed on the screen in front of him.

"We don't know how exactly but a signal appeared on the LTM with the same frequency as those of our trackers" Alan explained, whilst picking himself up off the floor and back into the monitor. "So we checked it, and it is identical to Thunderbird 5's"

Gordon forced his way into the centre of the screen again "Which led me to believe that Johnny boy was even more freakin' intelligent than we already thought."

"Of c-c-course!" Brains stuttered excitedly "The p-part of the communicator that was missing was the tr-tr-transmitter. He m-m-must have boosted the signal somehow and managed to bounce it off Thu-thu-thu-the Satellite ship and back to him."

"Brains" Jeff turned to the scientist, smiling for the first time in twenty four hours "Set up a wireless link from the LTM to the readout screen in Thunderbird 1"

"Yes Mr Tracy" Brains said before hurrying out of the room.

"Scott, prepare Thunderbird 1 for lift off" Scott gave a small salute and then also left the control room "Alan, Gordon…damn good work. Hang tight and I will update you as soon as possible."

Still smiling the youngest of the Tracys' turned to their father "F.A.B Dad."

Virgil was impressed "I can't believe you used an idea from Pirates of the Carribean" he looked towards his smug looking brother "and it worked."

"Virge I have said it before, and I will say it again – never underestimate the power of 'Half Barrel Hinges'. Admittedly would have worked better had a bench, but hey, who need shoulders anyway" John said, clearly satisfied with himself "But as smart as it is, it still ain't the quietest form of escape so what do you say we get our asses the hell out of here?"

Virgil readily agreed to this idea and they soon found themselves in the corridor leading away from their cell. It was an old building with peeling wall paper and creaky floor boards, with a lingering smell of damp decay in the background.

They made their way through as quietly as possible until they reached a set of stairs. They could hear voices at the top. Voices which seemed to be getting closer. John turned to Virgil, out of ideas. Then they heard another set of voices, this time coming from the corridor they had just left. There was nowhere to hide. No doors, no alcoves, nothing.

With one last glance at each other they threw themselves up the stairs, two at a time. When they reached the top they found themselves at a t-junction of sorts. The left turning leading to a group of thugs, and the right leading to a possible exit.

Without thinking they headed right, conscious of the sound of pounding feet following them. They quickly came to two stair cases, one ascending the other descending. It only took a moment for them to both start heading down, but the moment was enough to stop them.

As they came to the foot of the stairs a force pulled them back and turned them around. They watched as the Hood motioned for four of his men to approach them, before releasing his hold on the brothers.

"You are being very rude guests boys" the Hood said, moving so that he was standing directly in front of his captives "You are also slowing down my plan, which unfortunately means I have to down size" he gave a small nod to one of the remaining guards and began to walk away "Goodbye Mr Tracy, I'll make sure your brother is well looked after".

Suddenly Virgil felt himself being pulled away, unable to do anything as he watched the bullet tear through his brother and sending him cascading down the stairs.

End of Chapter Six

I just made this awkward….

Ciao!

RussianKat