All Expenses Paid
*crawls out from under rock* hey folks, HIBERNATION SEASON IS OVER! Yay….okay I'm sorry it took so darn long but here it is, the update! Not the end yet, I still got a few tricks up my sleeves, and most of them are legal! So BONUS!
Here it is though, as always I own nothing…seriously, there are parts of me in Canada
Enjoy
Chapter 11
Scott watched his brother. He watched as the sheets covering him moved gently with every breath forced into his lungs by the respirator. He knew there couldn't be any improvement, not until his father arrived, but he kept watching. Just in case.
It had been almost two hours since the message had been sent, and he was starting to get worried.
Jeff had under estimated how long it would take him and Virgil to get to the hospital, but with Virgil and himself being injured it had taken almost an hour. When they did finally reach the hospital both were exhausted and stumbled through the emergency room door panting for breath.
Brushing off the concerned nurses and attendants they made their way to the nurse's station. "We're here for John Tracy?" Jeff said, holding himself up on the desk.
The nurse stared at the two men, both of whom looked as though they may need a hospital bed themselves. "Okay…let me just check the computer" she said and began typing away at her computer. As she looked through the computer she threw a few glances at the two men in front of her. The younger one looked as though he hadn't eaten in days and could do with a good scrub. Whereas the older one looked like he had a few rounds with Godzilla and lost. "Ah, here we are, fourth floor room 417," she said with a smile. Jeff and Virgil ran from the desk, Virgil shouting thank you behind him as they entered the elevator.
As they stood alone in the elevator Virgil turned to his father and gave a small smile. "Dad," he said, grabbing his fathers' attention "Thanks. For saving us."
Jeff too broke out in smile at this, and then pulled Virgil into a hug as the doors pinged open, then grasping his sons shoulders "Now let's go find your brothers."
Scott had started pacing again. The repetitive beeping of the life support machine was driving him crazy, it was like an angry accusation with every shrill beep. He should have made his father stay with him, he should have stopped him walking away from him, and then maybe John would be okay.
He was standing at the end of John's bed when the door flew open. Scott just stood and gawped as his father and brother appeared in the room both panting for breath and looking more than a little worse for wear. Scotts' brain went into overload. They were here.
It wasn't until he saw Virgil kneeling next to John that he began to function again. Turning to his father who was still standing at the door, staring at John with wide eyes, Scott gave a soft cough gaining the older mans' attention "He needs blood, the hospital it uh, it doesn't," Jeff cut him off.
"I know. Take Virgil to get checked up, I'm going to the nurses' station." Jeff ordered, he then approached Virgil pulling him softly from his brothers side and placed a hand on Johns shoulder. After a moment he removed the hand, gave Virgil another quick pat on the back before giving Scott a quick nod and leaving the room.
The room was still. Virgil stayed where his father had pulled him, clearly the adrenaline had run out and exhaustion and his injuries were catching up with him. "Come on let's get you to a doctor before you fall down" Scott said, smiling softly at his brother. Nodding Virgil turned towards his brother and allowed himself to be led from the room and towards the emergency room again.
"What do you thinks happening?" Gordon asked as he Alan sat in front of the observation window. They had heard almost nothing since they had been told to transmit the message, except that the message had been received and they would be updated when necessary.
Alan turned to Gordon, eyes weary "No idea, but no news is good news right?"
Gordon quickly averted his eyes at that "Yeah," he said "Of course, they would tell us if something was wrong." Even as the words left his lips Gordon found himself internally scoffing at them. If something bad had happened they would find out after the event. Then they would be expected to accept it and move on. Gordon focussed on the floor beneath his feet; at least he knew what was happening there.
Both brothers could feel the change in the atmosphere. There was no longer the excitement of finding their missing family, they knew where they were. They just wanted to know which ones had made it.
Nurses had been buzzing in and out of Johns' room for the past two hours. Jeff had watched as they set up the blood bag, and had only half listened when they insisted that he get some rest after seeing the doctor himself.
The sun was finally setting by the time Virgil returned, now bandaged where necessary and limping. "Hey, how's he doing?" Virgil asked, taking a seat beside his father.
"Better, they said he should wake up either tonight or tomorrow hopefully." Jeff said turning to his son "Where's Scott?" he asked, noticing his eldest missing.
"I thought he came back here whilst I was with the doctor. You haven't seen him?" Virgil asked, rather bewildered by his brothers absence.
Jeff stood up "No. He didn't" he said scowling to himself before leaving the room.
The hospital canteen was teeming with expectant fathers, bored children and exhausted medical staff. Scott had been fiddling with his empty coffee cup for the past hour just trying to put off going back to Johns' room. He didn't know why he was so reluctant.
Sighing, he leaned back in the plastic chair. He was worried about John, and Virgil. But he felt like he was intruding when they were in there together. They didn't need him getting in the way. He continued to stare at his cup. The setting sun was still peeking through the window at him and could feel a little of its warmth on his exposed hands.
His lips twitched into a small smile as he looked out of the window watching the crimson sky get darker. He remained watching until a rough voice pulled him from his reverie "Scott!" his father called across the canteen, making his way towards his son.
Getting to his feet Scott walked to meet his father. However when he got close to him Jeff grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the canteen. Slightly stunned Scott allowed himself to be dragged out of the canteen and into an empty hospital room. "Dad, what the hell?" he asked, confused as to his fathers' actions.
"What do you think you're doing Scott?" Jeff growled at him, anger clear on his face. Scott stood there shocked by the outburst. "We just got your brothers back and you think it's a good time to wander off!"
"What? No, I just needed to" Scott started but Jeff cut him off.
"Needed to what? How could you be so careless? What if Virgil had needed help? What if the Hood sent someone and they saw you? Did you even think about that?" Jeff hissed.
"I did try to contact," Scott said but once again Jeff interrupted.
"It doesn't matter now. Go back to the island and make sure everything is set up for Virgil and Johns' return." Scott nodded blankly, still reeling from his father's words "and make sure to stay in contact this time." Jeff snapped before leaving the room, slamming the door on his exit.
The room was silent as Scott stood there, letting the words sink in. After a few minutes he ran a hand through his hair and left as well, trying to ignore the pit of guilt bubbling inside of him.
The sun was rising on Tracy Island and Brains was snoozing on the sofa when he was awoken by the sound of engines. Eyes flying open he saw a silver blur pass the living room window. Snatching his glasses up he ran to the hanger.
When he got there Scott was already out of Thunderbird 1 and making his way across to the entrance to the house. "Master Sc-Sc-Sc, Tracy? What is the situation?" Brains babbled following Scott's brisk pace down the corridor toward the control room.
"Hey Brains. Everyone is accounted for, John and Virge will be back sometime today hopefully, as soon as we can finalise the discharge papers." Scott said, careful not to make eye contact with the scientist. "I need the med-bay set up for two, but also see if you can get Tin Tin to set up their bedrooms. You know how us Tracys' hate being stuck anywhere." He finished, flashing Brains a brief smile before taking his seat at the control panel. "This is Thunderbird Base, please come in Thunderbird 5."
Brains watched as the eldest Tracy son sat at the console. "You okay Brains?" Scott asked, not looking up from the console.
"Yes Ma-ma-ma, Scott. I'll get the med-bay prepared." As he left Brains threw him another look, he was okay but he wasn't so sure about Scott.
Thunderbird 5 had been silent for hours but neither Alan nor Gordon felt like breaking it. So it was a mechanical beeping which interrupted followed by the tinny voice of the monitor "Incoming Transmission."
Alan flew out of his chair and skidded to a halt in front of the monitor, opening the communication system immediately. "This is Thunderbird Base, come in Thunderbird 5."
As the voice resounded in the space craft Alan heard Gordon run across to the console as well "This is Thunderbird 5. What is the situation base?" Alan said, smiling as he felt Gordons' hand tighten on his arm as he leant over Alans' shoulder.
"Screw the situation" Gordon said, "What about John and Virge, Scott?"
There was some crackling over the transmitter then "All present and accounted for, now I need..." but the remainder of Scotts sentence was lost as Alan and Gordon both gave whoops of joy.
"I freakin told you!" Alan shouted embracing his older brother. Both were still laughing as they sat back at the console. They could hear Scott chuckling lightly on the other side of the monitor.
"So how are they? What happened?" Gordon asked, pushing Alan out of the way.
There was more light chuckling followed by "I'll let you guys ask them yourselves. Dad has requested everyone back on the island for some r and r for the next two weeks, so set that tin can on autopilot and get your asses back down here."
End of Chapter 11
The next update should/might/could possibly be quicker – in all honesty my creative juices seem to be on overdrive at the moment so it will more than likely be a darn site quicker than the last one
Ciao peeps
RussianKat