I have returned :) :) ;) for the time being :-! well here's chapter 12 to entertain you and sorry for the wait :) I meant to have this up yesterday but FF wouldn't work so sorry about that but here it is instead :)

earlier that evening

Scott and John had recently returned to Tracy Island with Fermat in tow. The tests performed on the goo out in the open proved successful and they were ready to find Alan. Until they were met with a bombshell:

""Our correspondence here in New Orleans speaks to us now... what have you got for us Louisa." The news programme played on the large screen television in the living room. Tin Tin and Jeff were watching it with bated interest. The camera switched to New Orleans and the team were greeted by a fiery nightmare "I'm here in New Orleans Carol." The anchorwoman; Louisa said with a deep in distress "We have just witness the mass explosion in the plastic factory just on the outskirts of the city. Witnesses are suggesting both this and the recent explosion from the bank of London share some relation. This has led MI5 to release an investigation of terrorism." The reporter paused for a moment and allowed the Tracy's a moment to think

"Aiden striking again, what's he up to?" Scott questioned.

"He mustn't know that we're off duty for the time being." Jeff mumbled

"Or maybe he does know and he's still trying to get us to crawl out of our shells." Gordon growled aggressively. Jeff put a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever his motives are, he's clever. He's trying to distract us." He commented. Scott stomped his foot.

"Yeah well it won't work." He stated "If he thinks this is gonna turn us away from our baby brother then he's got another thing coming!" Jeff stood up aggressively

"Now hold on Scott - he's put us in a difficult position." He chastised. Scott couldn't believe what he was hearing

"Are you out of your mind dad!" Scott shouted "This is your son; your youngest son who is in danger. That is definitely more important than anything!" By now Scott and Jeff were in each other's faces. Scott's 6 ft 3 figure towering slightly over his father's 6ft 1.

"Don't you think I know that Scott, but the world is in danger too and it's not fair on them if we leave them to fend for themselves. Their faith in us since the Hood's attack is only starting to recollect. If we abandon them now we might lose that faith." Jeff reasoned. Scott disagreed as did Gordon and Virgil. John stood by the side waiting to see where this argument went.

"And if you abandon Alan, you won't only lose his faith, you're just going to skip that stage and lose him completely. He's depending on us not as the Thunderbirds but as his family to save him!" Scott nearly shouted. Jeff felt like he was between a rock and a hard place. Yes he loved his sons; all of them, dearly and when one of them was in danger he'd fight hell and high water to help them. But he knew in his mind that with the recent attack from the Hood the world was struggling to believe in them, and he knew that being the Thunderbirds was not only important to him but also to his Son's as well. Alan was always telling him that without the Thunderbirds, his life would mean nothing. But if Jeff didn't make a stand. Alan might not even live to be a Thunderbird.

"I...I need time to think, just give me a few minutes Scott, I'll figure something out." But Scott didn't want to wait

"You once abandoned us for work before and you promised us that wouldn't happen again. You really shouldn't make promises you're just going to break." He snarled. His family all looked at him in shock and Scott ignored them and promptly charged out of the room. The Tracy's were left speechless at Scott's outburst. Jeff stood frozen as his boys turned back to face him.

"Dad, I'm sure he didn't mean that..." Gordon whispered cautiously.

"He's right, but I just don't... I don't know what to... Alan's my baby and I can't leave him but..." Jeff spared a glance at the Control Centre. John stood up straight and walked towards his father placing a hand on his father's shoulder.

"Let me talk to Scott, Dad. He's letting his emotions cloud his judgement." He consoled. Jeff gave a slight nodded and John followed where Scott had gone. This left Gordon and Virgil alone, as Jeff left the room to go to his office. His guilty conscious telling him he'd made a big mistake in his actions.

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John find Scott rather quickly. When the boys were younger they all had their own stress reliever spots. Gordon's was the pool, Virgil's was the piano, John's was the roof, Alan's the beach and Scott's was surprisingly just his bedroom. But when the Thunderbirds were finally released Scott found his comfort with Thunderbird 1. He could often be found sulking in the hanger after a disagreement with his dad, or he'd be tinkering with the mechanics when looking after the family became too stressful, but most the time he just came here to think. Unfortunately now was not that time and John found him surprisingly rushing round doing the basic safety checks. John leant against the metal exterior and stared down at Scott

"Don't you think you were a little harsh on dad back there." He asked Scott. Scott continued moving around quickly

"Nope!" He answered quickly, John crossed his arms

"Well, you kind of were, don't you think you should both apologise to each other. And before you say anything I know dad was in the wrong to, but you really struck a chord there with him." He chastised

"Yeah well when he gets his priorities in order then I will apologise!" He retorted. John walked into the hanger as Scott was sat at the control testing everything

"We're all worried about Alan, Scott; especially dad and... ok what are you even doing." He cried throwing his hands

"What does it look like John!" Scott spoke sarcastically "I'm preparing Thunderbird 1 for flying." John just stared at Scott with an "are you serious" look

"I kind of figured that out on my own Scotty." John retorted sarcastically "What I meant was... why are you doing it. We haven't decided what we're doing yet!" He cried. Scott jumped from the ship, landing in front of John.

"You guys maybe haven't but I certainly have." He mumbled softly. John crossed his arms.

"Scott..." He started

"You remember those days right when mom dies right." He waited for John to give a solemn nod "We were all each other had. If Gordon couldn't do his homework he came to you, if Virgil was upset I'd sit with him while he painted. Those rare times you were ever moody I helped you out in any way I could and Alan..."

"...you would answer to that kid's every whim. " John finished for him. Scott nodded sadly

"Back then we didn't have the Thunderbirds. Whenever something was wrong we had to fix it ourselves, for better or for worse." He took a deep breath to calm himself "Alan's as much my kid as he is dad's and like any parent, I can't stand by and wait to see if somebody else will save him." He concluded finishing his check. "Aw damn it!" He exclaimed stopping in front of the control panel. John followed where he was

"What's wrong?" He asked in panic. Scott threw his hands up

"Brains took out the signal transmitter so he could put the goo in it. We won't be able to get down to the lab without going past Dad. Great..." He cried sarcastically. John watched his elder brother fuss when he suddenly had an idea.

"We'll take Thunderbird 2!" He cried. Scott looked at him as though he had grown two heads

"Come again?" He questioned.

"You heard me!" John yelled indignantly "We can take Thunderbird two instead. The radio transmitter is still in TB1. It may not be as effective as having it in the signal transmitter but it's the best we've got." He reasoned. Scott just stared

"Weren't you just trying to dissuade me Johnny?" He joked. John gave him a hard look

"I was... but your right if it was my kid then I wouldn't leave it to someone else. And Alan's just as good as!" He decreed "And besides if I let you go on your own, Dad would kill me... not to mention that I'd rather there were two of us when Virgil is inflicting all kinds of rage on us when we get back!" He retorted. Scott gave a brief incredulous look

"Now hold on a sec, it was your idea to use his 'bird'" He exclaimed. John just shrugged his shoulders

"Hey it's like you said Scotty, we're in this together." Scott just gave a brief chuckle and climbed into the Thunderbird, seating himself at the controls. John closed the main doors and seated himself next to Scott. "You ready?" He asked clicking his seatbelt in. Scott gave him a nod

"Let's go get our baby back!"

And I'm going to stop it there. There isn't so much of a cliffy here as there was last chapter but this was just an explanation. I realised after posting that chapter and looking into earlier chapters that I'd made a mix up with the ships. I.e. in chapter 10 I stated that Scott, John and Fermat went out in TB1 yet in the last chapter, Aiden was shooting at TB2. So instead of changing that I thought I could just put in a little bit of a filler here which would also feature some Over-protective Scott and Scott/John Bromance.

Not sure when I'll get the next chapter up but will try my best for ASAP. Until then - adieu

Krissystvs :)