Chapter 2
Thunderbird 3 landed safely in the silo on Tracy Island. John was relieved to be home. He zoned out most of the journey home which concerned Gordon greatly. But the young Tracy was going to keep it from Virgil. No one liked being smothered by Virgil and especially if Scott got involved, Gordon's life wouldn't be worth living he thought to himself.
John forced himself out of the chair of Thunderbird 3 and walked with Gordon back to the house. He could sense his father was correct and could smell some good food ready to be eaten.
"Are you happy to be home Johnny?" Gordon asked. He loved having his brother home but something wasn't right. John smiled at his younger brother.
"I'm so glad to be here, I could surely do with food and some rest." Gordon smiled at John and put his arm around John's shoulder. They walked into the kitchen and Jeff shot straight over to John.
"Hey son, it's good to see you!" Jeff smiled at John whilst giving him a quick once over with his eyes. John still looked a bit flushed from earlier, but Jeff, sensing something was a little off, did not want to embarrass his son; he instead decided to wait until after dinner to speak to him.
John tucked straight into his meal, earth food was so much better than the packet food he had onboard the station.
"How has everything been since I was last here?" John asked, he wanted to make conversation, he could feel 4 sets of eyes watching him. Scott smiled,
"It's been pretty quiet Johnny, well apart from sprout. He's been going on and on about his solo rotation!" John couldn't help but laugh but then a sudden pain rushed through his head which made him groan in pain.
And now you'll suffer, like I suffered, waiting for a rescue that will never come
John clutched the side of his head and shook the pain away. Virgil and Jeff shot out of their seats and straight to John. Gordon grabbed Scott by the arm and gave his eldest brother the shake of the head and the let the others deal with it stare.
"John? John! What's wrong?" Jeff demanded, Virgil was checking John's pulse. John opened his eyes slowly, the pain that suddenly came, suddenly disappeared like nothing had happened.
What's going on? John thought to himself and he stared at his father. Virgil looked at his brother in his eyes and frowned, he knew something was wrong but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"I'm fine dad, I'm tired, there's nothing wrong with me unlike Gordon" Jeff and Virgil shot around to find Gordon choking on his food and Scott whacking his younger brother on the back. As the small piece of food dislodged from Gordons throat, he shot John a glare. John smiled at him and got up from his place at the table. He patted his brother on the back and giggled as he knew he accomplished getting away from the mother hens.
John went back to his room and decided that he had enough for the day, the excitement of coming home.
Mayday! Mayday!
About 4 hours
Oxygen's out in 30
John cried out in pain as the voices rolled around his head.
Thunderbird 5 to Tracy Island! Mayday! Mayday!
John!
Easy, you're hurt
"Dad! Dad! Help me!" John didn't like shouting for help but he felt like he needed to. Jeff rushed into John's bedroom to find John crouched on the floor clutching his head. The second Jeff arrived however, the voice left.
"John! What's happening?" Jeff was so concerned for his son. This was the second time in less than half an hour that he had seen John clutching his head in pain. John tried to get up from the floor with the support of Jeff, he scrambled to his feet. John shook his head in frustration. Why was this happening?
"Dad, I'm fine, I think I have a migraine coming. I'm not sure. I feel okay now." Jeff looked into John's eyes, making sure they were reacting with Jeff's movements.
Jeff sighed deeply, "you're not ok son, I want you to come to the infirmary just so Virgil can give you the once over"
"I'm fine dad really, I just need to sleep. If there's a mission, I need to be on top form." Jeff shook his head, he knew he needed to ground John from missions but he needed all the people he could get on missions.
"Listen to me carefully, if this gets any worse, you come to the infirmary. Do you understand?" John nodded,
"Yes sir!" John said mockingly. Jeff ruffled John's hair and left as John proceeded to get into his bed as a wave of tiredness hit him. All of a sudden, whoosh and John's bedroom door opened. Virgil rushed in, panting, like he had run a marathon. John groaned in disbelief that his father ratted him out to the medic. He didn't need this smothering. He was fine, he just wanted to sleep.
"Virge, please, I'm fine. I don't know what dad has said……" Virgil cut him off,
"Who said dad said anything?"
"You've come in here, out of breath, surely dad said something to you. Yes, I had a pain in my head. No, I didn't lose consciousness and yes, any more problems I will come and see you" John smiled at Virgil and he nodded silently and turned to leave John's room.
Suddenly, the emergency alarm blared through the house. This was it, a rescue mission……