Chapter four
In a change to the schedule John had managed to convince his father to tag along with Virgil. It wasn't often he got to go out and being one of the lesser-known Tracy's publicly would be a benefit to the team on this occasion, or so he had reasoned to his father.
They had also decided that on reflection that Gordon and Tin Tin would need to accompany them as civilians, the old boy was becoming more distressed as time went on and it was clear he had built a rapport with Tin Tin and his brother.
Virgil took his seat at the helm as the wheel eased towards him, he turned to face his brother. "Well, this is a pleasant change."
"Sure is, I just hope my co-piloting isn't too rusty." John took a minute to scan the console in front of him, familiarising himself with the controls once more as they conducted the pre-flight checks.
"You'll be just fine." Virgil opened the comms "Father we're ready to launch when you are."
"Standby Virgil." A moment of silence until "Five, Four, Three, Two, One…" The cave door folded upwards as Virgil began to taxi out onto the tarmacked strip between the sunbeaten palms, their shadows looming in the haze of the runway lights. Moments later and they were airborne in the dawn light, the sun blooming on the horizon.
A sharp rap on the door drew Gordon's attention.
"Excuse me." Gordon pushed out into the corridor; the door sliding shut behind him.
"Mr Tracy says you can come out now. If you go to the sitting room, you may wait there." Kryano bowed, satin sleeves swishing together.
"Thank you Kryano."
The door slid open as Gordon motioned to Tin Tin that they could move. "Come with me sir, its time to take you home."
"Home? But I simply cannot go! I haven't finished my rounds!"
Tin Tin patted his arm sympathetically. "Your poor Deer have had a rough time of it Mr Claus. International Rescue have come to take you home, then at least you can feed and tend to them before heading out on duty again."
"Well yes, I suppose that's a reasonable course of action if we are swift about it."
Tin carefully led him through the hall whilst Gordon brought up the rear. In the lounge they found Jeff on the settee with coffee in hand and the morning paper. Operation cover up was in full swing, their civilian portraits proudly on display. Gordon frowned in distaste at his image smiling back at him, he knew they were practically the same, but he much preferred his other portrait. The shirt his grandmother made him wear that day was nothing short of garish. It looked like a girl's pinafore.
Jeff lowered his paper and stood to greet his guest. "Hello, I hope your feeling better after your ordeal? We weren't sure what to do so we called International Rescue. They managed to find out where you hail from, your wife is terribly worried but relived you have been found. International Rescue will be arriving shortly to convene you home."
"Thank you, I'm terribly sorry to have caused you all this trouble" –
"Don't mention it, we're just glad you're okay."
"Oh!" Kris cried in dismay. "It's past dawn. Those poor children will think Father Christmas has abandoned them." He wrung his hands together clutching at his hat once more.
"It's ok, International Rescue will have let them know, I'm sure." Gordon tried to soothe him.
"Will they? I suppose that's something but still I feel terrible."
The whine of a loud aircraft had all their heads turning towards the window. There in front of the villa steadily coming into view was the bulk of Thunderbird two. She cast her huge shadow across the beach and passing over the pool before banking towards the runway.
"They're here. Come with me and I'll take you down to them. Tin Tin and Gordon will bring the Deer around, we can't keep these men waiting. They have plenty to be getting on with, I'm sure." Jeff gave Gordon a look that indicated he wanted this exercise done swiftly. Gordon gave a faint nod of affirmation.
Jeff steered Kris out towards the balcony while Gordon and Tin Tin went through the kitchen to the rear of the house to collect the Deer. Gordon's watch beeped. "Yes?"
"Gordon, if I fly by can you hook the grapples to the sleigh? I'll then take it down to the slipway to load."
"Yep, sure come on over."
"F.A.B"
Gordon broke off down the path through the rockery garden that led back towards the pool where the sleigh had been abandoned. Brains and Virgil had done their best to repair it, the hover function worked at least, which would make it easier to load. Gordon stood well back, the breeze of the distant aircraft ruffling his sandy locks as he watched the cables lower. Once they were in grabbing distance, he moved forwards jumping up to grasp the thick cords before looping them under the carriage of the sleigh and slipping them into the carabiner. He drew his watch to his lips "You're clear to go!"
"Swell, thanks Gordon."
Smiling, he brushed his way back past the undergrowth to the yard around the back where they kept the bins and currently the brace of Deer. Tin Tin had secured most of them back into the harness ready to be led except for the one that had broken away. She handed Gordon his halter and lead rope.
"It's a shame they have to go, they are such sweet creatures." Tin stroked the nearest beast's nose.
"They are but I can't imagine they are going to appreciate the heat in the next hour." It was looking like it was going to be an extremely hot and humid day.
"Probably not."
With a slap on the rump of the lead Deer they trotted off, Tin leading in front and Gordon bringing up the rear with the lone Deer.
They reached Thunderbird two without incident, loading the Deer into the bay next to the sleigh. They secured them the best they could. Kris sat on one of the fold down seats nearby, already strapped in. Gordon wrapped a casual arm around Tin leaning in close to her neck. "Just going to check in with the old pilots. Will you be alright?"
"Of course."
With a quick peck on the cheek, he left her, bounding up the steps and through the door into the cockpit.
"Ready when you are."
"Right." Virgil checked in with their father before commencing the launch.
John turned to face Gordon. "Everything alright down there?"
Gordon clutched the back of the chair for support, visible shock turning into raucous laughter.
Virgil turned to look at them both, a soft smile playing on his lips before turning back.
Gordon struggled for air in fits of gasps. "You look like one of those astronauts from the 80s" He choked out.
John smoothed down the large blonde moustache. "I'm quite fond of it actually, might see if I can grow one." The corners of his lips rose setting it off at a funny angle. It twitched with a life of its own as he tried not to itch.
Gordon scraped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hands. "I'm glad I came up now, how I'm going to compose myself later, I don't know" he coughed again with a sigh. "Ahhhh." With that he walked out of the cabin leaving Virgil chuckling and John mildly affronted that facial hair didn't seem to be an option for him.
Twenty minutes later they landed in a large paddock a hundred yards away from an old farmhouse. Gordon surveyed the landscape from the descending ramp taking in the sight of the dusty farm courtyard and rambling buildings, it reminded him of home which he remarked as much to Tin-Tin as they guided Kris off the ramp.
"Does your father still have the farm?" Tin Tin enquired as they picked there way across the close-cropped paddock.
"Yeah, we've not been there since Grandma's funeral through."
"I should like to see where you grew up."
Gordon beamed at her as a grey-haired matronly woman approached them with her arms open wide. "I'll take you one day."
Tin Tin smiled back.
"Kris! Where on earth have you been we were so worried!" The lady scooped Kris' face into her hands and kissed him fondly. A Tall man in his late thirties appeared on the porch with a relieved grin.
"Thank you so much for bringing him home, we were so worried."
"No harm done other than a few wet Deer in our pool and a broken sleigh."
They turned to see John and Virgil offloading the deer. "Ma'am where would you like us to take these fellows?" John asked as he casually rebuffed the Deer trying to chew the edge off his baldric.
"Oh, Benny be a dear and show these young men where to stable them."
"Ben Mum, I'm not five."
"Sorry dear, old habits – Come, come! You should come in and have a drink. It's the least we could do to say thank you."
"Well…" Gordon figured Virgil and John might be a minute. "That would be great thank you."
They were ushered straight in through the back door to a large but homely kitchen with a neutral palette. Kris seemed to become more agitated as they entered.
"Tea/Coffee?"
Gordon was about to answer when Kris interjected. "We don't have time for this, the presents need delivering. I'm already late but I can't miss Christmas day too."
His wife sighed in exasperation before kindly stating, "You're not Father Christmas and I'm not Mrs Claus. We're Catherine and Kris Williams, Deer farmers by trade. These poor people have missed their Christmas day to bring you home after you wandered off, the least we can do is offer them some refreshment. I called the hospital and explained you had a bit of an accident, and they understand."
Confused but determined Kris soldiered on. "They can't not have their presents."
Charlotte had managed to place a teapot and cafetiere on the table by this point. "Help yourselves dears."
They mumbled their thanks.
"I'm sure they have received some presents and we'll drop the rest off another day. Darling you're not well enough to do this on your own now and we just don't have enough help. Ben's only here because its Christmas."
Kris sat with his tea untouched, his expression vacant as he tried to process what she was saying.
"What kind of help does he need to visit the children?" Asked Tin Tin.
"Well, someone has to manage the Deer, then usually he needs someone else to guide him around the hospital and to make sure he hands the right present to the right child. He used to be able to differentiate but since his diagnosis he struggles to carry the sack and sort out the presents himself. He also has a habit of wandering – well as you've discovered."
There's wandering then there's globetrotting Gordon thought to himself. The way Catherine told it, it was like he'd got lost in the local park.
Tin Tin eyed him from across the table, spark flaring in her eyes that suggested she had an idea….Oh no.
"Well, we could help, I'm sure."
"We can?" Gordon all but yelped as she stood on his foot under the table. "I mean yeah sure." Father was going to have a fit.
Kris brightened instantly imploring his wife to "Think of the children."
She glanced at them both. "Darling; I'm sure these nice young people have their own family they should be spending Christmas with."
"Honestly its no trouble. Just tell us how we can help, we'd love to." Tin Tin looked excited by the prospect; Gordon tried to muster the same level of enthusiasm. There were presents with his name on it back home and he was rather looking forward to some downtime with his girlfriend.
"Well, if you're sure? What a lovely gesture. What's your name Dear?"
"Tin Tin and this is Gordon."
"Lovely to meet you both. I think we best head to the barn and run through things there."
"Father isn't going to like this one bit." Virgil bit the end of his thumbnail as they stood in a corner of the barn conferring. He looked sternly at Gordon.
"Don't you look at me, it was her idea."
Tin Tin continued unabashed. "I suggested it and I'll take the blame later, you know Mr Tracy's never angry with me for very long. You two can go, we will make our way to the airport afterwards and Scott can pick us up from there in Tracy 1 or Ladybird.
Virgil sighed. "At least we won't be too operationally compromised that way I guess."
"Exactly." Tin Tin beamed. "We shall see you later."
She turned to go. Virgil almost reached out for her, before he stopped himself.
"Wait! Who's going to tell father?" He whispered.
Gordon shook John's hand and loudly declared. "Thank you, International Rescue don't worry about us we'll make our own way back." He proffered his arm to Tin who took it gracefully as they walked over to the waiting family.
Virgil and John stole a panicked glance before following in their wake both running through excuses in their head as to why it couldn't be them who told dad.
"It's been settled." They heard Gordon announce. "We're good to go."
Catherine bustled past Tin Tin and Gordon to shake John's hand. "Thank you so much for brining him home. I can't tell you how relieved we are, and we'll make sure it never happens again."
"You're welcome, ma'am. Glad we could be of assistance."
She turned to Shake Virgil's hand before offering him a large cardboard box. "It's a pavlova to say thank you and to share with your colleagues on Christmas. I hope you boys have a lovely day even if you are on call.
"That's very kind thank you. I'm sure they will love it in the break room."
It was Gordon's turn to look affronted much to Virgil's Glee. He smiled wider as he scooped the box up under his arm. "I can't imagine they'll be much of this left this afternoon!"
John chimed in. "No siree, all this flying makes us ravenous. We'll have a piece as soon as we get to base." With a cheerful wave they both started to stroll out to Thunderbird Two.
"Right you two, follow us and we'll get the Deer ready". Catherine and Kris led on with Gordon looking over his shoulder forlornly. That pavlova had looked positively mouth watering with the Kiwi, Strawberries and Blueberries piled high. With a light swat on the shoulder Tin Tin dragged him after the older couple. They still had a mission to complete.