I am sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter up, but I have been having problems with both my PCs. I could have attempted to post using my tablet, but I have tried that before, and the result was not good, so I figured it wouldn't hurt everyone to wait until I managed to find a solution. Hey guys! I sorted it! Thanks for your patience!

GRANDMA

It takes a lot of hard work to take care of my boys. Also, a lot of heartache sometimes too. They are very good as a rule and manage to avoid getting themselves into too much trouble, but as you no doubt know, International Rescue are called upon for the type of rescues that are too dangerous for anyone else to do.

This time was different though. Nobody was on a rescue. John was simply giving a friendly lecture to a large bunch of interested people including school and college students, astronomy club members and the like, talking about his favourite subject.

Space.

Every time John ventures off the island for some reason, something happens. Before this occasion, he had a minor accident resulting in three broken fingers. Before that he happened to be a witness to a robbery and had to give testimony in court.

The time before that something happened too. I forget what it was now, but I am afraid that John will conclude that the only safe place for him to be is space, and then we'll never see him in the flesh. We see him rarely enough as it is.

This time is by far the worst though. And if what we have learned so far is correct, it seems the ultimate blame can be placed at the feet of one man.

Fischler.

From what the boys have told me about that man, he is an expert at passing the buck, blaming his failures on everyone else, Anyone but himself.

The thing is, he means well, even if he is a menace to society. He doesn't mean to be. His inventions are all intended to be a benefit to the world. If he was willing to put in the required time and money to iron out all the... ahem… problems, he would be one of the greatest men who ever lived. But as it is…

I know Brains is deeply offended by him, because of his blatant disregard for safety. Brains is the complete opposite, and regards safety as paramount.

I can't help wondering what my Jeff would do about Mister Fischler? Actually, I am sure I know exactly what Jeff would have done. I'll wait a bit first, to see how things play out. It's John that I ought to speak to about this first, since he is the one who has suffered the most this time round. If John is in favour of my idea, then we can both put it to Scott.

Scott is still (understandably) angry at Fischler, and just wants to lay him out, but that won't solve anything in the long run. I'll see what happens first. If Fischler ends up in prison, then he won't be a problem any longer, but who knows?

Fortunately I have had plenty of time to learn patience. I can wait. For now.

I am sitting in the cafeteria of the hospital with Colonel Casey, who has been keeping tabs on the investigation. She has been updating me.

It appears that the leader of the gang who Parker believed had left the premises had gone nowhere, but had disguised himself as a little old lady. From the reactions of his fellow imprisoned gang members, Parker now believes that he himself was the only one who had been unaware of this fact. He doesn't, seemingly, put anything sinister on that, but that the gang were being cautious, because of his being a newcomer. They were waiting to see how much they could trust him.

They seem to be trusting him now though. In the GDF prison, Parker happened to be in the company of some of the gang members when he bumped into an old jailbird buddy who remembered him from his former career as a safecracker. This chap, like most of Parker's former colleagues, was eager to inform everyone of all their adventures together, the successes and the mishaps. Parker is still being cautious, but believes that the men are starting to trust him now. He is hoping that someone will reveal something that will help the investigation.

As for Kayo and Penny, well, Penny has found the gang's headquarters, but it contained nothing incriminating. Kayo is still following, and has yet again `gone dark', so no one knows where she is for the moment. Not even lady Penelope.

Penelope is up with John right now. She was upset a few days ago when she saw John in a coma, hooked up to a million machines. Now they have mostly been removed. He is still catheterized, much to his disgust, but since he is too weak to move, he really has no option right now.

Oh, one piece of good news I can tell you, is that John's kidneys, which were damaged somewhat by the infection, have started to work again. One of them is still very weak, but the other has returned to full functionality. The doctors are keeping a very close eye on the weak kidney, because if it starts to regress, or show further signs of distress, it may need to be removed.

Of course, John can survive with just one kidney, many people do, but it is not an ideal situation for a rescue operative who needs to be in full physical health to be able to do his job safely.

John awakened the day before yesterday. He has been slipping in and out to tell you the truth, and he has not spoken yet, but he squeezed my hand when I was there to acknowledge me, and managed to almost smile. The Doctor Tracy in me wanted to take over his care, but I know he is best staying just where he is for the time being. He will need to be cared for here in the hospital for at least a couple more weeks, likely more than that. It will take him weeks or months at home gradually building up his strength again.

He is going to be frustrated in the extreme, but you just can't rush these things. John, I'm sure, knows that too. He has been extraordinarily fortunate to survive this at all. The majority of people don't survive a crisis like this one. He is still being given drugs to make sure the infection is well and truly gone. He has still to face an operation to fix his damaged shoulder as well, and he still not ready for that, although Doctor Deacon believes they will be able to operate in perhaps three or four days. Meantime, John is in pain with his shoulder, and on medication for it which is making him sleepy and confused.

All in all, we've seen him better. But at least he's on the road to recovery now. Come on Kayo, we need to hear from you, now. Where are you, and what have you discovered?