Sorry for the late update, illness and Onyx storm got in the way of writing time. Is the worst of it over...or is it just beginning?

Chapter 13

Tin-Tin hadn't called in and they were all expecting the worst.

After the initial call from her, Jeff had immediately set a plan into action. With Scott and Alan on conference call and the rest of the boys in the lounge, Jeff set the emergency protocols into action. He surveyed the room, his heart heavy at the gap where his son and Tin-Tin should sit.

"Boys. We have two immediate problems, Gordon and Tin-Tin are in trouble, plus we have an imposter on the loose impersonating Gordon. It's time we implemented our new emergency protocols with operation uncovered. Scott Thunderbird One is safe with you. Virgil, I want you to Take Thunderbird's Two and Four to Penny's farm in Australia and John you will take Thunderbird Three to Five where you and Alan will remain until this operation concludes.

"What about you father? You guys will be left on your own. What if this imposter does make land?" Scott frowned in concern.

"We'll be fine. With the Thunderbirds gone I will call the police and notify them of the intruder then I'll just have to hold out till they get here. Brains and Kryano will wait in the catacombs. The most important thing is that the Thunderbirds will be split making it impossible for someone to obtain all of them at once, if at all.

"I don't like this dad." Alan interjected.

"I have one son and already taken, and I will not lose anymore. Do you understand?"

"Yes." They all replied, some under their breath. Jeff eyed the ones with attitudes, focusing his attention on Scott and Alan. "No heroics."

Jeff frowned at Tin-Tin's portrait. She still hadn't called in. She was ten minutes late. He flicked the switch on his desk, his ash tray flipped up to reveal a speaker. "Tin-Tin, come in. Tin-Tin, Jeff Tracy here – do you read me?" The line continued to beep where she couldn't be reached. Behind Jeff, Kyrano bowed his head.

Virgil stepped up to guide him to a chair, rubbing his back gently. "Try not to worry, she's a smart girl. She'll be Okay."

"I sincerely Ah hope so Mr Virgil."

"Right. Everyone, action stations. Scott will oversee operations in my stead if I am uncontactable. You follow his lead. Scott: maintain contact with Penelope and Parker, they are due to land anytime now, Gordon and Tin may require swift evacuation. Be ready to move."

"Sure, thing Father."

A quick flurry of activity buzzed through the villa as Virgil disappeared through the Shute behind the portrait and John descended out of sight on the couch that would take him through the bowels of the island to Thunderbird Three.

"Mr Ah Tracy. I will err….begin…to ah…lock the labs and operational areas down."

"Thank you, Brains."

Jeff spun round in his chair to face Kryano. With the boys gone they could finally speak freely.

"Mr Tracy this is an awful coincidence. I fear the worst."

"I'll admit it does seem to be, but no man could have survived that, not even your damn cockroach of a brother – no offense." Jeff added hastily. Kryano was a faithful friend, but his brother was a complete fiend and Kryano knew Jeff detested him.

"No offense taken. Maybe it wasn't him on that fateful day? Maybe we were too confident in our assessment." Kryano was referring to the upsetting incident where Scott's wife had been held captive and maimed by a man working with the Hood (Kyrano's nefarious half-brother) who then used her as bait to get to Thunderbird One. Only the Hood hadn't banked on them sacrificing Thunderbird One over the Atlantic Ocean with him in it. The man was blown to kingdom come so he should be dead, yet he was the only logical threat to both their families in Malysia. With him dead and no activity in the area for the last eighteen months they had declassified the threat. This now seemed to be a huge oversight.

"Scott described your brother's likeness exactly and we have him on the security footage prior to take off. You confirmed his identity Kyrano, it was definitely him but what's not to say he hasn't got a second in command or his own organisation of criminals to pick up his cause?"

"He always wanted a protégé, that's why he was so angry when I helped Su Lin escape his clutches. She and the child have never been found. He was so bitter; he kept threatening to bring Tin-Tin into the fold instead - when of an age." Kyrano shuddered with the memory. His brother preceded to try and take his money, his possessions, his daughter to right the way he had been wronged in his eyes. Kyrano had sacrificed much but his sister in-law, his wife's treasured friend and his niece or nephew had been saved. It's what she would have wanted him to do, and he stood by his decision. Su Lin was no longer a songbird in a gilded cage, he prayed she was happy now as well as safe.

Jeff stood; fists clenched before unfurling a hand to comfort his friend on the shoulder. "Well, whoever it is, we'll find them Kyrano. Our best agents are out there, and we taught our kids well. we have to hope it's enough to bring them back to us safely."

The patrol car sped down muddy roads, kicking up clumps of dirt as they spun round corners. Tin-Tin didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get as far away as possible, fast. Her hands clutched at the wheel like it was her salvation. Her whole life she'd been one step from danger like a mouse playing under a cat's watchful eyes. It terrified and angered her all at once.

Hunched in his seat lurching from side to side without a belt Gordon watched Tin-Tin's knuckles blanch white with how tight she was holding the wheel, like someone might wrench it from her. Her face was oddly devoid of emotion as she watched the road which concerned him. She was not taking this well, but he was in no fit state to console her. His throat and lungs were raw from the torture he'd endured, he had at least one broken rib and his face was redder than a raw steak, peppered with Black. He was in wet clothes, cold and sore and yet he knew she was in deeper pain. Her uncle had lied to her as had her father and now he was added to that list. He wished the Hood hadn't revealed his service to her. How could he beg her forgiveness when he still couldn't tell her the truth?

Awkwardly he stretched out a shaking hand towards her, catching her thigh. She glanced across at him. "Oh Gordon, you're shaking."

"That would be t-t-the secondary shock set-tting in. W-w-wonderful." He hoarsely bit out through chattering teeth.

"We've got to get you to a hospital!"

"T-This vehicle will have a tracker; we have to ditch it soon." He persisted through the clacking of his own teeth. A racking cough tore through him from talking. He spluttered into submission.

Tin-Tin chewed her thumb in worry. They needed another way out of here and fast. Public transport was out, with her torn leggings and Gordon looking like he was fresh out of a borstal brawl they were going to draw too much attention. Plus, they had no money on them or cashless devices. She didn't want to go back and ask her cousin; she didn't know if she could trust her family and she didn't want to drag them into this if they were innocent to it all like she had been.

There was only one thing for it. She sighed. "Let's leave the car here. If we walk away quick enough into the jungle there's an old timber yard not far from here, your father can have Scott pick us up. They're on standby."

"No, i-i-its too risky. Let's head to the coast." He wheezed. "We can take a boat, sail out and get extracted from there." Gordon's eyes watered as he tried to contain the next coughing fit. Gee! his ribs hurt.

"Can you walk?" Tin-Tin eyed him, quickly searching for the truth.

"I'll get by."

Hmm most likely not then, Tin-Tin thought to herself. She took the left fork in the road, the one that she knew would take them back to her hometown. She decided to skirt around the outskirts down the lanes, this SUV could handle the terrain easily. Then she would ditch the car in the fringes of the Forrest on the edge of the beach. They'd have to walk the last 300 yards to the marina.

She continued to check her mirrors, the fear of being followed fluttering in her chest. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Gordon shrink in on himself some more. She had to get him out of here. Fifteen minutes later, she pulled over on the fringes of the beach. The wet and wild weather that had defined their trip had finally blown through leaving blue skies and calmer climes. Typical now that they were forced to leave. Tin-Tin spied an emergency response kit in the holdall between the front seats, finally some luck today. Climbing out of the SUV she quickly made her way around the front and gripped the door as Gordon pushed it open with a hiss of pain. He slid out of the seat and under her arm, his weight knocking her back into the body work. She recovered quickly, gently hoisting him up so he could get an arm over her shoulder. They staggered as she tightened her grip on the kit, sand kicking up into her boots. They got a short distance before Gordon's knees buckled taking them both down.

Gordon groaned into the sand, the grains clinging to his damp face and clothes. He heard Tin-Tins soft oof of surprise before feeling soft hands clinging to his bare arms. She gently helped right him as he staggered up on one knee then the next. He sat back on his haunches his breaths short and sharp as he tried to get a handle on the pain. Gritting his teeth with a determined yell he wrenched himself up. Together they walked to the marina. Thankfully it was mostly deserted. The usual fishing crew having left at the crack of dawn. Planks creaked as they paced along, Tin-Tin glancing over their shoulders all the way. Eventually they reached the section where her father's boat was moored. When Mr Tracy had left them, he'd replaced Kyrano's old skiff with a small deck boat with cabin cover. Gordon sat on the edge before slowly swinging his legs around and slipping down to the deck floor. Tin-Tin jumped in bedside him, already shaking out a foil blanket and tucking it around him. Gordon sat and wrapped it around him like the lifeline it was. Tin-Tin used the code to access the lock box, scraping the key from the back before popping it in the barrel. Gordon sat behind the wheel poised to operate it. Tin-Tin dropped him a quick kiss on the top of the head before jumping up and along to the bow to cast off. Whipping the ropes off, she maintained her balance as she reeled them in, Gordon was already pulling them away from the dock.

A few minutes later Tin-Tin was scooting across to steer the boat out to sea. Gordon had managed to rip open the kit with shaking hands and down some pain relief. He was also nearly sat on top of the boat's heaters trying to warm himself. The blanket was helping. He winced, the rocking sensation of the boat adding to his woes.

Tin-Tin stood at the wheel, one hand maintaining their course, the other holding her compact in her palm. She'd already made the call. She had to shout to be heard over the whine of the engine and spray of the ocean. Her raven locks swept across her face, disguising the ugly welt forming across her cheek.

"Tin-Tin Thank god! Are you alright?"

"Yes, but we're not safe. We've managed to escape by boat, but we will need extraction by air. I'm sharing our GPS location now, heading towards what three words .Blunder."

"You said we, is he?"

"Yes, I have Gordon, but he's been badly beaten. He needs medical treatment as soon as possible but is conscious and responsive." Tin-Tin glanced over once more to where Gordon was hunkered down against the seat wrapped tight with the blanket over his head. He was very pale under the bruises.

"Right. One moment." She waited whilst Jeff placed her on mute to hail Scott. Her hair whipped in a frenzy around her face, lashing her from where the wind blew in from behind. As they neared their destination she slowed the boat to a steady chug, the ebb and flow of the waves bobbing her up and down at the wheel. Salt crusted her lips, working its way into cracked skin and the small lacerations to her cheek where she had been hit. It stung like a hundred wasp stings.

"Tin-Tin. Stay where you are, Scott will be with you in ten minutes, he was already on standby. Can Gordon make the lift?"

"Gordon?" His head didn't lift off his shoulder. "Gordon?"

The tinged panic in her voice stirred him, he turned blearily towards her. "TB1 Extraction from air. Can you manage?"

He nodded weakly. He'd have to, he thought to himself. Thunderbird two was too much of a risk out in the open, they needed Thunderbird One's agility and speed for a safe gateway with minimal detection.

"Yes." He heard Tin reply. He watched as she signed off before cutting the engine and dropping the anchor. Gordon observed her, he loved watching her move. She held herself with such grace and beauty, it stole what little breath remained. He didn't remember her dropping to her knees in front of him till she swam into his focus. Her anxious smile made him force a smile back, he didn't want to worry her anymore than he had. "I love you" he croaked.

"I love you too. Its not long now Gordon, we'll get you nice and warm on Thunderbird One". She'd managed to find her old blanket in the boat cupboard, it was musty but another layer to try and warm him. She draped it around his shoulders. He heard the rip of plastic as she opened a bandage. Carefully she drew out his bleeding arm. It had half clotted but some areas were simply too deep to close fully. She carefully dressed and wrapped it before tucking it back inside the blanket.

She tenderly massaged circles on the back of his hand. "It wasn't an accident, was it? Your back? My uncle was telling the truth."

He held her pitied gaze. "I fell off a boat."

Tin-Tin's mind raced back to that first night that she and Gordon lost themselves in each other on the moonlit boat at home. He said he'd come back to the boat for his Dive computer because it had sentimental value. Later he'd explained it had belonged to Glenn who she knew had died the day Gordon was badly injured. She let out a small sob. "Glenn. I'm so sorry Gordon. It was Glenn, wasn't it?" The man her uncle had so callously murdered.

Gordon stiffened under her touch, the anguish in his eyes told her what he couldn't. Of all the connections, he hadn't expected her to make that one. He took it like a punch to the gut. She held a hand to his cheek, seeking to reassure him. "He will never hurt you again Gordon. I won't let him." Her voice tinged with a strong determination. "You're not alone now."

Gordon's breath hitched, his shoulders shaking as he collapsed in on himself. Tin-Tin sat down, drawing him into her where he buried his head against her shoulder. He screwed his eyes shut, willing himself to get a hold of himself but he'd been beaten, tortured and worn down. He hadn't felt this raw since he'd woken in that hospital bed all those years ago. He was still angry with himself, even to this day. They should have waited for the rest of the unit, then Glenn would be alive. He was the one to suggest the fateful idea. The guilt in those early days had almost killed him, these days it was a dull ache like someone had tried to dig his heart out before abandoning it in situ. Tin-Tin had done a lot to heal him these last couple of years and she didn't even know.

Tin-Tin lightly held him, tucking his head under her chin. She kissed and carded his auburn hair through her fingers, trying her best to soothe him. Tears streaked her face for the boy who'd lost what should have been his best years, for his friend so cruelly taken from him, his career - for all the pain he'd endured at the hands of her uncle. How could he love her? When she would be a constant reminder of him?

His ears pricked at the familiar whine of engines on approach, along with the beeping of Tin-Tin's compact. Scott was minutes out, a short winch up and they would be safe. He extracted himself, using the back of the seat to prop himself up. He viewed the situation despondently as Tin-Tin confirmed their location. She knew everything. Once again, he'd failed on his vow never to tell anyone. Well technically he hadn't told her, but the damage was done, she knew.

The vessel rocked under their feet as jets roared overhead. The silver underbelly of Thunderbird One opened to reveal the small cargo hold. The winch lowered down to the deck where it secured with the firm clunk of an electromagnet. Tin-Tin made light work of the harness, deftly securing the clips around her chest and waist before helping Gordon gingerly into his. He hissed as the strap tightened across his chest but motioned that she should continue when he noticed her hesitation.

They zipped up the line with speed until they entered the shadowed confines of Thunderbird One. Rose shouted to be heard. "We heard you guys needed a lift!" She pulled the line towards her away from the hatch, resting them on the floor before slamming her palm against the button to shut the hatch. Her ponytail slapped against her shoulder as the air cut off, little strands still remained haphazard around her face.

"Rose! You shouldn't be here!" Tin-Tin cried out. "It's not safe, my uncle he's the man" –

"Who attacked me. Jeff had his suspicions when you said Gordon was missing, he told Scott and I but not the others yet. Its ok I want to be here. To help you." Her eyes fell on Gordon who had slipped to the bench on the wall. She gave Tin-Tin a gentle squeeze on the shoulder and asked her to explain Gordon's condition before going to Gordon. She gently unclipped the harness, so it hung loose. Reaching next to him she handed them both a travel cup each with tea for Tin and Coffee for Gordon. He huddled it against his chest after taking a small sip. Tin-Tin sat next to him.

"I need to go and talk to Scott, are you both ok here? It won't be long". Rose extended the heated blanket to Tin-Tin which she took gratefully.

"Gordon is quite badly hurt." Tin-Tin looked across in concern to where he was just staring at the coffee in his lap.

"Hospital?"

"Yes"

Gordon's head snapped up. "No" his voice rasped. "I'll manage at home."

Rose gave Gordon a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry I'll plead your case."

Despite everything the corners of Gordon's mouth tightened into a grimace if not a smile. His sister-in-law wasn't a fan of hospitals either. She understood perfectly and better yet, Scott would listen to her.

Rose worked her way up through the cargo area and over to the intercom. Thunderbird's One's cabin couldn't be accessed during flight. She pressed the button which lit up green.

"Hey."

"How is he? Do I need to head hospital?"

"He's badly beaten, Tin-Tin reports he has broken fingers and a wound to the arm. He has numerous cuts and bruising to his face and hands and he's very pale but responsive enough to argue that no he doesn't need the hospital."

"I'll chart a course."

"Scott. He was waterboarded, Tin-Tin walked in on it. She has no idea how long he was subjected to it. Certainly, long enough for him to lose his voice."

Scott swore angrily. Silence falling.

"I think he needs time, and I don't think his injuries are life threatening. How about we meet up with Virgil? Its closer than home and then if he can be convinced you can take him for treatment?"

She could hear Scott take a deep breath. "Alright but he's at least seeing a doctor."

"I'll go and share the good news."

"E.T.A ten minutes."

"F.A.B"