Okay so I hope you all enjoyed the initial chapter and are ready for another. Well I shan't keep you waiting any longer. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Aftermath – Initial Thoughts Part 2
By Rosa241
Gordon POV:
Both kids are silent as we finally begin take off. Ignoring the tendrils of pain beginning to shoot down my back I grip the controls with a little more force than I'm sure was needed. I can take some painkillers when I get back home but right now I need to focus on flying three. Getting the kids home safely is more important than anything else. Of course I could have taken some painkillers before taking off but I don't want to risk them making me sleepy. God only knows that I'm tired enough as it is. Last thing we need to happen is me falling asleep at the controls.
You could always turn on autopilot.
I could. I know that I could. Our autopilot systems are more than good enough and they're still working after everything that three has been through. I could turn it on but…
What if that maniac has more people waiting for us?
What if that maniac has a ship somewhere ready to shoot us down?
I need to be on my A-game, I need to be awake and ready just in case. Shaking those thoughts from my head I roll my shoulders and focus on the controls.
For a while we sit in silence and I can't help my eyes drifting towards the kids. Fermat looks so deep in thought I'm pretty sure I could smack him upside the head and I don't think he'd notice at all. It looks like there are so many thoughts running through his brain right now that he almost doesn't know what to think. Got to say I'm kind of with him there. After everything that's happened today – Has it really only been one day!? – it doesn't feel real. None of this does.
Switching my eyes to Tin-Tin I can't help but wince in sympathy. Big day for her. It's bad enough that maniac attacked our home but finding out that he's your uncle has got to royally suck. Having an insane criminal for an uncle? Talk about black sheep in the family! I can't say I blame Kyrano for not mentioning him. What was it he said?
I thought he was dead.
I wish he was dead! I wish that maniac was six feet under and pushing up the daisies. He almost killed us all in one day…
We almost died.
The thought makes my hands shake and I force myself to think of something else. Thinking about that whilst in control of something this powerful is not the best idea. I can break down and panic when I'm back on solid ground but right now I need to be on top of my game.
Shaking my head I turn my attention to my family. Scott's already in over protective big brother mode, I'd seen that the minute he learned that Alan was going after the Hood. It was bad enough when we got up to Five but knowing that Alan was chasing after that insane psychopath had sent him into overdrive. Virgil was so worried about John that his mind will no doubt be working a mile a minute right now trying to anticipate every little thing that could go wrong. John…well…right now I'm not sure what he's thinking. Is he even conscious right now? For a moment I toy with the idea of contacting Two but quickly force that idea from my mind. Virgil needs to be focused on John right now and I don't doubt he won't take too kindly to being taken away from his patient. I can wait until we get back to the Island.
My mind drifts towards my only younger brother and for a moment my mind goes blank. Being separated from all of us, watching us almost die, going after the Hood…is that everything or has he gone through more than that? What happened in that bank? What happened on the Island? What happened after we lost contact? Was he hurt?
A sickness begins building in my throat at that last thought and it takes a moment before I can swallow it down. Did that monster hurt him? Images run through my mind, horrible, torturous images that send panic rolling right through me.
What has my little brother been through today?
John POV:
Although my eyes are closed I can picture the look on my little brothers face right now. That worried frown will be settled into place until he's taken a good look over each and every one of us. It's almost enough to make me smile…almost.
What a day!
What a hell of a day!
Part of me wants to say something but I can't. The drugs Virgil had finally gotten into my system were firmly taking effect and I can feel myself beginning to slip away. I fight it of course, despite knowing that it will be useless, for I don't want to leave my family behind right now. They came for me and it almost cost them their lives.
You almost lost your life.
I know I'm lucky to be alive and no doubt that will hit me at some point but right now I can't find within myself to care. Tiredness and pain are coursing through me and it's taking everything I have to stay awake.
You almost lost your life.
There's a tingling sensation stretching across my back that's almost itching slightly. I don't know how bad it is but I couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief when the pain medication had finally begun taking effect. The pains fading now and I can feel the darkness calling me.
You almost lost your life.
I don't want to give in but I know that I don't have a choice. I'm going to fall unconscious soon but I don't want to. I don't want to feel alone again.
You almost lost your life.
It takes longer than I thought it would but eventually it all becomes too much. The tiredness and pain combined with the medication finally pulls me under and part of me is relieved. Relieved that for a while, just for a while, I can escape the thoughts racing through my head.
You almost lost your life.
Alan POV:
The shuddering of the ship catches me by surprise and I can't help jolting slightly which of course sends pain across my side. The pain has been getting steadily worse since we took off and I can't help but wince as I shift in my seat. Scott doesn't see it since he's focused on landing the ship safely.
Strange to think only yesterday I was sitting right here screwing around in One.
Something in my thoughts stops me.
Was that only yesterday?
Hell it feels like that was a lifetime ago but it was only yesterday.
Yesterday.
24 hours.
How the hell has this all happened in 24 hours?
Scott's sighing brings me out of my head and back to the present. Looking over to him I can see just how tired he looks. He looks like he's been through hell and I guess in a way he has. I guess in a way we all have. Somebody trying to kill you isn't exactly…
Trailing off my thoughts come to a halt.
Somebody trying to kill you…
He was trying to kill them…
He was trying to kill me...
He tried to kill my entire family…
I could have lost them all.
"Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird One." I register Scott's words somewhere in the back of my mind as nausea builds in my stomach. Taking deep breaths to quell the growing sickness in my stomach I almost miss the reply that comes through.
"Thunderbird Two receiving, what's up Scott?" My dad's voice rings through the cockpit and I can't help noticing that he sounds exhausted.
"We're back at base. What's your ETA?" Not for the first time today I can feel my heart calling out to my dad, ever since this storm took off this morning I've wanted nothing more than be back by his side. When he wrapped his arms around me in London I felt so safe that I never wanted to leave him arms again.
"We'll be with you in about an hour and a half give or take. Everything okay on your end?" Is everything okay?
Is everything okay!?
Of course everything isn't okay. That…that freak tried to kill us all, he tried to kill everyone I love, he tried to kill my entire family. He almost succeeded too if Fermat and Brains hadn't have-
Cutting that thought off I force myself not to think the words. Not yet. Not yet. The sickness in my stomach doubles and for a moment I genuinely feel like I might empty it's contents right here on the floor. It takes more than a few deep breaths before I force the sickness back down and relief washes over me. It hasn't gone away, no the sickness is still sitting in the pit of my stomach, but it's not threatening to rear its ugly head right this very minute so I'm safe. A hand claps down on my shoulder and sends me shooting up about ten feet into the air.
"Whoa! Easy sprout it's just me." The pain that had shot down my side when we landed comes back full force. Naturally Scott's keen eyes catch the grimace that covers my face and in a heartbeat he's knelt down beside me. "What's wrong? What hurts?"
I want to say that I'm fine but I don't exactly trust myself to open my mouth right now without throwing up all over the place. Shaking my head at his words I take a few more deep breaths before looking up at him.
"Hey, you okay?" His hand comes to rest on my forehead and the curse that leaves his lips surprises me. "You're sweating way too much, let's get you somewhere cooler."
It's only as he speaks that I recognise just how much sweat is pouring down my body right now. Truth be told I've spent all day running around the Island in the heat so it shouldn't be surprising. He pulls me to my feet without warning and as he does the world goes sideways for a moment. Wrapping his arms around my waist Scott holds me upright as the dizziness crashes over me and the sickness comes racing back up my throat.
"You're alright, its okay. Just breathe." For a few minutes I daren't open my eyes for fear that the dizziness will come screaming back. Eventually, when I no longer feel like I'm going to throw up or pass out, I open my eyes. Only now do I become aware of the tight grip I've got of Scott's suit and the similarly tight grip his arms have around me. Ignoring the pain his grip causes across my back I rest my head against his chest and close my eyes again for a moment.
You almost lost this. You almost lost him.
The coolness of his suit is a stark contrast to the heat coming off of me and for a few moments I revel in it. For a few moments I allow the day to fade away as Scott's tight grip loosens into a warm hug. Safety washes over me and for the first time all day I feel like maybe I'll be okay. The moment can't last however as eventually Scott pushes me back slightly and looks into my eyes.
"You okay?" The dizziness has faded away now but the sickness and heat are still there. Nodding my head is about all I can do and he leads me slowly out of the bird and onto solid ground. As we move and he catches sight of the chaos left behind from this day his grip on my shoulder tightens.
What the hell do we do now?
It occurred to me as I watched the film through again in preparation for writing this that Alan, Fermat and Tin Tin were all running around the Island all day in the searing heat. None of them had any water either. I remember reading somewhere (how I recalled this I don't know) that the actor who played Alan wound up with heat stroke on the set. Knowing this gave me a few thoughts about what the heat could have done to all of them. I hope this makes sense and doesn't seem to be too outrageous.
Anyway I hope you are enjoying reading this, I know I'm having fun writing it, and I shall leave you in peace for a little while.
Until next time,
Bye x