Chapter One

It was just a bump on the head but already it was giving him bother. All he wanted to do was to get home and get his head down for a couple of hours. Scott Tracy rubbed at his temple in an effort to soothe away an impending headache just five minutes into his flight home. The rescue had gone well, no difficulties and, better still, no fatalities. Virgil, Gordon and Scott were leading the last group of people down over a pile of debris in the four-storey building, which had collapsed. Virgil was at the top, Gordon about the middle and Scott at the bottom helping them down on to safe ground. The last person was coming down and Scott turned to help them when he banged his head on the protruding concrete post, which he had been careful to avoid for the whole rescue.

"Ouch, that's gotta hurt," Virgil said, wincing. "You ok Scott".

"Yeah Virg. Let's just wind this up and get home," replied Scott.

"Guess you're gonna need to start wearing glasses," Gordon snorted, unable to resist the temptation. "That's what comes of old age," he added.

"Very funny Gordy," Scott said exasperatedly. How many times had he heard jokes about old age. Both he and Virgil had repeatedly been the butt of such remarks from their younger brothers. "Anyway, 30 wasn't that old," he reminded himself.

At 30 years of age Scott Tracy was at his height of physical fitness and mental alertness although right now, on his way home, he felt tired. He must have been, he thought, for he had snapped at Virgil, telling him to stop fussing, when he had said he should get that bump checked out.

"I'm telling you I'm fine, Virgil. Just stop fussing. Now get the equipment on board TB2 both of you and head home. I'll follow on when I've packed up Mobile Control," he said sharply.

Gordon glanced at Virgil and shrugged his shoulders. "What's his problem?" he said.

"You gotta a problem with following orders, mister," Scott said, glaring at his younger brother.

"Of course not Scott. We were only concerned, that's all," Gordon said, trying to calm the situation.

"Well you needn't be. I'm all right, honestly," Scott said a lot more calmly, and with that he headed off towards Thunderbird One.

Gordon waited until he was out of earshot before issuing his next remark. "Gee, talk about blowing hot and cold," he said.

"Yeah I know," Virgil mused. "I think that bump on the head is bothering him more than he let's on. Maybe I should let Dad know."

They were 15 minutes out from base when Virgil suggested he get in touch with Scott to find out how far behind he was. Gordon looked at him as though he had lost his mind. "He'll only think you're checking up on him," reminded Gordon, "but hey, if you want to get your head bitten off, be my guest, go right ahead," he said gesturing towards the communications panel.

Gordon was right, Virgil decided, for he would only be checking up on him.

"Thunderbird One to base, come in base," Scott said with his usual professional tone, as he got ready to lift off.

"Base to Thunderbird One," came the reply. "How did the rescue go, son. Any problems?" Jeff asked.

"No problems Dad. It didn't take as long as I thought," Scott replied filling his father in with all the mundane details, except one. The fact that he had thought himself careless and hadn't looked where he was going was too embarrassing and Scott hadn't considered it important enough to be included in any report. "Virgil and Gordon are already on their way back to base, I've finished loading Mobile Control and I'm preparing to lift off. ETA 40 minutes," Scott finished. He was as efficient as ever in his summary of the proceedings.

It hadn't escaped Jeff's notice that he had left out one detail. "All right Son," Jeff acknowledged. "How's your head by the way. Virgil said you took a bit of a knock."

"Well Virgil should mind his own damn business," Scott snapped. "He shouldn't have bothered you with that. I told him I was fine. Like I said, ETA 40 minutes. FAB," and with that he cut communications.

Jeff was slightly taken aback at his eldest son's sudden change in mood but was not entirely surprised given that Scott sometimes had a volatile temperament. "Well, perhaps it wasn't that bad and he was getting annoyed at all the fussing," Jeff thought to himself, though he knew that if any of his brothers had sustained any kind of injury, being the Field Commander of International Rescue, he would have insisted on them getting it checked out and yet he would not afford himself the same courtesy. "Scott, someday that's going to be your undoing," he told himself.

However, he became more anxious when Scott failed to check in for his last prearranged call before landing at Tracy Island. This was to check that the area was clear of civilian traffic before attempting to land on the island. Scott Tracy never missed that call. "Base to Thunderbird One, come in, Thunderbird One," Jeff called.

"T Thunderbird One to base," replied Scott somewhat slowly, as if wondering why his father should call. "What's up?"

"You missed your check-in call, Son. That's not like you," Jeff said worriedly. "Is everything all right?"

"I didn't miss it Dad," Scott insisted. "I was j just about to c call. Dad, do you mind if we skip the debrief. I just want to get my head down for a while, I'm kinda tired."

Jeff could clearly hear his son sounded tired and agreed, but that was something else Scott Tracy didn't do, ask to delay the debriefing session after a rescue. Even when they had been on a dirty, filthy job they took only the time to shower and change. "All right Son, but I want you to go the infirmary and get that head injury looked at as soon as you land. Is that understood?

Scott was about to protest but Jeff cut him short. "No buts. That's an order Son. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD," Jeff commanded.

"Yes sir," Scott said weakly. He just wasn't up to going head to head with his father anymore.

Now that his son was going to be sensible, Jeff relaxed a bit and turned his attention to the mountain of paperwork he had on his desk. He was relieved when he heard the familiar sounds of Thunderbird One's rockets as she descended into her underground silo beneath the swimming pool.

"Have you seen Scott yet, Dad? " inquired Virgil after knowing his brother had landed a while ago and anxious to know was he any better.

Jeff looked up from his desk; glanced at the clock and realised it had been at least half an hour since he had heard Thunderbird One enter her silo. "No Virgil, come to think of it, I haven't. He must have gone to the infirmary via the hangar floor." Satisfied, Virgil headed for the kitchen.

The more Jeff thought about it, something wasn't right. Going via the hangar floor didn't make sense; it would have been quicker coming through his access panel into the lounge and through the villa. He definitely hadn't seen him or was he so preoccupied with paperwork that he didn't notice his son coming through the lounge. He must surely have been to the infirmary by now. Scott wouldn't disobey a direct order, would he?

There was only one way to find out. Jeff hit the comlink to the infirmary. "Brains, are you there? Is Scott with you, or has he been in? No response. Jeff accessed the general comlink. "Brains, come in, this is Jeff."

"YYYes Mr TTracy," Brains responded.

"Where are you now Brains," Jeff asked.

"II'm in the mmmedical lab, Mr TTracy. Is there ssomething I can do for you? He inquired.

"I want to know Scott's condition," Jeff said rather tersely, wondering why he hadn't already been informed. "He did report to you in the infirmary, didn't he?" he added.

Brain's was clearly puzzled. He hadn't seen Scott or knew he was meant to and he hadn't been near the infirmary.

Jeff was beginning to get annoyed now as he headed towards Scott's room thinking he must have gone straight to bed for that sleep. "Though it's not like Scott to disobey an order even if he did think it was unnecessary," thought Jeff. His military training in the USAF would have insured he followed the accepted chain of command. His annoyance, though, was tempered with the fact he wanted to satisfy himself that his eldest son was really all right and there was nothing to worry about. He knocked the door. No response. A sudden worry came into Jeff's mind. What if his son had fallen into a deep unconscious sleep because of that simple bump on the head and no-one noticed him until the morning. It was with that thought he keyed in the emergency access code and the door slid open. It had always been agreed among the boys and their father that their suite of rooms were their own private sanctuary and you had to be invited in. With so many people living so close together they all needed their own space. Jeff felt the need to override that protocol. He entered. The small living room was in darkness. He crossed to the bedroom. He called his name as he switched on the light. The room was empty and hadn't been slept in since early that morning before the rescue. Jeff didn't know whether to be relieved or even more concerned as to his whereabouts. He came back into the lounge.