Thunderbirds are Go is based on Thunderbirds created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and the Weta Workshop/Pukeko Pictures & ITV 2015 series. I make no profit from my use of characters and situations

Author Notes: I have to admit that I have always been a proponent of the Tracy brothers being older than the series has wanted them to be. So for the purposes of all my fics, I tend to place Scott at around 32, John at 30, Virgil at 29, Gordon at 25 and Alan at 22. That way they actually have had enough life to get experience needed

Grandma Tracy was worried. The whole situation the family was currently in was heartbreaking to her – her only remaining son missing, and now her five grandsons killing themselves to try to find their missing father.

In the last two weeks, they had only returned home long enough to refuel the Thunderbird machines, and if she was lucky, they might sleep or try to eat something. Showering seemed to have taken the place of sleep, however, and once clear eyes and razor-sharp brains were now dulled with grief and fatigue.

Even the hologram of John looked blurry, as if his own fatigue and emotions were blurring the image.

Her own eyes were red and dark ringed from her own outpouring of grief. No mother should ever have to outlive her children. But… she had her five grandsons to look after now.

She entered the lounge area and was surprised to see the four earth-bound boys sitting in the seating area, faces darkened with stubble, eyes half closed with fatigue, bodies slumped with defeat. Her heart broke anew.

"Boys, you should go to bed," she said gently. "All you will do here is hurt yourselves. You need proper sleep."

"But what if we hear something and….."

"But nothing!" Grandma Tracy interrupted. "Exactly the same if a call comes in when you are sleeping. You wake up and attend to it. But you can't function as you are. Just as your ships need refuelling so do you." She hardened her heart. "You're no use to anybody if you are so tired that you can't actually function enough to fly a Thunderbird. "

Winces were visible on Virgil and Alan's faces at her words. "What happened?" she asked.

"Mucked up landing," Virgil mumbled. "Thunderbird Two is out of action until Brains can repair it".

"Well, you're damn lucky he can repair it. And you're even luckier that it isn't you needing major repairs," came the voice of Kayo as she entered with Brains. Her normally controlled voice was tight with anger and other emotions.

"I don't need this," Virgil muttered, attempting unsuccessfully to stand and storm off. His fatigued body had other ideas.

"But you will hear it," Grandma said. Her sharp voice cut through the haze that the boys had been in since their father disappeared on a mission. For the first time they looked, really looked at her. They saw her own pain etched in her face.

"This is a tragedy for us all," she said. "And I fully understand what's driving you. I haven't helped, asking for updates and all. But you've reached burnout. Brains and Kayo can't keep up with what they need to do to keep the Thunderbirds operating. You've only just been giving them enough time to refuel and do a basic check before you're off again. " Tears filled her eyes. Again. "None of us can keep this up. It's been a month now. We need to face facts, and to start looking at this professionally."

"But it's Father," Scott said.

"I know, Scott. But tell me, what is the guideline International Rescue has for searches?"

"Two weeks," Gordon said numbly. "Especially for sea searches. Two weeks and if our equipment can't find them, then they either don't want to be found, or we are not going to find them."

"And considering Jeff was on a mission – in an International Rescue ship, being monitored by you, John," and she looked at the hologram of John that had been a near constant in the house. "Then if we can't even pick up our own signals, then what does that tell you." Her voice trailed off and she swayed, suddenly feeling like her body was boneless.

Alan, closest to her, jumped up and guided his grandmother to a chair, then sank down at her feet, resting his head in her lap as he had done so many times as a child, looking for her comfort. "Please boys," she said. "Please. Let it end. If I've lost my son, I don't want to lose my grandsons as well." Her head dropped. "We've done all we can. Pulled every string available to us. In this search, we've found people and things long thought gone. If we could find them, and not one of our own, then …" Her voice, soft to start with trailed off.

Around her she felt the warmth and strength of her grandsons. She gave her final argument – the one that would bring an end to the active search, even though her heart broke to do it. "What would your father say if he knew that you were throwing away the thing that meant as much to him as you do?"

"I don't like it," said Scott. "I have to believe he's out there."

"You can, Scott. But you have to let your life go on." His grandmother's eyes caught his, boring into him. "You think I don't know? I've lost a husband and now three sons. You have to go on. Have to live. Otherwise all of the love that you have for them counts for nothing. What better way to honour your father than to keep going."

Scott blinked, and raised himself to his full height. "We don't stop looking," he said sternly and his grandmother's spirit sank. She had failed her son… "John, subroute the search for dad to the background but keep it going non-stop. Brains, make sure that all instruments have the same search subroutine running every time we go out. " She felt her heart lift as Scott gave his instructions and she looked at him, and he leaned forward kissed his Grandmother's cheek. "You're right grandma. Father would be kicking our butts from here to Thunderbird Five and back for this. But we won't stop looking whenever we are out, and in the background. We will keep looking. And we will find him."

Scott paused, suddenly feeling his fatigue wash through him, and the gnawing hunger in his belly. But he had one more thing he had to so. "I'm giving an order – all of us stand down. Brains, Kayo, I need you to start the full maintenance sequences on all Thunderbirds. Start with Two, so she will be available if we need her. Then Four. Do One last."

Brains nodded. "Right away Scott."

"No… it can wait until morning." Scott saw how tired their Engineer was.

"It's all right. There are things that can be done automatically that I can get running on all of them now."

"Even if you had to," Kayo put in, "I don't think any of you would be actually capable of doing a rescue at the moment."

"I have to admit you're right," Virgil said grudgingly. He yawned widely. "Have to say, I'm looking forward to some sleep."

Grandma looked at her grandsons still gathered close around her. She gently touched Alan's hair. "Then go. Sleep. We can make plans in the morning."

As they trailed out she looked at her second oldest grandson. "You too, John. I know you have systems that will alert you if we're needed."

"I just…"

"Sleep. Now."

"Yes, grandma."

"I'll know if you haven't gone, you know."

"How?"

"I'm a grandmother, John. It's like being a mother on steroids. Trust me. I'll know."

"Are you sure I can't connect you to Colonel Casey before I go off?"

Grandma's eyes narrowed. "Have you been snooping, John?"

"Who? Me?"

"I mean it John. Have you?"

"No Grandma. I know you contacted her, but hearts promise, I don't know what you discussed."

"Well, her encryption would help prevent that." Grandma's tone was wry. She knew John.

"Even so. It was a private call. I don't snoop on those. I do know she's been helping try to find Father."

"She has. And she's been concerned for all of you as well. She will be pleased to know you are standing down."

John stretched and yawned. "Guess we've got more people than we realised looking out for us. Night Grandma." His image vanished and Grandma Tracy sat back and closed her eyes briefly.

"Oh my boys," she whispered. "If only you knew." She sighed and sat straighter. One call to make, and then she would seek her bed as well. After she had checked on her boys, of course.