Thank you so much for the response to the last chapter - I was actually scared of posting that one, so I really was thrilled with the response. Whirlgirl, I can't say often enough how much I enjoy and appreciate your comments. Guest, thank you for the feedback - it'll all be explained in this chapter.

Once again I have to apologise for posting later than I anticipated - real life again, unfortunately.

Time for John to explain himself, but I've got a few responses to earlier reviews and guesses that I'll add at the end rather than spoil things now.

Chapter Nine

It was rare that the lounge was completely quiet. Not unless a particularly tense rescue was in progress - though even then the occasional crackle of static or the sound of heavy breathing or cries of fear and pain would punctuate the silence. Usually the room was filled with voices, or there was the sound of the TV, music, a video game or the piano. Often all at the same time, much to the Tracy patriarch's despair. Although he kept a desk there, he often retreated to the sanctuary of his study, craving a little peace and quiet and wondering why on earth he'd ever thought having five children would be a good idea.

But now, for a good minute, there was nothing. John released Darla and turned to survey the others. Even he was clearly unnerved by the tension in the room, and when Darla edged closer to him, he reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.

It was Scott - taking the lead as always - who spoke first.

"You know her?" he asked, and the voice which had been known to quell potential riots with just one word wavered slightly, disbelief and confusion evident.

"I do." John kept his voice light. "I think it's time for an explanation, guys."

But before he could say any more, Scott finally cracked, lunging forward. "You set us up?" he yelled. "All this was a - a joke?"

It was Gordon who reacted first, shaking himself out of the stupor he'd been in for the last couple of minutes and making a grab for his older brother before he could reach John and Darla. He wasn't entirely sure what he was feeling right now - shock, confusion, anger... all these and more - but the one thing he was sure of was that if there was any pummelling to be done, he was going to be the one to do it.

"Get in line, Scott," he muttered.

"Yes, Scott, get in line." Jeff Tracy's voice was calm and controlled, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was clearly furious. "Let's allow John - and Darla - the chance to explain themselves. Everyone, sit down."

It was no great surprise when, instead of taking their usual seats, everyone positioned themselves in such a way that only a small couch remained for John and Darla, the pair facing the united ranks of the others, whose expressions ranged from bemusement to anger. Only Kyrano's face was calm, but even he was tapping his foot quite uncharacteristically as he waited for John to speak.

"Okay..." John paused to take a deep breath. "I guess by now you've worked out that this whole situation has been-"

"A joke." Scott repeated his earlier accusation.

John was grateful for Grandma's intervention as she put a hand on her eldest grandson's arm and whispered something soothing. Okay, so the gleam in her eye as she glanced over at him suggested she wouldn't be holding Scott - or anyone else for that matter - back for long, and that she had more than a few things she wanted to say herself, but for now, at least, she was willing to hear him out.

"Go on!" Jeff snapped irritably. "I'm still waiting to hear what you've got to say, John. Is Scott right? Was this really some particularly twisted joke? Because, if so-"

John stifled a groan. This could go on forever. "I'd hardly call the security of International Rescue a 'joke', Dad," he said. "This was a test. Remember you asked me to set up a few scenarios to show up our strengths and weaknesses? To get an idea of everyone's commitment to the organisation? To see how we'd cope if a stranger did find out about us?"

Jeff looked blank for a moment, then he exploded. "That was over three years ago!"

"Yes, well, if I'd set something up then you'd have guessed it was fake," John said, quite reasonably, he thought. "It made sense to wait a while."

He went on quickly before anyone else could interrupt. "You'll have my report in the morning. Some interesting findings, I think. A few areas for us to work on, that's for sure." He cast a quick look over at the vid-screen as he said this, registering Alan's obvious anger and suddenly wondering if it had been a good idea to let his brother loose on his 'bird. The youngest Tracy could cause enough mayhem during a short rotation without even trying. Who knew what he'd do when he had over two months to actually plan something?

Gordon stood up and began pacing up and down the room, unable to bear the inactivity any longer. Relief and anger were struggling for ascendancy right now, but he felt nothing but resentment towards the brother who had put him through so much misery. As for the girl who sat so quietly beside John...

"We're not married?" he asked suddenly.

"No!" Darla's voice was low and clear, very different from the breathy squeak which had been setting everyone's teeth on edge for the past few days. "We're not. I'm sorry, Gordon. Really, I am. I know how hard this has been for you."

"Do you?" Gordon asked, coldly. "What about you, John? Did you care what you put me through?"

"Gords..." John began to get up, then decided sitting down would be more sensible - Gordon wouldn't hit him if he wasn't able to defend himself properly. At least, he hoped he wouldn't...

But Gordon was just standing there, his expression suddenly forlorn. "You thought I'd be most likely to betray IR? You really think that little of me?"

"Of course not." John couldn't help feeling bad. He'd seen enough of Gordon's anguish, not to mention having regular reports from Darla as well as the other inhabitants of the island, and it really had been hard to keep up the pretence - harder than he'd ever believed it would be, especially given all the pranks Gordon had played on him over the years - but he'd known he had to be ruthless if his plan was going to work. After all, this was a test of his commitment as well as everyone else's, albeit in a different way. Still, he'd been more than relieved when Alan had volunteered to come up to Five early, allowing him to bring this charade to an early conclusion.

"You were the best candidate for this set-up," John went on. "But I've never believed you're any less committed than anyone else. Honestly. Okay, when you messed me around that time in Vegas I couldn't help wondering how I was going to get my revenge, but it was just a happy accident that things worked out the way they did. When Amy got that job and Virg said he'd take over the Vegas negotiations, the idea came to me, especially when you were so insistent about going along to help out. It had to be you, you know. Scott wouldn't have let his hair down the way you did and there was no point trying it on with Virg, not when he had Amy to keep him busy. She didn't know anything about this, by the way, Virgil. She believed Darla was exactly who she said she was."

"But why make me think I was married?" Gordon asked, sinking down into his chair.

"Well, partly because it would be harder to shift a wife off the island than it would some random person," John explained. "But also because something like this really could happen. One of you guys could meet someone and insist on bringing her here-"

"Not someone like her," Virgil muttered. "Give us some credit."

John ignored his brother. "You can't choose who you fall in love with," he said. "Okay, we may have exaggerated Darla's character a little, but I really did want to see how you'd all react. It wouldn't have been much of a test if you'd all been happy to have this new girl around, would it? Gords, I know you've been unhappy, and I do feel bad about that, but doesn't it feel good to know that everyone was willing to put up with a woman like this just to help you out? Dad, I think we can safely say that in that respect everyone's commitment to IR is -"

Jeff held up a hand. "Yes, yes, you can put it all in your report."

John didn't appreciate being dismissed so readily. "There are things we need to look at, though," he insisted. "I mean, no one ever questioned anything, no matter how extreme Darla's behaviour got. I was sure that at some stage you'd start to wonder if this could be for real. Gordon came out of it well, but did you ever expect Scott and Virgil to be at each other's throats like that? And what about..." His voice trailed off, but he rolled his eyes first in the direction of the vid-screen, then across at Tin-Tin, thankful that the girl was too busy staring icily at Darla to notice.

"Alright!" Jeff snapped as Scott and Virgil - finally reunited - began to remonstrate with their brother. "You boys can have your say later. John, perhaps you should tell us who this young woman actually is. Since she knows more about International Rescue than some of our top agents do, I hope you've ensured there are no security issues there."

John was about to answer, but Darla forestalled him. He still had hold of her hand and he gave it another reassuring squeeze before letting go as the girl got to her feet.

"My name is Darla-Jane Greene," she said. "I've known about the Tracy family's involvement with International Rescue for the past year. My step-father is your chief American agent."

"Kurt Miller?" Penny sounded incredulous. She'd worked closely with the man over the years and she'd never heard him mention anyone called Darla. Come to think of it, though, he'd never spoken much about any family - he wasn't the talkative type, so quite how Darla had found out anything from him was beyond her.

"That's right," Darla said. "He didn't give anything away intentionally, honestly. I was sneaking into the house in the early hours one morning and I overheard him talking about the Thunderbirds. I thought he'd been drinking at first - couldn't work out why he'd be talking into a coffee pot... Anyway, I didn't think much of it, but gradually I started to put two and two together, especially when he suddenly disappeared at the same time that IR were in the news after that attempted sabotage in San Diego."

"You didn't tell anyone?" Jeff asked.

"No. I was fascinated. I debated telling him what I knew, but, well, we never got on all that well and I knew he wouldn't be happy. So I kept quiet. Made me see him in a whole new light, though. Then, about six months ago he ended up in hospital after that car crash. I couldn't help wondering if it wasn't the accident the police told us it was. When John turned up I guessed it all had something to do with International Rescue. I hung around in case I could help..."

"And when that guy showed up and pulled a gun on me, Darla was the one who hit him on the head and saved the day," John finished off.

"I remember," Penny and Jeff said in unison.

"But there wasn't any mention of a 'Darla' in the debriefing," Jeff continued. "I'd have remembered the name."

"Everyone calls me 'Jane'," Darla said. "I've never liked my first name."

"So you're the girl John suggested as a replacement for poor Kurt," Penny said slowly, realisation dawning. Kurt Miller had failed to make a full recovery from his injuries and had announced his intention to retire as soon as a replacement could be found. John had sung the praises of the man's step-daughter, she remembered now, but both she and Jeff had rejected the idea. The girl was too young, a complete amateur with no training in either the military or the secret service. Maybe she'd be suitable as one of the many run-of-the-mill agents they relied upon for general security, but not as America's answer to Lady Penelope. The very idea had been laughable.

"No wonder you've been finding fault with all our suggestions," Jeff said. "You wanted us to take Darla - Jane - on."

"Yeah." John couldn't help smiling. "I knew how good she was. I also knew how stubborn the two of you could be if you got an idea in your head. It seemed the only way to convince you that she was tough enough was to set up some scenario where she could show what she could do."

"John said you didn't think I'd be ruthless enough," said Darla - no one could think of her as anything other than that right now. "That you didn't think I'd be able to maintain another identity for any length of time. I hope I've shown you that you're wrong."

They had to admit she had. Though it was clear from the looks Jeff and Penny were giving both Darla and John that they weren't happy about the situation. Neither could believe they'd been deceived in the way they had - something they knew John would make much of in his report.

"You have to admit she plays a part just as well as you, Penny," John said. "Even I was impressed. Once again, I'd like you to consider her for the lead agent role. After all, Dad, like you said, she's had more access to our secrets than any ordinary agent."

"That's as maybe, but I can't think about that right now," Jeff told his son. "John, let me get this straight... Your brother didn't get so drunk that he passed out, I suppose?"

"No. I swiped a supply of Brains' knock-out drops when I was home last," John told him. "Sorry, Gords."

Gordon said nothing. That news came as a relief, though he supposed he should be angry. No wonder nothing had shown up in Brains' blood tests. The drug was practically undetectable and although Brains could have spotted it had he tested for it, there had been no reason for him to do so. Before he could say anything - the genius looked utterly mortified right now - his father continued.

"So you made Gordon believe he'd married the woman from twenty leagues beyond hell. I suppose you forged the marriage certificate?" John nodded. "Well, it certainly explains why the press didn't pick up on a Tracy wedding. We thought you'd been so clever in keeping it all quiet... But it was all just some kind of elaborate audition for this young woman in the hope that I'd take her on as an agent."

"And-"

"And a test to see how everyone would react in a situation like this," Jeff said quickly. "Does that cover it?"

"Yep," John said after a moment's consideration. "Pretty much."

The room descended into anarchy as everyone finally found their voices. Jeff thought about intervening, then gave up and got to his feet.

He needed a drink.

Hours later, Gordon sat on a rock halfway up the side of the volcano watching the setting sun. He'd usually go to the beach when he wanted to be alone, but today had been a day unlike any other and right now he needed to be somewhere where no one was likely to find him.

At least, that had been the plan. It didn't seem to have worked too well though, not if the sound of someone making their way through the bushes behind him was any indication. Stupid watch, he thought, wishing he'd left the tracking device in his room. It had to be John. He hadn't spoken properly to his brother yet - he'd been full of things he'd wanted to say but had been unable to find the words. It had all been too much. To believe he'd been responsible for giving away International Rescue, to face the fact that he was tied for eternity to a woman he couldn't stand - all that had been bad enough, but then, to learn that it had all been a sham, that his own brother had put him through it with little thought for the anguish it would cause him... he couldn't get his head around it. The others had been giving John and Darla more than enough grief after his father had left the room, and so Gordon had followed the older man's lead and left them to it.

He was exhausted - mentally more than physically. The revelation that he wasn't married had been welcome, but it had been so hard to accept, and now he just felt drained. The last thing he needed was for John to once again try to justify his actions and he rubbed a weary hand across his eyes as he turned to face his visitor.

For a moment he didn't recognise the person, then he realised it was Darla - or Jane, as she apparently was now. Gone were the hair extensions and the fake nails, the extra-long eyelashes and the heavy make-up. She wore what seemed to be one of John's old T-shirts over a pair of tight jeans and she was barefoot, carrying her shoes. Gordon wondered how she'd managed to get this far up the volcano like that. She certainly was determined, he had to give her that.

But she was another person he didn't want to see right now, and he turned back to study the ocean, hoping she'd get the message.

She didn't, instead coming to sit down beside him. For a long time they sat in silence, until the sun was almost past the horizon. Then, Darla finally spoke.

"I really am sorry, you know."

Gordon still said nothing. What faith could he possibly have in her words, when everything else she'd said to him had been a lie?

"I know you must hate me," she went on. "I felt so bad about it all when I realised how hard you were taking it. Your father and Lady Penelope were right in some ways - it's a lot harder to maintain a role than I thought. I was so caught up in the excitement of it all that I didn't think about how it was going to affect you."

"You were convincing, I'll give you that," Gordon muttered.

"Yeah. Penny was quite complimentary just now," Darla said. "She's going to train me up properly."

"Congratulations."

"I'm not a horrible person, you know," she said. "I don't want you to think that I went out of my way to hurt you - or anyone else."

Gordon turned to look at her for the first time. "Have you told Tin-Tin that?" he asked. "Or Alan?"

Darla had the grace to look uncomfortable. "Oh, yes. I've spent the last hour apologising to all the people I upset. I'm not sure everyone's forgiven me, you know, especially not Tin-Tin. But that was the brief John gave me: make myself as unpleasant as possible to see who cracked first."

"Guess Johnny knows all our weaknesses," Gordon said.

"Don't be so sure," she told him. "He didn't quite get you right."

"He didn't?"

"No. He thought you'd take advantage of having a girl in your bed, even if you couldn't actually stand her. He was going to call in an emergency or something every time things started to get going - my wedding ring's a communicator, you know, so he was listening in pretty much all the time. But in the end it was you who had to call for help."

Gordon shrugged. "You were the one making all the moves."

"Only because I had to make things look convincing. You're a sweet guy, Gordon. Under any other circumstances I'd have loved being with you. Maybe one day if we meet up back home you'll let me buy you dinner. I'd like you to get to know the real me - Jane."

Gordon shuddered at the thought. "I can't think of you as anything other than Darla," he told her. "Anyway, wouldn't John object?"

"Why would he? We're not involved, if that's what you're thinking. To be honest, he scares me a little. I mean, I played my part, but he thought it all up and told me what to say - at least at the start."

Gordon managed a bitter laugh. "Well, you scare me, if we're being honest. But that's John for you. When he gets an idea in his head he doesn't always think of the cost to other people. The two of you are probably well-matched."

It was Darla's turn to laugh. The pair were quiet for a moment, then she said, "It's nearly dinner time. Are you coming down?"

Gordon realised he was actually hungry. "No algae shakes?" he asked.

"Oh, don't." Darla shuddered. "Those things are horrible. You've no idea how much I've been craving proper food these past few days. Having to turn down your grandmother's apple pie... I think that was one of the hardest things about all this."

"She'll probably make another one," Gordon told her.

"I doubt it," Darla said. "When I managed to escape she was in the hallway muttering something about broccoli and tapioca. I'm guessing John's not keen on either."

"Yeah." Gordon grinned. "Good old Grandma."

"She's amazing," Darla agreed. "All your family are. They really tore John and me to pieces once you'd gone. You're very lucky to have them on your side."

"Guess so." Gordon was feeling a lot more cheerful all of a sudden.

"Come on," Darla said, getting to her feet and holding a hand out to Gordon. He hesitated for a moment, then took it and allowed her to help him up. "Forgive me?" she asked.

"I don't know if I can."

"I'll help you get even with John." She looked at him appealingly. "Let me make it up to you, Gordon. Please."

Gordon considered it as they walked back towards the house. "Okay," he said as they arrived at the foot of the terrace. "But not just yet. He'll be expecting something, at least for a while."

"In about three years?"

"That should do it." He smiled at her, a genuine smile this time. "You'll be a good agent."

"Thanks. I promise I won't let you down - any of you."

"I'm sure you won't. Come on, let's go in. I'm starving."

John was sitting in the deserted lounge, tapping away on a data pad. He rose to his feet as they came in.

"Gordon. You okay?"

"Guess so." Gordon hesitated for a moment, then walked over to his brother and held out his hand. "Well-played, John. I have to say, you've raised the bar with this one."

John smiled, just a little nervously, and accepted the handshake. He only flinched a little at first, but as Gordon gradually tightened his grip, leaning in closer to murmur softly, "But you know how much I like a challenge," the muscle in his jaw began to twitch and the smile gradually slipped, finally replaced with a grimace of pain.

"One day, Johnny," Gordon said cheerfully, squeezing his brother's hand even harder before releasing it, then clapping him on the back and steering him towards the dining room. "One day..."

The end - finally!

Thank you once again to everyone who took the time and trouble to respond. It's been a lot of fun reading reviews and seeing who was on the right track, not to mention getting so many ideas for ways Darla could annoy everyone. Xenitha, Beadbird, special thanks to you both. Loopstagirl, I couldn't have got through this without you, especially not when it came to shoes!

Trillianaus and LexietFive - it's taken a long time for me to be able to congratulate you on working it out at the start (I never actually said you were wrong, remember, just that it would be a mean thing for John to do...). Whirlgirl - you were actually right about Virgil being involved, at least in my original plan. It was only when I was writing the scene in the plane as they took Darla over to Tracy Island that I realised that Virg is just too nice to let his brother suffer when a word from him would have made it okay. Though to be honest, Gordon took me by surprise in this - I never expected him to be as miserable about it all as he was.

I think that's enough from me. Happy Christmas!

Bee