~#~ (Chapter 30)

Alan flew Thunderbird 1 sedately alongside her sister ship the whole way home and only peeled away when the island finally came in sight. He put the sleek silver rocket-plane back in her hangar and completed the post-mission checks before heading towards the sickroom where he guessed that everyone would be gathered.

The sickroom was abuzz with voices as Alan approached. He stepped through the open door and shook his head at his family. A portable x-ray machine stood beside the bed where John was lying and Brains, Jeff, Virgil, Gordon and Scott were all gathered around a screen further down the room. Alan wandered up behind them, peered over Gordon's shoulder and shrugged before wandering over to John and sitting on the bed beside him. "You've broken your elbow," he announced quietly. "I don't know why the five of them are staring at it; it's an obvious break."

John chuckled softly. "They're making sure they haven't missed anything," he explained. "Apparently I've broken three bones in my ankle as well as tearing the muscle but the third break only showed up on one x-ray out of three and happened to be spotted by Tin-Tin as she wandered through looking for you. Virg was most upset that he he'd missed it and Brains seemed to take it as a personal insult."

Alan rolled his eyes as he sat forward and scanned the room for his girlfriend.

"She's not here," John murmured. "She decided that it was too busy in here so went up into the house to wait for you. I'm surprised you didn't see her when you came through the lounge."

Alan huffed again. "That's because I didn't come through the lounge. I came up straight here through the tunnels. I assumed this is where everyone would be."

"You weren't far wrong," John replied. "I'm guessing I'll be in here being smothered by that lot for the next hour or so, if you want to go and find her then I'd make your escape while you can. I don't mind. Honest."

Alan wriggled around until he was facing John and gave him a brief hug. "I'm glad you're alright, John," he said softly. "…and thanks. I'll come and see you later when you're all plastered up. Save me a space on your foot. I want to draw Thunderbird 3."

John smiled and returned Alan's hug. "I will, now scoot before the others rope you in to helping diagnose the damage on my jaw. Quick, Al, go."

Alan grinned and shot away from the bed and into the corridor before anyone could stop him. Gordon watched him go and winked at John who grinned and beckoned him over. "He says it's an obvious break," John whispered. "Is it?"

Gordon chuckled as he sat down on the bed. "About as obvious as it could get," he replied. "You're going to be uncomfortable for a while but it's all good, fixable stuff. You'll be back out in the field before you know it."

John slid sideways slightly and allowed his head to rest on Gordon's shoulder. "I was thinking of suggesting that I recuperate up on Thunderbird 5. I've got to go back up there at some point and it's not like I'll be out of touch with anybody. I can hobble around as slowly as I want up there and no one needs to tend to me nor worry about hovering over me all the time. I'll only suggest it if you're OK with the idea. I don't want to go back if you still need me."

Gordon rested his head against his brother's. "I'll always need you, Johnny," he replied. "But it's not like you're going to be hours away like you were in college. I know I can get you anytime of the day or night if I want a chat and if all else fails then I can commandeer Alan and Thunderbird 3 and they can bring you back down for a visit." Gordon paused and looked around the room. "I'm not sure what Dad would think of that idea but he misses you too, when you're stuck up there. It's why he calls you every night."

John sighed. "I know. I miss it down here too, when I'm up there. I miss up there though, when I'm down here and I've been down here too long, Gords. I need some peace and quiet and some solitude. You're OK now, you're fixed, you have a new, upgraded sub to rescue people in and there's no reason you can't double-team with Virgil and Alan like you used to. I'll be on the end of your watch if you need me, same as I always have. Day, night, whatever. So, will you be OK if I go?"

Gordon knocked his head gently against John's. "Go play with your space station, Johnny. I'm fixed, Four's fixed and to be honest, I can't wait to get back out there again."