As waking up went, today wasn't the worst he'd ever felt, but it was pretty close. Gordon's muscles twitched and ached, making movement impossible until he could manage a few pills past his dry throat. His head pulsed and vision blurred as he blinked heavy eyelids, nausea soon following. What saved this rise from unconsciousness was the field of peony pink that his head lay in and the gentle fingers carding through his hair. Penelope's manicured nails graced his ear for the briefest of moments, sending a shiver down his spine and a pained groan involuntarily from his chest.

"Gordon?" Her hand stopped to rest on the crown of his head, her face bending into his eye line. "Oh, darling, are you alright?"

Blinking didn't hurt, so he did that before offering a lame, "ow."

Penelope didn't smile because he sounded too far from the joke he meant to give and closer to the pain he couldn't hide. Instead, her hand began its trailing through his waves again. "I have no doubt you'll be sore for quite a while after the shock you took."

There was a disconnect between her words and what Gordon remembered and his brow pinched in confusion. "Wha'appened?" His tongue clicked the roof of his mouth in an attempt to remove the cotton.

"Havoc activated a stun device she'd placed on your back." Her explanation, though helpful, was laced with a protective anger. It brought with it the memories of the woman cutting off his air supply, keeping him between her and his friends.

Another memory surfaced of Penelope's mouth meeting his in a crushing, unexpected way. Havoc's words floated through and Gordon felt the stirring in his gut threaten to relinquish the h'orderves he'd consumed earlier onto the floor. His eyes found the pink silk and anchored to it, his breaths coming out in slow, steady beats.

"Gordon?" This time it was John's voice, which didn't make sense until the small hologram was placed in front of him. "Feeling sick?"

If his brother could read a blink it would've said 'yes, John, I've been electrocuted and the bad guy felt it necessary to take advantage of me, so yes, I feel terrible', but what came out was a grunted "mmhmm."

"Just relax, the ambulance will be there in five minutes." And if that was meant to calm Gordon down, it didn't, but it did help hone in the nausea and funnel it into the drive to not need a hospital.

"M'okay," Gordon breathed, sliding his hands over the rough concrete with the intent of pushing himself up.

Before he could attempt, Penelope's hand caught his, pulling it onto her lap and holding it firm. "Do try not to move, Gordon." At her request and the soft press of her fingertips into his wrist, he found he couldn't, held in place by the sheer shock of her contact. "I feel dreadful you were hurt, so please just let us take care of you, alright?"

With a single nod, his eyes found hers and the pain of guilt that lay inside. "Not your fault, Pen. She was very convincing..." He also saw the stray hair that had fallen from the delicate looking clip, the slight creases at the corners of her eyes. "You okay?" Focusing on her seemed like the easiest route at the moment.

Penelope's expression lightened in a way that told him there was nothing to worry about. "I'm fine, darling. Seems Havoc got the drop on the both of us today, but she's gone now. No need to worry." The last bit was added as he tried to move his head away from the field of pink in order to see if they really were safe. Slender fingers caught his chin and gently pulled him back to look into sapphire that glowed underneath the outer building lights. "Do try to rest. Heaven knows you've earned it after saving the day."

Gordon couldn't help but scoff at even the idea he'd done anything but set himself back. How many more days of physical therapy would he need now? "I was there, Penny. I definitely didn't save anyone."

"Gordon, do you have any idea what Havoc was trying to steal?" The London agent's tone fit well with that of a seasoned spy, which offered a comforting blanket to the self loathing he felt at the moment. He shook his head and she continued. "She was after a device that would be able to track any vehicle, including your Thunderbirds. That kind of technology would be devastating."

The sound of sirens was increasing in the distance, a warning that coincided with the weight of Penelope's explanation. "Who thought that was a good idea?" He grumbled, shifting slightly as the need to move grew. "She didn't get it, did she?"

A smile like springtime blossomed and Penelope shook her head, "Seems you've got some sticky fingers. Parker was impressed." She gestured to the older man who stood not too far away, still holding the closed case and wriggling it as he caught sight of the two watching him.

He'd grabbed it? Gordon certainly couldn't remember pulling it away from the woman, but maybe that was one of the consequences of having electricity shot through you. What it meant, however, was that Gordon had saved lives today. Busted leg and all.

So, maybe he had earned a little rest to allow the aches of overstimulated muscles to calm. "Ah, that's good then. Scott always hated how I could get things off him without him noticing." Gordon laughed carefully, letting his eyes drift shut for only a moment until he felt the gentle fingers find their way back into his hair. One eye peeked open and there was a smile, warm and gentle, as Penelope continued to urge him to relax. He could oblige her that, at least.

The paramedics soon interrupted their cozy spot with pokes and prods and moving Gordon when he really just wanted to stay on the hard, cold floor if that was where Penelope would be. She helped change that mindset by getting to her feet and offering to ride with him to the emergency room. A fifteen minute ride, which seemed far too short a time to hold her hand, followed by an unnecessarily long two hours in the ED. He ached, but Gordon could already tell the effects of the taser wouldn't be leaving any significant damage. Where he was concerned, this was one of the downsides to being a Tracy in the company of Lady Creighton-Ward. The upper management was determined to offer him every diagnostic test available, which he earnestly refused. He was fine. A-okay. Just give him a lollipop and send him home.

Only, he didn't go home. Well, not his home. Penelope had packed him into Fab1, tucked herself in next to him, and had Parker drive them back go the mansion. There were no brothers waiting to smother him with their concern, warded off by Penelope and a few of his bios from John.

Now, the two of them were laying out on the lawn, a plush mat covered in pillows taking the place of the picnic blanket. Penelope had relinquished her gown for a pair of pale blue capris and flowy cream colored blouse that rippled over her petite frame. Gordon had opted for full length jeans, a tee and tan, suede jacket he'd found in the closet. Even though the weather was warm for the area, the night was chilled in comparison to the island. The loss of his boot was a welcome omission as well. He didn't need the constant reminder that he wasn't his best - not even close.

"He does not!" There was an amused shock in her tone and he couldn't help the grin. They were out here for one singular reason and it wasn't to discuss what had happened at the gala.

"Okay, maybe not in a while, but back before I joined International rescue, it was like some ridiculous ritual. Scott called it their good luck charm." There was a hint of guilt in divulging his little brother's secret habit of dancing to obnoxiously loud k-pop before performing a single flip. At one point, Alan had dragged Gordon into it, except the flip had ended with the both of them in the pool. After a frantic swim to get themselves out before Thunderbird 1 could launch, the ritual had been limited to a much quieter cheer until Alan finally stopped altogether.

"Was he quite good at it?" Penelope asked as she picked up her cup of tea.

"Uh, well…" Gordon's smile grew at the memory of a gangly ten year old flailing around the living room. "Honestly, he had his moments. I think it was just something our brothers enjoyed since Alan and I were typically off at school. It was a break from the Super-Serious crew."

"Ah, I can see where that might be necessary." Her eyes moved back to the star speckled sky. Gordon's were transfixed to the single ringlet that fell from her shoulder to rest on the cushions propping her up. She was beautiful in the way he'd always loved, simply illuminated by the soft glow of the starlight. She didn't need the glam of parties or the lights of fame and fortune. All it took to make his head spin was her, plain and simple and impossibly real.

A hard, painful kiss invaded his thoughts and sent a groan from his throat. Gordon covered it quickly with a hand over his face, thumb and fingers pressing into his eyes to try and drive the memory away. Part of him wanted to hide from the invasive feeling of disgust while the other wanted to scream. He couldn't stand the thought that these feelings might creep up any time he was around Penelope. It wasn't fair.

A hand slid into the one clenched over his chest, slender fingers curling their way into his palm. "Gordon?"

"-s'sucks." The hand on his face scrubbed over his eyes once more before the images were blinked away and replaced by the dark sky above.

"What sucks, darling?" He almost laughed at the absurdity of the simple word coming from elegance.

"Havoc…" the name sent a sour tinge over his tongue. "She's gone, but I can't get her outta my head."

Gordon wasn't so naive to think Penelope hadn't watched the surveillance footage from the loading dock. She knew exactly what he was talking about and it made his stomach twist. Havoc had violated a dream he considered a very real possibility. Now, the idea of kissing Penny only brought with it the villain and the sneer that wasn't really her's.

The woman beside him was quiet and he could imagine how uncomfortable she must be with the situation. Havoc had used her image. Gordon had been convinced that it was Penelope kissing him. If the roles were reversed, he wasn't sure what he could do to fix it. Hunting down whoever would even think to touch her seemed like a start, but she and his family wouldn't allow that. So, maybe she was already doing the one thing he would. She was with him, trying her best to help him feel normal instead of tracking down Havoc to use some of her agent skills.

As if to put voice to his thoughts, Penelope offered, "If it would help, I could tear her smug face off?"

Not for a single moment did he think she was joking, but he chuckled regardless. "That won't be necessary. Not right now, anyway. If she tries it again, you have my full permission to kick her butt."

"Not that anyone would be able to stop me." She was smiling slightly as he turned to see she had moved a bit closer to him, resting on her side, the stars quickly forgotten. "She's an atrocious woman I'd like to see behind bars. Preferably sporting a few bumps and bruises."

"Such violent words from a lady." Gordon teased and he felt a little more control return. Picturing a very heroic Penelope standing over the cowering form of Havoc seemed much simpler than trying to rid the villain from the events from hours ago.

Something he couldn't read flashed over her face and before he could ask, she was sitting up, staring at his hand in hers. "Well, I can't just stand by and watch them hurt you - not again."

Gordon didn't hesitate to push himself up, catching the slight shimmer over the sapphire eyes. "Pen?"

"Gordon, I don't know for sure what I'd do if I were to come face to face with the Hood or the chaos crew." Neither did he, but the thought of Penelope being anywhere near the group sent a spike through his gut. She hushed him with a quick look before he could interrupt her. "I am more than capable of handling my own, but I've never wanted to inflict pain so readily."

A numbing chill replaced the spike at the severity of her declaration. This was a part of Penelope he never saw, the part of her that could gain information from nefarious individuals without blinking. Yes, she was capable. He was suddenly grateful for that. It was one less thing for him to worry about with his new sense of mortality.

And so, he gave the only sentiment he could to justify her desires, "It sucks…"

"It truly does," her fingers gripped his hand just a bit more, anchoring them both to the reality that they were alive. After a moment of letting his nerves calm, Gordon returned to his spot in the mound of pillows, Penny doing the same.

Clouds had rolled in during their conversation, matching the mood that had set in and it almost felt appropriate. Her hand hadn't left his, though, and her voice was light as she spoke. "When do you get to go through the training course?"

"Should be able to in a couple weeks." He would be cutting it close for the mission to find Dad, but there was no way he would be left behind.

"I think I would very much like to be there, if that's alright with you?" It was a request that normally she would have been much more forward about. Maybe she was worried about intruding into an area that could affect him or his family. If he were being honest with himself, Gordon was hesitant to approve, but the thought of not having her there seemed wrong. She was a part of their family, distant or not.

"I'd like that," he finally offered, feeling the familiar flutter in his chest whenever he was given the opportunity to provide input into her plans. Again, it was obvious how willing she was to put him and his family above the social desires of the rest of the world. She could be spending her day surrounded by the high class socialites who spoke her language. She could be lavished in luxury and given anything she asked, yet she was here, laying under the stars with him.

With a hesitant flex of his fingers around hers, Gordon settled further into the cushions, a peace settling over him as he felt her hand return the embrace. Regardless of how the evening had turned, right now, he would live in this moment. With her and the slight glow over the horizon as morning of a new day began.

OooooOOOOooooO

All done!

This was supposed to come before "Worthy" but that one was so much more fun to write! The premise for this fic had been in my head for a while, but I could never figure out a reason to put Penny, Gordon and Havoc in the same area XD hopefully this worked out alright!

Thanks everyone for reading!