Thunderbirds: Welcome to Tracy Island

Chapter 7

"Gordon, it hurts!"

"Yeah yeah, I know, I know! I'm sailing as fast as I can to get you back!"

"But it hurts!"

Gordon anxiously bit his lip as he turned the wheel of his yacht to port in the direction of the small inlet making up the new Tracy harbour, a sense of urgency pounding away at him.

While Gordon was out scuba diving, Alan had been so relaxed that he'd managed to fall asleep in the sun. Spending a lot of time in the direct sunlight had burnt his fair skin to a crisp and it was now a blistering salmon. When the redhead had returned from his dive, he'd barely recognized the scorched tomato sitting in the deck chair and before he'd even taken off his wet suit and breathing apparatus, he'd picked up his brother and carried him back inside to the shade of the wheelhouse, waking him up and giving him a scare in the process.

After recovering from the fact his brother wasn't some sort of evil monster from the deep or a hallucination, Alan realized just how much pain he was in and began whinging. His skin was blistering, he was dehydrated and he was feeling extremely dizzy, which was making him sick.

Gordon grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and began pouring it into his brother's mouth unprompted. He then gently pushed the bottle into his brother's hands and ran for the wheel. The aquanaut knew he had to get him back to shore and indoors as soon as possible so set a course for home.

After about ten minutes, the yacht entered the harbour at an increased rate of knots as Gordon steered it towards the pier.

"Don't worry Al', we're almost back." Gordon said, slowing his boat down as he approached the mooring quay. Although in a hurry, Gordon made sure not to bash his boat up the side of the wooden pier. He jumped off and securely tied it up before jumping back on board and retrieving his burnt brother.

Alan staggered to his feet and Gordon threw him over his shoulder, trying not to catch his skin, and darted up the rocky path towards the house.

All was quiet in the Tracy household until Gordon barged in.

The double doors swung open and Gordon ran in through them, sliding Alan onto the nearest couch. Scott and John who were in the kitchen at the time, ran over to him and gasped at Alan's injuries.

"Gordon, what happened?"

"Oh this clown accidently fell asleep in the sun." he said, voice slightly panicked. He ran to the sink to get his sibling a fresh glass of water. "I think he's got sunstroke."

"No kidding." John deadpanned, grabbing the sink cloth and soaking it with cold water. He darted over to Alan's panting form and threw the cloth on Alan's forehead.

"Where's Virgil? I think we need him."

"In TB2's hangar. I'll go get him." Scott rushed off to get the only qualified medic of the household.

John dabbed the cloth around Alan's clammy face as Gordon helped him sit up a little so he could drink some water. Alan slurped it down and groaned loudly, feeling hot and sick.

Gordon leapt to the air conditioning controls on the wall and adjusted the temperature, making it cooler for his brother's comfort.

After a few moments, Virgil and Scott came barging into the lounge, with Virgil immediately taking his place by Alan's side. "Alan? How are you feeling, buddy?"

"Hot... and sick."

"I gotcha. Don't worry dude, we'll soon get you right." He took the cloth from John and dabbed it over his face, being careful not to catch his burnt skin. "John, can you find the aloe vera gel? The after sun lotion, it should be in the cupboard somewhere."

"I don't know if I unpacked that yet but I'll try." John acknowledged, hopping over to the kitchen and opening all the cupboard doors. He rummaged through and found the bottle at the back so he grabbed it and took it over to his brother. Virgil opened it and splodged some lotion onto his hands before gently applying it to Alan's face, his younger brother moaning all the while.

"It's alright, Alan." Virgil soothed, continuing to apply the cream. He turned to Gordon. "How on Earth did he get this burnt?"

"He fell asleep in the sun, but it wasn't my fault!" Gordon added, knowing Virgil's first thought would be how the aquanaut should have prevented it. "I was out diving and before I left I told him to go back inside the wheelhouse but he didn't."

"Oh Alan." Scott ran his hands through Alan's sticky hair. "What are you like?"

Virgil finished applying the lotion on Alan's front. "We'll leave him like that for now until it soaks in. Are you feeling any better, Alan?"

"A little." Alan croaked, his voice less hoarse now that he'd drank some water. "What time is it?"

John checked his watch. "About... three thirty."

"When's Dad coming over? He won't be too happy with the cooked lobster right here." Gordon asked, again feeling he'd get the blame for Alan not doing as he was asked.

"Not until five I don't think, depends on the wind variation. Could delay him."

"Wow, anyone would think you're an expert."

"Can it, Gordon." Scott barked. "Come on, we should finish tidying the lounge before he gets here and leave Virgil to sort Alan out."

"Aye aye, sir!" Gordon saluted, making his way to the unruly bomb site of boxes where his father's desk would soon be.

"John?"

"I hear ya. Come on, there's a few trinkets to take out of one of the last boxes. Was just gonna leave them together on the table so Dad or Grandma can organize them properly."

"Sounds like a plan!"

The three remaining Tracy boys got to work finalizing the lounge.