To The Moon And Back

Chapter Seventeen

"How you doing down there, bro?"

Startled, John jolted awake at the sound of Alan's voice coming from their jerry-rigged comm unit, his eyes snapping open. When had he fallen asleep?

"John?" Alan called again and John made a grab for the comm, his action jostling Selene's head where it rested on his shoulder.

"I'm here," he answered, keeping his voice low as his fingers fumbled around the casing, trying to locate a volume control. He found it and turned down the output, not wanting to wake Selene who must have finally given in to the cold at some point and shifted closer to snuggle up to his side.

"Oh, good. I was worried something might have happened to you both."

"What could have happened? We're stuck in a mine tunnel thousands of feet underground, it's not like we could wander off."

"You could have run out of oxygen or something," Alan suggested placidly.

"Contrary to some opinions, I am not stupid," John snapped, still feeling groggy from sleep and not in the mood for Alan's attempt at humour. "If we had been in trouble I would have called."

"If you'd realised in time," Alan countered.

John rolled his eyes and carefully shifted his arm, which had begun to feel numb where she was leaning on it. Selene moved with him, her forehead creasing into a frown, her arm, which was a comforting weight across his stomach, tightening as if to hold him in place. Since she had been the one to make the first move, he gave into temptation, sliding his arm around her waist to pull her tighter to his side. Just to keep her warm, he reasoned, to keep her safe. But he knew he was lying to himself, he just wanted to hold her, to feel like she was his, even just for a short time.

"What's happening with our rescue?" he asked, desperate for something to focus on other than the way Selene curled herself even closer, her thighs resting against his, her nose brushing against his neck. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin and he shivered with her, but not from cold.

"Is it safe to talk?" Alan asked, not wanting to give away anything he shouldn't.

"She's asleep."

"Great. So, Dad managed to pull some strings with an old friend, Wilbur Zero, he's-"

"Commander of Space City," John interrupted, recognising the name. "I didn't know Dad knew him."

"Yeah, seem's they go way back. Anyway, he arranged for Virgil and Gordon to load up the Mole and make their way over there so that they can fly it out in one of their Fireball fleet. Gordon is going to stay behind and keep an eye on Thunderbird Two while Virgil travels with the Mole, the security is great at Space City but you can never be too careful, especially with the Hood on the loose."

"On the loose? You mean he's left the Moon?"

"Yeah, seems that way. Scott tried to intercept him but he gave him the slip. Left behind his co-conspirator to face the music."

"Co-conspirator? You mean Cosmo?"

Alan snorted with amusement. "That his name? The one that came up with your girl?"

"She's not my girl," John corrected, even though it twinged a little to do so and he hurried on, not wanting to think about it too closely. "Has Cosmo said anything useful?" Not that he expected him to, the Hood never left evidence behind, even with the people who helped him.

"Nothing, he doesn't remember a thing," Alan said, confirming John's suspicions. "It's the same as all the others, the Hood uses his mind control and they're powerless."