The place where I put my fics! Fandoms I write for: Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Batman, Star Wars, Leverage, BBC Merlin MCU/Thunderbirds crossover
@whumperless-whump-event Day Twenty-Seven: Coma / Retrograde Amnesia / "You were in an accident."
Hawaii Five-O, Danny Williams, Steve McGarrett, Chin Ho Kelly, Kono Kalakaua, Rachel Edwards, Grace Williams
For @sofasurf who first introduced me to the HFO fandom and reminded me of one of my oldest loves.
~
It was a freak accident.
One minute Danny and Steve are on stakeout, watching from the car, when the perp appeared. They both leapt from the car as the man made them, dropping his bag and fleeing.
For once Danny was driving his own car
For once that meant Danny exited the car on the driverâs side.
For once the road wasnât clearâŠ
Chin burst through the doors of the ER, eyes scanning the room until they latched onto McGarrett. He was pacing the floor, talking on the phone with one hand while the other gestured wildly, and Chin wasted no time getting to him.
âAny news?â
âNo, theyâre not telling me anything yet.â
âWhat happened?â
âHe bounced off the hood, Chin. Bounced. I heard the crackâŠâ
Abruptly he sat down as the import of what heâd seen â what heâd heard â hit home. Chin sat beside them and they waited. They didnât need to wait long as a doctor entered and made a beeline for them.
âCommander McGarrett?â
âYes? What news?â
âDetective Sergeant Williams is fine. Mostly superficial wounds and one broken leg. We stitched him up and heâs in recovery.â
âMostly?â
âDS Williams did sustain a head injury. Although there is no fractured skull he has sustained a TBI and his brain has swollen â weâre keeping a close eye on it â but until heâs fully conscious we wonât know how bad that will be.â
âHow long will it take for him to wake up?â
âWe donât know. Heâll wake up when heâs good and ready.â
âWait â are you saying heâs in a coma?â
âNot necessarily, but head injuries are tricky. We havenât officially put DS Williams into a medicated coma but we cannot rule out that his body will naturally place him into a coma while it heals, it is common with any TBI.â
They shook hands and the doctor left. Steve ran his hand through his hair and collapsed back into the chair.
To wait.
And wait.
~
Tricky was an understatement, Danny stayed unconscious for three days. Days that had the remaining members of Five-O haunting the hospital. The one person who was conspicuous by their absence was Rachel. She didnât want Grace to see Danny like that, so they stayed away and promised theyâd be along as soon as he was awake.
But that wasnât going to happen just yet.
Dannyâs eyes opened eventually to find Chin, McGarrett and Kono sitting around him, giant grins on their faces. But he frowned as he looked at them and their grins faltered. McGarrett leaned forward.
âDanny?â
âIâm sorryâŠwhat happened? Why am I here?â
âWe better call the docs in, let them explain.â
Steve didnât move as Chin and Kono left to get the doctors, but the two sat in silence until there was a knock at the door and the doctor entered.
âHello DS Williams. How are we feeling this morning?â
âUmâŠlike Iâve been in a washing machine?â
âUnderstandable. You were involved in a car accident and have been unconscious for three days.â
âThree days?!â
âYes, Iâm afraid so. Now, if you will excuse us, Commander, I need to go through the neuro exam.â
âSure, sure. Iâll be outside, Danny.â
Williams nodded absently but waited until the door closed before addressing the doctor. He gently nodded to the door.
âHey DocâŠcan you tell me who those people were?â
~
No one took the news of Dannyâs amnesia well, Rachel least of all. She flatly refused to bring Grace in to see him, fierce in her protection of her daughter, and nothing McGarrett said would sway her.
The doctors were very clear. Dannyâs memories would come back or they wouldnât. Nothing could be done to force them and in fact that would be worse. Treatment would concentrate on treating the head injury, some physical therapy for the leg injury and some psychotherapy for the trauma of his missing memories.
They kept him in for a further week.
Memories slowly came back but none of the recent ones. He couldnât remember even marrying Rachel. Or anything that came afterwards. To say he was shocked that he was living in Hawaii was an understatementâŠthat first time McGarrett called him Danno had been met with snarling defiant âthatâs not my nameâ. It had worried them all, and made Rachel decide that keeping Grace away had been and still was the best decision.
But as the week progressed Danny began to relax around. He still wasnât sure about his co-workers, but they had been nice enough. He didnât know what to make of KamekonaâŠor the shrimp delicacies he kept trying to push onto himâŠ
Eventually it came to the day when the doctors finally agreed that Danny could go home. They insisted, however, that he couldnât leave under his own steam but had to be taken out in a wheelchair. Hospital protocol, they said.
Steve pushed Danny outside to see a small welcoming committee. Kono had managed to persuade Rachel to meet them here. There were tears in her eyes as she took in the still-healing scratches and bruises and the cast. She gasped and held tighter to Graceâs hand, but her daughter wasnât going to be denied.
Grace pulled herself free and ran to her father, flinging herself at Danny and sobbing onto his chest.
âDanno!â
For a moment Danny froze but only for a second. He pulled the sobbing girl onto his lap and held her close, kissing her forehead before resting his cheek on her head.
@whumperless-whump-event Day Twenty-Six: Bystander caretaker / "You can turn me in. Just help them. Please."
Person of Interest, Harold Finch, John Reese, unnamed oc, Joss Carter, Lionel Fusco. 400 words, quad Drabble
~
âHold on, Mr Reese! Iâm almost there!â
Finch repeated the words in his head like a mantra as he parked and ran as fast as he could to where the machine was telling him Mr Reese was.
Reese hadnât said anything since his hissed report that Elias was there, but Finch had heard the gunshots and set off.
He stopped suddenly. A police car was in the way and he could see an officer standing in front of it, obviously with his gun out.
Harold straightened, took a breath and limped forward.
âHands up!â
The manâs voice and hands were shaking but Finch ignored the command to stop and awkwardly folded himself down and put pressure on the wound.
He looked to the officer.
âHelp him!â
âHeâs under arrest! He has a gun! Thereâs a body!â
âHeâll die. You can turn me in, just help him. Please!â
The man dithered.
Finch spoke again, firmly. One hand stayed on the wound but with the other he reached out and deliberately picked up the gun.
âTurn me in. Iâll not fight it. But help him. Help him now.â
At last officer responded, calling for an ambulance before stepping forward, pulling Finch away and cuffing him.
âHaroldâŠnoâŠâ
âDonât worry about me, John. Iâll be quite alright.â
He watched as the officer put pressure on the wound, worried when John made a sound. But the sounds of sirens had Finch relaxing, and he watched as an ambulance pulled up followed by a familiar car.
Two paramedics rushed over. Finch couldnât see what they were doing and he ignored the newcomers until Reese was on the stretcher.
âIâm coming with you. This man is under arrest.â
Detective Carterâs voice was commanding and she climbed aboard the bus before anyone could complain.
Finch watched them leave before turning to the officer and Detective Fusco.
âIâll take this one from here. Heâs well known to us.â
âWellâŠshouldnât I call it in?â
âThereâs no need. Weâve sorted it. You can return to your patrol. Iâll put in a good work for what youâve done.â
âThanks!â
Once the officer left Fusco uncuffed Finch before helping him up.
âDonât make a habit of that. Thereâs only so many times I can cover up this kind of stuff.â
âDetective Fusco, I have no plans to ever do this again.â
Fusco didnât look convinced.
But he did drive Finch to the hospital.
With much thanks to @the-original-sineater who suggested the fandom and Parker
~
In truth Hardison had never thought to define what he had with Parker. They didnât need it. Nor had he given any consideration to where Eliot fit into their relationship.
It was him and Parker and Eliot.
That was all that mattered.
It was all that mattered to all of them.
So when Parker fell sick it didnât seem odd that they both took care of her.
Parker didnât do sick.
Sheâd never had the chance to be that self-indulgent, but rescuing those kidsâŠthis bug had hit her hard, harder than anything, and it left her feeling uncharacteristically clingy.
Hardison had insisted Parker rest. Heâd sat on the large sofa in their apartment and sheâd unexpectedly cuddled into him - not that he was complaining - and Eliot had covered her with a blanket, put down a honey, lemon and ginger âteaâ and vanished into the kitchen.
Pretty soon delectable smells were wafting in and Parker sighed happily as she drifted off to sleep on Hardisonâs side, his arm holding her gently.
A hand on her forehead woke her up. She could tell it was Eliot - he smelt of garlic and sweat and âEliot-nessâ so Parker opened an eye.
âAre youâŠfeeling ok?â
She didnât have the strength to speak so she nodded and smiled. He responded in kind and placed a bowl of steaming soup before her.
âChicken noodle soup. For when youâre ready.â
Eliot carefully folded himself down beside her and Parker shifted so that she now rested on his shoulder while Alec held her. Then Hardison turned over.
Several hours later Nate and Sophie returned to see the three of them asleep. Both menâs arms were around Parker and she had her head on Eliotâs chest and her legs over Hardisonâs lap.
@whumperless-whump-event Day 23: All Hands On Deck: Multiple caretakers / Travelling while injured / "Hold on a little longer."
Star Wars, Rey Skywalker, Finn, Rose Tico, Poe Dameron.
~
Rey sat by Finnâs bed, calmly centring herself on the here and now by juggling some smooth rocks she always carried in a tiny pouch.
The rocks stood for those who mattered to her - three sea-washed pebbles from Ahch-To and two from DâQar.
But in her other hand she held on tightly to the sand-pitted stone from Jakku, occasionally turning it over as she waited.
She cast a side-glance at the other person waiting. Poe Dameron hadnât left Finnâs side either, but he sat between their mutual friend and the current reason for Finnâs state of unconsciousness.
Rose Tico was very battered. Sheâd already had one Bacta-tank treatment and would probably need more in the not too distant future, but for now she lay on the other bed in the tiny medbay.
âTell me again. What happened?â
Poe stifled a sigh. He could and did completely understand Reyâs question - he was asking it too. He shifted slightly to see her better and flushed a little at her knowing smile.
âWe were scouting the ruins, the three of us plus about half a dozen others. One of the long-range probes detected movement and the General sent us to check it out.â
Dameron stared at something unseen, and Rey knew he was remembering.
âThere wasnât supposed to be life on the planet but somethingâŠsomething towered over us and before we could do anything it had collapsed the wall before it, right over Rose, Zuri and Nanuq.
âThey didnât stand a chance. And the Finn screamed Roseâs name and ran to the pile.
âI didnât know what was happening at the time, I thought it was an earthquake or something, but the the rubble just exploded everywhere.
Most of it went back, away from Finn and myself, and landed on the creature, killing it outright. But some came our way. Bandu and I caught the worst.â
Poe gingerly raised his elbow to illustrate his broken collarbone. It had been healed but would be fragile for a couple of days. Rey nodded, impatient to here the rest of the tale despite this being the third recounting Dameron had given her.
âFinn just collapsed on the ground right there. We checked the three over but Zuri and Nanuq were gone and Rose was barely hanging on. So we fashioned two makeshift cots and it was all hands on deck between carrying the pair and those of us injured in the blast.
âThatâs it, really. We had to journey a bigger distance than we would have liked but eventually we made it back to base camp, got to Medical and were treated. Despite not getting injured no one can wake Finn, though.â
Rey nodded. She mentally stacked the rocks on the small table beside her and concentrated on Finn.
He didnât look like the frightened stormtrooper she had met on that fateful day. Rather he looked far older, wiser maybe. Certainly more determined than beforeâŠ
Snippets of their time together whirled around her brain - hiding on the Millennial Falcon, watching Ren kill Hans Solo and more - but it was the destruction of Maz Kanataâs castle on Takodana that settled in the forefront of her mind.
Heâd used Lukeâs lightsaber like heâd been training all his life. Yet as far as she was aware this had been the first time heâd ever seen one let alone wielded one. Other non-Jedi could use them but it still took a lot of training.
Other things sheâd seen and heard while with Finn suddenly slotted into place and Rey sat forward suddenly, startling Poe who went white and leapt to his feet.
âWhatâs wrong?!â
âSorry! SorryâŠnothingâs wrong as such.â
Dameron sat back down heavily. He wasnât sure he could take many more surprises today.
âWhat was Finn doing?â
âSorry?â
âWhen the rocks exploded. What was he doing?â
âYou mean apart from screaming for Rose?â
âYes. Specifically his arms.â
âUmâŠhe was moving debris soâŠdigging. Iâm not sure where youâre going with this.â
âI know whatâs wrong with him!â
And Rey jumped up and headed to the droid station. She quietly conversed with the droids for a short while before returning to her seat with a lighter heart and a genuine smile on her face.
They both watched as the droids began to change the nutrient and fluid feeds and lowered the temperature slightly around Finn before they checked on Rose and then returned to their base.
âSoâŠare you going to tell me?â
Reyâs smile turned into a grin that lit up her face and deepened her dimples. Poe couldnât help but grin back.
But before she could answer Finn gave a groan.
All attention focused on Finn as he fought his way back to consciousness. They waited excitedly and eventually Finnâs eyes fluttered several times before opening with another groan.
âFinn! Glad to see you back buddy!â
âPoe? WhaâŠwhat happened?â
âWhat do you remember?â
âRey? When did youâŠROSE!â
With that Finn attempted to bolt upright only to be hit by dizziness and nausea. Both Poe and Rey rushed to stop him and ease him back down gently, but as they pulled back Finn grabbed Dameronâs arm and held him tight.
âTell me! Please!â
âRose is right here!â
He shifted out the way to let Finn see and was rewarded with the man sagging back, completely exhausted already.
âWeâre on our way to rendezvous with the Generalâs ship so Rose can get better attention.â
âIs she going to be ok?â
Poe looked to Rey, and Finn immediately tensed.
âHold on a little longer, Rose. Help is coming.â
Finnâs plea was softly spoken but they all heard it and for a few minutes there was silence until Finn spoke again.
âWhy am I so tired? I didnât get injuredâŠdid I?â
âNo, you werenât injured.â
âFinnâŠwhat was going through your mind when the wall collapsed?â
âI just needed to get Rose out. Thatâs all I remember.â
Rey nodded. She smiled at him before dropping her bombshell.
âYou used the Force to clear the debris.â
âWaitâŠno, that canât be right. If not a Jedi!â
âJedi are just people trained to use the Force in certain ways. You have a wild talent that I suspect has been latent in you and you called on it in your time of need. Itâs not unheard of.â
âOh.â
Finn blinked as he took in Reyâs words. Then he turned to her, a serious look on his face.
âI guess you better train me then.â
âI guess I should.â
The quiet murmur of moneyed people eating and chatting in The Polo Bar in NYC was shattered as Scott stood suddenly, tipping his chair backwards and almost taking out the waiter behind him.
He leaned across the table and snarled at his Father.
Jeff hadnât even flinched, but he carefully and quietly put his cutlery down and dabbed at his mouth before sitting back and regarding his eldest.
A flash of irritation crossed his face.
âSit down, Scott. Youâre making a scene.â
âMaking a scene? God forbid!â
Scott flung his napkin onto his plate and made to leave. The collective room held its breath.
âYou walk out now and thatâs it.â
The two men stared at each other.
âI mean it. Iâll cut you off completely. Totally disown you.â
âNot if I disown you first! Iâm done with you.â
Jeff watched his son storm out.
He sniffed quietly, picked up his knife and fork and continued eating.
The quiet hum of conversation picked up again, and if Jeff was aware that he was now the main topic of conversation he certainly didnât show it.
@whumperless-whump-event Day 22: "I didn't know where else to go."
Thunderbirds, Kayo, The Mechanic. 200 words, double drabble.
~
"I didn't know where else to go."
He stands there looking at her. His face is inscrutable and as the seconds tick over she begins to think this is a mistake.
But then he moves aside and she limps past him. He makes no move to help her, though, and he quickly glances up the street.
She wants to tell him not to worry.
He leads her to the kitchen, swiping everything off the table before helping her up. She lies back with a hissed curse.
Gently he removes the bloody cloth sheâs been pressing against her side. He cleans and patches her up before helping her over to a chair.
âYou need sleep.â
âNoâŠno timeâŠâ
Thereâs a moment. He stands there, looking almost indecisive, before he strides across the room and begins opening cupboards. She can hear him pouring a drink and then heâs in front of her.
The Mechanic presses something into her hand and Kayo drinks it. He wraps a blanket around her and suddenly she knows something isnât right.
She canât fight the sleeping draught heâs hidden in the drink and sheâs almost unconscious when she hears him speak.
The steady âthwack-thwack-thwackâ alerted Karen that she was in the right place, but she was not prepared for the sight she met.
Sheâd heard tales from Adam at how Kayo had almost bested Paul, but secretly Karen had put some of that down to hype.
Now, as she watched the woman sparring with Dianne, she realised that, if anything, Adam had played down her talent.
Both women were dripping with sweat, droplets falling or spraying the room as they moved. The wraps around their knuckles and feet were bloody. Strands of hair were plastered down the sides of their faces and still they sparred.
Karen recognised some of the moves but it took her a moment to identify what they were doing. Muay ThaiâŠshe recognised similar moves to Sanda, Chanâs kickboxing that sheâd spent time introducing the Angels to.
Part of her wanted to interrupt them, call a halt to what might have started as a stress release but had turned into so much more, but both women looked set to continue and Karen paused.
They were her friends.
They werenât fighting like friendsâŠthey werenât pulling any punches.
But then theyâd had a terrible dayâŠ
The Angels had been vital in finding the missing captains but it had taken so longâŠSo yeah, Karen understoodâŠ
Feet and hands and elbows flew, sometimes faster than she could track, and then Kayo got a hold and Dianne was on her back. The Malay wasnât quick enough to avoid the sweep of Dianneâs leg and tumbled down beside her.
They lay there for a moment, panting heavily but with smiles on their faces. Karen could see the exhaustion though, both womenâs legs were trembling even though they werenât standing on them.
Karen took the opportunity and stepped between them, offering them both a hand up, which both women took gratefully.
Her nose twitched and she smiled.
âNice fighting.â
Dianne and Kayo pinned her with a look but Karen was unrepentant. In fact her smile grew wider.
âWhat?â
âWhat is it?â
âYou both know how much I love you, right?â
âRightâŠâ
âButâŠâ
âI gotta tell you, you both stink.â
âHey!â
The two women put on offended looks but they couldnât keep it going. As they both made to hit the showers their legs finally had had enough and they both almost face-planted on the mats.
Only Karenâs quick reflexes saved them, and together the three of them made it to the showers. She left them on a bench propping up each other while she made sure that the showers were hot and ready before helping them into a cubical each. She waited until she could hear them under the hot water before delivering her news.
âOh, I almost forgot. The good doctor says you can both go visit.â
There were whoops from the stalls and Karen had to dodge a couple of wet cloths thrown at herâŠ
But eventually Dianne and Kayo were ready and the three made their (slow) way to Medical.
Where the two women were immediately stopped by Fawn who, with a curse, forced them into a bay to have their still-bleeding knuckles seen too.
Karen wanted to laugh at her friends faces. Suitably chastised at having been compared to Scarlet and Cobalt, they endured the doctorâs ministrations and light scolding until both had bandaged hands and had promised profusely that theyâd be back tomorrow to be checked over.
Only then would Fawn let them see the two Colour Captains.
Only Karen saw his fond but exasperated smile as they were reunited.
@Maria asked: @augustofwhump 2025, Day 24 â Recovery, Gordon and @whumperless-whump-event Day Twenty: Here Comes Bad News: Scary diagnosis/ "I'll be right here the whole time."
~
Scottâs recovery wasnât linear by any means. But being home, being around his family, gave Scott the one thing heâd been missing in the German hospital.
He was surrounded by people who loved him.
That love buoyed him up far more than the respect and treatment from the medical personnel.
Everyone rallied around him, both in person and long distance.
Virgil and John had needed to get back to their own lives. College was over for the semester and exams completed and John had to leave to go into quarantine for his next stint on the WSS. Scott had insisted they both go, that he would be fine and that they could talk frequently.
They still left reluctantly, Virgil flying them out and using the time to discuss strategy in regard to their big brother. All plans were pie in the sky, though, as they had no real way of knowing how it was going. Their Dad had promised to keep them informed but he wasnât the most reliable when under stress.
And this was stressful. This was very stressful.
This was where Gordon and Alan had an opportunity to return all the love and care that their brother had shown them. They took their job seriously.
Very seriously.
Scott found that he didnât get a moment alone.
He found it hard at first. There were nightmares where he woke up screaming to find his Dad was always there. And during the day one or other of his youngest brothers were with him, with Dad or Grandma hovering in the background.
BeforeâŠbefore Scott would have found it all too smothering but now, once he got used to the idea, he found it strengthening.
On bad days they were around but not near him. Sometimes hearing them messing around in the kitchen or watching an old Disney movie was enough to snap him out of whatever spiral he was going through.
The day he made it outside the farmhouse to watch Gordon swim in the pool out the back was a milestone that felt like an age in coming, but breathing the warm summer air and did something to him.
It lifted his heart and for the first time Scott felt like he actually had a chance of soaring again.
It was a turning point.
From that time on it was difficult to keep Scott inside. He spent mornings outside wandering the farmland and afternoons heâd spend time with Gordon and Alan. Theyâd walk to the wood and along the stream. The two boys would make sure that they were slow enough that Scott, still needing extensive physio for his injuries and using a cane to walk with, could keep up easily.
The fresh air and the daily exercise had Scottâs doctors making hopeful noises.
Eventually his daily walks expanded to outside their home. It was difficult at first â sudden noises still made him jump, he was nervous of people, even of people heâd known since theyâd moved here.
But the townsfolk were kind people with long memories of how much Grant and Lucille Tracy had meant to them and with their help when he was out and about Scott began to progress even better.
Eight months to the day Scott had been brought home Gordon won gold in the Olympics and Scott was there in person to see it thanks to ear plugs and some light sedation that didnât stop him celebrating along with his brothers.
The celebrations lasted more than one nightâŠ
But from the moment they arrived home Gordon switched from being Olympic obsessed to becoming a WASP. Heâd have another seven months before his sixteenth birthday, the day heâd officially be old enough to join with his Fatherâs permission.
Jeff had listened to Gordonâs impassioned discussion on why WASP was a better fit than staying on at school and going to college. The service would ensure he finished his high school diploma and then went on to work on a degree of his choice.
So Gordon split his remaining time between helping Scott any way he could and prepping for his upcoming bootcamp prep day. Scott was a great help, and in going over his own experiences in the USAF it helped him to come to terms with his own trauma.
Scott had never been prouder when he saw Gordon descend the stairs in full WASP uniform, ready to leave for boot camp. Heâd not donned the uniform since being rescued but that time was fast approaching â Scott needed to return to base and report in. There was talk of trials at the Hague, which he was frankly sick to his stomach about. His Dad had said not to worry about it butâŠhow could he not?
All that was pushed out of his mind as his brother gave him the crispest salute, which he solemnly returned before pulling him into a tight, lingering hug. He whispered around the lump into Gordonâs ear.
âI am so, so proud of you.â
âThank you. For everything, Scott.â
âYouâre welcome.â
âI mean it, Scott. For always being there for me, for fighting my corner. For never leaving me.â
Scott pulled him closer and rested his cheek on Gordonâs cap for a moment, careful not to distort the headwear.
And then it was time for Gordon to leave.
Time passed.
Gordon graduated from NUB (non-useful body) to Dolphin quickly, acing the Officer school and coming top of his class, just as Scott had.
His progress within the service was meteoric.
As Gordon rose in the ranks Scottâs own progress was unfortunately nowhere near his brothers. Not that Scott was worried about that..
They both had news for their family.
Scott had been back to McConnell Air Force for almost a month. He was under assessment pending a review of his combat status. So far he wasâŠmanaging. His flying was good but there were concerns regarding his behaviour while on the ground. Noises still startled him and he was withdrawn from the rest of his squad, preferring his own association.
When nothing improved by the end of the assessment period, when Scott was still refusing to see the mental health team, the brass reluctantly came to the same conclusion.
Meanwhile, Gordonâs went from strength to strength. So much so that they offered him a highly coveted role in the testing of new equipment while the kinks were being worked out of the latest sub for the fleet, Stingray.
The family had already began moving to the island, but this reunion was going to be the last one in Kansas. So Jeff had fired up the grill, Virgil had prepped the meat and Kayo and Sally had prepped salad sides. John, unfortunately was up in space, but heâd sent a message to both his brothers and a promise to be home in a couple of months if either of them were going to be around.
Scott flew into Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita first but Gordon wasnât too far behind and the two took their familyâs âhopperâ plane home, the little runaround that had been their Momâs until her death and that Dad had kept for when his boys needed to get home.
They were met on the farm runway by Alan, who hopped around them with the energy only a 11-year-old could have and talking so fast they couldnât have got a word in even if they wanted to.
The meal was a great success and as evening turned to night and Scott carried Alan to bed, talk turned to how their respective careers were going.
Gordon was full of excitement but he knew that he couldnât say what was going on, so he kept his news full of training exploits and downtime pranks. His enthusiasm and happiness was infectious though, and if anyone noticed Scott staying silent well, no one said anything. This was Gordonâs moment and his eldest brother was content to let him shine bright.
It didnât fool Virgil or Jeff of course, and with a pointed look to their father Virgil eventually hauled the Squid off to bed.
They stayed on the porch, Jeff only disappearing to grab a bottle of whisky and two glasses. He poured them both a generous dose and they settled to watch the sky and Jeff waited for his son to open up.
It took another hour and two more glasses of scotch before Scott sighed and sat forwards, rolling the glass between his hands.
âTheyâll discharging me, Dad. Honourable discharge on medical grounds. They were veryâŠnice about it.â
âScottyâŠâ
âWhat am I going to do, Dad? No one wants a washed-up pilot.â
âI do.â
âDadâŠâ
âIâm serious, Son. You know weâve been talking about International Rescue?â
âYeah. I remember.â
âVirgil and I along with Brains â you remember Brains?â
âI do.â
âWell, we are well on the way to making this a reality.â
âI thought that wouldnât be happening for years yet.â
âI know! But Brains is really a genius and coupled with Virgilâs know-how and Johnâs computer skills, weâre looking at being up and running in only a couple more years.â
Jeff rested a hand on Scottâs arm and smiled at him.
âWeâre going to need a test pilot quite quickly. And I want that to be you, Scott. There isnât anyone else Iâd rather have, even if we werenât going to be secret.â
Scott blushed but smiled.
The rest of the night was spent discussing the rescue ships until Jeff yawned and Scott insisted they both go to bed.
Alan was ecstatic when Scott told them he was home for good so when Gordon left the blow was softened somewhat. The youngest was due to leave soon himself. Heâd agreed to be boarded at Whartons Academy, a school in Massachusetts, one that would challenge him rather than the boring school he was currently attending. Alan had been gutted at not being allowed to stay home on the island but there was a little part of him that was excited to be out from his brothersâ shadows.
The next two months involved Scott helping move the rest of what they were taking to the island and talking to the rest of his brothers.
And then Gordon called home. While he couldnât tell them what exactly he would be doing he could at least let them know roughly how long heâd be out of contact, and he managed to talk to everyone except John, whose return home had been delayed a couple of weeks.
They fully moved to the island a week later.
Jeff sat back and surveyed the ocean beyond the window. A sense of peace enveloped him and he sighed contentedly. Which meant he was a little annoyed when the phone rang. He was half-tempted to ignore it but suddenly a cold sensation washed over him and he couldnât answer it quickly enough.
He hit the untested klaxon and his boys came running.
Ten minutes later they were flying as fast as Tracy One could go for Marineville.
They practically stormed the hospital. Thankfully Atlanta was there to meet them and take them through the layers of bureaucracy and to the room Gordon would be released to once his surgery would be over. Heâd already been in for hours but they were still at itâŠ
Atlanta kept them plied with decent coffee and easy-to-eat food and stayed with them throughout the rest of that day and the following night.
Eventually a very tired doctor appeared in the room. Everyone sat up, Alan firmly between Scott and Jeff and holding their hands tightly. Jeff gave his hand a squeeze before getting up to greet the doctor and Virgil immediately took his place and Alanâs hand.
âDoctor. What news?â
âGordon is one tough cookie, Mr Tracy. Heâs pulled through more than 14 hours of surgery but I have to warn you heâs nowhere near out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours will be touch and goâŠif he survives that it will still be an uphill battle.â
âUnderstood.â
âMr Tracy, if youâll come with me thereâs paperwork for you to go through.â
Jeff looked at his boys and his Ma, who had been brought over during the night. Sally nodded and stood and the two left with the doctor.
The three eldest knew what the doctor had left unsaid. They were going to discuss Gordonâs injuries in more detail, something that they were very careful that Alan didnât have to hear the details.
Speaking of Alan, he may have been eleven but right now he felt more like five, when their Mom had died and everyone was acting just like they were now. That same fear was welling up in him now and he resorted to the only thing he knew would help.
Alan practically crawled into Scottâs lap, buried his head into his big brotherâs chest and burst into tears.
Scottâs arms immediately tightened around him and both John and Virgil added theirs so that Alan was enclosed in a brother sandwich. They stayed that way until their father came back.
Jeff couldnât help but feel a swell of pride at how his boys rallied around each other, and he smiled at them when they noticed him.
âBoys, your Grandma has gone to book a hotel. Youâre all going to go there, get something to eat and grab some sleep. Wait!â
He paused as his older boys al began talking at once and waited for them to quieten down. Jeff chose to address Scott, knowing that the others would follow his lead.
âScott, weâre here for the long run and to be there for Gordon when he wakes up we need to be at our best. This is going to be a long, long road.â
âDadâŠthat means you too.â
âI know, Son. The hospital will only allow one person at a time to stay with Gordon until heâs fully conscious so weâll create a rota. Alan? You can visit with any one of us but not on your own as you need to be over 16, ok?â
âYes.â
Jeffâs phone rang and he turned and spoke quietly into it. It was a short call and he sighed before turning back to his boys.
âGrandma has found a hotel. You all go ahead and Scott, six hoursâ time you can relieve me. Now I know, I know how hard this on us all. Sleep is not going to be easy but you need to try, ok? You need to try.â
There was a chorus of âokayâ and, after hugging him tightly, Jeff watched them leave. Scott hung back for a moment and Jeff pulled him in for a hug before briefly giving him a rundown of Gordonâs injuries. He hugged his boy tightly as tears threatened until Scott had pulled himself together to leave.
It set the pattern for the next six months.
The doctors kept Gordon in a medically induced coma for close to three weeks until the swelling on his brain reduced and they took the opportunity to do some of the numerous operations he needed.
Alan had gone with his Dad that first time but hadnât stayed, bursting into tears at the sight of all the tubes and wires. They had prepared for that, and Scott, waiting outside, scooped him up and took him outside.
It was John who was sitting with Gordon when he first began to show signs of waking up but full awakening didnât happen for another three days.
Scott was there when a frightened noise grabbed his attention and he leaned over for Gordon to see him while hitting the alarm. The doctors worked around him until it came time to remove the tube but in an unusual move they let Scott stay once Gordon had become visibly more upset when heâd been asked to leave.
It still took a little while for Gordon to be able to talk, but after a cup of ice chips he could at least whisper.
âWhaâŠhaâpân?â
âYou were in an accident.â
âTh-the âfoil?â
âYes.â
âTell me.â
He really didnât want to, but Gordon was more like himself than Scott would have liked, so, leaning over so Gordon didnât have to worry about moving his head, gently told his brother everything.
Gordon cried the entire time and Scott paused often, wiping his tears and holding his lesser damaged hand.
Eventually Gordon calmed down. He looked at his brother with eyes scared but trusting.
âIâm scared, Scotty. I â I canât move. My team are dead. MyâŠmy life is over.â
âHey! Hey, donât talk like that. Thereâs still much healing you need to do. Nothing about your future is certain. You hear me?â
âYe-yeah. Scott?â
âYes, Fishie?â
âStay? Please? Donât leave me?â
âIâll be right here the whole time. Iâll never leave you, Gordon. Never. Not now, not later, not ever.â
Recovery was going to be a bitch but Gordon knew if Scott could do it then he would be able to too.
@whumperless-whump-event Day 19: Out of This World: Magical exhaustion / Cursed / "We'll fix this, I promise."
BBC Merlin, Merlin, Arthur Pendragon, Gaius. 100 words
~
Merlin was exhausted.
The spell heâd cast to protect them was complex, needing constant minute changes. And stillâŠ
At the last moment one of the enemy had thrown in an unexpected spell that has broken his own. Merlin had tried to seal the hole but the damage was done.
He didnât have the strength left to heal Arthurâs wound. Merlin cursed the circumstances that had led them hereâŠ
He had no memory of getting through Camelot.
Of banging on Gaiusâ door.
Of laying Arthur down..
Merlin barely heard Gaius mutter âweâll fix this, I promise,â before he blacked out completely.
A little slip on a dribble of cooking oil she hadnât noticed spillingâŠand wham!âŠa broken arm.
Parker had driven her to the hospital last night and brought her home early this morning with it in plaster.
Now how was she going to do breakfast?
Sheâd try butâŠ
âLil? Luv, are you hâok?â
âIâm fine, Nosey.â
âYouâre not. Let meâŠâ
âYou canât cook!â
âThat hâainâtâŠthat hâainât wot I was gonna say.â
Carefully Parker took Lilâs good arm and gently led her to sit at the large kitchen table, and made her a cuppa.
âLet me take care of you this time, Lil.â
He nudged her gently.
She smiled.
âYou direct anâ Iâll cook.â
When Penny came down there was no difference in her breakfast. If she noticed that Parker was more tired than usual she didnât say anything. Once sheâd finished, though, she gave Parker a pause and a look.
âAnd how is Lilian?â
âSheâs good, mâLady.â
âHire her granddaughter and tell Lilian to take the next six weeks off.â
âVery good, mâLady.â
âAnd Parker - take two weeks off yourself.â
âThank you, mâLady.â
Parkerâs surprise made Penny smile privately. Maybe Alan would like to chauffeur her aroundâŠ
A little slip on a dribble of cooking oil she hadnât noticed spillingâŠand wham!âŠa broken arm.
Parker had driven her to the hospital last night and brought her home early this morning with it in plaster.
Now how was she going to do breakfast?
Sheâd try butâŠ
âLil? Luv, are you hâok?â
âIâm fine, Nosey.â
âYouâre not. Let meâŠâ
âYou canât cook!â
âThat hâainâtâŠthat hâainât wot I was gonna say.â
Carefully Parker took Lilâs good arm and gently led her to sit at the large kitchen table, and made her a cuppa.
âLet me take care of you this time, Lil.â
He nudged her gently.
She smiled.
âYou direct anâ Iâll cook.â
When Penny came down there was no difference in her breakfast. If she noticed that Parker was more tired than usual she didnât say anything. Once sheâd finished, though, she gave Parker a pause and a look.
âAnd how is Lilian?â
âSheâs good, mâLady.â
âHire her granddaughter and tell Lilian to take the next six weeks off.â
âVery good, mâLady.â
âAnd Parker - take two weeks off yourself.â
âThank you, mâLady.â
Parkerâs surprise made Penny smile privately. Maybe Alan would like to chauffeur her aroundâŠ
@whumperless-whump-event Day Sixteen: Listen Very Carefully: Medic whumpee / Coaching through first aid / "I'm going to scream. You have to keep going."
CSatM, Edward Wilkie|Doctor Fawn, Charles Gray|Colonel White, Seymour Griffiths|Lieutenant Green. Double Drabble 200 words
~
There was coughing.
The smoke was clearing andâŠthere! Another cough! Thank goodness!
Fawn sighed.
âColonel?â
âHeâŠcoughâŠhere.â
A cloud of dust and debris rose into the air as White moved, punctuated with more coughs, and then his boss is kneeling over him.
âThat doesnât look good.â
âIt isnât.â
They both looked at the obviously dislocated elbow.
There was a groan and with another cloud of dust Lieutenant Green joined them. He took one look at the Doctorâs arm and turned almost the same shade as his Colour Code.
âI shouldâŠsorry. Iâm up-to-date on mandatory first aid training, and Iâm pretty sure this one needs medical attention.â
âUsually from me.â
They both look at the elbow again. Then at each other.
âYou need to reduce it.â
âButâŠâ
âListen very carefully. Iâm going to talk you through it.â
âEdwardâŠâ
âI trust you, Charles. Iâm going to scream and you have to keep going.â
âSIG.â
Wilkie was clear in his instructions and Charles careful in following them while Griffiths held the arm steady, even when the promised scream was practically in his ear.
Suddenly the door was blown open and Scarlet and Blue stood in the doorway.
âGentlemen, help Doctor Fawn to Medical please.â
Hardison hadnât been claustrophobic until heâd been buried alive, but these things happenâŠ
âMama, why do they happen to me?!â
One minute Eliot and Hardison are checking out a security van hidden in a shipping container, the next Hardisonâs on the floor and Eliotâs unconscious.
And bleeding.
And theyâre in the van.
And itâs moving.
He canât breathe.
Hardison canât get any air, itâs running out, and Eliotâs dead, and no one can hear himâŠHe bangs on the walls, shouting.
âWeâre here! Help! In here! PleaseâŠâ
Comms are down.
No one is listening.
No one is coming.
@whumperless-whump-event Day 14: The Final Straw: Grief / "You don't need to be okay right now."
Thunderbirds, Jeff & Scott Tracy
Part One: 200 words, Double Drabble
Part Two: 200 words, Double Drabble
~
âAnd give my regards to your lovely wife.â
It had been kindly meant by a semi-regular customer but to Jeff it was the final straw.
All the walls heâd erected around his heart and his grief crumbled like a cookie dipped too long in milk.
He shattered.
Jeff drove home on autopilot, abandoned the car haphazardly in the driveway and locked himself in his study.
And he opened the whisky.
Scott stopped at the sight of the car. Alan, sitting on his shoulders, protested the sudden stop by tugging on his hair, but Scott ignored him and rushed inside, depositing the toddler in the playpen in the kitchen.
A gut wrenching howl had Scott running for the study and he banged on the door. When his dad didnât answer Scott fetched the spare key and opened the door.
Jeff was sitting on the floor, the room in disarray and he was crying.
Scott immediately folded him into a hug, holding him tightly.
âIâm sorry. Iâm no good for any of you.â
âYou donât have to be okay right now, Dad. Youâre grieving.â
âButâŠâ
âItâs okay. Iâve got them. Iâve got you.â
And Jeff cried himself to sleep in his sonâs arms.
~~~~~
âYou donât have to be okay right now, Son.â
Scott looked blankly at him. Jeff so wanted to fold his son into a hug, just as his boy had done for him all those years ago, but he couldnâtâŠ
It was a miracle Scott had been found alive at all.
Jeff had grieved his death.
And then celebrated Scottâs rescue.
But the man in the bed was a Scott Jeff did not know, and a part of him grieved anew at the horrors his beautiful boy had been put through.
A door banged somewhere and Scott violently flinched. It triggeredâŠsomethingâŠand Scott began to scream, tearing at his bandages and IVs.
Jeff froze, then Scott was on him and he was being backed into the corner. The blows didnât hurt but Jeff was worried Scott would reinjure himself. He kept speaking softly, trying to reach him.
The same could not be said of the nurses that rushed in. They grabbed Scott. He became more aggressive until he was restrained and a sedative administered.
Jeff held him carefully as the meds worked.
Their treatment was the final straw. As soon as he was settled Jeff started planning on getting them both home.
