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 driver’s side.
For once the road wasn’t clear…
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.
‘Any news?’
‘No, they’re not telling me anything yet.’
‘What happened?’
‘He bounced off the hood, Chin. Bounced. I heard the crack…’
Abruptly he sat down as the import of what he’d seen – what he’d heard – hit home. Chin sat beside them and they waited. They didn’t need to wait long as a doctor entered and made a beeline for them.
‘Commander McGarrett?’
‘Yes? What news?’
‘Detective Sergeant Williams is fine. Mostly superficial wounds and one broken leg. We stitched him up and he’s in recovery.’
‘Mostly?’
‘DS Williams did sustain a head injury. Although there is no fractured skull he has sustained a TBI and his brain has swollen – we’re keeping a close eye on it – but until he’s fully conscious we won’t know how bad that will be.’
‘How long will it take for him to wake up?’
‘We don’t know. He’ll wake up when he’s good and ready.’
‘Wait – are you saying he’s in a coma?’
‘Not necessarily, but head injuries are tricky. We haven’t 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.’
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 didn’t want Grace to see Danny like that, so they stayed away and promised they’d be along as soon as he was awake.
But that wasn’t going to happen just yet.
Danny’s 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.
‘Danny?’
‘I’m sorry…what happened? Why am I here?’
‘We better call the docs in, let them explain.’
Steve didn’t 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.
‘Hello DS Williams. How are we feeling this morning?’
‘Um…like I’ve been in a washing machine?’
‘Understandable. You were involved in a car accident and have been unconscious for three days.’
‘Three days?!’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. Now, if you will excuse us, Commander, I need to go through the neuro exam.’
‘Sure, sure. I’ll be outside, Danny.’
Williams nodded absently but waited until the door closed before addressing the doctor. He gently nodded to the door.
‘Hey Doc…can you tell me who those people were?’
~
No one took the news of Danny’s 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. Danny’s memories would come back or they wouldn’t. 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 couldn’t remember even marrying Rachel. Or anything that came afterwards. To say he was shocked that he was living in Hawaii was an understatement…that first time McGarrett called him Danno had been met with snarling defiant “that’s not my name”. 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 wasn’t sure about his co-workers, but they had been nice enough. He didn’t know what to make of Kamekona…or the shrimp delicacies he kept trying to push onto him…
Eventually it came to the day when the doctors finally agreed that Danny could go home. They insisted, however, that he couldn’t 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 Grace’s hand, but her daughter wasn’t going to be denied.
Grace pulled herself free and ran to her father, flinging herself at Danny and sobbing onto his chest.
‘Danno!’
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
~
“Hold on, Mr Reese! I’m almost there!”
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 hadn’t 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.
‘Hands up!’
The man’s 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.
‘Help him!’
‘He’s under arrest! He has a gun! There’s a body!’
‘He’ll die. You can turn me in, just help him. Please!’
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.
‘Turn me in. I’ll not fight it. But help him. Help him now.’
At last officer responded, calling for an ambulance before stepping forward, pulling Finch away and cuffing him.
‘Harold…no…’
‘Don’t worry about me, John. I’ll be quite alright.’
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 couldn’t see what they were doing and he ignored the newcomers until Reese was on the stretcher.
‘I’m coming with you. This man is under arrest.’
Detective Carter’s 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.
‘I’ll take this one from here. He’s well known to us.’
‘Well…shouldn’t I call it in?’
‘There’s no need. We’ve sorted it. You can return to your patrol. I’ll put in a good work for what you’ve done.’
‘Thanks!’
Once the officer left Fusco uncuffed Finch before helping him up.
‘Don’t make a habit of that. There’s only so many times I can cover up this kind of stuff.’
‘Detective Fusco, I have no plans to ever do this again.’
Fusco didn’t 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 didn’t 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 didn’t seem odd that they both took care of her.
Parker didn’t do sick.
She’d never had the chance to be that self-indulgent, but rescuing those kids…this bug had hit her hard, harder than anything, and it left her feeling uncharacteristically clingy.
Hardison had insisted Parker rest. He’d sat on the large sofa in their apartment and she’d unexpectedly cuddled into him - not that he was complaining - and Eliot had covered her with a blanket, put down a honey, lemon and ginger “tea” and vanished into the kitchen.
Pretty soon delectable smells were wafting in and Parker sighed happily as she drifted off to sleep on Hardison’s 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 “Eliot-ness” so Parker opened an eye.
‘Are you…feeling ok?’
She didn’t have the strength to speak so she nodded and smiled. He responded in kind and placed a bowl of steaming soup before her.
‘Chicken noodle soup. For when you’re ready.’
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 men’s arms were around Parker and she had her head on Eliot’s chest and her legs over Hardison’s 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 Finn’s 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 D’Qar.
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 hadn’t left Finn’s side either, but he sat between their mutual friend and the current reason for Finn’s state of unconsciousness.
Rose Tico was very battered. She’d 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.
‘Tell me again. What happened?’
Poe stifled a sigh. He could and did completely understand Rey’s question - he was asking it too. He shifted slightly to see her better and flushed a little at her knowing smile.
‘We 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.’
Dameron stared at something unseen, and Rey knew he was remembering.
‘There wasn’t supposed to be life on the planet but something…something towered over us and before we could do anything it had collapsed the wall before it, right over Rose, Zuri and Nanuq.
‘They didn’t stand a chance. And the Finn screamed Rose’s name and ran to the pile.
‘I didn’t 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.’
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.
‘Finn 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.
‘That’s 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.’
Rey nodded. She mentally stacked the rocks on the small table beside her and concentrated on Finn.
He didn’t look like the frightened stormtrooper she had met on that fateful day. Rather he looked far older, wiser maybe. Certainly more determined than before…
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 Kanata’s castle on Takodana that settled in the forefront of her mind.
He’d used Luke’s lightsaber like he’d been training all his life. Yet as far as she was aware this had been the first time he’d ever seen one let alone wielded one. Other non-Jedi could use them but it still took a lot of training.
Other things she’d 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.
‘What’s wrong?!’
‘Sorry! Sorry…nothing’s wrong as such.’
Dameron sat back down heavily. He wasn’t sure he could take many more surprises today.
‘What was Finn doing?’
‘Sorry?’
‘When the rocks exploded. What was he doing?’
‘You mean apart from screaming for Rose?’
‘Yes. Specifically his arms.’
‘Um…he was moving debris so…digging. I’m not sure where you’re going with this.’
‘I know what’s wrong with him!’
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.
‘So…are you going to tell me?’
Rey’s smile turned into a grin that lit up her face and deepened her dimples. Poe couldn’t 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 Finn’s eyes fluttered several times before opening with another groan.
‘Finn! Glad to see you back buddy!’
‘Poe? Wha…what happened?’
‘What do you remember?’
‘Rey? When did you…ROSE!’
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 Dameron’s arm and held him tight.
‘Tell me! Please!’
‘Rose is right here!’
He shifted out the way to let Finn see and was rewarded with the man sagging back, completely exhausted already.
‘We’re on our way to rendezvous with the General’s ship so Rose can get better attention.’
‘Is she going to be ok?’
Poe looked to Rey, and Finn immediately tensed.
‘Hold on a little longer, Rose. Help is coming.’
Finn’s plea was softly spoken but they all heard it and for a few minutes there was silence until Finn spoke again.
‘Why am I so tired? I didn’t get injured…did I?’
‘No, you weren’t injured.’
‘Finn…what was going through your mind when the wall collapsed?’
‘I just needed to get Rose out. That’s all I remember.’
Rey nodded. She smiled at him before dropping her bombshell.
‘You used the Force to clear the debris.’
‘Wait…no, that can’t be right. If not a Jedi!’
‘Jedi 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. It’s not unheard of.’
‘Oh.’
Finn blinked as he took in Rey’s words. Then he turned to her, a serious look on his face.
‘I guess you better train me then.’
‘I guess I should.’
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 hadn’t 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.
‘Sit down, Scott. You’re making a scene.’
‘Making a scene? God forbid!’
Scott flung his napkin onto his plate and made to leave. The collective room held its breath.
‘You walk out now and that’s it.’
The two men stared at each other.
‘I mean it. I’ll cut you off completely. Totally disown you.’
‘Not if I disown you first! I’m done with you.’
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 didn’t 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 she’s been pressing against her side. He cleans and patches her up before helping her over to a chair.
‘You need sleep.’
‘No…no time…’
There’s 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 he’s 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 isn’t right.
She can’t fight the sleeping draught he’s hidden in the drink and she’s almost unconscious when she hears him speak.
The steady “thwack-thwack-thwack” alerted Karen that she was in the right place, but she was not prepared for the sight she met.
She’d 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 Thai…she recognised similar moves to Sanda, Chan’s kickboxing that she’d 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 weren’t fighting like friends…they weren’t pulling any punches.
But then they’d had a terrible day…
The Angels had been vital in finding the missing captains but it had taken so long…So yeah, Karen understood…
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 wasn’t quick enough to avoid the sweep of Dianne’s 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 women’s legs were trembling even though they weren’t 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.
‘Nice fighting.’
Dianne and Kayo pinned her with a look but Karen was unrepentant. In fact her smile grew wider.
‘What?’
‘What is it?’
‘You both know how much I love you, right?’
‘Right…’
‘But…’
‘I gotta tell you, you both stink.’
‘Hey!’
The two women put on offended looks but they couldn’t 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 Karen’s 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.
‘Oh, I almost forgot. The good doctor says you can both go visit.’
There were whoops from the stalls and Karen had to dodge a couple of wet cloths thrown at her…
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 doctor’s ministrations and light scolding until both had bandaged hands and had promised profusely that they’d 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 – Recovery, Gordon and @whumperless-whump-event Day Twenty: Here Comes Bad News: Scary diagnosis/ "I'll be right here the whole time."
~
Scott’s recovery wasn’t linear by any means. But being home, being around his family, gave Scott the one thing he’d 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 wasn’t 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 didn’t 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.
Before…before 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 he’d spend time with Gordon and Alan. They’d 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 Scott’s doctors making hopeful noises.
Eventually his daily walks expanded to outside their home. It was difficult at first – sudden noises still made him jump, he was nervous of people, even of people he’d known since they’d 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 didn’t stop him celebrating along with his brothers.
The celebrations lasted more than one night…
But from the moment they arrived home Gordon switched from being Olympic obsessed to becoming a WASP. He’d have another seven months before his sixteenth birthday, the day he’d officially be old enough to join with his Father’s permission.
Jeff had listened to Gordon’s 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. He’d not donned the uniform since being rescued but that time was fast approaching – 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 but…how 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 Gordon’s ear.
‘I am so, so proud of you.’
‘Thank you. For everything, Scott.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘I mean it, Scott. For always being there for me, for fighting my corner. For never leaving me.’
Scott pulled him closer and rested his cheek on Gordon’s 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 Scott’s 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 was…managing. 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, Gordon’s 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 he’d 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 wasn’t too far behind and the two took their family’s “hopper” plane home, the little runaround that had been their Mom’s 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 couldn’t 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 couldn’t 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 Gordon’s moment and his eldest brother was content to let him shine bright.
It didn’t 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.
‘They’ll discharging me, Dad. Honourable discharge on medical grounds. They were very…nice about it.’
‘Scotty…’
‘What am I going to do, Dad? No one wants a washed-up pilot.’
‘I do.’
‘Dad…’
‘I’m serious, Son. You know we’ve been talking about International Rescue?’
‘Yeah. I remember.’
‘Virgil and I along with Brains – you remember Brains?’
‘I do.’
‘Well, we are well on the way to making this a reality.’
‘I thought that wouldn’t be happening for years yet.’
‘I know! But Brains is really a genius and coupled with Virgil’s know-how and John’s computer skills, we’re looking at being up and running in only a couple more years.’
Jeff rested a hand on Scott’s arm and smiled at him.
‘We’re going to need a test pilot quite quickly. And I want that to be you, Scott. There isn’t anyone else I’d rather have, even if we weren’t going to be secret.’
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. He’d 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 brothers’ 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 couldn’t tell them what exactly he would be doing he could at least let them know roughly how long he’d 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 couldn’t 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. He’d already been in for hours but they were still at it…
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 Alan’s hand.
‘Doctor. What news?’
‘Gordon is one tough cookie, Mr Tracy. He’s pulled through more than 14 hours of surgery but I have to warn you he’s nowhere near out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours will be touch and go…if he survives that it will still be an uphill battle.’
‘Understood.’
‘Mr Tracy, if you’ll come with me there’s paperwork for you to go through.’
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 Gordon’s injuries in more detail, something that they were very careful that Alan didn’t 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 Scott’s lap, buried his head into his big brother’s chest and burst into tears.
Scott’s 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 couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride at how his boys rallied around each other, and he smiled at them when they noticed him.
‘Boys, your Grandma has gone to book a hotel. You’re all going to go there, get something to eat and grab some sleep. Wait!’
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.
‘Scott, we’re 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.’
‘Dad…that means you too.’
‘I know, Son. The hospital will only allow one person at a time to stay with Gordon until he’s fully conscious so we’ll 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?’
‘Yes.’
Jeff’s phone rang and he turned and spoke quietly into it. It was a short call and he sighed before turning back to his boys.
‘Grandma has found a hotel. You all go ahead and Scott, six hours’ 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.’
There was a chorus of ‘okay’ 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 Gordon’s 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 hadn’t 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 didn’t 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 he’d 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.
‘Wha…ha’p’n?’
‘You were in an accident.’
‘Th-the ‘foil?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tell me.’
He really didn’t want to, but Gordon was more like himself than Scott would have liked, so, leaning over so Gordon didn’t 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.
‘I’m scared, Scotty. I – I can’t move. My team are dead. My…my life is over.’
‘Hey! Hey, don’t talk like that. There’s still much healing you need to do. Nothing about your future is certain. You hear me?’
‘Ye-yeah. Scott?’
‘Yes, Fishie?’
‘Stay? Please? Don’t leave me?’
‘I’ll be right here the whole time. I’ll never leave you, Gordon. Never. Not now, not later, not ever.’
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 he’d cast to protect them was complex, needing constant minute changes. And still…
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 didn’t have the strength left to heal Arthur’s wound. Merlin cursed the circumstances that had led them here…
He had no memory of getting through Camelot.
Of banging on Gaius’ door.
Of laying Arthur down..
Merlin barely heard Gaius mutter “we’ll fix this, I promise,” before he blacked out completely.
A little slip on a dribble of cooking oil she hadn’t noticed spilling…and wham!…a 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?
She’d try but…
‘Lil? Luv, are you h’ok?’
‘I’m fine, Nosey.’
‘You’re not. Let me…’
‘You can’t cook!’
‘That h’ain’t…that h’ain’t wot I was gonna say.’
Carefully Parker took Lil’s good arm and gently led her to sit at the large kitchen table, and made her a cuppa.
‘Let me take care of you this time, Lil.’
He nudged her gently.
She smiled.
‘You direct an’ I’ll cook.’
When Penny came down there was no difference in her breakfast. If she noticed that Parker was more tired than usual she didn’t say anything. Once she’d finished, though, she gave Parker a pause and a look.
‘And how is Lilian?’
‘She’s good, m’Lady.’
‘Hire her granddaughter and tell Lilian to take the next six weeks off.’
‘Very good, m’Lady.’
‘And Parker - take two weeks off yourself.’
‘Thank you, m’Lady.’
Parker’s surprise made Penny smile privately. Maybe Alan would like to chauffeur her around…
@whumperless-whump-event Day Eighteen: Losing Your Sealegs: Too dizzy to stand / Motion sickness / "Can… can we pull over?"
Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala. 150 words, Drabble and a half.
~
This was ridiculous.
He flew speeders at reckless velocities, weaved in and out of traffic without losing so much as a drop of sweat…
So why was this boat on this calm, calm lake making his legs turn to jelly and his stomach…oh no…
Yuck.
There’s laughter, light and teasing. Anakin opened an eye to find Padmé leaning over him, a soft smile on her lips.
When did he lie down?
‘You were dizzy.’
Oh, apparently Padmé’s a Jedi now…She laughs again and Anakin realises he’s just speaking his thoughts aloud.
‘Still…still am. Can we pull over?’
‘It’s a boat, not a speeder.’
‘So…no?’
Padmé laughs again before kneeling.
‘Never thought you could have motion sickness.’
‘I – I don’t.’
‘Wanna hand up?’
‘No…too dizzy to stand. Besides…’
He reaches up and pulls her down until their noses are practically touching.
A little slip on a dribble of cooking oil she hadn’t noticed spilling…and wham!…a 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?
She’d try but…
‘Lil? Luv, are you h’ok?’
‘I’m fine, Nosey.’
‘You’re not. Let me…’
‘You can’t cook!’
‘That h’ain’t…that h’ain’t wot I was gonna say.’
Carefully Parker took Lil’s good arm and gently led her to sit at the large kitchen table, and made her a cuppa.
‘Let me take care of you this time, Lil.’
He nudged her gently.
She smiled.
‘You direct an’ I’ll cook.’
When Penny came down there was no difference in her breakfast. If she noticed that Parker was more tired than usual she didn’t say anything. Once she’d finished, though, she gave Parker a pause and a look.
‘And how is Lilian?’
‘She’s good, m’Lady.’
‘Hire her granddaughter and tell Lilian to take the next six weeks off.’
‘Very good, m’Lady.’
‘And Parker - take two weeks off yourself.’
‘Thank you, m’Lady.’
Parker’s surprise made Penny smile privately. Maybe Alan would like to chauffeur her around…
@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 and…there! Another cough! Thank goodness!
Fawn sighed.
‘Colonel?’
‘He…cough…here.’
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.
‘That doesn’t look good.’
‘It isn’t.’
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 Doctor’s arm and turned almost the same shade as his Colour Code.
‘I should…sorry. I’m up-to-date on mandatory first aid training, and I’m pretty sure this one needs medical attention.’
‘Usually from me.’
They both look at the elbow again. Then at each other.
‘You need to reduce it.’
‘But…’
‘Listen very carefully. I’m going to talk you through it.’
‘Edward…’
‘I trust you, Charles. I’m going to scream and you have to keep going.’
‘SIG.’
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.
Hardison hadn’t been claustrophobic until he’d been buried alive, but these things happen…
“Mama, why do they happen to me?!”
One minute Eliot and Hardison are checking out a security van hidden in a shipping container, the next Hardison’s on the floor and Eliot’s unconscious.
And bleeding.
And they’re in the van.
And it’s moving.
He can’t breathe.
Hardison can’t get any air, it’s running out, and Eliot’s dead, and no one can hear him…He bangs on the walls, shouting.
‘We’re here! Help! In here! Please…’
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
~
‘And give my regards to your lovely wife.’
It had been kindly meant by a semi-regular customer but to Jeff it was the final straw.
All the walls he’d 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 didn’t 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.
‘I’m sorry. I’m no good for any of you.’
‘You don’t have to be okay right now, Dad. You’re grieving.’
‘But…’
‘It’s okay. I’ve got them. I’ve got you.’
And Jeff cried himself to sleep in his son’s arms.
~~~~~
‘You don’t have to be okay right now, Son.’
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 couldn’t…
It was a miracle Scott had been found alive at all.
Jeff had grieved his death.
And then celebrated Scott’s 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 triggered…something…and 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 didn’t 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.
