Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1408 is a reply to message #1407] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 21:12   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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"Base from Thunderbird Two," Virgil said into his microphone. "Requesting landing clearance."
"Clearance granted, Thunderbird Two." Gordon's voice came over the speaker, startling his brother and causing the others who sat behind him to glance at each other. "The boss has left orders that everyone is to clean up then meet in the dining room in forty-five minutes for debriefing over a light meal."
"F-A-B," Virgil replied.
He landed Thunderbird Two as flawlessly as ever, and headed up to the villa with John, Brains, and Tin-Tin. But instead of going to his quarters to shower and change, he went to the lounge. He was curious, and he knew he wouldn't relax until that curiosity was satisfied.
"Hey," he wearily said to Gordon as he entered the lounge. "Where's Dad?"
Gordon sighed from his position behind the commander's desk. "In the Round House. As soon as Scott got back here with Mom, Dad dragged her off for a 'discussion'." He crooked his fingers as he emphasized the last word.
"Oh! One of those!" Virgil replied, his eyes widening. Jeff and Dianne often used the Round House when they needed to "discuss" anything and they didn't want the family to hear or see their argument. "Any idea what about?"
Gordon shook his head. "Nope. And I don't think I want to know. Dad was pretty angry."
"Well, I'm sure we'll hear something about it. In the meantime, what's for dinner?"
Gordon responded. "Cherie and Callie have been preparing a salad and sandwich buffet. Cherie's idea, actually."
"Sounds good," Virgil said. "I'll get that shower, now. Just wanted to know what was happening with Dad and make sure he was okay. See you later."
"Later," Gordon replied, wearily waving his hand.
In the Round House, things were getting heated. Jeff hadn't allowed his wife to even remove her uniform. As soon as she stepped into the lounge from Thunderbird One's silo, he was there, ready to herd her out the door to the balcony and down the steps. He told Scott, "Get cleaned up. Debriefing in the dining room forty-five minutes after Thunderbird Two touches down. Gordon, take the desk. Dianne and I have something to discuss." Then they were out the door and heading for the Round House.
The Tracy sons looked at each other. "Any ideas?" Gordon had asked.
Scott had shaken his head and replied, "None at all."
The couple entered the Round House and went to one of the common rooms. Dianne wearily removed her jacket, draping it over the back of a couch, and set her visor and cap on a coffee table. Then she dropped onto the couch herself as Jeff waited, pacing up and down before her. Finally, he could contain himself no longer.
"Dianne, what the hell did you think you were doing?!"
She sighed, leaning her head back and pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes. "Ah was headin' off a potentially bigguh breach. You know as well as Ah do that Drew would've recognized mah voice, an' that if he saw me, well, that would be all it would take. He'd know. Ah took th' chance that revealin' mahself would keep him from speculatin' aloud elsewhere. Ah made him promise t' keep what Ah told him quiet before Ah answered any of his questions."
"So, he said he'd keep it quiet?"
"Of coahse, he did," she said irritably. "An' Ah trust him t' do that. He's mah uncle. He's not gonna do anythin' t' hurt me or mine."
"Why didn't you call and tell me what you planned to do?" he asked. "I might have agreed with you."
"Because Ah didn't have time," she replied. "We were up t' our elbows in patients, and he showed up without much warnin'. Besides, we'd have been spendin' valuable time discussin' th' same things we're discussin' now." She sat up and looked at him. "Y'know, he was really upset that you hadn't told him befoah this. You've been good friends for a long time."
"I have a lot of good friends that don't know," Jeff grumbled.
"Ah know that. Ah know your reasons for that, an' Ah agree with them. But in Drew's case, Ah think he should know. All of yoah family knows, but when it's come t' mine... it's been pick 'n' choose. Mah mothah found out foah herself a long tahme befoah you decided it was safe t' tell her."
"What?" Jeff exclaimed, scowling, stopping his pacing. "You want me to tell all your family about our secret?"
"No!" Dianne replied, standing up. "Mah brothers don't need t' know... not now anyway. But Drew..."
"Why him and not the rest, Dianne?" Jeff asked angrily. "Why just him?"
Dianne glared at him, and spread her arms wide. "Because Ah want you to make the man a damned agent!"
This brought Jeff up short. "An agent?" he asked, sounding a little more calm, and puzzled.
She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Yes, an agent." Taking a step toward him, she put a hand on his folded arms. "He'd make a good one, and you know it. Besides, he's got access to the best medical equipment in case..." Her voice trailed off.
"In case of what, Dianne?" Jeff asked, his voice softer.
"In case something happens to me," she said, looking down. "Out of all our operatives, I'm the most vulnerable. There's no one to patch me up if I'm injured. Dom and Nikki are great nurses, and they can do some procedures, enough to keep me alive until I got some better care. Same with Brains. But if it's something serious, there's no one else in the world that I'd rather have working on me. And no other place where I'd rather go for treatment." She raised her eyes to his again. "He'd be the perfect person to help if we ran into an emergency where we needed more than one doctor, too. And if he already knew, then he wouldn't be asking a lot of uncomfortable questions. He could arrange things so our security wasn't threatened."
Jeff sighed. "Did you think of all of this before you told him?"
"Yes, I did. I just sort of seized the moment, as it were," she said. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you, but as I said, there just wasn't time."
"I understand now, and I forgive you," Jeff said. "But that leaves us with another problem."
"What is that?" she asked.
"Christopher." He sat down on the sofa, and took her hand, guiding her down to sit beside him. "He created a security breach, too. I've disciplined him as I saw fit, but... I can't play favorites. You caused one, too, even if it wouldn't have the same repercussions as his would have had."
"I'm willing to take any disciplinary action you think is appropriate," Dianne said softly.
Jeff breathed in and out deeply, putting an arm around his wife. "I don't know that I can discipline you. You are the CMO; it was your call to make. Even if it technically was a security breach, it was a planned one to some extent. Still..." He drew her closer, and she leaned into his embrace. "I guess that - to be fair - I'll have to back off on him; shorten his period of discipline." Looking down at her, he asked, "Who else knows about this?"
She sat up a bit. "I'm not sure. I sent Drew off to coordinate with Scott at Mobile Control, but Scott looked mighty puzzled when we arrived at home."
"You're right, he did," Jeff said. "I wonder if he was even at Mobile Control when you sent Drew there. I know that John was on duty there while Scott did a recon at Fiji." He shook his head gently. "I guess I'll have to sound them out, see which one was there. Or maybe ask Drew when I call him."
"You are going to call him? To make him an agent?"
"Yes, I'll call, but I think it's something I need to do face-to-face. I'll make arrangements to visit him and Maggie as soon as possible."
"Good. I hope he accepts. And make sure you talk to Maggie, too. She has a right to know."
"I suppose she does, at that." He pulled her close again and kissed her hair. "Hmm. You need a shower." He glanced at his watch. "I wonder if Thunderbird Two is back yet. You might have time for one."
"You'd better check. We've been here for a while," Dianne said, putting her arm over his chest.
"Hmm. Do you think we're done here?"
"With our discussion? I think so."
"Then let's head back to the house." Jeff released her and they both sat up. "If Thunderbird Two is back, then we can get some food and debrief."
"Sounds good to me. I'm hungry and tired." Dianne looked up as he stood, offering his hand to her. "You?"
"The same. It was a close thing with that wave," Jeff said. "I'll tell you all about it over dinner."
She took his hand, and he pulled her to her feet, and into his arms. There he held her for a bit and they kissed deeply before they left the Round House, hand in hand.
rewritten and posted by Tikatu
  
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