Today was the day. The one he’d been waiting for now for almost three months. The day he finally got to go home. Alan had taken a little longer to heal than they thought he would, having had a fallen and jarred it again while in Paris with Tin-Tin; so John’s stay in the station got extended by an extra fortnight. Gordon had called him almost every night, and when John was being perfectly honest with himself, he knew that it was about the only thing that was stopping him from going off the walls. Scott and Virgil had called at least once every couple of days as well. They had been busy with rescues as well, so that helped keep him busy although he could do without the worry for his brothers. He could only work out so much, look at the stars so much and listen to the radio so much. He’d spent some of his time learning a new language to help pass the time, so now was slightly able to conduct a conversation in Russian, which was a good thing.

He was standing in the main room by the main control panel, bag by the airlock packed to the gills, in his uniform. The last few weeks he’d taken to not wearing it, just hanging around in shorts and t-shirts that he preferred when he was off duty. Plus the fact he’d only had a few uniforms with him and continually washing them was getting a bit beyond a joke. He snotered softly to himself as he watched Thunderbird Three approach on the radar, who was going to know when he wasn’t in uniform. He was eagerly awaiting Thunderbird Three’s arrival, as he was just about the end of his patience being stuck in Thunderbird Five.

He glanced up as the radio chimed from home again. He sighed again; his father had been calling every ten minutes it seemed like to see if they arrived yet.

"Thunderbird Five receiving you base, go ahead." The picture came on and he saw his father sitting behind his desk, as always. He smiled at John.

"John, how long before Alan docks?"

"Five minutes father. Then another half an hour or so to help him install those new components Brians wants to try out, and then I’ll be on my way home." Jeff grinned at his middle son.

"Don’t worry about helping Alan John, I want you on Thunderbird Three and on your way home within ten minutes of his arrival." John frowned slightly.

"But Father, I thought those components were important?"

"They are, but getting you back down on firm ground after three months solid in space is more important. For once, we’re going to think of you for a change." John glanced over his father’s head to look at Gordon who shook his head as if to say I didn’t say anything. John raised his eyebrow at his father.

"Father, this is unusual. I don’t mind hanging around an extra half an hour to help Alan install those components. Scott can give us a hand as well." Jeff shook his head.

"Nope, Alan can do it, give him something to do. You are coming home, you’ve been away too long." John sighed, truth be told he’d rather get off the station as soon as possible, but his sense of duty was strong.

"Yes father."

"Good. Let me know when you’re almost home. Base out." The channel closed and John blinked.

"Well, how do you like them apples." He muttered. Just then the hatch clanged loudly, signifying that Thunderbird Three was finally docked. He watched the airlock compress and then the green light above it came on. The hatch swung open and he found his two brother’s standing there.

The first thing Alan noticed was how tired and worn out John looked. He felt terrible for the long time his older brother had been forced to stay in Thunderbird Five while he got over the injuries he’d suffered during that rescue almost three and a half months ago. Jeff had spoken to Alan and asked him would he mind staying up there for at least five weeks so that they could send John on a nice long vacation. Alan had readily agreed, saying to his father that he had felt terrible that John had been forced to spend all that time in space for him. Scott noticed the same thing, and was glad that he had helped their father plan a nice long vacation for the quietest Tracy brother. They had even roped Penelope into their plans, she was only too happy to help, as she was fond of the quietest Tracy. They both grinned at John and Alan walked out of the airlock, bag happily slung over his shoulder.

"Hey big brother. Time for you to vacate the premises." John laughed and walked over to his brother, giving him a huge hug.

"Hey kiddo. You gave me a scare with that last rescue, so don’t do it again. Now you can stay put for the next month and enjoy the view for a change. By rights, I should make you stay at least two months for me." Alan just grinned as he felt his brother’s strong arms around him, gladly returning the hug. He laughed and looked into John’s eyes as he released them. He could see the relief and tiredness in his brother’s eyes.

"Well, Father says I’m to stay here for five weeks, give you an extra week off." John just grinned.

"Oh boy, a whole extra week, I’m soo lucky." Scott joined in the laugher and gestured for John to hurry up, bending over to pick up his brother’s bag.

"Come on Johnny, let’s get you home and on terra firma."

"Okay Scott." John looked into Alan’s eyes, studying his brother a moment and then spoke softly, his expression serious and concerned.

"Look, if you feel bad or anything, and want to come back early, it’s okay, I don’t mind you know." Alan smiled, his older brothers had a tendancy for being slightly over protective but he knew that it was all meant well. Most of the time it was a good thing.

"I’ll be fine, now scat. Enjoy yourself." John laughed and moved over to the airlock. "And John," John turned back, looking at Alan.

"What kiddo?"

"Thanks. For staying up here I mean. I know it wasn’t easy." John just nodded and then broke out into a huge grin.

"Hey, don’t worry about it kiddo, I’ll just take it out of your hide later." Laughing with Scott, he closed the airlock and entered Thunderbird Five. Alan watched them go with a smile on his face. He really was lucky to have such an understanding brother as John. Somehow he doubted any of his other brother’s would have stuck it out as long as John had.

Scott was quite happy to let John have the controls, as he normally did when they picked him up. He came back into the cockpit and handed John a mug of coffee. His middle brother accepted it with glee and smiled his thanks.

"Thanks Scott." He sniffed it appreciativly. "I’d run out of my own beans six weeks ago, and was drinking that instant crap that Alan likes." Scott laughed.

"Why didn’t you say something, I could have done a supply run for you, you know. Brought you some more coffee beans and what ever else you wanted. And for that matter, why didn’t you want me to take a few weeks for you, I could have you know." John looked at his brother a moment, studying over the rim of his mug. He sighed, Scott was clearly concerned and curious. John sighed softly.

"Look Scott, as much as I appreciated the offer for you to come and take some time on the station, we both know that I’m not as good as you with rescues. You’re needed at the helm of Thunderbird One and in the thick of the action all the time. I don’t have your experience, or knowledge of rescue’s and situations, I don’t have your self confidence in relation to doing the job." John just shrugged self depreciatingly. "I’m not as good as you, plain and simple." Scott was stunned at his brother’s frank words, they shocked him to the core.

"I had no idea you felt that way Johnny. Do you really feel that you’re not good enough to do my job?"

"Any job really Scott on a rescue. I don’t seem to have the instinct for it that you do. Like that Ocean Deep rescue we did last year. I could have cost us our lives, and the lives of the tanker crew. So my judgement’s not that good sometimes."

"Johnny! I won’t have you talk about yourself that way. You’re as every bit as good as any of us. You just don’t have the experience we do. You have always been stuck in Thunderbird Five for ages and ages, it seems like you’re never on the ground with us."

"Especially the last few months." John murmurred.

"You’ve had that same training as us, and are the better pilot out of the two of us, I know that for a fact. The only thing you’re lacking is experience. But you’ve still been on over a dozen rescues. Your inexperience reminds us to be careful, and you actually take more care. But don’t ever think you’re not as good as any of us." John studied Scott carefully and sighed.

"Look Scott, as much as I appreciate the words, and the sentiment, I know the truth when I see it. I’m just a glorified answering machine. Who just happens to be an expert in laser communication, which is handy in our line of work. Face it Scott, I’m just a voice at the end of a call for help, and that’s all I’ll ever be." Scott didn’t know what to say to that, so remained silent for a moment.

"Nothing I say is going to change your mind on that, is it Johnny?"

"No Scott, nothing you can say will change my mind."

The sound of the roar of Thunderbird Three’s engines went through the island home of the Tracy family. Gordon was eagerly looking forward to seeing his brother; he had been really worried about John over the last few weeks. They had talked quite a lot and a few times there, Gordon had begun to wonder if the isolation was finally getting to John, but somehow, his older brother had hung in there. Five minutes later the floor decended and then a lounge suite ascended, Scott and John sitting on it, talking softly. Jeff got up and moved around his desk, smiling widely. He reached out and gave John a hug as John stood up.

"Good to see you again son. In the flesh so to speak." John laughed and returned the hug, slightly surprised at the overt display of affection from his father; something Jeff rarely did.

"Thanks Dad. Good to see you again as well." John released his father and grinned at Gordon, walking over and giving his little brother a hug as well. "Hey squirt!" Gordon returned John’s embrace with glee.

"Hey big brother. Nice to see you again." John laughed and looked at his father, his face still showing the strain of being up in space for so long; his arm still slung around Gordon’s shoulders.

"It’s good to be back on the ground after so long." He gave Gordon’s shoulder a slight squeeze, letting his brother know how glad he was to be back, before dropping his arm. He walked over and picked up his bag.

"Well, I’m going to insist that you stay on the ground for at least five week’s John, you deserve a break." John looked at his father in amazement. Alan had already told him that, but his sense of duty was strong.

"I’m normally only down here for a month father, are you sure?"

"Yes, I am." John blinked in surprise and then shurgged.

"Well, if you say so. But the first thing I want to do is unpack and get a good nights sleep in my own bed." They laughed softly and Jeff nodded, it was early evening but he could see the tiredness in John’s frame and manner. As much as he wanted to sit down and really talk with his son, he knew that sleep came first.

"Sure son. Sweet dreams and we’ll talk in the morning." Gordon came over and took John’s bag from his hands.

"Come on big brother, I’ll tuck you in." John laughed following his brother out of the lounge room.

"Yeah right, you probably just want to make sure I fall for what ever prank you’ve planned for me on my arrival home." They laughed loudly as they disappeared down the hallway and Jeff turned to Scott.

"Well?" Jeff had asked Scott to try and see how John was feeling emotionally after being alone for so long, and also to assess his phsyical condition. Scott went over to the bar and poured them both an unacustomed drink. He handed the glass of the amber liquid to his father.

"Well, I’d say he’s pretty worn out as it is father. Physically he’s always kept himself in shape, but I’d say he’s been over doing in that mini-gym of his. You must admit, it has been very quiet lately. Also Dad, I think your going to have to talk to him, he seriously think’s that he’s only good enough to work on the station, not participate in the rescue’s anymore. I think the isolation of thunderbird five has been hard on him. It’s going to take a couple of days of him getting some good sleep and being around people to get him back to something close to normal. And definatly no rescues. He’s been on that station almost three months, three months without seeing any of us in the flesh." Scott shuddered. "I don’t know how he did it." Jeff sipped the amber liquid, letting it slide down his throat and he sighed.

"He’s made of stronger stuff than we thought Scott. Now, Penny’s all set to arrive in three days, and then we can spring our surpise on him." Scott grinned, listening as he heard laughter drifting down the hall, noticing that Virgil had joined in with Gordon and John. Virgil had been in the kitchen preparing a snack when they had arrived back home.

"I can’t wait to see the look on his face when we tell him." They laughed and raised their glasses in a toast to each other.