Gentle Rain – Chapter 9 – Gumnut – Thunderbirds [Archive of Our Own]
For the full version of this chapter, please see above. Please note the rating.
For an abridged version, with the usual Teen rating, please see below (and read the author notes)
Title: Gentle
Rain
Warm Rain Series
Part Nine (abridged)
Author: Gumnut
28 – 30 Jan 2019
Fandom:
Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS
Rating: Teen
Summary:
Sometimes it is so gentle, you don’t realise it is happening.
Word count: 1529
(abridged version)
Spoilers &
warnings: Virgil/Kayo, Scott/OC, spoilers for Warm Rain up to this point in the
timeline.
Timeline: Six
months after ‘The Proposal’, almost a sequel.
Author’s note: For @scribbles97 There are two versions of
this chapter. In the first scene a character decided he wanted to up the
rating, so I have archived the full chapter on Ao3 and nowhere else. All other
versions have the first scene removed. Personally, I would recommend reading
the full version, as there is a great deal of emotional content in that scene, however
for those who are not of the age for that rating or prefer not to read such
content, please see this version. Again many thanks to @scribbles97 for her extensive assistance on this. I owe her soooo much chocolate.
Disclaimer: Mine?
You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.
-o-o-o-
-o-o-o-
Missing
scene
-o-o-o-
Em ended up on a lounger on one side of the
balcony, shaded by the building. It was quiet, the breeze was lovely, and after
pulling out her tablet to read one of her latest medical journals, she found
herself drifting off to sleep. Still recovering from her own injuries, she let
herself go.
Some kind of aircraft woke her. It took a
moment for her to work out where she was. The sun had moved towards evening,
the breeze cooler but not unpleasant.
In the distance a small
pink…something…was approaching to land on the runway.
She blinked, her head foggy from the
unexpected nap.
“You know, you were supposed to visit me.”
She jumped, turning to find a pair of blue
eyes grinning at her. She frowned. “You are supposed to be in bed.”
He raised his arms in guilt free
exclamation. “I did! Two hours. Over and above your orders, dear Doctor.” The
grin was back, obviously a better mood returning with that sleep. “It is you,
who has obviously been neglecting your health.” A mock glare. “I may not know
specifics,” and he spat the words despite his humorous tone, “but I can see you
needed it.”
“Hmph.”
He snorted, far too energetic for her
liking. With some difficulty, still not entirely used to the new shape of her
body, she rolled herself over, turning her back to him. Her view switching to
palm trees and that beautiful ocean beyond.
No comment, but he didn’t leave.
She let her brain finally boot up properly,
the fog clearing, only leaving a vague headache.
“We will be having guests shortly.” His
tone was quiet and respectful.
That got her attention. Twisting her neck
to try and see him, she gave up and forcibly rolled herself back over. Unfortunately,
she ran out of lounger.
The unnerving lack of support under her
shoulder and she was flailing.
“Em!” A strong hand grabbed her, halting
her fall. “John!”
Hurried footfalls on hardwood and a pair of
gentle hands had her, lifting her back onto the lounger.
“Doctor Harris?” That musical voice. Shock
slipped into embarrassment. Two pairs of Tracy eyes were looking at her with
concern.
“I’m sorry. Thank you, John.” A small
hesitant smile. “Scott.”
John let her go, stepping back,
automatically looking to his older brother. Something passed between the two men
and John dipped his head in her direction. “Not a problem, Doctor.”
“It’s Em, John.”
A slight smile. “Em.”
Those green eyes flicked to Scott once more
and his lips twisted slightly, almost as if in amusement. “Please excuse me,
duty calls.” And he backed away before darting back inside.
Scott’s gaze was on her immediately. “Are
you okay?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Embarrassment
stilted her response.
She straightened herself up and reached for
her hoverscoot on the other side of the lounger. Scott backed up a little, his
hoverchair whirring. She pushed herself vertical and, with her back to him, she
shuffled herself aboard. Securing her harness, she mobilised the device,
turning slowly and rising to his height.
Her confidence returned with her posture.
“Now, who did you say was coming?”
He blinked at her, his lips thinning just a
little. “Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her chauffeur, Parker. Close family
friends. They will be staying with us for Christmas.”
As if on cue, a woman’s voice echoed as the
elevator opened. “Surely you have a better pun than that?”
“There is no better pun than that.”
“You could have fooled me.”
Gordon led an elegantly dressed
blonde-haired woman into the room. An older gentleman followed them, his
expression one of fond exasperation.
Scott moved forward. “Merry Christmas, Lady
P.”
“Scott! It is so wonderful to see you home
again. And a Merry Christmas to you too. How are you feeling?” Quick strides
and open hands, she clasped both of Scott’s in greeting, careful of his cast.
“Getting there.” His smile was genuine and
had Em examining the woman. She was all poise and decadence. This woman had
money and liked to show it. But then so did the Tracys. Em wasn’t poor, but she
suddenly felt it, hoping the dress she was wearing didn’t have its tag showing.
She fidgeted.
Scott must have sensed her nervousness,
because next moment he had reached back and grabbed her hand, bringing her
forward and into the conversation. “Lady Penelope, this is Doctor Em Harris. My
saviour on several fronts.”
Em’s eyes widened and she stared at him a
moment. He shot her a devilish grin.
“Well, that is quite fortunate, as Scott
Tracy has needed to be saved for some time. Mostly from himself.” Scott started
and stared at their guest in astonishment. She smiled at him before turning
back to Em. “Very pleased to meet you, Doctor.”
“Em.”
Perfectly pink lips smiled. “Em.” Her eyes
flickered to Scott and back. “I’m Penny.” She gestured to the man behind her.
“This is Parker.”
The older man dipped his head in greeting.
Em smiled at him. “Very pleased to meet you.”
Penny turned towards the desk. “John, it is
so wonderful to see you down for Christmas.”
John was shunting holograms from one part
of the desk to another, his hands continually in motion. “It is nice to see
you, Lady Penelope.” But his attention was clearly divided.
“Where are Virgil, Alan and Kayo? Mrs
Tracy?”
Scott shifted in his seat. “Alan has gone
to collect another guest in Tracy Two. Grandma is down in the hangers. Kayo is
with Virgil, who is resting, I hope. We had a nasty one today.”
That prompted a series of concerned
questions and Em fast discovered that Lady P was well and truly part of
International Rescue, though she had no idea what part the polished woman
played.
Or why Gordon appeared to be in her orbit.
The younger man’s eyes were tracking every
move the woman made. She hoped he realised exactly how obvious he was.
Though Penny did not seem to mind.
And Em couldn’t talk. Scott still had her
hand in his. It was rather nice if she had to admit to it.
She let her thumb gently rub the back of
his hand. She caught his gentle smile with one of her own.
“Parker, could you please attend to our
luggage. Gordon, would it be possible for you to give him a hand?”
The younger man blinked and clearly
considered saying no, but an arch of a perfectly plucked brow had him standing
quickly. A mock bow. “Most certainly, m’Lady.”
“Em, would you like to take a turn about
the island before dinner? Scott needs to attend to his Grandmother before she
wears a hole in the hangar floor.”
Beside her, Scott started in his chair.
Penny pinned him with her eyes. “I have no
doubt that if Virgil wasn’t indisposed, he would be down there with her.”
Scott snorted. “Of course, he would be, for
more than one reason.” But he sighed. “I get the message.”
“And besides, I would like to take the
opportunity to get to know Em a little better.” Her smile was suddenly a double-edged
sword and Em fought the urge to back away.
-o-o-o-
The sun was starting to light up the
horizon in yellows and oranges as Penny stepped outside. Tracy Island truly had
its rugged beauty, though not a beauty that lent itself to heels. Which was
unfortunate since this skirt simply didn’t go well with walkers.
It couldn’t be helped. She would just have
to step carefully.
Doctor Harris followed her with a whir of
hoverjets. Fate had been rather cruel to the young woman. Combing through her
history had revealed a decent spirit, a strong moral backbone and a fighting
attitude that had managed to get her through all the hurdles life had thrown at
her. Despite everything the woman had a successful career and appeared mentally
healthy above expectations.
The fact Scott Tracy was willing to hold
her hand raised the level of inspection Penny needed to deploy.
Kayo had been in contact with her on a
regular basis sourcing information on the doctor who had saved her eldest
brother. Ever wary, Kayo went to the extreme to protect her family. She had to.
Whether the person in question was simply a friend or a prospective lover, Kayo
did her best to make sure they were not a threat to the Tracys. And if they
were, she removed the threat.
Penny was inclined to agree on this
strategy.
So, between herself and the security
officer, Emaline Harris’ life was an open book. They knew her preferences in
breakfast cereal, where she bought that breakfast cereal, and if she really
wanted to, she could find out exactly how long it took for the woman’s body to
process that breakfast cereal.
It was invasive and it was rude, but the
Tracy’s were worth it.
Emaline had been cleared.
But now she was holding Scott Tracy’s hand.
Scott Tracy didn’t hold hands.
He kissed. He dated. And occasionally, he
conquered.
He didn’t hold hands.
Penelope needed to know this woman’s heart.
She needed to know it now.
-o-o-o-
End Part Nine.
