Perfect start ..stubbly John, but detecting a hint of seriousness so I am point blank refusing to get my knickers i a twist so early on in your fic. *pats own back at excellent resolve*.
John on TB5 feeling so far away, helpless even, he is instrumental to the operation, to the successful conclusion to missions but he feels the lack of control as acutely a Scott, jealous even of Scott's physical presence in a mission. John alone, John with time on his hands, John dwarfed by the vast expanse of the universe. Your writing is just beautiful, that whole scene just hooked me from the start! Great stuff.
OK now you've done it, Scott and his gut instinct, a paperclip for destraction, if I didn't know it was angst over a brother I would swear it was sexual frustration and launch a rescue mission of my own. SHIT . *revokes self congratulation for reverting to type*
Jeff the multi-tasker, one ear on a son who can't help himself but feel a paternal instinct for his brothers and one on a documentary he's probably been trying to watch for days. He's listening though, drifting, seeing his sons as boys his own instincts kicking in. Love this whole scene Teobi, those Scott / Jeff moments you deliver are amazing, time and time again.
Then Jeff sees John through Scott's eyes, a beautiful moment where Jeff stages a rescue of his own, personally Johnny I'd forget the caffiene argument though, I for one am kept upright every day due to copious consumption, and pale and interesting is not a bad look... apologies for digressing but if someone told me to switch to decaf i'd tell em to kiss my ... oh well maybe not Jeff, I'd mutter it under my breath!
Lol lol lol *sides spit* John's not to ill to be insulted by the Alan comment and I love it!
And lets end this, SCOTT TRACY, just because, well no excuses forthcomming ..the Dumpled Adonis gets the last word. A man that knows what he wants and gets it, a man who can persuade Jeff Tracy to cut a sons tour of duty in half. The protector, the diplomat (for once and a surprisingly sexy addition to his talents) ... OK knickers now fully in a twist! A man who is so damn hot even while sitting on the edge of a desk playing with paperclips and swinging his legs like a child. Hot Hot Hot * heads for shower and turns dial to blue*

Loved the one shot ! Thanks ! I also like how you write Jeff. More human, then in some fics I readed over the years.

Cute story. Minor nitpick it would be vitamin D (produced from in the skin from sunlight exposure) not vitamin C (from fruits & vegies).

Ah. Johnny's my favourite... I'm lolling at the self-correction of the swearing! Xx

Yep, me again...

Always good to see Scott full of worry for a brother - John, in this instance. Glad Jeff's gonna relieve John of duty. Alan won't like it at all - haha, tough! If only JA had felt the same way about our handsome Space Monitor... Thank goodness for fan fiction, eh :D

LOL'd at Scott being shocked at Jeff's choice of wording. Some great banter between father and sons. Loved it.

A very pleasant read indeed :)

Sue

Nicely done.

This is really well-written. I really enjoyed the characterizations here. And I love how Jeff multi-tasks! We all do it.

Dear Girl!

I've been fair ploughin' me way through a few stories 'ere, an' finally, I've read a good one!

I enjoyed this so much I might bowl up to see Lambert about makin' it into a rock opera. You could write the words. Pete could make 'em rhyme. I'd get Rog to 'elp out with the 'ard bits - an' me an' John could make up advertisin' jingles in the pub next door!

Stick with me, kid, I'll make you a star!

Keep yer bowels open

Keith John Moon - Aged 64.

Dear Teobi

Thank you so much yet again for such a wonderful story.

There are just too many brilliant moments, but I know that the one that really did my head in was:

"Gordon's staccato laughter rends the air, making unseen shapes."

Fucking WOW! That there is brilliant writing.

that and the little details like Scott's subtle nervousness manifesting in paperclip contortions, are what makes even your shorter pieces bloody outstanding!

Everyone else ahs already said what I want to say, but I just wanted to add my two bobs worth - for what it's worth.

Cheers

Annie

great story

Hey there, Beautiful!

So here I am, late as usual. I hope the party's still going ...

First? In love. I am so in love. THIS is what I came to this fandom for. I'm a sucker for a brother story. Thank you!

- John Tracy runs a hand over his lightly stubbled face.

You aren't supposed to make me puddle on the first sentence, dear. I love me a stubbly man. :-)

- Instead, he'll be flattened against these windows, his face and hands pressed against the reinforced plastiglass.

Yikes. I'm feeling heartbroken already. Yep, Spaceboy is definitely in need of some shore leave.

- Virgil carries the name with pride.

Sighs a moment for Gus. I would have loved to have met that man.

- Jeff still smiles when he hears his grown sons swearing ...

I love this whole paragraph! Because, yes, I find it funny that so many people write them correcting the swearing, like they aren't grown men. (And in Scott's case, military, which, I don't know anyone military who doesn't swear.) I like the image of paint on Virgil's doorknob. I love that it isn't just a rule about the language; it's a choice they all make. FUN!

- Four beautiful sunsets.

Still one my favourite moments. I love that Scott remembers that one.

- That some of them would end up orbiting the Earth, and some of them would die trying.

*shivers* Nice! Isn't that scariest part of being a parent? Not knowing which future is theirs?

- "He just called to say he loves you," Scott chips in.

STEVIE! I both giddy-clap and cringe. Oh, man. I'm amazed John didn't deadpan back, wondering if Scott knew he was John's hero. He's everything he wishes he could be. I LOVE THIS!

- Even his eyes look dulled.

Aww... Poor Johnny.

- I like the story about Gordy making a run for it. Scary, but sweet. John got his rescue days in early.

- "Yes," Jeff replies. "I want you to go get Alan.

Yeah, because it's easier to kill the messenger.

All in all, sweetness personified. Thank you for an entertaining read. It was just what I was looking for tonight. MWAH!

Six

Hahaha, you can't help but give Alan a little kick as you go :P

Really sweet and lovely and evocative and delicious and yumyumyum more please :D

The way you paint Scott and John is just. so. fit. I love watching the guys as you tell them; they're fantastic. I can see them plain as day in your stories.

I LOVED the idea that John looked like a rouch sketch of himself - beautifully put!

I loved Jeff half-listening, but Scott knowing he heard what was important. Just that little touch made a lovely comment on Scott and Jeff's relationship - a great example of something that didn't need to be there for the narrative, but made the story all the richer for being there. Gorgeous :) Scott and the paperclips is another great example - a little outward sign of some internal worrying that is otherwise well-hidden. We see underneath, Scott... Swoon!

I never knew that all the namesakes were in Mercury Seven! Have Wilipedia'd it and am learing something new, thanks love!

Love Scott worrying about John, love Jeff being Dad for a bit, love Gordon's 'staccato' laugh (it really is!) and as usual love not only what you say, but how you say it. Excellent work :)

Duck Tracy – that’s brilliant!

I loved the way you portrayed Jeff here, one moment the head of IR, the next just plain old dad – even if he did need Scott to show him what needed to be done. John and Scott were beautifully written too.

Another great story. Bee

I just, squealed, kind of ridiculously loud. The ending is so sweet, and I love Scott insisting on John's coming home. I love Scott and John stories, and I love the quotes, and I LOVE the flashes of tiny Tracys :D. Excellent story.

Loved it!

You paint such wonderful pictures with your words - I can just see John all haggard & drawn, or Scott sitting on Jeff's desk playing with the paper clips.

You write the interactions between them so well, it all just seems so natural, so real. Love the humor too (although Scott doing Stevie Wonder - not sure I could handle that, lol!)

Looking forward to your next story.