Archive of Our Own ^beta

The first time Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward sleeps with Gordon Cooper Tracy, he's sedated in a hospital bed after the Hydrofoil Crash that almost claimed his life.

Gordon was all casts, slings, braces, and wires. His entire body was covered in white cast, almost his entire body had been broken, and the only thing that wasn't was the left side of his face and his fingers, everything was had been completely shattered, Gordon had spent two months in a coma the fact that he even woke up was a miracle in itself as due to severity of his injuries and the amount of blood he lost the doctors didn't think that he ever would. 

But unfortunately, him been awake meant endless agonizing pain engulfed him, every little movement cause him pain, even opening the window and a little cold air touching his body would cause him to scream out in agony, so much that until the pain subsided the doctors were keeping him under sedation so his body could repair itself without causing him pain. 

Scott was absolutely adamant that Gordon was not to left alone, whether Gordon was awake or not someone had to be with him at all times, Scott didn't want Gordon to feel alone. Out of the six people who boarded that Hydrofoil that day, Gordon was the only one who survived, and he'd watched as his fellow WASP comrades burned and drowned before him and slowly watched and felt himself dying alongside with them, Gordon could only lay and watch as the water reddened as his life slowly begun to drain away. 

In the end it was Scott who pulled him from the wreak as Thunderbird 1 had been the first on sight, Scott was the one who held his broken body close to him while they waited for Virgil to arrive with Thunderbird 2, Scott was the one who soothed Gordon's pain by singing softly to him their mother's lullaby calming the screams escaping Gordon's throat, and Scott was the first person Gordon saw upon waking up from his coma. 

Most of the time it was Virgil and Grandma Tracy who stayed with Gordon, Scott came by as often as he could, but he still had a rescue organization and a business to run, and most to time he was swamped with work, John came by occasionally, but he mostly stayed back on Tracy Island to look after Alan as he was still in shock over the whole event, as him and Gordon were very close, Alan had looked at Gordon in the hospital bed and proceeded to burst in to tears .

Penelope herself hadn't really been to the hospital a lot over the last four months, she'd come by when Gordon was first hospitalized, and when he'd woken up from his coma, but most of the time she'd been busy with her aristocratic things, that she'd hadn't had the time, but one day she had come to see him, and she'd offered to stay with Gordon while Virgil went home, and got some rest, Virgil was reluctant at first but once Scott over the comm line threated to physically drag Virgil home by his ankles, he agreed.

So that's how Penelope found herself by Gordon's bedside, Gordon was still sedated and there wasn't much for her to do, so she just curled up on the uncomfortable chairs that was more wood than cushioning, and she started reading one of the marine life books that Gordon loves so much, that his brothers had taken to reading to him, she had just gotten to the page about the Maui Dolphins native to New Zealand when she heard some whimpering, looking up she saw Gordon beginning to stir, his natural tan skin pale and gaunt beneath the bandages on his face and his sharp angler jaw began to contort into a scream, and the beeping on the monitors began to spike, soon the nurses rushed in just as his mouth began to open, and any noise that bubbling up his throat was lost as he slipped under the depth of sedation once more.

Once Gordon had calmed Penelope asked why they need to sedate him so heavily, the Nurse a kind looking man with soft brown eyes said, the rest of his recovery is going to be long and painful, so giving him a few days of numbness isn't going to hurt him. 

Penelope looked at Gordon's slack form as he slept peacefully under the effects of the sedation once again, as Penelope watched as his chest rose up and down, she felt her eyes become heavy and soon she fell asleep alongside him. She woke up sometime later, when her head rolled off her shoulders, as she rubbed sleep out of her eyes, she looked up to see Gordon looking at her with tired eyes, that had seen too much that no one should have to see, looking at Gordon it's apparent that the drugs have been out of his system for while.

As Penelope looked at Gordon, a simple tear rolled down his face.

The second time Penelope sleeps with Gordon is completely by accident.

It was after Gordon had returned from the hospital, abide having a slight limp, horrific scaring and that he tired out easier now against all odds his body had healed, but his mind hadn't, so Gordon still wasn't cleared for missions yet, so Kayo was handling Thunderbird 4 in the meantime. 

She'd stopped by as Scott had some Internatinal Rescue things he'd wanted to discuss but then he was called out for a mission so now Penelope was outside by the pool, she sat curled up on the deckchair watching as Alan tossed a beachball at Gordon in the water trying to take his mind off of things and it seemed to be working, but everyone could see that even though Gordon was smiling a genuine smile as he threw the ball back to Alan, it didn't reach his eyes, and Virgil sat close to them carefully monitoring Gordon. 

Penelope couldn't help but let out a laugh as Gordon snuck up behind Virgil and pushed him into the water when he'd gotten distracted talking to Alan, despite everything Gordon had suffered the past few months, his sense of humor was never broken.

But she also couldn't help noticing just how much Gordon jumped when John called in, saying that Thunderbird 2 was needed, soon it was just her and Gordon by the pool, Scott and Grandma Tracy believed that it would Gordon some good to be outside in the sun, Gordon had always been outside, and they believed that him being outside would him in the long term.

Penelope disagreed.

She believed that Gordon shouldn't be outside until he could look at fire without freaking out, loud or sudden noises caused him to go into a panic attack, and there would even be times that Gordon would just start randomly start screaming for no reason and the only thing that could calm him down was trapping him under your body weight until he felt safe enough to relax.

John had said to her that it was going to take Gordon a very long time to mentally recover from the crash, but then he'd confided in her in secret that he didn't think Gordon ever completely would, his whole body had been torn apart and put back together, he'd spent four months in hospital, and he'd watched everyone else die, John just didn't know if Gordon could ever fully come back from this, and her heart broke at how sad the normal calm redhead sounded.

It was calm by the pool as she read her book and Gordon sat on the edge of the water dipping his feet in, soon the villa began to shake as Thunderbird 2 began take off and Penelope looked at Gordon ad saw his eyes went wide and his breathing started to become erratic, sense a panic attack coming Penelope jumped off her say in a way that her father would horrified to see a dignified lady do, and she placed a hand on Gordon's arm and led him away from the water to the chair she was sitting on as he became lost in a panic attack.

The sound of Thunderbird 2 leaving had triggered a panic attack and now Gordon was hyperventilating and shaking head to toe. His hand had immediately gone to his ears to try and block the noise out, he'd curled himself into a ball and was rocking back and forth, not knowing what to do, Penelope grabbed Gordon's hands and held them in her left hand, she then placed her right hand on Gordon's face and turned his head to look at her. 

She held Gordons face and helped him count down from ten and told him to take deep breaths with her, they had to it a few times before Gordon calmed down completely, once he had he proceeded to burst into tears, Penelope's first instinct was to wrap Gordon up a hug, she adjusted them so that she was lying flat on the chair and Gordon was pressed next to her, she gently stroked his blond hair, and soon she feel herself drifting asleep as Gordon's breathing calmed down.

That was how Virgil found them later.

Penelope asleep on the chair, her hands tangled in Gordon's hair as the blond slept peacefully. using her stomach as a pillow, both supporting terrific sunburns. 

The third time Penelope sleeps with Gordon a bed is involved, after he's almost dissolved in Acidic water. 

Penelope had warned Gordon that he seemed like Gordon was walking into a trap, but Gordon being the Marine Biologist he was, (Which only studied because he needed something to do while recovering from the crash) was determined to save the wildlife there and once again it almost cost him his life. 

Luckly he had learned a lot since his crash, and he was able to save himself before catastrophe happened, not without harm though, the neutralizing foam in Thunderbird 4 could only do so much, and Gordon was able to get Thunderbird 4 back above water onto the platform, Parker and Penelope were waiting for him, Gordon stumbled out of Thunderbird 4 and Penelope only watch as Gordon proceeded to faint, luckily Parker was able to catch him before he hit the ground.

She helped Parker carry Gordon to the bed they have inside for the workers abord, they turned Gordon onto his side to take any pressure off his damaged back. He must 'ave gone into shock, M'ilady said Parker best to let him sleep it off, I'll ring Master Virgil to collect him, Parker then left the room to call Virgil and she could only imagine how that call would go. 

Penelope couldn't help but be memorized as Gordon's chest rose up and down as he slept off the effects of acid exposure, but as she watched she noticed that the foam had missed a small part on his neck, and she could see blusters forming, not wanting them to get infected so grabbed some burn cream out of the medical kit they had and gently applied it to area, as Gordon slept on, once it healed Gordon would have another scar to add to his collection.

The longer she watched him, the more warmth she felt in her chest, she didn't know what the feeling was, but she knew it was something she'd never felt before, soon her cheeks felt hot, and suddenly she felt a warm liquid on her face, lifting her hand she wiped away tears she didn't know were there, suddenly Penelope felt the need to climb next to him, to which she did, Gordon didn't even stir, he was in a deep enough sleep to not be bothered by the sudden weight drop next to him, she tucked herself into him under his arms, and closed her eyes.

She woke up a little bit later and Gordon was still in a deep sleep, she saw that only an hour had past but for some reason it felt longer, she gently untangled herself from under Gordon's body and stood up, he would be up soon and she didn't know what she'd say if he woke up and she was asleep under him, so she choose to leave despite how much her heart wanted to stay.

But before she left, she planted a gentle kiss on Gordon's lips.

As Penelope stood outside and watched the waves crash, she thought about what had just happened, she just kissed Gordon. She. Kissed. Him. What on earth had compelled her to do that!? She knew Gordon's liked her, He'd never really hid it well, and after the temple, he'd almost confessed to her before stopping himself, it was well known amongst Internatinal Rescue that Gordon Tracy had feelings for the London agent. 

But did her suddenly kissing him and sleeping next to him mean that she had feelings for him too? Penelope was confused, it was like her heart was working against her brain, or maybe they were working together, and she was just in denial. 

She heard footsteps behind her and looked to see Gordon walking up to her, and Penelope could feel the warm and hot feeling in her chest and cheeks again, while she talked to him, she avoided looking into his eyes, maybe because she knew she'd find the answers she was looking for if she looked at him, or maybe it was because she'd feel compelled to kiss him again. 

The next time Penelope sleeps with Gordon it's in the carnal sense of the word.

Penelope was in Wellington for a meeting with the New Zealand Prime Minister when she had bumped into Gordon outside the New Zealand Parliament building, The Beehive, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1977, almost 100 years ago, she wasn't expecting to see Gordon there, but she saw him sitting on a bench outside the building. 

It turns out that Gordon was in Wellington for his therapy, as a part of his recovery he has to do weekly therapy to help him deal with trauma he suffered from the crash, and that he likes to spend some time in Wellington before heading back to the Island, and it makes sense that Gordon would do his Therapy in New Zealand as Tracy Island was in New Zealand territory.

Penelope had only been to New Zealand a hand full of times, but always fell in love with culture every time she came here, she sat next to him on the bench, and they had a long conversation like they hadn't seen each other in years when really it was only a few weeks. She wasn't sure how they ended up in the apartment that Gordon has there for when he has his therapy, and she definitely wasn't sure when a mere conversation turned into a heavy make out session, but she did know when that make out session turned into sex.

The thing was that Penelope had, had sex before and good sex at that, but there something definitely different about having sex with someone you know, someone was trust and someone you potentially love.

But something that surprised Penelope was how gentle Gordon was. She didn't if he was being gentle because of his back or if because he didn't want to hurt her, but she couldn't help being hypnotized by how someone who was so loud and boisterous, constantly moving and riddled with chronic pain, could be so soft and tender.

She didn't know how it happened, but somehow, they went from her pressing him to the bed to him pressing her to the bed, not that she minded, they continued kissing passionately, the kiss only broke when Penelope gasped at the feeling of Gordon inside her, he waited a little bit before moving, and soon Penelope was lost in the feeling.

They moved in tandem; Penelope had wrapped her legs around Gordon's hips and her hand were on his back and she ran her fingers up and down the long surgical scar on his back, whereas Gordon had one hand on the mattress and the other held her face, soon Gordon tucked his face into Penelope's neck, and she could hear him breathing in her ear, she moved her right hand and tangled it in his blond hair, feeling the surgical scar hidden there.

In fact, everywhere she moved a hand she could feel a surgical scar, to a lot of people that many scars would be a huge deal breaker, but to Penelope they were extremely hot and sexy, it just meant that Gordon was strong and is a survivor, of course not all of Gordon's scars are from the crash, the one just under his belly button was from the umbilical catheter he'd had as a baby, as being born two months early would do that to a person, and there's the one on his neck from his trip into the acidic waters of the Supreme Barrier Reef. 

Penelope kissed that scar.

Gordon moved the hand on his back and held it next to them fingers enlaced with his.

What are we doing? She had asked later that night, lying in bed draped over Gordon, his arms around her.  Well, he mumbled, not moving his head from the pillows, I’d say we just had pretty great sex and now we’re basking in the afterglow before we fall asleep.

No, she laughs, trailing her hand up Gordon waxed chest, yes, but no, long term.

Well, what do you want? he asked her

Penelope sighed I don't know, she said, but I know I don’t want to be friends with benefits.

Neither do I, Gordon agreed. But I don’t know if it’s a good time to go proclaiming our relationship status to the world just yet. 

Hm, she hums, absentmindedly tracing patterns on his chest. You’re right. Maybe we keep it on the down-low at least until we get your dad back, your brothers have got enough on their plates as it is we don't need to add this to the mix. 

Gordon nodded his head; they lay like that for a while content with being in each other's company, they lay in silence listening to the native Tūī's chirping when Gordon broke the silence saying the three world everyone wants to hear. 

I Love You.

She looked at him, I Love You Too, she said as she gently kissed him again.

The next time Penelope sees with Gordon, it's just sleep.

After months of trying, they'd finally gotten Jeff back, and he was doing surprisingly well for someone who just spent eight years trapped in space, and to make matters better it was only after they'd returned did Alan think to tell them that he'd just graduated High School, and seeing as they were talking about happy things Gordon and Penelope took the opportunity to announce their relationship to everyone.

Virgil and Alan went nuts, Scott looked surprised, she was pretty sure John stopped breathing, Kayo and Grandma Tracy looked proud, Parker's face was neutral, but Penelope knew he was quietly happy, brains could stop stuttering more than usual and Jeff was just confused, but regardless everyone was happy for them.

It was few months after Jeff's return and them making their relationship public, did Penelope go to visit Tracy Island and Gordon knew just by looking at her that she was in a bad mood, she'd been having a hard day with press and everyone constantly asking her about her relationship with Gordon, that she needed time away from her very public life so she'd gone to spend some time with her boyfriend.

And just like she had done for him two years ago, Gordon led Penelope to a quiet place and just held her close till she could calm herself down, once she had they engaged in a small make out session before settling down into Gordon's bed. 

Like she had done on the rig, she tucked herself under Gordon's body and he just held her close, and it made her fall more in love with him, Gordon never pushed her, he always let her set the pace, Gordon didn't love her for her money, fame and title, he's got his own, no Gordon Cooper Tracy Loved Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward for who she was a person.

Gordon was the person who knew that her favourite shade of pink was pastel, he was the only one (other than Parker) that her favourite tea was green tea, and Gordon was definitely the only person who knew how dirty she could get in bed, he knew every single little flaw about her, that would turn most men of nobility away, and yet Gordon still loved her.

She had once overheard Alan saying to Scott that Gordon had found his Lucille. 

But Alan got it wrong.

Gordon didn't find his Lucille.

Penelope found her Jeff.

And there tucked underneath her boyfriend, the love of her life's, broken and scared body.

Penelope slept.