There was definitely a gloomy feel to the Tracy house on that damp, Monday morning. A light drizzle was trickling down the windows, making the outside world look cold and uninviting, whilst at the same time reinforcing the cosiness of the inside. It just gave the boys yet another reason for not wanting to leave.

“John, you haven’t got your lunch yet!” The father of five yelled up the stairs, whilst at the same time trying to peer under the sofa. It was the same every year, utter chaos reigning in the house whilst Jeff tried to organise the masses he called his sons. At least this year, it was only four of them going back, but Scott had flatly refused to help his father on this, knowing full well what his brothers’ were going through. The eldest child of the billionaire ex-astronaut had instead barricaded himself in his room, claiming he wanted to watch the fun from a safe distance.

Slowly pulling himself up from the floor, Jeff winced as his knees cracked their protest. Typical Alan, he just had to lose his shoe on the morning he was going back. In fact, Jeff was convinced he had hidden it himself, making life as awkward as possible. He did seem to be taking after Gordon a bit too much in that respect.

“I’m buying, that’s why!” A voice yelled back down the stairs, making no attempt to move any closer to his father to deliver the message. For one moment, Jeff couldn’t remember what the question had been in the first place, shouts had roamed across the house all morning, slowly getting more and more heated.

“Can someone please make sure Virgil has his butt out of bed?”

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“Surfacing now, Virg,” Reaching out a gloved hand, Gordon casually flicked a couple of buttons as he broke the surface, blinking slightly in the sun playing across the ocean. Glancing behind him, the red headed member of International Rescue couldn’t help but smiling in satisfaction as the stranded sub bobbed to the surface behind him. Detaching the cables with another flick of his wrist, Gordon sat back in his command chair and sighed deeply. Another successful rescue. Hearing the roar of Thunderbird Two overhead, he didn’t move from his comfortable position as he watched Virgil extend the grabs and take hold of the sub, already beginning to tow it towards land almost before the grabs had been properly attached. He was obviously still in a hurry.

Gordon couldn’t blame him though. It had been hard enough to get Scott and Virgil to even come on this rescue, their father had even resorted to threatening them if they didn’t get a move on and get their butts into their ‘birds, although in slightly different words. Gordon was not surprised. With Alan having managed to knock himself out by falling down the stairs, it was going to take a lot more than Brains’ reassurances that everything was going to be under control whilst they were gone to get the two most over protective brothers off the island. Gordon himself had only been willing to leave his little brother because he knew that he was in capable hands and that there was nothing any of them could do until he woke up anyway. At least the rescue would divert his attention, and as his own ‘bird had been needed, there really had been little choice but for the three earth bound brothers to go flying to the rescue once again.

Thankfully, it had been a smooth rescue, and judging by the streak on the horizon, Scott had shot off for home the second he had seen Thunderbird Four break the surface with the sub safe and sound once again.

“Meet you at the pod, Virg?” His thumb resting on the button that kept the communications open, Gordon frowned when he didn’t receive a response. There was no way Virgil could have already towed the sub all the way back to the land, was there?

“Virgil? Viiirgil?” Gordon sang out, unable to stop his fingers from drumming against his thigh as he waited for his brother to respond. He may have not put up as much as a fight with the older two about going, but that didn’t mean he was any less anxious to get back to the kid and make sure the clumsy Tracy was going to be alright. Who on earth could knock themselves out by falling down the stairs at 6 in the morning, apart from Alan? Something his brothers’ had always claimed was that the youngest Tracy was a magnet for trouble – if there was none about, he would create his own. Although Gordon couldn’t help but feel that the worst was yet to come, especially if Scott’s reaction in being told that he had to go on a rescue and leave his youngest brother unconscious in the infirmary was anything to go by.

“Oi! Virgil, are you receiving me or not?”

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Alan lay gazing at his ceiling for a few moments, wondering what on earth could have woken him. The guys had gone out on a rescue earlier that evening, but neither he nor Gordon had been needed, it had been a relatively straight forward one that had Scott and Virgil back in no time. The remaining family had joined them for debriefing, something that was becoming a bit of a habit of late. Whether they were needed or not, all the Tracys gathered round, for Jeff believed that it would provide good practice at knowing how to handle scenarios. By the time they were done trading facts, insults and playful banter, it had reached midnight, the adrenaline wearing off enough for Virgil to declare he was going to turn in. Alan hadn’t waited around to find out what Gordon and Scott were going to do, but had followed his brother to bed shortly afterwards. He may not have been on the actual rescue, but the teenager had had a long and busy day anyway, helping his brothers’ work on their ‘birds.

But now, gazing up at the ceiling above his bed, the blond couldn’t work out what had awoken him. Glancing at the clock, Alan’s frown only deepened when he saw it had just reached one. He hadn’t been asleep that long, yet normally he slept the whole night through without any problems. Sparing his watch another glance, Alan ruled out the possibility that perhaps there had been a rescue and it was the vibrations that had awoken him, for all was still. The rest of the villa was quiet as well, only making the teen even more confused as to why he was awake. Pushing the matter to the back of his mind, Alan sank back into the pillows, eyes drifting shut once more. Whatever it was, it had gone now.

“You’re going down!”

Sitting bolt upright, Alan blindly reached out a hand and smacked his light, causing it to flare into life. There had definitely been a noise this time, or more precisely, a voice. Listening hard, Alan frowned again when silence once more fell, but he was certain he hadn’t been dreaming the voice. Swinging his legs out of bed, Alan padded across the room, automatically skirting around the mess. Maybe he really should tidy that up some day…

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It was with a rush of pure adrenaline that caused Scott’s hands to tremble slightly as he gently bought Thunderbird One around. Despite his gentle touch on his baby, one glance at the scanner told him he was still coming in too hot. There was no way he would be able to slow down and manoeuvre her enough to get her through the small opening in the pool. With a grin, the pilot swung the giant of a machine around, sending her flying out across the ocean, before pulling up sharply, decreasing the speed and cruising back towards the island.

“Base to Thunderbird One. Is there a problem, Scott? You’ve doubled back.” With a slightly shameful grin, Scott glanced at the monitor to see his father’s puzzled frown looking back at him.

“Nothing wrong, sir. I came in too fast; I forgot the pure speed of this thing.”

“I said you could test her, not take her for a joyride, son.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

“We’ll debrief when you get back in. Over to you.”

“F.A.B”

As his father signed off, no doubt going back to monitoring his progress on one of the numerous scanners, Scott eased off the throttle, feeling the engines immediately react in response. It wasn’t technically joyriding, but the ex-Air Force pilot couldn’t help but get a complete thrill out of the capability of the machine, all under his fingertips. He couldn’t wait until International Rescue was properly up and running, especially if this was the thrill he was going to get every time. Whether having his younger brothers out there with him would increase the rush or dampen it, Scott couldn’t yet say. One thing that made him grin in delight though, was the knowledge that he if they were annoying him, he could at least leave them in the dust. Although somehow, that argument against Virgil seemed to get a little heated, the artist was just as possessive of his new lady as his older brother.

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Chapters 1-16

Grinning as his brother swung himself out of bed, Scott momentarily frowned as John stumbled, but as the younger man crossed the infirmary, he couldn’t help but be grateful as he reached him. Taking a moment to steady himself against the edge of Scott’s bed as the room spun slightly, John took a deep breath to steady himself.

“You ok, Johnny?” Scott asked quietly, concern flickering in his eyes.

“About as good as you.” John responded flatly, knowing Scott would never admit to being in pain and therefore covering his own back at the same time. Not missing the look his only older brother was giving him, John then set about freeing Scott’s arm, knowing full well the infirmary was not the place he needed to be right now. Within a matter of seconds, he had pulled the restraint free, allowing Scott to swing his legs out of bed whilst his brother clutched onto it, supporting himself and breathing heavily.

“John?”

“I’m fine. Go before Gordon wakes up.” Nodding his affirmation, Scott took a tentative step forward, his legs shaking as he did so. After two or three steps, he stopped. There was no way he was going to make it to Virgil’s room like this.

“You ok, Scotty?” John asked softly, not realising he was repeating his brother. With a slight smile, Scott replied.

“About as good as you.” Laughing softly at the realisation, John nodded before immediately regretting it. Nodding was an action that was going to be off the agenda for a while. Thinking hard, John smiled suddenly when the answer hit him. Crossing the infirmary as quickly as he dared, John tried to ignore the black spots littering his vision as he opened a cupboard. Pulling the hover chair out, John shot Scott a smirk before making his way back across the infirmary, much slower this time.

“John, honest, I’m-,”

“Fine? Fine my ass. Do you want to be with Virgil or not?” Grinning at his younger brother, Scott lowered himself into the chair. Leaning back with his eyes closed, Scott couldn’t help smiling.

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Chapter 1-15

Jeff was leaning against the wall outside of John’s room, resisting the urge to simply throw something. His usually calm son was normally the easiest to deal with, his temper, whilst it could be furious, took a lot more to work up than the majority of his brothers. However, it didn’t mean the young man was any less stubborn, and it was taking all of Jeff’s efforts for him not to simply yell at his son to open the door or risk being grounded.

Suddenly, a sound caught his ear and made him jump away from the wall in surprise. That had definitely been movement, but it was the type that made Jeff’s blood run cold. It had sounded like something falling, and judging by the groan that could softly be heard from underneath the door, Jeff had a very good idea of what. Cursing John’s ability to over ride the computers, Jeff did the only think he could think of. Snatching up the plant pot standing in the corner of the hallway, he threw it as hard as he could at John’s door, sending it crashing into the control panel outside and causing his door to swish open angrily.

“Dad?” Jeff both heard Virgil’s sleepy voice call up the stairs, and at the same time, it was almost as if the sound had been muted. Across the threshold of his bathroom door, John lay flat out on the floor, eyes closed, face pale. His breath hitching in his throat, Jeff immediately dropped to his knees and scrambled across the floor on all fours, the only thought lodged in his mind being to get to his son. This couldn’t be happening, not now. Not now they had Scott back and that one brother was going to be alright. The Hood surely hadn’t meant what he said about the price of saving Scott being John? They had interrupted him, Alan had managed to snatch the cure away without any deals being made. This couldn’t be happening, Penny had promised that John would be alright after he had spoken to her earlier.

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Chapters 1-14

“Now we have a dilemma,” the Hood continued conversationally. “Who do you save? John here, or whoever back at home? My guess is that is it your oldest, my sources tell me he can be rather protective. If it wasn’t him, I would imagine he would be here instead of John and Alan. My, what a team they made, don’t you agree, Jeff?”

“Let him go,” Jeff begged, tears pooling in his eyes as John let out another soft groan, obviously trying to hide the agonising pain shooting through his head. Jeff knew, though, knew what he was going through. Penny had described it to him when they had tried to establish what sort of powers the Hood possessed.

“Certainly, if you are prepared to sacrifice another son for him.”

“Don’t Dad,” John gasped suddenly, grabbing hold of his fathers’ arm to turn Jeff’s attention back to him, even if it did look like his father had two heads at this precise moment as his vision wavered somewhat. “Save Scott, the others need him more.”

“No, John, we need you as well.”

“Ooh, I do love dilemmas,” the Hood cut in smugly, stepping backwards just to ensure he was out of the reach of Jeff. What he didn’t know, however, is that he had just given the remaining Tracy a clear view of what was going on.

Seeing his brother on the floor in apparent agony, Alan felt a fury he didn’t know he was capable of possessing. First Scott and now John? The youngest knew precisely what game the Hood was playing, the one to make his father break as easily as his pebble had broken the window. And it would work as well. His sons were Jeff’s weakness, everyone knew this. But the manic seemed to have forgotten about Alan.

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Chapters 1-13

Alan crept through the silos, navigating his way around the vast machinery with a stealth only accomplished through practice. Being half of the terrible two had its advantages, being able to sneak one of them. Silently slipping through the slightly open door, the youngest Tracy paused as he glanced anxiously at the gleaming plane. Checking his father was no where in sight, Alan crept towards the plane, hoping his father would already be in the cockpit and so would not hear him enter. Jeff would not be impressed if he found his son was disobeying him. That was something not to have happened since the spring, not since Alan had matured.

Closer and closer the youngest Tracy crept, hardly daring to breathe as he reached the open door. Good, he still had time to get on board before the doors automatically sealed themselves during the take off procedures. He would have been really stumped if Jeff had already shut them. Once shut, there was simply no way they could be opened from the outside, not without alerting everyone in the whole villa precisely what he was up too. Holding his breath completely, Alan carefully lifted his foot and silently placed it on the ramp.

Before he could take another step, however, a hand clamped itself over his mouth, stifling the surprised cry the boy emitted. Dragging him away from the plane, John kept his voice low, also anxious not to be discovered.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Alan Tracy?” he asked, his voice taking on his best “big brother” voice he could manage at the time. Even so, he still removed his hand, knowing Alan wasn’t about to give them away.

“The same as you, by the looks of things,” Alan whispered back furiously, his heart thudding loudly. “God, John, you trying to give me a heart attack? Now please, if we are going, wereally need to go, Dad’s about to shut the doors.”

“No way. Go back upstairs or I’ll call Virg to come and get you. You are not coming, Alan, it’s too dangerous.”

“Virgil knows I’m here. Now, either you hurry up, or we go without you. Either way, John, I’m not missing that flight.”

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Chapters 1-12

Alan crept through the silos, navigating his way around the vast machinery with a stealth only accomplished through practice. Being half of the terrible two had its advantages, being able to sneak one of them. Silently slipping through the slightly open door, the youngest Tracy paused as he glanced anxiously at the gleaming plane. Checking his father was no where in sight, Alan crept towards the plane, hoping his father would already be in the cockpit and so would not hear him enter. Jeff would not be impressed if he found his son was disobeying him. That was something not to have happened since the spring, not since Alan had matured.

Closer and closer the youngest Tracy crept, hardly daring to breathe as he reached the open door. Good, he still had time to get on board before the doors automatically sealed themselves during the take off procedures. He would have been really stumped if Jeff had already shut them. Once shut, there was simply no way they could be opened from the outside, not without alerting everyone in the whole villa precisely what he was up too. Holding his breath completely, Alan carefully lifted his foot and silently placed it on the ramp.

Before he could take another step, however, a hand clamped itself over his mouth, stifling the surprised cry the boy emitted. Dragging him away from the plane, John kept his voice low, also anxious not to be discovered.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Alan Tracy?” he asked, his voice taking on his best “big brother” voice he could manage at the time. Even so, he still removed his hand, knowing Alan wasn’t about to give them away.

“The same as you, by the looks of things,” Alan whispered back furiously, his heart thudding loudly. “God, John, you trying to give me a heart attack? Now please, if we are going, wereally need to go, Dad’s about to shut the doors.”

“No way. Go back upstairs or I’ll call Virg to come and get you. You are not coming, Alan, it’s too dangerous.”

“Virgil knows I’m here. Now, either you hurry up, or we go without you. Either way, John, I’m not missing that flight.”

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Chapters 1-11

Jeff stared at himself in the small mirror situated above his sink. He looked a mess. His eyes were still stained red from the copious amounts of crying he had done within the last few hours. That in itself was unlike the patriarch, he was normally a man who kept a tight lid on his emotions. Lucille’s death had taught him to control the bad ones, but raising five lively boys had taught him the rest. It would do no good for their father to burst out laughing when one of the boys came to him when hair dye had been sneaked into the shampoo again, leaving them with vividly coloured locks strongly resembling traffic lights. It wasn’t just his eyes though, his normally tanned face was unnaturally pale and his hair was all over the place, running his hands through it in stress had done nothing for its style. Taking a deep breath, Jeff made himself look into his own eyes, knowing the trick worked wonders for regaining control of ones emotions. Just as it seemed the lid was being forced tightly back onto the overflowing pot, Jeff felt a vibration shoot up his arm, even as the beep spiralled out from the ingenious device strapped to his wrist.

Allowing a brief movement of confusion to flicker across his mind, Jeff sprinted from the bathroom; worry coursing through him as the emergency signal continued to sound with more urgency. Taking the stairs two at a time, Jeff almost collided head first with his second oldest as John and Alan barrelled in from the lounge, concern etched into their normal carefree faces. Sparing a quick glance, the three Tracy’s continued on their furious dash towards the infirmary, wondering what on earth could have gone wrong now.

Slamming his hand on the panel, Jeff tore into the room as soon as the door swished back, John and Alan on his heels. The sight before them made all three stop dead, shock the only emotion they were capable of feeling. Scott was up, pinning a struggling something firmly against Gordon’s bed. As he shifted position, Alan let out an audible gasp, causing the pilot to turn towards the newcomers. Tears were streaming down his face as he pinned the arm of assailant behind his body, but his hand was steady as it held the syringe, clearly planning on plunging it into the other figure.

“Scott?” Jeff began soothingly, stepping forward slowly, but not taking his eyes away from his son, ready to act if something was to go wrong.

“What’s going on?”

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