Hello!!! I'm back with your long awaited story!!! Woot!!! A warning to those who are just joining me: I advise you to read the first part of this story, Challenges. If you don't you may be a little confused.
First off I would like to dedicate this story to my Grandma. As some of you know she just recently passed away. She always made sure I had the best and made sure I achieved my dreams. She was the best and I will miss her deeply. May she rest in peace and no longer be in pain.
Disclaimer: Oh how I love these things. Okay, well if it isn't totally obvious... I DON'T OWN THE THUNDERBIRDS OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM!!! There I think I got the point across. Hope you're happy disclaimer. You made it even more obvious how pathetic my life is that I can't have the boys...(tear) oh well...
Summary: Sequel to Challenges. Alan has finally returned home but he finds little peace. How could a dead man torture a soul so deeply? Just as everything seems to be getting back to normal a new threat threatens the Thunderbirds, one they are unsure they can handle. Life as Jeff Tracy and his boys know it will be thrown into a tangent as the search for a threat enters a dangerous level, one that could threaten everything, even a life of their own. Strengths will be tested past their breaking points. It will all come down to one showdown against the strongest of mind. Who will win?
Takes place about four months after Challenges...
When Was Enough Going To Be Enough?
"NO!! DAD!!" Alan screamed, jolting up in his bed. Looking around the room he quickly realized he was in the comfort of his own home. Catching his breath he took a moment as a small spasm of pain worked its way through his healing back. This was beginning to get old. For the past few weeks he had been having the same reoccurring nightmare. Each time ended up with his family being killed by the Hood, but that couldn't be possible. He was dead; he had to remind himself that he was dead.
"Alan! Are you alright?" Scott bellowed, rushing into the room. He was soon followed by Gordon, Virgil and lastly their father.
"Yeah I'm fine," the youngest said flatly, wiping the sweat from his face. "Just another bad dream, sorry."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jeff asked, positioning himself on the bed next to Alan.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry for waking you all," his son stated a little embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it Alan. Was it him again?" Virgil asked.
"Who else would it be? I just wish I could get him out of my head. Any other person wouldn't have a dead man haunting their dreams, but I guess I have to be the one exception," Alan groaned, lying back down on his bed.
Everyone in the room frowned. Hadn't their brother been through enough?
"Have the dreams gotten worse?" Gordon asked, sitting next to their father.
"Not really. Each time they contain the same horrible events. It's almost like he is in my head, saying things. Of course, now that just makes me sound crazy. The man is dead," Alan answered. Pulling off his tattered covers he climbed out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Jeff asked worried.
"To the kitchen to get something to drink. It's obvious I won't be getting any sleep," the youngest Tracy said, walking out of his room.
Those left in the room sighed with defeat. Each hated the pain their family member was feeling. When was enough going to be enough?
"It has been four months now. When will he ever find peace?" Virgil huffed in frustration.
"I wonder if John is dealing with the same thing. After all, he has only been back up in five for a little while now. Isn't that when all this started? What else can we do, Dad?" Scott asked.
"Honestly boys. I don't know. I just don't know."
-TB-
The sweet smells of Onaha's morning cooking made Jeff Tracy smile. Climbing out of his bed he was ready to embrace the hearty goodness of homemade breakfast.
-TB-
Walking into the kitchen the smell of bacon and eggs cooking on a skillet met Jeff gladly. Strolling up to the table he met the sleepy faces of his sons. "Morning boys," he said as Onaha placed a plate in front of him.
"Morning Dad," they each responded.
"Has anyone seen Alan?" Gordon asked, noticing the empty spot at the table.
"He should be in the infirmary right now. Brains is giving him one last look over. Once he has made his assessment he will give Dr. Jamison a call. Hopefully there will be some good news to come from this," Jeff said lightly.
"Hopefully, Alan could use anything to cheer him up right now," Scott commented.
"I've been thinking about last night and about Alan. Well, depending upon the doctor's decision I've decided to let Alan go out on a mission. What do you boys think?"
"You're thinking it will help clear his mind and help him focus on something else," Scott added.
"Exactly. Now all of this will depend on each of you, but depending on the type of mission he will either be out in the field or monitoring things aboard one of the ships."
"I think it's a good idea," Virgil stated. He had no question that his brother was up for it. He wasn't going to doubt him ever again.
"What about you Gordon?" Jeff asked his auburn haired son.
"I don't have a problem with it. The only thing is what if something goes wrong? Are you going to be out there with us? I don't mean to put Alan down, but we never know what can happen out there."
"Don't worry; I will be out there, just in case something goes wrong."
Then it was decided. Not another word was said of the issue.
-TB-
Alan sat along the edge of the pool, staring out into the vast ocean front of their home. It was about mid-day and the sun showed brightly overhead. He could feel the warm rays showering down upon his exposed skin. Any other day he would willingly jump into the pool on a day like this but today he had no will. Everything still seemed so unresolved. Was he ever going to get his normal life back? That was a question he had hoped would have been answered today but instead he was told he had to wait. Dr. Jamison had decided he wanted to do a brain scan for himself to make sure his brain had healed. Why couldn't he just take Brains' word? He was just so utterly frustrated. Looking down he watched his right hand intently; a small twitch moved through it.
"Hey squirt!" Gordon teased walking towards him. "Alan?" he asked gently, kneeling down next to the youngster, noticing his brother's interest in his hand. "Hey," he said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The small gesture made Alan jump. "Hey, it's just me. You alright?" Gordon asked worried.
"Yeah, sorry. I guess every little twitch is going to make me freak now," the youngest Tracy responded.
"You haven't had a seizure in over two weeks, Alan. You're going to be fine now."
"That doesn't make it any easier. The fact that it has been that long scares me that I'm due for another one. We don't know if my brain has completely healed yet."
"Yeah, I heard you and Dad were making a trip to the mainland," Gordon said with a small smile.
Alan frowned; "Dr. Jamison wants to make sure for himself that everything is okay."
"He's just looking out for you, Alan. He wants to make sure that everything is really better and that they don't miss anything," Gordon eased.
"I know, but I just want this to end. I'm tired of worrying about this and I hate making you all so worried. I just want my life back, Gordo"
Gordon put an arm around his little brother. "I know and you will. You just have to be patient and we all know how hard that is for you," he joked making Alan smile.
"Can I ask you something, Gordo?" Alan asked, staring intently at the still pool water.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Did you feel like this after your accident? Did the uncertainty eat at you so bad that you wanted to scream?" the teenager asked, referring to the tragic hydrofoil accident that had nearly claimed his brother's life.
A smug and forlorn look crossed Gordon's features. "Everyday. The feeling of not knowing if I would ever walk again was horrible. Like you; all I wanted was my normal life back. I hated being confined to that wheelchair everyday and the restrictions I dealt with each hour were so annoying. It was like I was in a cage that I couldn't escape. So you see, I do know what you're going through and it will all work out with time. Look at me now. I'm as free as can be with little signs of what happened that day. Just remember that you have to be patient and things will work out alright. Don't let this bring you down." Looking at the pool, he nudged his brother. "Now, instead of sitting near the pool, why don't you get in? Care to join me?"
"I don't know. I'm not really in the mood."
"Come on, Alan. Please! If not for yourself than humor me, please. Don't make me get on my knees and beg."
"Alright, fine. Seeing you beg is oddly enough a sight I do not wish to see," Alan said, pulling off his shirt.
"Good, because my next resort was getting Scott and Virgil, and you know how persuasive they can be," Gordon said with a smirk.
"Yeah. Pick you up and throw you in."
"Exactly! Now come on," Gordon cheered, diving into the pool.
Jeff smiled. He was glad that Alan's brothers looked after him like they did. The support each of them had given over the last few months made things seem a little easier. Yet it still saddened him how depressed Alan still seemed. All the boy wanted was to be a normal kid again and he hoped he could give him that. He also hoped that making Alan a more sequential part of the team would make him feel more important and give him something to hold onto.
Out of anything that had happened over the past four months he hoped the future was better. The constant battle of Alan's seizures had kept a heavy hold on them. After time they learned how to deal with them, but it still didn't make it any easier. It would take them almost fifteen minutes to a half hour to get Alan calmed down after an episode sometimes. It was definitely not a life a kid his age should be living. Another battle he had despised was dealing with Wharton Academy. They were less than understand when it came to transferring homework and tests for both Alan and Fermat. He had explained in full length to the headmaster of how serious Alan's condition was and how unsafe it would have been to have him there but he made things even harder. It was almost as if he was inconviencing them and making them do more work; heaven forbid. Thankfully he had had a nice talk with the school's administrator and sorted everything out. He didn't understand what was so hard. The boys only had a month and a half left and then it was summer. Either way he was just glad that all of that was in the past.
The best news for all of them would be Dan telling him that Alan would be okay. He just hoped tomorrow would give him that much.
TBC...
I know this one was short, but I have to start somewhere. So, don't be shy, tell me what you thought so far!
Just a fair warning, my health issues have returned so I can't guarentee that I will be able to get a new chapter out every week or two but I promise I will get one out to you. If you were wondering if this was the reason for the story taking so long to start that would be yes. She isn't completely finished but I have plenty of chapters to occupy you with for awhile.
Thanks a lot for being loyal!!! Hopefully my health issues will be resolved, I can only hope after a year of this right?
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