Chapter 1
"VIRGIL! GET BACK HERE NOW!"
The Tracy patriarch watched as his Wednesday child walked out of his office, packed his bag and left Tracy Island.
That had been almost 10 years ago...
Jeff Tracy sighed, looking up from his paperwork to the portraits of his family that hung on the far wall. individual pictures of his five sons. Proud faces looking back to him. The family patriarch frowned when his eyes came to his middle child's picture. Putting down the pen in his hands and looking to the open window, when a squeal and splashing coming from outside caught his attention. Making his way to see what was obviously the sound of his first grandson in the pool, having a swimming lesson with a certain water loving son of his own.
Jeff smiled as a young boy of no more than five years was being held just above the cool water, by his Auburn haired Uncle. The rest of the earth bound Tracy family were relaxing under the many umbrellas, surrounding the pool area.
"Mummy, Daddy! Look!" The child called, kicking his legs as Gordon held the fair haired boy under his belly. The young boy's parents watched with amusement, before being drawn to a small crib, in between them.
"Good job Cal! Soon you'll be swimming circles around your Uncle! Next Olympic champion for sure!" Alan answered, before picking up his fussing daughter and handing her over to Tintin for a feed.
Alan and Tintin had married a little over 6 years ago, with Calum Jefferson Tracy being born a mere 10 months after and little Lucy turning up only three months ago, the little sub-family unit was very happy.
Jeff looked to where his oldest boy sat on the opposite side of the pool, heavily engrossed in the pad he held. Jeff had no doubt that Scott was looking over Thunderbird 2's schematics, the green 'bird' had sustained a little damage from the last rescue, and knowing Scott he would want all the 'birds' in tip top shape.
Thinking about the largest of Internationals Rescues fleet, brought Jeff's memories back to his middle son, again glancing at the portrait of the younger brunet of the brood.
"Stop it! He made his own decision!" Jeff grumbled, turning back to the group outside as his daughter in law called to her son.
"Come on Cal! Time to come out! Gran-ma will have dinner ready soon and we need to get you dried off! Tintin called as she placed the now placated baby up to her shoulder to wind, only to be faced with not one set of puppy eyes, but two. And both of the occupants in the pool looked up with all intentions of staying exactly where they were.
"Five more minuets please mum!" came the whine from the little boy
"yeah' five more mins! Pleeeeeeeease mom! Came the equally whiny voice from the supposed adult in the pool, taking the boy in his arms the two swam over to the other side of the pool away from the glaring looks the parents were throwing to their brother/brother in law, not noticing the looming figure behind them until it was too late!
"Uncle Scott! No! Help me! Uncle Gordon!
'HEY! That's my nephew!" Gordon cried, as his oldest brother plucked the wet boy up from his arms and into his own.
"nope! Mine now!" The brunet chuckled as he brushed fingers against sensitive ribs, making the boy squeal and wriggle as the boy's father came round,"Come on you! Let's go!" Alan chuckled, wrapping his son up in a towel, before throwing the boy over his shoulder into a fireman's carry and following his wife back to the small condo which the family occupied.
Watching his other two sons earth bound sons, begin to pack up and head back to the house, theTracy patriarch returned to his desk glancing once more towards the portrait of his middle child.
Memories of the words said to his middle child before the brunet had walked out of his office, out of their lives.
- flashback -
"I will not have International Rescue or Tracy Industries compromised by a money hungry Hussy! NO Virgil! I will not allow you to make the biggest mistake of your life!"
"And you don't think I have better judgement than that?" His son spat! "And what makes you think Kate would be after money?"
"I've had some background work done. Her family's business is in deep water and on the verge of bankruptcy! From the looks of it a number of banks/loan companies have refused her father money, so where to go next, but send the daughter to wheedle her way in and get money from this family!"
"Your sick! Kate is not like that, has nothing to do with her father or his sleazy business! Heck she's had nothing to do with her family for nearly 3 years! Some research!"
"I am your father! And I will do what is right for this family and the companies I run! The very companies that have brought you up, fed you, clothed you and paid for your education, training and kept a roof over your head!"
"If that's the way you feel!...IM GONE!
"You walk out that door and that's it! Your on your own Virgil!...VIRGIL! GET BACK HERE NOW!"
- end flashback -
Jeff stared at his open office door, reliving the last time he saw his son.
Regret in the words spoken. The jet Virgil had flown out on had been left at a Tracey Industries hanger in New York, but that was the last they had heard from the artist of the family, along with the girl, his son had disappeared. Bank accounts emptied and shut down before Jeff could put a block on any activity.
The following months had been some of the most tense in the Tracy household, his remaining sons along with Tintin had refused to talk to the 'old man' as he was referred to, the only time any of his sons would talk direct to him would be during rescues. From the moment the Klaxon sounded to right until they were dismissed from a de-briefing, he was the commander of International Rescue. During the down time, he was ignored totally, his second youngest even going as far as walking out of the room soon after realising his father had walked in.
Of course, when he'd seen sense - and after keeping an eye on the girls father and watching his business go bust - Jeff had hired some of the most highly recommended private eyes to look for his son and the girl. But after two years the searches had turned up negative, even after a very public campaign and a reward for any information given. Virgil had just simply disappeared.
His boys had finally forgiven their father after the patriarch had been found, collapsed in his office on the third year anniversary of Virgil's disappearance. Exhaustion and stress had taken its toll. Brain had put the retired astronaut on complete bed rest for a month and a realisation that his son just didn't want to be found at this time. So the searches were called off. When and if Virgil wanted to make contact with his family again. Jeff would let him do so in his own time.
Picking up one of the many photos which decorated his desk. Jeff stared at the photo of his late wife with their five sons. A photo taken on a family holiday to New England, a year before she had been taken away from them in an avalanche.
Four sets of arms wrapped around their mother by the oldest boys, while the youngest of the group was being encouraged to look at the camera. Looking to his middle child in the picture, Jeff blew out another frustrated sigh, concentrating on the smiling face of his wife
"I'm so sorry Lucy! Please watch over our son! Wherever he may be?"
He wondered where his son could be now. Was he married? Children? Job? He just hoped he was happy and safe.
"Dad?"
Looking up from the picture, his eldest son stood in the door way. "Yes Scott?"
"Dinners ready, are you ok!"
"Yes!...yes I'm fine!" Wiping his eyes quickly "I'll be right there!"
Once again rising from his desk, the Tracey patriarch followed his eldest out towards the dining room. Looking once again to his sons portraits murmuring a quiet "Happy Birthday Virgil" before joining the rest of the family.
