Coming of Age by Criminally Charmed
I do not own the Thunderbirds.
Chapter One – If the truth be told
"Why does he get all the breaks?"
SMASH
"Why does everyone like him?"
CRASH
"What makes him better (SMASH) than (CRASH) me?"
Feral eyes gleamed as the furious individual looked at the pictures from the on-line student newsletter that he had printed out. "Alan Shepard Tracy… Why can't you just die?"
A large wicked looking knife was suddenly raised and just as suddenly fell, slashing across a picture of Alan with members of the once more championship Wharton Academy Track team. The point of the knife pierced Alan's eye. "I hate you and if it is the last thing I do on this planet, I will see you dead."
Looking back at the newsletter still on the screen, the hand that had been moving to shut off the computer suddenly stilled. An article had caught his eye. "Senior awards to be presented at pre-graduation luncheon." Of course, it was the perfect opportunity. Alan Tracy would be there, as Captain of the championship team and holder of a national record for the mile run, the boy would be front and center, a shining example of the promising future pouring forth from Wharton's hallowed gates. The youngest son of a billionaire - who himself was a national hero from his days as an astronaut – Alan Tracy seemed to lead a life touched by magic. He was popular, athletic and had already been pre-selected for Harvard University before the start of Alan's last year at Wharton's. Nothing seemed to be able to keep him down. "Teflon" Tracy was one teasing nickname his peers had bestowed up the golden boy who seemed to challenge fate constantly – and always won.
Well it was time. It was time that the Teflon coating was viciously scrubbed off and the person who had destroyed his life was going to know what it felt like to lose. And then, Alan Shepard Tracy would die.
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Jeff Tracy approached the Springfield Airport in Tracy One. Behind him were Tin-Tin and Brains, they were to join them for the Senior Awards Luncheon at Wharton's. Scott and John had tossed a coin a few months ago to see which brother would be Alan's other two guests for the graduation ceremony, as each graduate had a limit of four guests for the ceremony itself. Kate had remarked, with surprising good grace that it was for the best. Since Fermat had wanted Gordon to be one of his guests – he had surprised them all with asking Kyrano and Onaha to be his other guests – a switch in the rotation was required. Scott had just worked Five the month before, so Kate was working up on Thunderbird Five as a solo for the first time, taking over for Gordon. John had teased her that it was for the best; Kate and Scott weren't planning on another kid quite yet, were they?
Personally, Jeff thought it was a good thing his second son had been holding Baby Elizabeth at the time. Kate was still a damn good shot. And the fact that her son, Jason, had been conceived when Scott had accompanied his wife up to Five for her training was still something of a family joke. Somehow, Kate didn't find it all that amusing. After the initial shock of it, Jeff had. Not that he had ever said as much to Kate. Jeff couldn't love Kate more if she were his own flesh and blood, but to say Kate was not a person to cross was the understatement of the century. But that kind of iron will would be required to be matched with his firstborn.
John and Virgil were similarly well matched with their wives - John with the gentle but brilliant Emily; Virgil and Sarah, who both seemed content to balance out the team rather than lead.
Maybe that was why when the premarital counselor Alan and Tin-Tin had seen reported that the two were in fact ready for that kind of commitment, Jeff gave his approval for the marriage. Tin-Tin was the perfect counterpart for his youngest son. Her serenity acted as a balance and helped to keep Alan grounded. Thinking back just over three years ago, Jeff could recall the troubled relationship that had existed not only between himself and Alan but the strained connections the youngest Tracy had with his brothers. No one had taken Alan seriously and looking back, Jeff was appalled to realize the degree to which his son had been neglected by his entire family. After that momentous Spring Break when Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat had saved the Tracys and helped stop the Hood, the family had come to realize that Alan was vital to all of them. In time, the boy had flourished under the time and attention that his family had begun to give him. International Rescue was important but so was his son.
The family of three years later was vastly different as well. There were now three daughter-in-laws and two grandchildren. Jeff could remember laughing when Alan was last home, during Spring Break, and he had caught his son assuring Jason and Elizabeth that "you guys wouldn't be here if not for me. Yep. Didn't mean to but I am a pretty good matchmaker. Yeah, so be nice to Uncle Alan, hmmm? Go to sleep now, OK?" Alan actually had introduced, after a fashion, his brothers to their wives. Jeff just wished he hadn't nearly been killed in two of those hook-ups. But as Emily always phrased it, Alan's team of guardian angels was hard at work, protecting the youngest Tracy son.
Rising from the pilot's seat, Jeff smiled at his future daughter-in-law and helped Brains with the luggage. Today began a major step in the future of both their sons and it was with a blend of joy and terror that the two fathers left the plane to take the first steps in a most complicated of journeys – learning to let go.
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Alan Tracy looked around his dormitory room one last time. The sealed boxes and packed bags usually made him elated. A totally packed up room indicated the end of the school year and two and a half months at home with his family. But this time it also indicated the end of an era in his life. Alan had transferred to Wharton Academy after a little – cough – problem involving the chemistry lab at his last boarding school. He had been miserable most of his Freshman year at Wharton's, with Fermat as his only real friend. But after the whole mess with the Hood during Spring Break that year, Alan was determined to prove he was worthy to be a Thunderbird, worthy to be a Tracy. So it had been with a whole new attitude that Alan had returned to school after vacation. He found that classes were easier, friends were more easily made and boredom waned when effort was applied. As he and Fermat readied themselves to graduate and leave Wharton's for good, Alan was surprised to find himself slightly melancholy.
Before he could explore his thoughts any further, Fermat Hackenbacker came into the room. "A-Alan, are you r-ready f-for the l-luncheon?" Fermat reached over and adjusted the graduation cap and gown hanging on the door. Wistfully, he eyed Alan's matching, if much larger ensemble lying on his roommate's bed.
"Ready for the luncheon, yes, ready to leave here forever, well…" Alan smiled at the surprised look on Fermat's face. "Bet ya never thought to hear that from me." His grin growing at his friend's nod, Alan continued. "I mean, I can't wait to do so much. Tin and I are getting married next month; all three of us are going off to college. Too bad it's three different colleges."
"You're n-not st-still upset that I ch-chose Cal-Sci are you?"
"Fermat, my friend, Cal-Sci is lucky to be getting you and the opportunity you are getting is not one to overlook. Plus, it was the inspiration for Tin-Tin to apply to MIT and my inspiration to marry her now. Oh, we would have married some day anyways, but… I gotta admit - all these changes have me nervous."
Fermat simply smiled. He was one of the few people Alan would ever admit to being scared or nervous. It showed that after all these years, their friendship was as strong as ever. "S-so my dad j-just c-called from the airport; h-he and T-Tin-Tin and your d-dad are on th-their way h-here."
"Yeah, my dad called too. John and crew will be here later, maybe in time for dinner. Listen, I never thanked you for giving two of your tickets for graduation to Tin's parents. But I am curious, why you invited Gordy. Not that I mind. I mean, I like the fact two of my brothers get to be here, and out of all my brothers, Gordy had treated you more like another sibling than a friend. But I have to admit I am curious."
"W-well, I only h-had the one sp-spare t-ticket and G-Gordy d-doesn't h-have anyone and I l-like t-to see my s-seats all filled and…" Alan was looking at him, knowing what his friend was trying to cover.
"You tried to contact her didn't you?" Fermat nodded. Alan was the only one who knew that Fermat had finally tracked down his mother. Fermat had spent a good portion of the Spring semester, ever since Alan had returned after having been seriously ill, either considering or eventually trying to discover where the mother who had abandoned him was now. Pulling Fermat down onto the bed next to him, Alan looked his friend in the eye and asked, "So, what happened."
"She t-tried to d-deny it, th-then she st-started to cry. S-said she was re-remarried, to a normal g-guy, w-with n-normal k-kids. Wh-when I tr-tried t-to t-tell her I was gr-graduating and g-going to C-Cal-Sci in the f-fall, sh-she laughed. S-said it pr-proved I was j-just like my dad. Th-then sh-she asked th-that I n-never c-call again and h-hung up."
"She was right." Fermat raised his gaze to his friend's gentle blue eyes, filled with compassion and a touch of anger that anyone would hurt his longtime compatriot. "You are just like your dad. You are smart, loyal, and brave and the best friend a guy could have. I am lucky to have you and my dad is lucky to have Brains in his corner. We Tracy men couldn't do what we do without our pals the Hackenbackers."
"Th-thunderbirds are Go?"
"Thunderbirds are Go, my friend. And now, we have to as well." With that, Fermat and Alan got up and left the room that had been their school year home for almost four years. It was time to go get ready for their arriving family – and the future.
a/n - a bit of a set up. action will come. now if I want to post this correctly, I better do it before the meds kick in any further.