Synopsis: Sequel to "Tipping Point". Four years have passed since Lucille Tracy was tragically killed, and the family have moved on in those four years. But someone from Jeff Tracy's past has returned to haunt him, stalking and threatening his family. Legally powerless against him, how can he protect his sons from an unspoken threat, and his daughter from a man who sees her as damning?

Disclaimer: I don't own the Thunderbirds or characters or anyone you recognise.

- Violet -

Pulling on the end of the chains, floating helplessly against wretched seawater, was not in any way Violet's idea of a holiday. Well, she was on holiday until he came and took her from her family.

Well now, she was going to die alone. No one knows that she is dying here, essentially. Trapped by chains on her ankles, and the water was seeping in quickly. Not seeping, gushing. The bitter feeling of salt at the back of her throat was painful, combined with how little she had eaten and drank in the past week or so was painful. She didn't have a clue how long she had been here for.

It was also freezing cold. The air in the dungeon was rotten with decayed corpses and the nonexistent access to sunlight or natural heat sources was also evident, made all the more worse for Violet, who wore only her shorts and bra, having foolishly and fruitlessly given up her t-shirt to try and stem the flow of water that was becoming more and more rapid, power surging through it. The rusty bars above her were taunting her, laughing that she couldn't swim to safety. They were very much laughing that her only way of getting to them was just out of her reach, and the water was keeping it down, the key that would free her if only she could reach it!

Violet was scared, scared of dying in such a heartless and torturous manner. He had left her here to drown, having used her in an equally heartless and torturous manner, her love for Alan forcing her into submission. How could he do that, how could he do such a thing to her? How could he take her from her family, use her the way he did, beat her, and do it all in the name of his wife and unborn child? How could he stain their names with her blood?

Her only hope was that her family would find her quick enough. She had stolen a phone and called her brothers, who weren't eager to answer a phone call from an unknown number, but that's when he found her, and left her here. She told them everything she could, and only time would tell if it was enough to save her.

She thought back, back to when the troubles began, and this was when life was simple, coping, forgiving. When they were carefree, a normal family. To when she was a child.

And now this.

Three Months Earlier...

Violet Tracy was tired. Exhausted, physically and mentally. It was very nearly late springtime, and Scott was due home in a few hours.

Violet had been in a Physical Education Class this afternoon, under the baking heat. Yet whilst her heart was a lot stronger than it was four years ago when it was first injured, she couldn't push herself too hard, and today, she may or may not have pushed herself a bit too far. Not dangerously, but enough for her to be tired out a lot quicker and easier than her peers. The midday sun had not been helping in the slightest.

At least the day was over, and she was now in the cool indoors of her own home. She smiled as she watched Gordon and Alan engaged in a furious water fight below her window, and thanked her lucky stars that she closed the window when they started because now they had spotted her watching them and diverted their attention to her. She tried to ignore them and focus on the horrible English Assignment due in for the next week, the last week. Between assignment final drafts and exams she was mentally exhausted.

In her final year at school, Violet and Virgil had devoted most of the daylight hours to vigorous work and revision, because these exams mattered. The end was so near and yet so far, but June was two months away and that is when they will go on a family holiday - a pastime they had not done for years.

Scott was in training for the Air Force in place of University. It was what he wanted to do, flying. His passion for planes, astronauts and flying got him through interviews, then physical tests showed what he could do, which was a lot. He was doing very well, and was coming home today, as Scott was currently residing at the Air Force base. He was allowed to come home until they determined whether, in September, he could begin Pilot Training.

John was finishing his schooling off too, preparing for University. He wanted to go down the astronomy and astronaut route, just like Father once did. He spent every waking hour preparing for this, with no one seeing more than a minute of him every few hours or so. Father was certain that this was not very healthy for his son, but John was eating well and whilst he was out, got a decent amount of fresh air.

Gordon was very lax about his education, as it came very naturally to him. He had practice exams this year, no real ones, but nonetheless, they were important as you had the chance to improve before the real things. He still swam a lot, making full use of the local swimming pool during this kind of weather.

Alan... still very young - Ten years old. Still in first school, yet like Gordon, it all came very naturally to him. He worked hard, and it all paid off in the end. He looked up to Scott, now more than ever since he is learning to fly. Alan wanted to do what Scott does.

"Scotty's home, Scotty's home!"

Violet looked up instantly, hearing the shouts of Alan and Gordon below them. Their furious water fight had come to a ceasefire to greet the arrival of a car down the lane, Scott's car. Violet could see the car, and knew her brothers weren't joking. Virgil and herself leapt up from their seats and rushed down the stairs.

"Hey Sprout, Fish Face!" Scott jibed, dropping his duffel bag that he had hung over his shoulder and ruffling the hair of his two youngest brothers. His hair was everywhere, he looked very fit and healthy, and it was clear that the Air Force had done something about how he walked and stood. Besides, he looked remarkably handsome in his training uniform.

"Hey Scott!" Virgil called running from the house. He would have to fight for his brother, because the elder Tracy was being weighed down by the younger two. He eventually did, and high-fived his middle brother.

"Welcome home, son." Their father greeted.

"Thanks Dad," Scott replied, finally free of his little brother, wrapping his arm over Alan's shoulders. "It's good to be home."

"Hey, Scott." Violet greeted. Scott pulled his arm away from Alan and pulled his only sister into an embrace. "Good to see you."

"How's Spirit? Still going strong?"

She shrugged, "pretty much."

John emerged from his bedroom for longer than five minutes and remained down with the rest of his family for the entire afternoon. It was an enjoyable affair, and the family didn't suspect that for the past three years, someone had been plotting against them.

The Tracy's were all going out for a celebratory meal, something they also hadn't done for years and it was fantastic - A welcome home present for Scott. Alan was listening with rapt attention to Scott about the planes at the airfield, in awe and admiration. Virgil and Violet were revising what they remembered between themselves. John was being thinky about his own exams. Gordon was just eating his food, chipping into the conversation his father, Scott and Alan were having.

That was, until they were leaving.

"Hello, Tracy. Remember me?"

The greasy voice sounded from behind the family as they left the restaurant, smiling and laughing between themselves. Their father, who walked just behind his six children, and all seven of them turned around to listen to the voice. They found a man stood before them, casually stood and smoking a cigarette. He was very lax, hardened and was very imposing.

"Eleven years... seven months and... twenty-three days ago." He took a step closer every time he said a number. "Memory clear now, Tracy?"

The Tracy patriarch nodded slowly, but turned to his curious children behind him. "Go to the car, I'll meet you there." He handed his keys to Scott, and Violet started walking away. She felt very self conscious, especially the way the man was watching her, how he looked at her. Virgil asked who he was, and everyone shrugged.

"You're a lucky man, Jeff. She's very pretty, just like your wife."

All six of them turned around at that comment, true they couldn't hear it much, and then Violet felt even worse. Scott opened the car they had arrived in, and waited for everyone to get in. Scott didn't seem happy, but contained his anger and slammed the door shut behind him as he sat in.

"I don't know who that is, or how he knew Dad, but I don't like him." Gordon grumbled. Alan asked again who it was, but no one knew the answer. Violet watched quietly as her father turned around and walked away from the man, who was shouting something to him. Her father had his fists clenched, and said nothing to the children as he drove away, the man sauntering along the footpath in their direction.

"No one, Scott. Someone I used to know."

Something told Violet that there was something he was not telling them, something that made this man more dangerous than one would think.

And here I present to you the first chapter of the second instalment of what I call the "Tipping Point" series, although it is probably absolute crap right now. I hope you like it so far. And looking back on what goes on later in the story, I may have to change the rating but I'll see when the time comes. For now, T it is.

So, please review, kicking my story off to a good start? Please?