Disclaimer: I don't own the TBs or the Tracys with the exception of Samantha.
A/N: I know next to nothing about skiing so if I have something wrong, I apologize in advance. This story is an alternate universe story that stems from my story "A Special Connection". Fayesy and Ravenlua, thanks for the kind reviews.
Waiting for News
"Dad, what's that noise?" asked Gordon from where he was lying on the floor, coloring with Alan. Looking up from the book he was reading, Jeff listened before jumping to his feet. Running to a window that faced the mountains, he closed his eyes not wanting to believe what he was seeing.
"Oh God, please let them be alright," he whispered.
"What is it, Dad?" asked Alan. He and Gordon had followed their father to the window. A loud stomping on the stairs was followed by a shout.
"AVALANCHE!" cried Virgil as he and Scott ran down to the family room. "Where did Mom and the twins go?" Jeff faced his sons with a shocked expression on his face.
"Boys, get your coats and boots on. We're going to the designated site for the hospital as a precaution," he ordered. "If your mom, brother and sister were caught by the avalanche, that's where they will be taken." He had grabbed his coat and roughly jerked the zipper up. Leading his sons to the designated area, he quickly identified himself and described Lucy, John, and Samantha to the volunteer as well as what slope they had been on. She took the information and directed them to a waiting area until the victims could be located and brought to the makeshift hospital. Silently, the five of them went to wait for any news but Scott, Jeff, and Virgil were mentally trying to prepare themselves for the worst.
Stretchers carried by rescue volunteers began to arrive at the makeshift hospital. A small area behind it was a temporary morgue for the unfortunate individuals who had not survived. The Tracy family watched as each person was carried in hoping to see John, Samantha, and Lucy. After what they would later claim was like an eternity but in reality was only about forty minutes, Scott thought he recognized the blonde hair of his next youngest siblings. He only caught a glimpse so he wasn't sure if it was John or Samantha.
Speaking softly, he got his dad's attention. "I think I just saw one of the twins." Jeff looked up in the direction that Scott pointed out and barely got a glimpse of the familiar blonde hair. On his feet before he knew it, he had made his way to the volunteer again.
"Excuse me but I think one of my children was just brought in," he said just as Virgil shouted.
"SAMANTHA!" Jeff abruptly turned around and saw that Samantha was being carried in. He ran over to the stretcher and looked down at her blue-tinged lips and pale complexion. Her eyes were closed but her facial expression was that of someone in pain.
"Samantha? Honey, can you hear me?" he managed to say before she was taken to where John had been carried to.
"Daddy?" Her soft voice was barely heard amidst all the confusion but he heard it and hurried after her. Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan followed behind him despite the medical personnel telling them to go back to the waiting area. Glaring angrily at several of them, Jeff refused to back down and leave his injured son and daughter.
"My son and daughter are injured and I will not leave them alone. You don't know their medical history and I won't have them put at risk for further complications or injury by not being present when you are assessing them. My other sons are to remain with me so that I may keep an eye out for them as well." Seeing that they weren't going to get him to change his mind, they simply set about triaging the patients.
"Daddy?" Shifting his attention to his daughter, Jeff leaned down to hear her.
"I'm right here, Samantha," he reassured her. Squinting up at him, she gave a ghost of a smile before grimacing again. When she started shivering again, she managed one word..
"Cold," she whispered, falling asleep again. The doctor took the opportunity to check her over while she was asleep. He had already noted John's chart and had ordered the nurse to cover him with more blankets to help him warm up.
None of them noticed the stretcher covered with the green blanket being carried to the morgue area.
"Sir, what are the names of your children?" asked the doctor who had checked over both John and Samantha. Jeff looked up from where he was watching over them. Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan were sitting quietly against the wall.
"Their names are John and Samantha Tracy," he answered. "Do…do you know if they were brought in with another woman with darker hair? More like his?" He pointed to Virgil so that the doctor would know what color hair he was describing.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Tracy, but I've been checking over your son and daughter. I'm afraid that we need to get them to the hospital. Both of them have multiple injuries and broken bones as well as hypothermia. Their body temperature is coming up but they need better treatment than basic triage. Ambulances are already here and waiting to take them to the hospital. Is there anything medically that I should note in their charts?" Anxious and worried, Jeff shook his head. He knew each of his children's medical history but wasn't thinking straight. Scott stood up and moved next to his dad.
"Doctor, they are both sensitive to medications especially anesthesia. Our mom was told by our pediatrician that a half-dose of most medications would be enough for either John or Samantha. Any more than that would make them sick and take a lot longer to work out of their system," he told him. Jeff glanced over at his son in gratitude.
"Thanks, Scott; I know their histories but had a mental block. Doctor, which hospital are they going to be transported to?" Jeff mentally shook himself and forced his attention on what needed to be done for his son and daughter.
"Mr. Tracy, please come to the volunteer desk." A polite voice announced over an intercom system. Jeff looked startled to hear his name but finished listening to the doctor. His sons surrounded him before they all went out to the volunteer desk.
"I'm Jeff Tracy," he identified himself to the volunteer. A rescue worker stood next to her with another man.
"Mr. Tracy, will you follow us, please?" They were led to a smaller room set up next to the temporary morgue. A few chairs were set up they were urged to sit down. Jeff held Gordon on his lap and Scott held Alan. Virgil sat between Scott and their dad.
"Mr. Tracy, I'm Doctor Smith and this is Miguel. He's one of the rescuers that helped locate and dig out a young girl and another woman. The woman had identification on her person that said Lucille Tracy. Her emergency contact had Jeff Tracy listed. Are you that Jeff Tracy?"
"Yes, I am. What has happened to my wife?" he demanded. The tiny seed of worry that something bad had happened to Lucy suddenly flared into something akin to panic.
"Mr. Tracy, would you like for me to take your boys out to the waiting area?" asked Miguel. Scott held Alan closer to him and with his left arm pulled Virgil closer. Gordon pressed against their dad and shook his head.
"No, this affects them as well," Jeff answered. "Continue, Doctor."
"I'm sorry but if the identification is correct then she didn't survive," he answered hurriedly. "I need you to come and identify her body." The five Tracys sat there in stunned silence that was shattered by a sudden cry.
"YOU'RE A LIAR! MY MOMMY IS TO ALIVE!" Alan cried out. "Scotty, Mommy wouldn't leave us, would she?" Silently, Scott held his baby brother even closer. His actions caused Alan to completely break down, sobbing for their loss. Virgil hid his face against Scott's arm to hide his tears. Squirming around on Jeff's lap, Gordon cried against his neck. Jeff was lost in memories of his life with Lucy and failed to notice the tears that ran down his cheeks.
"Doctor, can you please take us to her?" Scott asked, gruffly. Shifting Alan in his arms, he stood up with one arm still holding Virgil protectively. Jeff mimicked his actions and carried Gordon to where the doctor led them. At the far end of the morgue, the doctor stood next to a stretcher covered with a green blanket. The five Tracys lined up on one side of the stretcher, silent. Steeling himself for his biggest fear, Jeff nodded at the doctor who gently folded the blanket down. Jeff gazed down at his wife and best friend's peaceful expression and felt his knees start to buckle.
"NNOOOO!"