Ok, so right now I'm starting to wonder if anyone (except criminally charmed, who's been like the best reviewer ever :) ), even likes my stories at all. Because hardly anyone ever reviews anymore, and I'm taking that as your way of saying my stories aren't that great…So, unless I start getting more reviews, this will be the last chapter I update for a while. Sorry, guys.
Screaming, Alan tried to find something to grab as he fell through the air. Suddenly, he could feel his body slam against the top of the icy waters. He was soon enveloped in the roaring water, struggling to get to the surface. As he clawed and fought to get out, he was constantly bombarded with chunks of debris, forcing him forwards and toward the bottom of the churning monster. His lungs could hardly hold out against the immense need for air and burned from the lack thereof. Suddenly, a large piece of metal slammed against Alan's back, and he let out a scream. Losing the only air he had in his lungs, and pain searing on his back, Alan fell into darkness.
"You think he's still sleeping?" Gordon wondered aloud as he and his two oldest brothers walked through the halls towards Alan's room.
"Probably," John commented. "He's been through a lot lately…all of us have."
Scott sighed. "That's for sure…"
Suddenly, a piercing scream came from down the hall. Glancing at each other, the three brothers turned and sprinted down the hall. As they got to Alan's room, they threw open the door, rushing in. In his bed, Alan was thrashing around, swinging his arms around in the air. He was panting and his face was twisted in fear and dreamt pain.
Scott was the first to get to him, and he firmly gripped his brother's shoulders, trying to avoid him hurting himself. "Alan!" he called out to Alan, trying to wake him. "Alan, you're safe! Wake up!" However, Alan continued to struggle. "Alan!" Scott called one more time. This time, Alan's eyes flew open, darting back and forth until he saw Scott. He stopped struggling, and fell tiredly back onto the bed, catching his breath.
Looking up into his brother's eyes, something inside Alan stirred, and one of the clearest memories since the flood returned.
---
"Alan, I can't believe you were so stupid!" Scott screamed. "You could've gotten really hurt!"
"But I didn't…"a 9 year old Alan tried to defend himself weakly. He tried to bite back tears as he avoided his brother's gaze. He'd felt left out when his two older brothers were going on a mission, and had decided to sneak on board Thunderbird 2 before liftoff when no one was watching. The mission was easy and successful, though Scott was extremely mad when he found Alan near the back of the ship.
"But you could have Alan! That's the point!" Scott continued to yell. "Why do you never listen, you little brat?"
"Scott!" Jeff reprimanded Scott firmly, though he continued to rant at Alan.
"I've told you a thousand times that you can't come until you're a Thunderbird! And you know what? At this rate, you'll never be one!"
Alan finally broke into tears with the last remark and ran from the room.
---
"Alan?" Alan heard Scott say, snapping him back to reality. Nervously, he looked up at his older brother who was now sitting next to him. What if he's still like that..? I can't remember anything else about him… "Are you ok?" Scott said with worry in his voice, though Alan still stayed wary.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
Soon, Jeff came running into the room as well. "What's wrong?" he asked frantically.
Alan lowered his gaze in embarrassment, unwilling to meet any of the men's eyes. "Bad dream…" he murmured.
Jeff, going around to the other side of the bed, set a gentle hand on Alan's shoulder. "It's ok Alan, you're safe now…" When Alan simply nodded, Jeff continued, "Do you think you'll be up to a medical check-up?"
Alan swallowed, but nodded quietly. Jeff squeezed his shoulder gently, and Alan somehow felt a little calmer. Turning to his watch, Jeff called Brains from his wrist-com. Not long later, the scientist came running into the room, Fermat close behind. Neither could believe their eyes, so they cleaned their glasses and checked again. When they still saw Alan, huge grins split their faces.
"A-Alan!" Fermat cried happily, rushing over to his friend. However, Alan merely sat and stared oddly at the other boy. When Fermat noticed his odd expression, he frowned. "Alan? W-what's wrong?"
"Fermat," Jeff started gently, "Alan can't remember us…He's lost his memory…"
Fermat stood taken aback, his expression a mix of sadness and worry. "W-will he b-b-be alright?"
"Well," Scott said, standing up. "That's what we were hoping your dad could tell us."
Nodding, Brains immediately walked over and began checking Alan. He shone a light in his eyes, checked his vital signs, hearing, and seeing, and asked a few minor questions. A few minutes passed, and the others were getting anxious. Finally, Brains turned, stuttering, "W-w-well, it seems h-he has a s-s-slight concussion and w-will have to stay in bed f-for a while. Other than th-that, he should be f-f-fine."
"And his memory?" John insisted. The others obviously wondering the same thing.
"I'm n-not sure if he'll g-g-get it back or n-not…" Brains said dismally, wringing his hands a bit. "O-o-only time will tell i-if he regains it. You a-all can help b-b-by surrounding him with familiar o-objects, music, e-e-etcetera. F-for now, he needs to r-r-rest."
The others nodded, each silently praying it would eventually return. When Brains turned to leave, Jeff spoke up, "Oh, Brains, do you think you could take over on Thunderbird 5 for a while? Virgil really wants to see Alan…"
Smiling sympathetically, Brains nodded. "O-of course, Mr. Tracy." He then turned and left the room, and brought a distraught Fermat with him.
Jeff, who now was sitting next to Alan with an arm wrapped around his son's shoulders, turned to his elder sons. "We should take shifts watching over him, to make sure he doesn't have any more nightmares."
"I'll go first," Scott suggested, the others nodding in agreement.
However, Alan became nervous and looked to his father. "No, I want you to stay instead," he whimpered. He didn't care if he sounded like a child, he just knew he didn't want the angry brother to stay with him in the fear of being screamed at. Alan kept his gaze on Jeff, pleading with his eyes, while Jeff glanced up at Scott. His eldest son seemed hurt, though he quickly hid it. Scott, nodding, said with a slightly cracked voice, "Alright, I'll come back later then…" And without another word, he spun on his heel and left. John and Gordon had upset looks on their faces, and quickly followed after him.
Jeff looked down at Alan, who now seem much more relaxed and was now leaning against his chest. "Why didn't you want Scott to stay with you?" he asked quietly.
Alan's face fell a little bit, and he lowered his gaze. "I…I only have one memory of him…and it was of him shouting at me…I was scared he was still like that…" he muttered. Even though he hardly knew this man, he somehow knew he could trust him.
Jeff was stunned. "Alan, Scott loves you…" he told him firmly, yet with a gentle tone. "Sure, you've made some mistakes in the past, and so has he. But he's your brother, and even though you can't remember it, he loves you very much. We all do, Alan."
A tear slid down Alan's cheek. "If only I could remember…I'm so sorry…" he whispered, clinging to Jeff's shirt.
Wrapping his arms around Alan, Jeff felt badly for the boy. "It's ok, Alan…it's not your fault…" he told him softly, Alan digging into his shirt even more.
Around the doorway, unseen by Jeff or Alan, Gordon stood listening. "No, but it's mine…" he whispered to himself, walking away.
Sorry it's such a short chapter. If I get some reviews, I'll try to update it sometime this week. :)
