Light and Shadows

by Criminally Charmed

Disclaimer - I don't own the Tracys; I do own Lainie - but I may regret that by the end of the story because y'all really seem to hate her.

Chapter Four – Light to lead the way

Blinking sleepily, Virgil stirred. He thought he had heard – It almost sounded like a doorbell. One of the chimes on the communication's system?

Looking around, Virgil realized he wasn't in his own bed. Hell, he wasn't even on the Island. Glancing at the alarm clock by the bed, Virgil cursed and jumped out of bed, pulling on his jeans from the floor where he had dropped them the night before.

Running to the door, Virgil didn't even glance at the security system to tell him who was outside the door of the townhouse. Throwing open the door, Virgil exhaled when he saw Sarah standing on the front stoop.

Laughing, Sarah handed him a cup of coffee marked "Dunkin' Donuts". "Still have trouble getting your butt out of bed, don't you?"

"Time difference," Virgil muttered even as he downed a large gulp of the coffee – made just the way he liked it – and led Sarah into the living room.

"Whatever floats your boat," Sarah said cheerfully, taking a sip of her own coffee.

"You are way too cheerful in the morning," Virgil grumbled as he headed to the bedroom. "Give me a moment and I'll change."

Sarah chuckled again before letting herself wander around the room. Frowning as she continued to look around, she called back to Virgil.

"Please say this isn't a family home."

Virgil's voice could be heard from the other room.

"It is but it isn't. Dad hates hotels and none of us are crazy about them either. So in cities where we have offices, Dad bought some property. It can be used by family but also by the business for visitors. Since we also own the surrounding properties, it allows us to control who the neighbors are and gives privacy."

"Well," Sarah said calmly, "that explains why the place has all the personality of a hotel room. For all intents and purposed – it is."

Virgil laughed as he emerged from the bedroom, carrying his sneakers. "I should mention that to Dad. Maybe there is something we could do to make it a bit nicer."

Smiling, Sarah nodded at the bland painting above the fireplace. "You could start with that. Maybe some of your work would liven up the place."

"Oh!" Virgil said suddenly. "That reminds me." He turned and ran back into the bedroom, pulling on one shoe as he hopped on the sneaker-clad foot. Less than thirty seconds later, he walked back out, a flat package in his hands.

"Um, this is for you."

Sarah took the package and slowly unwrapped the heavy brown paper. A frame was revealed first, followed by –

"Oh, Virgil," Sarah said softly, tears in her voice.

It was a painting of the pond behind the Tracy home in Bailey. If you looked into the horizon, the viewer could see another house in the distance, a well-worn path connecting the two houses. While you could not tell who they were supposed to be – if you were not already in the know – six figures of varying sizes and hair color were walking on the path…

"It's the path between our houses, isn't it? And that's all of us, right?"

Virgil smiled over Sarah's shoulder. "I wanted you to have something to remember us by when you went off to college. I can't remember how many times we all walked you down that path to take you home."

Pointing to the two red-heads, he chuckled. "Gordon used to love having you around. Gave him another red-head in the house and made him feel a little less left out."

Sarah smiled, tracing the figures lightly. "I used to pretend it was my family as well. For all the time I spent there…"

Laughing as he slipped the framed art work into a canvas sack, Virgil gulped down some more coffee and led the way to out of the townhouse.

"So," he mused, looking around. "You said you wanted to take your car, right?"

"A day like today needs a convertible," Sarah said lightly, pulling gently at his hand. The pair moved part of the way down the street until Sarah turned to Virgil with a grin. "So? Would it pass the Tracy muster?"

Virgil was sure his jaw had dropped and wasn't sure if he was drooling, but frankly, he didn't care. Friends had always joked that the Tracy family had a "machine" gene, with a deep appreciation for a classically made piece of equipment. And what was in front of them definitely classified as that.

"A 1956 black Ford Thunderbird convertible, V8 with 225 horsepower. You know, most folks don't know it but the Thunderbird wasn't marketed as a sports car. But it still outsold the Corvette, which was considered it's chief rival -"

"Twenty to one," Virgil said absently.

"Twenty-three to one," Sarah corrected cheerfully, "at least for that year's model."

"Your aunt left you this?" Virgil asked incredulously.

Sarah shrugged as she opened the driver's side door and slipped into the seat. "Harry just left me everything. Her will read that "anything not specifically stated in this document is to be given to my niece, Sarah J. Woodbury, so that she can live her life however she sees fit". Aunt Harry," she sighed, "was big on personal freedom. Having known my grandparents, I could understand that."

Grinning up at Virgil, she started the engine. "So – you coming or what?"

Jumping into the two-seater, Virgil laughed with sheer enjoyment. As they drove off, he had to ask –

"Any chance I can drive later?"

"Sure," Sarah said above the rushing air. "As soon as we get you back to your rental car." When Sarah caught Virgil's pout, she just laughed.

"Sorry, but you have to marry me to get to drive my baby."

Tugging lightly on a tendril of hair that had fallen loose from Sarah's braid, Virgil grinned. "I may have to consider that," he teased.

Grinning back, the two drove off for a day of adventure, all the while with Virgil thinking, "Thunderbirds are go!"

John ran through the corridors leading to Thunderbird Three's launching area, adjusting his uniform before getting to the big red rocket. A smirking Gordon was waiting on his brother.

"Really, John – what took you so long?"

Shrugging, John gave a small smile. "Just saying goodbye to Emily."

"You could have just called her," Gordon chuckled.

His smile grew as John made sure the supplies were fully loaded and secure before taking a seat next to Gordon. "Some things," John said, "are done better in person."

"I'm sure they are," Gordon leered.

"Hey, that is your future sister-in-law," John admonished.

"Which is why I would never say it in front of her – or Dad," Gordon laughed.

"Then you better also make sure your radio isn't on," Jeff's disembodied voice rang out.

"Yes, sir!" Gordon snapped to attention, giving John a chance to smirk.

"And John – I understand how hard it is to say goodbye to Emily like this, but you knew what time I wanted to launch. Time yourself better next time."

"Yes, sir," John said quietly. Jeff rarely had to lecture his second son but –

The library split apart, allowing the rocket to launch. As it roared through the sky, on its way to Thunderbird Five, Jeff watched from his office. The subtle scent of lilac surrounded him like a warm blanket.

"I know, Luc," Jeff whispered. "I can recall a few times when I ran late saying goodbye to you. But my commander gave me hell for it as well. It's not easy being their father and their boss. It's not easy doing anything without you."

From the doorway, Scott took a step back, not wanting his father to know he had heard such an emotional confession being pulled from the stoic man. Whistling a tune from high school, Scott made his entrance.

Jeff gave his firstborn a small smile as the younger man entered the room. Scott was clearly marked as his son, being the very image of Jeff at that age.

"Hey, Dad," Scott said cheerfully. "Alan called a little while ago. He said that Wharton's is having their family weekend Columbus Day Weekend and since you have that series of teleconferences then -"

"It's that weekend?" Jeff asked, clearly disappointed.

"Alan confirmed it with Ann-Marie," Scott said. "And he asked if I can come up and represent the family."

Jeff looked over his day planner, frowning. "Well, as long as nothing major comes up -"

"Dad," Scott said firmly. "We never made it to Family Weekends at his other boarding schools. As Brains always does his best to be there for Fermat. The world may need the Thunderbirds but Alan needs his family."

Jeff looked surprised for a moment then nodded slowly. It was time for him to be a father first. It was time to put his family first. Alan needed to come first. Like John said after the accident earlier that year – "Alan is our world".

"OK, Scott – Tell Alan you'll be there."

Scott grinned. "Already done."

Startled for a moment, Jeff laughed when he realized Scott had known what the result would be.

"After all these years of raising Gordon," he chuckled, "you think I would know when I have been played."

"Not played," Scott smiled. "But sometimes you do need to be reminded of a few things."

"Just wait," Jeff warned. "Someday you will meet a woman you can't intimidate and you'll be smart enough to marry her. Then when you become a father, we'll talk."

Leaving his father to paperwork – and heading off for some of his own – Scott gave a small sigh. He wished his father could understand – in so many ways, Scott was already a parent, having been as active in raising Alan. And Scott would be damned if Alan ever fell to the bottom of their priorities ever again.

Alan was reviewing his books and making some quick notes. His classes were far more challenging this year than they had been previously but he discovered that he was thriving on the work.

When Alan was first born – or so he had been told – the family had delighted in comparing the two blonde sons, wondering how much alike John and Alan would be. Scott and Virgil, who both looked so much like their father, had many similarities. Of course there were differences as well, with Virgil being more artistic and Scott having been born to lead, but both were athletic and determined, with a natural aptitude for machines.

Then again, that last one seemed to be a family trait.

Growing up, it had seemed that John and Alan were as different as could be. John was quiet, studious and a natural born peacemaker, while Alan was loud, skated by on his studies and chaos in theory. But so much had changed in the last six months. Alan would the first to now admit that much of his rebelliousness was his fear of losing his family. He had gone from being the center of their attention to virtually an afterthought. Between the Hood and the car accident – two events which had both almost cost Alan his life – the family went out of their way to make sure he knew he was loved and cherished. Knowing that his was an important part of the family, even when absent from the Island, gave Alan the courage to spread his wings and soar as high as he could.

Alan's musing was disrupted by a chime for the door. "Come in," he called as he put away his math book.

Tomo Wattame entered the room, grinning at the younger boy.

"Yo Tracy!" the now-Senior called out in greeting.

"Tom," Alan grinned back. "You so can't do street."

"Like you can, Blondie?" the Asian boy asked. His mother was the Japanese ambassador to the United Nations and his late father had been a senior executive at Tracy Enterprises Asian Division, so the two had met years before at a company function.

Coming over to where Alan was still sitting, he nudged Alan's shoulder. "Man, you are so non-street, you're not white, you're clear."

Chuckling at an old joke between the two, Alan changed the subject. "I tried calling you when I was in New York earlier in the summer. Your mom's housekeeper said the two of you had headed back to Kyoto unexpectedly."

"My grandfather was sick," Tomo said softly. "He died last week."

Shaking his head, Alan commiserated with his friend. "Sorry, man. I know how close you were since your Dad died."

Tomo nodded sadly. "But at the end, he really seemed at peace. You know, I was all the blood family he had left. My aunt died as a child, my grandmother and father died in the same plane crash – well, I'd like to think he was just ready to join them."

Touching a picture of his family from when his mother was alive as well as one taken during the summer, Alan smiled. "Sometimes that may be the case. And sometimes, I think they love you so much, that they just want to be able to watch over you always."

Looking at the picture, Tomo smiled. "Man, do you look like your mom. And that other blonde guy is your brother, John, right?"

Nodding, Alan laughed. "You haven't cracked your astronomy book yet, have you?" When Tomo shook his head, Alan just grinned. "John wrote it."

"So that's what Professor Jenovese meant?" Tomo gasped.

Confused, Alan gestured for his friend to continue, which he did.

"Professor Jenovese said that he wanted to talk to you about snagging a guest lecturer, since that person would probably been at Wharton's at some point anyhow."

Laughing again, Alan pulled out his iPhone. "I'll warn John that my astronomy professor wants to hit him up for a free lecture. He'll be picking me up for Thanksgiving with Emily anyhow. Maybe they can come in a day or so early."

"Who is Emily?" Tomo said in confusion.

Alan grinned as he stood up. "My brother's fiancé." Scrolling through the pictures on his phone, he came across one of the two brothers and their respective sweethearts, which he showed to his friend.

"She's pretty," Tomo said of Emily. "But who's the hottie?"

Snatching back the phone, Alan stuffed it in his pocket as they moved towards the door. "That is my girl, you perv. Eyes off."

Sighing, Tomo accompanied Alan out into the hallway. "I've said it before Tracy, and I'm saying it again. You have the damndest luck. It's like you have an angel on your shoulder."

"Maybe I do," Alan said lightly as they headed towards the exit.

Thanks, Mom.

Having spent an enjoyable day wandering through the streets of Boston, playing tourist, something Sarah hadn't done much of during her time in New England.

"I hope this hasn't been too boring for you," Virgil said as they headed back to the parking garage near Copley Plaza.

"I haven't done it that much," Sarah shrugged as she pulled out her car keys.

"Why not?" Virgil asked. "All this history? I would have thought you would love it."

"One," Sarah said as she stopped, holding up a finger. "When I first got to Boston, I never saw the outside of the Shriners Hospital. Even after I was moved to a rehab center, between treatments and trying to get my degree, I didn't have the time, inclination or energy to play tourist. Then when I graduated, I went right into the paramedic program. I had barely gotten my boots when Aunt Harry had a massive heart attack and died. Since then, I have thrown myself into my work to -"

When Sarah's voice trailed off, Virgil stepped closer and put a hand under her chin, raising it so he could watch her eyes.

"So you could forget you were – for all intents – alone?"

Sarah slowly nodded and Virgil leaned in even closer.

"I promise you, Sarah Jane, you will never be alone again."

Before Sarah could say anything, Virgil pressed his lips against hers. Pulling back, afraid he had acted to hastily, Virgil was startled when Sarah grabbed his face and kissed him back. Swept up in the moment, Virgil continued the kiss until they finally broke apart.

"Um, I, um guess we should go get some dinner," Virgil stuttered.

Sarah's green eyes burned with fire. "Or we could have something delivered. To my place."

"Are you sure?" Virgil whispered, almost afraid of what Sarah had apparently suggested.

"Since I was fifteen I've been sure," Sarah said softly before leading Virgil back to the T-Bird.

The ten minute drive to her house from Downtown Crossing had never seemed so long.

A/N - Wow, I cam really presume you dislike Lainie. Wait - she gets worse.

Alan - She gets worse? CC, are you crazy?

CC - That has been debated at times.

Scott - Stop the debate. The decision has been made.

CC- Scott, I'd say something, but Jean would get mad at me.

Jean - You bet I would.

CC - Jean, what are you doing here?

Jean - You invited me, remember?

CC - Um, no. No, I did not.

Alan - Jean, admit it - you are stalking Scott.

Jean - Am not! Now, I would never chase Scott after Kate comes into the picture, CC shook up the introduction of the Tracy Wives. Kate will be brought in AFTER Emily and Sarah instead of before. So - since Kate isn't here to distract him, I am offering my services.

Scott - And as an officer and a gentleman, I will gladly accept.

Alan - Do you know what they are talking about?

CC - Yep. But you better not. You are still too close to my daughter's age.

Alan - OK, back to crazy lady - how much harm is she going to do?

CC - Nothing lethal. (Alan and Scott breath a sigh of relief until CC speaks again.) Well, nothing lethal to a Tracy. OCs are at my discretion. And remember - there was nothing lethal for you in Left By the Wayside.

Scott - OK, it wasn't lethal, but you ran him over, stopped his heart, caused an allergic reaction, emotionally traumatized him and sent the whole family off the deep end.

CC - Sounds about right.

Scott (sighs) - Oh, well. Did you at least make some chocolate cake?

CC - Nope, gingerbread cake - Jean likes it.

Jean - OOH, yeah. C'mon Scott - you will love this.

Alan (whispers to Scott) She's as nuts as CC.

CC - Why do you think we're such good friends? Cheers!