Disclaimer: see chapter one

AN: Hey, thanks for the reviews. I am also posting this on my deviantart as well (the link should be posted on my profile soon) so if for some reason, the document manager is down, I will post the chapter there.

Chapter Six- Up, Up, and Away

The moment Scott pushed the front door open, Alan and Gordon slid past him, kicked off their shoes, tossed their bags near the foot of the steps and ran to the TV, arguing over which cartoon they would watch.

With a sigh, Scott picked up their bags, carried them upstairs and placed them on their respective beds. He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, where his grandmother sat on a chair, muttering down the phone.

Josie beamed at Scott when she saw him. Her attention was quickly back on the phone. "No, he's here. I'll put him on. He'll want an explanation, and it's going to come from you." Josie handed Scott the phone. "It's your father."

Scott rolled his eyes. What had he done now? "Hello?"

"Hello son. How are you?" Jeff's gravely voice asked.

"I'm fine sir. And you?"

"Me, son? Never been better." Jeff hesitated, unsure of how to approach the subject. "You know the launch is in two day?"

"Yes. It's kind of hard to forget, considering your own dad is commanding the launch and trip."

"I don't want you there." Jeff blurted out bluntly.

"What?"

"You have exams coming up in a few weeks. I trust you enough to know that you're studying hard, and I don't want to distract you from it." Jeff explained, feeling bad.

"And the others are going." Scott stated, even though it sounded like an accusation.

"Well, yes."

"So, you're saying I'm too old to come to the launch?" Scott asked, dangerously quietly. He may not have liked his father's mission, but he still wanted to see Jeff off and wish him luck.

"Scott, try to understand," Jeff placated.

"This is so unfair! This is age discrimination!" Scott yelled, before slamming the phone on the oak table, and storming out of the kitchen.

Josie sat down on the edge of Scott's bed with a sigh, careful not to wake a sleeping John. "Sweetie, I know you're awake. Talk to me."

Scott blinked in the dark, but still continued to feign sleep.

"I'll make you a big mug of hot chocolate with the marshmallows in them, and you can have some chocolate chip cookies." Josie enticed.

Apparently, John wasn't as asleep as Josie thought. He mumbled the only halfway coherent sentence she could understand, and then rolled over. "I don't want to go on the rocket ship with rookies."

"You can have a slice of apple pie." Josie continued.

Scott shot up out of his bed, and was at the door in a blink of an eye, causing Josie to bite her lip to stop her laughing. If there was one thing that could get Scott out of a bad mood, it was a slice of apple pie.

"Are you coming? It's a clear night, and there are some good constellations to see." Scott asked John, knowing John wasn't asleep before throwing the door open and letting the hallway light emit a soft yellow in the darkened bedroom.

John sat up. "Really?"

Scott rolled his blue eyes. "No. I lied. Go back to sleep."

John lowered his eyes and pouted.

"You don't understand sarcasm yet, do you?"

"I understand it." John replied. "I just don't know when you're being serious or sarcastic. It's so difficult to tell with you and your teenager mood swings."

"You're a teenager." Scott pointed out.

"Yes, but I'm the picture of perfection; the epitome of innocence. I don't get mood swings." John smiled smugly.

"Whatever." Scot left the room, and headed down the stairs, John and Josie following in his wake.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Scott asked, fishing a marshmallow out from his drink. John had gulped down his hot drink, and was now sitting on the roof of the house, looking at the stars.

"I just wanted to ask if you were OK with us going to the launch." Josie smiled, taking a tiny bite of her slice of pie.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I simply love being the one left behind."

Josie sighed. "Sweetie, your father wants what's best for you. He seems to think it's better for you to concentrate on your exams."

"Don't I get a say in what's best for me?"

"Not this time." Josie sighed again. "It's your father's decision. If he wants you to stay at home and study, then you'll stay at home and study. I want you to respect his wishes."

Scott shrugged in defeat. He knew there was no way he could persuade his grandma to let him go. Once Josie had made up her mind about something, nothing would move her.

"Scott, you know that if it was any other time, your father would love for you to be there."

"I know. So, when are you going?" Scott spooned the last of his apple pie slice into his mouth.

"Tomorrow. We'll be gone for two nights and one day. Not that long." Josie assured her eldest grandson.

Scott nodded, as he rinsed his mug and plate, and stacked them in the dishwasher. "Understood."

"Scott?"

"Yes?"

"While we're gone, please, for the love of everything good and holy, please do NOT try and make anything in the kitchen. You know what happened last time you set foot in the kitchen without supervision."

Jeff packed his bag. It was his last night in his sleeping quarters. Tomorrow, he would be in quarantine, and the day after tomorrow… Jeff's stomach flipped as he thought of his upcoming mission.

There was one more item he needed to pack. It was probably the most important item of them all.
Sitting in the centre of his dresser was a photo of his family. It was the last photo taken of the family before Lucy passed on. With a sigh, Jeff picked up the photo, stared intently at it and sat heavily on the bed.

'Oh, Luc,' he thought pensively. 'Am I doing the right thing? Is this trip worth the risk? What will happen to the boys if I don't make it back? Am I being too unfair on Scott, forcing to become old before his time, should the worst happen?'

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of such thoughts. 'Tracy,' a voice in his head told him sternly. 'Now is not the time to have doubts or second thoughts. It's too late; you cannot pull out now. You will be seeing most of your family again tomorrow. Focus on the positives.'

For the first time this whole year, Scott managed to unlock the front door, and enter home without having two little rascals push past him.

He kicked of his shoes, headed into the living room, and flicked on the TV, just in time to see the opening credits for the news. Old habits, Scott reasoned, died hard.

"Today's headlines; police are charged with drink-driving, almost seven times over the legal limit. Interest rates are on the rise, and average American families continue to struggle."

'Us included.' Scott thought dryly.

"But first," the TV continued to stream through the room. "We cross over to our live link at Cape Canaveral, where the crew of Orbita 13 are currently holding their last and exclusive interview with INN before they leave for the moon.

Scott's pulse raced that little bit faster. This was what he wanted to see. He edged towards the screen in anticipation.

"It's two days before the launch, how do you feel?" the interviewer asked.

"Absolutely wonderful." Jack smiled. "The sun is shining; the sky is blue, what could go wrong?"

The interviewer laughed, and then turned to face Nick. "This is your first time into space. Do you feel ready for such a momentous occasion?"

"Well, everyone has to start somewhere. I guess I'll start from here."

The interviewer looked at the time. "Just one last question. Is there anything you'd like to say to your family or our viewers?"

Jeff nodded. "This is for my sons, starting from youngest to oldest. Alan, be good for your grandma, stay out of trouble, and Daddy'll be back before you know it. Who knows, he might even have a moon rock for you.

Gordon, for God's sake, stop the pranks. Be good for your brothers, and keep up with your swimming. Just because I can't take you to the pool, it doesn't mean you can slack off.

Virgil, when you get home, look at the bottom of your sock drawer. I won't say anymore. It will ruin the surprise.

John, go up into the attic. Under the round window, you'll find a telescope, along with some star charts. Take a look at them, they're pretty interesting.

And last, but not least, Scott. Listen, you will be responsible while I'm away, right? I don't expect to find the house burnt to a crisp on my return. And please, please, please, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT make any sort of food in any shape or form. You may be an all-rounder, but, cooking is not your forte. If I come back and find we are missing a kitchen, I will hold you personally responsible, OK?"

"Yeah, right!" Scott scoffed. "At least I don't set fire to the kitchen making a sandwich. I am way better at cooking than you are, Dad."

Scott hit the power button on the remote. He had seen what he wanted to see. With a sigh, he trudged up the stairs to complete his homework in the unnatural silence of the house.

"Daddy!" Alan broke free of Josie's vice like grip, and ran towards Jeff, ignoring the barriers and bars that separated the spectators from the astronauts.

Luckily, John caught the back of his shirt, preventing him from crawling under the gates.

"Johnny, let me go! I want to see Daddy!" Alan ordered.

"You can't." John explained. "Those barriers are there to stop Daddy from getting our germs and falling sick in space. We don't want Daddy to be sick in space, do we?"

Alan shook his head, his curls bouncing on his head.

It was nearing eleven at night, and the astronauts and families had gathered near the launch site, to say their farewells.

Jeff turned his head, to see most of his family standing in front of him. "Hi boys!" he greeted, from the far side of the fence.

John, Virgil and Gordon all waved back, while Alan screamed "DADDY!" at the top of his lungs.

With a laugh, Jeff moved as close as he could, without breaking through the safety zone. "Have you boys been good for Grandma?"

Four eager heads nodded, and Jeff looked at his mother for conformation.

"They have been wonderfully behaved, Jeff."

"How was the flight?"

"It was better than normal. Alan slept for most of it. Gordon was occupied with his fish, weren't you sweetie? Virgil had his sketchpad, so he was busy drawing away."

"John?"

Josie sighed. "Those air-sickness pills the doctor prescribed don't seem to work. He spent half his time feeling sick. When he wasn't feeling sick, he was being sick."

Jeff's concerned laser beam stare focused on John.

"I'm fine Dad, chillax."

"Chillax?"

John nodded. "Cross between chill and relax."

"What about Scott?"

"He was fine last time I called." Josie replied. "Unsociable, but fine."

Jeff groaned. "Teenagers." He tilted his head to the left. "Mom, be honest; was I this bad when I was Scott's age?"

"No." Josie smirked, as she heard her son sigh in relief. "You were worse. Much worse."

Jeff glanced around at his surroundings. His crew had been dragged away to get some rest, and Jeff knew it would be his turn soon. "I have to go now."

Josie nodded, tears filling her eyes as she realised it was the last time she would see her son before the launch. "Listen son, I want you to take care on this flight. I want you to come back. You have five beautiful boys who want to see their Daddy land on the moon and arrive back on Earth, do you understand?"

Jeff nodded.

"And son," Josie swallowed, blinking back tears. "I love you."

Jeff Tracy paused, his lips quirking upwards. "Ditto."

Sun streamed through the gangplank. Jeff could hear the crowds cheering below. It was a day that would be noted down in history. It was the day of Orbita 13's launch.

"You guys ready?" Jack asked, as he lowered his visor on his helmet.

"Gotta be ready." Jeff replied, training his eyes on the small door they had to climb through. "Too late to back out now."

With a surge of confidence and pride, Jeff strode down the gangplank, Jack and Nick following behind him.

He settled himself into his commander's seat, and ran his pre-launch checks. "Houston, this is Orbita. Pre-launch diagnostic tests are complete."

"Orbita, this is Houston. Confirming that you have lift off in one minute… fifty seconds… forty seconds… thirty seconds… twenty seconds… ten seconds… five… four… three… two… one."

The base of the rocket booster let out a puff of white smoke and an almighty BANG, leading the astronauts and Orbita 13 up, up, and away.

AN: please review.