No Place Like Home
by Criminally Charmed
Disclaimer - Don't own Thunderbirds. And I loved your responses so much...Ah, heck. I finished this, so here ya go.
OOPS - Before I forget, found a great story. Rated M for subject matter (think she could get away with T although it is a bit dark) it's called "Silent Auction" by WaterDragonQueen1. It's almost finished so you won't be screaming like I was "MORE, MORE! YOU CAN'T LEAVE IT LIKE THAT!" Really - what some writers do to their readers...it's absolutely CRIMINAL(LY).
Chapter Six
"Hey, Dad," Alan said with a grin.
Jeff blearily sat down at the old oak kitchen table, gratefully taking the mug of coffee Alan was holding out to him.
"So," Alan said as he set a plate of scrambled eggs with crumbled bacon bits and cheese in front of his father before pouring a glass of juice for himself and starting on his own meal. "I've set aside what I was interested in. But I was wondering, do you have any problem with that desk in the room I was in last night? Grandma once told me it belonged to her great-uncle."
Jeff nodded, swallowing some of his eggs before speaking. "That's fine, Alan. All of your brothers selected at least one piece of furniture they want to keep. If you want, you can leave whatever else you selected on top of the desk and I can arrange the whole thing to be shipped to the Island."
"That works," Alan said. "Now, eat up – it's not much, but it will make do until we drive into Bailey." At Jeff's puzzled look, Alan grinned.
"Jeannie said she would tell her mother to expect us. You don't want to upset Miss Millie, do you?"
Jeff almost choked on his coffee as he shook his head in haste. No, you never wanted to upset Millie Bates. Not even back when she was Millie Bailey. He learned that back when he forgot his promise to help her with her math homework to go skinny dipping with Olive Turner. Jeff hadn't thought Millie would be that sneaky. And he had gotten home, eventually – without being seen.
Of course, just as he snuck in the house, wearing only the jeans that had been hanging out on the laundry line, his mother had been waiting there, his clothes in hand…and Millie standing right behind her. Laughing.
Jeff had made sure to never tick off Millie again. Ever.
"No," Jeff murmured. "I do my best not to upset Millie."
Alan grinned. His father didn't know it, but Grandma and Millie used to talk and Alan would listen, uncharacteristically silent as he learned about his father's childhood. There were a few incidents in Jeff Tracy's past that he was sure none of his brothers knew of – and that their father hoped none of them knew.
"And that is the naked truth, isn't it, Dad?" Alan murmured.
Jeff choked on his coffee while he stared wide-eyed at his son. No. Alan couldn't know about that incident. No way.
As Alan continued to eat his eggs in silence, a small smile – the "I got you" smirk that Lucy had given Jeff on more than one occasion – playing around his face, Jeff suppressed a groan. He didn't know how, he didn't know where – but somehow, Alan knew.
Jeff gave his youngest a wry look. "I'm not gonna ask how – just how much?" At Alan's confused look, Jeff shook his head. "What is this going to cost me to make sure your brothers NEVER find out?"
Alan finished his eggs in silence, drank his juice and wiped his face before answering in a bad imitation of Marlon Brando as the "Godfather".
"Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, consider this a gift from me," Alan rasped before breaking into laughter that Jeff quickly joined before asking a new question.
"Which of your brothers let you watch the "Godfather"?" Jeff chuckled.
"Watch?" Alan asked with a giggle. "None. But if you tell John about this he may remove my carte blanche for his library. And I've seen enough clips of the movie to do the accent."
"Not very well," Jeff muttered as he finished his coffee.
Alan just grinned as he began to load the dishwasher. He couldn't wait to get to Bailey and see some of the old faces.
Back on the Island, the claxon could be heard throughout, making Baby Elizabeth fuss.
"Really, John," Onaha said sharply. "We need to find something quieter."
From Thunderbird Five, Brains had finished briefing the brothers and Sarah while Tin-Tin, who was assuming command and control, looked at her mother in surprise.
"I-I'm almost d-done the w-w-wat…remote communicators," Brains stumbled. "Everyone sh-should have one b-by the New Year."
Onaha nodded and went to try and get Elizabeth back to sleep.
Tin-Tin grinned. "First day both Emily and Kate are working, huh?
Scott nodded with a sigh. "Kate went to the Tracy Offices in Auckland. She's wants to personally oversee the testing of a new program. If it works there, she and Carl Patrick will do a global upload from Headquarters next month."
"And Emily is overseeing a clinic with a visiting specialist," John said. "She was anxious enough about leaving Elizabeth behind so no one mention this, please?"
The brothers all nodded while Sarah shook her head. At John's look of dismay, the redhead shrugged and grinned. "Do you honestly think she won't find out? And I wouldn't have to tell her. Dream world, Johnny, m'dear – dream world."
John sighed and entered the lifts with the rest of the team before Tin-Tin nodded at the Tracys. "Thunderbirds are go!" she said firmly, activating the lifts that would take the Tracys to a forest fire in Canada. International Rescue probably never would have been called in if the fire hadn't shifted direction suddenly in a wind storm and cut off a group of girl scouts. Did they call them that in Canada? Tin-Tin frowned before dismissing the thought as she watched Scott launch Thunderbird One, Two moving out right behind him at a slower – although amazingly fast – speed. With the Firefly on board in one of its pods, the family would be back soon and, once Jeff and Alan joined them tonight, everything would be perfect.
Yet even as she thought that, a shiver ran down the teenager's spine. "Alan," Tin-Tin shivered. Steeling herself, Tin-Tin tried to convince herself she was just being a worry wart. Her boyfriend had called last night from Kansas – everything was fine and she would soon be back in his arms.
Everything was fine – it was time to get down to business.
As they pulled into the main street of Bailey (aka – the only street with traffic light versus stop signs), Alan finally asked his father a question that had been bothering him for over a month.
"Dad?" Alan waited until he could feel his father's eyes on him before continuing.
"Who gave Gordy the black eye?"
Jeff chuckled. "Never – and I mean never – get on John's bad side."
Alan almost ran the red light, the brakes squealing slightly when he slammed on them. "Johnny? No way."
"Way," Jeff admitted. "I sent Gordon to fetch John when Emily went into labor. John was supposed to have been down a day earlier, but there was that bad storm the day before and it would have been hard to land Thunderbird Three. I timed his coming down so we could test the remote system. If we have to, we can now run the communications end for up to seven days without anyone being on Five."
"Anyhow," Jeff continued. "Gordon went up to get John – allegedly ASAP – and decided it would be funny to tease John that he was having engine problems and might not be able to get your brother down in time for the baby's arrival. John, who had been monitoring Three on its way over, knew your brother was being a smart aleck. The next thing Gordon knows he is on the ground looking up at a rather annoyed John."
"John tossed his duffle bag at Gordon, announced he was leaving now and Gordon could either get in the passenger seat or he could stay on Five by himself until John was inclined to retrieve him."
Alan was laughing, grateful to pull into a parking space near the diner, as the tears running down his face from his laughter were causing vision problems. Wiping his eyes, Alan leaned back and looked at his father.
"It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?"
Jeff merely nodded and smiled at his youngest as they climbed out of the rental car. They silently walked into the diner, feeling as welcome as they always had.
"Jeff!" Millie called out cheerfully, running from the kitchen to sweep her childhood friend into a hug. Beaming at him, she suddenly swung her attention to the young man who was now at a height with his father.
"Oh, my," she gasped. "Little Allie? Oh my stars – how you have grown. You look so much like your Mama. Bet you have to beat the girls off with a stick, don't you?"
Alan blushed before murmuring, "I go to a school for boys, Miss Millie. That isn't something I have to worry about."
"Not to mention, he has a girlfriend," Jeff winked at Millie. "The daughter of a couple of my employees on the Island."
"Tin-Tin, right?" a new voice added.
Jeff and Alan looked over Millie's shoulder, smiling when they saw Billy. They hadn't really known him that well when the young doctor was visiting over summers years ago, but Jeannie and Billy had come out to Los Angeles when Scott and Kate were married in August.
"I think I remember the two of you dancing at your brother's wedding," Billy said, smiling at Alan. "And of course, you have always been Scott's favorite topic of conversation. How is Scooter preparing for fatherhood?"
A hand came out and whacked Billy. "You know he doesn't really like to be called Scooter," Jeannie said as she came back into the diner.
"You do," Billy whined while rubbing his arm. Damn, but Jean still hit hard.
Jeannie looked smug. "There's a lot I can say or do with Scott that you can't."
"If I hadn't watched the two of you fight like Scott did with his brothers over the years," Billy grumbled, "I could be jealous about that comment."
Amos had begun to make his way over to where the Tracys were when TJ suddenly dropped his mug, seeing who had come in.
Jeff, drawn by the sound of shattering crockery, froze at the sight of TJ who, with a calmness he didn't feel, walked up to Amos and spoke.
"If it's alright with you, Sheriff, I will head over to your office to finish the paperwork," TJ said softly.
The sheriff nodded but before he could speak, Jean cut in. "I got the paperwork ready. Connor has it," she said firmly. "He's waiting on the sidewalk to help you over to the Sheriff's Office."
The group turned to see a young but very big deputy waiting on the sidewalk just outside the diner. TJ smiled slightly as he shook his head.
"So I guess that is it," TJ said softly, shaking Amos' hand. "It was nice to see you under better circumstances, Sheriff. Folks," he added as he pulled on his ball cap, tipping it slightly to the group. Before he could leave, however, Alan's words stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey, I know you!"
TJ and the rest of the people gathered near the entrance froze, each looking at Alan in degrees of dismay. But Alan seemed oblivious to their concern.
"You're the guy from the airport," Alan said cheerfully.
Sighing slightly, TJ nodded with a smile. "Yes, yes I am, Alan."
Alan frowned slightly. He hadn't recalled giving his name and was unsure if his father had used it in front of the man. The rental paperwork only had Jeff's name on it…
"Have we met before?" he asked. "I mean, before yesterday?"
TJ smiled sadly. "A long time ago. You were just a baby. You've grown up to be a fine young man, I can tell."
Alan smiled and leaned into his father when Jeff put his arm protectively around his son. "If I have, I know who to thank for that."
Jeff smiled at his son even as his eyes glared at TJ who watched the scene with a sad look on his face. "So do I," TJ finally said. "I think – I think your father did a good job with you, Alan. Your mother would be proud."
Alan looked a little sad as he admitted, "I can't really remember her."
"I can," TJ said as he watched the teen carefully. "And the strongest memory I have is her with you. She loved you so much, anyone could see that." He shifted his gaze to Jeff. "She would be happy to see what I am seeing."
Jeff was trying not to make a sharp retort when he suddenly smelled lilacs. The tension faded from Jeff as he knew Lucy was with him. Choosing to simply nod, Jeff tried to urge Alan towards the back of the diner when Alan suddenly spoke to TJ again.
"It was nice to see you again, sir," he said politely before he followed his father back to the booth in the rear of the diner.
TJ smiled sadly once more before nodding and turning to leave. Millie, Amos and Billy had followed the Tracys but Jeannie was still glaring at TJ. He straightened his spine before speaking to her in a sotto tone.
"I would die before I let anything hurt that boy again, do you hear me?"
Jeannie leaned forward and hissed, "If that's what it takes, so be it." That said she whirled on her booted heel and joined the others.
A sudden chill ran down TJ spine as he left the diner. His mother would have said "a goose was walking on his grave". But TJ put it down to just being back in Bailey. After all, the sun was shining and the oddly colored clouds seemed to have given way to a brilliantly blue sky. It was a good day, a day to remember…he was sure of it.
Tara White moved quickly down the sidewalk, fury burning in her heart. She had been so sure her boss had loved her and would be leaving his wife for her. Instead, the two-timing louse had HR come in and tell Tara that she was being transferred to the floor.
Tara had been Dr. Houle's nurse and all-around hands on assistant for more than a year.
But not only was the louse taking a position in a private practice without her, he was unavailable for Tara to confront because he had taken a sudden vacation. With his wife. To celebrate the fact that they were having a baby. That bastard had been cheating on Tara, sleeping with his wife while sleeping with Tara.
The nurse had seen the other woman in Dr. Houle's life. Lila Houle was a quiet, unobtrusive sort of woman, completely different from Tara's buxom curves and golden blonde (highlights thanks to monthly trips to the salon) hair. How could he choose that mouse of her?
Tara had decided to take some time off, something the woman from personnel had smirkingly agreed was "for the best". The bitch probably hoped she wouldn't come back.
Looking around Bailey, she knew little had changed. The old doctor had retired and while the new doctor was noted to be hot and young, Tara had heard from her aunt that he had also married Jeannie Bates. And having grown up in Bailey, you knew – you didn't mess with Jeannie Bates.
Slowing near Millie's Diner, Tara's eyes widened with interest at the sight of a green Lexus sitting in front of the diner. A car like that stood out in the town where you were either a farmer, an employee at the Tracy plant or one of the family run businesses that supported the two endeavors. Tara considered heading in to scope out the owner of the luxury car when a teenage boy came out to pull something from the trunk.
"Excuse me," Tara purred as she sidled up to Alan. "I used to live here in Bailey and I can't help but think you look familiar."
Alan turned and smiled, "If you remember me, you have a real good memory or imagination. Either that, or you are thinking of my brother, John."
Tara's eyes widened once more. "John Tracy? But then – oh, my – you can't be little Alan, can you?"
"Afraid so, Ma'am," Alan said politely as he clutched a memory book in his hand.
"Family photos?" Tara cooed. "Can an old friend see?"
Before Alan could answer, Tara snagged the album. Flipping through the pages, she realized it was from Scott Tracy's wedding. Looking at the bride – ugh, she looked so ethnic – Tara was dismayed to see most of the men in her family wearing those cap thingys. Why would Scott marry someone who was Jewish? Really?
In the pictures of the Tracys, Tara recognized John Tracy's wife from the pictures that had been published after their wedding and, more recently, the birth of the first Tracy grandchild. She fleetingly wondered what they had named the baby. Why would a woman allow herself to be photographed that pregnant?
And there was Sarah Jane Woodbury. How had Holly Woodbury's dowdy little sister turned into a woman that attractive? Tara bet there had been plenty of cosmetic surgery involved. And now she was married to Virgil Tracy.
Gordon Tracy was still available, however…
"Wow," Tara said breathily. "Gordon looks good as well. Is he seeing someone?"
Alan looked a bit sad. "Gordy's girlfriend was killed this past summer."
Tara almost blurted out "So he's available?" but stopped herself in time.
Alan took the album back, freezing when Tara ran a long, manicured nail up his arm. "And little Alan is all grown up, aren't you?"
"And he has a girlfriend, Terror," a sharp voice said behind them.
Alan sighed in relief while Tara glowered at the newcomer.
Jeannie stepped forward, putting an arm around the teen's shoulder. "Your father can't wait for Mama to see the pictures, Allie. Head on back in."
The deputy stood there until Alan was safely back in the diner. "Hitting on a kid? That's a new low for you, White. What the hell are you doing in town?"
"Just visiting," Tara said calmly.
"Saw your aunt this morning," Jeannie glared. "She thought you might be spending the holiday somewhere with your married lover. Or has he dumped you yet?"
Tara merely gave Jeannie a cold look, which only made the other woman laugh.
"He did dump your skanky ass, didn't he?"
Tara went to move off but froze when Jeannie held out an arm.
"Don't cause any trouble in Bailey. I hate extra paperwork. And if I ever see your nasty claws anywhere near that boy, I'll find a reason to arrest you."
"Maybe I just want to teach the boy a couple of things," Tara purred.
"One," Jeannie counted off, "the boy wears a purity ring – not interested. Two – he has a girlfriend who wears the matching ring – still not interested. Three– he's a smart kid. If he was interested, it wouldn't be with a woman whose legs are like the US Navy – open to all men between the ages of seventeen and forty."
Jeannie watched smugly as the woman stalked off towards her aunt's house. She wondered if she should have mentioned that the reason she had seen Mrs. White was that it was to give the older woman a ride to the airport. Since her niece was sure to be busy, Mrs. White had taken her nephew's offer of spending a few weeks, including Thanksgiving with his family in California. Oh, well – Tara would figure it out eventually. Especially since she no longer had a key to the house…
TJ drove the truck, which had clearly seen better days, out of town, refusing to look to the side walk where the two Tracys were saying their goodbyes. A part of him actually relaxed, feeling better than he had in years. Alan Tracy was alright, and no matter what Jeff Tracy thought, TJ knew it was time to move forward.
Jeff Tracy gave a jaundiced eye as TJ Adair drove down School Street (an ironic hold on the past, for when the school had been located about where the municipal building now sat) and, with any luck, out of their lives for good.
"Next time, Jeff, you need to do more than breeze in and out of town. We miss you," Millie said as she hugged her old friend once more.
"Sorry, Millie," he chuckled. "But between the boys and work, time is at a premium."
"Then at least write – you do remember how to write, yes?" When Jeff blushed, Millie gave a light punch to his arm. "At least one letter a week – even a nice long e-mail. And pictures. Lots of pictures of those babies. Since someone has yet to make me a grandma and you have one and another on the way, guess I'll need to live vicariously through you."
"Mama," Jean whined. "Mr. Tracy has five sons, three of which are married. You have one daughter – and Billy and I would like a little time together before we have any kids."
"Excuses, excuses," Millie muttered.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Jean demanded of her husband.
Billy shook his head. "Jeannie, I vowed to love, honor and cherish you – not take your side in an argument with your mother."
"Smart boy," Amos murmured.
Alan just smiled until Jeff snagged the keys. "I'll drive us to the airport," Jeff said firmly before he nudged his son. "Rest up so you can fly us back to the Island."
"Sweet!" Alan cried out as he hugged both Jean and Millie before heading towards the passenger side. "Come on, Dad! Scott will never forgive us if we miss his birthday party!"
"You take care of yourself, Jefferson," Millie admonished as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Give those boys of yours my love." When Jeannie cleared her throat, Millie rolled her eyes. "I mean, give the family – boys, girls and baby – our love. Better, Bertha Jean?"
Alan snickered, a sound ended quickly at Jean's glare directed his way. He was so glad his father had been swayed to name him Alan, instead of Walter.
Jeff gave a small smile. "You had to name her after your mother," Jeff murmured. "She's got your mother's temper, you know?"
Millie gave a small smile. "Lucky for you, I was named after my grandma," she gestured to the scripted "Millie's Diner" – named not for her, but her grandmother.
"Yep," Amos agreed. "Miss Millie was as sweet as could be, and as stubborn as the day is long."
"That does sound like Mama," Jeannie snickered until Millie whirled on both Jean and Amos.
"And haven't you two work to do?" she asked. "And Billy? I believe you have a clinic to run." The three nodded farewells to the Tracys before heading off in different directions.
Jeff shook his head at Millie. "Millie – did you train Anne Marie?"
Millie smirked. "Gave her some lessons when the poor girl went to work for you. Lucy and your mama did as well."
"Well," Jeff murmured as he backed the car into the street. "That does explain a lot about Anne Marie, doesn't it?"
Alan laughed as they drove out of town. He glanced up at the sky and wondered if he had ever seen a sky that blue – and totally missed the darkening clouds that were beginning to build in the west…
A/N - So, an early update deserves LOTS of reviews. And I still want to know - Virgil or Gordon? CC
