Part 7

Scott opened his eyes and saw a red sky, it was morning. He sat up and looked around. They were at the same glade as the night before. He saw the Hood's dead body and the chopper. He saw that his brothers were coming awake too.

"Guys", he said and they looked at him. "I had this strange dream that John came to us. He showed us a lot of stuff and then said he was alive in a hospital in Phoenix."

"It wasn't a dream", Alan said and rose. "It was real, because if it wasn't I had the same dream which is just spooky."

"Yeah", Gordon said and sat up. "I should have had the same dream too but it all happened. Did anyone of you catch who that crazy guy in black was?"

"No", Virgil said and walked towards the chopper. "But I have my suspicions."

When the three oldest reached the chopper Alan called to them:

"Hey we have to burn the body."

"What", Virgil asked.

"John wanted us to do it! Don't you remember? I guess he wants the Hood to have a funeral and not being food for animals."

"That's more than he deserve", Virgil growled.

"But think of the poo animals that would eat him", Gordon said. "I say we do what Johnny asked."

"Right", Scott said.

Later in a plane they rented from the Malaysian airport they decided to call their father and he answered, looking tired and sad.

"Boys were the hell are you?"

"Dad we are on our way from the Malaysian airport", Scott answered.

"What have you", Jeff began but fell silent. "Boys you haven't..."

"Yeah we have", Scott said. "We're sorry father but we just couldn't let him hurt anyone else."

"Boys... I know you are right but couldn't you just bring him to prison?"

"We weren't thinking straight father... And he would've gotten out and more people would've been hurt."

"I see we'll have to talk about this later. When will I expect you home?

"We're heading for Phoenix dad and so should you do too", Virgil called to him.

"Why?"

"Dad we found out that John is alive", Scott said and Jeff's face paled. "They called from the hospital and said that they had found him."

"But why didn't they call me?"

"John knows your phone number in his sleep but not Gordon's because"

"He changed last week", Jeff mumbled. John had a small note with Gordon's number in his wallet. "I'll get your grandmother and we'll meet you there."

"FAB father oh and you should tell Penny and Parker too."

John Tracy woke up and looked around. He was in a hospital room and it wasn't for the first time. His left shoulder ached and so did his right arm. He saw it was in a cast. Then a cold wind ruffled his hair and he looked into the corner and saw a person dressed in black sit in a huge leather armchair with a cup in his pale hand.

"Seems like things turned out alright John", Death said and smiled and drank from his cup of tea. "Don't you think?"

"What do you want now?"

"Oh nothing I just wanted to make sure that you woke up alright. We had a deal after all." He threw the cup away and John saw it disappear into the floor. Death got up and the armchair faded away. Death stretched his arms above his head. "Well have a nice life and I'll see you again someday."

"Hey Death", John called as the man reached the door.

"What?"

"Thanks."

John saw strange emotions going over Death's face then he smiled. Not one of his wicked or annoying grins. This was filled with warmth and compassion.

"It was a pleasure John." Then he was gone. John looked out the window but hadn't even done much before the door opened and he turned to see his four brothers.

"Guys!" He called happily and they ran up to him.

"Hi Johnny how are you", Gordon asked.

"Better than the last time you saw me", he said softly. "I've missed you guys."

"We've missed you too John", Virgil said and ruffled his hair. "More than you can ever realize."

"Don't be too quick on that Virg", John said. "Don't you wonder what tried to hold you back when you all went after the Hood?"

The other four looked uneasily at each other.

"In your room Scott", John said. "When you hesitated in the jungle Alan and when you two pointed your guns at the Hood", he said the last one to Virgil and Gordon.

"It was you", Scott asked. "The doubt we felt?"

"No it was my using all my strength to hold you back and to try to take the guns from you."

The other four blushed and John smiled.

"John", Alan asked a little later.

"Yeah Al?"

"Who was that guy dressed in black?"

"Oh that was Death."

"No seriously", Scott said and put a hand on John's shoulder.

"It was Death and I have to tell you he was a real pain in the ass now and then. But he turned out to be okay in the end."

"John you are scaring me", Virgil said and smiled.

"Everything has a first... Guys there is one more thing."

"What", Gordon asked.

"Don't you dare give dad a hard time about what I showed you. He's been having a hard time about it for years."

"How can you be so forgivingly", Scott asked. "He abused you!"

"He was drunk and he was torn to pieces by grief. Why do you think he turned out to be the best father in the world later on? It was to clear all the bad things he'd done." Scott was about to answer when the door opened and the rest of the family entered. There were a lot of hugging and laughing. But on a rooftop from across the street Death watched the Tracys and the rest of them through a telescope.

"Aw this is a family worthy my attention", he mused sipping on his tea and eating a big biscuit. "Good luck John Tracy."

But what Death didn't notice was how the door behind him slowly opened and a figure escaped from his realm.

The End