Disclaimer: I don't own the Tracys, IR, or the Thunderbirds.

A/N: So much for posting earlier but I've still been putting in more hours than normal at work plus required training in addition to working. Sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoy this update. sam1

Ever Watchful One

Upstairs with only the dim light cast into the hallway from the bathroom, a lone figure began his rounds.

He paused outside his brother's bedroom before quietly opening the door and slipping inside. The moonlight shining through the open curtains allowed him to see and sidestep the sneakers lying in the middle of the floor. When he reached his brother's bedside, tufts of blond hair was all that he could see of him. He stayed silent and watched as his younger brother twitched in his sleep. His sharp gaze didn't miss the rapid shifting beneath the other boy's eyelids. Resting his hand lightly on the boy's shoulder, a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth when the movement slowed down. "Sleep tight, little brother." The blond brother did just that by snuggling deeper against his pillow.

Silently, the older boy slipped out into the hallway and quietly closed the door behind him.

"Scott, what are you doing up?"

A small cry of surprise escaped his mouth before he realized that his dad had just come up the stairs. "Dad, you scar…er, startled me."

The older Tracy approached his son and looked towards the closed bedroom door. "Is he okay?"

Nervously, Scott ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, Sir. He's sound asleep."

"Then why are you up?"

"I…I got up to use the bathroom." His gaze darted around the hallway but it was his hand rubbing the back of his neck that gave him away.

"Your hand, Scott," Jeff said.

Scott looked at his hand and back at his dad confused. "Huh?"

Jeff placed his hand on Scott's shoulder and steered him towards the boy's bedroom. "When you're not being completely truthful, you rub the back of your neck. You and Alan both do it."

Glancing over his shoulder at his brothers' bedroom doors, Scott couldn't help feeling that he was letting his younger brothers down. That he wasn't doing all he could to protect them. "I just had to check on him, Dad. He's had a rough day and I'm worried about him. The whole not sleeping well, not eating, and now he's not talking too much." His words jumbled together until he took a deep breath. "I had to make sure he was asleep and not faking it until I went to bed." He sat down heavily on his bed and sighed again.

"Scott, calm down, take a deep breath, and say that again but slower."

"I'm worried about him, Dad, and that's why I was up checking on him."

Hugging him against him, Jeff suddenly realized something. "Son, are you the one I hear get up after I've gone to bed?"

He knew he couldn't lie to his dad so he slowly nodded his head. "Yes, Sir. I check on each of them before I can go to sleep myself. I have to know that they're safe and asleep."

Jeff knew he wasn't going to feel good when he heard the reason why but he asked anyway. "Why do you have to check on them, Scott? You never did that before…before your mom—"

"She's the reason why I have to. I didn't get to see her before I went to bed that night and when I got up the next morning, she…she was gone." His words got softer at the end of his explanation. He leaned against his father a bit more and reluctantly admitted his fear. "I'm afraid if I don't check on them before I go to sleep, then they'll be gone when I wake up just…" Sniffling slightly, he stared at the floor. "I'm afraid they'll be gone just…Just like Mom." The tears he'd been trying to hold back broke through his defenses.

Jeff pulled his son closer and held him tight despite the tears that soaked through his shirt. "Shh, Scotty, it's okay." Long minutes passed and Jeff held his son until the tears slowed to a trickle.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

Gently forcing Scott's face up to meet his eyes, Jeff spoke, "Son, you have nothing to apologize for. You have been a great big brother from the moment we brought each of your brothers home. You look after them, keep them out of too much trouble, and you're their biggest protector. But you're forgetting that you're still a child and sometimes you're going to have to accept that you can let your Grandmother and I handle them so that you can enjoy your childhood." He pointed to his pillows. "Now get up there and I want you to get some sleep. I'll finish your rounds tonight."

Wearily, Scott obeyed his father and scrambled up his bed and did as he was told. "Goodnight, Dad." His eyes slid shut and after a few minutes his breathing evened out.

"Goodnight, Scotty." He checked on each of his boys before turning in himself.

Blue eyes peered through the crack in the door, watching as his father's bedroom door closed. Stealthily, he slipped out of his room and moved towards his younger brothers' room. It was time for his nightly rounds to begin again.