I'm here I here...I do not own thunderbirds. I'm sorry I had this chapter typed and sitting on the computer...(I forgot to sent it to my beta plus work and life had gotten in the way...ok ok I was reading other stories too). thanK you you for those you have read my story and those you had given their time to review.

Thank you for your patience. Here it is chapter 10.

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"It's all my fault" Alan whispered.

Gordon and Scott had been in the doorway when they heard Alan's voice causing both of them to drop the trays of drinks. The sound had gone unnoticed. All eyes were on the youngest Tracy.

"Allie…what do you mean" John asked carefully. It was the question on everyone's mind.

"If I didn't…..if I didn't" Alan paused.

Jeff put a hand gently under Alan's chin making the teenager look at him and said softly "You can tell us….take your time."

"I shouldn't have gone back to Wharton's…if I didn't go back"

"Al stop that….don't even think that the attack on the school was your fault" John said.

"But the school wouldn't have been attacked if I wasn't there."

"It wasn't your fault…Mullion and Transom where the attackers" Gordon said.

"And they had in fact planed it for a while…it was a pity that the prisons didn't stop the contact between them" Scott said remembering what Penny had told both Gordon and himself.

"Allie, a lot of people were at fault but you weren't one of them." Gordon said trying to reassure Alan.

Jeff looked down on his youngest son seeing how tired he had become. "Ok kiddo I think you need some sleep."

Alan had only nodded.

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Scott looked up from his hot chocolate seeing John enter the kitchen.

"How's Fermat?" Scott asked.

"Asleep…Brains said Fermat was pretty shaken up…is Allie asleep?" John said opening the coco tin.

"Gordon and Virgil decided to stay with him tonight"

"At least they will be nearby"

"Alan, Gordon and Virgil fell asleep on Alan's bed when I got back from dad's office….I didn't have the heart to wake them"

"How long had you been in dad's office?"

"Fifteen minutes"

"Wow, that a new record…what did dad want?"

"We're putting the word out that IR is low on staff….especially since Alan wants to go to his friend's funeral"

"Well dad, we'll go with him…Brains will be taking Fermat…..Am I missing something?"

"Dad would like to have all of us there for Alan….however as we all know rescue has an unusual way to pop up so dad decided that maybe having two of us go with Alan is a good idea…I'll be here on base and meet up with you guys before the funeral. If a rescue doesn't pop up…of course someone else apart from Tin-Tin and Lady P will have to stay."

"Who is going to decide who stays?" John asked sitting next to Scott.

"We are thinking that Virgil, Gordon and yourself are older enough to figure it out between yourselves"

"Why are you staying?"

"Well, I managed to get dad to agree to allow me to take Alan on a holiday from the island"

"Sounds like a good trade…maybe whoever has to stay behind could have the same deal…or tag along?"

"Actually maybe having one on one with Alan isn't a bad idea….I mean, I can't remember the last time I spent time with just Allie"

"Between IR , Tracy industries and Allie being at school most of the year it kinda makes it hard to make time."

"We could get Allie to do home schooling…we know he can do it."

"We'll see how he feels about it after the funeral…..Dad is the one who will need to make the judgement call….but I would be a lot happier if he stayed."

"All of us would."

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The next Morning….

Gordon quietly made his way to the kitchen and found John sitting at the table looking out to the window. The aquanaut had looked over before turning his attention back to the older blond.

"I didn't think the ocean was your thing" Gordon said taking a seat next to John.

"It's not…but it's nice to zone out once in a while."

"That means something is on your mind"

"I was thinking about what Alan had said yesterday and wonder how long he had been thinking the school attack was his fault."

"I asked him last night just before he fell asleep"

"And?"

"He thinks that thought had been there for a while….but it hadn't really fruited until he found his friend lying unconscious in the bathroom…..Virgil and I had to remind him that it wasn't his fault….Al was still asleep clinging on top Virgil's shirt when I left them"

"Did Alan have another nightmare?"

"No, he slept most of the night…was a little restless but Virgil just hummed a tune and Alan just fell into a more peaceful slumber….maybe dad should take Virgil as well to the funeral?"

"Actually there is something I need to talk to you about…dad had agreed to have two out of us four to come with him….Scott decided to stay"

"The mother hen is staying….but why?"

"He convinced dad to let him take Al on a holiday just one on one….although he's sure he might make it to the funeral if a rescue doesn't pop-up"

"Then Virgil and you should go with Allie"

"What about you?"

"I don't like funerals….and I've been though too many in the last few years"

"What funerals?'

"Couple of friends in WASPs"

"And you didn't tell us"

"You weren't to know….dad and Scott knew but where told not tell the rest of you…..you know how Scott would suddenly be sent to Tracy industries when he wasn't scheduled? He didn't want the rest of you to know where he was really going…..right now Alan needs a level head...you… and someone who can calm him down…Virgil"

"But he needs his comic relief"

"Oh I'm planning a cheering up party for both Fermat and Al when they come back….maybe manage movie night? Scott and I will think of something."

"Are you sure you want this? Are you sure you don't want to come? I can stay here".

"John how many times had you missed Alan because you were in space when he had school holidays? And I don't mean when he was ill...I'm fine with this...Just make sure that Alan doesn't leave either Virgil's or your sight"