Buried Emotions
Disclaimer - see chapter six.
Hope I responded to all the reviews. I was trying to get to them as they came in.
Chapter Ten
Alan climbed out of the rental car, letting Kate wrangle the three children in back. Running to the door, he leaned in and called out, "Oh, Miss Millie!"
Millie came dashing out from the kitchen, smiling all the way. "Your back! Little Allie is back!"
One of the stragglers from lunch looked over at the now hugging pair and muttered, "If that's Little Allie, I'd hate to see Big Allie."
Billy entered the diner, holding the door for Kate as she entered, DJ in her arms and Elizabeth and Jason running around. Millie motioned them all inside, taking DJ in her arms and patting Kate's hand.
"I'll take Donald Jefferson – now, no fussing young man, that is your name – and he can play with Charlie," Millie called even as she hurried to the back of the diner where a play pen was set up. Charlie Landman bounced happily as DJ was placed beside him, and the two babies were quickly babbling back and forth.
"My word, they look just like Scotty and Jeannie, don't they?" Millie smiled.
"Mama," Jean sighed as she entered, "Scotty and I didn't even meet until we were what? Four? Five? And I moved back here at six. So we were never in a playpen together."
"No but you two got in trouble enough together," Millie huffed in annoyance.
"Millie, we'll have to compare notes while I'm here," Kate giggled. "Just in case Sarah forgot anything."
"How is Sarah Jane?" Millie asked, smiling once more. "Jefferson sent me those pictures and her new baby is adorable. Oh but this must be Jeff's Little Princess, aren't you, sweetie?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Elizabeth beamed before her eyes narrowed at Jason whose gagging motions were – unfortunately for him – caught by his mother.
Sighing, Kate shook her head. "OK, my gruesome twosome. Time for a time-out…"
"Ah, Kate," Alan groaned. "They're just tired. Miss Millie, you still keep the crayons and coloring books in the same spot?" At Millie's nod, he picked up his niece and oldest nephew before grabbing an old coffee can of crayons and a couple of coloring books.
"OK, you two," Alan nuzzled both kids, making them giggle. "Color some beautiful pictures and Miss Millie will hang them up on the board," he said, pointing to a corkboard towards the back of the diner. "The one who stays inside the lines the best gets to pick the flavor of ice cream."
Utter silence reigned as both children did their best on their artwork so as to be the "winner".
Walking back over to the group, Alan shrugged. "Hey, it worked on me."
Thinking of the age gap between Alan and his brothers, Billy frowned. "Who did you compete against?"
Jeannie's blush was answer enough, something she quickly covered with saying to Kate, "Agent Delgado is over at my office. Do you want to review the plans?"
Kate nodded and the pair was halfway out the door before realizing Alan wasn't joining them.
"Alan," Kate said. "Aren't you joining us?"
Rolling his eyes in a way that made Kate realize where her son had gotten that trait from, Alan chuckled. "Nope. Leaving it to the experts. Kate," he held up his hand. "I can come with you, listen to your plans and have me overridden at every turn – and since all three women in this case are armed, you would win all arguments – or I can stay here, have some of Millie's pie and play with the kids. Which would you choose?"
"I have a patient in twenty minutes or I know which one I would," Billy sighed, finishing refilling his cup of coffee before he kissed his wife and son goodbye and left.
"Don't you girls worry," Millie drawled. "I'll take care of all the babies."
Alan would have argued but the Raspberry cobbler that had just been set in front of him looked much more interesting than a dispute he knew he would lose.
An hour, two bowls of ice cream and six colored pictures a piece later, the women had yet to return and Alan decided to let the kids run around outside. He grabbed the port-a-crib from the back of the rental car and set it up under a tree in the town square next to a bench. Once that was done, Alan returned to the diner and helped carry/lead all four children while Millie turned the "closed" sign on her door to join them.
Elizabeth and Jason ran around the grass, playing an odd mix of tag and toss that seemed to make sense to them. Alan and Millie watched them indulgently even as Charlie and DJ slept peacefully in the crib.
"So who watches them when you're all off saving the world?" Millie softly asked, startling Alan.
"Um, Millie, I - "
"Alan Shepard Tracy, no Tracy man alive has ever been able to lie to Millicent Bailey Bates, your Daddy will tell you that." Seeing Alan's shock, she chuckled lightly.
"After your mama died, your daddy hated going home. Oh, he loved you boys something fierce. But trust me, I know how hard it is to face that empty bed once the kids are asleep."
"Miss Millie," Alan gasped. "You and Dad – ugh, no. Bad enough I had to walk in on Dad and Lady P…"
Millie slapped Alan's arm lightly. "Alan! Get your mind out of the gutter. Your Daddy came for pie and coffee not that! I closed up the shop and Jeff would knock and come in. We kept the lights on and the shades up. Anyone could see us. But we sat and talked for hours. And Jeff would talk about what it would take to make sure no one else wouldn't hurt like that. I know he didn't save everyone, but I sure have been proud of him – of all of you – for taking such a tragedy and making something that gives the world so much hope."
Alan nodded. "It has never healed the pain of Mom, but it has provided a bit of relief, knowing that we have saved others. Dad told me something once – You can't save everyone. It doesn't matter how brave you are or how hard you try. Even if it is someone you love, someone you'd give your life for – you can't save everyone."
Millie pursed her lips. "My, my – what words of wisdom, Jefferson."
Or at least Millie had thought so when she said them to Jeff.
Smiling, Alan didn't notice the disgruntled look on her face. He did notice his nephew over extend himself when he went to catch a ball and Jason falling and skinning his knee. Alan leaped up and ran over to the crying boy, picking him up and carrying him back to the bench where he began to clean it off. Elizabeth curled into Millie, watching her playmate, making sure he would be ok to play.
It could get boring with only babies and grownups around.
Alan's focus was firmly fixed on three children under his care. Seeing smiles evolve from tears, he pulled out a story book and soon the group was lost in the adventures of a young French orphan girl. (Julie had insisted that the children would love the book.)
The family – yes, that included the Bailey natives – was relaxed and happy and failed to notice several sets of hostile eyes being shot their way…
Jeff Tracy walked quickly down the hallway of the hospital in Auckland. He was please to see that he had to identify himself repeatedly. If members of his family had to be somewhere they were vulnerable, he wanted them to be as secure as possible.
And at the moment, no one was as vulnerable as Emily.
Entering the private room, Jeff smiled at the sight of his second born holding his wife's hand tightly as he dozed by her side. Emily's eyes were also closed, so Jeff took the opportunity to examine the monitors hooked up to his daughter-in-law, keeping watch over both mother and child.
"The doctors say soon, Dad," Emily whispered, opening her eyes.
"And how are you, Em?" Jeff asked, pulling a chair close to the bed.
"Tired already," Emily admitted. "The BP spikes were getting bad, it's why the doctors admitted me before the actual labor started. But I've had a few contractions, some a bit…oh," she sighed, pain tingeing her voice at the end.
Watching the monitor, Jeff frowned at the sudden peak of several of the readings. "Emily," Jeff said, beginning to stand.
John quickly woke from his dozing, standing quickly with panic in his eyes.
"Emmy?" the blonde quickly questioned. "You alright? The monitor is going…"
Emily gasped again, clutching her husband hand. "Doctor. Get Dr. Henrichs now."
The sudden alarms seemed to echo Emily's sentiment.
A car pulled off the street near the town square in Bailey and an older couple climbed out. No one really noticed as they approached the children playing on the grass.
"Poppy!" Jason cheerfully called out, running to his maternal grandfather who bent over to pull the little boy into his arms.
"Heya, Buddy!" Don Eppes grinned, cuddling his oldest grandchild and giving a quick peck on the cheek. Robin Eppes leaned over and bussed her grandson's lips, much to the five-year-old's fussing. Quick pecks were ok, but kissing was mushy and yucky.
"Hello," Elizabeth said with a shy smile. She had never met her maternal grandparents – and if Emily had her way, she never would – but the Eppes had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember.
"Hi, Princess," Robin smiled and picked up the tiny blonde. Now this was what she had wanted in a granddaughter, the little doll. Not that she didn't love her granddaughter by her son, but the girl had been devastated when she got a Barbie instead of a football for her birthday.
"Hey, Grammy," Jason beamed at his grandmother. He didn't mind sharing his grandparents with his cousins. He knew that Auntie Emily and Auntie Sarah didn't have parents to give his cousins, so he was good with it. Besides, Jason had other cousins he had to share them with so what was the big deal?
"Mr. and Mrs. Eppes," Alan happily greeted the pair. "Welcome to Bailey."
"If we can't get Don and Robin, at least aunt and uncle, Alan," Don sighed. "I mean, you call Charlie Uncle Charlie."
Alan shrugged, leaning into the playpen to pick up the newly awakened DJ. "Well, Kate calls him that. I guess it's easier. But no way am I calling you guys mom and dad – that would be too weird."
"He's got you there, Fed," Robin teased her husband even as Alan and Don exchanged armfuls.
"That one is clearly your grandson," Millie smiled, nodding at the couple she had met at Scott and Kate's wedding.
"We're both his grandsons," Jason protested from his perch on his uncle's shoulders.
The adults all laughed. "No, kiddo," Alan smiled. "That's not what Millie means. She means DJ really looks like your mom which means he really looks like your Poppy. You look just like your dad, so you look a lot like Grandpa."
"Well, you don't look like Grandpa," Jason said, leaning his head down so he was face to face – if upside down – to his uncle. "Who do you look like?"
Millie smiled sadly as she brushed a hand over Alan's cheek. "Alan is the image of his Mama. She was really pretty. And your daddy," she teased Elizabeth, "looks like his mother as well, just like you look like your mama."
Alan laughed, thinking of all of the "look-alikes" in the family. "Don't mention that to Ana Nevada. She'll think we engage in human cloning."
"That woman," Robin grumbled. "Why she thinks it's her right to…oh, I don't know. I still remember when she ran that nasty piece about Kate right after she and Scott got married and implied Kate had tricked Scott…"
Robin quickly stopped speaking when she realized two of the children were staring at her in wide-eyed confusion.
"I think it's time for more ice cream, don't you, Alan?" Millie smiled as she picked up Charlie, letting Alan secure the play pen.
"I don't know if Kate would…" Alan began before seeing the hopeful look on Elizabeth's and Jason's faces. "Heck, if Kate thinks I don't spoil them every chance I get, she will now."
"And she'll do the same when you have kids," Robin assured her, stopping when Alan smirked.
"Not unless she wants to face the wrath of Onaha," Alan snickered.
"A wise woman, your future mother-in-law," Millie agreed as she led them back to the diner.
"More like the Malaysian version of Millie," Alan whispered to Don who chuckled.
"I heard that Alan Shepard Tracy," Millie called from several yards ahead.
Ana Nevada sneered at the Eppes as they joined Alan Tracy. She had never forgiven Don Eppes for the trouble he had caused her after she ran a story. Just because she had implied a little that Kate Eppes had gotten pregnant on purpose…
The journalist looked as the group left the town square. She had a source who would help her hide in plain sight. There was no way she was missing this. Ana Nevada deserved this and Ana always got what she wanted!
From the shadow of the feed store, Kyle Westcott glared at Alan Tracy. The Golden Boy of Wharton's had gone on to be a super star at Harvard. While Kyle had struggled to survive in prison, Tracy had won honor after honor, fitting easily into the model of a perfect Tracy.
Alan blew a small kiss to his niece before making a funny face at the two babies and then turned his attention back to Jason as the five year old pointed out something as they were walking. Seeing Alan's proud smile as he held his nephew's hands and legs secure from the boy's perch on his shoulders, Kyle smirked.
The Golden Boy had a weakness.
A/N - Thanks for waiting. I know my posting is irregular...
Alan - And when were you ever normal?
CC- According to mom? Never. But normal is boring and I strive to never be boring.
Alan - You succeed. Hey, why are you doing all these convos yourself?
CC - Because it's still safe. Don't worry. I'll bring in more Tracys in a couple of chapters. I believe I will be heading back into the WPP.
Alan - The Witness Protection Program?
CC - Writers Protection Program. Because Sammygirl1963 assures me the readers are going to want to hurt me with what I have planned.
Alan - Anyone got some Excedrin Migraine? I feel a doozy coming on.
CC - Here. I have your prescription. You're gonna need it. Later folks!