Chapter Ten: All's Fair in Love and War

Scott stirred sugar into his coffee, watching the little white stick swim through the dark liquid. Gordon had dragged him here, to the local campus coffee bar, as soon as he'd admitted the truth about Kate. Truthfully, Scott hadn't put up much of a fight; he was too drained by everything that had happened. Hearing the truth from Kate's lips, that she knew the man who had almost killed his little brother … It was something that had been at the back of his mind since learning of the Cambridge connection. An irritating little niggle that he refused to believe, but just couldn't quite dismiss. It had all just been too much of a coincidence – Kate, Cambridge, Physics. Even before he'd stormed into Kate's office, he'd already known what her answer was going to be.

Gordon shifted opposite him, his metal chair scraping across the floor. His brother had been conspicuously silent since Scott's revelation; aside from leading them here and ordering the drinks, he hadn't said a word. Scott wondered what he was thinking. Something negative, no doubt. Trust Gordon to find a way to twist everything to make Scott the bad guy.

Gordon cleared his throat. Scott looked up from his coffee, bracing himself for the onslaught.

"So your English girlfriend is a Physics professor." Gordon tapped his fingers against the tabletop. "Well, didn't see that one coming. I imagined you more with a high-powered businesswoman, or maybe a pilot."

Scott stared at him, wondering if he'd misheard. Of all the reactions Gordon could have had – "Wait, you knew about Kate?" he blurted.

Gordon shrugged. "I knew you had an English girlfriend. That's about it."

Despite everything, Scott couldn't help being impressed by his brother's talent for ferreting out secrets. Impressed and irritated – why couldn't Gordon ever mind his own business?

"So how long have you guys been together?"

The irritation was growing; warping back into the anger he'd felt in Kate's office. Why did Gordon have to be here for this humiliation? Why was he asking all this questions? Why did Kate Oliver have to be connected to Tom Wilcox?

Scott twisted the stirring stick with vicious abandon, slopping coffee down the side of the styrofoam cup. He cursed as the hot liquid splashed onto his hand. Gordon held a napkin out wordlessly and Scott snatched it up.

"I guess casual isn't going to work, huh?" Gordon said after a moment. "Okay then, how about some plain facts: how do you know her, does she know about IR and what's her connection to Richard Wilcox?"

His curt tone got Scott's back up. "Why should I have to answer to you?"

"You don't."

"Good."

Gordon sipped his coffee. "You do have to answer to Alan though."

"Are you trying to get me to punch you?" Scott snarled.

"No. Believe it or not, I like my face the way it is." Gordon leaned forward. "I'm trying to get you to talk to me, Scott. You do this whole big reveal thing and I'm just trying to find out what the hell it means for us. What it means for Alan. So get your damn priorities straight!"

Scott looked down at his cup. His restless fingers tore a strip off the foam and he watched as it disintegrated. As tempting as it was to hang onto his anger, to nurse the grudge he had against Gordon, he just couldn't justify it right now. There really were no room for personal feelings when it came to getting the guy who'd hurt Alan.

"We've been together for two years," he admitted grudgingly, pushing his cup away to stop himself from tearing it into pieces.

Gordon whistled through his teeth. That was obviously one little fact he hadn't known. "Does she know about IR?" he asked.

Scott shook his head. "I was thinking about telling her … guess that's kind of a moot point now."

Gordon was silent for a moment. "What did she say about Wilcox?"

"That they were friends. I didn't get much more before – " Before I lost my temper "- she stormed out."

Thankfully Gordon resisted the urge to make any smart-ass comments about that. He just looked thoughtful. "Pretty big coincidence. Your girlfriend knowing our bomber, I mean."

"Yeah, that thought had already occurred to me."

"You think she was a plant?"

"For two years?" Scott asked incredulously. Gordon held his gaze for a moment and then Scott relented with a sigh. "Yeah, I know, it's happened before. Do you think I haven't been asking myself that same question?"

"So do you? Think she was a plant?"

"No. I don't know. Jesus, Gordon, I don't know anything!" Scott ran his hands through his hair. "We've been together for two years. Two years. And now I find out that she – What if she is connected to Wilcox? What if this whole thing was just a set-up to get close to IR?" His voice dropped down to an agonised whisper. "What if I could have stopped Alan getting hurt?"

"Hey, man, c'mon – you can't think like that."

"I can't not think like that. It's just going round and around in my head – you know I was considering bringing her to the island to meet Dad? A free ticket right into the heart of International Rescue."

Gordon became very still. "You were gonna introduce her to Dad?"

Scott laughed bitterly. "Maybe. Probably. Ironic, huh?"

Gordon played with the edge of his coffee cup. "So it was … serious?"

Serious? Did that describe his relationship with Kate? Maybe. Two years was a long time, and even though they'd only been able to hook up every couple of months, there'd been something about Kate Oliver that had caught Scott's eye. They'd met randomly, at a conference in London that he'd been intending on behalf of Tracy Industries. He'd asked her out, she'd accepted and two years later they'd been talking about making things more permanent.

"Yeah, it was serious."

It felt weird, sitting here and so calmly discussing his relationship with Gordon of all people. This was the kind of thing he'd sometimes discuss with Virgil, and occasionally John, but definitely not with Gordon. Not even when they weren't in the middle of their own private World War III. But sitting in that coffee shop, trying to process everything that had just happened, Scott was ridiculously glad for Gordon's presence, as irritating as it sometimes was. The thought of going through all of this alone … "Do you think … Wilcox aside, did she ever do anything to make you suspect her?" Gordon asked after a pause.

"You mean do I think she knows about IR? No. I was careful and she – she was content. She knew I worked for Dad and that was enough for her." Scott checked himself. "That seemed enough for her. Now – God now I just don't know."

"She could be totally innocent in all this," Gordon suggested. "She could have nothing to do with Wilcox beyond being his colleague way back when. Or maybe Wilcox has been using her without her knowledge – you ever think of that?" He smiled briefly. "Might mean some major grovelling from you, of course. You kinda flipped out on her."

"If that's true, it's one hell of a coincidence."

Gordon shrugged. "Yeah, well, I'm an optimist."

Scott gave a weak smile as Gordon finished off his coffee in one big gulp.

"You know …" he said when he'd swallowed. "You're going to have to talk to her again."

"Not today."

"Scott, we need to know what she knows."

"And we will. Just not today."

Gordon raised his eyebrows. "Dad won't be happy with that."

"Dad can shove it," Scott said fiercely. "I never ask for anything in my personal life – he can give me one day."

Gordon stared at his brother for a moment and then started to laugh. "Man, I never thought I'd hear you say something like that!"

Scott frowned at him. "I'm glad you find it so amusing."

"You have no idea!"

"Gordon will you knock it off? I really don't have the energy for this right now."

"Defying Dad…" Gordon grinned. "Welcome to the club."

Something about his brother's reaction rankled and Scott found himself asking, "It's that surprising?"

Gordon shrugged. "Kinda. Well, okay, totally."

Really? "Why?"

Gordon looked down at the table and began tracing a pattern with his finger. "Well… you know. The whole mini-Dad thing you've got going on."

"What?"

"You always toe the company line. Support Dad one hundred percent in every decision he makes."

"I'm not that bad," Scott argued. "I have a mind of my own."

"Um, yeah, you kind of are. Sometimes it's like you're his clone or something."

"I'm like his… what, because I follow orders? C'mon, Gordon, he's our commander. You've served – you know what that means. When we're out there in the field, what Dad says goes, end of."

"I'm not just talking about IR."

"Then…?"

Gordon wouldn't meet his eyes. "Life."

"I support Dad in life," Scott repeated slowly. "What's that even mean?"

"You support all the warped family values that have been bred into us from birth. Chin up. Smile through the pain. Never show weakness." Gordon swiped his hand across the pattern he'd been drawing, as if brushing it away. "God forbid we should actually talk about our problems; no, far better to just bottle everything up or ship us off so we don't have to deal with them at all."

It was all coming a bit too out of the left field for Scott, but as he ran his brother's words over in his head, a glimmer of understanding dawned. "This isn't about me, it's about Alan," he realised. "You're mad about what happened to him and you need someone to blame –"

"He was walking around with a skull fracture, bleeding in his brain, but he didn't say anything! Why didn't he say anything? Oh yeah, because he was too busy acting like the perfect Tracy, which was great until it nearly killed him," Gordon hissed from between white lips. "What kind of screwed up family raises their sons to think like that? Sometimes… it just makes me sick."

Scott could feel his own anger responding to Gordon's and he pulled it back in with difficulty. "Alan could have come to any of us and he knew that. I don't know why he didn't, but –"

"You really believe that, don't you?" Gordon snorted. "Dad Mark Two take a bow. You're both as blind as each other."

"That's enough," Scott snapped. "Think what you like, Gordon – you usually do – but I've always been there for Alan. I helped raise him, for God's sake!"

"Oh, yeah, you're just Captain Caring. So much so you only visited Alan in hospital once." Gordon eyes burned into Scott's face. "Explain that one, Scotty, 'cause it sure will be interesting to hear your excuse."

Scott blanched. "I was busy."

"Don't give me that crap!" Gordon shot back scornfully. "You weren't busy. You were – well I don't actually know what you were, but you sure as hell weren't busy."

"Keep your voice down! You think IR just ran itself? Grow up, Gordon. Dad couldn't see anything beyond Alan and someone had to take responsibility for the company. I'm the oldest; I'm the field commander – it was my responsibility."

"And what about your responsibility to Alan?" Gordon demanded. "Damn it Scott, he's only nineteen and he was almost killed. He should never have been put in that position in the first place."

"Alan chose this life as much as we did. No one forced him and he knew the risks."

"Chose?" Gordon's laugh was wild. Dangerous. "You think any of us chose this?"

Scott made an effort to lower his voice. "If you want to leave IR, then no one's stopping you."

Gordon shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you? I'm not saying I want to leave and I'm not saying Alan wants to either."

"Then what are you saying?" Scott demanded, frustrated.

"That we should have had, I don't know, other options or something. Safer options. Options that wouldn't have put us in the firing line of a madman."

"We had other options –"

"God, are you really that – of course we didn't! None of us did, and Alan most of all. Not when Dad shipped him off to Wharton's and not when he came back to join IR. All the rules and pressure and expectations – we mapped out his future before he'd even taken his first step. He never had a chance."

And just like, all the fight faded out of his brother. Gordon toyed with his empty coffee cup and wouldn't meet Scott's eyes. "He never had a chance. We should have protected him and we failed. And that's – that's on Dad. And that's on you. And that… that's on me too."
Hearing it laid out like that, so simply and plainly, took all the fight out of Scott too. He slumped back into his discarded chair and rested his head in his hands for a few moments. Everything Gordon had said, about the anger and the guilt and the fear, matched Scott's own feelings point for point. So this was what all their arguing had been about. Part of him wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but, like his brother, he was just too damn tired.

"Gordon," he said finally, words muffled by his hands, "do you really think you have a monopoly on regret? On guilt? Get in line, because I'm at the head of the queue."

Gordon's chair squeaked, as if he had shifted his weight, but he didn't say anything.

"All this time you were blaming me, guess what? I was too. I was Field Commander on that mission, Gordon. I should have been more careful. But more than that, seeing Alan so young and small in that hospital bed… for the first time it made me wonder if the price we pay for IR is too high. So yeah, I hid behind my work and didn't visit him, because just looking at Alan reminded me how close we'd come to losing him and how much I'd let him down, and that terrified me. I couldn't face it."

There was a long silence, broken only by the murmuring of conversation from the coffee shop staff at the counter. Scott's gaze wandered past his brother and out into the campus beyond the café. It was quiet, almost peaceful out there. A last few students hurried past, intent on some lecture or running to catch a bus and the sun was beginning to disappear behind the buildings to the west. It was late; their dad would be wondering why they hadn't checked in yet.

"Wow," Gordon said at length.

Scott arched a sardonic eyebrow. "Not what you were expecting?"

"Er – no, not really. But that's also the most you've said to me in over six months, so I was kinda surprised by that as well."

The joke, weak as it was, shattered the tension and Scott found himself smiling at his brother for the first time since Alan's accident. Gordon brushed strands of copper hair back from his forehead, looking sheepish. "I never realised you felt that bad about Alan."

"Yeah well," Scott shrugged. "I never realised how my actions were affecting you, so I guess we're even. And when we get a spare moment, you should really talk to Dad about some of the stuff you said. It… well a lot of it made far too much sense."

Gordon regarded him thoughtfully and then held out his hand. "It's a deal."

Scott shook the proffered hand without hesitation. His relationship with Gordon still had a way to go before it was back to normal, but with life as it was, one less drama would be a welcome relief.

"And I'm sorry," Gordon added awkwardly. "I could have looked at things from your perspective more."

"We both should. Just forget it."

"So … should we hug now?"

Scott pushed his brother away, fighting the urge to laugh. He'd forgotten how much fun Gordon could be – his wicked sense of humour never failed to lighten the tensest situations. While Scott often lamented its misplaced use on missions, he was oddly grateful for it now.

"You know, I'm kinda surprised you didn't get madder," Gordon confessed, swiping up his coffee cup and throwing it at the nearest trashcan. It hit the rim and bounced onto floor. Gordon pulled a face. "I definitely imagined more punching when we finally had this out."

"Let's just say I've got other things on my mind right now." Scott stood up and stretched. He felt calmer now, but his muscles were still bunched and tense.

"Good point," Gordon agreed, collecting the empty cup from the floor and dropping it into the trashcan. "Still, it's kind of an anti-climax."

"What, you want me to punch you?"

Gordon seemed to almost consider it for a moment and then shrugged. "Nah, I think we've had all the excitement we can handle for one day."

He waved to the cashier as they left the café and then started clowning around on the steps aside, jumping up and down like a five-year old. It was behaviour that had driven Scott to distraction in the past – particularly when they'd been fighting with each other – but now he actually found himself smiling wryly at his brother's antics. Watching Gordon then, it was the first time he was glad it was his water-loving brother who'd accompanied him on this trip. John and Virgil, no matter how much closer he was to them, would have asked the awkward questions; pressed him about his relationship with Kate until he snapped. Alan would have just said all the wrong things and probably driven Scott to distraction. But Gordon? He didn't pry, not really. And he didn't push. He just made light of everything. Turning life into one big joke was his coping mechanism and just right now, Scott could really get on board with that.

As Gordon reached the last step, he broke back out of his little world of fun and his expression became a touch more serious. "So, uh, now that we're friends again … can I ask what happens next?"

What happened next was not something Scott wanted to dwell on. He wanted to follow Gordon off into escapism, leave the world and its messes behind. Unfortunately as the eldest son of Jeff Tracy and Field Commander of International Rescue he didn't have that luxury. It was all about the strategy, the plan and the end game. And in this case, that meant one thing.

He squared his shoulders. "Now we get some answers from my girlfriend."

"You sure you're ready for that?" Gordon asked as they started heading back towards the car.

"Not like I have much of a choice."

"We could put it off until tomorrow. You know that phrase? Why do today what you can put off –"

" – to tomorrow, yeah I know the phrase."

"So?"

"So it's not going to get any easier is it?"

"Well, no. But she might be a bit less pissed at you tomorrow – jeez you're walking fast. What's the hurry?"

Scott stopped walking. "Dad's gonna want a report soon. What am I supposed to tell him? That I know exactly who could give us more information about Wilcox, but I'm too scared to go and confront her because, oh yeah, I've been shagging her for the last two years?"

It exploded out of him with more force than he'd intended and Gordon actually took a step backwards. They stared at each other for a moment; Gordon guarded, Scott struggling to control his anger.

"You know maybe you should ask Alan for his psychologist's number," Gordon mused finally.

Well that was an unexpected response. Scott frowned at him. "What?"

"Well you're kinda rivalling old Al in the mentally screwed up stakes right now and hey, if it doesn't work out then you could always ask her out. She's cute, ask Alan." He paused, looking thoughtfully. "Though you would have to develop a taste for older women."

Scott stared at him, baffled. "You're insane."

"I'm thinking outside the box," Gordon countered. "You're obviously messed up about this Kate stuff – and hey, who wouldn't be – but you don't want to admit it so you're on the verge of pulling a typical Scott –"

A typical Scott?

" – and acting like it doesn't matter when really, it's got you completely turned around. So all I'm saying is that maybe you should take a leaf out of Al's book before things get any worse."

"And see a psychologist," Scott said flatly.

"See a psychologist, jump off a bridge, get smashed – whatever. Just, you don't always have to be Captain Stoic about everything. And if you need a night off to get everything straight in your head, then take it. Screw Dad."

Captain Stoic? "Just how many nicknames do you have for me anyway?" he demanded half-heartedly.

Gordon glanced at his watch. "More than we've got time for now. So what do you say, man? Wanna blow of some steam tonight?"

It was tempting. It was really tempting.

"C'mon, Scott – live a little! Tell you what, I'll take you out tonight, okay? We'll hook up with some pretty English girls and you'll forget all about what's her name. C'mon, we're playing for the same team again now, the air's been cleared and it's all sunbeams and roses yada yada yada … let's celebrate!" He adopted a pious expression. "I even think Dad would approve under the circumstances. After all, this trip together was his idea."

Scott liked to think he would have said yes if his watch hadn't chosen that moment to start chiming like a grandfather clock. He looked down at the display and got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"It's Dad."

"Great. Big Brother checking up on us again," Gordon muttered sarcastically. "Don't answer it."

Scott ignored him, raising his wrist and touching a button on the side of his watch. The display dissolved into a picture of his father's face. He looked like he was sitting in his office. "Hey, Dad."

"We've had a call-out," Jeff said without preamble.

"A rescue?" Gordon exclaimed, grabbing hold of Scott's wrist and making the screen shake. "Where?"

"Is it Wilcox?" Scott wanted to know. "Do you need us to return now?"

"It's an earthquake in New Zealand. We don't suspect Wilcox's involvement – John reports that there've been tremors in that area for the last few days."

"Well that's something," Gordon murmured.

"Do you need us back, Dad?" Scott repeated his question.

Jeff hesitated for a second and then shook his head. "Your job's of equal importance right now. Just find Wilcox as quickly as you can."

"FAB. I'll be in touch when we have more news."

Gordon started. "Wait, what about –"

"Understood. Tracy Island out."

The screen dissolved as Jeff cut the connection.

Gordon immediately threw up his hands; gravel crunching under his feet as he spun around. "Has he lost his mind? With you and me away from the island, that leaves Virg, Fermat and Tin-Tin as the only land-based members of International Rescue! What's he gonna do? Suit up Onaha and Kyrano?"

"He must have a plan."

"When does he not?" Gordon snorted derisively. "Nice of him to share it."

"Just focus on Wilcox."

"Yeah, yeah." Gordon sighed. "Guess the party's on hold, huh?"

"Yep."

"Typical. You know, I reckon he has a sixth sense for this kind of thing. The moment one of us even thinks the world 'fun', his Dad-radar locks on." Gordon scuffed his foot across the ground. "So we're going to see Kate right now?"

"Yeah."

"Sucks."

Yeah, Scott thought.

"Hey man?"

Scott raised his head slowly.

"I'm sorry, you know."

"Didn't we already go through this?"

"I meant about Kate. I don't think I said it before, but… I am."

Me too, Scott thought. Me too.