Evil? Me? *Surprised scoff* I'm hurt! What's wrong with a cliffhanger?

But at least nobody's threatened to kill me ...yet.

Read, enjoy, REVIEW!

Boann xx

Chapter 10

The Hood laughed, giving Alan a reprimanding look. "Alan," he smiled. "I always know I can count on your stubbornness. Trying to tell you family I am here won't help you. What can they do?"

He looked at Mullion. "Drop him."

Mullion reluctantly obeyed. Alan fell like a stone to the cold, hard floor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Scott looked up at John. "What did he say?" he asked.

John shook his head. "I couldn't make it out."

Scott let out a harsh sigh. "So we're back where we started!"

"At least he doesn't appear to be having difficulty breathing," Virgil pointed out, though he replaced the oxygen mask for good measure.

"What do we do now?" asked Gordon.

The answers to these questions were lost to John, who stood stock still staring down at Alan. What was trying to tell me? Why did he try to tell me over everyone else? What do I know that the others don't?

The only thing he could think of was the other night, when Alan had had the migraine and lied about working on Fermat's project to hide it. Like a line of dominoes, other memories followed.

"Last night was quiet," John reported, softly. It had become evident after a few nights that Alan was having nightmares.

"You sleeping okay, sprout?" John asked softly.

Alan exhaled, closing his eyes. "Stupid headache."

"Something really weird is going on."

"Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

"Alan, you look like you're about to fall asleep on your feet."

John looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Alan, keep a close eye on those magnetic readings."

"Sure," Alan replied. His eyes were unfocused and he appeared to be swaying.

"ALAN!"

John frowned as he watched his little brother. Alan was shaking under his hand. His breathing was shallow and ragged. His eyes, underlined with black circles, filled with tears.

"Alan, what happened?" John asked softly. "You didn't even look at us when we called you. It was like you were on another planet."

"I don't need to rest," Alan argued, avoiding John's eyes.

"From where I'm standing, it doesn't look that way," John said softly. He approached Alan, studying his little brother's face. "Alan, when was the last time you had a decent night's sleep?" Alan didn't reply.

John rubbed his brother's arm. "Are you having nightmares again?"

"He loo…loo…appeared to be unlike himself," Fermat said. "He was acting very unusually."

"What do you mean?".

"He appeared to be disorientated and f…f…scared. He didn't look too g…g…I think something's wrong."

Alan shook fiercely, panting as if he'd been running a marathon. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Something's wrong with him. He's delusional and disorientated. He came looking for me in the silo and started hallucinating."

Alan collapsed onto the wooden decking with a sickening thud.

Alan wasn't sleeping, John realised. That's why he was so tired. That's why he was so disorientated and couldn't focus. He pushed himself too far. Why wouldn't he be sleeping? Nightmares? He's had nightmares before. Why didn't he talk to us about it? Did he stay awake to avoid the nightmares?

At first John thought he was going around in circles, but the more he concentrated, the more things seemed to click into place.

What could have made the nightmares so bad? What was he dreaming about?

The only thing John could think of was The Hood. It's most likely he was dreaming about The Hood, he decided. But why didn't he talk about it? After everything we've gone through together. After all of the talks we've had…Why would he hide it from us?

He looked up. "Has Alan said anything to any of you about The Hood since he's been home?" he asked.

Everyone looked at him suspiciously.

"Anything?" John prompted.

Scott shook his head. "Not to me."

Gordon agreed. "Not for ages."

John was about to look at his father for an answer when he caught Virgil bowing his head. "Virg?" he asked.

Virgil looked up. "When Alan was bitten by the spider," he nodded. "He was disorientated. He mentioned something about The Hood. He asked me if I ever have dreams about him."

"Why did he ask you that?" John questioned.

Virgil shrugged. "I just thought it was a result of the fever. He said it was like The Hood was inside his head, that The Hood wanted him to suffer."

"The nightmares," John realised aloud.

Scott frowned. "What?"

John looked at his father meaningfully. "Dad, we know he's been having nightmares."

He looked back at Alan. He was afraid he'd see The Hood again if he went to sleep. If the Hood was in his head…

"Wait," John held up a hand to slow his own train of thought. He couldn't miss anything. "He was dreaming about The Hood, so he stopped sleeping so that he wouldn't have the nightmares," he thought aloud. "If The Hood was in his head, he'd be telling Alan's things, threatening him…with us."

John's eyes widened as he looked up at the confused faces of his family. "The only thing that The Hood could threaten Alan with is us! That's why Alan didn't tell us! Maybe he thought he was protecting us somehow, or maybe he didn't want us to know what he was seeing."

"You're saying that he was dreaming about The Hood hurting us?" Jeff asked.

"It's likely," John replied.

Virgil held up a hand. "Wait, Dad. Do you remember? In the infirmary when Alan woke up, he was shouting for Fermat."

Jeff nodded sternly. "He thought that Fermat had been hurt. He said he'd seen it happen."

"So if The Hood is making Alan see these things, what has that got to do with what's happening now?" asked Gordon. "Why is Alan trying to suffocate himself in his sleep?"

John looked up at Jeff. "I don't think it's Alan who is doing this. If Alan was so exhausted that he collapsed, his body is keeping him unconscious, giving The Hood the perfect opportunity."

"Opportunity to do what?" Scott asked.

"To finish it," Jeff answered.

Gordon ran a hand through his short hair. "Whoa, slow down!" he said. "Are you thinking that The Hood is doing this? That's impossible!"

"Not necessarily," Scott pointed out, his eyebrows knitting together as he cottoned on. "The Hood's always had a knack for mind games. Dad and Alan both said that he had some kind of mind powers. Maybe he's using them to get to Alan."

"Through his dreams," Virgil added. "This is serious. There have been a lot of medical case studies on dreaming and about how what we experience mentally can affect us physically."

"So The Hood is hurting Alan in his dreams?" Gordon folded his arms.

"Gordon, think about it!" Virgil snapped. "What was it we said earlier? The bruises, the choking…It looked like Alan was being beaten. What if he was?"

"But if he's being beaten and it's showing on his body," Scott said. "What if The Hood kills him in his dreams?"

"I think it's evident what will happen," Jeff said.

"We have to stop him!" Gordon cried. "Fast!"

Jeff stood up, in action mode. "I'm going to call Wakefield Prison. We have to stop him and there's not enough time for us to get to England. Call me the moment Alan's condition changes!"

He rushed out of the room, leaving the boys alone together.

Gordon gripped Alan's calf. "Why didn't he tell us?" he asked softly, echoing all of their thoughts.

Scott looked at Alan grimly. The teenager's face exuded calmness, hiding whatever was going on inside his head. "He would have been terrified," he replied.

"If The Hood told him he was going to hurt us, Alan would have tried to protect us," John softly told them.

Gordon let out a ragged breath, rubbing Alan's leg. "God, sprout," he moaned. "Why did you have to be so much like us?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You Tracys are so predictable," The Hood mused as he slowly paced in front of Alan.

Mullion had disappeared at some point but they were still in the alley. The cold brick wall against Alan's back confirmed that.

"You try so hard to be the hero, to take the fall for each other," The Hood smiled and bent down to bring his face level with Alan's. "It's always a waste, Alan."

Alan tried not to look away, stubbornly holding eye contact to give the impression he wasn't scared. It was all over. He hadn't been able to warn his family in time. He knew they couldn't help him. He knew he was going to die. "So what are you waiting for?" he asked with a gravely voice. "You've had your fun. If I'm going to die, at least spare me the monologuing."

The Hood's eyes hardened. "As you wish."

Alan felt a familiar tug at his naval as the alley disappeared in a whirl of colour. He looked around to see him in a very familiar place. "The Bank of London," he murmured. "How original."

He was standing on the platform from which The Hood had tried to kill him during Spring Break. Below him, The Mole sat lifelessly on the ground. Its diamond coated edges waited soundlessly to receive him.

Alan tensed as The Hood put a gloved hand on his shoulder.

"I thought it would be nice if everything ended where it should have ended all those weeks ago," the older man murmured in his ear.

Alan could feel tears pricking his eyes. He wasn't sad to die for his family and friends. But that didn't mean he wasn't scared. "Then why don't I make it easy for you?" he asked. "If you promise to leave my family and my friends alone, I'll do it myself."

The Hood chuckled in his ear, squeezing his shoulder. "The perfect ending," he agreed. "One Tracy sacrifices himself for the others. I won't need to hurt your family and friends, Alan. What happens to you will be enough to give me my revenge and reassure me that from this day forward, your family will be in ruins and the Thunderbirds will meet their end."

He's right, Alan realised. Dad won't survive another loss like Mum. He'll think it was his fault and that International Rescue was the cause of it all. He'll shut it down and they'll be nobody to save those who need saving. I can't let that happen!

All intent to submit to his captor's intention disappeared. He had to find a way of telling his family what was happening. There was so much more at stake than just his own life. The lives of many more depended on him. He tried to make sure that the expression of submission on his face remained the same. If I can't tell my family what's going on, he thought. I'll have to show them.

"And if I die here, I'll die in reality?" he confirmed.

"I can guarantee it," The Hood replied.

"And whatever happens to me will happen in reality?"

"Yes."

It was a gamble, but he had to try. "Okay," he murmured, centred his concentration on one action. He took one step forward.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Are you certain about this?"

Jeff bit back the growl that threatened to escape. "You are very aware of the abilities of this prisoner, Captain," he argued. "However logic may not support it, it is very clear that his abilities are real and that they are placing the lives of one of my men in serious danger. The Hood must be subdued immediately."

"Okay, sir," the head guard at Wakefield relented. "I'll send a man down to his cell. But just know that the only reason I'm doing this is because you're the Thunderbirds. If this turns out to be a hoax, you'll be joining the menace in his cell."

"This is no hoax," Jeff stated.

"Stay on the line," the guard told him gruffly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Scott sighed, head in his hands.

It had been nearly nine minutes since Alan had last reacted. The waiting for the inevitable was testing Scott.

Virgil monitored Alan closely, alert for the slightest change. Alan's blood ox levels were back up, but his pulse was still too fast.

Scott looked up at Alan and gripped his little brother's hand. What's happening to you, sprout?

Why didn't I notice that something was wrong? Why didn't I talk to you more?

"Scott, stop it."

Scott looked at John to see the astronaut regarding him with knowing eyes.

"Stop what?" Scott asked, looking back to Alan.

"Stop beating yourself up," John replied sternly. "None of us thought this was possible. There's no way we could have noticed-"

"We should have noticed!" Scott cut him off. "He's our brother, for God's sake! Why didn't we notice?"

"We did notice," Gordon added quietly. "We just didn't think it was anything like this."

Scott snorted, but bit back his harsh response. Instead he just murmured. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Of course it matters, Scott," John argued softly. "Alan obviously hasn't given up hope on us. He tried to warn us. He knows we're here for him."

"I just thought that," Scott cleared his throat when his voice wobbled slightly. "I thought that after everything that's happened, it'd be better, you know? We came so close to losing him and…"

His voice faltered again and he gave up.

Virgil watched as the pilot's sapphire blue eyes glassed over. "We're not going to lose him," he assured. "Alan's beaten The Hood once, he'll do it again, and we'll be there for him."

"You don't get it," Scott whispered, looking up at Virgil. "We have to…I have to…"

Virgil gripped Scott's arm.

Suddenly Alan shifted. Immediately, they jumped into action stations.

"Alan?" Scott called, squeezing his brother's hand.

"Alan, can you hear me?" Virgil asked, removing the oxygen mask.

"Wait," John murmured. They all stopped.

Alan eyes were still closed.

"He can't hear us," John realised. "He's still asleep."

Suddenly Alan sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"Alan," Virgil called warily as the boy stood up.

"What's happening?" Scott rushed around the side of the bed as Alan began walking to the door.

Gordon leapt forward also, gripping Alan by the shoulders. "Come on, Al! Wake up!"

"No!" Virgil pulled the aquanaut away. "Never wake someone when they're sleepwalking."

"What else do we do?" asked Gordon.

Scott kept his eyes locked on his youngest brother. "Go and see how Dad's doing. He needs to know what's happening," he instructed calmly. "Now!" he commanded when Gordon didn't move.

Gordon hurried out of the infirmary. Alan followed him out of the door. Scott, John, and Virgil stayed at his heels.

"Where is he going?" John asked.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alan walked along the metal balcony, closer to the edge. He could feel The Hood's gaze behind him. He hoped the man wouldn't clue in to what he was doing.

Come on, guys! he thought. Can you see what I'm doing?

He realised he'd let his concentration slip.

No! he gasped.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The three brothers stopped when Alan suddenly halted in the middle of the hallway.

"What's he doing?" Scott wondered aloud.

"Master Scott?"

"Kyrano, stay back!" John held up a hand when their manservant appeared.

"I ran into Master Gordon on his way to the office," Kyrano explained. "I thought maybe I could help."

"You know how to stop this?" Virgil asked.

"My half brother's powers are a mystery to us all," their friend replied. "But I do know someone who might know how to stop him."

"Who?" asked Scott, who stood with his hands up ready to catch Alan if he suddenly collapsed.

"Tintin!" John clicked his fingers.

"She's in England with Lady Penelope," Virgil reminded them.

"Let's hope they're both in," John nodded and he took off with Kyrano down the hall.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Focus, Alan told himself, planting one foot deliberately in front of the other. Suddenly the floor beneath him flickered and he stopped, wobbling to retain his balance.

The Hood chuckled behind him. "Very amusing, Alan!"

Alan turned to see The Hood grinning ecstatically at him.

"You really thought I wouldn't notice?" The Hood appeared at his side like a ghost, placing a hand around Alan's throat. "I control your dreams, Alan," he warned menacingly. "And I will show you just how helpless you are."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alan?" Scott called softly when Alan started moving again.

Both he and Virgil jumped with arms open when Alan suddenly wobbled, but their little brother didn't fall.

"Okay," Virgil murmured unsurely.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alan was sucked out of the dream again. He was standing in the hallway of the house leading from the infirmary. He was also aware of two figures standing on either side of him. He gasped as feeling returned to his whole body.

"Alan?" he heard Virgil murmured to his left. Well, he thought he did. It was hard to tell. Everything was sort of fuzzy. The corners of his vision were blurred.

"Don't worry, Alan," The Hood told him. "I'm still here."

Alan's breathing quickened as his foot moved without him wanting it too. No! he thought when he realised that it wasn't he who had moved it.

Scott appeared in front of him, cupping his cheeks and gazing at him intently. "Alan, are you with us?" he called.

Alan wanted so desperately to tell his brother what was happening.

"Silence," The Hood ordered him.

And without hesitation, his body obeyed. He couldn't speak.

Scott stroked his cheek to prompt him. "Alan," he frowned.

"Run, Alan," The Hood said. "Run!"

He was suddenly moving. His legs were propelling him down the hallway, up the ramp, and down the upstairs hall. And he could do nothing to stop himself.