Disclaimer: I don't own the Tracys, International Rescue, or the Thunderbirds.
A/N: Finally, I'm able to breathe and write something other than medical terminology and treatments. Thanks to everyone who has continued to read my stories, old and new, during my break from fanfic writing. sam1
At a Loss
"Mr. Tracy?"
"Speaking," Jeff grumbled, upset at having been pulled from a meeting with his R&D team.
"This is Ms. Landman from your sons' school. I'm sorry to disturb you at work but you're needed here at the school as soon as possible."
Running a hand through his hair, he sighed. "Has John refused class time again?"
"In a manner of speaking."
"Ms. Landman, what exactly is going on that you need me right now? I was in the middle of a meeting."
"Mr. Tracy, your sons have disappeared from their classes."
"Where are they? They can't have just disappeared?" Shoving papers into his briefcase, he bolted from the room. "Alison, reschedule the meeting for next week. Have Anderson meet me at the elementary school." He ran to his car, digging in his pocket for his car keys. "Ms. Landman, I'm on my way."
"Have your identification handy as the school is in full lockdown."
"Have the police been notified?"
"They're on their way."
Increasing his speed a bit more, Jeff snapped, "I'll be there in approximately twenty minutes."
"Well, that went well." Sighing, she put her head down on her desk. "Having Jeff as a student wasn't enough punishment but I have to have three of his sons as well? God, what did I do to deserve this? I'm retiring before the…What did Scott call them-"
"The Terrible Two. The Terrifying Three when Johnny's in with them."
"Yes, that was it," she said, looking up and seeing one of her missing charges. "Scott Tracy, where have you been?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered, "In the staff bathroom with my brothers."
"Why in the world would you and your brothers be in the staff bathroom?"
Cobalt blue orbs stared defiantly at her. "Virgil and I are protecting Johnny. He was upset and needed somewhere safe so he could calm down."
A loud banging on the outer doors startled both principal and student. "MRS. LANDMAN?" Jeff's disembodied voice rang from the call box in the office.
"Dad? You called my dad? Crap," Scott mumbled, paling as he realized how upset his father sounded.
Mrs. Landman quickly buzzed the worried father through the locked doors. By the time he got to the main office, she was standing just outside the office door. Scott stood wearily next to her.
Relief and confusion flowed through his body and he could feel some of the tension ease from his shoulders. "Scotty? Where are your brothers?"
"They're in the staff bathroom near the teacher's lounge." Nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Why are they there?"
"I took them there. Johnny's safe there and Virgil is taking care of him."
"Scott, why are you and your brothers out of your classrooms?" Jeff directed his questions at his son whilst being very aware of Mrs. Landman's pursed lips and shaking of her head.
"Dad, Johnny was upset and me and Virgil took care of him."
"Why was he upset? He won't talk much if at all or let anyone touch him."
Scott quickly followed him. "Dad, don't be mad. He's really upset and…and he's not talking at all. Not even a word to me or Virg."
Jeff stopped and faced his son. "He spoke to you this morning, didn't he?"
"No, he only whispered good morning to Gordy. He tried to sit by himself on the bus but Avery…well, Avery was being a brat." Scott looked down and refrained from saying anything more.
"Son, that is not something that I expect to hear from you about anyone," Jeff lightly admonished.
"Well, he was," Scott said, mulishly. "I won't stand for someone being mean to my little brother."
"Me either." Virgil stood in the open doorway of the staff bathroom, glaring angrily.
"Great. Not only do I have Scott mad but I have an angry Virgil to contend with. This day just keeps getting better and better," Jeff thought. "What happened on the bus, boys?" He glanced between his oldest sons.
"Johnny wouldn't tell us. We didn't even know that something was wrong until I looked out of my classroom door and saw Johnny staring at me."
"Virgil, how did you get involved?" Jeff asked. Mrs. Landman stood by and waited to hear his response as well.
Defiant, he lightly wrapped his arm protectively over Johnny's shoulders. "They had to walk by my class in order to get here. I can see into the hallway from my desk. I told Mr. Khozaim that I had to use the restroom." Shrugging his shoulders, he added, "I didn't lie."
John peeked up at his father but allowed Virgil to keep his arm protectively on his shoulders. Tears pooled in his big, blue eyes and his lower lip trembled. Jeff knelt down and held out his arms, "Come here, Johnny." With a quick glance up at his big brothers, Johnny ran for his father and wrapped his arms around his neck. Jeff frowned when he could feel the boy's body shake and felt wetness on his neck from his son's tears. "Shh, Johnny, shh."
"Home, please?" he whispered.
"Johnny, you have to stay at school and learn. I need you to be a big boy and stay at school like your brothers."
Johnny shook his head. "Home."
"Scott and Virgil, go back to your classrooms," directed Mrs. Landman. "You've each missed enough class time for today."
"Dad, we want to stay with Johnny," Virgil argued, scowling at Mrs. Landman for daring to think they would leave their little brother.
"Boys, Mrs. Landman is right. Go back to class," Jeff said. He watched as the boys headed back to their classrooms and wasn't surprised when both looked back at him with matching, angry scowls. Keeping his hold on Johnny, he stood up. "Come on, Son, time to get you back to class."
Johnny tensed in his father's arms. "No, Daddy," he whispered. His pleas fell on deaf ears as his father carried him to his classroom.
"Be my big boy, Johnny, and finish out your school day. You'll have the whole weekend off with us, okay?"
"Don't want to." His whispered pleas were once again disregarded.
Jeff hugged him tight once more before setting him down. "I love you, Johnny, and I'll see you when you get home from school."
Knowing that he wouldn't get his dad to change his mind, Johnny walked slowly into his classroom and took his seat at his little desk. He kept his eyes focused on his hands clasped together on his desktop. His teacher continued with what she was telling the other students with a quick nod in Jeff's direction.
A sense of unease came over Jeff as he stood watching his son for a moment. "Am I doing what's best for him?"
Unaware that he'd spoken out loud, he was startled when Mrs. Landman spoke, "Yes, you are, Jeff. It's never easy leaving your child when he's upset but if you take him home now, he will keep trying to avoid what makes him upset. He has two big brothers here looking out for him. I daresay, he has even more brothers looking out for him at home as well as you and Mrs. Tracy." Patting her former student on the arm, she continued, "We'll look after him here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Landman, and please no more calls saying that three of my boys are missing. My heart can't take that." With one more glance at his third-born, he turned and headed out of the building and to his car. "Lucy, watch over him, please?"
"I always will, Jeff. Just as I will always watch over each of my boys…young and older."
A light breeze ruffled his hair and a small grin stole across his face. "I know you will." Anderson stood next to his car, taking in everything around him without moving. "Sorry, Anderson, my boys pulled a Houdini act on their teachers. They've been found and returned to their classrooms."
"Very good, Mr. Tracy. I'll head back to the office then unless you need anything else?"
"No, I'm heading back there myself. Thanks again for rushing over here." Anderson got back into his car and was quickly on his way back to his office. Jeff stood by his car for a few more minutes, staring at the school before he, too, headed back to his office.