11 – Scott Gets Romantic…Again

Jeff sat at his desk, reading through a report, and Tin-Tin sat with Gordon on the couch, playing a rather quiet game of chess. Gordon was grounded again and he was doing everything possible to stay on his father's good side.

The companionable silence only lasted a moment more before Scott burst into the lounge. He took a knee and lifted one hand dramatically in the air as he read from a notebook that he held in his other,

"Cass, with hair smooth as glass, how can I list all the ways I love thee!"

"What have you and Penny done now?" Gordon asked Tin-Tin and Jeff interjected,

"Son, what is the meaning of this ridiculous display?"

Scott smiled and stood, approaching his father's desk as he said,

"I'm just reading you some of the poetry I wrote for Cass Carnaby. Do you like it?"

"Scott," Jeff said sternly, "this is not acceptable behavior for the field commander of International Rescue. You must keep your dalliances to yourself."

"But, Father," Scott started and Gordon just pressed a hand to his forehead at his brother's idiocy.

"Don't 'but Father' me!" Jeff replied, his voice raising slightly.

"Mr. Tracy," Tin-Tin said carefully, "would you like some coffee?"

"Don't try to distract me," Jeff warned. "Are you two in this together? Are you ganging up on me?"

"Of course not, Father," Scott said. "Tin-Tin's just trying to help you feel better."

"I don't need any help," Jeff said. "I'm not some old man that you have to baby. I'm a military officer! In my day, kids knew how to respect their elders. What is this world coming to?"

"Scott didn't mean any disrespect," Tin-Tin assured him.

"Tin-Tin's right!" Scott added. "I just wanted to share my innermost feelings with you in poetic form."

Jeff stared off into the middle distance for a moment and the other three held their breath as they waited for Jeff to either explode or relax.

Finally, Jeff let out a breath and his shoulders sagged as he said,

"Alright. Who is this Cass person, anyway?"

Scott smiled at Tin-Tin before turning to his father.

"He's the famous Cass Carnaby from the Cass Carnaby Five," he explained. "And he's gorgeous."

"But, the real question," Gordon said, daring to speak now that he knew this subject couldn't get him in trouble with his father, "is whether he's annoying. We all remember how much stress your last boyfriend caused."

"I promise that he isn't," Tin-Tin said and Scott nodded. "Penelope chose him and I've met him on a few occasions. I think you'll all approve."

"I sure hope so," Jeff said, crossing his arms.

"Daaaaaaaaad!" Alan's voice came from down the hall. A moment later, he ran into the lounge.

"What is it, son?" Jeff asked wearily.

"There's a jet flying circles over the island."

"What!?" Jeff exclaimed, standing and pressing his hands empathically down on his desk.

"They're asking for permission to land," Alan continued.

"Who are they?" Gordon asked.

"That's where it gets worse," Alan said.

"Well?" Jeff asked impatiently.

"The one in the jet – it's Ned Cook!"

"Ned!?" Gordon shouted. Simultaneously, Scott yelled,

"Don't say that name!"

Tin-Tin, the calmest of them, asked quietly,

"What does he want?"

"He says he wants to win Scott back."

"Nooooo!" Gordon said, putting his hands up in the air as if begging the universe for mercy.

At that moment, Virgil walked in, looking around at the others curiously.

"I heard shouting," he said. "What's going on in here?"

"Ned is back," Tin-Tin answered.

"I told you not to say his name," Scott said, crossing his arms sulkily.

"We can't allow him to land," Virgil said evenly.

"But what if he runs out of gas and crashes?" Scott asked.

"None of that," Virgil said firmly. "You have Cass now. You can't entertain Ned's overtures."

"And don't forget that he dumped you!" Gordon put in.

"But—" Scott started.

"NO!" Gordon and Alan shouted.

"We must refuse his request to land," Jeff said, putting up a hand to silence them. "That's the end of it."

"Can't I just ask him what he wants?" Scott asked.

"No!" they all answered.

"Alright, alright!" Scott replied. "I'll just leave the room and let you tell him yourself." Without another word, Scott left the lounge.

"That was easy," Alan said.

"Too easy," Gordon added.

"Yes," Virgil agreed, considering.

"He's going to call him!" Tin-Tin realized with a gasp.

"Oh no, he's not!" Virgil said, racing after Scott. Gordon and Alan followed him, leaving Tin-Tin alone with Jeff.

"They'll catch him," she assured him after a silent beat.

A moment later, the sound of a tussle came from down the hall and Scott shouted,

"You can't stop destiny!"

"But you said Cass was gorgeous!" Gordon shouted back.

"That's not enough!" Scott replied.

"But Ned is so annoying!" Alan said.

Their voices came progressively closer, the sound of feet scuffing the floor increasingly desperate.

"Just let me open a channel!" Scott pleaded.

"No."

Finally, a defeated Scott, held tightly by his brothers, appeared in the lounge doorway. Alan and Gordon marched him to the couch, pushing him down onto it.

"You're not moving until Ned is gone," Gordon instructed.

Scott crossed his arms moodily and said,

"Fine."

"This is for your own good," Tin-Tin said gently, sitting beside him.

"Whatever," Scott huffed.

"I'm taking this call in my study," Jeff announced, giving Scott a pointed look before leaving the lounge.

Once Jeff was out of sight, Scott fell onto the ground and moaned,

"Why must my life be filled with so much drama?"

"I'm pretty sure this is all self-inflicted," Virgil said.

"Not true!" Scott replied, looking up at his younger brother with a grimace.

"Aaaaaaand he's back!" Gordon narrated.

"So, Scott," Alan said, "what is it like to have two guys fighting over you?"

"I don't know!" Scott shouted. "Why don't you ask Tin-Tin instead?"

"Low blow, Scott," Virgil said disapprovingly. "You're very lucky Penelope didn't hear you say that."

"Yeah, not cool," Gordon added. "Now you've crossed the line. I don't care how much drama you have in your life – there's no reason to drag Tin-Tin into it."

"Where's John when we need him?" Virgil asked no one in particular.

"Apologize to Tin-Tin," Gordon insisted, pulling Scott to his feet.

"Alright, fine," Scott answered, taking in a long breath before turning to Tin-Tin, who sat innocently on the couch. She looked at him without malice, only the slightest look of hurt in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Tin-Tin," he said. "I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just upset."

"It's alright, Scott," she replied. "I know you're under a lot of stress."

"She is too good to you," Gordon commented.

At that moment, they heard some yelling coming from Jeff's study. Scott took a seat on the couch and they all held their breath, straining to listen. They couldn't make any of the words out from their distance, but Jeff emerged from his study a minute later, rubbing a hand across his forehead as though to ward off a headache.

"Well?" Scott asked eagerly.

"I've told Ned that he is never to return to the Island," Jeff said gruffly. "If he does, I'll have a restraining order out on him."

"A restraining order? Was that really necessary?" Scott asked.

"Yes," everyone answered at once.

Scott let out a long sigh, his shoulders falling.

"I'm going to bed," he said, standing from the couch and slouching toward the hall.