The Thunderbirds are not mine. They belong to Gerry Anderson. Here's to all for the fun and joy of writing about the Thunderbirds. The variety is amazing. Hope you enjoy this as well.

now, I do NOT have a beta, so any mistakes are mine alone.

Again, I don't have a beta, so any mistakes are by accident-also, the spell check on my computer is busted, so that doesn't help. -_-

CHAPTER 13

Alan was weak from cold, hunger, and in pain. Using his already ripped shirt he found a piece of bark from a tree, and made a makeshift splint for his fractured arm. He struggled to go on. He had lost both of his shoes during his escape and now his feet were bruised and cut, making walking even more difficult. On top of everything a storm was developing. It was common knowledge among the family how frightened Alan was of thunderstorms. Alan watched the lightening in the distance, wondering what to do for shelter. He looked all around, but there was none to be had. He could now begin to hear the distant thunder, he felt the anxiety building within him. He hadn't gotten very far when the storm was upon him.

The thunder, lightning and wind were intense, Alan found himself running blindly in the forest, slipping, falling only to struggle to get up and keep moving. Suddenly he heard a loud crack, looking up he saw a huge branch hurling towards him. Instinctively he covered his head and tried get out of the way, but was knocked to the ground. Luckily the large branch caught other branches as it fell and the heaviest part caught on a rock keeping it from crushing him completely. Alan uncovered his head and looked around. He was covered with more scratches and bruises, but once again the Tracy luck held. The close call took the last of his strength from him. He continued to sit beneath the branch as the storm raged above him. Sometime as he sat frozen with fear, exhaustion, pain and cold he passed out, his last thoughts of his family, "Oh Dad, guys help me! I am so sorry."

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Cliff, Terry and Rick, drove towards their destination of Boston's airport, completely oblivious to the fact that their position was being monitored through Alan's cell phone. They had traveled over a hundred miles south of where Alan had escaped from them, and were just now coming into more populated areas and heavier traffic. Rick was in the backseat checking the Swiss bank account they had set up to accept the millions of dollars they were expecting Jeff Tracy to pay for the return of his son.

"Actually it's a good thing the brat ran off and fell into the river, now they can only get us on kidnapping and not murder, like if we had done it ourselves. Just in case they should be lucky enough to catch any of us." Terry laughed.

"You're forgetting the guy Cliff killed back at the airport. They will consider it murder just by association." said Rick.

The smile quickly left Terry's face, "well maybe he's not dead. After all, the brat did knock Cliff's aim off a bit."

"Don't nobody get any ideas, cuz I for one will never be taken alive to be taken advantage of in the courts while Jeff Tracy gets public sympathy. There's just no way! As for the kid, I do wish I would have had the pleasure of doing him in myself."

Rick looked up "You are really one sick psycho!"

"Just don't you ever forget it! If you know what's good for you."

Rick frowned and was silent for a few minutes, then "Hey look the money has been transferred to our account! We did it! Boy they're not wasting anytime meeting the demands. Now, I'LL transfer it to the second account in case they try and retrieve it. Give me a second... done the money is ours!"

They hooted and hollered as they gave each other high fives.

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"Dad, Jack,- I just received word the car has been spotted coming to one of the road blocks. We are heading that way now,- should be there in about fourteen minutes." Scott called over the radio.

"Okay Scott we are heading your way."

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Cliff slowed the car as they came up to the roadblock, but he took the gun out of its holster and slid it under his right leg, he would be able to retrieve it easily should he need it. As the officers came toward the car they suddenly pulled their guns and started to go to each side of the car ordering its passengers to keep their hands in site and to exit the car.

"Why officers what is the problem?" smiled Cliff as he gave Terry a knowing look. Terry had also drawn his gun and placed it in his lap. Rick eyes grew wide as he cursed at their being caught so soon. After all only hours before they had been celebrating succeeding getting more money than any of them would have thought possible in their lifetime. It had quickly become easy to forget what they had done to obtain it. As the officers approached, Cliff tried to be reassuring hoping to catch the officers off guard, but he soon realized his tactics were not fooling anyone. The officers knew exactly who they were and were taking no chances.

"NOW!" Cliff shouted as he came up with the gun firing through the glass of the halfway down window. His shot caught the first officer in the chest as his second shot went through the leg of another, Terry's shot hit an officer in the shoulder. Then they both ducked down as Cliff hit the accelerator and the car lurched forward scattering the rest of the officers as they dove for cover even as they returned gunfire. Ricky completely unaware of what his brother and Cliff were up to was caught in the exchange and died almost instantly as he was struck multiple times.

"PIGS! Those pigs, they shot Rick," screamed Terry. "Turn back I'll give 'em a taste of their own …"

"Shut up and break out the rifle!" Hold 'em off while I get us out of here, we've come to far to lose now." Cliff had the car moving at a high rate of speed and was accelerating faster.

Terry pulled out the rifle and began to fire at the pursuing police cars. The rifle was actually an A-K 47 semi-automatic machine gun. He took out the engine of the closest car and the others fell back to a safer distance. "Take that PIGS!" he shouted.

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Jeff and Jack looked at each other in horror as they listened to the exchange between the different police radios. At least five officers were already injured and the rest were out for blood.

Scott yelled at the chief of the local police, he was flying with, "Stop them! Don't shoot into that car! They've got ALAN!" Even as his helicopter was coming up on the scene, they could see the police cars racing after the fleeing car, and saw the closets' engine explode as it veered off the road overturning as it was hit with gunfire from the fleeing car. They flew towards the speeding cars as the chief yelled over the radio not to fire into the car.

Jeff and Jack exchanged worried looks as they listened to the radio reports. A feeling of dread started to overtake Jeff. His son was in extream danger and there was nothing he could do. He hated being in a position he did not have full control over.

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Cliff now had his speed to ninety five mph and gaining. He looked into the rearview mirror laughing, unfortunately he took his eyes off the road a second to long, and when he refocused it was too late. The front wheel was off on the shoulder, shouting profanities he tried in vain to pull the car back to the road. He overcorrected. The car going into a wild spin, going up a smll bank, before going airborne for a short distance then came back down bounce, rolling over several times before at last it came to rest on its top. As the pursuing cars came up the car exploded in a ball of fire.

"NO! ALAN NO! This can't be happening!" screamed Scott his face turning absolutely pallor.

Before the helicopter was completely on the ground, Scott was out and running towards the burning car. It took several officers to hold him back and as the car exploded a second time, he sank to his knees staring at the horrific site.

Jack, Jeff and the FBI agent came in and landed close to the helicopter Scott had been in, they were at Scott's side in moments. Jeff's face was a sickening ash as he took in the scene, knowing his son, his baby boy could not have survived.

Other arriving officers quickly attacked with fire extinguishers, though after the two explosions there really wasn't much left to put out.

"D-Dad,,,,,,he ca-can't..."

"Hey here's one still alive!" called an officer. "Get the paramedics over here quick."

Jeff, Scott and Jack looked at each other, a glimmer of hope exchanged. The officers that had held Scott back the first time quickly let it be known they would not be going over to check. The chief of police that Scott had been riding with placed a hand on Scott's arm. "I'll let you know." He walked towards the burning car, giving instructions over his radio as he went.

Scott was beginning to get so antsy that one of the officers threatened to place him in handcuffs if he did not settle down. Scott gave him a stare that would have had a less experienced officer backing off, but Officer Dillon was a seasoned officer, and did not back down, though he did try to pacify the brother with, "just ease off—let us do our job." Jeff placed a hand on Scott's arm. No words needed to be spoken. Scott just turned away from the officer and stood at his father's side.

It seemed an eternity to the Tracy's, before the Chief and FBI agent came walking over worry very evident on their faces.

"Well." Though Jeff's voice did not quaver, only those who knew him could have seen the fear in his eyes at what he was about to be told.

It was the FBI agent who spoke first. "Mr Tracy… the only thing I can tell you for absolute is that Alan was not in the car."

"What!" Relief flooded over them, then was quickly replaced with fear of where and in what shape the youngest Tracy would be found.

"What about the one they said was alive?" asked Jack.

"He's in bad shape. Apparently he was ejected as the car was rolling. My guess is he was unbelted as he was firing the A-K 47. He appears to be paralyzed. We also found what we believe may have been Alan's phone." He held up a damaged cell phone that had been placed in a plastic bag for evidence.

"Jeff looked at the cell phone easily able to identify it as Alan's despite the damage.

"Is he awake? Can I talk to the injured …..man?"

The agent looked directly at Scott as he spoke. "Okay, but DO NOT try to touch him in any way."

Scott seethed with anger, but agreed along with his father and Jack.

As the paramedics brought Terry to the ambulance the Tracy's and Jack stood over him.

"Where is my son!"

Terry opened his eyes and looked defiantly at them. "W-Wou-Wouldn't ya l-like to know?" His voice weak and gasping.

Jack had a hold of Scotts arm preventing him from grabbing Terry by the throat.

Terry thought for a moment of not telling and just leaving them hanging, but his own evilness and want to see pain in the great Jefferson Tracy's face when he told him was just to good to let slip by.

"M-My brother and b-b-best friend are d-d-dead because of you, but so's your b-brat! He got a way but n-not f-for long. C-Cl-Cliff caught up to him, g-gave him what he d-disserved then th-threw him in the r-river." He snarled viciously. "The b-brat gasp a c-couple of times as he t-tr-tried to get air, b-but then w-went over the f-fa-falls, it was m-music to our e-ears as he hit and b-bounced off the r-rocks till he f-fi-finally hit b-bottom and n-never s-su-surfaced again," Terry tried to laugh at the Tracy's stricten faces, though his pleasure was short lived as he began to cough and choke, on his own blood.

This time the officers had to grab a hold of all three before they could lay hands on the vermin.

"Get that scum bag out of here! Now!" yelled the Chief. The paramedics quickly loaded him into the waiting ambulance.

Scott looked into his father's eyes and then both men fell into each others arms. "It can't be true dad, it just can't!" cried Scott. Tears rolled down Jeff's face. In all his experiences he had never run into such a vicious human being - no not human... scum.

The Chief and FBI agent along with Jack steered both Jeff and Scott over to the helicopter. Where they sat to shell shocked by what they had just been told to even begin to think what they would do.

"How are we going to tell the others?"

"No!,,,,,No!... It can't be true! Until we find him I won't believe what he said is true."

Scott looked at his father. "You're right." Taking a deep breath he went back into command mode. He looked at Jack and the offficers with them. "We need to get search parties going."

The officers looked skeptical, but Jack spoke up, "okay then let's start thinking where to start. I suggest the coordinates we were given when the single was first picked up." He looked at the Chief. "Have you a map of the area?"

The Chief just nodded and stepped into the helicopter and said something to the pilot. Within moments they were all pouring over a map. Scott pulled out the coordinates John had sent him.

The chief identified the area and the fact that the Monument Falls was close by. He and the FBI agent set the pegs in motion to coordinate what he called a search party, though in his own mind it was a body recovery endeavor.

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Scott, Jeff, and Jack went over to where they had a little privacy and opened up a channel to John asking him to get everyone on line as he needed to advise all as to what was happening. The others were as shell-shocked as Jeff and Scott had been when they were informed. Jeff didn't even think of abolishing the boys language when Scott repeated what the scum bag had told them.

"Boy's unless I actually hold Alan's body, I will not believe what that vermin said. We are setting up search parties as we speak. Be ready in case IR is needed to help." said Jeff, his voice letting all know there would be no arguments.

"FAB, dad. We fully agree anyone who could do what we know they already have done to a kid is just mean enough to lie again to get us off the trail."

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They arrived at the site and were canvassing the area when Officer Dillion called out, "over here."

As they gathered round , he held up a tennis shoe.

"Its Alans" cried Scott.

Looking to where he had found it they almost fell down the same embankment that Alan had earlier,as it was well hidden behind the bushes.

Officer Dillion continued, "he may well have fallen in, but by the looks of how this branches are snapped I don't think they threw him in."

"Okay," called Scott," lets get some rappelling equipment and get down there, in case he did go over the falls."

Jack was way ahead of them on this, knowing the area he had already put in a call to one of his employees and had him on the way with repeling equipment and a tent.

As soon as the equipment arrived Scott started to put the equipment on.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go, it is to dangerous." said the police chief.

Scott was outraged and promptly let the chief know what he could do with his idea that he would be left out.

"That is my little brother, I am fully qualified as an instructor in rappelling so don't even think of getting in my way. Besides this is our P-R-I-V-A-T-E equipment." The fire in Scott's eyes and the tone of voice let it be known that he'd fight them tooth and nail if anyone tried to stop him.

The chief looked as if to argue and was waving other offices over when Officer Dillon came to Scott's aid.

"Chief, I will assume responsibility for Mr. Tracys' welfare. He can accompany me down."

The Chief shot him a scornful look but, he agreed to let Scott participate. He really did not want to take on the Tracy family. It was their equipment they would be using as Jack had had another helicopter pilot employed at the Tracy hangers gather what would be needed and fly it to the given coordinates. What the chief had heard of the Tracy's and what he had seen with his own eyes let him know the Tracy's were not to be messed with.

Scott and Officer Dillon led the way, no words were spoken between them, but the look in Scott's eyes told the officer all he needed to know.

As soon as they were down they began checking the area as they waited for more to arrive. It was agreed that a tent would be set up top-side and the search coordinated from there.

Looking up from where Alan would have actually gone over made Scott's stomach turn over. There were multiple rocks jutting out and as fast as the water was churning, he knew in his heart that Alan would not have stood much of a chance, especially with his fractured arm.

"Hey Scott over here," the officer called, "there's a ledge in behind the falls."

Unlike when Cliff, Terry and Rick were looking for Alan, the sun was behind some clouds so that it did not shine into their eyes or off the cascadding water and it was easier to see the ledge behind the falls. Both men made their way behind the falls, searching the small cove with flashlights.

"Over here," called officer Dillon. He had spied Alan's other shoe caught under some rocks. Scott quickly dug it out. "Alan has to be alive for his shoe to be here like this!"

"You're right it is beginning to look like he did get away from them."

Let's get going we have to find him!"

"Scott hold on a minute now I know how anxious you are, but we have to wait until morning."

"What are you talking about!" once again Scott was ready to square off with the officer.

"Now just hear me out."

Scott glared.

"It is getting to dark and a storm is coming in fast. If we go trampling about we might very well miss the signs leading us to him as well as getting others lost and possibly hurt. I'm sure none of your family would want to be responsible for anyone else getting hurt."

Scott gave a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair, "my little brother is out here, the others can wait till morning, but I'm not. I'll have my father get some night vision equipment here for more safety."

Officer Dillion replied, "okay, there is also the storm coming in. You know as well as I do the dangers in a forrest with the threat of high winds. By the time the eqipment could get here it will nearly be light your father is checking if he can even get the equipment, lets get a camp set up. Then we can figure out the best way to cover the maximum territory in the morning. If the equipment gets here before daylight, you and I can start looking."

Scott called his father on his cell with his request, then moved away so no one could over hear, "dad I think it's time to call in the guys they could use the scanners to locate him."

"Yes, I'm going to tell the Cheif and FBI that I'm calling in a favor and requesting that International Rescue lend a hand. In the mean time Jacks is having one of his guys try to find night vision goggles."

"Okay I ..."

Officer Dillion came walking over. Scott ended the conversation.

"I can tell you've had military training. Are you the Scott Tracy who won the medal of honor?" asked officer Dillion as they began to get a camp set up before the storm hit.

Scott just gave him a crooked smile.

"Thought so. I'm an ex-marine myself. I know you know better than taking off,... but it's hard when it is family who need you."

Again Scott gave him a half smile. No wonder the guy was able to stand up to him when most people would have back downed immediately when he gave them the glare. "You know my name, but …"

"It's James, James Dillon."

Scott raised an eyebrow, " as I recall a man by that name gathered a few metals of his own not that long ago. Thought there was something familiar about you." He put his hand out and the two shook.

"You seem very close to your brother."

"I helped raise him; while dad dealt with the death of our mom and got the business started. But these last few years it's been pretty hectic and we havn't been as close, now this."

"If your brother is anything like you, I'm sure we'll find him alive. That ransom picture they sent shows he's a scrapper!"