Disclaimer - Not mine, wishing won't make it so...
Chapter 21 – Normalcy – What a Concept
Sarah Woodbury Tracy looked at the children playing in the kiddie pool the older Tracy boys had set up near their houses. Smaller, they could place a lid over it when not in use and it satisfied the children. The gate from their shared front yards to the pool area of the main house now had an electronic lock with thumbprint recognition that Brains had designed after DJ had fallen in the pool last Christmas Eve. Looking past the children, she could see where Dad was setting up a house for Gordon and Julie. The forth – and last villa, given the space – was almost ready. Secretly, the older Tracy sons were amused that while Alan had been married much longer than Gordon and his child was already here, it was Gordon Jeff had built the house for. But Kate had explained her reasoning that Dad was smarter than them all. "OK, you guys lived with Gordon for years. Alan may be hot-tempered at times but at least he won't play practical jokes on you at every turn. Which one would you rather have living with you?"
Smiling, Sarah watched as Jason held onto his cousin, Michael, while Elizabeth watched over DJ. Keith and Samantha, now nine- and two-months-old respectively, babbled together from their swing seats nearby. Sarah was so fascinated by the children, still so innocent, that she was startled when Emily walked up behind her and spoke.
"What are you doing here with the kids, Sarah? I thought you were supposed to be on Command and Control today?" Emily almost laughed at the way Sarah jumped but knew that would be cruel. The Tracys were all on edge ever since they realized that the Hood was free and had issued his declaration of war on the family. While Sarah, Kate and Emily had not been around when the villain had first attacked, they each had dealt with the fallout. Emily had dealt with the nightmares her husband had silently suffered for almost two years, and Kate had met the family a little more than six months after the Event (as it was so politely called by Kyrano) when they were all still dealing with the fall-out.
"Tin-Tin wanted to run Command and Control, and with Kate and Julie in New York for Tracy Enterprises, I said I would take the kids. Tin is anxious with Alan on his first mission since the accident. She felt better working Control and I can't blame her. You know that is the reason Dad insisted on going with the boys."
Emily smiled weakly. She knew Jeff was worried about Alan, that he was afraid for all of his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. The Hood wanted nothing more than destroy the entire family. Looking up at the sky, she thanked the heavens that Dad Tracy had decided, after the Hackenbackers came back to earth, that they would use the remote communications system International Rescue had designed after the Hood's first attack. "Did Virgil tell you Dad is thinking about using the remote system on a regular basis, at least for Christmas?" Sarah nodded, as Emily continued. "The Hackenbackers said they still want to go "on sabbatical" – Sarah laughed when Emily made air quotations – "for a few weeks each summer, but with Fermat and Ellen getting married next month, Fermat doesn't think it would be fair to his wife or any children they have to miss the holiday. But Dad also wants his grandchildren not to be deprived of their fathers – or mothers at Christmas." Emily adjusted her words, thinking of the other Tracy daughters-in-law, who occasionally worked the space station as well.
Nodding, Sarah acknowledged what Virgil had excitedly discussed with her the night before. She knew how relieved all the brothers – and their wives – had been when Jeff had decided it was simply too risky for any of the Thunderbirds to be up on Five by themselves, that even using Three was too much of a chance and opened them up to vulnerability that could easily be exploited by the Hood.
Deciding a change of subject was needed, Sarah instead asked, "So, was everything OK at the clinic today?"
Emily knew what Sarah was trying to do, she was far too intelligent not to know, but she let herself be guided into the conversation. It was easier to discuss the rotation of visiting physicians and supplies needed than it was to accept that the monster they assured their children wasn't in the closet was still close by – and poised to strike.
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Flying back from Manhattan, Kate looked over at Julie. The girl was a natural in business, and her sweet personality had most people bending of backwards to help in any way they could. Kate took care of anyone else. Smiling, Kate watched as the younger woman went over the data before their arrival back on the Island. Julie's hair kept escaping the clasp that she used to pull it back and it would bounce against her face as she reviewed her facts. Julie was so worried that Jeff would not approve of the project that had been "her baby". But Kate was sure Jeff would support the project in full - and not just because Julie was pregnant with his next grandchild (because that had never worked for Kate). During the three weeks between Julie marrying Gordon (and her fall the next day) and Emily clearing her to go back to work, Julie had spent the time researching the project she was now trying to initiate.
Looking up from what she had been doing, Julie wrinkled her nose. "Kate, what did Ann-Marie mean about you paving the way for me? There were other women working in that department even before you started there."
"Yeah, but none named Tracy." Kate frowned. "There were people who actually said – not implied, mind you – but flat out said that Dad had created the job for me. Forget that I was highly skilled and more than capable at my job. I had married Scott and so the job must be a made-up position. Emily and Sarah work for the Charity Clinic, so no one minds that, and Tin-Tin was going to college right after she married Alan. She's been married to Alan long enough that no one would notice, but Tin prefers to stay on the Island, and Brains is happy for the help, especially with Fermat taking that TA position at Cal-Sci." Kate smiled at that. Her family had really taken the younger Hackenbacker under their wing. Charlie Eppes had become something of an idol to Fermat so no one was really surprised when he stated his intent to become an academic as well. Of course, Fermat solving P vs. nP had assured that Cal-Sci would be anxious to keep Fermat as well. The formerly impossible to solve math problem had been something of a family joke over the year so when Uncle Charlie's protégé had solved it, the older man had jokingly grumbled that Fermat had only solved it because Charlie had given him a head start.
Pulling herself from her musings, Kate attempted to answer the original question. "I've worked there more than six years now. I have worked hard to earn the respect of the others at Tracy Enterprises. So now they will know that Dad would never give a job to one of the family based on last name. It won't hurt that you worked there for almost a year before you married Gordon. Also, Gordon was never as involved at Tracy Enterprises as Scott. So since he was more behind the scenes than his older brothers, there is a difference there. And finally, you are simply a much nicer person than I am."
Julie's eyes widened at the last statement until she saw the wicked grin on the oldest Tracy daughter-in-law. "Kate," she groaned, annoyed at herself for falling for her sister-in-law's dry wit. Then again, Julie thought, she had heard stories…
Changing the subject, Julie watched Kate's face as the other woman prepared for landing in Auckland. They had promised Emily that they would pick up some supplies that Mercy General Hospital had agreed to leave at the airport. Then they could leave the supplies at the clinic in Akaroa before heading for home. Frankly, both women just wanted to see the landing lights on Tracy Island.
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Alan Tracy leaned back in his seat on Thunderbird Two, smiling at his brother Gordon. "Man, it feels good to be back in the field. I missed that."
Jeff overheard his youngest, smiling at the enthusiasm that Alan was exhibiting after the first rescue he had been on since Spring Break. Frankly, it was only Jeff's third rescue since the father had left for Boston after getting that horrible call from Gordon that Alan had been injured and rushed to the hospital. Alan had actually been working Command and Control for the last two weeks, after getting the all clear from a neurologist in Auckland. In normal circumstances, Jeff might have been willing to allow Alan back sooner. But with the Hood on the loose, Jeff wanted to make sure all of the Thunderbirds were at the top of their game.
Gordon grinned back at his only younger brother. "Gee, Al, with Sammie fussing at two in the morning, I thought you'd be more anxious to sleep in."
Shaking his head, the blonde merely smiled. "Just wait Gordy. Geez, Julie is already showing. Maybe you'll have twins."
Virgil turned from his pilot's seat, frowning at his youngest brother. "Sprout, that is not even funny. The thought of Gordon reproducing is bad enough. Two of his spawn at once is dangerous to all of our mental health."
Jeff and Alan merely laughed at the annoyed look Gordon gave the middle Tracy son. Even with the added pressure of knowing that the Hood was out there, the family still found joy and humor in life. If they didn't, the Hood would have already won.
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Kate confirmed to Tracy Island that she was ten miles out and would be looking for landing instructions shortly. Julie shared a smile with her sister-in-law when Tin-Tin told them their husbands were on their way back from "family business" with "all negotiations being successful". Rubbing the slight bump that indicated where her unborn child lay, Julie turned back to Kate. "Kate, can I ask you something?" At Kate's nod, Julie continued. "Do you have any idea of what the Hood will do? I know, dumb question, but I keep feeling like we are waiting for the other shoe to drop."
Smiling at the younger woman, Kate gave a small chuckle, shaking her head. "Julie, trust me, as a veteran of several long stake-outs, this is nothing. Now, sit back, relax and return your tray table to their upright positions."
Julie had begun to chuckle, only to stop when she saw the look on Kate's face. "Kate, is something wrong?" When Kate nodded tightly, beginning a distress call back to Tracy Island, Julie leaned back in her seat and began to pray. Even when Kate told her to "assume the crash position", Julie continued to pray as Sister Therese had taught her. Even as the ocean came up to meet the small plane, Julie prayed, "Please, God, I do not ask for myself. But I do ask for mercy for my baby. Please, Kate and I want to go home to our family. Stay with us, Our Lord."
a/n - well, I didn't put Alan in danger, hmmm? the family is on edge... hold onto your seats. And isn't it nice that Jeff is putting the family first when it comes to their safety and stuff with Five. More on that next chapter. Oh, and the boys find out the trouble Kate and Julie are in. Now, be nice and Thanks to Sam1 - my overworked, overstressed and underappreciated (by everyone else) Beta and all-around sounding board... - CC