"Alright, boys," Jeff called, "Let's get going."
The five Tracy sons nodded, grabbing their packed suitcases and following their father out the door. In the parking garage, everyone piled into the rental SUV; Jeff driving, Scott in the passenger seat, Alan sitting between John and Virgil on the middle bench seats, and Gordon all the way in the back.
"Hey, Dad?" Alan piped up as his father pulled out into traffic.
"Yes Alan?" Jeff asked glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Not that I don't want to be going home," Alan began, "But what about all my stuff at school?"
Jeff chuckled, "Fermat and Brains packed up the room before they left, it should be arriving at the island in a few days. So you don't have to worry about that."
"Oh," Alan nodded, leaning into John, "And when are we getting home?"
"This isn't going to become an 'are we there yet' ride, is it?" Scott questioned looking over his shoulder.
Alan grinned, "Not this time, Scooter, just really want to be home."
"Good," Scott gave a curt nod and face forward again.
"Are we there yet?" Gordon asked from the back seat grinning devilishly.
"Don't even go there," John warned, "Or I'll come back there, sit on you, and proceed to give you a wet willy."
"Boys," Jeff sighed, "Let's not start. I really don't want to turn around."
"Technically you are turning around, Dad," Virgil quirked an eyebrow.
"How do you figure?" Jeff asked distractedly.
"Well…this is a return trip for all of us," Virgil pointed, "So you're just turning around in the long run of this trip."
"Uh-huh," was all Jeff said.
Alan discreetly elbowed Virgil and gave him a thumbs up, while Gordon whispered in his ear, "Going for brownie points to join us, are you?"
"I know not of what you speak," Virgil smirked.
"Much to learn, grasshopper, much to learn," Gordon said sitting back again.
"Scott, call Brains, tell him we are taking off soon," Jeff said as he pulled up to the temporary parking spot for their jet.
"You landed at Archer's?" Alan said unbuckling and following John out the side.
"Better than the hour and a half away airport, Sprout," John smiled.
"I'm going to go finish signing Alan out," Jeff said walking towards the administration building, "Get the jet ready," he called over his shoulder.
"Come on," Virgil said grabbing Scott's bag, while Gordon grabbed Jeff's, along with their own, "We can be ready to go as soon as he gets back."
"Who's going to fly home?" Alan asked, a little hopeful.
"Not you," Virgil smiled, "Your hand makes you and Scott unable to."
"And there go the brownie points," Alan muttered to Gordon.
"Like you could fly if Scott was able to," Gordon snorted.
"I have my ways," Alan said vaguely.
"Whatever you say, Al," Gordon laughed.
"Still didn't answer my question though," Alan called up to Virgil and John, "Who's flying?"
"Us," John said pointing to himself and Virgil, "We're doing preflight after all."
"What about me?" Gordon called.
"I vetoed you," John shrugged, "Being a possible target of your next prank."
"That's more reason to keep me close and/or happy," Gordon pointed out as they boarded the plane.
"Sit," John said pushing Gordon into one of the plush chairs of the main cabin, "Stay," he commanded.
Gordon grumbled to himself as Alan sat smirking in a chair across from him, "Good dog," he grinned.
Gordon glared, "Don't even start, Sprout." Alan frowned, Gordon didn't call him 'Sprout'; they had both agreed to leave that to the 'elders'.
"Alright," Alan held his hands up in surrender, "Truce?"
Gordon nodded and gave Alan a grin, "While they fly, we can plan Virgil's possible testing."
Alan was about to respond, but Jeff and Scott boarded and closed the plane's hatch. "Let's get going," Jeff called to his piloting sons.
"F.A.B" was the response.
Jeff sat next to Alan with a sigh, "We should be home in a few hours, why don't you get some sleep?"
Alan shook his head, "I'm not tired, but you look like you haven't slept in weeks. Go sleep."
Jeff gave Alan a sideways glance, "That obvious?"
Alan shook his head, "Only if someone knows you; now go." Alan elbowed his father up; Gordon got up and guided him to one of the benches near the back.
Scott sat down next to Alan, "How you holding up, Sprout?"
"Good," Alan smiled, "And drop the Sprout usage."
Scott chuckled, "Not anytime soon."
"Gah," Alan groaned, "Why?"
"Because, you are our Sprout," Scott smiled, nudging Alan, "And we are ready to lock you away forever. So what would you prefer: being locked in your room for the rest of your life? Or endless use of Sprout?"
Alan looked thoughtful, "What does being locked away involve?"
"You seriously considering that option?" Scott looked shocked.
"Possibly…" Alan shrugged, "But I want to look at which would be worse, right now locked away is better than 'Sprout'."
"What if I said locked away is never leaving your room without one of us connected at the hip, then a locating chip permanently attached to you, and possibly cameras all over your room."
"I guess I can live with 'Sprout'," Alan said after some more thought, "Really done with cameras for a while."
Scott flinched at the sudden revelation, "Alan? You can talk to me, you know that right?"
"Yeah, Scooter," Alan gave Scott a small smile, "I know. Still sorting it all out though."
Scott nodded in understanding, "Well, you should be happy to know, you're going to be home schooled for a while."
"Really?" Alan asked excitedly, "How that happen?"
"Well it's too late for a new school now," Scott explained, "And then there's the bit about each of us teaching you different areas. Guess what I'm teaching."
"Self-defense," Alan answered with an easy smile, "You are so protective that after this you would want to make me safer when you aren't around," Alan explained at Scott's surprised face.
"Damn," Scott muttered, "If you get any better at straight faces, the rest of us are in some serious trouble. No more time with Gordon," he decided firmly.
Alan smiled bigger, "I didn't learn it from him," a devious twinkle in Alan's eyes made Scott inwardly groan.
"Do I even want to know?"
"I wouldn't tell you if you did," Alan retorted.
"Wonderful," Scott huffed, we are all doomed!