Calling in a Marker
By Criminally Charmed
Disclaimer – No. No time to own. Obviously. Since it has been – what? Ten days since I last posted? Sooooo tired. But I have now posted. So, if anyone wants to sue…BRING IT ON, DUDE! I WILL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE TEN KINDS OF AN IDJIT! I WILL BRING YOU DOWN, DOWN, DOWN!!!
Ooops. Sorry. I went away. I came back. Miss me?
Chapter Thirty Eight
Dean leaned back against the wall again. The tightness in his chest was overwhelmingbut the hunter refused to give into the depression that was flooding his mind. Looking over at Scott Tracy, Dean cocked his head and decided that while they had few mutual conversation topics, he was sure of one that could distract them both.
"So…Alan graduated from Harvard this past spring?"
Scott smiled and, if his eyes had been uncovered, they would have been sparkling with pride and love for his baby brother. There were not a lot of people he could talk about his family with – well, except his family. Security was always such an issue that it was great to be able to relax and discuss Alan.
"Yes. Top of his class, with dual degrees in English Lit and Mechanical Engineering. You should have seen Dad, I thought he was gonna burst he was so proud of the kid."
Nodding, Dean smiled. He could recall times when John Winchester would sneak off to check out Sam at Stanford. If they could have been spared the demonic influence that shattered Sam's dreams and their family, Dean would have bet anything that Papa Winchester would havehidden in the back, watching his baby boy graduate with honors – or even when Sam would have received his law degree.
"Alan sent Sam some pictures from his wedding as well. Gotta say – small family wedding was not how I pictured the son of one of the richest men in the world getting hitched," Dean snarked.
Chuckling, Scott shook his head. "You should have been at my wedding. Two officiates, all four of my brothers, matching attendants for Kate, her cousins' kids as flower girl and ring bearer. And Virgil's was at Angel's Chapel in Boston, with all the pomp you can imagine. Dad even got to give away Sarah. She even wore Mom's wedding dress." Smiling, he shrugged. "Of course, Emily unintentionally usurped the day by going into labor. Whichis why, Sarah and Virg are Elizabeth's godparents."
Playing with his wedding ring, Scott sighed. "Then, on the other end of the spectrum, John and Gordon eloped. John was married at the American Consulate in Auckland. Gordy took Julie to Vegas where they were married by an Elvis impersonator. Her father was not impressed but since Julie is pregnant, Parker decided not to say anything. Well, except for taking a swing at Gordon for getting his only daughter in the family way."
Dean nodded. "OK, I can see Alan going for middle of the road. Like how he writes sci-fi but also works for your dad. It lets him be a part of the family but also he gets to be himself."
Pleased, Scott smiled again. "Wow. A non-Tracy who gets it. Cool."
Chuckling, Dean asked something that had puzzled him since he had met Alan. "So…why did he decide not to compete in the Olympics? I mean, your brother Gordon was on the Olympic Swim Team. So why did Alan turn down a spot on the Olympic Track Team?" At the combination of confusion and shock on the oldest Tracy son's face, Dean softly commented, "You didn't know he was even offered the spot, did you? He didn't tell you."
Scott sighed. "No. No, we didn't know. Even if Alan had turned down the spot, Dad would have still been bragging that Al had been offered it in the first place."
"Alan told Sam that he didn't need to prove anything by being on the team and that he had enough on his plate."
Shrugging, Scott chewed on his lip. "I'll need to talk to Alan. But…No, I need to talk to Alan."
Nodding, Dean concurred. "Yeah. But go easy on the kid. I'm sure he had his reasons. And maybe he was right. Maybe he felt he didn't need to prove anything. 'Cause that kid could still run like nobody's business."
Smirking, Scott leaned back his head. "A benefit of being the youngest. He had to learn to outrun outraged older brothers. Just call us Alan's personal trainers."
Sam sat patiently as Alan bandaged his head and slipped a sling over his shoulder to secure his injured limb. The hunter had been surprised to find out he also had a possible fractured wrist. He could only surmise that the pain from his shoulder had masked the other injury.
Looking up from where Alan was wrapping his wrist, Sam's eyes lit up at the sight of Gabby.
"Hi there!" Sam smiled at the angel. Between the mild pain killer, the drop in adrenaline and the head injury he now felt comfortable acknowledging, Sam was beginning to feel a bit loopy.
Alan turned, curious to see who had joined him. His blue eyes went wide at the sight of the celestial being. Sam was mildly surprised that Alan could clearly see the angel. But the words that spilled from the younger man's lips shocked Sam to his core.
"You? You're real? I always…I mean, you're real!"
Kate Tracy watched in concern as Mike Bumper led his younger brother to Thunderbird Two, Virgil and Gordon following closely behind. Gordon would actually be flying the 'Bird while Virgil was helping to keep an eye on Jason Bumper. Sending a small prayer Heavenward, the Tracy wife gave a slight jump when a hand came down on her shoulder.
John Tracy gave his sister-in-law a comforting pat on her shoulder. "You did good in there, Kate. Virg said you calmed everyone down." Smiling, he gestured his chin in the direction his brothers had disappeared off in. "Bet it made you jump a bit when you heard the name Jason."
At Kate's small nod, John sighed. "You should have seen the Commander at an early rescue. There was a little boy named Alan. It sure didn't help when we couldn't save him."
The thoughtful look on Kate's face was quickly erased by an annoyed visage.
Russo!
"Listen, Sheriff, we have the Bumpers out. I see no reason why state resources should be further used at this time," the bureaucrat sneered at her.
Jean Landman was having trouble keeping her temper. Her mother had no such issues.
Millie smacked Mitchell Russo across the chest with a soup ladle. "Listen to me, you pompous windbag – the Winchesters and Bobby Singer, not to mention the other members of International Rescue, are still in those caves. So go fill out some more forms and let these kids do their job. Or do we have to let the media down there know that you want to abandon three civilians and the Thunderbirds in order to keep things in budget? "
Looking with distaste at the smear now decorating his pale blue oxford shirt, Russo looked like he was about to say something when Tin-Tin grabbed him by the arm and push/pulled him back towards his seat.
"That is our family in there and nobody is going anywhere until we get them out, got it?"
Russo bristled at being lectured by a woman young enough to be his daughter and was about to snap back at her when he felt as if he were being pushed into the chair. And even though he couldn't see the face of the Thunderbird, the bureaucrat suspected that he would lose control of his bladder if he could see her eyes.
Tin-Tin's eyes glowed gold, her tenuous control on her emotions bringing her hereditary powers to the surface. A hand on her arm brought the young woman back to reality.
Maria Bumper had moved away from her brothers to stand next to the Thunderbird. "Don't worry. None of us are leaving." Smiling at Tin-Tin, Maria was please when Adam and Paul joined her, as well as the other two Thunderbirds behind the first.
Adam nodded. "You helped save our family; now we'll help save yours."
"Well said, my dears; well said indeed."
Everyone present whipped their heads towards the owner of the cultured voice that had joined the conversation. The Bumpers smiled, while the Tracys tried not to let their mouths drop open. Millie and Russo both looked curious – even if Millie tried not to smile when she saw her daughter elbow Billy. (The doctor really shouldn't have let his jaw drop at the vision in pink that now stood there.)
Smiling at the Bumpers – even as she discretely nodded towards the Tracys – the elegant woman stepped closer. "When I heard you were in trouble, my dears, I rushed to the States immediately." Turning to the others, she gave a small nod and spoke. "Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, at your service."
Paul stepped forward, relief taking hold. "Aunty Penny, you have the best timing."
Penelope desperately wished for two things at the moment – three if you included a happy ending for this dread day. But before that, the aristocrat desperately wished for the Tracys to be without their visors and a digital camera. Because from the imitation Kate was currently doing of a flounder, the gobsmacked expression she currently wore would have been something she could have kept for her amusement for years to come.
Sam was currently also doing a fairly good imitation of a fish, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly as his head twisted back and forth between Gabby and Alan. He only stopped when the repetitive motion made him dizzy. Leaning against Alan, Sam muttered, "OK, a logical, intelligent response would be appreciated at the moment."
Suddenly, Gabby was in front of the two young men. Smiling, she reached out her hands and brushed the bangs out of both of their eyes. At the two pairs of eyes – hazel orbs filled with as much confusion as the bright blue ones – Gabby tilted her head.
Alan, do you recall when Samuel and Dean were explaining monsters to you and Dean said that at least angels are real?
Nodding, Alan smiled slightly. "Yeah. I guess I always believed that if there is evil there must be good. So I never doubted there were angels." Looking at Sam briefly, the younger man softly said, "But…You were there. You. When Mom died. When my brothers and I were trapped."
You needed me. And your family needed you. And the world needed your family. So I made sure you would still be there.
"Um, hate to change the subject," Sam interjected. "But when did you put the devil's trap down there? And why didn't you put it on the ceiling?"
Sam, I can not interact with the corporeal world on that level. That devil's trap has been there for decades. It was drawn years ago by a young boy who lived nearby. When Sam looked over at Alan, Gabby shook her head. No. Alan was not yet born when it was done by a young boy lost in the caves. He was nervous and worried, afraid he could not get out. So he doodled that on the floor to match a painting he had seen in another cave.
Alan and Sam looked as if they both had a million more questions to ask, when suddenly Gabby stood back. Smiling once more, she raised a hand at both of them.
Never lose faith, my sons. You are precious, loved and needed more than you can ever know. And always remember, Samuel…Those with faith in the Father will never walk alone.
A bright light filled the cave, blinding Sam and Alan for a moment, while the accompanying warmth seemed to reach their very it was the voices they heard next that brought joy to their hearts.
"Alan!"
"Sam!"
Jeff Tracy and Bobby Singer burst into the cavern, relief filling them both. Their boys were exhausted, bedraggled and bruised, but they were alive. Equally important, the demon-suit lay on the floor of the cave, no longer a threat.
As he hugged his son close to his chest, Jeff gave the still body of Keifer Dutton a cold glare. "I always knew Keifer would come to a bad end." Putting his hands on Alan's face, Jeff softly asked, "Are you OK?"
Nodding, Alan smiled at his father. "Yeah, Dad, I'm alright. No extra work for the medics." Stiffening, he recalled the rest of his party. "But Dad…Scott and Dean are trapped in that cave we found. Something exploded and there was a cave-in. We gotta go get them out."
Assuring his youngest son that is exactly what they would do; Jeff made to follow him to where the other rescuers were trapped. Instructing Bobby to have the others head to the Thunderizer after the hunter brought Sam back through the caves. While they recognized Sam needed to receive additional medical care, they also knew that the older brothers needed help as well.
But both Alan and Sam would have laughed out loud if they knew the thought running through the fathers' heads:
Here's hoping they haven't killed each other yet.
A/N – So…Here we are. Gabby has been looking out for BOTH families.
Trying to pull this all together. (I really want it done by Christmas.) So, here is another and I would love to know what you think.
Small bit of info. A friend of mine who lives in Jaimie's hometown says she seems to being doing well. Maybe just a bit frustrated at how everyone is walking on eggshells around her. So maybe the new prayers for her should asking God to give the kid some patience to deal with others.
Huh. Wouldn't mind a few of those for myself. My daughter turns 13 on the 17th (Tuesday). I will now be raising a teenager.
I think fighting demons would be easier.
Laters - CC