A/N: Thank you to everyone who gave feedback about the potential sequel. I really appreciate it :) Enjoy this penultimate chapter!
To Guest1: Thanks, I'm glad you like the family stuff!
To Guest2: Thanks! More is (probably) on the way.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Mapping the Future.
It was late, he was exhausted, but Scott couldn't sleep. He lay on his back, picking out familiar patterns in the wood grain on the ceiling, visible in the dim lights that mimicked a moonlit sky. Beside him, Anne was curled up like a cat, her breathing soft and even. She was hogging most of the covers, but he didn't mind. He ran hot most of the time. Besides, he liked having her there. Since Australia, they'd spent more time apart than together, but he already knew that his future would have her in it. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he'd learned not to question his instincts. They'd saved his life in the past.
It had been a painless trip to take her to check out of her hotel in London. Flying Thunderbird 1 had drawn some attention, but it had been worth it for the speed. The civilian jet just didn't come close. Having retrieved her luggage, Anne had joked about leaving some clothes on the island. He didn't know if she'd been serious, but he'd already mentally cleared out space for her in the closet. It sounded like a sensible idea to him.
Dinner had been wonderful. Scott hadn't felt that happy in a long time. He had his entire family around him, safe and sound, (with the exception of Kayo, who still hadn't returned from the GDF), with John there in person rather than a hologram floating above the table, and the woman he loved next to him. Life didn't get any better than that. His brothers had just about forgiven him for taking on the mission alone. He supposed he should thank the Hood. If it hadn't been for him still causing trouble, Virgil, Gordon, Alan and John would never have felt obligated to stay behind.
The mood had been infectiously joyful as they caught their father up on the mundane stuff, such as Alan's driving lessons, Virgil's latest paintings, and Gordon's pranks. Jeff had taken it in his stride, but it seemed clear that being in such a large group after so long alone was proving difficult to get used to, however much he loved them all.
After dinner, they'd all retreated to the lounge, where Jeff had finally told his story. Scott had heard it already during the trip back, but he enjoyed hearing it again, seeing his brothers' reactions. He recounted his own part of it, how he and the Mechanic had tracked the distress call, which had still been active, to an unnamed planet, where they'd found his father living in the crashed wreckage of the Zero-X. Since the atmosphere had been breathable, (if the gravity a little skewed), Jeff had built himself a heater, dug a garden where he'd managed to get some of his vegetable provisions to grow, found a way to extract water from the ground, and had generally made himself a living embodiment of the word 'resourceful'. He'd also found a way to record extensive logs, which he claimed had been essential to maintaining his sanity in the extreme isolation.
Since Brains hadn't designed the Zero-X2 to land anywhere but back on its lauch pad, it had been a risk bringing it down to the planet's surface, but there hadn't been any other way. Launching again had been a tricky process, and had damaged the comm and burned up more fuel than Scott had been happy with, but they'd made it. In those moments, he'd been glad for the dubious company of the Mechanic, who had been able to get the ship back into space with ingenuity and sheer will. It had been supremely fortunate that when they eventually did run out of fuel, and the Zero-X2's overworked power system had finally given up, Thunderbird 5 had been within range of their Morse code distress call.
Scott didn't think he'd ever forget the look on his father's face when he'd seen the Zero-X2 landing, nor when he'd realised who was piloting it. The expression of hope, disbelief and joy, underlined by an exhaustion that seemed to have lasted years, would haunt him forever. His father was the strongest person he knew, and had survived the impossible, but he was unavoidably changed by the experience. He was quieter, lapsing into long periods of silence, and he jumped at certain sounds where he never had before. He had a long road of adapting and healing ahead, but Scott was prepared that he might never be exactly the same.
After Jeff had told his story, he'd asked to hear theirs. They'd given him a quick summary about the Hood, the Mechanic and Chaos Crew, but hadn't gone into detail. There just wasn't time, and Jeff had been looking tired. No one was surprised when he retired early.
No one had been surprised when Scott and Anne retired early too, although that had come with additional knowing glances that lacked subtlety and made Anne's cheeks turn an endearing shade of pink.
He smiled at the memory, turning to look at her. There was a slight cleft between her eyebrows that made him wonder what she was dreaming about. All they'd done when they'd gotten back to the room was talk, open and unguarded in the way that he'd grown to value immensely. Although he wanted her with every fibre of his being, he was also relishing the fact that they could take it slow.
She had told him what had happened at Tracy Enterprises, although she'd prefaced the story with the words, "Don't freak out", which had had precisely the opposite effect. Scott would have to remember to thank his brothers in the morning. Not that he really needed to. It had been a rescue like any other, but he was grateful they'd kept an eye on her in his absence. He was grateful to Penelope too, for bringing Anne along for the ride when the Zero-X2 was returning to Earth. He'd been stunned to see her on the beach with the others, but so, so glad she was.
A pang in his stomach reminded him that there was another reason why he couldn't sleep besides all the trains of thought running through his head. A bowl of cereal would help.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed, grabbing the t-shirt that went with his pyjama pants, and left the room. The house was never entirely dark, lit by moonlight and dim emergency lights, but he could have navigated it blindfolded. He padded down the stairs, intent on heading straight for the kitchen, but a solitary figure in the lounge halted him.
"Dad? You okay?"
Jeff glanced up at him. He'd emerged from his shower without the scrappy beard, making him look much more like the man Scott remembered, but the too-long hair remained, and he looked strangely skinny in his clothes.
"Can't sleep either?" Jeff asked.
"No." Cereal forgotten, he approached his father, taking a seat on the couch next to him. "What are you doing?"
"Reading through the mission logs," Jeff said, flipping the tablet so Scott could see the screen. "Please tell me Gordon didn't really take Thunderbird 1 to find a missing dog."
Scott's face broke out in a grin. "Not just any dog. Penelope's dog."
"Oh, well I guess that makes it all right, then."
"Believe me, I wasn't happy about it either. He smashed up one of my drones."
Jeff shook his head with a fond smile, but it quickly dropped. "You boys have been through a lot," he said, scrolling through the list of dates, each detailing a rescue. "Alan and Kayo's trip around the sun. Virgil almost crashing Thunderbird 2 in London. John getting locked out of his own station. Gordon being hospitalised."
"We've been through a lot, but we made it," Scott said. "Because you taught us well. And Grandma always had our backs."
"And you," Jeff went on, "…you've dealt with more than any of them, haven't you?"
"I don't know that I'd put it that way," Scott said with a shrug. "I've just…tried to be a good leader. Tried to do right by you. I don't know if I always succeeded, but…"
"Looking at this, I'd say you have."
Jeff Tracy wasn't usually a demonstrative man, but he clasped a hand on his eldest son's shoulder and looked at him with the warmth and reassurance that Scott had desperately craved during some of his toughest missions.
"I couldn't be prouder, son. Of all of you. You've done amazingly well."
Scott found himself swallowing a lump in his throat. "It's been tough," he admitted. "There were days when it all felt like too much. Running this organisation, being responsible for the others, second-guessing myself. But…those moments taught me a lot. And someone reminded me that I don't have to bear the burden alone."
His father smiled knowingly. "Your Anne?"
"Yeah," he confirmed, returning the smile. "She's called me out on a lot of things, and she's been right every time."
"Your mother did the same to me. It was infuriating, but not a day goes by when I don't miss it." He sighed. "I take it it's serious?"
Scott nodded. "I think she might be the one, Dad. It's crazy, I used to think that kind of stuff was made up for rom-coms, but…no other explanation makes sense to me."
"Then I'm happy for you. She's got a good head on her shoulders. And excellent taste, obviously."
Scott laughed. "Obviously."
His father laughed with him, then sobered. "Listen, Scott, I've had a lot of time to think about what I would do if I made it back here. And seeing you boys, hearing your chatter, has made the decision even easier. I know you're probably looking forward to being Field Commander again…"
"Actually, I, uh, never stopped," Scott said. "Taking your title just…didn't feel right."
"Well, you may not have taken my title, but you did take my position. And I want you to keep it."
"What?"
"I'm not up to rescues anymore, son," Jeff said, sounding weary and resigned. "These past eight years have been hard on me."
"I know," Scott said gently, "but after you've had time to recover…"
"Scott, for the first time in my life I feel old. I'm not so pig-headed that I can't listen when my body's telling me something. I put my heart and soul into this organisation, and now I think it's time I gave retirement a go. Maybe it won't be forever. Maybe I'll bounce back and feel up to flying again, but for now…"
Scott studied his father's too gaunt, too pale face. "But we need you."
Jeff gave a laugh. "If there's one thing I'm certain of, it's that you don't need anybody. The five of you can handle anything. And I'll still be here for guidance or advice. This is my house, after all."
Scott managed a tiny smile at the words. He'd once thought of his father as fearless. Since then, he'd learned that there were no fearless men, only stupid ones, and Jeff Tracy was far from stupid.
Jeff gestured with the tablet. "Says here that Lee Taylor's on Mars. Maybe I'll work up to visiting him sometime."
"I think he'd like that," Scott said, trying to figure out how he felt about his father's decision. "You're the only one whose name he remembers."
"It took a while. He used to keep calling me Jack."
Scott laughed, then huffed a sigh. "If you really don't feel like coming back, then I'm not going to force you. Knowing you'll be here will be enough."
"Good," Jeff said with a nod. "The last thing you need is someone on your team who can't pull their weight."
It seemed harsh, but he was right. Scott couldn't deny that it would be a relief not to have someone else to worry about while on a rescue. The main thing was that their father was safe, and would be well once he'd started eating properly and rebuilding his strength. And a very tiny part of him would have found it strange to relinquish some of his control, even if he did resent it sometimes.
"Will you tell the guys in the morning?" he asked.
"Yes. Will you back me up?"
"Always, Dad."
His father smiled at him, his pride and gratitude clear to see. When he spoke again, it was with a much lighter tone. "So, you've got your young lady, but what about the others? Anyone else I'm going to need to meet?"
Scott felt his lips twitch upward. "Well, there's Gordon and Penelope…" he began.
"Yeah. I never would've seen that coming. Although to be fair, they were both kids when I saw them last," Jeff said, shrugging one bony shoulder. "How did that come about?"
"I have no idea," Scott admitted with a huff. "You'll have to try and get the story out of Gordon. Anne might know a little more. While I was wasting time being stupid, she and Gordon kind of…swapped relationship advice."
Jeff looked sceptical. "I feel like she may have gotten the raw end of the deal there."
"Actually, turns out Gordon's pretty smart about that kind of stuff," Scott said, smiling fondly. "Way smarter than I am, anyway. As for everyone else…John made friends with an astronaut from Global One, Captain Ridley O'Bannon. They meet up for games of zero-g handball every week, and when she was in danger during a rescue he acted…recklessly, which isn't like him at all. There may be nothing to read into that, but I'm not so sure. Alan is trying really hard to act like he doesn't have a crush on Kayo. Brains is trying really hard to act like he only sees his old lab partner, Professor Moffat, as a friend. Grandma invited Kip Harris to dinner and flirted with him shamelessly."
Jeff pulled a face that was part way between disgust and bewilderment.
Scott acknowledged it with a nod. "It was…quite something. Kayo…to be honest, she could be married with three kids and we'd never know if she didn't want us to. She's gotten pretty close with her GDF buddy, Captain Rigby, and she doesn't trust easily, but who knows if there's anything to that. To be honest, there could be stuff going on, or there might not be. I have no idea. Virgil is, as far as I know, the only one who's definitely single. Currently. Oh, and Parker."
Jeff took in all the information with interest. "I always thought Virgil would be the first one to settle down."
"Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad," Scott joked flippantly.
"Well, all that drawing and piano-playing, I figured all he'd need to do was show off his skills and he'd have people eating out of the palm of his hand."
"He is a poster child for the strong-yet-sensitive type," Scott agreed. "People don't expect a man wearing that much flannel to bash out a sonata."
His father smiled, but there was a hint of sadness to it. "You've all changed so much, even you two."
"That's true, but we're the same in a lot of ways," Scott reassured him gently.
"I'm sure I'll find that out as I get to know you all again," Jeff said with renewed positivity. "And I know some things'll never change. Like the fact that you probably came out here because you were hungry."
Scott smiled guiltily.
Jeff tutted. "It's a good job we're well off, otherwise you boys would have eaten me out of house and home years ago. Well, go on down to the kitchen. I think I'm finally ready to sleep."
"Good night, Dad," Scott said, getting to his feet.
Jeff shot him a smile. "Night."
Cereal in hand and the house to himself, Scott stood by the window to eat, admiring the way the moonlight caught the waves. His conversation with his father had eased his mind on two counts. Firstly, Jeff had sounded more like himself than he had all evening, although that was likely because it was easier for him to talk to one person rather than eight. Whatever the reason, it boosted his hopes of his father making a full recovery in time. Secondly, that he now knew exactly what International Rescue's future held. He hadn't even been aware that he was concerned about that, but knowing what his place was – what his father's place would be – was surprisingly reassuring. It would make it that much easier to jump back in once EOS stopped forwarding their calls.
His mind was still full of things he needed to sort out, but it felt a lot less cluttered. His stomach was happier too, so he shoved his empty bowl in the dishwasher and returned to his room. Anne had barely moved, except to somehow screw herself up into a tighter ball. Scott couldn't fathom how she was comfortable, but he guessed her petite limbs needed less space. He ditched his shirt, slid into bed beside her, and was asleep within minutes.
The next morning, Anne bit the bullet while Scott was in the shower and checked her messages. She had missed calls from Maud, Viresh, Tim, Cathy, her mom, and several unknown numbers that were mostly likely journalists. Her messages were as expected.
Cathy: Just so you know, you and Scott are on the internet. I think Mom saw.
Mom: Why didn't you tell me you were dating someone? We need to have him over for dinner! Let me know when! Xxx
Viresh: I knew it!
Viresh: I can't believe you didn't tell us.
Maud: Holy crap, Anne!
Tim: Call me when you get this.
Viresh: You'd better be in bed with him right now, because that's the only acceptable reason for you not answering my calls.
Anne sighed heavily, flicking her damp hair over her shoulder.
"What's up?" Scott asked, catching it as he exited the bathroom.
"Real life happened," she said, gesturing with her comm. "Tim wants me to call. I'm pretty sure he's going to want to know what your dad intends to do with work. Also my mother wants you to come to dinner."
Scott grimaced, although she wasn't sure which of the two statements had caused it. "I'll come back with you and give a statement at work. Dad's not up to it yet. And…sure, I would love to meet your mom."
"Would you, though?" she asked cynically. "You know she's been trying to set me up, she'll be all over you."
"We could bring back-up," he suggested, perching on the side of the bed as he towel-dried his hair. "Ask Cathy. I'll bring Virgil. He's the most diplomatic person I know."
"Yeah, but then she'd just try to set those two up…actually, wait, that's genius." She reconsidered, wrinkling her nose. "Although, kind of mean, I guess."
Scott laughed. "I'm pretty sure Virgil and Cathy can hold their own against unwanted set ups."
Unable to resist, Anne stretched out a hand to pet his damp, fluffy hair, making him smile.
"See something you like?" he asked teasingly.
"I see a lot that I like." Since he was, yet again, wearing nothing but a smile, she felt that was rather an understatement. "Do you always walk out of your bathroom naked or are you trying to distract me?"
"It's my bathroom," he said defensively. "You getting distracted is a bonus."
Anne smiled, shuffling from her spot in the middle of the mattress so he was within easier reach. She ran a hand up his arm and across his shoulder, his skin warm and smooth from the shower.
"And how do I distract you? Fair's fair."
"It takes very little effort on your part," he assured her, making her laugh.
"You're such a smooth talker, Scott Tracy," she said, raising a hand to his cheek.
He reached up and took her hand, pulling it away so he could brush his lips against the inside of her wrist. She shivered, mildly surprised. She hadn't even known she was sensitive there. Or perhaps it was just that he made her hyper-aware of her own skin.
"Shit," she murmured.
"What?"
"We're going to be so late for breakfast."
He sent her a wolfish smirk, leaning in to kiss her and using the momentum to push her down onto the covers. She welcomed the warmth and the weight of him, even as he kept himself balanced on his elbows. He broke the kiss long enough to nudge her nose with his.
"It'll be okay," he said. "I hide snacks in here."
She laughed. "Of course you do."
She lifted her chin to meet his lips again, running a hand through his hair. He slid a hand down her side, slipping it under the hem of her vest top.
"Ms. Ashton," he murmured against her lips, "you're wearing too many clothes."
"It's okay," she assured him breathlessly, "it's temporary."
Sometime later, they lay in peaceful silence under the rumpled sheets, on their sides facing each other. Scott rested a hand on the curve of her waist, thumb tracing lazy patterns on her skin. Anne rested her palm on his chest, seeking that additional connection too, although one of her legs was still tangled with his. She could feel the thump of his heartbeat under her fingers, back to a steady rhythm.
They'd been still and quiet for a long time now, just looking at each other. It had been the longest and least awkward staring session that Anne had ever experienced. She could read him almost as well as people she'd known for years, translating every little expression that crossed his face. Scott may have appeared to be peaceful, but he was mulling something over in his mind, something that he seemed simultaneously unsure and certain about.
A faint beep from her comm, (which had ended up on the floor somewhere), indicated a new message, and Anne sighed. Reality was calling for her again. It was the day she'd originally planned to check out of her London hotel and head back to L.A., and no doubt Tim was expecting her in work tomorrow.
"I guess I should make plans for going home," she said reluctantly. At least she had another night, if Scott was coming in to make his statement, like he'd said.
"Stay," Scott said quietly.
She smiled at him, wishing she could just take some spontaneous annual leave. "I can't, I've got work…"
His manner was unsmiling, completely serious, and a touch hesitant. "No, I mean…stay. With me. Permanently."
Anne's eyes widened, and her reactionary flare of joy at the thought was immediately weighed down by the practicalities.
"I know it's fast," Scott went on, almost apologetically. "We've had barely any time together, but…being apart just…feels wrong." He shrugged one shoulder, as if regretful that he couldn't explain himself better.
Anne couldn't deny that she agreed with him, on all points. Their relationship was still new, but the thought of returning to her apartment, so many miles away, made her feel hollow. And who knew when she'd get to see him again? With Cathy still her roommate, they wouldn't have any privacy at her place.
"Yeah…" she said, mind buzzing.
"I love you, and I want to be with you," he said earnestly, "but…I know what I'm asking. If we want to be together, I can't compromise, and I know that's not fair. We're always free to leave the organisation, but I know I can't do that. Not even for you." He said it without regret, but his tone was gentle.
"No, you can't do that," she said at once. "This job is in your blood, Scott. I would never ask you to choose between it and me. I accepted that part of you when I fell in love with you."
He offered her a grateful smile. "There's nothing I can give up for you except my space in this room, and that I'll do gladly, but I know it might not be enough."
He'd been honest with her, and she would do him the courtesy of the same, even if she was still organising her thoughts.
"I want to," she confessed, cupping his cheek. "You have no idea how much I want to. But I need to think about this. I have a life in L.A., family, friends, my job."
"I know. Take all the time you need."
"And I don't know how I feel about…" She sighed, finding the best way to articulate what she was feeling. "I'm sorry, this is probably going to sound really selfish, but if we're going to be together, then I want us to be together in our own space. I'm not sure that just having this room is going to be enough. I'm used to being able to lounge on the couch in my pyjamas, or wander out to the fridge in my underwear, or throw together some mac and cheese if I'm not super hungry. I have no doubts that your family would be awesome about me moving here, but…I don't want to feel like a guest in somewhere that's supposed to be my home." She winced, unsure of herself, although she knew he deserved her honesty. "Is that awful?"
"No," he assured her at once, "that's totally reasonable. And I'd be one-hundred percent behind the idea of us having somewhere where you can walk around in your underwear."
She smacked him lightly in the chest, and he grinned.
"I'll talk to Dad. Maybe there's space to build an extension or something. The guys might not like the preferential treatment, but they'll get over it."
Hope flared. "Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"You'd do that for me?"
He looked a touch bewildered. "Of course. I love you. I want you to be with me, but not if you're going to be unhappy. And frankly, it would be for me too. I like the idea of having some peace and quiet sometimes."
Anne considered the idea. A space of their own, but close enough for him to launch Thunderbird 1 whenever necessary. If it would be possible, it would be like a dream come true.
"I can't believe we're really talking about this," she admitted. "It's crazy!"
"So is that a 'yes'?"
As much as she wanted to just agree right away, she forced herself to be practical. "I want it to be," she told him. "I just need to really think about it. It's a big step."
"I know," Scott said with a nod. "I won't push you."
"Give me two weeks," she said. "I'll have an answer for you then."
"Okay," he agreed. "And in the meantime, you'd better schedule dinner with your mom."
She sent him a mock glare. "Way to ruin the mood."
He laughed, and held her close.
A/N: I realise that my decision to keep Jeff mostly out of International Rescue, (because one never really leaves International Rescue), might be a bit controversial, but it made the most sense to me in the TAG universe. The show has done such an amazing job of proving that the boys don't exactly need Jeff on the team. In the original series, Jeff directed them and kind of covered communications, but in TAG they organise themselves, (or Scott does it), and John has comms covered...which makes sense, because that is literally his job. But in doing that, they kind of shot themselves in the foot once they'd brought Jeff back. So I figured he'd do his own thing, but he'd always be there to offer advice, kind of like Grandma does sometimes. Besides, he'd have a lengthy recovery time to get through first.
