Part 10

After dumping One at home and grabbing Tracy One instead Scott flew himself and his grandmother to the hospital where they had taken John. Jeff had told the authorities that IR had gotten a call from John Tracy, asking for help. John had been kidnapped while at work and he was going to be used for ransom and Tracy Industry secrets. Which was why he had been tortured. Lennox's men had objected and proclaimed that John work for IR. Jeff had told the police that was not true and the police chose to believe him over them.

John had been put inside an ambulance and taken away. Scott had flown everyone to a nearby mansion belonging to Penny's family. There they had changed clothes and had headed for the hospital. Scott had then flown home to collect their grandmother. When the pair arrived at the hospital, they found their family in the waiting room. The doctors had not come to tell them anything yet. Grandma hurried up to her son and hugged him while Scott zoned in on his three little brothers. Virgil sat between Alan and Gordon, hugging both of them close to himself. Scott took a chair and sat opposite all three so that he could look into their eyes. They looked up at him and Gordon reached over and took Scott's hand.

"Any news?" Scott asked.

"None", Virgil said.

"Damn…"

"It will take time… he was… in bad shape."

"I'd say", Alan whispered. "What did they do to him?"

"From what I gathered from the scene", Virgil whispered so that their grandmother would not hear. "They broke all his left-hand fingers and both his shins. He told me had bruised and broken ribs as well. His arms had lots of bruises as well and I am pretty sure they beat him up pretty bad."

"And he still didn't cave", Gordon whispered. "I… I'm not sure I could have hold out…"

"Same here", Scott admitted. "But our John is tough, tougher than we give him credit for."

"And… and we all thought he was dead", Alan whimpered and Virgil tightened his one-armed hug. "We all believed he was gone… we never thought someone could have taken him."

"Due to what little remained of Five it is understandable", Scott soothed him. "I am sure John doesn't blame us. You heard him during his last call… he was more worried about us than himself."

"That's John for you", Gordon sniffled. "Always thinking of us first. He's too good for us isn't he?"

"He really is", Scott agreed. He then looked up when a doctor came towards them. Scott, his brothers and Jeff all got to their feet. Scott made sure to stand behind Grandma, just in case. The doctor smiled at them in a soothing way. She then explained what they had discovered. John had been badly beaten and kicked, his shins had been broken with a blunt-force object, his fingers were not broken but gravely dislocated and he had a couple of broken ribs. Whoever had broken them must have had medical training because they had broken them in a way that would not risk piercing the lungs or other organs. They had also discovered electrical burns ad other evidence of electrocution.

"They tortured my baby with electrical shocks?" Grandma asked outrage. She then looked around. "Where is my rolling pin I need to whack some skulls in!"

"Grandma!" her grandsons exclaimed at the same time their father said:

"Mom!"

"Don't you try and stop me boys", the tiny little woman said outrage. "They tortured my baby, they need to pay!"

"They are already in jail or on their way Grandma", Gordon soothed. "I don't think John would be happy waking up and finding that you are in jail on abuse-charges."

"I will claim dementia and be released because I am an old and frail little woman. Now either find me a rolling pin or a crowbar. I need to castrate a few people."

"Grandma!" her grandsons exclaimed. The doctor though laughed gently and told them they could go sit with John now. Luckily no surgery had been needed to fix his legs, but he would need physiotherapy when the bones had healed and he would be confined to a wheelchair for quite some time.

"I'll help", Gordon offered readily. "I know what it feels like and I know just how hard to push and encourage. John did the same for me so I will gladly help him get back on his feet."

"That's nice of you", the doctor replied. "Now this way if you please." She turned and led them down the corridor. She showed them in through a door and then left the family be. She smiled a little when she saw them gathering protectively around the bed. She loved scenes like this, strong family bonds… and the little aggressive grandmother would be something she never forgot.

John looked so tiny lying in that hospital bed with lines, tubes and bandages all over. He did look much better than when Virgil last saw him. Jeff had taken the seat to John's right. Holding his good hand tightly in his. Grandma and Scott sat next to him. Virgil sat opposite Jeff with Alan and Gordon next to him. They were all staring at their brother, the brother they thought they had lost forever. Virgil felt tears slowly go down his cheeks again, but ignored them. It had been a real emotional week for them and he didn't care if the others saw him crying. His little brother was back with them, he was not dead and gone. He had made sure he got back to them. Virgil reached out and pushed some hair out of John's face. His skin was warm and feverish, Virgil was not surprised in the slightest. His little brother was tougher than he had thought… just thinking of what he must have endured during his week in captivity… it was enough to make Virgil feel sick. What if John had not managed to contact them… what could Mr. Lennox have done then? Would he have… would he have started cutting off body parts to get John to talk? Would he have killed him and try to get another brother? He probably would have in the end and John must have known that too. Which was why he held on and why he did his best to get them a message. John's brothers meant the world to him and he would never risk them getting injured. Virgil remembered listening to Hamilton with John once when they were both kids. John had gasped and one point and had declared that a song was his because he felt just like that! When things happened on rescues and John took risks or got hurt he would always tell Virgil that line, which he had adapted to fit his life:

"I love my brothers more than anything in this life, I will choose their happiness over mine every time."

Virgil shuddered. John would have held on for as long as possible to spare his brothers from the same torture he was going through. He would have… would have continued to suffer and would have ended up dead just to protect them. He'd risked everything to warn them and he had gotten badly injured. Virgil caressed John's hair again. It had not happened though. John was here, he was safe and he was alive… they were finally together again.

Virgil was not the only one thinking of what their brother had sacrificed. Scott, Gordon and Alan were looking at John with the same eyes. Realizing how strong the slimmest of them truly was and how brave. None of them could have done what he had, they were sure of it. John had suffered and had suffered badly just to keep the lot of them safe and away from harm. They would all do that if possible, they knew that, but they were not sure they could have done it as successfully as John. Gordon was sure he would have caved after getting his fingers dislocated, as was Alan. Scott thought he might have been able to hold out until the electrical shocks. He shuddered just thinking about it. The brothers looked at their injured brother and felt a newfound respect and love for him. John had been ready to give up his life to keep them safe, had gotten hurt to keep them safe. He'd gone above and beyond in his brotherly "duties". They would never be able to repay him for that.

Neither was Jeff. He held onto his son's hand, scared that if he let go the young man would disappear again. Jeff could not believe that he had been given a third chance when it came to John. He had been in this situation before… many years ago. John, his mother and grandfather had been in the slopes when the avalanche hit. Grant had died instantly when trying to shield his daughter-in-law and grandson from rocks, ice and snow. Lucy had died as well, only John had survived. He'd broken his arm, had bruised some of his ribs and had sustained a head injury. Jeff had sat at his bedside then, holding his hand just like know and had sworn that his son would never be hurt like that again… and yet… here he was. Putting John in a place where no one would have been able to find him had not worked and in hindsight… had been extremely cruel. Jeff only hoped that this time he, Jeff that is, would make better decisions regarding all his sons. He would become a better father and a better boss. Nothing like this could ever happen again… but the only way to keep it from happening… was destroying what he had worked to achieve for so long… to protect his family he would need to end International Rescue.

"Don't you dare", a voice said and he turned to look at his mother. "I know that look Jefferson Grant Tracy. Your boys will not agree to that and they will not thank you for it."

"For what?" Alan asked.

"Your father thinks that he should do what Lennox wished… stop IR from operating."

"What?!" his awake sons exclaimed and stared at their father. Jeff sighed.

"I can't let anything like this", he motioned for John. "Happen to any of you boys again. Who is to say this is the last time some nutjob tries to get our tech by hurting one of you? I will not allow it."

"But father all those innocent people that are depending on us?" Scott asked. "What about them?"

"My family is more important. I started IR in your mother and grandfather's memory. I will close it down for your sakes. I don't want to risk losing any of you… never."

"Father this is madness", Gordon said. "Sure it is dangerous business but we are the only ones giving the desperate hope. The hopeless rescues no one but us can pull off… without us what will happen to the world?"

"It worked fine before us and it will work fine without us. I can't put the safety of the world before my own sons."

"We understand that dad", Alan cut in. "But think of everything we have achieved over the years, of all people who would not be alive if it wasn't for us. What about them?"

"It was an honor for us to save them… but they will have to trust in others from now on."

"Don't do it", Virgil cut in. "John will blame himself for this."

"It's not his fault but mine. I put one of my biggest treasures in the line of fire. Who is to say this will not happen again? Whose to say that next time one or of more of you won't be killed to achieve what Lennox tried?"

"No one Jeff", Grandma said. "But can you put as many people at risk as you will by shutting down International Rescue?"

"I just want to protect my family."

"And your family wants to protect the world as well", Gordon said. "Dad… we know the risks and we take them gladly. It pays off because we rescue people who had given up all hope before we showed up. It is worth the risk."

"Is it worth this?" Jeff asked and motioned for John on the bed and the brothers got quiet.

"Yes…" a tired voice said.

"John?" Grandma asked and leaned over the bed and they all turned to notice John's eyes were open, just a fraction though. "Can you hear us?"

"Every word", John croaked. "Father… don't… don't close IR…"

"But Johnny you got hurt", Jeff said gently.

"I'd… do it again… for my family… and for IR… the world needs IR… they… they are not ready yet."

"Ready for what?"

"For… a world without… us."

"But son… you got hurt."

John squeezed Jeff's hand. "Not your fault… not IR's fault… Lennox, he's gone and it's… over… we must… move on… together. Now shut up… I'm trying to sleep." At that his brothers laughed and Jane Tracy leaned over and kissed her grandson's cheek. Jeff smiled a tiny smile and squeezed the hand holding his.

"Okay Johnny", he said. "We'll be quiet now."

"Good…" John yawned and drifted off again. Jeff kissed his hair gently. The discussions would have to wait until they were all back on the island… but could Jeff really keep IR alive? Could he live with himself if he closed it down and people died… or rather… could his sons?

TBC