A/N: ATTENTION READERS! This is merely a teaser chapter until I get more written for the story, I'll be unable to make regular updates due to work and family obligations. I've had multiple requests for a continuation of the story Kiss It All Better and this is only the start. It is the prologue to the story I have in mind and I hope you all asking for it enjoy it however short it may be.
I do recommend reading the first story so you can follow along to what happened leading to how this story begins. All mistakes are my own and I unfortunately do not own the rights to the Thunderbirds - that is safeguarded by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
Reviews are greatly appreciated and flames will not be accepted.
Sad-Blue-Eyed-Angel 2010
The wind blew gently, rustling the autumn leaves. Red, orange and gold leaves fluttered to the ground. Virgil heaved a heavy sigh before he walked ahead of his father and brothers John and Gordon. Today was a very difficult day. Twelve years have gone by, twelve years since Alan was shot in cold blood in his apartment doorway. All in front of his oldest brother Scott who tried in vain to keep his baby brother there with him. Twelve years almost to the day that Scott was found guilty of all counts of murder in the 1st degree. Nobody in their family held what Scott did against him. He'd just witnessed his baby brother's murder before his very eyes and had just laid that very same baby brother to rest in the family cemetery plot at Grandview less than a week later. Everyone agreed that the crime Scott committed was perpetrated under extreme duress and Scott hadn't been in his right mind at the time.
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Twelve long years had ticked by before family of Daniel Simmons, the young man Scott murdered in the name of revenge petitioned the court to release Scott from prison. That was the reason why the remaining Tracy family was gathering at the courthouse instead of visiting Alan's grave as they'd done every year since their youngest family member was no longer part of the land of the living. Reaching the landing of the staircase, Virgil turned to make sure his father was making it up the stairs okay. Jeff Tracy had been thirty-nine when Alan had been born. He'd become a widower at thirty-nine, sadly the same day of Alan's birth.
Every year on Alan's birthday was hard for everyone, but in addition the day of Alan's passing was equally if not harder to swallow because now it wasn't one member of the household that was missing, it was two. Jeff was three months shy of turning fifty-nine when Alan was murdered, twelve years have gone by. Jeff was no spring chicken at seventy-one years old. Much of his extended family was gone now too. His mother god bless her had passed away seven years ago. Doctors had said she died of a broken heart, what with her husband's death following that of their daughter-in-law passing away years earlier. Followed by her youngest grandson's murder and the conviction of her oldest grandson. Jeff wished he could enjoy what was left of his life, but sadly everything and everyone he held dear slipped through his fingers and Jeff didn't know how much more he could take before he broke indefinitely.
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"I Marcella Gilbert-Simmons, mother of the deceased Daniel Simmons, petitions the court to release Scott Tracy, the man that murdered my son." Marcella said as she stood in front of the judge, lawyers, and the news media.
"Do you care to explain why you wish to overturn the ruling that which has kept the Defendant Scott Tracy, behind bars? He murdered your son did he not?" A counselor of the court inquired where Scott was seated across the room. He sat up straight, eyes looking forward but kept his hands which were bound in handcuffs in his lap. He'd been surprised to have been contacted by the family lawyer to inform him that family of the young man he killed wished to have his court ruling overturned to make him a free man.
"He is the man that murdered my Danny, but I do not feel he would have if my Danny hadn't murdered his brother before his very eyes. Two wrongs do not make a right and I can no longer sleep free of guilt knowing that while my only son is now dead, this family is without two of its five. So please, release the burden of my guilt and release Scott so that he can live for both his youngest brother and my Danny. All our lives were irrevocably changed the day my Danny made the stupid mistake of pulling that trigger. If Scott hadn't done what he'd done, I doubt we'd be here today. He's paid his debt to society and I request the courts set him free."
"Do you understand that by your petitioning the courts, if approved this will indefinitely overturn the sentencing to your son's murder?" The judge inquired to the woman that stood, still as a statue. "Why do you want to have him released?"
"Because my son destroyed their family. Scott doesn't deserve to be locked up anymore. Both our boys have been dead for twelve years, they're gone…forever. I can't allow Scott to remain in prison. If I let him stay, my family would be taking two of their sons. I think their family has been through enough…so please. Release him." Marcella pleaded before she stepped away from the podium. She took her seat and bit her lip before lowering her head as if in prayer.
"Mr. Tracy, do you have anything to say for yourself?" The judge turned to Scott who looked down at the desk in front of himself. His family's lawyer nudged him gently to get Scott to reply before Scott spoke up.
"Your Honor, I don't feel I am…worthy of being released. I murdered her son, I took him away from her. I…"
"For mom, Daniel and myself – please find it in your heart to forgive yourself."
Scott drew up short in his reply, hearing the echoes of what Alan said to him in a dream years ago. Scott had promised he'd work on forgiving himself, but he'd long forgotten what Alan requested…until now. The moment those words passed through his mind again, Scott felt Alan's presence with him. He could feel Alan standing behind him, hand on his shoulder grip firm as if he were still here. Still with him. Scott blinked, a single tear breaking away and rolling down his cheek. 'I miss you Alan.'
"I know you do…but I'm with you. I never went anywhere." Alan's voice echoed around in his head. Scott finally looked back up to address the judge.
"I still have never forgiven myself for killing Daniel, there is no excuse for what I've done and I don't feel I deserve to be released. Two wrongs don't make a right and I deserve to remain here."
The judge looked at Scott, seeing the regret was genuine and he considered what Daniel's mother had said. Looking to the woman that petitioned the court, the judge spoke to her once more. "Ma'am, was there anything else you wished to say?"
"Your honor, may I have permission to approach Scott Tracy?" Marcella asked, her voice trembling as she looked at Scott with tears in her eyes.
"I don't see why not?" The judge said before watching Marcella stand. She walked slowly across the courtroom, stopping in front of Scott before reaching out and taking both of his hands in hers. She gave his hands a gentle tug before Scott stood to his full height and she pulled him in for a hug. Scott found it hard to fight the tears any further and he bowed his head as the tears fell. Marcella hugged him tightly before she pulled Scott to kneel with her there in front of the courts.
"God, please allow Scott to find it in his heart to forgive himself as I have forgiven him for his transgressions. Please help him, guide him to fulfill Alan and Daniel's lives as they would have wanted him to. Please for Scott and Alan's family, please for Daniel, for me…I pray to you God. Your will be done…Amen." Marcella said, loud enough for every person in the room to hear. Before she stood though, in addition to the hug, Marcella kissed Scott on the forehead and whispered in his ear. "I forgive you."
There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even the judge had to remove his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose to attempt to chase his tears. When Marcella stood, she helped Scott up and guided him back to his seat. She looked back at Scott's family and her family. Some of her family didn't agree with her decision to petition the courts, but they didn't feel what she felt. Sure, they were part of her family, but Daniel was her son. Just like Alan was Scott's baby brother. They were both broken, their family's no longer whole without their sons. Simply put, they were broken together.