Alan was… adjusting.

This whole 'being small again' definitely took some getting used to, but his family was more than willing to help him out. Which was… something.

Alan knew that he should be glad his family was around to help him around his newfound dependency but every time he needed help he just felt… ashamed. His pride screamed every time he needed his brothers for the simplest of tasks.

Then he'd remind himself why he was in this position in the first place, and it didn't help much to soothe his injured ego, but it did reassure him that things could be much much worse. He'd much rather suffer this small (haha) inconvenience than have whatever this was, happen to Virgil.

Still, change was never easy; not for stubborn Tracy's and especially not for stubborn five-year-old Tracy's.

The first time Alan had gone to the kitchen for a snack, with John's encouragement, he discovered that he indeed could not see over the kitchen counters (well, he could if he stood on his tip-toes and lifted his head higher), as he had previously feared. This new revelation was so distressing that Alan nearly had a meltdown right there and then. How was he going to make his breakfast in the mornings? Or ever get by on his own?

While Alan didn't have a complete meltdown, he did get close enough for EOS (who, since John's descent from Thunderbird 5, had wired herself throughout the villa) to alert John, who, in turn, dropped everything he was doing and rushed into the kitchen.

Everything was fine. He was fine.

The next thing Alan knew John was sitting him on top of the counters and they were munching on crackers while delicately dancing around the fact that Alan couldn't reach over said counters anymore.

It was going to be just fine.

Then Virgil had the brilliant idea to conspire with Brains and Grandma to create a loose agenda for him. Honestly, it was so loose, it was like water. But the schedule was made so Alan could have some sort of daily structure (because apparently children need structure in their lives, and Virgil would not let him run rampant around the island. The buzzkill.) as they looked for a solution to his current predicament. While they made sure that he still had plenty of time to do whatever it was he pleased, to an extent (the 'no going outside or in the hangers alone' rule still held strong), the schedule did include mealtimes, break times, and a not-so-loose bedtime.

Actually, bedtime was the only thing that was really enforced.

10pm.

Which, apparently, was a late bedtime for a child Alan's age. So no matter how much Alan pleaded, begged, and bargained with his brothers, he was escorted to his room at ten o'clock sharp. Even if Alan dragged his feet, stalled getting ready, or came up with a million and one excuses (come on, just one more cup of water, Scott) he was firmly tucked into bed no later than ten minutes past ten.

Not by Gordon, though.

Gordon was not allowed bedtime escort privileges (much to Alan's disappointment).

Gordon would 100% let Alan stay up as late as he wanted and would even partake in late-night shenanigans with him. They only made this mistake once.

While the bedtime bothered him, (what teen wants to go to bed at 10pm?). What bothered him more was the highlighted grey area in the middle of the day labeled as 'Naptime?'. Apparently, it was Grandma's idea. The betrayal.

Alan Tracy did not take naps.

Alan Tracy did not need a nap.

Nor did Alan Tracy need a naptime.

Naps were for babies. Naps were meant for children who didn't have the energy or maturity to make it through the day.

Alan Tracy was not a baby nor a child. He was nineteen. Therefore, he did NOT need a nap. Let alone a naptime.

This fact, however, did not stop his brothers from checking on him every day. When the dreaded 'Naptime?' hit, someone would always be around. Sure, they made themselves busy and acted like they were doing other things, but Alan didn't miss the quick glances or studying looks that were thrown his way.

Alan hated it.

He made it through three days of denying this questionable 'naptime' time by sheer stubbornness alone.

On the fourth day, Alan found himself with a relatively short temper.

He sat in the lounge, VR headset on, Cavern Quest completely loaded, and fully prepared to game for the next hour or two (if a rescue call didn't come in). Except Cavern Quest wouldn't let him play the game. Every time he pressed start, the game kicked him out with the explanation that he didn't meet the age requirements.

Which was ridiculous. Alan met the age requirements by a long shot. He'd been playing the game for over a year! He'd nearly beat it! How could it not let him log onto his account now?

Alan should have gone to John. John, being the tech wizard he was, probably could have bypassed the whole age requirement. Or, at the very least, had EOS do it.

But Alan wasn't thinking straight. He was frustrated and annoyed, and his eyes stung from looking at the VR for too long. He yanked the headset off with an upset huff and scrubbed a hand across his face.

"That's the third time you've rubbed your eyes in the last ten minutes." Scott declared from their father's desk, not even bothering to look up from whatever holo-document he was studying.

Alan glanced sideways at Scott. "You were counting?" he asked incredulously.

"Yup," Scott said with a popped 'p'. Then, he gazed up at Alan with a sort of calculating look. "Why don't you lie down on the couch and take a nap?"

"I don't need a nap." Alan protested.

He really didn't.

So Alan turned away from Scott and curled up on the pilot chair he was sitting on and tried to refocus his attention on the holo-screen in front of him. He tried to start the game up once more. Fourth time's the charm, right?

Fourth time was not the charm.

Alan stared at the age requirement warning displayed across the living room. Frustration burned in his heart. He just wanted to play his game. Why weren't they letting him play his game? He'd gone through enough lately. He deserved to play his game.

Alan felt like he was practically shaking in anger. He tried to think of a possible solution. He knew he could solve this. But his brain felt like it was turning into grey mush by the minute and his vision blurred, making the colors of the lounge merge together. He just couldn't push past the anger.

It was consuming him.

He scrubbed another hand across his face.

"Alan."

Alan snapped his head up and narrowed his eyes. What did Scott want?

Scott sighed. "You're tired. Just lie on the couch for a little bit."

"No." Alan stubbornly huffed.

"And why not?"

"No."

"Alan. I can hear how tired you are."

Alan glared at the holo-screen. Maybe if he gave it an angry enough look, it would let him in.

Scott let out a light sigh. "Come on? Not even for ten minutes?"

"No!" Alan snapped. Somewhere, faintly in the back of his mind, his teenage self cringed at how whiny he sounded.

"Ok, ok." Scott raised his hands up in defense. "What's got you all worked up?"

Alan debated on even answering his brother. Scott should know.

"Dumb game," Alan murmured.

Scott's eyes widened slightly in surprise, (probably because Alan would never, not in a million years, call Cavern Quest dumb) before he leaned over his desk to get a better look at the screen. "Player too young?"

"It says that every time. Dumb thing's busted."

"… Doesn't that game involve a full-body scan for better player immersion?"

"Yeah. So?"

Scott's face softened. "I really think you should lie down for a nap."

"I don't need a nap." Alan bit back. Oh, he was really starting to dislike that word. Nap.

"Oh? And why not?" Scott inquired.

"Because naps are for babies."

There was a long pause. Alan took the time to fiddle with the game settings, not that it helped any. "I know you don't believe that." Scott continued, "You were always the first one to take a nap after a rescue."

Alan shrugged. That was then, and this is now. And now, Alan believed naps were for babies… and he didn't need one. He could stay awake. He had to fix his dumb game anyway.

"Gordon's even taking a nap right now." Scott supplied, "He's not a baby, is he?"

"No." Alan moodily answered, "But Gordo's going out on rescues."

A sharp scrape of a chair being pushed back sounded throughout the lounge.

"You're right."

Scott stood and leaned over the desk. He dimmed the lights in the lounge, flicked off the holo-screen, and ignored Alan's 'hey!'. Then he picked up his tablet and strode over to the sunken couches.

"You're right," He repeated. "Gordon's going out on rescues… and you're sneaking out at night."

Alan sat up straight. How did Scott…?

He cast his gaze to the floor. "I- I don't know what you're talking about." He insisted, "I go to sleep at 10, when you take me to my room, and I don't wake up until morning."

"Uh-huh. And what about when John comes to sneak you out at 10:15, so you two can watch the stars?" Scott smirked at Alan's shocked expression, as he sat on one of the couches. "Don't think I haven't seen you two."

"But- but how?"

"I've seen my fair share of little brothers sneaking off. I have a pretty good eye despite how much EOS tries to cover for John. And, I know you aren't getting as much sleep as you need."

Alan pouted and looked at the empty space above the holo-projector. He really liked it when John snuck him out. Besides, John didn't do it every night and Alan was getting better sleep than he did when he was an active operative. He didn't see what the big deal was.

Definitely not a big enough deal for a naptime.

"Sprout, come here." Scott patted the section of couch beside him.

Alan hesitated.

"Alan."

The firm 'I'm not messing around' tone of voice had Alan sliding off the pilot chair and slowly making his way to the couch Scott was seated on before he could think twice. He climbed up and sat stiffly next to his older brother. Back rigid and straight despite how heavy his limbs felt and how much his eyes ached.

Scott hummed and instinctively wrapped an arm around his shoulders, drawing him in.

Alan almost immediately relaxed. Compared to the cold hardness of the pilot chairs, the couch was soft and Scott was warm. Alan could feel the frustration that had boiled inside him begin to die down, and stubbornness melt away.

But he had to hold strong. That's what he told himself as a jaw-splitting yawn coursed through him, and he palmed his eyes once more.

Naptime was for babies.

Scott gently combed his fingers through Alan's unruly blond hair. "Do you want to see what I've been working on?"

Alan nodded. Anything to keep his attention, and keep him awake.

Apparently, Scott had been looking at the designs for a new EarthPod. In the dim light of the lounge, the bright artificial light from the tablet stung Alan's tired eyes. He found himself taking long blinks… until, that is, he decided that it was too much effort to keep them open.

He wasn't napping. He was just resting his eyes.

The deep rumble of Scott's voice bloomed through his head. Alan didn't really hear what Scott was talking about but he supposed his older brother rambled on and on about the mechanics of the new machine.

Alan wasn't sure how much time passed as he teetered on the precarious edge between asleep and awake, but eventually Scott shifted and Alan felt himself being lowered onto the couch.

Then Scott got up.

Alan's heart mourned at the loss of contact. It was silly, but, suddenly, without his brother, Alan felt much colder. So much colder. He fought hard against the pulls of sleep that had just been about to claim him. Heavy eyelids made opening his eyes a tremendous task, but he needed to know where Scott had gone.

When he finally was able to crack his eyes open, he caught sight of Scott about to drape a light blanket over him.

Something stirred in Alan. Some unreasonable fear that his brother would leave, and he'd be left alone in a large, cold, dark, empty room. That the game would never let him play because he didn't meet the age requirement.

"Don't go," Alan whispered. To his horror, he felt the familiar sting of tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. Cold fear wrapped around his rib cage and squeezed his heart. Ok, maybe he really did need this nap, because this was ridiculous.

Scott froze, the blanket still in his hand. A soft smile came across his face. "Of course." True to his word, Scott sat down right where he'd been sitting before. The couch dipped with his added weight and Alan scooted closer. The unreasonable fear let up as Scott reached over to drape the blanket over him. His big brother was here.

The rhythmic tapping of Scott working on his tablet filled his mind. Something senseless to hold onto as he finally gave into the deep lulls of sleep.

When blond eyelashes finally touched down on little chubby cheeks, hopefully not to be lifted until the kid was well-rested, and his little breaths evened out, Scott couldn't help but smile at the child beside him. Alan looked so much smaller curled up on the couch. He gently ran his finger through Alan's soft blond hair, then quickly tapped out a message to their brother.

When Alan woke up, Scott was still sitting in the space beside him. His older brother had his head back, shoulder relaxed, feet out, and was snoring. The tablet lay on the floor where it likely fell from his grip. Alan had to bite back the laugh that threatened to rise at the sight of his big brother.

He rubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes and looked around the room. Alan felt better. Truly better. His mind felt clearer, and his heart was calm. The world seemed more… manageable.

Maybe naps weren't so bad after all.

When Alan sat up, the blanket pooled around his waist, and he noticed his VR headset and controllers neatly on the table with a note placed gently on top.

Fixed your game.

-John


Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter! Stay tuned for more!