Scott reeled back as if he's been struck, he stood, then felt dizzy and sat
back on the bed , as his head span. Forcing himself to take deep breaths he
looked back at his brother. Gordon looked serious, he wouldn't play a prank
like this, Scott thought this would be one sick joke.
'Are you joking?' he said in a whisper, 'is this some kind of sick joke?'
Gordon gave an emotionless laugh, 'yeah sure it's a joke, suprise dad killed mom!'
Scott felt sick, Gordon was being so blase, 'I think you'd better explain to me just how the hell you came to that conclusion!'
Gordon pulled his desk chair up to the bed and sat backwards on it. 'It's all pretty shocking' he said nochalently, 'are you sure you wanna hear it?'
'Quit playing games for once and be serious' Scott said gruffly, 'I wanna know exactly what you mean by that.'
Gordon sighed and it seemed like he was back to his old self again. 'That day.....' he began, 'the day mom died.'
Scott nodded, he didn't want to hear what his brother was saying but he knew he had to listen.
'I remember, most of it, four isn't that young you know. I was with Alan, Mom told dad on the morning that she was taking us two shopping. You guys were at school, dad claimed he had meetings all day.'
Scott shut his eyes tightly, remembering the last time he had seen his mother that morning. He had always thought, well assumed that Gordon had been too young to remember that day, he had been in the car with their mother, but both he and Alan had been barely injured, strapped in their car - seats, while their mother............... Obviously Gordon had remembered.
'Mom took us shopping...' Gordon continued his voice wistful as he remembered the sights and sounds as if it were last week, '....Alan kicked up a fuss, so she took us for ice-cream after.' His eyes began to glisten and he swallowed, Scott reached out a hand and put it over his brothers, '....I had chocolate, Alan had banana. Then we drove home.........' he paused suddenly and his eyes narrowed.
'It's alright.' Scott said reassuringly, 'go on..'
Gordon pulled his hand from under his brothers, Scott looked wounded but he listened.
'.....Mom started getting bags out the car, she asked me to carry one, we left Alan in the car-seat while we took the bags out. We got into the house and then we heard a bang.......'
Scott frowned, wondering what had happened that day.
'.....mom was worried, she didn't think their was anyone in.' Gordon explained, 'you lot weren't due home for hours, dad was at the office.....anyway, she grabbed this vase, told me to stay downstairs, I guess she thought it was a burglar or somethin'. I told her I wasn't waiting there, so she told me to stay behind her at all times. We went up the stairs, there was banging coming from mom and dad's room. We walked up to the door and then we heard a laugh..............'
Gordon swallowed hard and averted his eyes , Scott waited for him to continue frightened of what he would hear.
After a pause Gordon looked at him again, '.....it was Dad's laugh' he muttered. 'Mom pushed the door open and there he was, our father, the brilliant astronaut,the perfect Jeff Tracy, in bed with another woman!'
Scott raised a hand to his mouth, his eyes widened, his heart stopped and so did his world.
'Mom tried to push me behind her so I wouldn't see what kind of man our father was but it was too late, i'd already seen....' Gordon continued shaking his head in disgust.'....she grabbed my hand, and oh my god Scott...' he said his voice wavering, '...the look in her eyes, she was just completely betrayed.'
Scott had tears openly running down his cheeks as the truth emerged.
'Dad came running out after us, onto the drive, oh he looked sorry enough, he looked really sorry, but it was too late. He was yelling 'Lucy I can explain', she was screaming, 'stay away from me Jeff' and I was crying cos' I didn't really know what was going on. She grabbed me, fastened me into my seat and sped off. All I remember is asking her where we were going. She was crying so hard and she just said, 'I don't know baby, we'll get your brothers and then we'll just go away for a while.'
Scott's chest heaved as he sobbed, his mother had never made it to the school to pick them up. 'So....w...w...what happened...' he stammered pathetically,....d...d..di..did the dog just run out infront of you?'
Gordon smiled with absolutely no humour, 'Oh man,' he said unemotionally, 'don't you get it Scott?'
Scott frowned, tearfully.
Gordon decided to fill him in, 'there was no dog Scott' he said coldly, 'that was a lie our precious father made up to protect his reputation. We can't have the great Jeff Tracy being accused of being an adulterer can we? Mom was crying so hard she took a bend too fast and we went into the tree, she died.......' he said his tone deadly, 'because of him.'
Scott couldn't speak, he couldn't believe it, if what his baby brother was telling him was the truth, then everything he'd been brought up to believe had been a lie. Including his father, if what Gordon was saying was true, then who was Jeff Tracy, he was nothing but a betraying, cheating, manipulative liar. Scott didn't know what to believe but the only way he was going to find the truth was by going to the source itself, his father.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff, Virgil and Alan remained seated in the lounge, hoping Scott was talking some sense into Gordon. Jeff thanked his lucky stars that Tin-Tin, Brains, Kyrano and his mother had headed to Penelopes for a holiday, he wouldn't have wanted them to see Gordon that way.
Again Jeff wondered why his son was acting that way, Gordon had always been the argumentative one of the five of his sons, speaking his mind, constantly sparring with Jeff, but he loved his son and he had never seen him behave in this way before.
Virgil looked up from the piano, as Scott stormed into the room, Gordon, arms folded defiantly, behind him. 'Uh-Oh' he thought to himself, 'big brother's little talk doesn't seem to have helped.'
Scott stood directly infront of his father, he seemed to be struggling to contain himself. 'Hmm, interesting' Virgil thought again, it wasn't like his older brother to lose his rag.
'I want you to tell me the truth' Scott said his voice emerging in a hiss of rage, '...NOW!'
Jeff looked completely oblivious, 'what are you.....' he began.
Gordon interrupted him, he was leaning his shoulder against the pillar in the lounge, one leg crossed over the other, casually. 'I told him about what happened the day mom died' he said nochalantly.
Jeff started in shock, his face went white, 'what do you mean?'
'You know what I mean.' Gordon replied, 'about the other woman.'
Virgil and Alan spun confused to look at their father.
'But how did you remember... you were.....I....' Jeff stammered, a sick feeling developing in the bottom of his stomach.
Scott didn't seem to be listening to Jeff's excuses, his words had just proved that his brother had been telling the truth, one look at Jeff's face confirmed that.
Scott's eyes glowed in fury, 'DID YOU KILL OUR MOTHER,IS IT TRUE?' he screamed. Jeff, flinched, 'Please, let me explain!'
Alan and Virgil were on their feet now, both completely shocked and confused at what was going on.
'Scott....' Alan said, his voice frightened, 'what....'
'Tell them.' Scott cut in. Causing Jeff to look at him in horror, 'TELL THEM!' Scott shouted angrily, gesturing at Virgil and Alan.
'Don't do this Scott....' Jeff began and seeing no forgiveness in his eldest's eyes turned to his other son imploringly, '...Gordon....'
Gordon looked just as unforgiving, 'don't look at me dad' he said, his voice full of scorn, 'I've kept my mouth shut for twenty years. I won't do it anymore.'
'I didn't know you knew....' Jeff begged, 'I didn't know.'
'Sure you didn't.' Gordon answered coldly, 'now tell them!'
Jeff turned to Virgil and Alan who stood looking scared at the accusations being flung around them.
'Dad?' Virgil prompted.
'I'm sorry boys.....' Jeff whispered and began to tell them what happened, he told them about meeting joanne, his new seceretary, how he'd been so busy at work and when he came back home, Lucy had been busy with the boys, he told them how he had only strayed that once, how he'd regretted it immeadiately, then he told them what happened when their mother came home.
'......Your mother opened the door, she saw me and...' he gulped trying to avoid the betrayed looks he was recieving. '.....she had Gordon with her, she ran off....and then.... and then......'
'.....then she died?' Alan asked, the tears running down his face as Scott placed a comforting arm around his shoulders and shot daggers at his father.
'Yes' Jeff answered truthfully, 'then she died.'
There was utter silence in the room, and then Gordon began applauding loudly. He walked towards his father,clapping, 'bravo, dad, great performance.'
'Gordo!' Scott warned.
'Now why don't you tell us...' Gordon continued ignoring his brother, 'why you covered up her death, why you lied, why you told everyone she was avoiding a dog, when I know for a fact that that's complete and utter bull!'
Jeff shook his head, looking like a broken man, 'I, what good would it do, if it got out that I had cheated on your mother, it would only hurt you boys, I wanted to protect you kids.'
'No, you didn't..' Alan shouted rising to his feet, 'you wanted to protect yourself!' He spun and ran from the room,
Gordon shot his father a disgusted look and told Scott 'I'll talk to him!'
Scott nodded and was about to have a showdown with his father about how he could lie and make Gordon deal with keeping the truth to himself all this time, when Virgil moved in front of him.
He had been close to his mother and looked most like her.Virgil turned to Jeff and the hollow look in his eyes made Jeff want to heave, 'Virgil listen.......' he began, but Virgil didn't want to talk, swinging madly, he punched Jeff in the jaw and watched in satisfaction as he crumpled to the floor.
'HOW COULD YOU?' he screamed, 'HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO MOM? HOW COULD YOU LIE TO US?'
'Virgil, I'm sorry, I... I...I did the wrong thing.'
'You're damn right you did.' Virgil answered his voice grew quieter, but he sounded no less angry, 'you betrayed us, I don't even know who you are any more!'
Jeff felt like he was dying inside, he had made one mistake and he had never got over the guilt, but now his sons knew and he felt each of them turn on him. 'I'm losing my family' he thought to himself as he pulled himself up off the floor, 'and I've got no-one to blame but myself!'
Virgil walked away, he didn't run like Alan or waltz out like he didn't care like Gordon, he walked slowly, like the world had caved in on his shoulders.
Scott turned to face his father, 'and now it's just the two of us', he said, his voice a deadly growl.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Gordon turned to find his brother, 'Alan?' he called, 'Alan?'
The voice inside his head, continued to cause it to throb. 'well done' it said, 'you've planted the seeds that will destroy the Tracy Family.' Then as suddenly as it had appeared earlier that afternoon, the voice left him.
Feeling faint Gordon steadied himself against a wall, 'Oh god, what have I done.' he murmered, 'why on earth did I tell them.'
He caught side of a sudden movement on the balcony and saw it was his little brother. He opened the sliding door and stepped out. Alan was sitting on a chair his head in his hands, sobbing.
Gordon found himself crouching infront of him, 'Hey Al!' he soothed, 'I'm sorry.'
Alan raised a tear-stained face, 'it's not your fault Gordo.' he said his voice lost and childlike. It nearly killed Gordon.
Gordon did the only thing he could do and pulled his younger brother into a hug as he had done many times in the past. To make him feel better. Alan wrapped his arms around Gordon and let his head rest against his shoulder.
'It just feels....' he sobbed, 'like I've lost both my parents you know?'
Gordon waited for him to explain, feeling guiltier by the second.
'...I mean....I never knew mom....not really and now dad...... it....it...just feels like the dad I knew didn't exist.....that....' he paused and swallowed,'...that it was all a lie.'
Gordon felt like his heart was splitting in two. His family was falling apart all because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. For the life of him, he couldn't work out why he had told Scott the truth. He'd kept it quiet for so long, because he knew that the truth would destroy their family, he'd even started to forgive his father, oh he'd never be perfect to Gordon, but he knew how guilty he felt about their mother, he knew that, so why had he told his brothers, he'd ruined everything. He'd hurt his father, but he knew he could forgive himself for that, he'd hurt his brothers, it would take time but maybe he could forgive himself for that, but he'd also hurt his baby brother, the guy he'd been best friends with growing up, protected at school and loved more than he loved anything and that was something he could never forgive himself for.
Hugging Alan tighter, he stared past his brother across the ocean. 'I'll look after you Al', he whispered gently to his brother, 'I'll look after you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Scott stared down at his father as Jeff slumped defeatedley on the couch.
'You know.....' he said quietly, 'You betrayed mom, I guess in time I could have forgiven that........, you lied to cover up your reputation, maybe in time I could even have forgiven that........., you lied to me, I could have forgiven that,' he paused as Jeff raised his head and looked his eldest in the eye, '......but you lied to Alan and you lied to Virgil and you lied to Johnny, and worst of all you let Gordon keep that horrible secret for twenty years!' he looked away and shook his head, '...I MEAN TWENTY GOD DAMN YEARS DAD!' he shouted.
Jeff stood, 'I don't expect you to forgive me Scott' he said his voice breaking, 'but I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!' turning away from Scott he walked slowly towards the door and retrieved his coat from the hook. 'Look after your brothers for me.' he said quietly, and then he walked out of the door, out of Tracy Villa, and out of his son's lives.
Minutes later Alan and Gordon and Virgil, who had now joined them on the balcony watched the jet roar by with heavy hearts.
Scott stood standing at the wide glass window, silent tears falling down his cheeks, he listened to the hum of the departing engines.
'What do I do now?' he murmered hopelessly to himself, 'what the hell do i do now?'
Then John called.
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
The Hood stood grinning as he sat in his dark lair, he had felt the pain almost tangiable coming from the Tracys. He knew his plan was working, he was going to cause the biggest rift immaginable in the family of his nemesis, and it had already begun. He had the red-headed one firmly under his thumb now, he was his puppet, and his co-operation, would bring about the downfall of them all.
'They will be destroyed' he said aloud and laughed manically to himself, 'every last one of them'.
Stepping out from the cave he grinned evily as he stared at what was infront of him, Tracy Villa stood, shilouetted against the setting sun, somewhere in there were Jeff's kids, now daddy was gone, they had nobody there to protect them!
**************************************************************************** *****************************************
WHEW! long chapter for me, I hope you guys like it, you're probably pretty shocked at the turn of events, but things are only just beggining. Unfortunately for the boys, the Hood is closer and more dangerous than ever before, and even worse there's no Jeff to protect them.
Hope you all enjoyed it. No previews this time, I think the chapter stands alone, HOW WILL THE HOOD CONTINUE HIS PLAN? WHAT WILL THE BOYS DO WITHOUT JEFF? AND WILL THEY FIND OUT , THAT HE HAS A MOLE IN GORDON?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF 'IT'S ALL IN THE MIND'.
'Are you joking?' he said in a whisper, 'is this some kind of sick joke?'
Gordon gave an emotionless laugh, 'yeah sure it's a joke, suprise dad killed mom!'
Scott felt sick, Gordon was being so blase, 'I think you'd better explain to me just how the hell you came to that conclusion!'
Gordon pulled his desk chair up to the bed and sat backwards on it. 'It's all pretty shocking' he said nochalently, 'are you sure you wanna hear it?'
'Quit playing games for once and be serious' Scott said gruffly, 'I wanna know exactly what you mean by that.'
Gordon sighed and it seemed like he was back to his old self again. 'That day.....' he began, 'the day mom died.'
Scott nodded, he didn't want to hear what his brother was saying but he knew he had to listen.
'I remember, most of it, four isn't that young you know. I was with Alan, Mom told dad on the morning that she was taking us two shopping. You guys were at school, dad claimed he had meetings all day.'
Scott shut his eyes tightly, remembering the last time he had seen his mother that morning. He had always thought, well assumed that Gordon had been too young to remember that day, he had been in the car with their mother, but both he and Alan had been barely injured, strapped in their car - seats, while their mother............... Obviously Gordon had remembered.
'Mom took us shopping...' Gordon continued his voice wistful as he remembered the sights and sounds as if it were last week, '....Alan kicked up a fuss, so she took us for ice-cream after.' His eyes began to glisten and he swallowed, Scott reached out a hand and put it over his brothers, '....I had chocolate, Alan had banana. Then we drove home.........' he paused suddenly and his eyes narrowed.
'It's alright.' Scott said reassuringly, 'go on..'
Gordon pulled his hand from under his brothers, Scott looked wounded but he listened.
'.....Mom started getting bags out the car, she asked me to carry one, we left Alan in the car-seat while we took the bags out. We got into the house and then we heard a bang.......'
Scott frowned, wondering what had happened that day.
'.....mom was worried, she didn't think their was anyone in.' Gordon explained, 'you lot weren't due home for hours, dad was at the office.....anyway, she grabbed this vase, told me to stay downstairs, I guess she thought it was a burglar or somethin'. I told her I wasn't waiting there, so she told me to stay behind her at all times. We went up the stairs, there was banging coming from mom and dad's room. We walked up to the door and then we heard a laugh..............'
Gordon swallowed hard and averted his eyes , Scott waited for him to continue frightened of what he would hear.
After a pause Gordon looked at him again, '.....it was Dad's laugh' he muttered. 'Mom pushed the door open and there he was, our father, the brilliant astronaut,the perfect Jeff Tracy, in bed with another woman!'
Scott raised a hand to his mouth, his eyes widened, his heart stopped and so did his world.
'Mom tried to push me behind her so I wouldn't see what kind of man our father was but it was too late, i'd already seen....' Gordon continued shaking his head in disgust.'....she grabbed my hand, and oh my god Scott...' he said his voice wavering, '...the look in her eyes, she was just completely betrayed.'
Scott had tears openly running down his cheeks as the truth emerged.
'Dad came running out after us, onto the drive, oh he looked sorry enough, he looked really sorry, but it was too late. He was yelling 'Lucy I can explain', she was screaming, 'stay away from me Jeff' and I was crying cos' I didn't really know what was going on. She grabbed me, fastened me into my seat and sped off. All I remember is asking her where we were going. She was crying so hard and she just said, 'I don't know baby, we'll get your brothers and then we'll just go away for a while.'
Scott's chest heaved as he sobbed, his mother had never made it to the school to pick them up. 'So....w...w...what happened...' he stammered pathetically,....d...d..di..did the dog just run out infront of you?'
Gordon smiled with absolutely no humour, 'Oh man,' he said unemotionally, 'don't you get it Scott?'
Scott frowned, tearfully.
Gordon decided to fill him in, 'there was no dog Scott' he said coldly, 'that was a lie our precious father made up to protect his reputation. We can't have the great Jeff Tracy being accused of being an adulterer can we? Mom was crying so hard she took a bend too fast and we went into the tree, she died.......' he said his tone deadly, 'because of him.'
Scott couldn't speak, he couldn't believe it, if what his baby brother was telling him was the truth, then everything he'd been brought up to believe had been a lie. Including his father, if what Gordon was saying was true, then who was Jeff Tracy, he was nothing but a betraying, cheating, manipulative liar. Scott didn't know what to believe but the only way he was going to find the truth was by going to the source itself, his father.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff, Virgil and Alan remained seated in the lounge, hoping Scott was talking some sense into Gordon. Jeff thanked his lucky stars that Tin-Tin, Brains, Kyrano and his mother had headed to Penelopes for a holiday, he wouldn't have wanted them to see Gordon that way.
Again Jeff wondered why his son was acting that way, Gordon had always been the argumentative one of the five of his sons, speaking his mind, constantly sparring with Jeff, but he loved his son and he had never seen him behave in this way before.
Virgil looked up from the piano, as Scott stormed into the room, Gordon, arms folded defiantly, behind him. 'Uh-Oh' he thought to himself, 'big brother's little talk doesn't seem to have helped.'
Scott stood directly infront of his father, he seemed to be struggling to contain himself. 'Hmm, interesting' Virgil thought again, it wasn't like his older brother to lose his rag.
'I want you to tell me the truth' Scott said his voice emerging in a hiss of rage, '...NOW!'
Jeff looked completely oblivious, 'what are you.....' he began.
Gordon interrupted him, he was leaning his shoulder against the pillar in the lounge, one leg crossed over the other, casually. 'I told him about what happened the day mom died' he said nochalantly.
Jeff started in shock, his face went white, 'what do you mean?'
'You know what I mean.' Gordon replied, 'about the other woman.'
Virgil and Alan spun confused to look at their father.
'But how did you remember... you were.....I....' Jeff stammered, a sick feeling developing in the bottom of his stomach.
Scott didn't seem to be listening to Jeff's excuses, his words had just proved that his brother had been telling the truth, one look at Jeff's face confirmed that.
Scott's eyes glowed in fury, 'DID YOU KILL OUR MOTHER,IS IT TRUE?' he screamed. Jeff, flinched, 'Please, let me explain!'
Alan and Virgil were on their feet now, both completely shocked and confused at what was going on.
'Scott....' Alan said, his voice frightened, 'what....'
'Tell them.' Scott cut in. Causing Jeff to look at him in horror, 'TELL THEM!' Scott shouted angrily, gesturing at Virgil and Alan.
'Don't do this Scott....' Jeff began and seeing no forgiveness in his eldest's eyes turned to his other son imploringly, '...Gordon....'
Gordon looked just as unforgiving, 'don't look at me dad' he said, his voice full of scorn, 'I've kept my mouth shut for twenty years. I won't do it anymore.'
'I didn't know you knew....' Jeff begged, 'I didn't know.'
'Sure you didn't.' Gordon answered coldly, 'now tell them!'
Jeff turned to Virgil and Alan who stood looking scared at the accusations being flung around them.
'Dad?' Virgil prompted.
'I'm sorry boys.....' Jeff whispered and began to tell them what happened, he told them about meeting joanne, his new seceretary, how he'd been so busy at work and when he came back home, Lucy had been busy with the boys, he told them how he had only strayed that once, how he'd regretted it immeadiately, then he told them what happened when their mother came home.
'......Your mother opened the door, she saw me and...' he gulped trying to avoid the betrayed looks he was recieving. '.....she had Gordon with her, she ran off....and then.... and then......'
'.....then she died?' Alan asked, the tears running down his face as Scott placed a comforting arm around his shoulders and shot daggers at his father.
'Yes' Jeff answered truthfully, 'then she died.'
There was utter silence in the room, and then Gordon began applauding loudly. He walked towards his father,clapping, 'bravo, dad, great performance.'
'Gordo!' Scott warned.
'Now why don't you tell us...' Gordon continued ignoring his brother, 'why you covered up her death, why you lied, why you told everyone she was avoiding a dog, when I know for a fact that that's complete and utter bull!'
Jeff shook his head, looking like a broken man, 'I, what good would it do, if it got out that I had cheated on your mother, it would only hurt you boys, I wanted to protect you kids.'
'No, you didn't..' Alan shouted rising to his feet, 'you wanted to protect yourself!' He spun and ran from the room,
Gordon shot his father a disgusted look and told Scott 'I'll talk to him!'
Scott nodded and was about to have a showdown with his father about how he could lie and make Gordon deal with keeping the truth to himself all this time, when Virgil moved in front of him.
He had been close to his mother and looked most like her.Virgil turned to Jeff and the hollow look in his eyes made Jeff want to heave, 'Virgil listen.......' he began, but Virgil didn't want to talk, swinging madly, he punched Jeff in the jaw and watched in satisfaction as he crumpled to the floor.
'HOW COULD YOU?' he screamed, 'HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO MOM? HOW COULD YOU LIE TO US?'
'Virgil, I'm sorry, I... I...I did the wrong thing.'
'You're damn right you did.' Virgil answered his voice grew quieter, but he sounded no less angry, 'you betrayed us, I don't even know who you are any more!'
Jeff felt like he was dying inside, he had made one mistake and he had never got over the guilt, but now his sons knew and he felt each of them turn on him. 'I'm losing my family' he thought to himself as he pulled himself up off the floor, 'and I've got no-one to blame but myself!'
Virgil walked away, he didn't run like Alan or waltz out like he didn't care like Gordon, he walked slowly, like the world had caved in on his shoulders.
Scott turned to face his father, 'and now it's just the two of us', he said, his voice a deadly growl.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Gordon turned to find his brother, 'Alan?' he called, 'Alan?'
The voice inside his head, continued to cause it to throb. 'well done' it said, 'you've planted the seeds that will destroy the Tracy Family.' Then as suddenly as it had appeared earlier that afternoon, the voice left him.
Feeling faint Gordon steadied himself against a wall, 'Oh god, what have I done.' he murmered, 'why on earth did I tell them.'
He caught side of a sudden movement on the balcony and saw it was his little brother. He opened the sliding door and stepped out. Alan was sitting on a chair his head in his hands, sobbing.
Gordon found himself crouching infront of him, 'Hey Al!' he soothed, 'I'm sorry.'
Alan raised a tear-stained face, 'it's not your fault Gordo.' he said his voice lost and childlike. It nearly killed Gordon.
Gordon did the only thing he could do and pulled his younger brother into a hug as he had done many times in the past. To make him feel better. Alan wrapped his arms around Gordon and let his head rest against his shoulder.
'It just feels....' he sobbed, 'like I've lost both my parents you know?'
Gordon waited for him to explain, feeling guiltier by the second.
'...I mean....I never knew mom....not really and now dad...... it....it...just feels like the dad I knew didn't exist.....that....' he paused and swallowed,'...that it was all a lie.'
Gordon felt like his heart was splitting in two. His family was falling apart all because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. For the life of him, he couldn't work out why he had told Scott the truth. He'd kept it quiet for so long, because he knew that the truth would destroy their family, he'd even started to forgive his father, oh he'd never be perfect to Gordon, but he knew how guilty he felt about their mother, he knew that, so why had he told his brothers, he'd ruined everything. He'd hurt his father, but he knew he could forgive himself for that, he'd hurt his brothers, it would take time but maybe he could forgive himself for that, but he'd also hurt his baby brother, the guy he'd been best friends with growing up, protected at school and loved more than he loved anything and that was something he could never forgive himself for.
Hugging Alan tighter, he stared past his brother across the ocean. 'I'll look after you Al', he whispered gently to his brother, 'I'll look after you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Scott stared down at his father as Jeff slumped defeatedley on the couch.
'You know.....' he said quietly, 'You betrayed mom, I guess in time I could have forgiven that........, you lied to cover up your reputation, maybe in time I could even have forgiven that........., you lied to me, I could have forgiven that,' he paused as Jeff raised his head and looked his eldest in the eye, '......but you lied to Alan and you lied to Virgil and you lied to Johnny, and worst of all you let Gordon keep that horrible secret for twenty years!' he looked away and shook his head, '...I MEAN TWENTY GOD DAMN YEARS DAD!' he shouted.
Jeff stood, 'I don't expect you to forgive me Scott' he said his voice breaking, 'but I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!' turning away from Scott he walked slowly towards the door and retrieved his coat from the hook. 'Look after your brothers for me.' he said quietly, and then he walked out of the door, out of Tracy Villa, and out of his son's lives.
Minutes later Alan and Gordon and Virgil, who had now joined them on the balcony watched the jet roar by with heavy hearts.
Scott stood standing at the wide glass window, silent tears falling down his cheeks, he listened to the hum of the departing engines.
'What do I do now?' he murmered hopelessly to himself, 'what the hell do i do now?'
Then John called.
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
The Hood stood grinning as he sat in his dark lair, he had felt the pain almost tangiable coming from the Tracys. He knew his plan was working, he was going to cause the biggest rift immaginable in the family of his nemesis, and it had already begun. He had the red-headed one firmly under his thumb now, he was his puppet, and his co-operation, would bring about the downfall of them all.
'They will be destroyed' he said aloud and laughed manically to himself, 'every last one of them'.
Stepping out from the cave he grinned evily as he stared at what was infront of him, Tracy Villa stood, shilouetted against the setting sun, somewhere in there were Jeff's kids, now daddy was gone, they had nobody there to protect them!
**************************************************************************** *****************************************
WHEW! long chapter for me, I hope you guys like it, you're probably pretty shocked at the turn of events, but things are only just beggining. Unfortunately for the boys, the Hood is closer and more dangerous than ever before, and even worse there's no Jeff to protect them.
Hope you all enjoyed it. No previews this time, I think the chapter stands alone, HOW WILL THE HOOD CONTINUE HIS PLAN? WHAT WILL THE BOYS DO WITHOUT JEFF? AND WILL THEY FIND OUT , THAT HE HAS A MOLE IN GORDON?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF 'IT'S ALL IN THE MIND'.