'NOOOOOOOOOOO!' Virgil, Alan, John and Scott shouted in unison as the
Hood placed the barrel at Gordon's temple.
The Hood looked straight at John,
'John' he said sardonically, 'nice of you to join us, now drop the weapon else I'll put a hole in little brother's head.'
John narrowed his eyes furiously and for a second Scott was afraid he wouldn't go along with the Hood, but then he slowly placed the gun on the floor in front of him.
'Now kick it to me.' The Hood ordered, 'nice and slow, I don't want any sudden movements.'
John did as he was told.
'Now go stand over there with your brothers.'
As John walked over to the others, Alan rolled his eyes at him.
'I was trying to rescue you guys.' John defended himself.
'Great job John, thanks.' Alan said sarcastically.
'Oh shut it Al.'
'John' the Hood addressed the middle Tracy, 'I'm sorry I had to cut you off earlier, but I couldn't have anyone ruining my plan could I?'
His brothers exchanged confused looks.
John gave a humourless laugh, 'yeah great plan this is too' he replied sarcastically, 'what are you hoping to do? Take all 5 of us down with one gun? You haven't got a chance in hell.'
'John.' Virgil reminded gently, trying to stop his brother's temper getting Gordon killed, 'um he's got a gun on our little brother, remember?'
'Yes, John...' The Hood said gleefully, 'remember that? I don't have to get you all, but I'll take some of you out and that's enough for me. I've always wanted this, I've waited for this most of my life.'
Scott and Virgil were watching the Hood with matching worried looks.
'OK look..' Scott said cautiously, 'you've got all of us now, why don't you let him go?'
'And what do I get in return?'
Gordon, looking decidedly unfazed for someone with a gun aimed at his head, responded angrily.
'I'll tell you what you'll get you sick maniac, a slow, painful death, that's what!'
The Hood pressed the gun harder against his head.
'Gordon!' Scott warned sharply and then looked at John, suddenly remembering where Gordon got his temper from.
'Don't push me kid.' The Hood growled.
Gordon was unperturbed 'Don't aim a gun at my head and I wouldn't have to push you.'
Virgil winced at his brother's words, Gordon's hot-head was going to get him into trouble like it always did.
Alan's eyes widened at his brother's response. Gordon really did have to learn when to keep his mouth shut, he thought to himself.
The sound of a door slamming and approaching footsteps echoed around the room as the Tracys looked at each other worriedly. With a whoosh the lounge door swung open and there stood Jeff, Penelope and Brains, all three were armed, unfortunately they fell into the exact same situation John had.
'DAD!!!!!' his five sons cried as Jeff entered.
'Boys...' Jeff said in relief, quickly taking them all in, making sure they were ok. He barely had time to wonder why John wasn't in TB5, before he froze, when he saw his second-youngest in the arms of the spitting image of himself.
'Hello Jeff' the mirror image said, 'what a pleasant surprise, now drop your weapons, all of you, unless you want to see another tragic family death.'
The room bristled with tension, everyone there knew he was referring to Lucille, but it was only Gordon who's eyes widened in horror.
'Oh my god, mom!' he said, horrified.
Jeff raised his hands above his head, as did Penny and Brains and walked over to four of his sons. 'What is it son?' he asked his red- headed child.
Gordon had gone very pale and the others watched worriedly as he took several ragged breaths.
The Hood looked scared, he watched Jeff's son uncertainly, he remembered, the Hood felt it.
'Gordo?' Alan shouted anxiously.
'Let him go!' John yelled.
Both Scott and Virgil, took steps forward, Jeff moved forward quickly to stop his two eldest doing something foolish.
'don't be stupid' Jeff scolded, pulling them both back.
Gordon opened his eyes. He felt like ripping the Hood to shreds with his bare hands but he couldn't with a gun against his head. His mind filled with images like the kaleidoscope he had been given as a child.
His mother stopping to help a man who looked like he'd broken down, seeing her being struck unconscious with a crow-bar by the Hood, the Hood placing his mother back in the car-seat, him running, kicking and screaming at the Hood, trying to hurt the man who had hurt his mother, then the Hood grabbing him by the shoulders and looking into his eyes, the dizzy, drowsy sensation, the helplessness he felt, then nothing.
When the terrible images stopped, he slowly opened his eyes, the Hood had killed his mother! The Hood had 'brainwashed' him into forgetting! Gordon had always felt their was something not quite right about his mother's death, the dog story their father had told them just never seemed to ring true in Gordon's mind, now he knew why. And the Hood had made him think his father was responsible, that he'd had an affair. Gordon felt sick, he couldn't believe how much control the Hood had had over him.
'I'm so sorry Dad.' He said softly.
'What?' Jeff said, his eyes filled with obvious fear as he glanced at his son, in the arms of his worst enemy.
'He killed mom.' Gordon said, straight to the point.
There was a horrible silence.
'What?' Scott, Virgil and John said in unison, shock written across their faces.
'He knocked her out, she thought he'd broken down, stopped to help, he knocked her out, left her in the car, wiped my memory and then shoved it into a tree.'
'Oh Jesus.' Alan said horrified.
The three eldest siblings eyes' burned with hatred.
Jeff said nothing. Lucille, his beloved Lucille, killed by this tyrant. He couldn't bear it.
The Hood sighed, 'well I guess you all know the truth now' he said uncaring. 'I enjoyed it too! I enjoy every bit of pain that comes to your precious family.'
Alan looked at the Hood, contempt evident in his blue eyes, 'why?' he said, 'why do you have such a problem with us?'
*******************
'You mean you haven't told them Jeff?' the Hood said in answer to Alan's question, 'you haven't informed your sons of our shared history.'
Jeff shook his head, 'don't Sammy' he said pleading. Brains, Penelope, Scott, Virgil, John, Alan and Gordon looked confused at Jeff, for more information.
'Dad?' Scott said.
Seeing the Hood was not about to let this go, Jeff let out a ragged sigh.
'Well Boys,' he began, 'it's like this, Sammy and I used to be friends a long time ago.'
'Come now Jeff' The Hood/ Sammy said bitterly, 'it was more than that. We were practically like brothers.'
'Yes well' Jeff continued, 'Sammy and I attended the Air Force together, we became partners, I was with your mother then..' He said looking at his sons. 'Scott and Virgil, you two were just little boys, John you were a baby, Alan and Gordon weren't born then. Sammy was married to Ann-Marie, he had two little boys, Gus and Charlie. We were all great friends really.'
As Jeff spoke the Hood winced at the mention of his family's names and tightened his arm around Gordon's neck.
Jeff swallowed hard and seemed to gather himself to speak before continuing.
'One Sunday...'
'November 29th 2001' the Hood interrupted.
Jeff looked pained, 'I know the date' he said quietly.
'I.was coming home from work when I was blinded by the sun. I couldn't see a thing, all I felt was a tremendous impact and then I woke in hospital.'
The Hood's voice was barely audible, 'at least you got to wake up Jeff.'
Scott listened, dreading what he was going to hear.
John and Virgil shared concerned looks.
'...the car that crashed into me, was Ann-Maries' Jeff said his tone gruff. 'She and the children were killed instantly.'
This announcement drew exclamations of horror from all around the room.
'There you are kids, your father killed my family.' The Hood said angrily, 'What do you think of him now?'
********
'That's not true Sammy.' Jeff replied, but he was looking at his sons, who all seemed very shocked. 'Ann- Marie had been drinking, I was blinded by the sun, but the police said eye-witnesses claimed she was all over the road.'
'You're a liar, you killed them!' The Hood shouted and further tightened his grip on Gordon.
'I felt guilty for years Sammy', Jeff disputed, 'I still do, but it wasn't my fault, the courts ruled it was Ann-Marie's fault, that's why I was cleared of any charge.'
'Sounds like Dad's right' John spoke up, 'he can't be blamed for what happened to your family.'
'Oh yes he can.' The Hood replied. 'How do you think I felt knowing you were going home to your lovely Lucille and your boys while I was burying my family?'
'I tried to help' Jeff responded, 'I came to apologise, you threw it back in my face, accused me of being jealous of you and killing your family.'
'I stand by that.' The Hood stated, 'after the funeral I followed you home, I watched you cuddling your boys on the couch, kissing your wife and I knew I had to make you feel how I felt, make you lose what I lost. You took my family from me so I was going to take yours from you. For a while I just watched, I wanted to find a way to hurt you bad, and then I pounced..'
'Lucille...' Jeff breathed.
'Yes, I saw the same look of fear on your wife's face, when she realised it was me, who had 'broken down', as I imagined on my Ann- Marie when you took her away from me. Lucille wasn't at fault, it was you, but I knew the way to make you suffer was to get rid of the heart of Jeff Tracy, his family.'
The Tracys, Brains and Penelope all stared at the Hood, fearful of how insane one person could be.
'When I killed Lucille, I knew I had to shut these two up,' he said gesturing at Gordon and Alan with the gun, 'they were the only witnesses, when I wasn't watching your every move I honed my genetic talent passed down by my Japanese grandparents, hypnosis and mind- control. I became so good at it, that it became fun for me, a useful tool in the destruction of you Tracys. I managed to wipe their memories so they had no memory of their mother's death. Then I watched and waited for another opportunity to strike.'
Jeff felt like he was in a vortex, spinning out of control and he had no way of getting out of it.
'I had a try at your youngest.' his enemy continued, 'setting the school on fire, but the pesky kid managed to break a window and pull some friends out with him.'
Alan turned white.
Jeff recalled vividly the day his eldest son Scott had phoned him, hysterical as the Primary School that his youngest was at had been reported to be in flames. Luckily the fire-engines had put the fire out and Alan had only mild smoke-inhalation.
The other boys turned to look at Alan, they all remembered the incident and had been terrified for their baby brother.
The Hood continued his vengeful tale, 'I decided I had to be more organised if I was to be successful in murdering your family, so I compiled files on each of your boys, likes, dislikes, hobbies, what time they went to sleep at night to what time they woke up in the morning.' As Scott, Virgil, John and Alan looked at him in utter disbelief he smiled, 'Oh yes boys, all those times you felt someone watching you, it was me, when you felt the hairs stand up on the backs of your necks, i wasn't far away. And then I realised that this one,' he nudged Gordon as he spoke, 'loved the water. When I heard he had joined WASP I knew that this was the perfect opportunity....'
It was Gordon's turn to turn white, he frowned as he listened, but even before he spoke Gordon knew what the Hood was talking about.
'I found a hydrofoil.' he said menacingly, 'I knew our Gordon here, loved speed, by the way' he released Gordon enough to look at the boy's face, 'who was that cute blond you dated in the 1st year of WASP, she was A-grade.'
Gordon looked positively murderous.
'Anyway, I found this hydrofoil and decided that I'd give you a helping hand on reaching the record-breaking speeds. I cut the breaks. It was so easy. I watched you from a cliff, boy was that a nasty smash. I was sure I'd killed you, no such luck though, what is it with you Tracys? You just don't die.'
Jeff was incensed with fury. Not only had this monster killed his wife, he'd almost killed two of his sons.
The Hood was on a roll now. 'Imagine how happy I was to hear you had formed an international rescue programme. There were all kinds of ways I could get at your children. But unfortunately Jeff, they gained their survival skills from you, obviously not their mother, Lucille was way to easy.'
Gordon had heard enough, he suddenly bit the Hood's arm which was wrapped around his neck viciously.
At the same moment Jeff rushed forward and hurled himself full force into the Hood.
**********
The lounge broke into chaos.
John and Scott both rushed forward as the two Jeff's grappled with one another, Gordon dove for the gun he had knocked from the Hood's hands, Virgil and Alan ushered Penelope and Brains to the far side of the lounge, and safety and then rushed back to the fray.
John and Scott both grabbed the Hood and began fighting.
John wrestled with the Hood and pinned him down, he looked up in triumph and then froze.
Scott threw the Hood against the desk and Virgil rushed to help restrain him, he looked up to find a very puzzled and shocked John staring at him.
Scott suddenly realised the problem. John had Jeff Tracy pinned against the floor, Scott had the other Jeff Tracy pinned against the desk. Both thought they had the Hood.
'Dad' Alan said stepping forward looking at the two identical faces of his father and his worst enemy staring back at him.
'John, let go, it's me, your father.' Said the man John had pinned to the ground. John looked up at Scott. Which one was their father?
'No John.' the Jeff restrained by Scott said, 'I'm your father, don't listen to him.'
Virgil summed up everyone's feelings 'oh bloody hell,' he said.
*********
Gordon held the gun in his hands as he looked from one Jeff to the other,
'Gordon, I am your father, listen to me.' Said the Jeff with Scott.
'No I'm your father' the Jeff with John argued.
Gordon turned the gun on one of the Jeff's and pulled the trigger.
********
15 minutes later
The real Jeff Tracy wiped the sweat from his brow. All 6 Tracys, were huddled in the lounge in a fair amount of shock after the days events. The police milling around their living room only showed what a weird day it had been. After Gordon had shot the Hood, in the leg, preventing him from escaping, Alan and Virgil had happily tied him up, while Brains had phoned the police, and Penelope had made the house secure so there'd be no suspicions about International Rescue. Jeff was reprimanding Scott about pinning him against his own desk while John had grinned triumphantly behind him.
'How did you know you weren't shooting me?' Jeff turned to Gordon as he watched the Hood being restrained with hand-cuffs by the police,
Gordon looked up at his father and his brothers as they looked at him, curious. His eyes gleamed mischievously.
'Come on Dad, you're my dad as if I wouldn't know which one was a stressed-out, psychotic, madman and which one was...well.the Hood.'
Jeff scowled as his sons laughed, but they were all glad to have the old Gordon back, 'alright,' he said, 'well thank you Gordon, considering your brothers had no idea which one was their father, I have to say I'm very proud of you.'
'I'm so sorry I said all that stuff about you dad. I really was under his thumb.'
Jeff pulled his son into a hug, as the others watched happily, 'mind- control's dangerous Gordon I'm just glad you're all ok.'
'Hey Gordo..' Virgil said
'Yeah Virg.'
'You know I think you owe me an apology too, you know you really hurt my arm earlier.'
Gordon rolled his eyes, 'I'm not gonna apologize for you not being in shape Virg, if you had some muscles then maybe I wouldn't have been able to hurt you.'
Virgil looked miffed, but he was happy that his brother was back to his old self.
'Come here you.' He said hugging his brother tightly.
Scott, John and Alan looked at each other and then joined in the hug, which quickly turned into a pile-on.
Jeff walked slowly away from his sons, who were entangled in a mass heap on the floor and walked over towards the police who were leading the Hood from the Tracy's lounge. Jeff looked into the Hood's eyes and felt, anger and disgust building up inside him.
'You're going to jail for a long, long time.' He growled.
'I'm not finished with you yet Tracy,' the Hood replied, 'not by a long shot. I'll be watching and waiting, and when I get my chance, I'll get out of jail. There aren't four walls on this earth that can keep me from coming after you, or your family.'
Jeff stared hard into the eyes of a man with the soul of a devil.
'Just try it', he goaded, 'I dare you. You give me one excuse!'
The Hood just smiled as he was led away.
In spite of the warmth of the lounge Jeff shivered.
***********
1 hour later
The Tracy brothers sat in the lounge, happy to be re-united again. After reprimanding John for leaving Thunderbird Five unattended, Jeff had gone to bed, telling John that he would take him back in the morning, so the Tracy boys were making the most of being all together.
7 empty bottles of Jeff's favourite whisky sat in front of them as they compared thoughts on the day's events.
'SSSSoo. you're shshsh..saying' John slurred, 'that you actually th...th.threw dad out on his ass.'
'Yep' Alan answered swaying dangerously as he stood, 'to kicking dad to the kirb.' He announced toasting his glass.
'Kicking dad to the kirb' his bothers replied, lifting their glasses and downing them in one swig.
'You know...' Scott began, philosophical when drunk, 'we really should apologise for that.'
'I knew it was the Hood' John said from the floor, where he lay flat on his back, balancing his re-filled glass on his chest.
Virgil, attempted to keep his hand steady as he poured himself another glass of whisky.
'I knew it was too.' He said.
'No you didn't Virg' Scott pointed out from the chair behind Jeff's desk, 'don't lie.'
'Oh alright' Virgil admitted, 'I didn't!'
Gordon grinned his feet lying across Alan's chest as they shared the couch, 'You know what would have been funny?' he said easing himself up onto his elbows, his brothers stared at him.
'If I had actually shot Dad!'
Scott, Virgil and John laughed, Alan looked horrified.
'Why would you shoot dad?' he asked in his drunken stupor, 'He's alright really, for a dad.'
'Alan I think you've had too much.' Scott said pointing to the bottle in Alan's hand.
'I knew it was the Hood.' John repeated.
Virgil ignored him, he sat in the armchair, 'to happy endings' he said, raising his glass.
'happy endings' his brothers toasted.
'I knew it was the hood' John announced.
'John we know ok.' Scott said in exasperation, his feet on the desk as the lounge erupted in groans, 'you've told us already.'
'Besides..' Gordon muttered from the sofa, 'I don't think you have much to be proud of after that pathetic attempt a rescue.'
John turned red and flopped back against his armchair as his brothers laughed, 'I w..w.w..'
'was?' Scott volunteered
John nodded and pointed a finger at Scott, '.was trying to rescue you guys. Anyhow if it wasn't for, Mr 'take the gun Mr arch enemy' over there.' he protested pointing at Gordon, 'I could have nailed him.'
'Hey I resent that.' Gordon grumbled, 'if you hadn't rushed in, gun toting like one of the Hardy Boys, I wouldn't have been distracted.'
John thought hard, 'the Hardy boys? Was I like one of them..' He grinned drunkenly, 'they're cool.'
Scott shook his head, seriously, 'no John,' he said to his younger brother as he watched Virgil attempting to walk in a straight line, exit the room, 'I preferred Nancy Drew.'
As Alan, Gordon, Scott and John argued over who was the better detective, Virgil re-entered the room.
'Hey guys...' he called, holding up a large bottle of vodka, 'Looky what I found?'
Alan and Gordon grinned at each other, John clapped and Scott looked confused.
'I thought we found all of Dad's secret stash.'
'We did.'
'Then who's is that?' Scott asked in confusion.
'Grandma's!' Virgil announced, before they all broke into hysterical laughter.
*************
20 minutes later
Alan lay sprawled across the sofa, snoring.
His brothers, after finishing off their grandmother's vodka were now enjoying an arm wrestling competition.
'Ow,' Virgil shouted as Gordon slammed his arm against the table, as Scott and John egged them on.
'Hah! You lose Virg!' Gordon grinned.
'That's not fair' Virgil argued, 'it's still wounded from earlier.'
'Aw shut up Virg!' John put in. 'He beat you fair and square!'
'Now I remember why dad sent you to the space station.' Virgil retorted moodily.
Gordon and Scott giggled.
John lunged at Virgil and they wrestled one another.
Scott and Gordon watched, amused.
'Hey be quiet guys' Scott said as his brothers wrestled. 'We don't want to wake up Dad!'
'Ooooh no we couldn't wake up Dad could we?' Gordon said in mock fear.
'Unfortunately you already have.' Came a loud voice from behind them.
*************
All five Tracy boys, including the newly-awakened but still, off his head, Alan, stood in a line as Jeff patrolled like an army sergeant, in front of them.
'Not only is it very late.' Jeff growled, 'But you have also drunk my best malt whisky.' His sons hung their heads, Virgil kicked at the carpet with his foot.
'And whose is that Vodka?' Jeff asked.
His sons, all seemed to be having trouble containing themselves as he saw grins break out across their faces, but they avoided eye-contact.
'Well I'll have to see that the owner of this bottle answers for this.' He continued.
This only seemed to make his sons worse. Vigil's shoulders shook, in silent laughter, John had been unable to suppress a laugh, and Scott, Alan and Gordon all bit their lips to contain themselves.
'Right' Jeff muttered in exasperation, as he tightened his bathrobe, 'I see I'm not going to get an intelligent response out of any of you tonight, so I suggest you go to bed now, all of you.'
As his sons began to file past him, Jeff looked at his middle-son,
'and you needn't think that just because you're back in Thunderbird Five tomorrow, that this is all over young man.'
John, rolled his eyes and followed his brothers.
Jeff looked at all the empty bottles in front of him, shook his head, and turned out the lights.
************
As they stumbled and staggered to their rooms, the Tracy brothers chattered to themselves, mostly criticizing their father.
'I see I'm not going to get an intelligent response out of any of you tonight, so I suggest you go to bed.' Alan growled, in his best Jeff interpretation.
His brothers laughed.
'and you needn't think that just because you're back in Thunderbird Five tomorrow, that this is all over young man.' John barked, he turned to his brothers, 'and you wonder why I like staying in the space station so much?'
They all laughed again.
'Well guys we'll see you in the morning.' He said to Gordon and Virgil who continued to their room down the hall.
'Yeah we'll all get up to..to...Uh?' Gordon said to Virgil, forgetting why they had to get up again.
Virgil frowned but then nodded as he remembered, 'see you off Johnny,' he finished triumphantly.
John looked at them amused, 'yeah whatever.'
'Night guys' Alan said
'See you tomorrow.' Scott offered before all three disappeared into their room.
'Night' Gordon and Virgil replied.
As they continued up the long corridor, Virgil turned to his younger brother, a frown creasing his handsome face.
'Hey Gordo?'
'Yeah.'
'One thing..'
'What?'
'How did you really know which one was Dad before?'
'What are you talking about' Gordon asked as he opened the door to their room. 'I just knew it was Dad.'
'Oh come off it' Virgil retorted, 'none of us knew, and as much as he'd dispute it, John only realised when he picked up Dad's life-signs somewhere else, that it was the Hood, so how did you know?'
Gordon grinned as he turned to his brother, 'well apart from the fact that he's my father and I knew him, it may have been Penny's florescent pink watch on his wrist that gave him away.'
Virgil laughed,
'I mean even a maniac like the Hood, doesn't have the awful fashion sense of our father!'
'Good to have you back Gordo!' Virgil said smiling as they stepped into the room.
'It's good to be back Virg,' Gordon grinned at his brother and flung an arm around his shoulder, it's good to be back!'
The door closed behind them.
THE END *
The Hood looked straight at John,
'John' he said sardonically, 'nice of you to join us, now drop the weapon else I'll put a hole in little brother's head.'
John narrowed his eyes furiously and for a second Scott was afraid he wouldn't go along with the Hood, but then he slowly placed the gun on the floor in front of him.
'Now kick it to me.' The Hood ordered, 'nice and slow, I don't want any sudden movements.'
John did as he was told.
'Now go stand over there with your brothers.'
As John walked over to the others, Alan rolled his eyes at him.
'I was trying to rescue you guys.' John defended himself.
'Great job John, thanks.' Alan said sarcastically.
'Oh shut it Al.'
'John' the Hood addressed the middle Tracy, 'I'm sorry I had to cut you off earlier, but I couldn't have anyone ruining my plan could I?'
His brothers exchanged confused looks.
John gave a humourless laugh, 'yeah great plan this is too' he replied sarcastically, 'what are you hoping to do? Take all 5 of us down with one gun? You haven't got a chance in hell.'
'John.' Virgil reminded gently, trying to stop his brother's temper getting Gordon killed, 'um he's got a gun on our little brother, remember?'
'Yes, John...' The Hood said gleefully, 'remember that? I don't have to get you all, but I'll take some of you out and that's enough for me. I've always wanted this, I've waited for this most of my life.'
Scott and Virgil were watching the Hood with matching worried looks.
'OK look..' Scott said cautiously, 'you've got all of us now, why don't you let him go?'
'And what do I get in return?'
Gordon, looking decidedly unfazed for someone with a gun aimed at his head, responded angrily.
'I'll tell you what you'll get you sick maniac, a slow, painful death, that's what!'
The Hood pressed the gun harder against his head.
'Gordon!' Scott warned sharply and then looked at John, suddenly remembering where Gordon got his temper from.
'Don't push me kid.' The Hood growled.
Gordon was unperturbed 'Don't aim a gun at my head and I wouldn't have to push you.'
Virgil winced at his brother's words, Gordon's hot-head was going to get him into trouble like it always did.
Alan's eyes widened at his brother's response. Gordon really did have to learn when to keep his mouth shut, he thought to himself.
The sound of a door slamming and approaching footsteps echoed around the room as the Tracys looked at each other worriedly. With a whoosh the lounge door swung open and there stood Jeff, Penelope and Brains, all three were armed, unfortunately they fell into the exact same situation John had.
'DAD!!!!!' his five sons cried as Jeff entered.
'Boys...' Jeff said in relief, quickly taking them all in, making sure they were ok. He barely had time to wonder why John wasn't in TB5, before he froze, when he saw his second-youngest in the arms of the spitting image of himself.
'Hello Jeff' the mirror image said, 'what a pleasant surprise, now drop your weapons, all of you, unless you want to see another tragic family death.'
The room bristled with tension, everyone there knew he was referring to Lucille, but it was only Gordon who's eyes widened in horror.
'Oh my god, mom!' he said, horrified.
Jeff raised his hands above his head, as did Penny and Brains and walked over to four of his sons. 'What is it son?' he asked his red- headed child.
Gordon had gone very pale and the others watched worriedly as he took several ragged breaths.
The Hood looked scared, he watched Jeff's son uncertainly, he remembered, the Hood felt it.
'Gordo?' Alan shouted anxiously.
'Let him go!' John yelled.
Both Scott and Virgil, took steps forward, Jeff moved forward quickly to stop his two eldest doing something foolish.
'don't be stupid' Jeff scolded, pulling them both back.
Gordon opened his eyes. He felt like ripping the Hood to shreds with his bare hands but he couldn't with a gun against his head. His mind filled with images like the kaleidoscope he had been given as a child.
His mother stopping to help a man who looked like he'd broken down, seeing her being struck unconscious with a crow-bar by the Hood, the Hood placing his mother back in the car-seat, him running, kicking and screaming at the Hood, trying to hurt the man who had hurt his mother, then the Hood grabbing him by the shoulders and looking into his eyes, the dizzy, drowsy sensation, the helplessness he felt, then nothing.
When the terrible images stopped, he slowly opened his eyes, the Hood had killed his mother! The Hood had 'brainwashed' him into forgetting! Gordon had always felt their was something not quite right about his mother's death, the dog story their father had told them just never seemed to ring true in Gordon's mind, now he knew why. And the Hood had made him think his father was responsible, that he'd had an affair. Gordon felt sick, he couldn't believe how much control the Hood had had over him.
'I'm so sorry Dad.' He said softly.
'What?' Jeff said, his eyes filled with obvious fear as he glanced at his son, in the arms of his worst enemy.
'He killed mom.' Gordon said, straight to the point.
There was a horrible silence.
'What?' Scott, Virgil and John said in unison, shock written across their faces.
'He knocked her out, she thought he'd broken down, stopped to help, he knocked her out, left her in the car, wiped my memory and then shoved it into a tree.'
'Oh Jesus.' Alan said horrified.
The three eldest siblings eyes' burned with hatred.
Jeff said nothing. Lucille, his beloved Lucille, killed by this tyrant. He couldn't bear it.
The Hood sighed, 'well I guess you all know the truth now' he said uncaring. 'I enjoyed it too! I enjoy every bit of pain that comes to your precious family.'
Alan looked at the Hood, contempt evident in his blue eyes, 'why?' he said, 'why do you have such a problem with us?'
*******************
'You mean you haven't told them Jeff?' the Hood said in answer to Alan's question, 'you haven't informed your sons of our shared history.'
Jeff shook his head, 'don't Sammy' he said pleading. Brains, Penelope, Scott, Virgil, John, Alan and Gordon looked confused at Jeff, for more information.
'Dad?' Scott said.
Seeing the Hood was not about to let this go, Jeff let out a ragged sigh.
'Well Boys,' he began, 'it's like this, Sammy and I used to be friends a long time ago.'
'Come now Jeff' The Hood/ Sammy said bitterly, 'it was more than that. We were practically like brothers.'
'Yes well' Jeff continued, 'Sammy and I attended the Air Force together, we became partners, I was with your mother then..' He said looking at his sons. 'Scott and Virgil, you two were just little boys, John you were a baby, Alan and Gordon weren't born then. Sammy was married to Ann-Marie, he had two little boys, Gus and Charlie. We were all great friends really.'
As Jeff spoke the Hood winced at the mention of his family's names and tightened his arm around Gordon's neck.
Jeff swallowed hard and seemed to gather himself to speak before continuing.
'One Sunday...'
'November 29th 2001' the Hood interrupted.
Jeff looked pained, 'I know the date' he said quietly.
'I.was coming home from work when I was blinded by the sun. I couldn't see a thing, all I felt was a tremendous impact and then I woke in hospital.'
The Hood's voice was barely audible, 'at least you got to wake up Jeff.'
Scott listened, dreading what he was going to hear.
John and Virgil shared concerned looks.
'...the car that crashed into me, was Ann-Maries' Jeff said his tone gruff. 'She and the children were killed instantly.'
This announcement drew exclamations of horror from all around the room.
'There you are kids, your father killed my family.' The Hood said angrily, 'What do you think of him now?'
********
'That's not true Sammy.' Jeff replied, but he was looking at his sons, who all seemed very shocked. 'Ann- Marie had been drinking, I was blinded by the sun, but the police said eye-witnesses claimed she was all over the road.'
'You're a liar, you killed them!' The Hood shouted and further tightened his grip on Gordon.
'I felt guilty for years Sammy', Jeff disputed, 'I still do, but it wasn't my fault, the courts ruled it was Ann-Marie's fault, that's why I was cleared of any charge.'
'Sounds like Dad's right' John spoke up, 'he can't be blamed for what happened to your family.'
'Oh yes he can.' The Hood replied. 'How do you think I felt knowing you were going home to your lovely Lucille and your boys while I was burying my family?'
'I tried to help' Jeff responded, 'I came to apologise, you threw it back in my face, accused me of being jealous of you and killing your family.'
'I stand by that.' The Hood stated, 'after the funeral I followed you home, I watched you cuddling your boys on the couch, kissing your wife and I knew I had to make you feel how I felt, make you lose what I lost. You took my family from me so I was going to take yours from you. For a while I just watched, I wanted to find a way to hurt you bad, and then I pounced..'
'Lucille...' Jeff breathed.
'Yes, I saw the same look of fear on your wife's face, when she realised it was me, who had 'broken down', as I imagined on my Ann- Marie when you took her away from me. Lucille wasn't at fault, it was you, but I knew the way to make you suffer was to get rid of the heart of Jeff Tracy, his family.'
The Tracys, Brains and Penelope all stared at the Hood, fearful of how insane one person could be.
'When I killed Lucille, I knew I had to shut these two up,' he said gesturing at Gordon and Alan with the gun, 'they were the only witnesses, when I wasn't watching your every move I honed my genetic talent passed down by my Japanese grandparents, hypnosis and mind- control. I became so good at it, that it became fun for me, a useful tool in the destruction of you Tracys. I managed to wipe their memories so they had no memory of their mother's death. Then I watched and waited for another opportunity to strike.'
Jeff felt like he was in a vortex, spinning out of control and he had no way of getting out of it.
'I had a try at your youngest.' his enemy continued, 'setting the school on fire, but the pesky kid managed to break a window and pull some friends out with him.'
Alan turned white.
Jeff recalled vividly the day his eldest son Scott had phoned him, hysterical as the Primary School that his youngest was at had been reported to be in flames. Luckily the fire-engines had put the fire out and Alan had only mild smoke-inhalation.
The other boys turned to look at Alan, they all remembered the incident and had been terrified for their baby brother.
The Hood continued his vengeful tale, 'I decided I had to be more organised if I was to be successful in murdering your family, so I compiled files on each of your boys, likes, dislikes, hobbies, what time they went to sleep at night to what time they woke up in the morning.' As Scott, Virgil, John and Alan looked at him in utter disbelief he smiled, 'Oh yes boys, all those times you felt someone watching you, it was me, when you felt the hairs stand up on the backs of your necks, i wasn't far away. And then I realised that this one,' he nudged Gordon as he spoke, 'loved the water. When I heard he had joined WASP I knew that this was the perfect opportunity....'
It was Gordon's turn to turn white, he frowned as he listened, but even before he spoke Gordon knew what the Hood was talking about.
'I found a hydrofoil.' he said menacingly, 'I knew our Gordon here, loved speed, by the way' he released Gordon enough to look at the boy's face, 'who was that cute blond you dated in the 1st year of WASP, she was A-grade.'
Gordon looked positively murderous.
'Anyway, I found this hydrofoil and decided that I'd give you a helping hand on reaching the record-breaking speeds. I cut the breaks. It was so easy. I watched you from a cliff, boy was that a nasty smash. I was sure I'd killed you, no such luck though, what is it with you Tracys? You just don't die.'
Jeff was incensed with fury. Not only had this monster killed his wife, he'd almost killed two of his sons.
The Hood was on a roll now. 'Imagine how happy I was to hear you had formed an international rescue programme. There were all kinds of ways I could get at your children. But unfortunately Jeff, they gained their survival skills from you, obviously not their mother, Lucille was way to easy.'
Gordon had heard enough, he suddenly bit the Hood's arm which was wrapped around his neck viciously.
At the same moment Jeff rushed forward and hurled himself full force into the Hood.
**********
The lounge broke into chaos.
John and Scott both rushed forward as the two Jeff's grappled with one another, Gordon dove for the gun he had knocked from the Hood's hands, Virgil and Alan ushered Penelope and Brains to the far side of the lounge, and safety and then rushed back to the fray.
John and Scott both grabbed the Hood and began fighting.
John wrestled with the Hood and pinned him down, he looked up in triumph and then froze.
Scott threw the Hood against the desk and Virgil rushed to help restrain him, he looked up to find a very puzzled and shocked John staring at him.
Scott suddenly realised the problem. John had Jeff Tracy pinned against the floor, Scott had the other Jeff Tracy pinned against the desk. Both thought they had the Hood.
'Dad' Alan said stepping forward looking at the two identical faces of his father and his worst enemy staring back at him.
'John, let go, it's me, your father.' Said the man John had pinned to the ground. John looked up at Scott. Which one was their father?
'No John.' the Jeff restrained by Scott said, 'I'm your father, don't listen to him.'
Virgil summed up everyone's feelings 'oh bloody hell,' he said.
*********
Gordon held the gun in his hands as he looked from one Jeff to the other,
'Gordon, I am your father, listen to me.' Said the Jeff with Scott.
'No I'm your father' the Jeff with John argued.
Gordon turned the gun on one of the Jeff's and pulled the trigger.
********
15 minutes later
The real Jeff Tracy wiped the sweat from his brow. All 6 Tracys, were huddled in the lounge in a fair amount of shock after the days events. The police milling around their living room only showed what a weird day it had been. After Gordon had shot the Hood, in the leg, preventing him from escaping, Alan and Virgil had happily tied him up, while Brains had phoned the police, and Penelope had made the house secure so there'd be no suspicions about International Rescue. Jeff was reprimanding Scott about pinning him against his own desk while John had grinned triumphantly behind him.
'How did you know you weren't shooting me?' Jeff turned to Gordon as he watched the Hood being restrained with hand-cuffs by the police,
Gordon looked up at his father and his brothers as they looked at him, curious. His eyes gleamed mischievously.
'Come on Dad, you're my dad as if I wouldn't know which one was a stressed-out, psychotic, madman and which one was...well.the Hood.'
Jeff scowled as his sons laughed, but they were all glad to have the old Gordon back, 'alright,' he said, 'well thank you Gordon, considering your brothers had no idea which one was their father, I have to say I'm very proud of you.'
'I'm so sorry I said all that stuff about you dad. I really was under his thumb.'
Jeff pulled his son into a hug, as the others watched happily, 'mind- control's dangerous Gordon I'm just glad you're all ok.'
'Hey Gordo..' Virgil said
'Yeah Virg.'
'You know I think you owe me an apology too, you know you really hurt my arm earlier.'
Gordon rolled his eyes, 'I'm not gonna apologize for you not being in shape Virg, if you had some muscles then maybe I wouldn't have been able to hurt you.'
Virgil looked miffed, but he was happy that his brother was back to his old self.
'Come here you.' He said hugging his brother tightly.
Scott, John and Alan looked at each other and then joined in the hug, which quickly turned into a pile-on.
Jeff walked slowly away from his sons, who were entangled in a mass heap on the floor and walked over towards the police who were leading the Hood from the Tracy's lounge. Jeff looked into the Hood's eyes and felt, anger and disgust building up inside him.
'You're going to jail for a long, long time.' He growled.
'I'm not finished with you yet Tracy,' the Hood replied, 'not by a long shot. I'll be watching and waiting, and when I get my chance, I'll get out of jail. There aren't four walls on this earth that can keep me from coming after you, or your family.'
Jeff stared hard into the eyes of a man with the soul of a devil.
'Just try it', he goaded, 'I dare you. You give me one excuse!'
The Hood just smiled as he was led away.
In spite of the warmth of the lounge Jeff shivered.
***********
1 hour later
The Tracy brothers sat in the lounge, happy to be re-united again. After reprimanding John for leaving Thunderbird Five unattended, Jeff had gone to bed, telling John that he would take him back in the morning, so the Tracy boys were making the most of being all together.
7 empty bottles of Jeff's favourite whisky sat in front of them as they compared thoughts on the day's events.
'SSSSoo. you're shshsh..saying' John slurred, 'that you actually th...th.threw dad out on his ass.'
'Yep' Alan answered swaying dangerously as he stood, 'to kicking dad to the kirb.' He announced toasting his glass.
'Kicking dad to the kirb' his bothers replied, lifting their glasses and downing them in one swig.
'You know...' Scott began, philosophical when drunk, 'we really should apologise for that.'
'I knew it was the Hood' John said from the floor, where he lay flat on his back, balancing his re-filled glass on his chest.
Virgil, attempted to keep his hand steady as he poured himself another glass of whisky.
'I knew it was too.' He said.
'No you didn't Virg' Scott pointed out from the chair behind Jeff's desk, 'don't lie.'
'Oh alright' Virgil admitted, 'I didn't!'
Gordon grinned his feet lying across Alan's chest as they shared the couch, 'You know what would have been funny?' he said easing himself up onto his elbows, his brothers stared at him.
'If I had actually shot Dad!'
Scott, Virgil and John laughed, Alan looked horrified.
'Why would you shoot dad?' he asked in his drunken stupor, 'He's alright really, for a dad.'
'Alan I think you've had too much.' Scott said pointing to the bottle in Alan's hand.
'I knew it was the Hood.' John repeated.
Virgil ignored him, he sat in the armchair, 'to happy endings' he said, raising his glass.
'happy endings' his brothers toasted.
'I knew it was the hood' John announced.
'John we know ok.' Scott said in exasperation, his feet on the desk as the lounge erupted in groans, 'you've told us already.'
'Besides..' Gordon muttered from the sofa, 'I don't think you have much to be proud of after that pathetic attempt a rescue.'
John turned red and flopped back against his armchair as his brothers laughed, 'I w..w.w..'
'was?' Scott volunteered
John nodded and pointed a finger at Scott, '.was trying to rescue you guys. Anyhow if it wasn't for, Mr 'take the gun Mr arch enemy' over there.' he protested pointing at Gordon, 'I could have nailed him.'
'Hey I resent that.' Gordon grumbled, 'if you hadn't rushed in, gun toting like one of the Hardy Boys, I wouldn't have been distracted.'
John thought hard, 'the Hardy boys? Was I like one of them..' He grinned drunkenly, 'they're cool.'
Scott shook his head, seriously, 'no John,' he said to his younger brother as he watched Virgil attempting to walk in a straight line, exit the room, 'I preferred Nancy Drew.'
As Alan, Gordon, Scott and John argued over who was the better detective, Virgil re-entered the room.
'Hey guys...' he called, holding up a large bottle of vodka, 'Looky what I found?'
Alan and Gordon grinned at each other, John clapped and Scott looked confused.
'I thought we found all of Dad's secret stash.'
'We did.'
'Then who's is that?' Scott asked in confusion.
'Grandma's!' Virgil announced, before they all broke into hysterical laughter.
*************
20 minutes later
Alan lay sprawled across the sofa, snoring.
His brothers, after finishing off their grandmother's vodka were now enjoying an arm wrestling competition.
'Ow,' Virgil shouted as Gordon slammed his arm against the table, as Scott and John egged them on.
'Hah! You lose Virg!' Gordon grinned.
'That's not fair' Virgil argued, 'it's still wounded from earlier.'
'Aw shut up Virg!' John put in. 'He beat you fair and square!'
'Now I remember why dad sent you to the space station.' Virgil retorted moodily.
Gordon and Scott giggled.
John lunged at Virgil and they wrestled one another.
Scott and Gordon watched, amused.
'Hey be quiet guys' Scott said as his brothers wrestled. 'We don't want to wake up Dad!'
'Ooooh no we couldn't wake up Dad could we?' Gordon said in mock fear.
'Unfortunately you already have.' Came a loud voice from behind them.
*************
All five Tracy boys, including the newly-awakened but still, off his head, Alan, stood in a line as Jeff patrolled like an army sergeant, in front of them.
'Not only is it very late.' Jeff growled, 'But you have also drunk my best malt whisky.' His sons hung their heads, Virgil kicked at the carpet with his foot.
'And whose is that Vodka?' Jeff asked.
His sons, all seemed to be having trouble containing themselves as he saw grins break out across their faces, but they avoided eye-contact.
'Well I'll have to see that the owner of this bottle answers for this.' He continued.
This only seemed to make his sons worse. Vigil's shoulders shook, in silent laughter, John had been unable to suppress a laugh, and Scott, Alan and Gordon all bit their lips to contain themselves.
'Right' Jeff muttered in exasperation, as he tightened his bathrobe, 'I see I'm not going to get an intelligent response out of any of you tonight, so I suggest you go to bed now, all of you.'
As his sons began to file past him, Jeff looked at his middle-son,
'and you needn't think that just because you're back in Thunderbird Five tomorrow, that this is all over young man.'
John, rolled his eyes and followed his brothers.
Jeff looked at all the empty bottles in front of him, shook his head, and turned out the lights.
************
As they stumbled and staggered to their rooms, the Tracy brothers chattered to themselves, mostly criticizing their father.
'I see I'm not going to get an intelligent response out of any of you tonight, so I suggest you go to bed.' Alan growled, in his best Jeff interpretation.
His brothers laughed.
'and you needn't think that just because you're back in Thunderbird Five tomorrow, that this is all over young man.' John barked, he turned to his brothers, 'and you wonder why I like staying in the space station so much?'
They all laughed again.
'Well guys we'll see you in the morning.' He said to Gordon and Virgil who continued to their room down the hall.
'Yeah we'll all get up to..to...Uh?' Gordon said to Virgil, forgetting why they had to get up again.
Virgil frowned but then nodded as he remembered, 'see you off Johnny,' he finished triumphantly.
John looked at them amused, 'yeah whatever.'
'Night guys' Alan said
'See you tomorrow.' Scott offered before all three disappeared into their room.
'Night' Gordon and Virgil replied.
As they continued up the long corridor, Virgil turned to his younger brother, a frown creasing his handsome face.
'Hey Gordo?'
'Yeah.'
'One thing..'
'What?'
'How did you really know which one was Dad before?'
'What are you talking about' Gordon asked as he opened the door to their room. 'I just knew it was Dad.'
'Oh come off it' Virgil retorted, 'none of us knew, and as much as he'd dispute it, John only realised when he picked up Dad's life-signs somewhere else, that it was the Hood, so how did you know?'
Gordon grinned as he turned to his brother, 'well apart from the fact that he's my father and I knew him, it may have been Penny's florescent pink watch on his wrist that gave him away.'
Virgil laughed,
'I mean even a maniac like the Hood, doesn't have the awful fashion sense of our father!'
'Good to have you back Gordo!' Virgil said smiling as they stepped into the room.
'It's good to be back Virg,' Gordon grinned at his brother and flung an arm around his shoulder, it's good to be back!'
The door closed behind them.
THE END *