Alan woke up disorientated. He was a tad bummed about it. He felt a bit wonky, mouth dry from endless coughing, fighting a raging headache and he felt uncomfortably warm. Alan was rudely ripped away from his wonderful dream.
In his dream, he was reunited with his entire family. All his brothers were by his side again, as they always had been before when disaster struck, comforting and helping him to get better. He finally felt like everything was going to be okay once more. He did not want to wake up yet. Was five more minutes really too much to ask?
Apparently, it was. Alan groaned as his consciousness returned against his will. He cautiously opened his eyes. Still careful about his light sensitivity, having learned how much it hurt, the hard way, during the previous days.
Alan couldn't believe what he saw. Perhaps, he was still asleep? He was surrounded by his big brothers, all of them. They looked like they were sleeping by his bedside, in uncomfortable chairs. Not that many chairs managed to be comfortable to sleep in, on a second thought, that is not what they are designed for.
Alan's initial thought, was that he was still dreaming. This, was too good to be real! Dreams didn't come true, just because you whished for it! Alan glanced down, discovering that both Scott and Virgil were holding his hands. He tried, unsuccessfully, to wiggle his trapped fingers free. Alan quickly discovered that they were stuck in an iron grip. Dreams usually didn't do that, did they? Could this actually be reality?
Alan was frightened of getting his hopes up, just for reality to stomp it back down again. He needed to test if this was real, before he could let himself truly believe it. Alan gently squeezed Scott's and Virgil's hands, trying to see if something would happen.
To say that Alan was surprised, when he actually got a reaction, was an understatement!
"Good morning, space bro!".
Alan startled, at the voice echoing in the otherwise silent infirmary.
The greeting wasn't coming from one of his brother's, whose hands he had just squeezed. The sound of the voice was coming from somewhere above his head. Alan's sleep addled mind finally caught up with him and started working again. He thought "Hold up a second, only one person ever called him by the nickname space bro. No way! Could it possibly be?".
Turning his head around, he saw his big brother John, physically there and awake. A rare gentle smile gracing his face. He was such a sight for sore eyes!
"John! You're here!" Alan exclaimed. He still did not truly believe it. Eyes impossibly wide on his shocked face!
"Are you really here? Please, tell me this is not a dream!" Alan asked his big brother, while his eyes started to water.
"Not a dream Allie! I promise! Come over here, Squirt! I can't believe I will admit this, but I missed your hugs fiercely!" John said, while practically throwing himself over Alan. Hugging him carefully, as to not worsen his little brother's injuries.
Alan was more than happy to indulge his big brother's newfound love for hugs! Not just because hugs were arguably amazing, but also because he needed to reassure himself of Johns presence!
Alan forcefully pulled away his captured hands from his other brother's grip, when he wrapped them around John's neck, hugging him back. Feeling his space loving brother's warmth, scent and heartbeat were working wonders to make Allie believe that this was truly real and not a cruel fiction of his imagination.
"I missed you so much Allie! You have no idea!" John whispered into his ear, voice thick with emotion. The love that shone through John's actions were burning brighter than the sun, causing Alan to practically melt into his warm embrace.
"I missed you more! I missed all of you so unbelievably much! I don't want to be forced to part from you ever again! It sucked!" Alan answered, a few tears escaping the corner of his eyes, his voice cracking in a few places.
John managed to sit down in Alans bed, without letting him move even an inch away from his encapsulating embrace. It almost seemed that John feared, Alan would disappear into thin air again, if he loosened his hold on him. The thought struck Alan, that maybe he wasn't the only one experiencing trouble, believing the validity of this surreal moment.
John pulled Alan closer, securing him comfortably on his lap, just like he used to do after their moms' death, when they were small children. When nothing else worked, to calm down an inconsolable toddler, who couldn't understand why mommy wasn't coming back home, John was the last ace up the brother's sleeve.
John was, initially, the only brother that managed to calm their anguished alligator down enough, to eventually make him fall asleep. John accomplished this, by placing a tiny Alan in his lap, hugging him, gently rubbing his back, and last but not least telling him stories about his beloved stars.
John buried his face in Alan's blond locks, breathing in the scent of his sweaty teenage brother. He couldn't help but noticing, thankfully, the distinct lack of AXE body spray. Allie had started wearing it after an unfortunate comment, about his body odour, from Kayo during a mission together.
Baby Alan smelled better, as long as he didn't have an accident. Ugh, John thought that some old memories were best forgotten. Somehow, breathing in Alans sick and sweaty body odour made John feel, for once, incredibly reassured instead of repulsed. If he could smell him, he was there! Not a dream!
AXE body spray, was according to John, one of the few things that smelled even worse than a sweaty teenager. John allowed himself a few seconds to gather his thoughts, using Allie to ground himself to the present, before confessing to his youngest brother.
"You two managed to terrify me! I was more scared than I have ever been in my entire life! Please, promise me! To, at least, try not to do that again Allie! I don't think that my poor heart could take the strain!" John said, voice filled with emotion.
"I'm sorry, John! It wasn't on purpose! I would never do that to you if I could help it! I promise to do my best!" Alan apologised, his tears now freely flowing down his cheeks.
Alan was unsettled, by John showing so many strong emotions, so openly. John, usually, had the best control over his feelings among the brothers. Having a preference for hiding them away, from plain sight at least, that started after their mother's death according to Scotty. Alan was, unfortunately, too young when it happened to remember John acting any differently. The people, John let in to his guarded heart, eventually figured out how to read him.
John's true feelings, except for his sarcasm, were usually decoded by reading between the lines. Alan and Gordon must have really worried him a lot, to get this strong reaction out of him!
Alan hated scaring his brothers like this! Knowing intimately, how horrible it was to be on the receiving end of that fear. Often finding himself feeling utterly helpless, watching his brothers in mortal danger, usually during rescues going south, unable to come to their aid fast enough.
Of course, harmless jokes were not included in this! Like the time he was sneaking up behind John on the "ghost ship" Eden and managed to get the drop on him, earning him an epic startled scream out of his brother. It was one of the few times in his life that John had fallen pray to a jump scare. Not that Alan could blame him! Ghosts were terrifying!
"I know Allie, I know! I was just so utterly frightened. I couldn't handle it, at all! It paralysed me! I missed you so much!" John said, while letting a few of his own tears join Alans, dripping down his face, landing on Allie's blond locks.
The brothers shared a few minutes of content silence together. Words were usually important, but for now, body contact was even more reassuring to the brothers. Allie sat comfortably in John's lap, soaking up his unique scent of "space-man" and basking in his reassuring love. Both brothers were taking comfort in each-others presence.
Suddenly, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Hey Alan! Room for one more in the cuddle party?" Virgil asked, looking ecstatic to see Alan awake.
Alan, now when properly awake, would recognise his brother's voice anywhere!
"Virgil! You're awake! Of course! Always! Come on in!" Alan said while twisting himself around, towards Virgil, in John's lap. Now facing his other brother, while still sitting on John's thighs on the bed, Alan opened his arms up wide in an invitation.
Virgil jumped on to the bed in his eagerness and hugged Alan as tightly as he dared. Not as tight as he wanted to, the information of cracked ribs from the CPR and other complications blaring a warning in the back of his mind to be careful. They would have to talk about all of this, but for now, Virgil needed to bask in his brother's presence. Reassuring himself, that they were, in fact, alive!
"Oh Allie! That is my line! Get your own! Oh Sprout, I missed you so much! So, unbelievably much!" Virgil said, while tucking Alans head under his chin.
"Missed you too, Virgie!" Alan said as he wiggled into Virgil's strong broad shoulders, getting a small laugh out of Virgil as Alans hair tickled his chin. After a short moment of enjoying each other's presence, Virgil voiced his most pressing worry.
"How are you feeling my little Alligator?" Virgil inquired, voice quickly sobering from the unintentional tickle attack, voice now full of concern.
"Not that great to be honest! But infinitely better, now that all of you are here!" Alan replied, while exhaling a sigh of relief.
Before Virgil could start his medical interrogation. Alan wanted a few answers of his own. He quickly changed the topic, as he studied Gordon clinging to Scott, reminding Alan of a baby koala, in his sleep.
"What is up with Gordie? Is he okay?" Alan asked, his awake brothers.
"Oh Sprout! You're always so altruistic when it concerns our wellbeing! Gordie is not okay emotionally right now. I don't think any of us truthfully can say that we are. You two scared us all incredibly much! Gords fell asleep on Scott, before we could pry out the specific reason for his current distress. I strongly suspect, that it has something to do with this whole situation." Virgil answered Alan sadly, while looking directly into his eyes.
"It just looks so uncomfortable to sleep sitting like that! Do you think that we together could move them both, without waking them up? Gordie only uses octopus-hugs in case of great distress. He is now up to two times in less than six hours!" Alan explained, concern bleeding through his voice.
"Look who's talking, Mr. I love to sleep on the floor! Unfortunately, I don't think that it is feasible to move them, without waking them up. I am not sure that it is worth risking it. The potential damage is already done, a little while longer will probably not make a big difference." Virgil contemplated out loud, but not without noticing Alans sly change of topic from his own health.
"Wait a minute. Two times? Why? When was the last time? Who did he do it to?" John asked, getting increasingly worried for Gordon.
"Well, some alarm went off in the middle of the night and Gordie thought that I was dying again. The alarms weren't about me this time though! I promise!" Alan held his hands up in denial, as he saw the terrified look take place on his brothers faces, before promptly continuing his explanation.
"We later found out that it was an intruder alert! I had to comfort him somehow! Hugs works the best with Gordon. He is not that good at listening when he is panicking! He was going on about how he failed me and how he was a bad big brother! But he is so wrong! He literally saved my life. I don't know if I got through to him. If I didn't you have to help me make him see sense!" Alan rambled, working himself up into an even more distressed state, bordering on hyperventilating, his coughing getting worse.
"Its fine, Allie! Just breathe for us! Try to relax! Of course, we will help!" Virgil said, trying to reassure his youngest brother.
"You know we will, Allie bear! There you go! In and out! Slow your breathing! Well done!" John said reassuringly, while rubbing circles on Alan's back.
"I don't entirely remember what happened after Gordie's breakdown. It was frightening! I think we might have talked to EOS. I remember feeling bad, but I don't remember falling asleep again." Alan continued, trying to recall what happened last night.
"You collapsed! You stupid uncle! You're not my favourite anymore! Favourites are supposed to be nice! They don't go and scare people by collapsing in the middle of conversations!" EOS cried out, from her place with John, having silently observed everything said so far.
"EOS! Be nice! Please don't make me explain proper manners to you yet again" John scolded her, sounding exasperated.
"I am sorry, EOS! I remember now! I shouldn't have jumped out of bed to speak with you! But I was just so excited to hear your voice again, that I entirely forgot about my injuries for a minute or two. Then my body caught up with me, it was first then I noticed that I felt worse. I think that I realised it too late. Everything had, by then, already started spinning. I don't remember anything else, before waking up earlier." Alan sincerely apologised to his artificial niece.
"Okay Alan! I forgive you. On the condition that you promise, to not scare me so much again! It was boring without you and Gordon. Dad malfunctioned. He was leaking everywhere in Thunderbird five! He turned into a floating ball of misery. He couldn't even speak! My conclusion is that he can't function without you and Gordon. Scott and Virgil were not much better! Everything was strange and scary again! I did my very best to find you! Now, I expect you to repay me by making everything go back to business as usual. Please Alan, I need everything to go back to normal!" EOS rambled on, without stopping, until she was finished. Not having to pause for breathing, worked wonders for the AI to avoid any unwarranted interruptions during her rant.
"I am truly sorry EOS! I promise to do my very best! Thank you for finding us! You're the best!" Alan told his niece, attempting to make his raspy voice sound as reassuring as possible.
"Well, it must be true if you say so!" EOS responded, smugness shining through in her voice.
Virgil snickered, John sighed heavily at her response, while Alan just smiled.
Once again, the brothers were interrupted by another voice.
"Are you guys having fun without me? Not fair!" Gordon said groggily, having just been woken up by EOS loud voice. Or maybe, it was his squid sense, alerting him of one of his brothers laughing without him. His subconscious didn't want Gordon to be left out of the fun.
Next Gordon realised, that he was still sitting on Scott's knee, in a baby koala position. Gordon poked his brother hard in the stomach.
"Ow! What was that for? I didn't do anything!" Scott said grumpily, annoyed to be disturbed from his sleep.
"You're real!" Gordon said, sounding bewildered. Having been certain, the reunion during the night, had been but a wonderful dream.
"Of course, I am real! What else would I be? Did you finally turn into a goldfish?" The still half-asleep Scott said, while forcing one of his eyes to open.
Gordon poked him again, exclaiming astonished "You're really here!".
"Stop poking me! Should I take that as a confirmation of the goldfish theory?" Scott responded.
"Thank God! You are truly here!" Gordon muttered into Scott's shoulder, while he tried to crush him in an extremely tight hug.
"Yes, I am here. We have already covered this, several times! Are you sure you didn't hit your head on something?" Scott asked yet again, growing increasingly concerned. He quickly searched through Gordon's scalp, for any hidden bumps or wounds.
Gordon seemed to finally get his bearings, from his sleep muddled mind. He turned around, leaping out of Scott's arms as soon as he found Alan. Squishing Alans face between his hands, he lectured his younger brother "Allie! How are you feeling? You must stop collapsing on me like that! You terrified me, again! It is bad for my health, never mind your own! Stop doing it, for me, if nothing else!".
Scott came to Alans rescue, from having his face permanently squished into a fish-shape thru Gordon's rough handling, by shouting "Allie! Your awake!".
His four brothers turned towards Scott during his loud shout. In doing so, the four of them, got an unexpected first-class seat, to the best show of the day. Watching Scott, attempt to stand up, in order to reach Alan.
Key-word here is attempted, otherwise it would be a lousy show! Unfortunately, for Scott, this normally simple move, did not go according to plan. Scott promptly collapsed, as his legs refused to carry him, falling uncontrollably down to the floor.
"Scott!" Four panicked voices cried out simultaneously.
"Ow, that hurts!" Scott accidentally said out loud. Causing Virgil to fly down beside him, activating full medic mode. Reminding his other brothers of a bloodhound having found its trail. Or, perhaps more accurate in this case, prey.
"What hurts? What is it! Scott, you need to tell me! Right now!" Virgil practically barked out orders. He had enough of worrying about sick and injured brothers. Scott might be international rescues commander, but when it came to injuries in the field, Virgil's word, as the field medic, was law.
"It's nothing!" Scott mumbled, sounding embarrassed.
"Sure, nothing! You just fell flat on your face, because of nothing! I am the one who is gravity challenged! Just tell us!" John said, having lost his patience for stupidity, like hiding injuries, a long time ago.
"I'm fine! Just relax! It's embarrassing! Both of my legs have fallen asleep. It tends to happen when you have a brother who use you as a bed. I forgot how bad it could get though. You were much lighter last time Gordo!" Scott explained, a deep red blush covering his entire face.
Alan couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. This whole ridiculous scenario, was just so characteristically his brother's style of being, during their family time together. Everything felt normal for a second, his brothers joining Alan in his, bordering on hysterically, relieved laughter.
Unfortunately, no good things last forever. Yet again, Alan's stupid body betrayed him! His laughter turned into uncontrollable coughs, which made his head hurt even worse. Alan thought that he would probably get away, with cursing his pneumonia to hell and back, without consequences. Regrettably, in order to exploit this golden opportunity to curse, Alan needed to get air into his lungs! He desperately needed to breathe!
Shortly after the cough came back with a vengeance, it triggered Alans stomach and the cough quickly turned into dry heaving. The dry heaving, in turn, caused him to vomit. Alan's broken ribs hurt severely, with the added strain of the coughing and vomiting. He saw stars in front of his eyes, if it was the pain or lack of oxygen that caused it, was up for debate. The stars didn't match any known constellations to Alan's disappointment!
It got increasingly harder for Alan to breathe, with the almost non-existent breaks from his other symptoms. This combined, unsurprisingly, sent his four overprotective brothers into a panicked frenzy.
Ugh, Alan felt awful! Thankfully, Virgil managed to grab a trash bin to collect the vomit, just in time, otherwise he would currently be drenched in it. Thanks for small mercies!
Alan despised his body right now! Everything hurt! He felt worse than ever before and it sucked! It wasn't fair!
Alan just wanted to hang out and enjoy being reunited with his brothers. Was that really too much to ask? Apparently, it was. Why him? What did he do to deserve this?
Alan was jolted out of his thoughts, by his parental figures worried voice. It was Scott, his oldest brother, whom had acted as his father figure for the majority of his life. The person Alan had missed the most!
"Allie, baby, are you okay?" Scott asked, having long since recovered the control of his legs. A brother in distress always got Scott moving faster than lightning.
Alan suddenly realised that Scott was in front of him. Scott was actually here, with him, at his bedside. Alan had missed him so much! Scott crouched down to his level, seeking eye contact. Blue concerned eyes met his own. Scott seemed to, as always, see straight through his eyes, right into his soul. He put his hands on both of Alans shoulders.
Interacting with Scott, reassured Alan, more then he thought it should. Alans stubborn teenage part, didn't care about that anymore. Scotty was finally here! Alan had desperately longed for him, every single second, since he woke up in this strange place.
Scott always made Alan feel safe. He had done it Allie's entire life. Scotty could, and would, make everything better again. His dad would protect him! Like he always did! Alan was certain of it! Alan subconsciously decided, to take a leap of fate, certain that his brothers would catch him.
Alan stopped trying to hold back his emotions, thus, letting them go completely. He finally allowed himself to truly feel all of them, as the metaphorical dam, in his mind, holding them back opened its flood-gates.
Now, he couldn't stop the tsunami size wave of emotions washing over him, even if he wanted to. He was just so exhausted with being sick. Alan was at the end of his rope. Why did it never end? He hated feeling so sick and frail. He was a teenager now, not a toddler! Almost an adult! He was supposed to be better than this! Alan was a part of international rescue! He needed to be stronger! In this awful moment, Alan didn't have enough energy to even attempt to be strong anymore. He broke down in his fathers, in all but blood, arms.
"No Scotty! I am not okay! I am so tired of being sick and scared! Everything hurts so bad and I just want to go home! Please, just take me home!" Alan confessed as his tears started to fall again. He internally cursed his weakness. Alan felt like all he ever did since the accident was break down in tears. But no matter how hard Alan tried to, he couldn't rein in his overwhelming emotions.
"Aw Allie! It's okay! We will fix you right back up! We'll get you better baby! I promise! You can count on me! I got you Allie!" Scott said, while trying to calm Alan down, gently wiping away his tears with his thumb.
The sweet reassurances from his father figure, made Alan cries turn into uncontrollable sobbing "Scotty! I hate this! You always make the pain go away! Please make it stop!".
Scott scooped Alan up into his arms and hugged him close, whispering comforts into his ear. He laid them both down on Gordons unoccupied bed beside them. Laying Alan on top of him, continuing to wipe away his seemingly never-ending tears. Scott hated seeing his little brothers distressed and in pain. He would do anything, to make it better. His heart despairing with worry for his, in all but blood, son.
"It's going to be okay! We got you Allie bear! Leave the rest to us! I got you!" Scott comforted him, in a low deep voice. Alan felt the vibrations through Scott's chest as he spoke. Scott patted his back in that special way reserved after nightmares. It felt like home.
Alan started to reveal his bottled-up fears. "I missed you guys so much! I just wanted to be with you! Dad, I almost died! It was so terrifying! I don't want to die yet! I have too much left to do! I am not ready to leave you, not that I think that I will ever be. I would have died if Gordon didn't save me! Gordon is an amazing big brother! He took such good care of me, even when he was scared himself! But I am such a spoiled brat dad! Gordie is great but, I still desperately need you! All of you! I don't want to do this without you!" Alan cried, voice breaking several times. Interrupted by his own coughing fits. He desperately held on to his, for all intents and purposes, father. Gripping Scott's suit so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His voice rough from all the coughing. Every part of him ached fiercely. He felt horrible.
All the Tracy brothers felt their hearts breaking for their youngest brother.
Alan sounded miserable while complaining "Everything sucks right now! Except for you! You guys don't suck! I just want to go home!"
"I got you kiddo! Everything is going to be fine. We are here! We got you! Let's just take it one day at a time! It will be better before you know it! We will get you home! I promise!" Scott continued whispering sweet reassurances in order to get Alan to calm down.
Scott managed to use his free hand to point to Alans bed, that their other brothers currently sat in. He made what slightly resembled hand signal for bed, together, comfort. Thankfully, John managed to interpret his intentions. John had always been amazing at charades.
John made his brothers get off the second bed. They then pushed it together with the bed Scott and Alan laid on. Lining it up side by side. Locking the wheels in place, John gestured to his brothers, to get on.
Scott shuffled towards the middle of the beds. Alan, still laying on top of him, followed along automatically. Virgil guided Gordon to lay in the middle, next to Scott and Alan. Virgil climbed up beside Gordon, laying on one end. John walked around to the other end and squeezed himself in on Scott and Alans other side.
Five brothers in two parallel hospital bed were a tight fit. A very tight fit! But, where there is love, there is room. The brothers felt a bit better cuddled up next to each other. No hostile outside force could steal anyone away.
Breathing seemed to come a little easier. Everything didn't seem so impossible anymore. They were, at last, together again. The world was right!
It was Alan who broke the comfortable silence after five minutes.
"I just want to say that I love you guys so much! I am so lucky to have you as my family!" Alan declared. Having finally calmed down from his emotional breakdown. Now he sounded content and tired snuggled up with all of his brothers.
All four brothers responded to the love declaration, with one of their owns. When all had assured each other, of the special place they held in each other's heart they were all exhausted. The last days finally catching up to them.
It was Scott who predictably got the last word in "Rest now, we got each-other's backs!".
Soon, all five exhausted brothers followed the command. Drifting off to sleep, one by one.
Finally feeling the pressure of anxiety easing, adrenaline slowly fading away, as they laid cuddled up together. Limbs intertwined, as the five brothers clung on to what they all held dearest in their hearts. Family!
They were still not fine! It would take a while for all of them to get there. But they were much better than five hours ago. In time, they would help each other to heal these emotional wounds. For now, they were content with being in each other's presence.