A.N So sorry about the update but I've been a little busy of late and needed to get things sorted. A bit short this time but I'm determined to finish it one way or another.

Chapter 6 Wednesday Morning

Part I – Fearful dreams

Scott gently nudged John, hoping that he was awake.

John didn't say a word but turned over and stared at his elder brother who was looking rather tearful. It was obvious that he had been crying again and John was not quite used to everything being this way.

Usually it was the other way round, usually it was John who was crying and Scott being the reassuring one. It had been the last time something like this had happened but then again the last time this had happened everything had been different.

He had known that his mother was dead the last time.

Now he had no idea if his little sister was alive or not. But he tried to hide as much of that fear from his voice as it was possible, "What's wrong?"

Scott looked down and seemed to be undeceiving in how to say what he needed to. John knew that look of old and feared that Scott was heading down the path of locking away his feelings again.

That was something that no one needed especially their mother. But then again – hadn't he done that himself?

John sighed and looked down, knowing that everything was wrong in this situation and that something needed to be sorted out. The only small problem that he was now faced with was that Scott was scared and Scott never got scared of anything.

It was always Scott who stood up for the others and it was always Scott who acted as a pillow for John and Virgil when things went wrong.

But looking at him now, John fully understood what it was like to be in Scott's position. He was the eldest and always felt that it was his duty to watch over the others and try and keep them in check. True it didn't work with Gordon or Alan – much – but there was always that bond between all of them. Each brother looked to the older one for support and the younger one for protection.

Scott had gotten the bad end of the stick being the first, he only had their Dad to fall on if anything ever went wrong for him but here Jeff Tracy had been killed in an avalanche. Lucille tried to keep up with everyone but she couldn't cope on her own as well as Jeff.

John snapped himself out of this train of thoughts when he heard Scott sigh and he knew that there was going to be no easy explanation out of the eldest Tracy boy.

"Scott, it's okay. None of us knew that this was going to happen...she's a tough kid. Phil will be fine" he tried to sound like he felt it but something deep within him almost felt the speed of her heart or was it his? He couldn't work it out.

"John she's a kid, for god's sake" Scott snapped and instantly regretted it.

Slowly he sat up and hugged his knees, "I don't mean to be horrid but I know what that git's capable of. I didn't mind it as much when he got me or you to a certain degree but when he hurt the others..." Scott's fist clenched visibly in the first rays of sunlight that were creeping into the mansion.

John stayed where he was, knowing it best to let Scott get everything out of his system first before moving to do anything. He watched as his older brother sighed and released his palm slowly, "I didn't want to get into any situations where he could seriously hurt one of them. We could stand up for ourselves but the others were far too young to really understand anything. It hurt knowing what we went through but being unable to tell anyone" he paused, shoulders shaking with a visible effort to stop himself weeping, "but it hurts more knowing that he will hurt Feathers more. She's an eight-year-old John and he's going to hurt her more than physically I know he is. I just want her home...want her back here where she will...be..."

John moved faster than he ever felt himself move before and caught hold of Scott's tumbling frame before he feel to the ground. Tears fell freely from his eyes and heart wrenching sobs emitted from the strong wall of hidden emotion. Deep in his heart, John knew that not all of the tears were for Phil.

There were some for Scott himself, others for his younger brothers, a few for their mother and a lot for their father. John never needed to question Scott on how he had dealt with their father's death for it was obvious that he was still dealing with it.

As he sat there, simply holding onto Scott he thought he heard a voice distant and sweet filling the air. The song was known to him but from where was a mystery, but it filled his heart with hope.

"Scott" he said and looked down at his older brother who looked up at him, "Listen, can't you hear it?" he whispered.

Slowly Scott frowned and then slowly the tears became quieter by the minuet, "Phil's singing but where from?" he whispered back.

John wished he could tell Scott but right then he had no idea if the person that was with Phil.

A.N Told you it was short but still...hope you liked it killhill and any others reading this

Please review as my muse is starting to run a little thin on this one