CHAPTER TWELVE: Confessions

Gordon was stuck in a strange dream. Around him was a ruin. He could hear people calling him, see arms waving out of holes, and he was the only one who could save them. Then, from the other side, was Adelaide, beautiful and smiling, holding out her arms to him.

"Come to me, Gordon," she was calling. Gordon looked from one to the other. If he didn't do something soon, he'd lose both her and the injured people.

"Scott, Virgil, John, help me!" he cried. "I can't choose!" And there were his three older brothers before him, arms folded, glaring down at him.

"You have to choose," they yelled at him, unforgiving and grim.

"But I can't, I want to help people, but I want her too," he called back.

"You have to choose!" they all yelled back. And all the time, all three groups were moving furthur and furthur away, losing him in the fog. Soon he'd lose them all.

"But I can't choose, I don't want to choose, father, tell them I can't choose! I can't- !"

He sat up with a start in a pile of blanket on the floor. The light flicked on.

"Gordo?" John stood there, blinking sleepily. John's room was right next door to Gordon's, so it woke him, not anyone else, excepting the cat who glared balefully at Gordon before trotting out of the room. Gordon grinned sheepishly.

"Uh, sorry, John, I was dreaming, and I fell out of bed, I guess," he said apologetically.

"What were you dreaming about that made you fall out of bed?" John asked, stepping into the room. Gordon picked himself up. John helped him get out of his twisted blanket.

"Well, I was at a danger site," Gordon began, putting the blanket back on his bed. John sat down as soon as he was finished. Gordon climbed back into bed and sat up, hands clasped around his legs.

"And?" prompted John.

"Well, there was a collapsed building, and I could hear all these people calling for me, and I was the only one who could help them."

"Yes, I have dreams like that sometimes. There's a call coming through, but I'm frozen somehow and I can never acknowledge it or pass it on. But anyway, continue," said John. Gordon flushed slightly.

"And on the other hand, is- this- girl I know," he said hesitatingly. John chuckled.

"Here we go then," he murmured. "Go on." Gordon took a breath.

"And she was calling to me, holding out her hands, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," sighed Gordon. "But if I went with her, I'd leave all those trapped people to die! And If I saved the people, I lost her. I couldn't chose, John! So I called out for help from you and Virg and Scott. And you all just appeared, like you were there the whole time, but you weren't, and I said, Help me choose, I can't choose, but you guys all said, you have to, you have to, over and over, really mean and angry. And all the time everyone was drifting away, so if I didn't chose, I lost everything, even you three." Gordon paused and shook his head. "Weird, huh?" he said with a laugh. John stroked his chin in a pondering pose.

"Sounds like this dream had a meaning."

"No kidding," muttered Gordon. John evil-eyed him.

"Who was the girl?" Gordon blushed again, but said nothing. "Was it that girl Scott saw you with in New Zealand?" Gordon bit his lip and nodded. "Tut tut tut," John said, grinning. "Our little Gordie's got a girrrrlfriend!"

"Shuddup!" Gordon swiped his arm, embarrassed. He had been expecting teasing when he finally confessed, but also chiding. He hadn't expected John's good-humoured responce.

"So, when are you gonna introduce the lucky gal to the family, huh? Expecting to keep her secret forever?"

"Noooo," said Gordon. "I just thought-"

"You just thought. You think entirely too much, kiddo!" John tapped Gordon's forehead.

"You can talk, Mr. Author-of-text-books-guy!" John took on a wise expression.

"Yes, but my thought is logical and ordered. Yours is scattered and random at best. This girl had better be trustworthy."

"She is. She's Addie."

"Ah! I remember her. You guys were friends when you were kids, right?"

"Right. Remember, we met when I was on holiday?"

"Yes. Hmm, and the holiday magic flew, so did little cherubs, and the rest, they say, is history." John thought again. Gordon raised an eyebrow.

"What are you thinking up this time?"

"I'm thinking up a way we can introduce her to Dad properly, without revealing your intentions to her. You'll have to tell Dad about her, of course."

"Why?"

"You think you can keep this secret? You must think we're all deaf, blind and stupid in this house!" John looked shocked. Gordon shrugged.

"Well, sometimes, it's difficult to tell," he began. John sent him a look.

"Silence, mortal. You have to make sure the high gods approve before you romance the shrew."

"Huh?"

"Tell everyone!" Gordon looked uncertain.

"How?" John held up a finger.

"Ah! Like this." He held Gordon's jaw and moved his lips. "Dad, I'm in loooove!" he said in a silly voice, imitating Gordon. Gordon shoved him away.

"Dad'll just say that we need secrecy, and privacy and blahde blahde blah-"

"Listen, Gordon." John fell immediately serious. "You trust this girl with you life, right?"

"Yeah-"

"Do you think Dad wants us to just stop living for International Rescue? We're more important to him than anyone on or off this planet, and definitely more important than some organization. And I know he wants grandchildren sometime before he dies." John smiled. Gordon couldn't help but smile back.

"Yeah, I guess," he began. John patted his cheek.

"That's the spirit! It's up to you when you spill the beans, but I recommend sometime before it eats your guts out. I hope I've helped you somehow. Sleep tight, little brother." In a rare moment of affection, John kissed Gordon's forehead, rose and left the room, switching out the light as he went.

"Good night," replied Gordon softly, settling back down. He lay in the dark for a while, thinking hard. When sleep didn't return, he slipped silently out and plunged into the ocean to swim until dawn.

(IR)/

"Morning all!" called Gordon cheerily, entering the room with a towel around his waist. His hair was damp from swimming.

"Morning, Gordon," replied Jeff, sipping his coffee. Scott nodded at Gordon. Virgil smiled. John sent him a thumbs up. Tori looked up from her morning wash, her tongue poking out slightly.

"Good swim?"

"Yeah thanks dad, I'm gonna go wash up." He began to leave the room, then at the door he paused. He stood silent for a moment, and glanced back at John, who nodded slightly and gave him a reassuring nod. Gordon took a breath. "Dad, if you've got a moment later, there's something I need to discuss with you, if that's okay. In private." John smiled innocently as Gordon sent him a look.

"Sure son, you name the time," replied Jeff. Gordon grinned and exited, Tori following, tail in the air. The three remaining brothers shared a significant look. John rose and left the room. After a moment, Scott and Virgil followed, catching up with him by the pool.

"Well?" said Scott as they stopped. John shook his head.

"Everything he said to me was said in strict confidence," he said, folding his arms.

"Awww, come on! I was right, right? Tell me I was right about that girl!" Scott grabbed John's shoulder.

"No comment," said John, but he smiled. Scott grinned.

"Yes! I was right! So what's he talking to Dad about?"

"Why, her, of course, dummy!" John grinned at the pair. "Poor ol' Gordie was getting mixed up. He felt like he had to choose between her and us. But I'm sure he'll sort something out with Dad." Scott and Virgil nodded in agreement, confidently.

"Yeah, I bet they'll work it out."

A/N: About time I got on with this.