Spense - just wanted to say thank-you for the reviews. glad you liked the Virgil/Alan resolution.I'm glad you enjoyed The brother I don't know. Thanks for your feedback on it. Hope to hear from you agian soon (hint, hint!)
Marblez - I'm working on the rest. Your not that patient are you? lol! I think this story has one more chapter in it, so enjoy it while you can.
Queen of the Elven City - I said I was getting close to the end. Its not quite over yet. I can't leave Gordon and Alan not talking now can I. Like I said before I think this story has one more story chapter in it after this one. Hope you enjoy.
Aj2951 - thanks for the reviews. Glad you're enjoying the story and thanks for taking the time to review. Also thanks for letting me know about the name change.
M.S.K. - thanks. glad you enjoyed it.
BookReader2007 - Well, of course I have to have Gordon and Alan make up - its just not quite in this chapter. Hope you enjoy this chapter anyway.
Alan's POV:
I looked up at the clock. There were still twenty minutes left to complete the test, which was the last one of the semester. Part of me wanted this all to be over. The other part of me wanted more time.
Looking from the clock to the paper in front of me, I tried to focus on finishing the test. Or well at finish the problems that I knew how to do. There were some on the test that I had no clue how to solve even after all the studying I had done.
Letting out a sigh, I lifted the pencil and tackled the next problem.
"Time up," I heard the teacher say, in what seemed like a few minutes.
I quickly finished up the problem I was working on and put pencil down, as the kid behind passed his test up to me. I still had two more problems that weren't answered but I had done the best I could. As long as what I had done was mostly correct I should still be able to get a decent grade.
I added my test paper to the others and passed it to the kid in front of me. Around me my classmates were started to talk. I heard a few kids say how easy the test was.
"Yeah, right," I muttered to myself as I put my pencil in my book bag. Slinging the bag over my shoulder. "It was about as easy as getting teeth pulled," I said to no one in particular.
Working my way toward the exit of the classroom, I went into the hallway to wait for Fermat. He wasn't long, and as soon as he joined me I headed down the hallway toward the exit. I just wanted to get away from the classroom and back to the relative safety of my dorm room. We were halfway across the quad when Fermat finally spoke up.
"H-H-How do you think you d-d-did, Alan?"
"Okay, I guess," I told him shrugging my shoulders. "At least on what I got finished."
"How far did you get?"
"There were only two questions I didn't get to."
"W-W-Well that's pretty good," Fermat told me reassuringly. "You worked hard this past week Alan. I'm sure you did f-f-fine."
"Thanks," I said, actually meaning the words. I had been putting a lot of work into my school work since last Thursday and I was glad somebody noticed. Even if that somebody was only my best friend.
Even though Dad had never come right out and told me, I knew I wouldn't be coming back to Churchill School for Boys after the holiday. I also knew that Dad wasn't going to have an easy time finding another school that would take me. Getting decent grades on my finals would have to count for something and at this point any little bit would help.
"It sure will be nice to be h-h-home for a little while," Fermat commented as we walked into our dorm building.
"I guess," I said absently.
I wasn't exactly sure I wanted to go home. Dad was probably still upset with me. He would definitely be asking me about how finals had gone, something that I really didn't want to think about. I had done the best I could and I wanted to forget about them.
Then there was Gordon. I had left an note for him apologizing but other than that I didn't know what was going on between the two of us. I couldn't even be sure he had read the note and I hadn't heard anything from him. Was he still mad at me? Part of me didn't want to find out.
"W-W-What's wrong A-A-Alan?" Fermat asked me as I put the keycard into the lock to open our dorm room door.
"Who said anything is wrong?" I countered, as I pushed the door open and walked into the dorm room.
"The fact that you're not ex-ex-excited about going home," Fermat said as he followed me inside.
I tossed my back pack on the striped bed and then flopped down beside it, the springs squeaking under the strain.
"I guess I'm just worried about what's going to happen. I haven't heard anything from Gordon in the past week. What if he's still mad at me.?"
"You guys never stay mad at each other too long," Fermat said reassuringly as he sat down at his desk chair. We had already packed are stuff and were ready to go home. We simply had to wait for our ride, now. "I'm s-s-sure Gordon has cooled off by now."
"I hope so," I commented absently looking up at the ceiling. If not it was going to be a long vacation. Even though the island was big, the house was big, my family still couldn't seem to avoid each other. There was no way I could avoid Gordon if I wanted to. If he was still mad at me, this vacation could be very awkward.
I heard a knock at the door. It was probably our ride. I made no move to open the door, not ready to leave the relative safety of the dorm room. Besides, Fermat was closer to the door anyways.
I listened as I heard Fermat make his way over to the door. Heard the click of him unlocking the door, and the squeak of the hinges as he opened the door.
"Dad!" I heard him say surprised. To tell you the truth I kind of was too. Brains had never come to pick us up before.
"Hello son," Brains said. I sat up on the bed to see the two embraced. At least I would get a little bit more time before I had to face any of my family members. "Are you two r-r-r- packed?" He asked as he let go of Fermat.
"Yeah, packed and ready to go," I answered trying not to let my lack of enthusiasm show in my voice. I didn't feel like explaining myself again.
"Okay, then let's get g-g-g- leave. The cab is waiting out front to take us to the airport," Brains said.
I grabbed my bags, as Fermat did the same thing and then the three of us left the dorm room. Fermat and I dropped our key cards in the return box next to the exit as we left. Even if we were coming back after the holiday break, a new room would have been assigned to us.
"Your father and brothers are doing a personnel transfer, Alan" Brains told me as we put the bags into the trunk of the cab. "They should be back by the time we get th-th-th home."
I just nodded, silently. I didn't trust myself to speak and not give away my lack of enthusiasm. I knew exactly what he meant by personnel transfer. John had gone back up to Thunderbird 3 and Scott was coming back down. That meant I had someone else to torment me about the chemistry lab incident. Knowing Scott, he would have a field day. He usually did enjoy tormenting me about anything he could come up with.
Why couldn't he have stayed up on Thunderbird 5?
Scott's POV:
I walked slowly through the house, enjoying being home. I hated being on Thunderbird 5. Hated the isolation. The confined space. Not having the traditional night a day cycle. I had know clue had John did it so much, and did so without a complaint. Still, I didn't begrudge him his time at home. He needed to come home from time to time. Be with the family for awhile, and the only way he could do that was for someone else to take his place.
I actually should have been up there through the end of the month, but John had insisted on doing the transfer early, as he knew Christmas was my favorite holiday and he didn't want me spending it alone. Of course that meant that he had to spend it alone, just like he had spent Thanksgiving alone up on the station. He hadn't given in though and I knew when it came to a battle of wills John was going to win. As stubborn as I was, John was even more stubborn.
As I neared the kitchen I heard a commotion. I just assumed it was my family welcoming Alan and Fermat home for the vacation. I hurried my steps to join in on the celebration. As much as I tormented my little brother I also missed him when he was away at school and after what happened at the school a week ago, I was anxious to see for myself that he was okay.
As I expected, I found my family, minus Gordon, in the kitchen. Alan and Fermat in the center of all the commotion. I was starting to see what John had been telling me about what was going on in our family the last week. I had just figured he was overreacting. Gordon and Alan had always stuck together no matter what. I just couldn't actually picture the two of them not getting along and yet here Alan was home from school and Gordon was no where to be seen.
"Hey Sprout!" I greeted him as I walked over to him. I messed up his hair and then gave him a hug, glad to see that he seemed okay. I had hated being stuck up in Thunderbird 5 during everything that had gone on last weekend. Not being able to be there for my little brothers.
Alan hugged me back, although it seemed a little resistant. It was probably because he expected me to start teasing him once I saw that he was okay. Rubbing in the latest of his screw-ups and normally I would have. There were several smart remarks that came to mind but I bit my tongue and kept quiet because of a promise John had made me make before leaving Thunderbird 5.
We had been getting ready to leave. Dad, Gordon and Virgil were in the cargo bay of Thunderbird 5 storing the last of the supplies that had been brought up. John had pulled me aside saying he needed to talk to me before leaving.
"Scott I want you to promise me something. Promise that you won't give Alan a hard time about the chemistry lab fire."
"Who me?" I said with mock innocence. I knew exactly what he was getting at. In fact, I had kind of been looking forward to the chance to tease Alan about his latest experiment in pyrotechnics. I enjoyed giving my baby brother a hard time and this was a perfect opportunity.
"Yeah you," John said completely serious. I guess he wasn't buying my innocent routine. "Look Scott, Alan really upset about what happened. Gordon and Alan haven't talked since the night before Alan went back to the school because of an argument from resulting from teasing about the incident. Just give Alan a break for a change. Besides, I don't want to see any more of my brothers made at each other."
"Especially when you can't play peacekeeper right," I said lightly.
"Scott I'm serious," he told me, the expected smile not coming to his face. I was starting to see how important this was to him.
"Okay," I told him. "No teasing Alan," I said a little reluctantly and then realized that I would not be able to keep that broad of a promise. "Well, at least not about the chemistry lab incident," I mended quickly. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep myself from not teasing my baby brother about something.
"That sounds a little bit more realistic," John told me a grin finally coming to his face.
"How did finals go, Alan?" Dad asked.
Alan just shrugged his shoulders.
"I tried my best though," Alan remarked softly and just a little bit defensively.
"Then I'm sure you did okay," I said quickly before anyone else had a chance to say anything. I saw the surprised look Alan gave me. I also didn't miss the look Dad threw my way.
He didn't comment about it though.
"Dinner is ready," Onaha said quietly from her spot at the stove.
"Great," Dad said. "Virgil go find Gordon."
"Okay," Virgil said leaving the room and heading upstairs. Evidently Gordon had retreated to his room while I had been unpacking.
We all sat down at the table with our dinner. Gordon and Virgil didn't take long to join us. Gordon didn't even look in Alan's direction. There was no way I was going to let this go on much longer. If they didn't get things patched up soon, I was going to take a stab at reconciliation and just hope it didn't blow up in my face like some of my other attempts in the past. John was definitely much better at those sort of things than I was.
"You know you don't know everything," I heard Virgil yell from the direction of the living room.
"Sarah, I'll call you back," I said quickly into the phone and hung it up, not even waiting for her reply. I headed toward the living room to see what was going on.
"It is possible for you to be wrong. Even if you don't want to admit it. Dad thinks your so perfect but you're no better than the rest of us."
"I never said I was perfect," I heard John reply calmly.
I knew what was going on now. Virgil had snuck out of the house and headed for a party on the mainland last night, after Dad had told him he couldn't go. Like any normal fifteen year old, Virgil had been determined to go to that party. Although John hadn't gone and told Dad Virgil had snuck out when Dad had asked about his whereabouts John hadn't lied about it .Dad had been waiting in Virgil's room for him last night when he came home.
By now, I was standing in the doorway to the living room. I kept quiet not ready to interfere yet.
"You could have covered for me but no you go and tell Dad exactly where I was. You use to cover for Scott all the time."
"And look how much trouble Scott got himself into. I don't want to see you go through that. I know better now. I'm not going to lie to cover for you Virgil, its that simple."
"Just because you have no friends and no life, you don't have to ruin it for the rest of us," Virgil shot at him. John didn't respond, and evidently Virgil had run out of steam.
"Are you two ever going to patch things up?" I couldn't help but ask John as Virgil stormed from the living room. John had already went back to study for his chemistry exam he had when he went back to school after the break.
"Things will work out," John said simply not looking up from his book.
I sighed. Even though John seemed so sure that things would work out, I wasn't so sure. Virgil seemed pretty upset. I had to figure out away to get the two of them to work things out.
"He's the one who wants to talk to me and he can't even show up on time," John said from where he was sitting on the edge of the patio deck above the pool level.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," I said casually from my place on a nearby lounge chair. I had Aviation Today opened in front of me but wasn't really reading it.
Although the note I had left for John had said Virgil wanted to see him, it had actually been me who had left it. I had left one for Virgil saying that John wanted to see him. I was hoping that if I could get the two of them together and talking that things would get worked out.
As if on cue, I saw Virgil come up the steps leading from the beach.
"You wanted to see me John," Virgil said cooly.
"I thought you're the one who wanted to see me," John said hoping off the patio.
Both of them looked toward me.
"I was just hoping I could get the two of you talking, so things could get worked out."
"Until he apologizes for ratting me out, I have no intention of working things out with him."
"I don't have anything to apologize for. Dad told you that you couldn't go to that party. You never should have snuck out."
"Like you do everything Dad tells you too," Virgil said closing the distance between himself and John. "Oops, wait you do. I forgot I was talking to Mr. Perfection."
"I never said I was perfect," John said not backing down. This definitely wasn't going the way I had wanted it to.
"No you just act that way. Dad says jump and you say how high. You do whatever he tells you. You might be smart but you don't know how to think for yourself. And you think just because your older that you can tell us younger kids what to do. Frankly I'm sick of listening to you."
"Somebody had step up and take charge when Mom died. Dad was trying to keep his business going and Scott was too busy sneaking out and hanging out with his friends to be any help. Do you think I enjoyed spending all my time looking after you three, doing housework, and making sure you kids were feed. I did it because it needed to be done, despite what I had to give up. Have you ever stopped to think about the sacrifices I made for you."
"I never asked you too and I'm old enough to look out for myself now."
"No you're not, you're just a selfish, spoiled brat," John told him, which surprised me. That didn't sound at all like something John would say. This was definitely getting out of hand.
Before I could step in between the two of them though, Virgil threw a punch at John. The punch took John by surprise, and Virgil made solid contact. John stumbled back against the ledge he had been sitting on just moments before. I quickly got in front of him in case Virgil decided to not leave it at that. Virgil just turned and headed for the steps though.
I turned back to John, who was still leaning against the ledge, one hand to his face.
"Are you okay?" I asked him putting an arm around his shoulders. It was then that I noticed the blood on his hand, blood from John's bloody nose. Virgil had evidently gotten him good. "Let's get you inside and see how bad it is," I told him.
"You should've stayed out of it, Scott," John told me as I helped him toward the house. I couldn't help but think he had a point.