Author's note – A nice reader pointed out a couple of mistakes we made dealing with the structure of Tracy Island. Since they weren't involving the story plot, we were able to correct them without affecting the flow of the story. Thanks Tikatu.

A BROTHER'S CRY

By: GrumpyMagrat & Magratconvert

Disclaimer: We don't own the Thunderbirds. Not now, not ever.

Chapter Twenty-One – A Brother Injured

Jeff was coming down the hallway when he heard Alan yell something. Alan stormed out of the lounge and past his Dad without a word. Jeff entered the lounge to find Scott sitting in his chair with a bloody towel held to his nose. John and Virgil were hovering over him.

"What happened?" Jeff demanded.

Startled, John and Virgil turned to see their Dad approaching the desk. Virgil was the one to answer. "We're not sure, Dad. Alan came in here yelling about Scott lying to him. He punched Scott in the nose and left the room."

Jeff saw the silent message in John's eyes. He reached over to the comm. unit and punched in Gordon's extension. "Gordon, you haven't happened to have seen Alan lately, have you?" Jeff asked.

"Yeah Dad," Gordon replied. "He was here in my room a few minutes ago."

"So he knows?" Jeff asked.

"Yes, he knows. Why? What has he done?" Gordon asked quietly.

"Could you please come to the lounge? I will explain when you get here." Jeff said.

"Sure Dad, I'm on my way." Gordon replied.

"Foun out wha?" Scott asked through his pinched nose.

Jeff hesitated for a moment. If Alan knew, he would surely tell his brothers when he calmed down. So there would be no purpose to keep the secret. "Gordon has resigned from International Rescue."

Both Virgil and Scott reacted in shock.

"What?"

"When were you going to tell us?"

Jeff waved his hand to silence his sons. "There's more. I am flying him to San Diego this evening. He has a couple of job offers that he wants to check out."

"He's leaving the Island?" Virgil asked incredulously. "But we're his family. He can't just leave." Virgil saw the dejected look on his Father's face. Then he also noticed the same look on John's face. "John, you knew about this, didn't you?" He demanded angrily.

John sighed. "Yes, he has been talking to me about it over the last few days."

"Then why the hell didn't you tell us?" Scott yelled. "We could have talked him out of it."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you, Scott." John said defensively. "It was his decision and his alone to make. He asked me not to say anything. He didn't want to deal with Alan throwing a tantrum or with you trying to bully him into staying."

Scott stood up. "Me? Bully?"

A voice from the doorway broke in. "Yes, Scott. You are a bully." Gordon said disgustedly. "You treated me like dirt. Then you expect that your apology would erase all the pain that you caused. You never even took the time to notice that I never said that I accepted your apology. You made promises to Alan that you expect me to keep. You had no right to tell him that I would stay. That is my decision whether I stay or go." Gordon was in full rant mode at this point.

John tried to defuse the situation by changing the subject. "Guys, we can discuss this later. Right now we need to prepare for the upcoming storm."

"What storm?" Jeff asked.

"We were just going to call you when Alan came in. The tropical storm that you asked me to keep an eye on has shifted its path. The heavy storm area should still miss us but we will probably be hit with wind and rain from the outer portion of the storm. I calculate that it should reach us in approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes. We should start preparing for it immediately." John said.

"What about the Thunderbirds? Will we be able to respond if we get a call?" Jeff asked.

"I already checked that." John said. "Even though high winds are predicted, they are still below the 'birds' safety levels."

"Ok, we need everyone to help." Jeff began, going into commander mode. "Call Brains and Kyrano. Where's Alan? Virgil, Gordon we need to batten down anything that is not already secured. Scott, how's the nose? Has it stopped bleeding?" Scott nodded his head. "Good, you and John head down to the hanger. Tracy Three is on the runway. I was going to use it to fly Gordon to the mainland tonight, but obviously that flight will have to wait. Please put the plane away and make sure that everything is secured down there."

Brains and Kyrano entered the lounge. Jeff told them. "Good, you're here. There is a storm heading for the Island. I need you two to head to the patio and secure what you can." Jeff pushed the household intercom button. "Alan, please report to the lounge."

Alan, however, was not in the house. After his altercation with Scott, he had gone up to the bluff. His emotions were running high. He could feel the tears building, and he wanted to get away so that his brothers would not see him cry.

"Why!" He screamed into the wind as he allowed the tears to fall. "How can he leave? Doesn't he know what he means to us? Oh God, why?" Alan sank to the ground. He pulled his knees to his chest and laid his head on his knees as he sobbed out his anger and frustration.

While his brothers were carrying out their dad's orders, Alan sat at the bluff with his head resting on his knees. He lost track of time as he thought about Gordon leaving. His older brothers teased them about being two halves of the same person. At this moment, Alan felt like a part of himself was missing. Soon Alan fell asleep oblivious to the danger heading his way.

An hour and twenty minutes later, the residents of Tracy Island had gathered in the kitchen. "You boys did a great job getting things secured as fast as you did." Jeff praised his sons. "John could you get me an update on the storm?"

"I'll d-d-do that Mr. T-Tracy." Brains interrupted. "I want to g-g-get some readings for my own r-r-research anyways."

"Thanks, Brains." Jeff said. "Now I'm going to talk to Alan. It's one thing to pout, but he ignored my call. That is one thing I won't put up with."

Jeff checked the computer and saw that Alan's comm. watch showed him in his room. Jeff knocked on Alan's door but did not receive an answer. He knocked again and said through the door. "Alan, this is your father. I am coming in. Either you open this door or I will." When the door remained closed, Jeff keyed in his override code to open it. He found the room empty. Alan's watch laid on his nightstand. "Now where in hell has he gotten to?" He said to the empty room.

When Jeff returned to the kitchen, he found his three middle sons enjoying Kyrano's fresh made lemonade.

"Has anyone seen Alan?" He asked.

"Not since the incident with Scott." Virgil answered him. John and Gordon just shook their heads.

"Well, he doesn't seem to be here in the house. Any idea where he may have gone?" Jeff asked.

"Did you try to track his watch?" John asked.

"He left it in his room." Jeff said as he held up Alan's watch.

"He probably forgot it again. It won't go around his cast so he's been sticking it in his pocket when he remembers." Gordon explained. "He probably went to the bluff. I'll go get him."

"Wait a minute," Jeff said. "That storm will be on us at anytime. What makes you think that he went to the bluff?"

"That's where he goes whenever he is upset." Gordon explained. "Haven't you guys ever noticed that?"

"Ok, head up there." Jeff relented. "But make it quick. Call in if you run into any problems. We'll search the house and silos, and we'll call you if he turns up. Be careful."

Alan awoke to find himself being pelted by heavy raindrops. Strong winds were blowing around him. He raised his head and saw the dark, heavy clouds overhead. When a lightening bolt flashed just off shore, Alan knew that he had to get back to the safety of the villa. He began to run back down the path.

He had made it about a third of the way back when he ran into Gordon. "Gordon, what are you doing out here?" He asked loudly to be heard over the wind.

"I came to find you. Why else?" Gordon replied. "Come on let's get back. The less time we are out here, the better."

Gordon breathed a sigh of relief when the villa came into view. Their run had slowed as the winds intensified. "We're almost there." He told Alan. "Just a few more…" He stopped when he heard a noise. He turned toward the sound and reacted.

Scott sat at his father's desk. He was worried. The storm was getting worse, and they still had not heard from Gordon. His Father was somewhere talking to Dr. Shipman. He knew that his Father was concerned about how Gordon's leaving was going to affect the family. He swore to himself that he would do whatever he could to ease the transition.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gordon's portrait flashing. "Gordon, where…" He stopped when he saw who it was "Alan?"

"Scott, Oh my God, Scott." Alan cried. "You've got to help me!"

Scott could tell that Alan was near hysterics. "Alan, where are you? Where's Gordon?"

"Scott, it's Gordon. He…he…oh my God. Help me Scott. I need help!" Alan continued to cry. "Please, Scott. Hurry, please."

"I'm on my way, Alan. Hang tight." Scott said. He sounded the household alarm while at the same time pinpointing the position of Gordon's watch.

"What is happening, Scott?" Jeff demanded as he entered the lounge. John and Virgil were right behind him.

"Alan called for help." Scott said.

"Alan?" Jeff asked. "Alan doesn't have his watch."

"He used Gordon's watch." Scott explained. "I don't know what has happened. Alan was hysterical when he called in. All he said was that he needed help fast. When I mentioned Gordon, he just got more upset. Obviously he and Gordon had met up or he wouldn't have the watch. I just hope that Gordon hasn't done something stupid."

"Now Scott…" Jeff began, but Scott cut him off.

"I know, I know. Don't jump to conclusions. I just wish that I knew what was going on out there. I have pinpointed Alan's position not too far from the villa."

"Ok, you three head out." Jeff commanded. "Take a med kit and a stretcher with you. Since we don't know what has happened, I would rather err on the side of caution."

When the three brothers reached the point that Alan's call came from, their hearts stopped.

"Oh My God!"

"No, No, No!"

"Gordon!"

TBC

Author's note – Oh my, now what has happened to poor Gordon? The next chapter should be up tomorrow.

AngelMouse5 – Poor Alan, poor Gordon. Just wait until next chapter.

Rachie Loves Donald Duck – Are you psychic? We have a feeling that you are on to us.

merryw – Thanks for your review. Can Scott ever get Gordon to forgive him? The next few chapters hold the answers.

barb from utah – Relationships between siblings can be unpredictable. Updates are on the way.

andrewjameswilliams – You were right. Alan finding out the way he did only complicated matters. But speaking as someone who has a 'little' brother who tends to throw a tantrum when things don't go his way, I would have opted for the easy way out too.