Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds in any way.

CHAPTER EIGHT – Dream…or Reality

Walking down the platform path into the living area he wandered over to the kitchen ignoring everyone and everything present.

Gordon lay on the sofa flicking through channels on the flat screen TV that hung on the far wall. Fermat and Tin Tin were outside in the pool and Virgil and Scott were sat on two of the breakfast stools next to the kitchen counter. Scott glanced up as Alan walked into the kitchen area.

"Morning sleeping beauty" Gordon hollered from his spot on the sofa.

"How was your hibernation?" Scott asked smiling.

Alan chose to ignore the comments and continued his search for the aspirin, rummaging in the cupboards and draws.

"Didn't anyone think to wake me for breakfast?"

"Dad didn't want to wake you, we said you looked tired last night so he wanted to let you sleep" Virgil answered not looking up from his paper.

Alan paused. He wanted to ask how he had gotten back to his room last night, but wondered if his brothers would give him a straight answer without getting all concerned for his mental health. Maybe they would just think he was pulling their legs. Frowning, he went back to his search, deciding not to ask that question.

"Hey take it easy kiddo! Onaha will give you nothing but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a week if you mess up her kitchen" Virgil called to his younger brother, who had his head stuck in a cupboard, before returning his attention back to the days paper.

Alan scowled at the thought.

"Score" he triumphantly pulled the small bottle from the shelf and proceeded to unscrew the cap. Tipping two tablets into his hand he popped them into his mouth and poured a glass of water from the tap to wash them down. He winced as he swallowed them.

When he turned back to his brothers he was surprised to see Scott staring at him, shock evident in his features.

"What?" Alan stared back in confusion.

At that point Virgil chose to look up from the paper. Glancing sidelong at his older brother, he raised an eyebrow when Scott suddenly got up and rounded the counter coming to stand face to face with Alan.

"Alan, where did you get these?" Scott asked quietly as he touched Alan's neck. His neck was covered in bruises, all of them the shape and size of finger marks.

"Where did I get what?" Alan continued to look at his brother in confusion.

Virgil came up to stand next to Scott curious as to what his older brother was looking at. He froze when he saw the marks.

"Alan, are you alright?" Virgil breathed.

"What are you two talking about? Did somebody put whiskey in your coffee this morning or something?" Alan smiled and glanced around them towards Gordon who glared back at him over the sofa mouthing 'don't blame me squirt!'

Scott bent down slightly to get a better look tracing the bruises with his fingers. Alan swatted his hand away.

"I don't know what you two are playing at but it's not funny" he glared at them convinced they were playing a joke.

"Alan, have you looked in a mirror today? You've got bruises on your neck" Virgil eyes were glued to the marks in concern.

At Virgil's comment Gordon, who had been half listening to the TV and half to their conversation, tore his eyes away from the screen, got up and walked quickly over to his brothers. "Alan have you had a fight with someone?" Gordon asked shocked.

"No!" Alan was stunned by the ridiculous question.

At that Scott grabbed him by both arms. "Who hurt you Alan?" He demanded softly looking into Alan's eyes.

"N-no one" Alan was starting to feel nervous and a little intimidated by all the attention. Then his dream came back to him. Reaching up to touch his neck, realization dawned as he remembered that the Hood had grabbed round the throat.

Alan's jaw dropped, 'It can't be' he thought wildly.

He couldn't tell them, he wouldn't tell them! The idea of the Hood strangling him in his dreams sounded ridiculous even to him, even if it was the truth.

But there was no way the Hood could be that powerful! …was there?

Scott looked closely at him trying to gauge his emotions. When the movie had finished the previous night Alan had fallen asleep on the sofa. They had woken him up and they had all gone to bed. Scott had noticed that his youngest brother's mind seemed to be elsewhere as he had walked lead-footed to his room. His eyes seemed empty, his expression blank and he had also looked every pale. At the time Scott thought it was probably exhaustion.

The idea of anyone on the Island hurting Alan was crazy, but those bruises clearly were not inflicted by Alan himself.

"Alan please, what happened". Virgil pleaded gently.

"Nothing. I had a bad dream. I- I must have done it in my sleep"

Scott sighed. "Alan, those bruises don't look self inflicted. You didn't have them last night, so who gave them to you?"

"I told you it's nothing!" Alan was starting to get angry at his brothers insistence. He pulled out of Scott's loose grip and went to the fridge to get some juice.

Gordon had to step out of the way as Alan reached for a fresh glass, "Alan, come on. We want to help".

"Guys I'm fine ok. No one hurt me. Now will you all just drop it!" He stormed out of the kitchen and back upstairs before any of them could stop him.

"Alan wait!" Scott called after him but Alan ignored him.

Once Alan was out of sight the other earth bound Tracy brothers looked at each other in disbelief.

"Scott? What should we do?" Gordon asked quietly, worry flooding his face.

Scott dawned a small smile and placed a reassuring hand on Gordon's shoulder. "We'll figure it out".

"Dad's going to see for himself eventually. Should we tell him before he finds out?" Virgil asked glancing in the direction of the path leading upstairs.

Scott thought for a minute. "Not yet. First I want to talk to John. See if he might shed some light on this for us".

Virgil glanced at Scott, "What makes you think he might know something".

"John told me a while back that we sometimes treat him like an agony aunt because he's so good at listening to people" Scott smiled.

Virgil and Gordon both gave small chuckles as the idea came to mind.

"Virg, can you come with me to make the call?"

Virgil nodded.

"Ok, Gordon can you try and keep an eye him why we go call John?"

"Yes sir!" Gordon gave a subdued smile and a halfhearted salute. Humor was far from his mind at the moment.

"Thanks. Lets go".

Scott and Virgil headed up to their father's office.

Gordon sighed heavily as he slowly followed them up the path in search of his younger brother.

TBC

Well thats the next chapter I hope that you like it.

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