Hey guys! Another chapter! Thankyou sooooo much again to all those who reviewed!
Spense: Yeah you didn't see Corper's turn for the worst, but I'm glad you think it wasn't too outrageous. Alan's kidnapping isn't going to be empty, there's still a few more angsty surprises that explain some of the past to come!
Iniysa: glad you're enjoying it!
Aussie Munchkin: Yeah, Alan could sure use a hug, but its about to get a whole lot worse
Lorency: Alan's got to be brave, but his defences are starting to crumble. Thanks for reading!
MaeAnn: great to have such an enthusiastic review!
Thowra-Angel: Wow! You are definitely without a doubt my best reviewer and I'm really glad you're enjoying Abduction. I'm also pleased you liked the structure of the last chapter cos I was a little worried Corper's insanity might come across as melodramatic and unbelievable. Keep reading and I look forward to reading your thoughts on this next chapter!
Labrat-Speedy: Lol! Thanks for reading and I'm glad you're enjoying it!
On with the show!
TBTBTBTBTBTBTB
It was dark. Inside and Outside. Everything was dark. They were all in darkness…
There had been no word. Not from Penny, nor any clue from the police as to where Alan might be.
Jeff sat in a chair in the living space of the hotel room he, his son's and Fermat had been offered. It wasn't as fancy as the last hotel had been. The walls were a pale shade of grey, the long curtains made of pale thick linen. The furniture was expensive, but gave the room no personality. The lack of colour continued through into the small kitchen and bathroom and carried on through the two bedrooms in which the boys were all catching up on some well deserved rest.
But the lack of colour didn't bother Jeff. It in fact reflected how he felt. Like an empty shell. The shock of his son being stolen from him had become anger. Anger at Corper. Anger at the police. Their lack of attention on the case had turned into fury at himself for being so helpless. He was Jeff Tracy. Billionaire Ex-Astronaut and owner of Tracy Enterprises. Why was he so helpless?
His emotions were muddled. But Jeff could clearly identify one that stood out. Fear. Fear of losing another family member. Jeff knew he wouldn't be able to handle losing Alan. Alan, who was so much like his mother. Apart from sharing Lucille's sandy hair and blue eyes, Alan had also inherited his mother's spirit.
Maybe that was why Jeff tried so hard to shelter him. Protect him. Alan was no different from his other sons when measuring how much Jeff cared for him. But the older four had become strong and independent long ago. In many ways Alan was still a child.
Jeff could often not understand the ferocity of his protectiveness when it came to his youngest son. Maybe it was simply "youngest child syndrome". Maybe it was because the other boys hadn't grown up with International Rescue. Maybe it was because Alan frustrated him so much.
Jeff had been unable to dominate Lucille's firm will, but, being adults, they had both learned to negotiate. Alan, being a teenager, made the fire he had inherited from Lucille uncontrollable and it was only after a good yelling match and a sulk that things became manageable.
Jeff smiled shortly, more like I use the 'because I am your father, that's why' overruling to get the final say
The smile disappeared as he pondered. Was it always ended with him? Was it always 'his way, no highway'?
FlashbackIt was evening. The setting sun was throwing streaks of orange and red through Jeff's office window. From his chair Jeff glowered at his youngest son with eyes the same colour as the sun's rays.
Alan wisely avoided them, "If you've called me to remind me of your plans, you needn't bother"
"You seem to be the one not accepting the situation and moving on, not me," Jeff told him with a voice of steel
"Yeah, that's right, because I'm the selfish, moody teenager aren't I?" Alan looked at him, "I'm the uncontrollable child who needs to be sent to school because his family can't be expected to watch over his shoulder all the time!"
"That's not the case Alan and you know it" Jeff was attempting not to raise his voice
"Oh really Dad then what is the case huh?" spat Alan, his voice cracking, "It's always me who seems to be the problem isn't it? I'm not as good as Scott or John or the others. I'm the problem child and sending me away will definitely make your life a hell of a lot easier won't it?"
"I don't have time for this, go to your room" Jeff began to turn away
He looked up again when Alan cried, "No, you don't! You never have time for me do you? I'm a burden! A waste of space and time!" Alan's eyes shone with tears, "I've got nothing to offer you and ever when I try and win your respect I get thrown aside!"
Jeff barely breathed, shocked at his son's words, "Alan that's not true" he whispered
"Don't give me that shit!" cried Alan, turning away
Jeff could hear Alan's sobs turn into harsh breaths as his son tried to compose himself. Alan turned towards him again, face tear streaked, "Did spring break mean anything to you?" he asked quietly, "Did you give me the badge because you meant what you said? Or did you do it out of sympathy so I wouldn't feel left out when Fermat earned his badge?"
Jeff stood up and walked towards Alan, "What has Fermat got to do with any of this?" he asked quietly, trying not to return the discussion to it's former intensity
Alan held his gaze and Jeff had never seen the hurt in his eyes as strongly as now, "You were okay to send me away, but not him," he barely whispered
Jeff was stunned. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to know how Alan had found it out. At the same time he wanted to make excuses. But he didn't want to hurt Alan.
"Brains is Fermat's father. Not me" he said, "Brains considered letting him stay here and I said I was happy with that happening"
"Yet you were going to push me away?" exclaimed Alan, backing away, "Your son? Sometimes I wonder if I matter in this family at all"
Jeff tried to get close to him again, "Alan don't be stupid" he unwisely raised his voice
Alan backed away again over by the window. Jeff wanted to wrap Alan in his arms and tell him how much he meant to him. But before he could, Alan looked at him, a single tear rolling down his cheek, "You wish that our places had been exchanged" he said, "That I had died and Mom had lived"
That struck Jeff down. He felt an ice-cold blade pierce his heart at his son's words. He walked slowly towards Alan, shaking his head, "That's not true" he whispered
"Don't lie to me!" cried Alan running across the room, "It is! You know it is! It's true! All of it! You don't need me! YOU DON'T WANT ME!"
"Alan!" called Jeff as Alan fled, out of the door and out of sight.
He pursued, down the hall, but was unable to catch him, "Alan!" he called again.
But Alan didn't return. He didn't return that night. Jeff waited until the sun rose for his son to come home. But he hadn't
End of Flashback
Tears fell down Jeff's cheeks, but nobody was there to see them. All that was there was darkness
Until a hand gently rested on his shoulder.
"Dad" John's soft voice made Jeff start. John was standing next to him, in his nightclothes, his hair slightly spiky and his eyes showing his fatigue
"You should be asleep," rasped Jeff, wiping his face dry
"So should you" said John kindly, sitting down next to his father
They sat there in silence for a while, listening to the soft sounds of motorcars on the road outside the hotel window. Jeff wandered out of the room. Mentally he wasn't there. Instead he was with his son.
Flashback
It was the early hours of the morning and temperatures were low outside, but Jeff didn't care. He went searching for his son. Taking a torch and blanket, he followed the path down to the beach. He didn't call out for fear that the sound of his voice would make Alan run even further away.
He started to panic after the first hour, contemplating going back to the house for some help. The sun was staring to peak over the horizon. Jeff gazed down the beach, at the sand being lit by the new sun's rays. It was then he saw a lump on the sand. His pace quickened. It was a figure, lying on the shore, the waves gently washing over it.
"Alan!" Jeff couldn't stop himself cry as he ran to his son
The sand around Alan showed that Alan had been lying there for some time. Alan's eyes were closed and he was cold to the touch and soaking wet up to the chest. Quickly Jeff lifted him out of the water, wrapping him securely in the blanket he had with him and carrying him back to the house. All the way Jeff murmured to his son. Pleading for him to wake up. Telling him how much he loved him. Assuring that everything would be ok. But Alan didn't open his eyes. Alan couldn't hear a word of what he was saying. Upon taking him to the infirmary, Brains had diagnosed Alan with mild hypothermia and exhaustion. When Alan had woken up, he hardly spoke a word to anyone
End of Flashback
"Dad"
Jeff couldn't stop the tears that fell freely from his eyes as he looked at John, whose eyes were also watering, "I miss him too"