JB asks: For Whumptober, No2 nowhere to run, confrontation with Alan. Thank you. Have fun! Movie-verse

Characters: Jeff, Scott

Warnings: Drugged, Seizure

He'd been running so long he was almost glad to be able to stop. Almost. He hadn't stopped running because he was tired, or because he had reached his goal.

Alan had stopped running because there was nowhere else to run.

Backed into the corner, into the dead end, nothing to hide him from what was coming.

From whom was coming.

There was only one thing he could do. Alan stood tall, folding his arms across his chest and thought hard about how his eldest brother would act.

He closed his eyes and channelled his inner Scott, even as footsteps sounded in front of him. Alan took a deep breath. And another, getting his heartrate and his breathing under control. The footsteps stopped a little way in front of him and Alan clenched his jaw and opened his eyes.

The man in front of him actually flinched. Ever so slightly, but Alan had seen it and it gave him hope. A Thunderbird's hope…

'Alan.'

'Hood.'

And there was silence. Even the ambient sounds seemed to have disappeared. Alan was not going to be the one to break it, if the Hood wanted something he was damn well going to make him work for it.

'There is nowhere left to run, Alan.'

Talk about stating the obvious…still Alan said nothing. The Hood took a step forward, a grin breaking out over his face. Alan's eyes narrowed and he tensed, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet, ready for whatever was going to come next.

He wasn't ready for what came next.

Around the corner came the formidable bulk of Mullion. And over the man's shoulder was slung a figure Alan knew well. He frowned. His brother had dropped him off in Boston. They had done some last-minute shopping in preparation for the new term in Wharton Academy, then Scott had left for the airport, on his way to Tracy Industries headquarters in New York for their Father.

Scott obviously hadn't made it.

'Now Alan, I am a reasonable man.'

'Uh huh. Right.'

'I just want you to hear me out. I have a…proposition for you.'

Subconsciously Alan began to rub his hands up and down his upper arms, as if he was cold. This was bad. This was very bad. The two men in front of him were supposed to be in jail, not standing here.

'What do you want, Hood?"

'You and I have unfinished business. You and I and your father.'

'Keep my family out of this!'

'Oh, but I can't, Alan. Someone has to pay.'

Without warning pain overwhelmed him and Alan fell to his knees, hands clasping his head and screaming out, eventually falling onto his side. How could he have forgotten so quickly!

He wasn't sure how long he lay there, but Alan was exhausted by the time the Hood let him go. It took him far longer than it should have to struggle back to his feet. In at time Scott had been deposited on the floor at Mullion's feet on his knees, conscious but bound and gagged. His eyes were full of concern and fury.

Alan offered his eldest brother a weak smile and was rewarded with a grin. Scott smiled with his eyes and it gave Alan the confidence to stand upright and face his – their – greatest enemy.

'Whatever you want from me, you can forget it. I'm not going to do anything to help you against my family.'

The Hood's response was to laugh. To laugh loud and long, until he was clutching his side. Mullion was grinning like the manic he was. His hand gripped Scott's shoulder hard enough to make the man wince.

Eventually the Hood wiped his eyes and sighed, straightening up and facing Alan again.

'Oh Alan, I needed that. You have no idea how much I needed that.'

'Sure, happy to help.'

'Now, to business.'

'Finally!'

'Alan, Alan, Alan. I've been patient up to now but I tire of your teenage lip.'

With a gesture Mullion began laying into Scott. Alan watched in horror as his eldest tried his best to curl up in an attempt to protect himself.

He tried to stay firm, to be strong as he knew Scott would, but with one last savage kick and a strangled gasp Alan found his resolve break, and he rushed forward only for the Hood's eyes to once more flash yellow and freeze him in place and force him to watch until Scott didn't move anymore.

The Hood looked expectantly at Alan as he released him, but Alan only had eyes for his brother. Scott's stillness was unnerving, but he was breathing, allowing Alan to relax and look up at the Hood. This time he held his tongue, afraid that his inability to be quiet would be taken out on Scott once again. Eventually he opened his mouth to speak but paused as Scott gave a muffled groan.

'I offer you a choice.'

'What kind of choice?'

'I can set your brother free if…'

'If what?'

'If you call your Father here.'

Alan paled, the full import of what he was being offered sinking in. The Hood saw the moment of clarity, and his grin widened.

'There is nowhere for you to run this time, Alan. No Thunderbirds to fly to the rescue. No Dad to show off for. Just a choice, Alan. One simple choice. Someone has to pay for what was done, and you get to choose:

'Your Father or your eldest brother.'