Chapter three

When Alan arrived back on Tracy island he discovered three things: His father and grandmother were still in Boston, the rescue in the Andes was still going on, and Scott was really mad at him.

"Don't you ever cut me off again!" Scott shouted as soon as Alan arrived in the lounge. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Are you deaf?" Alan responded angrily, "I told you I was at the hospital!"

"Why?"

"Is this your favourite game or something?"

"What?"

"Twenty questions."

"Don't smart mouth me, Alan! Why were you at the hospital?"

"If you have to know, I accompanied someone that's all."

"Who?"

"Jeez! Is this a bonus round or something? It's none of your business." Alan turned to walk away from his older brother.

Scott grabbed his arm. "It is my business, I was really worried about you! Now who did you accompany?"

"A woman, happy now?" Alan yanked his arm out of his elder brother's grasp.

"A woman?"

"Yes a woman," once again Alan turned away, then he turned back again. "And if you say anything along the lines of "Tin-Tin won't be happy," I'll knock you into the next week! I'm not in the mood for jokes Scott!"

For a moment Scott stood there, stunned, then he leant forward and grabbed Alan's arm again. No one spoke to Scott Tracy like that. No one. "Don't you ever speak like that again, or I'll knock you into the next century! What the hell is wrong with you? Who was the woman you took to the hospital? Why did you take her there?"

"Alright I'll tell you, then will you get off my back? The woman's name was Cassie Morgan. I went with her to the hospital because she didn't want to be alone while she waited to see her son, lying dead in a morgue! Her son that, may I had, I watched die today! I watched while he was knocked down and killed in a hit-and-run!" Tears of anger and frustration began to spill down Alan's cheeks.

Scott let go of Alan's arm and stared at him in utter amazement. Then he wrapped his arms around his little brother and pulled him close. "Oh Alan, why didn't you tell me?"

"What difference would it have made?" Alan responded, sobbing against Scott's chest. "I was this close to saving him, Scott. This close." He made an 'o' shape with his thumb and index finger, leaving a tiny gap between the tips to indicate how close he had been. "But I still couldn't save him! In fact, I'll show you just how close I was to him." Alan pulled away from Scott's embrace and unbuttoned his dark jacket, revealing his white shirt still streaked with Sammy Morgan's blood. "See? I was close enough to him that I got his blood on me, but I wasn't close enough to save him. Funny that, isn't it?"

Scott shook his head, "No I don't think it's funny. Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you."

"Can you bring the dead back to life, Scott?"

"No, but…"

"Then you can't help me."

Scott was about to say something, when the eyes of Virgil's portrait began to flash. "Thunderbird two calling base."

"I'm going to get changed," Alan said miserably. "Call me if you need any help."

Scott watched his little brother leave the room. He intended going after him, but right now he had a job to do.

Sitting behind his father's desk, Scott responded to his brother's call. "Base here, go ahead Virgil."

"The rescue was a success Scott. We got the mountaineers off before the avalanche occurred."

"Well done, Virgil. All craft return to base."

"FAB. Are you ok, Scott?"

"Yeah I'm ok," Scott decided not to tell Virg about Alan. His brother wouldn't appreciate it, he was stubborn that way.

"Ok Scott," Virgil decided not to press the matter. "Estimated time of arrival: Three point five hours."

"FAB," Scott disconnected the call and went to his youngest brother's room and knocked on the door. "Alan let me in, please. Talk to me, it might help."

"No it won't Scott", Alan responded from the other side of the door.

Taking a deep breath, Scott keyed in the access code to his brother's room.

Alan was sitting on his bed, having changed his clothes. He was clutching the bloody shirt in his hands. Tears were running down his cheeks, dropping onto the quilt cover.

Scott sat beside Alan, wrapping his arms around him. Alan in turn, buried his head in Scott's shoulder.

"Why do I feel so guilty, Scott? I know that it wasn't really my fault, but I was so close to saving him! And that driver, that driver just ran away!"

"Why don't you tell me what happened?" Scott told Alan, gently running his hand through his little brother's hair.

Alan sniffed and nodded. "I was walking down Main street, still smarting at you guys for making me come. I was going past Main street park, when suddenly this kid runs out in front of me, chasing a soccer ball." He closed his eyes, picturing the scene "Suddenly this silver car comes speeding round the corner. The drivers on his cell phone, he's not looking at the road. I could see what was going to happen, but for some reason I couldn't move. It was like I was frozen on the spot"

Scott listened intently as Alan told his story. He was starting to feel guilty himself. Maybe if they hadn't made Alan go to the mainland, he wouldn't have witnessed the accident.

"I ran into the road," Alan continued his story. "But I was too late, and I couldn't do anything. I watched as the car hit him, I heard him scream, I heard the car skidding and it's horn sounding, then I felt the blood on my face."

"There's no blood on you're face now."

"I wiped it off at the hospital. I ran to the boy and felt his pulse, then the driver appeared behind me. He asked if the kid was alright, and I thought about yelling to him: "What sort of question is that! Does he look alright to you!"

Scott nodded, "Go on kid."

"When I told him the kid was dead," Alan continued, "he started backing away, shaking his head, as if in denial. Before I could stop him he ran back to his car and drove off, without even looking back," he shook his head angrily. "The guy was a coward! I'm telling you Scott, if I ever see him again he's gonna pay!"

"Take it easy kid, the police will catch him."

Little by little, Alan told Scott what happened. From Cassie Morgan appearing on the scene crying , to waiting at the hospital, the call he sent Scott, and finally arriving back on Tracy island.

Scott listened as Alan finished his story. He too was beginning to see why Alan felt so angry, he was feeling angry too. He may not have witnessed the accident himself, but from what Alan had told him, it definitely wasn't something anyone should have to witness.

He continued stroking Alan's hair. "Don't worry kid, he won't get away, the police are sure to catch him."

"I hope so," Alan sniffed. "For Cassie's sake."