"Alan pack" Scott demands of his youngest brother later in the evening when the house is finally empty of visitors. It has been the longest and easily worse day of each of their lives, and Scott is done.
"Why? Dad will never let me leave." Alan replies, confused.
"We are leaving in the morning, and there is no way we are leaving you here alone with him anymore." Scott insists. "I have the money to support you, without having to ask him for help. This is your one chance to get away."
"Are you serious?" Alan asks, barely able to believe that there might be a way out of this house for him. That's all he sees it as now, a building with a roof. It is no longer a home. Not without his mom.
"I am serious." Scott confirms, smiling at the first look of hope he has seen on Alans face in a long time.
"What about college?" Alan asks. He knows that it doesn't matter how much money Scott is earning he will never be able to afford to pay for Alan to attend college.
"Leave that with me, I know you have some money saved, there is no way you can live with this monster and not plan an escape. We will look at enrolling you for next September, and if you promise me that you will get a job in the mean time to help save you can live with one of us rent free" Scott tells him.
"What kind of job? No one is going to want to hire me, straight out of high school with no work experience Scott" Alan tells him, that fleeting look of hope extinguished immediately.
"Any job Allie, no you aren't likely to get hired for the next space shuttle mission, but there are hundreds of jobs you can do, and just think of the independence and life skills it will teach you" Scott insists.
"Why shouldn't he go up on the next space shuttle? We are always looking for people at NASA, why don't you come down to Houston with me? Even if they just let you sweep the floors and make coffee. You will learn a lot, and my apartment has a pull-out sofa you can sleep on" John asks.
Alan smiles, that sounds like his idea of heaven, but he has one more brother in the room, and it wouldn't be fair to accept Johns offer without hearing from Virgil. Turning to his second eldest brother with a grin.
Virgil's grin matches his, he knows he has nothing to offer Alan in terms of a place to stay or a job offer. "Well I am living in a one room motorhome with a 21-inch television, bed that doubles as a sofa and the bathroom is just a sink and toilet. There is a five-minute walk to the shower block with you get to share with my twenty colleagues. As for job prospects the only thing open is alligator wrestler as the old one got his leg ripped off!"
"I was not sold on your option until you said I could wrestle alligators, now I am torn between John and you!" Alan tells him actually breaking out into a small laugh.
"Go with John, you are not wrestling alligators" Scott tells him laughing. "Now, go and pack all of you we are getting out of here as soon as possible, I would rather spend the night at the airport than here."
*TB*
Scott finds Jeff in his office, deep in paperwork, he doesn't bother knocking. He is done with being afraid if his father, and now he is getting Alan away from him he has no reason to be afraid anymore.
"GET OUT AND KNOCK" Jeff roars when he is disturbed.
"No. I won't be staying long Jeff. I am only here to let you know that we are leaving as soon as Alan has packed. He is not staying here with you to be belittled and bullied anymore. We are done Jeff, finished, kaput. No more." Scott tells him.
Jeff stands up from behind his desk, spitting with rage. "AND YOU THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF LOOKING AFTER THAT SPOILT BRAT?" He screams, poking Scott in the chest.
Only for the first time in his life; Scott does not back down. He only nods with his resolve strengthened by his fathers' anger. "Between us we can do a much better job, without resorting to beating him if he says or does something we don't agree with"
Scott turns to leave; he is going to be free. Forever free. They are going to leave Jeff to rot in a proverbial hell of his own making and reunite with Gordon.
"YOU WALK OUT OF THIS HOUSE SCOTT AND I WILL CUT YOU ALL OFF! NO MORE MONEY, NO PRIVATE JETS, NO HOLIDAYS IN THE CARRIBEAN, AND IF YOU THINK THAT I WILL LET YOU WALTZ BACK IN HERE IN A FEW WEEKS TIME BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE REAL WORLD THEN FORGET IT" Jeff screams each word, before lunging at Scott, eyes wild with rage.
Scott easily sidesteps him, causing him to stumble and fall. Scott laughs at him, tempted to leave him lying on the floor and walk away. Only Scott is Lucile Tracy's son and not Jeffs, so he doesn't. Instead he holds a hand out for Jeff to grasp and helps him up.
"Goodbye father" Scott tells him, as he walks out the door. And he doesn't look back.
*TB*
The airport is empty when they arrive just after midnight, and they know it is going to be a long night before check-in opens, but this is cheaper than booking into a hotel and safer than staying home. Alan keeps nervously looking over his shoulder, expecting Jeff to jump out from behind a trash can and drag him back to the prison which was his former home.
"Is too late to contact Gordon?" Scott asks, looking at his watch.
"Why don't we try it?" Virgil replies with a grin, swiping his finger across the lock screen and dialling the number. A number that he has only ever had to dial once before but has memorised.
"Lieutenant Fisher speaking"
"Oh, I was looking for Commander Shore" Virgil replies confused.
"He is out with his daughter and a family friend; it is not possible to connect your call as they have requested that they do not be disturbed." Fisher replies.
"This is Virgil Tracy. I need to speak to Gordon, it is urgent. Please either put me through or ask him to call me as soon as possible" Virgil requests, desperately trying not to roll his eyes.
"Please hold, I will see if he will take your call" Fisher tells him, after checking the list of acceptable contacts for Gordon. Something Commander Shore has set up and no one is allowed to deviate from the list.
Virgil is put through to Gordon after a near ten-minute hold. Finding his brother at a restaurant with Commander Shore and Atlanta.
"Virgil?! What's happened now?" Gordon asks anxiously. His face is pale from the same lack of sleep his brothers are suffering from. And he never thought he would hear from his brothers again, but they are all crowded around Virgil's phone grinning at him.
"We have all left Jeff! We kidnapped Alan and we are gone. Following in your footsteps bro!" Virgil tells him with a laugh.
"Huh?" Gordon replies confused. "There is no way Jefferson would let you take Alan. what have you done, and please don't tell me its murder him and bury him in the yard!"
"We just didn't give him any choice, all five of us are now cut out of his will, and we have never felt freer. And you no longer have to worry about him finding out you are in contact with any of us because we don't care what he thinks!" Virgil assures him.
Gordon is astounded, he can't believe his brothers are free too. "I am so thrilled for you, and we will have to meet up once I have finished my stint. I have seven months left underwater then I am free for a month, why don't you all come over to California and you can meet Atlanta."
"Who's Atlanta?" Scott asks.
"This is Atlanta" Gordon replies proudly, shoving the phone into her face.
"Gordon!" she declares laughing, "Hi Gordons brothers, I have heard a lot about you guys"
"We have heard nothing about you, so we will ask all the questions!" Alan tells her.
"Later Allie, we have to get back to base before they throw us in jail!" Gordon tells him laughing. "Jail here is awful"
"How do you know?!" Scott demands.
"He got caught running around the base butt naked as a hazing ritual" Atlanta tells them laughing. To which they all join in.
"I hope he has told you about the time he got caught cow tipping on our neighbours farm" Virgil tells her, causing Gordon to go bright red, and Atlanta to burst into renewed giggles.
"No he didn't tell me this story" she assures them.
"Ooo how about the time he decided he was going to go vegan and released all the chickens on the farm?" John adds. "Jeff forced us all to help round them back up. To this day I can't even think about eating a chicken!"
"Did that neighbour hate you?" Atlanta asks.
"Yeah, especially after he snuck into their house on Christmas Eve and swapped all their children's stocking gifts with lumps of coal" Scott tells her.
"I have never heard any of these stories Gords!" Atlanta tells him in mock condemnation.
Gordons grin is sheepish now, "I have turned over a new leaf!" he tells her.
"Yeah right, is that why Paul won't let you in his bathroom anymore?" Atlanta reminds him.
Gordon groans, "You cover one toilet seat in clingfilm, and you're condemned for life!"
"We really have to head back now" Commander Shore announces cutting their reunion short. "Gordon will call you tomorrow and as his commanding officer I can make it happen!"
"Night guys" Gordon replies smiling. "I will call you later and I will organise getting my personal number over to you so you don't have to call through to the base every time"
"Good night Gords" they all reply.
"I love you all" Gordon tells them sincerely.
"We all love you too" They reassure him happily.
Ringing off Gordon turns to look at Atlanta. He is happier than she has ever seen him be before, and the smile lighting up his whole face makes him look even more beautiful than usual. They leave Commander Shore with the bill and walk hand in hand out of the restaurant, taking a casual slow stroll back to their shared apartment.
Atlanta leads him straight into the bedroom, mentally undressing him with her eyes. Pushing down onto the bed and whispering into his ear "So tell me more about your bad boy days"
*TB*
Alan loves Houston, thanks to Johns influence they give him a job. It isn't well paid and it isn't glamorous, and he spends more time at the end of a mop than he ever thought he would enjoy, but it is his job, and he is determined not to let anyone down. His brothers for helping him, his boss for giving him a chance but most importantly himself.
The pull-out sofa he was promised is surprisingly comfortable, and he keeps his clothes in a spare cupboard in the apartment. He has less space here than he has ever had before, and virtually no privacy, but he has never been happier.
And neither has John, he loves having Alan around and is spending the evenings with him, studying to help him prepare for college. Alan wants to follow John into space, and they are looking into affordable colleges for him, and possible scholarships. The money that they have managed to pull together between the five of them, with Gordon helping out won't even cover a single year of any course.
Until Alan has one bright idea that will guarantee him the money and decides to ask his brothers what they think during their now weekly video chat catch up.
*TB*
Alan has now been with John in Texas for 3 months and barely given his father a second thought. His only thoughts are how to put himself through college without being a burden on his brothers financially. He misses his mom, but the pain of her loss recedes every day as he finds ways to move on, while keeping her memory alive. He has even talked John into letting him redecorate the apartment. The once white walls are now a vibrant shade of red, and a portrait of the family is hanging above the sofa bed, painted by Virgil. Who has added all five brothers and their mom, there is no sign of Jeff.
Alan is enjoying a rare afternoon off, cooking a pasta bake for himself and John to have when he gets home knowing that he is due shortly for their family meeting.
John is right on time, as usual, as he hates being late for anything. "Did you cook?" John asks, sniffing the air in appreciation.
"Sure did, now come eat and then we will call our reprobate brothers" Alan replies, dishing him up a plate and setting it on the small dining table situated in the corner of the room. Squeezing down into what has become his side.
"This is good" John tells him.
"Of course it is, I made it!" Alan replies cheekily.
"Don't push your luck kiddo!" John tells him smiling.
John washes the dishes, as Alan cooked, he sees that as fair. Before they congregate in the living room for their weekly catch up.
The sofa is still set up as Alans bed and they have given up making it back into a sofa, choosing to lie on it during the evenings when they are both home. John sets up his tablet, just as Virgil requests his presence and the screen is filled with the faces of their brothers.
Gordon is still under water, but he only has a few months left now before his stint is done, he hasn't told his brothers his big news, but there is still time. But he has started to make plans for life above the sea level, he has plans to complete his Oceanography degree, and he is looking at the hydrofoil testing programme. There is a prototype speedboat capable of speeds of up to 500 knots, and he is itching to try it out.
But there is time for these revelations, right now he needs to talk to Alan. the kid is clearly hiding a big secret of his own, he knows Alan too well.
"What are you hiding Alan?" Gordon asks, jumping straight to the point.
"I have come up with an idea which if it works will pay for college" he tells them nervously.
"You are going to sell one of Virgil's kidneys on the black market?" Gordon asks.
"No!" Alan replies laughing. "Not a bad idea though"
"Hey!" Virgil interrupts. "No selling my vital organs!"
"Okay fine!" Gordon replies with a fake pout. "You are becoming a male escort?"
"Over my dead body is he!" Scott replies. "No way is my baby brother selling himself for sex"
"I agree with Scott! Gross Gordy!" Alan tells them. "No, but I really want to do this."
"Do what?" Virgil asks confused.
"I have been talking to my old team boss…" Alan tells them. nervously running his tongue over his lips. "And he thinks I could do it"
"Do what?" Virgil repeats, even more confused than before.
But realisation has dawned on Gordon. "That is a fantastic idea!"
"What is a fantastic idea?!" Virgil now demands.
"Tell him Allie" Gordon tell him, "put him out of his misery!"
"Racing" Alan replies. "I have an offer from a top formula one team for this season, and they are offering me five hundred thousand dollars to complete the season. With an additional thousand for every point I score as a performance incentive. One year and I can pay for college."
"Well it is certainly better than prostitution!" Scott replies with a grin. Racing is safer now than ever before, with the halo device and HANS system protecting drivers from serious injuries.
"Gordon knows that I was on the verge of an F1 drive last year" Alan tells them. "I can do this"
"He sure can" Gordon replies smiling. "Let me know when the races are as I will have to organise my big event around it as I want you all there"
"What big event?!" Alan asks in surprise.
"My wedding" Gordon replies.
"Wedding?! You are getting married?! Who too?!" Alan asks, realising that sounds stupid the second the words are out of his mouth. "No wait don't tell me, Atlanta!" He adds quickly. While his brothers all burst out laughing.
"Yep I proposed on New Year's Eve, I have been trying to tell you, but I didn't want to say the words out loud in case it made them untrue, but yeah and I want you all there. I was thinking that Virgil can be my best man, John can be the ring bearer and Scott can be an usher. That way you are all apart of my big day."
"What about me?!" Alan asks indignantly.
"Oh yeah, how would you like to be my flower girl?" Gordon was hoping he would ask!
"Ha bloody ha" Alan replies.
"Ungrateful! You can just be another usher then" Gordon tells him with a grin. "Paul is going to officiate. This is amazing, he registered online to do it, you guys will love Paul, he is the best friend I have ever had."
"Didn't you booby trap his toilet?" Scott asks.
"Yeah. He likes a practical joke too!" Gordon tells him. "You know me, I wouldn't prank anyone who couldn't take it, it's not worth the hassle! He has helped me out with the degree"
"You have a degree?" John asks. "But you have never been to college?"
"Not yet but I am getting there, it's a perk of the job. They are funding my Oceanography degree and let me tell you living down here has really helped. I get to take the sub out with Paul and help map trenches unseen by man before." Gordon tells them with pride.
"Did you see any mermaids?" Alan asks curiously.
"No" Gordon replies with a hint of sadness. "We went to Scotland on our last leave to try and hunt down the Loch Ness Monster but didn't have any luck!"
Virgil has been listening to this conversation with interest, enjoying being an observer. He will never get tired of listening to the banter between his brothers. He is the happiest he has ever been. His weight is maintaining at a just below healthy level, but he doesn't mind the extra pounds as much as he did before. The bridge will be completed in weeks, and Dean has already got him signed up for his next big project. Which will even see him get a small house for accommodation and not a caravan!
They continue to catch up for another hour, the conversation turning to what Alan is going to spend his money on after he has completed his college degree. None of the suggestions are remotely sensible but they laugh a lot and before they know it, it is nearly midnight in Texas and John finds himself falling asleep on Alans shoulder.
Hanging up, Alan looks down at John who is snoring gently. Slipping away from his side and tucking the blanket around him, leaving him to sleep while he quietly goes about cleaning the kitchen and goes to sleep in Johns bed.
*TB*
Alan wins the opening race in Melbourne six weeks later, from Victor Gomez. Standing up on the top step of the podium in front of a crowd of seventy thousand fans, Alan grins out as his adoring public, leaping down from the top step with the champagne and proceeding to soak his team down below. He doesn't pick up on the daggers from Gomez, who was the favourite for the title before Alan showed up and blew him away.
Follow up wins in China, Bahrain, Russia, Barcelona, Monaco and Germany with a second place in Canada give Alan a comfortable lead even with the retirement in Austria and a shocker of a race in the rain in Hungary where he spun early and spent the rest of the race playing catch up, finally finishing in tenth place for a single and possibly crucial point, the last race before the summer break and everyone is talking about the greatest rookie that the sport has ever seen.
Already being compared to the sports greats, thanks to his brothers bringing him back to earth and never letting him get involved in the party scene that surrounds him always ready with some brotherly banter for him.
He has a four-week summer break during the season after the Hungarian Grand Prix and he needs it. The seasons pace is relentless, and he can't wait until he is fast asleep on Johns sofa again! It is nearly two in the morning when he stumbles in through the door, exhausted and collapses onto his makeshift bed not even bothering to take his shoes off.
He has never been this happy, he has everything he has ever wanted right here. His brothers in his life being the loving supporting unit they were before Scott first left home, together they are working through the pain of losing their mother. He has had no contact with his father in several months, and he doesn't miss him and he knows his brothers are happier without him in their lives.
*TB*
"FREEDOM!" Gordon declares on his first day on dry land the second he steps out of Stingray and into the lounge, grabbing Atlanta and spinning her around above his head before lowering her to the ground.
"Do you mind Tracy? You are still on duty!" Commander Shore tells him with a grin.
"Sorry Sir" Gordon replies with an unapologetic grin.
"No you aren't!" Commander Shore laughs. The transformation in Gordon has been wonderful to see. The sad, defeated young man who cried on his shoulder eighteen months ago has been consigned to history and replaced with a happy, confident, loving young man. "What are you doing with your leave?"
"Going down to Texas as Alans season is on a break, Scott has some leave to use up and Virgil's project is a shopping mall an hours drive from John so it makes more sense for us to go there. Besides Atlanta has never seen Texas" Gordon tells him with a grin.
"Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do" Commander Shore tells them smiling.
"We will see you in four weeks father" Atlanta tells him. She too is smiling, "I will drop Tornado off with you"
"Bring her to my apartment and leave her food and cat litter where I can find it" Commander Shore replies.
Getting Tornado into his basket is harder than the initial W.A.S.P officers' exam, as the large black and white cat gives them the run around for nearly twenty minutes before being wrestled into the carrier by Gordon, who is nursing the scratches on his hand as he carries the cat down the road to Commander Shores apartment.
"I will see you in a few weeks Tornado baby" Atlanta tells the cat, who is used to travelling between the two apartments and is happily making herself at home on the bed licking the her paw and cleaning the back of her ears.
Gordon gives his furry step daughter a quick scratch behind the ears and gets a purr in return to let him know that she forgives him for forcing her into the basket, while Atlanta sets up her food and water bowls in the kitchen and a clean litter tray, before giving her one final stroke before they leave for the airport for a family vacation.
*TB*
Jeff can't stand it anymore. The house feels so hollow now, he watches every single one of Alans races just to get a glimpse of his youngest son. None of the boys have contacted him, not once. There is something deep in his gut telling him that it is all his own fault. That he drove these boys away and now he is reaping the seeds he had sown so many years ago.
Leaving a message with his secretary, Jeff decides what he needs is a vacation. Jumping into his plane that familiar happy rush of being in the air fills his heart with an adrenaline he has missed as he flies in the general direction of Australia, but he doesn't really have a plan in mind.
The engine starts to grumble, and a warning light flashes on his dashboard, forcing him to make an emergency landing in a dense jungle.
Climbing out of the cockpit, Jeff tries to figure out where he is, but he is surrounded by trees in all directions, and his right ankle is badly sprained. Putting weight on his injured ankle causes him to cry out in pain and sit down on a tree stump. The only thing remaining from a once majestic tree.
Jeff knows he is stranded here, and worse no one is going to be bothering to look for him.