Alan sat in his bed watching as the nurses Karen and Candy worked on removing his IV for the immunosuppressant drugs. Karen was quick about removing the needle from the vein in Alan's arm, applying pressure to the small hole before blood could try escaping. Candy hummed as she worked, which was oddly comforting to Alan. Once the nurses had finished, they grabbed up their equipment and left the room and Alan to his own devices.

Since hearing the news straight from his father's mouth about his required appearance at the courthouse for the trial against Robert, Alan couldn't have been wound up tighter. He felt like a spring, winding up tighter and tighter before finally springing free. He didn't want to go to the courthouse, face Robert and retell his tale. It scared him to see Robert again especially after the last verbal threat he'd issued to Alan, before the fire.

Robert wasn't the typical bully to make idle threats. Sure he liked to talk big when they were in school, but he still followed through on some threats, one of which as Alan believed was setting the fire to try and kill him. Robert had threatened that Alan would be burned and he was…how else could Robert have meant it? There had already been the rumors being passed around about Alan and Fermat being more than friends, though when everyone saw how the two were around each other – nobody believed the lies any longer. Alan felt conflicted. He was tempted to just tell his dad to throw in the damn towel, change his mind about suing Robert and just hiding in the hospital until he was healed…but that wasn't what Alan truly wanted. He wanted to hear the jury conclude whether or not Robert was guilty or innocent in the eyes of the public.

Shifting in his bed, Alan grimaced as he moved his legs. They were hurting more today, and they were itching something fierce. Moving his blankets slightly, Alan looked at his legs, allowing his eyes to go down to his feet, which were bandaged up tightly. He didn't know how he was expected to get up in front of the courts and testify; he couldn't even walk let alone stand. He hoped he wouldn't be asked to show his injuries, he didn't know if he could.

Chewing on his lip Alan tried to figure out what he was going to say. Imagine his surprise when a knock at the door sounded and in walked the nurse, his dad and none other than his and Fermat's lawyer. Suddenly feeling shy, Alan tugged his blanket up over his lap – cognizant that he had taken off his gown and tossed it in the chair across the room because of how hot and itchy it made him feel.

"Dad? What are you doing here?" Alan asked when he saw his lawyer turn his back to offer Alan some privacy while the nurse retrieved his gown to put on him.

"Barrett wanted to meet with you to cover your side of the story and how you should answer. Your doctor cleared it as long as Barrett was dressed out." Jeff explained as he helped Alan thread his arms into the gown sleeves, taking the time to tie one of the ties in the back so the gown would quit slipping down his shoulders.

"Okay?" Alan asked, unsure about whether or not he was ready to talk or not.

When Barrett turned around, he looked at Alan with a gentle eye and pulled up a chair. He sat before the unsure teen and appeared to smile at him. The mask obscured his face, but the calming body language told Alan not to be so scared.

"Alan, I know that what we'll be talking about will be difficult…but I want you to know that I am on your side. You don't have to be afraid, I want you to speak your mind." Barrett said, gently speaking to the teen.

When Alan nodded, that told Jeff and Barrett that Alan was accepting of his position. It's not like he had much choice in the matter unfortunately.

"Alright Alan, let's get started covering how things are expected to proceed in the courtroom." Barrett said as he relinquished his seat to Jeff in order to stand up and pretend they were actually in the courtroom at the time of the trial. Alan nodded and took a breath before he straightened up. If all they were doing was role playing for the moment, Alan felt he could live with it.

Barrett walked around the room for a few moments before turning to face Alan. Looking at Alan, Barrett spoke up.

"Please state your full name and age for the courts please."

Alan sucked in a breath before he spoke up. "My name is Alan Shepard Tracy and I am 15 years old."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Gordon came up from beneath the water, blinking quickly to try and clear the water from his eyes. Sucking in a deep breath, Gordon shook his head like a dog and grinned when Virgil groaned.

"Gordo, did you have to shake? You got my book all wet." Virgil mumbled as he used the hem of his shirt to dry the droplets of water that landed on his book.

"You know, I don't think your books should be so attracted to me like that." Gordon replied with a snicker as he ducked to dodge Virgil's flying flip-flop.

"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Virgil cried with an amusing blush spread across his cheeks. "God! For a twenty year old you sure aren't very mature."

"Hey, don't blame me…blame my status. I am a warm blooded male after all." Gordon replied before ducking down under the water until only the top of his head and eyes were visible.

"So is Alan, yet I don't hear those kinds of things come from his mouth!" Virgil said in a condescending tone.

"You shouldn't. The kid is fifteen, if you're hearing those kinds of things come from his mouth then we'll need to be having a sit down man to man talk – all of us with our dearest baby brother…now wouldn't we?" Gordon asked as he saw Scott walk out onto the deck, cell phone held to his ear as a look of disapproval crossed his features. "Who's Scott talking to? Do you know?"

Virgil turned at the change of topic and looked back at his big brother to see him leaning against the support beam on the lanai. He did indeed look dissatisfied at whomever he was talking with and nobody could do anything until their older brother got off the phone. John was sitting up at the lanai with his laptop and he turned to look at his brother, ready to question until Scott held up a finger, signaling to wait a moment.

Gordon hauled himself from the pool and together Virgil and Gordon walked up to the lanai. The moment Scott disconnected the phone call, the brothers were on him like bees to honey.

"Who was that?" Virgil inquired.

"What'd they say?" Gordon asked.

"Tell us Scott!" John urged when he saw how hard Scott was holding his phone.

"That was dad." Scott replied before he sank wearily into his seat.

"What's going on?" Virgil asked. "Is it Alan?"

"Yeah, it's Alan…but I don't like it." Scott said as he looked back at his phone, pulling up an image of he and Alan, the two of them goofing off just around Thanksgiving break. It was rare that the Thunderbirds weren't called out on a holiday and as a result Scott and Alan got to spend some time together, just the two of them. Virgil was surprisingly helping Onaha in the kitchen at her request and Gordon was outside in the pool with Tin-Tin and Fermat. That left Alan and Scott to goof off and they went up to Scott's bedroom to watch videos on Scott's laptop. After laughing for several minutes, Scott decided to document the moment with a selfie.

Alan tucked himself up under Scott's arm, snuggling in comfortably as Scott hugged his baby brother close before snapping the picture. Both brothers smiled widely and Scott made the picture the background on his phone. As he gazed at the picture, he picked out little similarities he had with his little brother. One such similarity was the fact that they shared their mother's smile.

Scott smiled in the picture, the laugh lines around his mouth showing prominently, Alan's dimples on display for the world. It was probably one of the rare times that Scott actually got to see Alan's real smile. The youngster didn't smile much anymore unless it was a fake smile or a grin.

"What did dad tell you Scott?" John asked calmly, breaking Scott out of his reverie.

"The judge issued an order, mandating that both Alan and Fermat be present to testify sometime in the next couple weeks." Scott relayed. "The judge overruled dad, Brains, and their doctor's refusal to let them participate."

"What?!" Virgil growled as he felt anger at the judge for compromising his two little brother's health like that. Neither was healed enough to even leave the hospital, let alone stand trial…yet the judge was ordering them to do so.

"How is that even legal?!" Gordon asked sharply.

"I don't know, but the judge has made her decision and dad called to tell me that they've taken Alan off the immunosuppressant medications." Scott said as he looked at his brothers seriously. "Barrett even got the okay from Alan's doctor and he and dad sat in with him today going over how the trial is supposed to go today."

Really?" Gordon asked, mildly surprised. "I guess the kid is really going to do it."

"I don't think he's got much choice in the matter. The judge made the decision for him." Scott said as he wrinkled his nose in distaste over the situation.

"So when are we heading back?" John asked even as he reclined back in the lounge chair.

"Dad has given strict orders that we are to go about our plans and just stay here until Saturday. He said it's not like we're gonna be able to help Alan much when he's just letting the meds leave his system." Scott said.

Gordon raised his hand like a kid asking a question in school. The three eldest looked at the redhead with a question in their eyes. Gordon took that as permission to ask his question and looked around at his brothers. "What is Alan going to wear? I mean it's not like sweat pants and a loose tee is going to be looked at like appropriate court attire."

The four gathered brothers all looked at each other, shaking his head Virgil got up and left the lanai. When asked where he was going, Virgil replied but it sounded less than pleased.

"To go see if I can find Alan his baggiest formal clothing, there's got to be something that he hasn't quite grown into yet."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan sat in the sun lounge, surrounded by his new friends. Brook was sitting on the bed, pressed against Alan's side. Skye and Chad were snuggling on the couch while Danny and Ben sat on one of the opposite couches. The older boy treated Ben like a little brother and so the two shared a seat on the opposite couch, looking at Alan as he told them of the judge's decision to testify against the kid that was accused of having started the fire.

Brook was holding Alan's hands, despite the fact that neither of them had admitted they developed a bit of a crush on the other. Alan didn't care that Brook was missing two fingers on one of her hands, and Brook didn't seem to care that Alan was burned of half of his body. Same went for Chad and Skye, neither of them seemed to care the other was burned and in a state of disrepair. All that mattered to them was that they cared for the other as much as they did. They were in this together and they'd stay together as long as they were able.

"So when do you have to go do this?" Danny asked as he looked at Alan and the semi-ball he'd curled into.

"Sometime next week. I wish I didn't have to do this. I don't want to see him." Alan said as Brook wrapped him in a gentle embrace. Alan would admit it; he snuggled with the girl when she was within arm's length. She just made him feel so comfortable.

"What did he do to you that you'd be so scared of him…besides the obvious?" Skye asked, perking up at Alan's insecure voice.

Alan ducked his head, resting it on Brook's shoulder. He didn't want to talk about it. It was painful.

"We can't help you get over this unless you tell us Alan. We're your friends." Chad said as he looked at his new found friend. The younger boy looked emotionally torn up and terrified. Chad knew the look of a bullied kid, he'd seen plenty of them when he'd been in school. "Whatever he did or said can't be that bad, what could he have said to you that would make you clam up?"

"I can't say…he'll kill me if I say." Alan said, sure that Robert would follow through in his threat.

"He can't hurt you, you're safe here in the hospital." Danny said. "You've got us to back you up."

"Please tell us Alan. What'd he say to you that'd make you so scared?" Brook commented.

"He said he knows people…could have someone take me out and I can't do that to my family. Please, don't say anything that will tip him off!" Alan was scared, honestly and truthfully. He knew Robert carried out a majority of his threats and Alan didn't want to take that chance of hurting his family more than he already had.

"Have you told the police?" Brook asked as her heart clenched in her chest at the blatant death threat.

"No, are you kidding? If I said anything to police I'd probably be dead by now." Alan replied fearfully. He had no doubts that Robert had connections and he wasn't willing to risk it.

"You need to tell Alan. That could be just one more nail in the coffin that seals his fate." Sky said as her nares flared. In the few days she'd known Alan she'd become protective of him same as Danny, Ben, Chad and Brook…they all cared for each other because they knew the struggles they faced. To be honest, Skye could see them all staying in contact even after getting out of the hospital and resuming their old lives.

"If I tell, I'm dead." Alan said.

"No you won't. If necessary you can move in with one of us and we'll make sure you're safe. If we tell the doctor your fears and get the police in on this, I'm sure the police will order a protective detail for you." Danny said as he sat up straighter on the couch. "I'll even volunteer to be your roommate. I've got my crutches and those make a damn good weapon. Nobody is going to hurt you Alan."

Alan nodded solemnly, which prompted Danny to call over one of the nurses to call the cops. They needed to be told so Alan would feel safe again.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Officer Pellegrini sighed as he stood up from his desk. Grasping his jacket, he put it on and checked to make sure he had his keys. He'd just gotten a call from the doctor and had been told that Alan wanted to speak with him. The kid had every right to be scared from what the doctor told him. He grabbed up Lulu Bell's leash and prompted her to follow him out of the precinct and to the squad car.

Starting the vehicle, Elijah couldn't help but wonder it the accused would actually be locked up where not even crows could their droppings on him. He believed Alan and from reports that he'd gathered from students at the destroyed school, everything Alan said was true. According to some students he'd talked to, Robert always had a chip on his shoulder and if anybody even so much as looked at him wrong he'd deem them incompetent or some other such nonsense and be an evil little snot. There were only a few select individuals that got the stamp of approval from Robert to be his friend and the numbers were so small that Elijah wondered if he'd blackmailed them into being his friends.

A few of those friends that Robert had had squealed the moment they saw the uniform and badge. How they knew of Robert's bullying Alan, how he'd sworn them to secrecy and then the kicker of it all – how he'd threatened them with bodily harm if they tried to defend Alan. A lot of the boys that were friends of Robert all mutually agreed that Robert was nuttier than a fruitcake and when asked if they'd be willing to testify, they all immediately clammed up.

Elijah managed to talk to a few of the boys and got them to agree to speak on behalf of Alan; when they'd been given the promise of protection that made them just that much more ready to speak. So when Elijah got the call from Alan's doctor, that the kid wanted to speak to him involving something with the case, Elijah knew it was no laughing matter and he told his chief before leaving.

Walking into the hospital, Elijah put on the mandatory scrubs and gown before he went into the sun lounge to talk to Alan. The kid was surrounded by a bunch of other kids and Elijah introduced himself to the other kids.

"So Alan, what did you want to tell me?" Elijah asked as he pulled out a little handheld recorder.

After pressing record, Elijah repeated his question and let Alan tell his tale. The other kids stayed quiet, but Elijah could tell they were offering Alan the support he needed. The girl sitting on the bed was hugging Alan, letting the scared teen hold on tightly as he told his story. The two boys on the couch would nod at Alan when he'd stutter to a stop during his story and the boy and girl cuddling on the couch would smile reassuringly with a thumbs up until Alan felt he could continue on. Needless to say, the other kids offered the support Alan needed.

When he'd finished telling his story, Danny who'd been prepared stood up and grasped a cup of water before handing it to the shaky teen. Brook was whispering and crooning softly to Alan as he trembled. Elijah nodded his thanks before he dismissed himself, with words of praise. Soothing Alan with the same promise he'd given those boys that agreed to testify against Robert for Alan's benefit; the promise of protection. Elijah was heading back to the precinct and he planned on calling up a judge friend of his for an order of protection for Alan and if necessary, Elijah would return and park his butt in front of Alan's hospital room to protect the scared teen, hell he'd even go so far to let Lulu Bell sleep in Alan's room if it made the kid feel safer having a large retriever act as sentry.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Jeff groaned as his cell phone rang, waking him up from a fitful sleep. He turned on the bedside lamp, aware that his ringing cell phone and regrettably woken Brains and the genius was rubbing at bleary spectacle-less eyes. Picking up the phone, Jeff grumbled.

"He-llo?"

"Dad? I'm sorry, I forgot about the change in time zone." Virgil's voice came through the line and Jeff rubbed his eyes as he sat up.

"Don't worry about it, I wasn't sleeping much." Jeff replied as he yawned, wide awake now and he gestured at Brains to go back to sleep. Brains nodded approvingly and let his head drop back into his pillow with a muffled 'whump' sound. "What's going on Virgil?"

"I was calling to find out if you had the number to the guy who alters our suits…I was looking through Alan's closet to find him a suit that he could wear for court and all of them would be really tight on Alan's wounds. I wanted to see about getting either one of his suits altered to accommodate his injuries or have one made to be loose but professional." Virgil said as he stood in Alan's room, looking at the half dozen suits that he knew fit Alan, but fit him too good. Alan needed an outfit that wouldn't restrict his movement nor put undue pressure on his wounds. "Then there's the matter of shoes."

Jeff grabbed his robe and put it on before stepping into his slippers. He wanted to step out of the room so his talking wouldn't keep Brains awake. Lord knows the genius had stayed up many a night talking with Jeff over their sons and how they'd adapt to life outside the hospital when it was time for them to be discharged.

Making sure he had his room key, Jeff stepped into the hall and locked the door. Walking down the hall, Jeff entered his son's hotel room, knowing they were back at home. He didn't want to be caught outside wandering in his pajamas so he'd gone to his son's room so he could talk to Virgil without waking anybody or having someone take a picture of the great Jeff Tracy wearing his Superman pajamas that his sons had gotten him as a gag gift for his birthday.

"Come again Virgil?" Jeff asked as he turned on the lights in his son's room before taking a seat on one of their unmade beds.

"Shoes dad. What is Alan supposed to wear to the court room?" Virgil asked as he still stood in Alan's bedroom looking in his closet for something appropriate to wear to the courthouse for the trial.

"Oh…" Jeff hadn't thought about that and now that it'd been brought to his attention, even he was curious. "I was just going to let him wear slippers. He's not going to be up walking around and regular shoes or dress shoes are going to be too uncomfortable."

"So in the meantime, do you have a plan for what Alan is going to wear clothing wise? I mean it's not like Alan can go in buck naked or in his gown for that matter." Virgil replied as he thumbed through Alan's wardrobe, shaking his head at the many pairs of Bermuda shorts and swim trunks Alan had in his closet alone. The kid didn't own full length blue jeans, since it was always too hot to wear them on the island and if he was on the mainland he typically wore his school uniform, or Bermuda shorts and a t-shirt.

"What are you thinking of? Personally I'd be fine with him wearing black sweatpants or a pair of his most loose fitting pajamas; I don't think he needs to get all dressed up for the occasion. He's in the hospital and if we're trying to get the jury on his side I don't think it'd be wise for him to come in dressed like he's a business man. He's a kid, injured and in the hospital because of the actions of another. Let him look the part and be comfortable in doing so." Jeff said as he tried to imagine how Alan will be feeling on that day. If he was wearing a suit on top of all the injuries and bandages, he'd likely be about ready to die for discomfort and heat. No Jeff wanted Alan to be as comfortable as possible, even if it meant Alan came in wearing just his bathrobe.

"Okay…I'll look through his dresser to see if I can find him something more comfortable to wear instead of dressy." Virgil said as he closed Alan's closet door.

"Thank you Virgil, for being on top of this." Jeff thanked his middle son. He hadn't thought about what Alan was going to wear, now that he had he was glad that his son that had a lick of fashion sense and a caring bone in his body decided to fulfill the search for courtroom appropriate attire.

"No problem dad. And I'm sorry for calling you so late. Honestly, I did forget about the change in time zone." Virgil apologized, before exchanged farewell words with his dad and hung up. Jeff looked around the room his sons shared and chuckled to himself wryly. Honestly if it wasn't for Onaha and her saint like quality, his son's bedrooms would suffer for it.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan rolled his shoulders and sighed, looking down to see the police dog Lulu Bell sleeping languidly on the bed. She was a great bed partner and Alan couldn't help but feel excited for his baby bunny that he'd get to keep as soon as they were old enough to separate from their mother. He also couldn't help but to feel excited for the dog his dad decided they as a family would get to assist in rescues for IR as well as just being an all-around companion animal for their family. There hadn't been a pet in the family since they left Kansas, leaving Comet behind to live with their grandma.

Gently stroking Lulu Bell's snout, Alan smiled. Lulu Bell was an excellent dog and she was so loving and affectionate. Elijah showed Alan a couple of tricks that Lulu Bell knew and those amused Alan to no end. Including the trick play dead. Lulu Bell was a good actor and Elijah pretended to point a gun at her and by gun Alan means his fingers. He voiced the words bang and Lulu Bell played along, pretending to be shot and dropping to the floor dramatically.

Alan had been in awe when Elijah shared that that trick by itself had actually saved Lulu Bell's life. Back before becoming one of the many officers in the arson squad, Elijah had been part of the drug squad and he and Lulu Bell had been part of a shootout. Elijah had seen a guy pointing his gun at Lulu Bell, about ready to kill the dog and Elijah had yelled bang just before the man could pull the trigger. Lulu Bell dropped to the ground, all play and the guy who'd been about to shoot the dog thought she'd been hit by a stray bullet. Little that he knew the dog was playing and when he'd gotten close enough to inspect the dead dog, she'd lunged up and latched onto his arm. The man was collared by police and taken in for pedaling meth.

So after Elijah showed Alan all the tricks Lulu Bell knew, it was no surprise when offered the boy agreed to the dog keeping him company for the night and foreseeable future. The dog was well behaved enough to stay quiet and out of the way when attention wasn't on her but brave and fearless enough to protect if a threat came near. So Elijah felt comfortable enough with leaving the dog in Alan's room with him. Especially while he sat in the hall with one of his police buddies, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious despite Robert not knowing that Alan had told.

Lulu Bell came awake with a whiffle sound. Her tongue which had been poking out of her mouth, keeping Alan quiet and amused was pulled back in her mouth with a wide yawn, showing off fearsome canines. She stood up and gave a stretch before walking up further on Alan's bed and laying down after walking a circle, nestled comfortably under Alan's arm. Alan shuffled down deeper in his bed, so that he was face to face with the police dog and he smiled when Lulu Bell's pink wet tongue lapped across his face before both gave a peaceful sigh and fell asleep.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

So it was a couple of days later before Alan was permitted to leave the hospital for the night. His dad was given a bag of various pills, vitamins, antibiotics the like as well as the dreaded and refused anti-psychotics that Alan didn't take and refused to. Despite Jeff saying he wouldn't approve of Alan taking them, the doctor gave them regardless, knowing that this trial could send Alan into a PTSD attack and the boy could very well become psychotic like he'd done several weeks back.

The brothers had returned to the mainland since and they'd been there to help when Alan was brought to the hotel. Once Alan had made it to the hotel, via hospital para-transport he was settled into his room by his father and brothers. He'd be sharing a room with his grandmother, not that Alan minded. He adored his grandmother and she'd raised him for a brief spell. Virgil insisted on staying in the room with grandma and Alan, since as Virgil pointed out – Alan would need to be carried to and from the bathroom when he needed to go and their grandma though strong couldn't pick up and carry Alan when he had to go. Needless to say, Alan threatened to destroy Virgil's piano if any word got back to their brothers of how Virgil had to help him do pretty much everything.

As it were, Virgil was carrying Alan out of the bathroom after the kid had woke him up whimpering about having a stomach ache and needing to use the facilities…bad. Virgil was just getting the kid settled back to bed when their grandma came awake and she'd tutted after Alan as Virgil was getting him situated in bed. Checking that Alan would be comfortable through the night, dressed in only a loose fitting t shirt and boxers, Virgil went and turned out the bathroom light and crawling into bed with his grandma. Alan was getting a bed to himself so there wasn't the risk of anyone hitting him when he was asleep and causing more pain.

AN: So there you have it, Alan is out of the hospital and in the hotel with his family for however short his time will be. Finding out that Robert has threatened Alan more than he's let on was a bit of a twist I hadn't planned on putting in the story. But I wanted to build up on why Alan is afraid of Robert and doesn't like talking about him...hell I don't even like talking about the girl that tortured me in high school - so I can understand where Alan's coming from. However, you can also see how Elijah cares for the victims of any case he handles. He took initiative to make Alan feel safe for the few remaining days he was in the hospital leading up the the trial and his required testimony against Robert.

Hope to see some reviews and hope ya'll enjoy!