The phone rang at the Tracy homestead in Kansas. The house was quiet except for the quiet shuffling of slipper clad feet making their way down the stairs. Ringing continuously, the phone was finally answered by John. He was barely awake as he yawned before he spoke into the receiver.

"Tracy residence?" John swallowed shallowly as he listened to the voice that spoke on the other line. Eyes bugging wide at what the caller said had John smiling wider that was possible. "Really? It took?!"

John was more than elated as he hung up the phone to hear that Alan's last graft surgery was a success. He, Virgil, their dad and grandma had remained in Kansas knowing there was nothing but waiting in the lobby or family waiting room for their three boys to get out of surgery. Brains had kept tabs throughout the surgery and he'd kept the family appraised to what was going on behind closed doors.

Now John was talking with Scott who'd called to pass along the good news. Alan was sore as was to be expected, and he could barely move…again something fully expected but it'd gone past the twelve hour mark and Alan hadn't suffered any negative setbacks.

"How are you and Gordo doing?" John asked, wanting to know how each of his brothers were doing. He knew he himself was sore after the surgery, but then he was curious about his brothers and how they fared.

"This surgery was a pain in my ass." Scott muttered. He himself wasn't allowed to sit up since he'd had surgery along his hip and part of his buttock…needless to say he was down for the count same as Alan. Gordon would be up walking around in hours since the skin was taken from just his legs. The recovery time would be noticeably quicker than what Scott or Alan for that matter had.

"I'll bet it was. How're you holding up anyhow?" John questioned as he wandered into the kitchen to start the coffee pot. Thankfully he wasn't using his grandmother's outdated corded phone to talk to Scott, he'd feel terrible racking up the long distance. He was fortunate the Kansas town their grandmother resided was a couple years into the technological era and at least had a cell phone tower that the cell signal could ping off of – giving off decent service.

"I'm okay. This is nothing." Scott said as he heaved a sigh. "Alan's got it much worse than me. It hurts now, but I'll be able to get up and walk around soon. Alan is still confined to bed and he won't be allowed to really be up and around for a few more weeks at the very least."

"I know Scott, but we still have to count our blessings. Alan is here and he isn't going anywhere." John soothed. He knew Scott was still bothered by the dream he'd had several months back about Alan killing himself.

"I just want us all to be able to go home and forget this whole thing happened. I mean, imagine how this distance is affecting not only Alan, but Fermat too. Poor kids are both probably bored out of their minds." Scott said, for the first time in a long time thinking of Fermat. The younger boy was very much like a brother for them all and Scott couldn't believe he hadn't called to check up on Fermat even once since he'd been put in the hospital to be put on meds that would lower his and Gordon's immune systems enough that antibodies wouldn't recognize the donated skin as a foreign object. "Have you heard anything from Fermat?"

"No, come to think of it. I heard from Brains earlier, that's how I knew Alan's surgery went off without a hitch. But Brains didn't give an indication how Fermat was doing."

"I can't believe I haven't called him to see how he's doing. He's like family to us and yet I forgot to call him just to see how he's holding up." Scott growled. He was angry at himself for forgetting.

"So, call him after we get off of here. It's not gonna kill you to talk on the phone for a few minutes with Fermat. Hell, he might even enjoy hearing from you." John said as he turned to stare at the coffee pot – it was percolating slowly and John found himself wishing he could make it go faster with just his mind.

"Okay, well I'm going to get off of here with you and call Ferm. I'm sure he thinks we're mad at him or something." Scott said as he hovered his finger over the disconnect button. He needed to call Fermat if only to touch base with him. Selecting the auto-mic, Scott spoke into the microphone of his computer. "Call Fermat"

The computer rang for a few moments, before the words connecting flashed across his screen. The camera came to life with a flurry of motion as Fermat and his bedhead greeted the Thunderbird 1 pilot. "G' M-Morning…"

Scott smiled as he remembered exactly why he loved the kid like another little brother. The kid didn't act like he had to wear a mask in front of Scott, he'd known the pilot since he'd practically been in diapers.

"Morning Fermat, sorry I didn't mean to wake you." Scott apologized.

"N-No, it's okay. I w-was just catching a n-nap after t-therapy." Fermat said as he reached blindly for his glasses that hung on the collar of his hospital gown. Once he had the frames settled across the bridge of his nose, he blinked owlishly at Scott before offering up a tired smile. "H-Hi Scott."

"Hey Fermat…sorry for not calling you these last few days…." Scott started to apologize but was stopped when Fermat held up a hand to stop the apology.

""Don't w-worry about it Scott. I k-know you've h-had your mind e-elsewhere." Fermat said as he reached under his glasses to rub at his eyes.

"So, therapy huh?" Scott inquired, smoothly changing the subject.

"Uh-huh. D-Doctor wants me to k-keep working on my calf m-muscle so we know t-there isn't any lasting d-damage." Fermat replied as he grimaced. "It hurts w-when it stretches o-out."

Scott frowned at hearing the boy who was like a brother was also in pain like Alan, he and Gordon were.

"Have they told you why it still hurts?" Scott asked, sure the muscle shouldn't still be hurting so many months after the fire and the surgery.

"They t-think it's because of t-the surgical repair and I'm a-at the age where I s-should be getting m-my growth spurt." Fermat said softly. He really wasn't looking forward to his growth spurt, whenever that was. He was witness to Alan's growth spurts and he figured that with the additional fact that he'd torn a muscle escaping the fire that it'd be far from pleasant when he hit his growth spurt.

"Wow, so what are they doing to help?" Scott asked as he wondered how the surgery and injury might affect Fermat's height.

Fermat gave a shrug at that. "T-They have me u-undergoing therapy and h-have me on muscle r-relaxants and pain m-medications. T-there isn't much t-that they can do t-to help me."

"Fermat…" Scott started to say, his voice very sympathetic but again Fermat held up a hand.

"I don't n-need anyone's p-pity. It'll b-be a real pain, b-but I'll get over i-it." Fermat said, silencing any further sympathetic or pitying statements.

"I don't pity you Fermat, I just wish there was more I could do to help you." Scott said softly. The look of Fermat's face softened marginally before Fermat dropped his gaze to his lap.

"If y-you want to help m-me, then do w-what you can to m-make sure Alan c-can get better a-and come back to k-keep me c-company." Fermat stuttered as he spoke. He missed Alan and was ready to have him back.

"Not having Alan around is really bumming you out huh?" Scott asked as he gazed sadly at the boy who was like Alan's twin in everything but looks and thought processes. At Fermat's pitiful nod, Scott wanted more than anything to throttle Robert for separating the boys so drastically.

"I want m-my best friend b-back." Fermat said softly, stutter barely present as his grief was more pronounced.

"You'll get him back Fermat. As soon as Alan is healed and he's taken off the immunosuppressant medications…it's only a little while longer." Scott said, trying to appease Fermat who obviously missed his friend more than the air they breathed. "So, how are you feeling about your dad picking you up tomorrow for the trial?"

The look on Fermat's face told Scott exactly how Fermat felt about the trial in which he was being made to testify what he knew about why Robert could have possibly wanted to intentionally cause harm or bring death unto Alan.

"I-I'm t-terrified." Fermat replied as he began to shake nervously. He really didn't want to testify the day after tomorrow but he was being made to. Being made to leave the safety and security of the hospital to sit in a loud and nerve-racking courtroom listening to people give testimonies before he'd have to testify. Robert would be there. And he was someone Fermat didn't wish to see…ever…again…as long as he lived. "Do I h-have to t-testify?"

"I'm afraid you do Fermat. I don't need to remind you that Alan did it too and I know yours and Alan's friends will be there since they have to testify too. From what your lawyer is saying, even the Brown brothers are testifying against Robert." Scott said, which surprised Fermat.

"R-Really?" Fermat asked as he tilted his head in question. "W-Why?"

"Because it was a stipulation if Barrett took the 15 years jail time off the table." Scott informed.

"A-and they a-agreed?" Fermat inquired.

"Yeah, Barrett lowered the time they'd be locked away to five years max, three minimum with community service to pay their debt to society." Scott admitted, realizing he hadn't told neither Alan nor Fermat the news. It was old news to the family that wasn't kept in the hospital these last few months, but it was news to be heard for Alan and Fermat. "They're on your side now."

Fermat dropped his head back onto his pillows before closing his eyes.

"I'm assuming you're happy about this news Fermat?" Scott inquired.

"Y-Yes, it's nice to k-know that people b-believe us when we say t-that we were b-bullied and that A-Alan was threatened. I just w-wish it didn't have to g-go this far." Fermat said softly. "It s-should never take a-anyone nearly d-dying to be b-believed."

Scott felt a knot form in his throat at that. Because it was true. Alan, while he didn't make it widely known that he was being bullied, it still had been seen by faculty and nobody said anything to defend Alan except his friends because of who Robert was to the Dean of the administration.

"I know kid, and I won't stop until justice has been served up on a silver platter to you and Alan. You kids deserve it." Scott commented softly.

"What d-do you m-mean?" Fermat asked as he tilted his head.

"Exactly what it sounds like. It's not for money, but to set an example." Scott said as he hardened his features to represent exactly how angry he was. "I talked it over with everyone and we're all in agreement that we'd like to sue Robert's father, the Dean of Wharton's."

"Why?" Fermat asked as he felt the chill from Scott's cold stare wash over him.

"Why else? Have you read the note Alan and Robert passed? Did you hear everything that happened that the Dean allowed to happen and all because he felt he couldn't punish his child accordingly? The imbecile accused Alan of running his hair under the faucet in the bathroom after Robert jumped his ass and shoved his head in the toilet and beat him up." Scott was right to be angry, an adult that had been entrusted with Alan and an untold number of boys lives had allowed one bad egg slip through his fingers and he nearly lost every single one of them. Alan and Fermat were in more danger than anyone else, but that was beside the point. "Rather than pack up Robert's belongings and shipping him back to his mother or a juvenile detention center or better yet – boot camp, he let him slide and we almost lost you and Alan. That is why we are suing him."

Fermat remained silent as he looked at Scott's steely blue eyes.

"I w-wish you were a-able to come a-along to the trial. You a-and Gordon…and A-Alan. Fermat whispered softly. He so wanted his best friend and best friend's brothers there for moral support.

"Fermat, you know that if we were able Gordon, Alan and I would be there no doubt." Scott said as he gazed at the younger boy. "I'm sorry we can't be there for you."

"It's o-okay…don't want Alan t-to have to see R-Robert more than is n-necessary." Fermat said as he raised his hand and waved away the concern. He changed the subject to something else immediately after though. "How d-did Alan do in s-surgery?"

"He did excellent. He stayed asleep from what the nurses are saying through the entire twelve hour critical period and woke up after it passed. The donations took and now all that's left for Alan to do is recover." Scott said with pride. "Kid will be a little sore for a few days but I'd rather have a sore brother than a not around brother."

Fermat smiled back reassuringly as he heard Scott's admission. He knew how much Alan meant to Scott and he couldn't imagine life without his best friend around. Didn't want to try imagining life without Alan. The older boy was like an additional appendage.

"I can't w-wait to see h-him again." Fermat whispered to Scott, glad to be able to see and converse with someone familiar.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan sucked air into his nose as he bit his lip. He wasn't going to do it. He didn't need it. Clenching his fist, Alan tried not to look at the button nurses gave him so he could administer when the pain medication flowed through his veins. He didn't need it. He didn't need it.

Fighting the grimace, Alan tried not to growl out his frustrations. He was irritated with the psych ward. They'd advised the good doctor to give him the ability to set the pace for when he could have medications. One of the physicians thought the reason behind Alan's blowup a week ago was his extreme reaction to pain. But Alan didn't need it. He was a big boy and he could handle a little pain…even if it felt like someone was running a hot poker through his muscles.

'I know you had a bad reaction to morphine, Dr. Andreesen documented it in your file that it caused you to have an allergic reaction. But I want to give it a try. You were on a variety of medications and antibiotics, I'm wondering if any of them just had a negative reaction with the morphine.

Regardless of what Alan wanted though, Dr. Warner set up the IV port to allow Alan to give himself his own doses of morphine. It was set though to give a small dose every two hours but if Alan needed another hit, he could give himself an extra dose every hour after the regulated hit.'

And Alan prided himself on not giving in and taking the extra dosage. It didn't matter that his heartbeat seemed to keep a rhythm with the throbbing. He didn't need the extra dosage. He hadn't needed it since Dr. Andreesen put him on a different medication previous. Alan could deal with the pain that lingered. He could. He had to…there wasn't any other option.

A knock on the door had Alan opening his eyes and giving a shaky smile at his nurse. It hurts really badly and Alan felt like if he remained perfectly still the pain would lessen. But then he also felt like trying to imitate the snakes Fermat enjoyed studying and shedding this old skin for a new one, one hopefully less damaged than this one.

"Hi Alan, my dear. How're you feeling?" Karen asked softly as she came forward after stopping at the sink in Alan's room and wetting a wash rag.

"It hurts Karen." Alan whimpered. He'd grown close with his nurse, unafraid to show his real side and the kind of pain he was in.

"I know it does darling…but just think. Soon you'll be leaving this ward and going back to the burn unit to be monitored." Karen crouched by the bed and swiped the cool cloth across Alan's sweaty brow. "I know it hurts baby, but just hang on. You've made it this far, you've only got a little farther until you're free of all this."

"I want to go home." Alan whispered miserably. He leaned his head into Karen's gentle hands and sighed as she held the cool cloth on his burning cheeks.

"Alan, you can't be doing this to yourself. You need the medicine. Your body is running a fever in reaction to the pain." Karen had grown concerned for the boy in her care. He was trying to prove his strength, but was only hurting himself more.

"I don't need it." Alan groaned but was quieted by Karen.

"You may not think you need it, but I think you do. I can see that you are in pain. It's not fair to keep yourself in pain." Karen argued. She remained crouched by the bed and made direct contact with Alan. "Do you hear me young man?"

Alan tried to avoid the direct contact but could only last for a few moments. When he did finally look at Karen he gave a small nod. "Yes ma'am."

"Good, now I'm going to go ahead and push the medicine to give you a bit of relief." Karen said as she took the medicine control in hand and pushed the button, releasing a measured dose of morphine into Alan's IV. The boy bit his lip in worry, but slowly the pained look departed and left behind was a tired looking lad. "Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep or not?"

Reaching out a scarred hand, Alan grasped the nurse's scrub top by the pockets and lifted his gaze to meet Karen's as she stood up. "Stay."

"Alright, I'll stay with you dear." Karen grabbed a seat and sat before Alan. She began playing with Alan's hair, noticing how he'd maybe be needing a bath here soon. However, because Alan had wounds that couldn't get wet, Karen knew she'd need to retrieve a tub to wash Alan's hair. "Sweetheart?"

"Hmm?" Alan pried his eyes open and looked to his nurse.

"Would you like me to go get a tub so we can wash your hair before you take a nap?" Karen asked as she continued playing with Alan's hair.

"Mm-hmm." Alan nodded tiredly at the nurse. 'A tub bath sounds nice.'

"Alright, I'll be right back. No falling asleep now." Karen said as she began to leave.

"Wake m' up." Alan mumbled as he let his head sink into his pillows. He thought he heard a chuckle from Karen, but ignored it in favor of closing his eyes…for just a few minutes.

When Karen came back ten minutes later she smiled at the site of Alan. He had his head pillowed on his arms and was sound asleep. And though she had other duties she must fulfill before the end of her shift, Karen couldn't bring herself to abandon Alan. He asked her to wake him up should he fall asleep, but she just sat and watched him sleep before she woke him.

"Alan, sweetheart. It's time to wash your hair." Karen said softly even as she placed the tub of warm water on Alan's over the bed table. Alan came awake instantly with the promise of clean – non greasy three day unwashed hair.

"I'm up…I'm up." Alan mumbled.

"Good, now do you think you can roll your upper torso just a little and rest back on your elbow?" Karen asked with a soft voice.

"Yeah." Alan rotated his upper body just a little. He gave a groan when he felt a stitch pull but didn't further voice his discomfort. Instead he focused on Karen as she eased the cup of water over his hair. Once she began applying the shampoo, Alan couldn't help the contented moan.

"Does that feel good?" Karen asked as she massaged Alan's scalp gingerly.

"Does it ever?" Alan sighed. He loved getting his hair washed, it was the next best thing to sliced bread in Alan's book. Karen smiled as she continued washing Alan's hair.

"We're gonna rinse now. Close your eyes unless you want some shampoo in your eyes." Karen advised, even as she raised the cup to pour water over Alan's hair. When Alan's hair was thoroughly rinsed, Karen set about drying the golden locks. "There now…nice and squeaky clean."

"Thank you very much Karen." Alan was grateful. He was getting tired of the oily strands of hair falling into his face. He knew the oily hair was going to make him have a break out of pimples, anytime he delayed washing his hair for a couple days, whether that be from a busy schedule, procrastination or pure laziness – it never failed to give Alan a pimple ridden forehead – and he hated popping pimples, even worse than the astringent Virgil insisted he used to control his breakouts. It always made him feel like his skin was on fire.

"You are very welcome Alan." Karen helped Alan get comfy back on his belly before she looked to the young man. "Anything else I can get you?"

"Could you pull the curtain please? I think I'm gonna hit the hay." Alan asked even as he squinted in the waning sunlight.

"Sure thing." Karen drew the blinds before tucking Alan in. "Sweet dreams my dear."

"Thank you Karen." Alan whispered even as he let his eyes slip closed.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The following day, first thing in the morning found Brains signing the temporary leave form that would allow Fermat to leave the hospital to go testify the next morning. Barrett showed up to help Brains get Fermat settled in to the hotel room but that was the extent of his arrival. Once the paperwork had been signed, Brains went to Fermat's room and gave a small smile to his son.

Fermat was sitting on the edge of the bed, his legs hidden beneath the scrub pants the hospital provided for him. He leaned forward and hugged his dad when he came forward.

"H-Hey dad." Fermat greeted with an equally small yet in pain smile.

"H-Hello there son. H-How are you t-this morning?" Brains asked as he knelt down to Fermat's level. He returned the hug his son gave him and couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped him when he felt how tight the hug was. When John had first sent the alarm that fateful night, Brains feared he'd never get to hold his son again. He feared his beloved late wife would get their son and he had to admit, he wasn't ready to give him up just yet. Brains hoped not to outlive his son.

"I'm okay d-dad. Can we g-go yet?" Fermat inquired of his dad. He was ready to escape the hospital even only for a day or two and while he wasn't ready to testify – he was ready to be done with the trial. He wanted to put all of this behind him and he couldn't do that with the case continually being thrust up in his face.

"Y-Yes. Do you w-want me to carry you o-or do you w-want to ride i-in your wheelchair?" Brains asked as Barrett gestured to the wheelchair the hospital was loaning for Fermat to use outside the hospital. Fermat without a second thought looked at his dad and like he was two instead of twelve raised his hands in the universal gesture to be picked up. He would be in that chair enough over the next couple of days, he kind of wanted to be carried right now. So sue him. "Okay, hold s-still son."

Brains came close and wrapped Fermat's arms around his own neck before he picked up his son and carried him in a gentle cradle carry. Fermat was practically eye level with his dad and he rubbed his head against his dad's neck. While it hurt for his dad to carry him, he'd choose the pain any day rather than go without.

"Let's g-go to our home a-away from home k-kiddo." Brains said softly before he turned to leave the room. Barrett carried Fermat's laptop and followed along behind the father and son as they entered the elevator to go to the ground floor.

When they made it to the ground floor, Brains followed Barrett as the lawyer led them through the kitchen and dining hall. Fermat knew they were taking a different route to avoid the paparazzi that began loitering out the main exit and courtyard. He wasn't anyone important, but he did have connections to Mr. Tracy and his family, so the paparazzi would pounce on he and his father if they showed their faces outside the main doors, so therefore they had a decoy setup to go out the front door to keep the vultures off their backs.

Sighing softly, Fermat watched as Barrett looked around for any suspicious activity before unlocking the door. Brains hurriedly placed Fermat in the backseat and fastened his seatbelt while Barrett loaded the wheelchair and laptop bag in the trunk before both adults climbed in the front seat and exited the location quickly. Barrett insisted on using a different car because the paparazzi wouldn't recognize it at quick glance seeing as it was his wife's car and she wasn't in the public eye and not his own car.

When they pulled from the underground parking, they saw how the paparazzi swarmed around the decoy. Barrett sped out of the area and continually checked his mirror for anyone following them. When they made it to the hotel without incident, Barrett sighed.

"Okay, now we just need to get you to your room kiddo and then we're in the clear." Barrett said while he removed his seatbelt. "Let's go Brains, your son is looking a bit peaky."

Brains however didn't need to be told twice and without comment he climbed from the interior of the vehicle and swept his son into his arms. Fermat smiled at his dad when the older Hackenbacker sent a smile his way.

"Hey d-dad?" Fermat asked as his dad led the way into the hotel lobby.

"Yes s-son?" Brains inquired softly as he and Barrett entered the elevator which remained open long enough for the party to enter.

"Thanks." Fermat said before he lay his head on his dad's shoulder. He missed this. He missed the close contact with his dad, Alan and his brothers, Mr. Tracy and Tin-Tin. Never in his life had he ever thought it was possible for him to crave human contact like he was now. There was just some type of need thrumming through his veins that made him crave touch like a starving man craved food or a crying baby craved to be held. And this right now, being held in his dad's arms was what satisfied that craving to a point, but in reality he craved to be pulled into a headlock by his best friend and given a noogie as was their form of horseplay. Like Alan, Fermat receive a hair tousling from each of Alan's older brothers and those little things are what Fermat hungered for. He longed for normalcy – to get back into his regular routine.

"No p-problem son." Brains whispered as he let Barrett lean in to unlock their room that Fermat and Brains would share. The Tracy's would be arriving in a couple hours and Barrett was going to retrieve them when he finished helping Brains get Fermat settled. Brains and Fermat temporarily rented another room for just them so Fermat wouldn't have to share a bed and potentially get kicked in the leg or foot.

"Right, here you go gentlemen. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get out to the airfield to get our other arrivals. I'll be back in about an hour and a half." Barrett said in farewell before he left the room.

Brains set Fermat on the bed and sighed as he relieved his arms of his burden. Dropping to sit beside his son, Brains smiled as he met eyes with Fermat.

"How a-are you holding u-up son? Do y-you need any p-pain meds?" Brains inquired as he let his eyes linger on Fermat in order to read his son's tells that would indicate if he was in pain or not. Fermat was easy for the dad to read and the older man knew when his son was faking pain or illness. People didn't call him 'Brains' just for his book smarts, it was also because he was incredibly adept at reading various variations of body language. He knew how to read Alan even, usually when the boy tried to hide things, Brains knew when Alan was lying or telling the truth and he'd usually drop hints to Virgil if the kid was sick or ailing something that he was trying to hide. That was partly how Virgil began to read body language was because of the indications Brains gave him. Now Virgil could read his younger brother as well as Brains was able to read his own son.

"I'm okay…kind of t-tired though." Fermat admitted as he felt a yawn break free. He quickly apologized for failing to cover his mouth when he yawned, but smiled when his dad shook his head.

"W-Why don't we both l-lie down and catch a c-couple winks. God k-knows I b-barely slept last n-night." Brains murmured as he moved to his separate bed and sat down to take off his shoes.

"O-Okay." Fermat rolled over to face his dad and smiled once his dad laid on the opposite bed and smiled back at him. "I l-love you d-dad."

"Love y-you too s-son." Brains whispered before they both seemingly agreed to close their eyes and sleep a little.

A/N: So, school and work has been really keeping me busy. I'm working feverishly to complete my program of study and hope to graduate this spring with my degree...well part of it anyway. Because of pouring all my focus into doing homework, I haven't exactly had much in the way of time to dedicate to writing. But I haven't forgotten these stories. I finally had a day where I had no homework or tests that required my attention and I was able to get this spun out. Hope you all enjoy...also I did write something and post it to AO3, primarily because it contains sexual content(which I'll admit I don't write often if at all) and I was embarrassed...it is an SPN AU. So if there are any SPN fans that also read my stories that want to read it, I'll post it but only if there is a request for it, otherwise it's staying on AO3, and my identity on there will remain a mystery.

Reviews for these chapters I'm posting would be much appreciated and perhaps any ideas of what you'd like to see in the story as it progresses.

Thanks!

~Sad-Blue-Eyed-Angel 2010~