Author Note: Hey everyone, sorry it has been so long since the last update. I had intended to finish up this chapter and post sooner but I hit a rough patch in life and went for a mental and emotional spiral. So I've been focusing on myself and getting myself back together. Mental health wise I'm doing okay again and have hit a nice even keel emotionally. Thank you again for all your patience and sorry for the delay again. I hope you enjoy this one.
The rest of the day had been one exhausting thing after another, from uniform measurements; because it was also for safety gear and after all, they would need it. To building smaller versions of Virgil's adaptive gear for Lucia, to learning the basics about the craft they would be flying or diving in. Even in a wheel chair, with 4 dry docked Gordon was able to do the run through of 4 with Ellie. For Lucia however it had been Scott to walk her through 2, he had co-piloted her before and knew the basics. Virgil however had been ordered to bed rest much to his resistance over it. He had been placated with the promise he could take Lucia's next lesson if he was good and rested. Thankfully aside from the communications array and auto pilot, the rest of the damage to 2 was cosmetic. With Brains on the job even the repair of the coms and auto pilot were not going to take long to rectify. One of the first things Lucia learned how to do was a hard reset, to be used in only the direst of emergencies when 2 lost all power. Something she hoped would never ever happen. Once 2 had been repaired they would start with some flying practice around the Island before she got her first solo flight. All they could do was cross their fingers and hope they would be given the time they needed or even just a day or two.
Night had fallen by the time they had finished up with everything, time however had been made to make sure they could all sit down for dinner together. There was laughter a plenty and Lucia was implored to play for everyone after the meal had been completed. Cheeks flushed red, Lucia found herself unable to say no and while everyone had settled themselves into the lounges with their cups of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Lucia found her place at the piano and with a little nod from Virgil began to play. It was a different song than before and another from her memory, it too started off slow and shaky until the song was playing in her mind and her fingers remembered they keys. She played until she could play no more and everyone thanked her before excusing themselves to retire to bed.
Eventually the only two people left in the living area was Jeff and Lucia. A long silence hung in the air between them at first, the only noise to break it was the paperwork that Jeff shuffled before filing away. Finally, Lucia gained enough courage to approach him, by now he would know why she had been given leave. "Mr Tracy, there's something I want to talk to you about." She said as she paused to stand in front of his desk. Mr Tracy looked up from the new document that had surfaced from beneath those he had shuffled and just filed away. "Of course, Take a seat Lucia." He said as he placed the document back down onto the desk and indicated for her to follow him and sit beside him at the piano. Lucia followed quietly and sat beside him on the long bench she had only so recently vacated. She paused for a moment with her hands in her lap before she spoke, "I know you would have heard by now, but I wanted to tell you myself. I understand if you no longer consider me to be fit to assist you." Her tone held an air of defeat as she stared at her hands that she wrung in her lap nervously. Reaching out Mr Tracy placed a gentle hand on hers and gave it a squeeze, "I have, but I would rather hear your side of the story as well before I make any decisions." His voice held a reassuring tone to it as he waited for her to continue.
Lucia took a deep breath and nodded, "It happened nearly two months ago, we got a call of a father and son who fell off a ledge when the snow they were skiing on collapsed beneath them. The local snow rescue couldn't reach them so we were called in to winch them up and airlift them out. It was meant to be a straight forward rescue, the conditions were clear and it didn't look like there were any incoming weather systems on the radar. It wasn't until we arrived and I sent my partner down that I realised it was my father and brother. I knew they had planned to go camping for the weekend but they hadn't told me where. Mum died when I was just a girl so it had pretty much always been the three of us. If we had known who they were before we left, I would not have been allowed to go along." Lucia took a moment to swallow back the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes and spill over. "By the time my partner got down there, we found out my brother had already died. The coroner said he had died on impact, Dad couldn't handle carrying all the gear he used to anymore so Aaron used to carry extra. Apparently if he had not of been carrying the extra there was a chance he could have survived. Dad was alive but in a bad way."
In her lap Lucia's fists balled tightly as she forced herself to keep it together and continue. "I don't know where it came from but I thought I had been given the signal to go up, so I went to take her up. Next thing I know they're screaming at me to go down when this wind hits us out of nowhere. I managed to keep the heli from hitting the mountain face but it was too late to save them. My partner had not managed to get clipped back in when I went to pull him and my father free. He fell when I lifted her up and the wind hit. My father was in the basket that slammed into the mountain face when the gust hit. Somehow with the snow rescue we managed to get them all out, my father and my partner died a few days later in hospital. I was put on indefinite leave, It was about three weeks before I could bury my brother and father. I didn't stay at the funeral long, I couldn't handle the looks everyone gave me. I never went to my partner's funeral. His wife specifically requested that I wasn't in attendance. Even though everything was ruled an accident, it was recommended that I be put on an indefinite amount of leave until cleared again for active duty. Then this all happened and Virgil was saying if there was no other way he would try to fly with his injuries and I just thought of all the people that wouldn't be saved if I were to say no and you were unable to continue and I couldn't bear it to be my fault. I couldn't say no. I couldn't let anyone else suffer due to my short comings." The tears poured down her eyes then and she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder and pull her in close. Lucia sat wrapped in Mr Tracy's arms until eventually her tears stopped and he pulled back to wipe them away.
Absentmindedly he ran his fingers over the keys of the piano, plucking at a note here and there. "I see. Let me tell you a story Lucia. You know the reason I started International Rescue was because of Lucille. She was my wife, my best friend and my partner. She lived for the boys, you remind me of her when you play. Virgil of course was the only one who showed interested in learning, though if any of the others had half an inclination I dare say they would pick it up quickly too. Alas I digress. It was when Alan was about 3, we decided to go on a family holiday together. It had been so long since the last between how busy I was with work. So we went skiing together. We took my mother along to help us take care of the boys. She was watching Alan and us while Lucille and I decided to go for a ski together while the boys were having lessons." Jeff paused for a moment and Lucia could tell it had been a very long time since he had spoken about it to anyone. Impulsively she reached out and squeezed his hand reassuringly as he had just done for her. A small smile cracked the usually stern face the father usually held. "We were skiing when the avalanche hit. We weren't able to out run it, I got lucky and was dumped near the surface and could get myself out. I couldn't see her anywhere, it was hours before the rescue team arrived and their equipment was so far out of date that by the time we found her it was too late. I lost part of myself that day and I vowed and declared that I would find a way to make her death mean something. She would have been alive today if their equipment was to standard and they had been able to arrive quicker. Lucille is the reason International Rescue came to be, between caring for the boys I threw myself into finding a way to make it all possible. Brains was only to happy to come aboard, of course Scott and Virgil insisted on helping once they had finished their studies, but I insisted they pursue careers of their own as well. I had a few buddies from my days as an Astronaut help out at first. We didn't get much traffic in the beginning but by the time the boys were old enough and had pursued their own careers we were well and truly in business so to say. I've given them all the chance to pursue their own dreams and make their own lives but they're all determined to stay. Do you want to know what I said when they asked if I was sure I wanted you?" Mr Tracy looked at Lucia to be met with her puzzled expression.
"What?" she asked with baited breath, almost not wanting to know. "I told them that I did. I told them I understood what you were going through and you didn't appear the kind of woman who would intentionally endanger lives. What happened was a tragic accident, much the same way I lost my wife to a tragic accident. I wanted to blame the rescuers for her death but it wasn't their fault they were unable to traverse the terrain quickly enough to get where we were. It wasn't their fault the equipment they had been supplied with was out of date. Just as you had not intentionally caused the death of you father or partner. The fact that you are willing to put aside your own grieving and help others. The strength you showed today, proves to me I have made the right decision. All I ask is that you come to me if anything worries you or if you need someone to talk with. I will not tell the boys as that's is up to you but know we are here for you and Ellie. We rely on each other." Mr Tracy patted the hand Lucia had over one of his softy, "I promise, are you sure?" Lucia asked tentatively. "Very sure, now I think it's best we both retire, another long day awaits." With that Jeff Tracy stood and offered Lucia his arm out of habit, he had perhaps escorted Lady Penelope one too many a time. Graciously Lucia took it and he walked her back to her room, "Good night Lucia" he whispered as they reached her door. "Good night Mr Tracy" Lucia whispered back as she moved to slip through her door. "Jeff, Lucia. No more of this Mr Tracy." He replied, "Alright then. Good night Jeff." Was Lucia's reply before she closed the door behind her and made way to change before slipping into bed, noting Ellie had long since fallen asleep if her snoring was anything to judge by.