AN: Sorry for the delay everyone but I do have some excuses, namely: health issues, writer's block and other assorted RL crises.
A huge thank you goes to my beta, Joanne Brandon, for getting this to me so quickly despite being sick. You're amazing!
Disclaimer: I hate these things. They're so depressing. Fine, the Thunderbirds don't belong to me.
Two weeks.
Two weeks of bearing the brunt of the Tracy family's ire and Alan was about to break.
He couldn't take it any longer.
The atmosphere had been tense since his last fight with his father, with all of his brothers making it clear that his behaviour had been out of line.
However, he'd managed to avoid another outright fight by choosing to divide his time between Fermat and Tintin – when they weren't busy training, that was. After the initial mass lecture, his brothers had left him alone, probably assuming that he was choosing to sulk and leaving him to it.
Add a sudden influx of rescues and it resulted in him feeling almost as though he was still back at school – with a few welcome changes.
For starters, he was getting a lot closer to Tintin. She had been busy for the first few days, having started her IR training but both she and Fermat had a lot more free time when the Tracy team were suddenly inundated with calls for help and thus unable to spare the time or energy for training.
He'd also spent an unexpectedly large amount of time with Fermat and Brains, discussing a wide range of topics, including astronomy, computers and engineering. Needless to say, Alan had begged the scientist not to mention any of it to the rest of the Tracy family.
Once upon a time, he'd wanted them to know. He'd naïvely believed that his brothers would want to share their passions with him.
He could remember trying over and over again but he'd always either been brushed off or been treated with condescension by his brothers.
He knew the reasoning behind it – All of them were busy, far too busy to listen to their little brother's excited chatter about things they'd learned years ago. The novelty of the basics had long since worn off and they were now tedious to listen to, too tedious to endure just for Alan.
After all, the 'Sprout' could always talk to his friends about these things. They couldn't be expected to entertain an inquisitive child who'd ask a million questions and no doubt forget the answers five minutes after he got them. It was just too much trouble.
It had taken quite a few painful incidents before Alan had wised up and stopped trying.
Understanding
"Incoming!"
Alan looked up, startled.
"What?"
"I said incoming. Your brothers are back, and by the looks of it, absence hasn't made the heart grow much fonder." Tintin sighed.
"Great. Tintin, I hate to ask…" Alan trailed off.
"No, don't worry about it. I'll tell them you're with Fermat…"
"And I'll go into the jungle." Alan completed.
Tintin nodded. "Okay. But… you have to take one of the locators and your phone. And don't ignore me when I call you." The brunette gave him a stern look.
Alan laughed. "Yes, ma'am." He gave her a mock salute.
Tintin smiled. "Good. Now get, I hear Scott."
Alan moved to the door, pausing as he got there. "Tintin?"
The Malaysian girl turned. "Yes?"
"Thanks. Really. I appreciate everything that you're doing. And, I was wondering…"
They both looked up at the sound of Scott's voice, coupled with nearing footsteps.
"Uh, gotta go!" Alan ran.
Tintin sighed again, lamenting the eldest Tracy's lack of timing. Alan was shy enough without his brothers interrupting every time he got up the nerve to try and address their relationship. But there was nothing she could do except be patient. She only hoped that it wouldn't take another life-threatening situation for her and Alan to make things official.
Understanding
Scott came up the path, inspecting the little clearing that she sat in as he walked closer.
"Hi, Scott. How was the rescue?" She looked up at him, making sure that her current irritation with him was hidden.
"Hello, Tintin. The rescue went as well as it could have. We didn't have as many casualties as we'd initially expected."
She smiled genuinely this time. "That's good to hear. Is there something you need?"
Scott scowled. "Alan. Our Father needs to speak to him about something and by the sounds of it, it's important. Have you seen him?"
"I saw him earlier," the Malaysian girl said. She hesitated slightly.
Should I tell him? I told Alan that I wouldn't and if Scott finds him this quickly…
Alan's not stupid, he'll realize what happened. I could explain to him later but – No. Alan's not the trusting type. If I do this now, I'll have broken any trust that he does have in me.
"I'm not sure where he is now, Scott. Have you tried his cell?"
"Yes, I have. It rung out." The man scrutinized her. "Tintin, do you know something? If you do, tell me. My father's not in the mood to be kept waiting."
Tintin shook her head. "No more than I've already told you Scott. I don't know why Alan didn't answer the phone… It's possible that he's with the Hackenbackers. Have you checked there?"
"Next on my list." Scott responded. "Though I don't know what he'd be doing there. It's not like he'd be able to follow Brains and Fermat if they got into one of their discussions."
Tintin scowled. "You'd be surprised. Excuse me, Scott. I'm going to go find my mother. If I see Alan, I'll let him know that Mr. Tracy wants to talk to him."
Scott still looked confused over her remark but he nodded and moved to let her pass him.
"Okay, I'll see you later then."
Tintin pulled out her cell phone the second she got out of Scott's sight and hearing range.
She dialled Alan's number and waited impatiently for it to connect.
"Hello?"
"Alan? Where are you?"
"Hi, Tintin. I changed my mind. I'm down by the beach. Scott heading this way?"
"How soon can you get back to the house?"
"If I run? Fifteen minutes. Why?"
"Scott's looking for you. Apparently, Mr. Tracy needs to talk to you."
"Okay, thanks for the heads up. I'll be there ASAP. See you later."
"Bye."
Tintin disconnected and continued on her way. She didn't particularly want to be in the vicinity if another Alan and Jeff Tracy Clash got underway. She'd stop by and let her mother know that she would be at the beach. Alan would probably come back there if he and his father butted heads again.
Understanding
Alan ran up the path to the villa, absently noticing that there was no one anywhere in his line of sight. Unusual, especially when you took into account that all the Tracys were in residence.
They can't all be looking for me, can they?
No, that's impossible.
But then why…
It's usually only Onaha and Kyrano who avoid being near when Dad and I are having a discussion. Gordon thinks it's funny and the rest just ignore it… I can't remember the last time everyone left us alone.
No idea what that means but it can't be anything good.
Kinda makes me wish I'd stayed in the jungle and made a nest.
Well, I'm already here. Might as well get the hostilities over with.
Maybe I'll be able to escape in the aftermath…
The youngest Tracy drew in a deep breath and knocked on Jeff's study door.
He was told to enter almost immediately and did so, closing the door behind him.
His father was sat at his desk, his eyes on the screen to his left.
He looked up when Alan entered but didn't bother to say anything or to indicate in any other way to the blond that he was to sit.
Okay, I'm guessing this will be pretty short, then.
"Hey, dad. How was the rescue?
He doesn't even look angry. I think that might be scarier than seeing him about to lose it.
"Never mind about the rescue, Alan." Jeff said. "We're here to talk about you."
Crap. Well, it was worth a try.
Alan worried at his lower lip with his teeth.
"What about me, Dad?" He looked his father in the eye.
What is it now? I haven't done anything, I'm sure of it. And I'm not naïve enough to think that this is about me starting training for IR. What the hell can it be?
"Alan, I know that people can make bad decisions that they later regret. If you're regretting what you've done, come clean and I won't be angry with you. That won't change the fact that you need to take responsibility for your actions but it will make it a little easier to fix the problem."
Alan blinked, thoroughly confused.
What on Earth? What could he be talking about? It sounds pretty serious but there's nothing that I've done. I'm sure of it. It could be Gordon playing a prank but somehow, I doubt it. This seems too serious for something Gordy would pull…
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Dad." He looked his father straight in the eyes as he spoke, confident that there was no reason for him to feel guilty.
Now, Jeff looked angry. As angry as Alan had ever seen him. It made him fell like apologizing despite the fact that he was sure he'd done nothing to deserve the ex-astronaut's ire.
"Alan, I've just said that I won't be angry with you. Do you want to reconsider your answer?"
The teenager shook his head emphatically. "No. I haven't done anything. I'm sure of it. Are you sure it's not Gordy?"
The loom on Jeff's face was getting darker as he spoke.
"Do nottry to pin this on your brother, Alan! At least take the blame for your own actions!" His father's face was going red. He looked ten seconds from completely blowing up.
Maybe I should just…
He scowled at the thought.
No. I've done nothing wrong and I'm not going to take the fall for something that I have no idea about.
"I'll take the blame when I've actually done something, Father. I won't simply take blame to appease you!" Careful. If I piss him off too much, I'll get punished for my mouth anyway.
"Alan, for God's sake. Your school is convinced that you've cheated and, frankly, so am I. Why else wouldn't you show me your miraculously improved report card? You knew that I wouldn't buy it! What I don't understand is why you did it in the first place. You've gained nothing by it and Wharton's is seriously considering expelling you! The only reason that they haven't done it yet is because you're my son! Now, tell me, why did you do it?"
Alan's mouth had fallen open sometime after his father had begun speaking. Cheating? That was what he was being accused of?
He believes it. He actually thinks that I would cheat. How can he – He's not even giving me the benefit of the doubt.
The blond shook his head in disbelief. That his father would actually take the word of strangers over that of his own son was completely foreign an idea to him.
"You think that I did it?" His voice held a myriad of emotions, some of them unidentifiable to even him. He was angry, hurt and so much more.
"Did you never consider the fact that I was trying harder to make you happy? Haven't you and my teachers been telling me for years that I don't reach my full potential? Is it that hard to believe that I've started doing that now?"
He laughed. It was not anywhere near a happy sound. "Or is it just that you have that little faith in me, Father?"
Jeff glared at him, leaning slightly over the desk, his hands planted on either side of him.
"That's enough. Don't test my temper by trying to pretend that you're innocent. It's not possible for you to have improved that much in a single term, I don't care how much potential you have. You have two options, Alan. You can repeat the year or you can spend the rest of the summer at Wharton's being taught just enough to ensure that you will pass. And this time, you'll actually pay attention. A week before the new school year starts, you will be given the chance to re-take those tests and if you manage to pass honestly this time, you will be allowed to enter the next grade. Make no mistake – whether or not you repeat the year, you will be spending the rest of this summer bringing yourself up to standard. Your only choice is whether or not you admit your guilt."
Alan opened his mouth, a hot retort on his lips.
But Jeff cut him off before it could slip free. He held up a hand. "No. I don't want to hear anything but your choice. Wharton's or Tracy Island."
Alan was breathing hard, fighting to not start screaming at the Tracy patriarch. Clearly, nothing he could say would sway his father from the belief that he was a cheater. He'd only be wasting his breath if he tried to reason with the man.
Either way, he refused to repeat the year and getting away from his family sounded like heaven at the moment. He'd miss Tintin and Fermat but he'd be able to keep in touch with them via vid-phone.
I know that I'm innocent and that's all that matters. Everyone else's opinions of me don't. After all, if they actually care for me, they'll listen to me without jumping to conclusions and delivering judgement. It's just sad that apparently, my father doesn't seem to be one of the people I can count on to trust me.
He looked up, trying to school his emotions. He'd cry later in privacy. He wouldn't be able to stand doing it in front of Jeff and he'd likely get no sympathy from the man anyway.
"Wharton's, sir. Is that all?" He gritted his teeth. Please let that be all. Please.
Sadly, it seemed that luck was not with him.
Jeff's voice was sharp. "No, it is not all. You will apologize to each of your teachers individually and you will be grounded for the next six months. In addition, you will make every effort to be a model student next year. I will not tolerate something like this happening again, do you understand me?"
Alan nodded and turned to leave.
"Did I give you permission to leave, Alan?"
The teen drew in a deep breath. "No, sir. I'm sorry. May I go?"
Jeff sighed. "Yes, Alan."
"Thank you."
IMPORTANT!
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TC everyone!