AN: Hi. I know, I know, it's been ages. And, Alan's still not technically back at school. But, next chapter he definitely will be! And then, the real fun starts.
Thank you so much to any and all reviewers. Your all the reason that this story keeps being chipped away at.
Disclaimer: Unless a copy of the DVD qualifies, I don't own the Thunderbirds.
Young Master Tracy! How are you this evening?"
Alan smiled at the screen. "Hi, Parker. I'm okay. How are you and Lady Penelope?"
"We are both in excellent health, thank you for asking Master Alan. Feel free to correct me if I am under a false assumption but I am sensing that this is not a social call?" Parker looked at him shrewdly.
Alan bit his lip. "You're right, Parker. I need a favor, actually. I have to go back to school tomorrow and I'm pretty sure my dad and brothers are all busy. And, you know that I'm not allowed to fly by myself. Do you think you could ask Lady Penelope if she minds you picking me up?"
Parker frowned. "This early, Master Alan? I had thought that you still had a good few weeks of holiday left."
Alan shook his head. "Nope, I need to be at school early this year. It's just me, Fermat's gonna be staying on the Island for a while still."
"I will enquire as to Her Ladyship's schedule but I highly doubt that there will be anything pressing. If her schedule permits it, I will arrive at Tracy Island at nine o' clock tomorrow. If there is a delay, I will contact you in the morning, sir."
"That's fine, Parker. I'll see you tomorrow. Gotta go pack, bye!" He disconnected the call.
Now to go and tell Milday. Parker sighed. It looked as though the problems Young Master Alan had been having with the rest of his family had not yet been solved.
He went up to the study, knocked and entered.
She was sitting at her desk, reading a file which she put down when he entered.
"Parker, is something the matter?"
The butler shook his head. "I can't be certain Milady, but my gut tells me that something has happened on Tracy Island. Master Alan contacted me a short while ago to inquire as to whether I may be available to transport him from the Island back to his boarding school tomorrow. Am I right in saying that that sounds highly unusual?"
Lady Penelope nodded. "You're right, Parker. That is strange. Usually, Jeff would call me and ask himself. I'm sure he will let me know in due time. In the meantime, you will, of course, take Alan back to Massachusetts."
"Yes, Milady. Will you be requiring anything tonight?"
"No, Parker. Thank you but I've got everything I need," she said.
"Of course, Milady." Parker left, closing the door behind him.
Understanding
Alan had just finished breakfast when his father came down.
"Hi, Dad." he greeted cautiously, getting up from the table.
"Good morning, Alan," Jeff replied. "I'm glad I found you this quickly. How long will it take you to pack so that we can leave?"
Alan focused on the table, trying to find the right way to say that this time, he didn't need or want his father to drop him off. It made no sense to start another fight just as he was about to leave but he truly did not want to be around Jeff Tracy more than strictly necessary at this time.
"Um, I'm already packed and I called Parker last night. He'll be here in a few minutes."
"Why," Jeff asked. "I would have dropped you off, Alan. There was no need..." He trailed off, maybe realizing why his youngest son would choose to avoid spending time with him. "But, if Parker's already on the way then it makes sense for you to leave with him."
Alan smiled slightly. "Yeah. So, see you in a few months?"
Jeff nodded. "Try to stay out of trouble."
Understanding
They'd barely left before Parker was staring him down.
Alan laughed. The English butler had been his babysitter on the many occasions when his family had been busy with International Rescue or Tracy Enterprises and it was clear that he hadn't fooled the butler. Parker knew that something was wrong.
"I think you'd better just ask before you explode, Nosy." he said.
Parker kept his eyes on the display in front of him. "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean, Master Alan."
Alan raised an eyebrow. "Oh. So, you have no interest in knowing why I'm leaving the Island a month ahead of schedule?"
"I am sure I do not, sir." Parker said. "However, if Master Alan wished to inform me, I would have no objection."
"Well, I don't wish to inform you." Alan suppressed the urge to stick his tongue out.
"Master Alan," Parker said, meeting his eyes in the rear-view mirror "It may help."
"Help?" Alan laughed bitterly. "How could talking about it help? All that it'd do would be to make me relive it and that would do the opposite of help. And even if it somehow did help, I have no idea where to start."
"Perhaps you could start with why you required my assistance to reach Massachusetts this morning." The Englishman suggested gently.
Alan sighed. "I scored better than usual on my finals. Straight A's, in fact."
"That's wonderful," Parker smiled. "I don't quite understand what the problem is?"
"Thanks, Parker." Alan smiled in pleasure at the praise. At least his old babysitter believed that he could achieve those kinds of grades on his own merit.
"Unfortunately, almost no one else actually believes that I really did get those grades fairly. My teachers and my family both think that I cheated so I'm going back to essentially rewrite my finals. I just, I don't understand their logic." He shook his head.
The hurt was still there, beginning to be covered by anger but, honestly, he couldn't see why they all found it so absurd that he could actually be intelligent, especially after the many disappointed lectures he'd been on the receiving end of.
"I mean, I've been hearing it from my dad, Scott, Virgil, heck even John sometimes. All of them yelled at me God knows how many times about slacking off and scraping by on the bare minimum but this time –
This one time when I work my butt off, it's impossible that all of that potential I'd been wasting had finally been put to use."
"Master Alan, I am sure that your family were just taken by surprise at the swiftness of your improvement."
"Maybe you're right." Alan said hesitantly. "I did jump at least three symbols in each subject. But, I just, I expected them to have more faith in me. I don't know, though. Maybe it was just too much and they're being pessimistic about it. Maybe, I shouldn't be angry."
He still thought that his father should have at least given him the chance to defend himself but...
Parker nodded. "Now, I accept that your father and brothers reacted badly but I am sure that you will be receiving a string of apologies when you meet them tonight."
Alan made a puzzled face. "What do you mean tonight?" he asked.
"Well, this afternoon, really. After you have dealt with your teachers' doubts and proved that you have earned your various accolades and achievements." Parker explained.
Alan shook his head. That was just like Parker. Assuming he would be carting around suitcases for what he assumed to be a few hours stay. Although, with Lady Penelope, he couldn't blame the poor guy for assuming. That woman had enough luggage to fill about ten rooms.
"I'm staying for the rest of the summer, Parker. Attending summer school." The blond said.
"Why on Earth would you be doing that, Master Tracy? If you cannot retake your examinations until the end of the summer then surely, you could just end your vacation early?" Parker asked.
"I'm supposed to be learning the syllabus that I cheated my way through the first time round. That was the deal that my father worked out with the headmaster so that I wouldn't straight out fail." Alan said.
Which meant that he would be spending the rest of his summer in a state of perpetual boredom, sitting through lessons that he'd mastered easily.
"Now, hang on just a minute." Parker said. "When was your father informed of your apparent rule breaking? And when did you see him last?"
"Dad got the call in the early afternoon yesterday and we saw each other last just before I left. Why, big guy?" Alan asked.
The Englishman scowled. "Do you mean to say that your father truly does not believe you, Master Alan? Did you not explain to him why you had improved so much?"
"Well, no, he doesn't. And, as far as explanations go, no I didn't really. Unless you count screaming at him to be an explanation. He didn't really want to hear it." Alan winced even thinking about that last fight.
"But, I thought you said I shouldn't be mad. What's got you riled up, Parker?" He asked.
Parker was furious. "I had assumed, Master Alan, that you would just be sorting out a little problem and also that your father was still in shock and therefore not thinking clearly. It seems as though I was wrong on both counts and you most certainly should be angry, sir. I am truly sorry that your family seem to know you so little, Alan."
Alan was still getting over his shock at what Parker had said. The English butler had never before actually encouraged Alan to hold onto his anger against any one of his family members.
Alan knew that the man didn't mean that he shouldn't forgive them but Parker's opinion was one he trusted and his assurance that Alan should be angry meant that he didn't have to once again bury his feelings for fear of being accused of over reacting. That was very comforting as he didn't know if he could have simply let it go this time.
"Master Alan."
He looked up. " Yeah, Parker?"
"We have arrived, sir."
AN: Let me know what you think! Also, this has not been looked over so let me know about any mistakes you may find. Thanks!