Hey everyone! I'm so sorry for the delay, but I do have a genuine reason! I tore the ligaments in my thumb, and had to have it bandaged for a week and a bit. I've only just really got used to using it properly again. So yes, please do excuse the lateness. Hopefully I will make up for it with this chapter.

Thanks to the reviewers, I appreciate your lovely comments and suggestions.

On with the next chapter as I fear I have kept you waiting to long already haha. This one doesn't have a lot of Alan in it, and is mainly focused around John, but there is a reason for that as you shall soon find out if you read. Hehe.

Also, warm thanks again to CC who pointed out my stupid mistakes and beta-read this chapter for me again. Thanks you!!

Oh, one more thing, realised I haven't done a disclaimer yet, so here is one, just so you don't think I'm some sort of billion heir. Not likely.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Although technically, Pokémon isn't even actually mentioned, so I can't see why it matters. Oh right, its Thunderbirds. Well, if you can't imagine Scott running around yelling about some giant flying insect with a poisonous stinger attached to its rear, then you have no imagination at all, okay?

Alright, enough weirdness.

Enjoy!

-:O:-

"Virge! Virgil, come back here this instant!" Adopting a stern tone, John hurried after his fleeing brother as he tore out of the hospital. When Virgil paused for a fraction of a second, whipping his head back to watch his pursuer, John could see his middle brother was crying. His eyes were bloodshot, tears trailing down his crumpled face. Bracing himself, Virgil turned from John and barely leapt out of the way of an oncoming nurse a heartbeat before they would have collided.

John sighed and hurried after him, fearing the worst about what was going through Virgil's mind. Watching in concern, John closed in, gasping as Virgil tripped.

Sprawling to the floor, Virgil took a deep breath and a thought flashed through his mind. Had this happened to Alan? Had he failed to notice that too? Why had he missed it when his brother was hurt and helpless?

Jumping at a sudden touch of a hand on his shoulder, Virgil flinched and looked up at John. Sniffing, he pushed himself off the floor and sat back against the wall behind him. Suddenly feeling ashamed to be caught crying, he wiped his sleeve across his face and drew in another shaky breath, then watched as John squatted down and looked at him with concerned eyes.

"Virgil, what's going on? C'mon Virge, you have to tell me." Sighing, he pulled Virgil into a hug and rubbed his arms comfortingly down his back. Whispering soothing words in his ear, he let Virgil cry into the crook of his neck. Concerned over his brother's emotional breakdown, John continued to hold Virgil close to him until he felt his brother pull away. Staring boldly, he was determined to get the truth out of the Tracy artist. Leaning forwards and touching his forehead with Virgil's, he sighed and repeated the question. "Virge, what's wrong?"

Shaking his head, Virgil hiccupped loudly and his shoulders sagged. "It's all my fault." John had to strain to hear the words that were brokenly whispered by Virgil. "I- I should have seen. I should have known!" Dropping his head, expecting to be shouted at for not doing his job properly, he frowned when he was pulled tightly against John.

"No," John whispered, distraught at his brother's confession. "It's not your fault at all, you hear me?" Sliding down, he knelt on the floor and rearranged himself to push Virgil away from him. Glaring into his eyes, John shook him slightly, eyes stinging. "It's not your fault! Alan is good at hiding things when he wants to. And he had an obligation to tell us he was hurt. What matters is once you knew, you did everything you could for the Sprout and you got him to the hospital as fast as you could."

Looking down at the floor, Virgil sighed. John was probably right. Nodding his head, Virgil dared to look into his brother's eyes, desperately hoping that there was truth there and not the disappointment that he had expected. Smiling at the love that radiated from the crystal blue pools, his heart warmed.

"John, Virgil!"

Turning around at their names being called, they both grinned at Scott who was puffing slightly as he jogged down the hall. Stopping short, he bent over, frowning at the level the two younger men were at.

"Are you ok?" he asked attentively, trying to look stern, but the outcome was gentle. Upon seeing their grins, he put on a mock shocked expression and started squealing. "What?! Is there something on my face?"

Chuckling, the two younger men stood up, John supporting Virgil and they sighed simultaneously.

Beaming, Scott put his arm around John's shoulders. "Allie woke up! Just for a few seconds but he was coherent enough to talk to us."

John froze for a few seconds, a strange look on his face, before suddenly letting out a sigh of relief. Smiling, he ducked under Scott's arm and took off at a run back the way he had just come, leaving a grinning Scott and Virgil. Turing to Virgil, the elder brother put a soft hand on his shoulder and spoke directly to him, looking him seriously in the eye.

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't still think that bull about it being your fault?" Waiting patiently for an answer, Scott was pleased when Virgil nodded and beamed at him. "Alright then, Shorty, let's go see Alan!"

"Shorty! You're the one who was 5"5 when he was seventeen!"

"Was not!"

"Were too!"

-:O:-

"Hey baby brother, how are you?" John smiled down at Alan's lax face as he rested peacefully. Grabbing his baby brother's hand, a memory came to the surface of his mind and he smiled. "You know, I can remember the time when you and Gordo pulled that prank on us. You thought it was hilarious to fake being hurt. It took us half an hour to calm you two down from laughing so hard." Chuckling, he remembered how the rest of his family had been. "Scott went absolutely mental. I don't think I've ever seen him so wound up. Virgil couldn't stop fussing over you, double checking that you definitely weren't going loopy. Dad… well dad went off to his room. I think he was so relieved that you were both fine that it was the only thing that spared you. I was up on my 'bird at the time. I remember getting a vid call from Scott said you'd both gone missing. I was so worried, you can't imagine. Being stuck up there, not knowing if you were okay or not, drove me insane. I couldn't stop thinking the worst. What if you'd fallen over a cliff or drowned in the ocean? There are so many dangers you could have landed in. My mind had filled with all these horrible scenarios and I was praying for mom to keep you safe. Later, when Scott phoned back and told me it was a prank, I had to switch of the link because I had burst into tears of relief."

Sighing, he pushed a stray bang out of Alan's face and pushed a gentle kiss to the cool forehead. "What would I do without my little brothers?" he whispered, drawing back and smiling at his sleeping brother.

"Crash and burn, probably." Jumping, John turned round to see Gordon standing there with a smug look on his face, arms crossed over his chest triumphantly. Walking towards him, Gordon grinned at John's appalled expression.

"Oh and before you say "how much did you hear", I heard all of it, just to let you know, Francis." Laughing at his own warped humour, adding, "Say, do you want a drink? How about a half-caf, double vanilla latte with a little sprinkle of chocolate? Will that suit your liking, sweetheart?"

"Oh shut up Gordo." John sneered at his little brother. Standing up, he walked over to him, channelled his inner-Scott, plastering a furious look on his face. A flitter of worry shot through Gordon he watched his brother get closer. John didn't get angry often, but when he did it was at def-con level. And this situation with Alan had strained all of their nerves…

"Ummm, right. I'll go find Scott. Bye!" Turning sharply, he fled the room. As soon as he was gone, John doubled-up, laughing.

Swivelling round to face Alan, his smile remained as he spoke to his baby brother. "Man, you would have loved that, Al." For a few more minutes, John continued to quietly urge Alan to wake up and talk to him. Hearing a disturbance outside of the room, John gave up for the moment, sighing as he exited the room, leaving his brother lying on the bed sleeping quietly. Stepping out of the room, the door closing behind him, John saw the rest of his family standing around a flustered nurse and another woman, tall and angular, with a stern look on her face.

"Look lady, I don't know who you think you are or why you're here, but I can tell you that you can turn around and go straight back the way you came!" Scott snarled, arms being held by Jeff in an effort to keep his firstborn back. The woman laughed skeptically, turning to face the rest of the family.

"This is what you call a relaxed and safe environment? I don't think so. Now get out of my way. I need to speak to Alan."

"NO!" Scott yelped, pulling his arms free," I'll tell you again, WE ARE NOT ABUSING ALAN! He's my little brother! I would die for him, so don't you DARE come in here and say that he's gonna be taken away from us!"

Hurrying forwards, John's eyes were wide and wild.

"What? What's going on dad? Who is she?" His voice broke as he, for the second time that day, feared the worst.

"She's from Child Protective Services, son. Someone called CPS about Alan." Straining to keep his voice straight, he turned back to the woman who was glaring at them furiously. "I don't know how I'm going to prove this to you, but I can promise… No, I can SWEAR that we all love Alan and would never do anything to hurt him. Ever!" Shaking, Jeff watched as the woman sniffed and threw her chin up in the air.

"Until I have proof, and you cannot justify as to why this boy is in here, then I'm going to have to take action against you." Looking around at each member of the family seriously, she took a step forward.

"Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?" A loud, feminine voice thundered down the corridor angrily, causing her to stop, foot in midair.

"How dare you come into this hospital and disturb these people? Do you have any idea what they've been through?" Dr Daniels had jogged over, a furious gleam in her eyes. "Alan went through a terrifying ordeal and I can assure you that his family had NOTHING to do with it. In fact, I can guarantee you that you won't find a more loving family. Now get the hell out of my hospital and stay away from these people!" The woman from CPS looked to argue, when Dr. Daniels continued. "And in my experience, it is that you have to prove the abuse. Alan was hurt, his family rushed him in here and have refused to leave his side since then. Accidents still do happen. And no, it is not just because this is Jeff Tracy's family I am saying that. It is because it is my patient's family and I have never seen a more loving one. Threatening to take this boy from his family is not in his best interest. So as his doctor, I am telling you to go and go now."

Highly affronted, the CPS officer turned slowly on her high heels and marched off, furious, as she left five stunned family members and a seriously annoyed doctor in her wake.

Staring at Dr Daniels, the Tracy family stood with mouths wide open. She stood there with a sheepish look on her face as she glanced at the men. Suddenly, she was shocked as one of the five moved and wrapped her in a firm hug.

Feeling embarrassed, John pulled back and smiled gratefully at her, an implacable look in his eyes. "Thanks you Dr Daniels, I-"

"It's Sarah, and don't mention it." Her ears grew bright red as she noticed one of the other four men grinning at her and John, who still had his hand on her arm. Coughing, she turned around and walked off as quickly as her dignity would allow, secretly trying to cover up her delight.

As she left, John groaned inwardly. He knew he was going to get hell from Gordon over this. Glancing at Sarah's retreating form again, he smiled. It may just be worth it. Then, thinking of the complication of the situation and his life in general, John once more groaned. When did I fall for Alan's doctor? Why did I have to fall for her? As if life wasn't complicated enough…

TBC.