Well hey :) Missed me?
Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thanks for the reviews (as always). Great big thanks to LMB and CC for their beta-ing. Great work! Ta.
Also, just to say thanks to Sam1 who pointed a big whoopsie in the last chapter!
Oh, and just a quick note to Little Miss Bump. Don't forget hun, if you ever need a break from maths revision (*yawns*), drop me a pm. Hell knows I could do with something interesting to do!
Thanks again everyone! Oh, and please excuse the horrible shortness of this chapter... I really dont have an excuse, so I'll just let you be angry at me :)
-:O:-
Staring down at Alan's dejected face, Scott couldn't help the weary sigh that escaped him. Praying that Alan wouldn't try to weasel his way out of an explanation, the oldest Tracy brother stepped closer and placed a hesitant hand on Alan's arm. Taking a deep breath as he waited for the mop of blond hair to rise and reveal the still-boyish face of his youngest sibling, Scott silently begged Alan to not shy away from him.
As Alan lifted his head, Scott couldn't help the feeling of desperation that passed over him as he took in the resigned look in Alan's usually exuberant baby blue eyes. Hearing a long sigh released from the younger Tracy, Scott waited with baited breath to hear what Alan had to say.
Coughing to clear his throat, Alan's cheeks lost their colour as he stared into his oldest brother's serious face. Swallowing nervously past the knot that had formed in his chest, Alan bit his lip, knowing that what he was about to say would not be taken lightly.
"Scotty, do you remember when I was ten and I fractured my arm after falling out of that tree?" Alan paused to let Scott remember, dragging out the tension in the air unintentionally. "I managed to keep that from everyone for two days before Virgil noticed that I wasn't using my right hand when I was eating. I told you that I didn't tell you guys about it because I thought that Dad would be mad when he found out that that I had climbed the tree after he had forbidden me to."
The sheepish look that had crept over Alan's face when he had begun talking suddenly disappeared and was replaced by a heavy frown. "I lied. It was because I thought you would all be disappointed in me. You guys are all so strong. You never admit to weakness, and I wanted to prove to you that I could be like you." Alan broke off to snort humourlessly, before continuing in a bitter tone "Guess I failed at that, too."
As Scott listened to his baby brother admit what he had been feeling, a look of horror began to dawn on his face. He felt stabs of pain in his eyes, and angry, hot tears welled up in the corners. White lips pressed together in a tight line, as he shook his head sadly at Alan. Tears of bitterness now rolled down Alan's face and his head dropped to his chest.
Unable to stand the hanging silence any more, Scott treaded forwards and cradled Alan in his arms. Launching himself onto the bed next to his brother, Scott cradled the shaking form and he squeezed his eyes shut. A heavy weight had suddenly settled on his chest and, finding it hard to breathe, he began to rock Alan slowly, wet trails being left on his face by the tears that Scott had allowed to fall unchecked. Feeling arms snake around his waist, Scott merely held onto his brother, his cheek pressed tightly against his Alan's unruly mop of golden locks. Biting his lip to stop it quivering, Scott rubbed his hands up and down Alan's back in a soothing manner, being extremely careful to avoid the thick gauze that covered a whole side, from shoulder to hip.
"Alan…" Scott whispered, sniffing loudly. "I am so, so sorry…I…" Moving a hand up to the back of Alan's head, he felt a wave of guilt crash over him and the words died pathetically in his throat. Taking a minute to calm himself, Scott lifted an arm away from Alan to swipe over his eyes, brushing away the tears from his own face before dealing with his baby brother's. Pushing Alan away, his throat tightened at the look on his brother's face. Closing his eyes briefly, however, Scott set his mind firmly and used a shaking finger to lift Alan's chin so they were looking into one another's eyes. Shining orbs looked at him sadly, slowly turning bloodshot as sobs still racked Alan's frame.
"Alan, I will always," Pausing, he forced the next word out, tightening his grips on Alan's shoulders, "always love you, and I don't think I could ever be prouder of you." Another tear forced its way out of his eye stubbornly as Alan opened his eyes in disbelief. "You don't know how much I love you, little brother. I don't want to ever hear you doing something so God damned stupid! The guys and I love you exactly the way you are, Allie. Please, please don't do this to us. You're special to me, and I don't think I could handle it if you ever left us because you felt you needed to prove anything to us. Please Alan, swear to me that you won't ever do this again?" Desperation laced every word, and his throat began to strain from the effort of keeping it from breaking during every sentence. Staring urgently into Alan's eyes, Scott nearly screamed with happiness as his brother nodded tentatively.
"You've always been my hero, Scotty…"
Unsure as to whether the faint murmur that he thought he heard was actually uttered, Scott drew his brother into another hug, and slowly began to whisper words that he used to console him with every time Alan had padded through with bleary eyes, hair messed up and his favourite teddy slung under his arm after a nightmare.
As Scott trailed off, voice fading gently, he looked at his brother in his arms. At some point during the spoken words, Alan had fallen asleep against him. His features had gone lax and his eyes were shut peacefully. Scott stared at his brother for a few seconds before placing his forehead against Alan's and taking a deep breath. Softly, he whispered the words he hadn't said in so many years.
"You'll always be mine to protect, Allie. I love you."
Scott rested his head against Alan's for a few seconds longer, before gently placing his brother back down on the bed, rearranging his body to make him comfortable. When Scott was finally satisfied that Alan wouldn't fall off, or somehow hurt himself, he leaned back and looked at the youngest Tracy for a few second longer; his gaze lingering on Alan's closed eyes. Sliding off the bed quietly, and plopping down into the chair beside it, Scott drew in a shaky breath, leaning forwards against Alan again. Making sure he was in contact with his baby brother at all times, Scott grabbed Alan's hand before shutting his eyes and letting himself drift off, knowing that Alan would always be there, and that he would watch over him, no matter what.
Being your brother is even better than being a hero to the world, Allie…
-:O:-
"Well, John-o! I never knew you had it in you." Gordon grinned at his stunned older brother, who sat with a dumb-struck look slapped over his face. Plastering on a fake concerned voice and an innocent smile, Gordon continued taunting him. "Puh-lease tell me we didn't just interrupt you kissing Sarah? I mean - what a total catastrophe that would be!" Stepping closer in a daunting way, Gordon's smirk grew on his face and his eyes began to shine.
John's eyes slowly travelled up to Gordon's face from where they had been transfixed to a spot on the floor. Mouth still slightly agape, John swallowed loudly, attempting to get his rapidly beating heart to stop trying to escape his chest. Snapping his mouth closed, John could feel the colour rising to his cheeks and a few seconds later he felt the familiar burn that he acquired whenever he was embarrassed.
This time, he wasn't only mortally embarrassed, but he also felt a pang of frustration in his chest. He had been so close, and his brothers walked in at the wrong time again. From what he could remember, all his life, whenever he had been in an embarrassing situation, Gordon and at least another one of his brothers had shown up, causing him to scramble out of the room quickly. This time, John was forced to lie still and stare at his younger brothers' grinning faces.
Chuckling, Gordon reached forwards and shook the elder Tracy slightly, earning himself an angry glare.
"Don't stress Johnny. We won't say a word." Stifling a laugh, Gordon shook with silent laughter at the look on John's face. It was a mixture of embarrassment and horror, and even Virgil couldn't help the snort that escaped him.
Gazing mildly at his younger brother for a moment, John sat perfectly still, still not daring to move. A few seconds later, the reality of what his brothers had really seen sunk in and he slowly began to curl in on himself. Sliding down in the bed, John brought up his knees and placed his head on them wearily, arms wrapping around them tightly. Sighing, he let his arms fall and turned his head sideways. Eyeing Virgil - who stood in the doorway, leaning back against the frame, arms crossed and a knowing look on his face - John gave him a desperate plea with his eyes.
Understanding what his brother wanted, Virgil chuckled lightly and swaggered forwards, a mock sigh falling from his lips. Raising an arm, almost lazily, he slapped his hand down on Gordon's shoulder. Dramatically huffing, Virgil tightened his grip.
"Come on, fishy, leave the poor little space monkey alone." Virgil chortled, his tough manner diminishing as he looked at the indignant faces that appeared both of the other Tracys in the room. Slapping a hand on the aquanaut's back, laughing once again as Gordon jerked forwards, nearly tripping over, Virgil turned seriously to John.
"How are you feeling?" Virgil said, a frown marring his features for what felt like the billionth time that day. Lines creased his forehead and he placed a hand on John's arm protectively.
Swallowing once again, John shook his head, attempting to clear it of the hazy fog that had gathered when Sarah had first walked into the room.
"Uhh, I'm... fine. You?" Keeping to mono-syllabic words, John decided it would be best not to even talk unless he had to. He had found it immensely difficult to force those few words out anyway.
"Uhuh, I'm fine," Virgil replied, still scrutinising his elder brother carefully. Finally coming to the decision that John was really going to be ok, Virgil turned to his water-loving brother and smiled.
"So then Gordo, I wonder how much Scott is gonna hurt you next time he sees you." Grinning, he watched with amusement as Gordon turned a pale shade and shuddered violently.
"Wha'? What happened?" John frowned, bemused at what his younger brother had just said. Why would Scott put another Tracy in the hospital?
Laughing loudly, Virgil turned to John, eyebrows raised comically.
"Gordon here decided he would use Scott's favourite nickname against him. Then Scotty gave me permission to beat on him. But I, being the best, most sensible, best looking, strongest, smartest, level-headed Tracy, resisted." Looking smugly at his brothers, Virgil crossed his arms in satisfaction, watching the indignant looks fly back onto Gordon and John's faces.
Gordon scowled at his brother, before leaping towards him. Flinging an arm over Virgil's neck, Gordon proceeded to rub his fist over Virgil's head, causing the chestnut brown hair to stick up at the wildest angles imaginable. John's snorts increased when Virgil loudly protested, shrieking in the most feminine manner that he had ever heard.
Gordon, finally deciding he had had enough when Virgil began to shake, and released his brother and watched as he crumpled to the floor, groaning. Sitting up swiftly, hair still stuck up in array, Virgil gave the evilest look he could to Gordon, before attempting to flatten his hair down, and failing miserably. Standing up, he grabbed onto John's bed for support before watching Gordon who was howling with laughter, bent down and clutching his sides. Waiting as patiently as he could for a few minutes as Gordon fought to get himself under control, Virgil sighed. Sometimes, he really hated Gordon.
"Virge…" Breaking off, swiping a tear away from his eye, Gordon attempted to talk through his laughter. "Man, I though th-that Alan was a girl. You have to be th-the funniest g-guy ever!" Straightening himself up, his chuckles receded, and he sighed loudly, still grinning ear-to-ear. "Payback's a bitch, eh, Virge?"
TBC