Still don't own 'em, just the ones I made up. Please do not use or copy without my permission, this includes C2 archives. Thanks!

Again, thanks to Sam 1 for letting me bounce ideas off her:)

Over the next couple weeks, John settled into a comfortable routine. He and Christa saw each other nearly everyday. On her days off, they went to the beach, took in a ball game, or just sat in the park and talked.

Christa was far more outgoing than John, and she seemed to accept the fact that she would have to start their conversations. They talked about everything. She told him that she had moved alot as a child, while her mother worked at the various NASA facilities. They had finally settled in Connecticut when she was in high school and after graduating from Yale, she started at Mass General.

John had to be more creative with his past. He told her of going to MIT and graduating with honors, then working in the space program for a few years before quitting to join the family business. "On day my dad came home and announced we were moving. We packed up the farm, and moved to an island in the south Pacific." He told her as they sat down under a tree down on the Esplanade.

"Really? Your own island?" Christa's eyes got a faraway look. "I'd love that…"

"Wouldn't you miss winter?" John asked, smiling at her.

She shook her head. "No more shoveling, scraping the car, falling on the ice? It would be tough, but I think I could get used to it."

John laughed and she threw her apple core at him. "OK, OK, I give up!"

She settled back against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. "You don't mention your mother much. Are your parents divorced?" She felt him stiffen and turned to look up at him. "John? Are you alright?"

He shook his head. "My mother…died when I was twelve."

"Oh John, I'm so sorry. What happened?"

John sat up and stared out across the Charles. "We were skiing inColorado. There was an avalanche. The resort staff told us to stay inside the main buildings and we would be safe. They were wrong." He said quietly.

"John, I'm sorry." Christa said again, taking his hand.

He smiled down at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's OK. It was a long time ago. That's one of the reason's my father moved us to the island. Change of scenery."

"I can understand that." She settled herself back in his arms. "Tell me more about your brothers."

"I told you all about them. What about you?" John asked.

"My sister Sally is three years older than me. She's a teacher and she and my brother-in-law have two children, Fletcher who's six and Susie who's four. Jeff is seventeen and in a rock band." Christa rolled her eyes.

John laughed. "Garage band, hopes to make it big."

She nodded. "Is this something all boys go through?"

He shrugged. "Don't know. I was always sleeping through the day so I could stay up all night with my telescope. Virgil's the only one of us that's musically inclined. He plays a mean piano."

"Classical or modern?"

"Just about anything. He can hear a piece only once or twice and play it back to you." John smiled. "He's pretty incredible."

"He's the middle one right? Isn't he an artist too?"

John nodded. "Yep. Scott's the oldest, he's a crack pilot. Gordon takes online classes through the University of California at Berkley. He's studying oceanographic studies. We usually have to pry him out of the ocean with a crow bar."

"Are you related to the Tracy that won the gold in the Olympics a couple of years ago?" Christa asked.

John smiled. Despite his lingering anger at his younger brother, he was still proud of his accomplishments. "Yeah, that's my little brother Gordon. Puts us all to shame."

Christa laughed. "And the youngest…I can't remember his name."

"Alan." John sobered. "Alan wants nothing more than to be a…a part of our business, but Dad wants him to finish school first. He's enrolled at Wharton Academy."

Christa looked up at him. "Exactly what is it Tracy Enterprises does that you all want to work there?"

John shrugged. "We encompass all kinds of things. Research and development, production, that sort of stuff." He hedged.

Christa frowned at him. "What aren't you telling me John Tracy?"

He smiled charmingly. "Me, not tell you something?"

She laughed at his seemingly innocent expression. "Brat!"

"But you like me anyway." He said, kissing her lightly.

"Yes, I do." She pulled him down to her and kissed him breathless.

"Christa…" He pulled her towards him again.

When they finally pulled apart, her indigo eyes were twinkling. "What do you say we move this indoors?" She said huskily.

John felt like he swallowed his tongue. "I—I—We—"

She laughed. "I'll take that as a yes." She got to her feet and helped him to his, frowning a little at his wince. "Still sore?"

"Some. Not as much as before." He replied as they started down the path towards the brownstone. "I think I'm finally starting to heal."

"How long ago was your crash?"

"Almost five weeks now." He looked sideways at her. "Why?"

She smiled. "Just calculating how fit you are." She laughed as John turned beet red. "I never met a man who blushes like you do John." He muttered something she couldn't hear, making her laugh even more.

Soon they were at the house, and John unlocked the door, opening it for Christa to go first. She stepped into the hallway and paused to look around. "What a beautiful—" Her words were cut off as John crushed his lips to hers. She gripped his shoulders as her knees turned to jelly and a moan escaped her.

"Fit enough for you?" John growled, his lips moving down her throat.

"I'll say…" She replied breathlessly. He moved his lips to hers again.

A sudden beeping startled them both. John groaned and rested his forehead on top of hers. "Please don't tell me that's what I think it is?"

Christa wormed out of his embrace and pulled her pager out of her pocket. Looking at it, she frowned. "Can I use the phone?"

He groaned again and pointed to a desk in the living room. She hurried inside and he could hear her talking. When she came out again a few minutes later, she wore a disappointed look on her face. "John, I'm sorry. There's been a bus accident. I have to go in."

John's head snapped up. "Where?"

"Down on the interstate. The local authorities are taking care of it. It wasn't as bad as it could be, but there are a few criticals." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Can I take a rain check?"

"I'll have to think about it." He teased.

She swatted him lightly. "Beast."

"You ain't seen nothing yet…" He kissed her again and pulled her close, closing his eyes. "What are you doing for the Fourth?"

She looked at him. "Nothing special. I managed to get a long weekend. I thought about heading down to Connecticut to see my parents. Want to go?"

John thought a minute. "How about we stay here for the fireworks, and then go the next day? I haven't seen Fourth of July fireworks in years."

She smiled. "Sounds good to me. I'll call Mom tonight and let her know we're coming." She kissed him again, reluctant to leave. "I have to go John."

"I know." He pulled her close again. "Come back tonight." He whispered huskily.

"I'll try." She took a step back, then turned to him again. "I really have to go."

"So go."

"Arugh!" She planted one last kiss on his lips and fled out the door.

John watched as she trotted down the steps. She paused once at the bottom and waved. He waved back and sighing, walked towards the kitchen.

The force of the headache hit him like a physical blow. John staggered against the doorframe, his vision swimming before his eyes. He fell to his knees moaning, his hands pressed against his temples.

"John…you are alone…"

"No…No I'm not." He moaned.

"Yes, all alone…"

"No…" He got to his feet and stumbled out into living room. He collapsed on the couch, moaning in pain.

"All alone."

Tin-Tin bolted awake. "John!" She closed her eyes tightly and concentrated, then moments later got up and ran out the door.

It was barely four in the morning, and the house was quiet. She quickly made her way to Alan's room and tapped lightly on the door. A minute later she could hear him stirring.

"Gordon, if this is some sort of joke..." Alan muttered as he opened the door.

Tin-Tin pushed by him. "Alan! I need your help!"

Alan shook the sleep out of his eyes. "Tin-Tin? Tin-Tin!" He realized he was wearing only a pair of boxers and blushed and tried to shut the door.

Tin-Tin pushed by him into his room. "Alan, please!"

He quickly ducked into the bathroom and pulled on a shirt and shorts. "What's going on?"

"It's John."

The last of the fog cleared out of Alan's head. "What happened?"

She paced the room nervously, wringing her hands together. "My uncle. He's hurting him."

"How?" Alan took Tin-Tin by the shoulders and shook her lightly. "Tin-Tin! How is he hurting John?" He demanded.

"I don't know. But I can hear him. I can hear John. He's in pain." Tin-Tin's eyes and voice were full of desperation. "We have to do something!"

Alan thought for a minute. "Let's try calling him first. It's dinnertime in Boston, he should be there. C'mon!" Taking Tin-Tin's hand, they rushed out the bedroom door and crashed right into Scott.

"Alan? Tin-Tin!" Scott frowned at the both of them. "You'd better have a good explanation for this." He demanded taking in Alan's hastily arranged attire and Tin-Tin still in her pajamas.

Alan met his oldest brother's gaze fearlessly. "There's something wrong with John."

Scott arched one eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Tin-Tin knows." Alan started to push past Scott. "Scott, we need to contact him and see what's going on!" He practically dragged Tin-Tin into his father's office. He started to sit down, but Scott shoved him out of the way.

"Move Sprout." Scott punched in the number to the brownstone. He frowned up at Alan. "There's no answer."

"Try his communicator." Alan suggested.

Scott punched in another series of commands on the computer.

"Unit is no longer transmitting."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!" Now Scott was starting to get concerned, and he tried the phone again. "I think we'd better go get Dad."

Tin-Tin shook her head. "No. Let me try something first." She held her crystal in her hands and closed her eyes.

"John…"

John opened his eyes. "Tin-Tin?" He whispered.

"John fight him."

"I can't…"

"Yes you can! Fight him!"

"Don't listen to her John. She doesn't really care about you."

John fell to his knees on the floor. He clutched his head. "No stop. Please stop!"

"Leave him alone!"

"He is alone."

John's head snapped up, his eyes streaming tears. "I'm not alone!"

"Then where is your family John? Why are they not here to help you?"

"John fight him!"

John forced himself to his feet. "I chose to come here. I'm not alone!"

"You can keep telling yourself that John."

John staggered to the video-phone and punched in the number to Tracy Island.

"They won't answer." Weaker this time.

"Yes they will!" John peered down at the screen willing someone to be there.

Back on the island, the phone rang. Scott jumped to answer it. At the same time, Tin-Tin's eyes rolled up in her head and she collapsed. Alan caught her and eased her down to the floor.

Scott sent an inquiring glance at Alan. He nodded back. Scott turned back to the screen. "John!"

"Scott…Thank God."

"John, what happened?" Scott demanded taking in his brother's haggard appearance.

John shook his head. "I don't know. The Hood, he was…he was talking to me. Inside my head. And Tin-Tin…Scott, I don't understand what's happening to me!" He held his head in his hands.

"John, we don't either. But we're going to help you."

"He said I was alone."

The despair in John's voice tore at Scott's heart. "You're not alone John. We're all here. We'll always be here."

"Scott…"

"Look, I'm going to call Penny, see if she can tell us what's happening with the Hood."

John looked up, a haunted look on his face. "Scott…I can't do this…"

Scott leaned forward, his grey eyes glittering angrily. "Don't talk that way John Tracy. You're strong, you beat him once, you can do it again."

John took a shuddering breath and nodded. "I'll try."

"Damn right you will." Scott said. "Do you want me to come to Boston?"

John shook his head. "No…not yet. Maybe in a few weeks."

Some of the weight lifted off of Scott's shoulders. "A few weeks then." He smiled. "Call if you need anything Johnny."

"I will…Scott, thanks."

Scott nodded and cut the connection. He got up and knelt down next to Alan and Tin-Tin. "How is she?"

"I think she just fainted." Tin-Tin's eyelids fluttered. "Tin-Tin!" Alan helped her sit up. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I-I think so…"

"Honey? What happened?" Scott asked gently.

Tin-Tin clutched Alan's hand tightly. "John! What about John!" She asked, her eyes wild.

Alan pulled her close. "It's OK, we talked to him. Whatever you did worked."

She leaned against him, and Alan stroked her hair as Scott hid a smile. "Alan, can you take care of her?" Alan nodded. "I'm going to tell Dad." Scott held his hand up to stem their protests. "No. No more secrets in this family. That's what got us into this mess in the first place."

Alan nodded. "You're right. Go, I'll take care of her."

Scott nodded and squeezed Tin-Tin's shoulder. You did good honey." Then, getting carefully to his feet, he left them alone.

Scott walked down the hallway, and paused in front of his father's door. He raised his hand to knock, then hesitated. Dad's sleeping, finally. If he were awake, he'd be up and around by now. I can wait a few more hours. Scott lowered his hand and made his way back to his own bed. Lying down, he winced and massaged his bad shoulder. Guess I need to have Virgil take another look at this. It feels worse, not better. He lay there for a few minutes, then got up and swallowed a couple of his painkillers. Then, going back to bed, Scott closed his eyes, and a short time later fell back asleep.

Gordon glanced outside as he pulled on his swim trunks. It was past dawn, but there was a good chance he was still the first one up. He stepped out into the hallway, grinning when he saw all the doors to his brother's rooms still closed. He trotted down the stairs, and out of habit, glanced into his father's office. He went a few steps further, then stopped dead in his tracks. Shaking his head, he made his way back and cautiously peered inside.

Alan was sprawled, sound asleep on the couch. While this wasn't totally unusual, Tin-Tin being curled up in his brother's arms was. Gordon crept back and bolted for his room, returning a few moments later. He slowly moved towards the couch, his camera held in front of him. Neither Alan nor Tin-Tin moved as Gordon snapped off a dozen shots. Finally, still grinning he backed out again, and made his way to the pool.

Penny looked up as the phone on her desk buzzed. It was her direct line to Tracy Island. She stared at it thoughtfully for a few moments, then picked it up. "Hello?"

"Penny?"

Emotion washed through her, relief or disappointment, she wasn't sure which. "Hello Scott! Everything alright?"

Scott's image appeared on the screen. He shook his head. "No, Penny. We have a problem. I need you to check on the Hood's current status."

Penny frowned. "Oh course dear, but why?"

Scott shook his head. "It's John. We think he's controlling John somehow."

"Controlling him? How?"

"Tin-Tin is hearing John thoughts. She says he's being attacked by her uncle."

Penny looked skeptical. "Are you sure?"

Scott nodded. "I know it sounds crazy, but I saw it." He shook his head again. "Don't ask me to explain it, I don't get it myself."

"All right Scott, I'll see what I can do." She looked away for a moment, and when she turned back, her expression was carefully guarded. "How is…everyone else?"

"You can say his name Penny. Dad's a mess. What happened? He won't tell us a damned thing."

She sighed. "He asked me to marry him." She said softly.

"I take it you said no?" Penny nodded. "You must have had a good reason." Scott continued. She nodded. "You don't have to tell me." He smiled at her. "Just don't stay away from us too long. We miss you. We ALL miss you."

Penny felt her eyes fill with tears. "Scott…"

Scott smiled. "Love you Penny. See you soon." He disappeared.

Penny felt her heart lift. "See you soon." She whispered to the darkened screen. Then, straightening her shoulders, she pressed another button. "Parker, please bring the Bentley around. We're going to London."