Sorry for the delay, real life getting in the way again. Thanks to all who read and/or reviewed!
Again, I don't own these characters, just the ones I made up. Please do not use without permission.
Jeff watched his son out of the corner of his eye as they drove towards the hospital. Something had happened since that morning they had talked in the kitchen. While John seemed more open, laughing and chatting with everyone, Jeff could see that it was a mask. John had withdrawn even more into himself. He was constantly jumpy, muttering to himself, and checked the answering machine the second he walked in the door. Jeff asked him about it a few times, but John merely brushed him off, saying it was nothing. I thought that after the other night, things would be better. Maybe Scott can get through to him. If I can get Scott to talk to anyone at this point. Rosie told me yesterday that things could start to get ugly.
"Hello? Earth to Dad?"
Jeff snapped out of his reverie. "What?"
John laughed. "I've been talking to you for the past two minutes! Where were you?"
"Just thinking about your brother. It's been two days since he's had meds." Jeff mused.
"Yeah. I did some research online. He's at rock bottom at this point. Today ought to be real interesting..."
Jeff glanced up at his son's tone. "Are you sure you want to go?"
John maneuvered his jeep into a parking space. "Sure, it's Scott. What's to be afraid of?"
Jeff chuckled. "You're right. C'mon, let's go."
Together they made their way inside. To their surprise, Christa met them when they stepped out of the elevator. "Hey, what are you doing up here?" John asked her.
Christa took a deep breath. "Scott."
John looked closely at her and saw her face was pale and her eyes were bright with tears. "What happened?" He asked hoarsely.
She shook her head. "It's not what you think." She led them both to a small waiting room. "They called me up a little while ago."
"Why? What happened?" Jeff demanded, echoing John.
"He started getting really angry. Apparently he didn't get the breakfast he ordered, and flew off the handle. The anger's normal at this stage, but when he wouldn't calm down, Rosie called me up thinking a familiar face would help."
Jeff got to his feet. "I'd better get in there." He hurried out the door.
John waited until his father had left, then turned back to Christa. "What did he say to you?" He growled.
Christa shook her head. "John it wasn't him. It's the—"
"What did he say?"
She looked down at her feet. "That I don't really care about you. I'm just after your..." Her voice trailed off.
John leapt to his feet, his blue eyes blazing in fury. "I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him."
"John don't!" Christa grabbed his arm before he could get to the door. "Scott's looking for a target. Someone to blame for his condition, other than himself." She smiled up at him. "Besides, I'm not after your money. I only use you for your body." She pressed herself against him and pulled his lips down to hers.
John broke the kiss some moments later. "Where can we find a closet around here?" He asked, burying his face in her neck.
She laughed and deftly slipped out of his grip. "Later." She winked. "Want to go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of us? Nothing against your father, but I miss being alone with you."
"It's a deal." He pulled her close and kissed her again. "Hurry and finish your shift." He said, his voice thick.
Christa smiled. "Got you a bit churned up did I?" She held a hand up as he grabbed for her again. "Uh-ah. Wait until we get home." She placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Love you."
"I love you too." John smiled as he watched her walk out the door. Then he squared his shoulders and made his way to his brother's room. He paused at the door, hearing the yelling inside. He arched an eyebrow at a nurse.
"Good luck." She muttered as she continued by.
"Thanks." John opened the door and stepped into the battle zone.
Scott stood on one side of the room, his arm in a black sling and an angry glower on his face. Jeff stood on the opposite and John nearly laughed out loud at the nearly identical expression on his father.
Scott turned his icy glare on his brother. "Ah, here's the heir to the kingdom now."
John bit back the retort that sprang to his lips. "Good morning to you too Scotty."
"Don't 'Good morning' me. There's nothing good about it!" Scott snapped.
"Watch your tone." Jeff said warningly.
"Why Dad? You put me here! I'm in pain dammit and you made it so they won't give me anything!"
"I didn't put you here Scott, you asked for the treatment." Jeff responded calmly.
"Bullshit!" Scott angrily paced the room, then he turned and leveled his gaze on John. "This is your fault."
"Mine?" John folded his arms across his chest. "You got yourself hooked on pain meds and it's my fault? This I have to hear."
"If you hadn't been such a wuss about going back to Five, none of this would have happened!" Scott pushed on before John could respond. "Gordon's right! You are a liability to us!"
John paled. "I—I—"
"Yes you! You're just too afraid to go back to your job and more afraid to tell our Nazi of a father your father how much you hate it!"
"Scott Carpenter Tracy!" Jeff started.
"Oh fuck you Dad. Like you really care. All you're concerned about is your precious International Rescue."
Jeff marched towards his son. "You can leave the organization any time you want if you're that unhappy. No one's making you stay."
"Oh like Johnny-boy here did?" Scott snorted. "Not that he does anything anyway. Hides away up on Five, afraid to get his hands dirty."
Color flooded back into John's face. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I thought you were the genius of the family?"
"I don't hide up on Five. I do my job."
Scott laughed. "Your job, right. You sit there in front of a computer screen while the rest of your brothers are out there risking their lives. When's the last time you participated in a real live rescue Johnny?"
"I've participated in plenty and you know it." John shot back.
"Helping man Mobile Control doesn't count."
"Why not, that's all you do!"
Jeff stepped in. "That's enough, both of you."
But neither son listened. "Don't you blame me because you were stupid enough to get yourself hooked on drugs!" John shouted.
"Hello pot? Kettle calling! Isn't about time you had another beer John?" Scott sneered. "Or are you going to blame it on the voices in your head again?"
John snarled. "Go to hell!"
"Ooooohhhhh! The Hood is messing with my mind! Woe is me!" Scott taunted.
John threw a punch, catching Scott across the jaw. Scott stumbled backwards and clenched his left fist, ready to retaliate.
"ENOUGH!" Silence descended. "You," Jeff pointed to John. "Wait outside." When John didn't respond, Jeff gave him a glare. "John, I said outside." With one last scowl at his brother, John turned on his heel and marched out the door.
Jeff turned to Scott. "Your behavior was totally uncalled for. We are trying to help you. If you don't want that help, fine. But you will not act this way towards your brother and I, is that clear?"
"As a crystal." Scott replied sullenly.
"I'll be back later. I can't say the same for your brother. Get some rest." Jeff turned and left.
Out in the hallway, Jeff leaned against the wall, his head in his hands.
"Jeff?" He looked up to see Rosie frowning at him. "Everything all right?"
Jeff shook his head. "Not really. Scott doesn't seem to be taking this well."
She placed a comforting hand on his arm. "It's the addiction talking, not him. If Scott runs true to course, he just gave you all the reasons he has this problem and none of them are his fault, am I correct?" Jeff nodded. "That's normal. Another two or three days and he should be back to the Scott you knew."
"He says he's in pain." Jeff said softly.
Rosie nodded. "He is. But we are giving him meds, just not the amount his body is craving. We're taking good care of him Jeff. I promise you that."
He smiled at her. "I know you are. It's just hard seeing him like that."
"I know. Why don't you go get some lunch. Come back later, give you both a chance to calm down."
"Good idea. Thanks Rosie."
"None needed Jeff."
He watched her walk off, then went in search of his second son.
John tore out of the hospital parking lot, narrowly missing a city bus. He squealed onto Storrow Drive, heading towards the airport. A short time later, he was parked along the fence, and sitting on the hood of his jeep, watched as the planes landed and took off.
I could do that. Just take the jet and take off. Go somewhere where they couldn't find me. He sighed. But I can't...I won't do that to Christa. I love her too much. My family on the other hand...
"This just sucks." John said out loud to himself. He rested his head on his knees.
"I hate to say 'I told you so.'"
"Not really in the mood here pal."
"I'm sorry John."
"Sorry? For what?"
"I know what you are going through."
John snorted. "Yeah, right."
"You see, I too know what it is like to be alienated by my family."
John's head snapped up, but Hood went on. "They don't understand you, your wants, your desires. Sometimes, they seem almost...afraid of you. There is no one you can talk to, you feel all alone."
"I used to be able to talk to Scott. And my father." John said softly, a faraway look in his eyes.
"As I did with Kyrano. But then, things...changed."
"What happened between you and Kyrano. He never speaks of you. We didn't even know you existed."
"We share the same mother, though I am older by a handful of years. My father left when I was a child, I have no memories of him. My mother remarried and had my brother a year later. We were very close when we were young, as close as you and Scott. I was left the diamond mine upon my true father's death, and set out to make my fortune. I invited Kyrano and his young wife to join me."
"So then what happened?" John asked after Hood had been quiet too long.
"Things were happy for a while. I found a large untapped vein and soon knew I would never have to want for anything again. I, of course, shared all I had with my brother. Then, it happened."
"You mean your ignoring the safety protocols and causing the deaths of nearly 150 people? Forgive me for not feeling sorry for you."
"I did not know it at the time, but the man I had hired as my foreman was stealing from me. He did not implement the supports I had paid for. Instead he used inferior materials that ultimately caused the disaster. But before that, Kyrano and I had had a falling out. He did not believe in the way I was running the mine."
"The slave labor?"
"It was not slave labor. I merely encouraged the locals that working for myself would be in their best interests."
"I'll bet you did."
"Not in the way that you think John. I merely tried to get them to see that technology was the way of the future. Why use a shovel when a machine could do the same job, better and faster. It was difficult to fight against generations of conformity. My people are set in the traditional ways, while they do not abhor change, they do take their time accepting it. So I was met with much resistance. Then when the mine collapsed...well they were proved correct."
"Let's assume this sob-story is true. Why'd you come after us then? Why are you tormenting me?"
"You know of my powers..."
"Yeah, had a taste of them quite a few times." John said sarcastically.
"Temper, temper John." Hood paused a moment. "Even now, I am not sure entirely how they work. Sometimes...I feel like there are voices...in my head. Telling me what to do, how to act. I...lose control of my actions, even my thoughts are not my own."
John felt a chill run through him despite the hot sun. "Go on."
"It is like someone taking over. There are large spans of time that I have no recollection of. Take the attack on your family for instance."
"You do not expect me to believe that you had no idea what you were doing?" John snorted. "How stupid do you think I am."
"On the contrary, I was perfectly aware of what I was doing. Whatever it is that possesses me, let me watch the entire event. It was as if I was a bystander in my own mind."
"And kidnapping Alan? Torturing my family down in that God-forsaken mine? Then too?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Only this time I felt pushed into doing that. I regret the entire incident and wish it had never happened."
"And what about what you're still doing to me?"
"It was not me John! This power is overwhelming! You have no idea what it is like to have something inside you that you cannot control or reason with."
John grew very still. "Maybe I do." He said quietly.
"I want my life to go back to the way it was. I miss my family though I doubt they feel the same about me."
John's thoughts went to Gordon, then to Scott's last words. "Yeah..."
"But I did not mean to burden you with my problems. I only wished you to know you are not alone."
John's mind went still and he knew Hood had left. He leaned back against the windshield, his thoughts troubled. I don't want to believe him! But what he says...it makes sense. And what Scott said today, I know part of it was the drugs, but the other part, about me not doing my share, does everyone feel that way?
He sighed. And Christa says she loves me, but how much of that is out of pity? We haven't had what I'd call a 'normal' relationship. He shook his head. "No, she loves me, the hell with what Scott thinks." He glanced down at his watch. "And if I hurry, I should be able to pick her up and we can do that dinner."
John quickly slid off the jeep and starting it up, drove back into the city.