DISCLAIMER -DO NOT OWN. JUST LIKE TO PLAY. (thought if I did it in caps, no one would doubt...)
and the cyber cookie goes to Megz... Ana Nevada Hannah Montana. Sorry, I have a ten year old daughter who thinks Hannah Montana is soooo cool.
Chapter Seven – There's No Place Like Home
Jeff was pacing. Usually it was Scott pacing when they were anxious. But he and Kate had gone back to their own villa. After Kate's call to Alan – her phone had been quickly handed around Jeff's study, everyone had wanted a chance to talk to the teen, hear his voice – the group had gone from a heartbroken family, convinced that Alan had died in a fire, to the Thunderbirds, post rescue. Wanting the debriefing over so they could get ready for Alan's return, Jeff had merely had the team go over the highlights and decided that they could review again when Alan was home. It had been a perfect example of how a simple rescue could have repercussions'. He wanted his youngest son to listen in on that.
Looking over at his favorite picture, one of the five boys after their first rescue, Jeff smiled. Then again, maybe Alan did know that. What was supposed to be a simple hike in the woods had turned into a life or death situation. Lightning strikes had set the forest ablaze, trapping Alan and some of his teammates from Wharton's. Apparently, only Alan's quick thinking had saved the day. Jeff had yet to hear the details from Alan himself. The exhausted boy had spoken to his family briefly, but the youngest Tracy had wanted to get away from the charred woods – and the invasive media.
Brains should have Tracy One, the family's primary jet, almost to the island. Jeff was anxious to look over his son, make sure he was really OK. The Vid was still playing in the background. Looking for a distraction, Jeff turned the volume back up. The story of the "Miracle in The Forest", as the media was dubbing it, still had legs. In most cases, a story like this would have already begun to die down. After all, no one had died, no grand scale tragedy. Jeff was cynical enough about the media to know why it was still going on – someone had been able to add the name "Tracy" to the story. One of Alan's teammates – an annoying little sycophant named Kyle Wescott, had given up Alan's name, while surely knowing his family's dislike for publicity. Jeff was not sure why the boy disliked his son, but he would make sure to discuss it with Alan.
While sending a memo to his corporate spokesperson – who also handled any releases regarding his family – Jeff had to smile at the way Alan had handled the press at the scene. The other boys had clamored for the newshounds; Alan had checked on his injured couch, relaying information to the medics who had begun treating the fallen man. When the other boys had relayed how Alan had reviewed the area before hand, knew of the abandoned mine and had kept them at a level to avoid the smoke and flames; Alan had spoken with the fire chief, telling the man of potential dangerous areas and asking him when the mine would be properly sealed so other people wouldn't get trapped or injured. But most of the team knew of how Alan and his family treasured their privacy, and while some said "Alan did this" or "Alan handled it that way", none of them gave his last name. Kyle had not only given his full name, but had added "You know, Jeff Tracy's son…."
Turning off the news in disgust, Jeff walked out of his study, in search of his sons. By the pool, he found Virgil relaxing on a lounger and Gordon doing laps. Looking around, he saw no sign of Scott or Kate. "Anyone has seen the newlyweds?"
Virgil stood up, "I'll go get them Dad. They're probably still in their villa."
Jeff nodded. "Alan should be arriving any minute now and Onaha says dinner will be on the table soon. Let them know we will be expecting them for dinner."
With a laugh, Virgil walked towards the smaller house, calling back "Yeah, like that's unusual." Jeff hid a smile. Kate was a good cook, but between IR and Tracy Enterprises, the idea of not having to cook was appealing to her. Scott was a horrible cook and admitted that half the time he started eating at the main house simply from force of habit.
Gordon had emerged from the pool, and approached his father. "You think the Sprout will be more forthcoming with us than the media?" Gordon smiled at the snort that emitted from his father. While Jeff had always disliked the way the media had tried to interfere with his family's life, he had been forced to take out some restraining orders after a few more enterprising souls had tried to get to Alan when the teen had returned to school following his abduction.
Before Jeff could give a commentary on what the media could do, Virgil returned poolside, grabbed a magazine and stuck his face in it. "Virgil, did you tell Scott and Kate to come over to the main house?" Virgil muttered something. "What did you say?"
Virgil's face emerged from behind the magazine. "I said they were busy, Dad!" Jeff began to chuckle as he became clearer as to why his middle son's face was so red. Maybe those grandchildren were more promising than he had feared this morning.
TBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan looked out the window, smiling at the sight of Tracy Island below. He had missed his family, he had missed Tin-Tin, and he had missed the 'Birds. At times, Alan wished he never had to leave the island at all. But lately he had come to appreciate the chance to be something other than the youngest Tracy son. At Wharton's, he was just Alan. That was nice, and a bit refreshing. Grinning over at the Hackenbackers', Alan laughed. "How long do you think they'll wait before demanding a full debriefing?"
"A-Alan, you are n-not c-c-coming b-back from a mission; you are c-c-coming b-back from sc-school." Fermat joked.
Brains smiled at both boys. "A-actually s-s-son, I think A-Alan may be right. The T-Tracys will be ready t-to g-grill A-Alan as s-soon as we land."
Smiling, Alan helped Brains with landing as he shook his head. "Maybe they'll wait until after dinner."
The threesome looked at each other; then all three laughed: "NAAAHHH!!!"
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan had barely emerged from the plane when he was swept up in his father's arms. As much as he had joked about his family's over protectiveness, here was the one place Alan had always been safe, held close by his father. Jeff reluctantly released his youngest son so that his brothers could greet the boy as well. Kate and Scott had run into the hanger behind the others and were awaiting their turn at greeting Alan. If the couple noticed the smirks Gordon and Virgil sent their way, they ignored them. The two middle Tracy brothers could not ignore the glare their father turned on them; he did not want the couple upset again now that their argument had been settled. With a smile, he recalled this was the way many of his and Lucy's arguments had been settled. In fact one such argument had been settled and the result was Alan.
Smiling at all of his sons, Jeff put an arm around his youngest. "Onaha should have dinner on the table. Come on, we have a lot to celebrate." He gave Alan a one-armed hug. "And you, Alan, have a lot to tell us, don't you?"
Alan gave Fermat and Brains a smile. He had told them so. Brains and Fermat may know all kinds of technology, but Alan understood something far more complex. His family.
a/n - awww. wasn't that sweet? gonna do some more "interaction" before the next "action". I have some definite things that need completed before this story can end and we can move onto the next one. this one may end up as longer than "Greatest Gift" but let's face it, that took place within a 24 hour period (actually more like 12-18). this will be about 4-6 weeks. may skip a week or two if not pertinent. but will go from here.