Don't own Thunderbirds, and since I am bringing Kate's family back, don't own Numb3rs either. Sigh.

Chapter Ten – Revelations

Scott watched his youngest brother set up Field Command. He knew that his father wanted each of the team to know all of the jobs. You never knew when a crisis in the field would make it necessary for one to do another's job. It was why – sigh – he was headed up to Five next week. With Alan and Fermat home, there was no problem, but still…

Alan was smiling behind his helmet. Boy, he had missed this. The youngest Tracy finished setting up the last of the instrument panel and motioned to Scott. The Thunderbird's Field Commander put a hand on the Junior Member's shoulder. "Good work Alan. Just confirm Two's status while I go confer with the civilian authorities."

Scott glanced back at Alan before heading over to where the fire and police were set up. His little brother was doing good. A touch of sadness warred with pride. Scott had helped raise Alan; it was a bit like watching your child strike out on his own.

A few minutes later, a sudden disturbance broke Scott away from the discussion he was having with a fire chief and an engineering professor from Cal Sci. A man in a business suit was trying to get into the rescue zone. His path was currently blocked by Scott's sixteen year old brother. Scott began to run when the man grabbed Alan and tried to push him aside.

"Hey!" Scott yelled. "Leave him alone!" Scott grabbed his brother's assailant, turning the man around and came face to face with…. His father-in-law.

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Kate reviewed the data John was streaming from Five. She knew Alan and Scott had already set up Field Command. John had confirmed that her Aunt Amita and Cousin Ben were safe, but the last time anyone had seen Professor Charles Eppes he had been heading towards a basement storage area. Then an explosion had rocked the physics and engineering building. No one had seen her Uncle Charlie since then.

Sucking in her breath, Kate tried to calm her fears. Her father would be devastated if anything happened to his little brother. She almost laughed at the phrasing. Dr. Charles Edward Eppes was a genius, a tenured professor and a grandfather himself, but to Don Eppes he was still his little brother, much as Kate would always be Don's little girl.

Jeff watched his daughter-in-law from his co-pilot's seat. He knew that her family was as close as the one she had married into. Kate was frowning at something John had said.

"John, what do you mean my father is already in Los Angeles?" Kate looked over at her in-laws. "Oh, this is not good."

Gordon looked confused. "So, your father might be on the scene. What's the problem, keep your helmet on, he'll never recognize you."

Kate frowned. "OK, Gordon, picture Scott's over protectiveness, combine the focus from four little brothers into one and give him forty years experience at it."

Jeff hid a smile as both of his sons said as one, "Oh, boy."

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Don Eppes tried to shake the restraining hand off his arm. "You don't understand! My sister-in-law called me. My brother is in there! Do you have any brothers? Family? I promised my mother! I promised my father! I… I promised myself when he was born, I would always make sure he was alright."

Alan smiled. Kate was right. Don Eppes was just like Scott. He wondered what his brother could possibly say to calm his frantic father-in-law. Scott bowed his head and made a choice, one his father may not agree with but…

"Don't worry Dad, we'll get him. We'll get Uncle Charlie out."

Alan grabbed the stunned man before he could drop. He knew no one else had heard his brother. Hell, he could barely believe what his brother had said. Alan began to guide Don Eppes over to his family; Alan could see the Eppes gathered by a barrier. Halfway there, Don stopped and turned to Alan. In a low voice, he asked, "Kate?"

"She'll be in Thunderbird Two. Don't worry Mr. Eppes, Kate's real good at this sir."

Don cocked his head to the side. Then his eyes went wide, and he whispered, "Alan? Alan Tracy?"

He could almost see the smile on the teenager's face. "Yes, sir." As Kate's father only seemed to be more shocked, Alan responded "Hey, I'm just working in the family business during summer vacation." Alan subtly motioned to the Eppes family. "You can't tell them, you know. Kate's life may depend on it one day."

Don nodded. He was use to keeping secrets. But so much for thinking his daughter had left the FBI for a safe job.

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Kate was the first one off of Thunderbird Two. She ran over to Field Command, grabbing her husband's arm. "Scott, my father was in LA. He could show up any time now. I know him, he'll come here."

Scott resisted the urge to pull his wife into his arms. They were too public now. Instead he delicately gestured to where Alan was escorting her father to the family gathered behind a barrier. Dad had already been here. "How did you get him to leave?" Kate frantically looked up at her husband. "Scott Carpenter Tracy you didn't hit my father, did you?"

"No," Scott whispered watching as his father approached the couple. "But he knows about your part in, um, the family business." Kate's eyes went wide. But she said nothing more as Jeff joined them. Scott pulled out the plans to the building and showed where three separate groups were trapped. Then they reviewed where Professor Eppes had gone, an old storage facility that had not been used in years. If Charlie Eppes had not spent the better part of four decades, first as a student, then as a professor at Cal Sci, he probably wouldn't even know it existed.

"According to rescue, the path to the storage area is blocked. We'll have to use the Mole to get to him. With the infra-red, we can make sure we don't turn Professor Eppes into mush…" Kate glared at her husband, joined by his father. Alan, who had returned to Mobile Command, began to chuckle only to quickly turn it into a cough.

"Listen, junior, I will refuse to block Gordon from killing you. I may be good with computers, but I am not the hacker you are turning into." She turned to Jeff. "Permission to go with Virgil on the Mole." Jeff nodded. Kate ran back towards Two, preparing to join Virgil on the Thunderbirds digging machine.

"Scott, come with me and Gordon. It will take all three of us to get the survivors out in time. Alan, you'll need to coordinate all of us." Alan nodded. As much as Alan wanted to join the action, he had matured enough to know he had to learn even the mundane. Alan had spent last Spring Break with John on Five, learning communications. Besides, he grinned to himself. Technically, he could boss his family around on this mission. Cool.

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The Mole rumbled towards the shattered building. Kate reviewed the infer-red readings. One life form could be detected twenty eight feet in, if they approached from the southeast corner of the building. This was close to the readings, yet far enough away from the others trapped in the building so that they wouldn't endanger the others.

As the Mole began to chew through the dirt and into the basement, Kate bit her lip and sent a prayer to her grandfather. Grandpa, keep an eye on your baby boy until we can get there. Thunderbirds are go!

a/n - If you remember in "The Greatest Gift", Kate prays to her late grandfather whenever she stresses. If you know Numb3rs at all, Don is not OOC - he really is that hopelessly protective of his younger brother. Kate has always felt Scott reminded her of her Dad. So even if you don't know Numb3rs, Kate is right - Don is Scott with forty years of life experience. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Should Jeff find out what Scott did? Or should I give Alan something to hold over big brother??? feedback is ever welcome