Hi Guys, the next update is ready early. I will try and update again over the weekend but I have finals next week so I might be a little while before the next chapter is up; apologies in advance.

All mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

DISCLAIMER: Nope, still don't own them.

The next time Alan awoke he was confused as to why he appeared to be practicing planking against a cliff face. Bracing himself he pushed gently away from the wall as he remembered the last waking. He closed his eyes to avoid looking at his stomach again. He knew what the injury looked like, there was nothing he could do about it, and there was no point revisiting it. Alan tried to work about if he had any other injuries. He knew that he must have hit his head, partially because he kept losing consciousness, partially because he couldn't remember how he ended up in this situation and partially because it felt like the Mole was working its way through his brain.

Alan could hear the darkness calling for him but knew he had to fight against it. It would have been so easy to lie down and give up and that was precisely why he knew he shouldn't.

"Nothing worth doing is easy." He heard the words spoken in his head but it could have been any of his brothers or even his father who had said it. God knows all of them had quoted the phrase to him at one time or another, usually when they thought that their interference was required or necessary. Rarely was it needed, but that wasn't exactly the point. Once the youngest; always the youngest. Alan smiled as he recalled when he was first highlighted to the fact that none of his family were quite the saints that he had thought them to be.

Alan was scared that he could not recall where he was or how he had come to be in such a state. He knew from his brief glance down that he was in his IR flight suit so he was obviously on a rescue of some kind; but what? Where were his brothers? Any concern that Alan may have had for himself fled at the thought of his family. He knew that they would come for him…. If they could. What if his injuries were minor compared to what they were going through. He needed to remember, he had to. What if they were out there somewhere, injured, and thinking: it's gonna be okay, Alan will find us. He'll get us out.

Alan could feel a frustrated sob building at the back of his throat. Nothing hurt more than the uncertainty of his family and it always had. He always felt so useless. So unneeded in comparison with the rest of the impressive over-achievers that made up the Tracy Family. That fear had been buried deep over time, but it was only that. Buried. The fear had remained and whilst it had been dormant it had fed and grown. The helplessness of Alan's situation was like a tide that was threatening to overwhelm him and drag him away out to sea. And Alan almost wanted it to, 'cause after all wasn't Gordon always out there in the water? If Alan let the tide take him then he would find one of his brothers.

Before Alan could even begin to realise it the darkness had got her claws into him and she dragged him down as much as he fought it. As he sank into the familiar and comforting darkness he heard someone speak.

"Please help me. Please. I don't want to be alone. Please Mister, please wake up."

I have to help her. Alan thought wildly as his IR instincts cut in but there was nothing he could do. The gap between his brain and his mouth was wider that the Grand Canyon and it was only getting wider. The darkness claimed Alan and he returned to times past and to happier memories.

Please review! It makes me happy to know what you enjoy/want more of and what isn't that good! Thank you!