Hi Everyone! Many apologies for the long gap between postings – live has been a bit manic as always. Anyway, here is the next chapter for your attention. As before, this has not been beta read so all mistakes are mine. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and sorry I have not had a chance to personally reply to everyone.

Disclaimer: The sand pit belongs to the Anderson's; I'm just playing in it!

The next time Alan woke he knew that he had been unconscious for a long time. The sun had gone down and the sky was pink and purple shot. Alan's alarm grew as he realised several ramifications of the oncoming night. His brothers were still unaccounted for and he was still in a precarious situation. Alan tried to concentrate of what to do but he was struggling to hold on to a single thought. His eyelids were heavy and his head was killing him.

Alan smiled as he thought about what he had been dreaming about. His brothers had been a lot more open with him after the little 'intervention' they had held. They sort of decided that their authority had been undermined enough and might just as well make the most of the improved relations with their youngest brother. Besides, their main concern had always been that Alan didn't need any encouragement, but actually if they played it right then his attentions might turn to Gordon, who god knows, needed to competition and maybe, just maybe, might get put in his place for a change. And if anyone could do it, it was the youngest of the Tracy family. Once Alan had returned to school things improved greatly but things were still troubled. It took them about three months to realise just how bad but still… Alan wasn't sure if he knew just how close he had come to being lost forever.

Alan forced the thoughts to one side and tried to focus on the present. Recollections would not get him out of this position. The pain from his abdomen was fading now and whilst Alan was glad he knew that this was not a good thing. The main pain he felt now, other than the drilling in his brain, was in his right arm. It was twisted at an unnatural angle, trapped above his head and caught in the rope that was connected to his harness. He knew automatically from past experience that his arm was most likely dislocated. The muscles around his shoulder were screaming from bearing so much weight for such a long time. Alan attempted to shift his position to alleviate some of the pain. He had to hold back a scream as the movement caused pain to flair not only in his shoulder but in his head and stomach too. Alan greyed out, and once the world began to return he noticed it spinning idly. At first Alan thought that it was his head but as he saw sea, cliff, sea, cliff he realised that his movements had started him twirling on the end of the rope. He attempted to brace himself against the cliff with his left arm before he realised the limb was also trapped. Alan would have to look down to free it. He took a deep breath and glanced down. His hand was entwined in a second harness from which dangled a woman. Alan suddenly remembered that he had heard a woman talking to him before he had last passed out.

"Hello?" He said gently. He feared that she might have died whilst he had been out of it.

She stirred as Alan called out again and immediately looked up.

"You're awake!" She said happily although unnecessarily.

Alan smiled. "Sorry, I haven't been much in the way of company." He said.

"You saved me." She said simply.

"I'm Alan."

"I know. I think just about anyone in the world would recognise your face. I'm Maggie. Don't worry; your secret will stay safe with me." She said.

Alan's breath caught when she admitted that she knew who he was. Anonymity was essential for IR to continue running, Alan knew that his father would be annoyed but there wasn't much Alan could do about it now.

"How are you feeling?" Maggie asked. "You've lost a lot of blood."

Alan glanced down again. Maggie was covered in blood.

"You're asking me?" He exclaimed. "Have you seen the state of you?"

"Ah well, I don't think any of this is mine." She said softly. At Alan's confused expression she explained. "Gravity is a bitch."

Oh. Alan understood. It was his blood.

"How long have we… what time is it?" He asked not really sure if he wanted to know how long they had been waiting for a rescue that might not come. He forced those thoughts away. His brothers were fine. They just had to be.

"It's just gone nine." Maggie said glancing at her watch. "We've been here about four hours."

"What happened?" He asked. He was feeling so tired and it was making him slow. He struggled to remember the run of events that had led to this. He panicked when he wasn't even sure of the day, month or year. How hard had he hit his head?

Maggie looked at him sharply. "You don't remember?"

"I don't know." Alan said closing his eyes in frustration. "Everything is jumbled."

"Alan? Alan! Open your eyes. Stay awake. Don't leave me! ALAN!"

He knew that he should obey the voice but the weight was so very, very heavy. He would listen to her and to the sea and to the gentle evening breeze for just a minute and then he would force his eyes open once more. He would…. He would…. Maybe sleep wouldn't be such a bad idea. It would help to organise his thoughts… Not a long sleep. No, just five more minutes…. It wouldn't hurt… what harm could five minutes do…?

Pretty please review and in exchange I promise not to have such a long time between updates! Thank you for reading!