A/N: Chapter 11! Hope you enjoy your weekend.
## break ##
His oldest had been found.
After days, hours of waiting and worrying, Jeff Tracy's oldest son had been found. He could never remember a time when he had been as relieved as right now.
Jeff Tracy breathed a sigh of relief – he couldn't believe his son was alright. It made him believe that things might actually turn out okay.
When he'd seen his son hold that "slave boy" sign, he'd honestly feared that he would never see his son again. He knew how dangerous the Hood could be, and was quite honestly surprised – although very relieved – that he hadn't just killed Scott. He felt sick to his stomach when he'd seen the two pictures, wondering and worrying what his two sons had been put through.
Now he would have some idea, as soon as he could talk to Scott about it. Jeff, John, and Virgil were all flying out to meet Scott. Gordon had opted staying behind in New York. He'd badly wanted to see his brother, of course, but had allowed John and Virgil to go. Somehow Jeff had a feeling Gordon knew something Jeff didn't. Someone had to stay behind in case Alan was found.
The CIA had dug through some files and found out that there was a possibility that Belagant Trangh had started using his first name as his last name. It was discovered that a jet had been rented by someone named Patricia Trangh – someone who they suspected to be a known associate of the Hood. They had flown out to the residence, hoping to find Alan or at the very least, a lead on Alan.
Jeff Tracy entered the hospital, praying that Scott was okay. He knew that his son was alive, but he didn't know anything other than that. Two strangers had found him on the side of the road, tied up and dumped in the bushes. Jeff couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Had the Hood dumped him and left him for dead? It seemed likely, given the scenario, but they wouldn't know until they were able to talk to Scott.
The possibilities were endless, and they were all drumming through Jeff's head, one thought at a time.
"Dad," Virgil said, as he brushed against the door. "Scott's awake."
Jeff Tracy's heart leapt. It had been too long since he'd seen his son. "And?" he asked, seeing the worried look on his sons' face.
Virgil swallowed hard. "Do we know where John is? We need to get him here A.S.A.P. Scott thinks he's dead."
Flashback
"Scott!" Virgil said. Scott was in the recovery room, and although his condition was stable, the nurses wanted only one family member in there at a time. John was changing the dressing on his arm and his father was resting in one of the hallway chairs, so it was Virgil's turn.
"Virgil," Scott said, breathing a sigh of relief. He was so grateful just to see one of his brothers... any one of his brothers. He'd take anyone right now. Scott glanced around the empty room before closing his eyes.
Virgil, who was about to hit the emergency button and summon the nurses that Scott was awake, paused. "Scott?" he questioned.
Scott mumbled something under his breath and looked at Virgil, the look on his face asking Virgil to say, 'please tell me this isn't true.' "TheHoodsaidJohnisdead," he quickly mumbled again.
Virgil was too shocked to react. "What?" he asked after almost a minute of silence.
Scott looked like he didn't want to say anything else but continued on. "I'm sorry, Virge...I tried, but I couldn't protect him..."
"You weren't even there," Virgil said, confused. He knew one thing: John needed to get his ass back here and fast. Why had he suggested his brother go and get a cup of coffee?
"Alan," Scott said with the shake of his head. "Mullion told me... said he'd kill.. Alan... and that it would be my fault!"
## end flashback ##
Screw law enforcement justice. No, that wasn't good enough for the Hood. Now, Jeff Tracy wanted his own brand of justice. Something that would eternally punish the Hood and his powers that he used for evil.
As Jeff slowly rose, he paused one more time. "Virgil, tell me what else you aren't telling me before you get John, son."
Virgil closed his eyes. "He told me that something Mullion said leads him to believe that Alan is dead."
With that, Jeff Tracy felt his heart fall out of his chest.
## break ##
Alan Tracy felt sick in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't believe that this was happening to him. First, his brother John had died, trying to save him. He knew Virgil had been at the scene, as well. What had happened to Virgil? He swallowed hard, not able to erase the lump in his throat. Then, presumably because he'd protested, Scott was killed as well.
He couldn't help the tears that ran down his face. Two of his brothers had died trying to protect him, and here he was, still held captive in the hands of the Hood. After Mullion had returned, saying that Scott's body had been properly taken care of, the Hood had excused himself and said that they would need to arrange things for Alan's next transport. He'd drugged Alan during the transport so that the teenager couldn't fight back, not that Alan would anyway. He was too depressed. He'd already caused Scott and John too loose their life, he wouldn't risk Virgil's and Gordon's so that he could escape.
After Alan had been transported a second time, the Hood growled at his companion, and Mullion left, presumably acting upon some command. Alan didn't notice anything. He was emotionally and physically exhausted, and was terrified that the Hood would beat him again. The man had already shown that he wasn't afraid to resort to violence, when necessary.
"Don't you enjoy your new home?" the Hood asked as he and Alan had stepped out of the car. Robin, the Hood's wife, who Alan had only recently learned was also an escaped criminal, had traveled separately. She had noticed her picture out in the media and hadn't wanted the two of them to be spotted together. She had opted to travel to California by car, regardless of the fact the trip would take her three days from New York.
Alan didn't respond. He knew that if he did, the hurtful, obscene comments he was thinking would spill out, and he'd no doubt be punished. He learned that the Hood loved submission. Well, if it would keep him alive… Alan just swallowed hard and tried not to let his tears shed.
"Alan," the Hood responded, "I want to help you. I want to protect you from Jeff. He's an evil man, Alan, and I can see that you're still completely under his influence. Once you break free from that, we can get along great."
## break ##
Special FBI Agent, Leader of the Violent Crimes Squad, Don Eppes was riding home from work with his partner and long-time friend, FBI agent Colby Granger. Normally, Don would have returned to his father's house alone – scratch that, his brother's house – but a suspect (well, now a charged criminal) had blown up his FBI-issued car today. The FBI had promised to issue him a new car on Monday morning, but that wouldn't help him tonight. Luckily, Colby Granger had offered to drop him off on the way home.
"What a day," Colby muttered as he slid out of the car. The two agents had planned on watching a relaxing game of football with Don's father and brother. Little did they know that their plans would change in an instant.
"LET ME GO!" A voice screamed out. Don glanced at Colby, half tempted to let it go. It sounded like a young kid's voice, possibly someone who was in the middle of being dragged to bed by their parents. But that scenario didn't feel right to Don. The voice echoed again, this time with a scream.
"Shit," Don muttered, his hand on his weapon as he moved through the pitch-black night.
## break ##
Alan Tracy hadn't planned on resisting again. There had nobody outside in the dark night, nobody visible, anyway. After his last attempt to resist had gone so badly, he'd tried to shove the hurt down that the Hood had caused, and bury it. He couldn't afford to let anyone get hurt again on his behalf.
But then he'd seen the government-issued vehicle pull into the parking lot. He'd spent a long time with Parker, going over the different government issued weapons, cars, and other things Parker somehow knew a lot about. Despite being born in the United Kingdom, Parker knew a lot about the American police officers – probably from him trying to evade him so many times.
It was then when he decided to make a scene. He wasn't going to give up without a fight.
"Let me go!" he said, trying to struggle against the Hood. The Hood, who had by this time begun to watch the FBI officers make their decent onto his rental property, knew he had to do something. He grabbed Alan by his legs and swung him head-first into the house.
Alan Tracy cried, and closed his eyes. The pain was too great.
Then, before he knew what else was happening, the Hood had his arms wrapped around his neck and had a gun he'd pulled from somewhere pointed at his head.
Two fully-clothed FBI officers made their decent onto the Hood's property, not even bothering to make pretenses. "Let him go!" the first man's voice rang out.
"Never!" the Hood responded. He waved his gun, and if it had been lighter, and Alan had been conscious, he would have seen one of the FBI agents flinch as the trigger sounded. "I'll kill myself and him before I do that!"
## break ##
Okay, how long should I let you wait and worry over this cliffhanger? Seriously, hope you enjoy. Here is your challenge: Assuming the FBI agents rescue Alan, will they believe he's Alan Trangh or dig to the truth and find out that he is indeed Alan Tracy?