Alan Tracy was absolutely exhuasted... but it was worth it. Kyrano had cooked a wonderful "victory dinner", and the family had all gotten together to enjoy a meal for the first time since Alan had come home on winter break. Virgil had apologized for teasing Alan, saying that he hoped the teenager would not think too badly of him.
Alan had smiled, forgiven his brother, and reminded him that they all made mistakes.
Gordon, much despite his protests, was spending a lot of time in the medical bay. He still needed to recover from being shot, and he couldn't do that without a lot of resting. It gave him more ammunition to be angry with the Hood... who was dead.
He would never bother the Tracy family again. His conquest for success had actually been his downfall - he would never know success now. He wouldn't even know life now.
Robin, the Hood's "wife", had been tracked down by the Numb3rs team. She had been arrested on one count of child abuse and one count of kindapping, as well as several other outstanding charges. Scott had been happy to see her pay for the abuse she'd given Alan. Okay, so she hadn't broken Alan's arm like the Hood had, but she hadn't exactly been innocent, either. She'd been all too happy to lock Alan in the closet for punishment for Alan's 'crimes', as she had put it.
What crime could a fourteen-year-old commit that was so bad that it warrented that?
It wasn't until two days after Alan returned home that he got his first chance to really talk to his father. "Dad?" he asked, seeing his father in his office.
"Come in, Alan," Jeff said, greeting his son. He pushed away the paper, before glancing at his son. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Does something have to be wrong?" Alan teased. He then looked down at the ground, a bit emberassed. He really didn't want to bring up the conversation that he was about too, but he knew they had to have it.
"No, I'd actually rather it didn't." Jeff exhaled. "I'm glad you're safe, son." He paused, studying a spot on his desk he suddenly found excrutiatingly interesting. "Son, I wish that I could have found you sooner. When I first heard that you were missing..." Jeff let his words trail off.
"It's not your fault, Dad," Alan responded, feeling guilty for being the cause of his father's distress. And the situation wasn't about to get any easier. But they had to talk about this. Or at least, he did. "Dad, the Hood tried to make me his child."
He expected his father to erupt in fury - at him. Or to lash out; or to be surprised, or something. Alan wasn't expecting the response he got. Jeff slumped into the chair. "I know, son," he responded. "I'm sorry," he added. "When Scott was rescued, he told us what that..." Jeff let his words trail off once more before he continued. "What he did to you," he said.
Alan smiled, knowing the words his father probably wanted to say. "I just... he..." he refused to let the tears come through to his eyes. "Dad, he filled a bathtub of water. He asked me if I would agree to be his son. I told him no. He basically said that wouldn't work, and dragged me to the bathroom. He shoved my head underwater for what felt like an eternity. He let me up. 'Will you be my child?' He asked. Repeat the scene, for like, I don't even remember how many times."
He took a deep breath and studied the carpet once more. "I finally said yes, Dad... I finally said I would!" Alan couldn't help it, he burst into tears. It wasn't fair that he had to go through that.
Before he knew it, his father was over by his side, taking him gently by the arm and leading him to the couch that was by the other door. Ideal for when he worked into the office late at night and was too exhausted to make it to his own bed. "Son," he said, softly, "The Hood wanted to control you. I am not ashamed of you, you understand me? You did your best with what you had, and I'm extremely proud of you."
It was then when Alan knew, with his father's strong embrace, that he was finally home.
## break ##
Gordon was anxiously pacing the beach. He had finally been allowed out of medical bay by Virgil, much to his relief. He was not, however, allowed to go swimming for the next week, which he wished he could. He finally gave in and dropped down to the sand.
He really didn't get why Virgil wouldn't let him swim. Wouldn't salt water help cleanse his bullet wound? He sighed, knowing that his brother did, indeed, know best. It was more that Gordon wasn't happy with the medic's decision.
"Hey," Alan said, coming out and sitting next to his brother. He handed the twenty-year-old a bottle of water before briefly smiling. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, other than the arm. Don't know why Virge won't let me go back into the pool." He took a swig of water. "You'd think the chlorine would help clean out the water."
"I really think I'm glad Virgil is the medic," Alan responded seriously. "Look, Gordon…"
Gordon sighed, wondering what he should say here. "Alan, I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to say those things I did before the appearance. I just..."
"It's not your fault, Gordon," Alan responded. At Gordon's surprised look, Alan said, "Gordon, didn't Dad tell you? The Hood was somehow slipping stuff in your food, drugging you, and using the drug to help him control your mind. It's not your fault."
"Thanks, Alan," Gordon said. He gave Alan a grin. "I needed to hear that."
"And thanks for rescuing me, bro," Alan said seriously.
"Anytime," Gordon responded. Then he frowned. "On second thought, let's try not to make that too often. Explaining to dad why you were kidnapped and then getting shot is so not on the top of my to do list."
"Well, at least you can take that off your kick the bucket list, right?" Alan teased.
"I'm not sure it was ever on the top of my to do list in the first place," Gordon replied with a grin.
## break ##
"Alan!" Virgil exclaimed, bumping into the teen. "Sorry. Didn't see you."
"It's okay." Alan winced. "Sorry. My ribs are still a bit sore."
"They are?" Virgil checked his watch; they still had time before dinner. "Alrighty, then. Let's go check them out really quick."
"That's not what I meant!" Alan said, but followed his brother back to the medical room anyway. They had been bothering him.
Virgil glanced at the ugly bruise that dotted Alan's stomach. Colby Granger, the FBI agent, had actually caused some of the damage - although he'd been protecting Alan from the bullets, so he had an excuse. "I'm sorry for what I said before your rescue, little brother," Virgil said as he turned towards the medicine cabinet. "Dad showed me your report card - man, you sure showed us, huh?"
"You mean my last one?" Alan asked, wondering why on earth Virgil would have been impressed by it.
"Yeah. Come on, it's something to be proud of," Virgil said with a grin. "Even John couldn't get an A in Mr. Psych's chem class."
"John was the one who helped me with it," Alan replied, throughly confused.
"Yeah, he's better now. He wasn't so much at the time." Virgil opened a bottle of medicine and handed the tablets to Alan. "Do me one favor, brother?"
"Yeah, Virge?"
"Don't ever scare me like that again - ever!"