Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

All mistakes are my own…..

Brothers and Patience

"Alan, you have to stretch it farther out," Virgil corrected, gently taking hold of his kid brother's left arm.

"Dude, if I stretch it any farther, it's going to dislocate again," Alan grumbled with a wince.

"It won't," Virgil exhaled. "This is meant to strengthen your muscles, Al."

"I get that, but I'm telling you I can't," Alan moaned.

"Here," Virgil said, handing his baby brother an ice pack. "Why don't we take a break for a while? You've done almost all of the exercises. Maybe we're just doing too much too soon."

"Maybe," Alan answered, leaning into the chair behind him.

"Keep that on for twenty minutes," the medic instructed. "How's the pain?"

"It's tolerable," Alan said, rubbing the shoulder before placing the ice pack on it.

Grabbing a bottle of water, Virgil laid it down on the end table next to Alan. "Get some rest. We still have a couple of hours before your next nebulizer treatment."

Alan only nodded his head in response, causing his older brother to stop in his tracks. "Are you sure you're okay?" Virgil checked his brother's oxygen and then the teen's pulse.

Pulling his arm away from his brother, Alan sighed. "I'm fine, Virg. I'm just ready to actually feel better."

Virgil smiled softly. He couldn't blame the kid. Being constricted in every daily aspect of motion would be tiring. "Baby steps, Sprout. Remember?"

Alan rolled his eyes. "I think I'm taking munchkin sized baby steps."

Squeezing Alan's thigh in comfort, Virgil gazed into his baby brother's blue eyes. The usually bright cerulean orbs lacked their luster. It had been four days since Alan had been released from the hospital. The blonde seemed to be having good days and bad days. Today was going to be one of those bad days. His brother's breathing seemed more labored today, and his body was more stiff than usual. The medic of the family had to keep reminding himself of his own words – baby steps. Alan was getting better; it just wasn't going to happen overnight. It was easy to forget how big of a bullet they had missed.

Outside of the seventeen-year old's remaining ailments, it appeared Alan was settling into a funk. They each pondered if it had to do with the approaching memorial service planned in two days. No matter how often each brother had approached the subject with caution, it seemed Alan wasn't thrilled. His baby brother was suffering from survivor's guilt. When his own words had appeared to have failed, John had tried to get Alan to let go. The middle Tracy feared that until justice was sought for all those lives lost, his youngest brother wouldn't accept he'd done his best.

Would he get that justice?

The family had received word that officials had chosen to move the memorial service from Wharton Academy due to security concerns. Each of them knew what those security concerns were – Aaron Edwards. Each parent had been privately informed of the new location. A neighboring boarding school on the north side of Boston had graciously obliged to the request. Virgil just hoped it was enough.

"Hey, Ferm!" Alan yelled, bringing Virgil out of his thoughts.

"Hi, Alan," the fifteen-year-old greeted. He sat in a chair next to his best friend.

Grinning at the two teens, Virgil stood and ruffled his baby brother's hair. "Stay out of trouble, you two."

"Not likely," Alan mused and turned to Fermat. "What's new? We haven't gotten to hang out much the last few days. Doctor Smother-Hen has kept me detained!"

A distant "I heard that!" could be heard as the two boys snickered.

"Dad and I have been working on a few blueprints. They're for new modifications to each of the 'birds," Fermat replied. "Oh, and I finished another book."

"I should've known," Alan chuckled. "I've missed you, Brain."

Fermat smiled. "I've missed you too, Alan. You had me worried."

"I'm okay. Hit a few bumps in the road but still intact," the blonde reassured. "Have you spoken to anyone from school recently?"

"Not since last week. Jake c-ca-rang me asking how you were doing and if I'd heard about the m-memorial ceremony yet," Fermat said, watching Alan's reaction.

Alan only nodded in acknowledgment. "Anyone else say anything about Aaron and Tommy?"

"You have no idea," the brown-haired genius spoke. "Plenty of p-people want their heads on a stick."

"I can imagine, Ferm. Believe me, if you would've seen all the destruction up close, you would want the same thing," Alan affirmed, adjusting the ice pack on his shoulder.

"Alan, do you remember everything from that night?" Fermat asked quietly, adjusting his glasses.

"Bits and pieces. A lot is still hazy, but at night things slowly come back to me. I remember so much smoke and heat. I remember struggling to see the higher I climbed and fearing what I might find," Alan somberly said as he recalled his memory. "I won't lie. It was scary. Zach and I just kept pushing ourselves, no matter how hard it got to breathe. For every student we found, the greater the sacrifice, I guess. I don't remember a lot after finding the group of freshmen."

A smile crossed Fermat's lips at the mention of the last group Alan had saved. Alan had reached a new level of role model and hero amongst the three students he had helped rescue that day. One of the perks about staying in the loop with his classmates since the fire was all the gossip. If rumor held true, then Alan was in for a surprise at the memorial service. Watching his best friend fight his weary eyes, Fermat decided that this was indeed another case of what you didn't know wouldn't hurt you. Alan was already struggling with the memorial service. He didn't want to give the senior another reason to back out. Especially when he felt Alan deserved every bit of recognition he had coming to him.

-TB-

Evening had descended upon the New York skyline. The bright orange glow of the early November sunset glistening across the city. Finding himself wrapped in a blanket, Alan enjoyed the scenery as he took in a deep inhale from his nebulizer. The autumn sunset reminded him of the breathtaking amber hue he often experienced back on Tracy Island. The teen was enjoying his moment of peace and quiet as well.

For the time being, his somewhat overbearing big brothers were occupying themselves with their own responsibilities. His father and Scott found themselves catching up on projects from Tracy Enterprises shelved on the back burner since his accident. John was busy mapping a rogue meteor shower that expected to hit Earth in a few days. He could tell his astronaut brother was missing space, and Alan didn't blame him. This was the longest the second oldest Tracy had spent on Earth in a very long time. Virgil was busy discussing modifications to Thunderbird Two with Brains and Fermat. That only left him one other brother – Gordon.

Gordon had spent the last few days gently easing his way back into their private pool. It wasn't as big as the one back home, but it had always suited his water-loving brother. Virgil had encouraged Gordon to do a few laps each day. No better way of doing physical therapy than in an environment you loved, Alan thought.

Feeling a tickle creep its way into his chest, Alan coughed several times. He sighed as he placed the mask closer to his mouth.

"You're not going to cough up a lung on us now, are you, Al?" he heard a voice call.

Alan looked over and smiled as Gordon placed a gentle hand on his back. "Very funny, Gordo."

"Hey, I'm just checking on those grandpa lungs of yours," Gordon mused, earning a playful punch in the arm from his brother. "Enjoying the view I see."

"It's a good one," Alan smiled. "Just like one of Virgil's paintings."

"Indeed," Gordon said as he joined Alan along the window nook.

"How was your swim?" Alan inquired.

"It was good," Gordon stated, lifting Alan's legs slightly so his brother's feet rested on his lap. "Feels like it's been years since I've stepped in one. I just got to work through the motions."

"Is your back getting better?" Alan asked with concern.

"Absolutely! Like brand new, Sprout. Just a few minor aches and pains to remind me I'm human, but I guess that makes us both grandpas, huh?" Gordon jested, beaming at his younger brother's grin. "Seriously, Al. I'm good. I just forget sometimes what my body is trying to tell me. Won't happen again," Gordon sobered. "I'm just glad you're okay. It was way too close, Allie. Too close."

"I know," Alan exhaled noisily, lowering his nebulizer. "I'm sorry I scared everybody. I never meant to hurt you guys. I just wanted to get everyone out so badly. No matter what. A lot of good it did."

Gordon watched his only younger brother as he fought with his thoughts and emotions. "Alan, I know the last few weeks have been tough. I also know you've been struggling with everything that's happened as a result of the fire. I've been there, you know," the redhead said, pausing. Alan stared out the window, refusing to meet his gaze. "I've asked myself why I survived when others didn't. Why and how could something like that even happen? Sometimes there isn't an easy answer. I found faith in knowing there was a reason I did. It might not make sense now, but you did everything you could that night. Sometimes our best is exactly that – all you could do. No amount of anger, self-doubt, or justification will bring back those we lost. The best thing we have is knowing how many lives we have saved. You saved a lot, Allie. That has to count for something."

Alan remained silent as he pondered his older brother's words. Looking over, he met his brother's amber eyes with a small smile. "Thanks, Gordy."

"No problem. I'm here if you ever need to talk about it. So are the other guys you know," Gordon said, smiling in return.

Behind them, neither one noticed the watchful eye of two older brothers. "I guess we should've sent in Gordon from the start," John whispered, leaning against the wall with folded arms.

"We always underestimate the bond of the Terrible Twosome," Virgil said, watching as the two youngest brothers bantered. He resisted a chuckle as Gordon playfully shoved Alan, before forcing the teen to return his breathing mask back to his face.

"You think he's prepared for the memorial service?" John asked his closest younger sibling.

"He's making great progress physically. Things are just taking longer than he would like."

"Alan was never very good at playing the waiting game," John deduced. "He's ready to be back on his feet."

"He's learning reality sucks. For every action, there's a reaction, and unfortunately, he paid a steep price. For us, we know how close he came. We lived it," Virgil replied, pausing at the ashen expression on his older brother's face. Yea, the memories were still haunting him too. "To Alan, I don't think everything seems real yet," he continued. "He's still trying to soak it all in. I won't lie and say I'm not worried how well he'll handle everything emotionally."

"We will be there this time, though," John declared. "We'll be there for every second of it. No matter what happens."

"Absolutely," Virgil confirmed.

Both men just hoped the emotional well-being of their baby brother was all they needed to worry about. Deep down, they couldn't help but fear what other possible harm could come. Was moving the memorial service enough? Was Aaron Edwards really as unhinged as he appeared? Would he try to cause the boarding school's students further harm?

Only time would tell.

TBC…

Been kind of slow going getting back into the swing of things, but I hope you are enjoying where we are headed. I also hope my pain muddled mind hasn't affected my writing!

As always, kindly review, please! The messages make me smile.