Disclaimer: Sigh…nope…I still don't appear to own it…

Authors Note: I'm running a Suzan Tracy fanfic challenge where I'm asking people to write a story that features my character. If you're interested, please leave a comment and I will e-mail you the details!

Parting Gift

By Bubblegum Thai

Chapter Four

With a loud splash, Gordon canon-balled into the swimming pool, leaving his three older brothers to lounge lazily at it's side, sunbathing and chatting,

"So," John began, flipping a stray strand of blonde hair from his eyes, "have I missed anything interesting?" He asked, rolling his head to the side to regard Scott,

"No use asking me." Scott replied indignantly, "I've been on shore leave for the last fortnight."

"Oh yeah," John chuckled, turning to look at Virgil who sat beside him, chin planted firmly on the back of his knuckles, staring out across the ocean. He waited expectantly for the brunet to contribute to his and Scott's conversation, but he didn't, only stared vacant out across the blue ocean, sunlight glittering on the waves, "Virgil."

"Huh?" His younger brother snapped back into reality, "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"What've we missed?" Scott chuckled, amused at his brother's day dreaming,

"Oh…I don't know…" Virgil shrugged, "Not much, I suppose."

"Hmm." John and Scott exchanged disbelieving looks,

"Y'know what? I think I'll head inside." Virgil sighed as he stood, "I'll catch you guys later."

- - -

"M…married?"

Jeff spluttered in disbelief, unsure of whether or not he'd heard her correctly. For a split second, he saw his pig-tailed five-year-old sat before him, large and sparkling inquisitive, sapphire eyes staring up at him expectantly,

"Yes, Daddy." She replied, biting her lower lip in anticipation of his thoughts and feelings on the matter,

"How? When?! Who?!?!"

"His name's Duncan Winchester, Daddy…he's…"

"A lawyer. I know who Duncan Winchester is, Suzan." Jeff replied sternly, "He's one of the U.N.'s key defence lawyers. His father's a judge in New York…I went to High School with him."

Suzan broke out into a smile,

"You do remember." She beamed, "Michael wondered if you would."

"Hm." Jeff mused, lacing his fingers together, resting his hands a top of the desk top, "You're awfully young to be getting married, Suzan."

"I know…but…Alan and Tin-tin married not much older than I am now…and I know you think I'm a crazy kid, but…but…"

"Woah, slow down there! I don't think that. You've proved yourself, covering for Scott with International Rescue, that you're not a child." He smiled, "I just…don't want you to miss out on an opportunity like medical school."

"I…know that, but…" She trailed off, "I don't want to disappoint you."

"Suzan, you've never disappointed me…all I ask is…that you're positive that this is what you really want."
"I am." She replied without a moments pause, "It is. It's what I want."

"Well…then…I guess, you have my blessing." Jeff smiled weakly,

"Oh, thank you!" She gushed, jumping up and lunging across the desk to hug her father, "Thank you Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Jeff chuckled, returning her embrace loosely,

"You're welcome, Suzan…just…promise me you'll think about medical school…"

"I will." She breathed before straitening, bouncing from one foot to the other, "I've got to tell the others!" She exclaimed, darting off to find her brothers. As she ran to the outside door, Virgil was just walking in. The excited twenty-something lunged into her older brother's arms, "Virgil!" She greeted, enveloping him in a tight embrace, "Virgil, Daddy said yes! He said it was okay to get married! I'm getting married!" And with that, she was off again. Skipping down the steps to the poolside and her other favourite brother, John.

Virgil blinked in shock, not really sure what had just happened. He let out a sigh of relief; finally he didn't have to keep Suzan's secret, though soon his cleared mind switched to further confusion. Rubbing soothingly at his temple, the thirty-year-old headed for the lounge where his father was still sat at his desk, staring off into the distance. Without a word, Virgil slumped into the seat opposite, still warm from when his sister had occupied it. Neither one said anything, neither one had two. Both knew the implications of the new development within the family. How it not only affected the household, but International Rescue also. Without words, they locked gazes with one another,

"I know." Jeff agreed with Virgil's silent statement, and pleading eyes, "And I know what you're going to say, but it's out of my control."

"But Father…!" Virgil began to protest,

"Virgil. Your sister is an adult and old enough to make her own decisions."

"We don't know anything about this guy!"

"I went to school with his father. I'll give Michael a call…in awhile…to discuss what the situation is…but, if he makes her happy, what can I do? I can't keep her here forever. I can't keep any of you here…I don't want to, either…you have a choice, son."

"A choice? We can't abandon International Rescue."

"You could, if you wanted. There's nothing to stop you."

"Father…I…"

"I know you worry Virgil, but…just have faith…"

"That's all we've got, isn't it?" Virgil muttered, standing to stalk off and out of the room. Jeff remained in his thoughtful position, pondering the situation, though no matter at what angle he approached it at, nothing seemed to become any clearer. So much for thinking Suzan would be the last to fly the nest.

- - -

Wiping beads of pool water off of his face, Gordon rested his arms on the edge of the pool, crossing them to support his weight as he chatted to Scott, his soaking red hair quickly beginning to dry in the bright tropical sunshine,

"Heads up." He smirked, spotting his sister headed towards them,

"There she is!" John beamed, "Hey kiddo! You look happy! Good news?"

"Yes." She grinned, placing her hands behind her back,

"You gonna share?" Gordon asked,

"Maaaaaaybe…" She drawled playfully. John laughed at his little sister. He quickly lunged forwards, enveloping her in his arms,

"C'mon squirt! Share or I'll toss you into the pool!"

"No!" She screamed, thrashing her one free arm maniacally, "Alright! I'll tell! I'll tell!"

Scott lowered his newspaper, waiting patiently for Suzan's news,

"Alright then…" He said calmly, expecting something trivial. It wasn't that he didn't like his sister, far from that, Scott highly regarded all of his family, it was just that the baby of the family always had a tendency to make a big deal out of very little,

"Okay…well…" She began mischievously, "Dig out your top hats boys, your little sister's getting married!"

The poolside fell into silence. Not one of the three brothers really knew what to say, but it was inevitably Scott, who was the first to speak,

"Spoken to Dad?"

"Of course."

"What did he say?"
"He said it's okay."

"You sure about this, Suz'…?" John asked with a blink,

"Positive."

"Well…alright then…" The blonde shrugged,

"That's it?"

"What do you want from us?" Scott cocked his head to the side, "It was bound to happen one day…"

"So, you're happy for me?"

"Sure…I guess." Gordon shrugged,

"Hm. That was unexpected…" She mused,

"So…when's the wedding?" John asked, dropping back into his seat,

"We haven't decided…Duncan's very busy at the moment…and I just got accepted to Johns Hopkins so…everything's kinda up in the air at the moment…but I'm still excited!" She clapped happily, "Well, I'd better go and call Duncan, oh and tell Tin-tin Dad said yes!" She darted off again, muttering to herself.

The three brothers all exchanged exhausted looks; their sister was on yet another one of her self-destructive paths, or so they thought.

It wasn't long before word had gotten round the island, and that evening, a secret meeting was held in the kitchen by Ruth Tracy. Jeff wasn't invited, which didn't come to a surprise to any of her four grandsons as they sat around the pine, kitchen table, initially in silence until finally, Gordon spoke;

"Grandma, why're we here?" He asked, wrinkling his nose,

"Because we have important business to do!"

"And that is…?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow,

"Your little sister is engaged! This is a cause for celebration!"

The four men fell into silence again. Scott finally sucked in a breath,

"Alright…" He sighed, taking charge as usual, "What do you want us to do?"

"I want us to throw her a party."
"A party?" They all echoed,

"Grandma…it's not really…" Virgil began, but she held up a hand to silence him,

"Listen, I know it can't be a big deal…we can't have outsiders here because of the operations, but…we can do our best…if we all make the effort."

"We could invite Lady Penelope!" Gordon announced. John, Scott and Virgil all exchanged strained looks,

"Yes! A great idea! You see! We're already well on our way to the party of the year!" She smiled, "What I need from you boys is your commitment. This is important…no mistakes. I want you to treat this like one of your missions."

Amused smiles spread across the faces of all three of her grandsons. Stead-fast dedication and determination to succeed in everything were in bucket loads of excess in the Tracy family,

"Alright." Virgil nodded, "We'll help."

"Oh Virgil, honey," Ruth sighed, placing her hand on his shoulder, "you never really had the choice." She smiled.

- - -

Three days passed on Tracy Island, and nothing was really said amongst the family on Suzan's revelation. It was another sweltering day, a day that would usually be spent beside the pool relaxing, sipping ice cold drinks, maybe a game of water volley ball thrown in. But not today. Not if Ruth Tracy had her way,

"Right. They're gone." She announced from the balcony, turning to regard her family as in the distance, the family jet flew off, headed for the mainland, carrying Tin-tin and Suzan to a days worth of shopping, "Let's get started!"

The men were less than enthusiastic as she rushed around the room, trying desperately to instil motivation amongst the gaggle of lethargies. Eventually, John got up, followed by Gordon, then Jeff, who motioned for Virgil and Scott to get themselves up also,

"Maybe if we just get it done…" John mused aloud, "Maybe she'll let us alone."

Gordon nodded in agreement as Ruth handed them a long string of paper lanterns,

"I wouldn't get my hopes up, if I were you…" She warned with a smile. Gordon dropped his head in despair, heaving a heavy sigh.

Hours passed, and finally, after working relentlessly, Gordon and Virgil collapsed together on the sofa that was centre point in the living room,

"Thank…God…" The red head panted,

"Tell me about it…"

"Who knew prepping for a party could be so much effort?"

"What're you boys sitting around for?" Ruth asked as she appeared in the doorway,

"Grandma…no more…" Gordon begged, "We're finished…we did it all…"

"Oh…good." She smiled, "Well, quick! Off with you! Get showered and changed."
"You have got to be kidding me." Scott muttered as he, John and Jeff emerged from another doorway,

"Do what your grandmother says, boys…" Jeff sighed. To much mutterings of protest, the four members of the worlds greatest rescue operation slunk away. Jeff crossed his arms, looking around the lounge proudly at it's beautiful decorations. He glanced up at his mother as she cleared her throat, to see her standing, staring at him expectantly, "Okay…alright…I'm going…" He breathed, turning to head for his own shower.

Triumphant in her win, Ruth headed back to the kitchen.

- - -

"Seriously Suzan...it's a lovely dress..." Tin-tin gushed as they headed across the tarmac towards the Tracy villa,

"Thank you Tin-tin…" Suzan replied with a smile. Suzan looked up and noticed that they lights were all off, despite the darkening sky,

"Where is everybody?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to her sister-in-law as they climbed the steps. Tin-tin shrugged as they reached the top and the sliding glass door, "Hello…?" Suzan called as they entered the darkened lounge, "Dad?"

"SURPRISE!"

The lights came on as everyone bounded out of their hiding places, throwing streamers and confetti at the guest of honour,

"Welcome home, sweetie." Ruth gushed, hugging the brunette who was stunned into silence, "Congratulations on your engagement."
"Congratulations Suz'…" her brothers all agreed. Jeff opened his mouth, about to speak, when Alan's video portrait began to flash and Alan appeared,

"Father…I've just received a call from officials in Oxford, England. It's a big one."

Jeff looked around at his children, smiling weakly,

"Alright." He nodded, judging from their faces that they all knew what they had to do, "Off you all go."

As the group headed their separate ways to prepare to launch each craft and change into their uniforms, Alan smiled sadly,

"Congratulations Suzan." He said gently,

"Thanks!" She beamed, unfazed at how her party was ruined, "C'mon!" She scolded John and Gordon, "Look alive you two! We've got work to do!"

To be continued…