Never Given The Chance.
Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1.
Well this is the last chapter. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far.
Chapter 3: Coming to Terms.
"I had a granddaughter?" queried Jeff in shock.
"Yes you did," said Scott quietly.
"What happened to her?" asked John softly moving to the other side of Scott. They made sure they stayed on either side of him for support and although Scott didn't want to admit it. He was glad of their comforting presence.
"She was born too early and was too small to survive."
"The poor thing," said Grandma moving to sit down beside her son who looked devastated.
"Apparently Lexie was in a car accident and it caused her to go into premature labour. They doctors did what they could but she only lasted 19 hours. I was a dad for 19 hours and I had no idea," he said standing up. Virgil could sense the anger coming from his brother now. "How could she not tell me that I was a dad? I had a right to know but she denied me that. It's not fair," he stated angrily pacing around the room.
"Bro you need to calm down," said Virgil standing up and walking over to him.
"I can't," he said and stormed out of the room.
Virgil followed him out, knowing exactly where his older brother was headed. The others stayed seated still in shock about what they had just learnt.
"Should we go after them?" asked Alan.
"No I think Virgil is the only one he will talk to right now," replied John when he noticed that his dad wasn't going to say anything.
"Honey are you ok?" Ruth asked her son.
"Yeah just a little shocked that's all," he replied.
"I think we all are son."
"How could she not tell him though?" asked Alan.
"I'm sure she had her reasons," replied Ruth.
"What possible reason could she have for denying us the right to know our niece?" asked Gordon angrily.
"She was probably scared," replied John.
"Yes, she was only young too remember," added Ruth not wanting to cast aspersions on the young girl yet.
"Your grandmother is right. We can't cast judgement on the young woman until we know the circumstances," said Jeff effectively ending the conversation.
Virgil meanwhile had found Scott sitting on a large rock beside the sea. He sat down beside his brother but said nothing. He could see that Scott wanted to talk but he wasn't quite ready yet.
"I was a dad Virge and I had no idea," he said finally.
"I'm sorry bro," he said sadly wishing there was something he could do to help his brother.
"I just can't get my head around all this."
"You're not the only one," replied Virgil thinking how their father had reacted.
"Oh god. Is dad ok?" asked Scott.
"He will be. I'm more worried about you."
"I'm fine just a little angry."
Virgil said nothing but raised one eyebrow at his older brother. It was just like Scott to make out he was fine when he wasn't. Virgil knew his brother was nowhere near fine.
"Ok I'm not fine. I don't really know what I am."
"I do. You are confused as to why she didn't tell you. Hurt because she denied you the right to see your little girl. Angry because she kept it from you and sad because you never even got to meet her or hold her," replied Virgil knowingly.
"How do you do that?" asked Scott. He was always amazed at how easily Virgil could read him.
"The same way you do it to me because I know you."
"Yeah I guess you do. I just wish she had called me as soon as she gave birth. I could have been there for her."
"Maybe she couldn't Scott?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you said it was an accident that brought on the labour so maybe she was too injured too call you at the time."
"I never thought of that."
"For what's it worth Scott. I can see her point."
"You can?"
"Think about it Scott. What would you have done if she had told you she was pregnant?"
"I would have supported her and been there for her. Sure dad wouldn't have been happy but he would have come round eventually. I could have got a job at Tracy Industries and it would have been fine."
"But would you have been happy Scott?"
"What do you mean?" he asked jumping down from off the rock.
"Would you have been happy giving up college, the Air Force and had things worked out International Rescue too?"
"I still could have joined International Rescue," said Scott watching as Virgil climbed down.
"Maybe but you wouldn't have gained the skills that you have now. The skills that make you our Field commander."
Scott knew that Virgil was making a good point. If he hadn't joined the Air Force then he wouldn't be the top pilot he is today and probably wouldn't be the pilot of Thunderbird 1. Plus would his dad have allowed him to bring Lexie and his daughter with him anyway. They were all about secrecy here so he may not have even allowed them to come with him anyway. The main thing that stood out though was would he have been happy to join knowing he could very easily leave his daughter without a dad. Would Lexie have been happy to let him go out on rescues knowing he might never return? It was a lot for someone to try to deal with.
"I guess your right," he said finally startling Virgil who was staring out at the ocean whilst Scott was thinking.
"I don't want to be trust me," he said with a gentle smile.
"I just wish I had known."
"I know you do Scott but you can't change what has already happened. You need to deal with this Scott or it will destroy you," said Virgil touching him gently on the shoulder.
"I know and talking to you has helped but I need a little time alone to think now," he said smiling at his brother.
"Okay Scott. You know where I am if you need me. Just don't stay out too long though," he said.
Scott grinned at him, knowing that was exactly what he would have said. "I won't."
"Good," said Virgil and he jogged off back down the beach.
Scott strolled off in the opposite direction feeling a little better since he had spoken to Virgil.
Two weeks later and Scott found himself back in the graveyard. He wanted to visit his daughter's grave and lay some flowers down. He knelt down in front of it wanting to say something but not knowing what. What do you say to someone you don't know. His gaze drifted over to where his Mom's grave was.
"I hope you are looking after her mom," he said softly. A soft breeze blew through the trees and seemed to whisper yes to Scott.
He stood up preparing to leave knowing that he didn't need to actually say anything at all. As he turned he spotted Lexie approaching. She spotted Scott and instantly turned back round to walk off again.
"Lexie wait," he called out.
She paused but didn't turn around and face him. Scott couldn't blame her for that though as he had been really awful to her.
"I'm sorry Lex," he added and this time she turned around.
"What?" she asked in total surprise.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you Lexie, I didn't mean it," he said taking a step towards her.
"Yes you did Scott, so don't lie," she retorted angrily.
"I'm not. I have had a lot of time to think about this and I can understand why you did what you did," he explained moving closer to her.
"You can?" she asked moving to sit down on a nearby bench.
"Yeah and I'm sorry for saying I would never forgive you. It was cruel of me."
"It doesn't matter Scott and I don't blame you for it either."
"I don't blame you either. I know you were only doing what you thought was right."
"It wasn't though. I should have told you," she said standing up.
"Maybe but we can't change the past. We both have to move on with our lives," he said standing up as well.
"Yes you're right we do. Maybe one day you will be able to tell your own children about their big sister," she said walking back over to the grave.
"I hope so. What about you?" he asked.
"I can't. There were complications after the birth and it's not possible for me to have anymore," she replied softly.
"Oh Lexie, I'm so sorry."
"Hey it's ok. I came to terms with it a long time ago. Plus there's always surrogacy or adoption," she said positively.
"Yeah I guess so," he said with a smile. Lexie had always been a positive person.
"Well I better go. I have to be at work in an hour."
"Yeah I gotta be going too," he said.
"Goodbye Scott Tracy," she said giving him a quick hug.
"Goodbye Alexa Mitchell," he replied before heading off in the opposite direction.
He strolled back to his car feeling a lot happier then he had for the last couple of days. It would still take time to truly come to terms with this but he knew now that he could. He also knew that every time he came to visit his mom, he would always stop at her grave too.
Authors Note: Well that's it for my first story. I hope you enjoyed it. Special thanks go to Lissysue for all the help she has given me.
Please read and review to let me know what you think. Thanks.