I've been watching Tornado Alley on the Weather Channel and this just came to me!

It was plain and utter devastation. There was no other way to describe what Wharton Academy had been turned into.

Families were trying to reunite with their children. Kids were wandering out of buildings and dorms; both broken and whole.

Paramedics and police were helping some of the teachers pull students out of rubble, putting others in the back of ambulances.

There were few lucky kids who had been in shoes, others who were not so lucky enough were barefoot as they walked all over the rubble. Sharp edges digging into the soft unprotected flesh.

There was sobbing, screaming, yelling, and silence. Everyone was in shock.

Books and clothes were everywhere. Pictures and papers were as scattered among the debris as the once top notch academy's students were.

A blonde teenager, soaking wet from the pouring rain, bloody, bruised, and barefoot bent down to pick something up from a murky puddle full of paper. His thumb brushed over the smudged faces on the picture before his hand dropped back to his side, the picture still clutched tightly in his fist. He turned back towards his friend as he placed a broken pair of glasses on his nose.

They shared a small smile before turning towards the sky.

Everyone looked towards the sky, ignoring the rain falling in their eyes as the familiar sounds of the worlds beloved team came into view.

The Thunderbird's had arrived.

**Hours Previous***

Alan sighed as track was announced as cancelled. They had said that it had looked like it was going to rain and the coached didn't want to risk it. Not with large meet right around the corner.

Fermat grabbed at his friends arm to stop his too fast pace. Alan apologized and matched his smaller friends stride.

While the clouds promised rain at some point of the day, Alan honestly didn't see what the big issue was. Running in the rain was fun, Alan always enjoyed running in the rain; the feeling of the water droplets hitting his face and the coolness to his hot skin. He loved running in the rain back on the island.

"Al-Alan, since tr-tra practice was can-cancelled ma-may we should wo-wor begin that project fo-fo that Miss. Smith assi-assign gave us"

Alan seemed to consider it a moment before shaking his head. Although he had promised to call John later (something the two blonde Tracy brothers were all too happy to have fallen in the habit of doing) they could still hit the kickball game Josh had invited them to before the inevitable rainfall and still get back to their dorm with at least enough time to at least begin the project before John had told them he'd call.

After getting the affirmation from Fermat on Alan's idea of a plan of action, both boys ran to drop off their things in their dorm before going back the way they came and heading to the baseball (and kickball) fields.

It didn't come as much of a surprise when, in the middle of the game, the clouds opened up and released their tons of water onto the Earth and her people in the form of a semi-light rain. Nobody paid much of any attention to the wet weather, as it was the normal rainy season for this part of Massachusetts anyway.

The boys in the 'teenage-made-intense' game of kickball didn't mind at all. It was warm enough that they didn't run the chance of getting sick and to be completely honest, according to them, the light rain made the game even more fun to play. The dirt baseball diamond turned into a large mud pit. Boys will be boys and the idea of sliding into any base became much more tempting, even if it was unneeded by some kids (Alan Tracy being one of them) but not even Fermat could pass up the opportunity to mud-slide and not have to regret it after.

Wiping his water logged fringe out of his face, Alan stepped up to kick.

"Watch out for this one boys, he has big brothers"

As if that was some secret code, the boys in the field (on Josh's team) stepped back a few steps. Pointing to where he was going to kick the ball, something he'd seen in a movie once, Alan got into position as Josh rolled the ball. Over on the sidelines he could hear Fermat and his friend Daniel cheering him on. Alan took off using both his track and soccer skills to send the ball sailing over many heads and making the outer out fielders have to run after it.

Alan mock saluted Josh, who flipped him the bird, both grinning like mad men as Alan deliberately jogged as slow as he could around the bases. He got to home and stopped while bringing up a hand as if looking out into space before he turned back towards the plate drowned in a mud puddle and jumped into the brown water. The game was called, by Josh, as he grumbled good naturally as he stalked closer to the celebrating blonde. He grinned as he wrestled the other teenager back down into the mud puddle.

But, eventually, both parties called off and boys headed off in different directions as they all slowly returned to their dorms. The rain had picked as as Fermat and Alan (along with some other boys from the game) ran back to the dormitory with a large "C" on the front of it. The two best friends bid the others a good game and a nice night as they turned down another hall.

Fermat left Alan to get a shower first and the youngest Tracy ran into their room to make sure that the windows were closed. As he went about collecting night clothes for him and Fermat to change into after showering, Alan almost missed John's call. He'd almost missed the soft video-chat buzzer over the sound of the rain as it began pelting at the windows. Looking down at his mud covered self, Alan grimaced.

John was going to have a cow.

But the cow would morph into a bull if he ignored his brother's call, so, Alan leaned down in front of the screen and clicked the answer button.

"Hey kiddo, hows it ha-Why are you covered in mud?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was a way to keep the nasty bugs off?"

John gave him the famous 'do I look like I was born yesterday' look as he crossed his arms over his chest. Alan was stubborn, yes, but so was John Tracy. It only took about a minute until Alan cracked under his big brothers look.

"Fine...A couple of us were playing a game of kickball..."

"In the rain"

"Yep"

"Nice, Kiddo"

Alan smiled at John. While his stoic brother rarely showed it, he did have a 'childish-playful' side to himself and Alan seemed to be the only one who could actually bring it out to shine more then any of their other family members. John tapped a few buttons, still grinning, on the other side of the video feed.

"Well I'm sorry to say this but the games over, for you and Fermat anyway, there's a storm cell heading your way that's producing thunder and lightning and such", The elder blonde looked up, "Hey, where is Fermat anyway?"

Alan chuckled at his older brother as pushed himself off the desk he'd been leaning on to show his and Fermat's showering stuff. John nodding in understanding and approval.

"Ferm's in the shower, where I was heading until a space man I know decided to call ahead of time. And don't you worry your pretty blonde head dude, the game finished about twenty minutes ago. As for thunderstorms, John there's not even any actual storm clouds in the sky her-"

As if to prove Alan's statement wrong, a flash of lightning illuminated the window and the court yard below. Alan's mouth snapped shut and John chuckled (if not a bit smugly) again when he saw his little brother mutter something that might have been 'the world hates me'.

"You were saying 'Pig Pen'? The 'Space Man' is now telling you to go hit the showers because you stink"

Alan shot his older brother a mocking indignified playful glare.

"How would you know space nut? Your in Space"

"And yet I can smell you all the way up here"

"You're so mean to innocent little me"

John gave his brother a look that clearly said that he thought differently.

"Al, if your innocent then that makes Gordo a saint. Don't forget, little brother, I know you better then you think I do ('Creepy Stalker Alien' Alan muttered). Ok I'm going to turn in for the night. You go take a shower and tell Fermat I said hi. Call if you need anything, you know that though"

"Even bail money"

"Rugrat, if you ever called me needing bail money, I'd say that its in your best interest that you stay behind bars so Scott can't get to you"

"Touche, my good man, touche"

John laughed before waving like an overly excited ten year old and logging off. Alan looked out the window a moment before shrugging and turning back towards the door. John was right, he was beginning to stink.

Alan awoke at the same time Fermat did. Both reached for their bedside lamps and the room as illuminated in soft light. They turned to face their dorm room door when pounding was heard on the front of the door and continued on down the hall as if someone was running up and down knocking on every door they could reach.

Their windows shook at the force of wind.

Another person came running down the hallway knocking on doors and yelling at everyone to get up. Alan, like other students, opened their door to see what was going on. A teacher was at the end of the hall looking as if they were reprimanding the dorm senior for causing a panic. Fermat muttered about how it must have been a false alarm and that he was going back to bed.

Alan didn't feel right.

Something was off.

He was just about to grab Fermat's arm to stop him, when the alarm interrupted him.

The teacher at the end of the hall paused. Seeming to not know what to do for a moment. But then the moment passed and the teacher was yelling to remain calm but to get to their safe places. Alan and Fermat turned and ran back into their room and into their closet, at the last minute, as if things couldn't get any worse, the lights began to flicker wildly and on the floor kids began screaming.

The the lights went out.

All was silent.

The only noise was the rain and the wind. And then the windows blew out. Fermat screamed and Alan pulled them both to the very back of the small closet. Behind their suitcases and against the farthest back wall. The storm was right over top of them.

And Alan screamed too.

It sounded like a train was pounding down into their dorm hall. The door to the closet they had taken shelter in was rocking in its frame, as if it could be pulled free from the hinges at any moment. Alan felt something he hadn't felt in a long time, or at least since The Hood had attacked his family.

Fear, fear and dread.

Up in Thunderbird 5, and alarm constant and high pitched woke John from what could have been the first full nights sleep he was going to get in a long time.

Sitting up, motion detectors turning the lights on as he did so, John turned to get out of bed to see what was kicking up such a fuss. The coolness of the metal seeped through to his socked feet as he eventually got up to see what was causing the alarm.

And when he did, his heart nearly stopped.

Alan and Fermat both screamed as their closet door was torn off the hinges. Pushing up closer to the wall on their backs as the wind became a sort of suction device trying to pull them out.

There was a loud screeching and bang and suddenly rain was pouring down on them. The ceiling was gone. There was one great flash of lightening and then complete darkness. Another flash of lightning and a brick was mere inches from slamming into Alan's head. Both boys pushed themselves down onto their stomachs and clung to one another as the howling tore apart their home away from home.

A low groan and loud crack rang through the air as a wall came crashing down.

And then there was nothing.

No Light.

No Wind.

No Noise.

Absolutely nothing.

And Alan had never been more terrified in his life.

"This is Kandace Cutham. What you are seeing is the town of Rockport. It is along the many towns this monster of a storm has destroyed. Jim, there is absolutely nothing left, it is all grounded"

The sky view camera showed the people watching the news the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. Ground crews, storm chasers, everyone who could show any footage gave clear shots of what used to be beautiful houses and businesses.

John sat frozen, praying to any deity that was listening that Alan and Fermat were both ok.

"This just in, Wharton Academy has been hit! Dorms A,C,D,E are down. Jim... This is absolutely wrenching to see up close"

John was frozen as his brothers school came into shot. His baby brother was in that. The once pristine school for the rich and children of the famous was nothing but a few hallow broken standing buildings and rubble.

Not caring one bit that they had never actually been called to aid in recovery and rescue, John pushed the alarm button.

"John, whats the situation?"

"Hurry Guys, Just hurry"

When they finally came around, there was nothing but rain. The worst was passed.

Alan sat up, slowly pushing himself to his knees. A groan from below him reminded him of his friend. How Fermat had gone from being his attachment to being all the way at the other side of their closet was beyond him.

Ignoring the sharp pain of what he hoped was glass being shoved into the palms of his hands as he got to his feet, he stumbled a bit, making his way to Fermat's side. He struggled a bit in pushing the head board of someone else's bed off of his friend before he gently but firmly started shaking Fermat. He sniffed and a foul smell filled his senses.

Gas.

Shaking harder now, Alan began to panic as Fermat wasn't waking up.

"Fermat! Come on dude! Its over! We have to get out! Come on Ferm!"

Finally, after what seemed like near forever, Fermat groaned and opened his eyes. Alan was overjoyed as he helped him get to his feet. Together they climbed up and out of what used to be their dorm room.

They had made it through.

They were going to be okay.

**Present time**

As they landed, all four older Tracy sons were left in shocked stillness at the sight before them. Even Jeff was out of words.

Alan was here.

And alive.

It took them a few moments to catch their bearings at the sight of students, kids, walking over the rubble. Moving as if they were in one of those zombie movies Alan loved so much.

Just the thought of their young blonde brother had them snapping back into reality. Scott and Gordon were quick in making it to the ruined Dormitory's and helping the firemen and teachers pull students from the ruined buildings. Hoping and praying that if Alan and Fermat were under there that they were at least ok.

That they were alive.

Virgil shut the transmission with John odd as soon as he hit the bottom of two's ramp and the astronaut had promised to be there soon. He made a beeline for the tents that were housing the injured. Noting how neither Alan nor Fermat seemed to be among them.

After seeing his brothers 'Birds fly above them, Alan and Fermat moved as fast as they could over the rubble of their old dorm and the others. They ran around other students and medics insisting that they get someone to look as them. Alan promised that they knew somebody who would be more then happy to do so and pushed them out of the way. Fermat tripped over a piece of wall frame and Alan paused briefly to help him up.

The adrenaline that coursed through them prevented either boys from really feeling the glass that got shoved into the skin of their feet. Nor the cold rain that soaked them through to the bone.

As the Thunderbird's came into clearer focus Alan broke into a steady run, actually having to keep himself from leaving Fermat behind as he did so. When the two boys saw the first suit of one of the elder Tracy boys, all stops were removed. Not caring in one way or another what would be said about doing so, Alan yelled the name of the brother before them.

Virgil and John both looked up.

Scott turned, a two by four still in his grasp as he heard his name being shouted. The students nearest him gave strange looks to them all, not knowing why they were responding. Similar eyes scanned the ocean of people without seeing anything as their minds came to the conclusion that it was their hearts and minds playing a cruel trick on them all.

But then there was a flash of familiar blonde hair and Scott was dropping his load and running to meet him half way. The eldest brother couldn't stop himself as he said screw it to secrecy and tore his helmet from his head.

"ALAN!"

And behind the young blonde was his friend.

"FERMAT!"

It was the longest moment of his life as they finally met. Alan flung himself at his brother. The others weren't far behind and Fermat found himself face first in the front of Gordon's uniform as the redhead hugged him into his chest as tight as he could. Alan had practically scaled his oldest brothers muscular frame and locked his bloody dirty feet around Scott's waist. Not that the older man cared as he wrapped his arms around the young blonde.

They held onto each other for what felt like an eternity.

After a while though Scott pulled back and had attempted to put Alan back down, but Virgil stopped him.

"What happened to your feet kiddo?"

Alan lifted one of the mentioned appendages to take a look at it. A hand wrapped around his and he looked up to see John's blonde hair as the elder examined his dirty foot. Virgil came up behind him, Gordon not far behind with Fermat still in his grasp.

Immediately falling into medic mode, Virgil pulled on Scott's arm to pull him into the medical tents. It was strange to see the legendary Thunderbirds so enthralled in Alan Tracy and his friend Fermat, but not as strange as seeing the elder Tracy boys in the Thunderbirds uniform. However, nobody dared say anything on it. After everything that had happened that night, nobody would probably remember that minute detail anyway.

Virgil cleaned the cuts on the bottom of his feet the best he could with what they had as Scott went off to make sure local law enforcement had everything under control, or so Alan had assumed from his vantage point on Gordon's lap. He felt his direct older brothers breath on his ear as he spoke.

"You have no idea how worried we were kiddo"

Alan leaned back into his direct older brother. Gordon moved a little to allow his only little brother a more comfortable position.

"You guys were scared... Gordo when the wall came down I thought for sure we were gonna die and I never would have gotten the chance to say bye"

Gordon wrapped his arms around him from behind.

"Oh my little blondie, do you actually think we'd leave without our permission?"

Alan chuckled and grimaced. Something that did not go unnoticed by Gordon, John, and Virgil. Luckily Alan was saved from any more questions in the form of Scott returning.

"Alright, pretty much everyone I being returned home, so I think its high time we got our kiddos home too"

They all nodded. Gordon passed Alan off to John with a discreet kiss to his blonde soaked curls. Fermat was hoisted up onto Scott's back as they all made their way back to the 'Birds. Alan looked up at John, who met his gaze, and smiled.

"Johnny how'd you get down here so fast?"

"Oh I have my ways Sprout"

"Really?", Alan looked unimpressed, "And don't call me Sprout.

John smiled, as did the others, knowing that if Alan was well enough that he could complain about being called 'Sprout' then he was going to be just fine. But Alan kept staring at him and John knew from previous experience that if wasn't satisfied, Alan would continue to stare at you until the person became very uncomfortable and spilled everything. And so, not wanting to have to deal with that (because it was sort of creepy) all night, John spilled.

As soon as they landed, Brains and Jeff had met them, the scientist had ushered his son off as soon as he had stepped foot on the tiled floor of the hanger.

Dad had been ecstatic to see Alan alive and whole. He had held on to his youngest for a long moment. Jeff pulled back only slightly, both hands coming up to hold both sides of his face, gently rubbing his thumbs over his cheeks. Alan enjoyed the attention, knowing that he was here with his family and alive. Even if he would never tell his dad, Alan was sure for a moment that he'd never get to see any of them again.

Grabbing his dad's hands in his own, Alan softly dismissed himself with a soft, "I'm gonna go shower" before extracting himself gently from his dads grasp. But, even if Alan didn't know he knew, the Tracy Patriarch knew how close he'd come to loosing his youngest and wasn't ok with letting him go, alone, just yet and he knew that whatever was left of Alan's teenage pride prevented him from admitting it, but he knew his youngest better then Alan thought he did, and he could tell that Alan didn't want to be alone right now either.

And, so, with a nod from Jeff, Scott followed after his youngest brother.

He had taken his shower in silence. And stumbled numbly down the hall and into his bedroom. Alan stumbled into his bedroom, softly shutting the door behind him, and without the fear of his brothers seeing him in his moment of weakness, the blonde teen broke down.

Harsh sobs racked his body. He clutched at his sides as he doubled over, the events of the past couple hours catching up to him.

He'd though for sure he was going to die.

He'd never get to see his family again.

And even if he never admit it, his teenage pride preventing him from doing so, Alan Tracy needed his brothers and his dad. He as their world and they were his.

That was how Scott had found him.

Bent over on himself shaking hard with harsh sobs.

The older brother in him was sending off alarms in every single instinct of his body.

Alan startled as warm arms wrapped around him. And moments later his vision was blocked by his older brothers chest. A hand snaked its way to the back of his neck. Then the scent filled his senses; the scent that had protected him from thunderstorms and monsters as a young kid, the scent that had held him the longest after they had all seen the footage of The Hood's attach and had comforted him when he'd wake up screaming (when John couldn't beat him to it) after The Hood's attack.

Alan would recognize Scott's aftershave anywhere.

He reached up and wrapped his own arms around his eldest brother. Scott knew each of his younger brothers like the back of his hand, but he knew Alan better then that (as did the other blonde Tracy). He knew when Alan needed spoken comfort and when he just needed someone to ground himself to. He, just like any of the others, were more then happy to be the rock when Alan needed one.

"Its okay Allie, let it out buddy"

If anything, Alan's grip simply got tighter, his sobs harder and louder, and buried himself deeper into his brothers shoulder. It was a couple of longs moments before he felt Alan mutter something into his t-shirt.

"What?"

Alan muttered it again, albeit a bit louder this time. Scott had to refrain from chuckling at Alan's thought process of 'if I say it louder then it will be understandable'.

"Allie, I can't help you if you don't tell me whats wrong"

Alan shook his head and let out another sob. He was home and away from his classmates (and the rubble of what was once his school). So he didn't really care on how he looked in front of his brothers as of now. After that night, watching as the roof to his dorm was torn off and as the building itself was torn apart brick by brick, wall by wall. As he and Fermat held onto each other as tightly as they could so they would remain together.

"He said, he was scared"

Scott looked up to see Gordon standing in the door way. He wanted to ask how the redhead knew that, but felt as if he already knew that answer. After mom had died, and even before then, Alan and Gordon had always been close. When they had been younger, the two had even gone as far as making a language that only they knew, understanding what the other was saying even when no one else did. So in all reality, it didn't really come as a surprise when Gordon understood what their younger brother was saying even when others didn't.

Slowly Gordon helped get Alan to his bed. Both older brothers sat leaning against the headboard as Alan laid down in between them. Nobody talked as they both knew that Alan would tell them what had all happened when he wanted to. And that it would do no good to force him to talk as it would push him away and he would become a silent shell.

"Hey Allie, how are your feet doing?"

The bed dipped as Virgil sat at the end. Alan let out a groan as he pulled his arm over his face. Recognizing Alan's way of avoiding the questions, Virgil rolled his eyes in amusement and reached out to pull the aforementioned appendages into his lap. Smiling when Alan jerked, kicking his hands lightly as his fingers moved up and down his younger brother's soles. Alan's feet were one of his most ticklish spots (save his belly of course).

"Well, I can assure and concerned persons, I do believe that Alan's footsies will make a complete recovery"

"I could have told you that"

All four looked up to see John come in from the doorway holding a DVD in hand. He held up the movie revealing it to be the new alien movie Alan had been talking about for the last month.

"Thought we could watch a movie, how 'bout it?"

Alan didn't sit up, but moved enough that Virgil could release his feet and stretch out beside him, in front of Gordon.

"As long as I get center"

All four older brothers looked at the young blonde and nodded. John put the DVD in the television and turned, ran, and jumped onto the bed. Making the older three groan and Alan laugh. They had adjusted their youngest brother until he was seated between both Scott and John (still in the center like he requested) and Virgil and Gordon were at the end of the bed (the medic had gone back to cradling the blonde's injured feet on his stomach).

That's how dad had found them in the morning when they had failed to come down to breakfast on time.

Alan hadn't looked that content in a long time, Jeff had though, and he smiled as he turned and closed the door again.

Maybe he'd let them sleep in this morning.

I'm not very proud of the ending, honestly, but if you ignore that poorness, tell me what you thought!