Hey Folks,

Sorry about the hold up, I got into Nashville and Whose Line and then that all spiralled into a world of new fandoms and the magicalness that they hold

On the bright side this is double the length of most of the other chapters (Yay) I mean I own even less now and my bank account is the lowest its been so that isn't going to change anytime soon

But for those of you who are keeping up with this story, genuine thanks, it does mean a lot to me

Enjoy!...and please don't hate me

All Expenses Paid

Chapter 13

Gordon had never liked it when his father called a family meeting. It always meant something was wrong. He knew the Hood was still out there and that the ordeal had yet to be over. But he felt that they should be able to relax now, with both John and Virgil back on the Island and both improving daily, surely they had earned a small reprieve.

He had been surprised when his father had announced it at breakfast; normally they wouldn't get any notice. He tried not to dwell on it as he completed another length and pulled himself out of the pool. He could see his father's silhouette moving around in his office, pacing as Brains listened to whatever he was saying.

Gordons stomach twisted uncomfortably; he may not know what this meeting was going to be about, but he knew it wasn't going to be good.

Scott sat at the end of his bed; his room was bare. He had packed everything into two duffel bags which now lay in the bunker of Thunderbird 3.

He had choked on his coffee when his father had announced the meeting that morning and lost what little appetite he had. He had been sorely tempted to start running right then, but he knew better than to incur his father's wrath once more by not attending the 'meeting'.

He wasn't running away he kept telling himself. He was just running.

Alan and Virgil helped John stumble into the study and quickly deposited him carefully on the sofa. "You know, I think Dad would have happily held the meeting in your room John" Alan said, pushing a pillow behind John so he could sit up straight.

Virgil took his place at John's feet at the end of the sofa "Yeah, Alan has a point. You shouldn't be moving around."

Groaning, John threw his head back into the mountain of pillows Alan had created "Guys seriously!?" he moaned, exasperated "I am sick of being in that bed. This is a damnsite better for my sanity than being stuck in those four walls okay?" Both brothers just shook their heads, knowing there was no point in arguing with John.

Gordon soon joined them and perched himself beside the desk. "You guys got any idea what this is about?" he asked, looking at the others on the sofa.

"No idea," said Virgil "Probably just a debrief and another 'Don't trust anyone' speech."

A quiet chuckle came from Alan at that point "Yeah, you know how serious he gets when one of us nearly dies."

"I did not nearly die," John said, smiling as he did "You guys were overreacting, I was fine." This statement was met with raised eyebrows and an amused smirk from Gordon. "I will admit it looked bad at one point but…" he began to laugh slightly as he saw the smiles on his brothers faces "I'm a Tracy, I can survive anything."

Now laughing fully Gordon joined in "Yeah, I mean you only got kidnapped, beaten, shot and fell down a flight of stairs. I mean jeeze, that's nothing, you're just milking it now," he said rolling his eyes. Now all four brothers were laughing.

They promptly stopped though when Jeff marched in with Brains shuffling quietly behind him. He didn't take his usual seat behind the desk; instead he stood in front of the window, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

Raising his head and turning towards his family, he saw each of their eyes lock on him, giving him full attention. "Where's Scott?" he asked when he noticed his eldest son missing.

"Here." Scott announced as he entered the room, leaning himself against the back wall away from the others.

"Troops all here Dad," Gordon said, throwing a quick look at Scott who was fidgeting by the door.

He didn't speak immediately. He had spent the past four hours going through everything repeatedly in his head. It felt wrong. But he couldn't do this anymore; and he wasn't about to subject his family to it any longer.

"I'm disbanding International Rescue."

The reaction was instantaneous. Alan was yelling, Virgil was pacing grasping his head as though it may fall off, John was slacked jawed staring at his father and Scott just slipped from the room unnoticed.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Alan yelled "PEOPLE NEED US, WE CAN'T JUST ABANDON THEM!"

"ALAN!" Jeff's voice rose above his sons' and silence descended on the room "This is not up for discussion. My word is final."

"But Alan's right Dad," Gordon started, standing beside his brother "People need us, the world needs us…we can't just walk out on them."

"But they would do the same to us," Jeff growled out "and I am not risking any of my family for them anymore."

Gordon grabbed his father's arm and made him look him in the eye "But we want to help."

Jeff brushed Gordon off and walked towards the door, not looking any of his sons in the eye "It's over." He said finally turning to them "International Rescue is done."

"I thought International Rescue helped people because it was right," Gordon said quietly, glaring at his father "I thought we did it because it was right. I thought we did it so that no one else would EVER have to feel how we…" he blinked hard, trying to calm himself "so no one would have to go through what we went through."

Jeff stared at his son, forcing himself to stay where he was "I said we are not discussing this." At that Gordon just scoffed and left the room, barging past his father as he went.

Slowly Virgil helped John up from the sofa, and with Brains assistance managed to get him upright and balanced. The brothers made their way across the room and stopped in front of Jeff, adjusting Johns weight slightly Virgil looked up at his father "I really hope you know what you're doing, because I'm lost." Virgil said, forcing his eyes to the ground before continuing to help his brother back to his room.

Jeff watched them go, wincing when he heard John cry out in pain. It was then that he heard a low voice from behind him "You promised." He turned to see Alan standing in the centre of the room, eyes red and mouth set in a grim line.

"Alan please?" Jeff pleaded, walking towards his youngest son, placing a hand gently on his arm.

Alan slapped the hand away and took a step away from his father "You promised! You said you would never give up again!" his voice choked at the end, and he kept viciously wiping his eyes "You lied." He finished looking up at Jeff, completely hopeless.

Jeff listened as Alan walked quietly from the room. "So Scott, you got anything to say?" he asked, turning to where Scott had been. Confused at Scotts disappearance he turned to Brains who was standing awkwardly by the desk.

"He l-l-l, walked out just after you made the announcement Mr. Tracy," the scientist explained.

Nodding in acceptance Jeff collapsed onto the sofa and let his head drop in to his hands. He stayed like that for almost five minutes because straightening up, rubbing his eyes and once again looking to Brains. "Have I just done something stupid?"

Brains gave him a sad smile "That has yet to be seen Sir, I'll have to g-g-g, come back to you on that," he stammered, taking his place beside Jeff. "You did what you thought was best, they will se-se-se, understand that, just give them some time. You won't lose them."

A disbelieving smile bloomed on Jeffs face, "I think I already have."

Virgil was lent against the balcony railing watching the sun fall slowly beneath the horizon. He didn't know what to do. It felt as the carpet had been pulled from underneath his feet, only to reveal a bottomless chasm. He felt like he was falling and there was nothing he could do about it.

Sighing he looked up at the stars. They didn't sooth him as they did John or even his father, but he could see what they liked about them. The whole idea that one person could see thousands of suns burning on the other side of the galaxy gave them perspective. It just made Virgil feel colder.

He knew his father had a reason. Hell, he agreed that he didn't want to see his family in danger. But hadn't they all accepted the risk when started this thing, he thought to himself. His ribs still ached and his head hadn't stopped pounding since they had left the 'family meeting'. But his brain was in over drive, and he knew he wouldn't get any rest that night.

He looked back to the stars; maybe they did hold the answer.

Alan looked himself in the eye in the bathroom mirror. His eyes were red raw and the dry skin around them was starting to crust up. It had been almost three hours since he had left the control room, but he hadn't calmed down any. He had promised.

He flicked his bathroom light off and threw himself onto his bed, rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. He remembered when his father had made the promise. It had meant everything to him, and now…there was nothing.

Jeff walked through the front door, Alan on his hip and Gordon grasping his hand. He watched as John clambered straight up the stairs and slammed his door shut behind him. He walked carefully through to the lounge, keeping his youngest children close.

Scott was curled up in the corner of the sofa, eyes sad. Virgil was curled against him, his mess of sandy hair covering his eyes, his small hands clutching his elder brothers' dress shirt. He saw his mum leave the kitchen her frown changing immediately to a warm smile when she saw Scott and Virgil bundled up on the sofa. "How was it?" she asked tentatively as she approached her son.

Blinking tiredly, Jeff answered "Long, really really long," he said, eyes downcast, then felling Alan squirm slightly he smiled "But these boys, well, these boys were amazing! Weren't you boys?" he said with forced enthusiasm.

None of the boys made any movement or sound in either agreement or disagreement; Alan just hugged his father tighter burying his face in his neck. "Guess they're tired," Jeff said lightly, wishing that was the reason.

His mum just gave him a weary smile and a warm hug. Her eyes were watery when she pulled away, but a smile soon spread across her face as she declared "So, which of you handsome boys would like help Grandma bake some brownies?"

Once again there was no response, but she was not to be deterred. Crouching by the sofa she gently brushed Virgils hair from his eyes and gave him a big smile "Hey Virge, how about we go make some brownies?" she asked softly, looking to Scott for a little help.

"Come on Virge," Scott started quietly, jostling his little brother "We can make them in the shape or aeroplanes again!"

At this Virgil did look up, eyes big and a small shy smile playing on his lips "With green frosting?" he asked.

"Of course!" Scott exclaimed "Come on, if we don't go now Grandma might change her mind," he said pulling Virgil up from the sofa and running with him into the kitchen.

Grandma Tracy smiled as the door clapped shut, then turned her attention to Gordon who was still clutching his father's hand, his suit rumpled and wet from the rain "So Gordo, are you going to let your brothers have all the fun?" she asked, removing his tie and flattening his hair.

Gordon just looked at his feet, then after a moment's thought he looked back at his Grandmother "Can I make a shark?" he whispered.

She heard Jeff chuckle above her "Well, you can if those brothers of yours haven't used all the mix already," she whispered back conspiratorially. Gordons' eyes widened, and quickly let go of Jeffs' hand and ran into the kitchen.

Jeff turned to Alan who still had his head on his shoulder. "Do you want to help make brownies champ?" he asked softly, Alans hair tickling his nose. Alan just shook his head and held on tighter. "Looks like it's just you four I'm afraid Mum, 'cause I don't think Johns' going to emerge any time soon and this little guy could probably do with a nap."

"Oh well, we'll make sure to make extras," she said, bustling back into the kitchen, leaving Jeff alone with Alan.

Jeff settled himself in the arm chair, and slowly disentangled Alan and placed him on his lap instead. "You okay buddy?" Jeff asked, rubbing Alan's back as the child leaned against his chest. Alan just shook his head.

"Do you want to have a nap?" he asked, wrapping his arms around his son. Another shake of the head. "Do you just want to sit here and be quiet?" this time there was no response. So Jeff just let himself relax into the chair, the heavy weight of Alan against him making him smile softly.

Over thirty minutes passed in silence, then suddenly a small voice broke it "Why didn't anyone stop it?" Alan asked quietly.

"Stop what buddy?" Jeff asked, pulling Alan around so that they were looking at each other.

Alan fidgeted for a moment, before looking up at his father with baby blue eyes "Why didn't anyone stop the mountain taking Mummy?"

Jeff allowed a few moments to pass as he considered his answer, "Well, Alan, mountains are really hard things to stop, nearly impossible. No one could stop it."

"Then we should get rid of them." Alan announced as though it made perfect sense.

Jeff laughed at the four year old in his lap "Alan, I'm afraid getting rid of mountains is even more difficult that stopping them."

Alan's face scrunched up in concentration "Then someone should always watch the mountain and if it looks like it's about to take people they should get them first." The four year old said, looking at his father again "Then no one will lose their mummy."

Temporarily shocked Jeff stared at his son. "Well, that's a good idea Alan. I may even have to mention it at work, see if we can get Brains in our science team working on it."

"Really?" Alan asked, slightly happier as his idea was being taken seriously.

"Well, it's not very good when people lose their mummies is it? So I will do whatever I can to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else," Jeff said, with a sincerity which surprised even him.

"Do you promise?"

Staring at his son, Jeff's brain clicked as ideas began to form "I promise," he said, and gave Alan a bear hug before helping the child onto his shoulders "Now why don't we go get John and help Grandma make some brownies hey?"

"Okay," Alan said quietly but decidedly happier than he had been.

Scott threw the two duffel bags into the back of the small plane and climbed in after them. He had been as shocked as the others when his father had announced he was closing International Rescue, but he had also been relieved. It meant he wasn't leaving them to fight without him.

He was just leaving them.

End of Chapter 13

I make no promises for the next update, as I'm on holiday for the next two weeks pretty much and have the attention span of a hamster at the best of times….but it will come at an undetermined time in the future…or past, depends on how my time machine works out

RussianKat