It had been three days since Alan's return. Jeff, John, and Brains had been tirelessly working to find 'Billy' but not knowing anything about the man made that near impossible. The assumption that 'Billy' was older than Scott but younger than Jeff was a stretch but they felt it was a likely range. The problem however, was that going back to when 'Billy' would have been ten to fourteen meant that there were many young boys that had gone missing and never been found.
The three cursed 'Billy' even more for not revealing anything about himself, and how he was so efficient at hiding himself and his victims. John and Brains had been able to direct the police and FBI to the dummy site, only to find dust covered computer screens and relaying equipment. Any way to trace the electronics had been removed along with any way to find 'Billy'. Sufern had called the search off, calling the case cold.
Scott was pissed about Sufern stopping the search, but after John told him how they hadn't found anything, there was no way the FBI could. Scott grudgingly accepted that.
One night, after Alan had gone to bed, Scott expressed to his family that they shouldn't tell Alan, "He doesn't need to know that the man that kidnapped him and auctioned him off is still out there. He needs to have a life that doesn't consist of looking over his shoulder."
"I agree with you, Scott," Jeff said, "But we have to tell him something. He will wonder if 'Billy' was found."
"We tell him that the search is coming to a close," John suggested, "Not a lie and not telling him that 'Billy' is lose."
"Alan's smarter than that," Gordon expressed from the wall screen; having gone back up to Five, "He will wonder about a trial."
"And with the little evidence they have, a trial would be necessary," Virgil admitted.
"Then what do we do?" Scott looked to his father.
Jeff sighed, "For now, let's let him forget. If it comes up, send him to me. We can't try to protect him; he will only feel worse later."
Gordon, knowing Alan the best, nodded in agreement, "He needs to know he can trust us and that we trust him. Hiding this from him will make him think we don't trust him to handle it, which will lead him to not trust us."
After the family pow-wow, the Tracy's broke off to their rooms; it was late in the night after all. As Scott closed his door, he jumped seeing a figure on his balcony. Frowning, Scott silently made his way to the open door and recognized Alan.
"Hey, Scooter," Alan said not turning around.
"Hey, Sprout," Scott returned, standing next to Alan, "I thought you were sleeping."
Alan shook his head, "Couldn't sleep."
"Come sit," Scott said pulling Alan down next to him on one of his loungers.
Alan relaxed into Scott's side, curling up. Scott held him close; keeping quiet, knowing Alan would talk when he was ready. After a while, Alan let out a long breath, "When will this be over, Scooter?"
"What, Sprout?" Scott asked genuinely confused.
"Billy…Me not being able to sleep…Jumping at the slightest touch…everything," Alan trailed off, craning his neck to look at Scott.
Scott swallowed and gave Alan a small squeeze, "It is over Alan," he said firmly, "You just need to get your confidence back. And we all want to help you…you just need to let us."
"I'm trying, Scooter," Alan whispered, "But I close my eyes and I'm back to being tied to the chair or bed."
"Talk about it," Scott encouraged, "We will all listen and it will help. There also isn't that son of a –"
"Scott!" Alan stopped him.
"Sorry," Scott said, even though he wasn't, "Anyway, Sufern isn't around, so you won't be pushed or made to believe you should have done something. We all think that you not resisting was safer and do not think any less of you."
Alan was quiet for a while, silent tears soaking Scott's shirt. "Part of me feels sorry for Billy," Alan finally said.
Scott frowned, but he also knew were Alan was coming from; Billy had said he had gone through a much worse experience, and Alan was able to relate…the fact that Scott was biased against Billy was another story. Scott sigh, "I can't say I agree with you…but I do understand you," he replied.
"Does that make me bad? Make me like him?"
"No!" Scott exclaimed, "That makes you human! You can relate to him, so you know what he went through…but it does not make you like him. You hear me?"
"Yeah," Alan nodded, "Thanks, Scooter, I needed to hear that."
"Anytime, Sprout," Scott rubbed Alan's shoulder, "And I can tell you anyone else here will say the same thing. If they don't, you tell me and I'll make them reconsider."
"Even Dad?"
"Yes, even Dad," Scott smiled, "But I bet you anything he would have told you fist had you gone to him."
Alan nodded and took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "When do you leave for Five?"
"In a few days," Scott grumbled, "Though you could ask Dad for me to stay…"
"No way, Scooter," Alan chuckled, "But maybe I can come up with you. I have to learn how it all works sometime, you know?"
"I would definitely not be one to teach you," Scott laughed, "That is all Johnny the space-cadet."
"What no zero gravity tai-chi?" Alan teased.
"Hmmm," Scott rolled the idea round, "I'll have to look into that while I'm up there."
Alan laughed before going quiet again. After a moment, Scott realized he had fallen asleep when Alan snored softly. Smiling, Scott settled into a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes.
That is where both of them would be found in the morning when Jeff went looking for Scott.