Sorry it's taken so long, I had problems with time and getting things going, also trying to avoid overly English words and sayings... guess I didn't realise how hard that would be until writing an American TB fic! Hopefully it works alright, you have to tell me as otherwise I'll be paranoid ;)
Massive thanks to all the lovely reviewers of Chp 2: chocolatelover1, High Queen Susan the Gentle, Iniysa, criminally charmed (love your work), thunderincrimson, bubzchoc, wyld stallion, babygirl09, MJ2901, Loopstagirl.
Usually I would go through and thank you all seperately but time + whether you want the fic today or in the next few days... I love you all ^_^
Also I do read a lot of TB fics but usually on the move so don't get the chance to review, I shall make a point of going through and reviewing the ones I read over the next week. Reviews = happiness.
x
Tracy Enterprises held some impressive parties, in retrospect this one was pretty casual compared to most; It was being held for the employees of one of the larger offices in the city, one of a few yearly functions where everyone could relax and enjoy Jeff Tracy's generosity - coming in the form of free Champaign, an open bar, live music and a buffet. It was therefore unsurprising that almost one hundred percent of the employees of the particular building were filing into the large conference room being used to host the event.
Tables and chairs moved aside to create a wide open area where people were mulling around, greeting each other and the various guests and representatives, Jeff himself was one of the centres of attention. A likeable man that people felt obliged to give their regards to as and when they arrived.
In a corner of the room a small orchestra sat playing, classical music that fit the mood and blended into the background of chatter and the general ambience.
Scott rather enjoyed these functions, he'd been to a fair few over the years and they'd grown on him. Once one of the sparse moments where he was able to spend time with his father, now a friendly atmosphere of old acquaintances, friends and old worked colleagues he'd worked with over the years.
Tracy Enterprises and International Rescue were closer than anyone could possibly imagine, the engineering programmes and development of both were shared, as was the work load. All the Tracy boys - spare Alan who was to young - had worked at some point or other with the company. It was a family business to the extreme.
Glancing around the large room Scott recognised more than a few faces, the jumble of different jobs they all held went together to form the cogs that run the place. This particular office building was largely management of sectors, the health and safety guys took up a couple of floors. If was strange seeing people who usually donned white coats for inspections now dressed in full tux or long evening gowns, each eyeing the other office workers with a mix of friendly agreement or mixed, rather amusing to watch, distain.
Doctor Song was currently talking to Jeff in the centre of the room, a grey haired man who always wore a reassuring smile and had a helping hand to anyone who needed it. A good friend of the family, he'd been through many a medical career yet had now worked for Tracy Enterprises for a number of years, a man who believed strongly in dedication and honesty through any profession. The kind of man Jeff liked in charge of other people, someone who would lead and people would happily follow.
Over by the orchestra stood Janet Singer, her foot tapping impatiently as her husband spoke to a small group of people around them. She was a strong willed woman, dedicated yet with a sharp tongue and matching attitude. Another employee Jeff Tracy would no doubt trust with his life. The woman was humorous to watch, she displayed her emotions so clearly that you could tell when her war path had been set. Scott had worked with her in the past and although he was now keeping a rather large distance - half the room - between himself and the woman, he held a deep respect for her.
Scott knew how much his father loved each and every one of these people, he had been taught long ago that without them the Tracys would have nothing, and a happy workforce was a productive workforce. That included everyone, be you working in the sorting office or up with the board of directors.
Jeff had been moving around the room for some time now, Virgil and Alan had long since floated of - Virgil chatting at the bar to some old friends, Alan not far along from him chatting to a young woman, no doubt trying to score a drink.
Scott couldn't help but smile at his youngest brother, trust Alan to home in to the woman who out of the whole room was probably the closest in age to him. Maybe that was just a teenage thing; home in to your own, or at least the closest there was. Safety in numbers. Smirking Scott turned back to his dad and grinned as the Tracy hierarch approached.
"Where's Virgil gotten to?" Jeff asked, looking around, nodding to the occasional guest who waved his way. "Jack Nibbs was asking after him, they worked together on that STA project a few years back."
Nodding over to the bar Scott motioned to Virgil. "I think there's a few people he's going to be catching up with, he's in his element."
Unlike Scott Virgil had not been to one of these events for a while, as he was the Thunderbird's qualified physician he was required to be on the island more often than not. It wasn't a written rule but Virgil took his job seriously, when he was not on rescue missions he could usually be found in the infirmary making sure all their stock was up to date and that everything was in order, be there an emergency. If you so much as got a cold in the Tracy household Doctor Virgil would be on you like a moth to a light.
"Hmm." Jeff smiled. "What's your excuse?"
Scott realised that he'd taken his usual role as overseer of the family, it was a habit he couldn't seem to shake - not that he wanted to. Stood of to the side slightly he'd spent the last twenty odd minutes watching people come and go and keeping track of his brothers and father. He knew to well that security would keep them safe yet he couldn't help it. He wasn't called Mother Hen for nothing.
"I'm good. I spoke to quite a few people earlier on, just taking a moment out to check on things."
Jeff gave his eldest that knowing look that meant he knew exactly what Scott was doing, he added a smile of reassurance.
"Jeff?"
Scott looked over, behind his father's shoulder to the man who'd approached, not someone he immediately recognised yet familiarity looming. He had three men flanking him, from their suits and ear pieces Scott felt safe in guessing that they were the man's body guards. With his dad being as rich and famous as he was it wasn't unusual that he knew people of the same calibre, but in a room of workers which the night would have been a highlight of the year, it looked slightly strange.
Jeff turned with a look of surprise, frowning momentarily before shaking the mans hand.
"Taio, I didn't think you'd be joining us."
Scott read the undertones of his dad's meaning; you weren't invited?
He eyed the man trying to place the face, it took him a moment but he realised he'd seen the guy in the paper's countless time. Scott was a newspaper addict, it was difficult getting them to the island so he had them shipped to the mainland and had to collect them each week. On a Sunday he was usually found by the pool with a stack besides him working his way through the weeks events and news. It didn't cease to annoy his other family members, who when together vastly enjoyed their spare time messing around in the pool apposed to sat around reading.
John perhaps was the only brother that really sympathised with him, so used to spending months up on Thunderbird Five, he himself had developed a taste for novels and whilst up in Five had penned many of him own.
Thinking back to the papers Taio Zucco was a face that had cropped up in them quite a few times; business dealings, dodgy accounts, tax evasion… the list added up quickly and he tried to weigh in what the guy meant to his father, what their relationship was.
"Well, I was thinking about what you said earlier, about family." Taio smiled and nodded over to Alan, his Italian accent rolling over the words. "My contacts inform me that you often bring family to such events." Jeff went to interrupt but Taio held up a hand. "I felt that it was time to reacquaint you with my daughter."
Jeff looked thoroughly confused but a smile crept onto his face, his shoulders relaxing as understanding dawned. "You brought Tess along?"
"Tess?" Scott couldn't stand being out of the loop, used to being the field commanding the lack of control was irritating. He leant forward and held out a hand that Taio shook. "Scott Tracy, I'm sorry but how are you and my father acquainted?"
"I'm surprised you don't remember." Jeff replied with a sad smile, rubbing his face with a hand, the surprised look still apparent on his features. "Myself and your mother were good friends of Taio and his wife before she died. Taio Zucco - not ring any bells?"
"You've probably read about me in the papers." Taio said dryly, obviously not to keen on what the papers had printed, not that Scott could blame the man. But then again, there was never smoke without fire. "We met quite a few times when you were younger, we had a few picnics in Central Park when myself and your father were both opening new offices in New York, family events... Kids and all." He added.
Scott smiled as an image of his mother came to mind, she loved picnics and the Tracy boys had spent a lot of their youth in parks and in the country looking for the best places to have them. He had so many different memories of days out, picnic basket in tow.
He had a very clear memory of flying to England one time to visit Lady Penelope, they'd spent two weeks in the summer with her and on one of their picnic days had ended up sheltering under some trees for a good hour whilst more water than he'd ever seen seemed to fall from the grey skies. The image of his mother - hair dripping wet, clothes plastered to her skin, and a smile as big as any. It might have been an insignificant memory to others but he held that image close.
"That was a long time ago, I didn't know you still knew each other." Scott commented.
"Well…" Jeff sighed. "We were brought together by our two companies less than a week ago, before then I haven't seen Taio in many years."
"No time like the present to catch up, hey?" Taio grinned, nodding back to Alan again. "So, you want to meet Tess or not?"
"Huh?" Scott looked over at his younger brother, still chatting away to the young woman. "That's your daughter?" He added with surprise.
For the first time he looked at her properly, her long dark hair hanging loose over he shoulders, probably around the same height as Alan yet he was still growing, Scott knew the nickname "Sprout" wouldn't last forever. She must have been early twenties, wearing a typical black dress that a lot of these women seemed to favour, simple yet elegant. She was pretty but she didn't stand out, for the daughter of a man as rich as Zucco Scott would have expected more - though he had to remind himself that people thought the same about the Tracy sons and it never ceased to annoy him. Just because you had money didn't mean you had to buy designer everything.
Taio nodded to one of his bodyguards who went over to get her, as her conversation was broken off with Alan she looked over with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, softening as she saw Scott and Jeff. Making her apologies to Alan who glared over at his father, she came over.
"Jeff, Scott, let me introduce you to my daughter - Tess Zucco."
Tess smiled as she joined the small group. "Mr Tracy, it is a pleasure to meet you." Her accent had a distinct Italian accent, not of an American who had learnt Italian but rather of an Italian who had learnt English very well.
Jeff smiled. "By your accent I would guess that you have spent a great deal of time in Italy?" He remembered her as a small child, being only five when her mother died she had been at the age where all children want to do is talk none stop. If his memory served him correctly, back then she'd spoken American.
Nodding she looked to her father before back at Jeff and Scott. "I spent a lot of time there growing up, all my schooling was in Europe. I've only returned here just over a year ago." She looked to her father again.
"I feel that the education system is so much better in Europe." Taio commented, not at all careful to tread around the fact that all Jeff Tracy's sons had been educated in the country. "I would have liked Tess to stay in Italy but children… never seem to do what you would like." He turned to the three men around him and gave a short nod. "You do not need to trail me around, I'm sure Mr Tracy wouldn't mind if joined the party."
He gave Jeff a meaningful look, Scott could tell that the guy was grating his father's nerves slightly but he kept his smile all the same and gave a curt nod as the men left their group. Tess cut in rather sharply taking both Tracy men back.
"I came to try and make a connection with my father who I have failed to see more than a few times in a year due to his work commitments." She glared at Taio. " I have to make an appointment to see him."
Scott was surprised that the father daughter relationship actually shared many a similarity between his own father's and his brother's, not so much now as when they were younger. The Jeff Tracy back then would have put work before family more often than not, thankfully he'd made a significant change and nowadays family was always first, even if Alan didn't always see that.
Taio glared back at her for a second before turning to Jeff and smirking. "I shall leave you to become reacquainted, I have a few calls to make." Looking back to Tess he nodded. "We'll talk about this later."
With that he turned and headed off, leaving Scott, Jeff and Tess staring after him.
"Well…" Jeff looked to Scott for help, he was blanked faced though, surprised at how quickly the man had appeared and then disappeared.
"Let me apologise for him." Tess let out a long sigh. "I don't think he quite realises how blatant he can be sometimes." She watched her father's retreating back before turning back to the two. "Erm… Mr Tracy." She gave a weak, rather nervous smile. "Can I ask you something?"
Jeff could obviously read the tone, so often used when Alan wanted a lift somewhere or something from his father. It held the younger innocence that people seemed to lose as the got older.
"Of course, though I might choose not to answer." Jeff replied slyly, the exact answer he usually gave the youngest Tracy.
Scott grinned, he could see why Alan had been talking to her.
"Well…" He looked down at her feet. "How well did you know my mother?"
Alan was sat along the bar from Virgil, his brother surrounded by old friends and colleagues whilst Alan was now alone. He hated parties like these, he doubted if his father actually knew what a proper party was. Classical music, employees and champagne Alan wasn't allowed to drink was not exactly his idea of a good time.
He'd been relatively happy talking to the girl that had been called off to speak with his father. There may have been the smallest hope of getting some kind of alcoholic drink the way things had been going, they shared a similar trait of being fed up with their dads. Although he could sympathise with her, something he didn't really want to do as he definitely felt like he was in the sinking boat when it came to things like this. She was easy to talk to though.
Tess rarely saw her father at all, the business man persona playing across the field meaning there was something for them to talk about. He liked her, she reminded him off all his brothers thrown into one with a hint of Lady P for good measure. Plus she didn't know much about her mother either, it seemed a similar trait with both families.
Sighing he turned back to the bar and gave the barman a pair of his best puppy dog eyes, the barman smirked and merely winked at him, obviously not reading the inner turmoil of being the youngest at the party.
"Jeez… can't a guy get a break." Alan muttered and let his head drop onto the bar, a satisfactory knock as he tried to disperse the boredom. Virgil and Scott were wrapped up the same as their father, trying to meet every single person there and from the sounds of things, discussing their whole life story.
He'd just gotten back for the holidays, right now he could have been sat by the pool soaking up the rays of sun, the way things were going he was risking missing the first Thunderbird Rescue mission since his return, it could happen any minute yet here he was, pretty much grounded by his dads attempt at spending time with him.
"You look like you could do with a drink."
Alan looked up to a dark skinned, largely built man. Smartly dressed and adjusting his tie as he approached the bar besides Alan. He shook his head as the barman approached, already holding two drinks he placed one in front of the youngest Tracy.
"Those champagne penguins are carrying them around." He explained, winking as Alan stared at the drink in surprise. "Seems like the friend I arrived with has made better use of his time and left… you might as well take it."
Alan sighed but smiled. "Going to be one long night."
"You hear for the whole thing?" The man asked, pulling over a bar stool and sitting by the blonde. He took a swig of the delicate champagne flute, his large hands making it look like the glass would splinter between his fingers.
"Yup, Alan Tracy." He held out a hand. "My dad's…"
"Jeff Tracy." Smiling the man nodded over to where Jeff stood. "Don't think there's many people in the whole country who wouldn't know who Jeff Tracy is." Turning back he nodded. "Joe Smith. I've been working with another company that's been trying to strike a deal with Tracy Enterprises." He laughed shortly, Alan couldn't really see why but shrugged and took his newly acquired drink. Taking a gulp he hoped Virgil or eagle eye Scott wouldn't notice.
He squeezed his eyes shut, not expecting the sharp alcoholic taste. He'd had champagne before but had seemingly forgotten the experience. It was disgusting.
"More of a beer man." Joe commented, slapping Alan on the back fondly. "Shame only the champagne is free, it must be an acquired taste… or at least one I've still to acquire."
He left his hand on Alan's shoulder and Alan frowned up at him, he wasn't to fond of the friend to friend bodily contact so many of the sports teams at school seemed to hold. Family, fine. Complete strangers? Not so.
He shrugged off the hand but the man just smiled wider and draped an arm over his shoulders.
"You're the youngest right?" He asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Um… yeah." Alan blinked again, the damn champagne was lethal. He was beginning to wish he'd given up and just gone to find some food, then again the finger food wasn't much to his liking either. Caviar just seemed altogether wrong, nobody should have ever eaten it.
He realised that the man was still speaking and shook his thoughts together, it was so warm in the room, and it was beginning to get really crowded…
"What did you say?" He murmured, rubbing his eyes and trying to make the bar stop moving.
Joe laughed. "Well if I'd known a glass of champagne would have you like this I'd have given it back to the penguin!" He gently cuffed Alan's ear and stood, pulling the teen up with him. "Let's get you somewhere quieter hey? I don't think the drink's agreeing with you."
Alan wanted to refuse but part of his mind wanted to leave the room, it was too busy and suddenly much to loud, everything was moving to fast and his head was pounding. He followed rather blindly as the man guided his around people.
"Alan? Hey, sprout?"
Virgil wasn't as bad as Scott but he had a heightened sense of responsibility for the youngest Tracy brother, although talking to the group of old friends and colleagues he'd been trying to keep an eye on Alan. Every few minutes he'd make sure he knew where he was and who he was with. He'd seen Alan speaking with a dark haired young woman but she'd left a few minutes previously to speak to his dad and Scott.
He had seen the guy approach Alan afterwards and had spent the next few minutes trying to place him, even if he hadn't spoken to all of the people at the party he at least knew them by sight but the man didn't ring a bell. He hadn't noticed the drink until Alan got up.
Trust Alan to get someone in the room to go against Jeff's wishes, said person wouldn't be keeping their job when their father got hold of him/her. Of course Alan would get the mother of all telling offs, and no doubt there'd be another colossal argument about responsibility.
Still, Virgil liked the rebellious side to his youngest brother, Alan saw life in such a bizarre way that you couldn't help but laugh at some of the logic behind his arguments.
He frowned as Alan stumbled along next to the guy he was with, said guy catching the top of his arm and half holding him up. Something wasn't right.
"Alan? Hey, sprout?"
He caught up with the couple just as they were leaving the room, they were stood besides a couple of the massive elevators that led up to the offices of the building.
Alan frowned and squinted at Virgil, it took a moment for awareness to dawn on the blonde as to who it was.
"Virg… I don't feel so good. It's so hot in here." He groaned and half keeled, the man holding him up with an arm round his stomach. He shot an angry glare at Virgil before looking around himself almost nervously.
"Hey." Jogging forward Virgil tried to take the man's place, all too aware of how much Alan hated other people touching him. The fact he'd let the guy lead him from the room seemed pretty bizarre. "You don't look to good, please tell me that glass of champagne I saw was the first?"
Alan huffed a familiar huff of annoyance. "Course it was, I didn't even drink it all!" He groaned and shut his eyes, Virgil now supporting most of his weight.
Virgil turned to the man, leaning across to place a hand on the elevator door to call one down. They'd have to find somewhere quiet before telling Jeff.
"Um… thanks? I've got it from here."
Virgil frowned at the man who simply shrugged and walked away, eyes lingering on Alan a few seconds longer which made him feel distinctly uncomfortable, then again, when it came to Alan they were all a bit overly protective.
He couldn't for the life of him remember seeing the man before. The security here was so tight though, no one could simply walk in…
The elevator doors opened with a ping, Virgil pulled Alan in and as the doors closed took a moment to fully take in his brother, Dr Virgil mode taking over. Alan's skin had gone deathly pale and a shimmer of sweat was now taking over, it didn't seem the effects of drinking at all. Alan had drunk before and having so little wouldn't have affected him so quickly. The flutes of champagne weren't exactly large either, and if he didn't drink the whole thing then there was no way it would have effected him.
It took only a few seconds to reach the next floor, as the doors reopened Virgil had to pretty much lift Alan out, half carrying him along until they reached one of the staff rooms, using his finger print to gain access. Luckily all the Tracy boys had full access to all of the offices and facilities, one of his father's smarter ideas.
Tracy Enterprises looked after their staff, the room was taken over by sofas, a pool table in one corner and a TV the size of one of the many walls partially taking over. One of the sofas was Virgil's aim, helping Alan along and laying him gently down so he could look at him properly.
"Alan? You still with me?" Alan blinked his groggy eyes open and shook his head.
"I am never going to touch alcohol in my life." He muttered, eyes closing again as he took deep breaths. "It's freezing in here Virg… dad's been skimping on the heating."
"You just said it was too hot." Giving Alan a week smile he lay a hand on the blondes brow, muttering as the heat radiated through. This definitely wasn't the cause of alcohol, he was going downhill much to fast. If anything it seemed like he'd had his drink spiked, the thought of why anyone would do such a thing made Virgil shake his thoughts away, they were terrifying.
"Alan, who was that guy you were with?"
Everyone was checked before they came in, everyone. No one could have slipped through unnoticed. You had to have an ID that checked out, you had to be connected with Tracy Enterprises and most of all, you needed an invite. Without an invite you'd have to have some seriously good Tracy ties to get in.
"Er… Joe."
"Joe what?" For heavens sake don't be Joe Bloggs, that's all they needed.
"Smith."
Virgil sighed frustrated, opening his watch and dialling Scott. Joe Smith… not very original. He was surprised Alan had bought it, he was usually smarter than that. "Where did he say he worked?" Virgil pushed, trying to keep Alan with him, the kid kept drifting between awareness.
"Erm… just said he was working with someone… trying to secure a deal with Tracy Enterprises." Alan's eyes blinked open slightly. "You're going to tell Scotty aren't you?" A panicked expression crossed his features.
"Of course." Virgil smiled, telling Scott to Alan was going to be as bad, if not worse, as telling his Dad. "He's going to find out sooner or later, Al."
Alan groaned. "I'd prefer later... Maybe when everything's not so loud."
"Sure you would."
Picking up one of Alan's wrists Virgil held his fore and middle finger to check his pulse, as he'd guessed it was running far to fast. It confirmed to him that Alan had taken some kind of drug - the drowsiness, heightened heart beat and going between hot and cold were definite signs.
The watch vibrated on his wrist as Scott picked up, no image. Virgil jumped, forgetting for a second that he'd even called his elder brother, his voice now ringing out into the otherwise quiet room. "What's up Virg? Where are you and the blonde?"
Virgil took a deep breath, Scott's anger T minus ten seconds…
"Well… we kind of have a problem."
"What problem?" Scott drew out the words, his voice suddenly edged with worry. Virgil had an image of him stood off to the side somewhere or maybe leant over the bar, somewhere he wouldn't look too strange talking to his watch. He could hear people in the background still which hinted that Scott was still in the midst of people.
"Well…." He looked back down at Alan who had his eyes shut again, he wasn't looking to good. "I'm pretty sure some guy, calling himself Joe Smith, erm…"
"What?"
"…Drugged Alan."
"WHAT?" Scott growled down the line. "Where is he?"
Virgil could hear Scott moving through crowds of people, their chatter fading past with a mix of voices. He was slightly surprised that Scott hadn't noticed them leaving the room, he was usually so eagle eyed, a result of the years in the Air Force a few years previous.
"Hey, calm down I've got Alan with me. The guy was trying to walk him out but I stepped in, we're on the next floor in the staff room. The guy's still about somewhere, maybe you should get dad on the case…."
"Neat watch you've got yourself there."
Virgil spun and swore loudly, the Joe smith character was stood in the doorway of the room.
"Scott make it quick, we've got company." Signing off his watch he stood in front of Alan facing the guy, eyes shooting fire. "Who the hell are you and what the hell did you give him?"
Joe Smith, or whatever his name was, came forward slowly, enjoying the small panicked look on Virgil's face as he realised their only route out was blocked.
"Things were meant to be simple, no one would get hurt." He stopped a metre away from the pair, looking down and sneering. "You hand him over to me and things can still go that way, you can walk out of here."
"And why would I do that?"
Alan groaned and pushed himself up, obviously taking a lot of effort doing so as he sagged against Virgil's arm. Virgil pushed him back gently but ignoring the gesture Alan shakily stood.
"You've got about thirty seconds before security busts your butt." He was almost whispering the words and to Virgil's surprise, his little brother sounded quite threatening. It didn't quite dispel the fear of the situation though, especially as the man took another step forward.
Virgil took the chance to charge forward, he hadn't seen any kind of weapon yet but that wasn't to say their wasn't one. He wanted to act before the guy had chance to go rummaging through his pockets.
The two flew backwards towards the pool table, Smith taking a moment to realise that he'd been attacked before gathering his senses. Finally regaining his footing he twisted and used their memento to flip Virgil back and onto the pool table, his head colliding with one of the corner pockets with a thud. He slowly let himself roll over the side and to the floor.
He blinked, dazed, a groan escaping his lips before his vision blacked out. His last thought of Scott who he'd hope would make an appearance very shortly.
That left Alan, staring bleary eyed across at the man who'd just taken out his brother, he couldn't ever recall being so scared, or alone.
With a few long strides the man came over, winking at Alan he wrapped an arm around the teen's stomach and lifted him slightly so his feet were skating ghostly along the floor, Alan struggled but the man seemed to be build of iron and definitely hadn't drank what ever the hell was in the champagne. They headed out the room and along the corridor towards the stairs at the far end, ignoring the elevator all together.
"Security. Will. Stop. You." Alan muttered as his lungs were squeezed between the mans long stride, he tried to wriggle free but knew it was no use. Maybe there was a good reason why he wasn't allowed to be a Thunderbird, right now he was bloody useless.
"Seeing as we've got the cameras on a loop feed and half the security are in the office watching the football, I seriously doubt it." Smith smirked, backing into the stairway and swinging Alan round, right into the face of a rather disgruntled Scott, Jeff only a few steps behind.
Alan rolled his eyes, his heart pounding harshly in his chest he closed his eyes for a moment trying to calm himself. He was trying to stop his head from spinning and the sickly feeling in his stomach but his eyes kept threatening to close.
"Oh for fuck sake!" Smith growled, swinging Alan in front of him and edging around the stair well, "I'll repeat what I said to the other guy, you back off and no one will get hurt." He held a hand to Alan's throat, lifting his head so his brother and father could see him properly, a pained expression crossing their features as they saw his sweaty paled skin.
"What the hell did you do to him?" Scott hissed. "And where the hell is Virgil?"
Alan, if it were possible, paled further. The mans grip on his throat making him rasp for air.
"I did warn him." Smith smirked. "Nobody needed to get hurt yet being a Tracy I suppose the stubbornness was to be expected."
They were circling slightly, now stood across from each other in the stair way, Scott was debating whether to just lunge at the guy. His baby brother wasn't looking to good. Jeff was stood back, eyes going from Alan to Smith, wasn't that one of the guys who'd been flanking Zucco? No…
"What do you want with my son?" He asked slowly, all too aware of the delicate situation.
"I'll let my boss explain."
"What?"
A second later his cell rang, making Jeff and Scott jump. He picked it up and eyed the number, a sickening sense dawning on him. He clicked it onto loud speaker so Scott could hear.
"Taio? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
Scott and Alan frowned at him, not understanding the meaning or who the guy was.
"Fancy rethinking the offer, Jeff?" His voice rang like a bell through the silence, echoing slightly up the stairwell to the floors above. "I think I've just made it slightly more interesting."
"What are you doing?" Jeff hissed, "I'm not going to let you bribe me with my own son!"
"Well." Taio's voice grew suddenly darker with an edge. "You were my only chance, by refusing you are taking one of the most important projects in my life away from me." He hissed the words, anger seeping into each and every one. "You take something this important away from me, it only seems fair to repay the favour."
Jeff's eyes flashed to Alan once more, his son sagging by the second, Smith being the only thing keeping him up. He looked at his dad with watery eyes, fear evident.
"Your guy has to get past two people and then security at the entrance, you really think he can do that."
"Hmm." Taio considered the options, joviality hinting on his tone. "I guess it would be difficult yet it would be interesting to see him try, this security footage is thrilling." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "Then again it could be fun to make this more of a game, lets say he doesn't make it and you get to keep your youngest. It just makes it more of a challenge for me." He laughed dryly. "And Jeff? I do like a challenge."
With that he hung up, the tone hanging in the air and Jeff stared at his cell, disbelief apparent. Slowly his eyes drifted back to Smith a wave of anger taking over.
He went to run at the man, much the same way Virgil had done, his concern for his missing, possibly injured son taking his anger up a notch. Smith swung round and tried to head to the stairs leading down but Scott leapt forward and grabbed a handful of jacket, the momentum and pull made him turn, his grip on Alan releasing at the worse possible moment. Right above the stairs leading down.
Alan fell forward, his eyes widening but response not fast enough to catch himself. Scott and Jeff paused mid fight to watch as he tumbled downwards, rolling over and over until he reached a corner in the stairs with a sickening thud, his head colliding with the wall with a terrifying thud.
"Alan?" Jeff abandoned the fight and ran down, Scott lingering for a second before following, not bothering to stop Smith from running down and past them.
Jeff gently turned him son so he rolled onto his back, his breath sticking in his throat as he noticed the quickly darkening spot at the back of Alan's head, his blonde hair gradually turning almost black with blood. He lay limply on the floor, his breath slowing to a terrifying speed.
"We need Virgil." Jeff muttered as Scott stood back, hand ruffling his own hair as he tried to process his thoughts. "Now!"
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