I will explain my lateness at the end of the chapter, it wasn't intentional.

On a side note - I was going through the Thunderbirds 2004 movie quotes for something that comes up later in this chapter - you might spot it, you might not, when I noticed a link to the actor

Soren Fulton's info page on IMDb. Soren Fulton played Fermat in the TB movie and wow… check out his photo. Fermat's gone and grown up! If you liked the actor who played Alan... His picture looks a bit like a rehab clinic shot. Just saying.

Disclaimer - I own nothing to do with the Thunderbirds. Unless you count a Fairy Liquid bottle that could possible be transformed into Tracy Island… then again the idea probably belongs to Blue Peter.

"It's like taking me to the highest mountain, showing me the world, and saying "This is what you can't have""

Gordon knew it was too early to celebrate but he couldn't help but let a small smile tug at his lips, Alan was out of the building and being loaded into an ambulance which would shortly be heading to safety. John was running through the injuries they knew and suspected Alan had along with the smoke inhalation and how long they thought he'd been inside the building, it took less than a minute to get the paramedics up to speed and before they knew it they were being ushered away and back towards the still blazing building.

As the doors of the ambulance began to close it took every ounce of strength Gordon had to stop himself jumping through them to be with his baby brother, he didn't care if it gave the game away as to who they were, all that mattered in that moment were those baby blue tear filled eyes which stared pleadingly after him.

"Has his father not arrived on site yet?" John managed to stop Gordon's near actions in that short series of words, the tone in his voice saying more to Gordon about his brother's shared thoughts of leaving Allie alone than anyone outside of the family could possibly know. Their father had to be there with Alan, if he wasn't then it would be one of them. Family would always come first and right then and there it looked like International Rescue was about to become a whole lot more public.

The paramedic who was closing the doors stopped, looking between Alan and his brothers. "I checked a few minutes ago before you'd left the building, no one had heard anything, the ground crews are tripping over themselves trying to get some control on the fire so it's not top of their to do list…" His gaze was on Alan whose bottom lip was quivering, which coming from a teenager of his age was worrying considering they'd be dealing with it alone. "Want me to check again?" He looked to Gordon and John but Alan answered.

"I want my dad." His eyes stared past the paramedic, past John and even past Gordon who besides Scott, he would tell anything to. Looking out towards the burning building and the wavering crowds that rushed back and forth, eyes searching for that last glimmer of hope.

He looked so young, so much like the youngest Tracy they'd grown up with and had forever treated as their baby. Somewhere along the line he'd hardened his attitude and his temper had become short and fiery, but beneath that tough protective shell he was still only fourteen and still in need of the reassurance of his dad. Alan let out a short sniff as he looked their way, teary eyed and confused as with a tired sigh he let his head sag back down onto the stretcher, eyes closing tightly as he tried to pull himself together. It was obvious that he was in pain but more obvious that he didn't want to be alone to deal with it.

"Check again." John's voice had hardened, battling against his own emotions as it suddenly became clear that even if Jeff did turn up, Gordon and John would have to turn their backs and walk away. There was still the fire to deal with and still the risk of a gas explosion, the mission was not yet over. As long as lives were at risk their job was to protect, serve and save.

The paramedic shrugged. "We need to get him to a hospital as soon as, I can't keep hanging on risking his health like this." He caught the glare Gordon sent his way and sighed loudly, speaking into his radio with curious eyes looking Gordon and John up and down as he listened to the static awaiting a reply. The man turned away as someone intermittently, he was looking red faced and look stressed, striding off in conversation signaling with a wave of a had that he'd be a minute. With the mention of Jeff Tracy's name things suddenly became more important, it was a fact that shouldn't have existed but right now it gave them time.

It was incredibly difficult to just stand there and not jump up into the ambulance besides Alan, to take his hand and tell him they wouldn't leave his side, to take off the helmets which concealed their identities and deal with the outcome later. Difficult wasn't the right word for it, it was near impossible.

"Where the hell is Dad?" Gordon muttered, aware that Brains could hear him up in Five as well as John, hoping someone would come up with an answer. "If he doesn't turn up in the next thirty seconds I'm hopping in that ambulance, damned if I care what happens."

"He'll be here." John desperately wanted to believe his own words but niggling doubt edged them, he knew they already looked suspicious just standing outside the ambulance doors whilst fire crews rushed to and from the blaze. They were brought in to rescue a civilian which they had done, mission complete. From here on out they should have turned from the ambulance and offered what help they could to the men on the ground. They were sitting ducks for the media's attention and difficult questions from those around, how long had it been? Three? Four minutes?

"He… he's on site." Brains was as concerned as they were as he typed through the computer systems and brought up various news coverage from the area. "I just… I can't find him th… though."

Finally the paramedic turned back and his eyes showed only the frustration of a waste effort, he shook his head and without word shut the ambulance doors. The panic in Alan's eyes was the final straw. Words forming on quivering lips cut off.

"Wait." Gordon sighed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath for the end of life as they knew it. He'd never considered doing it so publicly. Hell! He'd never considered revealing his identity, at least not to the public. His mind had often drifted to girlfriends and what their reactions would be but it had never been a serious thought and had never involved being on a rescue. There were cameras everywhere - this would make careers and steal headlines all over the world. Yet it could all be over in just a few simple words.

"Stop!"

As one the three men turned, all sharing looks of confusion as someone bustled past the police line followed by two others close behind. Gordon's relief was instant, like a bucket of water had been drenched over him everything changed. Situation averted.

John had "Dad!" on the tip of his tongue as he pulled himself back from jumping into his arms and embracing the man, he had never been so happy to see him in his life and it took all his willpower to not show it.

"Mr. Tracy?" The paramedic asked, eyeing Scott and Virgil who were only a few meters behind looking like they'd run a marathon, red faced with worry shining through their eyes as they looked from Gordon and John to the ambulance as they figured out what was going on. "Can I see some ID?"

Like his face hadn't been plastered all over newspapers his entire career, like his life as an astronaut and entrepreneur counted for nothing. The situation had been averted in the very last seconds making the notion of ID seem hilarious to both John and Gordon, they couldn't stop the grins that took over thankfully under the cover of their helmets. They nodded to their two brothers and father as they allowed themselves to finally move away with the knowledge that Alan would be safe and well. Later they'd look back at that moment with regret.

"Cutting it close, Mr. Tracy." Gordon grinned, wishing he could share just a few seconds with his family, his face uncovered to show just how grateful he was for their arrival. Hugs were being put on standby.

Jeff smiled in relief at Gordon but shot the paramedic a look of annoyance, pulling out his wallet and holding up the rarely used ID for him to see. "We've just been stopped by about twenty cops all wanting to see proof of identity despite the fact that we've been sat in the police station with half of them before this even happened. I swear, if one more person asks me for ID…"

"That's fine Mr. Tracy." The paramedic clearly understood the anger in Jeff's voice and backed away to the ambulance, unlocking the door and letting Jeff and his two sons clamber aboard after him. Alan's eyes lighting up like all his Christmases had come at once. "Er… we're not meant to carry more than…"

"Deal with it." Jeff barked, eyes narrowing as he locked the paramedic in his sight until the man pitifully gave in almost immediately, putting his hands up in defeat and shrugging.

Jeff turned back outside towards the two Thunderbirds operatives, finally allowing the seriousness to wash temporarily from his features as he nodded and somehow managed to find both their eyes and share a knowing gaze. "Thank you for saving my son. Words cannot express how grateful I am or how greatly appreciated your lives and work are to me and my family."

Scott and Virgil nodded in agreement and respect, Scott having regained his breath jumped from the ambulance and forward, eagerly embracing both International Rescue operatives in a back breaking bear hug, whispering only so they could hear. "As soon as we heard you were there with Alan, we knew he'd be ok."

"It's what we do." Gordon replied loud enough that it didn't matter who heard, "And you take care of your boy, you hear? We'd stay to go through everything but right now we've got more work to be getting on with."

"Where there's smoke…" Muttered John, backing away once more and waving a hand in the air as they both left to return to the burning office block.

"…There's smores." Gordon sighed as he followed his older brother. "Or International Rescue operatives with singed eyebrows."

Jeff hopped into the ambulance with more vigor than a man half his age, it was amazing what adrenaline did for you when the life of one of your own sons was on the line. Scott and Virgil followed behind and immediately they were all overcrowding Alan and jostling for space, the paramedic got in behind them and let out a long, very loud sigh.

Right now Jeff didn't care how overprotective they looked, was it even possible to be overprotective when your son had just been saved from death? He wanted to pick Alan up in his arms and squeeze him so hard that he knew just how much he was loved by his father, he wanted to tell him over and over and to promise him that he'd never allow anything to endanger his life again.

The smile soon left his face as he looked down at the smoke marked face of Alan, tear stains leaving tracks down his skin and welling in his red eyes as he looked tiredly up at them all. The boisterous teenager they knew and loved looked broken, tired, and lost.

Gordon and John could not have empathized through any amount of words how bad things were, maybe it was better that they hadn't said, maybe having Alan back should have been enough but the rejoice in hearing he was out of the building and still alive was replaced by a sickening anger that curdled in his stomach and made him bite his tongue to stop the out poor of anguish that was sure to come.

Virgil looked down at Alan with a smile and had managed to keep it, he'd seen awful injuries on casualties and they'd dealt with fire victims before. Alan obviously had been hurt before the blaze but there were still those baby blue eyes of familiarity gazing up to meet Virgil's gaze. He felt like he'd let the kid down but he knew how to handle being around a patient and right now he had the opportunity to help the kid, he would let his own anger surface later.

"Hey sprout." He cooed, realizing how stupid he sounded yet knowing if anything it would make Alan smile. "Looking good."

"I look like a raccoon." He sounded so tired but he gave a small smile as tears silently made their way down his face, they could have been caused by the smoke or emotions, it was hard to tell.

"Or a chimney sweep." Scott helpfully added, finding Alan's hand and squeezing reassuringly. "Though it looks like you substituted the brushes for your hair."

"Well you know me. Always got to do things that bit differently."

The paramedic bustled in between them, he'd already connected an IV line and now set about tuning the monitors and checking Alan over. The ambulance lurched forward and it didn't take very long for them to understand why there was a recommended weight allowance, ambulances didn't have great suspension in the best of times and every bump and jostled was felt.

Alan hissed as they made their way out of the area, slowing for road bumps that marred the road leading to the intersection. He wanted to let his eyes droop and sleep take over yet he couldn't bring about energy to tear his eyes away from his family, his thoughts were mixing themselves up in his mind and things he felt sure were once important to tell them drifted away in a haze. He frowned, trying to formulate words and connect them to memories.

"Dad?"

"Right here Alan." Jeff took his youngest son's hand, squeezing in reassurance as he bit his lip and smiled down, noting the frown on his face. "What is it?"

"I…" He paused and looked between his two brothers who watched over him from the bench that ran along the opposite wall, it was a cramped space with so many people yet they swirled in his vision as though they were far away. "There was something I had to tell you… I just can't remember what it was." He bit his lip, cursing his eyes that kept leaking tears down his face, he wanted to rub them away with a hand or arm but the energy for such a small motion felt titanic in proportions. His whole body felt heavy and as the drugs entered his system he felt increasingly numb.

Scott leaned over as the paramedic as he sat back down, jotting down notes the hospital would need and keeping an eye on the IV. "Don't worry about it Sprout, forgetfulness comes with age."

"And Scott would know." Virgil added. "One day he'll forget the black rinse and we'll be able to count the grey hairs and know how old he really is."

Alan knew they were trying to cheer him up, or at least make him feel marginally better, but the ease of their conversation was unsettling and he wondered how messed up he looked in their eyes, a joke about Scott's age never went down well on a normal day. He rolled his eyes at them and went back to what he wanted to say only to find that it wasn't there anymore, black spots were disrupting his sight and his body felt suddenly heavier and even more unresponsive.

"How long till we get to the hospital?" Jeff asked the paramedic letting go of Alan's hand for a moment as he ran a hand over his eyes and rubbed his temples. He finally seemed to take the man in, his round frame and face, mousy blonde hair balding slightly and small eyes which darted between the instruments in the back of the ambulance. His name tag read Paul though he didn't look much like a Paul, his surname was Daniels which was more adapt to the man. If it took a magician to get Jeff's youngest son to the hospital in as good health as they could hope then so be it.

"Not long now, a few minutes maybe." Daniels gave Jeff a reassuring smile, tapping the clipboard before him with a pen. "The doctors are on standby to take Alan straight in, they know we're coming so there'll be no more delays."

"Dad?" Alan tried to reach out but he found he couldn't see the hand he was reaching for any more, the black spots swaying across his vision had taken over and everything felt like it was spinning around him. Was he moving his arm? He couldn't tell. Did it hurt?
"Dad?"

Jeff had hold of Alan's hand only a few moments after letting go but Alan's finger twitched and his eyes gazed unseeingly across the ambulance. "I'm right here Alan, we're nearly there." He looked up again at the paramedic with worry, ignoring the comment about delays and wishing those few minutes could be transformed into seconds.

Daniels didn't hold Jeff's gaze, he was focused on one of the machines hooked up to Alan that had begun beeping softly. It wasn't a loud beep but it's speed had increased from the intermittent one he'd felt happier about. He stood and stepped forward as the ambulance seemed to bounce around a corner, used to almost surfing along with the motion as he steadied himself and shone a penlight into Alan's unseeing eyes.

"Can you hear me Alan?"

It took a few agonizingly long seconds for a response but eventually it came. "Ye… Yeah."

The kid was breathing as though struggling to get enough air, his eye's dilated as though his body were lacking enough oxygen to keep conscious. Clear signs of the effects of smoke inhalation were surfacing, their delayed response probably in reaction to the shock Alan's body had been through. Probably. There were other facts to consider.

"I'm going to get you some oxygen, ok? It'll help your breathing, it'll feel a bit strange at first but I want you to try and take some deep, slow breaths for me. Ok kiddo?"

It took another few seconds but Alan's lips twitched into a small smile of understanding, the grimace that followed taking over quickly and easily between the staggered short breaths he wheezed in and out, chest shuddering against the intake.

"What's going on?" Jeff asked, trying to hide the rising panic in his voice as Alan's health appeared to quickly decline before his eyes. Scott had a hand clenched tightly on his father's shoulder whilst Virgil looked ready to jump in and take over Alan's care, it took every ounce of his will power and self restraint to remain seated and to let the man do his job.

"He's having problems taking in oxygen which would signify the damage the smoke may have made on his lungs, it may and most probably will be just be temporary, but we'll know more when we reach the hospital." Daniels paused as he ran the air tubes round Alan's ears and under his nose, a gentle stream of oxygen hissing softly as he turned the nozzle of the gas cylinder on. "Ok Alan, deep slow breaths now. Count to five as you breath in, and five as you breath out."

It wasn't just Alan's eye's that seemed to be losing focus, his hearing seemed warped, as though he were in a long tunnel and someone at the far end were speaking incredibly slowly to him. Odd words drifted through but the meaning was lost. "Five… five…" Five what? He wanted to show his frustration, shout out to them that they weren't making sense, but his body didn't want to respond. He felt like if he really tried maybe he could evoke a response but the effort seemed so gastronomical and vast that it didn't seem worth it. It could be five coconuts for all the good it would do him now, the cozy warped bubble which surrounded him drew Alan in and pulled him beneath its dark and warm embrace. He could sleep for five minutes, that seemed awfully appealing…

"Alan? Open your eyes for me." Daniels lifted the boy's eyelids and once more shone the penlight at his pupils, the response was minimal and if he wasn't mistaken there was a hint of redness in the whites. He took the boy's hand from Jeff and held it for a moment. "Alan, if you can hear me can you squeeze my hand?" He waited. "Alan. Wiggle those fingers for me."

"What's happening?" Scott asked, he'd gone white faced and an empty feeling had taken over in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't often he had little to no control over a situation, he wasn't sure whether Alan losing consciousness was a good or a bad thing - afterall, the sprout had seemed so damn tired.

"Lack of oxygen." Virgil muttered, chewing his bottom lip and he stared at Daniels.

Jeff looked between them feeling as lost as Scott. "What's happening? Why aren't you doing anything?"

Daniels repressed yet another sigh, he knew they were there because they loved the boy probably more than their own lives yet having so many people in such a cramped space wasn't helping and wasn't making Alan's treatment any easier. He had the keep the kid stable and ready to be moved into the hospital, there wasn't enough room in the ambulance to do anything that would help enough to make a different.

Thankfully the ambulance had begun to slow and Daniels felt each road bump on the road he knew all too well.

"We're pulling into to the hospital now, let the medical teams do their jobs. Stand back and your son… and brother," he gave Scott and Virgil a hard look, "will have the best chance possible. I can't tell you his full injuries as I don't have the means to know from the limited resources in the ambulance, but what I do know tells me that he's inhaled a lot of smoke and before anything can be done about his other injuries, the inhalation will be the emergency team's top priority." Daniels turned the oxygen up as he spoke, lifting the canister and laying it gently and carefully at the side of the bed Alan lay on.

"What can we do?" Jeff asked, glad for any job that would make him feel even marginally in control.

"You can stand back, stand strong and band together." Daniels patter Jeff on the shoulder and gave the most honest smile he'd given that evening. "Worrying never did any good to anyone, it's hope and prayers which bring people through."

The ambulance shuddered round and drew to a stop, the doors flying open as the whole world seemed to suddenly open to them. Alan was immediately being pulled out and away from them, Daniels jumping down and beginning his commentary as he followed the team of waiting medical staff into the building awaiting them.

Taio stood in the shadows of the hospital smoking shelter which was located just outside the grounds, he wasn't one for cigarettes as he preferred cigars but right now his hand was clenched around an pack of lights, half already smoked and the rest slowly crumpling as he flexed his fist around the packet. He needed the distraction, be it small. He needed to do something with his hands to stop himself marching up to Jeff Tracy and trying to squeeze the life out of him.

Taio knew he was losing it, he wasn't stupid he just didn't know what to do about the fact that his mind felt as though it was burning. Things had started spiraling and his grip on right and wrong had tilted even further than ever, he'd lost what was left of his family and the irony was that he'd lost her to the one thing he'd been trying to protect her from the most. Himself.

All of this was his own doing, everything around him was continuing to crash around because of things that were his own doing. If Alan Tracy hadn't told them already then they would soon find out, the fire and the attempted murder was Taio's doing. Thirty six missed called on his cell suggested that maybe he should have left the country by now, messages of warning and pleas for him to either run or stop whatever he was thinking were being pleaded through phone lines.

Well, he was going to either end up dead or in jail anyway so he figured he might as well continue on his crusade. At least before the security at the hospital caught up to speed and made it impossible for him to finish his task.

_

So… yeah. This isn't abandoned, I'm just incredibly busy, sometimes there will be delays and sometimes there won't - Life. I'm better working in the winter as during the Spring-Summer I'm busy at shows and have to keep up with commissions.
Thanks for the emails and messages asking where I was/what was happening, I'm glad you like the fic enough to feel the need to remind me that it's here lol! It's my first full length fic and I never even stopped to consider how long it would actually take, I have so many other users' fics to catch up on and read but thought I'd best get this done first.
Reviews do make me faster, if I didn't get any I'm not sure whether I'd have continued or not.
I'll start the next chapter tonight! What dastardly deeds will befall out beloved Tracys next...