Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds or its characters!

Chapter 5

The next few weeks were surprisingly calm. John had called back and promised they would talk more when he came back through. It made Alan feel good considering their last incident. Maybe there was hope for their relationship after all.

The only down side to the previous week was Carter. Alan was finding it harder to spend time with her. After Alan found out about Mr. Murphy's illness it seemed to consume their time together. Carter and Alan would still go to help out at on the sites, but Mr. Murphy, who insisted on being called Dave, was rarely present. The strain and pressure was just too overwhelming for him. This made Carter upset. Alan could see how much pain Dave was in, and how it was affecting Carter. She put on a strong front, but Alan could tell she was worried.

"Are you okay?" Alan asked looking down at the crumbled pieces of paper littering the floor.

Carter's eyes were rimmed with red from crying. "I just need to finish this job. Maybe if I help him plan it he will get better." She rationalized.

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Carter I don't think worrying to death is going to help him." Alan tried to reason.

"Alan, could I have a word?" Dave inquired nodding for him to come onto the patio.

Alan followed reluctantly. He was anxious about leaving Carter so upset. "Yes, sir?"

"Do you love my daughter?" Dave interrogated.

Alan hesitated before responding. There was only two ways this discussion could go. "We've only been going out for two months." He responded.

"And yet you come over every day to not only help me, but to comfort my daughter. Most teenage boys would have head for the hills by now." Dave explained. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems awful serious for a two month relationship."

"I agree, sir." Alan acknowledged still unsure of what Mr. Murphy was looking for.

The man smiled and put a strong hand on Alan's shoulder. "Promise me you'll take care of her no matter what." It was more of a request than a demand.

Alan nodded involuntarily realizing that Mr. Murphy had been keeping something life threatening from his daughter about his condition. "Sir, is everything alright? I mean are you feeling okay?" Alan fetched.

Mr. Murphy smiled again before going back inside leaving Alan alone on the patio. Had he just committed to marry Carter? His dad was going to kill him. Why would Dave want Alan to marry Carter? Maybe he just wanted to know she wouldn't be alone. Did Dave honestly think Alan and Carter were ready to get married? Alan's thoughts were spinning around in his head like a cyclone. He needed to go for a run.

"Hey honey how's Carter?" Mary asked offering him some dinner. She must have gotten off work early.

Alan took a seat in the lawn chair next to his aunt on the patio. "She's a mess. It's getting harder and harder for me to go over there. I never know what to say." He confessed exhaustedly.

Mary sighed, "Alan you don't have to say anything. I'm sure Carter would understand if you needed some space. It's a difficult situation."

"I don't want space. I want her dad to get better. I want Carter to smile again. I want bad things to stop happening to nice, loving, honest people." Alan ranted.

"You really mean that?" A voice whispered behind Alan.

Alan turned around to see Carter standing behind him. "I didn't see you standing there." He said filled with guilt.

"Can we go for a walk?" Carter urged.

Alan nodded, "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" Carter interrupted.

"I'm worried that you have your head so far in the sand that you can't see that your dad is ready." Alan calmly informed.

"What do you know about it?" Carter snapped.

"I know that your dad is worried about you. Carter, he asked me to take care of you." Alan reasoned.

Carter took a deep breath. "He shouldn't have put that on you." She struggled.

Alan shrugged, "I promised him I would. That is, if you stop pushing me away."

Alan pulled Carter towards him and kissed her. "I love you too." Carter whispered.

After Alan walked Carter home he spent some time on the beach. At night it was windy and cold. Carter had said she loved him. Alan couldn't stop smiling. The only thing that could possibly damper his spirits was his brother. John was coming back through tomorrow. This time he was staying for a week.

The next morning Alan drove to the airport to pick up his brother. "Hey sprout!" John greeted hugging him. "You okay? You look kind of warn out."

"Sorry, long night." Alan admitted.

John nodded and loaded his bags into the truck. "Do I need to give you the talk again?" He blurted.

Alan laughed, "No! Carter and I had a small disagreement last night."

"You two have only been going out for a few weeks and you're already fighting?" John wondered.

"Her dad is sick and it's getting really stressful. Plus it's been two months." Alan corrected.

"Don't you think two months is a little short for you two to be so serious?" John stated suspiciously.

"I'm not going to dump her because her father is dying." Alan argued.

John cleared his throat. "Alan, I get that you have feelings for her, but there will be other girls. Carter is not the only fish in the sea. Ask Gordon." He joked.

"She may not be the only fish in the sea, but she is the only one I want." Alan stated firmly.

John must have gotten the hint, because he dropped the conversation.