Scott didn't sleep. He sat in a chair he placed at the bottom of the bed and watched over as his brothers slept.
It was a bed. A real bed. Scott had never slept in one, he wasn't sure any of them had. He sat and watched, not only over them but also keeping an ear out on the two adults.
The only adult he knew was Gaat. Him and of course others like him. Or coppers. They all only wanted one thing and one thing only, to use him and his brothers on some job or other.
What did these adults want?
As he thought about it he buried his head in his arms, the hoodie that he'd been given to wear huge on him but Scott kept sniffing the fabric. It smelt nice somehow and was so soft. The bedding was equally as soft and nice. And the bath…Scott never knew his skin could feel like this, that clothes could feel and smell so good.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Scott was on his feet and slipping through the door before they could knock again and awaken them.
The man – Jeff – was standing there, two steaming mugs in his hands. Scott frowned as the man smiled at him, but Jeff merely passed a cup to him and turned around and made his way downstairs.
Scott hesitated only for a moment. He made sure the door was ajar and he followed Jeff downstairs. He passed the woman, Lucy, on the stairs. She patted his arm and smiled.
Jeff was sitting at the kitchen at the table when Scott entered, and he gestured to one of the chairs. Scott took it, sitting and sipping his drink while he waited to find out what this adult wanted from him. But they sat and drunk in silence for quite some time before the silence was broken.
'May I call you Scott?'
Blue eyes stared at him, uncomprehending. No one had ever asked Scott for permission before, for anything. Gaat only called him by his name when he was being abusive. Scott wasn't sure what to do other than to nod.
'Thank you. Scott, my wife and I, we don't care why you and your brothers are here.'
'You – you don't?'
'No. In fact, we were expecting you.'
Jeff watched the play of emotions across the teen's face. He knew this was going to be a lot to take in, and wasn't surprised when Scott jumped up, tipping the chair over in his rush. Panic was clear on his face and he went to move to the door, surely to get his brothers. Jeff stayed perfectly still lest he cause more harm than good.
At those last words Scott's brain shot into overdrive. The couple were supposed to be away at some awards ceremony, that's what Gaat had said. Yet they had been here waiting for him and his brothers!
He needed to get everyone out of here!
Scott bolted for the door, but he paused when he noticed Jeff hadn't moved. His eyes narrowed. How did they know about them? He cursed himself for ignoring his instinct to run.
Seeing the moment curiosity overtook the fight-or-flight-reflex, Jeff internally relaxed.
'Scott, I can understand your reaction but before you decide to leave or not, please let me explain. I promise if you still want to leave we will not stop you.'
That stopped Scott. He didn't sit down, though, staying at the door in readiness, but he did gesture Jeff to continue.
'Lucy and I, we run an organisation called International Rescue. Our mission is to help those who cannot help themselves. People like you, who have found themselves caught up in a life of crime that they do not want.'
'International Rescue?'
'Yes, Scott. We have agents all over the world rescuing children like you and your brothers. But like I said, there is no pressure. If you and your brothers want to leave and go back to your old lives we will honour your wishes.'
'And what do you want in return?'
'Nothing.'
'Nothing? I can't believe that. Everyone wants something.'
'Son, you've had that all your life. I promise you all International Rescue wants, all Lucy and I want, is for you all to have a chance at a normal life. You know, school, university if you choose. A family.'
'A family?'
'Yes, Scott. We are offering you and your brothers the chance to be part of a family.'
Scott found himself sitting down. What they were offering…it was beyond his wildest dreams! Once more that feeling welled up, hope. Could what they be offering be legit?
'I would need to talk to my brothers first.'
'Of course. Take all the time you need.'
'Can – can you guarantee that we will not be split up?'
'Yes, I can. We already have a family in mind for you all.'
Jeff watched Scott leave, listening to his footsteps up the stairs and to the room they had been given. He heard the door close and let out an explosive breath.
International Rescue had been aware of Gaat and his band of child thieves for some time but keeping track of the trickster had proven much more difficult than any of their agents had been prepared for. Jeff had even brought in the heads of the Europe and Asia branches at one point. Hugh and Kyrano were two of his oldest and closest friends, had been instrumental in creating iR and turning it global. The other two branch heads – Lee for North America and Casey for South America – and they had all met up to thrash out a plan that would ultimately lead to getting the children out of Gaat's clutches. It became even more important when they realised the youngest was only two.
A plan had been put together. Gaat always went for high-end stuff, and billionaire Jeff Tracy had just the gem to tempt him. And so the plan had worked. Now they just needed enough time to build trust in the boys, and to keep them safe from Gaat. The man would be looking out for them for sure.
Hopefully tomorrow, after a good night's sleep, food and warmth, they could talk to all of them.
Not being able to do any more that night, Jeff followed Scott upstairs and joined Lucy.
Scott found himself back in the room, sitting in the chair and watching his brothers without even realising he'd moved. Jeff had given him much to think about. And for the first time in many, many years he allowed his mind to go back to "before".
He didn't have much more than snippets of life before. They were like viewing the world through a fog, occasionally he'd have a clear image but most of the time it was blurry outlines.
Once upon a time Scott had been part of a family. There was a man and a woman and the overall feeling when he did think of them was warmth. That was all he had that was good. The other memory was of fear and pain and screaming, and on days where Gaat was at his worst Scott could remember an accident and running away.
The opportunity to be a family again was tantalising, almost too good to be true. He wondered what, if anything, his brothers remembered of their pasts. There was no way Gordon or Alan had any solid memories at their ages, but John and Virgil?
As these thoughts filtered through his tired brain, Scott became aware that the two older boys were awake and looking to him. He smiled at them and they both relaxed, Virgil holding an arm up, and Scott, with one last look at the door, took the invitation and climbed into bed.
He was out like a light.
The next morning Scott was woken up by Alan jumping on a part of his anatomy he'd really rather he hadn't. The child was always exuberant, even Gaat's yelling didn't keep Alan down for long. Scott narrowly avoided Gordon landing in the same place. The two boys hugged him tight before taking a hand each and trying to drag him out of the bed. Trying was the word, since they were pulling in opposite directions, but Scott appreciated the thought behind it. In one smooth move he pulled them back for another hug before letting go and getting up.
He found John and Virgil in the bathroom attached to the bedroom. Virgil was in the bath, John examining the contents of the mirrored cabinet above the sink. He had a toothbrush in his hand and was frowning at it.
'It's for brushing your teeth clean.'
'I know that Scott! I just…I never seen one like this.'
'That's because it's new, not used.'
'Oh.'
John proceeded to dry-brush his teeth while Virgil pulled the plug on the bath. Scott handed him a towel that was almost as big as he was, grinning as Virgil buried his face in it like Scott had done last night.
'Ten minutes. Meeting.'
They both nodded their agreement and Scott went back into the room to find Gordon and Alan now jumping up and down on the bed. He ignored their entreaties for him to join them, instead taking up his chair again to think over how he was going to broach with them what Jeff had spoken to him about last night.
In the end the conversation went very well. Both John and Virgil were wary like he was, and the two youngest didn't really understand what he was talking about, but they all agreed to hear the couple out in more detail over breakfast.
The thought of food made five stomachs growl in anticipation, and they headed downstairs. The smell of hot food greeted them halfway, and they practically stampeded into the kitchen, to the delight and laughter of the two adults.
Over a breakfast of foodstuffs that made the boys eyes as wide as saucers, Jeff and Lucy explained in more detail the work of International Rescue and how they had come to rescue them.
Lucy had once been a child like they had, lost and alone on the streets in a country that was not her own, and had also been pressed into 'service'. Jeff's parents had been the ones to rescue her, and as soon as Jeff had been able he and Lucy had set up International Rescue to continue the work his parents had unwittingly started with her.
The offer of a home together was put forward once more, and as they had already discussed, the five agreed on the proviso that they were never to be separated and that they would have the option to test their new parents out and make sure they were compatible.
Alan had almost fallen asleep in his food, and Scott had moved to pick him up, but Lucy had moved first, holding her arms out. In turn Alan had mirrored the gesture, and by the time the discussion was over Alan was asleep on her lap.
Scott offered Lucy a faint smile. His brothers seemed so much more relaxed, more at home here already. He almost missed Jeff's reply to the enquiry about who their new parents would be.
'We were hoping that you would like to stay with us.'
'I – I'm sorry, what?'
'Scott, we were hoping the five of you would like to be our children.'
Huh. That had not even crossed Scott's mind. But both adults had been kind and helpful, and even as he looked to his brothers he could see the older two agreed with him. Gordon, who had been watching Alan sleeping on Lucy's lap, seemed to think that looked like a good idea, for he suddenly jumped off his chair and mutely requested Jeff did the same. Jeff didn't hesitate to pick the child up, and within seconds Gordon was asleep too.
Scott looked at his two baby brothers with a fond grin. Yes, these adults would do, although he would still keep on guard to make sure no one would ever use him or his brothers again.
They stayed in the house for a week, getting to know each other, learning boundaries and more. Trust was beginning to be built. Gordon surprised them all by turning into a complete water baby. If he went missing invariably they found him in the giant bath. Virgil wasn't too far behind either, although he could often be found in Jeff's workshop, the two of them pouring over whatever project Jeff was working on. John was introduced to the library and disappeared for a whole day in there. Scott hadn't even known that John could read. Alan was content to play and listen to John or Lucy read to him, and Scott found himself relaxing in a way he never had before.
He didn't find a passion at the house until they left.
They were to fly to Kansas, to the home Jeff and Lucy already had there. The place they had been staying was the 'town house' Lucy had explained, not somewhere they often stayed and certainly not home.
The boys were all overwhelmed by the plane and the flight, all except Scott, who finally found something that interested him. This – flying – this was what he wanted to do! When he blurted it out to Jeff, the man had grinned and promised that as soon as they were settled he would teach him to fly.
Scott found that the hope that had settled on him was growing. He could trust this man and this woman. They would not use him or his brothers. They were going to be alright.
Scott put faith in their new family.