Summary: Alan, tired of being coddled by his family, decides to leave the infirmary.

Notes: This is another example of me writing a story where the events that led up to it happened in a story that I haven't gotten to writing it yet...

I have previously hinted at Alan's injury in Twin Surprise, and this story is set about four months prior to the events of that story.

Escape attempt

2065

Scott, Virgil and Willow were out on a rescue, his dad was manning command and control, because John was having a much deserved honeymoon with Belle, the couple had just gotten married in a quiet ceremony the past weekend.

Kayo was in London with Penelope getting some last minute supplies for Piper who was due to have the first Tracy grandchild in less than a month, his grandmother was currently helping her in the living room.

He didn't know where Brains, Fermat and Gordon were but he was going to have to take that risk.

Alan wanted out of this bloody infirmary…

Oh, he was let out every now and again to mingle with the family, but that was thing it was to be with the family, as in someone that wasn't pregnant, elderly or a child, so they could keep an eye on him encase he got into trouble.

As far as Alan was concerned that's what the communicators, that everyone on the island carried, was for.

And it wasn't like his condition was ever going to change anyway, he was going to have to learn to live with it, and he was sick of being constantly coddled.

Even though he knew his favourite spot on the floor in his room was out of the question, he would settle for his own bed.

He wished that he didn't need the crutches, but he couldn't walk more than a couple of steps with the prosthetic leg at this stage without needing them.

Fuck Fischler, fuck Fischler to the bloody moon…

He had managed to get up the stairs and just reached the door to his bedroom, when he heard a blood curdling scream coming from Gordon's room…

Alan sighed a frustrated sigh and hobbled to his older brother's door and knocked.

Gordon opened the door buck naked and covered in soap suds, staring towards his bathroom, "Hey Alan," he greeted absent mindlessly. "You would happen to know who I've pissed off lately by any chance?"

"No I wouldn't," Alan growled. "Since I've been cooped up in the infirmary for last couple months…" he sighed loudly. "What happened?"

"Someone nobbled my shower…" Gordon replied, as he realised who he was talking to. "What are you doing out of the infirmary alone, Alan?"

"I'm sick of being cooped up in there," Alan snapped. "I want some time to be by myself without people constantly checking up on me," he glared at Gordon. "You of all people should understand what it feels like to be stuck in one place for an extended period of time, relying on the people around you to get around."

"Alan…"

"But the thing is," Alan continued, ignoring Gordon. "I've reached the point where I need to start getting my independence back, my leg has healed, all that's left is for me to get used to the prosthetic and then I'm back in the field with you guys, I don't need to be hovered over twenty four-seven, if I get into trouble I will use the comm's to call for help, but as of now I'm going back to my room."

Gordon opened his mouth and shut it, after realising Alan was right, "Okay, fine," he replied. "I'll talk to Dad, Will and Scott, in the meantime since you're heading that way, mind if I borrow your shower to rinse off?"

"Knock yourself out," Alan replied, as Gordon went back to his room to grab a towel and some shorts.

But when Alan went to open his bedroom door he found it locked, "What the hell!?!" He glared at his brother as he approached. "Why is my bedroom door locked!?!"

Gordon looked as surprised as Alan was, "Huh?" He questioned as he tried the door himself. "That's odd…" he looked up at Alan. "I didn't realise the door was locked, I'll go downstairs and find out what's going on."

"Gordon," Alan grumbled, as Gordon started to leave. "Do you know where Pipe and Matt are at the moment?"

"Er, no," Gordon replied. "Why do you ask?"

Alan rolled his eyes, "Put on your pants, Gordon," he deadpanned. "Unless you want Dad, Scott and Brains to come after you."

Gordon looked down and scrambled to put his shorts on, "Thanks, for reminding me, bro," he replied sheepishly. "That could have ended badly especially if Matt saw me."

Alan sighed, as he moved to join Gordon, "I'll join you," he replied.

0o0o0

Jeff wasn't impressed when he saw that Alan was hoping around the house, without an escort, but even he frowned when he heard Alan had been locked out of his room.

Alan in the meantime accessed the house system, looking for the controls for Gordon's shower and his bedroom door, only to find nothing wrong with both, "Okay…" he muttered in a confused tone. "Gordon, can you please go back to my room and check the door?"

"What's going on, Alan?" Jeff asked, as Gordon complied with Alan's request.

"I don't know," Alan replied. "I accessed the system, but there is nothing here that suggests the door had ever been locked, or Gordon's shower had been tampered with."

Jeff frowned, as Gordon came back into the room, "Your door is still locked, Alan," Gordon replied. "But get this, I tried going to my room to grab a full change of clothes, so I could use the change room showers, but the door to my bedroom was also locked, so I tried Virgil's door, and that was locked too."

Alan looked down at his screen frowning, as a general rule was that you didn't go into anyone else's private space without permission, a rule that was mostly followed with few exceptions, locking doors to the bedrooms were not necessary, in fact the only reason they typically locked a door was to help prevent encounters that had the Island residents begging John for access to his stash of brain bleach.

Because they all could get around a locked door if they had to.

Alan checked the status of the door of Virgil's room and sure enough the door was unlocked, and Alan started to get a sneaking suspicion about who was targeting Gordon.

Because her caretaker/dad was preoccupied with his new wife, she must've gotten bored and decided to take out her frustrations on her favourite target for pranks.

Alan swore quietly under his breath, confronting EOS, without John backing you up could be a tricky thing, because ultimately John was the only person she willingly listened to.

"Think John's busy at the moment?" Alan asked. "This is a computer issue, and I'm going to need help fixing it."

Jeff looked at Alan, questionably, "He was doing what couples do when they're on honeymoon, last I checked," he replied. "If it's a computer issue, have you tried asking EOS?"

Gordon swore loudly, "Son of a-" he snarled. "She doesn't need any excuses to give me grief."

EOS really didn't, Alan thought, for whatever reason she had decided that she didn't like Gordon very much, and there were times that she liked to give the aquanaut a hard time.

Such as now, "I think EOS is feeling a little bit lonely," Alan replied. "And she had decided to annoy Gordon because of it."

As if on cue, the information on Alan's screen suddenly disappeared and was replaced by EOS's avatar, "I'm right aren't I?" Alan told her. "John's been spending more time dirt side lately, because of his wedding and honeymoon, and you're starting to feel left out," Alan sighed. "Has John spoken to you recently?"

"He has," EOS replied, in a grumpy tone. "He still talks to me at least once a day - but not for very long."

"Yeah well, I know what I would be more focused on, if I was in John's position," Gordon quipped. "I wouldn't worry too much, EOS, the space case still cares about you, but even John needs some time for himself and other commitments he has."

"I wasn't talking to you," EOS snapped, the dots that represented her ring of lights flashing red.

"Whoa, EOS, calm down," Alan cut in. "You know Belle has been an important part in John's life for years, I can understand you not liking Ridley, considering what happened with her in the end, but Belle is different you know that."

"I do," EOS admitted. "I know she cares about John, but…"

"She is not going to replace you, EOS," Alan reassured. "Have you tried talking to Belle about this?"

"She has spoken with me about it," EOS replied. "I know she cares about John, but…"

"I know it's hard to share him with someone else," Alan replied. "But this is kind of what John meant about getting to know the rest of us better, so you have others to turn to when John is busy with other commitments."

"EOS, I also want you to learn to start working with Alan," Jeff cut in. "I've been thinking about it for a while and if it's alright with you Alan I want you to start working as Thunderbird Five's secondary operator."

"Huh?" Alan asked. "I already fill in for him on occasion."

"As you all do," Jeff replied. "But it's still going to be a couple of months before you can go out in the field as Thunderbird Three, and clearly you're starting to get bored, so maybe it might be better if you're given something to do."

"Fine by me," Alan replied. "Does that mean I'm released from the infirmary?"

"I'll talk to Will and Scott," Jeff grumbled. "Seeing as you're not going to stay put."

Alan nodded and looked at EOS's avatar, "How about it, EOS?" He asked. "Want to work with me for a while, at least until I can go back out in the field?"

EOS was silent for a few moments, "I like that, Alan," she replied. "I wouldn't mind some company when John is busy."

"Alan won't be going up to Five until he can walk without crutches," Jeff pointed out. "But he can start working with you from the island."

"Okay then," EOS replied. "I will speak to you soon, Alan."

"Hey, before you go," Gordon called out. "Can you return the things you changed back to normal?"

"Things I changed?" EOS asked innocently. "What things are you talking about?"

"EOS…" Alan grumbled. "Don't make me call John."

"You don't have to do that, Alan," EOS replied quickly. "Fine, everything is back to normal, you can finish your shower, Gordon." EOS cut the connection.

"Why doesn't that fill me with confidence," Gordon muttered, a few moments later, as he turned to leave the living area, "Wish me luck, guys, l'm going in."

Jeff and Alan stared after him, "Do you want me to take over for you?" Alan asked.

"I'm fine at the moment," Jeff replied. "Besides I think it would throw your brothers if they heard you."

"I'm not going back to the infirmary," Alan replied. "And I can get around without someone looking over me."

"Alan…"

"If I get into trouble I will call," Alan cut his father off, as he started to leave the room. "I'm going back to my own bedroom now, if you don't need me at the moment."

Jeff nodded and let Alan go without further comment and Alan returned to his now unlocked bedroom, and flopped down on the bed, he wasn't going to admit it but the day's events had taken it out of him - and it was going to be a little while before he got his previous pre accident stamina back.

Alan fell asleep within seconds of hitting the bed.

0o0o0

Alan woke up when he felt a hand touching his shoulder.

He looked up and found Scott, Piper and Kayo in his room, checking up on him, "I see you got sick of being in the infirmary," Scott commented. "Well the good news is Willow gave you the all clear to leave…"

"I wasn't going back anyway," Alan muttered.

"…and I owe you an apology," Scott continued. "I knew you were ready to leave, but I was worried that you were going get yourself hurt again, that's part of the reason why we kept you down there for so long."

"Scott, I'm as physically healed as I'm going to be," Alan replied. "I need to start getting back into the swing of things and living my life again."

"I know, and I'm sorry for holding you back," Scott replied. "Dad wants you to do some Thunderbird Five work?"

"Apparently," Alan replied. "It would give me something to do while I get used to the prosthetic, besides if John is currently working on the second Tracy grandson he is going to have to spend more time dirt side, anyway."

Scott blushed, as Piper snorted and Kayo rolled her eyes, "Are you sure you want to got back out in the field, considering?" Scott asked.

"If Buddy Pendergast can do what he does with only one foot," Alan replied. "So can I… Besides most of my job is piloting and working in low gravity/no gravity environments, I will be fine Scott, I won't let this hold me back."

Scott pulled Alan into a hug, "I know you won't, little brother," he replied, as he got up to leave. "But that won't stop me worrying about you."

Scott and Piper left Alan's room, as Kayo took Scott's place beside him, "You sure you're okay?" She asked.

Alan growled, and pulled her down to lay beside him, "I'm fine," he replied, as Kayo made herself comfortable. "I'm just glad to be out of there."

Notes: So, Alan has lost his left foot, due to Fischler, there is more to this, but that's for the story that I am yet to write to cover…

John has married Belle, but Briar is still a ways off… as he's the seventh Tracy grandchild.