ENDING B

Wow, ok I am sooo sorry for the long wait on this ending, but my plans slightly changed for the weekend I was going to write this ending and I didn't have time to finish this in time before the end of the weekend, then school started again, and well, you get the idea. But here's the promised Ending B, or the happier ending. And as I said before, the first few paragraphs of this ending and ending A are the same, just because they pretty much start out the same way and I didn't want to 'reinvent the wheel' so to speak. lol but I hope you still like this version, even if you already pretty much know the ending! Or do you…? MUAHAHA! lol just kidding. Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed, you don't know how much that means to me. :)

And thanks to criminally charmed for pointing out an error I made in the first ending. I had a spaz moment and put 1980-2007 on Alan's headstone, when I really wanted to put 1990-2007. Hopefully I can change that soon, as soon as I get the chance. Thanks again, though, criminally charmed :)

OH, and I have a new homepage with lists on my current and upcoming stories. You should check it out. :)

Hours passed, and none of the men dared to speak, in fear of breaking the morbid silence. They each remained eagerly in the living room, waiting for Brains' verdict on their youngest family member's fate. Jeff sat quietly in his chair, his eyes distant and clouded, reserved tears lingering beneath his eyelids. John sat with his jaw clenched, watching idly as he twiddled his thumbs. On the other side of the room, Virgil focused intently on bandaging Gordon's arm, occasionally brushing a tear or two from his eyes. Gordon, though cringing once in a while from the rough bandaging on his arm, held a blank, dreary countenance. Sitting on the floor at the coffee table was Fermat, trying to occupy his mind with complicated math equations, though couldn't stay focused and idly scribbled on the corner of the paper. Tin-Tin had refused to come from her room, the reality of the possibility of Alan never coming out being too harsh for her to handle. The only one who was moving was Scott, who was constantly pacing the length of the room and popping his knuckles. And for the first time in his life, he felt truly scared. True, he had been afraid when he'd seen the Hood return, but it came nowhere near to the terror and pain he felt now.

It's all my fault...God-damn it, I should've done something! I was right there! Scott suddenly stopped pacing and clenched his fists at his sides. Jeff noticed this, and stood to face his son. Placing a gentle hand on Scott's shoulder, he said quietly, "Now Scott, I know what you're thinking. And it's not your fault."

Scott shrugged off his father's hand and avoided his gaze. "I should've done something…I could've prevented," Scott paused, choosing his words carefully. "I could've prevented him from getting hurt."

"Didn't you hear me?" Jeff asked softly yet also sternly. "You couldn't have prevented this, no one could." Taking a deep breath, Jeff also lowered his gaze. "I know I wish I could've helped, but I didn't know what was happening. The best thing we can do now is to accept what's happened and pray that he's alright..." Before Jeff could stop it, a fresh wave of tears rolled down his cheeks, and let out a few sobs. Surprised, Scott felt more guilt wash over him, and he enveloped his father in a warm embrace. He began to feel the walls he had so long built around his emotions crumbling, and soon also felt tears flow onto his face, and he clung in silent despair to his father's shirt. Jeff also wrapped his arms around his son, praying to God that things would turn out alright.

Suddenly, a pair of footsteps was heard from down the hall. Jeff was the first to rush into the hall, closely followed by Scott, then each of the other men. Brains soon appeared from behind the corner, his face worn with worry and stress. Jeff's heart quickened and he felt the temptation to scream from the anxiety. However, he stayed quiet and patiently waited for Brains to speak. Brains rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat. "W-w-well," he started off, unsurely. "Right n-now he's in a fairly stable co-co-condition…" With those words, everyone in the room let out a nearly unanimous sigh. "H-however," Brains started up again, everyone else stiffening once more. "He-he's still in pretty b-b-bad shape…I even h-had to put him o-o-on a breathing tube…Th-the situation could g-g-go either way, and it's p-p-possible that he w-won't make it through th-the night…"

Jeff swallowed. "Can…can we see him, Brains?" Jeff asked quietly.

"O-o-of course, Mr. Tracy…" Brains stuttered, moving aside so Jeff and the boys could go past.

When they made it to the infirmary, old memories flashed through their minds of when Alan had first been found after the Hood's initial attack. He didn't have nearly the same amount of bandaging as before, but was still far more ghostly pale and still. He also had a breathing tube coming from his mouth, making the scene seem almost unreal. Jeff clenched his jaw, the thought of his son dying nearly ripping out his heart. After his wife had died, he felt as though his shattered stone heart would never be mended. But as he and his sons grew, it more or less became one piece again. But now the same fear and pain returned, locking itself within his heart.

They stood in silence until Jeff quietly moved forward to Alan's bedside, the others being to afraid to go any nearer. Gently running his hand through Alan's blonde hair, Jeff settled himself into a nearby chair. Sensing that Jeff wanted a moment alone with Alan, Scott gently ushered the others out the door, even though they protested. Jeff turned and saw the others leaving, Scott urging them out the door. Just as Scott turned to leave, he gave his father an encouraging smile, receiving a grateful nod in return. As the door quietly closed, Jeff turned back to Alan, taking his frail hand. Jeff shuddered at how cold it felt, though he could hear the heart-monitor beeping nearby, confirming that his son was still alive.

"Oh Sprout," he sighed. "You need to pull through this…I, I don't know what we'd do without you…" He trailed off, bowing his head slightly. He wanted with all of his soul and being for Alan to wake up, to tell him he was fine, and that everything would be ok. To be back to his normal joking self, to be playing pranks on everyone else again with Gordon, to liven up the house like he always had. But he didn't wake up. He didn't even stir. It was hard to even discern his shallow, forced breaths.

Sighing once more, Jeff got up from his chair and grabbed a pillow and blanket from a nearby cabinet, then settled back into the chair next to Alan.

Let the waiting begin…Jeff thought solemnly.

Luckily, Alan had survived the night without any major problems, and had continued to maintain a stable condition throughout the week. Each of the men took turns throughout the night watching Alan, and unless they had to go on any rescue missions, they also spent most of their time during the day at his bedside as well.

Jeff yawned deeply as he began to wake from a deep slumber, and then cursed at himself quietly at even falling asleep at all. He had taken two consecutive night shifts that night, for he had to take Virgil's shift when the boys had to leave for a rescue mission in India. Their shifts also had to be elongated when John, although reluctantly, had returned to his duties on Thunderbird 5.

Not long after he had woken up, Jeff heard the door slide open, and turned to see Kyrano stepping inside with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. When he offered the coffee to Jeff, he gladly accepted it, taking down a few sips.

"Thank you, Kyrano," he said hoarsely. Looking over at Alan, he saw no change in his son from the first time he had seen him after the incident with the Hood, although he did seem thinner. He took yet another great sigh- just about the billionth he'd taken in the past week- and felt another wave of hopelessness hit him, though he pushed it away.

"The boys are coming back soon," Kyrano hesitated. "You should go get some rest, Mr. Tracy…I can watch Alan until the boys come back."

Shaking his head, Jeff looked up at Kyrano with grateful, though admittedly tired eyes. "Thank you, but no Kyrano. I'd rather stay with him for a little longer."

Smiling gently and sympathetically, Kyrano nodded. "Alright, Mr. Tracy. Call me if you need anything." And with that, he left Jeff and Alan alone once more in silence. Jeff soon began to doze off once more, exhaustion taking hold of him again, even though he constantly kept drinking the coffee in his hands. When his coffee ran out, he set the mug on the table and sat up straight, trying to keep a clear mind. However, his head began to droop to his chest.

Suddenly, Jeff heard a coughing noise. Snapping out of his snooze, Jeff whirled his head around to his son. Alan, though very weakly, was beginning to choke on the breathing tube in his throat. He's starting to breath on his own! Jeff thought shocked, a glint of hope finally appearing in the darkness of despair. Rushing to the intercom on the wall, he hit his hand to the button. "Brains, I need you down here! Alan's beginning to wake up!" Just a few moments later, Brains came rushing in. Keeping calm, he swiftly undid the tape keeping the breathing tube secured to Alan's mouth. Gently tugging it, it slid out of Alan's throat. Placing that aside, Brains hooked up a nearby breathing mask and set it over Alan's mouth and nose.

When Jeff gave him a questioning look, Brains replied, "I-i-it's so we c-can make sure h-h-he's going to breathe o-o-ok now that he do-doesn't have the b-b-breathing tube," he reaffirmed.

Nodding, Jeff rushed over to Alan. "Alan," he urged, taking his son's hand in his own. "Alan, please wake up…" In return, Alan groaned weakly and shifted his head slightly, too weak to move much otherwise. Taking a thrilled glance at Brains, he faced Alan once more. "Alan, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand…" Though he didn't squeeze his father's hand, Alan clearly made an effort to move his fingers, his fingertips brushing against the side of Jeff's hand.

Letting out what seemed to be a combination of a laugh, a sigh, and a sob, Jeff felt tears flood to his eyes. Burying his face in his hands, he sunk into his chair and sobbed of happiness. Brains was also very pleased, and beaming, he decided to remove the breathing mask as well, for Alan no longer seemed to need any breathing assistance. As he did so, Alan shifted slightly, and he let his head fall onto its side on the pillow.

"I'll go t-tell the o-others," Brains said excitedly, gently patting Jeff's shoulder before rushing out the door. However, not long later, the boys came rushing into the room. They had not encountered Brains in the hallway, so when they saw Alan's limp form with his head tilted to the side and the ventilator tube gone, and Jeff sobbing at his bedside, they feared the worst.

"D-dad?" Virgil choked, him being the first one to dare to step forward.

Startled by his sons' arrival, he whirled around to face them. His joyous crying was replaced with a slight frown in confusion as he saw the fear and anguish on their faces as they watched Alan. Glancing at his sleeping son, he realized the cause of their panic. "No, boys, he's ok," he reassured, facing them once more, this time with a smile. "He woke up!"

Each of their faces quickly faded from dread to shock and elation. Rushing over to his bedside, they formed a small circle around the bed, each still unbelieving that their youngest brother had finally woken.

"When did he wake up?" Gordon asked excitedly, not wanting to take his eyes off Alan in fear that he would somehow lose him again.

Smiling at his sons' lighter attitudes, he wiped away a tear that remained on his cheek. "Not too long ago," he said.

Scott, smiling, ran his hand over his little brother's blonde locks, relieved that he had made it out ok. Injured, yes, but alive. Suddenly, Alan shifted under Scott's gentle touch. Everyone in the room jumped simultaneously, staring at Alan, praying he would fully wake. Scott, who had taken his hand away when he jumped in surprise, placed his hand once more on Alan's head, kneeling to come closer to his brother.

"Alan?" he whispered quietly, pausing for a second. "Alan, can you hear me?" For a moment, Alan didn't move at all, disappointing the other Tracys. However, Alan suddenly groaned and opened his eyes slightly and weakly.

"Scott?" he moaned quietly, squinting at the bright lights of the infirmary.

Elation shot through each of the men, enormous grins splitting their faces. Virgil, noticing Alan's discomfort, walked to the wall and dimmed the lights, returning as fast as he could to Alan's bedside.

Chuckling a bit, Scott smiled at Alan. "Hey, Sprout, how're you feeling?"

"Do you really have to ask that?" Alan mumbled tiredly, yet still sarcastically. Everyone laughed. Though he was still tired and sore, Alan clearly still had his usual spark. As Alan gave a feeble smile in return, they knew they finally had their brother back.

The recovery time for Alan this time around was much longer than the last. He had to stay in the infirmary on bed rest for weeks, in fear that too much activity could pull a stitch or cause internal bleeding with still-healing tissue in his chest. However, even though he was stuck in the infirmary for so long, Alan felt like he was safe at home again. His brothers constantly came to visit and check up on him, often playing video games or watching TV with him. His father also stayed the night in the infirmary with Alan now and then to show support.

After a few months, Alan was finally allowed out of the infirmary and around the house. Again, the crutches which he so hated had to help him get around the house, though he didn't complain, for he was finally free of the confinement of the sickbay. Walking out to the poolside, he savored the warmth of the bright sun.

After a few moments of standing in the sunlight, his brothers suddenly came rushing from down the hallway towards him, each dressed in crisp tuxedos with the International Rescue emblem on each of their collars. As a force of habit, Alan braced himself for the impact of his brothers.

"Come on, Sprout!" John said excitedly as he and Scott grabbed each of his arms, supporting him in place of the crutches and carrying him down the hall. Virgil and Gordon followed excitedly behind with Alan's crutches in hand.

"What's going on?" Alan yelped, startled as he continued to be dragged down the hall.

"We're going to an award ceremony!" Virgil squealed with excitement.

"Hosted by the President!" Gordon finished.

As they reached Alan's room, they rushed him inside. From the closet, Scott pulled out a tuxedo identical to theirs, though below the IR emblem was Alan's name. Alan stared in wonderment at it for a moment, the fact that he was going still sinking in. As a child, he always saw his older brothers going to award ceremonies and other fancy occasions like this, but he'd never gotten to go with them. Now it was his turn.

"Come on, Sprout! Get dressed!" the others urged, giving him his crutches back, then turning to leave. "We're leaving in an hour!"

As Alan sat quietly in his place at the assigned table given to him and his brothers, he carefully eyed all of the other guests. Everyone was in beautiful, pristine attires, and some of the faces he recognized as high figures. At the front of the room, the President stood chiefly at a small podium, the highest generals standing behind him. Jeff was also present next to the generals, for as the head of International Rescue was deemed as a high general and was treated as such.

After about an hour, nearly 30 men and women had been given honorary awards such as the Purple Heart. Alan found the stories of each of the recipients quite interesting, and listened with apt attention.

After another man left the stage with a medal, the President took up a medal folded neatly on a plush cushion and held it with great care. "Lastly," he began, "I want to award this Medal of Honor to a remarkable young man named Alan Tracy."

Alan sat in shock. Did he just say what I think he said? Glancing around the table, Alan saw each of his brothers beaming at him. After a moment of sitting dumbfounded, his brothers finally nudged him from his seat. "Go on," Scott urged quietly, grinning from ear to ear.

Straightening his posture and suit as best he could with his crutches, Alan swallowed hard and worked his way awkwardly towards the stage. A surge of applause came from the audience, and Alan blushed deeply, keeping his face forwards. With help from two soldiers at the base of the stairs, he made it up to the stage, and as he reached the podium, he took the President's outstretched hand and shook it firmly and gratefully.

However, instead of putting the medal around his neck as Alan expected, the President turned to the audience. "This young man put himself and danger and risked his life to save his commander in International Rescue, and deserves to be rewarded by the man he saved," he announced, another round of applause coming from the audience.

Turning around, he handed the medal to Jeff. Smiling at his son, and receiving a tearful smile from Alan, Jeff slid the blue ribbon and medal around Alan's neck. Alan took the medal in his hand and looked over the gold workmanship of the medal. A small eagle supported a bar with the word "Valor" on it, and beneath that was a star and wreath. Alan's eyes filled with tears, both of happiness and from being so privileged. Looking up at his father, he gave him a large hug with a free arm.

"Why did you give this to me, Dad?" he whispered as the audience continued to applaud.

"Because," Jeff stated caringly. "I wanted to show the world you are a true Thunderbird." And he wrapped his arms tighter around his son.

Awww. Cheesy ending. Haha just kidding. But I hope you guys liked my first story! I'm kind of sad that it's over though. But I'll try to make a sequel to Ending A, so I suppose I'm not really quite done with it. Please, please, PLEASE review! I love getting reviews. And thank you so much to everyone who supported me through this entire journey of my first story. You are all completely amazing. Thanks again, everyone:)

Megz McGizzle