CHAPTER ONE

As the big wooden double doors opened, a stream of Air Force blue steadily poured into the room. People rushed forward to greet their loved ones, tears flowed and squeals of delight filled the room. Jeff stood up higher to see over the crowds, noticing Virgil repeat the movement at his side. Everyone seemed to push forward in order to inch even closer to the incoming service-men and women. Other family reunions were ignored or passed fleeting glances of jealousy as people hunted for their own returning loved ones in the mass of the crowd.

"There he is!" Alan suddenly exclaimed, pushing past groups of happy people in annoyance as they blocked his way. "Scott!" he shouted, trying to be heard above the din. "Scott! Over here! Scott!" he waved his arm in the air, hoping to get his eldest brother's attention.

Working through a gap in the crowd, suddenly his way was clear and he ran full pelt across to where Scott was still looking around the room.

"Scott!"

Scott turned in time to feel the full impact of Alan's weight as he threw himself into Scott's embrace, wrapping his arms around his big brother's neck and holding on tight. Grunting at the force of Alan's hold and the shudder of pain that ran through him as his little brother squeezed every tired, aching muscle he possessed, Scott dropped the holdall he was carrying and returned the embrace with as much enthusiasm.

"Hey, Kid," he found himself whispering into Alan's blond hair. "How're you doing?"

"I'm good. I'm so glad you're home," Alan replied, "I've got so much to tell you!" He extracted himself from Scott's larger frame.

Seeing his younger brother's beaming smile, Scott couldn't help but smile back, "Yeah? I'm glad to be home," he grinned. "How's school going?"

Alan screwed his face up and shrugged, "Okay, I guess." He quickly scanned the area for his family, who weren't far behind him. "But the racing's better, I'm going to take the title this year."

Scott raised an eyebrow at his confidence.

"I'm going to get a new car but don't say anything," Alan continued by way of explanation. In a low warning voice and apparently so excited that he was hoping from one foot to another, he went on, "I'll tell you all about it later, when Dad's not around."

Scott wasn't sure he liked the idea of that but it was such a typically Alan comment that he had to laugh.

"Oh, Scott, sweetheart," Grandma bustled forward, wrapping her arms around Scott's neck. She seemed so pleased to see him that Scott was slightly taken aback when she leant back from his embrace and said, "You look absolutely terrible," in a cheerless tone. "You've lost weight, young man, and you look exhausted!"

Scott just smiled, "It's been a long flight, Grandma, and what with the debrief and everything; I'm tired that's all."

"Hmm...." she didn't seem convinced but neither did she have chance to comment as Gordon stepped forward.

"You see these Air Force boys just haven't got the same stamina as us, Grandma, I guess it's only to be expected what with them being the inferior service." Gordon grinned as took his turn, giving Scott a warm hug.

"Remember where you are, Gordon," Jeff said in a low tone, but Gordon already has his head buried in Scott's shoulder and gave no indication that he'd heard his father.

Gordon's grin widened as he held Scott even tighter, "It's good to see you, Scott," he said seriously, breathing a sigh of relief. "Real good."

Scott replied with a "Thank you," as Gordon released himself and smiled his acknowledgement. Diversion was, after all, something he'd had plenty of practice at over the years. "It's good to see you too."

"Son," Jeff took his turn, embracing Scott. "I'm so glad you're home safe," he sighed, holding his eldest son and now allowing that relief to wash over him. And it came by the bucket load. Jeff found their embrace over before he'd had the chance to truly convince himself of Scott's return, but nevertheless took a step back in order for Virgil to step forward.

Virgil hesitated. He'd waited over six months for this moment and half of him wanted to jump in with both feet but he'd been watching the proceedings carefully, an intense frown dominating his features. Scott watched him, feeling like a bug under the microscope.

"Hey," Virgil said softly as he wrapped his arms around Scott. As probably the strongest of all his brothers, Virgil tightened his embrace until Scott couldn't hold back a small gasp. "I've missed you so much," he confessed, trying to ignore the way Scott continued to tense against him.

"I've missed you too, Virg," Scott replied; relieved when Virgil just hugged him close. He'd forgotten how much he needed his family and he held on tightly, even when Virgil began to release his hold causing the embrace to linger. A few seconds wasn't enough for Scott, he needed longer to draw the required strength from his family.

Finally, they parted and Virgil looked at his eldest brother with a strange mix of concern and delight. For a moment Scott wondered if Virgil was going to say something but then the moment was gone. Scott considered whether he'd been rumbled but pushed the thought aside when eventually Virgil's expression broke into a large grin, lighting up his eyes with joy that Scott was home. Scott felt a wave of relief hit him and reminded himself sternly to stop being so paranoid and defensive; Virgil couldn't know. Not just from looking. This was normality returning. That was all.

"Wow," he said softly, looking from one member of his family to the next, admiring their identical expressions of delight. "I wasn't expecting a welcome home party."

"You didn't think we'd just let you come home to no-one, did you?" Gordon asked, scoffing at his oldest brother's illogical assumption. "It gets better; we're going out for supper to J..."

"Gordon!" Grandma tutted as the rest of the family shook their heads and murmured disgruntled sounds. "That was supposed to be a surprise!"

"Yeah, dumbass, even I knew that," Alan grinned.

Scott opened his mouth to reprimand his youngest brother but another voice beat him to it.

"Alan, cut it out," Virgil's frown returned, this time deeper but Scott was pleased to see it was directed at Alan. Even if he was a trifle surprised how easily the reprimand came from his closest, and usually most tolerant, brother.

Alan mumbled an apology as Gordon mirrored the gesture to the rest of his family, "Sorry, but nobody told me it was a surprise!" he tried to excuse himself.

"Never mind," Jeff attempted to keep the peace. It never ceased to amaze him how easily his two youngest sons slipped into this role despite their growing maturity when on their own. "Let's head out of here, it's stuffy" he pulled at his collar, and slipped an arm around Scott's shoulders, needing the contact for a few more minutes as he ushered the group towards the door.

Their collective attempt to move was halted by a call from somewhere behind them, "Jeff Tracy!"

Alan and Gordon both groaned their dismay as the whole family turned and a distinct figure materialised from the milling crowd. "You weren't trying to sneak off without saying hello were you?"

Jeff looked at the man approaching them. He wore a pressed Air Force uniform with more metal on it than the entire contents of Grandma's jewellery box and had ageing features, not dissimilar to Jeff's own. Suddenly it clicked as Jeff stepped forward towards the other man and offered his hand, "Well, I'll be..." he smiled, "Max Mackay!" he explained, a grin forming. "How are you Mac?"

Scott's enthusiasm instantly waned as he nodded a trite, "Sir," and then moved away towards his brothers.

Mac dipped his head, more out of habit than any form of interest, and Scott made an effort to keep a self-preservatory ear on the conversation as he turned to Alan, "So, what's all this about a new car?" he tried to keep conversation light, not wanting to be asked the question he was dreading. 'So, Scott, what was it really like out there?' Just the thought made his stomach roll like a giant cement mixer.

Alan's eye widened and he began to shake his head but it was too late; Virgil's head swivelled instantly to join the conversation, "There is no new car, " he said in a tone that didn't invite discussion.

"Oh," Scott looked between Virgil and Alan, who were now glaring at each other, and then turned to Gordon for an explanation.

Gordon attempted to explain the muted but obviously very heated conversation that was happening right in front of them. "Alan wants a new car to race. He thinks he's being left behind on the track because his car's old and slow," Scott's head swung back and forth as if he was watching a tennis match. Gordon's explanation continued, "Virgil says he needs more experience on the track before he should upgrade and that he shouldn't try to jump ahead of himself. And, whilst Virgil's sticking to that theory, there's no way that Dad's going to fork out for a new car."

"How much?" Scott asked, partly out of interest, partly because he was revelling in the enjoyment of being back and able to watch the normality, if there was such a thing, of family life unfold before his very eyes.

"Oh," Gordon shrugged. "It's a bargain..." he paused, meeting Scott's expectant expression, "at only eight hundred and forty five thousand dollars."

Scott nodded before the figure had a chance to sink in and then looked again, "How much?!" he exclaimed.

"Yep, I know," Gordon nodded. "I can kind of see where he's coming from though, he's got the talent and he's eager to make an impression ..." he shrugged for a second time. "... but then again, that's a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a car that, in all likelihood according to Virgil, Alan will probably kill himself in."

Scott took those words on board, hiding a wince at the unusual bluntness of the comment. "Well, Virgil's the one who has the most to do with Alan's racing. He's the one that sees him out on the track the most and I guess he's in the best position to make that call." Scott paused in thought. "Can't they compromise? Get a new car that's not going to cost so much?"

"Alan, compromise?" Gordon's eyes widened and he laughed. "Gee, you've been away too long, Scott."

Scott shook his head and laughed too, "What about you? How's work?"

Gordon groaned and ran a hand over his eyes, "Crap." He responded. "All this UN Referendum stuff about joint forces against Civil War is killing us." He held out a hand, gesturing to Scott, "You know what it's like. We're stretched to breaking point, busting our asses trying to cover our own border because the powers that be keep insisting we send more units out to the war. It's hell."

"Management's not all it's cracked up to be, huh?" Scott empathised knowingly, as he swung back on his heels and placed his hands in his pockets.

"Tell me about it," Gordon sighed and rolled his eyes, shaking his head once more. "I've got half the man power to cover almost three times the work. I mean, you'd think some pen-pushing jerk sat behind a desk somewhere would realise that that's not going to work, you know?"

"Oh, I know," Scott replied with feeling. "But it could be worse."

"Remind me how?" Gordon raised a comical eyebrow. "I think my men are plotting a mutiny and I'm damn well tempted to join them!"

"You could've been shipped out to Allufah," Scott said as Gordon's light-hearted joke fell on deaf ears, replaced by a very sombre, very serious tone.

For a moment Gordon could only survey his eldest brother and attempt to decide how to take that comment. Should he laugh it off as if it was meaningless? Or, should he empathise with his brother in all seriousness? It wasn't often Gordon didn't know how to react, especially around his brothers and he began to feel awkward. As Scott lapsed into deep thought, Gordon opened his mouth to speak but he was rescued from his uncertainties when Grandma approached.

"You boys aren't talking shop are you?" she asked, perceptive as always. "Because you know, you're not at work now."

Gordon offered her an innocent smile and bent the truth ever-so-slightly, "No, Grandma, actually we were discussing politics."

She screwed her face up in distaste. "Well, make yourself useful, will you? And break that up." She gestured to where Jeff was deep in conversation. "At this rate we'll be here all afternoon! And they say women are bad."

Scott smiled, doubting that either his father or the ultra masculine 'Mac' would appreciate being compared to women. Thankfully Virgil and Alan had returned to where they were standing before. Apparently their discussion was now complete and judging by the expression on Alan's face, Scott felt safe in assuming that Virgil had more than made his point.

"Are we nearly done here?" Alan moaned.

"Yeah," Scott tried to suppress a grin. "We've just got to rescue father." He indicated in the direction where their father stood but when Scott's eyes fell upon 'Mac', who was laughing in an inappropriate and thunderously loud voice, he couldn't stop the end of his nose crumpling in irritation. It was a minor slip and he corrected it quickly and efficiently.

As the brothers made a collective effort to move towards their father, Scott bent down stiffly to pick up his holdall only to be waved off by Gordon who was only too glad to help carry his brother's bag. Virgil watched the interaction with a frown of concern.

"Ah, boys!" Jeff greeted as they all approached. "Alan, we were just talking about you. I've been telling Mac here about your racing."

Mac stepped forward, offering Alan his hand, "Your father tells me you're top of your game. Congratulations, son."

"Thank you, Sir," Alan nodded, taking the man's hand and returning the gusto he shook with.

"This is Virgil and Gordon," Jeff introduced as they stepped forward retrospectively and followed Alan's lead.

"Scott, you didn't tell me that Mac was going out there with you," Jeff frowned at his eldest son, clearly surprised at this slip. "Mac and I flew together for a long time when I was stationed in Kansas," Jeff explained to Alan and Gordon. "Virgil was just a baby back then."

"Didn't I, Father?" Scott's voice remained neutral as he carried on the conversation politely. "Sorry, I guess it must've slipped my mind. There was so much going on before we left and it all happened so quickly."

Gordon and Alan looked at each other and then turned to Virgil, who was surreptitiously watching their oldest brother; the two of them shrugged at each other apparently none the wiser about the tension that Scott was clearly radiating.

"Well, you're damned lucky you've got such an experienced commander," Jeff went on. "What this man doesn't know about flying isn't worth knowing." He laughed as Mac also laughed, revelling in the compliment.

"I hope you've been listening to him, Scott," he joked. Scott's subtle flinch at the words went unnoticed by the other brothers as they made a joint effort to escape.

"Father," Gordon began, stepping forward with a sense of control that he'd picked up since taking his command post with WASP. "Grandma's getting tired, I think she'd rather we made tracks."

Jeff looked around the hall, noting how the numbers had dwindled and wondering where all the people had gone. "Of course," he nodded. "Well, I'm sorry to cut it so short, Mac, but we'd better head off. It's been good talking to you," he held his hand out a second time. "Any time you're in New York just drop by. You've got my card, keep in touch."

"Yeah, you too, Jeff," Mac smiled. "We'll have to meet up some time, go for a steak or a beer, or something and do some reminiscing about the good old days."

Scott's heart dropped as he saw his father's eyes spark with the seeds of a suggestion. "Say, we've got a table booked tonight at Joey's, you're more than welcome to join us if you'd like." The expression on Scott's face and the sudden rigidity in the way he stood spoke volumes to his brothers. With a sense of loyalty Virgil stepped forward closely flanked by Alan, both more than ready to make some kind of excuse.

"Oh, no, Jeff, I couldn't," Mac replied, graciously declining the invitation. "I promised Pamela I'd spend some time with her, I've been away long enough. But maybe some other time, huh?"

Scott visibly relaxed, becoming shorter by at least three inches, whilst the other brothers passed thankful but curious, confused expressions between themselves.

"I'd like that," Jeff replied. "Bye, Mac, take care!" he waved as Mac said his good byes and departed. "Right, now where's your grandmother?" Jeff led the way across the hall, his sons lagging behind.

"What was all that about?" Alan asked, his tone hushed as they followed their father.

"What?" Scott attempted to play dumb but Gordon was having none of it.

"That!" he exclaimed, hooking a thumb over this shoulder. "If looks could kill Dad's buddy would be dead by now!"

"You've got to admit, Scott," Alan chimed in, "you weren't exactly enthusiastic about him joining us for dinner."

"Yeah, the look on your face could've curdled cream," Gordon grinned.

"Well, would you want your CO coming to your 'welcome home' supper?" Scott retorted with perhaps a little more bite then he'd intended.

Gordon just shrugged.

"Good point but that's why I was sensible," he replied grinning, "I chose a service were the Tracy family reputation didn't precede me."

Scott scoffed and shook his head, "Yeah, well, lucky you," he replied in a voice heavy with sarcasm.

Virgil sensed there was more to all this than met the eye but didn't comment. Instead, he was already planning a viable way to get Scott on his own.

In a family full of people who were overjoyed at Scott's safe return, Virgil knew well that it wasn't going to be an easy task.