Calling in a Marker

by Criminally Charmed

Disclaimer - Well, believe it or not, this is the 42nd entry for this tale. It is my longest story to date and "yeah!" most reviewed. So thanks for following the ride. So, for the last time in this story, I do not own either Thunderbirds or Supernatural, except, perhaps, in some twisted fantasies. (Jean, stop that snickering now!!!)

Epilogue

Scott Tracy raised a hand to knock on the door, raising his collar against the cool air as he waited for an answer. Well, to him, evening temps in the fifties were cold. He was not looking forward to spending the next few days in New York City during December. But he had to admit he was anticipating the trip itself. Four days with all four of his brothers and their family, plus his father. Alan, Tin-Tin and Jeff Tracy were already in Manhattan, staying at the family's penthouse apartment on the top of Tracy Towers.

"I wonder where Katie made reservations for the rest of us?" Scott wondered before the door opened.

It was as if thinking his wife's name had drawn her forward. Looking at her bright brown eyes and silky black hair falling loose around her shoulders, Scott couldn't help but smile. The two weeks he had spent with his eyes covered after the accident in Kansas had made him grateful for all the beauty in the world. But the most beautiful sight to the oldest Tracy son would always be the woman in front of him now.

"Scott," Kate breathed out, reaching out for her husband to pull him in close. Most of the world knew Katherine Eppes Tracy as a tough ex-FBI agent and an equally hard-hitting business woman. But she was also a loving wife, daughter and sister to both her younger brothers by marriage and older brothers by birth. In addition, Kate positively adored the two little boys they had brought into the world together.

Letting Kate pull him into the house, Scott shrugged off his coat as Professor Charles Eppes – Uncle Charlie to Kate and her brothers – came out of the kitchen. "Scott!" he greeted his only niece's husband with a smile. "You're just in time."

"Just in time for what?" Scott whispered to his wife.

Kate smiled as they came to stand in a doorway. Don Eppes, recently retired director of the FBI stood behind his oldest grandson, Kate and Scott's son, Jason, to help the six-year-old light the menorah. "It's Zot Hanukkah, the eighth night. Tonight, all eight candles are lit to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah. It is a time for reflection. My family may not be as devout as others of the faith, but it still has deep meaning for us. Not as a day of penance but you still think reflectively about your life's path-and what changes you might want to enact."

"Can I think about how I never want to stop seeing how beautiful my wife is or how lucky I am to have my family?" Scott whispered, as he kissed his wife.

Jason had finished lighting the menorah, and was carefully saying the prayer in Yiddish, occasionally helped by his grandfather.

"Jas' Hebrew classes are going well, don't you think?" Kate softly said, proud of how well her son was learning the aspects of her family's faith and heritage.

Scott nodded. Religion was never a big deal to his own family. And while not dominated by the tenets of their own faith, the Eppes did find strength and comfort in their spirituality.

DJ looked up from where he was standing between one of his uncles and his brother to see his father had joined them. "Daddy!" he called out happily. Running towards Scott, he was immediately scooped up into his father's arms.

"Daddy, I wanted you here and here you are. Grampy, I wanted to change that Daddy wasn't here and now he is. It worked!"

The adults all chuckled at the three-year-old's logic, while Jason rolled his eyes as he looked over at his second cousins, Nick and Eleanor, embracing the fact that the two kids, both slightly older than him, had also studied enough that they were fairly sure that wasn't how it worked.

"Sorry I'm late," Scott explained. "Last minute family business, you know."

Don and Charlie looked at each other meaningfully, as Jason and DJ nodded in understanding. They had seen their mother glued to the news earlier, watching as the Thunderbirds had rescued people from a cruise ship after a late season storm of the coast of Florida. Many flights heading east from the Eastern seaboard of the United States were already cancelling, as the next twenty four or forty eight hours would be difficult travelling across the Atlantic. Scott – as the field commander of International Rescue – had given the advisory to bring any small craft in from open waters. If people did what they were supposed to, he and his family could actually have a relaxing holiday for once.

Having known about the Tracys role in IR since shortly after Kate had married Scott, Don nodded, smiling at his son-in-law. "Well, you are here now. And thank you for sharing in our celebration. The few others Katie has made since you two married, I'm glad to see you here for once. Too bad the four of you are leaving first thing in the morning."

"I told you, Daddy," Kate grumbled as she took DJ from Scott so her spouse could properly greet Jason. "As it is, we will miss Alan getting his award."

"Nominated for a Hugo Award for his first Sci-Fi novel," Charlie nodded. "Larry was extremely impressed."

"An astrophysicist," Scott joked of Uncle Charlie's best friend, "is impressed with Alan's writing. I'm awed."

"I'll show you awe," Kate muttered.

Scott smiled at Kate before leaning over to kiss her next to her ear. His smile turned into a full blown grin when she giggled. She had always been sensitive at that spot…

Don frowned before his younger brother nudged him. "She's still my daughter, Charlie," he muttered.

Charlie just laughed. "Don, Katie has two children with Scott. I think she may have slept with him once or twice. Well, actually, at least twice."

"You survived Eighth Night, Chuck," Don growled. "Discuss my daughter's sex life one more time you may not see Christmas."

Robin and Amita Eppes shook their heads, smiling at their husbands of more than thirty years. Their spouses really hadn't changed much over the years, but that was why they loved them. It was Kate's mother, Robin, who decided to change the subject.

"So, Scott, I heard about the award for your father. Man of the Year. Very impressive, I have to say."

Scott smiled at his mother-in-law. "Yes, we are all real proud of Dad. The ceremony takes place the day after Christmas, which is why Dad decided to have us spend Christmas in New York. Hey, Katie – did you make the reservations?"

Kate frowned at her husband before shrugging. "Duh, yeah." She smiled when her two sons giggled at her response to their father before continuing.

"We will be at the St. Regis. It's about a block from Tracy Towers so we can go back and forth easily enough. But I snagged the Presidential Suite, which is huge, and even includes a dining room. I also convinced the management that we needed the suites on both sides and the access doors will be left open so it will be as if we were staying all together."

Don frowned. "Katie, I worked security detail with VIPs who have stayed in hotels like the St. Regis. They never do things like that."

"Dad," Kate grinned, "the impossible often just takes a tad more effort. You should know by now – I rarely lose an argument."

Scott and Don rolled their eyes and looked at each other in shared sympathy. Yeah, they knew that.

As the children began to play together and the adults began to talk, Kate looked over her family and smiled. Oh, Grandpa – you would have loved this.

A sudden warmth and the scent of her grandfather's cologne wrapped around Kate for a moment, giving her a sense of peace. The Winchesters had thought Kate was too practical and business like to believe in things like the supernatural except when it was shoved in her face. But she believed in angels…so the rest was easy.

Millie held her grandson in her arms, cooing at the little boy as he watched the lights of the Christmas tree causing his eyes to widen in wonder and delight.

Oh, my darling, she thought of her late husband, you would have adored him.

A sudden warmth like someone wrapping their arms around her made Millie smile. She had more than demons to cause her to believe in the supernatural.

Carrying Charlie over to the Christmas cards hanging from a string like a cardboard garland, she fingered a lovely pink card. "Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward. It was nice of her to send a card. Of course, her brother's family sent one as well. And I loved seeing that picture of the whole family. I'm sure Jeff was pleased to hear they saved that boy's leg. Why, I could tell you such wonderful stories of the Tracys." Millie sighed, as she picked up one from the Tracys, a picture of the entire family - from Jeff to the youngest, Tommy, born just the day before the picture was taken - includedwith the card.

"Oh, Lucy, you would have loved what your boys are up to these days."

"Mama," Jean called out from the kitchen. "You made an awful lot for dinner. And I looked in the fridge. You bought a ham big enough to feed us for a week."

Millie's continued silence drew Jean from the kitchen, a cup of tea in her hand. Setting it on the coffee table, she looked curiously at her mother. "Mama? What's up? You've been acting like the cat the swallowed the canary all day."

Billy came down the stairs, speaking on the phone as he moved to the lower level of the house. "No, Uncle Paul. We're fine. Yes, we got your gift for the baby. No, don't worry. We're just glad you are enjoying your cruise. You deserve it. Don't worry - we are taking care of the house sale. Just so long as you come back for holidays in the future. Yes, the retirement community in Texas will be great for you."

Laughing slightly, Billy smiled. "Just behave yourself, Uncle Paul. We just want you to have some fun. Merry Christmas to you, too." Hanging up the phone, he reached over and plucked his son from Millie's arms.

"Heya, Charlie. Uncle Paul is having fun. It's what he needed. Said that he hopes that you like your present. And he promises to be here for you next year. And that he definitely won't miss your birthday."

Paul Dutton had gone through major depression after the death of his only son. And the discovery that his late wife had knowingly played a major part in such a tragedy almost broke the man. It had taken some time, but Paul had listened to his nephew and put his house up for sale. An old friend of the man had a retired to South Texas a few years ago and Paul had already put a down payment on a small house in a senior community there. But the approaching holidays were devastating to Paul with the death of his estranged son. It had been Millie's suggestion that the man take a trip over the holidays.

"So, how's South America this time of year?" Jean joked.

"Well, Uncle Paul says Rio was amazing. They'll be out to sea when it's Christmas Eve and he said he is looking forwarded to Midnight Services under the stars."

"He always did like Midnight Service," Millie said, looking out the window. "I remember last year…My, has it really been a year? So much has changed, hasn't it?"

"Well," Jean mused as she sat on the couch, "it was nice to see Sarah Woodbury again."

"Sarah Tracy," Billy corrected as he and Charlie sat down next to her.

"It was nice of the Winchesters to be there when she came back to Woodbury House," Millie said absently as she continued to stare out the window.

"Still feels funny to talk so casually about ghosts," Jean murmured as she took a sip from her mug.

"Or werewhatevers, or demons…" Billy joked as he bounced Charlie on his knees.

"Had to be hard for that girl," Millie said gently. "But Dean was there for her. So was Virgil."

Jean stared at the Christmas tree, remembering the sight of Sarah Tracy tearfully meeting with the ghosts of her dead parents. When the couple had faded away, finally at peace when their surviving child let them know that she had long ago forgiven them, the young woman had broken down in her husband's arms. Jean had put an arm around Dean, leading him out of the house to give the couple a moment. His words, as they stood on the porch, echoed back to her.

"I admire the Tracys, really I do. They change the world, make it a better place. It seems as if God rewards them for it. They have family, success and..." His voice trailed off as he stared into the distance. "I admire them but I'm also jealous as hell." Looking back at the house, Dean sighed.

"I'm gonna go get Sam. We have to hit the road. Tell Billy I'll make sure Sam takes it easy for a bit and there won't be a repeat with the eating. I'll make sure of it."

"Dean," Jean called out as the older Winchester brother headed down the stairs towards his car. When Dean turned, she smiled. "Mama did tell you she expects you back sometime. Don't you disappoint her."

"As if I had the nerve to," Dean joked before climbing into the Impala and driving off.

Jean knew that the Winchesters had sent several letters and that Millie had been surprised with a floral delivery on her birthday. But there had been no sign of the brothers since then.

Looking away from the tree, Jean asked her mother, "Expecting a delivery, Mama?"

Any response Millie might have given was stalled by the sound of a powerful engine pulling up in front of the house. Millie broke into a smile as she ran to open the door.

Jean and Billy looked at each other in confusion before standing up and joining Millie where she was standing out on the porch. The couple smiled when Millie began to move down the stairs and greet the men emerging from the classic car now in their driveway.

"Hey, Millie," Dean murmured as he was quickly enveloped in a hug. Just as quickly, the older woman pulled Sam into an embrace as well.

"Bobby will be along soon," Sam softly said over Millie's shoulder, smiling over at the Landmans.

Seeing how happy her mother was, Jean came to a quick decision even as Billy stepped back into the house to get a blanket off the sofa for Charlie.

"You're staying here, of course," Jean said.

When the brothers looked to disagree with her, Millie shot a glare at them and they swallowed their words. Handing Charlie to Millie, Billy and Jean went to help the brothers with their bags.

"Nice to see you boys again," Jean murmured. "You're looking better than ya did this summer."

"Feeling better," Dean smiled at her. "Decided your mom was right and we needed a Christmas break as well."

"Yeah, the Mexican Riviera was nice, but I bet Millie's cooking is better," Sam smiled.

Having heard about the Christmas vacation the Tracys had arranged for the brothers and Bobby the year before, the Landmans smiled. Before they had reached the porch, Bobby had pulled up and a similar scene was played out. The group then headed into the house, joking and smiling all the way.

Entering the warm house, the hunters smiled and Sam immediately went over to Charlie, picking him up from his playpen. "Hey, kiddo -You been a good boy? Is Santa bringing you…" his voice trailed off as he saw his name on a couple of presents under the tree with his name on them. Looking, he saw a few with Dean's and even one with Bobby's. Turning to Millie, his eyes wide with confusion, the woman answered his unspoken question.

"Knew you boys would come. Bobby said he would work on you and I wasn't about to quit until I had all my angels around me for Christmas."

The hunters were all humbled by how quickly this family had accepted them into their lives and their hearts. While they were searching for something to say, a new voice entered the conversation.

"Sam."

Every head turned to see smiling baby Charlie beaming up at the adults. Charlie had managed "Gammy" (first, much to Jean's chagrin), "Mama" and "Dada", but the look on Sam's face was priceless.

"Now that's a present you can't send back," Billy joked.

Watching his brother carry Charlie over to the tree, as Sam let the baby take lead and point out decorations, with Sam looking suitably amazed, Dean smiled. "Who would want to?"

Dean recalled watching A Christmas Carol with his brother in several ratty homes – usually motel rooms – over numerous childhood holidays, and his smile grew even larger. The words said by one character as the story echoed once more in his mind – God bless us, everyone.

There was no doubt in Dean's mind as he embraced the moment–one that most people take for granted, but had never really existed for the Winchesters - that they had been blessed. Even the last two Christmases, spent as a separate day, once just him and Sam in a crappy hotel room, then last year in a deluxe resort, Dean knew that this was where they needed to be. Here they could be a family, here they could know peace…

At least for now.

A/N - So ends this tale...I highly doubt there will be a sequel. I liked where it ended. I do have a two Tracy stories coming up soon, a ELAC multi-chapter and I have this one SN story that is trickling through my mind and just won't let go. But the Tracy stories will be coming up first as they are both Christmas presents for my awesome co-betas, Sammygirl1963 and Little Miss Bump. Thanks loads, ladies. You made it fun. - CC

oh, ps - yes I know Hanukkah started on the 11th and my story sets Eighth Night around the 23rd, not the 18th. Call it creative license. I have my reasons.