I'm remaking this, so it plays out and sounds better, it didn't sound very well constructed to me.

The question being asked through everybody's minds as they gaze at the young teen boy laying in the bed, face pale and eyes closed. That one thing that should have been asked before any of this happened.

What does it take to finally realize just how much you need a person, just how much your really rely on that person.

Gazing at Alan Tracy the entire families minds couldn't come up with an answer. For there was none.

You don't really expect something like this to happen to you or your family. I mean the closest you really ever come to this type of situation is watching the tales on t.v holding onto another. When it comes to things like this you never really expect it to happen to you, until the unthinkable does happen.

It started as a normal Monday. Alan woke up, got breakfast, did his average morning stuff then went to first period. It was a little chillier than normal but that was expected. It was winter so it wouldn't be surprising if it snowed sometime, it was all normal. Alan sat in the back of his algebra class looking at anything that wasn't the teacher or the white board. They were going over the test answers when it all happened. When it all went to hell.

There was a shot.

Then another and another and screaming. Lots and lots of screaming. The fire alarm went off and the teacher went out to see what was going on. There was screaming and running and soon the teacher was running back into the room and locking the door while telling everyone else to get down under the desks. 'This is not a drill this is real get under your desks'.

The screaming got louder and the shots got closer.

And the shooting got closer, a shadow fell over the door Alan shut his eyes and prayed. He prayed to God, and mom, to anyone that was listening. He didn't want to die. Not yet.

John was monitoring incoming and outgoing calls when he noticed it. The pattern of 911 calls coming from the very familiar school. As he scrolled down to the speaker button he didn't quite realize what was about to happen in his near future.

"911 whats your emergency"

"H-hi I'm Am-Amy and I'm hi-hiding in science. *BANG BANG SCREAM* Ahhh!"

"Amy whats happening?"

"There's a cr-crazy guy! He ha-has a gun... Pl-please help me!"

Clicking on many other calls John couldn't help the elderly brother worry that started to form in his chest at all the repeated statements.

There was a gun man at Alan's school. And he was shooting kids.

Alan ran and hid, ran and hid, ran and hid. His room had been turned into a blood bath.

Bullets flying everywhere.

His friends and classmates being shot while some lucky ones like him got out. He was still on the second floor which sucked. But he wasn't alone, among the shooter that was bound to be coming soon, was another couple of kids. A freshman, and another that was older than him; a sophomore, that he didn't know the names of. They came up to a janitors closet and locked themselves in before sitting in a corner tight together as to try and hide in each others shadows. He gazed down at his watch but started to second guess himself. He wanted nothing more than to call Scott, or John, or any of his brothers, or better yet dad. But that would mean that he would give himself away.

Scott was chilling on the couch along with Virgil, Gordon and Dad surfing through channels when something caught their eye. The news reporter was saying something about a school shooting that was in progress. Cops were running around the scene as students ran out. They weren't really thinking much of it until the name that was read off.

"What we have here is live footage from Wharton's Academy. A shooter is unloading bullet after bullet in the school. As the chaos unfolds children are still not accounted for. Among those include Jacob Fisher, Bill Grose, Chey Liker, Alan Tracy, and Sammy Locken and many more. There is no word yet as to where the location of the shooter is as of yet, we will keep you updated as soon as we find out more."

Wait! What did she say!

Gordon swallowed hard and looked at his dads face to see if he'd heard right.

"Dad?"

BIZZZZZZ

The static that sounded was the familiar one that sounded when a watch com was being sent through.

It was Alan.

They tried to keep each other calm, but it was a bit difficult with the gun shots still sounding around them. The sophomore took charge and made sure that they were well away from the door. He silenced the other freshman when he started blubbering and kept his eyes on Alan as well.

The blonde Tracy looked between the door and the other two in the closet with him. Pulling his knees up to his chest, and wrapping his arms around himself, he came face to face with his watch. It was a mere button, if only he cou-

"I'm Jake by the way.."

Alan's head snapped up at the unsteady vice, eyes meeting those of the sophomore. He raised an eyebrow at the introduction but understood why he was introducing himself none the less. THe thoughts of that reason made him look back down at his watch.

"I'm Alan-"

"I know, your Jeff Tracy's kid"

It was something one got used to, people knowing who you were simply because of your father, it had taken some time but all the Tracy boys had learned to deal with it.

Alan nodded his head, looking down at his watch once more. His dad had told him to only use the wrist comm in an emergency and if this whole situation didn't count as an emergency then his dads definition was way off. His heart skipped a beat at a gun shot, a closer gun shot then before. Without any hesitation Alan touched the screen of his watch and pushed his panic button, he was done.

He wanted his family and he would damned if he didn't get to at least say good bye.

Jake scooted closer until he was right above his shoulder, thought that he was simply going to look over it to see a fancy watch that only the son of a rich man could own, but was surprised at what he did see.

And it was no watch.

"What are you doing? Isn't that the Thunderbird symbol?"

Alan nodded and continued to call his house's emergency line. Ignoring the questions being shot in whispers towards him. Screw keeping the secret, he wanted to go home, he wanted his brothers (although he would never admit to it aloud) and he wanted his dad.

"How did you get one?"

"Just.. Just shut up ok and don't tell anybody!"

"That doesn't answer my quest-"

"Its a family business ok! Now Shut up Jacob"

Jacob did as he was told but didn't remove the gaze he had fixed on the Tracy's head. A moment later Alan was talking to someone on the other end of the watch phone thing.

"Sprout are you ok?"

"Did you get shot?"

"Have you been harmed in anyway?"

The worried faces of his three closest brothers (in proximity anyway) filled the small screen. They jumped as well to the gun shot that was uncomfortably close to his hiding spot. Alan took a deep breath before answering, eyes going from the watch to the door and back down again.

"No I'm fine dad, Scott. I wasn't shot Virgil, Gordon. But we're stuck in a janitors closet and well I want to go home."

"I know baby brother! I know, We will get you home ok we will"

"Alive right?"

The face of the oldest Tracy brother filled the screen.

"Alan we will get you home safe and alive I promise just stay calm and stay strong ok"

"OK Scotty but I really want to come home. I don't want to die"

"Your not going to die ok Allie I promise you baby we will get you back safely"

Alan nodded. What ever Scott was going to say next was never heard, Alan looked up just as the door was blocked by a shadow.

The last thing they heard was the screaming.

Alan flung himself backwards, mentally cursing as he smacked his wrist (with the watch) against the wall in an attempt to blend in with it. The door was flung open and the flash of metal was all Alan, and the other boys, needed to see to know that they were in for it.

That this was it.

They ordered them out of the closet and they refused. The refusal made them angry and open-fired in the closet. Who ever it was, there was something wrong with them, for their aim was way way off. Alan assumed it was drugs, but all thoughts left his mind at the mind numbing agony he felt as the bullets pierced his skin. He screamed as they tore into his legs. He was faintly aware of Jake screaming next to him and the nameless Freshman next to Jake.

The shooter looked up at a shout, and ran, the closet door automatically slamming shut as he moved away from keeping it propped against his foot. The three bloody boys watched as two, three, four shadows passed the door.

Alan grimaced and reached forward grasping at his leg. He didn't realize he as even shaking until he focused his wavering attention on his hands. He bit his lip until he tasted blood, he had to wait, wait for his family to come get him.

They would come. They had to.

John snapped his attention to the incoming emergency line and stared fearing the worst. He was tempted to not touch it. But in the end he had to push the button.

"International Rescue what's your emergency?"

"Yes this is Adam Barnes Principal of Wharton Academy. We need your help with getting everything back under control. The gunman has been secured but the school is still in chaos."

John was immediately pushing the alert button and replying with a 'We are on our way'.

But his mind was really on Alan. He had been too silent. And that very familiar protective instinct took control as he stood from his seat and made a quick call to home.

"Dad I'm coming home. Now"

Within the next fifteen minutes he was switching places with Brains and Fermat as he made his way down.

He had a baby brother to get to.

When they got to Wharton's the first thing that came to mind was 'WOW!' Kids were running around. Parents were arriving and trying to locate their children. But there was still no familiar blonde head in sight anywhere. As soon as they touched down, it took everything they had not to simply forget about everybody tehre and find Alan. But the chief of police came up to Scott before they could do anything of the sort.

"Are you in charge?'

Scott nodded and motioned for the cop to fill them in.

Had the missing kids been found?

What was the death toll?

What had happened to the shooter?

So on and so forth.

The officer filled them in, most had been located and they were finding more and more every moment, so far only two were dead (none of them blondes much to the officers confusion), and the shooter was in custody preparing to be shipped off. Scott nodded his head and motioned his brothers into action; John was to follow him into the school to locate the kids (Alan, they simply needed to find Alan) while Virgil and Gordon would assist the law enforcement and medics.

They split up,Scott and John made their way in one direction and Virgil and Gordon made their way towards the other.

As The two eldest Tracy's ran into the school the smell and sight overwhelmed them momentarily. Blood was on the floor and things were thrown across the hall. It was absolutely terrifying. If they even let Alan out of their sight anytime after this it would be to soon. They exchanged looks before turning and making their way down the hall shouting out Alan's name. They had almost given up hope when they heard the creek of a door behind them. They spun around and two hearts stopped at the same time.

There behind them was Alan.

Standing in the door way for what seemed like a second before he was sprinting down the hall.

Jake screamed for him not to leave until it was called out that it was all clear, and to mind his leg, but Alan ignored both of them. Adrenaline masking the pain as he ran down the hall towards the two beings he had sworn he would never see again. Alan didn't stop until he was lifted off the ground and the muscular arms were holding him tight, the familiar scent of the aftershave filled his nose. He wasn't even put on the ground as he was passed among the strong chests and familiar scents. Alan saw Jake briefly in the door way to the closet, holding his bleeding arm to his chest, but smiling at the safety that the International Rescue men brought with them.

Alan spared him a minute ore before burying his face into John's shoulder, taking in his solidness, his scent. Scott turned and waved a hand towards the two other boys hiding in the closet, not willing to go make sure that they were ok because that would mean that he would have to leave Alan's side which was something he did not see himself doing in the near future. Even if he was safe in Johns grasp.

Besides, the didn't seem to need his help as they ran down the hall towards him.

John tightened his grasp around his baby brother, not minding how his legs (or rather leg) wrapped around his waist. They turned and walked down towards the entrance. It was when they were about half way there that John felt it, the sticky wet hot substance that could only be blood. He made to ask Alan what it was. but his brother wouldn't respond.

Adrenaline gone, Alan had succumbed to his injuries.

Which brought them to where they were now, the hospital about an hour away from Wharton's. Many of the victims had been transport there from the school. It was becoming the popular joint of well known people and their children tonight. Virgil held onto Alan's hand, thumb rubbing the smooth skin. John sat on his bedside, his hadn holding onto Alan's other their fingers interlaced. Scott was next to him in a chair, Gordon in a similar position on the opposite side.

Jeff Tracy sat at his head. slowly petting the mess of blonde hair out of his youngest sons face.

The doctor having come and gone, giving them the green light to take him home once his awoke. When ever that could be.

His hand moved a centimeter in Virgil's, but it was all it took for them all to be up on their feet, encouraging him to open his eyes.

Seeing the blue eyes that only Alan could call his own was met with an all together sigh of relief.

"You had us worried kiddo"

Scott.

Alan looked over at him, his mouth dry. He tried to speak, to say something, anything. Someone lifted a cup with a straw to his lips and he drank it happily.

Opening his mouth, he tried again.

"Ca-Can I go home now?"

Hours later when everything had been taken care of and they had finally returned home they all just sat on the couch and held onto the youngest in their family.

Alan refused to move from his position, with his head resting on Scott's chest while he leaned back onto his dad and his feet being held in Johns lap. Virgil was finishing re-wrapping his foot and soon squeezed his way into the mass along with Gordon.

When Alan had finally fallen asleep Scott chuckled and agreed that it was a long day and they all needed sleep. That was how Alan found himself on his bed with his older brothers sitting around his bed. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked around at all the faces staring back at him.

"Are we having another sleepover I wasn't told about again? Because if we are I'm gonna pass. No offense."

Scott shook his head. The others voicing their own versions of Scott's head shake.

"No Allie. We almost lost you today. I, we, just needed to make sure you were still ok"

There was many other remarks that sounded just like that.

"Soo you wanna sleep with me cause you sitting there staring at me is really starting to freak me out..."

A minute later he was being tucked in-between his four (over) protective brothers.

"Allie how can you act like this whole thing never happened? Like it was all a bad dream or something?"

Alan took a breath.

"Virgie don't get me wrong I was scared out of my mind. For a couple minutes there I was sure I was going to die. But I can't let what did happen control my life. Yes it happened and there's nothing I can do to change it. I just I don't know... I just don't want to be weak or something.."

"Allie it's ok to be scared you know that right?"

"I know but I just... I want to try and forget it and move on you know?"

There was many a yes and then silence. They were together and they were safe. That's all that really mattered in the end.