DECEPTIONS

By Spense

EPILOGUE

Jeff stood on the balcony in the twilight watching his sons splash in the pool. An impromptu game of water volleyball had started with Scott and Alan against Virgil and Gordon. At least that was how it appeared – the sides seemed to change rather fluidly.

A gentle hand on his shoulder made him start, and he turned to see Lady Penelope at this side. She gave him a soft smile, not breaking his mood, and joined him at the railing, watching the noisy, splashing game below.

It had been more than three weeks now since Alan had gotten home. Jeff was just now finally finding the knot in his stomach loosening. It hadn't been an easy three weeks for any of them.

The first night he and Alan had stayed in the New York apartment. Jeff still had to swallow hard as he remembered bringing the helijet into land on snowy field to the south of the Jorgenson house, and from the air seeing Alan tearing out of the back of the house at full speed in order to see his father the moment he'd landed. Jeff had felt the same way, and had hugged his son tightly as soon as he'd shut the engines down and jumped out, just grateful for the change to hold him again.

Jeff felt he had gotten a good feel for where his son was at both mentally and physically that first night. The second night, they were home, and it was a heady evening fully of relief for the whole family. They had made it through the trial intact – anything seemed possible. By the third night, life was settling into a routine again. But the fourth night the true state of affairs became clear when International Rescue had been called out very late.

Upon return, at about three in the morning, Jeff had peeked into Alan's room expecting to see him sound asleep. Instead he'd found him in his bathroom, having been violently ill. He had apparently been there quite awhile.

Jeff had read Tina's reports and had an idea of what was happening, so after getting Alan calmed down, back into bed, and finally asleep, he'd headed into his study and called her. After getting more details from the willing Tina Jorgensen, his next call was to a highly recognized child psychologist in New York. He made an appointment for Alan as soon as they could get there. Jeff knew Alan wouldn't like it, but that was tough. He obviously needed help in dealing with what had happened.

Alan, predictably, had thrown a massive tantrum, but Jeff was not to be swayed. Adding the firm agreement of the united front of all of his brothers, Alan had no choice, and off they'd gone.

To Jeff's immense relief, Alan stopped protesting after the first appointment, and seemed more thoughtful than anything else. He and Alan had stayed in the New York apartment that night, more to give Alan some space to digest his conversation with the psychologist than anything else. But it had given father and son the added benefit of some quiet time to really talk. And they had made the best of it.

They had fallen into a pattern now, with weekly appointments. After three so far, improvement was being seen, and Jeff was enjoying the time with Alan away from the bustle of the island.

The psychologist had encouraged Jeff in this schedule, and had recommended home schooling for at least the first part of the term. After than, when it was deemed appropriate, he could resume attending the day school at the prep school he been attending when all of this had begun. At that point, he would stay with Schaeffer and his family during the week, and with Jeff or one of his brothers during the weekends at the apartment, or home on the island. Eventually, Alan would return to boarding school – probably in the fall, but not until the psychologist had approved it.

Interestingly enough, Alan had put up no arguments, and although well hidden, Jeff could tell he was relieved. The school itself had been in touch with Jeff, and the administration was falling all over itself to be agreeable. In one way Jeff was amused, but in another, he was furious, and the powers that be at the school knew it.

One circumstance that was proving to be beneficial for both father and son was the time spent in New York with just the two of them. Alan showed Jeff his hiding place in the library from the previous summer, and some of the things he'd seen. Jeff was struck once again by his son's inventiveness. The time had also yielded some interesting conversations. Once in particular had struck Jeff.

Out of the blue, Alan had asked what would happen to him if something 'happened' to Jeff. Jeff had explained that he had that spelled out in his will. Scott would be Alan's guardian. Jeff thought that would be the end of it and would reassure Alan. He was wrong. Alan had shaken his head, and had clarified his question. He hadn't meant just Jeff, he'd meant the whole family. What would happen then?

Jeff had almost come back with a soothing reassurance that that was unlikely to happen. But then he had remembered last spring on Thunderbird Five when, if it hadn't been for Alan, Fermat and TinTin, none of them would still be around. Alan had a valid point and Jeff needed to address it as such. So Jeff explained that he had arranged for Lady Penelope to be his guardian in just such a situation. Was that acceptable to Alan? It was, and the subject was dropped. However, it stayed with Jeff as a measure of just how insecure Alan was right now.

The psychologist had stressed to Jeff that Alan needed security and order right now while he worked through the series of events and what had happened to him and why. Jeff agreed firmly, although order in their household was hard to come by. But the family was patient – they each had their own fallout to deal with on this one. But everything seemed to be coming together finally. Alan's nightmares were fewer, and he seemed to be more secure.

Then they had had another late night rescue the night before last. Afraid that Alan was going to be sick again, Jeff had gone to Alan's room immediately on his return with more than a little trepidation. He had thought his fears were born out when he was the empty bed, but the bathroom was uninhabited as well.

He'd hurried to the command and control center, yelling for Brains in his worry, only to have the scientist quiet him with a finger to his lips. With a smile, he pointed to one of the couches. There was Alan, sound asleep. Jeff had given a huge sigh of relief.

"Is he alright?" He'd asked softly, the adrenaline flowing out of his system.

Brains chuckled quietly. "Just fine. He, uh, came up here right after you left. He fell asleep not, uh, fifteen minutes later. I thought it best to leave him."

"Thank you. You thought right. He wasn't sick?"

"No. He was, uh, just fine."

Yes, things seemed to be back on a more even keel. His older sons had all been more quiet as well, spending time talking quietly to one another or to him, working things out. But all in all, they were all dealing well with the issues in their own ways.

"They look good, Jeff," came Penny's soft voice out of the darkness.

He put an arm over her shoulder and hugged her lightly. "Yes, Penny, yes they do." As he watched the game progress, he felt the last of the tension in him slip away. Life was quiet again on Tracy Island. At least until the next rescue call came through. Then, as always, the Thunderbirds would be go.