Thank you to everyone for sticking with this story. I know it is hard to believe but it is done. Yippee! I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think. A special thank you to Alaina for the awesome beta. Any mistakes are my on. And thank you Sheila for the contest - I won :P

Head in the Clouds

Chapter 24

Alan was quiet as the brothers drove towards the small airfield Scott had arranged the flight from. Scott tried to get him to talk but the kid was too nervous and looked like he wanted to throw up.

His heart went out to his scared little brother and he felt bad at having to push the kid like this but the longer they put off getting Alan back in the air, the harder it was going to be. On all of them.

Parking the car, Scott shut it off then got out and walked around to Alan's side. He opened the door but Alan didn't move. "Hey, Sprout, you getting out?"

Alan turned wide frightened eyes on his brother. "I can't, Scotty," he whispered his cheeks burning red in shame. "I just can't."

Scott's face crinkled in sympathy. "Awww, Sprout." Scott crouched down in the space of the open door. "It'll be okay. I promise."

Mutely Alan shook his head and Scott considered him carefully for a few moments.

"I tell you what," he finally decided, "come with me, let me show you something pretty special… and afterwards, if you still don't wanna fly, that's okay – we don't have to do it today. How does that sound?"

Alan bit his lip as Scott mentally coaxed him along, c'mon, kiddo, you know you want to find out what I'm talking about… you know you do…

"You want to show me something?" Alan's voice was unusually timid and it tore at his brother.

Scott managed a small smile as he nodded in encouragement. "Uh huh, Al… it's a big surprise. Just for you."

Curiosity piqued, the kid mauled at his lip. "And then we can just leave? If I really want to?"

"If you want to."

Finally the nine-year-old undid his seatbelt. He took a deep breath and got out of the car. "Okay."

They met Brains halfway across an empty hanger. The airport itself was small, used mostly for crop dusters and private planes, and Scott was relieved the scientist had been able to make arrangements so quickly. Thank God money talked or – in the case of Tracy money – screamed.

Brains looked flustered, his arms laden down with a cumbersome looking picnic basket, but he put it down as soon he saw them.

"Brains!" Alan cried out as he hurled himself at the man.

Welcoming the child with a hug, the scientist's relief at seeing one of the injured Tracys was palpable and Scott had to turn away to swallow the lump that rose in the back of his throat. Brains held the child out at arms length so he could properly check him over and Scott chuckled at the put off look on his brother's face.

"I'm fine," the boy tried to protest as he squirmed under the scrutiny. "What are you doing here?"

Fleeting panic crossed the man's face as he caught Scott's eye for a cover story, obviously not wanting to blow Scott's surprise but both men were saved from an explanation when Alan saw the wicker basket on the ground. "What's that?" He was already reaching for the lid.

The smell of something wonderful and meaty tickled Scott's nose. He teased his friend, "You cooked?"

Brains gently batted Alan's hand away, "I h-h-ope n-n-not!" he scoffed. "Kyrano s-s-sent this for your d-d-father and Virgil. S-s-stew, d-d-dumpings and rolls."

Although he had only eaten an hour ago, Scott found himself mirroring his brother as he reached for the basket. Brains was not so gentle with his hand smack. "N-n-not for d-d-discharged Tracys!"

"Kyrano's stew is almost worth an injury," Scott commented under his breath pleased when Alan laughed. He grinned, winked at his brother and then caught his friend's eye. "Everything ready?" he asked glancing significantly in the direction the scientist had been coming from.

Brains nodded his head. "M-most d-d- definitely. I've in-in-put in a se-se-jump s-s-seat."

Alan looked between the two men. "What's going on?" he demanded.

Scott smiled warmly at his brother. "Just making sure your surprise is all ready."

Suspicion beetled the child's brow. "Brains is part of my surprise?"

"Oh most definitely." Looping an arm over his brother's slender frame, Scott steered the boy towards the large open hangar door. "He had to bring it here for you."

"S-S-Scott?" Brains picked up his basket but didn't follow.

"It's okay, Brains," he assured the man as he stopped and turned around, "I got this." He reached into his jeans pocket, plucked out the rental car keys then tossed them the short distance between them.

The scientist caught them in one hand, nodded and hurried from the hangar. He was no longer needed.

Alan frowned at his brother even as Scott started them walking again. "If Brains takes the car… how are we going to get back?"

Stepping outside, Alan turned back around just as Scott answered. "How about we…fly?"

Sitting on the tarmac, her gun metal grey body glinting in the morning sun was the most beautiful aircraft Scott had ever seen. A hypersonic variable geometry rocket plane, Brains had brought the prototype in for a vertical landing and the tip of her nosecone rose proudly towards the sky. Scott sucked in a breath, once again awed by his father's vision and Brains brilliance.

Thunderbird One – this prototype was their family's future and no matter how many times he'd seen her as she'd started to come together, there was just something about this aircraft that sent a shiver through Scott's spine. He had flown her only one time before and was looking forward to it again.

Of course she needed a paint job…

Tearing his gaze away, Scott glanced down at his brother to see if it was having the same kind of affect on Alan.

It was.

Eyes wide, his mouth formed in a small 'o', Alan moved away from Scott and towards the craft as if drawn towards it.

"Scott?" he asked over his shoulder as he reached out with one hand but didn't get close enough to touch, "Wh-what is this?"

"This," Scott couldn't keep the pride out of his voice, "is Thunderbird One."

"Thunder bird?" Alan frowned as he seemed to mull the word around for a moment and comprehension dawned and he whirled around so quickly Scott had to step back. "Do you mean… like Dad's Thunderbird? His rescue ship? This? Here?" He pointed vaguely at the huge vessel. "It's really, real? It's this?"

Like his brothers, Alan knew about their father's dream however he'd been kept a lot more sheltered from the actual progress on the project then either Scott, John or even Virgil.

Scott laughed. "Yeah, Alan, just like that."

Alan shook his head, seemingly dumbfounded. "But-but-"

"No buts," the pilot cut him off still chuckling. "So do you want to go for a ride, or what?"

At that, Alan froze. All the blood drained from his face and he stared wide-eyed at Scott. Concerned, Scott crouched down eye-level to the boy. "Al?"

"A ride?" The words were whispered as bright blue eyes searched Scott's face. "You mean… fly? In that?"

"Well," Scott considered slowly, afraid of ruining things if he pushed too fast. "We could just sit inside it for a bit… maybe taxi around the runway if you'd like…" It would kill him not to take that wonderful beast up for a flight, but as much as he loved being a pilot, he was a big brother first.

Alan took a deep breath and turned back towards Thunderbird One. "Scotty?"

"Yeah?" Scott held his breath –

"I don't want to drive around in that thing like any old car…"

Scott closed his eyes in defeat.

"I want to fly!"

His eyes shot open and then Alan was grabbing his hand and tugging him forward. "Let's go! Let's go!"

His heart bursting with pride and love, Scott grabbed his little brother and hoisted him up on his shoulders. "In that case," his loud voice boomed around them, "Let's fly!"

Ten minutes and lots of oohing and aahing later, the Tracy brothers were strapped into their respective seats and ready to take-off.

"Alan?" Scott asked, needing to know that his brother was really okay with this. He glanced over his shoulder to where Alan was securely restrained in the newly added jumpseat. "You ready?"

And when Alan smiled, his face stark white with fear but his eyes bright with trust and barely concealed excitement Scott knew he was.

They both were.

And in a hospital room, several miles away, Jeff Tracy smiled as he watched Brains fussing over Virgil. The smile widened as his sensitive hearing picked up the familiar purr of a powerful engine overhead.

"Thunderbirds," he whispered to himself, "Are Go."

Epilogue:

John Tracy leaned over the bow of the six sail schooner and stared down as the magnificent craft cut through water sending up white foam on either side. It was a beautiful day for sailing. Picture perfect. Made even moreso because today was his eighteenth birthday and this was his birthday party. A sailing adventure.

And…

This was the first time since the plane crash that all five Tracys were once again home and together.

To his chagrin, Jeff had been the last to get discharged, Scott and Brains only bringing him home the prior evening, but the determined patriarch refused to let a few doctors 'suggestions' keep him from enjoying this day with his family.

John had been overwhelmed when he saw the gorgeous schooner moored in the small Tracy island harbour. Apparently, Virgil had thought this up. A day out on the water sailing with his family on an authentic 1900's sailing schooner, fully restored, to be followed up by a pig roast and fireworks later that night. Although John wasn't supposed to know about that part… but what could he say? Alan really sucked at keeping these kinds of secrets and Gordon could be bribed.

He smiled as he heard said brothers bickering down below. Something about ice-cubes then a moment later, a startled cry – that sounded very much like Scott – followed by the pounding feet as both Alan and Gordon beat a hasty retreat up the stairs and across the deck had John laughing. Where exactly the kids thought they could go to escape an apparently fuming Scott on a boat was beyond John… but then again, this was Gordon and Alan he was thinking about…

Hmmm, he decided, I better keep a close eye on the crowsnest.

"Hey, bro," Virgil's voice had him turning around. "Not planning on jumping are you?"

"Not today," John chuckled as he eyed his younger brother. "I'd hate to miss out on the presents." Mostly recovered, Virgil leaned against the railing next to him and held out a neatly wrapped package. "Speaking of which… what's this?"

Virgil shrugged, "It's not much," he scratched absently at his cheek. "Just something from me."

John took the package and smiled at his sibling. "Ah, man, dude, thanks." He started to undo the bow noting and appreciating the time and effort the young artist had put into the presentation. "You didn't have to get me anything," he added as he paused for a moment and looked his brother in the eyes, "you, Dad, the squirts being here… that's more than enough."

His brother blushed and smiled but didn't say anything.

And then John saw the gift and his heart leapt into his mouth. "Oh, Virgil," he managed, his eyes burning as he stared down at the beautiful charcoal drawing his brother had made for him. "I…" he didn't know what to say.

Framed in an elegantly simple wooden frame was a drawing of a man standing on a beach and pointing up into a night sky. Surrounding the man were five children, all boys, round young faces staring upwards, excitement and eagerness in each captivated face as a shooting star streaked overhead.

"It's lame… I know," Virgil mistook John's lack of reaction. He reached for the picture. "I can get you something else."

"No!" John snatched the picture away. He looked at it, taking in all the easy details of his family captured so perfectly… and for him. He smiled at Virgil, his lip trembling. "I love it, Virg, really. I do… it's…awesome."

Virgil's smile light up his face. "Really?"

"Dude!" John snorted. "Do you even need to ask? This is… perfect. You even got Gordy's cowlick-"

"Hey!" Gordon sputtered, his eagle ears obviously eavesdropping on his older brother's. "I don't have a cowlick! It's a personality curl."

"Personality curl?" Virgil snorted out with a laugh.

"Aren't you supposed to be hiding from Scott?" John reminded him as he rolled his eyes, his hands careful to keep a firm grip on the picture as the schooner rocked slightly as it cut through the waves.

"Nah," Gordon scoffed as he waved his hands in nonchalance. "Al's playing decoy."

"Decoy?" John frowned. "Gordon…"

"It's totally kosher," the red-head protested. "I paid good chocolate and we shook on it."

"I'm not exactly sure I want to know anything else," John shook his head in surrender.

"You're probably right," Gordon agreed then looked down at the picture Virgil had drawn. "Holy crap – that's awesome." He grinned. "I didn't know Scott has boobs."

"What?" Virgil sputtered as both he and John tried to see what their brother was talking about.

"Got ya to look!" the teenager gloated and then darted away before the older boys could tie him to the boom.

"You know," John drawled out slowly as he watched Gordon's retreat, "I think he keeps forgetting that this here boat is only about 121 feet long."

"Yeah…" Virgil agreed with a smirk. "And there's only so many good places to hide…"

Then after making sure his gift was safely stowed away, John and Virgil took off after their wayward brother…

A flock of birds might have brought the Tracys' down but a different flock would elevate them past the stars. Until then, they were just five boys, one dad and a whole lot of boat. Heaven help them.

And if not, then at least watch out for them until they could help each other…

Because Jeff Tracy and his boys? Their heads were always in the clouds.

The End.