It wasn't something any of my family noticed. I'm sure if maybe my mom and dad or maybe my pediatrician had noticed it before I turned fourteen, I could have had it corrected before it got so bad. Perhaps the worst way to discover it was after throwing my back out in a game of Titanic in gym class. Titanic is such a stupid game anyway.

Alan was laying in his bed back home on the island, arms crossed tightly across his chest as he pouted. He was miserable. Since throwing his back out three weeks ago, he couldn't really tolerate lifting much without making electric shocks shoot up and down his spine. Thus the reason his dad was currently downstairs making a phone call for Alan to be seen by his pediatrician.

Alan's back pain hadn't gotten better and with Gordon having had back problems in the past what with the hydrofoil accident requiring Gordon to have many surgeries, he tried to help with applying heated rice bags to ease muscle tension, rubbing icy hot into his back every so often and even dragging Alan from his bed to bear hug back crack which only proved to cause more discomfort for Alan rather than help. It sucked.

Now he was required to stay in bed per Virgil's orders as a medic and told by his dad that he could go no further than his bed to the couch in the living room and bathroom. He was banned from doing chores of any kind and now Alan had an electric heat pad under his back as Kyrano poured him some concoction of herbs that was said to do wonders for back pain and stiffness.

It wasn't long before Jeff was perching on the edge of his bed and rubbing his ankle while he spoke.

"I made an appointment for you to be seen by your pediatrician for this Friday. Tomorrows Wednesday so we'll go over day after tomorrow and spend the night and you'll be in first thing Friday morning." Jeff said as he squeezed Alan's leg in comfort.

"This sucks. I wish I could do more than just lay in bed." Alan said as he tried to change his position in bed and only succeeded in making a jolt of what felt like electricity shoot through his spine. His dad didn't miss the grimace much to Alan's chagrin.

"Why don't you roll over and I'll put some icy hot on your back and just give you a back rub for a bit?" Jeff suggested as he lifted Alan's blankets marginally when his son offered a slow nod. Jeff put out a hand and grasped Alan's hand when the boy asked for the assistance to simply sit up. With Jeff's help, they managed to remove Alan's shirt and get Alan flipped onto his stomach. Jeff squirted some icy hot into his hands and proceeded to rub the cream together in attempt to warm it up. Starting in the small of Alan's back, Jeff rubbed the cream onto Alan's back while applying pressure in even circles.

Alan moaned softly in his throat at the pressure being applied to his back. He was greatly appreciative of his dad's help. His dad had been in meetings all morning and had asked to not be bothered up until Virgil said Alan's pain wasn't anything he could further treat. Alan needed something stronger to alleviate the pain he was feeling. It wasn't something Alan wanted to be made known to his dad, but Virgil insisted that as his brother and current medical overseer – their dad must be made aware of the situation.

"We'll get you looked at and get your back pain taken care of. You'll see. It'll all be just fine." Jeff said as he pushed down and out on Alan's back. He smiled sadly as he continued rubbing Alan's back with slow and easy movements. To hear those soft moans and sighs of contentment made him think of a dog getting a belly rub.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Later that night, Scott was carrying Alan down the stairs in a piggy back because moving made Alan's back hurt too much to take more than a couple steps. Nobody could really figure it out and Virgil had checked his books as well as Alan's medical records dating back to when he'd been born and absolutely nothing was known that would be causing such pain in Alan's back. It was really throwing Virgil for a loop.

"Here you go Sprout. Gordon's behind you and he's gonna help lower you down to the couch." Scott said as he accepted Virgil's help to lower as close to the couch as he could so as to lessen the drop from Scott's 6'1" frame. Alan was just barely 5'5' so it'd still be a bit of a drop. That's where Gordon came in. He was going to support Alan's descent to the floor and then ease Alan back onto the couch so he could eat dinner and spend time with the family. They were making the rare exception for everyone including the Belegants and Hackenbackers to eat in the living room. They didn't think it was fair to isolate Alan because he couldn't tolerate eating at the table. They'd done the same thing when Gordon had been hurt, only Jeff gave permission for the boys to eat in the infirmary with their brother when Gordon had to remain in bed with a brace on while his back healed from the surgeries.

"Thanks Scooter." Alan said as he was lowered onto the couch by Gordon. The redhead pulled the ottoman closer so Alan could prop his feet up and boy was it nice? He'd been in bed effectively every day for the last three weeks. At first when he'd gotten hurt at school, he was dismissed from PE to go to the nurse's office and then was taken by the nurse from there back to his room to rest in his bed due to a shortage of infirmary beds. Alan's school had been unfortunate enough to have an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning on campus, so there were a bunch of sick boys in the infirmary when Alan arrived. Alan and Fermat were both sent home after the dean closed the school due to high numbers of absences. It worked in their favor really.

Alan wasn't able to do homework because it was hard to write in bed when it required you to sit up for long periods of time. So Alan was mandated by Virgil to relax and only relax, no trying to walk to the beach or do his daily jogs.

"What's for dinner?" Alan asked as Onaha walked in with a tray that had legs to sit over Alan's.

"Spaghetti and garlic bread." Onaha said as she leaned down to place a tender kiss on Alan's brow. "It's your favorite."

"Thank you Onaha." Alan said with a smile before he began to tuck in. He'd practically finished his plate of dinner when he looked across the room to his dad's recliner where his dad was sitting with his plate resting on his knees. "Hey dad? What time is my appointment on Friday again?"

Jeff held up a finger to signify he needed a minute while he chewed his food. It wasn't until a few minutes later that he was able to answer. "It's Friday, first thing in the morning."

"Ok." Alan said before he gave his dad a small pout.

"What is it son?" Jeff asked as he saw the puppy pout.

"Nothing." Alan denied.

"Alan…" Jeff said as he looked to his youngest child. "What is it?"

"Do you think you could ask your assistant to have the hot tub set up? I know it's in our penthouse, but I'd really like to try to soak in that for a bit to see if that can help."

"Virgil's drawn you up plenty of hot baths since your back's been bothering you though." Jeff said. He couldn't see spending the water on the hot tub for one night. He could understand if it was a few nights…but one night?

"Yeah but it's just. I can't stretch out in the bathtub. I have to stay sitting up, the tub is too short. And it's not very deep." Alan said as he indicated the water only reached to just below his breast bone. Not nearly deep enough to get a good soak.

"He has a good point dad." Gordon said, understanding the issue Alan was having. He could identify with the same issues.

"Alright…I'll contact my secretary and have her start the hot tub on Thursday. Then when we get there, you can go have a soak." Jeff said as he saw the hopeful smile break out on his child's face.

"Thanks dad." Alan said before looking down at Gordon who was sitting on the floor below Alan who was on the couch. Touching his brother lightly on the shoulder, he mouthed 'thank you' to Gordon who mouthed back 'no problem, I've got your back' to which made both boys snicker.

When dinner was finished, and the plates and trays taken to the kitchen to be washed – the family sat around together to watch a movie. Alan was asleep by the time the movie was over and Scott retrieved a blanket and pillow from Alan's room upstairs to make sure Alan was comfy. Gordon pulled the blowup mattress out of the hallway closet and used the hand pump to air it up. Once it was aired up, Gordon grabbed his own bedding. He was intending to sleep in the living room with Alan so someone could help Alan if he needed it to get upstairs should he wake up later in the evening.

The family said their good nights and departed, leaving the aquanaut and their youngest in the same room.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Gordon woke up around three in the morning and couldn't figure out what it was that had woken him. He laid on his air mattress for a few moments in complete silence until he heard it. The springs in the couch groaning. Turning his head slightly, Gordon looked over at the couch where Alan was struggling to sit up. Quickly, Gordon stood to offer a hand to his little brother.

"Thanks Gordo." Alan mumbled under his breath as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

"What're you doing up kiddo? It's too early to be up." Gordon said as he double checked his watch before sitting on the couch with Alan. He was tired and wanted to go back to sleep, he didn't have to be up for a few more hours and he'd like to go back to sleep if it was all the same to anyone.

"I can't get comfortable. This couch is killing my back." Alan said as he reached back to rub the middle of his back.

"Come up to my room. You know my bed was recommended by my doctor for my back, maybe it'll help yours." Gordon suggested before helping his brother up to help walk him upstairs. He decided last minute to use the elevator that his dad had installed not long after his accident, when it looked like Gordon would be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life.

"Thanks Gordo." Alan said as he was helped upstairs via the elevator. He sighed when they'd reached Gordon's bedroom. Gordon snapped his fingers to turn on the light before helping Alan over to his bed. Once Alan was situated on one side of the bed, Gordon turned to leave but Alan stopped him. "Gordo, your bed is huge. You can sleep on the other side. I don't take up that much room."

"I know you don't, I just wanted to give you room to stretch out." Gordon said before he walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"It's too big. Just sleep on the other side." Alan said before he scooted down to lay down. "It's stupid for you to hurt your back because mine is causing me grief and you gave up your bed."

"You win." Gordon said before taking the other side of the bed and snapping his fingers. The room was plunged into darkness once more and both boys got as comfortable as possible before they went to sleep.

A few hours later, Scott went downstairs and was surprised to see both the couch and the air mattress void of little brothers drooling on their pillows. Growing concerned, he turned and headed back upstairs. He swung Alan's bedroom door open to find his bed empty. Going still for a few minutes, he was prepared to go raise the alarm before it occurred to him to check Gordon's bedroom. Walking down the hall, he pushed the door open lightly and smiled at the sight.

Both Gordon and Alan were in bed. Alan curled up with his knees pulled to his chest while Gordon was spread out starfish style. The eldest pulled the door back closed and tiptoed down the hall. It wasn't long before his dad came down the stairs soon followed by Virgil. Everyone was shocked by the disappearance of both Alan and Gordon, but Scott was able to assuage their concerns.

"Al and Gordo are upstairs sleeping. Looks like Gordon managed to convince Alan to give his mattress a shot." Scott said softly. "They were both sleeping like the dead."

"Good, Alan needs some adequate sleep. Honestly I'm beginning to think he might need a new mattress." Jeff said thoughtfully. He'd gladly spend the extra money to get Alan a bed like Gordon's if that would help and he'd see what he could do to supply both Alan and Fermat with decent mattresses at the school. Those mattresses he'd sat on in the past and they were hard as a rock if he were being honest. He was surprised neither boy had complained of back problems before.

Meanwhile upstairs, Alan had woken up. He pried his eyes open to stare at his big brother who slept across from him. The redhead was still sound asleep himself and that surprised Alan. Normally his brother was one of the first to awaken on the island for his 6am swims – Alan and Fermat dubbed it Gordon's 'greetings to the sun'. He laid in his brother's bed for a short spell just staring at his brother before said brother woke up himself.

"G'morning." Gordon mumbled as he rubbed at his eyes with his knuckles.

"Morning." Alan said as he gave a stretch and was satisfied to find the pain had significantly lessened. He could move without the electric jolts shooting up and down his spine. His rocked his hips from side to side as that was where his pain started was in the small of his back and traveled up.

"How's your back?" Gordon asked as he sat up and gave a stretch filled with satisfying groans and joints popping. "Ahh, that's nice."

"It doesn't hurt." Alan said with a smile.

"Nice." Gordon said before he flipped his blankets back. "Stay in bed while I run to the toilet and when I get back, I'll make sure you don't need help walking."

"Fine." Alan said before Gordon left the room.

When Gordon returned a few minutes later, he stayed close while Alan slowly sat up. Once Alan was sitting, they worked together until Alan was standing. Alan wanted to walk unassisted and he'd insisted Gordon follow him in case his back started causing pain. They went to Alan's room and Gordon lounged in Alan's beanbag chair while Alan took a shower and tried to feel human again. When he'd finished with his shower, they went downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning boys." Jeff said as he read the newspaper. "How's your back Alan?"

"It's good. Stopped hurting." Alan replied.

"That's good son. I'm still taking you to see your pediatrician though. I want to make sure it's nothing concerning, your back pain." Jeff said as he looked up from his newspaper at his youngest. "I could understand if it was one or two days of back pain…but three weeks of nonstop pain and discomfort raises a red flag for me."

"I understand completely dad. I'll pack a bag of overnight clothes and toiletries before we go." Alan said before he sat to eat breakfast at the table with his family.

"Actually, pack for about three or four days. I've got a meeting Monday that'll keep us there until Tuesday." Jeff advised.

"Mmm 'kay Dad." Alan mumbled as he ate his breakfast.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Later that day, Alan was up in his room – albeit moving slowly so as to not aggravate his back. He was packing his backpack with enough clothes to last him until Tuesday morning when they'd be returning from Alan's doctor appointment and Jeff's business meeting. Since they were going to be a few extra days, Alan fully intended on taking advantage of soaking in the hot tub. They didn't have a hot tub on the island, it was far too hot to sit in a tub of heated water for an extended period of time. They had two pools, a small-ish wading pool and an Olympic sized pool. Provided plenty of soaking in cool water, but that wasn't what Alan wanted. He wanted a decent soak in some hot water.

"Knock – knock, can I come in?" Virgil asked as he leaned against the door frame of Alan's bedroom door.

"Sure Virgil, I have my door open – you don't need to ask. Only when it's closed do I prefer you knock." Alan said as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Touché." Virgil responded before he entered Alan's room to sit on the foot of his bed. "So how's you back feeling?"

"It's been better. I'm afraid if I move wrong or turn just the right way I'll be back on the floor unable to breathe because of the pain like I was during the fall that caused this." Alan mumbled.

"Care to tell me how you hurt your back during this…game?" Virgil asked.

"I was one of the chosen 'survivors' that was supposed to escape the Titanic and when I made it to the rescue ship, I jumped off the rolling scooter I was kneeling on and landed wrong." Alan said as he recalled everything, down to the moment he felt he couldn't breathe because the pain had stolen his very breath. "When I jumped from the rolling scooter, the goal was to land on my knees. I put my hands out in front of me to keep me from eating the mat. My hands separated outwards and I landed hard on my chest. The moment I landed, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't stand anyone touching me and the coach had to pick me up and carry me like one of those grooms carries his bride. He took me to the infirmary because I couldn't breathe let alone walk. Then the nurse took me to my dorm where they called you guys to come get me."

Alan was more than embarrassed at being carried from the gym class by his coach. But he knew the coach had to move him to get some form of medical attention. He didn't remember actually being carried from class by his teacher – but according to Fermat that was the case. Alan was panting heavily as he struggled to suck in a decent breathe after having the wind knocked out of him from the fall. Fermat worried for his friend and he didn't wait to cut class and run through the shower before he grabbed his and Alan's belongings from the gym locker they shared and sprinting to the infirmary only to discover the nurse had escorted Alan to their dorm. He'd be understandably shook up when he rushed to their dorm to find Alan lying flat in his bed and moaning in pain.

"Okay. Can you describe the pain for me?" Virgil asked as he tried to figure out just how bad Alan's pain had been on a pain scale of 1-10.

"Remember when you were ten years old? We were in the basement at grandma and grandpa's and you thought it was a good idea to plug in some old Christmas lights you'd found in a box?" Alan asked. He remembered, it wasn't but a few years after their mom passed away. Virgil was watching Alan and had gone into the basement to find his old I Can Read books to read to Alan. Instead he'd found a box of Christmas lights of indeterminate age and decided to plug them in. He set Alan on the floor and reached above the metal washing tub their grandma used for soaking clothes in her lye soak. Virgil couldn't quite reach the outlet and had put his hand on the metal wash basin to give himself the boost he needed to reach the outlet.

To cut a long story short, the Christmas lights being plugged in when Virgil was touching the metal basin was a huge mistake. He became a conducting unit for the lights and was unable to remove the plug from the wall nor remove his hand from the metal wash basin. He was stuck because of the current of electricity coursing through his body. He was left shaking uncontrollably and he yelped in pain, thereby making Alan cry. The toddler was frightened by the strange scream that came from Virgil and he'd cried inconsolably. Their grandma had heard Alan crying and she'd heard the yelp from Virgil and hurried down the stairs and cut the breaker to the outlet when she saw that Virgil was being electrocuted. As soon as the electricity quit flowing through him, Virgil dropped to the ground where he simply shook as he tried to gain feeling in his extremities again.

"How could I forget? That hurt so bad. I can't even describe the pain, honestly." Virgil said as he recalled a long forgotten memory. He still found it funny that there were things from Alan's past that he himself couldn't remember but Alan could. Little details that stuck with Alan more than they did with the person experiencing whatever was going on at the time.

"You remember that then? Now you have an idea of the pain I experienced when my back hurt. I've been electrocuted before, I know the same kind of pain and that is the best way I can describe the pain in my back." Alan said as he turned slowly to place a pair of folded boxers in the bottom of his backpack. "Trust me, it hurts something fierce."

"So on a scale of 1 to 10?" Virgil inquired softly.

"I'll say 10 and that's being generous. It doesn't always work for me, rating my pain. Because what I feel is bad and what everyone feels is bad is completely different." Alan said.

"You've done yoga with Scott in the past though haven't you?" Virgil asked, going out on a limb since he could count on one hand that Scott's done yoga.

Alan snorted a laugh before he turned with a raised eyebrow. "Scott doing yoga? Yeah, right…I'll believe it when I see it."

"He's done it a time or two." Virgil offered lamely.

"Scott I wouldn't believe…Tin-Tin though…yes. I've done yoga with her in the past." Alan said with a wry shake of his head.

"Did you back ever hurt during the yoga?" Virgil asked.

"No, it always felt better. For as long as I can remember, my back has always just felt tight. Not painful, just tight. Like I couldn't contort if I tried." Alan replied.

Virgil stayed quiet for a little bit before he observed Alan moving with stilted movements. "Is your back bothering you again?"

"No, I'm just afraid of making it hurt again." Alan admitted.

"Can you relax for me?" Virgil asked as he observed Alan closer. When Alan looked over his shoulder at his brother with a look of incredulity Virgil made a show of what he meant when he slouched and shook out his arms to show he wanted Alan to fully relax and practically go as limp as a noodle. Alan did as his brother instructed and stayed slouched for all of thirty seconds before standing up straight again like he'd been doing before slouching for Virgil.

"Was that uncomfortable?" Virgil asked.

"No, just…I have to stand straight. It feels weird if I'm not." Alan said in reply. He didn't understand it. He'd always stood this way. And no, before anyone asked – his school didn't correct his posture. They could care less if their students slouched or not. As long as they were present for class – that's all that mattered for them.

"Okay, well…I'll leave you to pack your bag. If you begin to feel bad or your back starts acting weird…come let me know." Virgil said before he turned to leave.

"Thanks Virge." Alan said as he turned to wave to his brother.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The following day found Alan and his dad in flight. Alan tried sitting in the cockpit with his dad, but he didn't like the way the seats felt so he moved back into the cabin. He lay on one of the seats and stared at his phone – watching music videos on the internet. Alan was trying to keep his mind off of the appointment the following day. He was growing anxious about his pediatrician's appointment. He wondered what his doctor might find…if anything. On one side of the coin he did want his pediatrician to find something, but on the other side of the same coin…he wanted his pediatrician to not find anything wrong.

He knew he had nothing to worry about. It was a pediatrician he'd been with since he was really little, so he trusted the guy…but he feared whatever his pediatrician had to say. Dr. Jürgen was a funny doctor, making an ass of himself to make his patients laugh and to relax in general.

"Alan, we're on final approach to the landing strip. Buckle your seatbelt." Jeff advised through the open door to the pilot's cabin.

"Okay dad." Alan replied as he sat up correctly and buckled his seatbelt. Once fastened, he called out to his dad that he'd done as asked. "So what are we doing when we land?"

"We're going to go drop off our bags then stop in to the office to visit with a few of my colleagues then we'll go get some dinner." Jeff said from the cockpit, having to raise his voice only slightly to be heard from a distance.

Alan remained silent from his seat and stared out the window. He wondered again on what his doctor would find…if anything. Did he have just a sensitive back? A slipped disc? A bulging disc? Was it an odd sleeping position that made his back sore after healing? Alan wanted to know and he knew he'd need to ask his dad for something that would make him sleep otherwise he'd be crabby tomorrow at the pediatrician's. Heaving a sigh, Alan resorted to crossing his arms and losing himself in thoughts other than his appointment tomorrow.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The next morning, Alan was woken up by his dad gently rubbing his shoulder. He'd asked his dad for the sleeper that knocked him out cold and he felt like he could do with a few more hours of sleep if he was being honest with anyone.

"Wake up son. It's time for you to go get a shower before your appointment." Jeff said gently as he continued rubbing Alan's shoulder.

"More sleep." Alan mumbled as he turned his face back into his pillows.

"Not quite son. You can take a nap later if you're still tired. I wanted to get you seen early enough to avoid the press hounding us. Let's go. It'll be done before you know it." Jeff persisted to which Alan groaned in exasperation at being woken at six in the morning. He wanted sleep. Sleep was more important to him than some appointment. "Wake up Alan. Or else I'll call Gordon."

And that was all it took to make Alan sit up. Gordon would be obnoxious if contacted and he'd probably blow out the speakers in their dad's cell phone if it woke Alan up. Not that that would bother Jeff though. He had the money, he could replace his cell phone if his speakers crapped out because of Gordon's antics.

"Alright, I'm up." Alan mumbled as he proceeded to stand and walk to the bathroom. He yawned as he stood in front of the sink and began to brush his teeth. He took a quick shower to try to wake himself up. He wandered out into the living room and was greeted by his dad who had generously poured him a healthy bowl of cereal. "Thanks dad."

"No problem son. Eat up and we'll get you to the doctors to have your back taken care of." Jeff said as he sat at the breakfast bar drinking coffee and eating a bagel.

"Okay." Alan said as he sat down to eat his breakfast. He tried to do like Virgil said and he slouched while he ate…or he tried to again. He managed a few seconds and then he had to sit up straight. His dad noticed his actions and he briefly catalogued it for when he and Alan met with Alan's pediatrician. He didn't say anything to Alan because he knew from experience as Alan's dad that Alan's often downplayed how bad he felt.

When Alan finished his breakfast almost ten minutes later, Jeff prodded Alan along and got the teen to follow him into the elevator which took them down to the garage. Once they were in the car, Alan leaned to the side and rested his head against the window. He was more than a little tired. He struggled keeping his eyes open for the few minutes into their drive. It wasn't long before they'd pulled up outside the pediatrician's office. Jeff prompted Alan to walk into the clinic. It wasn't long of a wait. Jeff had requested the papers be faxed to him as a means to get them through the wait before the press caught wind of it. He knew they'd need to be in and out otherwise there'd be pictures and Jeff didn't want his son in the media limelight to begin with. For one the paparazzo will spread lies about Alan being abused or ill…some such gobbledygook. That's not to mention, Jeff's parenting would be brought into question. No, Jeff would rather avoid all of that if possible.

The nursing staff subtlety brought Alan and Jeff back into an examination room. And it was about a twenty minute wait before Alan's pediatrician came in. The doctor smiled at his patient and he sat on a rolling stool. He prompted Alan to sit up on the exam table with a wide gesture of his hands.

Once the teen was seated on the exam table, Dr. Jürgen grabbed a tongue depressor and asked Alan to open his mouth and say 'ah'. It was all a formality really. He was aware of Alan's back pain but he had to make sure his patient was well. Once checking Alan's throat and feeling his lymph nodes in his neck, Dr. Jürgen got down to business.

"So, your dad says that you've been having some back pain. Can you explain to me when you really started experiencing the pain?" Dr. Jürgen asked as he grabbed his clipboard and pen to jot down notes.

"Uh…probably about three weeks ago. I got hurt at school. We were playing a game called Titanic." Alan said softly as he hung his head as if he'd get in trouble for being a kid.

"What is this Titanic game? Is it a contact sport?" Dr. Jürgen asked.

"Titanic is a game that uses giant mats, ropes and rolling scooters. The giant mats are supposed to be the Titanic and life rafts and rescue ship. It's not a contact sport. I was one of the chosen 'survivors' that was supposed to escape the Titanic and when I made it to the rescue ship, I jumped off the rolling scooter I was kneeling on and landed wrong." Alan iterated to his doctor.

"Okay, so it's just a game that really involves no contact with people?" Dr. Jürgen asked as he noticed Jeff paying close attention to everything Alan said.

"Exactly. When I jumped from the rolling scooter, the goal was to land on my knees. I put my hands out in front of me to keep me from eating the mat. My hands separated outwards…" Alan held his hands out in front of him and gave a brief demonstration of how he remembered falling before carrying on with his explanation. "And I landed hard on my chest. The moment I landed, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't stand anyone touching me and the coach had to pick me up after a bit and carry me like one of those grooms carries his bride. He took me to the infirmary because I couldn't breathe let alone walk. Then the nurse took me to my dorm where they called my family to get me."

Dr. Jürgen studied Alan for a few moments before he set his clipboard and pen on the counter and stood up. "Alright Alan, can you remove your shirt for me and bend over, keeping your knees as straight as possible and try to touch your toes?"

Alan kind of looked to his doctor skeptically before he did as his doctor asked when Jeff nodded mutedly at Alan. The teen removed his shirt and did as the doctor requested. He tried not to hold his breath as he felt Dr. Jürgen place his fingertips to the small of his back just above the waist of his pants. Dr. Jürgen pressed lightly on Alan's back before he started sliding his fingers up Alan's back. He was feeling for abnormalities in Alan's back that might warrant an X-ray or an MRI. He focused closely on the feel of Alan's back before running his fingers back down Alan's back. He sat on his stool and looked closely at Alan's back looking for what…neither Alan nor Jeff really knew.

"Hmm." Dr. Jürgen hummed before he told Alan he could stand back up and put his shirt back on. He wrote notes on his clipboard for a few moments before he looked up at Jeff. "I want to have Alan go in for an X-Ray. I don't mean to cause alarm, but I felt Alan's spine and it felt off. I have my suspicion, but I'd like to confirm it with further testing before I prescribe treatment."

"What…what do you feel is wrong with his back?" Jeff asked somewhat alarmed.

"I don't want to cause alarm, but I felt an odd curvature in Alan's back. It might be nothing, but I'd like to have it checked out. It might be the source of Alan's back pain." Dr. Jürgen said as he indicated his notes.

"What kind of treatment is there for Alan if this curvature…is something to be concerned with?" Jeff asked as he saw the desolate look on Alan's face at the mention of something being wrong with him.

"Well, if it's what I'm thinking it is, it could range from mild to where Alan doesn't need but maybe a brace to correct the curve in his back or it can be moderate to severe and he may require corrective surgery. But that's a last ditch effort if it's what I'm thinking." Dr. Jürgen said.

"And what could it be if it is what you're thinking?" Jeff asked, wracking his brain for any mentions in his of his late wife's family history of odd curvatures in their backs. He knew his great-great uncle had polio when he was little but that didn't cause an odd curvature in the spine. It affected the spinal cord and caused muscle wasting and muscle paralysis.

"If it is what I'm thinking it could be scoliosis." Dr. Jürgen admitted and he and Jeff both noticed Alan's face pale. "I'm not saying it is…but I'm saying it could be."

"What is scoliosis? What does it do exactly?" Alan asked. He'd heard the word scoliosis before but he had no idea what it really was. He really should have paid better attention in his health class.

"Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder which causes your spine which is supposed to be straight or vertical to curve to the side. Almost reminiscent to an S or a forward facing and even a backwards facing C depending on the severity. Mild forms of scoliosis can easily be treated with a brace which force the back bone to straighten although not fully, but it prevents the spine from curving sharply to the side. More severe forms may require surgical intervention because the curvature can cause you to develop a degenerative scoliosis later in life. But that's nothing you really need to worry about right now. We'll get you scheduled for an X-ray and have your back scanned…but I did have a question for both you and your dad."

"Yes, what is it?" Jeff asked as he spoke for both himself and Alan.

"Have you experienced a growth spurt yet?" Dr. Jürgen asked as he directed his question at Alan. He furrowed his brow when Alan shook his head twice in the negative. "Let me go get the number from my secretary for the hospital across the street to see if they can't get you and Alan in for a scan. Be right back."

Alan sat in silence until his doctor pulled the door closed. He started having a mini meltdown when he was left alone with his dad and Jeff was left to dole damage control.

"You're gonna be fine Alan. Don't panic, it's probably nothing." Jeff said in attempt to make Alan feel better.

"I don't want to have a disease." Alan whispered roughly around the time the door swung open after a brief knock. Dr. Jürgen heard Alan's worries and he corrected them.

"Scoliosis isn't in the disease category…it's a musculoskeletal disorder. It can be congenital or something that makes itself known at any time in a person's life. It's usually caught in school screenings or physicals like when students want to try out for sports. Most often caught just before or just after a growth spurt because of the rapid growth." Dr. Jürgen said as he offered the business card to Jeff with a phone number written on it. "This is the number to the front desk at the hospital. Give them a call and let them know you want to schedule an appointment for an X-ray. Let them know it's a referral from Dr. Jürgen and they'll work with you."

Jeff took the card in his hand and nodded at the pediatrician. He greatly appreciated the gesture and as much as he didn't want to contact the X-ray department – he knew he'd be doing a disservice to Alan. His son needed to have his back looked at to make sure everything was okay.

"Come on Alan, let's go back to the penthouse." Jeff said with a nod of his head at the pediatrician. "Thank you doctor. We'll be in touch."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan sat up to his shoulders in the hot tub. He could hear his dad talking in the living room on the phone and he was feeling anxious. He knew his dad was talking to the hospital, booking an appointment to have Alan seen to. He was afraid of what might be found. The voice of his pediatrician kept echoing in the deep recesses of his head. He might have scoliosis and there could be severities. Alan didn't want to be made any more different than his brothers. None of his brothers had problems that were their bodies refusing to move a certain way. Sure Gordon had physical limitations now, but that was because he'd been injured in an accident. It wasn't his body simply refusing to comply.

A knock on the door, made Alan look towards the opening. His dad opened the door and came in to sit on the edge of the hot tub. "I got you an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. We'll need to be there about noon and we need to get you checked in."

"Thanks dad." Alan said before he sunk down a little lower into the boiling hot water. Sweat beaded his brow and Alan didn't care that he looked like a five-year-old hiding under his blankets to avoid the boogie man living under his bed. He was scared.

"What is it Alan?" Jeff asked, knowing that Alan was acting different.

"Nothing dad." Alan lied. He didn't want to talk about it.

"Alan, it's okay if you're scared. I am too." Jeff admitted.

"Dad, you're not in this body. I don't want a disease or a musculoskeletal disorder or whatever it is that's screwing with my body. I just want to be normal. I probably can't play sports now. No girl is ever going to love me, not with my back screwing me up." Alan said emphatically.

"Alan…as for girls, whoever you meet will love you how you are. Whether you have a problem with your back or you don't. And you are normal. Just because you might or might not have scoliosis doesn't mean you're less normal. It just means you are human. Humans…everyone has issues. Everyone has something about their bodies that they don't like or wish they could change. And you're entitled to that. It's your body. But you can't run from it. It's something you will have to face eventually." Jeff said. He knew for certain that Alan was more than afraid for what the future held for him. "Don't stay in the hot tub too long. You need to be in bed at a decent time tonight."

"Thanks dad." Alan said with a sigh before he sat up and reached out of the tub to grab his towel. When he stood up, he wrapped his towel around his waist before he climbed from the interior of the hot tub. He walked over to the full length mirror and grabbed a little hand mirror before he turned around to look at the reflection of his back. He was trying to see whatever might be wrong with his back and he couldn't see it…to be honest.

Growing frustrated with the mirror not showing him what might be wrong with his back, Alan sighed before he went to change into his pajamas. He sighed once more as he walked into the kitchen to grab a drink of water before bed. He walked through the living room and trailed his fingers across his dad's shoulder to get his attention.

"Can you wake me when you get up in the morning? I want to take a shower before my appointment." Alan asked when his dad muted the news station he was watching in favor of paying attention to his son. The patriarch looked up and saw the worried look on Alan's face.

"I can…before you go to bed though. Let me give you a sleeper again. I don't think you'll sleep with as worried as you are." Jeff said before he stood and gestured for Alan to follow him to his room. When they got to Jeff's room, he retrieved the bottle of over the counter sleeping pills before he shook one out into his palm to give to his son. Once Alan swallowed the pill, he gave his dad a quick hug before he turned to go to his bedroom.

"Thanks…night dad." Alan said before he closed his bedroom door.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The following morning, Jeff set a plate of freshly made pancakes and a glass of orange juice on the counter before he left to wake Alan. He wanted to make Alan one of his favorite meals for breakfast and he tried to follow the recipe as his mom made them when he was a boy himself. Alan always loved his grandma's pancakes, it occurred to Jeff he'd need to contact his mom with updates about Alan's back. When he'd talked to his mom last, she'd insisted on coming to the island to care for Alan and Jeff refused – albeit gently. It wasn't that he didn't want his mom coming to care for her grandson, it was that she was in her seventies and she didn't need to be running from pillar to post taking care of Alan's every whim. He had brothers that could help him when necessary and he had everyone for that matter that lived on the island.

Jeff knocked on the door softly before he opened Alan's bedroom door and peered inside to glimpse his son. He smiled at the posture Alan slept in. He never was a still sleeper, often moving around in his sleep. Right now and like so many times as a young child – Alan's head had traveled from the head of the bed down to the foot of the bed. Alan was curled up on his side, still very much sound asleep. Jeff shook his head in amusement before he went to the foot of the bed and shook Alan's shoulder softly. Alan grunted but stayed asleep and every attempt made just made Jeff have to get creative. As a last ditch effort before he went to get a glass of cold water to splash in Alan's face, he targeted Alan's toes.

Those little tootsies always were a ticklish weakness of Alan's ever since he was a baby. Looking around, Jeff located Alan's foot and proceeded to lightly run his fingers under the sole of Alan's feet. He pulled his foot away in his sleep and grunted again, but Jeff continued. When it seemed unlikely that Alan would wake up, Jeff started the piggy game.

"This little piggy went to the market…this little piggy stayed home…this little piggy had roast beef." Jeff started. He smiled when Alan came awake with a gasp but Jeff wasn't gonna stop now. "This little piggy had none and this little piggy…"

"No dad no! Not my toes!" Alan tried to pull away from having his feet tickled but Jeff grasped Alan's leg in one hand and continued his assault on Alan's toes.

"Cried wee, wee, wee all the way home." Jeff said with a snort of laughter at Alan's struggles to pull away. Alan was laughing even as he pulled away and Jeff was laughing as he pulled Alan closer, intention to tickle Alan until he begged uncle.

"No! dad! No!" Alan cried with tears of laughter threatening to spill over. "I'm up dad, I swear to god I'm up now!"

"I know, but this is too much fun." Jeff said as he pulled Alan against him and continued to tickle only this time targeting Alan's ribs.

"No dad! I'll pee my pants if you don't stop!" Alan begged as he continued to break from his dad's hold and get away from the tickles.

"Then you better run for the shower before your breakfast gets cold." Jeff said as he gave Alan a few seconds head start. Alan practically flew from his bed and into the bathroom, where Jeff had already laid out an outfit for Alan to wear to the doctor's office. He chuckled softly at his and Alan's antics. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed doing that to his boys until just now and it wasn't something he'd soon forget. He considered it a good way to wake up to…laughter and smiling faces. They'd no doubt be needing the cheerful attitudes if the news from the x-ray tech revealed something that needed treatment. Sighing softly to himself, Jeff placed his hands on his knees before he pushed up and left Alan's room.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan held his breath as he lay on the x-ray table. There was a large arm like attachment that the x-ray technician was manipulating to place to correctly x-ray Alan's back. He felt cold, he'd had to undress and don a hospital gown for the experience. And he knew he'd never tease Gordon for the gown he practically lived in for almost a year following his accident. He couldn't move his legs for the longest time let alone sit up without assistance and he adamantly refused help with getting dressed, feeling embarrassed that he couldn't do things for himself. So he chose to wear a gown until he'd been discharged back home at which time he would only allow Alan in to help him dress since the boy was twelve going on thirteen at the time and knew how to remain sympathetic to his brother's plight.

"Alright Alan, I'm going to step out of the room and I want you to try to hold as still as possible. After I take a picture of your anterior, I'll have you move onto your side followed by your back for a posterior x-ray. I want to be sure of what we're dealing with." The technician said as he turned to leave. The x-ray machine when initiated, started making a low humming sound. It wasn't loud by any means, but the hum was disconcerting for Alan. When the humming stopped after a minute, the technician walked in and helped Alan onto his side so that his back was facing the window which the x-ray technician stayed behind. Alan held perfectly still once more as the humming began for another minute.

After a little bit, Alan was finally allowed to get up from the table he'd been laying on. He sat up for a moment, feeling like the hair on his arms and the back of his neck were standing on edge. The technician helped him down from the x-ray table and the nurse that walked with Alan to the x-ray department went back with Alan. Upon entering the room, once the nurse left Alan started putting his clothes back on. He ignored his dad in favor of tugging the jeans he'd been wearing on and turning to talk to his dad as he buttoned and zipped his jeans back up.

"When do you think we'll know the results of my x-rays?" Alan asked.

"Probably later today or early tomorrow. We'll wait until the doctor that initially saw you comes back in to speak with us before we head back to the pent house and relax. Maybe we'll go rent a few movies and get a pizza for dinner." Jeff said softly as he motioned with his head to his son to sit in the seat beside him.

Alan did as his dad indicated and once seated didn't bother to hide his desire for comfort. He went from sitting up straight to slumped over and leaning into his dad's side. Jeff wrapped a strong arm around Alan and held his son close. They sat in silence for a long time, it made them both wonder if it'd been years until the doctor reentered the room. They both looked up at the look of barely disguised pity and sympathy. As soon as Alan saw the look on his face, his mind started jumping to all sorts of conclusions.

When the doctor sat in front of him, Alan looked up with sorrow. The doctor offered a smile, but Alan could see that it wasn't a happy smile, not a 'you're fine, it's nothing to worry about smile'…instead it was a 'I'm sorry, I've got bad news smile' and Alan didn't want to hear it.

"Hello gentlemen. I come with the results of Alan's x-rays." The physician said softly as he held out the folder which contained those x-rays. "You want the bad news or the good news first?"

Alan didn't feel brave enough to speak and he bowed his head, gazing straight at his feet. His dad spoke up for the both of them.

"How about the bad news?" Jeff asked, he'd rather hear the bad news first and use the good news for comfort.

"Well, the bad news is that Alan does in fact have scoliosis. And based on the x-rays I'd consider it to be something moderate to severe, not mild as I'd have liked to see." The doctor said as he stood up to put the x-rays on the light board to show Alan and Jeff the x-ray pictures taken of Alan's back. "As you can see, Alan's spine curves pretty dramatically to the right then left in what would appear to be a S shape. The doctor traced his finger along the picture of Alan's spine starting from the small of his back up to just between his shoulder blades. "Now I'm not an orthopedist, but I've seen many cases come through those doors and patients with a moderate to severe scoliosis can't have the brace that prevents the spine from curving further. It simply won't work. Every moderate to severe case I've ever seen has had to have a corrective surgery done to amend the spine and stop the curve."

Alan buried his head into his hands when the mention of surgery was broached. He didn't want surgery.

"Okay, and the good news?" Jeff asked as he placed a hand on Alan's back and rubbed comfortingly.

"The corrective surgery done is fairly successful if that's a path you decide to pursue." The physician said before he turned to the computer in the room and started clacking away on the keys. "The information I'm printing out is contact information for all the local orthopedic surgeons in the area, I'd highly recommend the top three, they work most with children and adolescence. They're at the children's hospital across town."

Jeff and Alan both went silent at the mentions of referrals. Alan was in a state of shock. He knew his back was hurting him these last three weeks, but he never thought it would lead to a diagnoses of scoliosis. Wasn't he too young to have back problems? He was only fourteen. Shouldn't he not have back problems until he'd turned sixty-five and wore his pants up under his armpits?

Once they'd been given the paper with the lists of orthopedic surgeons, Jeff and Alan stood to leave. Jeff shook hands with the doctor and when it came time for Alan to shake hands with the doctor, he kept his hands to himself. He gripped the sides of his t-shirt, suddenly wishing he had his hoodie from Wharton to hide under. Jeff led Alan from the exam room and waved at the receptionist as they walked past.

Once in the car, Alan bit his lip and turned his face into the window. His dad tried more than twice to engage Alan in conversation, but Alan wasn't talking. He remained silent through the whole car trip back to Tracy Enterprises. He barely waited for the car to park in the parking garage before he jumped from the interior of the car. He didn't stop when his dad called for him and he didn't stop running until he'd made it into the elevator, hitting the top button for the top floor. He punched in the code to get into the penthouse and once in the penthouse, Alan fled to his room and locked the door before collapsing in tears on his bed.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Jeff paced back and forth on the balcony as he spoke into his cell phone.

"I don't know Scott, your brother was devastated. He still won't unlock the door for me and he skipped dinner last night. All he's done is cry and if by the crashing coming from there about an hour ago throw a tantrum of epic proportions. He's not happy with the diagnoses of scoliosis." Jeff admitted as he looked in through the window to see Alan's bedroom door was still closed.

"Well, I wouldn't be either. I can't blame him for being upset." Scott replied sympathetically. "Is the doctor sure it's scoliosis?"

Gordon and Virgil who were sitting in the living room, Gordon playing Resident Evil 4 had unintentionally killed his character after hearing scoliosis be mentioned. Virgil had been working on composing a song and hit a sour note on the piano at the mentions of scoliosis. The living room had fallen silent. Fermat and Tin-Tin walked past the living room, waved and continued on their merry way – not even aware of Alan's diagnosis.

"Yeah, the doctor is pretty sure. He showed us the x-rays and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. Alan's spine curves from side to side like an S. I don't know how long he's had scoliosis, his sports physical for basketball didn't turn up with anything. I just can't believe they'd miss something like that."

Virgil gestured for Scott to put their dad on speaker phone, but Scott shook his head – mouthing that their dad was going to call the surgeon.

"Okay, well give me another call if you can't get Alan to come out and I'll see if I can get Parker to come pick me up and bring me to the penthouse. He's got to open the door sometime." Scott said before he said his good bye to his dad, sending messages of love to both their dad and baby brother from Gordon and Virgil. When he hung up, Scott blew out a deep breath.

"So the doc thinks Alan has scoliosis?" Virgil barely waited a beat before he was asking about the mentions of scoliosis.

"Well, according to dad the physician showed them Alan's x-rays and Alan certainly has scoliosis. Said the picture shows Alan's spine curving from side to side like an S." Scott repeated back to his brothers. "How did we not see it?"

"I don't know…you'd think with as much as we pat Alan on the back or hug him that we'd have noticed Alan's back curving to the side like that." Gordon said in self-reprimand.

"Well, regardless whatever the surgeon says in regards to Alan's diagnosis. We are still family and family is always there for each other." Virgil said as he tried to speak positively.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan meanwhile had taken to laying on his bed, wallowing in self-pity and begging God to reverse the scoliosis, promising he'd stop playing pranks on his brothers and would begin getting straight A's, if he didn't have scoliosis any longer. He didn't want to be labeled a cripple or a gimp because of something that he had no control over. He didn't want to be seen as disabled or having anything physically wrong with him. He'd donned a pair of sweatpants and the giant Air Force hoodie he'd borrowed from Scott and had curled up under his blankets. He'd already cried for a long time and had become angry and practically destroyed his bedroom. Once he'd calmed down some, Alan had cleaned up his destruction before laying down and holing away. He didn't have a desire to eat, so he'd skipped every meal since last night and it was coming up on dinner this night. He felt a little hungry, but he doubted it'd stay down with how bad he felt.

He ignored his dad when he'd knocked and asked to be let in. Choosing to remain silent instead. Jeff's voice was muffled even as he told Alan he loved him and having a physical condition wouldn't change that. Alan had a bit of a struggle with swallowing as he felt a knot lodge itself in his throat. He didn't have any more tears to shed, but that still didn't stop his body from making his shoulders shake with soft sobs.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Jeff sighed as he called the surgeon's office with intention to make an appointment hopefully for this week for Alan to be seen. He didn't doubt he'd have to drag Alan in kicking and screaming, but he wanted Alan to be seen and to hopefully get the treatment necessary in order to correct the scoliosis.

He talked with the receptionist, told her who he was and that he'd like to get an appointment made for his son. He looked at the paper the physician at the hospital had given him. "Can I get an appointment with Dr. Guther? I'd like her to take a look at my son's case."

"Dr. Guther doesn't have an availability until Wednesday afternoon at three PM. Will that be okay?" The receptionist said as she prepared to put Alan into Dr. Guther's appointment book.

"That'll be fine. Thank you ma'am." Jeff said as he hung up with the receptionist. He was getting ready to go try to talk to Alan again in hopes that he'd open his door for him. If not, he was definitely going to call Scott because the oldest son had a special sort of relationship with his baby brother. Pocketing his cell phone, Jeff looked toward Alans door. He was hoping Alan would come out.

Approaching the door, Jeff was raising a fist to knock when suddenly the door opened and Jeff was face to face with his youngest son. Alan's face was puffy from crying and his eyes were red and swollen. As soon as Alan saw his dad his face crumpled and Alan started to shut the door on his dad. Jeff pushed past the door and enveloped Alan in a tight hug as a means of comfort. His child was distraught and Jeff wished more than anything that he could take this from Alan on himself so he wouldn't have to experience this pain.

"Ssh. It's okay Alan, we'll get through this. It's okay. Ssh." Jeff said softly as he struggled to console Alan.

"But…" Alan started to argue, but his dad silenced the argument with a finger to Alan's lips.

"No. It's going to be okay. " Jeff repeated before leading Alan from his bedroom and out to the living room. He directed them to the couch and eased them both down. Alan leaned against his dad and practically sat in his dad's lap. "I've made an appointment for Wednesday so you can see the orthopedic surgeon, get a better look at your diagnosis. In the meantime though, we're just going to kick back and relax."

"What about your meeting on Monday?" Alan whispered.

"I've sent out an email rescheduling it for another time. I said I had a family thing that needed my attention more." Jeff said before pulling Alan closer so that his head was resting on his chest. "You're more important than work. I'll see that you're seen to first before business."

Alan was touched, really he was but he couldn't even begin to wonder what he and his dad would do considering today was a Saturday and his appointment was a Wednesday. They'd sat together on the couch for a while longer before Alan felt like he was falling asleep. He hadn't slept much considering he'd been so upset the night prior. He was comfortable leaning against his dad, legs stretched across his dad's legs. Jeff braced an arm behind Alan's head and gently rubbed the back of his neck and effectively knocked Alan out for a few hours. Sure it was late and Alan needed to eat, but Jeff would order in some Chinese and run out to rent a movie or two before waking his son.

Once Alan was asleep, Jeff gently shifted Alan so that he could get up without waking the fourteen-year-old. He made sure he had his wallet and keys before he locked the penthouse door and got in the elevator. He'd surprise Alan with his favorites and some ice cream since Alan's weakness was hot fudge sundae. He sent a prayer to his late wife and to any God that was out there that might hear his prayer. He hoped the scoliosis was something easily fixed and wouldn't prevent Alan from continuing living his life as normally as possible.

He first drove to the video store. Sure it was out of the norm for himself the "famed Jeff Tracy" to be seen in such a small, no name location that wasn't ivy league, but the movies he wanted to get were some of Alan's favorites and Jeff knew they weren't available digitally. So video store was the next best thing. Jeff had an account there still so Alan could rent movies when he was visiting with his brothers.

Once inside, Jeff began to peruse the movies. He selected the movies he knew Alan would love and a few neither of them had seen yet. He'd read the synopsis of the films on the back of the boxes before he selected the tags to take to the front counter. It was enough movies to last them a few days. He went up and smiled at the clerk as she began to gather the movies he'd selected and he paid for his rentals with an easy going smile. He was a man of little words since the clerk hadn't seemed to recognize him any.

Once he'd left the video store, he drove down to a little Chinese restaurant. He went in the authentic shop and offered a greeting to the hostess when she asked if he wanted a table or booth. He shook his head and simply gestured to the menu. She handed him a to go menu and Jeff began looking through it. When he'd made his decision, he approached the woman at the counter and placed his order. It would be a few minutes wait, but he offered a generous tip to the hostess for expediting his order. He'd ordered from this place a number of times, considering it was close enough to his work and their food was amazing. She knew who he was and knew he preferred keeping a low profile.

Hurrying back to the penthouse, Jeff made what he hoped was a quiet entrance. He unloaded the food on the kitchen counter and set the movies down before it occurred to him he'd forgotten ice cream. He chewed on his lip before pulling out his phone to call his secretary.

"Hello Mr. Tracy, how can I help you?" And Jeff rolled his eyes at the formal greeting.

"Matilda, you know you can call me Jeff right?" Jeff asked as he addressed Matilda his secretary.

"Yes, I know that. Is this a business call or something of a personal nature?" Matilda asked since she was sometimes Jeff's secretary and other times his confidante.

"I need to know if you've left the building yet?" Jeff asked knowing Matilda usually worked late nights. It was getting late, now but Matilda had a habit of working until eight or nine at night.

"I haven't yet. I'm still downstairs." Matilda replied as she checked the clock on her computer.

"Can you run to the store for me and get the ingredients for hot fudge sundae? Alan kind of received some bad news from the doctor these last few days and he's in a funk. I went out and got movies and dinner, but I forgot to get his favorite comfort food. If you come upstairs I'll give you some money to get everything on my list to make up Alan's sundae."

"I can do that Jeff. I'll be up in ten minutes." Matilda said.

"Okay, and when you come up just come in. Don't knock or ring the bell – Alan's asleep on the couch and I don't want to wake him." Jeff said as he looked across the room to see Alan was still out cold. He needed the sleep after all.

"Yes, and I'm on my way up now. Just getting into the elevator." Matilda said before she and Jeff said their partings and hung up. When Matilda made it to the front door, Jeff was expecting her and he opened the door and gave her the list and money. She told him it'd be roughly twenty minutes before she returned and Jeff took that time to go call Scott back.

"Hey Scott." Jeff spoke softly as he stepped out onto the balcony like earlier.

"Hey dad…you get Alan to come out?" Scott inquired.

"Yeah, when I got off the phone with you I tried again before I called Dr. Guther and made an appointment with her. After I got off the phone with Dr. Guther's secretary I went back and Alan came out. He's sleeping on the couch right now." Jeff relayed.

"Kid didn't sleep much last night did he?" Scott asked from back on the island. He'd stood up from the deck outside on the patio and wandered to the edge of the porch that overlook the pools. He could see Fermat and Tin-Tin swimming with Gordon and Virgil. They hadn't been told yet of Alan's diagnosis. It wasn't anyone's news to tell except for Alan's.

"No, honestly I think he cried all night. His face and eyes were swollen and puffy and he looked downright miserable. I don't think I've ever seen him so upset, at least not since your mother passed away and even then he was far too young to really remember her." Jeff said sympathetically.

"Poor kid…can't he ever catch a break?" Scott asked.

"I don't know…I re-scheduled my work meetings to spend time with your brother. Make him feel better, you know? I rented a couple movies, got his favorites from that little Chinese restaurant we like and Matilda is running to the store for me to get the ingredients so I can fix Alan a hot fudge sundae after dinner." Jeff said as he looked in the window to see Alan was still asleep. "I hope the surgeon brings good news for him come Wednesday."

"That makes two of us." Scott replied softly.

It wasn't much longer until Jeff saw his door swing open in the front entry. He told Scott that Matilda had returned with the ice cream for Alan and he hung up to go greet his secretary. She turned from putting the ice cream in the freezer when Jeff came in from the balcony. She folded her re-usable bag quietly before going forward to hug her friend and employer.

"He'll be fine Jeff. Teenagers can bounce back from anything." Matilda whispered before they both noticed Alan stirring. Matilda kissed Jeff on the cheek before letting herself out of the penthouse right when Alan woke up. The blond teen gave a great big yawn and stretched before he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Evening Alan, you hungry? I got your favorites." Jeff said as he grabbed the little box of Chinese food and cracked the lid to see it was the chow mein like Alan liked. Grabbing some chopsticks and the cup of soda, Jeff went and placed them in front of Alan on the coffee table.

"I guess." Alan replied somberly.

"Well, why don't you get comfy and pick out a movie for us to watch while I grab my dinner also." Jeff said as he walked back over with the stack of movies for Alan to pick through.

"Okay." Alan said before he looked through the movies and picked out Ghost Ship, it wasn't a great movie to watch but he liked it. His dad never cared much for the nudity in the film, but because it was just a quick shot of a woman's bare chest then she was covered his dad didn't object much. John who was big into mythological and supernatural creatures pointed out that she wasn't only a ghost but she could be a siren. She had the voice of an angel and used it to lure a man to his death. "I thought you didn't like me watching this movie."

"I'll make an exception. I didn't like you watching this with your brothers when you were nine, but you're older now." Jeff said before he made a third trip back to the kitchen to grab his own meal container.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom then we can sit down and watch this movie and eat. I'm starving." Alan said as he stood to go to the bathroom. After hearing the door click shut, Jeff went about turning on the television and putting on the movie, skipping the previews to get to the menu. Hearing the toilet flush faintly, Jeff grabbed a seat on the couch and waited for Alan to return. "Okay, now I can sit through a movie."

Jeff let Alan get comfortable on the couch with his dinner before he selected play. They both settled in to eat and watch the gruesome movie. Casting furtive glances at Alan every so often, Jeff noticed Alan barely took his eyes off the screen. His eyes were wide as he watched the movie, holding the box of food close to minimize spillage. Once they were done with their dinner and Alan was leaned back against the couch, patting his full and obviously distended stomach.

"Okay, now I'm sure I'm gonna go into a food coma by the end of the movie." Alan groaned. He ate too much and though he didn't feel sick he knew he'd pop if he ate another bite of anything.

"Here's your fortune cookie." Jeff said as he was preparing to unwrap his own. He smiled at Alan when the teen gave him a look of exasperation. "It's got baking soda in it, it'll help you burp."

"I've burped enough." Alan replied with a roll of his eyes.

"Just open your cookie, you don't have to eat it now." Jeff said as he opened his cookie and read his fortune. "Whatever your goal is in life, embrace it, visualize it and it will be yours."

Alan looked dubiously at his fortune cookie before he opened it. He scoffed when he read it but didn't try to read it aloud like his dad did his.

"What's yours say son?" Jeff asked as he chewed up a piece of a fortune cookie.

"It doesn't matter." Alan tried to down play.

"Come on son, just read it for your old man." Jeff said as he put an arm around Alan's shoulders and gave his shoulders a squeeze.

"Fine." Alan replied before he lifted his fortune to read it out loud. "Change can hurt, but it leads a path to something better."

Jeff and Alan continued on with watching Ghost Ship until it'd ended and Alan was getting ready for bed. He went to take a shower and was surprised when he came out of the bathroom to find his dad sitting on his bed holding a bowl of ice cream.

"Dad?" Alan asked as he walked over to his dad and accepted the bowl of ice cream when his dad gave it to him. "What is this?"

"I know your grandma and Onaha doesn't let you have hot fudge sundaes very often. So I figured I'd fix you a hot fudge sundae, just like how your momma liked it when she was pregnant with you." Jeff said with an easy smile despite mentioning his late wife.

"But dad." Alan said before he sat down beside his dad to look at the bowl of triple scoop ice cream that had been decorated with hot fudge, chopped nuts, whipped cream, sprinkles and a maraschino cherry on top. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me son." Jeff said as he hugged his son. "Just enjoy your ice cream."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Later that week, after Alan had without a doubt gained five pounds or more thanks to junk food – he and his dad entered the orthopedic center to meet with Dr. Guther.

"I'm scared." Alan said softly as he and his dad sat side by side - a clipboard held in his dad's hand as the patriarch filled in the necessary information about Alan.

"It's okay to be scared son." Jeff said as he filled in the information.

"Will you come in with me?" Alan asked as he stayed close to his dad. It was quiet in the center. It was like they had to whisper despite there being nobody around.

"I'll go in as far as they'll let me son." Jeff said before he clamped a strong hand on Alan's knee before going forward to turn in the information to the receptionist.

They sat side by side for what felt like hours and Alan was growing more and more anxious. He was jiggling his leg and his sneakers were squeaking against the linoleum. He had taken to biting on his thumb nail and Jeff was steadily growing annoyed with the constant bite and chew sound Alan was making against his thumb nail and he reached out to take Alan's hand in his to prevent Alan from biting. This was the fifth time Jeff had told Alan to stop biting his nail and Alan would start back up the longer they waited. He hoped they wouldn't have to wait much longer.

"Alan?" A nurse asked as she came around the corner. When Alan and Jeff looked up she motioned with her head. "The doctor will see you now."

Jeff and Alan both stood to go and follow the nurse. She led them through a series of hallways before bringing them into an exam room. The nurse told Alan to hop up on the exam table, smiling at him as she placed the blood pressure cuff around his bicep. "Take a nice deep breath for me."

Alan did as the nurse said while she pumped up the cuff and he focused on his dad during the vital checks.

"Your blood pressure is a little elevated." The nurse commented as she removed the blood pressure cuff to fold it and replace it on the wall where it'd originally been hanging. She turned to look at Alan and smiled at him. "Nervous?"

"A lot." Alan said before he bit his lip and began jiggling his foot as it dangled from the exam table.

"It'll be okay. Now, I'm going to go get the doctor. She'll be right with you." The nurse said as she patted Alan on the knee and left the room to go get the doctor.

Alan and Jeff waited for a few more minutes until Dr. Guther knocked before she entered. She was an older woman, about Jeff's age if not a little older. She introduced herself to Alan and Jeff, shaking their hands with a positive smile adorning her features.

"Pleasure to meet you gentlemen." Dr. Guther said before she sat on the rolling stool. She rolled over to the counter, folder in hand before she opened it to peruse the notes and other documents. "I see your pediatrician Dr. Jürgen recommended you get a spinal x-ray. Hmm."

Alan and Jeff stayed silent as Dr. Guther looked over everything. When Dr. Guther removed the x-ray film from the folder, she placed them on the light board to illuminate. Alan felt sick the moment he saw the films of his own traitorous spine.

"According to the physician and the radiologist at the hospital the curves in your spine measures approximately sixty degrees in your thoracic region and thirty degrees in your lumbar. That's a pretty drastic curve." Dr. Guther stated plainly. "I'm not going to lie; a back brace will do nothing but prevent further deterioration. In cases with patients that have this severe of scoliosis, I have only one option and that's surgery. "

Alan felt like the wind had been knocked out of him and the blood washed out of his face so he was a sickly pale. He sat in silence as his dad talked with Dr. Guther. Everything his dad and Dr. Guther said sounded distant, like the teacher sounded to the kids in the Peanuts skits. He felt like he couldn't get a good breath and the next thing he knew his dad was pressing gently against the back of his neck in order to lower his head between his knees and reassuring him while instructing Alan to breathe.

"Easy son, we don't need you having another panic attack. Deep breath in and out. In and out." Jeff breathed with Alan to make sure he was breathing as he should. "Good. Keep breathing, nice and deep."

Once his dad and Dr. Guther brought Alan out of his panic attack, they helped Alan to lay down so he wouldn't fall down. That was what clued them in that Alan was having a panic attack. Alan curled up on his side, bringing his knees to his chest.

"You're okay Alan." Jeff murmured.

"Surgery really isn't that bad Alan. You're in good hands." Dr. Guther said as she leaned in, placing her elbows against her knees. "I'll fix you up good as new."

Alan tuned out after that, letting his dad and Dr. Guther talk more about Alan's condition and how it could be treated. Alan heard bits and pieces of it, but certainly not enough to really explain in great detail. He knew from hearing Dr. Guther that it was rare for teenage boys to have such a severe case of scoliosis but not unheard of. He'd need surgery to correct it and he heard the words idiopathic whatever that meant. He was close to having another panic attack when his dad gently gripped his shoulder to get his attention.

"Come on son, let's go back to the apartment." Jeff said, gently herding Alan from the room. Jeff had some damage control on his hands.

It took some effort, but Jeff soon got Alan back out to the car and seat belted in the passenger seat. Alan remained in silence. Jeff looked at his son with something akin to pain, he really wished he could take this for his son. He never wished for Alan to have scoliosis or anything physically limiting really.

"We'll get this taken care of son, it'll take some time but you'll be fine." Jeff said and he briefly wondered if he was stating the obvious more for his sake rather than for Alan's. Alan continued staring forward, totally silent.

It took no time at all for them to get back to the penthouse and once there, Alan walked in the living room and plopped down on the couch. Jeff set down his keys and went to his bedroom to send Scott a brief text to let them all know that they'd be returning the following day before he went out to the living room to see Alan laying on the couch clinging to a throw pillow as tears soundlessly fell from his eyes. Jeff felt his heart breaking for his son. He wished a hundred times over that Alan hadn't been diagnosed with anything but poor posture, but then Jeff realized that Alan wasn't usually one for slouching. His brothers, they slouched or hunched their shoulders when in thought or sitting on the couch. But Alan…he didn't. It drove him crazy to slouch and Jeff distinctly remembered his own mother chastising his other sons to sit or stand up straight like Alan.

It was in that moment that it occurred why none of them had noticed the scoliosis before it'd progressed so far. 'His body was naturally compensating for the curve in his spine.'. After that realization was made, Jeff wondered if he should have his other sons checked for scoliosis but then shook his head in the negative. Gordon's back was damaged so it'd already been corrected. His other sons were already in their early twenties and so their bones were no longer able to shift or alter – at least not until they'd grown older. He'd keep it in mind to remind them periodically to get their backs checked when they had their annual physicals with the family doctor on the mainland.

Walking over to Alan, Jeff gently placed a hand on his youngest child's shoulder to gather his attention. "Son, you want me to pack your bag? We're gonna head out a little after midnight to go home."

Alan slowly shook his head before he stood to wordlessly glide to his bedroom where he quietly closed his bedroom door. Jeff watched Alan with worry and trepidation. He knew Alan was once again devastated, but he hoped Alan wouldn't shut him out like he had earlier that last week. He wished there was something more he could do to cheer Alan up. There was only so much junk food, favorite movies and hot fudge sundaes could fix and sadly this wasn't one of them.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The flight back to the island was most uneventful. Jeff didn't want to classify Alan as being moody or moping, but he kept to himself and remained quiet. If there was ever a time that Jeff wished for there to be arguing, now was one of those times. At least then Alan would be talking. He wouldn't be this quiet and morose teen.

When they'd landed on the island, Alan departed from the jet and disappeared. Jeff hadn't had time to catch Alan while he was doing his cooldown routine for the jet to make sure she could be flown again when necessary. When he made it back to the villa, he was stopped by his oldest, middle and second youngest sons. They wanted to know about Alan's appointment and find out how Alan was doing. Jeff directed his sons to his office before he closed the door to explain to them everything about the appointment and to answer their questions.

"Where is Alan anyway dad?" Scott asked as he took notice of the little brother who normally was underfoot no longer being present.

"Somewhere on the island…he got off the jet and ran off before I could stop him. He's got a lot on his mind, we'll give him some time to come to terms with his diagnoses." Jeff said before it occurred to him that it'd be a combined family effort to help Alan understand and come to terms with the diagnoses. "I'm going to go ask Onaha to make some of Alan's favorites before I'm going to go see if I can find him. To be perfectly honest, I don't think he should be alone right now."

"I'll go look for him and I'll send a pulse if I find him." Scott said as he gestured to the watch on his wrist. Brains recently updated the watches to send a pulse to other wearers when designated. Alan didn't have one yet and a thought occurred to Scott. He would mention it to his dad later, but he thought of something that might cheer up his little brother. Thunderbirds always worked wonders with distracting his baby brother.

"Okay, I'll look for him too." Virgil commented agreeing that he'd send a pulse also if he found Alan. Gordon jumped in with his two cents and they all departed from the office.

Jeff went to the garden that Kyrano planted first, Alan liked sitting out there – one time commented that it was a good place to sit and think. Scott on the other hand decided he'd check Alan's bluff as they called it. It was a cliff overlooking the ocean and Alan would often go there if he wanted to be alone. Virgil went up to Alan's room because he knew if his little brother wanted to sulk, he'd more than likely go there since he could lock his door and not be bothered. Gordon on the other hand tried to think like Alan. If he were Alan and he wanted to be left alone – he'd go somewhere really out of the way. Holding up his index finger while deep in thought, Gordon gave the gesture for having an ah-ha moment.

He went down to the kitchen and grabbed a couple bottles of water and some granola bars, stuffing them into a satchel. Where he was going would require a little hiking and climbing combined with some intuitive thinking, but if he knew Alan as well as he thought he did – his kid brother would most definitely be there and he'd be surprised to know that Gordon knew of his secret hiding place.

Gordon walked out onto the patio, readjusting his satchel so that it was cross body and began his journey into the jungle. There was a reason their dad forbade them going into the jungle, but Alan often disregarded the warnings, choosing instead to laugh in the face of danger and be Mr. Macho.

The katipo spider made its home on Tracy island same as they themselves did. It was a spider commonly found in New Zealand. It came from the same family that Black Widow spiders came from and that spelled trouble to Gordon. Sure they had vials of the anti-venom, but that was expensive and he'd rather not haul Alan's sorry ass from the jungle and to the infirmary for an anti-venom shot. Their dad forbade them entrance into the jungle because as he stated, the jungle was home to those spiders – if we didn't welcome them into our villa they shouldn't have to welcome us into their territory. But Alan often made his own rules, potentially fatal spider bites be damned.

Groaning more to himself, Gordon swore up and down that he was going to wring his little brother's neck when he found him. He reached up onto a rock shelf and pulled himself up, sighing as he stopped to catch his breath and drink some water. He looked around his surroundings, not noticing for the first time that the view from one of the ventilation shafts of the sleeping volcano was breath taking both in figure of speech and reality. He looked above himself to judge how much longer he had to climb when he heard a sniffle. He stood up and looked to the ventilation shaft a couple meters above his own head and saw the tips of his brother's sneakers. And boy was he going to truly murder Alan for making this trek in improper footwear.

Rolling his eyes, Gordon proceeded in climbing further up the side of the volcano. He didn't hear the gasp of surprise from his brother only the sounds of his own ragged breathing as he bodily pulled himself higher until he was sprawled out on the ground beside his brother.

"G-Gordon what are you doing here?!" Alan asked in shock. Gordon rolled his head to the side in time to see Alan trying to quickly dry his face of any tears. Despite his own fatigue, Gordon sat up and pulled his brother tight to his chest. Alan sat in shock before tears continued to flood his eyes and spill down his cheeks.

"You don't need to hide Alan. It's more than okay to be upset. Cry if you need to, I won't let you go." Gordon cursed his inability to be a softie like John or Virgil. He was useless when it came to providing a decent shoulder to cry on. But Alan heeded his words and unleashed the torrent of tears. Gordon awkwardly patted Alan on the back, now noticing the hump in his brother's back. He unleashed a string of curses in his head toward himself and his other brothers as well as his dad for not noticing in time that something had changed in their baby of the family.

Alan continued to cry, fists knotting up Gordon's t-shirt as a litany of why's fell from Alan's mouth. Alan wasn't asking Gordon, but more like he was asking God and cursing him for giving him this…body full of misaligned vertebrae and physical alterations.

"Why me? Why? How could this happen? God, I hate my life." Alan sobbed, time and time again before Gordon got fed up with Alan's pity party.

"Hey, knock that off." Gordon chastised as he pulled Alan away to make eye contact with his brother, easily looking past the trails of tears and waterfalls of snot leaking from his little brother's nose. He made eye contact with Alan, trying to get a message across to him. "I never want to hear you say you hate your life…ever again. Do you hear me? I will kick your ass and I'll let Scott, John, Virge and dad have a chance to kick your ass too if I ever hear you say that again. Imagine how everyone of you would have felt if I'd said I hated my life after my accident left me unable to walk. It's not fair to you, it's not fair to me, it's not fair for any of our brothers or dad and it sure as hell isn't fair to mom who died not long after bringing you into this world!"

"Maybe she shouldn't have!" Alan back talked and this time Gordon didn't hesitate to smack his brother.

"Jackass!" Gordon hissed before he pulled Alan into a tight hug. "I don't care if mom died as a result of septicemia, she gave us you."

"But I don't want to be handicapped." Alan whimpered.

"You're not. You have a condition that makes your spine curve abnormally, but you're still very much capable to do everything. You want to be a Thunderbird someday? Then you damn well shall. You want to hike across Timbuktu holding a sign that says give peace a chance then you will. You don't let your condition define who you are. I don't…so you shouldn't either." Gordon said emphatically. "We'll still love you and nothing is going to change that."

"But everyone at school will call me a freak." Alan said softly.

"Forget them! Their opinion of you means nothing…you hear me? Nothing. If they give you hell for having a condition you had no control over, tell them to forget themselves." Gordon said as he gave his brother a tighter hug. "The only opinions that should matter to you are from those that love and support you. Us…your family, The Belegants and Hackenbacker's…your friends. I know it'll be hard to hear the hurtful words of your peers, but all you need to remember is to keep your head held high and know that you are better than them. You are Alan Shephard Tracy and you are MY little brother. Know that I love you and I'm only a phone call away to kick some asses if the boys at your school give you a hard time."

Alan was silent for a few moments before he gave a soft breathy chuckle. "Perhaps you shouldn't begin writing Hallmark cards and just stick with your day job Gordo."

"Yeah, that was pretty…emasculating wasn't it. All that sweetness has given me cavities now. Thanks Alan." Gordon said with a smirk.

"You're already emasculated Gordo." Alan commented with an impish grin.

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just say that…okay sprout?" Gordon said before he leaned back against the rock wall. "This is a really cool hide out Sprout. Though not what I'd like to do with my evening."

"What are you doing here anyway?" Alan asked as he accepted the handkerchief that Gordon carried around with him. It was one of five that their mother had sewn monograms into before she'd passed away a few days after childbirth with Alan. She'd intended them as Christmas presents for the boys, but they'd gotten them from their dad not long after they were old enough to appreciate the gift they were being given. Gordon looked out at the horizon as he heard Alan blowing his nose and he made a mental note to ask Onaha to wash it when she washed the laundry.

"Dad and the guys were worried about you when you just took off. We all decided we'd try to find you." Gordon said before he remembered to send the pulse to his brothers so they'd know he'd found Alan. He did just that before he leaned against the rocks behind him. "What's going on in that noggin of yours anyway?"

"You'll laugh." Alan remarked as he pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on his knees.

"No I won't. You can trust me; I swear I won't laugh." Gordon said as he looked at his brother seriously.

"I'm terrified…of having my back cut open and having doctors doing things to my spine. I mean, what if they screw up and I'm left paralyzed or my surgeon accidently leaves her wedding ring in my back?" Alan said and he waited for the laughter. But it never came.

"Kid, you're talking to someone who knows from experience that having your back cut open is a damn scary experience. I've been there, remember that. I was told by not just one doctor but four that I'd never walk again. Four…and I made them eat their words. I busted my ass in physical therapy just to take that first step again and it felt amazing. Yeah it hurt and I won't lie – I was terrified also but I had you all behind me cheering me on. None of you ever gave up on me and you can count on us that we won't let you down either. We'll be rooting for you 110% of the way. We've got your back." Gordon said before he sighed. It'd take some time, but hopefully Alan would begin to accept the word that Gordon spoke as law and would begin to trust his family. They wouldn't give up on him. And when he gave up on himself, they'd be there to catch him and keep him going. "Let me rest up for a few more minutes before we get our butts back home before dad starts breathing fire."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Almost an hour and a half later, Gordon and Alan were making their way back into the villa. Jeff who was sat at the table swiftly stood and moved to hug both his boys in relief that Alan had been found.

"Where were you Alan? I was worried sick." Jeff softly reprimanded.

Alan and Gordon shared a look, having already agreed that they'd not tell their dad that Alan was found in the forbidden jungle. Their dad wouldn't hesitate to ground Alan and he didn't need that on top of his scoliosis diagnoses.

"I was around." Alan evaded before he sank down to sit at the table. "Can we just eat lunch so I can go be alone?"

"No, you're going to spend some time with your brothers. They haven't seen you much since you came home and Scott was thinking of taking you up with him to go retrieve John from Five. Virgil and Gordon can go or not, it's up to them." Jeff said to which Virgil blanched at the thought of going into orbit even for a few hours. He never tolerated being in space well unlike his brothers. Usually he got viciously sick and that wouldn't be fair to anyone, least of all Alan who would probably have to sit next to Virgil especially since Alan got motion sick and sitting next to a sick Virgil wouldn't be fair.

"I'll stay here thanks…I am good, don't need to go into space. Not for me." Virgil deflected as he casually strolled away.

"Nice try Virge." Scott commented as he grabbed Virgil in a headlock. "You can take your motion sick meds."

"No, actually I am good. I'd rather not be throwing up for the next twenty-four hours because of having my equilibrium screwed with." Virgil said as he wrestled out of Scott's hold.

"Alright Scott leave our brother alone. If he doesn't want to go, he doesn't have to." Gordon replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "He'll just be a chicken."

"I am not a chicken; I just don't feel like being perpetually sick until this time tomorrow. The last time I did that I wound up on a rescue and I did more spewing than I did saving. It wasn't fun and I'd rather not do it again." Virgil defended.

"Actually, can I just stay here with Virgil?" Alan asked as he knew his dad was doubling back to New York for his meeting he'd rescheduled. He had some contacts from the South East Asia corporation that was interested in potentially selling to Jeff so that they'd earn the Tracy Enterprises stamp logo and would begin turning a profit from Tracy Enterprises. "I don't really feel like going to Five."

Scott, Gordon and Virgil both looked at their brother with near identical frowns. Never had their little brother ever NOT been interested in anything related to the Thunderbirds. This was an offer from Scott to take Alan up into space and he'd never been up there once since the Thunderbirds had been started.

"Fine, Scott you can go ahead and go get John – Alan can stay with Virgil and Gordon it's up to you. Go, stay – your choice." Jeff said as he swiftly delivered a kiss to Alan's forehead and gave his other sons a hug goodbye. "I'll call when I'm back in New York."

With that Jeff left and Scott, Virgil and Gordon were wondering what they could do to cheer their brother up. Scott grabbed Alan in a headlock and proceeded in roughing up his hair before grabbing Gordon by the neck of his shirt and dragging him along. Soon it was only Virgil and Alan and the artist cast a sidelong glance to his brother in nervousness. Sure he knew how to handle his baby brother, but he didn't know how to handle Alan currently. After standing in silence for a few moments, Alan announced he was going to go to his room. Virgil started to watch him go, before he called Alan back.

"Did you maybe want to go paint with me?" It was a long shot by far to try enticing Alan with art but Virgil knew something about Alan that none of their other brothers were really aware of. Alan had a hidden talent for art. He didn't show it often, but the few times that Virgil and Alan spent time alone together, they both liked to draw or paint in silence. Alan had a portfolio of art that he kept in Virgil's studio simply because none of their other brothers ventured in the room because of complaints that the room stunk of oil paints. Virgil didn't notice the scent of oil paint and Alan didn't seem to mind it.

Alan looked like he wanted to refuse but after a few moments of silence he nodded. Virgil gave a relieved smile before he walked over and pulled Alan close and led the way to his…no their art studio.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan gripped the bark of the tree he sat in with his toes as he curled up to draw the exotic flower growing on the limb just above his head. Virgil sat on the ground below, drawing a lizard that was sunning itself on the rock by his leg. They'd been sitting there long enough the lizard crawled out and relaxed, not caring that Virgil was a potential threat.

"So kiddo, you want to tell me about it?" Virgil asked, taking the risk to make Alan mad.

"What do you mean?" Alan asked as he tried to focus on his drawing.

"Kid, the last time you were this quiet you'd just gotten your tonsils and adenoids removed. It's been four very long years since you were this quiet." Virgil commented. "Something's on your mind and I'd like to know. Maybe I can help."

"Nobody can help me." Alan replied as he lost the wind in his sails and gave up on his drawing, choosing instead to change pages and drawing everything in monochromatic color.

"We can if you'll let us." Virgil said as he looked up at his brother before noticing his muse had scurried away somewhere under some foliage. Instead Virgil changed a page to start drawing a comic strip of Alan animated as a monkey with a tail after seeing Alan using his toes to remain in the tree. He changed the drawing to making Alan look like Tarzan grabbing the flower the boy was drawing with his toes before giving it to Tin-Tin. Virgil knew of Alan's crush on Tin-Tin. It was why Alan didn't want to tell anyone about his doctor appointment.

"Why does everyone feel like they can help me? Unless you have a spare spine lying around in your closet or can order a new one from off line, I think you should quit offering me help." Alan snapped. "I need surgery to repair the curve in my spine, there is nothing you or anyone can do to help me."

"We can support you kid, never say never…remember that." Virgil said before he stood up after ripping a page from his sketch book to bookmark Alan's sketch book. "Don't shut us out."

With that said, Virgil went into the villa; leaving Alan to contemplate what Virgil said. He felt bad for snapping at Virgil and he knew he'd need to apologize soon. Virgil was just trying to help, but Alan was still having trouble coming to terms with his condition so he knew he'd occasionally snap at those he loved. Noticing the page Virgil had given him, Alan pulled it from his own sketchbook to see it was addressed to "The bravest little brother I know" he flipped open the page which had been folded and read the comic strip that Virgil illustrated with Alan as a character.

Alan read through the comic strip and gave a sad smile and looked back toward the villa and smiled with a shining gaze. Alan was detailed as a superhero that fought and won a battle with the villain titled The Crooked Man. The Crooked Man worked for Lord Osis and he caused pain and was most known for his magical powers of manipulation. He manipulated his victim's backs and brought strife and misshapen spines. In the comic, Alan defeated The Crooked Man and restored the victims he'd afflicted with scoliosis, lordosis and kyphosis. In the bottom strip, Alan was in a battle with Lord Osis and his minions to reverse his own manipulated spine. At the end of the battle, Alan who'd been animated with a slightly off-kilter midsection was properly aligned and was flying back to his island home.

Feeling the need to properly thank Virgil and apologize for his earlier blow up, Alan jumped down from the tree and ran inside. He'd left his shoes in the villa by the door. He already had his art supplies and so was just heading in to thank Virgil for his gift. It granted a smile which Alan felt he hadn't had a right to smile.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan peeked out the door, shying looking around for anyone that might be watching him head out to the pool for an evening swim. It was really warm all day and now that heat had abated enough to go out and try to enjoy the cool water. Gordon, Scott and Virgil were away on a rescue with their dad and Brains in the Command central facilitating the rescue. He gripped the hem of his baggy T-shirt before he practically skipped to the edge of the pool and sat on the side. He looked around again and when he didn't see anyone lingering around he scooted off the edge and submerged himself into the pool. After resurfacing, Alan pushed his fringe back and exhaled. He floated for a few moments before holding his breath and going beneath the surface to swim. Gordon wasn't the only one that felt more relaxed with swimming. It gave him time to think, much like it did for Gordon. He didn't notice movement along the edge of the pool until there was a splash on the surface.

Resurfacing and wiping the water from his face, Alan felt his stomach sink with dread when Tin-Tin sat on the edge of the pool having slapped the water's surface to get Alan's attention. He stayed away from her for a few moments until Tin-Tin demanded he come talk to her.

"Why've you been avoiding me and Fermat? Huh? Did we do something to offend you?" Tin-Tin asked alight with indignant anger.

"No, it's not that." Alan replied as he tried to continue ignoring going to see Tin-Tin by the edge of the pool.

"Then what is it if it's not that? Come on Alan, I feel like I'm missing a limb not having you around me like I usually do. What happened to the Three Amigos?" Tin-Tin asked, feeling hurt that she hasn't seen Alan much since he'd come back from his doctor's appointment two weeks earlier.

"I can't tell you." Alan replied as he eventually swam over to see Tin-Tin.

"And what's with you wearing a shirt when you swim? Normally you can't wait to run around topless." Tin-Tin asked as she took notice of Alan's swim wear.

"I felt like wearing a shirt this time, is there a problem with that?" Alan replied hotly.

"What's happened to you? You're not acting like yourself." Tin-Tin asked as she noticed Alan's response.

"I'm having a bad day okay. I'm allowed to have those occasionally." Alan said as he pushed away from the edge of the pool to swim to the other side and climb out using the ladder. Tin-Tin followed him and was there with her arms folded across her chest as she tapped her foot in impatience. "What do you want?!"

"I want my friend back!" Tin-Tin exclaimed. "I want my friend back! Not this sullen and depressed kid who looks like my friend. You've been acting weird!"

"I've had a lot on my mind, okay?! I can't always be happy go lucky!" Alan replied angrily.

"You've been acting different ever since you and your dad went to see your pediatrician about your back pain…what…did you get bad news?" Tin-Tin started off yelling but when it occurred to her when this sullen side of Alan appeared, she went almost silent.

Alan didn't say anything, simply looked away with a tinge of shame shining across his cheeks. Tin-Tin's hand flew to her mouth when it occurred to her that Alan had just indirectly answered her with his reaction.

"You did get bad news!" Tin-Tin exclaimed before she tried to hug Alan. He practically danced out of her reach when she tried to hug him and his evasion hurt her worse than a knife in the chest. She choked back tears as she felt his rejection. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"You wouldn't understand." Alan replied softly as he moved to sit on a deck chair.

"Try me Alan. I'm your friend and I love you! Just tell me!" Tin-Tin exclaimed as she stood by Alan's chair and stared down at him.

"You'd look at me like I was a freak." Alan said as he opened up a little to his friend. "I don't want you to look at me differently."

"Alan, I'm not going to judge you! What kind of girl do you take me for? I love you and I hate seeing you acting so different." Tin-Tin said as she sat back to back with Alan on the deck chair.

"I love you too Tin-Tin, but this is something I have to deal with on my own." Alan tried to argue.

"That's bull and you know it. I thought we were friends, the kind that could tell each other anything." Tin-Tin said softly.

"I'll tell you eventually, but not right now. I'm still coming to terms with it." Alan said softly.

"Alan, please…just." Alan turned around when he felt the small and gentle hand on his shoulder. He met gazes with Tin-Tin and heaved a sigh. "Please…tell me. What did your pediatrician say?"

"He said I have an abnormal curve in my spine…I guess it's called scoliosis. He gave a referral to a radiologist so I could have a scan of my back and then an orthopedist took on my case. I have a drastic curve in my spine, one in my lumbar that is according to the scans thirty degrees and another in my thoracic spine that is greater at sixty degrees." Alan admitted with a dejected sigh. He hung his head in shame. He somehow knew that Tin-Tin wouldn't want anything more to do with him. He was caught off guard when he was enveloped into a tight hug by his friend and crush.

"I'm sorry." Tin-Tin whispered. "Here all this time I thought you were mad at me and I let myself get hurt by your avoidance. I should have known you wouldn't be avoiding me just for the heck of it."

Alan closed his eyes as he accepted the hug from Tin-Tin, going a step further by wrapping his own arms around her and holding her tight.

"This doesn't change anything. You're still my friend and I love you. If you need a listening ear, just let me know. I'll be right there beside you." Tin-Tin said as she hugged Alan and pressed a light kiss onto his cheek.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan exhaled sharply as he went back in for further examination almost a month later. Dr. Guther wanted to make sure his spine hadn't curved any further. Alan was lying on the table beneath the x-ray machine, one arm propped beneath his head. It wasn't comfortable for him to lay flat on his back, so the radiologist suggested he either bend his knees and keep his feet flat on the table or prop an arm behind his head. Since bending his knees would have shown off his boxers to the radiologist, Alan voted to prop one arm beneath his head.

Alan did as the radiologist said, and soon they were done and Alan was allowed to sit up. The radiologist walked back with Alan before she said she'd fax the scans to Dr. Guther and that she'd be in touch with them both. Alan tugged his jeans back on and zipped up the fly before he turned to look at his dad who was rubbing his forehead. Alan felt bad for causing all this trouble for his dad. He kept trying to strategize how much in chores or IR work he'd have to do to pay back his dad for the treatment of a medical condition in which he felt he was to blame.

He kept quiet though as his dad stood up. Alan hurriedly tied his shoes while standing and he rushed to catch up with his dad. It seemed like his dad was mad and Alan wondered if it was something he'd done. It was a few hours later that Jeff got a phone call from Dr. Guther's office and he spoke briefly with her before they hung up. Alan who was lying on the couch, sat up when his dad walked in.

"What's up dad?" Alan questioned.

"We need to go meet with Dr. Guther. She's received the results of your spinal scans." Jeff said as he picked up his keys from the bowl by the door.

Jeff and Alan went to the clinic where Dr. Guther worked and they didn't have to wait very long before Dr. Guther was able to see them. She walked in with a soft smile but Alan could read more into what her smile said. He felt like freezing cold hands gripped his heart as he waited for her to speak of their findings. He sat by feeling hopeless as Dr. Guther began going through their findings.

"Alan, I'm very sorry to say this but I was hoping you wouldn't need to have surgery for a while yet. The curve in your back shows signs of wanting to deteriorate further. We're going to need to take immediate action in order to prevent your back from worsening more than it has already. You go back to school, when? In September?" Dr. Guther said as she gently patted Alan on the knee.

"He goes back to school the second week in September." Jeff said as he had his son's school schedule committed to memory. "When are you wanting to do surgery?"

"Well, I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later. The sooner we do surgery, the sooner we can stabilize Alan's back and reverse the damage that's already been done by the scoliosis." Dr. Guther said as she turned her attention to Jeff. "I don't want Alan to suffer any debilitating side effects."

"I see." Jeff said noticing his son was once again remaining oddly quiet. Turning his own attention to his son, Jeff noticed Alan seemed to be deep in thought. He wondered what was going on in his son's head, but he knew Alan wouldn't volunteer anything he was thinking about. "When would you like to do surgery?"

"As soon as possible if we're able. I'll take down some measurements so that we have the correct length of rods." Dr. Guther replied evenly.

"What are the risks of surgery?" Jeff asked as he desired to know just how his son might be affected.

"Well, the number one risk is paraplegia which is complete or incomplete paralysis of the limbs and trunk and pelvic organs, but it's rare that paraplegia occurs. The other risk is excessive blood loss, but that is a risk with just about any surgery. And the other risks can be the rod breaking or dislodging from where we've anchored them though very uncommon, infection setting in after surgery, the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid which is also quite rare, Alan's spine not fusing which is completely opposite of what we'd like to have happen and last but not least the continued progression of the curve in Alan's back." Dr. Guther rattled off before taking notice of both Alan and Jeff's faces paling rather rapidly.

"I don't feel so good." Alan said before he hurried from the room. Jeff remained seated as if absorbing the information.

"My god…my poor son." Jeff said as he took in a deep breath.

"It's not as bad as it sounds Mr. Tracy. Those are the risks, but it's very rare that should ever actually happen."

Alan re-entered the room a few moments later, more pale than he was when he left. Jeff reached over to feel Alan's forehead for fever and he combed his fingers through Alan's hair.

"Are you alright Alan?" Jeff asked as he noticed Alan's face was clammy.

"I'll be fine." Alan whispered meekly as he crossed his arms over his stomach. "So, you were discussing when I should have my surgery?"

"Yes, it's up to you but I'd highly recommend it be soon." Dr. Guther said as she placed the x-rays on the light board. "You see here? This was the spinal x-ray when you initially came to me a little over a month ago. This one is the x-ray from earlier today."

Alan and Jeff watched on as Dr. Guther placed the second x-ray on the light board. "You see here? It's barely noticeable, but your spine has dipped a bit more. It's progressing faster than we'd anticipated. I don't mean to scare you, but your spine could deteriorate even more by the time you are eighteen and by then it could be too late to correct it. I want you to have a normal life, as normal a life as possible."

Alan nodded slowly and sadly.

"Do you understand?" Dr. Guther asked as she looked at the young boy in her care.

"Yes, I do." Alan gulped nervously. "When do you want to do the surgery?"

"Alan, I think you should give this a little more thought before you jump in head first." Jeff said as he wanted Alan to understand the repercussions of surgery.

"I am, I'm thinking about my future." Alan replied emphatically. "I want to be able to take part in the family business and I can't do that if I can barely walk or lift anything without pain or further damage to my spine."

Jeff could see simply by looking in Alan's eyes that Alan was referring to International Rescue. He knew he couldn't shield Alan from everything, and he knew this decision was solely Alan's. It was his back, his body and his decision in the end. Jeff could refuse Alan, but he knew Alan would probably have it done eventually and he knew Alan would rather take the risk of potential paraplegia instead of increasing pain and eventual deterioration of his spine.

"Alright then." Looking at Dr. Guther, Jeff inquired as such when they might be able to procure an appointment.

"Well, let's see." Dr. Guther moved to her computer across the room and pulled up a copy of her surgery schedule. "I can do three weeks from now, first thing in the morning at seven am and another appointment on the same day for noon. Or I can do a month from now and get you in at ten in the morning. After that I'm booked solid for two months."

Jeff and Dr. Guther both looked at Alan as it was his decision ultimately.

"Let's do the first one, three weeks from now at seven in the morning." Alan said before exhaling deeply. "Is there anything I should know about after surgery?"

"Not much, just that you'll be on bed rest for a couple days to minimize movement then you'll be put into a brace that you'll have to wear which I'll prescribe to you and you'll have to wear that until I can tell you to take it off. It'll prevent bending and twisting and you'll not be permitted to lift anything for the first three months after surgery. You can lift the basics of a glass or a book or two but I'm afraid you'll be prohibited from lifting laundry baskets, or doing chores which require lifting, bending, stooping or twisting." Dr. Guther listed before continuing. "You'll also be restricted to activities that don't require physical contact or jarring activities such as football, basketball, or soccer for 6 to 12 months following surgery. Your physical activity will need to be limited should it prevent your bones from fusing."

"Wow, okay." Alan replied softly before it occurred to him about school. "What will I do about my PE credit at school?"

"I'll provide a doctor's note excusing you from your physical education class. You can do things like swim after your surgical site heals, you'll just still want to be careful about twisting or bending."

"Will I have to wear my brace outside of my clothes?" Alan asked as thoughts of being teased ran through his head.

"No, you can wear it under your clothes, but it might look a bit bulky." Dr. Guther admitted.

"Okay." Alan whispered as he accepted that he'd need a brace and he hoped he wouldn't need it by the time he went back to school.

"Alright." Dr. Guther said as she pulled up a program on her computer to show a simulation of Alan's back and what they were going to do to Alan's spine during surgery. "Both of you come on over, I'll show you what we'll be doing during surgery."

Alan and Jeff both dragged their seats over to sit beside Dr. Guther as she revealed the program to Alan and Jeff. They watched as Dr. Guther manipulated a simulated patient and made an incision along his back. The simulated surgery took place with a rod being inserted along both sides of the spine and the spine being corrected. Once properly re-aligned, hooks and anchors were utilized so as to prevent the rods from shifting. Afterward, the simulated patient's surgical site was closed up.

"So that's what's going to happen to me?" Alan asked tentatively.

"Yes, we'll need to take down measurements so we can order the correct sized rods and hooks to stabilize your spine. But other than that, we shouldn't have to prepare for much else. We'll gather the measurements for your back brace also." Dr. Guther commented softly.

"As you wish." Alan whispered lowly. "Let's get this over with then."

"Alright, If I could have you remove your shirt and pants, I'll mark along your back just where we'll do the incision and while I'm at I'll take down your measurements." Dr. Guther said before she stood up. "I'm going to give you a moment to undress while I go retrieve my measurement tools."

With that she left and Alan and Jeff were left alone. Alan wasted no time with undressing and he sat on the exam table while he waited for Dr. Guther to return. Alan tilted his head from side to side and let his neck pop while he drummed his fingers nervously as he waited for Dr. Guther to return.

Jeff didn't know quite what to say to his son. He knew Alan was making a brave decision, but he didn't want to comment on Alan's bravery for concern that praise would be scoffed at.

"Dad?" Alan started, sinking into himself and drawing his knees up onto the exam table before wrapping his arms around his knees. "Do you think I'm making the right choice?"

Jeff was taken by surprise to see the scared side of his son so plainly in front of himself. Normally Alan wouldn't show his fears, or anything besides boastful pride. He felt his chest tighten as he felt his son desired comfort from his dad right now. Standing, Jeff wrapped Alan tightly in his grasp. Alan was legitimately shaking.

"You're going to be fine Alan." Jeff replied. "I did some research on Dr. Guther's surgical team and they're the best in the Eastern Seaboard for corrective spinal surgery. You're in good hands."

"Knock, knock!" Dr. Guther announced before she re-entered the room. After seeing the position Alan was in she walked over only to see how hard he was shaking. "Alan, I'm going to take care of you. When I listed off the risks, I didn't mean that they'd happen to you. Those are the general risks that can come with any surgery involving the spine."

"Alan, you know from watching your brother that he was fine after surgery. It wasn't the surgery that left him partially paralyzed but the accident. He's fine and he can walk now. You'll be fine too." Jeff said soothingly.

"Your father's right Alan." Dr. Guther murmured softly before she stepped back when Alan started to uncurl. "Do you need a few more minutes or do you want to proceed with the measurements.?"

"Let's just get done so I can go home." The scared child in Alan wasn't afraid to admit that he was terrified of the surgery. He hoped he'd be okay.

"Okay." Dr. Guther said before she prompted Alan to stand up straight but to relax his arms instead of keeping them held rigid. Dr. Guther recorded her measurements as she went along and for the first time, Jeff was able to see Alan's right shoulder blade stuck out further than his left did and now since he was seeing Alan without a shirt on, could see that Alan's whole body was disproportionate to the rest of his body. And then he understood why Alan was constantly standing up straight. He couldn't slouch because it put too much strain on his back. Alan was unintentionally disguising his scoliosis with adjusting his posture. "Lean forward for me and try to touch your toes."

Alan did just that and Dr. Guther pointed out where Alan's scoliosis made its appearance, much to Alan's annoyance. He remained quiet, but was silently fuming at being talked about like he wasn't in the room.

Once Alan's back had been marked up with a permanent marker, Dr. Guther allowed Alan to stand up and to begin putting his clothes back on. Dr. Guther assured them that the markings would stay on his back through showers and she reassured that she'd re-mark Alan's back so her and the surgical team would know where they were working.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Later, Alan and his dad were headed back to the island and Alan pouted in the cockpit seat beside his dad. He and his dad had a brief dispute on the drive over to the airstrip after Alan's doctor appointment and Alan was still hurt from the argument. He didn't like his dad telling him he was brave one minute and calling him a kid the next.

Jeff purposely remained quiet as he flew the jet home, deep in thought over how they were going to handle Alan having surgery within the next three weeks. He wondered if his sons would beg off from working IR in order to be there for Alan after he had his back worked on. He wondered if it'd be best to shut down operations so his sons could attend without their say and he also wondered about how badly they'd be needed. Should he just keep the 'birds' at the military base for safekeeping should there be an emergency somewhere and keep his sons on call? He wondered over everything. Mostly how to help Alan once he'd gotten the surgery.

He wondered if he should mandate Alan relocate his bedroom temporarily to Jeff's study that was separate from his office so that he wouldn't have far to go and not have to attempt the stairs or if Alan would balk over being treated like a baby. So much was on his mind and he just didn't quite know what to think of. He knew Gordon had used a wheelchair to get around for a while following his own surgeries after his accident and he wondered if Alan would require one for a bit or a cane. He doubted it, but thoughts just continued running through his head at lightning fast speed.

"Tracy One, you're on final approach…is everything alright?" Scott's voice asked through the CB radio.

"Yes, everything's fine Scott." Jeff replied absently as he started slowing the speed of the jet to bring her down lightly.

"Okay, you just normally advise of your ETA and you just popped up on the radar without a word. I didn't know it was you and almost sent the drone." Scott said.

"Sorry Scott." Jeff knew the drone was a way to establish contact with the unknown craft that was trying to come closer. It also would try to deter any from their base without proper contact.

"We'll see you in about five minutes." Scott replied, before he cut off contact.

Jeff was left in silence once more before he turned to look at Alan. "Don't go anywhere when we land."

"Why? So you can yell at me again?" Alan asked sullenly.

"We need to tell your brothers what's going to happen in three weeks. I want you to tell them since it's your decision." Jeff replied softly.

"Whatever." Alan said as he kept his gaze turned out the window.

Jeff went silent as he was shut out by Alan. He knew he shouldn't have argued with his son. Alan was going through a substantial number of issues and he was entitled to anger. Jeff should have known Alan wouldn't have flown off the handle as quick as he did if it wasn't for the diagnosis hanging over his head, and various other issues.

Jeff brought the jet in to land and Alan stayed seated until Jeff finished his checkups through the equipment and cooldown of the systems. When Jeff stood he prompted Alan to go with him and Alan was sullen when he went. The youngest Tracy followed his dad, his eyes never straying from his own feet. Jeff led Alan to the lift which would take them into the villa. Jeff asked without turning. "Did you want me to gather everyone so that you can tell them all at once?"

Alan nodded and when Jeff didn't hear a verbal reply he turned only to see Alan nod slowly again.

They made it into the office after a few minutes and Jeff had Alan sit on the couch while he punched a button on the phone to give him access to every speaker system in the villa.

"Could I have everyone gathered in the office in ten minutes please? I mean everyone, we have some news to tell you all." Jeff said before cutting the connection to the intercom.

When everyone did filter in, all eyes were directed to Jeff…he shook his head and directed all attention to Alan who was sitting huddled on the couch. Alan took a deep breath before he started off, not making eye contact with anyone.

"You all know I had some pretty intense back pain a while back right? Well, I went to the doctor and he thought there was something odd with the curve of my spine. And for those of you that don't already know, I was later diagnosed by an orthopedist with a condition known as idiopathic scoliosis." Alan spoke softly as he felt shame burn brightly on his face at the admission of the condition that affected him. "The idiopathic means that nobody knows what really causes it. It wasn't something hereditary since no one in our family has a history of it. Anyway, upon further inspection it's been found that my form of scoliosis is pretty severe. I won't go into detail, but it's bad and it could cause me to have debilitating side effects though the doctor wouldn't tell me what those were. To be fair though, I didn't ask."

Nobody in the room spoke. There was only silence.

"So when dad and I went back today for more tests, my orthopedist told dad and I that my spine is still trying to curve and she said the only way to halt the progression is to…to…to…um." Alan bit his lip as he struggled to continue. He looked at his dad and saw the man nod that he should continue before Alan spoke up. "Dr. Guther said the only way to halt the progression is for me to undergo surgery. So, in three weeks I'll be going to the hospital and Dr. Guther and her team will…try to reverse the damage done to my spine and try to prevent further damage."

"Surgery?" Fermat asked, stutter surprisingly absent. "What will they do?!"

"Dr. Guther said she plans on making an incision from the top of my spine all the way down my back then she said she was going to insert two titanium rods on either side of my spine and anchor them. Then she said she was going to attach hooks and use those to forcefully straighten my spine. After that she'd close me up and let me recover."

"How long will that take?" Tin-Tin asked softly.

"I'm going to be bed ridden for a few days then I have to wear a brace that will prevent me from bending over or twisting. I won't be permitted to lift anything heavier than a cup or a light book for the first three months after my surgery and I can't play contact sports for six to twelve months following surgery." Alan said softly.

"So can I ask how that will affect Alan going up the stairs?" Gordon asked as a thought occurred to him. Turning to Alan, Gordon spoke directly to him. "You're clumsy as hell on a good day, no offence. So how will you manage the stairs if you're wearing a brace that prevents you from twisting or bending?"

"I haven't thought of it quite that far." Alan admitted as he dropped his head into his hands. "Someone kill me now."

"Since we're on that topic Alan, I was thinking of that on the flight home and if you'd like to temporarily move into my study, we can move my junk out into my office for the time being and move your bed and other belongings there so you don't have to go up and down the stairs." Alan picked his head back up and looked at his dad with surprise.

"You'd do that dad?" Alan asked with surprise.

"Yes, I'd do it for any of you." Jeff said with a small smile.

"So, Alan will be having surgery in three weeks?" Scott asked as he shifted in his seat to look directly at his dad. "What are we doing about operations?"

"That was something else I wanted to talk to you all about. I wanted to know if we wanted to keep operations up and running or if we wanted to shut down for a few days until we got your brother home and settled." Jeff said.

"I say we shut down operations." Gordon said raising his hand in vote. Virgil, Scott, John (from the computer monitor), Tin-Tin and Fermat as well as their parents and Jeff all raising their hands in vote to shut down operations.

"Guys, you can't not save the world because of me. I'm just one person." Alan said as he saw how many of his close family and friends would rather let the whole world suffer than to leave him at the hospital.

"But you're our world Al, you matter more to us than they do." John said from his connection. "We're going to be there for you no matter what."

"Thanks." Alan said softly as they all continued their discussions.

A/N: A helpful suggestion from a reviewer made me take a second look at this story and decide rather than leaving it as one long story, I'll be breaking it up into three chapters. It takes me three days with interruptions to finish reading this and it's just too long - so you'll notice if you're rereading this that it's got three chapters now instead of one.