remialcsid - any way you spell it, I don't own Thunderbirds

Epilogue – Safe for Now

Alan was relieved when they pulled into Logan Airport in Boston. The sun was beginning to set over the city. As excited as he had been to arrive on Thursday morning, he was even more relieved to be leaving. His father and brother surrounded him as they walked from the car rental desk. To his frustration, the doctor had insisted that he remain in a wheelchair at least until he got back to Tracy Island. To his relief, he was in the wheelchair – Alan was exhausted and didn't think he could walk the length of three concourses to go from the car rental desk to the airstrip where Tracy One was ready to fly him home.

Virgil found his eyes constantly darting from side to side. He knew what the police had assured them. A disgruntled designer from the hotel development team had confessed to tampering with the computers so that no water was available and the safety protocols would fail. He also admitted that the stairwell door could have randomly locked and unlocked when the safety protocols did not kick in. However, he denied hitting Alan and leaving the boy to die. But since he had been spotted running down the stairwell, nearly knocking over Sarah Woodbury's partner Stan Tomlinson and a woman they had rescued, the authorities were surmising that he was denying that in hope of avoiding an attempted murder charge. There was no standing threat to his little brother, right? Alan just had the bad luck to be there when the man had tried to escape from the scene of the crime and that was all.

So why was every nerve still on end? Why couldn't Virgil just accept that it was over and be happy that Alan had survived his misadventure?

That was it… he was spending too much time with Scott.

Jeff Tracy had always liked to visit Boston. The metropolis was a driver's nightmare but the culture and the dining were wonderful. But at the moment he could care less if he ever saw the venerable city again. It had almost become the place where one of his sons had died.

Looking down at Alan's blond head, Jeff gently brushed a hand over his youngest son's hair, smiling at the boy when he looked up. A glance back at Virgil showed his middle child in full "big brother mode", constantly vigil for any threat. Virgil really did hang out with Scott too much. Alan would be fine; there was no continued threat to his son. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time, the police had assured the billionaire. And the doctors had been willing to release Alan to home as long as necessary precautions were taken. The way Jeff was feeling, he would have been happy to switch Alan over to home schooling for the next year. But he knew Alan wouldn't like that.

Life back at Wharton's had been all Alan talked about- his track team, the plans for the student council, his friends. He had even called Fermat to make sure that the other boy picked up Alan's schedule and talked to his teachers about e-mailing him his assignments. Alan wasn't willing to risk his pre-admission to Harvard.

In order to make sure the media would not bother the Tracys, the airport manager had arranged for them to use the maintenance hallways. It was as long as walking the concourse, but evading the news hounds who had staked out both the hospital and the airport made it necessary. They were almost to the exit when they heard a voice call out "Trying to skip town without saying goodbye?"

The Tracys looked out the double doors to see Sarah Woodbury standing on the tarmac. All three men smiled, amazed at how much the shy girl had had changed in the years since leaving Kansas. Her shoulder length auburn hair shimmered in the setting sun and her green eyes sparkled with a joy that had often been lacking in the sixteen year old Sarah Jane. Alan stood up from the wheelchair, hugging Sarah fiercely, at first surprising her before the young woman returned the embrace. Brushing the teen's golden locks from his face, Sarah smiled gently. "Baby, I missed you but if you ever want to see me again, I am in the phone book."

Noticing that Alan had become pale and shaky from getting up, Virgil guided his brother back into the chair. Jeff had stepped forward, hugging Sarah and whispering, "Thank you. I can never thank you enough for saving Alan's life." Sarah grinned, snarking, "No problem, Mr. T – remember, I charge $7.50 an hour, $9.00 if you get back after 11 pm." The Tracys laughed as they realized she was quoting the amount she had been paid for baby-sitting Alan all those years ago.

Sarah turned to Virgil, who had shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, and had suddenly found the ground fascinating. Looking at the two young people, Jeff shook his head, trying not to laugh. Had he been the obvious around Lucy? What was it with the way his sons found romance? Had none of them ever heard of a "normal" meeting? Then again, he had met Lucy when she had re-ended him in a parking lot. How had Alan ended up as the traditionalist in the Tracy clan?

"Virgil, I am going to get Alan comfortable. We are scheduled to leave shortly so don't be too long, OK." Virgil nodded at his father's words and tried to ignore Alan's snickering.

"So…" Sarah and Virgil laughed as they realized that had said the same thing at the same time. Before Virgil could say anything, Sarah spoke up. "We never said goodbye in Kansas." That was true. The day before their high school graduation, a fire had destroyed Sarah's home and killed her family, leaving her badly injured. She had been babysitting Alan earlier in the evening since Virgil had been at the Senior Prom and Gordon had been at a swim meet while Jeff was working late. Looking at her now, it was hard to believe this was the same girl. "I won't say goodbye now." Pulling out a piece of paper, she handed it to Virgil. "My contact information, if you get the urge. I hate to lose track of people I care about."

Looking at her shining eyes, wondering if he could ever mix a paint that green, Virgil came to a decision. Ripping off the empty white sheet at the bottom, he pulled out a pen and wrote on it. Handing the half piece back, he smiled. "My cell phone and e-mail; if you won't say goodbye, plan on saying hello more often." Sarah tucked her piece of paper away as Virgil did the same. With a smile and a quick hug, Sarah turned to walk away. Virgil began to head towards the family's jet, when he turned back suddenly and called out, "Hey Sarah!"

Swinging around, the redhead paused, waiting for Virgil to continue. "Remember when you use to sneak in piano time for me in order to get me to focus on my studies? At her smiling nod, he ventured, "Do you still sing?"

In response, Sarah turned and began to walk away. Virgil was saddened, as the young girl had possessed a truly lovely voice. As he began to make his way to the plane once more he heard a melodious voice from the past once more: "Please come to Boston for the sprintime, I'm staying here with some friends and they've got lots of room; You can sell your paintings on the sidewalk, by a cafe where I hope to be working soon; Please come to Boston, he said no, girl you come home to me. And he said, hey ramblin girl, why don't ya settle down; Boston ain't your kinda town, there ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me. I'm the number one fan of the girl from Kansas City."

Virgil laughed as he climbed onto the plane. Sarah had just changed a few words but he knew two things her tune had clued him in on. First, Sarah Jane Woodbury still could belt out a tune like no one else he knew. Second, Virgil would be looking for an excuse to come back to Boston as soon as possible. He wondered if his Dad would let him be the one to take Alan back to school. Then there were his brother's track meets… And Alan had to be picked up for Thanksgiving… The possibilities were endless and life held promise.

With that thought in mind, Virgil strapped in next to his father. Alan was already asleep in the back and Virgil smiled as the small plane began to head down the designated runway. Life definitely held promise now.

a/n - yes, I am ending this story here as it has wrapped up for John and Emily, but beginning Virgil and Sarah's. I am taking a break for a couple of days, and then a one shot for Alan and the next adventure begins. See ya soon... Oh, and I don't own the song "Please come to Boston", either by Kenny Chesney. Think someone else did it too. And if you don't get the disclaimer, look at it backwards.