WHITE OUT

Disclaimer - I have not, nor will I ever (unless I win the lottery, a really big one, and Gerry Anderson's heirs get desperate) own the Thunderbirds.

Chapter One

There are several facts in life that are indisputable. The two that no one seems to argue about are that the sun rises in the East every morning and will set in the West every night. No matter what your religious beliefs, political stance or national origin, you acknowledge this to be true.

And once more it was true on Tracy Island. The sun had set the night before even as the family had gathered for a celebration. Three graduations – Alan Tracy, Fermat Hackebacker (both from Wharton Academy for Boys) and Tin-Tin Kyrano (through a home school program based out of Auckland) as well as three birthdays (Alan and Tin-Tin had both turned eighteen and Jason Tracy, son of the oldest Tracy brother, Scott, had turned one) had to be celebrated in Tracy style.

Kate Tracy, Scott's wife, had been retrieved from Thunderbird Five, where she had been performing her first solo rotation. She had been due to come down in a couple of days, being replaced for four weeks by the Hackenbackers, when a glitch had occurred in the life support software. Although it probably would have been safe for her to remain up on the space station, family patriarch, Jeff Tracy, had decided to bring her down and that they would use the Earth-bound communications for a few days before the Hackenbackers headed up with supplies and a long list of repairs and tweaks.

Not surprisingly, life support systems had moved to the top of the list.

Once the sun had slowly set on the barbeque, the family had begun to move towards the main house only to realize Alan and the two youngest Tracys, Jason and Elizabeth, were not out at the pool. It was an amused Tin-Tin who found them, curled up on the couch in the main house.

"Should we wake them?" Virgil asked with a laugh, keeping his voice low.

Emily, as the only licensed physician of the group, nudged her brother-in-law and shook her head. "No. Alan needs his rest and as for the tiny terrors, I don't know about Kate, but I never think my daughter is as beautiful as when she is asleep."

Kate just chuckled. "You just wait until Sarah has that baby, Virgil. You'll treasure every quiet minute you can."

Gordon just looked at the sleeping trio before lifting Alan's legs, sitting on the couch and setting his younger brother's legs back across his own. "The heck with that. You three," he gestured at his married older brothers, "all have your own house you can go to. I still live here and I already put a movie in the player. Run along if you want to. I have a date with a goddess…"

"Gordy still drooling over that Brit Chick?" John whispered to Scott.

"Heloise Harrington-Smythe?" Lady Penelope asked with a raised eyebrow, even as she accepted a fresh drink from Jeff.

Scott nodded. "We keep telling him he's probably not her type. But don't be surprised if he raises the issue with you – he saw a picture of the two of you at the Royal fundraiser last month."

"No, he's not her type," Lady P demurred. "He's male."

Every eye turned to the aristocrat before Kate began to laugh hysterically. "Oh, man – I wish you hadn't said that. I would have loved to see him be shot down in flames."

Gordon pretended to be focused on the movie but quietly glared at his oldest sister-in-law as she reached down to pick up her son. Emily followed suit and soon the two tots were comfortably secure in a portable crib brought down from their grandfather's office. Eventually, everyone had found a comfortable spot – including Tin-Tin who was seated in front of the couch, her head near Alan's chest and Jeff who had lifted his sleeping son's head and brought it to rest on his own lap.

They all watched the movie, happy to be together as a family, celebrating life. Alan slept on, the pain from a recent injury assuring his exhaustion, his sleep that of someone who is innocent and care-free.

That would all change soon.

A few days later, in New York

Ann-Marie Thompson smiled at Tomo, fondly recalling the young man's late father.

Tomo glanced up from the files he was sorting, and looked at the gatekeeper to the power-holders of Tracy Towers.

"Do I have ketchup on my nose?" he asked playfully.

The PA chuckled. "No, but you look so much like your father right now."

Tomo grinned in return. He was having fun. His father had worked a great deal with Ann-Marie over the years and the woman was a font of information on a side of his late father he had rarely seen. Standing, Tomo's smile slipped as he stood. He had been feeling a discomfort in his leg, in the area he was shot – the same area he had injured in a car accident last year. Tomo knew he should contact his doctor, but he really wanted to get everything set up so that when Alan came to New York next week, they could work on a project together – oh, and catch a ball game.

You know – important stuff.

Alan grinned as he came out onto the lanai, rolling his shoulder slightly. Home a whole week, he now had the all-clear from his doctor – aka, Emily – to resume rescue work in the field. But he was fairly sure he would be relegated to the field command station if Smother Hen Scott had his way.

"Ah-an!"

Laughing, Alan reached into the play pen to pull up Jason. "Hey, sport! And it's Uncle ALAN. You keep dropping the la-la-la…"

"Trying to teach the kid to sing?" Gordon joked as he climbed out of the pool.

"Better him than you," Tin-Tin snarked before handing Alan two envelopes. "Dad brought the mail. You actually got some."

Alan sat down at one of the pool side tables, balancing Jason on one knee even as he opened the first of the two envelopes, trying to ignore the interest from his family, who had begun to gather for the lunch Onaha was setting up at the larger table closer to the house.

"I didn't think anyone you knew used snail mail," Scott joked as he came up behind Alan, making faces at his son before holding out his hands for Jason. The toddler looked torn before cuddling back in to Alan's chest. Scott ignored the amused snort from his wife who was putting away her work in anticipation of the noon meal.

Alan set down the first letter with a huge grin, picking up the second one which – after a startled glance at the envelope – he hastily grabbed and ripped open the second. Jumping to his feet, he waved the letter in the air before pulling Tin-Tin close and kissing her.

"I'm published!" the eighteen year old shouted with joy.

"What?" Tin-Tin asked through her laughter.

"One of my short stories!" Alan crowed. "It's going to be in Sci-Fi Journals! I am now a bona-fide, check in the mail published author!"

Gordon picked up the envelope and confirmed a check was in it. "Hate to tell you, Sprout – it's only a check for a hundred dollars."

John came over, Elizabeth on his shoulders, and grinned at Alan. "Ignore him, Al – the point is you are now a published author. That is all that matters, right, Dad?"

Jeff joined the group, taking the letter from Alan's hand before he put his arm around his youngest son's shoulder. "John's right, Alan – what matters is you are laying the foundation for your future. And that is not bad for a short story by an unknown author. Well, I think it isn't," Jeff admitted, realizing he knew very little about the publishing world.

John shook his head. "No, it's not bad at all – Mr. A.S. Tracy," he smiled as he looked at the letter that Jeff still held. Gesturing to the other envelope, John asked, "Who is the other one from?"

Alan held up the letter and smiled. "Tommy's mother. She wanted to know if I would like to accompany the two of them when they go back to Japan in August. It will be just before the two of us need to head to college. Her family is holding a ceremony honoring deceased members and Ambassador Wattamee would be honored if I came with them."

"Aren't those things generally family only?" Gordon asked with a raised eyebrow. "And if they aren't, shouldn't he be bringing his girlfriend?"

Alan shrugged. "Tomo considers me family, so I guess his mother wants him to have some support. As for Gina, well…I don't think the ambassador likes her very much."

"And since you don't either," Sarah began, only to halt when Alan turned to his sister-in-law in surprise. "Puh-lease, Baby – I can't say I blame you…she made her dislike way too clear as well. But anyone could see you didn't like her."

"I don't think she's a bad person," Alan shrugged. "I just don't think she's right for Tommy."

"Well, it's not your choice who he dates," Gordon argued.

"You commented enough on Scott's and John's girlfriends – now wives," Tin-Tin said with a raised eyebrow, smirking when Kate and Emily both turned to glare at the redhead.

Gordon wisely moved into the house to change for lunch before either wife could reach him.

Emily sighed as she pulled down her daughter, setting the toddler up for her lunch. "Why didn't you include Sarah in that?" she asked Tin-Tin.

Sarah answered instead. "Because Gordon has known me most of his life – and he knows better than that."

"Translation," Jeff laughed, "Gordon got his first black eye from Sarah Jane. On what, I'm not sure."

Shrugging, Sarah rubbed her stomach before taking the pitcher of sweet tea from Onaha and pouring a glass. "Gordon thought I was trying to steal his baby brother from him. And Gordon wasn't willing to share Alan with anyone who wasn't a real sibling to Allie."

"So," Kate mused as she pulled her son from the Alan/Tin-Tin sandwich that was still going on. "His dog-in-the-manger act isn't anything new."

Jeff and his three oldest sons looked disturbed, Gordon angry while the remaining Tracys (of sorts, in some cases) just looked annoyed. At Kate or Gordon, no one was sure.

OK, so most likely it was at Gordon. The red-head's jealousy of Tomo really was getting old.

Alan quickly changed subjects and the family relaxed as they enjoyed a delicious meal. Just as they finished, Jeff turned to his youngest son.

"Alan," Jeff said with what he hoped was the calmest voice possible. "I was wondering if we could talk in my office after we finish eating."

The teenager had a sudden panicky look on his face. Luckily for him, all discussions had been put off between rescues and Tracy Industries. But the last urgent issue at his father's business had been dealt with for now and there was no rescue...

A claxon sounded throughout the compound, making Jason and Elizabeth begin to fuss.

"Dad," Emily groaned.

"The watches are almost ready, honey," John assured his wife even as he jumped up, kissing both his wife and daughter before running and joining his brothers in heading to the office.

Kate sighed as she handed Jason to Onaha. "I'll see how bad it is," she said as she headed after the men. "Sarah? You got command?"

"Most likely," the red-head sighed even as she joined the rest of IR to find out what the mission was.

Emily bounced her daughter on her knee before muttering, "Young lady – I will so never be Susan Haas and tell you what you should or should not be. But I can promise, there will be enough next generation Tracys for the Thunderbirds. How about being a doctor? Or a lawyer? Or an engineer? Or a televangelist? Or..."

Onaha cuddled Jason, smiling at the little boy. She hated to remind Emily – but Elizabeth could always grow up and do any of the above and still be a Thunderbird.

Tomo looked up at the vid, news of a disaster in Asia catching his eye as he tried to relax as Anne-Marie had ordered him to. Seeing one slender figure, moving carefully, tenderly aiding an injured child – child labor always ticked Tomo off no end – the young man stood, moving closer to the vid.

The way the rescuer – heck, International Rescue, Alan would love this – moved seemed familiar. There was something so hauntingly familiar about the movements, the hand gestures…Maybe Alan would know. Maybe…

Alan?

That confused thought was pushed away as a pressure in his chest stole his breath away. Tomo collapsed, blackness pouring over him as a last thought of his honorary little brother comforted him.

Alan.

"TOMO!" Anne-Marie screamed, having heard the younger man fall to the ground. Kneeling by his side, the PA yelled, "Call 911! NOW!"

More than twelve hours after the Thunderbirds had left for a collapsed factory in China, Sarah was signing off with the Hackenbackers.

"Thunderbird One is on final approach," Sarah confirmed, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "And Thunderbird Two isn't far behind."

"B-bet th-they w-wish you had b-b-been there," Fermat said cheerfully.

"A second field medic would have been useful," Sarah sighed. "But Alan filled in nicely."

Brains beamed proudly. Alan was like a second son to him and he was as proud of him as he was of Fermat. Glancing at his son, he could see Fermat was glowing at the praise for Alan as well.

"A-Alan w-will d-do g-good in th-that," Fermat agreed. "H-he l-loves th-that. H-he th-thought about g-going into med-medicine."

"What do you think he is? The six million dollar man?" Scott quipped as he and Jeff entered through the portraits.

Smiling, Sarah shook her head. "Do you realize how financially unfeasible it would be to create a cyborg – because that is what the bionic man was – for only six million dollars?"

Jeff frowned. "Tell that to people in my R&D departments, who seem to have no clue what anything costs."

Scott shrugged. As someone who technically worked for Research and Development, under the Aeronautic Division, he really couldn't say anything.

Glancing at the guilty look on his firstborn's face, Jeff laughed. "And yes, you still owe me that report on the new jet propulsion engine – including cost breakdown."

Emily entered the room, critically looking over her in-laws. "Anything I would be needed for?" When Jeff shook his head, Emily smiled. "The kids are at my house, Tin-Tin is with them. She said to tell you, she's translated Brains' notes on the watches and thinks they can have working models within a week."

"That girl is going to do great at MIT," Sarah grinned, handing Jeff some messages. "The only urgent one is from Anne-Marie. She said to call as soon as you get in but that it wasn't business business, it was personal business business." Sighing, she rolled her eyes. "I admit it – I was lost."

Jeff frowned again. That was how Anne-Marie usually phrased it when something bad had happened to someone who worked for him.

"I'll call her from my room," Jeff said, turning to leave.

"Dad," Sarah interrupted. "Two just landed. Don't you want to be here when they get up?"

"Tell them I'll be right back," Jeff said, distracted.

Sarah frowned. "What's up with that?"

Scott shrugged. "Dad will tell us when he gets back."

"Gets back from where?" Virgil asked as he came through the portrait. "He just came off a twelve hour rescue. Dad isn't fit to fly anywhere."

"Don't worry," Emily assured him, greeting her husband as he came through with a kiss. "Dad just went to call Anne-Marie from his room. He'll be right back." Turning to Alan when the teenager came in, Gordon's arm around his little brother's shoulders, Emily smiled at Alan.

"I hear someone did a great job out there. It's not too late to change majors, you know."

Alan chuckled before kissing Emily on the cheek. "Nice try, Em. But working as a field medic is one thing. Being a doctor? I don't think it would be for me."

Sighing, Emily shook her head. Hmmm. Maybe she should ask Edward...

Jeff re-entered Command and Control, his face pale and drawn. "Alan – Anne-Marie called. Um, it's Tomo."

Alan paled and stepped closer to his father. "Dad? Is Tommy OK?"

"He collapsed at the office and was taken to the hospital," Jeff said, putting his hands on his youngest son's shoulders. "We'll go to New York right away..."

Alan's cell phone rang from the table where he had left it before going on the mission. Picking it up, he sighed in relief, mouthing "Tomo" to his family.

"Hey, Tommy – Dad just got called by Anne-Marie, are...Oh. Ambassador Wattamee. Dad and I are about to leave for..."

Suddenly Alan went completely white and started to reach behind him, seeking a chair. John grabbed his brother's arm and guided him to their father's seat.

To most of the family's surprise, Alan began speaking in Japanese. A brief conversation, with Alan desperately trying to hold himself together, only served to increase the Tracys' concern.

Alan hung up the phone before lowering his head into his hands. The Tracys all remained silent until Alan raised his now tear-streaked face to them.

"Dad, I need to go to Japan. Tomo died and his mother is asking that I come to his funeral."

A/N - Yup - I did it. OK, new story. Hoping to post once a week and will try and do convos on even chapters. Review and I will see you soon. - CC