But he pushed the strange sensation aside as he stared at the man with his back to him. Ben. His brother. John cleared his throat and Ben turned. "Oh, hey, John, what is it? Is the sultan okay?"

"The sultan?" John looked at him quizzically before he realized what he was talking about. "Oh, he's fine, I guess. I..."

Ben's eyes widened. "You're not my John."

"How'd you know?" John smiled.

Crossing the floor until he was standing in front of him, Ben replied, "I can just tell, I guess. I know you're not the same man. What are you doing here? Is everything all right on your side?"

John snorted his response. "Launch Control looks a little different," he said, moving around the room and noting each detail.

"Why are you here, John?"

John didn't turn around. "Why do you think?"

"Me."

He turned and nodded. "Yeah, you. I guess I just...I wanted to...find out who you are."

Ben frowned. "Does Dad...does your dad know you're here?"

"What the hell difference does that make?"

"How long can you be here?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, you can't stay here indefinitely. Look what happened when my sultan and your Kyrano were in the same dimension." Ben's face grew concerned. "Your Kyrano...is he dead?"

"No. As soon as you disappeared he came back...why are we talking about him?"

"Well, what do you want to talk about?"

"You! Us!"

"Us? You mean the John over here?"

"The John..." John looked toward the open door exiting Launch Control. "I guess I'd forgotten there's another me."

"Look," Ben said softly, approaching him and laying a hand on his forearm, "I know this can't be easy for you. Any easier than it was for me to see the brother I lost for the first time over there. Or to see Scott alive and well. Or Father, living and breathing."

"No," John admitted, "it's not easy." He turned and put his hands on Ben's shoulders. "But I have an opportunity here to get to know the brother I never had. I can't just let this drop, Benjamin."

"Ben," he corrected him. "I have an IDT, too. The sultan's force found a third one when they went searching through Gaat's home and he gave it to me for safekeeping." He looked pointedly at John. "But I haven't used it to visit Virgil."

"Why not? You can go whatever you want."

"No. I have to do what's right."

"What's right by whose standards?" John shot back. This wasn't going at all the way he'd envisioned. What had he envisioned? Being welcomed with open arms? Ben didn't need him, he already had his own John. His brow creased. "I just want to hang with you for a while, get to know you. That's all."

"John to Ben. Come in, Ben."

John's eyes widened as Ben answered his wrist comm. "Go ahead, John."

"Hey, I'm picking up a damn strange reading from LC. What's going on over there?"

"Nothing that I know of, Johnny," Ben replied, looking up over the side of his wrist at the other John. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure it's nothing. How's the sultan?"

"A-OK, as far as Brains can tell." Ben's John sighed. "I went into Scott's room today."

"Why?" Ben asked, face falling.

"I just...I don't know. I wanted to feel closer to him."

The John-without-his-twin backed away, feeling very much like a third wheel, and very uncomfortable at listening to himself talk that way. He'd never open up like that, especially not on a comm line. What the hell?

"Johnny, you shouldn't have gone without me. I told you we'd go in together."

"I know. I found something. On his nightstand. That picture of him and Cammie."

"Oh, yeah." Ben smiled a tiny smile as John frowned across the room at him. "I guess it's a good thing she left before he died. I don't know how she would have handled her husband - you know."

"How are you handling it?"

"Husband?" John squeaked. " Scott was married?"

Ben looked up at him sharply. "I'm not handling it well at all, John," he replied into the watch. "In fact, I was just going to call us all together. I think it's time I fully divulge what happened."

"You mean where the hell the sultan came from?"

"That and a lot more," Ben said, giving the other John a meaningful look. "Get the others and meet me in the lounge in five."

"F.A.B., Ben."

Ben lowered his wrist. "I'm sorry, John. I do understand your desire to get to know me, but I have a family to rebuild, too. I'm the head of it now, and I've only got Alan, Gordon and my John left, plus Brains. I need to get our shit together as much as you need to get your shit together."

"As much as I...hey, wait just one minute! I don't have any problem with my shit!" John retorted, sagging back against the wall as his legs turned to Jell-O.

Ben moved forward and grabbed his arms to keep him from falling. Their faces were so close their noses almost touched. "John, you need to go back."

"I don't want to."

"You can't survive over here, and I won't have you killing my John!"

"But I am your John!"

"No!" Ben yelled, shaking him slightly. "You're not! Now go back, John! Go back to those who need you! Go back to your family!"

"You are my family," John said quietly as a dizzying sensation overtook him. "You should have been."

"Oh, John," Ben said, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing him tightly, "I understand. God help me, I do. But you and I are from different places and we can't upset things more than they've already been upset. Can't you see what's happening to you? You'll kill both yourself and my John. Is that what you want?"

John's hands balled into fists, grasping Ben's shirt so hard his knuckles turned white. "I want my brother," John whispered as his head fell forward. "I just want my brother!"

"I know," Ben said softly, pushing John back so he could see his face. "But I'm not him."

John's wide eyes looked up into Ben's and filled with tears. "I guess...I thought if..." John tried to push himself up to a standing position, but found himself growing weaker by the second. "I don't know what I thought."

Ben was almost entirely supporting his weight now. "I know what you wanted, John. I'm sorry I can't give it to you, but I have my own twin brother. We're closer than any two men ever could be, and I can't imagine not having that. So I can't fathom what you're feeling. All I know is I can't split myself between the one I know and the one I just found out exists somewhere else."

"No," John rasped, clinging to Ben's arms. "Just let me go."

"John, please, I...I wouldn't mind you getting to know me, it's just...not now. Not when I have to devote every minute of my time to my brothers. To figuring out what to do, what our future is. You understand, don't you?"

John said nothing. He raised his arm and keyed in a sequence on the IDT. A portal appeared seconds later. Mustering his last ounce of strength, John pushed himself unsteadily to his feet and walked toward the opening. He stopped, wavering, and looked back at Ben.

"Good-bye," John said, voice trembling. Then he turned into the portal and disappeared.

"Good-bye, John," Ben whispered as the portal winked out of existence. "And God help you." He shook his head, wiping his arm over his face to dry the tears in his eyes. "God help us all."

"Have you seen John? I need to get with him some time tonight to go over Corp business before we leave tomorrow."

Scott looked up from the box of parts he'd just opened. "No, Father, haven't seen him. Listen, I'm just getting ready to head back over to Mateo. You want to come see how Four's looking?"

"I'll get over there before we go," Jeff said. "But right now I need to find John."

Scott frowned. "Why didn't you just look for his GPS?" Jeff looked like he was about to say something, but didn't. "Father? What is it?"

Jeff frowned. "I don't know, probably nothing. I'll check in with you later."

He walked away without another word. Scott frowned as he looked after him. What was that all about?

Jeff bolted out of the elevator and ran down the long, curved metal corridor. He raced into the lab and his heart leapt into his throat. The IDT cabinet was open. And one of the devices was missing.

"Oh, John, no. You didn't," he whispered, moving across the room and placing his hand in the once-occupied space. "Damn you, John."

But before he could continue that line of thought, a high-pitched whine reached his ears. He turned as the portal appeared, blinding him. Seconds later it disappeared. He blinked a few times and managed to focus on John just as he fell to the floor in a heap.

"John!" Jeff cried out, dropping to his knees beside him. "My God!"

John's eyes blinked open as he grasped Jeff's hand. "I'm sorry, Father," he whispered weakly as Jeff held his hand in return. "You were right." A tear escaped John's eye. "You were right." He lost consciousness as Jeff shook his head sadly.

"Brains," Jeff said into his watch. "Get to the lab with a stretcher on the double!"

"F.A.B."

Jeff pulled John into his arms, cradling him as he stroked his hair. There were times when he wished he wasn't right so much. "I'm sorry, John," he whispered, lips against his son's forehead. "I'm so sorry."

"Are you certain this is what you wish, Alan?" Tin-Tin asked as he entered from his sitting room. She turned to face him, bathed from behind in the light of a full moon. He gasped softly and she smiled, looking demurely away.

He walked up and put his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. "You have to ask me if you're what I want? Now? After everything that's happened?"

She moaned as his lips kissed along her elegant neck to her ear. "I don't want you to be unhappy."

He pulled away and looked into her sparkling green eyes. "As long as we're together, as long as you're healthy, then I'm happy."

"Alan, I...I don't know what to say."

His lips moved against hers, his tongue pushing into her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into himself as though he could somehow meld their bodies into one. At last he pulled away. "Say you love me," he smiled.

"I love you," she replied quickly, a large grin on her face. "You've changed so, Alan. How you've changed." Her hand caressed his cheek.

"So have you," Alan said, mirroring her gesture. "I want to marry you. I want to have children with you. I want everything, Tin-Tin, and I don't care what part of the world I have to live in to have it."

"Children?" She looked astonished at first, then laughed out loud. "Honestly, Alan, we're barely back together now!"

He cupped her face in his hands, baby blue eyes hiding nothing. "Dad was right," he whispered, voice breaking. "Once you find what you've been looking for, never let go no matter how hard it is to hold on."

"Your father said that?"

"Mine...yours...what does it matter?" he asked, a twinkle in his eyes. He dropped down to one knee, hands moving to grasp hers. "Marry me, Tin-Tin."

She smiled and nodded. "Of course, Alan." She took a deep breath and pulled her hand from his, laying it atop his head. "Even if I have to give up everything to do it."

He rose to his feet and swept her into his arms, kissing her as he carried her to his bed. Laying her gently upon it, he moved on top of her, then pulled out of the kiss, frowning.

"Alan? What is it?"

"Are you sure you're okay? I mean, it hasn't been that long since..." The stricken look on his face was more than she could bear.

"Make love to me." He kissed her again and all thoughts of Malaysia fled Tin-Tin's mind as Alan's mouth...and hands...and body...did wonderful things to her. How she could ever have left this man, she couldn't fathom as every nerve ending lit on fire. But she did know as he removed her blouse that she would never leave him again.

"Dad?"

"Hi, Virgil," Jeff said, turning as his second eldest walked into the hospital ward.

"How's John?"

"Oh, he's going to be fine, Brains says," Jeff replied a little too lightly. "You back from Mateo already?"

"I haven't gone over yet. Gordon and I just finished loading the big aft cylinder onto the hovercraft. We'll be heading there in a few, he wanted to grab something to eat first."

A line rang down into the ward's medical office and Jeff frowned. "Now, who could that be?" he wondered as he moved toward it. "Maybe it's Mother." Virgil followed him, and when Jeff keyed open the vidphone line, both men were surprised. "Ned?" Jeff said. "Ned, where have you been?"

"God, Jeff," Ned said tiredly. "You have no idea."

"Are you okay? Is Adi all right?"

"About as well as can be expected given her condition."

"That's right, she's..." Jeff's face blanched. He'd all but forgotten what had happened to Adi at the hands of the Hood. "She actually decided to have the baby."

"Yes. Her religious beliefs wouldn't allow her to abort, even though it's..." Ned's face twisted in anger, then he visibly struggled to put it as far away from his mind as he could. "I'm going to help her with him as much as I can."

"Him? It's a boy?"

"Yes. He's due in three months. She's going to name him Gabriel - but listen, that's not why I contacted you. I got your message a while back that you'd killed the Hood. Are you sure he's dead?"

"Absolutely. It took us a month to clean up the bits and pieces."

"I've uncovered quite a bit about the bastard...about his true identity, about the connection to your friend Kyrano and his daughter...I have an awful lot of information. Is Tin-Tin going back to Sarawak?"

"She is, I'm taking her and Alan there myself tomorrow. Kyrano will be accompanying us. Why?"

"Things are bad over there, Jeff. Really bad. I'm not sure it's safe for them to go."

"I can't stop them," Jeff said, mouth tightening into a straight line. "Besides, we need to get rid of the traitorous bastard that almost killed Tin-Tin."

"Let me come," Ned said quickly. "I was going to head there to cover the crisis between the Asian Union and Western sympathizers. It would be the perfect place for an on-scene scoop."

"You never quit, do you?"

"Well, hell, you won't let me tell the biggest story of my lifetime! A guy's got to have something to fall back on!"

Virgil and Jeff chuckled. "All right, Ned, all right. We're leaving at noon tomorrow."

"I can pick him up, Father."

"I'll leave you two to make arrangements. Ned? Are you sure it's a good time to leave Adi?"

"She'll be fine," Ned said. "She's in the best of care." He leaned closer to the vidphone. "Besides, you know how pregnant women are," he whispered conspiratorially and shuddered.

Jeff nodded and laughed as he turned away. Yes, he well remembered how even the most loving of women could turn banshee thanks to the hormonal imbalance of pregnancy. He could hear Virgil and Ned speaking as he made his way back to John's bedside. He looked at the life sign indicators above the bed and nodded in satisfaction. John would be fine. Good. Because when he woke up, Jeff was going to knock his block off for the stunt he'd pulled.

Right after he made sure John knew how goddamn glad Jeff was that his son was okay.

"Oh, good, I'm glad you guys are here. I was hoping to get the cylinder in tonight."

"Yeah, baby," Gordon said as he moved to the back of the hovercraft to unchain the heavy cylinder. "You know," he called out, "I'm a little surprised we made it over here. A couple times I thought the air on the hover jets was going to give out!"

"Oh, great, and sink you like a stone!" Scott called back good-naturedly.

"Scott..."

"What, Virg?"

"Don't you think we maybe ought to let him head back to Tracy Island?"

Scott frowned. "What for?"

"Well, it is Alan's last night home. In fact, we should all be back there giving him and Tin-Tin a big send-off."

"If Gordon wants to be back there, he can speak up for himself, can't he?"

Virgil gave him a look. "Yeah, he's avoiding the whole thing as much as you are. The two of you are impossible."

"What are you talking about?" Scott asked as he unhooked the chains holding the front of the four-foot, two hundred pound cylinder. "You know we have work to do."

"And we can't take one night off for the sake of our little brother who's leaving." When Virgil received no response, he added, "Maybe for good."

Scott froze in mid-movement. A few seconds later he rose to his full height, looking back up at the dock where Virgil stood with his arms folded over his chest.

"Listen, Scott," Virgil said, then noticed Gordon coming around from the back of the hovercraft. "And you, too, Gordon. We can't just pretend Alan isn't leaving, and we owe it to him, and to Tin-Tin, to send them away in style."

Gordon and Scott exchanged glances. "What did you have in mind, Virg?" Gordon asked.

"Whiskey, a pool...and family."

"You're right," Scott breathed in a resigned puff of air.

"I know I am. Now let's get this thing into the hangar and get our asses back home. This will wait until tomorrow afternoon."

"Afternoon?" Scott complained.

"Afternoon!" Virgil said firmly. "Once they've left-" He was cut off by the sound of all three of their watches beeping rapidly. "The alert signal." They hadn't heard that sound since International Rescue had stopped operating.

Scott raised his watch to his face. "One, Two and Four reporting in. Go ahead, Base."

"Where are you?"

"We're on Mateo, Father. What is it?"

"I need one of you to go pick Penelope up in Sydney," Jeff replied. "Parker's with her."

"Why is Penny coming to the island?" Scott asked.

"I'm not sure," Jeff replied. "She just called and said she was there."

"I'll go get her," Scott said. "We'll be back as soon as this cylinder's stowed."

"F.A.B., Scott."

"We haven't seen Penny in months," Gordon commented.

"Maybe she wants to see Alan and Tin-Tin off, too," said Virgil.

"Or maybe she wants to see Dad."

"You still on that?" Virgil asked as he stepped up into the cab of the crane situated at the side of the dock.

"Well, shit, if Alan's allowed to be in love, then so is Dad, wouldn't you say?"

"So are we all," Gordon said. "Fat chance of that, we never have a second to spare around here."

"Well, that will change," Scott replied. "Remember Father said when he returned with Kyrano things would be different around here."

"They aren't," Gordon replied. "You know it as well as I do. He hasn't even found out what it is I want to do. He said he wanted to know before he left."

"Well, a lot's happened," Virgil called down from above as Scott and Gordon moved to hook the crane to the chains surrounding the cylinder.

"That's no excuse," Scott replied. "Once Dad leaves for Malaysia tomorrow, I will personally make sure things start to change." He looked across at Gordon as Gordon clipped the last hook in place. "And for starters, we're going to the mainland."

"Woot," Gordon said in mock joviality. "Women."

"Would you rather have men?" Scott asked. "They have those, too, you know."

Gordon tackled Scott and the two landed on the dock laughing uproariously. Virgil just shook his head and fired the crane up, drowning out all sounds of his brothers' tussle. "Kids," he groaned self-righteously.

John blinked his eyes open. When he saw his father's face above him, he groaned.

"Glad to see you too, son."

"Dad..."

Brains made a beeline to John's bedside and began checking his vitals.

"John, don't try to say much. Other-dimensional sickness knocks you on your ass, Alan said."

"You want me...to get better...so you can deck me."

Jeff chuckled. "It had crossed my mind."

"I'm sorry. You were right."

"So...you saw Ben?"

John nodded and closed his eyes as Brains poked and prodded.

"What happened?"

"I'd rather not, Dad."

Jeff nodded and placed his hand over John's. "Well, get back on your feet and fast. I need to go over some Corp business with you before we leave tomorrow."

John nodded again, a faint smile gracing his features before he succumbed to the relaxant Brains had just fed into his IV line. "I-I'll have him up before you know it, ah, Jeff."

"Thanks, Brains. Why don't you get some rest, too? I daresay you've been as harangued as the rest of us."

"A-And miss Lady Penelope's visit?" Brains replied. "Y-You have to be, ah, kidding."

Jeff didn't smile. "Yes. Of course," was all he said.

Brains frowned as he watched him go. "What the hell's wrong with him?"

"If I were to hazard a guess," came John's voice, "I'd say he's in love."

"You're supposed to be out like a-a light!" Brains said in surprise.

John chuckled. "Us Tracys have an iron constitution, Brains. Besides, you look a little forlorn."

"I-I'm just tired o-of you all getting injured. I-It's a lot of work keeping you healthy."

"Sorry."

Brains smiled as he placed a hand on John's shoulder. "Don't a-apologize. I-I'm just glad you're o-okay. Get some sleep."

"Wake me in a few?" John yawned.

"I-I will." Brains sat down in a nearby chair jotting down that hour's life sign readings. His eyes strayed from the indicator above the bed down to John's sleeping face. "Y-You don't have to go looking for a sibling o-over there," he whispered. "Not when you've, ah, got one here, John."

John very nearly gasped out loud, but managed to hold it in. What had Brains meant by that? He struggled to hold on to the thought, but couldn't keep it together in the face of Brains' medicines. The last thing he saw in his thoughts was Brains' face next to Ben's...and then they merged.

My God! Oh, my God!

An hour later, Jeff stood out on his balcony watching as Scott came in for a landing with Tracy One. He knew Penelope was on board that jet along with Parker. He also knew he didn't want to see her. He couldn't. Not now. Not when he was about to leave with Kyrano, Tin-Tin and Alan. And who knew how long he'd be gone? He was afraid of what Penny wanted. Afraid.

"Imagine that," he said to himself. "Jeff Tracy afraid." He sighed. "Again."

He hadn't felt this unsure since coming back to himself after his nervous breakdown. She'd been there. She'd seen him through the worst. Seen him at his worst. And maybe that was part of the problem. Or...the whole problem.

Jeff had never let anyone see his worst. Not after Lucille had died...no, he'd gone away, squirreled himself in an office, far away from his sons, hiding from the world and burying himself in work. Then with the tower's destruction he'd tried to keep it to himself but ultimately couldn't. And she'd been there.

She loved him. He wasn't a stupid man. He knew it.

But when all was said and done, she'd seen a side of him he never let anyone see. She was already family. He'd always half-hoped she'd marry one of his sons. But her preference for the patriarch vs. the heirs had been pretty obvious from the beginning, and while for a long time Jeff had found it flattering and had indeed returned the interest, he now found it more than just a little unnerving to imagine really letting her all the way in. Willingly letting her all the way in.

God knew she was an unparalleled beauty. And a lady in every way. She was also fiery, strong and independent - more than once Jeff had secretly been glad she was on their side rather than working against them, for Lady Creighton-Ward was a force to be reckoned with. He'd always admired her, liked her, looked forward to her visits...and respected her.

But she'd gotten too close. And like any good Midwestern born-and-bred Tracy, that was simply not acceptable. Well, Alan didn't really count because he was the youngest and had always worn his heart on his sleeve. Besides, when you almost lose the woman you love, you forget to care how others see you act so foolishly around her.

If Lucy had lived, they'd all have seen him act that way, never letting her out of his sight and never taking her for granted again.

Yet she hadn't, and Jeff had long ago resigned himself to the fact that he would forever remain a widower. No one could touch his heart. No one could penetrate the fortress that was the soul of Jeff Tracy.

Who is it you're trying so hard to convince?

He looked up and realized he didn't hear the jet anymore. A glance at his chronometer showed he'd been lost in his thoughts for nearly 20 minutes. Oh, boy, Penny was going to be some pissed Jeff hadn't greeted her coming off the plane.

Best to face her now and get it over with.

"Ho, boy, is she in a state," Virgil commented as he and Scott headed for Alan's room.

"Tell me about it. I don't think she said five words to me the entire flight home."

"Better you that picked her up than me."

"Hey, you're the one who has to fly Ned Cook out here tomorrow morning."

Virgil rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me," he said as he rang the entry signal on the keypad outside Alan's suite door.

A few moments later the door swished open. Alan stood there glistening with a towel wrapped around his waist. Scott punched him on the arm. "Alan, you dog."

"What do you guys want?" Alan scowled, trying...and failing...to look nonchalant.

"Party time," Virgil said, holding out a bottle of scotch. "Meet us down by the pool in ten minutes."

"That is, if you think Tin-Tin will let you out to play."

Alan mock-boxed at Scott but couldn't keep from turning scarlet. "Get out of here," he groused as the door swished closed.

Scott and Virgil burst out laughing as they made their way back down the stairs and toward the lounge.

"He got laid!" Virgil laughed. "Lucky bastard."

"God, I did not need to be privy to that," Scott commented as he tried to stop chuckling.

"If they keep this up, they'll make us uncles inside a year."

"Uncles?" Scott repeated, turning white. "Jesus, Virg."

"What? You forget how babies get made or something?"

Scott's face turned serious. "I seem to recall something about inserting Tab A into Slot B..."

Virgil started laughing even harder and Scott joined him, but both stopped dead in their tracks as their father entered the lounge ahead of them. "Penny," they heard him say.

"I say we take another route to the pool," Virgil said.

"And miss a fireworks display?" Gordon asked cheekily from behind them.

"Where'd you come from?" Virgil asked.

"Secret panel. How else do you think I can sneak around and eavesdrop?"

"We can't eavesdrop, Dad would kill us."

"Not to mention Penelope," Virgil added.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" Gordon asked petulantly. "Big brothers can be such a drag."

"Jeff," came Lady Penelope's rather cool voice.

Scott looked through the doorway to where Penny sat on the piano bench. "Is the Grand insured, Virg?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I think it might be about to get in the middle of Dad and Penny."

"Ouch," Gordon said. "Hope you weren't too fond of her, Virg."

"Who, Penny?"

"No," Gordon shook his head. "Your piano."

"Ha ha," Virgil replied, but looked with concern at his shiny black baby anyway. "You don't think she'd bash him over the head with it, do you?"

Gordon stifled a laugh. "Not unless she's the Bionic Woman."

"You know, that would explain a lot," Scott said thoughtfully. "Know what I mean?"

"What's going on?"

They all turned to find Alan and Tin-Tin behind them at the base of the stairs.

"Just watching the show," Gordon replied. "Anyone bring popcorn?"

Tin-Tin frowned as she squeezed through them. Once she saw the two people in the lounge, she elbowed Gordon. "You are incorrigible!" she whispered fiercely. "Now get out of here this instant!"

The men groaned and grumbled as Tin-Tin herded them toward the elevator. "Looks like we're taking the long way to the pool," Alan said with a grin.

"Hey, where's John?" Gordon asked.

"Brains is going to bring him out later when he wakes up."

"When Brains wakes up?" Alan asked.

Gordon laughed and shoved him as they squeezed into the elevator. "No, dummy, when John wakes up."

"Anybody else notice Brains hasn't left the sick ward since John landed in there?" Alan asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Tin-Tin asked. "You know how concerned Brains becomes when one of us takes ill."

"Yeah, but this is different," Gordon said. "When I peeked in on them earlier, Brains was sitting at his bedside with his head on his stomach. Looked like he'd fallen asleep on him."

"He's tired too, you know," Scott said as the elevator opened onto the tarmac. "Maybe he finally passed out."

"Or maybe it's more," Virgil said thoughtfully. All eyes turned to him. "What?"

"What are you getting at, Virg?" Scott asked, his face quirked into confused look.

"Nothing," Virgil replied. "Just thinking out loud."

"So that's what I smelled," Alan quipped.

"You know something? I am not going to miss you one bit!" Virgil roared, taking off and chasing him along the beach.

Tin-Tin laughed. "He's lying through his teeth. He's going to miss Alan terribly." She looked at the others. "You all will, and I know that. I truly am sorry for taking him from you this way."

"It's his choice to make, Tin-Tin, not ours," Scott said as he put an arm around her shoulder. "Besides, I'm looking forward to being an uncle."

Gordon burst out laughing as Tin-Tin took off chasing Scott down the beach, swearing at him in at least five different languages. "Things are almost normal," he said to the ocean's waves as he ambled along. "Maybe for the last time." His own somber words caused him to stop and look out over the moonlit ocean. "Maybe for the last time."

"I understand you're to leave tomorrow with Tin-Tin, Kyrano and Alan."

"That's true," Jeff replied. "I have to help them get rid of Badan and any of his co-conspirators. With Gaat dead and gone now, it shouldn't be too difficult."

"So you've no idea when you'll be returning home?"

"No definite idea, no, though I'd like to get back as quickly as I can." Jeff eyed her. "I have to make sure my son and future daughter-in-law are safe before I just leave them there."

"No need to be defensive, Jeff, I was simply asking. What of Kyrano?"

"He'll come back with me," Jeff replied. "I swore I wouldn't let him out of my sight again."

"He is a good friend," she said softly. "A very good friend."

"Yes. That he is."

An awkward silence hung between them. "Jeff, I wish to come along."

"What? Why?"

"Like you, I suppose, when I care very deeply for someone, I don't fancy letting them out of my sight for any length of time either."

Jeff frowned. "I haven't seen you in almost six months, Penelope. That hardly constitutes not letting me out of your sight."

"No thanks to you and your assignments that kept me away."

"That was business, Penny, and you know it."

"Yes, it was. But this isn't!" With that, she walked up to him, put her arms around him and planted a firm kiss on his lips. She backed away, unable to keep from smiling at his deer in the headlights look. "You, Jefferson Tracy, are the most single-minded stubborn old fool I have ever met. And I will not let you push me away any longer."

"Maybe that's not your choice to make, Penny," he growled, turning away.

She walked quickly around him until she stood in front of him, effectively blocking his way. He came up short and stared directly into her eyes. "Get out of my way. I have things I have to do."

"The thing you have to do is join me and your sons down by the pool."

"What? What for?"

"Alan's and Tin-Tin's going away party. Unless you don't care to share one more night together as a family."

"Don't you dare-" He was stopped short by Penny planting another kiss on his lips. "Would you stop that?" he exclaimed, grabbing her biceps and pushing her away. Her eyes caught his and he stared into them. He felt his heart pick up pace, felt his chest tighten...and before he knew what he was doing, he had her crushed to his body, lips covering hers, tongue forcing its way into her mouth.

She moaned into him, arms wrapping around his neck as she deepened the kiss and rubbed her hips against him. Finally he broke the kiss and looked wildly into her eyes. "Fine," he said, voice rumbling from deep within, "you can come along. But don't ever do that again."

He turned and, with his back to her, adjusted the front of his shorts before continuing on out to the curved staircase. Penelope laughed lightly and followed in his wake. "Don't do that again, indeed," she said as she followed him down the stairs.

"Did you see that?" John asked, leaning against Brains for support.

"I-I sure did. Wow," Brains replied. "A-Are you sure you're o-okay to go drinking with the rest of them?"

"Yeah," John replied. "Maybe I'll even get drunk enough to tell you about the dream I had."

"Ah, why would you tell me?"

John looked across at Brains' large blue eyes, his tousled brown hair. "You were in it," John replied. "Come on."

Brains looked bemused as he helped John across the lounge. "I-I don't think I'll ever figure you Tracys out," he commented as they started down the staircase.

"Bull," John replied. "I think you already have."

Brains looked sharply at him, but all was soon forgotten in light of the festivities taking place around the pool. Some voices were already loud and you could smell the finest scotch and vodka being passed around. Parker was already slurring his words and even Kyrano had a short glass of amber liquid in his hand. Brains helped John to a chaise lounge and brought him a drink, then sat back out of the way to observe.

They were all there. Six Tracy men. Two Kyranos. Two native Britains. And him.

He wished it could stay this way. But he knew it couldn't. Change was good, yes. But not all change.

"Hey, you okay?"

Brains blinked twice at John before smiling. "I-I'm fine, John. Do you want me to help you o-over to where your brothers are?"

"No, I'm good here. I'm still not quite up to speed," John replied. "Thanks for sticking with me." Brains blushed as he ducked his head. "You know," John continued boldly, "You're almost like the brother I never had."

Brains' head whipped up, his face now crimson. "What?"

"You know, don't you?"

"Know what, John?"

"Who you are."

"Who...no, I don't. I never have."

"I don't mean who your parents were. I mean who you are." John leaned over and put a hand on Brains' leg. "Ben."

Brains' eyes grew round as saucers. "I...I've been thinking I...felt...I don't know," Brains replied, looking quickly away.

"It's okay, we don't have to talk about it now," John replied, squeezing his leg and then letting go. "But soon, Brains. Okay?"

Brains nodded and just watched as Gordon and Alan came over and helped John out of his chaise, pulling him down to the opposite end of the pool. And for the rest of the night, every time Brains looked up, John's eyes were on him.

Confused and unsure, Brains eventually left his untouched glass of vodka on a nearby table and headed back into the house. Back to his lab. Back to the safety of inanimate objects and science.

Away from his heart.