Unrehearsed Plea

"Hey, Pinky!" Jason called as the little group strode across to Alan's bed. "How're you doing?"

"Hey, guys." Alan gave his friends a very small smile, and shrugged slightly. "Okay, I guess."

Fermat sat down in the chair nearest the bed, where Jeff had sat just moments before. Dom pulled up the room's other chair, offered it first to his friends, then sat in it as the other boys declined. Kay leaned on the tall back of the seat, resting his chin on his folded arms. Jason took up a position sitting on the edge of the bed near Alan's feet.

"Man, I thought Pierce looked bad," Zave said as he approached.. He reached out and gently took Alan's chin in his hand, moving the younger boy's head so he could see the injuries clearly. "You're in worse shape than he is. Couldn't see this clearly last night."

"They say I may need some plastic surgery on my cheek," Alan said quietly.

His demeanor did not go unnoticed. The boys exchanged concerned glances, then Qaeshon asked, "What's got you so down?" He frowned, looking worried. "You hurting?"

"No," Alan said with a sigh. "At least, not much. I... I just had a few words with my dad, that's all."

"Ah!" Fermat said. "He must've t-told you what he planned to d-d-do."

Alan glanced up at Fermat, a puzzled look on his face. "What do you mean?"

The boys all exchanged glances again, this time as if asking, "What do we do?" Then Fermat pointed to himself, and the older boys nodded. They turned back to Alan, but kept an eye on Fermat as he spoke.

"He t-told us in the elevator that he's g-going to pull you from Wharton. He w-wants to take you home to r-recuperate."

Alan leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes. "Damn." There was a long pause as Alan struggled with his emotions. He closed his eyes tight against sudden tears. His friends waited for him to compose himself, and at last he sniffed, taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "So, he's going to take me home. Too bad he didn't tell me that."

Fermat shook his head. "I w-was afraid of th-that." He glanced down and muttered, "I sh-shouldn't have said anything."

Qaeshon put his hand on Fermat's shoulder. "It's okay, Brain. You didn't know." Catching Alan's eye, he added, "Your dad didn't set out to tell us; it sorta came out in conversation."

"I'd have thought he'd have told you when he came in," Dom said, frowning. "He might have figured that we'd mention it."

Alan shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Either way I lose." He resumed picking at the blanket, then realized what he was doing and stopped. "So, what's up at Wharton? You guys playing hooky or something?"

"Nah," Jason said, waving a hand. "We got permission to skip since we were up late talking to the police. Dom and Kay here even went down to the station today to see if they recognized any voices." He shot a glance at Fermat. "I bet they'll ask the Brain to come, too."

"Dad told me that you guys heard what went down last night," Alan said, perking up a bit.

"Most of it," Zave said, leaning up against the wall. "Those two-way wrist radio televid things of yours are pretty cool... and handy in this situation."

"I understand Sugi didn't get away."

"Nope," Kay shook his head. "Ran right into the arms of the law. Tried to give them a song-and-dance about going to your rescue, but with Ralph and me there, he didn't get very far."

"What was Ralph doing?" Alan asked bitterly. "Come to see the results of his fake-out?"

"Hey, Pinky, cut him some slack, okay?" Jason spoke up in defense of his former roommate. "He was pretty angry at himself for doing what he did, and in the end, he did the right thing by telling me what was going down. And now he's cooperating with the police, too. If he hadn't been, they might not have caught everyone."

There was a long silence while Alan chewed on that information. He decided to drop the subject of Ralph, and lifted his eyes to gaze at each of his friends in turn. "Do you think they really have everyone? Do you really think the danger is over?"

The boys considered this as a group, and heads began to nod. "Yeah, Pinky, it's over," Zave said. "No more attacks, no more doctored steroids. There are kids from other schools, even the public high schools, who got caught by drug testing, and some of them will be testifying, too. The law's got these creeps and got them good."

Alan shook his head slowly. "Obviously my dad doesn't feel the same way."

"He's not the o-only one," Fermat said. "There were l-lots of parents pulling their k-k-k... sons from Wharton." He shrugged. "Wouldn't b-be surprised if they had to sh-sh.-sh... close down or something."

"What about you guys?"

"My folks called, and asked my opinion," Dom said, smiling a little. "I said I was okay, and felt the cops were doing everything they could, that things were safe again. Mom wasn't happy, but Dad said it was my decision. So I'm staying."

"Our dad called to see that we were okay," Zave said. "There wasn't any talk about me coming home, being a senior and all, but they did ask about Kay."

"And Kay told them that he was fine - better than fine with these creeps caught," Kay added, nodding. "So the Lewis brothers are still in the house."

"Jase? What about you?"

"My folks probably haven't even heard," Jason said, shrugging. "They're not the easiest people to get hold of. Only Grandpa knows exactly where they are, and I talked to him. He was kinda iffy about it, but since I told him that the cops have all the perps, he seemed to be okay with it. My folks will probably check in with me and that'll be it."

"Where are your parents?" Dom asked, puzzled.

The redhead shrugged. "Right now? Somewhere in Siberia, I think. They're doctors with the World Health Organization, working under the Centers for Disease Control. Grandpa has power of attorney... in case something happens."

"Wow," was all a wide-eyed Fermat could say.

Everyone turned to Fermat. "How about you, Brain?" Kay asked. "I suppose you're going home with Pinky here."

Fermat bit his lower lip, and looked directly at Alan, shaking his head slowly. "N-No, I'm n-not. My d-dad says I can st-stay. He says Wh-Wharton's been g-good for me, despite it all."

The stunned silence was broken by Jason's long low whistle. "Day-am!" he drawled. "You two have been tight, even with being split up this year. It's gonna be weird having the Brain... but no Pinky."

"Yeah, well," Alan said, running a hand through his hair, and wincing when it got caught on some snarls. "He didn't screw up and I did. Now I'm paying for my mistake." He shook his head slowly. "Couldn't have a better punishment."

"Hey, if you're gonna whine and complain, I'm outta here," Zave said irritably. "I doubt your dad thinks he's punishing you. You got hurt; he's uneasy about the sitch; it makes sense that he'd want you close." He gestured at his brother. "If I weren't at Wharton, our folks might press the issue harder with Kay. Might have at the very beginning. Why? Because they care. Because they want us safe. And when it all comes down to it, we're still kids."

"Even if our folks have to crane their necks to look us in the eye," Kay added, giving his brother a nudge. Zave rolled his eyes, shook his head and snorted.

"Zave's right," Dom said. "It's our parents' job to worry and do what they think is best for us... though sometimes what's best means letting go a little." He smiled ruefully at Alan. "Seems our positions are reversed, doesn't it? Can you use the 'famous Tracy charm' on your dad the way you did on mine?"

For the first time, Alan chuckled. "Wish I could, but since he's the master of it, he's kinda immune when I use it."

"M-Maybe after he t-t-t... speaks to the police he'll see things d-differently," Fermat said.

"Maybe."

There was a knock on the door behind them and all the boys turned to see who wanted entry. A nurse came in, data pad in hand. "Alan? I need to do a neuro check, and change some bandages." She smiled at the boys. "Your friends can come back in a few moments."

"C'mon, guys," Zave said, heading for the door. "Let's clear out for a bit."

Dom and Jase rose. "We'll be back in a few minutes," Jason said as he followed Qaeshon toward the door. "You coming, Brain?"

"B-Be there in a m-minute," Fermat said. Jason nodded, and the four other boys filed out.

Fermat turned back to Alan. "I... I wanted to t-tell you I'm s-s-s... I apologize for being s-such a j-jerk yesterday. I r-realize you were s-s-s... you were being r-real when you a-apologized, but I was st-still in t-too much sh-shock about my dad to accept it. Now that I've s-seen him, I'm m-much better."

"How is he?" Alan asked.

"In b-better shape than you are," Fermat said with a small smile. "I'm s-sorry."

"Me, too, Fermat." Alan held out a fist. "Friends?"

Fermat touched it with his own. "Always." He glanced up at the nurse, who was hovering in the background. "B-Be back soon."

"Right. See ya."

The younger boy nodded, and left the room. In the corridor, the others were congregated around Brains. "Thanks for letting Fermat stay, Professor," Kay was saying. "Life at Wharton wouldn't be the same without him."

"I'm gl-gl-gl... happy to hear that many of his fr-friends are staying," Brains replied. He smiled at his son.

"Hey," Fermat asked, glancing around at the group. "Where's D-Dom?"

In a waiting room down the hall, Jeff paced the floor, working intently with his PDA, trying to coordinate the arrangements to bring Alan home. He'd uploaded his flight plan, and was waiting for confirmation on his proposed departure time. He'd also sent it on to the island, where Scott was supposed to look it over and reply. Finally, he sat down and sighed, leaning his head back against the top of the colorful vinyl sofa. I'm tired, he realized. This has taken more out of me than I thought it would. I just want to pack Alan up and get out of here. His thoughts turned back to his plans and he was concentrating so deeply that he didn't hear the first hesitant knock, and was startled at the second, more insistent rap. "Come in," he called distractedly.

Dom opened the door quietly, and poked his head in. "Uh, Mr. Tracy? Do you have a minute?" When Jeff motioned for him to enter, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Jeff scrubbed his hands across his face, and glanced up at the young man who stood nervously before him. Dark wavy hair, olive complexion... the name "Dominic" flashed through his brain, followed equally quickly by "roommate". "You're Dominic, Alan's roommate, aren't you?"

The boy looked surprised, then nodded vigorously – a bit too vigorously, Jeff thought. "Yes, sir. I'm Dom Bertoli." He stuck his hand out, and Jeff took it. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Nice to meet you, too, Dominic. I'm sorry that you and Alan won't be able to finish the school year together."

Dom licked his lips, and took a deep breath. "Th-That's what I wanted to talk to you about, sir. About Alan and school." He glanced away then back again, trying hard not to fidget.

Jeff smiled wearily. "You can settle down. I don't bite, really."

Dom smiled back, still nervous. "I know, sir; at least, I think I know. I mean, you haven't bitten me yet... but you're – you know – Jeff Tracy. You've gone to the moon, and you're a hero, and really rich, and ... really, uh... intimidating, y'know?"

Jeff chuckled a little. "I'm sorry to be so intimidating. Just think of me as Alan's dad and leave all that hero and moon crap out of it." He gestured to one of the chairs in the waiting room. "Why don't you sit down. Maybe that will help."

Dom nodded, moistening his lips again. He sat down in the bright, comfortable chairs, but almost immediately Dom was up on his feet again, nervously pacing before Jeff.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tracy, but I'm really nervous about this."

Jeff sighed. "I understand. You've obviously got something to say to me. It'd be best if you just went ahead and said it."

"You're right." The teenager blew out a breath, his mouth making an "o" as he did so. He wiped his hands on his trousers, then, straightening, he looked Jeff in the eye. "I'm, uh, I'm asking you to think about leaving Alan here, at school, at Wharton." He paused for a beat, then added, "Sir."

Jeff considered his response, then asked, "Why? Why should I leave Alan here?" He sat back and folded his arms, looking directly at Dom.

Dom swallowed, then paused to arrange his arguments. "Well, sir, for one thing, the danger is over. The police have caught the guys who were attacking kids. The campus is safe again, as safe as it was last year."

There was a bit of silence, and Jeff nodded. "Go on."

This caught Dom off-guard, and he huffed and puffed for a bit, trying to get his bearings. Then finally, he threw up his hands, and sat down. He leaned forward to lock gazes with Jeff. His hands made nervous, emphatic motions as he spoke. "Look, Mr. Tracy. I have asthma, and I've got it pretty bad. It keeps me from playing sports, and doing other things I'd like to do. My parents – especially my mom – are overprotective of me because of it." He moistened his lips again. "After the third attack, when whoever got beat up was taken to the hospital, my folks came up to get me. They didn't consult me; they didn't ask if it was okay; they just came to pull me out of Wharton." He shrugged, spreading his palms and fingers wide. "I didn't want to go. It looked like it was going to be a great year. I was editor of the yearbook; I was back with my old friends, and making new ones. I'd just gotten a new roommate, too. Alan said he'd try to use his 'Tracy charm'," here Dom made crooks of his fingers when he said the words, and Jeff snorted a laugh, "to get my folks to let me stay."

Dom smiled a little, and nodded his head. "The one thing he said that really struck home with my folks, especially my dad, was that I needed the chance to be my own person. I needed the chance to make my own mistakes, and fight my own battles. And I couldn't do it with them jumping in and making everything right for me."

He paused again to think, then went on. "I know that Alan's got four older brothers, and that they're all really good at... well, at whatever it is they do. On top of that, he's got you and everything that being your son means to... well, to the whole world. But like me, he needs the chance to do his own thing, to find out what his own thing is." Dom took another deep breath. "He says you live on an island."

"That's true," Jeff replied.

"That's really cool. I mean, to live on an island? How cool is that? But living on an island means just that; an island." Dom frowned, then cocked his head to one side and asked, "D'you know what I mean?"

Jeff glanced up, then back at Dom. "Pretend I don't."

"Well, it means there's no one else. There's nothing Alan can do to prove himself. To be his own person. To do his own thing." He cleared his throat. "Tell me, Mr. Tracy, did any of your other sons go to school on your island?"

"No, they didn't," Jeff answered, shaking his head. "My older three went to public high school, and my fourth son went to Wharton."

"So, when they were in school, did they all do the same stuff? Or did they do different stuff?"

"They all did different things." Jeff sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. "Look, Dominic, I get your point. But I still think Alan would be better off at home with me. The police think that they've got everyone, but they don't know that for a fact. And truthfully, I shouldn't have let Alan stay before. It was because he said he would be careful that I let him."

Dom nodded a little. "So, are you punishing him for not being careful?"

"What?" Jeff sat back up suddenly, a startled look segueing into a frown. "What makes you say that?" The frown got deeper as the implications of Dom's comment sank in. "And how does he know what I'm planning? I haven't said anything to him."

The teen looked down and swallowed. "It, uh, sorta... came up while we were talking." He glanced up again to meet Jeff's eyes, and went on quickly. "I'm sorry if we let the cat out of the bag. But truthfully, sir, we thought you'd already told him." He shrugged slightly again. "In any case, that's what Alan thinks. He thinks that he screwed up and you're going to punish him for that by taking him home."

Jeff's shoulders slumped. "It's not punishment," he said, shaking his head. "I just think..."

Dom, daring greatly, interrupted. "That's just it. It's what you think. I know you're his dad, and you want the best and safest for him. But what about him? He doesn't think the same way." Dom sighed, and fidgeted. "I've probably said too much, and am out of place and all, but would you do one thing for me? It's what Alan convinced my parents to do for me."

"What is it?" Jeff said sharply.

"Ask him what he wants. I know he's just a kid, but it is his life. And sometimes... sometimes parents have trouble giving up the reins, y'know?"

Jeff gave the teenager a long, hard look. "Tell me, Dominic, what have your parents said about this attack?"

"My mom wanted me to come home," Dom told him simply. "But my dad said it was my call. I told them that the police had the guys in custody, that I thought the campus was safe again, and that I was staying." He shrugged. "Mom didn't like it, but Dad will talk her around. He was worried too, but figured I had to learn to take care of myself."

There was a moment of silence, then Jeff puffed out a long breath. "Thank you, Dominic. I'll take what you've said into consideration."

Dom smiled, a wide, confident smile this time. "I'm glad. I wanted to return the favor, y'know? And thanks for hearing me out, too, Mr. Tracy. I appreciate the fact that you didn't just blow me off."

"You're welcome."

The teenager rubbed his hands on his thighs, then stood abruptly. "Thanks again, Mr. Tracy. I'd better see what the other guys are doing. The nurse may be finished with her stuff." He held his hand out to Jeff, who stood and took it again. "See you around, Mr. Tracy."

"Yes, Dom. See you later."

Dom slipped through the door, giving Jeff a last, nervous wave. Once the boy had disappeared, Jeff sighed again and shook his head. He sat down, picking up his PDA again. He glanced at it, then put it back on the table, and fished around in his pocket for the detective's business card. Time to make a phone call.