A Spider's Web

Chapter 12: Breaking Point

Silence sunk into the Tracy family.

"You saw Mom?"

"Yes."

"Dad's alive?"

"That would also be correct."

"And you were dead?!"

Scott sighed. "Once again, correct." He slumped against the couch and scrubbed his face with his hand. "So what happened with you guys?"

Alan glanced around the room and took a deep breath.

"Scott, I know I'm not one to talk, but that was the dumbest thing that has ever been done in this household," Alan said, glaring at his eldest brother. 

No one spoke, and Alan continued. 

"Not just that, but almost everyone in this family has been forgetting that they are all part of the same family."

"Alan, that's a bit harsh," Alice said, looking around the room. 

"But its true. I mean, look at what Scott did. He went to confront Doomsday by himself without telling anyone. Emma took off because of that. Jeff's powers are now a lot stronger, and he didn't tell anyone. Sam has been sleeping in the nursery since the quads were born," Gordon pointed out. 

"So your saying that because we don't tell each other everything, that's why everything has gone wrong?" Sam asked. 

"Not-"

"Gordon, just shut up! Not all of us are as perfectly happy as you are," Sam spat. 

"I'm not-"

"You certainly act like it," Virgil piped in. 

"This isn't-"

"-about you?" Gordon winced at Sam's question. "Please, everything is about you. How you had such big dreams, how bad the wreck was, and now how messed up the rest of the family is. You're just so caught up in your own perfect life that you never consider what the rest of us are going through!"

"Oh really, now who's making everything about them?" Gordon jumped to his feet, jabbing a finger into the older woman's chest. 

"Guys, maybe we-" John started to say.

"Shut up! All you ever do is order the rest of us around on missions. You get to be up in that space station with Melody and don't have to make the same calls Scott does! You don't get to come down here and think you are so high and mighty. You are so sick right now, you can't even stand without help!" Virgil snapped.

"Yeah, well at least I'm not trying to carry the weight of the world! Yes, I'm looking at you, Mr. I can support my family and 200 some other people emotionally. Now who's not taking care of themselves?" As everyone bickered, Kayo leanded over to Melody, the only other person present who wasn't involved.

"Should I intervene?"

"Please do."

Kayo nodded at her friend, sending a silent prayer to whatever good was listening that she still remembered how to project her voice louder then the boys could.

"OF ALL THE INSOLENT, BONE HEADED, IDOTIC THINGS I'VE SEEN YOU ALL DO, THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE STUPIDEST!" The argument ceased as Melody muttered a quick 'testify' from behind her.

"You all are family. No one said you all had to be open with each other, but this is ridiculous!" She put a hand to her temple and scanned the group.

"Alan, you were right. You're not one to talk. Because every single one of you is a self sacrificing idiot that tries to keep their emotions in a bottle. Scott, you're not the immortal protector. God's sake, ask for help sometimes! Same with you Virgil. Take the world off of your shoulders every now and then. John, if you feel yourself getting sick like this, you can call someone to take over. Nobody's going to think less of you." She watched as the three boys in question shrunk into their chairs. 

"Gordon does talk about his accident quite a bit, but that's because nobody talks to him about it. You all know what PTSD is, so wake up and recognize it! He's trying to cope! I-" she flopped down into her launch chair, being careful not to hit the button that would cause the sequence to start, and continued. 

"I just wish you all would talk to each other. Because Scott, Virgil, and John are falling apart, Gordon's trying to hold you together with humor, and nobody else knows what the hell is going on. Now I'm going to have dinner, if any of you care to join me." She got up and stalled out of the room, leaving the families in her wake.

"I, for one, agree with Kayo," Melody said, standing and looking around the room, forcing everyone to meet her gaze and then turning to leave the room.

"Really? You're taking her side?" Scott snapped.

"None of you can do this job alone and you all trying to is what's pulling this family apart," Melody said, spinning around and blinking back tears. 

"Mel," John said, trying to stand and take her hand. 

"Don't touch me!" Melody shouted, jerking her hand away, "None of you can understand what will happen if you keep going down this road! We've already lost Emma! And now all you can do is blame each other! None of you deserve to be a part of International Rescue!"

Melody ran out of the room, tears poring down her cheeks and sobs shaking her chest. 

"No what the hell happened here?" Emma asked as she swaggered into the room, looking more pissed than when she ran away.