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Here’s the thing, Jeff isn’t really doing much on the island these days.
Sure, he helps out when he can cleaning, maintaining equipment, checking in on systems. but he’s not allowed on rescues, and he’s barely involved in Tracy Industries anymore. If he does anything there, it’s behind the scenes, and even then, Virgil and Scott keep it minimal.
So, Jeff figured he’d help in other ways like taking care of his grandson. It only made sense.
The problem was, Scott wouldn’t let him.
It wasn’t obvious at first, just small things. Jeff would see little Aiden playing on the floor, so he’d go to sit down and join him, maybe roll a ball, maybe just watch him line up toys, and before he could even get settled, Scott would swoop in, scoop up his son, and carry him off.
Other times, when the whole family was together in the lounge or kitchen, Jeff would be with Aiden talking, laughing, just enjoying being “Grandpa”, but as soon as Scott got up to leave, he always took Aiden with him.
Always.
And if Jeff was being honest, it hurt.
He couldn’t understand why his son wouldn’t let him spend time alone with his grandson. He wasn’t trying to parent Aiden, never. He just wanted to be a grandparent.
—
Finally, one afternoon, Jeff went to the one person he knew would give him a straight answer his mother.
He found her in the kitchen, baking her famously terrible cookies.
“Mom,” Jeff started, sitting down at the table, “what have I done wrong?”
She looked up from the bowl. “What do you mean, dear?”
Jeff sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Scott won’t let Aiden stay with me. I’ll try to play with him, and Scott just—” he motioned with his hands, “shows up, scoops him up, and leaves. I don’t know what I did.”
His mother gave him that look, the one that said she was both amused and about to tell him this is something he should’ve figured out himself.
“I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it, honey,” she said gently. “You know how your boy is and Aiden has some… challenges. that child is Scott’s whole world. He’s protective to a fault. Honestly, he's done it to everyone. Half the time he won’t even let the boys take Aiden, back when we first got him. The boys had to knock some sense into him. But other then his brothers, that kid’s glued to his hip.”
Jeff frowned. “So, it’s not just me?”
“Not even close,” she said, smiling softly. “But maybe you should talk to him about it. You know your boys they don’t let things stew. They talk things out. Maybe it’s time you did the same.”
Jeff leaned back, thinking about that, then nodded. “You’re probably right.”
“Of course I’m right,” she teased, sliding another tray into the oven.
“You know where to find him?”
“I don’t,” she admitted. “But you can ask John.”
—
He made his way up to the lounge and called out, “Tracy Island to Thunderbird 5 …John, you there?”
John’s hologram flickered to life. “I read you, Dad. What’s up?”
“Do you know where your brother is?”
John raised an eyebrow. “You’ll have to be more specific. Which brother?”
“Scott. And Aiden. I need to talk to him about something.”
John’s tone softened. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Jeff said, though it sounded unsure even to himself. “I just… need to clear something up. It feels like Scott doesn’t want me anywhere near Aiden.”
John frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t think that’s it, Dad. When we found you… when we realized you were alive…Scott was excited for Aiden to meet you. I really don’t think it’s personal.”
“Then what is it?”
John shrugged. “You know him. He worries too much. But if you want to talk to him, he’s in his room on the balcony, door’s open.”
“Thanks, kid.”
—
Jeff made his way down the hall. Sure enough, the balcony door was open, and he could hear Aiden’s soft humming as he played with his toys on the floor.
Scott looked up when Jeff entered. “Hey, Dad,” he said, smiling faintly. “Come sit.”
Jeff took the seat beside him, but Scott could tell something was off.
“You okay?” Scott asked.
Jeff nodded, but the motion was half-hearted.
Scott frowned. “Dad, what’s going on?”
Jeff hesitated, then sighed. “Did I… do something wrong?”
Scott blinked, startled. “What? No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
Jeff ran a hand through his hair. “Because you don’t leave me alone with Aiden. Every time I try to play with him, you come and take him. Every time you leave a room, you take him with you. It feels like you don’t trust me, I'm getting mixed signals, son.”
Scott stared at him, stunned. “I… I didn’t even realize I was doing that.”
Jeff gave quiet examples, the moments he’d tried to help or play, only for Scott to step in and take Aiden away.
With every word, Scott’s shoulders sank lower.
“I wasn’t trying to, Dad,” he said finally, voice low. “I swear I wasn’t. I just…” he looked toward his son, who was sitting cross-legged on the rug, building something out of blocks, “he’s my everything. The last piece of her. And he doesn’t talk much, he has a hard time communicating what he wants. I just… feel safer when he’s with me.”
Jeff listened quietly, his earlier hurt softening. “I get that, son. I do. I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t done something to make you uncomfortable.”
Scott shook his head quickly. “No, never. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I’ll try to do better, I promise. I’ll let you spend more time with him. And if I start doing it again, get the others to call me out on it.”
Jeff smiled, relieved. “That’s all I wanted, Scotty. Thank you.”
Scott nodded, smiling softly.
—
Later that night, when Grandma checked in, Jeff told her how it went.
“You were right,” he admitted. “Sometimes, you just have to talk things out.”
She gave a knowing grin, handing him one of her burned cookies. “Told you so.”