Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider…kinda obvious…
A/N: there is no slash
Yassen looked over at the prone figure of the boy on the cot. The boy twisted and moaned as Yassen got up and crossed the room to his side. He crouched down pressing a hand against Alex's forehead, turning the light touch into a soft caress pushing back the boy's dirty blond locks. Yassen turned and dipped a rag into the pail of clean, slightly cool water and wiped it across Alex's forehead and cheeks.
At the touch, Alex woke up, his eyes flickering open to gaze blearily at
Yassen.
"How are you?" Yassen asked quietly.
"Everything hurts," whispered Alex, swallowing weakly and struggling to sit up.
Yassen swallowed, knowing it was bad if Alex was admitting any pain, and slid an arm around his back, helping the kid into a sitting position. He gave Alex a sip of water and then settled the boy against his chest. If Alex didn't have a 103degree fever, he probably would've resisted the contact, instead he leaned back, savoring Yassen's arms around him.
"S-s-sorry" Alex mumbled.
"What for?" asked Yassen, worried.
"Holding us up. Holding you up."
"Shhh…don't say anything else" whispered Yassen, rubbing Alex's back comfortingly.
"I am…" persisted Alex, twisting around.
"Be quiet" said Yassen, his voice tinged with worry.
"It must be bad, huh?" asked Alex, abruptly changing the subject.
"What?" Yassen asked, suddenly caught off guard.
"I-I-I'm really sick. You're being nice to me" Alex said softly.
"No, no you're not" Yassen said, mentally trying not to think about the fact that he had already used almost all of the medicine in the survival pack as well as the extra Tylenol and antibiotics in the hut.
Alex just sighed, snuggling unconsciously against Yassen. The assassin smiled, tightening his grip around Alex and thinking back to when he had found Alex after Scorpia.
A deserted alley in Vienna. The boy was freezing cold, soaking wet, and limping. He had a gun in one hand, which he waved at Yassen. 'Get back' he snapped.
Yassen stared in shock, 'Alex?!'
Alex just glared 'move away!'
Yassen moved forward slowly, considering the fact that Alex's face was too pale and that he was shivering violently. Yassen lunged forward grabbing Alex around the waist with one arm and knocking the gun out of his hand with the other. Alex struggled for a few moments until he sagged against Yassen, exhausted. Yassen stood up, carrying Alex and walked away…
Yassen snapped back from the flashback, startled by Alex's quiet moan. He checked Alex's temperature, realizing it had risen in the past few moments. Yassen reached for the last bottle of liquid Tylenol and a slightly clean spoon. He woke Alex, gently shaking the kid's shoulder.
"I need you to open your mouth."
Alex opened his mouth willingly, pushing himself to sit upright, leaning against Yassen's chest. He grimaced at the taste of the medicine, but swallowed it. A few minutes later Alex drifted off and Yassen gently lay the boy back down and pulled the MI6 files on Alex he had copied. Yassen smirked as he read the files on all of the boy's previous missions; Alex was obviously John Rider's son.
A few hours later, Alex woke up again, surprisingly lucid.
"I'm going to die, right?" he asked quietly.
Yassen just stared, "would I lie to you?"
Alex gave a watery smile, despite the pain and replied "of course."
Yassen shook his head in exasperation "go back to sleep", he turned away only to spin around as Alex fumbled for his hand.
"Please don't leave" he looked up at Yassen with puppy dog eyes.
There was a ghost of a smile as Yassen sat back down on the rickety cot and gathered Alex into his arms, knowing that their world had no room for this luxury or comfort. Alex immediately wrapped burning limbs around Yassen, clinging on as hard as he could. Yassen ran his hand up and down Alex's back, feeling the burning sweat and ragged breathing of the boy.
"Don't leave me" Alex whispered into Yassen's neck.
"I won't. I promise."
Hope you enjoyed! Please review if you feel so inclined!