"So, do you not want pancakes?" Ian Rider teased brandishing two spatulas threateningly,
"No I do!" Alex exclaimed shrieking as his uncle chased him around the house ending up with them in a pile in the living room.
"I don't believe you." Ian sang tickling him eyes lighting up with laughter. He loved spending time with his nephew, in a few minutes he managed to forget all about the missions he was on. He never managed to forget that when he had returned a week earlier Alex had been in the hospital. The nanny he had hired had been abusing four year old Alex. He had been starved with three broken ribs, a sprained wrist and a fractured leg, not including dehydration, cuts and bruises and a fear of adults. It reminded Ian of the time he found out Alex had been abused by his parents, Alex had only been one at the time but Ian had taken Alex from them one night, he had gone to their house to talk about a mission gone bad and had found John and Helen drunk beyond revival and hitting and kicking a tiny form. Ian had taken the baby and left the house. After punching his brother.
John and Helen had tried to follow him but their car had swerved and plunged off a bridge. There had been no survivors. Since then he had only taken a few missions, only when they couldn't be avoided but he was away for weeks at a time. He had felt safe in the knowledge that he was being cared for. That so called 'care' had led to Alex refusing to be touched by anyone resembling an adult for three days. He had to be sedated to be treated, and even that act had to be performed by a student in their first year of university, one who didn't resemble an adult.
"I do want pancakes! I swear!" Alex exclaimed through the tears streaming down his face in laughter.
"Fine then, we had better get started then you little rascal." Ian grinned pulling him into his arms and throwing him in the air, laughing at the shriek it elicited. Alex and Ian were still laughing when the bullet smashed through the window and travelled straight through Ian's heart and into Alex chest, two centimetres above his own heart.
"Sir? I don't understand." Ben Daniels stated frowning slightly at his boss.
"It's quite simple Daniels. You looked into adopting a child three years ago. The paperwork is still in order. You now have a boy." Blunt didn't look up.
"I looked into adopting my sisters children after their parents died before they were killed in a hit and run!" Ben hissed. "I don't want another child. He needs a loving family and he is not getting that from me!"
"You misunderstand me Agent Daniels. I'm not asking." Blunts voice held an obvious dismissal.
"Daniels, this way." Jones led him out the office by the elbow and back into Ben's. "Alex Rider is a four year old boy who just made a whole new meaning to only child. When he was a baby his parents abused him, until his uncle rescued him. When Ian was on missions Alex had a nanny, but that nanny abused him as well. Ian was one of our best agents but a month ago he was shot in the heart by a sniper. The bullet went through Ian's heart and then into Alex. It was only because the bullet travelled through Ian first and one of the mysteries of children's bodies that Alex is still alive. It entered him a centimetre above his heart and nicked his aorta. It then ricocheted off a rib and out his shoulder blade, shattering it." Jones paused for the facts to sink in, Ben looked revolted.
"Alexander gets out the hospital a week tomorrow. I want you to pick him up and care for him," Jones paused then looked at Ben, "He needs someone to care for him. He is confused and grief stricken, he has no family left. Please Ben, do this." Ben glanced at her face as she said those last few words. She sounded sincere.
"I'll do it." Ben sighed running a hand through his hair. "But I want money to buy things for him, your pay is shit frankly, and I want to stop by his old house, I need a while off work, I can do paperwork at home but missions have to stop for at least six months if not a year. He needs someone to have his trust built on, he needs a solid factor in his live and if you fuck this child's chances up at being normal I will not be impressed." Ben stated.
"I know, I won't tell Blunt you phrased it quite like that though. Here." She handed him an envelope. Inside it was Alex's details, birth certificate, life insurance, all necessary document, including the one saying Ben was the legal guardian of him. Then in a smaller envelope was a lot of cash and a debit card.
"£500 a month will go on there for clothes and food then another £250 for any schooling implements. He should have most of it but treat him." Jones stood and left leaving Ben staring at the envelopes in shock. Slowly he pulled his phone out his pocket and speed dialled a number.
"Mum, I need to talk to you."
Three hours later Ben and Tilly Daniels were standing outside room 9 at St Dominic's hospital, London.
"Well go on then Benji." His mother nudged him, slowly Ben reached for the handle of the door and turned it. He knocked and stuck his head around the door an easy grin falling onto it. In the bed sitting cross legged on the bed a glare on his face sat a small green eyes blonde boy. His eyes narrowed when he saw Ben wasn't a member of staff, confusion in his eyes.
"Who are you?" He asked, Ben blinked, he was not like most four year olds then.
"Ben. And you are?" Ben asked,
"Bored, grumpy and wanting to get out of here." Alex shot back, Ben grinned.
"Tell me about it. Hospitals, home of the devils advocate."
"Advocate?" Alex repeated.
"Co worker." Ben substituted, less than a minute and he'd already forgotten the child was young.
"Advocate." Alex seemed to file the word away for later use.
"What is the poison of choice at the moment?" Ben lifted the lid of the untouched tray of food in front of him. "I think it's supposed to be potato mash, peas and I think that is what they call mystery meat. No one knows what it actually is." There was no response so Ben kept talking. "I don't know if it is safe to eat, I never understand how they expect people to get better if they don't feed then decent, healthy food." Ben went on talking about the hospital, the staff and three particularly viscous doctors and the nurse who couldn't for the life of her find a vein. Slowly Alex loosened his position, lying back in the pillows with his arms crossed less tightly than before. When Tilly reappeared hours later to say visiting hours were over Alex had said three sentences. But it was progress. He only spoke to ask Ben about certain words.
"Sorry Al, I have to go." Ben said standing and stretching, Alex's eyes grew wide and he sat up. "Hey, hey I'll be back." Ben sat next to him and ruffled his hair, the child leaned into it. "I'll be back as soon as visiting hours allow." Ben promised then left. Alex sighed and curled up. People were always leaving him.
At nine the next day there was a knock at the door and Ben slipped in to see Alex with a massive glare on his face. It cleared when he saw Ben though, the spy laughed at that.
"What was that glare for?" Ben asked, but before an answer could be given the glare was back and this time the recipient was the right one.
"Who are you?" The doctor demanded of Ben.
"Ben Daniels. Alex's legal guardian. And you?" Ben asked annoyed.
"Dr Hall. His doctor." Alex's glare still hadn't abated. "He needs an injection." He went to grab Alex's arm. "For that I need his arm." Alex's arms were firmly crossed.
"Excuse me." Ben grabbed the doctors arm and pulled him out the room. "Can you treat him better please! He is right right in front of you and you are blatantly ignoring him! He obviously doesn't trust you you. You could be kinder to him, he's only four!" Ben exclaimed protective.
"It's not my job to be liked Mr Daniels. I don't like your tone." Dr Hall pulled his arm from his grasp.
"He is a child. I don't like your tone either." Ben snapped.
"Excuse me? Is there a problem here?" Another doctor had just appeared.
"No." Dr Hall snapped,
"Dr Hall. Please excuse us. Mr Jackson was asking for you just now. I will cover this patient for you." The new doctor said in a firm voice. Dr Hall left with a last glare at the pair of them. "So sorry about that. Dr Hall is a transfer doctor. He was transferred for anger management and patient treatment, can I be of assistance? Sorry, I am Dr Manning." Dr Manning stated, he was a young doctor but Ben preferred him instantly.
"He was treating Alex like a imbecile." Ben stated.
"Well lets go and mend that, shall we?" Dr Manning stated opening the door to the room. "Now, you must the infamous Alex." The doctor smiled at Alex, "I have been told that the other man was a bully and I now have to amend that. Can you help me be a knight in shining armour for you?" Alex looked confused but nodded slightly.
"You are a shy little thing aren't you." Alex flashed the doctor a small glare.
"He's not a little thing I think is what that is meant to say." Ben chuckled, Alex looked at Ben and nodded once. A few minutes of coaxing and joking later Alex was jabbed and plastered up. Dr Manning left the room and Ben sat on his chair.
"What's an imbecile?" Alex asked quietly. Ben blinked then laughed.
"An eavesdropper are we?" Ben joked, Alex blushed.
"Idiot, moron, cretin." Ben replied. He had learnt yesterday that Alex didn't like just one word to compare it to but multiple, he was also certain that if Ben was to test his new ward on all the words, they would be remembered.
Ben reached over for his bag and sat it on the bed, "Look what I have." He pulled out a box and handed it to Alex. He didn't take it so Ben sat it on the bed and opened it for him there was a gasp. "Well I was thinking about the conversation we were having about food yesterday and thought I will bake you cookies. Smartie Cookies for a smart young man." Ben grinned.
"I'm not smart." Alex whispered frowning. Ben gaped, "They all said I wasn't smart, Ian called me silly but I didn't mind, he did it in a kind tone. Jack called me a idiot and moron and others I didn't understand, her boyfriend called me other things, I didn't understand them either. Whenever I tried to read or learn they laughed meanly and said I was just being stupid, no one would teach me because I was too useless and dumb, no point in teaching someone who it wouldn't matter to." Alex's words came pouring out of his mouth unable to be stopped.
"Come here." Ben stood and gathered him in his arms. Alex stiffened unused to hugs, only Ian hugged him and he was barely home. Eventually Ben let him go and Alex curled into the pillows and looked at Ben with a confused expression. He picked up a cookie hiding a yawn.
"Alex?!" There was alarm in Ben's voice when he entered the room and he saw the empty bed, then he saw blonde hair over the top of the chair, he looked aver and saw the four year old engrossed in the book, Ben crouched in front of him amused,
"Can you read that?" He asked, there was an exclamation of shock and the book went flying, landing on Ben's head. Alex's hands flew to his mouth eyes wide but Ben just started laughing, he grabbed Alex under the arms and dropped him on the bed, "Throwing books at me are we?" He asked tickling the boy who laughed in response.
"I didn't mean to daddy!" Alex gasped out. Ben froze. As did Alex.
"You just... Me... You... Call... daddy," Ben was incoherent in shock. Alex's eyes were still wide in fear.
"I'm sorry." Alex whispered. Ben blinked then picked up his son and hugged him tightly Alex, who had gradually been growing used to the hugs and cuddles, and enjoyed them immensely, wrapped him thin arms around Ben's neck.
"Don't ever be sorry for that." Ben breathed tears threatening to spill, gradually he felt Alex grow slack in his arms as he fell back to sleep. Fumbling he pulled his phone out his pocket and dialled.
"Mum." He choked out,
"What? Is Alex OK?" She asked frantically.
"He called he daddy." Ben was still smiling like a child at Christmas.
"Oh Benji, that's wonderful! Now you have to keep him." She teased,
"Mum, I have spent a week with him nine till seven and I am not letting him go anywhere. Wait until we're home." Ben chuckled.
"You had better introduce us soon." His mum threatened.
"I will, I just want him to get settled first and not be overwhelmed." Ben sighed.
"I know sweetie, just pulling your leg. How is he?"
"Sleeping at the moment, he won't let go of me. And I don't want to let go either." Ben admitted, there was a crash of thunder and Alex woke up fear in his eyes. "Hey shh. Mum can I call you back?" Ben asked trying to calm Alex.
"Sure, I want to be introduced to my grandson soon though." She warned, "Love you."
"Love you too mum." Ben smiled and pocketed his phone,
"When can I meet her?" Alex asked eyes wide, there was another crash of thunder and Alex hugged Ben tighter. Ben sat on the bed letting Alex curl into him and picked up the book.
"The Time Travellers Wife." Alex read off the cover. Ben blinked in shock,
"You can read that." Ben stated confounded.
"Yes. Can't you?" Alex asked confused.
"Yes, but it's in French." Ben stated, Alex kept staring at him as if to ask the point in the previous statement. "You speak French." Ben stated.
"Bien sûr." He sounded insulted.
"Most five year olds can hardly speak one language, let alone two and read and speak both." Ben said with a small smile, "You are full of surprises Little Alex."
"Thank you." He beamed as though Ben had just given Alex the biggest compliment available on earth.
"Can you speak anything else?" Ben prodded. Alex looked at him then nodded slowly,
"My godfather was Russian." He said as an answer.
"Where is your godfather now?" Ben asked worried he was going to loose Alex.
"With my uncle. He used to call me Little Alex as well. He died last year." He said it matter of factly, as though he had no emotions. Ben looked at Alex critically and noticed a slight crease of his brow and down turn of his lips. He had picked these up as pointers of him feeling sad or upset. There was another crash of thunder and Alex buried his head in Ben's chest gripping his shirt tightly, Ben ran a hand through his hair calming him then pulled their lunches closer.
"Come on, we need to eat. We are leaving tomorrow and then we can eat proper food, not this hospital imitation." Ben grinned as Alex looked at the table across the bed and made a face.
"I know kiddo, but it's best we eat it rather than face the wrath of Dr Manning." Ben sighed and made a comically horrified face making Alex giggle.
"What is your house like?" Alex asked playing with his food.
"I've told you about it." Ben laughed. "It's nothing special. I have only owned it a month but it's homely. I have done your bedroom up like we agreed the other day and there you can sleep at night, and sleep properly." Ben stated, the nurses had pulled him aside to tell him Alex only slept when Ben was there. This had resulted in his visiting hours to be lengthened to make sure Alex got enough sleep and they still had time to bond.
"Tell me again." Alex begged deciding he was finished with his food and curled back into Ben resting his head on his dads chest. Ben smiled and started running a hand through his hair feeling his slowly fall asleep as he described his house. Despite his best intentions the small, warm body against his side and the calming sound of the rain outside lulled him into sleep as well.
"Arms up!" Ben instructed trying to dress Alex the next morning. Due to the fact he had fallen asleep the spy had been allowed to spend the night, when the nurses had gushed over how cute the pair were Ben blushed deeply causing Alex to giggle and the nurses to 'Aww' over him. Alex backed away from their hands and turned with wide eyes to Ben. He had swiftly explained to them that they needed to get dressed and shooed them out the room. Now Ben was trying to dress Alex.
And the blonde wasn't co operating.
"Come on Al." Ben groaned rolling his eyes, Alex's eyes went wide and it seemed he had mastered Puss in boots adorable huge eyes look. Ben crossed his arms.
"Nope. Not working kiddo." Ben shook his head, Alex pouted and glanced longingly towards the door, in the split second distraction Ben managed to tug his top over his head. There were numerous scars and a few remaining, mostly healed, cuts and a large plaster over his heart but all the bruising and most the injuries had gone.
"Arms up!" Ben repeated, this time Alex complied and Ben tugged his top down over his head then tickled him once it was down.
"This is for not lifting your arms up the first time!" Ben teased as Alex laughed.
"Meanie!" Alex gasped through his laughter. While he was still incapacitated Ben tugged his trousers off and pulled on new ones.
"Socks." Ben said with a grin pulling them on, there was a giggle, "Oh, does someone have ticklish feet?" He asked with a wicked grin.
"No." Alex lied.
"Someone needs to work on their lying." Ben stated.
"That's what Ian used to say." Alex frowned. Ben distracted him by tickling his other foot as he pulled the second sock on.
"Shoes, jumper then we can go." Ben announced handing Alex his jumper as he put the shoes on, he looked up to see Alex trying to suss out the curious and confusing contraption know as The Zip. In the end he shrugged.
"Don't need it anyway." He announced causing Ben to laugh lightly as he gathered their belongings. He slung the rucksack over one shoulder then picked Alex up in the other then they headed to the nurses station to get the discharge papers. After Ben had handed the clipboard back he was given a small gift bag. Ben opened it and saw every nurse watching, along with Dr Manning. He pulled out two photo frames one with a picture in, one without. The photo was taken last night from what Ben could gather, both boys were fast asleep and oblivious to the scheming.
"That one is for a photo of your choosing. In the packet at the bottom are photos we have taken since he got here, but mainly since you got here." Their main nurse explained.
"Thank you, you don't realise how much this means to me." Ben smiled at them, Alex was still painfully shy around strangers and just hid his face in Ben's shoulder, Dr Manning laughed.
"Come on." The doctor grinned then escorted them to the exit. "See you around squirt." He ruffled Alex's hair then left.
"Home time." Ben stated heading to the car, he settled Alex in the car seat and then threw the bags in the back, when Ben went to strap Alex in he found the straps already fixed, "Another surprise, I don't think they shall ever stop." Ben laughed as they left the car park for, hopefully, the last time. His family knew now he just had to work out how to tell K unit.
Please review, tell me what you think!