Summary: Maxine Adams has always been a little different from all the other girls

Summary: Maxine Adams has always been a little different from all the other girls. Instead of growing up with a mother and father, she grew up with her father and his two best friends (John and Ian Rider). She has problems with girls so all her friends are guys. Her best friends just happen to be Alex Rider and Tom Harris. Just pretend Alex's father never died and they all know about the whole spy thing.

Prologue…

"Daddy I'm bored!" 12 year old Max exclaimed as she bounced up and down on the couch.
"Why don't you go do something?" Her father suggested his attention focused on the file in front of him.
"Dad, what do you suggest I do?" Max asked impatiently drumming her fingers on her arm.
"Why don't you call up some of your friends and head into London?" Scott Adams suggested, tearing his eyes away from the file long enough to smile at his daughter.
"'Cause… I don't wanna!" Max cried smashing her head into her father's chest.
"Well then, what do you wanna do?" Scott asked putting the file away.
"I don't know what are you doing today?" Max asked.
"Max it's only the third week of summer vacation and you're already driving me mad!" Scott exclaimed as he threw up his hands.
"I guess I'll just go then" Max said as she pouted and made to get up, smirking inwardly as her father's face flashed into a frown.
"No, it's not your fault it's just this case, I don't get it. What do you want to do?" He asked as he stood and walked into the kitchen, glaring as he watched a bright smile cross his daughter's face. You would think by now I would know it's all an act! Scott thought to himself, laughing as he realized how much control his daughter had over him.
"I don't know, what are Uncle John and Uncle Ian doing?" Max asked indicating to her father's best friends since they met in junior high. She had been raised by the three men and thought of them as family.
"Well, why don't I call them and see?" Scott asked giving into his daughter already.
"Yay! Hey I'll call Tom and see if he wants to do anything with us" Max chirped happily. Tom was the only one outside the "family" that knew about the MI6 spy work.
"I suggested that in the first place" Scott reminded her.
"Well yeah, but it's no fun if it's only me and him" Max explained and though it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Right, how could I forget a simple thing like that" Scott waved it off.
"Thank you daddy" Max sighed happily as she embraced her father warmly. Surprisingly, he hugged her back just as warmly, which is very rare for a spy of his natural nature. He promised himself many times that he would never stay distant; he promised it to himself as soon as he realized his wife was pregnant. John Rider made a similar promise to himself as Alex was born.
"I love you Maxie" Scott sighed as he kissed his daughters head.
"I love you too daddy" Max sighed as she hugged him tighter then released him to go make her phone call.

"Hey Mr. Adams" Tom's voice said happily.
"Hello Tom, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Scott? I think of you as my very own son" Scott asked as he shook hands with the younger man.
"That's very generous of you sir, I like to think of your daughter as the sister I never had" Tom said happily.
"Good, I wouldn't expect anything less" Scott laughed.
"Me either" Tom laughed too.
"Tom! Thanks so much for coming!" Max chirped as she ran down the stairs and into the entrance hall of the house.
"Like I would miss this!" Tom laughed and Scott chuckled as Max ran into the open arms of the awaiting Tom. Tom and Max had known each other since the first day of the first grade. They were instantly friends and had been ever since.
"Hey daddy what did Uncle John and Uncle Ian say?" Max asked as she proceeded to lead Tom through the parlor and into the living room, the informal one where Max and her friends spend most of their time.
"Uncle Ian is away on a mission until early tomorrow morning and Uncle John is bringing Alex over as we speak" Scott smiled.
"Hey daddy, you remember what tomorrow is right?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How could I forget, tomorrow's your birthday" Scott smiled.
"Yes it is! Is that why Uncle Ian's coming home from his mission early tomorrow morning?" Max asked excitedly.
"Yes, you know he wouldn't miss it for the world!" Scott reassured his daughter before running to get the door.
"So what did you get me for my birthday?" Max asked Tom while they waited for her father to come in with her family.
"I'm so not gonna tell you! So you might as well give up now Maxie!" Tom teased.
"Not fair" Max pouted with a smile.

"SO… what are we doing today?" Max asked as she sat between Alex and Tom on the couch, across from her father and uncle.
"I don't care, it's bloody hot out" Alex muttered, his head leaning on Max's shoulder.
"Alex language" John chided with a big smile, inside he was ecstatic that Alex had taken up the language he spoke.
"Dad you can't yell at me with a smile, it me give me mixed signals" Alex said.
"Goodness Alex, that is your father you are to treat him with respect!" Max exclaimed smiling brightly up at him. Tom barely contained his laughter as he watched the family interact.
"Hey, hey, hey, there's no need to be demanding" Scott laughed watching the three children giggling to themselves.

Six months later…

"Dad, what's going on?" 13 year old Maxine Adams asked her father as she was dragged from her warm bed and out into the cold living room.

"Max?" Alex Rider asked sleepily as he lay back on the couch.

"Alex? Daddy what's going on?" Max asked a little more forcefully.

"We need you both to get out London and into a safe place" John Rider answered as he stood between his brother Ian and best friend Scott.

"What? Why? What's gonna happen to Tom? What about school? What about-" Max started to panic.

"Max, don't worry about Tom, he'll be fine he wasn't involved in any of this. As for your school they have one on the base, and the rest you will be told as you arrive at the base" Ian answered as Max plopped back against the couch.
"When do we leave?" Alex asked his voice calm.
"As soon as Max packs an overnight bag" Scott answered his eyes flashing to his daughter.
"What about Alex's stuff?" Max argued.
"It's right here" John pulled out an overnight bag filled with Alex's clothes and belongings. At this anger flickered across Alex's face briefly before it going back to its same calm front.
"Come on Max, I'll help you pack" Alex said as he dragged her back to her room.
"Do you think she's gonna be alright?" Scott asked turning to his "brothers".
"She'll understand"
"She'll be fine" Ian and John both said together.

"Alex, I didn't sign on for this! I mean how long has he known this was going to happen?! He must've known for quite some time!" Max ranted as she stormed around her room looking for things to thrown in the bag that Alex was packing for her.
"I know, but it's in the job and they have to keep us safe" Alex reasoned.
"Why aren't you upset at this?! We have to leave everything behind! Everything Alex!" Max exclaimed her voice losing it's strength.
"Because we don't have a choice and it's in our best interest" Alex sighed as he zipped up her bag.
"Fine, he said base where do you think we're going?" Max asked defeat clear in her voice.
"I don't know, do you think we'll at least be able to tell Tom we're alright?" Alex asked as he lifted up the heavy bag and started for the door.
"I hope so, he'll be a nervous wreck unless we tell him we're okay" Max muttered as they walked slowly down the stairs, knowing it would be awhile before they were in the house again.
"Are you both ready? Scott asked, taking Max's bag from Alex.
"Yes" both children answered in unison. As they were walking out the front door and towards the awaiting black car, Max stayed close to Alex's side.
"It'll be alright, we'll stick together" he whispered into her ear as hoping to soothe her.
"At least you'll have each other" Scott sighed, as he tried to put his arm around her, Max just shrugged it off and walked closer to Alex as if hoping to disappear into him.
"Come on Max" Alex whispered to low for anyone else to hear. She just shook her head and walked on to the car, which now had a man in a suit waiting outside the door.
"Good morning Mr. Rider, Ms. Adams, are you ready?" The driver, who's name tag read: Marcus.
"Yes Marcus, they are just in need of a ride to the SAS camp" John answered as Marcus put their bags in the trunk of the car.
"SAS? ARE YOU MAD?!" Max screamed.
"Maxine Alexandria Adams! Do not scream at me! This is for our own good!" Scott exclaimed, ignoring the glares that Max was sending and the warning looks from all three Riders.
"MY OWN GOOD?! WHO THE HELL PUT ME IN THIS SITUATION?! I SURE DIDN'T! DO YOU THINK THAT I'LL JUST GO WILLINGLY?! YOU'RE GONNA STAND THERE AND TELL ME TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE NOW, BECAUSE WHY?! YOU MESSED IT UP and got one of your big bad guys after me!" Max cried, her voice lowering in octaves as she screamed her anger out.
"Do you feel better now?" Scott asked taken aback by her outburst. She never screamed at him before, she barely even showed any emotion besides happiness.
"No" She spoke softly and clearly looking him straight in the eye. After that she waved and slid gracefully into the awaiting car.
"Alex, will you-" Scott started.
"Yes, but please don't expect anything from her" Alex pleaded as he smiled reassuringly and walked around and go into the car, trying to be positive about this.

ALEXPOV:

It wasn't until an hour and a half later, that we arrived at a dark training camp. I looked around with a look of reluctantness as I took in the bunks and training areas, Max on the other hand stared blankly out ahead not even realizing what she was seeing.
"We're here" Marcus said using his voice for the first time since we all got in the car. I watched as Max opened her door and silently slipped out, I followed her, worried she might try something.
"Are you ready?" Max asked.
"No" I answered and took her hand in mine, happy when she squeezed it tightly.
"Well me either" She laughed and walked towards Marcus to retrieve the few bags we had.
"Good luck children" Marcus said with a way too happy smile.
"We'll need it" I shrugged. Max gave me a look and dragged me along as the car, the only hope of any escape, drove away.
"Something was totally not right with him" she hissed, trying to hide the shiver that shook her body, it was bloody cold out here.
"Come on, let's go it's freezing out" I sighed as I wrapped my arm around her, hoping to spread some of my body heat. I didn't mind as long as she was feeling better, well actually I don't think I would've minded anyways.
"Bloody hell" Max whispered as she saw all the SAS men wake and march outside their bunks.
"They're all guys…" Max started.
"I know, come on" I dragged her along, pretending that I knew where I was going.

MAXPOV:

"Are you Mr. Rider and Ms. Adams, by any chance?" A big man in a camouflage uniform asked as he came up to us. It was so cold and yet this man stood only wearing lightweight pants and boots, with a deep green t-shirt. I, myself was shivering uncontrollably, but Alex's arm was wound tightly around me, making it harder for me to walk but I was just fine where I was.
"Yes we are" Alex answered, figuring out that I wasn't about to.
"Good, my name's Wolf and I'm supposed to show you to the sergeant's office" The man named Wolf explained.
"Okay" I mumbled, looking up towards the direction of his head. He was about a foot and a half taller than me, give or take of course, and Alex was about 3 inches shorter if that.
Is it just me, or does everybody seem taller than me? I asked myself in my head as we were brought into the sergeant's office, where a tall man with slightly graying hair stood. Taller than me I might add.
"Hello children, it's nice to finally meet you both. I'm the special forces sergeant. You both will be bunking with K-Unit until your stay here is over. I am under direct orders that you two are to be trained as though you are one of my soldiers under my command, do you understand me?" He barked.
"Yes sir" Alex and I said in unison.
"Good, welcome to hell" he laughed and dismissed us back to Wolf.
"Oh and one more thing, your commanding officer is to be Wolf. You will follow every order he gives, am I clear?" He barked out.
"Yes sir" we said again and then closed the office door.

ALEXPOV:

Welcome to hell?! God help us! I cried silently as the burly man named Wolf led us back to the bunk where he came from.
"This is the K-Unit bunk. And this, is the unit themselves, Fox, Eagle, Snake, and myself" He said indicating to each man in order as he listed them.
"Please tell me those aren't your real names" Max asked, in a quiet voice barely audible.
"No we don't use real names here, so you Rider will be Cub and Adams, you will be Foal" Wolf said, to us not looking too disturbed that Max talked without permission.
"Alright now that, that's outta the way, who's hungry?" Eagle spoke up.
"Come now, you two have got a long day ahead of ya" Fox said as he started for the large building in the middle of the camp.
"So Cub, Foal, why are here?" Fox asked as we all walked into the mess hall.
"It's for our safety" I answered, seeing Max not make a move to open her mouth as she looked around.
"Oh that's right MI6 wants you here" Snake mumbled.
"Yeah, I guess you could say it that way" I muttered.
"Okay, every morning this is where you go to eat, after you two figure out what you want come find our table, since you are now part of K-Unit you are to sit with us" Wolf ordered as he and the rest of the unit walked off towards a table in the at the far back corner.
"Alex, I want to go home" Max whispered as she tucked in towards my side.
"I know me too, but it's all gonna be alright Maxie" I tried to reassure her. She just nodded and we both walked off towards the table that we saw our unit. As we walked on there was a swarm of whispers and pointing as they all stared at Max, she just ignored them and kept walking.

MAXPOV:

"Why is everyone staring at me?" I asked quietly as I sat down at the table.
"Why aren't they?" Snake asked back.
"I don't know, I asked you first" I pulled the childish card.
"Well for one, you're 13, and two, you're the only girl that's ever been here" Eagle answered.
"Oh, why?" I asked.
"Because no girl's have ever decided to be spy's and train with us before" Snake shrugged.
"Okay" I sighed and looked down towards my tray. I wasn't hungry at all but I had no clue what was going to happen today so I figured I would eat something.
"Eat up girly; you've got a long day ahead of ya!" A voice exclaimed from somewhere behind me. As I turned around to see who it was, I saw everyone in the mess hall staring at me.
"Shove off guys!" Wolf hollered and instantly the whole hall turned back to their food. I turned back around and nodded thanks to Wolf. He gave a curt nod back and finished his food, I went after his example and ate what I could, they gave me about twice as much as I usually eat. I barely got halfway through the thing.
"Come on, time to begin the training" Wolf called and we all left the mess hall, I took one last look round just to realize everyone was back to staring at me.
"Come on Maxie" Alex took my hand and sped us up so we were only trailing behind not lagging.

ALEXPOV:

"Alright, what you have to do is: try and get through all the obstacles without dying as quickly as possible. Cub you go first!" Wolf's voice barked out and I lined myself up with the starting line.
"GO!" He screamed and I was off. I looked ahead and saw a 30 ft wood wall to jump. I climbed it quickly and hopped off the other side, next was a mad pit that seemed really deep, I sprinted through it and grabbed onto the rope trapeze that was next. I swung and landed on my feet just in time to see the barbed wire that I was supposed to crawl under. I did and saw that there was about 250 feet of sprinting before I hit the rope that I was to swing over and onto the monkey bars and onto a wooden platform where I swung over and into the finishing point. I did all that and fell over the finish line as fast as I could.
"Not bad Cub, 4:23. Beat my first time" Fox chuckled as he waited for me at the finish.
"Thanks" I panted as I stood up straight.
"Now, let's go see how Foal does" Fox smiled and stepped back, giving Max room to land when she comes.
"Wow, here she comes" Fox mumbled as Max came flying in and landed flat on her bottom.
"Alex! That was the worst thing I've ever done! I hated the trapeze!" She panted as she ran into me. I caught her easily.
"Great job guys! You both beat the withstanding records of the camp! Cub you got 4 minutes and 23 seconds and Foal you got 4 minutes 38 seconds! Great job, now come on, we still have work to be done" Fox explained and led us back around to the start where the rest of the unit awaited the news.
"Wolf, they beat the records, they both beat by well under a minute!" Fox exclaimed happily.
"Really?" Wolf asked skeptically.
"Yes, Cub with 4:23 and Foal with 4:38" Fox assured him, showing him the times on the 2 stopwatches.
"Congrats, now let's move on" Eagle said leading us back deeper into the woods. Max grabbed my hand and walked close to me as we walked deeper and deeper until there was barely any light overhead or around.

MAXPOV:

"Where are we going?" I asked, not being able to stop myself.

"We're going to part two of your training" Wolf answered, throwing a tree branch out of his way.

"Okay, care to explain what that is?" I asked again, afraid I was pushing the line.

"No" Wolf growled as he came to a stop. As we all emerged from the canopy from the trees I realized it was now pouring buckets out. It wasn't even warm rain; it was freezing and seemed to sink into your skin freezing you to the core.

"Aww, looks like you two lucked out, they won't let us make you run it in the rain" Eagle sighed as he studied the 2 directors making everyone go back. Suddenly there was a loud bang that occurred and everyone returned into the direction of the mess hall.

"Lunch time already?" Alex asked his body mere centimeters away form me.

"Yeah kiddies it's already noon" Fox provided and walked back towards camp.

"Wow time sure flies when you're having fun" I muttered and followed Alex and Wolf out.

ALEXPOV:

As we were seated in the mess hall again my mind began to wonder to what Tom was gonna think at school without us. Would he be mad that we didn't tell him? Would he be upset because he couldn't come? Would he not want to talk to us because we left him? My thoughts were broken by a soft voice.

"What's wrong Alex?" Max asked me, her blue eyes flashing up to mine.

"Nothing just thinking" I muttered not wanting her to worry.

"About what?" she asked not caring about the food in front of her, she wouldn't eat it anyway.

"Tom" I whispered the one word and instantly regretted it, seeing her face fall.

"I tried not to think about him. He's going to be so hurt that we left without even a goodbye to him" She whispered, her eyes dull. I've never seen her react this way. Normally, she ignores it and looks at the bright side of things; she never stops her happy attitude but…

"I'm sure he'll be fine" I tried hoping to make her feel better.

"You're right…I hope" she muttered hoping that I hadn't heard, but I did.

"Come on kids, time for field work" Wolf said and led us out and back into the pouring rain. Max shook as she saw the people in the field fighting with each other; each one held a knife and bared a gun.

"They can't actually hurt each other can they?" I asked taking Max's hand in mine.

"They do but they're not supposed to" Snake shrugged.

"That's awful" Max muttered.
"Ah, you get used to it" Snake waved it off and preceded walking to where Wolf stopped.
"Alex, I don't want to get used to it" Max whispered so lowly that I almost didn't hear her even though she was an inch away from my ear.

"Me either, but we don't have a choice" I whispered back.

"I know" She whispered with no hope in her eyes, without that they seemed lifeless.

"Now, since you both are so young and have never had to do this before and it is your first day here, you will not participate yet, only watch us, clear?" Wolf barked.

"Crystal sir" I answered, Max nodded; this earned her a weird look but he shrugged and walked off with the rest of them following. Eagle watched Max for a few more seconds before following after, he sent me a 'look' over his shoulder and I knew what it meant: "Find out what's wrong". I nodded back and turned to Max.

MAXPOV:

This is awful. I want to leave; I don't like it here at all. I can tell I'm worrying Alex and I can tell the rest know something's wrong but I don't care. I mean I do, but I can't focus on it. All I can focus on is Daddy, and Uncle John and Uncle Ian and going home. I hate this. I can't do anything about it either. I can't even talk to Alex about it! I can't turn and burry myself into his shoulder and scream out all the things that are bothering me. I can't go and talk to Tom and let him calm me down. I can't do anything; I'm closed in to help myself. I can see Eagle as he gives Alex a look, and I can see him whisper to Wolf and Fox and Snake that he thinks something's seriously wrong. They all seem to think I can't see it. I do, but I don't, wait, can't make myself feel and care.
"Max, I know this is hard but please-" Alex started. I didn't want this. I didn't want him to do this not now, not ever.
"Alex please, just, just don't" I whispered staring off into the rain. I could just see the look on his face. It would look completely shocked and then fall into a heavy crease that would settle in his brow.
"Max, I know you don't need this, I don't care you're scaring me!" Alex cried, grabbing my shoulders and turning me, making me look at him.
"Why?" I whispered.
"You scare me when you get like this. You're never worried and never upset, you're always happy. You get upset but it never lasts and you always come to me about. This time you won't tell me anything and it scares me. Why are you doing this?" He asked his hazel eyes surrendering to mine.
"I don't know" I whispered my eyes staring into his. I honestly didn't know it mattered that much to him.

"Well, you don't have to tell me; just please tell me that you're okay and that you'll go back to being you?" He asked, his frown deepening then going away as I nodded.

"Good to have you back Maxie" He whispered as he hugged me.

"Good to have you Alex" I whispered back and kissed his cheek. This place may be hell, but now I think I can handle it, especially if I have Alex by my side. As I glance at him from the corner of my eye, I see him smile and nod then turn to me. He just smiles and looks away with a slight pink covering his cheeks. I can't help but blush too when I see this. My eyes fade in and out as I realize what's going on around me. For the first time I actually see what I'm looking at. I can see the people, I can hear the noises, I can feel the awful rain as it downpours onto me. I can do all this, and yet I have to lie and pretend that I'm okay even though I'm really not.