Hello all, the results for the poll (which is still on) have been consistently close between this and Cold. So I'll probably end up writing another chapter for Cold too, but anyways, this is kinda shortish but considering I haven't been writing for ages I'm happy with it :]

Thanks again for your support everyone!

And remember reviews guilt me into writing, so please R&R

"They think what?"

Cub was torn between laughter and going to the kids' hut and strangling them all.

"I do not look old enough to have a 17 year old son," Snake said horrified. Eagle mock sighed.

"I'm sorry Snake I guess you're just getting on, but don't worry-" he was cut off mid-sentence as Snake smacked him on the back of the head. Cub frowned.

"They actually think I'm being held here against my will?" he asked, looking to Fox for confirmation. Fox just nodded. Cub raised his eyebrows.

"Well, that's…interesting…I suppose. At least they don't think I'm in a gang anymore," he mused, more to himself than to the others. Wolf looked at him sharply.

"A gang?" he snapped. Cub rolled his eyes.

"I spend more time out of school then I did in school for eighteen months, and when I came back I was covered in bruises. What else were they going to think?" Eagle and Wolf looked quite taken aback by this information. Alex had talk at lengths with Ben about his previous missions and the time he spent out of school, and Snake knew because he was the medic but hadn't gotten around to talking with his other team members.

"Eighteen months? How did you past your GCSEs?" Eagle asked.

Cub shrugged. "I decided that enough was enough, they gave me a tutor and eight months off work,"

Wolf raised his eyebrows. "Only eight?"

Cub just shrugged again. "It was enough," he said simply, tone indicating he didn't want to continue the conversation. There was a slightly awkward silence for a moment before it was broken by, not surprisingly, Eagle who clapped his hands together loudly and stood up.

"Well, I'm going to the mess hall, see if there's anyone around. We can't be the only ones off duty," Snake stood as well.

"I'll join you, I think," As the two men left Wolf stood up.

"Shooting range," he grunted and stalked off. Cub and Fox looked at each other for a moment. Alex sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I need to get some fresh air, I'm going for a run," he muttered. Ben stood up with him.

"Do you want some company?" he asked gently, and wasn't surprised when Alex shook his head.

"I need to clear my head Ben," The older man nodded.

"I'm staying here, I need some sleep," Alex remembered the solo night op Ben had had to do the night before and nodded. "So if you need to talk, I'm here," Ben offered a smile, which Alex returned, albeit not quite as strongly. Alex quickly pulled on a shirt and a pair of sneakers. Ben drew the blackout blinds across the window and kicked off his boots, as Alex left.

"Don't over do it!" he called out to Alex's already retreating figure. The blond just waved a hand in acknowledgment. Ben shook his head in exasperation, and then lay down on the bed. He fell asleep almost instantly, a talent that the other members of his unit were jealous of.

Alex found himself taking the track that would curve around past the students' huts. He knew that he should be keeping his distance but he couldn't help being curious. He hadn't seen these kids for a long time. Granted, there were quite a few he never wanted to see again but some were old friends, people Alex wished he'd been able to re-connect with but hadn't quite got there. And then there was Tom. Alex felt horrible about lying to Tom. Ever since that train ride after Venice, whilst Alex didn't always tell Tom everything he didn't lie either. Except with this. Alex knew Tom didn't fully believe his cover and everything could very easily go to shit with Tom being here. Alex winced and slowed to a walk, he rested a hand on his ribs. The pain was bearable it was just uncomfortable. He tried to straighten up but that just pulled on the stiches in his stomach. Alex let out a hiss and hoped he hadn't torn any of them.

"Hey, um are you okay?" Alex span around at the voice. One of the school kids was standing behind him, holding a water bottle and looking slightly scared. Alex just looked carefully at the kid for a moment, the boy shifted uncomfortable. This guy, who the students had dubbed The Hostage, was bloody creepy. Alex continued to study the boy for several long moments, the kid had brown hair, was shorter than Alex (the blonde had finally come into his growth spurt), but quite stocky, his face was vaguely recognisable, but Alex couldn't put a name to him.

"Yeah, I'm good," he said simply. The kid nodded and just stood there awkwardly, he almost jumped when 'The Hostage' spoke again. "What's your name?"

"Sam," the boy replied warily. Alex nodded, then titled his head slightly and a small smirk appeared on his face.

"So, Sam, why are you out here? I thought you guys were told to say in the cabins," Alex questioned, sounding quite amused with the whole thing. Sam glanced around nervously and licked his suddenly dry lips.

"Yeah, I know, I um I just was thirsty and I couldn't find anywhere to get any water so I went looking for a tap," he trailed off at the end. Alex just rolled his eyes, sighed and walked straight past Sam heading towards the cabins.

"Come on, I'll show you," he called out. "Because I seriously doubt following directions is your strong point," he muttered to himself. Sam almost tripped over his feet in his haste to follow the blonde. He followed Alex around the back of the cabins and watched as the taller boy pulled aside a struggling bush to reveal a slightly rusty tap. A group of students sitting on the front porch area couldn't help but stare as the mysterious blonde walked quite happily past them followed by Sam.

"The water's cold but it's clean and fresh and good to drink," Alex explained. Sam nodded, then finally got up the courage to ask the question that all of the students wanted to ask.

"So, um, what happened to you? Like the bandages and stuff?" Alex paused as he straightened. He could tell the truth, but then Alex remembered the theories that Fox and Eagle had shared with the unit. He smiled slightly.

"Oh yeah that, Russian mob," he explained casually as he turned around. The look on Sam's face was priceless.

"Wait what do you mean?" he asked. Alex shrugged.

"Oh you know, I had a little run in with them, we had some minor disagreements about some of my activities. No biggie," he said with a smile, then clapped Sam on the shoulder.

"Look I have to go, but it was great talking to you," Alex turned and jogged off in the direction of K-Unit's cabin. Sam just stared for a moment, then realised he had uncovered vital evidence and raced into the cabin to tell the others.

One student didn't seem at all eager to hear Sam's news. Tom Harris frowned as he watched the blonde's retreating figure. He knew that it was Alex, who else could it be? What he didn't get was why Alex was lying to him. Tom had been told that Alex had moved to boarding school on the other side of the country. Tom's frown deepened, why the hell was Alex lying to him?

Later that night

"So, what are we doing with the kidlets tomorrow?" Fox and Snake ignored the name Eagle had bestowed on the students and Cub merely raised an eyebrow. Wolf groaned and put his head in his hands, muttering about strangling Eagle. Then he looked up at Cub, the blond swallowed nervously, that wasn't a good look.

"What are you thinking Wolf?" the youngest team member asked nervously. Wolf grinned, looking very much like his namesake.

"Seeing as you were the one to mess up this morning," Wolf raised a hand and ignored Cub's indignant cry of 'Concussion!'. "It was you, concussion or not. You will be running point with the brats tomorrow morning, until lunch and then I'll take over," he grinned at Cub's look of dismay. "Which means," he continued. "You will be getting up nice and early to wake them up," it was Cub's turn to groan, Wolf ignored the death-glare sent his way. "Give them a tour, show them the course and the lake," Wolf didn't miss the evil looking smirk on Cub's face at the mention of the lake.

"Seeing as I doubt the children will get up quietly tomorrow, I recommend everyone gets some sleep while they can," The other men all nodded in agreement and went to their appropriate beds. Soon enough lights were flicked out and the only noise was the rustling of blankets. Well, almost only.

"I wager a 20 that Cub gets into a fight tomorrow," Eagle whispered. Fox looked at him carefully for a moment.

"Your on, Alex has more restraint than that," he whispered back. The two men nodded, and just as Eagle was about to open his mouth to speak again he was knocked back by a hard spare pillow.

"You two, shut up," Wolf hissed. Eagle rubbed his head.

"Man, how did you even know I was about to say something?" Wolf groaned and Fox saw him pull a pillow over his head.

"Because you're Eagle," was the muffled reply.