This chapter is dedicated to:

worldtravellingfly

V.I.D Vishii

Thanks for the reviews and giving me a reason to not feel as guilty for putting off paperwork.

Also: I do not, in this world, own Alex Rider. Keep going Anthony Horowitz!

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Ben was nervous. Not the usual I-wonder-if-she'll-like-me nervous, but full blown sleep-with-one-eye-open nervous. It had been a week since the Eagle Incident (as he had been referring to it in his head) and Alex had yet to act any different as usual.

When Ben had snuck back into the house at 2 a.m. he had expected to see the boy on his bed with several torture devices and, quite possibly, stroking a hairless cat. When he had found neither a devious Alex, nor a hairless feline, Ben had gotten nervous. What was Alex planning? Why wasn't he doing anything? Ben had been walking on egg shells all week. Alex, on the other hand, was completely normal. Ben wasn't sure what to do. He knew there was no way Alex had forgotten. He never forgot to get revenge and just because Ben was his partner and adoptive father didn't mean he would get away.

Walking down the stairs, he checked around for Alex. No sign. Letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, Ben went into the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Grabbing a bowl and some milk, he went to look at the, rather extensive, cereal choices. Humming softly he reached his favorite, Count Chocula. He had bought it under the pretense that he wanted Alex to try it, though with the look Alex had sent him, he wondered why he had bothered. Which brought Ben to another point. Alex knew Count Chocula was Ben's favorite cereal. What if he had done something to it for revenge?

Reluctantly he put the cereal and milk away and reached for an apple. For a moment he held the apple. Alex, wouldn't go as far as to sabotage the apples, would he? Ben sat staring at the apple. Maybe if he cut it up he could see inside and determine if it had been tampered with, but then, what if it was something he couldn't see? Ben shook his head. He was being paranoid. Still….better safe than sorry. Putting back the apple he moved to the fridge and took out a few eggs and a frying pan.

No matter how good Alex was, not even he would mess with the eggs. Whistling now he prepared himself some scrambled eggs before leaving for the office. The pairs' latest mission had taken them to Spain to deal with a petty gang. Of course, as with all of the missions Alex was on, it had escalated to the point where they were suddenly involved with a slave ring and several powerful political individuals who intended to raise an army and conquer the world. The explosions, ammo and gadgets alone would take months to file for, not to mention the assassination attempts and stolen cars. Ben sighed.

If only Alex would do his half of the paperwork. Ben wasn't actually upset with Alex, he was still a kid after all, and all the missions were constantly causing him to miss school, both during and after for recovery. He knew the kid had it rough, and wanted to help. Still though, all that damn paperwork. Other agents rarely had a quarter of the stuff Ben did. About to open the front door, he hesitated.

What if Alex had done something to the door? Ben was the only one who actually bothered to use it. Alex was always just using windows, said something about it being practice and it being faster. Idly, he wondered if Alex ever jumped out of a window at school. He was always complaining about how his history teacher was so boring he almost did jump out the window. Ben had met his history teacher and couldn't stop an amused smile at the thought of the old bags face if Alex ever did leave via the window. Ben wasn't worried about him jumping from a second story building. He had seen Alex do it before when he was late for school. Ben remembered the miniature heart attack he had when he had first seen him do it. Jumped right out his bedroom window, into some bushes and then biked away.

Deciding not to use the door he went to the window next to it and went out. Losing his balance he fell into the shrubs just outside the window. Insanely, he momentarily thought Alex had planted the shrub there just to get at him. But the moment passed and he was sane again. Standing up, he grimaced at the state of his suit. What had once been a pressed black suit, with white undershirt and dark blue tie, was now a slightly wrinkled, still black, suit with a slightly brown undershirt and crumpled tie. Shaking himself off, he went to his car. Just before touching the handle he stopped. Alex had said he wanted to borrow the car yesterday and Ben had let him in hopes of getting back into his good graces. Had Alex done something to it? Was that his revenge? For a moment two sides of Ben warred with each other. On one hand, he was being much too paranoid; thinking everything he did was somehow going to bite him in the butt. On the other, this was Alex. Who knew what that boy could do?

Sighing, Ben once again decided to be safe rather than sorry. He would be late a good fifteen minutes late, but it looked like he was taking the tube. Sighing again, he started walking.

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"Hey Ben, what's been up with you lately?" Mike asked. Mike was the agent that had an office besides Ben. Ben looked up, bags under his eyes.

"Nothing. Why would anything be wrong? Everything's fine. Perfect even." Ben said sounding crazed and in all honesty, he was a bit crazed. It had been a month. One month. Since he had broken his promise to Alex and by now, he was at the end of his line.

"Right, well, good job then." Mike said nervously, returning to his office. Ben nodded smiling. He felt oddly light headed. By the third week, Ben had become so paranoid that he stopped sleeping normally. Now he slept maybe four hours, every night. The lack of food since the second week was also getting to him. He had gotten suspicious of the pizza delivery guy, for goodness sake. Asking him a million and one questions to see if Alex had hired him to do something to the pizza, and even then, he hadn't taken so much as a bite. Ben could almost feel himself going insane.

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Alex watched as Ben stood swaying slightly, glaring at the house. Well, kinda. It was more of a glazed stare. Alex noted, looking through the window. Slowly, as though waking up, Ben started moving towards the house only to collapse on the porch.

Alex sighed. It was tie to call Snake.

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"He has severe sleep deprivation and appears under-fed, so with a good few nights rest and meals, he should be fine." Snake told Alex, closing Ben's bedroom door behind him. Alex nodded.

"How exactly did he end up like this? Last I heard, neither of you were on a mission. What exactly did you do?" Snake asked, narrowing his eyes. Alex shrugged.

"I didn't do anything."

"And why don't I believe that?" Snake asked sarcastically.

"I really didn't. He did this to himself."

"And you had nothing to do with it?"

"I didn't say that."

"Alex. What did you do?" Snake asked quietly. Alex sighed.

"I told you Darren, I didn't do anything. All I did was live normally." Alex said looking Snake in the eye. Slowly, Snake nodded.

"Just make sure he doesn't do anything for a few days beside sleep and eat, alright?"

"Alright."

"He should wake up soon. Call me?"

"Yeah. Thanks for your help Snake." Alex said sincerely.

"Not a problem. I told you to call me whenever you needed to me, if anything I should thank you." Alex looked at him curiously.

"Thank me? Why? You helped me remember?"

"You trusted me to help you. From someone who doesn't really trust anyone, it means a lot. So thank you." Snake said simply. Alex knew it was stupid but he couldn't stop a rush of warmth for the unit medic. He was almost as brotherly as Ben and Alex appreciated that.

"You deserve it." Alex said quietly.

"Doesn't matter." Snake said, trying to wave it off.

"No, it does. I trust you Snake. Thank you for helping me." Alex said, making a point to look the other man in the eyes. Snake nodded slightly.

"I have to go. See you around Cub."

"See you around Snake."

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"Ugh." Ben groaned, clutching his head.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you." Startled, Ben jumped slightly.

"Alex? What happened? Why does my head hurt?" Ben asked confused.

"You fell over on the porch from exhaustion and malnutrition. Something you want to tell me Ben?" Alex asked, a smirk playing around the end of his lips. Ben's eyes narrowed.

"I just fell over? You didn't do anything?" He asked suspicious.

"Nope." Alex said, smirk full blown. "You did it all by yourself." Ben laid back down with a groan.

"You never did anything did you? Never touched my cereal, or the fruit? Didn't mess with the front door or my bed? Made no contact with the pizza delivery guy to get me back?" Ben asked, sounding desperate. Alex's smirk morphed into a grin of childish delight.

"None, I did nothing."

"You're a right bastard." Ben said, covering his eyes and, hopefully, his blush. He had been duped by one of the oldest tricks in the book, and by a child no less. A brilliant, deadly child, but still a child. Alex seemed to read his mind.

"Don't feel too bad Ben. This is me we're talking about. You never had a chance." Alex said laughing slightly.

"I think I know why you have the devil's luck. You are the devil." Alex just continued laughing.

"Well then, maybe next time, you'll keep your promise." Ben nodded.

"Definitely. I have no desire to do that again."

"Good, than you can make me one now." Alex said nodding his approval.

"What is it?" Ben asked suspiciously.

"Don't die." Alex said, staring at him solemnly, all traces of previous mirth gone. "Now that I know you will keep your promise, promise me you won't die. Not now." Ben searched Alex's face, trying to understand. Finding something, he felt his face soften and a fond smile come onto his face.

"I can't promise that Alex. You know that as well as I." Alex nodded a bit sadly.

"Alright then, promise me something else than."

"Yes?"

"Don't give in without a fight."

"Okay."

"Promise?" Alex asked, suddenly looking a lot younger and vulnerably than Ben had ever seen him.

"Promise." Ben confirmed, smiling at his devilish ward.