Chapter 4: Taken
Alex had wandered the rest of the day trying to sort out the mess his life had become. He didn't want to go home before Jack left so he simply wandered London, absently remembering the last time he had done it with Ian. Finally Alex straggled home to a cold unwelcoming house. He walked in using the side door, he hated using front door after learning of his uncles death there. It seemed a little futile and perhaps mental blaming a door, but it was a nice distraction for Alex.
"Besides" Alex thought with a smile "I always thought that green was an ugly color anyway…"
Alex stayed at the house in Chelsea all that week, he attended school and waited for social services to take over. He had thought about it quite a bit over the week but he really couldn't think of anyone he could ask to be his guardian. Tom's parents screamed at each other more than they talked and he knew they wouldn't take him. So he just slept and ate in a depressingly empty house until that Friday evening. Normally he would have been out with friends but today he only had the energy to come home straight after school, grief was draining…
It was 5:00 precisely when the door bell rang. (A Note going to try to incorporate some first person here…if I can find a beta to help me with this that would be awesome)
"I hate that doorbell" I thought as I went to answer the door.
When the door opened it revealed a short thin lady, brown hair, brown eyes, and a plain face. Her companion was a tall guy with brown hair green eyes and well built. Both were well dressed and had smiles plastered on their faces.
"These guys just scream social worker" I thought instantly.
"Hello my name is Sarah Wells and this is Josh Harton, are you Alex?" the lady said with a sickly smile.
"No smile is that big naturally" Was Alex's first thought and then his senses took over.
"Yes, do you need something?" Alex said shortly.
"I may have to go with them but I'm not going to go easily."
"We work with the DCSF, The Department for Children, Schools and Families, and we needed to talk to you about your future." Josh inserted with a smile.
Knowing it was inevitable Alex replied, "Ya come in." he stepped aside and they both smiled as they walked into the living room.
"Gee these people smile too much…" Alex groused silently.
When they were all seated in a nice little circle, Ms. Wells started talking.
"Alex, Mr. Harton and I have been assigned to your case"
"It is so weird to be discussed as a case…"
"Since your uncle Ian Rider passed away - and we want to offer our condolences – and no other guardian has stepped forward you have now been placed in the custody of the state."
"What the heck does that mean???" Alex heard someone saying. "Ooops did I say that out loud…"
"That means," Ms. Wells frowned at him, "That you will be placed in a state licensed home until you are adopted. I understand this is very hard happening so soon after your uncle's death however –"
"Did your last living relative die when you were a minor?" Alex interrupted angrily
"No but---"
"Then you don't 'understand' anything about me." Alex said emphatically.
"Yes of course Alex." Mr. Harton said patronizingly
Alex glared at him, irritated at his false soothing tone. "I don't need your sympathy!"
"But you have it anyway, Alex." Ms. Well said with a smile. "Now we need you to pack whatever you need in one bag and come with us to our office tonight."
"Whatever I need for what?"
"Whatever you want to bring with you to your new home, Alex"
"It won't be my home." Alex stated heatedly
"It will in time."
"I can't fit all my stuff in one bag."
"I'm afraid that's all you're allowed to bring with you, Alex. I'm so sorry" Ms. Wells said sympathetically.
"Fine." Alex said shortly and stomped up the stairs
"Do you need any help?" Mr. Harton called after him.
"No. Thank. You." Alex yelled back
"Try to hurry Alex dear." Ms. Wells called.
"Ya sure let me pack up my life in five minutes…" Alex muttered under his breath.
Alex went to the hall closet and pulled out a huge duffle bag. It was a monstrous black and silver camping duffle, designed to fit just about anything.
"They did say one bag didn't they" Alex thought with a smirk.
Alex began tossing a variety of clothes, personal items and assorted stuff from his room. He packed his laptop and other assorted electronics in a protective bag and then dumped that on top. He had everything he needed packed and it all fit. Alex was impressed with himself. He glanced at his watch and saw it'd been about thirty minutes.
"I've still got a few minutes…"
Alex wandered over to Ian's room. He sat on the bed with a sigh, and slowly looked around the room. It was neat and organized as ever, it too reflected his uncle's careful personality. It was tastefully decorated and pictures of Ian and Alex were scattered around the room. Just looking at the pictures was terribly painful. Finally he saw his uncle's favorite jacket lying over his desk chair. It was stylish black leather and very expensive. Ian had always said it was a gift from a friend, since the friend was dead Alex suspected he was from Ian's work. It had always looked so good on Ian and it was the one piece of clothing that he never put in his closet, it was always out. It had been left behind, since Ian had left on his last mission directly from the bank.
Alex walked over to it and held it close. He inhaled deeply and smelled Ian's soft rich cologne. He fingered the smooth leather and the silk inner lining. With a sad smile he fondly put the jacket on.
"It's a little big…but I'll grow into it" Alex decided with a nod.
He quickly reached over and grabbed the plastic bag with his uncle's personal effects off his desk. He took the black platinum chain his uncle always wore and slipped it over his head. There was a simple cross on the end with silver accents. The cross disappeared in his shirt and hung low near his heart.
"I always did wonder why Ian wore a cross, he sure wasn't religious…"
Alex remembered the day when he'd asked Ian about it, and he remembered laughing with him when he had said it was the Rider good luck charm. It had seemed funny at the time.
Now he just thought the Rider luck, which was incredibly good for spies, was spectacularly bad.
"Wish you were here Ian…"
Alex taped the plastic bag closed again and walked back to his room. He tossed his uncles personal effects in the duffle and zipped it all up. Throwing the shoulder strap across his chest, Alex carried the bag outside into the hallway.
He walked to a small linen closet. Ian had always said the best hiding spots were in humble places. He messed with the wood molding and a moment later a hidden compartment popped out of one of the shelves.
"Now even this seems like a spy trick" Alex thought with a grimace. He grabbed the cash out of it and stuck it in a zipper compartment of his bag. There was about five hundred bucks, Ian had always insisted it be there in case of an emergency.
"Ya, Ian was a careful man."
He walked down the stairs quickly, without a word. The social workers frowned at him when they say his rather large bag. Ms. Wells opened her mouth to say something but Alex was quicker.
"You said one bag."
Ms. Wells snapped her mouth small frown.
Alex grabbed his backpack he'd had by the couch on their way out.
Ms. Wells looked like she was about to object,
"Girls get to bring a purse, right?"
And she just shook her head in an irritated manner and let it pass.
Alex slowed as they walked towards the front door. He was leaving the only place he'd ever called home for who knows how long, and he paused when they reached the front door.
Mr. Harton stepped forward slightly and Alex noticed for the first time the muscles under his short sleeve dress shirt. Alex realized with a start that since he was a teenage male they had sent a male social worker along to ensure his cooperation.
"I wonder if he knows karate…" Alex thought with a smirk.
Nonetheless Alex started walking again and he didn't look back as he stepped into the nondescript sedan. Mr. Harton slipped into the back with Alex and Ms. Wells settled into the driver's seat.
The sedan pulled out into the street and drove away with no fanfare. The Chelsea house was quickly left behind and Alex settled back in the seat with a sigh.
Mr. Harton began further explaining what was going to happen to Alex.
"We'll drive down to the center, fill out your paperwork, locate you a new home, and iron out all the details. You'll spend the night at the center and tomorrow morning we'll transport you to your new home."
"Why do they use the word home so much?" Alex thought with irritation. "I don't have a home anymore, and they most certainly can't give me one."
Mr. Harton was still talking, something about the state holding his assets until he was 18. Alex just wanted to see all this in writing and he planned to insist on it once he got to the center. He rested his head back against the seat and closed his eyes slowly. He let the social worker's monotone lull him into relaxation as the car cruised into London.
