Silent Spy

By Kiamii

Chapter Six "Dad"

The Last Chapter of Silent Spy

"Morning Dad," Alex yawned as he landed on the last step of the stairs, still clad in his loose baby blue pajama pants that reached over his bare feet. Wearing no shirt of any form (a recent habit of his that came with being a teenage boy again), his uncovered tanned chest was displayed with his quickly healing bullet wound. Though the wound displayed itself in fades of red and black with blue, nothing serious was becoming of it. There was a new stitch on it, having been reopened while in the hospital. His chest and arms were actually lined with muscle, toned with a tan. There were still bruises and the like littering his body yet, they were slowly becoming unnoticed. His fair hair was ruffled in a way that only came from having just awoken and gotten out of bed, skipping the time to get ready.

"Good morning Alex," Ben said with a raised eyebrow, trying to mask the feeling at being called Dad. Alex never even realized he said it for some reason (lucky him). Ever since getting released from the hospital, Alex had been slipping up subconsciously and calling Ben, Dad, when he wasn't paying attention which was usually in the mornings and evenings. Ben never let him know that he heard the title even though he relished in the feelings that he got from being called that. It was refreshing and it touched Ben when he heard the word from his son. Of course, Ben himself had taken to calling Alex, son, on a daily occurrence which warmed Alex in return. K-Unit had heard Alex's slip up every now and then but, like Ben, said nothing to let Alex know what he just said. They just hoped that Alex would eventually realize it by himself and make it a permanent title. Even though, Eagle teased Ben mercilessly, about the man finally settling down and going soft.

"When is K-Unit coming back?" Alex asked absently as he sat at the table and his father set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him with a glass of orange juice. Alex took a bite of egg and looked at Ben for an answer, chewing slowly. K-Unit had stayed with them a week before returning to Brecon Beacons for a touch up of training. This time they would return and reside at the house for about three months before heading back with Panther. Alex wouldn't admit it out loud but, he kind of did miss Eagle's loud and bold self, Wolf's irritated snarls at Eagle along with his grumpy self at the table, and Snake clucking disapprovingly at any sort of injury that Alex would acquire each day. Ben looked at him with an amused smile.

"They should be arriving today by nightfall, considering how long it takes. Do you want me to pick you up from school today?" Ben said. Alex shook his head. Ben was really overprotective of him, which was obvious. He always offered to pick up or drop off Alex to and from wherever he went. He gave Alex his space by letting him see his friends though, or go to the mall but, he seemed to always have to know where Alex was at all times. He made sure Alex was with Tom at the very least (Seeing as Ben had trusted Tom with a child-sized Alex in the past many times). One of the biggest asked questions lately; Do you have your cell phone and is it charged?

"Tom and I were going to go to the park for a little bit afterschool and then walk home together. Do you mind if I go see Sabina before I come home? She's in town this week again. Please? I promise to text and everything." Alex answered before giving Ben his best pleading look. He missed his girlfriend! Ben thought about it before sighing. Alex rarely got to see Sabina who went to school in America. She visited from time to time and stayed for a week every now and then, being in a private school. Whenever she came, Alex immediately pleaded to see her. Ben shrugged inwardly. He couldn't stop his son from seeing his girlfriend after all. The teen loved her too much. A cute little puppy, Eagle dubbed it though it was more than that, Ben thought.

"Seeing as your injuries are alright and as long as you don't strain yourself, alright then... Come home before dark please. Make sure to call me too if you're going to be late at all, and text me when you get there." Ben said simply.

"Thanks. I promise," Alex said before he finished up his breakfast and noticed the time. He had a awhile before school started but he felt the need to hurry anyways. He ran upstairs, showered, got dressed in his school uniform, grabbed his backpack, and headed out of the house with a quick goodbye to his father. Hair still soaked, he took a jog towards the school, having left early, and made it to the building as his hair dried until it was only damp. Tom was there and so was a group of others. His best friend noticed him almost immediately and turned to his direction.

"Alex!" Tom called out. Alex gave him a small smile and walked over to him. He had only been at school for three weeks this time and slowly, people were starting to warm up to him again. Alex was finally released from MI6 (at least for now) with good news on a plan of theirs that they won't need him anymore. The drug used on Alex had been recreated to their advantage. They had reformed it to work in their favor (letting the victim think for themselves and not as a child completely and they could not control what age to make it) by giving it to agents on missions. They could work undercover as a child and get the job done. They (hopefully) wouldn't need Alex anymore. Months had already past for Alex and he hadn't been called back yet, so he was slowly relaxing back into a teenager's life.

"Hey guys," Alex said with a little self-doubt in his tone. The others noticed and gave him welcoming smiles which Alex drew courage from. Now that Alex had been here nearly a month, they felt the need to give him the benefit of the doubt. Though the first week he had come back to school had been kind of... dark. The rumors about him being a druggie had remained, others about him having cancer (which was shot down when they noticed he didn't have any signs of that) and others. When he came back to school, they were shocked by his new appearance. He was definitely looking better than he had when his uncle had died and he started missing school, returning with so many injuries. Of course, when he arrived to school he had a bandage around his upper arm but, that was it at least.

The first week, everyone didn't really know what to do now that the "druggie" was back. They ignored him (with the exception of Tom) until after the week when he continued coming to school early and was actually up to par with everyone else. They started becoming better after many spotted him hanging at the park or at the movies. Rumors still floated around casually now. From there, they slowly became friends with him again and the coach actually let him do football again, which won a lot of the guys over as they saw Alex playing football with astonishing speed and strength. That had been at try outs first (where the couch was over the moon with joy at how much Alex had improved) and then at games.

They were even more amazed when at their first football game, a man by the name of Ben Daniels sat in the stands, watching the game eagerly (not that he'd admit that) and shouting Alex's name at the top of his lungs. After the game (which they of course won) they saw Ben embracing Alex Rider and calling him son. Alex had hugged the strange man back, grinning. After pestering Alex and Tom about it, half the school (or more) found out that Alex Rider had been adopted as Alex Rider-Daniels (even though it became obvious once it was on the student roster). This had started a rumor of why he had been adopted but, they were all happy to see Alex back to normal. The druggie rumor soon dispelled (most thinking Ben Daniels managed to get Alex to stop taking drugs or something of the like) and life was normal for once.

"So did your dad say okay to going to the park and your girlfriend's?" Tom asked when it was just him and Alex as they walked towards the building.

"Yeah but, I have to text him once again when I get there." Alex said with a roll to his eyes but Tom could definitely see Alex was enjoying this. He had hardly ever had someone to care for him, be there every day and know what he went through. Jack didn't know everything about his missions and Ian was hardly there though he always tried to make up for it. Alex made it to English class and sat at his desk with Tom sitting next to him. They were put through a talk about To Kill a Mockingbird about a girl named Scout and a boy named Jim. It was a strange and interesting book, Alex thought as he took notes. School was zooming by pretty fast for Alex Rider. At lunch, Alex sat with Tom and a few others who all greeted him warmly.

"So Rider, are you ready for the game next week?" Simon Lee asked with a grin. Simon was one of the friendlier guys who was on the football team and welcomed Alex back when he was on the team again.

"You bet," Alex said with a smirk. He popped an apple in his mouth and bit into it. Tom shook his head at his friend's antics and ate his slice of pizza. Alex enjoyed being back with the team and his teammates were glad he was playing again. Apparently they had been losing pretty badly ever since he stopped playing.

"You know, where'd you learn to get so fast and stuff at football?" Simon asked.

"My dad made me run and things all year." Alex said with his mind on seeing Sabina today so he didn't notice (again!) that he called Ben -Dad. He swallowed his piece of apple and sipped the water bottle. Simon raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"So you were doing running and lifting ever since you have been gone? I thought you were sick." He questioned curiously.

"I was, they wanted me to do it so that it helped my health I guess. I don't really know. It was better than lessons though. That was torture." Alex said, wrinkling his nose in distaste as he remembered Ben and Snake trying to teach him about Romeo and Juliet, and World Geography. That had been a disaster just awaiting its arrival. Though Alex did get a kick out of Eric and his dad trying to explain what Romeo and Juliet were thinking during the scenes. Wolf and Eagle had walked in right as Snake and Fox mimicked the death scene which sent Alex off his chair in laughter. Snake had just spoken the line about kissing Juliet (who Fox was acting as) when Wolf had stepped into the room. Alex had broken even more into tears of laughter as Wolf looked at the six-year-old.

"And you called Eagle and I gay." Wolf accused to Alex who had rolled on the floor, helpless as he laughed. Let's just say, that was the last time his dad and K-Unit ever acted out a novel ever again...

"I bet it was." Richard laughed. Alex grinned and threw away his now empty tray. He was eating better than he had before he was taken out of school, Richard noted absently. Lunch ended pretty quickly and soon Alex found himself in his last class of the day, waiting for the ending bell to ring as he sat at his desk, listening to his Maths teacher. He was mentioning something about Quadratic Formula? Alex was glad he had been tutored right then and there, for he actually knew what that was! Thank. you. Dad! It wasn't too long before the bell for the end of the school day went off and Alex took off from the room, his backpack already shouldered, as he met with Tom at the bike racks (their usual meeting place). Alex and him walked the way to the park pretty easily, the teen texting Ben that he was at the Park. The last time he had not texted his overprotective guardian was rather disastrous results which involved a poor little old lady, a dog, K-Unit screaming, and Ben frantically searching in rather hilarious spots for Alex... in his neighborhood. Alex had only gone with Tom to the mall but, had forgotten to tell Ben that he had gotten there already. His mistake, all well.

"So, when do the other guys get back?" Tom asked as they settled on the swings. There was no one around them; children swinging from monkey bars like Alex had often done in the past year as a little boy. He smiled at the memories. Especially when, he remembered Tom using him to get a few dates, Alex pretending to be stuck on the monkey bars. That had been fun.

"Ben said tonight." Alex said, swinging his legs back and forth. He was kind of looking forward to seeing Wolf, Eagle, and Snake again though he didn't want yet another examination from Snake. Those were kind of awkward and Alex never did like them because Snake always wanted to know where they came from, when he saw a new one he didn't see the day before. It made Snake in a hissy mood (no pun intended) when that happened.

"Why did you call him Ben just now?" Tom inquired in confusion suddenly.

"What do you mean? I've been calling him Ben all year." Alex stated while quirking an eyebrow at his friend. Tom shook his head, amazed that Alex hadn't noticed. Really! How could someone not notice what they've been calling someone at all?

"You've been calling him dad a lot lately." Tom told him. Alex abruptly stopped swinging and sat there, looking at Tom in shock. What!?

"I-I have??" He stammered. Tom nodded. Alex blinked, how on earth did he not notice that he was calling Ben, his father?!?

"Hey Alex. I think Ben likes it when you call him your dad." Tom noted. Alex turned to him and looked at Tom with a startled look. The look clearly said for him to elaborate.

"You know because he gets all happy every time you say it and his eyes kind of... light up." Tom said, finding it hard to explain this to the confused teen. Alex leaned against the swing heavily, thoughtful.

"So you think, he doesn't mind me calling him that?" Alex asked softly after sometime, the sun beginning to settle itself.

"Of course he doesn't mind! I bet he wants you to." Tom said in disbelief. Alex was really clever but at times like these, he could be a right idiot. Tom pinched Alex who yelped and stood up, startled.

"What was that for!?" He whined (which really was amusing to Tom that the spy actually whined).

"For being an idiot, why would you think Ben didn't want you calling him that?" Tom retorted. He had stood up as well and was now facing his best friend, a guy who had saved him from bullies when they were younger, a guy who had been his rival until a few moments in the past made them become friends. The guy, who had trusted him with his secrets; Alex Rider-Daniels was currently looking away from Tom. The teen shook his head in an exasperated manner.

"Let's go to Sab's house now." Tom said firmly, changing the subject which Alex was grateful for. They took the short walk before they soon found themselves at Sabina's vacation home (which is what it was because she went to school in another continent!). Alex rang the doorbell and Sabina immediately pulled it open and tackled her boyfriend, wrapping an arm around his neck and kissing him passionately. Tom just walked right on in, considering the two had done this every time they saw each other so far.

"Hello Mrs. Pleasure!" Tom said cheerily. The woman smiled and nodded her head at Tom, having gotten to know the boy fairly well because he always came with Alex. Think of it as a package deal really. Sabina unlocked her lips from the 15-year-old and smiled at Alex. The former spy grinned back at her, wrapped his arms around her waist and she replied by wrapping hers around his neck. She absently played with his hair as they sat down, her sitting in his lap.

"So what have you been up to?" Sabina asked cheerily, laying her head on his shoulder. Alex looked at her with an amused smile. Tom sat on the couch opposite of them as the parents left them to talk.

"School and crazy overprotective fathers and his friends." Alex answered, sighing mockingly. Sabina laughed as Tom faked a regretful look.

"If only they weren't coming back tonight! So little time to manipulate their charge!" Tom said with a large sigh of his own. The three looked at each other before bursting out in laughter, which didn't end for quite awhile. Sabina eventually stood up and sat next to Alex instead of on him. Tom suddenly asked the couple how they met and became boyfriend girlfriend which them launched Alex Rider-Daniels and Sabina Pleasure into the tale of Skeleton Key. It having been almost two years ago now, Alex was able to make jokes about what happened and even went in more detail about that mission. Tom, having not been told about that one all that much, was a little ill about the two agents but, laughed aloud at some of the more crazier things Alex ended up doing. Alex then continued onto his Eagle Strike mission, being on vacation with Sabina and seeing Yassen (though he said he saw a friend of his dads. Yassen was still a sore spot). Sabina explained what happened in her kidnapping and they continued until Alex finished it with the flight ending.

"Al. You have one messed up life." Tom said with a shake of his head. He grinned though and they all noticed it was about to get dark.

"You have one overprotective dad." Sabina whispered as Alex stood up with a real sigh, having to go.

"I know. But, gotta love my dad for that." Alex said, grinning. Tom grinned too, knowing Alex said that while he was aware of it this time. Maybe his friend wasn't an idiot after all...

The two said goodbye to the Pleasure family and began the walk towards Alex's house. It was silent with the two of them walking in a comfort of each other's presence. Tom took this time to look at his friends. Alex had a cheery smile on his face which was something he never saw before the shrinking incident. In fact, a lot of things had changed with Alex. Not just physical appearance. Alex no longer brooded over things too long and he was always at school now, and was actually caught up with them. Tom silently thanked Ben in his mind. And K-Unit. They had helped Alex. His Best friend.

Alex and Tom made it to his house quickly right as a street light flickered on. Ben opened the door as soon as he saw them. Figures he'd been waiting. Like always.

"Hey! James, Eric, and Matt are already here. Do you need me to drive you home Tom?" Ben asked right as Alex was within grabbing distance of him. Tom shrugged and Ben left (after telling Alex to stay with K-Unit) and drove his best friend home. Alex waited before he pulled open the front door. As soon as he did so, Eagle (of course) grabbed hold of Alex and threw him up in the air, yelling happily.

"Cub!!!!" Eagle shouted gleefully once he caught Alex and held him sort of bridal style. What looked alright for a 6-year-old boy to be carried, now looked completely out of place with a 15-year-old but, Alex simply was amused about his situation. Eagle still thought he was little.

"Matt! I'm not a little boy anymore, you can put me down now." Alex laughed, trying to get out of Eagle's hold on him. The man pouted before he complied and Alex was swept up in a hug from Snake.

"Hey Eric." Alex said happily. Snake looked at him in surprise at the use of his real name. He never did before... He always called them Snake, Eagle, and Wolf.

"Nice to see you again Alex." Snake chuckled, "any new injuries I should be aware of now?"

"Fell off my bike but, dad took care of it." Alex said with a shrug. He actually noticed the grins K-Unit gave each other the minute he said dad. So Tom was right, he had been saying it for awhile without knowing. Wow and he was supposed to be a spy! Alex looked at Wolf who (would have scowled had it been a year ago) gave Alex a small smile. Alex grinned and gave the man a hug as well.

"Yes I know I just said dad." Alex finally told them after it became silent and Eagle had opened his mouth. He clicked it shut audibly.

"Have you known you've been doing that ever since you got out of the hospital?" Snake asked curiously. Alex shook his head. He sat down on the recliner as the men shuffled around to their usual comfortable spots. Wolf shook his head in amusement as he spotted Alex's old teddy bear sitting on the love seat. Alex gave him a shrug. Snake made Alex push his trouser legs up and the medic inspected his bike injury.

"I didn't find out I've been doing that until today." Alex answered them after awhile.

"So anyways, Panther said hi." Snake said, letting it go at that but, not before telling Alex how much Ben seemed to enjoy the title. Alex laughed at that and felt warmth from hearing that. To hear that Ben actually wanted to call him Dad was encouraging. Maybe Tom was right. He vowed to continue calling him Dad from now on.

It was much later that Alex actually kept the little promise of his...

"Goodnight son," Ben whispered, carting a hand gently through his son's hair. He looked at him fondly, making sure the covers were tucked around the fifteen-year-old's body. Smiling, Alex yawned and closed his eyes. He nudged his head deeper into the very soft pillow and could just about fall asleep right now. Not before he said one last thing to his father...

"Goodnight. I love you Dad." Alex spoke, looking right at Ben's eyes, which seemed to send a message to Ben that Alex knew what he had just said... and meant it.

"I love you too Alex." Ben said after a pause, he smiled and Alex fell asleep with one of his own on his face. He had called Ben, Dad, and he really meant it. Life was good.

Author's Note: Tada! That's the last of the main story of Everlasting Changes and Silent Spy. I'll finish up with Matchmaking Agent soon and then you'll only have Childhood in Need for so long before I close this series down. Now that I finished, I'm going back to the very beginning and tweaking and modifying what I can. You'll know if I modified it now because I'll be adding a little mark as I do. Meaning the date it was edited will show up on it when I do so, I'll add it in myself. And I'll be removing the little scenes that are too similar to someone else's and replacing them with a better one. For one, Ian is actually very close to Alex though he doesn't show it and he doesn't ignore Alex. That was my original intent but, I never wrote it correctly... (Shrugging) Yes, I'm totally adding onto the SAS scenes now that I have the chance. I'm fixing it up and I'm adding in different scenes to the story. I was working to make this chapter the longest one ever cause it IS the last of the main plot. Matchmaking Agent is a short story sequel really so it wont be a long one. Sorry!

Yes I knew when Alex's real birthday is, I made up all the dates for my conveinance. I really hope you all have enjoyed this story. Review to tell me what you all think of it!