A/N - OnlyTheGoodones - I took your suggestion in mind when writing this chapter.
Alex woke slowly, his head aching. "Unhhh!" He groaned. What had happened? The last thing he remembered was ordering a coffee with extra cream, and then... and then... What?
"Ah. You are awake."
Alex fought to open his eyes, to think clearly. He knew that voice. But from where?
"Alex.. Alex. I'm sorry to have gone to such measures, but it is the only way I could get to you without causing suspicion."
No. No. It couldn't be... "Yassen?"
"Yes, but for the circumstances, call me Dad. You never know when unfriendly ears are listening." Yassen states quietly.
Alex was fully alert, now. "This is impossible! I saw Cray shoot you! I saw the blood! You died!"
"It is obviously not impossible. The proof is right here. And yes, Cray did shoot me. I must admit, I think my heart did stop for a while, but I survived. Somehow," Yassen added as an after thought, "Maybe Heaven nor Hell wanted me."
Alex was full of questions, "I still can't believe you are alive! It's amazing! Why did you need to reach me? Did you drug me? Where are we and why do I need to call you Dad?"
"I can't either. Yes, it is. I have information for you. Yes, I did. We are in our apartment, and because you are now my son." Yassen answered slowly, then elaborated before Alex could release another barrage of questions, "I picked you up from the coffee shop as your dad, David Hawthorn, and you, as my son, John Hawthorn. We have lived in this apartment your whole life. You've never met your mom. We used to have a cat, but it got run over two years ago when you left the door open to get the newspaper. You always were forgetful of things like that. You went to the local school, but got bullied so much, I began to homeschool you and taught you everything you know."
Alex nodded, familiar with the need to know details when having a new identity. He gazed about the room. It was a small, one bedroom apartment, with a mattress on the floor in the bedroom. That opened up into a larger living room and a tiny kitchen. The living room was carpeted with a soft,dark, red rug, that clashed with the yellow walls, and the light brown couch. The kitchen was messy. It had a small sink, a dishwasher, and a portable oven, all covered with doughy splatters, as if someone had just tried, and failed to make some bread. "Nice home," He commented.
Yassen shrugged, "Fits with my personality. Besides, we are borrowing this from the real Hawthorn family. They are away on a vacation sponsored by a mystery admirer."
Alex snorted, "You? A mystery admirer? That was low. I bet they are up there trying to figure out how to impress the mystery woman. They are going to be disappointed when they find out it's you."
"More like scared. I'm a wanted man, remember." Yassen shot back. Amazed to find that he is actually, maybe having a little fun.
"No, you are a dead man."
"That makes me all the scarier. I'm a wanted ghost man." Yassen, unbelievably, chuckled. Then, as if some spell was broken, Yassen sobered and said, "The information. It's about what Smithers gave you. I believe you sought out the blue gang's flag?"
"And stole it." Alex said proudly.
"To do what exactly?"
"Well, I figured out the riddle. It was HOUSE. So I know she is in a house somewhere. Not in a prison of something. And the picture is of a Falkland Sprat, so she must be in the Falkland Islands, but where? I'm assuming the letters will tell me that, but I cannot make sense of them. I sought out the Red gang, and they agreed to let get me to the Falkland Islands, if I stole the Blue's flag. You know, they are in a perpetual game of capture the flag." Alex said, breathlessly.
Yassen ignored the last bit of Alex's statement. "The letters say West Fox Bay. There is a house on the water, just two miles from a fishery."
Alex lit up. "Yes! We can go get Sabina! What are we waiting for? Let's go get her!" He raced around,gathering his things, then flew to the door.
"Alex. Alex."
Something about his tone stopped Alex in his tracks. Fearing the worst, he faced Yassen.
"I already went, Alex. Sabina wasn't there. It was just some old gadgets."
Alex let out a breath, relieved and disappointed. "How did you know where to go?"
Yassen shrugged mysteriously. " Here are the gadgets. I see you have a few." He laid out a belt, a watch, a necklace, earphones, an iPod, and a set of clothes.
"What do they do?" Alex asked, eagerly.
Yassen complies,"The belt lengthens into a twenty foot rope. The watch is magnetized, and can unlock any door with a key hole. The shark tooth necklace is a communication device, You set the teeth in a certain order, and it can hone in on any frequency. The speakers are in the latch. The earphones and iPod work together to form a device that allows you to see and hear something through a twelve inch wall. The set of clothes are bullet proof, and in every place possible, there are things needed for survival."
"I'm all set, then." Alex replied.
"Not quite," Yassen countered. "I have one last thing to tell you."
"What? What is it?"
Yassen took a breath, "I and the K unit will be helping you discreetly. Separate, of course. They cannot know of my existence. If you need to contact me, go to the coffee shop where I found you before. Order an expresso with extra cream, if no one is forcing you to contact me. However, if someone is, then order anything you want. Also, order no cream, if the matter is of utmost importance."
"Got it. Now what do we do?"Alex wondered.
"I'm leaving. You are staying here to talk to Blunt and Mrs. Jones." Yassen stated before striding to the window. "They are one minute from here if I am not mistaken."
"What! You can't leave me for them!" Alex protested.
"Sure I can. Besides, you won't be alone. They are taking you to some people you need to meet again. Good bye, Alex." With that, Yassen leaped off the building.
Alex rushed to the window, but Yassen was gone. He heard knocking. Taking a breath, he opened the door. "Mrs. Jones. Fancy meeting you here."
"You don't seem too surprised." She answered, one eyebrow raised.
"Seems like you are everywhere these days. Following me like a puppy, it's kind of getting old." He answered calmly.
She shook her head, "Come with me."
"But I thought you were the dog!" Alex protested.
She grabbed his arm, forcing him into a nice looking black sedan. It smelled like new leather and peppermints. "I am taking you to meet some old friends. I believe you met them about four years ago."
Alex pointedly said nothing.
"Oh, Alex, dear. You aren't going to act like a stubborn child are you? I am trying to help you. We have leads on Sabina." Mrs. Jones said in a very fake concerned voice.
Alex snorted, "More like, 'I know exactly where Sabina is, but I'm only going to give you some vague, very unhelpful hints as to her whereabouts to try and make you take down A.I.T. for me.' "
"How could you accuse us of something like that?" Mrs. Jones gasped.
Alex answered heatedly, "Maybe because one of your own told me."
Mrs. Jones muttered darkly, "Smithers."
Alex winced. He probably shouldn't have told her that. Hopefully Smithers wouldn't get in any trouble. "Speaking of Smithers, how is he?"
"You would know as much as me. He has not returned to work since you and that drug dealer put him in that hospital. We have no idea of his whereabouts." Mrs. Jones said, sounding slightly miffed.
Alex laughed. If MI6 can't find one of their own, he should have no trouble staying under the radar. The sedan slowed to a stop in front of Royal and General Banks, a.k.a MI6 headquarters. Mrs. Jones escorted him through the door and into Blunt's office. "I have him."
"Did he put up a fight?" Came the gravelly reply.
"Surprisingly not."
"Was he alone?"
"Apparently."
Alex asked, "You know I'm standing right here, right?" They ignored him.
"Are you sure? The coffee shop owner said that he was picked up by his dad." Blunt asked.
Mrs. Jones answered curtly. "I checked those surveillance footages and it said that a Reed Fletcher picked him up."
"Ahh. So he is still wiring with the dealer. You know, Alex, people are starting to talk."
Alex, whose mind had wandered, started, "What?"
Mr. Blunt answered slowly, "People are starting rumors about you. You have not gone to school at all, and you have been seen hanging out with a known drug dealer. That doesn't bode well for you."
Alex snorted, "Let people think what they want. There are bigger things in the world than a reputation."
"Well said, young man. Well said. You are right. There are bigger things. Such as Mr. and Mrs. Pleasure. Do you know how they have taken your loss?" Mr Blunt said, as if talking to a little boy.
Alex had a bad feeling about this, "No."
"Mr. Pleasure comes home each night, completely... what's the word?... wasted. Mrs. Pleasure has a serious depression issue. They are both very sick. They need help, which I can give them. On one condition. You work for us again."
"Never in a million years will I work for you sick people." Alex said vehemently.
"I think this will change your mind. Mrs. Jones." He nodded to the woman, who promptly left.
Alex and Mr. Blunt sat in an uncomfortable silence before she came back. She slowly walked in, coaxing a woman in through the door. The woman's hair was a mess, and she was shaking. Her eyes had bags under them that were weighted by the immense grief her eyes held. She was the sick kind of skinny. Her clothes were wrinkled and looked as if she had never taken them off. Her whole body drooped, as if she was perpetually frowning with her whole body. She whispered hoarsely, "Please, no. Please, no. Please. Don't show me any children. I'll lose them, just like I lost my own. I've lost everything. Please, no."
Alex stared. "No. Mrs. Pleasure?"
She made no sign that she heard Alex other than whispering louder, "Please, no!"
Alex's heart sank. His throat tightened. I did this, he thought. I left her when she needed me the most.
Blunt nodded again, and Mrs. Jones gently led Mrs. Pleasure from the room. "So, Alex. Did it work? Or do we need to bring in Mr. Pleasure?"
Alex shook his head.
"Are you saying no to the proposition, or Mr. Pleasure?"
Alex didn't answer. He took a breath. "I'll do it." He said with fury just beneath the surface, "But only if you treat them first."
"Very well.' Mr. Blunt complied, "Ah. But before you go, I have someone I need you to meet."
Alex said nothing, which Blunt took as a go ahead. "Come in."
Four men filed through the door. Alex showed no recognition, although he knew each of the men; Fox, Eagle, Snake, and Wolf. The K-unit.
Blunt began, "I am assigning these men to help you. After the Pleasures are better, K-unit will assist you in taking down A.I.T."
Alex nodded, stood, and left. The four men knew what had happened just before they came in, so they stood aside to let him pass unhindered. As soon as he was through the door, the filed out behind him, making a silent and subtle gesture of friendship. Also making a sign that they were on the same side. As they left the bank, Wolf placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. Alex silently followed him home, where the Macron family welcomed him with delight.
~o~o~o~
Mr. Blunt sighed as the K-unit followed Alex out the door. "Sometimes I feel as if that kid is taking my people's loyalty right from under me," he said, completely clueless that Alex was doing exactly that. He was doing it unconsciously, of course, but people saw things in Alex that was better than what was in Blunt. Blunt was slowly losing his office without noticing. Loyalties were shifting...
