What?! 100+ reviews?! No way LoaS deserves that many... but thanks!

Congratulations to InvaderXion- the 100th reviewer! (But you guys are all awesome!)

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Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider.

O-o-O-o-O

"Now, back to business," Alan Blunt began as soon as the young spy had left. "We can continue our discussion more privately."

"Just get it over with," Eagle cut in, almost bitterly.

Wolf put in his two cents. "Hurry it up. We've got a teammate that to take care of."

The grey man continued.

They stared.

And stared.

O-o-O-o-O

"I can't believe that man," Wolf snarled, the door closing behind him. "Treating human beings like that."

Snake glanced at him warily; Wolf wasn't in his rant-mode, but it still would be best to stay out of his way.

"Let's just go get Cub," Eagle suggested. "This place gives me the creeps."

K-Unit could only agree.

Fox briefly thought through the labyrinth of corridors Mrs. Jones had led them through, and-

"This way to Cub's room," the spy said decisively.

Without hesitation, the other soldiers followed him.

A few minutes later, and they were back to the same room they had been (what seemed like) hours previously.

The door opened; hard eyes flickered warily to meet them.

"Shit," Snake cursed, reacting faster than any of them. Worried eyes took in the abused teenager, arms cuffed behind him to the metal rail of the cot.

Cub was concentrating hard, brow furrowed in concentration because of-

"Fox, get over here," the medic snapped.

Unknowing to Snake, the soldiers were already behind him, taking in the same information, but a bit slower- taking in consideration of their specialties.

"Pick the lock," Snake ordered.

Cub, realizing what was happening, pressed hard against the headboard, fearful. "Don't do it. It's a test. Almost got it, and Blunt-"

But Fox had already gotten a lockpick and tension wrench out, and gently turned the teenager around.

Eagle and Wolf rolled their eyes, seeing the relief leave the boy's shoulders. He hadn't wanted to do it- Cub shouldn't have had to pick the locks on the handcuffs in order to receive medical attention.

That was just- wrong.

"Done."

Snake took the soldier's place, snagging the necessary supplies from the open cabinet.

Luckily, Alex complied, albeit reluctantly, to the medic. Snake was definitely more qualified in cleaning and wrapping the injuries, especially considering the teen's limited training.

With a practiced hand, and a careful eye, the soldier was gentle, and Alex struggled inwardly against the instincts that were instilled into him- that he was, he needed to be-

For the first time in (forever) a while, he relaxed.

No flinching as a hand that was not his own took care of him.

No tension as K-Unit saw a number of things that should not have been present on a teenager.

They didn't call him out on anything- no, they accepted him. They didn't like what people were doing to him, and they would never (?) accept that... but they knew he was different.

They knew that he wasn't normal, could never be normal... and they had accepted that.

They... understood.

"Are we going soon?" he asked quietly, afraid that the answer would be no. How many times had medics patched up his wounds, only to have Blunt send him back into the field?

No. Blunt had given him a week. He had earned it. Because- because-

Don't think about that.

He didn't think about it.

"Yeah," Wolf answered, a bit distracted. "Snake?"

"Almost done," Snake murmured, focused on setting the broken rib, and wrapping the others- the kid had taken one helluva beating. It was a wonder Cub wasn't unconscious already (in a real hospital) .

Cub couldn't hold back a wince the bandage pulled taut on his chest.

"You OK?" the medic asked, concerned.

The teen blinked, then nodded- but thought better of it, Snake noticed. A minor concussion, probably.

"This has happened before, right?" Fox guessed.

Cub seemed to hesitate- debating on whether or not to lie. "Yeah," he answered softly. The faces of previous of medics and soldiers- ones that had seen there was something wrong with his situation- scrolled through his memories. They had been concerned, yes; had they taken action? No.

But K-Unit had.

The boy glanced at the familiar walls around him. He hadn't been here in a while, but there weren't any good memories.

"I just- " he broke off, closing his eyes momentarily- controlling himself, his actions, before composing himself, and opening his eyes once more. "I don't like it here."

Fox didn't like it.

It wasn't natural- but Cub wasn't a normal teenager. He just needed to remember that.

Still... he couldn't help but think that teenagers shouldn't have had to do that. Or learn how to do it, in order to survive.

Despite the circumstance, Eagle grinned. "Me neither. Place gives me the creeps."

Cub's lips twitched- a sign of humor, perhaps? That was a good sign- but it was only a start. It was the only incentive he needed to continue.

"You already said that, Eagle. Ten minutes ago, remember?" Snake reminded him irritably. Information or observation only needed to be said once- more than that was more than necessary.

Eagle made a face. "It'll be alright, Cub." Shooting a dirty (but gleeful) look at the medic, he continued. "Just because Snake doesn't have common sense or even a sense of humor doesn't mean he has to ruin it for the rest of us." The soldier sneaked a peek at the boy's face, and couldn't help but feel a burst of pride when a bit more smile-like face grew. It didn't look so much like he had died and come back to life and lived to tell the tale.

Snake sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not going to quarantine you to bedrest for the next week." Here, he paused. "Mainly because you would find a way out of it, anyway. But, I don't want you straining yourself, alright?"

"OK," Cub agreed (a bit too easily).

Snake nodded, satisfied.

Eyes narrowed, Fox studied the room again. "When was the last time you were here?"

Cub immediately sobered. "About a month ago."

"What happened?" Wolf asked brusquely. Straight-to-the-point wasn't exactly the best course of action, but they did need to know as much as possible.

The teenager swallowed. "He put the chip in."

They had almost forgotten about that.

Almost.

"It's OK, Cub," Eagle reassured him. "You don't have to tell us anything if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine," the boy said distantly. His eyes dropped to the steel handcuffs- something he had quickly grown to hate, and fear. They kept him under control too easily. "They..." he gestured vaguely to the bed. "They cuffed me to the bed, and-" he looked down. "Held me down." Cub closed his eyes, memories haunting him.

Fox felt guilty for bringing it up, but he knew it would help.

K-Unit shared experiences, and fears. Memories, too. And it was better, afterward- the details growing hazy.

But Cub hadn't had anyone- until now.

They were the only ones keeping him upright.

Keeping him sane.

Cub's eyes shot open. "Let's go."

Fox smiled faintly. "Home, then?"

"Yeah," Cub echoed. "Home."

O-o-O-o-O

What will keep you sane? No one. You are only how long you last.

O-o-O-o-O

I need your help. I don't care if you PM it to me or put it in a review, but the next couple of oneshots will be that K-Unit/Alex bonding time. Depending on the demand of ideas, I'll write them. Minimum 2x more oneshots of that before the main plot continues. So- give me all your awesome ideas! And thanks in advance.

(Oh, and Happy Late Pi Day!)