Chapter 10: Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. I apologize for the delay in the update, finals and the holidays have been kicking my butt, along with readjusting to my new schedule. My deepest apologizes.

This is the re-uploaded version of chapter 9.

Eventually the men came back and the normal routine followed. Alex was tied up and left on the floor, and then they proceeded to pick someone, Wolf, and drag them out of the room.

Of course Wolf fought back, but the fight wasn't fair as Wolf was overpowered four to one. As he was dragged out of the room Alex could see a burning rage in his eyes. Ben removed Alex from his bonds, earning a small thanks before Alex returned to his corner, silently watching K-unit worry over Wolf.

Alex knew he would be okay. Wolf was a strong man, and he wouldn't snap under this torture. Deep down Alex knew he was only trying to keep himself from worrying. Deep down he was unsure of how Wolf would take the torture, as they seemed to change their form for each person.

After an unusually short wait, the door opened. K-unit jumped up, hoping to see Wolf, and watched as two guards walked in. One was dragging a small form behind him by one of its arms; the other quickly pushed K-Unit back into their respective cells, before backing out.

The guard dragging the small form came up to Alex cell, opened the door a small crack, and threw the small body in like a bag of potatoes. He quickly closed the door, locking it up once more before both guards left the room with the normal door slam.

Alex didn't watch them leave; instead he fell to his knees next to the small body that had been thrown on the dirty floor of his cell. It was boy who looked to be only about five or six. He had brown hair that hung in his face. He was dirty but looked to be in good health and Alex saw no visible injuries. Alex guessed he would wake within in the next ten minutes and at most within the next half hour.

For now Alex took the SAS jacket that he had thrown into a corner and covered the small child with it before gently placing the child's head in his lap. The floor was cold and uncomfortable, but it was also covered in dirt, blood, and who knew what else.

The kid woke up approximately fifteen minutes later. Everyone had been silent as they watched the child rest. Alex sat still the whole time, and when the child started to stir he did not look down at him. Alex hated waking up to a face right in front of his own, he was sure it would only scare the child.

When he finally sat up, he looked to Alex, and with a small voice he asked the question that they all wish they could answer.

"Where am I?"

"I'm not sure, but you're going to be okay. What's your name?" Alex spoke with a gentle voice. He had become a master of facial expressions, and now his eyes were soft and kind.

"I'm… I'm not supposed to tell strangers my name." He stuttered a couple times before answering, and Alex had to hand it to the kid. At his age Alex would have told anyone who would listen what his name was.

"It's okay; I promise I won't hurt you. I'm going to help you; if I tell you my name will you tell me yours?"

The kid looked up at Alex, there was terror in his eyes, and Alex felt his anger grow. His anger at the people who held them there. His anger toward MI6 for getting him into this mess. His anger at the world for being so cruel and unfair. But Alex pushed that anger away for now. He had a mission now.

"I'm not sure… My mummy always told me not to talk to stranger and especially not to tell them my name." His voice was small with the terror that shimmered in his eyes.

"Well I'll tell you my name any ways. Is that okay?" Alex smiled at the kid, hoping to encourage him.

"But didn't your mummy tell you to not talk to strangers?" The kids face became a thoughtful one as he tried to imagine a mother that did not caution their child to the dangers of the world.

Alex chuckled before answering, "My mummy told me that it was okay as long as I was locked up with them and felt that I could trust them." Of course that was untrue, considering the fact that Alex's mother was dead before he could even begin to remember her.

"My mommy told me that no matter what I'm not supposed to tell them my name."

"Okay, well I'm going to tell you my name any ways." After a small nod of the kids head he spoke again.

"I'm Alex." he said with a smile.

"I'm Jonathan, but my mummy calls me John." He said quickly. Then his eyes widened into saucers and he clamped his hands over his mouth as if it would somehow bring the words back.

Alex gave a small laugh.

"That a nice name. Want to know something?" Alex leaned in close to John, "My dad's name is John. He was really brave and smart; I think all John's are smart."

John smiled, puffing out his chest trying to prove that he was also brave.

"I'm brave. I kept my mummy from stepping on a plate, and I kept my kitty from scratching her!" He smiled and stood up putting his hand on his hips taking the stance of a superhero.

Alex laughed "Wow you are brave. I have another question John; I want you to tell me the truth no matter what, okay?"

John nodded then he held out his pinky finger.

"I pinky promise." He smiled brightly.

Alex smiled back before latching his pinky finger around Johns.

"Here's my question John. Are you okay? Do you have any scratches, does anything hurt? Let me know so I can make them better, okay?" Alex looked into John vibrant blue eyes.

John looked back at Alex and nodded before answering.

"I got a cut on my leg when the people were taking me away from mummy and daddy, and my head really hurts."

"Do you know how your leg got cut?" Alex asked as he lifted up the pant leg to look at the cut underneath.

"There was metal sticking off the van and my leg hit it." The cut on his leg wasn't too deep but Alex still took a piece of cloth and wrapped it around the cut.

"What about my head?" He asked as Alex got up off the floor.

"Turn around and I'll take a look at it." John obeyed Alex and turned around. Alex put a small amount of pressure on the spot John indicated. He yelped and Alex quickly apologized.

"It's just bruised, it'll be okay, I promise."

"You make a lot of promises." John observed.

"When I make a promise it means that it will come true. I promise." Alex smiled and John giggled.

Alex hated it when kids got involved in things. It was bad enough that he was only fourteen when he had been tricked into become one of MI6's best spies. No kid deserved this, no matter what they did. They did not deserve to be in a situation that would leave them mental, emotionally, and physically scared for the rest of their life. It was cruel and wrong.

"Alex?" John called tugging on his shirt. Alex looked down at him with a small smile indicating that he had his attention. "I'm tired, Alex. Can I go to sleep?"

"Of course. Hey Snake can I have that jacket back?" Alex was answered a moment later when a jacket was thrown his way. Alex took the jacket and rolled it up into a makeshift pillow. "Where do you want to sleep?"

John looked down, suddenly becoming shy.

"Can I sleep by you?" John wasn't sure why but he felt he could trust Alex, and that his mummy would not be mad if he broke some of her rules for him.

Alex smiled and patted the area by him "Of course."

John smiled and sat down by Alex, leaning on Alex's shoulder, another ten minutes later and John had slipped down so that his head was resting on Alex's leg. Alex didn't mind, he felt like he had some kind of connection with John. It more than the fact that he had his dads name.

"Wow Cub, never seen you act so nice." Eagle commented, ruining the peaceful silence that had enveloped the room.

"Well, Eagle, why would I be nice to a group of people that completely ignores me." Alex voice was ice and his mask was back in place.

"Jeez, don't be a stick in the mud." Eagle smiled while Alex glared at him.*

That glare made Eagle back off while Snake shook his head at Eagle's childish acts.

"I never knew that you had such a liking to children Alex." Ben said.

"There is a lot you don't know about me, Ben." Alex whispered as he looked down at the child that was peacefully asleep in his lap, his chest rose and fell with each breath he took. A small smile had taken its place on his face, and Alex was sure he was dreaming of his parents.

All conversation ended there. For the next hour no one talked. Wolf was brought back and everyone was let out like last time. Alex stayed in the corner as John slept through the commotion; he had had a long day. Anyone would have slept the way he was right now.

Snake fixed Wolf up as best he could. Wolf had come back with a black eye, cut and bruises littered his body. His shirt had been cut off; showing off his well-toned chest, and his back had whip marks to rival the ones on Alex's own back. His shoulder had been dislocated and Snake had to pop it back in while Wolf bit down on multiple strips of cloth that he had placed in his mouth to keep from screaming. Even if he was in a great deal of pain Wolf didn't want to wake up the mystery kid that had showed up while he was gone.

Alex didn't move from his spot, preferring to stare off into space as he brushed his fingers through John's hair, something his uncle had done many times when he was home, from what Alex had believed then to be business meetings, and Alex had woken from nightmares.

(Flashback)

Alex woke with tears streaming down his face. He was terrified of that dream.

He crawled out of bed and walked out of the door of his room, just one door to the left of his own was his destination. His uncle had gone to bed as soon as he had walked through the door and given Alex a hug. That had been around six 'o clock. It was now almost one in the morning.

Ian had come back with only a few scratches and bruise, but a lot of exhaustion. He was lucky he had made it all the way to his bed before finally collapsing and falling asleep.

Ian woke up to the sound of small feet walking down hallway, a few seconds later and his door opened. A small head of blond hair peered through the crack.

"Ian?" the voice was young and terrified. Ian had already known it was Alex though. This always happened when he came back from missions.

"Come on in Al. Was it another nightmare?" Ian sighed as the small head nodded.

"The usual one?" He asked as he lifted the five year old onto his bed. Once again Alex nodded before burying his face into Ian's side. The small tears slowly creating a wet spot on Ian shirt.

Ian pulled Alex of his side and looked into his eyes, with all seriousness he said "I will not leave you Al, I promise. I will always be here for. You believe me right?"

Alex smiled and nodded once again before laying his head on his uncle side. "I love you Ian."

"And I love you Alex, now get some sleep." With those words Alex leaned against his uncle and closed his eyes. Ian hummed a tune, one that Helen had always sung when she was off in her own little world, as he brushed his fingers through Alex's hair. One minute later Alex was asleep, a content smile on his face.

Ian had lied about always being there for Alex, but Alex had forgiven him. You can't exactly plan your death. Alex was still working on forgiving him for training him, and he knew that someday he would forgive him.

Today was not that day though. The rest of the day went by quietly. K-unit and Ben sat and talked, while Alex sat in his corner remembering the days when Ian was alive and Alex had been clueless to his uncle's job and the terrors it held.

A/N:

* My wonderful beta told me she didn't understand this, so if you don't understand, it's just saying that Alex is being a kill-joy, or he's not being any fun. Sorry if you didn't understand.