A/N1: Probably only a few chapters, and an epilogue to go. It would have been a lot longer, but I don't think I can successfully write this story after two years of… not.

I feel really bad for not updating for those two years, and all of my passion has gone. So not long to go. These last few chapters will probably have a lot of time-skips, because I'm too lazy to write properly.

Zeki, surprisingly (not), has bred some rabbits, so expect to see some more fics from me in the near(ish) future. Not until after June, though. Exams suck.

And, I have rambled on too much. So now on with the story!

Disclaimer: Not unless I have suddenly mutated into having a Y chromosome, and also aged a bit, I am not Horowitz, and I do not own Alex Rider. (But if I did, Alex/Tom = CANON).

It's been two weeks since Alex was released from the hospital. He'd been staying with Connor, and his 'room mate', a docile rottweiler, who went by the name of Elvis. Alex didn't know how Elvis survived when Connor was on duty, and he wasn't planning to ask any time soon.

Elvis adored Alex, had from the minute the teen had walked through the front door. And Alex would be lying if he said he didn't love Elvis too.

The dog just seemed to know exactly what and when Alex needed comfort. When the blond boy was upset, Elvis would curl up as close to him as possible, and then just sit with Alex until he calmed down.

Alex had returned to school after the first week. It may have just been Alex being paranoid, but he was sure that his classmates were treating him differently, as if he were more fragile.

Obviously, someone knew what had happened, and spilled. Shit.

"Hey, Alex!" Ahh, Tom. Alex could always count on Tom to treat him normally. And possibly tell him who is was that needed to be hit.

"Hey, man. Do you know why everyone's acting so weird around me?"

"Yeah, one of the girls in our class was in St Dom's a few weeks ago, to visit her grandfather or something, and she saw some dude bring you in. She said you were covered in blood," As Tom was talking, Alex's hand had absently reached up, and his pale fingers had started scratching at one of the scars he'd received when he'd tried to fight back against Kelvin.

'No, Alex. Don't go there. He can't touch you, now…' He thought to himself when he noticed, hand falling back to his side.

"Well, shit," He said. Tom laughed, slung his arm around the taller boy's neck. The dark haired boy pulled the blond into the school building.

"Come on, dude! We're gonna be late," Alex grinned, and threw Tom's arm off, before racing into the school, Tom hot on his heels. The two boys spent six relatively uneventful hours there, before leaving to go home.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Alex!" Tom called to his friend, before ambling away in the opposite direction. Alex looked around. Connor had said he'd pick him up, what with it being his first day back, but he couldn't see the blue car.

"Alex!" A voice rang out across the school playground. Alex looked in the direction it had come from. Oh, there Connor was. Quickly, Alex made his way over, smiling slightly when he saw that Elvis was in the back, tongue lolling and tail wagging.

"Hi," Alex said as he slipped into the front seat next to Connor.

"Hey, you ready to go?" The older man asked, sending Alex a side-long glance as Elvis rested his head on Alex's shoulder.

"Yeah," Alex replied, leaning his head onto the canine next to him. Elvis' tongue swiped down Alex's cheek, making him and Connor chuckle.

"The old boy missed you, today. It's the first time you've not been in all day," Connor told the younger male sitting next to him. Alex didn't reply.

"Alex? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just... Someone knows what happened, and they told everyone else,"

"I see. And the others were treating you differently for it?"

"Yeah, they were. I know it sounds childish, but I don't like it..."

"I figured as much. Want me to talk to your wad teacher?"

"No!" Connor raised an eyebrow at Alex's outburst. "The teachers still don't know. I'd like to keep it that way,"

"Right... Okay then. Listen, Alex. If you need my help with anything, and I do mean anything, all you have to do is ask. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it," Alex was silent for a few moments. "Are we taking Elvis for a walk?" He asked.

"Yeah. I thought you could do with a bit of fun after being cooped up in school for the last six hours," Connor grinned, and then frowned. "Unless you don't want to?"

"No, I do! I was just wondering,"

"Fair enough. Let's release the beast!" Connor smiled to himself as Alex laughed. It was probably the first time he'd heard the kid sound so carefree.

Connor wanted Alex to sound that way more often.

After a good couple of hours spent at the local park, the three went back to the flat. Alex disappeared into the room he'd been given to do homework, while Connor started making dinner as Elvis watched.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and then immediately after, it flew open. A couple of tall, imposing men in dark suits and sunglasses entered.

Connor, when the door flew open, had grabbed one of the guns he had hidden throughout his home. Now he stood, gun cocked and pointed at the men, with Elvis standing at his feet, head bowed and lips pulled back in a fierce snarl.

"Who the hell are you?" Connor growled out. The men ignored his question, instead asking one of their own.

"Where is Alex Rider?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Classified."

"Don't bullshit me! Alex is under my care and supervision, and of you think you're getting your hands on him, you're fucking mistaken!" Connor yelled at the two stoic men before him. Then he heard a door further in the flat open and close. Alex appeared in the doorway leading to the bedrooms.

"Connor, what's go-" Alex started to ask, but cut himself off when he saw the two suited men. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?"

"Classified. And we're here to take you to the bank," Alex laughed humourlessly.

"Do you have any idea what security clearance is needed to even have a vague idea of my existence? It's a hell of a lot higher than whatever clearance you might have,"

"All we've been told is to bring you in,"

"...Fine. But I'm not going alone. Connor is coming with me," The two men did not object, so Alex and Connor grabbed their jackets, turned off any appliances, and followed the men to the car waiting for them. Sleek and black, of course.

A/N2: Don't ask about Elvis, I though it would be cute if Alex had a bffsy. And it is.

No MI6 here. I'm really lazy, and supposed to be revising. So that will be in the next chapter. I plan on not making y'all wait two more years, I swear!

Reviews are love. And I have discovered I am an unloved child. Seriously. My sister got more expensive stuff for one birthday than I got for about 3 birthdays and Christmases put together!