Stephan arrived back at his secluded Toronto home after 1 am to find Alex asleep in his bed, naked. The TV still on the sports channel. Ahh, football. Stephan himself supported Bayern Munich much to the chagrin of his own father who had been a supporter of Paris Saint Germain. He clicked onto the news as he undressed and got ready for bed. The exhausted boy did not stir. Then again Stephan himself was too tired to contemplate more than appreciating the lithe form in his bed.

Edward read the short and very obtuse text Alex had sent. Sorry I skipped school. Spending a few days with S. Alex.

Clara was not impressed. "Who is this S?" was practically hissed at the journalist.

"Alex's new friend. The one he keeps skipping his minders to go see. Alex is increasingly paranoid that you will try and destroy his budding friendship." Edward sighed. It was a nightmare situation. He could see the problems from both sides. Alex was too much of a free spirit to ever accept control from Clara or even himself, even if it was for his own good. The more they tried to keep Alex safe and sound, the more the young man longed for danger and the forbidden.

"Where did Alex get his mobile? Was it a gift from Smithers? We can't even get a trace on any of his calls or messages. We have no idea who he has been talking to. These friends may be harmless but we need to access the risk appropriately." stated the agent. "Do you even know his friends full name?"

"Steve. I think he's a surfer, but that is just a guess on my part. Alex wanted to see if their relationship was more than just friends." Edward watched the cogs go round in Ms. Matheson's brain.

Clara sat in her car. The missing persons alert had been placed as a high priority yesterday afternoon at 4pm, over 12 hours ago. She rang Langley with her report concluding with "Alex has stated on numerous occasions his only attraction to a member of the same sex was Yassen Gregorovich. I think this Steve is possibly as dangerous as that assassin. We have an asset who has gone AWOL. The last time Alex did that he joined Scorpia. We cannot have Rider become a danger to the United States."

"I understand your concerns and I agree with you. Alex is unlikely to be on a beach somewhere stoned and drunk. He may come home tomorrow. Then we remove him to a more secure facility. He is still psychologically damaged and at this point he could easily be turned or seduced to working freelance or against our interests. Alex Rider is a danger to the security of the United States and her allies. Hopefully we are wrong but it looks like either Alex has been turned or walked into a trap set by associates of Yassen Gregorovich. We have no confirmed intel. Let me know as soon as you have anything concrete." With that Joe Byrne cut the connection. He would inform MI6 and Interpol. The Department of Homeland Security listed Alex Rider as a terrorist suspect.

Stephan Klenkov woke to the light knock on his door. Alex beside him was alert in an instant and watched as Stephan rose and put on a robe. The businessman spoke in a soft whisper at the door with an assistant. Stephen left and told Alex not to worry and to go back to sleep. Alex had caught the words.. security alert... all ports and airpoirts .. APB... Alexander John Rider... terrorist suspect... Scorpia. Alex lay back down and covered his face with his hands. He picked up his phone. Stored there was his handler's number. The list of missed calls and several texts and messages came up as he switched on his phone. All forwarded from his legitimate phone still lying on his bedside table at home.

Alex called Clara.

She was in her cubicle in the Department of Homeland Security in Downtown San Francisco. Her phone rang. Number not known. She had automatically set to record and trace all incoming calls.

"Matheson"

"Hi Clara. What the hell have I done to be made America's Most Wanted? So, I skipped school to fuck my boyfriend. I know its technically a felony/misdemeanor but come off it its not exactly working actively against your interests. Its a bit of experimentation on my part. A phase I'm going through. Sleep with some guys, sleep with some girls. Being bi is not a crime even if as a fifteen year old fucking technically is. Steve likes me for me."

"Alex, you are using a state of the art untraceable, hacker proof phone. One we know Smither's did not give you. All MI6 phone's are accounted for."

"So Steve is a bit of a player. He's not Scorpia, just freelance. Its not like he's after me for my skills just my body. I quite like just being an object of attraction."

"Where are you, Alex? We will bring you and your boyfriend in and discuss your relationship. This is not a joke Alex. You need to realise if you don't we will have no option but to hunt you down."

Alex then noticed Stephen come in the room and the older man used hand signals for Alex to cut the call.

Clara Matheson swore as the line went dead. She then went to find out how far the NSA trace had got.

Alex looked at Stephan. "I should go in. I will not have these people hunt you down and destroy you."

"Alex, you will be controlled by them if you go back. You will not be allowed to go back to the Pleasures. They will either hold you in one of their maximum security holding facilities on Guantanamo, Colorado or Alaska. You don't deserve that. You deserve a life of ease with hope for the future. This is all too soon. I wanted us to get closer, to progress to be a couple."

Alex watched Stephan. "You can't protect me from them."

"I have been planning on semi-retirement. I have put in place procedures so I could manage my interests remotely. I have a good team." Stephan smiled. "Your CIA friends do not know you left the United States. You have a cover in place. We will travel to Mexico, Panama and then to one of my remoter homes. From there we can evaluate the situation. You can go to London or back to San Francisco if you want. I am only offering you the chance to live with me rather than be their pawn."

Alex was being offered a life beyond the misery planned by his bastard uncle. Stephan was the only one to realistically have a chance to give him a life beyond being an asset. "I came here to exploring my options. I like you Stephan. I think you are the only one thinking of me. Edward cannot protect me from the CIA or MI6. I have many enemies. Shit, Stephan even my friends are acting like enemies. Can you honestly out run people like Byrne and Jones?"

The older man had laughter in his eyes and a strange smile on his face. "I would like to try." Alex could seen this game, the chase and the thrill of outmanouvering the one's who had hurt John, Alex and Yassen was a chance worth taking for the strange businessman.