AN: HEY! Sorry it's been so long my lovelies and sorry this is so short! I'm having a hard time coming up with this and making it make sense so updates will probably be slower from now on.

A few notes: just in case you didn't know ('cos Sasha didn't) MI5 is the part of the British secret service that deals with threats in the country and MI6 deals with foreign affairs. Interpol are an international police force based in France.

This group makes no sense but oh well.

Enjoy! (I hope) Unbeta'd as always.

"He's still listing names," Ukraine said softly, her voice cracked and shaky from exhaustion. "There were so many...and more die every day." She broke off with a choked sob and Alfred nodded mutely for lack of a better reaction.

It had been two days since the attack on Russia; they had lost count of the casualties. Most of the wounded had been evacuated to hospitals across Europe and more were being found in the ruins of the once great cities every hour, every minute. Alfred could feel his troops routing through the wreckage in the back of his mind.

They were still in the hospital in Minsk; it had become their impromptu head quarters. Nations streamed in and out as the remnants of the Russian government scrambled about trying desperately to regain so semblance of control. The Russian peoples were divided. Half of them believed the attack had been orchestrated by people within Russia, by protestors, extremists, minorities, it didn't matter who- they just knew the enemy was within. They marched and rioted as soldiers rolled in to their towns with refugees and wounded civilians. The other half rushed to support their fallen, offering beds, food, man power.

To Alfred it felt as though everything was happening in slow motion. Like it was a movie, a drill, a nightmare.

The rest of the world was pretty much holding its breath. No one knew who had done this yet. There was some evidence that the Russian early warning systems had been tampered with but the missiles should have shown up on other countries systems too. It had caused chaos. Accusations (mostly at China and North Korea) were thrown around left, right and centre. No one had come forward yet, no one felt safe.

He looked down at Russia pale and small (when did he get so thin?) on the hospital bed. Bandages wound their way around much of his body concealing angry red radiation burns, blisters and scabs and other horrors. What little skin that was exposed was stretched taut over Russia's bones, fragile and parchment-thin. His ashen hair was still black with soot, falling in damp curls across his sweaty forehead. His eyes were squeezed shut, his lips ghosted over names of the dead relentlessly though his voice had long since given out.

It was strange.

A few years ago he would have given anything to see Russia like this, to have defeated Communism. (But would he really have?) Part of him would have.

He didn't like to think of that part anymore.

Ukraine had been by Russia's side since they brought him in, Belarus had been in and out as she helped co-ordinate the scattered Russian government. She was slumped asleep in a chair now, fingers interlocked with her brother's.

Alfred brushed a thumb across Russia's cheekbone.

The other country didn't so much as flinch.

"How could this have happened?" he whispered. This wasn't supposed to happen. This can't have happened.

But it had.

He jumped when Ukraine touched his arm. "S-sorry," he said, glancing back at her.

She smiled kindly; her eyes were still red from crying. "It's alright, Amerika. He'll be okay, he's strong."

Again, Alfred nodded mutely but only because he didn't trust himself to talk without sobbing (or screaming). Ukraine shouldn't be comforting him. He should be comforting her. He swallowed and took a few deep breaths, "I know, it's just- I don't...This shouldn't have happened." he muttered darkly.

She nodded, biting her lip. "You're right. It shouldn't have."

Alfred turned to her, "You should get some rest."

"Oh no, I'm fine, really-"

He cut her off with a kind smile, "Katyusha, you've been up for over forty-eight hours. You must be exhausted. I can watch him if you want."

For a few moments she glanced between him and her little brother and Alfred could see the war between worry and exhaustion waging in her eyes. In the end she relented. "Okay," she said with a small sigh, "Okay. You'll come fetch me if anything happens, yes?"

"Of course."

She bent to kiss her brother's cheek, whispered something in his ear before straightening and waking her sister gently. It was strange to see them all so close, so affectionate. Belarus awoke with a small mumble, blinking up at her sister sleepily. Ukraine smiled and murmured a few hushed words in Ukrainian or Russian or Belarusian, whatever it was it sounded comforting, before lifting her sister and guiding her out of the room.

When the sisters were gone Alfred dropped himself in to the chair and stared down at Russia.

How the fuck had this happened?

"So uh, I guess you're still not doing any better?" he said awkwardly, glancing down at Russia's still form. God this was so stupid, Russia couldn't hear him. "I-I don't know what Ukraine's told you about what's happening now but a lot of people are here to help out..." he trailed off.

He kept expecting Russia to tell him to shut up. To open his eyes and growl or sigh and laugh at him for worrying so much.

He kept wishing Russia would.

He sighed and sat back, "You'd probably laugh about how worried we all are. Actually, you wouldn't would you? You'd probably be overwhelmed..."

He wanted to say he'd do things differently if he had the chance but that would be a lie. That was the thing with being a nation, you couldn't be like a normal person, you couldn't be friendly to everyone you want. You have to be mindful of international relations, of your people's feelings. After all, peace doesn't always really mean peace.

"You better get better soon, big guy," he said gruffly. "If we're going to have to fight a war I'd like you on our side. It'd be just like old times, hm?"

Russia didn't move.

Alfred sighed again, "Maybe I should fill you in on what's been going on since you've been out."

He took Russia's hand and began to talk.

He didn't remember falling asleep but he must have because the next thing he knew Toris was standing over him nervously.

"Wh-what?" he spluttered and Toris grimaced apologetically. Alfred yawned and sat up straighter, "Toris, what's going on?"

"Someone has taken responsibility for the attacks," the Lithuanian said quietly.

"What? When!?"

"A little while ago, England has called for a meeting. He sent me to find you."

Alfred rubbed at his eyes, glancing at Russia, "I can't leave him though..." he mumbled groggily.

Toris smiled, "It's okay. I'll watch him. They're upstairs, you better hurry."

Alfred jumped up, pausing to thank Toris hurriedly before rushing out of the room and upstairs to the room they'd designated as their unofficial conference room. A few other Nations were already in there, Alfred assumed most of them were back home or out in Russia co-ordinating troops. He spotted Ukraine and Belarus looking far more awake then Alfred felt and smiled reassuringly at them before taking a seat beside Francis who was sat snapping down the phone in heated French.

"Mon dieu," he muttered hanging up. "Some people are idiots."

"What's wrong?"

"Oh you know, people are worried about how much aid we can give to Russia without upsetting other people. This would be a lot easier if they could all just get along for a few days."

Alfred smiled tiredly, "That'll never happen."

"Oui, you are probably right there Amerique and how is our dear Russie?"

Alfred ran a hand through his hair, "He's the same." He said quietly.

Francis rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, "He will be okay soon, Alfred. You know that." He nodded silently but Russia wouldn't be okay. Not for a long time.

An eerie hush descended on the room when Arthur marched in, flanked by two uniformed men. Alfred sat forward eagerly; the sooner they worked out who did this the sooner he could tear them to pieces.

"Right, so all of you know that a little over half an hour ago someone took responsibility for the attacks on the Russian cities, the other Nations and our governments are all being debriefed at the same time as we are," Arthur said coolly. "It may surprise some of you to learn that this was an attack by a group rather than a country."

At that a wave a murmers and whispers ran through the room and Arthur held up a hand to silence them. "It is a group made up of many nationalities."

Alfred looked up at that, a sick feeling curling in his gut. "What nationalities?"

Arthur glanced at him, "Now I don't want to alarm anyone-"

"What nationalities, Arthur?" Alfred repeated.

Arthur sighed, "Russian, British, Eastern European, Nordic, American..."

Alfred felt numb. He wasn't stupid; he knew there were people in his country that wanted to do these kinds of things. His government might hide the worst of it from him but he could always feel it in the darker parts of his mind. He'd just never thought...

"Where did they get the missiles?" Francis was asking over the sound of Alfred's thundering heart.

"We're not entirely sure yet. We believe they either assembled them themselves or have members of high military rank."

His people. His people had done this.

"But someone would have reported missing missiles, non?"

"Exactly," Arthur said grimly.

"You knew about this group before the attack?" Someone asked from somewhere behind Alfred.

"Yes, MI5 was monitoring a cell that popped up in London a few months ago; we thought they were a low level threat. The CIA has files on them as well as Interpol and multiple other intelligence services but this is their first major attack. They've claimed responsibility to a few minor attacks throughout the world as well though."

The CIA. He should have known, should have been told (maybe he was) how could his people do this?

"What do they want?" Ukraine asked, voice slightly trembling.

He should have known.

Again Arthur sighed, "Well their basic believe is that humanity has been corrupted by materialism and the only way we can move forwards is to rid ourselves of society and start again. You know, the whole destroy the cities only the best of us survive and build a new society in the wilderness."

He should have done something to stop this.

"But why attack Russia, aru?"

Yeah, why Russia. Surely America was a much more appealing target.

"I agree," Francis added. "And why use nuclear weapons?"

It should have been him.

They should have attacked him.

"At this point that's all we know, I mean aside from taking credit and telling us they'll be in touch we have no idea."

"Do we know the names of any of the members?" Alfred asked quietly.

Arthur swallowed as his green gaze slid on to Alfred. "We have a few low level members being brought in by MI6 in London but no higher ups..."

Alfred stood. "I want to meet them."

"I don't think that's a good idea lad-"

"I want to meet them." he repeated firmly.

For a few minutes Arthur stared at him then, after taking a deep breath he spoke. "Okay. Okay, Alfred. We're flying them here; you'll have to be quick though. The Russians will want to have their own words with them."

"Understood."

I'll get them to talk.

I'll make them pay.