Charlotte sat in the hall with the class who had been to SAS with her. Alex had been gone for a week and now Blunt and Jones were giving them another assembly. Something wasn't right she could feel it.

"Sorry class," Blunt said in his boring voice, "You will be returning to the beacon beckons in 2 days, you only came away due to Wolf's death. In the mornings you will have basic lessons and the afternoon survival."

"Where is Alex?" Fred asked

"I'm sorry to tell you, he was killed in action by Yassen Gregoravitch." Charlotte looked down, frowning, Yassen was dead. He got shot on Air force one.

"No he wasn't." Charlotte stood up, Jones walked down the aisle. Held Charlotte's shoulder and herded her out.

"He isn't...wasn't...not possible." Then the door slammed behind them, "He isn't dead is he."

"Charlotte..."

"Is he?"

"No he is not." Jones sighed, "How do you know he isn't dead?"

"Yassen Gregoravitch died in Air force one ages ago." Charlotte stated crossing her arms

"How do you..." Jones started

"Alex has nightmares and flashbacks about it, that and killing Nile."

"Did he tell you all this?"

"He had to, he was a wreck and...and by the lake after he arrived and was hurt by Harrison. I found him and helped him, and he told me everything." A tear burst from Charlotte's eye and fell down her cheek, "Where is he?"

"At camp, we had to tell your class something to make them take it seriously. You, Fred, George and Ruby will be the only ones to see him. You pretty much all the time, them only sometimes." Jones put an arm around Charlotte as she steadied her breaths and sunk to the floor with her. The door's opened and a murmuring class came out, they whispered apologies to Charlotte. She just felt overwhelming feeling of happiness; she was going to see him again. He wasn't dead.

Alex started to laugh at the obvious cheat. "Eagle, please if you cheat like that again I will hang you by you from the bed by your..." The door swung open, they all leapt up and stood in a line. A woman walked in, Mrs Jones.

"Alex, sorry Cub. Your class will be re-arriving this Friday, they think you are dead..."

"Impressive Cub, you died when did you think about telling us?" Eagle then shut up as Jones began again,

"...and they will not see you until we decide to tell them you are not dead."

"Jones, can I see Charlotte?"

"Awww, Cupid."

"Shush Eagle, and Yes. Her, Fred, George and Ruby are the only ones who will know the truth." Jones turned round and left."

"Hey Charlotte." Sherrie came over, lavender and molly both crying. Charlotte ignored them; she sat up in one of the trees. Tom had climbed up and then taught her how; he and James were sitting opposite on one of the large branches.

"Charlotte, don't worry. We are crying too." Charlotte rolled her eyes at the boys, who also knew about Alex. Tom had also worked it out, then told James and checked it with Charlie. She slid down the trunk and landed neatly by Sherrie.

"How are you not crying?" She inquired, Charlie shrugged, "Well come with us like you used to before Alex. We can paint your nails." Charlotte shook her head and went toward the tree. Scampering up it she heard Sherrie calling again, linking her legs around a branch she tipped upside down. She held her skirt up as she hung upside down.

"Charlotte! You will fall, come with us, pleeeaaaaase." Charlotte shook her head again, her hair flicked her ear. Tom sniggered grabbed Charlie's feet and pulled. She shot up and sat on the branch.

"James was just saying..." Tom started, James hit him.

"I already know thanks, but I don't care." She laughed and climbed down as a whistle blew.

(Friday)

They sat on the bus, Charlotte sat by herself looking at the seat where Alex sat last time they mounted this bus. This time Mamma Mia was on not Skyfall. The scenery flashed past, green into grey, a tree brushed the top of the bus making everyone jump. Charlotte sighed and watched a bird flutter into a tree and begin to sing. She watched a group of brown buildings appear, men in camo trekked around between them. Watching carefully she saw a smaller, blonde boy walking toward the mess tent with 3 older men. She smiled; Alex jumped on Eagles back, Snake then picked Alex off him and placed him on the ground. All of them were laughing. The bus stopped and everyone got out, grumbling that they were back. Charlotte got down and looked for Jones, sure enough she appeared and ordered quiet,

"Thank you, you are required at the theatre now. No Fred, George, Ruby and Charlotte wait here." The class walked off, slugging through mud and the drizzle that had started. Charlotte fought a grin, they were back, they were back.

"Now, you will see you class in the morning and at night. In the afternoons you will be getting different training. Charlotte you will be staying with the K-Unit, we asked Eagle was a little bit too excited about teaching you poker for my liking. You will have a curtain but are you okay with that?"

"Yes, I'm fine with it. I'm guessing that is where Alex is staying?"

"No Charlotte because Alex is dead." George sighed

"Yes it is, Charlotte. Oh here they are, late as normal." Charlie turned to see Alex flung over Eagle's shoulder and Snake and Fox grinning.

"Sorry Miss, Cupid was being a pain." Eagle grinned

"Shut up Egg Head." Came a muffled voice from Eagle's shoulder.

"Sorry Cubbykins."

"Cub? Isn't that Alex?" Fred asked

"Yep, he is very dead right now so be careful." Fox answered

"You lied," Ruby turned to Jones

"Yes, we had to get your class to take it seriously. So we told them he was dead..."

"...which Egg head will be soon." Alex muttered

"...and kept you, as our exceptional students here."

"What will they do?" Ruby raised one eyebrow

"Same as you in the morning, and afternoon basic training. Afternoon you will get advanced of what they get. You must not tell them Rider is alive, he will be kept with K-Unit away from your class. Charlotte, as a semi-agent, will stay with this bunch as well."

"Egg Head put me down, or I will kill you."

"No Cupid...Owwww!" He dropped Alex who landed on his foot. Alex turned round grinning, Eagle tried to sneak up behind him but Alex just tripped him up. Snake pulled Eagle up and sighed.

"Well, see you Miss. We will take this lot. B-Unit has got the maggots." Charlotte looked at Alex, he looked awake, and his hair was in its normal style. A smudge of mud covered his cheek; his hands were in his pockets. His SAS coat was tied around his waist, covering the holster on his belt. His boots were untied and his bare arms were dotted with dried mud.

"Cupid, stop staring." Fox hit Alex round the back of the head; Alex didn't look at fox but just hit him over the head back. "Guy's you go back to your class, Charlotte stay here." Charlotte watched her classmates leave, and then turned into Alex's arms. She buried her head in his t-shirt and nearly began to cry. Pulling away he said,

"So how did the class take me being dead?"

"Tom and James figured you weren't, Sherrie, molly and 'lavlav' cried all day. The boys were mixing between depression and joy."

"Joy?"

"Yes, they will, to quote, 'have the girls at last'."

"I do not..."

"Awww, look at him. Centre stage for the girls, anyone would think he could be a model. But no he plays about with guns and cards." Eagle went to pick Alex up, but Alex was too quick. He darted out the way and Eagle accidently got Charlie. He looked at her, did a double take then threw her over his shoulder.

"Charlie, first we need to get you kitted out. We brought XXS in for you, like Alex. You will put the basic's on, not difficult then Cubbikins can help with the rest. We need to get poker set up for you." Fox smirked and wandered off.

"This way," Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the depot. Then at the entrance somebody grabbed Alex, he spun round face set. A sneering face greeted them as they turned.

"Hello, Diego." The sudden chill in Alex's voice made Charlotte shiver. Now she knew how he could scare grown men.

Diego ignored Alex, "Who are you, beautiful?"

"Charlie, now get out our way." She tried to seem cold, like Alex, but she seemed slightly scared instead.

"Now, now. I'm not scary; I just want to become better acquainted."

"No." She stated plainly. She squeezed Alex's hand, willing him to understand, she couldn't do this alone.

"Well I'm sorry to say Diego, but my friend here has nothing to do with me." When Diego looked to their previously linked hands he saw nothing. "She is a regular school idiot, I hate her."

"We'll see you round Cub and you Charlie." Diego walked off, Charlie looked at Alex and smiled. His ability to lie and keep quiet about things was very useful.

Charlotte had just about got the jacket on when Fox appeared to find out where they had been. Charlotte had a slightly more fitted top and her boots had purple laces, but Alex had assured her they would be fine. She reached out for Cub's hand, his strong, warm, steady hand finally made her smile. She let go, found the mirror using her fingers and her previous hair band she tied her hair back in a high ponytail. Alex appeared at her shoulder and smiled at her reflection, she smiled back at his.

Back at the barracks they sat on the beds,

"So," Eagle said, "Poker.

"If you cheat Egg Head, I will kill you again."