A frustrated Alex was a difficult situation for Commander Hill. He was made aware that nearing the two month mark, the doctor allowed light stretching and—as Alex still experienced discomfort from the concussion—he was only allowed minimal work.
For a kid trained under Scorpia's "idle hands" philosophy for the last four years, Alex was losing patience with his limitations.
One particular day in question made Hill doubt he'd live long enough to regret it.
Yassen had been in earlier to check in on Alex's condition noting his aggravated state and ignoring Alex's mouthing off. Yassen further denied his request for his laptop.
"So I just vegetate and what, watch paint dry?"
Hill couldn't see Yassen but pitied the man for taking on the willful teenager.
"You will rest. Perhaps when your doctor allows, you can sit in on classes. I'm sure Crux would enjoy another student in her classes."
Alex stewed in his frustration but didn't further press the issue.
Today, Alex was desperate for fresh air and Hill obliged the offer with the doctor's conditioned approval, likely out of sheer empathy for a kid who clearly had too much energy to burn and nothing to do.
However, Alex had other ideas for an outside excursion.
He was smart enough to wait until Hill left and prep his security detail because when Hill returned, the window was wide open and Alex was gone.
Hill swore to himself as he stuck his head out the open window to watch Alex moving steadily across a windowsill further down the building.
Returning to the hall, he coordinated break-in through the adjoining quarters (Jack's quarters), breaking in the door to access the flat and opening the window.
Hill reached out as Alex crossed in front of the window and grabbed him, pulling the recalcitrant teenager headfirst through the opening.
This threw off Alex's balance off and he tumbled in through the window. Hill deftly caught him, softening any serious impact considerably but Alex's foot had caught on the window frame causing the joint to audibly pop! before being pulled inside as well.
"What the hell!" Alex said, pulling himself off of Hill, though quickly realized his mistake in putting full weight on his right foot. Caught from tumbling forward by the other soldier, Alex steadied himself.
"Well, shit." Alex at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed as he saw Hill still sprawled on the floor by the open window.
Though his expression froze when his eye noticed the figure standing in the hallway through the broken down door.
Yassen...holding Alex's laptop. Damn .
"Commander," Yassen said in a voice void of emotion. "Report."
Hill got to his feet swiftly. "Mr. Rider requested a short trip outside and took matters into his own hands while we prepared the necessary security."
Yassen's eyes flitted to the other two members of Danube standing in the room looking flustered before setting his sights on Alex. "So it seems."
Yassen stepped in the room and handed Hill Alex's laptop.
"Return this to my quarters and you all are dismissed."
Nodding, they left with the laptop in hand, leaving Alex standing—albeit more gingerly on his right foot, exhausted by the day's event.
"I understand you may miss Ms. Starbright but this is unacceptable behavior."
"Yes, sir."
"You will return to your quarters at once."
Alex tried again to put pressure on his right ankle but it wasn't being a very cooperative weight-bearing limb. Hopping around on his left foot, using the bed frame to balance, Alex made progress before he stumbled to his knees.
Yassen gave him a look of impatience with a raised eyebrow as if to say ' get on with it; crawl if you must' .
Humiliated, but left with little alternative, Alex crawled towards the door. He made it half way there before Yassen seemed to accept that Alex had learned his lesson, and offered a hand up. Alex took it gratefully.
However, realization dawned on Alex that getting him back to his room would be no easy feat. He could hobble his way there with Yassen's help but—
All further thought was cut off by Yassen lifting Alex to be carried like a sack of flour. If Alex felt humiliated before, it paled in comparison to the waves of humiliation channeled on his face now. He was suddenly grateful for Danube's dismissal.
The trip was blessedly short and soon Alex was deposited back on his bed.
"Am I correct in assuming there will not be a repeat performance?"
A few thoughts came to the forefront of his rebellious teenage mind including a comment about not making promises he couldn't keep and an old adage about assuming things (how it'd make an "ass" of "u" and "me"), but Alex settled on a tried and true, "Yes, sir."
A glint in his eye gave away the fact that Yassen was quite amused by the situation.
"What did you hope to gain in Jack's suite?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. Playing cards, I guess. She usually kept a pack in her purse when I was growing up to keep me busy if things got boring."
Yassen nodded slowly, emotion flat and guarded, clearly trying to work through the teenage logic of escaping through one window to break in another one and all for a set of playing cards.
A knock sounded at the door and one of Yassen's bodyguards handed him his personal laptop before shutting the door without further word.
Yassen settled in the chair at the base of Alex's bed as Alex watched uncertainly.
Typing away, he didn't even glance up as he explained, "Three of my best agents couldn't handle an unruly teenager. I trust you will behave now?"
Thoroughly chastised, Alex nodded mutely from his spot lying on the bed, and redirected his attention to the ceiling tiles.
A little over an hour later, another knock sounded at the door and Yassen swiftly collected the item the guard brought before returning to his chair.
When Alex's curiosity got the better of him and he glanced at Yassen, a small projectile was thrown at his head and relying purely on reflexes, he caught the parcel: playing cards .
A warm and fuzzy feeling flooded Alex's senses. "Thanks."