Ben Daniels left the house, well, mansion really, very disturbed. He'd just seen Cub looking frail, bruised and frightened in the middle of the house of the man he was inversitaging. Ben was working for interpol. He'd transferred after a brief stint at MI6, and decided he was much better suited to it. He was investigating a man named Lindsay, he was the General Chief Commissioner of the Belgian Police force. He was suspected of covering up the kidnapping of a young boy by the name of Rico Rohas. He was also heavily implicated in the murders of Damian Rohas, his wife Marie and their two other children, Tomas and Ellie.
He'd tracked Lindsay to the states, and found him staying at the home of a russian diplomat. He'd forged an impeccable resume and applied for the job of head of security, for some reason Anatol was doing a complete revamp of his staff. He'd smashed the interview and both Lindsay and Anatol (or Anatolievich as Ben had found out) had seemed to like him. He'd just begun congratulating himself on getting the position so easily when Anatolievich had drawn his attention to a figure at the top of the stairs. Anatolievich had addressed the figure as Alexander but Ben knew him as Cub.
Alex looked the same as when Ben had first met him, apart from the army fatigues. He was still small, blonde and tired looking. The main difference between this meeting and their others was the fact that Alex looked thoroughly beaten up. His hair was long, sitting about two inches above his shoulders. He was walking with the aid of a crutch with his other arm encased in a sling. He had bruises under his eyes, obviously he needed sleep. Alex smiled when Anatolievich called his name and replied something, but Ben was too shocked to register his words. They waited at the foot of the staircase and watched Alex's slow descent to them. Once down, Anatolievich introduced Ben's cover to him. Benedict Wicks.
Ben took Alex's hand and shook it. He noticed how the boy was leaning on his obviously injured foot and released his hand quickly so it could resume it's grip on the crutch. Alex's serious brown eyes stared into his intently. Alex was acting as if he'd never met him, thank the lord. Ben had been ready for the boy to ask what the hell he was doing there and maybe start even asking how Wolf was, but to his relief Alex played the part of complete stranger perfectly.
He would do the same. He gave the hand a small squeeze before he released it, hoping it offered Alex some reassurance. Anatolievich's eyes narrowed a little. He was guided out of the entrance hall soon after and escorted to the gate by Anatolievich's chauffeur Joseph. He'd be back the following day to begin work despite the fact that Lindsay was away on business. His partner at Interpol, a woman named Eleanor would take it from there as Ben's position as head of security was more important than tailing the man on what seemed like a legitimate business trip.
Ben looked out the window of the car as they went through the gate. Another car was coming towards them, driven by a surly looking woman with red hair. In a flash or realisation Ben remembered a witness report he had read. A tall, heavy set woman, with string-like hair. That was the description that had been given of a figure sighted near the home where the massacre had taken place. It had only been an unconfirmed sighting, from a dotty old woman who lived round the corner and Ben had largely ignored it but now he had to wonder. Could it be a coincidence she was here with Lindsay who was the main suspect and now Cub was here too? He made a mental note to request information on Anatolievich and his brutish assistant.
He thought about Alex for the rest of the ride and wondered what he was doing there. Perhaps his family knew Anatolievich. He had been at the exclusive private school after all. But Ben had rather gotten the impression that he hadn't attended the school before agreeing to help out MI6. Then there had been all that business with Winston Yu. The boy was so confusing. Ever since he had turned up in the Brecon Beacons he'd popped up where Ben least expected him.
They reached the hotel where he was staying and Ben went straight to his room. He needed to think. He grabbed a bottle of still water from the mini fridge and pressed it against his forehead. Cub was in the house where his main suspect for a murder and kidnapping was living. That couldn't be a coincidence. He pulled his laptop towards him. The sooner he could crack his case, the sooner he could work out why Alex was there. Was he still with MI6? Or was he working for the CIA now? He sent off a quick request for a file on Anatolievich and pulled up his own research on Lindsay. There didn't seem to be a reason why whoever kidnapped Rico had just taken him and killed the rest of the family. What was so special about Rico? He opened up the attached image of the Rohas boy. He looked small, weak and spoilt. His hair was blonde and it came to just under his ears in this picture. His skin was a light brown colour and if Ben squinted, the boy looked a little like Alex. Ben snapped his laptop shut. Alex was playing on his mind, he couldn't unsee the boy's face. He'd looked so fragile. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else than in that house and when he'd been beside Anatolievich. Ben had seen his uncomfortable glances directed at the other boy.
The other boy, Georges as well as Alex had been someone Ben hadn't expected to see. The interview he'd undertaken with Lindsay's wife gave the impression that he didn't get on with his step-son. Yet here they both were, during term time, spending time together. Ben leaned back on the bed he was sitting on and closed his eyes. Rico, Alex, Georges. There were a strange amount of teenage boys wrapped up in all of this. He'd never had an assignment like this before. Except maybe the failed extraction at Point Blanc, but he didn't really count that one.
His phone rang and he pressed it to his ear without checking the caller ID.
"Daniels"
"Report on Anatolievich, Pytor now available."
That was quick. He threw his phone to the side and grabbed his laptop, pulling it towards him. The report was lengthy. Ben took a long draught of the water and splashed some at his face. Shaking himself, preparing for the next few hours which were destined to be long and tedious he began to read.
K-Unit and B Squadron were on their way to Miami. Wolf was trapped in the middle seat between Eagle and Bear and he had never regretted his career choice more. Eagle and Bear had fallen out ten minutes into their journey and though they had stopped hitting each other, there was an uncomfortable tension in the car. Hawk was driving because he was the most comfortable driving with the steering wheel on the wrong side. Snake was riding shotgun.
"How come you get to sit in the front eh Snake?" Wolf asked, wondering why he hadn't objected. It had somehow just seemed natural to let him take the front seat.
Snake turned in his chair. "I'm the unit's medic." he stated plainly. He turned back round.
Wolf pulled a face. "So?"
Snake twisted to face him once more. "It means that it's in your best interests to keep me happy." He faced the front again. He did have a point Wolf thought, it was just annoying that he was the leader and he was the one stuck between the two members of his team who acted like children. Wolf leaned back and closed his eyes.
"OW!"
He opened them again. Eagles arm was stretching past Wolf and was pinching Bear's upper arm. Before he could stop her, Bear had leaned across him and punched Eagle in the gut. Eagle's seat belt was off in an instant and he dived across Wolf, arms outstretched. Wolf pushed him back in the seat.
"STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!" Wolf shouted. "We have a long way to go and I'd appreciate it if you didn't act like fucking children. Honestly, Cub was more mature than both of you." He faltered. Over the past couple of years it had become natural to use Cub as a comparison. His appearance had spurred the soldiers on to become the best they could be, no one wanted to be outdone by a child.
It went a little quiet in the car.
"Yeah, well Cub hasn't met Bear has he?" Eagle protested, breaking the silence, "He hasn't had to deal with her bullshit!"
"I only said that The Empire Strikes back is superior to A New Hope!" Bear shouted at him.
"But that's so obviously wrong!" Eagle yelled, his arms going everywhere in frustration, "A New Hope is the original-"
"Shut the fuck up!" Snake bellowed, loudest of all. "Can we please do this mission like adults! What would B quadron think if they saw you fighting like infants? Grow the hell up both of you. And just sit quietly."
Eagle and Bear glared at each other, but remained quiet. Eagle pointedly refastened his seatbelt. Wolf had just closed his eyes when Snake opened his mouth again. "Besides everyone knows that Return of the Jedi is the best."
Fuck his life.
Sabina woke as they were pulling into El Paso. She'd dozed occasionally in the car and now she felt wide awake. It was 8pm looking at the clock on the dashboard. They'd pulled into another motel, but this looked rather nicer than the first. It was painted mostly white, with grey, blue and yellow colours on the windows and doors. It was nice she decided. The assassin got out of the car and when she moved to do the same he pointed to where she was sitting. "Stay."
"I'm not a dog." she grumbled quietly so he wouldn't hear.
He went into the hotel and she looked about. The motel was a little way down the road from where the main town seemed to be. Briefly she thought about running for it until she remembered that she was here by choice and by the looks of it, the only person who was trying to save Alex was the mysterious assassin. A hand wrapped on her window and she gave a little yelp. It was Gregorovitch.
She opened the door and got out.
"You are in room fourteen. I am in room sixteen. You can order room service but you will not talk to the staff. You will not indicate you are here for any reason other than a stop to a holiday in Florida. If they ask questions you will answer naturally. Your name is Kelsey. You are from Oregan and you are my niece. We are meeting your mother, my sister, in Florida. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Don't bring attention to yourself and don't leave the room. We will leave at 8am tomorrow. Be ready." The assassin dropped a key in her hand and walked away. Sabina glared after him. Who did he think he was? He was just a normal person just like her. He wasn't the boss of her, he wasn't allowed to tell her what to do. Why was it him dictating what she did?
She stalked off to her room, annoyed. After she'd calmed down and ordered the most expensive thing she could find, steak and chips, she rationalised that he was telling her what to do as he'd been in this kind of situation before. Being on the run, hiding from the police. She spread out on the bed and stared at the ceiling. If she'd been here alone, trying to save Alex, she wouldn't have had a clue where to start. She probably wouldn't have thought to get rid of her uniform, nevermind set up a plausible cover story in case she was interviewed.
There was a knock on her door. It was too soon to be her food. She sat up on the bed, her heart pounding. Her brain supplied images of the police at her door, they'd somehow tracked them to this small town. She sat, frozen at the end of her bed, she didn't know what to do. Gregorovitch would know. Alex would know.
"Kelsey."
Sabina let out a huge sigh. It was only Gregorovitch. She laughed out loud as she made her way to the door. Only Gregorovitch. How many people's last thoughts had that been? She opened to the door and he walked straight in, without asking. She shut the door and turned round. He had the map out again. It was spread out on her bed and he was sitting in a chair next to it. She walked over to it and examined it.
"Baton Rouge?" It came out as more of a question.
Gregorovitch looked at his map and nodded. He folded it and moved as if to leave, but paused.
"Miss Pleasure-" he stopped, seemingly thinking whether to continue. "Miss Pleasure, I wonder if you could tell me how Alex was shot."
Sabina blinked. He'd not offered conversation before, not when it wasn't to tell her to do something. She thought about refusing to tell him out of pettiness but he had come to save Alex after all.
"I don't know the full story, Alex wouldn't tell me."
"Tell me what you know" and then- "please."
She looked up at him and in that moment he didn't look like an internationally renowned assassin. He looked like a man asking to hear who had hurt someone they loved. She nodded and sat down on the bed. He remained standing.
"So, it was after Alex went to Scorpia." she began but Gregorovitch interrupted
"He did go then, he did go to Venice?"
She nodded. "He had a school trip there I think. I'm not sure what happened but he ended up working for MI6 for some scheme. I think there was something to do with the river Nile but I don't have a clue what. Italy is nowhere near Africa."
Gregorovitch frowned. "Actually, Miss Pleasure, in one location they are less than one hundred miles apart." She stared at him. "but what has Alex told you?" he asked softly.
"Well, he hasn't really told me much but Alex's room is next to mine." she explained. When he didn't seem to cotton on she explained further, "He has nightmares a lot and sometimes he talks, well," he paused, "he shouts really. He used to just lie there whimpering and repeating the word Nile. He also spoke about someone called Rothman, but I don't know who they are. Also I'm pretty sure he was in a COBRA meeting. Anyway, I asked him what the Nile had to do with anything and all he would say was that it was to do with Scorpia."
Gregorovitch seemed to think about this for a while and she continued. "Anyway, he came back to the UK and he got shot." She pointed to her heart. "Right here. A sniper on Liverpool street."
That drew his interest. "A sniper?" he asked abruptly.
"Yes."
"And on Liverpool street?"
Sabina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was just repeating exactly what she said. "Yes, next to the bank."
"Amatuers."
"So then Alex was in hospital, I don't know if they found the guy that shot him, but then next thing we know is that a few months later Alex is in Australia. I think he met his godfather there. I don't know what happened to him after that really, he doesn't like to tell me. But we went to Scotland for new years and ended up in a lake and-"
She stopped. It was obvious Gregorovitch wasn't listening. His gaze was unfocused, directed at the window frame "What?" she asked, "did I say something?"
This seemed to break the assassin out of his trance and his head snapped toward her. "You said Alex met his godfather?" his quiet tone was gone, replaced by a calculated and no nonsense one.
"I think so." Sabina replied, blinking. She hadn't expected that to be what the assassin was hung up about, she thought he'd care more about the lake they'd been thrown into. "Why?"
"Did he say what happened to his godfather? Where is he now?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Alex didn't say. He hasn't been round to visit Alex, even after losing Jack so I assume he doesn't want anything to do with him. Alex did seem quite upset."
"I bet he did." Gregorovitch murmured. He nodded at her and moved to the door. "Thank you Miss Pleasure, you've given me much to think about."
"No problem."
He left and Sabina lay back on her bed. She always felt a little uneasy whenever the assassin was nearby. He didn't seem like a normal human being, it was almost mechanical the way in which he talked and walked. The only time he seemed to show some kind of humanity was when it was with concern for Alex. She didn't even know how the two knew each other and why should Gregorovitch react like that to the mention of Alex's godfather? Was there something she didn't know? She slipped under the covers and stared at the ceiling. The main light was still on but she didn't turn them off. She wasn't tired, just confused. Sabina buried herself under the duvets and blankets, sinking into the pillows and relaxed in the warm, comfy bed, if this is what being on the run was like she'd have to try it more often. She barely noticed that time had passed until there was a knock on her door. She groaned. Room service.
Anatolievich had sent Lindsay's boy Georges away on a quest to explore the house whilst he accompanied Alexander back into his bedroom. He dismissed the nurses who were standing ready by the door and helped the boy climb into bed. Alexander had to put his good arm around his neck whilst he was maneuvered in place and the brush of his fingers on Anatolievich's skin was like heaven itself. He handed the boy the pill bottle by the bedside table and handed him a glass of water from the decanter. Anatolievich watched as he swallowed down two and returned the glass to the side table.
"Now I want you to rest Alexander." he said once the boy was under his blankets. The boy yawned.
"I'm not tired though, Sir."
Anatolievich smiled. "You've had a trying few days Alexander, I'm sure your body would appreciate some kindness for once. Get some rest and I'll see you for breakfast tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock sharp."
Alexander nodded, but he looked a little put out.
"What is it Alexander?" he asked, brushing the fringe away from the boy's eyes and tucking a curl behind the boy's ear.
The boy looked embarrassed. "Would you stay? Please?" he asked softly. It was the most beautiful sound Anatolievich had ever heard. "Please will you stay until I'm asleep. I don't want to be alone."
Anatolievich forced down the rush of desire and nodded. "Of course, if that is what you wish, I shall stay." Alexander grinned, a troublemaker grin. Anatolievich could see why he'd been classed as a bit of a rebel. The boy shifted over to one side of the bed and looked inquiringly up at him. Anatolievich felt his face go hot. He walked around the bed posts and grabbed a random volume from the bookshelf and sat down atop the blankets, stretching his legs out in front of him leaving at least a foot of space between them.
Alexander turned to face him.
"I shall read you a bedtime story Alexander." He looked at the title of the book he'd chosen. "Great Expectations, have you read it?"
The boy shook his head and Anatolievich began to read. Ten minutes later and half a chapter into the story Anatolievich became aware that the gap between them had significantly decreased without his knowledge. Alex was staring at a point on the wall but as Anatolievich faltered he looked up. Anatolievich looked down at the small gap between them and Alexander flushed.
"Sorry." he murmured and made to move back but Anatolievich put out an arm to stop him.
"It's quite alright, Alexander. It's natural to want comfort after what you've just been through. I don't mind." In fact whatever the opposite of minding was, that was what Anatolievich was feeling. At this, the boy smiled and shifted even closer so his head was on Anatolievich' shoulder. He grinned up at him and Anatolievich offered a smile back. He continued to read. Some time later, soft snores began to sound from the boy and Anatolievich looked down. He was sound asleep. Anatolievich brushed some of his hair from his face and closed the book. He spent some time just looking at the boy's handsome face until there was a knock at the door.
Not wanting to disturb Alex by shouting he gently lifted the boy's head and replaced his shoulder with a pillow. He didn't even stir. Anatolievich made his way to the door and opened it. It was Georges. The boy irritated him and he made little effort to hide that fact. Anatolievich regretted inviting the boy down here, he'd thought the friends of Alexander Friend may have been a little more refined and certainly the son of Lindsay should have been a little less rough around the edges. Perhaps it was Georges mother's fault. She was, afterall, Belgian. Rico was too unpolished too, he hadn't been able to entertain the idea that he was Alexander for more than ten minutes. No one was like his Alexander. He looked down at the short boy in front of him and grimaced. He seemed to pop up just when he thought that he was alone with Alexander. He did however offer a stark contrast to the other boy. He was all a boy shouldn't be. Loud, arrogant, tactless. He was, in short, the charade which Alexander had presented to him the first day they'd met. He was glad they'd removed it.
"He's asleep." Anatolievich informed him bluntly.
Georges seemed out of breath and annoyed that it wasn't Alex at the door.
"Well, can I go in?" he asked, rudely. Anatolievich's lip curled. The boy's eyes locked on his and evidently he saw the look on Anatolievich's face. He swallowed and added, "Sir?"
"You can, but stay in the sitting area by the window, don't wake him up." The last thing Alexander needed was the bull in a china shop which was Georges thundering about whilst he was resting.
Georges nodded eagerly, ducked under Anatolievich's arm and went inside. Anatolievich closed the door behind him and descended his stairs. He hadn't updated his business journal since the boy arrived. It was perhaps time to do so.
Georges went straight over to the bed, his heart was pounding and he had barely managed to keep his composure in front of Anatolievich. It was lucky that the man had seemed distracted. All that was visible of Alex was a shock of blonde hair and Georges dived at it; he didn't have time for Alex to pretend to be asleep. He shook Alex roughly.
"Oi!"
Alex rolled over, groggy, "What?"
Oh, he really had been asleep.
"I need to-" A second later he remembered about the bugs. Anatolievich could be listening. He changed tack. "I need to ask you whether you think I have a shot with your sister. She liked one of my posts on instagram and I think I'm in there." He hoped Alex had realised that this wasn't a real request. Of course he had, he was some kind of spy. Georges was still wrapping his head around that one.
Alex looked curiously at him, all traces of sleep gone. "Fi hates everyone, including me. So no, I don't think you have a shot." He pushed himself up using his good hand but Georges saw him wince as he put pressure on his arm. He held out his arm to help but Alex waved him off.
"Spoil sport. C'mon I think I'm really in there. Will you help me draft a message to her? What should I put?"
He looked meaningfully at Alex. Georges didn't really know who Alex was. He didn't even know if his name actually was Alex. All he knew was that he'd found something monumental.
"Okay, sure. How about you write what you think is a good opener and I'll shit on it as much as Fi would?" Alex suggested
"Deal."
Georges opened his phone notes and began to type.
Creepy russian told me to explore the house - I followed his assistant about for the lols. She took food up to an attic room on the other side of the house. I hid. They've got a kid in there. He's mexican and says his name is Rico. He was kidnapped a few weeks ago. What do we do?
He passed the phone to Alex. His brown eyes widened as he read the message. Holy fuck, he mouthed, looking up at him. "No George, I don't think you should put 'twenty four plus forty five equals me and you."
Georges glared at him. But he had to play his part. "Why not!?"
"My sister isn't a total slag, she has some standards. Here let me have a go." He deleted the message. "Man this is weird, sliding into my own sister's DM's."
New security is with MI6. I'll speak with him tomorrow. He'll know what to do. Is he hurt?
"God Al, that's worse than mine, I'm not writing that, give it here. " Georges took the phone back.
He seems fine, just scared. He's thirteen. He wants to know where his family is.
"How about that?" Georges asked. Alex read it and shrugged. Georges cursed in his head. "I thought you would offer a little more insight y'know." he said out loud.
Alex nodded. "I'm sorry Georges"
Georges felt angry but then looked at the boy in front of him. Alex was pale, shaky and he was covered in injuries, all of which if Georges knew that if he himself had sustained would leave him hiding under the covers crying for his mother. Here Alex was though, pandering to a sick man's fantasies and still somehow keeping calm and knowing what to do.
"Not your fault Al," Georges murmured, sinking onto the end of the bed, "Fi''s a stone cold bitch."
Alex leant back against his pillows. "You do know that's my sister you're talking about don't you?"
"Unfortunately I do. But putting up with you is worth it for some sweet Fee-fi-fo-bum."
Downstairs Anatolievich was scribbling in his journal. He documented the new hire, Benedict Wicks and his business with Monte Lindsay and the Rohas family. He knew it was dangerous keeping his life in the pages of a book but there was a part of him which wanted someone to see it. To learn of all the things he'd done. To show the world who he really was. There was a knock on the door; Amaliya.
"Come."
Amaliya strode through the door and Anatolievich winced. She wasn't a light footed woman, her steps made his crystal decanters shake.
"Anything to report?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Lindsay's boy and Mr Friend are chatting, he woke Alexander up within seconds of entering the room." Anatolievich rolled his eyes, typical.
"Anything unusual?"
"No, just some silly thing about Friend's sister." Amaliya sounded disgruntled. Anatolievich knew that listening in on children's conversations was way below Amaliya's capabilities, but with the new staffing, he didn't have many capable hands left.
"How about our guest upstairs?"
"The Rohas boy isn't causing any trouble. He asks to see his family."
Anatolievich nodded. "Good, play along, pretend they're still alive for the time being, he'll be more compliant that way."
"Very good, Sir. There was one more thing."
He nodded.
"A request for information on you was flagged by one of our team. It looks like it's in connection with Lindsay. I think european intelligence knows of his involvement with the Rohas job."
Anatolievich sat back in his chair. "They won't find anything they can prove, it's okay. If Lindsay goes down, we'll silence him before he takes us with him."
She nodded.
"Anything else?"
She walked to the door and his drinks cabinet rattled once again. "Dinner will be served at 1800 hours, you're having braised lamb."
I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT!
I tried to do a little bit of most people in there. Finally we get some Ben POV and we see the soldiers a bit. Hopefully we'll do more B Squadron soon.
Anatolievich is so hard to write and I hate seeing the stuff that Alex is doing without also knowing he's going 'ew ew ew help' in his head.
I have a vague plan of what is going to happen but the ending is still in the air, I don't know where I'm going to go with it. Never thought this was going to be as long as it is.
Hopefully I'll update sooner? I always say this sorry.
I HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING WELL! Well, as well as you can be doing but just know that I love you all, thank you so much for the support. I'll try and get stuff happening in the next couple of chapters. Shit should be going down soon if I get back on schedule but you never know what life is going to throw at you. In my case it just throws procrastination and not enough chocolate.
I'm sorry it's not very long (No, I won't make a joke about that, I'm MATURE, thank you) I'll try make the next update longer, hopefully we can get everyone up to the same speed (and moment in time, but just ignore the timing errors) and things will be great!
Hopefully
...
Love you all bye
