I am sorry for taking so long to update. Mostly it was because of writer's block and attempting a new format for this chapter (and it should be the only one like it), but there was also illness, my little brother starting school (and me getting to do the majority of helping him), and my computer monitor starting to fritz out to blame.
I am going to attempt NaNoWriMo (and most likely fail horribly), but I do have a future chapter written out already and a few more ideas. The thing is, I need more ideas or this story won't be going much further. If you'd like to share something that you'd like to see, just leave it in a review or message me. Thanks for putting up with my absent-mindedness.
Also, I was asked for a little more clarification on the gender issue. I'll post my response here in case anyone else has any questions.
Alex was for all intents and purposes male (or at least posing as such) for the majority of her life. She gave up on the tomboyish-ness that her classmates saw a couple months after Snakehead, which was also about the time MI6 stopped giving her missions as per their agreement. So, yes, her schoolmates know (just another tally in the 'Alex is weird' column). Obviously, Jack and Tom also know. Blunt and Jones have known the entire time Alex is female, but looking like a male left them with the option of following the books (I still haven't fully decided how that worked with Point Blank). Alex probably told Smithers right before her 'retirement' - and you can imagine his happiness at being able to create teenage girl gadgets. Ben is the only other MI6/SAS affiliated person who knows; the only reason he does is because of when Alex was forced to fight in that ring in Snakebite (sports bra).
04
Alex winced at the silence, the absurd thought of pins dropping flashing through her mind.
"…I'm sorry. What did you just say?" was the calm repetition on the other end of the line.
Alex swallowed, thinking yet again of what a bad idea this was and half-cursing Jack for making her do this so soon. "I said that I have a boyfriend."
"That part I understood. What I'm trying to figure out is if I hallucinated who you said it was."
"Well, if you thought I said Eagle, then you heard me correctly," was the hesitant response.
There was another stretch of silence in which Alex contemplated dropping the phone and getting the hell out of the country. Before she could reach a decision though, the explosion came.
"Are you bloody well insane?! Don't answer that! I know the answer! What the hell went through your mind?! How could you possibly think dating Neal is a good idea?! Do you realize how much older than you he is?!"
Missing the indignant noise Alex made, her conversation mate continued ranting, more to himself than to her at this point. Let us take a moment to commend Alex for her patience in listening to this for more than a minute before blowing up herself.
"BEN!! Shut up!" She smirked slightly at the sudden stunned silence. "Yes I know how old he is. He's a year younger than you; he told me himself. No, I don't know if it's a good idea, but I know that he isn't likely to be scared off either. Even if it has been a year, I still have enemies and you know that. Hell, for all we know, in a month, this will be over and considered a happy little experiment on my part… And I hate that word."
"…Which one? Little?"
"Oh shut up. I am not that short."
"Short enough."
"Off topic. Weren't you attempting to yell at me?"
There was a pause. "There probably isn't much point. You wouldn't listen anyway."
"Thank you. And you know that I'm going to be careful. You're the one who is always commenting on my paranoia as it is. You know I can handle myself."
"With the bruises to prove it," Ben interjected with a mutter.
Alex continued as if he hadn't spoken. "And how many times have you told me that the others are people I can trust? Don't you think this qualifies?"
Ben sighed. "You're like my baby sister. I'm allowed to worry."
"And threaten. Just don't chase him off or I'll kick your ass." Alex smiled at the laughter she received. "…You really aren't angry?"
"Oh no. I'm pissed, but at him. He may have said that his new interest was sixteen, I just didn't know it was you."
"New interest?"
"I hesitate to call you his girlfriend. And no, those are not his words. In fact, he wouldn't shut the hell up, not that that is anything new but… Anyway, as long as you're happy. And I expect you to keep me informed on what's going on."
"I thought you were my brother, not my father."
"You're right. I should leave that for Wolf."
Alex laughed in surprise. "Oh god. I don't want to know. I really don't."
"Yeah. Probably not."
"Are we still on for this weekend?"
"Unless something comes up at the bank."
"Okay. And Ben?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't be too hard on him." The unspoken 'thanks for caring' was clear in her tone.
"……No promises." His 'you're welcome' was equally clear and unspoken.
"Good enough. Talk to you later."
"Yeah. Bye."
Alex hung up then turned to her closed door. "You may as well come in, Jack. I know you're there."
The door swung open to reveal the redhead, bright smile stretching over her lips. "How'd it go?"
"About as expected. Though the next time I talk to Neal, he may be a little shell shocked."
Jack laughed, turning to go. "Come on. You can help me cook. I still can't get sautéing down."
"You're just lazy," was the retort.
"Hello?"
"What the hell are you thinking?!" was the answering yell, causing Neal to jump and drop his phone in surprise. He stared down at it, debating whether he really wanted to pick it up and find out what he did to piss Ben off.
It didn't help that he could still clearly hear Ben and what he heard didn't make him any more inclined to pick up the phone.
"If you stop yelling, I'll pick up the phone," Neal called, felling a little absurd to be talking down at his feet. He hesitated when the sound stopped before cautiously bending down to retrieve the phone and set it against his ear. "…What did I do this time?" he asked, ignoring the whine he could hear in his voice.
"Alex."
Neal blinked. "Uh… No," he responded, drawing the word out in his confusion.
"What? …You damn well better not have! If I–"
"Ben! What about Alex? Is she… Don't tell me she's a sociopath, please. I like her so if she is, I really don't want to know."
"…What? Have you been watching crime dramas again?"
"……No. Anyway, you were yelling at me and it had something to do with Alex." he said hastily to change the subject. "What's up?"
"If you hurt her, you will die slowly and painfully. And then I'll get a hold of you and kill you a second time."
Neal shivered at the cold tone, glancing behind himself in paranoia. "Uh… What brought this on?" he asked slowly, eyes flicking around the room as if he expected Ben to jump out at him.
"I know her personally. She's like a sister to me. Her guardian is American. I'll let Jack at you first then I'll take my turn. And running would not help you."
Neal swallowed. "No need to get hasty… Or threaten me. I don't intend to hurt her."
He heard Ben sigh. "Look… She hasn't had the easiest time of it in the past couple years. Just… don't push things, alright? I'd rather not see either of you hurt. Be careful, okay?"
Neal's half-wary, half-afraid expression shifted into one of concern. "Ben, what–"
"Alright?"
"Yeah. But–"
"And keep an eye on her. Keep her safe."
Neal frowned. "Ben, you aren't making sense."
Another sigh. "You'll know when, if, she tells you or if something happens. And before you ask, the most I can say is that I met her on the job."
Hazel eyes blinked at the phone. "And you stayed in touch?"
"……She needed someone. And right now, you can help her too. Just be yourself, and, if she asks, all I did was yell at you, got it?"
"Yeah, but–"
"Gotta go. Bye."
"Ben–"
There was a click as the other man hung up.
Neal scowled. "You bastard. What the hell was that?" He tossed the phone aside and settled on the couch, letting his head fall back as he thought about what was, and wasn't, said. He spent a couple hours like this, not noticing the time, before he fell asleep without intending to.