Really short update for everyone. Hope it isn't as evil as the last chapter. =)

And in chapter 11, I changed what Wolf is teaching Tom - I forgot that Ben was doing that and teaching Jack too. So, Wolf is teaching Tom how to drive.

To Kill A Mockingjay and I are organizing what will hopefully become the annual Alex Rider Fanfiction Awards. Check it out here: forum. fanfiction .net/forum/The_Royal_General_Bank/93073/ . Nominations are open and will be until November 1.

12

Neal groaned softly, coming around. There was a harsh ringing in his ears that made the ache in his head worse. He forced himself to roll over, pushing to his elbows as he did his best to ignore the way his stomach rolled. His gaze skipped around the area, not focusing on anything for long.

What the hell had happened?

Sound was slowly filtering through the cotton filling his head and with it, the memory of what had happened. He had an impression of sparkling brown eyes then heat and sound.

Neal jerked up onto his knees and nearly fell right back over, retching. Okay, apparently he had to take things a bit slow. A bomb had exploded - and who the hell set a bomb to go off in the middle of a park two days before St. Valentine's Day? It was not that long ago, to judge by the screams, crying, and approaching emergency sirens. He was in London, but not with his unit. He never would have noticed any of their eyes like that so, who? It was... a date? With Alex, right? Oh, god.

"Alex!"

Neal forced himself to his feet, not noticing the way he staggered or how his body screamed at him for the sudden movement.

"Alex!"

He spun in place, desperately searching for her. She had just been here. Where could she have gone?

A pair of hands grabbed his arm, halting his movement. Wild hazel eyes met scared green-hazel. The soldier blinked, focusing on his girlfriend's best friend.

"Tom?" he asked absently, still dazed. He watched the teenager's lips move, but couldn't quite grasp what was being said.

A sharp slap brought things back into focus. "Get a grip!" Tom was yelling, losing his own battle with panic.

"Tom, where's Alex?" Neal demanded, catching the boy's arms.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you! Some guys grabbed her while you were out! I tried to follow, but they put her in a van and took off!"

Neal felt the world sway. Was this his fault? Had some enemy discovered who he was and went after his girlfriend? Why? How?

"What do we do?" Tom asked, sounding very small.

Neal just stared at him, feeling lost himself. "C- call Jack," he said. "T- t- tell her to call B-Ben and have him come here." He pulled out his own cell phone and fumbled it open. Thank god for speed dial because he didn't think he'd be able to dial Wolf with the way his hands were shaking. He dimly realized that it, and the stuttering, was due to shock, but it wasn't like he had the luxury to give in to it.

" 'Lo?" came over the speaker.

"Wolf," was all he could manage, disbelief beginning to set in against his will. She had just been here. And now she was gone. No, not gone. Missing.

The wording didn't really matter. What did was that she wasn't here and he didn't know how she was. He could feel blood dripping down his arm. What if she was hurt? What if she needed a doctor? Would they tend to her? Or would she... No! He wasn't going to think that. She'd be fine.

"-eal? Neal! What the hell happened? Where are you? ...Eagle! Status report!"

The tone finally sank in, even if the words didn't. Neal managed to stumble his way through what had happened, but he wasn't completely certain what he said.

"Eagle, you have to focus," a new voice, Snake, said. "Is there anyone with you?"

And that brought it all back. "She's gone," he whispered, picturing the horrible things he had seen done to people, seen the aftermath of, happening to her. He squeezed his eyes shut as if it would stop the images playing out in his mind, silence her voice screaming in pain and fear.

So lost was he in these dark thoughts, that Neal didn't even notice sinking to his knees, didn't feel someone take the phone from his limp hand, didn't hear his friends and teammates run up or Tom do his best to explain what had happened through his own shock and pain and fear.

Neal flinched when someone touched the side of his head, drawing his attention to the heavily bleeding gash over his ear and the pain radiating from it. He saw Snake crouched in front of him, lips moving in questions, saw Ben trying to calm a hysterical Tom, hands on the boy's shoulders, saw Wolf stood over all of them, glaring at anything and everything.

She was gone, taken from right next to him. He thought he could keep her safe; it was why he hadn't told her what he really did for a living. Would she be safer if he had?

The dull roar that had been at the edge of his perception rose up and washed over him. Neal let it, let himself be taken by unconsciousness, let himself indulge in that small escape.