I wasn't expecting to finish the new chapter today, but I guess miracles do happen. This chapter is mostly all dialogue because I felt some things needed to be asked and answered, so if you feel the chapter moves along too quickly, that might have something to do with that.

Also, WARNING, there is a lot of swearing in this chapter… mainly from Alex's part. That boy is pissed!

Now, some of your questions will be answered here, others we still have to wait some more… I hope you like this chapter, it certainly helped me feel a bit better this week knowing I would soon post something new for you guys. You have always been so supportive of my writing and I want to thank you for that.

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Chapter 5: You have a mad man after you now

The first thing he did when he opened the door to the apartment was let out a curse.

"Bloody hell! Now what?"

"Hello to you too, Cub. It's nice to see you haven't lost your temper"

"Fuck off Eagle" the blond answered, not in the mood to moderate his language and angrily asking the universe when would it stop with the surprise visitors "What the hell are you doing here?" that's when Ben came out of the kitchen carrying a couple of beers.

"He's staying with us for a couple of weeks. We arranged the guest room, remember?" oh, right... he'd forgotten. Eagle used to stay with them in London whenever K-unit was on leave. He didn't have his own place and always said he'd rather tag along with another unit on duty than to stay at his mother's house while on leave, hence the man migrating with them when they moved to New Castle "What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't grace us with your presence for at least another few days" Alex merely rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I'm going to my room now" he said and tried to sidestep Ben in order to do so. No such luck though.

"Wait a minute. We need to talk" the older man placed the beer bottles on the coffee table in front of Eagle and turned to face him.

"Not now" the blond answered and continued his way into the hallway. All he wanted to do was curl up and sleep this disastrous night off. Then he was startled to feel a hand snatching his upper arm almost painfully and pulling him back into the livingroom.

"Yes, now!" he stumbled with the push Ben gave him when he let go of his arm but found his balance quickly enough. He stared at his brother after the more than uncharacteristic physical aproach "This silent treatment of yours has to stop and we're gonna talk about things right here, right now" the blond continued to stare at him. Eagle stood up from the couch.

"Guys, if you want me to step out..." his voice brought Alex's attention back to him and he huffed an annoyed sigh.

"Don't bother. What's another person snooping into my life anyway?" his tone was half sarcastic and half bitter.

"Enough Alex! You don't get to snap at people just because you're angry with the world" Ben cut in getting angrier himself.

"I'm not angry with the world. I'm angry at you!" Alex figured if he couldn't scape talking about it then he would definitely speak his mind "How could you keep something like that from me?"

"I was gonna tell you that night but you were running late and I knew you'd been looking forward to your date night, so I figured I'd let you enjoy it before delivering the news" the blond thought that was really no excuse to withold the information.

"Please, you've had years to tell me, so why not do it sooner? Do you still work for MI6? Is that it? Were you in on it since the beginning?" because that would just be the icing on the cake, wouldn't it?

Alex didn't know what kind of answer he was expecting, if he expected Ben to just confess right away or vehemently deny the accusation, but when the older man started laghing, like seriously laughing, Alex couldn't help but be outraged.

"Jesus, Alex, you can be really thick headed when you want to, did you know that?" that took him aback a little bit and the fact that Ben's laugh had been bitter and humorless. For the first time that night Alex could see the traces of hurt under his brother's tone. He had gotten better at reading those, almost as much as Ben had gotten better at dealing with him and his multiple mood swings over the years "What could've possibly given you that idea?" Ben asked and though Alex really wanted to believe him, he just didn't know how much of anything was true anymore. If not even death was certain in his world, what else could be?

"You knew about Ian" the blond stated, surprising even himself with how quickly he could go from shouting his mind out to speaking as softly as if they were in a funeral.

"That's the thing, I didn't"

"You knew at the hospital" he insisted, begging for an explanation.

"I knew by then but I didn't know before that day, and it honestly surprises me you think I could ever do something like that to you" and wasn't the conversation turning out to be so similar to the one he'd just have with Vict? Alex swallowed awkwardly.

"But what you said to him, about agreeing not to tell me..." was it possible that he'd overreacted (as always, a voice said in his mind) and hadn't even given Ben the benefit of the doubt?

"I made him promise not to ambush you before I had the chance to talk to you because I knew how you'd react" now that made sense, Alex thought guiltly.

"But how did you know? And why didn't you just tell me right away?"

"He approached me that morning. Introduced himself. John Crawley was with him" Alex hissed at the name.

"Fucking Crawley" he ran a hand through his hair "What did they say to you? Why are they doing this now? How is my uncle alive? Why did they have to tell Victor? Are they trying to get me back? I'm not a minor anymore, they can't do that! And what's their next move? Why can't they just leave me alone, why-"

"Wow, Cub, breathe for a second, will ya?" Alex snapped his eyes back to Eagle, who had been watching their conversation play out like a tennis match, and drew in a breath.

"Let's not get any more worked up here" Ben added lifting his hands in a placating manner and genteling his tone some. Alex relaxed instinctively. How was it that with only one gesture Ben was able to stop him from spiraling out of control? Had he become that dependant on him? "What do you mean they told Vict?" Alex breathed deeply and tried, unsucessfully, to speak without rushing.

"Crawley showed up at his place. He told him about MI6 and then I had to tell him about me and now he's angry and he threw me out, he thinks I'm leading this double life and that I lied to him about everything and now he doesn't even want to talk to me"

"Huh, I wonder how that feels" more than the words, it was the accusing tone in which Ben spoke that had Alex frowning. He wasn't used to the older man being so upfront and confrontational with him, but that's when his own words dawned on him.

"Fucking hell" Alex said with a defeated tone and a desperate tug of his hair "Bloody. Fucking. Stupid. Moron" with every insult that he threw he took a step to the right and then one to the left. Ben was going to be right after all in saying he didn't know how thick headed he could be.

"I really hope you don't mean either of us" Eagle said after having remained quiet for as long as he could, the blond figured. He also almost snapped at him again but bit his tongue instead.

"I meant me" he replied instead and looked everywhere but at his brother before he was able to hold his gaze "I'm sorry" somehow it felt too simple a word to make up for implying and believing for a while that Ben could ever betray him like that. Not Ben, who had given up everything to take care of a kid he had no real connection to, no obligation. How did he lose sight of that? "Ben... I... I'm..." Ben sighed and his shoulders dropped down heavily, as if he'd been making an effort to keep his posture rigid.

"Well, finally! I was wondering how much I'd have to push you before you came to your senses" Alex was sure he didn't mean the comment as a jab, but it was hard to hear all the same.

"I'm so sorry. I'm an idiot" and he was, for treating Ben the way he had, for snapping at Eagle when he had nothing to do with it, for hiding part of his life from Vict and for fighting with him in the first place. What was wrong with him?

"Don't worry about it now" Ben said, signaling towards the dinning table and taking a seat himself, not before picking up his untouched beer. Alex followed him.

"But I've been a dick to you for days"

"Yes, you have" again with the direct approach "You forget I know you. I knew you needed time" Alex sat down and began scratching the surface of the table with his fingernails. Ben had told him it was a nervous habit of his, one that he wasn't inclined to stop for the time being. Eagle approached the table as well.

"I'll get another beer" the soldier offered, almost as a peace offering, but Alex shook his head.

"I shouldn't... I'm still on pain medication" he signaled his neck. In fact, he was scheduled to take another pill soon. His headache was definitely asking for it.

"A tea then" he was automatically about to refuse but thought better of it.

"Actually, that sounds great. Thanks" Eagle dissappeared into the kitchen and Alex was left alone with Ben's scrutinazing gaze.

"What?"

"How are you feeling from the crash?" he shrugged.

"Sore, stiff" he figured it was best to be honest "Don't worry about it. Could've been worse" Ben let it go.

"What I'm worried about is this threat against you. Alex, the crash wasn't an accident" the conversation was moving on to more dangerous territory.

"I know. Crawley said so but he didn't explain why" Alex saw a flicker of something go through Ben's eyes and he prepared himself for whatever it was.

"Do you know?" he asked but Ben didn't answer right away. Eagle had just come out of the kitchen carrying Alex's tea along with his own beer to sit next to them on the table.

"It's about your uncle and the reason he's here" Alex's heart skipped a beat. He'd been avoiding even thinking about his uncle since his sudden reappearance and he had to admit he was scared to know the truth, the whole story.

"Tell me" he insisted when the older man trailed off for a minute.

"You're not gonna like the answer" Ben warned, which did nothing to alleviate his fears.

"Just tell me everything"

"He's been undercover, all this time. A long term mission here in the UK" Alex was stunned into silence. Both Ben and Eagle gave him a moment to process the information. It's not like he hadn't figured that part out on his own, but having it confirmed felt shocking either way.

"How did they do it? He died, we went to his funeral. I talked to Yassen Gregorovitch myself, he shot Ian. He killed him"

"Or he thought he did. Your uncle did get shot but he didn't die. MI6 made it look like it and then sent him off to a deep undercover mission"

"And he agreed?" Alex's voice broke at the end of the question, earning a pair of sympathetic looks from the other occupants of the table.

"I don't know all the details" was Ben's answer, who looked apologetic and afronted at the same time. Alex supposed no one other than Ian himself could really answer all his questions, the problem was that he was as eager to talk to the man as he was eager to stay as far away from him as he could.

"So he's back because the mission's over?" it was Eagle who asked the question Alex was still too troubled to ask himself.

"Yes... and no. The mission's over because his cover was blown. He's here because of the retaliations"

"Against me?" the blond finally said.

"Against you" Ben confirmed with a nod.

"Whoever hit the car, they were trying to kill me. You think they're going to try again?"

"That's what your uncle says. He said he came here to warn you but they got to you before he got the chance to see you" he was surprised his uncle even cared enough to come warn him and, now that he thought about it, if he was in danger then how come Ben managed to leave him alone for the past two days? Knowing how much he worried, he was surprised his brother hadn't just put him on lock down.

"There are people watching me, aren't they?" he accused without any real heat in his voice. To his credit, Ben didn't hide his approval.

"Yes. During your stay at the hospital and at Vict's place. I imagine they followed you here" Alex frowned. That wasn't right.

"No one followed me here" he stated.

"Maybe you didn't notice" that wasn't it. He shook his head.

"No, I'm telling you. I wasn't followed, I would've noticed" it was Ben's turn to frown.

"Ian told me they would have eyes on you"

"Did they tell you Crawley was gonna talk to me?" Ben's silence answered for him.

"Alex, what did Crawley say exactly?"

"He said I had to go with him. Me and Vict, can you believe that? He told me about the protection. I said no"

"Damn it" more than angry, Ben sounded frustrated "Alex you're an adult now. Your word can overule mine when it comes to things like a protection detail. I'm sure Crawley didn't insist much or thought twice about cancelling the surveilance"

"Well... good. I don't want anything from them and you shouldn't either" the blond didn't see the problem with MI6 actually listening to him for once in his life.

"Maybe you should consider-" Eagle started and Alex leaned away from the table, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What are they offering exactly? To send me under an alias to a whole other continent where someone just happens to be plotting the end of the world and I'm conveniently housed next door? You know how they operate, I'm not falling for it again"

"They did talk about a safe house..." Ben said softly, almost afraid to finish the sentence.

"You see? I can't agree to that. I won't face another mad man for them"

"You have a mad man after you now" Alex glanced at Eagle thinking it wasn't fair of them to team up against him, but he wasn't going to cave.

"I can take care of myself. I don't need them"

"You feel pretty strong about this, don't you?"

"You know I do" they fell into silence for a moment in which Alex saw a look pass between Ben and Eagle. Whatever they were thinking, it couldn't bode well for him.

"Then you're not leaving our sight until this mess is sorted"

"Oh, come on Ben" Alex unclenched his arms and threw them on the table.

"No buts. You're on vacation. Eagle's on vacation. You two are gonna be spending quite some time together" Eagle sent him a bright smile, as if the prospect of annoying the hell out of him was something to look forward to. Alex sighed and dropped his head on the table as well. It wasn't that he didn't like spending time with Eagle, quite the opposit in fact, but he didn't appreciate the circumstances.

"What about you?"

"I've already asked for a few days off at work. I'll be having a talk with MI6" that had him sitting up straight again.

"Will you go to London?" he asked in a worried tone. Ben shrugged.

"If I have to, but I don't think I will. From what I understand, they're all here" the mere thought of the heads of MI6 breathing the same air as him had him suddenly feeling like a prey, more so than the fact someone was actually out to get him.

"What about Vict? Is he in danger too?" they had already hurt him because they were together. Was he supposed to stay away from Vict in order to protect him?

"It's hard to say" something must have shown on his face, maybe it was how much he didn't want to stay away from his boyfriend and how much he needed him, because Eagle patted him on the shoulder.

"You should talk to him, explain the situation"

"He doesn't want to talk to me right now. I screwed up. What if this is too much? He already has to deal with the ra-" he stopped himself just in time to not reveil that particular piece of information to Eagle "with a lot from me. He won't want to deal with this too" Ben was shaking his head.

"I don't believe that and you shouldn't either without giving him the chance to speak for himself. Either he accepts it or he doesn't, but don't assume he won't"

"What can I do?" the blond asked, praying either of them would give him an answer that would miraculously solve all of his problems, problems he didn't have that morning.

"Well, you could start by apologizing" Eagle offered "I'm not saying this is your fault but it isn't his either. And if he already knows about them, then you might as well tell him all. He seems like the kind of person who understands bagage"

"He is" Ben confirmed, holding his gaze long enough to convey his message. Alex knew they were right, he couldn't give up hope. And he should probably check up on him, given the night turned out to be pretty strenous after all. He was definitely feeling its effects.

Alex fished the small bottle of pain relievers from his bag and swallowed one with the rest of his tea. If he stayed seated one more minute, he would pass out from exhaustion. Adrenalin was quickly leaving his body.

"I need to go to sleep. See you in a few years…" he said around a yawn.

"Try to rest" Ben said getting up from the table as well and putting a hand on his shoulder "We're going to work things out" Alex nodded.

"Don't snore too loud Eagle" he added to the other man on his way to his room.

"I make no promises!"

Once alone, Alex leaned his back against the closed door and let out an exhausted sigh. If there was at least one silver lining in all this, it was the fact he was on summer break and his education didn't have to suffer again at the hands of MI6 and their incompetence to remain out of his life.

And his uncle…

Alex tsked and walked further into the room. He changed clothes but remained with Vict's appropriated sweater on despite the fact the temperature inside the apartment was hot. He laid down on the bed carefully, hissing some when his head hit the pillow and his stiff neck was able to rest.

He grabbed his phone.

He wasn't surprised when the call ended up going to voice mail, but he chose to believe it was because Vict was already sleeping and not because he was being ignored. He insisted a few more times before finally accepting he wasn't going to get the chance to make things right that night, or at least to start.

He made sure to plug the charger on the wall and connect his phone. He'd try again tomorrow. Right now, his eyelids were dropping closed and his brain couldn't think beyond the fact it was night, he was tired and he wanted the day to end already.

He reached the light switch over the bedside table and the room was plunged into darkness. Maybe it was the effect of the medication or maybe it was just exhaustion, but he was asleep within seconds. If only he had known that would be the last good night of sleep he was going to get for a while…

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And that last line was to keep you hanging just a little bit longer because things are going to get shaken up again soon.

I would love to read your comments on this chapter, it would definitely help keep my day bright. I won't have too much time to write for the next couple of days (I have one test on Thursday and I have to read a whole book for next week) but I'll try to have something new as soon as possible. Next weekend I'm apparently completely free, so that should help speed up the process.

Until then!