Built for Espionage: Epilogue Three

Four Months After Chapter Seventeen

Alex, as much as his school thought he was a kid that constantly got sick, often didn't get sick. And if in the nearly rare cast that he did get sick, it was pretty mild stuff, a small cold, or light fever. Alex hadn't been seriously sick since he was eight years old, when he came down with chickenpox, or varicella as Ian had called it.

So, when four months into living with his new guardian he suddenly woke with pain in his throat and a headache, he instantly pushed it aside, Alex Rider doesn't get sick he told himself.

It worked of course; he had been a spy for a reason. But it only worked two days before Ben picked up on his continuous decline to eat food during dinner and breakfast. Lunch was easy to avoid though, Tom was more than happy to eat his food, though he did always wait to eat it until Alex promised him that he'd eat when he got home. The weekend proved to have broken his plan.

'You haven't eaten since lunch on Friday Alex, what's going on?' Asked Ben, the man had been watching him closely since Thursday and now it was Saturday, Alex shouldn't've been surprised when he started demanding answers.

'I'm fine, just not that hungry recently- maybe it's a teenager thing' It was a running joke in K-unit that if Alex did something odd or teenager-er that'd it blamed understandably on him being fourteen turning fifteen. Ben chuckled at his suggestion before moving to sit on the end of Alex's bed, while Alex continued to stay under his covers.

'Sure, but I also got a little alert from school' Oh shit, Alex hadn't considered that he'd caught some sort of flu from school, it was so obvious he'd completely missed it. Maybe he really was sick.

'They said two students had been sent home after developing Strep Throat, do you know the symptoms for strep throat Alex?' Ben had been doing this a lot recently, if Alex was doing something wrong and didn't understand that, Ben got him to explain what he had done and if he still didn't understand, Ben would painstakingly explain it.

'Never heard of it' Ben nodded at his admission, the man moved to lay a warm hand on Alex's forehead before he pulled back and began to explain.

'If someone has strep throat, they often have difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, high fevers, headaches, Fatigue, chills, abdominal pain and oh loss of appetite' Ben was watching him carefully, Alex knew he had a few of those symptoms- but it's not like getting a headache, pain in his throat and a loss of appetite was unheard-of for kids.

'And just since Thursday I can tell you Alex, that you have at least four of those symptoms' Alex quirked an eyebrow, he only had three as far as he could tell, Ben paused at his confusion and Alex knew Ben understand where it was coming from.

'So, you know you have those symptoms'

'I only counted three, appetite, headache and the swallowing pain'

'Four, high fever, geez Alex I get that you're very self-sufficient, but you're allowed to rely on me- I'm your guardian Alex, please tell me if you feel sick, even if its just a mild pain or nothing in your mind' Ben had been an amazing guardian, and as much as Alex's mind screamed at him that he shouldn't worry the man over such little things- he gave in, because he didn't know everything and Ben had proven himself to be someone Alex could trust. He nodded and promised to tell the man of anything as such in the future.

'Thanks Alex, you're lucky I thought you were already sick, Snake and Wolf are coming over in-' Ben turned his wrist to check his watch just as the doorbell rung loudly throughout the house. Giving a sigh Ben stood.

'About now I guess, I'll be right back- you stay there' The afternoon turned quickly into a doctor's check up from former nurse and now medic, Snake, while Wolf and Ben kept the boy entertained with Wolf's complaining about having to share an apartment with Eagle. Eagle who apparently was desperate to see Cub again, though couldn't get out of a compulsory training weekend for unit snipers.

'Have some bread' Suddenly Alex looked up from his English homework to be met with Wolf pushing a small plate with a single piece of lightly buttered bread.

'I don't eat bread, it's usually poisoned.' He muttered back, it was something Ben had found extremely painful when he'd first taken Alex in, not being able to offer the boy toast in the morning unless Alex made it himself. And Alex told himself it wasn't because he didn't trust Ben or Wolf, it was simply his controlling nature that always wanted to check bread to see if it was poisoned. Wolf however, clearly didn't know this.

'If this is some gluten-free nonsense-' Wolf started, the man rolling his eyes before meeting Alex's eyes. In return Alex rolled his eyes as he answered.

'No, actual poison' Shock was clear on Wolf's face before the man stormed out of the room, Alex could already hear him complaining to Ben about his 'picky brat of a kid', nonetheless a smile grew as Wolf vented.

It wasn't till Thursday of next week that Alex was better, Snake had treated him before getting a licensed doctor to get him a prescription of- as Snake called them, Z-pack antibiotics. Through the six days he was officially sick everyone dropped by into on him, Snake more than happy to check up on him, Eagle eager to take advantage of the school-less student and Wolf who Alex found out wasn't terrible at taking care of him (after the bread issue).

Tom, since Alex had moved in with Ben, would casually drop by the house after school some days. And one such day happened to be the Thursday that he was officially 'cured'. Unfortunately, both fourteen-year olds were more than use to the antics K-unit would cause and such when Tom walked into the Daniels (and Rider) household he wasn't at all surprised to see three well-trained SAS soldiers playing Jenga in the lounge room.

'Hey Harris' Called out Eagle, Tom received a nod from the other two before he continued through to Alex's bedroom.

'Your private army are playing Jenga, I'd say I was disappointed but honestly, they've already broken all of my expectations' Tom threw his school bag to the ground before flopping onto Alex's bed. Alex was sitting at his desk as Ben proof-read his most recently assigned English essay.

'I mean you've had four months to let those expectations fall and I'm not surprised' Alex responded, though he dodged Ben kick that was aimed at his shins.

'That's not only my unit you two are disappointed in, but Alex's unit, we used to be respected' Ben nodded happily at Alex's essay, say hi to Tom before he left Alex's room. Tom sat up on Alex's bed and looked over to Alex.

'Did a former SAS soldier and active MI6 agent just parent-check your English essay?' Alex understood where Tom was coming from, even for him it was weird. Both Ian and Jack had never checked his homework, the best he would've gotten would be from Jack, she always casually asked if he was doing his homework. But Alex had never had someone actually look over his work- like a parent, before.

'Yeah, he's been doing that a lot- even comes in to help me with physics'

'Doesn't know your best subjects are maths and physics?'

'Not a clue' Both boys spent the afternoon messing around in Alex's bedroom before Eagle burst in demanding they come play a quick game of monopoly before Eagle, Snake and Wolf had to leave.

From Tom's family, that was falling apart even now, to Alex who had never had such a big family, it was a welcomed change for both boys.