A/N: Next chapter. I've managed to get to the computer more often lately so I hope this was quick enough for you guys. Anyways, I'll just skip to the writing. Jack and Fox were both the most popular votes, but I have yet to finish Snakehead, so this one is Jack. YAYA!

DISCLAIMER!! Alex Rider and all that goes with him belong to Mr. Anthony Horowitz and not me…

Chapter 7, Jack Starbright

Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever have a normal life. He deserves it after all he's done, but MI6 won't let him have it. They'll send him on mission after mission. He may not even live to adulthood.

The thing I hate most about them is that they don't care. When he comes home from God knows what, with all his scars and bruises, they don't even show any appreciation.

I mean, is it so hard to send a thank you card or something?

I'll do anything to help him. Anything to keep him from going in alone. He worries me so much sometimes. And when he disappears for weeks on end, I always fear that the worst has happened. Trouble always seems to be drawn to him.

But what haunts me most is that some nights, I'll hear him crying. I'll hear him screaming at invisible demons in his sleep. When he wakes up, bless his soul, he's still as positive as ever, but I try to make him feel more comfortable and happy. If only to chase the demons away for a moment.

What they're doing to him is worse than physical pain. They're destroying him from the inside out. They're leaving him with scars that will never ever fade away. He's seen death. No fourteen-year-old should have to see a man dying because of a bullet he placed in his own head. No kid should ever have to be haunted by a dead man's last words.

And by now our lives have been too intertwined for me to ever think of him as the kid I had to watch to earn a living again. He's not just a money source. He's like my adoptive little brother. Whatever pain he goes through will make me feel just as bad as if he were my own sibling. I care more about his well being than any simple babysitter or caretaker could. I've tried to help him fight his demons but he won't always let me. Even in the toughest of his battle, he'll deny my assistance. That doesn't mean I'll ever leave him, though. I'll hold his hand through good times and bad, even when he wants me to let go. Whenever he needs a welcome home hug, a smile, even a batch of scrambled eggs, I'll be right there waiting for him. And when he's ready to let me in and help him more, I'll be right beside him, waiting...

A/N: This one was more warm and fuzzy than the others I thinks. Except for maybe Paul's. That one was pretty cute. Anyways, so far I've been writing chapters sort of willy nilly and never telling you my update plans and such. Okay, for the next one, I'll either do Smithers or Fox, depending on how fast I read Snakehead (slowly, most likely because of finals). In the event of me doing Smithers first, then Fox will be next. After that it's James Sprintz (with a bonus of Paul Roscoe) and then after that it's Mrs. Jones and then after that it's Sabina and then maybe Ash. Sorry Jusmine, but I have to. I hate Sabina too but she's one of the Alex Rider characters and yeah. Also, I'm going to do a bunch of bonus chapters for the secondary, secondary characters (the ones who aren't even really there for the one book that they are in). I'll do one chapter with Glen Carver (Tom Turner in some copies) and Belinda Troy and General Sarov (Skeleton Key). One for Tamara Knight and Ed Shulsky (Ark Angel). One for Nile and Julia Rothman (even though they evil and will say mean things perhaps) (Scorpia). One for Alan Blunt, John Crawley, Joe Byrne, and Ethan Brooke (the Secret Service guys). And lastly, Scooter and those other ASIS guys in charge of keeping Alex company (Snakehead). What order I do them and who else to include is up to you. So REVIEEEEW!!

The Crazy Idiotic Genius, Chocolate Muffin