As ever, amazed by the support. ENjoy this, though there's nothing here that's mine.

Chapter 3

"I'm going to kill him." Vixen declared, storming down the corridor.

"Who?" Volk asked, without much interest.

"Which ever idiot is responsible for leaking the information to the Australians."

Volk gazed at her.

"You remember me mentioning Ash?"

Volk nodded. "Your old friend. Was injured in a mission, the one that brought John in."

Vixen nodded. "He's with the Australians these days." She shrugged. "Someone told him, I asked for a comparison with Alex's DNA. He wanted to know why."
"Did you tell him?"

Vixen snorted. "Don't be an idiot. Told him, I'd let him know when I did."

She sighed.

"You ready?"
"I guess." Vixen nodded.

"There's nothing to be nervous about Alex, if I may call you back." Volk could see the mother that Vixen would have been, if circumstances been different.

"My name is Alexi." The brown eyes gazed angrily back.

"Alright. Alexi, then." Vixen smiled, but it was not returned. "As I said, there's nothing to be nervous about, we're just trying to find out what happened that night."

"I told you, I don't know." The child was shuffling in his seat, evidently uncomfortable.

"Just tell us what happened," Volk said, gently.

"I went to bed; there was a big bang, and the next thing I remember I was here." He waved a hand indicating the hospital.
"Where is my father?"

"We're still looking for him." Vixen said, firmly. Yury pushed the door open, and whispered in Volk's ear. Volk spoke rapidly back to Yury, and then to Vixen. Both got to their feet.

"We will be back in a moment."

They stepped out in to the corridor.

A man stood in the corridor. He was tall, with pale eyes and black hair that was plastered to his forehead. His face was grim.

"Why are you speaking to my client?"
"And you are?" Volk's voice was reasonable, but his eyes were firm.

"Dr. Igor Andropov, psychiatrist." The man replied. "Alexis Varos is a patient of mine."

Volk raised one eyebrow.

"Perhaps we had best talk."

Jack hadn't originally dared believe what the voice at the end of the phone was saying.

Then she had found herself gathering things. Packing a bag, booking flights.

Now she stood in the terminal of the main airport, realizing that she had no idea where she was going.

"Miss Starbright?" the English was accented, but the tone was sincere. She nodded, cautiously.

"My name is Vladimir. I was asked to meet you."

He held out a letter.

"She said, this would convince you."

The letter was written rapidly and bore a signature that she hadn't seen in years.

She nodded.

"Do you have some where to stay?"

Jack, shook her head.

"Then will you come with me, please?"

"Alexi has been a patient of mine for nearly four years." Dr. Igor Andropov took a sip from his cup of coffee. "His father brought him to me, as he was concerned about him."

"That does tend to be why one contacts a psychiatrist." Volk observed.

Igor regarded him before a moment, before taking another sip.

"What was wrong with the child?" Volk asked.

Igor sighed.

"Alexi has a vivid imagination, and, occasionally he has problems distinguishing between what is real and what is not. The situation was worsened by the separation of his parents." He nodded. "We were making progress, but still Alexi suffers from it." He shook his head. "Anything Alexi says must be treated with caution."

As he did so, he extended his hand, which was disfigured with a huge scar. Volk blinked in surprise.

"We will bear that in mind." He said calmly "but he is the only witness we have."

He got to his feet.

"Remain in touch, Dr. Andropov, we may need to talk to you again."

TBC