And here's the next chapter! Much sooner than you all expected, right? I have now hashed out a plan for it so I know exactly where this fic is going, and just to let you all know, this will have a plot! (unlike my Harry Potter one D:) I was technically supposed to be working all day . . . Instead, I got no work done at all and wrote this :D
Just to let you know, I have no medical background. I hope most of this is accurate, but if not, please tell me. I have done research, but you can't always trust the internet *sigh*

Thanks to all reviewers and readers.

Just a word of warning - this chapter does have swearing in it. If you're reading a T, you hopefully won't have an issue with it, but I apologise if it offends you. I honestly believe that soldiers will swear and it's not very accurate otherwise, is it?

Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider. Everything belongs to Anthony Horowitz.

'Just remember - when you think all is lost, the future remains.'
(Bob Goddard)

Wolf hurried along the long corridors of St Dominic's with the rest of K-Unit following him silently. It had been only two hours since Cub had been rescued ("Where is he? God, how the hell are we going to find him?") and Cub was still in surgery. The shock Wolf had felt when he realised who the agent was had been overwhelming; only Fox hadn't seemed surprised, just worried. Wolf wondered whether they had met again.

"How long is he likely to be in surgery for?" Eagle asked quietly.

"With those injuries?" Snake replied, his voice rough, "Quite a while. They'll need to stitch everything up and maybe do some reconstructive surgery on the wounds."

"So how long?" Eagle demanded harshly.

"I don't know! I'm a field medic, not a doctor!" Snake said hotly.

"Chill it, guys," Wolf snapped, "We've just got to go and wait it out in his room."

Sorry Snake," Eagle said softly. "It's just- Seeing him there . . . It just brought back everything, you know?"

"Yeah," the Scottish man replied, "I know."

Wolf checked round the corner, gun out and ready, before rushing down the next identical corridor. K-Unit, including Fox, followed suit, grim and silent. Only Wolf noticed the slight look of panic on Fox's face and wondered exactly what was going on. The spy had changed since he left and Wolf felt he hardly knew him anymore.

They strode down the corridor checking each door for enemies or prisoners, but found none. By now, they were all getting impatient. Every floor of the compound had been searched and declared clear, with no prisoners being found.

"I don't think there's anyone down here." Eagle said at last. The signals expert was pale and probably not ready for such an assignment so soon. He had been the worst affected and Wolf was worried.

"I don't know where else he would be," Wolf answered, "MI6 told us that their agent would be in this building. We've looked everywhere. There's only here left."

"Let's just keep looking" Fox said sensibly.

"This is a waste of time," Eagle mumbled.

"Look, Eagle, unless you've got any better ideas, we've just got to-"

"Shh!" Fox said suddenly, "Do you hear that?"

They all listened carefully. Sure enough, a low, quiet, knocking sound was heard. Aiming his gun at the area where the noise was coming from, Wolf led them to the cell.

The sight there shocked them into silence. All apart from Fox, anyway.

"Alex!" he cried suddenly. Wolf's face crinkled in confusion. Alex? "Wait a second!"

Before Wolf could even speak, Fox had ordered Cub to step away and had shot the lock off the door. What in hell was Cub doing there? What exactly was MI6 doing to this kid? As much as he had resented him at Brecon Beacons, he wouldn't wish this on anyone. The kid was covered in blood. His arm was hanging at the wrong angle, obviously broken. A deep gash in his leg dripped blood and it looked difficult for him to stand. The boy was waxen and his eyes sunken. There was no light in them, and he either couldn't, or wouldn't, speak.

Jesus.

"What the hell?" He heard Eagle mutter. He wished he knew what was going through the man's head, but his face was unnervingly blank. Wolf studied Cub again, worried by his unsteadiness. He stepped forward to take control again, but Snake rushed past him.

"Cub?" Wolf questioned, still in shock. "What the hell are you doing here?" Ok, so maybe not the best thing to ask in the circumstances, but Wolf was now growing quite annoyed. Why didn't MI6 ever tell them anything? And how in hell did they justify this?

Cub swayed and Wolf once again made to step forward. It was obvious that the kid needed some serious help. However, before he could move, Cub fell, his face twisted in an expression of pain. Fox caught him just in time and the kid's eyes fluttered shut slightly. His face paled even more, if possible, and Wolf knew he had to get to a hospital.

"You ok?" He heard Fox ask worriedly. Ignoring the stupid question, Wolf spoke up.

"We need to get him out of here!"

Cub collapsed fully in Fox's arms and his eyes completely closed. Wolf didn't know whether to feel relieved that at least the kid wasn't experiencing so much pain, or worried that he was growing worse.

"He needs medical attention, now!" Snake declared. "There's nothing I can do for him here."

"Eagle, contact the other units. We've got the agent, now we need to get out. And also, try and get through to the helicopter waiting for us. The doctors on board need to know his condition." Wolf ordered immediately.

Eagle nodded, and began. Fox picked Cub up gently and they started the journey out of the building. Wolf and Snake walked in front, guns out and ready to shoot.

You can never be too careful.

Wolf and Eagle were slumped in what was soon to be Cub's hospital room. Snake was guarding the door. The spy himself had yet to turn up.

"How much longer?" Eagle moaned quietly.

"You have no patience," Wolf smirked, "Just grin and bear it."

"I was never very good at waiting," he mused.

"I have no idea how you ever managed to get into the SAS, Eagle!" Snake called from outside the door.

("It's beyond me how the two of you ever managed to pass selection," Wolf snapped at the two soldiers.

"Hey!" one cried.

"Don't worry Eagle, we can be the two fails together," the other said, laughing.)

Eagle's face had paled, and Wolf wondered if he was remembering the same thing.

"Hey," Wolf said softly, and touched the man's arm lightly, "You ok?"

"Yeah," he said, "I'm fine."

Wolf just looked at him. "Of course you are. Just like I am."

Eagle attempted to smile, and Wolf changed the subject.

"I wonder when Fox is going to turn up, anyway."

"Dunno. He's taking a long time."

"It's weird," Snake said, "What could MI6 possibly be talking to him about for that long? They've already got our accounts of what happened."

"Well, I hope he turns up soon." Wolf replied. "I want to know how he knows Cub so well."

"Yeah, that was weird," Snake mused, "He's never mentioned it to us before."

"Then again, we haven't exactly seen him, have we?" Eagle joined in.

"Well, I just want him to hurry up."

"You know, Wolf, you're not the most patient person either." Snake grinned.

"Ha, ha"

"Mrs Jones, I hope you realise how serious this is."

"Of course I do Doctor," she replied softly, "I never take the welfare of one of ours lightly."

"Well, good, because Alex has been hurt badly. He's made it through surgery, thank God, but-"

"He wasn't going to make it through?" Wolf jumped in.

"Mr Costello, if you could please keep quiet," Mrs Jones ordered. "You're only allowed in this room for security purposes."

"Mr. . . Costello, was it?" Wolf nodded. "With those injuries and such a low body weight, the surgery can be too much for some patients. We are lucky that Alex is strong."

"Jesus," Wolf muttered.

"The knife wound in his thigh will cause him a bit of trouble, we think," the doctor carried on, "It was very deep and cut through muscle at some points. He will need PT for a while." He took a breath. "The lacerations on his back, as well-"

"What lacerations?" Wolf asked immediately.

"Mr Costello!"

"He was whipped quite severely we believe, as well as a few knife wounds."

"Shit."

"Mr Costello, if you make one more noise I will have you removed from the room." Mrs Jones declared in annoyance. Eagle smirked at Wolf slightly.

"I apologise, Ma'am," he said quietly.

"As I was saying," the doctor continued, "the lacerations were becoming infected and although we will give him antibiotics for it, they will need to be watched carefully, especially as he won't be able to see them. They may cause him some trouble at first and will be painful, but as long as he rests properly and doesn't overdo it, they will heal alright."

"And the arm?" Mrs Jones asked.

"It's been set and placed in a sling. It was a bad break, but should heal well enough. The wound on his cheek has been stitched as well and won't cause any problems. However, we can't guarantee that it won't scar."

"But he will heal fine?"

"Yes, he will, thank the Lord. Given time, he will physically be as good as new. But mentally . . ."

"I understand. Thank you Doctor."

"I hope he doesn't land himself back in here too many more times," the doctor sighed, "it's not right."

"Yes well, sometimes it can't be helped," she replied. The doctor frowned, but left the room.

"I will return later when he wakes up," Mrs Jones informed the two SAS soldiers in the room, "You will tell the doctor as soon as he stirs, clear?"

"Yes Ma'am" Wolf answered.

"Good" She left the room, giving the pale boy in the bed one last look. Something flickered in her eyes and Wolf wondered if it was crazy to think it may have been grief.

Alex stirred slightly, disturbed by the voices echoing around the room.

"Heartless bitch"

"Eagle!"

"What? She is!"

"She's not that unemotional."

"Still a bitch."

Alex could feel a throbbing pain in his thigh and groaned. Or tried to, anyway. His throat felt like it was on fire and he couldn't swallow without wincing.

"Shit, wait! I think he's waking up!" someone cried, "Cub?"

He struggled to open his eyes.

"Cub?" someone asked again, "You awake?"

"I'm going to get the doctor," another voice said quickly.

("There's no doctor to help you here, Rider")

His eyelids at last seemed to obey him and he slowly opened his eyes, squinting. He immediately slammed them shut again when bright light shone in his face.

"Eagle! Close the God-damned curtains!"

A few seconds later, "They're closed!"

"Hey Cub? The light's gone now, you can open your eyes again."

Carefully and slowly he tried again and found that this time, the light wasn't nearly as bad. He looked around the room and took in the three SAS-men looking worriedly at him.

"How do you feel?" Snake asked softly.

He said nothing.

Another figure rushed into the room. "Right, everybody out. I need to examine my patient."

"Sorry Doctor, we've got orders not to leave him alone in here," Wolf replied.

"Fine, one can stay."

Without any discussion, Snake and Eagle left the room. Alex wondered if they had some sort of weird telepathic link.

"Right then," the doctor said, "I imagine you're in a bit of pain?" A few seconds pause. "Don't answer that, actually. I need to examine your throat. Just nod if it's sore."

Alex nodded slowly. Wolf's expression turned to comprehension, but he said nothing.

"Ok, well, you're on quite strong painkillers at the moment, but we were told to give you nothing more in case you got addicted. Your throat's swollen up so I don't think you'll be able to speak for a while," he said while gently probing Alex's neck.

"How long will that be?" Wolf asked.

"Days at least. I can't say for sure. But you'll be in bed for at least a week anyway so it makes no difference." At Alex's look of annoyance, he laughed. "Trust me, you wouldn't want to walk with those injuries anyway."

"I suggest you go back to sleep for a while. Your Mrs Jones told me she would be coming back soon to talk to you, and I imagine you'll want to be fully aware for that." The young doctor looked at him sadly. "The drug you're on will be making you sleepy, so don't fight it. You just need to rest."

Alex nodded at him and the doctor left.

"Cub," Wolf began, "We just wanted to tell you that-"

But Alex just closed his eyes, and pretended to go to sleep. He had no desire to talk. Wolf gave up.

"Alex," Mrs Jones said loudly, "I know you're awake." The boy grimaced and opened his eyes grudgingly. She wasn't a member of MI6 for nothing.

"I know you can't talk, and probably have no desire to even see me anyway, so I will be brief. Firstly, I would like to apologise for what happened with Miss Starbright."

("Noo . . . Jack . . . Please, no . . .")

Alex shut his eyes again.

"We clearly underestimated Scorpia's desire to get revenge and we didn't predict the events that happened within Scorpia-" Alex opened his eyes and cocked his head in curiosity. "When you are out of hospital, we would like for you to come to the bank where we will explain it to you. It's not safe here."

Alex nodded in acceptance.

"Secondly, I came to tell you about your living arrangements when you leave St. Dominic's. Agent Daniels has volunteered to look after you and we decided it was satisfactory. He is currently filling out paperwork to make it seem legal and will be along to explain it to you further." Mrs Jones chanced a look at Alex. His face was blank and his eyes half shut again. "K-Unit has also been assigned to guard you. They will be remaining at the hospital with you and will probably move into Daniel's house. There will also be one soldier with you at all times."

Alex looked over at Wolf sitting in the corner of the room. The man nodded at him and even smiled a small bit. Things had changed since Brecon Beacons . . .

"And Alex? I am sorry. We are doing everything we can to stop them getting to you again." Mrs Jones swept from the room. This time, she didn't look back.

Wolf glanced at Cub's face. His expression was, for once, easy to read.

Too little, too late.

And there you go. Any reviews given are appreciated.

ForeverChasingDreams