A/N o-0 looonggg chappie this one! Also, I apologize for my extended absence, my pc had a fit!

Disclaimer: wow, I haven't been doing these…Under no circumstances do I own Alex Rider and any of the other aspects invented by Anthony Horowitz!!! I do how ever take full responsibility for Ivana and other OC!

Chapter 15, Explanations and Warnings

Alex looked around interestedly. Yassen's enormous manor was definitely impressive.

"Told you… the man's incapable of getting anything but the best…" Ivana panted. She was leaning on Alex, arm wrapped around his shoulders. Yassen had gone ahead to get the surgeon that he employed. Ivana had lost a lot of blood and was terribly prone to infections left untreated. Still, Alex thought, asking me to hold her up is a bit much. He could fell her cold, hard knuckles against the nape of his neck. Alex tried not to shudder at the thought of the blades he'd seen protruding from her knuckles. Silently, he mentally scolded himself for such thoughts. Alex would only spook himself. Still, it was hard not to think about it. It didn't help that Ivana was pretty as well, even if she was cynical. At that moment, Ivana noticed his staring.

"Why are you staring at me?" Her tone wasn't aggressive; rather, it was quietly curious. Alex figured she was too weak for sarcasm. Swallowing awkwardly (his throat was still bruised from earlier on), he wondered how to answer. Looking amused, Ivana asked,

"Cat got your tongue?"

Before he could reply with a snappy retort, Yassen returned with a man following.

"This is Dr. Dupont."

Dr. Dupont gave no indication that he knew he'd been introduced. He was a stout man, leathery skinned with square glasses. What little hair he had was a dirty shade of silver. Dr. Dupont was watching Alex suspiciously. Turning to Yassen, he abruptly unleashed a torrent of angry Spanish. It was obvious by the way he gestured that he was unhappy about a stranger being present. He stopped abruptly when Yassen answered in impeccable Spanish himself. Alex tried to keep up, but both men were speaking too fast. However, he did catch the words 'John' and 'MI6'. Feeling uneasy, Alex unconsciously stretched, nearly unbalancing Ivana.

"H-hey! Watch it!" She snapped after righting herself. Quick as a flash, Dupont was besides them. Muttering under his breath, he pushed Ivana to a nearby room. Yassen followed silently, motioning for Alex to do the same. The room he walked into reminded him forcefully of a TV clinic. Shrugging, he noticed that Ivana was sitting on the patient bed looking very pale and grumpy. The gash across her collarbone still oozed blood slowly. Dr. Dupont bustled around, collecting supplies. As Alex and Yassen entered the room, he whirled around and spoke heavy Spanish.

"You! What you been up to?! She's lost a lot of blood and has half building sticking out of her!"

Alex flinched at the doctors tone, speaking like that to Yassen seemed one step removed from suicide. Looking at the Russian however, he was surprised. Yassen merely nodded and looked over at Ivana who was frowning bad temperedly.

"Now I know how the stupid animals in the zoos feel." She grumbled.

"Shut up while I work please!" Dr. Dupont exclaimed, picking up a container of anti-septic. Without further ado, he splashed some of the strong smelling liquid onto Ivana's wounds. Even though it was surely burning, Ivana didn't flinch. Even when Dupont picked up the medical thread and needle she didn't react. Rather, she observed interestedly as Dupont sewed up the gash across her collarbone. Alex watched less happily. He'd never liked medical shows and watching Ivana's skin get pulled tight by the thread wasn't doing wonders for his stomach. Yassen also looked less then amused by what he saw, though Alex suspected he was still angry at Ivana for 'forgetting' to mention she was injured.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Alex asked curiously. Ivana didn't even glance up from where Dupont was finishing up.

"No, not at all. Dr. Dupont gave me a local anaesthetic." Her tone was cool and nonchalant (brief Author Interruption: teehee... I love that word: nonchalant). Yassen looked over at Dupont at these words.

"Yes! I did, figured painkillers would do her good!" the doctor nodded slowly. Alex suddenly got the feeling he didn't like Dupont, something about him made his skin crawl. Shaking off his suspicious thoughts, Alex pointed to Ivana.

"What're you going to do about the shrapnel?" he asked. Dupont picked up a pair of tweezers and a plastic container.

"What do you think?" his sarcastic answer set Alex's temper rising. Perhaps noting this, Yassen gestured to him.

"Come Alex, Dupont will be some time with Ivana."

Alex warily followed Yassen out of the clinic. The Russian silently led the way through a labyrinth of hallways and staircases. Eventually, they came to a door locked with a keypad. Alex tried to catch what the code was, but Yassen typed it in too quickly. With a muted click, the door opened revealing a modern living area. Walking in, the lights activated automatically. Yassen sat cross legged on a stool by the countertop. He looked amused by the awkward way Alex remained standing by the door.

"Sit. This is as much your house as it is Ivana's and mine."

'Who would have thought I'd move out at 16 and share a house with my uncle's killer and a girl who I know nothing about?' Alex thought at he chose a chair opposite Yassen.

"I'm sure you're desperate for some explanations…" Yassen's tone was light, but Alex could hear the purpose behind it. Alex felt very uncomfortable, only three times had he been alone with the Russian and each time had left a mental scar on him. The first had been after his first mission; Yassen delivered a warning that Alex shouldn't be involved with MI6, much less a killer's world. The second had been in France, when Alex could have killed Yassen easily. However, he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger and Yassen had told him that killing wasn't as easy as he thought. He'd also reminded Alex of his earlier warning.

"Alex?" Yassen asked, curious as to why the teen hadn't answered. Looking up, Alex was reminded of the last time he'd seen Yassen. Shot by madman Damien Cray on Air Force One, the Russian had told Alex that he'd known his Father. Before he'd died, he'd told Alex to go to Scorpia, where he'd find his destiny. Except, Alex thought, he didn't die, he's here now. Blinking to clear his mind, he asked the burning question.

"How are you alive? I saw you get shot and bleed, so don't tell me it wasn't real!" Alex remembered the odd emotions he'd felt when he believed the Russian to be dead. There'd been no satisfaction, only a deep sorrow. He'd believed that he'd felt that because of the man's relation to his Father. Now, he knew he'd been miserable because the one person who seemed to understand him was dead. It had taken quite some time with the MI6 therapist to sort that particular array of emotions out.

Yassen's gaze was almost gentle now.

"No, you're right, it was real. Everything was. I never expected to live when I was shot."

Alex cocked an eyebrow.

"Then shouldn't you be dead?" he asked bluntly.

"I probably should be." Yassen answered sounding almost amused, as if normal things like dieing didn't apply to him

"So why aren't you?" Alex asked.

Yassen thought silently for a moment before answering.

"Right away, I felt there was something wrong with working for Cray. I took the liberty of wearing a light Kevlar vest." After a brief pause, Yassen continued.

"Even with that however, the bullet did enough damage."

Here, Yassen pulled the neck of his shirt low enough for Alex to see the white scar not far below his collarbone. Unconsciously, Alex put his hand to his own chest, covering the spot where the Scorpia Sniper had shot with near fatal results. The two scars were not dissimilar. With a grim face, Yassen nodded in Alex's direction.

"We're more similar then most realize. Certainly, MI6 never guessed, otherwise I suspect they would've tried to kill you or me."

Alex opened his mouth to say he was nothing like the Russian, but then he closed it. It was true, he even agreed that MI6 would've tried to kill him if they'd known how he felt. In the cold world of Alan Blunt, emotions like his were dangerous threats to his scheming. Better to remove the threat all together then to reason with it. Suddenly, Yassen spoke again.

"Doubtlessly, you have other questions. Now's the time to ask."

Alex thought for a second, and then began.

"How did you know I was in Russia?"

Yassen gestured to a laptop on the nearby coffee table.

"A relatively simple program, it alerts me whenever a certain passport turns up in a country of my choosing."

"Okay…" Alex thought again. Odd, before, he'd been full of questions. Now he was having trouble thinking of them.

"Why…What do you need Ivana and me for?"

Yassen shrugged.

"To be honest, I don't need either of you. Ivana found me, and having her around made me think that liberating you from MI6 rule might be a good idea. I suspect it's my first 'good deed' in years now."

Laughing hollowly, Alex shook his head.

"And that's all?"

Looking a little less light-hearted, Yassen gazed at Alex unnervingly.

"Not including the fact that most are killed, the average assassin retires around thirty-three."

Confused, Alex asked,

"I don't get it…what does?"

"I'm thirty-seven Alex." Yassen interrupted.

Surprised, Alex looked away. Yassen Gregorovich didn't appear to have aged since two years ago. He still looked like a man in his twenties. Unsure how to reply, Alex went for the comic approach.

"If it's any consolation, you look younger." He joked weakly. He winced as his laughs aggravated his bruised windpipe.

Yassen frowned as he noted Alex's discomfort.

"How did that happen? It looks painful."

Rubbing his throat ruefully, Alex nodded.

"It is painful. Ivana did it by accident going out the window."

Speaking of the girl brought another question to mind.

"What's with Ivana anyway, why does she hate MI6 and why's she…" he trailed off, gesturing to his hand. Yassen didn't answer immediately, he sat silently for a moment, speculating. Finally, he answered Alex.

"I know I said I'd answer questions, but this is not my story to tell." Alex must have looked a little put off because Yassen suggested lightly,

"if you truly wish to know, ask Ivana yourself."

Standing, the Russian said,

"I'm going to see how Ivana is doing now. I suggest you stay away, Dupont wasn't pleased by having an audience whilst he worked."

Alex answered a little sarcastically.

"I wonder if it was the prospect of an audience or me that annoyed him?"

Taking his comment seriously, Yassen nodded.

"Many of the people I know are wary of stranger, especially…younger strangers such as yourself and Ivana. I suggest you do not do anything to disrespect them. Perhaps they will do the same."

Definitely sarcastic now, Alex couldn't help but sneer.

"Oh yes, me and Dupont, best of friends."

Looking a little annoyed now, Yassen shook his head.

"I cannot force you to do anything against your wishes, but let me offer this warning: although I will not allow any of my contacts to harm you, it would be very unwise to make enemies so soon after arriving." With these parting words, Yassen left the room, leaving Alex deep in thought.