Tom licked his lips nevously, four very strong, very well trained in combat men were standing in front of him. Tom was not normally one to be intimidated, however these men were pissed.
"Look kid-" The scottish one-snake-began.
"Tom."
"Tom, we need some answers, and you better give us them." He said, an angry shadow creeping across his face.
"I will! I promise I'll tell you everthing I know, but first we need to help Alex." Tom said.
"He's right Snake. We have to get Cub to a safe place where he can heal." Eagle said quietly.
"Where?" Ben said. He was devastated to see the brave agent he'd worked with, looking so weak.
"My house." Tom said suddenly.
"Your house?" Wolf said in disbelief, "I know he's your friend but we can't take him to your house."
"Why not? It's close by, my parents won't notice and there's a first aid kit in the bathroom."
"We have our own first aid kit." Wolf argued.
"I think we should." Snake said.
"What? Why?" Wolf asked.
"Cub needs help soon, so it's better than driving miles, a hospital is out of the question unless we want them to arrest US for child abuse, there is no proof that it was that bloke until Alex wakes up. They won't take Tom's word over ours as Tom didn't witness the initial attack."
"Fine. Fox, deal with that piece of shit in a discreet way, so that he won't know what the hell happened."
Ben Daniels crept down the stairs cautiously, he had never expected this when he got that call. He didn't even know that Alex had his mobile number.
A strong scent of whisky reached Ben's nose momentarily causing him to hold his breath, empty bottles and take away wrappers cluttered what Ben supposed was the sitting room.
A few curse words directed his attention to the kitchen, silently he looked in. The man Had his back to Ben, he was about the height of wolf. Silently Ben crept up behind him and with a swift elbow to the side of his head the man crumpled to the floor.
Grabbing hold of his feet, Ben roughly dragged him back through to the sitting room and dumped him heavily on the sofa. Rushing back into the kitchen he raked through the fridge before discovering a full bottle of whiskey.
He poured a good three quarters down the sink and placed the quarter full bottle on the coffee table next to the man. He turned the TV on next and left the remote next to the bottle.
Hopefully the bloke wasn't too bright and would think he'd fallen asleep drinking and had a killer hangover.
Snake had managed to splint Alex's broken leg while Fox was downstairs, he then set to work on locating the souce of the blood.
It soon became apparent, when with the help of Wolf, they moved Alex gently to check his back. It was black and blue with multiple cuts and wounds.
"We need to get him out of here as soon as possible."
Fox appeared at the bedroom door, he looked green as he saw the mess of Alex's back.
"He's knocked out." was all he said.
Snake carefully put Alex's T-shirt back on him, then with extraordinary care he lifted him into his arms.
Taking extra care not to bang his leg off anything, he followed Ben down the stairs.
Tom coughed slightly at the reek, causing Wolf to glare at him as if to say 'shut up!'.
Once in the 4x4, Tom found himself sitting between Snake and Eagle with Alex draped over their knees.
Every single speed bump they crossed was accompanied with a curse. Carefully Alex was carried into Tom's house and straight into his bedroom.
Eagle brought all the medical supplies they owned in the car, into the house.
"Any chance of a basin of clear water?" Snake asked.
"Sure give me a second. Stay here." Tom said sneaking out his door.
A man and woman's voices could be heard wuite loudly.
"I don't care what you say, he's my god damn son and I'll take him if I want."
"You won't dare take him, you stupid cow! He deserves better than you."
"Listen here, a judge will understand my views."
"I will not let you speak to me like a piece of shit."
"You are a piece of shit!"
"You're one to ta-"
The door slammed shut, muting the rest of the arguement.
"Don't worry," Tom said placing the water near Snake, "They're too busy to interrupt."
"Are they alright?" Eagle asked frowning slightly at the door.
"Yeah, they just can't agree on some things." Tom said, ending the convesation.
Snake poured antiseptics into the water before cleaning his back with cloths. Pretty soon the water was a disgusting pink, but Alex's back was clean and Snake worked on dressing the wounds.
His leg was next, after removing the makeshift splint he (with the help of Wolf ) fixed it up as best they could, however it was obvious it'd need a cast.
"Fox? Do you think you can wake him up know?"
Ben inched forwards hesitantly.
"Alex?" Gently Ben shook his shoulder, "Come on Cub, wake up.".
Alex squeezed his eyes tightly together. It hurt. He didn't want to wake up, to accept that once again the stupid idiot Jack was dating managed to defeat him. Again. He had saved the world many times, but that brute still managed to hurt him.
"Alex?" A familiar voice said.
Alex fought againts the pain, trying in vain to hold onto the blissful darkness. He didn't want to wake up.
"Alex, wake up!" Tom. So Tom was there, that was strangely reassuring.
"Cub!"
Cub? Was a member of K-Unit here. Shit! That voice was definately Eagle's. What the hell had Tom got him into this time.
Carefully he opened his eyes, he was at Tom's house, there were those stupid glow-in-the-dark stars that Tom had stuck on his ceiling. He'd had them for years and was adamant that they still glowed at night, but Alex knew they didn't.
"Alex?"
"Ben?"
Sorry for the huge delay. Really I am. Not sure if this is any good, I just wanted to prove that I haven't and never will abandon this story.
Next chapter: People get answers and Alex goes to the hospital (maybe depends how long they talk for)
I don't own Alex Rider at all