Disclaimer: Well, I don't own neither NCIS nor Alex Rider or anything else you recognize. Shocker, huh?

AN: What do you guys feel about Alex and Eagle's relationship? Just a little heads up: Paradise won't hold out for long (that'd be boring) so enjoy it while you can...!

Like I said; this story starts out relatively slow, but I love action so you can count on that! ;)

Love, W

Chapter 2: The day hell froze over (~2,560 words)

The next morning found Alex, Ben and K-Unit in Mrs. Jones' office. The head's eyes stayed on Alex, adopting a slightly softer touch.

"You are in dire need of a vacation," Mrs. Jones announced.

Alex gaped utterly astonished at her boss. Even being a spy for four years didn't save her from showing this emotion.

Did hell just freeze?

Eagle grinned widely while everyone else tried to process the new development. Ben and Alex shared a quick glance, Wolf's jaw had dropped and even the always collected Snake stared incredulously at Mrs. Jones.

"Could you please repeat that? I might have heard you wrong. Did you just say we were going on a vacation?" Alex asked as politely as possible for her in this world-stopping moment.

Mrs. Jones sighed. "You are in dire need of a vacation. I know that you have worked very hard for the last four years and never been on a real holiday. So, since you (her lips twitched upward a bit) graduated at the top of your class, I have decided to give you two weeks off."

Alex turned to Eagle, whispering: "Pinch me please. I think hell just froze over."

He nudged her lightly.

"Oh, so it isn't a dream?"

"No."

Ben grinned at her antics, being used to her strange behavior in front of the heads. Lemming just stared and wondered about the familiarity between Mrs. Jones and Alex.

The younger spy turned back to stare at the middle-aged woman behind the large desk.

Alex adopted a stern look on her face. "Where is the catch?"

Mrs. Jones looked her dead in the eyes. "There is none. I thought you might like to spend some time with Sabina Pleasure and her family, so I arranged for a hotel in Washington, D.C. They are currently in town for a week because Edward Pleasure interviews several congressmen on their opinions of feminism today.* Your flight leaves in two hours. K-Unit will be there for your protection. After all, you can never be too safe. Do you have any other questions?"

Mrs. Jones' eyes never left Alex's composed face. She noticed the miniscule amount of emotions in the girl and was happy that the damage done by Blunt was not irreparable.

"Is it a mission for them?"

"Considering that you are unofficially a member of K-Unit I hardly expect them to be in fatigues. However, you are supposed to keep Alex safe. I know that all of you care for her in your own way so I assume you'll do it anyway."

"We will, Ma'am," Wolf promised.

"Wonderful. Smithers has a graduation gift waiting for you, Alex. Make sure to check in with him."

They were dismissed.

Lemming still stared at Alex.

He couldn't believe that the icy head of SO actually softened in her presence.

"How come the head of SO knows you?" he wanted to know. His curiosity had just been upped several notches.

"That, my friend, is for us to know and you to find out," Eagle answered extra cheerful. He loved to show the idiot up.

Alex grinned. "Would you guys wait in the foyer, please? It won't take long."

"Sure. Don't worry about it," Ben agreed. He knew that Smithers and Alex were friends in a spy-sort of way.

As much as spies can be friends and co-workers.

Alex pulled Eagle along, not wanting to separate from him just yet.

Ben shook his head lightly and smiled.

Smithers cheerfully greeted the couple.

"Alex, my dear, I heard you did fantastic on your A-levels. Now, I can't let you go off without a few gifts of my own."

He presented her with the usual - coins, gum, shampoo, hair dye, contacts, lipstick, powder - and then proceeded to take out another suit case and duffel bag.

"They are going to get your weapons through security at the airport. I thought you might like the blue better than magenta."

"Thanks. Blue is beautiful."

"Welcome, welcome, m'dear! I have added a one-of-a-kind gun in a secret compartment of the duffel bag as well. It's fingerprint-sensitive, light, easily concealed and holds more rounds than your usual handgun. I designed it myself after your preferred weapons. Just keep quiet about that, otherwise the others want one as well!"

Alex grinned. "Thank you, Smithers."

"My pleasure. I updated your phone while I was at it and your iPod as well. All of your clothes - already packed - are bulletproof and modified so nothing can cut through the fabric, like that old ski-suit. My assistant has added a few things without telling me much about them so I'm not sure what exactly she packed for you."

"Tell her I said hi, will you?"

"Naturally. Have a good time, Alex. I hear Washington D.C. is beautiful this time of the year."

"Thank you, Mr. Smithers. I will."

Eagle insisted on carrying her suitcase for her, but compromising on the duffel bag.

They bickered the whole way back, except for a quick kiss in the elevator. (Which Mrs. Jones saw on her computer screen. She actually smiled. No one witnessed this latest world wonder, though.)

Ben sighed, relieved that they could finally leave The Bank. "What took...? A new suitcase?"

"Yes. And it's blue."

"He gave you a new suitcase for graduation?" Lemming repeated, gloating a bit.

"He did. It's awesome. And you guys don't have to worry about me getting shot."

K-Unit grinned. They guessed that Smithers had given the teen bulletproof clothes again.

Well, all of them except their fourth member.

"Why would someone shoot you?" Lemming genuinely wondered.

Alex shrugged, as if it was obvious. "I've lived with Ben for three years now. He has enemies. They know he cares for me like a daughter, so what's better leverage?"

"Stop talking like that. We are not going to let that happen again," Wolf growled.

"It has happened before?"

"Yes. Now, we don't have much time to pack, so would you just consider what you will take with you?" Wolf 'suggested'.

While everyone packed, Alex called Sabina.

It was close to midnight for her but she would have to know.

"Alex?" a sleepy voice mumbled.

"Sab! Guess who is on vacation in the city you are currently staying at?"

"No freaking way!"

"Yes way. And it's really purely for a vacation. Nothing else. And the PA** even pays for the hotel and everything."

"Are you pulling my leg?!"

"No. Today is the day hell froze over but I'm honest with you."

"She is," Eagle added, stepping behind Alex and gently pulling her in a hug.

"Don't tell me your hunky boyfriend is coming with you?"

"Actually, he is. As well as Ben, K-Unit and Lemming."

"No way. If I wait for nothing at the airport today I'm going to kill you. There is this really cute guy working at the pool and I wanted to go swimming."

"You will not waste your time at the airport, I promise. We should be there in about eleven hours if everything goes smoothly."

"Awesome! I am so looking forward to seeing you!"

"Me too!"

They ended the call simultaneously.

"I suppose I'm the 'hunky boyfriend'?" Eagle teased.

"You are. Happy now?"

"No."

She got on her toes and kissed him. "Feeling better now?"

"Much better."

The flight was uneventful and quite boring.

Ben fell asleep, along with Snake and Lemming.

Alex leaned her head against Eagle's broad shoulders and closed her eyes, smiling contently.

She could feel his muscles underneath the white cotton t-shirt that always smelled like him. To Alex, Chris (Eagle's real name) was the perfect mix of manly aftershave and something she couldn't put her finger on but was heavenly.

On Sabina's scale he easily reached a twenty - 18 for Sabina - because of his easy smile, the ever-sparkling green eyes, the dark brown hair and of course the tanned muscles.

Even though he was six years older, he acted like a child most of the time she acted like an adult, so no one had a problem with the age gap.

Chris was able to comprehend what she went through on missions, because of his own assignments with K-Unit.

If Alex had to describe Chris's appearance in three words, they would be 'tall, dark and handsome.' (This was followed usually by Lou's add-on 'every (straight) girl's wet dream.')

So yes; Sabina referred to him as 'hunky'.

Eagle had wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Don't you want to sleep?" he whispered in her ear, worried that she was going to have a nightmare again.

"No. I am okay where I am right now."

He smiled. "That's good to know."

"So why don't you go to sleep?"

"I'm okay where I am as well, believe it or not."

Alex snuggled closer to his chest.

Definite six-pack., a voice supplied in her head. A voice sounding suspiciously like Sabina.

"You know, I'm wondering why Mrs. Jones sent all of us. She could have just sent Ben and you," Eagle muttered.

Alex looked up, in his eyes. "It's her gift to me."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"I'm guessing, she knows about us. Actually, I'm pretty sure she does. So, considering the little time we can spend together and the amount of time we're both gone, it would be nice to have you around on this holiday, huh?"

Eagle chuckled lowly and kissed her forehead. "I suppose so."

Sabina squealed loudly when she spotted the British group exiting the terminal. Her mother had accompanied her to the airport and smiled as well; they both had missed their former daughter/sister.

Sabina rushed ahead and hugged Alex. "You're here! It's been way too long!" she exclaimed.

A few old ladies stared at them, looking a bit constipated.

"Yes, Sab. Hi, Liz," Alex replied happily.

"Well, aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Sure. Ben you know already, Lemming, Wolf, Snake and Eagle."

"So you are Alex's sister?" Chris said, grinning at the nineteen-year-old girl.

Sabina replied with an affirmative: "I am. And you are Chris, correct?"

"Correct."

"Alex was right, thinking 20. But since you are taken, I'm still thinking 18," Sabina muttered.

Alex chuckled.

"However, by the time I'm done with you if you hurt her, you will be a -20. Catching my drift?"

Chris nonchalantly smiled. "I get that a lot and you are a hell of a lot less scarier than Alex's uncle."

The other soldiers tried not to dissolve into laughter at Sabina's questioning glance.

Alex giggled. "He's right. There is a line if that were to happen."

"Oh. We need to have a sleepover or something tonight. Did you have plans for dinner?" Sabina wondered.

Liz smiled and hugged Alex meanwhile.

"No, nothing specific."

"Well then; you guys are meeting the famous Ed Pleasure tonight," Sabina decided.

"At our place or yours?"

"Yours good?"

"Sure.", Ben assured the dark-haired girl. "I'll make a reservation as soon as possible."

Liz drove them to their hotel where Sabina followed her up to her room while Liz had to run some errands.

Alex knew that the questions would follow soon. The spy dropped her suitcase on the bed, opened it and started unpacking.

"So, how long have you guys been together exactly?" Sab wondered.

Alex smiled happily at her friend. "Eight months and two days."

"He is cute. And an absolute hunk."

"I know," Alex smiled. "He is very patient with me. And considerate. Sometimes jealous, but he gets over negative moods fast. It's not easy to brood when he is around."

"I'm happy for you," Sabina replied, serious.

"Thanks," Alex sighed when her eyes caught something unexpected in the suitcase. She groaned embarrassed. "Oh no!"

"What is it?"

"My friend packed the suitcase. And she thought I was as much of a man-eater as I was a womanizer," Alex explained, pointing at several things in her suitcase.

Sabina laughed. "So you aren't?"

"No! It took me two months to acknowledge the relationship and with his and my job and all... There was not much time left."

"The famous bad girl is still a virgin?" Sabina teased.

Alex blushed faintly. "Er, yes?"

"How can you not eat that eye candy?"

"Because I don't ... I don't know. I guess, I don't really have a choice in the matter. Ben's watching my every step. If he's gone, Wolf will stay with me. He sleeps with an eye and ear open, I swear."

"Did you try the 'I-sleep-at-my-friend's-house'-card?"

"That is kind of unproductive - the four share a flat."

"Damn. But do you want to?"

"Have you looked at him? Plus, he makes me laugh which is worth more than anything else."

"I take that as a yes," Sab muttered, already planning. "I think I could work something out. Are they your protection detail?"

"Yes."

Sabina grinned slyly. "I can work with that."

Uh oh. What did I get myself into now?

Someone knocked at the door that was apparently leading to the next room.

Alex cautiously opened.

To find Eagle on the other side.

He grinned. "That's funny. The receptionist told Ben that the door led to no one's room."

"So this is your room then?"

Alex grinned as well.

"It is," he confirmed, chuckling.

Sabina laughed. "I think someone really likes you up there, Al."

The spy looked startled but nodded. "I'm starting to believe the same thing."

Eagle shook his head lightly. "Alright. I'll leave you to it. I was just curious."

Alex grinned and kissed him, before he closed the door again.

Sabina let herself fall on the bed. "Looks like we don't need my devious plan."

"Yeah, looks like it."

They both shared a look, then proceeded to talk about everything that happened in their lives since they saw each other the last time. (Even though they skyped once a week if possible.)

A few hours later, Alex had everything stowed away and Sabina was describing the pool guy to her in great detail. (There was a reason she studied Art and Journalism.)

"...and he has a divine six-pack. I mean it. D-I-V-I-N-E."

Ben entered after knocking. "You might want to change. Dinner is in thirty," announced, smiling at the two teenagers.

"Thanks, we will."

"Alright. See you there."

Sabina jumped up from her relaxed position on the bed and smiled ad her friend. "I think I know what you'll need tonight."

Oh boy...

*I couldn't resist. Sorry.

**Peppermint Addict