Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own anything except the plot and my craziness.

AN: Okay, a little fluff before the serious-serious part starts.

Oh and to paint a clearer picture of what I meant with the Scorpia branding: imagine a target (like in Robin Hood) in the form of a scorpian on the center of Alex's chest. She would have to be drunk or not the 'good girl' she pretended to be, if she got a tattoo like that voluntarily.

That's why Gibbs doubts her.

Enjoy! (Don't hate me, okay?)

Chapter 5: Choose (~2,690 words)

When Alex was done, McGee tried to run a routine background check on her name.

When he typed 'Aleksandra Daniels' in the FBI data base, he was suddenly fighting firewalls without end in sight.

What is so special about the girl that the files are that highly encrypted?

In the same moment, Alex's work phone rang.

Ben, Chris and her stared at it for a second.

All of the happiness vanished from her face, leaving the 'spy mask' in it's place.

Alex answered the call and went inside her room.

"Mrs. Jones? What do you want?" was the last thing they heard.

"Alex! Someone just tried to hack into your files. We were alerted through that. Are you okay?" Mrs. Jones asked.

"Yes; as good as I get when involuntarily swimming with a dead marine," Alex retorted.

"Are you sure no one saw your tattoo?"

"I wore a shirt over my bikini, but it's semi-transparent, so I'm not certain. It was a professional. I'm sure."

"Yes, I am too. This is the fourth murder in two weeks."

"The fourth?"

"Yes. Two looked like homeless men who had gotten on the bad side of a dealer but in reality where former SO men. And one was an ex-CIA agent."

"How does the marine fit in?"

"He used to work for Black Ops and was an informant as well," Mrs. Jones popped a peppermint in her mouth.

"You need to be careful. We suspect a new group behind these murders. They are cleaning their shelves at the moment."

"And I'm the cookie jar," Alex whispered.

"You are. The organization is made up of ex-Scorpia assassins, a few mobsters and Alex - they don't play by the rules. If you angered them in the past, you'll turn up like the marine today. Even if it was by accident."

Alex listened closely as Mrs. Jones went on.

McGee stared at the smoking, molted plastic which used to be his favorite toy - his computer.

He had not passed one firewall and some virus had been activated that destroyed everything, including the hard drive.

Tony wrinkled his nose at the penetrating stench of burned plastic. "What happened, McGeek?"

Gibbs simply looked strangely at his technology expert. He pitied McGee for losing something that meant so much to him. Besides – the stench was quite prominent.

"I was doing the background check like you asked, Boss, and somehow there was a virus activated. Her file is heavily guarded and I don't have the clearance to access it, obviously," McGee answered, still staring at the destroyed computer in front of him.

"You think her Dad is one of the Russian mobsters?" Tony suggested.

"She said her birth parents were dead," Ziva replied.

A messenger entered the office. "Where can I find Agent McGee?"

"He's here," Tony answered.

"I have a package for you, Agent McGee," the messenger explained and hurled a huge bland box on top of McGee's desk. "It came with a card."

McGee opened the card cautiously. "It says: 'Sorry about your computer. See you soon. A.' Nothing else."

"Do you think the A stands for Alex?" Tony wondered.

Ziva went through every second of the day with the girl, checking for extraordinary behavior. She had not acted different from any other teenage girl, as far as Ziva could tell, but there was something in the back of her mind...

The girl seemed familiar, somehow...

"Why would she know about this?" McGee responded.

"And why didn't she say she had a special status? If her file is that important..."

"She also said her adoptive father was an overseas manager for a bank..." Ziva muttered, suddenly having an idea. Why did that sound strange all of a sudden?

"And what's with the 'See you soon.'?" Tony asked. "She can't fancy you. I mean, she already has a boyfriend."

Ziva ignored the two and called a few old contacts of hers; maybe they would clear things up?

Chris was gently pulled into Alex's bedroom. She had been contacted by MI6, they all knew that much, but what they had talked about was a mystery to the soldiers and even Ben. Snake got up, as well as Lemming, and went to read a new medical book he had bought the other day.

"What's up?" he simply asked, mentally preparing himself for a rant.

"The roof," she retorted automatically.

Chris managed a genuine grin. Sarcasm was good in this kind of situation.

Alex sighed, turning serious. "Actually, Mrs. Jones called because someone was trying to get by the firewalls and hack into my file."

They both were all business now.

If the hacker got a hold on her information...

"Naturally, he didn't succeed. The computer broke down and the owner - a certain NCIS agent called McGee - was most likely trying to confirm my ID from that incident today."

That was not what he had expected to hear. At all.

Where is she going with this?

"The body that was dumped on me, the marine, was killed professionally. '6 suspect ex-Scorpia assassins that operate in a new organization which is basically like Scorpia but is not as...refined and isn't bound by Scorpia treaties. Which means they are not bound by the same truce between '6 and Scorpia about me."

Alex had this look in her eyes; the one she only got during missions.

It took a moment for that bombardment of information to sink in. Then his eyes widened when realization hit him.

"They...could kill you," he stammered out, too shocked for more.

She was in danger.

They probably knew where she was at the moment...

"Yes," she confirmed curtly. "Which is why Mrs. Jones has asked me to help the NCIS out. She thinks the organization will disband if caught this early and the NCIS agents are supposed to be very good at witness protection."

Chris felt cold dread pool in his stomach.

He knew where she was coming from now. He knew she had made her decision already. But he didn't give up without a fight.

"You're on holiday. You don't need to do this."

"I do. I don't want to have more people killed. That marine was the fourth victim. I need to help."

"No, you don't," he deadpanned. "Look, I understand if you are sent on missions and come back hurt. I hate it, but I can. I would be hypocritical if not. However, you haven't had a decent time off since three years ago. Let somebody else do this job. Please, Alex."

She stared incredulously at him. "All you care about are the holidays?"

That was the last straw to his strained emotions.

"No! I freaking care about you! Damn it! I would rather the freaking world ended than know you'll get hurt or killed! For God's sake! I would die happily if you wouldn't get hurt!" he exploded.

For a moment there was nothing but tension-filled silence in the room.

Alex had tears in her eyes even though she blinked rapidly so they wouldn't stream down her cheeks.

Chris hated himself for putting them there with his emotional explosion.

"Why would you do that?" the teen whispered. For me?

Chris, frustrated, ran a hand through his hair and sighed as well. That was not how he planned this. But better now than never.

Maybe it would at least keep her recklessness at a somewhat norma level.

"Because you are damn worth it! You always act like you're not, but you are. Alex, you are a reckless, selfless temptress, not a monster. You are worth every single idiotic remark, tease and threat I have to endure. To me, you are perfectly worth it." Chris said exasperated, angry with himself, MI6, the world.

Then he added in a low, hoarse voice: "Because I love you."

Alex stared at him for a moment, unable to comprehend his words.

"I love you. I don't freaking care that you were a boy in the past. All that counts is the present. And right now you are a stunningly beautiful, highly intelligent woman. A young woman, but nonetheless, you are one. When we thought you were shot by Walker, my damn heart stopped, because I cared for you already then! When you come back from missions beat up, bruised and broken, all I care is that you are still breathing. That you'll heal at some point. That you are freaking alive. I may want to beat the sh** out of the idiots who injured and probably nearly killed you, but it's not my main concern. That's you."

Chris didn't know what to do to prove that he was sincere. That he loved her.

He spilled his heart out to her.

And she just stood there and stared at him.

Chris couldn't bear this any longer.

He needed to breathe.

Space.

Walking briskly to the door to flee the oppressive silence, to be anywhere but in this room.

"I love you, too," Alex whispered quietly.

The soldier almost didn't catch her words. Almost. He turned back around, astonished that she said those four words.

"I love you too. And your craziness. Even if you call me princess," she cracked a half-smile. "It kind of grows on you after a while."

He sat back down, now the one staring at her. Since when did she like to be called 'Princess'?

Somehow, she gained strength from that particular motion.

Chris knew that it cost her a whole lot of courage and trust to open up to him like this.

"I know that you are curious and you want to know what happens on my missions, but you never press me for answers if you notice that I would rather not talk about crap like that. At least right then. The others don't give you enough credit for your observation skills or consideration. I also know that you are always there if I need you. Even at two in the morning. I know that you want to shield me from pain, but, birdbrain, if I wouldn't do it, someone else, some other unfortunate kid, will. I can't let that happen," she explained fiercely, but sad as well.

"That's why I went back in the first place. If I survive long enough to be someone at '6, I can stop them from using minors. Because I care about that as well. And I don't want those NCIS agents to get hurt unnecessarily so I'll try and help them out a little. I don't want what happened to me happen to anyone else. I have the knowledge, the strength and permission to help these agents out. In the future, maybe I'll need their help. One hand washes the next and all that. So, will you support me?"

He nodded and smiled faintly, but stayed serious. "I'll always have your back. Just promise me something, Princess."

Alex inclined her head to indicate that she listened.

"Try not to get killed."

She knew he meant it. Nonetheless there was a faint smile on her lips as well. "I'll do my best."

"And if you need to fake your death or something, tell me somehow. Please?"

"Promise," she whispered against his lips, straddling him to kiss the tears goodbye - for this night at least.

He embraced her advance and held her body tightly against his own, relishing her warmth, her love for the last time.

"If you accept the mission, we need to separate. You know the rules," he whispered, feeling his heart break at the same time as he said those words.

"Yes, I know. But I haven't accepted anything yet, not officially anyway," she muttered, not letting go.

Alex was desperate to show him how much exactly she loved him.

That even though they would have to work together, again, her feelings wouldn't change.

"Temptress," he accused in between passionate kisses, feeling her hands grabbing his shirt.

"Idiot," she retorted lovingly.

"Princess..."

"Birdbrain."

"There is someone eavesdropping," he cautioned, only stopping her for a moment.

"I thought so as well," Alex smirked. She raised her voice slightly. "Leave now or it's your own fault if you listen to things you never wanted to hear in the first place."

Someone tried to open the locked door.

"Alex..."

"No, Ben. I'm legally an adult. Besides, this is the last day of my already ruined holiday. So just have a cookie or whatever and relax. Tomorrow, we have work to do and places to be."

Chris chuckled, despite the more than awkward position they were in.

Nobody spoke to Ben like that.

Of course Alex was the exception to most rules.

"He's going to kill me for this," Chris whispered.

Alex ignored the pounding at the door and continued to undress him.

"Not if he wants to live another day," was her only response, pulling his head down to meet her lips again.

This was the last time they could be together as a couple for who knew how long.

And if the others couldn't understand, then they were insensitive bastards and not worth her time, Alex decided.

Wolf and Ben had tried to eavesdrop which was fairly easy in the beginning.

Eagle was clearly not amused.

What they didn't expect was him to pour his heart out to Alex. Whatever she had said to him made him desperate enough to tell her what everyone else already knew subconsciously.

Then Alex had responded by returning this particular sign of love and trust.

Even though they couldn't understand what exactly she said, it obviously placated Eagle somewhat.

And then they heard low kissing sounds.

Ben had turned an interesting shade of red and tried to open the door while Wolf knew to back off.

"Alex..." Ben growled.

"No, Ben. I'm legally an adult. Besides, this is the last day of my already ruined holiday. So just have a cookie or whatever and relax. Tomorrow, we have work to do and places to be," the teen pointed out.

Surprisingly, Wolf was the one to drag Ben away.

"She is right. And if we really do have another mission, they can't be together anymore. This is Alex desperately trying to calm her own insecurity," Wolf whispered, astonishingly sensitive.

Ben scowled.

Snake had heard the commotion. "What did Mrs. Jones want?"

"We're on a mission. Begins tomorrow morning," Wolf told him.

A look of understanding crossed Snake's face as he looked from Ben to the locked door. "I'm guessing you want a drink?"

"Yes, please."

Snake poured the spy a generous finger of Tequila.

"And you can't even kill him. She initiated that."

"Yes, I know," Ben said curtly. "I don't have to like it though, do I?"

"No. But at least it's him and not some inconsiderate bastard," Snake argued.

Ben downed his second Tequila. "Like Hugo?"*

"Yeah, Hugo," Wolf nodded dutifully. Whoever that is.

Gibbs stormed angrily into the bullpen, just returning from a meeting with the director.

"We are getting a specialist on this case. Apparently this agent had to deal with assassins before," he said to his team.

Right away he was bombarded with questions from McGee and Tony, while Ziva focused on the elevator.

"Who is it?"

"When is the agent coming?"

"Where is he from?"

"Well... I'm guessing that would be me. And you already know my name."

*Check chapter 1. Ben mentions a boy from school that tried to get with Alex at a party. (It's at the bottom of that particular chapter.)