Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider/NCIS.

An: Well, I would write 'Enjoy' but I don't think that's anything you'd really enjoy. And yes, it is a bit heavy. So don't eat or plan to eat if you have a weak stomach while reading this.

Chapter 14: Torture

"There are some articles on a bar fight before Alex was born. Panther was supposed to have killed a guy that insulted the army." McGee supplied from the background.

"That guy is the role model for everyone at Hell. I don't think he would have done something like that if he wasn't undercover."

"Considering that was right before he joined Scorpia..."

Tony stared at the phone, shocked.

Eagle sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, she's right. It runs in the family."

"Why did her father join Scorpia?"

"My conact wasn't sure. That's where his nick name – Hunter - comes from. He apparently was one of their best assassins and taught Gregorovich the ropes of the job. Until recently everyone thought MI6 killed him during an exchange. Alex had to be a few months old then... Fox said Hunter and his wife were killed on the plane to France by Alex's godfather."

"Shitty life," Tony commented.

"You saw some of her scars. What did you think?" Eagle slapped the back of Tony's head.

"Did you slap him for me?" That was Gibbs.

"I did."

Edward Pleasure had listened in on their conversation.

"I didn't know that Alex was betrayed by her own godfather. It would explain the way she behaved when she first came to live with us," he said thoughtfully. Eagle studied the man, smiling slightly.

"She trusts you now."

"Yes. Thanks to you. You put all of the broken pieces back together," a female voice whispered.

Sabina had woken up.

AN: If you do not like to read about someone being tortured (which I can fully understand – I hate to write about it TBH) skip the next part. It ain't gonna be pretty. And no, I'm not a psycho-/sociopath. Or into BDSM or something.

"You are in no position to threaten me, Alex."

They had arrived at their destination.

And Alex prepared herself mentally for what had to come next.

She was pushed or man-handled into a metallic room that reminded her of a morgue. There was only one 'table', a chair, an assortment of varying 'instruments' and definitely a hidden recording device.

They were perverse enough to document their 'experiments' thoroughly.

Vlad – grinning more than just slightly mad – was ready for their 'sessions'.

Alex struggled all the way to the metal shackles that were hanging from the ceiling.

Ah yes. This one comes with your very own morgue/torture chamber. If you are interested in hidden cells in the basement as well, you will love this house. So inconspicuous from the outside... Perfect for terrorist organizations, maniacs, socio-/psychopaths.

One of the guards cut off the black shirt she wore.

It wouldn't have mattered either way. The sole purpose of this action was to expose the Scorpia branding on her chest and to humiliate her further by taking (some of) her last dignity away.

Alex couldn't care less about her dignity.

They had most likely seen her naked in the video of her transformation.

At least she was still wearing her bra.

Go to your happy place.

She was secured into the shackles.

"Aleksandra, you know that we have to reprimand you for trying to run away. Don't you? You have been in this business long enough to know it's not all James Bond makes it out to be. So what do you have to say for yourself?"

Alex knew they wanted an apology from her.

Which she would give them the day hell really had frozen over.

Alex grinned. "Does your knee hurt badly, Vlad? Is the pain almost too much to bear?"

She was cut off by the first thunderous whip lash.

Not wanting to show her pain on the outside, she continued on. "Have I shattered your bloated ego? I'm so not sorry."

Two more strikes on her back.

Deep ones that drew blood.

Alex ground her teeth together, the only acknowledgment she would give them for whipping her back as strongly as that. Serious waves of pain exploded in her body.

Vlad enjoyed his little revenge obviously. The prove of just how much he enjoyed himself at the moment was clearly visible to anyone who watched.

Alex decided to taunt him with it, thinking about new insults rather than the excruciating pain in her back which threatened to overtake her senses and control.

She defiantly held the gaze of her captor, giving off the impression of a deadly caged animal that was rather dying than to be broken in.

Many had tried and she had always – always – found her way back to herself.

"Do you enjoy (lash) the view, you pervert? (double lash) With an ugly face like yours (lash) I wouldn't be surprised (lash) if even the paid company (lash) would run away from you. (double lash)"

Alex kept her voice even and steady throughout her whole taunting speech. Her brown eyes seemed coated with ice, glaring, boring themselves into Vlad's, daring him to whip her harder.

Even Walker who had known her previously was surprised about how much control she exerted over her own body. Other men and women had been a quivering mess of blood, tears and sweat at this point.

Not Alex, it appeared.

Vlad was only getting more and more furious. He wanted to work his rage off on her, maybe enjoy the view a little – she was beautiful even with blood running down her back (Sorry. It's just such a messed up character.) - and force her into submission. But somehow she was only enraging him further, his whole plan backfiring on him.

She taunted him when it should be the other way around.

She defied him even when he was clearly in charge of her.

Or should be in charge of her.

"It appears to me as if you made your choice. Twenty lashes and Walker, you're counting," the Russian ex-mobster ordered in a barely controlled voice.

Okay. Break. Or I might barf.

Laughter. Deep, genuine, happy laughter mixed with her breathless giggles.

"I'm sorry, birdbrain. I'm sorry!"

"You are not, Princess. Not enough, anyway."

Gentle fingers tickling her mercilessly.

Calloused fingers that could work incredible magic on her back if she really needed a massage.

Soft fingers that were simultaneously able to evoke the hidden fire in her and keep the ice far, far away.

"Please... stop...!"

"Promise to never ever do something as stupid as that again."

"I... promise...!"

He grinned mischievously, bending down to kiss her gently with those surprisingly soft lips of his she apparently could never get enough of.

Lips that could do unspeakable things to her body.

Lips that could soothe her pain, make her forget.

Lips that promised trust, love and warmth.

"Next time you think about blowing a compound up while you're still in it, I will kill you myself. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

He bend down, still having her hands in one of his, kissing her more urgently.

She retaliated, not caring in the least about his gentle hold on her. She could break it at any point if she wanted or needed to.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Sadly, the break is over. Urgh. I just hate myself for this. Hardly fair, right?

Alex smiled at the still fresh memory. That night had been one of the best in her life. Even though she had giggled to her unending shame.

The memory of that night kept the pain at bay – somewhat.

Her mind was clearer than expected. She was still able to concentrate to a certain extend.

Vlad was obviously not happy about the results of his 'work'. She should be a broken, quivering, sobbing mess by now. Yet the receiver of his vicious treatment smiled. How can she still be smiling?

Nobody had ever lasted this long.

Alex didn't appear to care when she was released from the shackles.

She didn't hiss in pain or bit her teeth together so hard they drew blood.

She was completely immersed in the happy memory.

Walker was silently impressed. Alex had never once shouted in pain. She had simply endured the pain, bore it like Atlas bore the world on his shoulders, and – smiled.

"No food today, I'm afraid. I hope you enjoy your new décor?"

"Oh, brain matter was always my favorite," Alex answered sardonically.

"You might be able to... persuade me to change my mind about the food... Depends if you ask – nicely."

She fixed a whole new hatred-filled glare on Vlad, spitting at his combat-boot-covered feet. "You are a vain, arrogant bastard. I will never belong to your little collection. Remember that. I only say it once. And if you dare to touch me, I will bite your little friend off so you'll be able to sing the high C for the rest of your miserable life."

Walker hid his amusement well, but Alex saw the skin around his eyes wrinkle minutely.

They are everything but united. These two hate each other's guts...

Vlad paled in anger (or fear?). "No food for the next two days. Get her out of my presence! Put something on her lashes. She can't be delirious for the next session."

The guards obeyed right away. Orders were not questioned.

Not if they didn't want to decorate some other wall with their blood and brain matter.

Alex, still bound at her hands, struggled with superhuman pain-tolerance against the men that man-handled her back to the cell.

She was weakened by her wounds and the blood loss, but she was Lioness.

She would never give up without a fight.

Torture is over. Back to the man we all love and adore for his sometimes blatant idiocy and sweetness.

Edward Pleasure had listened in on their conversation.

"I didn't know that Alex was betrayed by her own godfather. It would explain the way she behaved when she first came to live with us," he said thoughtfully.

Eagle studied the man, smiling slightly. "She trusts you now."

"Yes. Thanks to you. You put all of the broken pieces back together," a female voice whispered.

Sabina had woken up.

Eagle stared incredulously and gratefully at the stubborn black-haired girl. She was clearly exhausted, but she made an effort to stay awake long enough to answer their questions.

"I have no idea where they kept me. It was very silent, though. No cars driving by or sirens going off or anything. They mostly kept me somewhere with windows. I could feel the warmth of the sun and it was real not some heater, trust me. I never saw any of them. I was blindfolded and if not then they would make me look into some bright light so I wouldn't distinguish their faces," Sabina stared into Eagle's eyes.

"I'm sorry I can't help you very much. I know that Alex traded herself for me, I heard them discussing some kind of deal in Russian."

"How do you know Russian?" Tony was honestly surprised.

Sabina smiled wryly. "Alex taught me the basics during a vacation once. She thought we could talk more privately, because most people here don't speak Russian. She is a very good teacher."

"I know," Eagle tried to smile reassuringly.

Damn. This is a dead end.

Sabina saw right through his façade. "Don't beat yourself up. Alex will get through this like she got through everything else."

"You better not beat yourself up either. Alex thought she had no other choice and would have gone either way. At least you are safe now."

"Call me when she gets back, so I can yell at her, please?"

Eagle smiled genuinely, just slightly. "I will. After yelling at her myself."

"Good. And threaten her with something substantial like not kissing her for a very long time."

Tony grinned. "You two could really be sisters."

Tony's phone rang again.

It was a message from an anonymous source. Without thinking his actions through, Tony automatically opened the mail.

They all paled considerably as he watched the video on his display.

Sabina couldn't stand the horrible, brutal lashing without vomiting.

And the others were all tempted to follow suit.