No reviews…thanks…By the way, I've just read Snakehead and decided this happens through the middle of it, so he's done everything in Snakehead except get back and meet Sabina.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

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Kristen knew that she would have to tell Shen everything sometime. They'd been friends since his father had introduced them, for several months. And then his father had been murdered by a rival gang. So Shen was leader of the Triads. It wasn't that he himself was corrupt, like the other thirteen officials, he just looked on everything as 'business', and a way of life, Kristen mused as she buried her face in a pillow.

--

Alex had got up early and found a note in Kristen's room. She'd barely unpacked.

Don't try and leave the hotel. They'll see you immediately. I'm in their building now;; wish me luck. Or don't really. I won't be in any danger, because now they 'owe' me. Be back soon. Kristen.

"Huh. Typical," he muttered, taking the note and himself back into his room. Alex was still annoyed that he'd been forced to take on yet another mission, and this time so far from backup. And all he really had to do was shadow Kristen! Surely MI6 could think up something better for him to do.

He heard someone unlock Kristen's room and go in. Wondering if she'd come back, he knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" Kristen's voice was muffled.

Alex opened the door and went back into her room, only to find her staring at her pillow.

"Uh, well, are you alright?" he asked uncertainly.

She sat up, tossing the pillow aside and hugging her knees. "Yeah."

"So how did your 'return' go?"

"Fine."

What's up with the one word answers!? What, is she angry at me? Why the hell would she?

"They didn't try to kill you?" he asked seriously, but with a spark in his eyes.

Kristen shrugged. "I think they would have…if it wasn't for Shen."

"Shen?"

"The leader."

"Does he need to be killed?" Alex asked casually.

She whipped her head around, sending a look of daggers stabbing into his eyes.

Alex winced. "What, your boyfriend or something?"

"Hell no. Friend."

"I'm sure."

"Yeah. Believe what you want, 'cause…the hell I care," she sighed and sat up.

Alex really didn't know what to say.

"Do you hate me?" Kristen suddenly asked, her clear gaze burning into his eyes.

He looked away. "Well…I didn't ask to be put on this mission…"

"So therefore you dislike me for making that happen," she stated, a sentence posed as a question.

"I-well-"

"Ugh why did I ask? Just…you don't have to answer."

Alex stared at her in perplexment. Well. She certaintly is different.

"Um well, I'll leave you here to think…I'll be in my room," he said awkwardly, and quickly left.

Once he had gone she let out a breath. Maybe I do need to talk to Shen.

--

Shen kissed the girl again before remembering all his troubles.

"Uh, I think we're done here, you can go now," he quickly dismissed the prostitute who looked slightly downcast as she left.

The eighteen-year-old sank down on his bed, thinking about his best friend. I wonder if she is homesick…Perhaps Britain reminded her of the U.S. Why does she even agree to work with us? Not agree…more like…choose not to rebel. Everyone knows she could have told the authorities in three different countries…God she's confusing. Aren't all women? Which is why I stick to plain sex…with people I don't care about…manwhore. Ugh.

Shen stretched out his lean, muscled body. I should ask her to come again. And really talk. I should…I'll call her. Dialing the numbers of her phone that the he'd given her, he waited for her to pick up.

--

Back in the hotel room, Kristen jerked upright as her phone went off. She picked it up and said, 'Hey.'

"Hey. So um, Kristen…I don't want to make you say things you don't want but it kind of seems like you need to talk…so…"

"Yeah. I think I do," she laughed slightly.

"Alright. Tomorrow? Or now?"

"Depends, what's happening tomorrow?"

"Umm Feng's coming over at around 1, and then everyone else is too, for discussing the Mafia."

"Now then? I have a feeling this will take awhile."

"M'kay. See you in a bit?"

"Yeah."

She hung up and just sat there for a second. Then she took her phone, stuck the explodable earrings in her ears, and took the fake pen and lipstick with her. Just in case. You can never be too careful around the Triads. Knocking on Alex's door, he opened it.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I'm going back to the Triads for a bit…back to Shen's place."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Want me to come?"

"No, that's alright," Kristen tried to hide her alarm.

"If you say so…when are you coming back?"

"Don't know. It'll take an hour at the least."

Alex raised his other eyebrow. "Are you two going to-"

"Dear god you had better not finish that sentence! And no!"

"Ok then go already…you know we'll have to turn them all in right?"

"Yeah."

Kristen walked out the door, debating whether or not she should tell Shen about the whole MI6 thing. The debate lasted until she rang the doorbell on his penthouse suite.

Shen opened it, grinning.

"Hey," she greeted him, stepping inside.

"So, what's up?" Shen asked casually, concern flooding his eyes.

Right then she made her decision to tell him. He'd be really angry of course…but at least she would've done the right thing.

"Shen…you know when the Triads pushed you to make me kill Alex Rider?'

He narrowed his eyes. "Yes. What about it?"

"I didn't. I went to MI6."

Shen was completely shocked. "WHY?! WHAT THE HELL! You KNOW what that means for me!" he forced his voice down into a normal voice.

"I'm completely sick of the Triads. Not just the things you ask me to do-I'm fine with that, but what the other leaders force your decisions to be."

He rubbed his temples. "I would've let you go home if you wanted!"

"Shen. Even if you had, I couldn't ask for you to do that. The Triads would probably decide on another leader then kill you for knowing too much. You know how it is. Even if you only think on it as business, I'm sure the governments of Britain, China and the U.S. don't."

"Kristen, they're still going to arrest me for being leader. You know that."

"I'll pull a few strings. It's not as if I want you in jail. MI6 owe me for doing this, and I'll make sure they return the favor."

"It's not going to work Kristen!"

"Then I'll say…Feng is the leader. He's damn close to it anyways. You can be his son or something!"

Shen sighed softly. "Kristen, I've wanted to get out of here. But now I'm starting to think the only way is to go your way, and most likely I'll be sent to jail. Not the way I hoped."

"Hey. I'll take care of it. Promise."

"Just…don't land the both of us in jail. Please."

"I won't."

"So MI6 is sending you to spy on us, and when you have enough information turn us in. Interesting. Whatever happened to Rider?"

"Um…Shen…he's kind of…living at MI6's hotel next to where I'm living…" she cringed on the inside. Shen was probably unhealthily overprotective of her.

"WHAT?!"

"My god you're going to have a heart attack!" she said dryly. "I'm fine!"

"The guy you tried to kill is living next door to you!? That is NOT fine!!!" Ok. So Shen was a spaz. That is now established.

"Shen can you stop yelling? I'm afraid I'll have to call 911 and they'll start quizzing me on how you died."

He calmed himself down. "Why is he here?"

"Because MI6 didn't trust me…though at the end of this they should trust both me and Alex. He's...supposed to keep an eye on me."

"Is he here, outside this door?"

"Shen! No he isn't. He doesn't exactly want to be here."

"Yes, I wonder why."

Kristen sighed. "You can stop guilt tripping me now."

"Sorry. But…hm, how to say…do you have a crush on him?" Shen asked matter-of-factly.

"SHEN! Jesus Christ, when did you last get YOUR fix? You're always like this if you haven't gotten some in a couple of weeks."

He grinned sheepishly. "Um, last month…but I was about to get some before I decided you should talk."

Kristen wrinkled her nose. "Eurgh. Get yourself a girl instead of sleeping with hoes why don't you?"

"Because women are so freaking complicated. If you misunderstand like one sentence they'll ignore you for a month!"

She gave him a look.

"Ok, exaggeration. But still."

"A girlfriend is better than a no strings attached whore. What if you end up having a kid with someone you don't care for?"

Shen shrugged. "Dunno."
"So can I go back now?" she asked, sensing his brooding.

"Yeah. I'll see you around,' he said distractedly.

Kristen smiled and let herself out.

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Hey. If there's still anyone reading this story, please review!! How was that? It's hard writing an Alex Rider fic, he has to be able to do anything. PLEASE REVIEW!