Bare feet pounding across the cold concrete.

Fox yawned, stretching in the cool of the room. "Do we have anything in the fridge to eat?"

Water smacking against soles, creating an echo and a trail.

Snake grunted. "Yeah, but we can't cook so it doesn't make a difference."

Harsh breath meeting harsh cold, leaving lungs straining in the bitterness of frost.

"Order out then?" There were a chorus of assents from the places around the television screen, staring pointlessly at the re-runs.

Concrete became turf, turf undergrowth, the pathway becoming littered with branches and stones as civilisation turned to forests. Still feet pounded, slick and pained.

Fox pushed himself up, rummaging round in the kitchen before finding a mobile since they'd broken the house phone. They left it in the freezer anyway.

A cars headlights, blinded him as he rushed into the road, unable to move out of the way in time as the brakes slammed on, pulling short by less that a hairs breath. The boy sighed, shaking, watching a two figures got out the car, darting towards him before he collapsed, head cracking against the floor harshly, leaving nothing but black.

He hung up with a small smile, throwing the phone lazily back onto the pile of leaflets, before moving back to the couch where he rested against the arm. Eagle yawned from his seat, turning to glance at the man beside him. "How long is it going to be?"

"How the hell would I know?"

There was a knock on the door, startling the group. Snake frowned, glancing at the drawn curtains. "That can't be them. No delivery service is that fast."

Fox shrugged, moving to the door. "Yeah well, no body else knocks."

He reached out to grab the handle, the rest of the unit watching suspiciously when the door flew open of it's own accord, smacking the man in the face. He stepped back with a small yelp, hands going to his forehead as the figure grinned.

"Smooth Fox. Real smooth."

There was a beat of silence and disbelief where the men stared at the boy, before Eagle dived for him, falling over the bag strewn in the doorway in his haste. "Cub!"

He smiled, waving his arm a little, Fox the only one catching the wince as he stepped inside the house. Wolf and Snake rose to meet him in the kitchen.

"Where've you been this time?" Eagle asked, bouncing childishly. "What did you do? Did you blow anything up? Was it awesome?"

The others shook there head, smiling a little as Alex stepped back, raising his hands. "You know I can't tell you."

Pouting, he crossed his arms. "That is so unfair; how come I never get told anything?"

"Because you're an idiot, and you act like a child." Snake pointed out, grinning.

"Well someone has to!"

The group rolled their eyes, watching as Alex stretched. Fox closed the door finally, not looking out at the street. "What did you do?"

"Nothing much; you know, the usual." He shrugged, moving with them to the living room.

"You were gone for a month. Something had to have happened."

"It was twenty nine days."

"And?"

"Nothing happened."

"Really. You, the famous Alex-"

"Just leave it would you?" He mumbled, walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Snake frowned, watching him, seeing him tense as he reached into the cupboard.

"Did you damage your shoulder again?"

Alex paused, frowning. "No. And before you ask, yes, I've been the hospital."

"And likely broken back out." Snake muttered, watching as the boy pushed himself up and onto the counter to watch them.

He smiled. "They're the ones who gave me the discharge papers. But enough about me; what have you done whilst I've been gone?"

Eagle opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by a mobile phone. Fox looked at it dejectedly before answering.

"I thought I quit."

There was the noise of someone speaking on the other end, and the man moved away, leaving the rest of the unit with Alex.

Snake sighed, before glancing at him. "Are you sure you're-"

"Of course I'm fine." He replied, rolling his eyes. Wolf smiled a little as the two began to bicker, the mother hen ever persistent. Fox appeared beside him with a frown.

"We have two weeks before we are due to head back for a refresher training course."

"Why did MI6 call to tell you that?"

He shook his head. "Because Cub is required to go with us. Since he officially turned 15, 'extenuating circumstances' mean that he can't be left here, and that he needs to improve his fitness."

"So they want to keep an eye on him." Wolf growled, watching as Eagle was drawn into the argument.

"Essentially. Crawley just called this extensive PT."

He snorted, before moving over to the fridge and pulling out a six pack of beer. "Well, till then, lets make the most of it."

Fox laughed, watching as Eagle caught sight of the beer and followed the unit leader diligently into the living room. The door sounded again and he moved to get the order.

Snake crossed him arms, ignoring the sudden influx in noise from the living room. "Humour me."

"Damn it Snake, can't you just leave it?"

"Come on Cub. Just let me see and then I'll leave you alone."

The boy opened his mouth to reply but was cut off as Snake poked him in the shoulder, almost causing him to fall from the surface.

The medic growled. "You are not fine."

Alex sighed, before hopping off the top. "Fine. But once you've seen it, that's it."

Snake frowned, watching at the boy pulled the top over his head easily, way too skinny to be healthy. There were bruises littered all over his chest, along with hand prints along his arms and neck in a restraining manner, the only break were the holster for the knife was. The shoulder that had been injured was red and inflamed, the bruises nothing more than blood under the skin. It was a miracle he hadn't fainted at the touch.

Alex rolled his eyes at the silence. "I've had worse, Snake. You know that."

He snapped his eyes to the boys quickly, before looking at them again. "You're going to ruin your shoulder."

"You make it sound like it was my fault." He muttered patronizingly before pulling his top back on, ignoring the look Fox gave him as he entered. "And there is nothing you can do about it anyway."

"What dose of painkillers are you on?"

Alex snorted before moving away, into the living room to sit down next to Eagle. "What painkillers?"

"You're not on-" The man nearly exploded, causing the rest of the unit to frown in confusion as Alex sighed and cut him off.

"Of course I am. I just mean that they are no where near strong enough to be called painkillers. I don't even bother taking them since they last for little more than an hour."

Snake frowned before sitting down himself. Wolf looked between the two before shrugging, reaching out to pull the bag from Fox and pass him a beer. Snake accepted one of his own, sitting down easily to think over things for a while.

Eagle moved up for a minute, sitting back down as the noise from the tv changed to the opening adverts of a movie. Wolf rolled his eyes before passing round plates and being the first to take from the food on the table before them.

Snake glanced over at Alex to see his plate on the table, barely anything taken from it as the rest of the unit gambled around them. They were drunk, and badly, Snake able to feel the buzzing in his head as he watched the teenager.

"You need to eat more."

The boy shrugged, not taking his eyes from the scene across from him. "Not yet. Give it time and then, maybe."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He muttered, before narrowing his eyes. "Did you eat on this mission of yours?"

Alex sighed and looked at him, smiling. "I think the world takes precedence over me eating Snake. I'll get back into a normal diet soon enough."

Fox laughed loudly across from them where he was standing, before stumbling over to them. "Come on you two! Play a game!"

The teenager allowed himself to be pulled towards the circle, settling in to play as he watched Wolf deal the cards out. Again, as in Brecon Beacons, Eagle was attempting to cheat; and badly. Beside him, Fox was swapping the cards Eagle fished out to put into his hand so he ended up worse than he started off with.

And it was annoying Eagle to know end.

Snake brought the pack of beer, pushing the empty cans out of the way before placing them down. The round was quickly over, giving the two a chance to put in.

"Do you even know how to play poker kid?" Wolf asked, throwing the empty can over his shoulder to crack open a new one. Eagle copied him, missing the way his can sprayed the wall as he did so.

Alex frowned at the motion, but answered anyway. "Sure."

"You got anything to gamble with then? We play for real."

"What do you take me for?" Alex muttered.

Eagle glanced at him. "Use the money you get from your missions."

"That would be a first."

"What, a mission?" He asked confused, looking over startled.

"Being payed comes first." Alex peeled back the cards he had been dealt and looked up at the group.

Wolf voiced the communal thought. "You're not payed."

Alex smiled sarcastically. "It's not exactly like I can go up the counter of head quarters and say 'Hi, I work here; what's my salary for this months deadly, death inspiring mission' is it?"

The group looked at each other before shrugging, the alcohol slowing their thoughts. Fox flicked the speakers up slightly louder with a grin, ignoring the knocking from the front door.

"Ready to loose all your money Eagle?"

"You're going down Foxy!"

(A/N) Here you go! Let me know if it was worth the wait :D