Two weeks later.

Wolf sighed as he threw himself into the arm chair in Cub's hospital room. He was on watch tonight. It had galled K Unit when they'd discovered that despite Troy Dellaware getting away, there had been no guard assigned to Cub's room, so they had taken it upon themselves.

Cub- Alex, Wolf corrected himself mentally- was doing much better. He would eventually recover. His wounds were healing, and they'd removed the padded lifts. Some of the wires and hanging bags had disappeared too.

Unfortunately, he was still comatose, and still required the ventilator to breathe for him. Nurse Swan, Tracy, had assured them that it was mostly a precaution, but it was still unnerving to see.

He pulled out the book he had brought. He knew that K Unit had started talking to Alex, trying to let him know someone was there. He was about to start reading aloud, but stopped when Tracy came in, carrying a letter.

Alex had received several get well cards from his school mates, though reading them, it had been easy to tell that it had been the teachers who had passed them around, and then mailed them. Not one contained a personal message. Apparently, MI6 had told Alex's school that he was suffering from a bout of pneumonia.

"Another card, I suspect," Tracy said. She did a quick check of all the tubes, bags and wires, then left, smiling at Wolf.

Wolf opened the envelope, only to find two letters stuffed into it. One was addressed to Alex, which he set aside. Strangely enough, the other was addressed simply, Wolf. Curious, he opened it.

"Dear Mr. Wolf

I'm sorry, I don't have any other name for you. Alex has spoken of you a great deal, and I hope I'm doing the right thing.

If you're reading this, it's because you're there, with him now, which means a lot to me.

Oh, my name is Jack Starbright. I used to be Alex's housekeeper, and since his Uncle's death, his Guardian.

I say used to be. Alex doesn't know I'm not coming back, but I can't. I can't keep watching this happen to him and say nothing. I can't keep wanting to help him, only to realize that there's nothing I can do.

But someone has to know what's happened, what they've done to him. They'll never tell you, and sadly, neither will Alex. He's learned not to trust people, you see. He's learned that they all want something from him, and that's the only reason to show any interest in him."

Wolf grunted. It wasn't hard to tell who 'They' were. MI6. He read the letter as it explained what had happened. How Alex had gotten involved with MI6, how he been blackmailed, and had done it to protect her. She gave as many details as she knew about each of his missions, including the shape he came back in, both physically and emotionally. How little time they gave him to recover before they found a way to rope him back in. How much his school was suffering. She explained as best she could, about how this last mission, with SCORPIA had affected him. Then about the shooting. She described in vivid detail his nightmares, finding him retching in the middle of the night, having to coax him to eat, and his lack of sleep.

"Alex may be very good at what he does, but he's just a boy! He was never given a choice, and even if they did give it to him now, what else does he have? He's seen too much to ever be fourteen again.

He doesn't fit in this world he almost kills himself saving anymore. He's hurting inside and there's no one who can help him. Not even me. I've tried, but I don't understand his world any more. I don't understand him.

I know it's a lot to ask from someone I don't know, but could you try and find someone who can? He's so alone, so lost, and too brave to admit it. He's perfectly capable of looking after himself, but what he won't understand is that he shouldn't have to.

I know I'm breaking a whole lot of laws right now, since I've signed the Official Secrets Act, but someone had to know.

Help him, if you can.

Jack Starbright."

Wolf was stunned, and very, very angry.

"Whoa! You look like you've eaten a bucket full of slugs!" Eagle chirped as he entered the room, obviously startling Wolf out of some very dark thoughts. He noticed the paper in his friends hand, but didn't mention it.

Without a word, Wolf thrust the letter into Eagles face, never taking his eyes off of Alex as Eagle read it, his own face contorting into anger.

"Shit Dan, we have to do something about this!" Eagle cried, waving the paper. "This isn't right!"

"I know that, Derek!" Wolf shouted back. Then he blinked. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Eagle blushed. "I was bored at home, so I figured I'd come visit, see if there was any change."

Wolf shook his head. "None. They're worried that he might never come out of it. Tracy doesn't know exactly what happened, but she's been a Nurse long enough to recognize how some of the injuries were caused. She's afraid he's retreated into himself because of the Trauma."

Eagle looked uncertain. "Do you think it might be true? I do know what happened, and I think it's a perfectly plausible theory. Especially, you know, how he was."

Wolf, first and foremost a team leader, looked at his teammate sharply. "Have you been seeing your shrink?"

"Of course! Mother hen. I always knew you loved me!"

"Certainly not for your looks!" Fox piped up as he joined them.

"Let me guess," Wolf smirked. "Just in the neighborhood?"

Fox shrugged. "Something like that. Any change?"

Eagle nudged Wolf. "Show him the letter."

"Might as well. By the time you finish reading it, Quinn should be coming around," Wolf sighed as he handed Fox the letter.

Fox was very quiet when he finished, his face grim. It was so uncharacteristic of him that the other two members of his team were quietly concerned. There was no flippant comment, no anger, almost no emotion at all. The last time they had seen their friend like this, he had been about to wipe out an entire village.

"Ben?" Eagle questioned.

"MI6 obviously doesn't know about this letter, or we'd never have seen it. We'll let Quinn read it, then it's got to be destroyed. And Dan, I think you should hang on to that one on beside you for Alex. They're going to twist it, and he has a right to know the truth." Fox commanded quietly.

Wolf nodded, immediately folding the other letter and putting it in his pocket. Fox didn't often take command of a situation, usually happy to let Wolf take the role of leader, but something in that letter had set him off. If K Unit had learned one thing in their years together, it was that Fox was most dangerous when he was quiet.

"We have to do something," Eagle put out again. "I mean, he's us, right? K Unit? We look after our own."

Both pairs of eyes turned to Wolf. They knew what they were implying, and the final decision would be his. Either Cub was a member of their team, or he wasn't. If he wasn't, then their debt to him demanded they stick by him until he was awake, at least, and able to protect himself. He had, after all, saved their lives. But after that, he would be on his own.

If Wolf did accept him as a member of their team, then they would go through hell and back to do whatever they could for him. It was a serious question, and not one to be taken lightly. Being told someone was on your team, and actually accepting them were two very different things. Accepting him in meant that they valued him as an equal, and would happily lay down their own lives for his. It meant Cub's life would be forever entwined with theirs.

Wolf scrubbed his hand over his face. It was a heavy decision. Because of Cub's age, they were taking on some serious responsibility. He saw Snake slip in quietly through the door, as if sensing something important was going on. He didn't need to ask him, though. Snake had made his decision in the cave. Fox silently handed Snake the letter, and Snake's imperceptible nod was directed at Wolf. So it was on him. He was the one who tended to be over protective of his team. He looked after them, worried for them, and still had to be able to send them into bad situations. Bringing Cub into that. Could he do it?

Cub was alone in this world. Even his Guardian had turned her back on him, something for which Wolf would never forgive her. If they removed themselves from the situation, MI6 would take control of Cub, and make very sure he was trapped.

Finally, he sighed. "We don't leave anyone behind."

AR FW AR FW AR FW AR FW AR FW AR FW AR FW AR FW

Alan Blunt frowned at the man in front of him. SAS K Unit leader Daniel Martin, aka Wolf, was standing almost at attention, waiting for him to acknowledge him. He didn't like unexpected visitors, and he didn't like the fact that Mrs. Jones had let him in.

But Wolf seemed content to stand as he was for however long it took Blunt to acknowledge him. Of course he was. He was SAS. Waiting on superiors was hardly new, and Blunt realized that Wolf obviously wasn't going to just give up.

"What is it, Mr. Martin?" he finally asked.

"Alex Rider, Sir."

Blunt raised an eyebrow. "What of him?"

"What's going to happen to him?"

"I don't see how that's any concern of yours," Blunt replied, obviously dismissing the man and returning to his paperwork.

Wolf frowned at the dismissal, but stayed his ground. "He's K Unit, Sir, and that entitles me to know whatever happens on my team."

"Alex Rider is a by name only attachment, Mr. Martin. You needn't concern yourself with him."

Wolf almost smirked. Alan Blunt was getting dangerously close to having to show some emotion on his face. His voice was tinged with irritation.

"He saved our lives, Sir. K Unit are the members called in when he needs backup. We were informed of his appendicitis. I would say that makes him part of our Unit, Sir."

Mrs. Jones entered just then, saving Mr. Blunt from having to respond. "Alex woke up, Mr. Blunt."

"Are we able to debrief him?"

Mrs. Jones eyes flickered to Wolf before returning to Blunt. "No. He's heavily medicated, but his throat has sustained serious damage, and his vocal cords are heavily bruised. It'll be some time before he can speak."

"Is there anyone with him now?"

Mrs. Jones shook her head, surprising Wolf. "As soon as Dr. Welsh declared him conscious, K Unit was cleared from the room."

Mr. Blunt nodded. "Have a guard posted outside his room. No one is to have access to Alex with the exception of the medical staff and ourselves. I want to know the moment he can so much as whimper. And have Dr. Welsh reduce his pan medications. We need that debriefing."

Jones nodded and disappeared out the door. Blunt returned to his paperwork, seeming to have forgotten all about Wolf, until he spoke again.

"Mr. Martin, I understand that K Unit feels a certain responsibility toward Alex, but let me assure you, MI6 only has his best interest at heart. As for K Unit, as soon as you are cleared for duty by your psychologists, you will be returning to the field. You are dismissed."

Wolf left, almost shaking in rage.

When Wolf returned to the sparse apartment he shared with Snake, he wasn't surprised to find the rest of the unit already there.

"Dan! You wouldn't believe what just happened!" Fox yelped out as soon as Wolf appeared in the tiny kitchen.

Wolf growled. "Cub woke up and they kicked you out."

"Cub woke- hey, how'd you know?" Fox asked, realizing he had been about to repeat the information.

"I was standing in Blunt's office when Jones reported. They're posting a guard to keep everyone out until Alex can talk." He glanced at Snake. "They've also ordered that his pain medications be reduced."

Snake paled. "They can't force his recovery like that. If they try to force a debriefing out of him, they'll only damage his cords more."

"Did you manage to get any information out of them?" Eagle asked, knowing that was the reason Wolf had originally gone.

"No. I've been assured that MI6 has his best interest at heart, and that as soon as our psychs say we're ready, we're being reposted out to the field," Wolf answered.

They were silent for a moment before Eagle suddenly grinned, then, unexpectedly, burst into sobbing tears, putting his head down on Fox's shoulder.

"Oh god, Doc, it was so awful watching it. I'll never be the same. He's just a kid, and they- they- I can't talk about it. It's too painful," he howled.

Wolf smirked as the rest of his tough, macho, highly trained SAS unit burst into tears as well.

Well then, it seemed they had a plan.