Warnings: Language. Medical stuffs.
Disclaimer: This is a work of FanFiction using characters from the Alex Rider series, intellectual property and copyright of Anthony Horowitz.
Ben sat on the seat closest to the window in his lounge, rolling the bottle of lager gently between his fingers as the sounds of Match of the Day floated through the air. Other than the overenthusiastic voice of the commentator the room was silent, the pleasant albeit forced chat had long since died out, the excuse of eating the take away they had ordered had long since been devoured and the unpleasant pressure of conflict was all that remained.
He never thought it would come to this between them.
Ben looked over at Eagle, sat at the opposite end of the sofa and the red head shook his head with a disappointed expression on his face. Ben had been fully prepared this evening, wanting to get things sorted out, determined to shift through the month of silent accusations between them and finally get things back to some semblance of normality.
But Wolf who along with himself, were where most of the problems lay, seemed to have a determinedly different idea as he tucked into the crates of alcohol he and Snake had brought with them. Wolf had necked the first three bottles in the space of thirty minutes, and Ben thought about how he hadn't seen the man drink as much since their training days of naivety and inexperience, when the guns of war were miles away and the weight of secrets didn't hang above them. That minute of nostalgia simply made him realise all the more, that the friendship that was once between them, one that had been struck up over a simple challenge in the Catterick firing range, was slipping away at a faster rate than he wanted to admit.
"Luke." Ben said quietly, simply deciding to bite the bullet and get this sorted out before it disappeared completely. Wolf didn't look at him, or even give an acknowledging grunt, but Snake was sat further away turned his head when Ben spoke.
Arrogant bastard.
"Luke?" Ben repeated, in a louder firmer tone. The only reaction he got was Wolf lifting his glass to his mouth and the tale tell twitch above his right eyebrow that always appeared when he was restraining a scowl. Ben eyed the glass carefully, it was rare for Wolf to drink spirits, the fact he had now switched to vodka would have made him overly cautious at the best of times.
This wasn't the best of times.
"Jesus Christ." Eagle snapped as he pushed himself up, crossing the room in just three steps and snatching the remote from the arm of the chair Wolf was sat on and flicking the set off with one finger. "You ignorant fuck. Ben's trying to talk to you."
Wolf looked over at Ben and shrugged making a grab for the remote in Eagle's hand as he stood up. Eagle yanked his hand away and took a step back.
"Luke. We need to sort this out." Snake insisted in a forceful but calm tone from his seat. Ben watched as Wolf stared at Snake and the medic gave him a pointed look.
"There's nothing to sort out. What's done is done."
"We lost two, Luke." Eagle stated in a tone that was imploring for the other man to speak. "Two men."
"No." Wolf responded curtly, his fists clenching at his sides. "We lost one. Cub was not a part of this unit."
"Yes he was. He trained with us, Wolf." Ben announced loudly, the statement from the burly Hispanic man having gotten under his skin to a point that was just plain uncomfortable. Wolf turned to look at him with an animosity that Ben once remembered being aimed towards the young blonde spy.
"So did you. He's no more a part of this unit than you are." Wolf snarled. Ben glared at him and ignored the pleading look that Eagle gave to Snake behind Wolf's back. Snake didn't move but he was watching with wary eyes as the two dark haired men stared each other down.
"That what you reckon?" Ben asked after a short pause, Wolf faltered for a second before he nodded curtly. Ben gestured to the door, "Then get out."
Wolf glanced at the door before locking eyes with Ben once again, "You made your own bed, Fox."
"I had my reasons. You acting like this, is only justifying them." Ben sniped in a cold tone, Wolf took a step forwards and Eagle grabbed his shoulder quickly.
"Guys- " he was cut off when Wolf shoved him and, being caught off balance, Eagle's legs hit the sofa and he flopped onto it with a quiet oomph. Ben stood up quickly standing himself straight in front of Wolf with his fists clenched.
"You really don't want to do that again." Ben hissed,
"Picking sides are we Fox?"
"Unlike you, those two," Ben pointed in the general direction of both Snake and Eagle, "Haven't been complete pricks since I transferred."
"Unlike you, they didn't run when the going got too hard."
"The same as you in Croatia then." Ben responded with a self-satisfied smirk. He hardly even batted an eyelid as Wolf hurled his glass against the nearest wall in anger, and both Snake and Eagle stood up quickly, sensing things were getting out of hand as Wolf took a threatening step towards the agent.
"That was a good call, unlike the one in Baghdad, Fox."
"Why don't you just do us a favour and fuck off." Ben snapped, he felt a restraining hand on his shoulder, ignoring it as he glared at his former team leader. He waited for the sting of a fist hitting him somewhere. He had been purposefully antagonising him, wanting to garner a reaction that was some semblance of an apology, but somewhere that small streak of anger that was normally buried beneath calm and rational thought process had broken through at that one comment.
Wolf didn't lash out as Ben expected him too, instead breaking eye contact and turning towards the door with a gruff curse. Ben felt the incense of victory and smirked at his retreating back, that small surge was all it took for the words he'd kept quiet to run free.
"Next time, I hope it's you. God knows you fucking deserve it." Ben announced in a tone so hate filled, it sounded alien even to himself. Wolf span on the spot and Ben was surprised to see the hurt that was on a face that was normally strong. It killed the anger streak more effectively than a cold shower, and at once he knew that there was no going back now. The hand on his shoulder dropped, and the silence in the room was deafening as the men just stood there in the aftermath of the words.
Ben blinked when a cough sounded into the silence, one that didn't sound like it had come from any of the men around him, and a quiet thud caused his eyes to move to the door. Ben's eyes drifted over the dirty, almost black hair, and filthy skin, bedraggled unfitting clothes before his eyes rested on the pistol that had been dropped.
Wolf apparently had followed the same train, and before Ben could give an exclamation of surprise the man had grabbed the intruder and pushed him face first against the lounge wall, yanking his arm up behind his back. Wolf kicked the weapon back towards the men and Ben picked it up quickly, feeling the biting cold of late February still inflicted on the metal.
"What the fuck are you doing in here?" Wolf demanded roughly. Ben saw the stranger struggle meekly and he frowned when Wolf shook him and his forehead collided with the wall with a dull thud.
"Fuck."
"Wolf. Let up a bit." Ben advised as dull eyes clenched closed under Wolf's hold.
"Not until you check him." Wolf countered. Ben glanced at Snake who gave a small nod before he took two steps and started checking the jacket with both hands. Ben watched the eyes snap open when he made each pat down with his hands, before white teeth bit at a filthy lip. Ben felt an item under the jacket and he lifted it to see the file. He nodded at Wolf as he took the manila folder and unfolded it with a frown on his face.
"What the hell." Ben muttered to himself, a small booklet fell out and Eagle snatched it up from the ground with a curious eye. Ben stared back at the intruder, who was shaking his head with his eyes now clenched closed at whatever Wolf was hissing in his ear.
"You picked the wrong house Pikey." Wolf growled, Ben flicked open the file that was in his hands and read the dossier page, eyes freezing on the first line;
Biosyn technologies are proud to announce we have managed the feat of human destabilization and rehabilitation.
Ben turned his eyes back to the intruder taking in the slight frame, the straight far too white teeth that were biting desperately at his bottom lip again and the final thing he noticed was the lack of shoes.
"Alex, why have you got no shoes on?" Blonde head over his restraints unchaining him.
Ben felt a hand thump his arm, breaking the memory, only barely hearing Eagle's voice as he moved forwards when he noticed a hint of red against the cream paintwork of his wall.
"What the hell!" Eagle exclaimed staring at the passport in his hand, "This picture-"
"Luke-" Ben said urgently as he approached the man, Wolf looked at him with a confused expression before the man under his grip started struggling again with renewed vigour.
"Wolf!" Ben felt himself freeze as he heard the desperate yell and all too familiar voice. "Get the fuck off!"
Ben snapped his eyes to the dirty face as the whole room seemed to freeze at the words and Wolf released a little of the grip. Dirty black hair leant against the wall and Ben heard a relieved sigh before another small cough sounded in the room. Ben walked to the doorway, taking in the closed eyes and tired expression and looked to Wolf.
"What'd you call him?" Ben asked quietly, the tired eyes turned towards him and the intruder shook his head slowly and Ben felt himself crack as those familiar serious brown eyes tried and failed to focus on him.
"Ben. Please. 'm tired." Alex half slurred as he turned his head back to the wall and leant his forehead against it. Ben didn't move, his mind not quite processing what was happening as Wolf immediately let go. Ben saw Alex slump, his legs shaking and both hands being placed palm flat against the wall. Wolf backed away to the furthest corner, a look of complete shock on his face as he moved and almost tripping over a piece of furniture in the process. He knew his expression was probably very similar. Ben ducked his head to see eyes were closed and deep breaths being taken, and there was no mistaking him when he looked at the shape of the face.
"Alex?" Ben breathed, throwing the file onto the sofa behind him and placing a hand against the younger spies back. He felt Alex tense but he didn't expect him to try to twist away, he heard the stumbled step as Alex swayed mid movement and he fell straight onto his chest with a pained sound that Ben had only heard in times of war in medical tents among dying men. Ben crouched immediately and looked at Snake who had turned pale but hadn't moved from where he was stood.
"Snake." Ben urged in a low tone as he turned his head to look at the eyes that were clenched closed and teeth that were gritted together on Alex's face
"Alex. Stay still." Ben advised gently, Alex shook his head.
"''m fine," he slurred, the words broken by a wet sounding cough, "Just want to sleep."
Ben looked up at the point where the blonde had been restrained against the wall, and the streaks of red that had been left behind on the cream paint stood out in stark contrast. Alex tried to get up in front of him, and already Ben could see the splattering of blood against the laminate flooring from where he had fallen. He watched as Alex seemed to try to push himself up and Ben hesitated in placing a hand on his back after the last time to restrain him. Ben looked at Eagle who seemed to have regained himself first as Alex slumped to the floor after a momentous shake of his arms and had curled in on himself. Eagle smacked Snake's arm and the medic seemed to jerk himself as he moved forwards at the touch as Alex turned his head and led it flat on the ground as Ben reach a hand out to touch him.
"Don't." Alex slurred. It sounded as though he was choking in Ben's mind and he shifted from his spot so Snake could get to him easier.
"Fucking hell Cub." Snake muttered as he crouched in Ben's spot. Ben stood for a second before he looked at Eagle who seemed to be trying to think of something to say and coming up blank, before the red haired man shook his head.
"I'll go get the car." Eagle muttered as he snatched his keys from the table and leapt over the back of the sofa before running out of the house, the front door slamming closed behind him.
"Cub." Snake said gently, Alex's eyes flew open and they stared at Snake warily. "I need to move you."
Alex shook his head feebly, and Ben could imagine he must want nothing more than to be just left alone. Snake paid no heed to the words though, and ever so slowly he turned the youngest in the room onto his back where Ben saw the redness through his shirt and the clenched eyes and teeth as his back was rolled onto the floor. Ben crouched by his head quickly when Alex tried to pull a deep breath and started coughing, grimacing with each hack. Ben pushed down on his shoulders to stop him from irritating what was obviously a bad wound on the abdomen. He felt the tension under his hands and Alex tried to wrench his shoulders out of his grip.
"Stop Alex." Ben urged when he felt a hand scratch against his wrist roughly. Serious brown eye's snapped open and Alex looked at him blearily before he stilled in his protests after a brief moment.
"You need to try to breath steady Cub." Snake said calmly. Ben saw Alex tense as Snake reached out to touch him to check for where they all knew at least one wound resided. Snake's hand had just reached his jacket zip when Alex's fist clenched at his side and Ben grabbed the fist with one hand. Alex's eyes widened and flicked up to look at Ben, his lips pursing together in one of the faint hints of damaged pride that Ben could recognise, before he felt cold fingers wrap around his arm, digging in when Snake unzipped the jacket and made to lift the shirt that was stuck against his skin.
"I need scissors." Snake instructed and Wolf moved from the room without a word, disappearing through the archway he'd backed himself into. Alex coughed again, and his nails dug into Ben's wrist as he swiped at his mouth with his free arm, a deep red trail being left across one cheek from the half-hearted movement. Ben looked away and saw Snake had a stone face on, one that Ben remembered seeing him use when treating civilians in the field and he knew it was bad. Wolf arrived back in the room, with a kitchen towel and a pair of scissors in his hand and passed them over before standing back in his spot.
Snake bent over the blonde's body and deftly cut away the material and snipped the filthy bandage underneath. Ben cringed as the majority of the material was cut away and the purple mottled skin underneath was revealed and Snake gently peeled the remaining material away.
Alex's eyes that had been fixed firmly on the ceiling with a look of defiance, clenched closed and Ben could have sworn that blood was drawn by nails from his arm as Snake pulled the last bit away from his skin. Immediately, fresh blood, dark red and violent in its flow started to come from the area. Snake cursed and snatched the tea towel from the floor beside him to try to staunch it. Ben looked down to see Alex's eyes rolling back into his head, he pinched the skin on the inside of the blonde's wrist and Alex blinked owlishly.
"Stay awake. It'll be alright." Ben murmured. Alex swallowed heavily and shook his head.
"No," Alex gasped out, Snake looked up with a frown as he nodded to Ben, indicating he was going to apply pressure. "R-ruined the c-carpe-t"
Ben let out a tense huff of laughter, before Snake applied pressure to the area and Alex yelled out as Ben had never heard him do before. Ben looked down at him carefully as he seemed to regain himself and snapped his mouth closed and bit his lip instead. Immediately Ben pulled his arm out of the hand on his wrist and grabbed for one of the cup mats on the coffee table. He forced Alex's mouth open and pushed the cup mat between his teeth against protestations from Alex trying to yank his head away. Snake reapplied pressure and Ben felt the cup mat clamp between teeth desperately and he offered his wrist back to the clenched fist, surprised when he felt it become enclosed in a grip that seemed stronger than should be possible. Ben looked over his shoulder at the window when there was a horn beep from outside.
"We need to go." Snake said quickly, as he stood up. Ben looked down at Alex who had his eyes closed, trying to breath slowly through what Ben could only imagine was pain on a level so high it had no description. Quickly and as gently as he could, he helped Snake lift him and arranged Alex in a bridal hold in Snake's arms, the medic started towards the door.
"Grab your kit Fox." Snake ordered. Ben nodded before he ran up the stairs three at a time. He seized the green plastic box and jogged back down the stairs. He grabbed the files from where they'd been thrown on the sofa and looked up to see Wolf had moved from the corner he had backed into, and noticed the man was staring at his hands that were a mottled brown red colour.
"Wolf?" Ben said warily, confused and conflicted grey eyes looked up at him as if in a daze. "You alright?"
"Yeah. Go." Wolf said gruffly, his eyes drifting to the blood smear that was on the wall before roaming down to the pool on the floor. Ben swallowed heavily, wanting to offer reassuring words as he once would have done, but instead he secured the first aid box under one arm, grabbed the pistol, file and passport before turning and running out the front door.
Ben threw himself into the front passenger seat of Eagle's minivan, his door wasn't even fully closed before Eagle pulled away far quicker than he should have done. Ben twisted in his seat, turning to see Snake crouched in the alcove behind Eagle's seat, by Alex's feet where the blonde was laid out on the back seat. He passed the first aid kit over, and watched as Snake ran through a standard set of checks on the blonde.
Alex's answers were slurred at best when he was asked a question and each breath seemed to be forcing a painful sounding wheeze from his throat. Alex yelled when Eagle slammed the brakes on, and Ben moved quickly to grab his shoulders to stop him from falling off the seat as Snake did the same with his feet.
"Sorry." Eagle muttered, glaring at the goods vehicle that had pulled out in front of him before pulling around it quickly. Neither of the other two said a word, and Snake was trying to get Alex to calm down, shaking his head when yet another cough caused the blonde to groan in pain. Snake turned to Ben.
"Climb over here. He's not listening to me." Snake murmured. Ben waited until Eagle set a steady pace again, before awkwardly climbing over the back of his chair and squeezing himself into the space behind the passenger seat as Eagle slid it forwards.
"What's going on Snake?" Eagle asked from the front seat. Snake didn't look up as he probed around each rib on the exposed lower half of Alex's chest.
"Unresponsive pupils, cold hands, tachycardia and tahcypnea." Snake reported quickly. Ben looked down when his own wrist became enclosed in a death grip once again, and looked up to see Alex staring at him with dull eyes. Ben nodded his consent and Alex turned his eyes up to the roof of the car.
"What you thinking?" Eagle called, glancing in the rear view mirror. Snake gestured to the first aid kit and Ben flicked it open with his free hand.
"Potentially broken ribs. Bleeding out." Snake muttered as he eased the tea towel away gently, "Hypovolemic shock 2 confirmed, 3 potentially. Gauze Fox."
Eagle obviously understood as he pushed the accelerator down a little harder. Ben's hand immediately grabbed the requested item from the kit. There was squeal of tyres from outside the vehicle as Eagle pulled out onto the next road and he slammed his hand against the horn with a muttered curse, Ben watched as Alex blinked heavily.
"I've got-t a headache Eag-Eagle." Alex muttered quietly. Snake looked up with a huff of laughter before carrying on with his removal of the temporary towel wrapping and Eagle smirked into the rear view mirror.
"Sorry, Cub." He called. Ben saw as the blonde's lips twitched, whether in pain or humour Ben wasn't sure.
"Tape, Fox." Snake muttered, as he held a hand lightly over the towel that had been pried away from the skin, again Ben used his free hand. Alex's grip was still tight around the other wrist, his eyes closed rather than staring blankly up at the ceiling as they had been. Ben watched as Snake lifted the towel away completely, swallowing heavily when he saw the damaged skin underneath. It was a larger opening than Ben had seen of most bullet wounds, but then it had been at point blank range. Ben could only admit it was messy, and as Alex drew a wheezing breath, he hoped he was imagining the lung wall he saw trying to expand. Snake muttered a quiet curse and dropped the gauze as the hand fell away from Ben's wrist. He snapped his eyes up to Alex's face, expecting to see his head lolled to one side, but instead his eyes were open wide and the young spy sat upright with one jerky motion, causing the skin to tear and fresh blood flow freely from the unwrapped injury.
"Cub, stop!" Snake exclaimed loudly, Alex stared at him for a second, his eyes were glassy.
"Where're you taking me?" He demanded, his words were slurred and his voice rough. Ben was the first to move, placing a hand on one shoulder and moving his eyes into Alex's line of sight as Snake scrambled to push the gauze over the opening in the young spies chest.
"Alex. It's Ben. We're going to hospital." Ben informed in a firm but soothing tone. Alex's eyes fixed on him, but they were glassy and no recognition showed.
"Ben." Alex repeated slowly. There was no recognition at the name, just a confused expression. Snake grabbed the tape with a spare hand and Alex looked down at him as the medic pushed the gauze against the broken skin. "Stop."
Snake ignored him and tore a piece of the tape off with his teeth, Alex made to lash out with both his fists and Ben grabbed at them, only managing to catch one. The other cracked Snake in the nose and Ben was surprised as he just pushed it away so Ben could restrain it again as the medics nose started to trickle with blood. Alex turned his eyes back to Ben with the same confused expression.
"We're trying to help. You need to lay down." Ben stated in a calm slow tone. Ben felt the arms in his grip go lax as a small cough left the blondes mouth, causing a small trail of blood to flow from one corner of his mouth. Ben gently put both hands on his shoulders and laid him back down on the seat. Ben glanced at Snake who had grabbed another pack of gauze and the medic nodded in approval.
"Keep your hands there." Snake instructed as he opened the next packet, and laid it over the top of the next one. Ben sent a silent apology as he pushed Alex down onto the seat by the shoulders as Snake applied pressure to the wound and secured the temporary dressing with tape. Alex didn't react though he was staring up at him with glassy eyes that were almost lifeless. Ben let go the minute Snake pulled away and Eagle glanced over into the back seat as Snake pulled the thermometer from the med-kit.
"What was that?" Eagle asked. Snake pulled back and looked at the reading before nodding.
"Late stage 3. Zero recognition and now seemingly unresponsive."
The fact that it meant Alex's condition was deteriorating at an alarming rate went unspoken, and a quiet choking noise caused Ben to look back at the spy. Snake pushed himself across the seat as Alex tried unsuccessfully to draw a breath.
Ben could tell, just by watching at this point that Alex was drifting, the hand that had gripped his wrist hadn't been replaced, there was no protest against the unnatural angle Snake placed his head at and the words spilling from his lips in a hoarse voiced whisper were unrecognisably slurred. Snake gently pulled Alex's jaw open, and the airway cleared, causing a spluttering cough but this time there were no groans or pained noises just an addition to the red trail that had appeared to one side of the blonde's mouth that was ever darkening in colour. Snake pulled back and knelt in the alcove behind Eagle's seat, rubbing a hand over his face.
"There ain't a lot else we can do." He admitted. Ben nodded, peering into the front of the van as Snake started another set of checks.
"How long?" Eagle asked with a serious face looking in the rear view mirror.
"Three minutes at absolute most. Be ready to resus if needed." Snake responded. Ben just handed Snake the small plastic breathing mask with a grim frown on his face before he pushed the hair away from Alex's eyes where they were staring into nothing.
Alex was aware of the voices around him, and the crick that was present in his neck from being arranged in a difficult angle. He'd tried to move it, but through the haze that had descended over his mind, it seemed he'd also lost the control of his muscles. He coughed, trying to relieve the pressure from his chest and the movement pulled, but didn't dislodge the vice like grip over one side. The groan he thought he'd given as the pain remained didn't vocalise, he could feel hands hands touching pulse points and a gentler one brushing hair away from his eyes.
It felt the same as Jacks, when he used to get ill. Warm and comforting and he remembered the nights of old, where that gentle touch would send him off to sleep. He needed that now, he was tired. He was desperate for it, the blurry memory of the journey he'd travelled and the pains he had pushed aside were drifting now in the light of bone deep weariness.
That hand could wipe it all away, it was warm, inviting, comfortable. He took a shallow breath as he felt the vehicle stop, finally they'd arrived and he shut his eyes.
Ben ran the minute Eagle had pulled Alex from the back seat of the van and passed him over. The glass automatic doors of the emergency department didn't open quick enough and he yelled for a doctor before they were open wide enough for him to pass through, startling other patients that had been sat in the silence of the waiting room and the woman at the desk.
It was one of the triage nurses, who ran and picked up the phone from the desk as Ben moved to the middle of the room, before realising he didn't know what to do next. It was only a couple of seconds before the double swing doors opened with a gurney between them being wheeled over towards him. Ben immediately put Alex's limp form down on the bed, only realising once he'd let go how little he weighed for his height and the nurses immediately started attaching sensors to Alex's chest and inserting IV needles. A doctor approached him with placid blue eyes and his peppered hair slightly askew from what Ben could assume was a short dash into the ER Department, he stopped in front of Ben.
"His name?" the doctor asked calmly.
"Alex Rider." Ben supplied automatically in a voice that sounded not like his own. His eyes were drawn over the man's shoulder as the nurses tried to wake Alex on the bed, pulling an oxygen mask over his face. He was vaguely aware of the doctor saying something, but it seemed fuzzy to his ears as one of the monitors that had been attached to Alex's chest started to cast a shrill alarm into the air. He felt a hand land on his shoulder and turned his head to see Eagle watching him, lips moving in soundless words as the gurney was wheeled away down the hall the doctor following after it with rapid steps, issuing instructions to the nurses. The doctor yelled something and one of the nurses split away from the bed before it was pushed towards the green double doors at the end of the hall. Ben just listened as the erratic beeping from the heart monitor turned to a consistent mournful wail as the gurney was wheeled behind closed doors and out of sight.