Disclaimer: I do not own any Alex Rider characters. Any mentioned that appear at any time in this story are the property of A.H. Any others are of my own making; and if there are any references outside of A.R series that are real, such as places or people, it is not intentional.

I know I have been missing for a few, but I hope this makes up for it. Again. and again... Enjoy.

Jack kept her eyes on the road. The car hummed along, but the occupants were silent. Jack stole a glance at the person sitting next to her. She tried to figure out who the strange person was , not bothering to be discreet, as she was sure that he had already figured her out. American, female, mid to late twenties, red hair, green eyes. But if she was honest, mostly late. The man sitting next to her was a real mystery. Fair, brown eyes, Russian (assuming the accent was his real one), pale, almost feminine lashes. A glint of metal. Jack pulled on the wheel. She had drifted into the opposite lane. It was so hard! She had learned to drive in America , and driving in Britain was a nightmare some days. She couldn't think, let alone listen to music or talk on a mobile on days like today. After all, taking in an assassin? Not an everyday job. Not even in her line of work.

Almost sighing in relief, Jack pulled onto the familiar street. After a few moments of parking the car, parrell mind you, in the curb, she shut off the ingnition. She clicked off her belt. God, this was awkward.

"Well, we'd better go inside."

The man left the car, opened the truck, and took out his bag. Jack was clambering out as he walked up the steps to the front door. He stood there for a second.

Jack leaned into the car, reaching for her bag. "Go on! Get inside!"

The man stood at the door. "I have no key."

Jack bushed. "Sorry. I forgot. Here." She tossed him her ring. He caught it easily. Jack ran up the walk and slipped inside after the man.

She tossed her bag on the hall table and crossed into the kitchen. She grabbed a mug, filled it with water, plopped in a tea bag, and stuck it into the microwave. She turned to the man.

"Want anything? Tea? Coffee? Water?"

The man shook his head. The microwave beeped, and Jack grabbed the mug. She settled herself at the table.

"Grab a seat." She gestured to a chair. "Plenty of room."

The man sat at the edge of his chair. He looked ready to bolt. Jack frowned.

"Look, Yasssen?" The man looked at her. "You're safe here. You don't need to fight anymore. Plus, you are breaking a very important rule."

The man shifted uneasily in his seat. Jack leaned forward in her chair.

"You must relax."

Jack actually saw the man freeze. He didn't draw a breath. His eyes were wide and he looked shocked. Then he grinned.

"You had me worried for a second." He shrugged. "I thought I was about to be shot."

Jack beamed. "Don't worry, ok? You're fine with me. You can do your surveillance, shoot some baddies, and be out of here in no time. I can even try to get you off scot-free."

Jack held out her hand.

Yassen leaned forward, and shook. "You have a deal Ms. Starbright."

Danny Cook swaggered across the lot. Brookland was his. Or he liked to think so. An eightieth of the school's population followed him. This was not saying much about him. Danny smiled at a girl who passed him with a wide birth. She shuddered and quickened her pace. He dug into his pocket a pulled out a crushed fag. It was his last one, and he saw he was running low. He cured loudly. A teacher, Miss Bedfordshire, glared at him, but he ignored her. He had more important things to do. How to get money? There were a few younger years that he had not met yet. Now could be the perfect time. Danny saw a man standing by the gate of the school. A fuzz? Unless he was undercover, witch Danny doubted. For once his drug tampered brain was right. Danny swaggered up to the gate. The man looked at him briefly. The man's eyes scared Danny, but he would never admit it. His brother was Michel Cook, king of the school. Danny would show this man that this was Danny's turf…

"Hey!"

The man looked up. "Hello"

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for my niece."

"Really?"

"Yes. Do you go here? I need to know where the front office is."

"No."

"Alright. It was nice talking to you."

The man made to step around Danny.

"You can't do that."

"Do I need a pass?"

"You can't come in here."

"I beg your pardon?" The man's voice hadn't changed, but Danny felt a shiver of fear. He shoved it down.

"This is my turf. You can't come here."

A voice behind them spoke. "This is a public school. Let him in Danny."

Danny spun around with a glare. "Shut up Harris. Bugger off."

Tom felt tired. It had been a long day at school. His arm ached. But it did that every day, he thought glumly. He gathered his things and headed toward the gate. He would walk home. Maybe he would stop by Jack's house. She had a meeting yesterday, and wouldn't answer any of his calls. But she was most likely busy, he pacified himself. No need to get nervous. He quickened his pace when he saw a man by the gate. The fair hair stood out sharply ageist the slate gray fence. Tom was approaching when Danny Cook made his appearance. Tom begin to get worried. The stranger had no business at this school, but with Danny it was probably bad business. Tom touched his pocket. It was still there. He hurried across the lot toward the two figures. Tom heard the tail of the conversation, and his sprits sank.

"…to pick up my niece."

It went down hill from there. Tom got right behind Danny before he spoke.

"This is a public school. Let him in Danny."

Not the brightest of sentences, but it did the trick.

Danny turned. Said something, but Tom wasn't listening. The man looked very uncomfortable. Tom grinned. No kidding. "Danny, get the hell out of here."

Danny spit on the ground. "This is not over Harris."

He stacked off.

The man looked at Tom for a second. "Is that your welcoming committee?"

Tome shook his head. "Not usually. Today was just your luckily day."

"What do you have in your pocket?"

Slipping his hand in, Tom proudly revealed them. They glinted in the sun.

"Handcuffs? Are you even allowed?"

"Well, I'm kind of part of a patrol around here." Tom didn't explain the part that the patrol was the first in the gym that day, or spent weeks helping Tom search for Alex, or set up a cot in the office when Tom couldn't stand his parents' shouting anymore.

"Humm…"

"I'm going to a friend's house. Do you want to come?"

They started off.

"Will that be wise?"

"Sure, Jack loves visitors."

The man paused, then laughed. "I am staying at her house."

Tom skidded to a stop. What? He felt his face heating up.

The man laughed again "Not that way. I'm a kind of exchange student, if you will. For the military."

Tom nodded. That made more sense than, well, other situations. He touched his 'cuffs for good luck.

"I'm Tom Harris."

The man nodded. "I'm Yassen."

Tom waited for a few seconds, but nothing else was forth coming. "Alright. Off to Jack's house." He took a few steps forward.

Yassen nodded. "Off to Jack's house."

FOR THE COFUSED MASSES: Alex is Yassen