A/N: A nice, long chapter for you today. It actually used to be two, but not much happened so I joined them together. Two chapters last week and a double chapter this week? You better not get used to this, because I'm running out of chapters!
EDIT: Not just on time, but quarter past midnight. Impressed? Meh, don't be. I'm better at staying up late than getting up early. :P
DISCLAIMER: Everything you recognise belongs to Anthony Horowitz
***
They left at five in the morning, a sleepy Amethyst, still wrapped in a dressing gown, waving them goodbye from the doorway. They slipped across the country like ghosts, leaving no record of their existence and soon were back at the perfectly average hotel where they had left the pilot.
They were all kitted out with the best Alex could manage which included a treasure trove from Smithers, arraying them all with light-weight, non-restrictive bulletproof vests, top of the range guns and knives and a fairly large amount of explosives spread between Alex, Wolf and Yassen as the others didn't have the training.
There were no complaints and almost no questions, at least until Alex started to hand out packs of bubblegum. They all looked at him as if he was insane. He smiled slightly at the memory before turning back to the map of the States Wolf had produced.
"We can land here," the soldier was saying. "The town was abandoned after we bombed the sea wall, but not so long ago that looters will have managed to take everything. We-" he was interrupted by a loud knocking on the door. Everyone turned to look at it and Yassen and Alex withdrew their guns.
"Come on, Wolf, open up!" came a familiar voice. "I want to see if little double-oh-nothing really has changed to double-oh-something."
"Who's double-oh-nothing?" asked Graham, smirking slightly and Alex winced at the unwelcome nickname.
Wolf, meanwhile was staring at the door in disbelief.
"Open it, Wolf," said Alex quietly, his gun still prepped and ready in his hands. Just because it sounded like Eagle didn't mean it was.
"Yassen," he said, but the assassin was already slipping into the shadows with a nod. The last thing Alex wanted was another scene like the one between Wolf and Yassen, especially with no David to break the tension.
Wolf crossed the room and pulled open the door.
"What on earth are you doing here?" he asked as four familiar figures in SAS uniform barged into the room.
Snake shrugged. "Apparently the danger rating for the mission was lowered significantly when they gained news of the military withdrawal from Washington to support the front line. They think we might be winning."
"Which also," continued Ben, "Means that the importance of the mission increased dramatically as they think the president might launch the missiles when he realises he's going to lose."
"So we got authorisation to come and help," grinned Eagle. "Now where's Cub?"
Alex, whose eyes had been glazing in horror, quickly snapped his attention back to the room, just in time to sidestep the flying tackle Eagle had launched.
"Hi guys," he said weakly.
"Cub?" grinned Graham, teasingly.
"So would that make you double-oh-nothing?" asked Steve, smiling slightly. Alex flushed in embarrassment.
"Call me that and I promise you will regret it," he vowed.
Steve laughed and Alex smiled slightly. It was the first time that Alex had heard the man laugh, and also the most he'd heard him say after his initial meeting with Alex.
"It seems introductions are in order," said Snake, pulling Eagle up off the floor. "Hi Cub," he added, in way of greeting.
"Snake," responded Alex with a terse nod.
"You've grown," said the man and Alex raised an eyebrow at the inane comment.
"It's been two years," he said. The last time he had seen them had been when he was training with the SAS for his new job with MI6.
Wolf snorted with disgust. "What are you, his long lost uncle?"
Snake grinned in amusement and hauled Eagle away from Alex, who was intensely relieved about the fact, though he hid it well.
"So, introductions?" said Panther from the doorway.
"K-Unit, this is Graham, Steve and Tom. Graham, Steve and Tom, this is the rest of K-Unit, plus B-"
He cut himself off and paused. "How would you like to be introduced?" he asked Ben, cautiously.
"We're on a mission," said Ben, pointedly, "And working with the SAS."
"Plus Fox," said Alex, firmly. "Panther, Snake and Eagle are part of the SAS, along with Wolf, and Fox works for MI6. I met them while training. These layabouts," he continued, indicating his friends and turning to K-Unit, "are my dugout mates from the trenches."
"You've forgotten someone," said Wolf and the others started in surprise.
"Oh, right," said Alex uncomfortably. "And the man standing in the corner is Yassen Gregorovitch. Do NOT draw your guns. He is working with us on this mission."
Instantly the four newcomers whirled around to face Yassen, who simply nodded in greeting from the shadows.
"Nice to meet you," said Ben, recovering first and extending a hand towards the one-time assassin.
"You too," said Yassen, cocking his head to the side as he took the proffered hand.
"This is going to make it harder to sneak across the country unnoticed," sighed Steve.
"Actually, it probably won't," said Panther. "Even with ten of us, we could hardly be called an army. We should be travelling at night and there's a curfew in Washington so no one should see us arrive except any guards that we can easily take out."
"I'm afraid we don't have any equipment for you," said Alex, apologetically. "We only took what we would need."
"It's ok, when he found out where we were going, Smither's equipped us personally," said Ben. "And," he added ruefully, "Left me strict instructions to keep you alive if I could. It seems he is looking forward to working with you again, Alex."
"I'm not working for MI6 again," said Alex firmly. "Not after this."
"If you're so determined," asked Eagle, tilting his head to the side in curiosity, "Why did you agree to this mission?"
The others shifted uncomfortably, knowing exactly what ultimatum Alex had been given.
"I have my reasons," said Alex, coldly.
"Aw come on, Cub," whined Eagle. "Give a little."
"As long as I'm alive the death sentence on me still stands," said Alex emotionlessly. "When MI6 found me I was given a choice between this and getting shot on the spot."
Silence filed the room. After all, what could you say to that? Especially when it was your bosses who said it.
"Right," said Wolf gruffly, breaking the awkward silence. "We take the helicopter to this town here. We find a car and drive it north to Washington. It'll take about twelve hours in total, including a six hour drive. I suggest we take off at about four so we land in America in the dark. Everyone ok with that?"
No one objected and Wolf turned to eye Yassen as if expecting him to complain about something.
"It sounds like a good plan," said Yassen calmly. "You did well."
Alex was fairly sure he was the only who notice the twitch of Yassen's mouth, as if to smirk, as Wolf snarled and turned away.
He sidled closer. "Please don't bait him, Yassen," he asked, "I actually intend to get through this mission without the two of you trying to kill each other."
Yassen smiled and remained silent.
***
The flight was long. K-Unit largely decided to sleep through it, along with Tom. Graham and Steve were talking quietly at the back, while Wolf and Yassen were studying a map at the front. Neither of them looked particularly comfortable about working with the other, but Alex was simply grateful they were mature enough to put their mutual dislike aside. After Brecon Beacons, he had to admit he had had his doubts about Wolf.
Alex sighed and stared out of the window, leaning his forehead against the cold glass.
"Hey... you ok?" said Graham softly from behind him.
Alex pulled a face and twisted in his seat.
"Yeah," he sighed. "I just... I can't believe I'm back here, you know? Doing this again. I gave them everything I had."
He paused and his eyes fall shut momentarily before he regained control. "And if I don't die on this mission, MI6 will probably shoot me the moment I get back."
"I'm not going to let them kill you, Alex," said Yassen, looking over from his discussion with Wolf. "I owe your father more than that. I owe you more than that."
"Thanks," said Alex.
"How did you know his father?" asked Wolf, frowning.
"He trained me," said Yassen calmly and Wolf choked.
"Your father was a contract killer?" hissed Wolf, rounding on Alex.
Alex laughed. "My father was a double agent."
"And so you owe him why exactly?" Wolf asked Yassen.
"He saved my life," shrugged Yassen. "He shot a poisonous spider off my throat. Best shot of his career."
"Saving a life a taking a life with one bullet. Not bad going," said Alex with a smile.
Yassen smiled. "I'd think you'd heard the story too many times if I hadn't only told you once," he said wryly.
Alex smiled. "I'm going to get some sleep. We've still got a couple of hours left yet."
Yassen nodded and turned back to Wolf as the teen lent his head against the window and slowly fell asleep.
Wolf frowned slightly.
"Do you really think they would try to kill him?" he murmured anxiously.
Yassen sighed. "You were the one they sent to kill the, last time. Do you really need to ask?"
***
They disembarked the helicopter, stumbling and bleary eyed, to what seemed to be a ghost town. Towards the shore, the streets were flooded and it seemed as if everyone had packed up and left all in one afternoon, leaving behind whatever they didn't take wherever it fell. There were still cars parked along the street, even.
Wolf didn't find this surprising, and neither did the other SAS, but Alex and the rest were forced to wonder exactly what had happened to make people leave so quickly. They didn't know of the rapid rise in sea level immediately after the bombings on the sea wall, nor did they guess at the collapse of houses into the sea as the land beneath them gave way to the constant waves. Only now, many months later had the sea finally calmed after rapidly regaining the ground it had been denied for so long.
Wolf frowned and scanned the street.
"Jeep, over there," he said tersely as the helicopter took off again.
It wasn't a jeep. It looked more like an old Land Rover Defender than anything, and it looked distinctly out of place among the now rusted BMWs and Mercedes that otherwise lined the street.
"I'll check it over," said Eagle, moving to the front of the vehicle in his signature careless jaunt. Privately, Alex wondered if he moved that way on the battlefield. It was hardly inconspicuous but might just confuse the enemies enough to stop them firing. Alex snorted at the unorthodox tactic. It seemed like something Eagle would try – until it got him shot.
By now, Eagle was straightening up, having proclaimed the engine old but serviceable and promptly climbed into the driver's seat. Seeing Wolf pale slightly at the sight, Yassen quickly made his way over.
"I'll drive," he said quietly.
Eagle opened his mouth to protest, but wisely closed it at the look on Yassen's face.
Moodily, he crossed to the passenger seat and Yassen insinuated himself behind the wheel.
The rest of them piled into the back. With eight of them, it was rather crowded in the small back of the vehicle, even after Fox and Panther ripped out the seats, leaving them dumped on the side of the road among the other debris deposited by the elements.
Alex was, unfortunately, one of the first to climb in, directly after Wolf, which meant that he just ended up getting crushed against the front seats as the rest of the soldiers pushed him backwards. Turning around, Eagle grinned and ruffled his hair. Alex would have punched him if he had been able to move his arms, as it was he settled for a glare that promised retribution later.
Sighing, he wriggled until he obtained a semblance of freedom, then lent back against the back of the driver's seat and tried to ignore the glares he was getting for elbowing various people in his quest for liberty.
"How long is this going to take?" he asked, wearily. This position was going to get old fast. If he had to stay in it for more than an hour, he wasn't sure he'd be able to move again afterwards.
"About six hours," said Wolf, shifting, and Alex jumped when he realised exactly how close his team leader was.
"Well that sucks," grumped Tom from beside the door.
"You're the lucky one," said Ben. "They rest of us don't have your leg room."
"Yeah, well, I'm probably the tallest barring Eagle and Yassen," shrugged Tom. "So comparatively, I've probably got less."
Alex snorted and Panther reached out and smacked the black-haired young man on the arm.
"Ow!" protested Tom, "What was that for?"
"Don't hurt members of your team unless it's necessary, Panther," reprimanded Snake.
"That was necessary," said Panther. "If I didn't, I think Gray or Steve was going to kill him."
"I wouldn't kill him!" protested Graham.
"I would," smirked Steve, making everyone laugh.
"Alright, may as well try to get some sleep," said Ben. "It's a long way and we don't know what it's going to be like when we get there."
***
Alex woke with a curse as he felt himself slammed across the small compartment, landing with an 'oomph' on top of Wolf.
"Jesus Christ!" exclaimed Wolf, promptly dumping Alex onto Snake, who firmly but gently, pushed him back to his place.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Yassen?" demanded Alex. "That bloody hurt!"
"I'm not driving," said the assassin calmly, from the passenger seat.
"Then who..." began Ben, before paling. "You let EAGLE drive?!"
"Hey, I'm not that bad!" said Eagle, promptly disproving it by taking another corner at what felt like a hundred miles per hour.
"For gods' sake, pull over!"said Graham, desperately. "I'll drive."
"He's making good time," commented Yassen. "We'll be there in an hour at this rate."
"Yeah, and we'll all be concussed," said Alex. "Now make him pull over!"
"Aw, come on, Cub," said Eagle. "Live a little!"
***
They were all a bit shaky, when they finally abandoned the car, four miles out of Washington DC and prepared to walk the rest to avoid notice, but by the time they had reached the city centre, they had recovered.
Yassen and Alex scouted ahead, trying to find a safe, abandoned house for the others to stay in until they figured out a plan of action.
Wolf scowled, remembering his objections to their plan. The spy and the assassin had solved that particular problem by ignoring him and fading into the darkness like ghosts. Every so often, Alex would reappear, instructing Wolf to change direction, or to check they were all still ok. He'd been gone for almost ten minutes now, and Wolf was sure he'd reappear soon.
Their footsteps seemed unnaturally loud on the deserted streets and, while he would have preferred to keep his team where he could locate them, Wolf couldn't deny that having two lookouts made him feel a lot more secure.
That worked right up until he felt the cold, metal barrel of a gun pressed against the base of his skull.
"Hello, soldier," said a hard, feminine voice. "Time to come with us."
***
A/N: So what did you think? Review and tell me!
Btw... if you have a moment, could you do me a favour and hope on over to my profile? I've got a poll going on the name for the sequel to Dangerous, if any of you read that. The options are 'Justice Notwithstanding' and 'A Miscarriage of Justice'. Which I prefer really depends on what mood I'm in so I thought I'd leave it up to you guys. Don't let me down!
PS. If anyone has a better idea for a title, PM me and tell me. Something to do with Justice going bad would be good, I guess. If I like it, I'll add it to the poll.