Being the guardian of Alex Rider was a difficult task on the best of days and downright impossible on the worst. Eagle knew this small factoid well, even though he was not technically the boy's guardian. However, Jack had made it perfectly clear to her ward that he was treat Eagle in the same manner he would her. The two of them hadn't had too many issues with each other; in fact, the soldier liked the kid, craziness and all. It also helped that they weren't around each other all of the time.

Eagle did work that required him to leave with barely a moment's notice sometimes. Jack weathered it well enough but with both Tom and Alex to take care of when K-Unit deployed, the American had more than enough interesting happenings to keep her on her toes. The soldier didn't usually bother to find out any details about what had happened while he was gone. If the two got into some sort of trouble he let Jack deal with it and in Tom's case he let Jack tell Wolf how to deal with it. That was how it worked and he was perfectly okay with it all.

But the nature of Tom and Alex's relationship with K-Unit and their professional world was a peculiar one. Even with Alex no longer spying, the boy really couldn't seem to stick his nose out of international and/or criminal affairs. Tom was just nosey in general. The combination of all these factors had the ability to bring about some interesting situations and unfortunately there was no manual on how best to deal with your fifteen year old spy and his lunatic sidekick. Jack made it seem effortless sometimes and Eagle often found himself jealous of her when he had to deal with these things by himself.

Like now for instance. Now was a time he wished she was here, if to just explain why he hadn't been told about this in the slightest. Despite not wanting details the woman usually told him enough for him to be informed. But this. This he hadn't even had the slightest inclination about. And now he and the rest of the unit were completely caught off guard in a room full of SAS soldiers and their superiors.

To his left, Wolf growled in a way that Eagle knew meant he was pondering murdering Tom tonight. Fox had a wide eyed look to him that showed just how truly surprised he was. Snake looked happy that he didn't have to really deal with the two boys on any consistent basis. And to think that just a couple of hours ago they had all been in a rather congenial mood.

"We should have brought Cub to this," Snake said as he checked in and picked up the program at the table with the blue covering and smiling twenty-something woman.

"He's not on any kind of active duty," Eagle replied and followed his friend into the auditorium. "Besides, he's in a completely different organization."

"We could have swung him an invitation," Snake replied and Eagle knew it to be true. If Alex had wanted to come to the seminar on Public Tactical Maneuvering they probably could have easily gotten him in. After all he was Cub, youngest SAS trainee since, well, ever really. Eagle shrugged, knowing the other man wanted a reply but not really wanting to open up that conversation.

Losing Alex as an active operative-while good for the conscious-had been somewhat dissatisfying to the organizations he'd worked with. The kid was good, better than most ever could be, and they would probably never be able to replace him. But Eagle didn't dare broach that side of the argument in front of anyone who may have even the slightest chance of telling Jack. He didn't enjoy sleeping on the couch.

Besides, he knew the kid on a personal level and that more than changed the playing field. He didn't want the boy to get hurt anymore than Jack did. Not to mention that when Alex was on a mission it was likely to be big and grandiose. The boy never could do anything quietly and neither could Tom for that matter. It was probably why they were such good friends. One loved the impossible and one was impossible.

The two soldiers found Wolf and Fox quickly enough and joined them in a row half-way up the large lecture hall. They had never been to a military seminar before but Eagle was certain it would at least be interesting. One had to have a certain clearance just to get in and Eagle could spot several high ranking officers in the crowd. He wondered what it would be like.

To his right Snake let out a low whistle as he looked over the itinerary.

"Something interesting?" Eagle asked keeping his voice low so as not to drown out the low hum of conversation and call attention to themselves.

"Yeah, listen to this title," the other man replied and all three of his friends leaned over to hear him better, curious. "Why not to allow civilians to participate in emergency operations."

"What kind of lecture is that?" Fox asked.

"It isn't," Snake replied. "It's a video of some sort. Says here a civilian filmed an entire emergency operation from start to finish."

"Wow," Wolf said. "Poor camera guy." Knowing what they did about what constituted an emergency operation, Wolf's sentiment was met with several nods of agreement. They were distracted after that by the various other soldiers around them. G-Unit wanted to know their thoughts about Iraq; Panther from J-Unit came over to check in on them; Wasp from T-Unit wanted to see if they were planning on being in town long and if they would want to get together for drinks; Kangaroo from A-Unit wanted to know if Snake had anymore vicodin left from his last injury. The last was met with a disapproving look from the medic but the man didn't reply beyond that.

Soon enough however, the seminar started and they spent the first hour and a half going over basic maneuvers and tactics. Well, basic for K-Unit who had done most of what the instructor was describing in their various dealings with Tom and Alex. Surprisingly, having to rescue the two boys from high speed chases, hostage situations, and really tall trees (Tom was sometimes too in touch with his inner five-year old) really did prepare one for dealing with the situations the instructor felt they may one day face.

Eagle was just starting to wonder if he could slip out without being noticed when the lights dimmed and the video they had read about began to play. The very first screen was just some text explaining that it had been edited for the seminar and then there was a file identification number. And then the video cut away to the first scene.

Kids.

That was the first thing they saw. Teenagers and it was clear within the first few seconds that they were on a class trip. One girl explained it to the boy holding the camera. A trip to the Science Museum. The kids were currently waiting for the tube which the school had decided to take instead of a bus just for the fun of it.

Within the next ten seconds Eagle felt his stomach drop when the camera panned onto a very familiar black haired boy with blue eyes full of mischief.

"Damn it," Wolf said much louder than was necessary and nearly the entire hall turned to look at him and his incredulous expression. Only a handful of them recognized the kid as Accomplice so Wolf looked more than a little ridiculous. Their attention was eventually drawn back to the screen, however, when it was clear that Wolf was far too interested in what was happening.

"Hey Tom," said a voice just out of view. "What do you plan on doing at the Museum?"

"I plan on finally getting that shot of me in the space suit," the boy replied and Eagle rolled his eyes. Such a typical response.

"You'll get kicked out," Alex said as he stepped into the frame.

"Of where? The museum because it'll be worth it," Tom replied not daunted.

"No, of school," the blond replied. "Not to mention what'll happen when you get home."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Tom said and Eagle glanced over to see Wolf glaring at the screen as if that would stop the kid from doing whatever he had planned. "Or me for that matter."

Eagle heard Snake stifle a snicker at that as did J-Unit directly behind them. If the soldier had been brave enough he would have turned to see Wolf's right eye twitch instead of just imagining it. On screen, the boys continued with their banter.

"You don't think he'll know if you're expelled?"

"No," Tom said with a smirk. "Like I said what he doesn't know won't hurt me."

"Still, I think-" Alex started but they never did find out what he thought. He was interrupted by the distinct sound of gunfire. They saw the camera jerk violently as whoever held it dropped low with the rest of the kids. Screaming, more gunfire, and suddenly Eagle saw Alex's shoes take off.

"Alex!" Tom screamed. "You're supposed to run away from Shooty McShooter-Pants, not towards! Dumb blond!"

And with that odd shout of concern, the shorter boy was off and running as well.

"Tom!" shouted another boy and the camera followed the football star. The movements were jerky and out of focus but they could clearly see Alex and Tom running at full speed after a distant figure who hopped into a car immediately after hitting the street.

It took Alex all of two seconds to break into a rather crappy vehicle and hotwire it. Tom grabbed the passenger's seat and the camera boy sat in the back.

"You shouldn't be here!" Alex shouted but pressed the gas pedal down anyway so as not to lose the shooter.

"Like hell!" Tom shouted right back. "Who was that?"

"Skoda!"

"Who?" the camera boy shouted from the back as they rounded a sharp corner.

"A drug dealer," Alex responded loudly but no longer shouting as he focused on maneuvering through the heavy traffic without crashing. Eagle winced at the squeal of tires.

"Is he that one you dropped on top of police headquarters?" Tom asked.

"Yes," was the simple reply. Then the boy happened to glance into the rearview mirror and saw the camera in the other boy's hand. "Turn that off!"

"No way man," the still unknown kid replied. "This is gold."

"Forget about it Alex," Tom shouted as they swerved right to avoid an oncoming car. "Grey-man won't let him keep it! Look out!"

"AHH!"

"Shit," Fox exclaimed under his breath as the car and camera were thrown violently in an attempt to both maintain control and avoid a delivery truck that certainly hadn't been there a second ago. Eagle felt his heart rate go up with worry despite knowing that Alex was perfectly fine, at home and probably with Tom.

As the video went on Eagle discovered that Alex really wouldn't need those drivers education classes Jack had once mentioned. The kid could drive better than anyone Eagle had ever seen. He was much better with this high speed chase concept than Tom was. Eventually the car they were chasing skidded off the road and into a tree. The driver was out and running almost before the car had settled and Alex hit the brakes.

"Stay here!" he commanded firmly as he leapt out of the vehicle and continued with his chase. Eagle wondered why this guy was so important. Clearly the two had a history but Eagle had never before seen Alex so determined to catch someone. He was no stranger to the concept of danger so for him to allow Tom and another classmate to tag along on this chase was significant. Whatever this drug dealer had done, the boy was not willing to forgive or forget. Eagle pitied the runner.

"C'mon," the boy with the camera said as soon as Alex was out of sight in the park they'd stopped by.

"Are you insane?" Tom snapped. "Stay here! Wait! James!"

While Tom knew to follow Alex's orders for the most part this other boy didn't and he out of the car and running, Tom and his shouts and curses not far behind. The two civilians continued on their run through the park following the sound of people shouting and even more gun fire. The entire hall was leaning forward by now, thoroughly interested. It hadn't taken long for it circulate that the two boys were Cub and Accomplice.

Eventually the camera came to rest on Alex standing alone in a small quad that had a flag pole in the very center. Skoda's gun was tucked into the front of his jeans and his hands were resting on his hips as he caught his breath.

"Let me down you little punk!" came a very angry, deep shout and the camera tilted up for them to see the drug dealer attached to the flag pole by his belt, hanging twenty feet in the air.

"How the bloody hell did you get him up there?" the camera boy, James, asked. The frame panned back to Alex who shook his head.

"I'd rather not talk about it," he said breathlessly. The sounds of sirens pierced the sudden silence.

"We should go," Tom said. "If we leave now we won't be arrested."

"Agreed," James responded.

"Sounds good," Alex said and the camera began to walk at a much more sedated pace back to where the car was. "Oh and let's not tell Jack about this."

"Sure," Tom replied and the camera panned to him in time to catch his smirk. "I won't tell if you don't tell. Will our dear, sweet cupcake shut his mouth?"

Snake snorted at the last line and Eagle heard Fox try to cover a laugh. Both Eagle and Wolf were a little too worked up about the video to enjoy the humor in the moment. No wonder Jack hadn't said anything to him. She didn't know either. Those sneaky little-.

"Yeah," Alex said with a smirk as well. "He'll shut his mouth."

The moment continued and just before the screen went black they heard, "Who's cupcake?"

There was dead silence in the hall as Wolf stood up to storm out in pure anger. Eagle managed to sit through the rest of the seminar but he didn't much listen as the instructor broke down the different aspects of the video and how civilians caused all sorts of problems. He knew all too well the lesson the man was trying to teach. K-Unit lived through it and dealt with it all the time. He was wondering on how best to inform Jack that she needed to ground Alex.

Jack wasn't there when he returned home. He was too irritated with what had just happened to wait for her though so he followed the sounds of the television and found the offending teenager in the living room watching a movie. Grabbing the remote out of his loose grip the soldier turned the television off.

"Hey!" Alex exclaimed. "What gives?"

"What gives?" Eagle snapped. "I'll tell you 'what gives'. I just saw the most interesting video today."

"At the seminar?" Alex asked not yet cottoning on that he was in trouble.

"Yes," Eagle snarled and the kid looked taken aback. "Can you guess what it was about?"

"Saving Private Ryan?" the boy threw out.

"No Cub!" the man shouted. "It was of you and Tom and some other little hooligan chasing down a rampaging drug dealer in a stolen car!" Alex's brown eyes went impossibly large at that and he looked genuinely concerned.

"Oh."

"Oh?" Eagle asked incredulously. "Oh? All you can say is 'oh'?"

"Oh my?"

"This isn't funny Alex," the soldier replied, seething.

"I've been through worse," the boy replied and the wind exited Eagle's sails as quickly as it had come. He sighed and dropped the remote on the coffee table before he took a seat next to the wary teenager.

"Look, Alex," he said much calmer. "You're no longer on active duty. You have no excuse for breaking away from your class to chase that guy down. Not only did Tom follow you but so did another classmate. What if it hadn't ended the way it had? What if Skoda had gotten off a shot? Both of those boys didn't listen to your command to stay put. They were both in an incredible amount of danger they didn't need to be in because they were following you."

"I know," the kid said softly, staring intently at the floor and looking more pitiful than Eagle had ever seen him before. The boy looked incredibly guilty.

"I'm not going to sugar coat anything for you Alex," the soldier said and put a hand on the kid's shoulder. "That video was an example of how civilians should not be permitted to tag along. Tom is a civilian and he could have easily gotten killed. Skoda was running away. There was no need to follow him and put all three of you in that kind of danger. If you want out kid, you need to stay out. Blunt could have easily taken this as a cue to put you on another mission. Is that what you want?"

"No," Alex responded with a shake of his head. "That's not what I want."

"Then cut it with the heroics," the man said perhaps a little too harshly if the flash of anger in the kid's eye was anything to go by. He was no longer staring at the floor. His eyes were piercing Eagle's in a way that reminded him of their training Sergeant.

"It's personal with Skoda," the boy said harshly but Eagle didn't blink.

"That doesn't change anything," the soldier told him. "You're a civilian now. Leave an anonymous tip, call the police, testify in court, do not steal a car and go on a high speed chase in the middle of London. If something happens to you Jack will be very upset and then I'll have to kill you."

The last startled a chuckle from Alex and Eagle squeezed his shoulder fondly before removing his hand.

"Andy?" the kid hedged.

"What?"

"Are you going to tell Jack about this?"

"I have to," the man replied and held up a hand to stop the kid from saying anything in protest. "Even she will notice Wolf foaming at the mouth for the next few weeks."

"He's that mad huh?" Alex asked with a small, amused smile.

"Oh yeah!" Eagle laughed. "Tom was in infinitely more danger than you were. Not only that but we had to find out that the two of you lied to all of us in front of an auditorium full of SAS soldiers." Alex winced at that point. "You know how Wolf is when it comes to being caught off guard by kids." Both of them remembered their first round at Brecon Beacons well enough to know that Tom may need to kick Wolf out of a plane before the man would get off his case.

Despite the trouble he found himself in, the blond was glad that he was, for the first time, not going through it all alone. It was actually rather comforting to know that he and his best friend would be grounded at the same time for their crazy escapade. It was all rather normal actually.

Laying in bed that night after his two hour long lecture from Jack about never again stringing up drug dealers by the their belts, Alex's mobile buzzed with a new text message. The thing wouldn't be taken away in case of an all too likely emergency so he was still in contact with Tom. Opening the message he couldn't help but let loose a quiet laugh.

That foul little cupcake deserves to be chewed up and spit out by rabid armadillos.

And while Alex agreed wholeheartedly with Tom's feelings he wondered how the other boy came up with this stuff. Maybe he really was crazy.