A.N.: I'm back... This week has been horrible. Now I'm just worrying about summer and...well...anyways!

Now I am not sure exactly how many chapters are left because my plots are going haywire and exploding everywhere. Meaning, I don't even know how my plot is going to progress. So, yeah, I will try to fit them all in three to four chapters.

Summer's starting soon, will definitely update faster!

P.S. this chapter was kind of unbeta-ed because my grammar check machine thing had some problem. But I did read through it several times. My English is not the best, so there will undoubtedly be more errors in this chapter than all the previous chapters. Please bear with me!

K-Unit stood before the sergeant in his office, their stances tense and waiting for the commands.

"At ease," The sergeant said and they relaxed slightly, though remained standing, "You will return to the Cathedral tomorrow on your way to the hospital. Sort things out a little, see what you can help out with."

"Help out with, sir?"

"We are ceasing all search for Coyote," The sergeant said, his voice blunt and devoid of any emotion, "The higher-ups believed that this was a lost cause."

"He might still be alive," Wolf interrupted the sergeant, his fists clenched tightly.

"Approximately three hours ago," The sergeant turned toward the K-unit leader, "Coyote was declared KIA."

Wolf felt all blood being drained away, "What?"

"You heard me, soldier," The sergeant's tone was hard, "We will cease all search for Coyote. His family will-"

"We didn't find his body," Wolf said, his argument weak even to his ears, "You can't assume tha-"

"Are you talking back to me, soldier?"

A pause, "No, sir."

"Good," The sergeant turned away from him and glanced at the rest of K-Unit, "I do not wish to hear any further arguments. His family will be informed of this. In addition, Bear will be joining your unit from now on. Until we can find the proper adjustment to the situation, he will remain as your fifth member. Any questions?"

"No, sir."

"Dismissed," The sergeant said but at the last moment, he changed his mind before Wolf was about to leave the room, "Wolf, a word."

Wolf glanced at Snake who nodded slightly before leaving. The leader turned back to the sergeant, "Sir?"

"Come here," The sergeant as he sat down, beckoning the unit leader as he pulled out a folder from his drawer.

A little uncertain but still angered at the decision made, Wolf made his way to the sergeant and stood to attention in front of the man.

"This is strictly limited and classified information," The sergeant's tone was low but Wolf caught every word, "I trust that you won't say a word to anyone? With exceptions to your unit of course."

"Sir?" Wolf was confused.

"Do I have your words?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good," The sergeant placed the folder on the table and slid it across to Wolf, "That's everything you need to know to begin your search."

"My search, sir?" Wolf took the folder and flipped open to the first page.

It was a whole page of information regarding a man named Patrick William Edmonson. Edmonson. Wolf jolted slightly in shock. Was there some sort of link? He glanced at the sergeant.

"Second page," The man instructed, "It was a report given to me by a soldier on night patrol a few days ago."

Wolf turned the page. Then he felt his breath caught in his throat.

"'I saw a figure walking past the police tape at night. I followed him but lost him in the darkness a few moment later. When he emerged, he was carrying a body on his back. A man, I believe, but could have been a boy. It looked remarkably like the soldier we are searching for but I do not have an accurate visual confirmation. He escaped before I had the chance to confront him.'" The sergeant said, reciting it from his mind as if he had read it too many times to count.

"…Coyote."

"This is the only lead we currently have," The sergeant glanced at him, "There're two options currently. Declare Coyote KIA, or follow this trail. It might turn out to be nothing, but," The sergeant spread his hands in an almost helpless gesture, "It's the best we have."

"Yes, sir."

"I will give you two weeks," The sergeant said, "No more. You want him back, you're taking it into your hand instead of waiting for any additional help from higher-ups. But two weeks, that's all. As soon as the deadline hits, I want you out of the search and back into the field. Your team is ready, and with Bear, you don't need to be here anymore."

"Yes, sir." Wolf stood to attention.

"Dismissed," The sergeant said and before Wolf walked out, the man said, "And Wolf?"

"Sir?"

"Did this conversation ever exist?"

Wolf met the man's gaze squarely, "No, sir."

"Good."

Alex blinked open his eyes. It was dark. Pitch black darkness. He turned his head sideways then hissed in pain. He felt as if his whole body was being held together by a thin thread that could break at any time.

"He's awake!" He heard someone said and tried to look at the source.

Everything was black. He couldn't see anything. Blind. Alex blinked once as the word flickered across his mind. Oh, right. He was blind, hopefully only temporarily as Agent Belworth told him. Memories began to flood forward as he recalled what happened. Major explosion. Blown off his feet. He must have hit his head along the way because his head was still throbbing slightly.

"Don't move," Someone, a man, instructed him.

Foul or friend? He was betting for friend. He was hoping for friend, because he wasn't ready to face the troubles just yet.

"You are in a hospital," The man continued, "You were badly wounded and it will be wise if you restrict your movements for the next few weeks." He paused, "You are temporarily blind, so do not be alarmed if you cannot see."

Alex relaxed slightly. The man sounded like a professional, probably a doctor. And probably friend. He just had to know where and which hospital he was in, and then he would be able to confirm everything.

"Temperature normal, heartbeat normal, blood pressure normal," The doctor continued, "You won't be able to move your right leg. The bones are crushed, it will take time to heal. But other than all that, you are alive."

Alex smiled slightly.

"You will be under close observation for the next few days until you can probably operate without any troubles." The doctor paused, "I'm going to allow your guardian in. If you are uncomfortable with anything, there is a button right next to your hand."

Guardian? Alex faltered at that. Jack was dead. Then MI6? Mrs. Jones? He didn't want to see her.

He heard someone sat down on a chair of some sort beside his bed, "Eh, hi."

It sounded unfamiliar, not one of the voices he knew, "Who are you?"

At least, that was the question he wanted to ask except his voice was hoarse and raspy and it came out more like a dry croak. He cleared his throat a few times, wincing as he felt stabs of pain.

"Water?" The man offered and Alex nodded.

He heard the man got up and a moment later, something cool touched his lips and he swallowed as the water trickled down his throat. It was soothing.

"Who are you?" Alex tried again as the man set the glass down.

It wasn't until then did he realized that the water might have been drugged.

"My name is Patrick," The man said.

No familiarity, but Alex did recall a man telling him that his name was Patrick. Must be when he was trapped under.

"Patrick Williams," He added.

No familiarity either.

"Well, my full name is Patrick Williams Edmonson," The man said after another moment of silence.

That sparked Alex's attention. Edmonson. His son? Brother? Relative of some sort? Dangerous? He tensed automatically.

"No need to be alarm," The man said and Alex heard the small smile in the man's voice, "Yeah, you might know my brother, Shay Edmonson."

Of course he knew, but he didn't know that Edmonson had a brother.

"Unlike my brother, I'm not famous," He heard the man sighed.

That made Alex relaxed, but just so slightly. Edmonson was a rich and greedy man, and definitely not humble. His brother seemed to be different on that.

"Nor am I rich."

Alex smiled slightly, "Not everyone can invent a….uh…cure," A fake cure, but he wasn't about to tell that to the man's brother who clearly looked up to him, "to cancer, Mr…"

"Patrick," The man supplied.

"Mr. Patrick,"

"Just Patrick is fine," The man corrected him, "Less formal, the better. Don't really want to be too formal."

"All right."

"You sound like you have doubts about my brother's accomplishment?" The man's tone was genuinely amused and perhaps a little surprised.

Alex debated as to whether or not he should admit it or deny, "Well…yes."

"That's good," To his surprise, Patrick laughed a little, "Because he didn't."

Alex turned toward the man, even though he couldn't see, "What do you mean?"

"I can't tell you about that," He heard Patrick said with a shook of his head, "It will bring my brother more troubles and ultimately, he will suspect that I had a part in it."

"I see," Well, Patrick had already given out a fair amount of information without knowing it.

"What's your name?" Patrick asked, directing the topic away.

"Julius" Alex replied after a moment of consideration, "Julius Hawkerson."

He felt a stab of guilt at using a fake name when the man was so openly honest with him.

"Well then, Julius," Patrick said, taking his lie for the truth, "Let's get down to the real business here." The man leaned in a little closer, "I found you at the local cathedral. The local ancient cathedral where an explosion took place about a week ago. You were alone, well, mostly…"

"Mostly?"

"Were you with anyone before the building exploded?"

Alex remembered Pine, "Yeah…"

"I'm sorry to tell you that," Patrick swallowed, "He was already dead when I found you."

"That's alright," Alex said quietly.

"Was he someone close to you?"

"No, not at all," Alex shook his head ever so slightly. Maybe he would be categorized as 'evil' for thinking that, but at the moment, Alex was glad that the man had died. He would have killed the man himself, but he knew that he couldn't kill someone, with his own hand, without having the rest of his life being haunted by nightmares.

"Oh," Patrick said, a little surprised, "Who was he, if I may ask?"

"An acquaintance," Alex said curtly.

"I see," The man took note of his tone, "What about your parents?"

"What?"

"Were they…at the cathedral?" Patrick's voice sounded surprisingly gentle and sympathetic.

The explosion must have had a huge effect, Alex thought grimly. There must have been quite a few fatalities and casualties.

"No," Alex shook his head.

"Oh," Patrick was evidently relieved, "Then I have to call them to inform about you. May I have their phone numbers?"

"You don't have to," Alex said, shaking his head.

"They will be worried sick about you!"

"It's alright," Alex said, a little amused. His parents were dead after all. He doubted that they would pick up the phone.

"I must, it's my duty."

"They're dead," Alex said.

"Oh," Patrick seemed to be at a loss for words. It probably would have been a little comical to see the man's face at the moment, "Umm. Uh."

Alex laughed slightly, "It's all right, really. They died when I was really young, so I don't really know them well."

"Then any guardian?"

Alex thought about MI6. The idea of going back to MI6 sicken him. He didn't want to go back, nor would he, "I had some trouble with some…uh…authority figures. So now I live alone."

"Some authority figures? Wait, hold on. You live alone?" Patrick said in surprise, "But you're like, twelve!"

At that, Alex really laughed. Generally, others called him old for his age. He had never heard of someone telling him that he looked like he was twelve years old. It was funny, similar to some sort of everyday comedy show. Though at the same time, talking with a stranger, a random civilian, after a mission was a change of scene as well. It was always the face of the nurse, the voice of blunt, and the smell of Mrs. Jones's peppermint. It was sickening.

"I'm actually seventeen," Alex corrected him.

"No way."

"Yes way."

"No way."

Alex gave his best stare toward the general direction of the man, "Yes way."

"Okay, yeah, anyways," He heard Patrick chuckling slightly, "Relatives? Any relatives I can contact?"

"Dead, all dead," Alex nonchalantly slammed it before the man.

He could almost imagine Patrick placing his head in his hands because when the man continued, his voice was muffled, "I'm sorry."

"I didn't get to know any of them, so it's completely fine."

"What a sad life you have," Patrick said, removing his hands from his face, "I must say."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," The man replied dryly, "Anyways, you don't have anyone you can go back to?"

"I live alone," Alex corrected him.

"That makes my job a little easier," Patrick ignored him, "Don't have to get into all the legal issues about this. Until you're fully healed, I will be your guardian, so act like you're my ward or something, and we'll be fine," Patrick paused as if considering, "I did tell them that I am your guardian and that your parents were out traveling."

The man clearly grimaced, "This is bad. How should I explain about your parents?"

"Just say that my parents are, uh, heading toward the center of the earth."

"I've never met any kid who is so casual when talking about their deceased parents."

"It's kind of like talking about someone you never know, but at the same time someone who, as everyone kept telling you, should matter a lot in your life."

Patrick didn't respond as he cleared his throat, clearly couldn't think of a reply.

A moment later, he asked, "So any questions?"

Alex nodded, "Which hospital am I in?"

"Something like the Royal Liverpool…hospital, I think," Patrick sounded as if he was having trouble recalling the name, "Expensive, but excellent service apparently. It was the nearest one and the only one I know around there."

"Oh." Expensive? That would be…troublesome to pay.

The man must have caught his expressions because he hurriedly added, "You're my temporary ward, so you can just…hang around and help me do the dishes or something until you're of age."

"I'm eighteen next year," Alex raised an eyebrow, "So I've to stay with you for the next whole year?"

"Unless you can pay up right here and now, yes."

Well, at least he didn't have to worry too much about living for now.

Bear glanced over as he heard the door opening. He straightened slightly when he saw K-Unit. They had a serious expression on their face. It wasn't business-like serious, more like…everyday seriousness.

Bear nodded slightly to acknowledge each one of them, "What happened?"

"Orders just came and all that," Eagle explained, "You're our new fifth member."

Bear's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "What?"

"Sergeant's order," Eagle shrugged.

"What about Coyote?" Bear asked, frowning slightly, "A unit can't have six members."

They exchanged a glance again. It was a glance that told him that they were hiding something, something big, "What is it?" Bear nearly snapped, "And where's Coyote?"

"Well, there won't be six members," Snake shook his head, "Coyote won't be put in our unit."

"Then what?"

Snake seemed to be exceedingly reluctant as he inhaled slightly, "Approximately six hours ago, Coyote was declared KIA."

A joke, that was Bear's first thought, "Oh, and?"

"I'm being serious here," Snake glanced at him, "Coyote was declared dead."

Bear laughed slightly, "Yeah, sure."

Snake walked forward and shoved a piece of paper before him, "I'm not joking here, Bear."

Bear took the paper and felt all the blood being drained away as he read through the first paragraph, "You're not being serious…"

Silence met his accusation.

"You told me that he was alive and well just yesterday," Bear said, his voice suddenly weak as he turned his gaze toward K-Unit.

"I didn't want you to overreact," Snake grimaced, refusing to meet his gaze, "Coyote was only declared missing yesterday."

Missing? Agent Belworth told him that… Bear's eyes widened slightly. Agent Belworth never told him anything about Coyote. He talked about Wolf and evaded around Coyote. That man knew. He knew. Bear's hands shook slightly. The three words Killed in Action seemed to be flickering and bolding on the paper he held in his hands. Why wasn't he informed about this?

"Tell me everything," Bear snapped as the anger, rage, and pain boiled over, "Goddammit, tell me everything!"

"Coyote didn't get out of the building in time before it exploded," Snake said, his voice soft.

"Then why is he here?" Bear's gaze turned toward Wolf accusingly, "He went in with Coyote!"

"Coyote pushed me out," Wolf said, his voice gruff, "There was a helicop—"

"Push you out?" Bear laughed without humor, "Push you out? That's hilarious."

Wolf didn't respond but Bear saw the flicker of anger in the man's dark eyes.

"The soldiers had been searching for Coyote for the past week," Snake said, "We tried o-"

"That's why you kept on saying that he was out," Bear filled in the blank, "That's why he was never here."

He ran his hand through his short hair before putting them over his eyes, "I…I…"

His eyes stung. Where was that quick victory that Ferret mentioned before the mission? The party he was going to hold? The long-await standby? The chance to rest? Where was the unit that he had trained with for so long? All gone.

Then suddenly, unexpected, Bear yelled in fury, "Dammit, Coyote!"

"It wasn't his fault."

"Everything was his fault!" Bear exclaimed and the hand covering his eyes shook just so slightly, "I told him to not risk it. I told him that nothing good will happen. Why did he try to be the hero?"

Bear had promised himself that he would apologize. Apologize before it became too late. But too late came too early. He should have grasped the chance before it was gone. First Jay, then Panther, then Ferret and Leopard, now Coyote. He wasn't suited for the position of a leader.

"Why did you die?" He whispered hoarsely, "Why, Coyote?"

He should have never became a soldier. He wasn't ready, physically or mentally.

"Are you quite done?" Bear jerked up in surprise as Wolf asked bluntly.

"What?"

"Are you done?" Wolf repeated.

Bear was at a loss for words at the rudeness and the bluntness of the question. The emotions were still in an inner-turmoil inside of him.

"Now listen up," Wolf said as he walked over to him and slammed a folder down on the table beside him, "I don't want any more of your shitty emotional things, because we're wasting time here."

"What?" Bear clenched his jaw.

"Coyote's alive." Wolf paused, "Probably."

"What do you mean?" Bear inhaled sharply, his hand clenching the bedsheet.

"The sergeant gave us, me, the folder. He believed that Coyote was still alive, even though some of the higher-ups had declared him dead. This folder contains the only clue to his whereabouts and survival. We have two weeks, two weeks to find him, or case close. So once you are done with your outburst, we can start."

Bear digressed the information. Everything happened so fast. Coyote was declared missing, then KIA. Information popping up about his possible survival and whereabouts. The possibility that he was alive. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Coyote was alive? Suddenly, Bear felt that he shouldn't be surprised at anything anymore. He couldn't predict anything about Coyote, and so let it be. Wolf was right. Now was not a time to waste.

"Let's start."

Wolf grunted as he sat down and started explaining.

The boy, Julius, finally fell asleep after a few hours. Patrick had gotten to know him better, but not by much. At least the boy was well, and not at all moody or traumatized. Patrick stood up and stretched slightly and winced. He was getting old.

Julius was an interesting boy. Young man, he corrected himself. He was seventeen after all. Old enough to be out in the society, but Patrick wasn't about to do that. It was wrong for any child to grow up alone.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Patrick quietly exited the room and glanced at the caller ID. He didn't recognize it. Prank call? Salesman? He declined the call and slipped it back into his pocket. Not a second sooner, the phone went off again. It was the same ID.

"Hello?" Patrick answered the call.

"Is this Patrick William Edmonson?" Patrick winced slightly. Full name, huh. He must be in some trouble.

"Yes, and who might you be?"

The man didn't answer his question, "I believe that you entered a sealed-off section a few days ago without permission?"

Right, his waltz into the sectioned area. Patrick winced slightly, "I apologize for that. I wa—"

"No need," The man interrupted him, "I have received information that you found someone amongst the ruins?"

They must be talking about the boy, "Yes, I did."

"And he is in your care right now?"

"May I have your name please?" Julius said that he had no live relatives or guardian and that he lived alone. Who was this man then?

"We are from the government."

I had some trouble with some…uh…authority figures. So now I live alone.

This man must be one of the authority figures, Patrick realized. Not a fan of governors never would be, Patrick replied, "Oh, I see. Well, He might or might not be in my care."

There was a moment of silence, "We're currently investigating into your brother's affair. And it wouldn't be hard for us to link something to you. So if you don't want any trouble, it will be nice for you to answer the question."

"Yes, he is," Patrick replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. Blackmailing, no wonder Julius was so reluctant to talk about them.

"I see. He is someone we know and I would like to talk with him. Put him on the phone."

"I can pass your message," Patrick suggested, "He's asleep."

"Then let's meet face-to-face," The man suggested.

"I'll call back once I talked with him," Patrick declined, "May I have a name? I need to know if he really knows you."

A pause, "Tell him that it's Wolf."

"Wolf?"

"Yes."

"Alright then," Patrick hung up.

He was in some serious trouble. The government was looking for the boy, who was clearly not happy when it was brought up, and Patrick wasn't about to tell the boy about them. The least the boy worried about, the better. Though no matter, they couldn't track his location. His phone was one given by his brother. No one could trace the signals.

But maybe a call to his brother will make things a little easier.

"What is it, Patrick?" Shay picked up on the fifth ring, his voice irritated.

"Hello," Patrick greeted.

"What is it?"

"Remember a few days ago when I asked you for money?"

"You are ready to return them?" Shay asked.

"No, well," Patrick cleared his throat, "It's this boy I met. It was used to pay his hospital fee. Now he's in some trouble with the government and I need your help."

"You want me to get him out of the country or something?"

"Not that far," Patrick quickly said, "Maybe to some place a little further away?"

"You can always use that vacation house by the old beachside," Shay said, "Now if you don't have any other business with me…"

"What are you busy with?" Patrick asked out of curiosity. His brother was always so leisure in everything but he seemed to be in a tight spot lately. His brother mentioned that he was being searched a few days ago.

"Everything," Shay snapped, but he paused, "I might need to head over to the vacation house as well. Need a place to stay low for a while."

"Are you in trouble again, Shay?" Patrick asked, amused.

"So you know the boy?" His brother asked, ignoring the question.

"No, found him near the explosion site."

Almost everyone in the world had heard about the explosion at the cathedral.

"He doesn't have any family?" Shay asked.

"No, they died when he was young," Patrick replied, a little surprised at how interested Shay was about the boy.

"I would like to meet him." That came as a major surprise.

"Why?"

"Might need a new direction for my business," Shay grunted.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I'm thinking about doing some sort of foster home or something."

"Your cancer cure failed?"

"So what's his name?" Shay's tone was clearly defensive.

"Julius," Patrick said as he laughed slightly, "Julius Hawkerson."

There was a long moment of pause, then he heard something rustled on the other end of the phone, "Shay?"

"Where are you?"

"Uh, at the hospital?"

"Which one?"

"Royal Liverpool…" Patrick racked his brain, "University hospital…I think."

"Stay there. I'm coming over in a day."

Then his brother hung up.

So while I was writing this chapter, I had some major fact issues. First of all, when was Alex born? It was either 1987 or 1995 as the internet said, but I am not sure which one, so I had to cut one of the scenes because I don't want to invent up wrong facts. And then next, I ran into another problem. When Patrick mentioned that he needs to call Alex's parents, I didn't know if you get to keep your phone number when you die or not lol. So I had to search that up (the results weren't exactly helpful). And since the Liverpool Cathedral actually exists, I had to google a nearby hospital for Alex XD. Took me a while, and I'm sure there are closer hospitals, but that's the only one I can find right now...

So, anyways, I think I've taken up enough word count with this random blabbering...

Just remembered something. So, as you all recall (well, some of you), Alex had this confusing age problem and the 'missing year' problem in the beginning few chapters. I think the issue might not be explained till the epilogue XD.

With that, I'm out.