Alex had done five lengths of the pool and was knackered. Medical Technician Valdez was encouraging Alex to pull himself out of the pool. Alex was still very wary of putting pressure on his stumps. He would have to haul himself up and at the moment he was exhausted. Hernando Valdez was standing with his towel and leg socks waiting for him. It took Alex two tries but he made it out of the pool. The enthusiastic nurse encouraged Alex with "You were fantastic Al. Just remember to relax your stroke, stretch and grab the water. Improve your arm technique for better results, OK."
Alex nodded and was soon dry and now had the problem of standing using two false legs. It was all in the balance. Good leg then horrid leg. His right leg was amputated at his ankle and was longer and stronger than his left, with only a short stump just below the knee. Alex only remembered snippets of the accident. Jumping in the water to escape the Scorpia operatives had cost him his legs. He'd been rescued rather than captured. If he'd stayed in the water he'd have bled to death.
Alex felt like an outsider even here. Everyone was kind and supportive. Even the physio who was a complete bastard to everyone else. Alex got that it was hard work to be able to walk around and that every step was painful. Swimming and weight training were to help with core stability and a strong body and upper legs made everything else easier. He had to watch out for a recurrence of the pneumonia. His lungs would recover. He was young. He had tried different sports here. Archery, wheelchair racing and basket ball. Alex wanted to get out of the chair as much as possible. He bore the discomfort of wearing his prosthetics. Off he wobbled to his placement meeting. Some prospective foster parents were here for initial evaluation.
Jonathan Smith had persuaded his partner of 15 years to come and meet Alex. Jon wanted to be a father desperately. Fostering had been something they had both discussed. A disabled child needed love and care, it did not matter on the gender or sexual orientation of the caregivers. They could both work part time. In fact, Tony rested rather than worked and a break from operations would be just the thing for Jon.
Alex went to Lionel's office, Lionel was his current shrink. Alex had asked for lessons in being a normal and Lionel had obliged with a humorous slide show of proper teenage behaviour. Alex was too controlled, too quiet and observing of his surroundings. Alex's stubbornness for doing things alone sprang not from an overwhelming desire to achieve independence but the fact he wanted no one to touch him.
Tony Fletcher was a handsome man and he used it to his advantage on many occasions. He had smiled at the nurse at reception and she had swooned. Movie star good looks. Jon had met him during his undergrad days in London. It had been lust at first sight. Jon had moved in to Tony's place within a week of meeting him. Jon's family had gone ape shit when he told them he had moved in with a bloke. He had not spoken to his parents or brothers since. Tony's father had liked Jon straight away. Colonel George Carruthers Fletcher, was the exact opposite of Jon's working class father: upper class, charming, open and loving. The old soldier had helped Jon find employment with GCHQ, get his PhD and from there he had gone into operations.
Alex was nervous, he sat biting his nails as the two men were shown in. Alex recognized the handsome bearded dark haired man. "Umm weren't you in Cabin Monsters."
"Oh my God a fan" stated the other man with a smile.
"Yes, Tony Fletcher, Anthony Carruthers Fletcher, Actor Singer Dancer and my partner Jonathan Xavier Smith. Pleased to meet you Alex."
Lionel was pleasantly surprised, he had expected Alex to remain silent.
"So why weren't you in the sequel?"
"I was on stage at the time. Children of a Lesser God." Tony signed this at the same time.
Alex then signed back. You should have done the sequel. The guy in it could not act for toffee.
"You can sign?" Asked Jon
"Yes I lost my voice when I was eight. Ian was stuck looking after me and taught me sign language." Alex frowned thinking about Ian. Signing had been just another skill for Alex to master.
"So Ian was your former caregiver." stated Tony.
"Yeah I suppose you could call him that, if you were feeling generous. So how much have they told you about me." Alex asked, thinking about what bullshit had been spread about him.
"Quite a lot. In fact I've got Most Secret security clearance which helps. Derek sends his regards by the way." added Jon.
"Derek?" Alex could not remember ever meeting a Derek
"Smithers, Irish chap, Ordnance and Technology section. I work in signals and cryptology. We meet occasionally for drinks and chess."
"I like Smithers. He's cool." Alex said remembering his short meetings with the technical genius.
"He talks highly of you," added Jon.
Alex's face darkened and he growled "The rest at the bank are real cunts."
"Language Alex." The psychiatrist piped in.
"Fuck off, Doc." And then Alex smiled.
"I see my lessons in how to act like a normal teenager have paid off." quipped the shrink.
"So whats cryptology? The study of mummies?" asked Alex sarcastically, already knowing the answer.
"No code breaking and code development. Mostly computer programming. Really boring." Jon said. His cover stated he was a numbers man, not that he sat in god forsaken places all over the world and broke computer codes, working with teams of agents, soldiers and special forces.
Alex looked at both men. "So you're both queer?"
"Yes we've lived together for fifteen years."
Alex was genuinely shocked, "Christ! you don't look old enough to be my parents."
"Yes, Tony believes in a healthy lifestyle." Alex could see from the look on Jon's face that he sneaked out for beer, burgers, chips and curry.
"Health is important. My mother died when I was fifteen. I was devastated. It made me closer to my father. He had been distant and cold before then." Tony mused before asking, "So Alex what do you like at school? Are you into sports? What are your hobbies?"
"Umm, Maths and modern languages are my favourite subjects at school. I was centre forward of the year nine football team at school and I'm a 1st dan black belt in karate. I like reading, anything really. I love horror movies, the cheesier the better. Zombie ones are the best. Vampire ones are OK. Werewolf nahh. My best friend at school is Tom Harris, he likes Zombie movies as well."
"So do you want to live in London again."
"Ideally, I want to go back to my old school, Brookland, The tutors here have been great, but I miss my second rate London comprehensive."
"Brookland. No way!" stated Jon shocked, "I graduated there in 1985."
"You went to Brookland? Was Scott teaching geography then?" Alex thinking of the oldest member of staff.
"Scott the most boring man in the universe. Yes he taught me. Miss Bedfordshire?"
"Still school secretary. She'd nice." Not that Alex thought she was old, she just was always there, nice to everyone.
"OMG time twins". Gasped Tony
Both Jon and Alex then went "Shut up" and laughed.
"So what do you think?" said Jon, apprehensive of the reply from his partner. Tony had been quiet since they had left the hospital.
"As first meetings go, it was good, better than good. I find it hard to equate that bright, sarcastic boy with the file I read." Tony had been horrified on what the child had suffered. The file he had read had been cleared of all operational details, but the medical facts spoke for themselves. The social worker in London had told them straight if they took Alex on, they had to expect big problems. He would likely be a very angry, frustrated, depressed and possibly suicidal young man. A lot had happened to Alex, he was still rolling with the punches of what life had thrown at him. Alex would test boundaries and put strains on their own relationship. A child was a 100%, 24/7 commitment.
"His eyes were so sad, Jonny. His facade was almost perfect, but he has suffered horribly." Tony paused, meeting the child had torn at him, he had wanted there and then to hug Alex, because it looked like no one had ever loved him unconditionally. "Lets see how tomorrow goes, but my gut feeling is he is the right kid for us. If we go ahead I will not settle for fostering, we put in the papers for adoption as soon as we are agreed and get the green light."
Jon smiled, Tony had just stated everything he had thought himself. Jon had talked to Derek Smithers before they had flown over. Smithers had said much that was left out of the paperwork. Jon had not met Ian Rider, but Derek had. Smithers had told Jon what a controlling, self righteous SOB Ian had been.
Lionel Herman had sent through a glowing positive response about the foster parents approved by London. The couple were unusual in the extreme, gay and in a long term committed relationship. Both had passed SIS's security screens. Everything checked out according to the quick sweep done by the CIA section in London. Lionel had said Alex really got on well with both of them.