Ben Daniels and Wolf drive Alex to his school, two weeks after the rescue. Wolf had been part of the rescue team. He's the one who had found Alex and nearly caused him to lose his precious jewels. They had laughed about it afterwards, but Wolf was extremely happy that it had turned out alright.
Alex is still recovering, but most of the fleshwounds have healed. His arm is in a cast, and his ribs are still wrapped. He's wearing his school uniform. Ben thinks he doesn't fit in the uniform anymore. There's a still red line running from Alex's eyebrow to the tip of his mouth. It's already scarring, and Alex will have it for the rest of his life. It's not the only scar he has, but it's now the most visible one. Ben knows that Alex has a scar on his chest from a gunshot wound, burns on his back and shoulders, and numerous smaller scars all over his body. And now he has an ugly scar on his hip from a knife wound, as well as the mark on his face. Wolf is driving. He looks in the rearview mirror of his Jeep at Alex. The teenager is staring absentmindedly out of the window. But Wolf knows better. He knows Alex is very much aware of him.
While Alex's presence as a spy was exposed, his identity has remained a secret. MI6 admitted to employing the teenager, but refuse to give a name or age. Mrs. Jones even went so far as to explain that, while they didn't start out clean with him, all of the missions now happen on his terms. He takes the missions he wanted to take, and is always able to refuse.
Again, Wolf knows better. Alex may have the right to refuse, but he never does. The missions are always too important. Even this last one. Alex wasn't even investigating the video streams. He was gathering intelligence on children's recruitments among terrorists. But then they'd found out about him almost instantly, and he was tortured in front of the entire world.
Wolf turns into the street where Alex' school is located. From the corner of his eyes, he can see the teen sigh.
"Everything alright, Alex?" Ben asks. He saw it too.
"Hmm.. sure," he says. He sighs again.
"I'm just," he starts. He closes his mouth again. The two soldiers look at eachother, but remain silent. Finally, Alex talks again.
"I'm a bit worried about going back to school. I used to think the drug rumours were the worst, but now a lot of people know what I really do. I guess I'm just worried what they'll think of me."
He sighs again.
"Don't worry, Alex. You might be a novelty in the beginning, but it'll wear off. You will be fine," Ben assures him.
They roll up in front of the school, and all three of them get out.
Wolf volunteered to be on Alex' protection detail the last couple of weeks. They'll be surveilling him for another two weeks, and after that surveillance will likely stop. But Wolf knows that Alex is basically under constant surveillance by MI6. And he promised the crazy American that he would look after Alex, even when it is no longer his duty to do so.
So now that Alex is returning to school, Wolf will wait outside his school the entire day. He'll be relieved after returning Alex home, but since he is staying there for now, his surveillance is pretty much 24/7. He wouldn't want it any other way.
Wolf and Ben watch as Alex seizes up his school. They watch him straighten his shoulders as he puts on a brave face, before glancing at the two men.
"Thanks, again. For bringing me to school, and for… well, everything else." He's referring to the rescue. Wolf was lead point on the mission. Alex pretty much owed him his life, but Wolf waves it away.
"I was just doing my job, as were you." He hesitates, before adding: "Have a good day at school, kid."
Somehow, it feels wrong saying this to Alex. He's no longer a kid, and he barely belongs at the school; But it also feels very right. Alex is only sixteen, and this is where he should be. Alex nods at the two men before crossing the street.
Wolf and Ben lean on the Jeep, watching Alex go. They can already see the other kids starting to whisper as Alex passes them. And then he's gone.
"They think they know now, but they still have no idea," Ben says silently.
Wolf nods in agreement.
"I don't even know everything, though I know more than most, yet I'm still awed every time I see him in action." Ben adds.
Wolf looks at him.
"It's a bit sad, isn't it? We get home from a mission, we just want to sit back and relax. He gets home, and all he wants is to go back to school. He's been moaning about it for the past week, saying he was better," Wolf says.
"He's just worried. Hell, I'd be worried too, if I'd missed this much school. Maybe now that his school knows, they'll be more lenient."
Wolf shakes his head.
"He won't let them. He wants to be as normal as possible, however impossible that is. But I have complete faith in him. Cub can do anything he sets his mind to. I have no doubt that he'll graduate with his class, and that he'll continue kicking ass on missions."
This time, Ben nods in agreement.
They leave it at that, as another car pulls up beside them. Ben gets into the vehicle after a nod goodbye to Wolf, leaving the soldier alone with his thoughts.