DISCLAIMER: I don't own Alpha Force characters or anything else connected to them (im just borrowing them!!)
Chapter One
The heat was oppressive in the Brazilian rain forest, the group were still trying to acclimatize and they were finding hard with it only being their second day. Alex was, surprisingly, struggling the most. Granted he hadn't been completely well before coming out on this survival course, still suffering slightly with a stomach bug that laid him flat out approximately 1 week before flying out to Brazil, not like he would admit that willingly to the others. He had to practically beg his mother to let him go, and tried everything to convince her he felt better than he really did. Deep down he knew he shouldn't be there as he sat round the camp fire Amber had built, struggling to stay awake from the fatigue fogging up his mind.
"Alex? Are you ok?" asked Paulo, a slight frown playing at his lips. He was concerned at how Alex was reacting to the heat, he'd never seen him struggle like this. Every time he moved it looked slow and he was quite quiet even by his standards. When they'd been to the Sahara Dessert, Australia and Zimbabwe Alex was completely fine yet now he looked awful. Tired and pale.
"Yeah just finding the humidity hard to handle, I'm sure I will be fine tomorrow." Alex smiled, trying to fight the growing unwanted feeling of nausea that was settling in his stomach. Paulo nodded "take it easy ok," and went to see what Li was doing.
Paulo didn't have to look for long as he saw her sitting with her feet in the small stream that ran about 200 metres from the camp they'd set up, taking in the tranquil surroundings of the rainforest. She loved the vivid green colours of the trees and the blueness of the skies.
A loud "BOO!!" shook her from her thoughts, she jumped up and turned around quickly, only to see Paulo with his trademark lopsided grin. She rolled her eyes and went to sit back down with her feet dangling in the water.
"Enjoying the last day of freedom before the course starts?"Asked Paulo. "I was,"Replied Li. "Ouch!" came the reply, "that hurt."
"Sorry." She grinned.
That was all that was said between them as they sat and took in their surroundings, deep in thought. Li liked Paulo's company even if they weren't talking and Paulo though exactly the same.Chapter Two
Meanwhile back at camp Hex and Amber were running around the camp in high spirits, screaming at each other and laughing. This didn't help the pain in Alex's head or stomach. Amber went into her tent to take her injection of insulin leaving Hex and Alex alone. Hex looked over only to see Alex deep in thought staring at the flames of the fire. "God, he's been quiet today," thought Hex, that wasn't so unusual for the shy Northumberland lad, who despite his quiet demeanour was an excellent leader, a trait he got from his father who was in the SAS.
"Hey are you ok? You've been quiet today," Hex whispered so Amber wouldn't hear him and come out to interrogate Alex.
"Yeah I'm just struggling to get used to the heat. I don't know why I'm finding it so hard I'm usually fine." Replied Alex, event though deep down he knew why.
A look of concern clouded Hex's face, Alex seemed so tired and defeated. There had to be something else going on than just the heat.
"Look I'm going to lie down for a bit ok, my heads a bit sore." Alex explained, " I'm fine ok it's probably just jet lag." He added quickly noticing the slight alarmed look on Hex's face and with that Alex retreated back into his tent and lay down on his sleeping bag.
Just as Alex had finished zipping up his tent Amber came out from hers after injecting her insulin and putting more sun cream and insect repellent on. "Where's Alex?" She asked Hex immediately.
Hex rolled his eyes nothing got passed her. " He's lying down in his tent, he isn't feeling great. Sore head." Hex answered.
"Is that why he's been weird all day? Should we tell Paulo?" Amber mentioned Paulo as he was the teams first -aider and dealt with the teams medical needs. " I'll mention it to him but it's probably not a big deal." Hex whispered, trying to get Amber to lower her voice, knowing Alex might hear and he wouldn't want any fuss.
"Ok, should we make dinner? I'm STAVING" emphasised Amber with a smile, her American twang suddenly getting stronger. Chapter Three
Alex was soon asleep in his tent and didn't hear the conversation Hex and Paulo were having outside once Paulo and Li had walked back from the stream to the camp, finding hex playing on his palmtop and Amber stirring the dinner they were going to eat, the stuff from boil in the bag rations, not exactly tasty but they filled a hole. "Hey" Amber greeted, causing Hex to look up from his beloved palmtop and wave.
"Hey" Li and Paulo greeted. "Where's Alex?2 Queried Li.
"In his tent, still feeling the effects of jet lag." Came Hex's reply. This caused Li's eyebrows to raise in surprise. That wasn't like Alex normally he was ok with jet lag and got over it quickly. They all did now as they were so used to it from previous missions and courses. She quickly dismissed her thought and went to see if Amber needed any help with the food.
"Is Alex ok?" Paulo wanted to know, " I think so he just said he had a headache and was still finding the heat hard to cope with." Hex answered. " I'm sure he will be fine." Added Hex wondering if he was trying to convince Paulo or himself. He then went to see what the girls were up to and left Paulo to check on Alex.
Alex was woken by a soft tapping on his tent. He heard the voice, that could only Paulo's calling his name. "Alex you up?" "I am now" groaned Alex as he sat up, the tent swimming with the dizziness in his head which didn't help the slight sick feeling in his stomach. He was probably dehydrated having not drank anything before he went to sleep. "Can I come in?" Asked Paulo "Yeah sure" Alex replied, hoping he looked better than he felt. Paulo was surprised to see Alex looking so unawake and sweaty. God he really is struggling he thought to himself. "How's the head?" "still attached and partly working" smirked Alex, not having enough energy to fully. Alex smiled gratefully when Paulo handed him a bottle of water and two aspirin, "thought you might need these""thanks."Paulo looked at him for a while. "Alex are sure you are ok because you don't seem yourself."Alex sighed and decided to tell the truth but first he made Paulo promise not to tell the others and truth was toned down. "Look I wasn't very well last week and I think it took more out of me than I thought." Paulo nodded and made a mental note to keep an extra eye on him. If he still wasn't 100 the rainforest wasn't the best place for him. But he knew Alex knew that and wouldn't do anything too stupid. Or at least he hoped.
"FOODS UP!!"Shouted the voice of Amber.
God she's loud thought Paulo as he rolled his eyes and turned just in time to see Alex's grimace. He really didnt feel like eating right now and his stomach turned over in protest.
"Nauseous? "A little, I think I'm just dehydrated. Replied Alex. Paulo nodded Trying to fight the sick feeling in his stomach as he left the tent with Paulo's hand on his shoulder.
So what do you think?? Le me know if i should contuinue xx