My first Alex Rider fanfic. A couple of things, there will be a twist to the stereotypical 'Alex goes back to Brecon Beacons' story sooner or later :). Also, the Unit know about his work for MI6 but not about the gunshot wound.

Alex Rider stood in the lobby of the Royal & General bank feeling quite conspicuous. MI6 clearly hadn't expected a teenager to be on a team when they designed the cover for their headquarters. The tousle-headed fifteen year old shifted uncomfortably on the sofa in the pristine waiting area.

He had woken up that morning to the sound of the letter box clanking as the post was pushed through. He was slightly annoyed; he'd never be able to get back to sleep now! Alex collected the post and thumbed through it half-heartedly – it was usually all for Jack who was out shopping all day. The envelope with his name on had elevated his mood slightly, until he tore open it open and looked at the letterhead. Great. His bank manager needed to speak to him about the new security policies. Alex dressed quickly, grabbed a banana and headed out into the autumn sunshine.

He'd left a note for Jack – using the same excuse that the summoning letter had. Only days ago she had been fantasising that Alan Blunt might, just might, leave Alex alone this time. It had been three months since his last mission – a promisingly long time. Alex was pretty certain that Jack would understand what was happening from the note. He didn't know what Blunt wanted and whether he'd be allowed to come back home. He didn't want to know.

"Mr Blunt will see you now." The clipped tones of the receptionist stirred Alex from his reverie. Alex merely nodded and headed up the stairs to the office where his 'career' began.

"Ah, Alex, please take a seat." greeted Alan Blunt. As always, it struck Alex that his boss was overwhelmingly....grey. There was nothing else to it. Blunt was a grey man. Smirking to himself at that thought, he obliged. "Alex, you've been out of work for months after your, ahem, accident. We've consulted with your physician and we think that it is time for you to get back into shape."

Alex began to interrupt, "Mr Blunt, really, I am in perfe..."

The serious, stout man sat behind the desk cut him off with a look behind which lay all the previous threat that had persuaded Alex to go on missions. Apparently a gunshot wound that was only just above his heart warranted little rest for the wicked. Seeing he had subdued the boy, he continued. "We have found the perfect place for you to train Alex, I think you'll like it!"

Alex wasn't so sure, his boss had never given him anything remotely enjoyable to do before now. Seeing that the man was waiting for an answer, he said "Where am I going?" It was a foregone conclusion that Alex would be going on where he was told to; he wasn't in a position to refuse.

* * *

The teenage spy miserably surveyed the squat cabins that lay all around him. The log huts looked quaint and cosy, but Alex knew the truth. He looked at his feet, already encased in sturdy black boots (which, by the way, were giving him a blister!) which were in turn covered in mud. He shook his blonde hair out of his eyes and sighed – you could never stay dry at Brecon Beacons.

He hadn't reacted well to the news of where he would be spending the next month. He wasn't proud of it and his reaction probably would have lost him any other job. Alex wasn't that lucky. Anyway, he couldn't be blamed for reacting badly. Last time he was here it had been hell. There was nothing he could do now though. Shifting his heavy pack on his shoulder, he steeled himself and pushed open the door to the cabin housing the rest of K-Unit. His unit. Unfortunately.

The four men in the cabin barely looked up from what they were doing when the door to their hut swung open. Wolf – the grizzled, powerful looking man in the corner – carried on cleaning his gun, square-jawed Fox glanced up briefly before returning to his game of solitaire on the bed and Eagle and Snake carried on their conversation. Alex found their double-takes almost gratifying. It took about ten seconds, which, considering they were highly trained men, was a long time, before Wolf finally managed to say "Alex?". Alex had helped Wolf when he needed it most, he had always seemed slightly more civil since he'd saved his career in the SAS.

"What the hell are you doing here, Cub?" growled Snake who was the medic.

"Nice to see you too, Snake." replied Alex with a raise of his eyebrows.

"Answer the question Cub!" snapped Fox.

"Great. I don't know if I can stand a month of this," Alex grumbled, subconsciously rubbed his chest, "you all know that I work for MI6, right?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw Fox roll his eyes. No-one answered, Alex took this to mean that they knew and carried on. "Anyway, I've been out of work for a few months and guess where I got sent to get back into shape?".

"Right. Grab your bed then. We've got an early start in the morning Cub." Fox had obviously picked up on Alex's vibes of being uncomfortable and decided to be slightly more pleasant.

Without another word, Alex dropped his pack to the floor, rolled on to his bed and faced away from the still disbelieving stares of K-Unit.

I hope you liked it! Please review? It'll let me know whether to carry on. Thank you!