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Rainy Day Revelations.

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Alex shut the door of Wolf's apartment behind him with a sigh. The sounds of the storm outside were greatly muffled in here, the rain sounding soothing instead of harsh and the thunder reassuringly muffled instead of skull-splitting.

Finally home.

He dropped his bag to the floor and was half-way through removing his jacket before the realisation stopped him.

Home.

This place.. felt like home.

The warmth from that feeling was countered with the realisation that he wouldn't have it for long. Soon enough he'd be back at Ian's place in Chelsea, and this would just be an interesting memory.

A sort of wistful 'what could have been'.

Thoroughly depressed now, as well as soaking wet from the bike ride home in the rain (Puddles plus grumpy drivers plus all-encompassing rain equalled no hope of staying dry-ish), Alex finished removing his jacket and his school jumper, then opened his bag and removed his school books. The outer edge of them were a little damp, but most of his notes seemed ok. Carrying his books in one arm, he left his soaked jacket and jumper in the hallway and moved to his bedroom. Once there, he rapidly exchanged his remaining damp clothes for some dry jeans and a tee-shirt, deposited his school books and carried his wet clothing out with him.

It only took a few minutes for him to set up the clothes-dryer in the small landry and drape his uniform over it. Thankfully it was the weekend tomorrow. His school bag he emptied entirely and hung upside down. He then grabbed an old towel waiting to be washed and cleaned up the water he'd tracked into the house.

After he'd finished, he considered doing his homework but dismissed the idea almost mmediately. He was too cold and too tired to think right now. Whoever thought that football and cricket practice in the rain built character had clearly had the idea when under cover and with a hot thermos of coffee at their side.

Actually, that wasn't a bad idea.

Yawning, Alex trudged into the kitchen and made himself a hot cup of coffee. The coffee was decaf - he'd bought it by habit - but it was warm and the smell was familiar.

He brought it into the living room, colapsed on the couch and flicked on the TV. There were windows on either side of the TV. He could see the rain lashing against them and the occasional flash of lightning in the sky. He placed his still-too-hot cuppa on the coffee table and lay full length on the couch, eyes slipping back to the TV.

Oh look. 'Days of our Lives'.

He'd placed the remote next to the coffee, but he was too tired and too comfy to reach for it.
It was not - he realised, as his eyes slipped shut - as though he'd be watching the show anyway..

An hour later, the front door clicked open. Alex, more deeply asleep than he had been for months, didn't hear it.

IIIIIIIIIIIIII

Michael and James entered the flat. James went to put the kettle on whilst Michael went to knock on Alex's door. The two of them had decided that it wasn't fair that Alex kept cooking whenever anyone did any visiting, and some take out was in order.

On the way to the guest room, Michael noticed a flicker of light in the living room. Figuring the kid had just left the TV on, he went in to turn it off. James was in a good mood today.. not need to spoil it by having him lecture the kid on turning things off when he left the room...

Further thought on the matter was halted when he noticed the teenager in qestion fast asleep on the couch.

Alex was curled up, one arm folded under the cusion supporting his head whilst the other wrapped around his waist.

"Jamie." He whispered. His friend appeared at the doorway in an instant, his stance relaxing slightly as Michael grinned at him and beckoned him silently.

James walked over. As he reached the arm of the couch, Alex shifted in his sleep. With a barely-audible murmer, the kid curled up, turned over and stretched out again with a sigh.

It was a side of Cub he hadn't seen before, to be sure.. but the goofy grin on Michael's face was frankly a little creepy.
Give a guy a wife and kids and suddenly he's Mister Kodak Moment.

"We'd better wake him for dinner." James murmered.
"Yeah." Michael agreed, stepping forwards and leaning down to shake the boy awake.

It occured to James, in that fleeting half-formed way that instincts make themselves known, that Michael probably shouldnt do that.

Too late, however.

The instant Michael's hand closed over his shoulder, Cub snapped awake. Before his eyes had even finished opening, an elbow was driven back and into Michael's stomach. Cub's feet kicked against the couch, sending the small body smashing into the percieved attacker and knocking them both to the ground. Wolf took a step forward to restrain his teammate, but froze as the teenaged body on the ground twisted smoothly and the afternoon light glinted off a knife that had appeared in one hand.

Then the moment passed.

The knife vanished and Alex was leaping to his feet, apologising profusely and extending a hand to help the other man up.
Michael didn't seem to have noticed the few seconds where Cub knelt ready to end his life, as he laughed and accepted the hand... He did look more than a little stunned, however.

Alex turned, spotted him, visibly flinched and then made a quick retreat.

Michael stared at the floor, rubbing his stomach lightly.

James just stared after Cub.

Just how many things did he not know about the kid? His Ward as well as a member of his team?

He frowned, determination making him look grimmer.

He'd find out. He'd make the effort.

Because Cub... Alex... was worth the effort.

The realisation threw him.

He shook his head. Deal with it later. Food now. Discussions later. They had a whole weekend coming up.. Desk job meant a weekend free, so maybe he and Alex and the guys could go do something.. or.. hell, maybe just him and Alex.

Something to think about, to be sure.