Reunion by thefirstdraft
Characters: Alec, OFC
Story: One-shot, 677 words, PG rating
Summary: Alec encounters a face from the past.

REUNION

Alec is on his way to headquarters when presented with a familiar face. The coloring isn't exactly as he remembers, but those eyes... He gives the willowy girl standing before him an appraising once-over.

"325, is that you?"

Straight, white teeth flash a captivating and welcoming smile. "In the flesh!"

The girl throws her arms around him in a warm hug. He's forgotten how tactile she is. And how much he always enjoyed their easy comfort and comaraderie.

"Long time no see."

She shrugs. "Inevitable. I was still in Germany when Manticore burned."

"How was that? Getting out, I mean. With the program disbanded, was there a kill order?"

"They left us in the cold. My cover was blown, had to be smuggled out of the country after they found my IDs." She grins cheekily. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

"You look good. Different, but good. Freedom seems to agree with you." Alec tilts his head a bit, studying the girl. His brow furrows and his lips quirk upwards, bemused. He still cannot quite reconcile the differences in his mind. "The last time I saw you, you were-,"

"A brunette?" she offers with a laugh, flipping her long, golden hair over her shoulder.

Alec nods. "Right, the Heidelberg op, I remember. Yeah, it's quite a change."

"What can I say? I make a better blonde."

Alec shakes his head. "I have to disagree. Your eyes practically pop when offset by the darker hair. It's... memorable." And pretty, he thinks, but doesn't say so.

"Which was what we were aiming for on that particular mission. Afterwards? Not so much." She shrugs elegantly. "It was a shame, though. I loved the look."

She looks like she might say something else but fails to continue. He doens't press the issue; what is he, a girl? He chooses a neutral topic change.

"So, what are you going by these days?"

"Annika."

His eyes flicker surprise. "You kept the alias?"

She shrugs and gives a wry smile. "Yeah, it kinda grew on me, y'know?"

"But you hated that name."

"No, I hated the character I represented while using that name. Something, I'm sure, that you can relate to."

Her statement rings true. So much for neutral, he thinks sullenly. He doesn't want her to see how her words bite, so he decides to cut things short; he's late anyway.

"Well, it was great running into you... Annika."

Annika recognizes a dismissal when she hears one, but lets it go. She smiles fondly at her old compeer. "You too, 494."

The correction is automatic. "It's Alec, now."

Her smile graduates to a grin. "Let me guess. Someone else named you."

"How-,"

Her laughter tinkles like crystal. "Come on, honey. I've met you."

At this, Alec chuckles. "Yeah, well. I like it."

She nods. "See you around then, yeah?"

He's about to answer when she adds, "And thanks for saving my ass that time."

"And what a fine ass it is!"

She laughs again. "Perv."

"You love me."

She snorts. "Smart aleck doesn't begin to cover it. Whoever it was shoulda named you Dick."

"Hey!" Mock indignation. Truth is, Max has grumbled more than once that she should have gone with her second choice.

"You love it," she crows. He won't deny that he does.

"You can call me whatever you like, sweetheart." This, with a leer and a wink.

Annika laughs and pecks him on the cheek. "It's good to see that some things don't change. Later, 494."

He gazes after her, admiring her posterior. He's a guy, after all, and she cuts quite the figure.

Alec shakes his head. His little detour has surely earned him a glare and lecture from his fearless co-leader and her non-boyfriend, but it won't dampen his spirits. Another of his unit has been recovered and he plans to enjoy getting to know her again. Far removed from 325 and 494.

There's a bounce in his step as he turns towards Command, and a smile on his face.

Annika and Alec. Has a nice ring to it.