Disclaimer : Not mine
Summary : When Sketchy brings in a dangerous package, Jam Pony is put under quarantine stuff happens : living together is not that easy, White is on the prowl…
Rating : PG-13
Pairing : Hint, especially for you Caderyn, Glitterina and Melo (thank you for your reviews) : I may as well admit it, I'm a M/A shipper forever

A/N : LAtR AU - Inspired by Pai's challenge at NWP, but doesn't fit exactly the criteria – Besides, I'm kind of taking the 'scenic route', so don't expect me to go straight to the point(s) - Enjoy anyway !

A/N#2 : Thank you, Joëlle and Heather! And a special thanks to Susan who made this scene a lot more lively!

Quarantined – Chapter 3

By Mirella

Friday morning, Jam Pony

OC and Max were sitting on a bench chatting by the lockers at Jam Pony, not ready for another delivery yet. Normal was bip-bipping as usual, but they weren't the least bit concerned.

"Now I've got to give this to Logan." Max thoughtfully waved her nightly loot - a small disc of data - before putting it in her backpack.

"Ya went there alone, Boo?"

"Yeah, since Golden Boy obviously had other plans." * As if he wasn't the one who dared to give me a lecture a few weeks ago about how wrong it was for us to go out with ordinaries, putting them in danger and so on…*

Cindy laughed. "Boy's entitled to have a life of his own, ya know."

Max frowned. "That girl's not for him. Did you see her make-up? "

"Ya jealous, Boo?"

"No way." *How could Cindy think of such nonsense?* "But what am I going to do now?" Max didn't want to admit it, even to her friend, but she had spent hours turning restlessly in her bed all due to Alec.

"Tell him the truth."

"Not unless I have to. He'd never get off my case. "

"I meant Logan, not Alec." Cindy said. "Who ya really shouldn't have dragged into this. "

They looked at the entrance after hearing screeching tires. They knew bikes weren't noisy, and there weren't many cars cruising in the alley, but nothing came.

"Anyway, he didn't care to show up this morning. We were supposed to get gasoline, and I ended up alone. " Max complained.

Cindy eyed her friend closely. It was almost as if she was more sad than angry, but Max would never admit it. "Take it easy on the boy, Boo. Don't be mad at him coz' he's happy as ya'd like to be. He doesn't deserve it." *Well, knowing Max, she needs time to digest this.* " Well, what did you need gasoline for? Planning on running away from me?"

"Gas up generators in Terminal City."

Alec yawned as he dismounted his motorbike. Already late as he was, he didn't want to lose more time this morning, plus he called in sick far too many times lately. Too bad because he really didn't feel well today. Before work he stopped at his place to get his glock and change clothes – a blue sweater, worn-out jeans, his usual jacket. At least it helped him feel more like his usual self. He took off his sunglasses and put them in his pocket.

As he made his entrance, casually enough, he quickly assessed the place. An instinctive reaction, one of Manticore's legacies with the power of habit and training. He registered the rear door – opened -, the stairs – free -, Sky leaving, a parcel in his left hand, Biggs leaned against a pillar, looking at the huge TV set in the corner, Max and OC playing lazybones near the lockers and Normal close to the apoplexy at his usual place. That had to be his priority, staying in Normal's good side.

He greeted his boss warmly. "Hey Normal!" That got some of the other's attention as well.

Normal didn't even bother to look up. His voice was icy; perhaps he took his lessons from Max. "D'you know what time it is?"

Alec checked his watch. Hell, almost ten thirty, well, a little later.

"Even Messy Miss never dared to arrive this late. Biggs here already did two runs," Normal kept on.

Alec saw Max waving at him and Biggs trying to suppress a laugh. *Traitors. Don't they know it needs more than a furious Normal to take me down?*

"Hey, Normal, my friend, I'm hurt. I've been working, you know. "

Normal felt doubt progressing into his mind. Perhaps he had been too quick to criticize. His Golden Boy could have a good reason for arriving so late.

Alec instantly sensed his change of mood. He leaned on the desk, getting closer to his boss.

"I've had this idea. What would you think of making some deliveries with motorbikes rather than regular bikes? "

At first, Normal didn't like it, but he looked up and saw the sparkle in Alec's eyes as he went on.

"It would increase your income. Drastically. You could call it Moto Pony. "

Normal stood for a moment, tapping a pencil against his chin. A small smile crept onto his face. "I'll think about it."

"We could give it a try today. My motorbike is outside. "

Normal suddenly realized everyone was watching them, which meant no one was working. "Hey, tea time is over." Normal bellowed. "Besides there's no tea time. Get back to work. Bip bip bip. "

Alec seized the opportunity to disappear from Normal's view. He joined Biggs and slapped him in the back. "Looks like you're already Normal's puppy?"

"Afraid to lose your status?"

Alec snorted. "As if you could be a problem. Anyway, you got the sector pass?"

"Yeah. Normal had it ready by this morning." Biggs smiled at Alec and cleared his throat. "How was your evening?"

"Let's say, close contact established. What about yours? "

Biggs grinned. "Not bad. I spent a few hours with those friends of yours. I let Sketchy win the first pool game. Remind me why I was supposed to lose? "

"Exposure. Something we don't want."

"Let me tell you, I was a lot more suspicious when he didn't lose! I don't think I fooled the girls, either." Biggs nodded with his head where Max and OC were sitting. "Speaking of Max, you were right. Hot temper, but she's a hottie. "

"Back off, man," Alec said. "She's madly in love with her ordinary," he added quickly.

"You sure?"

Normal's voice echoed through the building. "Biggs! Parcel! "

Both guys rolled their eyes as Biggs answered with a twinkle. "Already on my way. Which sector, Boss? "

Alec looked at his friend leaving; it would be a nice change to have one of his buddies around. They could share some of Max's wrath. The truth was, he might have deserved it some of the time, well most of the time.

Alec liked to push Max's buttons, but he didn't intend to yesterday evening. So his next step would be to make amends. With a deep breath, he made his way to the lockers. Before opening his, he greeted both his friends with a most charming smile.

"Morning, Ladies. Boy, you guys look good today." First trick: dumb flattery. It worked pretty well with most chicks. Except that neither of them were most chicks.

"Morning, Boo," OC said. "Nice arrival. Ya sure know how to wrap Normal around that little finger of yours. "

"What do you think Normal would say if someone tells him you're the 'real' boss here?" Max said. Of course, Alec knew, flattery didn't work on her.

"What are ya talking about Boo?" Cindy looked at Max.

"Oh Alec knows. He played Jam Pony's boss yesterday evening. "

She didn't look that angry, Alec thought. "I think he'd be happy, or proud, maybe both. Don't you think?"

"He's a dumbass if he doesn't see you're manipulating him. Next thing, you'll be selling Jam Pony, without him even realizing it. The Moto Pony stuff came to your mind, in what, three seconds?" Max huffed.

"Hey, Maxie, thank god not everyone is as clueless as you are in doing business." Alec's characteristic smirk was in place.

"Of course, you know your way in that area. Always in the middle of some deal. "

"Maxie, I worship and respect what you told me. I only steal from the bad guys and I don't harm any of the good ones. "

"What about last time? When you used Joshua?" Max raised her eyebrows at Alec.

Alec sighed. He knew Max was definitely angry. "Okay Maxie. Think they could have put some elephant DNA in your cocktail? " * Yeah, think about how graceful that animal is.* " Coz' your memory is unique." Max was gaping. "Let's do this. I know you're pissed off coz' I didn't come with you yesterday evening so spill it. "

*Yesterday evening. And this morning too.* " Yes, I…" She stood up, but suddenly she remembered OC's words. Max sat down. "was mad at you. But in fact, Alec, it's OK. You were right. I didn't need you." Max mustered all she could in a little smile but she wondered why Alec and OC were looking at her strangely.

"Whoa, Max. You sure know how to make a guy feel good. " Alec smiled.

She shrugged and looked in the distance. "You'd better not push your luck." Max saw his smile fade. "I'm talking about Normal there. Think it's about time you started working?" She felt like she was about to win the competition for the 'Best Friend of the Month'.

Alec shrugged as he couldn't suppress a yawn.

"Hey, Alec, late as you were, ya didn't get enough of your beauty sleep?"

Alec laughed. "Well, I had a busy night."

OC looked at him closely and she was certain his joy didn't reach his eyes. "Always braggin' Boo." No use to ask him what was going on. He was supposedly always alright. She stood up. "Well, guess I'd better go. See you."

Alec closed his locker slowly. Max looked down at her gloved hands. He inhaled a few times. She swallowed, hard. Both of them started to talk at the same time.

"Max, there's something I'd like to tell you about… "

"Alec, I think I should tell you something… "

Max's beeper and Alec's cell phone his cell phone both chirped at the same time. "Terminal City." she stated in a neutral voice.

He answered the phone. "Alec." He knew her sensitive hearing would allow her to catch both sides of the conversation.

It's Luke. There's a transgenic on the run. He's being chased by the police.

"Where is he?"

Sector 5. A few minutes ago he was near Sector 4.

"I'm with Max. We'll get him. Don't worry." He hung up.

Max stood up. "Let's go."

Alec grinned. "Hey, Max. I can do it alone. Think you'll be able to ride without your Ninja?"

"I'll go with you."

Exactly what he had thought her answer would be. "OK Maxie, but you'll have to remember to park your hands." Alec got a punch on the shoulder. There was also no mistaking the pout on her face. He hadn't lost his touch, after all.

His phone rang again.

"Alec"

It's me, Helena.

"I can't talk right now." He needed some privacy. He motioned for Max, who was already tapping impatiently with her foot, to go to his bike as he walked away.

I need your help. I was late at work, and I had this package I had to send early to our subsidiary.

"And?" He couldn't hang up, he thought, it could be important.

I can't tell my boss I didn't send it. I might lose my job. So I thought, since you own that messenger's firm…

"OK, I send you someone immediately."

I'd prefer if it were you. Besides, hon, that way, I could see you. I miss you. Her voice was soft, engaging and promising.

" I can't do the pick-up right now, but I'll do the delivery if you want."

Thank you so much. You're sweet.

"I'll call you back later Helena." He hung up.

Alec looked around the building for Biggs before he realized Normal already sent him on a run to Sector 12. That's when he spotted Sketchy.

Max was back. "Alec give me the keys. I'll go get him. "

"Just give me a few seconds. Please, Max. "

She couldn't believe what was happening after she had been nice to him. He didn't deserved it. She looked at him as he gave some instructions and some money to Sketchy, and then grabbed a package from Normal – it was a long tube in fact. A few seconds that's what he'd needed indeed. But once more, he had acted like the selfish bastard he is, placing his own priorities first. She was beyond disappointed.

They went outside and he handed her the package and gunned the engine into life. Max was sitting stiffly behind him. She didn't say a word. She didn't need to. He had seen her defiant and distant look. He knew the sentence.

A/N#3: Okay, by the end of this day, they should be quarantined. So bear with me and be patient.

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