Chapter three: Tantrums

We drove through the gates, past reporters and riot cops. Dix had radioed it in that we had two wounded, the bullet that came through the windshield had clipped Chase, nothing serious. I was more worried about 879, or whatever she was calling herself now. She was taken to Med bay right away, leaving me with mini me. He was almost dazed, just watching everyone move around him, he wouldn't leave mine or Biggs's sides. The funny thing was in the van he recognized Joshua, he said he lived in the basement, maybe he had caught sight of the transhuman. Joshua didn't know him, all I knew was he looked like me and was wondering Seattle with my old hook up. Which put together was not a good thing.

I helped him climb out of the van, him not letting go of either me our Biggs, we were possibly the only ones in the van who would even touch him. There weren't many kids at Manticore besides the X7's and we avoided them for fear they'd rat us out on something. I spotted Max making her way toward us, her normal frown in place. I wonder if that old saying, your face is going to get stuck that way, is true after all.

"Alec! What happened out there?" She demands, Biggs goes to say something but her glare shuts him down. No one wants to risk the wrath of Max.

"We picked up the news on a hover drone, saw White's guy cornering a girl and a boy in an ally," I explained.

"And!"

I shrugged, "Chase got tagged and the girl got shot before we could get there," I told her. She frowned at me, like always, expecting me to have all the information at hand. Being second in command sucked some times.

"I told you not to go out there, being on the run team is dangerous enough with out going on scouting rescues," She scolded.

"Aw Maxie you were worried about me," I grinned, dodging as she tried to smack me in the arm.

"Don't call me th-," Her threat died on he lips as she caught sight of the little boy holding into Biggs sleeve.

I watched different emotions cross her face before it registered what was happening. She was remembering him, Ben. I looked like him and he looked like me, so this kid looked like both of us, a slightly younger version of course.

"Who is he?" She asked softly, brown eyes not leaving his green.

I sighed, taking her arm gently and leading her away to talk. She looked up at me waiting for an answer, that I wasn't sure I could give.

"That girl that got shot, we have a history," I started.

She scoffed, "So you and her hooked up."

I grimaced, "It was after Rachel, Max.. I'm not sure OK so don't say anything," I begged her quietly.

She looked at me and I'm sure if she actually well.. liked me. She'd have sympathy on her face.

"What are you going to do with him, until she's taken care of," She asks. I shrugged, looking around TC to avoid meeting anyone's eyes.

"Take him down to command, we have coloring books from that last run remember," I reminded her. I got them for Dalton and Eve, Dalton claimed he was too old for coloring books, but after awhile he warmed up to the idea.

"Alright, I'm gonna go see how she's doing, I'll call you if she wakes up," She told me, sparing one last look a the little boy.

"Thanks Max," I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

"Alec. Don't think you off the hook," She warned before turning and walking away.

I smirked, before I felt something tugging on my pants leg. I looked down at the little boy beside me, Biggs looking a bit pale.

"Yeah bud?" I asked him.

"I want my mom," He signed.

I frowned, dreading this, "She's not feeling to good right now, we'll let you see her as soon as she's better," I assured him.

He frowned at me, clenching his fists. "Now!" He signed in single letters, then he clenched his fists by his sides again.

I felt a tantrum coming on..

"No. She's busy, me and my buddy Biggs are gonna take care of you for now," I told him, meeting biggs's eyes seeking help, getting nothing but a smug look in return.

The kid cut his eyes at me, sending a glare to Biggs. He then sat down, right in the middle of the courtyard.. just, sat down.

"What is he doing?" Biggs asked bluntly, the little boy stared at an oil stain on the ground, ignoring us.

"Hey!" I said snapping my fingers in front of his face. "Hey Kid we don't have time for this," I told him firmly. No movement.

I rolled my eyes before reaching down, lifting him up. As I carried, the might I add completely limp, child into command, I turned quite a few heads. Wondering what Alec McDowell was doing with a kid.

I brought him over to a small table set off to the side of the room where the younger kids wait for their parents. I sat him down in a bright red chair, me pulling one out of an office desk. Biggs handed him a coloring book before I grabbed my friends arm pulling him away.

"He's yours," My friend said bluntly.

I glared at him," You don't know that," I sighed.

"O yeah Alec, I've known you since we were five years old.. its like looking into a time machine," He said pointing over to the kid. His face was all twisted up in concentration, trying to keep the color in the lines.

"For all we know he could be Ben's!" I snapped.

He rolled his eyes, "He's not Ben's, they were in Manticore, and your telling me you and that girl never.."

"Just keep this quite all right," I begged him. He stared at me a moment, weighing his choices.

"Fine.. but you can't let this go," He said firmly. He turned from me and headed back to the little boy, being the child he was started coloring with the kid. I smirked at the both of them, before feeling someone come up behind me.

He was right, I couldn't just let this one go. But what exactly was I supposed to do. I couldn't help but feel a little bit angry, at Manticore and 879. I mean, I had a kid and nobody even told me, because one thing was for sure, that kid was mine.