Author's note - I didn't get hardly any reviews on the last chapter, so just in case you haven't read it, be sure you do before moving on to this one. I will try to be more proactive on getting the chapters out in a more timely manner, especially if I get more reviews. Read and respond! :)
The day of the funeral found Alec in the chapel at the Benjamin Franklin funeral parlor. He was standing outside the perimeter of the crowd, watching everyone carefully for any signs of one of White's "no pain" breeding cult lackeys.
He considered himself as Max's unofficial bodyguard today. He was dressed like every other man there. Dark blue suit and tie, light blue dress shirt, expensive loafers. The collar of his shirt with the tie helped keep his barcode covered.
He noticed he received a few admiring glances from women but he purposely ignored them. This is something he's pretty used to dealing with. Manticore made the X-5 series to be easy on the eyes. However, the few men that watched him were more suspicious, probably because the admirers were their wives or girlfriends!
The men had nothing to worry about as far as Alec was concerned. He wasn't interested. Now that he was back into Max's life, he had no interest in any other female. Sure, in the last four years, he's had plenty of one night stands, but he was always up front with them about not wanting anything long term. He still didn't believe in a transgenic having a relationship with an "ordinary". It just puts them in danger. He had his own painful memories of Rachel to remind him of this.
Alec caught Max's eye across the room and she gave a slight smile and nod, but then her attention was diverted by yet another couple conveying their condolences. In one way, he admired how Max kept herself under control. Not one tear was shed yet. It takes a lot of strength to keep it together like that.
But on the other hand, he also knew that she would have to let it out sometime. She would have to grieve. It's all part of the healing process.
Damn Manticore and their training of "stuffing your emotions down and getting the job done". Max may have been 10 years old when she first left Manticore, but it was still drilled into her even at that young age to show no emotion. Emotions were weaknesses.
He heard the organ begin to play and knew that the funeral was about to start. He decided to find a place to sit in the back, since he was not family, but surprisingly Max was standing next to him now. People rarely sneak up on him, but she had the grace of the cat DNA in her.
He watched her carefully. Her bottom lip was beginning to quiver, and a tear started pooling in her left eye. Apparently, she'd reached her limit.
"Alec?" she asked with a quaver in her voice and a hand on his arm, "I don't .... I mean..... could you sit with me.....um...."
The tears were beginning to flow now. Quickly, Alec scanned his eyes past the door of the chapel and saw an empty office within the funeral home. He placed an arm around her shoulders and escorted her out of the chapel, through the main funeral parlor and into the office he found. He closed the door then turned back to find her covering her face in her own hands, sobbing.
"Come here." Alec said softly as he wrapped her in his arms. Her arms went around his waist, her body shook with her sobs and she cried into his shoulder.
He was glad she was finally letting it out, and that he was there to help. He didn't know much about what to do with crying women. Most of the time, probably because he's a guy, it just scares the shit out of him. But he knew instinctively to hold her. He began making soothing, shushing noises, even passed her his handkerchief, at times kissing the top of her head.
"Oh God Alec!" she hiccupped a couple of times, "I don't have my baby in my arms, my best friend could die, Logan died..... maybe Renfro was right and I'm poison to everyone I touch!"
Alec loosened his hold enough to reach out and place a finger under her chin, making her look at him, "Hey! Listen to me. Renfro was a cold-hearted bitch. You are NOT poison Maxie. Don't ever tell yourself that again. We'll find Keegan," Then he snickered a little, "I believe that Original Cindy will open her eyes and declare how she wants to put the smack down on the dude that knocked her out, and you'll finally be able to move on." He became suddenly serious as he stroked her cheek. His voice was soft and reassuring, "Regardless of all I said yesterday..... Logan loved you Max. And even I can admit that for an ordinary..... as OC would say..... 'he's aiight."
This made Max give a small laugh as she dabbed her eyes and blew her nose.
"Maxie?" Alec said quietly. She looked up expectantly as he said, "I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. Accusing you of hiding information from me and all of that."
"No Alec, it's OK. I got to thinking...... well, it's something we'll need to talk about later. Because Keegan's parentage, I've had some doubts in my mind for the last year. I know what Dr Carr said and I just believed him. And Logan was a terrific father to Keegan. I just didn't want to believe …"
There was a knock on the door, and the director of the funeral parlor poked his head inside and smiled sympathetically, "Mrs. Cale, we're about to start the service."
Pulling herself together, she assumed the same grace and poise she had earlier, just that now her eyes were a little more red and puffy, "Thank you, I'll be right out."
"Max, do you still need me to sit with you?"
"Please?" Max asked, which is a word that rarely comes out of Max's mouth.
This time, Alec placed a hand on the small of her back escorting her back into the chapel, and to a front pew.