by Infie
Previously, in Shelf Life...
Alec padded over on silent feet, looking at the bundle in Max's arms intently. A tiny face rested against her shoulder, and an equally tiny foot poked out from the edge of the blanket where it lay against her hip.
"So, Max. I guess we forgot to ask." Rhys broke the silence blandly. "What's new?"
Zane snorted with amusement. He raised his hand over his shoulder and Rhys slapped it without even looking.
Logan's eyes were wide. "Max?" He asked incredulously. "Is that a baby?"
Alec just waited patiently, eyes never leaving Max's face. She flushed, then went for her familiar refuge... anger.
"No," she snapped at Logan. "It's a child. He's four."
"Four?" Logan spluttered. "Four???"
"What?" Max demanded, albeit quietly. "Your hearing went when your legs came back?"
"Max." Zane's softly reproving voice brought her up short. She looked over at him, then down at the sleeping face. She flushed darker, in embarassment this time.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Yes, he's four." Her dark eyes finally came to meet Alec's calm hazel stare. "He's Adam's son," she said by way of explanation.
Alec nodded his understanding.
Rhys strode over to take a look. "He's a good looking boy," he said gently. Max smiled.
"It's those good X-5 genes," she replied with a quick glance at the little boy's face. "Noah's great."
Logan had recovered, and grinned widely. "Zack had a son? Wow."
Alec's eyes dropped to Noah's face. He reached out and tentatively traced the curve of the sleeping child's cheek with one finger. Noah sighed and snuggled deeper into Max's embrace, thick black lashes fanning against his lightly tanned skin. He blinked, then raised his head to find Max watching him. He smiled. "He's beautiful, Max. And loud." The grin took the sting out of the observation.
Rhys nodded his agreement over Alec's shoulder, catching Max's attention again. "He still has nightmares," she explained quietly. "He needs a few minutes of cuddling before he can go back to sleep." She flashed a brilliant smile. "Zane and I take turns."
As one, Logan, Rhys, and Alec turned to stare at Zane... the least motherly person any of them could imagine. The one-time mercenary and self-admitted devious bastard spread his hands and grinned disarmingly. "It's the least I can do for my favourite nephew," he said tranquilly. Again as one, the others snorted. "What?" He looked offended, unfurled himself from the couch, and made his way to the little knot of bodies in front of Joshua's bedroom door. He smiled at the little foot peeking out of the bundle of blankets and tucked it back in tenderly before deftly lifting Noah out of Max's arms. The little boy snuggled his face into the side of Zane's neck, snuffling contentedly. Zane held him with the ease of evident practice. He raised an eloquent eyebrow before returning to the darkness of Joshua's room on silent feet.
Alec shook his head with a grin. He'd never have believed it, but Zane was a natural. Max was looking after him with an enigmatic smile of her own. Alec felt his chest tighten, and hurriedly turned away to return to his seat. He ran into Rhys, who didn't step back quite quickly enough. Rhys kept them on their feet with a grunt. "Hello," he said brightly. "Am I in your way?"
Alec rolled his eyes. "Only if you count standing directly in front of me." He retorted.
"Hey.. it was directly behind you til you decided to run me down," Rhys complained goodnaturedly, rubbing his ribs. A quick jab with two fingers into his middle moved him aside neatly. "And, ow!" He muttered. Alec stepped past him and took his seat.
"Serves you right for getting between me and my hot chocolate," he said, taking a drink of the aforementioned beverage. It was cold. he sighed.
Zane reappeared at the door of Joshua's room. He gave a long look behind him before easing the door shut. "He's fine," he told Max. She relaxed and returned to the sofa. He joined her. Alec watched the ease with which they communicated and sighed again. Time had a way of changing things, he knew. All too well. Logan caught his eye and gave a wry, subtle shrug that told him they were thinking the same thing. He closed his eyes and shook his head with a self-deprecating grin.
"Why do I feel like I just missed something?" Max looked at them suspiciously.
"Cause you did, naturally." Rhys dropped onto the loveseat beside Alec with his usual exuberance. Max gave him an annoyed glare when he didn't elaborate.
"Just reminiscing, Max," Alec soothed. Her frown deepened.
Logan's watch chimed, making him jump.
"Aha!" He said. "Search is done. Let's see what we have."
"Sweet jesus." Alec breathed. He knew his face was white with shock; he'd felt the blood drain to his toes, followed by his stomach. A quick glance away from the computer screen showed identical reactions from the rest of the group watching the screen. "Can that be right?" He heard the pleading note in his voice and closed his eyes.
"I'll double check." Logan was barely audible. "But... I think it's right."
Rhys stood abruptly, pushing away from the screens. "I think I'm going to be sick," he announced flatly.
"So many..." Zane dropped to one knee, voice faint. "Jesus..... jesus."
"Alec, what's going on here?" Max's hand was over her mouth, her eyes standing out starkly in her face.
"I don't know." He replied, running his hands over his face before facing the stark results from Logan's search. "Yet."
"Total hits: 86." Logan sounded stronger, but no less stunned.
"Eighty-six dead transgenics in the last six months, USA wide." Rhys echoed. "I can't believe they'd all be accidental."
"No, Rhys." Alec corrected softly. "Eighty-six X-5 deaths USA-wide." He pointed at a second statistic, further down the screen. "That's the figure for transgenics overall."
Rhys placed a hand against his gut. His caramel skin had turned a sickly gray. "One hundred twelve?" He moaned and rubbed his eyes with his free hand.
"Eighty six." Max puffed her breath out. "That's almost a third of the X-5s, Logan. In six months? That can't be right." Alec could hear a thread of hysteria lurking in her voice and stood to place his hand on her shoulder. The eyes she turned on him were blank. "It can't be right, Alec."
"Please check it again, Logan." Alec requested flatly. He hugged Max against his side, trying to provide a reassurance he didn't feel. "Rhys," he said when he could talk again. "Could you make some coffee? Strong coffee?" His eyes flicked towards the computer screen before skittering away. "I don't think any of us are going to be sleeping tonight."
"Tonight?" Rhys gave an incredulous laugh as he headed for the kitchen. "I may never sleep again."
"Sure you will," Zane had regained some of his equilibrium. He made his way to the sofa and sat.
"If you say 'you'll sleep when you're dead'..." Rhys threatened from the kitchen doorway, "you'll find yourself there faster than you planned."
Alec's lips twitched at the gallows humour so typical of soldiers. Max was not amused. He recognised the signs and forestalled her. "You'll sleep when I tell you to," he interjected.
Rhys laughed. "And you say you're not suited for command," he retorted. The distinctive sounds of the coffee maker starting underlay his words.
"Well, I can command you." Alec grinned.
"Teacup could command him," Logan said, tapping at his keyboard. The Great Dane woofed softly from her position in the doorway of Alec's room at the sound of her name.
"Teacup could command any of us," Rhys muttered as he re-entered the room with a steaming cup of creamy coffee. "Just watch her at dinner time."
Logan and Alec nodded their agreement in unison. Zane glanced at the enormous dog. "I'll take your word for it," he said. Max came to sit beside him, leaning against his bulk automatically. Alec winced as he reflexively took too large a gulp of his coffee.
"Anyone else want some?" Rhys came back with his own cup; a mug that read 'If sarcasm is a tool, just call me Master Craftsman'. A present from Logan.
"Me," Logan waved absently. "Hazlenut, please."
"What? Now I have to make a new pot cause you like the frou frou flavours?" Rhys faked a stagger of shock.
"Yes," Logan said, snapping his fingers. Teacup rose and obediently crossed to his side where she regarded Rhys with a silent, intent stare. Rhys groaned, but headed back to the kitchen.
"Teacup does have what it takes to command," Max said. Alec choked a little on his mouthful of coffee. She smiled at him ruefully. "I've changed a bit," she said in response to his surprise. "Mellowed, one might say."
Alec winked at her. "One would be right," he said. "Looks good on you."
Zane glanced between the two of them before taking a breath and pushing Max a little to get enough room to rise. "I'm going to help Rhys," he said. "Hazelnut sounds good."
"The chocolate cinnamon is better." Logan tossed over his shoulder. "But if you get that, Teacup expects you to share." The dog lay down, settling heavily across Logan's feet. He patted her massive head.
"I'll.. uh.. keep that in mind." Zane said uncertainly. He retreated to the kitchen. Low mutters and laughter soon followed as he and Rhys began to argue over the right way to wring the best flavour from the beans.
Max settled into the spot Zane had left vacant, looking around the apartment. Alec watched her examine the walls, biting his lip. It was the first time they'd been afforded anything close to privacy, and he searched for a way to break the awkward silence. He sighed, then shrugged and crossed the space to sit beside her. "Hey Max," he said with a smile.
She blinked, but looked at him. "Hey." She smiled back.
"It really is good to see you," he told her.
"Yeah," she nodded brightly. They lapsed back into silence.
"So..." Alec tried again. "You and Zane?"
Max looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Zane?" She laughed out loud. "No... no. Never." She shook her head. "He's my brother, and a great father for Noah, but no." Alec fought to keep the unexpected wave of relief he felt from showing, though from the way her eyes sharpened he didn't entirely succeed. "What about you, Alec?" She asked with a slight edge in her tone.
He smiled into her eyes. "You know me, Max," he said smoothly. "There's enough to go around."
She grinned back involuntarily, rolling her eyes. "Modest as ever," she noted.
"Naturally," he agreed.
"Hate to interrupt," Logan said, turning his body around in his chair. His feet were still trapped under Teacup. Rhys and Zane came to the door of the kitchen. The coffee maker dinged the completion of its task. Logan's face was grave. "I've completed the verification sweep." He rubbed his eyes. "It's for real."