Chapter 10: Life Goes On

The next morning Alec didn't waist anytime going to headquarters. He needed to take care of the issue with Joshua. He'd already taken a chance letting him live through the night. He could only pray that he hadn't spoken to anyone. He'd avoiding everyone that would stop and chat with him, that also meant taking the longer way out of TC.

"Max, your pager is beeping again." OC called out through the bathroom door. Max was taking a shower, she'd had a heat dream about Alec again. It was weird though because she wasn't in heat or even going into heat any time soon.

"I'm almost done." She yelled back. This was the third time OC told her it beeped. Who could that be at seven in the morning? She turned the water off and dried quickly. Wrapping the towel around her, she walked out. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be stupid, I'm just wondering if it isn't urgent." OC replied reassuring her friend. Since Alec had kicked Max out she'd been acting totally different. She was forever apologizing for this that weren't even wrong. That boy had truly put a number on her, and not all their friends could understand why.

"Joshua, it's me. What's the matter?" Max had entered her room and was trying to dress as she held the phone between her ear and shoulder.

"Joshua needs to talk to you about Alec." he answered.

"Oh, umm, I don't think that's a good idea." Max didn't want to have anything to do with him at the moment. He'd probably snap at her for it anyway.

"Medium fella not alright. Need to talk now!" Joshua almost growled, he'd never spoken to her like that. It made her think that it might be worth finding out what was wrong.

"Alright, I'm on my way." Max hung up and finished dressing. "I'm heading over to Joshua's. I'll see you later." OC said bye as the door closed.

"Hey, Josh. Sorry about bailing on you last night." Alec walked in and sat near him. "I didn't want to wake you." Joshua smiled at him and put his book down.

"How Alec today?"

"Still confused, wondering who I can trust." he replied eyeing the dog man. "Do you know who you can trust?"

"Trust Max and Alec." Joshua replied now truly believing this wasn't his friend, his medium fella. The way he was speaking to him, the way he smelled. He couldn't tell before because he'd only ever seen him in TC but now away from all others he could smell him. It smelled all human, no cat. Alec had feline DNA.

Getting up he headed for the window to see if he'd spot Max. He regretted calling her now, he hadn't thought Alec would come over. He suddenly felt sharp pain he realized was a tazer gun. Alec kept shocking him with it until he passed out. Quickly he grabbed the bag he'd left near the door and pulled out some rope. He tied Joshua as tightly as he could incase he'd wake up.

Grabbing his gun he walked over to him again and this time Joshua was awake staring at him. "This is your own fault. If you hadn't followed me and seen me I wouldn't have to do this." Alec told him as he pulled the silencer out of his pocket and started putting it with the gun. "I can't risk you telling 452 or everything will be ruined."

He'd never heard her come in and sneak up behind him. She was freaking out, she'd never expected to walk in and see the scene before her. She did the only thing she could think of and knocked him out. Quickly she went to Joshua's side and untied him.

"Max, Alec is not Alec." Max just stared at him and then at Alec. "No cat, can't smell the cat." Max turned with the rope and went to him. Sitting him on a chair, she tied him up and waited until he woke up.

Finally, he woke up. "Who are you?" Max questioned standing directly in his face. If he was, Alec then where was he and who was this guy. He didn't reply and she punched him. "Who are you?"

"You know who I am, why don't you ask what you really want to know." the bastard was acting smug, and again she punched him.

"How did you pull it off? How did you fool all of TC?"

"Wasn't too hard. Plus I fooled you and you fucked the guy, must not have been that good." this time she punched him twice.

"Where is he? Is he alive?"

"He's alive." She breathed a sigh of relieve. Now she needed to find out where. She'd questioned him without force at first as to where he was, but again he refused to comply. She never thought she'd turn into the thing Manticore had trained her to be but it was he only option. Alec needed her, she'd left him alone with them. She'd let him fool her with all his mind games.

She'd broken every one of his fingers and when that hadn't worked, she'd gotten a knife. She'd cut him in the face, under his eyes. Stabbed him in the knees and twisted the blade before he broke. "Tell me where he is and how to get him out." she yelled shaking with so much anger.

He told her what she needed to know. Joshua told her to head to TC right away and get a team ready, he'd take care of the fake Alec.

Wish I knew then what I know now

You held all the cards and sold me out

Baby shame on you if you fool me once

Shame on me if you fool me twice

But you've been a pretty hard case to crack

I should of known better but I didn't and I can't go back

Life goes on and it's only gonna make me stronger