Disclaimer
: Not mineSummary : 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 : 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 - Enjoy anyway !A/N#2
: Thank you so much Susan, for your corrections, your suggestions, and your support. And thank you to anyone who dropped me a few lines. It means a lot.Ting: yeah, Sketch totally deserved a chapter for him.
natasqui: hope I won't disappoint. This chapter 12 is not exactly my preferred one.
feenian: glad you like it.
Lindsay: thank you. See, it keeps coming ;-) I have tidbits written till ch20.
JG: more M/A developments to come. I'm M/A to the bone.
nat452: will they make up and become lovers? Well, everything comes in due time. Max and Alec sure belong together in this story.
Starre: thank you for loving this. And well… hang on. There's a lot more to come.
Quarantined – Chapter 12
By Mirella
Saturday night
"Back room" indicated Alec with a jaw movement as he closed the tatoo shop's front door without a noise nor even a deep breath after their long run.
Biggs obliged and whistled appraisingly. "Nice enough!"
He raised an eyebrow when his partner-in-crime didn't even bother to answer. So Biggs steadily went on furrowing through the equipment before tapping invitingly on the couch with a self satisfied smirk. Did Alec forget he'd soon be at his mercy?
Alec took off his black sweater and laid flat on his stomach. Being lasered off wasn't the nicest way to have a good time, of course nothing compared to the quality time he spent in Psy-Obs or in the tank or in any other Manticore specials for that matter. He suppressed a shudder. Some of these memories still oppressed him when they surfaced. They were better deep buried in his mind. He recalled the last time he came here, how he teased Max when Logan called, how lighthearted he felt by that time because she just started treating him like a friend. Only in his dreams unfortunately for him.
"Hey!" he furiously hissed. "Take care, human flesh here!"
"Come, on, Alec, don't be such a sissy!" teased Biggs, echoing involuntarily Max's words.
Alec gritted his teeth and clenched his fists around the handhold. He'd better empty his mind as good old Manticore taught him instead of drowning in self-pity. Too bad for him, Biggs obviously had other plans.
"Let's have a little talk. It will keep you busy." Biggs smiled as he noticed Alec's sigh. That didn't stop him, on the contrary. "So what happened tonight?"
"A few mishaps: a chopper, Sketchy…" Alec shrugged.
"Don't move! Or I'll ask you what Max was dreaming about instead of standing watch."
Alec grumbled. She likely dreamt of her fearless and blameless hero.
"You know, Alec, it used to be fun to hang around with you."
"I'm so gonna kill you later." Alec muttered under his breath.
Biggs tsked. "Max comes off on your manners, you know." He jumped out of Alec's reach. "Nice, I kinda missed your fighting spirit. But first things first: you'd better bring Max back at 100%. Or I foresee strings of complications."
Alec smirked sadly. If only. "Well it's too late already. Sketch knows."
"Sketch knows? Knows what?"
"Let's say next time it won't be necessary for you to lose at pool." Alec chuckled. At least, he managed to silence Biggs. "In fact he saw me jump, added two and two and made a lucky guess."
"Bye bye job, bye bye nice cover, hello stealthiness." Biggs said in a regretful voice. "Do we go directly back to TC?"
"There's no need to. Sketchy's all right. A little overexcited, but on the good side."
"Good news. I also have some for you. It's over. Though, don't expect me to blow on it like Max probably does." Biggs smacked him lightly on his side.
*I wish she did.* Alec gathered his sweater and shook away his useless thoughts.
Max checked the watch on the wall before going upstairs. A little later than 3 am. Alec and Biggs would soon come back. And the now insomniac Sketchy - a first in his life - was in OC's good and capable hands.
OC suppressed a yawn and carefully studied Sketchy's face. Being woken up in the middle of the night could lead to various insensible assumptions. She instinctively feared something horrible happened, and it almost materialized when she quickly opened her eyes and discovered a dazed Sketchy inches only from her, almost sharing her pillow. But it occurred immediately that Sketchy and herself couldn't have been happening. On the other hand, one would never guess how much could happen while decent people like herself took their deserved sleep. So now Sketchy was in the secret loop, and she was in the middle of it.
"How long did you know?" Sketchy asked in a still grumpy voice, an elbow on OC's blanket, his hand supporting his still pounding head.
"About a year."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
OC shrugged. "What difference would it make?"
"How can you say that? It might be dangerous, for me, and for you." Sketchy was exaggerating, in fact he was thrilled with the whole idea of Max and Alec being transgenics.
"Look, Sketch, Max is my best friend, and I trust her wholeheartedly. Same for Hot Boy." OC replied without the slightest hesitation, holding Sketch's gaze without even a flicker of eyelids.
"They're not like us." Sketchy insisted.
"Well, who's got the better part? They were made in labs, and trained as soldiers from their early childhood. They were used and manhandled and brainwashed and God knows what else. And they're not really keen on telling tales about their former life." OC could see in Sketchy's eyes he was already convinced. "Stop believing everything you hear on TV, and listen to your heart. They're your friends, and they're good people."
Sketchy considered her words. He could still see the distant look in Alec's eyes from earlier as he plainly stated his number and almost shivered in empathy. Sure, life hadn't been really soft on him like for any child of the Pulse, but nothing compared to what Cindy just expressed with an overwhelming conviction. "You're right. They are. It's all good." He said with a smile.
OC watched him get up with difficulty and smiled in turn. Sketchy was a nice and decent guy, now if only her bunch of buddies would be kind enough to grant her with a still night, without any new crisis to deal with.
Sketchy's cramped legs ached from immobility as he got up, stirred and walked back to his sleeping bag. Not only was he a nice and decent guy, he also was an irrepressible optimist. Maybe he could get one of his friends to give him an exclusive interview. That would undoubtedly help blossom his career as an investigation photo-reporter.
Alec climbed up along the drainpipe in tow with Biggs. He perfectly heaved himself up on the edge and immediately knew his nemesis was there, waiting for them, presumably waiting for him. Biggs obviously reached the same conclusion because he hurried downstairs with a wink for Alec, a wave for Max and a friendly "See you guys!"
Alec dropped himself on the ground, sliding along the edge, and laid tiredly his head against the cement wall, closing his eyes. "Not gonna tell you twice I'm sorry." He uttered in a breath. "What else do you want, Max?"
More than his stance, the sadness in his voice moved her. "I want us to talk." She stated simply.
I want you out of my life. Her earlier words almost hung in the silence between them.
"Anything you forgot? Something like a planet's name?"
Max swallowed. She would do what it'd take to make him feel better, beginning with the necessary apology. "Look, Alec, I'm sorry."
That took him by surprise. Never ever had Max told him she was sorry. She was astonishing. A natural sense for dramatic effects.
Alec choose to sigh. "You're sorry, I'm sorry, I guess everyone is sorry. Does it mean we sorry people can go and sleep?" He knew he was being unfair but he wouldn't drop his guard once more and give her any more openings.
Max crouched beside his supposedly relaxed form and went on without taking offence. "I'm sorry for what I said. Really."
"Don't be sorry for being yourself." Alec choked a bittersweet chuckle. He could feel the tension building up in his body, and released some of it by flexing his fingers.
"I didn't mean any of it." Max searched his face bent backwards, noticed the slight twitch in his jaw, the way he swallowed, but she couldn't meet his eyes, hidden behind his eyelids.
"And next thing you're gonna tell me you can't live without me." Alec snorted derisively.
"Not exactly. Of course I could live without you."
This was more like the Max he knew and… Alec lost the thread of his thoughts when he felt her touch on his knee. He peered through half-opened eyes in a shock. He was used to being hit or kicked or smacked, but not to this featherlike pressure which weighed tons. He was about to push her invasive hand away but her next words stopped him.
"But I'd miss you." Max added in a soft voice.
Any project of leaving instantly dissolved into nothing, but that didn't mean he'd make this easier on her. When they'd be discussing the kiss, she wouldn't make it easy on him. "Of course, you'd have to recruit a new official punching ball." He locked his gaze with hers.
Max had been scrutinizing him so intently she almost felt his two successive sharp breaths in the air, first when she dared physical contact, then when she told him she'd miss him. And now eye contact meant she had managed to break the ice wall between them.
"Biggs told me I took you for granted, and I did indeed, but you mean a lot to me." She paused for a second and knew she had his undivided attention. So much was flickering in his gaze, revealing doubt, incertities and some hope. "More than I was willing to show you. I'm not good at this, you know, and I never really tried. But what I really want is for you to be all right."
Eternity stirred between them as Alec took the measure of her words. Max held her breath without even realizing it, hanging on his reaction, fascinated by the way he nibbled at his lower lip without even being aware of it.
"I'm always all right, Maxie."
"For us to be all right." Max added in a breath. She really preferred the usual Alec, the one she grew to know. Usually he would have greeted her morning haughtiness with his cocky smile, and he would have laughed, and she'd have smacked him on the head or punched him lightly – or not lightly. They wouldn't be here freezing in the night. She'd really better learn to treat him like a decent person, like a friend.
Alec almost lost himself in the dark beauty who just put her herself on the line in front of him, for him. It looked like the woman who possessed the power to rock his world upside down, to rock his life, period, cared for him. The pain constricting his chest suddenly faded away, and he felt light hearted, almost dizzy.
He coughed lightly to shake away some of the tension, and Max's wishes were granted when she recognized the sparkle in his eyes, illuminating his handsome features and the beginning of a smile quirking his lips.
"Any chance there's a hidden camera/video recorder anywhere?" he asked playfully.
She smacked him lightly on his leg. Things were back where they were supposed to, and they shouldn't go any further. She laughed. "Your style could definitely live with a little cramping."
"But, that's how you like me!" he protested, supposedly indignant.
Max didn't answer. Yes, she liked him, however infuriating he may be, most of the time. She could feel his body warmth radiating into her fingers. She started to draw idle figures on his jean.
Alec wondered if she realized what she was doing to him, he badly needed to shake away immediately any of the fantasies she was inspiring him, or he'd soon need a cold shower. As he was about to grab her hand with his larger one, she whispered:
"You were right."
He suspended his gesture mid-air. "I'm in the fifth dimension. Or you're possessed by an alien."
Max didn't answer. She got up and leaned on her elbows on the edge. "I shouldn't have dragged you into my personal mess." Her next words would cost her much, she uttered them quickly and looked down cautiously at him. "Let's forget about the kiss, I pushed you off limits."
How could she ever forget the tempest of emotions Alec created in her body with that single passionate kiss? Her instinct told her she'd never experience anything more intense with anyone else.
Alec looked up at her. He felt torn between relief and a weird disappointment. He should have been pleased to be so easily cleared off, but he strongly doubted he'd manage to forget her taste and her scent and the feel of her against him. The mere thought of her was exhilarating, physically and emotionally. He didn't trust himself to talk and simply nodded.
Max turned her gaze at the Space Needle figure gleaming in the moonlight. "I should tell Logan the truth."
Logan, whom she hadn't even granted a single thought throughout the day. It looked like each passing day brought her further away from him, but it wouldn't make it any easier to confess to him she lied to him.
Logan, of course her thoughts were spiraling back to him. Alec suppressed a sigh and pushed himself off the ground as well. "You don't have to. I didn't tell him anything."
"Huh? You okay to play along?" Max asked, surprise clear in her voice.
She'd have slapped herself for being so dense when she saw him raising an eyebrow. She'd hear about this for a long while, but in fact he didn't tease her as he would have any other time.
Alec dodged the question. "He still loves you, you know. He'd be happy to know the truth."
"I lied to him." Max laughed bitterly.
Alec gently put a hand over hers, offering her the comfort he thought she sought. "I'm the first outraged by the thought you of all people might be lying." He was rewarded by a little laugh escaping her lips. "Trust me on this, Max, he'll forgive you. You didn't push him away. I'm not sure what could. He just let go, coz' he wants you to be happy. He even instructed me to take care of you." He snorted and squeezed her hand a little. "He loves you." So much for being cynical!
*And I'm not sure I love him anymore. In fact I'm not even sure I ever loved him at all.* The thought dawned unexpectedly on Max. She easily distangled herself from Alec's hold and looked up at his profile as he went on.
"You were right Max, and I didn't have any right to tell you to let him go for his sake. If I ever loved someone, I'd fight for this love." His words to Asha came back haunting him with a wicked timing. *If I ever loved someone, I'd tell her.*
Max shivered. Maybe Alec was definitely right. She didn't fight anymore for Logan because she didn't love him anymore.
Her physical reaction wasn't lost on Alec who took in her slight frame dressed only in a tee-shirt and pants. Sure Max was genetically engineered, and that little talk in the cold night wouldn't be enough to get her even a cold, but he took off his black turtleneck. Just taking care? Not even fooling himself. He wouldn't less pass an opportunity to smell her wearing his scent. An harmless opportunity made it even better.
In the process, Max caught a glimpse at his well-toned abs and managed to ignore the inner shivers skimming treacherously through her body. She knew she had to keep control. She sent Alec a questioning look as he held his sweater to her.
"We still have one thing to do." He grinned widely in anticipation.
Max didn't know what he was talking about, but she felt ready to follow him anywhere. She smiled brightly as she snuggled into his sweater; his warmth immediately enveloped her, melting the coldness and the sense of loneliness away. She felt safe, and protected, and like at home.
Not to mention she wouldn't have let pass an opportunity to drown in Alec's scent.
"After you." He bowed playfully before her, indicating the rooftrap with a hand's wave.
As she was about to enter, she whirled around, on a sudden impulse. Her next move came totally unexpected. She hugged him. "Thank you, Alec. For everything." And the hell with sensible resolutions.
He closed his arms around her and closed his eyes.
A/N#3
: I like Max as a character. Don't question me on her caring for Alec, I'm sure she does. Oh and Christmas spirit ruled when I wrote this. I overdid it a little with the ending, but I felt like some fluff wouldn't hurt. Since there was no kiss.TBC… with more M/A and some more action
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