A/N- I'm feeling better now, thanks to those that asked and I'm glad I could make you guys feel better. Once again thanks to my Beta's Itay and Kat- you guys rock and make sure that I do too.
Sorry to Chaosti who reviews via email and I always forget to add to the list at the end. She offered my Jensen Ackles with whipped cream- beat THAT if you can!
Yes we will find out more about BJ and Anna soon, promise.
Someone asked about spoilers and I know that some writers do a 'coming soon' at the end of chapters to whet the appetite for what is coming. Do people want me to do this?
Chapter 20- The rope tightens…
Max sat on the roof of the building and stared out towards the city beyond the gates. The Space Needle was towering over the other structures casting its fellow buildings in dark shadow, and Max wished she was over there, or a million miles away from here.
How could things have gone so damn wrong in such a short time? How would the others be with her now?
Before she could dwell on the thought she heard footsteps and stiffened, waiting for the barrage of recriminations or assault that was sure to follow.
Instead she heard the steps slow down and stop just behind her; then soft clothes brushing against her back and knees appearing at either side as someone sat behind her, cradling her in their legs, wrapping their arms around her middle and tugging her back against a broad masculine chest.
Max sighed and relaxed into the embrace.
"Thought you'd be up here."
"Didn't realise I was so predictable." She answered with a short laugh.
"We all have our quirks."
Max nodded at the humour in the voice.
"So exactly how much does everyone hate me right now?"
She felt the chuckle as it came from deep down inside his chest.
"Well, Aiden is 100% in your corner and he yelled at Anna once she got up, backed up by B.J., of course."
"Of course." Max murmured as she snuggled backwards.
"Emma says she feels your pain, but I put that down to drugs. That girl is creepy."
Max almost giggled at the puzzlement in his voice.
"Sunny is having hysterics," he went on, "and Biggs went to calm her down so that's okay. Tara and Coco are still on assignment. Carrot is muttering in one corner looking like Crazy Joe the tortured transgenic, I think we need to keep an eye on him."
Max nodded lightly recalling his worried expression.
"Feen is furious but Techie seems to have grown a back bone and keeps telling her that he'll shut her up his way. I so don't want to know what the blush is about there! Flex and Skye said that they're staying out of it. But Flex was grinning, so I think there aren't any worries there. Mets and Cece were frowning and moaning about how it shouldn't have happened but since they both suck, I don't care what they say. Chance said nothing because I think she was startled when Pix screamed at Anna."
"Pix screamed?"
"Uh huh," he laughed. "It was great. Until Alec told him off for raising his voice, although he can't talk because Alec was-"
"Don't care!" Max said hurriedly and he went on.
"Drew said you aimed too high, you should have cracked the collar bone instead of jaw line and you leave your left side open too much. Zan and Steve both told me to tell you that they have wanted to do that to Anna for ages."
"And you?" Max half turned to stare up into his deep blue eyes, the wind tossing his blonde hair every which way.
"Me? Dammit Max, you are my hero, you kicked ass!"
At Dek's heartfelt words and tight hug, Max buried her head into his shirt and shuddered.
"Max, are those seizures coming back?"
"No," her voice was muffled, "I can't believe I did that, Anna is-"
"A pain in the ass." He interrupted.
"Well, yes but-"
"A total hypocrite?"
"I suppose, but she-"
"So had it coming!"
Max gave up and chuckled into his chest. "Well at least I am not universally hated as the biggest bitch in Manticore."
"Renfro is defending champion and she beats you every year." Dek teased.
"And yet I continue to show."
They lapsed into companionable silence for a while just staring at the darkness.
"You okay Max?"
"I honestly don't know Dek," she sighed, "just when I think I get things sorted out in my head they go wrong again."
"Ah, you know what that is?"
"What?"
"Life," he said dejectedly. "It sucks and the only guarantee is that you won't get out alive."
Max laughed sadly, "When our resident bad boy gets melancholic that's when its time to change the music."
"It's just Drew," he confessed, "her and Monsieur Mets, getting along far too well."
"Jealous?"
"Hell yeah, he's an ass. He doesn't understand her."
"Have you said something to her?"
He made a face, "She doesn't want to ruin the friendship."
Max couldn't think of anything to say to that. "Sorry."
"Oh I haven't given up. I had Pix help me concoct a plan."
"Between your charms and Pix's tricks, she doesn't stand a chance." Max prophesied with a smile. "She won't be able to resist you."
"But if she does, I'm just letting you know that you're next on my list." He kissed the top of her head and she could feel the curve of his grin in her soft hair. "Fair warning."
Max smiled her face lighting up at his soft words. "Gee, I'm runner up."
"Credit where it's due, I'll have to fight off Zan, Pix and Alec for you, Max." He poked her rib cage. "I'll be all battered and bruised when they're done."
"One, Pix doesn't think of me that way and two, I wouldn't let you fight. Dumbass." She smacked at his tickling hands. "Three, Alec has no claims."
Dek sighed, knowing better than to tell her about seeing Alec crying in his room that night. As much as he had all the respect for his C.O and past Squad Leader, he had always felt a deeper connection to Max and knew that right now, she wouldn't want to know about that. She needed time to cool off, like Drew always did.
"But you know it wouldn't hurt if you put in a good word to Drew- you know, tell her how devastatingly attractive you find me, stuff like that." He changed the tone of the chat and was rewarded as Max relaxed.
"You are so full of it," she hauled herself to her feet. "But I can help in your diabolical scheme, and maybe redeem myself after today."
Dek grabbed her hand and hoisted himself to his feet, keeping a hold on her hand until she met his eyes.
"No one blames you Max."
"I blame me, I lost control. I don't do that."
"So you had an off day, you were provoked!" He maintained and Max gave him a rueful grin.
"But I'm C.O I should keep my temper better than that."
"Despite what some think Max, you're not perfect," he shrugged, "none of us are, that's what makes being alive so interesting."
Max eyed him strangely. "Ok who are you and what have you done with Dek? He isn't this insightful, tactful and philosophical."
"Bitch!" He jabbed her and she sighed.
"Oh that's more like it."
Dek jammed his hands in his pockets and gave her a mock scowl to which Max smiled brilliantly.
"Come on, I had better try to smooth things over with Anna, no doubt she'll be pissed."
"Nope," Dek let loose a smug smirk. "She'll be scared."
Max frowned, "Why?"
"Because my dear Max," Dek draped his arm over Max's shoulder, "When Pix got through yelling at her, he wrote her name down in his little black book."
Max blinked.
"Oh shit."
------
B.J. paced the waiting room of the Med Bay waiting for Anna to come out.
He was…not worried as such, or even concerned, more… interested in her welfare; a fact that he was chastising himself for even as he paced.
Gee look what happened last time you were concerned over Anna.
B.J. told that annoying little voice to shut the hell up, this was a totally different situation and he was a totally different person.
Not so different or you wouldn't be here. The voice mocked insistently and B.J. turned to leave as the door swung open to reveal a heavily bruised Anna.
"Uh…hey!" He said brightly and she glared at him with her good eye.
"Come to gloat?" She snapped, "Or did you think of something else that you just had to say to me?"
She may have snapped at him, but secretly she was touched by the way that he had come to see if she was okay. It was something that the old B.J. would have done back in Atlanta.
B.J. almost winced as he thought of the way he had stood by Pix and Aiden and ripped into Anna for attacking Max.
"Uh, that was," he took a deep breath. "I'm not saying that you didn't deserve that, I'm just saying that we could have been more tactful."
Anna rubbed her forehead, trying to stave off a headache.
"I mean, seriously, attacking Max?" B.J. laughed. "What did you think was going to happen?"
"We needed her to make up with Alec, I was trying to get her to talk to him," she recalled, "it was all going well, until Aiden stepped in."
"Aiden?" B.J. frowned, "what does he have to do with anything?"
Anna swallowed and avoided his eyes. "He said that I had no room to throw stones after what happened with me and…with…you know, us."
B.J. went still and Anna wondered if she should have just kept her mouth shut.
"There was never an 'us'," he said coolly, "I'm glad you're okay, see you around."
"B.J., wait!" But he was already half way down the corridor.
"Oh," she bit off the curse and wondered if other transgenics had this foot-in-mouth problem as often as she did.
----
The way that the day had gone already, they should have known that their lessons would continue the trend.
Common Verbal Usage was one of the most highly enjoyed lessons as the transgenics got a thrill out of being able to understand what the Trainers talked about.
The man that taught it wasn't a Trainer, but a linguist specialist that Manticore had procured especially for the job. Mr. Cameron was a tall, distinguished looking man whose hair was greying at the temples, lending him a more mature look.
"Morning." He welcomed and smiled as he was hit by a barrage of greetings.
"Hey!"
"Hi."
"Yo."
"Wassup."
Everyone laughed at Pix who shrugged. "I liked that one!"
Mr. Cameron waved for them all to calm down with a grin at Pix.
"Well done 418. Okay guys, today we'll be going over some new terms, colloquialisms in use all over the world. I was directed by Renfro to take you through some that may be used during missions. So we start today with missions requirements."
He glanced around the room. "Okay, 191, what would I mean if I told you that the mission had gone sideways?"
B.J. frowned. "That something had gone wrong."
Chance glanced at B.J. who she was sitting next to and smiled, he returned the gesture, glad that he wasn't sitting near Anna whose mood seemed to have stayed as black as the bruises on her face.
"Right, also 'gone pear-shaped,"
"Why pear?" Asked Skye confused.
"Because it starts off right at the top but ends up far too big at the bottom."
"Like Cece?" Flex whispered innocently and was kicked in the ankle by the girl who sat behind him, a glare on her face.
"What if I said that 'if I report late to Director Renfro we are all gonna get blasted.'?" He was met with blank stares.
"Doesn't blasted mean intoxicated, Sir?" Alec asked curiously.
"In some connotations, in this case it means trouble. We're gonna get in trouble. A much coarser way of saying it is up sh creek without a paddle."
That phrase got the expected laughs.
"Or if the mission is a total mess we can say its fubar."
"Fubar?"
"Fed up beyond all recognition."
They giggled at that.
"Okay, now if you have been wronged by another party what would you say?"
Silence fell in the classroom as the tension level suddenly skyrocketed.
"Did I put my foot in it?" Mr. Cameron asked.
"Not at all," Max said brightly. "How about that that one stabbed you in the back?"
"Good. Any others?"
The transgenics looked at each other, not liking the sudden direction of the lesson.
"Double-cross?" Feen added tentatively, keeping her head down.
"That works. Come on everyone." Mr. Cameron pushed trying to get the class going.
"Some one rats on you or rats you out?"
"Hmm, that's more for an informant, the same as to grass on." Mr. Cameron said thoughtfully.
"Selling out?"
"Good, okay what would you call that one?"
"A sell out."
"Geez let it go, 344!" Zan said and Aiden grinned at him.
"You'd call them a turncoat."
"Never understood that one," Drew confessed.
"It was used in war time when a soldier would turn his clothes inside out showing another colour so that no one would know whose side he was on," Max said abruptly.
Mr. Cameron looked impressed. "Well done 452."
"What about someone who shafts you?" B.J. said.
Anna bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Everyone started.
"It was a-" B.J. began, frowning at her but she interrupted.
"How about a Judas- someone who intentionally turns their back on you?" Anna said. "Someone who used to be loyal?"
"It wasn't without reason if that someone had deliberately made a fool out of you." B.J. hissed back. "You know deception, hoodwink, bamboozle, pulling the wool over someone's eyes?"
"Would you guys please cut it out?" Sunny begged and Biggs shifted closer.
"What she said." Carrot added firmly. "Quit it already."
"It wasn't your eyes you were worried about," Anna spat ignoring her friends.
"Uh I think we need a new topic," Max said hurriedly seeing that Sunny's face was going red.
"Oh don't you start!" Anna argued.
"Excuse me?" Max raised an eyebrow at her tone.
"Change of topic," agreed Mr. Cameron quickly. "Ideas?"
"How about avoidance?" Piped up Alec amiably and Biggs groaned.
"Or obliviousness?" Max volunteered coolly.
"Pig headedness?"
"Incapability?"
"Incompatibility?" Cece was hushed by Emma who leaned over and slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry, carry on." She waved.
"I have a headache!" Moaned Chance.
"Yeah, he's sitting next to you," sniped Anna.
"Go get bent!" B.J. shot back.
"STOP IT!" Sunny suddenly yelled and stood abruptly, her chair falling over backwards as she stomped her foot. "Stop it, stop it, stop it! God, you are all so damn stupid and childish. We get that you have issues, serious issues but we are supposed to be soldiers so suck it up and grow the hell up already!" And with that she burst into tears and ran out of the room leaving everyone staring after her in amazement.
"Excuse me." Biggs nodded to the teacher and chased after her fleeing form.
No one said a word for a minute and then Mr. Cameron cleared his throat.
"Uh okay, well class dismissed. And I suggest you all fix your issues, as 521 called them, before Director Renfro finds out there is tension in the ranks."
"Tension?" Pix said as they exited the classroom. "We're wound tighter than Renfro's ass."
"Things are pretty fubar right now." Chance agreed.
"Come see me tonight?" Pix asked quietly while Biggs wasn't around.
"I'll be there." She vowed and watched him leave while B.J. stalked down the hall and Anna seethed in a corner. Max walked out with Dek and Alec stared balefully after them.
Fubar indeed.
------------------
Keeping calm under pressure was one thing that Manticore had tried to instill in its soldiers so that they were prepared for any circumstance and situation in both mind and body. However, in their attempt to breed the perfect soldier in body and mind, by transforming them into a well oiled machine capable of almost anything, they had neglected to recognise that their machine was part human. And it was the human aspect of their creation that they hadn't given any training on, they had disregarded the emotions of their creation and as such Carrot was ready to climb the walls with his bare hands.
Or teeth.
All night long he had paced the small room, his fingernails bitten down to the quick and his hair thoroughly dishevelled from his hands constantly running through the curly locks.
He walked backwards and forwards, twelve paces, turn, twelve paces, counting them to take his mind off his pure anxiety.
It was doing an admirable job in making sure that he didn't do a "Zan" and try to redecorate with his fists, although his head was beginning to ache as his gritted teeth locked his jaw in position.
Tara was fine. There was no way that she would even touch that pathetic excuse for a human being and she would be back here before they knew it. She would be back soon.
Soon.
Carrot growled at the bed for getting in his way as he paced, and paced and paced; like a lion in a cage, just waiting.
From outside the room a tech walked by frowning at the animalistic growls from within and made a mental note to talk to Renfro about the transgenics having pets.
-----
Biggs had been searching all over the base for the elusive blonde. After racing out of Common Verbal she had gone to ground, ashamed of her scene and the perceived weakness of her tears. Or possibly just horribly embarrassed.
He searched the computer rooms, the Med Bay, the Rec room, the yards and conservatory, the library, DNA lab, the observatory, empty classroom and he had even ventured into the women's bathrooms- an experience he never wanted to repeat. But she was no where to be found. In the end Biggs walked out into the training yards where the little X's were having lessons in basic drills with Alec, high-pitched "hyah's!" sounding loud in the stillness.
He had watched for a few minutes as Alec ran through some formations but without Max the lesson was lacking in the enthusiasm usually garnered by the young soldiers. It wasn't that Alec wasn't capable; he was more than competent to teach them, being one of the best Manticore had ever trained; but Alec without Max was like bread without butter- missing something.
He turned and walked away.
He wandered beyond the concrete and paved areas for training and ventured over to the wooded area that they used for seek and destroy and escape and evade, as well as various other training.
With his highly sensitive hearing he could hear sniffling in the woods and followed the sound to a small clearing about three hundred yards into the forest.
Sunny was sitting on the ground with her back against a tree leaning her head back against the bark, her hands frantically pushing away the streams of tears that ran down her face. Her blonde hair hung in a curtain down her back and over her shoulders glinting in the midday sun that filtered through the cracks in the canopy of the trees. With her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms tucked close she looked like a very miserable woodland sprite.
"Hey." He said quietly and Sunny's head snapped up in surprise.
"Hey," she swiped at her cheeks.
Biggs crouched by her feet. "You okay?"
"No." She laughed damply. "I feel stupid."
"Not stupid," he smiled gently at her.
"I can't believe I blew up like that."
"Well they had it coming; everyone has been acting a little off."
"A little?" She raised her eyebrows, "It's crazy, Max and Alec aren't talking to each other, B.J. and Anna seem ready to rip each others head off, poor Carrot is about to go crazy and even Pix and Chance are on the outs. You can't talk to Pix without trying to rearrange his insides, Dek and Drew are drifting apart and Anna and Max are one step shy of shooting each other while Feen plots and I… I'm... so damn tired of always being sunny." Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "I don't even have anyone to-"
"To what?"
Sunny looked down at her knees and fell silent.
"Sun?" Biggs reached under her chin and raised it so that she met his eyes. "C'mon Sunny, tell me."
"No one will… I don't have…" she sighed. "Pix has Chance, Feen has Techie. Skye has Flex, and, if they'd just admit it, Max has Alec- I just, feel so alone right now."
Biggs' heart went out to her; she sounded so lost and lonely. "You're not alone."
"I feel like it." She muttered.
Biggs bit his lip and considered his options; he hated to see Sunny like this. He had come to rely on her smiling face and laughing eyes to get him through the day. "When someone feels bad, Max tells a story- I can't do that. Pix makes people laugh- I cant really do that. Skye 'sarcasms' them out of it and Alec just waits and listens. I don't have the patience or talent to do that."
"Don't sell yourself short, you make me laugh." Even when she was hurting she managed to try to make everyone feel better. Biggs marvelled and leaned towards her.
"What I can do is act."
"Act?" Sunny blinked.
"I'm impulsive and act before I think," he grinned and tackled her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her underneath him.
"Oof!" His large form hit hers and knocked the breath out of her as she landed on her back. "Biggs, what are you-?"
"Not thinking." He interrupted and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers insistently.
Sunny gasped, her eyes flying wide open in surprise as his mouth rubbed against hers seeking entrance.
Hesitantly she let him in and her eyes drifted closed. His hands framed her face, his elbows managing to keep him from flattening her with his weight but the low angle making sure that his chest rubbed across hers in a very pleasurable way. He ran his fingers softly through her baby fine hair and over her barcode as his lips caressed hers. They were soft and tasted sweet, trembling beneath his.
Tentatively she let her tongue meet his as a gentle sigh escaped her lips.
Biggs took his time, leisurely tasting her as if there was nothing else that he ever had to do; nothing else that he wanted to do but lay here in the grass and caress the back of her neck.
He slipped his mouth from hers and trailed fluttering baby kisses down her jaw line and to her collar bone where he proceeded to gently suck and bite at that sweet little juncture at the base of her throat, her pulse pounding just under his tongue.
Sunny moaned, tilting her head back to allow him better access and breathed deeply of the spicy masculine scent that was pure Biggs. Somehow her hands ended up threaded in his hair and she tugged insistently for him to come back to her mouth.
Biggs raised his head to see Sunny pouting impishly as her long fingers tangled in his dark hair.
A low deep chuckle came from his chest as he watched her blush.
"Mr. Biggs I do not want to know where you learned how to do that." She stated and sat up.
He winked. "A gentleman never kisses and tells."
Sunny smiled sweetly, her eyes narrowed. "Why did you kiss me?"
"You looked like you needed it," Biggs was nonplussed at the look of disappointment that crossed her face and, in an unusual flash of insight, added; "plus I've been wanting an excuse to kiss you for ages."
Sunny bit her lip. "Really?"
Biggs nodded relieved at her grin. He reached up to tangle one long blonde strand around his finger. "You know, I have many skills."
Sunny suddenly stiffened. "Is that what you said to Emma?"
"What?"
Biggs was taken aback at the randomness of that comment.
"I know that you had sex with her when she first came to Manticore, you think of yourself as a ladies man Biggs and I don't want to be just another one in a string." She stood up.
"Thanks for getting my mind off what was bothering me and thanks for being a friend." She emphasised and walked back towards the compound.
Biggs stared after her, wondering what had gone wrong.
Ok so he had kissed her, he had enjoyed it too. She seemed to have been enjoying it too, so what went wrong?
Maybe it was the fact that it was Emma he had slept with. Did it hit too close to home?
What was wrong with the fact that he had other…um… partners before? Surely she had kissed other guys and that didn't make him mad? Didn't she kiss Harley, that tall, dark and dull X5 in unit 3? He was such an asshole, she could do better. Also there was a rumour going around that Sunny had a thing for Pete, the X5 with a severely bad attitude. Actually now he came to think of it, he had never liked Pete. Biggs shook the thought of Sunny kissing another guy away and made his way back to base.
-----
"It's all going slightly pear-shaped." Thought Steve as he wrestled Flex to the floor in gym class that evening.
Max and Anna both sported large bruises and contusions on their faces and were avoiding each other like Renfro and Lydecker. Biggs was looking confused and it was affecting his fight with Techie who kept dropping him on his head. Drew kept shooting Dek odd glances, which were fuelling Mets' dark glares. Alec wasn't even trying to pin Zan, just content to knock him about while they were deep in conversation and Cece was going to give herself a concussion if she didn't stop watching Alec and start trying to duck Sunny's well aimed kicks.
Take two fighting C.O.s, add a pinch of angst, teen hormones, animal instincts, a distinct lack of social skills and boil it up with jealousy, strife and contention and there you had it.
All in all, it was a recipe for disaster.
It looked like something was going to have to give. Something was going to have to break.
CRACK.
And that something looked like Carrot.
Carrot had been practising his new mantra to try and get him through gym class without resorting to attacking his current fighting partner- B.J. and ripping off his head.
His new mantra was: Breathe in, Tara'll be fine. Breathe out, Renfro's a bitch. Breathe in, Tara'll be fine. Breathe out, Renfro's a bitch.
So far it was working and aside from his slightly off combat skills he was doing okay.
Totally in control. Completely 100% in control.
"Hey watch it!" The man ducked, his eyes wide.
"Sorry B.J."
Carrot tried to reign in his temper as B.J. went to get a glass of water.
Okay, so maybe 92% in control.
"What's wrong soldier, losing focus?"
83%.
"No, Sir!"
The sneering face of the least popular Guard in the whole of Seattle came into view.
Max called him Filtch after some janitor in a kid's book she had once read, he was slimy and disgusting and liked to do nothing better than harass the soldiers, especially if the Trainer wasn't around. It was stupid, especially since any of those soldiers could snap his neck with their pinkie, but the Guards all laboured under the delusion that the soldiers were more so fear of the possibility of being sent to Psy-Ops that they would ignore even the worst of baiting. Filtch was the worst of all; he constantly tested the patience of even the placid Tara, who had eventually asked Pix to hex him- much to his delight. But it seemed he hadn't learned his lesson.
Trainer Banns had gone to correct the form of an X8 who was swinging wildly from the ropes which was why Filtch had the nerve to come over.
"I've seen you sneaking around the facility with that doctorate bitch. She's on a mission isn't she?"
65%.
"Is that why you look like a dog missing its Masters leg? Not getting any now she's away?"
51%.
"Poor 921, but you needn't worry. 677 is such a good little soldier, never defies orders."
23%.
"She'll do her duty, seduce her little target and be back, flat on her back for you in no time."
9%.
The guard scratched his head and leered. "Maybe I should ask Renfro for reassignment into the medical program and get her to play nurse to me."
5, 4, 3, 2, pay dirt.
"You won't be able to do that." Carrot said conversationally, "after all you need all four limbs to make it to the med bay by yourself."
The guard gaped and then chuckled, "Oh you won't touch me, you'd get decommissioned. And your little bitch will pine; maybe she'll need a shoulder to cry on?"
"You just try me, you cheap sack of army guts. Maybe you think you can hide behind Renfro's skirt because you don't have the balls and brass to stand up yourself and fight me. Nah, like all revolting middle aged has-beens, you're too afraid to mess up what's left of your, what you laughingly call, looks. Or maybe that's it, you want me to mess you up even more so you have an excuse for why you need hypnotism to get laid. A paper bag over your head won't hide your disgusting personality." Carrot spat advancing on the Guard whose face flushed as the insults rang out. "And none of us transgenics would ever touch you; we were given brains after all. Something you seemed to have missed out on."
"Why you," the Guard proved Carrot's point as he swung for the red head.
With feline reflexes, Carrot dodged the ill-timed blow and plunged his fist into the man's stomach.
With a gasp of pain, the guard buckled at the knees and grabbed his stomach.
"Shit, 921, no!" B.J. said from a few yards away.
Momentarily distracted by B.J., Carrot wasn't prepared for the guard to come back, swinging with his nightstick and taser.
A jolt of electricity flowed through Carrot's body, his arms flailing as the shock hit him.
"NO!"
He heard the scream but didn't know who it was that screamed.
He swept his feet out to kick at the Guard but his strength had been taxed by the shock and all he could manage was a lame attempt.
Filtch grinned down evilly and struck him again with the blue bolt.
Carrot felt the pain course through his body as he spasmed, his head slamming into the floor with the force of the bolt.
"Stop!" He saw B.J. rush at the Guard and knock him away as Max raced over.
"921, are you okay?" She asked as she checked him over.
"452, is he okay?" Alec's voice came.
"Carrot?" She whispered.
"N-no," he croaked, hot tears springing to his eyes.
"Help me get him to Med Bay," she began as she started to lift him.
"No!" He yelled and lurched up heading for the guard who was being held back by B.J. "I'll kill him!"
"Stop it!" Max said trying to hold onto him, "Stop it."
He felt Alec drop to his knees and help Max hold him down.
"Quit it soldier, you'll get taken away."
"Don't care," he bit out, "kill him!"
Max pushed his shoulders back and shook them so that he was looking in her eyes.
"Stop." She ordered.
"Why?" His voice cracked, "You don't care. None of you care!"
A tear sprung free and rolled down his cheek.
"Of course we care." Alec said horrified.
Carrot shook his head tightly and tried to get up again but Max wasn't letting go.
She stroked his hair and it was the kind gesture that did it.
His shoulders shook as hot tears filled his baby blues.
"God, why don't you care? She's gone, she's out there all alone doing god only knows what with that man and you're all too filled with your own crap to even notice that I need you," he turned angry, hurt-filled eyes to Max and Alec. "I need you, my friends and my C.O.s and you aren't there for me! Stop fighting, stop arguing, please. Just…just be there."
Max's face was enough answer for him as she grabbed him and held him tight, his fingers grabbing tightly at the back of her shirt.
"I'm sorry, so, so sorry," she mumbled and looked at Alec over his head. "We need to call a Special Ops meeting. Now."
Alec nodded, "I'll spread the word. You get Carrot to Med Bay."
Carrot pulled away, looking hopeful as Max smiled gently at him. "Come on, soldier. I'm here."
"Promise?"
Max nodded and pulled him to his feet.
Filtch rolled his eyes and a malicious grin rolled over his face as he regarded the red haired transgenic being taken away by that raven-haired bitch. He felt his aching ribs and with a spell of fury decided then and there that Renfro was hearing about this.
He made a move toward the door but was stopped by a solid wall of chest.
"I don't think so, pal," B.J. said with a glare. "You are going nowhere. We have to talk."
"Move it, filth," Filtch spat and B.J. shook his head.
"No, you're staying here."
"You can't make me," Filtch swung his taser.
"Can to." B.J. said with a short smile.
"You and what army?"
"That would be us."
Filtch turned to see that other raven-haired bitch; the one that the Trainers knew to keep an eye on, surrounded by more of the transgenics.
Drew grinned evilly, flanked by Flex, Dek, Steve and Techie.
Swallowing, Filtch glanced around to see that the altercation with 921 hadn't even been noticed by Trainer Banns, who was otherwise detained trying to coax a reluctant X8 down from the ceiling.
"Now you wouldn't be thinking of turning in our friend to Director Renfro now would you?" She purred and Filtch shook in fear.
Shit, he'd heard of those freaking abhorrent-to-nature telepaths, dragging out your thoughts and dehumanising you. Bert, his partner on the rounds, had worked on the Psy- Ops wards for a while and he had met a few. He had often said that they gave him the willies, glaring at him knowingly and mocking whenever he felt a flash of fear. Sometimes they called his name or even said what he was thinking out loud.
Now it appeared that the dreaded psycho bitch was one.
"N-n-no," he stammered. "The t-t-thought d-did cross my m-mind b-but I w-wouldn't, h-honest!"
"Good," Drew said firmly, "because if Renfro comes to us, we'll know you spilled and we…I will make you pay," she backed him up until he was against the wall. "Understand?"
Filtch nodded frantically and she grinned as she tapped his cheek. "Good boy."
And with that they all turned and walked away leaving Filtch reconsidering his career choice.
--
The Rec room was silent as Special Ops and Unit 8 sat quietly, no one saying a word.
Unlike the last time they had been brought here to spread comfort, when they had been all over each other, taking and giving warmth, laughing, joking, full of rosy smiling faces, there was dead stoic silence by the transgenics scattered around the room.
Feen sat on Techie's knees with her head on his shoulder, whilst Drew stood against the far wall. Sunny was curled on the sofa with her back against Emma's who was leaning on Mets.
Aiden stood with B.J. and Pix against the door and Chance was tucked under Biggs' arm. Flex and Skye were sat side by side on the pool table which Zan and Cece were leaning on and Alec and Steve sat on the floor by their feet, their heads bowed.
Anna hugged herself in one corner and watched as Dek sat by Max with one arm over her shoulder.
Carrot was biting his nails in the middle of the floor, feeling their eyes on him. Even despite the uncertainty that ran through the room, there was that sense of family still there and he was relaxing at their presence.
He was ashamed at having fallen to pieces in front of his family, but couldn't quite regret it, what he said was all true.
He looked up as Max unfolded herself from the sofa and stood up. Everyone watched with bated breath as she stood over Carrot and held out her hand.
Carrot took it and was pulled to his feet.
Max swallowed. "I'm sorry Carrot. I have been a bad friend and I promise that I will do everything in my power to help you from now on."
"Thank you." He whispered, relieved as she pulled him into a quick hug.
"Skye?"
Skye jumped at being addressed by Max.
"Yeah?"
Max turned to her looking nervous. "I'm sorry for pulling rank on you, I was out of order."
Skye stood and shook her head. "No, I was. I apologise Max."
"My turn," Anna said quickly, "God, Max I'm so damn sorry! I shouldn't have hit you or baited you, I was out of line and I'm sorry," she breathed deeply. "I'm not saying you didn't deserve it, mind."
Everyone burst out laughing and the tension disappeared from the room as Max held out her arm to Anna.
"C'mere you evil witch," Max forced a chuckle and hugged the girl. "You don't deserve it, you're a pain in the ass and a hot tempered little madam…but thank you."
"I feel sick!" Pix said with mock disgust as Anna nodded at Max's diagnosis, "We are soldiers you know."
"Does that mean you don't want a hug?" Max said with a half grin and Pix jumped to his feet.
"Hell no! I want in already!"
"Me too!" Dek exclaimed.
"Group hug!" Flex wrapped his arms around Carrot's back and squeezed tight.
"Need…air!" Choked Carrot through his laughter.
Steve watched as one by one they all got to their feet and joined in the madness and even Drew and Cece clasped hands as the group gave and received comfort in their warmth. It was like coming home, that sense of family and pack and as they held each other it was as if all of the bad feelings just didn't matter. There were a few holes where some were missing but, on the whole, it was like having a shield in place between them and the world and it felt good.
Steve had Alec on his right hand and they shared a grin and a roll of their eyes at this mushiness.
The Alec's eyes drifted up and met Max's.
In that second, Steve could see the pain and begging in Alec's eyes and the confusion and bitter hurt held deep in Max's. Steve frowned at the two of them not really understanding what was going on between them.
Then Max's face dropped and she lay her head on Carrot's shoulder, her face turned away from Alec's but from where Steve was he could see the tears welling up in her eyes before she closed them, an action mirrored by Alec.
Whatever it was that was going on it was hurting them both and they were too damn stubborn to do anything about it.
Steve felt pity for his C.O.s for the first time and he reached up to grab both Max and Alec's hands in his own and squeezed trying to transmit his support for both and was rewarded by the tiny squeeze that they returned.
A line from a play that he'd read seemed to sum things quite neatly;
Lord, what fools these mortals be.
--
Pix was stretched out on his bunk staring at the ceiling and wondering if it would help to count genetically modified sheep.
He sighed heavily and rested his hand under his head; he was so down he couldn't even be bothered to check out his little black book to see what could be done to alleviate the boredom- a sure sign that things were bad. All he really wanted was to go to sleep and forget about his fight with Chance, forget about Biggs trying to rearrange his insides, forget about Max and Anna's fight, Carrot's breakdown and the haunted look in Alec's eyes.
It had been rough, even by his standards and he was hoping against hope that tomorrow would be better. Face it; it couldn't really be much worse!
Of course, everyone knows that as soon as you say that, things are doomed to badness and just as Pix was wincing at his own temptation of fate, there was a knock on his cell door.
"Come in." He sat up, wondering if it was a spot inspection.
He was surprised and delighted to see Chance edge in and close the door, leaning heavily against it.
"Hey, how's my favourite girl?"
Chance just bit her lip and smiled shyly at him, ducking her head and staring at him through long lowered lashes.
"Hmm, mmm," she hummed and Pix frowned.
"Uh, Chance?"
He looked at her in concern as she didn't answer. She looked different but he could quite put his finger on what it was that was so different.
"You know, what you said about me being a follower hurt my feelings," she pouted, her voice a low purr.
"S-sorry."
For some reason his hands were trembling and he couldn't tear his eyes away from that little pout. He wanted to reach up and nibble at it.
In an effort to gain some control he swallowed and looked away. She was wearing a small tank top, like the one that the girls wore during gym, a low cut shirt just barely hinting at the soft swell of her breasts covered in a sheen of sweat.
His glance lifted to see her dark hair curling in damp ringlets over her shoulders and curling by her neck as if she had just got out of the shower or been working out. One drop of water made its way down one dark ringlet, twisting around the tendril and hung tantalisingly on the end of the strand before dripping between her honey-dewed skin to trek over her slender shoulder and down the valley of her breasts.
Pix swallowed again, his eyes drawn back to the rapid rise and fall of her chest.
"Uh, Chance?"
Chance raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" she purred.
"Wh-what," he moistened his lips, "what are you doing here?"
"Don't you want me… here?"
Pix took a deep breath and immediately regretted it as his sense inflamed with the scent of pheromones.
"Oh dammit, Chance you're in heat!"
"I know that silly." She giggled, the sound travelling down Pix's spine.
He groaned and clenched his hands in his bed sheets.
Chance was in heat. Her body was screaming out to mate with someone, anyone and it didn't much matter who at this point. The fact that she had made her way to his cell was pure luck. Her heat was telling her what to do, her hormones speaking for her.
To Pix her heat was just another person telling her what to do, who to do and he wasn't going to take advantage of her like that. For once in her life, he wanted her to make a choice by herself and he wouldn't touch her otherwise. No matter how much he longed to, how much his own body was screaming at him to take her, to make her his mate. To mark her and keep her forever.
Mine.
His hands reached out even as his brain screamed at him.
NO.
He snatched his hands back and sat on them, shifting back on the bed away from her tempting scent.
He wasn't going to do this to her. Not until she chose, he wouldn't do that to her.
"Get. To. Iso." He bit out, closing his eyes tightly.
"Don't wanna." She pushed herself away from the door and slowly, oh so slowly sashayed over to the bed. "Staying right here."
She leaned over him, even as he pushed himself back, pressing against the cold wall, using the icy stones to try to regain his senses.
"Chance, please, you don't want this right now, seriously get to Med Bay." He pleaded despite the waves of longing that sparkled in his chest as she licked her lips.
Chance leaned further over him, offering him a tantalising glimpse down her shirt.
"Please Pix, just look at me."
Against his wishes, his eyes fluttered open to see her dark eyes staring down at him.
Spellbound, lost in her dark soulful eyes, he unconsciously stroked her soft curtain of hair back from her face exposing the satiny skin. She leaned down and kissed him gently, experimentally. Pix groaned at the feel of her lips on his, her tongue tentatively stroking his mouth in sweet hesitant movements. She was a mixture of innocence and desire and his hands moved from their confines to grip at her shoulders, pulling her closer.
She grinned and opened her mouth letting him taste her, her hands grasping his hair, pulling his head back in a rough gesture at odds with the smooth pressure of her lips. His body reacted as the movement caused her to come closer, her hands running in circles over his chest.
Chance sunk to his knees straddling him and pressed ever closer, purring deeply in her chest.
Pix could feel the vibrations and he groaned, running his hands up and down her back. Her heat was overpowering in its intensity and the mind-blowing notion that she was here with him drove him crazy as he pressed their hips together.
She was so sweet and hot and sexy and…and… in heat! Get a grip soldier.
Fight this! She doesn't want you. It's her heat talking. If you take advantage of her in this state you'll be no better than Biggs. She needs to make a choice. She isn't in any state to do that just now, you need to push her away.
Just a little bit longer.
Now!
Pix grabbed at her arms and with Herculean strength pushed her back slightly, his heart sinking at her mewing in disappointment.
"Sorry baby, but we can't do this."
"Can too."
He wrenched his head away as she searched for his lips again.
"No."
"But Pix-"
"NO!" His hands snapped up and he pushed her away, she fell backwards off his lap and onto the floor.
He scrambled to his feet and was halfway across the room before it registered that he had moved.
"D-did I hurt you?" He asked gently.
"Uh huh," she rubbed her sore elbow, "but you can make it all better again."
His hands trembled as they came to push his hair off his forehead.
"Sweetheart, baby, please you have to stop and go to Med Bay."
"But I don't feel sick," she grinned deliciously as she stretched, her t-shirt riding above the flat expanse of honey skin. "I feel fine."
Pix felt a wave of desire hit him and he slammed his head back into the wall almost choking on the need to go to her.
"Please," he pleaded and she rolled to her knees and started to crawl towards him.
"You don't need to beg."
As she stood slowly in front of him he felt like a caged animal, trapped in a trap of its own making, not caring if it ever made its escape.
She trailed her hands up his legs and hips before they edged over his shoulder to link behind his head. Her left leg rose and her calf hooked around the back of his leg, placing their hips together, too close for Pix's frame of mind.
Chance licked his jaw and nibbled at the pulse point.
"Hmm, tasty."
"Oh hell, oh hell, oh hell." Pix muttered over and over, fighting for control as she played havoc on his sense.
"Heaven." She purred and Pix lost it.
He smashed his mouth down on hers pushing her back, lifting her legs over his hips and walked her back until she slammed into the door. Chance hissed in pleasure as their bodies made intimate contact and she savagely bit his lip.
The pain made his eyes fly open and he dropped her legs.
"No, no, no, no!" He gritted his teeth. "Get out!"
Chance, breathing hard, lost in a maelstrom of desire and hurt at his rejection panted heavily. "What?"
"Out!" He swung the door open and none-too gently pushed her through it, shutting it loudly behind her.
Chance stared in shock at the closed door. He was turning her away? He was rejecting her?
"Get. To. Med. Bay." He growled from his position, leaning heavily against the door, his forehead beaded with the sweat of his restraint.
All he wanted was to open it and take what she was so willingly offering but not like this. Not while she didn't know what she was doing. He couldn't take advantage of her like that. She was too damn important to him.
"But I-"
"GO!" He bellowed and with a sob, Chance turned and scurried down the corridor.
Pix turned to face his room, the bedcovers dishevelled with their actions, the scent of her permeating the room and all he could see was the devastated look on her face before he slammed the door.
Shit.
With a growl of pure frustration he threw himself on the bed and ignored the hot tears that streamed down his face.
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Chaosti- sees I remembered this time! thanks for the review via email and comments you know you rock and I appreciate the loan of the flamethrower and promise to keep it away from the cat…sort of. BTW I am putting your promise in the next chapter of Moving Ahead- 70 reviews in three days. We'll see!
Jynx- Ok you have a point!
Lynsey Moffit- Believe me I know this! Trying to fit them all in is a pain and a half!
Natasgi- What exams? My sister is getting through her exams with heavy doses of Draco and Ginny and Lollipops- each to their own I suppose! Good luck on those exams pet!
Silsecri- Hi! Zan surprise me too with his maturity, he is cool. And yes I hate Big Brother- refuse to watch the stupid thing. You're not slow- I am. B.J and Anna's story is coming soon. As for spoilers- Hmm, maybe I should!
Jade- K- very good for Max, she needed to blow off steam! Dek is adorable- I love him! How was this kiss?
Black Rose9- more very soon, glad you liked the chick fight!
Mrs Ackles- its not whining- I will tell you guys what happened really I will. But the sex? Hmm.
GivenAlias- Thanks, at least I know now that my fight scenes are getting better! Yeah whose idea was it to send Anna? There's a clever plan! Thanks for being understanding.
Geminangel- Skye has too much taste to like Big Brother! LOL. As for the rest…
Sassycanuck- Thank you, it shard to update sometimes so fast but I do my best. I never actually intended Max and Alec to be on the outs for so long but they are! I have stories to tell but they'll get back in the next chapter of Moving Ahead.
Restive nature- Max can be insightful if she tries! Poor Zan, indeed, maybe I should find him a girl. LOL, I make receiving guns sexy? I like that!
Northernmoon-Hey there! Thanks for reviewing and I am glad that you like this so much. I will gladly feed your addiction if I get reviews like this. Anna as the 'peace maker' really didn't work! And Carrot is feeling better now!
BlueJean452- if you liked Dek and Drew here wait until the next chapter- two words 'candle- light'! possibly one word hyphenated.
Raven- the silver lining will make an appearance- even I have my angst limits. Sort of. Biggs get himself a girl- you mean like Sunny big cheesy grin how was that? sorry about the Texas thing never been, hope to go though. It's next on my visiting list now I've done New York and Vegas (I live in England.)
Moonlite star- Glad you like the humour- I thought season 2 was distinctly lacking. Was Jim Cameron depressed?
Sigma1- it did. Sending Anna? Yeah great plan! Sweet yet disturbing, describes me to a tee. And yeah these chapters are getting longer but as long as you are impressed, its all good!
JADED73- Hey! Not in this story, no. Moving Ahead and Moving Alongside take place in season 1 and the runes aren't mentioned until season 2. so unless I add them in a sequel, its not happening here.
Sanna- I so wouldn't mind being in Drew's shoes just so I could have Dek all to myself! Yes we will find out what happened to BJ. Patience is required! Flattery might not get you everywhere but it sure gives you brownie points! Alec walking down the street? Oh the imagery!
Messymissy- Anna made bad choices and is reaping the full rewards. The gun was definitely Dek's idea! What does Zan have up his sleeve? His arms!
Yeah Drew is the only one that knows Max's gun problem, and Alec will find out. Soon. Feeling ill does suck but doing better now thanks.
Nat1- Max always kicks ass!
Talichernin- No, I said that in Moving Ahead. In the next chapter of Moving Ahead Alec gets thrown a bone. Have Fayth in me!
SGOU- I usually try to match my response with the length of the review but if I wrote an essay here I might just get lynched! I love that! Sorry you were so bored but hey I'm happy I could help make things interesting for ya! Wow I did all that in the one scene? I don't know who I'm more impressed at. Me for writing it or you for noticing it! I think…you! It makes it all worth it when people pick up on things like that! Pix- so so so not innocent in any way. The BJ and Anna thing is complicated. Trust me. Hehe Pix and Chance- did I mention things get complicated? Uh Mets is going for a lot, I'm willing to auction him. As I keep saying- whose bright idea was it to send Anna- and why are they in Special Ops? LOL, crying over OPSEC rules, bless ya! At least we know why she was crying before in Isolation. Thanks for the title, it gave me a road to work with and I hope that the actual scenes lived up to the hype!
Care189- thank you for the praise, it gets hard sometimes but when I see reviews it makes it all worth it!. Drew wakes up to see Dek- watch the next chapter! Skye and Flex have a unique chemistry! They are sweet but sassy. Night pet.
SGOU- More BJ, POV. Check. Have faith in Fayth.
Fangedangel- yeah she told Pix and Drew, she has people who understand but she really needs Alec. I'll give him back don't worry. More BJ and Anna to follow.
Ganko- I feel bad for being your supplier- it sounds like you have a problem! Zan rocks, I need more Zan!
Nora- ff.net does suck- sorry but it does! I like long reviews- sob! Anyway thanks for trying again! yeah but they are action packed chapters! Hey I made a D/D convert!
Lynn- Pix is very protective over his black book! Aw thank you, it's great that you like my Max that much! Me too. Everyone fights in that chapter- tension relief! Dek and Drew get sweeter- and steamier! Hehe hyper curious! And yes the spider had it coming. Exactly what does it need eight legs for? Greedy if you ask me. Feeling better thanks.
Istari- thank you sweets, glad you like.
Elfie- yeah for some reason the janitor seem to know more about what is going on. Hmm maybe they read the paperwork! I always saw Zan as older too, don't know why! I hate Big Brother- the hype, the papers- urgh rubbish. Bad boys can be so delicious! Especially bad boys in love! BJ and Anna- um. Pix and Biggs are fun to play with did that come out right? and actually had to do research for the gun thing. I'm not a firearm gal. yeah Chance was always babied but after that she just accepted it more than fight it. poor honey. Feeling better now thanks and scribbling away fro your pleasure- so enjoy!
Marielle-BJ and Anna? History, that's whats with them!
Lynn-50670- Hey there! Ooh what stories do you write?
Kat461- Chance needed a history and now she has one as angsty as everyone else. I really am evil aren't I? yeah Mets'll get over it hehe- I have a plan. Something will happen soon.
Poo- yes feeling better now thanks, and so will you once Max and Alec are together again.
MirellaM- Not a bad reviewer- just lax. Which is fine I can't remember the last I reviewed! Zan is adorable who wants him? I am feeling a bit better thanks, depression suck s but hey it means I can write adequate angst so -silver lining. I am hurrying to catch up again so MAH and MAL run together. I think the next chapter should get it!