Logan's Penthouse…
Max waited until the talking in the living room stopped before going back out. Logan had fallen asleep on the counter and Bling had left for home. Well, it was really late, or really early, depending on one's point of view. Still he looked kind of cute sitting on barstool, dead asleep with his head on the counter.
She couldn't really hear what Alicia was saying, but Max had a feeling Zack was getting all the dirty details. So Cole had clued Zack that Alicia needed some help. She really hoped Alicia had been on the level about Cole's trustworthiness. Now that she knew why Lydecker was so desperate to get his hands on the X-5's, she knew exactly how high the stakes were. Maybe she should leave Seattle. It'd keep Logan safe.
She went into the living room. Zack was standing by the balcony door talking on his cell phone. Alicia was nowhere to be seen.
"OK," Zack was saying. He listened for a minute. "You sure?" Another pause. "OK, good. Later." He hung up.
"She told you about Bryn?" Max asked softly. Zack didn't turn around, but he did nod. Alicia had told him everything about stage three. This was bad. Real bad.
"You going to pull that "we don't expose ourselves" crap, or you going to help me get her out of there?"
"Op sec says we have to get her out of there," he replied. "X-7 would be able to track us down in a heartbeat." He sounded just as hard and cold as he had before the helicopter crash. It wasn't a matter of saving Bryn; it was protecting the other X-5.
Who cared why he was going to do it, he was going to do it. That was the important thing. Alicia said she knew how to get them onto the base and back off. They just needed to grab Bryn and make a run for it. Not a problem. No big dealio. As long as there weren't any sixers around. Yeah, like there'd be any of those guarding Lydecker's only chance to make stage three real. They were in trouble.
"Where she go?" Max asked.
"Bathroom." Well, it looked like he was just as talkative as before. She would have thought finding out he was going to be a father would mellow Zack a little. No wonder Alicia hadn't wanted to see him. Max could see Alicia spilling her guts, and getting a grunt in return.
Alicia came out of the bathroom. She looked mostly exhausted. Max guessed recalling the worst month of your life could do that to a person.
"I know you want to get started immediately," Alicia said, addressing them both. "But it would be best if you waited until Logan gets the base plans. I'll help you in any way I can. If you go in blind, you will get caught."
"We have to wait until tomorrow anyways," Zack said. "Transport's been arranged, but it can't get here until in the morning."
Max looked upset. She didn't like to wait for anything. She was going to protest that Logan could get the plans tonight, and they could be ready to go in a matter of a couple of hours. But, Alicia looked like she couldn't form a coherent sentence, much less come up with an attack plan. Logan was already dead asleep, and Zack…Zack looked plain messed up. She supposed discovering you were going to have a kid played havoc with the mental equilibrium.
"I'm going to go back to bed," Alicia said. She looked a little unsteady on her feet. Zack could see the question in her eyes, and he nodded almost imperceptibly. Max caught it too. Heck, they were having a baby together, there wasn't any reason to protest them sleeping together.
She went into the guest room. "I'm going to get Logan to bed," Max said to Zack's back. He was already staring out the window again. Alicia was really attracted to this? She had thought Logan had problems with communication, but Zack was the master. Oh well, to each his own.
She went into the kitchen again, and Zack followed Alicia. She was about to get into the bed when he walked in. They stared at each other for a long moment, and then walked into each other's arms. Alicia snuggled against Zack's chest, loving the way he felt so familiar even after being separated.
"I missed you so much," she said softly.
"I missed you too," he replied in the same tone. He tilted her chin up so he could kiss her. "There hasn't been a day that I didn't think about you."
She didn't want to start crying again. She thought she might. She kissed the side of his neck, delighted when she felt him shiver. That's when she noticed the nylon cord. She traced it with her finger, and pulled the yin-yang medallion out from under his shirt. She looked back up at him with a beautiful smile.
He returned it, and she could feel herself melting. Did he have any idea what his smile could do to her? "I knew what you meant when you left it," he said. "I've kept your promise with me ever since."
"I love you Zack," she managed to choke out. He hugged her as close as he could.
"I love you Alicia."
They lay down together. For the last few months she'd barely slept at all, even for her. She didn't want to let her guard down for a second. Now, with his arms around her, she knew nothing could get to her. He'd go to the ends of the Earth to protect her, and their son.
Zack wasn't expecting her to push him away slightly and roll onto her back. He'd been cuddled tightly against her spooning and was drifting, when she moved quickly. He was certainly not expecting her to grab his hand and slide it under the shirt she was wearing. She rested his hand on her stomach, and before he could ask if she'd lost her mind, he felt the slight movements.
Even in the dark, she saw his face light up as he realized what the fluttering under his hand was. She had to grin at the sheer delight. He looked like a little kid or something.
"He sleeps about as much as you do," she said, amused. "Plays havoc when his poor mother requires more sleep."
"Alicia…" he said, unable to go any further. He had never even imagined himself as a father. He had too much going on to ever seriously contemplate a family. A real family. One where kids were raised by people who love each other, and want their kids to be regular people. He knew he visited Jhondie so often out of a slight jealousy that she had the family he'd often wished for in his weaker moments.
She put her finger against his lips. The look on his face said enough. He kissed her finger, then her lips, and then leaned over to kiss the swell of her belly. They snuggled back against each other, but this time his hand stayed pressed against his son.