Scotch Flavored Dreams
By LuLina
PG – 13 (for now, probably NC –17 in later chapters)
A/N This is AU, there is still growing paranoia about the transgenic, but FN never happened. Also, Max and Logan have broken up, but no real Logan bashing.
I don't own them, so don't sue me.
Sorry for the hold up on this chapter. For some reason every once and awhile I need to drag myself to at least one of my two jobs. Anyways, I love all y'all who reviewed, you know how to make a girl fell special.
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You are more beautiful when you awake, then most are in a lifetime – Verve Pipe
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To this day he Alec could still remember how amazing it was to wake up and find Max in his arms. Taking another sip of his scotch, he thought back to how surprised he was that she was still there, he had expected her to disappear sometime during the night. She didn't stay over again for almost a week. It was the night that he actually beat her at pool.
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He sat across the table from her at Crash, trying not to laugh at the way her head kept on dipping and nodding as she tried not to fall asleep. When she finally seemed to have reached her breaking point, Alec reached forward and moved her drink away from her, leaving Max to hit her head on the table instead of the not so durable beer glass.
"Shit," she grumbled to her self absently as she rubbed her forehead. Alec really tried not to smirk when she finally caught his gaze, but deep down he knew it wasn't going to happen.
"So Max, now that your up and awake again what do you want to do? We could have a nice game of pool? Or maybe an in depth discussion on the heating political unrest of Seattle? You know, either way, no big dealio," he ended with her usual catchphrase, throwing her off almost as much as hitting her head had.
"Let me think real hard about that Alec… boring politics… or kicking your ass at pool… hmm, such a hard decision." He smiled as she rolled her eyes and headed over to a table, grabbing a cue on the way. He followed a moment later, grabbing a cue for himself, watching her as she racked the balls.
The determination in her eyes over the smallest tasks always put him in awe and he was sure that tonight was going to be no different. She'd rather see Rome fall, than have me beat her at pool. But he had no plans on losing tonight, she had ignored both his words and Cindy's pleas for her to go see a doctor. It had been over a week since she had slept, and it was making her careless. If he couldn't talk some sense into her, well… maybe actions are stronger than words. He knew that on a normal night, whoever broke first would win, but she was so tired she would make mistakes and he was counting on it.
She bragged mercilessly throughout the first game as she knocked ball after ball back off the table. Alec shook his head slightly, hoping his plan would hold up, but not worrying quite yet. The second game also went fast as he broke and cleared the table quickly. He noticed that Max had gotten another beer during all this, and that her head was almost unperceivable starting to nod again. When it took her a second to realize that it was her game, his hope returned, knowing that she wasn't going to be able to win.
"Ok, so we've each won one game, making this in a sense the tie breaker," he took a deep breath before continuing on with his plan, "You win I do something you want."
"And if you win?" Max questioned warily.
"You go see a doctor tomorrow."
"Your kidding right? Look around us Alec. Where am I going to find a doctor who's not going to freak out on me."
"Oh don't give me that shit Max. I know you've been to a doctor before, I'm sure you can go back." Concern creased his face again as his eyes pleaded with her to go along. "Please Max, promise me that if you don't sleep tonight you'll go see a doctor."
"Fine, fine. If you win I'll promise to go see a doctor. But if I win you have to promise to lay off for a while. Between you and Cindy my head feels like it's going to explode."
Nodding in agreement, Alec turned back to the table as Max racked the balls. Two went in when she broke, quickly followed by three more. As she lined up her third shot Alec saw her eyes slip out of focus for a second and knew that the game was over. Sure enough the only ball she hit that was even close to going in, the striped yellow, hit just to the left of the side pocket.
Swooping in, Alec soon finished the game while Max stood at the side of the table, shock written across her face.
"But I never lose," she whispered to herself, so quietly that Alec almost didn't hear her. Watching her as she tried to grasp what was happening he almost felt bad, but it was all for her own good. He noticed the deep shaky breath she took before turning back to him. "Alec I, I'll see you tomorrow, 'k?"
Alec nodded in agreement, watching her leave, before heading out the door. It had been so nice that afternoon that he had walked to Crash, and act that he regretted as icy rain now poured down on him. When he got back to his apartment rivers of water poured down his body and his clothes clung to him like a second skin.
After he changed he sat back on the couch with his drink of choice, scotch, hoping it would take the chill off. He was just starting to nod off, when he heard pacing footsteps outside of the door. Waiting for her to come in, he was sure that she was going to refuse to see the doctor, and he tried to think of another way to convince him. Like Max would stick to the deal. And White decided to take up charity for the transgenic cause too I guess. When the door finally opened, he turned and observed a wet, shivering version of Max.
"Shit Max, you look like a drowned rat." Taking a look at herself Max smirked at her waterlogged appearance.
"Really? I was thinking more along the lines of drowned cat." Laughing along with her, Alec gently steered her out of the doorway and towards his bedroom.
"Let me just grab some dry clothes and there should be a blue towel in the cupboard in the bathroom." Taking the t –shirt and plaid boxers from him she quickly disappeared into the bathroom. When she reemerged a few minutes, Alec had to hold his breath to keep from gasping. He never thought that his clothes could look more sexy. No, no, no. Max is here for a friend, nothing more, so don't get you hopes up. Following her out of the room, he went to the kitchen and poured her a drink, before joining her on the couch. "Here, this should warm you up a little." He let her finish the scotch before addressing the reason he was sure she was here.
"Ok Max, I know you don't want to go to the doctor and all, but you need to. Even if it means I have to drag you there myself."
"You said I only had to go if I didn't sleep. That's why I'm here." He was sure the confusion must have been plastered across his face, he was completely lost. "That night I stayed here was the most I'd slept since I got out of Manticore." Looking down she suddenly seemed so shy. "If you want me to go, I understand," she finished in a whisper.
Not answering, he gently pulled her into his arms, more confident in this action, that he was the last time. He shifted them on the couch so they were laying down and pulled the blanket down from the back to cover them.
"The last thing I want is for you to leave," he whispered in her ear, before they both fell asleep.
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That night had been months ago, and she had stayed over every night since. Sometimes they hung out at Crash before heading back to her place. Sometimes she just showed up. It had become their tradition to start with a glass of scotch and end with them both on the couch.
Finishing his drink, he poured himself a second and waited for her to open the door.
