Chapter 24: Anger Issues
They stood in line outside the club. It was cold enough that they could see their breath. Alec pulled Lexa close to him and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Cold?"
She twisted up to look at him. "Not anymore." She gave him a quick kiss. Lexa could hear the music pulsing inside and she moved her hips in time with it. Alec groaned inside his head. She didn't realized it but every time she moved against him like that she drove him crazy with need. He was trying to take it slow but if she kept driving him to distraction like that he wouldn't be able to stop himself. He let his arms drop to her waist. He stilled her movement. She looked at him once more and a wicked grin crossed her face, she licked her lips suggestively. He had to tear his gaze from her face. He turned to Vin.
"You have to work tomorrow?" he asked.
"Uh-huh. Bright and early. Eight." Vin answered.
"What time do you need to get to sleep?" Max asked.
"I don't need much sleep. Two hours maybe."
"We'll be home before six easy. Probably more like three. Don't want to get caught during curfew." Max told him.
He shrugged. "I can go a day without sleep."
Alec and Lexa shared a smile.
The man at the door took their money and as he was stamping Lexa's hand he caressed the back of it. She snatched her hand away as if it was burned. Her heart raced.
Alec had seen the exchange and stepped forward and gave the man a look that would have turned anyone's blood into ice. He held his hand out to be stamped then grabbed Lexa's hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. His eyes were locked on hers. She smiled and leaned her forehead to his and said "Sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry about."
They walked into the club and Lexa took in the scene. It was dark and smoky. Lights flashed and music blared. The dance floor was packed. Alec spotted an empty table and led the group to it. It was a chair short so Alec pulled Lexa into his lap. He rested his chin on her shoulder and hugged her tight. His eyes grew thoughtful. He started to think about how she would react when she realized that her heat was late. He worried she might do something bad.
The song changed and Vin groaned. It had a salsa beat to it. "Please no. Lexa, please."
She jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Sorry but you know you have to."
"Do not." He was protesting still as she led him to the floor which had cleared out considerably.
They walked to the edge and Lexa slid one arm around Vin's shoulders and held his other hand. Original Cindy returned from the bar where she had got a margarita. "What are they up to?"
"Dancing." Max answered. The rest of the group watched intently as the pair danced. They spun in time to the music. The dance looked complicated and as it came to an end Vin spun Lexa then dipped her. They walked back to the table to see looks of amazement on the group's face.
"Wow, suga. That's all Original Cindy can say."
"Yeah, that was amazing." Max said.
"Lexa worked as a dance instructor for a while. I was her guinea pig." Vin explained.
"She did a good job teaching you boo." Original Cindy said.
Lexa had been standing by Alec and he pulled her back into his lap. "I got cold." he said by way of an explanation.
She smiled.
~!~!~!
Around three thirty a.m.
Lexa opened the door and walked into the apartment with Alec and Vin following close behind.
"Ugh. So tired." She groaned moving to the fridge. She opened it a grabbed a coke. She took a deep drink. "Where did the calendar go?"
Vin and Alec shared a nervous glance. "Uh, I spilled something on it and had to throw it away." Vin answered.
"Oh."
She sat down on the couch with them. "Wanna crash here tonight?" she asked Alec.
"Sure."
She hopped up and said. "Gonna change."
While she was in her room Vin told Alec. "Can you stay with her tomorrow while I work? I know she goes back to work on Thursday but I figure with what we talked about happening that one of us should be with her."
Alec nodded. "I can. I'll take her to eat lunch and maybe we can watch a movie."
"Good."
Lexa walked back out in her PJS and asked "What's good?"
"Alec's going to hang with you tomorrow while I work and then we are all going to eat dinner here." Vin answered.
"Cool, you know I was thinking that we should start working out again. It's been a long time since we have done any sparring and since you won't let me fight in the ring I figure you owe me." she said
"I owe you?"
"Yep. Besides, I have the feeling that living here we are going to get our fair share of people coming after us. Let's not forget Captain Ryke." she shivered. "That guy is creepy. He certainly has an interest in us." Alec pulled her into a hug.
"We can start anytime you want." he told her.
"Thanks."
Vin stood and stretched. "I'm going to head off to bed. Some of us have to work for a living." he threw a pointed look in her direction.
"Yeah, well next time you can get kidnapped and take a few days off." She said sticking her tongue out at him. Alec laughed.
"Don't encourage her." Vin said rolling his eyes and went into his room.
They heard him move around getting ready for bed. Lexa stood up and grabbed Alec's hand. "I need some sleep. Come on." He followed her into her room and she pulled down the sheets as he stripped to his boxers. They crawled into the sheets and Lexa cuddled up to Alec's side. He kissed her goodnight gently and turned off the lamp near her bed. They both fell asleep.
~!~!~!
Lexa's eyes popped open and looked at her clock. It read four fifty-two. For a moment she couldn't remember why she had woken up. Then she heard it again. A soft whimper like someone was in pain. She looked over at Alec. He was resting peacefully, his arm across her stomach, face buried against her shoulder. She strained her ears and realized it was coming from Vin's room. She carefully eased out from under Alec's arm and walked softly to Vin's door.
It was open and a ray of moonlight lit up the bed. In it he was thrashing in throes of a nightmare. It was the worst that Lexa had ever seen him have. She moved to the side of the bed and leaned over him. Her hair brushed his face and his eyes snapped open. He grabbed her and pulled her to him. His face pressed against the side of hers. She realized his cheeks were wet with tears.
She hugged his tightly and asked "Are you okay?" He only shook his head.
"What were you dreaming about?"
"We didn't get to you in time." he whispered. His voice was full of sadness. Lexa saw his eyes dart to the doorway and saw Alec standing there. She motioned to him and he came to the other side.
"She's okay. See?" he tried to comfort the bigger man.
"Not last time. Next time."
"Next time?" she asked.
"I dreamt that they took you again and we were moments too late. We watched you get shot."
"Shh. Just rest now." she said rubbing his back as if he were a child. It spooked her to see him lose it like this. He had always been her rock. It was like finding out that Santa wasn't real.
Eventually Vin went back to sleep and Lexa and Alec returned to bed also. They were laying there staring at the ceiling while the sun came up.
"He always tries to protect me." Lexa stated.
"He loves you."
"But I am not some china doll that needs to be handled with care. I am just as strong as Max, or Vin or even you."
"You've been through al ot."
"Bull. You guys have been through just as much."
"What about-" he started turning to her.
"Don't even mention him." she spat. Him sounded like a foul word issued from her lips.
"You need to talk about it."
"Not with you I don't." She stated pushing away from him.
"Then with who damn it!" Alec exploded jumping from bed.
"I don't know!" Lexa started for the door. Alec tried to block her from leaving but she was ahead of him and into the living room before he got there. Vin was standing by the door getting ready to leave for work.
"If you don't talk about it you are going to go crazy." Vin said in a low voice.
"You know what? I am not having this conversation with you too. Get out. Go to work Vin. And you" she said looked at Alec and gave him a dirty, calculating look. "Go find one of your acquaintances."
Alec's face was shocked and hurt. "Lexa-"
"GET OUT!" she screamed.
"Fine." He said stiffly. He grabbed his clothes and threw them on. He and Vin left without another word.
Lexa leaned against the wall and slid down it crying. The sobs wracked her body as if her heart was breaking.
~!~!~!
Outside the apartment complex Alec pulled out his phone. "Who are you calling?" Vin asked sharply.
"Max. I thought she could stay with her." Alec answered frowning.
"Better make it Original Cindy."
"Why?"
"Because right now Lexa is feeling threatened. She doesn't feel strong and seeing Max would only remind her of that. Plus, Max's people skills aren't that great." Vin reasoned.
Alec dialed Original Cindy's number and explained the situation. With a promise to "take care of her boo." she agreed to come as quickly as she could.
"What are you going to go do?" Vin asked.
"I am going to go see about something to apologize to her although I don't know if I did anything wrong."
"With Lex, she is always right. You'll learn." Vin said laughing and hitting him on the back. "See ya later. Got crates with my name on it." He turned to the parking lot and stopped. He turned around again to see Alec staring at him with a smirk.
"Need a ride?" Alec asked.
Vin nodded. "I knew we should have got bikes." he grumbled.
~!~!~!
An hour later OC knocked on Lexa's door. The door swung inward to reveal Lexa standing there with her hair in a messy bun, red rimmed eyes from crying and wearing a robe that had a dragon on it.
"Oh boo." Original Cindy murmured. She moved to give her a hug. After a moment Lexa pulled away and closed the door.
"Suppose Alec told you about my little scene this morning." She said.
"Sumthin' like that."
"They just make me so mad. How will I ever be their partner if they don't trust me enough to treat me normally?" Lexa fumed.
"Suga, They's men. They don' understand the workings of the intellectual female mind." Original Cindy stated as if it explained everything.
"I know. I am just so angry. I have to do something." She said starting to pace.
"Like what boo?" OC said eyeing her carefully.
"I don't know. I just want to hit something." an idea came to her mind. "Or someone." she turned to Original Cindy "How do you feel about making some money?"
"Always up for it but what do you-" Then she caught on. "Original Cindy not sure this is a good idea."
" Well, the people I want to hit aren't here. Let's just call it therapy." she walked to her room to change.
OC followed her. As Lexa changed she tried to change her mind. "Girl, they won't like this."
"It's not their decision." she finished dressing and pulled the ponytail holder from her hair. She shoved it into her pocket and put some clothes in her backpack.
"I need a few things. Are you coming with me?" she asked. Original Cindy decided that she had better go with her. "Yeah suga."
They got in the car and as they were driving OC asked. "What do you need?"
"Well, food for one. I can't fight on an empty stomach. Then I need to find a place with a ring and sign up. That way I have plenty of time to observe my opponents tonight."
Original Cindy shook her head. "Girl I hope you know what you are getting into."
~!~!~~
Lexa and OC decided to eat at a little taco stand they had seen. Lexa excused herself to go to the rest room and while she was gone Original Cindy used the pay phone. She dialed Alec's number but got only his voice mail. "Boo, Original Cindy seriously needs to talk to you. You ain't gonna like what's happenin. Beep me."
Next she called Max and got voice mail. "Okay, where are you two. Lexa's going to-" Original Cindy was cut off by a dial tone and looked up to see Lexa's hand on the hook.
"OC, I won't let them stop me. I just need to do this on my own okay? I am going to prove that I can take care of myself."
They returned to their table to eat their food.
~!~!~!~
Across town in Logan's apartment.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea." Logan said.
"Logan buddy, you never think any of my ideas are good."
"But stealing not one but two motorcycles?" he argued.
"We can do it." Alec shot back.
"You really think that they would want them?" Max asked uncertainly
"I know Vin does." he said. At the mention of his name Max smiled.
"But what about Lexa? Does she even know how to ride?"
"You think she can't learn?" Alec said pointedly.
"all right All right. We have two hours till dusk. We'll go then. Are you sure your recon is correct?"
"Max, I'm hurt." Alec said dramatically holding his hands to his chest.
"Shut up. I'll meet you at the dealership." she left.
Alec looked to Logan and said "Wound a little tight isn't she?" Logan merely looked at him.
~!~!~!
After they finished eating, Lexa talked to a few of the men on the street outside the taco stand and found a place in Sector Six where she could fight. It was around six thirty and she knew that Vin would be getting home soon. She also knew that when she wasn't home he would get worried. She decided that it would be best to get to Sector Six soon. They left for the gym.
~!~!~
Alec decided to take a nap before his little escapade with Max tonight. He couldn't wait to see the look on their faces when he gave them the bikes..
He lay down just as his phone rang. "What's up?" he answered.
"Do you have any idea where Lexa is?" came Vin's voice over the line.
Alec groaned. Looks like he won't be getting that nap after all...
**********
TO BE CONTINUED..
A/N: Sorry, I seem to get writers block sometimes. Then I can crank out three or four chapters at once. I am trying to do better really. Thanks for reviewing!! It does help!