Not My Brother, Chapter 6

"I know you know something, Jondy," Ben smiled when they were alone.

"I know plenty of things, Ben, care to be more specific?"

"You know something about Max and you don't want me to know. What is it?" his mouth hardened as he looked at her and he noticed her swallow carefully.

"Sex making you paranoid, Ben?"

His eyes narrowed, "You talked to her."

"I figured it out, it wasn't too hard."

"But after that, you talked to her," Ben stopped, his eyes boring into her head.

"So? Jeez, Ben, what's the big deal? I didn't tell Lydecker."

"Why didn't she say goodbye?" Ben asked.

"Max isn't really all that touchy feely," Jondy rolled her eyes, but faltered at the look on his face. Instantly, she realized mistake and he knew she was lying.

"Yes, she is," Ben whispered. "So tell me what else you're lying about."

"I'm not-"

Ben's eyes hardened, but he didn't respond, just waited.

"She's scared about her mission..." Jondy finally whispered.

Just the hint of a smile touched his lips as he leaned against the wall and it disappeared.

"Why?" he asked.

***

Life as a secret government agent was actually extremely boring. At least, it was if you spent your life training to be about fifty times better than the average human.

But Max wasn't the only one who didn't appear to enjoy herself. Of all people, Ames White seemed bored most of the time too. He didn't sit around twiddling his thumbs or anything, but his general exasperation with everyone around him made it pretty obvious what was going on.

And he always found the time to talk to her.

Now, most men did that, but this was White. He was different. There was a coldness to his demeanor and a lack of pleading that waited for her to come onto him. He was interested, but didn't really care. Whether he had her or not made no difference to him whatsoever. For some reason, it made her even more uncomfortable than she was before.

He never took off his wedding ring, never made excuses.

If he felt his actions were in any way wrong, she was unaware of it. Beyond his chilling exterior, he wasn't unattractive, but she couldn't help comparing him to Ben. Her beautiful, passionate Ben. The thought of anyone else's hands on her body destroyed her.

She knew the sooner she seduced White, the sooner she could move on with her mission, but she couldn't do it. Ben's face would always appear before her until she wanted to cry. To run to him and beg him to help her.

And he would. In a second.

If he knew.

***

Ben moved through training in a daze, lashing out with deadly force in a fight and returning to a sullen silence when it was over.

He remained the champion.

Why couldn't she tell him? Say goodbye? She couldn't have WANTED to go on that mission, so why? He could have helped her.

Jondy had argued against that idea, but he couldn't accept it. They could have found a way to stop her from...

Zane stepped on the mat with him and he lashed out in fury. She couldn't do it. She wouldn't. Days from now, she'd be back, telling him she'd found another way. It was a matter of days, he told himself. She'd be back.

***

Jondy watched Ben go through the motions, his only outlet through fighting as he let out his rage on the world. No one knew what was up with him but Zane.

Krit returned only days before and didn't understand his roommate's odd behavior. Zane always tried to change the subject and once, Jondy met his eye.

They were the only ones who seemed to know.

Syl was clearly concerned about Ben, but she had no idea of his sexual adventures with everyone's baby sister, Maxie.

The look on Ben's face when she'd told him was the saddest thing Jondy had ever seen. He'd denied her words immediately, his eyes pleading with her to tell him she was wrong, that there was some mistake.

It made her want to kick Max's ass herself, but she knew what was going on.

"She's trying to protect you," she'd tried to tell him.

He hadn't been impressed.

Jondy sighed, walking into Renfro's office.

"What do mean, kill her? How would he know?" Renfro asked the phone, motioning Jondy to wait for her. "Why didn't you tell us until now? What other details are we waiting to find out? And how could another X5 protect her in this situation?" Renfro paused, sighing.

"I'll assign someone immediately," she finished the conversation, hanging up the phone. "We're here to talk about your mission?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jondy nodded.

"Who's the best fighter in your unit?"

"X5-493, ma'am," Jondy said without hesitation. Renfro nodded, clearly distracted. "Call him up here, you're dismissed," she hit her intercom. "Send me Lydecker."

Jondy headed for the door quickly.

"210," Renfro's voice stopped her half way out, "Stop in the med center on your way back."

"Yes, ma'am," she nodded, closing the door.

***

Otto and White stood in a corner talking. Max could, of course, hear them perfectly.

"It's a stake out, sir, there's no reason for you to be part of it. It's under control."

"No, Otto, you have to be ready to move, if and when I give the order. This man is important. We have to take him alive."

"I understand, sir. Who do you want with you?"

"Agent Guevara, I think? Keep her out of the line of fire."

Otto didn't bat an eyelash, but Max shook her head. Sexist patronizing aside, she knew he was just giving himself an opportunity to get in her pants.

And her mission was to let him.

For the first time, Max wondered why. It wasn't a question Manticore ever answered.

***

Ben reported to Renfro, as ordered. Lydecker was waiting in the room as well.

"I understand you're the best we have right now, 493," Refro started.

Lydecker didn't dispute her statement, but winced slightly as she spoke.

"We need you on a mission, 493, effective immediately."

"Ma'am?"

"It has been brought to our attention that 452 is in danger," she told him.

Ben's eyes shot to hers in alarm before he calmed himself physically. Any clue and they wouldn't give him the assignment. He breathed in and out.

"Your job is to protect her life."

"Yes, ma'am."

"However, under NO circumstances will you prevent anything else from happening. Watch her, make sure she is safe, but do not interfere."

Ben clenched and unclenched his teeth.

"Yes, ma'am."

"452's assignment contains a sexual element," Renfro stated clearly, watching him for reaction.

Controlling his reaction, Ben nodded and lifted an eyebrow.

"Can you handle watching without running to protect anything but the LIFE of someone you call what...your baby sister?" Renfro asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Ben nodded, biting back the need to properly define his relationship with Max. Sister was nowhere near appropriate.

"You take off in half an hour, 493, report to Med first."

"Yes, ma'am," he nodded.

***

Jondy looked through the medication in front of her. She was going overseas and meds were standard procedure.

"What are you doing here?" a lab tech asked.

"Meds for X5-210?" Jondy asked.

"Oh, they're right there, just a second."

"These?" Jondy grabbed the syringe in front of her.

"NO!" the tech jumped toward her, snatching it away.

Jondy's eyebrows shot up. "What are you working on there, some type of poison?"

"It reactivates heat, it wouldn't be pretty," he assured her.

"Heat..." Jondy's voice trailed off. "Why do you have it out?"

The tech didn't answer her, grabbing her proper medication.

***

Ben walked through the door of the med room to see Jondy getting a shot.

"Hey, Jon," he said quietly.

"Ben, what's going on?"

"Mission. I'm Max's bodyguard, apparently."

"She's in danger?"

"That's what they said."

Ben knew she wanted to ask more, but couldn't. Not with the lab tech right there, answering the phone.

"I understand," he was telling the person on the other line. Probably Renfro.

"This is for you, 493," he gave Ben a shot before he was even paying attention.

A wave of dizzyness wrapped around him and he felt Jondy grab onto him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Insurance he won't do anything against orders, so his instincts won't fight the mission..." his voice faded to darkness.

***

Max paced the room, waiting for White as they surveiled the apartment of some guy named Sandeman. Who knows what he did, they never said.

She shrugged off her jacket and tossed it aside.

It was really starting to get warm.