AN: Thanks for the reviews… I felt I had to put out another chapter… :-)  Hope you all enjoy…

{From chapter one…}

Rolling his eyes, Biggs stopped and turned back to face Alec.  "I said, Max is here."  Seeing Alec's automatic smile, he rolled his eyes.  "Man you have it bad."

Shrugging, Alec smiled slightly.  Leaning around Biggs, he caught a glimpse of Max…

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{{Chapter 2}}

"She's…"  He stuttered in a stunned voice.  "Oh… my… God…"

Turning around to look at Alec fully, Biggs was surprised at the look on Alec's face.  He looked… startled, amazed, happy?  And very very angry.  "What?"  He asked in concern.

"She's…"  Blinking his eyes a little, he glared halfway across the room at Max, trying to see her better.  Giving up, he forced his body to relax for an instant, relying on his instincts.  His nose twitched slightly and he could actually smell her, her scent, from across the crowded room.  He could pick her scent out in the crowd, and that worried him.  But what worried him was her particular scent, different from the last time he was with her.  And not just because his scent no longer lingered on her, and not because she was in a different part of her cycle.  No, by god, and there was only one explanation for her scent.  His whole body was rigid with fury as he confirmed his initial suspicions.

"Alec… what's wrong buddy?"  Asked Biggs seriously worried over the emotions playing over Alec's face.  Suddenly, as final as if a door closed, Alec closed off his emotions, a blank wall in place, only his fury still showing through to the trained eye.  Suddenly, he stepped past Biggs, shoving his was across the room at a remarkable pace, not caring who he had to literally shove out of the way.

** ** **

"MAX!!!!"

Starting in surprise at the sound of a voice she was not expecting to hear, Max had her answer to her earlier question.  What had the guys all worried, what was Sketchy so afraid to tell her… Alec was back.  Spinning around at his voice, she stepped back slightly at the look of anger on his face.  "Yes?"  She asked carefully.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?"  He roared at her.

Feeling the palpable shock from behind her, she knew everyone else was just as confused at his seeming outburst as she was.  "Tell you what?"  She asked carefully, not wanting to edge him on, or make matters any worse.

"Don't play innocent with me."  He said heatedly, stepping towards to her.  "And what's more," he continued, "why the hell did you go out on that mission last night?"

"What?"  She asked genuinely confused.  At the look of pure fury on his handsome face, she quickly continued.  "Honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about.  Why didn't I tell you what?  And why wouldn't I have gone out last night, it wasn't even a difficult mission."

Relaxing just a little, he looked at her closely.  "Do you really not know?"

"Know what?"  She asked again, getting a little angry at his obtuseness.  "Obviously I don't, so stop being stupid and tell me what has you so upset."

Calming down slightly, he gently rolled his shoulders back to loosen the tension that had gathered in the past few minutes.  Catching a glimpse of their audience, he groaned slightly.  Stepping forward, he grabbed hold of her arm, more calm now, he realised this was not a conversation he wanted anyone else to be privy to.  "Come on," he muttered quietly.

"No," she answered, yanking her arm out of his grip.  "What the hell is wrong with you?  What gives you the right to come back, after being gone for so long, and to just start yelling at me for no good reason."

Starting quietly, he said, "we need to talk."  Continuing quickly, before she had a chance to comment, he said, "alone, now."

Hissing back at him, she said, "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Realising she was angry, and that it was his fault for loosing it and assuming she would know what he was talking about, he stepped towards her again.  Leaning over, he whispered quietly so only she would hear, slowly and clearly so she would understand he meant it.  "You… are… pregnant.  We need to talk.  Alone.  Now."

Her first reaction was surprise, then amazement and finally disbelief.  She was speechless.  As the shock set in firmly, he knew she truly had no idea, though how she didn't know, surprised him.  He knew the moment he saw her, even half way across a crowded room.  Shrugging, he used her shock as his chance.  Grabbing her arm, he pulled her towards the door.  She followed him, one step, two… then just stopped.  Startled, he turned around, ready to order her to come with him.  Her eyes were just beginning to roll back into her head and he could see she was swaying on her feet.  Without a second though, he stepped towards her and slapped her face.  Ignoring the amazed shouts from the others, he pulled her towards him as she began to regain her composure.  Seeing the blank look in her eyes, he realised she was still in shock.  'Shit, I have to get her out of here, now.  I need to be alone with her.'  Glaring at the couple of guys who had decided to step towards them, he allowed himself an internal smile as they faltered and stepped back.  "Max and I need to talk."  Turning to her best friend, he said shortly, "I'll look after her, she'll call you tomorrow OC."  Turning around, he again started his trek to the door.

"Like hell you will.  You're not going to walk out of here with her, when there's something wrong with her.  You just slapped her, and you got her into the condition she's in now."  Called CeCe as she approached.

'You have no idea.'  Thought Alec to himself.  "Back off CeCe."  He said aloud without even turning around.  Then, focusing his attention back on Max, he said softly, into her ear.  "It'll be okay babe.  I'm gonna get you out of here now."  When he still received no response, he sighed.  Making up his mind, he pulled her towards him, putting one arm behind her knees, he swept her off the ground and into his arms.  Getting her comfortable, and making sure she was safe, he allowed himself one quick moment to enjoy the feeling before striding through the crowd of people, and out into the cold night air.  'Home…'

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{{PREVIEW}}

{{Chapter 3}}

"Come on Maxie… wake up."  Whispered Alec quietly into her ear as Max lay asleep on his bed.   Sighing again, he stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders to lessen the tension that had gathered there, again.  Walking slowly from the room he spun back immediately at the sound of a slight groan from the prone form.

"Aggghhhh…"  Blinking slowly Max forced her eyes open and smiled slightly at the sight she saw.  "Hey Alec."

Stay tuned for chapter three… please review and let me know what you think :-)