My Dark Angel Ficcy… Chapter Four!

Authors Notes:  Thanks again  to my reviewers…

{from chapter three}

"Maxie…"  He said with a slight smile.  "You're pregnant, they're all gonna know that we slept together at least once."

Blushing, she looked down again.  "Yeah, I guess."  She agreed with a half laugh.

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{{Chapter 4}}

Looking at her sadly, Alec asked softly, "Is it that bad?"

Confused, Max looked up at him.  "Huh?"

Shrugging, he continued.  "People knowing that we've slept together.  Is that so bad?"

Smiling tenderly at his insecurity, Max shrugged.  "No.  It's not.  I'm sure some people already know.  Especially the X5 guys from what you tell me."  Seeing his expression brightening a little, and his frown disappearing, Max smiled properly.  "Hey, does my scent rub onto you, by any chance?"

"Yes."  He answered with a grin.  "Why?  Are you getting territorial on me now?"  Not waiting for an answer from her, he continued, "But apparently it's not so noticeable, it's more subconscious for females, where as in males it's very conscious and important.  Say, for instance, one of the X5 females will smell me and just think perhaps she shouldn't try to get me, it's like you know I'm taken so you move on."  Shrugging he asked, "Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I guess I may have sensed that a couple of times.  But I guess with most X5 couples, when they get together, it's pretty obvious.  The X5 guys are rather…"

"Protective of their mates.  Territorial."

"Exactly."  She agreed, with a slightly questioning tone.

"Yes.  I am too."

"But you've never… I dunno…"

Shrugging, Alec sighed.  "You wouldn't let me.  And I didn't want to loose you, to make you angry.  But believe me, it's just as hard for me to force down my protectiveness of you as it is for, say, you to not automatically jump into some fight you see happening.  It's built into my genes."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry."  With a smile, he continued, "Just be aware that it's not going to be that way anymore."

"So… are we…"

"Officially going out?  Yes.  You're mine now, don't forget that."

"There's that property thing starting again."  Said Max angrily.

"Not property, territory."  He disagreed patiently.

"Is there a difference?"

Rolling his eyes he answered, "Yes."

Shrugging, Max agreed half-heartedly.  "Okay then…"

Laughing lightly, Alec stood up, turning towards the door, he began walking out.  "And you're also under my protection not only as a member of my unit but as my mate.  There is no way you're going to be taking any stupid risks anymore."

"I don't take stupid risks.  I judge things carefully."  She answered back heatedly as she stood up fully intending to follow him.

"I know.  Lay back down Max."

"No.  I've been laying down long enough, I'm fine."

"Fine, whatever.  You're going to be so difficult about all this aren't you?"  Not waiting for an answer, he turned and continued on his way out of the room.  "But you're not going to be putting yourself in danger like you did the other night again.  Whether I have to force you as your mate or order you as your commanding officer."

Ignoring his last comment, Max latched onto his earlier statement.  "What did you mean putting myself in danger?"

"You take risks all the time…"

"Based upon my limits… so they're not risks."

Spinning around to face her again he continued.  "I know… but your limits have changed… that makes everything you do even near your old limits a risk… and now not only are you risking yourself, you're risking your unborn child."  He argued his voice rising in anger.

"Your unborn child."  She amended quietly.

"Yes… mine."  He agreed fervently a fierce glint entering his eyes.  "In the past I may have done my best to suppress my protective, territorial instincts.  But there is no way I am going to now.  I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"I know.  I understand."

"I don't know if you do.  Have you ever seen X5 mates who've been pregnant?"  As she shook her head to the negative, he tried again.  "Ever seen X5 mates when one has been in trouble?"

"Yes.  The other gets protective to the point of insanity."

"Exactly.  Imagine that ten fold and you might get close to what it's like for a male X5 whose mate is pregnant with his child.  To say I'll kill anyone who touches you is an understatement."

"Alec, relax.  I understand.  I'm okay with it, I know I might not have been in the past, but I'm okay now.  I've been thinking about it a lot lately.  Maybe it's my hormones going crazy on me, but I've been thinking about us all the time."

"That's good.  That's your protective instincts starting to increase.  You know you need your mate, to protect you and your child.  But you still don't understand."  Sighing he rubbed his hand tiredly over his eyes.  "Come, sit down on the couch."  Waiting until she was comfortably seated, he continued.  "If any guy, or girl for that matter, tried to hurt you, I'd kill them, before I had the chance to even think about it.  It would just happen."  Seeing her nod, he continued, a little more savagely.  "If any guy tried to sleep with you, I'd kill him.  If it was an X5, I don't know exactly what I'd do… but it wouldn't be a pretty or quick death."  Noticing Max's eyes opening a little wider he nodded.  "I think you're beginning to understand.  I'm only saying this to warn you.  I won't be responsible for what I do.  So you need to be careful of what you do, so you don't get some innocent guy in trouble."

"What are you getting at?"  Asked Max worriedly.

"You can't afford to… innocently flirt with some guy, or get to close to anyone… something that might have been completely innocent before, even if we were an official couple, is not like that anymore.  We aren't just mates… you're also pregnant."

"Are you referring to anyone in particular?"

"Not really.  I'm referring to everyone.  Even our friends.  Even if I should know that what's happening is innocent, I won't necessarily see that."  At her confused look, he continued.  "Say you and Sketchy are chatting and you lean closer to hear something he says.  Or he slings his arm 'round your shoulders.  I might not see that as you and Sketchy mucking around.  I might just see some guy with his arm around you."  At her nod he continued.  "I don't want to turn into some testosterone minded cave man that can only think 'her… mine…'.  But I might not be able to control the little things.  Especially if I've had a bad day, or I'm stressed or angry, annoyed… or if I haven't been around you in a while."

"How do you know all this?"

"Manticore training."

"Which I missed."

With a smile, he sat down next to her.  "Exactly.  Consider this a quick run down."

"When you said if you haven't been around me in a while…"

"If say we've been working and I haven't seen you all day.  Or if for some reason I don't see you over the weekend or something… I'll admit this now.  I get jealous sometimes.  Even now, I mean, before.  So it'll be much, much worse now.  Or better, depending on your point of view."

"You used to get jealous?  Of who?"  Seeing his quick glance away, she continued.  "Or needn't I ask…"

"You probably don't need to ask."  Agreed Alec with a shrug.  "Really I don't mind Logan, but I think he's a bit of an idiot sometimes.  But I think especially now, you need to be careful around him.  I might not be best buds with him, but I don't want to beat the poor guy into a pulp for getting too close to you."  At her nod, he relaxed back into the couch a little.  Stretching his arm out over the back behind Max.    "Unless of course he's threatening you."  He added heatedly.

** ** **

{preview}

{{Chapter 5}}

"Come on then… that's enough talking and thinking for the night.  You need to rest."  Began Alec, leaning forward.

"No I don't.  I'm fine.  I just had a little case of shock.  I'm an X5, not a weakling."

"I knew you were going to be difficult about this."  Groaned Alec, flopping back onto the couch.  Turning to face Max, he stated clearly.  "Look Max, you're my mate.  As a male, that makes me responsible for you.  If I say you need to rest, you need to rest."

Max… max… max… you just know she's gonna make Alec's life difficult ;-)