Title: Can't Say No
Author: Bluenight/mental_head_slap
Genre: Action/Romance
Paring: M/A
Disclaimer: We only own our over active imaginations.
Summary: Max asks Alec for help.
Author's Note: We have decided to write this together as it is a mix of our
ideas. If you like this please check out our other stories!
"I need your help." The way Max phrased it, Alec knew he really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Not that he would have said no. It seemed he had this nasty habit of following Max whenever she snapped her fingers.
"Why do I have this horrible suspicion that I'm going to get shot at?" Alec asked her, leaning against his locker at Jam Pony.
"Alec, this is serious," Max said, glaring at him.
"I'm totally serious, whenever you drag me on crazy missions I end up with a hole in my arm."
"Like that's my fault," she rolled her eyes and then frowned. "Look if you're not going to help me then stop wasting my time."
"Bip Bip Bip. Missy Miss, it's time you started getting some packages delivered. Here, Sector 4," Normal said, interrupting them.
He held the package out to Max. She began to protest when Alec stopped her. "I'll meet you outside." She looked at him and he winked, he heard her sigh as she grabbed the package and headed outside. He then turned to Normal and plastered a smile on his face. "Normal my man! How's it going?"
"Fine," Normal beamed at him.
Alec would usually be quite disturbed by Normal's less than normal interest in him, but at this particular moment it was useful. "Buddy. I was wondering if you had any other packages that need delivering to Sector 4 other than the one you gave Max?"
"Why?" Normal eyed him suspiciously.
"I have a little business I need to do in the area."
"Sure I have two. So what kind of business is it?" Normal pried.
Alec just winked at him and took the packages. He exited Jam Pony to find Max waiting impatiently next to her bike. Sketchy was beside her holding her package.
"Sketchy is delivering our packages for us."
"Thanks man," Alec said, handing him the two slightly bulging packages.
"Uh, what about the fifty?"
"What fifty?" Alec asked. He glanced at Max to find her smiling.
"The fifty bucks you told me to offer Sketchy in return for him delivering our packages."
"Delivering our packages?" Alec echoed.
"Uh huh," Max nodded, obviously enjoying the situation. "You should probably pay him now so we can get going."
"Pay him." Alec echoed again.
Sketchy looked confused and from the look on Max's face there was no way he was getting out of paying Sketchy. He handed over the contents of his wallet reluctantly.
"Thanks man," Sketchy grabbed the money before riding off.
"Why didn't you pay him?"
Max shrugged "I didn't have enough. And anyway, you'll win it back off him next time you beat him at pool."
"Still, if you had waited for me I wouldn't have had to pay him anything. I conned Normal into giving me packages in Sector 4. You could have told me what you need help with on the way."
"I don't want to go to Sector 4."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Logan's."
"I should have guessed."
*** Ten minutes later, at Logan's ***
Alec followed Max up to Logan's front door. Thanks to his enhanced hearing he could hear that Logan had company. By the way Max tensed beside him he could tell she had heard it too. Logan answered the door smiling when he saw Max.
"Hi Max, Alec," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.
Alec ignored him and followed Max inside. Asha was sitting at Logan's computer and smiled at them as they entered.
"Hey guys," she stood up and grabbed her bag; as if sensing it was time she left. "Thanks for your help Logan."
Alec nodded to her as she left and then sat down. He chose a seat as close to the door as possible. He picked up a magazine and slowly flicked through it, still not entirely sure why he was here. He watched Max out of the corner of his eye as she followed Logan to his computer.
"So, you said you had some information about Zack."
Alec froze when Max mentioned Zack's name, that wasn't what he had been expecting. His last experience with Max's 'big brother' had not been overly pleasant. He rubbed his neck unconsciously at the memory.
"He was caught on surveillance tapes breaking into a genetics lab just out of town. It's a secret government testing facility," Logan explained.
"When?"
"Yesterday, about 2.00pm."
"Why was he there?"
"Well.."
"What?" Max snapped.
"One of the scientists working there was a part of the organization that helped create Manticore."
"So he remembers," Max whispered.
"Seems so."
"We need to get to him before White does. What's the address?"
"125 Campbell Road, it's just off the freeway."
Max immediately walked towards the door, "Come on Alec."
Alec stood up obediently and walked out of the apartment with Max following.
"Max, be careful," Logan's voice floated out into the hall.
Max stoped and turned towards the door. "Yeah," she replied quietly.
Alec rolled his eyes.
*** Outside the Genetic Lab ***
Alec looked around the corner and saw four armed guards. "You ready to kick some butt?" Alec asked with one of his trademark smirks.
He watched as Max hid a smile. "On three. One. Two. Three."
Alec followed Max around the corner, and they both crept along the wall in the shadows. Max suddenly blurred across and punched one of the guards square in the face and followed it up with a kick to the abdomen, before moving onto the next guard. Alec followed Max's lead by slamming another of the guards into the solid brick wall. He picked up the guard's gun and slid it into the waistband of his jeans, just in case. Alec sensed the presence of another guard approaching from behind. He spun around and delivered a solid punch to the side of the man's head, which rendered him unconscious. Alec watched as Max gave another punch breaking another guard's nose. The guard screamed in pain as Max delivered one last kick.
"Come on, let's go," she said to Alec and started towards the door.
Alec jogged up beside her, "Nice work, Maxie."
"I aim to please."
Alec grinned at her response. "So where to now?"
"Third floor, at the end of the corridor."
*****************
Max was worried about Zack but refused to let it show. She wandered down the hallway with Alec behind her. As much as she tried not to admit it, she was glad he had come along to help her, even if he seemed to be actually enjoying himself. She stopped at the door and signalled to Alec to stop.
"This it?" he whispered.
Max nodded as she signalled she was going to open the door. She burst in the room to find one male scientist with an annoyed look on his face. He dropped the test tube he was holding and swore.
"Not again."
Max blurred up to the man and grabbed him by the collar. She slammed him against the wall and tightened her grip around his neck. "The man who broke in here before, what did he want?"
"Not much."
"I wouldn't lie to her, she can get very violent when she's angry," Alec said coming up beside her.
"He came in irritated, said he wanted information."
"What information?"
"Wanted to know where his family was. I didn't know what he was talking about. He knocked me out and the next thing I knew I was in hospital with a head wound."
Max slammed him up against the wall harder, "Did he take anything?"
"Computer files."
"I'm on it," Alec headed over to the computer and started typing.
The man was oddly calm about being attacked by two transgenics and Max didn't like it. He was giving them information too easily. Something wasn't right but she couldn't place it, she didn't like the feeling.
"Got it, two files were accessed at 14.05 hours. One has names and addresses on it. The other isn't making much sense to me, might be DNA codes."
"Who's are they?" Max asked the scientist.
"I'm not sure," he replied calmly.
The man smiled at her and Max suddenly realised she could hear at least ten pairs of footsteps coming towards them. "Alec."
"I'm saving them now."
"We must have tripped some alarm, there are at least ten men out there"
"Twelve."
Max sent one sharp blow to the scientist's head and dropped him to the floor unconscious. She headed over to Alec, who was removing the disk from the computer. He waved it at her smirking.
"Am I good or what."
"I didn't know you were any good on computers."
"I have many hidden talents."
"Have one to get us out of this room?"
"Working on it."
"Work harder."
"What about the window?"
"I need your help." The way Max phrased it, Alec knew he really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Not that he would have said no. It seemed he had this nasty habit of following Max whenever she snapped her fingers.
"Why do I have this horrible suspicion that I'm going to get shot at?" Alec asked her, leaning against his locker at Jam Pony.
"Alec, this is serious," Max said, glaring at him.
"I'm totally serious, whenever you drag me on crazy missions I end up with a hole in my arm."
"Like that's my fault," she rolled her eyes and then frowned. "Look if you're not going to help me then stop wasting my time."
"Bip Bip Bip. Missy Miss, it's time you started getting some packages delivered. Here, Sector 4," Normal said, interrupting them.
He held the package out to Max. She began to protest when Alec stopped her. "I'll meet you outside." She looked at him and he winked, he heard her sigh as she grabbed the package and headed outside. He then turned to Normal and plastered a smile on his face. "Normal my man! How's it going?"
"Fine," Normal beamed at him.
Alec would usually be quite disturbed by Normal's less than normal interest in him, but at this particular moment it was useful. "Buddy. I was wondering if you had any other packages that need delivering to Sector 4 other than the one you gave Max?"
"Why?" Normal eyed him suspiciously.
"I have a little business I need to do in the area."
"Sure I have two. So what kind of business is it?" Normal pried.
Alec just winked at him and took the packages. He exited Jam Pony to find Max waiting impatiently next to her bike. Sketchy was beside her holding her package.
"Sketchy is delivering our packages for us."
"Thanks man," Alec said, handing him the two slightly bulging packages.
"Uh, what about the fifty?"
"What fifty?" Alec asked. He glanced at Max to find her smiling.
"The fifty bucks you told me to offer Sketchy in return for him delivering our packages."
"Delivering our packages?" Alec echoed.
"Uh huh," Max nodded, obviously enjoying the situation. "You should probably pay him now so we can get going."
"Pay him." Alec echoed again.
Sketchy looked confused and from the look on Max's face there was no way he was getting out of paying Sketchy. He handed over the contents of his wallet reluctantly.
"Thanks man," Sketchy grabbed the money before riding off.
"Why didn't you pay him?"
Max shrugged "I didn't have enough. And anyway, you'll win it back off him next time you beat him at pool."
"Still, if you had waited for me I wouldn't have had to pay him anything. I conned Normal into giving me packages in Sector 4. You could have told me what you need help with on the way."
"I don't want to go to Sector 4."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Logan's."
"I should have guessed."
*** Ten minutes later, at Logan's ***
Alec followed Max up to Logan's front door. Thanks to his enhanced hearing he could hear that Logan had company. By the way Max tensed beside him he could tell she had heard it too. Logan answered the door smiling when he saw Max.
"Hi Max, Alec," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.
Alec ignored him and followed Max inside. Asha was sitting at Logan's computer and smiled at them as they entered.
"Hey guys," she stood up and grabbed her bag; as if sensing it was time she left. "Thanks for your help Logan."
Alec nodded to her as she left and then sat down. He chose a seat as close to the door as possible. He picked up a magazine and slowly flicked through it, still not entirely sure why he was here. He watched Max out of the corner of his eye as she followed Logan to his computer.
"So, you said you had some information about Zack."
Alec froze when Max mentioned Zack's name, that wasn't what he had been expecting. His last experience with Max's 'big brother' had not been overly pleasant. He rubbed his neck unconsciously at the memory.
"He was caught on surveillance tapes breaking into a genetics lab just out of town. It's a secret government testing facility," Logan explained.
"When?"
"Yesterday, about 2.00pm."
"Why was he there?"
"Well.."
"What?" Max snapped.
"One of the scientists working there was a part of the organization that helped create Manticore."
"So he remembers," Max whispered.
"Seems so."
"We need to get to him before White does. What's the address?"
"125 Campbell Road, it's just off the freeway."
Max immediately walked towards the door, "Come on Alec."
Alec stood up obediently and walked out of the apartment with Max following.
"Max, be careful," Logan's voice floated out into the hall.
Max stoped and turned towards the door. "Yeah," she replied quietly.
Alec rolled his eyes.
*** Outside the Genetic Lab ***
Alec looked around the corner and saw four armed guards. "You ready to kick some butt?" Alec asked with one of his trademark smirks.
He watched as Max hid a smile. "On three. One. Two. Three."
Alec followed Max around the corner, and they both crept along the wall in the shadows. Max suddenly blurred across and punched one of the guards square in the face and followed it up with a kick to the abdomen, before moving onto the next guard. Alec followed Max's lead by slamming another of the guards into the solid brick wall. He picked up the guard's gun and slid it into the waistband of his jeans, just in case. Alec sensed the presence of another guard approaching from behind. He spun around and delivered a solid punch to the side of the man's head, which rendered him unconscious. Alec watched as Max gave another punch breaking another guard's nose. The guard screamed in pain as Max delivered one last kick.
"Come on, let's go," she said to Alec and started towards the door.
Alec jogged up beside her, "Nice work, Maxie."
"I aim to please."
Alec grinned at her response. "So where to now?"
"Third floor, at the end of the corridor."
*****************
Max was worried about Zack but refused to let it show. She wandered down the hallway with Alec behind her. As much as she tried not to admit it, she was glad he had come along to help her, even if he seemed to be actually enjoying himself. She stopped at the door and signalled to Alec to stop.
"This it?" he whispered.
Max nodded as she signalled she was going to open the door. She burst in the room to find one male scientist with an annoyed look on his face. He dropped the test tube he was holding and swore.
"Not again."
Max blurred up to the man and grabbed him by the collar. She slammed him against the wall and tightened her grip around his neck. "The man who broke in here before, what did he want?"
"Not much."
"I wouldn't lie to her, she can get very violent when she's angry," Alec said coming up beside her.
"He came in irritated, said he wanted information."
"What information?"
"Wanted to know where his family was. I didn't know what he was talking about. He knocked me out and the next thing I knew I was in hospital with a head wound."
Max slammed him up against the wall harder, "Did he take anything?"
"Computer files."
"I'm on it," Alec headed over to the computer and started typing.
The man was oddly calm about being attacked by two transgenics and Max didn't like it. He was giving them information too easily. Something wasn't right but she couldn't place it, she didn't like the feeling.
"Got it, two files were accessed at 14.05 hours. One has names and addresses on it. The other isn't making much sense to me, might be DNA codes."
"Who's are they?" Max asked the scientist.
"I'm not sure," he replied calmly.
The man smiled at her and Max suddenly realised she could hear at least ten pairs of footsteps coming towards them. "Alec."
"I'm saving them now."
"We must have tripped some alarm, there are at least ten men out there"
"Twelve."
Max sent one sharp blow to the scientist's head and dropped him to the floor unconscious. She headed over to Alec, who was removing the disk from the computer. He waved it at her smirking.
"Am I good or what."
"I didn't know you were any good on computers."
"I have many hidden talents."
"Have one to get us out of this room?"
"Working on it."
"Work harder."
"What about the window?"