Jhondie
It's a good thing Max and I don't sleep. Bryn was up until very late that night (or really early in the morning, depending on your perspective) telling us about her ordeal. Logan and Cindy had graciously left us alone so we could talk. All three of us were crying at various points. But one thing was for sure. Lydecker had totally underestimated how strong-willed we were. Max filled us in on what happened to Alicia and we could see the point where Director Renfro had decided to take over on Bryn. I tell you, if I ever ran into that bitch, she was going to have her head twisted until it popped off of her head.
Max also told us the full story on what happened to Ben. I was shocked, and I had to admit, a little sickened, but I understood the choice she had been forced to make. What happened to Bryn was bad enough, but what they would have done to Ben would have been unspeakable. I guess it stood to reason that at least one of us wouldn't have been able to handle life on the outside. Statistics say that people abused as children are likely to be abusive, and with us it was a whole different level.
It was hard, but we got out all of the bad stuff and then some of the good stories could flow. It was like lancing a boil, and then putting soothing lotion on the raw skin. Bryn told us about how she liked to paint. She was pretty good with watercolors. She had a friend that had this little bakery. She did gift baskets for people and sometimes there were some of Bryn's small paintings in there. One woman had even asked her to do a portrait of her daughter. Bryn had been walking back to her apartment after delivering it when she got into trouble. Poor thing had taken off running with only the backpack she had been carrying. Max was rather annoyed with Zack to learn that she had searched so hard and there was Bryn a few hours away from Seattle for over a year.
But there were good stories too. Max had us all rolling with her stories about being a bike messenger for Jam Pony. I had to meet this guy Normal. Sounded like a riot. I told them about my family and dealing with Kayla. And if Zack thought he had it rough, imagine me having to deal with my sister's best friend doing everything she could to initiate me into lesbian love. For some reason Max thought that was hysterical. Said we needed to introduce Kat to Original Cindy. Yeah, I could just see that happening.
We talked until the sun was up and Max had to leave for work. I would have wondered why she was still holding down such a crummy job, but now that we had gotten to know each other again, I could see how independent she was. Had always been, really. It was just more evident now. I guess Justin and I had been together so long and had been a part of each other's lives that I didn't think in terms of his and mine. It was all ours. Except for underwear. I come home and he's in my panties, and we're going to have problems. But Max and Logan hadn't been together all that long. He was not going to be her sugar daddy. But she liked knowing she could now torment Normal and the consequences wouldn't be that dire.
We sent Bryn back to bed. She needed to sleep and rest to recover. Physically, she was going to be fine. Emotionally, that was hard to tell. Having a miscarriage could not have been easy on her, despite the conception process. It was going to take some time, but we were here for her now. She was never going to be alone in this and if Zack tried anything, I was going to slap the crap out of him. Bryn needed to feel safe right now, and having us all here helped her in that. He wasn't going to like it, but I did have a lot more experience with healing people than he did. Like I said, you spend enough time in hospitals, you really do pick up on things.
Logan had gotten up and went into the kitchen while Max and I made sure Bryn was back in bed. She was out in a few minutes, despite the smell of coffee that was starting to drift through the whole apartment. Max only had time to grab a cup on her way out, but the way she rushed seemed like their usual morning routine. I grabbed a cup and picked up the morning paper to see if there was anything of interest in there. There wasn't. After working for Eyes Only, you really got a feel for what was a real story and what was so sanitized there was nothing left but a kernel of truth.
"How's Bryn?" Logan asked.
I put down the paper. "Better, I think. It's going to take some time."
"I can imagine."
There was an awkward silence. "You know," I said, "As much as I, of all people, can understand the need for secrecy, I'm going to have to tell Justin that I met you."
"Does Nikki know about you?" His blue eyes were riveted onto me. I always knew he had a rather piercing stare through the video, but live, it was like he was taking inventory of your soul.
"No," I answered. "Justin wouldn't even consider publishing an article about Manticore anywhere because he knows what it would do to me. Nikki would never left sentiment get in the way of the truth."
"Sounds like a hell of a journalist."
"She is," I said. It was the truth. She really was incredible. "But sometimes you have to temper truth with compassion. But she's new to the Eyes Only thing. She'll figure that out for herself eventually." I smiled. "Let me guess, knowing about me is a litmus test for knowing about you." He gave me a slight smile. "So your secret is more important than mine. Ego much?"
That actually got a real laugh. "Priorities, my dear LAX. Never ego."
He and I finally relaxed and started talking. He was very curious to know exactly what Justin was doing in Seattle a year ago and I got to know why he had asked us to get some of the things he did. Turns out Mr. Gerhardt Bronck had been running some nasty operations all up the west coast. The information concerning shoddy construction that we had gotten our first Thanksgiving was only the tip of the iceberg. After the white-slavery ring had been exposed, the man was finally sent to jail. He thought he was going to be sent to some white-collar place where he could bribe his way into confined luxury. He was in the courthouse jail cell, waiting for a two-minute hearing before going back to his private luxury cell, when another inmate stabbed him to death. The guy's daughter had been one of the girls kidnapped. Irony was a strange form of justice sometime.
Logan showed me his set-up. Pretty sweet. Put Justin's to shame. Granted, Logan had a wider audience to reach, but I had a feeling once Justin saw this, he was going to have journalist-envy and have to get a set just like it. Boys. If they weren't so cute, it would be annoying. We hung out until Max came back, claiming she was taking an early lunch. She groaned when she saw us in the computer room.
"Don't even think you're going to be spending your whole time in here," she declared, hands on her hips. "We got way too much to do and way too little time."
"Speaking of time," I said, checking my watch with an exaggerated motion, "what do you say it's time to wake up our dear big brother? Got enough time left?"
She grinned. "For that, always enough time."
Max left her bike at the penthouse and we took a cruise on her baby. The last time I had been on a motorcycle was when I was fifteen and the boy I was dating had a little one. That was nothing compared to the beast Max flew around Seattle on. If I didn't know how skilled she was, I would have been terrified. Once I got over praying that we would live, I relaxed and enjoyed the rush. No wonder Kat wanted one of these. It was like flying without the plane.
Logan had a keycard to the hotel room. We thought about calling ahead, but Zack had made it clear he would call me first. Fine by me. Max and I slipped into the room quietly, listening for any noises. I had walked in on enough people having sex recently. I didn't need another experience.
It was quiet. Thank God. The bedroom door was open and we slid over to it, peeping around the doorjamb. We both surveyed the scene and then looked at each other with an "awwww" expression. Talk about cute. I don't think I had ever seen Zack that peaceful before. Alicia was laying on her right side and Zack was spooned up against her (a blanket was over them, thank God) his arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her as close as he could.
And then I noticed something odd. I pointed and Max noticed it as well. Okay. What the hell? Both of their left hands were visible and they were wearing rings on the third finger. The only time I ever saw Zack wear jewelry before was that surfer-necklace thing that Max had told me was originally Alicia's. Now a ring. No, a ring that matched Alicia's on a finger that held extreme significance. I knew one thing they had been up to the night before. This, however, was totally unexpected.
"Is Bryn okay?" Zack suddenly asked, making Max and I jump. He hadn't changed position in the least and his eyes looked closed. But this was Zack, so I had no doubt he knew who was in this room and what to do about it.
"She's cool," Max answered. "We were doing the rounds but looks like you already got your hands full."
"Go check on Bryn," Alicia said. Okay, this was getting creepy. Neither of them had moved. You would swear they were both still asleep. And Alicia didn't even sound like she had just been woken up. Perfectly clear and like she had been awake for hours. "I'll meet you over there later."
"You're not walking around by yourself." Now that was the Zack I knew. There was no allowance for argument in that voice.
But it did get a reaction from Alicia. Her eyes opened and she turned her head towards him. "Zack, dear, it's pregnant, not helpless. If Bailey and his brother weren't already dead, they would be able to tell you exactly how I'm still more than capable of fucking up anyone that pisses me off."
Max was biting back laugher and I had my teeth in my lip to do the same. Oh, Zack had hooked up with his match that was for sure. It still remained to be seen if they could keep from killing each other. "I can stay," I spoke up before this argument escalated. Not that it wouldn't be funny, but if either of them jumped up for emphasis, I would be seeing more than I wanted to.
That got their attention. "Zack, Max has got to get back soon, but I can stay here with Alicia and keep her company on the way over to Logan's." Now if that wasn't diplomatic, I didn't know what was.
Zack hesitated for a second. Alicia turned around so she was facing him. I swear, his whole face softened when their eyes met. That was the first time I had ever seen him so...happy is the only word that fits. It's weak, but the only time I had seen a similar expression before was on Justin when him and I were snuggling.
"I will be there in a little while," she said softly. Ah. He was still worried she might take off. She had known that. Someone getting close to Zack to really know him. Now that was a concept I had never thought possible. He nodded and then leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Hey!" Max said, wrinkling her nose. "Least let us close the door before we have to hose you down." Zack didn't say anything, but shot her a dark look. It would have been intimidating but for the blush that infused his cheeks.
We shut the door to give them some privacy and Max practically fell on the small couch. "Now I know I've seen everything."
I shook my head. "Zack wearing a wedding band. That was on my top ten list of things I'm never going to see in this lifetime."
"Can you imagine when mini-Zack is running around?"
That was all the conversation we managed before Zack came out, fully dressed. He even had shoes on and hair brushed. That's not fair. Nobody should be able to get dressed in under three minutes. "Let's go," he said gruffly to Max and then looked at me. I've gotten some strong looks from him before, but none of them had come close to the intensity on his face right then. "Be very careful with her," he ordered.
I could only nod. Sure, Alicia could take care of herself, but you were never going to convince Zack of that. It took a hell of a lot of trust in me to leave her like this. Later, I would laugh thinking about the first time she decided to get some groceries on her own, but right then all I could do was nod gravely.
He and Max left and I knocked lightly on the bedroom door. "It's open," Alicia said.
I walked in. She was sitting on the side of the bed, wrapped up in the blanket, looking at the clothes she had been wearing the day before. She sniffed them tentatively and scrunched her nose. "Forgot to call laundry service last night, huh?" I joked.
"I had better things to do with my time," she replied. She glanced over her shoulder, a smirk on her lips. "As you know from your well-timed call."
I grinned. "That was pure revenge." Her smirk melted into a real smile. I thought for a second. "What size do you wear?"
"Before or now?"
"Now." She gave me what she thought it was. It was hard for her to judge right now and she hadn't been able to shop for real clothes recently. I grabbed the phone and dialed room service. "I need some clothes delivered to my room," I said, picking up a bored tone.
Alicia perked up a little. "Maternity, in the small to medium range, but petite sized," I continued. "Slacks, blouses, everything else. A bit of variety in style. We'll have someone pick up what isn't wanted." I got Alicia's shoe size and gave it to the operator. The girl said it would take an hour and then hung up.
I smiled at Alicia. "And that's the plus to staying at a good hotel. I learned that staying in a few very nice ones with Justin. If you can afford to stay there, then room service will get you anything."
"I rarely stay in them," she said. "Broken in to quite a few, but its kind of hard to keep your cover when you're registered."
I could see that. And I had to admit, I was curious about what Alicia had done. Was it all assassinations? Had she done other things for Manticore? I thought about asking, but chickened out. She had been through some rough times the last few days. No need in hashing up the past, right? "It's going to take an hour if you want to rest or take a shower or whatever."
"Thank you."
I went back into the living room and turned on the TV when I heard the water in the bath running. Alicia was certainly an interesting addition to my crazy family. And a kid. Poor thing. He was going to have all these aunts and uncles after him, not to mention two people that I would be terrified to have as my parents. No, I would stick with what I had.
I thought about that. Family. My family. It had been pretty rough the last few months with Mom. But it was wrong. Totally wrong on their part, and they knew it. That's why they had been hiding it. Of course. So I was in the right, right? Maybe. She had been happier since they had gotten together. I had noticed that, but not put it together. They had been spending more time together and she was just happier in general. I had worked my tail off to get Zack and Alicia back together, two people that really should not be together, and I was doing whatever I could to keep Mom and Tom apart. That didn't seem to go together.
I didn't realize how long I had been sitting there thinking, when there was a knock at the door. Zack would have been proud. I actually used the peephole. A bellboy was standing there with a small rack of clothing. This is why I loved good hotels. What they wouldn't provide, you didn't need. What can I say, Justin had spoiled me. I gave the guy a good tip and told him we would call when we were done.
Alicia had been enjoying a good long soak in the tub, but wrapped herself up in a towel and came out to inspect the clothes. I swear, Kat would have fallen in love. Alicia was so small and dainty it made her seem more like a living doll than a person. In the towel, with the moisture making her honey-blonde hair curl around her face and those big blue eyes, she could have passed for sixteen. I wondered if that was why she was so good at what she did. Nobody would have suspected her to be any more dangerous than cotton candy and daisies.
Alicia found something she could wear and got dressed quickly. They even provided matching shoes. She looked positively adorable in slacks with a tunic-style top. In another month or two, people would want to rub her tummy. While Alicia had been in the bathroom, I had thought of something and wanted to ask her about it. Her designation number was 608. When I had been in Boston for Denise's wedding, the designation number of the X-6 that those two guys had been talking about was 608. Small world, huh?
"Hey, do you remember a Senator Martin?"
Those blue eyes turned on me and any thought of adorable went out the nearest window. Those were the cold blue eyes of endless winter. And that was the expression someone wore when they were about to take a life and not think twice about it. Intellectually, I knew I was strong than her. Faster too. And with her being pregnant, it wouldn't be a problem at all for me to take her on. But I was still stepping back from that icy look and in that moment I knew exactly how such a small girl could manage to be the leader of the X-6.
"And how would you know him?" she asked in measured tones.
"I, uh, well, broke his step-daughter's ankle and wrist at her wedding." Amusement broke up that chill and I was no longer quite so afraid for my life. "Long story about that. Point is, I had heard him and this other guy talking about the X-6 and some stuff that had happened in Washington. They mentioned a 608 being involved."
Her face went utterly neutral. "Really? And what was their opinion on it?" A casual observer would think she was just making polite conversation. I had a feeling there was an explosion of temper that she was barely holding in check.
"You pissed them both off royally," I said. She seemed pleased by that. "Completely screwed up their plans." I didn't want to say how I had been rooting for them to find a way to succeed. "Morons, though. They were talking like we weren't able to be part of the human race and act like regular people. I swear, if the guy had referred to the X-series as "its" one more time, I was about to go in there and kick some a$$.
She looked almost sad for a moment. "Had you taken care of them then, I would never have ended up in LA five months ago. I'm not sure if I should thank you for your decision or deck you." I thought she was going to say something else, but instead she went back into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
I didn't get it. She seemed kind of upset that she wasn't part of Manticore anymore. Shouldn't she be celebrating the fact that she escaped? Yeah, I was scared of the world when I got out, but I was a kid. She was an adult. She hadn't been stuck in barracks, but had been out and around. How could she not be thrilled? And she wasn't alone either. Just permanently separated from all of the people she had known and cared for since birth. Okay. Yeah, that would suck. And she had chosen the separation too. We had done it as a group. I wasn't alone among the X-5. She was among the X-6.
Alicia wasn't a chatty kind of person, so there wasn't much talking on the way back to Logan's. I wanted to get a cab, but Alicia had refused that. Said she had spent the last several months down and enjoyed getting out. And once again she surprised me at a sector checkpoint by pulling out an all-access sector pass. I had one provided by Logan, but Alicia seemed to be quite resourceful on her own.
I did ask her about the rings. She just looked at me like I was dense. "They're wedding bands," she said simply.
"So, you two ran out and found someone to marry you last night?" In Las Vegas, I could see that. Here, not going to happen.
She sighed. "Legalities aren't meant for our kind."
"Yeah, but there's a license and stuff involved for it to be official."
Alicia smirked. "Yes, and I can imagine us trying to apply for one of those. What social security number? Well, we're rogue genetic experiments, so we weren't given one. Will barcode numbers do?" She shook her head slightly. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that truth is what I say it is. And I say, Zack and I are married. We committed to each other and our child. What else is there?"
I could have argued that the piece of paper really does mean something. Justin and I were living together, but I would feel odd calling him my husband now. But then again Mom and Dad didn't legally adopt me either. I just started to use their last name and say I was their kid and they never said differently. Legalities did matter though. Just not all of the time I supposed.
We got to Logan's place and pretty much just hung out the rest of the day. Zack and Alicia talked about where she was going to stay. He said he was going to take care of Bryn and then come back and make sure she was somewhere safe. That earned him a rather murderous look and Logan and I had to leave the room before we got killed for laughing at them. Alicia was flat out telling him that he was not her lord and master and if he even thought that she was going to get locked into some tower, he was sadly mistaken. It was the first time I had ever heard Zack backpedaling and it was nothing short of hysterical.
I talked to Justin and let him know I was going to come home the next day. I wanted to hang out here a while longer, but I had been thinking a lot about family and decided that it was time I got my own straightened out. Besides, I had no doubt that Max and I would remain in contact. Zack must have figured on that when he brought me up here. He could complain, but I wasn't going to pretend that none of this had happened.
Max came home that evening and we all had dinner together. Bryn was up and looking better. Zack had talked to her earlier in her room. I had walked by and caught part of their conversation. I wouldn't have listened in, but Bryn started crying. If Zack had pulled his CO crap on her while she was still so emotionally fragile, I was going to hurt him. "You know where Jasmine is?" she was saying.
Zack smiled at her and smoothed down her hair. "I told you we would get you back," he said. "The people taking care of her knew it wasn't forever."
I stiffened. Did Bryn have a kid? Oh my God, why had he kept this from us? He should have brought her to me. He knew I had the means to take care of a kid and keep her safe. I almost barged in there when he added, "but she's not a puppy anymore. Weighs fifty pounds and eats like a horse."
Bryn laughed weakly. Okay, a fifty-pound dog, no, good call not bringing it to me. Dogs didn't like me. "She probably doesn't remember me," Bryn said sadly.
"She'll have years to get to know you again," Zack replied. She sat up and hugged him. I thought about staying and listening in, but that would have been rude. Instead I went back into the living room and hung out with Max. She knew I was leaving tomorrow and wanted to take Zack and me somewhere.
Zack finally came out and we were off again. This time Max took us to the Space Needle. It had been closed for years, but that hadn't deterred Max any. We went right to the top and then crawled out one of the broken windows. When we got there, all three of us went dead silent. This was her high place. The city, which was so dirty and corrupt on the streets, was beautiful up here, all dark shapes with warm glowing lights.
We sat down and admired the view for a while. "When I first got here," Max said softly, "I used to come up here and imagine what it would be like to have all of you guys with me. I'd make up what you were doing and where you had been." She smiled. "I had Jhondie pegged as a fashion designer though."
I smiled. "Hey, I live in Los Angeles. That's not a bad bet to make."
"I think about it too," Zack spoke up. He didn't take his eyes off of the skyline. "What it would be like if it was safe for us all to be together."
I patted his leg. "Hope's the thing that keeps us alive," I reminded him. "You think Bryn would have lasted without it. Hope and faith. It's what got us out the first time."
"And Eva," Max added. She toasted an imaginary glass into the air. "To hope, faith and Eva for giving us the last eleven years."
What the hell, I hoisted my own imaginary glass. "Salute."
Zack smiled slightly like we were nuts. Okay, so maybe we were. But after the last couple of days, we deserved it. Max's phone rang and she sighed, showing her annoyance when she checked the number. "Logan," she said, getting up and walking away to answer him. I smiled. Guess she was used to needing privacy when talking to Logan. Discussing things like breaking into police headquarters was not a good thing to do in public.
"Never thought you would be married before me," I said when Zack and I were alone. "Not to mention have a kid. You two picked out a name yet?"
"Not yet," he replied. "We're still...debating."
I grinned, imagining them two trying to argue the other one down. "You're happy," I said. "You really do get it now."
He thought for a long moment and then nodded. "Let the wounds heal, keep the scars, right?"
"Right," I smiled. I hesitated for a minute, feeling nervous now. I had been thinking about this and wanting to ask him a question, but I wasn't sure exactly how to say it. I didn't want him to get mad but I wanted him to at least know that I would like this.
I took a deep breath. "Zack, I've been thinking about something," I began. He eyed me warily. "And if you don't want to, that's okay. I totally understand. But...when I get married, it's traditional to have someone give the bride away and I always thought my dad would do it, but since he can't I was wondering if you would think about doing it." I got all of that out in one breath.
"And yeah, I know it might look funny, but trust me, I can come up with a million believable cover stories about you being a cousin from Georgia or something and...and you think I'm crazy, don't you."
He had looked away from me, his expression slightly bemused. "Yes."
"It's okay," I said, feeling disappointed, even though I had told myself that there was no way he would do it. "You probably have no idea where you're going to be anyway and..."
"Jhondie," Zack said, cutting me off. "I said yes."
My eyes got huge. "Even if it means wearing a tux and getting pictures taken?"
"I can do the tux, we'll discuss the pictures later."
I couldn't help myself. I leaned over and gave him a hug. "This means so much to me."
"I know."
Max came back over and looked at us with one eyebrow raised. "So when did the love-fest start?"
"Zack said yes," I grinned. She knew what I had wanted to ask and told me she thought there was no way he would ever agree, though she was happy to be a bridesmaid. I would have had her as my maid-of-honor, but she would have had to fight Kayla over that one.
She smirked at Zack. "'Bout time you decided to be a real big brother." She indicated the phone. "Logan's got some puppy or orphan or something in need of a rescue, so I need to blaze. Want a ride back?"
We got up and headed out with her. Tomorrow I would be going home and I couldn't help but feel like I had turned some brave new corner in my life. Everything was different now, but the important things, who I loved and who loved me, those were still the same.
It's a good thing Max and I don't sleep. Bryn was up until very late that night (or really early in the morning, depending on your perspective) telling us about her ordeal. Logan and Cindy had graciously left us alone so we could talk. All three of us were crying at various points. But one thing was for sure. Lydecker had totally underestimated how strong-willed we were. Max filled us in on what happened to Alicia and we could see the point where Director Renfro had decided to take over on Bryn. I tell you, if I ever ran into that bitch, she was going to have her head twisted until it popped off of her head.
Max also told us the full story on what happened to Ben. I was shocked, and I had to admit, a little sickened, but I understood the choice she had been forced to make. What happened to Bryn was bad enough, but what they would have done to Ben would have been unspeakable. I guess it stood to reason that at least one of us wouldn't have been able to handle life on the outside. Statistics say that people abused as children are likely to be abusive, and with us it was a whole different level.
It was hard, but we got out all of the bad stuff and then some of the good stories could flow. It was like lancing a boil, and then putting soothing lotion on the raw skin. Bryn told us about how she liked to paint. She was pretty good with watercolors. She had a friend that had this little bakery. She did gift baskets for people and sometimes there were some of Bryn's small paintings in there. One woman had even asked her to do a portrait of her daughter. Bryn had been walking back to her apartment after delivering it when she got into trouble. Poor thing had taken off running with only the backpack she had been carrying. Max was rather annoyed with Zack to learn that she had searched so hard and there was Bryn a few hours away from Seattle for over a year.
But there were good stories too. Max had us all rolling with her stories about being a bike messenger for Jam Pony. I had to meet this guy Normal. Sounded like a riot. I told them about my family and dealing with Kayla. And if Zack thought he had it rough, imagine me having to deal with my sister's best friend doing everything she could to initiate me into lesbian love. For some reason Max thought that was hysterical. Said we needed to introduce Kat to Original Cindy. Yeah, I could just see that happening.
We talked until the sun was up and Max had to leave for work. I would have wondered why she was still holding down such a crummy job, but now that we had gotten to know each other again, I could see how independent she was. Had always been, really. It was just more evident now. I guess Justin and I had been together so long and had been a part of each other's lives that I didn't think in terms of his and mine. It was all ours. Except for underwear. I come home and he's in my panties, and we're going to have problems. But Max and Logan hadn't been together all that long. He was not going to be her sugar daddy. But she liked knowing she could now torment Normal and the consequences wouldn't be that dire.
We sent Bryn back to bed. She needed to sleep and rest to recover. Physically, she was going to be fine. Emotionally, that was hard to tell. Having a miscarriage could not have been easy on her, despite the conception process. It was going to take some time, but we were here for her now. She was never going to be alone in this and if Zack tried anything, I was going to slap the crap out of him. Bryn needed to feel safe right now, and having us all here helped her in that. He wasn't going to like it, but I did have a lot more experience with healing people than he did. Like I said, you spend enough time in hospitals, you really do pick up on things.
Logan had gotten up and went into the kitchen while Max and I made sure Bryn was back in bed. She was out in a few minutes, despite the smell of coffee that was starting to drift through the whole apartment. Max only had time to grab a cup on her way out, but the way she rushed seemed like their usual morning routine. I grabbed a cup and picked up the morning paper to see if there was anything of interest in there. There wasn't. After working for Eyes Only, you really got a feel for what was a real story and what was so sanitized there was nothing left but a kernel of truth.
"How's Bryn?" Logan asked.
I put down the paper. "Better, I think. It's going to take some time."
"I can imagine."
There was an awkward silence. "You know," I said, "As much as I, of all people, can understand the need for secrecy, I'm going to have to tell Justin that I met you."
"Does Nikki know about you?" His blue eyes were riveted onto me. I always knew he had a rather piercing stare through the video, but live, it was like he was taking inventory of your soul.
"No," I answered. "Justin wouldn't even consider publishing an article about Manticore anywhere because he knows what it would do to me. Nikki would never left sentiment get in the way of the truth."
"Sounds like a hell of a journalist."
"She is," I said. It was the truth. She really was incredible. "But sometimes you have to temper truth with compassion. But she's new to the Eyes Only thing. She'll figure that out for herself eventually." I smiled. "Let me guess, knowing about me is a litmus test for knowing about you." He gave me a slight smile. "So your secret is more important than mine. Ego much?"
That actually got a real laugh. "Priorities, my dear LAX. Never ego."
He and I finally relaxed and started talking. He was very curious to know exactly what Justin was doing in Seattle a year ago and I got to know why he had asked us to get some of the things he did. Turns out Mr. Gerhardt Bronck had been running some nasty operations all up the west coast. The information concerning shoddy construction that we had gotten our first Thanksgiving was only the tip of the iceberg. After the white-slavery ring had been exposed, the man was finally sent to jail. He thought he was going to be sent to some white-collar place where he could bribe his way into confined luxury. He was in the courthouse jail cell, waiting for a two-minute hearing before going back to his private luxury cell, when another inmate stabbed him to death. The guy's daughter had been one of the girls kidnapped. Irony was a strange form of justice sometime.
Logan showed me his set-up. Pretty sweet. Put Justin's to shame. Granted, Logan had a wider audience to reach, but I had a feeling once Justin saw this, he was going to have journalist-envy and have to get a set just like it. Boys. If they weren't so cute, it would be annoying. We hung out until Max came back, claiming she was taking an early lunch. She groaned when she saw us in the computer room.
"Don't even think you're going to be spending your whole time in here," she declared, hands on her hips. "We got way too much to do and way too little time."
"Speaking of time," I said, checking my watch with an exaggerated motion, "what do you say it's time to wake up our dear big brother? Got enough time left?"
She grinned. "For that, always enough time."
Max left her bike at the penthouse and we took a cruise on her baby. The last time I had been on a motorcycle was when I was fifteen and the boy I was dating had a little one. That was nothing compared to the beast Max flew around Seattle on. If I didn't know how skilled she was, I would have been terrified. Once I got over praying that we would live, I relaxed and enjoyed the rush. No wonder Kat wanted one of these. It was like flying without the plane.
Logan had a keycard to the hotel room. We thought about calling ahead, but Zack had made it clear he would call me first. Fine by me. Max and I slipped into the room quietly, listening for any noises. I had walked in on enough people having sex recently. I didn't need another experience.
It was quiet. Thank God. The bedroom door was open and we slid over to it, peeping around the doorjamb. We both surveyed the scene and then looked at each other with an "awwww" expression. Talk about cute. I don't think I had ever seen Zack that peaceful before. Alicia was laying on her right side and Zack was spooned up against her (a blanket was over them, thank God) his arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her as close as he could.
And then I noticed something odd. I pointed and Max noticed it as well. Okay. What the hell? Both of their left hands were visible and they were wearing rings on the third finger. The only time I ever saw Zack wear jewelry before was that surfer-necklace thing that Max had told me was originally Alicia's. Now a ring. No, a ring that matched Alicia's on a finger that held extreme significance. I knew one thing they had been up to the night before. This, however, was totally unexpected.
"Is Bryn okay?" Zack suddenly asked, making Max and I jump. He hadn't changed position in the least and his eyes looked closed. But this was Zack, so I had no doubt he knew who was in this room and what to do about it.
"She's cool," Max answered. "We were doing the rounds but looks like you already got your hands full."
"Go check on Bryn," Alicia said. Okay, this was getting creepy. Neither of them had moved. You would swear they were both still asleep. And Alicia didn't even sound like she had just been woken up. Perfectly clear and like she had been awake for hours. "I'll meet you over there later."
"You're not walking around by yourself." Now that was the Zack I knew. There was no allowance for argument in that voice.
But it did get a reaction from Alicia. Her eyes opened and she turned her head towards him. "Zack, dear, it's pregnant, not helpless. If Bailey and his brother weren't already dead, they would be able to tell you exactly how I'm still more than capable of fucking up anyone that pisses me off."
Max was biting back laugher and I had my teeth in my lip to do the same. Oh, Zack had hooked up with his match that was for sure. It still remained to be seen if they could keep from killing each other. "I can stay," I spoke up before this argument escalated. Not that it wouldn't be funny, but if either of them jumped up for emphasis, I would be seeing more than I wanted to.
That got their attention. "Zack, Max has got to get back soon, but I can stay here with Alicia and keep her company on the way over to Logan's." Now if that wasn't diplomatic, I didn't know what was.
Zack hesitated for a second. Alicia turned around so she was facing him. I swear, his whole face softened when their eyes met. That was the first time I had ever seen him so...happy is the only word that fits. It's weak, but the only time I had seen a similar expression before was on Justin when him and I were snuggling.
"I will be there in a little while," she said softly. Ah. He was still worried she might take off. She had known that. Someone getting close to Zack to really know him. Now that was a concept I had never thought possible. He nodded and then leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Hey!" Max said, wrinkling her nose. "Least let us close the door before we have to hose you down." Zack didn't say anything, but shot her a dark look. It would have been intimidating but for the blush that infused his cheeks.
We shut the door to give them some privacy and Max practically fell on the small couch. "Now I know I've seen everything."
I shook my head. "Zack wearing a wedding band. That was on my top ten list of things I'm never going to see in this lifetime."
"Can you imagine when mini-Zack is running around?"
That was all the conversation we managed before Zack came out, fully dressed. He even had shoes on and hair brushed. That's not fair. Nobody should be able to get dressed in under three minutes. "Let's go," he said gruffly to Max and then looked at me. I've gotten some strong looks from him before, but none of them had come close to the intensity on his face right then. "Be very careful with her," he ordered.
I could only nod. Sure, Alicia could take care of herself, but you were never going to convince Zack of that. It took a hell of a lot of trust in me to leave her like this. Later, I would laugh thinking about the first time she decided to get some groceries on her own, but right then all I could do was nod gravely.
He and Max left and I knocked lightly on the bedroom door. "It's open," Alicia said.
I walked in. She was sitting on the side of the bed, wrapped up in the blanket, looking at the clothes she had been wearing the day before. She sniffed them tentatively and scrunched her nose. "Forgot to call laundry service last night, huh?" I joked.
"I had better things to do with my time," she replied. She glanced over her shoulder, a smirk on her lips. "As you know from your well-timed call."
I grinned. "That was pure revenge." Her smirk melted into a real smile. I thought for a second. "What size do you wear?"
"Before or now?"
"Now." She gave me what she thought it was. It was hard for her to judge right now and she hadn't been able to shop for real clothes recently. I grabbed the phone and dialed room service. "I need some clothes delivered to my room," I said, picking up a bored tone.
Alicia perked up a little. "Maternity, in the small to medium range, but petite sized," I continued. "Slacks, blouses, everything else. A bit of variety in style. We'll have someone pick up what isn't wanted." I got Alicia's shoe size and gave it to the operator. The girl said it would take an hour and then hung up.
I smiled at Alicia. "And that's the plus to staying at a good hotel. I learned that staying in a few very nice ones with Justin. If you can afford to stay there, then room service will get you anything."
"I rarely stay in them," she said. "Broken in to quite a few, but its kind of hard to keep your cover when you're registered."
I could see that. And I had to admit, I was curious about what Alicia had done. Was it all assassinations? Had she done other things for Manticore? I thought about asking, but chickened out. She had been through some rough times the last few days. No need in hashing up the past, right? "It's going to take an hour if you want to rest or take a shower or whatever."
"Thank you."
I went back into the living room and turned on the TV when I heard the water in the bath running. Alicia was certainly an interesting addition to my crazy family. And a kid. Poor thing. He was going to have all these aunts and uncles after him, not to mention two people that I would be terrified to have as my parents. No, I would stick with what I had.
I thought about that. Family. My family. It had been pretty rough the last few months with Mom. But it was wrong. Totally wrong on their part, and they knew it. That's why they had been hiding it. Of course. So I was in the right, right? Maybe. She had been happier since they had gotten together. I had noticed that, but not put it together. They had been spending more time together and she was just happier in general. I had worked my tail off to get Zack and Alicia back together, two people that really should not be together, and I was doing whatever I could to keep Mom and Tom apart. That didn't seem to go together.
I didn't realize how long I had been sitting there thinking, when there was a knock at the door. Zack would have been proud. I actually used the peephole. A bellboy was standing there with a small rack of clothing. This is why I loved good hotels. What they wouldn't provide, you didn't need. What can I say, Justin had spoiled me. I gave the guy a good tip and told him we would call when we were done.
Alicia had been enjoying a good long soak in the tub, but wrapped herself up in a towel and came out to inspect the clothes. I swear, Kat would have fallen in love. Alicia was so small and dainty it made her seem more like a living doll than a person. In the towel, with the moisture making her honey-blonde hair curl around her face and those big blue eyes, she could have passed for sixteen. I wondered if that was why she was so good at what she did. Nobody would have suspected her to be any more dangerous than cotton candy and daisies.
Alicia found something she could wear and got dressed quickly. They even provided matching shoes. She looked positively adorable in slacks with a tunic-style top. In another month or two, people would want to rub her tummy. While Alicia had been in the bathroom, I had thought of something and wanted to ask her about it. Her designation number was 608. When I had been in Boston for Denise's wedding, the designation number of the X-6 that those two guys had been talking about was 608. Small world, huh?
"Hey, do you remember a Senator Martin?"
Those blue eyes turned on me and any thought of adorable went out the nearest window. Those were the cold blue eyes of endless winter. And that was the expression someone wore when they were about to take a life and not think twice about it. Intellectually, I knew I was strong than her. Faster too. And with her being pregnant, it wouldn't be a problem at all for me to take her on. But I was still stepping back from that icy look and in that moment I knew exactly how such a small girl could manage to be the leader of the X-6.
"And how would you know him?" she asked in measured tones.
"I, uh, well, broke his step-daughter's ankle and wrist at her wedding." Amusement broke up that chill and I was no longer quite so afraid for my life. "Long story about that. Point is, I had heard him and this other guy talking about the X-6 and some stuff that had happened in Washington. They mentioned a 608 being involved."
Her face went utterly neutral. "Really? And what was their opinion on it?" A casual observer would think she was just making polite conversation. I had a feeling there was an explosion of temper that she was barely holding in check.
"You pissed them both off royally," I said. She seemed pleased by that. "Completely screwed up their plans." I didn't want to say how I had been rooting for them to find a way to succeed. "Morons, though. They were talking like we weren't able to be part of the human race and act like regular people. I swear, if the guy had referred to the X-series as "its" one more time, I was about to go in there and kick some a$$.
She looked almost sad for a moment. "Had you taken care of them then, I would never have ended up in LA five months ago. I'm not sure if I should thank you for your decision or deck you." I thought she was going to say something else, but instead she went back into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
I didn't get it. She seemed kind of upset that she wasn't part of Manticore anymore. Shouldn't she be celebrating the fact that she escaped? Yeah, I was scared of the world when I got out, but I was a kid. She was an adult. She hadn't been stuck in barracks, but had been out and around. How could she not be thrilled? And she wasn't alone either. Just permanently separated from all of the people she had known and cared for since birth. Okay. Yeah, that would suck. And she had chosen the separation too. We had done it as a group. I wasn't alone among the X-5. She was among the X-6.
Alicia wasn't a chatty kind of person, so there wasn't much talking on the way back to Logan's. I wanted to get a cab, but Alicia had refused that. Said she had spent the last several months down and enjoyed getting out. And once again she surprised me at a sector checkpoint by pulling out an all-access sector pass. I had one provided by Logan, but Alicia seemed to be quite resourceful on her own.
I did ask her about the rings. She just looked at me like I was dense. "They're wedding bands," she said simply.
"So, you two ran out and found someone to marry you last night?" In Las Vegas, I could see that. Here, not going to happen.
She sighed. "Legalities aren't meant for our kind."
"Yeah, but there's a license and stuff involved for it to be official."
Alicia smirked. "Yes, and I can imagine us trying to apply for one of those. What social security number? Well, we're rogue genetic experiments, so we weren't given one. Will barcode numbers do?" She shook her head slightly. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that truth is what I say it is. And I say, Zack and I are married. We committed to each other and our child. What else is there?"
I could have argued that the piece of paper really does mean something. Justin and I were living together, but I would feel odd calling him my husband now. But then again Mom and Dad didn't legally adopt me either. I just started to use their last name and say I was their kid and they never said differently. Legalities did matter though. Just not all of the time I supposed.
We got to Logan's place and pretty much just hung out the rest of the day. Zack and Alicia talked about where she was going to stay. He said he was going to take care of Bryn and then come back and make sure she was somewhere safe. That earned him a rather murderous look and Logan and I had to leave the room before we got killed for laughing at them. Alicia was flat out telling him that he was not her lord and master and if he even thought that she was going to get locked into some tower, he was sadly mistaken. It was the first time I had ever heard Zack backpedaling and it was nothing short of hysterical.
I talked to Justin and let him know I was going to come home the next day. I wanted to hang out here a while longer, but I had been thinking a lot about family and decided that it was time I got my own straightened out. Besides, I had no doubt that Max and I would remain in contact. Zack must have figured on that when he brought me up here. He could complain, but I wasn't going to pretend that none of this had happened.
Max came home that evening and we all had dinner together. Bryn was up and looking better. Zack had talked to her earlier in her room. I had walked by and caught part of their conversation. I wouldn't have listened in, but Bryn started crying. If Zack had pulled his CO crap on her while she was still so emotionally fragile, I was going to hurt him. "You know where Jasmine is?" she was saying.
Zack smiled at her and smoothed down her hair. "I told you we would get you back," he said. "The people taking care of her knew it wasn't forever."
I stiffened. Did Bryn have a kid? Oh my God, why had he kept this from us? He should have brought her to me. He knew I had the means to take care of a kid and keep her safe. I almost barged in there when he added, "but she's not a puppy anymore. Weighs fifty pounds and eats like a horse."
Bryn laughed weakly. Okay, a fifty-pound dog, no, good call not bringing it to me. Dogs didn't like me. "She probably doesn't remember me," Bryn said sadly.
"She'll have years to get to know you again," Zack replied. She sat up and hugged him. I thought about staying and listening in, but that would have been rude. Instead I went back into the living room and hung out with Max. She knew I was leaving tomorrow and wanted to take Zack and me somewhere.
Zack finally came out and we were off again. This time Max took us to the Space Needle. It had been closed for years, but that hadn't deterred Max any. We went right to the top and then crawled out one of the broken windows. When we got there, all three of us went dead silent. This was her high place. The city, which was so dirty and corrupt on the streets, was beautiful up here, all dark shapes with warm glowing lights.
We sat down and admired the view for a while. "When I first got here," Max said softly, "I used to come up here and imagine what it would be like to have all of you guys with me. I'd make up what you were doing and where you had been." She smiled. "I had Jhondie pegged as a fashion designer though."
I smiled. "Hey, I live in Los Angeles. That's not a bad bet to make."
"I think about it too," Zack spoke up. He didn't take his eyes off of the skyline. "What it would be like if it was safe for us all to be together."
I patted his leg. "Hope's the thing that keeps us alive," I reminded him. "You think Bryn would have lasted without it. Hope and faith. It's what got us out the first time."
"And Eva," Max added. She toasted an imaginary glass into the air. "To hope, faith and Eva for giving us the last eleven years."
What the hell, I hoisted my own imaginary glass. "Salute."
Zack smiled slightly like we were nuts. Okay, so maybe we were. But after the last couple of days, we deserved it. Max's phone rang and she sighed, showing her annoyance when she checked the number. "Logan," she said, getting up and walking away to answer him. I smiled. Guess she was used to needing privacy when talking to Logan. Discussing things like breaking into police headquarters was not a good thing to do in public.
"Never thought you would be married before me," I said when Zack and I were alone. "Not to mention have a kid. You two picked out a name yet?"
"Not yet," he replied. "We're still...debating."
I grinned, imagining them two trying to argue the other one down. "You're happy," I said. "You really do get it now."
He thought for a long moment and then nodded. "Let the wounds heal, keep the scars, right?"
"Right," I smiled. I hesitated for a minute, feeling nervous now. I had been thinking about this and wanting to ask him a question, but I wasn't sure exactly how to say it. I didn't want him to get mad but I wanted him to at least know that I would like this.
I took a deep breath. "Zack, I've been thinking about something," I began. He eyed me warily. "And if you don't want to, that's okay. I totally understand. But...when I get married, it's traditional to have someone give the bride away and I always thought my dad would do it, but since he can't I was wondering if you would think about doing it." I got all of that out in one breath.
"And yeah, I know it might look funny, but trust me, I can come up with a million believable cover stories about you being a cousin from Georgia or something and...and you think I'm crazy, don't you."
He had looked away from me, his expression slightly bemused. "Yes."
"It's okay," I said, feeling disappointed, even though I had told myself that there was no way he would do it. "You probably have no idea where you're going to be anyway and..."
"Jhondie," Zack said, cutting me off. "I said yes."
My eyes got huge. "Even if it means wearing a tux and getting pictures taken?"
"I can do the tux, we'll discuss the pictures later."
I couldn't help myself. I leaned over and gave him a hug. "This means so much to me."
"I know."
Max came back over and looked at us with one eyebrow raised. "So when did the love-fest start?"
"Zack said yes," I grinned. She knew what I had wanted to ask and told me she thought there was no way he would ever agree, though she was happy to be a bridesmaid. I would have had her as my maid-of-honor, but she would have had to fight Kayla over that one.
She smirked at Zack. "'Bout time you decided to be a real big brother." She indicated the phone. "Logan's got some puppy or orphan or something in need of a rescue, so I need to blaze. Want a ride back?"
We got up and headed out with her. Tomorrow I would be going home and I couldn't help but feel like I had turned some brave new corner in my life. Everything was different now, but the important things, who I loved and who loved me, those were still the same.