A/N: Thank you so much Infie!!! You Rock! And thanks to goblie for lending me a bit of her knowledge.

Tough Call

Gotcha!

Max closed the door behind her and glanced around. The house was awfully quiet, which was weird. She started to frown but forgot about it as her eyes focused on Alec.

He had been going through the different rooms, making sure nothing was out of place, yet he had stopped when he saw her frown. He squirmed a little, hands in the pockets of his jacket and looked down before raising his eyes again to meet hers. He opened his mouth and promptly shut it again. His pupils dilated before he narrowed his eyes, a suspicious look coming into them.

The little smile that she knew was the cause of his reaction broadened on her lips, making his eyebrows furrow even more.

"What?" he asked warily.

"Nothing."

"Why are you smiling?"

"You just look adorable when there's something you don't want to tell me," she said, still smiling.

She watched his jaw drop and he blinked a couple of times. "Come again?"

"You do," she answered. "Just like a little kid." The cautious look remained there. He wasn't sure where he was standing. Good.

He shook his head as if to clear it. "Okay… so you know I have something to tell you that you are not going to like…" She nodded, not that it had been a question. "And you are still smiling." His words sounded almost like an accusation.

"If there is one thing these past few days have taught me, Alec, it's that there is always going to be something I'm not going to like." She shrugged.

He just looked at her.

After what seemed like an eternity, but couldn't have been more than thirty seconds, he raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes, a corner of his mouth going up momentarily. His usual 'Yeah… well.. you've got a point' expression. He took a deep breath and plunged right into it: "Joshua is staying in Terminal City."

Max blinked. No wonder he had been uncomfortable after seeing her frown upon entering. He had thought she had realized the big guy wasn't around. Which she would have, had he not been distracting her with his looking around, and moving, and breathing, and…

He was still watching her. Waiting for her reaction. She could almost see what was going through his mind. That was rather remarkable, considering how he always managed to surprise her.

But she had decided earlier that she would pay him back with the same currency. So instead of yelling at him, or scolding him, or even hitting him, she smiled and said: "Okay."

Oh, yeah! That was what she wanted, that very same reaction. She almost laughed out loud at the shock he displayed.

She couldn't hate him. She had been trying all night the night before. She just couldn't. She could understand only too well. After all, for ten years of her life another guy, Zack, had lied and hidden things from her with her 'best interests' at heart. Wasn't the same, it was worse. Cause she now knew Alec'd been in pain too.

It still didn't make things right though. But she had been wavering. Just when she had been finally trying to find a way to forgive him, he'd done it again. The whole Nicole fiasco. She had been so pissed. Yelling at him had been exactly what she needed. That was good. That, she could deal with. It had been the perfect solution. Maybe she didn't hate him anymore or ache just seeing him, but that didn't mean she couldn't stay mad at him. Exactly the way out she needed.

Until he had talked to her.

If he had said something to appease her, she would have been able to ignore it. If he had lied to her, she would have remained mad at him. He hadn't. He had said exactly what she didn't want to hear. And then had promised her he would try.

She could not resist that. Honesty. Not like she hadn't made plenty of mistakes where he was concerned. She had been resigned, knowing she had to capitulate. Maybe her words hadn't sounded like much of an admission of defeat. But he had understood.

And then he had told her about his concern regarding Nicole. It wasn't fair. He should not be able to disarm her defenses so easily, without even trying.

Fine. She could deal with it. But if he thought he was the only one capable of keeping someone on their toes then he was sorely mistaken.


Alec stared at Max, trying to figure out what had just happened. He had been expecting a variety of reactions from her. Rage, outrage, fury, hurt, or even worse, disappointment. Or coldness.

Nothing could have prepared him for her acceptance. And it was real. He could see it in her eyes.

"It will be probably for the best. He won't need to hide in there, he'll have others to talk to. And as much as I hate to admit it, he'll probably be safer," she was saying.

Alec shook his head. He had to be really tired. Why was Max being so nice? Was she planning something? He searched her face again, but he couldn't find anything that would suggest that.

She was an amazing woman. He should be thinking about what Nicole had told them, about the runes, about protecting Terminal City, about White, Sandeman. The list was endless. Yet all he could think of was how truly unique she was. He snorted at himself, thinking of the number of times he had used that word. Yet it fitted no one as well as her. She could be annoying, hard headed, stubborn, irritating. But she was also one of the strongest people he'd ever met. She was smart. And loyal. And unpredictable. And different.

Unique.

"So, uhm…what now?" She asked.

"Now we figure out what the hell is going on." He replied, trademark grin twisting his lips. "No biggie."

"Right." She rolled her eyes and laughed. But then she turned serious. "What do you think?"

"I think there is too much we don't know. I mean, first there's Nicole. She doesn't seem like the kind who would lie, but we don't really know that. And even if she is not lying, there's no way to know the guy she was allegedly watching really was Sandeman. And even if it was, who's to say what he told her was true? On the other hand… why would he bother if it wasn't? And if Nicole has been straightforward with us, then he is not in contact with the cult anymore, she would have known and would have told us. I just don't know." He finished, raising his palms and resting his head on the back of the couch.

Max nodded. "Well, if she wasn't lying, some of the things he told her are real… the whole initiation thing, the language, the message, it's what the others came up with… Then again, if she's not being honest, she could be telling us selected truths so we'll trust her…" She grabbed a wisp of her hair and started playing with it, frustrated. "This is going nowhere."

Alec smiled a little. "Gee, Maxie, we've thought about it for all of... five seconds?"

"Oh, you know what I mean. Too many what ifs."

"Yeah, I know. Well, tomorrow we'll go get a little blood tested. See if there is anything we can get out of it, any ugly little evil viruses. Well, other than the genetically retro-targeted one you already have, that is." He winked at her. She rolled her eyes but didn't get offended, or mad, or even sad. He had to smile.

"Ok, Terminal City?" She asked. He nodded. "Good. Might as well check out the place. Oh, and wipe that stupid smirk off your face. This is still MY city. Been around here a hell of a lot longer than any of you clowns," she said defiantly, her chin raised.

He chuckled and closed his eyes. "Glad to see you're back, Max." Had he just said that? So not the thing to say right then. Sure, he was glad to see she was back to her former self. It just wasn't smart to remind her that she hadn't been, cause that might remind her of why she hadn't, which could take her back to being mad at him. Right? He rubbed his eyes distractedly. Okay, time to make some silly comment, make her forget what he'd just said. Before he could, he felt a strong grip on his elbow and felt himself yanked from the sofa. He let her drag him into the bedroom with a mixture of wariness and amusement.

She stopped beside the bed and pointed at it. "Go to sleep, mister." He was about to make a witty rejoinder, or at least what he thought would be one, about the situation, when she spoke again, raising her hand. "Save it. Don't waste your breath." He opened his mouth and she stopped him once again, laughing. "Alec, you just passed on a perfect opportunity to tell me how very unbecoming it is to act all tough guy and macho like." she snorted and raised an eyebrow. "You are evidently exhausted, slick."

Oh, yeah? His arm moved with lightning speed to go around her waist and pin her to him. He smirked. "Never too tired for that, babe." He jested.

"Really?" Did she just…purr? Her hands spread on his chest and one of her legs pushed it's way between his and entangled itself with them and… pulled hard, the hands on his torso giving it a hard shove. He looked up from the bed he'd just fallen onto, only to see her walk to the door and turn off the lights. Okay, so maybe he was a little too tired. How else did he not see that one coming?

"Max," he whispered.

She turned around to look at him. "I won't leave the apartment without letting you know first. I promise." And she left, closing the door behind her.

He sighed. Was he becoming so predictable? That was the last thing he needed. Especially with everything that was going on. His mind wandered once again towards everything they'd learnt in the last couple of days. This Sandeman thing was really giving him a headache. Was it real? Why wouldn't it be? And this virus thing… What was it with scientists and viruses? … He was glad White hadn't been around for the last few days. Except to trash Logan's place, but that was to be expected. Logan couldn't have really expected that no one would ever trace him. … Nicole, he could see no reason not to trust her, and yet… He had to figure out a way to get the folks in Terminal city what they needed... There was something else he was supposed to take care of, but he couldn't quite place it… Biggs had taken care of White's kid and the aunt, he'd set up a different account for her. That was ok. SO what was he forgetting? … The deliveries had to be more organized. He had to put Biggs or possibly Nicole to make sure each of them had a good route so they could be away for long stretches of time and Normal wouldn't be pestering them. Yeah, he'd take care of it in the morning… Still something escaping him… Max had looked so beautiful. She should smile more often… Had to remember to bring Joshua's stuff to Terminal City tomorrow. Big guy would want his books and canvases and paint… Why had she been in such a good mood? … Cell phones. He needed to score some cell phones… Too tired.

The last thing on his mind as he drifted of to sleep was that beautiful face smiling at him.


"Well, here we are." Biggs announced with a bright smile as they reached the apartment building. "Ain't it great?" She didn't answer. He hadn't expected her to. She'd been silent the last part of their walk. But he didn't mind. After all, he'd spent the greater part of his life in a place that didn't exactly encourage socializing. He was used to it. So he would toss the occasional comment, more to amuse himself than to actually start a conversation. It was what he used to do back at Manticore. Especially whenever his friend 494 had been in one of his morose moods. He'd learnt that just because he wasn't answering, it didn't mean he wanted Biggs to stop. And every now and then, his words would elicit a response.

They were coming out of the staircase when he suddenly burst out laughing. Nicole stopped to wait for him. She didn't ask what it was, she didn't raise an eyebrow in question, she didn't even look at him as if he'd gone mad. She just stood there, with that blank expression he was getting used to. "Sorry," he said, "I just realized I hadn't told you I have a roommate. You are going to looooove him." He shook his head chuckling. "Come on." She of course, glanced once more around before following him.

"Honey! I'm ho-ome!" he bellowed as he entered, causing the man behind the computer to jump in his chair and then glare at him. Biggs grinned. "Now, Cale, what kind of welcome is that?" He asked with feigned sadness. "Can't you see we've got guests?"

Logan glanced briefly at Nicole and then looked back at him. "Couldn't you take your little friends and entertain them elsewhere?"

Nicole looked at Biggs for a second and then went into the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator and cupboards. Biggs burst out laughing. Logan would never know how close it had been. In that split second her eyes made contact with Biggs', at least thirty different ways to kill Logan had passed through them, one by one, before she decided the ordinary wasn't worth the trouble.

Logan, of course, was looking at him like Biggs had gone down the deep end. Maybe he had. He was starting to 'get' Nicole. The human got up and headed for his room.

Nicole joined Biggs carrying some leftover… actually, he wasn't sure what it was exactly, Logan must have cooked himself some dinner.

"Why do you live with Eyes Only?" She asked as she sat down on Logan's chair.

It didn't surprise Biggs that she knew who Logan was, it only took a good pair of eyes. Of course, it helped if said eyes were genetically enhanced. "Long story." As expected, she didn't ask to hear it. She did, however, start checking all the connections on the hardware. "Don't worry. It's just the comp. No access to the outside." She still kept going through the equipment for five more seconds. "You sure are methodical." He commented casually. "Wonder if you are as thorough at everything you do…"

She turned her serious gaze at him. "Does that mean you are wondering what it would be like to have sex with me?" She asked bluntly.

He smirked. "Depends… what would your answer be if I suggested it?" He used his most lewd tone.

She didn't hesitate. "After this is over, yes."

Okay, that wasn't exactly the expected answer. His eyes narrowed. "Why?" He asked suspiciously.

"Why not?"

"Well…there is the whole lack of enthusiasm you've got going on. I don't exactly see you trying to contain your rampant passion and lust." He said sardonically.

"I don't believe in God or any sort of higher power. I have still read the Bible, Torah, Qu'ran, Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, The Dhammapada …" Her tone never changed, nor did her expression. "Sex, as religion, is a very powerful force that motivates people. It is important to understand them."

Biggs shook his head, laughing. "Well…you can always read some books on it."

"I have. Unlike religion, sex is more physical. You can't learn to fight by reading books." She said, solemn.

"Yeah, right." Biggs stopped laughing. "You are not trying to tell me you've never had sex, are you? Cause I can tell you right now: I am not buying."

"I am not." She replied. "But I have lived outside Manticore since I was ten."

*Huh?* What the hell was she talking about? Precisely the reason why it should have been easier for her to get some... action. "Meaning?" He had to ask.

"All the contact I had was with ordinaries."

"Ah!" He needed no more explanation. "You want to know what it is like with one of us, huh?"

"It didn't seem to be what humans find so worth the trouble. From our physiology, I assume we must be prepared to make it a more remarkable experience."

"Oh, yeah…" Biggs couldn't help the words from coming out of his mouth. "Definitely different."

Gray eyes searched his before she said: "Max."

How the hell did she…? He did his best to keep his poker face. He almost managed it. It wouldn't have been possible for a human to notice the slight dilatation of his pupils. Even for highly trained interrogators like they'd had at Manticore. It was for her. He still had to try. "What do you mean?"

"From your words, it is evident you've been sexually involved with one of us. You were not in the breeding program – I had access to the lists. I heard what that Cindy woman told you about not keeping it in your pants. First I thought it could have been the X6, but she acts completely natural towards you. Max doesn't."

Biggs kept his head up and started to protest. He knew it was useless, that she knew the truth. But he had to. She prevented him from speaking.

"Heat. I understand. And that yellowish eye you had yesterday tells me you and Alec worked it out. You still have to deal with Max. Which you don't know how to do."

He blinked. Wow. Talk about synthesis. Of course, there was also the part about the baby. Strange that she hadn't sensed that. Then he remembered. She hadn't been at Manticore. Even if she did know pregnant X5s would smell differently because of the hormones, she wouldn't know what the smell was. And it was not as if she had been around other female X5s to know the difference.

"Anyway," he finally said, still not acknowledging anything, "we have other things to worry about right now. Like sleep. Wanna use my bedroom?"

She didn't seem to mind the brusque shift.

Not that he would have cared if she did.


"Welcome back, boss." Max looked up to see a really big guy with a green face biting a cigar and smiling. She turned to look at Alec and mouthed: 'boss?'. Alec just displayed his most innocent face and shrugged. She looked at Biggs and Nicole behind him, but they were both looking at the guy on the railing.

They had all arrived at TC at the same time. Biggs was smiling, amused at something only he knew. He seemed to do that a lot. Nicole was, naturally, standing there, completely expressionless.

Lizard guy was still talking. "But why did you have to bring prince charming back with you?" Max blinked. Who was he talking about? Or talking to for that matter. "We were doing just fine by ourselves, Gray." Gray? Well, that certainly cleared the matter. That nickname only suited one person in the room. "I mean, I know you said it was a temporary position and all, but did it have to be him?" He finished in mock despair.

"No. But it was either him or 511. They were the X5s I knew for sure were in town."

"Why did it have to be an X5?" A guy with a lion-face that had been leaning on the door asked, his voice full of resentment.

"Experience." Was the curt answer.

"Why them and not you?" Luke asked, curious.

"I was never around people. Much less transgenics."

Max noticed none of them had mentioned her as another X5 in the city. It wasn't necessary. Max was a deserter, she had run away. She suddenly felt completely on the outside.

At that exact moment, she felt Alec's body brush against her side. He said nothing. He didn't even look at her. It appeared to be completely casual, like he hadn't even noticed. She knew better. She had to stop herself from moving her hand to grab his.

"All right, people, we have stuff to do and some of us, a job to go to." Alec said suddenly. After taking care of the proper introductions, he continued. "Dix, you seem to be the intellectual around here, you know medicine, right?" He acknowledged the nod. "Ok, I need you to find me anyone with medical experience so they can help you. This place was filled with labs, there must be lots of salvageable stuff. I want you to take a sample of our blood, of all of us. Not sure we'll be able to find much, but it's a start. Here!" he said, tossing some books.

Max recognized the one she had borrowed from Logan some time ago. She was amazed thinking that that virus was all she cared about just a few months ago. Life was weird. "In case there is something we don't remember." Alec was saying, mockingly. Everyone chuckled. His tone was clearly saying 'as if'. "I'll give you the basics. Max here has some pretty weird runes that kind of popped up on her skin. It has come to our attention that some people may want to exterminate all human life via this very nasty virus. This source also suggested we, as a group, would survive it, I want to know if that's true. They also seemed pretty interested in finding her. Apparently she is the one who's 'power is hidden'. If the rest of the information is good, this would mean she is a host. Which would also explain her lack of symptoms when she was infected." He stopped, watching her horrified expression and smiled, softening his tone a little. "It's okay, it also means a cure can be synthesized out of you. From what h.. our informant has told us, it stand to reason we all have the antibodies, but maybe they can't be used. A vaccine or serum or something like that is easier extracted from the host. One of the reasons those poor monkeys disappeared from Africa even before the pulse." He shrugged. "I want to know if this... source was being straightforward with us."

Luke stood up and took Joshua and Lyon with him to go get the necessary supplies. Dix commented finding out would take some time.

"Well, we've got two weeks. Thirteen days to be exact, according to the runes. I want to know before that." He paused meaningfully. "Well before that."

Everyone nodded and they moved on to discuss the supply of food for Terminal City. Transhumans had been going out through the sewers to get what they needed. But their numbers were increasing. Besides, now they had a few Xs to take care of that. No need to take those risks. It was decided that the four of them would sneak things inside during their runs. And there were also the X6s. Alec said with a little direction, even they could knock out a Kwik-E-Mart quietly. His tone was playful, directed at the girl that had just walked through the door. Max watched the blonde blush and then smile as he winked at her. Luke came back and started getting the blood samples.

Ralph was thrilled to have them all there, and started telling them all about TC and its inhabitants.

Joshua was the sweetest guy around and he was really strong; Mole was always growling but he wasn't really mean, Lizzie said he had been really nice to her; and then there was Dix, who knew like everything; and Luke was always smiling and being kind to everyone; Lizzie was an X6 like Joe and Regina; Joe was really cool and he knew a lot of hand-to-hand, said Alec had been his instructor once; Lizzie thought Alec was super-cute; Lyon seemed not to like Ralph, but then again he was always glaring at all the X6s; Mole had been designed like that to be able to endure long campaigns in the desert, did they know that? And Dix was..-

"Ralph," Alec called her, interrupting the flow of words. "You need to breathe every now and then." She blushed again, but beamed when he smiled and ruffled her hair before standing up to get his blood drawn.

Max had to bite her lips not to laugh. He didn't seem to realize it, but the girl had a major crush on him. It was a good thing Ralph was just a kid, otherwise Max didn't think she'd be taking things so lightly. Whoa! Where the hell did that thought come from?

She watched Alec move towards Biggs and start talking to him. They seemed very intent.

She shook her head firmly and said out loud, "Are you coming, Nicole?" before she walked out of the room. She needed some air. The other X5 followed her silently.


Max and Nicole were walking towards what seemed to have become Command Center, each carrying two large bags filled with groceries, mostly canned food. One of the X6s came out to greet them.

"There is a building near the limit of Terminal City Mole wants one of you to check out to see if we could use it." The brown haired girl announced.

"Sure, I'll check it out," said Max, not like she had anything to do. She and Nicole had finished their deliveries of the day. Nicole was great at that, she would grab a lot of packages and plot a course, so that they finished their runs with a great deal of spare time to come check TC. This was the third time they'd done it that day. Normal wouldn't be expecting them until the next day.

"No, I'll go." The taller woman said. "You stay here. Alec and Biggs shouldn't take long."

Max resisted the urge to throw something at her, and stick her tongue out while she was at it. But she had already given up on even attempting to convince the other woman of anything that resembled easing up on the security deal. Oh, well, at least she'd be free of her for at least a few minutes.

She walked into the building and turned to watch the two transgenics start walking away. Of course, Nicole had only begun moving after Max was inside the building. Someone should teach the woman how to lighten up. In fact… she, Max, should be the one to teach her. After all, there was no one else around, right?

Definitely. It was her duty! A scheming smile started to spread through her face as a plan was forming in her brain.


Alec knocked on the door in front of him one last time. He waited a few more seconds before giving up and putting the package back in his bag. Great. This meant he would have to come back. Not exactly his idea of fun. He was trying to save time and this was making it harder. Why were people not home? Did they absolutely need to have a life? And if they did, couldn't they get it on a day he wasn't supposed to deliver their packages?

He shook his head amused at himself. He was sounding like Max. Truth was, he was grumpy cause he'd had to do all of Biggs' deliveries this time around. They had figured if each of them did the deliveries in turn, it gave the other more leeway to either go 'acquire' stuff or check on things around Terminal City. Biggs had taken the earlier route, so now Alec was in charge of keeping both their jobs. He smiled thinking that he was actually making the work of two messengers in less time than it normally took to make his own. If only Normal knew…

Well, this one would have to wait till tomorrow. He was out of work for the day. He had a lot to do. It was unbelievable how much more clearly he could think after a good night's sleep.


"Uhm…Max?"

Max turned around to look at the girl calling her. She had been sorting things out in what passed for the office and was now outside another building. She had been trying to figure out if there was anything worthwhile in it. Without much luck, at that. "Yo!" She watched the girl frown in confusion and rolled her eyes. "I meant, yes?"

"Oh, right. Nicole said if you could join her."

"Join her? Why?"

The girl shrugged. "She didn't give much explanation. She just said to get you."

Max chuckled, of course she wouldn't. "All, right kid, lead the way."


"That's the one." Regina signaled the building half a block away and then squirmed a little.

Max watched her amused. "What?"

"It's just that Mole said we were each supposed to clean up a room, and I haven't finished, and if him or Nicole find out, they'll give me another lousy assignment and I..-"

"It's ok. Go back. I won't tell a soul." Max winked.

The girl beamed. "Thanks!" and ran off. Poor kid.

Oh yeah, Nicole definitely had one coming. What was the deal with that chick? Didn't she realize they were out of Manticore?

She entered the building still shaking her head and looked around. The place was mostly an empty room with a couple of stairs that led to the railings on the sides. It was completely dark, except for 2 places where the setting sun managed to get through the filthy windows. There were a couple of large crates and a number of smaller boxes. Great, now where was Nicole? "Hey, What is it you wanted me to see?" She asked loudly. The voice that answered her made her blood freeze.

"Me, 452, she wanted you to see me."

He was standing not four feet away from her, a gun trained at her. She glanced around only to spot two other men surrounding her from different directions. No way to dodge every bullet. She took a deep breath and drawled lazily.

"Good to see you too, Ames."


Alec was pedaling towards Terminal City and dialing on his cell phone. He took it to his ear and groaned after a minute.

Where the hell was Logan? It wasn't as if he had anything to do. Well, sure, he had his Eyes Only contacts, probably. But come on, for the past months every time Alec had dropped by, Logan had been in his place. Did he have to leave right now?

He knew he was being unfair. Logan had every right to do whatever he pleased - as long as it didn't involve Max, of course.

But Alec needed someone now. A human. Neither Sketchy nor OC would do. He needed someone that looked more … old. And with that natural confidence and arrogance.

He reflected for a second and then dialed another number. It wasn't exactly as perfect, but it would have to do.


Nicole watched through the window out of cold gray eyes. Max had walked right into the trap. Just as Nicole had imagined she would. The girl was too predictable.

She watched the men surround her and tie her to a pole. Handcuffs. She didn't even try to fight them, she knew she didn't stand a chance against three guns.

Well, nothing else for Nicole to do here. She was about to get up to head back to Headquarters when a rustle behind her caught her attention. She remained motionless, maybe whoever it was would leave without noticing her.

"What the hell are you doing spying on Max?"

Nicole closed her eyes for an instant. She was really looking forward to that virus killing every one of the stupid humans that walked on this planet. When her eyes opened again, nothing in her expression had changed. A second later the guy that had been on the roof of the warehouse pointed his shotgun on them both.

This wasn't exactly according to her plan, but she would deal with it. Nothing fazed Nicole. Ever.

She raised both her hands. She'd play along.


Biggs was perched atop the rooftop of a three storied building looking down. He had been jumping from one construction to the next following her, making sure she didn't see him. It had been a while since his last surveillance mission, but it wasn't something you forgot. It was not the coolest kind of mission, in fact, it was one of the worse. But he'd been given the order to keep her in sight. No one had rescinded that order. So he had continued to stalk his prey. She hadn't even noticed him.

And now here he was. He was trying to glance through one of the windows of the warehouse now. His eyes narrowed as he focused, but the window was too filthy for him to see anything.

Nicole was crouched under the other window a little to the left, peering in. She was about to move away, probably head back to Command Center. He moved to go down to intercept and demand an explanation, but he caught another movement. Cale. What the hell was he doing here?

He saw her surprise for an instant before she masked it under her impassive face. A guy with a shotgun was immediately on them from the roof of the warehouse. He watched them both lift their hands and being led to the inside. Biggs was sure she'd find a way to land on her feet. Hell... she could have made it out of there. Sure, Logan would probably have bit it, but it wasn't like that'd bother her. She'd probably thought of some way to take advantage of this new development. Yeah, Biggs thought to himself. *That* fit the profile.

He took out his cell phone and dialed. Alec was not going to be very happy about this. Not at all.