Disclaimer: Characters are sadly still not mine, although fingers crossed for my birthday…oh also paraphrased a bit speech from an episode of DA.
Authors Note: Okay I am officially grovelling for forgiveness while pointing frantically at the pile of coursework still cluttering up my desk. Thank you all for the reviews which have forced me to come back when I would otherwise have given up this story for good.
Especially sorry to Nuns With Pens who are the most fantastic writers on the web and where I am completely incompetent at the whole link here, upload there thing. * hangs head in shame * I have tried to upload there and originally got it right but now cannot make it work for unknown reasons. Sorry. Also sorry for the over long authors note.
EDGE OF LOVE
Chapter 10 – Blood and Water
The sound of the fist knocking on the door sounded again and Alec raised his head blurrily from his pillow. Actually knocking was an understatement, pounding would have been more accurate. "What the fu-?" Alec mumbled still more asleep than awake. The noise came again and sighing heavily Alec shook his head in an attempt to shake the sleep from his mind. "Yeah, yeah." He muttered as he pulled himself from his warm comfortable bed.
Shivering slightly in the cold morning air Alec padded into the living room. A quick glance confirmed that Max's door was closed and she was evidently still in bed. Shaking his head to himself at the hours his room mate kept he went to open the front door that was still being assaulted by someone's fist.
Opening the door abruptly Alec blinked blearily at the person responsible. An unfamiliar well built blonde man who stood a couple of inches over him stood there. The blonde looked taken aback at the sight of him. "Can I help you?" Alec asked rubbing his forearm across his face.
"Who are you?" The man demanded his aggressive tone matching the tough look he projected in his leather jacket and beaten jeans.
Unimpressed by this Alec looked the guy up and down and said. "Hey you knocked on my door buddy."
An almost growl came from the other mans face and he tried to shoulder his way into the apartment. "Whoa. Calm down." Alec blocked his way instinctively.
"Doesn't Max live here?" The stranger asked in a hard voice.
Wide awake now, Alec looked at the stranger with distrust and suspicion. He didn't know who this guy was and judging from how tight lipped Max was about her past and how aggressive this man was, he wasn't feeling like helping this guy find her.
"How do you know Max?" Alec asked carefully.
"How do you?" The man countered.
Alec raised his eyebrows to the mans fierce glare. "I live with her." He responded simply. He was completely unprepared for the punch that caught him in the jaw. Alec stumbled, his hand moving to rub the bone even as his mind whirled into overdrive. His arm moved to block the blondes raised fist and he swung him into the wall beside him.
"Get the hell off me." He grunted at Alec. Shaking off the remaining ache from his jaw Alec shook his head. An instant later he felt his forehead explode as the other man slammed his head into his.
"Fu-" Alec crashed backwards against a small bookcase, knocking several ornaments onto the floor with a smash. He leapt to his feet about to retaliate when a familiar feminine voice broke through the noise.
"Zack?!" Max gasped. "Oh my God!" Alec watched in disbelief as Max threw her self at the man she had called Zack and hugged him tightly. Zack hesitated only a second before enveloping Max with his arms, still glaring at Alec over her shoulder.
"Maxie." Zack said, his eyes closing briefly as he relished the feel of Max in his arms again.
Alec rolled his eyes at the sight of Max's smile. This had better be a brief reunion, he thought observing the way Zack had relaxed the moment Max came in. All I need is an ex of hers around to complicate matters.
Max pulled back, her wide smile still gracing her face. "I can't believe you're really here, I've missed you so much." Zack smiled. The underlying hurt that always seemed present when he looked at her was eased by how obviously happy she was to see him.
"I've missed you too Maxie." He admitted, tugging on one of her dark curls, the gesture about as publicly affectionate as Zack could manage. Max smiled warmly at him before a voice cut in.
"Well now that I've witnessed this touching moment I think I'll go and put some ice on my bruises." He said dryly, hiding the hurt that Max had basically ignored his existence since she had entered the room.
Max frowned and turned around as though she had only just realised Alec was present at all. "Alec!" Max exclaimed as she took in the sight of his bruised face. Spinning she saw Zack was in a similar state. "What happened?" She asked dismayed.
Zack's face shuttered and his jaw clenched as he glared at Alec. "He wouldn't tell me where you were." He said coldly.
"You know I don't exactly recall you asking where she was before you decided to go all terminator on me." Alec glared back at Zack before directing his attention to Max. "I was just looking out for you Max."
Max bit her lip the way she always did when she was distressed or confused. "Alec this is my brother, Zack. Zack this is my room mate Alec."
"Foster brother." Zack interrupted, not liking the relief he had seen in Alec's eyes. "We only grew up together, we're not actually related."
Right. Alec got the message loud and clear from the possessive tone in Zack's voice and the explicit explanation of their relationship.
Max however was frowning. "Like blood makes that much of a difference." She said.
Zack shifted uncomfortably "You want to get some breakfast and catch up?" He asked. Max smiled widely at Zack and nodded.
"I need to get dressed, why don't I meet you down at this diner 'Betty's' It's just down the street."
"Sure. I'll see you in a few minutes." Max smiled happily again at him and headed to her bedroom. Alec watched Zack watch her go with a growing feeling of trepidation.
"Need me to show you the way out?" Alec asked sarcastically as Zack continued to gaze after Max.
Zack shook himself out of his daze and glared at Alec. "I think I can find the door myself thanks." He shot Alec a dirty look as he left the small apartment. Alec smiled sardonically at the other man before letting the front door swing shut a split second after Zack stepped over the threshold.
It didn't take long for Max to leave her bedroom. "Have you seen my keys?" She asked Alec.
"No." Alec paused wondering how to phrase this delicate line. "So um do you think there's something, I don't know, a little off about brother Zack?" He asked.
Max straightened and gave Alec a look. "He's just a little protective is all." Max shrugged. "Wouldn't you be the same way about a strange guy in your little sister's apartment?" She asked referring to Alec and Zack's little brawl.
"Well I would give the guy the benefit of the doubt before I tried to rearrange his face." Alec muttered. "My point is he doesn't look at you like any brother I've ever seen."
Max stopped her search, dropping the cushion she was looking under. "You got something to say Alec, just say it." She challenged.
"Fine. I think brother Zack's got the hots for you." Alec laid it out for her flat. "Its kind of kinky if you ask me." He observed, keeping his tone light even as his eyes were serious watching for her reaction.
"I didn't ask you." Max bit out angry now. "Zack's my brother, my family so whatever is going on in your sick twisted little mind keep it to your self."
Alec's jaw tightened at the implicit accusation. "That hurts Max." He tried to say it sarcastically but the truth echoed behind his usual tone.
Max glared at him and scooped up the keys she spotted under the coffee table. "The truth always does." She slammed the front door behind her.
***********
"So how come you're living with that Alec guy?" Zack asked tightly. They were sitting in a corner booth in a local diner, having both placed their orders they sat in silence for a few minutes just getting their heads around the fact they were together again.
Max rolled her eyes. "Oh there was a mix up with our names and I got stuck with the idiot as a roomie for the year." She said, still upset by Alec's comments about Zack.
Zack relaxed slightly at the derogatory way she referred to him but he had to be sure. "So there's nothing between you two?" He asked.
Max gave a small laugh "Hell no." A small twinge in her chest reminded her of all the times she had felt safe and loved? in his arms.
Now with the knowledge that Alec was no competition to him Zack could appreciate the way he had stopped him from entering to see Max. It was good to know someone had been looking out for her while he was gone.
"Besides I'm seeing someone else." Max continued. Zack's relief vanished. "His name is Logan and he's really nice, I think you'll like him." Max grinned and Zack frowned.
"Is it serious?" He asked.
Max blushed. "Well yeah, I guess. I mean we've been together a few months now and everything."
"He's a student here then? What does he study?" Zack asked, trying to reign in his jealousy.
Max fidgeted and suddenly became preoccupied with the salt shakers in front of her. "He doesn't so much study, as well teaches."
Zack's head shot up. "What? How old is this guy?" He demanded, his features darkened in anger.
Max rushed to defend Logan. "He's really young for being a teacher, honest. He's smart and cute and…"
"…A complete pervert for dating a student who he's supposed to be teaching not dating!" Zack finished. "What is his name?" He asked determinedly. Max recognised the look.
"Like I'm gonna tell you that now." She pointed out the insanity.
"Max this is wrong, this guy sounds like a total creep who is abusing his position of trust."
"Yeah and I remember what you did the last time that happened!" Max lost her always quick temper. Zack's head snapped back like she had slapped him and Max was instantly repentant. "Zack I'm sorry I didn't mean that. I know you were only protecting me." Zack was still silent and Max felt her eyes well up at the stony hurt expression on his face. She hadn't meant to sound so accusing; God knew she was grateful to Zack for looking out for her all these years. "I'm sorry." She ended miserably.
Zack sighed to himself as he looked at Max. She was right, if he knew who this jerk was he would probably go and get himself into a lot more trouble. Trouble he couldn't afford these days.
"It's okay Maxie. Not like you're not right or anything."
Max shook her head guiltily. "Zack-"
Zack cut her off, grabbing her hands across the table. "It wasn't you're fault Maxie." He said. "Don't ever think that."
"When did you get out?" Max asked quietly.
Zack smiled slightly. "A few days ago" He hesitated "I haven't left." Max's surprised eyes darted up to meet his. "Not exactly anyway" He amended. "They've offered me a place in special ops and I'm thinking about taking it up." Zack shifted his eyes away from Max. "Who would have thought I'd make it as a good soldier."
No it hadn't been her fault, Max knew this, but nothing could change the fact that she was the reason for it.
Zack had always protected her. From the moment they met at St Jude Home for Children it had always been them against the rest of the world. He was older than her by a couple of years and had always protected and loved her when they had no one else. It had been pure chance that they had been placed in their foster home together and Max couldn't imagine how she would have survived her hard childhood without him.
The foster home hadn't seemed that bad, just an alcoholic ex colonel who needed the extra money which two foster kids brought into his wallet. He had been easy with his fists with Zack but had always left Max largely alone. Zack had put up with the abuse in order to stay with Max, shelving his considerable temper with the thought of being separated from her…Until the night when the colonel had gotten drunk enough to try and hurt Max.
The Juvenile court had been generous considering the amount of damage Zack had inflicted on their foster father. A choice between Military School followed by a couple of years of service, or juvenile detention followed by a couple of years in jail. It hadn't been a difficult decision.
"You want to stay in the army Zack?" Max felt inexplicably betrayed. She had always assumed that once Zack was free he would come back to her and they could stay together like the childish plans they had formed on lonely nights back at St Jude.
Zack sighed heavily not sure how to explain his thoughts and feelings to Max. He had never lied to her, ever. Max knew he loved her but it had never occurred to her how his love had evolved as they grew up - as she grew up into the stubborn, smart, beautiful woman she was now.
"Max, I fit in the army, and believe it or not I'm actually good at what I do." He linked his finger through Max's unconsciously as he willed her to understand. "The only other place I've felt like I fit is with you." Zack admitted. Max smiled softly at him.
"Me too, which is why I don't understand how you can want to stay and leave me." Max said squeezing their fingers.
Zack breathed in sharply. "Because I can't be with you Max." He saw the confusion rising in her dark eyes and continued. "Not the way I want to be." He met her gaze with his own and could actually see the moment awareness entered them in a mixture of dawning horror, guilt and finally sadness.
Alec…Oh he was right, how can Zack think…Alec… For some reason Logan didn't even enter her mind.
"Zack-" Max's voice broke and she lowered her eyes unable to verbally acknowledge what he had finally admitted aloud. She tried to pull her hands away but Zack held them tightly, some unknown hope he still harboured making a desperate plea.
"If there's a chance Max, no matter how small that you can one day…I can wait, I'll leave the army and wait for as long as you need to see me that way." His fingers clenched hers so tightly he was afraid he was hurting her. "Because I can't be near you otherwise, I can't be near you and know I can't…can't ever really have you…Tell me that one day you might see me that way?"
Max's eyes filled with tears at the heartbreak in her brother's voice but she couldn't imagine ever seeing him as more than just that, her brother. "I can't." Max whispered. She pulled her hands from his suddenly paralysed ones. "I'm sorry Zack" Max sobbed as the tears ran down her face as she looked at his pale frozen features. "I love you." She stood up and ran past the waitress who was just bringing their orders to the table.
*****************
Thump, thump, thump.
Alec bounced the basketball against the living room wall restlessly. It had been hours since Zack had come back without Max. He hadn't seemed surprised that Max wasn't home and had handed Alec a letter for him to give her. What had surprised Alec was the fact that Zack, although seeming sad, had asked Alec to watch out for Max. Particularly with the teacher she was seeing.
Wary at Zack's change in attitude Alec had none the less agreed and the two had even shook hands before the other man had left. Now Alec was just waiting for her to come back from where ever the hell she went when she was upset and wondering what had happened between her and brother Zack.
Thump, thump, thump.
Maybe it was his fault. It wouldn't be the first time he had said or done something that had caused Max to get upset. What if she had confronted Zack about what he had said to her this morning?
Thump, thump, thump.
The front door opened and Alec missed the ball bouncing back at him and it rolled over the floor to where Max bent to pick it up. "Max, hey." Alec stood up feeling unaccountably awkward. Her head was tilted forward so her hair fell across her face, obscuring her features from him.
"Hey." Her voice sounded wrong, hoarse somehow broken. Max simply stood there, staring at the basketball in her hands.
Alec walked up to her, picking up the envelope Zack had left for her. "Zack came by." That got a reaction and she turned so she could see him. He wished she hadn't, her eyes were filled with a horrible mix of hope and pain and loneliness. "He left this for you." Alec finished and offered her the letter. The hope died in her eyes.
"He's gone?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"Yeah." Alec knew she didn't mean for the moment and he reached out to touch her in comfort.
Max flinched away. "Don't, just - leave me alone." With that she turned away and walked to her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her. Closing Alec out.
TBC.
A/N 2: Wow this apartment sees a lot of action. I have no idea how the judicial system works in America so just imagine what I wrote about Zack could have happened.