A/N- this is short.
A/N- so was my A/N so I'll write more here. My evil twin seemed to escape whilst I was writing answers to reviews so if they don't sound like me then sorry- in my defence I haven't gotten to bed before midnight and I've had to get up at 6am every morning this week. Blame it on sleep deprivation. Or psychosis- whatever.
20
White was used to being in trouble. Ever since his father- Sandeman- had defected he had been kept on a tight leash within the conclave and every time he failed in a mission he was reminded of that fact and that the rest of his family were also defective.
C.J's help to 452 had been the final straw for him and he had informed the committee that his allegiances were all for the conclave and if they continued treating him like a traitor then his work at the NSA would take precedence since they, at least, seemed to have their priorities in order. That didn't sit well with the conclave but they had backed off some and even given him reign to kill 452. And now he lost what was supposed to be a decomposing corpse, he was well and truly up that creek and his paddles were MIA.
The heads weren't going to be lenient with another screw up and he was looking at death for this mess.
He kicked out at the nearest table and felt somewhat mollified as it splintered into pieces.
He straightened his jacket and cleared his throat. As far as the conclave was aware 452 was dead and she just had to stay that way. What he had to do was kill her. Properly this time, there was no time to try again with the questions. It had to be quick and clean.
One problem. Since she believed that Terminal City was destroyed she wouldn't head back there straight away- it wasn't tactically sagacious. She'd go to ground and get medical help first then she would try to contact her fellow freaks.
So he should search hospitals in the area and keep an eye on communications.
Now he had a plan he felt better and left the carnage of his temper tantrum as the only evidence in the quiet basement.
~~~~~~
Things were slowly getting back to normal in TC after their adventures of the past few months. There were things that had stayed the same and things that had changed drastically. The first led to the second in one case. The transgenics were all working when they heard the familiar strains of a Max and Alec argument coming from her office. They grinned at each other glad that those two were finally okay and got back on with work whilst keeping a transgenically enhanced ear out for the argument.
"But Max!" Alec paced in front of her desk "I was here, okay, right where you are and I know for a fact that one person can't handle all this by themselves. You gotta learn to delegate."
Max cocked her head and looked at him in amusement, "Poor Alec, couldn't you handle it all?"
He grimaced, "Sure but it ain't healthy Maxie. You may have shark DNA and can work 24 hours a day but the rest of us aren't that lucky."
"I was doing fine."
"You were tired and off your game because you were distracted by all the crap in this place which is why you were caught," He stated even as he said the words he wished he could snatch them back.
The grin disappeared and the blank look in her face came back.
It was only one of the changes in Max that worried Alec. Before, her face was an open book, every nuance of emotion was there to read, and it was one of the things that Manticore taught them that she had deliberately pushed aside. But now it was like she was wearing a mask and not even him, with all his empathy, could tell what was going on in her head.
"I was caught because I was shot and tasered by eight Familiars," She relied casually as if she was talking about something of no importance.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked cautiously. Since she had got back she hadn't said two words about what had happened to her whilst under Whites "care". Alec had been tortured before and he knew the kind of deep scars that it left that you just couldn't see and he wanted to help Max to ease any of those scars that were there. But she was so scarily blasé about it. It reminded him of himself and the way he'd been when he'd seen Rachel again.
He remembered Max asking him if he wanted to talk.
"Now why would I wanna do that?" the smirk was back on her face as she echoed his words back to him unknowingly repeating the very thoughts that he was having.
He nodded acknowledging her memory, "Just consider the offer open all right?"
"I'm always all right. Isn't that how it goes?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. It was plain that she wasn't going to tell him anything.
"Maxie, just take things easier okay. I did a pretty good job while you were gone. I can help."
She thought about it for a second. "Sure, you're right if I delegate I can have time to pursue- other venues."
"I meant relax." He rolled his eyes
"Whatever. So you wanna help pretty boy, you can deal with the supply situation aiight?"
His eyes widened at her sudden acquiescence and then narrowed in suspicion.
"Really?"
Max hid a grin with her hand, "Yes really."
He paused and that was all Max needed to give a laugh
"If I'd known agreeing with you was all it took to shut you up, I would have done it ages ago."
"There are other ways," He raised an eyebrow knowingly but the grin faded and she ignored his comment.
"Not as efficient," She said glancing down at the paperwork. "So I'll give you the supply details to look in on okay?"
Alec nodded.
That was another thing.
Before White and his goons took her whenever he made some subtle- or not so subtle- innuendo she would seethe and offer to kick his ass. But now since she kissed him- and refused to even mention it- she just ignored any flirting on his part. They were almost back to square one of their relationship; except it was obvious that she didn't hate him this time round. While she had been in that coma he had promised that as soon as she woke up he was going to tell her that he was in love with her but he was still procrastinating. Maybe because he didn't know where he stood with her now.
Were they just friends, or even friends? She had kissed him, was that more out of relief or did she actually have any feelings for him? Before she left she had told him that she valued and trusted him, since he hadn't got her out and it had been left to her to make her escape was that still the case?
The questions dancing in his head were giving him a headache.
"Actually, Alec, there was something I wanted to ask you."
As he looked up he felt an involuntary shiver carry up his spine at the totally blank look on her face.
"Y-yeah?"
"When you were looking for me, you had a list of all warehouses and government buildings that were active in the area. Can I have it? Might come in handy."
Had her voice not been so carefully blank and devoid of all emotion Alec might have just handed it over. But there was something in the way she said that that made him pause.
"What do you want that for Maxie?"
She cocked her head and smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes "Just in case we need weapons or military holdall."
That wasn't it and he knew it.
"I'm in charge of supplies so I think I'd better hold onto that," he said with an easy grin and watched intently for the telltale flinch in her eyes. It wasn't there.
"Okay," She shrugged one shoulder and turned back to her maps.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Messymissy- not so scared of doctors as wary of everything. As for the attitude- watch this space.
Willow98002- Hi there! Hope you like the rest of the story.
m/a fan- I liked the reunion too, Alec was so darn sweet- even telling her about Normal!!
Nat452- Oh well- I guess I'll have to clean my room myself. Sorry for the time between chapters.
Jamies Spawn- Max/452 will want to get back to her mission asap and I think she need the therapy of kicking a little ass.
Ganko- Sorry it was short- but more soon. Honest! What is gambatte?
Nora- I will try to get more of this out very very soon!
Raven- Alec and Max will have each other to sort through their issues soon enough so don't worry hopefully they will prevail!
Sohna- Hi! grin thanks and no the fic isn't over yet, we have some issues to work through first!
Martha- There's more and I will try to get my updates for this out faster!
Acb- I hate stories where the character has been through hell and then all is well. No, all is not well. I want her to have issues dammit! Issues… ahem, which I seem to have too.
Grumpy2348- amnesia, but don't worry I forgot how to spell too (amnesia- forgot -get it? sheesh tough crowd.) As for wrapping it all up? Any idea because I'm making it up as I go along!
Jade-K- Yup aftershocks- good word for it. That girl has more issues than Cosmo (CAN'T YOU JUST TELL I'M IN A STRANGE MOOD TONIGHT?) Yeah Alec should help her through because other than eye-candy that's why he's there. Let's be honest. (ok excuse me while I lock up my evil twin.)
SockBrain- Ah my fellow Brit, we can get Alec nice and naked before the end of the story but where would I post it? ff.net doesn't allow NC17 stuff!
GivenAlias- How many more? Um… more?
FromR21&back- Aw thanks pet (yes I am a girl- at least last time I checked) Two hours reading this! Wow, so welcome then. check out my AU series Left Behind, Moving Ahead and Moving Alongside. Enjoy!
Athena80- You have a weird feeling about Max, I have a weird feeling about Max, Alec has a weird feeling about Max- could be just that Max is weird (dammit the evil twin escaped again! Sorry!)
Cloudburst- Yeah I lived up to the bitch but dammit I like cliffhangers, they kinda guarantee that peeps will carry on reading. Although the death threats do get kinda funny after a while seriously, my last story in the Buffy verse, I received about twenty actual emails threatening physical harm if I didn't write a sequel! But I am not easily scared! Yeah who is in Max's head? Max or 452? Glad you liked the kiss.
SGOU- Ooh I like the name- I was crowned Goddess by my Willow/Spike fans but Supreme Goddess? That outranks me dammit. Glad you liked it, especially the lines you mentioned. They made me giggle so they got added in. Good point about the white coats- and why do doctors where white anyway? Surely that shows up the blood more? Go figure. Yeah it was a typo. Macs (her screen name) is a class writer and she's so shy, I keep telling her to post but she won't!
Kathryn Buffy Gellar- HEY THERE! How's the revision going? And the exams? You should be glad that you reviewed because it forced me to get off my ass and update! So yay to you- see what happens when you review. I will try to get CTT out more often, promise.
Oh yeah THAT story! Still makes me mad to think about it. I know lots have read it because I checked out her reviews and I was gobsmacked- people actually got past the sixth chapter! I held on to number 5 but then just couldn't! So I understand. Email me and we can reminisce together! Glad you liked both this and the other stories ands just for such a sweet review I'll post two chapters how's that?