With You Chapter Four
Disclaimer: Not mine. Although I wish Alec's blue towel would show up on Ebay…
A/N: As always, your reviews have brightened my day! And I'll just say this now, things between Max and Alec get worse before they get better. But trust me, they'll get the happy ending they deserve.
***
Max rushes Alec out of the room and Joshua comes down from the balcony and stands beside Mole.
"Little Fella and Alec acting weird."
"I hear you, Josh. It's not like Max to just take off like that."
"Pretty whack."
An incoming video call from Logan interrupts any further pondering on what was really going on between Max and Alec.
"Hey, um... Jinx? No, no that's not it. Dick?"
"Dix," he replies coldly.
"Dix, right. Is Max around?"
Logan tries to look over Dix's shoulder at the happenings in the base of operations, but to no avail.
"No, actually she's kind of busy at the moment. She had some important business to take care of with Alec and stormed out of here. But I can tell her you called."
"Oh… Yeah, that'll be great. Um… Bye."
"See you around."
Dix hits a button and the screen flickers to black. He goes over to the edge of the balcony and picks up where Mole and Joshua left off.
"You want to know what I think?"
"Go ahead," Mole says, turning to face him.
"Those two sure have gotten closer in the time they've been here. Maybe they're…"
"An item?"
Mole turns back to Kay, giving her a look that almost states she spoke out of turn.
"Exactly," Dix says, a grin plastered across his face.
"Little Fella and Medium Fella gettin' busy!" Joshua exclaims. Just the thought of it, his two best friends hooking up, excites him.
"I wouldn't take it that far. Not yet, anyway," Mole replies to Joshua's exclamation.
"Sir, with all due respects, I think we need a place to stay for the night."
Mole's annoyance returns with Luke's statement.
"Hold your horses, I didn't forget about you. Josh, why don't you escort these two 6's to their new home?"
Joshua's excitement almost knocks Mole to the floor when he slaps him on the back, saying, "Okay!"
"But sir-." Luke is quick to question Mole's actions.
"'But sir' my reptilian ass. Go with Joshua, and that's a direct order! You understand, soldier?" Mole didn't normally take this tone, trying to devoid himself as Max had of all that is Manticore.
"Yes, sir."
"Follow me." Joshua heads toward the door Max and Alec had exited not fifteen minutes before. Luke and Kay follow in suit.
***
Max reaches their apartment moments before Alec, bursting through the door.
"Max, what's with you tonight?"
"Nothing."
"I'm not buying it. I know there's something you're not telling me. Come on, it's me. You can tell me anything."
"Why don't you take a guess."
"Wait, are you freaking out about what happened earlier?"
He looks her straight in the eye before glancing at the chair in front of the TV where they almost kissed.
"Maybe."
"Max."
He flashes those hazel eyes at her, begging her to just open up to him. She feels entranced by them. It is as if she's seeing Alec in a totally different light.
"It's nothing. Really."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
She prays to God that he drops the topic.
"You just seemed a little… You weren't yourself out there."
"Like I said not three minutes ago, I'm fine. Why do you care, anyway?"
She surprises him with her sudden mood swing. He can sense there is more that she's not telling him, but decides not to press the matter, at least not this instant.
"Hey, I wouldn't want the supreme ruler of transgenic central to go all mellow on me, now would I? Besides, you've always been there for me in the past when I needed a listening ear, so I thought I'd return the favor."
"Noted. But all I need now is some sleep."
"Shark DNA giving up on you? I recall you saying you didn't sleep."
"With all that's happened lately, my body needs to catch up somehow. Now if you'll excuse me…"
She brushes past him on her way to her bedroom, sending an enticing chill up his arm through his coat. She stops at her door and looks back to see that trademark grin.
***
Zane is unpacking the necessities from his duffel bag that he brought for the journey to TC. Krit heads to the refrigerator looking for some grub. He opens the door to find a few empty beer bottles and a box of baking soda.
"Tell me again why I thought this place would be stocked with something to eat?"
Zane looks around the door of his room.
"Who knows, maybe the welcome wagon will show up on our doorstep any minute now with fresh pizza and a case of beer."
Krit chuckles to himself.
"I'm going to go across the hall and see if I can scrounge up anything there. Want to come?"
"Count me in. You go ahead, I'll be over in a second. I just need to make a phone call."
Krit takes the beer bottle out of the refrigerator and tosses them in the sink. As soon as the door is closed behind him, Zane whips his cell phone out of his pocket. Cursing when he can't get a signal, he walks to the opposite side of the room, grabbing his coat and he heads out the door.
The halls are empty, for the most part, and Zane makes it to the outside without bumping into any transhumans. He finds an alley across the street and enters into the darkness. Flipping his phone open once again, he heaves a sigh of relief when it gets the signal. He dials the number and waits for an answer.
"Come on, I don't have all day."
At long last, a voice picks up on the other end.
"Hey, it's Zane. I'm inside."
He listens as the voice replies.
"I know to wait for the zephyr." The code word rolls off his tongue easily. The secret meaning remains unknown to any eavesdroppers.
"Good work, soldier. I'm looking forward to the outcome of this plan." The voice is cold, almost unnerving.
"Thank you, sir."
The line goes dead as the voice hangs up. Zane stashes the phone in his jacket and returns to the building.
***
Jondy is sprawled out on the sofa reading a magazine. Krit, much to his disappointment, was unable to fulfill his appetite with only an apple. Syl is searching the cabinets for any food that might have been left behind.
"You can tell this magazine dates back to pre-Pulse. Nowadays it's rare to come upon anyone wearing designer dresses and brand new high heels. It's like a big slap in the face, don't you think?"
Jondy looks up, watching Syl close the last of the cabinets and turn to Krit, empty handed.
"It's a shame we were too young to remember any of it," Syl replies, jumping onto the counter and sitting down.
"It's not like it would make a difference. Lydecker had us on a leash and chain. There was no way we could have begun to enjoy it." Krit's words totally ruin the mood.
"Gee, thanks for reminding us," Jondy quips back, sarcasm oozing from every word. It is still a relief for all of them that Manticore is gone for good this time.
"Reminding us of what?" Zane strolls through the door, catching Jondy's comment.
"Pre-Pulse back at Manticore," Syl fills in the blanks for him.
"Ah, the good old days." He gets a far off look on his face. He comes back to reality when he remembers who was just arriving at the same moment as he was. "By the way, you've got some more guests."
He moves from the doorway, allowing Aletha to enter.
"Did I miss the party?"
Syl cuts straight to business.
"So, you seem to have grown attached to a certain someone."
Aletha tries to act as if she has no idea what Syl is talking about, but she knows full well that they have caught on to her newest crush.
"What do you mean?"
"Ryan. How you can't seem to take your eyes off him for a second."
Jondy feels as if she should jump in but sits it out as Syl has her fun.
"What about Ryan?" She gets knowing stares throughout the room and adds, "He's… a friend."
"Just a friend?"
Syl is having more fun with this than she expected.
"That's what I said. He's nice, sweet, caring-."
"Sexy, steamy, the stuff dreams are made of. I know you, Aletha. You love him, don't you?"
"I wouldn't take it that far."
"I knew it! So do you see this going anywhere?"
Syl is on the edge of her seat with anticipation, not wanting to pass up a chance of playing matchmaker.
"I don't know, I just met the guy!"
Zane, Krit, and Jondy are all trying to sustain giggles from Syl's performance and Aletha's replies.
"Okay, so I think I'm going to head back now." Aletha gives them all a look, silently telling them not to say a word about any of this to Ryan.
"What, so soon? I was just getting started!" By this point Syl releases a laugh, giving Aletha all the more reason to go back to Ryan. Due to Syl's outburst, the others follow, the laughing low at first but rising louder as Aletha closes the door behind her, leaving them to have their own fun while she goes to find hers.
As she walks back to her new home, she goes over what just happened in her mind. Was she really falling for a guy she just met?
Before she can work out an answer, the door to apartment 19, across the hall from her own, swings open, revealing one fine looking X5.
"Oh, hey! So you're the new neighbor Ryan mentioned before he left. I'm Joey." He extends his hand to shake hers, but all she can manage is three words under her breath.
"Sweet fancy Moses…"
***
Sockbrain – I know I said this in my last email to you, but thank you, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate your help as a beta reader. Glad you liked the chapter!
RGAP-48 – Oh yeah, I think Kay and Luke decide to make it their jobs to annoy Mole. And there's definitely going to be more kissing in later chapters, for a few couples ;) I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Jessica – Well, I don't know it that counted as good things, but at least she didn't punch him. Things will be kind of weird with MA for a while, but it'll get back to normal eventually and then things start to get good. Trust me. Thanks for the review!
Natasqi – Wow, you reviewed both of my fics! Thanks! I'm so glad you liked them.
Willow98002 – Thanks! I hope to have some more MA scenes after the tension between them dies down from their little "encounter" earlier. Glad you liked it!