Like a Pea to a Princess
Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and blows up the bonfire.
--Francois de La Rouchefoucauld
"you're right. I do."
Max realised he was waiting for an answer. "I said that I..."
Before she could finish Mole burst in through the door closely followed by an apologetic looking Dix and an over excited Joshua. But Alec's intense gaze didn't leave her until he was inescapably part of the conversation."Well if it isn't miracle boy, back to the world of the living." Mole growled. Max sighed, what was going on, with all these interruptions she was beginning to think someone didn't want her to tell him. Alec turned his trademark smirk at his new companions."Mole, buddy, I see you're still at the cigars, they'll kill you, you know." He grinned"Bite Me!" Mole purposely took a long drag on his cigar and blew a puff into the transgenics face before he stormed out, Alec just laughed."Is there no getting affection from that guy.""Are you kidding, that was him affectionate." Dix added moving to replace the space just vacated by the grouchy lizard man."What can I do for you?" Alec asked good-naturedly."I wanted to ask you about the missing data from the beta base but you didn't make it to the bar last night, looks like it was just as well I didn't chase you up." Dix said pointing along the length of his bedridden form."Hey I'm fine. Right the data, I totally forgot. They're in my jacket pocket." Alec made a move to get up but Max was quicker and got up to retrieve the named item. It was then that Dix finally noticed Max's presence and he looked quizzically between the two as Max handed him the jacket."There's a little something extra in there that I brought back just for you.""If I'd known we were exchanging gifts I would have brought you something." Dix jibbed back as he carefully felt around and then removed a number of small data discs from the inside pocket."Medium-fella better now?" Joshua said speaking up"Yeah, nothing to worry about. How are ya pal?""Joshua has family together again, " He beamed and patted Alec on the back gently "All good." Joshua sniffed the air as he turned a big grin on Max who had repositioned herself on the end of the bed again. Seeing the questions forming in Dix's mind already Joshua interrupted "Dix we leave."
Almost stumbling out the door they left the room practically as they'd entered with Alec's full and yet uncertain attention on a squirming Max sat at the end of his bed as far away from him as she could get without falling off the end. His eyes bored into her but she continued to fiddle with her hands."What?" Alec decided to go back to his previous line of questioning. "You want to run that one by me again?""I was just telling you how I feel!" Max said defensively."Are you kidding?" Alec asked softly"...no...""You ... love me? like a hole in the head right?""No.""...like cold tea, right?""No.""...Like a pea to a ...""I said no didn't I !?!"She looked at him beseechingly, her anger only barely veiling the growing hurt and panic. He continued to stare openly at her with a mix of loss and confusion. Was it that hard to believe? What more could she say?... or was it something else ... her heart sank to the floor as the horrible possibilities of the situation began to crowd her mind. Maybe he doesn't want to believe it, maybe he wants it to be a joke. Could that be why he so easily dismissed having caught her this morning? Was his smile then one of relief? Right then looking at him as his mouth opened and closed without being able to utter a sound, her heart broke. He was probably trying to think of some way to let her down. Suddenly her instinct to escape kicked into gear."You know, " she began through hollow laughter trying to dispel the tears that threatened her otherwise calm exterior, " This was a mistake, I didn't mean it ... just pretend I never said anything." She got up from the bed and started to back away towards the door, Alec's eyes widened in realisation."Max...?""I was just caught up ... what with everything going on ... I'm just glad you're okay, just had to make sure.""Max."
"I understand it was wrong... just forget it ..."
"Max!!" With that she turned and ran from the room, down the hall and towards the exit. "MAX! DON'T RUN AWAY WHEN YOU KNOW I CAN'T FOLLOW YOU!!"His voice echoed down the corridor and in her mind making her hesitate. She froze, her eyes closed tightly and her hand remained quivering on the door handle. She tried to shut all her senses out so she could think clearly but all her senses were focused on the one being that meant the most to her. If she really focused she could hear the rhythmic pattering of his heart, the gentle puffing of his breath and ... the shifting of sheets? Max frowned then it struck her, he was trying to get out of bed despite his doctors orders.
"No" she whispered. Before she could think about what she was doing she found herself back in his doorway watching him swing his legs off the end of the bed placing his feet on the cold concrete floor."No, you can't" She moved to him swiftly putting her hand to his chest stopping his advances. His lips were instantly upon hers. Her eyes bulged in shock at the unexpected attack, but also at the softness of his caress. Her hands trembled in rhythm with her thundering heart as she began to return the kiss. So soft and reverent at first it was that she almost wanted to cry. This is where they differed most; she left things to words, he went for actions. Her knees buckled and she fell into him. Alec shuffling back, took her by the arms and pulled her on to the bed so they could both sit comfortably."Will you listen to me now?" He pleaded softly. Max finding herself somewhat incoherent just resigned herself to nodding. "Max, You don't know what you do to me. Hearing you say that ... can you blame me for finding it a little unbelievable? I don't understand, but I want to." He added quickly struggling with his words "I mean how can you love me, you barely came to see me off five months ago, and then when I called ... you seemed so happy, like you were better off without me."
Max looked up at him seeing the pain colouring his expressive eyes. Alec shook his head trying to get his thoughts back on track. He looked at her finding her eyes quivering like leaves due to the unshed tears and her unspoken fears. "How long?"
"I'm not entirely sure. Once I got away from the denial I could look back... It could have been the moment you disappeared because right then something happened to me. When I was loosing you, losing the hope I realised how much that couldn't happen. I couldn't hide from you I had no choice but confront the fact that what I felt for was more than I thought. "She looked up into his apprehensive eyes her voice a little unsteady." Then again it could have been during the five months before that, when for 23 hours of each day I felt like I was alone just because I missed you so much. On my worst days I'd unconsciously go looking for you to take my mind off things. I'd pent up all my anger and frustration, I'd hold on to it all until you called wanting to vent like I knew I could do with you and you would just let me ... but when I heard your voice it just didn't seem to have a point anymore, but what's the fun anyway if I can't kick your ass for effect." she smiled as she heard him laugh lightly.
"Then I think back further and I wonder if it was there before that in those times when I joined you for your watch duty when I couldn't sleep," Alec looked surprised, he remembered those times but certainly hadn't read them that way. He had thought that it was just the place she chose to visit when she couldn't sleep, that his presence there had nothing to do with it. But she hadn't finished yet."Do you remember the day you showed me your plans for the new base? I gave you hell for it and you told me I was just jealous ... But it wasn't that, it wasn't because I didn't trust you, or that I thought it would fall through. It was because I knew you'd go with it, I knew that it was the best thing to do and the only one who could go and pull it off was you, it was like I was losing you." She absently stroked a hand down his sleep-creased tee-shirt and Alec couldn't help but smile. Max took his hands in hers and continued to look at them as if in awe of actually being able to."Turns out ... I need you." Her heart was beating hard and fast until it almost choked her words. She began to stroke his warm flesh with her thumb. Alec's grin grew wider as he looked down at their joined hands.
"Go figure." His voice was so soft yet so sure and the underlying excitement filled her with a similar excitement and the strength to see this through. Suddenly she felt so stupid, how could telling him the truth be anything but a good thing? they were clearly beyond the point where not matter what may or may not happen between them they would remain friends."So what now? Do you want to know why? where? how?" Alec chuckled"No I think why is pretty obvious, I mean with an ass like mine who can help but fall helplessly in love with me. "He added mellow dramatically. Max scoffed,"Yeah, you had Normal within seconds.""Ouch, bellow the belt."Looking up in to his adoring eyes Max smiled happily and brought him into a careful hug remembering his wounds. She felt like crying again when she felt him take a deep breath of her scent. She couldn't believe this was real, that he was in her arms, and she had no intention of letting him go."Can I keep you now?""Max, you've had me all along."A/N: Well, do you like.? That could well be it for this story. I'm a sucker for happy endings. I'm thinking about writing something to tell the story of Alec's escapades on those 13 day. What do you think?