A/N- My sister offered to organize a "I hate Cece" club with banners and badges… I think she's kidding.
A/N2- Very sorry- next time I will put a tissue warning in my A/N grin.
Chapter 11b
Friendship under fire.
Techie sat in the computer room staring at his monitor. It had been two days since Max had blown up in Explanatory History and things were sliding downhill faster than a skier with oiled shoes.
There was a clear division in the ranks now. Special Ops minus B.J verses Unit 8 minus Tara, himself and, on occasion, Skye. There were some who held out and acted like they always did, with a hint of caution but the majority had chosen sides.
Not that Max noticed at all. She was walking around looking like the living dead, and only Zan seemed brave enough to get through to her. She was distant and wary of everyone, and Carrot had confessed that this was how 452 was in Wyoming. She wasn't Max; she was pure soldier through and through. That had made Emma cry harder than ever and Aiden was forced to take her aside. It was odd to see the reversal of what they had been like a few weeks ago. The strong team splintering.
He understood that. For months he had stalwartly tried to avoid Feen. She scared him and made his life a misery, and yet somehow now he missed her. She didn't seek him out or push him to hang around, she didn't come and sit and stare at him, freaking him out and he should be happy. He wasn't.
As if in answer to his thought he saw her walk past the window and stop, looking at him. She bit her lip and carried on. Techie sighed and went to leave the room only to see her leaning against the wall near the door.
"So are you still mad at me?"
She was as direct as ever, even though he was nonplussed by her opening statement.
"Huh?"
Feen pushed away from the wall and fixed him with her intent gaze.
"Are you still mad at me?" she repeated.
"I wasn't mad," he said marvelling at the fact that he wasn't stuttering.
Feen's eyes narrowed. "Sure?"
Techie swallowed. His feelings of fear returning as he watched the vibrant red head stare at him. "Max is a friend, Feen, and…and y-you just turned your back on her. I wasn't mad…maybe just disappointed."
Her face fell and to his horror tears welled up in he eyes.
"No, Feen, no." He waved his hands wondering frantically how to stop the water in her soft baby blue eyes from spilling over. Dammit, wasn't there some magic formula or words…or anything to stop this?
"Disappointed?" Her voice cracked and a tear fell down her soft cheeks. Techie squeaked in dismay.
"No, really, it's fine. Don't cry. Please!"
Feen took a shuddery breath and another tear slipped down her face.
Techie stood there in total unabridged terror, he was a soldier, dammit, he didn't know how to handle crying women!
He reached out tentatively and touched her shoulder.
"Y-you just stopped talking to me," she cried. "We were getting to be good friends and then you wouldn't even say hi in the corridor."
"Sorry?" he winced. He was usually lost in his own world when he walked around he'd never meant to ignore her purposely. Okay, now it was official, he felt like dirt.
Feen sniffed. "I mean o-okay, so we have a difference of opinion. It doesn't mean that we can't be f-friends. Right?"
"Okay." He would have promised her anything- anything, if she'd just stopped crying. "Friends is good."
"I missed you."
"Um, me too?" the tears had stopped falling and he was able to breathe a little easier.
"Really?"
"Oh, yeah. Absolutely."
It seemed to be the right answer and she smiled, he let loose a sigh of relief.
"So we're okay?"
"Great." Another one he knew the answer to, this was getting easier and she had stopped crying. His heart rate had returned to normal.
Feen leaned forward and hugged him quickly. "Thanks Tech."
"No problem." He sagged against the wall as she let him go and walked away.
Damn she was scary… so why was he smiling?
~~
Mets opened the door to the training yards and wandered out into the bright sunshine thinking about things.
He was interrupted by a yell from the back of the courtyards and the rush of feet. Following the noise he rounded the corner to see a huge crowd of transgenics in a circle.
"What's going on?" he asked the nearest one, a male X8.
"Fight. Some X5's."
Mets frowned and made his way around to the front. His jaw dropped.
Drew was kneeling on the back of some brawny X5 from Unit 1.
"Take it back!"
Her lip was split and a line of blood trailed down her chin. Her clothes were ripped and dirty and it looked like she would have a black eye the next day. The guy on the floor was in a similar state.
Mets watched as Drew pulled the guys arm back more.
"Come on 367, tell me again or I'll break it!"
"O-okay, 452 is n-not a traitor."
"And they say you can't learn." Drew dropped his hand and smacked his head into the concrete. She glared the crowd. "Anyone else?"
No one moved and Drew swiped her hair out of her eyes and stalked off, the crowds parting for her. 367 groaned as Mets walked over him to chase Drew.
"Drew!" he called and she spun.
"Hey Mets, what's up?"
He raised his hand to her lip and wiped away the blood.
Drew laughed. "Oops."
He raised his eyebrows at her laughter. "That's your fourth fight this week, Drew."
"Fifth actually," she replied not liking the look on his face. "I'm behind. Zan has about eight and only the fact that people are scared of Coco and won't fight her means that I'm beating her."
"This isn't a game, Drew. You are gonna end up in Discipline if you're not careful."
"None of them want to admit that they lost. I'm safe, Mets," she stated and pulled away from him.
He sighed and grabbed her arm. "No you're not. Not if you carry on like this. I like Max too but what you're doing isn't –"
"Isn't what?" she said incredulously.
"Smart. Max can fight her own battles, Drew. You are gonna get into trouble."
Drew rolled her eyes. "And I can get out of it as easy. It's what friends do."
"Friends like Dek?"
Drew started. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Mets tightened his jaw. "I thought we had something and now you run to Dek all of the time."
"He's my best friend, Mets."
"What am I?"
"Oh brother!" She rolled her eyes again and tried to pull away.
Mets held on tighter. "You don't just have him to turn to when you need protecting and-"
"PROTECTING?" Her jaw dropped. "You think I need protecting?"
Too late he realised his slip. "Well…"
"No. I don't need protecting, Mets. I'm a soldier X5 -- one of the best. If you wanted some sweet, fragile, Italian flower then you are barking up the wrong tree." She stared him in the eye, dead serious. "I have never been that. Dek understands me, has always understood me. That's why I go to him. He knows that I don't need protecting, don't need looking after. If you can't handle that then go elsewhere."
Mets watched her dark eyes in shock, she was serious. He opened his mouth to answer when a rumble made them both turn to the gates.
A black van rolled into the facility and edged up the path.
Drew turned; her eyes wide.
"They're back."
~~~~
Max was staring into space, her legs curled underneath her as she was lost in her own world. Zan sat by her side with his books open.
"So then if you add enough poison to that it cancels itself out. Max?"
"Yeah," she sighed and he knew full well that she hadn't been listening. He closed his books. "It's been a week, Max. You have to eat more."
"Not hungry." Her voice was bland and Zan looked her over. She was thinner and had big black circles under her eyes. He knew that she didn't really need to sleep but this was ridiculous.
"You know, we are all worried about you."
"Not all," she stated.
"They don't matter, Max. Your true friends are here for you, you just have to stop pushing them away. All of Special Ops are rooting for you; they know that you have nothing to do with Alec's assignment."
She closed her eyes and shrugged leaning back against the chair.
Zan sighed and ran his hands through his long blonde hair.
"I know what happened to you in Wyoming."
Her eyes shot open and she pinned him with a look and he swallowed and hastily amended his phrase.
"I mean, I was there. I don't know it all but some of it and I know that this feels the same; People turning their back on you for something that you didn't do. But they aren't all doing that. Hell Max, Techie even stood up to Feen because of you."
Max gave a laugh at that, as Zan had intended.
"Give us a chance. We won't disappoint."
Max let her head drift back down as she thought about his words.
"That isn't it," she said softly; so softly that he almost didn't hear her. She couldn't tell him what it was, didn't want to say it out loud and make it more real.
She felt that it could be her fault. To all intents and purposes Alec had been the perfect Manticore soldier. Then with one well aimed kick and a mouth of sass from her and he was suddenly different. Yeah, she had heard the stories about how he followed her around and his whole demeanour altered when she was around. But now, for the first time, she was giving credence to it. What if she had changed Alec? Her ideals, her thoughts about life which seemed so alien- such as talking to the staff, breaking the rules to go see Bill, encouraging him to do Pix's mischief challenge and everything else- what if he had taken his cues from her and that was why he was in Psy-Ops? What if it was her fault?
But of course she couldn't tell Zan that. He was partially right. Wyoming and her abuse from her "pack", her "unit", 261 and the others -- it was all still too damn fresh and she needed time to get over their betrayal before she could think of truly having family here. She had almost been there, had almost begun to think of them as family and now this happened and it brought back to mind every derogatory thing that Bulli and his cronies had ever said and done and the raw wounds which had never had time to heal opened wide and begged for salt.
She was startled out of her musings by the sounds of running feet. She glanced towards the door as it opened and her whole body tensed.
They were back.
"Max!" Sunny called and saw her sitting on the sofa. She raced forwards and dropped to her knees beside Zan. "Hey you, are you okay?"
Her soft voice and worried eyes were almost Max's undoing. She felt her heart give a lurch and she couldn't even think for a moment.
Pix walked up behind her and pushed them aside. He sat down next to Max and pulled her into his arms.
"God, Max. We're here. It's gonna be okay. We're here now."
Max began to shake as her friends leaned on her offering their warmth as comfort.
She grabbed onto Pix's shirt like it was her last lifeline and buried her face in his shoulder, trying desperately not to cry. Zan covered her hand with his and Sunny rubbed her back cooing softly.
It was almost an hour before Max's body had stopped shaking long enough for her to pull away from Pix's comforting embrace and she gave them a shaky smile.
"Welcome back."
They all gave a chuckle and Sunny rubbed her face where tears had fallen.
"Don't cry," Max said. "I'm okay."
"How did you guys hear about it anyway?" Zan wanted to know, glad that they were back.
"We were…um accosted by Feen and Coco who went on to have a domestic in the yards." Sunny bit her lip. "I didn't know Coco could swear like that!"
Max choked on a laugh.
"People surprise you," she said bitterly.
"People suck," Zan added supportively.
"Hey, I got you guys, right?" Max tried to smile and it was almost a success. "I need to go, okay?"
They nodded, knowing full well that Max needed her space.
~~
Max walked down the corridor and hugged her arms to herself. She was tired and just wanted to curl up and sleep for a while, but she knew that she had training and then a long night of watching over Alec. Well at least those in her unit didn't blame her no matter what other whispers were being flung around the place.
She was just about to turn around and go back the way she came when she collided with a body. Her heart sank.
"Biggs."
"Max. I think we need to talk." He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the nearest empty classroom and slammed the door.
Max was so taken aback by his manhandling that she didn't say a word.
He had been the one that she most worried about. He was best friends with Alec and had been since Max had known them both. Alec's being in Psy-Ops was bound to hit him harder than anyone else.
He raked a hand through his already dishevelled hair and paced back and forth.
"What the hell is going on, Max?" he blurted. "We walk in the door and Feen says something about Alec in Psy-Ops, then Coco attacks her and they get hauled away by a trainer. Cece said it was your doing and she got hit by Emma. Chance is in tears, Dek had to hold Drew back before she wasted B.J. Mets got mad and no one will tell me what is going on!"
Max stared at him warily. "Alec is in Psy-Ops because he screwed up a mission."
"No way!" was Biggs's adamant reply.
Max shrugged. "Other than that I have no idea."
"So what was Cece shooting her mouth off about?" he raised an eyebrow.
She was tired, she was cold, she felt bad enough about Alec and she didn't need everyone turning their back on her or demanding answers that she couldn't give.
"Why don't you ask her?" Max had enough of being treated like she was a villain.
Biggs started. "What?"
"You all think you know it all so much, ask her yourself."
"I did, I wanted to hear it from your mouth, Max."
"What? You want me to say that I'm responsible for Alec being tortured right now?"
He nodded. "It's a start. Accept responsibility."
Max gaped. "I thought it was innocent until proven guilty." She closed her eyes and gave a laugh of disbelief, "Oh right, I forgot- that only counts of you aren't an '09er. I don't know, Biggs, follow your C.O at age 9 and branded forever as a traitor."
Biggs looked uncomfortable for a moment but Max carried on.
"Well, screw you. I don't need your judgements and accusations. Fine, I put Alec in Psy-Ops. I am a bad influence. Stay away from the '09er because you might just catch something." She stormed over to the door and he grabbed her arm, remorse in his features that she ignored.
"Max, I didn't –"
"If you don't take your hands off me, we'll start something that neither of us wants to finish," she said icily and he glared back.
"So your just gonna run away. How typical. Isn't that how your unit solved their problems before?"
Max smiled sweetly and grabbed Biggs's wrist. She squeezed until he gasped and let go of her arm.
"Biggs? Screw you."
She stormed out of the room, so intent on her anger and frustrations, trying desperately not to show weakness that she didn't see that she passed a glowering Sunny who had heard every single word.
~
Biggs watched as she slammed the door and walked away, her head held high and a look in her eyes that sent shivers down his spine. He slumped to the table. Damn he was an idiot, he had let his temper run away with him and now he had alienated Max. Truth was he was worried about Alec; the last time that Alec had been in Psy-Ops was back when the '09ers had originally escaped and Alec had come out much more distant than before. Just recently he had come out of his shell, come back into the pack and been more than friends with them. He knew that that was due to Max and the very idea that the fun loving, happy C.O could become that remote commander again wasn't a good feeling. He understood the need to find someone to blame and with Cece and Feen there putting it all on Max it was so easy to judge. But with Max's shut expression masking her hurt eyes and her rigid frame belying her utter exhaustion that was etched into every feature it was less easy to believe.
Oh god, he had just screwed up in the worst way, throwing the '09ers in her face and calling her responsible for Alec's current predicament was possibly the worst thing he could have done. Alec had once told him that the '09ers and calling Max a traitor were her only weak spots and he had just played on them like a master. So in less than 24 hours he had found his best friend and C.O. was in Psy-Ops and he had alienated and possibly destroyed his friendship with said C.O.'s love interest.
Oh Man, Alec was so gonna kick his ass when he came back.
The door swung open and for a crazy second he thought that Max had come back and he was prepared to apologize for what he had said.
Sunny marched in and he felt his lips curve in a welcoming smile. With one hand on her hip she cocked her head as if in consideration. Before he could say a word Sunny pulled back her arm and smacked him clean in the mouth.
It was such a surprise that he didn't even bother to balance himself and fell backwards over the table and onto the floor.
"Asshole!" she said and then turned and marched after Max.
Biggs wiped the blood off his mouth and stared at the door which was looking a little worse for wear.
"Well, there goes the welcome home kiss."
~~~
Pix walked down the corridor stretching his aching muscles. Ok so it had done Max good to be held like that for over an hour but after being in that cramped van for days and then remaining stationary for that long, his muscles were avidly protesting his cruel treatment.
He sighed as his thoughts came back to Max. He had left a fiery, bubbly, bright, kick ass C.O. and returned to find a shadow, so slight that it was like she only eating enough to stay alive. He was scared for her, and that was new.
A movement from behind him caused him to whirl just in time to catch Chance who jumped into his arms.
"Hey, you."
She darted a glance to make sure the cameras were pointed the other way and then planted a kiss on each of his cheeks, so obviously pleased to see him that he grinned from ear to ear.
He dragged them into a nearby classroom away from prying cameras and random passers by and latched his mouth to hers.
It was like coming home. Chance was soft and warm and familiar, her taste still as new and comforting as the first time they had kissed. He wrapped his hands in her silky hair and never wanted to let go.
His hands slid down her waist and pulled her impossibly closer as he devoured her mouth.
Chance pushed away from him and giggled. "Welcome back."
Pix grinned at her and tried to catch her in his arms but she darted away.
"Uh, uh, uh!" she waved her hand in mock disapproval. "Tell me you missed me."
"Like air, like sun, like morning drills."
Chance laughed and he felt his insides ache with happiness at seeing her smile after so long away.
"So are you okay?" She asked moving closer again and touching his arm.
"I am now." He pushed her hair behind her ears. "How about you? Is all this nastiness getting to you?"
"Some." She looked away. "It's hard ya know, everyone's at each other's throats all the time and the fights! I'm glad you're back." She smiled.
"Me too, god knows Max needs more support now."
Chance stilled in his arms. "What?"
Pix glanced down at her face which was suddenly less happy and glowing than it had been seconds ago.
"Chance?"
"Why shouldn't Max be okay?" she pulled away again and stared at him, "It's Alec that's in Psy-Ops."
Pix laughed. "Oh come on Chance, don't tell me you buy all that --it's Max' fault -- stuff?"
"Alec is my brother, Pix, I don't find it funny." Her voice was noticeably less warm than it had been and he stared at her in surprise.
"It isn't Max's fault, Chance. Whatever happened with Alec, which no one but Alec truly knows, Max had nothing to do with it."
"I don't wanna fight about this," she half smiled and went to move in close again but this time it was Pix that moved away.
"Wait. I thought that you'd understand; that you'd be in Max's corner." Her silence made him pause as the truth hit him. "But you haven't, have you?"
"Understand what?"
"What its like to have everyone talk about you behind your back, whisper and laugh. Blame you for things that aren't your doing, things that you have no control over at all. Like being clumsy or your C.O telling you to leave."
Chance wrapped her arms around her middle and shrugged. "It's different."
"How? Max had no control over being an '09er nor the punishment she took as a result. You have little control over those who laughed at you for tripping and all. Seems the same to me. Besides you and Max were friends, she told everyone to lay off and she's stood up for you again and again. How can you turn your back on her now?"
His voice was incredulous as if he just couldn't believe it. Chance blushed and ducked her head in a move that he hadn't seen in months.
"You weren't here, Pix. Yeah, Max is my friend but I have known everyone else longer and Alec is not just my C.O but he's my family."
"And what's Max? An outcast still?"
Chance hurried to amend herself. "That's not what I meant –"
"Tell me, I'm dying to know Chance, because I've known you exactly the same time as you have known Max. Does that make me an outcast too?"
Chance began to tear up. "No, I didn't mean that."
But for the first time Pix was angry. Angry with Chance and the others because instead of thinking logically for one second they were falling back on the tried and true prejudice of Manticore and the training that they had undergone which stated that the '09ers were traitors. To them Max was a traitor; good enough to hang out with, good enough for her to risk her life for them but not good enough to trust or believe in. He had thought that Special Ops and Unit 8 at least were past all of that. Clearly he was mistaken.
He held his hands up as she tried to hug him.
"No, Chance. I can't believe you would do this."
"Pix, please," she tried. "I don't want to fight with you."
He hardened his heart as tears slipped down her cheeks. "Maybe you haven't known her that long, maybe you aren't as close to Max as you are to Alec. But do you honestly think that Alec would want you to be like this to her? He's in love with her, Chance. Anyone can see and when he gets out he's gonna wanna know why his 'little sister' and his girl aren't talking. I hope for your sake he's more forgiving than you seem to be."
He shook his head even as he saw remorse enter into her eyes.
"I can't talk to you right now."
"Pix!" she called as he turned and headed for the door. "Don't walk away! I need you."
"Maybe you do," he conceded. "But Max needs me too and Max is my family and I will not turn my back on her. Not now, not ever."
He paused and then just said what was on his mind, no matter how much it hurt.
"You pick a fight with Max; you pick a fight with me," He stated and walked away and this time he didn't stop, not even when he heard the soft sobs from behind the closed door.
~~~~~
Carrot clambered out of the window and onto the roof where she sat facing away from the main compound. He didn't bother creeping up on her, even though he could, since she knew that he was there anyway.
Tara sat on the edge of the roof and stared out past Manticore at the bright lights of the city, so much more vibrant in the darkness.
"Drink?" Carrot handed her the glass of juice that he had carried here all the way from the kitchen, without spilling a drop.
Tara smiled at him. "Thanks Carrot."
He sat by her and edged a little closer. During her time in Unit 8 she had come to see him as a good friend. He was the one that she had originally stayed closest too. He had seemed the most normal out of all of them. Not prone to violent outbursts like Max, nor dramatic flairs like Coco, nor even pranks like Pix. Carrot was more like her, a soldier.
He had told her just to go with their bizarre behaviour and she would fit right in; she had, with Carrot. They shared the same sense of bemusement with the antics of their fellow transgenics who tried to be more human than Manticore made them to be.
He was the only one that she had confessed to about the report -- other than Max, and he had understood. After all he was a soldier, she had been ordered to do that and he would have done the same. It was where they differed from their peers and it was one of the reasons that she got on so well with him. They understood each other.
"The crazy behaviour has dampened somewhat," he offered and she smiled.
"Good." Almost two weeks of non-stop bitching and fighting and she was ready to scream.
"Drew comes out of Discipline today and Coco and Cece have been warned that if they start another fight they'll be stuck with kitchen duty for a month."
That made Tara smile; if there was one thing that Coco hated it was to get her nails dirty.
"What about B.J. and Pix?"
"B.J. is gonna be fine, he just needed a few stitches and he decided not to tell the brass who busted his jaw, for which Zan should be grateful and Pix got out of the brig this morning."
"We're falling apart."
"Yeah," Carrot smiled sadly. "Renfro was having a field day."
They had all been hauled in front of Director Renfro that morning and she had rallied at them, yelled and finally resorted to threats, intimidation and shrieks. She told them that if this deviant behaviour wasn't stamped down pronto then they would all be sent to Psy-Ops and Reindoctrination for an extended stay.
Her rant had gone on for hours cataloguing the incidents over the past two weeks that had ended up with her having to make a report to the committee of the projects about the usefulness of subjects that couldn't even control their own tempers. It had put her in a foul mood and they had all gone away with their transgenic ears ringing from her high pitched shrieks and more punishment detail.
Tara leaned on Carrot's arm and smiled up at him.
"They really need to calm down."
"It'll be better when Alec gets out of Psy-Ops; we really need both of our C.Os to keep the peace."
"You really think it'll be that easy?" she looked at him with her perfectly blank expression and his mouth curved.
"With our guys? Never."
Her mask fell and she giggled. Carrot put his arm around her.
"Um Tara?"
"Yeah?"
Carrot swallowed. "Can I kiss you?"
Tara blinked. "Excuse me?"
He ducked his head. "I want to kiss you. I have for a while but it never seemed to be a good time."
"Oh!" Tara had no idea what to say to that.
"It's just that I like you, I can talk to you and we get on well. I like having you around and you smell nice."
Tara hid a grin behind her hand but Carrot saw it and looked away to hide his irrational hurt.
"Just had to ask," he shrugged.
"I'd like that," she said shyly and he did a double take.
"Really?"
She nodded and with a smile Carrot leaned in.
~~~~
Cece scraped at the dried blood on her shirt and sighed heavily. She looked in the mirror at her bruised features. She had got into another argument with Drew again today and hadn't ducked in time to dodge the annoyed transgenic's fists. Then, of course, she had been hauled in front if Renfro with the rest of the unit and her ears were still ringing from that. Cece rubbed her head as she thought about the past few weeks and her behaviour. She was being a bitch. She knew it and yet she couldn't stop it. She was scared; scared beyond belief that Alec wouldn't come back.
When she was young she had a best friend, or as close as they were allowed. 096 had always made her laugh until one day in Live Ordinance she had shot at a Trainer by accident; he had thought it as a deliberate form of insubordination and had her taken to Psy-Ops. 096 had never come back and Cece remembered crying at night for her friend. Alec had been the one who calmed and comforted her and in time Cece had come to rely and then fall for Alec.
No one knew how hard she had tried to get into Special Ops to show Alec what she was made of. She had failed and it grated that the '09er that had got them all in punishment had made it and not only that but was closer to Alec than Cece herself. She didn't hate Max, but she did want Alec.
Normally she wouldn't think of being so nasty- especially when Alec might find out and be angry at her, but right now she was so worried that all sense was flying out of the window. What was she thinking picking a fight with Drew? Drew was psychotic!
Cece dabbed the remaining blood off her shirt and lay down on her bunk ready fir another night of dreams about Alec.
~~
Biggs sat in bed staring at the walls and really unable to sleep. It wasn't something that usual for him; Alec had always teased him for being able to sleep in the middle of an earthquake.
But right now he was having trouble even cat-napping. It was one part guilty conscience, one part worry and two parts frustration. Their close-knit team was falling apart at the seams. Chance spent most of her time close to tears and Sunny kept shooting him glares that sent shivers down his spine -- and not in the good way.
Worst of all was the fact that Manticore blank expression or not, Max would wince every time he walked in the room; actually whenever any of them walked in the room, and then she would leave.
He rolled onto his side and punched his pillow again trying to get comfy enough to catch maybe a few minutes sleep.
He was just starting to count sheep -- cloned sheep, obviously -- when he heard the drag of feet and the slam of a door nearby.
He frowned. What was that?
A few seconds later he heard something else.
"Alec? Alec can you hear me?"
Biggs stilled. It was Max and she was close by and from her voice it sounded like she was talking to Alec.
He sat up in bed quickly. That dragging must have been the guards bringing Alec back.
Alec was back!
Or was he? Biggs' heart sank as he thought of all of the time that Alec had spent in Psy-Ops and Reindoctrination. Most came back from there different and colder, more distant than before.
"Alec, I'm here. It's me, Max. I'm here for you, Alec."
Biggs could hear the desperation in her voice as she urged Alec to believe her. He knew that she wasn't standing in the hallway otherwise she would have been caught by the guards. But maybe she was in one of the empty cells.
"What they told you was wrong. You're not just a number, just a designation. Don't believe them, Alec. You're more than that."
Biggs swallowed hard. Max was trying to get Alec to remember himself, to know that he was more than just a designation.
He listened harder as she pleaded with Alec to listen, to hear and confessed to missing him and with each word Biggs heart softened more and more towards her and he felt guilty over his actions the past few weeks.
Dammit, Max wasn't the enemy. She was their friend, their C.O, their family and they treated her like shit. Not for the first time he was glad that Alec wasn't there to see his behaviour towards her. With a rush of something that felt like shame, he knew that his C.O would be so disappointed in him.
He could hear Max's voice sounding more lost.
"When they take you away they tell you stories. Stories that you shouldn't believe. Things to make you forget and when they can't make you forget they find ways of making you not care." He heard her voice crack. "Don't stop caring; it's what makes you human. Makes you alive. Don't listen to the stories. Don't believe the lies. Ok. So I'm going to tell you a story now. Whether you can hear me or not.
"In a land far away there was an evil queen. So evil that hell itself was scared of her. She ruled her subjects with an iron fist, making them do her evil bidding. She allowed them nothing, no fun, no laughter. No life. But most heinous of all she refused to give them names. Without names they couldn't live properly, they were only half people with big holes in their heart. She knew that names meant power and she wanted all of that power for herself."
~~
Intrigued and more than slightly enraptured, Biggs slipped off his bunk and tiptoed to the wall hoping that she was too wrapped up in her story to hear his footsteps. They had never been told stories at Manticore, had nothing as human as fairy tales or lullabies. Actually, he could recall one guard telling Chance to get some sleep or else the Bogie Man would take her away. For ages Chance was convinced that all the Trainers were called Bogies.
Biggs tuned back into the story as Max wound on.
His heart jumped as she called him Biggs the Brave and he lowered his head, letting the guilt swamp him. He hadn't been brave. He hadn't stuck up for Max. He had been shallow and followed everyone else and forgotten Alec's admonition to take care of everyone should the worst happen.
Biggs slumped to the floor and leaned against the door, forgoing sleep as he listened to Max's tortured voice lulling Alec back to himself.
~~
Chance woke up against the wall in her cell as someone banged on the door.
She blinked and stumbled to her feet, smoothing her rumpled clothing and dusty trousers.
She had fallen asleep to the sound of Max's voice lilting down the corridor with her fairy tale. She had tears tracks tracing her cheeks from her silent sobs as she felt Max's pain when Alec wouldn't answer.
She had berated herself over and over all night for not sticking up for Max and standing by her side. After her fight with Pix, she had clung to that part fop her that was as scared as Cece and convinced herself that he was wrong and that Max was responsible for Alec's current predicament. But from Max's tone, from her words, it was obvious that she had nothing to do with Alec being in Psy-Ops and Chance felt the hot sting of embarrassment as she thought about her attitude to her friend. She had no idea how she was supposed to even start making amends.
Chance hugged her arms around herself as she stood up to answer her door.
It was Biggs.
"Wha-?" she began and then stared in surprise. No wonder she hadn't woken up, it was still dark outside and the buglers hadn't started morning TAP's yet. So what was Biggs doing up?
"Couldn't sleep," he said tersely and marched into her cell.
Chance yawned. "Come in then."
Biggs took in the un-slept in bed, her dishevelled appearance and the scuffed marks on the floor.
"I take it you were listening last night," he smiled softly at her.
Chance nodded and sank down onto her bunk.
"Felt bad afterwards," she confessed and Biggs sat next to her draping an arm over her shoulder and tucking her into his side.
"Me too."
That really said it all. They may have grown apart as they grew up, but there would always be that sense of comfort and familiarity and they instinctively knew -- even without saying a word -- that they were there for each other. They sat in silence, lost in deep thoughts that ran along the same vein.
Chance contented herself with listening to his heartbeat as they sat in companionable silence.
Biggs was the first to speak.
"Haven't seen Pix around recently."
Chance stiffened. "Yeah he's mad at me."
"Why?" Biggs looked down at his sister's soft brown hair.
Chance sighed. "He didn't like me siding against Max. Said that he though better of me." The words still stung as she remembered standing there watching him leave and feeling like her heart was breaking.
Biggs wasn't sure what to say to that. He didn't like the way that Pix looked at Chance, and liked even less the way that he touched her. Biggs had entertained many violent fantasies about attacking Pix and telling him to keep his hands to himself.
Chance was, and would always be, his little sister and he reserved the right to pick out an appropriate boyfriend. But not Steve because he was too rough, and not Flex because he was too much of a flirt, and not Mets because he didn't trust the Italian-ness in him -- weren't Italians supposed to be sex-crazed? No not Mets, nor Carrot, or Dek, Alec? No not Alec -- it'd be too weird.
With a sigh Biggs realised that he didn't really have a say in it at all. Chance was her own person and she had some feelings for Pix. The best he could do was support her.
"Want me to feed him his own entrails?"
Chance giggled. "No." She tucked her hair behind her ears. "He was right."
Biggs shrugged. "So?"
"I just wish he'd talk to me." She bit her lip. "I miss him."
Biggs sighed and stroked her head. Since Chance had started to hang out with Pix, she had come out of her shell. Gone was the shy, inept young woman who was scared to look out from the curtain of her hair to see what she had tripped over. Now she was a confident, beautiful young woman who sparkled. It hurt to see her regress back to her former self, and Biggs was determined to do whatever it took to make sure that she regained her confidence. Even if it meant dealing with Romeo.
"We have to make it up to Max," Chance said.
Biggs nodded, rubbing his head against her soft hair. "We'll call a meeting this morning before breakfast."
~~
The meeting went smoothly; or as smoothly as it could considering it was twelve tired and strung out super soldiers who were already divided.
Drew sat with her back against Dek who was rubbing her back as she yawned and ignoring the murderous glances that Mets was shooting him.
Skye and Steve leaned against each other against the door away from everyone else. Chance sat next to Biggs with her arms wrapped around her knees shooting furtive glances to Cece and B.J who stood in the centre, defiance written all over them. Feen had her head on Techie's shoulder and she could barely keep her eyes open. Tara was the first to talk.
"I thought this was a Unit 8 meeting?" She glanced at the few Special Ops that were present. She didn't understand why Carrot and Pix weren't there.
"It was," Biggs nodded. "Dek and Drew were part of unit 8."
"I brought B.J. and Mets was with him," Cece's tone dared anyone to argue. "Is that a problem?"
"No," Biggs stood up. "Was everyone in barracks last night?"
"Yeah," Steve said with a grimace. "I, for one, feel this big." He held his finger and thumb about an inch apart.
"Too much information for your sister," Skye teased and he swatted her.
"Can we not, okay?" Feen yawned. "Max is good. Sorry I was a bitch. Can I go back to bed?"
"Just like that?" Cece asked archly. "We don't know what state Alec's in and you just forgive and forget?"
"There is nothing to forgive," Chance spoke up. "As far as I'm concerned we were in the wrong, not Max. We jumped to conclusions."
"How can you say that?" B.J asked shaking his head.
"You didn't hear her last night," Chance told B.J who wasn't quartered in their part of the barracks. "There is no way Max could have put herself, let alone Alec, through that. She was in honest to Manticore pain, B.J.," Chance continued. "Alec's gonna be okay."
B.J looked at Chance. He was always being accused of being an arrogant jerk -- hence his name, but he always had a soft spot for the sweet, unassuming girl. Her sincere words made him think.
Cece snorted. "So one bed time story and everyone forgets that she got Alec sent to Psy-Ops."
"Oh get over yourself!" Drew said rolling her head back to work the kinks out of her neck. "Alec likes Max, not you. Build a bridge and get over it."
They all looked at her and she had the grace to look a bit embarrassed. "Ok so I read the next Common verbal chapter, so sue me."
Dek's lips twitched, "Drew's non-sequitur notwithstanding, really Cece, you heard her last night, did that sound like someone who wanted Alec to suffer?"
Cece fought to hold on to her anger even as she recalled the trembling in Max's voice and the slight scent of tears in the air.
"It's her fault," she maintained, even as she ducked her head.
Steve sighed and pushed away from the wall to walk over to her.
He laid his hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay Cece."
"No." She took several deep breaths to try to stop her lower lip trembling. Cece started to blink rapidly and they all looked at her with sympathy.
It had been hard for all of them to know that their C.O was possibly being tortured, but at least they had all had someone to be with during this time.
Cece had never really gotten along with anyone and being as sensitive as she was, she had turned her anxiety to anger and her worry to wrath and now that Alec was going to be okay, she was coming to the end of her angst. She squeezed her eyes tight against the flood of tears that she knew was coming.
Steve patted her shoulder gently, "Hey now."
Cece turned into his body and her shoulders began to shake as he held her tightly.
They all looked away, slightly embarrassed at seeing her tears.
"He's okay, right?" she sobbed and Steve soothed her.
"Sure. You know Alec, he'll be fine."
Cece wiped her face with her sleeve, looking so much younger.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not us that you need to be sorry to. I think we all have a little something to say to Max," Biggs said and they all nodded.
"Whether she'll listen or not is another matter," Dek warned as he stood up and stretched. "As far as this love fest goes, I'm hungry."
As if in answer the morning bugles sounded and they all followed Dek to the breakfast hall.
~~
The atmosphere was at the same time lighter and yet tenser. It was lighter because they had reached an understanding with each other and Unit 8 was set to apologise, but tense as they didn't know how Max would take it.
The silence that settles over the hall when Max walked in was of a different quality than usual but she probably didn't notice.
Biggs watched as she stalked across the hall with her breakfast tray.
He stood up and her eyes snapped to his.
She tensed and he could see her whole body prepare for a fight. It made his heart thud painfully and he stared at her, not knowing what to say now that he had to say it. How did he apologise for what he had done, all the nasty things that he had said, and at the same time tell her that he respected and admired her?
Thoughts raced around his head as she stood there, her eyes hard and features impassive waiting fro him to attack.
The pack beside him brought out his instincts and he bowed in deference to the alpha leader, baring his neck in a submissive posture, allowing her to see that he was asking her forgiveness and forbearance.
When Max didn't acknowledge their gesture, his heart sank and he walked over to touch her, hoping that tactile sensation would bring them closer again. He patted her shoulder and tried to give a hopeful grin but Max edged away warily, her eyes guarded.
Biggs returned to the table and shook his head and he felt the disappointment from every single one of them.
"Nothing?" Chance asked desperately.
Biggs swallowed and looked over to the Special Ops table where Max sat staring at her breakfast.
"I think it's gonna take more than that."
"She hates us," Feen followed his gaze.
"She just needs time," Chance said hopefully. "And we'll all apologise."
"And let her kick our ass."
They turned to look at Cece who shrugged. "Hey it worked for Alec!"
"Oh God!" Tara breathed and they spun to see what had made her go pale.
Alec stood in the doorway, holding a tray that the nearest transgenic had handed to him. He looked straight at the Special Ops table and then at Unit 8.
He gave a lopsided grin and winked at Cece.
Cece's breath came out in one long explosion, "Alec!"
Chance grabbed Biggs's arm and dug in with her nails as they waited with bated breath and anticipation to see if Alec really was okay.
He slid into the space that Sunny had just vacated across from Max and looked around. You could have heard a pin drop in the hall and every pair of eyes, bar one, was on Alec.
"I don't know, a few weeks without me and even the food goes to crap."
It was as if everyone took in that one breath together and the relief that spread through the hall was palpable. Conversations started up and the level of talk rose higher mirroring everyone's high spirits now that the other half of their favourite C.O couple was back - and himself, rather than an automaton.
Cece could hold herself back no more and she dropped her head onto Steve's shoulder and gave a little sob. Then she rose to her feet and hurried over to Special Ops' table followed by the rest of Unit 8 who were willing to forgo breakfast to greet their C.O.
Biggs punched Alec on the arm and Chance ignored the guards stationed around the room and threw her arms around Alec's neck in a fast hug.
Alec choked and then laughed heartily at the reminder that he had a family that cared what happened to him. He didn't mind as Cece buried her face in his back and Steve patted him on the shoulder, he grinned at them both and smiled comfortingly for Cece. He dodged out of the way of Feen's hand as she ruffled his hair and Skye who slapped his back and he nodded as Techie shook his hand. It was as if they could reassure themselves that he was alive by touching him, even Tara who hadn't been one of them for that long ran her hand down his arm and tapped her slender fingers against his pulse.
"I'm fine guys!" he laughed and pushed them away and to Unit 8 it was the sweetest sound ever.
Biggs grinned, unable to stop the inane expression from crossing his face and looked up straight into the dead eyes of Max. He bit his lip and tried again.
"You okay Max?" he asked and her expressionless eyes stayed frozen even as her mouth curled in something that didn't even resemble a smile.
"I'm always all right," she intoned and he felt as if someone had slipped ice down his spine.
His distracted thoughts barely registered Alec's response, which was to throw his arm over Max's shoulder and whisper in her ear conspiratorially, nor did he register the rest of them following as they went to their day's lessons.
All he could think about was the cold look in Max's eyes and the bloodcurdling notion that in saving Alec she had destroyed something that no one could bring back; Max.
~~~
Aiden stood at the finishing line for the obstacle course panting hard and waiting for the rest of the team. They were supposed to take it in turns and try to beat their own time instead of each other.
Alec was second and Aiden grinned as he crossed the finishing line without even breathing hard.
"We're you even trying?" He demanded jokingly and Alec grinned.
"Nah, why would I do that?"
Alec leaned against the nearest tree and eyed Aiden.
"Interesting bruises Drew's got."
"Her latest collection?" Aiden raised an eyebrow, "Yeah they're actually quite light. She said she wanted the matching set for fall."
"And B.J.'s jaw?"
"He tried to actually chew a rock cake; broke three teeth."
Aiden wasn't going to be the one to squeal about the units less than stellar approach to Alec's incarceration. He had too much respect for Max's fury than that.
"I thought you'd be the one to tell me the truth," Alec shook his head. "Drew said she walked into a door and B.J said that he was hit in the face by a random paint ball."
"Huh," Aiden grimaced, "At least I was more creative."
Alec chuckled, "And I suppose Pix did another prank to get him in the brig?"
Aiden winced as he remembered Pix painting a target on Steve's jacket- during seek and destroy with the X7's.
"Yeah something like that."
Alec watched his face and nodded. He walked closer, "I am going to find out what happened Aiden."
"Best of luck." Aiden patted his back and walked away hoping like hell that he never did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~~~
GivenAlias- LOL, I know I hate Cece too, I really didn't intend for her to be such a bitch! See what happenes when they run away with you! Its always a shame when the swearing goes in, I just don't like it. But Zan needed to vent and I think it fit him, sadly.
Feenian- Cheers pet!
Jade-K- Loyalties were definitely divided and it was odd to see which way they went wasn't it.
Angel21- Hope the second half was enjoyed as much as the first!
Sigma1- Its just here! It was way too long to be posted as one chap. Sorry you had to wait.
Moonlite star- Explained everything? Hmm, maybe. Thanks for the email! Had me entranced!
Nat1- Doesn't matter what order they are read in. They both deal along the same timeline so you can enjoy either first. Max is kickass isn't she. Makes a change from the usual Bitch that most writers have her as. I know I say that lot but damn have issues with Max bashing.
Dokushoka79- Thank you very much They really were intense but seemed to flow and almost write themselves. I really learned more about the characters during this.
SGOU- Oh honey. Didn't mean to make you cry! But they were emotional chapters and shows how invested you get in them. I know! Skye was such a surprise I had her all geared up to be the big bitch when all of a sudden Cece popped up! Wonder what you made of Pix's reaction!! don't hate me! As for Dek and Mets- I have no idea what is going to happen there. I love them both equally and don't know who Drew needs so I'm stuck there big time! I went with one of the reviews that said that Zan would be seen as a betrayer if he told everyone what Max had been through in Wyoming without her say so. It made sense and so I used that as the reason why no one knew even though it certainly would have made things easier for Max. I agree that they are not being very logical but they are worried about Alec. YAY Techie!!
Kim- Sorry- but not really. I don't like that I made you cry but that you wanted to is kudos to me as a writer so yay! What did you think of Pix's reaction? A surprise? Drew and Dek? Mets and Drew- NOT A CLUE!! Everyone hates Cece now don't they! Damn it, LOL, that wasn't my intention but seems to have worked out that way, there is a chapter where Alec finds out and damn its gonna be fun!!!
Athena80-Thank you, its getting easier, the more practice I have at the synchronization. I really thought that we needed to see why they acted the way that they did and I thought that I covered it pretty well here.
Messymissy- I don't think that any of them are thinking clearly and so they wont say much until they are hit with the full truth of what she went through and I hope that they are suitably ashamed of themselves!! Zan is being a sweetie isn't he? Bless his heart. I feel bad for Biggs in some aspects but damn does he put his foot in it too!! After the evil Queen speech well, you'll see and I hope you like it!
Ganko- LOL, another Cece hater. Oh well at least I'm getting a decent response to this!! I would have updated earlier today but my sister had homework to do!