A/N- Ok so this is another Long chapter to tide you over while I'm away…for three weeks. Bye!
A/N2- It takes place BEFORE the events of Breaking Ties which is the Movie Night in question.
A/N3- The order for this chapter was mostly in this order as requested= An entrée of Flex/Skye, Main course of Dek/Drew with Pix/Chance side salad and extra Max and Alecy goodness as Garnish. Then Tara/Carrot as dessert followed by Feen/Techie coffee. I did what I could and would love to know what you think!!!
A/N4- The unedited version (R) of the Tara/Carrot scene will be up on my site in a while if you want to read that.
Chapter 16- Meeting of Minds.
"Do I look like a frigging paper pusher?" Flex scowled and Skye eyed him appraisingly.
"No you look like you're at the brawn end of the scale rather than the brain."
Flex went to nod and then paused. "I'm not entirely sure that I wasn't just insulted then."
Skye smirked, "I rest my case."
Flex grinned good-naturedly, "Bitch!"
"You know it," she shot back and stretched.
Flex watched her in appreciation, her body was lithe and supple and she stretched just like a cat, raising her arms above her head and he could practically hear her purr.
Skye caught him staring. "Flex, honey, close your mouth."
"What?" He shrugged. "I can't appreciate nature at its finest?"
Skye laughed and slumped back over the table.
"I'm bored!"
"Me too," Flex agreed. "I can't believe they are making us do this. Isn't this what the brain parade is for?"
Skye secretly agreed. She didn't want to be reviewing data from someone else's missions. She hated the paperwork stuff; she was more a doer than a reader. She wasn't even in Special Ops and this was their assignment but she had been excused from her lesson with Unit 8 as she was good at pattern analysis; didn't like it, but was good at it. But she wouldn't let Flex know that. Their playful banter was at least keeping her awake.
"Lazy ass."
"Witch," he retorted and she hid a smile. Flex glared at the code that he was trying to decipher. He held it upside down and squinted. "Hey is this even right?"
"Ask me if I care." She sighed.
Skye looked at the window as the rain slicked down the pane in torrents and was glad that the library had double glass to stop those drafts from coming in. From what she could see out of the window it was blowing a gale out there, the tops of the trees almost touching the floor in the strong gusts.
"Guess it's better than being outside."
Trainer Reilly would say that it was perfect obstacle course weather. Of course, he was a sadist.
"Wimp," Flex grinned.
"Wuss."
"Dragon."
Skye started at that and then nodded. Yeah okay, that worked.
"Dragon's good, better fire breathing than drowned kitty," she glanced towards the window again.
"You just hate getting wet," Flex sighed. "You are as bad as Sunny when it comes to your hair. You girls!"
Skye examined her nails. "I see, and the reason Sunny had no gel left last week was because?"
Flex half-grinned sheepishly. "Shall we get on with some work?"
There was silence for a moment and then.
"Pansy."
"Bitch."
"Will you two cut it out?" Aiden laughed from the other end of the table. "I swear you're as bad as each other!"
"I'm having fun!" Skye pouted.
"Well I happen to not want to baby-sit right now!" Aiden rolled his eyes. "It's bad enough that I still have to do it for Max and Alec, I don't want to have to do it for you too!"
"Oh God, did you see the two of them the other day?" Flex laughed and leaned forwards.
"No, what happened?" Skye asked intrigued.
"Well, we were supposed to be starting that new teaching the X's regime, you remember?"
"Oh, No!" Aiden put his hands over his eyes melodramatically. "Don't, I'm trying to repress!"
"Tell me!" urged Skye. "Come on!"
Flex laughed at Aiden's pained look.
"Max and Alec have been trying to work out a way of teaching and training without acting like the Trainers."
"They succeeded," Aiden laughed. "Trainers Banns and Reilly have never had a fight in front of us!"
Skye's mouth dropped open in delight. "They didn't!"
"Oh yeah, Alec started it!" Flex tattled.
"Actually you started it!" Aiden poked out his tongue. "I swear you just enjoy winding people up to see which way they snap."
"Let me guess," Skye said dryly. "You flirted with Max?"
Flex shrugged and held up his fingers about half an inch apart. "Maybe a little bit."
"You are baaad!" she teased.
"She flirted back!" he protested and then grinned. "Sort of."
Skye shook her head. "I love Max but I don't think she knows how to flirt. She spends way too much time with guys. Her and Drew are completely clueless."
"So anyway, Alec didn't like it and he challenged Max to a sparring contest to show the X's how it's done."
"She kicked his ass!" Aiden shook his head "Alec should have spent the rest of the day sulking."
"But instead he was floating on Cloud 9 because Max paid him attention?" Skye guessed.
"We should rename it Cloud 09er," Aiden offered.
"True," Flex nodded. "He's like a little kid in a candy store sometimes."
"Well if you didn't tease him-"
"Think how boring life would be." Flex cut in and they shared a laugh.
"Was he always this bad?" Aiden asked. "I mean you two grew up in the same facility as him."
"Same Unit," Flex said.
"Really, I didn't know that." Aiden wasn't surprised though; he'd known that Alec and Flex got on well, it was only logical that Flex had been under Alec's command.
"Nah, he was always our staid and steady C.O, never really much of a joker, but since Max-"
"He's like a whole different person," Skye cut in. "I think that's one of the reasons why it was so easy for people to blame Max when Alec went on the mission that went wrong. Because since she arrived, he has changed."
"For the better," defended Flex fiercely. "I would never have been comfortable enough to go and talk to Alec about girl stuff before."
Skye smirked "Oh, so you do need help with girls?"
Flex looked down and pouted, "Alas yes, my dearest heart still hasn't said yes to being mine," he glanced up into Skye's eyes. "Why is that dear?"
Aiden spluttered and laughed as Skye flushed bright red.
"Jerk!"
"Heart breaker!"
~
Coco stared at Sunny's hands as they danced over the table again… and again. Sunny had been tapping her fingernails on the table in the same never-ending rhythm for the past few minutes and if she didn't stop Coco was going to tear each nail out and make her eat them. Plus she had been staring into space for about ten minutes straight; it wasn't usual Sunny behaviour. Normal would be Sunny babbling away and chatting about how wonderful everything was. That would get on Coco's nerves and she would have threatened Sunny with Valium, but this silent Sunny was somehow more unnerving.
"Sunny?" She said sweetly and Sunny looked over.
"Huh?"
"Nails. Move 'em or lose 'em."
Sunny glanced down at her hand in surprise as if she hadn't been aware it was tapping.
She grimaced, "Sorry Coco."
"What is with you girl?" Coco leaned forward, eagerly ignoring the papers spread over the desk. She was intrigued at what had Sunny tip-tapping her fingers so annoyingly; and it was better than pawing through the papers for some random pattern that even the psychics and telepaths couldn't decipher.
"I don't know," Sunny hesitated. "Why is it that something that really shouldn't be, is bothering me?"
Coco shrugged, "Do I look like Psy Ops? Who knows why we do any of these things?"
Sunny gave her a fake smile and looked back at the window. The rain was pouring down and it was such a nasty day, with grey clouds and stormy winds and she was so glad that she was indoors; even as she wished she was in the gym working off some nervous energy. The thing was she had no idea why she was so restless. She wasn't due for her heat for at least another four months and she'd had plenty of exercise lately. So what was it that had her skin so itchy and made her want to start a fight? Her mood felt as bad as the weather and she sighed despondently as she turned back to her work, her gaze falling briefly on Emma.
Damned if she knew.
~~
B.J. stared over at Anna who was scribbling away obliviously, her eyes staring down at the paper as if it held the answer to a universal question.
"You know, I think that we need the second volume for this," Anna glanced up to catch him staring. "What?"
B.J. shrugged. "Second volume it is." He reached behind him and grabbed the huge grey book from the shelf behind him and dropped it on the table, a layer of dust rising into the air.
Anna choked and B.J. opened his mouth and then snapped it shut with a shrug.
Anna eyed him resignedly, almost expecting him to come out and say something biting or derogatory, maybe even to start an argument. "Go on say it."
"What?"
"Whatever it was that you were going to say just then."
B.J spread his arms wide and gave her a carefree look. "Saying nothing."
Anna bit her lip and eyed the arrogant transgenic. His attitude towards her sometimes bordered on hostility and he was always ready for a fight. She knew that people regarded her as pretty thick skinned, nothing usually would hurt her. But B.J.'s blatant dislike was hard to swallow, especially since, at one time, they'd been good friends.
"Okay then." She didn't take the obvious challenge in his eyes and just backed down, not willing to start a fight with the others at the table as well.
"Fine." His tone was almost mocking and she felt her own ire rise.
"Good."
Anna sighed as she ducked her head back down to her papers then she looked up at the other couple on the table and smiled apologetically.
Mets smiled back at her and gave B.J a pointed look, which he ignored, and began tapping his pen on the table. Trying to ignore his own partner, who was about as easy to get along with as B.J. was for Anna. Dek was the proverbial bad boy and he seemed to delight in his dry wit and acerbic sarcasm. It wasn't that Mets didn't find him funny, he did; it was just that…oh hell he didn't know. There was just something about Dek that rubbed him the wrong way and, of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that Drew was close to him.
No, he was above that kind of petty jealousy and had no animosity toward Dek; after all, it wasn't like Dek was that good looking.
Dek pulled his notebook closer and doodled randomly in the margin.
He had gone over the last paper twice and he knew that there was a code in there somewhere, he could feel it but couldn't see it; but he wasn't about to ask his 'partner' for help. He glanced up out of the corner of his eye to see Mets raking a hand through his black curls and glaring at his own page in frustration.
The scribbling of scientists and data analysts wasn't exactly something that Dek enjoyed going through, and even less when the company was less than stellar. He had one thing in common with Mets and she was sitting over by herself, pouring over texts and making notes in the margin with her pencil, her brow furrowed in thought. She had been assigned to work with Max and Pix but she preferred to work alone and Max had respected that.
Dek wished he was over there with her, at least then he could have a decent conversation. Mets hadn't said two words to him and he was trying desperately to keep control of his wicked side for Drew's sake, as she actually liked the guy. He bit his lip as he came up with a dozen witty, biting comments but had to keep them to himself to keep the peace.
He didn't really have that much in common with Anna and any topic that he and B.J started would probably end up with them being thrown out of the library.
He looked up to meet B.J.'s glance and they grinned. B.J rolled his eyes toward Anna and Dek to Mets. They shared similar sentiments about their partners.
Mets must have sensed Dek staring at him as his head came up. Dek just smiled.
"Finished with the Codex?"
"Sure,"
Dek grit his teeth at the hint of Italian accent in the man's tone. The closest Mets had ever come to Italian was the pasta surprise on Thursdays in the mess.
"Great," He managed and Mets's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Great."
Dek sighed and went back to his work.
What sadist thought up these pairings?
~~
That was definitely a question that Alec was thinking as he watched Zan bite on the end of his pen.
Renfro had given them their partners and set them to work in the library in silence. Of course had the pairings been different then the levels of conversation would have been too. After all, he could have a decent conversation with Aiden, he could count on sensibility from Coco and intelligent questions from Drew, he'd be making jokes with Dek or Sunny, and Pix always had him in hysterics. What exactly did he have to say to Zan?
Nothing.
"So," he began and Zan looked up expectantly. "Uh, hey, how's the leg?"
Zan raised an eyebrow, he had been shot in the leg by the Reds but that had healed a while ago thanks to transgenic recuperation and Alec knew that.
"Look Alec, I know that we aren't exactly the best of friends." Alec looked down. "But that was lame even for you."
Alec's head shot back up and he fixed Zan with a shocked expression. He wasn't expecting that.
Zan grinned smugly. "In fact that was almost worthy of Steve and we all know how witty he is."
Alec grinned glad to have some conversation and was satisfied that Zan was at least trying to talk to him. "Oh now, Steve has his redeeming qualities, he doesn't have natural wit like me or…"
"My good looks," added Zan.
Alec nodded. "Or your good looks but he…uh…"
Zan gave him a pointed look. "You've known him the longest and that is all you can say about the guy?"
"Well, you know how it is, you know someone and you can say what they are like but explaining to someone else is a bit different."
Zan eyed him. "Totally. When you've known someone for that long, you know when something is a lost cause or not."
There seemed to be a whole subtext here that Alec was just missing out on. "Uh right," he hedged.
"Take Sunny, for instance, I've known her since Wyoming. I know that she is happy here," Zan carried on conversationally. "She's a good friend, not more than that certainly."
"Right," Alec had a sneaking suspicion that this was about Max. He knew that Zan had something for her; after all, it was easy to see when someone wanted your candy. But they had never really spoken about it, although it looked like they were about to.
"But should I want her to be more than that, because I know her, I'd know if she saw me that way, understand?"
"Yes."
"-It just so happens that she doesn't. Yet. She doesn't really see anyone that way, but if it looked like she was about to-- and it wasn't me but some other guy-- then, to ensure her happiness, I would stand back and let it play out. With me?"
"Yes."
Zan nodded at Alec's quick reply. He had been giving this topic a lot of thought over the past few days. Even though it stung, he knew that Max didn't see him as a potential mate. No, it didn't just sting, it full out hurt and at times he had visions of pushing Alec into the Tank and making him stay there. But, in all fairness, it wasn't Alec's fault. No matter how nice it would have been to blame the man. Max just didn't see him that way- didn't really see anyone that way- and for that he blamed Bulli. But the fact of the matter was that he could see the interest when she looked at Alec, which was absent when she looked at him. Maybe she didn't know it yet but Alec was a contender for her heart. Zan wanted Max, but more than that, he wanted her happy and if this Psy-Ops reject was what made her happy then Zan would back away…slightly.
Zan opened his book again. "Good. It wouldn't stop me from being hopeful and making the most out of any situation that arose. Just because I happen to have a certain degree of respect for the guy doesn't mean I'm stupid or noble. But while he was okay to her and I felt that he deserved her, I'd take that step back."
"Good to know," Alec nodded, understanding totally and then a wicked thought crossed his mind. "And if that guy needed some help?"
"So totally on his own, and I'd point and mock," Zan glared. "My lab tech didn't raise no fool!"
Alec laughed out loud and it tugged a reluctant smile from Zan.
"Are you done with that formalistic pattern yet?"
Alec handed the paper over to Zan. It seemed like that was all he had to say on the subject and Alec, too, turned back to his work with a lightened feeling in his chest. He'd have hated to have Zan as an enemy.
They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes.
Zan flipped the page. "You do realise that if you ever hurt Max, I'll slice you up and bury parts of you in Lydecker's front yard."
"Of course," Alec agreed without hesitation.
"Glad we're clear."
~~
"Hmm, wonder what they are talking about," Pix smirked at Max who shrugged.
"What?"
Pix shook his head. "Max, sometimes your precognition borders on Psy-Ops and yet sometimes you are adorably clueless."
Max grinned. "I'm gonna take that as a compliment and ignore the last part."
Pix laughed.
"Speaking of pre-cog, what's with you and Chance?"
"What does that have to do with Pre-cog?" Pix didn't see the connection.
"Nothing, but it sounded good," Max gave a sheepish shrug. "Now quit evading."
Pix laughed at Max's sincere expression.
Max held up her fist. "Don't make me pound it out of ya!"
He held up his hands in surrender and sighed.
"Me and Chance are getting on okay." He nodded firmly and avoided her searching gaze.
"But?" she prompted.
"But nothing, everything is fine. A-okay and dandy," he said blithely. "Couldn't be better."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously fine."
A beat.
Pix slumped to the desk. "Damn, Max."
"I'm here," she said softly, letting him know that if he wanted to talk she was there.
"I think I love her, Max," he confessed quietly, aware that the other transgenics were around.
"Isn't that good?" Max tried, not understanding why that was such a bad thing.
"It would be if I thought that she…" he trailed off and stared at Max. "Don't tell her."
"I won't," Max promised and she wouldn't. While she liked Chance, she was closer to Pix, especially since he essentially turned his back on Chance when she sided with the others against Max.
"Me and Chance are great together but sometimes I wonder if she likes me for me or if she's just grateful that someone doesn't make fun of her."
"I don't make fun of her but she doesn't look at me the way she looks at you," Max pointed out.
"Good," Pix grinned but it faded fast. "Seriously though Max, everyone in Seattle treated her like the baby and then we arrived and I was the only guy to show an interest. What if she's not with me because she wants to be, what if it was a lack of options?"
Max bit her lip.
"Pix, you are an incredible guy. I know what you went through in Wyoming, you and me both went through hell."
It was the first time that Max had ever alluded to the time that they spent in Wyoming. They had shared many looks as they were dragged from one form of punishment and torture to another but she had never mentioned it and Pix figured that she hadn't wanted to be reminded.
"Do you remember when they tied us both to those blocks and dropped them in the river?"
Pix swallowed at the look in Max's eyes. It had been the only time that he had seriously considered running away and joining the 09ers. Manticore had decided that the Tank wasn't a good enough indicator of endurance, so they had chosen some of the X-Series and shackled metal blocks to their feet and then thrown those metal blocks in the river.
Pix and Max, the two trouble makers of Wyoming, had been the designated targets and Pix recalled with perfect clarity the hopelessness in Max's eyes, mirrored in his own, as the icy firm metal was clasped around his thin, pale ankle. His teeth chattered in the crisp morning and he watched as the trainers, dressed in heavy, thick winter coats, drank steaming coffee and watched the two children shaking in thin cotton frocks.
The call of "Now" and the push of hard hands as they were thrown into the river still made his hands clench, and the memory of fighting against the panic to get the cuffs off before the black murky water filled his lungs would stay with him forever.
He had scraped the skin off his own ankle to get the blocks off and had exploded to the surface to see that the Trainers hadn't even been bothering to watch. They huddled inside the stone buildings on the corner and Pix had lay on the bank gasping and shaking with both fear and the cold. He had let his gaze fall on the gate surrounding the facility and knew that he could just slip back into that murky depth and hide until they thought he'd drowned and then he could escape. Get over that gate and away from Manticore.
A splash of water and he'd turned to see the 09er emerge from the water, her eyes glimmering with hatred as she gasped for air.
He watched as she too had stared at the gates and back at him and a moment of perfect understanding had passed between them.
"I never understood why you didn't go," Pix broke the memory quietly. "Didn't try to escape just then, the guards would never have known."
Max looked at him. "You either, I saw it cross your mind."
Pix didn't know what to say to that. "I guess I was too afraid of what the Trainers would do if they saw me."
"Liar," Max's voice was soft.
"Okay, I was too afraid of what might be on the outside." Pix confessed. "Manticore was all I really knew."
"Me too. I hated it when Zack said that we had to split up, I was so scared. It was almost a relief when Lydecker caught me. Escape to what?" She laughed and then stopped. "What I'm trying to say Pix is that I know what we both went through. You managed to keep light and joking no matter what they put us through. That makes you amazing in my book and Chance would be crazy not to love that."
Pix smiled at her, it was a genuine smile. "As are you, Max. From Bulli's punching bag to C.O of Special Ops, I'm sure Zack would be proud."
Max stared stunned at him, her eyes wide. "You think so?" she whispered and Pix started, that didn't sound like his C.O.
Suddenly, beneath the tough chick, Pix caught a glimpse of the young girl that Zack and the rest of the 09ers had defied orders, had risked their lives for. The image was startling.
"Sure," he managed, still pole-axed.
Max bit her lip. "Wow, I never thought about that. Zack was always the C.O, he was my C.O. I always wished that I could do half as good a job as I knew he would."
"599 was the best in Wyoming, everyone knew that," Pix nodded "I always wished that he had been my C.O. What was he like?" Pix edged forwards, glad to have this opportunity to talk to Max about the legendary 599.
"I loved him so much. He was just… everything," Max blinked slowly. "I knew that he would lay down his life for me. I knew that whatever he said, he would do. For so long in Psy Ops I waited for him. I knew that he would come for me. That he wouldn't leave me in that place. I waited and waited," she swallowed, "when he didn't come, that's when they broke me."
"They never broke you, Max," Pix leaned over the table and took her hands. "Not ever."
"I hated him for that," she confessed. "Why didn't he come for me?"
"He would have," Pix could say with assurance. "Even back then I could see that 599 cared for you as way more than a unit mate. Maybe he thought that you died."
"Or he did." Max whispered her biggest fear.
"Lydecker would have said if 599 was dead."
"Zack," Max corrected with a smile.
Pix conceded, "Zack."
Max stared out the window. "I wonder what he's like now. Is he tall and thin, or maybe he has too many muscles?"
"Zack always had broad shoulders, the kind of guy you could rely on. Hey Max," he had an idea "You know you'll know more than him, right? You've had ten years extra training and you're Special Ops. Think about that!"
Max eyes opened almost comically wide and then she shook her head.
"Not possible, this is Zack; he's probably kept up with training. He'll have travelled and learned different styles, picking up new forms and identities; learning more about the human world than we'll ever know. He'll be an expert in escape and evade- obviously."
Pix grinned.
"I bet he's keeping an eye on them all," she said, satisfied with the thought.
"I'm sure he is," Pix agreed.
"What colour hair do you think he has?" Max asked eagerly, obviously thrilled to be talking about her big brother with someone that had known him.
"Hmm, curly brown?" Pix teased. "With a pug nose and six toes?"
Max lost the haunted look in her eyes as she laughed out loud, the sound even louder in the still library.
"Ew!"
~~
Emma looked up at the sound of Max's laughter and smiled.
"Well at least someone is having fun."
Carrot jumped. "Huh?"
"I said at least Max is having fun," she glared pointedly at him "You know decent conversation and all?"
Carrot winced. "Sorry Em, I was thinking."
"And I win no prizes for guessing what about," She said dryly.
"Tara," They chorused and she laughed.
"So spill," Emma encouraged at his grin.
"A gentleman never kisses and tells."
"But a transgenic can get his head beaten in by the empath with aggression issues and a three volume paper pusher." Emma raised the heavy book and flashed a grin as Carrot held his arms up in surrender.
"Okay, well the other night I was in my cell when there was this knock on the door--"
"Come in," Carrot yawned, it had been a trying day and he was tired. He'd had to completely reroute the facilities engineering block due to faulty maintenance and he just wanted to sleep.
The door creaked open and Tara walked in.
"Hey."
A broad smile flit over his face. "Hey yourself gorgeous, you are a sight for sore eyes."
"Sore eyes?" she asked softly and he groaned,
"Too much staring at wires: green wire, blue wire, yellow wire- I'll see them in my sleep."
"Oh, I could come back later," she gestured to the door and he shook his head quickly.
"No, I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," she smiled and twisted her hands together.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she shook her head quickly.
"Uh huh," he was sceptical, she was acting strangely.
She leaned against the door and glanced over her shoulder at the grate that let you see in or out of the door.
"You got a spare shirt?"
Carrot frowned and shook his head. "Laundry day was today, I get my stuff back tomorrow."
Tara sucked on her bottom lip and then a small smile twitched her lips.
"Oh, well," she sighed and her hands went to the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head in one smooth motion.
Carrot's mouth went dry as she took her top off and stood clad in only a small sports bra. She turned to face the door and stuffed the shirt so that it blocked the grate.
"That'll do for now."
"Guh!" Carrot swallowed, hard. "Tara?"
"See you asked me to be your mate," she said conversationally, "then we were interrupted and since then you haven't said anything about it." She pouted, "Have you changed your mind?"
"No," he croaked, watching her hips as they swayed towards him. Her skin was creamy and soft with just a hint of freckles over her soft stomach. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and draped like a satin sheet down one side of her face framing her delicate features.
"Good, so…" she slunk towards him and knelt on the edge of his bed. "This is where you ask me again."
It took three tries to get his throat to work.
"T-Tara, would y-you be my mate?"
Her slow sexy smile reached her eyes, which sparkled with promise and she reached up running her strong hands through his curly red hair.
"Yeah," she purred and he let loose a huge whoosh of breath.
She leaned over him, pushing him back onto the sheets and capturing his lips as he fell backwards, his hands grabbing hers as they touched his chest and he dragged her down with him.
He stared up into her bright blue eyes and felt a wave of pure satisfaction as he knew that she was his, he was hers too, of course.
"You are wearing too many clothes soldier!" she teased and pulled at his shirt.
"Can't have that!" he laughed and rolled them over so that she was underneath him. He pinned her with his body as he yanked his shirt over his head and lay down, his broad frame completely covering her slight body with his warmth. She giggled as their skin came into contact and ran her hands up his back. This way she could run her hands over him, giving thanks to whomever had created such a sculpture of perfection. Well, she could probably find a name if she really wanted and go thank them. She almost giggled again at the idea of going to find a tech to say 'hey thanks for making my mate so damn tasty'.
But before she could laugh, Carrot swooped back down and caught her mouth again, delving deep as he tasted her.
Manticore had drilled into them the fact that they had to earn every treat; they had to deserve every pleasure that they gained. Carrot tried hard but couldn't think of a single thing that he had done in his 18 years that would merit him deserving of such a paragon of beauty as Tara, and right now it didn't matter, she was here with him and nothing had ever felt so right. He ducked his head and traced his lips down her collar bone, moving along her throat to nip at her pulse point, dragging his teeth there as if to mark her.
Tara flipped them over in a move that surprised them both and returned the favour of touching and tasting him, brushing across his body like a whisper.
She let her mouth and tongue follow her fingertips in caressing his skin, tracing the contours of his body, committing each detail, each curve and each flaw- if indeed there were any- to memory.
Carrot flipped them back and nuzzled her neck eliciting murmurs of approval from her.
For an inexperienced man he sure was doing all the right things. His gentle assault on her body inflamed her senses making her cry out.
Their mating was complete as the rest of the world slept around them.
"Hello! Manticore calling Carrot?"
Carrot snapped out of his reminiscing and faced Emma who was smiling delightedly at him.
"So you two slept together?"
A blush coloured his face making it as red as his hair and Emma giggled as he nodded.
"Aww sweet!"
His fingers danced to the sore point on his shoulder which, despite transgenic healing, was still there. It was her mark, the one that said that she had chosen him as her mate, the one that showed him how much she loved him. The fact that she sported her own mark sent a thrill right to his core.
"I hear you and Biggs had a thing too!" Carrot turned the tables on the girl who gave a blush of her own.
"Where did you hear that?"
"Tara told me, she was shocked. Think I was too, you and Biggs have never said anything."
Emma shrugged. "There was never anything to say. It happened when I first arrived. Apparently Alec had told him about this buxom redhead that needed showing around and he came over to say hi. He was sweet and showed me around. He made me laugh and was kinda blunt."
Carrot laughed. "That's our Biggs."
"So he asked me if I'd like to sleep with him."
Carrot gaped. "Just like that?"
She grinned, "He was joking. But I had had a good time, he was fun and I have to admit that it was close to my heat. You do know that most of our first times happen in or around our heat, right?"
"Ahh, the infamous heat!" Carrot beamed. "I can't wait!"
"So I said okay and went back to his room. I think he was more shocked than I was." She giggled at the image of Biggs's face, his mouth open in shock as she stood in his doorway beckoning to him.
"But there's no weirdness between the two of you?"
"Didn't need to be, I had a good time, he had a good time. There were no expectations between us, no romance. Just fun," Emma bit her lip. "We just never mentioned it again. Sex doesn't always have to screw things up."
"I'm glad."
"Me too, except I think Sunny is a bit…" She trailed off and glanced across the room to where Sunny sat staring into space.
"Bit what?"
"I'm not sure. Having empathy lets me know how people are feeling but not why. Sunny is really confused right now; she's been off with me ever since she found out. Does she have something for Biggs?"
Carrot shrugged. "She's never said anything. Then again, Flex has never said that he has anything for Skye either. But…"
"Oh do tell!" Emma's eyes shone with enthusiasm.
~~
"Oh thank hell for that!" Dek said as the bell rang signalling an end to their torment.
Mets shot him a suspicious look, but Dek just grinned and grabbed his books, turning quickly and bumping straight into Max.
"Dek," she smiled. It was the first time she had seen him since coming out of heat.
"Hey Max," his smirk matched hers.
"Better day today?"
"Oh I don't know!" he slung an arm over her shoulders. "That day had its highlights."
"Really?" she opened her eyes wide in mock interest. "And what would that have been?"
He wrinkled his nose and pretended to think and Max elbowed him.
He moved so that he was walking behind her with both arms draped over her shoulders, almost cradling her against his chest, his hands resting on her collar bone, his head next to hers, his mouth near her ear. Her hair was soft against his lips and he inhaled that sweet honey smell again.
"See there was this girl," he murmured quietly so that the others couldn't hear, even with their superior hearing, and she laughed, leaning back against him.
"Do tell," she urged mischievously.
"Hmm, she smelled great and her legs were…"
"Ahem."
Dek glanced over his shoulder to see the twin murderous glares that Alec and Zan were giving him.
"Oh great. Busted!" he winced.
He grinned at them widely from his position and hugged Max tighter.
"Uh oh!" Flex said and Skye glanced up.
"What?"
"Dek needs a rescue!"
Skye followed his gaze and laughed. "You'd better hurry before they kill him!" She paused to consider it. "I'm sure that's a bad thing but can't think why."
"I do this for the good of my fellow transgenic and peace towards all Man-ticore kind."
Skye raised an eyebrow. "And you expect me to believe that? You do it for fun."
Flex leered. "I'd rather have fun with you, my dear Queen."
"Go save Dek, my court Jester." She scoffed and hauled her bag onto her back.
Dek swung Max around so that she was between him and the two seething men.
He leaned down to her ear, waggling his eyebrows at Alec who stiffened even more.
"Go with me on this?" he asked and Max stifled a laugh, looking up into his mischievous eyes.
"You are as bad as Pix."
His face shone in merriment and he looked up. "Sorry guys, this one is mine! I caught her fair and square."
"Oh yeah?" Zan's anger fell away to amusement at Dek's teasing tone. "You sure about that pretty boy?"
"Why Zan," Dek fluttered his eyes. "I didn't know you cared."
"You cheatin' on me?" Max demanded in her best southern belle accent. "You harlot!"
Drew joined Aiden and Pix who were laughing on one side as they watched the drama unfold.
"Here we go again," she laughed. "Ten to one, Dek gets his ass kicked."
"I put tomorrow's cupcake on Dek winning," Pix said loyally and Aiden shook his head.
"Nah, Alec will win," Aiden said. "One way or another."
They turned back to the scene in front of them.
"Aw I'm sorry darlin', you know I don't mean it!" Dek continued apologetically. "Let's get outta here huh?" he leered.
"Sorry, honey but you want Max, you gotta go through me!" Sunny said as she folded her arms over her chest and stood in the centre of the room.
"And me!" Emma looped her arm through Sunny's in a show of solidarity. Sunny looked at her for a beat and Emma thought she'd push her away but Sunny just smiled at her and hugged her arm tight. Emma sighed contentedly, as it seemed that whatever issues Sunny had, she was working through them.
"I'm not letting you leave with my girl!" Alec said his hands on his hips as he mock glared at Dek, his own humour coming through.
"Oh yeah?" Dek snarled, a grin playing over his lips.
"AMBUSH!"
They turned to see Flex run through the room towards the couple. He dodged, grabbing Max's legs, pulling her away from Dek and sweeping her into his arms, not breaking his stride as he ran away with her.
"Hey, he stole my girl!" Dek pointed after him as Flex raced down the hallway, Max's laughter echoing after them. "Thief!"
"Let's get him!" Pix said to his partner in crime but Aiden was in hysterics and couldn't chase after Flex as fast as the others.
Drew watched, her shoulders shaking as they all fled after the brawny transgenic.
She walked over to Dek who still stood there smiling.
"Looks like you lost your girl, Dek."
"Yeah," He sighed melodramatically. "But on the bright side, I still have all my limbs and Alec and Zan aren't deciding which body part to tear off."
"Bonus," she turned with him to leave.
"I still have you though, right?"
"Always." She laughed as he draped his arm over her shoulder.
Max giggled as Flex hauled her through the hallway.
"Put me down dumbass!"
Flex ignored her. "We need to find somewhere to hide," he scouted around.
"Flex, I am so warning you!" she squirmed.
"What is going on here?"
They spun, eyes wide, to see Renfro standing there with her arms crossed. They had been so involved in the chase and their laughter that they hadn't even heard her footsteps.
"Uh…" Flex said intelligently.
"I twisted my ankle in basic training and may have torn the ligaments in my foot. I was told to put no pressure on it until I got to Med bay," Max lied quickly. "I was telling uh…810 to put me down as I feel that I am sufficiently able to walk on my own. He was following Trainers' orders."
"I see," Renfro raised a haughty eyebrow. "Kindly recall that this is a Military Facility and not a school yard. We have standards to maintain. What would potential investors think if they saw a Soldier being carried through the hallway? Our whole reputation rides on you being the best of the best."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Flex carefully placed Max down, mindful of her not-so-broken- ankle.
Renfro stalked away and Max laughed relieved.
"On that note, I'm off!" Flex said wiping his forehead in mock shock. "See you in Training, Max."
"See you later." She watched him walk away and then turned to walk back to her room when she was grabbed from behind and hauled backwards.
Reacting on instinct she drove her elbow back but it was cushioned before it could connect by Alec's hand cupping her arm.
"Hey don't attack, it's me!"
"Jerk!" she was still in high spirits. "What do you think you're doing?"
Alec pouted. "Well Dek and Flex both got to feel you up, I figured it was my turn."
Max rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Flex was not 'feeling me up' and neither was Dek."
Alec shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, his hair falling enticingly into his face as he stared at the floor in a boyish gesture. "So there's nothing going on between you and Dek?"
Max stared at him.
"Max?" he pushed, his heart sinking.
One perfect eyebrow arched and she carried on looking at him, saying nothing.
"It's just that I know he was there when you went into heat and you know, today with all the flirting and…" he trailed off at her silence. He swallowed. "Max is there something between you and Dek?"
"No." she said bluntly and he disguised a sigh of relief at her denial.
"Good."
"Why good?" she demanded. "What's wrong with me and Dek?"
There were so many things that he wanted to say, but he held them back.
"Didn't think he was your type, after all you don't try to kick his ass all the time." Max looked worried and Alec frowned. "What?"
"Alec, I really think you should see someone about this obsession with your own ass. Seriously, it's bordering on creepy."
Alec gaped at her straight expression. Then he caught sight of a sparkle of mischief and relaxed.
"Oh but Maxie, you said it was my one redeeming feature and I have to publicize it!"
Max laughed and punched his shoulder. "Freak."
He smirked and walked away.
Max caught her gaze drifting lower to where his t-shirt met his khakis and the firm roundness of his butt.
She blushed, hard.
"Get a grip, Max!" she told herself.
Steve did his warm up stretches whilst waiting for the rest of the X-series to arrive. It was time for their monthly rotation of gym practice. Every X5 unit would pair up with another unit and proceed through all of the drills and formations that they had learned, including new forms and skills. It was to keep them in practice, as well as to let Renfro know what they were up to in their training. Unit 8 were paired with Special Ops, as was the custom and they had to run through the whole syllabus which meant freeform hand to hand, freestyle fighting, choreographed fighting, martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, drill formations and skills like the ropes, hurdles etc. Special Ops would then have to go through their advanced training and skills recognition. It was tedious but Renfro insisted it be done, as she had to give a report at the end to show the other two facilities that they were up to scratch.
Steve actually didn't mind it so much; it was better than all of the paperwork they had to do recently. He stretched out some more and nodded in greeting as the last of the Special Ops guys came in. He spotted his sister as she walked in with Flex, and Steve glowered. Flex noticed and blew him a kiss from across the room. Skye smacked his head and Flex winced making Steve laugh; he never had to worry about Skye- she knew how to take care of herself.
"Okay, males and females split. Guys to that side, girls to this." The brawny gym trainer shouted. She- Trainer Stewart- was a huge woman with bright orange hair, dark blue tracksuit and a voice that was so deep and intense it whipped you along. It made Steve wince and he shuddered at the imagery of the hefty woman with a whip.
"Females start with gymnastics with Trainer Janssen, over there." The girls moved away. "Males are to start with," she glanced down her list, "wrestling."
"Is it just me or is it hot in here?" Steve asked loudly, already sweating. He had come in early; having finished his previous lesson the quickest, and had been doing his warm ups. It was so much hotter in the gym than normal.
"Yeah," Stewart snapped, "Some bright spark used the air conditioning to blow snow into Trainer Banns' office. The whole system is screwed until we get maintenance in tomorrow."
Everyone turned to look at Pix who shrugged.
"Oops?"
"Until then sweat it off, or lose the shirts." Stewart shrugged.
The guys made it through wrestling and choreographed fighting before the heat overcame them and they started peeling off their sweat soaked t-shirts.
They moved onto the skills section and took turns climbing the ropes and doing pull ups on the bars.
"Oh my, wow," Feen said with a smirk.
"What?" Max was waiting in line for her turn to jump through the hoops for the Trainers…okay so she actually loved this part. She excelled at gymnastics and loved soaring through the air, but damn she hated waiting. Any excuse to distract her was good and she turned to Feen who had her hand on Chance. They were both staring off into the distance.
"Drool." Anna added enthusiastically by their side.
"What?" Drew echoed Max and turned to see where they were staring.
"It's the guys," Max said blankly. "What's the big dealio?"
"The dealio," Emma answered from behind her, "is that it's getting hot in here."
Coco and Sunny giggled and Max and Drew shrugged as they remained clueless.
Flex, Techie, Steve and B.J had apparently gotten too hot and taken off their shirts. But it wasn't like the girls had never seen them sans top before, thought Max.
"So?" Drew said and Coco sighed in frustration.
"Sometimes I despair of you and Max, Drew, I really do. There are twelve perfect specimens of manhood over there that are stripping and all you can do is say "so?" I'm in awe."
"You're overreacting." Max added as Carrot, Pix and Aiden followed their example and wrenched off their shirts too.
"Techie is built," Feen grinned slyly.
"Oh hey, how is that making a move thing going with him?" Chance asked, as she couldn't take her eyes off Pix.
"I'm hoping to scare him into action, but he seems to be avoiding me," She rolled her eyes. "More than usual, but don't worry, I'll wear him down."
Max laughed at that and watched Tara and Cece as they ran through the skills course against the timer, flipping over boxes and using the springboards.
"Uh oh, Biggs too now." Emma said, shooting a sideways glance at Sunny. "He's hot."
Sunny glanced at her suspiciously but shrugged anyway at Emma's innocent smile. "Yeah."
Max and Drew shared another glance of perfect understanding. Guys were guys, okay some looked nicer than others without their shirt on and some had yet to…
Max's attention was caught as Alec reached for the hem of his shirt and peeled it over his head exposing his lean, tanned chest. His dark blonde hair fell back over his forehead as he threw the shirt to one side. Max's mouth went dry and she cleared her throat.
Drew smirked at her reaction and let her gaze fall on Dek and Mets as, they too, stripped off. A faint blush crawled onto her cheeks as Dek grabbed the high bar and started to do his pull ups, his muscles straining and pulling his weight. Mets folded his arms over his strong chest and waited. Drew swallowed.
She turned to Max, a question in her eyes and met Max's equally perplexed look. She inclined her head and the two of them moved slightly away from the other girls as they continued to ogle the guys.
"This is bad."
"Oh yeah," Max agreed.
"Really bad," Drew said, her eyes catching on the men again.
"Oh yeah," Max repeated, not sure what else to say.
"Dek is hot," Drew shook her head. "He's my best friend, he can't be hot."
"How do I think I feel?" Max moaned "Alec is my pain in the ass."
Drew eyed her, "Your pain in the ass?"
Max blinked. "I really just said that, didn't I?"
Drew nodded. "To coin a phrase; Oh yeah."
"This is bad." Max whined as Alec dropped to the floor and started to do push ups against the clock, his back muscles rippling with the effort. Her frown faded and she bit her lip in interest with each push up.
Drew looked at Max's face and then over at Dek, Mets and Alec and back again.
"We need help."
Steve was bored and took to glancing around to see how the others were getting along. His eyes fell on the girls and a broad smile flittered over his face. He walked over to where the team was waiting for their turn.
"Psst, Alec?" he whispered. Alec was stretching his muscles and calves in front of the large mirror, trying to get limber for his assessment.
"Yeah?"
"Don't look now and I mean DON'T look, but Max is staring at your ass."
"What?" Alec's face registered intrigued disbelief.
"She is totally checking you out," Steve added a huge dose of Common verbal to bring home his point.
Alec looked in the mirror that he was standing in front of and flicked his gaze to where the girls were working out. True enough Max was standing there with her head to one side staring at his butt, a cute little smile on her lips.
Alec's whole face lit up bright enough to illuminate Seattle and he chuckled.
"Oh, yes, thank you!" he breathed and watched as her gaze slid over his ass and up his back. He waited until her eyes combed through his hair and then he slowly turned, his eyes catching and holding hers.
Max flushed, her cheeks turning cherry red as she was caught ogling him.
He gave her a wolfish grin and she looked away, embarrassed.
"Maybe its heat?" asked Drew desperately.
Max glared at her. "Even my self denial stretches only so far."
"So what do we do?"
Max thought for a second and a slow smile stretched over her face.
"Turn about is fair play."
Drew understood and laughed as she reached for the hem of her shirt.
"She's trying to kill me," Alec muttered as Max took off her shirt, leaving her in only a small sports bra. "There is nothing else to it. Death by desire."
"There are worse ways to go," Steve decided, as the rest of the girls seemed to like Max's idea of cooling off.
"Hmm," Was Flex's contribution as his gaze stuck to that side of the room.
"Dammit, I was on two hundred push ups and I got distracted," Pix moaned.
"Ask me if I care." Flex said and Steve smacked him.
"You better not be staring at my sister."
"At least not her face," Biggs offered and was smacked again by Steve.
"How would you like it if it were Chance?"
"I didn't say a word!" Pix snapped out of his trance and held up his hands at the name of his girl.
The rest of the males looked at him; most in amusement and one in anger.
"Oh, it's possible you weren't talking to me," he hedged and avoided Biggs' glare.
"Excuse me," they all jumped at the voice of the Trainer. "Am I interrupting some mothers meeting? Did we forget our little assessment?"
"Lady, I forget my name," Flex muttered so that only the transgenics could hear. They chuckled.
"And you are?" Aiden added.
"Back to work," Stewart ordered.
Alec lagged behind watching Max grin in triumph as he walked into the gym horse.
"Ouch!" He rubbed his foot.
Pix clapped Alec on the back, "I feel your pain. But hey, at least you can get Max back tonight. It's movie night."
Alec rubbed his hands together as a sexy smile lit up his face, "Oh good."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Geminangel- So glad, Dek made me laugh too!
AcidBurn- Yup I'm good to you. It was an experiment in style which worked nicely. Its great to see that based on this chapter people are deciding which way they want the pairings to go. You'd like to see more of Coco? I'll se what I can do.
Raven- LOL- yeah my beta told me that I was setting it up for a hostage situation!
Poo- Dek has my twisted sense of humour which works well with his bad boy character. Max does seem to be the mommy of the group at times or at least the big sister with her friendly advice. Transgenics and cooking- oh so bad!
Nora- yeah it was a shock but it fit somehow. Good luck on your finals.
Talichernin- Summing up is good but I could always do with the geo boost!
Sigma1- Max in heat- Poor Dek? Lucky Dek I think…although not if Alec finds out of course.
Kat461- Dancing to the fics! I like it. Although peeing pants –eww! I'm not sure who I want her with either. Hey maybe she'll go off with Techie instead! Chapter 18 will have more Pix/Chance action. Look for that.
Nat452- Glad you do, plus isn't author alert great?! I will carry on writing as long as you carry on reviewing- deal?
Cheeza- He's a sweetheart with a badass side- which I find appealing. Although he is kinda clueless about Drew too. Her first kiss is saved for our Alec- but that doesn't mean she can't have fun! More Chance soon- honest!
Keekee- Hey sweets. Thanks for the kudos, glad that you still like it.
Mely's the name- Ooh aren't you the lucky one, 3 chapters but that does mean you had to wait for longer and for that you have my sympathies. Yeah im finding it just as hard to pick a ship too! And I wrote the damn thing.
Nat1- The change of pace was just an experiment but I think it worked well. Don't worry I'm back to me again in the next one.
SGOU-Poor everyone huh? Guy talk can be a good thing but oh poor Techie! As for Dek/Mets…hmmm. Ahem. So if I wrote more about Mets then you would have a harder choice? Yeah me too. It never occurred to me that this meant they weren't as in tune with each other as I thought. Like I said already back to normal in this chapter.
Ange- Hey there, glad that you are liking this story! I have another confirmed Dek/Drew fan yay!
Fangedangel- Interlude- good way of putting it. Yeah they can assemble a bomb or organize a war but ask them to make pancakes???
Natasgi- I think the weird names are sweet but I get how they can be confusing- I just know them all so well now.
Stormvind- Aw bless- see I knew exercise was dangerous! Yeah sparring with max is hazardous to your health and give you your own ice pack (poor Alec) Yay you have made up your mind! Dek/Drew is totalling up!
Ting- Flipping pancakes! Made me laugh too. Drew is unsure- not regretting just insecure.
Ganko-Pix and Dek- those two are peas in a pod and get along great they are so similar aren't they? LOL- you've hit the nail on the head. I was having PMS when I wrote this! LOL. Max rocks!
Restive nature- Glad that this chapter appealed. It was a moment away from the madness before it all went sideways and ends in angst, which the next few chapters will employ in leaps and bounds. Glad it amused.
Kim- Cynical is a wonderful way to be- at least it was amusing! I knw- I was tempted to do a Dek/Max pairing but I think Alec (and you guys) would kill me.
Uhu- How long…uh as long as I feel like torturing you all! mwah ha ha.
Moonlite star- We have resumed normal service in this chapter. ENJOY
Jade-K- Thank you, I appreciate the feedback as well. It's the feedback that helps me to add different dimensions and people bring out things that I never thought of. Its great to have such supportive fans.
Aleclovemax- Hey there! I understand tired, I am exhausted tonight! But even though you were tired you reviewed and that made me smile- thanks pet.
Chaosti-What a Max/Dek/Alec thing? Interesting! I never saw him as that sweet but I like the whole bad boy thing so shrugs Uh why does he remind you of a teddy bear? Not that I'd mind cuddling up with him and…Back on track Fayth! As for the cats- i wouldn't hurt your cats….much. J JK.
Maribella- He did have a bad day didn't he? Bless him. I like that Drew is starting to rethink things as shown in this chapter too. And hey at least someone is patient!
Givenalias- Havent seen the ending but I know who they chose- I was always more a Pacey fan than Dawson anyway- never liked Dawson- pretentious suck-up. How is Mets like Logan? Oh actually now I see it…and am disturbed- thanks for that!
Jynx-Sunny or Airy? Where did Airy come into it? My family already think I'm psycho so why should yours be any different? I think you have a shot as Cooking teacher, do you have Hazard insurance?
Ru- Yeah when I wrote it I was wondering what the hell was going on too! Max with Dek? Anyway you are welcome glad it made your day better honey.
Elfie- It's a good phrase and I plan to use it more often! Dissection is good- if a tad abstract. Sarcasm is a wonderful tool and Dek used it well. They are starting to see themselves as more human which means that they pick up one any little thing like that. I'd hate to decorate after Pancake Day! Don't jump ship- I can't swim…oh wait. I get it.
Lyndsay- Thank you for both reviews- appreciate and yeah better late than never at least I get to see what you think. There was a lot of shocks like Emma and Biggs and Max in heat but that is what makes it all interesting. Pancake flipping seems to be a fave with everyone! Maybe we should have transgenic pancake day! Drew is lucky and your sister is strange. Tell her to get her feet out of her mouth!
Lanlie- You just elbow on in there honey! Max rocks, she isn't going to be some weak push over in my stories- she has a back bone which hasn't been removed by Logan! He likes her beating his ass- which is why he sticks around- that IS love! LOL- the car thing made me laugh out loud!
Lynn- I know! How evil is school that it takes away valuable reading time! Gee Chocolate or Alec- chocolate covered Alec. Give me a moment………. Oh I'm back now. D/D is a fave isn't it! and if I am making you want to review then I am doing my job…pity I don't get paid for it.
1red1- everyone has had says like that- I know I have! She went to Feen especially to get that for him! Doesn't that just make you go awwwwwww! LOL, at least you noticed Dek going in pheromone stupor! Uh the events of MAL normally happen before MAH and carry on into the story but it is subject to change.
Enjoy.
Carii- Better late than never and it reminded me that I had to post today so a big old yay and thanks to you for that! As for falling for someone that you don't know everything about, I guess you have a point there! But we'll have to wait and see!