Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, just an idea, but trust me you can't get anything from that! Leave me to live in fiction
Summary: Set after "The Berrisford Agenda". Alec said goodbye to his first love and that changed him forever. Can he open his heart to someone else? Or will it stay closed forever? What will Max think about him from now on? He is a changed man now… A/M
Thanks to: Gauri, SGOU, Annabelle, Katherine
Chapter 15 – Another beginning?
Alec was sitting on the couch for a few minutes not saying a word. His head rested on his hands as it would drop off if he didn't hold it up.
"I can't believe everything that happened" – he thought. – "I didn't have this much action in one day even in Manticore. My head will explode!"
Joshua kept staring at his friend not wanting to say a word. He spent his entire life in a basement with a lot of trangenics and they didn't communicate and yet he still knew what they were feeling. And the same thing was happening now. He knew Alec's emotions, cause they were obvious. They would be obvious even to a normal person.
"Does it hurt?" – he simply asked. Again his words touched Alec and he flinched inside. Joshua couldn't tell, since his hands covered his face but his eyes opened in an instant. In that small sentence all truth laid.
"What?" – he asked like he didn't hear anything. He prayed deep inside Joshua would drop the matter.
"Does it hurt"? – Joshua repeated more slowly, like speaking to a retarded person.
Alec looked up, his face showing Joshua hit a nerve.
"What do you think, huh?" – he asked retorically not expecting an answer, but Joshua needed to respond.
"I think you didn't realize a person, a cat can feel such pain."
Alec sighed at that remark. Count on Joshua if you need to know the painful truth.
"Well, you're probably right."
He leaned back on the couch his eyes wondering around the room. He was looking at Joshua's paintings not really seeing them.
"Let me ask you something." – Alec said after a few moments. – "Do you know what betrayel is?"
"Yes. Betrayel when you step on someones confidence."
"Exactly. And, do you know what Maxie did? She did exactly that! And worse…" – his voice was getting louder again but soon trailed off.
Joshua muzzled him again.
"No." – he simply said.
He walked toward Alec, kneeled down and whispered.
"She stepped on your heart."
His eyes were penetrating Alec's, not letting him lie again. There was no one else there, just them. It was time to let truth wonder through the room. Doors were closed, and so were the windows. There they were facing each other, challenging another to back away.
Alec felt a pang in his heart. He wanted to say everything to Joshua, but his ego was stronger. It was like there was something in his throat preventing him from speaking the entire truth.
He swallowed that emotion and let his weak voice out.
"Yeah. – he coughed a little. – "You're right. She stepped on my heart. Luckily it was already damaged so the feeling is not totally infamiliar. – he smiled sarcastically. – "Know some good repairman?"
There it was, Alec's new sarcastic remark. Nothing new there. It's always easier to hide behind the humor than to express your pain. It's easier to build the walls.
"Little fella can fix you." - Joshua said like that' the most normal thing as he stood back up. In his eyes things can be fixed that easiely.
"I don't think little fella is the right person for the job, Josh. She kind of always gets to break everything." – Alec sighed.
"This time different. This time she knows she did wrong."
"And how do you know that, huh?" – Alec asked his curiosity rising.
"Her eyes were watering. And little fella cries for no one. Only for the person she cares about."
"Yeah,and that's herself! She felt sorry for herself."
"No, she cried cause of you. She hurt you, you hurt her back."
"Well, my friend, that's the most common behavior in the world. If someone hurts you, you hurt him back. That simple."
Joshua started to walk around the room, while Alec's eyes followed him. It was like his patience was leaving him.
"No. No. No. That's not how it should be." – he yelled.
Alec's eyes grew in amazement. He never saw Joshua so upset.
"Come, on, Josh, take it easy. It's not such a big deal."
"Big deal. This is a big deal. Little fella and you need to make up. We're stronger than that."
Alec finally understood what his friend was saying. Him and Max were the only people who were like him that he knew well and they were a family. He stood up and approached his friend. He patted him on his back.
"Look. You shouldn't worry like that. No matter what, we'll always take care of each others back." – he stopped as his mind went back to Max. He wanted to take care of her…but…
"God! I'm trying to convince Josh into something I don't even believe…Me and Max can never be the same people we were before. We will never see the same way. She's thinking that too, for sure."
He looked at Joshua and by seing his sad face he decided the most normal thing in that moment.
"He doesn't need to know that. I need to lie this time to protect him."
"Don't worry, big fella." – he said smiling his voice sounded more cheerful. – "We will always take care of each other! We're a gang! True pals. You know?!"
"Yeah." – Joshua whispered. He walked toward the window and looked into the darkness. His eyes were sad and his soul was empty. Things will change.
"You're a liar, Alec." – Joshua was thinking as his eyes watched the darkness outside.
Max parked in front of her building rising, she looked up at her window. The lights were still on.
"I guess OC couldn't fall asleep. I did it again!" – Max thought sarcastically. –"Well, I really know how to make people miserable. Well, let's face the consequences of my work. AGAIN!"
She got into the building taking her time. She was just here a few hours ago telling her best friend she's leaving town for good. And she's back to tell her she's staying.
As she approached the door she realized that this is her home, the only one she'll ever have.
"Should I just walk in? Why do I have the feeling I should knock on my own door?" – she smiled at her own thought. She turned the knob and entered. The lights in the living room were on but there was no sign of OC.
She heard some noise coming from the bedroom and she stopped in her tracks.
"I can't barge in there. Maybe she's with that girl from before. Well, I can't just stand here as well."
She got closer to the door as she decided the most safe thing would be to call her a little louder.
"Hey, OC! I'm back! I'm standing here in front of your door. I don't want to interrupt anything. I will just wait here until you come out."
Suddenly the door flew open and OC jumped out of the room right into Max's arms!
"Oh, boo, you're back!" Please tell me you just didn't come to get your favorite jacket and you're leaving again. In that case I will have to kill you! Or at least inflict some serious damage."
Max smiled in OC's neck thinking how she would really miss her friend if she indeed left.
"No, no, I came for good.! – she said laughing as she let OC go. Her face got more serious.
"I left my jacket here? I can't believe that."
OC just hit her on her shoulder.
"Yeah, that's the most important thing right now. What happened?"
"Oh, it's a long story. Let's just say I don't have ghosts haunting me anymore. Or at least scary ghosts."
"What about…you know…golden boy?" – OC asked carefully.
Max's look got more crucial and a certain glow appeared in them.
"I think everything will be OK. He will need time to cool off, but I think everything will be cool."
OC pulled her into another hug smiling. But her face suddenly converted into a worried expression as she remembered something. She let Max go and went straight to the kitchen. Her hands nervously started to go through the cupboards as Max watched her surprisingly.
"Do you want some coffee, boo? I can make us some coffee. Where the hell is the coffee?" – she mumbled.
Max approached her slowly as her look fell on a familiar jacket on the couch. Her look became more understanding.
"I don't want coffee. Don't worry. Hey, OC?"
"Where the hell is that coffee? I know we had it yesterday! I swear to God this place needs a good clean up.! – OC continued to talk nonsence not even registrating what Max was saying. She didn't hear Max coming from behind as she grabbed her hand.
"Boo, what are you doing?! You scared me to death! You should wear a bell on your…"
"Where is he?" – Max interupted her.
OC showed great anxiety.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know. Where is…"
"I'm here, Max."
Max turned around and saw Logan standing in front of her. All of them were silent for a few seconds. Than OC spoke.
"Look, boo, after you left Logan called and I was a mess, so he realized something was happening. So I told him you left and he came over…"
"You don't have to explain, OC" – Max said. – "It's not such a big deal. You could have told me directly."
She turned toward Logan again.
"Look, I'll leave." – he said silently taking his jacket off the couch. His eyes were sad but still glowing from the fact Max was back. She wasn't his anymore, but she was still here.
"You don't have to bail. Stay if you want. I want to believe that we can still communicate like two normal people." – Max said sincerely. She was in love with this man for a long time. He was her first love. He should still be part of her life. That was her thought. Only present wasn't like that.
Logan turned around and looked at her.
"Look at her. She's so beautiful, and she isn't mine. She thinks we can be friends. Maybe, but not now. I just lost her. I can't stand the fact that she will from now on have that look in her eyes. The look that doesn't reflect mine. The one that doesn't reflect love, our love. She will have him in her eyes from now on and I can't stand that." – Logan thought while that silence lasted.
"Ahm…I have to go, Max. But, I'm glad you're back. " - he said quickly and left.
OC watched that strange encounter and at first she wasn't sure she should say something to stop Logan from going. Although, Max was inviting him to stay, she didn't know was that just friendly gesture. So she remained quiet until the door after Logan finally closed.
"Look, boo.." – OC started to apologize again. – "I'm sorry, but, I didn't know you were coming…"
Max turned around to face OC.
"Why are you apologizing? Come on. This was just a little bit akward situation, not a big deal."
"So, this is really it. No more Logan." – Oc sighed. She wasn't too crazy about him, but he was a good guy. Not like Alec. He was too dangerous for himself and as well for other people.
"Yeah, no more Logan…" – Max sighed as well. Officially, her life as she knew it was over. And she decided to turn another page.
"So? Are you gonna help me?" – she asked OC.
"Help you with what?" – OC asked suspiciously. This didn't sound good from the start.
"Help me get Alec." – Max said determinantly.
I'm sorry this took so long, but you know how it is with the holidays.
So, I hope you like this! Please let me know!
