A/N: *smiles sweetly* A little Alec/Erin moment….

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Chapter thirty-two: Catch Me When I Fall

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'Oh yeah, yeah sure.  I can see how the right time might elude you… for a year.'

-Alec (Borrowed Time)

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'You get me

When nobody understands

You come and take my hand'

-Michelle Branch (You Get Me)

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Erin dragged herself unsteadily to her feet.  The men had run off, taking the only money she had on her.  Luckily, it was already stolen and she didn't give a shit about it.  She could always steal some more.  That didn't concern her, what did was the fact that she was injured.  From the feeling of her lower body, she was covered in cuts and bruises.  Her lip was bleeding and she'd been hit in the back of the head.  Her right shoulder looked a little weird so she figured it was dislocated.  She also had a killer headache to go with it all.  Erin forced her mind off of her injures and looked around her, not moving her head too much because it felt like it was ready to explode.  Right now, Erin was in danger just stood there in the empty alley.  She had to get back to TC, she would fix everything there.  Thank God she was only a couple of streets away from a sewer entrance.

Terminal City headquarters was packed.  Crates were being unloaded and everyone was talking about the mission.  Joshua had people sorting through food and clothing, a cafeteria was going to be built in the next few days.  Krit and his SIC were sorting through the weapons and ammo, and Syl and her SIC were sorting through the explosives.  Everything was being catalogued and stored away.  Dix was still on his computer monitoring police movements and Brin was sorting through the computer equipment, and making sure Logan was kept away.

Max was still grilling Zack, Jondy and Zane about what happened, her attraction to Zack being completely ignored.  Max was too focused on finding out what happened to Erin.  She'd seen the look on Alec's face when they'd heard Zane shouting for Erin to run.  She'd sent the look on his face when Erin hadn't come back with Zack and the others.  Right now, he was questioning each and every one of the team members to see if they'd seen anything.  She knew he was getting ready to take a team out there looking for her.

"Look Max, we're all really worried about Erin too" Jondy began, looking at her upset sister "but we've told you everything we know.  I really need to get the medical supplies sorted out."

Max sighed and pushed her hair from her face "Yeah, I know.  Go on, there's nothing we can do right now."

Jondy turned to leave then stopped when she saw Erin limp through the doorway looking tired and bloody.  "Erin?"

She got back a wave as Erin turned to the nearest brick wall.  That was when Jondy noticed the way Erin was favouring her right side.

Zane swore as Erin pulled off her jacket, braced herself for the pain and slammed her shoulder into the wall.  Their sensitive hearing picked up the painful sound of her shoulder popping back into place.

Erin staggered over to the couch and collapsed onto it, hissing when she caught another injury they couldn't see.

"Erin?" Max was at her side in an instant as was Jondy; the two males hovered in the background looking just as worried.

"What happened?" Max took her jacket from her as she scanned Erin's face.

"Nothin' much" Erin rotated her shoulder slowly "Don't worry Maxie, White didn't do this.  It was just a few guys wanting to play footie wi' my head."

"You were attacked?" "Zack was already thinking up ways of revenge.

"They just wanted an easy person to rob." Erin shrugged and winced at the movement "I couldn't fight them off.  They pinned me."

"Why didn't you give them the money?" Max reached out and touched Erin's chin, wiping away some blood.

Erin rolled her eyes then winced again as another wave of pain hit her "They kicked the shit outta me then checked me for money.  Doesn't matter- I can always steal some more."  Erin took hold of her jacket and took the first aid box that sat next to the couch.

Max sighed, looking relieved but still worried "Let me get you cleaned up."

"No!" Erin stood up quickly then held onto the back of the couch for a second as the blood rushed to her head.  "I can sort myself out." Erin left before they could do anything to stop her.

"Okay" Max said slowly as she turned to look at her family "what's up with that?"

Jondy shrugged "Would you be cooperative if you just got you ass kicked?"

Erin was on the stairs somewhere around 4 or 5 floors up before she let the pain really show.  She really did need help but then they'd see the scars.  She didn't want them asking questions again.  Erin swayed again slightly and reached out to grab the railing only to have her hand gripped by a much larger one.  She looked up to see Alec stood just behind her with a worried expression on his face.  Damn him and his stealth genes, she did not need him getting worried about her.  Erin smiled at him.

"What happened to you?!" Alec examined her face with his eyes and Erin fidgeted under his gaze.

"I'm okay, it doesn't matter" Erin let go of his hand and began to continue up the stairs.  Her foot slipped and she couldn't hide the pain this time.

She was caught off guard when Alec picked her up and began to carry her up the stairs.

"Okay my ass!" he muttered, moving carefully so not to jolt her and hurt her more.

Erin couldn't really enjoy the moment because even with his careful movements, it hurt with every step he took.

Alec kicked open the stairwell door and quickly walked over to the couch, putting her gently on it and taking her jacket and fist aid box away from her.  He looked around him.  "Max is going to have to get some sleep tonight and there is no way you're sleepin' on the couch." Alec shrugged "You can sleep in my bed."

Erin stared at him.  She could not have heard that right.  They must've damaged her ears when they kicked the shit out of her.

Alec saw her face and laughed "Don't worry; I'll sleep on the couch."

Erin hated the fact that she felt deeply disappointed.  It only lasted a second however, as she felt tiredness take hold.  It was pretty late and getting the crap kicked out of you doesn't exactly do wonders for the energy supply.

"C'mon" Alec pulled her to her feet and led her to his 'room'.

It was pretty small, with almost nothing in it: four curtains as walls, a mattress, a crate for a table and a bag that obviously contained his clothes.

Erin slowly sat down on the mattress, rubbing her eyes as she did so.  She was really tired and she wasn't exactly keen on Alec seeing her all bloody and yucky.

Alec sat down next to her, opening the first aid box.  "Where are you hurting?"

"Everywhere" Erin looked down at her feet.  She couldn't believe what was happening.  She, Erin was getting nervous in front of a male.  That just did not happen.  She knew why it was happening though.  This was getting a little too… intimate?  Bad word, bad bad word.  Let's stick with close shall we?

"I put my shoulder back in downstairs so it's a bit sore.  Erm, I got hit at the back of the head a couple of times?"

"Let me see" Alec gently examined her head with his hands "It's okay, just a bump.  If you get any more problems with it later on?  Tell me or Jondy immediately.  Where else?"

Erin bit her lip, maybe she shouldn't tell him.  Close no longer seemed like the suitable word anymore, and it wasn't like she needed babysitting.

Alec saw her hesitation "Tell me Erin.  I need to know."

Erin sighed, rolled her eyes and took off her sweater.  Without looking at him, she then took off her tank top.

Alec blinked and began to search through the box.  Sitting cross-legged in front of her, he pulled the cap off of a bottle.  His eyes found hers "This is gonna sting."

Erin nodded and gripped the blanket.  Gently, Alec put the clear liquid onto some cotton wool and touched it to her ribs.

Erin hissed through her teeth and gripped the blankets even tighter.  Her ribs were covered in cuts and were already turning blue.  She was basically a giant bruise.

"You're gonna be okay" Alec cleaned her up "you just need to rest for about a month."

Erin rolled her eyes "Like I wouldn't have guessed."  She gasped again when his hand touched a particularly bad cut.

Alec winced but looked satisfied "Nothing seriously bad- nothing broken, just bruised."

"Yes doctor" Erin replied sarcastically and Alec chuckled as he finished cleaning her up.

"You're not nice when you're injured."

"Am I ever nice?" Erin relied instinctively.  Damn her low self esteem.  A voice in her head chuckled 'you don't have low self esteem.'

Alec looked up at her abruptly and Erin realised just how close he actually was to her.  His hands were still on her ribs but they weren't applying any pressure, and his face was mere centimetres away.

His eyes met hers "If you weren't nice, nobody would like you.  Especially not me."  His voice was a low rumble and his breath fanned across her face.

Erin wanted to ask him how he liked her exactly but chose to ruin the moment.  She blinked and turned her head breaking eye contact.  "I'm really tired.  Maybe I should sleep for a few hours."

"Yeah" Alec replied quietly and got off the mattress to pull back the covers.

Erin tried to put her tank top back on and let out another hiss.

"That's too tight" Alec rummaged around his bag and pulled out one of his t-shirts.  "Here" he handed it to her "You can keep it."

He helped her put it on and then helped her get in to bed.  He tucked her in "I'll explain to the others about you being here.  We don't want them getting the wrong idea."

He leant forward and Erin stopped breathing.  Sadly, instead of kissing her, he brushed the hair from her face.  "Night" he whispered and left.

When Alec closed the curtain behind him, he said the only thing that came to mind "Fuck!"  Okay, maybe that wasn't the best choice of word in the situation, but he'd almost kissed her! He'd almost kissed Erin!  Ah, shit.  This was NOT good.  What was he thinking?  Hell, was he thinking? Shit shit shit.  He had to take his mind off of it.  Alec began to walk to the stairs, his senses unconsciously reaching out until they found Erin and listened to her breathing even out telling him she was asleep.  What could he do? What could he do to take his mind off of this insanity that Erin seemed to be the cause of? How about find out what happened to her? If someone had actually done that to her, he'd kick the shit outta the people responsible.  Smiling grimly, Alec went downstairs.

Next Chapter: After The Fall…

"Okay, Max, you're up with Zack" Alec's words made Max stand up straighter, any straighter and she would be stood to attention. 

Her gaze ticked over to Zack as he stood up and moved into the middle of the mats.  Okay, she could do this.  Max forced her feet to move. All she had to do was avoid eye contact and not lose because of it.  Max knew this was gonna be a long fight….

A/N: Okay dudes, I'm making it official.  This IS gonna be part of a trilogy.  It keeps on developing and it doesn't seem to know when to stop.  I'm thinking of increasing my medication.  MAKE THE IDEAS STOP!!!

Marty: Yeah, *looks extremely upset* he got lost on the 47 bus route to my house.  How crappy is that?  I told you that Alec and Erin will get together dude! Jeez, chill out!

Messymissy: *grins*Dude, you HAVE to keep asking these questions.  You keep reminding me to put this stuff in!!  Cheers for that dude.  Anyway, yep, summat will be done about the dudes that kicked Erin's ass, and someone WILL talk to Alec about Erin.  It's all gonna take awhile but this story is really long anyway, so I should be able to include it all.

Elin: I haven't decided yet.  It depends on how I want Erin to react to Alec in certain situations later on.  Wow, that was cryptic!

Shards Of Normality: Actually, this story is a trilogy.  It wasn't meant to be but the story line keeps developing.  I know where I want it to go but it's making them all get there that takes up all the chapters.  Hence, a VERY long story.

Sea Siren: Ah, another Alec fan.  Someone else with taste.  There WILL be more Logan bashing, and later on, there will be the LITERAL bashing of Logan.  Much more fun than just taking the piss *grins evilly*

Moonlight: Hey Lena *waves* I've been busy too.  I've got LOADS of coursework to do for college.  Sad to say, I haven't had the chance to write to FOX yet because I've been too busy.  Hopefully, I will get round to it soon.  Anyway, Erin doesn't even know all the answers.  She doesn't know why she's in their reality, why White wants her, or why Max keeps dreaming about her.  It's MEANT to be mysterious!!  Dude, you are gonna love the end of this story and the sequel is even better.