Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. I am writing this purely for non-profit amusement.

Play-Along: Chapter 4

Alec cursed as the glaring sun shone through his eyelids, effectively waking him. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and yawned, clearing the cobwebs from his sleep induced mind.

Then he remembered. And his shoulders slumped.

Max. He looked around. He was on the couch. Where is she? As soon as the thought passed his mind, he heard footsteps from her room.

Max stopped as she saw him, and smiled at him sheepishly.

"Glad to see you awake. Good thing I came home when I did," OC came out behind Max, disapproving frown on her face, "Couldn't leave you two kids alone without you misbehaving,"

Max almost groaned as she remembered. Alec had Max pinned on the floor, caressing every bit of her body he could lay his hands on. When she came back to the apartment last night, OC had taken a look at the state the two of them were in and decided to take matters into her own hands. With the help of an iron. OC figured that they couldn't do much if Alec was unconscious.

Alec touched the bump at the back of his head gingerly and winced, "OC, was it absolutely necessary for you to bash me this hard?"

OC chuckled, "Boy, I saved you from one very embarrassing morning after, a'ight. So stop whining. I gotta blaze, or Normal's gonna have my ass. Later," she walked out, shutting the door with a bang behind her, leaving Max and Alec alone.

Alec was still on the couch. Max was standing by the kitchen counter, fiddling with the hem of her jumper.

"Well… Good thing OC came home," Alec said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah…" Max said.

Silence.

"Hey…" Max said… "Look…" Alec said at the same time.

They caught each others eyes and laughed, breaking the tension.

Max leaned forward against the counter, burying her face in her hands, groaning, "I am so sorry Alec. This is painfully embarrassing,"

Alec laughed walking over to her, "Like I said yesterday… No problem! Sorry it didn't last long. But you did enjoy it, right?" She swatted his arm. "Seriously, Max. I mean, it's not like you have any control over it, right. And my defence is – me neither,"

Max stared at him, frowning, "What do you mean, you neither. You're not the one in heat,"

"Oh, forgot. You weren't there when they found out about it,"

"Could you be a bit more specific?" Max asked, curious.

"When you go into heat, you release pheromones. And those pheromones affect us male transgenics like heat affects you, almost. Blinded by desire to do only one thing – copulate, in Manticore's terms," Alec explained, wry grin on his face.

Max started at him, aghast, "What! Argh! That explains it!" No wonder he was all over me. I didn't even stop to think how strange it was that he was interested. I guess I just pegged him down as being a normal horny male. He probably won't do it under normal circumstances, she thought Max felt a bit uneasy (or was it disappointed?) when that thought crossed her mind.

"I guess Renfro would have better luck if she had waited till your heat before sending me as your breeding partner, huh!" Alec smirked.

Max gaped at him with an incredulous look on her face, and smacked him upside the head, "Shut-up! Don't be such a smart-ass!"

At Jampony…

"Here Missy-miss," Normal tossed Max two packages, "Sector 4 and 6. Bip! You gotta make up for yesterday,"

Max made a face. OC rolled her eyes. Alec smirked.

"I'll be right on it Normal," Max said in a resigned tone, turning towards the exit while trying to stuff the packages into her bag. She frowned as she bumped into someone blocking her exit. Ready to give whoever it was a tongue-lashing, she looked up... and froze.

"Zack?" she whispered, searching his eyes for signs of recognition. Why was he here? Was he not supposed to be at the farm? She wondered.

Zack grinned, "Maxie… Glad you remembered me," He took a step towards her.

Max closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, her face breaking into a smile. "God, I am so happy to see you… What are you doing here? What happened?"

"Tell you later," he said solemnly, looking around at the crowd which was gathering around them uneasily.

"Well…well… If it isn't Sam. Just disappeared into thin air. I expected more from you, boy," Normal said sarcastically.

"Erm… so sorry, sir. I had a family emergency to deal with. I apologise for causing you inconvenience," Zack said sheepishly, his eyes downcast until Normal's gaze.

Normal huffed and turned to go, somewhat mollified by the respectful way Zack addressed him.

Max walked Zack to the lockers where OC and Alec were standing staring at them. "Guys, you remember Zack?"

OC nodded, "Sure thing, boo. Your brother, right. Welcome back,"

Alec just inclined his head at Zack, acknowledging his presence. He remembered him alright. He remembered the way Zack, Max's brother, looked at her in a very un-brotherly way. He wondered if this was the reason Zack came back. To finish off what he started the last time. Its Max's call. None of my business, he thought. Then why are you clenching your hands into fists, huh! An annoying voice spoke up in his mind.

Max noticed the look that passed between Alec and Zack. Both of them have the Manticore mask on, an instant and unmistakable sign that both their guards were up. She wondered what was up with them, and tried to diffuse them simmering tension before it could develop any further, "Zack, you wanna come with me. I have some deliveries to make. We can catch up,"

Tearing his eyes away from the staring contest he was currently engaging in with Alec, he turned to Max and gave her an indulgent smile, "Sure. Sounds good,"

Alec wanted to gag. He snorted in disgust and turned away to go deliver his packages. Max was a big girl. She will figure out what's going on soon enough, he thought.

t.b.c.