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

Play-Along: Chapter 6

After saying their goodbyes, Max got on her Ninja. Zack had his own. It was not long till they arrived at Max's apartment. Max had offered Zack the couch but he declined. He said he had got a place of his own not too far away.

Getting off his bike, he walked Max to her apartment. At the door he planted a kiss on Max's cheek, and stroked her hair, "I am so glad I found you. I missed you," he said softly, astounded by the silky softness of her skin and hair.

"I know, Zack. I missed you too," she hugged him tightly, her head pressed against his chest. She inhaled. He smelled so familiar. She thought back to those nights back in Manticore when she used to either crawl into his or Ben's bed.

"Goodnight, Maxie,"

"Goodnight, Zack. See you tomorrow?"

"Of course,"

………………………

From the shadows, a pair of eyes glinted as they observe the affectionate display of the two transgenics. He had been waiting, but not for long. He needed to talk to Max tonight. First it was the wait, then the fury started to mount when he saw Zack touching her. Zack cannot have her. Why? Because he wanted Max for himself.

He turned and backtracked silently.

………………………………

A month went by in a relatively peaceful manner. No attacks from the Breeding Cult or the Ordinaries. Max sighed, knowing it would not last long. Not that absolutely everything was peachy. There was this small issue with Alec's behaviour. He has not been himself recently. Even Sketchy, usually quite obtuse about things around him, could see that something was not right. Max has seen Alec less than 5 times at Crash in the last one month. And that was not your usual Alec. She could not even catch him in Jampony.

Max wanted to talk to Alec, but she was finding it hard since Zack was around almost all the time. Things being what they were between the two male transgenics, she did not feel comfortable approaching Alec when Zack was around. Zack had started work at Jampony. Somehow he managed to get on the same runs as Max more often than not. Must be the Manticore blessed charms. Normal was especially susceptible to it, Alec was living proof of that..

Max constantly found her thought drifting to Alec these days, no matter the situation, he always seemed to be in her mind. Max wondered if Alec was avoiding her. But why? She had dismissed the thought of Alec being jealous of Zack. But she could not dismiss the little voice in her head that insited she wanted Alec to be more than her friend, to be her lover to be exact. In the passing weeks, she had come to the conclusion that she could not just ignore the feeling. She never thought that she would consider Alec as anything else but a pain in the butt, let alone a potential lover. But she missed him. Max sighed heavily.

But what could she do? She needed to talk to him, but the guy was no where to be found...

Time to take some drastic action then, Max though to herself, a grin slipping into place across her beautiful features.

………………………..

Alec was sick of it. Every time he turned around, Zack was there with Max. Both at Crash and Jampony. She did not even glance at him. It was as if he was suddenly invisible. He thought that they have grown closer and were beginning to be friends, of sorts. He wanted to walk up to her and say something annoying just to piss her off so that maybe she would remember that he was there, but somehow he could just never bring himself to do it, it was never the right time..

Max laughing at something Zack said.

Zack's arm around Max as they were in Crash.

Max ruffling Zack's hair affectionately.

Zack planting a kiss on Max's cheek.

Max jokingly pushing Zack, laughing.

Zack holding Max close while he whispers something in to her ears.

SHIT! It's as if they were a couple already… Maybe they were. Why must this happen just as I realise how I feel, he thought in agony. He buried his head in his pillow. Just a few weeks ago, he finally admitted to himself that he had fallen hard for Max. He knew now that someone out there must be having a good time playing a cosmic joke on him. First Rachel. Now Max. Great, now he could not even sleep without thinking about all this crap, he thought grumpily. Bad enough he could not go to Crash. He just couldn't bear to see Zack next to Max constantly, couldn't bear the though of him touching her. He has been frequenting some other bars recently for his beers, or simply just staying at home with a bottle or two of bourbon. This meant that he missed hanging out with his friends. Not only that, he had been celibate for more than a month. A month! Ever since the fateful day Max came up to him in Crash and kissed him.

Tonight he had downed a bottle of scotch after he finally had decided that he needed some sleep. However, sleep eluded him. He punched his pillow in frustration.

Why don't you go over to talk it out with her? A small voice asked in his head. What's the point? another better, weary voice answered the first; after seeing what he has seen the last month, it seemed safe to say that Max had probably made her choice. And that choice did not include him.

Deep down he knew he could just not continue on like this. Manticore did not train them to be like this, to feel sorry for themselves. Suck it up, soldier! A harsh voice in his head reprimanded him. They were meant to be soldiers, killing machines for goodness's sakes. He had to take some action, he decided finally, pain crossing his features but his eyes held an air of determination.

He would leave Seattle.

t.b.c.