Part Eleven - The Truth in Evidence

MAX

I woke to see Alec looking down at me in concern. His fingers were gently brushing through my hair. When he caught my gaze, he quickly removed his hand. Realizing that my head was cradled in his lap and remembering in a rush of emotion all that had transpired between us when I'd last seen him, I jerked upward trying to move away from him. That was a mistake. My whole body screamed in pain and I let out a sharp gasp, falling back into Alec's lap with a grunt. I closed my eyes, the only distance I was able to put between us.

Alec bent over me and the warmth of his breath on my skin made me tingle all over. He whispered, "You're safe now, Maxie. We'll be stopping soon." I could only nod. I didn't trust myself to speak. I opened my eyes again and took in my surroundings. Steve was driving, Biggs was wedged between him and Jake. Biggs!

"How is he?" I asked, alarmed that he was so quiet.

Jake turned to look at me. "He'll be fine. He passed out while transfusing you. His pulse is already stronger and he should wake up soon. Get some rest, Max. You've had a hard time."

I shook my head. I wasn't much of a sleeper and I'd already been out for a while. I struggled to get up and Alec put his hand under my back and eased me into a sitting position. Tanner moved over to make more room.

"What took you guys so long?" I asked with a touch of anger in my voice. I had no right to be angry, but I was embarrassed enough to need the extra protection against the awkwardness of the situation.

Alec bridled at my tone and answered quietly. "We ran into some…complications." When he didn't elaborate I prodded him.

"What kind of complications?" Noticing the bruises and cuts on Alec's skin I had to know. "Did you meet up with White too?"

"Well there is that, but no. It was something else." He didn't seem to want to tell me what had happened. So I pestered him.

"What could have been so important that you couldn't get here fast enough to help me and Biggs?" Why can't he just tell me? It's always cryptic. I was getting more upset than I had the right to be. I mentally calmed myself and took a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry. That was out of line. Please tell me what happened?"

Alec gave me a look of confusion. Yeah, Alec. I apologized. Jeez! I almost smiled. He looks so cute when he makes that face.

"Well," he said finally. "When we stop at the Motel I'll let you find out for yourself. The answer is in the trunk."

That sparked my curiosity. "When the hell are we stopping?" I asked eagerly.

The guys snorted at my impatience and ignored me. I slumped deep in my seat and sulked.


Steve turned off the highway just as Biggs came to. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gave Jake a sheepish grin.

"Sorry man, about the drool." That elicited peals of laughter from all of us.

"Hey." I called out to him. Biggs turned around and flashed me a warm smile.

"Hey yourself. You okay, Maxie?" he asked, both concern and relief in his tone. Biggs and I had become quite close over the past few days and I permitted him the liberty to call me "Maxie". Something I rarely allowed anyone.

"Me? I'm fine. You look like shit." His face was covered in garish green-brown contusions and was peppered with small cuts and scrapes. The gash over his right eye was fading, proof that his advanced healing abilities had kicked in. I could only wonder what shape his leg was in.

"Aw, Maxie, you know I'm still prettier than you." He smirked, sounding very much like Alec.

"In your dreams, Scarecrow!" I fondly recalled the image of a sweaty, straw-plastered Biggs. We looked at each other, sharing a small smile. The others shot confused expressions our way but it was a private joke and it would stay that way. And I had the feeling this nickname would stick.

Biggs grunted in pain as he shifted in his seat. "My face stings like a bitch. The stab wound to my thigh is throbbing. I wouldn't mind a couple of painkillers, but I'll live." Biggs' entire body was bruised and he looked exhausted. He had to be hurting bad for him to actually complain about it. I don't think I remember Biggs ever complaining about anything.


We pulled into the parking lot of a small motel. The rooms were individual bungalows set apart by small plots of grass. It looked decent and clean. A nice change from the filth I'd become accustomed to of late.

Jake got us our rooms and Tanner supported Biggs as they walked toward our lodgings.

I turned to Alec. "You gonna pop the trunk? I'd like to take a look at the 'complication' you mentioned before."

Wordlessly, Steve pushed the release from the front seat and I leaned over to take a look in the boot. As I did, an arm snaked around my neck, twisting my body and pulling me tightly against the car. The metal edge of the trunk dug deeply into my lower back.

I struggled against the iron grip that held me. My air supply was restricted and I was panting for breath. A voice spoke up from behind me, directed at Alec.

"Well, 494" he said as he laughed maniacally. "You're supposed to be the best. How could you let this happen? And she's such a pretty little thing. Think of all the fun I'll have with her after I slit your throat."

I resented being called a 'pretty little thing' and I struggled to evade his grasp. He had me pinned tightly and I couldn't move. I looked anxiously at Alec, the beginnings of fear edging its way up my spine.

Alec's lips were drawn in a tight line. The man behind me had tried to provoke Alec and I could tell the words were having a devastating effect on him. I mentally urged him to keep his cool. Alec, don't let him get to you. I could sense his tension and saw how he strained to keep control. He put up his hand warning the others off. I knew my captor had the upper hand for the time being. We would have to wait until an opportunity presented itself.

Still keeping a firm grip on my neck, the man climbed out of the boot and stood behind me, pulling me flush against him. I gasped at the feel of him. The hard planes of his chest and the strong, sinewy muscles of his thighs pressed up against mine were terribly familiar. I tried to turn around, desperate to see my captor but that was not to be. He jutted his shoulder into the crook of my neck, all the while keeping the lockhold. Dammit! I was getting very frustrated.

I couldn't resist taunting the man behind me. "Who the fuck are you? And what do you want with Alec? Why not be a man about it, let me go, and settle this bitch between yourselves. I've had a bad day and I really don't wanna have to kick your ass."

He seemed to consider my suggestion. That's a good boy. Until he picked me up effortlessly and threw me at Jake. I hit him squarely and we both went down hard. Blood trickled from my mouth and nose, and I saw red.

I jumped to my feet and blurred at him. I kicked him in the ribs, hearing a satisfying 'crack'. In that second I had let down my guard, a fist shot out and caught me just above my right eye. A kaleidoscope of color exploded in front of me and I staggered back at the force of the blow and fell flat on my ass.

"Max!" Alec rushed over to my side. He turned and glared at…

"Ben?" I whispered in disbelief.


"Oh my god, Maxie! I didn't mean to hit you."

"Ben?" I said again, my eyes blurring with tears. Alec reached for me and held out his hand. He pulled me to my feet, stepping behind me in the process, a comforting gesture that I appreciated greatly. I leaned back against his strong frame as the sobs rose in my throat.

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god…"

I couldn't think past the one sentence I kept repeating. I watched, not really seeing, as Ben took a tentative step towards me.

I put my hands up in protest. "This is a cruel joke. Ben's dead. He's dead. I should know. I KILLED HIM." How I managed to get that out between the painful sobs, I don't know. But I couldn't believe my eyes. The man before me was either an apparition or the walking dead. But in no way could I accept that Ben was actually alive. It had to be a dream.

Alec put his arms around my waist and bent to whisper in my ear. "Maxie, it's true. It's Ben. Manticore found him, and, well..." I looked up at him and I could see the underlying fury and protectiveness in his eyes. A sense of safety enveloped me. He spoke softly. "See for yourself."

I missed the barely imperceptible shake of Alec's head as the others glared at him. I stepped out of Alec's embrace and moved toward my brother. The same sad, apologetic look that I remembered from the last time I'd seen him was there. But there was something else too, something that glinted in the depths of his haunted eyes: hope. I threw my arms around my big brother and held him tight. My heart was bursting and a heavy weight was lifted from me. Ben was alive. He was safe.

Ben pulled away and stepped back to look at me, balancing his weight heavily on his uninjured leg to keep from stumbling. It was then that the clanging sound and sight of the loosened chains and rope registered. I saw that he had been restrained and I shot Alec a look of disgust.

"Why the hell was he tied up? He's injured! He needs medical attention!" I was hysterical. Mostly from the surprise of coming face to face with the man I thought I'd killed, the man I'd suffered such guilt over for so long. The situation left me feeling tense and I was still a bit wobbly from the excitement of the days before. And before I knew what was happening, my body started to shake violently.

TBC

Part Twelve

Please review! Fuel for the fire…