Part 24 - New Beginnings
MAX
As much as I wanted to sit in on the little reunion, I knew it wasn't my place right now. I reached out to pull Biggs and Jake with me out of the room.
Turning to Biggs, I could see his face still suffused with shock and wonder. I was sure my face reflected the same. But I couldn't stop smiling. I was bursting with happiness inside. Intruding on such a private moment made me feel a bit guilty, but seeing Ben connecting with Alec, creating a bond that meant so much to him, was too intensely beautiful to make me feel uncomfortable for long.
"Biggs, Jake, what say we all go grab a bite? I haven't eaten anything since yesterday." I rubbed my stomach to prove my point and it reacted in time, rumbling audibly.
Jake laughed and nodded. "Sounds good to me. I hear Joshua and Jumbo are on lunch rotation. Mac 'n cheese with baby hot dogs anyone?"
I fell over my own feet laughing as we made our way down the corridors. Sobering from his little stupor, Biggs ran to catch up with us.
"So, you think everything's cool between them?" he asked, tipping his head, gesturing backward in the direction of the room we had just left.
"Looks like things will work out." I smiled broadly. It did seem that way. We'd all seen a side to Alec that he rarely showed anyone so I wasn't surprised at the confusion Biggs was displaying. Emotions were something Manticore had taught its soldiers how to suppress, not show, analyze or control.
We entered Mess Hall and took our places in line, cueing for lunch. Jake was telling jokes, Biggs was laughing and I was smiling. We were back to some semblance of normalcy in our lives. All was right in the world, for the time being at least.
"Little Fella!" My grin grew even wider, if possible, as Joshua came out from behind the counter to envelop me in a big hug.
"I missed you, Big Fella!" I hugged him back. "Joshua, a little air please! You don't know your own strength, big guy!"
He let me go and returned to his place behind the counter. "Jumbo made Mac 'n Cheese with little hot dogs, just like Joshua used to make." He slopped a huge helping onto all our plates. Joshua then leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially. "The secret's in the sauce." He said with a smile as he winked at us.
Biggs looked up at Joshua, perplexed. "Josh, I thought you made Mac 'n Cheese from a box, man."
Joshua turned up his nose and huffed. "Whenever they say it on television, people laugh."
Jake picked up his tray and brought it to his nose. Inhaling deeply, he stuck a finger into the food and brought it to his lips and sucked on it thoughtfully for a minute. Then he reached out to pat Joshua on the shoulder. "That's right, Josh. The secret's most definitely in the sauce. This is the, um, most um, interesting Mac 'n Cheese I ever tasted!" Joshua beamed with pride.
I looked at him in confusion, as did Biggs. Jake shook his head slightly. Thanking Joshua for lunch we walked over to the nearest table and sat down.
I addressed Jake. "What the hell was that all about?"
He rolled his eyes and said quietly. "Eat whatever you can manage. Then we'll hit the local Diner, my treat."
I looked at him quizzically and he sighed. "Josh was obviously proud of lunch. Jumbo did something to the sauce, believe me; it tastes like he added sugar instead of salt or something! I didn't wanna hurt his feelings, so...trust me. Just eat what you can and then lets get out of here."
I tucked into my meal and had to agree with Jake. The sauce was awful! I chewed carefully, swallowing as much as was humanly possible. While the others did the same I turned my thoughts to the near future. I sighed just thinking we all had to go back to work the next day. It was going to be hard enough to convince Normal to take me back. After all, I'd just upped and left when I felt like it, no explanations offered. I could only hope Alec would be able to fix things.
Alec. That brought me back to the present. As much as I wanted to join Jake and Biggs at the Diner, I knew I had to stay close. When Alec was finished with Ben he and I had to have a little talk.
"Jake, do you think you guys could bring some food back for me and Alec?"
He nodded. "You sure you don't wanna come?"
"I think I should wait here." I replied quietly.
Biggs jabbed Jake in the side. Jake threw his hands up, a look of 'What did I do?' clearly written on his face. Biggs spoke to me, still looking at Jake. "Give us a ring when you're ready to eat. I'll drop it off later."
He squeezed my shoulder gently as he and Jake rose to leave. I smiled gratefully. Biggs seemed to know what I meant without me having to explain. It was a relief not having to go into details. Alec and I had to talk; we wouldn't be able to move forward until I apologized. I knew it and Biggs knew it. It was time to make things right.
BEN
I watched his back as my brother left the room. The powers that be must have something in store for me; I'd been brought back from the brink of death too many times to think otherwise.
I was still somewhat in shock. I'd opened my eyes to find Alec holding on to me for dear life. His repeated cries of "I'm so sorry, Ben" and "Thank god you're alive" were shocking enough. But the words that I'd longed to hear and never thought would ever leave his lips were the ones that touched me deeper than anything I've ever known.
I closed my eyes as I remembered his admission. "It wasn't your fault. I know that and I don't hate you, Ben. I tried to, but I don't hate you." I had looked up at him and hugged him tight. I had family. Real family. And no way would I screw that up. I would do anything I could to stay here with Alec and Max. Somehow I knew - it's where I belonged.
I opened my eyes and looked around. The doctor and nurse were talking quietly on the other side of the room. The pretty redheaded one walked over to the side of my bed and adjusted the drip. As she bent over to straighten my sheet, I reached out to grip her hand.
"You're Mel, right?" I asked, smiling up at her. She was beautiful. Wavy auburn hair, lovely green eyes, high cheekbones and full lips. The sprinkling of freckles across her nose and the smile she flashed me gave her an impish look. I was entranced.
"Yeah, that's me. So you're Alec's twin. Gave us all a bit of a shock when you came in here." She continued to pat down my sheet and reached behind my head to plump the pillow.
"Hey, I'm not completely unable to look after myself, you know." I batted at her hand in mock-annoyance.
"Not at all, pretty boy. You almost died a few times, nothing too terrible." Her laughing smile lit her eyes and they sparkled. I'd never been drawn to a woman like this before.
"So, how did you get your name?" Could I have been more lame? What was wrong with me?
Mel's face took on a wistful look. Then she shook her head slightly and a soft smile graced her lips again. "It's short for Melody."
"That's beautiful." I sighed in reply.
"Not quite." I looked at her in confusion. She continued somewhat reluctantly. "It was how I was trained in Manticore. I wasn't a nurse back there."
I continued to stare. Trained? What did she mean by that?
"It was a Psy-Ops gig. I would sing to calm the subjects down. When they were relaxed enough, the Psy-Ops team would dig in and party. I'm not proud of it." She turned away abruptly. I grabbed her arm and she spun around, eyes wide and wet with tears.
"We all did things we regret, Mel. It's not easy owning up to our mistakes and its even harder to believe we can move on and make up for them. All we can do is try. And you look like you're doing fine." I smiled gently. I liked this woman, more than I thought possible. She intrigued me.
She leaned over me and whispered in my ear. "So you think anyone can start over? Make up for their mistakes?" Her breath was hot on my cheek. My breathing hitched a bit before I turned to answer her.
Tilting my head slightly, I found my lips millimetres from Mel's. In a low, husky voice I replied. "I do. With everything I've done I fight just to open my eyes each day. But family and friends make it worth trying." My emphasis was on friends as I looked deep in her eyes. Something was making my heart constrict. I'd never felt like this before.
The strange moment upon us both, Mel's lips met mine fleetingly. My world shattered, fragments of my past and future colliding. And I knew. I would make up for my mistakes. Life had too much to offer.
TBC
Part Twenty-Five
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