Alec was always disoriented when he woke up. He would open his eyes and wonder where the white walls of Manticore had gone and why he couldn't smell the acrid antiseptics. He would wonder why his body didn't hurt from hours of training. As the buzzing that had roused him continued, Alec fit the pieces together. Slowly at first, then faster as he woke up more.
He was in Terminal City, fighting the good fight.
He was in bed alone. Thank God for that. He hated those awkward morning-afters and preferred it when the ladies left after the main event.
That incessant ringing noise was his pager. Who would be calling at this hour?
Alec slumped back down on his mattress and thrust a hand to the vicinity of what served as a nightstand for him. After some blind groping, he found it and managed to check the number. He didn't recognize it...
He let his body relax and gave himself up to a light doze. Nobody had the right to page him this early. He didn't have to work for two hours yet...
Eve.
Alec sat straight up, fully alert, and checked his beeper again. It was probably her number. He shoved legs into his jeans and stood up, snatching his cell phone and a shirt. He dialed the number as he gathered his wallet and ID badge.
"Logan?" the voice on the other end asked.
"Eve?"
"Alec?" Eve sounded surprised and confused.
"What's up?" he asked.
"What's up is I'm going to be late for my meeting 'cause you didn't show!"
There was nothing accusing in her tone, which Alec appreciated, though she did sound upset. Didn't this girl have any faults? Couldn't she get mad and blame him just like everyone else?
"You'll be on time. I promise," he told her before he ended the call. He jogged down the halls, headed to the place he parked his motorcycle. He was almost there when Dix intercepted him.
"Alec? I need you to get something."
"Can it wait? I'm in a hurry."
"It's an organic chemistry book. Well, and a genetics book. I guess that's two things."
"Look." Alec raised his hand to cut off the rambling transgenic. "I'll see what I can find in the library or something after work."
"No, it needs to be new. Cutting edge."
"Where am I going to find that? Listen, I got another job to do besides being your gofer."
"I know. That's why I caught you now."
"Dix..." The transgenic was beginning to try Alec's already thin patience.
"I thought since you had to drop Logan's cousin off at college you could sneak a book or two?"
Alec sighed. Of course! What better place to get a cutting edge science book than a college campus? "I'll see what I can do, Dix."