The fact that when he'd awoken he was till holding Max in his arms and she was watching him with interest had been his first clue that things were definitely brewing within her mind. The complete lack of physical violence when caught her watching him replaced instead with a blush was his second.
What was brewing only god knew because she'd become completely unpredictable. How many times had he said That was the last thing I expected? He couldn't remember but a fair chunk nonetheless.
It was in that moment that Alec concluded he did not feel like subjecting his body to radioactive waves that day. The last thing he wanted to do was steal that damn microchip. In fact he just wanted to stay planted in that bed. But the alternative was for lack of a better word, painful.
"Max?" he began trying to keep his voice even, disbelief that he was even contemplating what he was about to do, "Hmmm?"
Alec fidgeted idly with the hem of the sheets behind her back forcing Max to bury the shiver that fought to travel down her spine. She could see the hesitation in his face, as if he was preparing himself and confusion furrowed her brow.
"Alec? Are you okay?" she asked slowly, to which he caught her gaze and bit his lip summoning the courage, "Well I was just wondering…" he trailed off.
The sharp poke in his ribs made him laugh, "C'mon spit it out," the new Max, or old Max depending which way you looked at it, wasn't all that different to the one he'd met in that dingy cell.
"Do we absolutely have to get that chip?" he muttered reluctantly awaiting a response. Silence. Max halted thinking about it, going over the cash they already had and what she had planned for Vegas. In truth they really didn't need it but as she turned to tell this to her partner in crime she spotted the almost tortured look he wore.
"Are you afraid your god-like body might be affected by the radioactive waves?" she asked hiding her smirk and disbelieving curiosity at what could possibly be his reasons, "And we'd need to make up the money some how. Is male prostitution illegal in California?"
He ignored her apart from a small roll of his eyes and finished his thought, "I mean, we could sell the car, but it's just an idea," he said trailing off and Max grinned.
"Oh you are such a goofball," she answered and continued at his quizzical look, "You looked like you were about to be objected to 6 months of inexplicable torture and all you were suggesting was to sell a car."
"Hey, a man has a right to be attached to his vehicle! You basically kiss your motorbike every time you see it," he defended himself.
"Her, not it, and there's a difference she's my baby," rolling out of bed she waved her hand at his disgruntled responses, "Get everything ready, I'm going to get dressed and when we're done, we're going to Vegas."
********
"You know the Maranello's top speed was 320kph," Alec sulked kicking a pebble across the lot, trying to keep up his argument that they could have kept the car despite not going after the microchip. The garage was bathed in a glow of artificial yellow light, but the sun was beginning to peak out.
"And this is only 214.1kph," he added looking at the car Max had spotted. A spark in his eyes and Max realized he wasn't too upset about the change of vehicle, but she'd also know he'd sulk further just to piss her off, "Oh give it a rest Alec you big baby. This ride is just as sweet," she protested rolling her eyes as she ran a hand across the car's side.
"Okay so pre-pulse, I admit this was a sweet ride but come on! This thing is older than Lydecker! Plus it's a V8 four-speed and the Ferrari was V12 five-speed," Max halted him mid sentence, "Stop your gibbering you'll confuse the viewers at home. I'm stealing this car and that's the end of it. We had a nice time with the Ferrari but it provided us with $280,000 dollars US so the way I see it, your relationship with that car ended this morning and continuing in a 1967 Ford Shelby GT 500 won't keep me awake at night . . . she's a beauty," Max replied picking the lock of the car door and getting into the car as Alec followed suit.
"I'm in charge of the stereo then?" the blonde asked rhetorically yet Max answered anyway, "Whatever, as long as you stop complaining." Alec rolled his eyes and shrugged at her. Looking around contemplatively he beamed in surprised excitement spotting the sound system, "Ok so it isn't a bad trade off," Max laughed starting the car.
******
They'd been on the road for roughly an hour in which time Alec had unrelentingly played with the little knobs and buttons of the stereo moving from station to station and adjusting the sound till it pleased him, complaining the whole time that whoever had owned this 'electronic wonderland' was a pathetic excuse of a human being for not knowing how to adjust it. Max was getting a nervous twitch by now and she didn't like it; ignoring the fact that this position had been reversed a mere few days ago.
"Alec!" she exclaimed, immediately holding the attention of the attention deficit excuse for an X5 beside her; she ignored her own contradiction. His face was one of complete innocence, too much if you asked her. His eyes twinkled and a small smile as if to say 'You couldn't possibly be angry at me' stretched his lips, "Yes oh stressed one?"
Grinding her teeth she looked away keeping her eyes on the road, "I would NOT be stressed if you'd choose a fucking radio station and stick to it instead of jumping from one to the other in a never-ending circle!" she hissed at him.
"Well fine then relax cause at the moment the only thing I'm picking up on is Christian folk music, and that just ain't our style," Alec sighed switching the radio off and leaning back in his chair. Focusing his whole attention on her.
Alec studied her carefully. From her cord clad thighs, up over the curves of her hips and further past her red top and onto the smooth curvature of her neck. Following the golden skin of her throat onto her face, he studied her profile, her posture and found her unnerved, most likely at his perusal of her body.
Clearing his throat and his thoughts at the same time Alec decided to change the subject, "What job have we got lined up in Vegas? We're not too far off our mark. Another $150 000 and we're in business."
Max's eyes sparked with something he didn't have a chance to recognize because as quickly as it had appeared it vanished, "You'll see. However I think we might overshoot a little. You don't mind do you?"
As if Alec thought and from the grin on his face Max didn't need a reply to her question, so smiling she relaxed a little more in her chair and pressed down harder on the accelerator.
*******
The twinkling lights, loud music and buzz of the city washed through them as desert and blue sky disappeared and the city rose out of nowhere around them. Alec had never been here unlike Max, and she watched his eyes liven with wonder, excitement and suspiciously in mischievousness.
The flashing signs and attractions whizzed passed them as Max drove towards a specific destination it seemed. But Alec was too entranced to take notice; this was a playground. Not just any playground, but the mother of all playgrounds and in a couple of days he could be the most popular 'kid' there.
Past a huge fountain and coming to a halt in front of the biggest Hotel Alec had ever imagined Max stopped the car and stepped out, the other X5 scrambling and following suit as soon as he realized they'd stopped. Half a dozen valets rushed towards them seemingly appearing out of nowhere, grabbing their bags, all except the one Max held with all the bounty they'd accumulated, and ushered them inside. Max didn't seem to be at all perturbed but Alec seemed to have trouble keeping track of all that was happening despite his heightened senses.
A man in a dark navy suit greeted them warmly, "Welcome to Ceasar's Palace, I am Alden Keating, the manager here. I'll show you to your suite," turning around he began walking further into the lobby towards the elevators Max in step behind them with the valets on their heels leaving Alec to catch up quickly.
Reaching the highest level the lift could reach Max and Alec steeped out of the elevator, the manager once again speeding down the corridor to the second of the only two doors and swiping a card past the lock it opened.
In a flurry of motion the valets all put the bags within the room and left at the manager's wave of a hand leaving Alec and Max and himself alone in the apartment. A look of awe on his features Alec walked further into their 'room' if you could call it that, forgetting Max and Mr Keating completely.
Max hugged herself standing in front of the aged man. A soft smile was on his face and his light blue eyes glinted at her the same way she remembered they'd always done, "It's been a while hasn't it Dan?" she asked sheepishly.
Aldan Keating smiled genuinely emphasizing the beginning wrinkles on his face as his salt and peppery hairline drew back, "It's nice to see you too child," and with that he was gone.
Max stood there, staring at the closed door in mild fascination still holding herself. A yell of excitement brought her crashing back down to earth however and shaking herself out of her musings she went in search of her childlike partner.
Everything was how she remembered it, the huge open living room, the way the furniture was placed. The wide windows and view alighted memories inside her as she went in search of Alec. Finding him in the bedroom a grin tugged the corners of her lips as she watched him explore his surrounding. The TV cabinet was open exposing a million different appliances and options including the surround sound.
Alec's attention was being happily shared by nearly every feature within the suite as he jumped around from corner to corner. Laughing to herself at his antics she dropped their bag and dropped onto the bed, her eyes never leaving his lean frame.
"Max this is absolutely fucking amazing! Have you seen the TV? And the . . . the . . . the whole entertainment section of this place! The fridge is stocked, and the closet space, we have two separate telephones . . ." he was stuttering and he knew it but he didn't care, too excited about their current accommodation.
"I'm guessing you haven't seen the bathroom yet have y . . ." she hadn't even managed to finish the sentence that he was off followed by exclamations of appreciation echoing off the marble and ceramic back into the bedroom.
"Oh I definitely am liking this! Max get your togs on cause we are having a spa bath!" he called out and she could hear rustling of clothing muffling his words.
"No way Hose' pretty boy. Keep on dreaming," she replied, "You just want a show and besides I don't have togs."
A/N: Please read and review . . . It's an inspiration as I get a bit stuck on this story. It takes me ages to phrase what I want to say in it.