Author- Northernmoon

Rating – PG-13 for now (note some swearing )

Pairings- M/A

Disclaimer- none of these characters belong to me, don't sue!

Summary- Alec sees a new side of Max

A/N- This is really AU and my first story so be kind if you can, but I'd like any feedback your willing to give. Assume that this is after A and M have a heart to heart about Ben but doesn't include any of the other drama after that.

Chapter 5 – Conversations

After Max had splashed cold water on her face for the fifteenth time, she leaned back against the wall and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She felt bewildered as she ran through everything that had just happened. Not wanting to think through the confusion and fury that Alec raised, she focused on the silence and tension that had been in the air when she left the room. Her thoughts raced trying to piece everything together. No matter how hard she tried though, everything came back to Alec.

'He was actually licking me, and I was letting him and, oh my God, it felt…'

She quickly shut down this thought as she felt herself flush and start to hyperventilate in panic again.

'Okay thoughts of Alec are officially forbidden, starting right now,' she tried to focus.

Alec had been different though, his eyes had been less guarded and more…something that she couldn't quite place. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

'Okay seriously now, Alec thinking is very bad. There will be no more of it, starting now…for real this time.'

'Damn, this water is cold,' she tried to cover her body's response as she dried off and attempted to compose herself once again.

She heard Normal in the background, back from lunch and figured it was time to hit the road again. She could talk to Sketchy on the way.

To her surprise, Cece was waiting leaning against the wall beside the door. Not that Max had a problem with Cece; they just hadn't ever really talked much before. Max knew she hadn't exactly been Miss Congeniality since she'd come back and Cece kept pretty much to herself.

Cece had just been cursing inwardly, asking herself why she had followed Alec's command to follow Max when Max gave her a curious smile and said quietly, "Hey."

Trying to stall Max from going outside for as long as she could, she scrambled for something to say to the fiery woman who had turned her life upside down.

Max studied her thoughtfully, then tentatively asked, "Cece?"

The other woman looked at her guardedly, "Yeah?"

Speaking with a softness Cece had never heard before, Max asked, "What just happened in there?" Her confusion showed on her face and in her voice.

As she looked at Max, Cece felt some of her resentment towards her slide away. The dark woman had always seemed so hard, cold and naturally in her element in this new outside world, always in control. As she looked back at Max she thought how funny it was that she had learned more about her in the past half hour than she had in the past month.

She dropped her guard a little and gave Max a sympathetic half smile. "I'm honestly not sure, I'm feeling confused about what just happened too. You should probably talk to Alec and your friend about it."

At the mention of Alec, Max stiffened and the softness left her eyes.

"Whatever," she shrugged, "I'll talk to Sketchy about it."

Having seen briefly through Max's tough chic façade, Cece noted to herself that perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that Max had only let her guard down when Alec was out of the picture, only to pull it back up when reminded of him.

She was secretly amused and somewhat in awe of the hard time that Max gave Alec. She knew Alec only by his reputation as '494' back at Manticore. He had been pretty arrogant, full of himself and his status and most of that had continued from what she had observed of his conquests at Crash. She was pretty sure that his confidence was well deserved; she'd never heard any complaints.

'Well, except from Max,' she thought with a smile. Alec was unfailingly charming to every other woman she'd ever seen but Cece acknowledged that he really did deserve Max's bitching at least half the time. Thinking back over both of their strange behavior earlier, Cece smiled to herself, 'this is going to be fun!"

Feeling unusually curious about what made Max tick; she decided to make a subtle gesture of friendship towards her leader. "So, " she started, "exactly how hard is it to find oranges around here."

Max looked at her shocked, then blushed faintly as awareness swept over her.

At her dumbfounded response, Cece smiled and finished, "you know because, if they really are that good… we should set up some contacts."

To both of their surprise, Max gave her a rare smile and responded sassily, "Oh they really are that good girl, and we should definitely set something up. It's something you have to experience for yourself."

The women smiled at each other and walked out to their bikes.

Alec fought the urge to pick his friend up and throw him into the brick wall. 'Deep breaths, don't think about Max…' he chanted to himself quietly.

Sketchy had begun fumbling for a response as soon as they walked out the door.

Alec gently put a firm hand on Sketch's shoulder and felt him flinch and stop talking.

Very calmly, Alec coaxed his friend, " Just start at the beginning. Tell me about what you and Max talked about this morning." He looked straight into Sketch's eyes and said quietly, "She was really worried about you, you know?"

Grateful for a place to start, Sketchy recounted his earlier conversation with Max. Alec only stopped him once.

"What did Max say exactly when you asked her about Rafer?"

"Well, something Max-like. Something like, as if an asshole like that could give her a hard time."

Alec looked at him intently, "But she didn't actually deny it, did she? What else?"

"She changed the subject. She does that you know."

Alec rolled his eyes and nodded, being all too familiar with Max's diversionary tactics.

Things were slowly starting to add up in Sketch's head. Alec watched as a hint of realization dawned on his friends face.

Sketchy looked at Alec stricken, "I didn't know man. I mean sh-she never said or…"

He looked at Alec's clenched jaw and tentatively asked, "What do you think happened?"

He watched in fascination as Alec's face and body became steel as he glared into the distance, "I don't know but I intend to find out."

Suddenly afraid, Sketchy mumbled " I know I shouldn't have done it…with the orange…but I knew that Max would have had my back if I'd asked her and…"

Alec cut him off, "But you didn't ask her, you put her on display like that, without her knowing…" Alec took a deep breath and began again more calmly. "You could have asked her for help, you could have asked me." Sketchy felt even worse at the hurt he saw on his friend's face.

You crossed a line man, you need to tell her what happened."

Sketchy moved as though to protest and Alec cut him off. "Tell her before she hears it from someone else. You owe her that."

Sketchy nodded. Suddenly the thought of Max and OC combined kicking his ass seemed preferable to dealing with Alec if he failed on this.

Alec started again, "Now tell me about this trouble you're in with Rafer." Biggs had been listening by the door and Alec motioned for him to come over and join the conversation.

Sketchy scratched his head and said, "Well the short version is that I was hanging at Crash. He offered to buy me beer and we were drinking and taking."

Alec had started pacing while Sketchy talked. He stopped and interrupted his friend, "What were you talking about?"

Sketchy pondered this a minute, "Well, just work and stuff at first. He kept buying me more beer and then started asking me about you guys, you know who I hang with. Especially about you and Biggs."

Alec and Biggs looked across at each other worried that this could be bigger than they thought.

"Yeah, about how Max knows you guys and stuff."

"Only about how Max knows us? What did you tell him?"

"Sketchy looked surprised at the question, "Just that you were close to one of Max's brothers and Biggs and you grew up together." He explained innocently. "That's what Max told me."

Alec smirked at him, "Well, that's close enough to the truth." Biggs laughed.

"So he only wanted to know about us in relation to Max?"

"Yeah, so then he asks me about OC and if I've ever seen he in action and then he asked me about Max and her breaking up with Logan and who she's dating and stuff and uh…if I've ever seen her in action."

Biggs interrupted with a curious, "And have you? Ever seen either of them?" Alec glared at him.

"OC, no way, she keeps her ladies to herself. Max thought, I know she acts all up tight and tough and stuff but every now and then she goes all out looking for some action and she's like all over…"

Sketchy stopped abruptly at the glare on Alec's face. Biggs whispered quietly "Heat?" Alec nodded thoughtfully.

"So then I started telling him about the orange thing, but he had already heard about it from some of the other guys. It used to happen more at work before OC put the smack down on the last guy's ass who brought her an orange and made his life hell and got him fired."

He hesitated and Alec encouraged him to continue. "Well, then I told him about the orange I got at the market and how I was going to give it to Max on the way home."

Alec winced at his friend's stupidity.

"So then we started playing pool, I don't know what happened! One minute we had like 2 games apiece, next minute I was into him for 2 grand."

Alec was incredulous, "You've never even lost that much to me!"

Biggs continued, "So he told you he'd forget about the money if you.."

"Yeah if I got rid of OC and gave Max the orange at work."

Alec sighed and was about to say something when Max and Cece walked out. Max looked at Alec uncertainly, assessing the situation then handed Sketchy some packages and walked away.

"Let's go," she called out over her shoulder as she got on her bike.

Sketchy looked to Alec for permission. Alec nodded and said "We'll finish this later at Crash."

Alec looked at Biggs and raised an eyebrow motioning for him to speak.

"There's some vital Intel were missing here." When Alec nodded, Biggs continued, "So, who are you going to shake down, Rafer or Max?"

Alec responded, "OC first, then Max. As for Rafer, well…"

Cece surprised them both by interrupting, "Get a grip guys, this isn't a mission."

They both turned to stare at her as she continued, "For what its worth, I'd just leave this alone. Max is a big girl who has proven that she can take care of herself and both of you. You should stay out of it unless she asks for your help."

Alec smirked at Cece, "Oh look, Max has been making friends!" Biggs laughed.

Cece glared and cursed under her breath at them both and marched away.

Biggs watched her and turned to Alec with some apprehension, "You don't think Max is contagious do you?"

Alec matched his look and muttered, "I hope to hell not!"

A/N – Sorry this chapter took so long…it's harder to write with no Max and Alec inspiration! Coming up next, Sketchy messes up again and some more M/A!

Thanks again for reviewing everyone…as an apology I realized that I had missed something in chapter 3 and had to edit it…not important now, but will be later. (Just a small but important sentence)

For silsecri-Thanks! Hot sensual feline was what I was trying for. I love Sketchy and Max's friendship. The scene in Love Among the Runes inspired me where Sketchy agrees with OC that Max is the best person that he knows.

For m/a fan – Thanks! Glad you liked the orange action!

For SGOU – thanks…I like it when Alec is all tough…you'll see more of that I promise! I really wanted to show some innocence in Max for all her toughness…thanks for noticing!

For cbags – Thanks for the encouragement, it really means a lot!

For JG – Possessive Alec is my favorite! Even though we don't really see much of that on the show… I know its there!

For Lynsi- Alec and Rafer aren't done yet…Max can fight her own battles too though!

For lakergirl – I guess I just figured Normal must take a lunch break too??? Thanks for pointing that out…I'm not sure now that he wouldn't just eat from the counter and bitch at everyone to finish early and Bip Bip Bip.

For SmilinStar – Thanks, Rafer is going to go from bad to worse!

For willow98002 – I think protective Alec is fine…trouble is what will Max think!

For marama – Thanks so much for your review!