The Surprise

Chapter 17: The One.

A/N: Usual apologies for the lack of updates and also for typos as I don't have spellcheck. Also I have now become very unfamiliar with this story so any continuity errors that you pick up on please let me know! Also an apology for how crap this chapter is-but I figured it was better than none at all ever again.

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When the meeting broke up, Max busied herself by shuffling about the few papers that were in front of her while watching Alec and Alice talk at the other end of the room from the corner of her eye. Despite everything that had happened the last few weeks Max could not help herself; she was insanely jealous. Alec had not spoken to her in almost a week and there he was talking to another woman, one that he obviously got on with very well.

Max looked Alice up and down and became very self-concious. Haven taken in that Alice was the same height as Alec, Max shuffled her feet awkwardly and felt all of a sudden ashamed of her compact frame. Max stood up straight, determined to use what little height she did have as much as she could, adamant that the best things came in small packages. Then she found herself asking why the tall woman also had to be blonde. Her hair was not just blonde it was that super shiny shampoo advert worthy blonde that was sure to make Alice be noticed in the most crowded rooms. If that was not bad enough why did their names both have to begin with the same letter? Max found herself wondering. Never before had Max found alliteration so threatening.

The final kick in the teeth came when she had finished sizing Alice up and turned her 'subtle' glances towards Alec and she saw him break into a smile. All of the times she had saw him in the last week he had looked completely blank and there he was, talking to a tall, blonde woman and smiling what Max was certain was the first smile that had crossed his face since she accused him of cheating. She stole one last look at Alec and the lopsided grin that she had come to love and then left the room as quickly as she could without being too obvious about it. A block away, she broke into a run only stopping several minutes later to let her breath and her tears catch up with her as she wondered once again what she had done.

A while later, after pulling herself together Max was heading back into the centre of Terminal City when Matt came up to her. "Hey Max, hows it going?" he asked cheerfully.

"Fine."

"Are you OK?" he inquired, noticing her strained smile.

"Yeah," she insisted with a sigh, "It's just . . . "

"Alice?" Matt asked knowingly.

"Am I that transparent?"

"Sort of," teased Matt. "It's just natural I guess, I mean you two aren't even on speaking terms yet and then all of a sudden this new girl pops up on to the scene who he has all this history with and..."

"History? They have history?" quizzed Max, a frown on her face.

"Uh, yeah," said Matt. "Didn't you know?"

"Well I only met her for the first time in today's meeting and I assumed they knew each other because, well, they came in together and looked quite friendly and then I found out that they were both in the elite unit back at Manticore so yeah I guess I did know," she said, trailing off. "But when you say 'history,' do you mean that they were involved?"

"Not as far as I know, but the rest of the unit did wonder about those two," Matt admitted, knowing that he had to make Alice seem like as much as a threat as possible.

"Oh," murmured Max.

"Hey, don't sweat it, I'm sure Alec is in no mood to 'go a courting ' at the moment," Matt assured her. "Besides you probably shouldn't be thinking like that cause it ain't going to help the situation. Well I'd best be off, I told Jondy I'd check in with her about ten minutes ago...I am so getting my ass kicked. Later Max," he said running off, leaving Max alone with her traitorous thoughts.

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Matt entered the bar and scanned around until he spotted Jondy and Alice. "Hey guys, sorry I was running late," he said joining them. "Don't be sorry, be punctual," Jondy scolded. "So any news?" she asked.

"Well I was just talking to Max a few minutes ago and I am happy to report that we are right on schedule," he informed them.

"Good," said Jondy. "Phase three is go, Alice you're up."

"Sure thing," said Alice, with no intention of moving. "What?" she asked when she realised Jondy and Matt were looking at her expectantly. "Oh you meant right now?" Alice sighed and made a big fuss of getting up. "Fine, any clues about where I can find her?"

"Try her office," Matt suggested, "I think she was heading for HQ when I left her."

"You guys so owe me for this just in case I haven't mentioned it before," she said with a smile.

"Oh you have, but only a few hundred times," teased Jondy.

"Really? I didn't think I was that subtle," said Alice.

"Hey don't foret that you are not supposed to know anything about Max and Alec as a couple if you want to do this right," Jondy reminded her. "Just be sure to talk Alec up in a way that will make Max jealous but also re-examine their relationship and . . ."

"You certainly are bossy to the nice people who are giving up a considerable amount of their free time to do you a favour," Alice retorted.

"Well I like things done right," said Jondy, "I'm just a bit of a perfectionist. Besides, Alec is your friend too."

"Yeah I know and I want to help him get over this so we can go partying because while mopey Alec is not without his charm I want fun Alec back," said Alice.

"We all do," said Matt.

"Right then I'd best be off, catch you later. "Man it sure is going to be nice not having to do my own laundry for the next six months," she said walking off.

"Keep dreaming!" Jondy called after her laughing. "Matt I gotta tell you, you were so right about Alice, she is the perfect woman to drive Max to distraction and new realms of jealousy."

"Man I love being right! Not that it happens very often so I gotta savour it when it does," said Matt, leaning back and taking a deep, satisfied breath as Jondy watched amused, with a quizzical eyebrow raised. "OK, I'm done with the savouring," he said reluctantly.

"Thank God for that."

"So you and Alice are getting on well?" inquired Matt.

"Yeah, she's great," said Jondy. "She actually reminds me of Max in a lot of ways, only less intense- no wonder her and Alec get on so well."

"You should say that in front of Max."

"Wow, you are really on a roll recently with good ideas! I'm impressed," laughed Jondy.

"It is a blessing and it's a curse," Matt joked.

"I think I prefered it when you were savouring."

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Max did not bother looking up when she heard the knock on her office door, "Come in," she murmered, pouring over the papers in front of her.

"Hey Max," said Alice, "Sorry to interrupt."

"Oh no, don't worry about it, I'm not doing anything particularly important," said Max with a forced smile.

"I doubt that," said Alice. "I mean you're the leader of a transgenic city, I'm sure you are not in here figuring out what colour to paint the nursery."

"Not quite," Max admitted, just wanting to get as far away from Alice as possible.

"So I just wanted to pop by and introduce myself to you properly, I mean the rest of the meeting lot seem to know you pretty well and if I'm going to be attending regularly as well I didn't just want to be the random who dandered in with the SIC one day, you know?" said Alice.

"Yeah I get that, it is getting a little cliquey around here I guess," said Max, whose stomach churned at the mention of Alice entering with Alec. "So you were in Alec's unit back in Manticore?"

"Yeah, he's great isn't he?" said Alice, smiling.

"You're telling me, I mean I couldn't have done all of this without him," said Max, a note of sadness in her voice.

"Yeah he has a way of making everything seem less complicated and he has this amazing energy that can inject some fun into everything you know?" said Alice. "Well he normally does anyway, but he just seems so down, he's lost a little of his spark." Max's forced smile faded as a meaningless noise passed her lips. "I can tell he has been hurt by someone, badly from the looks of it but he doesn't want to talk about it and I'm not the sort to go around digging around for gossip. All I know is that whoever the girl is she is a damn idiot to let Alec get away, that's for sure."

"Can't argue with you there," said Max. "Alec and I didn't always get along but I can honestly say he is one of the best guys I know. He's just there for everything you could need him for. "

"I know what you mean," said Alice, feeling bad for Max but knowing she had to keep dishing out what she needed to. "Alec is just that guy. The one that you go out with when you want to party, the one that would cheat on you with your mother and your sister, probably at the same time but if you could just get him to settle down he could be the one. Unfortunately you know that he isn't going to settle down until he finds the one, his one, the one who he will give everything to and bully for her whoever she is but to me he will always be the one who got away," she said with a tone of regret and a wistful smile.

"You two were involved?" Max asked softly, both women now pretending to be completely oblivious to the other's history with Alec

"Not exactly," said Alice. "Came close a couple of times but something always got in the way. God listen to me going on about Alec like this, I sound pathetic! He's just so amazing and I'm really glad to have him back in my life though if he ever hears any of what I've just said I'll never hear the end of it!"

"Well your seceret is safe with me," Max promised.

"I'd best be off," said Alice, with a look of embarrassment about her. "I've monopolised enough of your time gushing over a guy that I never even dated."

"Well he's a good topic, I can't blame you," said Max. "Thanks for dropping by."

"Sure thing, if there's ever anything I can do for you just let me know," Alice offered.

"Sure thing," said Max.

"Later!"

Max took a deep sigh and thought about what Alice had said, some of it had really stuck a chord with her, especially some of the things she had said about the 'one.' What if she was Alec's one, the one he was going to settle down for and give everything to? Then, suddenly she stopped contemplating this notion because she knew in her hearts that she was, and that he was her one too.

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"Hey Jondy how are the medical centre getting on?" asked Alec, passing her.

"Oh I haven't been there yet, was going to head there in a few minutes," said Jondy.

"OK no problem," said Alec, "Just be sure to keep me posted."

"Sure thing, oh what time is it?"

"Just after six," said Alec, checking his watch.

"Dammit! I'm late to meet up with Zane about some stuff and I still have to make it over to the medical centre!" said a flustered Jondy. "Could you do me a favour and hand these to Max?" she asked, holding out a few sheets of paper. "It's just some tunnel maps I found in one of the older buildings and I promised I would get them to her."

"Jondy, if this is some screwed up plan to try and get me and Max talking then I got to tell you that..."

"Oh please Alec, I'm in a hurry here and would really appreciate it," Jondy said.

"Fine, go, see you later."

"Thanks, owe you!" said Jondy running off to look for Zane. Alec sighed looking down at the maps. He headed for HQ knowing this is where Max could usually be found and that he might as well get this over with. He walked casually in the direction of HQ, trying to keep his composure despite the fact that his heart was racing and he was feeling quite jittery. He always felt this nervous when he saw Max recently. He was constantly worried that he would take one look at her and immediately forgive her for everything and he did not want to do that. He was not ready to do that. "Hey Joe is Max in there?" he asked an X6 who had just came out of HQ. "No, I think someone said she was round at the nursery." "OK thanks man," said Alec with a quick nod of gratitude before heading for the nursery.

When he got there he saw Max with Jen in her arms, talking to Sally, one of the transgenics in charge of daycare in Terminal City. "Hey Max," he said cautiously.

"Alec!" said Max, caught of guard. "Sorry I didn't hear that you were picking her up tonight or I would have..."

"No, it's fine...I mean I wasn't...I was just..." Unusually flustered, Alec took a deep breath and started again. "Jondy just asked me to get these maps to you, she had like ten things to do at once and asked me to help her out a bit," he explained.

"She has a lot of stuff to do! She should try running the place!" said Max jokingly.

"Actually I think she kind of does at the moment," said Alec. "You know with neither of us exactly being at the top of our game right now."

They looked at each other awkwardly before breaking the stare and both of them quickly looking away. "Well I better go," said Alec, walking over and kissing Jen on the top of her head. "See you around."

"Alec..." said Max as he started to walk off. Alec stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. "It might sound silly but I just wanted you to know that...well...I miss you. More than I thought would be possible and I..."

"Max," Alec sighed, hanging his head. "I just need..."

"More time," said Max in an almost whisper. "I know, I just needed to say it."

Alec started walking again before stopping and looking over his shoulder, "For what it is worth, I miss you too." As he walked out Max found tears tripping down her cheeks again as she pulled Jen closer to her.

Twenty minutes later when Max was heading back to her apartment Jace came running up to her. "Max we are on red alert, Ames White was spotted outside the perimeter they need you at HQ right now."

"What?" asked Max incredulous, "Is he alone? How much do we know?"

"He was spotted alone but other than that we know very little," Jace admitted. "Here, give Jen to me and I will get her back to the nursery."

"OK," said Max reluctantly, giving Jen a quick cuddle and kiss before handing her over to her sister. "Be careful."

"You too," said Jace, taking off with Jen in her arms and Max broke into a run towards headquarters. "What's going on?" she asked upon arriving in HQ.

"We have people stationed at all the known entrances and exits to TC but have not heard anything back from any of them yet," said Zane who was holding a walkie talkie in his hand, anxiously awaiting any news.

"OK well lets assemble teams to do a sweep through of TC incase he has already penetrated the perimeter," said Max and two X6s promptly got up and left to make sure these orders were carried out. "I don't want anybody walking about alone, I want people in groups, make them get together in their units if they have to." More poeple left to get these orders sent about as Alec burst into TC. "Is everyone OK, I just heard," he said.

"Everyone is fine as far as we know," said Max.

"What about...?"

"Jace is bringing her back to the nursery," Max filled in, anticipating what he was going to ask.

"Good," said Alec. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see now. If there is nothing else I can do here I'm going to go join one of the teams that I assume are assembling outside to sweep TC."

"Go, things seem to be under control here," said Max.

"OK," said Alec.

"Just..."

"Be careful, I know," said Alec with a smirk. "Since I've met you it has kind of became my mantra."

"Alright people talk to me," said Max when he left. "What could White want? I mean Jace said he was spotted alone, even he isn't going to do much damage by himself in a city of transgenics."

"Maybe he just figured 'if you want something done right you better do it yourself,'" suggested Mole. "That's something I realise every damn day around here."

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Half an hour later and the teams had finished their sweep of Terminal City and found no sign of Ames. "Maybe he was just passing by," Alec suggested. "Man have I really become that naive?"

"Well nobody has heard or seen anything," said Syl, "So maybe it was just a false alarm I mean..."

Syl trailed off as the door swung open and an out of breath Jace stumbled in. Her siblings rushed towards her as a sudden feeling of dread washed over both Max and Alec. "White..." she got out. "He has Jen."

Max suddenly felt very dizzy, her head was spinning and her vision was blurred as intense grief and fear over took her. She snapped out of it when she felt familiar strong arms steady her. "Easy there," said Alec, his voice quivering. Max turned to look at him slowly, "What are we going to do?" she asked, bursting into tears as Alec cradled her in his arms as she sobbed into his chest. There was a moment of silence in HQ other than Max's crying. "We're going to kill White and save our daughter," said Alec determindely with a blank expression on his face.