Many thanks

HoneyX5-452

elle6776 :Your answer lies within.

GiRl MaGe : Here's your answer.

Su : Thanks for the advice

Crazy4Cocopuffs : New reviewer, hope you stick with it.

Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters

A/N : My first attempt. The character Issy would be Michelle Pfeiffer, just so you don't think Alec has completely lost his mind.

Who loves the teacher?

Chapter Twelve : Alec Decides

Max had been impressed by her tour, Alec really did know how to organise things. In some ways they were ready for a war, but she couldn't take the credit. How had Alec the screw up managed this without her noticing? She looked at him, so confident describing what had been done, and who had worked hardest and how the nomalies, transhumans and transgenics had worked together in teams to repair, scavenge and salvage the equipment and buildings. How every new team arriving had brought something they needed. His face and eyes lit-up with his praise for everyone else, she'd never really noticed how beautiful he was (never given him a chance). Now it was too late, she watched as he looked at Issy, the bond between them seemed so strong. Issy responded to everything he said making him more animated. Max needed to get away, think this out.

As they finished in the armoury she said, "if that's everything, I'll let you two have some time together, but could we meet up again around 15:00."

"You alright Maxie," said Alec, "not like you to give such a vague time?"

"Yeah, just thought you might not be watching the clock!" she replied, heading off to Logan's.

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As Max rounded a building taking her out of sight and hopefully out of hearing distance Alec sighed, "I thought she was never going to leave and I didn't want her coming with us to our next destination," he said before planting a very gentle kiss on Issy's lips.

"So what's the secret?" she asked.

"Well it wouldn't be a secret if I told you," he teased as he led her into an apartment block.

After going up several flights of stairs he stopped in front of one door with the number 494. "Let me guess," she said, "your apartment."

"I hope it will be our apartment," he said opening the door.

Issy gasped after seeing the mess everywhere she didn't expect this. "How did you manage this, it looks like a pre-pulse apartment and I love the paintwork?" she exclaimed the colour scheme was like her apartment at Manticore.

"Glad you like it, Joshua did the painting, said something about your place at Manticore," he smiled bending to kiss her neck. She shivered at his touch, she always knew what would come next.

She turned to kiss him, but he picked her up carrying her across the room to a door. "I guess this must be the bedroom," she teased as he carried her through.

He laid her gently on the double bed, as he continued kissing her, exploring her as she had taught him back at Manticore. Kissing her neck and earlobe as he carefully removed her blouse and bra. Then he continued gently caressing with his fingers every inch of her body, with a kiss following each touch from her neck to her breasts and beyond.

She could feel his warmth against her, as she responded to his touch, causing her to shiver and moan with pleasure. She knew that she could now explore his body as they had in the past. She slid her hands under his top and helped him out of it. Feeling the hardness in his jeans she undid them as he undid her own.

Soon he slid into her and she moaned, as they started moving in unison towards a climax, she called his name as he came inside her and called her name. Then they relaxed into each others arms and kissed.

"You haven't forgotten anything then," she teased, thankful that he did still want her with an unbridled passion that required no words.

"Hey great procedural memory," he joked back, "Now I remember what I've missing since Max got Manticore blown-up."

"I'm glad she did, we wouldn't be together now if she hadn't," she said running her finger across his chest.

"Yeah, I suppose I ought to thank her for that," he replied as he caressed her breast, before kissing it again.

"Just be careful how you thank her, I still have a jealous streak," she laughed. He laughed at the memory of her attacking one of the hookers employed by Manticore, when they made a move on him. Then he realised that was the last time they had been together at Manticore.

"It was that fight that got us separated, wasn't it," he mused, just being this close was arousing him again, as he sniffed her hair and kissed her neck.

"Yeah, but at least no-one else got to you at Manticore," she smiled kissing his ear lobe and he slid into her again.

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Max was feeling jealous as she left Alec and Issy. Where had things got so messed up? Everything she'd told Issy was true, but she didn't like the feeling that she wasn't wanted when the three of them were together. She had misjudged Alec in many ways, had she misjudged her own feelings too.

Looking at everything he had achieved in the last few weeks when outside of meetings she had been pre-occupied with making up for lost time with Logan, she felt guilty. TC didn't need her, they still treated her like the leader at meetings, but it was obvious that they had more loyalty to Alec than her. What did she want, she didn't know. No time to go to the space needle to figure it out, she would have to work it out later.

She'd snapped at Logan, just hoped he would forgive her.

She decided to ring OC for some advice. "Hey OC how's things on the outside," she tried to keep her voice light.

"Hey boo what's wrong?" OC could sense a problem a mile off. "Which of your boys been messing with you?"

"Can't I just be calling to find out how you are," Max replied miffed that OC could read her so easily.

"Course, but you ain't, so spill."

"It's me, I'm being stupid, after sorting the virus you'd think I'd be happy."

"But that's not how it is boo," OC finished.

"No, seems I've been walking around with my eyes closed, and Alec has been sorting out TC, I should be the one doing that," whined Max.

"You been making out with Logan while the troops have been working and now you feeling guilty and redundant," OC stated Max sniffed, "Have you asked Alec whether that's how he sees it."

"No, I can't he's with Issy."

"So not only has he been working his butt off but he's found someone else and you're jealous," OC stated simply.

Max sniffed, "I guess that sort of sum's it up."

"Boo, did you really think he'd wait around when you and Logan got things together?"

"No, but she's so old and bossy and he acts like a puppy when she's around and."

"Too like you for you to compete, 'cept the old bit. But would you give up Logan for him?"

"No, it's never been that kind of choice," snivelled Max.

"Max listen sista, you want your boy to follow you round like a puppy, at your command but you can't have them both. Seems Alec's made his choice an' you gotta decide how you gonna work with that. Gotta go before Normal bursts a blood vessel. Catch you later boo," OC finished.

Max put the cell phone away, why can OC always understand her so easily. So I agreed we would work together, she thought, let's hope the others will accept that.

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At 15:00 on the dot Alec and Issy entered Max's office. Logan and Max were already there talking. Max blushed as she saw Alec, which confused him and Issy, but Logan appeared not to notice.

"We were just talking about you," Max flustered, "Seems while Logan and I have been getting reacquainted you've taken over TC," she directed at Alec.

Alec was embarrassed, that hadn't been his intention and he thought he had already explained that to her, "Not at all, I just needed to be busy and things needed to be done," he hoped she wasn't thinking of leaving him in charge, he had other things on his mind. Issy was stunned at the accusation, Max seemed paranoid and pre-occupied, what was the real problem, best not say anything yet.

"So you don't want to lead?" she asked.

"Hey Maxie, I've always followed your lead, you created this, without you it'll fall. You're the leader, have been since your big speech got everyone to stay," he was stunned that she might think he'd try to oust her, hadn't he been her puppy dog long enough for her not to question his loyalty. "I'm hurt that you would think that of me," the look on his face testified the sincerity of his words.

"Hey Max, much as I don't trust Alec, I don't think he would be that stupid," said Logan, as surprised as anyone else.

"Well now that's settled, I guess we'd better tell the troops who's in charge at the next meeting," said Max, appeased by the look on Alec's face, "In the meantime let's discuss how far we've got on these runes."

They huddled round the papers, trying to make sense of them.

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N/A As this is rating M I will update tomorrow, but thought Friday night was a good night a romantic treat.

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