Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: My first attempt. When I started this it was going to be about 20 chapters, now I don't know when it wants to end.
Many Thanks:
Mel11: Good guess – glad you liked it.
Elle6778: Glad you think Ben was sweet.
Lakergirl08: They might have grown up together for 10 years, but now they're adults.
Angel Of Darkness231: Not quite a toy, glad you like.
Wildsky: He's gonna drive someone up the wall.
Darkangelgirl: Glad you liked the party, but wrong guess.
Eminem Is Cool: Welcome back I thought I'd lost you, the problem with this is the more people that arrive the more chapters they all want, but I promise some with the siblings. Alec/Ben it's difficult keeping them different enough.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Thirty-eight: The Morning After
Mean while back in med bay someone was waking up, she put her hand to her head. 'Thank god,' she thought, 'it must have just been a dream'. Then she tried to open her eyes and sit up. "Shit," she shouted, the pain in her head was tremendous.
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Alec awoke 'what was that he'd heard. Issy, Issy was awake and he wasn't there.'
He jumped up and swayed, what had Dage put in that milk and how long had he been asleep? It was light outside, last time he'd looked it was dark.
At least he was still wearing his clothes, although he could do with getting changed.
He walked unsteadily out of the room to look for Issy.
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She heard people like a herd of elephants running towards her and the vibration was so bad she held on to the bed.
"Issy," someone yelled at her, "is everything ok?"
"Can you be quiet?" she whispered, but still it hurt her head and the light was just too bright and hurt her eyes.
"It's alright," whispered Dage, "your nerve endings are reacting to powerfully to the stimuli, it will get better just take it slowly. I'll give you something to dull the pain and stop you feeling like you're on a boat."
"Ok, but is this what everyone feels like after tazar shocks?" she asked.
"No but you've been shocked while wet, the worst combination and your body was trying to shut down," he replied honestly. "It would have without the blood transfusion, even then we thought we might be too late."
"Where's Alec?"
"He's..."
"He's here," Alec replied groggily from the doorway.
"You don't sound too good," she replied.
He looked at her and realised that her eyes were still closed. "You look almost peaceful," he replied, "and it's just as well you can't see me at the moment."
"Oh so you mean that dead smell, is you," she joked.
"I didn't think it was that bad," he replied.
"To this nose it is," she retorted.
"Ok enough of the banter, Issy still needs some meds and you need a shower," Dage ordered Alec. "And you need to get something to eat and see Max, before you come back."
"What do you think Issy, should I take any notice?" he asked with a grin, still concerned but happy she was conscious.
"Yeah I think you should and pass the word that anyone visiting should be clean and quiet or risk being thrown out," she smirked trying not to move.
Alec left as Dage approached Issy with her meds.
"How's he been?" she asked.
"Like a bear with a sore head," replied Dage honestly, "not only did White get away, but no-one knew whether you'd make it." He realised that maybe he'd said too much.
"So how long have we been back and what did you do?"
"You arrived back yesterday 18:30, you were brought down here unconscious and Sandeman administered something," he replied. "As soon as Alec got here, Sandeman told him you'd need a blood transfusion."
"So Alec volunteered?" she added.
"Yeah," he replied. "Max came in and told him to get some rest when he finished because he looked so rough. So I followed your advice to get him out of here and into a bed next door."
"Thanks he gets more edgy if he's tired," she whispered. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Well…" Dage was cut off.
"Plenty but it can wait," replied Sandeman quietly. "You need your rest and another transfusion, any preference on who?"
"Some one Alec trusts," she replied, "I don't want him walking in and starting a fight."
"How about Max or Ben?"
"Max is ok, but not Ben," she replied, "you could try Biggs though."
"I'll see what I can do," he replied, "now get some more sleep, you need to rest."
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As Alec walked towards the apartment block he could see some disgruntled faces. As he looked closer he realised that Mole and Biggs were among them.
"What's up guys," he called with a grin.
They were surprised to see him and looked a little embarrassed.
"So what's the problem," he called again, "or can you smell me from there?"
Mole laughed, "I wondered what the smell was Princess, how's the misses."
"Misses?" Alec responded confused. Then it clicked, "we're not married but she's conscious and talking." Seeing the relief on their faces he added, "but she's very sensitive to noise and odours at the moment, so wash and tiptoe if you want to visit and no wearing her out."
"Wouldn't think of it," replied Mole. "That's your department," he added sarcastically.
Alec had now joined the group and repeated, "so what's the problem?"
"You mean apart from how bad you smell?" asked Biggs.
"Look, stop avoiding the question before I lose my temper," he snapped.
"Max has been in her apartment since last night," Biggs started.
"You mean Joshua finished it, great!" beamed Alec. "What's it like, I'll have to go and see it."
"Yeah Joshua finished it, but Max is there with six members of her unit and hasn't been seen this morning," Biggs finished.
"So the leader's back and everything grinds to a halt 'cause she's not here," Alec looked at them. They looked back sheepish, "Right get back to work as though we hadn't arrived," he ordered. "I'll change, shower and be back in twenty, someone get me coffee and something to eat and we'll have a meeting."
"But won't she want them to take over?" asked CeCe.
"I wouldn't blame her if she came down and saw you standing around waiting for orders," he replied pointedly. "I know that you are the best now prove it, otherwise there will be changes."
"Does that include Ben replacing you?" asked Biggs.
Alec was confused, "what happened, Biggs?"
"There was a house warming party at Max's new apartment last night," Alec looked at him waiting for the punch line. "Ben was all over Max last night; he wouldn't let anyone near her to talk without him being there."
"So he's a bit possessive," Alec replied with a shrug.
"No Princess, he even upset OC," Mole snarled.
"We won't be taking orders from him, even if you and Issy left TC," CeCe snapped.
"Hey I think you're jumping to conclusions," Alec grinned trying to calm them. "Max's siblings are here to fight the good fight and we'll probably need all of them. As for changing the command structure I doubt if Max has even thought about it yet."
"But what if Ben has," snapped Mitch. "We won't sit back and let him steal your position."
"You've gained the respect of everyone here," said Mole, "if he tries anything we'll take him down, no matter how much you protest."
"I'm glad you've got my back," Alec replied, "but can we calm down and get on with day to day activities. As I said earlier I'll be back in twenty, then we can discuss further, but no attacking Ben in the meantime, please." Alec just wanted to get changed, eat and get back to watching Issy, but this needed sorting.
He left them and went up to his apartment, going straight to the shower, stripping off as he went.
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Max woke up in a bed as she heard a door close near by, looking around she could see Syl and Jondy snuggled up next to her. 'Thank the Blue Lady that Joshua found a kingsize bed,' she thought.
She got up quietly and walked into the living room, where her brothers were lying still asleep. She carefully walked round them and out of the door to see Alec.
She entered his apartment and saw the clothes thrown on the floor, closing the door against prying eyes she stepped carefully over his clothes holding her nose. Hearing the shower stop she walked towards the bathroom as he came out drying himself with a towel.
As he saw her, "Shit, what are you doing here?" he exclaimed as he quickly covered himself.
"I was coming to see how you were," she blushed not knowing where to look. "And ask about Issy."
"Well as you can see I'm still intact and Issy's conscious," he replied annoyed at her audacity of just walking in, as he headed for the bedroom. "I hear Joshua finished your apartment and you had a house warming party with your brothers and sisters."
"Yeah three more showed up at TC while we were out," she replied grinning. "It was a surprise party, Joshua arranged it."
"Was everyone invited or just your family?" he asked as he dressed. "I heard that it became a really private party, not even Josh and OC stayed."
"It seemed everyone was there at the beginning, but when they brought Jondy, Zane and Seth the others left," she was embarrassed about what had happened and she own ignorance about the others leaving.
"When were you planning on having the 9:00 meeting?" he asked, as he returned to the room casually dressed. "Everyone was expecting you to come back in charge, but nothing happens and they're concerned what happens with your family here."
"It's none of your business what she decides to do," snapped Ben, who had gone looking for Max.
"Actually it is my business, if Max isn't in charge then I am," he replied. "At the moment I'd prefer Max in charge so I can check on Issy, but if her family are more important then I'd better work with the family she gave me."
"Can't Max take time off," retorted Ben, "you seem to."
Alec was livid at the comment, "Max has to tell others what she's doing, same as me. As a new comer you might not realise that, but Max should. I told Biggs where I would be last night, I have already spoken to the command team today and if you'd get out of my way I've a meeting to attend."
Max put her hand to him, "Alec wait I'll come with you."
"Whatever; just leave your body guard up here," he replied leaving the apartment.
Ben put his hand out to Max, "don't go."
"I have to, it's my duty," she replied as she turned to go.
His hand gripped tighter, "Is he more important than your family? Than me?"
Max looked stunned, "What? I don't believe you just said that."
"I'm sorry I just don't want us to be apart."
She broke his grip, "Ben stay with the others, I'll be back for lunch then we need to discuss things. With that she chased after Alec.
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Max caught up with Alec on the stairs. "What's wrong Alec?"
"I get knocked out for one night and the crew become mutinous," he snapped. "And I'm not even the one who's in charge here."
"What do you mean?"
"I wake up to good news; Issy's conscious. I leave her to get changed and find the command team discussing mutiny because of your siblings and you no where to be seen."
"I'm sorry I overslept," she replied a little subdued.
"Yeah but the worse part is after backing Ben last night, T get told he wants me out."
"Ugh."
"We've been through a lot Max and I consider you a friend, so for your sake I've tried to be reasonable with Ben," he stressed. "But I won't sit back and let him or any of your siblings destroy what we've built here."
"But I thought you liked Ben," she replied. "What was that speech you gave Biggs and CeCe about then?"
"Just keeping the peace until I could help you sort the problem," he replied.
"So you don't have that much respect for Ben?" she sounded hurt.
"I didn't say that," he replied. "Ben had our backs in the woods and I'm glad he was there, but working on a mission and becoming part of TC are two different things, you should know that."
"I know," she replied softly, "but give him time. I mean look how many times I gave up on you and look at where we are today."
"I know it took a long time for you to stop calling me a screw-up, but you've got to explain to all your siblings that they need to earn their place here," he replied. "If Ben wants to be your bodyguard fine, but he stays out of command. At least for now."
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