Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: My first attempt.
Many Thanks:
Mel11: Glad you enjoyed the chapter and pics, hope you like todays additions.
Elle6778: They'll sort themselves out eventually.
Lakergirl08: check back on chapter 28 on Greg.
Honey X5-452: My faithful reviewer, hope you enjoy.
Shygirl1: Yeah I'll try and get photos for Seth and Zane to add to the next email.
Wildsky: So many bits you enjoyed, the relationship things will keep coming in. Greg may or may not be back haven't decided yet.
EminemIsCool: Glad you enjoyed my humour.
Darkangelgirl262: Hope this makes you happy
Alec494: Well the partners will take a little while, back to the road trip for this.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Forty-seven: Road to Kellogg
Ben was lounged on the backseat next to Max looking as though he was asleep, but he was still upset with Max and was listening in to the conversation.
From the valley around Ritzville the journey would take them into the mountain passes around Spokane and across the interstate border into Idaho on to Kellogg. Three hours of countryside and towns, Lydecker had decided it better to keep to the interstate and try and avoid confrontations with the locals, who knew what would happen if they remembered the broadcasts about Ben.
"I didn't realise that when Issy resurrected Ben he wouldn't remember what he had done," Lydecker commented.
"Oh the memories are still there," Dara replied, "just hidden so he won't worry about them."
'So it's not déjà vu, I actually am remembering my past,' Ben thought and shivered.
Max noticed him shiver and thought he was just having a bad dream, finding a blanket she put it round him carefully.
Ben thought, 'so she does care. Thanks Maxie.'
"So we could get incidents like that again?" asked Max looking at Ben's sleeping form. 'Why did you have to cause so many problems and to think how much you cared about your family at Manticore,' she thought with regret.
"Yes, but I'll be better prepared next time," Dara replied cheerily. "Issy thought he had enough to deal with having being resurrected without remembering the details of every time. I think he only remembers two clearly, the last time he succeeded and when you stopped him."
"Well I hope there won't be a next time," Lydecker asserted. "We've got a long way to go and I don't want to call in any more favours just yet."
"He looks so peaceful," Max mused, "you wouldn't think he'd be such a pain."
"Max don't be so mean," snapped Dara turning round to look at Max, "most of us have had time to get used to the idea of Manticore not being there, Ben has recently returned from a mission to discover that Manticore has gone, he's now in the period of readjustment that most of us have come to terms with."
"Ok I'll accept that, but why does he have to be so snappy with everyone," Max queried, "and why pick a fight with Alec."
'Yeah I'd like to hear you explain that away,' Ben thought. 'You psy-ops people think you can read everyone.'
"Issy said that he couldn't handle being in the outside world before, now he's been dropped there without any warning, I expect he's frightened," Dara conjectured. "As for Alec, he's his twin and seems to have everything SIC at TC with you, charm, friends, Issy and a child and he seems not to bear a grudge, what's not for him to be jealous."
'She's good I wouldn't have thought of it like that,' Ben relaxed listening to them talking about him. 'This might make it easier with Max, but I can't let them know I've heard yet.'
"I never thought about him being frightened, I just thought that he'd cope with the change because I was there," Max brooded. "I know Alec can be a bit over the top, but we're just friends, I don't want Ben to be jealous of him."
"Have you considered what will happen when we return to TC?" Dara pushed.
"Not really," Max admitted.
'So this is as much you running away from the problems, is it,' Ben pondered.
"Alec's SIC and you're the leader, so what is Ben supposed to do while the two of you are busy running TC, sit and twiddle his thumbs?" Dara asked sarcastically.
'Good point Dara, so what's your answer to that one Maxie.'
"I don't know, I don't know what he'd want to do," Max conceded.
"From what Dara's been saying it sounds like you'll need to keep him busy," Lydecker interjected coldly.
"Can't we just do this before making any decisions," Max whined.
"Sooner or later it doesn't matter, but Ben will need something which gives him some responsibility, otherwise he will feel devalued compared to your other friends, especially if other 09ers have more high profile positions."
"You mean Jondy's position on the command team."
'Too right Jondy getting that position, wonder who suggested it?' Ben mused.
"Yes, it was rather sudden, not like you," Dara replied. Seeing Max's face she continued, "it wasn't you who made that decision, was it?"
"No Alec sort of said it and it stuck," Max replied grudgingly.
'So he does push her around, he's supposed to be SIC, she should put him down more,' Ben seethed.
"Ben won't like it when he hears that it was Alec's idea that Jondy should be given a position on the command team."
"Well we'd better make sure he doesn't find out then," Max glared at Dara.
"He won't hear it from me," Dara agreed.
'Too late Maxie, I already know.'
"Anyway Alec's reasoning was sound for including her on the command team," Max explained. "If it hadn't been it wouldn't have happened."
"Ok explain that to me, maybe if I understand so would Ben," Dara enquired.
"The whole of the command team seemed to be anti-Ben the morning after we got to TC, I hadn't noticed how things went that first night back. I was so overjoyed at finding Jondy, Seth and Zane had arrived in TC and the new apartment, I was sort of overwhelmed by if all," Max started. "Alec took charge of discussions with Mole and Biggs so that they would be honest and they were brutally honest of what they thought Ben was up to and they were ready to throw all the 09ers out. Alec managed to calm it down, despite being worried about Issy. Then Jondy turned up and mistook him for Ben, Alec snapped but they ended up agreeing that Ben seemed to be causing mischief. By the end of the discussion Alec had asked Jondy to become part of the command team to build bridges and left me to announce it to the other members of the team. I could have refused, but I agreed we need to build bridges so that everyone can work together, including Ben," she finished.
"Nice speech Max," Lydecker sneered, "but do you believe it."
'Yeah that was good Max, but me causing mischief, nothing was further from my thoughts,' Ben reflected. 'All I wanted was for you to feel safe with me, not the idiot who looks like me.'
"Look Alec's been watching my back for what seems like forever now, if he'd wanted to he could have let them mutiny, after all he's proved that he's get the better credentials to be the leader, but he didn't he let them have their say then backed me," Max argued. "I think he wanted Jondy to strengthen my position, which in the current atmosphere wouldn't have happened if I'd chosen Ben."
"So what role do you envisage for Ben?" Lydecker asked.
'Have you thought of something yet?'
"Well if we recover all these units, maybe he could be squad leader for them, as a starting point," Max mused.
'Nurse maid some kids, I don't know Max, couldn't you come up with something better?'
"I suppose it's a start, but are you saying Ben will have to prove himself?" Dara asked.
"If my memory serves me right, even before we went to meet him only Issy and I thought he wouldn't cause a problem," Max replied. "If it hadn't been for the fight I think Alec would have stood by him after his help in the woods, but the others only remember the trouble the 09ers caused for their twins and the extra problems Ben caused Alec. So yes I think he will, but I hope he will accept the support of those of us who care."
'Oh Maxie, that's so nice of you,' Ben thought sarcastically.
"Well here we are sleeping quarters for the night," Lydecker commented as their vehicle drove to the side of a log cabin. It was already beginning to get dark and there was no-one else around to see the transgenics and army officer arrive at the secluded position.
As the vehicle came to a stop, Ben pretended to wake up with a yawn and a stretch.
"Welcome back sleepy head," Max laughed, "thought we might have to leave you to sleep here tonight."
"Aww, you wouldn't do that to me Maxie, would you?" he shrugged.
"I don't know if you're going to be miserable again I might," she grinned as she got out of the vehicle.
They all helped carry in the essentials for the night, and got settled in the log cabin. Lydecker and Dara went to sort some food as Ben got some wood for the fire and Max checked in with TC.
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Back in HQ the call came in from Max.
"Hey Alec got a call from the away team," Dix called.
"Can you put it on speaker?" Alec replied.
"Sure thing boss."
'So what's been happening at TC without me, do you miss me yet?" Max asked.
"Same old, little fight with some of those cult loonies, more work for Psyche, your family settled and that other familiar off-site," he replied easily. "What about your end?"
"Little bit of trouble with old news but nothing Ben and Dara couldn't handle," she replied. "Anyone hurt in the fight?"
Alec thought about the bruises he'd sustained, "nothing to mention, you ok, what trouble?"
'I'm fine, just someone recognised Ben as a murderer, but it's ok no fight just talk, where's Greg gone?'
"Glad Dara was of some use, how's Ben?" he replied. Then thought to answer the question, "Issy took him to Sandeman; hopefully she'll be back soon."
'He's fine, sleeping to avoid talking, unlike someone who sleeps because everyone else wants him to shut-up," she laughed. "Don't forget to make Issy get some rest,' she instructed.
"I will, you reporting tomorrow night?"
'Yeah about 22:00, bye.' With that she ended the call and went back inside.
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Ben was still collecting the wood when Dara found him.
"Did you enjoy listening in?" she asked.
"I-I don't know what you mean," he replied.
"Oh come off it, I know you weren't asleep, even if Max believes you were."
"Will you tell her?" he asked, worried about what Max would think.
"No, but did it help you?"
"Do you really think she believes everything she said?" he asked.
"Yes I think she does, even the bits she doesn't want to be true, why?"
"I didn't want to take over I just felt out of place and that Alec seemed so assured of his position, pushing Max around," he opened up. "In the woods it had been easy, we were fighting the same cause, but when we got to TC Max seemed to be taken over by everyone, I felt pushed out."
"So you pushed back and went too far," Dara replied.
"Story of my life, get into a hole and over react until there's no safe place," he grinned.
Dara placed her hand on his arm, "people care, just don't push them away, give them a chance." Then she laughed, "you should do that more often," he looked back confused, "you should smile more often."
"What and look like that clown of a twin?" he scowled.
"Ah don't do that you look much better with a smile," she encouraged. "Besides Alec isn't a clown and doesn't go around with a grin all the time, you need to take time out to understand him."
"Why should I?"
Dara put her arm around him, "because he would make a great ally or a powerful enemy, personally I'd rather have him on my side than against me."
"So you've be bitten by his charm," Ben accused.
"No," she said removing her arm and stepping away, "I know Alec from working on him in psy-ops and what you witnessed in the canteen was only a glimpse of 494. Alec keeps 494 under control, but everyone at Manticore knew that he was the best because he could let the animal of 494 out at will. It was the same part of you that you couldn't control when you went on your killing spree, with Alec he'll see red vent his frustration then put it away for next time. The cocky grin is him keeping himself under control," Dara explained.
"So he's as psycho as I was?" Ben queried.
"No, because he controls it not the other way round, indeed he's more likely to get hurt because he is so much in control. You on the other hand tend to hurt others through lack of self control.
"So I should get to know him because he's in control?"
"No because you need his support in TC, others look up to him, if he's with you the others will follow."
"Just like Max?"
She put her arm around him again, "Max loves you she just doesn't know it yet, do you think she'd have let you get away with so much if she didn't." She gave him a kiss, "She's probably spying on us now."
"In that case let's make her really jealous," he replied embracing and kissing her. When they parted he smiled, "do you think that might make her mind up."
"That was evil, but yes; just don't expect her to talk just yet."
"Thanks, but how come you know I was listening and she's watching?"
"Part of the training, but it's a trade secret," she laughed as she turned to go inside.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
From the cabin window Max had been watching the scene, to her it looked like Dara was chasing her man. 'Well Sandeman had said he was her man, so why shouldn't she feel that way. This had started as a journey for her to sort out her feelings about Ben, it wasn't going to turn into someone else getting Ben, like Issy had taken Alec.'
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A/N: 294 reviews before the next.
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