Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Sixty-three: Back to Work
The next morning when Alec woke, he smiled to himself, 'life is good,' he thought, as he surveyed his surroundings. Issy was still asleep, her head on his chest, he could just reach out for the remote, next door his daughter was still asleep and in the nearby apartments he was surrounded by friends. Yeah, they might still have a fight on their hands, but it was coming together and one day, maybe, just maybe the government and ordinaries would see them as an asset.
As he reached for the remote Issy stirred, "what time is it?" she asked.
"Time you went back to sleep and I caught up with the boob tube," he replied quietly.
"Ok, but keep the noise down," she replied sleepily as she settled back down.
'Yeah, life is great,' he mused, as the door flew open. "Max what are you doing barging in here," he protested, "We could be doing anything."
Max rolled her eyes, "well you weren't and I was expecting to see you ten minutes ago in my office." She watched Issy roll over and go back to sleep, "hey Issy morning meeting's in half an hour."
Issy turned back and looked at Alec, "why didn't the alarm go off?"
"It probably did but since I threw it out the window, I don't suppose we'd have heard it," seeing her surprised look he added, "it was keeping me awake."
Under Max's gaze Issy got up and said, "I'll put the coffee on while you talk, but I want some privacy when I come back," she said pointedly to Max.
Alec watch Issy go, "so to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" he asked sarcastically, getting out of bed and heading for the bathroom with Max following, until he shut the door on her.
"I told you I wanted to know where you'd been before the morning meeting," she snapped at him through the door.
"I don't know why that's so important, we're back and we're safe," he replied confused, what did it matter that they took time out, it was personal.
"First because I asked you to," she replied angrily, "and second because I don't want everyone doing the same."
"Since only three other people know what we did and two of them are in this apartment, I don't suppose it'll cause a great exodus of TC," he replied irritated, "and I know you asked, but I thought you wouldn't mind waiting."
She knew he wouldn't hear her reply as the shower started.
Issy came back into the bedroom, carrying two mugs of coffee, "you know there's no point pushing him if he doesn't want to tell you, unless you want to fight about it."
"So where did you go?" Max thought Issy would be easier to persuade.
"Ugh, ugh, if he won't tell you," Issy replied, "I can't because it's his secret."
The shower stopped and a few minutes later Alec called, "if she's still there can you bring me some clothes."
Max went to grab his clothes with a grin, but Issy got there first, "if you want to tease, go and tease Ben," Issy growled. "Alec'll be in your office in ten minutes."
Max pouted, "you're just no fun."
"If it was someone else, I might help, but not Alec," Issy warned.
"Ah, spoilsport," Max complained, "tell him my office ten minutes then," and she turned on her heel and left.
"Is it safe yet?" Alec asked opening the door slightly.
"Yeah she's gone, but you've got ten minutes to get to her office."
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Ten minutes later Alec was walking into Max's office, having said good morning to most of the command team and a dozen other X5s on the way.
She looked up when he walked in, "so are you going to tell me where you went, or am I going to have to beat it out of Biggs?"
Alec looked surprised, how did she know, "what makes you think I told Biggs?" he stalled.
"There're only two people that you would trust to lie to me on your behalf, Mole and Biggs," she replied, "and since I've already spoken to Mole, it would have to be Biggs."
"So you're guessing."
"Tell me I'm wrong," she looked at him for a moment. "That's what I thought, you can't. So do I get to beat him up, or are you going to confess."
Alec didn't want anyone to know what had happened, it really wasn't the thing transgenics did, having a picnic on the riverbank, she'd laugh he knew she would.
She could see he was having difficulties making up his mind. "So is this not so terrible thing that scary."
"It's not that it's scary, I just, I just don't want you to laugh and think I'm being ….," he confessed waving his hand not able to explain the feeling.
"Well unless I know what it is, how do I know if you're being whatever," she was amused and curious, it was fun watching him squirm. "If I promise not to laugh, will you tell me?"
"Ok but you did promise not to laugh," she nodded, a twinkle in her eyes. "I took them on a river trip to a place I'd had a picnic set-up," he confessed watching her carefully.
"Ah Alec, I never took you for a romantic," she grinned trying not to laugh at his discomfort.
"Damn, I knew it," he complained, "I didn't want it getting out; Biggs only knew I was borrowing the boat, now you're going to make fun of me."
"On the contrary," she replied seriously, "I think it was really sweet and I promise not to tell anyone, though I might ask you to set one up for me sometime with Ben," she replied genuinely. Changing the subject, "so are you ready to come back, the meeting's in five minutes."
"Since you threw me off publicly with a fight challenge to return, I thought a public fight this evening was in order," he replied, the timing catching her unawares.
"I'll let you off that, if you say you're ready," she replied wanting him back helping her with the problems.
"No, you put the challenge, I agreed," he replied uncompromisingly, "I thought the gym at 20:00."
"So what you going to do until then?" she replied defeated.
"Thought I'd do a bit of training with your mate Ben and this new lot of X5s," he replied, "I need to sharpen my skills before tonight."
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When Alec walked out of Max's office Issy was just coming into HQ for the morning meeting, "hi, everything go ok?" she asked.
"Yeah, I saved Biggs a beating and me having to sit through the meeting," he replied with a smirk.
"Trust you, tell me later exactly what happened, I'd better not be late," she responded. "Where are you going now?"
"Thought I'd go and beat up brother Ben," he replied deadpan.
She looked hard to see if there was a sign that he was joking, but couldn't find it, "you are joking, aren't you?" she queried slightly worried.
"Yeah, but I got you going," he laughed.
After treating him to Max's characteristic punch on the arm, she asked, "so seriously what are you going to do."
"I am going to see who's available for a bit of sparring, I need a bit of practice since I've been out of action for over a week."
"How many do you have to beat before you'll consider yourself ready?"
"Probably four, if you include those two prats from the Russian mission," he replied.
"They're in med bay, so you'll have to try someone else and try not to get hurt," she pleaded.
"What me get hurt?" he questioned with a smirk.
"Ok I'll get your bed warmed and ready in med bay," she responded, "can't have you starting another week in a cold bed," she grinned.
"I thought you didn't want to be late for the meeting," he grinned and she looked at her watch. "Don't worry, I'll be alright; see you later," he finished giving her a peck on the cheek before leaving so she could get on.
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Alec walked over to the gym and prepared to warm up before having a few practise attacks of the punch bag. As he was doing some combination kicks and punches Judd and Raven walked in, "hi Alec, long time, no see," commented Judd.
Alec stopped what he was doing and looked across at them, "you two still fighting then?" he queried.
"I don't know what you mean," replied Raven haughtily, raising her chin.
"Yeah, we're still fighting," replied Judd getting a death glance from Raven.
"Good, at least that means you're still together," Alec grinned. "So what do you think of the place?"
"It's a bit grim, is this the best that Max could come up with?" Raven asked.
"At the time we moved in the ordinaries were killing transgenics on sight," seeing their surprised looks, "if you don't believe me ask Biggs."
"But we're superior to them," Raven countered.
"But there's more of them," he replied. "Any way which one of you am I taking on first?"
"What you want to fight?" Judd was confused.
"I don't think want is the right word," he answered, "more if I'm going to fight Max later I need some practice, but one at a time first," he finished as they both began to circle. "I might be able to beat you both later, but this is practice."
"Ok I'll let you start with the easy option," Raven suggested, "Go on Judd, I'll sit and watch for a bit." Judd gave her a murderous look but continued to circle.
After a dozen moves Alec had Judd in submission, "that took a bit longer than I expected," Alec commented.
"Yeah well you're not that far off," replied Judd as Alec helped him to his feet.
"But if I'm to beat Max I need to be a lot quicker and better," was the reply as Alec got ready to spar with Raven.
Ben walked in, "so I can see you're getting acquainted with the new guys," he commented.
Alec kept his concentration on Raven but answered, "just a bit of practice for Max later."
"You really going through with it?" Ben replied, knowing how difficult it was to beat her.
"It was her challenge," Alec replied kicking Raven's legs out from under her and pinning her to the deck. "Besides I owe her."
"She really doesn't want to do it, you know," Ben responded.
"I know but never make a threat if you're not prepared to carry it through," Alec retorted as he helped Raven up, "old Manticore proverb. Thanks, maybe I should find someone who really wanted to kill me once," Ben looked sheepish, not wanting to open that up again. Alec looked at him and grinned, "I was thinking more of Sam, Peter or Fritz."
"Oh, Sam should be here in half an hour, Peter and Fritz are in med bay," Ben replied.
"Oh I forgot about that," Alec admitted, "still they'll wait a couple of days, if Sam's not going to be here for half an hour, how about a friendly bout then Ben?"
"You sure?" Ben asked, remembering that their last meeting hadn't been friendly.
"Yeah, so long as Judd can call time out, if he thinks either of us is tiring," Alec responded.
"If I'm ref can one of you put a different shirt on cuz when you start I mightn't know which of you is which?" Judd asked.
Alec and Ben eyed each other and realised they were dressed identically in black top and pants. Alec laughed, "sure hadn't thought of the problems," as he grabbed an old grey shirt.
As soon as he was ready they started circling each blocking the blows from the other. As they continued gradually getting faster Max walked in with Biggs, "Which is Alec?" she asked Raven, impressed by the spectacle.
"Alec's in the grey top," she replied.
When Judd realised who had walked in he shouted, "time out guys, boss present."
It took them a minute to realise what had been said and slow down, when they stopped they looked at one another, then Ben said, "not bad considering the down time."
"Thanks, but I think I might need a drink now," Alec replied, his head still feeling like it was moving too fast.
"Here buddy," called Biggs tossing him a bottle of water, which Alec caught easily.
"Not bad," Max commented, "so was this a friendly, or are you two still mad at each other?"
"Maxie, you know that's over," Ben declared.
"I thought so, but watching you, I wasn't so sure," she replied.
"We were just waiting for Sam to turn up," Alec reassured.
"Well I'm here now and we've got unfinished business," Sam declared as she walked in.
"Now I was hoping you'd say that," Alec grinned.
Alec didn't have time to finish the bottle of water before Sam kicked it out of his hand, "I had to spend nearly two weeks to med bay thanks to you," she spat as she tried a spinning kick.
Alec blocked her kick and replied, "at least you only broke your leg and hit your head, not that it knocked any sense in," as he caught her leg and flipped her on her back.
Sam flipped up retorting, "you got what you deserved for throwing me off the roof," and tried to kick his knee.
Alec blocked and countered; both physically and verbally, "if I'd wanted to hurt you, I could have dropped you on the way down."
"Huh, you expect me to believe that?" she argued as she tried to break his defences again.
He caught her arm and knocked her to the mat, "if you'd trusted me instead of struggled, neither of us would have been in med bay, it's about time you started trusting your own, instead of the freaks," he snarled at her, whilst holding her on the floor.
"I thought we were the freaks," she countered as he helped her up.
"Nah, that's a vicious rumour by the real freaks," he replied, as Max started clapping.
"Good match," she interrupted, "I'll accept that as the fight, Alec."
Alec looked at her, "why are you scared I might just win?"
"In your dreams pretty boy," she replied.
"Then why are you so intent at avoiding it?" he asked, "it was your challenge, I'm just following through your orders," he finished blankly, walking off to the showers.
Max realised by making the challenge in the meeting Alec would not back out, because he would appear weak. She wished she'd kept the challenge between the two of them, then she could have persuaded him not to fight, if he hadn't turned up at the meeting she could have.
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In the police HQ White was paying Clemente a visit.
"Why if it isn't Agent White, who likes to take on the transgenics," Clemente smirked when he saw White, "and lose, with his so much more experienced squad."
"Cut the wise cracks Clemente," White sneered, "I believe you still have dialogue with them."
"I did until some wise ass decided to bomb TC," Clemente replied seriously, "since then there has been no word from Max or Alec, and no-one speaking for the residents."
White allowed himself a small grin, 'so 452 and 494 really are gone,' he thought to himself.
"You wouldn't know who planned the bombing raid, would you?" Clemente asked; he knew it was White but had no proof. "Several citizens of Seattle were injured outside of TC during the raid."
"Government operation to subdue the transgenics," White replied deadpan.
"Yeah well I should have been warned, you don't attack the city without informing the local police, there could have been more trouble," Clemente seethed.
"It's done, now I need you to re-open dialogue with TC," White ordered.
Clemente laughed, "you come storming into my station after turning a controlled situation into a disaster and bombing my city and you expect my help. What sort of mess could I possibly help you with?"
White was furious at this man's attitude, but he needed his help, "I've just came from Roslyn where during an incident hostages were taken and I believe they are now in TC. I need you to get confirmation for me."
"What so you can go in all guns blazing and kill as many as possible," Clemente was amused by his audacity.
"If they won't release them, yes," White confirmed, "and your assistance is required, if you won't help informally I'll get the orders."
"I'm sure you will and when you do you will have my fullest assistance but until then you can stop littering my station and leave," Clemente replied forcefully.
When White had gone Clemente sat in his office, 'Max had never broken a promise, so the only reason for having hostages would be if they were part of this cult that he'd heard of.' Clemente made the decision to contact TC, not for White, but to warn them that White was on the case.
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Alec was standing in the shower, annoyed with himself, not only had he been rude to Max, but he hadn't managed to talk to Biggs. He wanted to say thanks for yesterday but that Max knew, so if she did say anything Biggs would be prepared.
As he left the changing rooms he realised he was being followed, he thought it was Max for a moment; and then he smelt the tobacco in the air. "Why are you following me Sam, I thought we'd finished our business in the gym?"
"What you think that was a fair fight, you had already warmed up," she challenged.
"Maybe, but I'm not in the mood to continue now," he replied.
"Neither am I," she replied, surprising him, "what you said about trusting you, I'm sorry I didn't."
"What the great Sam admitting she did something wrong," he laughed.
"Yeah I'm admitting it, but if I ever hear you told anyone I'll break your neck," she snapped.
He held his hands in mock defeat, "so what's brought on your apology?"
"I had a lot of time to think in med bay, thanks to you," she grinned, "you once told me about what Max had done for me, but I still remembered the psy-ops treatment because of her."
"Yeah well at least you only got one dose because of your twin," he replied, "I got two."
"But you seem to get on with him?" Sam questioned.
"Maybe now, but it's been a rocky road," he admitted.
"Can you put a word in for me?" she asked, he looked at her incredulously. "Look I don't have anywhere else and I can help."
"Your track record isn't good," he replied.
"I know, but White killed my family and now this is the only family I have," she replied, "and I don't want to be on my own."
Alec thought for a minute, "ok, if you can get Peter and Fritz to understand that they're better off here at the moment, I'll see what I can do," he bargained.
"Why do you want them to stay?" she queried confused, "you had issues with them at Manticore."
"Yeah I did, but in what's coming I think we'll need all the help we can get," he replied, "and outside they're not safe from the ordinaries. Deal?"
"Deal," she replied and they shook hands, "One other thing when Issy said you were paralysed I didn't think you'd be fighting so soon, is this fight with Max going to be ok."
"Yeah, no big deal," he grinned and headed off to the nursery to collect Alex for lunch.
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A/N There will either be one more chapter, or about seven, depends if you want it to continue past the fight. So review and decide, as the next is the only one ready.
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