Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but with so few reviews I didn't think you were interested any more.

Who Loves The Teacher?

Chapter Sixty-nine: Preparing for White

As Alec and the others returned from the supply run Joshua called to him. "Hi Medium Fella, go ok?"

"Yeah, Big Fella. Where's Max?"

"Office, waiting for you," the dog-man replied.

Alec looked concerned. "What's wrong now?"

"She said get you there pronto or there'd be trouble," he grinned at his impersonation of Max.

Alec turned to Biggs, "you ok sorting this stuff? She who must be obeyed wants me."

Biggs laughed, "Which Max or Issy?"

"Max."

"We're ok, but you better hope she never hears you say that. See you later."

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As Max, Issy and Greg sat were waiting for Alec, Max's phone rang. "Go for Max," she answered tensely.

'Got your package and it's on its way,' replied Clemente.

"Thanks for that," she replied relaxing. "Any news from White?"

'He rang from Washington to say be ready in the morning.'

"Thanks see you soon," she finished the call.

Issy looked at Max, "everything ok?"

"Yeah Lydecker's got the hostages and I expect White will be here tonight."

"Just as well we're prepared," Issy replied.

"Glad we got those supplies today; we were getting low on some things."

Just then the door opened and Alec walked in. Looking around the room he was surprised to find Issy and Greg, "So Max what's this all about?"

Max looked at him sheepishly, "Thought we'd better talk to you before anyone else," she replied.

He looked at her waiting for her to continue. When she didn't he asked, "about what?"

Max took a deep breath, "when I was going to see Greg I decided that for this ruse to work he'd need to appear to be Issy's partner."

Alec looked at her, his jaw dropping. "You're expecting them to do what exactly?"

"Just to look like they've become partners since your death as he's been comforting her."

Alec's expression changed from confused to incredulous. Turning to Issy he asked, with an edge to his voice, "and you agreed?"

Issy replied calmly, "I think agreed suggest that I had some choice, which I didn't. Max had already set it up with Greg before she came to me, but I can understand the logic."

Alec glowered at them. "So if it's a done deal, why bother telling me," he snapped.

"Because it won't work unless you're on board," Max replied.

Alec glared at her, "how so?"

Issy left her seat and drew closer to Alec. "Because if you're angry about this you'll shut our link down," Issy replied. "I won't know what to do without you in my head," she finished taking his hand.

"Me in your head and him touching you," Alec snapped as he pulled his hand from hers. He'd never thought of himself as the jealous type before, but was smart enough to realise that's exactly what he was feeling.

"Hey I'm not too keen on this either pal," retorted Greg. "I'd much rather be with Dara, but if it pisses White off I'm game," he grinned.

Alec was trying to calm himself down; emotions could get you killed in a fight. Ignoring his reaction to Issy Max reached out to touch him, but he pulled away before she could.

"Look I know it's hard," Max started.

Alec ignored Max and turned to Issy and Greg. "So how do we work this?"

Greg was relieved; he didn't want to make an enemy of Alec. "White is going to be looking for the lie. To keep him fooled Issy and I will have to touch naturally, as in arm around each other, occasional kiss but not too much. It will have to look natural, too much or too little and he'll know it's an act."

"All of which will work a lot better if I know that you're relaxed and helping," Issy confessed.

"Helping! How?" Alec's voice was more relaxed but still held a slight edge.

"You'll be monitoring and feeding back, if you think White is getting suspicious I need you to suggest what we could do to change it," Issy responded.

"But I only know what I'd do." Alec was confused about how that would help.

"Precisely," Issy responded. "You tell me what you would do then I give Greg a signal to explain. Of course we'll have to devise a list of signals and actions."

"And you've only got 2 hours," Max interrupted.

Everyone turned to look at her. "I expect White to call in later and we need a meeting before that, so I'll leave you to sort out the details."

"You do realise if anything goes wrong I'll blame you," Alec glared at Max.

"Whatever," she replied. "But it won't." She left them in her office.

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The transgenics all met in gym, the only place big enough for such a meeting. Everyone had been working hard to ensure that everywhere was prepared but this was the first time that Max had called a meeting since returning with the X5s and the last time they'd all been together in the gym since her fight with Alec.

As she walked on to the raised platform everyone fell silent. Alec, Issy, Mole and Greg waited by the steps.

Max started to talk. "I'm glad that everyone managed to make this meeting," she looked around the room. "Ever since the Jam Pony siege we knew that White would find a way of getting in here. He's tried bombing us and kept an army outside our gates, but it has all been ineffectual. We're still here, we're stronger and we're not going away."

Cheers were heard around the room.

Max raised her hands. "Our friends on the outside have told us that White is planning to come here to rescue the hostages."

"Fat chance of that they're gone," shouted out someone from the crowd.

Max raised her hand while trying to suppress a grin. "That's true but White doesn't know and we're going to use that to our advantage."

The murmurs started amongst the crowd.

Max continued, "White believes that his attack was successful and we don't want to disappoint him."

Several transgenics laughed and someone shouted out, "why not?"

"He and his freak friends know that we were designed to save the ordinaries, without Alec and me that won't happen. Then, so long as he can find the hostages in time, his cult can carry out their plan." She paused to let that sink in, "so Alec and I are still alive and the people they want hundreds of miles away."

Again there were cheers.

"When White comes everyone that can be hidden will be. I only want a minimum of personnel above ground until the all clear is given. As soon as this meeting is over you will go to your assigned quarters. Those of you staying above ground will be reporting to Mole, Issy and Greg."

There were loud murmurs around the room until someone shouted, "why does an ordinary get a place on the team?"

"You all know of Alec and Issy's link, we will be using that from the bunkers. The reason for Greg helping is we're hoping his past with White should help convince White that what he sees is all there is. To help with this Issy and Greg will appear to be partners."

There was general disquiet in the garage until Alec pulled Issy and Greg on to the platform. Then everyone went quiet to hear what Alec would say.

"When we were at Manticore we were trained to do whatever was necessary to complete a mission. The watch word was emotions could get you killed so never get involved. We've all broken that rule since the demise of our home." Alec watched as the transgenics murmured and nodded. "This is our home now and we do whatever is necessary to preserve it. If that means Issy and Greg have to appear as leaders of Terminal City and partners as well then the rest of us will have to support them. Until we can finish this fight with White personal feelings are a liability we can't afford." He breathed deeply before continuing, "As leaders of TC Max and I want you to support Mole, Issy and Greg as though it was one of us giving the orders because if this doesn't work White will want to start a massacre."

He stepped back so Max could finish giving instructions before they departed for their assigned positions.

Max suddenly realised why Alec had been CO at Manticore, because no matter what he felt personally he would always put the mission first. It was only when the mission messed up his emotions that things had been messed up. Now he was fighting for his family, not just Issy and Alex but the whole transgenic race, he had put his emotions on hold to make it work.

"Everyone in the bunker control room will report directly to me. We will be monitoring everything that happens and I will pass on any instructions to Alec for him to relay to Issy."

"Will we be using comms units?" asked CeCe.

"No I don't want anything being used that won't be seen in TC's main control room. The surveillance cameras will be monitoring the site as usual and will be used to keep a close eye on what White is up to. Whichever camera is on White will be relayed directly to Alec, along with one monitoring Greg and Issy."

"How's that going to help personal issues?" called Gem.

Alec grinned and stepped forward. "Issy, Greg and I have devised a code so that their behaviour will convince White that I'm dead and that Greg has stepped into the void."

Laughter was heard from the crowd. "So you'll be making sure his hands don't wander too far," called Mitch.

It was Alec's turn to smirk, "Oh I might be encouraging it, you'll never know!"

Max put her hands up for quiet. "Right I want this place cleared and prepared in thirty minutes, I expect White tonight and I don't want him catching us unprepared."

Everyone started leaving the gym.

Max turned to Alec, "thanks I don't think that would've gone so well without your support."

"Yeah well I've always had your back, but now I want a few minutes with Issy." He turned to Greg, "if you mess this up I'll break your neck, Issy's had enough from White."

Greg grinned, "I expected as much but you've no worries pal." He then left to see Dara.

"So how you gonna work this?" he asked Issy.

"I'll be pretending every touch is from you," she replied.

"You mean like this," he replied brushing his hand down her arm and then snaking it around her waist as he moved in to kiss her.

When they finished she replied, "yeah I think I'm going to have to do a lot of pretending." Then she leant in for another kiss.

Someone cleared their throat behind them and they turned as one.

"Sorry to disturb you but we need to get going, Gem's already taken Alex to the nursery bunker," Mole informed them.

Alec and Issy smiled, "see you later," they said in unison and after a quick kiss parted and headed for their respective positions.

An hour later Dix informed Issy and Mole that Clemente and White were waiting at the main gate.

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