Personal Relations

Wow, I know it's been forever since this fic was updated. At least a few years. BUT, These chapters were sitting in a file on my computer, just waiting to be put online.

Now, unfortunately, chapter 10 is still missing. Lexie and I aren't really in contact anymore – however I have emailed her about chapter 10, so hopefully she'll get that to me soon! I'm uploading this fic (re-uploading I should say) into my own penname, because well – I can't remember the password for the Jacey and Lexie one. So fear not, I'm not stealing anyone's work. Just my own.. and Lexie's ;)

So, enjoy. Even without chapter 10, it's not too bad. If chapter 10 turns up, I'll post it straight away :D

Hopefully there's still some people out there interested in this fic, huh?

Jacey

Brin lay awake in bed. It had to be pretty late in the morning already - maybe 10 am? - but she couldn't drag herself out of bed.

Last night, under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol, Zane's involvement with both her sisters hadn't seemed so bad. In the harsh light of day, Brin was reasonably annoyed and angry with Zane. How could he do this to her? She thought he loved her, that she wasn't just one in a string of X5 romances for him.

Zane wandered into the room that he was sharing with Brin, and was surprised to see her still in bed. He frowned, she'd still been asleep when he got up at 6am for a run, and to go and do weights with Alec and Zack, but he'd assumed that she'd be getting up soon.

He sat on the side on the bed, 'Hey Brinny, you okay?' he asked gently.

"Mmmph," was all Brin said, muffled by the blankets and pillows that covered her face.

Zane smiled slightly, 'Hangover?' he questioned.

Brin nodded her head, deciding that was a good enough excuse for the time being. "Ya-huh."

Zane frowned, 'Awwww. That sucks honey. Want me to go get you some Coffee?'

"Yes," Brin unearthed her head. "Coffee would be good." She couldn't help shooting Zane a resentful glare. Damn him. X5 romances. How did she know he wouldn't run off with Maxie next!

Zane nodded, and left the room, frowning slightly. Was it him, or was something more wrong than a hangover? He sighed, 'I'll be back in a minute Brinny.'

"Ummph," Brin replied. pulling the pillow back over her head. Syl and Jondy... how could they! Zane was their brother and yet... Brin closed her eyes. So much for the 'something special' Brin thought she and Zane had.

Zane returned soon, with a mug of coffee, a magazine and some aspirin. 'Here ya go Brin.' he said, smiling at her.

"Thanks," Brin sat up, flipping her long hair behind her, taking the aspirin and coffee from Zane, not looking at him directly.

Zane frowned again, and sighed, leaving. 'I'm going down to work out with Jondy now Brin. Cya later!'

Jondy. He was going to 'work out' with Jondy. Brin frowned. 'Work out'. "Have fun," Brin said angrily.

Zane rose an eyebrow at looked at Brin questioningly, but left anyway.

Brin glared at the door and threw a shoe at it.

Out in the hallway, Zane heard the thump against the door, and frowned. He sighed, 'Whatever it is, I hope she tells me... soon.'

Brin went back to sulking in bed. Stupid affairs. And he was 'working out' with Jondy. 'Working out'. Every time she said it, it sounded worse...

Meanwhile, Zane had gone downstairs and was setting up the weights, when Jondy walked in with Syl. 'Hey Jon. Syl' he said smiling.

Jondy smiled back at him, 'Hey big brother.'

Syl smiled. "Hey. Have you seen Brin this morning? Max said she hasn't been down here yet."

Zane nodded, 'Still in bed.' he frowned, 'So, ah, anything someone wants to tell me about last night, cause she's been in a really weird mood since then...'

Syl thought for a second. "We just played truth or dare without the dare part, except about... yeah, interesting stuff. Nothing to piss her off, I don't think."

Jondy nodded, 'Yeah nothing I can think. Oh.'

Zane looked at her sideway, 'Oh?'

Jondy nodded, 'Oh.' she turned to Syl, 'You don't think...' she looked at Zane out of hte corner of her eye, 'That um, that thing we might have mentioned involving us and Zane, might have, like upset her?'

"Um, possibly, just a tad," Syl winced and tried not to look at Zane. "Yeah, it was probably something we shouldn't have mentioned in front of Brin."

Jondy nodded, 'Yeah...' she said trailing off, upon seeing the glare Zane was shooting at her.

'What.' he said, 'Did you say to her?'

Jondy shrugged.

He turned to Syl, 'Syl?'

"Stuff," Syl said, beginning to turn red. "Stuff you and I agreed wouldn't be mentioned again. Ever."

Zane sighed, feeling rather confused. Then it dawned on him. 'Syl!' he yelled.

"Oops," Syl said, wincing. "I was under the influence of Jondy and alcohol! That's a lethal combination!"

Jondy glared at her, 'Hey! How did I make you tell anything?'

Syl looked around wildly, and saw Krit sitting on the couch. "Krit, Zane and Jondy are ganging up on me!" she said pathetically.

Krit stood up, coming over, slinging his arm over Syl's shoulders. "What's up?" he asked.

Jondy rolled her eyes, 'Oh, that is SO typical of you Syl!'

"How is it typical of me?" Syl asked, smirking, wrapping her arms around Krit's waist

Jondy frowned, and opened her mouth to retort. 'Well, um you see...' she looked at Zane for help.

Zane shrugged, 'Hey, I just wanna know what Brin's deal is!'

Brin stalked down, in a foul mood. Somehow, she'd manage to convince herself, rather than 'working out' with Jondy, Zane and Jondy were having sex somewhere in Terminal City and everyone else knew about it.

Zane looked up and saw Brin enter. 'Perfect timing.' he muttered

Brin saw Jondy, Syl, Zane and Krit having what looked like a lively debate, and avoided them. More coffee and food would make her feel better.

Zane looked at her weirdly, as she walked past them. HE reached out and grabbed her arm, 'Brinny! Come join our conversation.' he looked at Jondy and Syl, 'They,' he said pointedly, 'Have something they want to share.'

"We do?" Syl asked, looking surprised.

Brin gave Zane a look. "I need coffee. Let me go and I'll get coffee," she said, trying hard not to start yelling.

Zane shook his head. 'We need to sort something out first. What's the problem Brin? Why are you so pissed with me today?'

Brin looked at the ground. "Hangover."

Zane shook his head, 'Nup. I've been around you when you've had a hangover before. This isn't like you. What's up?'

Brin sighed. "You and Jondy, you and Syl - you and me. Obviously I'm not as important to you as you are to me, if I'm nothing but another X5 love affair!"

Zane stood, looking at her open mouthed. 'Briny. For a start, I was 16 when Syl and I slept together, and it was hardly a big deal! it was convenient that's all. And yeah, Jondy and I used to have something going, but it was too weird for us. We knew it was weird, and it never went far because of that. They're my sister's Brin! I love you!'

Brin still glared at him. "But you felt any sort of need for emotional comfort and you turned to one of your sisters! Zane, that's not love or lust, it's ... sick!" She was almost yelling now, her face angry

Zane glared at her, 'Oh come on! You slept with Ben of ALL people!'

"Yes. Ben. No one else but Ben. I didn't sleep with Krit or Zack or any of the others," she retorted

Zane rolled his eyes, 'What, so now we're counting?'

"If you want, yes," Brin snapped. "I cannot believe you even think me sleeping with Ben evens out you sleeping with Jondy AND Syl!"

Jondy winced, 'OK, so feeling SLIGHTLY put out here, so I'm just gonna... leave.' she said, gesturing towards the door, and grabbing Syl and Krit's arms and taking them with her.

Krit pulled away and turned to Syl. "What's this about you sleeping with Zane?" he asked coolly.

Syl winced. "Zane, you couldn't have started the argument, after we left?"

Zane shrugged, 'Sorry.' He turned to Krit. 'We were 16. It's in the past...'

Brin glared at Zane, punching him roughly on the arm. "It's not how long ago it was! It's the principle of the thing!"

Zane winced, 'Ow!' he rubbed his arm, 'Brin! It's over! It was years ago, and if you can't get over the fact that I made some mistakes and learnt form then, then I don't know why were even together!'

"And if you can't understand why I'm angry, then I don't know why we're together either!" Brin hissed, turning on her heel, storming out.

Zane glared at her, and followed her out, 'Oh, I get why you're angry, I just don't get why my explanation doesn't cut it!'

Brin span round to face him. "Before I went back, you and I were thinking of settling down and doing the white-picket fence thing. How can we even consider that now when you're not being honest with me!"

Zane blanched, 'You were taken back! I didn't think I'd ever see you again! It's not like I didn't TRY to rescue you!'

"So what? You realise I'm gone, and then turn to the next sister in the line up?" Brin shot back. "Really sweet and reassuring. And where the hell were you when Max and Zack took down Manticore? Not rescuing me, thats for sure. No, you were in bed with Jondy!"

Brin took a breath. "Max handcuffed me to pipes that night when they blew up the DNA labs. I suffered third degree burns and spent a month in the infirmary for it. Don't try and tell me you tried to rescue me, because what I went through.. your excuses don't cut it."

Zane glared at her, 'When Max and Zack were trying to take down Manticore, I was rescuing Jace and Maxa from another branch of Manticore. So excuse me, if I thought you were dead, and wouldn't need saving!'

"So much for a mourning period! I mean, you should've at least made sure I was still in there. You don't know how bad it was; maybe we had it bad when we were children...," Brin said, tears in her eyes. "I never gave up on you, but apparently you gave up on me."

Zane gritted his teeth, 'I never gave up on you Brin. I did everything I could, and more. But if that's how you feel, then I guess I should leave.' He spun around, and stalked off, and search of something or someone to beat up.

Zane stormed down the hallway, leading to the main hall, and kicked the wall. Hard. He winced as dust and plaster went flying everywhere. 'Damn it all to hell.' he announced.

"Damn what to hell?" Max said, appearing beside him. "What did the wall ever do to you?"

Zane glared at her, 'Did I ever sleep with you?'

Max gave him an odd look. "Nnnoo. Possibly because you've only been here 48 hours or maybe, um, lets see, because you're my BROTHER!"

Zane nodded, 'Mind going and telling Brin that?' he muttered.

"Did Brin sleep with someone?" Max asked, completely confused.

Zane shook his head, and then nodded, 'Well yes. Ben. Apparently. But that's perfectly fine as far as she's concerned. On the other than, me sleeping with Syl when we were 16, and having a very brief and very wrong on both sides, relationship with Jondy, is so completely wrong...' he trailed off, kicking the wall again, coating Max in a fine cover of dust.

Max brushed the dust off her nose. "Ben? Brin had a relationship with Ben... did someone tell me that already? Complete de ja vu. Yeah, so you both kept everything in the family. Not like any of you are related," Max shrugged, sneezing from the dust.

Zane nodded, 'Exactly!' he glared at the wall and kicked it again. 'Stupid. wall.' he grunted. He sighed, 'Aggghhhh!'

"Talk to me," Max said. "Why are you so mad with her? I don't think it's just the Ben thing."

Zane sighed, 'I'm only mad at her, cause she's mad at me for sleeping with Jondy and Syl. God, it's not like it happened recently or anything!'

"Then go and tell her that. Profess your love in a way only Pre-Pulse actors and X5s in love can manage," Max said. "I heard from Zack how love-sick you can be..."

Zane looked at her weirdly, 'Um... ok?'

"Good," Max nodded. "And apologize to the wall."

Zane rolled his eyes, 'Oh god this is so... stupid.'

"No, it's entertaining," Max said with an evil grin. "Do it."

Zane glared at her, 'Awwww Max!'

"Do it, or Ill tell Brin you and I slept together two weeks ago," Max threatened.

Zane gaped at her, 'You wouldn't!' he said glaring at her. He sighed, 'Fine. I'm sorry.'

"See?" Max grinned. "That made you feel better, didn't it?"

Zane glared at her, and sighed, 'Yeah...' he muttered under his breath, and then walked off, to find Brin.

Alec walked down the hallway towards the games room that he'd helped Mole set up. As he sauntered past the lounge, he heard a quiet sobbing noise. He frowned, and stuck his head around the door. 'Brin?' he asked in astonishment, seeing as she was the last person he expected to see, crying her eyes out.

Brin sniffed, wiping her eyes on the edge of her shirt, and looked up at Alec. "Alec? Do you... mind?" she asked, slightly embarrassed to be caught crying by anyone.

Alec frowned, 'Brin, what's up?'

"Nothing," she replied stiffly

Alec looked at her sympathetically, 'Is it cause I ate the last pop tart this morning?' he asked, 'Max told me not too... but I did.' He sighed, and sat down next to her, smiling.

Brin let a hicuppy laugh. "No, it wasn't the pop tart. It's a Brin-thing."

Alec nodded, 'Yeah. Max has a lot of Max things...' he paused, 'But she's never sat in a room by herself crying... what's up with the Brin-thing?'

Brin shrugged. "It's a Brin and Zane thing."

Alec nodded, 'Want me to beat him up for you?'

Brin shook her head. "The mood he's in, he'd probably win. And then I'd feel worse than I do now."

Alec smiled slightly, 'Want a hug then?'

Brin nodded. "That would be good," she said softly, wiping her eyes

Alec nodded, 'Come'ere.' he said, pulling her into a hug. 'Tell Big brother Alec all about it...'

Brin rested her head against Alec's shoulder. "So stupid. Jondy and Syl told me last night they'd both been with Zane at some point in their lives. I thought Z-Zane and I had s-something special, but obviously n-not," she said, as she started crying again.

Alec winced and muttered 'Ouch.' to himself. He sighed, 'I dunno...I think you do have something special. I could see it when you both walked into TC, and I didn't even know you were together...'

Brin shook her head. "But... he's so mad with me and I don't understand why HE is mad with ME."

Alec shrugged, 'Well, what'd you say to him?'

"I told him that I didn't think... I thought it was sick that every time he needed comfort, he turned to one of his sisters and that he gave up on me when I went back to Manticore," Brin said softly.

Alec smiled softly at her, and sighed, 'But did he give up?'

"He left me there for dead. Every moment in Psy Ops, every time I killed someone, it was the thought of him that reassured me," Brin said. "But... he hooked up with Jondy. He'd didn't save me from Manticore."

Alec nodded, 'Look, I can't say anything to defend him, or to reassure you, cause I don't know anything about it... but I mean, Manticore's a tough place to get out of... it'd be easy to loose hope.'

Brin nodded. "But, why didn't he come with Max and Zack, Krit and Syl when they destroyed the labs? Instead of leaving me to Max." Her voice was slightly bitter at the thought of her sister.

Alec shrugged, 'I don't know... did you ask him? Cause I'm sure he had a good reason...'

"No, I just yelled at him," Brin replied regretfully

Alec smiled at her, 'Well, typical female reaction he said.' grinning at her, 'Hey tell me, why did I never run into you at Manticore?'

Brin straightened, wiping her eyes. "I was Renfro's lap dog. Special privileges and crap."

Alec grinned, 'Cool!'

Brin shook her head. "No, it wasn't. It was Psy Ops and assassinations and round the clock training. . . I didn't know Manticore could be that bad. No wonder Ben cracked..."

Alec nodded, 'Yeah, Maxie told me all bout him...' he paused, 'But hey, look at it this way, cause he cracked, I got special Psy Ops privileges too!' he looked at her and his eyes widened, 'No way!' he said grinning, 'You were that hot chick in Psy Ops - in the 3rd bunk form the left, 2nd room...' he paused, 'I offered to hook you up with that scientist guy1'

Brin gave Alec a shove. "I remember you! That scientist guy was creepy... Vic on the other hand, was damn fine," she said with a grin.

Alec frowned, 'Hey wasn't he the one who knocked up that chick... damn what was her designation?'

"What?" Brin gave Alec a confused look.

Alec rolled his eyes, 'You know, that X5... ummm geez, I'm sure she was in your squad...'

"There were twelve of us who escaped, Alec," Brin said dryly. "Thirteen if you count Jace, but that was only two years ago."

Alec looked at her. 'Hang on... when did... Jace get out?'

"Two years ago. She's up in Mexico with her daughter."

Alec grinned, 'Well there ya go then. She didn't by any chance, have an affair with a scientist called Vic, did she?'

Brin paused, eyes widening. "Ooooh. Oh, everything has just made sense; I don't know the details, but I know baby Max's father worked at Manticore... Vic? Damn, Jace had good taste."

Alec shrugged, 'What ever you say... I wasn't exactly checking him out or anything...'

Brin laughed again. "I'm glad, cause that would be too uncanny."

Alec looked at her weirdly, 'Um, huh?'

"Ben ended up being gay," Brin said sadly, looking at her hands

Alec's eyes widened, 'Ok, hang on. Ben? As in my clone Ben?'

"Yeah. Ben-Ben as in X5-493 Ben. Gay."

Alec groaned, 'OK.' he said to himself, 'Calm down. You didn't go psycho like he did, so there's every chance you we're turn gay...'

Brin saw the slightly panicked look on Alec's face and began to laugh. "You're nothing like Ben, Alec. Trust me, I knew Ben... two people couldn't be more different."

Alec sighed in relief, 'Oh thank god!'

Brin looked into Alec's eyes... they didn't reflect the pain and anger Ben's eyes used to have... Brin would never admit to anyone how much Ben meant to her or how much she missed him. Leaning forward, lost in a distant memory, Brin kissed Alec gently.

Alec's eyes bulged, as he gently pried Brin off him, 'Um. hey Brin... don't.'

Brin blinked and then leapt to her feet. "A-Alec. I-I... oh god," she span on her heel, running out of the room.

Alec frowned, 'Damn it.' he said, 'All I wanted to do was play pool.' he sighed, and ran after her. 'Brin! Wait up!'