Facing Fears
Chapter 2:Unsettling thoughts.
Alec drove fast, eyes on the rearview mirror. He could almost feel the bruises forming. His right eye throbbed as it began to swell shut. When they exited the city limits he pulled the truck over.
The sudden lack of movement woke Jaia with a start. Alec's jacket fell into her lap. She gasped when she saw the condition of his face. "Oh my god!" her hand reached toward his face before she realized what she was doing. When she did realize it, she yanked her hand back as if scalded. Her face turned away. What are we stopping for?" She asked.
"Well, I can do a lot of things but driving with one eye isn't one of them." Alec answered wryly.
"Oh, right." She answered her face flushing.
"I figure you can drive for a while then we can stop at the hotel Logan recommended." He explained.
"Alright." Jaia reluctantly agreed.
She changed places with him, walking around the car while he slid over. Grabbing the door handle trying to settle the hackles rose on the back of her neck. She sat down adjusting the seat. Alec sighed and slid his jacket against the window wedging it between the window and his head. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Thoughts raced through his mind.
Obviously she had known Ben. He felt a frown form on his face and carefully schooled his expression. She just as obviously did not like Ben. He struggled to remember the words she had hurled at him. Exhaustion overcame him as the last few days without rest caught up with him.
Jaia watched as the tension left his body. She had known that he had not been asleep. She refused to call him on it though. That would have meant conversation and that was something she was not up to yet.
His face brought back a flood of memories she had dammed up years ago. Five years was long enough to provide both. She could still feel how soft those lips could be. She also could remember the strength of those hands around her throat. She took a deep breath and tilted her head from side to side to relax. Realizing that she did not know the destination she reached a tentative hand out and shook Alec's arm lightly.
He jerked instantly awake. His sleep had been light. "What's up?" He asked with a frown on his face.
"You didn't tell me where we are staying tonight." She said defiantly.
Alec was confused about her attitude. "L.A. at the Five Palmas." He said then settled back into his former position. "Wake me when you see the first of the LA exits."
An hour later she woke him and he gave her a list of directions from his coat pocket. She followed them and they arrived.
"You better stay in here. Your face will draw attention to us."
"Hey, it's healing." He said defensively touching it with his hand and wincing. He sighed then said, "The reservations are under the name Johnson. Ryan and Liz."
Jaia made a face at the name but nodded. She looked down at her uniform that had the last name she had been using embroidered on her chest. She removed the outer shirt and gestured to Alec for his jacket.
"We'll have to get you some clothes." He remarked. She nodded silently her face a mask of sadness for a moment as she realized that she would not be wearing the clothes in her apartment again. Her things were now lost to her.
Inside she found out they had two rooms. She became slightly dismayed by the fact they were adjoining. She quickly signed the register and went to the truck. Alec got out with his bag in hand. She led him to their rooms, which joined through a rather large bathroom.
Alec threw his bag on his bed then went into the bathroom and knocked on Jaia's door. She opened it and eyed him warily.
"I figure we should get you the necessities now." He said. "There was a store across the street. We'll get you a few things now and later when we have more time you can get what you really like." He told her.
Jaia nodded then said, "I can go alone if you want to stay here and rest." The last part of her sentence seemed hopeful even to her own ears.
"Nah, safety in numbers and all that." He drawled slightly angry about her desire to get away from him. He could understand her hesitance to be around him but for some reason it still hurt.
Plus, Alec figured if he let her out of his sight and something happened to her, Max would definitely kick his butt.
Jaia was quiet as they roamed the aisles of the small store. It didn't have much variety but how much could you ask for at nine o'clock at night post-pulse? Alec shot confused glances her way. He just couldn't figure her out. One minute she seemed sure of herself, cocky in the way all X5's had. Then she was quiet like this. It was really unsettling.
"I thought you women like to shop." Alec said teasingly trying to draw her out of her shell.
"If I'm taking to long we can go. I have enough." She said a startled look on her face that bordered on panic.
Alec tried not to show the shock he felt at her reaction. "Um, no you don't, you do sleep in pajamas don't?" He said gently then smiled "But hey, don't change on my account." He felt painfully awkward. This was the first time he had ever had this much difficulty finding a common ground with a woman. Well, except for Max.
Jaia flushed. "Oh yeah. Pj's. Do need those." And socks and underwear.. Dammit J, get ahold of yourself. HE'S NOT BEN!
Alec decided to take pity on her. "Why don't we meet at the register in say, ten minutes? I want to look around." He looked around casually.
Jaia leapt at that chance. "Sure."
When Alec walked away she breathed a sigh of relief. More relaxed she completed her shopping quickly.
As they walked to the truck Alec let out a whistle. "Four hundred dollars in under an hour. That has to be a record."
"Hey, I have nothing, it all was necessary." Jaia said defending herself, hugging her purchases to her chest.
"Sure." Alec laughed. "Bad kitty toes sock were necessary."
"They were, they matched the pajamas." Jaia said seriously. That was until she caught Alec's eye and they both laughed.
Seeing Alec laugh reminded Jaia of Ben back when they had first escaped. He had been so happy, laughing a lot like Alec just now. A sad smile crossed Jaia's face. That happy laugh had turned bitter after a while.
"Hey, where did you go just now?" Alec asked gently.
Jaia tilted her head and shrugged. "Just memories." She said quietly. Alec opened the truck door for her and they put the bags inside. Climbing in they rode back to the hotel in silence.
Alec took the first shower and Jaia went to get some ice for his eye. She put it in a bag and knocked on the door to his room when she heard him finish up in the bathroom.
"Yeah?" Alec asked opening the door. Wearing only a pair of shorts. Jaia quickly averted her gaze but the image was burned onto her mind. She held out the ice. "For your eye." She said quietly.
"Thanks." Alec said quickly.
"No problem, I'm going to take a shower if you're done?"
"Go ahead." He replied.
Jaia pulled the door closed and leaned against it briefly. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself not to think about the man next door like that. No matter how much he looked like Ben he wasn't. She couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed by her body. No matter how good the times with Ben had started out to be they had ended badly.
Shaking her head she pulled away from the door and turned on the shower. While undressing she caught sight of the faint scars on her chest in the mirror. It still puzzled her to this day that she had them. Never before had she retained those reminders of accidents.
Stepping into the shower she willed herself to forget.
!!"Mole!" Max bellowed from her office that evening.
Ambling in what could be considered a fast pace for him, Mole walked through the door carrying a stack of papers in one hand. In the other was his ever-present cigar. He set the paperwork down in front of Max then reached back to close the door.
Max looked at him levelly and said, "Did you find what I asked for?"
Mole returned the look. "That and more. Much more." Shaking his head he began his report. "Not only did 493 attempt to kill your sister he made the headlines for other things also. He killed as many as 14 people in a ritualistic style. Missing teeth, broken bones. There was one case where he was convicted of killing a man named Timothy Ryan."
"I know." Max interjected. "Anything else?"
"Yeah. He's suspected of stealing people's identity. Also a couple of places that he stayed at reported disturbances of the peace." Mole looked at Max with a bit of anger. "He was suspected of being crazy before he stabbed her." He had no need to clarify who "her" was. "For two years before Max. Jesus Max! There are pictures of what he did to her." He gestured to the pile. "They aren't pretty." When Max reached for them he put his hand on top of hers to stop her. "He stabbed her 9 times Max. That's just the beginning. The girl was bruised from head to toe. Eyes swollen shut." Mole shuddered. "If the girl hates Princess on sight, well I couldn't blame her."
Max took a deep breath. Exhaling noisily she nodded. "Thanks Mole." She reached into her drawer and pulled two tubes out of a box that held many. She offered them to Mole who took them reluctantly.
"Somehow they just don't seem as sweet now." He said gruffly and turned to leave without a goodbye.
Max settled down to read. An hour later tears raced down her face as she cried for her sister and brother.
A/N: Next chapter to come soon!