Boringly bored

Alexandra was wandering in the market when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Hey, love!"

"Hey," she beamed as Lucas kissed her quickly. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you."

"Lucky you found me then," she smiled.

"I knew you'd be here," he winked.

"Am I that predictable?" she frowned.

"No, you just told me you'd be here yesterday. See, I listen," he smirked sheepishly. She grinned too, loving the way he was looking at her.

"So, how is work going?" She asked, looking back to the fruits that were in front of her.

"You know, normal."

"Nothing interesting?" She wondered as if she didn't care when she actually really wanted to know more about how he was spending his days.

"No."

"What are you working on?" She tried again, looking back at him.

"Nothing really. Most of the time we discuss and think about what to do."

"You don't have a plan yet?"

This time, her voice betrayed her doubts, and Lucas glanced away, like he had heard something.

"Nothing really concrete," he replied nonchalantly. "You know how it is."

Alexandra pursed her lips, annoyed Lucas wasn't really talking to her. What was so secret about it?

"Yeah," she lied. "And, huh, why did you want to see me then?"

"I have a big mission for you," he informed her.

"Really?" She asked, suddenly excited by the opportunity to do something interesting.

"I told you Malcolm was working on something really cool, yeah?"

She nodded quickly, eager to know more.

"Well, he did make it. Or at least, we have to try it out and see if it works."

"What is it?"

"It's a kind of repellant for any kind of dinos."

Alexandra looked at him with a frown.

"What does that mean exactly?"

"If it works, we will be able to walk in the jungle without fearing for our lives."

"Wow," she said as the importance of this invention slowly sank in. "That would be awesome!"

"Exactly!" Lucas confirmed happily.

"So, what do you want me to do?" she asked eagerly, a big smile on her face, already anticipating the great thing she probably would have to do to test the important repellant.

"I need you to go back home and prepare a bag with clothes for me."

Her smile faded a bit.

"Is this some kind of joke?" she asked with hope.

"No," he shrugged.

"Seriously?"

Her face was suddenly shut down.

"Yeah," Lucas confirmed, genuinely not understanding her reaction.

"Why? Because I'm the woman?"

It was Lucas' turn to grimace.

"No! Because I have to go, and I don't have the time to do it whereas you can," he replied a little bit too abruptly.

"Right, of course you have to," she huffed sarcastically.

Lucas sighed loudly, stepping closer to her. They had been back from their honeymoon for two weeks now, and she had been getting more and more irritable over the course of the past week.

"Alex, why is it that everything you say to me sounds like a criticism all the time lately?"

"I don't know. Maybe because it is?"

Lucas grabbed her waist with a smile.

"Could you do it, please?" He said, exaggerating his pleading tone. "Humor me."

"Everything is always just a big joke to you, right?" she asked, slapping his hands away.

"It's always so serious to you! What happened to the woman who laughed all the time?"

"She got stuck home waiting for nothing to come!"

"You're not stuck. I don't keep you against your will!"

"That's your vision of the situation. You ain't living it."

"You're free to do whatever you want. You've got plenty of time!"

"Whatever," she groaned, already walking away. "You can pack your stuff by yourself like a big boy."

Lucas jogged to her and grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving.

"Hey! What is this really about?"

"Forget it," she said, annoyed. "Tell one of the soldiers to come by the house; I'll give him a bag for you. I'll see you for dinner."

Lucas let her go, puzzled. What was going on with her? Something was odd about her attitude, and it seemed to be getting worse. Yet, he didn't want to pick a fight with her in the market and did what she had asked. He sent a soldier to bring him back his stuff.

Around 7, he had finished testing the repellant with Malcolm, and Lucas actually got back home earlier than usual. He really hoped it would please Alexandra to see him more. Before opening his front door, he stopped himself and looked up to the sky, begging God that his wife would be in a better mood.

"Alex? I'm back," Lucas shouted as he entered the house. He stopped dead as he noticed the table was set and dinner was already served. He glanced to the kitchen and noticed Alexandra sat on the counter. "Wow, you've prepared dinner?"

"I did cook... And you know the worst part? Everything was ready at 6."

Lucas' smiled faded a bit.

"Doesn't mean it tastes good," he joked lightly.

"I presume that I should laugh?"

"Alex… If you have so much time, why don't you make the most of it by resting, or visiting Maddy. I think she'd like that."

"I saw Maddy yesterday already. I'm not going to follow her around every day."

"What about Hannah? I thought you said she needed company?"

"She needs to rest. Not have me around her all the time."

"Maybe you should just enjoy some readings. I could find some for you -"

"I'm fed up with reading. I need to move."

"Honey, you're still recovering…"

"I'm done resting! I'm done healing quietly at home. Don't you understand? It's been more than a month now. A month with nothing going wrong with me. I'm not some fragile invalid anymore."

"Why don't you try to play an instrument?" he suggested with forced excitement. "That would be great! You love music, I'm sure it would be perfect for -"

"Lucas!" She stopped him, holding her hands in the air, her palms opened before his face. "What I need is a job. I want to go back to training. I want to work for your father again."

Lucas looked at her, suddenly finding it hard to swallow his saliva. She seemed so determined.

"Honey, you'll have time for that..."

"I want to go back to working with Damon."

Lucas frowned, annoyed.

"You talked to him about it?"

"No... But I'm sure he won't have any problems with it."

"I doubt it, love. He's really busy right now. It's not a good time."

"A good time for what?"

"For someone else to worry about."

"He won't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself. He knows it."

"Alex..."

"Did he tell you something?"

"No."

"Then why are you saying that?"

"It's just... Why can't you just spend a little more time calmly here? You'll be back to doing whatever you wanna do soon enough."

Alexandra looked at him, disappointed.

"My check-up results are always fine. I feel fine. I'm gonna die here if I keep doing nothing. It's so boring I've started talking to myself aloud. Aloud, Lucas! And I'm annoying myself. I can't stay like that. I will end up going nuts. Please, Lucas, I know I don't need your approval to do something. But it would be easier if you would agree to let me go back to where I belong."

Lucas' heart clenched. She was deadly serious this time; he could feel it in his core.

"I see… I can't promise you anything right now, but… I'll talk to the others, okay? Can we have this discussion again tomorrow?" He asked gently.

Alexandra made a sad face. Lucas rubbed her arms with his hands to comfort her. "Please?"

"Okay," she sighed.

"So, let's just try to eat that dinner, shall we?" Lucas changed the subject, hoping she would let it go.

"Ready to risk your life?" she joked lightly.

Lucas grinned. Alexandra seemed better already now that she knew he was going to try to help her. It was obvious.

"Anytime for you."

"You're ridiculous."

Her tone was more relax, almost teasing. Lucas' grin came back to his face.

"I'll survive with that."

They spent a nice evening together and Lucas nearly forgot the last difficult days. Yet, he kept in mind that he would have to keep his promise to her. He would not pretend. He would really talk to the others. If it did not happen, he still would have done his best to keep his word. Alexandra was his wife, and he had to be there for her. To see her chirpier was encouraging him. She could be so much happier than she was now. How could he not give her what she needed? Would it be that bad?

The next day, when she kissed him goodbye, he did not need any translator to read her mind. Her eyes were filled with hope. That was why, when he entered the headquarters to meet his father and his lieutenant, he got straight to the point. Well, at least, he told them he wanted her to come back. Not that she was the one asking for it at first.

"Ain't we supposed to have understood by now that leaving Alex behind has never helped us?" Damon pointed out after a moment of silence. Taylor's face was unreadable.

Lucas looked at him and sighed.

"I don't like it, but Damon's right. And I don't like lying to her either. I shouldn't have to lie to my wife."

Taylor frowned at the word 'wife'. He knew too well that Lucas was playing with his soft side here.

"It's not lying. It's not telling her. It didn't work in the past because she always wanted to be with us. As long as she's busy doing something else, there will be no problem."

"Well… About that. I think she might not be able to stay at home anymore. She…" Lucas cleared his throat before continuing. "She begged me to let her go back to work."

For the first time, Lucas seemed annoyed about it. He clearly didn't want to appear weak in front of his father, but he didn't want to lie to Alexandra anymore. He believed he had no reason to refuse her demand. He, himself, would have been mad by now. She had already been very patient. He didn't want to be her enemy. He wanted her to know he was on her side. Following his father was, once again, leading him in the opposite direction.

Their conversation lasted for almost one hour. Once they had settled everything, Lucas left them to inform Alexandra immediately. There was no point of keeping her in the dark any longer than was absolutely necessary.

Lucas walked back home lost in his thoughts. He had begged his father to allow Alexandra to go back to work. He, Lucas Taylor, had begged the big commander to let his wife do the job she liked so much so she would be happier. What was wrong with him? He had never liked her being outside the gates, risking her life, just to feel freer. He was practically regretting his request. Was he missing her so badly that he would do whatever it would take to please her? Even if it meant putting her in danger?

When he opened the door of their house, Alexandra ran to him from the bedroom, her face frozen.

"I talked to my father…"

"Fuck, I knew it," she cut him off disappointingly.

"… and he's ready to give you a chance to come back."

"What?"

Alexandra was so sure Lucas was bringing her bad news that she had not seen this one coming. He looked so serious when he entered the house! Why was he making that face?

"It's all okay," Lucas insisted.

"Really? For real?" she asked in a way too high-pitched voice.

"Yes," Lucas smiled.

Alexandra's face shone with happiness and she ran to jump in his arms. A chuckle escaped from Lucas' mouth.

"But first you'll have to pass some tests. Then you'll be trained. And after that, we'll see."

"Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret it. I swear you won't." Alexandra said between kisses.

"I hope so," he told himself.

Lucas had not expected her to react so extremely gleefully. Happiness rose inside him at the sight of her. How could he have regrets now? Part of his mind wouldn't stop reminding him about what it really meant. She was going to do whatever she had to in order to go back to work. She might even be ready in a week. They would have to be vigilant. Yet, witnessing her so joyful was something he wanted to make the most of. He would think about it later. Yeah, it could wait, couldn't it?

Alexandra's mind was already racing about everything she should do to be fit quicker. This was a new start for her, she was sure of it. Soon she would be back at work and then she would be part of their secret plan. It was an easy plan but why couldn't easy plans work just as well as complicated ones? It would have to do. She wanted to know. She needed to. As Lucas left her to go back to the lab, she jogged back to their bedroom and grabbed a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt.

"You're back to life, girl!" she congratulated herself, beaming with excitement.