Disclaimer: I dont own these characters

a/n: I don't normally do this, but I wanted to give a personal thanks to dustori and rocknroll923. You guys are awesome! I really appreciate reviews, and I know my chapters are short and frankly not the most thought provoking, but I am so glad to know that someone is enjoying this and took the time to let me know!

Chapter 30: Must Be The Jeans!

Alec poured himself another glass of scotch. He watched the liquid swirl around inside the glass. He filled it too much, and a bit of it spilled over. He didn't care. It wasn't like he'd rented out a 5-star penthouse, like old Log'. Alec laughed slightly at his own pathetic need to compare himself to Logan Cale. There was an upstanding citizen, that Log'. He was probably busy trying to save some orphans or something at the moment. Alec on the other hand wasn't allowing himself to be concerned with anyone while he familiarized himself with his new apartment.

Alec slumped into his crappy yet somehow comfortable chair in his crappy and uncomfortable apartment. It didn't really feel like "home". Maybe a television would help. He'd have to go to the market to barter for one later.

The chair had tears in the leather exterior, or rather, pleather exterior, but he didn't mind. It still satisfied his needs to plump his bottom down on a suitable cushion.

Alec thought depressingly of his morning encounter with Max, and of the last time he'd been at her apartment. She'd told him she hated him. And then this morning, she'd rejected him. It was like if she couldn't fight with him, she didn't see the point in speaking with him. Alec wasn't sure if he'd rather argue with Max or enjoy a peaceful life without her.

"Looks like I don't need to choose!" he decided out loud, downing the glass. Max had chosen for him. She hated him, and she'd surely never give him another chance. He'd never discover his connection to her, the whole reason of his own escape.

Alec then thought of his evening encounter at the bar, or lack thereof. Like any normal night, he hit up the pool tables, to of course make money off his new JamPony friends, and also to enjoy the company of many willing and beautiful women.

There was only one problem with Alec's night. Thoughts of Max had ruined it for him. He found that he couldn't even flirt anymore with the ladies.

Sketchy shook it off as just an "off" night. Alec had agreed, but inside, he knew better. It wasn't the night, it was Max.

Alec withdrew from those thoughts, realizing that although sitting in a comfortable seat, he was staring at a blank wall. He frowned. It wasn't like him to be bored, but his place wasn't furnished yet, and it certainly wasn't as stimulating as any of his Manticore missions had been.

What were those shots? Why am I so drawn to Max?

He dismissed his own thoughts with the pouring of another glass.

Max knew that she had to figure out what was going on inside of her. The answer was so simple, really, yet she had made it so complicated, fighting it all the way.

She wasn't surprised to see where she'd ended up. Though she'd never been here before, she immediately noticed a familiarity nonetheless. It was his scent. It was engulfing her, and she realized she had followed it. She remembered the first night she'd met him, how she had taken a liking that very night to him. Even then, she'd noticed that she enjoyed the scent of Alec.

This must be his apartment, she thought, somewhat entranced. She bit back her hesitations literally, as she felt a slight pain on her lip as she bit.

She walked up to the door and found herself throwing her hair back, feeling slightly nervous, wishing she'd spent more time preparing herself, especially with her physical appearance. What are you thinking, Max!, she scolded herself, just knock on the freakin door!

In spite of her doubts as well as questions of what she was doing there, she found the courage, or maybe it was curiosity, to knock on the door.

She paused, trying to keep her facial expression unreadable for when the door opened and she would find herself face to face with him.

When it didn't open, she only found more hesitation. Was he not there? She tried to peak through a broken set of blinds that were keeping prying eyes out. The place had kind of a "dump" feel to it, but then again, considering the Pulse, it seemed kind of homey.

She rejected her initial doubts. He had to be here, she could still smell his scent. She knocked again, harder this time.

When she still found no response, she did what only Max would take it upon herself to do- she picked at the lock to let herself in. It wasn't even a difficult task, she found herself wishing for more of a challenge. Where was the fun in breaking and entering if it was this easy? Though Logan wouldn't approve, there was a certain rush to entering a place unexpected and, well, fine, illegally as well.

He could have stopped her from coming in, but as she stared at his form, she realized he didn't care. He didn't even look up to greet her. She was slightly shocked to find him just staring at a blank wall. He held a glass of scotch, from the smell of it. The bottle was near finished. As a transgenic, he was probably barely buzzed, if that.

"Max, what are you doing here?" He asked in a low, uninterested voice, without looking at her.

She didn't like talking to his back, but she was slightly afraid of facing him. He didn't seem himself. He was always the happy go lucky smart-ass, and though she knew it was all a cover, she also knew perfectly well how to deal with that person. She hadn't faced this side of Alec before.

She noticed the small suitcase laid on the floor, and took in the lack of much furniture or really anything about the place. She also noted the small wad of cash that had been tossed carelessly to the floor, with a map folded up next to it. Was he leaving town?

"Are you leaving?" She asked, showing more concern in her voice than she wanted to let on.

"And would that really bother you at all? I would think you'd be happy, wouldn't you, Maxie?" He said as he finally got off his butt to accept her presence. He stared at her intensely with his hazel eyes, the specks of green finally showing some energy that hadn't been there when she had first walked in the room.

At the end of his question, he threw in his usual grin. She couldn't help but gasp slightly a sigh of relief that he was himself it seemed. Or maybe it was her surprise at his appearance. He was shirtless, with worn jeans loosely held up to his waist, leaving his boxers sticking out. She admired his stomach without realizing, it was defined and bare, just asking for her touch.

"Max?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, but not releasing his intense stare.

She felt her cheeks burn slightly, realizing she'd been checking him out. She turned her stare away from him, unfortunately being reminded there was nothing else noteworthy in his apartment to stare at. The moment at least helped for her to regain her composure. "Why would I want you to leave town?" she managed to reply.

Alec wondered if he should really get into this with her. Part of him didn't care, at least, didn't want to care. He found that seeing her standing there, just an arm's length away, looking vulnerable, was having an undesirable effect on him, or rather, a desirable effect that he didn't want to have.

"Well, maybe it was when you said you hated me?" he reminded her, wishing she would yell at him now so he could at least be distracted from how amazing she looked right then, and from recalling how she tasted, even though their kiss, if you could call it that, had happened by now a while ago.

"How was work?" she asked, changing the subject. She didn't feel quite ready to discuss how she really felt about Alec.

"Don't worry, Maxie! I'm not leaving town, so you can save your tears for something else," Alec replied, ignoring her latest question.

Max snorted slightly. "And you don't need to worry about me, Pretty Boy. These eyes won't be shedding any tears over you anytime soon."

"Would you like a drink, Max?" Alec offered. She was surprised he didn't take the opportunity to start their usual banter.

"Your bottle's empty," she pointed out.

"Is it?" he noticed, looking at it. He bent over to dig in a low cabinet. "No matter," he told her, as he searched, "I've got another one in here somewhere."

Max did not like the view at all. She couldn't seem to move her eyes away from taking in just how good his butt looked. It must be the jeans, she dismissed, coming to another thought, well, it is the genes! They were genetically designed to look, well, hot, but she had never been so taken before. Was she in heat or something?

The fearful thought passed through Max's mind. Her eyes grew wide as she contemplated the possibility. She took a moment to consider it before realizing- she wasn't in heat. So why was her mind, and more importantly, her body, reacting to the sight of Alec in this way?

"Nice work, there picking my lock, Maxie. Did it ever cross your mind that if someone doesn't get the door it's because they don't want any company?" Alec asked her rudely as he moved around what looked like a bunch of junk in his cabinet.

Max wished he would hurry up, the view was driving her nuts. "Well, I can leave.." she trailed, seriously considering the idea given her own reactions.

"Here we go!" Alec said, ignoring the comment, his face finally coming into view again as he held up another bottle ceremoniously.

As he poured her a glass, she found herself no longer so brave about confessing the real reason she had stopped by to see him. She wanted to leave before she would do something while she was clearly not in her right mind.

"I..have to go," she tried to excuse herself, turning toward the door.

a/n: cliffer, yes, evil! sorry. not to worry- next chapter will not disappoint (i hope!)