Genre: General-ish
Characters: Max and Alec
Warning: fluffy-ish softer side of Max
Song: I Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,
Watch you smile when you are sleeping
Far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment, forever
'cause every moment spent with you,
Is a moment I treasure
Sometimes Max was thankful for shark DNA, because times like these really warranted it. Her heightened senses picking up on the even breathing barely audible, as his chest gentle rose and fell in slumber. Unlike his waking hours, his feature were completely relaxed, devoid of the usual happy go lucky mask he was fond of putting on. Dark eyelashes, fell lightly on cheeks and the slightest of smile tug at his luscious lips.
This peaceful and reassuring moment was one she could stay lost in forever; knowing he was beside her alive and breathing complete assured of his safety under her watch and in his most vulnerable. This unconscious trust he'd placed in her in his sleep, warmed her heart.
The scars were fading, slowly but surely, but the fear of losing him was still prominently there. She'd lost too much she couldn't lose him too.
And, I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Even when I dream of you
The sweets dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe, and I don't wanna miss
"That was cheating Max, I had you on the last stretch and you know it," Alec complained as he tried to catch his breath.
Letting go of a breathless laugh, "just 'cause you suck, doesn't mean I cheated," she countered, stealing his water bottle from him and taking a huge gulp to quench her thirst. "If you had me why didn't you win?"
"'cause you cheated, thus me not winning," he stated simply, "but really Max don't you have any shame for cheating so shamelessly," easily swiping back his bottle from her unprepared hand and leading the way to the safe house. Though he missed TC, he had to admit being away from all the chaos was pretty nice, and seeing Max other than stress, annoyed and frustrated, was even better.
It was nice having him around. She didn't know what she would have done if he hadn't offered to come along on her little protective custody getaway. Sure she wasn't jumping for joy when he'd offered, even though Logan had encouraged it, because as much as there wasn't too much squabbling between them anymore, her tolerance level of him could only cater for small doses at a time. Now, however she couldn't help but notice how much more entertaining it was to have him around. "Whether by an inch or a mile. Cheating or not, winning's winning deal with it!"
"I just…"he fell short of finishing his statement when his sense went into over drive it. Not only could he feel it, but he could also taste it clearly in the air. The fine hairs on his neck stood confirming his suspicion.
"Just what?" an arm short out to stop her and Alec signalled her to be quiet as he stealthily made his way toward the cabin. The coppery smell of blood assaulting his nose became stronger and stronger as the proximity between him and the cabin reduced.
This was annoying. Annoying because she was confused and didn't know what the heck was going on. As Alec pushed open the slightly ajar door open, everything became clear; Dr. De la Rhea was tied to a chair, dead-still, brown eyes wide filled with horror and fear. At her feet was Dr. Fine, in a pool of blood big enough for them to asses that he was dead.
"Hello 494, 452," Hector's cold smile greeted them, almost joyously, "so glad you could join us."
Max was ready to pounce on the jackass, but Alec swiftly grabbing her hand, quickly stopping her. Not now.
At first she thought she'd imagined it when she felt it, but when the taps spelled out her name on her palm, she knew Alec was trying to tell her something. Escape and Evade. Rendezvous. Now. He wanted he to run and she was pretty sure Alec, wasn't going to escape without Sofia, meaning he wanted her to run alone. She couldn't do it. If they were going to die, damn it they would die together; if they were going to be capture, then it would be together. No one gets left behind.
However, the stronger taps alerted her on how serious he was about this. He was still a soldier, and as one, he saw Max as his ward that needed to be protected under all cost, even if it meant death or capture of himself. Count of 3...1, her heart beat frantically as she tried to focus on what she was about to do… 2... mind equally frantic as her eyes discreetly darted around for any alternative, but found none…3...go time.
Before she knew it, Alec was across the room, knocking Hector to the ground, evading bullets while trying to free and protect Sofia from being hit. On the other hand, she was making it for the clearing as planned, but a group of ten stood in her way. As always, she fought by fiercely determined to not submit quietly. Amidst it all, unfortunately, she was tazer-d and darkness was quickly closing in, but before she completely blacked out she heard a shot ring clear in the cabin. Alec.
Lying close to you feeling you heart beating
I'm wondering what it is you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing.
And then I kiss you're eyes and thank god we're together
Well, I just wanna be with you
In this moment forever,
Forever and ever and…
Moving closer, she gentle placed a hand over his heart, feeling a steady beat under her palm. Reassuringly regular, and strong. He was here, alive.
His features remained calm, and relaxed in slumber surprisingly, making her wonder what he was dreaming about. It had to be pleasant if, the smile on his lips was anything to go by. Could he be dreaming of her maybe? Could she be the person in his dream that was the source of his smile? She was hoping.
They were, here, alive and together. She was thankful for that, because even if it was someone else that was making her smart Alec smile in his sleep, she was the one laying by his side, trusted to keep him safe. No amount of internal struggle could make her stop the finger tips that gently caressed his face, nor could it stop her lips from placing a soft kiss on his eyelid.
It didn't matter what she was to him, all that mattered was that she was her by his side. And whether he liked it or not, knew or didn't, she'd be right there, forever, if destiny allowed it.
And, I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Even when I dream of you
The sweets dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe, and I don't wanna miss
Her weakened body could barely let her opened up her eyes or moved, so she remained content with, laying her head on the warm pillow provided, and the gentle strokes on her face. She was safe, but not quite. It hurt, everywhere hurt so much, but for now, she was safe. Licking her dry, chapped lips she spoke, barely recognising her voice, "where are we?"
"Not free," Alec voice deadpanned, albeit being hoarse and scratchy, "and it's about time you woke up sleeping beauty, my legs stating to cramp up," he whined in his usual way but, if she wasn't mistake, she could definitely hear a relieved tone in his voice; masked, but still present.
Trying to sit up, she winced at the strain it put on her battered body, like being weak from blood loss wasn't enough punishment. Strong hands instead helped her sit up, leaning her against his body.
"You so owe me for playing human furniture for the last couple of hours," he mumbled, before his voice brightened up, "I'm thinking along the lines of a massage…"
"I'm pretty sure my fists will be more that happy to massage you're face." was her slurred response, that was rewarded by the slight rumble of laughter from his chest. "Dr. Frankenstein still around."
"Like an annoying pain in the ass," he confirmed, "probably be back soon to drain me too."
"Exit strategy?" hoping his ever active brain was doing something while she was out.
When the door swung open, Alec replied, "in play" Max could barely move, let alone think of a concrete plan. Two weeks of tests, transfusions, barely enough food and water could do that to a person, therefore leaving Alec with the task of planning their great escape this time round. Her eyes fluttered shut.
***
The next time her eyes opened, it was due to rude awakening of gunfire and alarms blazing just outside the cell door. The short rest seemed to do her some good as she slowly got her feet, but not good enough, because was hit by a dizzy spell almost immediately, in addition to the threat of her legs buckling from under her, forced her to lean on the wall, unable to move.
She was expecting anything, the guards coming to move her because their base was compromised, a rival group coming to take her off Hectors hands, White, but she wasn't expecting a rather pale looking Alec, with a gun in hand and smirk on his face, "never thought you'd let me do the whole hero- damsel in distress thing, including the carrying to safety thing," crossing the room in quick strides and picking her up piggy back."
"Shut up, and run already," contently laying her head on his shoulder, letting him do the whole hero thing.
The escape only ever come to her in small snippets. Gunshots, alarms blaring. Hector. Car. Unresponsive. Flat line. Needle. Black out.
I don't wanna miss one smile,
I don't wanna miss one kiss,
Well, I just wanna be with you,
Right here with you
Just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
Wanna stay lost in this moment, for the rest of time
Days. She'd spent days at his bedside, day in day out, just holding vigil at his bedside waiting for him to open those hazel eyes. Dr. De la Rhea summed it up to fatigue, injury and grave blood loss.
"The only way he was able to escape and get us out was pure adrenaline. When the danger wasn't present anymore, his body succumbed to it all. The fact that he's still alive, shows how much of a fighter he really is."
She wanted to be the first thing he saw, when those eyelids finally flattered open revealing pretty hazel-green irises. His first smile, she wanted to be first to see it and experience it. So she remained at his bedside despite, Logan's assurance that if he did wake up, someone would let her knew and she need her rest. Max didn't want someone calling her, she wanted to be there, in the flesh, to see his eyes open. And as for rest, she would rest when he was awake.
And when he'd finally decided it would be an opportune time to join the living, she was torn between kicking his ass or kissing him. But instead she'd waited until he was full checked out , given the OK and everyone left, before she threw herself in his arms shamelessly, hugging him tight. "I'm so kicking you're as for this," he voice barely able to keep from trembling. "shirking your responsibilities." she reasoned, taking in his scent.
"Why can't you say you just missed me?" placing a soft kiss on her temple.
She'd missed him, she was worried and she was scared, but she hadn't told him that, and he didn't ask. He never asked. Despite the knowing glint in his eyes whenever he looked at her now.
Moving closer, she let herself relish the fact that she hadn't lost this. That she could be with him, just the way they were at the moment.
And, I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Even when I dream of you
The sweets dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe, and I don't wanna miss
Sleep could wait, because she knew if she did, she'd wake up and risk him not being there. Max was past her denial, there was something there. Something in her heart that felt a lot more than friendship, a lot more than …like, for Alec. Love? She was heading there, just on the ledge waiting for the right time to jump, but she was getting there.
She was tired of the dreams. They were nice, but they weren't real. The one beside her, that was the real deal, who she's unconsciously come to want and need.
Just being there was risk to her tough bitch image, that people fondly had of her, but she just didn't want it to pass. For this, she was willing to stop her denial route to her feeling, and going beside the point. The point was there, with nothing in her way, and damn it she was going for it.
And, I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Even when I dream of you
The sweets dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe, and I don't wanna miss
"Max?" Alec questioned into the dark room, finally recognising the dark head that was lying on his chest, plus the warm body pressed against his side. He was barely awake, and more confused than anything at finding her there, beside him.
"Don't ask me what's going on, because I honestly don't know. All I know is that I just want to be here, with you. And … I just don't want to miss it this time," knowing her cryptic answer would be well understood by him.
His only move to show that he understood, was placing a hand over her own that sat on his chest, giving it a gentle squeeze. He didn't want her to miss it too.
I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
I don't wanna miss a thing
A/N: attempt at fluff. Sorry for OOCness.