Author's note - I really and truly had no intention of continuing this story, but due to really popular demand, I'm going to give it a shot. I think I have a basic outline for a continuation so this is PART 2

"Max… are you sure you're okay?" Logan asked in concern as he turned again from his monitors to face her. He had called her name three times now. He couldn't figure out what was going on with his favorite transgenic today.

"Um… yeah, sure. You know, Normal's always riding my ass… and I was just stopping in on one of my runs anyway..." Checking her pager for the time, she jumped up, trying to keep from wincing at the soreness in her legs as well as…ahem!... other areas! "I gotta bounce! Normal will have my head on a platter if I take too long to get back for more packages."

She had just made it to the door when she heard Logan murmur under his breath, her transgenic ears picking up his words on a sigh, "I might have to start having packages delivered to ME to get some attention around here!"

Max bit her lip guiltily. She just couldn't concentrate, thanks to Alec.

Once again, he screws up my life. It's not enough that I save his ass at every turn. First he got a job where I work, and horns in when I don't need him…

And then totally fucks my brains out!

I did NOT just think that! Argh!

Why him? She kept beating herself up, because she was supposed to have a relationship with Logan. Well an unspoken loyalty anyway, she conceded. Regardless of the reasons, regardless of the excuses, why did I practically jump at the chance to sleep with him last night?

Alec, for the most part, was the bane of her existence. He never did anything he was told, and she had to bail his ass out of trouble on an almost daily basis. Last night being the perfect example! Biggs had made it very clear it was either her or some hapless ordinary woman that might not be able to handle Alec's X5 strength and stamina. That he might accidentally kill some woman during a whacked-up, hormone-crazed fuck.

She was even a little apprehensive about discussing last night with anyone, not really wanting any of her friends to know about it. Unfortunately Biggs knew, since he had put her up to it. And Cindy knew as well, because the male heat hormones had affected her too. Now that had been REALLY whacked! Original Cindy going after a MAN! And fighting HER for him too! It still made her mind reel at the memory.

This is so messed up! Max thought to herself as she jumped on her bike and began pedaling through the streets of Seattle, wincing a little when she experienced another muscle twinge.

Oh Logan… you don't deserve me. I am such a horrible person, who obviously can't live without sex. I'm such a slut. I could have called on any transgenic female in TC to handle Alec's predicament. I should have! So why didn't I do that? Stupid, stupid, STUPID!

She suddenly braked as someone blocked her progress, the rider pulling his bike right in front of her. When she met his eyes, she gave a tired sigh.

"Max, we need to talk." Alec announced without preamble.

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry, booty call is over and I have to get back to Jam Pony before Normal notices I'm missing."

"I'll ride with you. I have to pick up more packages myself."

"Just leave me alone Alec." After checking traffic, she took off, but he easily kept up with her.

"Ok fine, if you want me to yell it out to everyone that can hear me, fine. Last night was, quite frankly, the best night of my life and I think we should strike up a friends with benefits relationship."

She braked again and used her feet to brace her bike as she glared at Alec, who stopped next to her. "Excuse me? Last night was just me getting your ass out of yet another predicament. That was all it was. So find yourself another booty call, or friend with benefits, or whatever the hell you wanna call it. That's not how I roll."

He eyed her knowingly, trying to cover his guilt for lying to her before. "Maybe it's how you should roll. Come on, you liked it too, admit it."

Max shrugged one shoulder and off-handedly declared, "You were aiight… I've had better."

She wheeled off again as he called after her, shaking a finger in her direction, "You're lying! I can tell when you lie Max. No eye contact and you leave quickly." He took off after her again, raising his voice to be heard not only by her, but by everyone else on the street. "I was the best you've ever had, don't deny it. A little birdy told me 'your time' is coming soon. And I'm volunteering to scratch the itch for you, just like you did for me!"

"Ugh! You're such a PIG!" She yelled back, darting her bike across the street to the Jam Pony entrance. She didn't want Alec to see that the idea really held merit in her mind's eye. His head was big enough already. She had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of knowing that he was way more adequate in bed than she was letting on.

She quickly got off the bike at the door, because Normal hated it when the employees rode into the building. She was already on his last nerve at it was.

Speaking of…

"Well, looky who made it in TWO HOURS after sending her out with her last packages? Go ahead Missy Miss, what's the excuse this time? Dog ate the package? Cat got your tongue? Or a new one, Jesus Christ himself paid you a visit perhaps?"

Before Max could answer, Alec answered for her, "Flat tire, Normal. I helped her get another one for the bike and put it on for her. Which, by the way, these bikes…" he held his up for emphasis, "are dangerous AND a hazard. Older than the hills. My motorcycle idea was way better."

Normal still glared at Max, totally ignoring Alec. "And not only were you late but you made my rock star late too? I have half a mind to fire your lazy ass right now."

"Normal!" Alec's voice was a little sharper than what Normal was used to, bringing Normal's attention to him. He crossed his arms and declared, "You fire her, I'm walking."

"And me!" Original Cindy stepped forward, her shiner hidden pretty well with make-up as she stood next to Max.

"Me too." Biggs announced as he walked over to stand next to Alec but behind Max to show he was with both of them on this.

"And me!" Cece came out from the locker area, walked past Normal to stand with the others. Cindy stared at someone on the far side of the room and raised a brow until a male voice piped up, "Yeah, me too."

Normal turned in the direction of the new voice, seeing it was Sketchy. He couldn't believe his own employees were revolting against him like this, especially his favorites, Alec and Biggs.

As Sketchy joined them, he placed a hand on Max's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "You bailed me out a few times; I am here for you."

Slightly shocked at the whole display of solidarity, Max stated, "Guys, this is really not necessary…"

"Actually I think it is." Alec glared at Normal, "Look, the way you treat Max is deplorable. Really! You yell at her more than ANY other employee here. But you know you need her. She can handle herself in gang territories that most people here won't go into due to fear. As a matter of fact, the ones that do go into those territories are standing right here ready to walk. So let it go Normal, or we all walk."

"Are you guys kidding me?" Normal asked in disbelief, as a few more people walked over to stand with Max and the others. "I really do have half a mind to fire every last one of you and get a whole new crew. This one?" He pointed at Max, "Complete disregard for authority, chronically late, and I can say the same for some of you too. I might actually do better with a whole new crew."

"Fine. Let's go." Alec told everybody and Normal's jaw dropped as half of his workforce started to walk out the exit.

"Alright, alright, I'll let it go this time. But it's only because I got a butt load of crap to shovel out of here known as packages. Get over here, let's stop the lolly-gagging and get moving." When he saw everyone was coming back inside, and the other half of his employees were just standing around, he yelled, "BIP! Let's get a move on people! Show's over. Packages don't deliver themselves. Let's go! Bip, bip, bip!"

Normal walked around the dispatcher's desk and pulled out a small package and passed it to Max, "This goes to Sector 12, you need to take someone with you."

"I'll go." Alec volunteered and Normal pointed at him, "No, you stay here because we need to have a chat about this new attitude of yours. Biggs, go with Max."

Biggs smiled cockily at Alec, "Love to." He answered Normal but gave Alec a wink as he slyly showed him the vial that he had in his pocket. Then made a crude sexual gesture behind Max that only Alec saw due to everyone else being busy. He chuckled when Alec looked ready to jump him, and he stepped back just in case.

Max grabbed the package, only too glad to get out of there and not noticing the interplay behind her, "Let's go Biggs. Let's get this over with, this is in Steelhead territory."

"Right behind you sweetheart." Biggs grabbed a stray bike as Max got her own. At the door, he turned back to Alec and winked, then snickered when Alec glowered and faked a lunge toward him like he was going to go after him. Biggs beat a hasty retreat, still laughing under his breath.

"What is it with you two?" Max asked as she got on her bike, and couldn't hold back the wince when the seat placed a little pressure on a sore area between her legs. At this rate she would have to pump the bike standing upright and stay off the seat.

"He rode you hard didn't he?" Biggs ignored her question and asked a teasing one of his own instead. This earned a glower from Max as he raised his hands in defense. "Hey, male heat can be rough. Do you see now why I said he could kill an Ordinary?"

"Shut up! I don't wanna talk about it." Max muttered as she pedaled away, her face turning fiery red.

Biggs took off after her. He still didn't know the Seattle area that well and needed to keep up with Max… for professional reasons of course. Although the view of her backside from this angle was particularly nice, so he purposely stayed right behind her.

It was official. He was a horn dog. Just like every other red-blooded, genetically empowered X5 male. That little bit of animal DNA in their cocktail made them complete tomcats actually. Whatever the fuck it was, at times it was annoying. Inwardly he wondered if maybe all X5 alphas, such as himself and Alec, preferred to go after alpha females. And since Max was the only alpha female in their vicinity, maybe that was why they both had a strong attraction to her.

Biggs had been fighting his attraction for Max ever since he met her, because he saw how his buddy reacted around her. The usual take-charge alpha that he remembered from Manticore was complete putty around Max, letting her run all over him. At least for now. He knew 494 wouldn't put up with it forever and would probably eventually put her in her place.

Biggs knew he, himself, would never allow a woman to treat him that way. A female needed to know who the top cat was in their pairing. He smirked a little as he imagined how he would show her if given the chance. Not Max though, just some future female. 494 would kill him without blinking if he made a move on Max. A real move. It wasn't something he was ever willing to chance.

Alec… He had to remind himself to call 494 Alec. They'd went by designations their entire lives, but in this outside world, you had to have a name. One of the first things most of the X5 males had done once Manticore burned was find a willing female for a little late night fun. One such lady of the night had called his "member" Biggs, and the name just stuck. He'd never told anyone but Alec how that name came about. Alec had guffawed and asked if it was just wishful thinking, and that started a whole new bout of good-natured teasing once he found out that MAX named Alec. For smart-alec. Fitting!

He couldn't help but fantasize a little about the woman in front of him, riding that bike like the hounds of hell were after her. He watched Max's ass and groaned in lust. If she'd thought 494 was rough, she wouldn't walk for a week after he was done. Apparently she was out of sexual practice. Once all the muscles were used to sex… mating… whatever you wanted to call it, the soreness eventually went away. Just like any other exercise of under-used muscles.

And he'd give her plenty of exercise to get her back in tip-top shape. Not that it would ever happen in reality but what went on in his mind, 494 would never have to know.

He liked to think he could just stick by her until her heat cycle started. But Alec already had one foot in that door. Then he began fantasizing about a three way… maybe she'd take on two of them?

He knew inwardly 494 would NEVER go for that idea. Alphas, once a mate was chosen, didn't share well. He and Alec would be fighting over her more than fucking her, and that would never work.

It was a nice thought while it lasted though! But he knew in his heart he would not poach another guy's territory. He could tease that he MIGHT do it and make 494 squirm in the process, but he had no intention of carrying it out. As far as Biggs was concerned, Alec had full claim on Max. He was the one that had had sex with her last night, and no other alpha would try now unless they wanted their balls on a platter.

Alec could be lethal if he had to be. Biggs shuddered at a past memory that had proven how lethal 494 could be while in soldier mode. He'd had to help clear the dead body when Alec killed Simon Lehane to take on his identity. One efficient twist of the neck and it was done. With no emotion. Just the way Manticore wanted them to be.

But 494 had one flaw that Manticore couldn't brainwash out of him no matter how hard they'd tried. When Alec fell for a chick, he fell hard. Take that Berrisford girl for instance; he'd been assigned to kill her. It was the one time he hadn't been able to follow through on orders, and then Biggs didn't see him for six months, obviously having gone through re-indoc.

And now it was 452, Max.

"Hey, where you going?" Max called out after Biggs, who had passed her by and kept riding.

When Biggs realized how far his mind wandered, he stopped the bike and turned in her direction. "I thought I saw something shady in that alley, like a possible mugging… only a couple of cats fighting."

Max cocked her hip and folded her arms, doubt showing in her entire posture, "Uh huh. Whatever! Get over here. Let's get this signature and package delivered before…"

"Well look at what the cat dragged in, eh guys?" a British voice that Max would never forget called out from behind her. She rolled her eyes and turned to face British Eddy and his two thugs that she and Alec had beaten up last time they were here to rescue Zack.

Author's note - ok peeps, I need your feedback... like it so far? Hate it? Anticipating the next chapter? Let me know! :)