A/N: Hello all! I know it's been a while since my last update... please don't hate me! Life is just a little hectic. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I will endeavor to update with more frequency if I could just get a few more reviews to show me some love ... PLEEEEEEASE? Anyway, enough shameless pleading, time for cyber props! Cyber high fives to AJBLUE, scrawn, Parker Q and snowspell for adding my story to their alerts. Cyber hugs to angelborn inhell, bbergs 03 and USA-Fanatic for adding my story to their favorites. Last but not least, Cyber hugs, kisses and candy to daffodil710 and maile for reviewing my chapter ... THANK YOU! It really means a lot to me! Hope you guys enjoy this one and please, review if you can ... I'll be ever so greatful!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Alphas, I just dream of being one!

There was silence after Rosen's ridiculous announcement. Saber had to stop himself from bursting into guffaws of laughter at the various looks on everyone's faces following Rosen's pathetic attempt to obfuscate the situation. Nina looked like she was seriously considering using her gift on their esteemed leader. Hicks looked furious while Gary continued enthusiastially enjoying his meal, Saber wondered if the kid had even heard the conversation around him. That was a distinct possibilty. Gary had made it clear that he was starving, and his meal was definitely his top priority. Bill was the first one to actually speak. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Rosen, I can understand where you're coming from...barely. Now you need to understand where the rest of us, your team, is coming from. These are our lives we're talking about here. You're asking us to go into dangerous, life threatening situations with a man we know nothing about, except for the fact that you're acquainted with him. You'll have to excuse me if that isn't enough for any if us. It may be for some people, but it sure as shit isn't enough for me. Some Alphas have come out, true enough, but there are a lot more that are hiding and don't take too kindly to those of us who remain in the public eye. We're on quite a few hit lists, Doc. You wanted Saber here something awful, that you've made abundantly clear. You two have some kind of history, again, another fact that is somewhat obvious...but that's when things get a little ... murky ... shall we say."

Nina nodded and glanced quickly at Saber before looking at Rosen. "We're just asking that you, or Saber, whoever wants to give us a straight story, tell us something. None of us want to be going into dangerous situations blind. That's what we would be doing, what you're asking us to do Rosen."

"Bill and Nina are both right." Hicks said with a dark glance at Saber. "We don't have a clue who we're working with here. Come on Doc, we're just asking to find out who the hell this guy is... no offense."

Saber shrugged and smiled as he waved his hand dismissively. "None taken. I actually do understand where you're coming from. I know I would feel exactly the same way in your position, I might not take it as well as yo guys have. But I'd appreciate it if you would try to look at this through my eyes. Clearly Rosen is keeping his cards close to his chest. I'm sure he'll allow me the opportunity to reveal just a few of them. Rosen and I, we go way back, I basically grew up with him. He has a certain amount of faith in my abilities and the ... talents I can bring to his little operation. However, despite his faith in me, I won't hide the fact that I don't want to be here. In actuality, the last place in the entire universe that I want to be is here, with you. Unfortunately, Rosen has ... encouraged me to join your little party for a brief period that we are currently still negotiating. I'm not a threat to anyone, as long as they pose no threat to me. You watch my back and you can be certain that I'll watch yours. Intently."

He smiled as he said the last words, his eyes resting directly on Rachel with an intensity that made her blush and glance away.

Rosen sighed as he signalled for the waiter. "Clearly our friendly meal has come to an end. I suggest we adjourn to my office to continue this discussn in a more secure location."

Ten minutes later, following an amusingly strained silence Saber was once again seated beside Rosen as they drove back to the facility. He knew Rosen too well to miss the fact that he was peeved, perhaps even pissed. Saber chuckled. Poor Rosen, his toys weren't playing by the rules. Hell, they were fighting him tooth and nail to play a whole different game, all because of Saber's appearance on the playground.

"What exactly do you find so amusing Saber?" Rosen asked suddenly. Saber didn't take his eyes off of the scenery that was flying by.

"You, Doc. You've convinced most people around you that you're this laidback, tree-hugging kumbaya type of doc. All you want to do is help all these poor alphas come to terms with their powers and take their rightful place in society. There's just one catch. We have to play by your rules. We have to share your ideals."

"That's not the case at all ..." Rosen protested.

Saber shrugged. "I disagree. I may have been off the grid these last few years, but I haven't been dead. I saw what was happening, from both sides. I understood where both sides were coming from. Red Flag had its issues, but at the end of the day, they were trying to do the same thing you're doing. Control a force that doesn't want to be controlled and harnessed, a force that can't be squeezed into a neat little cage to be periodically released for some random cause or display. It cost a lot of decent alphas their lives, Rosen. Some of them were my friends. Their deaths are on your hands. I just wonder how many more of us have to die before you realize that we will never be or do what you expect us to be."

Rosen shook his head. "You couldn't be more wrong, Saber. Don't let your past blind you to the good that's being done here, the good that you can do if you just let the past go and work with me,with us."

Saber shook his head and was surprised that he actually felt a little saddened. Rosen really believed that he was trying to help, that he had everyone's best interest at heart.

"After all these years I can't believe that you're still trying to fix me. You failed years ago, old man. Don't waste your time or mine trying to rewrite history. Down that road lies ..." Saber grinned with a shrug. "I would say pain and suffering, but given our history, it's probably going to be a lot worse."

The rest of the Alphas walked toward the conference room en masse, no-one speaking. There was an excitement crackling in the air, cutting through a tension that had been building for weeks since Rosen had announced plans to bring a new member to the team.

..."Well it looks like we're gonna get answers sooner rather than later." Bill said as they neared Rosen's conference room.

"I get the feeling Rosen's not too happy about that." Hicks groused.

"Need to know. Dr. Rosen always tells us what we need to know. But its what he thinks we need to know."

"You're damned right, kid." Hicks said. "We're gonna get the whole story now,whether he likes it or not."

Rachel was the last one to enter the conference room and take a position as far away as possible from Saber. The minute she entered the room though, she could feel his eyes on her, like gentle fingers caressing her flesh. She shivered and from across the room she saw his lips curve into a small smile.

"Relax, little one. I won't hurt you ... tonight."

Rachel's head jerked up and she met his laughing eyes across the room. Was she losing her mind? Did she seriously just hear Saber in her head?

Rosen cleared his throat and broke the trance Rachel was in. She shook her head and leaned against the door as the others took their seats as far away from Hicks a they could get.

"I realize that I have asked a lot of this team in the last few years. The Reveal and life after it has been tough on all of us and our families. I understand that and I hope you all know how grateful I am for all the sacrifices you have made since we've been together. I want you to know, without a doubt, that I have always wanted only the best for all of you."

Nina sighed and nodded. "We know you mean well, Rosen, but we can't have secrets. Not if we're going to get out of these missions alive. You bring a stranger among us and expect us to accept him with no reservations? We can't."

"You want to know about Saber. You want to know why I wanted him so desperately, why I truly believe that he's going to make a real difference in this team. It's simple really. Saber was the first Alpha that I worked with ... even before his birth."

The silence that suddenly enveloped the room like a fog was almost deafening. If Saber didn't have such a tight rein on himself he might have blushed when every eye in the room was suddenly on him. He did offer up a smile and a slight shrug of his shoulders as the gazes swiveled from him to Rosen, back to him again before finally settling on Rosen.

"Wait...what?" Hicks said glancing from Rosen to Saber who was reclining nonchanantly on the sette in the corner of the room. "How the hell do you work with him before his birth? How did you even know what he would be befor his birth?"