Chapter 26: Ezio & Altair

Ezio

"What do you mean we can not just ride in and smash them?" Desmond growled at the oldest of us.

Alanna was known for her cool head when it came to Desmond, but even the boy was pushing her today. Her normally tan skin was growing red with anger. Her smaller hands clinched the table in a feudal attempt to calm herself. I, myself, was to the point of yelling. Altair had long walked outside to either punch something, or loose himself in the forest.

"There is ten of us, including Shaun and Rebecca, and more than likely, thousand of them guarding that damn satellite. There is no way in this world we could ride in and smash it like you want, Immortal or not. We would find ourselves in the morgue with a toe tag." She growled back. "Think before you open your mouth."

"Then what do you propose? We have been at this for over a hour, and no one has any idea on what to do." The young man glared at the people around the table.

Everyone was silent. It was true. None of us had any idea on how to go about this endeavor on destroying the damn thing. I hung my head and gripped the back of Jenna's chair. She reached up and laid a gentle hand on mine. "We will think of something. It will just take time." The blond told them .

Altair walked back into the room. He was sweating and his short hair was windblown. Must have gone for a run. "I think we need to get in there, blow it up and get the hell out." He stopped at the table.

Alanna rolled her eyes at the remark. "Yeah, I want to see you get that done. We can not get past their guards. We also have no way to get someone on the inside. They know us all too well."

"Would you quit shooting down all ideas that you do not like." He glared at the woman across the table.

She stood up so fast that the chair under her fell backwards. "And would you just shut the hell up? You get pissed off, storm out of here and then come back and yell at me?"

"Both of you stop right now!" I had finally had enough of them arguing. Gray eyes and amber eyes turned to me. They both radiated murder. I had seen it before and would again. They could not frighten me that easily, but it could a few others. The guys who had been with us a few weeks, backed away from the table.

"You two have been at each others throats since we showed up here. You have not stopped and even sometimes sleep does not stop the arguing. What has gotten into you guys?" I glared at both of them.

Alanna pointed a finger at Altair. "He started this!"

The Syrian man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Way to be mature, 'lanna, and if I remember correctly, you are the one that started this fight."

She threw her hands in the air. "Hah! You can not see fault even if stared you in the face and went, 'Hey, I'm right here!' You are a moron."

Altair looked like he was about to go over the table at her. I had to put a stop to this, and right now. "Enough! I don't give a damn who started it, or what started it. The main goal right now is that damn satellite the Templars are building. If you two can not get along, so help me, I will lock you two in a room together and let you duke out your differences. At least that way all of us will be some peace and quiet from your bickering." I let my eyes drift from Altair then to Alanna. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Whatever." Alanna waved me off and then left the room.

I turned my gaze back on the man in question. "Anything useful you want to add to this?"

"Not really. I have said what I thought we should do. If I think of anything else, I will let you know." And he too, walked from the room, leaving me with a splitting headache and a few more questions left unanswered.

"Damn those two." I muttered as I righted the chair Alanna had knocked over in her anger. "I think our round table conversation is over. If you have any suggestions, bring them to me and I will see what we can do about it."

Dawson stepped up. "Ezio, I know you are good at explosives. What if I could clear a path into the compound? Could you get in, or someone else go in and plant a bomb? I can take out a few of them and maybe teach someone a few tricks with a sniper. It would be easier if there were two of me, but that is not going to happen."

I thought about that for a moment. If we could take out the men at the front gate. It might be possible to get someone in unseen for a time. Maybe long enough to get to the silo. "You have a good theory there, Dawson. Let me run it through my head a bit, and I will get back to you. If someone wants to learn to use a sniper rifle, teach them. No one here will object."

Rebecca, who had been standing in the background the whole time, stepped forward. "I wouldn't mind learning. I mean, I can shoot a gun and I am great at seeing things no one else can. I can give it a go. That way I might feel like an active member of this team besides tech support."

I looked at her for a minute. "If that is what you want. Go for it."

She smiled. "Alrighty." She turned to the sniper. "When do you want to start?"

"Whenever you are ready." He smiled back at her.

"Let's do this." She headed for the back of the house. Dawson followed.

Jenna leaned back in the chair she occupied. "So, what has crawled up those twos' rears lately? I mean, they love each other one minute and then want to tear each others' heads off the next. It is enough to make your head spin. Have they always been like this?"

I scrubbed my face with my hands. "Not really. They have always had a strange relationship. Even when I first met them. Alanna took it upon herself many years ago to be his guardian and protector. I do not know what prompted it, but she stayed with him through everything. Well, when he woke up, she stayed still. Made sure he knew what he needed to know. Then they split ways, but they are like magnets. Always drawn to each other.

"I have always wanted to ask Altair what happened that night that would make her take off the way she did, but I do not believe he would tell me. He has always kept his secrets and doubt that will ever change." I laid my head on the table. "It is like this. They love each other, then they hate each other, but it is always each other. I have never in all my years with him, seen him with another woman. Alanna, I do not know about. I mean, he has been with others, but not like they are with each other."

"Maybe they are just tired and cranky. I get that way when I have had no sleep." I felt her hand touch my back.

Raising my head, I smiled at her. "Maybe, or maybe that was how it was back then. I have not studied their culture that deeply."

"Maybe." She bent down and hugged me lightly. "You should really get some rest."

Nodding my head, I laid it down on the table, feeling my many years fall on my shoulders. A nap did sound good. Maybe if I just closed my eyes for a few minutes, everything would come together. I felt the peaceful darkness draw me in, and I slept.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

A loud noise startled me from my sleep. "What the?" I looked around the room for the origin of the boom. Alanna looked down from the loft sheepishly.

"Sorry Ezio. I was cleaning house." She grinned and walked back deeper into the room upstairs.

I looked at the living room to see a laundry basket sitting there. She must have thrown it over the side. Damn that woman. Waking me from a good dream. I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my hand. How long was I out of it for?

Looking at the clock on the wall, my eyes almost bugged out. They had let me sleep for four hours! I just slept the day away. "Alanna!"

She reappeared and leaned against the rail. "You bellowed?"

"Why in the world did everyone let me sleep as long as I did?" I stood and felt the muscles in my back stretch.

She laid her chin in the palm of her hand smiling. "You were tired. You have not slept right in days, and I thought it would improve your mood."

"I see yours has." I shook my head at her. I saw a bit of a blush form on her cheeks. "You two finally hash out your differences?"

"You could say that. We are on common ground and it works. We are not going to kill each other if we are in the same room, if that is what you are worried about." She stood up straight. "Now, I have to get back to the cleaning. This place is not going to clean itself."

She was about to walk off when I stopped her. "Where is everyone else?"

She turned back around. "Becca is still out practicing with Dawson. Jenna, Desmond and Tom are training, Jake went to get food, Shaun is napping, and Altair, I believe, is in the garage."

"Okay, thanks." I headed for the back door. I turned back to her. "Why are you the one cleaning?"

She smiled and threw some sheets down to the first floor. "Someone has to do it. I don't see anyone else pitching in. it is driving me nuts."

"So, you are a clean freak?" I walked over to the basket, and picked it up.

She looked down at me. "Not really. I just hate clutter."

It must have been that way back then because Altair was the same way. I always saw him picking up messes and putting things where they belonged. "I will be nice and take these to the laundry room for you."

"Thank you."

Altair

I slid out from under the Mustang. The exhaust had been damaged in the mad flee from Abstergo and the header pipe had a hole in it. It was something that I could repair, but the time constraint was there. I sighed as I grabbed the impact wrench and the 13mm deep well socket. I had been working on this car off and on for a few weeks now. It was maddening as to how much damage had been done.

Sliding back under the belly of the car, I fitted the socket onto the bolt. My saving grace on the car was Alanna had just had a newer exhaust put on it and the bolts were not rusted. They came off easily and I dropped the pipe down. Now, onto the headers.

I was absorbed in my work that I did not hear someone enter my domain until they knelt down. "Hey, need a hand?"

Sitting the impact down, I looked at the person that spoke. Jenna looked at me with those blue eyes of hers. "You know about this car?"

She gave me a half grin. "I grew up with a wrench in one hand and a blade in the other. I am pretty sure I can work on this car."

I slid out from under the car again, and stood. "I wouldn't mind a second set of hands. You mention working on a car to Ezio and he runs like a scalded dog. Alanna can't come near this thing without wanting to bust into tears. I don't know about anyone else, but I am stuck doing this myself."

Standing, she did a once over on the car. "Well, I can tell you, unless you have a spare tail light laying around, that is not getting repaired. As for the cosmetic damage, I can get the dints out and repair the holes, but the paint will have to wait."

Grabbing a red shop rag, I wiped the grease off my hands. "I am not worried about the cosmetics. I want to get the damn thing running. The car was nearly overheating when they got here. Rebecca said it was warm all the way here from Kansas. I just hope they did not warp the heads on it."

Jenna grabbed the key off the work bench, and stuck her head through the open window. "Well, have you ran it since that day?"

"Nope, I had the guys push it in here." Taking a drink of the water I had sitting there, I watched her.

"Then let's fire her up and see what she does. If she heats up fast and hard, it's the water pump, radiator, or the heads are fucked. If she puffs blue smoke, then the heads are fucked. Either way, we will know and then can start on fixing it up."

I was impressed. The girl knew her cars. "Then, by all means, fire it up. It's going to be loud. I just took off the exhaust."

She nodded and turned the key over. No smoke came from the tail end, so that was a good sign. I stuck my head under the hood and felt around the radiator. It was cool to the touch for the moment. Jenna joined me at the nose of the Mustang. "So, what is under the tarp over there?"

She pointed to the corner of the garage. "Oh, my project. I have been working on it for years. Found her in a barn in Ohio when I was looking for an escapee. Convinced a little old lady to sell it to me."

Her eyes lit up. "Can I take a peak?"

I nodded and walked over there with her. I grabbed the edge of the car cover and pulled it off. Under the cover was a 1973 Dodge Charger. Hooker Red with twin silver rally stripes. The black leather interior was completely redone and so was the paint. The only thing left to do was throw the motor back into it. It was on the engine lift in the corner.

Jenna smiled and let out a whistle. "She's a beaut. 440?"

I nodded. "Rebuilt it from the ground up. The car was a mess when I found it. The floor boards were rusted out and the car would not even start. I thought I was going to have to replace the motor until I got it apart and found the crank shaft still turned. That was all I needed to know to start the rebuild."

"Nice. I wish I could run across things like this. My first car was a 1989 Ford Escort wagon. My dad thought it would be funny to give me a turd on wheels. It was gray with red pin stripes and red interior. The ugliest thing you could have laid your eyes on." She made a face. "So, what was the first car you owned?"

That got a small chuckle from me. "1904 Ford. Just to start it, you had to get out and crank it. It was the top of the line at the time though."

She looked at me wide eyed. "That was your first car?"

"Jenna, I am immortal. I remember when the first car rolled off the line. Hell, I remember a lot of new things." I leaned against the workbench and smiled. "You will not know a tenth of the things that I know."

I watched her face fall. "I know. I will grow old as you, Alanna, and Ezio stay young."

I had seen that before. I had only told one other person about my immortality and that was to Kara.

Boston 1828

The sun was high in the eastern sky as I walked down the central street of Boston. The town was abuzz with new people and new activity. Kara walked beside me, arm in mine. She smiled at me, green eyes alight. She had never been to the big city in all of her twenty-two years.

"Allen, the city is marvelous. How come you have never brought me before now?" She held onto my arm, and watched the people stroll by.

"You have never asked until now." I gave her a short answer. Honestly, I do not know why I had waited for so long. I had known her for many years. Since she was a small child. Her father was a good man, but died shortly before her sixteenth year.

She giggled and laid her head against my upper arm. "You should have brought me sooner. I wonder what it looks like in the winter? The streets covered in snow and the bare trees. I bet it is beautiful."

"I bet it is." I laid a kiss on the top of her head. I had grown fond of her in the years since she became a woman. Her mother was happy when we began to grow closer. I was a wealthy man, and that sat well with Madeline.

"May I ask a question of you, Allen?"

"Ask, and I shall answer if I can." She was the only person I was honest with besides Alanna.

Alanna. I had searched for her for years to no avail. No sign or trace of her had ever been found except the sighting here in Boston. That was why I was here. It had been far too many years since I had seen her. I had to know if she was alright and nothing had befallen her.

"Who is Mary Nichols?" She looked up at me.

My steps faltered for a moment. That was the name Alanna was using. "Why do you ask?"

"I saw it written on a note."

"She is a woman I once knew, and lost contact with many years ago. I received word that she was here and wanted to catch up with her. To see how she has been doing after all these years. Nothing more." I patted her arm, hoping my story was convincing enough.

It seem to have been because she relaxed. "Oh, did you grow up with her?"

I chuckled. "You could say that. I have known her for many years. We lost touch with each other in France. I have been trying to find her since."

The conversation stopped then. Kara had no clue who I really was, in a few weeks time, would wonder what became of me. I had been here far too long, and it was time to leave. I had been saying that for many years, but could not leave Kara. She was so unlike all the other women that had been in my life. She was a light that had not been in my soul for many, many years.

I turned down a side street and stopped at a newer brownstone. Alanna's address. My contact had found her a few days ago and rushed to get me the address. I, at first, could not believe it was true, until I entered the city a fortnight ago, and saw her with my own eyes. Her hair was as long as it had been in France and the same eyes watched the sky. She was in the park, head tilted back, moonlight shining on her tanned skin. She had not changed.

"Is this her place?" Kara released my arm.

"Yes." I looked at the top of the stairs. Should I knock or just walk away? She left for a reason, but I wanted to know why she left.

The woman on my right smiled and gave a small shove. "Then go knock. I am sure she will be happy to see you again."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked up the steps. Kara walked behind me, probably to make sure I would not bolt. I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, the door opened and I looked into the gray eyes that had haunted me for so long.

"Altair." My name left her painted lips in a breath. Her eyes widened and she made a step backwards.

"Hello, Mary." I made sure to use her cover name. "It's me, Allen." I could not have any more slips of my real name. Kara did not know and would never know.

"A...Allen, so good to see you." She smiled, but I could tell she wanted to run.

"Mary, who are you talking to?" A man's voice traveled down the hallway.

"An old friend of mine has come to pay a visit, my dear." She called over her shoulder. She then turned back to me. "You should not have come looking for me."

"I had to make sure you were alright. The way we parted..." I did not know how to finish the rest.

She sighed and hung her head a moment. "That was many years ago. You are going to get me in trouble. Get out of here. Now." Her tone was hushed so the man inside did not here, but Kara heard.

"He has been looking for you for a long time." She balled her fists up at her side.

Alanna smirked. "Too long I'm afraid. He should have left well enough alone."

"You ungrateful bitch." Kara took a step forward, but I placed an arm out to stop her. I knew Alanna was still deadly and would not hesitate to kill her.

"Control your woman, or I will do it myself. You know I will." She rotated her wrist and I could see just the tip of her blade sticking out of her sleeve.

I placed a hand on Kara's arm. "Let us depart. I believe we are done here."

"I believe we are." Alanna shut the door in my face. Who was the woman that I just saw? That was not the same Alanna I knew, but time changes all people, I suppose.

I took Kara's hand and lead her away from the brownstone. Thoughts raised through my ancient mind. Had I done something back then that would have made her hate me even now? I could not recall.

"Allen?" Kara said my name. I looked over at her.

"Huh?" I snapped out of my thoughts.

"She called you Altair. Why did she call you that?" Her green eyes looked into my amber ones.

Shit! She had heard that. I sometimes forgot that Kara had superb hearing. "I have been called many names in my life. That is the one Mary knows me as."

"So, your name is really not Allen Worthington?"

How do I tell her that I have had so many names, that I have lost count? "I will tell you on the way back to the house."

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

"So, I want to make sure I have this correctly. Your really name is Altair ibn-La'Ahad, and you are from the Middle East, and that woman, Mary, is as well." Kara sat on the couch, with her hands in her lap.

I sat in the chair across from her. "Yes. We have known each other for a very long time. There was a time that we were inseparable, but we had a falling out of sorts when my fellow comrade came around. You have met him. The Italian man that was here last summer, Ezio."

"I remember him. He did not stay very long. Nice man." She nodded and let her eyes fall to the floor. "There was something between you and her. Am I right?"

"Yes, there was. For a time, but that has been over now for many years." I sighed.

She looked up at me. "You talk as if you are ancient, Altair."

"You do not know that half of it, Kara. I wish I could tell you the whole truth." I watched her. I was waiting fer her to get mad and yell, but she stayed calm.

"You can tell me. I will not tell another soul."

I knew her words were true. She was a good person and had never betrayed my trust in her. "I am not the age you think I am. Think back on the time that you have known me, Kara. Have I aged?" She shook her head no. "I cannot, and I will never age. I have stopped aging at thirty two. I have been that way since 1199 when I was made immortal. Ezio is the same way, and so is Alanna. That is Mary's real name. Alanna Dowd."

She just stared at me. I saw the fear in her eyes. The fear of growing old, and dying, while I remained unchanged. "You are leaving, are you not?"

"I must. I have been here far too long and people will begin to talk. It is the way my life is now." I did not want to leave her. I would have given it all up for her. The life and the immortality. I would have gladly stayed there and grown old with her, but it was not meant to be. I was the way I was.

"When?"

The one word from her lips broke my heart. "Soon. I will fake my own death as I have before. There will be nothing to trace back to me. I leave everything to you. The money, the land and the house."

"Will I ever see you again?" Tears gathered in her eyes, threatening to spill down her pale cheeks.

"I do not know."

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

I slipped away that night. Leaving her to her dreams. I knew it was now time, but my heart was heavy. As I made it to the end of the road, a horse cantered up. Alanna sat tall in the saddle. "Follow me, please."

I looked her, eyes narrowing. "Why should I?"

"I must explain my rudeness earlier today." She frowned and looked around. "You must hurry."

I nodded and let my horse come to the side of hers. She took off and I followed. We came to a field not far from the home I shared, or now, once shared with Kara. Alanna climbed from the saddle, and walked into the field, chocolate hair blowing behind her.

Stopping next to a tree, I came to rest beside her. "Now, would you like to explain yourself?"

She sighed and leaned against the tree. "I was on a mission. I had to find out what that man knew about the Assassins. He was a Templar, although a low level one. I was the only one that could get close to him. When you showed up with that woman this morning, it nearly destroyed everything I had worked so hard to get from him."

"You are still with the Assassins? How have I not found you sooner?" I watched her closely.

"I did not want you to find me. I did not want you to ever find me. We left on bad terms and that was something that could never be fixed. I thought it best if we never saw each other again." She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky.

"Alanna, we are immortal. Did you not think we would run into each other eventually?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

She smiled at the sky. "There is a name I have not heard in many years. I have not gone by that name since France."

"And I have not gone by my given name since as well." I had gone by many names since then. So many I had lost count.

"Altair, you must forget about me and finding me. One day we will meet again, but this night we must part ways. I am fine and have been for quite some time. You must flee while you have the chance." She opened her eyes and looked at me.

It was clear she was running once again. "I do not want to loose you again."

"You lost me a long time ago. What we had was not meant to last. You of all people should know that. Now, I will ride with you as far as the city limits and no farther. Come, let us be gone." She headed back to the horses, and climbed up.

I followed her, and the whole ride was done in silence.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Alanna was gone the next day. Assumed dead from the amount to blood found by the cliffside. The man she had been married to was also dead. Found with a knife wound in his back. A robbery gone wrong, they claimed, but I knew better.

I never went back to see Kara. She married not long after I left. I did keep up with her, and her children. I had always wanted to go back, but could not. I did not want her to see that I was unchanged. I was young forever.

Alanna had kept her word and I did not see her again until LaGuardia with Ezio. She had grown more hateful towards me and I finally found out the truth. I had hurt her that night.

I am so sorry. I have not had much time to sit and get a chapter out like I have been able to in the past. My work has been keeping me hopping and giving me a lot of hours. I have been pulling double shifts for the past two weeks. This chapter is a lot longer than the others. I wanted to show a side of Altair that I have been hiding from everyone. He is not an ass. He does care. Hope you like the chapter.