Recicup: I LOVE HAVING Alec As a dad, I think its just so sweeettt!
Takewhatchaget (Guest): thanks!
Season 4 ep. 14
It had been nearly a month since I'd given birth to the twins. Twin girls. We were still getting used to it. Their tiny scrunched up faces, pink tongues that darted out for mom's milk, and bright blue green eyes. A trait I knew came from Alec. While they weren't identical twins they were close enough. Very few things about them set them apart, from each other.
Mannerisms, one was more quieter than the other, one of them hated mushed carrots and the other hated mushed peas. It helped me and Alec I.D. them more easily. Though deep down I knew I could I.D. my own daughters. Alec for his part had done a complete turn about with the apartment. He ended up moving a lot of our furniture around, what little there was to make sure once they started to walk on their own they wouldn't bump into things quite so easily. It was troublesome the first day as he moved it around.
I came back from HQ while he was spending time with the girls when I walked into our completely pitch black apartment. Even with my night vision I wasn't prepared for the movement of furniture. I barely managed to avoid the coffee table when the table's new position proved to be my downfall. If it hadn't had been for my 'mate scent' Alec would have been ready for me…Glock in all. As it was he flicked the light on and told me to stay quite since the girls were asleep.
Finally we just ended up getting furniture buffers and moved it all back in place. There was a few left over so we gave them to Gem. As if that wasn't enough we ended up finishing nearly all of our projects. All the overtime the transgenics and transhumans were putting into everything ended up speeding up the progress of the building construction by half. All we needed for most of the places now was some desks, chairs, a chalkboard, and some mats for the martial arts area.
Which reminded me…I went to my office's phone to call Gamble. A week ago he made a reasonable stipulation that we needed to show that our improvements were within building code. He had wanted to get a construction manager out here within the week. We were done save some those few items mentioned. At first a few transgenics were apprehensive of having Gamble within the walls but as I also pointed out it would look good for the Deputy Mayor to come up in here.
A show of good faith AND a show that if he can walk up into here the place isn't full of dangerous monsters. "Deputy Mayor Gamble speaking." He answered, "Gamble its Max." I had never full wanted to use his first name as he had with me. He had called up the day after the girls were born to see if Alec was okay. When we gave him an 'edited' version of what happened he offered to have Alec's kidnappers hunted down and face their crimes.
It took is nearly a half an hour to talk him out of that and convince him that it in due time we'd explain why. 'We needed to build up more trust', I had said. He accepted on the note that we have someone of his own come up in here with him to look at the construction. I accepted the initial reason why he wanted to do it. "Good to hear from you. Have you decided on a time frame for our visit?" he asked.
"Yes, I think if you'd like we could do it today. Say around one in the afternoon. Just enough time to be done before dinner time?" I wasn't entirely sure how long it took to go through the buildings but when I agreed to it Daniel had decided to take it upon himself to memorize EVERY book that had up to date building codes and double check everything that had been constructed. So far everything was good, but we all knew why he really did it.
While Alec was acting as my second with Gamble he would be going around with the construction manager making sure things didn't get tampered with in any way. We may have had Gamble on our side, seemingly, but we didn't have trust value in anyone else at the moment. Alec even read one of the books himself just in case he was asked a few questions. "Excellent. We'll be over there by one." he agreed then hung up. I sighed before heading to the gym.
These days I made at least four trips out of the week, some times twice a day to get my post baby body back. But as I wasn't feeling truly like myself I didn't want to train with anyone just yet. I took the times when no body was in the gym area. My stomach was finally taking back in the extra skin that had stretched. Just another month or two and I was hoping to be back at post baby weight.
From what Gem had told me, as long as you're consistent with the work outs and proper diet the weight wouldn't take that long. Not to mention, transgenic metabolism. Tends to help out. I went to the gym making sure there was no one in there when I took off my shirt and one of the very few pairs of baggy jeans that I owned to reveal my sweat pants and sports bra. I had even made sure to avoid contact with Alec this last month.
Not only for the way I felt my body looked but because my insides needed time to heal up. The month was nearly up and soon we would be able to have sex again but I wanted to look like I used to. I felt…unattractive with my body this way. All stretch marked, and loose in some areas. Before I had with the twins I had a big reason to have the weight and Alec loved me looking pregnant, but now with all of this…I could still feel the slight expansion of my stomach…I didn't feel one bit attractive.
So the next month of avoiding was going to have to be done carefully. It wasn't about him not enjoying my company it was about my own personal level of comfort. If I didn't feel sexy then he wasn't going to feel it. Once you get that connected your mate feels in a round-a-bout way of how you feel. He could tell I wasn't comfortable in my skin and left me alone. The direct opposite of what I'd initially want. Anyways the workouts tended to help.
Not only in 'post baby body' but in 'I haven't had sex in months, I need get rid of all the excess energy'. Which wasn't as much as I thought it'd be. The rest of what didn't go into the working out went into taking care of our girls. Nikita and Nyx. We had finally settled on them. Well if anything, he named one and I named one. They kept us up so much that we developed a routine with them.
I'd get the first 7 - 11 p.m. shift, he'd take 11 - 3 a.m., I'd come back for 3 - you get my point! Seven was when one of us or both picked up the girls and drop them off at Gem's place. She watched them with Eve during the daytime. It ended up becoming her job during the day till they could be in the day care. Which was why I was having Gamble and his guy come in today, so they could clear the nursery for the babies and small kids to be in. Transgenic or not I wasn't taking any chances.
After an hours worth of kicking, punches, jabs at the punching bag, I took to some crunches then lifting the fifteen-pound weights up. Normally I'd do more but since I haven't lifted weights up in months I didn't want to pull something. Sides I wasn't going to count lifting my eight-pound girls up. Getting done with that, I had worked up a sweat and decidedly threw my baggy clothes back on. Sneaking back out of the gym I went to our apartment to change clothes.
Alec had greeted me coming in holding both girls in each arm. The sight no matter how
many times always made me melt. It made me also yearn to hold my girls again. The first month back we had I couldn't leave them for the life of me. I did the exercises in the apartment. The girls may have a set of lungs and iwas fully expecting it the first time I did my work out.
But they didn't mind the vibration that came from the floor as I worked out, so it made it easier to do it. I suppose it helped them fall asleep, kind of like getting lulled to sleep when you drive a car for an extended period of time. At least for infants, something OC mentioned to me when I asked her.
Either way the sight now made me smile and nearly start to cry. Alec loved his baby girls so much. Never giving to much attention to one in particular, always making sure things were evened out. "We've got a meeting with Gamble here at one." I tell him though my focus is on our girls in his arms. He looks up but sees the glaze over my eyes and simply remarks, "We'll have to have Gem babysit again." I nod without thought.
Taking one girl from his arms I look Nyx in the eyes as she gurgles happily. "She has your eyes…" I breathe out, "Nikita has your nose. Cutie." He smiles as he gentle touches said nose on her. "I still can't believe we created them. Their so beautiful." I can't keep the wetness from my eyes. "We did…and might I say we created some very good looking kids." Her eyes shifted slightly.
"God I'm going to have a hell of a time with the guys as they get older." He grumbled, though slightly annoyed with the idea, it still couldn't keep him upset for long. Nikita's gurgles were keeping a bright smile on his face. God seeing him all maternal and sweet with our babies…. with our daughters… seeing where my body wanted to go with it I took Nyx to her crib as Alec took Nikita to hers.
The cribs were a few inches away from each other, just enough for the girls to touches hands but not enough to hit, just in case. Alec came up behind me as I took a second to admire the girls. I just barely prevented myself from stiffening. My goal was to be 'post baby body' before he touched me again. I wanted to feel sexy not the way I felt now. "I love you so much." he breathed in my left ear.
It sent shivers down my spine. His arms gentle bound themselves around my waist, holding me securely in place. He placed gentle, warm, loving kisses from behind my ear to my neck where he noticed the sports bra strap. "Working out?" he asked. I never wore the sports bra unless I was. "Just a little." I disentangled myself from him as he started to fiddle with it. "Why?" he asked. I frowned. Did he not see how flabby and how much had been left over.
I felt so unsightly, I didn't want to feel that way. "I'd think that's obvious. Now let's get ready for this meeting. Oh and call Gem to let her know she needs to baby sit. The girls could use some nap time with Eve anyways." I left before he could protest. I felt bad for avoiding him but he'd understand…in time. For the initial month after Dr. Carr saw the girls and gave them all the necessary tests he'd already warned us both NOT to have sex until I was fully healed up.
Alec put his energies into taking care of the girls as I had done. He'd even suggested waiting an extra two weeks just to be safe. But the way he was looking at me, his slight touches, mannerisms, they all called out to me. Mating instincts be damned though, he and I would wait till I was back to me again. Completely ready we left to meet Gamble in the parking lot as Gem ended up coming over with Eve. Seeing the car coming up I reached for Alec's hand.
He gripped it with determination, "This'll go great. We went over everything we worked on." he confided in a whisper. I nodded in agreement. We watched as he stepped out of the car with the few men he had with him. Greeting Gamble he did his customary handshake right before he noticed Mole and Joshua walking up to us. The look on their faces when Joshua's towering height and Mole's 22 strapped to his arm as they walked up behind us was a sight to see.
Gamble was the first to speak, "I didn't know there any need for firearms," indicating Moles shot gun. "Just a gun, not my on-" I elbowed Mole in the gut behind me to shut him up. "It's not the only weapon we have. He's like my security detail…sorta. That 22 is basically…" I tried to think of the proper metaphor, "It's like when you see a plumber with wrench, there's not one without the other." Alec butted in. We all looked to him before catching the meaning and numbly agreeing with him.
"Pretty much what he just said, anyways shall we." We gestured for him to follow us down the selected path towards the buildings we got done working on. We didn't want him to know where HQ or our main apartment areas were. At least not yet…and even then I was in the 'iffy' side. We even selected different hallways to go down so he wouldn't catch glimpses of HQ.
We went to the Martial Arts studio that was just completed. "Excellent structure. Can this place handle a 'proper sparring match'?" Gamble asked Alec, "Absolutely." He answered with confidence. Gamble then preceded to walk around, as did his construction manager before asking, "Great, I think a demonstration would be a good idea. To prove the effectiveness that is."
Alec nodded and gestured for Mole to put the gun down to start up a match. I walked into the match before Alec could protest. I needed to get some more steam out of me and unless Alec wanted to make a scene I was going to fight Mole. After all it was just Alec, Mole, Cece, Joshua with his hoodie, Daniel and myself. But Alec did stop me. I think it was more out an automatic you're not fighting gesture than anything.
"I'm not entirely sure it's such a good idea so soon after the birth." He explains to Gamble. I easily slipped out of his grip. "It's fine. I wasn't in labor that long. Less than an hour." I shake it off as I gesture for Mole to get ready. He nods okay as he puts down his rifle. I go up to him, "Just do a few simple maneuvers. Don't want him to know what were truly capable of."
Mole agreed, "You got it." We exchange a few simple jabs, not wanting to show Gamble our true potential. After Mole used a move that I had even seen him use before I pulled the punch in, wrapped my arm around his head and 'slammed' his face into my elbow. He was shocked but not terribly hurt. "I think we've proven the point." I state. Gamble didn't look shocked more…study wise. He…it took me a second to recognize the look on his face. He had been studying me!
What the fuck?! I was a bit upset, I don't like to be looked at like I'm a fucking science project. That was probably Alec's other reason for not wanting me to spar with Mole. He knows how much I hate that guinea pig aspect. We walked over to the little school we had to show him what we had so far. I gestured to everything that we had and tried to keep the focus away from the lack of desks and chairs, "I hope you find things are up to code, just like the martial Arts studio was." I confide.
His man goes through it just as he did around the studio. Daniel followed him just as he had done before. I stood next to Alec, "So far so good." I remark, "Don't jinx us. And what was up with that sparring bit? That wasn't half of what we can do." I smiled, "I know. I don't want Gamble to know full of what were capable of. I don't trust him enough to know." He nodded in agreement. "Good idea. But why not let Daniel or Cece fight Mole?" he asked.
"Cause…" I look up to him, "I wanted to be sure the movements wouldn't be something Gamble could learn from." He furrowed his brows before realigning himself. "I see things are well here, what about the bakery – restaurant piece we were talking about?" he asks and gestures in whichever direction its in. "Over here." I gestured. We went over there and I was a bit stunned.
I hadn't seen the building since Alec had been working on it. The place looked great. You would really think you were in a kosher restaurant with a glass-paneled casing to show off some snack cakes. "Here is our bakery slash restaurant." I state proudly. Alec and the others did a great job refinishing the place. His construction manager walked over the place with a fine toothcomb. He was really trying to look for any in discrepancies. "Is the rest of Terminal City as well reconstructed as this is?" Gamble asked.
I prevent the look of 'not so much' from crossing my face. "We have remodeled some of our piping since the old ones were so bad we had chances of flooding and we didn't want to waist all of that water." I was trying to think of different improvement we had made over time here. "Okay let's see." But his construction guy said, "You'd have to call out a different guy for that. I don't work plumbing." I look over to him, "I'm sure we can still show around different parts of Terminal City." I offer.
Everyone's eyes were on me, some were in surprise and some were in disbelief. "Great idea, how about the 'REC' room?" Alec offered rubbing his hands together in a show of getting more hands on. "Excellent. I can get a stogie while I'm at it." I had to hand it to Mole. He had gone this whole time without ONE cigar. He must have been dying to light one up.
Gamble looked at the lizard guy strangely, "You prefer Cuban or Montreal?" he pulled out a silver case full of cigars. Mole was dumb struck, before a smile littered across his face, "I'm a Cuban man myself." He bit the tip off as Gamble did in the same fashion and both lit up their cigars. Both Alec and I were stunned, "Now there's a sight I never thought I'd see." He remarked.
A surprised, smirk across his face, "What's that? Mole's cigar preference or Gamble's cigar offer?" since Mole will smoke nearly any cigar around and Gamble's never been seen offering or smoking a cigar EVER! "Gamble's offer. Mole does have a small preference in his cigar choices, though usually he smokes any of them, while Gamble, he's a tricky one to figure out." Alec still had his 'I'm not completely trusting you, but you haven't fucked up so far so were on the same level.' Face on.
"'REC' room here we come." I mutter off. We all walk there. Seeing a couple of X5's playing poker must have been sorta funny for Gamble. Seeing some transgenics and transhumans relaxing and just being well 'human' stunned them all. I had to nudge them all to stop gawking like schoolgirls. This bit was going to stay with them for a long time to come.
"Holy…wow…" the driver was clearly stunned. Watching Mole come from behind them he put his 22 down to sit and play cards with his albino 'friend' was something else to see altogether. Turns out once you get past the ice - hot issue, they had one big thing in common, they both loved challenging each other when it came to poker. They were the 'odd couple' of TC.
Though you tell them that and they'd both shove Mole gun up your ass. We all watched as another two X5's came up to the table. "Pull up a seat." Mole said and so they grabbed chairs and joined in. "Are they…?" Gamble asked looking to me in question, "X5?" I raised my eyes to him, "Yes…just like Alec and me." This could very well end up a nice long term arrangement. Made me wonder… how the former mayor was doing? Still in a coma no doubt but how was his condition?
Was he even going to come out? If he did would he reject the changes that are going to be made? Would he put an end to anything he didn't like? I got slightly worried on that thought. Sensing my worry Alec put an arm around my waist. "So Gamble once you've seen all the buildings how about seeing some of Joshua's paintings?" he looked over to see Joshua towering over him. Even from where Joshua was standing three feet away he was still a presence to be hold.
I got slightly worried on that thought. Alec tightened his arm around my waist. "So Gamble you want to see some of Joshua's paintings?" he looked over to see Joshua towering over him. Even from where Joshua was standing three feet away he was still a presence to be hold. Then again just being within walking distance of Alec makes me wanna… Damn it, I put a clamp on the thoughts before they distracted me.
Joshua put his hand out, "Name's Joshua." Gamble took it. Such a thing to see, "Would you like to see latest 'Joshua painting'?" his language had improved over the course of the last few months. Something he developed from hanging out with Mole so much, "I would love to." Joshua brought out one from behind the couch we'd salvaged out of a dumpster…not that Gamble would know. He took one long look at it, smiling he replied, "This is a thing of beauty. Tell me what is it?"
We smiled as Joshua looked at him as if it were obvious, "Max and Alec." We were as shocked as Gamble was, "Its lovely Joshua." I commented seeing all the colors, though dark in some areas there were brighter ones, "This right here…" he indicated too much darker colors, "Secrets…some bad some for good, but secrets none the less…" where was Joshua going with this?
"This here…" he indicated to a cluster of reds and oranges, "Memories that spilt out and were told to each other, how it eased them and brought light to their souls…" oh Joshua… "And here…" he showed the brighter colors mixed with the darker ones, "At peace with each other and their pasts. Moving on as one." he smiled as even Gamble looking on with content. One look to Alec showed that he had planned this, he had wanted Gamble to see that Joshua wasn't just a 'dogman'.
Joshua could read people and know what they were capable of even before they did. It's something I envied him for…maybe things could have gone differently…better… "Joshua how much would you take for this one?" Gamble offered. I was stunned and I think Alec was to, "Here!" Joshua said nearly shoving it at him, happy to give it away, now Gamble was the stunned one.
"Joshua you must know how stunning this piece is please let me pay you." Joshua waved it off, "Money, I no need for money. You help…" he looked around the room we were all in, "TC, that's your payment." He tried to iterate out. I knew Joshua's kind heart would reach out and touch someone. I wanted Gamble to see that we weren't what the press made us out to be, monsters, freaks, we were human to. "You can guarantee it Joshua. I think this'll go in my office." He looked at it with happiness.
Bringing the mood back into place Mole commented, "You should be in here on Friday nights. The person that wins the most rounds at the end of the night not only doesn't have to do latrine duty for a month BUT also gets a weekend off from work to." he smiled proudly around his stogie. "What happens to the loo…" Gamble figured it out, "They have to do the job and have to work the weekend." I explain.
"It helps to bring up moral at different points, plus the consistency of it keeps us on our toes. Plus the best part…" Alec looked to Gamble, waiting for him to give him eye contact, "When you know that you have to beat out every transgenic and transhuman at the table. Keeps the mind more focused. Just like the Martial Arts studio does. Trains the body and the mind." He points to both his chest and his head for reference.
"Gamble why don't you join the game, while your construction manager concludes his estimate." I suggest. Mole pats him on the back and gently guides him to the table to have a seat. "You think this is a good idea?" Alec whispered to me as we walked away. "Why not?" I whispered back, "It's not exactly professional…" he was obviously iffy about it. I smile, "I want him to see that were just like everyone else." I looked to him.
"Even to just kick it." I shrugged my shoulders. "As long as it works." He remarked. I saw Luke scratch his head as he brought what looked to be a magazine in his hand. "Ah…Max…" I walked over to him with Alec, "I ah…it's an article on the new "Rachel Berrisford' fundraiser they did." he looked nervous about it. I furrowed my brow, "What's wrong?"
I took the magazine from him to see what he was looking at. My eyes widened for a moment. There in the article was a picture of myself, next to Gamble, fully pregnant. I didn't get the big deal till I saw one of the articles sentences bolded out, "'Deputy Mayor Gamble arrived in style today with his stunningly pregnant young associate. The two arrived together, arms attached…" he looked to me briefly.
"Giving some the assumption that our new Deputy Mayor already has made himself roots to stay in." Alec read out loud not looking to happy. He read it some more, no longer out loud. I peaked over for a second to hear him then read, "Through the evening at the fundraiser we were even given the chance to meet Mr. McDowell, the man who claimed to be the father of the child." He put the article down.
"I claimed it because I am. Who the f – who the hell wrote this?" he looked for the writer of the article. We both new it wasn't Sketchy since he would have conferred with either of us before printing it or giving it to his boss. "Oh I was wondering when that article would come out." Gamble said getting up from his chair. He must have seen the picture from his position at the table. Alec wasn't to happy thought, "Yeah. Apparently someone was misinformed of the paternity of our daughters." He damn near snapped.
Gamble merely smiled, "Funny how things turn out. Magazines these days can't trust most of them." He laughed it off. Seeing Alec boil in anger - and why shouldn't he? The city of Seattle now saw our daughters as Gambles? Well…those that read and believe this crap that is. "Gamble I don't think this is very good press. People will think we're only in business together because of a mislead assumption. I would rather people know the truth of the father of my girls at the very least." I reasoned with him.
He nodded…though it was somewhat 'eh'. It was like 'okay…whatever.' "Sure, I'll see about calling up the magazine and getting a retraction printed ASAP. I don't want our business to suffer just because of a disingenuous article." Alec huffed slightly at Gambles words. "That would be great." I agreed, elbowing Alec to agree as well. He did, though with not too much enthusiasm. He nudged me to the side once Gamble went back to the game the rest were playing.
"Mind explaining this?" he asked in a low tone to prevent others from listening in on us and pointed at the picture. I didn't see the problem, other than the arm linking between Gamble and myself. "It…I…Gamble wanted to introduce me to the head honchos, I didn't know where or who there were so he directed me around." I couldn't think of why I had let the gesture slip by.
It didn't seem like such a big deal but for Alec to see another male having his mate's arm loop around theirs…while said mate was pregnant, and having their picture taken, AND having people assume the child she was carrying was the OTHER mans! Trusting your mate or not it can certainly rise your heckles! "Look nothing ever happened and a retraction is going to be printed. No body will be the wiser AND…" I looped my arms around his waist before leaning up to his ear.
"Nobody reads that crap anyways." He nearly smiles before retorting equally low in my ears, "The article was centered on the 'Rachel Berrisford' foundation, and people will read it." He was right. Anybody who wanted to know what had become of the fortune left behind by her would be interested in reading the article. After all, knowing she was the only child to Robert Berrisford, who was the single CEO of his company tended to raise a few brows.
She may not have been a huge part of the company but her name would forever be associated with it. "Lets watch Gamble play for a while. After all, what better way to get closer to your 'frenemies' than to play tag with 'em?" he smiled at my words, "And you say I need a lesson in 'current verbal usage'." He mocked. I narrowed my eyes playfully at his.
"Let's just watch the show." I ignored the mock jib as we started to watch the game prceed. We watched for all of twenty minutes before Luke, whom had left to go back to HQ, came back out with more news.
News that he was unwilling to discuss or part with in front of Gamble, so the four of us, Luke, Alec, Cece and myself huddled in a corner, "What's wrong?" I silently demanded the little nautical fellow, "Remember how you had Daniel keep an eye on Logan's old penthouse?" I nodded, "Well he shifted the responsibility to me for today due to obvious reasons." I gestured with my hands to keep going.
"Is this going anywhere soon?" I whispered hurriedly. "Well once I saw him I hacked their camera footage's. Logan's been talking with the front desk for over an hour. They sent up a cleaning crew to his penthouse. I think he's moving back in." I was confused, and from the looks of it so was everyone else, "Why move back into the place White and his cronies shot up?" Cece asked confused.
I didn't know myself, "Maybe he wants to try to get his operations back up and running." Alec suggested. But I knew it couldn't be, "No, I don't think so." He looked to me in wonder, "The place was abandon by him. Yes it place was paid in full but other things weren't, not to mention the penthouse would be under investigation for all the shooting done to it. White's gotta have taps on the phone lines, some there to monitor it every now and then. It was Eyes Only's crib you know!" I explained.
They all nodded, "So why go back to the one place one of your biggest enemies knows where you'd be at? Did he really think the 'time heals all wounds' bit would work?" Alec asked stunned. I didn't know. I bit my lip in frustration. "We need to go there. Not now but after our guest leaves the building. I'd send a unit but if Logan's still pretty far gone with his mental state then who knows how he'd react." Alec looked to me.
"We don't need him shooting up the place again and getting innocents caught in the crossfire on a count of a unit of transgenics startling him." I explained, "Is he that bad?" Luke questioned, "We don't know how far his mental state is right now. Alec and I will…" I looked up to see Gamble getting ready to leave, "On second thought Alec you and Cece go. But I want you to take Krit and Syl with you." He looked perturbed by the additional support.
"We don't need back up for a norm hopped up on trannie blood." he bit out slightly. I reasoned back, "So whose gonna do damage control while you and Cece are talking to him? You all are good but how good is good compared to an emotionally and physically irrational man whose hopped up on trannie blood? Add psychology, trannie blood and adrenaline to the mix and what have you got?" I asked making my points on my fingers, "A big mess." Alec answered seeing my point.
"If it wasn't in a high rise district I wouldn't care but Logan carries not only his families name but his 'missing person's act'. There will be people around to make sure he's okay and doesn't get hurt. Who knows what he told the people who work at Foggle Towers." I knew they knew I had a point. "So we go there, make sure he's…wait why do we care?" Cece asked. I looked to her, "He knows all about transgenics. He knows that there was a unit to escape back in '09." I look to Alec.
"That's also the reason I want Syl and Krit to be there. He knows them, he won't see a threat with them. You, he – my point it I want you all to go – now!" we dispersed and left off in separate directions the moment Gamble got to close to hear the conversation. "Let me guess a secret meeting." He joked, "Can't get anything past you." I joked back. God was he annoying sometimes. Did he honestly think he was charming? Got on my nerves at times was more like it.
"Since your construction manager found no faults I think it's safe to say we could be open for business as soon as the end of the month. Once we get the proper permits that is." I had been reading up a little bit on managing businesses. I wasn't going to screw over TC with something so simple as forgetting a permit. "I think that might be possible, once we get through the right channels." There has to be a way to keep Gamble busy so we can take care of the Logan situation.
It hit me like an anvil, "Joshua!" I called over. He came up to me, "How about showing Gamble our flag?" I suggested. Joshua looked like a kid in a candy store. Gamble was going to get to see more of his creations. "Would you like to see our flag? I painted it." I was mentally picturing a way to the roof where it was without going through HQ. "I'll lead the way." Joshua continued on once he nodded his approval.
Using walkways that didn't involve going near HQ, another lucky point we also avoided using the area where we kept the cells. Didn't need to have him see Deck in there or the fact that we had hand made prison like cells. Which by the way, a transgenic made prison cell is hard as HELL to construct considering there's many ways a transgenic or transhuman can figure out how break out of them.
We had to make them tough, none bendable and to close together for any person to be able to squeeze through. Opening the roof access door we walked on the pitch and tar of the roof feeling the slight chill of the weather creep into our skins. Joshua ran over and held it up against the wall of the door access it was on before giving Gamble the same explanation he'd given me when I first saw it over a year ago.
He smiled in true amazement, "Joshua, you are truly one of a kind, special…" he said, "Special - first." Joshua stated proudly as always, Gamble looked back to us. I was concerned about giving out to much information when Joshua did that for me, "Father Sand-" I coughed before he could finish and in a cutting motion with my hands telling Joshua 'no'.
Gamble asked, "What? Your father?" he looked back and forth before Joshua stepped forward, "Max is still weary of 'politic norms' so she and Alec worry over how much of the past gets out. No negative image, bad public reaction, hurt innocent people, children…" he walked over to the edge of the building we were on to show him. He pointed to Gem's day care center. "Don't want little babies to be hurt because of things Manticore made them do." Gamble nodded his head.
Turning back to me Gamble said, "I think we need to make another stipulation in that plan." I looked to him in question, "Alright." I state questioningly, "I think we should add another clause, that anything prior to Seattle's works cannot be used against you for any reason." I had to force my smile out. No one knew of the things I did to stay alive for nearly ten years before I met Cindy, Herbal and Sketchy, and there were very few people who did know.
And they're either dead, in prison, or far, far away from here. To risky…I hadn't even elaborated to Diamond when she was trying to hook back up with Cindy when I had said, 'I've been on the run myself. I know what it can make you do'…there was a reason why I use to and I still tried very hard every now and then to keep it where it is…in the past. I know now to not let everyone know everything there is to know about me.
"Excellent, cause believe me for everyone here that's something that's been hanging on everyone's minds." I tell him. Seeing Luke coming from the door he signals me to come over. "Excuse me." I knew he wouldn't have pulled me from Gamble unless it was important. Once we were out of human earshot he spoke up, "I was keeping an eye on the security cameras when I was able to access the speaker portion." My eyes widened before narrowing.
"What was being said?" I asked. "He was talking about 'Cale Enterprises', something about a come back." he explained. "Are you sure?" I asked. Luke nodded, "Yeah." I nodded back, "I'll send Gamble off then meet you in HQ. We have a 'pissed off T.V. news reporter' to figure out." he nodded somewhat oddly, trying to figure out my wording, before walking back to his computer, I presumed. "Gamble, allow me to escort you out."
The farewell went decent considering I was anxious to get back to HQ. Once Gamble was no longer in sight I jogged to my destination. Leaning over Luke against the computer I watched Logan for a moment before seeing an article on another monitor read, 'Cale Industries redistributes its new efforts'." He scrolled further down, apparently Logan had popped back up, within his own social circles.
I shouldn't have been too surprised by it, after all its how he was raised…now you can't say that look how you were raised…and look how you're living now…it's like I was having a mental battle, the old me giving him a slight defense. "I looked it up once I was able to get more information from the conversation he was having. No offense to your ex but he loves to brag." He didn't always brag. Again I'm defending, but it was the truth after all.
Ignoring it I reply, "So he's back with his old clique again…are Alec and the others close by?" he hacked the footage outside of the building. "Yup. Their going in the old fashioned 'sneak and creak' way." good… "But if he knows transgenics and he caught you there before what's to say he hasn't gotten it secured even from us?" good point, especially if he doesn't want any company…however... "Tough, he's gonna just have to deal with it."
Luke sighed in acceptance before pulling up more details from the article. "You really need to see this." I was worried now. When Luke couldn't tell me it was usually something either really bad or just to confusing to figure it out even for him. I walked back in to read one of the excerpts of the article and then see a picture I hadn't even known had been taken. Logan's cousin's wedding, I was in the picture at it next to Logan while he was in his chair.
I read the excerpt, 'Cale's news revealing transgenic to be his soon-to-be 'new wife' was a shocker amongst the more prestigious members of Seattle'. I shit you not my eyes were ready to bug out as my temper blew through the roof. Who the FUCK gave him the audacity and the right to FALSLEY announce – to – anybody - the public – an – "AAAAHHHHHH!" I literally screamed out in anger as several transgenics backed away in slight fear of me.
"That lousy mother fu-" I left HQ without another word, leaving several dozen transgenics and transhumans confused and in near fear for Logan in my wake. They saw that look, it was severe ass kicking time. I was going to give Logan a piece of my mind then I was going to kill him.
Jumping on my bike I raced to Logan's place. Arriving and hopefully not to late for whatever was being done or said I slipped past the first set of guards. I was glad I was a cat burglar. I knew where to go. Good way to bust your 'not-like-that-ex's ass'. Finally getting there the security guard for the building saw me. Parking my bike in the lot I went up to him.
"Miss. Can I help you?" he asked. I gave him a sweet smile, "Logan Cale please." Sugary sweet. "Can I ask whose calling for him?" If these guys had my name up here it could mean trouble for TC with Gamble, so I grabbed an old I.D. name from when I did that genetics conference, "Rachel Glasser." He went to make the call when the phone just rang…no answer…Alec's up there, probably angling for Intel. "Sorry miss but there's no answer." And he wasn't going to let me up without the go ahead.
I tried with a little force, "No worries I'll just go up - " he wouldn't let me past, "Sorry miss but without approval I can't let you in or up." I bit out, "Fine," and walked away… before rounding the corner and around half the building. Finding an open window on the fourth floor I looked around to make sure I didn't have any viewers. I jump to the windowsill.
Problem was the bitch was closed, lucky for me I had excellent balance. Sliding my fingers as deep as I could into the crack I lifted it up. I smiled in the direction of the security guard. Take that bitch. Sliding in I shut the window back up before trying to take the elevator to the top floor. That was a no go, the thing was powered on but you needed a swipe card to use it.
It's not like I can call the security guard in to help me. Leaving the elevator I took the 25 flights of stairs to go up. If I had the right equipment I would have 'skydived' in like my first time. Getting off on the last floor before the roof access came into view I briefly entertained knocking before I saw Syl and Krit in the hallway talking to security guards as they demanded to be let inside.
Ignoring them I put my foot through it breaking it open. I walked with Syl and Krit behind me in time to see Alec holding Logan by the scruff of his neck. I was slightly shocked by the scene before me. Syl was still talking to the security men, Krit blurring ahead of me to help Cece pull Alec off of Logan and Logan himself…his eyes were bulging but he had a mad smile on his face.
I didn't know if I should feel sorry for him because of what he's gone through because of me or because Alec had his hand wrapped snuggly around his throat. Now my question was, what the hell happened to have Alec react like this? I briefly heard a "Hello?" in the distance, Luke's voice on the receiving end. Then it hit me. Luke called up Alec to let him know I was coming and WHY!
Thinking back for a few seconds I realized how much of this was on me. He didn't deserve to have his life get messed up by my own. If I had just left him alone, if I had just stuck to my promise all those times before to let go and NOT go back, things could have been so much better. Alec and I would have been closer sooner, and Logan could have moved on and NOT have become addicted to transgenic blood, which lead to his down fall.
Don't get me wrong he's going to pay for his stupid tabloid publicity stunt – kinda why I haven't moved to help him yet – and he was going to pay for snooping around TC but he's also going to get some serious help. Whether you want it or not, let me save you Logan… from yourself… This is all on me…. one hundred percent…