Season 4 ep. 17

Alec POV

I've never been one to have complete faith or trust in someone, not even within the first few meetings. Hell I didn't even trust Max till a few months into knowing her. We Manticorian's aren't very well known for our ability to trust, mainly cause we kept getting ganked by people along that way looking out for themselves. With Max, now I trust her with my life. I trust her with our girls lives, I trust her to make the hard decisions when I know others would be cold and calculating about it.

She has the heart and logic to do what's right and go above and beyond the call of duty for those that she loves or a fellow Manticorian. Yeah that's right I made up a word to described us all. "Manticorian". But back to my point I'm about to make. Mole I trust enough to handle my duties if I'm gone, same as Daniel and Cece. Whom I don't trust however is Gamble. I've shown enough encouragement on the outside for him to trust me even just a little.

I however don't trust him enough to leave him alone in TC even for a minute. Something about him reads and rubs me wrong. I can't figure it out, I haven't been able to for a while now. Max isn't fully sure of my feelings toward him, she don't trust him fully either but she trusts him enough to hold up his end of the deal. Which he has been admittedly. However when we got the news that Preston was still in a coma I knew something was up.

Knowing our Manticorian Doc's in TC were better at discovering 'supposed – none existent fluids' in blood. If I could get a sample of our dear mayor's blood I could find out if someone's been coming in here and slipping Preston a 'comatose' formula to keep him under. If so then we have another problem on our hands. Who is doing it and why? My $100 bet is on Gamble.

He stands to gain so much if Preston goes down. Thing is…Preston is not dead. So my

guess is he's upping the dosage a little bit more each time to make it look like Preston died in his sleep. It's perfect really. I had theorized this all after an incredibly long two weeks we had of juggling TC business with the bakery opening up thanks to the permits, and the 'martial arts studio' opening up. We were stunned when we had people lining up to get training lessons from a REAL transgenic.

Plus due to having trained the younger X6 series several X5's were giving daily lessons each week to a group of six people apiece. Nothing to hard core just some simple moves that regular classes in Seattle would cost double the amount we were charging. Then again they also had double the amount of awards than we did. Which by the way equates to the zero amount that we have.

Anyways back to the point here…again. I knew Gamble had to be behind Preston's condition, but I needed to prove it. Hence my need to now sweet-talk my mate into agreeing to have me go to visit Preston. If I could do a little video set up in his room and take a blood sample, we'd have his 'comatoser' in just a few days time. I walked into her office to see her on the phone. I would have asked but hearing the arrogant voice on the other end I knew who it was.

I sighed for her on this one. The woman on the phone was a clear as Max had put it a 'right - winged - support your local sector police - neo Republican idiot'. Even I had to gag almost at the way she (the woman on the phone) praised the department. Her job as we had recently learned from Gamble was to enforce sector police to NOT pull us over unless they had a VALID reason. This reasoning from what I was hearing…there was a new, up and coming gang…supposedly X6.

Both Max and myself knew that we kept a diligent record of every X5, 6, 7, 8 and transhuman that walked through the gates. The stats sheet was made even easier after my brief visit to the place where Manticore stored some of its data. We now had one of their databases and knew of every X and transhuman series out there, at least the ones at the Gillette, Wyoming base. Everyone here already knew of other facilities around. Thing is no one knew where they were.

Manticore was covert for a fucking reason. They didn't want people to know where their shit was. So unless you were being transferred – which rarely happened – to the other facility you didn't know where it was. I had to talk Max several times out of taking one of the locations down in the past. Well that was if we knew where they were. That Intel wasn't on the disks.

Plus after much needed explaining that we're the enemy to the other X series at those places and asking her 'and you plan to convince how many hundreds of people during a 'strike' on their base no less, that they find home that the people their working for are the bad guys?' yeah not likely. She dropped it seeing my point. After all the only reason everyone here is well here is because one its safe haven, and two Manticore tried to kill them. They had reason to bail.

Anyways I'm getting off track. Max looked worn out and I knew it this woman was to blame. She knew Max would have to listen to her. Plus as Max had suspected, this woman's husband was the chief of police AND someone that kept making eyes at her all the time. Something that Max hadn't noticed till a week ago when Gamble made the suggestion.

They all met up together and the chief had asked her about her pregnancy. Personally I think the lady was jealous that Max had already lost so much of her baby weight and was nearing fairly quickly back to her pre baby weight. Not to mention that one of Seattle's many chief's of police he hadn't disguised his looks towards her. Much to mine, Max's, and his wife's dismay. The woman didn't stop glaring daggers at her the whole time. But Max was a trooper.

The only problem that day had been when the chief was very blatant in his quest that night. It turned out that he and his wife were former 'swingers', and had inquired as to our views on it. His wife though obvious no longer practiced it seemed to grit her teeth every time he was obvious about it. One whisper from Max though set his ass on fire and not in a pleasant way. Little did she know at the time that her whisper looked to close for comfort on his wife's end.

'Little hint, your not getting it from me.' I smiled at her retort when the wife walked up behind her and gritted out. 'Aren't you just so lucky. Have yourself a nice looking young man and you still flirt with my husband. Transgenic hussies!' she'd left off in a so-called dignified huff. Max just looked disgusted. I knew Max hadn't meant for it to look that way but at the same time the guy wasn't getting the hint and she was trying to be low profile about it.

Trying to save the guy some dignity or perhaps trying to keep him out of the doghouse that night, either way it didn't work. I had taken a seat in the opposing chair, as she looked ready to droop in her seat. I decided to try and work some magic to help wake her up some more when she hung up the phone. "Oh my f…this is…." She looked tired right now. "That was Gloria…again." she propped her feet onto her desk. For once the stack of papers wasn't a lot so very little littered her desk.

She flipped open her cell, "Hey Daniel go get Cece. I have a small mission of sorts for you." She closed it before Daniel could utter a word. "You really do need to learn to wait for the response back before hanging up. Just saying." I defended when she shot me a look. "I don't have time for wait for that. I need both of them to go check out this so called group, confirm its NOT transgenic related – THEN report back so I can let Gloria know it's not our problem it's hers – well her husbands."

Gloria aggravated the hell out of her. Not Max's fault your husbands looking for new meat. "Don't take what she says to heart, her husband loves you." She shot me a glare this time, "Not the best time." Yeah maybe she was right. "Sorry. Listen I've got a plan to figure out what Clemente was talking about for Preston's comatose state." She raised her brows and went silent.

Giving me the floor I presented my idea, "I figure I slip in, plant a camera – hidden of course – take a sample of blood then slip out and head back here. I figure what the doc's there can't find our literal genius transgenic and transhuman doc's can. We need to make sure Preston's condition isn't going to worsen. Or if it is that it's natural." She nodded her agreement with me. "Do it. Cause I have a supply run that I need to go on." I wanted to tell her to stay here but I knew she was capable.

It was hard to let her go back out side. Logically I knew she was capable of handing anyone their asses if she wanted to, I just worried over her was all. I always did, back when we were just 'friends' or 'frenemies' ourselves I worried over her. Shit there were to many times when I saw close calls and mentally pleaded with her to make it through without calling out for help. Don't get me wrong I'd a been there in a heart beat but I didn't want her IN that pain to begin with. Once again I'm off track.

"Look it won't take me more than an hour, two tops." I did have to get over there and the hospital was at least a good 45 minutes away. The sector Preston was in, happen to have held one of the better hospitals in Seattle. It also meant I was gonna actually have to be slick about this and not go 'half assed' as Max would say. "Alright. You know the drill coms checks ever 30 minutes that your there." It became mandatory to do so when we had all of our mishaps recently.

Max understandably didn't want to take any risks with any transgenic. But then again that's what you get with someone who puts the weight of the world on her shoulders. It's fucking irritation…but amendable to. "Got it. Anything else?" just incase she wants me to pick up anything. "One favor while your out." she leans in toward me, giving me ample viewing amount of her cleavage.

"Can you get me that strawberries and cream shampoo and conditioner?" I widened my eyes at the odd request. We usually waited for shipments on those things but since as I now recalled there was a store in the area that sold that, "Sure. Want some 'Dove' to?" I asked. She smiled. "I wouldn't say no to that." I rolled my eyes at her way of charm. I stood up, leaned over her desk to reach her lips, "Every half hour I got it." Another kiss, "See you in a while." Sides I loved that scent in her hair.

Made me wanna ridiculously chew on it sometimes. But hey smells can do that to you. I left her office and grabbed a com from Dix's space before telling him which channel I'd be on then left out. Figuring to wait till I got there to put it on I mounted my 'Duke' and rode out of TC. Exiting out of our secretive tunnel system I came to the main streets and used the one to gain access to the side streets.

I rode those till I came to a sector checkpoint. Using an old method of mine from back in the day, if you could call two years ago back in the day, I grabbed my JP I.D. badge and from a good 25 feet back waved it, shouting in a disguised voice, "Jam Pony messenger, can I go through." And just like that I was waved through the gates. Makes me wonder if Max ever just shouted like that.

Should have started that a while ago but it wasn't full proof. You could run into a sector cop that wanted a closer look or that just held up his or her hands in a 'waiting' motion, I just got lucky was all. Seeing the hospital in view but also seeing the traffic I cut into the alleyway to figure out what the hold up was. Dismounting, locking and covering my bike I weaved through traffic like many others by foot. Finally after half a block I saw the reasoning. A convention of sorts was going on.

A lot of weird get ups, a seemingly large one taking up a lot of traffic. Some of them mimicking some old pre pulse movies I had watched over the years. It hadn't occurred to me that the hospital was three blocks from a nice grandeur hotel. I huffed. Not worth it to try and fight traffic. It'd just be easier to go by foot to the hospital. Thankful that I had grabbed my nap sack for my trip out, I made my way straight to the hospital.

Seeing the amount of traffic surrounding even the hospital I made my way around back, using my lock picking kit to get in through an 'employees only' door. You come from out of the 'employees' door at all and no one truly stopped you. I just needed to look the part now. Not wanting to bring unwanted attention I grabbed a turn style lock, listened for the small tumblers inside before opening it.

Grabbing the nursing uniform from there – grabbing a doctor's uniform would create more of a need for someone to look to me for information that I didn't have and create more problems in general – I put it on over my own clothes, save for my jacket that now lied within the nap sack that I put into a white cloth like sack. I assumed it was something hospital wise and would get less notice than a black nap sack.

I left out through the entry door to the hospital. I passed by a few other nurses, nodded to them in passing before I came to the station. Though I did note that even as a fake nurse I got admiring looks. What was it that Max once said…oh yeah, I could make a nun quit the convent if I gave them 'sexy eyes'. Personally I hoped she was wrong, last thing I need is to take away one of 'God's wives'. I mean aren't nuns told their basically married to God or something?

I'm getting off track here. Slipping in behind who I presumed was the head nurse I grabbed a syringe and a vial for the blood, making sure it has a rubber top on it before slipping right back out unnoticed. Transgenic stealth really came in handy sometimes. I walked the hallways like I owned the place. You use the right amount of confidence and you can get into nearly anyplace…nearly.

Slipping to the right floor I saw the two guards sitting by the door to Preston's hospital room. I was about to move when a little girl, couldn't have been more than five pulled a little on the scrubs I was wearing, so much for not attaining attention. "Can I help you little one?" I asked. She pulled her thumb from her mouth. The instant her eyes met mine made my heart melt just a little for her. She had the bluest eyes I'd seen in a long time and so full of innocence.

Her hair was even in short pigtails with bangs just falling over her innocent eyes. "Can you help me find my daddy? I went for a drink but the fountain was 'out of order', so I came up here for one. But now I got lost." On the verge of dealing with the water works in T minus ten, I patted the little girl on her head, "No worries, here…" I spotted the stairwell. "See that? You take that down two flights and there'll be a door - " she grabbed my hand with more force than I would have given her credit for.

"NO SIR PLEASE!" now yanking my arm down to her level her volume also rose. "Take me back to my daddy!" not wanting to gain unwanted attention I agreed and setting my white sack in a corner of the hallway, I took her down the flight of stairs and back to her frantic father. He seemed upset then relieved that his daughter was back insight and safe again. "Oh Angela, thank you." He swept up his little girl.

I knew that feeling. Holding your daughter so close to you. It was something that never goes away. "It's been a really trying time." He explained. I could tell he loved this little girl with all his heart. The wet tracks around his eyes told enough stories of the last few hours let alone whatever his days had been like. Smiling I tell him, "I'm a dad to so I know the feeling." He smiled back, dad to dad.

It was weird but joyous at once, "How old is yours?" Presumably asking about my own kids. Thinking back to the date, "Twins actually, born around two months ago." He laughed seeing as I was new to the game, "Well I'll give you some advice. If you want it." I motioned for him to give it up, "The first two to three years are the pain in the butt ones…" a sharp 'daddy!' was heard from his daughter. It was whatever manly word there is for adorable.

"But after that they get adorable and cutie." I smiled at the new found Intel. Angela as I found out was a complete 'daddies girl'. Made me hope our girls were the same way. "No more wandering off." I warned her with humor in my voice. She nodded her head before popping her thumb back into her mouth. I slipped away unseen hoping no one else would catch sight of me either. Getting back to my destined floor I grab up my white sack before looking around to see my entryway.

It's still blocked but that can be changed. As long as I can get them to leave their post long enough I can blur inside. Taking my chances I knew I needed to act fast. My first half hour was coming up in 15 minutes. Thing is I'd need a large enough distraction to take both guards away for at least five to ten seconds. I strategized a plan of action to get past them. Think what is our gender's bigge – I had it.

Ducking into another ward I saw a few patients. Great and not a good great. I didn't like the idea of using someone else but it was the only idea that came to mind that would work. Finding someone who looked like they couldn't sleep I approached her. "Hey miss." I called out in a low voice. She shot me a look, "What do you - " the way her eyes went over me…oh no…I wave my hands in front of me, "Can you do me a favor?" she eyed me like candy.

"What do you need?" why me? "I will pay you $50 bucks to streak the hallway on the next level. I mean full on birthday suit." She looked at me a taken aback now, "I ahh, not sure…" I had to make this work, "How about $75. It's really important." That flash returned, "You have really pretty features for a guy." I blanched, okay… "Sure." Thank god. I practically dragged her out of her room. She gladly went with me. Setting her up over on the opposite of the hallway I gave her specific instructions.

"First, don't let the security catch you so easily, second act drunk, less chances of getting into serious trouble, and third and most importantly don't tell anyone you saw me." she nodded her head, "Is this like a 'secret hospital initiation' for you?" she giggled. I was stunned by her response but readily agreed, "Yes it is. And I need to do this to get my 'hospital belt'." God I hoped she believed me. "How fun." I looked over the hallway to see the angle in where they were.

If she ran down the hallway, stopped for a second to look like she was 'thinking', I called out 'stop her!' to get their attention, they run after her, and return her back to her room, hopefully clothed. I turned back to see her already nude. I was stuck staring for a second before the mate and parent within me started to compare my Max's perfect body to this girls…no comparison. Max won out hands down. "You didn't have to get naked yet." I told her.

Covering my face with my hand I turned my head away, "I'll go to the other end of the hallway. Look for me over there…" I point in the direction, "Wait for my signal and streak away." I tell her. I pull out my wallet from under both sets of clothes, "Half now half when you are back in your room." she nodded in agreement. I was still stunned she had agreed to this. "No problem. Sweetheart." The first step forward had me on edge, "I'll be just over there." I jetted before she could rub herself against me.

In position I gave her the signal. She ran out and I threw my voice out, "Hey someone get her!" the guards noticed and bailed in a flash to grab her up. I blurred into Preston's room shutting the door soundlessly behind me. Seeing the monitors still running I pulled out the syringe I snatched. Pulling blood from his arm I capped the small vial and put it safely inside my jacket inside the nap sack.

Taking out the camera I had in there I mounted it in the room where I could see anyone coming in through the door or the window. It was possible for it to be from someone using the window as an entrance, so I wanted to take both precautions. Granted I could have tried taking that route but I didn't feel like trying to scaling a barely two inch ledge outside a hospital where I could get spotted at during the daylight.

Flipping out my cell I 'two way' called Max and Luke, "Hey, got the camera set up. Just need to uplink the footage to TC." "Got it." "Good job. Now get out before the guards spot you." Both were said at once. Already knowing what each was going to say anyways I flipped my cell closed and peaked through the closed blinds in the room. No sign of them yet. Listening with my transgenic hearing I heard the nearest more erratic heart beats probably from the guards coming back.

Girl gave them both a good chase. I noted I still had to go back and give her the rest of her cash. I never jacked someone over a few bills. Slipping back out just as fast I made it to the exit just as they were rounding the corner. I went down to the girl's room. Making my way slowly inside I went looking for her in her bed. I had to figure that by now she might have gotten a more severe punishment than I thought. I pulled the curtain back to find her strapped to the bed.

Three years ago this would have been an appetizing, right now, I felt sorry. She was in this position because of me, "Hey don't look so down. If it helps I have a thing for being cuffed up." I quirked a brow, "I am sorry. I didn't think they'd punish you like this." I was actually curious as to why. "Doctors think I have a mental disorder, but I don't. I just like to do crazy stunts." Clearly she wasn't mental but at the same time some of her stunts could make some people wonder about her mental state.

"You're not crazy. Your just adventurous." I amended. Pulling out the rest of the funds I looked around for her belongings, "They took my belongings and gave them to my dad to hold onto." I looked to her curiously. Her dad. Please tell me she is of age. I begged mentally. I didn't bother to even think about that earlier. She looked of age. "How old are you?" I had to ask. She grinned like a Cheshire cat, "I'm seventeen. I'm a week away from being legal."

She gave me a look that I had received from women on many occasions. I shut my eyes in aggravation. She was still a minor. I persuaded a minor to do a bare-naked act. Granted I didn't touch her but still. I opened them up again to see her face. I felt like an ass. I knew I should have tried something else. And she still had that look in her eyes. It was a look of pure want.

Trying to veer her into a different direction I told her, "Then when you turn of age I'm sure you're going to be the cream of the crop for that special man in your life." I nodded to her and proceeded to leave. "But…" I turned back. "I thought maybe you could teach me a few things." Was this girl like super horny and just didn't care? Her actions toward me physically made me wonder if the doc's were right.

Just on the wrong subject matter. "I don't think my wife and daughter's would approve, nor your father." I left before she could process my words. I then slipped off the floor, back into the 'employees' room, shed the scrubs and the white sack before I walked out the back door. Not bad for a days work. Making my four block walk back to my bike I hopped it was still there. Who knows what tools people have out here for unlocking the bike's lock.

Luckily it was still there. Excellent…I think to myself. Mounting her I leave the alleyway and slowly drive away from the traffic issues up ahead. Now to get shower supplies…and smell that delicious scent on my mate's hair…I smiled at my own thoughts as I shifted gears to the speed of the signs.

Daniel POV

After Max's decision to have an X5 or myself infiltrate Gamble's 'HQ' myself I choose to go in. Cece's pregnancy was getting to be a bit much and I needed a break from the ridiculous cravings she got. Why couldn't she have been like Max and gotten creative with the food at TC with her cravings? No she has to get cravings of foods that are rare and hard to find in Seattle forcing me to trade duties with other X5's and transhumans so I could leave TC and literally, legally, buy these foods.

I needed some time to regroup myself especially when I was getting kicked out of bed a lot. Add a hormonal transgenic female with the ability to end anyone's asses around her and an apparent inability to sleep very well and… yeah you get the picture, pregnant with my kid, happy as can be, happy bout sharing the couch with three cushions to avoid getting my balls busted by a flailing limb… no.

So this project was a way for me to avoid snapping. I swear Max was easier to deal with, then again I don't know exactly what the home life was like so…. yeah. Suited up I was ready to slip in. the whole point of this mission now was to get inside and look for any links to our theories with Preston's hospital issue to our sniper issue. With any luck we'll find a lead and end the struggle for good. Getting inside had proven to be the easy part, getting onto the right floor was the hard part.

I didn't know which floor Gamble's office was on. Plus to go up in the elevators you needed someone to LET you up. Lovely. After ten 'sweet talking' minutes later I had access to Gamble's floor. But I also had nearly a dozen offices on that floor. Scanning each door to see which one was my ticket inside I finally found his. Problem was he was in along with a member of his 'cabinet' that I'd never seen with him before. Guy looked suspicious, but to me all political types did.

I covered by the corner waiting for both men to leave. Hoping it'd be soon so I could sneak in. Using my enhanced hearing I could hear hushed tones. "Were near our breaking point with this deal." Gamble had said in a harsh tone. This guy had never been known around us to show anger so this was a bit surreal. "You just need to hang in there a little while longer. Soon everything with Terminal City residents will be completed." I did not like the sounds of this.

It sounded bad but it could be nothing. It could be about finalizing permits and what it could do for the city for all I knew. Running a frustrated hand through my hair the next words I was listening in on were lost on the ringing of my cell. Cursing myself for putting it on vibrate I grab it up before they can hear it's shrill. "Kinda busy! What's up?" I bark lightly, not even bothering to check the I.D.

"Ain't no need to bust on Original Cindy like that!" I closed my eyes briefly, "OC you know you're a good friend and all but unless this is an emergency I'm on a 'CO mission' over at Gamble's office for Max." I was hoping to get her off her response was, "I know my home girl and she ain't gonna hit the roof over something we both know you can handle." True.

"Anyways I was callin' cause Cece called me. She was hoping I'd be able to come over with a care package with her all time fav's. Prob is I got stuck with an extra shift at work and the 'Bip – Bipper' has been riddin' my ass all damned week! Could you come over to my place, pick it up and take it to her. It'll really make her day."

Cece called her, which explain how she got my number. "Fine. I'll pick it up later." I went to hang up when she followed with, "I'd tell you where the key is but you'll probably just lock pick the bitch anyways." I smiled for a second. "Probably. Gotta go." I saw them leaving the office. The rest of the conversation failed to reach my ears and I saw why. They seemed to be looking around. Then the 'newbie' as I'd dubbed him walked out to check on things.

Not wanting to get caught I looked up and saw the way the ceiling rose and fell with its design. Taking a leap up I hooked myself into the dividends and plastered myself to framework. 'Newbie' walked past, gave the indication that there was nothing there when he told Gamble, "Well talk more later." he agreed on the subject and both men parted off in different directions.

Making sure that I couldn't hear anything or anyone within a 25-foot radius of me I let myself down and rounded the corner. Not wanting to break the lock – just in case someone notices it – I use my lock picking kit which I think every transgenic and transhuman in my opinion should own – and unlocked it before slipping inside and relocking it behind me.

I could always unlock it again when I was ready to leave. Seeing all the papers on his desk I was baffled at the normal's minds organizational skills. Opening drawers all over the thing I didn't see anything out of place that would cause suspicion for Gamble.

Either that or he's really good at hiding his shit. Daily planner had nothing but normal regular engagements a typical deputy mayor would have.

The keys left on the table made me think though. If their here and I doubt he'd leave a pair here for recreational purposes he's probably coming back… and soon. Listening for heartbeats all of them were far enough away to keep looking. Already having memorized the planner in 30 seconds I took a few extra seconds to debate on how to possibly make a copy of some of the keys. I had nothing on me to press with them, which meant I had to look for something.

Scanning the office I took note of anything that could be used to make a mold. A stamp pad is imprint able…for all of a few seconds. Useless. I don't have anything to mold on me and moldable, soft candy is hard to come by in Seattle…heard Max used it as a trick once a LONG ass time ago. I had nothing and I knew I couldn't steal it. Immediate assumption would be on transgenics. After all only a transgenic could get in this far without being seen or heard.

I briefly wondered if doing a trace over would work. Couldn't hurt to take a few extras seconds to do it. Still not hearing anything close by I grabbed a pencil and paper, making sure it wasn't already written on and started to do half of them at transgenic speed. Upon hearing sounds coming my way I put the keys back soundlessly and went to bail when I saw his notepad.

It was blank but you never knew if something previously written was worthwhile. Slipping my hand lightning fast, I grabbed the top sheet and folded it with the other paper before slipping back out and down another hallway before the footsteps returned to the office. Even if it was just a janitor I'd have to explain myself and I didn't have a logical reason for being in the Deputy Mayor's office without having had an appointment…if you can make appointments for that type of thing.

Slipping out through the back door I jumped on my bike and took off. Once I got to OC's place I had to remember she didn't leave me a key, even told me to pick the lock. Seeing the care package on the counter I grabbed up the small bag not bothering to look inside. I knew Max didn't like us being outside the walls for to long without reason. She still feared what had happened to Biggs would happen to any one of us.

Girl worried too much. By all in the same I didn't feel like dealing with an angry mob, so I stuck with obeying her rules. Right now I was just focused on making sure Cece was alright. Since her pregnancy began she's had more hormonal mood swings than Max. It was something that stunned me. Either way I wanted to stay out of the firing range around her. Part of me was tempted to see how Max used to live before Alec entered her life but time restraints prohibited that.

Sides, I didn't need to see what she might have left behind. All girlie stuff, leaving the place I slid out the same way and rode back to TC. Walking from the garage to her office I tapped on the door. Hearing muffled sounds I figured it was her and Alec. Not really caring what I saw I walked in… okay attempted to walk in. the door had been locked, then a faint, "Unless its an… oh god…emergency… baby…it can WAIT!" Alec's voice came through the door.

I was surly tempted to break the lock to get in but dealing with a hormonal Alec with his equally hormonal mate doing the dirty wasn't something I fancied right now. I looked to my side to see Dix quirk a brow. He didn't look like he wanted to jump in help at all. I sighed at the notion. It wasn't likely that anyone would try and help. Then again we all knew that when it came to Max and Alec, 'enter at your own sentence'.

Alec was not one for public shows…not unless he and Max were so far gone with the acts themselves during heat they didn't care enough to think straight. Waiting was the better option. Waiting was the smarter less prone to violence and yelling option. After hearing a brief, "Oh god right the - !" from Alec I could only assume one of two things were going on. One Max was on her knees worshipping at the 'alter of Alec', or Alec was riding Max against a wall or on the desk.

But since I couldn't hear a rustle of papers – unless they had already fallen – then it wasn't the desk. Then again I hadn't heard Max so many he was getting blown by her against the wall. Lack of sex with my mate has really devilled into others sex lives. It needed to stop. I needed to explain to Cece that we needed to get each other laid…very badly. "You two ready in the there?" I asked knocking again. "It's about Gamble." I iterated hoping it would seem important enough with them.

"Come in." Max said her voice an octave off from her usual voice level. Walking in I saw both the desk and the chair looked to be in disarray. I quirked a brow in confusion at the notion, "I think we might have a problem but we might not. It's hard to tell." I answered truthfully. Still on a happy high she smiled, "So what do you have for me?" I went to sit in the chair when I remembered the sounds. "Is it okay for me to sit?" I asked hoping it was.

"Relax. Only the desk and the wall are to be worried about." Alec commented leaning up against said wall. Gross… "I went there as ordered. Heard some stuff but not enough for concrete evidence. But TC was mentioned." This caught her attention swiftly as well as Alec's undivided attention. "What did he say?" Alec asked, "It wasn't so much as just him alone. He had someone else there." Both looked to each before I started to iterate my tale of woe.

Max POV

I sat in my office chair. My neck hurting me a little due to the tension the captain's wife was giving me…again. I was really getting pissed off. Now she was demanding that Alec and I come to one last event. Mostly asking for Alec to come in. Saying his charm the day we all had met was intriguing and she felt he could talk the talk and walk the walk. I pinched the bridge of my nose in aggravation. She's pulling the same stunt her husband pulled on me.

And she has the nerve to snap at me! "Alec and I will come to this last event on the basis that Gamble will finalize the last permit." Everything except for the nursery were open. I had been promising Gem for a while the permit was coming in but Gamble was dragging his feet on it. She hummed. "Is there a problem?" I asked her. "Were working the kinks out for it. There are just a few more channels to go through."

I frowned in disgust at her excuse, "What extra channels could possibly be required for a nursery? Which is being run by a mother herself." I tried not to snap it out. "A transgenic mother whom has never had any formal training as a daycare provider. It takes more channels to prove she can take care of more than one child. More than her own." Okay that sounds legitimate.

"So if she were to go through a class for it, it would help?" she 'ehh' at the prospect. "Or to know that she takes care of my twin girls." this time silence met me. "So I can expect to see the permit for that soon as exchange for the last event?" I weed out of her. "I can talk to Gamble about it and once approved we can open it up." well at least that was something…right?

"But yes it would be HIGHLY recommended for her to attend a class in 'child management'." It was agreeable. Gem was great mom with Eve and she was great with my girls too. All she needed for the permit now was a little from me, Alec and herself. Getting off the phone I called Gem up. "Hey Gem." "Hey" she replied back. "Listen I've got one thing for you to do before that permit comes in for the nursery." I heard Eve gurgle in the back round.

"Why? I take care of Eve just fine?" she retorted. "It's for the sake of the permit Gem nothing more. We all know you're a good mom but the official's need the paper proof." I tell her. "While I don't like my mothering skills being questioned, since this is to legitimize purposes only then fine I'll do it." I smiled, "Great I'll set you up with a class under 'Gem Minerva', mother of one." I laughed, as did she.

Hanging up I watch Alec coming in…with something behind his back. "You hiding something from me or what?" I asked quirking a brow. He pulled out a 'Dove' bar. I was stunned. Dove was one of the more expensive chocolates produced and Seattle was in short supply of them, "I thought since you couldn't have much chocolate during your pregnancy you might want some now." he give me the bar. "I scored it off my vendor earlier this week."

Ignoring the part where I could have gotten it faster I grab the bar, tear the paper then the silver wrapping before popping the small chunks into my mouth. One at a time they melted like liquid silk on my tongue. I groaned at the flavor. "Did you just have a chocogasm?" he smirks to me. I smile back and pull him to me for a smoldering kiss. Thanking him for the chocolate. Seeking the chocolate himself his tongue discovers why I love it so much…and why it's so rare to come by.

"God, best damned… chocolate… mmm… taste… mmm… so… good." His proliferation of the confection has me smiling before separating long enough to pop another into my mouth only this time holding it out on my tongue as a lure for his own. "You want it you gotta come and get it." I rasp out. He grabs my waist hauling me to him. He leans in to gain entrance but I lean back still managing to hold the now melting confection on my wet tongue.

Grabbing my hips more firmly now he lifts me onto my desk. Shockingly our presence doesn't disturb the paper work. I lean back again to make him work for it. Not deterred he grabs the back of my head, angling me just right for his quest. I gladly submit half the chocolate to him as I bite down on it. Feeling the tendrils of pleasure coursing through me I wrap my legs around his waist.

"Right now." I whisper. The words barely registering his brain when he lifted me from the desk and slammed me into the wall. I noted that the door had yet to be locked, "Lock the door." I rasped past now dry lips. He let me go but only briefly as he took three long strides to lock the door only to be met by a nearly naked mate awaiting him. I was burning up now.

That little make out session, coupled with his gift was enough to drive me on. But then again Alec doing anything was nearly enough to drive me on. Stripping down I stood there with only, believe it or not a white satin bra and satin thongs, I decided to drive him a little more to the edge with hunger. I stepped forward leaving my hair all about me as I unhooked my bra, with one hand, and debated on throwing it to him or dropping it to the floor. My decision was made for me when he blurred.

I was slammed into the wall as he attacked my mouth, pulling my bra away with one hand and holding me by the hips with the other. I reached down, pulled his zipper down before cursing slightly at the trouble his button was causing me before ripped it open and dove in for my treasure. He leaned me into the wall even further at the sensation. "Max." he uttered through now dry lips. I squeezed emitting a groan from him. "Thought you were gonna take me?" I asked innocently.

His eyes opened fast, sharply, aimed at me, "I am. Right here against the wall." Both his hands pulled both of my hands together, up above my head, holding them securely, looking to my eyes for clarification that he wasn't hurting me…at least in a bad way, before pulling his jeans and boxers down far enough to slid his member through my inner folds. He rubbed up against me, getting me wetter as his free hand toyed with my right breast, his mouth reeking havoc with the other.

I whimpered, biting down on the throaty gasps trying to escape to freedom. One nip to my nipple sent a rush of wetness that coated his member and had him groaning. I practically felt his own member leaking as well when the rubbing got more intense, "Alec please!" I whimpered. Not wanting all of HQ to hear their CO and SIC screwing each other. Then Alec got this look in his eyes.

I knew that look. Love. Domination. Control. His primitive alpha was coming out to play and wanted his mate to submit willingly, but at the same time fight back to show his mate was alpha to. "IF you don't take me where we are I'll…" thing is my head was so clouded with love and lust that I couldn't think of a retort, "You'll do what?" he ground his member against me. I jerked at the restraining hold he had on my hands. No real effort went into it but enough for him to see the fight he was looking for.

He growled before ramming himself deeply inside of me. His mouth came down to mine before my scream could reverberate throughout HQ. Oh god! The hard thrusts were incessant, rough and all around unrestrained. It was what my inner cat and inner alpha love to feel from him. Something we could both get lost in without feeling the need to be gentle, without feeling the need to pull back in fear of hurting one another.

A knock came to the door. Daniel was muttering something I couldn't understand behind the pounding of blood rushing through my ears or the intense pleasure-taking foothold in my brain. Alec shouted something out when I managed to slip one hand from his hold and wrap my index finger and thumb around the base of his cock. His shout turned differently as I use the finger and thumb to massage the area. I wanted his attention to be on me.

His hand, the one not holding my hand up still, went to my own nerve endings and in rhythm to each other, rubbed the areas most affected. My finger and thumb even abandon his cock to rhythmically rub and caress his ball sacks rendering him incapable of further coherent sounds. Minutes later I felt the sensation within me and then seconds after my world went white and warm, I felt the instant heat of his seed as he came with me.

After a few minutes of getting ourselves adjusted – well, redressed would be better to say - Daniel came in and began his little tale of woe… sometimes I wondered what Cece saw in him then it was times like these that I knew why…he was useful and knew when to figure out of our guy was another enemy or now…

Gamble POV

I left my office door locked as I left out for the day. Gaining access to the parking garage I saw my partner leaning against my 'mayoral' issued car. "What can I do for you?" I didn't bother with formalities the way he did. Still insisting to pay respect to our forefathers. Don't underestimate me I paid my respects…just in other ways. "Again what can I do for you?" I asked when he merely grunted at my lack of 'respect' as he would put it to my response.

"I think you might be getting to 'involved' with our pet project. They are not our friends. They are a blasphemy on everything we've worked against. Her death is our highest goal or have you forgotten that." His hand pulled out a newspaper. The same one that Max's people had procured. "The members don't like this at all." he sneered. I smiled, "Why? It's not like I'm the father. 494 is." I defended lightly.

"She is our end or have you forgotten what her and her band of misfits have done to us? To our work?" he really took his business with the conclave seriously. "I haven't forgotten but remember what our elders have said on occasion 'better the enemy you know that the enemy you don't'. I know her. I know bits about her past. She may not be corruptible, or willing to be killed easily but she is killable." He looked up to me. "And yet she is still a threat!" he never did like me.

The council having favored my style of his own due to his blood relations, "She lives because I choose it. There were many times I could have killed her but I didn't. I have the power when it comes to her, not you." And that's what pissed him off. He failed. I haven't. I can kill her, doesn't mean I will though. She's not like anyone I've ever met before and I don't think killing her is a necessity.

"You will fail in this. You need to eradicate her before time runs out. She's already destroyed our first plan of contamination. When that comet hits earth we need - " I laughed, "Seriously? Your waiting on that thing to?" he looked very upset by my wording, "Listen. The chance of the comet having what we need is only a 50 – 50 shot. It's not enough. What we need is to see if Sandman was right about 452's blood." he shot me a look.

"You think my father really put the cure within her?" I nodded, "I'd be willing to bet a night with a trannie to prove it." I smiled, "And with her having just given birth to twins no less…" he frowned. "This is bad." He grunts. "Bad? I thought bad was when 494 got away from you during the torture session? Or when two transhumans, two transgenics and a retired colonel escaped from our own rooftops?" he tried to haul me up against my own door when I busted his hold before he could get me half way over.

"Don't underestimate me White, were both on the same team, partners. Remember that." I shoved him off, "I didn't ask for a partner." He sneered, "Well the conclave's pissed that you're mucking up so much." I decided to dig even deeper in to the inflicted wound, "And you make me sound like I have a thing for her. Maybe that's why you failed. You yourself want 452." I smiled as his red face just as he started to blow up from the comment.

I unlocked my door, threw my briefcase into the passenger seat, sat down, key in the ignition, backed up and drove off. I knew he was cursing my head off but I didn't care. I knew what was going down at the end of the day and I no longer liked it. Being around Max…she's been making me see a whole new side of things…things I never thought I'd change my mind on…to bad 494 got to her first…or else it would have been my brat in her belly…