The flight back to the US was long, which meant Max and Alec had plenty of time to sit in awkward silence together, each seeming to look up when the other did not. They had plenty of space between them, Alec had made sure of that by picking a seat across from hers.

While they prepared to leave the hotel, each remained quiet about Max's video and Alec's (subsequent?) arousal. Max showered and dressed, picking up the lingerie she'd previously left in the bathroom that Alec must have moved to the counter last night, then they switched and Alec showered while she sat at the laptop and typed in a few notes about what had already been decrypted, and added a code to the algorithm to hopefully help speed it up.

When he came back out, shower fresh again, Max almost whimpered at how good he looked. Despite their mutual lack of sleep, he lacked the circles under his eyes, instead approaching their travel plans with bright eyes and clean skin, and seemed light on his feet. Maybe even ready to fight. He just seemed... ready.

Once they boarded and the plane took off, they each reviewed their own reports for the director,m. Max looked up at him a few times, but he was focused on his task. She thought she should probably focus on hers, too.

She wanted to ask about the impenetrable-looking fortress his dick erected in the night. Was it because of her? Was he hard thinking about her masturbating? Or was it that she unmistakably called out his name? Or maybe did he just have a sexy dream? She was too nervous to bring it up, so to speak.

Alec, on the other hand, just went about his preparations as if nothing affected him. It frustrated her to no end. These incessant feelings about him were taking over and making her feel out of control, and she hated feeling out of control, especially since he was the epitome of it. She'd admire him for it if she wasn't so jealous of his presumed nonchalance.

She continued to review the report in case there was anything she needed to add or change during the debriefing. And really, who named it debriefing? Her mind slipped right back into Alec's boxer briefs. Maybe if she was lucky, she'd get to debrief him.

She read the same sentence ten times before something occurred to her. "Are we going to delete that video?" she asked. "What if someone else sees it and leaks it to Cale or someone else who shouldn't see it?"

Sitting up straighter, Alec cleared his throat, and Max could have sworn those freckles became more noticeable. Was that his form of blushing? She couldn't help but find that adorably sexy. She'd have to keep an eye out if that happened again.

"Already deleted it while you were in the shower," he informed. "But the fact that he videoed it violates our agreement, which means I'm going to have to find a way to extract the remaining info we need much sooner." He glanced out the window, maybe to avoid looking her in the eyes.

"I have an idea about that," she started, closing the file and leaning forward. "We set up another arrangement, but make sure Yelena is there. Once we get in, have Aleksander called away. We can get the information out of Yelena." She was confident Yelena was bisexual, and something she read in the dossier gave her a plan.

"Yelena? We already tried hooking her up with Pete last year."

"As an escort?" Max was surprised. She knew from experience that Pete was skilled in the sex department, but moreso than that, she was confused they hadn't already come to the same conclusion she had.

Alec shook his head. "Just as a normal guy she ran into who she should have liked. His cover was crafted so well - it should have worked, but Pete just got rebuffed over and over."

She thought Pete's record was probably flawless; alas, this was proof otherwise. "Well there's the problem right there. Yelena is only into the Female Strange."

Now Alec was surprised. He considered the mission last night and quickly came to terms with the info. It made sense. She'd watched Max the whole time, just like her husband had, and they'd ended up having sex while Max masturbated. When he'd tried to hook Yelena up with Pete, it'd been a completely different scenario. Maybe Max was right. "Good idea. I'll take it to the Director."

Nodding, Max sat back in her seat, happy he agreed it was a good idea. She almost looked forward to the mission. And if she could pull it off, it would be validation that she was meant for this kind of espionage.

Alec continued, somewhat hesitantly. "I also wanted to apologize... for before."

Huh? Why? Max remembered how dark his pupils were earlier that morning while his erection stood tall and proud. Was he embarrassed? "Oh," she said, not really sure how to respond.

"It was unprofessional," he went on. "I was just-"

Unprofessional? Seriously? "Don't worry about it," she interrupted, smiling nervously. Was he worried she'd put that in her report?

"-having a dream," he said in a dismissive tone.

"It's just biology," Max offered. "Guys sometimes get morning wood." She raised a slender brow as if to suggest he challenge her with an alternate reason. Like maybe it was she who had inspired such a reaction - in a dream or in reality. Now that she had acknowledged the proverbial elephant in the room, she waited to see what he would say.

They held eye contact for a while as his hazel eyes weighed the reasons. The cabin felt a bit hotter, but he didn't back down, and neither did she. She thought he was about to admit something; he had glanced down to her lips, but then his eyes seemed to clear. "Right. Biology."

Back at base, the two transgenics went their separate ways to unpack, clean up, return the tech, grab some lunch from Mess, and prepare for the debrief.

It was in Mess that Max saw Alec talking to their mutual friend. Pete and Alec sat across from one another, talking animatedly while downing some spaghetti. She couldn't make out what Alec was saying - seemed like he was whispering - but whatever it was made Pete nod, a huge smile on his face. The whole scene harkened back to the day of the MASVAB results. As Max moved up in the lunch line, she read Alec's lips.

'She was moaning and making all these little sexy sounds. Thought I was dreaming until she breathed my name,' he said. 'I couldn't get out of bed.'

Pete had a surprised look on his face, and he smiled like he knew something Alec didn't.

Which, Max thought, could be true. But more surprising to her was the idea that he was talking about her to someone else. Sure, it could be some other woman he was talking about, and if so, that would suck, but if it was Max, then she had inadvertently called out Alec's name, again, while having a rather sexy dream about him.

She blushed and turned toward the counter. She picked up her spaghetti and side salad and moved through the line.

Of course it wasn't necessarily a rule break, because whatever did or did not happen in the hotel room wasn't part of the mission, and neither of them included it in their reports, but it might still be a bit tacky to not-kiss-and-tell. Then again, who was she kidding? If Brandy we're here, they'd for damn sure be talking about the same thing.

Though she saw a few more X-series she wouldn't mind sitting and eating with, the closer she walked to Alec and Pete's table, the more she seemed to garner their attention. First, Pete looked up and gave her a soft, friendly smile. Then, Alec looked up and gave her a quasi-emotionless once-over. Maybe he had been trying to affect an heir of nonchalance, as if he hadn't just been talking about her.

All in all, it was awkward. Former fuck buddy sitting with his best friend, someone she now wanted desperately to get acquainted with, nakedly...

"Max," called Pete. "Come sit with us."

Alec's furrowed brow gave off a what the fuck kind of message, but Max sat down next to Alec, still far enough away for him to have some space.

"Sorry, guys, but I have a quick meeting with the director," Alec said, drinking a bit of water and standing up. He picked up his tray of dirty dishes and bussed his area real quick. "Max, I'll see you in thirty."

He left her sitting there with her former fling, and disappeared into the hall.

"What the hell is up with him," asked Max, twirling some noddles onto her fork.

The dark-skinned man across from her took a swig of milk and chuckled. "I was going to ask you the same thing." He waited expectantly for her to answer.

"Oh, sorry, I thought that was rhetorical. I have no idea - why would I know?"

"Little too quick on the defense there, Max."

She narrowed her eyes. "How's Annabel?"

Pete's hands flew up in defense. "Alright, alright, jeez... Sorry. Just seemed like you and Alec are..." He quirked his mouth into a smile. "Something happen on your mission?"

Max ate her forkful and weighed the potential consequences of telling him the truth. Instead, she relayed, "He told me that during his long undercover... well, that we lost an agent."

"He told you about Rachel?"

Oh, it was a woman, Max realized. A thousand thoughts raced in her mind. Who was Rachel? Was she a Nova or an officer? Was she Alec's handler or maybe was he hers? How did she die?

As her silence continued, Pete nodded. "He didn't tell you about Rachel," he surmised.

"Not who it was, just that he'd lost an agent." She considered how she would feel if it was someone for whom she felt responsible. Or, he'll, if it was Alec. She'd never be able to see him again. She'd never find out if they could be together. She'd never see his simmering eyes or mischievous smirk. "Who is Rachel?"

Checking out the lunch line so as to avoid her stare, Pete shook his head.

She tried to keep her face as neutral as possible when she asked, "Were they together?"

"Sorry, Max. It's not my information to tell. You'll have to ask Alec."

And that was all he said. It felt like a yes, because if they weren't involved, he'd have just said no, right? Pete excused himself a couple minutes later and left her to her lunch, but after that knowledge bomb, she wasn't hungry anymore.

She cleared her plates and headed toward Lydecker's office a few minutes early, and she was glad she did when she heard Alec and the director talking about her.

"I'd heard she was a great improviser, but I got to see her in action," Alec said. "She's brilliant."

Wow, brilliant? Her mouth dropped open. All she did was turn the situation to their benefit. Who were all these other agents who just folded at the first sign of trouble?

"That doesn't surprise me," Lydecker said. "She has always excelled at her job. You've read her file."

Someone shifted in their seat. Max remained frozen in place. She wanted to hear as much as possible without giving herself away from something as simple as too loud a breath or as easy as shuffling of feet.

"She single-handedly saved the mission," the blond X5 informed.

Well, both hands were involved, Max thought, suppressing a chuckle. Though she wished Alec's hands had also been involved. And his tongue. And his lips. His whole damn mouth. And fuck, his dick too, she thought, eyes glazing over with lust.

"And she added a couple algorithms that decrypted the drive faster." She heard Alec take a calculated breath, as if he could no longer suppress the question he needed to ask. "Sir, is Max in the right classification?"

Huh? Of course I am, she thought. I aced the Romeo part of the MASVAB; I belong in the Romeo program. I'm a Nova - and my instincts about the Dorokovs were 100% right.

How could he call any of that into question after what they'd been through?

"Of course," Lydecker answered, echoing Max's thoughts. "She still holds the record for Romeo, and her performance has always been stellar. Is there any reason to think she shouldn't be a Romeo?"

Max waited, her heart pounding. Would Alec out her to the director for almost compromising the mission, even though she improvised a success? Was this the last time she could call herself a Nova?

"No, sir. But you've read my report," he seemed to argue.

"Yes, I have, and I agree, her idea for the Dorokovs will work. We need to get that op on the books."

So Alec did tell him about her idea - and gave her credit for it. Seemed like he was really talking her up. Relieved, her heart returned to its normal rhythm.

"How did we not realize this before?" Lydecker continued.

"I guess we were caught up in Aleksander. Max somehow tapped into Yelena's psyche on pure instinct." Both men were quiet for a moment before Alec spoke again. "Sir, I'd like to utilize her skills for the Christina Op in Osaka."

Japan? Who's Christina? Was she another one of Alec's girlfriends? Or just Max's new Nova mark?

"Granted," the director said without hesitation. "Set it up."

Damn, someone was director's pet. Guess it paid to get in good with Alec, Manticore's all-around Golden Boy.

"As for the other matter," continued the white-haired man, "that's a green light, too."

The other matter... well, that's shady as hell.

Max slunk backwards silently and approached again, this time, her footfalls announced her presence.

"Max," called the director. "Come on in."

Max turned the corner and entered the office. Both men stood up to receive her, and she was about to salute when Lydecker motioned to the chair. "Have a seat."

For the better part of half an hour, the director debriefed them, asking questions about the Dorokovs and what intel was found on the copied drives. Alec informed him that Max had been recorded and they'd erased that file. The director asked what type of consequence they needed for Dorokov.

"Nothing too terrible. Maybe a finger," Alec offered.

A finger isn't too terrible?

"Kidding," Alec said, smiling. "At the very least, the price just doubled."

"When are we going back," asked Max.

Lydecker leveled his icy blues on her. "You're not. After conferring with Alec, I agree that it's best to send in another agent."

She snapped her mouth shut to keep from having an outburst, and wondered what the fuck she'd done wrong to get pulled from this op. The director said he agreed with Alec, which means Alec had recommended she no longer remain part of that particular cover. She tried to pay close attention the rest of the debrief, but the fact ate at her that she'd somehow underperformed, despite that they'd just been complimenting her half an hour ago.

"As for your next two missions, Alec will fill you in," the director finished.

The two X5s stood and saluted him. "Sir."

Max waited until they were out of earshot of the Director before she stopped her handler in the empty hall. "What the fuck was that?"

"The fuck was what," he echoed, noting her closed off body language.

"Why am I being taken off the Dorokov mission? I had a good idea. You think I can't do it?" Max was pissed, and tired of constantly having to defend her skills. She was a good operative, an excellent Nova, and she'd been the one to break the Dorokov case.

His brows creased as if also tired of having to defend himself. "The timeframe conflicts with another mission, and I want you on a follow up - Eddie and Eva need to go back. The Eilers purchased some of those foreign weapons everyone was so hush-hush about at the gala, and some of the files on the drive had shipping manifests and dates. We have a dinner with Eilers at his estate, and then we're going to the harbor to intercept those containers."

"So you aren't pulling me from the Dorokovs because I underperformed?" She really needed his conformation that she'd done nothing wrong. She wasn't allowed to read his report unless cleared for that level of security, but she hoped he hadn't used any of those bad-omen type words like unprofessional, or failure.

His eyes warmed over her for a moment. "Off the record?"

She nodded curtly, ready to hear his honest criticism.

"Your performance in the Dorokov mission was outstanding. It was hard to concentrate at certain moments because I wasn't sure if you were acting." He paused, and those fucking adorable freckles darkened a fraction. "But at the same time, I recognize that he really creeps you out - and rightfully so, he's not a good person - and I'm not going to put you in his path again."

She opened her mouth to interject, to tell him she could protect herself if the need should arise, but he cut her off.

"Yelena is a different story, and we have the perfect agent in mind to change the mission to getting that info from her instead of Aleksander. But it won't be you. I need you for our follow up."

Max smiled a diminutive one. She had always been told what to do, and had always improvised during missions to obtain the objective. She'd done things - people - over and over, and her previous handlers had never looked out for her like Alec was looking out for her now. It was fucking fantastic.

Plus, he'd admitted her 'performance' made it difficult for him to concentrate, so that was a good sign, right?

"When do we leave?"