Author: Restive Nature (aka Bavite)
Rated: NC-17
Disclaimer: All characters within this fiction are the property of Cameron/ Eglee. I just like to play with them.
Timeline: Six weeks after FN.
Pairing M/A
Summary: An unexpected accident causes Max to think about the future in a new way.
Chapter Fifteen
Delving Deeper
"Okay," he dropped the duffel bag again. "What the hell does not exactly mean?" He stared down at her as she fidgeted under his gaze. "Max?"
"Well Alec," she cringed at her own whining tone, "like I said, I was trying to figure this out myself."
"So you didn’t tell him?" he demanded tiredly. She shook her head. "Then what precisely did you tell him? Why did you even go to him?"
"I told you already," Max sighed. "I didn’t want you to worry about me."
"And how does Doc figure into it?" his jaw tensed up again. "What did you tell him to get him on your side?"
"The truth… mostly," she hedged. She could see exactly where this was leading. Alec wasn’t one to leave things alone for the most part. He’d want this solved, now, so they could get on to other things. His head tilted to the side and he aimed that endearing little gaze at her. The one that spoke of how she could trust him with all her deepest, darkest secrets. And so far, it hadn’t hurt, much. "Okay, I called Doc after I heard you and Joshua talking. I asked him for an appointment."
"That was it?" he asked skeptically. She grimaced.
"Then, yeah," she confirmed. "The next morning, I went in early and told him that you were worried about me," she continued. "So I asked him if he would do a general exam, say it was stress and send us on our way."
"And that’s all?" he puzzled. "So why did he tell you to tell me? I mean he had to have some idea."
Max nodded. "I didn’t tell him about my memory loss, but he knew something was up. I just told him that I already knew what was wrong with me. So he said okay."
"Okay. So what was up with those tests?" Alec asked, smirking slightly. He was getting to the heart of it, no matter which way she turned. Max nibbled at her lower lip, realizing that it wasn’t fair to just keep this from him. Belatedly she realized that he might still be worried, knowing now that Doc didn’t have all the information at hand to work with. After all, the memories had barely surfaced. And there was Doc performing blood tests on her, which Alec would most definitely worry over.
"That was blackmail," she chuckled. Alec grinned, enjoying her pleasure when usually in these circumstances he’d be dealing with her rage. "I told him that you were worried because I just seemed off. So he agreed to help me out on the condition that I submit to a real blood test." She hurried on before he could ask why. "Doc just wanted to make sure that it wasn’t something else causing me problems." Alec’s mouth opened again to interrupt but she lifted one finger to press against his lips. "And Doc said there was nothing wrong with me. No viruses, no bacteria, nothing there but me."
"All right," Alec finally acceded. He reached once more for his duffel bag and drew her out of the apartment. "But in the morning, you’re going back to Doc."
"No I’m not," Max shook her head as they made their way downstairs. "Why would I?"
"Because we need to let Doc know," Alec explained patiently, though his tone was a little harried. "Then he can maybe figure out what caused it." Max groaned inwardly, her feet unconsciously starting to drag.
"Great," she muttered. "More questions to answer." Alec stopped short and turned back to his wife, standing on the step above him. His face was earnest, his concern for her evident.
"Max, can you really say you don’t wonder why all of a sudden you can’t remember?" he asked carefully. Her mouth opened to answer, but snapped shut as she remembered those first few hours, the things that had run through her mind. Alec had even teasingly checked her head for bumps or bruises, not that they’d found any. He watched her expectantly and when she finally nodded her agreement to another appointment, he smiled brilliantly at her. "Thank you."
They emerged from Joshua’s apartment building and both were mildly stunned to see an assorted group of transgenics and transhuman scurrying to look busy. It fooled no one that they’d apparently been concerned with whatever had occurred between their leaders. Alec hid a smile as he pulled Max in a little closer to his side. Max didn’t bother to hide her grin, as she caught a few questioning glances thrown her way. The relief that came back from them comforted her. It was nice to know that people were concerned about them. It made such a difference to her, the one who’d always felt responsible for taking care of others. She leaned into her husband, grateful most of all for his strength, the support he was showing her, had always shown her. She wrapped her close arm around his waist, as his settled about her shoulders. Max gave the group a little wave and the pair headed home.
Joshua was waiting still, in their apartment when they got back. He was engrossed in one of the books that had been in the bookcase. He glanced up as he heard the door open and smiled gently at seeing his two friends together. He closed the book and laid it on the table, standing to greet them. Max knew the instant he realized for sure that she’d told Alec, the relief was written in his face.
"Max and Alec good now?" he asked in his soft voice. They were both nodding.
"Yeah," Alec confirmed. "We’re good. Thanks man."
"You’re welcome," Joshua grinned broadly. He turned to Max and whispered, "almost had to sit on Alec." He laughed at her puzzled look, while Alec turned away to hide his embarrassment.
"What does that mean?" she demanded of them. Alec ran his hand through his hair, scratching nervously at the back of his neck.
"Uh, Josh told me that he’d sit on me if I left," he admitted. Max felt a smile playing at her mouth as she imagined it. "Made me promise to wait at his place while he talked to you."
"Ah," Max drawled, as she understood.
"See?" Joshua guffawed. "Told Alec it would work."
Max felt a momentary irk at being set up like she had. But quickly told herself that it was worth it. Again was that concern that surrounded her. It was comforting even as it could be stifling. It was all a matter of choosing which feeling to go with and right now, she wanted that comfort. She’d deal with the stifling if and when it came up. She poked her husband in the stomach before moving into the kitchen. "It only worked because I decided it would work," she warned them playfully. "You’re talking to the master manipulator here."
"Oh, I don’t know about that," Alec teased right back, turning his lips into a pout. "I seem to remember a certain night that I manipulated you right into-!" he stopped short, seeming to realize that it was another memory that she might not have access to. "Ah, never mind!" Her eyes widened a little.
"What?" she demanded, her hands going to her hips. "What did you make me do?"
"Nothing!" his protest was cut off by Joshua’s laughter as he waved at the pair of them, slipping out the door. It banged shut, but Max didn’t give it a glance.
"Alec!" she growled his name, determined to know.
He held his hands up, shrugging, "it was nothing bad Max," he tried to fob her off, but she was coming around the counter, advancing on him as he stumbled back a step.
"Really? Then why won’t you tell me?" she asked pointedly. He bit his lower lip, his eyes sparkling.
"Ah… maybe because I’m hoping you’ll remember on your own and do it again," he offered, his smirk firmly back in place. She stopped and her eyebrows flew up. But then her whole demeanor changed as she moved forward again.
"Was it something… dirty?" she whispered seductively, her hips swaying as she chased her prey, inch by inch. Alec noticed a second after she began to speak, what was on her mind and began backing away.
"Yeah… well no," he prevaricated, all the while trying to keep her in his line of sight while not tripping over the furniture. She advanced on him.
"Could it maybe have been termed… kinky?" she whispered, finally trapping him against the wall. She hovered as closely as she dared while she watched him squirm. She kept her expression placid, watching the memories play over his face, slightly jealous when they proved to be of the erotic nature. That is, if she was judging the tension in his body correctly. Sweeping her glance down over her body, she knew she was right.
"Max," Alec warned softly. She knew that he was fighting whatever noble issue he was trying to hang on to. Some idea that he didn’t want to force his attention on her when she was unable to reciprocate it in the way it was offered. She knew and understood it, but couldn’t resist finishing her little game. She leaned in closely, careful not to touch him.
"Did you like it?" she demanded silkily. He gulped once and nodded. "Tell me what you liked best?" His mouth opened, she almost had him, but at last, he realized what she had been doing and laughed instead.
"You little minx!" he gasped, his head thumping lightly against the wall. She backed off, grinning widely. "You almost did it."
"Well, I warned you," she giggled.
"Yeah, but almost doesn’t count," he retorted.
"Mm-hmm," she smiled benignly, assured of her own feminine power. "Don’t worry, I’ll get it out of you yet." She turned and walked back to the kitchen, suddenly thirsty. She barely heard his whisper.
"Hell, that’s what I’m afraid of."
She ignored the worry she heard in his voice. Knowing that they’d get to the issue of intimacy soon enough, she moved to the refrigerator. She pulled it open and stared at the contents. But nothing there appealed to her. She pulled open the freezer and saw some juice concentrate there. She pulled it out, and began to prepare it. While she did that, Alec collected his bag and moved to the bedroom to return things to where they really belonged. She pulled two glasses from cupboard, knowing Alec could probably use a little refreshment as well. Once she’d poured, she set his glass on the counter and caught sight of the envelope that Doc had given her. She took a long drink, then set the glass down, curious as to the envelope’s contents.
She ripped open the sealed manila and pulled out a sheaf of papers. She glanced through the top sheet, noting that it was the results of her lab work up. As Doc had told them, there was no virus present in her system. She shrugged mentally and set it aside. The next paper looked as if Doc had done exactly as he’d said. Gone to some medical site online and printed off what he’d found. She glanced up and noticed her husband returning.
"What’cha looking at?" he asked, his voice relaxed now. He picked up the juice she’d left for him and took a sip.
"Just that envelope that Doc gave me," she shrugged. Alec took another sip and set the glass down, close to her own. He pulled the paper she’d just set down to him and musingly glanced over it. Max watched him, her mind going over it again. No viruses, no bacteria, no illness. Nothing for him to worry about. She saw his quick nod, confirming to himself too. But then it was as if a bright light exploded in her mind. "Oh my God!"
Alec’s eyes shot up to meet hers, taking in the shock she was sure was evident. "What is it?" he demanded, suddenly on edge.
"The virus," she gasped. He cocked his head to the side, waiting. "It’s gone." After a moment, he nodded, puzzled. She realized then that he thought she was referring to the one she’d been most recently infected with. "No, not that one," she muttered, pushing that paper to the side. "The Manticore virus," she clarified. His eyes darkened momentarily, but Max went on. "Doc said there was no virus at all present in my system."
"That’s right," he confirmed carefully, quietly. Max understood in an instant. All Alec knew now was that she was stuck in the mind frame of a year and a half ago, when she was still apparently hung up on Logan. She smiled inwardly, thinking of how that was the total opposite of what she felt now.
"So I’m no longer poison to the guy," she scoffed. "Good to know." She deliberately kept her tone blasé, her body casual. She flipped her hair back over her shoulder and glanced down at the papers again, taking in the information Doc had downloaded and printed for her. "Ooh, ‘Tips for Reducing Stress’."
"Max," Alec interrupted softly. "We should talk about this." She nodded even as she ignored the pleading in his tone. "Jeez Maxie, for someone who was desperate to get her memories back just a few minutes ago, you sure are uninterested in this," he ranted, obviously annoyed. But this time Max could tell that he was more annoyed by whatever inadequacies he might be feeling about himself or their relationship. She set the paper down.
"Okay," she shrugged one shoulder. "Did I get the cure before or after we started going out?"
"After."
"Did I go back to Logan then?"
"No, but-!"
"Do you think I’ll go back to Logan now?" she asked the million-dollar question, holding her breath as she watched him deliberate over that. But before he could answer, she decided to do so for him. "Because I know the difference between," she held up her hands and made little air quotes "’we’re not even like that’, and this," she pointed at the rings on her finger.
"I know you do Max," Alec offered softly, reaching for her hand. She clasped her hand around his and squeezed. "But I…"
"Don’t Alec," she sighed. "I told you before, I may not have the memories. But I know our relationship involves a lot more than evenings spent sipping wine and talking business, some handholding and a couple kisses. I’m not gonna throw away what we have to go back to the uncertainty of where I stood with him. Wondering if I was just a cause to him. Wondering if it came down to it, which would be more important, me or Eyes Only. Wondering if all the things thrown in our way was fate’s way of telling us to give it up. We don’t have that Alec. There’s nothing standing in our way."
"Except your own mind," he pointed out quietly.
"Which we’re going to fix," she stated firmly. "Okay?" She waited again as he worked it through. But finally he nodded.
"Okay."
Max beamed at him for a moment, then dropped her gaze back to the papers. Suddenly, she got to a hand made notation from Doc and burst out laughing. Alec furrowed his brow, trying to get a good look at what had set her off. "Oh!" she gasped, her ribs starting to hurt from laughing so hard. "I could definitely go for this one."
"What is it?" Alec demanded and she handed the paper over. He read the note quickly. Next to the section about getting plenty of sleep, Doc had written; ‘I know with your wacky DNA that this one might be tough. But as long as you’re lying down, resting, or doing whatever I’m sure you feel the urge to do, and I don’t need details, then that’s fine with me.’ Alec laughed as well.
"Hmm, maybe I should take Doc’s advice right now," Max purred, moving around the counter. Alec’s laughter stopped as he eyed her.
"Max," he sighed. She stopped short, knowing already what he was going to say.
"I know, I know," she grumbled. "You want to wait until I’m sure that I’m doing this because I want to, not just because I think I have to."
"Exactly," he grunted.
"Spoilsport," she mumbled.
"I heard that."
"Oh all right," she gave in. She turned and shoved all the papers back in the envelope, deciding to finish going through them later. She turned back to her husband. She could see how difficult this self-imposed restraint was on him and in a quick moment, felt for him. He’d always been a sensual creature. She smiled up at him as she thought about what torture he was putting himself through just to put what he believed to be her needs ahead of his. And loved him for it. But she’d also be damned if she put up with it for long. "Why don’t we watch some TV and you can fill me in on all the other stuff I’ve missed?" she suggested. With relief, he nodded and she led him to the couch. "Cause the sooner I remember, the sooner we can get to the good stuff!"
"Max!" his laughter told her that he was just as eager as she was.
Chapter Sixteen
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