Rituals and Chocolate Cream Pie (16a/?)
“So what did he do?” Alec asked as Max clipped the bypass wires onto the security feed line.
“What’s the code?” Max asked.
“Don’t you remember?” Alec asked sarcastically. Max threw him a look that could cut through a glacier. “Oscar India four six two two nine.”
“That’s what I thought,” Max said, putting in the numbers.
“Come on, what did he do?” Alec asked again. “You’ve been pissed since I picked you up, so what did he do to you?”
“Can you guys focus on the job?” a voice said, coming through an ear piece.
“Did she tell you?” Alec asked the disembodied voice. “Come on, Logan. Please. He wouldn’t talk and she isn’t. I just want to know.”
“Floor is clear. Can you throw the false image now?” Max asked Logan.
“Sure, Max,” Logan said. “Security feed is showing continuous rollback. You guys are clear.”
“Thanks,” Max said, dropping the rope that would allow her entry.
“And for the record, Alec, I have no idea what Dean said to her,” Logan said.
“Can we get this job done?” Max asked.
“Sure,” Alec replied as he followed her lead. “You aren’t going to tell me what he said? Not even so you can blame me for it?”
“Three minutes and forty-five seconds,” Logan said through the ear piece as Max worked on the exhibit casing.
“No,” Max said. “I’m not repeating it. I don’t want to think about it and even if he does try it, I’m betting he’ll live to regret it.”
“So you’re not going to tell me?” Alec asked again.
“Alec, go stick your head in the rookie card case,” Max replied coldly. “I’m sure they’ve upped the scanning laser intensity since last time.”
Alec tutted. “You’re not going to tell me? Not even in the aim of helping me bond with my newfound family?”
“Oh, you need no help in bonding with him,” Max said, looking up from her work.
“Three minutes,” Logan said as he counted down. “New shift entering the elevator.”
“Hey, he’s my, you know, template. I want to work out how to get to know the guy,” Alec explained as he sprayed the aerosol to check for hidden security measures.
“Trust me. They didn’t break the mold when they made you,” Max replied as she lifted the ball. “Anyway, if you want to bond with a member of your family, what about Sam? You’ve hardly spent any time with the guy.”
Alec exhaled. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Max replied as she looked up from what she was doing.
“Two minutes,” Logan said. “Are you guys finished?”
“Package collected,” Alec replied to the disembodied voice in his ear before turning to Max. “Honestly I don’t know.
“You’ve been spending all the time you can with Dean, you got Normal to give Jo a tryout, but Sam, you don’t know?”
Alec looked at her. “I don’t know Dean, really and he’s my template, my original. I’m going to be curious, you know? You can’t say that you wouldn’t be the same if you got to meet the woman you were cloned from.”
Max glared. “That doesn’t mean I would bend over backward because I want to impress her. She could be anything. She could be a scheming, gold digging, son of a bitch.”
Alec started to climb. “I don’t want to impress him, and he isn’t any of those things.”
“Yes, you do and yes, he is. Because if it was anyone else, you wouldn’t be talking about really handing over four hundred bucks, let alone picking up his bar tab,” Max said. “So don’t say that you don’t want to impress the guy.”
“Fine,” Alec replied as Max began to climb. “Whatever you say, Max. I want to impress the guy and he’s evil incarnate. As for me and Jo, yeah, I get her. She’s easy to read, got a beef with Pops, which he is the first to admit is completely understandable but she is dealing with. But Sam... Well, he’s a nice guy and sure, I like the guy. It’s just that I don’t feel the brother thing yet."
“Yet?” Max asked as she continued through the vent. “Alec, you can’t basically go ignoring the guy while you’re taking Dean to the Blowfish to get him a lap dance."
“Hey, I’m not ignoring him. I talk to him, don’t I?”
“Being civil but not really interested doesn’t really count.”
“I am interested in how he’s doing.”
“Really?” Max asked. “Because unless Dean is glued to the guy’s side at the time, I’m not seeing it.”
“You been watching, him Max?” Alec asked.
“Why not, everyone else has been paying attention to the main show or the Jo being a bitch to John to notice what your ‘Sam’ is doing.”
“They haven’t hurt us, Max.” Logan said.
“And maybe they won’t, but that means the guy deserves to get as much attention from his ‘family’ as the other two.”
“Okay, I get the point but it isn’t like I’m not trying,” Alec replied. “And before you bring the Blowfish into this, it was one night and it wasn’t like Sam wouldn’t have been invited if he’d been around.”
“Yeah, sure you’re trying.” Max replied to which Alec huffed.
“The guy can’t complain really. I kind of got him laid, didn’t I?”
“Really, you got him laid?” Logan said over the airwaves as Max turned her head to look at Alec.
“You really should be concentrating on the security feed,” Alec said to Logan as Max refused to move.
“Okay, you have 1 minute thirty before the shift changes and the system completely resets,” Logan said as both neither transgenic made a move to leave.
“Are you saying that Gem was aware that she was part of your half assed bonding experience and it wasn’t that the real reason Sam didn’t know what he was walking into was that you were either too lazy or stupid to explain things to him? That you haven’t caused her and your semi unwanted brother to be stuck in a situation that has probably screwed any chance other either of them being any type of friends?” Max sarcastically asked.
“Any way you are going to cut it I’m the bad guy aren’t I?” Alec said uncomfortably as she stared at him. He nervously swallowed as they both hung in mid air for a few seconds as Alec looked at her contritely. “Sam isn’t exactly unwanted, it’s just I’m trying to really get to know Dean first, okay? I’m sure me and Sam will click in a brotherly way if I…well I’m sure we will.”
Max nodded as she started upwards.
“As for him and the Gem thing, having sex doesn’t automatically screw up a friendship you know - not having it, sure bigger long term funk, but having it, not necessarily last doornail,” Alec reasoned to which Max ground to a complete halt while a tense silence generated from the quiet comm line.
Alec let out a nervous laugh. “And for my next trick, I will pull a shovel out my ass to help me continue to dig my own grave.”
“Guys, one minute” Logan interjected.
“Maxie?” Alec asked as she didn’t move. After a second she turned her attention back to the rope climbing upwards towards the vent.
“Alec?” Logan asked as he hesitated to follow.
“I’m screwed aren’t I?” Alec asked Logan as he watched Max disappear into the vent.
“You want me to answer that?” Logan replied.
“No,” Alec said as he started to climb.
“Then not much different that always then,” Logan’s retorted as Alec reached the top of the rope.
“Thanks man,” Alec said. “Not that I’m saying I don’t deserve it but I’m feeling the love.”
“You really expect anything different?” the voice on the other end of the comm line replied.
-------------------------------------------------------
The bar was smoke-filled and crowded as they sat at a small table at the back working their way through a pitcher and a couple of shots at the beginning of the evening..
“I’ve got to admit, I admire the balls you must have to even say it to her, but you are not going to get to even try to put that one to the test.”
“Hey, I know you got a husband and the rug rats, but you got to admit that even the idea I was going to try and sell that one to you did piss your sister off, and I did point out that if we did it and it was in public, technically it wouldn’t have been us as we’re not here, right? It would be someone else that would be written up for... You still just get a night in jail for lewd conduct, don’t you?” Dean replied as he poured himself a beer from the pitcher. “But if you want to stick to the hard chick act? Fine. I think she did it enough for both of you.”
“Like she has the right to do that on my behalf, even if we were close,” Samantha said.
“If that is what floats your boat,” Dean said. “Got that feeling. Not going to ask about your sibling deal.”
“Clones. We’re clones, not siblings,” Samantha replied.
“Can’t see much difference myself. All of you started in tubes. As far as how I fit in with him, I get that, one of us was born and other made from stolen parts, so I get who’s the clone of whom, but how you guys actually relate to each other, well it could drive a simple guy like me to drink,” Dean admitted, then took a mouthful of beer.
“Well, I wouldn’t think about it too much if I were you,” Samantha replied.
Dean let out a breath before eyeing the pool table. “So, “Maxie,” we got at least a couple of hours to kill and we’re not paying, so what do you say we do what we are supposed to do and actually have a good time?”
Samantha smiled as she got up from the table to grab a pool cue. “Well, let me kick your ass while you explain what you have in mind.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” Dean replied as he started to rack the balls up.
Samantha stilled. “Don’t call me that.”
“Technically I’m not calling anyone anything,” he said with a grin. “Maxie.”
“Sure you’re not, and by the way, let’s get this straight. At no point this evening do you get to mention that I’m supposedly obsessed with your ass.”
Dean looked up with a confused expression on his face as she made the break. “Fine, but you got to at least me make a pathetic effort to hit on at least three girls before you call me a man whore.”
“As long as you don’t ask if I’ve thought about getting a change of batteries or decide to tell me that you’ve worked out that I’m cranky because I’ve suddenly developed a latex allergy.”
“They have a twisted relationship,” Dean admitted as Samantha sunk a ball.
“Tell me about it.”
They hit about four bars, making sure their faces were seen by various crowds by the time it hit 9:30.
“So this guy says that there is this club that has actual live music,” Dean yelled over the noise.
“They got a license?” Samantha said.
“Think so. What do you say? I’m done barhopping,” Dean yelled, pointing to his watch.
“Let me just get rid of this,” She replied, pointing to the pitcher before turning and heading to the busy bar. She pushed her way to the front to try and hand back the pitcher.
“Busy tonight, isn’t it?” a short, dark-haired man said to her.
Samantha sighed. “Yeah, it is busy,” she replied, trying to get through the last of the crowd.
“Haven’t seen you here, but then again I haven’t been out and about in awhile, Max,” he said politely, causing Samantha to turn and look at the man.
“Well, I haven’t been here too much myself, so how have things been with you?” Samantha said, hoping she could get away from the guy quickly in case her cover wasn’t truly blown.
“Been busy, but then again so many things have just started to come together.”
“Really?” she asked.
“You?”
“The same,” she replied.
“Yeah, heard that,” the man said. “But then again, that’s work for you. One minute everything is on track and then it all goes sideways.”
“Thought you said things have just started to come together,” Samantha said, noting the way the guy’s clothes seemed to set him apart from the others at the bar.
“Yes, just when the boss starts going on about how things are falling apart and how we all will have to go back to the drawing board, opportunities just poof, seem to reappear."
“Reappear?” Samanthha asked tentatively.
“Oh, yes. Boss was beginning to give up hope that he’d be able to use that asset again,” he said before looking at his watch. “But I guess I should go. You know what bosses are like; let us out for a quick celebratory drink, but expect you back to the grindstone as soon as we’re done.”
“Yeah, it has been good seeing you... again.”
He smiled. “Yes, and can you say hello to Sam and the family. Tell them we’ll be seeing them soon.”
Her face blanched while her hand gripped tighter on the pitcher as she watched the man turn and walk away, his dark eyes gleaming.
She pulled the guy in front of her out of her way to place the pitcher on the bar before turning to scan the bar.
“Hey, you ready to go?” Dean asked as she slowly walked over to get her jacket.
“Yes, let’s get out of here,” she said cagily.
“What’s wrong?” Dean asked.
She snapped around to him. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Dean hesitated before following her.
“Look, I’m going to go,” she said as she got on her bike. “You be careful.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be fine,” Dean said as she started the engine to take off. Dean grabbed a hold of her waist as he jumped on the back.
“Get off,” she yelled.
“Like hell I will,” Dean said as she slowed the bike down a little. “Wherever you are going, I’m going too, sweetheart.”
“Fine!” she yelled as she opened the throttle and sped up.
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Chapter 16b
“What’s the code?” Max asked.
“Don’t you remember?” Alec asked sarcastically. Max threw him a look that could cut through a glacier. “Oscar India four six two two nine.”
“That’s what I thought,” Max said, putting in the numbers.
“Come on, what did he do?” Alec asked again. “You’ve been pissed since I picked you up, so what did he do to you?”
“Can you guys focus on the job?” a voice said, coming through an ear piece.
“Did she tell you?” Alec asked the disembodied voice. “Come on, Logan. Please. He wouldn’t talk and she isn’t. I just want to know.”
“Floor is clear. Can you throw the false image now?” Max asked Logan.
“Sure, Max,” Logan said. “Security feed is showing continuous rollback. You guys are clear.”
“Thanks,” Max said, dropping the rope that would allow her entry.
“And for the record, Alec, I have no idea what Dean said to her,” Logan said.
“Can we get this job done?” Max asked.
“Sure,” Alec replied as he followed her lead. “You aren’t going to tell me what he said? Not even so you can blame me for it?”
“Three minutes and forty-five seconds,” Logan said through the ear piece as Max worked on the exhibit casing.
“No,” Max said. “I’m not repeating it. I don’t want to think about it and even if he does try it, I’m betting he’ll live to regret it.”
“So you’re not going to tell me?” Alec asked again.
“Alec, go stick your head in the rookie card case,” Max replied coldly. “I’m sure they’ve upped the scanning laser intensity since last time.”
Alec tutted. “You’re not going to tell me? Not even in the aim of helping me bond with my newfound family?”
“Oh, you need no help in bonding with him,” Max said, looking up from her work.
“Three minutes,” Logan said as he counted down. “New shift entering the elevator.”
“Hey, he’s my, you know, template. I want to work out how to get to know the guy,” Alec explained as he sprayed the aerosol to check for hidden security measures.
“Trust me. They didn’t break the mold when they made you,” Max replied as she lifted the ball. “Anyway, if you want to bond with a member of your family, what about Sam? You’ve hardly spent any time with the guy.”
Alec exhaled. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Max replied as she looked up from what she was doing.
“Two minutes,” Logan said. “Are you guys finished?”
“Package collected,” Alec replied to the disembodied voice in his ear before turning to Max. “Honestly I don’t know.
“You’ve been spending all the time you can with Dean, you got Normal to give Jo a tryout, but Sam, you don’t know?”
Alec looked at her. “I don’t know Dean, really and he’s my template, my original. I’m going to be curious, you know? You can’t say that you wouldn’t be the same if you got to meet the woman you were cloned from.”
Max glared. “That doesn’t mean I would bend over backward because I want to impress her. She could be anything. She could be a scheming, gold digging, son of a bitch.”
Alec started to climb. “I don’t want to impress him, and he isn’t any of those things.”
“Yes, you do and yes, he is. Because if it was anyone else, you wouldn’t be talking about really handing over four hundred bucks, let alone picking up his bar tab,” Max said. “So don’t say that you don’t want to impress the guy.”
“Fine,” Alec replied as Max began to climb. “Whatever you say, Max. I want to impress the guy and he’s evil incarnate. As for me and Jo, yeah, I get her. She’s easy to read, got a beef with Pops, which he is the first to admit is completely understandable but she is dealing with. But Sam... Well, he’s a nice guy and sure, I like the guy. It’s just that I don’t feel the brother thing yet."
“Yet?” Max asked as she continued through the vent. “Alec, you can’t basically go ignoring the guy while you’re taking Dean to the Blowfish to get him a lap dance."
“Hey, I’m not ignoring him. I talk to him, don’t I?”
“Being civil but not really interested doesn’t really count.”
“I am interested in how he’s doing.”
“Really?” Max asked. “Because unless Dean is glued to the guy’s side at the time, I’m not seeing it.”
“You been watching, him Max?” Alec asked.
“Why not, everyone else has been paying attention to the main show or the Jo being a bitch to John to notice what your ‘Sam’ is doing.”
“They haven’t hurt us, Max.” Logan said.
“And maybe they won’t, but that means the guy deserves to get as much attention from his ‘family’ as the other two.”
“Okay, I get the point but it isn’t like I’m not trying,” Alec replied. “And before you bring the Blowfish into this, it was one night and it wasn’t like Sam wouldn’t have been invited if he’d been around.”
“Yeah, sure you’re trying.” Max replied to which Alec huffed.
“The guy can’t complain really. I kind of got him laid, didn’t I?”
“Really, you got him laid?” Logan said over the airwaves as Max turned her head to look at Alec.
“You really should be concentrating on the security feed,” Alec said to Logan as Max refused to move.
“Okay, you have 1 minute thirty before the shift changes and the system completely resets,” Logan said as both neither transgenic made a move to leave.
“Are you saying that Gem was aware that she was part of your half assed bonding experience and it wasn’t that the real reason Sam didn’t know what he was walking into was that you were either too lazy or stupid to explain things to him? That you haven’t caused her and your semi unwanted brother to be stuck in a situation that has probably screwed any chance other either of them being any type of friends?” Max sarcastically asked.
“Any way you are going to cut it I’m the bad guy aren’t I?” Alec said uncomfortably as she stared at him. He nervously swallowed as they both hung in mid air for a few seconds as Alec looked at her contritely. “Sam isn’t exactly unwanted, it’s just I’m trying to really get to know Dean first, okay? I’m sure me and Sam will click in a brotherly way if I…well I’m sure we will.”
Max nodded as she started upwards.
“As for him and the Gem thing, having sex doesn’t automatically screw up a friendship you know - not having it, sure bigger long term funk, but having it, not necessarily last doornail,” Alec reasoned to which Max ground to a complete halt while a tense silence generated from the quiet comm line.
Alec let out a nervous laugh. “And for my next trick, I will pull a shovel out my ass to help me continue to dig my own grave.”
“Guys, one minute” Logan interjected.
“Maxie?” Alec asked as she didn’t move. After a second she turned her attention back to the rope climbing upwards towards the vent.
“Alec?” Logan asked as he hesitated to follow.
“I’m screwed aren’t I?” Alec asked Logan as he watched Max disappear into the vent.
“You want me to answer that?” Logan replied.
“No,” Alec said as he started to climb.
“Then not much different that always then,” Logan’s retorted as Alec reached the top of the rope.
“Thanks man,” Alec said. “Not that I’m saying I don’t deserve it but I’m feeling the love.”
“You really expect anything different?” the voice on the other end of the comm line replied.
-------------------------------------------------------
The bar was smoke-filled and crowded as they sat at a small table at the back working their way through a pitcher and a couple of shots at the beginning of the evening..
“I’ve got to admit, I admire the balls you must have to even say it to her, but you are not going to get to even try to put that one to the test.”
“Hey, I know you got a husband and the rug rats, but you got to admit that even the idea I was going to try and sell that one to you did piss your sister off, and I did point out that if we did it and it was in public, technically it wouldn’t have been us as we’re not here, right? It would be someone else that would be written up for... You still just get a night in jail for lewd conduct, don’t you?” Dean replied as he poured himself a beer from the pitcher. “But if you want to stick to the hard chick act? Fine. I think she did it enough for both of you.”
“Like she has the right to do that on my behalf, even if we were close,” Samantha said.
“If that is what floats your boat,” Dean said. “Got that feeling. Not going to ask about your sibling deal.”
“Clones. We’re clones, not siblings,” Samantha replied.
“Can’t see much difference myself. All of you started in tubes. As far as how I fit in with him, I get that, one of us was born and other made from stolen parts, so I get who’s the clone of whom, but how you guys actually relate to each other, well it could drive a simple guy like me to drink,” Dean admitted, then took a mouthful of beer.
“Well, I wouldn’t think about it too much if I were you,” Samantha replied.
Dean let out a breath before eyeing the pool table. “So, “Maxie,” we got at least a couple of hours to kill and we’re not paying, so what do you say we do what we are supposed to do and actually have a good time?”
Samantha smiled as she got up from the table to grab a pool cue. “Well, let me kick your ass while you explain what you have in mind.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” Dean replied as he started to rack the balls up.
Samantha stilled. “Don’t call me that.”
“Technically I’m not calling anyone anything,” he said with a grin. “Maxie.”
“Sure you’re not, and by the way, let’s get this straight. At no point this evening do you get to mention that I’m supposedly obsessed with your ass.”
Dean looked up with a confused expression on his face as she made the break. “Fine, but you got to at least me make a pathetic effort to hit on at least three girls before you call me a man whore.”
“As long as you don’t ask if I’ve thought about getting a change of batteries or decide to tell me that you’ve worked out that I’m cranky because I’ve suddenly developed a latex allergy.”
“They have a twisted relationship,” Dean admitted as Samantha sunk a ball.
“Tell me about it.”
They hit about four bars, making sure their faces were seen by various crowds by the time it hit 9:30.
“So this guy says that there is this club that has actual live music,” Dean yelled over the noise.
“They got a license?” Samantha said.
“Think so. What do you say? I’m done barhopping,” Dean yelled, pointing to his watch.
“Let me just get rid of this,” She replied, pointing to the pitcher before turning and heading to the busy bar. She pushed her way to the front to try and hand back the pitcher.
“Busy tonight, isn’t it?” a short, dark-haired man said to her.
Samantha sighed. “Yeah, it is busy,” she replied, trying to get through the last of the crowd.
“Haven’t seen you here, but then again I haven’t been out and about in awhile, Max,” he said politely, causing Samantha to turn and look at the man.
“Well, I haven’t been here too much myself, so how have things been with you?” Samantha said, hoping she could get away from the guy quickly in case her cover wasn’t truly blown.
“Been busy, but then again so many things have just started to come together.”
“Really?” she asked.
“You?”
“The same,” she replied.
“Yeah, heard that,” the man said. “But then again, that’s work for you. One minute everything is on track and then it all goes sideways.”
“Thought you said things have just started to come together,” Samantha said, noting the way the guy’s clothes seemed to set him apart from the others at the bar.
“Yes, just when the boss starts going on about how things are falling apart and how we all will have to go back to the drawing board, opportunities just poof, seem to reappear."
“Reappear?” Samanthha asked tentatively.
“Oh, yes. Boss was beginning to give up hope that he’d be able to use that asset again,” he said before looking at his watch. “But I guess I should go. You know what bosses are like; let us out for a quick celebratory drink, but expect you back to the grindstone as soon as we’re done.”
“Yeah, it has been good seeing you... again.”
He smiled. “Yes, and can you say hello to Sam and the family. Tell them we’ll be seeing them soon.”
Her face blanched while her hand gripped tighter on the pitcher as she watched the man turn and walk away, his dark eyes gleaming.
She pulled the guy in front of her out of her way to place the pitcher on the bar before turning to scan the bar.
“Hey, you ready to go?” Dean asked as she slowly walked over to get her jacket.
“Yes, let’s get out of here,” she said cagily.
“What’s wrong?” Dean asked.
She snapped around to him. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Dean hesitated before following her.
“Look, I’m going to go,” she said as she got on her bike. “You be careful.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be fine,” Dean said as she started the engine to take off. Dean grabbed a hold of her waist as he jumped on the back.
“Get off,” she yelled.
“Like hell I will,” Dean said as she slowed the bike down a little. “Wherever you are going, I’m going too, sweetheart.”
“Fine!” she yelled as she opened the throttle and sped up.
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Chapter 16b