It shouldn’t bother me…it doesn’t. Then why can’t I stop looking? Why can’t I tear my eyes away from their intertwined hands? Everyone around me watches triumphantly as the flag flies above us, stating who we are, what we are…stating our victory. But all I see is those gloved hands, fit snugly in one another, as though they’re meant to be. The virus couldn’t keep them apart after all. And if that can’t, what can? Certainly not another guy…certainly not me…it’s not like I’d want to anyway. Far be it for me, lowly creature that I am, to stand in the way of true love.

Look at the way she looks at him, as though he’s her world. I could imagine her looking at me like that…almost. All I ever get are those looks of disgust. I mean, sure we’ve had our moments lately but…it’s nothing compared with that.

“Coming Alec?” Joshua asks me, as the others all turn to leave, to find places to sleep for the night.

“Umm…” I look over at Max, catching her eye.

“We’ll catch up.” Max says, receiving a smile from Logan. Joshua seems pleased by this; I however can’t help but notice my stomach turn.

“How’s you shoulder Alec?” Josh asks as we head off back to head quarters, not quite ready to turn in yet.

“It’s fine.” I reply nonchalantly. He pokes it gently with two fingers and looks frightened when I wince.

“I get Max to fix it.” he says, ready to run back to where Max and Logan stand, still hand in hand.

“Ahh…Josh, I think they’re kinda busy right now, it can wait.” I tell him. He seems all right with this suggestion.

“You will get her to look at it?” he asks.

“I will, when she gets back.” I lie, knowing full well I can’t let her see me like this…fragile…broken. He nods acceptingly, always the trusting one of the pair of us.

We walk all the way back to HQ in peaceful silence, but I know Josh is worried about me. Hell, I would be too if my mind wasn’t unwillingly lying elsewhere. Those hands…that look…

So Joshua left hours ago and here I am, waiting patiently at HQ, to see her. I don’t know why I do this to myself…why I wait. I mean, hell, she’s probably shacked up in some cosy little apartment with Mr Do-good right now. Ugh…that’s just the mental image I need!

“Alec!” her stern voice echoes down the hallways.

“In here.” I yell, relieved to hear her voice, yet disappointed it’s not in a lighter tone. I shuffle some papers around on her desk, pretending to look busy so she doesn’t know I’ve been sitting here all night, just waiting for her.

“You ass!” she yells, stepping into the entrance so I can see her beautiful form.

“What have I done now?” I ask, incredulously.

“You promised Joshua you’d get me to look at your shoulder.” She looks at me accusingly, obviously only angry with me for lying to him, not at all concerned for my wellbeing. She takes a first aid kit out of the cupboard near the door, and then walks over to where I sit. Lightly she sits down on the desk, careful not to knock any papers before pulling my arm harshly in her direction. She rips the sleeve off my shirt, completely oblivious as I squirm in pain.

“Watch it Maxie, it hurts.” I whine.

“You’re such a wimp.” She jibes me, as she pulls a cloth and some antiseptic cream out of the kit.

“It’s a gunshot wound Max, not a paper cut, I doubt that stuff will do much good.”

“Shut up.” She tells me, before using the cloth to dab away the blood from my shoulder, revealing the small entrance wound. She carefully examines my arm, her fingers running over the swollen flesh of my bicep. I tense at her touch as she continues her ministrations, looking intently at the wound. I almost see a wave of concern and even sympathy wash over her features before she tears her eyes away from me and puts her hands back in the first aid kit.

“You’ll live.” She mumbles, before pulling out a bandage.

“Gee…say it like you mean it Max.” I roll my eyes as she carefully wraps the bandage around my arm.

“There, done.” She smiles, before jumping back up off the desk and putting the kit back in the cupboard exactly as she’d found it. I stand up and make my way for the door, before realising I don’t have anywhere to go.

“I’ll see you in the morning Alec.” She says, before heading for the door. I turn back around and head back for the desk chair, deciding it will do for the night. Max pauses at the exit and watches me as I fumble around with the height of the chair, trying to make myself comfortable.

“You staying here?” she asks.

“Um…yeah yeah.” I tell her, trying to sound as breezy as I can manage. “I don’t have a place yet, haven’t had much time, you know. This’ll do for tonight.” She watches me contemplatively for a moment, as if battling internally with something.

“You gonna stay and watch me sleep or are you going to leave me in peace?” I bark, not really sure what else to say to alleviate this awkward silence.

“C’mon.” she tilts her head, willing me to follow her. I rise to my feet without so much as a protest and follow her out of HQ into Terminal City’s main street, which is now very much deserted.

“I found a nice apartment earlier today when I somehow managed to find a moment to spare. It’s nice. You’ll like it.”

“I’ll like it? You mean I can stay there with you?”

“Sure, there’s room enough. And I’m so used to living with OC, it’d be weird to be alone now.”

“Alone? What about Logan?” I ask, kicking myself for doing so.

“I don’t want to risk it…living together…with the virus.” I nod my head, letting her know she doesn’t have to go on, as I know what a painful subject it is for her. “And you don’t have to worry bout him anymore either Alec, I told him the truth about us today.” She reassures me.

“Yeah, he mentioned it. Thanks, I’m not exactly used to playing the part of the fake boyfriend. I mean, it’s got all the responsibilities but none of the benefits.” I wink at her. She shakes her head, as if at a rebellious child.

“So…this place, does it have a hot tub?” I ask jokingly as we make our way down the main street to Max’s, and strangely now my new apartment.