Escape and Evade

Chapter 3



"Alec, " Max called softly from her resting-place on the floor where her head rested in his lap.



When he didn't answer she carefully twisted in his lap to look up at him. He was fast asleep against the wall. She smiled and rested her head more comfortably in his lap and closed her eyes. She felt almost a hundred percent but she didn't want to risk getting up just yet. Especially since he was asleep.



She thought back to earlier when he refused to leave her there to get help. It surprised her she admitted that. When she woke up she was surprised to find Alec still there and...comforting her. His conviction made her uneasy in some way. Not necessarily a bad way, but...



She opened her eyes and looked around the best she could to observe their surroundings. Her gaze fell upon the whole she fell down. It was narrow enough for them to climb back up. The distance from the opening of the whole to the floor was about ten feet. It was a jump they could both make when she was at full strength.



Above her Alec made an incoherent sound and opened his eyes. He looked down at Max to see how she was and found her staring up at him. He felt his stomach flip at the site of her resting her head in his lap and looking up at him with a glint in her eye.



"How are you feeling?" he asked staring down at her.



"Better, " she said softly. "Have a nice nap?" He opened and closed his eyes, "Yeah, how long was I out?"



"About three hours, " she replied.



He smiled down at her, "You must be feeling better. You can look up at me without your head feeling like its about to explode."



She chuckled, "I'm pretty much good I just didn't want to try and stand while you were asleep."



He rubbed his face, "You should've woke me."



She shrugged the best she could, "You looked so peaceful I couldn't bring myself too. Plus, I figured it was good payback for me being out on you for so long."



"Yeah well, that's you always putting me in a position I don't want to be, " he joked.



She quirked her eyebrow, "Since you're awake, why don't I try standing huh?"



He gave her a lopsided grin and carefully helped her sit up. "Slow...easy...take it easy, " he said as he helped her sit up strait. "You okay?" he asked.



She just sat for a moment, "Good so far, help me the rest of the way."



"You sure, " he asked concerned.



She rolled her eyes and thankfully it didn't hurt. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head?"



It was his turn to roll his eyes, "Excuse the hell out of me for showing some concern."



"Yeah well, it's just out of your usual character is all, " she said trying to stand.



His smart-ass remark was cut off by his instinct to help her. He held her by her hips and helped her stand. She fell against him and grabbed his hands on her hips.



"Easy there tiger, " he whispered into her ear. "Small steps okay I won't let you go."



His voice and breath so close to her ear rendered her powerless to argue so she only nodded.



"I'm okay, I think I can do it, " she said as confidently as possible.



"You sure, " he asked making sure when he let her go she didn't fall flat on her face.



"Yes!" she insisted.



Carefully, he let his grip lesson on her till he was fully separated from her. He watched her carefully to see if she staggered. Slowly he walked to stand in front of her and touched her head gently, "How's the head." He said gently.



"I'm good...really I feel fine, " she said with confidence. She looked up at the opening of the whole and said, "Think we can jump up there and wedge ourselves up to the opening?"



He looked up and said, "Well, I know I can, but do you think you can do it?"



She shrugged, "Won't know till I try. I can go first that way if I loose my grip or get light headed you can break my fall."



She smiled at the look on his face.