[Alex, Lorna, Mr.Dane] Backdated to Monday October 4th

[x-havok.livejournal.com]

Lorna goes off to get coffee, leaving Mr. Dane and Alex alone. Mr.Dane attacks and Alex refuses to budge.


Paul watched Lorna take a deep breath and whisper something to that boyfriend of hers before sticking her hands in her pockets and walking off. Except for the short fight they’d had earlier, he hadn’t really had a chance to talk to her and now was no exception. She walked by without so much as a glance in his direction. Left alone with just That Boy, Paul tried to figure out if he was required to speak to him at all or if he could ignore him until he went away. Paul drummed his fingers against his knee and checked the time.

Alex was trying very hard to sleep standing up; of course, he'd chosen to stand in an attempt to stay awake. Neither was working, in part to the glares Alex felt coming in his direction from where Mr. Dane sat. They were the only two in the waiting room now, Lorna having gone off to find some coffee. He bit his lip, trying very hard not to say anything, but the looks were getting to him.

That Boy kept twitching. Paul didn’t trust twitchy people. Untrustworthy usually and unreliable, not the kind of man his daughter should be dating. Paul glowered. “Can’t you keep still?”

Alex looked at Mr. Dane through his bangs. "Maybe if you would stop glaring at me like I was a bug..." He flinched abit, he had promised Lorna he'd behave around her father. So much for that.

His hair was too long. Paul remembered when Lorna dated boys with proper hair cuts and good manners. Boys who had never nearly killed her. “I don’t think you’re a bug. I just don’t know why you’re here.”

Realizing this was going to go on for longer then he'd expected, Alex stood up straight, stretching a bit. "I’m here because your daughter asked me to be here to support her. Would you have wanted me to say no?" He realized he was sounding rude but frankly he was tired and sick of this tension between him and Lorna's father.

“You aren’t with her right now.” Paul really didn’t hate That Boy but picking on him was better than harassing the nurses again. Plus, they had begun to ignore him.

"She went to get coffee, she's a big girl I think she can handle it. But this isn't about her is it?" After stretching, he crossed his arms and leaned slightly back against the wall again.

Paul glared, “Of course it is. I’m concerned about the young man my daughter has chosen to associate herself with despite the values and standards with which she was raised. Janice,” Paul stopped and swallowed hard, why hadn’t the doctor come back with another update yet, “my wife thought that you were a good kid but then you ran. I’m not so sure.”

Alex closed his eyes. Did everything he do have to go back to running? "Isn't it her choice on who she associates with? She was the one I nearly killed and frankly, I thought she'd never forgive me. But she did and I consider myself lucky." He sighed and shook his head. "I know I ran...and I know it was a mistake. I’m still living it down, but it seems I'm not the only one to not let it go." He glared pointedly at Mr. Dane.

“She is my daughter. You can’t even begin to understand what that means but part of it is wanting only the best for her. Don’t you dare tell me that I have to let it go. We didn’t know if she was going to live and you left her.” Paul leaned forward, hands fisted on his knees. “The last time someone abused her she left him without a backward glance. What did you do to her?”

"I did nothing. Her forgiving me was something she did on her own." Alex paused to take a deep breath. "I ran because I was scared and she told me to get away. I couldn't live without her and I wasn't going to cause her pain by staying. I know now it was a mistake, a mistake she has forgiven me for. Why can't you?"

“You nearly killed her. You are asking her father to forgive that?” Paul sat back. “Convince me, boy. Convince me that you’re anywhere near good enough to be here with my daughter. She argued your case earlier, prove that her faith isn’t poorly placed.”


"You think I don't live with the fact I almost killed one of the people I love most in this every single day? Some days it nearly kills me." Alex took a deep breath, now lost for words. How does one explain that? "Convince you that I love her? That I would go to the ends of the earth for her?" He paused a moment to think, before speaking softly. "A few weeks ago, we got into a fight, a major one. As much as I love her and would literally die with out her...I told her that if it would make her happier, she should find someone else. And I meant it. That's the only thing I can think of in my defensive...that I would give her up if she thought she'd be happy else where. Because that's how much I love her." His voice had stayed flat until the last where he faltered slightly. This was hard...but worth it.

Janice had told him years ago that Lorna was going to eventually find someone that Paul couldn’t shake. Paul took it as a challenge. “You’d leave her to make her happy. That’s the best you can do? Running away is easy. Staying is the hard part. You don’t seem to be good at it.”

"I didn't say running away. I said I'd let her go if that's what she wanted. Trust me, there's a difference." Alex carefully stressed the words to show he meant business.

“She told you to go in December too.” Paul kept a cold eye on That Boy who was still twitchy. “From what I see, you took the opportunity to run and leave her with blame.”

"Blame..." Alex shook his head. "Do you have any idea what you’re spouting anymore. Look, it's clear nothing I say or do is going to make me good enough for your little girl. In fact, I'm sure I have it worse then most of her previous boyfriends due to the fact my mutation blew her up. I realize I've made mistakes and I've tired my best to fix them. Lorna has forgiven me and we're trying to make this work because we love each other. Can't you just respect her decision and be happy for us?" Alex was sick and tired of this back and forth when he knew he wasn't going to change Mr. Dane’s mind.

Janice liked That Boy. Paul knew she was usually a good judge of character. “Lorna sometimes likes things that aren’t good for her. It’s my job to protect her when that happens.” His glare became more appraising, “I don’t think you’re good for her.”

Alex forced himself not to return the glare and remain calm. "Then I doubt I ever will be in your eyes. So your just going to have to get used to the fact that I'm not going any where, because your right, it's harder to stay then to run, and I plan on staying around for a long long time."

Paul narrowed his eyes, “I have a shotgun.” It was just a last ditch effort. Janice was right; this boy wouldn’t shake. Lorna hadn’t either. She rarely actually defied him but she had for this.

For some odd reason, that made Alex laugh. "Umm...Okay, and?" He shook his head. "I don't care. An Atomic bomb wouldn't separate me from your daughter."

Paul started to say something but stopped when he saw Lorna coming back with her hands wrapped around a coffee cup. He frowned one last time at Alex then shrugged. He got up and went to look for a nurse to harass.

Alex walked over to Lorna, putting an arm over her shoulders, kissing her gently on the cheek. "Hey love..." He glanced over his shoulder at Mr. Dane. Shaking his head, Alex led Lorna over to a chair, she being his number one priority at the moment.

“Hi,” she leaned on him gratefully and glanced after her father. He didn’t look as murderous as he had when she’d left. “What happened?”

He took a deep breath as he sat beside her. "We had a discussion. He said he'd never approve of me and I said I was never leaving your side. Kind of ended in a draw I think." Alex shook his head. "But that's not important right now. How are you doing?"

“I’m okay. I met up with the doctor while I was walking. He didn’t say much but he tried to be encouraging.” She offered him some of her coffee by reflex. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think Daddy would attack you. Did he threaten you with his shotgun?”

Alex shook his head at the offer. "Its' okay really. It's probably something he needed to get out or this whole situation would be worse." Then he grinned. "Yes I was threatened with the shotgun. Is that a good thing?"

She sipped at her coffee and nodded, “He’s a pretty good shot, actually. It’s his last stand. You got him there in one session, I’m shocked.” She kissed him. “I’m not really. He’s off his game right now and you’re a much tougher nut to crack than he’d have expected.”

Gladly returns the kiss, though still holds her when they move apart. "I sure am a tough nut to crack...especially when it comes to you...I love you."

“And I love you. Daddy will learn to live with it. It always takes a little while for him to come around.” Lorna sighed and settled her head on Alex’s shoulder.

"Even if he doesn't...I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head before cuddling her close as if to prove the point.

“Good. Because I won’t let you.” Lorna cuddled back, needing to have him to lean on.

Alex glances at Mr. Dane who has returned out of the corner of his eye and smiles gently, kissing the top of her head again. "Why don't you get some sleep? I'll wake you if we hear anything."

She shook her head a little bit, “I’m not tired.” She closed her eyes anyway. It would be nice to just rest a bit. Her eyes felt like they were on fire.

Paul watched Lorna fall asleep with Alex holding her, saw him gently ease the half-full coffee mug out of her hands and set it aside. He walked over to where they sat and tucked his hands in his pockets. “Lorna and Janice seem to think you’re worth keeping around. And Dane women are usually pretty good at that.” He took out his hand and extended it, “Take care of her and I promise not to shoot you without a warning.”

Alex carefully wiggled one arm out from around Lorna's sleeping form and gladly shook Mr. Dane's hand. "I will." Short and simple seemed the best way to answer, his bringing his arm back to hold his girlfriend only added too it.