Stolen Moment
Disclaimer: Don’t own the characters or the concepts; just borrowing them!
Category: Alex and Isabel
Summary: A missing scene from Crazy. It seemed to me that, while we heard Alex ask Isabel to start off by “taking things slow,” Tess showed up before Isabel answered him. How exactly did they get to that cute and cozy place where Izzy feels she can fall asleep on Alex’s shoulder? This takes place at the Crashdown, just before Michael and Maria take off to meet Topolsky at Buckley Point.
Spoilers: Through Crazy.
Rating: PG
Feedback: Sure! Love it!
Author’s note: This is for all of the Stargazers who are in shock after Four Square.
***
Isabel Evans stepped out of the ladies room at the Crashdown and straightened her jacket nervously as she headed back toward the counter where Alex was waiting. He had his back to her and she took a moment to watch him as he sat unaware, playing with the crazy straw in his orange soda. There was a tension in the way he held himself, so opposite to his usual relaxed posture that her heart skipped a little faster, her blood rushed a little more swiftly. It wasn’t attraction she felt, at least not at that moment. It was fear. She knew he was thinking about the night before – about the man in the car, about Valenti, about alien hunters and FBI agents and Topolsky. Isabel felt a shiver run through her at the very thought of how close Alex might have been to getting hurt. He had told her just the night before that he would do anything to protect her; she was beginning to understand how he felt.
She walked slowly up to the counter and sat on the stool next to him, smiling shyly. “I hope you don’t mind. I mean, just hanging out for awhile,” she said softly. “I just didn’t want to be alone tonight,” she admitted.
Alex met her gaze with a soft smile of his own. “Me neither.”
“Alex,” Isabel began, “I…uh…I’m sorry for yesterday.”
He looked puzzled. “What do you mean? That guy? Isabel, that had nothing to do with you.”
She crooked one eyebrow at him.
“Well, okay,” he admitted sheepishly, “I guess indirectly it did, but what I mean is that it wasn’t your fault. We’re all in this together.”
Isabel studied him silently, her expression serious, imagining all of the things that could have happened to him, that little panicky flutter increasing around her heart. “You really mean that, don’t you? God, Alex, how can you be so….generous about all of this? If I were you I think I’d be running as far and as fast as I could right now.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You’re much stronger than that.”
“No, Alex,” she whispered, looking down at her hands clenched in her lap. “I’m not. I like to think I am, but it isn’t true. All that about not showing weakness, it’s just an act.”
“Isabel, don’t you know that real courage is putting up a good front and doing what you have to do, even when you’re terrified?” Alex reached out and laid one hand over hers and squeezed gently. “Only stupid people aren’t afraid in the face of danger.”
Hearing his words, feeling his comforting touch, Isabel knew the truth. It was crystal clear in that instant. Alex might be afraid, Alex might be terrified, but he was just as scared for her as he was for himself. And he would do what he had to do, in spite of that fear. Raising her eyes, Isabel shifted her hands so they were palm-up and clasped Alex’s hand in hers. “Thank you.”
Alex blinked, his eyes traveling from their joined hands to her beautiful brown eyes. “What for?”
She shrugged and smiled. “For being you. And for not running as fast as you can to get away from me.”
“Isabel, I would never run from you.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath and squeezed his hand tightly as if for luck. “Alex, about what you said yesterday. About taking things slow?”
Alex looked flustered. “Yeah, well, you know me, never giving up. But don’t worry about it. I mean, I know you want to just be friends and I keep pushing, but your friendship means a lot to me, so just forget about it.”
“Alex?”
“What?”
“Shut up a minute.”
“Oh, okay.”
Isabel smiled at him, his show of nerves having dispelled a few of the butterflies that were inexplicably circling her stomach. “I think maybe taking things slow would be nice.”
Alex’s mouth fell open and Isabel let out a short laugh.
At that moment, the door to the back swung open and Liz flew into the café. Her headpiece and apron were gone and she was carrying her coat over one arm. A large key ring dangled from one hand. “Guys,” she said in an urgent whisper as she stopped short behind them. “Go get Max. Meet me in the back. I have to close up.”
Isabel turned at Liz’s abrupt order. “Max isn’t off work for another half hour, Liz. What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the panic in the other girl’s face.
“We have a problem,” Liz said, her eyes darting toward the back meaningfully. “Just go get Max. We’re going to Buckley Point.”
Isabel and Alex exchanged quick looks. Isabel groaned and slid off her stool. “God, Michael,” she muttered. Grabbing Alex’s arm, she tugged him after her as she headed for the door. “See you in five minutes,” she called back to Liz. “One of these days,” she mumbled, “I’m gonna kill one of my brothers. The only question is, which goes first.” Hand and hand, she and Alex raced down the street toward the UFO Center.
***
END
