DA: Season 3

This Fic picks up at right after the season 2 finale.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Angel or any of the characters because let's face it if I did Logan would be long gone and the show wouldn't have ended with two seasons.

Chapter 1: The Aftermath

As Joshua's flag was being raised Max found her hand encompassed in Logan's strong grip, it felt nice to have this connection to reality when everything else was crashing down around her, but she knew that this habit of running back to Logan had to stop. Their lives were like orbiting planets, always passing one another but never meeting, she knew it could never lead to anything more even if they did magically find a cure that allowed them direct contact to one another. Max is not a quitter, she spent years searching for her siblings and trying to take down Manticore, it's not that she was giving up on her and Logan being together, more like she was moving on. When she thought about it she knew she had never loved him, she was in love with the idea of it, of having a normal life. But that's just it, she wasn't normal, never was and she needed to be with her own kind and find a way to lead them. It was a sad realization and she knew that she had to cut him loose once and for all, no lies, no pining, just the truth. Everyone that had gathered for the flag raising slowly began to depart, Max sent Alec and Joshua a smile not noticing the way they both looked at her hand in Logan's one with a resigned expression, the other confused before joining the thinning crowd. She finally released his hand turning to him.

"Logan can you stay back with me? We need to talk."

"Sure Max. Joshua's flag was great huh?"

"Yeah, great," she said distractedly. "Look Logan I have some things I need to say and I don't want you to interrupt just listen, ok?" she asked softly worrying him. He nodded and she took a deep breath before continuing.

"We can never be together Logan, and not just because of this genetically specific retrovirus but because I can't see you that way. We danced around each other for a year before Manticore captured me again and sure we had a connection but it never lead to anything. I held onto the idea of you, or normalcy but I don't want to anymore you don't deserve that, you deserve to be happy and I need to be with my own people." As she was talking Logan felt his anger rising and he wasn't going to hold back.

"Wow Max," he said in a mocking tone. "Great speech, so basically you used me and lead me along this entire time like an idiot and now that you have your freaks you're just going to shove me aside. Oh, wait that's right because you have Alec now. The screw up that ruined everything for us. First he tries to kill you and Joshua, then he ruins our chances of getting the cure and then your always having to bail him out because of his own stupidity but you still go back to him like a b****. You disgust me, and after everything I've done for you" His head snaps to the side as Max slaps him, shocking him into silence, only when he sees the fury in her eyes does he stop to think that he may have gone too far.

"You can say whatever you want about me but I will not allow you to talk about my people and Alec like that. At Manticore they always told me that I was poison, that I got the people I care about hurt. But the poison in my life is you, you sent me on your heroic missions never mind my safety, you're the one who put me back in Lydecker and White's crosshairs. You're the reason my brother Zack is gone, the reason we've all been put in danger and you still have the nerve to speak with your self- righteous attitude like your above all of us. I don't know what I ever saw in you. Like I told the police chief, we take care of our own and that doesn't include you, I don't need you." With a final glare she turns and stalks away. "I trust you can find your way out", is tossed over her shoulder. So she thinks she can throw me out like I'm worthless, well she'll see that she never should have crossed me, should never have left me for that animal. I'll be back Max. Are Logan's final thoughts.

She storms down the stairs making her way to the makeshift gym. It's run down but salvageable, there are mats and punching bags along with lockers and showers on the opposite side of the gym. Making her way to a bag she began to vent her emotions until the only thing that can be heard is the sound of fists meeting their target and heavy breathing. She hasn't seemed to notice the well of tears streaming down her face or the man in the doorway watching her with worry. Alec makes his way towards her carefully not wanting to startle her, her behavior scaring him because he's never seen her so broken, her pain sends a flash of anger through him and he suddenly wants to rip through whoever did this to her. He remembers her standing with him on the roof and feels his anger increase. Of course, Logan. Wait till I get my hands on him. Reaching out he takes hold of Max's wrists and uses them to pull her into his chest from behind, he feels her shaking from the force of keeping her sobs from coming out and Alec's heart breaks. Just like the night their friendship evolved in her kitchen when she opened up to him about Ben he holds her close burying his face in her hair and breathing in the scent that is so uniquely Max a mixture of cherries and the outdoors. Because of the feline mix in their DNA the sense of touch is important to them, the feeling of their 'pack' and he comforts her the best way he knows how.

Max sensed Alec as he stood in the doorway thanks to her keen sense of smell and wondered what he would do. When he wraps her in his arms she is immensely relieved that he's the one who found her. She doesn't like to be weak or vulnerable around others but she knows that Alec won't judge her. She has always trusted him to watch her back but that night in her apartment she had trusted him with her emotions and he hadn't disappointed her. She finds herself turning in his arms pressing her cheek to his chest to listen to the steady thump thump of his heartbeat.

"What did he do Maxie?" he asks quietly. Backing away much too soon in Alec's opinion she begins to wipe her face turning away from him. He waits in silence and just when he thinks she won't answer him she begins to speak.

"I broke things off with Logan for good." Alec feels his heart lift but makes sure to school his features. Right, she'll be sad for a while but then she'll go back to him, she always does. He's perfect. God, why am I even thinking about this? I'm turning into a female with all this relationship crap. Beer, think about beer and chicks. Yeah that's manly. Finally realizing that she is still speaking he snaps to attention.

"-realized I never loved him, I just wanted a normal life and I thought we could have that. I never expected him to react the way he did, he said some pretty horrible things and then I sent him away."

"Wait you sent him away? What did he say Max?"

"That's not important. Alec how could I have been so stupid? He was never right for me always pushing me to go on eyes only missions for him and putting us in danger. How could I not have noticed the way he felt about our kind, about you?" At this the blondes head snaps up.

"Max you are many things, mean, high-strung, and a total pain in my ass but you are not stupid. Logan took advantage of you only thinking about ways you could benefit him, all this is on him not you. If he can't accept you or your feelings than he's not worth it." She gazes at him getting lost in his eyes and letting his words sink in. He smirks at her before adding, "I think it's sweet that you felt the need to defend my honor Maxie and kick Logan out for talking about little 'ol me." He says in a teasing tone. And he's back, thinks Max groaning.

"Get over yourself. I just figured if anyone's going to insult you it's going to be me," is her snappy retort before exiting the gym and heading toward HQ Alec at her side.

"That's cold Max."

"I'm sure you have plenty of female company that can keep you warm," she says eyes narrowing.

"You know jealous is a good look on you Maxie, if you feel the need to get in any girl on girl fights over me by all means go ahead," he crows winking at her.

"Don't call me Maxie," she says slapping him on the back of the head.

"Geez, easy on the hardware," he grunts while rubbing his head.

"Don't be such a baby," she mutters as she enters the room that serves as their command center. Joshua and Mole with his ever present cigar are sitting at a corner table polishing guns while Luke and Dix are manning the computers and cameras that make up their security and communications.

"What was that Max, did you call me baby? Does this mean I get to call you cute names too? How about snuggle bunny, hmm no, oh Kitten!"

"Shut up!" she said turning to punch his shoulder much to the amusement of everyone in the room.

"Bunch of disruptive kids," mutters Mole while an exited and shy Luke reports their progress to Max.

"We're going to need a lot more equipment in order to be able to monitor all of TC." He tells her.

"Ok, we'll get a group together to scrounge the sector for parts. Mole, your combat skills and smarts are going to be useful to us, I'll need you by my side to plan tactics and strategy."

Mole simply nods shocked that she would want his input, and she isn't finished surprising people.

"The safety and defense of our kind is a huge task and I'll need all the help I can get. I'd also like to make Alec my second in command." At her revelation all traces of teasing leave his face.

"Max, are you sure?"

"Who else would I choose? Besides we've been through a lot and I trust you to have my back."

"Always," is his sincere reply.

"Good, now that we have the chain of command taken care of the first thing I want us to do is make a log with the names and designations of the people we have here, we also need to organize a group to gather supplies for Luke and Dix to finish working on security, we'll also need a group to scavenge for supplies or anything else here that will be useful to us. Our next task will be debating on how we can stock ourselves with rations, medical supplies and weapons."

"I'll start working on making a record of everyone in TC," said Alec.

"Good," said Max. "I'll lead the scavenging groups with Joshua's help." She looks at him for confirmation and he nods enthusiastically.

"Yeah, Joshua help little buddy."

"All right, report back here this evening."

With affirmative nods they set of to complete their tasks everyone content in the knowledge that they have something to work for.

Meanwhile in California:

Lydecker had been watching the news when he Saw 452 caught on camera flying on a hover drone. He has been keeping an eye on the escalating situation in Seattle and after seeing that the Manticore escapee's have created a stronghold in Sector 7 he knows it's time. Seeing Tinga's brutal death gave him incentive to defect from Manticore. It had only been a matter of time, he didn't like Renfro or the way she was managing thins, managing him or his kids. While on the outside he had used his many resources to gather intel and what he discovered was beyond anything he imagined. He learned that Sandman was involved with the familiars before leaving them to create genetically enhanced beings that would be immune to the lethal pathogen brought on from 'the coming', he was trying to find a way to save mankind. Lydecker always knew that his kids were important but the complete puzzle had never been revealed to him until now. He had to gather the group if there was going to be a chance for survival. It hadn't been easy and he had taken quite a few trips to the emergency room but he had tracked down Zane, Krit, Syl, Brin, Seth and Jondy. He sought out Krit and Syl first, after their mission to take out Manticore's DNA lab he knew they would be more susceptible to his presence especially once they learned that they would looking for their siblings. Much to his annoyance because they understood that he was no longer a threat they assumed it gave them license to run their mouths. Needless to say they provided him with a constant headache and not that he would ever admit it but he had missed their childish antics and was looking forward to their reunion. Once he had their added numbers and skills they gained access to the Manticore facility in Wyoming where they had landed the biggest shock of all. Tinga, Ben, Jack, and Eva were alive and well. Renfro had not wanted to risk the original X5-656 and had used Tinga's double in the experiment that had led them to believe she was dead. Ben or 493 had been brought into the Manticore labs and revived, he had also been re-indoctrinated and confined to psy-ops where he was 'cured'. Jack or 417 who was believed to have died from a seizure had actually been taken in for experimentation and when the 09'ers escaped he was re-indoctrinated and assigned a new unit and designation. Eva, who Lydecker had shot for defending Max the night of their escape had not died and was re-integrated in the same manner as Jack, they were all much too valuable to be given up. Unfortunately Kavi and Vada had been hunted down and killed, a fact that saddened the other 09'ers. Lydecker knew that Max and Zack had been taken in together the night they blew up Manticore's DNA lab and assumed they were together now. The kids had been training and preparing, they were also insubordinate and restless but this is what they had been waiting for, they were going to unite their family and take down a few bad guys in the process. Brought out of his musings he calls the X5's into their makeshift command room and begins to play the media broadcast from Seattle.

"Geez is that Max? That is badass!" comes from Zane.

"Awesome!" Krit and Syl say in unison. Brin gives a grunt of approval. Jondy, Tinga and Eva all release exclamations of wonder at seeing their baby sister alive and in action. Meanwhile Ben smiles quietly to himself, after the way he and Max left things before his 'death' he is eager to see her again, eager to make her laugh and be her protector again. Most of all he wants to ask her forgiveness. He had confessed everything to his siblings and they were able to forgive and comfort him, but he was missing one important person. His baby sister.

"Max and I are so doing that when we meet up," says Seth and reaches to high-five Zane's outstretched hand.

"Hell yeah."

"She grew up nice," said Jack causing his sisters in the nearby vicinity to all slap him. "Hey! It's a compliment, God you guys should only be allowed to be around us one at a time, three against one is not fair."

"Behave," says Tinga, eyes sparling with mirth. Jack just sticks his tongue out at her which causes them all to laugh.

"Ahem." They all turned to see Lydecker frowning at their antics. They all grew quiet when they saw how serious the situation was and all the vile things people were spouting about their kind. When the broadcast was over the mood in the room was somber.

"Max and the other escapees have taken over sector 7 and are surrounded by local police, the military and most importantly White and the Familiars." Said Lydecker. The X5's made noises of distaste before Zane spoke up.

"So what's the plan?"

"We are going to build a convoy and stock up on rations, ammo and medical supplies for them. Right now they'll be training and building defenses but they'll have no way to get supplies. Jack, Zane, Seth, Ben and Krit you'll be in charge of acquiring the trucks for transport. Syl, Brin, Jondy, Eva and Tinga, you all will be responsible for gathering the supplies, make as many runs as you have to, we can stop to re-supply while on route but I'd prefer to get to Seattle as soon as possible. I will try to make contact with Zack or Max and use my contacts to get us any documents we might need to make it through the state borders. Get in, get out, understood?"

"Yes, sir." Was the resounding reply. They split up to plan their assignments none of them knowing that they would not be the only surprise visitors that Max and the unsuspecting residents of TC would be receiving.

Back in TC:

Luke was the first to spot the hunched over woman creeping along TC's western perimeter, out of sight from the countless squad cars that had been camped outside their front gates since yesterday.

"Dix do you see this? Someone get Max and Alec in here. Dispatch some of the X's on patrol to see if she's a threat." The others in HQ ran to do his bidding.

Outside two X-6's Trix and Sniper approached the woman warily eyeing the covered bundle in her arms. "Who are you, are you a transgenic?"

"No," she responded looking at them with desperate eyes. "I need to see 452 and 494 immediately. I know they're here I saw them on the news."

"Whoa lady," said Sniper. "What do you want with them?"

"Just get them, I need to speak with them, I need to see them!" Her voice was rising now and the bundle in her arms started squirming and Trix and Sniper could hear a soft mewling sound coming from it.

"What are you carrying?" asked Sniper pulling forward his weapon.

The woman carefully removed the blanket and revealed a tiny sleeping baby drawing gasps from the two transgenics.

"I need to see X5-452 and X5-494. This is their child."

That's it for now. Read and Review. Can't wait for Alec and Max to meet the newest little addition.