Too Many Times.
Summary: Alec's forgiven Max too many times for what she has said or done. What happens when one particular fight hits home?
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel.
Chapter 1: Hurt.
Alec McDowell packed the last of his things into his duffel bag and slung it onto his shoulder. Sliding onto his motorcycle, he prepared to leave Seattle.
Forever.
He didn't want to leave Seattle, it was his home. But he couldn't stay here anymore. He'd been hurt too many times. Too many times by the person who he cared for the most.
By Max Guevara.
Normally, he would have waved it off. Knowing that she was just angry because he was being a smartass again.
But this time it really hurt.
"You really think I could do it Max? You think I could murder someone in cold blood" Alec said praying that she would say no. His heart shattered with her next words.
"Yes Alec I think you could" Her words were spat with such venom that his soul was ripped into two.
So he decided to do what she had been telling him to do for a long time.
Leave
Taking one last look at his apartment. The space needle. Seattle. He left.
Driving off down the highway.
Heading as far away from Max as possible.
She sat in Crash with OC and Sketchy. But her mind was on something else.
Someone else.
She felt guilty.
She shouldn't have said what she said earlier.
But there was no excuse for what she said.
Because she had believed it.
Every single word.
She had though that he was a cold blooded killer.
She had said it.
Then later she found out the truth.
It hadn't been him at all.
He had been framed.
It had been Ben.
That was two hours ago and now she sat in Crash.
Feeling guilty.
Because not only had she hurt him…
She had made him leave.
She had pushed him over the edge, and now he was gone.
The wind whipped at Max's hair as she drove back to her and OC's apartment. Her mobile rang and she pulled up at the side of the road.
It was Logan.
"Hey Logan" She said, flipping open the phone.
"Max. I got some news. But your not gonna like it" He replied.
"What? Alec's got himself in more trouble with the police?" She said sarcastically.
"Actually…" He paused, unsure of how to say it. "Alec's innocent"
"What?" Max replied.
Logan took a deep breath. "It was Ben".
"How do you know?" Max replied. Alec could have easily bribed him.
"Max. Each victim had their teeth pulled out. Just like Ben did. And they were all committed around the time you found Ben. Alec was at Manticore then".
"Oh My God" Max whispered before shutting off the phone and heading to Alec's.
She had to sort this out.
She blurred up to his apartment and kicked the door down, hoping for any snide remark about privacy.
There was none.
The room was trashed. Clothes and his stuff everywhere. But a lot of it was gone. Walking into the room she yelled "Alec!"
She prayed that he was here.
Nothing.
Something cracks under her feet and she steps back to reveal a picture frame.
She picks it up and looks at the photo in it.
A tear falls down her cheek.
It's her and Alec.
"God. He must hate me" She whispers; sitting on the floor.
She walks around the apartment more, hoping to find him.
She only finds a letter.
Max…
I'm not good with goodbyes. So I'll keep it simple.
You hurt me Max. More than I ever felt possible.
Everything I do…did…I did for you.
Yet you never seemed to notice.
Not one bit.
I'd take a bullet for you Max.
Hell. I'd do anything for you Max.
I tried so hard to be the person you wanted.
Because I love you.
And you crushed that.
Like stepping on a rose.
You crushed my heart.
You crushed my soul.
You crushed my reason for living.
Don't try to find me Max.
I don't want to be found.
I'll always love you. But I don't think I can forgive you.
Love…
Alec.
She felt horrible.
Because when she thought about it.
What he said was true.
He always tried to do everything for her.
And she threw it in his face.
She didn't deserve forgiveness.
She just wished she could take his pain away.
The pain she caused.