Disclaimer: I do NOT own Dark Angel

Chapter One - Alec

"What the hell am I doing?" I asked myself as I crept up the fire escape. "It was just a hug!"

This was fast becoming a nightly argument for me. Every night for the last three weeks, I had been sneaking up this damn fire escape and spending freezing night after freezing night, watching through that grimy window.

And why?

Because she hugged me?

Well, in a way, yes. Don't get me wrong, I haven't gone all soppy or anything, it was just a hug after all. It didn't mean anything!

I'm perched outside her window now, hidden perfectly in the shadows. See what that stupid hug has reduced me to. All my highly developed Manticore training being used to spy on her like some dirty old pervert.

I not here for sex though. I'm not sure why I'm here but I know it's not for that. Mind you, if she ever opened the window and offered, I doubt I'd turn her down.

No, I'm here, every night, because of that hug.

FLASHBACK

The sewer hatch opened and out they came. I'd never been happier to see either of them before in my life. I didn't show it of course, that just wouldn't do. Instead, I continued raiding the wallet of the last guard I had knocked unconscious.

"You wouldn't believe how little the cops in this burg get paid." I smirked as I pocketed the guys 'hard earned' pay.

She looked at me with a strange glint in her eyes. I pretended not to notice. Starting a discussion like that would only lead to arguments, awkward moments and 'saviour of the universe' Logan being brought into things.

We got back to Joshua's place. Not sure why he still calls it Father's house. Father obviously hasn't been there in a VERY long time. Oh well, each to their own. Ha, better not say that in front of Logan! Max would have a fit and he'd break out into his 'equality' speech.

Logan didn't join us for pizza at Joshua's. It's kind of a good thing too, considering what happened. We had just been making fun of the cops and their lack of ability to find two people in an enclosed sewer. "Creature has friends!" stated Joshua, looking at Max and me proudly.

That's when Joshua's world collapsed. The newscaster told us about Annie's murder. They were blaming it on the creature, on Joshua, but we knew who would have really done it. There was only one person who could have been cruel and strong enough to pull off a stunt like that.

AMES WHITE! The mother-fucking, shit eater himself!

Max and I spent the entire night trying to console Joshua. We both knew what it was like to lose someone you loved. She'd lost most of her 'brothers and sisters' AND couldn't even touch the man she loved, thanks to Manticore's virus, or she'd lose him too. And me? I'd had to watch Rachel die, twice! That Manticore bomb that put her in that coma and, watching over her every night after I found her again until she died. Not that I'd told anyone.

It was dawn by the time we left Joshua's. Poor guy had cried the entire cities hearts out.

"Thanks for that." said Max as I walked her to our bikes. "No problem. Anything for a friend." That glint was back in Max's eyes. "Max?" I asked. She smiled at me, actually smiled! At ME!

Next thing I knew, her arms were wrapped around my neck and she was hugging me tightly. My arms slipped around her waist and pulled her closely before I even knew what I was doing.

"Thanks Alec! For everything!"

Then she was gone. I stood there, frozen, watching her tail lights disappearing into the distance. I was stunned.

END OF FLASHBACK

That was three weeks ago. Three weeks of strange glints in her eye at work during the day. Three weeks of watching over her every night.

That's why I was here, in the dark, in the freezing cold. I'd made her feel safe, protected. The hug had clinched it for me. She was happy to see me when she got out that sewer. She was glad when I stayed and helped with Joshua. I liked seeing Max that way.

That hug, that smile, her thanks. It told me everything I had ever wanted to hear.

I mattered! More importantly, I mattered to Max!

She now knew that I could protect her, that I could help her. I just hoped she realised now, that I always would!

Hell, I was freezing my ass off just to make sure she stayed safe. I was doing what no-one else could. It's not like Logan ever tried to look out for her!

Don't get me wrong, I like the guy. I just get bored of his Superman complex when it comes to Transgenics… okay, Max! I'm pissed off with how he treats Max! It's like he thinks she can do anything and only the two of them can save the world!

Wait… that makes me sound jealous. I'm not. Honestly, I'm not. I'm… umm… I'm… protective? Yeah! I'll go with that. I'm protective! Logan seems to think that Max can do anything and that she can do it all by herself.

He's wrong!

Sure, Transgenics are a lot more advanced than Ordinaries but come on, even Superman had his limits! Even a Transgenic needs help some times…

WOW! What the hell is she doing?!

I nearly fell off my hiding place. Max was right next to the window, in her underwear!!!!

She'd not done that before. Was she in Heat? I quietly sniffed the air. I knew it was a risky move. I was too close to escape if my suspicions were true. I'd be powerless against her pheromones.

Guaranteed she wouldn't feel safe or protected if I burst through her bedroom window and screwed her senseless for three days straight.

I braced myself against the fire escape. At the first sign of Heat, I would throw myself over it and pray the fall didn't kill me.

Yeah right! I'd be in there faster than I could…

The window opened.

"Are you coming in or not?"

To be continued...