Disclaimer: James Cameron owns Dark Angel. I just wish I do, so that I could resurrect it.

Shakes

Alec trudged up the stairs to his apartment in TC. It had been a long day, and he just wanted some sleep. He'd just gotten back from a supply run at 0400 this morning, and immediately Mole had been on his case about getting more ammo. Then Dix had wanted his help moving some computer equipment around. Ket, the X6 in charge of the medical center, needed him to get the fridge that held their blood supply up and running again, and then he had mounds of paperwork that had to be done before he went home or Max would have murdered him.

Actually, now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen Max at all today. Normally she was hounding him about one thing or another, but not a peep today. "Typical. She picks a day when I really need a break to go AWOL. She's probably sitting in her apartment talking with OC, and laughing at my expense right now." he thought miserably as he finished the last flight of stairs, and made his way to the door.

He finally opened it and stepped into the apartment when the feeling that he wasn't alone hit him like a truck. If he hadn't been so damn tired, he probably would have realized it sooner, but tonight his senses were dulled by lack of sleep. His eyes made quick work of the living room and kitchen, looking for the intruder. His ears picked up a sound from the bedroom, and he crept forward silently to the half open door. He peaked inside, and quickly relaxed. He stood up from his crouch.

"Max. As much as I would love to have you in my bad any other night, I'm too tired." He said walking to his closet to change into something more suitable for sleep. He smirked as he shrugged off his jacket, and finished the thought, "Rain check?" He flicked a glance over his shoulder, when she didn't answer. It was never a good thing when Max was quiet. It meant that she was too angry for words, and he usually got a few new bruises.

"Max?" he said this time turning fully around. She was curled up on the edge of the bed facing him, with the sheets down at her feet. Her eyes were shut tight, and there was a light sheen of sweat covering her forehead. Her hands were closed in fists so tight her knuckles were white, and he could see that all of her muscles were tense.

His face melted into a mask of worry and concern. "Max, what's wrong? What happened?" he asked. Her eyes opened a crack.

"Stupid Manticore happened." her voice had none of its usual confidence, and it came out as a whisper. "They messed with my brain chemicals, and screwed me over."

Alec knelt by the side of the bed and put his hand on her arm, "What do you mean?"

"Damn scientists said they fixed the seizures. Guess they forgot to mention the name of the pill I needed to take to keep them away, 'cause the tryptophan ain't doing anything." As she spoke her eyes drifted shut again, and her head started to jerk. She grimaced in pain as the rest of her body followed suit.

Alec's training kicked in and he gently moved her backwards towards the middle of the bed so that she wouldn't fall, or knock her head on the table. He then reached down and undid her boots. He placed them at the side of the bed with his own. When he looked over at her again, her whole body was rocking back and forth in sporadic movements.

He crawled onto the bed, and grabbed her shoulders trying to still her somewhat. Her whole face was showing the pain, and fear that she was feeling. Tears were making their way down her face, and he wiped them away. He lifted her off of the bed slightly, and pulled her leather jacket from her shoulders.

Her head started shaking hard and she gasped in pain. "Al...Alec! Ma...make it...s...sto...stop." She choked out in between shallow breaths.

His heart breaking at her pain, Alec pulled her into her arms, her back to his chest. He crossed his arms around her stomach and locked her arms against her sides. His left leg crossed over both of hers, and he pulled hers back to his right leg so they were trapped between his.

Max's head fell on the pillow, and he laid his head on hers. "It's gonna be alright Maxie. I'm not going anywhere. You'll be fine. You're strong, and tough, and you're gonna beat this thing. Shhh..... It's okay...." His soothing words drifted into her mind through the waves of pain she was riding out. Her tears slowed as she focused on the words instead the pain.

After about 20 minutes, the shaking slowed down enough for Alec to feel comfortable in relaxing a bit. He untangled their legs, and loosened his grip on her wrists. He looked down at her face and saw that she was asleep.

"That'd take all the energy out of anyone" he thought as he pulled away slowly, letting her rest. He laid her back on the bed, and pulled a light blanket over the top of her. He stood by the side of the bed watching her.

Brushing the hair from her face, Alec realized that he'd never been as scared in his life as he'd been in the past half hour. Not when he was at Manticore, and watched one of his unit drown in the water tank beside him. Not when he watched the bomb explode, putting his first love in a coma, and eventually killing her. Not even when he thought for sure that the Familiar he was fighting at Jam Pony was going to kill him.

Anytime that Max wasn't the tough, kick ass chick they all knew was strange, and slightly scary in itself. But seeing her look so, completely vulnerable and defenseless was like having his heart torn open. Alec wanted nothing more than to make all of her pain go away.

Max whimpered quietly, and turned towards him. Her eyes fluttered, and she stretched out a hand in his direction. "Alec?" her voice, while still quiet and slightly weak, lacked pain, and for that Alec was grateful.

"I'm right here Maxie. I'm not going anywhere." he said still standing.

Her brow creased a little in confusion and her hand moved further towards the sound of his voice.

He lay back on the bed, trying not to move it too much so she wouldn't fully wake. "She looks like a lost little girl." Alec thought, as his hand met hers. Her face smoothed out and took on a more peaceful look.

At that moment, Alec promised himself that he would do whatever he could to keep her from feeling that pain again.

Thanks for reading, and a special thanks to bewarethemelodrama for her wonderful review, and help. Please review if you like it, or even if you don't.