Title: Until Next Time…

Pairing/Rating: Alec/Ames, PG-13

Summary: "I made the choice to help you. It would only be fair for you to help me in return."

Prompt: Choice

Disclaimer: I don't own or claim to own anything from Dark Angel.

Beta: catmint

Note: Part 1 in the Dream 'Verse: A series of dreams leads Ames to the truth about his relationship with Alec.

Ames's eyes snapped open, the feeling of being watched waking him up quickly. Slowly, he reached for the gun he kept at the side of his bed. Weapon in his grasp, he surveyed the dark room, swiftly spotting the intruder. Gun aimed, he sat up and turned on the light.

"What the hell are you doing here, 494?"

"I come in peace," Alec told him with a smirk. Ames flipped the gun's safety off and Alec held his hands up in surrender. "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just shoot you."

"Because I'm here to tell you all I know about your son Ray. It's not a lot but it's bound to be more than you have."

"Ray," Ames whispered. Putting the gun down, he threw back the blanket that was still covering his legs and got out of bed, walking over to Alec. "Where is he?" he demanded.

"I don't know. Yet. What I do know is that he's with his aunt and that they were sent as far away from you as possible."

"Why?" Ames asked.

Alec cocked an eyebrow. "To get him as far away from you as possible?"

"No, I mean why come to me? Why help me?"

Alec sighed. "He's your son. I…It felt like the right thing to do. I'm sure the kid misses his father. Besides, now that I'm helping you, I'm thinking you could return the favor by not hunting me," he explained casually.

"Is that right?" Ames asked. He should have known there was a catch. Of course one of the things – people – he was currently hunting wouldn't simply help him out of the goodness of their heart. Then again, it was good not to owe people something. Safer. All debts paid in full.

"I can't help the others you find but I can try to save my own ass. Again," Alec added as an afterthought. "I don't cause any trouble. I'm not a threat to the population. What I'm hoping is that you chose to pretend that I no longer exist when it comes to your job. I made the choice to help you. It would only be fair for you to help me in return."

"Alright, 494. You keep bringing me information on Ray and I don't turn you in. Give me nothing and –" Ames was cut off when the transgenic was suddenly pressed against his back, hands gripping his waist.

"It doesn't work that way," Alec whispered, warm breath ghosting over Ames's ear and making him shiver. "You don't hunt me, period. You do, and I have Ray moved again. Face it, White, I'm your only hope."

Ames knew he was right. He'd used every resource available to him and had still come up empty. His son was gone, missing, kidnapped, and he had no way of getting him back. "Okay."

"Great! Now that we have that out of the way…" Alec ran the tips of his fingers up and down Ames's bare chest.

Ames's breath hitched. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"You ask too many questions," Alec told him before putting a finger under his chin and turning Ames's head towards him to capture his lips in a kiss.

- - -

When Ames woke up in the morning, the other side of the bed was empty and a single sheet of paper rested on the pillow.

Until next time…

Alec