Spoilers: Set after Hello, Goodbye - so anything prior to this episode is spoiled and as the story continues, it may impinge slightly on other episodes after unintentionally. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters that we owe thanks to James Cameron, FOX and anyone else associated with Dark Angel.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Shattered Trust and Whispered Confessions.

CHAPTER ONE

Her laugh was growing louder, bubbling to the surface from underneath in such a manner that it was infectious; Alec couldn't help himself but bowl over in great gasps of amusement too.

"Show me again!"

"No! You keep playing around, I take this very seriously."

"Oh poor baby.I'll be good."

Max looked over at him with a wide-eyed, innocent stare and Alec couldn't help but succumb to her charms. He started slowly towards her and faster than the blink of an eye, had her pinned to the ground. He laughed breathlessly, peering into her chocolate brown eyes with delight,

"Try and move."

Alec felt her wiggle beneath him, suddenly becoming aware of how close they were, how their skin was pressed together, separated only by the thinnest layer of clothes.

"Alec, I cant!"

"C'mon Maxie, don't disappoint me here. You fight dirty, especially when it's against me. My boys downstairs can definitely back that up!"

"Shut up.idiot!"

He rolled off her and they both lay flat on their backs laughing uproariously. Max propped herself up eventually and eased onto the couch,

"That was amazing, why haven't you ever used that move before?"

"If I had, the person would be dead and despite what you think, it's not really my cup of tea to kill."

"Cup of tea? Learn that in your Mantecore classes?"

"Yeah along with don't sweat it, don't freak out and how you doin'."

She pushed at him as he sat up speaking and Alec flopped back down on his back on the floor. They erupted into hilarity again.

Logan growled at the back of his throat at the joviality of the two X5s. He was getting nowhere in his research, especially with these two constantly wrestling and giggling behind him. He spun around glaring at them,

"Guys! Cut it out!"

He received two broad, childlike gazes and he sighed, turning back to the computer. It seemed like Alec was always around these days, constantly wherever Max was. Despite the fact that she had explained to Logan that her and Alec weren't really together, he still couldn't get past the hostile feelings he had towards the cocky transgenic male. And especially now that Max knew Alec had some humanity in his cocktail other than appearance, after the whole Rachel situation.

Alec watched Logan thoughtfully with a cheeky smirk emerging on his face. He knew that it was driving the older man crazy him being there, touching Max, making her laugh. Even if she was in love with Logan and not him, it was still fun to egg the guy on.

"Hey Logan, dear old friend (chuckle), you want some help there?"

Logan gave a bark of laughter, pulling his glasses off to clean them on his shirt,

"I don't think you'll be able to do it, if I cant. But thanks Alec."

"Well don't be so quick to judge buddy. I've watched you on this thing dozens of time, just gimme a crack at it - let me try."

Logan stepped back and gestured for Alec to try, smiling in what was an attempt to look friendly, but came off just as the cruel cover-up it was. Alec stood and flexed his hands. Clapping them together, he sat down at the computer and started typing furiously after spending the smallest moment memorising the keyboard,

"So what exactly am I looking for here?"

"Any evidence of the people that took the kids. Whether they are trying to sell them to other countries - anything of that sort."

"Yeah I knew that. X7s kidnapped and we must find them. Got that. Just thought that you might know more seeing as you've been looking at this computer for the past day."

Logan sneered slightly, then bristled at Alec's remark, before shooting a peek at Max. She was examining her nails with a frown etching wrinkles into her forehead. That was a habit Cindy had passed on.

"Aha!",

Alec exclaimed a minute later,

"Got a location, a map and some surveillance photos. Pretty solid stuff. But, me being unable to do this sort of thing, I could be wrong."

Logan's mouth dropped comically in a look of surprise and Alec flashed him a million dollar smile, the kind that would make any girl melt,

"No applause. Just monetary donations."

He laughed as he crashed onto the couch next to Max, who was clamping her lips in an obvious attempt not to show amusement. Logan pursed his lips in annoyance as he scrolled through the information the X5 had pulled up in less than 2 minutes. It was all useful and relevant - all stuff that he would have never been able to locate. He turned his head over his shoulder and looked at Alec,

"Have you used a lot of computers before?"

"Only once. At Rach.on a mission and it was only for a few minutes, copying files."

"How did you do that?"

"I'm a fast learner."

Alec wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Max and she rolled her eyes at him, before unconsciously letting her leg rest lightly against his. Neither noticed having got used to constantly being around together, but Logan looked as though he were going to cry or explode. Or both. His jaw set into a tight line and he narrowed his eyes somewhat as he spoke,

"Alec, think you can handle this recovery? You'll need to leave ASAP to sort it out."

Max shot her head up instantly in a reproving manner,

"What about me? This is something I should be doing. It is a serious deal, people's lives at stake. You can't just expect him to handle it on his own."

"He can handle it."

"No he can't."

"Yes he can."

"Stop saying that! Why take the chance?"

Alec watched the banter in a seemingly dazed state. Max had risen from the couch, her hand placed in an offensive and almost predatory stance settled on her hip. Logan didn't seem to notice and was slumped in his chair at the computer, looking at anything but her. The guy was too stupid to realise he was digging his own grave. Wanting to watch, but knowing it would be taken out on him, Alec realised that now was the time for him to butt in before things got ugly, despite how entertaining that would be,

"Hello? I'm right here!"

Both turned to stare at him while he spoke,

"Max, if you want to come then by all means tag along. If however, you're trying to just be a Good Samaritan and now let me get all the brownie points, then don't waste my time."

She scowled at him,

"Those kids are my responsibility. I let them out in the world. I was the one who burned the only thing they ever knew as home down. Even as sick as Mantecore was, it was home to them. You go after them, I'll be right there with you."

"Okay, okay!"

Logan felt like tearing his already thinning hair out, but gave them a small smile,

"Alright. So are you guys okay to go or are there more dramas? I don't need to get someone else to go, do I?"

Alec moved towards the door, rolling his eyes,

"Oh yeah, that other gene-spliced transgenic soldier that runs errands for the almighty Eyes Only."

"Funny. I will never get tired of that Mantecore wit."

"Good. That makes us even, coz I doubt I will ever get tired of dishing it out.",

Alec paused briefly to collect the handful of papers that Logan thrusted at him,

"See you in a week or two."

He stood outside the door waiting for Max to follow. Chuckling to himself softly he mouthed the words as they left Logan's mouth,

"Be careful."

Max came out and looked at the grinning X5, slapping him up the back of his head,

"Lets pack, this could be a long task."

"Fine. But I just pray that it doesn't require being in a closet with you again - you're way too boring, you don't talk."

"Whatever.idiot."

Alec faked a wounded face at her, pouting his smooth pink lips. He watched as she walked ahead of him, her hips swaying from side to side, his eyes glued. He tore away, gulping to himself,

"Oh man, this is gonna be a long and interesting trip."