Sanctuary

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel. If I did, It would have been longer than just two seasons. But I do own the story and the plot and some of the new characters I added.

Summary: A late-night rescue gives Alec a lot more to think about when he and the gang find a human woman hiding with a group of transhumans on the run and take them to the newest haven for the Freak Nation.

A/N: This all came from a dream I had one night. It was cool, so I figured I should spin it into a fic. I also have no idea how long it will go. I guess that depends on the reviews or if I get bored with it. Well... Enjoy it and don't forget to R&R!!

One - Race For The Border

The group stuck to the shadows as best they could, keeping themselves hidden from the city dwellers. There were only four of them now. They lost Mack and Lang when the mob attacked. But not before Lang found a pay phone and made a call. She kept the conversation brief, using whispers to relay the vital information.

"Emergency transport... Six passengers... South gate... Sector Twelve... Hurry."

Mack had been carrying Jewell at the time. She just couldn't quite keep the pace the others held. But when the mob found them a few blocks later, he had no choice but to put her down. His massive shoulders rolled as he effortlessly shifted her to the ground. She looked up at him, not seeing the Minotaur that she was sure the humans saw. She saw the gentle man below the coarse bull's hair, pierced nose, and slightly floppy ears. She saw her friend. Fear was in his dark eyes as he looked down at her. His calloused hand ran down the side of her face one last time as he gave her one more command. "Hide."

And she did. As the mob descended on the group of transhumans, they seemed to let her go unnoticed. She easily slipped away and hid behind a pile of rusted out oil barrels several feet behind them. She couldn't bear to watch the ensuing battle, but she heard it all. She heard Lang screeching, Mack bellowing, mob members yelling and jeering. She heard gunfire, and Timbre howl in anger and pain. Then another round of gunfire. Loud engines. More gunfire. Someone yelled for retreat. The sounds of the mob faded. Jewell peeked around the barrels.

"Nooooooo!!" she wailed at the top of her aching lungs, running to the group. Mack was on the ground, blood everywhere. Lang lay nearby, her beak moving in silent words before stilling. A few dead mob members also lay on the dirty asphalt a few feet away. Jewell ran straight for Mack. His dark red-brown hide was darkened further with blood. He had several cuts on his face. His eyes were already closed. She sobbed his name over and over, trying in vain to shake him awake.

"Mack, no, please! You can't leave me! You promised not to leave me! You promised! You gotta wake up! Come on, Mack! Please!"

"Jewell," came a soft voice accompanied by sorrowful purring nearby. "We have to go."

"No! We can't just leave him here!"

"We have no choice. He's already gone, Jewell."

"Will you just grab her so we can get the hell out of here?!" a gruffer voice demanded. Jewell turned ad shot him a look, but the transhuman just stared back with his black, steely eyes. He shouldered his stolen rifle and tucked a handgun into the waistband of his jeans.

"Lay off her, Griff," Timbre growled in warning as he knelt down to scoop Jewell up. "Mack was her best friend, you know."

"Yeah, I know," huffed the man with the raven's feathers on his body. "But you all also know that we need to be as far away from here as possible when those psychos come back."

Silence with the response of agreement. As the group hurried away from the scene of the tragic slaying of their friends, Jewell buried her face in Timbre's strong and lean frame and cried silently. Before she knew it, they were at the south river gate. Timbre set her down but still held her close to his body protectively. Down the way a bit, just off the road, a large black SUV was parked facing there direction. The headlights flashed three times in rapid procession. Griff nodded to the others and waved them on, pointing his rifle into the darkness in the direction the had just come from. Timbre pulled Jewell back into his arms and he and Sable made a run for the auto, with Griff following close behind.

"The message said six," said a dark-haired man as the hopped out of the driver's seat to open the doors for them.

"There was," Griff reported. "Mob got two about six miles north of here. Killed in action."

Jewell let out a whimper of sorrow and buried her face in Timbre's vest. He climbed in the back seat with her still in his arms, settling into the middle of the bench seat. Another transgenic, obviously a dog mutation, hopped out of the passenger side and opened the other door. Sable climbed in on his side, sitting to the right of Timbre. Griff took the last available seat on the other side. All four doors shut simultaneously.

"I'm Alec, by the way," the human-looking man said as he put the SUV in gear and began to drive away. "And this is Joshua. Don't you worry, guys. You're safe now."