DA: Season 3

This Fic picks up right after the season 2 finale.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Angel or any of the characters because let's face it if I did Logan would be long gone and the show wouldn't have ended with two seasons.

Also for the sake of many people's happiness and my story Biggs is NOT dead, it was another transgenic that was killed. I figured Alec was going to need someone in his corner.

Chapter 2: A Family Affair

"What are you carrying?" asked Sniper pulling his rifle forward.

The woman carefully removed the blanket and revealed a tiny sleeping baby drawing gasps from the two transgenics.

"I need to see X5-452 and X5-494. This is their child."

Because the transgenics have been conditioned to view the 09'ers as traitors and therefore the enemy, it was obvious that some of them would have issues with Max being in charge. Taking Joshua with her to form the work groups was strategic so that they could see how she acted among other transgenics and hopefully gain their trust. Of course she didn't expect them to accept her but they have taken a liking to Joshua and he is happy with his new buddies. Before long they're scavenging through terminal city, glares and snarky comments aside. Not long into their work Max glimpses a blurry figure coming her way and turns just as Trix appears in front of her, eyes darting about wildly. As soon as the woman had told them what she carried bundled in her arms Sniper had sent her to fetch their CO's telling her he'd take the woman into the main buildings garage so she wouldn't be able to see or gather Intel on their base in terminal city.

"Whoa, what's going on?" inquires Max.

"There's a woman here from Manticore, she's asking for you and Alec. You'd better come quickly."

"What? Why is she asking for us, did she say what she wants?"

"She wants to talk to you and Alec, the sooner we get him the sooner you can get answers."

Max nods before turning to address her group, letting them know to take their findings to Luke and Mole, then she turns to Trix.

"Let's go get Alec."

They find him surrounded by other transgenics all huddled in a circle, at first glance it looks like they're fighting. Before she has time to get upset or figure out what's going on she takes in the expressions on the crowd. They're relaxed content even, they're sparring something that's normal and familiar and she finds herself grateful that Alec is her second in command. Unlike her he can relate to the other transgenics, heck he already has their respect. As though he senses something she sees Alec's head tilt before he turns searching the crowd, then his eyes lock on hers and he sends her his signature smirk. She signals him over with tilt of her head, with a scrunch of his brows he asks her what's wrong and a small shrug from her let's Alec know she is as in the dark as he is. Trix is looking between the two of them marveling at their ability to seemingly communicate without words; that is until said leaders are both standing before her sporting matching glares silently demanding answers. She makes a mental note to revisit her previous observations at a later time, one thing is for sure though. Having these two in charge is going to make for an interesting new life in T.C.

"Luke saw someone entering the sector's perimeter and Sniper and I went to scope it out. The intruder is a woman from Manticore and she is asking to speak to the two of you. She asked for you both by designation, it's important."

"What is this about?" asks Alec instantly alert.

"I can't explain but you need to talk to her, hurry we're meeting them in the garage."

Sharing one last look they make their way to the meeting point once they arrive they instruct Trix to stand guard outside the building's exit as a precaution, much to her dismay. She wanted to see their reaction to the woman's news, she'd have to remind herself to hound Sniper for details later.

As they enter the garage they can see Sniper keeping a watchful eye on the frazzled woman standing in the middle of the room who unbeknownst to them is about to change their lives. A small nod from Alec and Sniper moves to block the entrance, ever watchful.

"We heard that you were asking for us," starts Alec glaring the woman down. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"My name is not important. I'm a doctor, I used to work at the Manticore labs. I was assigned the task of studying transgenic DNA to find compatible matches for our breeding program. In all my years there though I've never seen DNA like yours," she says looking between them. Alec not liking the look in her eyes moves to block her view of Max. The woman studies them for a moment before nodding slightly to herself and continuing. "As I was saying, 452's DNA is perfect, absolutely no junk DNA and you 494, your DNA was the second closest match practically perfect, we had high hopes for any offspring you would procreate together. Renfro couldn't risk 452 not getting pregnant though so we reverted to old practices and combined your DNA, using a surrogate-"

"What?" breathes Max. Anger over the actions of these people threatening to quickly consume her. Moving to her Alec turns his own heated gaze towards the woman.

"What are you saying?" he grounds out. Slowly removing the blanket from the bundled in her arms which both transgenics had failed to notice, the doctor reveals a sleeping infant.

"I am saying that this is your child. You have a son." Before the woman can blink Alec has taken the baby from her, turning his back on the woman he goes to Max who is still in shock. Not wanting to leave them vulnerable Sniper steps forward a menacing expression freezing any protests the doctor could have made. Snapping out of her stupor at the feel of the tiny body Alec is carefully depositing in her arms Max meets his gaze finding the same emotions that must surely be mirrored on her own face: shock, anger, fear, and happiness. As they hold the infant between them Alec is able to smell the combined scents of himself and Max on him, there for everyone to know who he belongs to. Alec's animal instincts kick in instantly recognizing the child as their young, right now his instincts are also telling him that the greatest threat at the moment is the woman who delivered the child to them. Looking into Max's chocolate orbs he sees that her pupils are dilated and knows that she too is experiencing the intense feelings brought on by their feline sides. Visibly exhaling he cups the baby's head softly marveling at the little life that is now his to care for and protect. He leans in to inhale the child's scent and mark him with his own, still acting on instinct. He moves Max and the child safely behind him before turning to the doctor.

"How did you escape the fire?" he demands.

"When we mixed your DNA Renfro thought it would be best to move us to a safe house only she knew the location of, she never wanted you or anyone else to find out about the baby." At this revelation Alec emits a low growl and Max tightens her hold around the sleeping infant, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"A- Anyway once the Manticore facility was taken down and the baby came I knew I had to go into hiding, they would need to destroy all evidence of Manticore's existence and make sure I never talked about what we did. I couldn't take the baby with me, I saw you all on the news, knew where you were and knew I had to get him to you." Max who had been silent this whole time digesting the reality of their son and everything Manticore had done finally spoke up.

"When was he born, he looks so small, is he healthy. I mean he won't have seizures or anything will he?" Alec's head snaps up at this.

"He's a newborn only a few days old, he was born on November 11th. And yes, he is healthy. As you know you all weren't designed to have to deal with sickness or anything as insignificant as the common cold, as for the seizures well after extensive…research, we found a way to isolate and eliminate the defect that caused them. I- I have a bag here with some basic supplies. Diapers, formula and clothes, it's only enough for a few days." She slowly lowers the bag she had been carrying over her shoulder and hands it to Sniper.

"Check it," Alec orders him. After doing a thorough search he nods to Alec.

"It's clean."

Turning to the doctor Alec mentally debates with himself. We should just get rid of her now, she's the only person left who knows about the baby, she's a threat. No, we should just let her go. No! You have to protect them at all costs. It's Max who puts a stop to his rampant thoughts.

"The baby, what's his name?" she asks the doctor.

Now why didn't I think of that? Wonders Alec glad that if he has to be in this situation he has Max there to help him. They both look to the doctor expectantly.

"I didn't name him, I thought I'd leave that to you. But according to his barcode his designation is 946, you may recognize it as it's the combination of both your designations."

Max cradles the baby to her chest slowly removing the blanket to see the back of his neck. Sure enough there on his tiny frame marring his otherwise perfect skin is a barcode. If it weren't for the child in her arms she would have lunged at the doctor, the person who dared to create and mar something that was supposed to be precious all in the name of science. Seeing her rage mirrored in Alec's gaze and even Sniper's she finds strength.

"I would gladly volunteer to rid the world of you right here and now but then I'd be no better than you so we'll let you go. But know this, if you ever breathe a word about our child to anyone, ever give even the slightest hint that you know anything about us there will be no place you can hide and no person that you should fear more than us. If I ever see you again I won't hesitate to end you." Satisfied with a stiff nod from the petrified woman Max turns to Sniper. "Get her out of here." She orders.

Nodding he takes a hold of the doctor before escorting her to the hidden entrance where she was discovered, and if he murmurs a threat of his own into her ear before releasing her and watching her make a run for it, it's only because he has forever been won over by the family unit he just saw begin to form.

Once they're alone Alec turns to Max finding her eyes suspiciously bright, her hand fingering the glaring mark on their son's neck. As she meets his gaze he feels his breath hitch at the vulnerability he sees written there. She manages a whispered "Alec" before he is by her side embracing her, his hand resting against the small child nestled between them, falling into the comforting familiarity of the embrace they shared the night she opened up to him about Ben.

"I know Max, I know." And in that moment holding this impossible woman who torpedoed her way into his life only to become one of his closest friends and their new son, he finally allows himself to be vulnerable. His emotions are a culmination of his overwhelming hatred of Manticore, the incredible realization that he is a father and the heartbreak at the manner in which his son was brought into this beautiful yet terrible world. After a few minutes he is able to pull himself together, gathering the bag with supplies for the baby he turns to a now composed Max.

"We should get him to the apartment." Max had found her own space here in T.C. fairly quickly she just picked the tallest apartment in the sector, and as he had yet to get settled she had let Alec stay in the second bedroom, a fact that he was very thankful for as he didn't think he would be able to leave his son. Leading her with a hand to the small of her back they exited the garage to be met by an anxious Trix. She halted her movements as soon as she saw the little head peeking out of the blanket in Max's arms and she couldn't help herself.

"Is that the baby?" she asks trying unsuccessfully to contain her enthusiasm. Alec chuckles quickly donning the role of proud father.

"Yes, this is our son- wait how did you know about the baby and why didn't you tell us when Sniper sent you?" she ducked her head sheepishly.

"Well, you would've had more questions that I wouldn't be able to answer, besides I brought you to her as fast as I could."

Both transgenics nod in silent agreement of her logic.

"Do you want to see him Trix? You can come closer you know," teased Max. The younger girl nods and Max moves the blanket over a bit to proudly display her son's sleeping face.

"Oh wow, he's perfect," utters Trix.

"Of course he is he's my son," boasts Alec. Max moves to smack him only to remember at the last second that she is cradling her son in her arms, reading her intensions and realizing why he hasn't felt her now familiar smack to the back of his head he tosses his head back in laughter.

"Max this is great!" he crows. "As long as you holding the baby you can't hit me. It's decided, from here on out your in charge of carrying him." Leaning closer to the sleeping figure he says in a softer voice. "That's my boy."

Max groans loudly.

"Great," looking down at the baby she pouts playfully. "You better not turn out to be a mini Alec, one is bad enough."

"That's it Max, we can name him Alec Jr. It's perfect!"

"Absolutely not!" is her quick retort. At the sound of chuckling they turn to realize that they now have an audience, Sniper has taken up his post near Trix and they're both grinning and shaking their heads at their CO's. Finally in control of themselves Trix who had been observing the child spoke up.

"Max he has you coloring and he has Alec's nose, he's a little miniature of the two of you." Looking down at her son Max smiles.

"I can't wait until he wakes up, I wonder what color his eyes are." She muses aloud.

"So it's a boy, congratulations," says Sniper.

"Thanks," says Alec. "We're going to take him to our apartment and get him settled in, would you mind reporting back to HQ for us? We'll be in later to give a full report."

"Sure," says Sniper and with a soft goodbye to the sleeping baby and a nod to the new parents he and Trix head off. Max turns to Alec with a teasing glint in her eyes and he feels himself tense up.

"Our apartment huh?" He just grins sheepishly and feels himself relax grateful that she doesn't seem angry, it still wouldn't hurt to tread lightly though.

"Well thanks to this little guy it looks like my stay will be extended, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure," shrugs Max. "I guess this means we're officially roommates, but I am never doing your laundry you got that?"

"Whatever you say Maxie,"

"Don't call me that," Is her automatic retort.

Once in their apartment Max gently lays the baby down on the couch being sure to surround him with pillows so that if he moves in his sleep he won't fall. Not that she would let anything happen to him and thanks to her shark DNA she doesn't require much sleep, something she knows she'll be grateful for in the coming weeks. Once they settle down on the loveseat across from their sleeping son Max lets herself sigh heavily.

"We need to have some serious conversations about all this," she says quietly.

"I know," Alec answers in the same tone. "But first I think we should find him a name, we can't keep referring to him as the baby."

"Well we already know that Alec Jr is out."

"Hey," protests Alec. "You should definitely not be allowed to name him, need I remind you of Bullet and Bugler?"

"Those names suited them, and I named you!" she argued.

"Right so now it's my turn. Our son is going to have a good name, I mean he is going to be stuck with it for the rest of his life."

"Hmm, okay what about Theodore?" His horrified expression was almost comical.

"Oh God, Max that's awful, do you want him to be bullied?"

Sticking her tongue out at him she keeps thinking. "What about Oliver?"

"That's a pansy name Max, just give me a minute and I'll think of something great. Uhh, Jaso- I've got it. What do you think of Carter?" he asks his expression hopeful.

"Carter," she says testing it out. "It's simple like our names and, I like it. Carter Guevara."

"Carter Guevara McDowell." Corrects Alec. "He has to have both of our names Max." he states.

"Fine. You picked a good name. Carter." Subconsciously they both look across the short expanse of living room to where their son lay sleeping, both feeling a completely foreign but not unwelcome sense of rightness and contentment interrupted only by Max.

"It's ironic how Manticore, the thing I hate most in the world gave me the thing I've wanted most my entire life, I can never hate them for Carter."

"I know what you mean," says Alec. "He's one of the only good things that came out of that place, regardless of how he came to be."

"I'm already attached to him," admits Max. "You felt it too didn't you, the instincts I felt when you first put him in my arms?" he nods his head.

"Yeah, our feline instincts to protect our young, we've had him for what a half hour and I can't begin to imagine letting him out of my sight. To be honest I never thought I'd have this and Max," he turns to her, steeling himself before continuing. "I'm terrified, what if I mess up, what if I make a terrible dad, I know nothing about kids?" Understanding how hard it must have been for him to admit that since they were hardwired not to show weakness and she and Alec are known for their stubborn at times cocky natures, she decides to confide in him as well.

"I've never had much experience with kids either and I am just as scared as you, but we can lean on each other, you know I trust you completely and I trust you with Carter's life too." It isn't normal for them to be this open and especially not with each other but it seems like this is yet another change of many that will be brought on by the newest addition to their lives, but they quickly shake off the moment.

"By now thanks to Trix and Sniper I'm betting everyone knows that we have a kid," says Alec. "Oh God Biggs is going to be on my ass about this."

"Great," replies Max. "I have to tell Cindy and Sketchy."

"I wonder how Log boy will react," mutters Alec.

"After what happened between us and the things he said I don't care and I don't want him anywhere near Carter." She says vehemently and Alec has to struggle hard to hide his relieved if somewhat smug expression.

"We'll head to HQ and fill the others in once the little guy's awake, we'll also need to head out into another sector to stock up on supplies for him. Biggs and I can do it, in fact we'll do it tonight, the sooner we get it done the better. I'll just need you to make me a list of what we'll need."

"All right," moving to get paper and a pen they spend the next twenty minutes going over the route Alec and Biggs will take to sneak out of T.C. and poring over the list of all the things they want to get for Carter. They are suddenly pulled away from their plans by a soft mewling noise. They turn to see Carter moving around slowly waking from sleep.

"That has got to be one of the cutest things I've seen," says Alec smirking and Max can't help but agree with him. Standing, they reach him at the same time, Alec leans down to gently lift his son bringing him up to rest on his chest. Max cradles a hand behind her sons head and they both wait expectantly for Carter to open his eyes. When he does it's much to their surprise and delight.

"Wow Alec, he has your eyes." The new father smiles down at his son softly rubbing his finger across the dark tuft of hair on his head.

"And he has your hair color. I've got to say it, we have one hell of a good looking kid."

"For once I completely agree with you," is Max's response. They watch as Carter's drowsy hazel eyes take in their appearance, the way his tiny face scrunches softly into a yawn before he turns to burrow himself further into Alec, his bottom sticking out as he slowly drifts back into sleep, Max can't help but tease Alec.

"Look at that, he even sleeps like you." Her only response is a glare.

"We don't have a bed for him yet and he seems comfortable enough with me. I think I'll just take a nap with him, I have to rest up for tonight's little outing anyway." Max just nods her agreement.

"I'm going to clear a space in my room for his crib and figure out how to make him a bottle, I'm sure he'll be hungry the next time he wakes up."

They head their separate ways, Alec settling himself down comfortably on the couch, Jace lying contentedly on his chest, both unaware of the endearing picture they make.

"Uh, Max do you think you could grab a blanket for me?" he calls to her, seeing that she's about to refuse he decides to pull the baby card. "Come on, you don't want Carter to get cold do you?"

"Fine," she sighs gathering the blanket they keep thrown over the couch, she unfolds it and lays it over the boy's gently, hesitating for a second before leaning down further to place a soft kiss on her son's head.

"What no kiss for me?" asks Alec puckering his lips at her.

"He's cuter," she states slapping his head lightly. And she's back, he thinks wryly. A while later once Max feels confident in her ability to prepare a bottle for her son she goes into the living room to check on him, the sight before her stealing her breath. Alec and Carter are burrowed together and both sound asleep, Carter softly gripping the fabric of Alec's shirt in one small fist, both of Alec's hands cradled protectively around their son. She pulls out her phone pulling up her camera to take a photo. She doesn't do it so she lord it over Alec later, in fact she'll probably never show him, too embarrassing. This is something private, a memory she wants to record. Tucking her phone back into her pocket she stretches out on the other available couch drifting off into the first peaceful rest she's had in a long time.