Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel.
Summary: Cat thought her big brother was dead, but she couldn't have been more wrong. Zack returns. Sequel to You took my soul away (Don't need to read to understand).
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. Keep them coming.
CHAPTER 2 : Basic IntelShe just couldn't help it. The mixture of feelings were killing her. Everything was coming back. Every single thought and feeling she'd been suppressing for so long. The pain, the anger, the loneliness. Now mixed with the extreme happiness of having him back. Trying very hard not to show either one of them, she put the mask on and plastered a smile on her face.
"What the hell was that for?", asked Zack whit an angry look on his face, while standing up. ´She has to be insane. What was she thinking?´.
´That was to teach you to never do the stupidity you pulled back in Manticore again, of killing yourself without thinking of who you'd be leaving behind´. But she couldn't tell him that, she wasn't prepared to tell him that. So instead, she just went for a sarcastic come back.
"That was for killing yourself and leaving me with all your work. This people just can't follow orders." That got her a smile from his brother, or a hint of a smile really. But that was far more than you usually got from him. Specially after throwing him onto a tree.
"You know that was completely out of line, don't you?"
"Not so much. I'm CO now, remember?"
He was beginning to feel comfortable with her again. He always felt that way with her. He knew he could let down his guard in her presence, she could handle any situation. Plus, he didn't have to walk on ice with his words or orders around her, like with his other brothers and sisters. She understood him and accepted him as he was. He could be himself around her. She was a lot like him and so different at the same time. So, he just decided to play along.
"That's not what Zane thinks. He asked me to tell you he is glad I'm back at CO. He says you are mean."
"Don't pay him any attention. He knows he loves me. He is just mad at me cause I made him give up his bike."
"What?" Zack was shocked. "How did you do that, I've been trying for years with no luck". They were now walking towards their own babies.
"He was getting too attached to that bike. He refused to even change its color, something about her soul. I mean, I understand he loves his bike, I love bikes too. It's an X5 thing. But change at least the color. He was too easy to track. I gave him an ultimatum but he refused. So I just threw it down a hill and no more bike."
Zack skipped a heart beat. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Cat continued her explanation like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"He wouldn't talk to me for two months straight after that. But he'll get over it." And with that she turned on her bike and revved away.
Zack burst into laughs. He never laughs but this was too much even for him. He just couldn't help it. She was unbelievable. And with that in mind, he rode after her to her house.
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She lived two cities away from Zane, two hours at full speed. They arrived soon after sunset. Her house was on the outskirts of town, far from civilization where no one could ask questions or get suspicious. She laid low like always. He had always known she was something else. His other siblings gave him trouble all the time, but she certainly knew how to take care of herself.
"Home sweet home"… "You can take a shower if you want, there are towels on the bathroom. I'll make dinner".
"Thanks". Zack headed for the bathroom.
When he was out of sight, a few tears slipped down Cat's face while she headed for the kitchen. Zack was back in her life, it was overwhelming. ´Remember your promise Cat. He will never know´. And with that she picked up the phone and dialed.
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By the time Zack was out of the bathroom, dinner was already served. That means lots of Chinese food boxes on the coffee table in front of the TV. He smiled. He realized he was doing that a lot today. Maybe it had something to do with all the Adam stuff, who knows?.
"I thought you said you'd make dinner"
"I did. What you call this?", she said while showing him the box she was eating from. "Dinner!". His laugh made her heart beat faster. His wet hair wasn't helping either, he looked so hot. "Well, you didn't think I would cook, did you?. That just isn't right. Me cooking?. I'm a soldier, not a house wife. I can't cook and I definitely don't like doing it."
"I know. I think it has something to do with the X5 genes." Zack spoke while heading for the couch.
After a few minutes of silence and a lot of empty boxes, Cat couldn't take it anymore. "So?".
"So what?"
"So what?. What do you think?. You leave for months without a single phone call and then one day my long lost sister Syl calls me and tells me you are MIA in Manticore. I go to Seattle to get things straight and to try and save your ass so I can kick it later for being so stupid and getting caught. Only when I arrive, Max isn't KIA but very much alive and tells me you are the KIA. Then you appear here like nothing happened after all this time and you ask me so what? What happened to you and I want to know now."
"Long story"
"Well I have time. I was planning on checking up on Zane, but it appears you already took care of that. So I'm not going anywhere. Spill."
"Ok, ok"
And he started telling her all about Renfro´s experiment, meeting Max again, Adam, everything. With every single word she grew angrier. Angry at Renfro for what she'd done to her brother. Angry at Max for all the Adam stuff. She felt she needed to punch something. On one hand she hated Renfro with all her guts for her actions. But on the other, she couldn't help but feel a bit grateful because that was the reason she was now sitting there talking to him. I know, she felt sick with herself. And Max, well her actions were unforgivable.
"But we cleared that out. We are fine now, I forgave her."
She heard him say those words and she almost couldn't suppress the bitter laugh that threatened to escape her mouth. She did though, at least on the outside. On the inside she was surely laughing. ´Maybe not unforgivable. It's Max after all´. She felt immediately guilty for her thoughts. This was her sister Maxie. She should be happy she was alive and everything was back to normal, as normal as it could be considering we are talking about their lives. And she was. It was just sometimes her jealousy got the best of her. ´Where did that come from? I'm not jealous. Soldiers don't feel. I don't feel´. Just then she realized Zack wasn't talking anymore, he was just staring at the wall in front of him.
"What?". That seemed to bring him out of his thoughts but he still didn't look at her.
"Nothing. I'm just tired. I think I better call it a night".
She let it go for now. Instead of pressing the issue, she hugged him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'm glad you are here Zack. I missed you". She truly meant it, her eyes showed it.
"I missed you too, little sister". He hugged her once more. Then he stood up and left for the guest room.