Title: Ticking Away
Author: people-alwayz-leave
Rating: T (to be safe)
Pairings: Max/Ben, Max/Alec (not what you think)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Dark Angel, which would explain why it ended in the second season and Alec and Max weren't ever officially together LOL.

SO HERE IT IS, AND HERE GOES

CHAPTER FOUR: BROTHER BEAR

The clock by the door was ticking, siginaling the moments passing away. She got up off of the couch and put her fist through it. The ticking was driving her crazy. Or maybe she was driving herself crazy.

She rubbed her eyes sleepily and headed back towards the couch. O.C. hadn't been home when she and Zack had gotten there, and she was eternally happy for his company. She laid back down and was almost asleep when the tremors started. SHe was shaking uncontrollably within seconds. Something's wrong. It isn't supposed to happen this fast. She mentally screamed at Ben to shut the hell up! She knew that!

Zack appeared next to her with a glass of milk she had no clue where cam from, but she gulped it down greedilly all the same. Within minutes, they stopped. "It's never happened so fast before." He nodded and checked her pulse. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep breaths before she continued to let him check her over. When he was convinced that she was fine, he instructed her to lay down. He covered her up and moved into another part of the apartment to do something.

They had sat up late the previous night reminiscing about Manticore and their so called childhood days. Amazingly enough, they had managed to leave Ben out of all of it. How she did not know but she knew by now to doubt that it was mere coniscidence. Manticore had taught them never to trust anyone, except their units. And even then, to be wary. But Zack was her Commanding Officer. How could she not trust him? He had saved her all those years ago. Hadn't he? "No Maxie. You saved yourself." His voice... She sighed and rolled over, once again attempting sleep.

When she woke up again, there was soup and a cola on her nightstand. She smiled softly and started to reach for them when she heard Cindy's voice. "She never told me she had a brother." Zack never hesitated. "We're not blood relatives. We grew up together." Max could just imagine her face. "And you just suddenly lost touch?" Her voice was skeptical. "When we both moved away." Now, she could picture Cindy's face contorted in disbelief. "At the same time?" She heard Zack pause then. "On the same night, at the exact time." Max nodded, despite them not being able to see her. They had broken out of Manticore together. She would have to thank him later for not lying to Cindy. She didn't want any more lies than there already were between them.

"Huh." She heard Cindy moving towards her and slid further into bed. She smiled at her and patted the spot next to her on the bed. Cindy sat down and shot her a look. Max took a deep breath. "Me and Logan..." She trailed off. Broke up wasn't the right word. They were never together. Cindy nodded, wrapping her arm around Max for support. "You'll find somebody better for ya than that fool, boo." Max shrugged and nodded. "And brotha bear in there?" Again Max shrugged.

"Zack. We grew up togehter." Cindy nodded, accepting what she thought to be a lie. "You in some sorta trouble, boo?" Max shook her head. "He's just visitin'." She nodded again and the two girls at the best soup they had ever had.

A/N: IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THIS TIME... UPDATE WILL BE UP SOON.