DISCLAIMER: Dark Angel borrowed, no profits realized.

A/N: Continuing events of Asylum from Bling's point of view...

This one goes out to the handful of you who seem to be interested in this post-EO-revealed saga ... wish I could tell what it is about this one that seems to not work for most of the M/L faithful out there, but I'm still doing this one for me, I guess. Feel free to let me know why you don't like it (or, certainly why you do if you do)... but this AU hasn't let go of me yet.

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Asylum:

Book II

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May 10, 2023
Later

By the time Bling got home, he'd had enough time for his delight in the news to be tempered by the implications of Max and Logan coming to their small, uncomplicated town. The consequences in the community would probably be the hardest on Sandra, should either of his friends be followed and innocent locals be unlucky enough to get in their way. It was time to let her in on more of the secrets they'd bring, enough so she had an idea of how involved she might be. How much of the rest she'd learn, of course, would be up to Max...

Logan had told him before that any move such as this would involve a change of identities, false names and backgrounds for them both. It would all fall back on Sandra if it came out that Max and Logan had come here under assumed identities with her knowledge, given the trust and confidence everyone had shown her. And if anything should happen, their being pursued here, let alone anything happen to the children at her school, Sandra might be blamed for bringing trouble to their sleepy, contented town. Bling believed he could say, in all honesty, that the likelihood of that wasn't great... but it was a possibility. And any possibility, even if remote, had to be fully considered by Sandra before bringing Max in as an employee. Again Bling wondered if they should deny that she'd known the couple at all, back in Seattle, and offer her at least some distance that way.

Still ... Sandra had a teacher's fierceness about honesty, and about her students' safety. Becoming a principal made that fierceness even more intense, and she wore her responsibility more heavily than ever. He loved her for these traits, as much as for her efforts, clearly on his behalf too, to bring Max and Logan here. For all of that, she was owed as much of the truth as was his to give.

He let himself in the back door, as usual, the warm, low lights in the kitchen now spelling home and comfort to him. If Logan and Max would join them here it would be perfect: not only having friends close by, to enjoy time with them again, but having them in a place where they'd be safer than they were in Seattle, near enough that he wouldn't keep thinking about them, worrying about what might be happening, worrying about Logan's ROM and his overall health when he pushed himself ceaselessly, his safety amid all the crackpots and criminals who swore revenge for all of Eyes Only's successful attacks on their illicit activities... worrying about Max's relentless pursuers, those government-supported Frankensteins who not only played with human life and the youngsters they created as if they were just bacteria on a slide, but then spent years tracking them, as if they were stolen property, and not individuals with as much right to live free, just as any other human born in this country...

The sound of his entry brought Sandra up and into the kitchen, wearing a silken robe and a big, pleased smile. "Hi, baby," she crooned. Clearly, she was delighted he'd been so pleased with her surprise, and wanted to extend the pleasure through the night. It wasn't hard at all to return the smile and take her into his arms, he reflected as they stood entwined, not speaking yet, in their safe, cozy kitchen. But she needed to hear more before they could be completely at ease with her plan to bring Max and Logan here...

"I have some dinner for you, in the fridge." Sandra barely pulled back from him to look up into his eyes, coquettishly. "It won't take a minute to warm up. Unless you'd rather have a little something else, before dinner...?"

Her hands had played up his back as she spoke, slipping under his shirt, and now circled around to admire his chest and shoulders. With a surrendering chuckle he pulled her close, kissing her deeply. What the hell, he figured, scooping her easily into his arms and carrying her toward their bedroom. First things first ... and a bit of explanation over dinner, after a while...

May 10, 2023
Even Later

Bling had followed Sandra out to the kitchen, where she had pulled out the salad she'd made for him when making her own dinner hours earlier, and was now reheating some curry to go with it. As he crossed over to their breakfast nook to sit, she buzzed him happily with a kiss and was humming to herself as she heated the curry.

It was a good a time as any to hear something like this, he hoped.

He waited until she brought the curry over to the table and sat across from him, joining him as she often did now for his late dinner. Not only a late dinner, but rather late on a school night for her, to start a conversation like this. Still, he needed to be up front with her immediately, before things went too far.

"Sandra – before Max and Logan come out ... there are some things you need to know. They might affect everyone's plans, as much as I hope they'll still come..." She looked puzzled at his words, given his enthusiastic call from the car and the appreciation he'd shown earlier that evening, but she waited for him to continue. "Have you said anything to anyone yet, about offering Max the job, mentioned her name, anything?" he began.

She shook her head slowly, "no, I wanted to see if she was interested, and if they'd be coming out here before I made any plans. It will take some switching around of the funding I just got for the fall to add Max onto the staff, so I wasn't going to mess with any of it until they planned a move."

"And no names mentioned?"

"No – BL, what...?"

He shook his head and explained, "you know why I want Logan out here – ever since he was outed as Eyes Only, there have been threats, stalkers, probably others even more dangerous who haven't tipped their hand about the payback they want. Max is in danger too, because she's been connected to him. If they were to come out here ... Logan wouldn't come out here as Logan Cale, Sandra. He'll have a new name, a whole new identity. If anyone this far from Seattle has even heard of Eyes Only it's probably only from the hacks, and would be less likely to know what he looks like, or that he's in a wheelchair, so it's a good place for him to make a new start without much danger of his being recognized, physically. But names and records can be traced – so he'll take steps to sever all ties between himself and who he was. He'll do the same for Max. Baby, if they come here, you're going to be asked to keep that confidence – for their safety." He saw Sandra register the seriousness of his words, the threats to his friends, and she nodded slowly. "I know how you feel about deception and hiding things..."

In fact, Bling knew exactly how she felt, from the two days it took her to wrap her mind around how involved he was in Eyes Only's work, and all he knew, without having revealed one iota of it to her before Logan was discovered ... and knew the reason it took her "only" two days to get past it all was that she had realized very quickly how critical it was for such information to remain secret. He watched as she drew a long breath.

"I do ... when the world isn't upside down, as it's become for Logan and Max." Sandra's soft brown eyes carried her concern for their friends. "If they could come out and make a life here, it would be worth it."

"No one would have to know that you knew them, from before. Maybe if we said Logan had just been a patient of mine ... that part's true, even if we do say it was under a different name than it was..."

"'In for a penny, BL, in for a pound,'" she quoted, wryly.

"Yeah." He took a long drink of the iced tea she'd put in front of him, and said softly, "I was just thinking the same thing." She had taken the first part so well, he wondered what she'd make of the rest. "Baby, there's more ... especially because you're talking about hiring Max." He spoke carefully, knowing he wouldn't be able to tell her everything but needing her to understand that there was so much more, involving even more people who played for keeps. "The secrecy is obvious for Logan – the fallout from this work as Eyes Only, not only the revenge factor, but people begging him for money or help or both. And it's true that there are concerns for Max, because of her connection to Logan. Hell, she was jumped in his parking garage not long before I came out, an attempted kidnaping, apparently. But beyond all that – there are separate concerns for Max, too – maybe even more so than for Logan, if the wrong people decided they wanted to find her."

"Max?" Sandra frowned. "Why, BL? What did she do?"

"Nothing, I promise you. Just like Logan, she's being pursued for what she has that others want – not anything she's done." He sighed. "I can't tell you everything I know, Sandra; the story isn't mine to tell. But Logan and Max agree that you need to know at least some of this before they come out – and Max might fill you in on more of it, if you wanted to know. What I'm going to tell you now I'm saying with her knowledge and her blessing – because, if we all end up out here, it's because of your efforts paving the way. And you need to know this, especially now that you were good enough to find a way they could join us out here."

Sandra's eyes had grown large, sensing the import in the information, given his words. That's good; she sees that it's big, he reflected. Maybe it sounds a little melodramatic, but given that the circumstances are rather melodramatic, it's fitting.

"Sandra ... when Max was a child, she was a part of a covert government project, mostly one, huge experiment in human potential. She underwent rigorous training and was the subject of non-stop testing, to see how she and the other children would fare. For years, these kids were hidden away in a remote facility, and the program completely off the books. They were all part of a plan to see if exceptional human subjects could be developed."

"Hidden away? But what about their families, the authorities...?" Sandra asked, incredulous.

"Max and the children with her had no families, no one knew they existed; they didn't exist, thanks to those in charge. The 'authorities' were the ones running the show. Those involved in this project – there were dozens involved, doctors, educators, military people – somehow, I don't know, with threats, or bribes, whatever, they went along in keeping the secret. And for almost a decade, these kids were programmed to be little super-soldiers, making them stronger and more ... gifted ... than average. They did horrific experiments on these children, Sandra, when they were two, three, four years old -- testing to see how long they could be held under water without breathing, how long they could remain outside in the snow, undressed, before they'd succumb to hypothermia ... their bones were broken to see how quickly they could repair themselves..."

"Why?" The teacher recoiled in horror. "What possible reason would the government of a civilized society have...?"

"The same reason other societies have tried variations of the same thing," Bling said softly, a bitter note in his voice. "Either to build a better human – here, a better soldier – or to test the limits of what a human can tolerate, how to disable our enemies, how to beat them." He looked at Sandra. "Even the last century is full of examples. Dr. Mengele ... the 'Tuskegee Experiment' in Alabama. And with them, twenty years ago in Wyoming ... our own federal government." He saw the thought register, and continued, "when Max was about nine, she and some of the other children managed to escape."

"Nine years old...?" Sandra echoed. "Without help?"

"The project included military-style survival training, escape and evasion tactics. I have no idea how she managed to take that sort of training and convert it to surviving in the city, hiding out from special ops types, especially seeing how she'd never been away from the base and surrounding woods to even see a city. But she and the others did it, on their own ... probably in large part thanks to the Pulse happening not long after." He sighed. "She's been on the run from them – or from the handful who know about the project – ever since."

"But ... BL, how could it have happened without anyone hearing about it? You were in black ops –how could they have done this all, really, without it getting out?"

"Outside of those involved on the base where they had the program, out in the middle of nowhere, only a select few people knew, clearly without any oversight and with no accountability," Bling murmured, still angry to know it had been going on at the same time he had been a part of the same government's navy. "If it had gotten out to the right people I'm sure it would have all been shut down, immediately, but... they managed to keep a lid on it all. And not only are those out there who would be interested in using Max and her abilities for their own ends – Logan's learned, over time, that many of those who worked on the project have mysteriously disappeared, died strange deaths -- it appears that someone is still trying to be sure no one lets this information out. If Max is still being pursued, that may be one of the reasons -- the fear that what happened might be made known publicly." He watched as Sandra digested the information, knowing it was a lot, but pressing on, given all that needed to be addressed. "One small reason for hope, though – recently, Max has suspected that some of those who were tracking her originally might have decided to hang back, maybe even have given up trying to bring her in. Clearly she's been traced by at least one of them and no one's quite sure if he's friend or foe anymore – or some sort of lunatic in-between. But it's not clear who all has information about the project now; some of the information may have made it to other governments or private concerns that would want to exploit Max's skills for their own gains."

"Max's ... skills?" Sandra dared, stunned, but still hanging in with him.

For the first time in this, Bling smiled a little, musing at Sandra's ability to take it all in, given not only the extraordinary information about what their government had done, but that it had involved those smallest and least able to object – children, she'd think, just like those she had in her school. Sandra didn't need to know that Max and the others had been engineered; it was the part Max always found the most difficult to consider, the part that for so long made her worry that she wasn't quite human ... it was the part that made her skills so coveted -- and her blood, her ova, not to mention her willing allegiance-- so valuable.

He minimized this part of his response. "Imagine sort of a souped-up bodyguard. An insertion team of one, a reconnaissance squad in one human package. Or a ninja with extra sharp eyes and ears." If Sandra were to ever learn the rest of what Max was trained to do – could she hear it all this easily? he found himself wondering. " Just about everything I learned in the SEALs, but she was nurtured on it, from birth until she escaped," he concluded, moving on to explain, "After all this time, it could be she'll be left alone – but maybe not, depending on a number of factors. Bottom line, Sandra – there have been a lot of people over the years who would have done about anything to catch Max or the others, even kill – have killed – to keep this project secret and to round up the ones who escaped. And there's no guarantee that's over with." He looked to the woman sitting close to him, still listening intently, and offered, "If they came looking for her, Max would be the only one they want, so it's not that others would be packed off with her anywhere – but there's no way to know how careful they'd be about those they thought were in their way. Max is pretty good at knowing when something is going down and would do all in her power, I know, to avoid anyone else being in the middle of things. But the possibility still exists..."

"The possibility that they could come looking for her, while she was at school." Sandra nodded, speaking heavily. It wasn't a question now.

Bling explained, "With government ops, they probably wouldn't want to run the risk of a crowd, like they'd find in school – witnesses, publicity if it leaked out – the impact of something happening around so many children. Same thing, probably, for any militia or similarly oriented types. But there just are no guarantees, Sandra..." When she nodded again, slowly, considering, Bling suggested, "look – if you're okay with the idea of having them here, and if Max and Logan like it here, they can still come out. It's not like she needs the job. And I really do think it's a good sign for her, she's been in Seattle so long without anyone really moving to take her. Same thing for Logan, that those hounding him haven't been good enough to get the job done – there are those really dangerous ones who could have done it easily by now, if they'd wanted to go to the effort. Maybe they figure an outed Eyes Only isn't a threat anymore, and will leave him alone." He looked at the woman he loved, assessing, wondering if he could read her thoughts from her expression and her questions. "But baby, it's only fair you know who – or what – could follow either of them out here, if they were discovered. You were brought out here by this town, the school – and we all know how you feel about it here. None of us wants to come between you and the people who have welcomed you into their children's lives. If it's all too much, Max and Logan could find another town like this, anywhere, and make their own start. You know that."

"Not one where they have a friend like you, waiting for them." Sandra looked deep into his eyes, as if looking for more, then let her eyes fall to the table top, unseeing. After a moment, not looking up, she said softly, "I do love it here, and I love the kids ... but I love you too, and I care about Max and Logan just as much as I do the kids here." She looked back up to Bling, and tried, "it's so unfair, you know? Logan has done for so much, for so many, at such a price ... the last thing he should have to worry about is running away, and losing his identity. And Max..." she shook her head as her brow furrowed. "...to think, what monsters they must have been, to do that to children..." Bling saw the familiar signs of Sandra's fierce protectiveness as her thoughts reached out to enfold his friends, as if already sheltering them from more of the onslaught against them. "If you really do think the worst is past, and they won't be followed out here..." she said softly, pausing before she added, " and if Max really wants to work with the kids..."

"She does, Sandra... she just wants you to know what it might mean."

Her gaze softened. "Poor Max..." she murmured, as Bling saw the overwhelming sense of unfairness guide her thoughts – maybe leading her to imagine her own students being made to suffer\what Max had been though. "And here I'd been thinking that nothing could be worse than what Logan's facing, these days." She looked back up at him. "They need to come out here, with us... if they decide that's what they want."

"Well, look, no matter what ... we'll say that Logan was my patient; no reason to say that either of us knew Max before, or that you'd even met Logan..."

"If they come out, I won't avoid taking responsibility for my decision to ask them to join us here," she said softly. "They deserve a good life and I think they might find it here. And I hope that if ever it becomes known that they came out with a new name and new identity, that people here might understand." She smiled a small smile at that to admit, "maybe that's naive, or just wishful thinking – but I'd rather be faulted for keeping a confidence than for lying about what I knew."

"Sandra, you have to think about what it will mean to have Max with the children every day..."

She looked at him with a sudden question. "Because of those looking for her..." she began, "not because of Max, something in her training..."

"Oh, no," he was quick to assure her. "No, if anything, no one is in safer hands than in Max's – especially kids, I would think. Or Logan," he allowed himself a small, soft laugh in memory. "It's just that those interested in her would know they need a pretty big offensive to take her."

Sandra's quiet surprise at that lingered for a moment, as it looked as if she might ask what he meant, but her questioning look shifted to a thoughtful one. In another moment, she spoke again. "You'd never know it, to talk with her. She seems just like any other girl, just trying to get by." Her eyes softened as she remembered, "I wish you could have heard her when I called to talk with her about this, BL. She got really excited about it. It was if the idea had never occurred to her, that she could work with kids, and as I told her all she could do for us, she just seemed to warm to the idea so much..."

Bling could imagine the Max he knew and her reaction to such an offer. He'd long suspected that she was left unchallenged, for the most part, by her job as a messenger, and she'd probably never dreamed she could work as a teacher, given the school and licensing requirements, the scrutiny she might face in landing a job. That, coupled with her past... "Max has a special place in her heart for kids. It goes back to those first years..."

At the reminder, Sandra's eyes flashed again. "We have to get them to come here to stay, BL. I'd been thinking that especially for Logan, for all he's done and all he's been through, that he deserves some peace. Now you're telling me that Max does too, maybe even more so, if that's possible." She looked back up at him, eyes boring in to his, demanding his absolute candor. "I trust you, baby, you know I do, and I trust your judgment. Not talking about whomever it is who are after them – are Max and Logan all you've said? Is there any doubt in your mind at all that they are as good and honorable as you've said, all this time?"

He didn't hesitate. "None at all."

Her gaze lingered several more moments, assessing, and she finally nodded. "Then I'm in. And we get them out here. The sooner the better." As he looked at her with some curiosity, sensing that she had an idea starting to form, Sandra shrugged. "It's only May now. If they can get out here and we see what happens... Max starts back with me in July to get things ready for the fall... and if August comes and there's no sign of trouble ... Max can have that job with the kids."

May 16, 2023

The afternoon sun had started its languid, slow slip down along the western sky, so that shadows in the bright light had begun to lengthen, and the bees buzzing around the flowers in the front yard had thinned down to only a few stragglers. Bling had spent his day at the clinic in town, where he tended to a wrenched shoulder, provided a monthly prenatal check-up, renewed a tetanus shot and placed a few stitches in between three sessions of PT for pleased patients who again expressed their appreciation that they no longer had to drive thirty miles and back for their therapy. Now he was at home and restless, unable to stay inside, looking for casual excuses to wander out in the yard and on down their long driveway, peering up the quiet street and pacing back up near the porch but never back up the steps...

One time, in his pacing, he saw Sandra's face bob by the window and, catching his eye, smile her understanding, to which he offered a sheepish grin. Busted. He was completely transparent in this. She didn't come out or call to him, but merely let him wander back down the driveway, dinner aside and waiting, prepared with an uncertain arrival time in mind. Bling smiled to think of his dinner guest, and if he'd be as impressed as Bling thought he might be at the quality and variety of the fresh fruits and vegetables they were able to find here, even this early in the season, as well as the bounty of food they could find on the shelves of the nearby Amish open market, in the endless rows of glass canning jars, capturing home-grown tomatoes, peaches, green beans and more all in their fresh-picked glory ... one of the small town perqs the big-city boy might not be anticipating, Bling mused, hoping it would help build enthusiasm for the move. He was so sure they could be happy here, if they'd let themselves be...

His sharp ears heard a car motor, the first in many minutes, nearing the bend where their quiet street met the road back into town. Walking back toward the end of the drive, he saw, rounding into view, a nondescript, grey SUV, nothing eye-catching or out of the ordinary ... the perfect vehicle for a nice, normal couple, looking to start a new life ...

... he wasn't aware of the smile that crossed his features as he stood in his yard, watching them close the distance to his house, but could see the ones on the faces of his friends as they came near: Max's pretty face shining over the steering wheel as she drove ... and the unforgettable face of his friend, his employer ... Eyes Only ... with a tired but happy grin beginning, at the sight of his long-missed trainer...

To be continued.