CHAPTER 4

"Biggs!" Dalton shouted full of cheer as he sprinted past and out of sight. He was a bundle of energy that kid.

Moments later another teenage Transgenic came running by, slowing his pace when he saw Biggs. "Have you seen Dalton?" The redhead asked. Biggs nodded ahead and the boy blurred up the street.

Biggs covered his mouth in an attempt to stifle a yawn. He could barely keep his eyes open, after listening to Doug X5-206 brag about his life outside of Manticore. He'd suffered through 14 hours with the dark-haired Transgenic because Alec was a no-show for the heist. Something must have come up with Max, she was always his first priority.

Biggs turned the corner, not far from the Terminal City bar. He could hear the music growing in volume, the closer he got to it. Entering the bar, he made his way through the crowd. Slumped over the counter, looking worse for wear, was Alec. Curious about the story behind his sorry state, he joined his friend. "Dude, you were MIA yesterday. Did you forget we had plans?" There was an array of empty glasses on the counter surrounding Alec. "Did you drink all these?"

"These and those… these and those… knees and toes," Alec sang and snickered. The waiter cleared the empty glasses. The bartender followed shortly after with more shots. Alec slapped down a wad of cash. "Keep 'em coming." He downed one after the other and tapped the counter, indicating he was ready for more.

The barkeep shot an alarmed look Biggs's way while he pocketed the cash. He proceeded to top up the glasses. "Are you fighting with Max again? Did she send you in search of the feminine hygiene products?" He joked.

Alec slammed the empty glass down on the counter. "She slipped town," he slurred, lying his head flat on his forearm.

Biggs shook him, trying to shake some life into his friend. "What's wrong with you?"

Alec groggily lifted his head and letting Biggs see his glassy red eyes. "She skipped town. She's gone…"

"Gone to OC's?" Biggs asked taking a seat on a bar stool.

"Gone."

"What for the day?"

"Never comin' back," Alec uttered.

"Max is gone… gone?" She'd left Terminal City. Biggs took a moment to digest the information. He picked up one of Alec's drinks and sculled it. Clearly, something had gone down between the pair for her to leave without him. He didn't know what to say.

Alec began to increasingly lean to the right. Biggs grabbed him before he fell off his stool and shoved him back in place. Judging by the state of Alec he wasn't ready to talk about Max.

"I knew we weren't close, like you two, but she could have at least said goodbye," Biggs mused aloud.

Alec let out a mirthless laugh. "You're not the only one she forgot." He took a shot and shakily held the next one up towards his friend. "I told her…"

"Told her what?"

"I loved her."

"You didn't!"

Alec downed yet another drink, desperate to dull his pain. Biggs marvelled at the sorry sight before him. He'd finally confessed his feelings. Everyone but Max could see it as plain as day.

It was surprising that she would just leave town. Who knew Max could be so cut throat?

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

A Week Later

The sensation of something crawling on his skin drew Alec from his slumber. He scratched his neck, expecting to feel an insect, instead, his fingers were met with beads of sweat. He opened his eyes and saw the painting Joshua had given him on the wall at the end of his bed. He was in his bedroom and his head was pounding.

The last thing he remembered was mumbling to Biggs about Max and his friend unsympathetically patting him on the back. He glanced at the clock radio on his nightstand. She'd been gone seven days. It felt longer.

Alec dragged himself from his sweat-soaked bed, up the hallway, and onto the couch in the lounge room. He'd been seeking and achieving oblivion all week. It was exactly how Sketchy used to describe it. Alec now understood why he couldn't deliver half of his packages on a Monday morning.

He picked up a remote and switched on the television. He couldn't face the day until his head stopped throbbing so he propped his head up on a pillow and laid down, closing his heavy eyelids for a moment.

BANG!

Alec's heart lurched from his chest at the sound of a door slamming. He shot up, quickly becoming disoriented. He grabbed his head and the nearby couch to steady himself.

A male and female were arguing in the hallway. He relaxed and dropped back onto the couch, smirking to himself. Movie credits were rolling on the television screen, he'd slept through lunch. On the upside, his head was a little clearer.

On the downside, it was clear enough to fall back into old habits, thinking about Max. He remembered the time he fell asleep on this very couch only to be interrupted by her bursting into his apartment. Her panicked voice had called his name. The look in her eyes reassured him, the best thing he ever did was stick around Seattle.

He staggered into the kitchen to find something to eat. He opened the pantry door to find inside an old muesli bar, soup, and some canned goods. The muesli bar would do. He tore it open and began to eat it. His thoughts shifted to the big guy. Alec hadn't been to see him since Max left.

He hadn't left his apartment after the first night he got drunk. It was heartbreaking to think about Max, let alone talk about her. He wasn't sure he could keep his composure. He paid to get his alcohol delivered to the apartment as a logical solution.

In moments of sobriety, a sense of guilt crept in for abandoning Joshua, like Max had done to him. Alec justified his behaviour by telling himself Joshua was old enough to handle it. He was teaching him a valuable life lesson, everything you love disappears, all good things end.

Alec tossed the muesli bar wrapper on the floor and decided to get some fresh air. The big guy was a sensitive soul, not broken or wise to the ways of the world like Lydecker's soldiers. He exited his apartment and took the stairs to ground level. Maybe he'd go see his old roommate before the damage was irreparable.

Wandering through the streets of Terminal City Alec could sense that word had spread. Transgenics tossed him looks of despair or joy in the news of Max's departure. Terminal City was different without her, it felt empty. Alec switched to the back alleyways to avoid running into anyone.

He turned a corner and abruptly collided with another person, finding himself unable to tear his eyes away for a few seconds before he came to his senses. He studied Sam's face for any sign of celebration, ready to unleash his pent-up anger on her if he found it. "I bet you're happy?" Sam didn't answer, reaching out to touch his arm instead. He practically jumped back as if her touch would burn. "You're one of the worst mistakes I've ever made."

"Please, she didn't have to run away, but it's so like her."

She didn't know anything about Max. "Stay out of my way."

"Alec, you can't blame me."

"Newsflash, I can do whatever I want." He shoved past her, too worked up to continue on towards Joshua's house. Why did she have to come back into their lives and ruin everything? "God, I miss Max." It was little things, like the way she raised her eyebrow in question at his ideas or the way she folded her arms and jutted out her hip when she was annoyed. Manticore's photographic memory ensured he would never forget her but he missed her presence by his side.

He took a detour to what used to be his favourite place in TC, Max's apartment. He entered her building, headed up to her level and opened the door. It was all still in place, her books, the weird red ornament Joshua found, the flowers in the vase. The water had yellowed and the blooms had shrivelled. There was no longer life present, much like their relationship, it was dead.

He walked into her bedroom, the one place he was forbidden from entering. The pieces of the phone he gave her were still scattered on the floor. He laid down on her bed. The smell of her jasmine-scented shampoo emanated from her pillows.

He'd never noticed the last time he was there, that her dresser drawers were half open and clothes hangers were strewn on the floor of her closet. She'd left in a hurry. Had she come to say goodbye or to say she loved him too? His heart told him it was the second one.

He picked up the book on the nightstand and flipped through it. This was the book she was reading when they both spent the night at Joshua's after he was injured. Max had been curled up on the opposite end of the couch from him reading. He'd shifted closer using the excuse of trying to see what she was reading. He'd propped his head against her leg as he yawned. When she'd thought he'd fallen asleep, she softly brushed the hair from his face and threw her blanket across him.

Alec put the book back on the nightstand and stared up at the ceiling. A red mark on the ceiling jogged another memory of her. White had been on their tail all evening and they'd found a spot to hide and wait him out. Alec had pulled Max into his arms holding her close. She didn't fight him getting her breathing under control as her back melded with his chest. They heard a noise in the distance and she put her hands over his arms that were wrapped around her stomach. She glanced over her shoulder at Alec. Her face was cut. He let go of her body and ran his thumb across her cheek.

He'd been suppressing any thoughts of Max since she left. He felt an uncontrollable urge to break down surrounded by what was left of her. His eyes began to well and before long a single tear broke the barrier, rolling down his cheek. Without her, he was aimless, lifeless, it all felt pointless.

The more he dredged through their past, the faster his tears fell.

The door to her apartment creaked open. "Alec?" He recognised the voice, Biggs had entered. Alec quickly wiped his face dry and remained quiet hoping his friend would leave.

Seconds later, Biggs was leaning against the door frame of Max's bedroom. "Somehow I knew this is where I'd find you. I should've come here first, it would've saved me a lot of time. How are you feeling this morning, scratch that, this afternoon?"

Alec simply stared at the ceiling. "I'm tired, so you can go."

"All you do is sleep… I ran into Sam on my way here. We had a very interesting conversation. She's pretty pissed."

"What else is new?"

"She told me you two hooked up... Is that why Max left?"

Was she telling everyone? Alec felt his eyes welling again and tried to blink the wetness away. This was why he kept his emotions in because once you let them out they were hard to put away. He looked towards the other side of the room to let a few tears fall in secrecy.

Biggs wisely kept silent while he got himself under control. "Let's get out of here, out of Terminal City, wallowing in self-pity doesn't suit you."

"I'm staying." Alec faced Biggs, not caring if he noticed the fresh tear tracks, daring him to say one more word.

"She's not coming back." He was a brave man.

"You don't know that."

"Then why are you so bent out of shape?"

Alec went back to staring at the ceiling, mulling over the idea of leaving Terminal City. It had always been the plan, but Max was too.

"You've got until nine tonight, otherwise I'll drag you out of this place myself."

He heard Biggs's footsteps and looked towards the doorway. "I have to see Joshua," he whispered to his friends disappearing shadow. The door to Max's apartment slammed closed. Alec rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. He had a few hours to kill and he wanted to spend them dreaming of her.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Alec let the awkwardly sized painting, which felt increasingly heavy, rest on the veranda floor against the wall. He opened the door to Joshua's place. "You here Big Guy?" He asked while picking up the painting and entering the house. Alec closed the door, as his question went unanswered.

He walked into the lounge room looking for somewhere to display the painting he'd carried from Max's. The mantel seemed the most suitable. He moved the ornaments to a nearby bookshelf and stood Joshua's art, front, and centre. She never would've left it behind if it wasn't for him. She loved Joshua, that much he was sure of.

With one job done, he slumped down onto the couch. It would be strange not living in this little world they'd created. He considered what the future might look like as he waited for Joshua to return.

It wasn't long before he heard the front door open and close, followed by two sets of footsteps. "I'm on the couch," Alec called out.

Joshua entered with young Dalton by his side. "Hey Alec," Dalton said enthusiastically.

"Hey, kiddo." Alec stood up from the couch.

"Are you here to play monopoly again?"

"Not exactly."

Dalton glanced at the painting on the Mantel. "Isn't that Max's?"

"Yeah. She wanted you to hold onto it until she sees you again."

"She said that?"

Alec and Joshua shared a knowing look. "She told me she's really going to miss you and she wanted to say goodbye."

"I miss her already," Dalton confessed.

"Me too," Alec said giving Dalton a hug. "Sorry to do this to you-"

Dalton pulled back out of the hug, "You're leaving." Alec could see the hurt on his face.

"Yeah. Biggs and I... we're going tonight... I came to say goodbye I guess."

"Why is everyone leaving? Are you leaving Joshua?" Dalton's voice wavered, showing his age. He was a scared boy whose entire life had crumbled when Max set fire to Manticore.

"We stick together like Max said." Joshua rubbed his hand on the top of Dalton's head affectionately. "When I go, you go."

Alec bit his tongue at the irony of Max's words. She'd run off on her own just like she did all those years ago. "Call me when you two are settled. We'll come to visit."

His offer appeared to cheer up Dalton, who wiped his misty eyes and wore a smile. "You promise?"

"Would I lie to you?" Dalton didn't catch the sarcasm-laden in that statement.

"Nope." He had no idea of the things Alec had done, how many people he'd used his charms to con and kill. Max knew or was smart enough to deduce something similar.

He wanted to ask Joshua to call him if he heard from Max but he didn't want his pride hurt. Joshua and she shared a special bond. They stood there for a moment awkwardly before Joshua grabbed Alec and engulfed him in a bear hug. He whispered, "If little fella visits I'll call you."

Alec hugged Joshua a little tighter in return. "I love you too pal. I better go, Biggs, will be wondering where I am. Don't wait too long to leave, it's not safe here anymore."

Joshua pulled Dalton closer to him. "I'll keep 'em safe."

Alec took one last look at the unlikely pair before him and walked past Joshua. He patted him on the back in a final goodbye and headed for Joshua's front door.

Before he met up with Biggs he swung by his place and grabbed a few clothes from his bedroom. Alec didn't have many possessions, he'd kept his apartment sparse, with a few luxuries that his cell at Manticore lacked. He took a photo of the painting Joshua had done for him. There was no way he could haul it on a motorbike, but the painting had sentimental value to him.

He exited his bedroom and entered the lounge room to open a particular DVD case. He held the polaroid he'd hidden inside between his fingers, taking a beat to examine the shot. In a rare moment, Max was caught off guard, laughing. He smiled unable to remain sombre at sight of her. He slipped it into his jacket pocket knowing there wasn't anything keeping him in Terminal City anymore.

As he passed the kitchen he saw her ring on the breakfast bar. He'd never gotten around to calling Sketchy's guy. Alec considered leaving it behind and trying to forget the events of that day but a tiny masochistic part of him hoped he'd see her again and maybe it would end differently. He quickly picked up the ring and shoved it in his jean pocket.

He left his apartment building to find Biggs. He strolled through the streets of Terminal City for the last time and proceeded towards the entrance gates where Biggs stood with their bikes.

He had a look of shock on his face when he spotted Alec. "I'm glad you showed up and I didn't have to beat some sense into you."

"Like you could," Alec challenged, fastening his bag to the back of his bike. "Where are we headed?"

"Figured we'd ride through the night and take refuge at a cheap motel."

"I hope you're not planning on having your way with me?" Biggs scoffed at the joke.

Alec wondered if Max had done the same, crashed at motels on the road. He didn't like to think about her out there alone. Alec straddled his bike and started the engine. Biggs did the same, "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Alec rode towards the gates of Terminal City, Mole was standing guard. He gave the pair a nod and opened the gates.

They rode for hours through the cold night, watching the stars twinkle and the moonlight illuminate the tips of the pine trees. As the sunlight filtered through the clouds, they knew the morning was upon them.

Alec's hands were stiff from gripping the handles on his bike. He looked over at Biggs who was riding single handed and stretching his back. It was time for a pit-stop at the next Bar or Motel they saw.

The journey had been pretty uneventful, peaceful even. The open road might be okay. Alec had wanted to flee Seattle before he'd gotten involved with Max, now he had a chance to start over.

Like a mirage, it appeared around the bend 'Breakburn Tavern'. "Biggs!" Alec gestured for his friend to follow him. They veered their bikes off the road and pulled into the winding gravel driveway. The tavern had a log cabin exterior with bay windows sporting blue eyelids. A flashing red neon sign hung in the window, 'Cold Beers & Home Cooked Meals'. Alec painfully swallowed despite his dry throat. They put down their bike stands and climbed off. Alec led the way inside.

He pushed open the door and entered. It was eerily deserted. The tavern had enough booth seating for around a hundred people. Alec could only see about ten people in the place and that included staff.

An older blonde lady, whose lined face told a story of a hard life, winked at him when he passed her. Alec averted his gaze and checked out the bar. He'd grown to love a particular brand of scotch, it didn't look like they stocked it. The long-haired bartender finished pouring a drink and turned to see the new arrivals. His eyes widened when he saw them. Alec glanced back at Biggs concerned he was acting stupid behind him.

Biggs frowned when Alec stopped. "What?" He shoved Alec to keep him moving.

"These people are weird." Alec chose a booth away from everyone and slid onto the bench seat. Biggs sat opposite him grabbing a menu from the holder in the centre of the table. He flipped it open and began perusing the options.

"I don't know why I'm even looking, I'd eat anything at this point."

Alec laughed and caught the man working behind the bar staring in their direction. His greasy shoulder length, dirty blonde hair, partially obscured his eyes. Alec openly returned his stare, daring him to back down. The man was around their age. His hands were weathered. Alec surmised he hadn't always been a bartender.

To the keen-eyed, he was out of place in this town lined with suburban cottages with perfect picketed fences. The eyebrow ring definitely didn't help him blend. Alec raised his arm and waved it signalling for service. "Get your order ready," he told Biggs.

A young lady was sluggishly approaching the table, chewing her gum, when the man behind the bar stopped her a few metres away. "I'll take this one." She shrugged without a care in the world and handed him her notepad. When he arrived at the table Biggs started placing his order.

"I'll have Shepard's pie, a lasagne, two hamburgers - one with cheese and beetroot, one with lettuce and tomato only, a garlic bread and two sides of fries one with chicken salt and bring us two cold beers to start please."

"And I'll have-"

"Smartass, you can pick dessert." Biggs shot Alec an odd look when the bartender said nothing nor had he taken down the order.

"Shouldn't you be writing this on your little notepad?" Alec asked, watching while the man opened his mouth about to say something. He conspicuously surveyed the room then sat down in the booth next to Alec. "What are you doing?"

"Ben?"

Authors Note: Ooh Cliffhanger!

Reviews are welcomed, but if you can't be bothered I totally understand :D