okay, everyone: stop holding your breath—oh, and Alec's Angel: it's safe for you to read on now (: also, you're right of course—but hey, this story isn't finished yet… (:


Breathing

(Sixteen)

"Max!" shouted Mole, who had taken it upon himself to lead the retrieval team, as he fell to his knees right next to her. But she didn't acknowledge his presence, too intently was she focusing on the task of forcing Alec back to life. She felt for his pulse, lowered his slack body to the ground, adjusting the position by tilting Alec's head, lifting his chin. Bending down until her lips touched his she breathed air into his lungs.

(One)

She breathed for him.

(Two)

"Anything I can do? Max?" Mole asked once her gaze met his, her fingers busy checking the fallen soldier's body for signs of circulation.

She didn't have to say anything, though, for already Mole had barked out a command to one of the soldiers in his team. "Swift! Go get the doc here ASAP!"

Seeing Max place her hands on Princess's chest he batted them away, replaced them with his own until they were positioned correctly.

Follow one of the bottom ribs to the place where it meets the sternum—place one finger there, the index finger right above it—place the heel of the other hand on the sternum and move it down until it reaches the index finger…

It didn't take him more than a split second to find the spot, something he might actually call one of the perks of having undergone Manticore-training for a lifetime. Every transgenic knew how to give CPR after all, like it were ingrained in their messy DNA as well.

"Make that yesterday, Swift!" he called after the man, already having started with the compressions by then.

Fifteen compressions, and Mole noticed Max counting them down, her hands never breaking contact with Alec's prone body. At thirteen she bent down again, at fourteen her lips nearly touched the other one's again, and at fifteen…

… Mole leaned a little away, and Max breathed.

(Three)

"Come on, Princess!"

(Four)

He saw the fierce determination in his CO's features and couldn't help but think that Princess better not die if they were to ever see the end of it. Max didn't say anything, not one word. But her lips were moving now, forming figures, counting down. Just like before.

And then: breathing, passing air on into Alec's mouth.

(Five)

Alec, who, like always, was too stubborn to do anything the easy way—and just start breathing already.

(Six)

Straightening his arms once more Mole pressed down on the kid's breastbone, watching for Max's lips to indicate the end of yet another round of CPR. Watching her lean over and breathe.

(Seven)

He noticed the blood staining his hands, but decided to ignore it for the moment.

(Eight)

His arms, though strong, were starting to feel a little tired. "Seriously, Alec. Stop acting like the princess you are! Come. On."

Max stared at him, wide eyed, then…

(Nine)

And what the hell took Swift and the doc so long? Wasn't the guy called Swift for a reason?

(Ten)

"I tell you one thing, Princess, no way I'm doing this forever, understood? So you better stop acting up already!" he bit out, forcing himself not to increase the pressure in his growing anger. And why was he so angry? And at who? At Alec? For making Mole exert himself in his effort to save the idiot? Or maybe at himself? For caring enough to be afraid the kid mightn't make it…

(Eleven)

Somewhere a radio crackled to life.

(Twelve)

"Please…" Max whispered, the word yet another breath, the air escaping her mouth unshared. Though Mole had heard the silent plea all too clearly. TC's usually intrepid leader had started to beg…

His arms felt so lame…

(Thirteen)

(Fourteen)

Max pressed her forehead against Alec's, imploring him with silent words. No more counting down compressions while Mole was ordering his arm muscles to comply when "Fifteen!" he finally gritted out and…

(Fifteen)

Max breathed again.

And wait! Didn't Mole just feel something underneath his hand? Underneath the hand he held still lightly placed on the kid's chest? A tiny flutter? A beat…

"Sir! I have the doc here! Sir, the doc's here now, Sir!"

The tinge of blue slowly leaving Alec's lips, his face.

And Alec opened his eyes…

(Sixteen)

… to Max's kiss of life. To her smile, her relief, to someone pushing her aside and shining a light into his eyes, to hands patting him down, touching the spot of pain, talking to him, to Max being raised up off the ground by Mole—and when the hell had he arrived here?—to sounds of commotion, to Mole's "Just you hang in there now, Princess!"

Until all he saw were Maxie's eyes…

He didn't know it then, that she had breathed for him. He didn't know anything other than that she was there and that as long as she was he would be alright.

She had breathed for him sixteen times, had shared her air with him, her life. And if she had had to do it forever, she would have done that, too.


sheesh, now if that ain't a little sappy… *blushes with embarrassment*—told you I'm no good at writing fluff… in my defense, though: at least for once I didn't keep you waiting for too long… (: