Title: Father Figures
Author: aegean
E-mail: aegean11@hotmail.com
Genre: Story Angst, Romance, Action-- Max/Logan shippery
Rating: R
Summary: OK here it is. The conclusion..
Disclaimer: Dark Angel is a Fox /Cameron/Eglee vehicle. I get no money. I do it for fun/practice Please don't sue me.Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Escape
Pregnant.
It was the last thing she had expected. She buried her head in Zack's chest in an attempt to suppress her emotions. His hand moved to cradle the back of her head. Every impulse to comfort her was channeled into the slow rhythmic strokes he ran through her hair. It was all Max could do to just keep breathing.
Without warning, the door swung open. Both Max and Zack whirled their heads to identify the intruder. Jace stepped into the room. She eyed the two figures on the floor then quickly surveyed the state of the room. The sight disturbed her for a moment because all signs pointed to the fact that she had gotten their too late. But, it really didn't matter. Jace looked back to her siblings as they remained knelt before her. She looked down to the items in her hands then, and without another thought, tossed them into the room. "Put these on and lets get out of here." She turned out of the doorway quickly unable to think straight.
The moment Jace disappeared behind the wall, Max and Zack snapped out of their inaction. They dressed in cold, awkward silence occasionally stealing glances to evaluate the others status. It was absolutely embarrassing how vulnerable they had allowed themselves to become. When they finished dressing, they stepped into the hall to meet up with Jace.
Their foe turned friend was leaning against the wall with her hand pressed to the small of her back. It was evident from the moment they assessed her appearance that her color was off and her pulse was elevated.
"How long have you been in labor?" Max inquired effectively tossing aside her previous personal feelings.
"Six hours," she replied with a slight chortle at the blunt inquiry. "But my water hasn't broken." Max nodded and touched her sister's shoulder. Max and Zack needed no explanation as to her change of heart. The hardened concern tainting her voice was enough. Jace was back on their side.
"We should move," Zack said cutting the moment short. "I assume we still have the element of surprise on our side?"
"Yes," Jace replied, setting aside her condition to get her head back in the game. "But, we only have a few minutes. I waited till they were gathered in a meeting before I came for you. We have maybe fifteen more minutes before they request a status report." Jace watched as Zack began to formulate a plan. "The place is fairly well fortified. Standard detail. Ex-cops, ex-military. We'll need to strategically take out some guards before we do anything."
"Fine," Zack replied. "Weaknesses?"
"The east wing is where the meeting is taking place. We need to wait until they return to the main conference room and the guards re-position themselves. We should hit them during the change. They'll be at their most vulnerable. That leaves about 10 men in the east wing, 15 men returning to the perimeter and a concentration of about 20 men in the west wing."
"So we take out the east, then hit the west and deal with the perimeter when we get to it." Max looked to Zack. "Twenty five interior guards, three x5's… odds are about even."
"Two x5's," Zack corrected. "She's not in fighting condition." Max's eyes returned to Jace who shook her head in response to Max's unspoken question.
"OK, two x5's, thirty-five men in total…that does give them a little more of a fighting chance but we've been through worse with a lot less at stake.
"Alright," Zach began correcting Max's original plan, "we wait till they reposition then we take them. Jace you'll fall back and provide light cover. I'll take point." Firmly entrenched in his command role, Zack prepared to move out. "Let's acquire the target."
"We have to secure Logan first," Jace said, nearly forgetting about the man.
Max's eyes widened. "Is he OK?"
"Yes," Jace replied, "only a minor flesh wound to the shoulder." She figured it best to exclude the full details of the preceding day.
--
Sam and Bling sat in tense silence as Lana approached the GPS coordinates. But, as Lana pulled closer to their destination all parties began to spring back into action.
Sam was the first to comment about the strangeness of their surroundings when her eyes were drawn from the floor of the SUV and past Bling's head. They had already driven through town and were now somewhere in a large industrial park.
"This is it," Lana announced in a muffled tone that bore her own confusion. "Why would they keep them here?"
"What is this place?" Cindy asked of the stark steel and glass buildings rising in front of them.
"According to the old maps of the area, this is Balboa Park." They slowed their approach. "That used to be the old botanical garden, Bling continued. "And, over there – the Museum of Art and the Aerospace Museum." Lana slowed the car and parked out of the buildings line of sight.
"Where do we start?"
"First we watch." She handed them and earpiece. "Spread out and keep in contact."
--
"Bling do you see them?" Sam inquired.
"Yeah, I know what your thinking. They're not building maintenance."
"I'd say we've found them. I'm coming in."
"So what's the plan," Lana asked moments later as the rescue party crouched staring at the building.
"Give me a sec." Sam jumped back into the SUV and returned with a small lockbox no one had seen before. She entered a code and it popped open revealing the latest PDA device and cell phone.
"This is what I have in mind."
__
The door to Tisch's office swung open and the three x5's poured in.
Max ran over to Logan and untied his hands. He stood quickly and hugged her. She quickly broke the embrace, feeling Zack's controlled glare aimed at her. It was enough to bring her head back to the situation at hand. She stood in front of him surveying his injuries closely. The warning from Jace had been enough to prevent her from lingering on the serious gash in his shoulder. "Doesn't look like any damage has been done."
Logan's eyes drifted to Jace then instantly returned back to Max. "Not a thing," he stated plainly. Jace gave a fleeting half smile that, if Logan read correctly, was laced with a touch of respect.
"We're out of time. Their meeting is likely over."
"It's not gonna be easy to avoid detection from here on out. There are cameras in most of the main corridors. It's gonna take a little time." They set off into the hallway.
--
"So?" Sam inquired impatiently.
"It has a chance." Bling sounded reluctant but accepting.
"Lana and Cindy will have to be our eyes out there and provide temporary cover if needed. Can they handle that?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?" Sam asked in an icy tone.
"I said yes. You've seen them in action. You know them. What's with the questions?"
"I know them as friends. This is a mission. It's different." All business and a steely-eyed glance toward the target Sam waited for a response.
"They can handle it."
"Good." She chambered a bullet and replaced the gun in its holster. "Can you brief them while I get everything ready?" Bling turned and walked away.
--
"Logan," Max began without warning as they hugged the corridor walls, "I don't know if you know…" She stammered. "I mean I want to tell you-"
"Max," Zack intoned, "this is not the time."
Logan grasped her hand for a moment and his eyes locked with hers, "you don't have to explain a thing." He released her and motioned forward.
If she didn't believe before, Max now knew without a shadow of a doubt that Logan had seen what had transpired in the room. She and Zack had been thoroughly convincing. "Logan, you don't understand…" He put a finger over her lips.
"No, you don't understand." He smiled with his eyes shown with a gentleness only a man in love could muster. "I know you would never do anything to intentionally hurt me and I also know that you'd do everything in your power to make the best decisions possible for everyone concerned. And a good decision now would be to keep your focus."
She shouldn't have felt guilty, but she did. She should have fought harder to get a word in edgewise, but she didn't. He thought she had cheated in heat and he was telling her that he understood everything and didn't give a damn. It was scary to her how much he loved her.
"Logan-" Just as she was prepared to beat the truth into him, a loud crash roared through the building knocking everyone to the floor.
When the dust cleared, Max looked up to see a mangled SUV near the back entrance to the corridor. That, in and of itself, was surprising. But, what shocked her was the emergence of its first passenger.
"Bling," Max shouted as the dust began to settle. She ran toward him with Logan, Zack and Jace following suit. They arrived at the vehicle just in time to see Sam climb out.
"Does the word subtle mean anything to you people," Zack growled half-heartedly as the impromptu reunion began.
Logan ignored the sentiment and clasped Bling's hand. "Glad you could show up for the party."
"We wouldn't miss it," Bling replied with a brief smile. Then, he quickly surveyed the status of the three x5's. When he fell upon Jace his eyes darted back to Logan. "She's gonna need medical attention soon."
"It's only been about six hours, I've got some time." Bling nodded silently knowing full well that pressing the issue would accomplish nothing.
Sam came forward, weapons in tow and handed them off to Zack and Logan. She looked to Max and holstered the last gun. "Your file was quite extensive." She turned to Zack. "So, what's the plan?"
Max's confusion was evident but she decided to forgo the questions to turn to Zack as well. "We've got a little something to discuss with our hosts. Jace needs to be secured. Bling can you handle it?"
"Done."
"Logan, you-" Max began but was quickly cut off.
"are going with you."
"It's not necessary." She argued.
"Maybe not, but it's personal. I want Tisch."
"This isn't the time to be chivalrous." Max scoffed.
"Nor is it the time to have this argument again. Logan goes that's it. We're out of time so let's move. Get Jace to safety and we'll follow when we're done." Zack siding with Logan topped Max's list of thing that could only end poorly.
"At least take this," Bling said handing Zack an earpiece. "We'll monitor your egress."
Zack took the equipment and headed down the hall with Max and Logan following. They had no definitive plan besides using brute force. Sam provided immediate cover while Bling retreated back to the van outside to back them up. He immediately proceeded to secure his location before covering Sam. The process took under thirty seconds, but when he turned to draw any potential fire away from Sam, she was gone. Bling hopped into their makeshift base and called up Zack's transponder signal. Nothing happened. He looked down to check the numbers and found they had been altered. His eyes involuntarily darted back to Sam's last know position as a deep scowl began to mar his face. He shook it of and attempted to recall Zack's signal code from memory.
Blip. Static. Blip. "Zack," a voice cracked over the earpiece. "I've lost Sam. She messed with the frequencies. I think she's coming to your position. You've-
"Sam." Tisch simpered
"Geoffrey, gentlemen." Sam replied as she entered the room with her two guns aimed at the trans-gens.
"It's been a while." Tisch moved forward to stand before the x5's despite the drawn guns.
"Yes it has."
"I'll take it from here." Sam stated plainly to Zack.
"What the hell is going on?" the x5 growled.
"I suggest you make a hasty exit." Sam replied barely conferring a glace toward him. "Lydecker will be here in under ten."
"I want an explanation."
"I don't have time for one. Bling can answer any questions you have. I've given you the warning. I suggest you act on it."
"Bling is there any movement into the area." Zack asked harshly.
"Checking. I need to increase the satellite parameters." Two beats.. "Zack you need to get out. There's a military convoy approaching the area- ETA six minutes."
"I've got confirmation," Zack said through a vengeful sigh. "Let's move." Zack lifted the gun toward Tisch.
"I can't let you do that Zack." Sam suddenly leveled both guns at Max. "My orders are to bring them in alive. They have to be debriefed."
"They don't leave here alive," he countered
"Zack, if I shoot her it's gonna make evading Lydecker that much harder." One second.
Zack moved toward Sam with chimera speed and relieved her of one gun, but as he went for the other, she pulled away, and fired her second. The shot rang through the air and Max went down.
There on one knee she clutched her thigh in utter surprise. She then looked a the wound and noted quickly that it was gonna be a bleeder but not an insurmountable injury.
"Leave now and you'll still make it out without detection. Try anything and you'll go back with us." He looked toward Max as did Sam. "Believe me, at this point for you, a Manticore debrief will be followed shortly by death. It will all be over just not on your timetable." Her eyes locked with Zack's. "Leave now."
Zack's change in posture was all the signal Max needed to pull herself up and get Logan out. Zack would follow.
When the room had been cleared of the x5's Sam trained her sight on Christianson and ordered him down on his knees. Tisch and Franklin quickly followed.
"Lydecker will be hear shortly," she began to no one in particular. She moved toward Christianson. "I'm sorry gentlemen," she continued, "but I have my orders."
The shot rang out so suddenly and Christianson had no chance for final words as his body slumped lifelessly to the ground.
Tisch watched the gun trained at his head move toward Franklin.
"Sam," Franklin began in a broken desperate whisper. "I know what you're about to do but please don't kill him." Silence. "Sam, he's the closet thing I have to a son. Take me it's fine but let him walk away." The final pleas of a father. "Please don't take his life."
"He can't be controlled," she replied weakly. "None of you can be controlled. It's too late." Franklin grew quiet as an indeterminable amount of time ticked away.
Sam turned her head and moved directly behind Franklin. She hesitated as the man began to sob silently but recovering, she leveled her gun yet again when a hand reached up and pushed the 9mm to the floor.
Tisch rose to stand beside her and Sam looked upon him with some knowledge of what he was asking and released her gun as she drew another and aimed it at Tisch. She was not a fool.
All the while, Franklin knelt in silence, unaware of the proceeding behind him, but refusing to show any fear prepared to die knowing he tried to save his 'son'.
Tisch fired.
The moments following were a blur to Sam until she was finally able to address Tisch again.
"I don't know why she wanted you alive, but she did. I suggest you go. I'll deal with Lydecker."
Tisch threw a reserved nod. Finally something had forced the pretense and arrogance out of him. He turned and exited quickly.
The x5's were out. CFT was dismantled. Tisch was free. All of her mission objectives both ordered and self-imposed had been completed.
Not one minute after Tisch's departure, Lydecker and his men came through the door. He stopped short over the bodies of Christianson and Franklin.
"Status?" he asked studying Sam.
"I've secured the location. Christianson and Franklin were dead upon my arrival. I've been unable to locate Tisch."
Lydecker turned to his men and ordered them to search the facility. "Continue."
"I believe they captured several x5's who have since escaped. Tisch may have executed the others after this particular failure."
"That doesn't sound like Tisch's MO when it comes to these men."
"That's the best I've come up with based on the superficial evidence, sir. When we get back to base I can have more extensive scenarios run."
"Fine." He turned to leave, she knew to follow. "Sam…"
"Yes sir"
"The committee will not be pleased," he said pointedly.
She sighed and continued out of the room.
--
'OK Three chimeras and four norms are riding in a car,' Max began in her head smirking inwardly at how many bad jokes she could get out of that one. Thankfully before her mind wandered there, they rolled in front of Logan's cabin. She wasn't sure about the exact time only knowing that it was somewhere after shit hit the fan but before two a.m. At least she figured it had to be about two a.m. Extreme exhaustion would take its toll even on the strongest x'er's internal clock. Each battling exhaustion in their own way, no one was talking which was probably for the best.
They all need time to put things in perspective. The silence remained even as they piled out of the car in a very orderly fashion. Cindy and Lana jumped out first and ran in to prepare the cabin for the impending delivery. Zack followed shortly with Jace in tow while Logan and Bling saw to Max.
Zach carried Jace into the cabin. She had been in the late stages of labor and he was relieved that they had made it to a secure location before the birth.
X5 births seemed to be the easiest thing in the world. No mad screaming, no cursing. Just controlled breathing and a few orders to push. It made Cindy consider having children herself but that thought died quickly when she remembered her lack of reved up DNA.
By 4a.m the cabin had settled down and those who were going to sleep or could sleep for that matter were already down. That left only Max and Zack awake and in various stages of contemplation. Zack finally gave up on maintaining his hard façade and after keeping watch decided to return to the cabin. Even he was allowed a moment to decompress he thought as he stepped up onto the porch.
"OK?" she inquired softly as Max heard him approach. She had been standing at the door watching her brother, respecting her brother for continuing to do his duty. The sentiment had always been there, but for the first time since they had met up, she finally allowed herself to need the person that he was. The consummate protector of the family.
"Yeah." It had been so long since he had spoken, the words seemed to stick momentarily in his throat.
"How's Jace?"
"Fine." Max's hand silently drew across her own belly.
He could feel her heart on the verge of breaking. Daring itself to give up hope. He vowed then to never let that happen.
"Zack," she finally continued.
"Yeah."
"I love you." The smile was hard. They always were with him. That at least hadn't changed. He ran a hesitant hand down the side of her face as if brushing a stray hair away.
"I love you too." So simple.
Max smiled in return and savored the rare, true unguarded moment. But all too soon reality began to encroach.
"Zack," she began again, breaking the settled silence. "I don't want Logan to know about the baby until I've had a chance to check things out. I've been drugged, knocked out, shot at, shot" Max grew silent. "Fuck! I don't know if the baby is OK and I can't tell him until I know."
His sign conveyed more sympathy than max knew him capable. "I understand."
"Thank You." She leaned over to hug Zack just as Logan stepped out onto the porch.
----
He wonders how any woman could come home, curl up into silk sheets on the cherrywood four poster bed, and be his equal. Then, wake up, bring him coffee and a Danish with hers, and leave for work. Enter the steel jungle of Manticore and have the power to order his death.
She was perfection.
She climbed into the plush deep cranberry colored oversized velvet lined chair and began to run her fingers through his hair. Only with him did she allow herself the creature comforts. Other men existed merely to break up the boredom.
"You didn't have to do it you know." She had read the reports and filed her official statement with the committee days before. It was the first time she'd mentioned the incident in San Diego since reading the reports.
"Yes I did," Tisch sighed. "He couldn't have lived knowing the truth."
"He would have gotten over it." She smiled lightly rhythmically caressing the nape of his neck. Almost nurturing. Almost. . "He did love you after all."
"It's what he would have wanted. It's done."
She let any further condolences that may have lingered on her lips drop as she stroked his hair again. "They are good together." Addressed to him and no one in particular, the statement hung in the air.
Tisch couldn't be certain of the referenced pairing. Max and Zack. Max and Logan. Either way, his child was the key.
But, without the help of one, she couldn't have saved the other.
"They had help," Renfro offered trying to brush off the magnitude of his statement.
"She was never meant to go it alone. They mobilized and took control." He leaned forward and grasped the glass of imported cognac that seemed to always be waiting. He leaned back into the chair. "They were better than me. They are better than us."
"Isn't that what you wanted…a legacy worthy of you?"
Not exactly on his terms, but 'A calculated retreat in some cases was an often underutilized strategy.' A concept his blonde consort had never fully grasped.
Minor losses were always unavoidable. Little lessons to be learned.
Victory is determined only by the end game.
Fin