All Fairytales End – Chapter Three

Disclaimer: As for Chapter One.

Summary:

Spoilers/Timeframe: It's my AU and occurs about a year after Max escapes Manticore for the second time.

Rating: PG-13

A/N: Just a short note. If anyone wants to archive my stories (yep, if some poor person actually likes my stuff) feel free to do so. Just mention my name, back link it to fanfiction dot net and send Direct Message me the link so I can have a peak at what you've done with it. Thanks. {^_^}


Alec stirred and muttered something. Max leant over him, studying his features, a worried frown creasing her forehead. He's breathing was steady and color had returned to his skin. She brought his hand to her face, it was still icy cold, she breathed on it letting the warm air brush over his fingers. He returned her grip by closing his hand over hers.

Alec groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "Hey." He noticed that she didn't immediately release her grasp. Giving him a small smile she dropped his hand and slowly moved to get up. He couldn't tell if he'd woken up or if this was some wild fantasy but as she stood, Max gave him full view of her behind. "Now that's something to wake up too." Alec grinned from ear to ear.

Horrified Max tugged up the sheets, shielding her naked body from any further scrutiny. Alec felt the cold breeze the instant the covers were pulled off and he cringed. Him and his big mouth, well at least now he knew it was no dream. This was his reality, Max couldn't get away from him fast enough.

Running his still slightly stiff fingers through his hair, he stared at the pile of wet clothes in the corner. A pool of water had collected around the pile, no doubt they would still be drenched and probably freezing cold. Considering Max was playing modesty after he'd seen her whole glorious body, Alec decided he'd join in the game. Her jacket looked semi-dry so he picked it up and wrapped it around his waist, following her to the bedroom. Upon entering he found the bathroom door closed. The water started running and he resigned to sifting through the chest of drawers to find some dry gear. Collecting a pair of sweatpants and a thermal shirt, he put them on.

Max was still in the shower when her pager started beeping. Alec located it and read the message, "Guys, Tash. Gonna bust out a friend. Wanna help?" Alec scratched his head and went over the message again. They'd left Tash in Illinois just over three months ago and after Logan ended up in hospital, Max had followed Alec to Minnesota. None of them dared return to Seattle just yet, everything was still a little hot over there. Alec suspected that Max had a few other reasons to stay away, one namely being a man in a certain high-rise building. Walking to the bathroom door, he knocked and shouted through the thin panels. "Max, Tash wants to know if we can help her out." Tapping his foot impatiently he waited for her response. She was out of the shower now and surely she'd heard the pager. He stepped back when he heard the knob rattle. Max glared at him as she pushed past, hair dripping wet and dressed in a loose T-shirt and gray jeans.

"I think that belongs to me." She snatched the pager out of his hand. "Touch my stuff again and I'll break your fingers off." She sent him a death glare as a warning.

Alec smacked her playfully on the butt; he was ready for her when she threw a knee in his direction. He grasped her knee firmly and grinned wickedly at her. "Not fast enough, kiddo." He blocked her blow aimed at his head calmly and with one strong push, sent her flying backward. She landed in a tumbling mess in the middle of the bed. She was spitting mad now and Alec couldn't stop smiling, damn she was sexy when she was angry.

Sitting up, Max blew the hair out of her eyes. She would like nothing better than to wipe that smirk off his face, she should have left him outside in the snow. Better yet, why hadn't she let him drown? "You're the most infuriating, up himself ass I've ever met." She slid to the edge of the bed and attempted to walk out of the room. Alec grabbed her arm and held her to the spot. Shooting daggers at him, she tugged. "Let go."

He let the grin disappear from his face; his eyes growing serious. "Why don't you admit it? You're angry because you want to believe we didn't sleep together. It's the truth isn't it?" He searched her face. The anger he read was quickly replaced with annoyance and she turned to shield her face from his piecing gaze.

"Look, I'm not admitting anything, Alec." Half heartedly trying to disengage her arm, she looked up and glared at him when he still refused to let her free. "It happened all right, that's it I said it and I'm not denying it. Happy?" She shook her head, seeing the disappointed look in his eyes. She wasn't going to say she was sorry for trying to pretend nothing had changed, and in a way she wasn't sorry. They had needed it at the time. What difference did it make anyway? There weren't going to be any repeats of her sleeping with Alec. He knew why she did then and it wasn't like he hadn't wanted it too. Logan wasn't a part of her life anymore; he was probably together with Asha by now. Yeah, she'd known about them. Funny how people try to hide things, thinking they're protecting the one they love by pretending what they don't know can't hurt them. She'd seen the little looks that Asha would send in Logan's direction. He deserved to be happy; he deserved a normal relationship. Not a target on his back by being tied to a freak government experiment who could possibly kill him. Which was all she could ever offer him. And after all she was a freak wasn't she?

"I'm not asking you for anything, Max. I never will. By the way, thanks for getting me out." That said he let go of her arm. She just nodded her head slightly, acknowledging his thanks and then retreated from the room. Leaving Alec standing by the bathroom, staring after her. He'd give her time; she looked like she needed it anyway. Slipping on his boots, he laced them tight and went in search of his duffle bag. He wouldn't need a whole lot of stuff just; some clothes, a torch, lock picks, some food and his trusty army knife. What more did a guy need?


"Why didn't you call me?" Tash gave him a mock scolding. Throwing her arms around his shoulders she hugged him tight.

"What? Ruin the surprise, come on Tash, thought you knew me better than that?" He gave her a sexy grin and hugged her back.

As he released her, he noticed her glance over his shoulder. "She's not coming, it's just me." He followed as she turned and walked back through her small apartment from the front door. He leaned on the worn out table, studying the plan Tash had sketched. "You're breaking him out?" He looked up to see her watching him.

She nodded and moved to stand beside him, pointing at the far left entrance on the map, "That's the entry point. From there the hidden tunnel here, leads to F Block. I have to shut down their security system for three minutes to get through two gates and bust Dean out. Only a three minute window, any longer and patrol will be onto me." After marking out the specific entrances and the two gates she marked Dean's holding cell with a purple X. Dropping her pen, she took out her portable computer and booted up. Alec noted that she'd deliberately held back from referring to this as a 'we' mission. She'd only specified tasks she'd be performing, giving him the opportunity to turn her down. "So what do you think?"

"Honesty? I think you've gone crazy." He saw her face fall and she nodded, collecting the plan off the table and rolling it. Alec stilled her movement. "Tash, I didn't say I wouldn't do it. If he means that much to you, I'll help." He wanted to bite his tongue as those words fell from his lips. He was just as mad as her if he agreed to do this, yet he just did. Dropping his bag to the floor, he unzipped it and pulled out a small box. "Didn't think I'd be using this. Saving it for a rainy day."

Tash watched as he opened the box and pulled out a wad of plastic explosives and a few tiny detonators. "Where did you get that? I mean I was thinking of breaking him out quietly."

Alec laughed, "Honestly Tash, you're really out of touch aren't you. How'd you plan on getting through those gates?" Setting his gear on the table, he began assembling the bombs.

"I was going to override their lockup and the surveillance. Do you really think it's necessary, those things will make an awful lot of noise." Tash looked at him with uncertainly in her eyes.

He stopped what he was doing and sat her down. "We'll get him out your way. But it helps to have a plan B, just in case plan A falls through, okay." When Tash nodded in agreement, he turned back to the task at hand. "So when do you plan on doing it?" He asked casually.

"Tomorrow at 1 a.m. It's still dark and the guard change happens at 2.30 p.m. So the guys will be almost dead to the world, they pull long shifts over there." She didn't seem to notice that Alec had stopped what he was doing to listen. "Are we both going in or is one of us going to wait on the outside?"

He thought for a second before answering. "You wait on the outside in the van and override the system. I'll go in-"

"No you won't. I'll set up the system for you and you can wait in the van." She shushed him before he could argue, "Dean knows me and he trusts me. We can't afford any delays with explanations. He doesn't know were doing this."

"What?" Alec resisted the urge to shake her, lowering his voice, he asked again. "What did you say? Tell me I didn't hear right, Tash." He'd gotten out of his chair and begun pacing the room in frustration. Her not answering wasn't helping his mood, he stood directly in her face and lifted her chin so she couldn't avoid his pale green eyes. "Why didn't you mention that little bit of info before? Don't say it, you didn't think it was important." He wanted to punch something; this was insane it had to be. They were on their way to bust out a guy who didn't even know they were coming.

"I'm going with or without you Alec, it makes no difference to me." Tash sat there and gave him a defiant look.

Alec resisted the urge to throw a fit. What good would it do? Defeated he dropped himself into the chair opposite and put his forehead on the table. It hit the hard surface none to gently with a loud thud. He saw Tash move to see if he was all right, he held up a hand signaling her to keep her distance. He needed something to pound his brain, maybe the pain would bring some sense to his mind. "You're not going on your own. I need a clear conscience and heaven help us because we're gonna need it." He didn't need to add to the guilt already plaguing him. If Tash got caught because he'd preferred to keep his own ass safe, he'd never forgive himself.

"Thanks Alec." Tash jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. She didn't notice that she'd half buried his face in her chest. Alec poked her in the ribs and she released him. A grateful smile lingering on her face, "You have to understand Alec, he's in there because he was protecting us. I can't let him serve that sentence. It's not fair."

Alec sighed and studied his hands. "Life isn't fair, Tash. But if it makes you happy…" At least someone was happy with him. However long that would last. He sneaked a look at Tash, she was still cheerful as she studied the plan. If all went well, maybe he could ask for her help. Staring back at his hands, he turned them over looking at his palms and fingers. These hands had delivered a package, a deadly package. 'Sign, sealed and delivered' the consequences were still unfolding, worse than anyone had anticipated. Something lay in wait, not yet exposed but it's secret wouldn't be kept much longer. It would be a race against time, time that none of them had to spare.