By Valjean
Into the Darkness
"If you'd quit picking fights with guys bigger than you maybe you'd have time to heal," Max said, rinsing out the suturing instruments she'd just used to sew Alec's shoulder back up. Unable to find a medic, yet knowing the bleeding had to be stopped, she'd done it herself.
Alec couldn't hear her of course. He'd been out cold for over an hour. At first Max was glad. Putting in those new stitches had to be painful and Alec was always such a big baby about things like that. But now she was really starting to worry.
"How much did he bleed two days ago?" she asked Joshua.
Joshua shrugged. "Lots of blood after the fight with White's uber bitch, a bullet hole in his body, but he was all right next morning. You saw him."
"Yeah, but he never got a transfusion did he?"
"No transfusion. No one to donate. Everyone too scared and busy. Alec said he was fine anyway."
"Alec always says he's fine," Max said grimly. She put a hand on his forehead, brushing strands of hair away from his closed eyes. She hoped it was her imagination that he felt too hot, even for an X5.
"That wound might be infected," she said. "Come on Alec, kick those transgenic healing powers into action."
"Alec might be too tired," Joshua said. "Hurt too many times."
"Alec's indestructible," Max said.
Joshua put a warm hand on her shoulder. "No, Little Fella. Alec only pretends he's indestructible. Alec really very fragile. Both here," he pointed to Alec's heart, "and here." He pointed to his friend's head. "Easily hurt. But he hides it from everyone, even himself."
"You're starting to sound like Yoda in 'Star Wars,'" Max said, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Alec's not that complicated. And he's an idiot. What was he thinking, taking on that gigantic goon?"
"Alec was protecting his friend Max," Joshua said.
"Well, he didn't need to. I can look out for myself. Besides, Logan was there with me."
"Alec protecting Logan too. He knew Dante was bad news. Knew Dante would cause trouble." Joshua touched her hand. "Max, Alec was hurt you might want Dante instead of him to lead the missions."
"Damn right I was hurt," Alec murmured with his eyes still closed.
"How long have you been awake?" Max yelled.
"Since your insightful Yoda comment," Alec replied, opening his eyes just a little bit. He looked over at the bloody bandages wadded up beside the cot. "Am I all fixed up now -- again?"
Max stood and tossed down the cool cloth she'd been keeping on his forehead. "You'll live -- again. Just ... stay in one piece for a couple of days. By then they'll have that tunnel finished and you can go scout for a food source. The job's all yours."
"Right," Alex murmured as his eyelids fluttered closed again.
The tunnel was indeed ready in two days, and so was Alec. In spite of Joshua's objections, he was dressed in cat burglar black and ready for action that evening, standing beside Max and Logan in the sewer as they waited for the diggers to give them the all clear sign.
"How did you guys find this tunnel anyway?" Alec asked. "I thought the National Guard had everything locked up tight."
"Logan discovered a really old map of the sewer system online," Max replied with a proud look at Logan. "It was stored in a batch of files no one else would ever have thought to look at."
Alex sniffed loudly and made a face. "What's that awful smell? I mean, I know we're in a sewer but this place is putrid."
"That's because of the chemicals that were stored in this pit," Max explained.
"Chemicals?" Alec wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. He stepped closer to the edge and looked down to where the tunnel branched off to one side.
"That's another reason no one knew about this exit," Logan said. "This pit was completely full of hazardous chemical waste. We had to drain it to reach the tunnel."
"Just how ancient is this tunnel?" Alec asked, not wanting to think about which group of mutants had been given such a lovely job.
"About a hundred years old," Logan said. "Which is why we've had the trench diggers shoring up the walls. It was already collapsed in two places, but we got through."
"And it leads to the ocean?"
"Our guys confirmed it this morning," Max said. "It comes out on the beach in South Bay, at the bottom of the cliff."
"How long a trek is it?"
"Two and a half miles," Max said.
"Wow," Alec said. "That's a lot of shoring up to do. You sure it's safe?" He glanced at Max for reassurance.
"No," she said honestly. "It could collapse. But our diggers have been in and out all day and it's held so far. I doubt one X5 walking lightly through will cause any problems. Besides, it's got to hold up. We're going to be using it to bring in supplies."
"Hijack the grocery semis, bring 'em down to the beach just before the tide comes in, unload, get 'em outta there, and let the ocean cover our tracks," Alec said. "Not bad."
"Logan thought of it," Max said, once again rewarding the older man with a big smile.
"Of course," Alec said. "Because Logan always thinks of that kind of stuff. He's a regular miracle man."
Joshua nudged him. "Shutting up now," Alec said before Max could tell him to.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" Max asked. "We can't afford for you to pass out somewhere."
"I'm fine," Alec said, gritting his teeth. "All healed." He looked at Joshua. "Just ask my nurse."
"Alec almost okay," Joshua agreed. "Good enough for union work."
Logan and Max stared. Alec laughed.
"Expression I heard," Joshua explained sheepishly.
Max smiled, finally getting the joke.
Well, she's happy with Logan and Dogboy tonight. Wonder if it'll ever be my turn?
Alec shook off the thought and glanced down, checking over his gear. He was traveling light because tonight was supposed to be reconnaissance only. Gloves. Flashlight. Gun. Cell phone. Yep, he was ready.
"Alec." Max took hold of his arm as he moved toward the pit. "Be careful. You're the first one to try and get out of here since we were surrounded. We don't know what they have waiting. And don't forget, White's out there too."
"Oh, I'll never forget about old Ames," Alec said, his eyes narrowing. What had transpired in the rooms above Jam Pony five days ago was still almost surreal to him, but the expression on Ames White's face while they were taping him up was something he'd never forget. Only one other human had ever looked at him with such hatred -- a man who's daughter he'd killed.
"Alec," Max said, holding him back.
He looked at her. What?
"If you get caught--"
"I won't get caught.".
"But if you don't come back--"
"Max," Alec said, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "If I don't come back, then I'm dead. I won't let them take me alive."
He knew he had to say that to her because if he disappeared she'd want to pull her usual "Rescue Alec" routine, endangering her own life and the lives of everyone else in the process.
"No rescues," he said firmly. "Although I know how much you value it, Max, my ass just isn't worth it this time." He flashed her a wicked smile. She looked up at him, her big brown eyes full of worry, her lips just inches from his.
The moment held. Alec felt like he couldn't breathe. If only the others weren't watching ...
"Ahem," Logan said behind them.
They both jumped and Max quickly backed away as Alec reigned in his overactive imagination.
"Remember," she said. "White probably wants you almost as much as he wants me."
"Guess I should be flattered."
"Just, be careful. And ... you better come back."
Alec looked at her one last time, then turned and leaped down into the pit, a 25 foot drop. He landing lightly, crouched, and moved toward the tunnel opening where one of the diggers was checking a wooden shoring post.
"Don't touch anything in there," the digger warned as Alec turned on his flashlight. "It's two point five clicks to the ocean. You'll hear it a long time before you get there. Just keep following the wall to the right. Tide's out so the beach will be dry until morning. You've got to get back before dawn though or part of the tunnel will be underwater and you'll have to wait for the next low tide. Be careful you don't slip either. The last half mile the floor's covered with silt from where the water comes in. Got it?"
"Got it," Alec said.
Max was still watching. He could feel her eyes on him. He made himself not look back as he walked into the darkness.