Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Cameron etc. This story is mine though : )

Authors Note: Didn't think I would write another chapter so soon, but there you have it. Review if you want more cause I don't get paid for this stuff you know!

DARK TERROR

Chapter 13 - Devil You Know

Pain. That was the first thing that Alec became aware of. Pain throbbed through his head with every beat of his heart. The darkness that enveloped him was fading but the light so hurt his mind he fought to remain there for as long as he could. Only one thing dragged him out. One name, one reason to come back to consciousness and to the pain.

Max.

If he had been capable of it, Alec would have cursed her for existing, for making herself the reason he lived. But the searing pain in his head precluded coherent thought and all he could do was groan.

Several fingers pressed into Alec's skin at the point of his pulse and an unfamiliar voice said his name.

"Alec? Alec can you hear me?" The voice was deep, masculine and almost hoarse. It was a mans voice and with its sound the cloudy haze in Alec's mind started to clear. Who the hell was this? Struggling Alec fought to open his eyes. The first glimpse of daylight burned his eyes and he shut them tightly in response to the increased pain that shot through his brain at the stimuli. Another whimper of pain left his lips. I have to move, have to fight - find Max. Alec tried to command his muscles to move but his body betrayed him for the first time in his life, only twitching in response to his efforts.

Dimly Alec was aware of the movement of this other person and through his eyelids he noted that the light wherever they were had dimmed, as though curtains had been shut. The darkness entreated him to sink back into its pain free oblivion but the thought of Max made Alec struggle to stay with consciousness.

Once more he tried to open his eyes. This time to small slits to judge the harshness of the light. It was bearable. Just. "Max." Alec was shocked at how weak his voice was, despite the obvious urgency in his tone. He saw the shadowed figure move back towards where he lay.

"Max is alright. She's resting." The dark figure rasped. Alec took this in, trying to pull himself together to see where he was and what the immediate situation was. Groaning he tried to pull himself up against the thin pillows that were supporting his aching head.

"Take it easy soldier." The man instructed him, he reached over and offered him several pills and a glass of water. "Swallow these." Alec's eyes were fully opened now as he looked around the room and saw no sign of Max. He turned to the dark clothed man and knocked the pills and water to the ground. The glass shattered on the concrete and the man took a step back.

"Who are you? Where the hell is Max?" Fear gave him strength and Alec pushed himself into a sitting position, ignoring the sickening dizziness that rushed through his head making him what to vomit.

He wasn't in a motel room like he had first assumed. The room was obviously in an abandoned building, the bare cracked wall and concrete floors testified to that. A large piece of cardboard was blocking the light from the single broken window and Alec realised he was lying on an old camping bed, covered with a thin army blanket. Only a dim light illuminated the shadows. Alec tried to place the silhouette of the man who was no longer facing him. Something about the voice was querying his memory. He had heard it before, not often but definitely before. Manticore? Was this guy from Manticore?

"Who are you?!" Alec tried raise his voice, failing, only sounding more panicked as he tried to take control of a situation where he was anything but in control of. The man sighed heavily and turned around, stepping towards him. Alec inhaled sharply as for the first time he clearly saw the mans face. Oh shit! Where the hell did he come from?

"Its alright son. I promise you, Max is fine." Seeing the stunned and fearful look on Alec's face, he correctly assumed the other mans reaction. "I would never hurt Max." He hesitated, memories flashing over his worn face."She's- She means a lot to me." Looking away, he once again offered Alec some pills. "Take them, there only pain killers and will help you recover."

Alec didn't move to take the medication and simply stared at the other man. "Why the hell should I trust you Lydecker? How do I know Max is okay?"

Donald Lydecker swallowed hard and his voice became even more gruff as he spoke again. "Max is next door, take the pills and I'll go and get her for you." Frustrated at Alec's stubborn uncooperativeness, Lydecker threw the pills onto Alec's lap. "You've been in a coma for 6 days, you suffered a skull fracture which resulted in your brain swelling. If I had wanted to hurt you or Max, or hand you over to White, I would have had plenty of time to do so. Take the pills or suffer, your choice." With that Lydecker turned and strode out of the room, his footsteps echoing through the thin walls of the abandoned building.

As Lydecker walked down the halls he told himself he shouldn't be surprised. None of his kids were fond of him, why should they be? Lydecker knew what he had put them through. Alec. 494. It was painful to see him. He hadn't been part of Lydecker's group that he had taken personal supervision of training. Still, seeing the twin of 493, Ben… The abnomally of the escaped X5s… it brought back guilt and memories he would rather forget. After the escape back in '09, Lydecker had lost his position as director of Manticore and that bitch Renfro had been promoted. Still he had been second in charge and was a familiar sight to the X series around the compound. A part of Lydecker had hoped that Alec wouldn't have known him, it was likely the younger X series, the 7s and 8s wouldn't have known him.

Sighing Lydecker entered the room where Max was supposed to be sleeping. He took in the empty room and the deserted bed, the crumpled blanket lying there abandoned. "Max?" A small sliver of panic crept into Lydecker's voice as he scanned the room. The rest of the building was structurally unsound and dangerous. Max had been in no shape to be wondering around anyway. He turned to leave and go and search for her when a small whimper was heard.

"Max?" Lydecker walked over to the bed and crouched to look under the flimsy metalled camping cot. Max was curled underneath in a fetal position, her good arm wrapped protectively around herself and her injured arm still held tightly in the sling that Lydecker had fashioned for her. Lydecker bit his lip and raised one hand to rest his face in it briefly. God, how had Max come to change like this. Gone was the feisty defiant woman he had known and in her place was a woman who had gone through hell and emerged with scars on her soul that would never fade. White. Lydecker felt a rage start to burn inside him, greater than the fury he had felt at Renfro for killing Tinga, almost as great as the insanity that had gripped him at the murder of his beloved wife.

Almost gently Lydecker reached a hand under the bed to softly caress Max's silky black hair. As damaged as she was, Max remained as beautiful as ever. "Max, wake up." Lydecker was careful to keep his voice as non threatening as possible. He had made the mistake of waking Max roughly once since he had found her and Alec after the accident. Despite her weight loss and fragile form, in her fear, Max had managed to throw him across the room. "Max?" Increasing the pressure of his hand slightly, Lydecker heard Max whimper once more and her pretty features flickered as she woke up gradually.

Max's eyes flicker open and a gasp escaped her lips as she saw Lydecker. Reacting as a result of ten years of running from this very man, Max tried to spring away, forgetting her injuries and the fact that she was underneath a cot. Bashing into the wall and bed, Max cried out in pain as her body made her painfully aware of her broken wrists, dislocated shoulder and cracked ribs. "Fuck!" Max swore and tried to calm the fire that raced through her nerves. Lydecker wisely backed off and held out his hands in a surrendering gesture. Max's mind caught up to the events of the last week and she relaxed fractionally. "Lydecker." She breathed.

"Its okay, its alright Max. I just came to tell you that Alec's come to." Lydecker watched as Max caught her breath and he stood to give her space to crawl out from under the cot. Max got out and looked at Lydecker, her dark eyes wide.

"He's awake? Is he okay?" The questions tumbled frantically from her mouth. Lydecker tried to smile reassuringly but his terrible past twisted the attempt into a grimace.

"He seems to be fine, in pain but the boy wouldn't take any pills from me. There doesn't seem to be any permanent brain damage like I feared."

Max didn't cast Lydecker another glance as she hurried as quickly as her damaged body would allow her to go to her lover. Lydecker watched her go but remained where he was, knowing that he wouldn't be welcome to witness this scene.

Max entered the other room and stopped dead at the sight before. Alec was crumpled on the floor and was in the process of trying to drag himself across the cold ground towards the door. "Alec!" Max quickly rushed to his side and pulled him into her arms.

Alec clung to her. "God, Max." He breathed. Alec buried his face into her neck as held her tightly to him.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Max pulled back enough to see his face and Alec was alarmed to see her dark eyes swimming with unshed tears. His fingers moved of their own accord to brush against her thin cheek, relishing the feel of her soft skin against his callused fingers.

"I had to find you- Lydecker's here, I didn't know if-" Max cut him off with her mouth as she pressed her lips to his. Silenced Alec tasted her once more, he would never grow tired of the sweet vanilla and honey taste of her mouth.

The kiss ended to soon for him, the sweetness of her lips numbing the pain that pounded in his head. Silently Max stood and helped Alec to limp back to the cot. Alec couldn't help the relief he felt as his head made blissful contact with the pillow. "I'm sorry." Max whispered. Alec looked at her confused. One of Max's hands tangled itself in his fine light brown hair. "I was so afraid Alec, I thought you were going to die… "

Alec took in her obvious fear and managed a small smile for her despite his pain. "Hey, do you think you can get rid of me that easily?" He was glad to see Max's lips curve in a slight answering smile, even though he suspected it was more for his benefit than genuine emotion. His expression quickly changed as another wave of acute pain washed over him. Max saw this and quickly stood, tipping some pills from a nearby bottle and handing them to him.

"Here. Take these." Alec didn't even question her, his trust showing as he dry swallowed the pills without hesitation. Max watched him. "They'll kick in, just give them a couple of minutes." Relaxing with the thought of impending relief from the agony in his head Alec looked Max over.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as he took in the fading bruises on her face and the bandaged arm in a sling.

Max smiled gently at his obvious concern. "I'm in better shape than you. Just a few cracked ribs and my wrist and shoulder got banged up some." Alec nodded but there were still questions he needed answers to.

"What happened Max? What's Lydecker doing here?" Alec couldn't help the distaste with which he said the other mans name. At his questions Max averted her eyes, reluctant to tell him what had gone on since the near abduction and accident.

"Lydecker's been trying to find us since…since what happened in Seattle. White and his men tried to kill him, we thought he was dead but he was lying low." Max paused as she remembered Logan and the events of the past. Sadness etched on her features and Alec felt a surge of jealousy. It didn't matter what he did or how much he loved Max, he couldn't compete with the dead man.

Max shook off her feelings and tried to focus on explaining to Alec. "Lydecker still has some contacts in the system and he heard that some guys were coming down on us here so…Well he got here not long after you passed out at the wheel."

"I what-?" Alec interrupted not recalling this part. Max smiled gently.

"Alec I don't think you realise how bad that knock you took to the head was. You fractured you skull from what we could tell, was in a coma for 6 days… I was so scared Alec…" Max's voice was strained as she struggled to hold back her emotions that had been worn thin over the last week.

"I'm sorry." Alec didn't know what to say but her obvious fear and the unshed tears touched him. It gave him hope that maybe after all he did hold a small place in her heart, that maybe she could learn to love him as much as he loved her.

Max looked down for a moment as she collected herself. "Lydecker found us. I was trying to pull you down the road to find another car but I was hurt and collapsed. When he pulled up I thought…I thought it was them, that it was all over…" Max trailed off as she debated whether to make a confession she would rather not. "I had your gun Alec." Max looked up at him then and this time the tears fell, spilling over her soft lashes to land heartbreakingly on her cheeks. "I almost- I almost-"

Alec couldn't stand to see Max hurt like this. "Hey." He whispered soothingly. Alec pulled Max down into his arms, manovering her to lie down and curl up against his body. The pain in his head had dulled as the medication started to work its magic. "Its okay Max. Shhh. Its alright." Alec embraced the sobbing woman tightly in his arms, wishing she didn't have to go through this.

"I was going to kill-" Max tried to say the words but Alec stopped her, not sure he could cope with hearing it himself.

"I know Maxie, its alright. You didn't, we're both okay. Everything's alright." It was a lie Alec kept telling her, a lie she needed. Nothing was alright and as long as White and his men were alive, as long as anyone knew about Max's DNA, nothing would ever be safe for them, things would never be alright.

TBC.