Note: You guys are pretty damn cool. The reviews were great, and honest too. I wouldn't want it to be crap and no one to tell me. The acknowledgments are at the end.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

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Buses and Trains

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Hollow Inside

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Alec lay on his bed watching the television with a pillow stuffed under his chest; he was watching some old cartoons while munching on some oreos. It was back to the good old days when he didn't have to worry about going off into the sewers with her bitching in his ears the entire time. So he'd sighed in contentment and watched mindlessly watched cartoons all night but now the tiredness of insomnia caught up on him. Just before his eyes fluttered closed he felt that all to familiar flash of fear fluttering his stomach but was too tired to pay any attention to it.

Red laser burning a hole in his mind so the information could leak out.

Pain.

A white sheet being pulled over his head.

Smack.

"DADDY!" Rachel running away from him and his fingers grasping at air, then the mad sprint after her and then the explosion.

"Interesting 494. Very interesting. What else is up there? Waiting for me to find?"

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Alec's eyes flew open, the only sounds in the room was the cartoons still showing on the TV and his heavy breathing. If there was one thing he did want to forget it was the hell he'd been to, and back again while they pulled his memory out like snapshots. "Pull it together." He muttered rolling of the bed and padding barefoot into the kitchen. He pulled a bottle of beer out of the fridge, he usually saved it for occasions but his nerves were completely on edge. Then there was the familiar sound of Eyes Only, Logan's little hobby interrupting the cartoons in mid punch line. Alec sighed and leant against the counter staring into space. Then he heard it. The little broadcast that Logan was putting across had just mentioned something he hadn't ever wanted to hear again.

"This cult is very dangerous, if you see anyone looking remotely like this man. Do not attempt to confront him." Then the sneering face of Mest filled the screen, Alec's hand clenched so tightly around the bottle of beer that the entire limb of his arm was trembling. "He has been sighted near Seattle, so advising this is necessary. Be careful." The smash of the bottle on the lino floor alerted Alec to the fact that he had dropped it and should probably step away from the puddle. His entire mind could think of was dangerous circles, which kept telling him to get to Mest before he tracked him down. And quickly.

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"You really think this guy, Mest, is that dangerous?" Max asked raising a cynical eyebrow at Logan who nodded back.

"Don't look so cynical Max, just be grateful he hasn't caught up with any of you yet."

"Any? You mean my legs? My arms? Torso maybe?" Max quipped as she sat on the table and began swinging her legs, back and forth, back and forth.

"Max…" Logan looked exasperated as he swung his chair around to face his computer screen again, she stared at the back of his head, surprised by his tone.

"I'm just kidding Logan, no need to get upset!" She exclaimed,

"I just think you're taking this a little too lightly. And I mean you or Alec. You're both in danger as long as you keep putting your ass on the line for others."

"You mean other transgenics?"

"Don't start twisting my words around." He said stiffly, glancing over his shoulder at her he mentally cringed at the hard stubborn set of her mouth. Oh no.

"I'm not, I can't expect you to understand this when you're being so narrow-minded about this, are you forgetting it's my fault they're out there? It's my responsibility."

"I- I can't say anything else without entering dangerous territory" Logan finished lamely, actually cringing this time he turned back to the computer screen.

"Oh, you're already there" She assured him crossing her arms across her chest defensively.

"Max!"

"Are you tired of helping out Logan? Cause I can fix it for you if you like!"

"Why are you being so defensive? I thought we got past that petty stuff." He protested he was glad that he was sure she wouldn't beat him up, because he was pretty sure he'd be groaning for mercy right now, squirming on the floor like a fish on a hook. Shaking that mental image away he realised the silence was not a pleasant and comforting one.

"So I'm petty now?"

"I didn't mean that… Max, please listen."

No answer.

"Max?" He asked twisting again only to see her feet leaving the room, "Max!"

"Gotta blaze, later!" She called out mock-cheerfully and the door closed quietly with a click behind her. He would rather she slammed it behind her.

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Max walked down the street wondering what the hell was going inside her mind, if she didn't know, no one was going to be able to explain it to her. A sigh escaped her pursed mouth as she wandered aimlessly, it wasn't raining anymore but the light of day wasn't seeping in, it never seemed to do that much anymore, must have something to do with her fixed state of mind.

The ground is still wet, wet like so many days lately, she kicked stubbornly at a puddle and mused endlessly on the time they'd wasted. Spent a year dancing around each other and then they had to borrow a few hours, even that didn't draw back all the curtains on the emotions that ran between them.

Of course, it didn't help when she kept walking away from the problem. They weren't becoming any closer to a solution or a cure so why make yourself go through the pain? Max stopped in the middle of the street her mouth falling open. She had thought about this before but it had always been accompanied by a sharp pain in her heart like a knife had been thrust into her chest, or... a bullet, she thought ruefully.

She heard a rustling noise and ducked behind a conveniently placed dumpster, her eyes narrowed than widened in shock, Alec threw two duffel bags into a camouflaged car and then ripped off the covering. Before her mind could tell her to go bitch him out she stopped watching, Alec glanced around and folded his arms obviously waiting for her to come out at yell at him. When she didn't he shrugged and lifted the roof on the car, got in and sped out of the street. Max stayed there until she realised he was actually gone and stepped out feeling numbness settling in her fingers. How long had she been staring at the corner where the car had turned? How long would she kept staring?

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review!

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Acknowledgments: Here we go, Deb: Yeah, I changed that, I was making myself cringe :look: Yeah, I meant brain hernia *guilty cringe* Donna Lynn: Took ya up on that advice. :) Chic: There it is… or was. Either way hope you like! MaxCat452: Snap. Here :) wondertross: I was hoping the Normal thing would get across the right way, seems it has :) I know! *cackles* not telling yet! Tallera: I don't mind threats, as long as you don't turn up on my doorstep! *looks out window nervously* The constructive criticism was needed, don't worry. summer/rain: Thanks :) Mark Twain wrote Huck Finn didn't he? I can't recall. Bent137: Just part of they're days. Heh. drkanglfn4evr: I changed it, if you like. I thought it was cringe worthy. InkaCajo: Yeah! Alec has depths, he's a sweetie underneath the hormone driven freedom machine. ;) My main issue with M/A is actually the whole Love/Hate thang. MoonGrlonearth: Wow, thank you so much! All Mighty Terrestrial: Yup, I do, they take the time, so why shouldn't I? :) Or, I needed more typing ;) I have itchy fingers, lol, anyway! Thanks, they're unusually underused this season :(