Rude Awakening:

by Rowe

Set: Post Hello, Goodbye.

Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its character belong to Cameron/Eglee and Fox.

Author's note: First attempt so please feel free to give constructive criticism.

Final chapter!!

The muse has new projects to help me dream up.

Reviews have been greatly cherished.

Thankyou for your kind words and encouragement.

And to my beta for the last chapter (a M/L purist but I hope to convert), Lise thanks!!

Chapter 5: Someone misses out!

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Crying wasn't going to get her anywhere. She knew that, but that didn't mean she could stop. She had left Joshua's and somehow made it home to her apartment. Her pillow was soaked and she felt like crap. How the hell did she manage to get herself into these messes? For once she had no one else to blame but herself for this rude awakening from her little fantasy world. She hated being backed into a corner. What Alec had done really angered her. His reasons were clear. He cared too much to be a pawn in someone else's game. Now she had to make a decision. "What decision is there really to make?" That annoying little voice twittered away in her head. She was getting really good at ignoring it but unfortunately that didn't make it go away. To make matters worse her friends were all buying right out of it; they didn't want to take sides. She admired their loyalty but she needed help.

Joshua was right. They all were. She had to risk it all cause there was no longer any alternative. Scary part was she was pretty sure she had never risked her heart before. No matter what she did someone was going to lose. Damn, she hated it when she knew she was going to have to shatter someone's hopes and dreams. Her natural impulse to run was still there, but this time she would start to grow up and take responsibility. Now she just had to work out a strategy to accomplish what she needed to. First things first, she needed to get a shower cause she smelled pretty rank. She loved Josh, but he had the whole canine odour that with too many hugs could rub off on you.

The shower refreshed her. Getting dressed and making an impromptu visit to the Needle seemed the best solution. Battle plans needed to be drawn. She needed to get her head on straight. Thinking space was in order. Food was first on the agenda, a girl couldn't think on empty stomach, especially a transgenic with a souped up metabolism. Feeling better for at least stopping crying and having eaten, she headed out the door. Now to work out what she was going to do to fix things. Crying obviously wasn't the solution, more a delay tactic.

Alec was glad Max hadn't made it to work today. He wasn't too sure when he would be able to face her, and she was probably really disappointed in him for ruining the whole distance thing with Logan. Sure under pressure she hadn't minded a little grope in the ceiling but this was Max, Queen of Angst. She loved Logan, even if she kept telling him they weren't like that. Her bitter disappointment at the failed cure had shown him that. She always reminded him of how she could never forgive him for costing her the chance at happiness.

Original Cindy had looked in on her Boo before leaving for work. The poor girl was still crying. Her face was a mess. This thing was really killing her but it had to be dealt with. Too much time had been spent pussyfooting around. Cindy had seen how Alec looked at Max when she wasn't looking, but as a friend he had respectfully kept his distance. The looks of envy Logan received from him were carefully concealed. She had to admire him for being so restrained. This triangle was definitely going to lose a corner, but not before time. Only problem was how was Max going to sort it out.

Alec's cell rang as he rode back in from a run late afternoon. Pulling his bike up he reached for his phone and flipped it open. "Meet me at Crash tonight, 9 sharp." The phone went dead before he could get a chance to tell her that they were supposed to stay away from each other. He hadn't even got a word in at all. Thing was she had aroused his curiosity. He wanted to know what she had to say about his outburst last night. Well it looked like he would need to be at Crash to find out.

Logan heard his phone go in the other room. He didn't feel like talking to anyone just at the minute. Max had lied to him, she had let him believe she was with Alec. He wasn't too sure what was worse, thinking that she didn't want to be with him cause of Alec, or that she didn't want to be with him cause she'd given up. The machine picked up and he could hear her voice. "Logan, it's Max. Be at Crash, 9 sharp, Okay." Damn, he couldn't contact her to make an excuse cause she'd left her beeper with him for repair after the last mission. Well it looked like he'd have to face her. He wasn't too sure how well it would go. Something Alec had said niggled. What had happened the other day?

Max decided she was going to go down fighting. She was going to make sure they realised just who they were dealing with. No more playing the victim. Dressed to kill, or to at least give a normal red-blooded man a heart attack, she strode out of the apartment. Time for battle. Her thoughts were still tumultuous but she was pretty sure she knew her script. She was deliberately going to be late to make them both squirm in anticipation of the confrontation and give Cindy the chance to deliver her note. Now she had made her decision it was all so much more fun. Not fun that someone would be hurt, but that she knew for the first time she was really in love. That she was actually taking charge of her destiny.

Crash was pretty busy when the two men arrived. Both eyed one another warily from opposite sides of the room. Alec was surprised because he had never before seen Logan treat him so openly as a rival, for once he appeared to be taking him seriously. Maybe he was back in the game. He took a seat at the bar and turned his back on the man. Manticore had given him the edge on psyching out your opponent. If he was nonchalant, Logan would just end up more agitated. This was fun, an unexpected side-effect of his outburst last night. He didn't hate the guy, but he wasn't above messing with his head.

Her entrance was spectacular. Logan's jaw dropped at the outfit but she didn't even appear to acknowledge him. Her eyes were glued to the back of the transgenic at the bar: her breeding partner. In horror, he watched her approach him. He moved closer, needing to hear what was said. Slithering up close behind Alec's chair she purred seductively. "Missed me, Pretty Boy?" She raked her nails along his back as she walked round to face him. The look of pure seductress on her face, she stood legs apart and hands on hips. Her killer high heels making her legs look impossibly long. This was a woman to be reckoned with. "What's the matter, the cat got your tongue?"

Alec had felt her as soon as she had entered the room. It sometimes scared him this feeling of simpatico he shared with her. Though, he was sure it had saved his ass from her violent tendencies on a good few occasions. He was worried what she was up to now. Her outfit was a killer, both figure hugging and not too revealing, but the suggestion was all the more tempting. Especially when he had sampled what was inside. He couldn't detect pheromones, so she wasn't in heat. Unconsciously he licked his lips. He was nervous, more nervous than a hardened soldier should ever be. She laughed at the look of confusion on his face. "He needs some convincing." She pouted to their audience. Cindy just shook her head and laughed. She liked that for once Max seemed to be enjoying herself. Max vaulted effortlessly into Alec's lap, wrapping her legs around his waist. "So what was that about my ability to lap dance?"

Max writhed luxuriously on Alec's lap. He still had the stunned mullet look plastered on, but she could see the flickers of desire sparking in his eyes as the shades of colour swirled. She nuzzled against his neck and breathed heavily into his ear. "Looks like I've made my decision. Now you have your chance to rock my world." With a sigh of relief, Alec wrapped his arms round the little bundle of hellcat on his knee. He knew this wouldn't be perfect, but god it would be interesting. He claimed her mouth with an intensity that shocked them both. Twin moans erupting in unison. They were going to need to get out of here soon cause this was no place for a NC17 display.

Watching the two perfect creations enraptured by each other, Logan took the hint. The letter slipped to him by Cindy had softened the blow. He knew he had needed to see it with his own eyes. Well, he wasn't a stupid man. It wasn't like he hadn't seen it coming. He kept his eyes straight as he walked out of Crash. He didn't want to see the pity in the eyes of those that knew the story. Well it looked like he was in the market for a new fairytale. This time his princess would need to be a little less independent, and maybe a little more ordinary.

Fin- for now. Sequel is A Fractured Fairytale