A Fractured Fairytale
by Rowe
Set: Post Hello, Goodbye. - Sequel to Rude Awakenings
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its character belong to Cameron/Eglee and Fox.
Author's note: Thanks to Sorrow for beta reading this for me, and for your patience in my moments of doubt!
As Fanfiction.net has a no NC17 policy Chapter 2 is posted at The Broken World- come check it out http://sorrow.hyperboards.com/index.cgi
Chapter 3: Falling into madness……………….
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It wasn't until the next afternoon that Logan awoke to find himself half off the couch with a massive hangover. It took him a few seconds to process exactly why he was in such a state and still strapped into the exoskeleton. When the realisation he let out a groan of agony. The bright daylight was too much and he closed his eyes again. He'd lost his glasses somewhere last night. God knows where. Coming back to the present he knew he had to pull himself together, he could never hope to get her back if he was like this. Focusing on his Eyes Only projects would help. He could show her how wrong Alec was for her, and just how right for her he was. They could go back to the good old days before Manticore burned, working side by side to rid the world of injustice. He knew it sounded corny but she never seemed to notice that. She had always liked the challenge his missions entailed: it was like attracting a cat burglar with cat nip. He just needed a fresh supply.
His body protested as he rolled off the couch onto the floor. He knocked over the glass, which still had a small amount in the bottom. Easing himself up to standing took a lot more effort than usual. "Great," he grimaced "I am trying to impress her with how able I am and instead I make myself more feeble". His legs worked, barely, and his back was so stiff from sleeping where he had passed out. Now he had to find the right plan to lure her back out of Alec's clutches. He smiled and limped over to his desk. This shouldn't be too hard. Rubbing the stubble on his chin he thought absently "Should shave, this only makes me look older. Got to keep up appearances to compete with the genetically enhanced."
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As he strode jauntily through the office, the sound of whistling brought eyes swinging away from computer screens. Most of them actually did a double take at the sight. Behind him as he passed, shoulders shrugged and confused looks were exchanged. They had never seen him so relaxed, almost jolly. As he closed the door, most just sat there stunned. Special Agent in Charge White was never in a good mood. Something must be up.
He sat at his desk and read the faxed transcript. The broadcast was definitely going to cause a few eyebrows to be raised. The Senator had done his job and seen that a set of tough new reforms had been drafted to put forward. Reforms that would give the authorities almost cart blanche in their apprehension of the transgenics. It was a nice volatile grenade to be lobbed into the enemy camp. When the news broke of this all hell would break loose. Now all he had to do was to sit back, enjoy the fireworks and wait for Mr Eyes Only to respond.
Gabrielle was primed and ready. He had made sure her preparations were thorough. Deep cover assignments were never really his modus operandi, but unfortunately desperate times drove him to use every resource. He really preferred to have a more in your face approach, there was nothing wrong with a good dose of violence. White smiled to himself, "Especially when you can inflict pain but don't have to feel it." Now torture, that was more his bag of tricks. It allowed his more creative side to come out. "My best form of anger management". He laughed to himself and then stopped shocked. He was happy. He had what looked like the final solution to his problem. Now it was only a matter of time till the whole thing was finished with. Then there would be nothing left to stand in their way.
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Max looked at the clock beside the bed and groaned. Stretching luxuriously, she rolled onto her back and turned her head to watch Alec still deep in slumber. This was the greatest difference between them. Whereas sleep to her was inconsequential, he seemed to relish the opportunity to snooze his time away, just like a true cat. She reached a finger out and ran it down the line of his cheekbone. A face so beautifully shaped that an artisan could have sculpted it. She didn't want to wake him, their earlier lovemaking had been exhausting to say the least. Both had drifted off to sleep in a sweet cloud of bliss. However, the real world was going to have to encroach sometime and Normal was expecting them both at work within the hour.
She pulled the covers back and padded to the bathroom to wash up. At least she could give him a little more of his precious sleep time while she got ready. Not too long, cause they still had to swing by Joshua's and get him fresh clothes. Her muscles protested every movement. She grimaced then smiled, this was a much nicer way to abuse her body than she was used to. As turned she glimpsed the trail of small bite marks on her body. "Marks of possession" her mind supplied, and she shivered at the thought. In the mirror she saw him approach silently.
"I missed you." He whispered huskily into her ear. " I wanted to wake with you beside me again." His fingers traced gently over the marks he had made. Max shivered again. It was like her body acknowledging his brand. Shaking her head to clear it, she turned and braced her hands on his chest.
"No, no, no. We have to focus….." She attempted to push him away. She need to have him give her space to think clearly. When he was too near her mind just turned to fog.
"But I was!" The grin on Alec's face told her exactly what on. Thinking like that wasn't helping her focus either. The desire they seemed to share was insatiable. Not good when your stamina was nearly boundless.
"No. Shower, food, work. You know 'bip, bip, bip people'." She was more insistent this time. He groaned but complied, backing out of the bathroom to give her space. She closed the door and leaned on it, letting her breathing calm again before going to shower.
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As they strode into Jam Pony, only half an hour late, Cindy gestured madly for them to come over. She turned and indicated the television screen, which had most of the staff engrossed. Max and Alec watched in horror. Red faced and worked up Senator McKinley was talking about the wrath of god and the people's rights. The anti-transgenic sentiment that was spewing from his mouth would only serve to incite the frightened people further. Their lives were about to become a living hell. Max winced at the thought. She had thought that running from Deck and Manticore had been bad, but then she could hide in plain sight. Now the whole city would be falling into madness and soon there would be nowhere left to hide. She stared at the ground in disbelief, how could trying to do something right have gone so very wrong. She had not only doomed herself but hundreds of others.
Alec turned to see that Max's face had gone white. He reached out and put his arm round her, she instinctively moved into him for comfort. It was nice to not be alone in this anymore. She raised her eyes again to see the looks of paranoia escalating amongst the Jam Pony employees- the world was about to get even uglier. People she had counted as friends may well turn out to be enemies. "Space Needle." She whispered, and together they slipped unnoticed by Normal, back out the door and headed for the refuge of the high place.
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Logan caught the broadcast as he was flicking through looking for a project to lure Max with. He grinned to himself, what better than one close to her heart. Considering he had first captured her interest with his offer of help with her siblings in exchange for her services, this seemed a godsend. She was always weakest when it came to family. Silently thanking his lucky stars, he prepared to send out an Eyes Only broadcast. His target audience, one transgenic.
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"Gotcha." White actually had to force himself not to do a little jig. They had the bastard's location now. His broadcast had been a call to arms for the transgenics. Pity he didn't realise it was also a call to their deaths. This man definitely seemed to have a thing for 452. Maybe Gabrielle was a better choice than he had initially thought. Fogel Towers, very nice, very swish; obviously a man of money. Now to send the girl to work. It shouldn't be long now till they crushed Eyes Only and his irritating broadcast. More importantly, it also meant soon 452 and 494 would be permanently dealt with. This time they wouldn't even know he had them. He couldn't contain himself as a wide grin erupted again. This was really a good day.