A Fractured Fairytale

by Rowe

Disclaimer: I am inspired by the characters of Dark Angel but they are owned by James Cameron and Fox

Thankyou to my lovely betas, Sorrow Reminisce and JensEnigma for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

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 4: For in a fractured mirror……………….

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Max curled tightly into a foetal position in Alec's arms. The view from the Space Needle wasn't calming her distress at all. Today it only served as a stark reminder of how isolated they really were from the world below. Alec rubbed his hands soothingly over her to try to relax some of the tension.

"What are we going to do?" Max couldn't keep the despair from her voice. "We're going to become like hunted animals."

"Maxie," gently he took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up so he could look her in the eye. "We'll think of something. We always do." He tried to keep it positive, even though inside he knew that they didn't have many options left. He knew as a last resort they could leave Seattle, but that was not something he wanted to broach with her right now. She placed her head back on his chest and snuggled closer into his warmth to block out the chill.

They lapsed back into silence. Each lost in their thoughts. Isolated away in their own minds. They took mutual comfort in each other's presence but chose not to attempt to raise issues that might shatter the little bit of peace they had left up here all alone.

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Sitting clicking the button on his pen in frustration, Logan looked at the clock again. It had been hours since he'd made his broadcast and still he'd heard nothing from Max. It angered him a little, didn't she realise than he was doing this for her. He was risking his operation to help her family. The least she could do was show up to tell him how grateful she was. The most annoying part was he still had her damn beeper. He couldn't even page her. Patience running out, he chose to be a man of action. Strapping the exoskeleton on he prepared to face her. Though the task was more daunting in public, he needed her to see what he was willing to do for her to win her back.

A shadow followed him as he entered the carpark. He was totally unaware that he was being watched; he suspected nothing. As he pulled out, another car discreetly followed, maintaining its distance. The car pulled up half a block from where he parked. The driver, realising he was entering such a public place, followed him in. There would be plenty of cover inside. As Logan's pursuer passed into the bar they noted the establishment's name: Crash.

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Several hours had passed in silence. Darkness had fallen and the air was becoming too chilled to remain out in. Max didn't want to go back down to face the world but she knew Cindy would be worried. Pulling gently back out of Alec's arms, she looked up into his face and smiled forlornly.

"Thankyou for being here." She cupped his face gently in a gesture of intimacy. She was grateful for his company erasing the feelings of aloneness she had been plagued with for most of her life.

"I always will be." His smile of reassurance warmed her.

Raising herself to standing she offered him her hand to help him up. They would go face this thing together, they couldn't hide here forever. Descending the stairs of the Needle felt like entering back into the frightening real world. Both trudged reluctantly down belying their natural grace.

Cindy wasn't home when Max let them into the apartment. On the counter had been left a note for her. It was to let her know that if she felt up to it they could hold a crisis meeting at Crash. She grimaced at this, crowds weren't really something she felt like dealing with but her friends were offering support. It was always nice to be able to feel like they were there for her. Gesturing to Alec to take a seat, she went off to change. The whole thing just made her feel dirty, the feeling that she was something dark and sinister let out of the basement.

Dressed in her signature black leather, she felt a little bit more in control of everything. Striding out the door with more confidence than she felt, ready to take on the world….or at least face the less hostile faces of her friends, Max realised that today was a new turning point. So much had happened in the last 24 hours; things that would change her life forever. How could the best thing in her life be given to her just when possibly the worst thing was going to befall them all? She sighed heavily as Alec cuddled up close behind her on the bike. Arching back into him she gunned the bike and sped off in the direction of Crash.

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Logan saw Cindy and Sketch and made his way over to the pool table. He nodded an awkward hello to them both. He didn't see Cindy's look of panic at his being there. Or the constant looks of fear she was giving to the door. He didn't realise that a confrontation was the last thing she wanted her boos to face tonight. She put on a smile when he was watching her but she knew that this was too soon for Max to have to deal with Logan. Sketchy was just too obtuse to realise the situation that Logan's presence was going to cause, he greeted the older man warmly.

At the small sound that Cindy emitted Logan turned. It was a sight he really didn't want to see but he was mentally prepared, or at least he kept telling himself he was. Max was entering Crash with Transgenic Boy, his hand on her lower back made him bristle. It was too possessive, it was too suggestive and unfortunately, she seemed far too comfortable with it. He saw her hesitate as she spotted him, he could see the confusion and guilt on her face. Then he also saw Alec's arm come around her as if to support her. If he could've he would've growled in his throat but being only human he glared. He just couldn't do threatening convincingly so instead he did sullen.

Max watched the emotions flicker over Logan's face. He was the last person she felt like dealing with at the moment. She nodded an awkward "Hello" to him and hoped like mad that Alec would play nice. This was going to be hard enough as it was.

Alec smiled kindly to the older man. It took guts to come here after what had happened the night before. He was going to be a gracious winner.

"Hey man. How you doing?" He winced, maybe that wasn't the best thing to say, as Logan's face fell. He made a mental note to himself. "If a guy's heart gets broken do not ask him how painful it is." Seeing that the drinks were running low, he seized the opportunity to retreat and offered to buy a round. He needed to move out of the war zone for the moment. His presence would more than likely only make it more difficult for Max to face the man.

Cindy turned to Max "You missed the broadcast Eyes Only made about the Senator's speech, Boo." She looked at Logan significantly. "He went out on a limb for you all." Max turned to Logan and attempted a smile of sincerity.

"Thanks Logan, we really appreciate your support." Logan flinched when Max used the word 'we'. She was already talking like her an Alec were a unit. He mentally kicked himself, she hadn't even seen his broadcast. As Alec approached again, he took a more intense interest in his drink. The alcohol tonight was just topping up from where he had been the night before.

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From a vantage point near the bar Logan was being watched. This was an interesting development. The two transgenics appeared to be well acquainted with him. White would be very pleased to know this. She sipped her drink and turned back so as not to be caught staring. The body language of the couple had reaffirmed White's assessment as a breeding pair. Cale's body language was interesting though. Jealousy was radiating from him. Obviously 452 was a key factor in his transgenic fanaticism.

His hostility towards the male transgenic was tangible. Very interesting. Cale looked like a bantam rooster who had just been kicked out of the hen house. She watched as her target drank himself quickly into near stupor. As she saw him stand to leave, the others tried to assist him but he threw them off. Following behind him as exited, Gabrielle observed the visible concern on the faces of the party that remained. This was a tight knit group. It wasn't going to be too easy to enter but Cale appeared to be the easy mark. Maybe now was her chance to step into the picture.

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Logan stumbled and fell as he left Crash. The alcohol had gotten to him more than he had wanted to let them know. He wasn't going to let them see him as weak, especially Alec. He rested his head for a moment on the pavement. From his position on the ground he saw a fine pair of legs approaching.

The dark haired woman bent to help him up. Her pretty but concerned face swam into his view. She reminded him of Max. "Are you alright" she queried as she helped him manoeuvre into a sitting position. A random naked thought raced through his head of possible salvation. "Maybe I am now" .

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White answered his cell on the second ring.

"Fe 'nos tol. Initial contact and infiltration completed. Preparing to carry out Phase 2 of the operation." The feminine voice on the other end was clipped and precise. "Have also sighted Cale interacting with the transgenics. Designations 452 and 494 have been observed in contact with the target. Sir, it appears that Cale may have been intimately involved with 452, shall I attempt to use this situation?"

"Excellent work, Gabrielle." White let a cruel smile cross his face. "Yes, by all means milk that situation. What capacity has your infiltration taken?" This had happened far faster than he had anticipated. The girl was obviously extremely good.

After a moment of hesitation she answered. "He appears to be willing to use me as a source of comfort for the moment, Sir."

The smile on Ames White's face widened. "Well keep a low profile. Gain his confidence. Your cover is secure if he checks into your background. Keep it up. Fe 'nos tol."

This method, despite his reluctance to use it, was going to pay big dividends.