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: Mel, the Enigma, is my wonderful beta…thankyou girl!! Check out this and my other fics at The Broken World http://sorrow.hyperboards.com/index.cgi
Chapter 5: Nothing is as it seems……
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For the second day in a row, Logan awoke with a massive hangover. Something was different about this one though. He felt the warm body snuggled up against his and for a second his heart leapt with joy. Then he thudded back to reality as he realised, this indeed was not Max. At least he wasn't out cold in the gutter somewhere; he had gotten to know his saviour a little better than anticipated last night.
Gabrielle felt him stiffen, as he had become aware of her presence. She had heard his heartbeat speed up then slow again. Moving against him she attempted to make him more aware of her body's curves. The man needed to be encouraged to accept her as a positive alternative. He had let slip so much last night when the alcohol had loosened his tongue. The bitterness and pain had obviously helped too. His state of mind towards the transgenics could be utilised to get further information. She lightly kissed his chest and turned her eyes up to stare at him beguilingly. He needed to be convinced that he was a man she found incredibly attractive. Massaging his ego wouldn't hurt her with the assignment.
Logan looked down at the woman nestled seductively against him. It was nice to have a woman in his bed. Not since before he had met Max had someone been so intimately entwined with him. He let his hands wander over the dark eyed beauty's back and smiled at her. Now he just had to remember her name.
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Logan's exit from Crash had really concerned Max. He really wasn't taking it very well. She knew she needed to talk to him, to assure him they were still friends and that she still cared for him. Alec's chest rose and fell slowly under her head as he breathed slowly in and out, sleeping again. Damn the shark DNA, it gave her too much time to think about things, to let her thoughts drive her to despair.
She ran her hand lightly across his stomach and smiled as his skin flinched. She did it again to the same response. It was such fun learning about his body: the ticklish bits, the sensitive bits and the bits that if she touched them just right, it drove him wild. His heartbeat started to speed up fractionally. Good, he was waking up. With a little help from her, of course. As his body tensed, she pulled back a little and looked into his sleepy gaze. She growled at him seductively. Funny, that was all she needed to do to make him fully focused.
"You're insatiable, woman" Alec laughed at her obvious hunger. It was obviously not meant as a complaint. He moved his body over hers to give her what the both obviously wanted. The last two nights had been incredible. It was truly addictive this feeling of completeness.
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Since Max had gotten herself sorted out with hotboy, Cindy had sort of missed her. No, not the angst-driven Max she had been, that had been pretty hard work. She missed her company, but she knew that with time she would be back. Well, when all those transgenic vibes were exhausted she hoped they would be able to spend more time.
Last night at Crash had been pretty intense. The fact that Logan had shown up had made things more than a little uncomfortable for everyone, except Sketch. Luckily Alec had played the gentleman and given them space. Poor Logan, even with Alec not rubbing it in his face, he had been a shattered man. It was amazing just how plastered he had gotten himself. Max had assured her that she would check how he was today, without Alec to ease the situation a bit. Her boy hadn't been happy about that one. His possessiveness was sweet but he had at least begrudgingly acknowledged that it was the right thing to do. The boy was learning.
He had come a long way from the cocky, self-centred asshole she had first met. Hopefully for her Boo's sake he was really in love. The way he looked at Max with open adoration was pretty amazing. What she wouldn't give to find a honey that looked at her that way. Man had been so busy catting around till Max had snagged him. It made sense really, two pretty transgenics hooking up together. Poor, poor Logan. The man really never stood a chance.
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Max reluctantly picked Logan's lock and entered the apartment. She hadn't wanted to come here, to leave Alec. He had gone to work, on time no less, leaving her with no excuse. Striding towards Logan's room, she could smell perfume. It was subtle but there nonetheless. Another scent came to her nostrils as she reached the doorway. Her eyebrows shot up as her mind identified the smell. It was her small gasp of shock that woke the naked entwined couple on the bed.
For some reason, tears sprang to her eyes. How could he do this to her so soon? When she looked closer, the girl resembled someone she saw when she looked in the mirror every day, herself. As Logan opened his mouth to speak, she turned and ran. Gabrielle successfully hid the smirk she could feel rising, as she soothed Logan beneath her. He began to relax again, not forgetting about 452 but accepting her.
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As a distressed Max stormed into Jam Pony, Alec looked up. He had been expecting her to return in a state, so had been trying to stay around base as much as possible to be there for her. He moved quickly to her and pulled her into a hug. Pulling back a little he was puzzled at her still tensed form. He took in the obviously copiously shed tears and lifted his hand to her face. As she turned it away he stopped. Dropping both hands to his sides he stepped back a little.
Max flinched as Alec retreated from her. She was a little ashamed that Logan's new flavour had been able to upset her so much. She looked into the confused and hurt eyes of her lover and tried to explain.
"I just walked in on Logan in bed with another woman. One that looked like me." As she said it she realised how jealous she sounded and saw how badly Alec took it.
"Max maybe you made a mistake with us. You are still obviously hooked on Logan. I can't play this game anymore. You can't pull on my strings like I'm your puppet, your plaything, that you put away when you are bored." Alec's voice had started hurt but was quickly approaching angry. The volume rose, as he seemed to work himself up to a finale.
"We can't be together if you can't decide." He threw this over his shoulder as he turned and strode out of Jam Pony. In his wake he left a shell-shocked Max and a dozen curious messengers.
Once again she stood deserted, both the men in her life had turned away. Cindy came up behind her and put her arms around her. "It's okay, Boo. He's just hurt and confused that you still care that much about Logan. He'll calm down and all will be alright." At least that was what she hoped would happen cause angsty Max was back again in full force.
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White sat watching his cell expecting an update. She was late checking in and he needed to know how it was going. So much was riding on her success. He got up and started to pace, his nervous energy getting the better of him. The second the thing rang, he pounced.
"Fe 'nos tol" he barked into it. "What's the news?"
Gabrielle smiled to herself on the other end. The man was certainly not pleasant to work with but she liked pulling his strings. The anticipation had obviously gotten to him. "Fe 'nos tol, Sir. Target has been successfully acquired. He appears to be happily complying with my invitation of intimacy."
White grinned from ear to ear. Silly fool, the woman was playing him like a fiddle, ordinary humans were sometimes so stupid.
"Yes?" he urged her to continue her report.
"An unexpected bonus, Sir. A visit by 452 at a rather delicate point actually improved the situation. It opened up a line of discussion that could prove enlightening." His eagerness made her draw out her information to tease him.
"Good, good. What did he tell you so far?" White was pacing again. This news had him excited. He could go into action soon.
"He has begun to tell me details of the inside of the transgenic world. No specifics as yet, but he has given me the opportunity now to open the discussion later."
"Keep it up Gabrielle. Your work is to be commended. Report immediately any vital information, otherwise report on time as usual. Fe 'nos tol". As the line was severed, White couldn't contain himself. He had things to plan. Crunch time was getting close. Best thing was, 452 had no idea just how close he was getting to the final strike.
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Alec sat on the Space Needle with his head in his hands. He knew that he had over-reacted. She just brought that out in him occasionally. He had laid his heart on the line but he still didn't even know if she loved him. This with Logan had rocked her but did that mean she still loved the man. He hadn't given her a chance to talk.
"Yeah maybe that's cause you were too scared of what she might say." His internal voice gave form to his doubts.
Shaking his head, he let his heart contemplate losing her again. After having savoured her so completely, he couldn't stay if it was over. He looked out at the city and felt adrift in his despair.