Okay. The reviews I got for the last chapter were the best reviews ever! I never thought anyone would be that upset that Wil died. Okay, so you're probably actually only upset because Alec's hurting. Oh well. At least I got you guys to care. This chapter should make so many people happy.
Hands resting on the edge, Max leaned over the table. She stared down at Wil's empty face. Empty. Just like Alec's had been. The change in Alec had been drastic and chilling. He had cut off all emotions so easily; Max wondered how it was possible for him to feel.
As much as Max hated to admit it, she preferred Alec as a smartass instead of the unfeeling thing he turned into. Alec's light was vital and contagious; it seemed so wrong for it to die.
"Why didn't you live?" she spoke to Wil. "He needs you. I never thought it possible for him to actually love someone, but he loves you more than anything." Max sighed; trying to persuade a dead person to live wasn't going to do anything.
Max deeply regretted anytime she had ever been cruel to Alec. If she had known that beneath his sarcasm laid the capability to care, she would have done things so differently.
Max's gaze rose to the ceiling of the barren room. "What good is this damn power you gave me if I can't save everyone?" she asked Sandeman or Fate or whoever listened. "She was such a good person who lived and was loved, but I couldn't save her. Why couldn't I save her?" she whispered.
Her eyes landed on Wil's porcelain face again. Tentatively, Max rested her hand on the side of Wil's face. "I'm sorry," she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry for Alec too because I don't know if he can take another loss."
Wil's lips twitched.
Max froze.
Wil's lips twitched a second time. And suddenly of their own accord, Max's hands were moving. Her free hand went around Wil's waist to touch the bullet hole in her lower back, the other sliding to her forehead. Shoving her confusion out of the way, Max focused on the woman in front of her.
"Wil." Her voice sounded far away to herself. Remembering everything about Wil, how she laughed, the way she smiled, how she lived, Max's eyes bore into the slightly warming skin of Wil's face. "Come on, Wil," Max said forcefully. "Wake up."
Faintly, very faint, Max heard the dull thud of Wil's heart. And warmth returned quickly to Wil.
Eyelids flying open, Wil gasped for air.
Max laughed joyfully, stray tears falling from her eyes. Happiness overwhelming her, Max drew Wil into A hug.
"Max?" Wil's breathing settled. Her unused vocal cords burned with pain throwing Wil into a coughing fit.
Max rubbed the other woman's back comfortingly. "It's okay. You're alive now."
Her coughing died down. "Alive? What?"
Pulling back, Max looked at Wil hopefully. "Don't you remember?"
And Wil did. She remembered finding Alec, the gunshot and the pain. "Yes," she replied. Alec, her mind screamed. "Max," Wil said urgently. "Is Alec okay?"
Max nodded. "He will be as soon as he sees you."
Relief flooded through Wil. He's alive. She told herself. "I want to see him."
"First let's get you some water and something to eat, and then I promise you can see him."
Wil nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Max, for everything."
Max hugged her again. "No big dealio." Sniffing, Max scrunched up her nose. "Maybe we can get you a shower, too."
Rays of sunlight filtered through the disappearing clouds casting a glow over Terminal City. The sun warmed the air to an unusually high temperature.
Alec glared at the brightness and warmth. The sun had no right to shine and the air had no right to be warm. What a cruel thing to be mocked by this peace and sunshine when the woman you loved lay dead.
His trudge had started the moment he left the control room. He wanted to leave Terminal City, leave everything behind. None of it mattered anymore.
*No*, Alec told himself. *Nothing ever mattered.* This is what happens when you let yourself feel. They take it away from you and make you suffer. Wil was right. Soldiers weren't meant to feel. Zach was right. It was all sentimental bullshit that got people killed.
He killed Rachel. He killed Wil. If Wil hadn't cared, she wouldn't have gone looking for him and she wouldn't have gotten shot. She wouldn't be dead now.
A soft breeze blew across his face reminding him of her breath on his lips when they kissed.
His scowl grew deeper. Thoughts like that were useless now. Nothing would bring her back to him, prophecy or not. Max couldn't save her.
Alec kicked a pebble watching it skid quickly away. Max hadn't even tried to save her. Some hero she was.
At least Max hadn't led their entire race to their deaths.
Alec stopped his trudging. A failure. Max was absolutely right. He was a complete fuck up. His leadership skills had ended up getting everyone killed including the love of his life.
Slowly, Alec brought himself to the nearby stoop of a rundown building. He sat on the cracked stoop.
Why is it that everyone he cares about dies? *Because you're a danger to them. You're a murderer and that's all you'll ever be,* he told himself.
Closing his eyes, he rested his head in his hands. He had to leave Terminal City. It was the only way everyone would be safe from him. He'd leave and never look back running across the country. Maybe someday he could make it to the other side of the Earth, somewhere remote where he couldn't hurt anyone.
Deciding that leaving was the best course of action, he looked up ready to go only to stop breathing.
He could swear he saw Wil standing in front of him surrounded by sunlight wearing that smile that was only for him.
He blinked.
She was still there.
He blinked again, this time harder.
And she spoke. "Dying is such a pain in the ass," she said with a smirk.
His eyes then refused to blink for fear she'd be gone when they opened again. Mind having completely shut down, Alec stared at her not making any move.
She rolled her eyes and walked towards him. "Alright, I suppose I'll do all the talking since you seem to be out of it." She stopped a foot in front of him. "Well there, big guy, where's my welcome-back-from-the-dead kiss?"
In a heartbeat, his lips secured themselves to hers and his arms enveloped her. His hand traveled up to her neck and through her hair.
He could smell her, taste her, feel her and he knew his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. She was real.
Her arms moved to encircle him guaranteeing no space separated them. Not entirely wanting to, Wil pulled back. She smiled at him. "You're acting like you missed me."
He shrugged. "Maybe just a little." Alec's barrier began to strip down and crumble. The joy held in his eyes disappeared replaced with sadness and guilt. "Wil," he started but she stopped him quickly by grabbing his face in both hands.
"I swear if you say you're sorry, I'll kick your ass. It wasn't your fault; it was my choice. I knew I was going to die but you didn't have to, too." She moved one hand to stroke his cheek lovingly. "I couldn't stand the thought of the fire in you dwindling."
He swallowed. "Wil, it's just that so many things went wrong."
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Everything is fine now. Everyone is alive, the Familiars are gone, and we don't have barcodes anymore…"
"What do you mean we don't have barcodes anymore?"
In all the turmoil about Wil's death, Alec had yet to hear the good news. Wil turned her back to him and pulled her long brown hair out of the way.
Reaching out, Alec trailed is fingertips across the smooth tan skin of her neck. Involuntarily, his hand went to the back of his own neck, like he'd be able to feel the difference if it was there or not.
"Well, I'll be damned."
"Probably," Wil smirked. "But at least I'll be right there with you."
Alec grabbed her hand and started walking back to the control room. "So, what was it like to be dead?" Alec asked with a smile.
She pondered it for a bit. "Well, it was cold and I'm a little pissed off I didn't get to become a ghost and watch people in the shower."
Alec laughed. "You can always watch me."
Her face lit up with hundreds of ideas for that scenario. "I could spend all day and all night doing that. It'd be even better if I could join," she suggested slyly.
He grinned. "I think that's something we could definitely arrange."
"Promise?"
Alec squeezed her hand. "But of course."
AN: Hehehe! I brought her back! I was going to bring her back anyways but it's nice to know people wanted her back. And no this isn't the end of my story. I've got a lot more up my sleeve. ::looks up sleeve:: Where the hell did I put that? ::shrugs:: oh well, I'm sure I'll find it somewhere.
Hands resting on the edge, Max leaned over the table. She stared down at Wil's empty face. Empty. Just like Alec's had been. The change in Alec had been drastic and chilling. He had cut off all emotions so easily; Max wondered how it was possible for him to feel.
As much as Max hated to admit it, she preferred Alec as a smartass instead of the unfeeling thing he turned into. Alec's light was vital and contagious; it seemed so wrong for it to die.
"Why didn't you live?" she spoke to Wil. "He needs you. I never thought it possible for him to actually love someone, but he loves you more than anything." Max sighed; trying to persuade a dead person to live wasn't going to do anything.
Max deeply regretted anytime she had ever been cruel to Alec. If she had known that beneath his sarcasm laid the capability to care, she would have done things so differently.
Max's gaze rose to the ceiling of the barren room. "What good is this damn power you gave me if I can't save everyone?" she asked Sandeman or Fate or whoever listened. "She was such a good person who lived and was loved, but I couldn't save her. Why couldn't I save her?" she whispered.
Her eyes landed on Wil's porcelain face again. Tentatively, Max rested her hand on the side of Wil's face. "I'm sorry," she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry for Alec too because I don't know if he can take another loss."
Wil's lips twitched.
Max froze.
Wil's lips twitched a second time. And suddenly of their own accord, Max's hands were moving. Her free hand went around Wil's waist to touch the bullet hole in her lower back, the other sliding to her forehead. Shoving her confusion out of the way, Max focused on the woman in front of her.
"Wil." Her voice sounded far away to herself. Remembering everything about Wil, how she laughed, the way she smiled, how she lived, Max's eyes bore into the slightly warming skin of Wil's face. "Come on, Wil," Max said forcefully. "Wake up."
Faintly, very faint, Max heard the dull thud of Wil's heart. And warmth returned quickly to Wil.
Eyelids flying open, Wil gasped for air.
Max laughed joyfully, stray tears falling from her eyes. Happiness overwhelming her, Max drew Wil into A hug.
"Max?" Wil's breathing settled. Her unused vocal cords burned with pain throwing Wil into a coughing fit.
Max rubbed the other woman's back comfortingly. "It's okay. You're alive now."
Her coughing died down. "Alive? What?"
Pulling back, Max looked at Wil hopefully. "Don't you remember?"
And Wil did. She remembered finding Alec, the gunshot and the pain. "Yes," she replied. Alec, her mind screamed. "Max," Wil said urgently. "Is Alec okay?"
Max nodded. "He will be as soon as he sees you."
Relief flooded through Wil. He's alive. She told herself. "I want to see him."
"First let's get you some water and something to eat, and then I promise you can see him."
Wil nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Max, for everything."
Max hugged her again. "No big dealio." Sniffing, Max scrunched up her nose. "Maybe we can get you a shower, too."
Rays of sunlight filtered through the disappearing clouds casting a glow over Terminal City. The sun warmed the air to an unusually high temperature.
Alec glared at the brightness and warmth. The sun had no right to shine and the air had no right to be warm. What a cruel thing to be mocked by this peace and sunshine when the woman you loved lay dead.
His trudge had started the moment he left the control room. He wanted to leave Terminal City, leave everything behind. None of it mattered anymore.
*No*, Alec told himself. *Nothing ever mattered.* This is what happens when you let yourself feel. They take it away from you and make you suffer. Wil was right. Soldiers weren't meant to feel. Zach was right. It was all sentimental bullshit that got people killed.
He killed Rachel. He killed Wil. If Wil hadn't cared, she wouldn't have gone looking for him and she wouldn't have gotten shot. She wouldn't be dead now.
A soft breeze blew across his face reminding him of her breath on his lips when they kissed.
His scowl grew deeper. Thoughts like that were useless now. Nothing would bring her back to him, prophecy or not. Max couldn't save her.
Alec kicked a pebble watching it skid quickly away. Max hadn't even tried to save her. Some hero she was.
At least Max hadn't led their entire race to their deaths.
Alec stopped his trudging. A failure. Max was absolutely right. He was a complete fuck up. His leadership skills had ended up getting everyone killed including the love of his life.
Slowly, Alec brought himself to the nearby stoop of a rundown building. He sat on the cracked stoop.
Why is it that everyone he cares about dies? *Because you're a danger to them. You're a murderer and that's all you'll ever be,* he told himself.
Closing his eyes, he rested his head in his hands. He had to leave Terminal City. It was the only way everyone would be safe from him. He'd leave and never look back running across the country. Maybe someday he could make it to the other side of the Earth, somewhere remote where he couldn't hurt anyone.
Deciding that leaving was the best course of action, he looked up ready to go only to stop breathing.
He could swear he saw Wil standing in front of him surrounded by sunlight wearing that smile that was only for him.
He blinked.
She was still there.
He blinked again, this time harder.
And she spoke. "Dying is such a pain in the ass," she said with a smirk.
His eyes then refused to blink for fear she'd be gone when they opened again. Mind having completely shut down, Alec stared at her not making any move.
She rolled her eyes and walked towards him. "Alright, I suppose I'll do all the talking since you seem to be out of it." She stopped a foot in front of him. "Well there, big guy, where's my welcome-back-from-the-dead kiss?"
In a heartbeat, his lips secured themselves to hers and his arms enveloped her. His hand traveled up to her neck and through her hair.
He could smell her, taste her, feel her and he knew his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. She was real.
Her arms moved to encircle him guaranteeing no space separated them. Not entirely wanting to, Wil pulled back. She smiled at him. "You're acting like you missed me."
He shrugged. "Maybe just a little." Alec's barrier began to strip down and crumble. The joy held in his eyes disappeared replaced with sadness and guilt. "Wil," he started but she stopped him quickly by grabbing his face in both hands.
"I swear if you say you're sorry, I'll kick your ass. It wasn't your fault; it was my choice. I knew I was going to die but you didn't have to, too." She moved one hand to stroke his cheek lovingly. "I couldn't stand the thought of the fire in you dwindling."
He swallowed. "Wil, it's just that so many things went wrong."
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Everything is fine now. Everyone is alive, the Familiars are gone, and we don't have barcodes anymore…"
"What do you mean we don't have barcodes anymore?"
In all the turmoil about Wil's death, Alec had yet to hear the good news. Wil turned her back to him and pulled her long brown hair out of the way.
Reaching out, Alec trailed is fingertips across the smooth tan skin of her neck. Involuntarily, his hand went to the back of his own neck, like he'd be able to feel the difference if it was there or not.
"Well, I'll be damned."
"Probably," Wil smirked. "But at least I'll be right there with you."
Alec grabbed her hand and started walking back to the control room. "So, what was it like to be dead?" Alec asked with a smile.
She pondered it for a bit. "Well, it was cold and I'm a little pissed off I didn't get to become a ghost and watch people in the shower."
Alec laughed. "You can always watch me."
Her face lit up with hundreds of ideas for that scenario. "I could spend all day and all night doing that. It'd be even better if I could join," she suggested slyly.
He grinned. "I think that's something we could definitely arrange."
"Promise?"
Alec squeezed her hand. "But of course."
AN: Hehehe! I brought her back! I was going to bring her back anyways but it's nice to know people wanted her back. And no this isn't the end of my story. I've got a lot more up my sleeve. ::looks up sleeve:: Where the hell did I put that? ::shrugs:: oh well, I'm sure I'll find it somewhere.