Genetically Empowered Chapter 15: Ep 14 'No Other Way', a dark angel fanfic

TITLE: Genetically Empowered (My Finale & Season 3)

EPISODE: 14 "NO OTHER WAY" 12/16/02

WRITTEN BY: Heather Ferguson (fergus80)

EMAIL: hferguso@niu.edu

WEBSITE: http://eric_greta.tripod.com (Jensen)

RATING: PG-13 (For now, will post alternate chapters if ratings change)

SUMMARY: How 'Freak Nation' and S3 should have been. M/A

SPOILERS: Everything!

DISCLAIMER: All Dark Angel characters belong to James Cameron, FOX, etc. etc. etc.

FEEDBACK: PLEASE!!! I CRAVE IT!!! It makes me want to write more.

DEDICATION: To all the Nuns at the Church of Alec, and the Blue Lady! And a special thank you to those who read, and corrected my spelling, grammar, tenses, etc. You know who you are, you wonderful nuns you. ;)

GO TO: NWP: http://nunswithpens.hyperboards.com/

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"Stop it."

Another feather light touch traveled down the side of her neck, her body shivered slightly again.

"I said, stop it," Max said again, however her words held no conviction, and in fact her voice had become deeper. A warm breath beside her ear, made her eyes close momentarily.

"Oh, come on Maxie… you know you like it."

She turned in her chair to stare back at him looking over her shoulder. His dark hazel eyes showing a full displace of mischief… and desire. She tried to glare at him, but as the corners of his mouth turned up into that seductive little grin her knew made her stomach tie up in knots, her hand instead reached out for the front of his shirt and pulled his mouth to hers in a deep kiss.

Alec feel to his knees in front of her, turning the chair to face him with one hand, as the other moved up into her hair, crushing her lips to his. They had been going over reports and plans for over three hours, and that was after the extrememly long morning meeting. Not to mention the all night raid he ran of the store house. In all honestly he should have been wanting to hit the hay, but his whole mind and body was much more up for possiblility of rolling around in it. Especially if it was with the person whose tongue had just pushed it's way into his mouth, making him groan, and pull her closer.

He broke the kiss only to move his mouth down her jaw and chin, to her neck. Her head tilted back, her eyes closing, her legs opening, widing on the chair. His body moved closer, pressing up against her, and her legs wrapped around him, her hands moving around him, one moving up into his hair, trailing over his barcode. "Damn Alec… What the?" His teeth lightly scaped agagainst her skin, and she shuddered at the touch. It was like he was trying to devouger her.

He stopped at her words and looked up into her eyes for a minute, his hand traveling over her cheek, his finger lightly moving over her lips. "I missed you," he said simply.

She smiled, a slight laugh coming from her throat, "It hasn't been that long!"

His hands moved from her face, and lightly traveled over her sides, and he watched her arch into it. "Over twenty-four hours," he replied. His hand taking one of hers and bringing it to his mouth, his lips kissing at the sensitive tips. A smile forming on his lips at her intake of breath.

"Oh, poor baby," she said trying to tease him. Even though she had to agree. Going longer than a day without being with him… well… it was enough to drive any normal red-blooded female insane. It was even worse when you were a revved up female and had all ready sampled the menu. And what a wonderfully, sinful menu it was. Absolutely addictive.

He pulled away from her, "Okay. I get the point." He pulled her legs from around him and stood up.

She stilled and looked up at him in shock, "What? What point?" she said quickly.

"You don't want me. That's fine." He moved away from the desk, his back turned towards her as he started for the door. "Actually, after everything lately. I should probably get some sleep. Do you think you can handle the rest of the reports?"

Max stood up quickly, her body blurring over in from of him, her hands moving to his chest, stopping him where he was. How the hell could he think she didn't want him? "I was kidding!" she yelled back, "I was just teasing…" and then she saw his face. Her fist came up to punch him in the stomach but his hand caught her wrist. "You little…"

His cocky grin became even bigger, "Oh Max… you KNOW there's nothing little about… Umph.. " His other hand moved up to the back of his head, rubbing the spot where she hit him.

"Don't tell me that you didn't deserve…mmmm…" her response was cut off my his mouth, both of his hands at at the back of her head, his tongue thrusting inside, dancing with hers. His hard body pressed up to hers, pressing her backwards. Her legs moving, and soon she found her back pressed up against the wall. She didn't even hesitate, as she pulled on his shoulders with her hands, and gave a little jump.

His hands quickly moved from her hair, to her hips as she jumped, and wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed his hips against hers, pressing her into the wall, and they both groaned at the contact. His one hand moved up her hip, under the fabric of her sweater. His fingertips trailing over hot, soft flesh. She sifted her hips and he groaned into her mouth. His hand moved up further, his palm grasping the plumb flesh elicting a loud moan from her as she broke the kiss. His lips traveled back over her jaw line.

She sifted again around him, and he pressed her up against the wall to hold her up, as his other hand moved between them, starting on the button on her pants, but he almost lost his balance when the door to her office swung open and both of their heads quickly turned to the unwelcomed intruder.

Joshua stopped dead in his tracks, his hand going to his eyes, covering them partly. "Sorry!" He said quickly.

Max looked shocked, and a new type of flush was starting to creap over her face. Alec tried not to laugh at the situation, and a slight movement from her, made it easier to do so, but not to groan was something else completely.

Joshua still stood there, and then moved his fist back and forth, "Max and Alec… getting busy?"

Okay, he couldn't help the grin that spread on his face from that. Or the reply that came to his lips. "That WAS the plan buddy." Then he glared at Max for hitting his shoulder.

Max tried to stand up, but Alec was effectively pinning her. And she had given up a while back, knowing that, no matter how much she had believed in the past that she could kick her ass, he was truly stronger than her. So she resigned herself to the fact, that she was stuck in that position, until he wanted to let her go. And he just had a way of loving to tease the hell out of her. So instead she just turned to Joshua, "Is there something you needed?"

The dog boy had since removed the hand from his face, and was standing there as if it was completely normal for the other two X5's to be so intimately wrapped together. She looked down at her chest, finding Alec's hand still under her shirt. Heck his fingers were still grasping her flesh, and if he moved that thumb one more time…. Well, she wasn't sure if she would hit him or moan once again. Her eyes moved back up to his face, and then she realized that while he was looking at Joshua, he wasn't even consciously aware that he was doing it.

Joshua nodded, "Yeah." He held up Alec's cell phone. "Kept ringing. And ringing. And ringing." He started to take a step towards them, then stopped. His hand jutted out with the phone towards them instead. "Finally answered it. It's for Alec."

Alec nodded and sighed. He turned to Max. "God, I hate phone calls." She gave him a small smile, and slowly unwrapped her legs from around him and dropped to the floor. He straigtened his back, and walked over towards Joshua. A little more sway in his walk as he tried to get more 'comfortable.' Max just smiled knowingly behind him, and grinned watching his ass move. He took the phone from Josh, and motioned towards the door. "I'll be back."

She nodded as he walked out the door, and he could hear Joshua go on. "Ring. Ring. Ring… Almost as bad as beeper. Beep. Beep. Beep."

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They designed her to be the perfect soldier--a human weapon. Then she escaped. In a future not far from now, in a broken world, she is haunted by her past. She cannot run; she must fight to discover her destiny. --- DARK ANGEL

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He walked into his office, shutting the door behind him, and turned his cell phone off hold. "Hello?"

His whole body straighted at the voice, his eyes closing. "Yes, sir."

His jaw tightened, "Yes, sir."

His eyes widened. *What? How the hell did they know that?* "Sir?"

His mind swam with the information. They knew he had went to the wear house. Were they having people watch him? *Wait… that wouldn't make sense. If they watched me. They would know she wasn't there.* But he quickly answered the question. "No, sir. She was not." After a pause he added, "Why?"

He ground his teeth slightly, this whole not telling him shit was REALLY starting to piss him off. "Well, I think it is!" He barely had time to finish the sentence as he fell to his knees. Pain shoot through his head, and shooting through him like fire.

{{What you think 494 is not important. What you do for us is.}} The pain kept going through his body, his head jerking at each pulse. {{Do we have an understanding?}}

"Yes…" he ground out through clenched teeth.

The pain immediately stopped, his one hand held his body up off the floor, as his breathing and eye sight tried to return to normal. He sat back on the concrete floor, his one hand gripping the phone. He looked at his other one as he put his hand in front of him. The appendage still shaking, muscles tensing. The room starting to slowly stop spinning.

{{Now that we have that settled. We can handle the reason for the phone call}}

"And that is?" he asked, his voice slightly raspy, his throat dry.

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Max smiled at Joshua, as she tired to control her now very messed up hair. She walked towards her desk and Joshua followed her. "How is everything?"

She looked up at him as she sat down in the chair, turning it back around to the desk and the papers on it. "Surprisingly well. We are stocked up on supplies. The army seems to be…"

Joshua shook his head. "Know that already from morning meeting." She looked at him strangely. He sat on the edge of her desk, which really wasn't that easy to do for the tall guy. "I meant you."

Max looked at him for a second, *How am I?* She thought about it for a second, a smile forming on her face. "I'm al'right."

Joshua grinned at the familiar saying, it was very catchy. He nodded, and looked over at the wall the two X5's were pinned up against, then back to her. "Little Fella's finally happy," he commented.

Max blushed slightly, but nodded in confirmation. She was happy. She really was… finally. "Yeah, I am Big Fella."

He nodded again. "Joshua is too. Happy for you and Alec. Happy for family."

Her smile got bigger. Yeah they were family. All of them. All of their kind really. She had always wanted family, wanted her brothers and sisters back. She had never considered the thought of other transgenics as being her family. But… they were now. Family, friends… lovers. She rested her hand on her fist, and looked up at Joshua. Her other hand reached out and patted his knee. "How about you? How is Joshua?" She asked him, grateful for this little bit of down time, a chance to talk to him.

His eyes lit up like saucers, and she almost laughed. *Those cute puppy eyes.*

"Good." He replied.

"Just good?" she asked him, eyeing him. Then she saw him blush, "What aren't you telling me?" Her voice took on a teasing tone.

"Nothing…." he replied, drawing on word.

She grinned wider, "Uh huh… sure… would it have something to do with…" Her brain quickly tried to think of the woman's name, and then it popped into her head, "Sonya?" She watched the light sparkle through his eyes, and she sat back in her seat with a laugh. "Yep… spill."

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He hung up the phone, and threw it on the couch, as his body sank down to it. His hands moving over his face, as he leaned over, his elbows digging into his knees. His jaw tightened as the phone conversation played over and over again in his brain. "How the hell can I do that?" he asked out loud.

*How can I take her to them?* That was his new fucking mission. "I have to deliever 452 to them… I don't even know who THEY are." He stood up in a huff, stalking across the room. His hands tightening in his hair.

*What will they do to her if I do take her?* They wouldn't answer him, and he had been 'rewarded' again for the question. *Why won't they give me any fucking answers? I mean GOD, if they told me what they were going to do. I might be more willing to go along with it.* He sighed, rubbing the spot behind his ear, his body tensing at the touch. *But then again, they figure they have that part taken care of.*

Alec had figured it out during the phone conversation. That whatever the device was that they had implanted into him when they captured him, was not just some device to keep him in 'line.' *Oh no. It's much more than that.* There was also some type of transmitter in it. Keeping track of his location. That's how they had known he was at the raid the night before. They were keeping tabs on him, and had been having him keep tabs on 452, *Max…*

He sighed again, and leaned his head against the wall, banging his forehead slightly against it. What the hell was he supposed to do? They knew where he was. They wanted him to bring her in. But he couldn't. He couldn't do it. *There is no way in hell I'm turning her over to someone I don't know.* He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. *When I had to watch her, protect her… that was one thing. This… This is completely different.*

He wrestled with the idea of telling her… telling her the truth. Taking the risk of her turning on him, hating him, but keeping her safe. But had quickly ruled out the idea. She would probably want to go and figure out who the people were and get herself in trouble or worse in the process. His first duty to her, to himself, and to his heart was to protect her. That he knew for sure. He moved back over to his desk, setting in his chair, closing his eyes. Remembering that day again. Remembering Max telling him to leave. Remembering meeting that lab guy in the ally way. Remembering waking up in that room. Remembering what they told him…..

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{{It's useless to try to escape,}} came a voice over the rooms intercom.

Alec's eyes instantly found the small speaker over the mirror, "What the hell do you want?"

His teeth gritted at the saying of his designation. He struggled against his restraints again. "Like hell!" he yelled. "I'm through with Manticore. I won't go back. You'll just have to kill me." He said, his wrists straining at the metal, digging into his skin, small cuts forming and bleeding. Then pain shot through his head and down his whole body.

He stained against the metal, his whole body shaking from the current that ran through him like molten lava. His whole body was screaming, but he wouldn't let them hear it. Then it stopped.

{{You must follow the role we have set out of you. It is impertive that you comply. We will use whatever means are necessary 494. So it will be easier for all involved if you do not try and resist.}}

He laughed, "Get some other lab rat." Another brief shock ran through his body, and he heard a sigh over the intercom before it shut off. His body again tried to free himself, but it was no use. *What the hell are they using? Titanium?* he thought as he felt the warm, sticky substance run down his wrists. But he didn't care, he'd seen a ton of his own blood before, this was nothing. *Hell, if they think this is pain… they should have spent time in psy-ops and reindoc…* But his thoughts were cut off, as his sensitive ears picked up voices, and he almost smiled.

Whoever it was that had him, weren't used to dealing with X5's. Well… at least him and a few other transgenics that had rather good hearing. He could hear them talking on the other side of the wall. His eyes snapped open at the words…

"Renfro was right about him."

*Renfro? What did that bitch have to do with them? Wasn't she dead?* he tried to listen in even more.

"Sir… He was designed…"

"Yes. Yes. I know."

*Designed?* What the hell is going on?*

"But… he's so…"

"Yes sir. He was designed that way."

A rather loud sigh was heard. "I don't want to use force. I hate doing this. But…"

"It's necessary sir."

*So… he doesn't want to use force.* Alec thought about his predicament for a minute. Maybe he should weigh his options… maybe even see what this so-called 'mission' was.

Then the intercom came back to life, {{Do you understand 494?}}

"Why don't you tell me what my little mission is, and then I'll get back to ya." He waited for the current to run through him on that comment, but none did. He stopped the smile from coming to his face, and drew on his mask of indiffernce. But that wasn't going to stay in pace for long, as it turned into complete shock at the next words.

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His eyes opened, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose. He shook his head. They wanted him to watch her, protect her. At that moment her could live with that. Only problem… at the time, was how the hell he was supposed to protect someone that hated his guts?

Alec laughed slightly, at the memories of when he had found her again. Truth be told. Yes, he had went back to Seattle because of his new mission. Or old mission. Or whatever it was, he still wasn't clear on that part. But when he saw her again… something… something creeped it's way back into him. And it hadn't taken long for the 'mission' to be the last thing on his mind, as it seemed his instincts had taken over the protective department. And somewhere along the way, he wasn't exactly sure when, heck it might have been when he had first met her, he still wasn't sure. He had fallen in love with her.

He sighed, again, and ran his hands over his face. What was he going to do? Telling her was out of the question. One, he didn't think he could handle seeing the hate in her eyes. And two, he knew her… he didn't want her doing something stupid and reckless.

There was no way in hell that he was actually going to deliever her to them. He had no idea who they were, what they would do to her. Or even him, if he did do it.

But worst of all, he knew he couldn't stay there. He rubbed the spot behind his ear again. Now that they wanted her. Now that he knew they could track him… And then he knew his answer, and his heart broke into a million pieces. There was no other way. "It has to be done," Alec sighed, his head lowered, and his eyes closed as he made his final decision.

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She smiled up at him, "That's great Big Guy. I'm happy for you. And… Sonya is really great."

"Yes she is."

Max nodded, she was so happy for him. He had been miserable since Annie, but now… now things were changing. She stood up and walked around the desk, her arms going out and he enfolded her in a big hug. She rested her cheek against his chest, and she laughed slightly. "Well… maybe we can change our little adage."

He leaned back from her, and she pulled away to stand up. "Huh?"

She grinned… "Well. Maybe… just maybe…" she said with a wink, "Love doesn't suck."

His smile got wide, "Yeah. Love doesn't suck."

"Okay," she patted his leg again, "Now go get outta here. Why not go have dinner with her?"

He nodded, "I'll do that." Joshua started to walk over to the door, then turned back to her, "Why not you and Alec go get busy?"

Her head whipped around in shock, and she caught the grin on his face. *What has Alec been teaching him?* she thought for a minute. Then shaking her head with a sigh, and smile, "That's the plan Josh… that's the plan." She turned back to her papers and heard a slight laugh behind her and the door opening then shutting.

She shook her head, looked at the papers, then thought of Joshua's comment. The memories of earlier coming back to her, she straigtened up and looked at the door. "I can finish the reports later." And with that she was walking out the door into the main room. She looked around and spotted Mole, "Hey, have you seen Alec?"

Mole looked up at her, and took the cigar out of his mouth. "He went to go see Vin about ten minutes ago."

"Thanks," she replied as she grabbed her coat by the door and headed out into the cold winter air.

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"Alec… don't even say it…" He didn't want to hear those words from his friends mouth. Heck, he had come over her, starting to talk about the raids, supplies, weapons, and other business. And now this.

"Vin… I'm serious."

"Where the hell is this coming from? I mean, we're talking business. We're even talking about old times. And then… pow."

His eyes grew serious, and Vin could tell that it was important to him. "Vin… please."

"Alec…"

"Promise me. Promise me… that if ANYTHING, and I mean anything happens to me…"

"Alec… nothing is going to…" he was cut off again by the other X5.

"If ANYTHING happens to me. Promise me you'll take over for me."

"Alec…" Vin began again, not liking where his friend was going with this. "This isn't funny."

He shook his head, "No, I'm not trying to be. I'm serious. Take over my spot. Terminal City needs someone that can get things done."

"Yeah, you. And, man… you are going to be around here for a long time. Nothing has gotten you yet, what makes you think something will now?" he tried to lighten the mood, but the other mans dark, serious eyes told him that wasn't going to happen.

"But most of all. Promise me, that if I'm not around… that… you'll…" He could barely get out the words, his voice catching slightly. He hoped the other man hadn't heard it, but he had. "That you'll look out for Max. Take care of her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid, reckless… get herself… killed."

"Alec…" he tried again to reason with him.

"Vin! Damn it! Promise me!" he said almost in a shout and stood up from the couch they had been sitting on.

Vin sat there, looking up at him. "Okay Alec," he could see how important it was to him. "I promise. I'll take over and I'll look out for her. You know I always have your back."

Alec nodded, he did know. He let his body relax at the thought for a little bit, but he jumped at the knock on the door. Vin quickly jumped to his feet and answered it. His face changing into a large smile, "Why helllloooo ladies." He pulled the door fully open and waved his arm inside.

Mel rolled her eyes as she walked in, followed by Max. "Guess who I bumped into on my way from the Medical building."

Alec's eyes caught her dark brown ones, and for an instant Max felt a small shiver go through her, but then a smile played over his face, and he walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Well, I came looking for him." She said poking her finger into his chest.

"Oh really?" he asked looking down at her, "Why is that?"

She smiled up at him, a twinkle in her eyes, "We have some unfinished business from earlier."

"Ugh… I'm so sick of reports…"

She interrupted him, "I'm not talking about the reports."

He then caught the look in her eye, and swallowed, "Oh… that." She nodded up at him. A cough from behind her, had her turning in his arms to see the other two looking at them.

"Yep. When they are together, they just go off into their own little world. Forget that others exist," the blond said with a smile.

"Oh, like you two should talk," Max chimed back. The two in question grinned back at her, and didn't object to the truth of her words.

"Well, then I guess you guys have something to do. And drinks are out of the question?" Vin asked them.

Alec looked at his friends. He wanted to spend some time with them before… He shook the thought and looked down at Max. Nope, he wanted to be there with her, much, much more. He looked back up at Vin, "Yeah. Hopefully some other time."

Vin's eyebrows knitted in thought at his statement, but he brushed it away. "Okay man. Later then." He moved out of the way, for the couple to move out of the door, letting it shut behind them on their good-bye's. The dark haired man shook his head slightly, and pulled Mel closer to him. She looked up with a question in her eyes, and he shook his head, "I'll tell you later." She just nodded.

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He was extremely quite on the walk back to his apartment, too quite. In fact in unnerved her. But every time she looked up at him, he would just smile at her, and squeeze her hand, or wrap his arm around her shoulder. By the time they got to the apartment, she was worried. "Alec.. what's wrong?" She asked as she took off her coat and laid it on the couch. He sat his leather one down beside it, as they both kicked off their boots.

"Nothing," he said walking over to her, his hand moving to the side of her face, cupping it gently. "As long as I'm with you. Nothing is ever wrong."

She smiled up at him, her arms wrapped around his neck, "So…" she started, and moved hr hips against his, "Where were we?"

He groaned at the contact, his hands moving to her hips, stopping them instantly. It would be so easy to go back to before, and just rip her clothes off and… But he didn't want to. Not this time. "No Max." She tiled her head up at him. He lightly lowered the back of his hand down the side of her face, then under her chin, tilting it up. His lips moved to hers softly, gently. He then pulled away, looking into her dark eyes. "I love you Max."

She swallowed, looking up at him. The deep emotions from him pouring out of his eyes, her breath catching, "I love you too Alec." Her voice so soft, but heartfelt.

His fingers moved some of her hair behind her ears, his hands caressing her face. He kissed her softly again. Then his soft breath washed over her face, as he spoke, "Let me show you how much." His lips touching hers once again, and then she was in the air, his arms holding her, carrying her. Then she was on the bed, the soft mattress at her back, his body leaning over her, his lips pressed to hers. "Let me show you how much I love you Max."

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Continue on here for the PG-13 version.

But if you are old enough, and would like to read the NC-17 version of the rest of the chapter.

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His arms held her peacefully sleeping form in the dark. Her whole body relaxed and wrapped around him. His hand moved through her hair, the other one over the skin of her back. Trying to take in the feel of her, remember every second, every moment, every touch and feeling. Her hugged her closer, and rested his face at the top of her head, taking in her smell, her scent.

Alec felt his heart crumbling. He knew he had to do it. He knew he had to leave. He had to leave her. Leaving her was the only way he could protect her. But the thought was killing him. He knew she would hate him for leaving. For leaving without telling her. But if she hated him, thought he had just left. Then she wouldn't follow him. And she couldn't follow him. She couldn't be near him. It was too dangerous. He hugged her to him once again. Like he had been doing for the last few hours since they… or rather she had fallen asleep. Trying to get the strength to actually pull away from her.

He kissed the top of her head, and closed his eyes once again. Then spoke so quietly, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Alec said into her dark hair, as a tear slipped down his cheek. His body rolled her onto her back, and slowly, oh so slowly he pulled his body away from hers. He sat up on the edge of the bed. His hand reached out, his fingers just barely touching her, as they moved down her face and body. Another tear slipped down his face, "Just remember…" his voice shaky, almost inaudible. "I love you Max, I love you."

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Scenes from an All New DA on 12/23/02:

*ON THE NEXT ALL NEW DARK ANGEL*

"I've got it!" Normal yelled standing up. OC gave him a strange look. "We march!"

IS IT ALL COMING TOGETHER?

Sketchy looked at the papers in front of him, shaking his head, "The Apocalypse is really coming…"

OR IS IT ALL FALLING APART?

Max crumpled in Vin's arms, her dark eyes wide, "He really left me… He really left… For good."