Title: The Enemy Of My Enemy
Author: Drea Jackman
Email: webmaster@the-spacemonkey.net
URL:
Warning: If you're one of these people that can't get their head around non- m/l or m/a 'ships, turn back now. This fic is strictly for the open-minded ... and my fellow writers in the Conclave.
Disclaimer: Not my characters or my show...unfortunately. Just having a little fun with them for now, but I promise to return them to the shelf when I'm done ... though I might keep White a little longer ;).
The Enemy Of My Enemy
Max spent the best part of the next hour creeping around the former chemical plant in familiarise herself with the many possible exits and entrances that could be used later. She couldn't shake the strange feeling in the air and it was nothing to do with the siege situation she was in. When it came down to it, she supposed alot had changed in the months since the siege at Terminal City. White's kind were now just as hated as transgenics in the public eye.
Without making a sound, the X5 stood from her former position and prepared to check all the exits once more. It was what they'd always been taught - 'Know your surroundings.' When her checks had been made, she glanced at her watch and frowned. She had been sat there crouched deep in thought for just over 2 hours. She supposed it was a good thing that the pack hadn't found their building yet. Maybe they'd make it until dawn after all.
As she returned to her current sanctuary, Max mused over her Manticore teachings.
'Know your surroundings, know your enemy,' she thought. 'Where the hell's the part about helping him?!'
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the door open and went inside. Closing it behind her, she turned to see that White had vacated his upturned box and taken up a more relaxed place on the floor. Leaning back into the corner he let his head rest on the wall to his right. Max noticed that his left shoulder still sat low in the joint as she took as seat on the box - only one of many broken ones like it scattered around the room. White watched her and remained silent. Despite their earlier arguing, Max didn't see him as a threat at that moment.
"That shoulder could use some attention," she ventured.
"And you care?"
"Actually I do," Max fired back pointedly. "I need you able to throw a punch if we're gonna get outta here in one piece."
"What do you suggest I do? Go ask them for medical assistance?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was suggesting!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm so great it was a new level for even her.
"Wonderful, a freak with a sense of humour."
"I can help."
White raised his head from it's relaxed rest on the wall to glance at his shoulder then looked away.
"It'll heal."
"It's dislocated."
They stared at each other, Max surprised at what she was offering and telling herself repeatedly that it was because she wanted him able to fight off the Hunters as well as she could - White even more so. They'd reached yet another verbal impasse, but this time tempers were curbed.
"Look, if you don't reset it, that specially bred healing of yours will only set it wrong permanently," Max finished in the calmest voice she could muster.
White looked at her before averting his eyes on a slight nod. Max went to kneel by him, her stomach missing the usually sickening lurch it took when she was forced to be near him. Taking her standard 'no shit' attitude, she took his left arm in her hands, left at his wrist, right just above the elbow.
Before doing anything else she looked at him and noticed for the first time, how soft his features could be. She'd always been used to him as a deadly opponent, his features usually hard and extremely cold. The way he was watching her now could almost have passed for human, his darkened eyes looking over her every action as if being attentive. Maybe he was actually capable of warmth, after all ,he did love his son.
"On three," she said quickly averting her eyes to hide her distraction.
"One."
She raised his arm and tightened her grip.
"Two."
He cast her a quick glance that she knew he hadn't meant for her to see before turning his focus to some spot on the wall over her shoulder.
"Three!" Max said and wrenched his arm toward her quickly, straightening it at the shoulder joint as she felt it slide back into place beneath her hand.
White inhaled sharply as the loud crack of bone snapping into place resounded in both their ears, but he didn't cry out like any normal man would have. He hid every outward sign of discomfort or pain completely. Max laid his arm back to rest in his lap and backed away to her box. As she slid her jacket off her shoulders, she noticed his attention hadn't shifted from her.
"What is it now?"
"Why did you come back?"
Max didn't give him the satisfaction of flinching at his question even though she'd been dreading it being asked for hours.
"Figured I'm safer having you as fodder for their guns if it comes down to it."
"And yet you came back twice."
"You should be touched."
"I could kill you," he warned her.
"Save it! You need me as much as I need you tonight."
"A sad fact we both detest."
"You're welcome," Max said with a forced smile which took surprisingly little effort to muster when she realised how much it ate at White.
"They'll have us pinned down by morning," he said matter-of-factly.
"I'm sure your Familiar buddies will stop by to save your ass by then," she sighed knowing that it wasn't just the Hunters that posed a risk on the complex.
"Highly unlikely," he replied.
"What, you pissed 'em all off already?"
The silence loomed around them, but neither of them felt uncomfortable. It was a strangely familiar feeling, being in a room without attempting to kill each other - if you could pardon the pun.
"Months ago this would've been different," he began and Max listened, her expression less sceptical.
"But then that reporter friend of yours decided to what? 'Level the playing field'?"
"One good turn deserves another," she replied, but her voice was missing the sarcastic overtone to make her words sting.
"The government job was just a cover, it never really mattered. All that mattered was preparation."
"For what?"
"The Coming," he answered and turned to look at her.
For a second, Max forgot she was staring an enemy in the face. It was perhaps the first time she'd taken the time to notice that he looked physically tired.
"You decided to reveal us to the world. We've survived for thousands of years in secrecy and you destroyed it all in one night."
White stopped to look at her. He didn't expect remorse from her, in fact he'd expected her to do exactly what she had done. What he hadn't expected was how it would affect him.
"I expected that from you, but I didn't expect them to walk away. They hide behind their cover stories and assume the lives of some pathetic humans they once portrayed. It's an affront to everything we believe in," he spat out.
Max didn't really have anything to say. What was there to say in the face of White's revelation? It was good news for her if the conclave was losing power. It meant that the few left looking for a fight like White, would be less organised and without back-up.
"They retreat, content to bide their time until they inherit the Earth when our time is now."
"Oh, boo hoo!"
White glared at her.
"I'm supposed to feel sorry for you just because something you believed in fell apart?"
"Save your pity for your own kind."
"Then what?" she asked exasperated.
White evaded her question and replaced it with his own. He wasn't entirely sure why he'd vented it on her.
"Where's my son?"
"What about Ray?" she asked, suddenly standing up as she glared back down at him. "What about the ones out there just trying to make a life for themselves? They had no say in what they were born into - we were made!"
"Heresy! The result of my father's mistake."
"And your son deserves to pay the price along with us?"
"You did this!"
Max flashed him a warning glare and went to settle in the corner opposite. White turned to look at her, his eyes following her every move as if awaiting her first strike. They had to be quiet.
"No, Ames," she replied, her voice spoke his name with disdain and pity. "You did this the second you started hunting us ... killing us. You went looking for a war and now you've found one. You don't get to be the hunter anymore. See how you like being the prey."
With that, Max turned over to curl up under her jacket. She didn't worry about turning her back to him in that instance for she didn't expect to get any sleep. Her every muscle tensed as she heard White moving behind her and she cast a quick glance over her shoulder.
White lay in the corner opposite in more or less the same position, his back also turned. His jacket still lay over by the box she'd been perched on. It was a cold night, but she suspected he wouldn't feel it anymore than she would. Neither were likely to sleep either, but at least they wouldn't have to talk for a while.
Stifling a sigh, Max turned back to rest her head on her arm and hoped that Alec and the others would know where to find her come morning.
TBC
Author: Drea Jackman
Email: webmaster@the-spacemonkey.net
URL:
Warning: If you're one of these people that can't get their head around non- m/l or m/a 'ships, turn back now. This fic is strictly for the open-minded ... and my fellow writers in the Conclave.
Disclaimer: Not my characters or my show...unfortunately. Just having a little fun with them for now, but I promise to return them to the shelf when I'm done ... though I might keep White a little longer ;).
The Enemy Of My Enemy
Max spent the best part of the next hour creeping around the former chemical plant in familiarise herself with the many possible exits and entrances that could be used later. She couldn't shake the strange feeling in the air and it was nothing to do with the siege situation she was in. When it came down to it, she supposed alot had changed in the months since the siege at Terminal City. White's kind were now just as hated as transgenics in the public eye.
Without making a sound, the X5 stood from her former position and prepared to check all the exits once more. It was what they'd always been taught - 'Know your surroundings.' When her checks had been made, she glanced at her watch and frowned. She had been sat there crouched deep in thought for just over 2 hours. She supposed it was a good thing that the pack hadn't found their building yet. Maybe they'd make it until dawn after all.
As she returned to her current sanctuary, Max mused over her Manticore teachings.
'Know your surroundings, know your enemy,' she thought. 'Where the hell's the part about helping him?!'
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the door open and went inside. Closing it behind her, she turned to see that White had vacated his upturned box and taken up a more relaxed place on the floor. Leaning back into the corner he let his head rest on the wall to his right. Max noticed that his left shoulder still sat low in the joint as she took as seat on the box - only one of many broken ones like it scattered around the room. White watched her and remained silent. Despite their earlier arguing, Max didn't see him as a threat at that moment.
"That shoulder could use some attention," she ventured.
"And you care?"
"Actually I do," Max fired back pointedly. "I need you able to throw a punch if we're gonna get outta here in one piece."
"What do you suggest I do? Go ask them for medical assistance?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was suggesting!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm so great it was a new level for even her.
"Wonderful, a freak with a sense of humour."
"I can help."
White raised his head from it's relaxed rest on the wall to glance at his shoulder then looked away.
"It'll heal."
"It's dislocated."
They stared at each other, Max surprised at what she was offering and telling herself repeatedly that it was because she wanted him able to fight off the Hunters as well as she could - White even more so. They'd reached yet another verbal impasse, but this time tempers were curbed.
"Look, if you don't reset it, that specially bred healing of yours will only set it wrong permanently," Max finished in the calmest voice she could muster.
White looked at her before averting his eyes on a slight nod. Max went to kneel by him, her stomach missing the usually sickening lurch it took when she was forced to be near him. Taking her standard 'no shit' attitude, she took his left arm in her hands, left at his wrist, right just above the elbow.
Before doing anything else she looked at him and noticed for the first time, how soft his features could be. She'd always been used to him as a deadly opponent, his features usually hard and extremely cold. The way he was watching her now could almost have passed for human, his darkened eyes looking over her every action as if being attentive. Maybe he was actually capable of warmth, after all ,he did love his son.
"On three," she said quickly averting her eyes to hide her distraction.
"One."
She raised his arm and tightened her grip.
"Two."
He cast her a quick glance that she knew he hadn't meant for her to see before turning his focus to some spot on the wall over her shoulder.
"Three!" Max said and wrenched his arm toward her quickly, straightening it at the shoulder joint as she felt it slide back into place beneath her hand.
White inhaled sharply as the loud crack of bone snapping into place resounded in both their ears, but he didn't cry out like any normal man would have. He hid every outward sign of discomfort or pain completely. Max laid his arm back to rest in his lap and backed away to her box. As she slid her jacket off her shoulders, she noticed his attention hadn't shifted from her.
"What is it now?"
"Why did you come back?"
Max didn't give him the satisfaction of flinching at his question even though she'd been dreading it being asked for hours.
"Figured I'm safer having you as fodder for their guns if it comes down to it."
"And yet you came back twice."
"You should be touched."
"I could kill you," he warned her.
"Save it! You need me as much as I need you tonight."
"A sad fact we both detest."
"You're welcome," Max said with a forced smile which took surprisingly little effort to muster when she realised how much it ate at White.
"They'll have us pinned down by morning," he said matter-of-factly.
"I'm sure your Familiar buddies will stop by to save your ass by then," she sighed knowing that it wasn't just the Hunters that posed a risk on the complex.
"Highly unlikely," he replied.
"What, you pissed 'em all off already?"
The silence loomed around them, but neither of them felt uncomfortable. It was a strangely familiar feeling, being in a room without attempting to kill each other - if you could pardon the pun.
"Months ago this would've been different," he began and Max listened, her expression less sceptical.
"But then that reporter friend of yours decided to what? 'Level the playing field'?"
"One good turn deserves another," she replied, but her voice was missing the sarcastic overtone to make her words sting.
"The government job was just a cover, it never really mattered. All that mattered was preparation."
"For what?"
"The Coming," he answered and turned to look at her.
For a second, Max forgot she was staring an enemy in the face. It was perhaps the first time she'd taken the time to notice that he looked physically tired.
"You decided to reveal us to the world. We've survived for thousands of years in secrecy and you destroyed it all in one night."
White stopped to look at her. He didn't expect remorse from her, in fact he'd expected her to do exactly what she had done. What he hadn't expected was how it would affect him.
"I expected that from you, but I didn't expect them to walk away. They hide behind their cover stories and assume the lives of some pathetic humans they once portrayed. It's an affront to everything we believe in," he spat out.
Max didn't really have anything to say. What was there to say in the face of White's revelation? It was good news for her if the conclave was losing power. It meant that the few left looking for a fight like White, would be less organised and without back-up.
"They retreat, content to bide their time until they inherit the Earth when our time is now."
"Oh, boo hoo!"
White glared at her.
"I'm supposed to feel sorry for you just because something you believed in fell apart?"
"Save your pity for your own kind."
"Then what?" she asked exasperated.
White evaded her question and replaced it with his own. He wasn't entirely sure why he'd vented it on her.
"Where's my son?"
"What about Ray?" she asked, suddenly standing up as she glared back down at him. "What about the ones out there just trying to make a life for themselves? They had no say in what they were born into - we were made!"
"Heresy! The result of my father's mistake."
"And your son deserves to pay the price along with us?"
"You did this!"
Max flashed him a warning glare and went to settle in the corner opposite. White turned to look at her, his eyes following her every move as if awaiting her first strike. They had to be quiet.
"No, Ames," she replied, her voice spoke his name with disdain and pity. "You did this the second you started hunting us ... killing us. You went looking for a war and now you've found one. You don't get to be the hunter anymore. See how you like being the prey."
With that, Max turned over to curl up under her jacket. She didn't worry about turning her back to him in that instance for she didn't expect to get any sleep. Her every muscle tensed as she heard White moving behind her and she cast a quick glance over her shoulder.
White lay in the corner opposite in more or less the same position, his back also turned. His jacket still lay over by the box she'd been perched on. It was a cold night, but she suspected he wouldn't feel it anymore than she would. Neither were likely to sleep either, but at least they wouldn't have to talk for a while.
Stifling a sigh, Max turned back to rest her head on her arm and hoped that Alec and the others would know where to find her come morning.
TBC