A/N: Originally this chapter would have been out sooner, but I redid it because I didn't like the way the story was going. There was originally a big scene at Jam Pony, but I decided that to chuck that because I really didn't like it. There's not much action in this chapter; just conversation, and plenty of Max/Alec interaction, of course. Hope you enjoy. Feedback appreciated. Please R&R! Also, I finally have a title. Yay! Go me!
Disclaimer: To my utter disappointment, I found out just the other day that Dark Angel does not belong to me. It's owned by James Cameron, Fox, and rich people whose names I don't happen to know. That's fine, as long as they give me Alec.
The title is from 3 Doors Down's sophomore album, Away From the Sun. It seemed to fit.
Chapter Five
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Broken Time
Jam Pony Xpress
Seattle, Wa., September 5th, 2021
Screams penetrated the fog of pain that descended to embrace him, twining as
one in terrible song. Their savageness ripped at his sensitive eardrums, awakening a dire
urge to reach and cover his ears.
His body arched, spasmed, and released with the impact of flying lead, an
involuntary gasp forcing aside full lips. Agony surged within, flaring white-hot in the
desperate cording of muscles used to hold down her squirming body.
The world flowered to blackness before him; the acidic burn of bile seared his
throat, and Alec felt himself drifting into oblivion.
* * *
Her face blurred into incongruous lines before him, partly eclipsed by heavy
lashes. He blinked, trying to bring her into focus, and felt his stomach shift with a
violence that drove his eyes shut once more.
Soft hands descended to his hair, stroking aside strands grown sodden with
perspiration. He moaned and turned his face into the presence of gentle fingers, sensing
something familiar about this person's touch.
"Hey." The voice exploded in a blinding swordthrust of pain inside his temple.
"Alec, can you hear me?"
*For Christ's sake, who can't? You could wake the dead with that foghorn of
yours.* he thought wryly, cracking an eyelid at the dark-haired visage before him.
"Alec?"
*Jesus! Stop talking so loud, would you? Show a little respect for the mortally
wounded.*
His tongue flicked out to traverse dry and cracked lips. He shifted against the
curve of a soft bed beneath his worn and battered body, the move thrusting pain all
throughout him.
"He's lost quite a bit of blood."
*Bullets will do that to you, Logan.*
"He'll be fine." Max whispered. "He always is."
Something jabbed Alec forcefully in the side, exploding him fully into the realm
of consciousness.
"Ow! Easy there, Max!"
She shrugged, looking across the bed to Logan. "Told ya'."
He glared at his visitors, struggling into sitting position amongst a sweaty tangle
of bedraggled sheets. The blanket tossed carefully over him slithered from his muscular
body, pooling in his lap and baring his naked chest to cool air.
Another form stepped into view, shimmering uncertainly within the ripple and
undulation of shadows passing over his blurry eyes.
"How Alec feeling?" Joshua asked timidly, eyes luminous in their fright.
"Like Max just kicked me in the balls, chucked me out in the road, ran over my
head with her bike, then backed up over it again. How you feelin', Josh?"
"Joshua scared. Thought medium fella' going to die."
Alec shrugged, and the nonchalant move pulled the wound gaping in his shoulder.
He squeezed both eyes shut and cursed beneath his breath, his chest constricting
painfully.
"Don't move too much. You'll rip open my fancy bandages." Max scolded, her
tone lacking its usual scorn. The bed sagged beneath her weight as she lowered herself
carefully beside him. He felt the soft brush of her fingers, and suddenly warmth
penetrated his shivering body to the very core. "Looks like it's about time to change the
dressing again."
Logan cleared his throat, drawing both transgenic's attention. "Well...I should be
going. I'll be back later. Glad to see you're awake, Alec." His smile looked a bit forced.
Max averted her gaze, nodding tensely. "Bye."
"Come on, Joshua. I want to talk to you for a minute." And now his eyes settled
on Max, begging her to look at him, his meaningful stare conveying more than words
could. *This is what you want, isn't it? To be alone with your precious injured?*
But she'd already turned her attention to tending Alec's wound, presenting Logan
with an unobstructed view of her back.
"Joshua happy Alec better." the nomalie rumbled.
The door clicked softly shut.
"Well, it's nice to know I've got a concerned fan following." Alec said. "I see
you couldn't wait to get my shirt off."
She glared at him. "I could've let you bleed to death."
"Nah, you couldn't do that, Max. That would devastate the entire female
population of Seattle."
She rolled her eyes, working with gentle fingers to unwrap his shoulder. He
leaned without thought into her slender form, sagging limply against the blinding
onslaught of pain that came with the soft probing of her fingers. "How many times was I
shot?" he asked quietly.
"Three. One in the shoulder, another in your right leg, and one that skimmed the
side of your head. You were lucky; the bullet just brushed you. Could've killed you."
"How the hell did I get here? I mean, one minute, I'm hurling myself through the
air at you with White and his lackey's shootin' to beat hell, and the next thing I know I'm
waking up in my bed at Josh's."
"Logan." She finished unraveling the gauze, his shoulder glistening beneath in a
fresh sheen of crimson. "They were doing a story on the news about 'a transgenic rogue'
being arrested at Jam Pony, and he saw it. Figured White had something to do with it
and-"
"And let me guess; came toodling to the rescue in that old boat he calls an
automobile. Playin' the part of the knight in shining armor."
Max scowled. "He saved our asses, you know."
Alec sighed. "Well, Max, much as I know you like to believe good ol' 'Eyes
Only' has some sort of superhuman powers, there's no way he could have held off White
and his goons long enough to get us out of there. He's only one man."
"I was getting to that-until you interrupted me. Maybe if you'd keep your big yap
shut-"
"You see? I'm lyin' here, bleeding to a slow and painful death, and you're still
yellin' at me. What kind of person busts the chops of an injured man? Don't you have
any conscience?"
"I wouldn't be yelling if you'd learn when to shut up."
"I want a new nurse. One who can *appreciate* a fine specimen such as mysel-"
"Any*way*," she continued, with a glare for emphasis, "Logan showed up, tossed a
couple of smoke bombs into the whole mess, and we hauled your unconscious ass into
his van. That was three days ago."
"What about...Wait a minute. Did you say three days?"
"Yep."
"Three days? I've been sleepin' for three *days*?"
"Off and on. This is the first time you've regained consciousness for so long.
You drifted in and out, mostly. Talked a little, but it wasn't anything we could make any
sense of."
"So what'd I say?" he asked, watching her dress his shoulder.
"Nothing much. Just gibberish."
"Hey, I do *not* gibbe-"
"Hold still. This is going to hurt." A hard tug at his shoulder exploded white
stars before his vision. He fell back against the head rest, panting heavily.
"Holy shit! You could have warned me!"
"I did."
"What the hell did I ever do to you?"
"The gauze was stuck to your skin with dry blood. What did you want me to
do-leave it there to rot?" she demanded testily.
"Well you didn't have to pull so damn hard!" he griped. His voice sounded
strained and weak even to his own ears. "I risked life and limb to save your ass from
White, and this is the thanks I get?"
"I know." she whispered.
"I mean, c'mon, Max, the least you could do is-" He paused, jaw unhinging.
"You know? What do you mean you know? You're not actually...agreeing with me, are
you?"
"I know you saved my ass. I probably wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for
you. Hell, not probably. I wouldn't be here." She raised her chin, and their gazes joined.
"Guess I owe you one now."
He blinked, surprised. "You...owe me one. Huh. Now there's a change."
Her fingers trailed the side of his head, sifting the fine hairs, tousled and matted
now with coagulated blood.
He swallowed hard. "What are you doing?"
"Checking your head."
"Oh." he replied, a bit thrown off at her closeness. She radiated warmth, and the
clean, enticing scent of lavender. His nostrils flared against this new, tantalizing invasion
of smell. "So, if I saved you, don't I get a prize or somethin'?"
"Sure-the prize of knowing that you've saved the world from being deprived of my
wonderful presence." Max responded lightly, full lips curving in a smirk.
He grinned, surprised at this decidedly Alec-like reply that had just slipped from
her lips. "Nah. I was thinkin' more like a...kiss or somethin'."
Max snorted, and drew back. "You wish. Just 'cause I'm pretending we're
together doesn't mean-" She snapped her mouth abruptly shut. *Oops.*
"What did you just say?" he asked, brow furrowing.
"Nothing. Just forget about it."
"No. You said somethin' about pretending we're together. What the hell did that
mean?"
"I said it was nothing. Forget it." Her eyes glittered darkly, and she jerked now
from his hand as it crept up her arm.
He clamped down hard with his fingers as she tried to rise, using the element of
surprise to yank her back to the bed.
"Hey!"
"What's this about us being together, Max? Because unless I missed something
important in the last few days, my understanding was that our relationship was at best a
typical case of domestic violence."
"Let go!" she hissed through her teeth.
"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on. Does this have somethin' to do
with the fact that Logan was trying to inject death rays into my head when I stopped by
his apartment the other day? Because he's had some sort of mental lapse and fallen
under the impression that we're a couple?"
"Fine. A few weeks ago, when you were arrested, and I busted you out, you spent
the night at my apartment, just to lay low while the cops looked for you."
He lifted both eyebrows. "Following you so far, Max."
"Logan saw you leaving the next morning, and automatically assumed that we..."
She trailed off, gesturing with her hands.
"Engaged in a night of wild sex?" he supplied helpfully.
Max scowled. "I suppose. Anyway, I went over to his apartment that night with
some information on White's breeding cult, thinking he wasn't there. He'd left the lights
out on purpose, so he could confront me. Wanted to know if we were together. And
I...didn't give him reason to think we weren't."
"So let me get this straight; you told Logan that we're a couple?" Confusion
thickly laced Alec's words.
"Not exactly. I just didn't deny it. Alec, please, don't say anything to him. I
can't be with him, not now." she pleaded, turning large doe eyes on him. "It's too
dangerous. But he'll convince me, somehow, that it's ok for us to be together. I needed
someway to push him away, and this was the easiest way. He'll leave me alone, get over
me and find someone else now. He'll give up if he thinks I belong to someone else. It's
the best way."
He dropped her arm, and reached to rub away the ache throbbing just behind his
eyes despite the fresh tears of pain this move brought to his eyes. "Always the bad guy
with you, huh, Max? Logan's too pure and good to steal another man's girl, but a jerk
like Alec wouldn't hesitate to do that. Am I right?"
"Don't get all damn self-righteous on me! You sleep with a different girl every
night, for God's sake." she snapped, the carmel pallor of her flesh brightening to scarlet
beneath this wave of anger.
He sighed heavily. Her eyes caught the slight cording of several muscles beneath
the firm flesh of his strong jaw. "Fine, Max. I'll protect your little secret. You do
realize this will ruin my reputation, though, right? Me turnin' a one-woman man."
"Look, your precious 'reputation' will be just fine. Just play along when Logan's
around, ok? Just do that for me. I think you owe me that much."
"Does this mean I get certain...privileges whenever Logan's around?" He
smirked.
"No! Just...act like you like me."
"Takes two to tango Max. Or whatever it is that Logan thinks we were doing in
your apartment. You're gonna' have to put some effort into this too, not just me. He's
not gonna' buy it if you're smackin' me around just like usual."
"Fine. So I'll pretend to like you. I should be able to manage that for..oh,
say...about five minutes before I start hypergagging." Max thrust both hands to her hips,
heat simmering within her gaze.
"You won't last two minutes without jumpin' me."
"I'm not *that* desperate to prove our...togetherness." The word rolled bitter on her
tongue.
"Well, you've already been goin' around sayin' we had sex." he pointed out,
grinning cheekily.
"I have *not*! It's not my fault if Logan assumed things."
"Yeah, but you didn't exactly help him *un*assume that we weren't getting down
and dirty."
"Get some sleep, asshole. I'll be back in a while with some food." she said,
terminating the conversation just like that, pivoting on a heel to reach for the doorknob.
"So, Max, any chance of bringing your lover's precious boob tube into his room?
The sex must have been incredible-though for some reason I don't remember it-and it
would go a long way toward persuadin' me to come back for seconds if you brought the
TV in here."
She slammed the door with a severity he felt in the very depths of his bones.
*Damn.*
Disclaimer: To my utter disappointment, I found out just the other day that Dark Angel does not belong to me. It's owned by James Cameron, Fox, and rich people whose names I don't happen to know. That's fine, as long as they give me Alec.
The title is from 3 Doors Down's sophomore album, Away From the Sun. It seemed to fit.
Chapter Five
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Broken Time
Jam Pony Xpress
Seattle, Wa., September 5th, 2021
Screams penetrated the fog of pain that descended to embrace him, twining as
one in terrible song. Their savageness ripped at his sensitive eardrums, awakening a dire
urge to reach and cover his ears.
His body arched, spasmed, and released with the impact of flying lead, an
involuntary gasp forcing aside full lips. Agony surged within, flaring white-hot in the
desperate cording of muscles used to hold down her squirming body.
The world flowered to blackness before him; the acidic burn of bile seared his
throat, and Alec felt himself drifting into oblivion.
* * *
Her face blurred into incongruous lines before him, partly eclipsed by heavy
lashes. He blinked, trying to bring her into focus, and felt his stomach shift with a
violence that drove his eyes shut once more.
Soft hands descended to his hair, stroking aside strands grown sodden with
perspiration. He moaned and turned his face into the presence of gentle fingers, sensing
something familiar about this person's touch.
"Hey." The voice exploded in a blinding swordthrust of pain inside his temple.
"Alec, can you hear me?"
*For Christ's sake, who can't? You could wake the dead with that foghorn of
yours.* he thought wryly, cracking an eyelid at the dark-haired visage before him.
"Alec?"
*Jesus! Stop talking so loud, would you? Show a little respect for the mortally
wounded.*
His tongue flicked out to traverse dry and cracked lips. He shifted against the
curve of a soft bed beneath his worn and battered body, the move thrusting pain all
throughout him.
"He's lost quite a bit of blood."
*Bullets will do that to you, Logan.*
"He'll be fine." Max whispered. "He always is."
Something jabbed Alec forcefully in the side, exploding him fully into the realm
of consciousness.
"Ow! Easy there, Max!"
She shrugged, looking across the bed to Logan. "Told ya'."
He glared at his visitors, struggling into sitting position amongst a sweaty tangle
of bedraggled sheets. The blanket tossed carefully over him slithered from his muscular
body, pooling in his lap and baring his naked chest to cool air.
Another form stepped into view, shimmering uncertainly within the ripple and
undulation of shadows passing over his blurry eyes.
"How Alec feeling?" Joshua asked timidly, eyes luminous in their fright.
"Like Max just kicked me in the balls, chucked me out in the road, ran over my
head with her bike, then backed up over it again. How you feelin', Josh?"
"Joshua scared. Thought medium fella' going to die."
Alec shrugged, and the nonchalant move pulled the wound gaping in his shoulder.
He squeezed both eyes shut and cursed beneath his breath, his chest constricting
painfully.
"Don't move too much. You'll rip open my fancy bandages." Max scolded, her
tone lacking its usual scorn. The bed sagged beneath her weight as she lowered herself
carefully beside him. He felt the soft brush of her fingers, and suddenly warmth
penetrated his shivering body to the very core. "Looks like it's about time to change the
dressing again."
Logan cleared his throat, drawing both transgenic's attention. "Well...I should be
going. I'll be back later. Glad to see you're awake, Alec." His smile looked a bit forced.
Max averted her gaze, nodding tensely. "Bye."
"Come on, Joshua. I want to talk to you for a minute." And now his eyes settled
on Max, begging her to look at him, his meaningful stare conveying more than words
could. *This is what you want, isn't it? To be alone with your precious injured?*
But she'd already turned her attention to tending Alec's wound, presenting Logan
with an unobstructed view of her back.
"Joshua happy Alec better." the nomalie rumbled.
The door clicked softly shut.
"Well, it's nice to know I've got a concerned fan following." Alec said. "I see
you couldn't wait to get my shirt off."
She glared at him. "I could've let you bleed to death."
"Nah, you couldn't do that, Max. That would devastate the entire female
population of Seattle."
She rolled her eyes, working with gentle fingers to unwrap his shoulder. He
leaned without thought into her slender form, sagging limply against the blinding
onslaught of pain that came with the soft probing of her fingers. "How many times was I
shot?" he asked quietly.
"Three. One in the shoulder, another in your right leg, and one that skimmed the
side of your head. You were lucky; the bullet just brushed you. Could've killed you."
"How the hell did I get here? I mean, one minute, I'm hurling myself through the
air at you with White and his lackey's shootin' to beat hell, and the next thing I know I'm
waking up in my bed at Josh's."
"Logan." She finished unraveling the gauze, his shoulder glistening beneath in a
fresh sheen of crimson. "They were doing a story on the news about 'a transgenic rogue'
being arrested at Jam Pony, and he saw it. Figured White had something to do with it
and-"
"And let me guess; came toodling to the rescue in that old boat he calls an
automobile. Playin' the part of the knight in shining armor."
Max scowled. "He saved our asses, you know."
Alec sighed. "Well, Max, much as I know you like to believe good ol' 'Eyes
Only' has some sort of superhuman powers, there's no way he could have held off White
and his goons long enough to get us out of there. He's only one man."
"I was getting to that-until you interrupted me. Maybe if you'd keep your big yap
shut-"
"You see? I'm lyin' here, bleeding to a slow and painful death, and you're still
yellin' at me. What kind of person busts the chops of an injured man? Don't you have
any conscience?"
"I wouldn't be yelling if you'd learn when to shut up."
"I want a new nurse. One who can *appreciate* a fine specimen such as mysel-"
"Any*way*," she continued, with a glare for emphasis, "Logan showed up, tossed a
couple of smoke bombs into the whole mess, and we hauled your unconscious ass into
his van. That was three days ago."
"What about...Wait a minute. Did you say three days?"
"Yep."
"Three days? I've been sleepin' for three *days*?"
"Off and on. This is the first time you've regained consciousness for so long.
You drifted in and out, mostly. Talked a little, but it wasn't anything we could make any
sense of."
"So what'd I say?" he asked, watching her dress his shoulder.
"Nothing much. Just gibberish."
"Hey, I do *not* gibbe-"
"Hold still. This is going to hurt." A hard tug at his shoulder exploded white
stars before his vision. He fell back against the head rest, panting heavily.
"Holy shit! You could have warned me!"
"I did."
"What the hell did I ever do to you?"
"The gauze was stuck to your skin with dry blood. What did you want me to
do-leave it there to rot?" she demanded testily.
"Well you didn't have to pull so damn hard!" he griped. His voice sounded
strained and weak even to his own ears. "I risked life and limb to save your ass from
White, and this is the thanks I get?"
"I know." she whispered.
"I mean, c'mon, Max, the least you could do is-" He paused, jaw unhinging.
"You know? What do you mean you know? You're not actually...agreeing with me, are
you?"
"I know you saved my ass. I probably wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for
you. Hell, not probably. I wouldn't be here." She raised her chin, and their gazes joined.
"Guess I owe you one now."
He blinked, surprised. "You...owe me one. Huh. Now there's a change."
Her fingers trailed the side of his head, sifting the fine hairs, tousled and matted
now with coagulated blood.
He swallowed hard. "What are you doing?"
"Checking your head."
"Oh." he replied, a bit thrown off at her closeness. She radiated warmth, and the
clean, enticing scent of lavender. His nostrils flared against this new, tantalizing invasion
of smell. "So, if I saved you, don't I get a prize or somethin'?"
"Sure-the prize of knowing that you've saved the world from being deprived of my
wonderful presence." Max responded lightly, full lips curving in a smirk.
He grinned, surprised at this decidedly Alec-like reply that had just slipped from
her lips. "Nah. I was thinkin' more like a...kiss or somethin'."
Max snorted, and drew back. "You wish. Just 'cause I'm pretending we're
together doesn't mean-" She snapped her mouth abruptly shut. *Oops.*
"What did you just say?" he asked, brow furrowing.
"Nothing. Just forget about it."
"No. You said somethin' about pretending we're together. What the hell did that
mean?"
"I said it was nothing. Forget it." Her eyes glittered darkly, and she jerked now
from his hand as it crept up her arm.
He clamped down hard with his fingers as she tried to rise, using the element of
surprise to yank her back to the bed.
"Hey!"
"What's this about us being together, Max? Because unless I missed something
important in the last few days, my understanding was that our relationship was at best a
typical case of domestic violence."
"Let go!" she hissed through her teeth.
"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on. Does this have somethin' to do
with the fact that Logan was trying to inject death rays into my head when I stopped by
his apartment the other day? Because he's had some sort of mental lapse and fallen
under the impression that we're a couple?"
"Fine. A few weeks ago, when you were arrested, and I busted you out, you spent
the night at my apartment, just to lay low while the cops looked for you."
He lifted both eyebrows. "Following you so far, Max."
"Logan saw you leaving the next morning, and automatically assumed that we..."
She trailed off, gesturing with her hands.
"Engaged in a night of wild sex?" he supplied helpfully.
Max scowled. "I suppose. Anyway, I went over to his apartment that night with
some information on White's breeding cult, thinking he wasn't there. He'd left the lights
out on purpose, so he could confront me. Wanted to know if we were together. And
I...didn't give him reason to think we weren't."
"So let me get this straight; you told Logan that we're a couple?" Confusion
thickly laced Alec's words.
"Not exactly. I just didn't deny it. Alec, please, don't say anything to him. I
can't be with him, not now." she pleaded, turning large doe eyes on him. "It's too
dangerous. But he'll convince me, somehow, that it's ok for us to be together. I needed
someway to push him away, and this was the easiest way. He'll leave me alone, get over
me and find someone else now. He'll give up if he thinks I belong to someone else. It's
the best way."
He dropped her arm, and reached to rub away the ache throbbing just behind his
eyes despite the fresh tears of pain this move brought to his eyes. "Always the bad guy
with you, huh, Max? Logan's too pure and good to steal another man's girl, but a jerk
like Alec wouldn't hesitate to do that. Am I right?"
"Don't get all damn self-righteous on me! You sleep with a different girl every
night, for God's sake." she snapped, the carmel pallor of her flesh brightening to scarlet
beneath this wave of anger.
He sighed heavily. Her eyes caught the slight cording of several muscles beneath
the firm flesh of his strong jaw. "Fine, Max. I'll protect your little secret. You do
realize this will ruin my reputation, though, right? Me turnin' a one-woman man."
"Look, your precious 'reputation' will be just fine. Just play along when Logan's
around, ok? Just do that for me. I think you owe me that much."
"Does this mean I get certain...privileges whenever Logan's around?" He
smirked.
"No! Just...act like you like me."
"Takes two to tango Max. Or whatever it is that Logan thinks we were doing in
your apartment. You're gonna' have to put some effort into this too, not just me. He's
not gonna' buy it if you're smackin' me around just like usual."
"Fine. So I'll pretend to like you. I should be able to manage that for..oh,
say...about five minutes before I start hypergagging." Max thrust both hands to her hips,
heat simmering within her gaze.
"You won't last two minutes without jumpin' me."
"I'm not *that* desperate to prove our...togetherness." The word rolled bitter on her
tongue.
"Well, you've already been goin' around sayin' we had sex." he pointed out,
grinning cheekily.
"I have *not*! It's not my fault if Logan assumed things."
"Yeah, but you didn't exactly help him *un*assume that we weren't getting down
and dirty."
"Get some sleep, asshole. I'll be back in a while with some food." she said,
terminating the conversation just like that, pivoting on a heel to reach for the doorknob.
"So, Max, any chance of bringing your lover's precious boob tube into his room?
The sex must have been incredible-though for some reason I don't remember it-and it
would go a long way toward persuadin' me to come back for seconds if you brought the
TV in here."
She slammed the door with a severity he felt in the very depths of his bones.
*Damn.*