Disclaimer: Still not mine, still wish it was.

A/N: Almost there, one chapter to go! As always, thanks to everyone that's read and reviewed, thanks to Aimee, thanks to Abregaza. You guys have been a great help.

Recovery

*** Logan's Penthouse, DAY ***

"You can't stay at the school," Zane informed his sister firmly, taking a seat beside her bed in Logan's guest room. She jerked her head up at his abrupt tone, defeat already present in her expression.

"He's gone." Kia argued weakly, with a sigh. It had been almost a week since Dr Carr had resuscitated Kia, and, while recovering, she'd been obeying every command that Zane had issued her with.

"Yeah, but how long until another opportunist decides to donate your body to science? You can't stay there." Kia nodded sadly, accepting his order. "Or here." He continued, anticipating her next question.

"You're separating us." She accused softly, tears welling in her eyes. Zane's expression softened.

"No. I'm relocating you. Both of you. I'm sorry about the school, Kia, but I don't see why the two of you can't stay together." With a high pitched cry, Kia threw her arms around Zane in relief.

"Be careful little sister. You're still healing." He laughed, gently pulling her arms from around his neck. "I'm in the process of getting something set up for you and Jai." Kia beamed at him from her bed.

"What about Brianna?" She asked, in almost a teasing tone.

"What about Brianna?" Zane replied hotly. Kia's expression fell, and became serious.

"She's not safe either." Kia pointed out, watching closely for his reaction.

"I know."

"They can use her to get to me." She told him urgently.

"I know." The CO replied firmly.

"What are you going to do?"

"It'll be her choice. It's either cut herself off from you completely, or cut herself off from everything else." Zane rose from his chair and moved to the window, staring into the city.

"Not much of a choice." Kia muttered. Zane kept staring.

"Still a choice," he replied without turning around.

"What about you?"

"Planting roots here. My location hasn't been compromised."

"I mean what about you and Brianna?" She clarified, frustrated, sure that he understood what she was trying to ask him.

"There is no me and Brianna." Zane replied flatly, still facing the window.

"Zane, I saw you two back at the school, you can't tell me that there's no you and Brianna." Kia insisted with a laugh. Zane turned to face her, cutting her laugh short.

"A lot has changed since then. She's made it very clear that I'm not welcome in her life."

"Why?"

"Maybe that's something you need to discuss with her." He avoided her gaze, trying to rid himself of Brianna's comments only days before.

"I don't understand." Kia's confused voice answered.

"It's something that involves you directly, Kia. I think you'd better discuss it with Brianna."

"What's this about, Zane? What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything." He answered quietly, moving away from the window and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Then what are you talking about?"

"Just talk to her, Kia." He hesitated. "If she'll listen."

"This is about Manticore, isn't it?" She asked in a small voice. Zane looked away, fixing his eyes on a point on the opposite wall. He looked back to her and tucked her hair behind her ear gently.

"Get some rest. You've had a big couple of days." Zane soothed, trying desperately not to notice the fresh tears in her eyes.

"Zane." He closed his eyes briefly.

"Yes?"

"Are we the bad guys?"

"Get some rest, little sister." He stroked her hair softly, and she closed her eyes, trapping tears between her eyelashes. Zane watched her until her breathing deepened, then, with a sigh, he left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Jai sat watching him, keeping close guard over Kia's room.

"She asleep?" Jai asked gruffly.

"Yeah." Zane sighed again, walking over to the sofa and flopping down onto it.

"How are you handling all this?" Jai asked with a frown.

"I feel like hitting something."

"Me too." Jai agreed, meeting Zane's eyes and issuing a silent challenge.

*** Jam Pony, DAY ***

"So Original Cindy's not about to be shot by a pissed off Manticore soldier?" Original Cindy asked with a smile. Max grinned back.

"Not this week. Just don't go hanging any underwear on my baby. Hate that." The pair laughed, catching the attention of Sketchy, who wandered closer, only to be distracted by a female customer entering the building. Original Cindy watched him, then glanced around to ensure their conversation remained private. She lowered her voice.

"Sounds pretty serious, boo. Sister almost dyin' an' all." Max nodded.

"Things were intense for a while." She sighed, recalling the events of the past few days and wondering, for what seemed like the hundredth time, where Zane was staying while Brianna was confined to his apartment.

"So now what?" Original Cindy asked, rolling her eyes at Normal, who was bipping at them from across the room.

"Now what?" Max repeated, following OC's gaze and smiling.

"How much longer are your new-found siblings planning on hanging in Seattle?"

"Kia and Jai head off this afternoon. Big secret location." Max grinned. "No black helicopters allowed."

"And their fine friend?"

"Brianna? Not sure. Haven't had an incredible amount of contact with that one." 

"Looks like you about to, boo." Original Cindy replied, nodding at the doorway.

*** Raymond's coffee house, DAY ***

"I have a thing about soldiers." Brianna said, moving the ridiculously overpriced cup of bad coffee around the table. "A thing." Max repeated, shifting her gaze from the cup to Brianna.

"My mother and sister were killed by soldiers." Brianna continued softly.

"Mine too." Max answered with less anger in her tone. "Well, I'm not certain about my mother. Probably. By now." The X5 lowered her eyes.

"There's a lot I don't know about your family." Brianna pushed at her cup again. 

"A lot of things I would rather forget about my family."

"I'm sorry about your brother." She said, her voice almost a whisper.

"Zane?"

"Your other brother. The one when you were young, with the endurance test. I'm sorry about Crux." Brianna took in a shaky breath, wondering if the X5 would mind the eavesdropping she had done whilst in the van days earlier. Max nodded slowly.

"Do you have any brothers?" Max asked softly. Brianna shook her head. "I used to have more brothers." The X5 smiled sadly. "Still have a few of them floating around."

"I'm sorry about some other things too." Brianna began. "I'm sorry I didn't take all of this very well. I wigged out. Some pretty big things to take in."

"I guess so. It's not everyday you hear of the existence of genetically engineered soldiers, then find out that your best friend is one of them. Not to mention her boyfriend. And yours."

"I was rude." Brianna, ignoring the reference to Zane as 'her boyfriend.'

"Yes." Agreed Max, hiding a smile.

"Sorry." Brianna smiled sheepishly. "If you like, you can beat me up. Though I have to warn you, Zane tried that a few weeks ago and didn't get very far."

"I heard about that." Max laughed. She looked over Brianna's shoulder, then back at her coffee. "I guess I understand." The X5 replied in a low voice. "It's not okay, but I understand. I think that's the best I can offer right now. You hurt him." She said softly. "And me. I'm not the sort of person that forgives quickly, not when it comes to my family. You hurt him, and that was bad enough. But when they tell Kia…" Max sighed. "When they tell Kia that her best friend doesn't want anything to do with her, it ain't gonna be pretty. But hey, you're trying. You've come here, bought me a cup of mud they have the audacity to call coffee, and you've apologised. It's a start." She grinned. "In a few months, I might actually like you." Brianna grinned back at her. "I'll take a raincheck on that ass kicking." Max finished. 

"There's something I wanted to tell you." Brianna said, almost shyly. "Actually, I wanted to tell Zane. But I don't think I'm up to that. See, we talked about people that did bad things. People that were bad by circumstance. And people that were just flat out evil." She looked down at her hands. "What I wanted to say was that although your history and your background shape who you are…" She trailed off at Max's expression, which was not positive. "See, I read this quote yesterday, and it seemed so right, I thought that…" she stammered. "Well…" Brianna looked up at the sky, as if it would help her to remember the words. "I memorised it, but I wrote it down, just in case." She scrambled around in her bag, finally pulling out a small piece of paper. She took a deep breath. "The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." Brianna quoted softly.

"Well said." Max gave her a smile. "I think there are a few other people I know that could do with those words." With a sigh, Brianna nodded.

"I know." She said. "I'm not looking forward to having those conversations."

*** Three days later ***

*** Zane's apartment, DAY ***

With a sigh, Zane pulled the door closed behind him and walked slowly and deliberately to the fridge, every muscle in his body aching. He allowed himself a grin as he wondered how Max must be feeling after the same sparring session.

Zane froze, milk carton to his lips, and tensed. The X5 sniffed the air for a moment and then finished his drink, not turning around.

"How long have you been here?" He asked his refrigerator in a steady voice.

"Not long." Brianna answered from across the room.

"Kia and Jai have already left." He said in a clear monotone, still not turning around.

"I know. I'm not here for them. I came here to talk to you." Zane finally turned, taking in the sight of her in front of him. She flinched, a reaction to the darkening bruises on his face that tomorrow would be but memories of yet another fight. She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, nodding to the overstuffed recliner. Zane raised an eyebrow, but decided to co-operate. He lowered himself into the chair and looked at her expectantly.

"You're angry." Brianna noted.

"Not really." Zane replied lightly.

"That's ok." She assured him, folding her hands in her lap again and again.

"Why thank you." He muttered sarcastically.

"I came here to talk to you." Brianna repeated. Her obvious discomfort made his heart ache, and he hated himself for treating her badly. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to rid himself of the comments she had hurled at him days earlier.

I don't want anything to do with you or your freak show family. As far as I'm concerned, you should never have existed.

My life was fine until you waltzed in and claimed my best friend as a member of your genetically superior army. I only hope you can leave as quickly as you came.

"Zane…" The sound of her voice saying his name made his heart melt, and he cleared the negative thoughts away.

"I'm listening." He said calmly.

"I've apologised to Kia and Jai. We talked for a while, sorted out truth from lies. I've decided to relocate with them. It's probably safer that way anyway." Zane nodded in agreement.

"See, after my, well, outburst, I really hated myself." Brianna began, absently picking at a loose cloth in the sofa. "I've always prided myself on being a really open and objective person." She looked down at her lap. "I never realised I was so shallow. I'm sorry." Zane heard her take a deep breath. "I knew Kia as a person for a really long time. She's a really great person. And then I met Jai, and he's great too. So I can't allow myself to get lost in surface details. Kia and Jai are my friends, no matter what species or whatever they are. I'm not deserting them for anyone or anything."

Zane dared to look hopeful that she was going to voice similar comments about their delicate new relationship.

"And then you came along." Brianna took another deep breath, thankful for his ongoing silence, but intimidated by it at the same time. "And you were really great too. You obviously cared a lot about Kia, and when you looked at me I felt really special. We shared a really incredible week while you waited for Kia to come back. It was fantastic." She paused, looking around the apartment for inspiration. "Anyway." She glanced at him for a moment, and then returned her gaze to the loose thread, which was now considerably longer. "I like you. I really do. I don't know what we had, but I think it could have been good." She swallowed. "But it has to end." She met his eyes sadly. "I can't get into this with you. I can't give myself to you when your entire life is built around keeping secrets and staying hidden. You're-" She swallowed again. "Things are about to get a whole lot more difficult for you. There's more exposure, and people will be hunting for you and your-" She stopped, not wanting to say 'your kind' "For your family. I'm not ready to be a part of that. I'm sorry."

"That's your reason?"

"Yes."

"I could protect you. Keep you safe." Zane countered desperately.

"You've got the rest of your family to worry about. Look. I just wanted you to know that I accept what you are and where you've come from. I just don't want to be a part of that world and the direction you're headed in." Brianna rationalised calmly.

"I'd never put you in danger."

"Not deliberately." He looked away, thinking of Kia and her disappearance. "Zane, it's not just that. Moving away from the Phoenix school was a really difficult decision. I have roots, I have friends and family, and I don't like to leave them. I can't relocate at the drop of a hat and I don't want to have to."

"I understand."

"I'm sorry." She said with her head down.

"I know." Zane heard her breath catch in her throat.

"We would've been great, wouldn't we?" She asked through tears. He smiled and wiped her tears away, drawing her into an embrace.

"We were."

He watched her leave, leaning in the door frame until she had disappeared down the staircase and he heard the door to the apartment block swing shut behind her. Finally turning, he headed back to the kitchen.

Zane looked up in surprise as the door swung open again to reveal Brianna standing there.

"Maybe stability and safety are overrated." She grinned. He crossed the room quickly and pulled her into a tight hug. She pulled away and slapped him as hard as she could. He jerked his head back in surprise.

"That's for lying to me." She grinned, and slapped him again. "And that's for not coming after me just now." Another slap. "And that's for not preventing that last slap when I knew you could." He grinned at her, which earned him another slap. "That one's for goodbye. I'm going to see how Kia has ruined our new apartment with her terrible sense of style. There's still time to fix it."

"You're not staying?" Zane asked incredulously.

"Nope."

"What happened to stability and safety being overrated?"

"Didn't say they weren't. Didn't say I was staying either. Night." Zane stood dazed, watching her retreat, in utter confusion. She rounded the corner of the stairs, and he jumped the rail and swung in just in front of her, landing neatly on the steps.

"Show off." She muttered, before being drawn into a kiss.

"See you soon." He whispered, and she pulled her hand back to slap him again, only to have her wrist captured by his own. She raised her eyebrows in approval, withdrew her hand and continued down the stairs, leaving the X5 alone, confused, and with a smile plastered all over his face.

"Soon." She repeated at the bottom of the staircase, sure he could hear her. Zane glanced over the railing and watched the door close, shaking his head in amazement.

"I will never understand her." He mumbled, climbing the stairs again and heading for his refrigerator.