DISCLAIMER: Dark Angel does not belong to me although I wish it did. It
belongs to Fox and Cameron and those other people up there.
AN: Please review. This chapter took me absolutely ages to write( I know every chapter takes me ages to write but you know what I mean). Helpful criticism or whatever it's called always helpful. Sorry about taking so long, every time I started my mind would go blank. So sorry, but thank you everyone who reviewed.
Before I forget, I have something you should know, it's confusing, but it'll be clearer later on in the fic, the bit where it says "one day earlier" in the AU, is actually 5 years earlier to the time where the three transgenics are now. This means that the AU is set just after the FN, while this place is 5 years after the seize is over. I know I should use dates but I've only just thought of this and I don't want to change the first chapter. Okay I've just re read what I've just written and it don't make much sense but hopefully it will make enough.
They sat silently, neither of the four wanting to start the conversation, Logan cleared his throat once in a while as if to start speaking before thinking better of it. It had been an hour since the three transgenics met; only the entrance of the bleary-eyed Logan brandishing an old hockey stick had managed to bring them out of their daze. His hair was ruffled from sleep and sticking up all over the place. Although comical as it was, only Alec found it amusing, it seemed that even here Max had no sense of humour, Maxes. Damn, this was confusing. He really needed to find a name for them, I suppose Max junior is out the question, Alec thought wryly.
"So. You're really Max," Logan asked, hesitating slightly, for the fifth time. It seemed he still thought that this was a dream, a hallucination of some sort.
"I guess. I don't think I've changed my name in the last ten minutes" Max laughed nervously.
"Sorry. This is just. Wow." Logan answered, smiling slightly.
"Yeah. So." Max began, not really intending to say any more.
"So." Logan answered before lapsing into silence.
Alec rolled his eyes at their short exchange, as if he didn't get enough of this at home, he could hear them now, be careful. Except this wasn't home and that certainly wasn't Logan, well the Logan he knew. What would Eyes Only think of his dear little Maxie making goo goo eyes at another man?
He knew he should say something, anything, it was his job. 'Course the pay was crap and the consequences were often painful than not, Alec thought wryly as he rubbed the back of his head unconsciously, but he was the Smart Alec. It was expected. Yet every time he tried, something would hold him back. Even Max and Logan's oh so profound exchange did nothing to help, every time he had a witty remark at the tip of his tongue, the look in her eyes would hold him back. There was something there he did not want to see. Not that her eyes weren't beautiful, they were. They were the exact replica of Max's, so of course they were. It was just that they held something of infinite sadness, a loss of something. The only time he'd ever seen that in those eyes, well, his Maxie's, was when she told him about Ben. Yet, even then, it wasn't as strong as it was here; at least those eyes had life. These just looked dead. He couldn't stand it; he had to say something, anything to get her out of those thoughts that haunted her.
Fortunately, Alec was saved the trouble. Max, who'd been sitting there quietly for quite some time, decided that she was bored. And not only that, she was confused and did she mention bored.
"As much as I'd love to sit here watching paint dry, I wanna know why I'm sitting here watching paint dry". Max stated as she sat arms crossed. Finally realising that no one had asked the important questions, it seemed even Manticore brains got distracted.
"What's the last thing you remember" Logan inquired, his mind already ticking over the facts as she relayed the events that had pulled her into this mess.
***
1 day earlier in AU
Space Needle
Max sat on the old building staring at the remains of the broken city. She knew she shouldn't be here, especially with everything that happened in Jam Pony and the on going seize in TC, but she needed to come here, if nothing but to think. Course she'd broken her own rule about leaving Terminal City, but rules were made to be broken and anyway she was leader therefore she had privileges. Yeah right, the only reason she could do this was that Logan had some vital information regarding the Familiars and more importantly White. Since she had sent him with Sketchy and OC out of TC, it meant she had to go to him. She would have used the video link except there had been some wiring problems in TC and it seemed important when he had called.
Sighing, she looked down at her watch and realised she was late. Logan would be worried sick at Joshua's old house. Crap, he's probably got the rest of TC in panic mode by now. Scrambling up from her perch on the Space needle, she headed off to Logan's as quickly and carefully as she could; the dome was slick from the evening rain and Max really did not want to dangle from the edge or worse fall to her death with no one to help her. In her mad dash, Max did not register the body in front of her until it was too late; her well-placed foot slipped beneath her as her lithe form crashed into the well-built frame of Alec. Instinctively she grabbed his arm with her left hand, while Alec had his arm under her waist to stop her from falling.
They stood there, like that, for a few seconds while Max tried to piece her head together. Blinking away the daze which had had fallen over her, Max tried to make sense of her present position. A pair of worried hazel eyes peered down at her as she looked up through the haze.
"Hey you okay down there...Max?" Alec asked his voice filled with worry; it was not like Max to stay still for so long, especially with him in close proximity.
"What...? "Her eyes widened as she looked into his eyes. For some reason she felt weak, as if her legs would give out beneath her if she tried to stand. Max figured it was because he had taken her by surprise and not because Alec was so close, she could feel his warm breath caress her face, causing tingles up and down her spine. And certainly not because his hand was touching a piece of her exposed skin, making her feel all warm and gooey inside. Gooey? Where the hell did that come from? Is it even a word?
Max stood up abruptly from her position as she realised where her thoughts were leading to, causing Alec to step back to avoid her head banging into his, but having to keep hold of her in case she fell again.
"Get your freakin' hands off me!" Max spat out as she tore herself away from him, disgusted with herself for thinking about Alec in that context. A flicker of hurt crossed Alec's face but a mask of indifference quickly replaced it as he put his hands up in surrender.
"Hello to see you too" Alec replied sarcastically, taking a step back in case she decided to return to her normally violent self.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" Max asked, as she stared him in her classic hand on hip pose, after finally realising that his presence here meant that he had broken TC's rules.
"I thought I'd come here to watch the sunset, I hear it's beautiful this time of year" Alec stated sarcastically.
"Alec the sun set hours ago and unless you're planning to pitch camp here and wait for tomorrow, I suggest you tell me the real reason".
"Sunset, sunrise. Same thing" Alec shrugged, putting his cold hands into his jean pockets and looked past her towards the city.
Max rolled her eyes at him. Typical. It's too much to expect a straight answer from him. Turning her back towards him she, she stood watching the city as it slept through the darkness of the night. They stood there for a few minutes. Both so lost in their own that they almost forgot of the others presence.
"Uh Max. Don't you have somewhere to be like.? Oh an hour ago? Alec asked as he looked at his watch.
"Oh shit! Logan" Max couldn't believe she forgot about him again. She'd been doing that a lot lately. Max was just about to barrel past him when his next words stopped her in her tracks.
"Yeah Logan. The man you're supposedly in love with" Alec said sarcastically as he continued to stare at the city.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Max stopped in her tracks as she rounded on him. Her eyes glowed dangerously as she stared at him. How dare he question her feelings for Logan? Especially when I'm having doubts. Max closed her for a few seconds while taking a deep breath. She then stared calculatingly at Alec, as she waited for his reply.
"Nothing" Alec replied not bothering to look at her.
"It's not 'nothing'. You wouldn't have said it if it was 'nothing'" Max ground out between clenched teeth.
"Max why'd you lie to Logan? I thought after the hand holding fest you'd have ran back to him with open arms. Metaphorically speaking of course." Alec tilted his head towards her, his eyes holding something Max couldn't place. Was that bitterness in his voice?
"Alec.I don't know what you mean" Max looked away from him, her hair shielding her face away from his probing gaze.
"Max, why did Logan call me at least 10 times in the last hour asking for you? I mean it's not like I'm your keeper or anything. Why should I know where you are?"
"Alec I ." Max tried to explain but she did not know what to say. Therefore, she did the only thing she could think of.
"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you question my intentions? I did what I had to, to keep Logan safe. I had no other choice, it's not like I want to."
"Fine, you know what fine. Do what you want! But it better not interfere with my." Alec began, but Max interrupted him.
"Bimbo laying. Don't worry pretty boy it won't 'interfere'" Max rolled her eyes at him, but could not help from smiling at his easy acceptance. "Jus' don't you know, with Logan".
"I know the drill. Speakin' of Logan aren't you meant to be meeting him?" Alec stated, amused that she'd forgotten him again so quickly.
Max groaned inwardly. Shit! He's gonna kill me. She tried to walk as nonchalantly as possible, but failed miserably as she realised he knew that she had forgotten Logan, while he hadn't.
"You coming with?" Max asked, expecting him to refuse now that his job had been done. However, deep down hoping that he would tag along, if only to look convincing for Logan.
"You have to ask?" Alec smirked following her lead. Max however stopped walking and tilted her head towards him with a smile.
"What about your sunset? I hear it's beautiful this time of year." Max asked.
"Sunrise don't you mean Maxie."
"Whatever" She rolled her eyes at him. Always the smart ass.
"Eh. You seen one you seen'em all." Alec shrugged nonchalantly.
Max shook her head at his answer and continued walking down the Space Needle with Alec close behind.
Once outside of the Space Needle, Max walked to where she had hidden her black Ninja motorcycle, while Alec went across the street to his. By the time Max had started her bike, Alec was already waiting for her. A smug smile graced his lips as he watched her.
"Slow poke" was all he said.
"We'll see" was her answer before she gunned her bike and roared off down the street, leaving only a cloud of smoke in her wake. Alec waited for all about two seconds before chasing after her. A feral smile touching his lips. Well what d'ya know. It's a good ol' fashioned road race.
AN: Okay I've finished, but this is only half of chapter 2 as I wanted to have all of the story leading up to the meeting of the three transgenics all in one chapter, but I was taking too long. So I've decided to post this part.
Please R+R
AN: Please review. This chapter took me absolutely ages to write( I know every chapter takes me ages to write but you know what I mean). Helpful criticism or whatever it's called always helpful. Sorry about taking so long, every time I started my mind would go blank. So sorry, but thank you everyone who reviewed.
Before I forget, I have something you should know, it's confusing, but it'll be clearer later on in the fic, the bit where it says "one day earlier" in the AU, is actually 5 years earlier to the time where the three transgenics are now. This means that the AU is set just after the FN, while this place is 5 years after the seize is over. I know I should use dates but I've only just thought of this and I don't want to change the first chapter. Okay I've just re read what I've just written and it don't make much sense but hopefully it will make enough.
They sat silently, neither of the four wanting to start the conversation, Logan cleared his throat once in a while as if to start speaking before thinking better of it. It had been an hour since the three transgenics met; only the entrance of the bleary-eyed Logan brandishing an old hockey stick had managed to bring them out of their daze. His hair was ruffled from sleep and sticking up all over the place. Although comical as it was, only Alec found it amusing, it seemed that even here Max had no sense of humour, Maxes. Damn, this was confusing. He really needed to find a name for them, I suppose Max junior is out the question, Alec thought wryly.
"So. You're really Max," Logan asked, hesitating slightly, for the fifth time. It seemed he still thought that this was a dream, a hallucination of some sort.
"I guess. I don't think I've changed my name in the last ten minutes" Max laughed nervously.
"Sorry. This is just. Wow." Logan answered, smiling slightly.
"Yeah. So." Max began, not really intending to say any more.
"So." Logan answered before lapsing into silence.
Alec rolled his eyes at their short exchange, as if he didn't get enough of this at home, he could hear them now, be careful. Except this wasn't home and that certainly wasn't Logan, well the Logan he knew. What would Eyes Only think of his dear little Maxie making goo goo eyes at another man?
He knew he should say something, anything, it was his job. 'Course the pay was crap and the consequences were often painful than not, Alec thought wryly as he rubbed the back of his head unconsciously, but he was the Smart Alec. It was expected. Yet every time he tried, something would hold him back. Even Max and Logan's oh so profound exchange did nothing to help, every time he had a witty remark at the tip of his tongue, the look in her eyes would hold him back. There was something there he did not want to see. Not that her eyes weren't beautiful, they were. They were the exact replica of Max's, so of course they were. It was just that they held something of infinite sadness, a loss of something. The only time he'd ever seen that in those eyes, well, his Maxie's, was when she told him about Ben. Yet, even then, it wasn't as strong as it was here; at least those eyes had life. These just looked dead. He couldn't stand it; he had to say something, anything to get her out of those thoughts that haunted her.
Fortunately, Alec was saved the trouble. Max, who'd been sitting there quietly for quite some time, decided that she was bored. And not only that, she was confused and did she mention bored.
"As much as I'd love to sit here watching paint dry, I wanna know why I'm sitting here watching paint dry". Max stated as she sat arms crossed. Finally realising that no one had asked the important questions, it seemed even Manticore brains got distracted.
"What's the last thing you remember" Logan inquired, his mind already ticking over the facts as she relayed the events that had pulled her into this mess.
***
1 day earlier in AU
Space Needle
Max sat on the old building staring at the remains of the broken city. She knew she shouldn't be here, especially with everything that happened in Jam Pony and the on going seize in TC, but she needed to come here, if nothing but to think. Course she'd broken her own rule about leaving Terminal City, but rules were made to be broken and anyway she was leader therefore she had privileges. Yeah right, the only reason she could do this was that Logan had some vital information regarding the Familiars and more importantly White. Since she had sent him with Sketchy and OC out of TC, it meant she had to go to him. She would have used the video link except there had been some wiring problems in TC and it seemed important when he had called.
Sighing, she looked down at her watch and realised she was late. Logan would be worried sick at Joshua's old house. Crap, he's probably got the rest of TC in panic mode by now. Scrambling up from her perch on the Space needle, she headed off to Logan's as quickly and carefully as she could; the dome was slick from the evening rain and Max really did not want to dangle from the edge or worse fall to her death with no one to help her. In her mad dash, Max did not register the body in front of her until it was too late; her well-placed foot slipped beneath her as her lithe form crashed into the well-built frame of Alec. Instinctively she grabbed his arm with her left hand, while Alec had his arm under her waist to stop her from falling.
They stood there, like that, for a few seconds while Max tried to piece her head together. Blinking away the daze which had had fallen over her, Max tried to make sense of her present position. A pair of worried hazel eyes peered down at her as she looked up through the haze.
"Hey you okay down there...Max?" Alec asked his voice filled with worry; it was not like Max to stay still for so long, especially with him in close proximity.
"What...? "Her eyes widened as she looked into his eyes. For some reason she felt weak, as if her legs would give out beneath her if she tried to stand. Max figured it was because he had taken her by surprise and not because Alec was so close, she could feel his warm breath caress her face, causing tingles up and down her spine. And certainly not because his hand was touching a piece of her exposed skin, making her feel all warm and gooey inside. Gooey? Where the hell did that come from? Is it even a word?
Max stood up abruptly from her position as she realised where her thoughts were leading to, causing Alec to step back to avoid her head banging into his, but having to keep hold of her in case she fell again.
"Get your freakin' hands off me!" Max spat out as she tore herself away from him, disgusted with herself for thinking about Alec in that context. A flicker of hurt crossed Alec's face but a mask of indifference quickly replaced it as he put his hands up in surrender.
"Hello to see you too" Alec replied sarcastically, taking a step back in case she decided to return to her normally violent self.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" Max asked, as she stared him in her classic hand on hip pose, after finally realising that his presence here meant that he had broken TC's rules.
"I thought I'd come here to watch the sunset, I hear it's beautiful this time of year" Alec stated sarcastically.
"Alec the sun set hours ago and unless you're planning to pitch camp here and wait for tomorrow, I suggest you tell me the real reason".
"Sunset, sunrise. Same thing" Alec shrugged, putting his cold hands into his jean pockets and looked past her towards the city.
Max rolled her eyes at him. Typical. It's too much to expect a straight answer from him. Turning her back towards him she, she stood watching the city as it slept through the darkness of the night. They stood there for a few minutes. Both so lost in their own that they almost forgot of the others presence.
"Uh Max. Don't you have somewhere to be like.? Oh an hour ago? Alec asked as he looked at his watch.
"Oh shit! Logan" Max couldn't believe she forgot about him again. She'd been doing that a lot lately. Max was just about to barrel past him when his next words stopped her in her tracks.
"Yeah Logan. The man you're supposedly in love with" Alec said sarcastically as he continued to stare at the city.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Max stopped in her tracks as she rounded on him. Her eyes glowed dangerously as she stared at him. How dare he question her feelings for Logan? Especially when I'm having doubts. Max closed her for a few seconds while taking a deep breath. She then stared calculatingly at Alec, as she waited for his reply.
"Nothing" Alec replied not bothering to look at her.
"It's not 'nothing'. You wouldn't have said it if it was 'nothing'" Max ground out between clenched teeth.
"Max why'd you lie to Logan? I thought after the hand holding fest you'd have ran back to him with open arms. Metaphorically speaking of course." Alec tilted his head towards her, his eyes holding something Max couldn't place. Was that bitterness in his voice?
"Alec.I don't know what you mean" Max looked away from him, her hair shielding her face away from his probing gaze.
"Max, why did Logan call me at least 10 times in the last hour asking for you? I mean it's not like I'm your keeper or anything. Why should I know where you are?"
"Alec I ." Max tried to explain but she did not know what to say. Therefore, she did the only thing she could think of.
"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you question my intentions? I did what I had to, to keep Logan safe. I had no other choice, it's not like I want to."
"Fine, you know what fine. Do what you want! But it better not interfere with my." Alec began, but Max interrupted him.
"Bimbo laying. Don't worry pretty boy it won't 'interfere'" Max rolled her eyes at him, but could not help from smiling at his easy acceptance. "Jus' don't you know, with Logan".
"I know the drill. Speakin' of Logan aren't you meant to be meeting him?" Alec stated, amused that she'd forgotten him again so quickly.
Max groaned inwardly. Shit! He's gonna kill me. She tried to walk as nonchalantly as possible, but failed miserably as she realised he knew that she had forgotten Logan, while he hadn't.
"You coming with?" Max asked, expecting him to refuse now that his job had been done. However, deep down hoping that he would tag along, if only to look convincing for Logan.
"You have to ask?" Alec smirked following her lead. Max however stopped walking and tilted her head towards him with a smile.
"What about your sunset? I hear it's beautiful this time of year." Max asked.
"Sunrise don't you mean Maxie."
"Whatever" She rolled her eyes at him. Always the smart ass.
"Eh. You seen one you seen'em all." Alec shrugged nonchalantly.
Max shook her head at his answer and continued walking down the Space Needle with Alec close behind.
Once outside of the Space Needle, Max walked to where she had hidden her black Ninja motorcycle, while Alec went across the street to his. By the time Max had started her bike, Alec was already waiting for her. A smug smile graced his lips as he watched her.
"Slow poke" was all he said.
"We'll see" was her answer before she gunned her bike and roared off down the street, leaving only a cloud of smoke in her wake. Alec waited for all about two seconds before chasing after her. A feral smile touching his lips. Well what d'ya know. It's a good ol' fashioned road race.
AN: Okay I've finished, but this is only half of chapter 2 as I wanted to have all of the story leading up to the meeting of the three transgenics all in one chapter, but I was taking too long. So I've decided to post this part.
Please R+R