Title: Harm's Way
Author: Bent137
Chapter: Four
Rating: R, Violence, Language.
Genre: Angst, Humor
Pairing: M/A Friendship with undertones, M/L angst
Summary: Max finds out how Seth came to die, and she's none too pleased.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything at all to do with Dark Angel, if I did it would still be on the air.
Author's Note: First, Thanks to Adrolien for taking a chance an unknown and new writer and betaing. This is a response to a challenge posted at NWP. It's the "After Seth" challenge posted by Vanessa_TaleWeaver, and includes spoilers for the entire run of the show and the first book "Before The Dawn." Um, and this chapter's title is really long...... like insanely long. But it was just too funny for me to pass up.
Challenge: Here are the parameters:

1) Can be set anytime season 2, after freak nation, or in an alternate universe.

2) Alec and Joshua must help Max work through the fall out. OC would be nice too, but that's not compulsory.

3) Sketchy must make an appearance, in which he shows he's not as dumb as he usually acts. (long or as short as you want.)

4) Max must confront Logan about not telling her about Seth, and they need to have a rip-roaring fight.

5) Someone needs to point out to Logan that the deal he made with Max was extremely heedless of her safety, given what happened to Seth.

6) Logan cannot be portrayed as stupid or maliciously selfish. Narrow-minded, blinkered, and not nearly as accepting of Max's special abilities as he pretends to be, sure!

7) One of Max's other siblings must be mentioned. Living or dead, real-time or flashback, mentioned in passing or full-blown guest appearance - anything goes.

8) Whether Max forgives Logan or gets together with Alec is up to you. BUT she cannot blame any part of this mess on Alec, and they must be friendly, at least, at the end. Hot love and steamy sex are always preferred, however.

9) Alec cannot be the one to tell Max about how Seth died. He can be the first to know, but he cannot be the one to actually tell her.

Chapter Four: Alec's Guide Of How To Get Information About Something You're Not Supposed To Know About.

The next day Alec idly wondered if Logan had contacted Max and come clean yet. Perhaps idly wasn't the word. It was in the forefront of his mind, right next to watching out for trouble and getting supplies for Mole. Three pressing matters on his mind, he shook his head. Well, maybe there was a way to kill two norms with one bullet. Figuratively speaking of course, he unfortunately already knew it could literally be done. Deciding on a course of action and noticing his target leaning against the lockers chatting with OC he ignored Normal's bip-bip-bipping and strode over.

"Hey Guys," he greeted.

"Hey boo," OC said with a nod.

"Hi Alec," Max acknowledged.

Alec looked at Max, "What are you doing tonight?"

"OC and I were going to hang out at Crash like normal, why?"

He glanced at OC, "Mind if I steal her for the night?" He glanced at Max, "That is if she's up for it."

"Up for what?" Max questioned.

Alec leaned closer, "Mole needs some supplies."

"What kind of supplies?"

"The miscellaneous kind, which includes medical. Half of it I can get during work today, but some of it's going to require a little B & E."

"So you want backup doing that tonight?"

"Yeah, shouldn't take long. I have the place picked, and I know the guard rotations by heart, it's in, out and on with life."

"Sounds like it could be fun," she glanced at Cindy who nodded. "Count me in."

"Great."

"I've got to go, Normal gave me this run for Sector 7 almost three minutes ago."

"Hey while you're in Sector 7 can you pick up some stuff."

"Sure, what and where?"

Alec pulled some papers out of his backpack and shuffled through them until he found one labeled "Sector 7" in his neat writing. "Here's a list and where to get them." He reached back into his bag and pulled out and envelope, he pulled out about four bills and handed them to Max.

"Okay," Max said taking the money. "See you later."

"Bye Max."

"Bye Boo," OC said as Max walked away. She turned to Alec, "So, about last night."

"What about last night?" Alec asked as he opened his locker.

"I know you went to Logan's and interrogated him."

"I did?"

"Don't play with me baby boo. Just tell OC what's what."

He sighed, "Look, I want to see how some things play out first. But I promise to tell you next Monday."

OC nodded, "A'ight, you get the weekend."

"Thanks OC." With things under control her headed towards the desk. Now he knew Logan hadn't contacted her yet, and if he contacted her wanting to talk tonight she'd have to tell Alec. Plus he was getting an extra hand getting the supplies, and that was always welcome. He accepted the package normal held out and pedaled out the door.

*

"Knock, knock," Alec said leaning against the doorway to Max's bedroom.

She looked up from where she was sitting at a little desk writing something, "Oh hey, I didn't know you were here already."

"OC let me in. Whatcha writing?"

"Oh," Max may have blushed, but he couldn't be sure, "nothing really."

Hmm. Sounded suspicious, but he could let that slide. "Okay, so are you ready?"

"Well assuming black is the proper attire for this, then yes."

"Actually I brought you an outfit, I just guessed at your size so I hope it fits." He tossed a bag to her.

She pulled the cloth out, "It's white."

"It's reversible." He flipped his collar to show her the inside of his. "We need the black side to sneak in and out, and the white side while we're in there. It'll lower the chances we're picked up on cameras."

She pulled a second article out of the bag, "What the hell?"

"Oh yeah, and it comes with a really cool reversible ski cap too."

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow then shrugged and headed for her bathroom, "Be right out."

To Be Continued...