Disclaimer: I have finally come to accept that I do not now, nor will I ever own Dark Angel…It took many lonely nights and several medications for withdrawal before I was able to do so. So please do not chide me for it.  I do own Justin, Dalianna, her family and all her X-siblings, but I'm more than willing to share.  If you'd like to use them, please just ask.  Thank you.

A/N: Sorry everyone, I've been neglecting my duties.  I have been so incredibly busy, that I lost my muse for awhile, it's taken a while, but I think she's slowly coming back.  Her ego's taken a huge bruise since no one reviews (hint, hint) I know you're all reading out there.  One word: Good, Bad…that's all it takes…

Chapter 13

On the Road Again

Dali was once again sitting at a table across from Dominic.  He sat smiling at her, as if he knew some secret that she wouldn't be permitted in on.  She smiled back at him, the mischievous grin on his face all too contagious.

"Are my dreams someplace that you like to randomly show up?" she asked, the smile never leaving her face.  He just shrugged.

"Are you coming to get me?" he asked.

The smile dropped from Dali's face.  "No, Shorty.  You have to stay with Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jack until it's safe."

"But it's not safe here," he whispered.

Dali knitted her eyebrows, not sure if she really wanted to ask her next question.

"How is it not safe?"

Dominic watched her with interest, and took note that though a year had passed, she still cared for him, maybe now more than ever.  So he didn't answer her question.  Split seconds later, Dali heard the familiar whirr that was a tranquilizer dart whizzing past her ear.  She whirled around.

"Idiots must not have spent a lot of time in marksmanship.  They missed me by a mile."  She turned to Dominic to tell him it was time to leave.  But instead of a smiling boy at the table, her younger brother laid out on the cold hard floor…no pulse…

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Dali awoke from her nightmare with a start.  She would have shot straight up in the air, had it not been for the weight of Alec's arm across hers.  Apparently, he'd fallen asleep on the couch too, probably not too keen on the idea of moving and waking Dali, even accidentally.  Her eyes sprang open, and her breath was shallow and raspy.  She noticed that beads of sweat rolled down her forehead at an alarming rate.  She lay still for a moment, contemplating on whether or not she should move and risk waking Alec.  He made the decision for her though, when she suddenly felt his arm moving.  She turned and looked up at him.

"You awake?" he asked her.  She nodded slowly, not sure if she'd be able to find her voice had she tried.  "What's wrong?" he asked, finally noticing that she was shaking.

"I have to find Max."

"Why? What happened?"  Dali didn't answer, but instead got up off the couch and headed for Logan's room.  I hope I'm not interrupting anything…

Minutes later, she stood outside Logan's door.  She knocked twice softly, but got no answer.  Putting her ear close to the door, she listened.  All she could hear was soft breathing, and two resting heartbeats.  They must be asleep.  The knob was cold on her hand as she slowly turned it to open the door.  She slipped into the room.  The first thing she noticed was the soft glow emanating from the small melting candles that were set all around the room.  The second thing she noticed was the warm smell of vanilla floating in the air…vanilla and cherries, mixed with something else she decided not to wonder about.  Both Max and Logan were deeply asleep on the bed in a tangle of sheets, limbs and rose petals.  Dali smiled and picked up one of the rose petals off the floor.  Justin had given her a rose once on Valentine's Day.  She pulled herself out of her thoughts, and walked over to the side of the bed.

"Max?" she whispered.  No answer.  "Max?"  She reached out to touch her shoulder.  Max's eyes flew open, and she snatched Dali's wrist in her hand and twisted it.  "Chill!  It's just me!"  It took Max a few seconds before she realized who it was.  She let go of the young girl's wrist, and pulled the sheets closer.

"Dali?! What are you doing here?" she hissed.  Having felt Max's head leave his shoulder, Logan shifted a little, slowly leaving his dreams behind for the real world.  He sat up.

"What? Who is it?" he mumbled incoherently.

"It's ok, Logan," Max told him. "Go back to sleep."  But instead, he opened his eyes fully, and looked up at their visitor.

"Hi Dali," he smiled sleepily.

"Hi Logan," she smiled back, "have fun last night?"  Logan looked away while his cheeks flushed red, as did Max's.

"Thanks Dali, Merry Christmas to you too."

"Dali, what could be so important that it couldn't wait until we were dressed?" Max asked.

"We have to leave Max, we have to go now." Max's expression clearly portrayed her confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"I have to go see my brother, something's wrong."

"What brother?"

"Dominic, remember?  He's in Michigan, we have to get him, he said it's not safe there."

"When did you talk to him?"

Dali hesitated.  "He was in my dream."

"Your dream?!  You woke me up so you can drag me halfway across the country for a dream?!"

"Please Max," she pleaded.  "Something's wrong.  I know it is."  The anger left Max's eyes, replaced by sympathy.

She sighed. "Ok, just give me a few minutes."  Dali nodded, and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.  Max sighed again, placing her palm against her forehead and falling back against the pillows.

"Are you really going to drive her all the way to Michigan for a dream?" Logan's voice broke her thoughts.  She opened her eyes.  She'd almost forgotten he was there.

"Logan, you saw the look on her face.  If she says something's wrong, something's wrong, and if it were one of my brothers or sisters, I can't say I wouldn't do the same.  I trust her, besides she's never been wrong before."

"Ok, but Michigan is so far from here…" his voice trailed off, as he reached over to run his thumb across her cheek.

"I know, but it's only 2,286.21 miles east of here give or take a mile, we should be back in a few days," she reassured him.  She found herself lost in his eyes.  The electric blue pulling her in like a magnetic beam.  Slowly, she leaned forward, her lips begging to touch his own.  A knock sounded on the door.

"Max! Come on! My clothes are going out of style!" came a familiar voice.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Max answered her, climbing out of bed, pulling on Logan's oversized t-shirt from the floor and making her way towards the bathroom.

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A knock resounded on the door as Dali was shoving clothes into a backpack.  Oh, who the hell is it?  "Come in!"

The door swung open and Alec strolled in, a cocky smile on his face, and closed the door behind him.

"So looks like Max and Logan finally did 'get hot and heavy'.  At least somebody's getting some action around here."

Dali rolled her eyes, but didn't answer, and instead zipped her bag shut and sat on the bed, staring out the window to the clouds above.  Alec sat next to her.

"Hey, you never did tell me what happened…" he trailed off, leaving room for her to answer, but she didn't.  "Look, I know something's wrong.  Maybe if you tell me, I can help you.  I can—"

Dali cut him off. "No, you can't Alec.  No one can.  Look at me.  I'm a freak."

"You're not a freak," he whispered.  He reached up and brushed a finger down her cheek.  She looked over into his eyes.  Seeing something there that she'd never seen before, and she really didn't know how to react.  The feeling flowed through her like electricity, and she lost herself in his eyes.  Before she knew what was happening, his lips were on hers, gently at first, lovingly.  Then more furious, as though all the time that had passed in anticipation for this moment needed to be made up for.  Her hands went to his face as his trailed down her back, sending a shiver through her spine.  Both of them were far too busy to see the figure standing in the doorway.

"You two going for the Longest Held Breath world record or something? Cuz you're almost there," Max said to them, one of her eyebrow's raised in surprise, looking down at her watch.  Dali and Alec pulled apart, each of them glaring at her with intensity.

"Thanks for showing up Max," Alec replied.

Dali stood.  "Can we go please?"  Without waiting for a response, she slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Whenever you and loverboy can pull yourselves apart," Max shrugged at her.  Dali turned back to Alec, and leaned down to give him a quick kiss.

"Hold that thought," she murmured afterwards.  "I'm going to get the kid, I'll be back in a few days.  Hold down the fort please."  With that she turned and left, not bothering to stop and answer Alec's "what kid?"

Max started her Ninja, and revved the engine as Dali climbed on behind her.  "Ok," Max sighed, "Destination?"

"Wacousta, Michigan.  It's just outside Lansing."

"Estimated time of arrival?"  Dali looked at her watch, surprised that it was only around 9am.

"7:06 pm tomorrow…if we don't stop too much."

"Ok, let's hit it."

Dali hung tight as Max's bike roared through the night and off towards Michigan.  Max took note that she was so distracted, she didn't even bother to ask if she could drive.

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Dali sat on the arm of the couch, drawn to the television, not hearing the young boy sneaking up behind her, until he had launched himself at her, and flattened her on the ground.  She struggled to get from under him, but he planted himself on her chest.

"Freeze scum!" he shouted, shoving a fake badge and toy gun  in front of her face. "See this? NYPD! That means I will Knock Your Punk-ass Down!"

Dali couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Ok, Shorty.  First of all, if mom hears you talking like that, your punk ass will be standing in the corner for two hours with a bar of soap in your mouth." She finally managed to push him off her to the floor.  Damn, he's strong for a five-year-old, she thought to herself.  "Second of all, the New York Police Department is in New York, we live in Wyoming.  How many times have I told you about watching that Men in Black without parental consent?"

Dominic looked up at her with a grin on his face.  "Mom did consent.  She just doesn't know it yet."  Dali raised an eyebrow at him, and his face sobered.  "You're not gonna tell are you?"

Dali smiled and knelt at his feet, holding out her palm until he matched hers with his tiny one.  "Angels in heaven, up above…"

"Are looking down on me with love," he smiled back, and threw his arms around his sister.  "We're always gonna be together right Doll?"

She smiled and hugged him back.  "You couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

A tear swept down Dali's cheek as she snapped out of the memory.  She held her breath to choke back a sob.  Max glanced back at her for a second before putting her eyes back on the road.

"Are you ok?" she shouted back to her.

"I'm fine," Dali replied after taking a deep breath.

Max's old Jam Pony pass got them through the sector checkpoints, and after awhile, they passed a big sign saying "Welcome to Idaho".

Dali looked at the candles on her birthday cake.  They had already been blown out.  Everyone had eaten and were just sitting around making conversation.  Dominic got up and whispered something to his mother, who nodded and went over to the radio.  Dominic approached Dali.

"Hey Dali, I got one more present for you."

"You do?" she asked, thoroughly surprised.  "What is it?"  He just smiled at her, and nodded to their mother.  She hit the button, and music filled the room.

Dali knitted her eyebrows. "We're going to play Name that Tune?  Wait, I know… 'Incomplete' by Sisquo."  Dominic only smiled at her again, and using the remote control as his mike, began to sing his own version.

Kept my secrets, took me to the park

Everything in this world a kid brother wants

Got a heart of gold bigger than I understand

Oh yes you do

Every time I let you down it never bothered you

You kept me safe from everything bad I could ever do

Gave me good advice on girls,

Gave me blue lollipops with colored swirls

Even though it seems I have everything,

I don't wanna be an only child

All the Nintendo games, all of the rollerblades,

All of the snow cones couldn't make me smile

I can make believe I have everything

But I can't pretend that I don't see

That without you Doll, my life is incomplete

Yeah, without you Doll….

Dominic walked over to her, and took one of her hands in his, swinging it back and forth.  A tear slid down her cheek, and he reached up to wipe it away.

You put up with my scams and scowls

If I could take it back then I would change it all right now

All I ever wanted was to see your happiness

Hope you have it right now

It's been nine years, hope that you will never leave

Cuz you're such a crucial part of our family

I love you, wipe your tears

Because I know you don't have no fears

Even though it seems I have everything,

I don't wanna be an only child

All the Nintendo games, all of the rollerblades,

All of the snow cones couldn't make me smile

I can make believe I have everything

But I can't pretend that I don't see

That without you Doll, my life is incomplete

Yeah, without you Doll….

I just can't stop thanking you

For everything you've done

Could you smile at me, cuz your smile is just

Like the sun…like the sun

Even though it seems I have everything,

I don't wanna be an only child

All the Nintendo games, all of the rollerblades,

All of the snow cones couldn't make me smile

I can make believe I have everything

But I can't pretend that I don't see

That without you Doll, my life is incomplete

Even though it seems I have everything,

I don't wanna be an only child

All the Mack Daddy clothes, all of the Timberlands,

All of the fake ice couldn't make me smile

I can make believe I have everything

But I can't pretend that I don't see

That without you Doll, my life is incomplete

Yeah, without you Doll….

My life, my life is incomplete,

Without you Doll, my life is incomplete

Dominic threw his arms around Dali.  "I love you Dali.  Happy Birthday."  She couldn't do anything, but cry…

Dali blinked her eyes to clear the memories…and the tears.  The ride continued on until nightfall.

"You wanna stop?" Max called back.

"Just for food," Dali shouted up to her.  "Neither of us needs sleep, and we can cover a lot more ground if we keep going."  Max nodded her approval, and they stopped at the next rest stop they saw, Julian's Diner.  When they entered, every head turned to look at them.  Most of the guys raised their eyebrows, or whistled, but the girls ignored them, and took a seat on the barstools at the counter.  They ordered dinner and sat eating in silence.  Then Max looked over at Dali.

"You've been pretty quiet the whole ride.  You wanna talk about it?"

Dali glanced over at her.  "No," she replied simply.

Max nodded and turned back to her dinner.  A man sauntered up to them.  "Hello ladies, the name's—"

"Not interested," Max and Dali replied at the same time.  He raised an eyebrow and walked away.  They stood, paid for the dinner and left.  Upon leaving, they found the man they had both rejected toying with Max's bike.

"See, I really didn't want to have to kick anybody's ass today, but I don't see how I can't."  She strolled over to him, took him by the back of his jacket, and slammed him into the stone wall side of the building.  "Get your own!" she growled into his face.  His eyes widened, and he took off when she released him.  They continued their journey.

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They didn't stop again, until they were in front of Dali's Aunt Brenda's house.  The house was small and white, but was covered in a layer of dust, as if someone had kicked dirt on it.  Dali remembered coming here when she was younger, riding the horses on the ranch.  Brenda and Jack had welcomed both kids into their home every time they came to visit.  A warm cookie, and a cup of lemonade, or hot chocolate was always waiting for them upon arrival.  It was only after Dali had told her Aunt Brenda that she was transgenic did she begin to sing a different tune.

Dali and Justin had only stopped to drop off Dominic, but when they did leave, Dali felt that Brenda was colder to her than she'd ever been.  She shrugged it off as nerves, and left never looking back.  Now, she hoped that it really had just been nerves and stress, and that Brenda was the same caring, loving woman she'd always been.  They strolled up the sidewalk to the front door, and Dali knocked twice.

"I'm coming!" a voice called from the inside.  The door swung open, and Brenda stood looking out at the two girls, the big smile that had been on her face melted.  "Yes?" she asked them calmly but coolly, "how can I help you?"

"Is Shorty here?" Dali asked expectantly.

"Who?"

"Dominic, is he here?"

"Oh.  Yes, of course he's here.  This is where you left him, isn't it?"

Max raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.  Dali sighed and closed her eyes.  "Can I see him please?"

"What for?  You dropped him off and left him here.  The boy was traumatized.  He lost his entire family in one day.  His parents' dead bodies riddled with bullets lying in the dining room floor.  Dead by your hand.  It was your fault that they were killed.  And what did you do?  You left him here, and went off gallivanting with that boy-toy of yours.  Where is he anyway?  Did he finally come to his senses and see that you were nothing but trouble?"

"Look I need to see him, I need to make sure he's ok."

"What?  Don't you trust me to take care of the boy?  If you didn't, then why did you bring him here?"

"Please? I just need to—"

"Get off my property before I call the police."

Dali grew angry at that.  "He's my brother!  I have a right to see him."

"He's not your brother!  You're not even human, just some mistake that the government cooked up in a laboratory!  You don't have any rightsI take care of him now, and if I ever see you anywhere around here again, I will call the police to come haul your alien behind to jail where all of you freaks belong!"

A tear slid down Dali's cheek, and it took Max holding her back to keep her from launching herself at the older woman.

"Aunt Brenda?" came a young voice from behind her.  "Who's at the door?"

"It's no one sweetie," she turned to face him blocking Dali from his view.  "Why don't you go ahead upstairs and wash up for dinner."

"Ok," Dominic replied.  His footsteps up the stairs could be heard through the doorway.

"Shorty?" Dali squeaked, too low for him to here her.

Brenda's head poked through the door as she began to close it, and she spoke through clenched teeth.  "I never want to see you around here again!"  With that, she slammed the door in the young girl's face.

"Damn," Max opened her mouth for the first time since the door had opened.  "I wouldn't want to be related to her."  Dali didn't say anything at first, wiping the tear from her face, she stood stonily, regarding everything that had just happened.  Then she glanced across the street at a small hill.

"Park the bike down the street," she said in a low voice.  "I've got an idea."

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Both girls lay flat on their stomachs at the top of the hill, in the soft cool snow that covered Michigan ground.  Dali had binoculars to her eyes, and was keeping a sharp eye on the house.  Max clutched her jacket to her sides.

"It's freezing out here!"

Dali looked over at her.  "That my dear is why they call it winter."  She resumed looking out the binoculars.

"How can you not be cold?"

"Mind over matter," she replied, never taking her eyes from the house.  "Keep your eye on the objective, ignore the environment."

"But we've been out here for almost 5 hours!"

"Polar bear in my cocktail."

"Oh, of course."  Max trained her eyes on the house, another realization hitting her.  "Uh, you do realize that you could see farther with your naked eye than those binoculars ever could."

"Yeah," Dali shrugged, "but they complete the ensemble."

"You're wearing jeans and leather."

"Exactly."  They watched in silence for a few more seconds.  "Bingo!" Dali called softly.  "She turned off the light in her bedroom.  The coast is clear.  Let's go."

Post: Hey guys, since I deprived you all for so long, I'm going to posting the next chapter again in just a few days.  That's right, I'm gonna work extra hard over the next couple days to get it out.  Keep that in mind…