TITLE: Coming Decisions – Chapter 13

WRITTEN BY: Heather Ferguson (fergus80)

EMAIL: hmfergie@charter.net

WEBSITE:  webpages. charter. net/ fergus80 (Jensen)

RATING: PG-13 (NC-17 where applicable will be separate)

SUMMARY: Set after Freak Nation. A miss understanding turns into some truth telling and decision making for our transgenic pair.

SPOILERS: Everything!

DISCLAIMER: All Dark Angel characters belong to James Cameron, FOX, etc. etc. etc.

FEEDBACK: Always makes me smile! :)

DEDICATION: To all the Nuns at the Church of Jensen, the Blue Lady, and of course Jensen!

RANT: Okay… I did the stupid thing and watched Freak Nation with the commentary. Can I actually say I'm HAPPY that DA was canceled? Seriously what Cameron and/or what the writers wanted to do…. UGH! So, with that annoyance in my head, I just had to correct a few things, or I couldn't live with myself, whatever this will be (obviously, writing this, before I write my fic) is the result of this huge annoyance. SO… let's see how it goes. ;)

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Alec laughed, "Okay Romeo. Who?" he asked indicating the crowd. Sketchy put a hand to his chin in thought as he looked over all the potential possibilities.

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She did a backwards dip, and Cindy helped pull her back to her feet. She gave a large smile to her friend and both continued moving to the music. OC then leaned in and thumbed in the direction of the phones. "I'm gonna call Sketchy. You good?"

Max nodded that she would be fine until OC returned, and turned and started to again move with the crowd. Bodies moving against each other on the tiny floor. She couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun, so much... freedom. She hated the fact that she was still hiding under the fake red hair and makeup. But at least she was out.
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"Man... I don't care. Take your pick... I'm seriously not picky."

He laughed at his friend as he looked out over the crowd. He didn't want to pick. Truthfully, 'working his magic' had lost it's appeal for many reasons. It was just too easy. That made him sigh again. What did he like about challenges so much? If the challenge wasn't there, would it be the same?

He shook his head to forget it, and keep with his earlier train of thought. But besides the easy factor... all the women out on that dance floor were human. Not that he really had anything against humans. Not that he couldn't fall in love with one. He swallowed hard at that, and pushed it away too. But he was right, what he had told Max, told Asha. The transgenics were a danger to them, and vice versa. Maybe one day it would be okay. But he knew that day was far, far off.

Then there were the other reasons as well. He sighed to himself again. He didn't want to just go and find someone. The someone he wanted was... He stopped again. *No use even going there.*

He stopped and turned to Sketchy when his friends phone rang. Alec could hear OC's voice coming through, but Sketchy was straining to hear her. "What?" He screamed into the phone, and then motioned 'one minute' to Alec and moved back towards the pool tables so that he could try and hear her.

Alec took another drink of his beer and turned back to the crowd. *Oh come on. Live a little! She is! And she isn't taking your advice.* Part of his mind told him. He straightened his shoulders, sat his mug on a table and headed out into the crowd, his eyes scanning all the ladies as he went, looking for... what? He wasn't sure, but maybe he would find it.
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She tried to hear him over the phone, "What do you mean you're already there?"

"Yeah, we're in." Came back the voice.

"We're? You and who?" Cindy yelled back.

"Wha? I can barely hear.."

She cut him off, "Where are you?"

"What?"

OC rolled her eyes, and screamed into the phone, "WHERE are YOU?"

"Pool..."

That was all she needed and hung up, and tried to navigate her way back to the pool tables.
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His mind kept dismissing them. Each one he turned to, he moved to the next. They were all the same. Well... not the same. They had different color eyes, hair, skin, and slightly different body types. It wasn't that he was looking for something... different. Just... well... *Different.* He laughed to himself at the thought. *Oh, like that makes sense.* But in a way, it made perfect sense.

Then he noticed it. The attention in the room was sort of being focused towards part of the dance floor. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. The turning of the heads of people to catch a glimpse, but act as if they didn't. The eyes of the males holding a lustful look, the eyes of the women were... well... mixed, but envy turned most of their eyes green.

He tried to see what or whom more than likely was getting everyone's attention. He caught a glimpse of auburn and then it was gone.

Alec moved through the crowd, lightly pushing away the feminine hands and bodies that came in contact with him. His eyes moved back up glimpsing tantalizing white strings dangling over caramel skin before another person moved in front of him.

He walked around the person and his eyes caught the hop and twist of long bare legs up to black leather. "Hey, handsome. Wanna dance?" came a voice in his ear before the girl popped into his sight.

Alec gave her a smile, "Sorry, I can't. I'm trying to..." He motioned at the crowd, "Get to someone." She gave a disappointed look and drifted off to the side.

He cut his way through the moving arms and legs, his eyes intent on the direction of his destination.

Red waves moved and swayed to the beat of the music before they fell out of view, only to spring back an instant later with long arms moving over her head and swinging with the rhythm.

He wished she would turn around. He wanted to see her face. But he was sure, from how other people were reacting to her, that wasn't a worry. But still a face to go with the body that was calling to him would be nice.

But it wasn't just her body. It was the way she moved. It wasn't that she was the best dancer he had seen. He had seen better... had better. It wasn't that she was graceful. She was no ballet dancer.

The moves seemed familiar. As if he should know them. Or... had used them? He shook his head, he didn't use those moves to dance. Something else then? But what? Another person quickly moved into view and he had to stop his hand from automatically jerking and taking out the possible threat.

Once again he politely moved out of the girls reach and offer. His brain clicking in gear. The moves were adapted forms of martial arts. His eyes danced and the corner of his mouth turned upwards at the idea.

Then there was also the attitude. Yes the girl had attitude. It seemed to bring him closer. But there was something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. But he would soon, very soon. As his body moved up behind hers, his mouth moving to her ear, his lips open ready to speak.
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"Why'd you hang up on me?" He asked as she came up and hit him on the shoulder. "Hey," he said rubbing his shoulder, "What was that for?"

"Fool. I was on a pay phone. I can't exactly bring it with me to find your ass."

Sketchy put away his cell phone, mumbling, "Well you didn't have to hit me."

OC rolled her eyes, "Men are such babies." She looked around the room, then back at him, "So... who is this we?"

"Huh? What?"

She shook her head, "WE? You said we got in. Are you having double personalities or is someone with you?"

"Oh yeah. Alec got me in."

Cindy did a double take. "Alec's here?"

Sketchy smiled and nodded. He then pointed out to the crowd, "Going to get us some Honeys."

OC looked out over everyone, "Oh crap."

"What?" he asked back clueless.

"Max has no idea he's here. Why did he come? She's under the impression that he hate's her."

"Why would he hate her?" Cindy rolled her eyes. She could name about a zillion hits, beatings, name-callings, and oh... the ever-present wish of death or dismemberment. Sketchy saw that, "Uhh yeah, right. Ummmm. Well..."

"Sketchy..."

"Uhhh."

"SKETCHY!"

"I uhhh, didn't tell him."

"You WHAT?" She looked back out at the dance floor for Max. "Oh Shit."
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He took a deep breath, as he was about to speak and stopped instantly. The words, the proposition about to come from his lips falling completely to the side as his hand took the girl by the arm spinning her around. "What are you doing here?"

Dark brown eyes widened. Full red painted lips parted in shock. It took her a minute to figure out the male presence that had approached her from behind was actually... "Alec?"

"Max... What are you doing here? Everyone know what you..."

She cut him off, not listening fully. "I can go where ever I want to."

He looked around, and saw the stares they were getting. He spoke up so everyone could hear, "Last time I let my girl out of my sight." He then pulled her quickly through the crowd back to the pool tables.

She struggled against his grip but walked with him. Her arm hitting his shoulder, "Let go of me." He turned once they got to a quieter area, and let her arm go. Her eyes were filled with fire as she looked back at him. "Why the HELL did you say that?"

He sighed, "We were creating a commotion. It was the first thing I could think of to explain our behavior."

"Great. Just great."

"Oh whatever Max. Like it matters."

She poked him in the chest. "It does matter. Now everyone here thinks I'm here with you."

"So?"

"Then the other guys won't dance with me or hit on me!"

He looked at her like she was insane. "You want them to? Why?" He looked around. "Where's Logan?" He gave her a strange look, "Wait... you two aren't..."

She stopped and sighed about ready to admit it when he continued.

"Freaky are you?"

"What?"

"Looking for a third?" Her eyes widened. "Wait… I get it… he gets turned on seeing you with someone else." He scanned the people again, "I have to give him props. He's hidden himself…"

"Ughhhh," she yelled pushing his shoulder back towards her. "Logan's NOT here. And… GROSS."

He was about to make a comment, but then his brain heard what she said. "Why isn't he here? You're here without him? Why?"

She groaned, "I do have friends that want to see me. This…" she said indicating the dance club, "isn't exactly Logan's thing…"

Alec laughed slightly. Wasn't that the truth? His eyes glanced around and saw OC and Sketchy trying to make their way over to them. He nodded, "Okay. I see. But Max… it's not safe for you to be…"

She rolled her eyes. "I've got the 'thing-a-ma-jig' for my temperature readings on."

"But someone could recognize you."

"Hence the wig and make-up." She titled her head sideways. "Besides how are they going to recognize me when you didn't."

"I did too!"

She shook her head at him and put her hand on her hip, "Not until you were right there, basically on top of me."

He wanted to object, he really did. But she was right. It wasn't until he had been close enough to her to catch her scent that he knew it was her. Now that he looked back on it, he should have known. All the signs pointed to her, which made him feel even more uncomfortable. And her next words didn't help matters.

Max looked at him, another realization coming to her. "As a matter of fact, you approached me as if you were…"

He stopped her, "Oh don't even give me that Max. Why were so shocked to see me when I turned you around then?"

She started to talk, but stopped. He was right. She had been shocked. She knew he was there. Well… not him exactly. But she knew that a male was approaching her, and she had let him. "I was distracted, dancing."

"Oh… great excuse Maxie. That just proves my point that it's not safe."

She threw her hands up in the air. "And why do you care?"

Was she serious? Did she really want him to list the reasons?

Max closed her eyes and waved her hand, "Nevermind. I know the answer. This whole familiar… comet thing."

"Well… yeah… but…" He didn't get to finish.

"There you two are!" Cindy yelled when she got to them. She slapped Sketchy upside the head, "Bonehead here forgot to mention that Alec was coming." She turned to Alec, "Hey sugar, how ya doing? I haven't seen you in ages." She said and reached out to him.

He gave her a quick hug back, "Okay. They've been keeping me busy at Terminal City."

She grinned at him knowingly, "They huh? Well you better tell your boss over there to give you a break now and then."

He laughed, "Yeah, I'll do that." Alec looked at everyone, and then turned back to OC. "Well, since you guys have all met up. And you weren't planning on me coming…"

"Awh man no." Sketchy said, "Don't go."

Alec shook his head and looked at Max. "I need to get back to Terminal City. I know they want me there. And what can I say," he said with a smile, "I like to be where I'm really wanted." He looked back at OC and Sketchy. "You guys have fun, and I'll see ya soon." He lightly hit Sketchy on the shoulder, turned, and headed towards the door.

"Hey… Man… stay…" Sketchy yelled after him, but Alec's back was already more than halfway to the door. He sighed and turned back to the girls. "What was THAT about?"

OC looked at Max crossing her arms. Max looked at the retreating form that back to Cindy, "What?" Cindy gave her a look. "What?"

"He still doesn't know."

"Know what?" Sketchy asked.

Max sighed, "I don't see what Logan and me breaking up has to do with him leaving like that?" Sketchy almost dropped his beer. "It was obvious… he was trying to tell me that people should be where they are wanted."

"Huh?" Sketchy asked, "and wait… you and Logan aren't?"

Cindy waved away his words, "He was not saying…"

"Yes he was. He was trying to get me out of Terminal City again."

"Boo… that is not…"

Max shook her head. "Hey, we're here to have some fun. Not to argue. She took one of OC's and one of Sketchy's hands and pulled them towards the dance floor. "Come on… let's dance!"

Her two friends allowed themselves to be pulled out onto the floor behind her. They looked at each other, both sighing, knowing that their two other friends had a long way to go to figuring each other out. Especially when they were both so much alike. So… so… stubborn.

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Chapter 14 Coming Soon! – Please Review!!!