A/N sorry about the lack of update. I was trying to write this and three other fic at the same time, plus amending Moving Ahead and adding to Moving alongside and doing that work thing…. You know how it is. BTW tjis is not the end- repeat for those hard of hearing- this is NOT THE END. Max has issues, White is alive and Alec still has all of his clothes on…not quite sure how that happened.

19

The raven haired genetically engineered killing machine known as 452 held the gun in front of her like she had been born with it in her hands, which to be fair she nearly had.

She had woken up in a strange place and ran through an entire systems check. She was intact and in good fighting condition, if a little weak from misuse. But she was better than she had been before… before what? She ran through her memory banks.

They were blank so…

Before whatever. It wasn't important right now, what was important was that she get away from hostile territory.

From far away she had heard the sound of someone talking to her and the names flew by- Joshua, Cindy and Missy- some she recognised and her body kicked caution down a notch. She opened her eyes and saw a long haired man with canine features staring at her.

"Little fella!" he enthused and wrapped himself around her. "You're awake! Rain right and no more coma. Joshua missed you, painted you lots Max." he began to babble and she was able to put a name to the familiar face.

"Joshua?" Her voice was scratchy and made her throat hurt.

"Yes yes!" he nodded furiously and stood up walking around in circles like a dog chasing its tail not sure who to get first.

"Alec or Gem?" he panicked "Doctor?" he glanced down at her.

"Who do I get?"

"Doc is fine." She smiled, he obviously trusted her judgement and he raced off.

Something was knocking at her brain to try to get out. This Joshua guy was familiar and she didn't feel like she was in any danger from him but she had to be on her guard. Slipping out of bed she grimaced at her hospital gown and searched for clothes but there were none nearby. She would have to procure some before leaving.

She opened the cupboard next to the bed searching for some clothes but found something better. A gun.

She checked the weapon and found it fully loaded and a smile graced her features. 452 was armed and had a mission to complete.

She heard some footsteps coming down the hall and she knew that they weren't Joshua's.

She slid behind the door and held her breath.

In waltzed a figure hunched in a leather jacket and jeans that had seen better days. His hair was long, brushing over the collar of his jacket and curling around his ears. He looked familiar from the back but she couldn't be sure it was a friend until he turned around.

He stopped dead when he saw the bed empty and spun around to face her. His jaw dropped as he stared down the barrel of the gun.

"Max?"

Her jaw tightened as she looked into his face,

"Who the hell are you?"

Alec thought he had covered all the scenarios surrounding her rehabilitation but he had to admit that this one had passed him by.

"It's me Alec. Max it's me."

"State your designation." He started at her order.

"I'm Alec." He paused "494?"

She nodded "My designation is 452." She stated but even to her she sounded doubtful.

"Max." he corrected and held up his hands in surrender as she raised the gun again.

"What?" she frowned, "Hands up!"

"Your name is Max, not 452." He raised his hands slightly and watched her as the names resounded in the air.

"Not an appropriate designation. I am 452." She had a sudden flash of a small boy telling her that she was called Max.

"No you're Max." the man in front of her stated firmly and she inclined her head and blinked slowly.

"I'm… Max?" it was coming back to her; Manticore, Lydecker, Jondy, Tinga, Jack, Eva, The blue Lady, Ben, Zack, Ash, Syl, Krit, Zane, Seth, Training, Escape, Cold, Lucy, Moody.

The images came faster; Jam Pony, Logan, Ben dying in her arms, Zack shot in the head, Original Cindy, Sketchy, Herbal, Normal, White, Familiars.

The images began to blur together as she remembered more of her life; Alec, Joshua, Mole, Terminal City, Freak Nation, a flag, Dix, Luke, being caught by White, torture, more torture and a picture of him before escape and flight. There was pain, so much pain that it pressed on her chest making it hard for her to breathe and Max was pushed to the surface.

 "Alec is dead." She gritted her teeth and pointed the gun at him

"Who the hell are you?" a single tear slipped past her defences.

"I'm Alec, Max I'm not dead."

"White cleared out Terminal City and shot Alec. I saw a picture."

"He lied." Alec said spreading his arms wide, his eyes on the gun that was trained at his chest. He had never seen Max even touch a gun before and the sight was unnerving for him. "I'm alive and I can prove it."

"How?"

"My designations 494, you can see my barcode." He turned slowly and lifted up his hair.

"Lasers." She spat out a possibility for him having that barcode.

He nodded "Okay that is a possibility," he searched for inspiration "We were breeding partners at Manticore."

"In my files."

"I said we had copulated twice."

"Also in my files."

"It is?" he was piqued "Really. Huh." He thought again "Baseball we both went for the same baseball to fence when I screwed up you and Logan. We fought in the air."

"Camera footage."

"Like hell, I never got caught. I'm a pro Maxie."

Her breath caught as something clicked "Maxie?"

That was his inspiration "Yeah. I call you Maxie, Original Cindy calls me baby boo and you call me pretty boy but you gave me my real name because I was such a smart Alec. You're second choice was Dick. We worked at Jam Pony together under Normal. He had a thing for me and called me his golden boy, he had weird Gladiator dreams and I have to be Alec because no way have I told anyone else about that." he looked into her tear filled eyes "Come on Maxie it's me."

"Alec?" the gun drooped "You're all right?"

He gave her his usual charming smile "I'm always all right."  

The familiar phrase seemed to be all the proof that she needed and with a strangled sob Max launched herself at him and he suddenly found his dreams come true as his arms were filled with Max.

"Shh hey Maxie I'm okay." He stroked her hair as she sobbed into his chest. "You're safe now."

She pulled back and his heart nearly broke at the sight of tears racing down her cheeks.

"Max?"

But she didn't say a word as she moved in quickly and pressed her lips to his.

To Alec it was like all his birthdays had come at once. Max was alive, Max was awake and Max was here in his arms kissing him. Oh and she wasn't pointing a gun at him anymore- bonus. 

She was soft and warm and pliant as he angled his head in closer for a deeper kiss and tasted her.

It was all he had ever dreamed, honey and vanilla and pure unadulterated Max. He was in heaven and he never wanted it to end.

She removed her mouth and was suddenly a few steps back, blushing wildly.

"Sorry." She brushed her hair away from her face in an embarrassed gesture.

"N-no problem." He managed "Get it all the time." He grinned "Damn it's good to see you Max."

"You too." She nodded and hugged her arms around herself, one still holding onto the gun.

He pulled off his leather jacket and offered it to her "You look cold."

"I need my clothes."

"Yeah sure I'll go get you some." But now she was up and about he made no move to leave her.

They both heard footsteps in the hallways and Alec moved to open the door as Gem and Joshua rushed in.

"Alec!" Joshua gabbled "Little fella awake."

"Yeah I know!" Alec gave him a one armed hug "Ain't it great?"

Joshua's mouth opened in a wide hearty roar and Max winced.

"Hey Max, you had us worried there for a while." Gem said as she smiled at the woman.

"Sorry." Max's voice was distant as she looked over the woman's lab coat. She had a brief flash of another lab coat, another white set of pristine clothes and felt herself shudder.

"We need to check you out and make sure you're okay." Gem nodded at her reassuringly "Lets get you back to the bed."

"I'm fine, I just need some clothes." Max maintained.

Alec touched her shoulder "You let Gem check you out and me and Josh will go grab you some threads okay?"

She nodded hesitantly and he patted her slightly as he walked away.

Gem sat her down on the bed and felt her forehead

"You're still running a bit of a fever but that's to be expected after what you pulled off young lady." She smiled down at Max "We are all so pleased to see you pull out of this."

"Huh." She murmured noncommittally still wary.

"How are you feeling? Dizziness, nausea?"

Max shook her head "I'm all right."

"Well I want to take some blood work just to be sure." Gem picked up a syringe from the table behind her and turned to Max.

Max's hand shot out and gripped Gem's fragile wrist in an iron grip.

Lab coat + syringe = pain. No more. Fight.

"I said I was fine." Her tone was slow and dangerous and Gem felt a shudder of fear pass through her as she stared into the cold eyes of her friend.

"I-I j-just want to make sure."

"Well I'm sure we can do that without the blood work right?" Max smiled and the hardness left her eyes as Gem put down the syringe.

"S-sure." Gem stammered.

"In fact, how about I come back later and we can do all that talking and stuff then okay, I gotta shower." Max jumped off the bed and headed for the division where the water mains were hooked up.

Gem watched her as she walked around and gingerly rubbed her bruised wrist.

The whole of Terminal City, it seemed, had gathered in command to wait the arrival of their leader- newly returned from the dead.

The cheer that went up when Max walked into the warehouse could have deafened cops on the other side of Seattle.

Max grinned at the enthusiastic welcome of her team mates. 

"Hey ya'll how's it going?"

Dix shook her hand and Luke was unabashedly crying with delight. Joshua wouldn't leave her side and Mole even put down his cigar to give her a one armed hug.

"See the place didn't fall apart without me." She teased as she was welcomed by everyone.

"Nah the boy you left in charge did his job." Mole pointed a thumb up to where Alec was standing on the balcony looking at her.

"Great." She passed by the guys and walked up the stairs.

Alec knew the second she had walked into the room; he was that in tune with her now. Her black jeans tight and a form fitting black t-shirt were framed by long dark hair and her black leather jacket. Her boots and fingerless gloves completed the ensemble and made her look every inch the bad ass, bitch, dangerous, rebel that she was.

"Hey you." She smiled at him and he grinned back slinging his arm around her shoulders.

He said what he had wanted to say since she woke up.

"Honey you're home."

Max allowed herself a small satisfied smile.

"Yes I am."

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ganko- no hate mail please!! I enjoy being evil but hey- M/A goodies here!

A reader- well even though you didn't know what to say- thanks for saying it. J

Wendy10- Glad you do. what'dya think?

Dokuskoka- 452 made a ig play here and I am glad that you are still enjoying this story. I would have updated last week but ff.net is playing up.

Jade-K- LOL, general consensus being that I am evil? Hmm I like it! I'd hug Alec too! And Zero and Ralph are really mini Max and Alec aren't they?!

Martha- Josh was watching Max- see this chapter. I tried to update but ff.net was having none of it! Oh well, glad its still being enjoyed.

Raven- I know- well had to make sure you'd come back and read it! I have no idea what is going on in my head- please don't ask me!

Jemma452- Thank you very much, its great that you feel I write that well so that you can actually see the characters in your head. Many cheers pet.

m/a fan- see not too angsty- big old reunion.

Acb-Didn't mean to make you wait this long- honest! Forgive me?

Elf16- I know but being a bitch is not just a right, it's a privilege. Anyhow pick up that popcorn and enjoy the malecy goodness. No log in sight – again!!!

Bittersweet bitch- Whipped! Puppy eyes and Alec'y whining voice? Damn I'm outclassed! Here ya go.

SGOU- wondering what your name means actually. Yes Max has to let go of the no gun thing, some will like it some won't as you shall see- poor Luke! And for goodness sake don't hold your breath! What will you do if ff.net shuts down for a week?! My sister isn't submitting yet but when she does L

Ting- Um would you kill Alec? I wouldn't!

Grumpy2348- spinning away here!

Given Alias- I like being an evil wench! But as it is a need I will endeavour to update faster!

Cloudburst- bows I was actually called the queen of Cliffhangers by my Spike/Willow fans. I had to uphold the title- you guys were getting off way too easy! Maybe its my way of complaining that there aren't enough m/a fics around. Z/R are sweeties!!! Don't cry! Hope you like this one too!

Nora- Hey! Need more- have more!

Sohna- hello! Welcome, glad you like it. I left it like that because I wanted to make sure you were paying attention! J

Nat452- I live in England, feel free to come kick me in the head then you can help me clean my room.