Title: anything and everything

Author: sue

Rating: PG

Show: DA

Genre: Angst/Romance/Adventure

Type: WiP

Summary: under the chaos of a failed mission, somehow Logan had managed to do the impossible- infect Max with the virus. Now, it's up to Alec to stop her from taking an unplanned journey across the tunnel that ends with the bright lights. And he won't stop at nothing to make sure of that..

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thanks to heather for betaing this chapter! :)

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Chapter 5. The Long Wait.

Although so early in the morning, in fact it's still dark outside, the hospital bustled with activity. At least in most part of the hospital. But here in the ICU, it was eerily calm... and hauntingly quiet. Everyone seemed to speak in a hushed tone, or moved around silently, unconsciously and automatically adopting the behavior around dying patients. Even the air was humming with uncertainty intertwined with hopelessness and a mild dash of hope.

Hope. It was only something to hold onto and be kept at arm's length at a time like this. You should never let it grow and sprout because once your hope was shattered into a million tiny pieces; it took your heart along for the ride. But this particular philosophy was unknown to Alec, even if he knew he would've blatantly disagreed. Because right now hope was the only thing he had, the only thing that was helping him get through every second, every minute, every hour of his godforsaken life since Max was infected. He held it close, nurtured it and with heart that was swollen with grief watched it as it took root and let it bloom, casting heavy shadows over his broken heart.

But no one who was watching would ever know the ferocious battle that was taking place inside of him. All they would ever see was a young man looking out the window, standing so still with his hands in his pockets and his eyes staring straight ahead. They would never see the way his hazel eyes glazed over with pain and despair. He would never let that happen. He couldn't control what was happening with Max, but he could control this tiny part of his life.

It had been over an hour since he'd last seen Max. She had looked so small lying on the stretcher. So small and defenseless. A small smile almost cracked his hardened face. Max would have gone crazy if she knew he had described her like that. But that smile vanished with the realization that the odds were stacked so high against him and she possibly would never know his thoughts earlier. With cold resolve he pushed it aside and away from his mind, letting hope engulfed him with its warmth to chase away the chill.

On the other side of the room Logan was pacing the floor, almost setting the worn out carpets on fire. He glanced and saw Alec, who hadn't move a muscle since they got there and heaved a sigh of relief. If Alec didn't move, he had another chance to see another sunrise. He nearly had a heart attack when Alec had hurriedly told Sam Carr what he had suspected. He had infected Max? It was so ridiculous, he almost laughed. But then he saw the look in Alec's face. At that very instant he knew that Alec was right and subconsciously had wondered what had kept Alec from killing him the first chance he had. Part of him reluctantly marveled at the fact that Alec had such iron clad control on his anger, while the other was extremely relieved that he had. He had resumed his pacing when he caught sight of a very haggard looking Dr Carr making his way towards them. The air crackled tensely as Alec turned and quickly walked towards the doctor. Logan hesitated for a few seconds before he decided to join them.

Dr Carr acknowledged Alec's presence with a small nod, but his weary eyes almost gleamed with the respect he felt for this silent man. He would have never had the thought the virus had infected Max, since she was the carrier, and that would have delayed the right treatment for her. One quick diagnosis that had possibly saved her life, or just to buy more time before the inevitable.

'How is she?' Alec asked without emotion, but Carr saw a glint of deep pain before they disappeared under hard, unaffected face.

'She's critical,' Carr answered bluntly, 'I don't think she will make it past 24 hours.' There was no point in beating around the bush. And he had a feeling that Alec preferred blunt honesty than comforting half truths.

Alec closed his eyes as quick slashes of pain surged through him, tearing him apart. Hot and painful. His heart throbbed painfully as Carr's words bounced around in his mind, gaining momentum until he almost buckled under the weight of desperation and despair they'd caused. Again, with iron determination he shoved them aside as he turned to Carr.

'What happens exactly? And why didn't her immune system started fighting?' he asked, desperation evident in his deep voice.

Carr sighed, then turned as he saw that Logan had joined them. He took a deep breath and started explaining.

'Yes, all transgenics had a natural immunity against this virus, I can't possibly deny that. But I think I know why hers went down without a fight. Her wound was infected and her immune system went a bit crazy and couldn't work properly. That's when the virus had a chance to attack. And there's something you should know. While we were trying to stabilize her, she stopped breathing on her own. We got her back but she's on life support now. And like I told Alec earlier, by this rate she would only have about 24 hours left,' Carr finished with a grim _expression.

Alec was numb, inside and out. His mind moved sluggishly so that he couldn't even think of anything to do that could've helped her. And the pain in his heart started to spread like a bush fire, ravaging everything in its path.

Logan on the other hand, was more vocal about his feelings. He gasped in shock after the doctor had finished with the explanation. Then he started interrogating the exhausted doctor but something stopped his questions in mid track. The sound of a worried female voice calling from across the room.

Original Cindy had arrived.

All three males turned and watched O.C. quickly closed the gap between them. She turned towards Logan who was nearest to her and asked, 'What's wrong with my boo? Alec told me nothing when he called. He just said to come here.'

Logan looked positively reluctant. He didn't want to explain to her best friend that Max was dying. The fact that he had somehow, unknowingly caused the tragedy was an added bonus.

Dr Carr took pity on him and again, he explained everything. Even the dying part. But he left something out. The 'how did it happen' part.

Cindy listened quietly, but her eyes widen with shock when Carr mentioned that the virus had infected Max and right now she was fighting for her life. Before she could asked him to enlighten her a bit more, a nurse approached Carr on silent feet and whispered that he was needed. With a heavy sigh Carr excused himself and left.

The silence grew as O.C. struggled to understand what she had been told. 'How did the virus affect her? Isn't it impossible or something?' she asked with a heavy frown. She turned slightly and saw Logan, who had guilt written all over his face as he shuffled from one foot to another.

'How did the virus affect her...Logan?' she asked with mounting suspicion.

But Logan kept his silence, and Original Cindy had her answer. But she needed to hear it coming out of Logan's mouth. So she kept pushing.

'Logan, answer me!' she asked...no commanded, with her no-nonsense tone.

Even Logan couldn't deny Original Cindy anything for long. So, he started speaking, hesitantly.

'She was shot while we're trying to escape from White. After we got off, the car ran out of gas, which is entirely not my fault and we had to spend the night in some sort of... cabin,' he almost shuddered as he recalled their almost collapsed shelter, 'then Alec found us and we brought her here.'

Alec frowned at the very abridged version of their little escapade.

It seemed O.C. had the very same thought as she lifted her brow and, 'oo..kay. But ya still left the 'how did the virus affect her' part.'

'I gave her my shirt.'

'That ain't explainin' nothing.'

'My hands were... sweating when I handed her the shirt.'

'So? What did that has to do with anything?' O.C.'s voice had risen as she struggled to keep her temper in check.

'Somehow, what little DNA I had in those few drops of sweat got into Max's blood,' he rushed ahead.

'Right,' Original Cindy nodded, then added skeptically, 'but I thought that you guys,' her eyes turned to Alec, 'was naturally immune to this virus? Her body should be able to kick this virus thing ASAP.'

Since O.C. was pinning him with her sharp gaze, Alec felt it's time for him to join the conversation. Even though he had enjoyed watching Logan squirms. It was a much needed distraction from his tortured thoughts.

'We are, but her wound wasn't properly attended and got infected,' he glared at Logan with loathing, 'That screwed up her immune system somehow and it couldn't fight the virus anymore.'

'Her wound was infected? How could this happen?' she frowned in bewilderment, 'My boo, she never got any of her wounds infected before. And if it got cauterized, like it usually does, it shouldn't be a problem.'

Logan flinched as if O.C. had hurled heated accusation his way. Yes, tenseness and paranoia did that to you.

'It's not my fault her wounds got infected!' he cried out.

Cindy frowned at Logan's outburst and glanced at Alec, silently asking for an explanation for this unprovoked action.

'It wasn't cauterized,' he answered flatly.

O.C. felt a chill creeping up her spine, 'Why the hell not?' and turned a dagger filled glance towards Logan as he tried to shuffle out of her line of fire.

'Max... fainted before she could...umm...cauterize it.'

'And you joined her a few second later, is that it?' Original Cindy drawled, but her temper had already started to boil.

'Of course not. I wasn't the one who had gotten shot,' he disagreed indignantly.

'Then, why didn't you cauterize the wound?' and a loud smack landed on the side of his head, courtesy of Original Cindy.

'Hey! Watch it!' Logan whined, rubbing his sore head, 'one, she's an X5, they have accelerated healing powers. I thought it could wait until morning and two, I didn't have my first aid kit with me. Now, tell me Original Cindy, how could anyone look after someone who had a hole in her shoulder without the first aid kit? So, it's totally out of my control and there's nothing I can do to help her.'

And he continued to justify his lack of action for a few more minutes while his audiences had varying degrees of response to his answers, from surprise, bewilderment, anger, resentment and downright cold fury.

Alec felt his rage rise with an alarming speed, and this time he didn't hold it back. He didn't even want to. Now, he felt he could have strangled Logan with his bare hands easily and without remorse. Heck, that guy deserved everything.

CRACK.

The air was filled with a painful yelp from Logan as he held his now broken and bloody nose.

And another shriek as the same fist connected with the area around his eye.

He groaned as he doubled over after the powerful fist connected with his ribs.

Followed by a satisfied grunt by Original Cindy as she glanced at her smarting fist.

Alec felt his jaw dropped open at the scene in front of him but he got over his surprise quickly as he saw that O.C. was getting ready for more. He blurred towards her and caught her from behind, trapping her hand so that she couldn't move. He glanced at Logan who was nursing his painful body parts and gestured, asking him to leave if he still valued his life. Logan saw two burning eyes boring down holes in his body and opted to go.

Alec turned O.C. around to face him and gently he said, 'I'm sorry I stopped you. Frankly, I wanted to do the same thing, but killing Logan will not help Max. She's our priority now. We could finish Logan off later after Max's back on her feet and bitching as usual, is that a deal?'

Cindy looked up into Alec's eyes and saw his concern, his anger, desperation, agony and grief before it was gone behind the usual mask. She smiled sadly and put her arms around his stiff body, trying to comfort him while letting him comfort her.

Alec was still for a few seconds. Then with a soft sigh, he drew Cindy into his arms. Drawing on each other's strength to face the uncertain future. Two friends who had to watch someone they loved teetering on the valley of death.

'What now, boo?' O.C. asked, looking up to see his face.

'I'm gonna find the cure,' he answered, his eyes harden with determination.

Cindy stared silently for a while, and then she reminded him, 'Max had been looking for the cure for almost a year,' she purposely left out Logan's name, 'what makes you think you're gonna find it in less than 24 hours. What exactly are you gonna do, Alec?'

'Anything, Cindy. Anything.. and everything,' noticing her worried face, he smiled assuredly, 'don't worry, Max is in good hands. I'll take care of her. She's gonna be fine.' With that parting word, he turned and without looking back disappeared from view.

Original Cindy looked on with sad eyes and whispered ruefully, 'yeah, but who's gonna take care of you?'

to be continued..

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