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 deadly virus. Now, it's up to Alec to stop her from plunging into the bottomless crater of death. And he would do anything.. and everything to make sure of that.

Chapter 10- How things would change now..

The waiting room near the ICU ward was empty except for one single man. Logan was pacing the length of the deserted room, running his trembling hand through his hair, making it more messed up than ever. But for once, he didn't even realize the unattractive state of his much looked after hair as he thought about Max. Lying alone on that uncomfortable bed, slowly dying and there's nothing he could do about it.

He groaned loudly as he slumped into one of the chairs scattered around the shabby room. He winced in pain as the thin padding allowed his backside to come into contact with the very hard and extremely rough piece of plank underneath it. He clenched his teeth as he shuffled around, trying to find the most comfortable position on this torturous piece of furniture. Finding none that meets his excellent taste, he groaned again, feeling sorry for himself as he thought about what he had to go through to save the woman who had enough sense to fall in love with him. He sighed happily as he conjured up the image of a smiling and grateful Max as she came running into his arms. He ignored the virus part because he'll find the cure for that too, no doubt about it. His eyes sparkled with glee as his mind played the delightful scene again and again.. and again. As usual Max had gotten into trouble and as usual there's only one person who could get her out of it.

Him, of course. Yes, none other than yours truly, Logan Cale.

Logan smirked blissfully as the thought of him as a knight in a shining armor ran through his head. He would look absolutely dashing in a pre-pulse armor, if he could get his hand on one of those. Just one look at him, maybe Max will even swooned as she beheld the wonder right in front of her very eyes. His happy dream was shattered by a reminder of a not-so-healthy Max lying a few rooms away. Reluctantly he let that very nice thought go as he started to tackle the tough problem. First, what could he do to become that brave knight. He wrinkled his nose as he started thinking, but a second after that he cringed in pain as his hand quickly went to the injured and broken nose. He touched his painful nose gently as his mind flew back to that agonizing moment. He could not believe that a girl had broken his nose!

A girl!

His pride won't be as bruised or shattered as this if it was done by an X5. One came to mind instantly. Tall, maybe a little good looking-given the fact that women threw themselves at him, Logan glowered at that very idea, charming-the man could charm a snake! and the biggest jerk that ever walked this planet.

Alec.

His eyes narrowed as something came to mind. His last encounter with the said X5. Alec had asked him the location for Ray White. His small eyes narrowed even more as he started exploring the possibilities behind that. Maybe that sociopath of a transgenic do have a point, he thought to himself, completely and conveniently forgetting his recent fear and horror as he stared into that pair of cold freezing green eyes.

White.

Aha! The answer to his problems. He leaned back into the uncomfortable chair as he started to make his plan. Within minutes, he was smiling, well pleased with himself as he thought about his foolproof plan.

*

'I told you Jimmy, I saw something!' Walt muttered angrily as he marched back to the control room.

Jim burst out laughing at his partner's expression, 'Of course you did,' he smiled condescendingly, 'You saw a.. a what? A monster! A huge hairy monster about to attack me.'

'Yeah! I thought it was one of those freaks that's been on the news so much. You know, I was ready to sacrifice myself to save you from that thing and what do I get? A thank you.. Noo! Instead.. you're going crazy, my friend!' the angry words burst out from Walt's mouth.

'I'll be sure to thank you.. when I see that thing for myself,' again Jim laughed his head off as he slapped his furious friend on his stiff shoulder.

Walt suddenly stopped walking, then turned quickly to face Jim. His movement was so sudden, Jim almost crashed headlong into him.

'Hey, watch where you're going!'

But Walt wasn't listening, 'Tape! It's taped! Ha, you'll see I was right!' grinning triumphantly, he rushed towards the control room.

His eager hand pushed the door impatiently before bursting into the empty room. Without losing a second, he almost leaped into his chair as he started to look for that footage.

Jim shook his head with amusement, 'Right.. Remember to show it to me,.. when you find it, of course!' he laughed as he started towards his own chair, leaving the door to close on its own as it swung shut.

Walt ignored his friend's laughing remark as he glued his eyes on the monitor, searching for that missing scene.

Above them, Alec watched quietly, unnoticed by the two guards. He clenched his gloved hand slowly after he saw that the second guard had entered. His stiff lips quirked into a grin as he noticed the swinging door. Making sure that both guards had their back on him, he loosen his hold on the pipes and he jumped down, landing gracefully and silently on his feet. Then he blurred towards the moving door, making it outside as the door softly clicked shut.

'What was that?' jerking back in his seat, Walt spun around as his eyes raked around the room, searching for its source.

Alec was too fast for any naked eye to see but his light speed movements had sent a sliver of shadow towards Walt's wary eyes.

'What?' startled, Jim looked around the room with confusion.

'I don't know. Something.. moved, I think.'

'And you called me paranoid,' Jim grumbled, 'For god sake, I think you just had too many coffee and too little sleep. There's nothing I tell you,' brushing away his friend's remarks, Jim turned back to his work.

Walt glared angrily at his unbelieving friend before he went back to his search. But now, he was more intent on finding the 'monster' Jimmy thought had come from his imagination than before.

*

The empty hallway stretched, long and forlorn looking without the aid of bright lighting and the sound of footsteps hurrying here and there. The heavy silence hung over the dim corridor as no whispers of awe struck visitors as they stared with wonder in front of the prized paintings to fill the stagnant air. But none of that matters to Alec. He was hidden from view, aided by the lack of lights as he crouched in the dark corner just seconds after his escape from the two guards. He kept still as a statue as he tried to listen to their conversation. A small grin flitted around his lips as he heard their arguments. So far so good. If they're busy debating with each other, then they would be too preoccupied to realized that something was wrong. Not until it was too late.

Alec rose quietly, his movement too smooth and fluid for a human, his eyes busy searching for any hint of trouble. Finding none, he glanced around the place, looking for the surveillance cameras. He memorized every one quickly, then without missing a beat he blurred across the long hallway, moving across the place in a seemingly random manner. But the truth was although it seemed highly impossible, was that he had found a route, combined by each camera's blind spot. This formerly unknown road helped him to stay hidden as the dark shadow stretched its wing and kept him under its protection.

As soon as he arrived in front of his destination, Alec unconsciously flicked his eyes around, merely out of habit but nothing was out of the ordinary. The cameras around and inside this room had been shut off, so he was in no danger of being caught on tape. He lifted his arm slowly as he stared at the intricately carved oak door. Then, gently he ran his fingers carefully over its smooth and satiny surface as again adrenaline rushed through his veins, making his heart beat faster. He pulled back his hand and turned to deactivate the alarm. His gloved fingers didn't leave any mark as they moved around the key pad. After punching in the new code, Alec took a step back as the red bulb blinked once before giving way to green. A second later, the huge door swung slowly opened.

Alec took a deep breath before he stepped inside the unlocked chamber before turning back to close the door behind him. He didn't even spare a glance at the incredible painting hanging on the far wall as he walked carefully to his left. Here, there's another key pad waiting and he entered his code. Most people didn't even realized it's existence as it always been hidden from view by the eagle eyed guard as he stood in this corner, keeping watch over the mingling people and the valuable painting. Alec didn't even paused as behind him a soft hiss permeated the silent room, indicating that the motion detector around the painting had been turned off. Quickly he put in another set of numbers and with a click the key pad in front of him slide quickly sideways, giving way for a miniature keyboard to materialize.

He took out a pair of glasses and after putting them on, instantly the room took an eerie red glow. Laser beams crisscrossed each other, beginning from the floor and ending at the high ceiling. There would be absolutely no way anyone could remove the painting before breaking any of those beams. No way.. apart from shutting them off first. Alec punched in the sequence he'd chosen earlier and instantly, the red beams disappeared. He took the glasses off and slipped them back into his pocket before turning and began walking towards the reason he was here in the first place.

The Night Watch.

He stared silently for a few seconds, struck by its unmentionable beauty. This exquisite piece of wonder was Rembrandt's most famous painting and for decades had been hung in the Night Watch Room in the Rijksmuseum. He had finished the Night Watch in 1642 and had officially named it The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. Alec smiled as he caught sight of a little girl in yellow among the fully attired soldiers. That smile widened as he suddenly recalled that because of this painting Rembrandt had been sharply reprimanded by his patron. The captain didn't entirely like the attention Rembrandt had paid to the other figures in that painting over himself. Some people just hated competition.

Alec was still smiling as he lifted the velvet cords off and stepped closer. Without a sound, he took the painting off the wall and quickly he removed the heavy frame. A few minutes later, he had rolled up the vellum and had safely stored it in his shoulder bag. Carefully, he lifted his prize and then he left the museum the same way he had gotten in. Through stealth, skill and speed.

*

The ICU ward had calmed down after two patients had been rushed in almost an hour ago. The two victims from a shooting incident had spent several agonizing hours in the operating room as the surgeon had tried their best to keep everything intact and in working condition. After that long hard battle with the ever waiting angel of Death, they were entrusted into the capable hands of the ICU staff. After that burst of excitement, the ward had returned to its usual air of silence and expectation.

One man remained oblivious to the fading spark of commotion. Logan was still draped over the chair as he thought over his hatching plan. So, he mused gleefully, Alec had wanted to use Ray White to strike a bargain with Agent White. That means White must have the cure in his possession after all. That was just so like Alec, he thought angrily, not to share any new information with him and acting alone. No doubt screwing up the plan in the process. Didn't Alec understand that when he failed, then it's left to good ol' Logan who had to bail him out? And I was too busy helping Max as it is, he seethed furiously. Well, if he got himself caught.. again, Logan thought, than White could have him. See if I care. Quickly, he turned his thoughts to more pressing matter.

Ray.

Logan had never imagined the small boy would ended up helping him. Well, it's to be expected, he nodded, after all he had successfully taken that innocent child from those evil Familiars. His eyes began to lighten up as he mulled over the plan. White didn't have a clue that no one had the faintest idea where his son is. And there's absolutely no reason why he should be enlightened on that particular subject. I'll contact the anxious dad and tell him I'll give his son's last known location in exchange for the cure, Logan thought as a smile started breaking over his face. Maybe I could even fool the guy so he had to give the cure first and we'll have to wait and see if it works before I'll give him the address, that smile widen even more as he continued along that line of thought. After Max was saved, I'll just picked the farthest place I could think of and sent White scurrying over. I'll get Max to hide and lay low and White won't be able to get his dirty hands on her. He grinned excitedly as his brain fast forwarded to the near future. Both of them were having a little celebrating dinner. He had set a beautiful table, complete with two flickering candles, a bouquet of red long stemmed roses, their crimson petals were still drenched with clinging dews, some soft music playing and of course his hand made pasta. Max would look absolutely gorgeous as she sat there, all dressed up. Then, they would toast their success in outwitting White over a glass of bubbling pre-pulse champagne.

He sighed with pleasure at that perfect picture. His mind made up, Logan stood stiffly as his exo whirled at the unforeseen move. He stand still for a second, trying to let his body warmed up for the hard job ahead. Satisfied with himself, he turned and headed outside.

He stopped a nurse on his way out and hurriedly told her, 'I'm going home for now. But be sure to call me if something happens to Max Guevara. Here's my cell phone number.' He scribbled the numbers hastily on a piece of paper before thrusting them at the startled nurse.

Quickly, he rushed outside, thinking intently about his plan. And during the drive to his penthouse, he started to put together his little speech to one Special Agent White. That speech has to be perfect because in less than an hour it's going to be aired to the masses by Eyes Only.

*

The room was large and airy, a complete contrast to what everyone was led to believe as a fencer's headquarter. All those movies always portrayed the offices as small, dingy and full of smoke as it wafted slowly upward from a lit cigarette that was left to burn in the ashtray. But here, it was bright and cheery.

Red didn't believe in smoking and even forbidden his employees from touching one in his presence. The big, spacious room was quite empty. He didn't fill his workplace with personal stuff. The only piece of furniture in the entire room was a big circular table, made from the hard and expensive teak, the same one he had since he began to follow in his father's illustrious footsteps. His proud father had given him the imported table which he personally choose after his only son announced that there's nothing he'd want more than took over the family business. And his father had chosen that particular one because teak was among the hardest and the strongest of woods. And he always seen his only son as that. A hard and a strong man. The older man had traveled far and wide for his son's gift as teak was only found in certain parts in the South East Asia, mainly Thailand and Malaysia.

Next to his father, he loved the working table his father gave all those years ago. Because all his life, his only family had been the two of them together. Just him and his father, and his dad was in the center of his universe. Until he died over ten years ago of lung cancer. The usual end for a heavy smoker. And from that day onward, he loathed the silent killer.

The big heavy man was silent as he went through yesterdays figures. Both of them made an amazing picture together, a big man behind the big dark table. The man's shaved head shone in the early morning sun. His strong jaw was hidden under the full red beard. The reason he was called Red in the first place. In his youth, he had a head full of shockingly flaming red hair. His father whose dark mane was a complete contrast to his fiery hair, had laughingly called him his Red boy. And the name had stuck over the years. His thick arms tried to shuffle the paper into some sort of semblance. He was perusing over a piece of paper that was strewn on his desk before the sound of the opening door got his attention. He snapped his head and the tension in his shoulder lessened instantly, but he kept the angry scowl firmly in place.

'Don't you ever learn to knock, boy?' he snapped, looking like he was ready to snap the visitor in two.

'And missed this warm welcome?' Alec tried to sound as light hearted as his words.

'Huh,' snorted Red, but a smile was already appearing, lighting up the gray eyes, 'still have that charm, I see. What brings you here? Don't tell me you change your mind on the diamond job. I already have a buyer lined up for that sparkling stone.'

'Nah, I'm not as fickle minded as that,' he grinned as a pouch flew smoothly through the air.

Effortlessly Red caught the pouch, his red eyebrows were raised in accordance to his unasked question. But his curiosity got the better of him and he opened the pouch and poured the content onto his palm. He gasped in surprise as Premier Rose rolled out, sending heated rays all over the place. His eyes sought out Alec, as slowly that craggy face broke into a delighted smile.

'You little.. you said you won't pull this off until a couple of months more!' Red accused, wonder still shining from his light eyes, 'Thank goodness I already had a buyer! This little fella will be as hot as hell soon.' Something crossed his mind and with a little frown, he asked, 'why did you speed up the job?'

'I need the money,' Alec said flatly, 'so, how much would you give me for that?'

'I thought we discussed this already. Five hundred, yours for the taking.'

'Make it six, and it's a deal.'

'Deal,' grinning broadly, Red extended his right arm, anxious to conclude their deal.

Alec shook his head slowly and said, 'I have something else too.'

'What would that be?' Red asked as he was busy checking the glinting diamond with a jeweler's loupe. 'It's perfect,' he sighed ecstatically, 'you do know that it has 189 facets, and the combined effects on how it plays around with lights are just.. amazing.'

'Yes Red, I know that and take your eyes away from that diamond for a sec, will you?'

'Ok, ok.. fine! Whatever you say.. what'd you have for me?' grunted the big man, annoyed at being deprived from ogling at the diamond.

A heavy shoulder bag thumped noisily onto the polished surface of the table. Without a word, he unwrapped the big package before slowly he rolled the canvas on his desk. Then his hand stiffened in shock and awe as for the second time today, Red was struck speechless.

'My.. God!' and he stared with eyes that were wide opened. Slowly he lifted that stricken eyes towards Alec as his thoughts tumbled and fall over each other, desperate to be let out. 'How.. What.. Is this real?' he blurted out the last question, and waited anxiously for the answer.

'Of course it's real. Would I bring anything less than the real thing for my best fence?' the dry answer came out instantly.

'But.. This is The Night Watch! Oh. My. God! How did you get this.. gorgeous Rembrandt out from the museum? That place was unbreakable! No one can break in! It's impossible!'

'Nothing is impossible, Red. I just used a little bit of grey cell,' Alec grinned, 'If I remember correctly, you had a client who wanted this for his own. I suggest you give him a call.'

'You're right,' he nodded, a little confused by all these excitement and started searching for a phone.

'Later would be fine with me,' laughed Alec at his fence's action. 'But right now, discussing the price would be just great.'

'You're right,' and again he nodded but he's starting to come to his senses. 'How about another six? That would bring you a one point two mill. Not bad for one night work.'

'One point five or I'll walk out from here. With both of them,' countered Alec, his face carefully without any emotion.

'You're on,' Red agreed after he furiously thought it over. 'I guess you would like the money now?' asked the bearded man as slowly he started smiling again.

'You could bet on that,' Alec nodded as without a word, Red turned and disappeared behind a door leading to his safe.

A few minutes later, he was back and with him was a big bulky bag. He put it down on the table softly and grinned at his friend, 'Maybe you should count them. Make sure everything is there.'

'No, I trust you, Red,' he replied nonchalantly, and with a careless wave he was gone.

Red stood staring at his disappearing back. Then with hand that almost shook from excitement, he ran a finger over the painting, softly and gently. And his eyes shone with exhilaration at the treasure in front of him.

*

He was speeding towards Fowler's lab, his bike eating up the distance quickly and swiftly. Astride that roaring machine, Alec almost laughed aloud. Never in his whole life had he experience this feeling. He felt so light, so care free, so.. happy. The wind was blowing ferociously past his face and ruffling his hair but he didn't notice the painful sting. By now Fowler would have discovered the cure and probably he was making it now.

Alec grinned contentedly, the cure had been found and Max will survived this horrifying ordeal with just a mark on her shoulder. With time, that mark will too soon disappear and then, there would be no indication that this nightmare had ever happened. The smile still lingered as he sneaked into the doctor's lab for the second time. He gazed at his moving watch for the fist time since he left this lab earlier and he was surprised to see that so much time had passed. The numbers blinked 12:49:53. Alec shoved the sudden fear away told himself that the 12 hours would be enough. The cure was almost done anyway.

As he pushed the door opened, his heart was beating so fast he had to wait and took a deep breath before he deemed he was capable enough to handle the situation. He do not want to be used again by this sharp doctor. Satisfied, he stepped through.

He glanced quickly through the large lab, trying to locate the missing scientist. Within minutes he had found the old man looking at something on his computer. He was sitting still as he stared at the screen.

Alec marched silently to the preoccupied man and loudly cleared his throat. Fowler turned instantly and surprise filled his face as he saw Alec. He turned a bewildered head towards the far wall, trying to find the watch to ascertain the time.

'Is it ten hours already?' the frowning doctor asked.

'No, but I thought I'd drop by.. see how much progress you've made,' Alec said, propping his hips at a nearby table. 'The cure, it's coming along just fine right?'

Something flickered across the doctor's face before he turned and busied himself with his computer. 'I'll answer that later. There's something I have to clear up first, and then I have to try to make you understand what I've discovered, is that all right with you?'

Although Alec didn't exactly care what Fowler had dug out about the virus, he can't exactly say that. Just humor the guy, he thought to himself. 'Sure, go ahead.'

The doctor pushed his glasses upward as he prepared to talk, 'She's one of them. A.. transgenic, is that what they're called?' He put up a hand as Alec straightened himself up from his relaxed posture, green eyes suddenly alert, 'That didn't mean anything to me. I don't care if she's made in a lab or anywhere else for that matter. All I care about is my work, that's about it. Is that understood?'

Alec nodded but his wary eyes continued to watch the doctor carefully.

'Start telling me where she got that virus in the first place. That's not something the DNAs could've told me,' he said sternly, his eyes staring under the thick glasses.

Alec was silent for a while as he debated with himself. With a ragged sighed a crossed his arms in front of his chest and started answering the waiting scientist, 'The very same secret government agency that created her put the virus into her system so that she could kill their enemy for them.'

'I see.. she's the carrier. That would explain why she had immunity,' muttered Fowler to himself, then he turned and fixed Alec with his sharp gaze, 'This virus was somehow created to attack certain DNA strand. I found some traces of foreign human sweat in the blood and I guess that's how the targeted DNA got into her bloodstream, am I correct?'

Fowler continued his lecture as no answer came from the silently brooding Alec, 'Her immune system did fight the activated virus at first and I'm very sure it will be fully eliminated from her system if somehow she didn't got an infection. Do correct me if I'm wrong, young man,' implored the irritated man to Alec's total silence.

'I will.. when you do get it wrong,' came the brisk reply.

'All right then,.. because of the infection, her immune system took a hard beating and the activated virus started to multiply. But slowly because a tiny portion of that immunity is still working,' he stopped for awhile and took a deep breath before he plunged ahead, 'then everything starts to go wrong.'

Missing the stricken look on Alec's face, he plowed on, 'the virus was designed to work in a human blood and since this woman was a transgenic, it didn't really happened as expected.'

'That means.. what?' Alec asked quietly.

'It means in a different environment, most molecules and particles reacts differently. The newly activated virus, since there's no immune system to stop it, started mutating after it was exposed to her blood. It turned to a new strain and she didn't possess any sort of immunity against this new virus.'

'That's not a problem, right? You could just find a cure for the new one,' Alec suggested calmly, but his heart had started beating hard.

'I wish it was that simple,' the doctor sighed, 'but it's not. This new virus started reproducing, faster as the time passed, and while it was multiplying itself, the genetic coding for the new batch of viruses was changed.' Seeing the look of understanding in Alec's eyes he nodded his head rapidly, 'Yes, every time they're reproducing, they're mutating.. at the same time. It would be hard..' Fowler shook his head hard, 'no, impossible to keep track on the changing virus long enough to make a vaccine. Every virus needed a specific drug to disable them completely but now, there are too many different types of viruses.. not to mention the one which would make their appearance soon. There's absolutely no way we could cure this woman on time before the virus shuts her entire system down.'

Slowly, the light happy feelings he had earlier slithered away, leaving his body numb and they were replaced by icy cold fear. His horror filled eyes stared at the old man as his cracked world started to fall apart.. again. But now, it was worse because this time his only reprieve.. his fierce hope was shattered beyond recognition.

to be continued..