By Shikasta
Spoilers: Anything's fair game in my view although this is an AU
Disclaimer: The characters of Dark Angel are owned by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Cameron Eglee productions. In laymen's terms: Don't own them but by god I wish I did.
A/N this was a difficult chapter to write.
Italics = flashback
Chapter Twelve – The Day Seattle Stood StillJez walked into command, he had heard a rumour that there was coffee here so had come to seek it out hoping to get his hands on a mug of black gold. Yesterdays supply drop had gone down without a hitch and the little luxuries were currently being distributed amongst the residents of four sectors. Lucas sidled up to Jez "You heard about the coffee then."
"What makes you say that?" Jez asked looking guilty.
"Well you never come to command"
"Busted, is there any left?"
"You might be lucky."
"You haven't heard from Aiden have you?"
"Nah not since yesterday, why?"
"I haven't seen him since then either."
"That's odd, he must've checked into req's at least."
"No."
"Hmm" Lucas pondered "we should probably go and have a bit of a hunt."
Jez looked longingly towards the room that he knew held the coffee, cursing silently to himself. Lucas just laughed "I'm sure there'll be another stash sooner or later."
"Knowing my luck later, I'm going to kill Aiden when we find him."
Jez and Lucas left command as a rumble ripped through the sky and the heaven's opened up to cleanse Seattle. They stood for a moment in the rain both praying the rain lasted long enough for them to find Aiden and then have an open air shower.
Layla woke up Hope and Toby, the sound of thunder announcing a much needed shower.
"Come on you two time to have a bath" she laughed.
The two children were out the door of the shelter in no time with Layla hot on their heels shampoo and soap in hand. Standing in the downpour the three stripped down to their underwear along with the other residents in Seattle.
"Come here Toby" Layla said pulling an excited little boy to her, she poured a conservative amount of shampoo on his head then lathered it up cleaning away the weeks of gunge that had collected.
"Okay stand there, head back" and the little boy obeyed his eyes squeezed tight as his face was lifted to the heavens and the suds dripped down his back leaving his hair sparkling. Hope was next and followed her brother's lead, then taking the soap from Layla began to wash her and her brother while her guardian gave her blonde locks much needed attention.
When the washing was done the streets were crowded with transgenics running around in the rain in their underwear taking a moment to laugh and have some fun, giving them all a renewed energy.
The dark figured men had reached their destination within Seattle and were busily setting the charges that would destroy the target. As the last charge was set the team leader reported in "charges set, will detonate in one hour, we're heading back to base."
Layla had finally got the children out of the rain and dried, dressed and ready for school much to a begrudged Hope whom she was dragging behind her as they made their way to the library that served as the educational building.
"I don't want to go to school, I want to see daddy."
"Hope, you know daddy's busy and you have to go to school."
"Why."
"To learn."
"Why."
"Not today Hope, please stop being difficult."
"I Love school" Toby added to the argument.
"Nobody asked you Toby" Hope scowled.
"Hope don't talk to your brother that way."
"Why not?"
Layla was starting to get frustrated with Hope, she was becoming more and more difficult and she silently prayed for her shadow to return and take the little girl off her hands once more. As they approached the library Hope became more and more resistant, and by the time they entered the building Layla had a screaming Hope tucked under her arm.
"Hey Prue." Layla greeted the teacher.
"I see Hope doesn't want to be here again" looking at the sullen child.
"I just don't know what to do anymore."
"I want to see my daddy" Hope demanded stomping her little foot.
"Mummy."
"Yes Toby."
"Can I see daddy too?"
"After school okay" she answered leaning down and kissing the little boy before he ran off to join his friends. Layla looked down at a pouting Hope and then at Prue.
"I think I'll take her with me, she'll only be disruptive if she stays."
"Sure" Prue agreed then said to Hope "see you tomorrow then."
"Yes" Hope said perking up now that she had got her way. Layla and Hope headed out the door but Prue stopped Layla briefly "don't be too hard on her, she's probably just crying out for attention, it can't be easy having the parents she has."
"I know" Layla sighed then followed Hope.
The little girl was skipping just ahead of Layla who was stumbling along lost in thought, tired of the situation, tired of Hope's constant need for attention, making a note to discuss it with Alec later. Hope skipped towards her and grabbed her hand making Layla smile and then her ears were ringing. Automatically she pulled Hope into her before she was flung forward falling to the ground the little girl protected underneath her. Then she felt the pain that ripped through her back, so much pain.
It only took a second for the library to explode and shrapnel to go flying, only a second for the horror of what happened to sink in, only a second to kill those inside the building and injure and kill those in the near vicinity.
Hope was crying under Layla, and through the pain Layla groggily whispered, "it's okay just stay still, everything will be okay, sweetie, daddy will find us."
She had to remain conscious for Hope's sake, but the pain was becoming unbearable and she could feel herself slipping away, so she focused on Hope's tiny head and stroking her hair to calm the girl down. Layla knew she had to get up, had to get to Toby but her strength was leaving her, all concept of time vanishing, only Hope's small sobs registering. Then she heard the screams and the shouts all mixing into one and as she painfully leaned onto her side she focused on Hope and in urgent tone whispered "Go get help."
Alec Luke and Mole were standing in command when the explosion occurred causing the room to shake slightly.
"What the hell was that?" Mole snapped.
The three stood waiting for another mortar to hit thinking it was another bombing strike, but nothing everything was silent. They looked at each other and then headed outside confronted with the screams and shouts and as their eyes followed the direction the mass of transgenics were running in they saw an empty space where the library use to be.
"Oh my God" was all Alec could manage before running towards the scene, just hoping no one he cared about had been in the building when it collapsed. Mole and Luke followed the same concern flooding their minds.
It was absolute mayhem, transgenics were already scrounging through the rubble trying to find survivors and others were helping the wounded on the street. Hope still stood by Layla not willing to leave her screaming at the top of her lungs for help and then she saw her daddy running towards her, scooping her up and holding her close thanking anyone and everyone that she was okay.
Mole looked down at Layla "Alec she's hurt bad." Handing Hope to Mole Alec kneeled down to look at her wounds, her back incrusted with metal that had gorged in deep. Layla looked at Alec "Is Hope okay?"
"Yes"
"Is Toby?"
"Where was he?"
"In the Library" Alec's heart sank, he stood up desperately looking around and then spied Ivy a couple of feet away tending to some wounded.
"Ivy" he shouted "over here its Layla" he then knelt back down softly speaking to the dying woman "your safe now."
"Where's Toby?"
"We'll find him."
"Alec" she spluttered blood seeping from her mouth.
"What?" he responded caressing her face.
"Funny I don't know what to say," she chuckled painfully "just tell Toby I love him" and she went limp. Ivy walked over but it was too late Layla's suffering finally over, and she knelt down and wept for her friend, allowing Alec to hug her briefly in comfort before he ran towards the library, Mole watched him go Hope clutching to him.
Three days later they found Toby's body, his small form crushed, Alec had been assured he didn't suffer that his death was most certainly instantaneous. That was little comfort to the leader of Seattle.
A total of 40 children, and 10 adults died that day in a premeditated, specifically targeted attack and as the entire population crowded into the area surrounding command they watched the names of those who died etched into the space needle slab. The same thought consumed the crowd 'revenge'.
Four days later, Jez and Lucas finally found Aiden.
TBC
