Dark Angel Revised

by candyabble

From Bonnie and Clyde to missions for Eyes Only, the adventures of Max and Alec continue in this twisted version of Dark Angel. Part Three updated!

15. Hot and Bothered

Another's Note 1:  I really am so sorry it took me this long to get this freaking chapter posted especially since I, for one, hate when authors take forever to update.  I came up with a new system that will hopefully allow me the time to get chapters out quicker.  The chapters from now on will probably be similar in length to the last one and this one so please don't expect me to update right away.  But I'm definitely going to try my best to get them up sooner than three freaking months later! 

Author's Note 2:  Also I did another M/A video.  I'd love feedback to know if anybody's having problems viewing them, if they suck and I should just stick to writing, or if you're enjoying them.

Thanks again and now on with the story…ooh but first I'll give a quick recap and if you don't need one you can just skip ahead now. 

Recap:  Alec was sent on the Berrisford mission the same time Max left for Seattle in search of her brother Seth.  She spots Alec and thinking he's Ben follows him to a bar.  Alec and Max get to talking and before he knows it, his target leaves thus blowing the mission.  Alec decides to team up with Max and the two travel around pulling heists kinda like Bonnie and Clyde in a less violent way and a more genetically engineered way.  Lots of money and near misses by Manticore later finds the two in a diner where Max sees an Eyes Only broadcast that shows her friends from L.A. are all dead. Eyes Only is trying to take down Manticore to avenge Seth and his broadcasts are worrying Max and Alec so they had to Seattle to try and find him.  They do and he offers to help them take down Manticore in exchange for their help with EO missions and that's where the story really begins…

Chapter 15:  Hot and Bothered.

 "Max on her way?"

            "No.  I'll fill her in later."

            "Oh?  Is she at work?"

            "What have you got for us Logan?"  Alec said in an agitated tone of voice.

            Logan swiveled in his chair to face the young man leaning against his door frame.  The smirk that Logan had come to think was a permanent fixture on his face was no where in sight.  His eyes which always seemed to be bright with thoughts, undoubtedly, of some kind of mischief were cold and hard.  He was also much more still than normal.

Now, Logan hadn't known Alec for very long but he had noticed that unlike Max who at times was so still she seemed to blend into the furniture, Alec was always fidgeting: bouncing up and down on his heels when he was standing.  Looking around and twiddling his thumbs when he was sitting.

Maybe there was trouble in paradise. Logan thought briefly before having to stifle a smile from the idea.  Taking a deep breath to get back in focus, Logan replied.

            "Alec, I do have a valid reason for inquiring the whereabouts of your girlfriend.  Unlike last time, the jobs I have for you are separate.  The thing I've got for Max is kind of on short notice, as in, it goes down tonight so I wanted to talk to her personally just in case she had any questions.

            "What's the job?"

            "It has to do with the Stekler case.  It looks like Lauren's testimony will be enough to convict Edgar Sonrisa but not the Mayor.  To do that it's going to take testimony from someone on the inside of their operations who witnessed firsthand Mayor Steckler's indiscretions. 

            "So what?  You need Max to protect somebody whose about to snitch.  I can do that."

            "No.  The thing is, Steckler, Sonrisa—guys like that aren't going to surround themselves with people who will turn state's evidence on them.  There's no way I can find anyone in that inner circle willing to go against their boss which is why I've come up with plan B."

            Sonrisa's hosting a party tonight that I want Max to attend. It'll be guarded by heavily armed men but I figure once Max is inside she can get the layout of the security system throughout the mansion.  There's bound to be files, pictures, documents, something connecting Sonrisa's dirty dealings with the good mayor and if not that at least something to use as blackmail in exchange for testimony against Steckler." 

            "Again that sounds like something I can take care of.  Why do you need Max to go in?"  Alec asked in a voice that illustrated how much he was losing patience.

            Logan sighed again. "The face of every man there is well known because he's had past business with Sonrisa, you'll never make it pass the gate.  However, the profession of the women present--

            "You want Max to pose as a hooker."  Alec interrupted.

            "Exactly."  Logan nodded.

            "No way."

            "Relax Alec; it's not as raunchy as it sounds.  Mainly the women are there as decoration.  There just supposed to smile and look pretty.   It's rare that at these extravagant parties one of the guests will take full advantage of the services the ladies are there to provide.  The most Max will probably be asked to do is sit beside one of these men during a card game for luck  Afterwards and before she'll be free to case the joint."

            "I hear what your saying Logan.  Now hear me." Alec pinned Logan with eyes that showed there was no room for argument.  "No.  Max is not doing it."

            "Why are you being so difficult about this?"  Logan exasperated.

            "Drop it Logan.  It ain't happening."

            "It's really not a big deal Alec and Max is a big girl.  I know you're not worried about her being able to handle herself."

            For the first time Alec shifted. Logan noticed the uncomfortable shift and suspicion began to dawn on the older man's features. "In fact, why don't we let her decide for herself?" He added more confidently. "If she tells me no, I will drop it.  I'll call her right now." Logan reached for the keypad but quickly snatched his hand away from the unexpectedness of seeing Alec's hand there first. Logan's shocked eyes looked across the room from the space Alec previously occupied and then slowly up to the man standing directly in front of him.

            "I said no."  Alec said ignoring Logan's incredulous expression. "She's not doing it.  Now either find a way to get me into that party or just forget about it.  Understand."

            The two stared at each for several moments before Logan recovered and turned back towards his computer.

            "Fine."  Logan replied once again reminded that he was being denied his own way.  "I'm sure something else will come up." He said through clenched teeth as he moved and clicked his mouse rapidly. "Anyway there is a reason why I called you over too."  Logan doubled clicked his mouse one more time before turning back to Alec. "I gotta hold of transfer orders for a SAC base at Gillette, Wyoming—a base that was shut down in May of '09.  It caught my attention because for an Air Force base it had an unusual amount of dieticians, OB-GYNs, teaching specialists, genetic researchers..."

            "You think it was the Wyoming Manticore base."  Alec said moving closer to peer over Logan's shoulder.  He scanned the list in under two seconds. "Definitely."  Alec added another two seconds later. "I recognize some of those names.  And come to think about it they did show up at our facility right after I got out of psych ops." 

            "What do you mean your facility? Didn't you and Max come from the same place?"

            "No and before you ask I didn't escape in 09 with her unit.  I went AWOL only recently when I first met Max." He shrugged. "She's kinda persuasive."

            Logan's brow rippled in contemplation. "Huh."

            "So is that all the info you have on that base?"  Alec said after stepping away from Logan and the computer.

            "Oh…ugh…yeah.  Actually I'm trying to sus out a few more details. I'm thinking if I can get in contact with any of these people they might be willing to help in taking down Manticore for good."

            Alec snorted.  "Good luck with that one." 

            "You don't think so."
            "As far as I remember the people that worked there were gung ho about the stuff they were doing there."  Alec stated darkly.  He then shrugged. "But being out here in the "real" world I guess I can see why."

            "What do you mean?"

            "Do you know how many people I deliver packages to that have simple problems like paralysis or blindness?"

            "Simple?"  Logan laughed.

            "Yeah, Manticore can fix a person with something like that no sweat?"  

            "Really?  Blindness?"

            "No sweat.  I've seen it done.  Of course it was no fun for the poor saps that were purposely blinded so they could see how exactly to do something like that.  But that's my point. We were just things to them; objects to be experimented on and used in the name of science and war.  Nobody there cared about how we felt.  Shit as far as they were concerned we didn't have feelings so they had no problem with tinkering away.  They were just thrilled they got to work on such cutting edge technology. And I'm sure the people who couldn't handle it were gotten rid of along time ago."  Alec rolled his neck and then stretched.  "But feel free to go ahead and try to find someone."  He added nonchalantly.  "Gotta blaze." He turned and headed for the door without waiting for Logan's response.  However before reaching it he turned back and said.  "If you're thinking about calling Max once I'm gone and telling her about the Sonrisa party, know now that it's a mistake."

  Logan opened his mouth to object but Alec's hard voice cut him off.   "I'm serious Logan."  Alec's eyes were completely devoid of their usual playfulness. "Max is not doing that job for you." 

            Their eyes held for a few more seconds before Alec turned and walked out leaving Logan to stare at the door for a good ten seconds before he reached down and picked up his phone.

***

            The nerve of that rich boy.  Like he would be oh so willing to have his significant other masquerade as a hooker.  Alec thought as he stormed out of Logan's building.  Angrily he grabbed the lock to his bike chain.  The lock, a part of the bike chain, and the bicycle wheel the chain was holding to the fence all yielded to Alec's anger.  He let out a scream of frustration as he threw down the lock on the pile that had, only moments ago, been a fully intact bicycle. 

            Head bowed and eyes closed, Alec took a few calming breaths in an effort to get himself under control. 

He hated this time of year. 

The breathing helped some so Alec let out one last sigh as he recalled the conversation he had just had with Logan.  He really was out of line.  Logan was right.  Max would have been perfectly capable of handling herself at the party.  And seeing how it was part of a mission, Alec would normally have had no qualms about her playing the role of a prostitute to get inside information. 

However things were far from normal.

It was that time of year again.  The time he hated more than anything.  The frustration of it all was what mostly accounted for his temper being so short.  If Logan only knew how close Alec had been to shoving his head through his computer screen, he would have backed off of trying to get Max to do the job for him a lot sooner.  Goodness sake, look what he just did to his bike! He felt like screaming again.  Damn, he hated this time of year! 

But Alec had to concede as bad as it was for him it had to be a helluva lot worse for Max.  After all, she was the one who was in heat.

He tried to push the thought of her out of his mind but it was no use.  She was in that motel room right now.  Lying on that bed.  It was just in the beginning stage, she might not even feel it yet so her soft skin wouldn't be that much warmer nor would there be that fine sheen of sweat covering it.

Alec's eyes popped open and he looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching him, especially since his body was reacting to his thoughts in the most embarrassing of ways.

Looking down at his useless bike, Alec contemplated fixing it on the spot or taking the pieces with him.  However when he noticed his shaking hands, he decided to simply leave the whole thing behind and instead headed in the opposite direction of Jam Pony.

***

            Logan Cale leaned back in his chair and stared at the phone in his hand trying to decide what to do.  He knew he wanted to call Max.  But the look in Alec's eye when he warned him not to do just that kept him from pressing the buttons. 

            Just what was Alec's deal?

            He'd only known the guy for a short time.  But in that short time they had spent a good amount of hours together.  There wasn't a lot to do at the safe house they moved Lauren and Sofie to while awaiting the hearing. At first it seemed as though they were doomed to spend those couple of days staring at either the walls or each other.  But as it turned out, Alec was quite the talker and Logan found that it was marginally better than the cold, distrustful glares he received from Max during those first few days.  It was also kind of surprising.  Max's attitude was more of what Logan expected of both X5.  In many ways, she reminded him a lot of Seth.  But Alec was nothing like either of them.  He was very laid back and quick to crack a joke no matter what the circumstance. But he guessed it sort of made sense now considering Alec was not one of the original twelve that had run away all those years ago. That bit of information still shocked him.  Sure it sort of explained while Max and Seth had the similar dispositions, but damn did it unearth a whole sleuth of other questions.

            After agreeing to work together, Logan never met with either of the X5s individually.  Today was the first time.  Why was Alec so dead set against Max doing this job for him?  When they were together, Alec didn't coddle Max.  He certainly wasn't very gentlemanly with her either.  Never once did he see him open the door for her.  He was probably never romantic. Max probably wouldn't know what to do if a man, say like himself, lavished her with expensive gifts and wines of every decade.  All the things he could open her eyes to once he got her out of those black leathers and into a beautiful evening gown.

            "If you would like to make a call, please hang up—"

            The sound of the automated voice shook Logan from his musings and he quickly hung up the phone.  He then took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.  He was getting off focus.  He needed to get back to the issue at hand-the issue being Alec.  Not Max. 

Alec was indeed a mystery.  Why had the normally cool and collected Alec flown off the handle a little while ago?  Logan may have believed that Alec just didn't want his girlfriend taking on a crime syndicate in a tight dress and stilettos. However he was there when Sonrisa's men attempted to intercept the car on the way to the safe house.  Max had been trailing them on her motorcycle from a distance.  When she radioed to the car and informed everyone that they were being followed, Alec had surprised their pursuers by sharply turning the car around.  Before the van carrying Sonrisa's men could recover, Max had driven up on them and blocked their path.  As Alec sped away from the scene, Logan had shouted to him 'what about Max' when he saw the three burly men step out of the van with machine guns.  Alec gave barely a backwards glance before dryly stating that she could handle it.  And apparently she did because twenty minutes later she showed up at the safe house with not so much a hair out of place.

But now Alec was acting skittish when it came to Max doing a particular job. Logan drummed his fingers against the phone.  Something wasn't adding up.  And there was only one way to find out the truth. 

            Logan dialed Max's number.    

***

            Dazedly, Max registered that her cell phone was ringing.  Maybe it's Alec.  Ooh Alec. Even in her mind, his name was said in a needy moan.  She reached over to the table next to her bed and tried to grab the phone.  It took a few moments for her fingers to cooperate but finally she was able to open it.

            "Hello."  She breathed.

            "Ugh, Max.  That you?"

            "Yeah.  Who's this?"

            "Logan.  Look are you okay?"

            "I'm fine."  She lied. 

            "Are you at work?"

            "No."  Max got out before yawning.  "I couldn't go in today."

            "Are you sick?"  Logan asked.  She sounded very strange.  "Max?  Max?  You there?  Max?"

            Max's eyes fluttered open from the sound of someone calling her.  She then noticed the phone in her hand.  Logan!  That's right she was talking to him.  "Yeah, I'm here Logan.  What's up?" 

            "Seriously, Max what's going on?"

            "Nothing?"  She whispered back.

            "Where are you?"

            "The motel." She muttered as her lids became heavy again.

            "What?"  Logan was beyond confused.  "Max, what the hell is going on?"

            "I need Alec."  She whined into the phone.  "Where is he?"

            "Are you hurt?  Please, Max, you can tell me what's the matter?  Are you hurt?  Is that why Alec doesn't want you going to the party tonight?"

            "What party?"  She asked in between yawns. 

            "I needed you to go to a party hosted by Sonrisa tonight.  I wanted you to do recon so that you and Alec can break in later on.

            "Alec."  Max moaned again.

            "He said you can't do it."

            "Do what?"

            "What the hell is the matter with you, Max?  I just said.  Alec told me you can't go to the party tonight."

            "No, no.  I can't."  Max agreed.

            "Why not?"

            "Because I'm in heat."  She breathed before her eyes fluttered shut once more.

            "Did you just say you were in heat?  As in…you mean like when a cat…oh right--feline DNA.  How long does it last?  Max?  Max!  Max!"

            "Hello?" 

            "It's Logan.  So this heat thing; does it always make you so confused and sleepy?"

            "No it's not the heat."  Max muttered into the phone.

            "Okay, Max.  Are you home alone because I really don't think you should be? You really don't sound right."

            "I'm not at home."

            "Where are you then?  You said something about a motel?"

            "Yeah."

            "Which one?"

            "Yum Yum Tree.  Alec picked it cause he liked the name."  Max giggled.  "Oh, Alec."  She finished with a moan.

            "I think I should come over there to check on you."

            "No you can't."

            "Why not?"

            "I can't be around men now.  I'm in heat.  I don't want to lose control."  Max muddled brain seemed to catch on her last words and her thoughts began to clear somewhat.  "Look Logan, I shouldn't be talking to you now.  I think I might have said too much already.  I gotta go."

            "Max wait."  Logan pleaded but only got the dial tone as an answer.

            Max lay in bed trying to fight the sleep closing in on her.  She needed to recall the conversation she just had with Logan.  She had a terrible feeling that she said something she really shouldn't have and now Alec was going to be mad at her. 

            "Alec."  This time she mewed his name out loud and the conversation with Logan was quickly forgotten as images of her lover carried her into slumber.

***

            He was two blocks from the motel when a sweet smell assaulted him and his body began to tingle.  Alec quickly withdrew the small bottle from his coat pocket and sprayed the contents directly on to his nostrils.  After wiping away tears, he continued towards the motel.

            She was fast asleep when he entered the room.  He watched the steady up and down of her chest for a few seconds before crossing the distance to her bed.  Her eyes fluttered open when he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

            "Hey gorgeous."  He smiled down at her.

            "Alec."  She whined.  "I told you not to say things like that to me when I'm like this."

            "My bad." He chuckled.  He leaned down to kiss her but luckily caught what he was doing and quickly straightened before making contact.  Kissing those beautiful lips would definitely be a bad idea.  He admonished himself. 

            "Is it time already?"  She asked.

            Thankful to have a task, Alec nodded his head before turning towards the bedside table.  He picked up the syringe and the vial filled with the liquid sedative and prepared a massive dose for her.

            After he cleared it of air bubbles, Max held out her arm.  He put the tip to her skin but just before pushing it in he looked up at her.  It was the same look every time.  He needed to know if she was sure.  And like every time before, Max gave a small nod.  Their eyes would always hold for a fraction of a second more and then Alec would inject her with the sedative.

            It was that fraction of a second that made all of this worth it.  Max knew that Alec didn't want to do this.  She didn't want to either.  She wished more than anything that she had access to the birth control Manticore had for X5 females rather than having to go through these precautionary methods.  Spending her heat heavily sedated and handcuffed to a bed was not her ideal and no doubt Alec could do without snorting benzene to impair his sense of smell whenever he came around her.  But they agreed it was for the best.

They didn't want to risk a pregnancy. Not with Manticore out there chasing them.  But someday it would be safe.  Max wanted so desperately to believe that.  And it was that promise of someday that Max always saw for a fraction of a second in Alec's eyes.

***

Alec balled his hands into fists and tried not to roll his eyes as the girl in front of him let out a dramatic "whoops" after dropping his clipboard a third time.  Then just as dramatically as her previous exclamation, the girl proceeded to bend over slowly giving Alec quite a view of her assets. 

            "I don't know why I'm so clumsy all of a sudden."  She cooed while batting her eyelashes.

            Alec mentally sighed knowing this was the point where he'd usually insert a cheesy smile that would guarantee a substantial tip.  But today he just wasn't in the mood to be polite.

            The girl's (for she had to be no older than fourteen despite the ample bosom and provocative outfit) flirtatious smile faltered after it appeared her efforts were not being appreciated as the handsome man stared at her with a bored expression on his face. 

            Alec watched as her eyes widened suddenly with the dawn of an idea right before the girl dropped the clipboard yet again.

            "Oh for the love of!"  Alec yelled startling the young vixen.  He then snatched the clipboard off the floor.

            "Yeah!  I'm hot!  And that's probably all the reason your fourteen year old mind needs to lure me into your house so you can spread 'em.  Never mind taking into consideration the possible diseases that are lurking under this pretty package or what other terminal presents I could leave you with, like a baby for example.  No!  None of these thoughts pierced your childish skull when faced with pretty eyes and a nice smile.  Instead you just want to impress me with how "adult" you are by throwing yourself at me.  You don't know how lucky you are that you actually get to be a kid.  So here's a little tip for you, little one, stop trying to grow up so fast and use this time to get to know yourself before you go giving yourself away."

            Alec finished by scribbling on his clipboard the name that was on the package.  He then shoved it at the shell shocked teenager.  "Thank you for using Jam Pony."  He bit out before turning and walking away.

            "Way to go, Alec."  He muttered to himself after he heard the sound of door slamming several feet behind him.  Today he'd already destroyed his bicycle and now he could add yelling at a little girl to his list. 

Her heat always did this to him.  He'd never been more on edge in his life and considering the things he had to face during his lifetime that was saying a lot. The thought annoyed the hell out of him but sometimes he couldn't help thinking how much simpler certain things were back at Manticore.

            This heat thing would never have been a problem.  The drugs they were on in Manticore along with all the tests they ran on them had the heat cycles heavily regulated.  Never once had he been influenced by the pheromones of a fellow X coming into heat because the techs also knew to separate a female from her unit at least two days prior.

Of course as a male, it was a lot easier for him.  He guessed it always sucked for the females.   He heard stories of how they'd experiment on the females while secluded.  Even though sedating them had the best affect as far as calming the cycle, it was rarely done in Manticore because the recovery time for the soldier was longer.  And of course the suits couldn't have their soldiers out of commission longer than necessary. 

But he and Max had no choice.   Alec remembered all too well the trouble her first heat had caused.  He didn't know what hit him.  Max only sort of did.  Yeah she knew it was heat but she had never been around an X before when in heat and had never experienced that strong of a pull to mate before.  One minute they were collecting their cash from a fence, the next they found themselves in a seedy motel.  They were seconds from doing it, damn the consequences, when it happened. If they had their heads on straight they would have never picked that motel to ask directions let alone copulate.  But their senses were completely on each other and not the illegal goings on of the establishment.  They had barely escaped the police raid (not picking up on the commotion until they were only two rooms a way).  If they had been caught, aside from the duffle bag full of cash, there barcodes would have gotten them exposure and Manticore would have been on to them shortly after. 

That night had been a severe wake up call.   Their lives were crazy enough as it was.  With them being constantly on the run, it was certainly no way to raise a child plus if Manticore ever caught up with them, they'd take the child and they'd never see it.   They both agreed they did not want to risk going through that. 

So they planned for the next time when she went into heat and continued to stick to it.  

***

Alec's thoughts carried him all the way back to Jam Pony, and it was only Original Cindy's manicured hand waving in his face that snapped him out of them fully.

"Damn boo; my girl got you that sprung."  

"Huh?"

"Normal's over there ready to cry cause you walked passed him without saying nothing and I've been calling your name for the past two minutes."

"Sorry O.C.  What's up?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out.  Normal said Max was sick and then Kendra told me she's been staying with you."

"Ugh yeah, Max has been sick.  Food poisoning or some shit." 

Original Cindy's eyebrow arched significantly "So you just left her at your place?"  She asked.

"No, she's over her…um…cousin's."  Alec quickly lied realizing how weird it would be that Max was sick over at his place instead of just going home since they only just started seeing each other.  Unfortunately Original Cindy didn't seem to be buying his story but luckily his cell rang curbing any further questions from her.

            "Excuse me, Cin." Alec said turning away before flipping open his phone.

***

            "Turns out I can get you into the party after all."  Logan's low voice wafted through the receiver.

            "What's my cover?"

            "A waiter."

            "Fine.  What time?"

            "When do you get off?"

            "Now." He stated without hesitation knowing full well he couldn't keep risking his bad mood pissing off anymore Jam Pony clients.

            "Good.  Come over so you can take a look at my files on Sonrisa."

***

            Alec passively surveyed the faces of the other young men riding in the catering van with him.  Only one of them looked genuinely happy to be here.  The two that looked completely stone faced, Alec guessed, were like the happy one in that they had done jobs like this several times before.  But unlike the happy one, he also guessed that they only did this for the money and not out of personal preference.  The other four young faces did not look happy at all.  To Alec that meant that they knew what this job would partly entail but chances are this was their first day and they were scared shitless of what might be asked of them.

            Not all of the men at Sonrisa's party would be interested in the professional ladies present.  It was common knowledge that for these types of shin-digs young men were recruited to be eye candy for the gents who either swung both ways or only one particular way.  Under the guise of servers and bartenders, these young men were expected to work the party the same way as the women present.  Before the pulse the looks of the young men recruited would have only gotten them the title of the hottest guy in school; their worries only being which girl to take to the prom.  But after the pulse, being the hottest guy in school didn't pay the family's bills or help put food on the table.  The money earned for doing the job as a server alone was substantial enough, but the amount that could be made for anything extra was what truly made it all the more alluring.

            Logan had found out who would be catering the party.  After going over the files on Logan's computer, the two of them had driven to the company.  Logan knew Alec's looks would make him easily fit in with the other recruits.  All it took was paying off one of the other guys to not show up so Alec could take his place.  It was actually a near perfect cover.  As the servers, they'd arrive at Sonrisa's before the party giving Alec even more time for recon.

            The van began to slow down and Alec looked out the window.  They were coming up on a gate.

            After a thorough search of the van and its occupants, the van was allowed to continue on through.  The ride from the gate to the front of the house took an additional five minutes.  Actually calling it a house was an unforgivable understatement.  The mansion was impressive to say the least.  Finding out everything there was to know about the place in a few hours was not going to be easy.

            While unloading the truck with his colleagues, Alec quickly noted which statues and hedges would provide good cover from the many security cameras. He only hoped that the muscled men walking the grounds and carrying machine guns were only so numerous because of the party tonight. 

            Once inside there were fewer armed men but the cameras located both conspicuously and inconspicuously seemed to be everywhere.

            No doubt about it, getting in here undetected would be extremely hard.  Maybe even impossible.

***

            Logan rolled his eyes at the line of cars in front of him before reaching in his glove compartment for his CD holder.  He looked through his collection without finding anything of interest. Another five minutes passed with his car only moving two inches. 

Contemplating doing an Eyes Only hack on the slowness of sector checkpoints, Logan looked out of all windows to see if he could find a reason why it was taking so long which is when he noticed a neon sign in the distance. 

            A slow smile crept on his face before hitting his turn signal.  Another five minutes and a gap in the traffic gave Logan the opportunity to move his Aztec over to the turning lane that led to the street which contained the Yum Yum Tree Motel.

***

If one more wrinkled old man grabs my ass!"  Alec seethed, his grip on the tray full of coconut shrimp tightening dangerously.

It took ninety minutes of surreptitiously checking out the layout of the mansion for Alec to come to the conclusion that breaking into this place was near suicide.  He'd broken into a lot of places since being out of Manticore and therefore trusted his opinion.  Therefore there was no way he was coming back later to snoop around for stuff that may or may not help "Eyes Only" save the world.

Unfortunately he was still enough of a soldier to know that failing the mission completely was going to leave a bad taste in his mouth for weeks to come. 

There had to be another way.

***

It was almost an hour later when Alec spotted just what he needed to come out on top after all.

Bruno Anselmo was standing against the wall scanning the crowd and letting his eyes linger noticeably on the women passing him. Alec smiled as an idea formed.  He remembered this guy from Logan's file. Born in 1990, served in Iraq, dishonorable discharge, convicted of armed robbery, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, arson, attempted rape.

The guy was undeniably scum.  Also the crimes he committed showed he was also somewhat of a hothead, but there was also something he recognized in the thug's eyes.  Sonrisa did not hire this man for his brains.  Quick to anger and stupid.  Alec shook his head at how easy this was going to be.

***

            Logan sat behind the wheel of his car impatiently drumming his fingers against it.  Finding out which room Max was in was simple thanks to the motorcycles parked in front.  The problem came when he tried getting inside.  The curtain was ajar enough for him to see what he assumed were Max legs laying on the bed.  But when he banged the door several times, she didn't answer.  By passing the keycard mechanism for the door wouldn't be a problem either.  He wasn't a cyber journalist capable of delivering cable hacks to millions of people without being traced for nothing.

            No the problem arrived in the form of a six foot four inch punk with more tattoos than body hair.  He was the desk clerk.  Max's room was located directly across from the office.  No doubt Alec did that on purpose too.  Logan thought bitterly.  The clerk had come out when he had first seen Logan banging on the door but Logan thought nothing of it.  That is until he returned from the car with his universal key card to see the man standing by Max's door.

            When it was clear that he wasn't buying the--this is my room and I just lost the key, Logan had taken out of few bills out of his wallet, but the man had just laughed.

            "You see the dude whose room this really belongs to and I used to work at the same place.  The extra cash he slipped me to guard the place was nice, but it wasn't really necessary because I've seen what that man can do.  And there's no way in hell I'd want to get on his bad side. In fact I think I'll take that fifty."  The man snatched it away and held it out of Logan's reach.

            "Hey!"

            "For my service of letting you drive your scrawny ass out of here." The man continued as if Logan had not even spoken.  "Instead of holding you here until he comes back."

            Logan had gotten in his car and driven away but only a few blocks when a thought occurred to him.  If he knew motels, which playboy that he was he certainly did, he knew there was no way the same desk clerk would work a twenty-four hour shift.  There was a good chance that guy would be getting off soon.  No way Alec could have paid off all the clerks to guard the room. 

            At least that was what Logan hoped which is why he remained where he was, more curious than ever as to why Alec had Max guarded in a motel room at all.

***

Alec saw the perfect opportunity to put his plan in motion as he continued to serve food while keeping an eye on Bruno Anselmo. 

Edgar Sonrisa was addressing a small group of men in the corner about where they can adjourn for a game of cards.  Before they could leave, Alec was happy to see Anselmo eyes were on his boss before heading over to them.  Alec put his tray down before walking up to Sonrisa with his hand outstretched. 

"I know this is unconventional but I just had to meet you sir,"

Aside from his list of henchmen, a list of charities Sonrisa donated to in order to look upstanding was part of the file Logan had on him. Alec continued to gush about the good the money did for one of the organizations from the list knowing praise wasn't something Sonrisa was going to walk away from.  Another look in Bruno's direction showed Alec that his plan was working.  Bruno was across the room and couldn't hear what was being said but he had to be curious as to why a lowly waiter was engaging in conversation with his boss.  Alec wrapped up his praises and added a quick one along with a handshake for the mayor when he saw Bruno's curiosity was getting the better of him and he was now making his way over to them. 

Fortunately for Alec, after his exit from their group, the men made their way upstairs for the card game.  It was another twenty minutes before Alec found yet another way to make his plan come to fruition.

Alec made sure Bruno was well within earshot before approaching the petite brunette Bruno had been talking to moments before.

"You're not really gonna meet him later." Alec smiled down as the woman first seemed startled that this waiter was talking to him but then couldn't help returning the smile when she gazed into his hazel eyes.  "Not when you can meet up with me."  He added in husky voice.

If possible the woman's smile grew before she shook her head.  "I wish but I really don't think that's aloud."

"Oh excuse me, the waiter outfits throwing you off, right. Not to worry," Alec whispered conspiratorially, "this is not really my gig."

"Oh no?" The woman's voice was hopeful as she moved closer.

"Hey!" Alec heard behind him at the same time a heavy hand came down on his shoulder.

The woman jumped and then quickly skittered away.  Alec turned and came face to face with Anselmo.

"Think I need a word in private with you buddy."

"Sure thing."  Alec shrugged.

Bruno looked him up and down with a disgusted expression before motioning him to follow him.

"Did somebody not explain your role here, douche bag?"  Bruno rounded on him once they were outside alone on one of the terraces.

"Ooh douche bag," Alec replied, his countenance one of mock hurt.  "Ouch."

"You're supposed to—"

"I know exactly what I'm supposed to do here.  And it's not what you think."  Alec said dismissively.

"You've got some attitude punk."

"You know I'd be careful who I call a punk.  Come tomorrow one word from me and I can make you disappear."  Alec stated haughtily.

"What?  I don't know who the hell you think you are, kid, but you've got one more wrong thing to say before you find yourself tossed over this balcony here."

Alec shook his head again.  "Sonrisa, sure made a smart move when he put me down here."

"What are you talking about?"

"Actually, it was my idea.  Figured posing as a waiter would be the best way to first check out the place, the lifestyle, the women," Alec smiled lasciviously at the last item before continuing.  "But I also figured this would be a good way to find out a few things about his business associates that could possibly be used against them in the future."  This time Alec gave him a knowing smile. "Anyways, I always like to test the waters on all levels before becoming someone's number one man. It's just good business sense." 

"Hey what do you mean number one man?"

Alec looked Bruno over as if trying to decide something before shrugging.

"All right what harm could it do telling an underling such as yourself what the big boss is up to.  There's about to be a change in command my friend.  Sonrisa wants me to take over for some cat name Anselmo.  Bruno."

"What?  Why?"

"Man's screwed up one too man times.  The last straw was when he couldn't even take out that woman and her little brat.  Sonrisa knows he has to clean house now.  More and more people are asking questions.  He's losing business.  What with the law all over him thanks to that bitch's testimony. Now people don't want to deal with someone whose number one man is so incompetent he couldn't even take care of one woman.  Sonrisa knows he needs better people around him.  Almost feel sorry for this Anselmo.  Whacks going down tonight and he won't even know what hit him."

Alec watched as Bruno's hands clenched into fists and knew he had him.  The man was undoubtedly thinking about how cozy he had seen Alec and Sonrisa only moments ago.

But Anselmo's heart rate was building in a way Alec didn't like.  And the look in Anselmo's eye confirmed it; Bruno was ready to kill Sonrisa.  Yeah that would solve some things but it wouldn't bring down the mayor like Logan wanted.  He had to keep Bruno from doing something rash. 

"But Bruno brought all this on himself."  Alec continued.  "That'd never be me.  It's mostly why old Edgar wants me so badly.  I know I'm young, but I've gotten much further then men twice my age.  Want to know my secret."  Alec winked.  "I'll give you an example."  He continued cockily. "Take what Sonrisa's doing to Anselmo, now most men would want to just go and kill Sonrisa for the betrayal.  This Anselmo guy has probably been loyal to his boss for years, just hit a few bad stacks of luck is all and now just like that the big boss is going to ice him. So if it was me, no way killing Sonrisa would be good enough.  It'd just make him a martyr and all of the little boys looking to be big boys would be gunning for me to try to replace Sonrisa and make a name for themselves.  Well fuck that.  I'd just destroy his name all together. I'd want to make Sonrisa suffer so much he'd want to kill himself and no one would want to admit they ever knew him."  Alec slung his arm around Anselmo as if they were old pals and lowered his voice.  "And I'd do that by using all the knowledge I acquired as his right hand man against him.  Sure I'd be a snitch but there are ways around that too.  I mean if I'm the big boss's right hand man that makes me number two in the overall operation, take out number one, and number two gets to be number one.  See what I mean."

Alec looked at Bruno's glazed expression and saw what he needed to see.  The fool was falling for it all. 

***

            Logan placed his binoculars back down on the dashboard and then turned his attention back to his lap top.  He had been sitting in his car in the same spot across from the motel for the past two and a half hours waiting for the clerk to leave.  However when he'd finished going over emails from his informants as well as researching the Manticore air force base files and the clerk still gave no indication that he planned to move from his spot in front of the television let alone change shifts, Logan decided to call it a night.  But just as he closed up his computer and reached to turn on his car, a middle-aged chubby red head walked into the office. 

            At first Logan thought she was a customer but when, after talking with the man for several minutes, she moved behind the desk while he put on his coat, Logan knew he was in business. 

            He waited until the man walked towards the back several rooms away from the office before getting out the car.  Trying to look as casual as he could, Logan strolled across the street towards Max's room.  He took a quick glance at the front office to make sure the new clerk attention's was firmly on the television before darting over to Max's door and inserting the key card. He slipped inside and then eased the door shut behind him. His heart was pounding as he braced his head against the door and let out a few deep breaths. 

            After gaining control of himself he slowly turned around.

            And there she was.  Sound asleep and handcuffed to the bed.  Handcuffed to the bed?  Logan blinked a few times to make sure his eyes were working okay.  There were also vials of clear fluid by her bed side along with a syringe. 

            What the hell is going on? Logan thought as he moved over to the bed and picked up one of the bottles.  The vials weren't labeled but he assumed they were some kind of sedative considering her state now and how dazed she had been when he spoke to her on the phone earlier.

            Putting the vial back down, Logan turned to stare down at the sleeping beauty while he tried to figure out what was going on.

            Her preternatural senses kicking into gear and telling her someone was in the room with her, Max began to shift on the bed as she struggled to gain consciousness. 

            Seeing her movement, Logan was alarmed to say the least.  He'd been on the receiving end of Max's wrath before and who knew how she might react upon first waking up and seeing him standing over her.

            "Alec?" He heard her moan softly.  A light bulb came on in Logan's head and taking full advantage of her closed eyes and groggy state, he sat next to her and began stroking her hair.

            "Shush, Max, it's just me."  He soothed hoping these were actions Alec would do. 

***

            Alright, Cale, get it together.  You are going to get up and you are going to walk out that door right now.  No!  Don't look at her again.  Ahh shit, too late.  Those lips.  And why does her hair have to be so soft?  Stop touching it, damn it!  Oh but I can't.  And is she purring?  Yes she is.  She likes it.  God help me.  Cut it out, Cale.  This is sick.  She's handcuffed. She's unconscious.  You are Eyes Only.  You protect the helpless.  You don't take advantage.  No matter how sexy the helpless is looking right now.  Walk away now, Cale! 

            Logan caught himself leaning in yet again and quickly jumped up from the bed.  He turned towards the door intent on heading out when Max stirred again.

            "Alec." The word fell softly from her lips, but her eyes still remained closed.  Logan slowly turned back around.

            What harm could a few more minutes do?  Logan thought as he took in her relaxed form yet again. Or even one kiss for that matter. 

Oh no not you again.  Logan's conscience groaned at the reemergence of his devilish side.

But his conscience was quickly overpowered, for when Max shifted again in her sleep, the small tee shirt she was wearing lifted slightly with her movement and revealed to Logan the smooth caramel flesh of her stomach.

He sat back down on the bed.

***

Alec gripped the handle bars of his motorcycle firmly a second before hoisting the front of the machine in the air in a pop-up wheelie. 

He felt good.  The same way he always felt after a mission was accomplished. Not long ago, he watched an angry Bruno leave the party with a few folders and a video tape.  He then tailed him all the way to Seattle PD's 12th precinct. 

It was perfect.  Since he made all that stuff up about Sonrisa betraying him, Sonrisa would never suspect Bruno was selling him out until it was too late.  Now Alec had to report to Eyes Only.

 He hated to admit it but he enjoyed carrying out the mission.  Plus it also provided a nice distraction from Max and her heat.  But that thought alone was enough to remind him where she was right now.  Logan could wait.  He needed to see Max first.

***

"You know, Max, you really deserve better."  Logan finally paused in his leering to check out the shabby motel room.  He turned back to her and took her small hand into his.  "These fingers could be decorated in gold, silver, platinum."  He whispered as he studied each slender finger one by one.  "I could give all that to you.  How does that sound?"

She didn't answer.  She was out cold.

"Have you ever been to Paris, Max?"  Logan smiled.  "Of course not. I spent a lot of time vacationing there with my parents when I was a kid.  I haven't been there in years, but I'd love to take you.  You'd love all the things I'd show you.  Everywhere we went you'd be treated like a princess.  Men would greet you by taking your hand like this and placing a chaste kiss right here."  Logan whispered as he brushed his lips against the knuckles of the hand he was still holding.

"What the fuck are you doing?"  A quiet though unmistakably deadly voice spoke from behind Logan. 

Logan's entire body froze and his eyes widened in shock.  He hadn't heard the door open or Alec enter. 

But Alec had heard him.  He had been a few feet from the door when he had heard a muffled male voice coming from inside her room.  Seeing that it wasn't the television after peeking through the window, his whole system readied itself for combat.  With stealth only second to that of a shadow he opened the door and stepped inside just in time to see Logan Cale kissing Max's hand.

"Alec!  It's not what—" Too late, Logan found his air cut off as Alec's hand became a vice around his throat.  And then Logan was sailing through the air before hitting the wall and sliding down in a heap.

"What the hell are you doing here?"  Alec hissed at the man lying crumpled on the floor. 

Logan slowly uncurled himself from his position on the floor.  "It's not what you think, Alec."  He said breathing heavily.  "I came across some information so I called Max's cell.  Only she didn't sound right.  She told me where she was and I was worried because I thought she was sick or something I came here to see if she was alright."  Logan was finally able to stand.  "I got here and saw her drugged and handcuffed to the bed."

"How'd you get in?"  Alec said.  His eyes still shooting daggers at Logan.

"When I saw her bike parked in front of the door, I just paid the lady at the desk to let me in?"

Alec clenched his fist in frustration.  But Logan could see that Alec was more frustrated with himself for not paying off the person after the tattooed guy's shift.  To Logan this all meant that Alec was buying his story. 

Feeling his nerves start to calm down, Logan continued.  "My first thought was that she had been kidnapped but then I realized her captors would not leave her with her cell phone.  And then I remembered how reluctant you were to let me speak to her this morning.  So now Alec, I'm really thinking you're the one who should be explaining what the hell is going on to me."

Alec continued to stare coldly at Logan to the point Logan's confidence began to waiver.

"Max is in heat."  Alec finally sighed.

"She's what?"  Logan feigned innocently.

"Heat, Logan.  You know the stage cats go through when its time to mate.  The need to do so is overpowering."  Alec shrugged.  "But we both agreed that kids right now is a bad idea."  He shrugged again.  "Anyways, Max will desire any male but with X5 males the desire is returned full force.  I have to keep snorting this stuff so I don't smell her pheromones."  Alec said as he pulled out a small canister and showed it to Logan.  "And I have to keep Max locked up and sedated so she won't come after me or anyone else."

"Heat, huh?"  Logan said as, unbidden, his mind went to images of a sex-crazed, Max.  "No kidding."  He added slowly.  "Guess Manticore didn't want their female soldiers bothering with cramps and tampons."  Logan joked.  When he was met with Alec's blank stare his smile fell and he cleared his throat.  "Well I should be going now.  Later, Alec."  Logan turned to leave.

"What information?"  Alec said suddenly.

Logan halted mid step towards the door "Sorry."

"You said you called Max because you came across some information. What was it?"

Logan turned around slowly to face Alec again.  "Oh.  Right."  He smiled.  "That's right, now that you're done with the party, you can handle it.  How'd that go by the way?"

Alec quickly relayed the events of the party. 

"Interesting plan."  Logan responded after Alec finished.  "Hope it works."

"So what's the next thing you want me to "handle?"  Alec asked.

"Well, using that list from the Air force base, I was able to locate someone who might be able to help with taking down Manticore.

Aside from the names you identified as still working at Manticore, I traced other names on the lists to different parts of the country.  There were some that were deceased and still others I wasn't able to find any record of again. I imagine that after working for Manticore and seeing what they were doing, those that wanted to get away probably had to leave the country, change their names and the like. However I did manage to locate a woman from the list who resides not very far from here on a place called Cedro Island.  Her name's Hannah Sukova.  Figured you can go talk to her and find out what she knows and if she's willing to help."

            "Exactly how far away is this Cedro Island cause I don't want to leave Max for too long.  Her heats almost over and she'll need me when it is.

            I'll bet. Logan thought to himself.  Out loud he said. "Well its 80 miles away give or take.  You should be back in less than a day."

***

            He debated over going for almost an hour but in the end he decided the benefits outweighed the risks.  Logan said he should be back in less than a day so he'd be there for Max when she came out of heat.  And having yet another thing to distract him from knowing she was in heat was still another bonus.

            He sneaked and creeped his way through all of the checkpoints except two.  One he bribed the guards on duty, the other one with the goody two shoes he had to turn back around and then blast through on his motorcycle a few minutes later.  All and all he was still making excellent timing.  Even the two mile swim to Cedro didn't hurt his time much.  If everything continued as smoothly, he'd be back to Max in no time.

***

Logan awoke with a start.  He'd been having the most incredible dream.  Reaching for the goddess in his dreams only to grasp empty air was what startled him awake.  He looked down at his lap and frowned at the aching proof of his imagination.

            After taking care of that he decided to get up.  It was still early but he no longer felt like lying in bed.  He got up and ran through his mind the tasks for the day: some breakfast, a shower, check his email, and then he could go see Max since he knew Alec would be gone for the day. 

            He didn't bother trying to talk himself out of it.  The thought had been on his mind ever since Alec told him what time he was leaving for Cedro Island.  He knew it was wrong and incredibly stupid.  But he couldn't help it.  The wrong head was in control.  So he just went with it.

***

            "Can I help you?"  The woman with short hair and wide green eyes who answered the door asked.

            "I really hope so."  Alec smiled shyly.  "I'm trying to find some people that I grew up with."

            "Oh?"

            "Yeah we got separated in the winter of '09 and the pulse just made searching for them all the harder.  But I found out from a friend that you used to work in Wyoming at the same place where I grew up."

            "Wyoming?"  Hannah asked.  And then her eyes widened even further with clarity.  "Come in.  I think I can help you after all."  She said before stepping aside.

            She had Alec sit down and she poured them both tea.  After a few sips she told a story of finding a little girl on the side of the road on the night of the escape.

            "Did you ever see her again?"  Alec asked quietly.

            "Uh uh."  She shook her head before taking another sip of her tea.  "You know so many people were reassigned and many others moved far away after the base closed down."  She continued in a far away voice.  "But I stayed in this part of the country.  Sure I moved around some but I never went too far. I think it was partly because I was expecting that one of these days that little girl with the shaved head and brown eyes was going to show up on my doorstep all grown up."

            Alec smiled.  "Who knows, maybe she still will." 

            "If she does, I'll be sure to tell her someone has been looking for her.  In fact why don't you tell me where I can reach you.  I mean you found me.  Never know how many others will do the same."

            "I never stay in one place for very long.  In fact, I really should be going now."  Alec stood.

            "Oh no, please don't go yet.  Stay.  There's so much more I wish I could have done for that girl.  It would really help ease my mind to know she didn't have too difficult a time being out in the world all alone and so young.  Maybe hearing how you fared would help put my mind at ease."  Hannah said with a hopeful expression. 

            Alec smiled and sat back down.

            "I just have to call into work and tell them I'll be late."  Hannah said getting up from the couch. 

            "Ugh Hannah," Alec said halting her.  "I know you're about to call them, but can you at least give me a head start.

            "I, ugh, what are you talking about?"  Hannah said innocently enough but it still didn't fool Alec.

            "You don't have to lie anymore.  Sure it would be sweet to think you stayed just in case one of the escapees came back and needed your help when every body else who worked in Wyoming either fled to another country or was reassigned to a different facility."

            Hannah's eyes widened.

            "Yeah, I know about the other facilities which is why I also know that Manticore would have eventually got it out of you that you helped one of the kids after she escaped and that they would have set you up all these years with the hope of her returning."

            Hannah shook her head and looked down.  "I'm sorry.  You're right, part of my job is to contact the colonel if any of you tried contacting me again.  I don't have a choice. If I don't cooperate—"

            Alec held up his hand to silence her.  "It's no sweat.  I understand. Thanks for the tea."  He added before walking out the door doubting he was going to get any more help from her.

            Moving to the side of the house and peeking through her curtain, his doubts were confirmed when he saw her talking on the phone.  Alec shook his head knowing that was the last he'd see of her and fled.

***

Max felt the cuff slide from her wrist and smiled in relief.  Rubbing the ache away, she turned weary eyes towards her savior and smiled again.      

"How are you feeling Max?" 

"Kinda punk."

"Here let me do that for you."  He said as he sat down beside her and took her hand.  He began massaging her wrist.  "How's that?"

"Nice."  Max nodded.  "Um, what are you doing here?"

"Alec's out of town so I'm here to take care of you."

"Really?"  Her brow furrowed.  She was so confused.  The drugs always did that to her, and if she was one hundred percent she'd be really pissed off that she felt so disorientated and drunk but her heat took care of that inhibition. Still no matter how spacey she was right now, a big part of her knew that what he had said didn't sound right.  "I didn't think Alec—"

"Shush, Max."  Logan cut her off with his words and a finger to her lips.  "Don't think.  Just relax."

            He then leaned down to kiss her and was rewarded with a mouthful of hair when Max turned her head to the side. 

            "Uhh, what are you doing?"

            Not the least bit put off, Logan lifted his head from her neck. "It's okay Max.  I'm here to take care of you."  He smiled down at her.  "I know this is what you want.  Right?"

            "I don—"Her words were cut off again when Logan crushed his lips to hers, and Max felt the heat start to take control. 

But it wasn't right.  His smell, the feel of his lips on hers was all wrong.  She didn't want him.  It scared Max to know that had he been here yesterday she probably wouldn't have had the strength or willpower to push him away.  But with the worse of her heat over, she had that willpower now.

            Too bad the drugs had sapped her strength.  However, Max didn't panic.  Instead she relaxed and examined her options.  Talking was out of the question since Logan had her lips annoyingly occupied.  But that was okay because it left her favorite option wide open--inflicting pain. 

            Slowly Max brought her hand to Logan's stubble cheek, down to his chin, and slowly to under to his throat.  Then without warning she jabbed two fingers into his flesh. 

            Max carefully slid off the bed and away from the choking, sputtering man. Her progress to the door was slow and wobbly as she had to steady herself on the furniture along the way.  Once outside she realized there might be a slight problem in that she didn't have the keys to her Ninja and if she did was she even capable of driving it. 

            Unfazed, she figured she could just walk. 

***

            She made it less than half way to the sector's checkpoint when the first spasm hit.

***

            "Great Cale."  Logan winced from the pain of speaking.  Just great.  He stood in front of the bathroom mirror.  His head was tilted slightly back to enable him to examine the two painful bruises on his throat.  At least she didn't break your trachea. 

            "Max."  He croaked when he walked out of the bathroom.  After she had hit him he thought he heard the door open and close but he had been in too much pain to process it then.  Instead he just ran gagging into the bathroom thinking that his Adam's apple had been pushed through to the back of his neck.

            When he saw that the room was empty, Logan flung open the motel room door to see if her bike was still there.  Her motorcycle was sitting in the same spot.

            Searching the grounds for several more minutes showed that she was nowhere in sight. And now Logan began to panic.

            He had to get to her to straighten everything out before she saw Alec.  It was an honest mistake.  No use for misunderstandings or blowing things out of proportion. 

He dialed her cell number.

"He…hel…lo…hello."  It rang four times before this shaky voice answered.

"Max, is that you?"

"Pppp…puh…ple…I…I…help."

"Max!  Where are you?"  Logan shouted into his receiver.

Are you all right, Miss? A voice in the background asked right before the phone went dead.

            Logan hit redial.  When her voice mail came on, he hung up and hit redial again.  Same thing.

            "Damn it!"  Logan yelled and then rubbed his throat.  He had no idea where she was. She was obviously in trouble and now her phone wasn't answering.  He had to find her. 

Logan started his car and began to drive around hoping she couldn't have made it too far on foot.  After thirty minutes of no luck, he called her house and got no answer.  He then went to Jam Pony and her boss said she hadn't been around the past few days. He then drove around another fifteen minutes under the pretense of searching for her but it was really to delay the inevitable.  With still no luck, he now knew he had no choice.  He had to call Alec.

            "Alec, its Logan."

            "Yeah."  Alec said sounding slightly winded.

            "Are you okay?"

            "Got into some trouble, but I'm fine now."  Trouble was an understatement.  The other side of the island was swarming with Lydecker's men by the time Alec made it halfway there.  He had to swim around for another two miles until he found a side of the island that wasn't occupied.  Then he had to backtrack to where he had parked his motorcycle.  Luckily he made it without Manticore seeing him, but now his good timing was all screwed up. And just when he was finally ready to go after cleaning off his bike from the bushes he had hid it under, his phone rang.

            "I can't find Max."  Logan got straight to the point.

            "What!  What do you mean?"

            "She, ugh, called me…looking for you so I went over there.  But when I got there she was gone."         

"Logan she's drugged and handcuffed to the bed!  How could she have just gotten up and left!"

            "I don't know.  Her bike's still there so I didn't think she went very far. But when I called her cell, unfortunately, I didn't get an answer."

            "This doesn't make sense."  Alec said more to himself then to Logan.  "I don't know why she would, but maybe she called someone and they came and got her."

            "I already checked her home and with her friends at work.  No one's seen her."

            Alec's jaw clenched and his grip on the phone tightened. "I know Max wouldn't just leave and I know you must have had something to do with it."

            "Alec I—"

            "Save it.  We don't have more time to waste on your bullshit.  Check hospitals."

            "Hospitals?"

            "Max hasn't really eaten anything in the past few days, what, with her being handcuffed and unconsciousness and all.  For us, a few days without rations isn't that big a deal.  But Max has seizures.  When she comes out of heat, she's dehydrated and weak, but as long as she can relax and I'm there to get her food and water and her pills she's fine in no time.  But if she doesn't get any of that stuff and then goes exerting herself she could have a seizure.  She knows that; which is why she wouldn't leave unless something or SOMEONE made her.  So check the fucking hospitals to see if someone brought her there before Manticore catches wind that a girl with a barcode suffering from seizures was admitted."

            "Yeah, okay Alec."

            "And Logan if—"

            "You don't have to say it.  Just hurry and get back here."

***

            "Sergeant Baum, team Delta two." Donald Lydecker acknowledged the man before him with a slight nod which he took as a sign to continue.  "Nothing, sir. All reports from the dam to the south shore have come up empty."

            Lydecker's jaw clenched. "Check again."  He clipped out.  Sergeant Baum saluted before turning and leaving back the way he came. 

            To the small number of men bustling around Hannah Sukova's apartment searching for clues, Donald Lydecker's demeanor appeared calm and collected as usual.  However, internally, Lydecker's frustration was growing. 

            Another one of his kids slipped through his grasp.  He had told Baum to check the island again, but he knew the order was futile.  If they hadn't found him yet, the boy was long gone.

"What about the body sir?"  Lydecker was broken out of his musings when Sergeant Neddle came before him.

            "Load it into the truck." Lydecker rasped after giving an uninterested look at Hannah Sukova's corpse lying on her well-worn carpet.  "We can use it for research.  Now that her cover's blown it's the only way she's useful for us now."

            "Yes sir." Neddle saluted before turning to do Lydecker's bidding.  Just then another one of Colonel's men burst through the door.

            "Colonel, I just got a call from one of our guys in Seattle.  Jane Doe:  late teens/early twenties.  Admitted to a hospital in Sector four after someone found her nearly unconscious and seizing.  Barcode tattoo on the back of her neck."

            "Let's go." Lydecker ordered while already heading for the door.  "Contact Sandoval.  Tell him I want five units at that hospital A.S.A.P."

            Donald Lydecker almost smiled. Maybe he'd catch one of his kids after all.      

***

            "Have you found her?"  Alec skipped pleasantries when he burst through Logan's door and got straight to the point.

            "Not sure.  So far the only thing I've come up with remotely solid is hover drone footage of ambulance activity around the motel where she was staying.  If she's as bad as you say, she probably didn't make it very far and therefore would have collapsed pretty near to the motel."

            "What hospital would they have taken her to?"

            Logan looked back at his computer screen.  "Says Metro Medical on the ambulance.  That's in sector four."

            "Have you called?"

            "I've called nearly every hospital in Seattle but because she didn't have ID they're saying they don't have time to check the description of every sick person that comes in."

            "Then I'll go myself."

            "I'll drive."  Logan said quickly getting up from his chair.  But at Alec's cold stare he paused.  "Look, I want to help.  And like it or not you're probably going to need my help."

            Alec sniffed before rolling his eyes.  "Fine, I don't have time to argue anyway." 

            Logan nodded and grabbed his keys.  Just then his cell phone rang. 

            "You're kidding me."  Alec nearly shouted when Logan held up his finger and then proceeded to answer his phone.

            "That depends, with whom am I speaking?"  Logan said to the person on the other line.

            "That's it!"  Alec turned and headed for the door.

            "No Alec wait!"  Logan yelled and then ran to catch up with him at his front door.  "It's the hospital."  Alec spun back around.  "Young woman, pretty, with dark hair.  No identification but the last number to call on her phone was mine."  Logan explained.  "She's at Metro, but they need to know her name and my relation to her before they can give me any more information."

            "Well tell them something."  Alec said impatiently.

            "Yeah, her name's…Valerie…Cale…she's my wife."  Logan ignored Alec's murderous look and concentrated on the nurse speaking to him.

            "Room 227." Logan said as soon as he closed his phone. 

            "Let's go." 

***

            "Shit.  They're here."

            Logan gave Alec a perplexed look.  They had just parked at Metro Medical.  Alec was about to get out of the car when he suddenly slammed his door back shut and made that confusing statement.

            "Who's here?"  Logan asked looking around to see what Alec was talking about.  Nothing seemed out of the usual to Logan.  They were at a hospital and there were a few ambulances in front along with EMTs and a few doctors. Regular people were coming in and out the front doors.

            "There."  Alec pointed to the man washing the windows.  Off Logan's shrug he continued.  "His ear."

            Squinting hard, Logan didn't see anything.  He then grabbed the binoculars Alec shoved over to him and peered through.  Logan's eyes widened in shock when he saw the tiny receiver that was adorned on the man's ear. 

            "And there."  Alec pointed towards the roof.  Logan swung his binoculars in the direction Alec was pointing and saw the soldiers clad in black taking up position.  "Over there too."  Alec then pointed across the street to the man and the woman sitting on the bench by the gutter, both had receivers in their ears.  Logan then looked towards the roof of the building across the street where Alec pointed to next and saw more soldiers taking aim at the hospital.

            "All this man power for one sick X5?"  Logan asked disbelievingly.

            "Of course!"  Alec screamed; the grim situation finally getting to him. He was scared to death that they were going to get Max, and that there was no way to stop it. "Escape and evade is something we were trained in before we learned to talk."  He raged on.  "They know what they're dealing with.  The one's I pointed out are just the ones I can see out front. They'll also have a man by every door, every air vent and rat hole around this fucking building!  She's penned!"

            Alec abruptly turned from Logan to stare out the window hopelessly as his highly intelligent mind frantically tried to come up with ways in which to rescue Max.  Silence reigned and the tension in the car became a tangible entity.  However, they were both destroyed with Logan's next four words.    

            "I've got an idea." 

***

            He needed one more item to make the get-up work. Alec thought as he looked down at himself.  He spied the mop broom in the corner of the closet.  Perfect. He took the keys from the unconscious janitor's hand and then stepped out of the closet.

            The plan was simple.  Go to Max's room dressed as a janitor, hide her in a garbage can or hazardous waste bin or whatever and then wheel her out right after Logan creates a diversion.  Simple. 

            At least they hoped it would be.  They were encouraged by the fact that the soldiers were still outside the hospital, for that meant that Lydecker hadn't gotten to her yet.  They also hoped that the only thing Lydecker had to go on was the fact that the person he was looking for had a barcode on her neck and was female.  He wouldn't have a name or anything else for that matter.  Counting on this Logan used his trusty lap top to tap into the hospital's computer system.  He erased the file on Valerie Cale and added thirty new files describing young female seizure victims. When Lydecker checked the computer, which he undoubtedly would, thinking it would be the easiest way to find her, he'd then have to check out each room. 

            When Alec stepped out of the service elevator to Max's floor he was pleased to see nothing out of the ordinary.  No soldiers.  No Lydecker.  He did spy a dirty linen bin and quickly moved to commandeer that. He then checked his watch before heading in the direction of Max's room.

            She was unconscious.  The doctors probably figured sedating her was the best way to stop the seizing until they could get the results of the blood test.  No doubt Max would be awake for the next two months with all the sleep she had gotten these past couple of days.  Alec smiled knowing that Max would somehow blame him for all this and she'd use it as her reason for keeping him up as well.  Good thing he liked what they usually did when she couldn't sleep.  But they had to get out of here first.  Alec shook himself from his musings while staring down at her sleeping form.  Another quick glance at his watch told him he had only ten more minutes before Logan caused the distraction that would allow them to slip out of the hospital unmolested. 

            Alec was a few feet from an exit when he saw his first soldier.  Shit Lydecker did have the clout to stifle a hospital's operation by bringing in soldiers to search the building.  Unfortunately that meant Lydecker figured out that his X5 in question was getting outside help from a computer hacker and that they planted those dummy files.  Now instead of just searching those rooms, they'd search the entire hospital.

            Alec stared at the soldier with a fearful expression knowing it would look more suspicious if he kept his head down and kept moving.  Any normal person would be curious upon seeing armed soldiers walking around a hospital.  However when the guard eyed his bin, Alec's expression became less of an act.  A cursory search would show only dirty sheets, towels, and hospital gowns.  He'd have to take out everything to uncover Max's sleeping body. Needless to say, the soldier was most likely instructed to do just that.

            Alec tensed in preparation for a fight when the soldier stopped in front of him; however, before the soldier could open his mouth, the sound of a fire alarm rang out.

            The sounds of mumbling people throughout the busy corridor grew louder as more and more alarms began to sound off throughout the building.  Then the sprinklers came on and all hell broke loose.

            Nurses and doctors were running everywhere trying to control frightened patients and visitors.  The whole scene was far too reminiscent of the electromagnetic pulse that went off nine years before and that only escalated the panic of those who remembered that early tragedy. No one understood what was happening.  The only way all the fire alarms and sprinklers in the building could be going off is if the entire building was up in flames. 

            Or if a certain cyber journalist was tapped into the hospital's system.  Alec breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of Logan causing chaos from the seat of his car.  He was further relieved to see that the soldier had dismissed his concern for Alec in the face of being stampeded by all the people running around trying to find an exit.  They were on the main floor where the majority of the people present were staff and visitors, in other words, able-bodied people with no contraptions or sickness preventing them from rushing the doors.   

            Outside the pandemonium was even worse.  People and vehicles were everywhere. The firehouse wasn't far from the hospital and the many trucks arrived in mere minutes.  Protocol called for everybody in the hospital to quickly finish whoever they were assisting and promptly leave them so that the firemen could immediately come in and rescue all those who needed assistance.  The numerous trucks and ambulances coming in and out to transport serious patients to the next nearest hospital destroyed Lydecker's barricade. 

            Alec still knew he had to be careful for soldiers still on the look out for any thing suspicious.  Nevertheless, it seemed the crazy scene would provide adequate cover for him as he wheeled Max outside, hastily removed her from the bin and got her into Logan's car where Logan had the engine already running and ready to go.

            It took less than an hour to determine the situation was either an elaborate prank or a bizarre system malfunction.  Either way the hospital board decided to invest in round the clock monitoring of their computer system.

***

            "I suppose you're here to kill me."  Logan said to the shadow that fell over him while he was seated at his computer.

            It had been a couple of days since the fiasco at the hospital.  Max was completely recovered.  No doubt she gave Alec a full account of her version of went on in the motel that day.

            "Any last words."  Alec's low voice sent a small shiver down Logan's spine.  He then swiveled in his chair to face the duo and had to work hard not to gulp at the looks in both transgenics' eyes.

            "Look I know I messed up and I'm sorry.  My intentions were never sinister."  At the raised eyebrows of both Max and Alec, Logan rushed forward.  "I swear, bout of weakness aside, I was truly only trying to help.  That's all I ever really wanted to do was help and I still want to.  In fact..."  Logan turned around and grabbed a folder off of his desk.  "Here."  He said holding out the folder.  It was Max who first broke from looking at it like it was diseased and grabbed it from Logan's hand.

            The tears sprang to Max's eyes immediately after she opened the folder and looked at the picture.

            "Max?"  Alec asked gently before throwing a distrustful glare at Logan.

            "Zack."  She whispered.

            "Federal corrections used to keep records on distinguishing marks...scars, tattoos."  Logan explained easily.  "I did a search and came up with that. ID-ed as a Michael Hanover. Booked for armed robbery nine years ago. He escaped custody after four hours. Hasn't been seen or heard from since."

            Alec looked at the file again and then put his hand on Max's shoulder until she looked up at him with eyes still brimming with tears.  He still didn't understand. 

            "He led the escape.  Only the last time I saw him that night, he was on the ground after being tazered. They had him surrounded. I was never sure if he made it out."  Max looked at Logan.  "Until now."

            Alec heard the hint of gratitude in Max's voice and knew Logan had redeemed himself, yet again.  Alec mentally shrugged.  Logan had also been a big part of rescuing Max from the hospital so the guy did have his uses.  So he had a thing for Max.  Could he really blame him?  At least it was out in the open.  After all, the devil he knew was a lot easier to deal with than the ones he didn't.

TBC

How was that?  Please, review and tell me.