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!

19. We are Family

Dark Angel Revised

Chapter 19

"We Are Family"

The sound of his strong heartbeat in her ear and the feel of his fingers moving through her hair chased away any remnants of the nightmare she had just woken from.  Unfortunately Ben's ghost haunted her waking life as much as it did her dreams and that wound up being even worse.  With her nightmares, there was a bizarre kind of order to them that only allowed for acceptance.  But while awake she had to deal with the logic and reason that were absent from her dreams leaving her with more and more unanswered questions and even more confusion.

"I don't understand what happened." She said breaking the silence.  "Ben always saw the good.  He wasn't practical like Zack who needed to see it and touch it in order for it to be real.  Ben believed someone was watching over us and protecting us always even if we couldn't see her.  He'd make shadow animals on the wall with his hands and tell me they'd only stay out if I smiled. He loved to tell stories."

"He sounds like a nice kid."  Alec softly commented.

"He was.  He was." Max whispered before burrowing deeper into Alec's arms.

Things had gotten a lot better over the weeks since Ben's demise.  When she did sleep, the nightmares about Ben were less frequent.  She no longer flinched or looked fearful thinking he was Ben at first whenever Alec would accidentally sneak up on her or catch her off guard.

But there were still the moments of incredible grief.  All the things she could have done differently that ended with Ben walking away alive constantly plagued her.  Alec repeatedly told her that Ben was too far gone or that doing anything different more than likely would have ended with Ben killing her.  Sometimes his reasoning worked but other times, like now, Max couldn't accept that Ben had to die.

"I just wish I could have helped him…wish I knew what happened."  Max sobbed.  "Why'd he become so crazy?  Why'd he just let go?"

"I don't know, Maxie.  I'm sorry.  I do know that if Manticore had recaptured him they either would have terminated him anyway so they could harvest his organs or they would have kept him alive to experiment on and maybe see just how sick he'd get.  And that would have been a million times worse."  Alec's fingers suddenly paused in their caressing.  "Plus if he'd somehow gotten better he'd have to live with the guilt of all the people he killed." 

Max raised her head to look up at him and could clearly see that he wasn't just talking about Ben anymore.   So she pulled his head to hers and sealed her mouth to his in a tender kiss reminding him of all the good things that were part of life.  The sparkling eyes and radiant smile that met her when they pulled away from each other showed her that he had been comforted. Unfortunately the coldness once again began to seep into her bones at the reminder of who wouldn't get the chance to enjoy what life offered ever again.

"I know you're right."  She whispered.  "But I still can't help thinking if death was the answer.  I mean would if he's still suffering."  Her demeanor was quickly becoming agitated again. "What if---"

"Shush, Maxie."  Alec soothed as he gently put a finger to her lips.  "He's in a better place."

"Do you really believe that?" When he didn't answer her right away she pressed.  "Alec?"  His eyes flicked to hers briefly before looking away as he said.

"Anywhere's better than Manticore."  She saw in his expression that there was more.  Reaching up, she gently grasped his chin and guided it down until he was looking at her again.

"Tell me." She urged softly.

He stared at her and to her surprise a tiny smile began to form.  "It's stupid."  He said shaking his head but when he looked at her he saw in her eyes that she wasn't just going to let it go.  Alec's dramatic sigh coaxed a smile from Max and he relaxed.  He hated talking about his childhood but he hated disappointing Max even more.

"On late night maneuvers, I'd spend the down time staring up at the stars in the sky." He began slowly.  "One night this kid in my unit took a fatal hit right in front of me during live ordinance drills.  It caught him right in the face.  I…I looked up because I…well his face…it was bad."  He stopped and looked at Max who nodded sympathetically which prompted him to continue.  "Anyways I saw a shooting star a couple of seconds after I looked up and I thought that maybe that was 364 going into the sky.  I mean I knew it wasn't him physically because his body was still laying motionless a few feet away.  But I just couldn't believe that one minute someone could be full of life and movement and then in an instant a bullet could make all that energy just vanish.  It had to go somewhere, right, and I thought maybe the sky to become stars was where."  He stopped taking and his eyes clouded a bit. Max opened her mouth to speak but Alec began again.  "I could see so many stars those nights and I thought that maybe that's what happened to everyone when they died."  He shrugged.  "It didn't seem like such a bad place to end up and it made me feel, I don't know, kinda better about things."

"How old were you when that happened?"

"Seven, I think.  I know it's stupid but—"

"No it's not."  Max said assuredly.  "You know in some ways you and Ben are a lot a like."  Alec raised an eyebrow; not sure how to take that statement. "He just couldn't accept some of the answers they gave us…if they gave them…and so he'd make up his own."  She continued.  "The stories he'd tell us were so fantastic and the way he'd tell them, you just couldn't help but believe."  Max's smile came fuller and easier this time. "He used to tell us there was a Good Place; a place where no one disappeared or got yelled at or punished.  You could eat whatever and sleep as long as you wanted.  Everyone was always happy."  Max's voice cracked on the last sentence; the smile vanished and tears once again blurred her vision.

Alec gathered her back into his arms and rocked her gently as she cried some more.  It was still a bit strange but definitely in a good way, Alec couldn't help thinking as he kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back as she clutched at him.  Their actions seemed so natural even though growing up neither of them was allowed to stop and mourn the dead or comfort the living left behind. 

But now they were free to do so.

            "You know how far away Kings Road is.  So on the way Original Cindy had a lot of time to do some thinking. And I kept comin' back to the same question; what kind of female forgets her purse?"

            Sketchy and Alec shrugged however Max was on the same wavelength as Original Cindy.

            "Oh O.C. tell me you didn't."

            "Damn right I did."

The next day found the Jam Pony crew, Max, Alec, Sketchy, and Original Cindy, seated at their table for lunch and gabbing about their runs. The four of them eating lunch together had become a ritual long ago.  After Max and Alec's long vacation it would have picked right up again once they returned to work, but Max had been distant ever since the incident with Ben.  She sometimes opted to eat alone with Alec making up excuses for her during the times she didn't bother to give any.  More often, she chose to work through her lunch break so she'd be free to leave early. Today was the first day she felt good enough to join the group and things easily went back to normal.

            "Did what?" Sketchy asked before taking a bite into his sandwich.

            "I snuck a peek in her purse."

            "Dude, that's like an invasion of privacy." Sketchy choked out.

            "I say way to go O.C." Alec said and received a punch in his arm from Max.  "Ow! What?  You want to know everything there is to know about a chick, her purse is the quickest and easiest way to get the 411."

            "Oh so how often do you go rifling around through my stuff behind my back."  Max fumed.

            "Hey that's different.  Number one, you don't carry a purse and number two I wouldn't dream of crossing you. You know I bruise like a peach."  Alec said dramatically while rubbing his shoulder.

            Max couldn't help laughing at his antics.

            "Do you want to know what I found out or not?"  Original Cindy interrupted in a bored tone.

            "Yeah, spill."  Sketchy answered while Max and Alec nodded.

            "So, Original Cindy looks in the purse and finds a prescription made out for Louise Klein for Primarin."

"What's that? "

"Estrogen, basically." Max informed. "So?

            Alec's eyes widened and a smile began to form.

"Then Original Cindy finds Louise Klein's driver's license. Only it says that Louise Klein is Louis Klein."

            At this point Alec burst out laughing.

"What?" Sketchy asked still confused. "Was it like a typo?"

"I mean, like a former male." O.C. corrected making Alec laugh all the harder.

            "Normal's chick is a dude?"  Sketchy got out between giggles.

"Was a dude." Original Cindy said.

"Come on. Maybe she's got a brother or something."  Max commented.

"No, girl. The part of King's Road where she lives is very gender friendly. It's where all the mista sistas reside. The lesbian mind could get seriously tampered with in that neighborhood."

"I wouldn't be laughing so hard, Alec." Max warned. "You know how Normal feels about you.  Now you have cause to be concerned if he goes around dating shims."

            Alec's laughter abruptly ended and was replaced by a fearful expression.  He looked over at Normal writing on his clipboard behind the dispatch desk and then back at Max.

            "You'll protect me, won't you Maxie, if Normal ever tries anything."

            Max shrugged.  "We'll see."

            "I don't think you got nothing to worry 'bout, boo, I saw Louise and the bitch is fine.  No Adam's apple, nose hair or anything else that says she's part of the group with the Y chromosome."

            "So wait, you think Normal doesn't know about her?"  Sketchy asked excitedly.

            "Oh he's gonna find out."  Max promised.

            "Which will be the entertainment spectacular of a lifetime."  Sketchy added.  "Can we go tell him now?  Please."

            "Nah they just started dating, let's at least wait till we're pretty sure he's done something he's gonna regret." Max said.

            "Ooh you evil, boo." Original Cindy said smiling.

            "Finally someone believes me."  Alec added only to receive another punch from Max.

            "Anyway," Max changed the subject. "What was the highlight of your week, Sketch?"

            "I delivered a human finger."  Sketchy supplied happily.

            "Ewww, there goes my appetite." Original Cindy said as she pushed the rest of her sandwich away.

            "And there goes mine."  Alec mumbled while staring at the entrance to Jam Pony. His serious tone alerted Max to his mood change and she quickly turned around to see the cause.

            "Boo, isn't that that friend of yours who tried to work here?"

            "Yeah, excuse me." Max said absently before getting up from the table and heading towards the entrance.  Alec rose as well but headed over at a much slower pace.

              "Zack, hey."  Max said before embracing him.  Zack was startled by the fierceness of her grip but easily reciprocated.  He looked up at Alec staring at them none too happily and gave him a questioning look.

            "Is everything okay, Maxie?"  Zack whispered into her hair.

            "Everything's fine."  Max said finally pulling away and quickly wiping her eyes.  Zack looked back up at Alec but with a glare this time that said if you're the reason Max is upset then you'd better start running now.

            "Max?"

            "Sorry, Zack.  Just missed you is all."  Max said shaking her head and taking a deep breath. "What's up?  What brings you here?"

            "Tinga."

            "Is she okay?"  Max said quickly becoming alarmed at the idea of another hurt sibling.  At this point Alec came up next to Max and put an arm around her and Max grateful for his presence leaned into his comforting embrace.

            "This is not the place to discuss it.  Can we take a walk?"  Zack bit out.

            "My lunch break's over in like five."

            "Go ahead. I'll handle Normal and catch up with you later." Alec offered.

            "Thanks."  Max smiled up at him before following Zack who had already turned and walked away.

            "So what about Tinga?"  Max asked after she found Zack outside leaning against a wall.

            "She's here."

            "She's is? Do you know where?  Can we see her?"  Max gushed and Zack clenched his jaw in frustration.

            "She's demanding to see you."  At Max's puzzled look he continued.  "She was living in Portland when Lydecker got on to her.  I was able to get her out but when we passed through here I made the mistake of telling her that this is where you were. Now she refuses to go any further unless I let you see her.  She's even threatening to go back to Portland."

            "Why?"

            "She won't tell me." Zack nearly shouted. "She says she's only going to talk to you."

            "Well, where is she now?"

            "Motel in Sector 8."

            "Let's go."

            "I missed you so much, baby sister."  Tinga whispered as she hugged her long lost sibling.

            "Me too."  Max whispered back. Zack who had been standing awkwardly in the corner watching the reunion cautiously approached the two.

            "Ugh, I'm gonna go grab some coffee."  He muttered eager to bail before the water works started.

            "Zack said you gave him hell 'bout seeing me."  Max said after finally pulling away once Zack had left.

            Tinga nodded and then slowly turned away and sat down on one of the beds.

            "Tinga?"  Max questioned wanting to the know the reason for her big sister's solemn expression.

            "I gotta go back, Maxie."

            "Look," Max began as she took a seat beside her older sister.  "I know big brother can be a real pain in the ass but if Lydecker was so close to finding you back in Portland it might not be a bad idea to lay low awhile.  Wait till the smoke clears then go back."

            "It might be too late by then."

            "Too late for what?"

            "To save my family."

            "We've searched all the surrounding towns where the abandoned vehicle was found, sir, and came up empty."

            "Broaden it."

            "Yes sir.  We do have some interesting news from someone we questioned where she was last seen.  The neighbor's brother said that his niece went to the same school as the girl in the picture's son."

            "A son?"

            "Affirmative sir,"

            "Listen to me, confirming the veracity of this claim is of utmost importance.  Pull four of the six teams searching the area for 656 and get them back to the town she was last seen.  I want a check run on every school, daycare, and playground in the area."

            "Yes sir."

            Lydecker hung up the phone his spirits slightly elevated. Things had not gone well since day one of the search for the escaped X5s.  Two of the three that he had recovered were both dead, coincidentally (at least based on thorough and exhaustive research that concluded that it had been mere coincidence), in the same fashion. The other one, 734, was only his again because she was essentially dumped in his lap.  And now his latest lead on 656 turned up empty. Well not exactly empty now that there was a possibility of a child. He was too hardened and realistic to have hopes let alone get them up at the thought that this may be the break that would turn things around. 

But he needed this. 

The committee was none too pleased with the near misses or the amount of money used to pay off the Seattle PD in exchange for all the evidence and records involving "the serial dentist."  There could be no mistakes this time.  His kids were good, of course he trained them to be, and that was probably why they always managed to get a jump on his men.  But now it was time to use their own against them.

            Lydecker jabbed the call button and a nasally voice was heard an instant later.

            "Yes, Colonel."

            "Have X5-734 report to my office."

            "Yes, sir."

            Colonel Lydecker turned and stared at the photos of the escapees covering his wall.  Only two empty spaces glared back at him. The one that formally held 493's picture and therefore should be empty was filled with a new one of what the adult 493 would look like except the text identifying the face ended with the numbers 494.  The newly escaped rogue hadn't come from his facility and therefore wasn't his responsibility but in a rare act of cohesion the different facilities decided to swap pictures of escaped transgenics long ago just in case.

            "Clemmings."  Lydecker rasped into his intercom a moment later when he noticed that 734 still hadn't appeared.  "Whe—"
            "Yes, Colonel, I was just about to inform you.  734's no longer on the premises.  She was moved this morning to an undisclosed location."

            "By whose orders?"  Lydecker demanded.

            Clemmings scrolled down 734's file and gulped.

            "Ugh, by…yours…sir."

            A husband and a child.  It was so normal and domestic, something she briefly fantasized about but didn't seriously think it would ever be a possibility for her.  Out of all of them, however, she wasn't surprised that Tinga was the one that settled down into family life.  When they were kids in Manticore, she guessed Tinga could be considered the closest thing to a mother they had.  Max could remember being little and having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and Tinga being the one to take her by the hand and take her there and back because she was scared to go by herself; afraid a monster might be lurking in the shadows of the dark corridors.  It was also Tinga who would straighten the fatigues of the young ones before inspection.

            "Zack ranted about how stubborn you were about leaving Seattle."  Tinga continued.  "I was hoping if we double team him he'd let me go back when I tell him about Charlie and Case."

            Max nodded.  She wasn't surprised that Tinga hadn't told Zack.  She knew as well as Tinga that Zack would probably say that Charlie and Case were better off without her and vice versa because they would only slow her down.  Max also wasn't surprised that Tinga felt like she needed back up in confronting Zack.  That's how it had been back at Manticore too.  Despite being the same age she always deferred to Zack and it had more to do with her nature than his being the section leader.  After all, she and Jondy were two of the youngest and they often defied Zack or questioned his orders.

            "Charlie doesn't know the truth either."  Tinga whispered.

            Max's eyes widened.  Keeping her true self secret had always been a fact of life but she didn't think she'd be able to keep it secret from a norm she agreed to spend the rest of her life with and have a child with which is probably why she never seriously got involved with one.  And because of Alec she would never need to either. 

            "I know I should have told him."  Tinga continued.  "And believe me Max I tried, in fact I sorta did when we first met."  Tinga stood and began to pace nervously. "God, Max, that first night we sat up talking.  It was like magic the way we instantly connected.  I wanted him to know about all of me so I told him."

            "But then he got that look in his eyes." Max said knowingly

            Tinga nodded.

            "So you laughed and said you were joking." Tinga stopped pacing and faced Max.

            "That's happened to you."

            "Once or twice." Max shrugged.

            "I really did intend to sit him down and tell him again if we ever got really serious, but every time I started to I'd just remember that look in his face.  Oh Max, I know it was stupid and selfish, because the next thing I knew we were married and then I was pregnant and I kept thinking if I tell him now it wouldn't be fair because I already dragged him this far. So I just couldn't tell him, Max, and now it may be too late." Tinga said desperately.

            "Well get them."  Max assured.  "Whether Zack helps or not."

            "If Lydecker comes or worse is already there, we're gonna need him."

            "Pfft."  Max said waving a hand as if to ward off such a statement.  "Us girls can handle whatever Lydecker and his men dish out any day of the week."  She winked and Tinga smiled.  "Sides," Max continued with a shrug.  "I know someone else who will help us.  He's X series too."

            "Who?"  Tinga questioned wide eyed at this unexpected information.  "Zane, Krit, Mar, Se---"

            "He wasn't in our unit." Max cut in shaking her head.  "He escaped last year and we've been together ever since.  I named him Alec.  He's…ugh…he's Ben's twin.  494"

            "Twin?" Tinga exclaimed, her surprise making her miss the flash of pain that surfaced in Max's eyes at the mention of Ben.

            "Apparently it's the norm at good ole Manticore."  Max said in a controlled tone of voice. "Alec said there's a good chance that every one of us has one."

            Tinga was intrigued by the news but accepted it with a shrug just the same. 

            "So when do we do this?"  She asked.

            "Right away.  I just gotta make a call."  Max said while pulling out her cell phone.  She dialed and Alec answered on the first ring.

            "Where'd you and Zack take off to?" He asked without preamble.

            "A motel."

            "Very funny."

            "I'm not jok…ew Alec you're disgusting."  Max shuddered upon getting what Alec thought she meant. "Zack took me to this motel because this is where my sister, Tinga, is."

            "Tinga?  You pick that one out for her?"

            "No.  Why?"

            "Never mind.  What's up?"
            "We need to take another road trip.  My sister left some unfinished business in Portland and we gotta go and help her sort it out, but first she's gonna need a few things. I know a guy who can get ID for her.  Meanwhile you think you can charm Normal into giving you some extra sector passes."

            "Why don't we just have Logan do it?  He can make the IDs for everyone and get the passes too.  They'll look better than any we'd get off the street.  Plus they'd be cheaper and done quicker."

            Max closed her eyes and held in a sigh.  She knew Alec was going to suggest Logan but called anyway hoping just maybe he'd go with her plan without question.  She hadn't told him about Logan's proposition the last time she had seen "Eyes Only" and with all the other stuff with Ben, it kind of slipped her mind which was good because she wasn't sure how Alec would react or if she should tell him at all.

            "Max?"

            "Fine."  She replied curtly. "I'll meet you at Logan's in a half hour."

            "Wow, talk about having friends in high places."  Tinga said as she looked around Logan's penthouse in awe.

            "Ah!"  Logan let out a startled shout when he heard Tinga's voice and then turned from his computer to find four people staring at him.

            "The doorbell is there for a reason."  Logan said through gritted teeth. His statement was met by shrugs and various models of blank faced innocence. Logan stood and gave a forced smile.  "So, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

            "Tinga this is Logan."  Max stated coolly.  "Logan, this is Tinga.  She's our sister.  We need to get her and the rest of her family into Canada. But first we have to go get them.  We need IDs and interstate passes for all three of them.  We can't risk the sneak and creep method because one her husband isn't genetically engineered and two Lydecker was on to her back in Portland so this has to be done quickly and smoothly." 

            "When do you plan on heading back to Portland?" Logan asked after taking a moment to process everything Max had just recited in one breath.

            "Tonight."

            Logan looked at his watch.  "I have to leave soon to meet a source and I probably won't be back until eight.  I can start on the IDs but the passes won't be ready until tomorrow."

            "We need them tonight.  Reschedule your meeting."  Alec raised an eyebrow at Max's no nonsense tone.

            "Now Max, it's not really fair for you to ask me to rearrange my schedule every time you need a favor.  That wasn't our arrangement.  I—"

            "Oh right our arrangement."  Max interrupted.  "The last time we spoke I got the impression that you weren't happy with our previous arrangement and that was why you offered me a new deal.  I know I already gave you an answer but you know that was awfully rude of me.  Perhaps I should discuss it with Alec or maybe even Zack now to see how they feel about your newer proposition. "

            "What new deal?"  Alec asked finally deciding he wanted in on whatever private conversation Max and Logan were having.

            "Well," Max began slowly while still staring Logan down.  "Logan suggested in exchange for his help that I---"

            "You know what."  Logan interrupted loudly.  "It was silly.  I'm fine with the way things are.  No need to change things."  He smiled nervously.  "I can start on that stuff for Tinga?  Is it?"  At her nod he continued quickly.  "And I'll just push back my meeting.  I should be able to get it all done in a couple of hours."

            Max's eyes still burned into Logan's but she forced her mouth to curve into a smile.  Meanwhile Alec and Zack had matching looks of perplexity but when they faced each other Alec shrugged figuring he'd get the whole story later.  Zack too decided to push it aside for now.

            "Damn it!"  Three heads snapped up at the unexpected outburst.  "I got kicked out again." Eyes Only offered in explanation.

            "Here try this." Tinga nudged Logan out of the way.  And before he could protest the idea of a stranger touching his beloved keyboard, her fingers were already flying across the keys and seconds later he was back into the sector police files.

            Logan looked from the computer to the woman next to him and then back to his computer in surprise.  "What is that you do in Portland?"

            "I work in a bakery." Tinga replied nonchalantly.

            "Don't look so shocked."  Zack cut in from across the room.  "You think assassination techniques and weaponry were the only things we were trained in back at Manticore."  He questioned in his usual brusque manner.

            "Well no.  I suppose they'd want their ultimate soldiers to excel in just about everything.  I don't even know why you even need my help."

            "Well the building I'm squatting in doesn't come with internet access."  Max supplied with false sweetness.

            "And the building I'm paying way too much to rent a room in doesn't even come with hot water let alone access to the internet."  Alec added.

            Instead of responding verbally, Logan nodded and turned his attention back to the computer leaving Max and Alec to return to their whispered conversation.  Zack looked from the lovers seated on the couch to his other sister and Logan talking animatedly about gigahertz and remote servers and decided a change in scenery was in order.  He didn't bother informing anyone where he was going because for one he was just going into the kitchen and secondly it's not like they'd bother listening to him anyway. 

He made a point a long time ago to never lie to himself so he could admit easily that he was very pissed off by how things were going.  Risk after risk he took without question to keep his sisters and brothers safe.  He didn't expect gratitude because that was beyond him as well.  But was common sense too much to ask.  They were trained to follow orders.  They were trained to do the sensible thing when it came to survival.  Yet here he was laying out the sensible path and ordering them to follow it, yet they refused.  Insisting on making decisions that put them in constant danger and for what.  Max and Alec staying in Seattle.  Tinga going back to Portland for her family (and he didn't even want to get started on the fact that she was stupid enough to have a family in the first place).  Why didn't they just save him the trouble and instead just march up to the gates of Manticore and start knocking.

            The chirp of his cell phone pulled him away from his dark thoughts. 

            "Hello."

            "I've got something."  A voice whispered on the other line. "Not much but I should know more soon."

            "Go ahead."

            "She's been moved, but I don't know where."

            "A mission?"

"No. The Colonel didn't give the orders.  It was all very cloak and dagger."

"Is that all?"

"For now.  I'll call again when I know more."

"Very well.  You'll get the new number in three hours." Zack hung up and took a moment to process this new information.  It sounded like dissention among the ranks back at Manticore.  Zack wasn't surprised but he was worried because when the shit hit the fan it would be Brin and the rest of his kind that would suffer the most.

            "For the last time no."

            "Come on Maxie.  They're not gonna be done for a while.  We've got plenty of time."

            "Alec I am not going to have sex with you in Logan's bathroom."

            "The guestroom?"

            "Alec!"

            "Fine."  He let out a long suffering sigh. "So what was that scene with Logan earlier?"

            Max shrugged.  "I don't know what you're talking about."  She said quietly.

            "Max."

            "It's nothing Alec. Drop it."

            "I know you Max and that was definitely not nothing.  You're really pissed at him and I want to know why."

            "Fine, it was something.  But I handled it and now all's forgotten and I need you to forget about it too."  She told him earnestly.

            Alec's shoulders slumped.  Normally he would respect her wishes but he could tell that whatever happened with Logan was major and he didn't know why but he had a feeling that it was the big things that were not supposed to be kept secret from each other if their plan of being together forever was going to work.

            "Did he hurt you?"

            "Alec."  Max hissed.

            "Max."  Alec hissed right back showing her that this wasn't one of those times where he was going to roll over and let her get her way.  Their gazes burned into each others in the silence that followed, and it was Max who dropped her eyes first.

            She shook her head.  "Logan and I had a falling out during that whole thing with Ben a few weeks ago."  She began softly.  "You don't need to know the details."  Max held up her hand and cut off his upcoming protest. "Trust me, you don't.  Like I said I handled it and I really don't want to talk about it.  And since I know you do."  She hurried on.  "How about we compromise?  You drop it and we go have sex in Logan's bathroom."

            Alec's eyes widened and whatever counterargument he was going to use died in his throat and made him choke up a dazzling smile.

            "Deal." He nearly shouted before jumping up, grabbing her hand and pulling her up and towards the bathroom down the hall.

            "Hey where are you two off to?"  Zack's question stopped the giggling pair and they turned as one with matching sheepish expressions to face the blond X5.

            "Uhhh…we…nowhere."  Alec stammered because Max couldn't get her vocal chords to work at all.

            "Well since you're not busy.  I thought we might want to come up with some kind of plan before we carry out this asinine idea of going back to the lion's den.  The biggest point of order being: how are we going to get Tinga's husband and small child out of there with motorcycles as our only means of transportation?"

            "Shit, he's right."  Max said after finally finding her voice.  "It's too risky to try and make a speedy get away with a child on a motorcycle.  Plus they might be shooting at us.  We'll have no cover."

            "So we need a car."  Alec said.

            "It'd help."  Zack said.

            Alec snapped his fingers. "I know just the place to get one.    It's sweet too.  Black SUV, tinted windows, Class two armor.  Worth a fortune once we're done.  The South Market Mafia's got a hang out right down the street from my apartment building.  Different ones are parked there at any given time of the day.  I always think about jacking one whenever I see them driving by just never had a good enough excuse."  Alec smiled.  "Now I do."

            "We'll go now."  Zack said before nodding towards the computer room. "They should be set by the time we get back."

            Max looked over at Tinga and Logan laughing at some private hacker joke.  "You guys go ahead. I'll stay here with Tinga."

            "Sure?"  Alec quirked his eyebrow and asked.

            "Yeah. Hurry back."

            "Definitely."  Alec said leaning down and kissing her quickly.  "We have some unfinished business."

            Max smiled before pushing him towards Zack who was already heading for the front door.

            "Would you quit it!" Zack barked.

            Alec's hands that had been beating out a rhythm on his knees, legs, and the dashboard of the SUV they had recently liberated halted.

            "What? Is this bothering you?"

"No it's one of my favorite things."      Zack retorted.

"Well you broke the radio." Alec grumbled back.

"I didn't want to draw attention to us and since you insisted on blasting that crap that hardly even qualifies as music I had to do something."

"Look I let it slide that you decimated the most booming system I ever had the privilege to hear, but I draw the line at calling Foo Daddy's song "Beat 'em in His Nose Hair" crap. If he tries to steal your girl don't act like you don't care."  Alec began belting out much to Zack's horror.  "You gotta beat em.  Alec extended his arm towards Zack's side of the car, his hand mimicking a microphone.  Gotta what?" He pulled his hand back to his own mouth"Gotta beat em in his nose hair." He shouted before his hands returned to their movements as drums.

"Alec!" Zack yelled.

"Oh right."  He stopped immediately.  "Seriously dude, you've gotta lighten up.  Why are you so stiff all the time, anyway?"

Zack clenched his jaw and the steering wheel.  "Somebody's gotta keep—"

"There head in the game, yeah, yeah, blah, blah."  Alec rolled his eyes and recited.

"Well excuse me 494 for being responsible by considering everything that's at stake before making decisions."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that it must be great to be you."  Zack said icily.  "All you have to do is worry about yourself so you get to have all the fun you want.  Going from city to city robbing places for the thrill of it.  Latching on to Maxie for the time being at least until you get tired of her or get her captured while you slip away scott free.  Meanwhile I have to---"

"Whoa whoa whoa.  Where the hell is this coming from?  You don't know shit about me or my relationship with Maxie."

"I know all I need to know."

"Whatever Zack, I'm not even going to go there with you because we both know what this is really about."  Alec said rolling his eyes and looking out of his window.  He then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as he said. "So why don't you just concentrate on driving and shutting the fuck up."

Zack slammed on the breaks.  Alec's eyes jilted open just in time to see the dashboard rushing towards him only to be yanked painfully back milliseconds later by his seatbelt.

"I swear Alec if we didn't have a job to do I'd—"

"You'd get your ass kicked and you know it!"  Alec yelled; his nerves still a bit frazzled from the unexpected stop.  "And that is the only reason why you're hiding behind your oh so noble role of "Mr. Responsible."

Zack swerved off to the side of the road and threw open his car door.  "It's go time 494."

Alec made no move to get out of the car but instead shook his head slowly.  "We will finish this Zack.  But you know as well as I do that now is not the time." Zack clenched and unclenched his fists before reaching over and slamming his door closed.  He then started the car without a word. "Besides, Max'll kick both our asses if she found out we stopped to fight each other."

"Call me crazy, little sis, but I get the feeling you're not too fond of Logan."  Tinga and Logan finished the paperwork shortly after Alec and Zack had left so Logan went to meet his source but not before telling them to help themselves to food in the kitchen while they waited for the guys to return. Neither woman was hungry but they did decide to pack up stuff to take for the trip to Portland.

Max paused in making a sandwich and shrugged.  "We tend to clash."

"Clash!"  Tinga exclaimed.  "I know I've only just been around both of you today but the temperature was pretty polar whenever you two were sharing the same space.  What gives?"

"It's nothing."  Max said resuming her task.  "I mean he's not the usual sleaze but that's only because he has a hero complex.  And I guess he can't help some of the things he says and does because he grew up filthy rich and had everything he ever wanted handed to him on a silver platter.  He has enough of a conscious to know that a lot of things aren't right in this world and even tries to do something about it.  But since he's so used to getting what he wants sometimes he can't help himself from blurring the line.  And by blurring the line I mean being a drooling pig to whatever pretty face with a nice set of tits that walks by him."

"Ugh, I know the type.  What is it with men?"  Tinga said disgustedly.  "You should have seen some of the creeps that I dealt with at the bakery of all places.  I thought just grandmothers and housewives went there. But no; it was as much creep central as any other place in that town." 

"Slim pickings, huh sis."

"Very slim."  Tinga agreed but then she smiled. "But I lucked up with Charlie."

"He's not a typical oversexed male?"  Max asked in an almost baffled tone that there was such a thing.

"Don't get me wrong, he handles his business in the bedroom if you know what I mean. But he wasn't one of those leering weirdoes when we first met and he also didn't try to grope me every chance he got when we started dating.  How's Alec?"

Max thought about their almost adventure in Logan's bathroom and smiled.   "Well it isn't really fair to say that Alec's a typical horny male because when I'm with him I think about getting laid as much as he outright says it."

"Oh man we might be approaching the too much information zone.  The thought of sex involving my sister and my brother's twin is a little disturbing.  But then again I do kind of wonder if Ben or our other brothers are total players.  I wouldn't be surprised."  Tinga smiled.  Her back was to Max so she was completely unaware of the other woman's composure rapidly crumbling at the mention of Ben. "I know Alec's your man and Ben's our brother but I gotta say that Manticore certainly created good looking soldiers. Of course Zack's too tight assed and focused on whatever "mission" to consider using his good looks to get himself laid. I wonder how Zane and Mar turned out."  Tinga continued still oblivious to Max's turmoil.  "Anyway even though there was no Manticore tampering involved, my Charlie turned out pretty fine. He has the most gorgeous--

 "Ben's dead."  Max whispered.

"What?"  Tinga spun around.  Her confusion by the sudden change in topic was evident in her facial expression.

"Ben's dead.  I killed him."  Max continued before swallowing the lump that formed in her throat a while ago.

Tinga stared at her baby sister who was on the verge of tears.  The look on Max's face was imploring Tinga to comfort her and make it all better.  It was a look she remembered from when they were children back at Manticore.  It was also a look her son had given her whenever he was hurting or scared.  She still didn't really know what Max was talking about, however she also knew it didn't matter at this moment; first things first.  Tinga opened her arms and stepped towards Max which was all it took for Max to close the gap and fall into her big sister's embrace.

"Shhh Maxie.  It's okay."  Tinga whispered as she stroked the sobbing woman's hair and back. "Shhhh.  Tell me.  Tell me what happened, Maxie."

Max finally pulled away.  Her eyes were still sad and wet but she could speak.

"Ben is dead."

"What happened?"

Once she began, it was surprisingly easy to get the whole story out.  Max was also surprised at how quick it took to tell.  But then again, the whole series of events that started with seeing him in the church and ended with him falling to his death at the Space Needle had probably lasted less than an hour.  But unfortunately the significance wasn't measured by the time span especially since one of the things she was having trouble grappling with was the difference a few seconds here or there could have made.

"God, Max.  I'm so sorry you had to go through that.  I know how close you and Ben were."

"I hadn't seen him since that night and when I finally do, I kill him."

"Max."  Tinga's hold on Max's shoulders tightened.  "You've gotta stop blaming yourself.  Ben let go.  You didn't kill him.  You said so yourself he let go."

"But…why?"

"Because he believed."

"What?"

"Remember when they took Jack and Ben went to the roof to ask the Blue Lady why."  At Max's nod Tinga continued.  "You saw him.  He was screaming so loud that the guards caught him and took him away."

"I remember. We didn't see him again for two weeks."

"Do you remember how when he came back he never talked about the Blue Lady again." Max's eyes clouded briefly before she nodded again. "It was easy to forget because with Ben gone those two weeks there were no stories so we had already started to not believe in the Blue Lady anymore which is probably why none of us even asked Ben about her."

"That's right." Max said remembering that time as if it happened yesterday.

"Ben probably never stopped believing.  He just stopped talking about her." "Because he knew he'd be punished." Max finished and Tinga nodded.

"After you got out, how long before you found a friend."
"A friend?"

"You know, someone you trusted, maybe not with your secret but with everything else or at least someone you could talk to."

Max thought of Moody and the rest of the Chinese Clan before answering.  "A few years, I guess."

"It took me a while too.  What if Ben never had anyone?  What if whenever someone tried to get close to him, he thought of the sick sadistic bastards from Manticore or he was afraid they'd be taken away like Jack or shot down like Eva."  Max watched as tears began to fall out of Tinga's eyes too as the venom in her voice increased. "What if all Ben had was–"

"The Blue Lady."  Max whispered finally catching on to Tinga's reasoning.

"They did a number on us Max."  Tinga smiled and wiped her eyes.  "They.  Manticore.  Not you.  Manticore's responsible for Ben's death. You believe me."  Tinga got out before tears once again welled in her eyes.

            "Yes."  Max answered before flinging herself back in Tinga's arms.  "I missed you so much Tinga.  Thank you."

            Tinga nodded and clutched her sister closer.

            "I'm sorry I'm bringing this up now. You know with everything that's going on and what we're about to do."  Max said after pulling away again.

            "Hey it's no problem." 

            "I just couldn't hold it in any longer.  Don't get me wrong, I've told Alec and I can talk to him.  He's been great.  But seeing Zack and then you.  You guys knew Ben.  He's your brother too.  I was so scared that you'd be mad at me for not saving him.  I'm still scared to tell Zack."

            "Trust me, Max.  Zack's not going to be mad at you.  If anything he'll blame himself."

            "You know you're right."  Max gave a weak smile at the thought of how much her big brother put on himself. "If I tell him, it won't be until after we get your family and that's all sorted out.  Big brother's got a lot on his mind and I don't want to add to it."

The rest of the ride back to Logan's was spent in absolute silence.  It wasn't until Zack killed the engine after parking it in front of Fogle Towers that Alec spoke.

"Look we have a job to do in a little while.  And I know I'd feel a lot better knowing that everyone was one hundred percent focused so I'd really like to squash whatever was said before." Zack didn't respond so Alec continued. "If it makes you feel better, I want you to know also that Max is the most important person in my life.  I'd die for her and I'd do whatever I could to keep her safe. I'm not using her.  I love her.  And you're right you don't know me that well and therefore have no real reason to trust me.  But those are my feelings for Max. I just thought you should know."  Alec finished lamely.  The two men sat in silence for several more moments.  Finally Alec figured he was not going to get any acknowledgement out of Zack so he made a move to open his door but Zack's voice stopped him.

"For the record, the little that I do know about you really hasn't lead me to believe that you'd ever hurt Max.  It's just…well she's really special to me.  They all are and I just want them to be safe."  Zack clenched his jaw again hating that he had to explain himself and this whole conversation period.  "And I guess this thing with Tinga's got me all spun.  I know she's making a big mistake by going back there."

"Zack, why did you go to Portland in the first place?"

"Tinga called said she was in trouble." Zack shrugged.

"So you knew that you could have ended up caught but you took the risk"

"Of course.  She's my family.  It's my job to keep her safe." Zack responded stoically.

"Exactly." Alec nodded. "Tinga has another family that she wants to keep safe and protect."

"It's not the same."  Zack argued while shaking his head. "They find her husband and kid they're not going to end up being dissected in some cage back at Manticore.  Her being with them is just putting them in more danger. It's probably going to get them all killed."

"They love each other so it's worth the risk."  Alec shrugged

"Love. Whatever." Zack scoffed. "Phony sentimentality is more like it."

Alec shook his head. "You know I lived in Manticore just about all my life never knowing or experiencing any kind of love and I know it had to be the same before you guys got out when you were kids."  Alec began softly before exclaiming. "What the hell was the point Zack?" His outburst startled Zack into facing the other man. "If you're still denying yourself and trying to deny it for Tinga and the others the freedom to experience the things we weren't allowed to back at Manticore, like love and family, what's the point of being free?"  Alec asked his hazel eyes boring into Zack's blue ones.

Zack opened his mouth to respond only to close it a second later.  He couldn't think of thing to say.

A tense moment later, they both got out of the car.  They didn't speak or look at each other the whole elevator ride up to Logan's penthouse. 

            "So how'd it go?"  Max looked up and greeted them when they came into the kitchen.

            Alec looked over at a brooding Zack briefly before turning back to Max with his usual smirk.  "Mission accomplished."  He stated.  Max looked between the two male X5s sensing the tension but decided not to comment. 

            "We're all set too.  We got food."  She said holding up a bulky plastic bag.  "And we got the papers." Tinga held up the folder Logan had given her to emphasize.

            "Great."  Alec slapped his hands together.  "Let's move out."

            The ride to Portland was uneventful.  Max and Zack drove on their motorcycles with Tinga and Alec following behind in the SUV.  Max was happy with the arrangement knowing Alec driving with Tinga would keep her mind off of the possible danger her family was in; Alec being a natural people person kept Tinga entertained with jokes and stories the whole way.  And since Zack was on his motorcycle he didn't have to talk and make anybody uncomfortable with his granite demeanor.

            They had no problems with the check points and therefore made really good time getting to Portland.  But once they cleared the first sector, Max saw the first clue that their easy trip prior was very much the calm before the storm.  Taped on a storefront was a piece of paper with Tinga's picture and the words "Have you seen my mommy."

            Max slowed to a stop in front of the store.  A second later Zack pulled up next to her. The cussing she heard coming from his mouth proved that he had just spotted the sign as well.

            "We should turn around right now."

            "Zack, please."  Max rolled her eyes.  "That's not gonna happen."

            "You know Lydecker's all over this. Hell he probably already got to them.  I say we cut our losses and move on."

            "Geez Zack, you're always spouting off about remembering our training."  Max spoke angrily as she hopped off her bike and stalked over until she was right next to him.  She continued ranting. "Well we certainly weren't trained to be punks so why the hell are you so quick to punk out.  We know our mission: to get Tinga's family.  We know the possibility of Lydecker and his jar heads being in town has just been upped significantly.  Since when does more danger mean that we pack it up and call it day?"  Max jabbed her finger into Zack's chest to emphasize each of her points. "No we re-deploy.  Come up with a better plan and get this bitch over with.  Successfully.  Now any questions soldier!"

            Zack couldn't help it.  He started laughing. "No ma'am." He said still grinning up at his fiery baby sister. 

            "Hey!"
            Max and Zack turned as one to see Alec's head sticking out of the window of the SUV parked behind Max's bike.

            "You two done?  And if not, do I have time to go pee before blood is shed?"

            "What is it you see in him again?"  Zack asked while pointing his thumb in Alec's direction.

            "I've got two posing as repairmen ten o clock."  Alec said adding to the list.

            They were all seated in the SUV, Max and Zack having hid their bikes in different sectors in case they had to escape and evade.  They had been watching Case's elementary school for the past twenty minutes and so far things didn't look good.  Several of Lydecker's men were already in position covering every way in and out of the school. 

The plan was to get Charlie and Case at the same time knowing that Lydecker would instantly move on the other one if they tried for separate grabs.  Tinga suggested Case's school as the best place and time since Charlie walked their son there every morning. But apparently Lydecker already had a team in place.  It was too much of a risk to try and approach them anyway.  Knowing Lydecker, his orders might be to shoot in the face of any interference.  They didn't want to chance Case, Charlie, or any other civilian in the area.

            "What now?"  Max asked.

            "We come up with a new plan."  Alec answered.

            The problem with having four genetically engineered super soldiers coming up with one plan was that their highly intelligent minds usually managed to find holes in whatever plan given before the speaker was even half way through explaining. It made the process slower and tensions run higher in an already tense situation, but it hopefully meant that the plan they finally agreed on was full proof.

            It was a plan they dubbed Operation Anklet.    

            "Hello, my name is Jessica Ackles and I'm with the Citizens for a Better America foundation.  Right now I'm collecting signatures to petition the government to not let the minimum age requirement for working papers drop to ten years old.  Will you sign?"

            Max beamed as she handed her clipboard to the elderly man who answered his door.

            "Thanks so much for you're signature.  A dona---"Max smiled after the door slammed in her face fully expecting that.  Signing your name was one thing, but nobody was going to contribute money in this economy.

            When they arrived at Tinga's old apartment they found, as they suspected, much the same scene as at Case's Elementary School.  They saw men stationed at both east and west exits, the lobby, the roof, they even had people in the apartment across the street. The thought that it was strange that Lydecker was putting so much man power into covering the family made laps in all their heads but no one said it out loud figuring they'd deal with the answers to that later but knowing that because Lydecker was investing so much into watching Tinga's family it became even more crucial to get them out.  They couldn't risk calling Charlie because his phone was undoubtedly tapped.  They couldn't send Tinga in to get him and her son because Lydecker's men more than likely had her picture and were on the look out for her as well. Still, they all agreed that Charlie and Case coming to them was the best option rather than them all going in and risk getting surrounded and trapped inside.  But they needed a way to get the message to Charlie without showing up on Lydecker's radar; hence Operation Anklet. 

Max would make the contact posing as a concerned citizen getting a petition signed.  Tinga's apartment was on the fourth floor and to not raise suspicion Max knocked on every door from the first three floors.  It was time consuming especially when people engaged her with questions and concerns, not that she had any trouble spouting off bullshit.  But still.  They had thought about having Alec or Zack go too in order to cover more ground and would actually be less suspicious to have more than one signature taker.  But Alec's face might have been just as well known as Tinga's and Zack's too, but more because he just didn't fit the look of a concerned citizen and therefore would be watched closely which was something they couldn't afford.

            Max breathed a sigh of relief as she raised her hand to knock on the door in front of her.  Finally she was at Tinga and Charlie's apartment.

            "Daddy someone's at the door."  The sound of a child's voice on the other side of the door immediately stopped Max's knuckles just millimeters from where she was going to start pounding.  How did he know I was out here? She thought.

            "Would you say Squirt?"  Now Max heard a deeper voice from inside and he sounded even closer than the boy had.

            "Someone's standing at the door, daddy." The child answered petulantly.

            Max figured she'd better start knocking before the man investigated and found her just standing there.

            "Can I help you?"  Whom Max assumed was Charlie asked.  He was good looking.  He was dressed casually in sweatpants and a short sleeve shirt that showcased his slender but muscular frame. Not very tall with dark hair and eyes and a rugged handsomeness that probably made quite a few women swoon. 

            Max smiled amiably and began her spiel.

            "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude.  I got a lot going on so I really don't have time for this."  Charlie said interrupting her half way through.

            "No I'm sorry.  I really didn't mean to bother you.  It's just this is something your wife said she was interested in which is why I stopped by."

            "My wife?  You know Penny?"

            Max didn't flinch at the name having already been told by Tinga that that was what she had been going by.

            "Yes we were acquainted recently.  Please if you can just take a look at this letter of intent, it would be greatly appreciated.  It's real short too so it'll only take a minute."

             Charlie sighed before taking the clipboard Max was handing him.  The paper on top had no signatures.  Only a few lines that said: Baby, it's me Penny.  I'm so sorry it has to be done this way.  But I'm in danger and because of it so are you and Case.  We've got to get out of town tonight.  I will explain everything when I see you. This is my sister, Max.  She's going to give you another envelop explaining when and where you should meet me.  But it has to be inconspicuous.  They're watching.  Just follow her lead, please.  Trust me, baby.  I love you and Case so much and I'll see you soon.

            Charlie looked up from the clipboard; his eyes as wide as saucers.

            "Remember they're watching."  Max whispered and then smiled.  Still smiling big she then said through gritted teeth.  "Just shake you're head like you're not interested and then hand me back the clipboard.  Please."  Max pleaded when he still made no move. 

            Charlie couldn't believe what was going on.  He couldn't think or trust himself to speak so instead he decided to just follow the stranger's instructions.  He shook his head and then handed back the clipboard which Max dropped a second after it touched her hand.  The clatter broke Charlie out of his paralysis and he bent down to pick it up the same time as Max did.  Charlie got to it first and handed it back before they both stood up awkwardly.

            Max smiled and told him to have a nice evening before turning to walk away.  Charlie stood immobile in his astonishment in the doorway.  He probably would have kept watching her long after her retreat down the hall if it weren't for the voice of his son breaking his reverie.

            "Daddy what's that?"

            "Huh Case?"  His said looking down at the boy at his side.

            "That."  His son pointed to his back pocket. 

            Charlie looked and was surprised to see a white envelop sticking out of his pocket.  It hadn't been there before he answered the door which meant.  He took one more uneasy look at the empty hall before closing his door.

            With trembling fingers he opened the envelop.  Inside was a piece of paper with a time and address and some more writing.  But before he could read that a silver piece of jewelry fell out.

            "That's mommy's." Case exclaimed happily as he picked it up and held it out to his father triumphantly.

            Charlie took the jewelry and held it up to examine it better.  He then brought it closer, turning it over and caressing each piece. Finally he smiled as tears welled in his eyes.  It was Penny's.  The silver anklet was something he had given her before Case was born and every anniversary since he had added a charm to it.  The only time she ever took it off was to put on the new charm.  It was hers which meant the note was real. 

            He'd been warned by his sister when he first came up with the idea a few days after her disappearance to put up flyers that he would be opening himself up to crackpots and cranks looking for cheap thrills by given false information.  When the woman he had never met before but claimed to know his wife had showed up at his door looking for signatures but then given him a note supposedly from Penny, he thought it was one of those cruel pranks.  But the anklet proved it was legit.  It had to be.  He would see her soon.  The restless nights and Case's questions of where his mother had gone would be over.  She'd be back and all would be right again.  He was so happy, but he didn't want to get Case's hopes up until he knew for sure.  But he had to tell someone.

            Charlie grabbed up his phone and dialed his sister as he opened the note to find out exactly when and where to meet Penny.              Besides the location and time, the note explained that it was imperative that both he and Case show up and that they be ready to leave town.  As happy as he was to finally see Penny, the danger she spoke of unnerved him.  And it was his unease at the situation that had him ignore the line that said not to call the police or contact and tell anyone of his plans.  He'd go ahead with his call to his sister.  Penny always was extra cautious. After all if something were to happen somebody should know, right.  Plus his sister lived all the way in Phoenix.  What harm could telling her do? 

            "Wait…wait…oh shit…why are they moving…what the hell?" Alec was plastered to the window the moment he caught sight of the soldiers in full combat gear.  Ten had arrived an hour after dark replacing the plain clothes team members. Not having surveyed the apartment building in past nights, they had hoped that the full combat soldiers being there was standard especially since they hadn't done anything in the three hours the X5s had been sitting in the SUV watching Charlie's apartment building from down the street.  The address they had given Charlie to meet them was several blocks further down the street they were on, and unknown to Charlie they had planned to grab him and Case on the way over which was why they sat watching his apartment waiting for him to leave.

            "This is not good."  Max muttered as she saw what had Alec so concerned.

            "Why are they moving?" Tinga asked fearfully.

 "Look…oh fuck…they're taking up position."  Alec bellowed while pointing out of his window. "Look." 

            "Damn it!"  Zack cursed.  This was definitely not standard.  It was clear that the soldiers surrounding the building were all getting ready to go in, and the only reason they'd do that was to get Charlie and Case.

            "Do you think he called the police or someone?"  Alec asked.

            "I don't know."  Max said.

            "Would he do that Tinga?"  Zack asked. "You think he didn't believe Max."

            "No impossible.  He had to have seen the anklet.  He knows that's mine."
            "Alright shit.  They are about to breech.  How long before you think Charlie will leave to meet at that rendezvous point we gave him?" Zack asked.

            "Right now!" Max answered as she saw the man she had just met a few hours ago stepping out of the building holding Case.

            "Fuck.  They're moving in on them."  Alec exclaimed.

            "I gotta go guys.  I'm not letting him take my family. "Tinga said grabbing the door handle.

            "We're with you Tinga."  Zack assured.  "Fan out and form a perimeter.  Max, you retrieve Charlie and Case and get them to the car out of the line of fire."  With their orders given, the four soldiers jumped out of the car.  Via hand signals, Zack gave them each the direction they were to approach and with the stealth and speed they were trained and engineered to possess, the transgenics set out.

            "Charlie Smith."

            "What is this?  What's going on?" Charlie asked nervously as he pulled his son closer to him and backed further away from the three soldiers approaching him.
            "You are hereby ordered under Military Mandate section 143-12 to surrender yourself to our custody for the dura—"

            "What the hell?"  Charlie spun around at the feel of someone pulling him and Case in separate directions.  So focused on the three in front, he hadn't seen the two behind him and now one had a hold on Case while the other grabbed his arm.  "Let go of my son.  LET GO OF MY SON!"  Charlie yelled at the soldiers.

            "Daddy!" Case cried making Charlie fight all the harder and bringing another two soldiers to grab at him.

            But then just like that he was free. 

            Charlie whipped his head around to see the three soldiers that had a hold of him lying on the ground around him.  One was unconscious, the other two writhing in pain.  Then he saw her.  The girl from before jumped into the air way higher than should have been possible and delivered a kick to the face of the soldier who had a hold of his son.  Another taller man was with her.  His face was as young as hers but the look in his eyes was deadly as he hoisted the last soldier in the air by his throat and then threw him into the row of garbage cans several feet away.

            But before Charlie could process that, he heard a gunshot whiz by his ear.  He instinctively ducked as he went to grab at his son but saw that the girl was already on the ground covering his small body with hers.  Then they all looked up at his apartment building where the sound of the screaming was coming from.

            Another soldier was falling through the air.  His frightened screams stopped the moment his body hit the car below. Charlie looked back up and blinked.  It couldn't be.  That body, the long dark pony tail swaying in the breeze.  It was six stories up so he couldn't be absolutely sure, but the woman on top of his building staring down looked just like Penny. 

            A second later, Charlie sucked in a breath and prayed it wasn't his wife because the woman he had been staring at suddenly jumped.  The scream caught in Charlie's throat however when the woman's feet touched the awning of the building bouncing her back up only to flip in mid air and land unharmed and perfectly balanced on her feet in front of them.

            Zack was on the neighboring roof.  He took care of the two soldiers there before Alec and Max had engaged the five soldiers on the ground that had tried to detain Charlie and Case. He had been covering them from above ready to shoot and take out any soldiers if they proved to be too much for Alec and Max.  When there was no need he still waited as Tinga hurled a soldier that had shot at Charlie from her apartment building's roof.  When Zack saw her jump he knew she must have already taking out the other soldier there as well and therefore he was good to join up with the rest of them.  The building he was on was twice as high as Tinga's and he was abseiling down when he caught sight of the humvees in the distance. There must have been a contingent in the area because when Zack opened his mouth to shout the warning below more soldiers had already began flooding the front of the apartment building.

            "Max Go!"  Alec yelled when he saw the number of soldiers coming at them.  Alec and Tinga met the group of soldiers head on giving Max the space she needed.  She pulled Case closer to her and then grabbed up a stunned Charlie off the ground.  Taking his hand, she yanked him down the street towards their SUV.

            Just when Alec and Tinga thought they had the upper hand, more soldiers appeared.  Zack dove into the fray putting the odds back in their favor. The X series were a blur of strength and power against the twenty odd soldiers.  One by one Lydecker's men dropped but more seemed to replace them out of nowhere.

            "Who are you people?  What the hell is going on!"  Charlie yelled as he clutched his sobbing son who was upset because he sensed his father's turmoil.

            "Just hold on!"  Max yelled to them as she pushed down the gas pedal.

            "What are you going to do?  What are you doing?"  Charlie yelled as the vehicle they were in raced towards his apartment building and towards the crowd of people fighting in the courtyard in front of it.

            Max hit the horn but didn't slow down.  Some soldiers scrambled out of the way and others were tossed out of the way when the SUV barreled into them.  Shouts from both in and out of the SUV and squealing tires were the loudest noises heard as Max spun the SUV around to avoid crashing into the apartment building.  She braked and Alec, Zack, and Tinga sprinted towards the car. Alec and Zack were shooting to clear the way as they all dove into the SUV.

Max was already pulling off before the doors even closed behind them.  When she heard the soldiers returning fire, she hit the gas harder taking out more soldiers and breathing a sigh of relief that no bullets had hit the tires.

            "Penny, oh God, Penny."  Max glanced up at her rearview mirror happy to witness the emotional reunion.  But what she saw made her heart plummet. 

            Tinga was clutching her side as blood oozed out between her fingers covering her hands and then Charlie's as he moved to also try and stifle the flow of blood.

     

            "She needs a hospital.  What are we doing here? She needs a hospital."  Charlie begged as Case sobbed louder.

            They had to ditch the SUV but they couldn't drag Tinga around with her injury why the searched for a replacement.  She needed to be tended to so Max drove them to the run down motel she stayed in weeks ago while she waited for Alec's call when he went back to Seattle ahead of her.

            Tinga was lying on the bed with a bullet hole through her lower left abdominal.  Alec had carried her in and then he and Zack left to get the motorcycles. Fortunately, the bullet had gone all the way through.  Unfortunately the loss of blood and shock had sent Tinga into a seizing fit not long after they had arrived at the motel.  Max had instructed Charlie to wet a towel and press it against the wound while she held Tinga's shaking body down.

            "We can't. It's too dangerous."

            "But she's—"

            "She's going to be fine." Max looked at Charlie and held him with her eyes.  "Trust me.  She's not going to leave you or your son."

            "I've got it."  Alec burst into the room holding up one of his trustee first aid kits he'd made and insisted Max carry in her motorcycle at all times.

            "Tryptophan now." Max ordered and Alec immediately dug into the pack and pulled out the bottle.  "This will help with the seizures."  Max explained calmly to Charlie as she pushed the pills into Tinga's mouth and forced her to swallow.  "Once she's stabilized we can treat the bullet wound and give her a transfusion."

            "I'll bbbe fffine, baby."

            "Shush, don't try to talk."  Charlie soothed as he stroked his wife's hair.  Max nodded at him approvingly and then turned to Alec.  She motioned over to the little boy crying silently in the corner. 

            "Hey Case."  Alec said crouching down until he was eye level with the little boy.  "I've got everything I need to help your mommy get all better in this pack."  He said holding up his first aid kit.  "But I need your help.  Can you take these?"  Alec pulled out a box and opened it up.  It had several packages of gauze in it.  He held one up to Case.  "This is called gauze and it's going to make the blood go away.  I need you to take them out of this paper, throw the paper out and then put the gauze on that table."  He continued and then pointed to the table across the room from the bed Tinga was on. "I need ten of them.  Do you know how many ten is, Case."  The boy staring wide eyed at Alec slowly nodded.  "So can you do this job for me, Case?"  The boy nodded quicker this time.  "Okay first things first.  We have to wash our hands so that we don't accidentally give Mommy any germs while we're making her better.  Okay?"

            "Okay."  Case answered softly.

            "Alright let's go."  Alec nodded towards the bathroom and Case eagerly scrambled off his chair.

            When they finished in the bathroom, Alec gave Case the box of gauze and steered him over to the table.  He then walked over to Tinga's bed.  The seizures had stopped.  Max was still holding the towel against her wound and Charlie was still stroking her head and whispering reassurances.

            Alec set up the transfusion line and then sterilized the needle he was going to use to sew the stitches while Max got a fresh wet towel to clean the wound some more.

            Alec was half way through with the stitches when Zack walked in.

            "How's it going?"  He asked.

            "We've got it covered."  Max answered.  "Did you run into any trouble?" 

            "No, they're still getting their injured.  They've only just started searching the area and I didn't see any on the way over here."

            Since they didn't seem to be in any impending danger, the tension eased and the room lapsed into silence save for the sound of a little boy tearing open packages of gauze.

            Before anyone else could volunteer, Alec had set up the transfusion line between Tinga and himself.  Max moved a chair next to the bed for Alec to sit and then suggested Charlie lie down next to Tinga and get some rest.  When he looked at her incredulously.  She promised that everything would be explained tomorrow and Tinga would be in better shape to do most of it.  Mollified, he agreed to lie down and leave Case to their care.

            "Are you sure you haven't done this before?"  Alec asked drowsily to the little boy who had just brought over a bunch of bandages with Max's help.

            Case shook his head hiding a smile. 

            "What's that?" The small child asked pointing to the tubing connecting Alec and Tinga.

            "That is the last step in making your mommy all better."  Max answered bending down and ruffling the little boy's head.  "You're mommy loss some blood, so Alec, here is giving her some of his."

            "Doesn't he need his blood?" Case asked adorably.

            "He can share some."  Max smiled. "Look at him, doesn't he look like a strong guy." 

Even though the transfusion was making him feel anything but strong, Alec couldn't help smiling at the little guy and Case nodded enthusiastically.

            "Well you're right.  He is and since he's such a strong guy, the super strong blood he's given your mommy is going to make her stronger in no time."

            "Then why is she sleeping?"  Case asked before turning a worried expression towards the bed.

            "We're all pretty tired Case.  It's been a long day.  Look, your daddy's sleeping and look Alec's sleeping too.   And see that guy sitting over there.  That's Zack and I bet in a little while he's going to fall asleep too. So are you ready to go to sleep too, Case?"
            The little boy immediately shook his head no. 

            "Okay."  Max said looking around the room for something to quietly entertain the little boy with.  She then smiled as an idea formed. "You know what, when everybody gets up in a little while, I'll bet they'll be pretty hungry.  You think?"

            Case nodded.

            "What do you say we go find some breakfast for them now so when they wake up it will already be here?  Sound good?"

            Case nodded again.

            "I have just the thing.  There's a vending machine around the corner that has lots of yummy candy bars."

            "Candy bars for breakfast."  Case beamed and began bouncing excitedly.

            "Just this one time."  Max smiled back.  "So you wanna come help me pick some out."

            "Yeah!" Case clapped happily.

            "Let's Blaze."  Max stood and held out her hand which Case promptly took.

            Max and Case both loaded down with an armful of candy bars returned to the sounds of light snoring. 

            After putting their goodies on the table, Max unhooked Alec and Tinga's transfusion line.  Both were sound asleep.  Zack too was knocked out on a chair in the corner. 

She looked over at the little boy sluggishly organizing the candy bars into different piles.  Despite the action packed day Max, herself, wasn't tired but she saw that Case was ready to drop.  The only issue being where was he going to drop.  The bed was occupied as well as both of the chairs.  

She checked the closet and found an extra pillow and blanket but was reluctant to make up a bed on the questionable motel room floor.  Cleaning services were usually only reserved for the posh motels.  And although bedding down on a dirty floor wouldn't bother her, a little kid was a different story.

In the midst of her thoughts of where to put Case, she felt a slight tugging on her arm.

"I'm sleepy."  The little boy said before yawning.          

Max looked into the big exhausted eyes of her sister's son and couldn't help but smile.  He was so adorable and looked so innocent.  She'd only known him a few hours, but a fierce need to protect him was invoked just by looking at him.

"Follow me, kiddo."  Max said softly.

She sat down on the floor back against the wall.  She then put the pillow on her lap and motioned for Case to lie down over it.  He did so without hesitation. She then covered him with the blanket.  He moved around a bit before finding a comfortable position and snuggling into it.

"Can you tell me a story?"  He asked.

"Um, what kind of story?"  Max asked doubting she had any stories to tell that were suitable for a four year old.

"My mommy's story with the princess and the castle and the evil king and the nomlees in the basement."  Case said drowsily.

"Oh, I think I know that story."  Max smiled sadly.  "Okay, in a cold cold land far far away there was a castle."  Max felt Case snuggle deeper into the pillow.  Her hand automatically moved to the silky locks on his head and she gently ran her fingers through them as she continued.  "And in that castle lived many children.  There was Tinga, Zack, Brin, Jondy…"

Alec woke to an annoying chirping noise.  He was happy when it stopped because he really just wanted to go back to sleep but the masculine voice that replaced it, bolted him out of his seat.

He shook his head at the foreign surroundings and that was all it took to jog his memory of yesterday's events.  Tinga and Charlie were still asleep, Max and Case were no where to be found.  The light in the bathroom was on and he could hear Zack talking quietly. 

He changed Tinga's bandage and although she didn't stir, he was happy to see that her color was back and her breathing and heart rate were normal. 

He was on his way to throw out the discarded bandages when Max's voice stopped him.

"Tinga alright?"  She asked. Alec looked towards the voice and saw Max seated on the floor with a sleeping Case on her lap.

He smiled and moved over to her.  The sight stirred up a warm feeling in him and he bent down and kissed her before running his hand over Case's peacefully sleeping face.  "She's a lot better." He said still smiling.

"You hungry?  There's breakfast."  Max smiled back at him and then nodded towards the table.

"Candy bars for breakfast." He whispered excitedly. Max rolled her eyes and shoved him towards the table.

He grabbed two and then returned to sit next to her and Case.  He opened one and handed it to Max and then opened his.

The two were chewing happily when Zack came out of the bathroom. 

"I've got word on Brin."  He said bypassing pleasantries. 

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah she's been back in the fold for awhile now.  I'm in contact with this pencil pusher from Manticore.  He told me that they fixed her progeria right away and then she was reindoctrinated."

"You think we can get her back." The hope in her eyes was unmistakable when she asked.

"We'll see.  The guy told me where they moved her to.  It's not too far from here so I thought I'd check it out.  Do you have this covered?"

            "We still need a ride to get them to Canada." Max said.

            Alec stood.  "I'll go with Zack and get us a car and then he can leave from there."  Alec looked at Zack, a slight challenge in his eyes.  "Cool with you."

            "Yeah."  Zack grunted

            Max rolled her eyes at the surge of testosterone.  "You boys behave yourselves."

            "Yes Ma'am."  Alec and Zack both said playfully and then looked at each other in surprise.  Then Alec smirked and Zack shrugged.

            "I'll call you when I know more on where Brin's being held."

            "Then we'll get her out."  Max finished.

            "Sounds like a plan."  Alec said before grabbing another candy bar and heading out the door.

            Max and Alec decided to escort Tinga, Charlie, and Case to Canada since Tinga still wasn't one hundred percent.  The car Alec lifted was big enough for five, but he and Max told Tinga and Charlie to let Case stretch out and have the backseat to himself and that they would both ride Max's motorcycle.  Of course the real reason, which they all knew, was to give Tinga some much needed alone time to explain the truth to Charlie.

            The first couple of pit stops were pretty tense as it was clear that Charlie wasn't taking the news too well.  But by the forth stop at a roadside dinner, it was evident the couple was on the mend and would be fine.

            They reached the Canadian border early the next day and Max and Alec decided this was a good place to go their separate ways.

            "He's a great kid."  Max said to her sister as they watched Case running around and climbing over the rocks by the car where his father and Alec were standing. They had just returned with a new set of license plates for the car but held off putting them on until the guys were done. Alec was loading the tank with the gas they siphoned from other cars along the way and Charlie was checking under the hood making sure everything was in peak enough shape to get them well into Canada.  So the girls sat over in the grass by Max's bike taking pleasure in watching their males work and play.

            "Yeah he is.  I missed them both so much when I had to leave.  I always thought in the back of my mind that I'd have to do that, but I never thought it would be as hard as it was."

            Max nodded.

            "Thank you so much, Maxie, for helping me get them back."  Tinga said; her voice hitching slightly.
            "Hey," She playfully nudged her sister. "You'd do the same for me."

            "In a heartbeat."  She said earnestly before squeezing her baby sister's hand.

            "So everything okay?" Alec asked after meeting Charlie in front of the car.

            "Yeah, we're good to go."

            "I meant with you and Tinga." Alec said.

            "Yeah.  I mean it was a lot to take in and I know things aren't going to be the same but I can't lose her."

            "I know what you mean."

"God, just seeing her, covered in blood and hurting.  We were given a second chance.  I know that and I'm glad."

"Daddy, look what I found." Case said running over to them making both men smile gratefully.  The bubbly toddler was just the thing they needed to break up the impending heart to heart.

"What is it, Case?" Charlie said taking the deformed rock from his son's hand.
            "It looks like 116974."

"What?" Charlie asked and gave a side glance to Alec who only shrugged knowing how hard little kids were to understand sometimes.

"Yeah daddy like from when we goed to the hiss tree moo zum. 

"The museum?"

"Yeah daddy, the moo zum."

"I can't believe you remember that."  He looked at Alec.  "We took that trip to the history museum over a year ago."

"Yep," Case nodded before taking the rock from Charlie and thrusting it towards Alec.  "Dis looks like artcul number116974, Awek, the kitty's fibya bone."

Alec's eyes widened. He looked from Case over to Tinga then back to Case again.

"That's crazy that he remembers that." Charlie commented.

"Oh I don't know."  Alec said slowly having no doubt that if the child remembered the name of a bone of an animal he saw from a trip he took a year ago then whatever number the museum used to mark it was probably right too.  He also now had a better understanding as to why Lydecker had so many men covering Charlie and Case back in Portland. "I think it might be less crazy than it seems."

            "You take care baby sister." Tinga said.  Max, careful of Tinga's wound, moved in and hugged her. It was time to split. Max had already said goodbye to Case.  Alec was still over by the car.  Sad to see the little guy go, Alec helped get him settled in the backseat while Max said her goodbyes to his parents.

            "Come on, don't say it like we're never going to see each other again.  We better keep in touch." Max said adequately holding back tears.

            "No doubt."  Tinga agreed. 

             Max hugged Tinga one more time and then embraced Charlie.  She whispered in Charlie's ear as she hugged him. "I want to thank you for make my sister happy. She deserves it."
            "It's my pleasure, Max." Charlie whispered back.  "And thank you for all your help."

            "Your welcome, but don't think I won't come and kick your ass if you ever do anything to upset my family."  Max threatened lightly.

            Charlie chuckled.  "Not to worry, Max. I wouldn't dream of it."

            Max heard a low growling behind Charlie and looked up to see Alec approaching and staring at Charlie with a feral look.  She instinctively let go of Charlie and moved over to Alec and stood between the two men.

            Too anyone else it was subtle, but Max was startled by the way Alec grabbed her hips and pulled her back into him.  She was even more startled by the tell tale bump her rear made contact with and looked up in surprise at Alec.  The feral look was gone but the smoldering eyes full of promise staring back at her was just as unnerving considering their present company.

            "Alec, thanks for all your help too."  Charlie said sticking out his hand.

            "Great meeting you, man." Alec said shaking Charlie's hand baffling Max at how quickly his eyes returned to normal when he looked at Charlie.  "Take care of my little buddy and Max's sister or Max here will get ya." He joked customarily, his hold on her tightening the only sign that he wasn't exactly himself.

            Tinga gave another brief hug to Max and then to Alec before she and Charlie finally got into the car.  Case waved out the window and Max and Alec waved back as the trio drove away.

            "All right, what hell was that?"  Max turned on Alec the moment the car was out of sight.

            "What?" Alec shrugged.

            "You went all primal there for a moment."  Max explained.

            "What are you talking about?"  Alec asked seemingly baffled.

            "You and the way you were looking at Charlie and how you pulled me and looked at me and you know, your eyes were all, you know." She finished lamely.  Alec scratched his head and gave her the same puzzled expression.

            "Oh forget it." Max said in frustration realizing how poor a job she was doing at explaining Alec's behavior and beginning to wonder if she hadn't just imagined the whole thing. "Let's just get out of here."  She said turning and heading towards her bike as she continued.  "Looks like it's gonna rain, even if it is burning up out here."

            Alec happily watched the sway of her ass in her tight jeans as she walked away and felt a tightening of his on.  It was then that her last words registered and his eyes widened in recognition.

            The rain caught up with them less than ten miles into their journey back to Seattle.  Actually rain was putting it mildly.  It was more of a torrential blinding downpour that flooded roads and made it impossible to travel. 

Alec held tightly onto Max's waist as she inched along on her Ninja trying to find shelter.

"There."  Alec yelled pointing to a shack in the valley below.

"Hold on."  Max yelled back as she veered off the main road and on to the muddy and rocky path that lead to the shack.

An old rusty lock was all that kept them from getting inside.  Max picked it rather than breaking it down for fear that the foundation was unstable, plus they thought they might need the door once they got inside.

It was bigger than it looked from the outside, but that was probably because it was completely empty save for dust and cobwebs.  Cinderblocks held the shack off the ground keeping the wood floor relatively dry.  But the X5s took care of that as the water from their drenched clothes dripped off of them.

Max left Alec to secure the door back in place as she moved further into the shack eager to get out of the clothes sticking to her body.  The cool rain had helped but now that she was out of it, that burning heat she had felt from within for the last hour was becoming unbearable again.  Eagerly she stripped off her jacket then her shoes then her shirt then her jeans.  It was once she flung her jeans off her feet that she noticed that the harsh breathing she heard over the rustling of her clothes wasn't her own.  She looked up to find Alec staring hungrily as her from across the room. 

Being half naked in front of him many times before she was used to his lustful gazes, but these weren't his bedroom eyes.  His whole stance was rigid and still except for his hands clenching and unclenching into fists.  The smoldering, feral look was back and this time there were no bystanders. 

Max felt an aching swelling between her thighs.  She slowly reached back and unclamped her bra.  As she bared herself, her eyes darkened and she smiled invitingly.

A blur of movement had them both instantly in the middle of the shack meeting in a frenzy sucking of one another's flesh and hands running over each other's body fervently.

Max tore off Alec's shirt as he kicked off his shoes and unzipped his jeans.  After kicking them off as well he pulled her face towards his in a devouring kiss.  Max in turn gripped his waist and brought their lower bodies together; their underwear the only thing keeping them from being fully joined.

            "Oh God, Alec, you know what's happening don't you?" Max said finding her voice at last.

            "I know Max."  Alec answered breathlessly while clawing her closer to him.  "We don't have the sedatives or my benzene." He continued.

            "So now what?"  Max whined before bringing his head down to hers and sticking her tongue down his throat.

            "I'll leave."  Alec said once his lips were free. "I'll leave and come back in a few days." He said before kissing her again.  His hands slid down into her underwear and over her ass and he squeezed before pulling her closer and grinding himself against her.  His mouth then moved down to suckle her throat and then further down to her chest.

            "You can't."  Max moaned while holding his head to her. "It's storming outside, there's no where else you can go, and I don't want you to leave."

            "Max you know what might happen." He whispered.

            "Would that be so bad?  Huh Alec?  Tell me it's not something you want."  The fog of the pheromones clouding his head momentarily cleared and he managed to put some distance between them.  His hands still rested on her hips as he stood up straight and looked down into her eyes.

            "Nothing would make me happier, Maxie.  But are we ready?"

            "We're trapped here Alec.  I'm in heat and we don't have any of the stuff we use to fight it.  I don't know if I'm ready but something sure thinks we are. Maybe it's fate, Alec.  Because I know that I love you and nothing would make me happier too than having your baby."

            "So are we really going to do this?"

To Be Continued…

Who hates me? Raise your hand.

not mine, just a line I loved from the movie, So I married an Ax Murderer.

 If you're interested in any more music from Foo Daddy I'm sorry but he's not a real artist.        But you can check out my new M/A video.  Its kind of like the first one I did in which Alec plays the piano.  It can be found at

Now review!