Reliving Manticore

Disclaimer-I don't own anything that can be found on Dark Angel. The only things I own are some of the transgenics and the parts of the storyline that I make up. So don't sue!

Summary-Max was captured at the end of season 1 but in my story she wasn't shot in the heart and Zack didn't shoot himself, but he was captured as well. And Max never escaped or burned Manticore down. So basically this story is about Max being back at Manticore with missions, transgenics and all. M/L at first but it will become M/A.

A/N-Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter Twelve-Visiting Old Friends

"So it's definitely tonight?" Sean asked. Zack nodded his head.

"Yep, we're going in full force," he said.

"What are we supposed to do for the next 8 hours then?" Jessica wondered.

"Just make sure you know what we're gonna be doing and then prepare yourself in any way you want. Just be back here before it's time to leave," Zack answered. Max stood up to go. "Where are you going?" She turned to look at Zack.

"Preparing," she answered simply. Alec raised an eyebrow. "I do that best outside of a hotel room." He continued looking at her. "Are you gonna come or just stare at the door after I leave?" He got up then and followed her out. The others exchanged amused glances.

"Guess they're 'getting along' nicely," Evan commented. Zack shot him a glare. "What?"

"Ease off him Zack," Syl sighed. "Max can take care of herself."

Outside the Hotel...

"So where do you usually go to prepare?" Alec asked as he and Max walked down the streets from the hotel. Max rolled her eyes.

"Please, I only said that so I could get out of there. The tension was getting to me," she answered. "I don't know if you noticed but I'm not exactly the most patient person in the world." Alec scoffed.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't," he replied. "So again I ask, where we going?" Max shrugged.

"Let's just see where our feet take us," she said. Alec smirked.

"Yeah sure. But just so you know, my feet are following yours," he replied. Max just smiled.

He can be so cute, she thought absently. Whoa, that's a new revelation. A few minutes passed as they continued walking. The neighborhood that they were in began to look frighteningly familiar. Wait a minute, she stopped at looked up at the building that she knew so well. Guess my feet decided to take me down memory lane. "Hey Alec?" she asked aloud.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"I have to go somewhere alone for a little bit, can you tell the others I'll be back later?" she noticed something in his eyes that looked like disappointment, but it vanished quickly.

"Sure thing Maxie, see ya later," he replied and then headed back to the hotel. Max waited until he was out of sight before entering the building. Her hands were shaking slightly as she went up the elevator.

It's okay, she told herself. You don't have to be such a wimp. The elevator reached her old floor. Just go to the door and knock. It won't be that hard, right? She was at her old apartment. Here goes nothing...She raised her hand to knock and took a deep breath.

"Hold on!" a familiar voice called behind the door. Max fidgeted with her hands.

Deep breath. In. Out. In. Out...She found herself looking into big brown eyes and the disbelieving look of Original Cindy.

"Max?" she asked, shocked. Max smiled warily.

"Surprise?" she said weakly. OC's face broke out into a relieved yet broad grin as she flung herself into Max's arms. They hugged each other tightly.

"Thank god, you're alive," she said breathlessly after they pulled apart.

"Please, I lived in that place for 9 years, another year couldn't do that much harm," Max grinned.

"Boo, we was so worried about you. OC didn't wanna give up hope but you just never showed up," she had a few tears in her eyes. Max's grin faltered slightly.

"It's alright now, I'm used to it. I'm still live and kicking. You don't have to worry about me," she said comfortingly. OC's brow furrowed.

"Hold up," she replied, confused. "What do ya mean ya 'used to it'?" Max glanced away. "Boo, are you telling me you're still there?" Max nodded slowly. OC's eyes widened.

"It's okay though," Max said quickly. OC just stared her, not convinced. "Zack's there with me. And I've made some great friends. I couldn't just...leave...them." OC led her into the living room and sat down on the couch.

"OCcan understandthat part, Boo. But what I don't get is why didn't you just leave with them," she asked. Max shook her head quickly.

"They wouldn't do that to the other transgenics. When my unit escaped in 09, they got the backlash from it. They wouldn't want to have the same thing happen again. So until I figure out a way, we're all stuck there," she explained sadly. OC's brow furrowed again.

"Speakin' o' which, why ain't you there now?" she asked.

"Krit was captured after we blew up the DNA lab. I'm in Special Ops and our mission is to rescue him," Max explained.

"Does that mean ya gonna bring him back to Manticore kicking and screaming?" OC asked in surprise. Max shrugged.

"I don't know what we're gonna do. But if we don't bring him back, we'll probably get sent to Psy Ops. And trust me, that would not be a good thing," Max replied sadly. OC nodded.

"Guess ya stuck between a rock and a hard place," she sighed. Max smiled weakly. "Have you seen Logan yet?" Max's eyes shot up to meet hers.

"Um...no..." she stammered. OC frowned.

"Ain't you supposed to be in love with the man?" she asked. Max blushed.

"Um...I don't really...know...anymore," she muttered. A knowing smile played on OC's lips.

"Boo, did ya meet someone else?" she wondered. Max laughed out loud.

"Not exactly," she answered. OC raised an eyebrow. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to say to Logan, if I see him again."

"What do ya mean 'if'?" OC asked. Max shrugged helplessly.

"How's the rest of the gang?" she needed to change the subject. OC sighed but went along with it, there would hopefully be time later.

"They aiight," she answered. "Herbal moved away, though. And I haven't really heard from Kendra since she moved in with her cop boyfriend. Sketchy's the same ol' drunken foo," she laughed softly. Max smiled sadly.

"I wish I could've said goodbye to Herbal...Why'd he move?" she asked. OC shrugged.

"Something to do wit his woman, didn't quite get it but he seemed happy so OC didn't question him," she said.

"And you, how have you been?" Max asked sincerely. OC looked at her sadly.

"I missed ya like hell, but I managed to get by. I'm just glad ya here now," she suddenly realized something. "You have to go back soon don't you?" Max nodded.

"Once we rescue Krit, it's back to good ol' Manticore," she confirmed.

"What was it like?" OC asked. Max looked at her, confused. "Being back there."

"Do you really want to know?" Max asked warily. OC nodded. Max sighed heavily, but she told her everything that had happened in the past year.

"Damn," OC said simply when Max had finished. "No wonder you haven't seen Logan yet. Sounds to me like ya might be getting the hots for Alec." Max looked horrified. Here we go again, OC thought, amused. She's gonna be saying 'We aren't like that' for the rest of her life...She wasn't wrong.

"We aren't like that," Max said indignantly. OC bit back a grin.

"Sure Boo, whateva you say," she replied airily. Max scowled. "When do you have to head back to the hotel?"

"2 hours probably, or whenever the sun sets," Max answered. She took a sip of her coffee. "Anything else you wanna know?" OC smiled.

"Not really, but would ya wanna come down to Jam Pony for a lil' visit?" she asked hopefully. Max grinned.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing Sketch and good ol' pain in the ass Normal. Let's go," she agreed. OC put on her coat and they headed to Jam Pony.

Back at the Hotel...

"Do you know where she was going?" Zack asked Alec for the millionth time.

"No," Alec answered impatiently. "We were by some old building and then she suddenly stopped walking and told me to come back here. I didn't know she'd be this long so stop bugging me." Zack glared at him.

"Wait," Syl interrupted. "You didn't say anything about the old building before. What did it look like?" Both Alec and Zack looked confused.

"Why does it matter?" Alec asked. Syl sighed impatiently.

"Because she might have walked straight over to either her old home or her boyfriend's house." Alec's eyes widened.

"What boyfriend?" he asked, shocked. Zack rolled his eyes.

"Logan Cale would be the best guess. But if the building was old then she didn't go to his place. It was probably Original Cindy's," he replied. Alec's brow furrowed.

"Max said her and this Logan guy weren't together," he said. Zack rolled his eyes again.

"That's what she always says. Hopefully that time she meant it but you never really know with her," he explained irritably.

"So if she's with OC, it isn't surprising that she's not back yet, right? 'Cause she mentioned that she was like a sister to her," Alec questioned. Both Syl and Zack nodded.

"Do you know your way back to the building?" Zack asked. Alec nodded. "'Kay, go back there and get her, 'cause we should probably get going. The sooner we get Krit back the better."

"What if she isn't ready to leave yet? She hasn't seen OC in a year. I don't think a few hours are gonna make up for that," Syl commented. Zack sighed.

"Fine, just go check up on her then," he replied. Alec nodded and left.

"Did you know she was gonna visit her old friends?" Syl asked. Zack shook his head.

"I was kinda hoping she'd wait 'til we actually escaped from Manticore. But I guess that's not gonna happen. She doesn't want to leave any transgenic behind. It'll take a hell of a plan to pull it off..."

Outside the Hotel...

So we were here...and then here...Ah, this is it, Alec contemplated his surroundings. Wow, hard to believe she would live here. If that Logan guy is as rich as Zack and Syl made him sound why didn't she stay with him? Guess he wasn't as special as they thought...His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Max's voice.

"Are you sure they won't be too freaked to see me?" he heard her say. He was surprised to hear nervousness in her voice.

"Don't worry 'bout it, Boo. They'll be just as glad as me to have you back," another woman said.

I'm guessing this is OC, Alec thought. Didn't Max tell her she's not technically back?

"I can only stay for an hour though. I bet Normal won't exactly be thrilled to see me," Max said. OC laughed.

"Boo, Normal is neva happy to see anyone. Less they a Republican or have the ability to throw 20 dolla bills around," she joked. Max smiled.

"So I say again, he ain't gonna be thrilled," she replied. OC shrugged.

"Ya neva know, Boo. I know Sketchy'll be happy as a kid on Christmas mornin," she said.

"I really hope so," Max sighed. She linked her arm through OC's as they continued walking.

Who's Sketchy and Normal? Alec wondered as he followed them. Doesn't look like Max is ready to come back to the hotel so I might as well see how her little field trip turns out...

Jam Pony...

"Ya ready Boo?" OC asked as they stood in front of the entrance. Max nodded smiling.

"Let's get this bitch over with," she joked. OC grinned as they went inside. She was standing in front of Max so anyone who glanced over wouldn't notice herright away.

Max soon heard a voice she had almost missed while she was at Manticore.

"Bip bip people! This little packages won't deliver themselves! What do you think I pay you people for?" Normal's voice rang out. Max smirked.

Key word, almost, missed, she thought to herself.

"Well look who finally decided to join us. What could you possibly have been doing to cause your late arrival?" Normal asked OC.

"Original Cindy was catching up wit an old friend," she answered. "Don't know why ya got a stick up ya ass about it. I rarely come in late, so lay off." Normal rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Hot run, Morningside and Everclear," he replied and tossed her a package.

"My my Normal, you haven't changed a wink have ya?" Max made her presence known. Normal turned to look at her.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here," he said. Max smirked.

"What can I say, Normal? Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated," she replied. Normal rolled his eyes.

"Don't be expecting your job back missy-miss, 'cause I've heard some lame excuses for missing work..." he began but Max interrupted him.

"Cool it, Normal. I'm not here for a job. Just came to visit," she explained.

"Fine, you have 5 minutes," he replied. Max rolled her eyes.

"Whatever Normal, I'll take long as I want. Oh, and OC's on break right now," she retorted as she gave him back the package he'd tossed OC.

"It's like she never left," Normal muttered as he walked away.

"MAX?!" a loud voice called out. Max turned around to see Sketchy jogging over to her.

"Hey Sketch," she greeted him with a hug. He pulled back to look at her, his face was full of surprise and confusion.

"Where have you been? It's been a year and suddenly you're here, looking very healthy for someone who was rumored to be dead," he said. Max laughed.

"Well, I sort of had a...family emergency. It was a lot to deal with. Sorry I didn't call or anything," she said. Sketchy nodded.

"So what happened?" he asked. Max bit her lip. Luckily OC spoke up.

"She just said it was lot to deal with, she probably ain't ready to talk 'bout it yet," she said. "Are you on a break?" Sketchy nodded. "Then let's go get something to eat. Max has about an hour before she has to leave again." Sketchy's face fell.

"What do you mean? Where are you going?" he asked. Max winced. It was times like these when she wished she had already told Sketchy about Manticore.

"Well, I got another job outside of Seattle...while I was dealing with the...uh...family emergency. So I had to move...but I figured it was about time I came to visit..." she explained lamely. Sketchy still looked sad.

"Will you still visit after you go back?" he asked. Max nodded quickly.

"Any chance I get," she replied smiling. Sketchy finally nodded his understanding and the three of them headed out of Jam Pony.

An hour later, back at Jam Pony...

"Well, at least try to write or something this time," Sketchy said as he hugged Max goodbye. She smiled sadlly. She knew that was close to impossible but she agreed to anyways.

"I'll try my best and I promise I'll visit whenever I can," she said as she pulled away. Sketchy nodded and stepped aside so OC could say her goodbye.

"Next time ya visit, I hope it's cause you're free from Manticore," she whispered to Max as they hugged.

"Me too," Max whispered back. "Get over here Sketch." Sketchy smiled broadly as he joined their group hug. When they finally pulled apart, all three had tears in their eyes.

"Write and visit," Sketchy reminded her again. Max nodded.

"Hope ya figure out the whole family thing soon, Boo," OC added, emphasizing 'family'. Max smiled sadly.

"Bye guys," she waved as OC and Sketchy reentered Jam Pony. She turned and walked away as her tears finally fell.

"Max?" she heard Alec say tentatively. She hastily wiped at her tears.

"What, Alec?" she asked, angry that she wasn't alone.

"Zack sent me to um...tell you that we're going to rescue Krit in about a half hour. The sun's started to set," he explained as he fell in step with her. "Are you alright?" Max hesitated but she began to sob again.

"No, I'm not," she cried. "It's been a whole freakin year since I've seen my friends and I only got to spend a few hours with them and now I have to finish the mission and then it's back to fuckin Manticore. I don't even know when I'll see them again. What the hell am I supposed to do, Alec?"He gathered her in his arms.

"You're asking the wrong person, Max," he said softly. "I'm sure you'll see them sooner than you think, though." Max looked up at him.

"How do you know?" she asked shakily. Alec sighed.

"I don't, but you just gotta hope that you will," he answered. Max sighed and leaned into his embrace.

"You better be right," she said softly. "Or I'll kick your ass." Alec laughed softly.

"And you have my permission," he said. Max smiled slightly and pulled away.

"Good," she replied as they continued to walk to the hotel. "Let's go get my brother then."

A/N-Yay. Another chapter done. Hope youliked it. It's probably obvious that the next chapter will include saving Krit and going back to Manticore. Review please!

Dark Borg Drone-Thanks again. ;o)

willow98002-Thanks. The next chapter will probably be up in a few days, I've already started writing it. I brought OC, Sketchy, and Normal into this chapter but I haven't figured out a way to bring Logan back into the story...Some of you probably aren't looking forward to that but I need to bring the M/L relationship to an end ;o)

Guest type person-Thanks. It'll be a while before the others find out though...I think...I haven't really figured it out yet. There'll be a few hints about what Alec realized in the next few chapters before he actually says it out loud...hehe.

lakergirl08-Thanks ;o) The decision to whether or not bring Syl and Krit back to Manticore will be made in the next chapter or the one after...