A/N: Yes your eyes do not deceive you. Thanks to my wonderful Pesty Angel. I luv ya honey. On with the show:

SEQ CHAPTER h r 1Chapter 13 –

Paramedic Jan Stanton stepped back a bit as a police officer unlocked and opened the cell door. They called this area the cage and with good reason. It was definitely not fit for humans. She could barely contain her disgust as they readied the area for her young charge. When they started to prepare to move him from the gurney she could not stay quiet.

"I don't think so!"

"Ma'am?" came the questioning reply from the officer, a bewildered look on his face.

Jan stepped forward. "That cot is filthy. You are not putting him on that until you get me a clean sheet to lay over it."

"The cot's it; we're not a hotel."

"You heard me. I'm not repeating myself." Jan stared unblinkingly at the officer. She stepped forward and placed a protective hand on Alec's chest, and her eyes never wavered.

The officer sighed. "This is a police station. There is no linen service here. Where the hell am I supposed to get a clean sheet?"

Jan just turned her head toward Lt. Gamble and rolled her eyes. Gamble took his cue, barely suppressing a smile.

"I don't care if you have to go out and buy one. The lady wants a sheet; she gets a sheet." Gamble took a menacing step forward.

"For cryin' out loud the thing's a prisoner. Not a visiting dignitary. He can use the cot just like any other low life criminal does." The officer took a few wary steps backward.

Gamble turned his head toward Cunningham and rolled his eyes. Cunningham, taking his cue, cocked his automatic weapon.

"Geez! You're all insane!" cried the officer, "Okay, already I'll…go get a sheet somewhere."

"Two," piped in Jan, "I'll need one for the other cot as well. I have two patients."

The officer looked at Jan is if she had two heads, shook his own and waved his hand at her in defeat as he left.

As soon as he was out of sight Jan began laughing followed by Gamble, Cunningham and the rest of the soldiers that were here to protect them.

Jan turned her attention to Gamble, "Thank you."

"Not a problem. The Colonel said to accommodate your needs, so…" Gamble just shrugged his shoulders.

"Wow! I could get used to this."

Gamble stepped in close to Jan, "Me too."

Jan blushed furiously, and was suddenly busy with Alec's vitals. It was at that point she realized he was awake looking straight at her with this sly smirk on his face. It unnerved her how beautiful he was in spite of the bruising and dried blood and how that small crooked smile touched her insides, making her stomach queasy. Her eyes shot back and forth several times between Alec and Gamble, not quite sure what to do.

"Stop it…both of you." Thoroughly disgusted Jan turned her full attention to Alec and spoke in a soft tone.

"Hi, I'm…"

"Jan…I remember." His voice seemed rough and dry.

Before Jan could react Gamble held out a canteen. She straightened up and faced him. He was just inches from her face. She stared up into his chocolate brown eyes. He was a good seven inches taller than her with a ruggedly handsome face and some 'oh God' stubble along his hard jaw. The urge to touch his cheek was unnerving. She hated the feeling of being out of control and reacted accordingly.

"You're in my space." She tried to sound confident, but damn if her voice didn't squeak.

"Am I? Sorry," Gamble's voice was slightly husky. He handed her the canteen and took a small step back.

She took her hand and shoved him back another step. "My Space!!!" She emphasized her words with several emphatic gestures indicating the size of her…'space.'

Jan turned back again to Alec biting her lip to keep from laughing. His once small crooked smile was now a full blown one. Jan's eyes softened at the sight and moved her hand behind his head gently raising it to the canteen.

Alec closed his eyes in satisfaction as he felt the cool water slide down his throat. He never tasted anything so sweet. All too soon it was gone and the cool feeling was again replaced with the heat of his fever. A sigh escaped his lips as she lay his head back down.

"How are you feeling?"

The small smirk returned, "Fine."

"Liar."

He opened his eyes and looked at her blue ones, pausing. The compassion he saw was genuine.

"Like someone chewed me up…and spit…me out."

"Well you look like someone chewed you up and spit you out. You're also stinky," wrinkling her nose, "but I think I can eventually help with that too. Let's see if we can't get started in that direction."

Alec's eyes followed her movements as she removed antiseptic pads from her box. He was fascinated at the gentleness of her hands as she began to remove the blood and dirt from his face. She would pause and her eyebrows would furrow in concentration when she uncovered the source of a bloody spot, changing tactics and flushing the cuts with saline solution. She tenderly dealt with each cut and abrasion as she came to it.

"I'm not sure I have enough steri-strips. You're a mess. I could stitch you. Give you the Frankenstein look. It's all the rave," she tried to make light of his situation.

His eyes creased in wonder. "Frankenstein?"

"You know," she continued as she cleaned a bloody spot along his hairline. "Dracula, the werewolf…My favorite movie as a kid was 'Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein.' I never could stomach serious horror movies." She paused when his confusion seemed to increase. "Didn't you ever watch television as a kid? It was a classic."

Alec just shook his head slightly.

Jan stopped her ministrations, appalled. "You weren't allowed to, were you?"

"Only for information purposes…pertaining to a…mission."

"Did you go on a lot of…missions?"

"Too many," Alec closed his drooping eyes again.

Jan hesitated a moment longer, then averted her eyes back to the task at hand and found another gash along the side of his head behind his ear. She decided that perhaps ignorance was bliss and didn't want to know any more.

Alec grunted and jerked his head when she touched a particularly sore spot.

"I'm sorry, but it can't be helped."

Alec didn't reply. He knew the routine; this was not unfamiliar to him, but taking care of a transgenic was new for her. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration and he tried to steady his breathing. Then his eyes suddenly opened, staring straight up.

Jan stopped cold, startled a bit by his sudden movement. His eyes seemed darker than before, more dilated. She waved her hand in front of his face and he did not respond. Her eyes took a sideways glance at Gamble. Gamble just nodded at her to proceed. She tentatively returned to her ministrations, noting that Alec no longer flinched.

"Hey! I got your sheets?" The officer hollered as he entered. "Who knew there was a linen closet here."

Already on edge, Jan jumped at his voice, losing her balance and flailing her arms to no avail. She landed hard on her ass.

Proud as a peacock the officer dumped said sheets none too gracefully on the cot.

Jan stared up at him, eyes narrowed to slits.

"Shoot him!"

Wasting no time the officer made a fast exit.

Corporal Davis stood at attention waiting for the Colonel to acknowledge his presence. They were now in the command center of the police station. Soldiers were posted in every conceivable area of penetration, both inside and outside the building. Not even a fly could get in without their knowing it.

A mixed crowd of people had converged on the area along with reporters from every TV station in the area. Davis could clearly hear some of them shouting for the release of their two prisoners. Above their voices, though, the ones who wanted the freaks eliminated could be heard. Corporal Davis had no real opinion one way or the other at this point. He would follow the orders of his commander to the letter and right now those orders consisted of aiding the paramedic with the care of the transgenics. He'd do his job.

"Corporal," The Colonel said, acknowledging him, "Are the prisoners situated?"

"Yes sir. We've established contact with the hospital. A Dr. Shankar has volunteered to help. I forwarded information about their physiology to her."

"How is Ms. Stanton holding up?"

"Other than a sore ass, she's doing great, sir."

Foster noted the smile on Davis's face. "Do I even want to know?"

Davis just shrugged slightly.

The Colonel just shook his head and continued.

"What is the status of 494?"

"His vitals have become more stable, but are still erratic. We can't seem to get him to stabilize completely. Our biggest concern right now is his temperature. It's rising and he's becoming incoherent. We may need to ice him down. We'd like to avoid that, sir. We don't want to risk putting him into shock."

Colonel Foster rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Return to your post. Continue as before."

"Sir!" Davis saluted, did an about face and left.

As Davis left, he noted a very red faced Senator moving into the office. He could almost see the steam rising from his ears. Suppressing a smile he sat on the corner of a desk and crossed his arms.

"Senator," he acknowledged, "What can I do for you?"

"I don't appreciate your stalling tactics. What I want is what the President said I can have. Control over your prisoners."

"Really. I received no such orders from the President. My orders were to subdue and prepare the transgenics for transport."

"You were supposed to subdue all the transgenics in Terminal City. As I understand it you have two!"

The disgust in McKinley's voice didn't fail to reach Foster's ears. He stood abruptly and walked around to the other side of the desk and seated himself.

"They were already gone by the time we mobilized to enter Terminal City. These two, along with 7 others held us at bay while the others effectively escaped. A piece of intel that your own NSA Agent White failed to provide. He was in charge of this operation until my arrival. Instead he went off half-cocked on some personal crusade and failed miserably."

"Agent White was a loyal member of the NSA. His death will be fully investigated. You have my word on that."

"I don't doubt it. As far as taking over, unless I receive specific orders from our Commander-in-Chief, your presence here is a courtesy on my part."

"I want to see the prisoners, now!"

Foster smiled slightly at McKinley's gall and sat forward. His face took on a sardonic look.

"Let's get something straight. I don't answer to you. I don't take orders from you. If I let you see the prisoners, it's out of the goodness of my heart. Which at this moment is not fond of you at all. Before you are allowed any say whatsoever, I will speak to the President. Once your position is confirmed by him, then we go from there. Until that time, those prisoners are my responsibility and right now their injuries prevent any kind of debriefing by anyone and until they are stable, no one, except who I deem necessary will have access to them. Is that understood Senator?"

Foster could have sworn the steam turned to smoke as McKinley's skin reddened beyond belief from his neck up. But McKinley never replied, he just turned around and left.

Foster sat back with a heavy sigh and a look of concern took over his face. He would have to contact the President immediately and take the chance of forwarding some of the evidence they possessed. It would be tricky, but he would have to concede some things to McKinley in order to keep him in the dark that they knew what he was. He just hoped the President wouldn't order him to turn over the prisoners as part of the scam. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he began dialing a secure number.

Gamble's air rushed from his lungs in a loud grunt when his body slammed into the bars and he fell to the floor in a heap. It felt as if a rib had given way to the pressure. Barely able to get a word out he scrambled into a sitting position holding his hands out to his men, as he heard them cocking their guns.

"Stand….down…don't hurt…im." He hunched over holding his side and pulled in gulps of air. How had their situation gotten so out of control so fast? One minute he thought that 494 was barely conscious and then, before he realized anything was amiss, he felt himself being hurled through the air. Gamble looked at the swaying transgenic.

With the wall on his right and the bars on the left, Alec raised a hand against the wall to steady himself and at the same time shoving the girl behind him in the corner. His crazed eyes went from one soldier to another quickly assessing his situation. It wasn't good, but there was no way he would let another one of his people die. No way White would get his hands on her.

"White can't have her. You'll have…to go through me first."

Jan scooted up against the corner, her frightened eyes stared up first at Alec and then toward Gamble, who shook his head slightly at her. She didn't move.

Realizing where his delirium had taken him, Gamble tried to reason with 494.

"I'm not with…White. I'm Lieutenant John Gamble, Special Forces under the command of Colonel Foster."

Alec blinked at the name Foster, something in the back of his mind told him it was a name he should know. His eyes scanned the soldiers. They were all in a ready position and could easily take him down. He frowned in confusion.

"Foster?"

"That's right. You're in our protective custody."

Alec stumbled slightly, going to one knee, his mind a jumble. He instinctively moved back until he could feel the girl at his back. He turned his head slightly and saw her fear.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered to her, "I won't…won't let him hurt you."

Jan's fear dissipated when she realized he wasn't going to hurt her. Ever so slowly she placed a hand on his shoulder in an effort to reach through his delusions.

"I'm not in danger. You don't have to do this."

Alec's pleading eyes searched hers, "I have to save you."

Jan's face reflected an overwhelming feeling of compassion and then fear. Fear that his delusions would get him killed, so she pleaded in return. "Please…please don't do anything.

Alec mistook her look of fear and reacted by turning back to Gamble, "I won't let you…hurt her…I won't."

"Alec!" Gamble pleaded, "We're on your side, please don't do anything you'll regret…Don't make me do something I'll regret. Stand down."

Alec lowered his pounding head slightly, the confusion increasing. He felt the girl's trembling hands on his back and shoulder. Trying to hold him back. His mind was a blur of images, running from place to place. He squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of successive explosions in his head, debris flying, running, blood…his breathing increased and his eyes shot open scanning his arms and body. Blood everywhere. He could feel it as it splattered on him. Mole's blood. White's face sneering, laughing.

"No!…you're with White. I won't…let you kill anymore…of my family!" he yelled and lunged off the floor.

"All three Delta Teams are in and around the Police Station. They've successfully pushed the crowds back 500 feet from the main entry and stationed men on the roofs of several adjoining buildings east and west, as well as these two buildings across the street here and here."

Boxer pointed to each spot on the map as he spoke. He hadn't been one of the original team Biggs chose for this mission. He was an X-6. Alec had been his superior back at Manticore. Much of his training had been with Alec and it had been Alec who had covered up his early mistakes to keep him from being punished. He couldn't stay behind and had convinced Biggs to take him.

Collin, an X-5, continued his part of the report. "There are only 5 police officers in the station. Mostly taking care of regular office responsibilities. It's a completely military operation."

Collin paused and looked directly at Biggs. "McKinley and his goons are in there. Two are with him all the time. The other four spread out along his path. They're never far away."

Biggs contemplated the information for a moment before responding. His mind calculated the risks of what they were going to do as he stared down at the map.

"Okay let's go over this again. Jay Jay, Cary, and Toby will get the crowd going."

Looking from one to the other he re-emphasized the plan, "I want that crowd in a frenzy and at each others throats. It'll force Foster to send part of the teams out to help control them. Collin?"

Collin, an X-5 from Biggs unit continued, "Once the soldiers are confirmed as being out of the building, Boxer and I will take out the guards on the East and West sides of the roof simultaneously. Talen will take care of the guards on the roof across the street."

Biggs looked to Jay Jay.

"Using the confusion of the riot, Cary, Toby and I will walk into the building from the front and immobilize any soldiers or police in that area."

Biggs nodded. "My team will surface from the sewers in the west and east alleys and enter the building from there and move to Alec and Mole's location. I want a clear path to the roof. Use necessary force. However, if possible, I don't want to kill any of the soldiers," Biggs mouth curled in a feral grin, "McKinley's men are fair game."

Suddenly Logan's voice broke in over the coms.

"Something's happening. At least three of the teams are leaving the building."

Biggs straightened up and turned, his eyes glancing toward the floor. "What do you mean they're leaving?"

"Just what I said. Only one team is in the building and from what I can tell they are now concentrated in the command center. This doesn't make sense."

"We need to know what they're up too. Can you patch into their communications?"

"Already have," Logan answered, "There's nothing out of the ordinary…wait…I'm able to tap into all, but one line. It's encrypted. Has to be Foster."

"Can you break it?"

"Trying…it may take a while."

"Okay we may have to move our timetable. What are Mole and Alec's conditions?"

"Hang on."

Biggs scrubbed a hand through his hair in frustration. These unexpected actions of the military didn't make sense. Less soldiers to deal with meant better chance of success, but something didn't bode well. Something had happened to change the game. He paced as he waited for Logan's info.

Logan moved quickly to review transmissions between the paramedic and the hospital. When he realized that Shankar was supervising the situation, it gave him a sense of relief, but it was short lived.

"Mole's conscious, probable concussion, but his vitals are good. Alec's another story. They seem to be having trouble stabilizing him. His temperature is through the roof."

"That's normal for an X-5 with multiple injuries. Alec's pushed himself beyond normal perimeters. His body's dealing with too much at once."

"I got something!" Logan shouted and then hesitated listening to the transmissions. "Oh no."

"What? What is it?" Biggs fairly yelled.

"McKinley…" Logan started, "McKinley's been given authority by the President to escort the prisoners to DC and participate in their interrogation. Two of the teams have been ordered back to base. A transport helicopter is being sent for them. It should arrive by 2:00 a.m. in the morning. Just a sec…uh…the remaining teams will transport the prisoners, along with McKinley and his bodyguards back to D.C."

"Do you have a time?"

Logan's fingers literally flew over his keyboard, his heart pounding with his concentrated efforts to get this vital information.

"Okay…here it is," Logan continued, "We've got a break, if you want to call it that. They've ordered that Alec's condition be stabilized before transport…um…Dr. Shankar has to give the okay for him to be moved."

Biggs' sense of relief was obvious as his shoulders slumped in relief. He stood straight up and let his eyes go from one soldier to the other, a look of complete determination on his face.

"Okay boys, looks like we have a change of plans. Logan contact Shankar tell her the situation and that we may need her to stall his release. As soon as that transport is gone, we move in. If the crowd is still there, we use them. If not, we still go in."

end of Chapter 13 OKAY! I'm waiting. REVIEW ALREADY! GEEZ. LINKY HERE : )