CHAPTER ELEVEN: In Search of Alex

Back with the ICOSA Team

They had headed over to the Council's office, hoping Alex had been able to escape the lycan. She wasn't there. Unwilling to give up just yet, Malcolm quickly decided on the next course of action.

"Okay men, gather up your radios and let's head out. We'll split up, each of us taking a separate section of town.

"Is that really safe", Jorge asked tentatively?

"From the looks of things in the subway, I'd say that most of the supernatural population is down for the count", Malcolm answered. "It's also daylight, so that takes the vampires out of the equation. This is our best opportunity to search the area and cover as much ground as possible", he explained.

"You know she's still alive", Sterling stoically stated.

"Yeah, isn't that what we're hoping for", Daniel retorted somewhat angry?

"What I meant, was that if she were dead, her body would've been left behind in the tunnels; it wasn't. Which means the lycan must have bitten her. If there had been a struggle or fight of any kind, we would have seen signs; we would have heard something. But there wasn't a single sound made. He bit her and she didn't call out for help", Sterling finished morosely.

"And your point would be", Daniel shot back.

Sterling looked to Malcolm for help. As new team leader, Malcolm was about to make his first executive decision. "It means, Alex is no longer Alex. She'll become one of the monsters as soon as the moon turns full", Malcolm said answering for his friend.

They all looked shell shocked. Alex had been their friend and team member for more than six years. It was hard to believe they were now going to have to hunt her down and take her down.

"Isn't there anything we can do? Maybe pour holy water on the wound, or something": Jorge asked expectantly?

"Believe me, if there was any chance of saving her, I would do it", Malcolm stated emphatically. "But there is no known cure for lycanthropy. We have to find Alex and put her out of her misery." There, he'd said it. As leader of the mission, he had to make the call. He had seen Alex make the same decision on numerous occasions, but it didn't make it any easier. Trying to reassure his team he finished, "We've discussed it before and it's what she would have wanted."

Knowing they couldn't put it off any longer, he handed out orders. "Jorge, I want you to make the call into the Council. Let them know what went down and advise them of our intent to find Agent Douglas and contain the situation. Once you've finished your report, go out and search through the downtown area." The young man nodded his head in assent. Turning to the remaining two members of the team, Malcolm continued, "Daniel, you take the east end of town and Sterling you cover the north end. I'll check out the west & south sides. Once you've finished your sweep, everyone report back here. If you find her, do not try to engage her on your own. Call for backup. This is going to be hard enough as it is; I don't want any one person to have to take this responsibility on his own. Are we clear", he asked?

"Crystal", Daniel replied still angry.

"Good, everyone check their channels and lets go", Malcolm concluded.

The dejected group of men made their way downstairs and out into the daylight. Before he could dart off, Malcolm grabbed Daniel's arm, "Irish, you know I don't want to have to do this."

Glaring at his new leader, Daniel waited a moment before speaking. "Yeah I know, but I don't have to like it." Then he turned and stalked off.

Malcolm and Sterling watched the angry man walk away. "You made the right decision", Sterling told him.

"Thanks, I have a feeling I'm going to need all the support I can get here", Malcolm confided in the big man.

"I got your back", Sterling assured him then he went off in search of their fallen comrade.

Wishing there was another way, but knowing there wasn't, Malcolm headed off in the opposite direction; searching for his friend and enemy.

Three hours later, just before nightfall, all four men met back up at their temporary headquarters. None of them had seen any signs of Alex or the shapeshifter that had taken her. The sun had already begun to set, and the creatures of the night would come out in force.

Glancing at his team, Malcolm realized they all looked as tired and worn out as he felt. "Okay men, let's grab something to eat and try and get a couple hours of sleep.

"What about Alex", Daniel asked, his anger having evaporated hours ago. Malcolm rubbed his forehead in consternation, Daniel was right. Alex may try to come back to the office at some point and time. They couldn't afford to be caught unaware.

"I'll take the first watch", Sterling offered.

"Fine, thanks", Malcolm said. Wake me in two hours and we'll switch. Daniel, your up after me then Jorge, you'll round out the crew. Right now, we need food; we have to keep up our energy levels.

"I figured we would", Jorge said beginning to pull items from his knapsack. "I stopped by a little store I found down the block. I picked up some stuff to make sandwiches and some bottled water", he said setting the food out on the desk.

"You're a good man, Jorge. I could kiss you", Daniel jokingly replied, trying to pull the smaller man into an exaggerated embrace. They all laughed when Jorge's face turned beet red, but it had helped ease the tension...some.