Author's Note Pure fiction, dont own anything, easy sand simple people. Hope y'all enjoy! oh and please review im not as confident in this story as i make myself out to be.

"Hon, c'mon I gotta change the sheets so you and I can leave for Joshua's" she rips the sheet off the bed causing Ray to tumble slightly with it. He wrapped his arms around her knees as he got pushed towards her.

"But I'm not hungry; can't we just stay here and watch the boob tube?"

She looks down at him hands still on the sheet next to her and gives him a look she picked up once she got used to him calling her mum.

"One, you need to eat dinner no buts to it and two no more calling the T.V 'boob tube'. I aint raising you to be ungentlemanly" She then drops the sheet and picks Ray up to stand him on his feet, before turning him around and shoving him gently towards the door. "Go on, get cleaned up, wash your hands and face and change your clothes"

Sighing in defeat and rolling his eyes he goes to the bathroom to do her bidding, he stands on the little step chair that Max bought him in order for him to see in the mirror because it was up too high then went about to wash his hands and face humming while he was at it.

After he was done and toweled his wet hands and face he went to his own room across the hall and scowled as he saw it was now tidy and clean, he stomped to his closet and got a change of clothes and stripped what he was currently wearing to put them on. After that he went on to try and make his room what it was before Max had come home. Ray walked around the room taking out various toys and stuffed animals tossing them about while again humming; he tossed a stuffed tiger over his shoulder a bit too roughly and heard a distinct 'Ow!' when it collided with something.

Tensing Ray turned around real slow, leaning on the door jam Max stood there with disapproval shining in her eyes.

"Ray..." she started "what are you doing?"

Gulping at Max's calm exterior "umm, I don't like my room being neat mum" he said a bit sheepishly.

Raising an eyebrow at him she just stood there and stared at him calmly making sure she showed how much she disapproved of his behavior. Looking up he locked eyes with her and struggled to tear his eyes away, sighing to himself he proceeded to pick up his toys from around the room "fine" he mumbled.

Smiling triumphantly she turned around and went to change into some clothes. Deciding on a pair of flare black pants and a simple white tank she walked and placed them on the bed while she disrobed and put some body moisturizer on, she did this as quickly as possible starting from her neck down. Max noticed her breathing once again speed up as she lingered on her breasts but decided to once again brush it off and just quickly finish the job. She put another dollop of vanilla scented moisturizer in her hand and rubbed it into her legs waiting a moment before slipping on her white silky underwear and matching bra. Standing in front of her body length mirror she posed and thought about how hard it would be if she were an ordinary trying to keep this figure. Smirking she shook her head and went to put on the rest of her outfit.

As she finished she took out her beeper and COM link and switched them both on. Almost immediately her beeper went off and Max struggled to not roll her eyes. She realized that maybe she should go talk to Logan in person rather than calling him but was torn on whether to do it now or later.

"Mum?" Ray said tentively outside her door.

"Yea baby?"

"uh...can I come in? Or are you still getting ready?" He responded, a hint of shyness in his voice.

Max smiled at how polite Ray was. "nah I'm good" opening the door she let him in and watched as he jumped on the neatly done bed.

"So when are we goin? Oh and what are we having? This is great I missed havin dinner with Uncle Josh"

Smiling and lifting him from the bed she ruffled his hair and watched in amusment as he scowled and tried to fix it. "Mummm!" he said annoyed.

"C'mon, lets head over"

Following her out of the apartment and down the hall, Ray's extra sensitive smell picked up on the delicious aroma coming from Josh and Alec's apartment.

"Yum! What ever Josh is cooking it smells great huh mum?" Turning to look at her he caught her checking out her beeper with an almost annoyed look on her face.

Catching the tail end of Ray's sentence and snapping back into focus she smelt around her and her stomach growled in response.

Chuckling Ray just looked at her knowingly until he saw her disappointed look. "What?" Ray asked cautiously.

Grimacing at Rays look "baby I have to go do something, I can't stay for dinner with you tonight. I'm sorry"

Clenching his jaw, he stared at her in anger but defiantly didn't let on how much it hurt him to know she was going to go again.

"It's okay" He said in the most controlled voice.

Max knew it wasn't and couldn't help resent Logan at that very moment for taking her away from her family. He doesn't control you, there is such a thing as the word 'No' She heard her conscious but chose to ignore it.

Nodding her head at Ray she stepped forward and placed a tender kiss to his forehead. She felt him stiffen and felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Ray wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around her and tell her to stay and not go to Roller Boy, but as he promised earlier he would no longer make her feel bad or guilty for leaving him.

"Tell Josh that I'm sorry and tell Alec that I went over to Logan's and I'll call him if I need him ok? You be good" And with that she forced her self to turn around "I'll be back later" she said with no hint of a promise in her voice because they both knew she was likely to break it.

Feeling empty again as he watched his mum leave, he growled and focused on the way he admired his mum for having such high morals and high tolerance of a stupid ordinary. He wasn't about to be upset about this because he himself knew how difficult it was for her to say 'no' to someone.

Sighing dejectedly he turned back to Josh's apartment door and barged in.

"Hey Buddy" Alec said from his place on the sofa, not bothered by his entrance. Looking behind him expectantly he waited for Max to enter.

"She's not coming, roller boy paged her and she said she had to deal with something. If she needs you she'll call you." Ray said in a voice devoid of emotion and Alec couldn't help but think that he was catching some traits off the other soldiers around here. He couldn't help but feel a bit of tension rise within him at the fact Max was no longer near, but he brushed it off and told himself she would call if she needed him.

Ray had turned from the disappointed Alec and headed over to Joshua.

"Hey Uncle Josh, what's cooking? Mum said she's sorry but she won't be coming tonight, she got something to do"

Josh just showed his disappointment with the sag of his shoulders. "That's okay, I still have medium fella and baby boo"

Smiling a genuine smile at Josh's use of his nick name he sat down on the stool and watched him cook.

Max was walking casually through TC towards the North sector so she could make a quick stop at the apartment so she could tell OC that she planned on staying at TC. As she approached the fence Max scanned the area and felt something was off.

Quickly hiding in the shadows she extended her senses, she knew someone was out there. Max considered calling for back up but instead felt it was unnecessary. Just as she was about to start walking again she felt that prickling sensation at the back of her neck. Familiars was the thought that skirted through her thoughts and Max knew she had to call for back up. The North side was the least used area of TC due to the lack of living area. The buildings were mostly abandoned business and warehouses, she was alone out here.

Max looked about her and tried to focus on the source of her uneasiness but couldn't locate anything. Her superior sight and hearing couldn't find anything out of the ordinary either and although Max didn't want to ignore her instincts she didn't want to be give in to her paranoia either. Taking a deep breath Max stepped out of the shadows and kept walking.

Three steps down she finally heard something and reacted. Dropping and rolling on her left shoulder Max dodged the first bullet that soared her way, but couldn't escape the second. She grunted as it entered her shoulder, but refused to make any more sound than that. She felt another hit her thigh and gritted her teeth, moving as quickly as possible she moved behind the abandoned car and heard the windows and car frame endure a few more bullets.

Breathing deeply Max went for her COM link to call for back up and regretted not focusing on her surroundings because the next thing she knew she was screaming out from the bolts of electricity shocking throughout her body. Max felt as if her body was on fire, she had two gun shot wounds and had experienced a high velocity of electric shocks course through her body in less than 2 minutes. As she laid there slumped over she pressed the alert button on her link and prayed they could find her in time.

Back at HQ Dix was jarred from his research with the screech of alarms being sounded. The surrounding transgenics milling about near by all became alert and hurried over to the security feed.

Each transgenic was fitted with a panic button that allowed for constant contact with base if ever they were in trouble. Max had ordered this through near the beginning of the siege, and no-one disagreed thinking it would make her feel better knowing there was a way to be reached. The transgenics never realized how effective this could be though, for transgenics had used it many times since it was issued.

Max knew they had every reason to be over confident in their skills and didn't order for them to have a link because she doubted them, and initially she was scared that would be the message she sent out when she told the crew but she was surprised at their immediate compliance. She knew that as being a leader they really didn't have a choice but to follow orders but she hoped it was because they agreed with her.

The day she motioned for them to be issued she had told them all in another national speech that 'despite being extremely competent in their skills the reason that makes us better is that on our own we kick ass but as a whole we put definition to the phrase'.

So Dix went to work on creating these panic buttons for the nation without complaint. He made Max and Alec's slightly different though, they were linked to produce a more different sounding alarm to notify that their leader or CO was in trouble. Alec requested that his be linked with Max's so if ever she used it he would be alerted at the same time HQ was.

The room was a buzz with activity a couple minutes later Alec blurred in with his face blank and alert. He started issuing orders about the room and made for the security cameras scanning them quickly and assessing them trying to find something that the others didn't. This was 494. He was made to be the perfect soldier, he was created to do exactly what it took to get the job done, and he was a man that had his mate in trouble.

Max's breathing was becoming ragged and she could now clearly hear the footsteps approaching. How could she miss them they weren't Familiars they were just ordinaries. She could hear them gloating that they got a trannie and felt her blood run cold when she realized how many of them there were. She could hear and feel that there were at least 20 different ordinaries and again didn't know why she couldn't pick up on it earlier.

She felt herself being roughly picked up and thrown into the middle of the street, she groaned as her shot shoulder was the one that got the brunt of the impact. She felt her left side burn from the searing pain and saw stars.

"Wow, they really know how to make them" she heard one gruff voice say.

"Fuck yeah!" another chimed in.

Max felt rather than saw someone roughly pin her down and again felt a soaring pain in her shoulder as they disregarded her injury. Blinded by the pain and weak from the shocks she felt a tiny pin prick in her arm. She struggled to get away from it but it only caused to remind her of her gun shot wound.

She lay there panting and tried to open her eyes, a little blurry at first she finally gained focus and noticed she was surrounded by the men and they were all leering down at her. Her skin crawled from their heated gazes and couldn't help drudge up her attitude.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer" she wheezed out in contempt.

They all chuckled and the leader she determined was the one who spoke up. He had dark brown hair and a military build. "Nah sweet cheeks, I think my boys and I would rather take you for a test drive than just admire"

"Always with the comparison of cars and chicks. Sorry to disappoint but I'm out of service" She said up to him from her position on the ground. She was sprawled out and had to focus on blocking out the pain but the electric shock had caused her to weaken.

Max saw him kneel down beside her and swiftly applied pressure on her shoulder. Max squeezed her eyes closed and grit her teeth from letting the scream lodged in her throat out.

"And here I thought you were made to do just that. You are a fucking whore created to serve us and were here to make the most of it" She heard the others in the background cheer and agree.

And felt a faint stirring of something primal begin in her stomach. She felt herself become angry as she let their words fuel her rage.

"Your nothing but property, made in a lab, created to look the way you do so you appeal to us normal people. Fucking transgenic slut!" she felt him grab at her jacket and roughly took it off her. Again she had to bite down the scream that wanted to be released. She felt the impact of a fist to her face and cased her to jerk and the strain in her shoulder started to throb to the point were even if she wanted to she couldn't ignore it.

"You had to shoot me, twice, and electrocute me to have your way with me. Yea...real fuckin manly" another sharp blow to her face and she felt a sharp sting in her right cheek.

She felt other hands on her now tearing away her clothing and calling her names.

"Whore!"

"Slut!"

"Bitch!"

"I bet you the trannie will actually enjoy it!" they chortled and agreed with eagerness.

"Filthy piece of shit!"

Groping at her flesh Max felt the rise of her rage and suddenly she gave into it, letting it consume her.

"Oh shit! Look at the ice she got. Looks mighty expensive for a trannie. Bitch probably stole it!"

She felt them reach out to it and reacted. She felt as if she were in a trance not really hearing or seeing just reacting. She grabbed the guy's wrist and snapped it with ease and detachment that would have made Manticore proud. She heard his howl of pain and a feral smile appeared on her face.

Flipping herself up, she noticed that she couldn't feel the pain anymore, she looked at the stunned men and felt her adrenalin soar at how many there were. Flashing her teeth in a predatory smile she shifted and awaited the first wave of attack.

John Jacobs just stared at the trannie in front of him in shock at the turn about in the once fallen girl. He wondered how she could still be up when she had two gun shot wounds. The men stared at the trannie in fear as they were met with the cold hard look of eyes black as coal. She stood before them in a calm and silent way and watched them under her dark hooded eyes.

"Well fuck! There's 20 of us and 1 of her, do the math! Get her!" John screamed out resuming his leader status. He watched as she smiled wickedly and directed her gaze his way.

"Bring it" came the simple reply from the stunning beauty.

He watched in amazement as his men threw punches and kicks her way only to be thrown or deflected away from her with ease.

Max let herself go and reacted on instinct she dodged and deflected punches and kicks not really taking an offense on the fight. She zoned in and immediately got tired of the routine. Turning about she caught the fist heading her way and flipped over him kicking out and catching two men in the chin forcing them back and crashing them into the men behind. Standing behind the guy she flipped over she kicked out her foot and cuffed the back of his knee. She ducked again and kicked behind her catching another guy in the stomach sending him flying back. Letting go of the guy kneeling in front of her she brought down a sharp blow to the back of his head rendering him unconscious.

Turning to the side she dodged another hit and deflected the blows aimed at her body, she grabbed the guy using a bat and latched onto his arm using the bat to deflect the blade that swung down on her. She then gave a sharp blow to the guy holding the bat and he was unconscious before he hit the ground a few feet away from her. she was in her element and knew that her blows were to disarm rather than kill, she was fast and effective not for a second playing around with them. Blurring she snapped the wrist of the guy holding the blade and immediately turned in towards him bringing an open palmed hand to his chest and watched him crash into the wall on the other side of the street from the force.

Turning to the rest of the men she allowed herself to get lost in her rage and frustration and focused on getting rid of the threat she felt coming off them. Punching and kicking to fast for the eyes to see she felt everything slowing around her and just heard the grunts and gasps coming from her victims. Blood sprayed on her as she broke a guys nose but she barely blinked and kept attacking, she however did still know that she couldn't do anything fatal to them and held her punches but still was quick, efficient and precise in her blows.

Watching the last of the men slip down in front of her she slowly turned to the man who had instigated the whole thing. She gave him a calculated and calm look and tilted her head to the side.

John watched in horror as one by one his men were taken down by the lithe girl. He swallowed as he felt her eyes on him nonplussed by the fact she was half naked and covered in blood; her own and his men. He watched as she tilted her head to the side and sniffed the air as if curious of something, he saw her eyes twinkle in delight and she gave him a smile. The smile made dread rise up within himself and he felt his heart rate escalate.

All of a sudden he she standing right in front of him.

"Normally this is the part where I kick your ass or watch you beg for me not to hurt you but I really cant be bothered by you" she gave him a cold stare "run" was all she said and he stood there in shock before he turned and bolted.

Max watched him flee and saw him get near the fence bending down she saw the taser and smiled. Throwing it at him she watched in a face devoid of emotions as he faltered before he could exit and scream out in agony before hitting the ground unconscious by the shocks.

"You forgot that" she called out to him sarcastically.

That's when she felt the shakes and pain return in full force her body now reacting to the over exertion she put it through she knew she had lost a lot of blood and the unfamiliar serum in her system had a slight chance that it could affect her without her blood level and natural defenses to wade them away.

"Shit" she whispered as her vision was becoming blotchy and she stumbled forward along the street towards HQ, her knees buckled under her and she felt so weak.

"Alec" she whispered silently begging for him to hear her from wherever he was and come to her.

Groaning she knew she had to get up, but the adrenalin that allowed her to fight in the first place was now drained and she felt like throwing up at the feeling it left in her body. She could smell the rancid smell of the ordinaries and their blood on her made her feel dirty. She put a lot of effort into standing but the throbbing in her thigh wouldn't let her. She could feel the darkness try to envelop her and closed her eyes to hold back the tears of fear and frustration.

"Argh!" she growled weakly, scared that she would die out here.

She heard the faint and calculated oncoming footsteps. She struggled with her consciousness to assess whether she was in danger or not but was too weak. Fear consumed her and her struggle doubled.

Then she felt it through her panic and fear, the welcomed feeling of safety as she felt the strong arms envelop her.

"Maxie" she heard his voice whisper to her unsure.

She was able to open her eyes and look up into his eyes and give him a ghost of a smile.

"Alec..." she whispered before she allowed her world to black out on her.

Alec was beside himself, he had gathered the troops as soon as he realized where she was and they all blurred over, slowing down once they were close enough so they could approach more carefully. He motioned for them to split; two to his left and two to his right. Alec and Mole would be taking the center; he scanned the surrounding area and assessed all possible dangers. As commander his first priority is the safety of his men and himself.

Alec couldn't allow his feelings to interfere with proper protocol so he remained soldier like focusing on what needed to be done to attain the target. When they reached there though they were too late, they scanned the area for any threat and all they saw were the men lying around the street unconscious and bloody not at all affected by it. Their mission was to search and locate their leader.

It seemed as if Mole spotted her at the exact moment he did because he allowed for a gasp to be released as she came into his view. Alec felt as if someone punched him in the gut and winded him. He blurred to her and gently put his arm around her. He smelled the fear off her and felt a bolt of pain in his chest. those Fuckin Bastards! his mind screamed.

"Maxie" he whispered to her, wanting and needing to be reassured.

He looked down on her bloodied face and saw her eyes open to reveal her dark orbs staring at him showing her fear, relief, pain and anger.

"Alec" She breathed out in pain and gave him a faint smile before her eyes rolled back in her head finally giving into the struggle of unconsciousness.

Alec sat there for a moment before he brought up his walls and allowed himself to become 494. He needed to get her to the infirmary.

He looked over at Mole "Call for back up I want these fuckers in lockdown so we can question them" he ordered and he immediately took off toward the infirmary with her gently cradled in his arms.

Soldiers don't handle emotion well and all the X's were on a tight rope of emotion at the state Max was in. He saw how Mole had reacted to the state and no doubt their will be a tidal wave of transgenics in the city demanding they avenge her. Alec had to focus and try to damage control for he knew he had to assume lead while she was indisposed.

Barking into his COM link that he needed meds available at the hospital ASAP he gently shifted Max and blurred her to the infirmary chanting along the way that she would be fine.

He could hear her breath coming in short, the slowing down of her heart beat and ignored it all. His mission now was to get her to the infirmary as quickly as possible. 494 would not let his mission fail, he was the best, he moved quicker and stealthier than anyone, he was born for this, but in the back of his mind he couldn't shake the fact that he had already failed. He failed his top priority; Max.

As he sat beside her a couple hours later he was overcome with relief. He wasn't able to allow himself to become emotional in the peak of the moment, stating the details of the immediate injuries on her body as the medics asked questions. He answered in a detached way and told them that she had two gun shot wounds, one to her left shoulder and the other to her right thigh.

He had paced outside as they went to work on her they had needed to transfuse her immediately and he had volunteered but they said that it was okay they had blood ready for her. He felt useless as he waited with baited breath for her to come out of surgery. Alec had been able to distract himself with taking charge of TC and issuing orders for the ordinaries and transgenics. He wanted them in lockdown and assigned 3 alpha X's od guard duty. He told them they weren't allowed to cross the threshold in the room where they stood but was sure they would find a way around that order and a part of Alec hoped the would. He could see from the outcome of bruises and cuts on Max what they had done to her and felt a rage he hadn't experienced before. It choked him up that they had violated her perfect and flawless skin. They were already fading but that didn't mean the mental scars left him.

He never felt happier with Manticore than at the moment they said she was going to be okay. Looking down at her peaceful face he stroked her face and brushed the hair away to reassure himself she was still here.

Max came into consciousness and quickly assessed her surroundings to see if she were safe. She tried to pry her eyes open but found that they were too heavy. Tapping into her other senses she made a quick assessment from that. She lay on a bed that was unfamiliar to her, heard the buzz of electrical equipment, she smelt the bland stale air around her that had a faint hint of blood and then she noticed that all of it didn't matter. She had picked up on Alec's smell next to her and she was content. She knew she was safe as long as Alec was beside her. She could hear his even breathing as he slept beside her. She reached out to him and rubbed her fingers along his head softly.

She went to open her mouth but immediately shut it as she gained the feeling in the rest of her body the sharp pain in her shoulder and thigh were a minor problem compared to the churning in her stomach. Max gained the strength to lean over on her right side and hurl.

That got Alec awake. He quickly reacted and held Max's hair back as she spilled what little she had in her stomach. Rubbing her back and saying soothing words he tried to calm her. She was trembling when she finally stopped and a slight sheen of sweat appeared on her.

"its okay Maxie, shhhh, it's okay. Just let it out"

"Oh god" she groaned out again when she again leaned over and started throwing up.

"Luke!" Alec called out after she stopped again.

Luke rushed in a saw what had Alec all panicked. Max was now basically dry heaving over the edge of her bed, her body trembled and she looked pale.

"What the fuck is happening!" Alec snapped at Luke.

Alec put his walls up but he felt so scared and panicked about Max. X5's don't get sick. Not even after intensive surgery. We had accelerated healing and the most capable immune system. We were perfect physically. Alec realized he was getting a tad hysterical and forced him self to calm his thoughts.

Max had lost consciousness again and Alec automatically held her hand while he motioned for the other transgenic to softly wipe and clean her face. Luke just assessed Max and shook his head.

Alec caught it and immediately felt protectiveness rise. "What? What's wrong with her?"

"Alec..." Luke started unsure; Alec was after all a legend at Manticore. The best soldier, but he knew Alec's weakness was Max and didn't know if he would be able to take it on.

Alec narrowed his eyes dangerously "What. Is. Wrong. With. Her" he said stressing each word.

Luke sighed and tensed "The ordinaries injected her with something and her body is reacting to it. I don't know if the effects will go or not because the test results from her blood weren't able to go thru because she couldn't afford to lose anymore. The loss of blood and" pointing to a bruise on her chest "that indicates that she was also shocked with those new tasers. She was shocked as well as shot Alec and her body and immune system was abused. Not to mention she single handedly took care of 20 ordinaries in her condition. I don't know what serum they injected into her system and her symptoms don't look good, its just time that will tell whether or not she'll be able to pull through. Although we really don't have much to worry about her recovery level is one of the highest I've seen"

Alec put up his blank mask as he allowed himself to process this. Luke watched him retreat into his soldier mode and breathed a sigh at his stupidity for ever doubting Alec and his capability to handle things. He wasn't the best for nothing.

"Those FUCKERS!" Alec roared as soon as he arrived in the empty alleyway. He punched a hole through the wall and barely flinched. He escaped from the room as soon as he knew Max was going to be okay and taken care of.

Breathing deeply he felt himself calm down. He may have been the best at Manticore but that was when he had nothing to fear; nothing to care about. Yes he was selfish, arrogant and overly confident but that all changed the moment he was assigned the Berrisford assignment after that everything was a front for him, he played the roll of the perfect obedient soldier as if an Oscar award were at stake, and then she happened, he got assigned as 452's breeding partner and it all changed. How could it not with her attitude and bossiness he was hooked from the beginning. When she just went straight ahead and gave him a name gave him an identity not just a number that was the beginning, he should have known but then she reeled him in, hook, line and sinker. It all changed when she gave the indication she might need him. He had felt a stirring in his heart that was forced to the back of his mind.

Taking his hand out of the wall he flexed it a couple times before he made his way back inside the infirmary finally over his little outburst. He slapped on his confident mask and strolled over to her bed side.

Alec had ordered for the ordinaries to be placed on hold in an abandoned warehouse close to HQ so they could question them when they awoke. He had told the leader to notify him as soon as they woke up and he was still waiting upon the report.

Looking down at Max's bruises he flinched and shut off his emotions getting tired of feeling that sharp pain. He had been notified that they found the security feed and were now reviewing it, he looked down at his Max proud of the way she had taken them on. He knew that many of the occupants of TC had never seen Max in action and to some watching the feed would be the first time they glimpsed her in action.

Alec hadn't been able to see it himself because he refused to leave her side but from the response he got from Dix he figured Max had definitely stepped up to it. He knew Max when she fought, she was graceful but deadly. The perfect Manticore outcome despite her 10 years away from the hell hole.

Dix relayed the events to him and he looked at Max again softly stroking the hair from her face and couldn't decide whether he should be angry at her stupidity or awed by her defiance. She had been shot twice, electrocuted, thrown about, Alec grit his teeth as he recalled Dix mention the way they violated her, but despite all that she came up on top and was able to pummel them.

The feed was fast becoming the highlight around Terminal City, transgenics proud all around of their leader and spreading the word, but as Alec sat next to the wounded women he lost all sense of happiness of her defeating those ordinaries attack to infiltrate TC's walls single handedly.

An irrational part of him blamed Logan but he knew that was wrong of him so he resigned to blame himself. He should have been with her. He felt the sting of tears and squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to stop caring, he'd be able to do that when he was alone, he needed to be strong right now.

Max woke a while later and felt immensely better; she opened her eyes and found they were automatically drawn to the man with his head resting on her bed fast asleep. A soft smile curved her face and she gently ran her fingers through his hair. She could tell he was uncomfortable and wanted to wake him up.

"Alec" she said softly while gently shaking him.

"hmm" he mumbled before snapping awake and looking at her. he immediately sat up and took her hand giving her the most concerned look. "Are you ok, do you feel sick?"

Max paused and gave thought to his question before slightly shaking her head "I feel a little queasy and have a light pounding in my head but I'm fine other than that" nodding his head he gave a soft sigh of relief finally releasing a little tension from his body at her reassurance.

"I've got the ordinaries on lock down in building 3" he reported to her trying to maintain his soldier facade even as his body was reacting to her fully awaken body. she gave him a slight come here motion and he quickly decided he allowed for his emotions to be kept away long enough. Taking his shoes off and climbing into bed beside her he softly and careful of her injured shoulder wrapped his arms around her trying to ease the pain from her body. She snuggled into him and Alec felt content, his emotional walls finally coming down at last as he had her in his arms.

"I almost lost you" he whispered hoarsely.

Not really all that surprised at his heartfelt admission she responded with a flippant "But you found me so it's okay" she whispered back to him lightly caressing his arm around her middle.

Alec shook his head "no I should have been there earlier" he berated himself rather than actually telling her. "Those pricks shouldn't have been given the chance to touch you! I should have been there to protect you" he grit his teeth, he had finally let go of his emotions "they hurt you! Fuckin bastards"

Max shifted so she could sit up and face him finnallt comprehending the depth her injuries had effected him. He resisted a bit from letting her go but complied. "Alec..." she soothed "I'm not made of glass, I know how to handle myself, and yea I got shot and beat on but I'm still here, and my heart is still beating. You found me when you were meant to find me, I left to go to OC and I got jumped" shrugging her good shoulder and not wavering her eyes away from him she continued " you may want to keep me safe Alec, I know how you feel I get that way when ever your in danger, but me just being alive is putting me in danger, you cant constantly blame yourself for something you had no control over" she gave him a pointed look " I mean c'mon" Max adopted a cheeky smile " I know you idolize me, but no need to carry on my bad traits as well"

"Max" Alec said in warning still wallowing in self pity.

Rolling her eyes Max just leaned back down into his arms feeling a little winded "I attract danger, it just sneaks up on me. You more than anyone knows that. But I refuse to hide and I know you know that. I can't stop you from doing things as much as you can stop me. So suck it up soldier!" she said playfully. "We were born in a world where we are hated and feared. Those ordinaries just did what any other norm didn't have the guts to do. They breeched TC and took down a trannie. Unfortunately it was me, but that's my fault for not being alert. We learn Alec although our security around TC is good we have to tighten it up" looking at him she brought a hand up to his face and caressed it softly, smiling faintly as she watched him close his eyes and lean into her touch. "I'm sorry I scared you"

Nodding his head he just gazed at her with his heart in his eyes. He caught her wrist and placed a small kiss in her palm. He didn't know what possessed him to do so but it had felt right at the time.

Max froze, the intimate touch of his lips to her palm sent explosive tingles down her spine and she had to take a quick intake of air. She looked at his eyes and saw the complete adoration there and didn't know how to respond, this was territory she didn't know or think they should be in, but couldn't help respond to the way he was looking at her. Taking his hand in hers she copied his action and placed a feather light kiss there. She heard him gasp and immediately looked up at him.

He was shocked and slightly aroused at the same time. Max had ducked her head down in embarrassment and Alec's smile lit up the room at how shy she suddenly got.

Then again turning serious he lightly turned her face towards his "I'm scared of losing you Max" he finally admitted.

She looked at him and gave him a gentle smile "Alec..." but she didn't know what to say to that. She couldn't give him any false promises and she wasn't prepared to face what was shining in his eyes so she settled for sarcasm.

"A blind man couldn't lose me. I'm perfection in its peak" she scoffed mock arrogantly, before settling back into his arms "can you just hold me?" she whispered to him afraid of his rejection and growing weary.

"Wouldn't want to be anywhere else Maxie" he felt her yawn and a tender smile lit his face.

Max had been close to dying today and Alec realized not for the first time how important Max was to him. How could one woman possess him to the brink of madness with just a simple smile, touch or comment. He didn't own her heart, he wasn't her mate, and he was just her friend. Alec laid there with his arms around Max and contemplated his position in her life.

How could he ever be good enough for her, she may not treat him all that good but she allowed him to see her in a light no else has. She trusts him and that meant the world to Alec. Only he wanted more from her besides her friendship, he wanted to be her everything like she was his. He couldn't actually pin point reasons as to why he felt the way he did for her; he knew other females that would be able to give him the love and care instantly if he asked it off them. It just wouldn't be the love or care from the woman he desired.

He looked down and smiled at how she was still fiddling idly with her bracelet tiredly. She was his angel, his piece of heaven and he would be damned if he ever let anyone hurt her. It scared him sometimes the depth of which his emotions ran for her he figured out awhile ago that love is madness, if it doesn't drive you crazy, if you don't endure emotional turmoil your never truly in love, and God only knows Max has the power to drive him insane, the only one to ever touch his soul.

He shook himself when he realized how corny he started sounding and Max gave him a quizzical look. He just placed a gentle kiss to her forehead and her demeanor relaxed she smiled at him and let him look after her, content in not having to be the tough chick. She knew her limits and her body and been pushed to the brink, even for an X5.

Just then an X6 came into the room and waited to be addressed. Alec tensed and Max tried to sooth him by slowly and gently trailing her fingers along his arm.

"What is it?"

"Ma'am, the ordinaries are fully awake and requesting to meet with you ma'am"

Max raised her eyebrow "Why?"

"They requested to meet with who was in charge ma'am"

Understanding, Max made a move to get up, but Alec held her down. She turned to tell him t let her go and caught his cold and emotionless face. It caused a shiver to run down her body, and although she felt in the way he was still softly but firmlt touching her he was no threat to her she couldn't help be a little intimidated by the unwavering look he bored into her.

She had heard off other X5's that Alec was Manticore's pride and joy transgenic and she never doubted them realizing that Alec was probably still hiding his skills away from her. At first it hurt her to think he didn't trust her but then she thought about it and came to the realization that he really wasn't the show off she once accused him of. She had caught glimpses of his skill throughout their stay in TC and knew that he was again trying to protect her. Of course in the most round about way she rolled her eyes mentally, how could he think that hiding away his skills could be protecting her, yea okay so she wasn't as acquainted with many of his skills and understood he didn't want to shove it in her face but for fuck sake she wasn't a baby!

"You need to rest" He said in a commanding voice.

"Alec..."

"You. Need. Rest." He repeated and got off the bed quickly and smoothly. His whole demeanor was tense and he shot the X6 a look to dismiss him.

As soon as he was gone Max ripped into him. "What the hell Alec?! Don't fuckin order me around!" she tried to sit up but decided against it as she felt the searing pain in her shoulder. She tried to hide it from him but he caught it.

Softening her tone when she saw the rage, pain, fear and contempt in his eyes when he looked at her "Alec they asked to see me. Not you"

"Your not going anywhere near those assholes! I'll be the one to address them" he gave her a cold stare and his gaze clearly said not to challenge him. He had clenched his jaw and you could see the muscle pumping.

Max really wasn't in the mood to fight, especially with him so she just shrugged and said whatever.

Alec was fully expecting her to argue with him but then noticed how truly tired she was and became even angrier. He felt his body relax when she looked at him with a pleading look.

"What?" he asked her softly stepping closer to her finally letting go of his anger I the face of her worried and weary gaze.

"Don't take too long okay" she requested softly and a slight blush could be seen on her cheeks. "I don't like hospitals...even if it's a make shift one in TC"

Alec felt his heart melt and stepped up to her intertwining their hands. "I'll be as quick with them as possible" he said softly to her but with an edge indicating he had plans for them.

"we have to let them go Alec, it was wrong to even have them in lock down in TC. They're ordinaries and they can't handle the toxin" Max said to him as she gripped his hand so he would listen to her.

"Yeah well they should have thought of that before they fuckin touched you!" he mumbled bitterly "all of TC is itching to get rid of them for the state they left you in Max"

Sighing Max felt her irritation grow she was being as patient and complient as possible but she was Max not a fuckin saint. "Alec I may be leader, but I do not want special treatment. Were all equals here and I just can't deal if we had to explain to the world why 20 norms died inside TC walls. Think strategically Mr. Second in command, I need a leader not an emotional nutcase. So....just don't argue with me, I understand that you all care but I need you to understand I'm still Max and before the siege everyone hated me. I don't want to be outcasted again because you all suddenly think I'm holier than thou"

Smirking "Never actually said you were a goddess Max"

Max smiled "Funny, never even mentioned the word goddess Alec"

Turning serious he sat on the edge of her bed next to her. Softly reaching a hand out to caress her face he bent down and kissed her temple, his actions speaking for him his agreement with her.

"I'll be right back Maxie" he whispered and felt her nod.

As he left he could have sworn he heard her whimper. Forcing himself to switch into soldier mode he made his way down to the hostages; a cold malicious glint in his eye. No-one got away with hurting her; No-one.