A/N—Okay..I have some issues with this chapter. I wrote it and then accidentally deleted it somehow and the re-write is not as good. Also, I found this chapter to be more set-up than anything else, but maybe that is just me, since I know where all of this is headed. But Lotamoxie asked nicely, so I decided to post it as-is.

Keep in mind that there is a LOT of excitement and plot movement in Chapter 11 (which is almost complete and almost ready to be posted.) Oh and trust me: I have a really good reason for the one thing so many of you wanted to happen in this chapter, that didn't. I promise, it will be worth it.

Chapter 10

Think. Think. Think!

Has this happened before? Ben couldn't take the silence as Alec tried to come up with a solution.

"Yeah. Twice."

Okay, so what did you do then?

"First time, Max got the antidote from Renfro, second time we transfused him with the blood of an X-5 who wasn't a carrier."

Ok. Transfusion. We'll try that. But, who?

"What about Brin? Did she touch Logan?"

I don't know. Oh! Yeah. They shook hands.

"When?"

What?

" Did she touch him before you did or after you did?" Alec was getting impatient.

Before.

"Alright. Good. In the kitchen, second drawer to the left of the stove there is a first aid kit with some tubing. Brin is going to have to do it by herself."

Ok. Ben headed into the kitchen as Alec talked.

"And whatever you do, don't touch him again."

No problem. He handed the supplies to Brin and she started the process. She's all hooked up. How did you know where everything was?

"I put it there. I used to live there."

Ew. On purpose? Ben asked looking at the crumbling house with disgust.

Taking offense Alec replied "Actually no. I had to lay low there after I was falsely arrested of killing a priest. You wouldn't know anything about that would you.?"

Sorry. Ben replied meekly.

Alec felt guilty for his outburst. It's not Ben's fault that Alec was stressed out. Well, actually, he was a contributing factor, but not purposely."Don't worry. Max fixed it. She always does." He changed the subject. "How's the patient."

Looking better already. He's unconscious, but he's stopped sweating and he looks less like impending death.

"Good. Look, I'm gonna head back. I should be there in a couple of hours."

You don't have to. I think we've got this covered.

"It's not that. I feel bad not telling Max. She deserves to know about you."

Um. About Max…

Biggs and Axel exchanged worried glances as Alec paled.

"What about Max?"

I sorta ran into her earlier.

"What?"

I turned a corner and crashed into her. Popped some of her stitches. But don't worry, she thought I was you. Well, Except for the smell.

"The smell?" Alec asked incredulously.

She said I –meaning you—smelled different than usual.

"Well at least she'll have a way to tell us apart." Alec laughed visibly relaxing.

By sniffing us?

"Better than nothing."

You are one weird dude.

"Yeah, well..Anyway, call if you need anything. Otherwise, I'll see you soon."

Later.

Alec closed his phone and turned to Biggs and Axel. "I've gotta head back."

"This was a two-man op anyway." Axel said clapping him on the back.

"Yeah. Yeah. Just be careful." Alec advised.

"Always." Biggs replied stealing Alec's line.

Alec kicked him lightly in yesterdays gunshot wound. "I mean it."

"Apparently." Biggs said limping toward his own bike.

"Later Bro." Axel called as Alec kick-started his bike and headed back towards Seattle.

Axel turned back to Biggs.

"You know you owe me 50 bucks." Biggs grinned.

"No way. You bet that he would turn back before we got there, and that's not what happened!"

"Did you miss the part where he turned back before we got there?" Biggs asked.

"He didn't turn back, he was called back. That's not the same."

"Don't be an idiot. The bet was that he wouldn't go all the way with us, and he didn't."

"No! The bet was about whether he'd put Max or the mission first."

"You can't change the bet just because you're a sore loser."

"I didn't lose!"

The two men continued to bicker even as they mounted their bikes and headed off towards their destination.

Alec had decided to stop by Logan's and make sure no one was dead before he went to find Max.

He made it two steps into the house before Brin launched herself at him hugging him tightly.

Laughing, Alec returned the hug picking her up off of her feet. "Good to see you too."

He put her back on the floor and he followed her into the living room where Logan was laid out on the couch.

"Logan! Looking good, buddy." Alec greeted him sarcastically. Truthfully, Logan looked like shit. Although he'd partially recovered, Logan didn't look like he was going to come out of this one as well as he had the last time.

"Hi Alec. It is Alec isn't it? Or is there a third one of you running around?" Logan replied sarcastically nodding toward Ben.

"No. No. Just the two of us. But is early in the week. You never know. Stranger things have happened." Alec smirked.

"Funny. You're a funny guy. It was clever of you to send Ben over here without telling either of us what was going on. Embarrassing and confusing, but funny."

"Aw, Logan, don't be mad. I was just trying to brighten up your day."

"By re-infecting me?"

"Now that was a surprise." Alec said seriously.

"I figured. Manticore employed some sick bastards. I never saw this coming."

"No shit." Alec agreed. "You feeling up to a little work?"

"Always. What do you need?" Logan threw the blanket off of his legs and tried to stand up. He would've fallen flat on his face if not for Brin's quick reflexes. She caught him and helped him back to the couch. "Well, that's interesting." Logan said clearly embarrassed.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it's temporary. I'll get your wheelchair." Alec hurried out of the room clearly disconcerted. After Logan's last experience with the virus, a transfusion had him as fit as a superhero in an hour. He'd been recovering from this episode for almost three hours and he couldn't walk again? Not looking good. This virus shit was certainly never boring.

"You keep a wheelchair just lying around?" Ben asked.

"I took a bullet to the spinal chord about two years back. Transgenic blood transfusions had repaired most of the damage, I haven't had a problem in months." Logan explained. Ben nodded solemnly and absently rubbed the back of his neck where his spinal chord had been snapped.

Alec returned with the chair and had to help Logan ease himself from the couch to the chair.

"What did you need?" Logan asked allowing himself to be wheeled over to the computer.

"I need you to connect to TC. I need you to ask Max to come over."

"Why can't you do it? Lovers quarrel?" Logan asked managing to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

Ben raised an eyebrow at this. Alec signaled to him don't even ask

"Because I'm supposed to be in Montana on a scouting mission. If I call, she'll get all worried and worked up and start demanding answers to her questions. I don't want her to hear about all of this over the phone." Alec explained.

"I understand. The connections going through. If you don't want her to know you're here, I'd move out of the frame."

Alec walked over to stand next to Ben. From where they were, they could see without being seen.

"What was that about?" Ben whispered to Alec.

Alec sighed. "Look, to get him off her back, Max told him we're together. So shut up and play along."

"So you're not together?" Ben asked.

"No."

"Logan's not the only one who thinks that you are."

"What are you talking about?"

"I couldn't take two steps in TC without hearing gossip about you two."

"Perfect."

"Yeah, I can see how it must be rough--- people thinking that you have a girlfriend that beautiful." Ben faked some sympathy.

"You know, I've always heard people complain about how annoying their brothers were, and now I finally know what they were talking about." Alec responded.

Ben's comeback died on his lips as the connection went through to TC.

Hi Logan. Dix appeared on the monitor. What can we do for you?

"Hi Dix. Is Max around?"

Yeah. Gimme a minute. reached down and radioed for Max.

While they were waiting for her, Logan looked over at the two identical men. It was uncanny how much they looked alike. Logan struggled to find a single difference. He was interrupted from his thoughts by Max's voice. Caught off guard as he was, he couldn't hide his reaction to seeing her.

What's up Logan?

"Max." Ben noticed the dreamy look on Logan's face as he looked at Max and he raised an eyebrow in Alec's direction. Alec gave him the finger in response. "How are you?"

Fine. What's up? She asked again impatient to get this over with.

"I have something I need you to take a look at." Logan said taking offense that Max didn't even notice that something was wrong with him.

Alright. Send it through on a secure channel and I'll take a look.

"Um. I kind of need you to come here to look at it." He forced a cough hoping to get some sort of reaction out of her.

She sighed. When?

"Tonight. Now if possible." Annoyed that she was so oblivious to his obvious physical symptoms. For Christ's sake, she had eyes. If she were paying attention she would notice he was sitting in a wheelchair!

Tonight's no good she answered.

Alec beamed proudly that she didn't jump to do him bidding. Maybe she really was over him this time.

"I need you for this Max."

Not tonight! No way! Look, the guys are gone, I have the apartment to myself, no way. Besides, it's bath night..

"Guys? How many guys are you living with, Max?" Logan asked shooting Alec a dirty look. It figures he wouldn't provide proper accommodations for her. Logan would have treated her so much better!

Exasperated Max retorted Look, it you must know, Alec and I are living with Biggs and Axel. And it's none of your business. And don't go blaming Alec, it was my idea. We're leaving TC soon anyway.

"You're right. It's none of my business anymore." He said brusquely. "So can you come by?"

Sorry. I can't. I'll try to make it tomorrow, but we're short handed here with the scouting missions all going on. I'll call you. she said disconnecting the call before he could respond. She was just not in the mood for his shit tonight. It was probably some stupid Eyes Only mission. In case he hadn't noticed she already had a cause of her own.

"Well, that didn't go very well." Logan stated the obvious, as usual.

"Yeah." Ben nodded taking a seat.

"Alright." Alec said clapping his hands together once trying to break the awkwardness in the room. "I guess I'm going to have to go and drag her here kicking and screaming for her family reunion."

"If you have to drag her out of the tub, please make her get dressed first. After all, she is my sister." Ben joked.

"Ben, I hate to break it to you, but she can't be your sister and my girlfriend when you are my twin brother. Those two things do not go together. It's just wrong." Alec shot back ignoring Logan flinching at Alec's use of the word 'girlfriend'.

"You do have a point." Ben made a face as he nodded.

"You two really are the same." Logan said watching the two men banter.

They both just smiled. Alec realized he wasn't the only one glad to have some real family.

"Alright, I'm out. I'll be back soon." Alec headed out to go get Max.

Ben turned on the TV, but he still heard Logan's last remark.

"It is definitely not my day."

Max had been soaking in the tub for almost an hour. She didn't want to get out, but her hands looked like prunes and the water was getting cold. She pulled the plug, towel dried her hair, combed it and then wrapped herself in a threadbare towel. She exited the bathroom and jumped when she saw Alec standing by the window looking down at the street.

"Alec! You scared me. What are you doing back?"

He glanced back at her and she unconsciously adjusted the almost see-thru towel she was wearing.

"Get dressed. We have some things to deal with." He said seriously but calmly.

"Is it bad?" She mobbed over to her bag and pulled out some clean clothes.

"No. Just get dressed." He said as he turned back to the window.

She dressed quickly with her back to him. He tried not to watch her in the reflection of the window, but once he realized that he could see her he couldn't look away. When she was decent she walked towards him. He turned at the sound of her footsteps as if he hadn't known that she was finished dressing. He gestured for her to sit on the bed. She sat and looked up at him, waiting for him to start.

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

"Remember earlier when Brin said she has been with Ben all this time?"

Max nodded and Alec noticed a look of pain shooting through her eyes.

"Well, she has been."

"She's been with a guy named Ben?"

"No. She's been with Ben. X-5493. My twin. Your brother. Ben."

"Ben's dead." Max said with a small amount of hostility."

"Well, Max, so were you. You were shot through the heart, and you're here. Zack took a bullet through his brain and had his heart transplanted into someone else and he's still around. Is it really that much of a stretch that Ben has recovered from a broken neck?" He asked gently.

Max looked at him with wide eyes.

"It's really him?"

"It's really him. He brought Brin here hoping we could help her. He says she's pretty damaged. Too much for him to handle on his own. That's why they're here."

Her eyes moistened with tears she refused to shed. He took her hand in his and squeezed it tenderly sitting beside her on the bed.

"He wants to see you Max."

"Really?" she asked uncertainly as one lone tear escaped down her cheek..

"Really." He said wiping it away with his thumb.

"Where is he?"

Alec sighed. "Well, that's the thing, I sent him to Logan's so he wouldn't accidentally run into you before I could prepare you."

Something clicked in Max's brain. "But he did run into me. Earlier. That wasn't you, that was him." She stated looking at him for confirmation.

"Yeah. And now he's at Logan's waiting for us. But-"

"But what?"

"Manticore gave Ben a little present."

Max groaned "What now? "

"Ben is also a carrier of the 'Eyes Only' virus."

"What?" Max visibly paled.

"Don't worry, Logan's fine, but there was an incident when they shook hands."

Max stood up fuming. "I'm going to hunt down every bastard associated with that damn place!"

Alec laughed. "Ok. We'll do that tomorrow. But tonight how about we go see Ben."

An hour later Max and Alec were sneaking their way past sector cops trying to enter Joshua's through the back door.

Max had a family of butterflies dancing around in her stomach. She couldn't tell if it was from being excited, or scared. Never in a million years did she expect this to happen. She had tortured herself night after night about what she had done to Ben. She had relived it over and over again inside her head. Alec seemed optimistic, but would Ben really forgive her? Would he not hold it against her that he had been tortured and experimented on back at Manticore?

Alec was aware of Max's inner turmoil, but he didn't know what to say. What could he say? All the reasons that Ben may have to hate Max were the same reasons he had to hate Ben. But they all knew that it wasn't each other that they should be blaming. It was Manticore. One of the things that they all knew well, was that nothing bonded two people together like sharing a common enemy. And they had more than one common enemy. Alec knew what was waiting for Max inside that house, but he knew that she needed to hear it from Ben, not Alec.

Biggs and Axel had ditched their bikes hours earlier and were scoping out the area on foot.

It was a nice enough place, but something was off. They couldn't quite place it, but something was creeping them out.

They had been walking in silence for more than twenty minutes.

When they crested the hill they had been trekking up they paused as they took in the sight below them.

On the other side of the hill were two large buildings nestled in neatly in between where this hill met the next one.

Zooming in with their enhanced vision they gasped simultaneously as they dropped down to the ground to avoid being seen. Before them they saw lines and lines of soldiers standing at attention, lined up in formation watching an impressive martial arts demonstration. They watched in awe for a few minutes before giving in to the urge to flee.

Axel gave a low whistle as the two men slowly backed away to make their way back to where they had come from.

When they were far enough away to be comfortable about talking at a normal voice level, Biggs pulled out his cell phone and dialed TC.

The call was answered on the first ring. Biggs knew he recognized the voice, but didn't bother to match a name with the voice on the other end.

"Delta Team checking in. Mission complete. The objective does not satisfy the requisite specifications. The site's a negative."

Copy that, Delta Team.

"We have an additional matter to report. I need Mole."

Mole here. The lizard man responded instantaneously. His deep, raspy voice a stark contrast to the younger sounding voice that was on the line a moment ago.

"The place would have been perfect for us, if it were not already being used."

Anybody we know?

"We can't say for sure, we weren't prepared to get closer, but if I had to guess…Manticore."

Not Familiars?

"I don't think so. It was eerie. It was just like I remember everything. The uniforms, the formations, the two kids fighting. It looks like when Manticore went down, they didn't go all the way down.."

Alright. We'll get something together once we relocate a new site. You guys heading back home?

"Yeah. We'll be back tomorrow."

Don't forget to check in every four hours.

"Yes, mom." Biggs smiled as he hung up and hurried to catch up with Axel.