They Say It Gets Easier
Title: They Say It Gets Easier
Author: jracklesfan77
Show: DA
Genre: Angst
Pairing: M/A implied
Rating: PG-13, references and language
Type: 3 Parter, Complete
Summary: They say it gets easier. That the pain dulls over time. They Lied.
Part 1
Alec's POV
They say it gets easier. That the pain dulls over time. But as far as I can tell, the only way to mend a broken heart is to find someone else to love; to put your energy, caring and concern into another person. And I just don't think that I can.
How can things change in such a short span of time? I can still remember the first and last time I tasted the sweet essence that was Max. It was just before Christmas.
"It could be a trap, Alec," she stated angrily, legs planted firmly, arms crossed over her chest, chin ever-defiant as she struggled to keep her cool.
"You think I don't know that? Give me a little credit, Max." Bitterly, I looked up at the girl I'd come to care for, the girl I'd do anything for. The same girl who ignored all the signs, never seeing what she meant to me.
"White has Logan. Your boyfriend, remember? This is me doing you a favor, Max. This is me, skipping out on Christmas dinner at Terminal City and the possibility of a warm, willing female to keep me company later on. Can we just get this over with?"
Max scowled. "We're not like that," she hissed. "And is sex all you ever think about?"
"No, but at least it's pleasant. Jeez, Maxie! This is the holiday of good will and cheer. I should be getting a little lovin'! It's not too much to ask!" This is what she had reduced me to, a whiny child. Pathetic.
A few quick strides left Max standing directly in front of me. She placed her hands on my upper arms, never breaking eye contact.
"I appreciate this, Alec. Really, I do. I hope this makes up for whatever you feel you'll be missing out on." Without warning, she leaned forward, brushing her warm, dry lips over mine. My mind blanked for a moment while I revelled in the feel of her soft mouth. When I reached up to cup the back of her head, lacing my fingers through her silky hair, and pulling her closer, harder against my mouth, she gasped. I took the opportunity to slip my tongue between her lips.
It was a feeling I'll never forget. Desire coursing through me, the soft texture of her tongue, her lips were fiery, her caresses became passionate and demanding. She was giving in and it was beyond my comprehension.
Hands were no longer idle, fingers dancing over heated skin, leaving trails of fire that burned so deep that I knew I'd be scarred for life. It was as if she were water to desert thirst, daylight to sun-starved earth, the breath in my lungs. But all good things come to an end.
Max stepped away, turning her head aside to hide the blush that crept up her neck and over her cheeks. But I'd seen her eyes, flashing, her lips swollen and ripe, heard the harsh, rapid breathing. And I knew, no matter how hard she pretended, that she felt. This was my chance...
"Max, we need to talk about this. Later, after the raid. When Logan's back safe and sound, you and I will talk," I lifted her chin with my finger, catching her eyes. She nodded mutely.
Calling to the team of transgenics I'd chosen for the raid, I issued the necessary orders. I took Max's hand and squeezed lightly. "Everything's gonna be okay, Maxie."
Slipping back into the cool, collected soldier that I am, I nodded at her. "Let's fall out."
The raid should have gone off without a hitch. To tell you the truth, penetrating White's security was easier than we'd expected. The only thing we hadn't counted on was finding Logan like we did. That, and getting caught.
"Biggs, Demi, Cade, take the South perimeter. Becca, Quinn, Gem, North. Jake, Cara and Axel have East. Max, you and I are going after Logan. We'll meet up at the extraction point within the hour. If we don't make it, don't wait for us." Seeing Biggs' frown, I added forcefully, "That's an order."
We cleared the fence easily and felled the smattering of men guarding the building. We were short one man for this operation and it made me uneasy. I knew that Max and I could take care of ourselves, but I would have preferred a full detail of twelve for the raid. As it was, we had Mole on backup comms in the van. Dix was standing by, already hacked into the surveillance cameras and ready to give us the go-ahead.
"Alec, you're free to move. No sign of life anywhere in the compound. Be careful," his voice crackled in my earpiece. No sign of life? I thought with a grimace. That didn't bode well for any of us. It was either an elaborate trap or Logan was dead. Both possibilities sucked.
Following Mole's directions, we made our way through the building, searching every room for signs of Logan. The last room we came to was locked. Like that could stop us.
Max kicked the door in and rushed headfirst inside. I saw her falter, heard the shrillness of her screams as she slid on the slick substance that coated the floor. Looking down, all I could see was red. The thick, pungent, metallic scent of blood hit my senses and I reeled backward as Max hit the ground with a thud. She twisted, finding herself face to face with the long-since-lifeless form of Logan Cale. Eyes wide and unseeing, hand stretched in what must have been pleading, for his life, for forgiveness, for something he would never have. Logan was well and truly dead.
I watched as everything moved in slow motion. Max's eyes widened in sudden fear, her mouth falling open, words failing to pass her lips as she pointed and shuddered at something over my shoulder. I whirled to see the devil incarnate; Ames White, sneering, gun aimed at the space between my eyes. I closed them, took a deep breath, opened them again and sighed.
"Ames," I nodded, smirking at my nemesis. "Great place you got here. Be a nice host, it's Christmas Eve. Got any food?" I stood strong yet seemingly nonchalant. I kept my apprehension hidden behind that never-fail emotionless Manticore mask.
"Will wonders never cease? Seems I got my Christmas gift early. Two animals for the price of one. Do you have any idea what your kind goes for on the open market?" White's reply made my blood boil. "I only need 452. You, on the other hand, 494, will fatten my wallet. And gain me the esteem I deserve from the Conclave." He chuckled, the sound chilling and evil, making its way down my spine. "I can't believe I'm doing this, but...thank you."
Lucifer was laughing at me. I was a plaything for the devil.
How fitting. Born to hell, desperate to survive in a chaotic world, and now thanked by the devil for the pleasure of killing the woman I love and destined to have god knows what done to me. There was no way I'd let that happen. Not without a fight.
I lunged at White. Maybe some higher power was looking out for us, as White seemed to be caught off-guard. We tumbled, loud grunts and groans filling the air as my fists made contact with his body. The Iron Man would not give and returned my punches and kicks with increased force. I yelled for Max to make a break for it, to run and never look back, but she stood defiant and stubborn as ever. So when I was thrown across the room and fell atop Logan's prone form, she let out a howl of rage. But before she could make her move, White's gun was trained on me again.
"I'll let him go, 452. Tell me where Ray is, give yourself up, and he can go," The words came between panting breaths. If only Max noticed he was out of breath. Maybe I had hurt him enough for us to get the upper hand.
Max seemed to sense this. In the blink of an eye, a dagger found itself protruding from White's gut. He might not have been feeling the pain, but the action crippled him enough that he let go of the gun. Clasping it tightly, I turned the barrel towards him as I rose to my feet.
"Max," I called over my shoulder. "The window." I heard the faint shuffling behind me, the creak of rusty hinges as she pried the glass pane from the frame. When she called to me to follow, White seized the advantage. The moment I glanced to the side, he attacked. The gunshot cracked loudly in the empty room, a blinding flash of pain tore through my chest. And finally, darkness.
Part 2