Part 22 - Believing

BIGGS

I had been waiting for hours outside the operating room. I'd spent most of that time thinking about Alec, Ben and Max. It was a sad triangle. Family, friends, love, misunderstandings and pain. As much as I want a family of my own, sometimes I'm thankful that I don't have any. Alec cared for Ben as much as he wanted to hurt him, that was evident. I don't think I would have been able to deal with the situation had I been in his place. Alec was definitely a better man than I'd ever be.

I picked up my cell phone and dialled.

"Hey. You've reached Alec. You know what to do." His answering machine beeped and I started to speak.

"Alec! Biggs. We're in TC and you're never gonna believe this but - "

The piercing shriek coming from behind the door made my heart race. Max! I dropped the phone and rushed inside just in time to catch her as she fainted. I stepped away from the bed bringing her with me, cradled in my arms, her head on my shoulder.

I watched in a daze as the medical team tried to revive Ben. It was no use. Nothing seemed to be working. Max's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at me, confusion and fear in her eyes. I just held her tight.

"It's gonna be ok, Maxie. I'm here. Shhhhh."

She shut her eyes again, as if to ward of the pain of death. I took one last look at Ben's still form and letting out a deep sigh, I turned and carried Max out of the room.

The medical team exited the room shortly after, closing the door behind them. Preparations had to be made for the body and no one wanted to be in the presence of the dead any longer than necessary. Everyone scattered to their respective destinations.

I shifted Max's weight in my arms. She wasn't heavy, but in her state she wasn't helping by resting heavily on my left arm. We entered the Command area when Max finally spoke up. "Biggs?" her voice was a bare whisper and I had to strain to hear her over the noise of Terminal City. It was late morning and the transgenic population was hard at work.

"What is it Maxie?" I asked softly as I kissed her forehead. I glanced around the room, spotting Tanner and Steve over by the comms center with Dix. I looked back down at her though still preoccupied with my own thoughts.

"I promised Ben..." She faltered briefly, took a deep breath and continued. "I need to find Alec." Her eyes were full of tears but her voice held resolution and determination.

"We will, Maxie. We will." She sighed and snuggled closer. I held tight, wanting nothing more than to take her suffering and carry it for her. I motioned to Steve and Tanner to follow me. They fell in step some distance behind.

Still holding Max, who was sobbing quietly against my chest, I walked purposefully out of the building. I was taking her to my TC quarters. Max hated showing weakness and I knew instinctively she would want to be alone, lick her wounds in private. As much as I wanted to stay with her, I knew I had to find Alec. And That's where Tanner and Steve came in. I wanted them to keep an eye on her.

I opened the door to my apartment and carried Max into my room and laid her gently on the bed. I bent down to stroke her hair.

"Get some rest, Maxie. I'll get some of the guys and go look for Alec." I tucked the quilt around her shoulders and she turned over to face away from me. Looking at her for a moment I sighed, saddened and concerned, and left the room closing the door softly behind me.


Meanwhile...

The room was silent and cold. Instruments and machinery had been left haphazardly around the room as the staff left in haste. And the previous hum of activity had subsided.

The quiet was broken by a quiet 'blip' as the heart monitor came to life again.

And the once still chest rose and fell in time with the faint 'thump thump' of a resilient, X5 heart beating out a rhythm in the empty room.


MAX

It hurt. It hurt so bad. How many times could I lose the same man, how long would it hurt? Why torture me like this? What did I do to deserve so much pain?

I wanted to sit and cry, give in and indulge myself, to wallow in self-pity and anger. But I'd made a promise to Ben on his deathbed and I meant to keep it. I was going to find Alec.

I knew that Biggs meant well, and was only looking out for my best interests. Which is why I allowed him to take me home and tuck me into bed. I would wait until he left before sneaking out.

I lay on my bed waiting as the seconds ticked by. Finally, Biggs left the room and closed the door.

I waited a few minutes longer to be sure. I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed, padding softly to the window. I pried it open and slid out, dropping onto the ledge a few feet below. I turned, and noting to my satisfaction that the street beneath me was empty, I jumped, landing in a crouch. I made my way silently down the street and out of Terminal City.

I ran practically all the way to Logan's. I knew he was my best bet at finding Alec. His resources would be invaluable. 20 minutes later I found myself standing in front of Logan's door.

I knocked sharply. The whirring of his exoskeleton preceded him and I readied myself to speak to the man I had dumped not 2 weeks before.

The door opened and Logan's surprised and happy face smiled at me. "Max!" He said, pleasure evident in the greeting.

"Hey. I need a favor." I said as I pushed by him and entered the penthouse. Something seemed out of place but I couldn't put my finger on it. The apartment smelled different, musky with a hint of spice, like cinnamon. I looked at Logan curiously. "You been cooking?"

He looked at me strangely. "No. Why?"

I shrugged. "No real reason. Place smells different is all."

Logan fidgeted a bit, stared at me for a minute and then asked, "So, what can I do for you Max?"

"Alec left Seattle and I need to find him. Can you help?" I left out the important bits; like I had been the one to tell him to leave and that once a transgenic decides he doesn't want to be found it's practically impossible to trace him. No need for Logan to know that. Logan didn't need to know any of my personal life anymore.

"Is he in trouble?" Logan's voice sounded concerned and I wondered if he actually cared. I knew I'd hurt him and I could understand if he was reluctant to help me.

"Not that I know of. But he didn't tell me where he was going and he didn't take backup. I want to send a team after him, have someone there to watch his back." I lied smoothly. It would sound more realistic if I pretended I didn't trust Alec on his own. I never had in the past and Logan knew it.

I was uneasy about the way Logan was eyeing me with a look that, if I didn't know him better, I'd think was sly satisfaction. It was creepy. Maybe I was just suspicious because I knew that if I were in his place I wouldn't want to help me.

"What's really going on, Max?" he asked in a low, coaxing voice. A voice that had always worked on me in the past, made me come undone and confess my fears.

Logan's eyes were caring and worried. I let down my defences. "Alec and I had a fight. And he left. I need to find him."

"Is that all that's bothering you, Max? I know you better than that. Something's wrong. Tell me." His voice was pleading and soft, comforting even. "You haven't looked this sad since Ben died last year."

I whipped my head up in shock and anger. How could he be so cruel and thoughtless as to remind me of Ben? Then it hit me. He didn't know Ben had been revived and had only just died again. I took a deep breath.

"It's been a rough week." I said lamely.

Logan prodded gently. "Come on Max, this is me you're talking to. You can tell me anything." I felt a flash of gratitude for this man. He'd been there for me so many times. And so I told him.

He leaned back against the doorframe, his face seemed shocked and his eyes were sad. "Syl and Krit, and then Ben? Wow. I'm really sorry, Max. I wish I could have been there for you." I didn't remember when I had last heard him sound so sincere. It made me remember what I had fallen in love with in the first place. And it made me happy to know he was still my friend despite all that had happened between us.

Logan removed his glasses and breathed on them, fogging the lenses. He then used his sleeve to wipe them clean and replaced them on the bridge of his nose. He looked at me long and hard before replying. "Did you ever consider Alec left because he might feel guilty about something, Max?"

I cocked my head and flashed him a confused look. "What do you mean?"

He looked regretful and sad as he pointed to the couch and motioned for me to sit down. I sank into the plush softness and leaned back. Logan took a seat opposite me and clasped his hands before him, staring at them intently for a long moment. He raised his eyes and locked on mine.

"I have a confession," he started and I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off. "No, Max. I have to say this. It all makes sense now." He shook his head in wonder and stared at his hands.

"What is it Logan?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice. Logan looked almost...pained.

"I knew about your fight last week. I tried to call you because I had some intel. Turns out an old buddy of mine found out about two transgenics in Sacramento." He glanced up at me for a moment and then lowered his gaze again. I was sitting, shell-shocked. Did Logan mean what I thought he meant?

"I had my suspicions. So I did a little digging. And came to the conclusion that it was indeed Krit and Syl. When I tried to get in touch with you, I kept getting your answering machine. So I called Alec."

He looked at me remorsefully. "I told him what I learned. And Alec said you could take care of yourself and your own. He didn't have time to talk or 'listen to my crap' I believe his exact words were."

I leapt from my place on the couch and started pacing. It couldn't be true. Alec would never keep something like that from me. He wouldn't hurt me like that. Even if we weren't talking. He knew how important my family was to me. And that's when I spotted his jacket. The musky, spicy scent now made perfect sense. It smelled like Alec.

What the hell was Alec's jacket doing in Logan's apartment? I was about to confront Logan when he opened his mouth and continued to speak words I refused to believe. I was trying hard to get my head around it. Logan had been lying from the minute I came in the door. What a sneaky bastard! I clenched my fists at my side. Logan seemed ignorant of my outrage smouldering beneath the surface.

"It's true, Max. I'm sorry I had to be the one to break it to you. Alec can't be trusted. I've always known he's only been looking out for number one, Max. He's been using you. He doesn't know you like I do; he'll never love you like I do." I couldn't do anything but stare in awe and disgust at the man I used to love slandering the man I do love. The one who means more to me than anything.

"Alec kept this from you, Max. He knew where Krit and Syl were and that White was on to them. He kept it from you."

At that very moment a low, angry growl and a roar of rage ripped throughout the room. "You conniving, manipulative son-of-a-bitch!" Alec blurred into the room and lunged at Logan. "I trusted you, you lying bastard!"

I looked between the two and knew instinctively that Alec would never do anything like that. Not to me, not to anyone. And Logan's true colors shone through, bright and clear. He was trying to make Alec out to be the bad guy. I'd done it enough myself and it had to stop.

I stepped forward and forcibly pulled Alec from Logan. He stood back, panting, seething with rage and growling low in his throat. I turned to him and in a slightly playful voice I cooed, "Down boy. You'll get your chance." Alec's head whipped round to look at me warily. I smiled encouragingly. His bewildered face almost made me laugh.

My tone was level as I turned back to Logan, my body tightly coiled as I fought to control the urge to pound him into the ground. I didn't want to kill the man and any touch would infect him. I kept my distance but my words dripped venom.

"Alec would never do anything like that. He loves me. And I love him. Yes, I admit it finally. And nothing you say will ever make me change my mind. You've always hated him and now it's painfully clear why. You're jealous, Logan. You're a sad, pathetic excuse for a man." Logan's mouth dropped open and he stared in shock.

I took a tentative step towards Alec and whispered. "I love you, Alec. And I'm not afraid to say it."

He looked deep into my eyes and still unsure, voiced the question that was obviously bothering him. "You don't believe him?" he tilted his head indicating at Logan.

I looked away, flushing with guilt. "What do you think, Alec?" It was his turn to look away. I was filled with remorse as I thought about how I'd never given him reason to think I trusted him. I'd treated Alec so badly in the past. It was time to make amends.

I thought of the ways I could show him and decided to do something Alec would never expect. It was also about time I admit to myself that Logan was a lying bastard only looking out for himself. I smiled evilly at Alec. "I think Logan needs to learn not to fuck with transgenics. You wanna do the honors?"

A genuine smile lit up his beautiful face and he smirked and retorted, "Skewered or shredded?" I just laughed.

Alec proceeded to knock Logan out and I couldn't help but watch in awe at the sheer power of the perfect X5 male before me and the weak Ordinary he was teaching a lesson to. Alec stepped back, surveyed the damage and wiped his hands on his pants.

He was smiling smugly as he turned to face me. Then the smile slipped from his face and a serious air settled around him.

I reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck. Staring him deeply in the eyes I leaned forward and kissed him.


ALEC

She kissed me. I didn't think anything could shock me more. The night before she'd screamed at me, telling me to get out of her life for good, and here she was now, kissing me and telling me she believed me. I was a little lost to say the least.

I pulled back and looked at the woman I loved beyond reason. "What's going on Maxie?"

A blush crept up her neck and over her face and she looked away when she answered. "I was wrong, and I'm sorry. Please stay." Her words were a whisper, but heartfelt and sincere.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and whispered into her hair. "I tried to leave but I couldn't. Do you really want me to stay?"

She clutched at me and sighed. "Always."

The shrill ringing of my cell phone shattered the moment. I let Max go reluctantly and answered. Would I ever get a moment with Max where we weren't interrupted? I sighed.

"Alec here." Pause. "Be right there." I snapped my phone shut and gripped Max's shoulder.

"That was Biggs. He said there's a situation at Terminal City. We need to go, now." She just nodded at me and walked out of the apartment without looking back. I grabbed my jacket and took off after her. Let Logan lie in his blood and filth. It served the rat-bastard right.

TBC

Part Twenty-Three

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