A small windowless room
"Ahhh," Max tried to bite back the scream but failed. If she had a choice she would never have given White the satisfaction of seeing her like this.
"Push," the woman ordered. The young woman she was administering to scowled defiantly before pain leant her body ridged again, making her wince and gasp for breath.
"There's no use trying to hold him in, you'll wind up dead," White said with a cruel smirk. "Can't fight nature, it's the way it works."
"Sc...screw you," Max ground out between contractions. The last one passing for the moment, she fell back into the pillow sweat streaming down the sides of her face.
Max closed her eyes, as much as she wished this wasn't happening, it was and at the worst possible moment her strength was failing her. If her body would just stop having this baby, just for a few minutes, maybe she could get free of her restraints. Getting out of the room and past Ames White was another matter. Why was this happening? Of all the scenarios she'd imagined, this one never factored in. If it had, she probably never would have ventured outside. No, she thought tiredly, White still would have managed to mess up her life anyway. Fate was cruel to her in that way.
White's lips turned up in a cruel grin as he approached the bed. "You seem to have done a pretty good job, 452. With practically no help at all from me." He reached out with a gloved hand and roughly roamed over her swollen belly. "You stole mine, now it's your turn to feel the pain. To experience the loss of not knowing where or what has become of your own flesh and blood. You'll learn what it feels like to be missing part of your soul."
"No, no," Max choked out. Struggling against her restraints, she desperately reached to push his hands off her. She saw the cruelty and hatred in his eyes. He would hurt her child just to get back at her for the things she'd done to him. Why do you think he took you? The last time he had you he was about to kill you. He's keeping you alive for now. Just long enough to take your baby. He's going to use the baby. He'll use the baby to make you tell.
Glaring at him, Max fought back the rising nausea and panic in her chest. He knows you'll never give up his son. Doesn't he know they're long gone already? Logan probably had some way of reaching them, but she'd never ask him. If you didn't know, you couldn't tell. No matter what she would protect Ray from White. Wendy died trying to protect him. She wouldn't betray her now. Not even if it meant the threat of losing her own child. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she grit her teeth as another contraction tore at her strength.
She had tried in vain to break free, but it was useless. They'd drugged her, induced her labor and she was growing weaker with each passing moment. They had tied her down more securely than a mental patient in a straight jacket, and even if she could escape, she wouldn't risk hurting the baby. Max screamed again as the baby's head started to push against the opening of her womb.
"She's fully dilated, it won't be long now," she heard the midwife whisper.
Locking her jaw, Max squeezed her eyelids shut and imagined she was somewhere else. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't even due for another three weeks. They'd done something to her, there was no other explanation. When the dart drugs had worn off, she realized she was already in early labor. Why was this happening? How had any of it happened?
"I can see the crown, you're doing well. Just a little longer," the nurse urged.
Max felt a sharp stabbing sensation, the wind was forced out of her chest and she struggled to breathe. Forcing down the scream that threatened to burst from her lungs, she felt as though she was being torn apart, or was it something else?
The opening in her lower body stretched like she never thought possible, and the baby slid out. Then it was all over, and just a dull heavy throbbing remained. She was so tired. So weak.
A pathetic wail broke the eerie quiet that had descended on the room, and a solitary tear slid down her cheek. "It wasn't meant to be like this," she breathed her voice barely a whisper. Her eyelids drooped. Have to stay awake. Can't give in. Must stay awake. Despite her best efforts at fighting the weariness, Max succumbed and a warm darkness enveloped her. 'Please keep him safe', were the last thoughts that weighed on her mind before she fell into oblivion.
Pike Place Market, Sector 9, earlier that day
"So boo," what's in the works tonight?" Original Cindy went a little way ahead browsing the stall for the best of the produce on show. You had to get to the market almost at the first glimmer of sunrise if you wanted a pick at anything, but it took Max half the morning to get ready these days, and then another few hours deciding if she wanted to go out after getting ready to do so. Pregnancy, they said it screwed with you brain as well as your body.
Max wandered over slowly, her usually sleek and purposeful steps encumbered to a ungraceful waddle. After swearing she'd never be caught dead in a maternity tent for a dress, she had relented and let Logan talk her into taking some of Betsy's upscale maternity outfits. She was dressed in black leggings and a feminine v-necked chiffon top that cut away under her bust and flowed softly over her belly. Having Original Cindy cast an approving eye over her before they left certainly helped boost her confidence about her barrel-sized body.
"You're glowing, boo. And let me just tell you that most women pay through the nose to have boobs like yours right now. And I don't mean the Anna Nicole kind. The perfect, fill your hand just nicely, soft and..."
"Thanks, OC," Max had cut in embarrassed but secretly pleased.
Original Cindy squealed in delight upon spotting a lone melon buried under a pile of cabbages. "Herbal my boy, it certainly is al' good, al' the time." She was about to reach for it, when she noticed two men approaching Max. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. They were dressed in dark coats, wore unfriendly looks and had purposeful strides. "Ma-" she tried to call out.
A hand clamped over her open mouth, muffling her cry and a heavy object came up against the back of her head. Her eyes slid closed and she crumpled to the floor.
Max whirled at the sound of OC's voice but couldn't move fast enough to reach her before someone shot two darts in her back. Disorientated and rapidly loosing consciousness, the last thing she saw was OC lying on the ground near a vegetable stall and countless pairs of feet coming towards her.
Pike Place Market, that same afternoon
When Alec arrived at the market off First Avenue, the area was already swarming with people. Some mobbing the stands for the last of the best produce and others because of the kidnapping that had taken place less than ten minutes ago. An hour he'd been back in Seattle, and already he was thinking about how smart a move that was. He had a hell of a time trying to skip past the border sector Police. A-Class Sector Passes were almost impossible to come by and Seattle was under lockdown yet again after the latest series of transgenic-fear induced riots.
Why Original Cindy had called him instead of Logan was beyond him. He wouldn't know the first thing about the transgenic situation in Seattle, he'd been gone for over five months. And even though he considered OC a friend, they weren't exactly close. He spotted her sitting on a crate near an ambulance, and jogged over. A paramedic was attending to her. The guy looked vaguely familiar, but that wasn't his first concern at that moment, it was the look on Original Cindy's face that had him worried.
"If your friend got nabbed you should have called Logan. He could have followed the updates on the police scanners or hacked checkpoint security - traced the guys..." Alec said as he stooped down beside her.
Original Cindy threw up her hands and angrily stood, her balance wavering the minute she was upright, causing her to grab hold of Alec. "I'm fine," she muttered, quickly letting go of him. "I just didn't think, okay."
"Miss, maybe you should sit awhile longer," the paramedic suggested.
Original Cindy shot him a silencing stare and turned back to Alec.
Alec noticed that she avoided his eyes about halfway though her previous sentence to him. Something was up. Original Cindy didn't lie without a good reason. "That's not the reason you didn't call him, and we both know it."
"I was here with Max."
Immediately he got her point. Logan would hit the roof. Although, at this point he was glad that Original Cindy had called him first. He had to find Max and fast. The episode in which Max had helped him fence his wheels kept springing to mind. Things had gotten a little messy with a gang crashing their meet and igniting a turf war. In the ruckus Max had gotten kicked from behind and had fallen through a second-story window. To say that his heart had been in his mouth every heart beat it had taken him to reach her had been an understatement. At that moment he had realized just how much she'd come to mean to him, and just what his life would be if he lost her then. Nothing, it would all mean nothing without her. So she'd only came out of it with a mild concussion, a couple bruises and five stitches, but he'd come out of it with a heart barley holding together and a whole knew outlook on life. Their vault interlude happened about a month later and again he had found himself wearing his heart on his sleeve. He had to find her.
"That ain't all. It was White," Original Cindy said with a bitter scowl. "That low, scum-eating, po-po beatin', slimy, bent-piece-of-rotten, sorry excuse for a human being took her."
Alec felt the floor disappear from underneath him, it took a brief second to right himself and even find his voice. "What?" he asked in disbelief.
"You leave your brain where eva you came from?" Original Cindy asked with a raise eyebrow.
"No, and we have to call Logan." Alec said feeling on edge.
Original Cindy stiffened at his tone. "You're right, he could'a caught that backstabbing creep on tape. Let's go." She pushed past the paramedic, who tried to protest.
"Miss, you could have a concussion, you should..."
"I ain't gonna sit around on my ass while my friend's in danger, now outta my way."
Alec shook his head with a grin. Same old OC. People should learn, never mess with a sistah on a mission. She was standing with her arms folded, staring back at him with a confused look on her face.
"Where's your ride?"
"Hey, I just got back. You kinda got me in the middle of trying to score one." He shoved his hands in his pockets, and scanned the area. Down the street he spotted a scooter. No use. With the both of them on it, the owner would probably be able to keep up with them on foot. He was about to tell her they'd have to walk, when he caught a familiar joyous sound.
He rounded the SUV to the driver's side. It was his lucky day. The driver had left the door unlocked. Alec jumped and hotwired the vehicle while the owner disappeared into the crowded market.
"Alec-" Original Cindy began in a panicky voice.
Reaching over, he pushed open the passenger side door. "Just get in," Alec shouted at her.
No sooner had Original Cindy slipped into her seat and a harsh cry broke out from within the market. The man had turned back to look at them. He must have remembered that he forgot to lock the door. He locked eyes with Alec for a split second before screaming again and starting towards them.
"Hey! Stop them."
Alec shifted gears and peeled away from the curb, watching the man curse and try to chase them in the rear-view mirror.
"That, I hope I never have to do again," Original Cindy whispered, feeling a little sick.
Alec didn't reply, he had his hands full concentrating on getting out of one of the busiest areas of the city without being pulled over. Considering they'd just jacked an SUV, it wasn't going to be a walk in the park.
Right now he was badly missing his Duke. He'd fenced the motorcycle on the way out of Chicago. After his run in with White he knew he had to lay low, and shed any familiarities White had on him.
Some would call him crazy for coming back now that White was after him but he couldn't think of a safer place to be than Terminal City. There was safety in numbers, not to mention the National Guard camped outside the parameter last time he checked.
When he had stopped on the outskirts of Seattle to wait for nightfall, someone had stolen his stand-in ride. It was the only Harley he'd ever ridden, and was damn near perfect too. Too good to be true, he remembered thinking, and he proved that right. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. There was one man he certainly wasn't looking forward to seeing, pity they were headed straight for him.
Joshua's house
Logan glared frostily at the younger man standing on his porch. He would have said something cutting at that moment if his attention wasn't demanded by a petite black woman who was impatiently snapping at him.
"Logan?" Original Cindy barked. "This macho-alpha-male-stuff can wait, Max is in trouble."
To his credit Logan was always cool under pressure. Alec hated to admit it but Logan was a man you could count on in a pinch. Ever reliable, resourceful Logan. If only that catch phrase, "be careful," wasn't so irritatingly endearing. If it were anyone else that kept harping it, they would be sporting a black eye by now.
"I heard about a kidnapping on the police scanner. Pike Place, that was Max?" Logan said leading them to his makeshift work area.
Original Cindy nodded. "The slugs came out of no where. Before I could warn Max they drugged her, and whacked me over the back of the head. I swear when I get my hands on that creep, Ames White, I'll make him wish his mama never gave him life..."
"You'll wait in line," Alec cut in savagely.
Logan shot him another dirty look, but said nothing. Taking a seat behind his computer, he began tapping away at his keyboard.
Just as he had anticipated Logan was giving him a frosty reception. Okay, so he had bailed on the transgenics and the growing siege outside Terminal City but there was no real harm done. And who's to say that he would have been able to avoid Max's capture if he'd been around anyway? They both knew how headstrong and independent Max was. She would have told him where to park his butt, and get out of her way. Besides, they were barely even on speaking terms before he left.
Logan was still stewing as he worked, his jaw set in a very uncomfortable position. He might not be sup'd up but his brooding usually meant that someone was going down in the worst possible way.
Satellite footage of Sector 3 showed a couple of fast moving vehicles leaving the Pike Place area. "That our convoy," Alec pointed out leaning over Logan's shoulder, happy for the distraction. "I thought the NSA pulled the plug after his botched raid on Jam Pony?"
"He's being privately funded by Senator McKinley's committee. The NSA have washed their hands of him, they're obviously covering for the people behind Manticore. They want to stir clear of the publicity surrounding the transgenics. Claim ignorance and hope for innocence," Logan snorted. "Wouldn't surprise me if McKinley was a Familiar."
"Since you left, transgenic hate has stirred sky high. People trippin' all over the place. I haven't been out for weeks. Died down the last couple of days, so Max and I thought we'd check out the market. He must have been waiting for her," Original Cindy said sadly.
"Okay they've got to be in Sector 11. The checkpoint has them leaving Sector 3 at 2.15. That's twenty minutes ago. We need to get a hold of hoverdrone footage of the area. We need anything that's cuts back our search grid. License plates, a profile, a likely destination... You up for some leg work?"
"Always," Alec answered with a grin. When his attempt at lightening the mood wasn't returned he got the feeling that there was something else going on. Something neither of them seemed eager to share with him. "Okay that's it. The sideways looks end now, what have I done?"
"Besides disappear off the face of the planet for the last couple months?" Logan snapped.
"Nobody cared before where I went or for how long, why now?"
"Because Max is pregnant," Logan snapped before he could think to stop himself. Seeing the open-mouthed, aghast look on Original Cindy's face, he wished he'd kept his mouth shut.
This time Alec prayed the ground would open and swallow him up. She was pregnant? White had her and she was pregnant. His heart beat wildly in his chest. Horrible images started to erupt into the forefront of his mind, twisted things White would do to her to get the information he wanted, or worse. "What do you need me to do," Alec demanded quickly.
Logan swiveled his chair around and pulled up a street directory. "Sector 11 Police Headquarters. I need to you put a transmitter on their local network. Hoverdrone surveillance runs on a separate system. Plant this for me, and we'd get what we need."
Alec took the small device Logan offered. "I'm on it."
He dumped Logan's ol' Bessie behind a warehouse in Sector 3 and took the sewers into Sector 11. It was going to take patience, but he'd get in and out of Police HQ undetected. And he swore he'd get Max away from White, if it were the last thing he did. If White has so much as laid a finger on her, he'd break them all. And then he'd start on his toes.
White had better pray she was fine, or he'd have so much heat on his ass that there'd be nowhere safe he could hide.
Notes: Thank you all of you for sending me feedback. HoneyX5-452, I put the time logs on the flashbacks, I know it's still a little tough to follow but my non-linear POV wrote most of the quarter of this story. Hopefully the rest of the story flows better. ;) angelofdarkness78 and X5-459, I'm glad you're enjoying the pregnant Max storyline. Initially this was meant to be a short fluff M/A piece - it's turning into a monster. And I know the one-night stand's been done before but I'madding my take on it (although honestly, I've only ever read an M/Z one night that resulted in something similiar to the beginnings of this) and hopefully in the end this story can stand alone as something original ;o) Somebody's Dark Angel, thank you for your comments. Did this offer you something new?