Disclaimer: No ownie

A/N: I'm sorry I haven't been updating so quickly. I have a ton of homework plus an essay, and a few projects to do. I'll try to update as fast s I can, promise. But review, and some more updates may appear. Nudge nudge wink wink. ;) LOL

After sitting with Zack until about 2 hours before she had to wake up, Max felt a lot better. 'Nothing's better than being with someone who understands you,' she thought. She slipped into her cell and lay down, thinking about all that had happened recently. The raid, dying, coming back to life, thinking Zack was dead, meeting annoying yet supportive Alec, finding out Zack was alive, and now plans for escape. Before she went to sleep for 2 hours, she thought, 'This is going to be one long day.'

"Report!" Renfro barked. Max had to resist the urge to spit in her face and beat her to pulp for lying to her about Zack. She barely managed to hold her tongue and stared straight ahead.

"Successful copulation between myself and 452, ma'am," Alec reported.

She studied both of them for a second then she turned to Max. "Very well done 452." She leaned in closer. "What would happen to your poor boyfriend if he ever found out?"

'I would first explain that you're a sadistic bitch then I would kick your ass from here to next week,' she thought. She stood silent.

Renfro straightened up then said, "Have you been taking any special medication while you were on the outside, 452?"

"No ma'am," she said.

"Follow me," Renfro said and they both walked to the infirmary.

"I want to know why you haven't shown any signs of Progeria," Renfro said. She pointed to Max's clone, X7-452, who lay wrinkled up and aged on a bed. "Her genetic code is the exact replica of yours except for the part that makes her X7. That is why I'm asking you if you received any medication on the outside."

"I did not receive any," Max said. "I'm certain ma'am."

"Very well. Continue on to your next lesson. Maybe you've just been lucky. For all we know that could still happen to you."

Inside, Max was worried. 'What happens if it does?' she thought. 'I'll be just like Brin and the only place to get treated is here. Manticore.' She shivered. 'If it does happen, I'll die. Nothing's better than this place. I'm getting out of here,' she thought resolutely. 'I have to.'

That night Zack, Alec and Max got together for their regular reunion in the gym. Max didn't talk very much, Progeria and the image of her clone still heavy on her mind. Zack noticed this and put a hand on her shoulder. Alec looked up from what he was doing, noticing that Max was acting strange, but continued when he figured he'd let Zack handle it.

"Something wrong, Maxie?" he asked her.

She looked up quickly and shook her head. "No, everything's fine."

"Max." He looked into her eyes searchingly. "I can tell something's the matter. Don't lie to me."

She ducked her head. "It's nothing. Just something Renfro showed me."

Zack grew increasingly worried. Nothing that has to do with Renfro could be good. "Tell me Maxie," he said gently.

Alec now stopped what he was doing. He listened for her answer. 'What could have Renfro showed her that made her scared?' he wondered. 'Last time I checked, Max didn't give a rat's ass about anything Renfro said or did.'

"She. She showed me an X7."

"So?" Zack said. "You've seen one before. What does this have to do with anything?"

"Everything," she whispered. "Zack, X7-452 is dying. Of Progeria."

Both Zack's and Alec's throats went dry. "No," Zack whispered.

"It still might not happen to me though," she said. She furrowed her brow. "No, it won't happen to me. I won't let it." She looked up. "Besides, if it was going to happen wouldn't it have happened already? Wouldn't it have?" Her voice came out desperate and small.

"Right," Zack said. 'I just got her back, I can't lose her again. I can't lose her, period.' "Right, it won't." His voice came out a little more confident this time. "Don't worry Maxie, you're going to be fine. Nothing's going to happen to you." He tried to smile reassuringly.

She nodded. "Right." She immediately became serious. "We need to get out of here, and pronto. I have this odd feeling that something big is gonna happen, and I don't think it'll be pretty."

Alec walked over. "Let's figure out the guards' rotation schedule and where all the cameras are and stuff first. We can figure that out tonight then we'll blow this joint."

"We?" Max said. She smiled. "You finally decided to come with us. Great."

Alec knocked the side of his head and rubbed his ear. "Am I hearing right? Max wants me to come?" He turned to Zack. "Am I hallucinating?"

Zack laughed, one that was so rare it was like the room lit up. "No Alec, you heard right. Who wouldn't want a cocky, annoying, egotistical guy coming along?"

Alec put on a mock hurt look. Then he smiled too. "Yeah. Let's get back. Later, guys." He left.

Before Max did too, Zack reached out to stop her. He surprised her when he pulled her close into a hug but relaxed and leaned into him. When he pulled back, he tenderly stroked her cheek and said, "Don't worry Maxie. Don't think about the Progeria. You won't get it."

Heartened by his words, Max nodded once again and smiled before leaving.

'There's no way I'm letting you go Max,' he thought. 'I'll go to hell and back before I let you get hurt.'

A/N: How'd you like it? Next chapter or so, the escape. Review plz.

Thanks to –

shygirl1 – Thanks for always reviewing my stories. Very appreciated. Love how "All of Us" is turning out.

kiwifruit03 – Thanks for your review. The thing with Ben was unexpected, but not totally. Remember, Zack thought Alec was Ben before and that stirred memories. Thanks for always reviewing my stories. Very appreciated. P.S. Isn't Kero the cutest? LOL I love the little guy.