Title: Just the Truth

Author: Athena

Rating: PG-13

Show: Dark Angel

Genre: Drama/Action/Romance

Pairing: M/A

Summary: Max, Alec & Logan realize some things about each other. And someone reacts very, very bad.

Author's Comments: It's my first fic, so don't be so bad...

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, well, maybe some characters I made up, but nothing more… :)

CHAPTER 4: FIGHTING

"So, no intentions to hurt this fine body of mine? That's new, Maxie." A familiar smirk lit his handsome face. "It's not like I'm complaining. In fact, I like more this new Max." Max looked at him with a death glance. what the hell does he mean? Alec gulped. He had to say something good if he wanted to remain with all his body parts in place. "Well, don't think I don't like the old one… But you need to laugh more often like this"

Max chuckled. well, maybe he's right, but I'm not gonna admit it. She smiled to herself. It was strange, but she felt happier than other days. She can't place the reason, but something was clear in her mind… it was the way she felt right now.

Her train of thought was stopped by the sound of his voice. She heard him talking about a meeting…. What did he just say? Meeting? What meeting? "Earth to Maxie, earth to Maxie…", he said with a playful tone, even when his eyes looked serious. She gave him a confused gaze. "What are you just talking about?". Alec sighed before he started to talk again. "I asked you about this morning's meeting. Do you already have a decision?" Max looked at him more confused than before. "About what?"

I can't believe it. Alec thought with exasperation. "How could you forget about it? You were the one who set the date and the time, Max!" Max was puzzled. Alec was annoyed and she didn't have any clue about the reason. Wait, I'm the one who gets annoyed, not otherwise. What the hell does he think he's doing? When Alec saw she didn't know what he was talking about, he decided to tell her. It was very important to him to know her decision before the meeting. He said in a soft voice, trying to hide his disappointment, "The judgment, Max."

The judgment. Shit That hit her hard. "Kary's judgment! Oh my god, I totally forgot about it", she said with a girly voice, so unlike Max. When she raised her gaze, she saw something she didn't expect to see. A very irritated Alec was looking at her like if she had two heads or something worst. "I can see that. Now, answer to me… what's your decision!"

That got her mad. "Why the hell do you want to know? It's none of your business! Besides, you will know in the morning, right?" Then the wheels in her head started to work. Oh my god, he's going to speak in her favor tomorrow! Of course, that's reason to his sudden interest in MY vote! He's going to defend HER even after what she'd done! Then an image came suddenly to her mind: Kary, seated on Alec's lap, kissing like if they didn't have tomorrow. Dammed Alec

That memory made her angrier, if that was even possible. She tried to punch him, but he blocked her movement. If hitting him wasn't available, yelling was the best next thing… "YOU'RE ON HER SIDE! …. But what the hell are you thinking? She put all of us in danger, for God's sake! She deserves to be expelled of TC and you know it! But no, you don't think about anyone than yourself… you're going to defend her because she's one of your sluts!"

"How you dare to talk to me like that?" He held her wrist with a steel grip. She tried to struggle and get free, but he didn't let her go. He pushed her to the wall and face to face with her, he saw her directly to her eyes. His hazel eyes were icy, chilling ones. "You know, better than anyone else, that I have nothing with Kary or another girl for that matter! Jesus, Max, I spend all my time with you, working in TC's success! So don't tell me that I'll defend her because I slept with her! I had sacrificed my personal life for TC all this time as you did too!"

"Then, why, eh? By the way, I can't believe you haven't something with her, 'cause if my memory doesn't fail, and it NEVER fails me, you had something very 'physical' with another girl before… and you were kissing Kary in your office that night, when she had to be in her surveillance position at TC fence and the mob attacked us through HER spot. Or now are you gonna deny it?" Her cheeks were blushed and she was breathing hard. Alec loved when she looked liked that… so full of live and passion. But he also hated when she treated him like a screw up, always ready to blame him for everything. But not this time. Not this time, Maxie

He tried to calm down. It wasn't a good thing when they fought like this. "First, what happened with the other girl was only sex, and I was about to finish it when.. well you know…" he looked serious at her. She totally ignored him, she was that angry "And second, it wasn't my fault Kary left her post, Max, and you know it. I never felt something for her. And the most important thing, I NEVER, and I repeat, NEVER, gave her any hope, I didn't want to make he same mistake I made with Marian. SHE KISSED ME, not the other way. And if you remember so well, like you said before, I rejected her… or is your memory a selective one?" His gaze hardened liked Max had never seen before. "I accept she made a huge mistake, but she already paid, didn't she? Or the 2 weeks she spent making surveillance 24/7 in the sewers isn't enough punishment for you? If you want, she'd do it a month", he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"But she didn't have any excuse for her behavior, Alec! She wasn't in heat, so the only reason was the treason, the subversion! She did what she did 'cause she rejects my authority!" And 'cause she wants to take you away from me

That surprised Alec. "Come on, Max! That's very far from the truth and you know it! It has nothing to do with your authority! Or are you going to tell me you have never done something crazy or stupid for love?" Or do you think I'm not worth of someone's love?

"Hell, no!" Alec gave her a cold stare. "Well, maybe I did a couple of things, but I never put in danger people's life! Besides, she called me "Bitchy Queen"!"

Flashback

Max was in her way to Alec's office, when she noticed something odd… Alec's door was slightly open. His door was always closed, even when Alec was there, working. For a moment she thought something bad would happened to Alec, so she prepared herself for the worst. She moved silently, trying to see through the slight space between the door and the doorframe. But she wasn't ready for what she saw: Alec with a girl, seated in his lap, kissing like if they didn't have tomorrow. She stayed outside of the doorframe, petrified. The couple seemed to be unaware of her presence, outside the room. A second or a minute passed, she couldn't tell exactly. When Alec pushed away the girl, she freed a sigh she didn't knew she was holding.

"Kary, what the hell are you doing?" she heard Alec yelled. "Trying to please you, Alec. You deserved to be happy. And I can give you some happiness, and more" the girl said seductively. "I'm sorry Kary, but…". He was interrupted by her. "Forget about the Bitchy Queen, Alec… Don't let her control your life."

He smirk his apologetic smile. "Nobody controls my life than myself, baby. And I don't know who that Bitchy Queen is". Kary's laughter filled the room. "Please, Alec, don't tell me you don't know how the most part of the girls named our so-called leader. Every female on TC hates her because the way she treats you. That bitch doesn't deserve a fine X5 male specimen like you." When Max heard this, her hands became fists, ready to fight. Only Alec's response stopped her.

"Don't dare to call her like that in front of me!" He shouted and both, Kary and Max, jumped. "Alec, please, she doesn't love you as I do!" Kary said almost crying. "She already inflicted you a lot of pain. It's unfair she gets all your love and you receive nothing!" A very angry Alec faced her. "That's none of your business. And let me say you something... I don't want anything from you… Leave me alone… Beat it"

Kary was totally devasted. "Alec, I love you more than my own life! I can do anything for you. Let me love you, please! Forget Max! That Bitchy Queen doesn't love you, and I love you so much!"

At this moment, Max decided to make herself visible. She couldn't resist the possibility of a fight. "You heard what the man said, slut. BEAT IT". Both, Alec and Kary turn around to face Max. "If he said he doesn't love you, he meant it. Make yourself a favor and stop this humiliating scene..." Max gave Alec a once over and smiled. "… Even if this fine male specimen is worth of it". She locked her eyes with his, and for a moment, an odd feeling flow through them.

But the moment was gone when a disheveled Dix came running like hell. "Max, Alec, we're under attack!"

End of Flashback

"So, let me see it straight… Are you telling me you want her out of TC, because she called you … what?… "Bitchy Queen"? and 'cause she was kissing me? He smiled his trademark grin, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He was still angry, but he was trying to hide his feelings. So sarcasm took the place. "Well, Max, you sound so mature… Do you have a more valid reason than that one? Besides, they give YOU a chance… don't you remember?"

She swallowed hard. She had to accept that this particular reason was a stupid one. Max doubted. Do I have another reason? Why I can't stand this girl? Before that incident, I never crossed any words with her. I not even noticed her existence. And yes, they gave me another chance, because I was innocent. But I see you don't believe in me anymore. And it hurts.

Giving up, she said with a defeated voice, "Yes, Alec, I remember". Her voice was almost impossible to hear. If Alec wasn't an X5, he mustn't be able to hear her voice. "And I don't have another reason, Alec. I'll think about her situation again. And I'll try to do the best for everybody, like you did for me".

A triumphal glint lit his eyes. She expected him to rub it in her face, but he didn't do it. He just walked away, to the door. Max was confused. Why? Then a realization shaped in her head. "I have something to ask you, Alec. That night, did you know I was there? I mean, before I burst in the room."

He stopped in his tracks. He smiled to himself, and without turn around, he said, "You will never know Maxie. You'll never know." And he left.

A/N: what do you think? Review please!