Author: Athena
Rating: PG-13
Show: Dark Angel
Genre: Drama/Action/Romance
Pairing: M/A
Summary: A lonely night changed Max, Alec and Logan's life, probably forever. AU. Sets after "Hello, Goodbye"
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
A/N: Well, here's the update. I hope you like it :)
Part 4NY- 3 months later…
Zero was driving on NY's streets, and he couldn't believe his bad luck... or his stupidity, depending on how you looked at it.
He was… lost.
Lost! A Manticore X6... lost!
He could even hear Alec's mocking laughter if he dared to tell him about his embarrassing situation. Among the painful matter that he will can my ass if I don't get finished my assignment soon
&&&&&&&&&&&
It was his first assignment outside Canada since his unit joined the TC group on the Canadian exile, 6 years ago. He was happy to be with Alec and the other transgenics after the first two rough years post-Manticore, when he needed to look out for Ralph, Bullet, Fixit and Bugler's security as their CO. But things were sweet for him right now. He had a good position on the company Alec and other transgenics started a year after arriving Canada. Well, he wasn't on the top positions yet, all of them held by X5's and two or three transhumans, but he was working hard to gain Alec's trust. He wanted to prove him his loyalty and value.
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"Empowered Security", the company specialized on extreme security systems founded by Alec, was now a very requested company with high profile clients around the world. Well, except the United States. They had been refusing some good jobs there for a while, because of their status as fugitives on the States.
But business was changing, so they couldn't afford being so picky. Word was spread about their reputation as the best of the best, so better jobs came to their door, some of them so challenging and well-paid that was impossible (and business suicidal) to refuse them. And there was the fact that the competition on this business was really fearless and aggressive, so even if they didn't want it too much, they needed to consider all the offers, no matter where they'd be.
So, that was the reason for his assignment. He needed to found a place to establish their HQ at NY for their US operations, discreet enough not to draw attention of certain authorities; they were still wanted men, after all. Their Canadian passports could let them pass the border easily, but inside the States, their transgenic condition was something dangerous. Besides, Alec was tired of hotels; they were too impersonal for his taste.
And what the boss wants is what the boss gets
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It was the third time he passed the same park and he was getting desperate. All the places he saw so far didn't meet the requirements Alec gave him. That wasn't itself a bad thing, if they didn't have plans to leave NY tonight; so he needed to find ASAP the last address he got. And it must be a good thing, or he was going to have his ass kicked before he even explains himself to Alec.
But why on earth he couldn't find the dammed address? Argggh, he couldn't believe it! He had no choice; he needed to ask for help. But I'm a soldier, for christ's sake! Soldiers don't ask directions!
With his ego completely bruised, he decided to stop in front of the park, and he was about to ask some lady about the address, when he saw a woman walking out a groceries store that caught his attention. He usually didn't look at other women; well, not after mating with Ralph, 2 years ago. She can kill me if I did he thought jokingly.
But there was something about this woman that kept him interested. She had a slim petite figure and brown curly hair. He couldn't see her face very well, but it was strange … it was like he knew her, but he wasn't sure. Besides, he had never been before at NY, not even on a Manticore mission, so it wasn't probably that he had crossed paths before with this girl.
He approached carefully, walking quietly, trying to get a better sight of her without her noticing him. And when he finally got a glimpse of her face, he got the shock of his life. Oh, my God… it can't be!
&&&&&&&&&&
He needed to talk with Alec ASAP. He knew he was on a meeting and he would probably want to kick his ass because of the interruption, but this was important. He will thank me after listening to me. He will even forget how pissed he might be with me because of the house thing…
When Alec finally picked up the phone, Zero didn't even let him speak …
"Sir, you're not gonna believe this…"
&&&&&&&&&&
Seattle - Three months ago…
Ben was in the middle of his boring math class when something outside the classroom got his attention. He heard voices calling his name, asking people, probably teachers, about him… he knew the voices must be far away, but it still got him worried.
Who could be looking for him? The voices didn't belong to his mom or his dad. He felt his body became more alert, like if he was getting ready for a fight. His mommy had warned him about the bad people, strangers who might look like soldiers or policemen that would want to hurt him and separate him from his family. He knew he must be ready for the moment the bad people appeared. And it seemed that the moment had arrived.
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Ben heard how the voices were getting closer. He needed to go out of the school and found his mommy. He asked permission to go to the restroom, trying to find out who was looking for him and a secure way to escape. He knew there was a sewer entrance near the soccer field, but he didn't know if he could get there without being spot.
He saw a bunch of soldiers and a man wearing a suit three doors from his classroom, and he moved as fast as he could to the nearer place to hide before they noticed him. He hid on a clergy's room, and he was waiting for a distraction to leave the closet, when he heard a familiar voice talking. It was his mother and she was arguing with the man on the suit. There was so much noise on the school with the soldiers in there, but he could still hear loud and clear what they were saying.
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"Well, well… it's the mighty 452 in the flesh. I must say that years hadn't passed through you; you still look good for a filthy animal"
"I wish I could say the same, Ames, but it seems that stress finally gets you. You look like an old decrepit man"
Ben didn't understand. Why this man is calling my mom by a number? Why does she know him? He seems dangerous…
"… I don't care what you say, transgenic scum. But now that you're here, you can join the party. I'm looking for the offspring of one of your fellow transgenics… maybe you know him. He's 494's son. I understand his name is Ben… "
Ben saw the man showing his mom a photo of him… but he was confused Does my father have number too? Why?
But it was his mother's answer what confused him more.
"You don't have any proof that he's Alec's son… you're just bluffing…"
Ben didn't know what to think … who is Alec? My father's name is Logan…
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Why do you think I'm bluffing? 452, I thought we know each other well enough. You must know that I never lie, unlike you always do." Ames White said arrogantly, while his men started to advance forward.
"Well, let me tell you something, Ames. And I'll say it only once. Leave this kid alone. You'll never get him… I can assure you that…" 452's concerns for the kid just confirmed his suspicions. She was the mother. 494 and 452… Two for the price of one. Nice, really nice
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ben saw how the soldiers started to corner his mom. He needed to do something to help her. But what?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Max saw White's men approaching her. The odds weren't good for her. 10 well-packed soldiers and a freaking familiar against only one transgenic wasn't a fair fight.
"So 494 and you finally got really well … acquainted …" White said sarcastically "And he said that it was just a summer fling…"
"Shut up!" Max yelled, trying to hide his desperation.
"Mmh, I see he's a cute boy." He said looking at Ben's photo. "How old is he? 7? 8? He looks just a little bit older than the last time I saw Ray." Max felt her skin shiver so he haven't forget about Ray. Damn it
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Hey, you! I think you're looking for me!" Ben shouted trying to get the soldiers attention. It was the only thing he could think to do that helps his mom.
"Take him. I want him alive!" White yelled to his men, savoring the moment of his victory. the time for my revenge is coming. You'll suffer what I suffered, 452
But Max took advantage of their sudden distraction and knocked all the soldiers she could. "Ben… run! To the sewers! Fast!" she screamed, running for her life too.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
They've just made it. They got into the sewers and just escaped from White's claws, but it was too close. She now had only one thing in her mind: to escape. She needed to protect her child; she couldn't let White harm him.
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"Logan, we need to go!" Max screamed at Logan who was on the computer doing some of his EO stuff. "Ames White was at Ben's school and he was after him. I don't know have any idea how he got wind of him, but…" Max saw no reaction from Logan and it disturbed her "Logan, have you heard something of what I said? Our son is in danger and we… "
"Your son, you should say." Logan said chillingly. His voice was so cold that Max felt her skin shiver… "Logan, what do you mean by 'my son'? Please, don't joke in a moment like this. Ben …"
"You just need to turn him in and everything's gonna be fine, Max. They don't know about you, only about him" Logan said freakingly calm. Max couldn't believe what she was hearing
"What? What are you saying? Did you… did you…." Max believed to see a glimpse of insanity on Logan's eyes. He must be crazy to say such horrible things.
"Just say that old Ames received some interesting information" He smiled. Max was petrified. She can't believe what she was hearing." For god's sake… He's your son! How can you… "
"Max, I've known the truth for a long time, so you don't need to pretend anymore. I don't want to pretend anymore".
Max felt panic invading her body, her knees were shaking and her world seemed to spin around her. This can't be happening. Not now
"Logan, I don't know what you are talking about…"
Logan's calm expression suddenly changed. Fury was the only emotion shown on his face. Max had never seen him like that.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know he is HIS son. So don't even try to lie to me!"
"Logan, please… don't do this" Max said with pleading eyes. "Ben might hear you. He's upstairs preparing…"
"Hear what? That he's not my son? That his father was an egotistical bastard who abandoned his mother when she was pregnant?" Logan said shouting from the top of his lungs.
"Don't you dare to call him like that!" Max said, slapping him on the face. "You don't know how things happened! …I … I never had the chance to tell him"
Logan smiled smugly, touching his now red cheek. "I'm just repeating what you used to say before he left. Or was Alec so fucking good in bed that he changed your mind about his screw up ways?"
"Logan, please …."
"Don't you want Ben to know that his mother was a slut who cheated on the man she claimed to love?" Logan was letting out all the rage and hatred he had accumulated through the years. He was completely out of control. "That she was a liar that let him think that the baby she was carrying was his? That she is idiot enough to think that she can fool him!"
"Logan ….stop …"
"If you want me to stop, tell me I'm wrong. "
Max remained silent.
"Tell me that it's not true."
She kept quiet.
"Tell me that … that he means nothing to you!" Logan shouted; he was just few inches from her face
"Logan … I can't"
"You… bitch!" Logan took her from the neck and started to strangle her, until he fell to the floor unconscious.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ben saw from the stairs the whole fight between his parents. Well, between his mom and Logan. Because their discussion just confirmed what he heard at school. That Logan wasn't his father. Some guy called Alec was. For a moment, he felt overwhelmed, confused … betrayed. All his life was founded on a lie. His mother wasn't what she said. He wasn't whom he thought. His mother had lied to him about everything.
But when he saw Logan trying to kill his mother, he just reacted: he hit Logan as hard as he could, in an attempt to stop him. His mother was the most important thing on the world, even if she had lied to him his whole life.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Max took her son to Logan's SUV, and started to run away. She drove for hours, until Bessie's gas run out. She decided to hijack another car, just in case Logan could track his car, and she started to drive again. She changed cars two or three times, she couldn't say how many times exactly. Thanks to her shark DNA, she didn't have to sleep, so she didn't have to stop really often, only a few hours to eat or change their clothes.
It was like the first time she escaped from Manticore. Always running away, not stopping in one place, just running.
Her first and only concern was her son's safety. Her poor boy didn't want to speak with her; he was traumatized after all he went through the last days. She didn't know how much he heard, and she was truly afraid to ask. She had a lot to explain to him, even when she didn't want to. But after how things had turned out, she had to. All had changed for them.
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She decided to stop and stay someplace for a while just when she felt safe. They were at New York by then.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
NY- Three months later…
"Zero…. Are you sure?" Alec said on the phone. He couldn't believe what Zero was saying. Max in NY? That's impossible…
"Positive, sir. I had a clear visual of her face."
"Did you see her barcode?"
"No, sir, but I assure you that the woman I saw was definitely Max. There's no chance I'd never forget her face. She saved my life more than once, remember?" Zero felt uncomfortable with the visible lack of trust from Alec. He didn't understand why he didn't want to believe him.
"I don't doubt of your memory, Zero. But the thing is that you never met Sam, Max's twin."
"Max has a twin?"
"Yeah, X5-453. So, the woman you saw could be Sam, not Max."
"Oh… I'm sorry Alec" Zero said disheartened … "I didn't know… I thought… "
"It's ok, Zero. You wasn't in Seattle when Sam appeared" Alec felt sorry for the young man. He couldn't blame him; he was really excited about seeing Max again. He might feel the same way, but he'd lost the hope of seeing her again the night she decided to stay in Seattle, almost 8 years ago. "Do you have an address, right? Well, I'll check it out. Maybe you're right after all"
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He decided to break quietly into the apartment, using his cat burglar skills, just in case Zero was wrong. Besides, he never felt comfortable knocking on the door. He entered through a window, falling on what seemed to be a bed; but before he could react, someone punched him on the face.
"Hey!"
It was a little boy, a 7 or 8-years-old kid. That punch was really hard for such a small kid
"Who are you?" the small kid asked aggressively. Alec found him amusing. He looked like an inoffensive cute little boy, wearing some cartoon character pajamas, but here he was, facing a stranger who can be dangerous, standing up over the bed, in a perfect fighting stance. There's no mistake. This rugrat must be Max's child. He has the same attitude
"Whoa, whoa, watch out, kid. You can hurt yourself" he said grinning.
"I don't think so!" the kid tried to connect his little fist again on Alec's face, but this time, Alec was prepared. The kid was fast, but Alec was faster. He blocked his punch easily. Now, it was the kid's turn to be surprised. "Only my mommy can do that"
"I'm Alec." The room was dark, but Alec could distinguish easily the boy's face, thanks to his transgenic sight. He didn't look anything like Max. He had blond hair and pale skin; but even when he was a blond kid, he didn't look like Logan either. It was strange, but there was something about him that looked oddly familiar to him, but he couldn't place what. "And you?"
"Alec?" The kid whispered, looking at him in shock like if he had seeing a ghost or something like that. After a moment of doubt, he seemed to regain his voice. "I'm Ben"
His eyes
When Alec heard his dead brother's name he finally got what was so familiar about this kid.
His eyes.
The same hazel eyes his brother Ben should have had. The same hazel eyes he saw on the mirror everyday.
o – o – o – o - o – o – o – o
A/N: Ok, what do you think? Let me know! I hope you don't get confused with the timeline… And I know, I know, I owe you something… I guarantee M/A action for the next one…
o – o – o – o - o – o – o – o
TKS for all the reviews… It feels great!
Calistra: Tks! I appreciate it
Ellashy: thank you! I'm glad you like it… Here's the update
4eva Jensen: it's okay ;P ... tks!
angelofdarkness78: You're gonna find out on this one… I'm glad you like the way I'm writing logan… it wasn't like I'd planned him as a bad guy, it just turned out that way naturally, hehe
sarasidle3: Tks! I promise the next is gonna be faster... I'm on the middle of it now…
OriginalProxy: Well, I know what you mean about Logan's mother, but it's just i didn't want Logan to find out by a doctor or a DNA analysis... i needed someone to tell him... and that was the best i can do ;P But i'm glad you liked it despite that little detail... :D ah, and some of your questions will be answered on this one...
Ro: yeah, I know… it's just that i want her to suffer a little bit... ;P and thank you for your comments!
AmyLynn: Tks! And here's the update... i hope you liked it this one too!
GiRl MaGe: well, you were right about Logan... hehe, i hope you liked this one... and about yours, sure thing... just give me some time...
Kelzaa: TKs!
a reader: you got it right! That's exactly the reason... you know Max, always searching for a "normal" life... and remember, the fic's title is Mistakes... mostly Max's mistakes... ;P
pola: well, it's logan... he can't do better, hehe... and about your questions... some are answered on this one, and some on the next... tks for the forgiveness
Aur: mmh, i'm afraid alec isn't the one who rescue him...
Alana84: yeah, he deserves all that... and he's gonna have it, sooner or later...