Freedom on the inside
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own anything to do with Dark Angel. They apparently belong to some guy who is most definitely in need of a brain check. What was he thinking when he decided to axe the show? Oh well, I guess when I'm rich enough I'll just have to buy the rights to the programme and then we'll finally get a third season. I wouldn't count on it though.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: M/A (eventually!)
Summary: What if Max never escaped Manticore in 'Designate This' and didn't get the chance to infect Logan? Logan and everyone else in Seattle thinks she's dead and Renfro's still alive?
Author's Note: I know there's been a lot of 'what if she never escaped stories?' but this is my shot at what could have happened. Please read and review!
Author's Note 2: All you people who have been wanting some M/A action, or have been waiting since the first chapter . . . well . . . why don't you go ahead and read . . .
Chapter Twenty-One
Fallen
"Do you believe that this 'idea' of yours has a serious chance of succeeding?" Renfro asked the man currently occupying her chair.
Lydecker sighed, rubbing his tired face, "I don't see any other way." Standing up, he moved around the desk and paced the width of Renfro's office, "We know White's behind this; ordering the Familiars, planning all their moves . . . if we eliminate him-"
"Some other Familiar will just step into his shoes," Renfro explained.
Lydecker stopped pacing, "I don't think so."
Renfro raised her eyebrows in question.
"Look," he explained, "They are supposedly untouchable, but if we get to White, we get to all of them. It shatters the illusion of invincibility and most importantly the immortality they seem to believe they possess. At least for a significant amount of time we can stop them surging forward; it would be a heavy blow to their campaign. It's worth a try until we can develop something completely foolproof."
Renfro sighed, "Well I guess we should call in 452 and 494, and I suppose it would be safe to assume they'll be none too pleased."
"I know," Lydecker nodded, his face for the first time eliciting the loathed emotion of sadness, "I know."
By the time Max had gotten home, the streets of Seattle were pitch black and deserted. Half the population were either sleeping, or like OC, out partying. Max really had wished to be part of the latter, but after this morning and the rather delicate state her head was in, she didn't think she'd be very good company. She would probably 'spoil' the party atmosphere and OC would most likely be whinging at her till Kingdom come.
Well, a girl, even Max, needed her rest and night of girly pampering. So as she walked through the front door, Max mentally listed her things to do: a nice long shower, granted there was hot water, then maybe her nails and skin and possibly even some lounging on the sofa reading a good book. But then again that was unlikely; actually all of it now seemed a far away dream,
"Hey Max," Alec waved from his sleeping position on the couch, "You got in late."
"Ah yeah," she didn't really feel like explaining herself. And miraculously, Alec seemed to have gotten the picture and fell silent.
In an attempt to ignore her inexplicable nerves, Max made her way to the kitchen. She was starving. If anything could help her forget; it was food, and there had to be some somewhere. Opening and closing all the cupboards, including the fridge, she found absolutely nothing. What on Earth had happened to all the food? The answer to her question was right there in the lounge.
"Alec!" Max yelled as she stormed back into the front room. She stood towering over him as he continued to lie sprawled on the sofa with his eyes closed and his hand placed firmly beneath his head. Being angry with him was a much easier way of forgetting her heart's confusions.
Alec popped an eye open,
"Hey Max, back again?"
Max glared at him, "You ate all the food!"
"Did I?" he asked slightly bemused. But whether the confusion was genuine or a façade was difficult to tell.
Yanking him by the arm, she pulled him off the sofa. Alec's protests of, "Hey, what you doing?" fell on deaf ears, as she tugged him all the way to the kitchen.
Opening the cupboards, she pointed viciously at the bare shelves,
"See!" she yelled.
"See what?" Alec smirked.
"Exactly, NOTHING!"
"Max you're going mad, why areyou getting so wound up about nothing then?"
"Arggh!"
"Really Max, calm down."
"No I won't calm down!" Max screamed. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't got her hot shower or her night of pampering. Maybe it was because of her lousy pay check and the ridiculous hours she worked. Maybe it was because she missed Joshua and Ginger. Or perhaps it was more to do with the situation between herself, Logan and the X5 in front of her. But most likely, it was probably the culmination of all of the above, which resulted in her finally losing the last shreds of her sanity.
Alec was definitely surprised by the sudden outburst and backed away from her into the kitchen counter; she actually looked dangerous.
"No I won't calm down!" she repeated through gritted teeth, "I have had it up to here with this!" Max no longer had any control over her words. It was as if her brain had stopped working and her mouth had taken over; and she was no longer referring to the severe absence of food either. Even Alec was beginning to sense it as he stared at her – worried.
"I thought this is what I wanted," she explained, "I thought I wanted to be out of Manticore. I thought I wanted to be free." The tears were now beginning to spill, "But I'm not am I?"
Alec couldn't answer her.
"And then there's Logan," she said dejectedly. "And you were right Alec, I'm being selfish. I'm being a miserable little bitch. I should just let him go. I don't deserve him, I don't deserve Joshua, Ginger, heck even you, and-"
Max was stopped from further self-battering, as Alec, no longer able to cope with the sight of the usually strong and fiery female crumbling before him, enveloped her into a tight warm hug.
He continued to say nothing as Max cried into his shoulder, her tears falling behind his ear.
He held her like that until her breathing calmed down and the tears began to cease. His mouth brushed her ear as he finally broke his silence,
"What's really bothering you Max?" he whispered.
Slowly, Max released herself from Alec's tight grip, and with her eyes glazing of unshed tears, her hair a mess and cheeks flushed, she stared up at his soft expression. Her heart was beating so fast, she was sure he could hear each individual thump.
"You," she whispered
Alec stared at her, uncomprehending her response, but before he could even open his mouth in question, Max shut it with her own.
Max hadn't even realised what she was doing until she finally did it. She was like a puppet with someone else pulling her strings; and for that she was grateful. In the future if she needed the excuse, it would be there, but returning to the present, she could only marvel at the feel of her lips on Alec's. It wasn't the most passionate of kisses, she couldn't even tell if he was responding, but it nevertheless certainly managed to create tingles down her spine, from the tips of her fingers to her toes.
Alec's hands dropped to her waist as Max's moved up along his back and entwined in the soft hair at the base of his neck. What Alec was feeling was another story altogether. She had caught him entirely by surprise, but no sooner had he started to respond to Max's kiss, had he finally realised what exactly he was doing.
He was kissing Max. He was kissing someone else's girl. Logan's girl.
And as soon as that thought entered his mind, that's as quickly as he let go of her.
His lips were red, his hair dishevelled and his breathing laboured. The same could be said of Max as she stared up at him with big frightened brown eyes.
The only words resounding in Max's mind were, 'What the hall have I done?' Whilst Alec let out a more audible, "Shit."
And somehow, that seemed to sum it up exactly.
Author's Note 3: Hehe!!!! I'm sorry I'm evil! But the next chapter will start off from exactly where we left off, so I guess you're gonna have to wait and see what happens next!!!!
Massive thank yous to all those that have read and reviewed. If you are reading please leave a review, I really love reading every single one. Constructive criticism as always is welcome.
Thank you to:
Kristibella: Thank you for the good luck, I needed it! Hope all your modules went okay, and if you have any more, good luck with them. Plus, it was nice to hear from you again!!
Lakergirl08: Two reviews!!! Yay! Thank you! Another one of my loyal reviewers, I'm so happy!
JeNsEnS wifey ChAdZ lover: Hello! I haven't heard from you in ages! I hope you're doing okay; I miss your story too! Do try and write some more as soon as you can! Hope you enjoyed this chap!
Aur: Thank you! I hope this made you at least a little happy, but I can't say whether or not they will be getting together in the next chapter!
Gauri: Hope you liked this chapter!
lydecker wana b: Good luck with the GCSES, don't worry you'll breeze through them!