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!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Somewhere, Somehow

"He's being held in a facility in Canada."

"Canada?"

"They crossed the border at about 21.50 and stopped at a location on the outskirts of Vancouver, British Columbia," Renfro explained.

"How did they get passed the border with Alec; a hostage, tied up in the back of the van?"

"The audio recorded indicates that they had a fake passport made using 494's sector pass. They also untied him momentarily."

"Was he conscious?" Max asked, desperately wanting to hear the words 'yes', but she was greeted with a negative headshake from Renfro.

"There was a point at which he seemed to have regained consciousness from the effects of the tranquiliser, but he was dosed again with another drug."

"What drug?" Max felt like wringing Renfro's neck to squeeze the information out of her faster, but she somehow managed to refrain herself from doing so.

"We didn't get a name," Renfro sighed.

"You didn't get a name? You didn't get a name!"

Max's barks caused Renfro to take a couple of steps backwards, "Easy soldier."

Max took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself, "Well do you know anything at all about his condition?"

Renfro was immediately prevented from answering as the door was flung open and Lydecker barged in. He uttered the words Max had been longing to hear,

"He's awake."

"Let me hazard a guess; not feeling too well?"

Max could literally see White's twisted smile as the tiny microphone implant in Alec's ear gave them perfect conditions for eavesdropping.

"I'm feeling fine."

Her heart clenched at the sound of Alec's voice. It was tired and pained; nothing at all like the Alec she knew and loved.

"Now's not the time to be so brash, 494."

"What's the worse you gonna do? Kill me?"

He was still in there. He was there enough to still drop a little attitude on White. Alec's words were a small comfort, especially as they were followed by White's icy promise;

"I will break you."

" . . . We'll see . . ."

There was a slight pause before White spoke again. The increment of his tone suggested he had now moved closer to Alec,

"So what would you like me to tell your girlfriend then? Have any last words?"

'Girlfriend' - Max found it strange to hear the reference to herself and not have it followed by Alec's usual correction. But somehow, in this truly bizarre situation, it felt right. As did Alec's message for her:

". . . Tell her I'll be home for tea."

'You better be Alec. You better.'

"So, what now?" Max asked as she sat up straight in the large arm chair in Renfro's office.

The transmission from Alec's microphone had been nothing but the sound of Alec sleeping for the last half an hour. Max would have been content to just sit there and listen to his steady and peaceful breathing; but there were some important issues that needed to be sorted out.

"Now we wait for White to contact you."

"And when do you suppose he would do that?"

"In all likelihood; probably today."

Max nodded.

"That's why we need you to go back to Seattle."

"Go back?"

"Just until he contacts you on this phone," Renfro held up a silver cell phone and handed it over to her. "That's the number Logan gave him. Once he's rung you, discard the phone. They will have tapped into the account and all your calls from that phone would become traceable."

"Then what?"

"You come back to us, and we plan our next step from there. Logan will go back with you."

"What about Alec?"

"We will continue to monitor 494, and if required you will be notified of anything on this phone," Renfro slipped another phone into Max's hand; this one being black as to be able to differentiate between the two.

"Any other questions?"

Max shook her head, "No ma'am."

"Good, you will leave in an hour."

An hour to kill, and Max knew exactly where she was heading. Ginger and Joshua were already aware that Max was back at Manticore; she had managed to sneak in a visit just before she and Alec had been given a thorough briefing of the mission. Then, she had obviously had some idea as to what the mission entailed but had kept Renfro's order of keeping her mouth shut. This time, however, she didn't think she could manage to obey her again.

"Little fella!" Joshua hugged Max tightly.

"Hey Max!" Looking over the big guy's shoulder, she saw the wide grin of a ginger haired transgenic.

"Hey guys," Max smiled as she now moved to hug Ginger. "What have you been up to?"

"Josh was just showing me how to make one of these," she held up a paper dove, "I'm rubbish."

"Well origami is a fine art. You either have it, or like you, you don't."

Joshua picked up one of the many doves from off the floor and handed it to Max, "For you."

"Thanks Josh."

"Where's Alec?" Josh asked as he sat down in between Max and Ginger.

Max said nothing, letting the room fall into silence. A very damning silence.

"What's going on?" Ginger asked eyebrows furrowed. She could read Max like a book, but that was probably because Max wasn't a very challenging read when it came to emotions anyway.

"It's classified."

"Yeah, so's like everything else you've ever told me."

"This time it's different," Max tried to think of a viable excuse to not tell them and she just couldn't find one. Simply because there wasn't one.

Alec was Ginger and Joshua's best friend too and they had a right to know,

"White's got him."

"What?" Ginger half yelled, half whispered.

"It's all part of Lydecker's elaborate plan to eliminate White."

"Is Alec ok?" Joshua asked, his concern plainly visible.

"He's alive, that much we know."

The room fell silent again as the three transgenics mulled over Alec's fate.

"I'm scared," Max whispered.

It took an enormous amount of courage for her to admit it, as it only helped make the lurking danger seem all the more real. Admitting it to herself without anyone to listen would have caused Max to lose all self control, but being there with both Ginger and Joshua helped to take a bite of that loneliness away. It made her fear slightly easier to deal with.

In less than a second, she found herself surrounded by both her best friends giving her a deeply sought and needed hug. A single solitary tear ran its way down the side of her cheek, as she shook her head viciously from side to side, "I can't lose him Ginge, I just can't."

"I know."

"Medium fella gonna make it," Joshua reassured her.

Max nodded. Praying he was right.

A/N 2: Hope you liked, please review!

Thank you to:

C'est Magnifique: Too right! First hand, second hand, third hand . . . Alec's fine with me! Lol! Thanks for the review!

TTT1901: Ummm, I'll think about it! Hehe! And sure yeah I'll find you Logan for your vvvv late bday present (so long as I get Alec on my bday!)

JeNsEnS wifey ChAdZ lover: I sincerely apologise for getting you so wound up about finishing the last chapter so quickly! I suppose you noticed this wasn't quite as long as War and Peace either, but chapter 27 should be up soon and should make you quite content! Lol! Thanks for the review, as always!

Suenooneus: I'm glad you liked the Max/Lydecker interaction – it was kinda bizarre wasn't it? Anyway, I'm so happy with your review, thank you!

Iridescent Twilight: My humblest apologies for leaving it there and I'll try to think of something to do to Mr Logan! Lol!

Kristibella: Happy belated birthday! V. late I know, so apologies, but much love nevertheless! Here's a big b'day hug and thanks for your review and support – tis much appreciated!

X5-459: Two reviews! You really did make me smile! I'm sorry for the wait, its cos I'm bogged down in school work, but I'll try and update again soon!

Lozz422: We'll see! Wink wink! Lol! Thanks for reviewing!

Lakergirl08: Two reviews too! Hehe! I'm so happy! (Dances around like a crazed idiot!) I'm glad you're slightly less worried about Alec, but we shall see what the future holds! About it being called father and son – the father was Lydecker – you know him always going on about his kids – Ben was the son but in that case it was also Alec - dunno if that helped . . . I just have funny ways of naming chapters!

Love SmilinStar xxx