Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Dark Angel characters. They belong to James Cameron, Charles Eglee, and Fox. But Benjamin, Mackenzie, and any other characters you are not familiar with are mine.
"So why did you decide to come here? I mean you could of just stayed home. It's not like you were forced to come here."
"I thought you could use some help, and plus it was boring without you around."
"I bet the real reason was, I'm so hot, you just couldn't stay away from me. You just had to be around me." Mackenzie joked.
"In your dreams Kenzie."
"No I think it's more like in your dreams Benji." Mackenzie laughed.
"You wish."
"No, you wish. I bet you can't come up with a come back now."
3
"So? Your point is?"
"There's cake on my head!"
"And I repeat, your point is?"
"THERE'S CAKE ON MY HEAD! AND IT WAS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"How could that be embarrassing? It's not like I purposely pushed you into my dad, causing you to push him, causing him to drop the cake on your head, causing everyone to find it hilarious and laugh at you. Oh wait... I did."
3
Mackenzie glared at Benjamin. "I'd get up and storm off in anger but I'm too lazy and comfortable at the moment. So this will have to do." With that said Mackenzie stuck her tongue out at him, and hit him in the stomach.
"Like that did any damage."
"I could hit you harder if you want me to."
"No that's ok."
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
3
"Tick tock Mackenzie." Benjamin said from outside the door.
"You know what?" Mackenzie questioned looking at her appearance one last time in the mirror.
"What?"
"I'm done." Mackenzie said opening the bathroom door.
"That's amazing, you have thirty minutes left to spare. Guess I have to dance with you."
"Aw Benji you make it sound like a bad thing. That hurts deeply." Mackenzie replied, placing a hand over her heart.
3
"What are you going to do?"
"Carve our initials into the door. Leave our mark for whoever decides to move in here next." Mackenzie smiled at him, as she carved M.M. + B.C. into the cupboard door.
"That's so childish."
"And I'm childish, so it seems fitting." Mackenzie said, before closing the cupboard door, and heading for the apartment door.
3
"Good. Now get out of my apartment."
"OK. That hurts." Benjamin muttered.
"Aww, do you want me to kiss it better?"
"Yes."
"And where exactly does it hurt?"
"Right here." Benjamin replied pointing to his lips.
"Well I'll fix that for you." Mackenzie said, pulling Benjamin closer and giving him a kiss. Benjamin deepened the kiss, pulling Mackenzie as close to him as he could.
Benjamin shot up in bed, and ran a hand over his face. His dream didn't feel like a dream, it felt like reality, a reality that had completely passed him by. To say the least Benjamin was jealous, a chance with Mackenzie seemed to have evaded him.
A knock on his bedroom door made Benjamin jump, "Yea?" he questioned.
The door opened, and his mother popped her head in. Smiling at him she said, "I was just checking to see if you were up. Breakfast is ready and on the table."
"I'll be out in five." Benjamin smiled at her in return
"OK. I'll make sure your brother's don't eat it all."
Benjamin shook his head as his mother closed the door behind her. His life couldn't be better, but a part of him felt like he was missing out on something. Getting out of bed Benjamin stretched, and walked over to his dresser. Pulling out a pair of jeans and t-shirt, Benjamin quickly changed.
Benjamin made his way out of his room and into the kitchen, following his nose. The smell of home made pancakes drawing him closer. "Smells good." Benjamin smiled as he sat down at the table.
"You'll be glad to know dad made it." His younger sister, Emily, stated.
"Give mom some lee way, she's not that bad." Benjamin laughed.
"You're only saying that 'cause you can cook just as good as her." Brody replied.
"But we can both cook better than you." Benjamin smiled at his brother.
"Boys cut it out." Max sighed as she walked into the kitchen.
"Where's dad?" Benjamin questioned, looking up at Max, as he piled pancakes onto his plate.
"His office, researching a lead on something." Max replied sitting down with her coffee. "So I'm going to need someone's help today at HQ."
"See ya later mom, me and Brody are going to hang out at Seth's place. Drive Aunt Syl and Uncle Krit insane." Adam said jumping up from the table. "We should probably get going now. Bye mom, call you later. Come on Brody."
Brody got up and smiled at his mom, "Later mom. Bye dad!"
Benjamin watched as his brothers' threw on their coats and shoes, before they took off out of the house. Max tilted her head to the side and looked at Emily who smiled and said, "I promised Jamie I'd go over to her house today."
"Does Biggs know you're going over there?" Max questioned.
"Yea." Emily replied, finishing her breakfast.
Max turned to her oldest child, "Let me guess, you and Mackenzie have plans today?"
"Not that I know of. Unless she called while I was asleep." Benjamin replied smiling at his mother. "So if you need help at HQ, I'm more than happy to help."
"I knew there was a reason that you're my favorite child." Max mused.
"Mom that hurts." Emily complained. "You said I was your favorite child yesterday."
"Ok, you caught me." Max laughed. "I only say it to get you guys to do what I want you to do."
"I knew it." Emily replied. "Now I know not to fall for it."
"Don't you have to go get ready to go over to Jamie's?" Max questioned.
"Yea." Emily said standing up and leaving the kitchen.
Max shook her head, "You guys are growing up too fast for me."
"You can't tell me that you aren't itching for the day we are all out of the house." Benjamin smiled.
"I can't wait till you're all gone." Max replied. "But then it's not going to be the same here. It's going to be quiet and I'll miss all of you."
"I highly doubt that you'll miss us that much. 'Cause I know I'm not going to be one to move to far away from here. I'll probably be over here everyday for food. And when I have kids I'll make sure to come over twice as much so that you can help babysit."
"Now that's scary." Max stated.
"Thought you'd say that." Benjamin grinned. "So when are we going to HQ?"
"Half hour." Max replied.
"Dad, do I have to?" Mackenzie complained looking at her father from the couch.
"Sorry to say this but yes." Alec replied. "Now get ready to go."
"But dad," Mackenzie started.
"No buts. You brought it on yourself kiddo."
"How?"
"Stealing Mole's cigars. And this is your mom's idea of punishment for it."
"But I always steal his cigars."
"I know but your mom thinks you're to old to be doing that anymore so she wants you to help me down at HQ for the day as a means of punishment." Alec sighed. "Now go get ready to go we're leaving in two minutes."
Mackenzie mumbled to herself and got off the couch. She really didn't want to be stuck in HQ all day, it was going to be completely boring, and knowing her luck they were going to have her in one of the back rooms cleaning. As least in a way she was going to get to spend some time with her father.
Mackenzie quickly changed out of her oversized t-shirt and sweat pants, into a pair of green cargo's and a tan tank top. On her way out of her bedroom she picked up her leather jacket off of the floor. "Kay dad let's go and get this over with." Mackenzie sighed.
"Mackenzie you make going to HQ sound like a chore." Jondy said from behind her daughter.
"Well when you're forced to go it kind of is." Mackenzie replied.
"Hey, I'm trying to teach you some responsibility." Jondy smiled.
Mackenzie once again mumbled to herself as Lucas came into the room. "Mommy can I go with dad and Mackenzie to HQ."
"Not today Lucas." Jondy replied ruffling her son's hair. "You and me are gonna go to Uncle Zack's place for awhile."
"Is Ellie and Jack going to be there?" Lucas questioned.
"Of course." Jondy laughed.
"Good." Lucas stated. "Bye daddy. Bye Mackenzie."
"Bye kiddo." Mackenzie smiled at her brother, as she left the apartment ahead of her father.
"Bye Lucas. Don't drive Zack too crazy." Alec said giving Lucas a hug goodbye, before following Mackenzie out of the apartment.
"The two of you are too much alike." Alec mused as they walked towards HQ.
"But we get it from you." Mackenzie smiled.
"Are you sure you don't get it from your mom?"
"I'm positive dad. So what exactly are you going to have me doing today?"
"Not sure. We'll see what there's to do for you when we get there."
"I don't like the sounds of that." Mackenzie sighed, glancing at her father. He didn't look a day past twenty-five, none of the transgenics did. All were still youthful, and healthy aside from the seizures and heat, which still plagued the females. Luckily The second generation hadn't shown any signs of heat or seizures, yet anyway.
"How about this. If you help out all of today, and don't disappear half way through, like you usually do, I'll let you come on the next supply run with me." Alec suggested smiling at his daughter.
"Seriously dad?"
"Why not? Just don't tell your mom I made the deal with you."
"Sounds good to me." Mackenzie smiled as they walked into HQ. She spotted Mole immediately and her smile grew. "Hey Mole! Miss me?"
"Not at all Princess." Mole replied, "What are you doing here?"
"Helping out for the day." Mackenzie replied.
Mole shook his head and looked at Alec, "The boss wants to talk to you in her office. Mackenzie can help Benjamin in the supply room."
"Benji's here?" Mackenzie questioned tilting her head to the side.
"Max brought him to work today to clean out and attempt to organize the supply room." Luke spoke up, glancing at Mackenzie from behind his computer.
"Sweet, maybe today won't be so boring." Mackenzie grinned. "I'll see you later dad."
"Stay out of trouble Mackenzie." Alec ordered, as Mackenzie headed towards the supply room.
"Of course daddy." she smiled at him over her shoulder, before continuing her walk.
Mackenzie looked through the window on the door to the supply room. A smile came to her face at the sight of Benjamin. They'd been friends forever, inseparable for pretty much their whole life, probably because their parent's had been so close.
Mackenzie slowly and quietly opened the door, and entered the room. She made her way to where Benjamin was standing, and grabbed onto his shoulders in an attempt to scare him. But Benjamin didn't jump, instead he spun around to face her, a grin on his face. "You're getting rusty Mackenzie. I heard you that time."
"Either that, or you're getting better." Mackenzie replied.
"No, you're losing your touch." Benjamin smiled, "So what are you doing here?"
"Punishment for stealing Mole's cigars." Mackenzie sighed, sitting down on a box near one of the walls. "What about you?"
"My mom asked for help, and I offered."
"Meaning your brothers and sister all jumped up and said they had plans."
"Basically." Benjamin shook his head. "So you going to help me or are you just going to sit there the whole time?"
"Well, letting you do all the work does sound appealing to me. But I think I'll help you."
"Great." Benjamin smiled at her.
"And what exactly are we suppose to do?"
"Go through everything and organize it."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
Mackenzie sighed, "I guess that means we better get to work."
"You think?"
"That room is going to be in worse shape then it was before they started cleaning it." Max sighed after Alec told her that both Benjamin and Mackenzie were cleaning out the supply room.
"Oh, come on, those two aren't that bad." Alec laughed.
"Not that bad?" Max questioned. "You leave those two alone for an hour and they can destroy a room. They've been that way since they were kids."
"They're still kids Maxie."
"Not in they way we both wish they were." Max shook her head, "They grow up too fast." Max didn't know how many times she'd said that in the past few days. It seemed like it was finally hitting her, her children were growing up, and soon they'd be leaving home.
"At least they have better lives then we ever did."
Max nodded, "Yea."
"So what did you want to talk to me about anyway?"
"The supply run."
"What about it this time?"
"The supplier wants to move where we do the pick up."
"Where did he want to move it to?"
"I don't know," Max sighed. "He wouldn't tell me. Said if we didn't agree to move the pick up, we weren't going to get what we asked for. We can't afford to not get that stuff Alec. This guy managed to get a lot of tryptophan for us, and we can not afford to loose it."
"I know Maxie." Alec sighed. "It just sounds like he's setting us up for something. We have to be careful what we agree to."
'Especially, since I promised Mackenzie she could come with us to this supply run,' Alec thought to himself.
"You don't think I know that Alec?" Max snapped. "We've had a lot of close calls in the past." Shaking her head Max said, "What do you think we should do Alec? 'Cause to be honest, I don't know."
Alec sighed and thought about what they could do. After a few minutes he said, "We agree to move the supply run, but we send more people out. I know we need those supplies, but we have to be careful."
Max nodded in agreement. "Originally it was going to be you, Biggs, Zane and Syl going. Who do you want to go with you?"
"I promised Mackenzie earlier she could come with me on the next supply run." Alec shook his head, "I can't break that promise to her."
"What's Jondy going to say when she finds that out?"
"No clue," Alec looked at Max, "That is why I say Jondy should come on this supply run as well as Dalton and Fixit."
"Ok," Max sighed. "I'll get this all set up, now get out of my office."
"Why are you so eager to kick me out? Loggy-boy coming for a visit or something?" Alec questioned, the mood in the office lightening up a bit.
Max rolled her eyes, "Just go Alec. Check on Mackenzie and Benjamin. Make sure they haven't destroyed anything."
"Yes ma'am!" Alec replied jumping up, and giving Max a mock salute. "I'll get right on that.
Max watched as Alec turned and left the room, closing the door behind himself. She shook her head, he was still the same old Alec.
As Mackenzie put a box down on one of the many shelves, she noticed a slight tremor in her right hand. 'What the hell?' she asked herself.
"You ok Kenzie?" Mackenzie heard Benjamin question from behind her.
"I'm fine," Mackenzie replied, turning and smiling at Benjamin.
"You sure?"
"Positive." Mackenzie laughed, "So we almost done in here?"
"Not even half way Kenzie." Benjamin replied, with an amused smile.
Mackenzie groaned, "I don't know how much longer of this I can take."
"We've only been at it for less then an hour."
"It feels like it's been longer then that."
Benjamin laughed, "The faster we work, the faster we can get out of here."
"True. So let's hurry the hell up." Mackenzie grinned.
Mackenzie and Benjamin went back to work, but now Mackenzie was watching herself. Ever time her right hand shook, she felt fear wash over her. Was she showing signs of seizures? Or was she imagining it? She prayed she was imagining it.
"The two of you are doing a surprisingly good job." Mackenzie turned at the sound of her father's voice.
Smiling, Mackenzie said, "You sound surprised dad."
"I am." Alec laughed.
"I'm hurt," Mackenzie placed a hand over her heart, "You didn't think I'd do a good job?"
Alec shook his head, "Last time I left you to clean the supply room, you left it in worse shape then it was to begin with."
"Not my fault." Mackenzie shrugged. "I was young and didn't know what I was doing. Plus, I was trying to make sure you wouldn't ask me to do it again, yet here I am."
Laughing Alec shook his head and said, "I'll leave the two of you to finish in here."
"You sure you don't want to stick around and help Alec?" Benjamin questioned.
"I have my own things to do." Alec replied, "Have fun, and don't do anything stupid."
"You can trust me dad," Mackenzie smiled at him innocently.
"I'm sure I can," Alec glanced over at Benjamin, "Keep an eye on her for me."
"You have such little faith." Mackenzie stated shaking her head.
"Six hours later and we are finally done." Mackenzie stated as she collapsed on the couch in her living room.
"It was not six hours." Benjamin replied, sitting down beside her. "It was only five."
"I take it the two of you had fun." Jondy mused as she left Lucas's bedroom.
"Oh, it was a blast." Mackenzie rolled her eyes. "I can't wait to do it again."
Jondy laughed, "Can I get you to keep an eye on Lucas for me Kenzie? I need to go do a few things."
"No problem mom."
"Thanks kiddo." Jondy said, quickly leaving the apartment.
"Was it just me or did my mom leave rather quickly?" Mackenzie asked with a yawn.
"It wasn't just you." Benjamin replied, glancing at her. "You tired?"
"Just a little." Mackenzie yawned again. "I think I'm gonna take a small nap. Do you mind sticking around to help keep an eye on Lucas? 'Cause if I'm taking a nap, I can't really do that."
"No problem."
"Thank you." Mackenzie said, pulling her legs up onto the couch.
Mackenzie found herself unconsciously curling into Benjamin's side for warmth. Before Benjamin could say anything, Mackenzie was out like a light. Sighing he tried to get comfortable without waking her up. Glancing down at Mackenzie, Benjamin smiled to himself. One of these days he was going to work up the courage to tell her how he felt about her. Though, he knew she didn't feel the same way. How could she?
AN: It's been quite a while since I last updated, and I'm sorry to update with such a horrible chapter. I'm trying to tie up some ends, before I start with my grand plans... should be coming soon. But if you have an idea to share, please to, I'm open to almost anything. Don't forget to leave a review.