DISCLAIMER: I don't own it.

Summary: AU. Things are a little different. There all still in Manticore. Ben is in Alec's unit and has never met Max or the others. This will be Max / Alec.

Always

Chapter #5

You and me.

In the recreation hall...

She stood in the corner of the room. Out of site from her X-5 siblings. Not that she didn't like spending non-research time with them in a room with minimal surveillance. But a girl need's her privacy from time to time. On the other side of the room Zack was in deep conversation with Max. Jace and Zane we're on the opposite side of a small table arm wrestling while Tinga cheered both of them on.

It was nice. Her own little dysfunctional family. Zack could be a real pain in the ass, but other then that things are really great for her. Unless you count the torture, killing and the occasional seizure.

But no matter how great things were for her. No matter how many missions they completed without a sweat. Or how many free time Lydecker gave them. The same question kept nagging her in the back of her head. Desperate for an answer.

What's it like on the outside? In every moment of every occasion her subconscious just wouldn't let it go.

Her train of thoughts was rudely interrupted by the feeling of strong arms being rapped around her. The person behind her gave away a feeling of security. He was soft, strong, gentle. Krit.

"Hey." He leaned softly whispering in her ear.

"Hi."

"You ok ?... you looked a little off there."

"Nah, I'm fine. I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Nothing... It's just that. Do you ever think about the outside?"

"Sometimes. When things aren't that great."

"Krit. You think it could better out there ?"

"Maybe. But it doesn't really matter, Manticore or not, as long as were together everything is going to be fine."

"You really know how to sweet talk a girl." She turned to face him.

"All those outside missions eventually pay off." he leaned closer and kissed her.

"I love it when you do that!"

"Yeah, well I love you Syl".

"I love you too Krit" she sighed looking into his eyes. "Just promise me something."

"Anything."

"We'll always be together?"

"It's you and me babe."

::::::::::::

His ears slowly adjusted to the sounds around him as he woke up from the longest rest of his life. He opened his eyes to see his brother at the end of the bed looking at an X-5 he never met. He heard her say "Jondy" who received a soft reply from his twin "Ben."

His senses told him he was somewhat of a third wheal. Only one thing to do in awkward situations.

"If you two are going to jump each other anytime soon then I definitely don't wanna be here to watch." Both of them turned to look at him, there skin tone slightly red.

"Hey Al! how you feeling?" Ben said changing the subject.

"Like hell."

"You need anything?" Jondy said with a small smile.

"No thanks. And who are you again?"

"Jondy"

"Alec".

"What the hell happened to you?" Ben interrupted curious to know all the details

"Well..."

Flashback

Alec was standing in a small office with a couple of guards that had brought him in earlier. A few minutes later Renfro walked in holding a briefcase.

"Leave us" both of the guards left the room.

"State your complete designation." she said in a commanding voice.

"X-5 331845739494" Hey, he's stubborn, not stupid.

"I take it you had some time to think while you we're in Solitary."

Right. He stood silently looking at her.

"You are starting to become a real annoyance 494. You put on this rebel act because you think you're indispensable. Think again. You need to understand something. You are nothing but meat to me. This--(holds up a disk)--this is what matters."

Alec flashed his trade mark grin. "You can't afford to lose us. And even if you tried, it would all eventually go public. You'd be over with."

"Actually 494 the Committee is not going to allow the existence of this program to be exposed. It'll jeopardize its other operations."

"Guess I'm supposed to be curious and ask what that means."

"It means that I lock down the cells and I burn this place to the ground with you and everyone else inside."

"Yeah, sure"

"Oh, you don't believe me? On paper, this place is a V.A. hospital. Anybody comes looking; all they're going to find is the remains of a tragic fire that killed all its patients. It's into my briefcase, lock the door, light the match, and kiss your transgenic ass goodbye."

His grin slowly faded.

"Come back in" she said to the guards. "Make sure 494 realizes just how much power he really has."

"And then they beat the crap out of me".

"What is it with Renfro and that stick up her ass." Jondy smiled at her own joke.

"Speaking of Renfro you need to get out of here before the rest of the unit comes back."

"Oh right!" she stood up and headed towards the door. Ben got up and stopped her by grabbing her hand. "Wait! You never told us why you came here in the first place."

She looked at Alec that was still lying on the bed. "I had to make sure of something."

"Of what?"

"You'll know soon enough." she gave Alec a small grin then turned to Ben. "It was nice meeting you Ben." She headed out leaving Ben looking at the door.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Disclaimer: just wanted to say that the conversation between Alec and Renfro was taken from Designate this with a few adjustments but a lot of what Alec said I wrote.

I found the conversation at and Alec's entire barcode number at Ashantai/darkangel/X5Resource.

A/n: Please review!!!!!!!!!