Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

Wayne looked up and looked mildly surprised as Zack and Dennis entered Wes's hospital room. "Becky's not with you?"

"She's babysitting Jenny," Zack said. "And Max is back at our apartment."

"What happened?" Dennis asked.

Wayne nodded to Wes, who started to explain everything. "...and we're having a pretty good conversation when I hear people surrounded us. It sounded like soldiers on an ambush mission. I tried to get your mom out of the way and I tried to fight them off, but there were a lot of them. This one guy got her with a Taser and I went for him but then I got nailed with a good sustained hit with a Taser from somebody else. He wore a mask so I wasn't able to recognize him immediately before I passed out."

"Then what happened?" Zack asked.

"I regained consciousness some time later," Wes said. "It must have been close to an hour. I took a hit pretty bad, though I don't think the Taser was on max setting. The man who had tasered me had familiar eyes. I thought back to remember whose eyes they were and it didn't take me too long to figure out who." He hesitated slightly. "I'd only seen the guy a few times in my life at all and only up close once, but that was enough."

Zack's eyes hardened when he figured out who Wes was talking about. "Lydecker."

"Yeah," Wes said. "It was him."

Dennis was quiet, but the fury in his eyes was saying more than enough. "He has her?"

"He must," Wes said. "I couldn't hear Caroline anywhere in the area when I regained consciousness."

"Neither Biggs nor I could see her anywhere when we found Wes," Alec said.

"I went back after Alec and I brought Wes here and searched that area, but I couldn't find her then either," Biggs said.

"What's the next move, bro?" Wayne asked.

"We find her," Zack said. "Can I use the cell in here?"

Wayne shook his head. "You need to go outside. Hospital policy. Sorry."

"It's okay," Zack said. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He left the room and the hospital and stood just outside the entrance. He took out his cell phone and speed dialed Max's number.

"What's going on?" Max asked immediately.

"Alec and Biggs found Wes in the bushes where they'd been walking in Sector 8," Zack said. "Wes had run into my mother and they struck up a conversation and then they were attacked by some soldiers. Both Wes and my mother were tasered. My mother was kidnapped."

"Fuck," Max swore. "Did Wes get a look at who did it?"

"Yes and take a wild fucking guess at who was behind it," Zack said.

Max swore again. "I can't believe the fucker! Doesn't he know when to lay low?" She sighed. "What's the dealio?"

"We're going to figure that out soon," Zack said.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Max said.

"Max, no," Zack said immediately.

"Zack, I can help you," Max said. "You need all the help that you can get and you know it."

"I do know it but there is no way in hell that I'm letting you take part in the dirty work," Zack said. "You know as well as I do what Lydecker is capable of and there's no way in hell that I'm going to put you or our child in danger like that! My mother's life is already in danger thanks to that bastard and..." Zack had to pause to compose himself.

"I know," Max said softly. "It will be okay, Zack."

Zack nodded. "I know." He took a deep breath. "Look, Maxie, there is something that I need you to do that will be a huge help. I need you to go to my mother's house and relieve Becky and watch Jenny until we've found my mother and brought her back safe and sound."

"Of course," Max said. "You calling her next?"

"Yeah," Zack said. "Thank you, Maxie."

"You're welcome," Max said. "I love you, Zack. Good luck."

"Thank you," Zack said. "I love you, too." He disconnected. Yeah, I'm going to need luck when I tell Becky about this. He speed dialed her number and waited for her to pick up her cell phone.

"What's the word?" Becky asked.

"Lydecker has her," Zack said grimly. He waited for Becky's expletive-laden rant to die down before he spoke again. "Max is on her way over to relieve you with Jenny. Call Max immediately and work out a story with her that you can tell Jenny and as soon as Max gets there, head over to Harbor Lights. Wes is in room 508. Dennis, Wayne, Alec, and Biggs are already here."

"Got it," Becky said. "I'll call Jeff and fill him in."

Zack looked over and saw Jeff pull in to the nearby parking lot and bring his motorcycle to a stop. "No need. Jeff just got here." He waited for Jeff to secure the motorcycle and for him to run over and he handed the phone to him. "Becky. Bring it back to me when you're done. Room 508."

Jeff nodded and took the phone. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Zack said. He went back inside the hospital and upstairs and saw Dennis standing outside the room. "I filled in Max and Becky. Max is going to take over babysitting duty and then Becky will be on her way over. Jeff just got here and Becky's filling him in now."

"Good," Dennis said. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"Welcome to my world," Zack said quietly.

"Yeah," Dennis agreed just as quietly.

"I..." Zack started to say, but he couldn't quite finish the sentence. He looked up at Dennis. "It never gets easier. I've been in this kind of a situation so many times and it's never easy. It's always hard and it always hurts." Dennis looked at his son and reached over and squeezed Zack's shoulder. Zack looked at him gratefully and returned the gesture. They stayed that way for a few moments before they turned and walked back into Wes' hospital room.

TBC