Disclaimer: I am not making any profit out of this and am using it purely for amusement. The scenes are taken completely out of an episode of Dark Angel (which belongs to Fox, Cameron and Eglee), and most of the dialogue as well.

A/N: The parts that are mine are the "thoughts" behind the scenes and some additional dialogue. This is my version of Hello, Goodbye—one of my favorite DA episodes. It's a step into AU, but that's really what fanfics are, aren't they?

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Alec had approached Asha at the bar. He wasn't really in a very good mood. He didn't really know why. Maybe it was the sight of Max and Logan huddled cozily together in one of the tables. Or maybe it was that Asha was talking to another guy. Or maybe it was neither one. "Hey." he said as greeting, grabbing the stool next to hers.

"Hi." she replied, somewhat cautiously, not looking directly at him.

Alec had never been one to beat around the bushes. "Long time no see." he commented nonchalantly, but his green eyes were challenging her.

She licked her lips, a little nervously. "I guess so." she replied, nodding her head, but still not looking him in the eyes. Alec pushed a little bit more. He liked to cause a bit of a stir, dive in to the heart of things. "So, I take it, you've been avoiding me?"

Asha shook her head hastily. "No."

"Right. Of course not," he drawled sarcastically.

She finally looked at him directly. "But I gotta say, that I'm really glad that nothing happened between us that night," she admitted, referring to the almost-one-night-stand that they had. Asha had been so drunk that night that she had just fallen asleep as soon as her head had touched the arm of his couch.

"Yeah, me too." he replied quickly. This time, it was his turn to duck her gaze. He took a sip of his whiskey. Alec didn't know whether to be hurt or relieved by what she had just said. What had he expected anyway? A romantic interlude? Asha wasn't even the kind of girl that he was into. Maybe, in some sick way, he had chased her down because she had been in the Logan Cale fan club. What did they both see in him anyway? Why was he doing this to himself? Competing with a wheelchair-bound geek. This was so beneath him.

Asha looked relieved, but also a little disappointed. "Probably works for days, huh?"

Alec just looked at her blankly.

"Your whole, 'Time is short, gotta put your heart on the line; Baby, I want you' speech." she clarified, mockingly imitating his swagger.

Alec just shook his head, and chuckled a little bit. He saw where this was going. Asha wanted more than just his "Borrowed Time" speech. She was baiting him into saying that he had meant everything that he had said to her.

Too bad. Because he really didn't. At least not in the way she wanted.

He looked at her, putting on his cockiest grin, "Look, you don't wanna get involved with me," he said. Then because he wasn't in a good mood, he pushed the envelope even more. "I was made in a lab, y'know. I spent my formative years learning the fine art of assassination," he continued sarcastically. And on a more serious note, he added, "And there are guys out there looking to kill me…and I'm sure someday, they'll probably succeed."

Asha was looking at him like she knew what game he was playing. She shook her head in scorn. "Spare me the drama. You're just too scared to let go and actually care about someone."

Alec had to fight the sneer that was coming. She actually had the audacity to believe that she knew him. He knew just how to put her in her place. He'd had years of practice. "Right, because last time I let go, somebody got caught in the crossfire and died." he replied flatly. Then he looked at her challengingly, a slight smirk on his handsome face. But there was a small tightening in his gut—every time he thought about Rachel, he felt it.

Asha was surprised by the thought that Alec may have actually cared about someone. Suddenly all soft and female and sympathetic. "Oh, I'm sorry…I didn't…" she stammered, suddenly feeling ashamed that she had tried to lecture him.

"Do yourself a favor, Asha, and leave me alone."

Asha blinked, taken aback by the coldness in Alec's voice. "Alec." she said softly, coaxingly. She tried to reach over and touch him.

But Alec leaned back, pulling away from her touch, and it was like a cold mask had fallen over his face. His eyes had gone hard, glittering like green emeralds. "Beat it." And after a second's pause, "Scram."

Then he turned away from her in obvious dismissal. Asha didn't know what to do. She just sat there staring at his profile for a second, before she stood up and left in an offended huff.

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Max reached Alec just as Asha left him. She had to sidestep the other girl, because Asha looked like she was so angry she was seeing red. She leaned over the counter, shoulder-to-shoulder with him, almost touching him. She never really did touch Alec unless it was to inflict some kind of pain on him. She wasn't sure why, just that her instincts were telling her that touching him wouldn't be such a good idea.

"Can I get another beer?" she called to the barkeep.

She glanced sideways at Alec, as he turned slightly to glance at her in acknowledgement. Alec was another X5, like her. Designed and bred at a government facility called Manticore. He was a genetically enhanced soldier: faster, stronger, more intelligent, more cunning, and more dangerous than your everyday variety of human being. The only difference was that Alec had been trained to become an assassin and go on solo missions. Max had been trained as a soldier within a unit, intended to become an officer in battle.

Therefore, Max played well with others. Alec preferred to go his own way, a little like a rogue lion.

He was also genetically enhanced in other ways. Like the fact that he was extremely good-looking, with his dark blond hair, bright green eyes, perfect face, perfect lips, and a generally perfect physique. Come to think of it, he was actually perfect all-around.

Except for his attitude. He was always getting into all kinds of trouble, because he was always putting himself into all kinds of trouble. Like being transgenic and having an army of government lackeys hunting him down wasn't enough trouble already. He rarely thought of anyone else except for himself. He was cynical, mocking, and bitter on one part, and witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving on another. He was complex; a conundrum that didn't want to be solved. Max would only twist herself into a human-sized pretzel if she tried.

"So, what'd you do now?" she asked slightly amused, her head nodding in the general direction Asha had huffed and puffed away.

Alec smiled humorlessly and shook his head. "Why am I always the bad guy with you, Max?" he asked.

Max shrugged, "Whatever." She rolled her eyes at him. "You wanna blow your shot with her, be my guest."

This time, Alec turned fully to face her. His expression was strangely solemn. "Oh, right, yeah. 'Cause I could be this charming, sweet guy…and score myself a really nice girlfriend, but unlike you, I'm actually trying to do the right thing."

Max was immediately on the defensive. She frowned at him, "And what is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"You think the only problem you and Logan have is some genetically engineered virus that'll kill the poor guy if you touch him?"

"Yeah, that takes the front seat." she replied sarcastically.

"Hmm." Was all he said. Then he turned his shoulder on her and nursed his drink.

Max didn't really understand what he was getting at. She was getting annoyed. She grabbed his shoulder to force him to look at her. "What is your problem?"

Alec looked at her intently. His bright green eyes clashing angrily with her chocolate brown ones. "Max, we don't belong with them. Okay? We're a danger to them." he said softly, seriously.

She looked at him like he had just woken her up from a dream. Or like he had put into words her worst nightmares. And then her brown eyes clouded over, and Alec knew that she was retreating from reality. He had to pull her back into his point-of-view. "Max, when are you gonna finally see that?"

"No." she said it like she was using that word as a shield to deflect the words that Alec was throwing at her.

A look of disbelief crossed through Alec's perfect features. "Do you honestly believe that things with you and Logan would be perfect once you actually find a cure for that virus?" he asked incredulously. "That everything else in the world would just magically fall into place along with it?"

Max was getting angrier and more defensive by the second. Each of his verbal jabs was delivered like a physical blow. He could see the turmoil clouding her clear brown eyes. Her fists were clenched and she was leaning menacingly toward him, as if she could cow him with the threat of physical violence. But he knew better. He was winning this argument.

He leaned forward, too. Challenging her. They were face-to-face, so close that he could see golden specks in her brown eyes. "You don't belong with Logan." he whispered with such finality, that it was like he had physically slapped Max.

She snapped. "Me and Logan are none of your business!"

He couldn't believe how stubborn she was being. He frowned slightly. On second thought, yeah, he could. This was Max, after all, strong and stubborn to a fault. He was getting irritated by the direction this conversation was going. He shook his head, "Why don't you just open your eyes…"

"You're just jea—"

"Hey guys, what's going on?"

Max and Alec both momentarily froze, before looking guiltily at Logan. They had been so caught up in each other and in their argument, that they hadn't even notice him walk up to them, until he was practically breathing down their necks.

Max glanced hastily between Logan and Alec. "Nothing." she replied hastily.

Alec pursed his lips, as if he was going to say something more then shrugged, letting whatever it was go. He looked sharply at Max, before mumbling, "Yeah. Right. Nothing." He smiled tightly at Logan. Then he grabbed his drink and left them.

Logan was looking at Max. Her eyes followed Alec's progress across Crash. Her face was drawn, her eyes were disturbed. There was silence between them for a minute or so. Logan realized that Max was actually staring off into space, as if she was contemplating something.

"Max," he started. It always alarmed him how Alec could pique Max's emotions so much. One minute she was mad at Alec, the next she was worried about him, then in the next minute she couldn't stand him, then in the next she was griping about something he'd done…and it just went on and on. She really shouldn't think about Alec that much.

Max snapped out of her reverie and looked at Logan. There was a slightly guilty look on her face. "I…I'm beat. I'm gonna…I'm gonna go." she said lamely. She tried to sidestep him. He stepped right in front of her, effectively blocking her path. Max had no choice but to stop. If there was one thing about this virus, it always stopped Max in her tracks.

"What was that all about?" he asked, working very hard to keep the jealousy and suspicion out of his voice.

Max glanced distractedly up at him. There was definitely something on her mind. Something Alec had said to her had gotten to her. "Umm…Nothing. I'm just—I'm just tired."

She tried to sidestep him again. Logan stood in front of her. Again Max had to stop. He was not done with this discussion. Things had looked a little too heated, too intense, between her and Alec. "That didn't look like nothing to me," he said, this time, not really able to keep the accusation from his tone.

Max just shook her head, still not looking him directly in the eye. "I have to go," she said softly. Then walked past him. This was not right. He could feel Max pulling emotionally away from him and blocking him out.

"Hey!" Logan was so angry that he actually reached over to physically restrain Max from leaving him.

He touched her.

Max gasped and pulled away as quickly as her enhanced reflexes could. But it still wasn't enough. Contact had been made.

She stared at him in dismay. It took a moment before the import of his actions hit him. All Logan could do was stare at his hands as if he could literally see the virus run their course up his arm and into the rest of him. Suddenly, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. There were a few moment when he thought he could hear his heartbeats…or were they Max's? Then Max faded from his sight and he could feel his knees buckle. The last thing he heard was Max's cry, "Alec! Help me!"

Then Logan fell into a burning darkness.