DISCLAIMER: Dark Angel and Hello Goodbye aren't mine. These are just my simple interpretations.

A/N: Sorry it's been a while. I had a case of lost DVD and ADD. Hahaha.

P.S. To CandyCentric (if you're reading this story): Thanks for one of the funniest reviews ever! Sorry, I'm not some sort of "covert, Manticore made, genetically enhanced writer" just because I already have so much stuff archived. LOL! But I do type fast, which I'm chalking up to years of practice with writing research papers after weeks of procrastination. I usually write a chapter of my stories in an hour or so. But if and only if I'm inspired. If not, one of 'em will stay open on MSWord while I'm doing some real work. Then should a moment of inspiration hit, I just type away. Sorry, nothing special here. I'm just a regular run-off-the-mill, normal variety of human. It would've been cool, though, (minus all the torture).

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CHAPTER 12

Joshua sat across the dinner table from Annie. He had set the table up the same way Original Cindy had taught him before when he had his first dinner party. He had lit a fire, giving the room a nice and warm feeling. He was having a lot of fun just talking with Annie.

She was different from anyone he had ever met before. She was kind and caring like Max, but she didn't want to take care of him the way Max did. Annie liked to get to know Joshua like Alec did. But she didn't think of him as a silly friend the way his X5 friend did.

She also talked to him differently. Max always liked to tell him good things about the world, because she didn't want Joshua to feel scared. Alec always told him funny things about the world, because Alec only liked him to see the 'tricks and treats' of the world. But Annie was telling him the truth about the world. And Joshua was not scared even when it was not all 'tricks and treats' outside. He knew of the darkness. Annie was sharing her darkness with him. Nobody ever did that.

"There was an outbreak of measles after the pulse hit. Everything was such a mess," she explained after he had bluntly asked about her blindness. Her voice was very straight. She did not hide away from the pain, she accepted it instead. "Only place to get medicine was the black market," she continued, even though sadness was touching her voice. "My parents just didn't have that kind of money."

Joshua cocked his head to the side recognizing the change in her voice. It must have been scary. He looked at her, and he was surprised to see that she was still smiling. That made Joshua want to smile also, even though her story was very sad.

"I almost didn't pull through, and when it was over, I couldn't see anymore." She finished.

Joshua began to like Annie more and more. She was beautiful even when she was sad because she still smiled in her sadness. She was a good person. Annie was not broken inside even when her whole world had broken around her. But he still wanted to make the sadness go away. And he could tell that her sadness had fear, too, because the world was different for her now.

"But you have Billie," he pointed out, his voice full of quiet, blunt conviction.

Annie smiled. "Mmm-hmm. She's a good friend," she leaned over and patter her golden retriever and Billie whimpered happily at her touch. "But I still remember what some things look like—colors, my mother's smile,"

Joshua wondered if Annie's mother smiled like Annie. He would have to thank her because Annie had the nicest smile. He took a sip of his drink.

"You're not like most other people are you?" she asked bluntly.

Joshua suddenly felt scared that Annie had found out his secret. Had he said anything wrong tonight? He had mostly listened to her. He was really good at that. But he might have said something, too. He did not know how to answer her question. "Uh…"

"What I mean is sometimes people feel sorry for me. I can hear it in their voices when they talk to me." she explained. "I guess it's cuz I can't do everything they do,"

Joshua almost sighed out loud. But he was sad that people did not see Annie the way he did. There were so many other ways to be different that were so much worse than being blind. Most people could not understand that. "You can—you can go out, and you can talk to people. You…you…you can go to Crash and party and dance and…" he pointed out to her, all the possibilities crashing into him making him stutter. There was so much she could do! What he didn't realize was that he was sharing his own disabilities with her.

"I know, but…" she trailed off, and he suddenly realized that in a small part of her heart, she felt sorry for herself, too.

"You should do all of that…" he said, his voice holding all the excitement for her. He wanted her to see that it was the simplest things in life that really mattered—and she had all that. He did not feel sorry for her at all.

"Maybe you could come with me."

Joshua felt his heart die a little. Because in truth, he never could. He glanced down at his plate, suddenly unable to taste his dinner. "Maybe," he sighed, with a small cheerless chuckle.

"I wish I could see your paintings. I'm so curious." She announced, changing the subject and effectively rousing Joshua's spirits again. "I bet they'd tell me everything there is to know about you." She said boldly. Joshua was very glad that Annie had a listening soul. Her whole body listened to him and he knew it was like having extra abilities even though she was blind. She knew when he was sad and she knew what to say to fix him.

And then Joshua had an idea. Annie could see his paintings because she remembered colors. He stood up and gently guided her to his little gallery. He shyly picked up her hand and guided it against one of creations. Annie had small hands. Soft, too, and trusting.

It made a funny feeling inside of him when he thought about how much Annie trusted him. It made Joshua want to take care of Annie always.

"Blue," he whispered, his rough voice even more husky. "Like the sky." Joshua watched Annie smile, seeing the colors inside her head. He wondered if Annie saw colors in her head the same way he saw them.

Then he guided her hand again over a different surface. "This…is green," he paused, thinking of the perfect color. "Like your eyes…"

"It's beautiful, Joshua," Annie smiled and Joshua just felt warm all over. He knew Annie would understand his paintings even though she could not see. She saw with her heart. Whenever Alec saw his paintings, he saw with his head. So did Max. They could not understand. But Annie…he shared this with her. She understood. That was everything to Joshua.

"Thank you," he said gruffly.

"No, thank you." She replied softly, her voice sweet and sincere.

And Joshua knew he loved her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The cell door opened with a clang and a loud squeak. Mule's eyes flew open, not even blinking as the light entered his cell. He was laying on a cold metallic bench in his holding cell. A momentary panic filled his heart, but he sat up calmly, awaiting his fate.

Ames White sauntered into the small cell. He pushed the door wider with his right hand, his face sincere. "Guess what, Mule," he said conversationally, eyeing the transgenic in an almost friendly manner. "You're gettin' outta here."

He finally pushed the door all the way open, stepping back out, enticing the innocent transgenic into the light of freedom. He watched with carefully veiled eyes as the transgenic finally blinked. Happily, innocently, trustingly. He almost smirked, but was careful not to. Manticore was stupid to keep these anomalies so…innocent. It was almost too easy to execute this plan. He smiled malevolently, knowing that Mule would never know the difference.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CHAPTER 13

Logan paced his apartment anxiously, like a caged lion in a zoo. He had paged Max's beeper several times over the night. He hadn't slept a wink. He was still in a state of shocked disbelief that Max had actually ended things between them. Over the phone, no less. He was outraged.

He was also unbearably hurt.

He continued his pacing, the slight whir of his exoskeleton the only sound in his apartment. He paused and caught a glint of metal on his desk. His car keys.

Suddenly, he knew that he had to go and see her. He had to make things right again. Making up his mind, he placed the phone back on its cradle, picked up his car keys and left the apartment.

As Max's apartment building came into view, Logan felt hope bubble in his chest. He knew that Max was purposely avoiding him because it was the easiest way to end things between them, like the popular adage, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' However, Logan knew that they could still work things out. They were going to get through this virus-generated separation. He was never going to give up on them. Because when all was said and done, she was his soulmate.

He parked his car behind a large UNDER CONSTRUCTION sign that was partly covered by a black plastic tarp. Max lived in a luxury apartment building—or what was supposed to be one. The towers had never been finished, and had been abandoned after the Pulse. He got out of the car, and stopped short as he was greeted by a sight that knocked the wind out of him—literally like a fist in his gut: Max and Alec were coming out of the backdoor of the building. They were walking slowly, as if they were both deep in thought. But Logan could see that they were walking comfortably—companionably. At the end of the drive, they stopped and turned towards each other.

Logan couldn't hear what they were saying. He didn't really want to. He should leave. But he couldn't. He was rooted to the spot, unable to tear his stricken gaze from the couple.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alec followed Max out of her apartment building. It was still early, but he knew that it was the best time of day to make his escape back out into the world. He smirked slightly at that.

"You better lay low until this whole mistaken identity thing is sorted out," she said, swinging her hand out casually to pat his arm, making sure he was listening to her. Her voice was friendly, without their usual rancor. He never noticed before, but she actually had a sweet voice when she wasn't insulting him.

He walked companionably next to her, feeling strangely light-hearted. Maybe it was because they had actually gotten to know each other last night. Talked the way people were supposed to. No yelling—well, okay, a little bit, but all in good humor. No hitting—at least not the kind that generated real bruises. And no insults. They had spent all night just talking. And it had been good. Cathartic would be the word he would use, though he would never really admit he had needed catharsis.

"Yeah, maybe I'll crash at Joshua's. Think he'll mind?" he asked, his trademark smirk working is way onto his face as he turned back to face her.

She grinned ruefully at him. "Are ya kidding? He'll love it," she said. Then she crossed her arms awkwardly in front of her, not knowing how to say goodbye. This was strange—this friendship with Alec. Because of last night, she might have to admit that he knew her more than anyone in the world had a right to. It was disconcerting, but also strangely relieving. She almost thought that it was unfortunate that it had to be Alec. But if she really thought about it…well, it could only have been Alec. Only Alec would have understood everything. Especially about Ben.

If she was gonna be fair to him—and she was trying very hard to be—she would have to admit that he had been a very good friend last night. The best friend, in fact. It was an awkward thought considering who she was talking about. So she crossed her arms tighter in front of her.

Alec inhaled the morning air, and exhaled loudly. He was looking at Max in a whole new light. He saw the burdens that she carried on her small shoulders: the guilt over the destruction of Manticore that had caused hundreds, maybe thousands, of transgenics to lose their only home—the transgenics whose faces did not make it quite so easy for society to accept them; she also carried the burden of Ben's death around in her heart everyday. She was someone who was supposed to be a born killer instead she was always trying to do the right thing. Like saving his ass.

"Well, thanks for saving my butt…again" he said, looking down at her crossed arms, then into her eyes, his own twinkling with amusement at the fact that he was actually thanking her for her half-baked rescue attempt. He still didn't think the drainpipe idea had been the best—but he was out of prison, wasn't he?

Max nodded cautiously. She was slightly surprised that he had thanked her and she saw that this had cost him some of his cocky transgenic pride. He was actually sincere about it, too. So she smiled slightly at him. Guess their friendship was gonna survive for at least one more morning.

Then Alec looked intently at Max, his green eyes searching hers, "It must be hard, huh? Having me around. Some guy with Ben's face. Making you think things you would rather forget." Alec voiced out the thoughts, doubts really, that had plagued him since last night. He was not sure what kind of answer he was gonna get from Max, but it was worth saying out in the open. After last night, a lot of things were finally worth saying out loud.

He saw her eyes cloud over slightly, her face turning wistful and tender. He watched as her throat contracted, swallowing past an invisible lump. He longed to reach out and put a lock of her long brown hair behind one ear. He longed to comfort her the way she had let him last night. But it was morning now. Things were different.

Then her expression cleared and she looked him straight in the eyes. "Yeah," she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe it's why I'm such a bitch to you sometimes." Her voice wavered slightly as she realized how she had treated him all these months.

Max looked quickly away from him, surprised that she had admitted something so painful so readily. He really had a way with women. Even her. She ducked her head and smiled sadly at his chest, not able to look him in the eye just yet.

Somehow, they had put aside their vast differences and their bickering long enough to actually get to know each other. In many ways, she knew that he was by far, stronger than Ben ever was. Stronger than even she was. He had been in Manticore all those years: tortured for being a twin of an escapee; tortured for innocently falling in love. She had destroyed the only life he had ever known and inflicted the cold, cruel world at him. She would admit it…she had inflicted the world on him, not the other way around.

Yet, here he was, trying his best to make the most of his life. It was no wonder he had become the smart-aleck that she had first met who didn't want any emotional entanglements of any kind.

Alec was just as surprised by Max's honest answer. He had expected a slap on the head or a punch on the arm for bringing up Ben. He watched as a couple of emotions tried to flit over her features only to be blanked out and shut down. It was like watching a door close firmly over her emotions. But Alec understood the need. How many times had he done the same thing over the years? It was self-preservation. A defense mechanism all Manticore alumni had developed to stay alive.

He was using that same mechanism as he plastered a smirk on his face, not letting her see how much her answer had meant to him. He was relieved to know that she saw him as separate from his twin.

"Maybe," he agreed with her theory his tone lilting with amusement. Then he stepped closer to her and threw his arm playfully around her, holding her close to him, "Or maybe, it's because I'm such a pain in the ass sometimes."

She chuckled. "My week wouldn't be complete if I didn't have to bail you out of some half-assed scheme gone sideways."

He pulled her closer in an impromptu, genuine half-hug. It was the kind of physical and emotional proximity they were unaccustomed to, but it felt right. It was a gesture that capped the night that they had perfectly. "That's only because I can always count on you to lecture me and y'know, set me on the path to righteousness." he replied lightly. "Thanks again, Maxie."

He pulled away from her, and she smiled affectionately at him. "Be careful," she said clearly out loud.

Alec couldn't help but smile broadly at that statement. She hadn't mumbled it grudgingly, but had actually meant it. That could only mean that she was beginning to actually care about him. It made him feel surprisingly…good.

"Always," he assured her cockily smiling. He tapped her arm lightly with his fist in an awkward, but equally affectionate gesture. He wasn't really known to show affection, but the urge to touch her because he was feeling a surge of tenderness, was irresistible. She smiled back, her eyes warm. Then he turned and made his way to Joshua's pad, a genuine smile plastered on his handsome face.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Logan felt like a vice was squeezing his heart. It hurt to breathe, too, since he had been holding his breath while watching Max and Alec together. What was he doing here? Where did he come from? Why was he here? How long had he been here? The thoughts chased after each other in his mind, crashing to a halt at one answer: Alec had spent the night at Max's place. With Max.

That was the one answer that fit all of the questions. He gritted his teeth as his shock was replaced by anger.

He didn't need to hear a word they were saying, everything about their interactions already spoke volumes. They were comfortable around each other, walking side by side, just slightly touching. When they faced each other, they were smiling. There was none of the antagonism and bickering he always associated with their relationship.

Max's face was relaxed and a slight smile never left her lips. It had been months since Logan had seen that kind of relaxed openness in her face. She was always pouting, frowning, or forcing an imitation of a smile around him these days.

But with Alec, she looked almost content.

Logan wanted to look away. But he couldn't move any part of his body. He was paralyzed in a way that was worse than what had happened to his legs. It was as if he had…died. His fingers clutched his keys in an ever tighter grip, the feeling of them biting into his palm painfully kept him reminded that he was still alive.

He swallowed dryly past a lump in his throat as he saw Alec put his arm around Max. Their faces were so close. Too close. He half-expected Max to toss Alec over her shoulder. Hit him. Kick him. Push him away. Anything…to keep the betrayal from being real.

But she didn't. She leant into his little hug instead, a small smile on her lips. That smile was tender. Affectionate. It spoke of a relationship between the two transgenics. At that moment, Logan felt lost. Completely and utterly lost. Like a man who had had so much faith in something, only to realize everything he had ever believed in was a lie.

He watched as Alec touched Max's arm in a playful, affectionate gesture. He looked on as she smiled indulgently at him. He continued to stare as she watched him walk away, that smile lingering on her lips.

How long, Max? How long have I believed a lie? He thought sadly, knowing that he may never want to know the answer. She never noticed him, even as he finally felt himself move. Like a robot, he went through the motions of pushing his keys into the door, and opening it. He took on final look over his shoulder only to find her still standing there, her gaze steadily on the other man.

He should have known. He should have seen it coming from a mile away. How could he have been such a fool?

11