Rating: PG

Genre: Romance/Drama

Pairing: M/A

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Dark Angel and I have no money so suing me would be pointless.

Summary: You can't control what you hear; you can only pretend its not being said. How will Max cope when something becomes too real to ignore? M/A (as if I'd write anything else)

Chapter 4

Max took a few long deep breaths as she saw Alec come over to join her in the grass on the north side of the docks that were their mark for that night. They were meant to be here to scout the area around this docking bay on the outskirts of the city. It had seemed like an ideal place to pick up supplies being as remote and surrounded by forest as it was. It was also notorious for its connection to drug trafficking which could mean trouble but certainly meant there would be plenty of cash lying about. Alec had slipped into the compound to pick up some inside information like the docking schedule and the shipping forecast. Meanwhile, Max had been assigned the task of scouting the perimeter, taking note of the guard detachments and possible entrances and escape routes large enough to smuggle out the stolen goods.

Alec, returning now, came to lay next to her in the grass, brushing up against her as he made himself comfortable in what was suddenly for her a very uncomfortable proximity. Max cursed the bluelady for the umpteenth time that evening as she lay in the grass inches away from a man she had prayed to avoid tonight. A man who, no matter how much she tried not to think about it, looked really good in black. As her eyes strayed of their own accord once again towards his hind quarters Max snapped at herself. Eyes front soldier! Why couldn't she concentrate on what they were doing?

"We either need to hit this place hard and take the lot in one go, or try and milk it for all it's worth bit by bit in a few smaller, more subtle heists." Alec thought aloud scanning the area quickly from his new vantage point. Alec looked at his watch. If he had made his calculations correctly there should be a guard change in the next minute and the docked supplies ship will be making preparations to depart.

"How many times do you think we can share in the wealth here before these morons catch on?" He asked his companion but got no response. Alec turned to her to see her staring distractedly ahead, her face a perfectly neutral soldiers mask. The line of her jaw was tensed and her eyes held a glazed far away look.

"Max?" he coaxed gently trying to rouse her from whatever trance she had lost herself in. Max whipped her head round as his voice penetrated her thoughts.

"What?" She turned to him her voice touched with anger; anger at being caught off guard, and at having to be so guarded in the first place. She froze and her breath caught as she came nose to nose with Alec. They were so close she could taste his breath, warm and sweet on her face. She looked up into his wide sparkling eyes, startled by her own bodies reaction to her partner in crime. Her heart was fluttering in her chest, quickening with every passing second as their gazes remained locked. Some invisible energy held them in place, an tangible tension affecting them both. Max's hand moved of its own volition, trailing its fingers up his sleeve along the bare flesh she revealed there. Alec didn't dare move as she leaned in almost inperceptively slowly revelling in the electricity that seemed to be cascading through her leaving pleasurable ripples in her stomach.

"Alec..." She breathed as her lips almost brushed his. Suddenly an awareness was awoken in her jolting her away from him in an instance. "Oh my god." She choked before she jumped to her feet and running away through the undergrowth moving deeper into the forest around them.

Alec was left breathing heavily and running a shaky hand through his hair as his brain tried to catch up with the changing events.

"What the hell was that."

She ran as hard as she could blurring in through the trees revelling in the feel of the cooling breeze against her heated skin. Her heart was beating so hard she almost didn't hear the footsteps that chased after her. A strong hand latched on to her wrist and stopped her progress dead.

"Leave me alone Alec." she bit out trying to pull free.

"Hey! hey, take it easy." Alec tried to remain calm through his obvious confusion.

"Alec don't chase after me." Alec looked into her wild eyes and saw the panic there, she was getting desperate but he couldn't make out why. They were in no danger. His frown deepened

"Max, what's going on?" He asked gently.

"Can't you tell?" She asked her desperation clear in her voice. "I'm in heat." Alec's eyes widened as her words hit him but he didn't let go of her wrist. He took a few careful deep breaths of the air around them but found them lacking in pheromones synonymous with a female in heat. Max impatiently began to pull again trying to free herself from his grasp.

"Hey, take it easy. Max, think about it if you were in heat we wouldn't be having this conversation. We'd probably be up against that tree." A confusion flicked between her eyes and as she stilled Alec finally felt it was safe to let go of her wrist.

"But...?" She looked into his eyes as if she could find the answer there, "but I'm all hot and flushed." Alec would have made a smartass comment if she hadn't looked so freaked out. He stepped closer to her and placed a hand against her forehead to test the temperature and sure enough she was hot to the touch. Max closed her eyes against the coolness of his touch. Something was wrong she felt strange all over and if it wasn't heat that was burning her skin what was it?

"Maybe you're sick." Alec offered as a possible explanation

"But we don't get sick Alec." He could see she was scared now.

"You must just be in the very early stages. Let's get back to TC, I think we've got everything we need here." He concluded, Max looked unplacated in fact she was getting more anxious.

"What if we don't make it back in time?"

"We can't stay here, it's dangerous." Max felt strangely comforted by his use of 'we' whether it was consciously made or not. It made her feel like they were in this together, although she knew that ultimately she was going to have to deal with this on her own.

Together they wandered back to pick up their gear and then they headed off to where they had stashed their bikes out of sight and sound range down the road. Max had remained silent this whole time trying to listen to her body and work out what was going wrong. Alec started rambling, building a long list of possibilities most of which were intended as jokes to try and get some kind of reaction out of her but she wasn't really listening. Not that that had ever stopped him before. Max frowned as they pulled the branches away from their respective vehicles. She remembered the way her heart pounded as they lay so close to each other, she remembered the heat of her flushed skin and she remembered the way her skin tingled as he accidentally brushed up against her. It had to be heat, what other explanation was there? but then why could he not sense it? it was true that she didn't feel like throwing herself at him but that didn't mean she soon wouldn't.

"...Maybe it's just my hot body," Alec's rambling finally creeped through into her consciousness, "I guess I just have that effect on women." Max scoffed.

"yeah, that's right, you make us all physically sick."

"She speaks." Alec said with mock wonder.

"I was hoping , obviously in vain, that me ignoring your moronic comments might get you to finally shut up."

"Max, you wound me." Alec grinned at her glare.

"Let's just go home." Max growled suddenly feeling very tired of all this.

They started to head back to Terminal City and Max's fear subsided somewhat as although she knew it was getting worse, she knew that once on her bike she could practically drive into containment and then everyone would be safe. Alec had begun to feel a tension build in his body as it started to react to her. He tighten his grip on his handlebars in an attempt to relieve it. He was half relieved knowing she wasn't sick, but he now something else worried him. It didn't help that he had wanted her before, without her heat spurring him on to take her then and there. He had faith, none-the-less, that his deeper feelings for her would give him the strength resist her, knowing he would protect her from anything and anyone including himself.

They pushed on faster the cold air temporarily clearing their minds and keeping them sane. Once they were within Terminal City's walls they made straight for the containment building. Alec followed Max all the way just in case some passing male decided to try an intervention. Her heat was going to hit her hard soon, Max could feel her temperature rising and a dark need creeping into every cell of her being. Max rode right up to the door and Alec pulled up next to her, staying mounted on his Bandit, not trusting himself to move.

"Take these." Max said holding out her keys to her baby, "If I find one scratch..." She trailed off as their hands made contact through the exchange. Her pupils dilated and a soft purr escaped her lips in the place of whatever else she had intended to tell him. Alec's other hand tightened its hold on his bike turning his knuckles white.

"Alec." His name was another purr. His breathing went shallow as he was assaulted with her smell which was far more prominent now than it had ever been. Their self-control was beginning to wane. Max's now free hand shot out and latched on to his collar pulling him flush against her. She ran her nose up his neck and along his jaw line drinking in his scent.

Alec lost his grip on his self-control and barely managed a breathy "Run," before he crushed his lips down on hers. Max moaned happily at the contact and responded instantly.

By pure luck at that moment the heavens opened up and the rain poured down on them cooling the fire that had sparked between them. They sprung apart as coherency returned.

"Max, get inside now!" Alec ordered, Max just nodded and ran for the building behind them. She tried not to think, because when she did all that was there was Alec; His taste, his smell, his demanding lips. She closed the door behind her and called out down the hallway for anyone who was on duty for she knew if she wasn't restrained soon nothing would stop her getting back to him.

Alec welcomed the rain letting it soak through him. It soaked through jacket and his t-shirt which now clung to him like a second skin. The rain was really pounding down making a deafening racket as it splashed against the concrete. But Alec stood unaffected feeling strangely soothed by the way it numbed his whole body. He closed his eyes and turned his head towards the heavens letting the rain wash over his strong features and run off through his tousled hair. Something had changed in him, it had been slowly changing all this time, growing and curling within in him until it took over his whole being and there was noting he could do to stop it. Not anymore. And it could have blown everything tonight.

"Too close..."

A/N: Hi everyone! I know it's been aaaaaaaaages since I updated this one, sorry I've been working. You might have to re-read the earlier chapters to refresh your memory. I appreciate the support and as always want to know what you all think. So ... any good? xxx