Disclaimer: We do not own any of the characters from Dark Angel the belong to James Cameron, Charles Eglee, and Fox. But, Mercy and Amora are ours, as well as any other characters you are not familiar with.
"I'm sorry." Amora whispered, her green eyes sparkling with tears. The colour drained from Biggs's face as realization slowly hit him.
"Sorry...sorry for what?" he asked his voice was shaken and he looked terrified. Amora broke eye contact and stared down at her charred palms.
"Mercy... she was in the infirmary- the charge was inside the infirmary somewhere- the lobby was blown." She stumbled over her words, but eventually had to stop. She touched her temples lightly and winced. Her head hurt so badly, she felt light-headed, and threw up on the dining room floor. Amora immediately went into a coughing fit and reached for Ben's hand.
Biggs stared. He didn't know at what, he just stared ahead. Finally he turned on his heel and left the room. He walked a little ways down the hallway then leaned into the wall. Slowly he slid down to sit on the floor.
"Why?" he stifled a scream. "Why couldn't it be me?" He slowly began to sob, scolding himself as he did so. Soldiers didn't cry.
"Anybody home?" Asha sung, walking through the door. "Logan I got more on the protest from last-" She stopped in the doorway, looking at seven faces.
"Hey Asha," Logan nodded at her. She waved timidly in response. Logan laughed. "This is Ben, Amora, Syl, Krit, Zane, Jondy, Alec and the infamous Max."
Asha looked Max up and down. So this was the girl Logan obsessed over. Max smiled sarcastically.
"Charmed." she muttered.
"And Biggs is in the hall." Logan finished.
"We should eat and get started." Max said quietly but firmly. "We gotta find places for everyone to stay, Logan doesn't have the room. And some of us gotta get jobs."
"Ugh, work?" Krit whined.
"Yes, work." Max snapped at him. Everyone helped unload the bags of groceries and started to eat. Everyone but Ben and Amora. Amora just laid back with her eyes closed, and Ben held her hand.
"Everyone ready? We gotta move out." Max proclaimed, taking control once more. Everyone nodded and made their way to the elevator.
"I'll help you with that protest." Logan said. Asha nodded at him. Logan turned away from Asha and looked at Ben and Amora. "You two gonna be okay alone?" he questioned Ben.
"Yeah, Max left your cell number." Ben replied. Logan nodded and started for the door.
"I forgot to get Biggs," Max said, re-appearing in the doorway.
"I can go get him. I gotta stop at the little girl's room anyway." Asha volunteered. Max gave no reply, just nodded slightly and left.
"I'll be downstairs." Logan told Asha before rolling his chair out the door.
Asha waved awkwardly at Ben and Amora. She walked down the hall until she spotted a couched figure on the hall floor, his shoulders shaking slightly. Asha smoothed out her shirt and tucked her short, blonde hair behind her ears.
She approached the figure. "Biggs?" she questioned. He looked up at her. 'He's cute,' she thought. She momentarily studied his face. His black hair was shining, and contrasted brightly against his blue eyes. 'I'd like to get to know him better,' Asha thought. She smiled flirtatiously.
"Yeah?" Biggs stood up and wiped a hand over his face. Who was she? For some reason he was curious about her.
"I'm Asha, Logan's friend," She said, noticing the question on his face. Biggs nodded. "Max wanted me to go get you, they're all leaving," Asha added.
"Of course. No rest for us, thanks to Maxie." Biggs sighed.
Asha laughed, and Biggs smiled himself, despite how guilty he felt for it. He started for the elevator.
"Hey!" Asha called just as the elevator doors parted. "You're much cuter when you smile"
Biggs shook his head and silently into the waiting elevator. "Biggs, you are a moron." he scorned himself out loud. For a few minutes he had forgotten the pain of losing Mercy. How could he forget her? This seemed so surreal to him. Mercy wasn't gone, she couldn't be, that was impossible.
Biggs kept these thoughts running through his mind constantly, fooling himself. He wouldn't let the impact of that loss hit him. He couldn't. He didn't think he would survive against losing her.
"First, we find somewhere for everyone to stay," Max said after they had all pilled into the van again. She was driving with Alec in the front passenger seat, and the other X5's in the back.
"Man, Seattle's rough." Zane noted, looking out the back window. He couldn't take his eyes off a rageddy young woman who was tearfully trying to soothe a screaming baby. Despite all they had been through, Zane had never felt so sad for someone.
"You don't even know the half of it." Max muttered. "So about places to crash. Logan said he can fit three or four of you for a while. Until we can find somewhere permanent." Permanent. The word felt so foreign to Max's lips. Nothing was permanent anymore for her. "Any volunteers to stay with Logan?"
Jondy's hand shot up earning her a few questioning glances. After a momentary silence, Syl, Krit, and Zane also volunteered.
"Good." Max said. "Just make sure you guys are a'ight 'bout it. Be kind and all that. And please, don't touch, use, break, or steal any of the man's stuff, unless he says you can use it or touch it. And Krit, don't go for every shiny object he owns." Max instructed.
"Hey," Krit protested. "I'm perfect, remember?"
Everyone laughed.
"Maxie, we're not five-year-old snot nosed brats." Jondy protested lightly. "We know how to act."
"Well you're right about on thing," Alec spoke up, with his wide trademark grin. "You're not five."
Everyone in the van laughed once again. Max shot Alec a warning glance.
"So that's four of you with a pad. Me and O.C. don't have a lot of room." Max pondered the problem out loud. She felt herself smile slightly at the thought of the crappy apartment she called home.
"Why don't Biggs, Ben and Me grab that lovely suite next to yours that just opened up?" Alec suggested with a smile. He hated seeing Max so stressed out.
"And Amora can stay with me and O.C. There's always someone home, so she won't be alone until she's better," Max nodded slightly, finishing the deal. She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. Something was done, accomplished, successful. She had so much on her plate, and just hoped to get through with everyone in tact. "I had forgotten the other apartment was empty."
"So it's settled?" Krit asked.
"Guess so." Max answered, finally breaking into a smile. "Now to find jobs for all of you. Shouldn't be too hard." Her smile transformed into a smirk as the words 'bip, bip, bip!' ran through her mind.
"Can we stop first?" Krit asked timidly. He sounded desperate.
"Why?" Max asked impatiently, the smirk disappearing altogether.
"I gotta use the bathroom." Krit said quietly.
"We only left ten minutes ago!" Max rolled her eyes in frustration. Krit gave her a pleading look that burst into a smile when she sighed in agreement. "Anyone else need anything?" She asked as she pulled into the lot of a small gas station.
"I gotta use the bathroom too," Syl said.
"I'm hungry." Jondy announced.
"I need fresh air." Biggs said quietly. The excuses continued until Max and Alec were the only ones in the van.
"Relax." Alec said cooly, laying a hand on Max's shoulder.
"Im fine," She shot back. "Sorry," she muttered.
"I'm gonna go check on Biggs, you try to relax a little." Alec said as he opened the passenger side door and stepped out.
Max leaned her head on the headrest of her seat. She didn't realize how hard this would be. It felt like everyone's safety depended on her. She was the head of this mission, and if she failed, there was more to lose than just some information or a disk that Manticore wanted. This was dealing with peoples lives, the lives of her family. She had the responsibility of making sure they would be o.k. in this world, which was proving harder than it seemed.
"Biggs," Alec called, stepping towards him. Biggs didn't turn or answer, just stood there, his hands shoved into his pockets. "You ok?"
Biggs shrugged. "I guess."
"Well, you need anything, just ask," Alec added, elbowing him gently.
"This sucks. I mean, really down and out sucks," Biggs muttered. "We're soldiers, things like this don't- they can't phase us."
"You're not a soldier out here," Alec said firmly. "To Seattle, you're just another down on his luck guy who's trying to get by. All of us are."
"Yeah." Biggs agreed. "But something inside me still feels like a soldier, still feels numb." Biggs said quietly as he walked back towards the van. He stopped about halfway and turned back to Alec. "And you know what bro? That friggen scares me."
"Are we all good to go?" Max asked as she turned the key in the ignition.
"Yes." Krit proclaimed, rather proud sounding. It made Max smile.
"Mhmm." Jondy mumbled while stuffing a chocolate bar into her mouth. Everyone squeezed back inside the tiny space.
"Now for the job search." Max said, putting the van in gear and driving out of the lot.
"One problem." Alec said. "Me and Biggs are still in our uniforms. We look kinda...weird."
Syl shook her head, "No, you don't look kinda weird. You guys just look... unique?" she laughed. "Camo is so coming back in again."
Zane looked at Syl with a raised eyebrow, "Are you high?"
"No, I'm actually quite low really." Syl smirked.
Zane gently smacked her over the head, and she stuck her tongue out.
"You're right," Max said. "We should grab you some threads first. And Ben, too. I only have enough cash for a few things, you need more you get it how everyone else here gets what they want."
"How's that?" Alec rolled his eyes. "With our hard earned cash?"
"Pfft. You steal it, stupid." Max smirked. She was starting to pick yup Alec's habits already.
"Maxie you're opting to steal?" Jondy questioned. "Logy boy made it sound like you earned your money the honest way. I guess he was wwrong. You get your money the fun and easy way."
Max rolled her eyes. "A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to live in a nice life. Being genetically enhanced just helps a bit."
"Here, here," Jondy agreed, tapping Max's fist with her own.
"Well I guess you guys can get clothes here," Max said as she pulled into the parking lot of a department store. "You guys go in without us, they get mad when you bring large groups in."
"Aiight, cap'n." Alec saluted. He and Biggs got out and started towards the door.
"Alec!" Max called. He turned back. "Dont threaten or intimidate anyone, you look strange enough already." She said with a small laugh, knowing that Alec liked to throw his weight around.
"Don't worry, I'll leave all the threatening and intimidating to Biggs." Alec grinned, before turning back towards the department store.
"All these clothes will make me look like a geek." Alec stated as he started to go through the racks of clothes. "Where are the leather coats?"
"Not here." Biggs shrugged, as he pulled a random shirt, and random pair of pants off of a couple racks. He could care less about what he looked like right now. His mind was to much on other things. Okay, only one thing. Mercy.
"True. Very, very, horribly and disgustingly true." Alec held up a men's pink and blue striped polo shirt and gagged. Biggs smiled slightly, but quickly scolded himself. He couldn't be happy right now, not until he found her. She wasn't gone, he would rather live in denial than without her.
"Well, I guess this'll do." Alec sighed, picking out some khaki pants and a plain white tee. He grabbed a denim jacket, too. "Now for Ben." He quickly scooped up a pair of black pants and a blue shirt, and another denim jacket. They went to the cash register.
"That all?" A very bored looking teen girl asked, snapping her gum as she spoke. She didnt make eye contact at first, but when she looked up broke into a smile. "I hear the army look's comin' back." She said with a wink as she handed Alec the bag of clothes.
Biggs rolled his eyes. "Let's go Alec. Your girlfriend's waiting otu in the car for us."
The girls smile disappeared. "Girlfriend?" she tilted her head to the side looking at Alec.
"Yes, he has a girlfriend. Real jealous type too." Biggs replied. "She'd kill you for looking at him the wrong way." He started to push Alec towards the door of the store. He didn't have time to waste. No he had to find Mercy, soon.
Alec and Biggs came out from the bathroom in their new clothes, looked at eachother and lost it.
"Wow you look dumb." Alec managed.
"Well if I had gone to highschool, you'd be the guy I'd throw into a locker or two," Biggs shot back as they walked to the van. They climbed in, and momentarily everyone was in laughter.
"Ooh, look at my boy, tryin' to look so smaaart." Max teased, dragging out her a's. "You look like a college nerd."
"Thanks." He glared at her.
"But a cute one," She added with a playful smile.
Alec's glare slowly turned into a grin. "Does this mean I get a kiss?" he questioned.
"God, not in front of me. Please!" Jondy complained from the back. "I just ate something, and I'd really like to keep it in my stomach."
Syl hit her sister upside the head. "Shut up Jondy."
Jondy elbowed Syl in return, and shot back "Shut up Syl."
"My family album," Max muttered with a smile, before quickly kissing Alec. Jondy made a gagging noise, and Max laughed as she heard the 'smack' of Syl's hand against Jondy's head.
"Well, here we are. Jam Pony," Max breathed out a sigh of relief as she once again parked the van. "You guys wait for my cue, I'm gonna go try to sweet talk Normal." She added with a disgusted expression. She made her way inside and was mobbed by old friends. It was so good to be with them. She made her way to the dispatch counter.
"Nooooormal," Max called. The blonde man in front of her froze, then turned slowly.
"Do my eyes decieve me or has missy-miss wandered in eight months late for work." Normal mumbled, turning back to the counter. He picked up a package. "Hot run Morningside and Everclear!"
"That's got my name written all over it." Max said extending her hand.
"Nu uh. Your name is mud, missy-miss. I've heard some lame excuses for missing work, but faking your own death for an eight-month sabbatical is definitely a new low." Normal replied shaking his head.
"I did not fake my own death." Max snapped. "I had both medical and family emergencies."
"Care to explain?" Normal questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I got a heart transplant." Max said with a completely straight face.
"Uh-huh, sure. Unless I can see a doctor's note or something, you're gone. Shoo, shoo!" He waved his hand in her face as he read his clipboard. She snatched the clipboard and put it on the counter.
"I'd show you the scar, but that'd be gross and I dont want to," She shot. 'Max, be nice. Max, be nice.' Her mind tried effortlessly to calm her angered nerves down.
"Well, could I have my job back if I brought you a present?" Max asked sweetly.
"Present? I dont do bribes. Reagan Ronald is an honest man." He mumbled back at her. "What is it?" He added.
"A few new workers. Just as hard working as me." She saw his face twist into a terrfied look. "Ok, much, much better than me." He relaxed slightly.
Normal thought about it for a moment. A few new workers? Hard working? He looked at Max and sighed. Why did he always cave? Rolling his eyes he said, "Fine. I'll give you and these new workers a chance. Any lates, or mistakes, and it's goodbye."
"Thank you Normal." She grinned at him, turning to head back out to the van.
"What about the package?" he called after her.
"I'll get to it!" she called over her shoulder.
Normal rolled his eyes and turned back to the desk. "It's like she never left." he muttered.
"You know you missed my girl." Original Cindy said to Normal as she approached him. "She's honest, loyal, a hard worker-"
"Bip bip bip!" He shouted in reply, stuffing a package into O.C.'s hand.
"We're gold." Max said. "Come on, we gotta get you all bikes, time to get started." The mob of them walked into the building, grumbling about having to work.
"You!" Normal yelled as the mob approached. "I never thought I'd see-" He stopped mid sentance and grabbed Alec, yanking him away from the group. "Attention! See this? This is what you should be wearing to work people. Now, BIP!" Alec turned bright red.
"Here they are, Normal." Max smiled.
Normal shook his head and looked at Max. "Good catch missy-miss." he stated. "I could use a good, strong rooster in the henhouse."
"Uh... thanks?" Alec's eyebrows knitted together, as he pulled away from Normal. "Can't wait to join Team... uh.. Jam Pony."
"Good, good." Normal nodded. "I'll have sector passes for all of you tomorrow. Now, bip, bip, bip! These packages aren't going to sprout legs, and walk themselves to their mommies!" He exclaimed, before heading back to the desk to do work.
Zane snorted, "Alec, man, you look like a lobster!"
"Your face is so red!" Krit added.
Max laughed, "I've never seen Normal like someone so much."
"For some reason, I'm not flattered." Alec muttered. He looked over at Normal, who smiled and waved. Timidly, Alec waved back.
"Bikes are on the rack people, lets go!" Normal shouted again.
"Grab a bike everyone, then get a package and a map from Normal." Max told them. "You'll get the hang of the streets soon, but for now you're gonna need maps. And clipboards. Remeber to get signatures for all of your packages, and be polite! Just go to the address, deliever, get the signature and come back here for another run. "
"Maxie, it's not as complicated as you think." Jondy laughed.
"We aren't that stupid, either." Krit added.
"Well, we aren't. Don't know about you." Zane joked.
"Get going, all of you. You can come with me on my run if you want." Max told Alec,squeezing his hand quickly.
"I want that. Really. I do." Alec replied, with a small smile, squeezing her hand back.
"Krit we're lost!" Syl groaned. "We're genetically enhanced supersoldiers, and we're lost!"
"Not my fault you lost the map!" Krit yelled back, as they moved through the allyway on their bikes.
"Um, news flash! It was!" Syl snapped. "You were the one with the map, I was...am... the one with the package!"
"Well sorry." Krit mumbled. Sometimes Syl could be so, bitchy. IT was almost like it was coded into her genetics. He rolled his eyes, as he turned down another street. "You know you didn't have to follow me." he mused.
"Follow you!" He was so impossible. "What happened to 'Let's team up, Syl. I dont wanna go alone, Syl.'"
"I don't remember that conversation at all." Krit said. "Whoa," He mused. He pulled the brakes on his bike in front of a large carboard sign with 'Terminal City' painted in black dripping paint.
"Let's go back and get a new map." Syl said quietly. Krit looked at her. For the first time, she seemed vulnerable.
"Sure thing." He smiled at her, giving up the fight. They turned back through the alley, and Syl felt a shiver down her spine. Something about that sign scared her.
Krit glanced at Syl as they headed back towards Jam Pony. Their relationship had ceased to exist, which Krit hated. He wanted her back. He wanted her back badly. For the longest time Syl had been the only person he cared about. She had ruled his life. Now...now, she was just...there. "So, Syl what do you think the story of that place is?"
"Don't know. Don't care." Syl shot back, her eyes focused on the road ahead of her.
Biggs, road back into Jam Pony. Five deliveries so far. "You're back again?" Normal quesitoned glancing up at him.
"Yes sir." Biggs nodded. "Don't worry I have signatures."
"You're probably the best out of the batch she brought with her." Normal mumbled to himself. "Here's two more packages for you. Sector Nine." Normal tossed the packages at Biggs, who caught them with grace, and put them into his bag.
Biggs turned his bike around, and headed back outside. What else was there to do? If he kept himself busy, and his mide on his work, it hurt less. His mind didn't have the time to wander back to her.
"Do you miss her?" Ben felt a hand lay ontop of his own.
"Hum?" He asked, half asleep. Amora stared at him. She was already feeling alot better, a perk of being genetically engineered.
"Mercy. She was your sister."
"Oh," He hadn't had time to clear his head, and was still confused about what had happened over the last twenty-four hours. "Yeah," He said quietly.
"You ok?" Amora asked, tracing the lines of his palm with her forefinger.
"Yeah, I guess. I think I'm more in shock more than anything. I mean, I had only gotten to know her-" He stopped. "Yes, I miss her. Like nuts," he added with a laugh. "You look better."
"I feel much better." Amora sat up and smiled slightly. The burns she had were aleady quickly fading, and her face only looked badly sunburnt.
"I should be fine in a couple days."
"Good." Ben smiled back at her, before kissing her.
"Ow." Amora laughed.
Ben pulled back slightly, "Did I hurt you?"
"No, don't worry about it. I"m fine." She replied, lifting her head, and capturing Ben's lips with hers.
"Now, remember, be polite." Max said as she moved towards the door with Alec.
"C'mon Max. When am I not polite?" Alec laughed, as he followed. He moved ahead of Max, and knocked on the door. The door flew open and they were met by the face of an older woman. Alec shoved the package into her hands. "Need a signature."
"What's this?" the woman gave Max and Alec a quizzical look.
"Jam Pony, ma'am. It's a package for you." Max cut in, with a small smile.
The woman nodded. "I'll go and get my glasses," she said before heading back into the house.
Max whirled around. "You call that polite?"
"Um, Yeah." Alec shrugged.
"Here you go," The lady said as she returned. She signed the clipboard and smiled widely.
"Thank you very much ma'am, have a spectacular day!" Alec chanted.
"What a polite young man." The lady clapped her hands. "Here's a little something for your troubles." She handed him a twenty dollar bill. Alec looked impressed and grinned at her.
"No thank you ma'am, just doing our job." Max said, snatching the bill from Alec and handing it back. She pushed him down the porch stairs before he could complain.
"Was that polite enough for you?" Alec asked sarcastically.
"Shut up, dont be a smart alec." She laughed, and kissed him quickly before climbing back on her bike.
Alec rolled his eyes, and got onto his own bike. "First you insult my abilities at being polite. Then you tell me to shut up and call me a name. And then you kiss me. Maxie you are one confusing person."
"Hello, my sistahs." Jondy grinned as she took a seat at the table with the others. "Did anyone else find work extremely... boring?"
"Unlike you, the rest of us, were busy working." Syl put emphasis on the word 'working'.
"Hey ladies." A tall guy with unruly hair said coming up to the table.
"Sketchy, I didn't see you at work." Max mused. "You take the day off? Or did Normal can your ass?"
"Day off... sort of." Sketchy grinned and hugged Max. "I heard you were back. This place hasn't been the same without you Max."
"I missed you too Sketch." Max replied pulling back from the hug.
Sketchy glanced around the table his eyes lingering on Syl and Jondy. "So.. uh... where do you guys know each other from?"
"We go way back." Max laughed.
"What, like, high school?"
"More like..." Syl started.
"Boarding school." Jondy finished with a shrug, glancing over at Herbal and Biggs, who were at a table a little ways from their's. She was bored so, she decided to listen to their conversation.
"''Tis the will of the almighty." Herbal stated.
"That's it. People get killed; there are homeless everywhere-- it's not all good." Biggs replied.
"His plan is all good, all the time."
"Hes kinda... cute." Syl elbowed Jondy cutting into her eavesdropping.
"Who?"
"The guy who was just talking to Max. He's kinda... scruffy." Syl looked Sketchy up and down.
"You have GOT to be kidding me." Jondy rolled her eyes. Gross. "What about Krit?"
"We're over." Syl snapped. "Im gonna go talk to him." Syl smiled slyly and went to approach Sketchy. Jondy sat and watched attentively as Syl flirted. She couldnt help but start to daydream about Ben. She had told herself constantly that she had to get over him, but a part of her was still devoted to making him hers again.
"She's boosting his ego." Max mused, glancing from Syl and Sketchy to Jondy. "I thought Syl and Krit had something going on between them. They were sending off that vibe."
"Nah, apparently they are in splitsville." Jondy shrugged, her gaze on Syl and Sketchy. "Gotta admit they'd be a cute couple."
"Yeah... right." Max mumbled, her gaze moved over to Alec, who was playing a round of pool against Zane.
"We should get going back to Logan's." Max said, slipping her leather jacket over her shoulders. She went around and got everyone, and soon they were all piled back into the van.
"I am really starting to hate this van." Alec said, slamming his door. They pulled into Logan's lot.
"Hey you two," Max called as they all went through the door. "Wow, you look better." She said upon seeing Amora.
"One perk of Manticore blood." Amora said with a smile.
"Here you go." Alec said, tossing the bag of clothes at Ben.
"Please tell me you didnt get me geek clothes like yours?" Ben whined. Max laughed but quickly stopped.
"My clothes are not geek clothes." Alec defended himself. "They're just... unique. I'm starting a new trend."
"Keep telling yourself that bud." Biggs shook his head.
A Few Weeks Later
Everything had changed. Everything was different. Work had become a monotonous. Doing the same thing over and over again. Max sighed as she lay on the couch. Original Cindy was out with a new likity boo.
"Tired?"
"Alec! I didnt see you come in." Max sat up and ran her hands over her face.
"You looked asleep. Want me to go?"
"No, not at all. Sit." He sat next to her and kissed her cheek, making her break into a small smile. "You want something to drink?" she asked as she rose off the couch.
"Nah, I'm good." Max grabbed a glass of water for herself and drank it as she leaned against the kitchen counter. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Ok, spill." She demanded, banging the empy glass on the container as she put it down. "You just found out your sister- well that something bad happened a couple weeks ago and you don't even seem phased. You havent even tried to talk to me about it," She sounded hurt.
Alec let out a long, heavy breath. "It's not that I'm not phased. When you guys escaped, I told you that they put us through harder training, psy-ops, everything. Part of the Psy-ops experience was emotional training, learning to hold in things that could get in the way of training. I didn't want to freak out everyone by being upset, so I've been trying to not let it show." He looked up at her with watery eyes. "I'm panicking inside, Maxie,"
Max looked at Alec with sad eyes. She moved towards him, and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Alec shook his head, not pulling away. "You don't have anything to be sorry about." he told her. "You didn't kill her. You didn't kill Mercy." Saying her name hurt. Knowing she wasn't coming back, killed Alec inside.
"I wish there was something I could do Alec." Max sighed.
"Well there isn't." he mumbled in response pulling away from Max. Alec rubbed at his eyes. 'Soldiers don't cry,' he found himself telling himself. It had been drilled into his head way to many times. He wasn't in Manticore anymore, he had more freedoms. Yet, he couldn't let himself cry. He couldn't show weakness in front of Max. "I'm worried about Biggs," he said queitly, trying to move the conversation away from himself.
Max nodded in silence. She knew how hurt he was, she had also felt the pain of losing a sister.
"I gotta go," He couldn't stay- he would break down. Max had that effect on him; He let down his guard and became vulnerable.
"Fine, you wanna up and go, be my guest." Max rose too, and crossed her arms.
"Look, I'm sorry. Im just- stressed. Worried about Biggs. I need to go check on him." He said, holding onto Max's arms gently. He kissed her quickly, and she fought a smile. "Ill see you in the morning."
"Bye." Max closed the door behind him and leaned against it. "Boys are dumb. Useless, dumb, time-consuming." She turned and looked back at the closed door. "'Cept for him." She whispered to herself. Soldiers didn't share their feelings.
Gone. She was gone, and he was never going to see her again. Biggs couldn't stand the thought of it. Only weeks ago had he already been through this agony, thinking he had lost the person he loved. Mercy hadn't given up though, she had pulled through and gotten better. But then, he lost her. In one night he lost her all over again, and nothing was going to fix it this time. She wasn't coming back, she was really gone.
Biggs shouldn't have left her room. He should have stayed there, with her. If he had, maybe she'd still be with him, in the world of the living. "Biggs?" he faintly heard Alec's voice.
"What?" Biggs questioned his gaze not leaving the roof of the crappy apartment they were in at the moment.
"You ok man?" Alec asked.
"What do you think?" Biggs snapped. "Mercy's gone Alec, and she's never coming back. We're never going to see or hear her again."
All Biggs wanted to do was hear Mercy's voice. He wanted to hear her rare laugh, and see the twinkle in her eye that Biggs hadn't seen in so long.
"I'm just trying to help," Alec said, raising his hands in defence.
"Well you're not." Biggs snapped.
"Look, I know you're hurt Biggs. She was my sister you know, dont you think I miss her too?" Alec snapped back. Biggs looked at him, shocked.
"I brought food." Ben announced, walking in with a grocery bag. "Whoa, whats with you two?"
"Nothing." Biggs said, going into his bedroom of the small apartment.
"Im going to bed." Alec sighed, frustrated with himself, Biggs, and everything else. Ben sighed himself and rolled his eyes. He started to unpack.
"How was your day, Ben? Great, Ben!" Ben mocked a conversation with himself as he slowly put everything in the small barren cupboards.
"Hello?" Logan called as he walked into the apartment. Before he could blink, he was pinned to the ground with Jondy sitting on his chest.
"Oh, Logan."
"Yeah. I live here." He stumbled as Jondy helped him up.
"Sorry, You caught me off guard."
"What smells so good? It almost smells as good as my cooking." Logan laughed.
"Syl." Jondy crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "She found your recipe book and has been cooking all night. Zane and Krit went on a run for more supplies." Jondy led him into the kitchen, where Logan saw dishes piled with enough food to feed an army.
"Yeah, a lot of food... I know." Jondy shrugged.
"There's enough to feed an army." Logan mused, glancing around.
"Nah, there's only enough to feed, a fifth of an army." Syl stated, turing slightly. "Hope you don't mind, my massive cooking spree. I needed to find something to keep myself busy,'cause I quit my job at Jam Pony. I got tired of all those 'bip, bip, bip's' and I kept getting confused. So ... yeah..."
"It's fine Syl." Logan laughed. "Really."
"Good, 'cause I was worried, you'd get all angry at me for using up all your food. So I sent Krit and Zane out to get more. Just to replace the stuff I used."
Logan laughed. Just as he was about to reassure her again, he heard a female voice.
"Hello? Logan?"
"In here, Asha." She came bounding in with a huge grin.
"Logan I got-" She paused. "Oh, um. Hi." She paused at seeing the two girls standing in the kitchen.
"You got?" Logan tried to get her back on track.
"Oh, some contact info. I gotta go tho, I'll, um, talk to you later." With that, Asha turned and left. Something about Max and her 'furry friends' creeped her out.
After the door closed Jondy stuck her toungue out at it.
Ben sat on the couch, bored out of his mind. Biggs and Alec were both... okay Ben didn't know what was going on with them. Grieving maybe? He sighed and ran a hand down his face. His life couldn't get anymore complicated. Ben had gone from a psycho killer, to... this. Whatever this was exactly. He was finally content with his life. He was happy, and didn't need anything else.
Ben's ears perked at the sound of a door opening. He turned to see Biggs walking out of his room, head down, dragging his feet. He knew better than to ask Biggs whether or not he was okay. Ben knew his answer.
"You hungry or anything?" Ben questioned, as Biggs collapsed on the couch beside him.
"Not really." Biggs shrugged.
"Well Im gonna put some hot dogs or something on, so if you get hungry grab one." Ben knew better than to push Biggs. Biggs looked at him.
"Thanks." For the first time in weeks, Biggs had said something whole-heartedly. He somehow felt Ben understood. Ben smiled.
"No problem." Ben dumped a clump of frozen hotdogs in the boiling water with a splash. "Work today sucked."
"You can say that again." Biggs agreed with a nod. They sat for a few minutes in silence, both minds wandering to the same face they longed to see. Biggs watched as Ben plucked a hotdog out of the water and folded a bun around it.
"Wanna head to crash in a few?" Ben asked between bites.
"Why not," Biggs shurgged. "Anything's better than here."
"Think we should ask Alec if he wants to join us?" Ben questioned, watching as Biggs caved and got himself a hotdog.
Biggs shrugged, "Doesn't matter to me. Probably should." he paushed for a moment and thought about it. "We should see if Max and Amora want to come. I"m sure they would." Biggs wished he could have added Mercy's name in there. God, she was missing out on so much. It wasn't fair. Why was he aloud a life, and she wasn't?
"Did I hear my name?" Alec questioend as he walked into the kitchen, helping himself to a hotdog.
Ben nodded, "We were gonna ask you if you wanted to head to Crash with us."
"Why not," Alec shrugged. "I could use time out of this apartment."
"Well, lets go." Ben said, grabbing his coat. The others did the same and they left the apartment. It wasn't 5 seconds before they all barged back in to each take a hotdog for the road.
"Home sweet home... Number two." Max sang as they walked through the door to crash. Her smile grew as she noticed Sketchy doing his usual bike stunts. And, as usual, someone threw a peanut in his eye, and Sketchy fell.
"Hey boo," O.C. came up and hugged Max. "Sorry bout ditchin' ya."
"No problem," Max said as they tapped fists. "Anything exciting happening tonight?"
"Naw, just some big brawny he-men makin' fools outta their steroid pumped selves." Cindy said with a sigh. She pointed to the pool table where 2 men were comparing muscle sizes. Ben and Alec exchanged glances and made their way to the table.
"Hey boys, want a challenge?" Alec asked, grabbing a pool cue and looking up a good foot into the men's faces.
"They're going to die." Max sighed. "They cant even reach those idiot's shoulders!"
"Why, you lookin' for a fight?" One of the men grumbled.
"No, I just like playing pool against the unfathomably ugly of this world." Alec smiled and Ben laughed.
"Its on," The second man grumbled as he grabbed his own cue.
Alec grinned and gave a small laugh, "You are so going down man."
"Bring it." The first man muttered.
"You break." Ben grinned.
Biggs sat down at a table near by, not really wanting to go play pool. He picked up the glass of scotch he had gotten, and chugged it back. He had a feeling he might have to jump in and save his friends from getting their asses kicked. As usual.
"Boo, as much as Original Cindy dislikes the male population, your boy's alright. You picked a good one." O.C. Put her arm around Max's shoulders.
"Yeah." Max smiled softly. "I agree with you there."
"Men." Amora grunted, rolling her eyes. "I don't understand them. They can't just be civilized, instead they have to get all defensive over nothing. Always trying to be the macho man." Amora paused and squinted across the room. "Hey! She's checkin out my guy!" With that she stood up and stormed across the room. Max and O.C. laughed.
"So what's with home boy over there?" O.C. tipped her glass in Biggs' direction.
"I told you Mercy- that she- well we can't find her. He was her lickity boo of who knows how long." Max sighed with pity.
"That's straight up harsh," O.C. said. "Don't look now, but your boo might need some savin',"
"Oh, crap." Max jumped up from her seat, and headed over to save Alec's ass once again. Why did he always have to get into trouble?
Biggs watched everything around him. He watched Max get Alec, out of a fight. He watched Amora yell at some chick for flirting with Ben. Biggs sighed, and looked down at his glass of beer. Why could everyone have lives, and Mercy couldn't? It wasn't fair.
AN: So Sorry it took so incredibly long to update. Chapter Nine, will definitely be up in a week. A week in a half tops. Don't forget to leave us a review to tell us what you thought!
