Sorry for the long wait between updates, but this chapter is a little longer than the others, so maybe it will make up for the wait! Thanks to my reviewers, and I hope you all continue liking and reviewing my story!
Callie:-)
Title:The Rift
Rating:PG13ish or R
Characters:Max, Alec, Logan, Joshua, a few baddies, and a little of the Jam pony crew threw in occasionally.
Genre:Drama, angst, romance.
Summary: Slightly Au due to Max being cured of her virus. Max gets what she has always hoped for from Logan. Question is, why does it seem to effect her fellow X5 in such a negative manner?
Author's note:First DA fic, so be kind and R&R!
Disclaimer:Not mine.
The Rift
Ch4
Jam Pony:Next Day:
"I have a package here ,in my hand, that needed to go out yesterday!"Normal announced impatiently, breaking up the small group consisting of Max,OC,and Sketchy, that stood talking."Are we deaf people?"he yelled when he didn't get an automatic chorus of volunteers.
"Original Cindy wishes she was so lucky."OC muttered under her breath..
"I'll take it."Max volunteered, as she walked over,grabbed the package and paper containing the address from Normals outstretched hand, then quickly exited the building.
OC was seriously concerned about her girl Max. Ever since the night at "Crash"she had seemed distracted and even less talkative than the norm.
"Oh gee, how lucky for the both of us, here's another package that needs to go out and look, you're just standing there doing nothing. What are the odds?."Normal's voice asked sarcastically from behind her a half hour or so later.
OC who was indeed doing nothing whatsoever at the moment, couldn't really argue that..
"Give me the package and get out my face."she replied, smacking her lips in annoyance, and grabbing the box from his hand.
"Someone needs to work on their attitude."he declared, making a tsk, tsk noise,"Did you know it's a proven fact that one person can ruin the morale for the whole work force?"
"Oh yeah sugar. Do I ever. That happened here a long time ago, and let me testify that it wasn't Original Cindy who caused it"she replied, looking at him pointedly as she turned to walk away.
After looking confused for a moment, Normal stopped her once again by asking,"How come you guys didn't tell me my bud Alec was back in the ring? "
"Alec's back in the ring?"she asked, turned around slowly towards him, a frown on her face, and added before she could stop it from slipping out,"and since when is he your bud?"
"We have always had a bond. Its a male thing though and you wouldn't understand."he replied to the second question first, indignant that she would even protest his words, but continued on boastfully, not missing a beat, saying." As a matter of fact I saw Alec just last night, and yes he is fighting again. I'd almost forgotten how good he really is. As much as I hated losing my best worker, I can't blame him for leaving, he's got one hell of a gift, almost seems like he was made for fighting, and such talents shouldn't go to waste."
"Fighting ain't no talent. Original Cindy has always had the opinion that fighting is for Neanderthals, so I guess it's really not surprising that you would enjoy it ."Cindy commented with a shrug.
"Think what you wish."he replied nonplussed,"When you see him again, if its before I do, be sure to tell him I hope he's feeling better."
"Hope who's feeling better?"Max asked, having just returned from her delivery and catching the tail end of their conversation.
"Must I repeat everything twice?"Normal asked in exasperation.
"Uh..no, because since I didn't hear it, then it's technically the first time you've said it to me now isn't it?"Max said with a forced smile, seriously considering kicking him in his smart ass teeth at that moment.
"I guess you're right."he replied after a pause, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose." I was speaking of Alec, and said that I hope he's feeling better, because when I dropped him at his place he seemed a little out of it."
"You took him home? From where?" she asked quickly in surprise, her mouth forming into an O.
"Just like you thought, our boy been fighting again boo."Cindy answered for Normal, who's expression made obvious he was quite unhappy about.
"That dumb...argh! I told him not to be doing that shit anymore, but as usual he didn't listen."Max exclaimed angrily, remembering the part of their argument at the "Crash" several nights ago about just this subject.
Not to mention the danger he'd put Joshua in by allowing Normal to take him home. What if he'd seen him? She had no doubt that her boss would turn in any transgenic, herself or Alec included, and feel no remorse whatsoever about doing so.
"You said he was a little out of it? How?"Max questioned Normal, standing in front of him hands on her hips."And did you go inside?"
"What do you think this is? Twenty questions?"he asked rudely in reply, but still followed this with a reply to her query.
"He said he had a headache or something, must've been a pretty bad one at that, because it almost looked like he was going to pass out a couple times, and no I didn't go inside. He did ask me in for a couple beers, but with work and all I had to turn him down."he ended his answer in a lie, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
Max said nothing to this, easily seeing through Normals story, but a barely noticeable look of concern joined the one of anger on her face at him saying the part about Alec almost passing out.
Must have gotten his ass knocked silly to actually have gotten a headache from it, she thought with a frown.
Serves him right for not listening to me.
Hours later, their conversation still fresh in her mind, after much inner debate she decided to drop by his place after work, whether he liked it or not.
To check on him? she mused.
No, to let him have it for allowing Normal to be so close to where they kept Joshua hidden from view. Most people would not see him as the kind gentle man that Max knew him to be, but as the monster his features portrayed. That was what was inexcusable to Max and the reason she was going to let Alec have it. Regardless of he and Max's obvious issues, he was still supposed to be Joshua's friend, and he sure the hell wasn't acting it.
And maybe she was just a little worried about him also. A little, not that she'd admit that to him or anyone else.
Later that day, Right before leaving Jam Pony:
OC was getting ready to call it a day, but looking at Max and seeing the now permanently present frown on her face, decided that she wasn't really in such a big hurry that she couldn't take time to talk to her girl.
Now, they were roommates, but OC never knew when that girl was going to come home or stay at Logan's, so it was best to seize the current opportunity when it presented itself.
"What's the matter Boo?"she asked Max, not liking to see her best friend upset.
"Nothing."Max answered quickly, and very unconvincingly."What makes you think somethings the matter?"
"Maybe it's the fact that you look like somebody done ran over that bike of yours and smashed it beyond repair."OC replied with a shrug, voicing what she knew would be one of the worse things Max could think of happening, adding as she walked over to her locker to get her bag,"But that's just Original Cindy's opinion, and she has been known to be wrong on one occasion...actually that's not true, I ain't ever been wrong, and I know my girl well enough to tell when something is bothering her. Is it Alec?"she blurted out finally.
"What? Alec? No, why would I be upset over him?"she answered, trying to act appalled at the very thought."He a careless asshole who puts his friends, or his only remaining friend, in danger without any remorse in doing so. So I say if he was hurt during his little show of macho manliness, good!"
"Sure, whatever you say boo."Cindy said, turning around to leave, deciding that this girl was hopeless to try and get the truth out of.
"I mean, first he just ups and quits his job just because he seems to think he loves me and was upset over me accepting Logan's proposal. Then he starts fighting again just to spite me. I know that's why he's doing it, but what he doesn't realize is I don't care what he does, except the whole Normal knowing where he lives part. Now that pisses me off!"she rattled off, stopping Cindy dead in her footsteps.
"Whoa baby girl, now lets back up here a minute."Cindy demanded, her mouth an O of surprise at what Max had just revealed to her."Did you just tell Original Cindy that Alec, the same bad ass who acts like he don't care bout much of anything other than himself and whatever girl is hanging off his shoulder at the time, told you he loved you?" this was an unexpected revelation. When she'd thought Max was upset over him, she thought it was the whole "fighting" issue, but this..this was, well...
"Well, he was going to, but I stopped him before he got it out. Can you believe that shit?"Max replied with a shake of her head."That he would have the gall to say something like that when he knows I'm marrying Logan?"
"Oh I hear you boo. How dare he try and stop the woman he loves from marrying someone else."she agreed sarcastically, then asked," What did you say when he told you? Or started to tell you?" as the whole situation as of late started to make sense to her.
"What do you think I said?"Max asked"I told him that I loved Logan is what, and not to even finish the sentence that was coming out because I didn't feel the same way as he did."
"Oh girl."Cindy said with a disappointed shake of her head.
"What's that supposed to mean?"Max snapped in question.
"No wonder that man don't never have a woman for more than a one night stand. I knew there was some reason his fine ass hadn't hooked up with somebody already."
"Don't be stupid. He doesn't really love me girl, he's just doing what he's good at and trying to stir shit up."Max argued.
"Think about it Boo, have you ever heard him talking about anyone else? I mean look at him, he could have any woman he wanted, maybe even Original Cindy if he tried hard enough, yet he chooses not to . He lives with another man, which normally might be making Cindy think he was a little like her, but now I see...And just the fact he was willing to lay it all out and admit how he felt..."she let her sentence trail off, giving Max a meaningful look.
"Oh just quit will you?'Max asked angrily."You are so not helping things in the least, and you're wrong. He's just playing one of his immature games, but regardless, I..love...Logan."
"Do you now? Really?"OC asked, looking at her closely."You sure been acting awful moody these last couple days. Logan did just ask you to marry him after all, so shouldn't you be all happy over that instead of depressed over little ol' Alec?"
"I am happy. See, I'm ecstatic."Max argued with a fake smile."now if you don't mind I have somewhere I need to be, so see you later."
"You not staying at Logan's place again tonight?" Cindy asked with a knowing smile. Now that she thought about it, Max had slept at home every night for the past several days, which was highly unusual and had surprised her a bit.
That was until she found out the juicy little tid-bit she had just now.
Now don't get it wrong,OC did like Logan, and a little normalcy was good for her girl, but Alec...Well, she liked his fine little self too...
"Don't look at me like that."Max said with a snarl, getting on her bike and taking off.
"Uh, huh. She don't love Alec alright."Cindy said smugly to herself as she started home, thinking, once again how lucky she was to not have to worry with men.
On the way to Alec's:
OC couldn't have been farther off base with her observations, at least that's what Max was trying to convince herself of.
Alec didn't really love her, and she certainly didn't love him. Did she?
No! She chastised herself, pushing any thoughts otherwise aside.
She and Logan had been striving for the happiness they now had for years, and there was no way she was going to let a immature man who thinks he's some major player ruin it for them.
Not a chance.
At this thought she took the next left leading towards Logan's instead of continuing on to Alec's apartment.
She still planned on going there, but remembered that Logan would be waiting on her since they had plans to go out that night, so she'd just go and tell him what was going on...um, no..strike that.
Telling him about Alec would be a very bad idea. Especially since he claimed she'd been distant to him as of late.
Being a man, he'd probably automatically assume that the feelings Alec had for her were mutual, therefore being the reason for her actions..
She didn't care about him, not in the least, not that way anyhow.
Who you trying to kid? Yes you do girl, her inner voice said, sounding oddly like OC, and annoying the piss out of her with its words of truth.
Arghh! Damn him for doing this to her. Just when everything seemed so clear and perfect for her he had to pop out the whole love thing and blow it all to hell.
He was so annoying, frustrating, careless, not to mention a cocky smart ass. Hell, he was basically everything that she didn't need at this point in her life.
For years all she wanted was to live a nice normal life, and though with other members of her Manticore family popping up and being found on occasion, and that bastard White being around, she realized it would never be totally your run of the mill happy marriage, but life with Logan still held the offer of it being close to that.
Alec though, he was...infuriating yet so damn sexy at the same time, and they had a special connection no matter how much she tried to deny it. One like she felt would never exist with Logan.
Yeah Max, and he looks just like your dead brother, which makes it really Eww that you're even thinking of him as sexy, she thought, making a face and shaking of her head as she pulled up to Logan's and dismounted her bike.
She'd just go in, tell Logan that she had a few errands to run and would meet him at the "Crash" in an hour or so. Then go to Alec's, kick his ass for fighting again and endangering Joshua, then leave.
Simple as that.
She should have realized that for her, nothing ever went as planned, and was rarely simple.
Around the same time at Alec and Joshua's:
"Alec not going out."Joshua declared, blocking the way to the door with his body as he looked down at his overly pale faced friend standing before him scowling, with his bag flung over his shoulder."Alec sick."
"I told you I'm better now, so kindly move before I get really pissed and have to move you myself."Alec replied snarkily.
"That Joshua would like to see."the bigger transgenic replied with a low growl, and something that sounded somewhat like a scoff.
Okay, maybe you need to try a different method, Alec decided, turning his angry face into his best and most convincing smile, saying in a sickly sweet voice,
"Look Joshua. I'm good. Really. I just have a few really important things to take care of."
"Joshua not care about important things. Joshua care about Alec, who does not look like he feels better."the big man said, studying Alec's features closely.
His face, as before mentioned was pale and drawn, with dark circles around his eyes. He looked anything but fine to Joshua.
And truthfully, Alec wasn't exactly feeling fine, but he did feel alot better than he had the night before. Still not a hundred percent though, and be it not for the fact that he had a match tonight he might have considered staying home.
Nah, probably not, but still, he wasn't about to let a little virus or something cost him his easy money. Sick or not, he felt confident he could still take down anything thrown his way.
He planned on calling it quits after tonight again anyhow.
The plan was to take the winnings from this, and what he'd saved from previous matches, and leave this damn city once and for all.
Something he should have done a long time ago.
"Come on big guy, I'm fine. Would Alec lie to his best bud?"he asked, playfully punching him in his arm.
"Okay, but Joshua not like it one bit."he gave in finally, reluctantly moving to the side to allow his friend to pass.
"Later"Alec said over his shoulder as he disappeared out the door, a triumphant smile that Joshua couldn't see on his face.
What the hell was up with the mother hen act? Alec didn't have a mother, and if he had, he doubted she'd be seven feet tale with a snout.
So maybe I did pass out last night, but that's no reason to try and tell me what I can and can't do, Alec thought as he walked down the steps leading to the outside, having to stop and catch his breath when he reached the bottom, closing his eyes briefly as he sagged against the brick wall.
Maybe I shouldn't go, he thought drawing deep breaths into his lungs, which honestly felt like they were severely deprived of oxygen right now.
This took his thoughts back to the previous night. It had been bad.
After awakening on his bed to find a very fretful Joshua's face hovering above him, he'd finally after half an hour or so convinced him to go to bed and leave him alone by saying he'd had a slight seizure but was fine now and just needed some rest.
Joshua had then suggested calling Max, which Alec had more than a little angrily vetoed, saying he could handle the aftereffects of a damn seizure without having to call and beg Florence Knightenbitch to nurse him back to health.
These words had done the trick. Joshua's nostrils had flared angrily and he'd left the room immediately.
Guess he didn't like me talking about his precious Max, Alec thought bitterly.
He'd spent a good piece of the remaining night going back and forth between the bathroom and his bedroom, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to awaken Joshua.
His stomach had cramped continuously, but he was unable to actually throw up even once, which he felt sure would have made him feel at least a little better.
Then the shaking came. This made him think that maybe he truly was having a seizure. The fierceness of it had almost scared him into waking Joshua, but his pride would not allow this and after taking 2 of the tryptophan Max had given him, chased down with a glass of milk,it had finally subsided somewhat and he'd fallen asleep on the floor beside the toilet.
Thankfully he'd taken control his shaking hands enough to lock the door behind him each time he'd went inside the bathroom, and had been able to jump up and pull himself together somewhat when awakening the next morning to the sound of Joshua knocking on the door, his concerned voice calling out his name through it.
Running a now steady hand through his hair, the shaking having completely subsided, he'd plastered a smile on his face, opened the door with a flourish and greeted Joshua with a hearty good morning.
Walking quickly past him, he'd escaped into the solitude of his bedroom, falling onto his bed in an exhausted heap, sleep claiming him almost instantly..
He hated how weak and helpless seizures left him feeling. He hadn't had one in so long he'd almost forgotten how bad it could be, and had just about convinced himself they were gone for good.
Guess not, but the nausea and cramping, not to mention the headache, now that had been something new.
He wasn't too concerned over these new additions though. It was his luck.
Better him than Max though. He didn't even want to think about her being struck with what he'd went through.
Not that she would have felt the same about him. She probably wouldn't even be fazed in the least when he left. Hell no one would be except possibly Joshua . Oh and Normal too. He wouldn't be able to make any money off of him if he was gone, now would he?
Alec was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't realize he hadn't even moved from his position of leaning against the wall for at least 10 minutes.
He was brought out of his reverie by the sound of someone speaking and simultaneously hitting him in the shoulder.
Slowly forcing his eyes open, he was met with the sight of a obviously pissed X5.
"Great." he muttered warily, then propped himself up as straight as possible without actually moving away from the wall and returned her glare.
"Oh, what are you sleeping outside now?"she asked sarcastically"Why not put a big neon sign on yourself with a big arrow while you're at it that says, dumb ass transgenic free to good home. Save Whites people the trouble of actually having to look for you.."
"I really don't have time for this now."he said as he heaved his body away from the wall and tried to walk past her.
"Uh huh."she said, putting her hand on his chest and shoving him into it again."You do have time, and you will talk to me."
"Fine. What do you want now Max?"he asked with a scowl."Did you come to personally deliver my invitation to your wedding shower?"
"Will you grow up?"she asked with a look of exasperation.
"Oh, I'm all grown where it counts Maxie. I have many women to testify to that."
"And you actually thought I would ever consider your immature, childish ass over Logan?"she snapped, automatically regretting the hurtful words as soon as they left her lips.
"What do you want Max? Why are you here?"he yelled angrily."Yeah, you love Logan, that you've made more than clear, so why keep fucking with me? Can't you just go on about with your perfect little fairy tale and leave me alone? Is that really so damn much to ask?"
"I..."she stuttered , surprised by his outburst and the unmasked emotions conveyed on his face during it."I was just...I was worried."she finally got out.
"Well, there's no reason for you to be. If you expected to come find me groveling and distraught then too fucking bad! I'm doing just great."he said, his usual cocky look returning."There's many a better looking woman out there who'd love an opportunity to get some of this."
"You're a disgusting pig! And I wasn't expecting you to be groveling you stupid bastard."she said in a low hiss through gritted teeth."Normal told me that he saw you fighting last night and you seemed out of it afterwards so he brought you home. That was what I was worried about."
"You mean the great Max was concerned about me? I'm touched. Really."he said with a sneer.
"Wrong again dick head."she stated, tilting her head to the side and giving him a smug look as she continued." I could care less about you. What I do care about though is Joshua and you doing something stupid that might expose him the process. Like allowing Normal to bring you home for example."
"Well let me take that great burden from off your shoulders Max. I'm leaving here tonight so there will be no threat of me exposing your precious Joshua anymore."
"You're leaving?"she asked in shocked disbelief, though she tried to hide the shocked part.
"That's right, so we'll both be getting what we want. You won't have to be worried about me screwing up your perfect little lie of a life and in turn I want ever have to see your bitch ass again. Seems like a good deal, am I right?."he asked with a shrug.
Recovering from her shock quickly, infuriated by his insulting and unnecessary words, she retaliated in turn with the most hurtful ones she could think of in reply,"Good deal? I'd use much stronger words myself, like fucking excellent. As a matter of fact the only thing that would be better is if you'd never came here in the first place Alec. All you've done is caused more trouble than you'll ever be worth and soiled the image and good memories I have of the person whom that face you have really belongs to in the process.."
"Oh really? That's what you'd really like..."
She cut him off, adding to what she'd already said,"Really Alec. I wish Ben's face would have stayed where it belongs. Dead and buried."
Watching him closely, awaiting his reaction and ready to punch him in his sneering cocky face at any moment, she was surprised when he didn't reply.
"What, no retort Mr. Badass?"she prodded, her anger towards him fired up beyond control."The great Alec can't think of a comeback?"
He still said nothing, just standing there with a strange expression on his face.
"Alec?"she asked, her anger turning into worry,despite their arguing, at his lack of response.
His eyes grew wide, and he finally looked at her, helplessness and what looked like fear on his face as she noticed the almost imperceptible tremor moving throughout his body.
It had actually started minutes earlier in his hands, but he'd chosen to hide it by sticking them in his coat pockets, not wanting to give her the pleasure of seeing him even the slightest bit vulnerable.
It seemed her last words had been like the trigger waiting to be pulled though, because no sooner had they left her mouth then it had started spreading. The pain in his abdomen and head both returning full force also.
Seeing the shaking, Max automatically assumed it was a seizure, which she was more than qaulified to help him though. She had to act quick and get him inside before it got really bad though.
"Come on Alec. Looks like you'll have to put that trip off for another night."she said gently, walking over to aid him, but he still didn't move.
"M-max? Something...w-wrong."he stuttered out, a look of pain and confusion on his face.
"Yeah, I know. It's a seizure, but you'll be fine once we get you inside where you can take the meds."she said, puzzled by his strange behavior, now forcefully trying to move him from the view of several peoples prying eyes that had stopped to stare at them out of curiosity.
Sure, the seizures were bad, but they weren't something he'd never experienced before.
"Come on Alec. You have to go inside before someone decides to play good samaritan and calls an ambulance."she said through clenched teeth as she tried to pull his now fiercely shaking body towards the door."And unless you've forgotten, transgenics and hospitals don't mix."
"C-can't. N-not s-seizure."he stammered just before his legs gave out from beneath him and he fell to the ground, taking Max with him.
Not a seizure? Max thought worriedly, quickly rolling from beneath him and pushing him over onto his back
His eyes were rolled up into his head, which he held in a vise like grip between his hands, his body convulsing, but this wasn't what worried Max the most, what did was the small trails of blood running form his mouth and nose.
"Don't touch him!"she yelled fiercely at a man who had stopped out of concern, and was knelt down beside the fallen young man, his hand reaching towards him.
He quickly retracted his hand, got up and walked away at a fast pace.
"M-Max...h-hurts...h-help...m-me."Alec pleaded in a pitifully small almost whimpering voice."H-hel..."his words cut off by a scream of agony as pain tore through his abdomen.
She was momentarily at a loss as to what to do, tears welling in her eyes at his pain, but she recovered fast Get him inside Max, she ordered herself. No matter what, she couldn't allow him to be taken to a hospital.
Putting a cool soothing hand on his face, she bent in closely and said gently,"You're going to be fine."and tried to pull him to his feet, but it was impossible, enhanced strength or not, for her to get him up alone, especially when he was rolled up in a ball like he was.
Making a decision she hoped not to regret, she then took a deep breath and yelled loudly,"JOSHUA! JOSHUA!"knowing that even though he was upstairs her friends sensitive hearing would pick up the sound of her voice.
It was a big risk to call him out, especially with all the people who were standing around watching out of curiosity, but she had no choice.
"JOSHUA!"
She had been right in her assumptions, because after the third yell, the large transgenic came barreling out of the apartment complex, much to her relief having thought to pull his hood pulled up to hide his features.
Without a word, the big man reached down and gently picked up Alec's writhing body from the ground with ease, cradling him close as he carried him back inside.
"Shows over folks, so get lost."Max yelled over her shoulder at the few people still straying around to see if anything else happened, as she followed them inside, stopping off briefly in the hallway.
Pulling her cell out of her jacket, she pushed a button that dialed one of the numbers she had programmed in it.
The seconds she spent waiting for him to answer seemed like hours, but finally Logan's voice came over the phone.
"Hey bab..."
"Logan, get over to Alec's now."she ordered, cutting him off mid-sentence, her voice trembling but forceful.
"Wha..?"
"Don't ask questions, just come."she said, and not giving him a chance to argue further, she broke the connection, turned off the phone, and went inside the apartment.
TBC
This was kinda long, and probably more out of character for some of the characters than even the ones before(Especially OC, who I have a problem writing for some reason) but after all it is a fan fiction, so I guess that gives me a little room for mistakes then huh?
This is turning out to be longer than I'd originally planned because honestly, I'm not even halfway through with it as of yet.
So I hope ya'll like long stories because this one might turn into one.
Don't forget to R&R!
