DISCLAIMER: i still dont own these characters, except for Aaron!

Chapter 9: Help

"So, have you enjoyed your shopping spree yet?" Max prodded, arms crossed and looking disappointed and angry.

"Oh yea, I've been living it up, Max! Especially after I lost my, ahem, substance the other night. At least that's what I told the person it was really meant for," Alec responded. He was still in a bad mood it seemed.

"About that…" Max began.

Alec put his hand up to interrupt her. "It never happened," he declared.

Max put her hand on her hip. "Excuse me! It happened, I was there! I think you have some explaining to do since you just left Joshua. What is up with you? If you do something stupid, I'll be the one that has to go out of my way to save your sorry ass!"

"Why don't you do us both a favor and quit trying to come to my rescue! I don't need your help!" Alec snapped. What was it with Max, she never just let things go. Unless of course they were good. Anything good that Alec managed to do was quickly overlooked and long forgotten, but when he messed up even a little, she went on a rampage. Normally it didn't bother him, her predictable antics, but he was sick of her negativity.

Max took the insult and paused for a moment. He didn't need her help? She almost laughed. Without her, he would probably either be recaptured by now and back at Manticore or dead by Manticore or the sector police, whoever found him first.

Of course, she also felt the sting of the comment directed upon her. He didn't need her help. She wanted to snap back, but she knew it was childish, and besides it would be a lie. She wanted to say that she also didn't need his help, but the truth was, she did. Max didn't want to admit how much Alec really meant to her. Maybe she should cut him some slack every now and then. Part of her prying was because of how upset he appeared the other night. Even though she didn't want to care, she couldn't help it.

Alec noticed the look in Max's eyes. His comment had hurt her. Good!, he thought. Maybe she'll freakin back off! But he couldn't help feeling guilty. What was it about Max? He found himself wanting to apologize even though he felt completely justified in what he'd said.

"Bip Bip! Come on people! Where are my runners? I've got two morons that didn't show, so you all are gonna have to pick up the slack! Let's go people!" Normal demanded.

Max decided to give Alec his space about whatever he was hiding from her for the moment. Besides, she did need his help.

"Alec," Max said, gently grabbing his arm to get his attention. She had a different look upon her face, much less fierce and confrontational. She must have needed something. "You may not need my help, okay. But I need yours," she admitted.

Alec wanted to laugh out loud, but he remained expressionless. Now she was not only ignoring his wishes (as usual) by not just leaving him alone, but she was also mocking him. "Maxie, if you're feeling a little lonely, all you have to do is ask! I'd be happy to be your companion for a night if it would help you out. I mean, what are friends for!"

Max smiled for once. Alec had succeeded in easing the tension, and also dodging the situation. Alec really was her friend, she could at least admit that. She wouldn't let him escape what she needed to discuss right now, however. She continued, "You know why I got the money. But I really don't want to just hand it over to Logan's sources. I don't think he can handle it right now, it's like he's given up. So I need to do this on my own." She leaned closely to whisper her next request, "Do you still have any connections at Manticore?"

Alec wondered what Max was up to. She surely wanted to see if Alec could reach a doctor for the cure. Too bad he had pissed off his only lead by not delivering the goods the other night. Now he probably would never get a 2nd chance to meet with the guy.

"What is it you're looking for?" Alec asked, whispering to Max.

"Anything." Max answered. She was stuck. She had no leads on finding her family, no idea at all where to start looking for her brother, and an impossible cure to somehow make up for a virus that no one knew about or could even study without exposing herself. Alec was currently her only connection to Manticore.

"Well, you two lovebirds can continue this private little conversation while on the move! Bip!" Normal interrupted, tossing 2 packages in their faces. "Butler Avenue, let's go!"

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Zack stared at the wound unsure of what to do. He knew that he should probably go to a hospital, but he wouldn't allow himself to do that.

"Hey mister!" a kid called, walking by.

Zack tried to hide his arm. He was in the middle of an alley, what was this lone kid doing there?

"Are you a superhero?" the kid asked.

Zack laughed slightly. "What are you doing here all by yourself? Didn't your mother tell you that alleys are a bad place to be if you're a kid? What if I was some serial killer." Zack asked. He froze as he spoke the last word. Killer. He was a killer.

The boy shook his head, "I don't got a mother. This isn't just an alley." He pointed to a makeshift tent that was hidden further back, "This is my spot. I've got Sammy here to protect me."

At the mention of the dog's name, a ferocious looking animal came out of the tent and up to the boy. He snarled at Zack. "He doesn't trust strangers." The boy explained.

"You shouldn't either," Zack warned the boy. "Sammy won't help you if you're up against a weapon."

"So you're not a superhero." The boy concluded. He stared at Zack's wound and his eyes lit up.

Zack, too stared at his cut. He noticed the reflection of metal where bone should be. Why did he have metal underneath his skin? He also realized that his wound appeared to be healing itself. He had never wrapped the bandage. By now, he should have passed out from the blood loss. But his arm was fine, fully functioning, and seemed to be healing rapidly.

"Are you a supersoldier!" the boy tried again.

Zack tensed at the question. Soldier. He looked again at the metal underneath his skin. Supersoldier. He noticed this time there was something written on the metal. He read Grey's Limited printed clearly on the metal.

"That is so cool!" the boy said, "I knew you were special! I just had a feeling. You look so strong. Did you just beat some evil bad guys!"

Zack didn't feel special. He didn't know what he felt other than confused. "They're called the enemy," he corrected the boy. Know your enemy. He thought again to his nightmares. What was he running from? The girl from his past?

"Where can I do some research around here?" Zack asked. "Do you just hang around this alley, or do you go places?"

The boy nodded, eager to help, "Across the bridge about 2 blocks from here, there's a library. I go there a lot! Let me go with you! I'll help you find the bad guys!"

Zack frowned.

"The enemy!" the boy corrected himself.

Zack shook his head, "It's not because you said it wrong, it's just.." he trailed off. Zack worked alone, he didn't need some little kid to worry about. He noticed the determined look on the boy's face, though. It reminded him of someone he cared about, another person equally determined to do things her way.

"So what's your name?" Zack asked the boy, giving in for the moment.

"Aaron!" the boy answered, excited to be part of the mission.

"Okay, Aaron," Zack continued, "Do you have a shirt I can wear to cover up this wound? I can't have any bad guys on my trail." Zack finished with a genuine smile.

"Be right back!" Aaron answered, before withdrawing to his tent.

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a/n: If you're wondering about Aaron, I can't really place this in the story, but you should know that Zack sees some of himself in Aaron- a scared, alone little boy, trying to make sense of the world. He also sees Max, her neverending spirit in Aaron, though right now Zack doesn't remember who Max is.