A/n: Thanks for your reviews, everyone.

Sorry I've been MIA for a while, guys, I've been savagely attacked by another story idea and a whole lot of essays. Look out for a new story from me coming soon... ish.

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Chapter 24: Alpha and Omega

"It looks like there could be a problem," Sandeman announced to the suddenly quiet room. Bling, Sebastian, Normal, Sketchy, Original Cindy and Lydecker all fixed their gazes upon him. Krit, Syl, Max, and Catalina were all still sleeping off the effects of their blood donations.

Bling was the first to voice the question. "What kind of a problem?"

"I've been doing some testing, and it seems that... the nanocytes in Logan haven't exactly cured the virus."

"But they were touching and he was fine..." Exclaimed OC.

"The nanocytes fight off the virus when it attacks Logan's cells, so he doesn't suffer any symptoms. But some of the nanocytes have been removed by his bloodloss, many more are working on repairing his current injuries, and the rest can only fight so many pathogens at a time."

"But surely the transgenic blood in him will help him to recover," said Lydecker.

"It would, but as I'm sure you know, Colonel, nanocytes have to be specifically programmed to the DNA of an individual," Sandeman explained. "So, if that individual receives a blood transfusion from someone with different DNA..." there was a long pause.

"The nanocytes attack the foreign material," said Sebastian.

"In the simplest terms, the remaining nanocytes are not only fighting the virus as best they can, they're also attacking the donated blood. The donated blood is attacking the virus and the nanocytes in return, and it seems Logan himself is fighting back too; he appears to have acquired some immunity from his previous exposures to the virus. Quite frankly it's the biological equivalent of World War Three in there."

"But he is going to be ok, isn't he?" Asked OC.

"Honestly, I don't know. We have no idea what other procedures the familiars put him through. He's in x ray now, and we'll put him through an MRI scan next. Until I know exactly what we're dealing with I daren't treat any of his symptoms except in the most basic, non invasive ways."

"Why the hell did you give him the transfusion in the first place, if you knew it was so dangerous?" Asked Bling angrily.

"Because he would have died from blood loss without it. At least this way he has a chance," Sandeman replied.

"He'd have had a whole lot better chance if you hadn't taken so much blood from him in the first place," argued Original Cindy.

"I know. But we're going to need every drop we can get to stop the coming. I chose to risk one life instead of millions. I stand by my decision."

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Max awoke in her room, alone save for a sleeping Catalina. In less than five seconds she remembered her dream and knew something was wrong with Logan. She disconnected the saline IV from her arm and stood, swaying as a wave of dizziness and nausea rolled over her. Leaning against the wall for support, Max made her way over to the door and opened it, unnoticed.

The scene before her was one that in other circumstances she might find amusing. Sketchy and Bling were struggling to hold back an obviously furious Original Cindy, who was fighting to get to a clearly nervous Sandeman.

"Let go of me, fools!" Yelled Cindy. "I'm gonna show this SOB the meaning of the word 'expendable'!"

"Something going on I should know about?" Asked Max quietly. The whole scene stilled as everyone turned to look at her.

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"Yo, sleeping beauty! You gonna lie there moaning all day or wake up and talk to me?" asked Jondy of the groaning Alec.

His hazel eyes flickered open, still clouded with sleep. "Huh? Jondy?" He asked confusedly. Suddenly he was sitting bolt upright on the floor, words spilling from his lips.

"You're finally awake! Are you ok?"

"I've been better," she replied, rolling her eyes. "You worried about me?"

"Worried? Me? Yeah, actually."

Jondy wasn't quite sure how to respond. "Why?" She asked shyly.

"I've lost too many friends lately," Alec replied, not meeting her eyes.

"I heard about Joshua," Jondy ventured. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault." They sat in awkward silence for a full minute.

"I should really be getting back to the command centre," said Alec eventually. "There's probably a lot of work to be done."

"Yeah, I expect so," Jondy replied. Alec got to his feet and stretched until his stiff bones cracked. Then, uncertainly, he knelt beside Jondy and gripped her hand.

"Get well soon," he said simply, leaning down to plant a chaste kiss on her forehead. He began to rise, but Jondy's hand snaked to the back of his head and pulled his lips down to hers.

When they broke apart, both had small, satisfied smiles on their faces.

"You know, that's a hell of a headache cure," whispered Jondy.

"Really? Well, in that case..." Alec kissed her again, until they were forced to come up for air. Considering both could hold their breath for over five minutes, this took a while.

"Better?" Alec asked.

"Much," Jondy confirmed, "but weren't you going to command?"

"I'm sure they can cope without me," he replied, leaning in again.

The door opened and the pair looked up, startled.

"Oops," said Gem. "Sorry to interrupt, but Dix and Mole are tearing the place down looking for you."

Alec looked back down at Jondy. "Go," she said, barely rolling her eyes. He pecked her on the lips and then rose reluctantly. "I expect a lot more medicine later," she said with a smile.

"Yes, ma'am," Alec replied. He turned to go, leaving her with Gem after one last longing glance. Absently, Jondy reached a hand up to touch her mouth, brushing against her now close cropped hair as she did so.

"What the hell happened to my hair?" She exclaimed, suddenly bolting upright to feel it all over in panic.

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Sandeman sat at one of Sebastian's numerous computer terminals, studying the information on the screen in disbelief. "Good heavens," he said.

"What the hell...?" Asked Bling, coming up behind him to look at the images.

"Indeed." The picture was an X- ray of Logan's legs, in ghostly monochrome.

"Logan must have been close to death when they found him," said Sandeman. "Most of the bone in his legs has been wired back together like a kind of jigsaw, and then the nanocytes have covered the whole lot in a layer of new bone."

"At least we can see that his ankle isn't broken," said Bling, pointing it out.

"No, it seems to be only a severe sprain. Although I'm sure the force required to do it would have snapped the bone in anyone else."

"What else have you found?"

"The battle with the virus is taking a lot out of him. The organs which aren't needed to fight it are barely ticking over."

"Have you considered filtering the nanocytes out of the blood he donated and re-injecting them into his bloodstream?"

"That would only increase the rate the X5 blood is destroyed; and he needs it to survive. In fact, another transfusion might help. Other than that, I don't think there's much we can do."

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Bennett parked the familiar's stolen sedan outside the modest house (by Cale standards) he shared with Marianne, but made no movement to get out.

"Bennett?" His wife said uncertainly.

"Bennett! You got out!" Logan sounded delighted as he reached up from the field hospital floor to grasp his cousin's hand. His bright blue eyes flickered over his shoulder and came to rest on the woman behind him. "You both did," he added.

"Yeah, Marianne saved my ass," said Bennett. "I think... I'd like us to try and work things out."

"You sure?" Asked Logan, raising an eyebrow at his cousin.

"Yeah. I am. So... we have your blessing?"

"If that's what you want, Bennett, who am I to stand in your way? But I don't think Max and I will be accepting any invites to dinner anytime soon."

"That's ok, you never did before either. Thank you, Logan."

"Hey, what are family for. Stay in touch, Bennett. And Marianne?"

The familiar stepped forwards. "Take good care of my baby cousin, ok? I'd be very... upset... if anything happened to him."

"I will. I'll protect him with my life." Logan nodded, accepting her word.

"Did you mean it?" Asked Marianne. "When you said you wanted to try and work things out?"

"I meant it. You're my wife, and when you say you love me... I believe you."

"It's the truth," she said passionately.

"But you need to start being honest with me about everything else in your life. Can you do that? Can you trust me as much as I do you?"

"I will, Bennett. I'll tell you everything. I can't lose you; I love you too much."

"I love you too, Marianne." Bennett leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, like the first kiss of two nervous teenagers. And in a sense, it was their first; the first honest kiss they'd ever shared.

But both of them were determined it wouldn't be the last.

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Max sat by Logan's side, holding his hand through two pairs of latex gloves. His face was flushed, and periodically she would wipe the sweat from his brow with a damp cloth. Small lesions had broken out on his skin, but other than that he could have just been sleeping.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, Logan Cale," said Max firmly. "If you die on me I'll kick your ass." Her voice softened, and she leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"You can't leave me. You promised," she said, just as the heart monitor he was attached to began to drone, to match the flat line on the screen.

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Sorry, Maria! I've been out of action so long I really needed an outlet for my ECWS. It was starting to eat my brain.