The Break

Show: Dark Angel

Rating: M

Status: WIP

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairing: M/A

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from anything, nor anything else

Summary: Even super-soldiers have limits. Max unknowingly pushes Alec to breaking point. The newly appointed leader of the Freaks finds he has some unexpected emotional issues to deal with.

Chapter 3: What's Done

Cindy fell asleep in the chair by the bed, but Max couldn't sleep. She'd been thinking over what OC had told her and either her conscience or her pride wouldn't let her forget about it. Something else was going on. It seemed that a confrontation was going to be inevitable and if so then it was going to be on her terms not his, she decided. She figured Alec was probably just waiting for her to recover enough so that he could kill her himself but she'd be damned if she was going to give him the satisfaction. Max glanced over at her old friend making sure she was asleep before she attempted to get up. She moved slowly flinching in pain as she stood on her own feet for the first time since her trauma. Her body had endured a lot and despite the morphine and her enhanced healing capabilities she still felt every movement acutely. She pulled on a hoody and after one last lingering look at this place of calm she went in search of her storm.

If he was as busy as everyone said then she would find Alec at HQ. She moved as quickly as physically possible over to the building at the centre of all Terminal City's activity and fortunately for her not more than a block from the infirmary. As she stepped inside a strange hush seemed to pass through the room. She ignored it. She was sure she looked bad, she felt drained from the effort of getting just this far and already sweating from what, for anyone else, should have been an easy trip. She leant against the wall to catch her breath while she scanned the room for her target.

She soon spotted him standing on the raised platforms dressed all in black talking to two of the boys from salvage. He clearly hadn't seen her and for now she was happy to let it remain that way until she felt brave enough to confront him, preferably away from prying eyes. He was giving orders she was sure of it. It was the way his brow nit together and his stance was strong yet open. There was something different about the way he was addressing them though, his usual happy-go-lucky wink-and-a-smile approach was missing, she could tell by their straight backs and tense shoulders. For this now somewhat objective distance he looked powerful. The conversation she'd been watching finished and as his two companions barely stopped themselves from saluting he walked off up to his office. Max saw her opportunity and took it. Mole and Dix exchanged looks as they watched her mount the staircase.

"Uh oh." Dix mumbled

"What I wouldn't give for front row seats to that show." Mole chuckled.

-----------

Max walked in without knocking and stood just inside the doorway. He was standing in front of his desk organising the contents of his rucksack clearly gearing up for a heist. She recognised his black op gear: the black high-necked sweater, black cargo pants and his leather fingerless gloves. The lack of his usual casual ease made her hesitate, and suddenly she wasn't sure about how to broach this 'confrontation.' She didn't want to provoke him too soon. When she saw his hand still over the Glock he had laid on the table she knew she was out of time.

He knew she was there.

He took a deep breath to brace himself before turning slowly towards her. His face was guarded but his eye were dark and dangerous.

"Hi" she said venturing a smile.

"You shouldn't be here." he said turning back around to finish with his preparations.

"Why not?" Max said barely keeping her anger at being so coolly brushed off, in check.

"Because you should be getting yourself right." He said evenly. Max softened a little.

"I'm fine." She said.

"I can see you're not, you're barely standing..."

"I'm fine." She insisted. Alec slammed the bag down on the table making her flinch.

"Why don't you ever listen to me!?" He shouted staring hard down at her. If she had wanted him to look at her before it was not like this and it certainly wasn't now. The ice in his eyes and the ferocity behind them made her want to squirm. She had never found him intimidating until now, but she refused to show it and she refused to back down.

"I can do whatever I damn well please."

"Oh and fuck everyone else! Is that it? Who cares what anyone else thinks or feels or wants? huh?!"

"It's my life, I can do what I want with it."

"Including throwing it away!?" Alec was beyond angry, he had passed that point days ago and now his whole body quivered with fury. Max could feel it rolling off him in waves and it made her falter. She registered the danger that was there and for the first time she thought perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea. Alec saw her shutter and reigned himself in.

"I didn't want to do this now." He ran a hand through his hair agitatedly. "I have work to do." He turned away, dismissing her a second time.

"What is wrong with you?!" Max was more hurt than she should be, "What?! I haven't said two words to you and you fly off the handle?! is it because I haven't said thank you?"

"Thank you?! I don't want gratitude." He growled, looking at her again.

"What do you want?"

"An apology for a start."

"An apology?!" she said incredulously, "For what?"

"You have got to be kidding me." Alec laughed but there was no mirth behind it, "You can not be serious? You're going to tell me you have no idea why I might be angry? That you hadn't expected some consequences to your little stunt? Did you think I would just brush it off? dust it under the carpet? You are going to face this Max."

As his words ricocheted around her head she had a sudden flash of de ja vu. And a desperate voice surfaced shouting 'You screwed up this time, YOU DID! And you are going to face this' in a memory but she couldn't quite place.

"Fine, I'm sorry, ok?"

"Oh please say it like you mean it Max." Alec said and the sarcasm dripping off every word.

"Fine, you clearly have something to say, so lets have it." She said her own anger giving her the strength to challenge him, "Give it to me then. The whole speech, come on. Say what you mean Alec, lets not beat about the bush. Tell me how you feel. Tell me I'm stupid, go ahead list my faults, give me all the reasons you dislike me so much, why I'm a bad example. Come on, I can take it and you've clearly been storing it up. Tell why I'm not worth your time. Don't disappoint me now Alec." Alec's face shut down quickly and the fight she wanted was no longer facing her. In fact she found it hard to discern any feelings in him at all, good or bad.

"Max...I'm done with this," Alec said gesturing between them, "I have a job to do, a job you handed me. I going to do what is best for everyone, so don't flatter yourself into thinking this was anything to do with you or us. We are through. You've made it clear you don't want my help, so I don't care for yours. You're going to stay out of things from now on and you are going to stay out of my way, we are done." Max stepped back as if physically struck. She was speechless, Alec had never been so cold with her nor so absolutely serious. Someone knocked and then Speed appeared at the door also dressed in black.

"Its time." He said addressing Alec. Alec just nodded and went to leave but Max grabbed his arm.

"What, that's it?" She asked desperately.

"It's enough." He shook her arm off and left pushing past Speed on his way out. Speed hesitated watching Max a moment as she looked away from the door to hide her face. It seemed strange how she who had once been held so high now seemed so small.

"Are you okay Max?" he ventured.

"Fine." She said shortly. As she heard him leave, clicking the door shut quietly after him, she let the tears that had been threatening to fall all this time tumble down her cheeks.

Alone, she began to cry in earnest.

A/N: Two chapters posted at once! I'm surprised at myself. What do you think?