The Break
Show: Dark Angel
Rating: M
Status: WIP
Genre: Drama/Romance
Pairing: M/A
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from anything, or anything else
Summary: Even supersoldiers 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.
A/N: Sorry about the wait for the post but I've been worked off my feet. I have the next chapter written in rough just need an afternoon to myself to type it up. But in the mean time...
Chapter 5: Make or…
Max paced up and down outside HQ wringing her hands trying to work up the courage to go inside. Since her near death experience everyone had been noticing a change in Alec and it seemed she was not the only one mourning the loss of the sometimes cocky but ever cheerful rouge he had been known to be. Everyone seemed to blame her for it which made her current role as peripheral observer to all of TC's activities much worse because now Alec was not the only one not talking to her. She had been sulking for a long time but she managed to shake herself out of it. She was Max for god's sake, she took down Manticore, she evaded Lydecker for years, and now she was cowering and moping and doing nothing? No way. She was no coward. These thoughts had fuelled her to the door of HQ determined to face things like Alec wanted, determined to face Alec and make him talk to her. But now standing outside the door she faltered.
"Go in." A voice called from behind her. Turing round she saw Joshua standing behind her with his arms crossed.
"Hey big fella," she smiled.
"Go see Alec." Max looked towards the door, then back at her friend.
"It's not that easy," She sighed.
"Alec's tricks and treat turned sour like lemons. Max afraid to open door, afraid of what might come out. Go. Try." Max bit her lip and looked at the door a moment more. "Go make lemonade." Max smiled at Josh and went in and straight up to Alec's office where, by the looks of the tall piles of paperwork, he had been all day. He glanced up at her as she walked in but succeeded in seeming indifferent.
"Hi," Max said knowing she would get no response but she was determined to break the silent treatment. "Can we talk?" Alec didn't say a word but Max figured if he wanted her to leave he was going to have to tell her. She sat down and put her feet up on his desk. "Alec." she continued watching him for any kind of reaction: irritation, resign, joy, misery, even mild indigestion would do at this point. "I'm not going until you talk to me, this is your chance to get whatever it is out of your system, Cindy thinks your going to pop and I'm inclined to agree with her."
But Alec did nothing. For once Max was not underestimating him, he was one manicore's best and breaking him would be hard, but she had hoped that maybe he would be ready to meet her half way. "This is ridiculous. It's childish. I know you are still pissed but just ignoring me isn't going to make it all go away. It's hardly the mature way to deal with it." Max wanted to scream. This was infuriating and what was worse is that he was probably loving it. Knowing that he was winding her up was how he got his jollies, she was sure of it. But she needed to reign herself in because showing it would only make him harder to break.
She took her feet off the desk and instead leant her body forward onto it. Dirty tactics were needed here and she had an arsenal of them.
"You know there are much more fun ways not to talk to me." She offered suggestively. She was almost offended when the reaction was less than nothing. She frowned
"How about we make a deal, for every sentence you say I strip off an item of clothing? ... No? How about an item a word?"
Nothing.
Her offer was flatly ignored. In any other circumstances this situation would be funny but the light feeling of desperation that stirred in her stomach made it impossible to laugh. But if he laughed…
"Come on you've never been quiet for this long it's driving me crazy. If possible it's more annoying. It gives a new meaning to 'can't live with it, but can't live without it."
Alec started ordering his paper work and Max wondered if he planned to leave soon. Perhaps she was making some progress after all, she needed to believe it. Perhaps shock tactics would work.
"Alec, I think I'm pregnant and Mole is the father, what should I do?"
Nothing apparently.
"Actually I'm running away with Cindy, I can't deny it any longer, I'm a Lesbian."
No response.
"The runes aren't real, I've been tattooing myself."
Still nothing and now Alec really started to get up and leave. So Max got up too and pressed on.
"I'm a cross dresser that's why they call me Max." Alec shut his things in a drawer "I have starfish DNA which means I can turn my stomach inside out." He moved over to the coach "I'm not actually Max, I've been Sam all this time," He picked up his jacket and made for the door. "I'm handing myself over to White, to see if he can't finish the job."
"DON'T YOU DARE JOKE ABOUT THAT!!" His words ripped through the air as his fiery rage resurfaced darkening his eyes as he turned to finally speak to her. His anger burned in his eyes, clouded his features and the room seemed to momentarily vibrate with it. It stunned her into silence. And then she saw it; she watched him meticulously shut himself down and bottle-up his feelings again with frightening speed. Cindy was right he was not dealing at all.
"I'm sorry." She said calmly and sincerely as Alec reverted back to what he had been before his outburst, as if it had never happened. He turned away and started to leave again.
"Alec, please, don't do this. You can't just bottle it away. You're going to snap. Talk to me, yell at me, hit me, anything! Just don't do this. I was stupid; I know I was wrong okay. I walk around like I've got a stick up my ass, like I'm untouchable, like I'm the queen of the universe, I know and I'm sorry, Alec?!" Alec opened the door of his office and looked down as a number of Transgenics below scattered below him trying to disguise the fact that they had obviously been listening. He had made it down two steps when Max's hand shot out and grabbed his sleeve. She held on to it like a vice halting him but he did not turn around.
"Alec," Max whispered "You said you wanted me to face this, well here I am ready to take the consequences but I need you to tell me how, I need to you to explain my crime so I can understand my punishment. I need you to ... I just need you." Max watched the back of his head with bated breath. "Alec, I need you." She said again.
Nothing happened for a long time.
"Damn it." Alec whispered to himself shaking his head. He turned to look at her over his shoulder. Her face was determined and her eyes seemed hopeful.
"Please." She whispered. Alec sighed and looked back around at the room below.
"Follow me." He murmured and then walked on. Max moved quickly to fall in behind him following him through HQ, out across the quad and away from prying eyes. He led her into a warehouse that had been used for vehicle storage and repairs. Max looked around at the space devoid of life, occupied only by a single open topped truck and a Cadillac that was half taken apart.
Max looked back around at Alec and began to lose her nerve again as he started to lock them in together, alone.
A/N: hmmmm, There's a slightly different feel to this chapter. See what you think. More to follow shortly I promise. Thanks. Really appreciate the reviews.