Disclaimer: I don't own the show Dark Angel, I don't own the characters either. Life just wouldn't be complete if I wasn't allowed to at least write fanfic for it though.
A/N: Alright, so despite the homework and other crap I should be doing, I chose to write the next chapter. Here it is: chapter 5. Hope you enjoy it. And don't forget to review!!
Always a Woman
Chapter Five: Answers and Evidence
Logan turned nervously back to the man that Alec had brought with him. The vile of red liquid ominously held in his hand. "What is that?"
"It's Max's blood. I drew some just before Alec came to get her." Macpherson turned to Alec. "I was going to see if I could see what exactly is happening inside of her."
"Yeah, sure. I think I saw a microscope in the basement." Alec moved to the door. "Some kind of lab equipment too, if you need it. I guess Sandeman liked to take his work home with him."
"Really?" Macpherson frowned, though it was something that Sandeman would do. "All I need for now is the microscope and staging slides."
"Sure," and he descended the stairs. Alec rummaged through papers, and under what seemed like miles of white dust-sheeting before he found the table-top microscope and box of slides. They really needed to clean out the basement. Other than the obvious piano and paint supplies left behind by Joshua, they didn't know what could have been stored down there.
When Alec came up from the basement, Macpherson had relocated to the kitchen, syringe in hand ready to prepare a slide for microscopic investigation. Alec set the microscope on the table and gave the box of slides to the doctor while he uncovered the equipment from the plastic bags it had been wrapped in for protection. Then he moved to sit across the table and waited for the doctor's results.
"Alright, let's see this." Macpherson sat before the microscope and slid the slide in place under the lens. He changed the magnification several times, before settling with one and evaluating the blood sample.
(A/N: I know that's not how genetic coding is seen, but give me a little wiggle room. I can't remember how the red blood cells are separated from the plasma or what the plasma is put into to see the genetic code…so, let's pretend it's that easy…)
The doctor slowly looked away from the microscope. He turned concerned eyes to the rest of the room. "Well, we have our answer." He hesitated. He knew Alec, at least, would not be too happy with his findings. "She's becoming human."
Alec stared blankly at the doctor for a moment. Then he stood and went to the doorway, staring absently at Max's sleeping form on the couch.
"What exactly does that mean?" Logan moved closer, wanting to look into the microscope and see for himself.
The doctor moved the microscope away from the other man. He was certainly no scientist and wouldn't understand what he saw, even if he was allowed access to the microscope. Instead, Macpherson explained the findings himself. "Max's DNA is stripping itself of every transgenic characteristic. Her body is shredding the genetic manipulations that Manticore applied."
Alec didn't move as the information sunk in. "Anything that Manticore did to her," Alec reaffirmed. "So that means that the virus doesn't exist anymore, either."
"Virus?" Macpherson questioned.
"Yeah," Alec reluctantly supplied, realizing the implications, "the last time Max was at Manticore they gave her a retro-fitted virus that was DNA-specific, aimed at killing only one person." He turned and gestured at the other Ordinary in the room. "Logan."
"Interesting. Yes, I remember something like that being in her file. Director Renfro ordered it, am I right?" Macpherson cringed as he said the name. She had been a horrible woman.
Alec nodded.
"You mean I can touch her and not get sick?" Logan looked ecstatic at the news.
"Yes, I suppose." Macpherson frowned, exchanging a nervous glance with Alec.
"You know what else it means, don't you, Logan?" Alec stood up straight, blocking the way to the other room as Logan made to move in that direction. He couldn't keep himself from commenting. "Your own personal cat-burglar is out of commission as well."
"Shut up, Alec. That's not what it was ever about. I thought we settled that." Logan sat at the table again, his arms on the table, as he glowered.
"No. You denied it. But I know the truth." Alec crossed his arms over his chest, not daring to look triumphant, and resisting the urge to stick his tongue out at the older man.
The men heard a knock at the front door and turned to stare through the doorway. No one moved. Apprehension drew on each of them, and Logan merely looked on in confusion as Alec and Macpherson exchanged worried looks.
"Alec? Are you in there?" OC's voice came muffled through the thick wooden door. "Damn, boy. You called me over here and you're not even in there. Fool, better not be cryin' no wolf story on me!"
"Hang on," Alec called, moving to the front door and let his friend in. "Sorry, OC. We're just a little tense around here."
"And why's that? White gone and spooked y'all?" The black girl ducked under his arm as he held the door for her.
"Well…" Alec trailed of, ushering her into the kitchen. "First, we'll make introductions, then we'll discuss the headache." He waved a hand in the doctor's direction. "That's Macpherson. Formerly a Manticorean geneticist with the start-up of the transgenic program, now apparently a generally nice guy trying to do the right thing. He's trying to protect the series he helped create and fight those who want to kill all off us test-tube kiddies." He then gestured at OC. "This is Original Cindy, all-girl-team player, down-ass female, straight-up friend, trustworthy, loyal…you get the picture," he side-stepped the irritated punch she swung at him.
"Why exactly is Cindy here?" Logan questioned edging toward the doorway of the kitchen.
"Well, now that the whole party's here we can explain it and not leave anyone out." Alec threw a withering glare at Logan, impeding the older man's progress into the other room. Logan gave a defeated sigh, and gestured for the doctor to explain the situation.
"Original Cindy?" Macpherson tested the name.
"Call me Cindy, suga'," she offered, sitting at the table across from him.
"Very well, Cindy then. To explain the beginning of the situation, Max had a bit of a bad spell earlier today. And, because of it, we've discovered that her transgenic DNA is fraying from the inside out." At the quizzical look he received, he explained, "Max is becoming like a normal human, none of her transgenic specifications are sticking."
"So my home girl's lab-wiring is coming undone. Manticore failed again, big surprise there." OC leaned back in the low kitchen chair. She stopped, and thought. "Does that mean that bitch-virus is on the out and out, too?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes," Alec offered sullenly. "But, if you remember, Max being human means no super speed, no excelled agility, no high-jumping ability…in short, Max can't do anything to defend herself."
"So?" Logan asked, drawing a blank as to why this could cause a problem.
"So," Alec rolled his eyes at the man's stupidity, "if White tracks Max anywhere and corners her, she has no chance of escape on her own." He couldn't believe Logan hadn't thought of this for himself. "And since Macpherson and I assumed that Max had been traced back to your apartment," he looked at OC, "leaving it up for grabs to the Familiars, I figured you wouldn't be safe there either. That's why we called you."
"Right." OC responded absently, tasting the fear of what could have happened had she gone home. She slowly absorbed everything that they had told her, processing it even slower. When the full meaning of every word had been gained, she stood and looked around for Max. She hadn't been anywhere in sight when she came into the house. She looked fearfully at Alec, pleading with him to tell her that she was with them and safe. "Where is Max?" she asked evenly, threatening the possibility that any harm had come to her.
Alec turned and led her to the living room, where Max still slept soundly on the couch. OC sighed and leaned over the back of the couch, brushing Max's hair out of her face with a motherly gesture. Max was safe—for now, at least.
… … …
Some hours later, Max groaned as she tried to shift on the dark leather couch. She felt like her brain had gone through a light show with 1000 watt bulbs and strobe lights. As she blinked in repetition, getting her brain to recognize her surroundings, a rough face swam above her. "Oh my GOD!"
"Max! You're awake! Finally." Logan tried to wrap his arms around her, but she was just barely able to keep his arms back.
"Get away from me, Logan. Don't touch me!" Max cringed, shrinking as far away as she could.
"But, Max. You don't carry the virus anymore, it won't hurt me." Logan continued to try to pull her toward him, she continued to fight with the little strength she had. "You must be a bit delirious...we still don't really know how or what happened to you."
"You fool! I am not delirious, and I am most certainly not worried about your life! I want you to get away from me!" Max's strength was ebbing fast, she needed help. "Alec!"
Listening to the commotion from the kitchen, Alec found no end to pleasure when he heard her call his name for help. No more prompting was needed for the male transgenic to step around the corner, tossing a glance at Macpherson and OC, and remove a desperate Logan from a struggling Max with a single hand. Alec sat on the coffee table near the couch, acting as a barrier between Logan and his 'confused' love.
"Alec!" Logan stood up from the floor and straightened his rumpled clothing. "What do you think you're trying to do?"
"Trying?" Alec raised his eyebrows, amused at the Ordinary's choice of words. "My friend, the word is 'succeeding.' And I am succeeding in protecting my interests. Max obviously doesn't want you near her. And since her condition at this point in time is questionable, I had to intervene on her behalf." Alec evaluated the older man as he stretched and worked his left shoulder, with which he had landed on the floor. "Gee, I hope I didn't hurt you," he said dryly.
Logan pursed his lips and turned to his computer indignantly. Alec smirked, then straightened and turned to Max. "We checked out your bloodwork, and there's something I should probably tell you--I really am sorry to say it, but you're totally human, Max."
Max looked disbelievingly at him. "What?" Alec only nodded, mournfully, at the news. Every implication surrounding this revelation slammed her consciousness with brashness that, if she wasn't sitting, would have weakened her knees and caused her to land unceremoniously on her butt. "You mean…?" Max didn't dare speak it, so afraid she was of being defenseless.
Alec looked at the coffee table before meeting her eyes again. "Yes. Just like trying to fend of Logan," he tossed a heated glance in the man's direction, "you wouldn't be able to do anything against any of the Familiars."
"This has to be a nightmare. Pinch me. Really." Max offered her arm to Alec.
He only shook his head and Max dropped her arm onto her lap. "It's not a dream Max. Trust me, I wish it were. That way you could wake up at any moment and kick my ass for the frustration this whole stupid scenario is causing you."
"Why would I kick your ass? It's not your fault." Max bit the inside of her mouth, trying to adjust to the new knowledge.
"I know it's not, but it would make me feel better, knowing that you're ok." Alec hated thinking of Max as weak or unable to take care of herself.
"Right, so you could antagonize me into realigning your anatomy," she smirked at him, the sarcasm playing in her voice.
"Exactly. Now that we've sorted out the details," he offered playfully. But he soon sobered again. "I think I'll hang around from now on though. You and OC will live here—" Max looked aghast. "What? It's not bad, you'll be safe. As far as we know, White knows nothing about this place." She shrugged in compliance and waved for him to continue. "And I'll hang around for support." He winked at her.
"Support?" Max blinked at him. "Somehow when you say it, it just sounds wrong."
A/N: Well, what do you think of this one? Eh, eh? Review, please, and let me know. Please let it be more than a simple "that was great" or "need to delete the whole thing and start again." Substance people! Tell me, does it follow itself properly? Make sense? Any suggestions would be great!!
A/N2: Now, don't be expecting the next chapter to appear in the next week like this one has…I do have to do my homework eventually. But I promise I will be working on it, and hopefully have it up soon. For now, sit back and contemplate the possibilities…