a/n: I realized that I didn't put a disclaimer on this fic yet! Oops! Let's see... I'm not claiming to own Dark Angel because I don't. And I probably won't post this again, so consider this an all-fic long disclaimer to the ownership
Okay, so thanks much for the feedback from the last chapter, and of course for reading. Here's the latest:
Chapter 3
"Just look at Golden Boy!" OC commented to Max, staring at the crowd gathered around Alec. "This place has been missin' that boy." She gave Max a defeated look, "What can I say, even I have missed havin' his smart-ass around."
Max took a moment to listen in to what was going on.
"And then of course I had no choice. I mean, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do," Alec told. He was clearly telling some elaborated and fake story about what he'd been up to the past week that he had missed work straight.
"Boy really knows how to hold attention!" OC again commented.
Max rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but look on affectionately. This was how the place acted after 2 weeks of his absence. What would she do when he left for who knew how long on this wild goose chase, in her mind, that was somehow supposed to protect her.
"Dude. You are lucky to be alive!" Sketchy commented to Alec with admiration.
Alec nodded, "I certainly am. If I'd been just one inch off, I wouldn't be standing here today, gentlemen!"
Normal interrupted the conversation with a tap on Alec's shoulder. "Alright, mister. I hear you were taken in by the FBI for investigation?"
Alec shook his head, "Sort of, I was called in for questioning as a witness to a high profile crime and placed in very temporary witness protection program until the man was killed unexpectedly in-"
Normal shook his head, "Woah, Woah! Stop! I don't care. Just…get this package to 2nd street, and don't skip ever again! I really shouldn't even allow you to come back to work without a written excuse."
Alec patted Normal on the back, "It's cool, Normal." He nudged Normal slightly, nodding toward him as he spoke quieter, "I've also been training for a little match on the side. Gotta keep in shape for the next big match!" He grabbed the package as he finished his sentence.
Normal couldn't help but beam at his Golden Boy. "Well…if it's for a big match…"
Max felt slightly guilty looking at Alec. He had really been enjoying life without her problems crashing into his otherwise carefree life. She turned to her friend, confiding in her. She spoke quietly so not to be overheard, "Logan contacted Alec the other night."
Cindy looked at her friend with eyes full of surprise and relief. "Well, girl, spill! What did the man say? When is he comin' back?"
Max looked sad, "I really don't know. But I have an idea of how to find out."
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Alec touched his fist with Sketchy's to return the usual gesture as their game came to a close. As usual, Alec had taken the opportunity to kick Sketchy's butt in pool. Alec no longer really cared about getting money from the poor kid. This was just how they had fun while hanging out at Crash. Who was Alec to deny their ritual, even if it always ended with Sketchy being the one to buy the next round?
Sketchy returned with another pitcher still smiling, even though he'd just been annihilated in front of the whole room for his gaming skills, or lackthereof. "Man," he said as he pounded the container on the table, "I don't even mind fronting the beer tonight! I haven't gotten whooped by you in a while, I forgot what it felt like. Thanks for the reminder!"
Alec laughed with his friend, "Anytime, Sketch!" He took a swig of his now refilled drink before commenting further. "You, know, Sketchy, I was only gone for a couple weeks," he reminded his co-worker, taking the moment to be serious.
Sketchy nodded, "Yea, man, but you know how that place is. One day feels like a week. By that estimate, you were gone for…" he trailed off as his math skills failed him.
"Enough time to not want to kick ya butt at the sight of you!" OC replied as affectionately as she could, introducing herself to their night out.
"Cindy!" Alec greeted warmly, but with as much sarcasm as ever, "Now that sounds like something Maxie would say." He immediately regretted the comment. Even when she wasn't around, it was like he couldn't escape the thought of her.
"Max has been missing you at work like crazy!" Sketchy commented, beginning to show the amount of alcohol he was consuming.
OC eyed the skater boy, wondering where he'd come up with that one.
Alec smiled, interested, "Really? What, she didn't know who's ass to blame for everything that went wrong!" He also wondered how she could possibly miss him, when she was the one keeping him away. They had seen each other every day almost nonstop ever since Logan's disappearance.
"She didn't say anything," Sketchy admitted, "But every time one of us asked about you, she just had this sadness in her eyes."
OC rolled her eyes. Sketchy was far more perceptive than anyone would ever guess or give him credit for, even when he was a bit intoxicated. "And you got a haze comin' over your eyes. Did you take any special medication today?" she asked, not wanting to read too much into his comment.
Before Sketchy could answer, all of their attention was diverted to the television at the corner of the bar, as the program switched without anyone changing the channel.
A pair of all too familiar icy eyes came onto the screen.
"This is a Streaming Freedom Video bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly 60 seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in the city."
"Yea! It's Eyes Only, guys!" Sketchy cheered in his happy drunkenness, "I love that guy!"
"Shut it," OC demanded, listening closely to the broadcast.
"While the mayor still holds his corrupt connection with the leading crime boss of the city, he still manages to keep a straight face while at a nice photo-op with children at a local school,"
Pictures accompanied the broadcast of the mayor looking very friendly and kind with school children.
"the same children whose parents' deaths came at the order of our city's dearly beloved leader."
The pictures of the mayor went away, and quickly in its place were pictures of faces of apparent victims, parents of the children, more than likely.
"As you may know, one of the dead parents left behind a set of twins, thanks to our mayor."
There was a slight pause. Sketchy and OC didn't notice, but Alec did. The pause seemed purposeful, like the broadcast was a message.
"Where are these twins now? Should we work to ensure their safety?"
The question, Alec concluded, was meant for someone specific, and the broadcast was merely a means of spreading it.
"Or should we sit idly behind, watching the mayor as he creates more of these broken families everyday? Who's life is the mayor going to ruin next? Already we have one twin asking alone in the night of his parents, Where are You."
This provided the greatest pause.
"The mayor knows the answer, and now, so do you."
The broadcast finished, on the surface about the mayor, but Alec knew better. For the past 2 weeks, Max and Alec had together discussed doing a broadcast, just to keep the enemies of Eyes Only as well as the city of Seattle under the impression that he was still alive. If anyone had been holding Logan with thoughts that he was Eyes Only, a broadcast might serve to fool his possible captors into thinking he knew nothing and releasing him. Max had mentioned how she'd done so once before, and it worked to help keep his identity safe.
But they had never decided if that was something they wanted to do right then. Alec knew the reason, though. It was clear from the message. Max was hoping to contact Logan through his own Eyes Only broadcast.
Alec wondered if it would work. Was Logan even in a position to see it? Alec realized that Logan's message had left no trace of where he was. It seemed that the only clear thing was that Logan wasn't ready to be found, and had probably risked his own safety to warn Alec about Max's.
"Yea, Eyes!" Sketchy said, lifting his glass that he apparently didn't realize was empty into the air in celebration of the man. He looked at the glass sadly as he raised it to his lips only to find nothing was coming out. He turned to Alec, "Who's turn is it?"
Alec smiled, but shook his head, "Sorry, Sketch. I think I'm gonna head home." The concern for Max had already slipped its way into his thoughts, and he knew it wouldn't go away until he saw her for himself. She was clearly troubled tonight, and he found himself feeling guilty just having a good time while she was too busy to come out and have some fun as well.
OC eyed him knowingly. She knew he was headed to Max. "Tell my girl she needs to come out tomorrow night. I haven't seen her relax in a long time now."
Alec shrugged, and then added with a smile, "I'll see what I can do."
a/n: Thanks for reading, and for feedback... next ch will show a bit more background, where exactly during Season 2 it is that Logan disappeared, and a lot of Max realizing how she considers Alec right now
