Disclaimer: Still don't own Dark Angel or Phantom Stallion. No matter how much I wish.

I'm so sorry for the long wait on this chapter.

The beat of the music vibrated through Alec's body as soon as he entered Crash. Making his way over to the bar he ordered a glass of scotch. The adrenaline rush he got from the heist he pulled with Max was starting to wane and he was getting bored. "Here you go," said the barkeep.

"Thanks man," he said, paying for the drink.

Taking a drink he turned back to the crowd, searching for something to catch his attention. He could hear some of the guys from work playing pool in the back and a pretty brunette two tables down was trying to catch his eye but still his eyes searched the crowd for something or someone else. Finally he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. After a few rings someone answered.

"Yeah."

"I'm bored," said Alec.

"Nice to meet cha' bored, I'm Sam."

"Very funny. Seriously, I'm bored here. Entertain me," ordered Alec.

"Jeez, so bossy. Haven't you ever heard of the word please?"

Alec smiled remembering that that was the same thing she said the first time he ever gave her an order back at Manticore. "I vaguely remember hearing something about it," replied Alec. He heard someone call to Sam over the phone. "Look, Alec, as much as I would love to stir up some trouble with you, I'm kind of busy at the moment."

"What's going on?" asked Alec, he'd been hearing computer noises and a police scanner in the back ground.

"A chimeras been murdering people. We're trying to find 'em before he or she kills again," said Sam sounding distracted.

"Chimera?" asked Alec focusing on her use of chimera instead of transgenic, "And who's we?"

"First off, chimera just has a better ring to it than transgenic and as for the 'we,' well, you'll find the answer to that at Terminal City," said Sam before hanging up.

Alec put his phone away and downed the rest of his drink before making his way out of Crash.

The scent of blood filled his nose, he could feel it seeping through his fingers and slipping down to stain his pant leg. It had been a trap. Of course, it had been a trap and he would've seen it if he hadn't been blinded by his emotions.

He remembered after entering the house that it was the quiet that first alerted him. There had been no sound of children playing, parents yelling to settle down, no sound or smell of dinner being made. But he knew the house wasn't empty because he could hear the heartbeats and the sound of breathing.

Just as he was entering the family room he heard the sound of a gun being cocked, he barely dodged the bullet aimed for his head and the next thing he knew there was men with guns swarming him. Dodging bullets and blades he took the men down one by one till he saw an escape route right up the stairs. As soon as he reached the top a door opened on his left revealing another man with a gun. Blurring down the hall he saw a door to his right and took it. It was a bedroom with a dresser on his right, a bed and night stand on his left, and a window straight ahead. He could hear the men right behind him. Running across the room he crashed through the window. The thought that he might make it out of there unscathed had just crossed his mind when something hit him hard in the hip causing him to land awkwardly and painfully.

Despite the injury he was able to make it out of there and lose any pursuit, now he kept to the shadows and tried to find a safe place to rest. He was just about to cross the street when he caught a scent he recognized coming from the opposite direction. The scent was from someone he knew would help him.

Few blocks later, he found the scent coming from an open window of a run-down house. Walking up the steps sent waves of pain coursing through him but he got inside. Just as he started down the hall the one whose scent he'd been following stepped into sight.

"Hey Joshua," he said. Despite what's happen to him this past month he couldn't help but smile a little at Joshua. The smile revealed a set of canine teeth.

"011," said Joshua.

"It's Cujo now," he said resting against the wall.

"You're hurt!" exclaimed Joshua rushing forward to help.

"Oh," he said looking down at the bullet wound as if just now realizing he'd been shot, "That explains the searing pain."

Joshua helped him into the living room and got him seated on the floor. "First aid," said Joshua rushing out of the room. He returned a few moments later with a first aid kit and towels. Once they had everything they would need set out Cujo went to work on removing the bullet. It was wedged into the bone so he had to wiggle the tweezers around a little until he got a grip on the bullet, gritting his teeth to hold back the howls that wanted to come out, he took a deep breath through his nose and pulled quick and hard.

While Joshua applied pressure to the wound, Cujo grabbed his pocketknife and lighter and started heating the blade. "Move," ordered Cujo once the blade was red hot. He breathed through the pain smelling the burnt flesh.

"Who shot you?" asked Joshua, applying bandages as soon as the wound was done being cauterized.

"One of the men assigned to kill us," he said, panting.

"Where's 013?" asked Joshua looking around like he expected her to appear out of nowhere. 013, like Cujo, had wolf DNA; they were close back at Manticore.

"She's dead. They killed her a month ago," said Cujo his voice breaking, "Her name was Star."

"Star," said Joshua trying out the name, picturing the white haired blue eyed girl, "Suits her." He sat down next to Cujo, "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, they'll pay," said Cujo his voice stronger.

When Alec turned the corner he saw Sam waiting at the mouth of an alley. The rain was hitting Sam's cowgirl hat and running over the sides protecting her face from the rain. Alec almost envied her. The rain was running through his hair, down onto his face, the back of his neck and seeping beneath his jacket collar to soak the back of his shirt. It was irritating as hell.

"It makes me feel all good inside that you waited out here to greet me," said Alec.

"I'm just here to make sure you don't get lost or stick your nose where it doesn't belong and get your head blown off," said Sam walking into the trash ridden alley.

"Well at least you care," he said falling into step with Sam.

"I wouldn't say I care so much as I think you could be useful."

"Nice to know how much I mean to you," said Alec clutching his heart in mock hurt. Sam just rolled her eyes. At the end of the alley there was a fence that went around Terminal City, a jagged hole was cut into the chain link fence. They squeezed through into a wide street with homeless people, addicts, and teen runaways.

"How'd your heist with Max go?" asked Sam.

"Went off without a hitch," answered Alec as he scanned over the condemned buildings. He noticed light from the fires, set by the people to keep warm, reflecting off something on the buildings. Looking closer he saw that it was the lens of a rotating camera. They were well concealed, he noted. Before he could comment about them Sam asked, "How much did you make?"

The smile she sent him made him think she knew he'd spotted the camera's. "20 grand," answered Alec. She looked at him in disbelief. "Max wanted the money now and besides she doesn't completely trust me."

Sam scoffed, "Guess she learned the last time." Everyone back at Manticore knew not to trust anyone even each other, so when Alec was given the mission to find Eyes Only and was able to gain Max's trust so easily Sam was shocked and disappointed that someone from Manticore could be that gullible.

"No, not really but apparently second times the charm," said Alec. He ignored Sam's questioning look.

They continued down cluttered main streets, down side alleys, and through gutted buildings. Finally they came to a run down diner with boarded up windows. Inside broken tables and chairs were strewn about and everything was covered in dust. He caught a fading scent of transgenics and when he looked at the floor he saw that it had been swept clear of dust. Alec followed Sam past the front counter into the backroom where it became pitch-black. A human never would've seen his hand in front of his face but thanks to their acute night-vision they could navigate their way to the back door. The door opened into another alley though this one was mostly clear of trash. Sam lead him down another set of streets that appeared devoid of life but the hair at the back Alec's neck was standing up. He was being watched and not just by the camera's. They walked into a large warehouse and over to a metal gate that Sam banged on with her fist and then waved at a camera hidden above the gate. Few seconds later the gate came up with a groan as soon as they were through the gate came back down. Alec spotted two transhumans perched in the rafters one was giving the all clear on a radio. Sam and Alec continued exiting the warehouse onto a street with transgenics coming and going from buildings. "Welcome to Freak Nation," said Sam. Alec could hear drills and the pounding of hammers. He saw an X6 run by carrying pipes and boards. "I've got to get back to what I was doing earlier. So you can either come help me or look around," said Sam beginning to walk backwards.

"You mentioned that a chimera's been killing," said Alec.

Sam smiled, "Yeah, come on." She turned and blurred down the street with Alec following after.

Logan and Max were in the living room of Logan's penthouse, dancing slowly to soft music. Logan couldn't believe that after all these months he was finally touching Max without fear of the virus. Looking at her face in the glow of the candle-light Logan came to the decision that now was the time to tell Max what he realized those months he thought she was dead. "Max?" he said softly. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time."

A little breathlessly she said, "Yeah, me too." A beat of silence. "You first."

"Max, I-" Logan started before being interrupted by running steps.

A second later Joshua appeared, "Oh," taking in the romantic scene he just walked in on. Turning and covering his face with his hand he said, "Stop getting busy, please."

"Joshua, what are you doing here?" asked Max letting go of Logan.

"Cujo. He's hurting people," said Joshua.

"Cujo from the book?" Logan asked bewildered.

Joshua gave him a confused look, "No. X1 name Cujo."

"Interesting choice for a name," said Logan.

"Uh, Max and Joshua have to stop him. That's the plan. Come," said Joshua grasping Max's arm and starting for the door.

"No, Joshua. Not now!" said Max standing firm where she was.

"Can't this wait," Max grabbed Logan's hand, pushed his sleeve up, and looked at his watch, "Nine hours and twenty minutes?"

Joshua's eyes widen and he shook his head, "No. Now." Taking a hold of Max's arm again he tried for the door a second time.

"Joshua, you don't understand," she said pulling hard on Joshua's arm trying to keep him from dragging her out of there.

Logan picked up the remote to the stereo and turned off the music while yelling, "Hey!" Stopping the struggle between Max and Joshua. "Look, if people are being hurt, then…" Logan trailed off looking at Max. As much as Logan would love to ignore what Joshua told them and get back to what could possibly be his and Max's only night to be together, his conscience wouldn't allow him.

"Can my life suck any harder?" asked Max her arms crossed in anger over her chest. Joshua brought his shoulders up to his ears while giving Max a regretful look.

"What has Cujo done?" asked Logan as they all went to his study.

"He's killing the families of the men hunting us," said Joshua.

"Why?" asked Max, watching Logan typing away on the computer, trying to find information about the murders.

"They killed his mate, he wants them to know what it feels like," explained Joshua.

A thought suddenly occurred to Max, "How do you know all this?"

"He told me," Joshua said.

"He told you? When?" Max demanded.

"Earlier. He was hurt. Needed safe place to stay. Found me."

"He's at your place?"

"Was. Left when I told him he had to stop killing innocent people," Joshua said. Logan could hear the sadness in the other mans voice.

Max put her hand on his arm, "You did the right thing."

"I've got something," Logan said getting Max and Joshua's attention. "Three murders occurring only a few days a part. They were found by the husbands or wife as one case was. I'm guessing they're the agents. With all three case's an agency no one's ever heard of came in and took the case from the Seattle PD."

"In what direction was Cujo heading when he took off?" Max asked.

"Into the sewers," Joshua answered.

"That's a lot of ground to cover," Max complained.

"Max and Joshua can cover ground," Joshua said giving Max a pat on the arm.

"No," Max said.

"Yeah," Joshua said.

"No."

"Yeah."

"No. I can't chase Cujo down and worry about you too. You know it's not safe for you out there."

"He's my friend."

"Who's killing innocent people and probably won't hesitate to kill you if you get in his way," Max said. Logan could hear the slight trace of fear in her voice and Joshua must've too because he backed down, turning away with a growl he went to a corner of Logan's study and sat down.

"Should I ask for Alec's help?" asked Max turning to Logan.

"That's an idea," Logan said. He had to admit he felt better about her facing a homicidal transgenic with back-up, even if that back-up was Alec.

Max went to reach for Logan's phone when it rang. "Hello," said Max, answering the phone.

"Yeah, he's here," said Max glancing at Joshua. That narrowed down Logan's list of who was calling. The only people besides him and Max that knew about Joshua was Alec and Original Cindy. "Look there's a transgenic out there killing people I need your help to find him. I'll meet you at Joshua's and don't think you're getting out of helping."

Well that answered the question of who was calling. Logan turned back to his computer to see if he could find anything else while Max continued to argue with Alec, apparently Alec wasn't too thrilled about helping which wasn't unusual but what was unusual was that Logan's feeling mirrored Alec's. Max hung up with a scowl that usually graced her face when dealing with Alec. "I'll talk to Matt Sung and see if there's anything that might have been left out of the reports," said Logan.

Max looked at the watch on his wrist, "We've only got eight hours and 53 minutes."

Logan reached up and pulled Max into a kiss; wishing time would stop. When Max pulled back and stared at him she said, "Why do I always feel like I'm kissing you good-bye?"

"Go," Logan whispered letting his hands fall from her face. Max gave him one last kiss before leaving.

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