CHAPTER 2

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any of it's characters.


She didn't know what hit her, what happened or where she was. It took her almost a minute or two to realize that she hadn't even opened her eyes yet... and when she tried all she got was a blinding headache and the numbing pain her body was sending to her. She moaned as it registered through out her making her wish she hadn't even woken up at all. As the time passed so slow with each minute she started to register herself and her surroundings. Starting off with where the hell she was, she opened her eyes slowly letting the light and her night vision giver her the perfect visual of the dim dirty cellar like prison she was entrapped in. Her arms were spread and wrists were bound in heavy chains her heavy body hung limp, her toes barley touching the floor. Damn... was her only thought. She then tested her limits, she knew that it was limited greatly. She tested her arms but they were numb from the hit and the weight of her body weighing them down. Her legs... was one of them broken? She couldn't tell, but she did know her ribs where, at least two or so, it was so hard to breath, it was so hard to stay awake... maybe it was a concussion. She knew better than to sleep with one of those, even she could fall into a coma and never wake up... or even die. She tried to remain awake, squinted even to focus her vision, but it began to blur and just before she once again lost consciousness she heard someone call out,

"I wouldn't do that 452."

Damn... how could I miss him? How could I possibly miss White standing so close? But she couldn't concentrate, that damn headache gave her such a blinding pain.

"You know 452, you fall asleep now... you might not wake up again to kick my ass."

She fought the darkness hard now, she couldn't show him that he'd beaten her. She forced a smile despite the excruciating pain that rippled through her.

"There we go, that's not so bad now is it?" He sounded so pleased... so amused.

"Sir," a new voice said right beside her- who was that?

"Otto, I'm busy." His voice held its anger so well.

"My apologies sir. But um... she might be suffering some internal injuries, she might need a doctor. That hit... should have killed her instantly, or at least sent her in a coma."

"I think she'll be fine, Otto. Get the first aid, I'll fix her up, your not in the loop with this drop it off and go. I have a few friends stopping by later to pay her a visit."

Her heart began to hammer in her chest, she tried so hard to fight the constant anguish her body was giving her. She decided against the verbal assaults just for now.

"Now, just me and you again 452... where should I begin...? My son? Those pathetic messages from my father? Or should I give you a little more persuasion to talk when I ask you what I want to know?" He stepped up to her and grabbed her neck tightly constricting her already constricted air flow.

Max saw that her hanging there still didn't give her any height advantage, he was still taller than her. Despite it all, she stared up at him defiantly. It wasn't until he squeezed tighter now cutting her air completely that she showed the slightest discomfort.

"I'm not messing around here 452," He began, "I want the location of my son. You have no idea the lengths I would go through to get him. I will cause you more pain than that freakish body of yours has ever endured." He released his grip on her finally seeing the fear he wanted to in those dark eyes of hers. He knew it wasn't towards him but of the fear of passing out and never waking again.

She coughed, tasted blood, and swallowed as much oxygen her lungs allowed. She stared back at him not so defiant this time but not giving up either. Then before she realized it, his hand slammed hard against her cheek causing that blind white light to come back. She blinked back the pain and her body screamed for relief.

Someone cleared their throat in the back of her, "Sir? Um... here's the kit, I added the extra necessary items."

"Thank you, Otto. I'll call you when I need you again."

"Sir...?"

"Go home, now."

"Yes, sir."

After a few moments she saw him encircle her looking her up and down so please with her battered body, so pleased in how he had finally wiped that sarcastic wit from her in a single night.

"Look any harder and you might start to offend me..." She stated with a small smirk. He won't win that damn easily.

He came back to her and looked down into her hurt yet determined eyes, "When I kill you, know that it won't be quick, and if you give me the location of my son now I'll make sure to spare your beloved Eyes Only."

Her eyes widened that's impossible... he couldn't possibly know Logan's new location.

He laughed, "That's right. I had you followed there we had an eye on you for a while now. You can thank me later for my patience."

"Your lying..." She hoped more than stated.

"I do lie a lot, but do you really want to chance it?" He chuckled, "I'm surprised that he would still love you... all with that little virus you have."

She couldn't keep the anger from her eyes, what could she say... he bought out the best in her.

"Leave him alone."

"Where's my son, 452."

"Don't know." She shrugged.

"Your way," He smirked, and slapped her once again in the same spot with equal force.

She couldn't handle this, not after the hit with what ever they used... bull dozer, cement truck- who knows. Tears sprang in her eyes and she rapidly blinked them back, what she wouldn't give for a shower and some sleep.

"Going to tell me now or do I have to convince you a little more?"

She turned her head.

Again, the next punch landed on the other side of her cheek a little harder. Before she realized what he was doing he landed punch after punch in her ribs and legs. The blinding pain became too much and slowly the darkness began to settle. Without hesitation she welcomed it with opened arms.

"Wakey, wakey, 452..." Came his taunting voice. "We have a visitor."

Slowly she raised her head to a familiar face, "Logan..." Her voice was raspy, barely audible.

Logan stood there containing his anger as much as he could. There, chained to the ceiling, was Max battered and bruised. He turned to Ames White,

"You want the location of Ray? Let her go... let her go and I'll tell you where-"

"No, your going to bring him to me. Your Eyes Only's number one contact, you should know how to get him. I'm sure he can provide you with what you need.

Logan inwardly sighed. Thank God... he thought. After White lied and told Max how he knew where "Eyes Only" was located once again, he went through the informant net and once again got in contact with Logan. Logan cleverly laughed off the thought that he was Eyes Only and explained that not only had he gone home to an empty apartment that cold night, but found that he was in need of a new one! His "boss" explained everything to him and set him up with a new place. How nice. White was extremely fed up with the incompetence of his NSA team and the "mix up" caused six men to be fired. Logan cared less, it was only until White showed Max's beaten body that caught his attention. He knew that any loss of emotion could mean her death, so professionalism was highly expected. He cleared his throat,

" Ok, alright." He nodded tearing his eyes off of Max, "I'll bring Ray- no surprises."

"Logan, no..." Came her small voice.

He ignored it, "Give me 24 hours, same time tomorrow... right here, you'll have Ray."

White showed no sign of any form of happiness. "Remember... any tricks, and she dies. Judging by the look of her already... she doesn't have that much more to go."

Logan saw the tears stream her face running down them beautiful cheeks and disappearing into her blouse. He knew why... she blamed herself once again for something that was entirely not her fault... Ray going back to his father. He would console her once she was safe in his arms again, virus free- the blood sample was delivered as soon as she left his place some hours ago... when he thought she was safe, boy could he have been more wrong.

"When I get back with him she'd better look at least half as good as he does. He'll be in perfect condition, and she should be too... fair exchange." Logan challenged. He might be pushing his luck but he couldn't stand the sight of her in so much pain she looked like she was on the verge of unconsciousness once again and it took all of his will for him not to run up to her and hold her in his arms.

White let out a laugh, he was so amused at the sight of her, "Not to worry, I have a kit right here to fix her up... but um..." He took out a knife and grabbed the top of her shirt, "You might want to bring her a change of clothes..." And with that he cut the knife right through her shirt making it look like a jacket when he was done.

Max suddenly looked down realizing what just happened then straight at Logan with a horrified look... she must have felt humiliated.

"What the hell are you doing," Logan made no movements to try and stop him... there were Familiars around the building... he saw them when he entered.

White laughed once again, "Well, she's been hanging out now for about four or five hours,"

He had to use the pun Logan thought wryly...

Although Max tried feverishly to get out of the restraints, probably trying to cover herself, he knew it would only end in vain. White was quite amused with this as he opened the first aid kit, "I think nows a perfect time to leave," he ended his sentence as he tore the remaining fabric off of her body.

Logan's heart sunk as her exposed flesh showed signs of broken ribs, maybe some internal injury, bruises, blood clots... he felt a knot in his throat. "I should kill you now..."

"Yes, but too bad by the time you get your gun from your back her neck would've already snapped and you would have already lost your precious little transgenic... you wouldn't risk her life now would you? My son means nothing to you, but her..." He trailed his finger down her neck, causing her to squirm. "She means the world to you. Shame, her and her whole kind deserves to be dead... filth..."

"Same time tomorrow..." Logan repeated and walked out.

He had to control himself, he couldn't let White win. He had Max, any mistake, any distrust exchanged between them would leave Max dead and him on a suicide rampage. No he had to stick to the script this time, this time Max's life was on the line. No, no matter what she said she wasn't going to get herself killed he would handle this his way, the way he thought would save her life. He had to call Wendy's sister... Cathy. Sure she would be heart broken but he had no choice... I'm sorry, Ray.

White took his time as he washed her down, her uneasiness made him continue. He wiped the blood and dirt from her face as she winced from pain.

"You know 452, I won't be able to just let you go... you have something that no one else can know that you have..."

"Not even me?" Her sarcasm still remained strong.

"Your very stupid, I thought you'd have figured it out by now, but the less you know about these things the better. Unfortunately, my father chose you, this started before you were born... You were going to save everyone from the Coming." He laughed, "A filthy, little transgenic to stop something inevitable? I don't think so. So that's why I have to kill you ;I want to anyway. The meek will not inherit the earth and neither will you and yours."

"Damn... and I don't even have a say in this?"

To this he pressed the cloth against her broken ribs and watched her let out a small cry in pain, "I didn't." He continued to wipe the cuts and gashes along her stomach and back. "You know 452 when I got you with that car I thought you were killed and that my troubles with you were gone."

"Sorry to disappoint." She said looking away.

"Then I realized that I do need you, my whole conclave needs you. We'll lay you down and open you up... then we'll see exactly what my father wanted you to do. That perfect DNA... we can break that too... we'll send you off somewhere where they'll find out all about you and let us know."

Images flashed before her eyes back to Manticore... back to Dr. Vertes and the operations and experiments she and her staff done on them. She blinked it away.

"What's this?" Suddenly White tugged on her jeans and soon they were unbuttoned and unzipped exposing a little too much for her comfort.

"Hey, what the hell? You know I don't think your family would approve of me." She started to wiggle making it difficult for him to do what ever it was he was doing down there.

He stood up grabbing her already bruised neck and using his other hand to press down on her pressure point behind her back causing her to press her sore and broken ribs into his torso giving her three points of pain... her ribs being the most and her pride right along side it.

"The last thing I need you to do right now is open up that damn mouth of yours. There is no way I would soil myself with the likes of you, if my father would stop using you as a damn chalk board then maybe your clothes wouldn't always get ruined when we meet, now hold still before I have to get a new bucket that doesn't already have your blood in it. Understand?"

She nodded.

He tugged at the front of her jeans and she couldn't help but peer down seeing the newly formed characters on her lower abdomen. He studied it a moment then grunted walking behind her. She felt his hands on her lower back his fingers in short strokes told her that there were probably more there.

"Damn..." White said bitterly. "No, 452 I will not just kill you, we're going to see exactly what my father wanted so badly with you."

"Mind telling me what they say? I mean they are the reason I keep having to buy new outfits."

"No... no 452 I don't think so, back at that freak facility I bet they told all of you how special you were, now why should I tell you how much more special youare. No, I don't think I should. What I'll do is get a small sample now and then give them the whole package later. That way I win both ways."

"Gee," she sighed trying hard not to show the horror in her eyes. "glad I could help. Sure you don't want to fill me in on your daddy's little message?"

"You think I can't see right through you by now? Right through that tough girl attitude? Your not fooling anyone... Once I kill that fool bringing my son and turn you over to a few friends of mine then we can get the ball rolling. I really can't wait... all those fools out there waiting to kill you..." He chuckled, "and they'll never know that you were their savior... the one who's cure lied within her. Oh well."

She looked uneasy, she couldn't shake it into a sarcastic look or and angry one or anything, this whole thing was starting to freak her out...

"Don't look so sad 452, you won't be alive long enough to wittiness this great event... neither will your little friends or the rest of this world for the matter... when a new dawn passes over the sky we will start life anew and and the world will be a better place for us all. Oh, and by that I mean, just my kind."

She'd given up the smart remarks and attitude for now, her body was once again begging for sleep and it took her all her strength not to give. Cults, prophesies and "saviors" she was worn out with this, the fact that he again tore yet another of her shirts and those scribbles lining her torso and back was the reason her jeans took another assault from Ames White making her hang there half naked before him was enough to make her want to accept her body's offer for sleep. He came to face her once again looking down into her eyes,

"You know I might just consider you a worthy opponent if you didn't have your emotions weaken you so much. Your incompetence to control them is what makes you weak I know Manticore didn't teach you that." He took a few steps back and looked her up and down, "I wonder though, if they made you freaks look just like us only "flawless", "beautiful" as they say... cause they think you'll live longer? Someone might think twice about killing you once they seen your eyes, and your body?" He laughed, "But I know better don't I? You are no more special than that desk over there or the monitor behind me, the only thing keeping you alive is the curiosity my clan holds on you and that perfect DNA structure you have, they want to know what Sandeman put inside that freakish body of yours and how they can use that to find him and finally give him what he deserves especially after creating you monsters."

By now Max was losing consciousness and White's figure was so blurry in her eyes, she completely forgot to do a quick check on her body's status just to see what worked and what didn't... wrist- bleeding, arms- numb for hours, ribs- don't ask, legs- one feels fine, other hurts like hell, head... well maybe she still had a slight concussion while the normal human should've been in a coma by now. She sighed to herself, getting Logan killed was what she did best, and now she was too damn hurt to help him. The darkness was slowly coming in...

"Oh 452 are you tired again?" White reached up and released her from the cuffs and watched as her body slumped to the floor like a tossed doll. "Want better accommodations?"

She stared up at him with those transparent bedroom eyes and he could see the pain she was in, probably both physically and mentally, the other was... what was that? Fear? Yes, he concluded it was, her mind probably couldn't comprehend what was happening to her at the moment and White being completely in control scared her. That made him really smile.

"Let's go 452... better get you somewhere where you can stay until my son is here. He's a bit too young to see you like this, he'll understand in a few more years." He scooped her limp body up in his arms and carried her upstairs and into an almost elegant bedroom.

Where was she? She fought the creeping darkness a little harder now.

"Here we are..." He placed her roughly onto to the bed not taking into any consideration her leg or ribs.

She let out a small cry in pain and rolled onto her side.

"I wouldn't do that 452," he rolled her back harshly and she squirmed trying to get him off of her, this only got her a punch on her leg and it thankfully was the good one, it still didn't ease the blow of it any less.

"Now, stop being a pain in the ass and maybe I'll be nicer." With every word he gripped the other leg tighter and tighter as her eyes begged him to stop causing tears to start staining her face. "Good."

Getting up he left her there and watched her pass out only seconds before he exited the room, he would return in about four hours or so to check on her and make sure she wasn't doing anything that would cause her more pain.

Logan knew he was way out of his league here... him and a army of Familiars were no joke. It took him almost more than half the day to travel and get Ray, his Aunt was so hurt at the news of his father wanting his son back with a promise of changing his ways. He couldn't let her in on the reason Ray was with her or why he was going back to his evil family.

"So why are we leaving me with my dad?" Ray asked.

"You remember Max? Well, if your daddy gets you I get her, it's a bit complicated." Logan never looked at him, he couldn't because he knew that their reunion would be brief and in another day or so he would be back with his Aunt and their perfect little life.

"This is because of the snake bite right? I passed didn't I? That's why my daddy wants me, because I did a good job." Ray smiled.

"Ray, your daddy should want you anyway," Logan tried to sound like he was talking to a kid but Ray looked so much older now... but it hadn't even been a year. "He should love you no matter what."

"Even when I'm bad and Aunt Cathy says that it's alright? She tells me to just never do it again."

"That's right, just like that. You like your Aunt?"

"Yes. She's good."

"That's good, Ray. Tell me when your hungry, ok? We'll stop and get you something, for now you can listen to the radio, go ahead... anything you want." Logan finally turned and smiled at him.

"Hey, Logan what's up?" Came Alec's cheery voice.

"Good, Alec your just the man I want to talk to... Dix around? How about Luke? Mole and Joshua?"

"And here I thought I was the man you wanted to talk to?" Alec joked

"Alec, go and get them. Now." Logan's impatience was evident.

"Uh... yeah hold on let me put you on speaker."

Alec turned and called up Mole and Joshua who were currently tending to the wounded IED victims, they lost one of them last night. Poor girl.

"Logan? Yeah I got the gang... what's going on?"

"How's it going, Logan?" Luke said as Joshua came behind him saying hi also.

"Not good guys, White's got Max. I met him almost 15 hours ago and she is not looking good. He wants Ray in exchange and it's supposed to happen in another 9 hours but I'm not going to make that, it's going to take me a few more hours just to get there but I got him, so when I call at least I can put him on the line with him. Thing is, I know he's going to play for keeps he knows what those markings on Max's body means, that's why he wants her dead so badly. I haven't been able to decipher it completely just yet but she's a key... a savior of some sort but that's as far as I got. My plan is for you all to come up with a plan, I'm sending her location to you as we speak- you are logged on, right?"

"Yeah Logan we are." Dix said opening up the server to read her location and view the buildings layout.

"So... basically you don't have a plan... we do- eventually." Alec put in.

"Well, you all were trained for this sort of thing so I expect highly from you, if Max could do this with only nine years of training, then I think you all could with twenty."

"Some of us were actually around during Vietnam and Desert Storm there, Logan." Mole interjected.

"Right, well my point is you should be able to do this. I mean hey, you could actually take over this city- guards, police and all if you wanted to. The plan is to take out the Familiars surrounding the building while me and Alec go get Max."

"Me? Why me?" But Alec regretted it immediately remembering the situation Max put them in trying to push him away unsuccessfully. Luckily Logan didn't continue with that matter.

"Then we have a separate team go get Ray. It has to end up with us having both." He said strongly.

"So it's a win win for us." Mole smiled lighting his second cigar already.

"Exactly." Logan said pleased.

"Man, and I thought White was deceiving..." Alec once again rambled.

Again Logan ignored him, "I'm going to ask White for one more day so you all can get ready, I'll meet up with you around evening."

"We'll have a plan by tonight, and be ready when you are." Mole assured.

"Logan," Joshua jumped in, "How's Max? She ok?"

Logan didn't say anything for a moment causing the group to tense, then he sighed, "No, Joshua... she's not ok. She's in pretty bad shape, I found her bike on the other side of the road, that's totaled, and a witness said that there was a pretty bad accident there, he said there was no doubt that without a helmet the woman died instantly. Good thing you all can survive that kind of stuff. She must have some broken ribs and a mean concussion not to mention the cuts, bruises and swelling I noticed right off the back, but other than that she'll live. She was losing consciousness though so I don't want to leave her there long, she needs a doctor."

"We're going to do this as quickly as possible, Logan, we're on it now," Luke said, "You can count on us."

"Thanks guys." Logan disconnected immediately.

Alec looked around, "Well, what now? Should I go and start plucking good soldiers?"

Mole looked at Dix who was studying the location and loading the building lay out on the screen.

"Max needs our help," Joshua said a bit sadly, "Logan said she's not doing well. We have to help her."

"We will Josh..." Alec slapped him on the back, "Don't worry."

Joshua's eyes already glistened with tears, "I know we will need members from the X- series, I'm going to go do that, when our plan is stronger we will know who else to grab."

"Ok, buddy we'll call you if we need anything." Alec said.

Joshua nodded and strolled away.

"Alright," he said turning back to the gang, "What now?"

Logan looked over at Ray who was fast asleep on his sofa, those sleeping pills he gave him almost three hours ago were still strong, good. He didn't want Ray to see where he lived, if anything went wrong, if Ray stayed with his dad and turned into one of them monsters... who knows he might just point the finger right to his doorstep.

Logan waited as the phone rang, he counted them with each moment of hope of it being answered drifting.

"Hello?"

Logan sighed deeply, "Thank God, Dr. Boran... it's me, Logan. How's that sample coming along?"

"Well, you said you wanted a cure for it, but have you ever considered the fact that there may not be a cure? It is possible not to have one."

Logan struggled to keep his disappointment down, "But Dr..."

"I said there was no cure, I didn't say there wasn't a way to beat it." Was he smiling at the other end?

Logan's heart leaped into his throat, "Did you...?"

"Yes, I found that since this thing was designed to kill you and you only that maybe you should have a virus to kill it, what do you think?" Yes he was definitely smiling.

"But what about Max? Will it harm her? I don't want anything to happen-"

"The host, once contacting your virus should come down with a noticeable fever, keep her cool and give the medicine I give you and in a day's time she'll be fine."

Now his heart was hammering against his chest, "So... wait explain this. I touch her and I don't get the bug instead she gets mine?"

"Ok," Dr. Boran sighed, "Here is how it'll go. You two make some sort of contact, that's how both viruses will be connected. Now instead of you breaking out and dropping dead, what ever infection your body receives will kill it and make you immune. Her however, when getting your virus will show signs of fever shortly after, that's the two viruses battling it out so to speak, bringing down her temperature is important so she doesn't over heat, and then giving her two pills will take the fever away, but you must do this five hours after she's come into contact with you, five to six is the most. After this is done you'll have one hell of an immune system, and she goes virus free. You can thank me later."

"How soon can I stop by?" Logan didn't keep the eagerness out of his voice, he didn't care.

"When ever your ready." Dr. Boran said.

"Give me an hour." Logan quickly hung up phone and dialed a new number.

It rang one time before the noticeable voice on the other end picked up, "Let me speak to my son."

"I got him right here, we had to stop somewhere so he could rest and eat- his orders not mine- so I figured you might want me to make him as comfortable as possible. We won't be there until tomorrow, sorry. Hold on while I put him on."

He went over to Ray and gently shook him away, "Ray... hey someone wants to say hi."

Very sleepily he took the phone, "Hello?"

"Ray, how's my big boy doing!"

"Dad? Hey dad! I passed right? I passed the test so I did good right?"

"Hey you did outstanding, son I'm so proud out you." White sounded so happy.

That creeped Logan out, "Ok Ray, time's up."

Ray obediently said, "Bye daddy."

"See you soon son." White held a trace of sadness in his voice, whether it was genuine or an act was beyond him.

"Let me speak with Max now." Logan tried.

"Well, your in luck I just so happen to be right beside her right now." He could hear a click and then White was saying almost tauntingly, "Get up get up 452 someone wants to say hi."

He heard a moan in the back, "Max. Max are you all right?"

"Logan," she said weakly but assuredly.

"Max I'm sorry, I had to get Ray, don't worry we're going to fix you all up, promise."

"Logan..." she said a bit more sader.

"Ok, we know," White said instantly, "we get it, your hurt. My question is, how are two people unable to touch going to get out of here? You will be the only one coming, that was apart of the plan."

"Don't worry about us, you get your son, I get Max and we continue this fight another day." Logan said sternly.

"Ok, when is this happening? Your 24 hours is almost up," White sad angrily.

"Give me until tomorrow night, we'll be there at eight."

"Fine." White said through gritted teeth.

"Ok." Logan hung up. "Ray, go back to sleep, we have a long day tomorrow."

Ray nodded and yawned laying back down.

Logan put his jacket on and walked back over to Ray, "Be right back, Raymond."

He nodded sleepily.

He then swiftly raced down stairs and to his car and raced to go see good old Dr. Boran.

Author's Note: So? What do you think? I tried to implement their actual personalities and behaviors in these types of situations. Max is the type that when she sees there's no way out- she tries to bargain, Logan will do anything for her which is why he took Ray, but him being him, his ego's too big for him to allow White to keep his son, and the Virus? Well, if you can't find a cure, why not fight fire with fire? Let me know how this one is. Great reviews by the way, keep them coming. I'm not afraid of your opinions... ;)

HINT on next Chapter: I just got into DA almost a year ago, and noticed that their concepts and ways not to mention them God forsaking hair cuts as kids (which I'm sad to say are Jarhead cuts) are almost just like the Marine Corps ways, just a little different here and there. So I might use terms and tactics your not familiar with- by the way, I'm a Marine myself, only been in a year now though- any questions just ask I'll try to explain more in the story through Alec.

Max- Is not a leader, she's a loner. We knew that. She looks out for number one, and hers closest to her heart. I don't think she'll be able to stand being a leader too long, that's why her brother Zack was so good at it, and that's why she's so good at Escape and Evade. (Retreat. Lol, which is something the Marine Corps teaches us NOT to do. Too Bad)


Thanks goes out to Rose Red, Sabrina, Jeanetteg, Griever11, Dutch, and Timetowaste247 you guys are the first to review for me. I appreciate it.

Timetowaste247 I will talk more about his brother, I had to give Logan back his old life somehow, that's just who he is, and I mean come on... he can't stay poor like that, that's just not the Logan Cale we know from S1!