Disclamier: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hey Guys! Long time no update? Yeah I know i suck majorly, but theres this thing called real life and its been determind to stop any progress to this fic. Having said that, its here now and its about twice as long as my previous two chapters! =D

Okay, so I know i didnt reply to the reviews, but all the review replies are at the bottom here :D just so i could make sure i didnt miss anyone out!

Someone definately not to be missed out is the awesome Marcus Sylenus who beta'd this awesomely and quickly and puts up with my ramblings so thank you so much!

Without further rambling i give you, Chapter three!

K

xox

Nothing's Ever Built to Last.

Alec clenched his fists tightly as he blurred through the back streets of TC to get back to the Office block before Logan and his new friend arrived.

Why didn't I think of this? Of course it had to be her. Or her dad I suppose, but seriously, how could I not know that it was her? God I'm so stupid. Alec berated himself. There really was only one person who could have wanted to help, hell, she always tried to help. In any way she could. She might have been one of them on the rota but she was one of us inside. Of course we weren't allowed to feel, but she was so sweet when we faltered and especially after Ra--.

Alec stopped with his train of thought and learned against the wall. Really shouldn't get there and seriously, TC was never this big. The sound of more footsteps had Alec racing through the streets and alleyways again to get to the Office block as he tried to block out thoughts of that Psy-ops visit and the reason why from his mind.

(Flashback)

"Four Nine Four failed his mission Dr. Richards, he fell in love with the girl. He shouldn't have fell for her. We tried to fix it in many different transgenics, but it never worked. You know what we have to do."

"With all due respect Sir." Cameron interjected as she gazed down at the heavily sedated X5 in front of her. "I understand he failed the mission, but I will not put a healthy X5 down, especially not one of the best soldiers we have. I'll erase his memory and he will not do it again, but I refuse to sign the papers or administer the injection."

"Cameron." Dr Frank Sidle - Head of Science - stated and she looked angrily at him. "What would your father do if he was here now?"

"He would punch you in the god-damn face." Cameron let her hand rest on X5-494s head, her thumb absently stroking his forehead. "How dare you even think about bringing my father into this discussion?" Cameron narrowed her eyes at him.

"Because I think he would be disappointed in you right now," Sidle took a breath, knowing that he was obviously verging on emotional territory, knowing that Cameron was still reeling from the untimely loss of her father. "They're not human Cameron. They are simply machines, government war property; if its broken you fix it or throw it away. It shouldn't have feelings and if it does it should be made to realize that they don't matter. It should be made to see that the orders are Law."

"Why would my father be disappointed in me for Manticore's failings?" Cameron reached down to attach the clip onto X5-494's finger to monitor his heart rate.

"You and I know fine well that you are becoming far too attached to them Cameron, why wouldn't your father let you go into medicine?"

Cameron threw a dirty look at Frank, her hand gripping onto the side of the metal table to stop herself from punching him in the face. "Because I like to treat everyone with compassion and the utmost respect and not just like another number." Cameron spat the last word out like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

"Cameron." The tone of Frank's voice issued the only warning Cameron needed.

"My decision has been made Sir, X5-494 will not be put down." Cameron's glare was fixed on the older man as he shook his head. "and if that was all, I have Psy-ops operations to organize." Cameron continued to stare as Frank left the room, her gaze only dropping to the transgenic on the table when she heard the soft snick of the door closing.

"Don't worry 494, It's going to be okay."

(End Flashback)

Climbing in the back window should have been a lot easier than it was for the young transgenic. I am so out of shape. Alec thought as he pulled himself through the window and closing it at his back. Turing around, he realized that he had almost a full office worth of an audience. "It's quicker." he shrugged before looking in the general direction of Max's office, taking a deep breath before he began to walk over to the open door. Alec sighed softly as he watched Max from the doorway: her back to him as she stared out of the window.

"Where the hell were you?" Max snapped as Alec stepped into the room.

"Cut the bull crap Max, you don't give a toss about me and I'm here now aren't I?" Alec glared at the back of her head as he walked farther into the room and sat heavily on her desk so they were now back to back.

"You're so full of--"

"Hey Logan!" Alec cut Max off and stared at the door, waiting for her to walk through and back into his life; part of him dreading the fact but part of him wishing that she had never left.

"Alec. Max." Logan smiled as Max turned to face them, a completely expressionless look on her face. "This is Doctor Cameron Richards. She's here to help." Logan's smile seemed to get wider and Alec kinked a brow before the Doctor walked into the room.

"Hi." Cameron waved, her confident attitude was shadowed by the shock in her massive blue orbs. "494." The Doctor's jaw almost hit the floor, "I thought you... Manticore burned to the ground...you...."

"I was on an assignment to kill him," Alec indicated the confused looking Logan "so I wasn't there." Alec shrugged. "And its Alec now." Alec held out his hand and Cameron took a slow step forward to shake it, taking his larger hand into her own trembling smaller one. I didn't think that it would be this difficult to meet her again. We weren't even particularly close. She was a scientist, so why am I all of a sudden nervous around her?

"I'm uh...you know...glad nothing happened to you. It would have been a shame for something like you to go to waste." Cameron broke into Alec's train of thought as she smiled and took a step back to stand beside Logan once again.

Whoa. Something? I thought she was on our side...

"Someone." Max corrected from her place by the window. "He's not a thing. He's a person."

"Here was me thinking that you of all people would know that," Logan said to Cameron, his sarcastic tone contradicting the serious look on his face; clearing indicating that this was not something to say when Max was around, or to joke about. "Come on Max." Logan smiled at her, trying to lighten the situation as Max continued to glare icily at the other female in the room. "Cameron didn't mean anything by it." Logan smiled again, trying to make Max laugh like he used to be able to before searching quickly for a distraction before his mind wandered into a place where he didn't want it to.

"Wait. You know Alec?" Logan's questioned as he turned to face Cameron.

"I didn't mean to offend anyone." Cameron held her hands up in front of her as if to surrender, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink . "I thought you knew I knew Alec, he is Manticore and I did work there." Cameron both explained and pointed out to Logan.

"Yeah, I didn't realize you had dealings with him though, you knew Max then too?" Logan inquired and Max turned around from her spot at the window to face them.

"No she doesn't know me. She's too young to have been there when I was there." Max was almost glaring.

"I think we should go down to the lab now, don't you?" Alec clapped his hands together as though trying to destroy the thick tension that was begging to build in the room.

"Fine." Max's face dropped back into the expressionless mask as she stepped around the desk. "But I'm setting ground rules." Max warned, her tone contradicting the look on her face.

"Of Course." Cameron nodded, stepping back to allow Max out of the room and into the open office.

"Listen up people." Max began as she walked towards the little railing. "This is Dr Cameron Richards. She's going to be using our Lab for a while. Yes, I know she's Manticore. If anyone has a problem steer clear. Okay?" Alec watched as Max waited for a nod from the people gathered on the landing in front of her before she walked away from the railing and down the two little steps, Logan, Cameron and he following after.

"The ground rules?" Cameron pressed as soon as they entered the narrow corridor.

"Yes. You don't have authorization to be anywhere other than the lab and connecting office - it has a toilet. If you have to leave the lab you have to be accompanied by someone. Alec or another transgenic will be in the lab with you any time you are there." Max threw the "rules" over her shoulder as she swiftly walked through the little maze of corridors.

"So in other words, " Logan began, "She's to stay out of the way?"

"Yeah." Max shrugged. "More or less."

"What will I do for food?" Cameron fumbled with the briefcase in her hands, the calm exterior from earlier completely gone and her uneasiness obvious to even the more untrained eye.

"I don't particularly care." Max opened a door and began to head down a steep staircase, stopping at the bottom until Alec had caught up with them. "You ready?" She looked at Alec who nodded before she covered the little keypad beside the door and typed in a pass key.

"Are you excited?" Logan piped in, his way of easing the tension that was building between the four people.

"Not really no, I'm not really keen on Labs." Alec shrugged and followed the other three into the room.

"I wasn't talking to you." Logan said sharply and Alec suppressed the laugh that was building up in his gut. It really is all Max with you isn't it? Alec rolled his eyes and closed the foot behind them with a loud bang.

"You weren't really talking to anyone." Max whispered as she flipped on a light and walked through the lab until she came to a small office. "This is home for you until you are successful or die trying within the next three months." There was no sarcasm behind her words and Alec noted the shiver that coursed through Cameron at the very thought.

"You can stay at my apartment while you are working here," Logan smiled gently at Cameron who turned back to the "office" Max had been talking about.

It was like everything else in TC something akin to a Box. It probably started as part of the original Lab; but space was tight for the transgenics as 300 plus people living in the area they had wouldn't permit a large laboratory with a large office space to boot.

"Thanks." Cameron whispered as she took in her surroundings, the lack of sunlight that managed to filter down to the basement Lab through the narrow little window, in some narrow little alleyway.

"So what time will you be finished here?" Logan pressed, seemingly doing anything to cut through the tension.

"Urm...not sure...What time do you close?" Cameron looked hopefully at Max who cast a dark look at her.

"You're free to come and go as you please, but seeing as Alec is babysitting you and Mole as well probably, You'll have to sort it out with them." Max shrugged and gazed over Logan's shoulder to Alec.

"Lets say, ten till seven?" Alec stated absently, his mind obviously not on the task at hand. That's 9 hours, four and a half between Mole and I. That's plenty.

"Sure." Cameron smiled at him, a genuinely happy smile that made his heart beat a tiny bit faster in his chest.

"Then you should get started then. I'll send Mole down." Max walked passed Cameron and Logan, pausing in front of Alec to give him a light peck on the cheek. Nothing like keeping up appearances Alec thought and smiled as Max walked away, looking over his shoulder at her as she deliberately put an extra sway of her hips into her walk. "Logan, I think we should leave the good doctor to it don't you?" Max asked from the door way and Logan cleared his throat and nodded quickly, smiling at Cameron before walking out of the room after Max.

"So." Cameron stated nervously, rocking back on her heels, "this is kind of awkward."

"Really? I never noticed, but I suppose the quicker you get to work the easier it will be." Alec walked over to the back wall and pushed himself up onto the counter there. "Don't mind me."

"Urm...its a bit difficult not to." Cameron placed the brief case on the floor and began to unfasten the belt on the trench coat before making quick work of the buttons and pushing the black coat off of her shoulders.

Holy...Alec thought. The black coat hiding Cameron's shapely body very well: her toned figure was complimented by the trousers and tight fitting blouse she had on underneath the trench coat were more than flattering for her body.

"Why?" Alec asked when he finally regained composure and Cameron had vanished into the little office, curiosity peaked.

"I don't like people watching me while I work." Cameron's nerves were both sweet and unsettling all at once to Alec as she appeared from the office to grab her briefcase before walking back in to the office again.

"I could look away." Alec offered with his trademark smirk as he kicked his legs back and forth where they dangled from the bench.

"Nice try four ni- Alec." Cameron corrected herself and Alec rolled his eyes.

"You're in there though and I'm out here." Alec pointed out as he looked around the barely touched laboratory.

Well, barely touched wasn't the right word to use. Barely used would be more apt. The laboratory was nothing more than a dump when they got here. Well...when they were more or less barricaded in here. So they had cleaned it up and fixed it back to what they deemed a usable standard. Not that it was ever used after that. They didn't have a reason to. Until now.

"Well I'll be out there soon enough and you'll still be there." Cameron called back and Alec sighed.

"I could go in there." he offered. He really wanted the cure. For more reasons than one reason.

"Aren't you supposed to watch my every move?" Cameron appeared in a white lab coat with a pair of black rimmed glasses sitting on her small nose, only drawing more attention to her breathtaking eyes.

"Well yeah. But if you can't work being watched then we have to come to some sort of compromise." Alec shrugged and his brow furrowed when he heard the door opening at the top of the stairs. Who would even be coming down now? Mole generally takes...

"Alright Pretty Boy, open the door." Guess he did as he was told straight away.

Alec smirked and jumped off of the counter, a slight swagger in his step as he walked over to the door to let Mole in.

"About bloody time too." Mole snapped around his cigar prompting a slight chuckle from Alec.

"Mole, this is Doctor Cameron Richards." Alec indicated to Cameron and Mole walked over and took her extended hand.

"I'm Mole."

"Its a pleasure." Cameron smiled and Mole nodded.

"The pleasures all mine." Mole smirked around his cigar as he let go glaring at Alec as the transgenic rolled his eyes.

"I'll take over." Mole stated and Alec let out a loud laugh, earning himself another glare from the Lizard man.

"Calm down stud, I'm here for the next four and a half hours. Come back later, alright?" Alec stated more than asked, leaving Mole to grunt his goodbye and trudge out of the door slamming it behind him and carrying his trudge up the steps.

"You can take the transgenic out of Manticore but you cant take Manticore out of the transgenic." Cameron turned to the paper in her hands.

"What d'you mean?" Alec asked, the slight annoyance and tiny bit of pain that generally crept into his voice when the subject of Manticore was brought up giving his voice a slight husk.

"Come on Alec, you were an Alpha Male there and I can see it still hasn't changed." Cameron remarked and looked up from the papers.

"Yeah, well." Ale rubbed the back of his neck "Max runs this place, we all just help out." he shrugged and Cameron nodded, looking around again.

"Chemicals are in that big white cool room thing over there and everything else is in the cupboards." the corners of Alec's mouth turned up slightly, the smirk he was going for obviously not fully being able to carry the simple action out.

"Thanks." Cameron headed in the direction of the white Chemical cupboard as Alec made his way back over to where he was sitting before Mole came in.

"So you think you can find the cure?" Alec kicked his legs out again, his hands griping onto the counter to prevent himself from propelling off of the surface and into the far wall. Transgenic strength isn't something to be underestimated.

"Considering I was part of the team that worked on creating it, yes." Cameron's eyes fell to the floor and her shoulders tensed.

"That wouldn't be something you wanna say in front of Max." Alec's voice had something akin to anger vibrating through it.

"I wont. I'm not that stupid Alec." Cameron turned to look at him then. "I know first hand what transgenics are capable of." Cameron's eyes fell to the handle she had griped into her hand, body jumping when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"There's a reason I'm here Cameron and its not just to make sure you do your job." Alec's hand gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, his hand still lingering there. Her reaction to this lab makes sense now. She hasn't got over it. I'll be damned if something happens to her on my watch. It still annoys me that I wasn't the one left in charge then, but this isn't the point right now, Alec. Let it go. Alec cleared his throat and let go of her shoulder, before walking back to where he was previously sitting and pushed himself up onto the counter again allowing Cameron to regain her composure and set about getting the chemicals she needed.

"Mole." Max called as she walked out onto the landing from the little narrow corridor.

"Yeah?" The Lizard man yelled back around the cigar that was hanging out of his mouth.

"I meant what I said about no smoking in the building you know." Max frowned at the Lizard man's eye roll before continuing. "but I want you to go down to see Alec right now." Max sighed as she walked into her office, Logan following closely behind.

Stupid Idea. Stupid Alec for suggesting this idea. Stupid me for not doing much in stopping anything happen. Stupid jealous feelings over Doctor Cameron. Thing is, I don't even know if I'm jealous she'll be spending time with Alec or jealous she'll be spending time with Logan. This is so fucked up. Come on Max, get it together.

"I'm really glad you're doing this Max." Logan's voice broke through her train of thought.

"Yeah well, worth a try." Max shrugged.

"Yeah." Logan cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. "I know someone from Manticore wasn't a good idea considering what you and the others went through but I just want this sorted out, you know?"

"Yeah." Max nodded I know exactly what you mean.

"I guess it's a good thing, she'll know more about it, being a scientist from Manticore and all." Logan fumbled around the words as they fell heavily into the room.

"Yeah." Max nodded again.

"I know it's hard for everyone but Max I--"

"Where'd you find her? Like, how did you manage to come across her?" Max was determined not to let Logan go down that road of how difficult it would be for everyone to be working with a Manticore Scientist while all of the prejudice was still going on in the outside world, part of her also wanting him out of the way.

"She found me actually." Logan looked towards the door of the office as though it would magically close by itself.

"She just tracked you down and offered to get rid of this virus thing?" Max kinked an eyebrow at him, trying to hide her smile as he gave up and finally walked over to the door and closed it himself.

"Yes...Well...almost." Logan walked over to where Max was standing and stood directly in front of the young transgenic.

"Almost?" Max stepped out of Logan's presence and back to the window that was fast becoming her safe haven. "You can't almost do something Logan," Max snapped. Great. That's right Max be a bitch, do what you usually do. Push him away that's it.

"Well, she saw me on the news and she knew about the virus and more or less approached me and asked me if I needed help in getting rid of it and of course I took her up on the offer. So it was a bit of work on both sides to be fair." Logan began to step around the desk but stopped when Max turned to face him again.

"Right, so some scientist decides to offer you the cure for no reason and you just take her up on the offer without thinking through that it could be some sort of trap?" Max's angry glare clashed with Logan's now heated gaze.

"I'm trying to get rid of this virus Max, I thought you wanted it too." Logan's brow furrowed and Max shook her head.

"Well you thought wrong. We've done any work we've had to collaborate on either over the phone or across a room. We haven't touched so there is no need to now, after an entire year, to decide it would be easier without the virus." Max threw her arms up in the air and stepped back form the window slightly, creating a bigger space between her and Logan.

"Max I know you're not too happy with a Manticore scientist being here but -- "

"No Logan! That's not why I'm unhappy." Max took a deep breath. Don't say it. Max come on... "You have no reason to be here Logan. She has no reason to be here. I have Alec to help me with anything and everything I need." Max noted the pained look in Logan's eyes as she said the words at him before she too looked back out of the window, hiding her tear filled eyes from Logan.

"Max," Logan began to step towards her again before a knock on the door prevented any further movement.

Thank God.

"Max." Mole's deep voice came from the other side of the door before he pushed it open.

"Yeah?" Max turned to look at him and swallowed when she saw the look on his face. "What is it Mole?"

"One of the X5's have gone missing, they went on a supply run and haven't came back and no contact has been made." Mole looked grimly from Max to Logan.

"When?" Max asked as the room started to spin around her.

"Almost forty-eight hours ago."

"And you're just telling me now."

"We only found out now Max. It wasn't an authorized run, there is no signature on the form from you or Alec."

Max sighed and closed her eyes. "Get someone to sit with Cameron and get Alec up here now, we have to call an emergency meeting and launch a search party if worse comes to worse." Max swallowed hard. Its always one thing after another.

"Done." Mole nodded curtly before walking out of the door and leaving it purposely open as he called to the group of transgenics that were setting down below to get the others and the troops to the large hall for a meeting.

"I think you should go." Max looked at Logan, who nodded once and walked towards the door. Why is it hurting me so much to watch him walk away? God we have more important issues than me and him.

"If you need anything Max, let me know." Logan gave Max a small smile before he disappeared behind the door and to the steps at the office building.

I need you.

Max let out a weary sigh and slowly rubbed her temples as she sank back down against the desk. Could this mess get any bigger? Just when things were on the up something has to happen to ruin everything. Max ran her fingers through her hair and looked around the empty office.

Alone. As always. You really should learn how to hold onto people instead of pushing them away, this is becoming quite a bit of a bad habit isn't it?

"What's the plan?" The deep rumble of Alec's voice pierced through Max's thoughts and she glanced up, never having been more glad to see his face, a strange comforting feeling washed through her. She wasn't alone, at least not right now. Alec was in this just as deep as she was. He was there to hold her hand both literally and metaphorically. Huh. Who would have guessed that pain in the ass would mean so much to me a year down the line, shame he can't mean as much to me as Logan does. Make this little pretence actually work.

"I was kinda hoping you could tell me." Max smiled softly at Alec, not feeling she had to pretend she was alright around him anymore.

"Well, call a meeting, find out what everyone and anyone knows then go out and look." Alec shrugged, his green eyes boring into Max's brown ones.

"Meeting's already been called." Max pushed herself to her feet, surprised when Alec's arms wrapped themselves around her.

"It's gonna be alright Max." Alec whispered softly

"I hope so." Max leaned her head against Alec's shoulder, her own arms coming to wrap around his toned body.

I really do hope so.

Logan carded a hand through his hair as he began to walk down the steps, pulling the visitor badge out of his coat pocket and handing it to the heavy armoured transgenic who was standing guard outside of the building.

"Have a nice day, sir." The transgenic smiled and Logan nodded and walked away towards the narrow streets that he would have to walk through, knowing full well he was being watched by many sets of eyes, trained in defence, although not knowing where exactly they were.

So that didn't go exactly as I had planned. Well, it couldn't really have gone any worse. I wasn't exactly expecting a warm welcome from Max, but I wanted something a little warmer than that. We always end up fighting when we're together, over the stupidest of things. I know she didn't mean what she said. I know she still loves me but she's with Alec, I thought that maybe seeing them together would make things better, but it didn't. It made it worse. Made me realize just what I lost with her. What I want back.

Logan stopped at the metal fence and waited for the policeman at the other end to open it. God damned security. Would it seriously kill them to let us all live together as one people under American law? Staying with your own kind is stupid. Especially when the one you love is over the other side of a stupid metal fence.

Logan walked through the fence and towards his car before slipping behind the wheel. He glanced up at the grey buildings, before watching a troop of the transgenic soldiers marching in the direction he had just come from. If someone has taken a transgenic all hell will break loose. I think it's time Eyes Only came back from his year long vacation. Just because Max and I aren't together right now, doesn't mean to say I can't help her.

Cameron looked around. Alec has been gone about ten minutes and his relief hasn't arrived yet. I might have enough time. Fishing through her briefcase Cameron pulled out a cell and dialled a number.

"Its me...it is pandemonium here....They've called a meeting...You didn't have to do this so soon...its going to be far too obvious. Of course I trust you its just.....I seriously hope you know what your doing." Cameron sighed heavily and leaned against the counter. "Yes. I have Logan's trust." A noise outside the door startled Cameron and she grabbed at the paper on the work surface and dived into the small office. "Look I have to go. I'll contact you when I can." Cameron clicked her phone closed and threw it into the briefcase just as the door opened and another X-5 came in.

Well that was a close call. Need to be careful that it doesn't happen again. it's hard enough to get them to trust me as it is without being suspicious of my phone calls. Anyway, back to "working out" the cure that I already have in this briefcase. Why do I feel so guilty about lying to them? They are less than human. I don't understand why it hurts so much to look into his eyes and lie to him. He's helped me out before and this is how I repay him? I'm such a Bitch.

lalafromlalaland: Thanks so much for the review!Well there was a long chapter, how did you find it? Still as promising as the first two?

maron771121: Thanks for reviewing, so I went on, Does this chapter live up to your expectations? Lol

Darkanzangel452: Has it got more or less interesting for you? Let me know ;) Thanks for the review!

452max: Well it wasn't as soon as i had hoped but it's here! Glad you found the last two chapters enjoyable and i hope this one is just as enjoyable for you! Thanks for reviewing!

The Awesome one :D: Thanks for your review. Its so obvious who it is lol I have kept it up, so now what do you think? :P

Mari83: So, I hope this answer's your questions from the previous chapter. So glad you liked the fact Manticore was mentioned as well as the little details! I certainly hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the previous one! Thanks for the review!

Marcus Sylenus: What can i say other than thank you for beta'ing this to awesomeness as well as reviewing it! You must be sick of my chapters by now LOL Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you will enjoy what i have instore for them!

Vampout: Thanks for the awesome review! ;) I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last one!

Lulu67: you wanted more and you got it! What do you think? thanks for reviewing!