So soon? Yesh! Told you guys I was on a roll lately. XD
I wanted to wait about a week to post this one but...I couldn't help myself. I wanted to now and put some pressure on myself to try and push through the next one. It might be a bit of a filler but it's important stuff that is going to help move this along.

Only other thing to mention is that I might make a youtube playlist for this story...like 1-2 songs per chapter or something. Dunno, just a thought. Stay infected duckies ;D

-Primal

The hospital visit had been awkward on its own but trying to convince the nurses that she couldn't stay over night only made things difficult. Morgan was flattered that Alex refused to leave her side but it made things increasingly difficult. The nurses were completely convinced that Morgan was being held against her will and asked multiple times to make sure she wasn't trying to pull a fast one. Her odd wounds were difficult to pass off as ordinary which had been the cause of their suspicions in the first place. After several hours of assurance and requests to leave they were set free. Morgan could breathe a sigh of relief as they headed out, her wounds treated and some medicine in hand to fight off infection. Alex had even 'found' them a car to leave in. Alex was less than subtle about it, flooring the gas and leaving a cloud of smoke in their wake. His paranoia was not unfounded either. The entire city had been set on high alert ever sense they had broken out. The streets swarmed with Blackwatch troopers who moved like wasps as the tore the city apart.

That had been two days ago.
Now outside the city they had settled in a hotel in the middle of, literally, no where. Morgan had been in and out of sleep since they settled but finally she was starting to wake. Alex had set up a post by the door, sitting in a chair with his back to the door and eyes on the balcony across the room. His spot allowed him to hear into the hallway while simultaneously watch the horizon for heli's. He would have never admitted it but he could also see Morgan resting which allowed him have complete surveillance over absolutely everything. Morgan could even see him when she finally woke.
"What day is it?"
"19th." He answered automatically as he glanced over.
"Two days…?" She asked as he nodded. She too a look around the room and noticed a few bags. She recognized them, they were hers! She grabbed her head as she tried to remember but was struck with a severe headache. "You grabbed the bags..?" She asked as he rose to come over.
"Yeah…that's how I realized you were gone…I went to house to meet you and…well…you weren't there." He admitted, holding out an Advil bottle. "Your bags were still there too but clearly looted. How many did you pack?" He asked as she took the pills.
"I don't remember…" She admitted, resting back again as he sighed. He looked rather stressed and…well… "Alex you don't look too good…have you been eating?" He gave her an annoyed look and snorted.

"It's not exactly a top priority right now…"
"Your health is moron. The only reason I'm still alive is because of you. You need to keep your strength up. Call room service or something…" Her stomach growled. "Plus I'm hungry too." He rolled his eyes.
"We'll get to that but Morgan I'm really worried that they took something from the bags…" He sighed as he glanced to them.
"Have you checked? It's not that hard…you know how a zipper works…" She hummed as she ignored his glare.
"No because you packed them and I don't know what you put in which bag." He explained. Morgan rose then, sighing as she carefully made her way to their bags and started to look through them.
"You act like you're worried about something specific…" She noted, unzipping one as she started to look through it. Knowing her luck she'd find a bomb or something.
"I am….all your research. You put them on disks and usb's right?" Morgan gave a small nod, looking over as he pulled out a laptop and turned it on.

"Where did you get that?"
"I found it." He huffed as she snorted.
"More like stole it…" She muttered as she continued to look. The first bag turned up empty but it had been mostly clothes anyways. She continued to look but soon her heart was starting to race. The second bag was much like the first, 90% clothes but it was only half full to begin with. The third was small and held nothing of high importance and the last failed to have any disks or usb's. She stood, a hand over her mouth as she tried to figure out how.
"What …?" Alex began as he watched her.
"Alex…it's….it's all gone." She breathed weakly as she looked at him. "I don't know how but…all my discs are gone…the usb drives…" She moved back to sit on the edge of her bed. She kept one eye on him, noticing he seemed….torn. A million emotions flashed through his eyes as his jaw locked and his fists balled up. She knew he had to be angry so…why wasn't he…
"GOD DAMN BASTARDS!" He roared, fist slamming down dangerously close to the computer. There it was.
"Alex! Inside voice…" She gasped as she stood again. "Just…come here and sit…leave the laptop alone…we need it…"
"A lot of fucking good it will do us now! They took EVERYTHING!?" He seethed as he dropped down on the bed and tore at his hair. All of their work...all of the grief and bull shit they had gone through for the past 6 months was GONE.

"The data yes…but we've both learned a lot about how you work Alex…it's not all for nothing." She smiled weakly before flinching back as he turned on her some.
"Oh yes. Remind me how this is a good thing. Now, Blackwatch has ALL that information on me!" He seethed as his eyes burned with that unsettling red glow. Morgan was silent, not sure what to say because…well…it was true. He turned, glaring ahead as his eyes held that glow and he cussed under his breath.
"The usb's and discs are locked though…I put a password on them so it's something." She offered, ever…so carefully…putting her hand on his leg. He didn't turn his head at the touch but his eyes did find her hand, the glow lighting up her fingers faintly. He didn't say anything so she kept it there and edged a bit closer. "Is it really anything they didn't know already Alex? Will they even understand it…?" She asked softly as he gave out a very loud sigh.
"I don't know…unless they have some sort geek like you working for them..." He smirked as he glanced to her again.
"I'm taking that as a compliment thanks." She hummed back before she bit her lip.

"There is…another option…"
"Oh do tell." He sighed, sounding rather amuse. However his eyes were still glowing which made it clear he was still very angry so she decided to tread lightly.
"Well…it's kinda out there but seeing as we're sorta out of options…" No Gentek facilities addresses, her research was gone, they were on the run…. "What if we just…came out. Told everyone exactly what was going on and expose Blackwatch, Gentek…all of it." She offered as she dared to look at him.
"Are you fucking insane?!"
Crap.
"Really Morgan!? REALLY!? That is your brilliant fucking idea?!" He roared as he jerked off the bed and began to pace the floor in front of her. "How hard did they hit you in the head!?"
"Will you just calm down and think for a second!? What the hell are we supposed to do Alex!? If we out them then they're the ones in the corner. You said the virus was their fault anyways, you're the evidence!"

She didn't know…she still didn't know he was the reason it had been released…and it was eating at him.
"No Morgan…"
"Why the hell not!? I have a friend back in town who could get us on TV. You could show your powers, tell them what happened! We could tell everyone we just want to fix things in NYZ. We could you know. You could go and help them clean up while I keep working on you!"
"When did we becoming a fucking charity!?" He hissed as she crossed her arms.
"We. Are. Out. Of. Options!" She huffed, standing as well then as she glared at him. "What do you think we should do tough guy!? I'm not invincible. They can kill me! So unless you want to start all over with some other lacky you're going to have to come up with something else!" It scared her to say that, knowing very well he could reach out right now and kill her. But somewhere in her gut she knew he wouldn't… Why would he have saved her? Maybe she was wrong and he would, he would gut her right now and that would be it…
"Fuck you Morgan!" He roared, turning off towards the door as he tore out. She was shocked, blinking as the door flashed open and slammed shut. Had he just….thrown a tantrum and…left?

She had no idea….nnooo god damn idea.
Go on tv!? Show the world who he was and tell them what he had done? No. There was just…that would never, ever be an option. He tore out of the hotel fast enough to make the front desk lady squeak in surprise. Her eyes followed him out the door before she shook her head and just went back to playing Tetris on her phone.

He left the hotel and went for a 'run'. Of course…it wasn't long until that run put him back in town. He shifted, going under his military disguise he had picked up rescuing Morgan. It gave him time to think and walk which he did.
Alright…so all the research was gone as were the addresses of the Gentek facilities. That plan was out. Morgan was now as wanted as he was so it wasn't like she could pull any strings and get back in. They had to find a way to get access to equipment again. They could always try a break in once again, only this time Morgan could just…tell him what to do and he could do it… Yeah that would work! He could grab some Bluetooth headsets, she could call…

No. Phone lines were probably being tapped. They'd have wind of it within minutes of the operation. He sighed, looking up from his walk to catch himself at a cross walk. He stopped with the crowd, looking around some before staring at the light.

There was a young couple arguing to his right about something meaningless, some kids in front of them with their mom and business men behind him. Their mundane chatter drowned out the rest of the obnoxious noise and allowed him to think.
Morgan's idea returned to his mind and as much as it made his blood boil…he decided to think it through. Say they did go along with it and contacted someone in the media. This would be mostly on him….to tell what he knew, to talk about New York… He could almost avoid admitting the horrible truth but knowing his luck someone would be there to ask the million dollar question: How do you know all this? There was always the option to lie. He could just tell them that he had worked there when the outbreak happened and avoid the truth all together.
'We have to be honest; otherwise we'll look like the bad guys.'
He hit his head some as he heard Morgan echo there, earning him some weird looks from the crowd as they started across the street. She wasn't even there and she was right. If he lied, Blackwatch would come back with the fact that he had let it out. He had started the entire mess. Then again they had tried to nuke the island and he had saved it…saved countless numbers of people…
'I've killed just as many too….' He thought as he stopped outside a café. He moved towards a table, taking a seat and ordering a coffee when a waiter came by. He just needed calm air to think.

What were the Pro's of following Morgan's plan?
They could come out of hiding.
She could possibly continue her work and find him a cure.
Blackwatch and Gentek could finally get what they deserved.
He could find Dana again…

Dana.
His eyes widened as he remembered his sister. He could have a chance to find her if they went back…maybe even fix this mess that was his fault from the start.

But then again what were the Cons:
They could both be arrested from the start.
No one would believe them.
Morgan could be killed and they could try and kill him…and then he would be completely exposed and have no where to hide.

He groaned, resting his head in his hand as the waiter dropped off his coffee. He smiled weakly, pausing at his side.
"Bitches man?" He smirked, Alex looking up and just…glaring. The waiter gulped, apologizing before scurrying off and hiding somewhere in the back. With a shake of his head Alex swirled the coffee in his glass some, letting the smell help clear his head. He sat and thought for about another hour, the coffee going cold well before he left. He didn't bother to pay for it either but it was purely due to his lack of wallet. He had left that and what money he did have with Morgan back at the hotel. He knew he'd have to head back soon and that meant apologizing most likely. He didn't want to but…it seemed like she was right. Her idea would have to be the one but…there would be some amendments to it.

The sun had set by the time Alex made his way back to the hotel. Inside Morgan had ordered dinner, eaten and was starting to doze off with the TV on. She figured Alex would come back eventually and she was right only…he didn't have a key. When he knocked she jumped and looked over. She waited, expecting the door to be kicked in if it was Blackwatch but…
"Morgan…it's me. Let me in?" He sighed, head against the door. She smiled a little, moving over and letting him in.
"I um…ordered you something to eat." She pointed out, watching as he tossed his jacket aside and started working out of his hoodie. He nodded, glancing to it before he continued to strip out of clothes. Morgan left him alone then, figuring he wanted a shower or something so she went back to bed and started to work on sleep. She was just awake enough to hear the water turn on and when he came out to start eating. She was practically out when he turned off the Tv and peeked towards her. There was only one bed in the room and he actually…wanted to sleep… He sighed, edging his way onto it and under the covers without disturbing her. He smiled ever so faintly as he realized he could let his mind turn off for the night. Allowing the buzzing to fade away and sleep overtake him.

The following morning, over breakfast, the pair discussed what they would do. Alex agreed to go to the media but had strict terms. If things went to hell he would get them out of this his way. Period. Morgan was surprised, telling him he wouldn't have to worry about her but he was rather insistent. He reminded her he said he wouldn't let anything happen to her and he wasn't about to go back on her word now. She tried not to be flattered by it or take it personally but…she did. It was like he cared and considering how close they had been recently… She cleaned up the room before shooting an email off to her reporter friend back in the city. Calling was too risky but email seemed like a safe enough way to reach the reporter. Alex argued it wasn't any safer but Morgan argued the point that emailing was almost 'retro' now. He let it go but unfortunately the 'retro' communication o kept them from an answer until late in the day. When the response did come in Morgan was thrilled. Her friend agreed to meet them at the hotel.

Alex thought it was a stupid to reveal their location but Morgan pointed out they could move afterwards if he felt on edge. When a knock hit the door he jumped but sat as Morgan went to answer it. The reporter seemed nice enough, wearing glasses and her blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her eyes seemed suspicious and soon locked on Alex who was brooding in his seat.
"Hi Samantha, thank you so much for coming by…" Morgan smiled as she let her in and shut the door.
"Well your email was…interesting to say the least. It sounds like you've been in an action movie." She hummed as she moved to sit across from Alex. She took out a recorder and her tablet she planned to write on as Morgan moved to sit beside Alex.
"Relax." She whispered to him, watching as he finally took a breath.
"So…this is him? Alex?" Samantha asked as she looked to him.
"Yes." Morgan nodded as she nudged him. She was here to HELP.
"Does he talk?"
"He does." Alex sighed heavily as he looked to Sam. She blinked in shock at his tone but nodded and reached to turn her recorder on.
"Is this alright?" She asked as she looked between them.

"I'm fine with it." Morgan nodded as did Alex. Sam reached over then, clicking it on before speaking.
"Interview one, Morgan Lewis and Alex Mercer." She said before resting back and turning on the tablet. "So Morgan…I know we're friends but your email…it sounded more like a movie script than a real story." She laughed as Morgan smiled weakly.
"Yeah I know…" She nodded before peeking to Alex. "It's all pretty…complicated."
"Alright well start from the beginning." She nodded as Morgan sighed. She started from the day she met Alex, toning it down some as she wove the tale. She edited out him hurting her, figuring that was more personal than anything else. She gave copious detail on when she was captured though, talking about the electrode machine and the needles. It was enough to make a cold sweat break out on her forehead and to make Samantha stop the recording for a moment.
"Alex would you get her something?" She asked, watching as Morgan leaned forward over the table to take a few breaths. Alex was already on his way though, going to get some water which he sat on the table by her.
"Christ Morgan…these people sound like maniacs…" She sighed before looking to Alex. She had heard Morgan talk about his powers but had yet to seem them herself.

"That's putting it lightly…" She laughed, thanking Alex for the water. She sipped it some but choked on it some when she felt Alex's hand on her shoulder. She glanced back, startled that he looked so….concerned. She swallowed a gulp of water before waving to Samantha to keep on going. She reached for the recorder and turned it back on.
"Take two, Interviewee Alex Mercer." She spoke before looking to him. "So Alex…Morgan has spoken very highly of you and your powers, your theories against Gentek and Blackwatch, what do you have to say about all this?" He sat before thinking about how to phrase his answer. He still had a hand on Morgan's shoulder and he could feel that she was still shaking. She was gently holding her glass and sipping it as she worked on calming down. His blood boiled, remembering what they had done to her…

"That's its all true…all of what she said and I told her is fact. She was a skeptic at first, denying it but as she began working with me and investigating on her own she found the truth for herself." He answered. Sam nodded at that and scribbled some on her tablet before looking back up.
"So your powers…" She waved her stylus a little in the air. "Are they what Morgan says or is she exaggerating?" She asked as Alex peeked to Morgan. Did he dare show her? Morgan gave a nod as he pushed back from the table, stood…and phased his arms. Sam let out a loud squeak, flinching in her chair as she held her tablet close and pulled her legs up.

"Holy Mary mother of god….the hell…" She muttered, slowly putting her legs down. Alex chuckled some, looking down at his clawed arms he had decided on.
"There are different ones…" Morgan noted then as Alex nodded. He phased again, this time changing one arm into the long blade. Sam squeaked again, flinching but not as much as before.
"How…how many...things does he do?" She asked as she looked between them. Alex answered this time.
"Five really…plus shields and a body armor." Alex answered. "I can also change into another person…shape shift…and have different visions…" Morgan looked at him for the last one, not knowing that…
"Really? Shape shift?" Sam still sounded doubtful and with another effortless move he changed into the Blackwatch trooper. Morgan was realizing this wasn't the same soldier from before which meant he must have…
"Amazing…just…amazing." Sam cooed as she scribbled some notes before grinning. "May I take some pictures Alex? No one will believe me otherwise."
"I suppose so…" He nodded, allowing her to direct him to into a spot with 'better light' as she snapped some pictures. He even allowed her to take a video of him morphing into the trooper before they started to wrap things up. She asked about his clothes out of her own curiosity, asking him how that worked but neither Alex nor Morgan had an answer to that.
"I didn't look into that yet." Morgan laughed weakly as Sam smiled. She moved to her friend, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll get this sorted Morgan. This…this is BIG. We'll get you justice." She assured her as she gave a firm nod and smiled at them both. "We'll be in touch very soon. You have my word."

It only took three hours to hear back from Sam. Her email was excited, filled with optimism and eagerness for the coming newscast. They had an exclusive time slot in the morning with several nation wide networks planning on tuning in. She assured them the entire thing was coded too in case Blackwatch was listening, the word on the street being that Google was making some big announcement about opening an plant in town. Alex was paranoid but as Morgan finally laid down for bed they were still safe in their hotel. There were no troops trying to kick down the door, no Blackhawks shooting up the windows; they were safe.

Morgan had been quiet though and even Alex was picking up on it as he sat beside her to watch tv. He kept it low as not to disturb her but he could tell she wasn't sleeping.
"You really should get some sleep. We have to be there at 6 tomorrow." He pointed out as he turned the TV off. There was nothing good on anyways, why bother pretending? She sighed loudly at that, snuggling down some more in the sheets.
"I know…I'm trying." She assured as she settled. He nodded, figuring he could try and sleep so…he shed his shirt and started to wiggle under with her.
"Hey Alex…?"
"Hhmm?" He sighed, glancing back to her.
"Are you….scared about tomorrow?" She asked, his brow rising.
"No…." He turned some so he wasn't on his back but facing her. Of course her back was to him so it did little good.

She was worried, no, terrified. What if her idea was just going to blow up in their faces? What if they were busted? What if they walked into a trap tomorrow and she was captured again? She couldn't go through that torture again…she just…no. She was starting to shake a little, the memories still so fresh. The feeling of the needles under her skin mixed with the pulsing pain of electricity... She jumped when she felt something touch her, so deep in her own mind that she thought it was a shock at first but when she came to back to reality she realized it was something much different.
"A-alex…?" He was putting his arm around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. This…was not like him at all.
"It's going to work out tomorrow…one way or another." He assured as he kept her held against his chest. "I'll do what I have…rat out Blackwatch and Gentek and see how it goes."
"Alex I don't want to get caught again…I can't…what they did…" She shook her head and hid against her pillow some.
"It won't happen. I won't let them separate us." He muttered, voice just above a growl. "I promise….I know I screwed up last time and they got you but…I swear….no more." She felt like she could believe it too. The tone and how he had his arm around her…She nodded, starting to relax a little more.
"Sorry for being such a wuss." She added, smiling when she actually got a laugh out of him.
"You can't help it." He answered, Morgan smiling as she dared to pull her arm out from the covers to just…lay over his gently. He didn't pull away which had her smiling a little more.

She was starting to realize that he had become a safety blanket for her which was twisted considering how this had all started. She was becoming a textbook case of Stockholm syndrome and was really helpless to stop it. He was changing, hell he had changed since she had met him. He had been a closed off shell who could only express anger and aggression but…he had opened up more. He was almost a normal person again if you discounted the morphing powers.

"I'm contagious."

His voice shook her out of her pre-sleep phase and she turned to try and see him.
"What?" She sighed, eyes barely able to focus on his features. She froze some then, not just because of how close they were but because his eyes were glowing faintly again.
"Why….I haven't kissed you…not fully at least…I'm contagious."
Well that was GREAT to know with hardly an inch between them.
"The Blacklight…it's transmissible through body fluids, spit, blood…." It made sense now…why he wouldn't let her treat his wounds, wouldn't kiss her…why he had gotten into the old condoms in her bathroom.
"Ohh…." She did put a little space between them though which he chuckled at.
"It's not airborne…" He added which allowed her to relax again. "But…that's why…last thing you need is this…"
"Powers would be kinda cool." She offered, getting him to laugh softly again as she turned her back to him and settled.
"It doesn't work like that with everyone." He mused as she rolled her eyes. He couldn't let her just have this one could he?

Sleep would finally take both adults, well, at least for a few hours before it was time for the lights and cameras…..

Couldn't post this at the beginning cause it's kinda a spoiler. XD Alex saying that Blacklight is spreadable through body fluids comes from the wiki. Looked that up ages ago and I kinda dig the theory. Most viruses are only transmissible that way anyways. It's amazing how weak those things are outside the body. xD Oh thank you Microbiology for all the things you taught me.