Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the TV show Dark Angel. I do however own Retha from one of my other fics ITHOB. I am ignoring the runes in this story.
Chapter 2
Day 1 – 2025Jan06 – Approximately 12:30 pm (five days previous)...
Max awoke with a start, feeling slightly disoriented and panic-stricken for some strange reason. Carefully controlling her breathing and listening to her surroundings, she tried to determine if she was in any immediate danger. Unable to detect any presence close by other than her own though, she opened her eyes warily and then stared up at the gorgeous sunny blue sky above her.
"What the..." A puzzled frown creased her brow as she watched tiny wisps of cloud drift by far overhead, the image making no sense whatsoever when last she remembered, she'd been at home in her apartment with Joshua. "Where the hell am I?" she whispered.
Sitting up slowly, she glanced around her in confusion, feeling the crisp ocean breeze tugging playfully at her hair. The fine grains of warm sand beneath her shifting and sliding in between her toes and fingers as she lifted a handful of it up and let it sift back down to the beach. Rising to her feet and pulling her robe tighter around her, she turned around in a full circle, searching systematically for any sign of life. "Is anybody there? Joshua? Alec?" she called out a bit louder, her voice carrying out across the low-slung dunes, broken only by the cries of the seagulls diving and wheeling overhead.
She began walking down toward the shore, still looking around curiously as the place seemed somewhat familiar, and watching as the sunshine sparkled and danced along the waves for as far out as she could see, drawing a small contented smile to her lips. The gentle rushing sounds of the water all around her soothing her and helping to relieve some of her uneasiness. Giving a slight shriek as the bracingly cold water of the surf rushed up to tickle her toes, she spun around in a circle once more, then sucked in a breath as a distant memory finally twigged her to her location.
"I went swimming here as a kid, six months or so after the escape, when I was making my way to LA," she murmured to herself. "First time I ever saw the ocean up close." Looking around again at her very peaceful surroundings, she shook her head wonderingly then muttered, "But what the hell am I doing here now? And how did I even get here?" A bit too unsettled to stay put, she started walking back up the way she'd came, knowing now that the highway was only a short distance away and hopefully she'd find her Ninja along with it.
As she drew closer to the road, a strange fog-like mist crept in around the edges of her vision and obscured the pavement from view, throwing her slightly off-kilter as it blew in out of nowhere. Frowning, she slowed down and strained to see further ahead, as she thought she could see something moving. A tall and vaguely man-shaped shadow appearing briefly before dissipating back into the mist.
"Hello? Is someone there?" she called out, more insistently this time and even louder than before. Shivering and tensing up as the sky darkened rapidly and the wind grew cold around her, she wrapped her arms around herself; the thin silk chemise and matching mid-thigh robe she was wearing providing little in the way of protection from the elements. The cries of the seagulls becoming louder and more piercing, sounding more and more like screams as the mist suddenly swirled up around her and swallowed her whole.
Unnerved, she crouched defensively. Low, menacing laughter rang out from far off in the distance, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once, filling her with dread as she spun around in circles, trying to take everything in. Unable to pinpoint exactly where the sound was coming from, only knowing instinctively that she wanted to be nowhere near it, she began to run, almost hyperventilating as sheer terror started to take hold.
And just as quickly as it had come, the mist evaporated, revealing a stark white hallway with tons of shadowy archways seeming to go on into infinity. "What the hell!" she gasped. Slowing to a stop, and more than a bit freaked out now, she turned around and stared at the similar row of arches stretching far out behind her, little wisps of the weird mist swirling gently around each opening.
"What is this place and why am I here?" Carefully stretching a hand out to touch the nearest wall, she was slightly reassured when it stayed solid beneath her fingers. "Alright. Don't panic. You can figure this out if you just calm down. So just breathe Max." Striving to take her own advice, she leaned against the wall and bent to put her head down between her knees, taking slow easy breaths until she got herself under control.
Standing back up again and straightening her shoulders with determination, she took a few steps down the hall and eased closer to the nearest archway to try to see through it. When that got her nowhere, she tentatively put her hand out to probe the white mist. Biting back a scream as she felt herself being tugged forward by some unseen force, she forced herself to push through it until she emerged on the other side…
Present – 2025Jan11 – Approximately 01:00 am
A full minute or two of stunned silence passed, then "Max is M.I.A? How is that even possible?" Alec muttered hoarsely to the room at large, completely at a loss, his eyes wide and bewildered. His thoughts almost manic as they flew to his not-quite-sane dead twin and the all-too-disturbing possibility that his mate may have suffered some sort of similar mental break.
"I'm not sure, but we can try and figure that out later." Retha answered just as quietly. With a nod of her head, she directed their attention back to 452, who had zoned out again by this point and resumed scrubbing at her already clean and overly-abused body. "Right now, she needs our immediate care, regardless of who she thinks she is."
Speaking louder, she addressed her patient once more. "452, it's time to get out of there now so I can start treating your wounds."
"No!" 452 blurted out in instinctive protest and then, upon realizing what she'd done, cringed back against the side wall of the tub, looking absolutely terror-stricken at her small display of defiance.
Flashback - 2025Jan06 – Monday - Approximately 12:30 pm
(edited out as it is beyond FFN ratings - see my LJ)
Giving a guttural moan of agony as she resurfaced, she jerked back even further and whispered pitifully in a naked appeal for mercy, "P-p-please not yet? Can't stand it... Feel so dirty..." A tear slipped down her cheek only to be followed swiftly by another and another as she broke down completely, the horrifying flashback much too vivid to handle now when she was supposed to be safe. Sliding down along the tiles, she collapsed in a heap under the spray, curling in on herself defensively and covering her head as she started to sob, rocking back and forth like a small child.
Alec's heart broke as a fresh wave of tears fell down his own cheeks. Wanting nothing more than to just crawl in there and comfort her, to curl up with her and bawl himself for that matter, he forced himself to stay put. Too afraid of how negatively she might react to him in this extremely fragile state, especially since she apparently wasn't even Max at the moment. He couldn't even be sure she considered him her mate.
His voice husky and filled with sorrow, he managed to murmur, "You take as much time in there as you need sweetie."
Seeing his dilemma and feeling it too, but figuring that of the three she had the best chance of being positively received, Cindy gingerly stepped forward, slowly easing closer in as non-threatening a manner as she could. "Boo? It's Original Cindy. I'm gonna come over there now. A'ight?" Trying to keep her voice as soothing as possible, despite the tears clogging her own throat, she continued to speak quietly to her as she approached, similar to how one would treat a wounded animal, which felt way too close to reality for her own peace of mind.
Not receiving any kind of response, she stepped cautiously into the tub behind her best friend, hovering over her as she tried to decide where it might actually be safe to touch her, without causing any more pain or possibly upsetting her even further. Reaching down, she ran her hand carefully over her rough shorn locks of hair, combing her fingers gently through them and stroking her head lightly. "Shhh boo. You're safe now, 'kay? It's gonna be a'ight. We're here for you suga' an' anything you need, we gonna make sure you get it."
Slowly easing down on to her knees when she wasn't shoved away or warned off, OC kept crooning softly to her, the tight knot in her chest easing somewhat as her friend gradually turned and leaned into her, burying her face in her shoulder and shaking uncontrollably as she continued to cry. "That's it boo. Just let Original Cindy take care of you. We're gonna get you through this. It's gonna be okay, you hear?"
"No!" With a low gasp of pain, 452 suddenly reared back from her as if struck and placed her hands low over her stomach, hunching over and wailing, "Not now. I'm not losing you, not after everything I had to go through." Face blanking over as she attempted to ward off this latest blow, she withdrew mentally; turning off every single thought and emotion in an attempt to relax her body enough to stop the cramps rippling through her abdomen. Her entire being focused on the baby she was carrying.
So focused in fact, that she didn't even notice or care when OC and Retha hauled her up out of the tub and wrapped her carefully in a towel. And when she remained hunched over and swayed unsteadily, unwilling to take even a single step, she was also oblivious to a white-faced Alec swooping in to carry her to her old bedroom, holding her gently and taking the opportunity to nuzzle his nose through her hair, taking in her scent and giving her his own while she was out of it enough to allow it.
When the cramps finally started to subside, offering her some degree of respite and hope, she returned to awareness only to find herself settling on her right side on a bed. Panicking when she felt strong male arms wrapped around her from behind, she started to struggle, a low whimper of distress escaping her lips involuntarily.
Alec instantly let go and rushed to pull back as the rank stench of fear swarmed his nostrils, murmuring swiftly and soothingly, "Shhh, sweetheart. It's just me. Just Alec - 494. Retha wanted to get you out of that tub and lying down as quickly as possible, so we couldn't wait for you to do it yourself. I carried you in here, that's all. So just relax baby. You're alright. It was just me," he repeated shakily and shoved a hand roughly back through his hair when she continued to try and drag herself away from him, his eyes haunted.
"Take a look 'round sugar. You're in your old room now and you're safe." OC joined in from her position on the bed in front of her, carefully taking hold of her right hand to avoid the raw flesh, and stroking the back of it in an attempt to reassure her. "Easy boo. Ain't nobody here gonna hurt you. Only people that love you."
Struggling to open her eyes to see for herself, 452 peered frantically around her and fought to catch her breath, eventually nodding after verifying the information and realizing how badly she'd overreacted. "Sorry," she whispered quietly, ducking her head down in shame.
Alec sighed sadly at the submissiveness she was showing, so unlike her normal fire. "You don't have anything to be sorry for sweetie. After what you've been through, it's only natural for you to react this way. I'm just sorry I scared you. That's the last thing I ever wanna do."
Retha hurried into the bedroom carrying her large bag of medical supplies, having heard the commotion from the other room. Setting it down by the foot of the bed and continuing to rifle through it, she started taking out some of the things she would need and handed one item off to Alec. "Could you do me a favor and fill this up with some ice? If we can take down some of the facial swelling so she can see better, it might help put her more at ease."
Looking over at Cindy, she added, "And could you maybe grab a blanket and sheet or two for her? Something you don't mind getting stained."
Only too glad to be able to do something useful at this point, they both rushed off to do her bidding, OC only having to go as far as the closet where some of Max's spare bedding and clothing had been stored for rainy day use.
Pulling out a portable ultrasound machine, Retha started setting it up and advised, "I figured we'd do a scan on you first to check on the baby, before I start patching you up. That way you can maybe relax a bit more, hmm?"
When 452 nodded in agreement obviously needing the reassurance, Retha asked her, "Do you think you might be able to manage to lie on your back for a few minutes while I scan you? It'll make it easier to capture a clear image..."
"Hold up, boo. Let Original Cindy put down somethin' softer for you to lie on if you're gonna do that. Don't know how clean that old mattress is neither." Moving quickly, she spread out a fitted flannel sheet behind her, leaving the rest of the fabric bunched up in the center along the edge of her body. Then she draped the matching flat over her lower half and removed the towel from her chest to put a warm blanket on in its stead.
Closing her eyes in shock when she inadvertently got a close up glimpse of two raw gaping bite wounds - one just above a nasty burn on her right nipple and the other on the side of her neck where she'd once proudly displayed Alec's mark to her - OC barely held back a sob and turned away to wipe the tears from her cheeks, struggling to pull herself together for her friend's sake. Fierce anger at the fiend that had defiled her making her shake and curse under her breath.
Taking in a deep breath in preparation for the painful move as she felt Retha slip a large sterile non-stick pad along her back, 452 braced her ribs and started to ease over once the sheet was behind her, barely holding in a hiss of agony; shutting her eyes and biting her lips to hold in any further cries or tears. Not quite sure which hurt worse at the moment, her broken ribs and wrist, or her raw back and ass. Breathing harshly through her nose, she mentally counted to nearly 60 before she finally felt herself settle fully on her back.
Under control once more, Cindy forced herself to walk back around to the far side and finish making the bed, carefully pulling the excess fabric out from under her boo. Her eyes lingering heavily on her pale swollen face and the deep wounds that would no doubt leave scars. Both emotional and physical.
Gradually opening her left eye as the pain eased off to a slightly more bearable level with her lack of movement, 452 discovered her mate hovering anxiously nearby with an ice pack in hand, his eyes watching her carefully for even a hint of distress. A sharp intake of breath her only perceptible response as their gazes locked on each other, wariness and uncertainty consuming them both. His nostrils flaring as he scented the air for additional cues.
Sensing the rising tension, Cindy and Retha glanced at each other and held their breath, collectively easing back to give them a moment of semi-privacy. Hoping against hope that the pair could manage to reconnect on some level.
Desperately needing a distraction from the pain and apprehension eating away at her, 452 focused in on his conspicuously disheveled appearance, only noticing it now for the first time. Staring curiously at the thick stubble coating his jaw and the tear stains and dark circles shadowing his bloodshot eyes, she let her gaze wander over him for over a minute, just absorbing his pervasive fear and concern and love for her. Nodding almost imperceptibly, she finally gave him permission to approach.
Alec bit his lower lip in consternation and stepped closer, his right hand shaking as he reached out and gingerly placed the pack over her right eye and forehead. Stroking his fingers ever so lightly over her hair and cupping the left side of her head in his palm, he cautiously crouched down beside the bed, his eyes wide and wild, looking as if he couldn't quite believe she'd allow it.
Slowly turning her face into his hand, she breathed in deeply through her nose, taking in his familiar comforting scent and letting it wash over her; her left eye involuntarily closing in response as she nuzzled closer, rubbing the essence of him into her skin. The tightly-wound ball of fear in the pit of her stomach unraveling ever so slightly, allowing her to breathe a tiny bit easier as she inhaled deeply once more. The intrinsic refrain of 'Mate, Love, Protection' given off by his scent imbuing her with a sense of security she hadn't felt in what seemed like forever now.
Sighing in welcome relief, she looked back up at him, mustering up a broken smile as her shimmery gaze played over his face again. "I'm really glad you're here," she finally croaked out, her right hand trembling as she reached up and tentatively covered his, consciously looking for reassurance. "Stay with me? Please?"
Startled, Alec's eyes widened even further as he registered the minute improvements in her scent and body language, and then he smiled tenderly at her and nodded. "Always, baby. I'll never wanna be anywhere else." Settling down more comfortably on his knees, he turned his hand under hers, allowing her to link their fingers together.
Retha cleared her throat quietly and approached them once she felt the moment had passed, sitting down on the bed beside her and resting the handheld unit in her lap. "Alright then. The ultrasound's calibrated and set, so let's have a look, shall we?" Reaching over and carefully adjusting the sheet and blanket to expose 452's amazingly only slightly bruised lower abdomen, she squirted some gel on it and swirled the transducer through it to help spread it around. Getting down to work, she started searching methodically.
Tensions rising again as a few minutes passed with no sign of life, Retha pressed deeper and tried again until the faint whooshing sound of an extremely rapid heartbeat suddenly filled the taut silence, causing everyone to sigh with relief and crowd in closer for a view of the small screen. OC coming back over to sit on the opposite side of the bed.
Retha muttered almost to herself, "There you are, you sneaky little sucker. Now is really not the time to be playing escape and evade, you know. Everyone's worried enough here as is." Raising her voice a bit more, she looked at 452 and confirmed, "You are most definitely still pregnant."
Carefully checking the statistics displaying on screen, and watching the baby's movements, she finally announced with a slight frown, "The heart rate's a little fast for my liking, even for us. Most likely because this little one is reacting to your pain and stress levels. You can see from the jerky, occasionally frantic movements it's making, the baby's in a bit of distress. But as long as you can manage to calm down and stay relaxed, everything should hopefully be fine. You're going to need to take it as easy as you possibly can for a while though, as hard as we all know that's going to be."
Retha turned the monitor to give them both a better view, then asked, "Have you noticed any other cramping before this, 452?"
Grimacing as she thought about it, she finally shook her head uncertainly and murmured, "I can't really be sure. There was so much pain, that after a while I couldn't even tell where it was coming from anymore. It was so overwhelming and all-consuming, I just shut down. Tried to block it all out."
Sniffling a bit and distracted by the image on the monitor, she tilted her head to get a better view, just watching the baby move. A heartfelt, "Thank God you're okay," slipping quietly and almost unconsciously past her lips.
Nodding understandingly, Retha braced herself and then mentioned as kindly as she could, "I know this is the absolutelast thing you're going to want right now, but I need to do a pelvic exam on you." When 452's face shuttered over immediately, she explained, "I'm really sorry, but it's better to do it now since you're already in a good position for it. I don't want you to have to move any more than you absolutely have to, what with the shape you're in currently."
Her voice coaxing now, she continued, "I promise I'll be as gentle and quick as I possibly can, but I have to check your cervix for any signs of tearing or bleeding that could signify danger for the baby, and try to repair any internal damage while I'm at it." Not wanting to proceed without her consent, she asked, "Is that alright with you 452?"
Gulping loudly, her fingers squeezing convulsively into Alec's loose grip, she closed her eyes and nodded tightly, her chest constricting with fresh anxiety.
Frowning as she saw how much she was tensing up again, seeming almost on the verge of hyperventilating, Retha turned off the ultrasound and set it aside, then pulled her bag closer and looked through it, coming back up with a syringe and a bottle of liquid. "Would you like me to give you a mild sedative first? Something to help you relax and ease some of the pain?"
Seeing her face cloud over in protest and accurately guessing why, Retha continued, "I specifically researched it and picked some up for you just in case it might be necessary, and I promise, it won't hurt the baby. In fact, it should do him or her a world of good; help ease some of the distress it's feeling too."
452 bit at her lower lip as she thought about it, still a bit concerned; then looked over at her mate anxiously for his opinion.
"I think you should just go ahead and do it sweetie." Alec smiled encouragingly. "You need this. You both do. All this stress certainly isn't doing either of you any good. But it's completely up to you. It's your body. Your decision. And I'll support you either way, no matter what you decide."
Extremely grateful just to be given a choice, 452 turned her head back toward Retha and slowly held out her arm with a small nod of agreement. "Okay."