Addict

Alec smirked at the willowy red head standing with her friends across the dance floor of Crash. Raising his beer to his lips he saluted her slyly before taking a sip of his lukewarm drink. His hazel eyes were alert even though he had out drunk two of his co-workers from Jam Pony messengers already. Transgenic metabolism prevented even the most potent of alcohol and drugs from affecting him for more than a moment. On the pretense of checking out the red head, who was batting her eyes flirtingly at him, Alec also took in the expensive quality of her clothes and the all too real gleam of the diamonds on her ears. If luck was with him he would be getting lucky and maybe score enough loot to buy that new part for his bike. Luck wasn't a friend of him tonight, Alec bit back a curse as a particularly annoying scent wafted to him through the crowd of people. Cursing his body's own nature for detecting the ordinary before he had even got with in ten feet.

"Alec, have you seen Max," Alec turned to Logan. The too polite cyber journalist was barely holding in his apparent outrage at having to ask Alec where his 'I can't touch her but I will give her puppy dog eyes' girlfriend was. Alec held back the set down he wanted to give the other man, instead he simply sat back on his bar stool and drank his beer. Logan continued to look around the packed bar trying to pick out the petite brunette that he knew was there.

Deciding to have mercy on the older man Alec tilted his head back, "At the back of the bar in the corner."

"Thanks," Logan made to move off, but a hard hand on his arm stopped him. Looking down at the hand that he had no doubt killed more people in a year than he could ever imagine Logan gave Alec a questioning look, "Is there something you wanted to tell me?"

"I was just wondering," Alec released Logan, standing up he put his empty mug down on the counter, "Why would Max go out of her way to avoid you? I mean the girl bends over backwards so as to make you happy…well as happy as she can make you being as you can't touch and all. Now why would she come in here a place that you, with your high and mighty complex barely manage to frequent unless of course it is to see if you can risk her life for something, and getting to said place hide in the back? What did you do to her Logan?"

Logan pushed his glasses up on his nose, "Please tell me how mine and Max's relationship is in any part your business. Because Alec I fail to see how we have anything to do with you."

Alec straightened to his full height, his pride prickling when he realized that the ordinary was at least an inch and a half taller than him. Taking a deep breath Alec let his anger ease the tension in his muscles, knowing he could snap the ordinary's neck like a twig did nothing to help the situation. So he did the one thing that he could, he smiled. A shit eating grin that was bound to infuriate the hell out of the older man, his lips stretched wider as he watched Logan unconsciously bristle.

"Let me guess, Max told you that she wasn't going to pull some stupid heist for you," Alec stepped closer to the cyber-journalist, who took a hasty step back bumping into a passing waitress. Alec pressed closer, "What you get to close to her and she told you to back off before she kills you? Tell me Logan what exactly happened to make Max want to try to drink herself into a coma."

"We were eating dinner and she-," Logan snapped, ducking his eyes away from Alec's triumphant face. A shaky hand came up to wipe at his chin, "She over reacted and now she won't answer my pages. And you are in my way."

Alec laughed, "I am in your way? Logan you know what you are?"

Alec moved so that he could sling his arm around Logan, holding the older man to him with brute strength when Logan struggled. Leading Logan through the crowd Alec kept an eye discreetly on the crowd as he began to talk, "You know those bums you see on the street, the ones with the shakes who will sit in clothes covered in their own piss only caring about the next time they can score their next fix. Of course you do, that's what you are all about trying to help the little people who can't help themselves but the differences is that these people don't want help they choose to sit in alleys covered in their own shit. You Logan are one of those people, got the shakes so bad that you will risk anything to get your fix."

"Alec," Logan tried to twist away from Alec but the X5 held him tighter, "If you would get to a point, I would appreciate it."

"See that is my point," Alec stopped they had reached the stairs. Releasing his hold on Logan he moved so that if Logan decided to re-enter the club he had to go through Alec, "Max, she's your drug. And you are so addicted to her that you can't see anything else in front of you. You know that she isn't good for you, hell she could kill you in the blink of an eye even before the virus got in the way. But you still keep coming back to her, like some pathetic junkie."

"See what most junkie's admit though is that they know what kind of hell they are doing to themselves but they think they can beat it on their own and that they are in control," Alec moved closer, his voice lowering, "This is what you would call an intervention. Now like all good addicts you are going to deny that you have a problem. I as some one who cares will tell you that this is hurting me more than it does you but I can't because I don't care about you. You see what your doing is making Max's life hell, and frankly mine as well. I like this little world that I have stumbled into, and I don't like you messing around in it. So let's make this quick and as painless as possible."

Logan's mouth flapped open like a fishes for a moment, his jaw clenched as he half turned as if to follow through with Alec's advice. Turning back to Alec he gave him a once over, Alec stood his ground though and the older man acquiesced with a grunt. Alec watched as Logan made it halfway up the stairs before turning his attention to the far corner of the crowded bar, Alec knew without looking that Max was also looking at Logan and the two of them were exchanging equally pathetic looks. Rolling his eyes Alec counted slowly waiting, the tell tale whiff of wildflowers and vanilla brushed his nose a second before Max's shoulder bumped his on her way up the stairs to Logan. Alec watched as Max stopped the required distance away from Logan for it to be safe, the two exchanged small smiles before walking out the door together, leaving Alec at the bottom of the stairs without a second thought.

He would say that remorse was not one of the traits that had been instilled in the genes of Manticore alumni, in fact as soldiers and assassins emotion of almost any kind was beaten out of them. But catching the last trace of Max on the air, Alec closed his eyes and savored it, regretting the very first time that he had ever come in contact with its alluring quality. A smile curved his lips, all the drugs and alcohol in the world couldn't affect him the way that Max did. Ever since that first kick to the midsection she had him hooked, and just that one little bump of her shoulder and he would be good for another couple of days. Like any good addict Alec was already planning ahead for his next fix, stuffing his hands into his pockets Alec turned around his eyes pinpointing on the red head who was giggling with her friends.

Boat

She blamed it on her genetic makeup, felines were no fans of water and Max had enough feline in her to blame her hatred of the open water on the docs at Manticore. Growling under her breath about the stupidity of the entire situation she huddled further into her coat and glared at the reason that she was out here in the first place. Alec grinned at her, his seat across from her in the small fishing boat was undoubtedly just as uncomfortable as her own but he just grinned at her.

"Max, you could try to look like you are enjoying yourself," Alec suggested, his hands quick and sure as he cast his fishing line out into the water, "You were the one that suggested we bet-."

"I didn't think you would actually win," it was the first thing she said since he had shown up at her apartment at five o'clock in the morning with a fishing rod and a cup of coffee. It was the coffee that had saved him from getting a size six boot upside his head, and the fact that she had lost fair and square. Never in her life had Max wished more than anything that she had never made that stupid bet over who could do more runs in one day. But never had Max actually believed that Alec would beat her, and at the end of the day Original Cindy and Sketchy having volunteered to keep tabs on the two competitors tallied up the sign sheets. When Alec was declared the winner Max had immediately demanded a recount, which O.C. had responded with that she had recounted twice and Max had been superbly beat. Now Max found herself floating along in a rickety old metal boat in the middle of a lake. Fishing, Max groaned as she looked at the pole that was sitting beside her feet, wondering how in the hell that Alec had learned about one of the most useless past times in the world during his years at Manticore.

"When we were kids, it was drills all the time. No time for rest," Alec tugged on his line; Max watched the small bright colored ball that Alec had called a floater dip down in the water before returning to its placid resting place on the water.

Max shifted on the bench she was sitting on, remembering her time as a kid in Manticore. Drills were run in all kinds of weather, and if you had the guts to complain because of discomfort of any sort then more drills were run. One of many happy childhood memories were due the drill sergeants of Manticore.

"I was on my third solo mission; I was assigned to take out an industrial espionage operative. The guy was on vacation in Montana, took me three days to get a good position and learn his routine so that I would be able to execute without leaving a trace. Typical Manticore stuff really."

"Alec," Max whispered, she still wasn't comfortable with thinking about Alec as more than just a self-absorbed screw up. Her eyes widened as the floater went under the water with no aid from Alec, watching it pop back up and then disappear again the line sinking with it Max was truly fascinated.

"The guy went fishing every day," Alec eased the line in, his fingers quick but smooth so as not to jerk the line, "I watched him for a week, three days of prep work and a week of just watching and waiting for my chance. Every morning he would get up before the sun had even started to rise and he would be out in his boat with his line cast. I had never just seen someone sit."

His rod was bowing as he reeled in the fish, Max's breath caught in her throat as she watched the fish fight for its life. Leaning forward she couldn't help but smile as he pulled the fish into the boat, he looked so happy at his accomplishment. Alec leaned down his fingers grasping the fish and holding it so that it didn't flop out of his hands pulling the hook out of its mouth he held it for a second.

"More than a week of watching him, every day he would sit in his boat and fish," Alec shifted, forcing Max to clutch her seat to keep her balance for fear of tipping over into the murky depths. Alec centered himself as he gently placed the fish back in the water, "And every time he caught something he let it go. I never understood why he did what he did until the moment I was looking through my scope at his dead body."

"Why do you keep doing this," Max pulled her jacket around her, "Why do you keep changing? I had a perfectly nice little world before you decided to mess around in it."

"Seems to me that if it was perfectly nice then you wouldn't get all riled up by me," Alec kept his voice even and low, recognizing the signs of a trapped animal all too clearly.

"Because you forced your way into my life and I had to put you into a category," Max's voice raised as she tried to make him understand. The cat in her hackles began to rise, and despite her efforts to stay low and centered she was straightening and rising, "You are suppose to be shallow and conniving, the screw up. You are not supposed to be caring or think about anything more than women and money. And you are not supposed to fish."

Alec braced his hands on the side of the boat, his eyes widening as Max stood up her face flushed and movements erratic, "Max-."

"Shut up, you are not going to try to sweet talk me right now," Max jabbed her finger at him.

"Max be careful," Alec held a hand out to her, his eyes locking on hers trying to convey the precarious situation they were in.

"Alec-," Max swatted at his hand at the same time as starting anew on her tirade, the action caused the already rocking boat to tip. Max moved quickly, over compensating for her actions and causing the boat rock. Alec reached for her but it was too late, the damage was done.

The two X5s surfaced a moment later, Max spitting out lake water and Alec rubbing his eyes. Alec grinned as he looked at the bedraggled picture that Max made, earning a splash of water in his face.

"What?" Alec choked out, treading water with ease. Max glared at him as she began stoking towards shore, Alec caught up with her little or no effort, "Maxie?"

"I hate boats," Max's voice was flat, her anger evident though in her sure strokes. She sent her eyes heaven ward when she felt the sandy bottom of the lake, standing up she trudged to the shore Alec beside her.

"Well you did agree," Alec's laughter was clear in his tone, turning to him Max shook out her water soaked hair as she took a calming breath before giving him the set down that he deserved. Before she could a word out she felt her throat close up as Alec pulled his shirt over his head, flushing Max turned away heading towards her bike parked discreetly in the shadows of a large pine.

Alec grinned as he rung out his shirt, seeing a soaking wet cat usually didn't have its appeal but seeing a wet Max certainly appealed to the tomcat in him. Throwing his jacket and shirt over his arm he followed her, schooling his features to show nothing more than amusement. His sharp hearing picked up Max's rumblings about stupid boats and men almost had him laughing but he bit his tongue, he had set out to pull the rug out from under her feet and even went again his own nature to throw a curve ball into her tight fisted existence. Fishing had definitely thrown Max for a loop; smiling Alec mounted his bike and followed behind Max on the way to Seattle.

Chaplain

Alec tugged at his collar, grimacing as the too tight fabric didn't budge in the least. Looking around the dimly lit building Alec smiled at the grizzled faced man lounging at the back of the room. Walking by him Alec held back the automatic gag that the man's smell evoked; liquor mixed with a need for a bath was too much even for his usually strong stomach. Stifling his body's automatic urge to turn tail and run Alec continued on his way up the aisle towards the altar. Five years he had been stationed at the small Seattle base and in those five years Colonel Donald Lydecker had been his most consistent follower, and Alec would be damned if he turned the man away for smelling. Kneeling in front of the simple looking altar that he had to build himself, Alec gave a silent prayer of thanks and asked for grace for the upcoming day. Standing Alec nodded to Lydecker once more before walking over to the small confessional positioned on the far side of the chapel.

Alec sat down with a sigh of thanks, stretching his legs out to the limits of the small box. A box, Alec almost laughed, the small confessional reminded him all too much of a coffin. Five years, Alec still couldn't believe that he had been here for five years. Sometimes he almost forgot who he was, and why he was there in the first place. Sweat began to trickle down the back of his neck, Alec bit back the curse that automatically came to his lips when he felt it. Slowly he let his anger out in a breath that his superior Father James, the balding African-American would have been proud of the hot-headed young man. But Alec as a lay priest was allowed a few slips, and he took full advantage of the minor normality's that came his way. Alec leaned his head back against the confessional wall, normally he had one or two patrons but most of the soldiers that came to the small derelict chapel came when they knew that Father James was on duty. Alec didn't begrudge them the chance to confess their sins to the older man, it gave him a few hours sleep in the middle of the day, and considering all things he had no real need to hear a soldier lay out in detail the horror they felt when they took a life. Alec knew that horror first hand having been an assassin for his government for the better part of his life. Alec pulled out his hander kerchief, wiping at the sweat accumulating on brow and the back of his neck, regretting that he had ever been given this assignment in the first place. But here he was, five years later pretending to be a man of God assigned as Chaplain in training to the small Army base outside of Seattle. He wasn't even a man, Alec chuckled quietly to himself; he was a genetically engineered soldier sent to spy on the very man that he had just smiled at. Colonel Lydecker, commanding officer and a man who was in charge of a total thirty elite soldiers, transgenic X series just like Alec. In the past five years that Alec, also known as 494 to his Command, had been accepted by Lydecker as a harmless priest and therefore he was in the perfect position to gather intel on the Colonel's misuse of his soldiers and if need be take him out if Lydecker posed a threat to his superiors.

Alec knew the moment when Lydecker left, the soft click of the door just confirmed what his nostrils already knew. Relaxing further Alec didn't realize that not only had someone left, but someone had entered. It wasn't until the adjoining door to the confessional opened and closed with a hesitation did he snap to attention, his hand going automatically to the knife he had concealed in his boot. Stopping Alec's eyes widened as he watched the girl on the other side of the screen as she fiddled with her uniform. Alec knew her instantly not only recognizing her from his time on the base but also from his files on Lydecker. An X-5 just like him, his sharp hazel eyes took the moments that she apparently needed to gather herself he studied her. Dark brown curls were pulled back from an expressive oval face, almond shaped chocolate eyes were turned down as she bit her full bottom lip. Like most X-series she was inordinately beautiful, but looking at her from the cover of the dark confessional Alec had never seen a more stunning creature in his entire life.

"Father?"

Alec stiffened, now wasn't the time for him to loose his cover because of a pretty face. Clearing his throat Alec assumed the role of Chaplain with ease, "Yes, my dear."

"I…have never been to confession before," she confessed, straight white teeth captured her lip once again, "I…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you."

Alec stiffened as she made to get up and leave, "Wait."

The girl stopped mid motion to rise, turning he watched as her eyes narrowed trying to see him. Alec didn't worry that she could see him, he knew for a fact that even with transgenic eyesight that his position put him out of abilities reach. Quickly he tried to cover his mistake, "You obviously have something on your mind, it is best that you let go of your problems."

The girl resumed her kneeling position with a reluctance that he knew was born of a suspicion that all X-5's had. Happy with himself despite her apparent reluctance, "Tell me what is on your mind."

"I don't believe in God," she blurted out, Alec's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Before he could say anything though she continued, "I mean…I don't know if I believe in God."

"I see," Alec said, though he could fully understand where she was coming from having doubts himself.

"Sometimes they have us do things that I can't let go," her voice grew small, "I mean when I was a kid it felt like this was the worst that life could get. But now…now I don't even know if I am alive half the time."

"Do you think about killing yourself," Alec's palms sweated as he waited for her answer.

"Sometimes," she let out a shaky breath, "I just don't believe in anything anymore."

Alec leaned forward wiping his hands on the hander kerchief that he had forgotten he was holding, waiting tensely as she seemed to rally herself.

"My brother Ben he was the one with the faith," she smiled softly, and Alec envied this Ben for holding a part of her heart so closely. Brushing a stray strand of hair back she stilled her shaking hands and continued, "You might not know this but I am apart of Lydecker's personal unit, we have been together since before I was born. It sounds like something out of a horror movie right? It's the truth though, trained since before we could talk to be obedient soldiers but they were closer to me then anyone else. Ben though was different, he was so full of life. He believed that one day someone would come and rescue us, he called her the Blue Lady."

Alec for an instant missed his unit mates from his home base, a unit that had been disbanded after they had been cleared for solo missions at the tender age of fifteen. Three of which were now dead, and one having escaped, but never in his years with them had they been as close as he had observed this girl's unit. Shaking his head Alec mumbled for her to continue.

"Ben died when we were twelve, he was climbing up a tower for a better view," her hands came up to grip the sill of the screen that separated them, "I remember looking up at him, smiling at him as he waved to us to continue on in our mission. I took my eyes off him for a split second and then I heard a scream…"

Alec reached out his fingers brushing against the screen, coming to rest against the spot he knew her fingers were just on the other side of, "Go on."

"It took forever for him to fall," Alec knew that tears were falling from her eyes, but she didn't sniffle she just let them fall, "I watched him, and when his body finally hit I was next to him in an instance but his eyes were dead. I didn't understand really what had happened, none of us did. It wasn't until the Colonel ordered us back to our barrack."

"He had such belief in her, and she didn't save him. Why am I here," her sobs were gut wracking now; Alec wished he could hold her. The pads of his fingers pushed ruthlessly against the grill of the screen, imagining that he could feel the smoothness of her skin. She gave one last shuddering sob before wiping at her eyes in anger, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have…"

Alec watched dumbfounded as she bolted out of the confines of the confessional. Alec was on his feet in a heart beat, pushing open the door he watched as the door to the chapel slammed shut on the girl's retreating back. Taking in a deep lungful of air Alec felt his lungs expand with the cooler air.

"Excuse me Father," Alec turned towards the voice that he knew so well, Colonel Lydecker walked towards him with a sneering smile.

"How may I help you Colonel," Alec choked out as he straightened his uniform, all to conscious of that he was under the closest scrutiny he had ever been given by the older man.

"Is she okay?" Lydecker motioned towards the door that still seemed to hum from its contact with the confused X-5.

Alec glanced at the door as if it held his answer, "She needs time."

"You remind me of her brother," Lydecker walked closer, Alec held his ground his eyes holding nothing but confusion which must have satisfied the older man, "Good day Chaplain McDonald."