Fiction From AtZR2- Entrance

Title: From A To Z

Chapter Title: Entrance

Author: Restive Nature

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Dark Angel. They belong to Cameron/ Eglee. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dark Angel

Type: schmoopy

Pairing: Max/ Alec

Summary: No matter how grand an entrance you can make, someone always comes along to top it.

Spoilers/ Time line:Post series. TC is no longer under siege though White is still a threat.

Feedback: Always welcome!

Distribution: Ask first please.

A/N: This is my interpretations of the second round of A to Z fictions, using the prompts that Seamagik has come up with. Thanks for the inspiration, as well as Nickeldime17 for getting this all started.

E is for Entrance

'If there's one thing that girl knows how to do,' Alec thought to himself as he pulled the vehicle over into the ditch. There was no use for it, the tire had been going flat and he'd driven on it as long as he could. And there was no use endangering he and the other passenger. He left the car running, occasional warmth to combat the freak snow storm that they were enduring. The one that they'd all thought wasn't going to get as bad as this.

He gathered everything he could find for supplies in the front seat and glove box before he ducked out of the driver's seat, into the cold environment, limping slightly, slamming that door shut and diving into the rear seat of the four door sedan that he'd stolen. He glanced over at his partner, frowning as beads of sweat were forming on her brow. She did not look good right now. Even in her finery, she was looking pale, sweaty, pained...bloody...

His own pain, from the bullet that had caught his calf muscle, burning and causing that discomfort that came when your body recognized that there was foreign matter where it just didn't belong, it all paled in comparison to what she was enduring.

Even as he dug on the floor for a blanket, she was trying to gasp something out. He listened for a moment before answering.

“I killed the lights Maxie,” he told her, one hand reaching for hers and then wincing as she squeezed. Whoever had passed on that bit of wisdom about the fingers and the hands? Oh hell were they right. As quickly as the spasm of pain passed, he retrieved his hand and flexed it, out of her sight, hoping feeling would return quickly. He stole another glance at this forthright woman that had decided, that now of all times, an evening of fun was just in order and had accepted the invitation, even though everyone warned them against it. But he'd wanted to keep her happy. Wanted to see her smile, since it was so rare these days.

Alec felt his lips curving into a grin as he remembered when they had walked into that ballroom earlier in the evening. He had been gob smacked himself the first time he saw her in the dress that she had chosen. The plunging neckline was not one that Max normally would have chosen. But she had been in an odd mood of late. But walking into that ballroom, that high society event, everyone had turned and stared, some jaws dropping, some women envious about how well Max pulled off the daring, brilliant red dress. The plunging neckline was only part of it. It had been skin tight and slinky. The perfect description, with parts of the waist and hips cut away so that every inch of perfectly smooth caramel skin was revealed, and it almost looked like everything was pointing like a target, right to her stomach. The stares had continued as they'd moved into the gathered crowd. Perhaps because the back of the dress? Well, there wasn't one. The material gathered to rest at just the top of her buttocks, showing off a tantalizing glimpse of that ripe form of cleavage she'd been amply gifted with.

And Alec had loved it. The entire evening, as her escort, her literal bodyguard that night, he'd been able to keep his hand hovering there, right above that swell, rubbing her back in a clear indication to other males that despite what they might think, she was all his. Not that Maxie noticed. She was too busy enjoying herself, talking with old acquaintances she had met from days better left forgotten. It had been a long time since she'd been able to sparkle like that. And as she had said, it would be a long time before she could again. He'd been happy to put that smile on her face.

It was just typical that the woman who'd been running and hiding for the majority of her life, advocating keeping a low profile, eschewing a publicized life, that she could walk into any room and make everyone sit up, stand up and stare. Oh lord, the staring.

But it wasn't like this was his first indication that she was a larger than life person, whether she wanted to admit it or not. Even if she wouldn't admit to it, her personality was forceful for the most part. It was in her stride, in her determination and she let everyone know it. Not like tonight's walk into those snobby trust fund goody do gooders had been her most spectacular. There was of course her triumphant moment of crashing a hover drone into Jam Pony at the start of the hostage situation. That was masterful, as well as her little quips when everyone had raced to gather around her.

But even before that, Ale had seen the evidence in simple things. Like how she was always racing ahead on that little Ninja of hers. Wanting to be first, whether it was because someone needed help or she just wanted to open her baby up and let the freedom of the road take her. Or, there were also the times when she used said Ninja to do her forthright talking for her. How on earth did you argue with someone who was fully prepared, and Alec had seen this too, totally ready to use several hundred pounds of machinery to mow people down to make her point.

Even her stride was determined to garner her attention. Like the way she'd kick through anything to get at what she wanted. The way she strode about like she was the Queen of everything. Work, home, Crash, even the streets. Her stride always said that she was in charge and you'd better know it.

“Alec!” her voice rang out and Alec, was embarrassed to realize that he had been daydreaming slightly, even as he was glancing at his watch. “Alec? What the hell are you thinking?”

“Huh?” was his brilliant response as he turned to regard her. She was turned, sideways on the back bench seat, one hand cradling her abdomen. It was very prophetic seeming that the dress she wore that seemed to target her stomach as the focal point of her ensemble, was now the truth. She sucked in her breath, eyes clenching shut as pain played over her face again and Alec forced himself back to the situation at hand.

'Damn White and his freaky goons,' Alec cursed silently, as he saw the slight trickle of blood pooling under her. 'We beat them back and the fuckers just couldn't stand that they lost.'

“Alec!” this time her voice was an entreaty and he responded instantly to it, his hand moving to cover hers and the other stroking her leg that was closest to him. “It hurts.”

“I know Maxie,” he soothed. “Try to breath through the pain.” He glanced at his watch again, mentally urging the rescue team coming from Terminal City to really haul ass and perform the miracle of getting there much earlier than they thought they'd be capable of. “Help is coming.”

“I know that dumb ass,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “I was the one that called them.”

“Only because I was too busy getting our asses out of there,” he smirked back. Her fingers tightened on her knee that she was gripping for a long moment and then the pain seemed to ease off for a moment. She fell out of the slight curled hunch she had created, her head thumping slightly on the door behind her.

“So what were you thinking about?” she demanded once more. Alec shrugged one shoulder, glancing down again. He bit at his lip, thinking that for all the supplies he had, they just wouldn't be enough if... but he couldn't tell her that.

“I was just thinking,” he grinned up at her, desperate to keep her at least from going off the deep end over things. That wouldn't help their situation at all. “Really,” he continued, “about all your really cool entrances. You really know how to be the center of attention, don't you?” he teased gently. She stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

“That's what you're thinking about?” she demanded stridently. “Seriously?”

“Well, keeps me from thinking about how I have yet another hole in my body,” he shrugged. “Or the absurdity of the situation.” Her face had softened instantly at the mention of his wound and he winced inwardly when he saw the tears begin to pool in the corner of her eyes. “Hey, hey, just a flesh wound. Remember? Been there, done that?”

“Not a good argument,” she gasped, sitting up and straining once more. Alec reached forward to help her try and find a comfortable position. Not that they were having any luck with that.

“But it is absurd,” he continued, once she had calmed a little again. Trying, with the only thing he had left, his words, to distract her. “I mean, you simply wanted a night out. I provided it. But with our abysmal luck, we have a run in with White and his goons, the tire is flat on the friggin' car, we're almost out of gas, we had to divert from our path so that White couldn't follow us and that puts our rescue team way off course. They're gonna have a hell of a time finding us, because of this fucking freak snow storm and we can't use the GPS on our phones, because yours was in your purse and you left it behind and mine was the victim of a bullet.”

“Better your phone than your lungs,” Max grunted out.

“True,” Alec conceded. “And to top it all off, there's this.” He waved his hand over her abdomen.

“This?” her voice was icy, but Alec knew that it wasn't in reference to how he had put it, but Max trying to siphon off the pain in whatever way she could. He could only imagine... his bullet wound was nothing in comparison. “Damn it Alec,” she gasped, her voice sounding tiny to his ears. “I don't think we can wait.”

There was a truth to that statement that he hadn't quite wanted to admit and he quickly moved to check on her. And saw that she was, as usual, one hundred percent correct. A particular string of nasty words slipped from his lips. “I think you're right babe,” he muttered and caught her rolling her eyes at him. It was over quickly as she gasped once more and her upper body arched towards the ceiling of the car, without much success of reaching it, naturally. Even as he noted that the sweat was rolling off her brow, he was reaching for one of the rags he had found, clean thankfully, in the glove box. He mopped at her face and she turned towards the clean fabric gratefully. “How long?” he asked. And then realized he wasn't being clear. “Tonight, I mean.”

“Since before we left,” Max gasped out. “But I didn't think...”

“Yeah,” Alec sighed, well aware of the situation she was referring to. He probably would have calculated the same odds. She was straining once more, and this time, it was she reaching for his hand. He gave it to her, thoughts of pain, of her breaking his hand were gone. It didn't matter, as long as he did his duty and saw her through this, to the end, just like he had promised. The moment took forever to pass and Alec checked on her once more. Thankfully there had not been any real progression of note.

“I wonder something though,” he mused, once again trying to distract her just a little. “Do you think it might be, like, inherited, or genetic or something?”

“What is?” she gasped back. He could see that she was having a hard time catching her breath, things were happening so fast now. It didn't matter if she were lying down or sitting up.

“Making the grand entrances,” he pointed out, “as you seem so fond of doing.” But then she was arching up again and Alec's eyes went wide as she grabbed his shirt collar.

“I don't care about what I'm so fond of doing,” she growled. “This is stupid!” She let loose of his collar and then winced as Alec's arms came up from their awkward positioning around each other, to try and carefully lower her back down. “I'm sorry,” she apologized instantly. “The pain...”

“I know babe,” he soothed. “Just hang on. Help will be here soon. Not like it's gonna do us much good.”

“What do you mean?” her words were panicked suddenly and Alec cursed himself for not watching his tongue.

“It's okay,” he tried placating her and explaining quickly was one of the ways to do so. “I was just thinking that I was really hoping that it would be quiet and safe, preferably in TC where the doctor has access to pain medication.” He saw her nodding along with him and couldn't help the tired grin. “Instead, we've got a blizzard, barely any supplies, help that's going to be too late in coming and it's a month too early. Talk about a grand entrance.”

“Alec,” her voice was soft, but there was something deadly in it. And it made Alec sit up and take notice. “I really don't care about how any friggin' entrance is made, as long as it-!” She stopped short and then bit down on her lower lip, so hard that she actually drew blood, and there was a long, low keening emanating from her throat. She had pushed him away and managed to gasp out, “now!”

Pushing the material of her dress out of the way, Alec realized that she was right. All that mattered was the here and now. And it was his job, the most important one he had right now, to see her through this.

*****

Mole stared anxiously out the window, cursing the damn snow storm that had been growing in intensity since even before they'd received the distress call. His experienced gaze swept back and forth, searching for any sign of their missing leaders.

He knew, just knew, from experience, from his highly developed intuitive senses, that tonight had been slated to be a disaster right from the get go. His hands clenched and unclenched convulsively. The original plan, before some brainiac had checked the weather report, simply because Mole wanted all bases covered and had planned a rescue op before the others even thought there might be trouble, had been to have the chopper they'd “acquired” to be fueled and ready to go. But he couldn't fly in this weather. Maybe if they had a stripped down National Guard long distance rescue can, they'd have made it. But no, all they had was the usual military issue for standard transport. It was too heavy to fly through weather like this. The dangers too great for the crew before they could even think to get to their target.

And it was the fact that Mole would have been at the helm, directing things, that had him on edge now. Because this old rusting hunk of junk ambulance, another of their “acquisitions” that had been painted over to look like any other rusted out bucket of bolts on the post pulse roads, was being driven by Kodiak. And admittedly, the black bear human cross of a transhmuan was one that Mole liked having at his back. He had nearly as much battle and mission experience as Mole did, albeit in different areas. And he knew the mission as well as anyone else.

Mole's problem was that Kodiak, when faced with weather issues, drove like a ninety year old woman needing a new prescription on her bifocals. The van was friggin' crawling along. Which admittedly, made it easier for Mole and the others in the back to keep their eyes out for signs of their missing leaders.

“There!” Joshua yelled, his finger jabbing forward to the front window, towards Mole more than Kodiak. Eyes instantly swung the way the big dog man had been pointing. There was nothing there, but they weren't quick to dismiss it. The last communique that they'd had from Alec had noted that they had had to switch routes to lose White and company. They had a general area, but then Alec's phone had gone dead. The popping report they'd heard clearly over the line told them what had probably, hopefully happened.

“Little light,” Joshua explained. “Flashing intermittent.”

Mole nodded. They were in a car. He continued to scan what he assumed was the horizon and then he caught it as well. An eerie light flickering and Mole assumed from the glow, for it to be an inner dome light, in the backdrop of dark and snow. He glanced down at the map of the countryside roads he'd been able to grab. “Two clicks up, hard right,” he instructed. “We'll come back at them immediately on the concurrent service road.”

Kodiak nodded and sped up. Mole breathed just a tiny sigh of relief. Finally, they were getting somewhere. When they pulled up five minutes later, he was the first out of the van, as soldiers, taking point poured out, he strode to the van, shivering in the drastically lowered temperatures.

“All clear!” one of his boys shouted and Mole noted that the boy had taken the precaution of throwing on one of the heat signature reading goggles they kept. There were no other bodies alive out there, but for the ones in the vehicle. He approached and rapped on the rear door, where he could see some shadowy forms. The vehicle was quiet, but when he leaned over to open the door, he could see quite clearly, as the dome light flickered and came on for just a brief moment before dying out again, not one or two, but three distinct presences, huddled together.

“Someone call for a rescue?” he chuckled, his relief that the situation hadn't been worse, very evident.

“Someone that could have used it about twenty minutes ago,” Alec quipped back, sparing Mole only the briefest of glances, before turning back to gaze intently, worshipfully at the child wrapped in a black tuxedo jacket and cradled in his wife's arms. Mole didn't bother hiding his smirk. He'd seen that look on new father's faces all the time. He pulled back and gestured to the med team that had traveled with them. “Get some blankets,” he instructed as Joshua neared to peek in. “We got a little one to transport.”

Renee moved in, while her partner, Flynn grabbed what supplies they had brought. Mole moved out of her way, while Joshua sidled to the side. It looked crowded enough in there, what with Max and the baby taking up the back seat and Alec squashed in on the floor beside her. But neither seemed to mind in their fawning adoration of the baby that was front and center.

It took only a matter of minutes to get Max and the baby bundled up and transferred to the back of the ambulance. Mole wanted to ask, as they all climbed back into the vehicle and were on their way back to TC, in contact with other vehicles that had been sent out to ensure their safe route return. But he restrained himself. The betting pool wasn't all that important. At this point, since he had led the trend of betting on the most preposterous scenarios possible in which Max would deliver, he held the most chances there. But right now, it was down to fifty/ fifty odds that he would win. That crafty little kitty cat Allie had mimicked his bets. But she had been betting on a girl. Mole, with his superior air of premonition had been going for boy.

Max of course, had kept mum about it and forced Alec to do the same. But Mole was sure he'd have his answer soon enough. He focused part of his attention on the conversation in the back. Renee and Flynn were taking all sorts of vitals and notes and complimenting Alec and Max on a job well done, while the normally bickering pair were just murmuring their assents. And then Max giggled.

“What babe?” Alec had chuckled along with her. Apparently her good mood was infectious.

“Don't think you get to call me that anymore,” she grunted happily. “Got the real thing here now.”

“True,” Alec agreed. “I'll find something else to call you wife o' mine.”

“I know you will,” she replied archly, sounding amused, yet resigned. “And you were right.”

“Right about what?”

“As far as entrances go,” Max laughed. “I've had some good ones. But I think, hands down, our son just won that contest.”

“That he did, sweetheart,” Alec agreed and the pair were laughing once more as a tiny, soft baby coo was added to the mix.

And even as he turned his attention back to watching the roads, letting his senses sweep out to protect the van's inhabitants, Mole had to agree. For all the trouble that little one had caused, the situation was win all around.

From AtZ Round 2- Jack