Fiction From AtZR2- Jack

Title: From A To Z

Chapter Title: Jack

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

Genre: Dark Angel

Type: sweet

Pairing: Max/ Alec

Summary: It's been ten years, perhaps it's time to let go.

Spoilers/ Time line: This fiction is a continuation of the earlier fiction “Entrance”.

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.

J is for Jack

“I'm not saying it's not a good name Alec,” Max sighed tiredly. Their newborn son's unusual and early arrival notwithstanding, Max had thought that things would settle down fairly quickly. Unfortunately, as Alec had pointed out, the little tyke had seemed to not only inherit her shark DNA fueled sleeping patterns, along with the whole gamut of other typical newborn behaviors. And while she had would normally have no problem staying up with the baby through the night, she hadn't taken into account the toll that giving birth and trying to learn breastfeeding, diapering and just the host of new parenting skills that everyone had assured her would come in time.

So for Max, already worn out from pregnancy, birth and her bodies need for near constant fueling to feed her child, she simply did not want to have this conversation with her husband. Normally, if Alec wanted something, he would whine, cajole, plead until she gave in, or simply do it and ask forgiveness after the fact. But since she had hid the name registry application from him, since they hadn't had one chosen before the ordinary doctors had released her and Baby Boy McDowell from the hospital.

It was a little difficult for Alec to simply write in the name he liked and send it off to the registrar's office in downtown Seattle. Of course, it had probably occurred to him that he could just go get another form, but was wise enough to realize that if he did something as important as naming their child without her, she'd probably kill him. So he was stuck with the cajoling.

“It's a good name,” Alec reiterated and Max rolled her eyes. She was lying down with the baby, who was still stubbornly refusing to sleep. The nearest he came was a light doze and every time there was movement too close to him, or sound within his surprisingly wide range of hearing, he would pop his eyes open. In the two days since they'd come home, from their one day stay at the hospital, they had tried for a workable routine. Luckily, when Alec had explained the babe's lack of sleep, friends had been understanding in cutting him some slack about getting in to work. Of course, they were the de facto leaders of the whole shebang. So if Papa Alec needed paternity leave, that's exactly what he got.

“It's strong,” he went on. “Women like it, men respect it. Look at history.”

“I don't want to look at history,” Max grumbled, though she wasn't refuting his arguments. She was well aware of the appeal of men who'd worn the name proudly. “I'm just thinking of how it feels, you know, down the road, when I'm calling his name to come to dinner or come home or if he's in trouble...”

Alec grinned at that, glancing down at the baby, wide awake beside his mother. His eyes were still only able to focus on close range items, but he still followed the argument with attempts at flicking his eyes between the shapes and noises that he was rapidly coming to associate with safety, warmth, food and most especially, love. It made no never mind to a three day old what his name eventually would be.

“Given that he's my boy,” Alec chuckled, “then I'll think that last one will be a given.” Ceasing his prowling of the bedroom, Alec gently eased himself down to the foot of the bed, as Max pulled her legs up out of his way. He reached for the nearest calf and gently massaged. “Do you not like Alexander with it?” he wondered. Max shook her head. “Do you think the syllables don't work?” She shook her head again, not looking to him, but the darling infant that was starting to root around, working his little limbs as well as he was able. Which was to say, barely at all. Her hand stroked gently over his tiny head, covered with a fine dusting of sandy brown hair, a nice medium between his parents.

“What about Ethan?” Max piped up suddenly, though quiet, as she soothed her son. “It's a nice name too.”

“Ethan Alexander is nice,” Alec mused. “But I still just really like Jack.” She sagged a little as he didn't even seem to want to think it over. “How about this? You give me Jack,” he began, but at her skeptical look, chuckled and amended his statement. “I mean the name, he looks too content where he's at to move him. And if we hurry up and decide, then maybe he'll take a nap.”

“No such luck,” Max snorted softly.

“Anyway,” Alec continued as he resumed rubbing at her leg. “You give me Jack and I swear, the next one, you get one hundred percent control of the name?”

“Even if I want to name it Delilah Shanaquay McDowell?” she taunted immediately and then giggled at Alec's scrunched up face and hunched shoulders as he winced.

“I know you're not that cruel,” he sighed, “but yes. Even if I'm not thrilled with the name...”

Finally Max gave in, seeing that Alec wasn't going to give up this idea. “Alec, I just can't. It hurts too much.”

His face softened drastically. “What hurts babe?” he wondered, abandoning her legs to turn himself to scootch up behind her, and cradle her in his arms. There were no tears on her face or even starting, but he was wary all the same.

“Jack,” she shrugged the shoulder she wasn't laying on. “My brother had a grand mal seizure and died. I can't... I don't want to think about that every time I look at my child.”

“His name was Jack?” Alec realized in a painful instant. He'd known about the seizures, of course he had, and Max had told him once that it was these events that had prompted their escape from Manticore.

Things didn't need to make much more sense than that, but when he glanced down, at the child that lay beside his wife, to think that there was a time that his little boy could be more helpless than he already was, to have that added danger haunting him, stalking him... He suddenly knew exactly how Max felt. He pressed a kiss to her temple, his voice low as he responded again. “Okay baby, no Jack. We'll figure something else out.”

Alec felt the shuddering release of her tension, did not need to see her face to know the tears leaking from her eyes. He could smell them, as it seemed, could their son, who began to coo worriedly. His hand instinctively stole from her elbow, to between them, giving one finger for his son to grasp at while the others spread over her stomach. Jack held him and a moment later, Max's hand slid over his knuckles as she sniffled, forcing a smile for the littlest McDowell.

They all heard the knock, but not the approach that had brought it to the bedroom door at the same time. Max and Alec's head's came up, both their hands moving to cover the baby as they assessed the newcomer. And relaxed instantly when they saw it was Joshua.

“Sorry,” the large transgenic apologized as he peeked in the open doorway, his right hand resting on the door jamb. “Knocked on door. Heard the baby. Didn't know if you two were awake.”

“Yeah Josh, we are,” Alec pointed out unnecessarily, even as Max gave a huge ear cracking yawn. He cleared his voice and tried for a smile that wasn't all grimace. “What'd ya need?”

With an unsure movement, Joshua lifted the book that he was holding in his other hand. “Brought this. Thought it could help.” He glanced down at the book, flipping it around from where he'd been showing them the cover to smile once more at the imitation of life represented on the front.

He glanced up to see them both wearing similar expressions and Joshua cleared his throat. “Was curious,” was all he said to explain his fascination with names now. It wasn't quite equal to their own, but he doubted he ever would be. “Joshua means 'God rescues'.” He informed them with a frown. He lifted the book to flip through it to the last point of interest he had had. “And all sorts of names in here.” When he came to the section he had marked, he gestured with it more to Alec. “Found Jack. Means gift of God. Actually, that's Jonathan. Which Jack is a nickname for.” He barely noticed Alec's wince and wondered if the baby was twisting his finger, before he decided that Alec surely could handle that.

“We uh, decided against Jack big guy,” Alec declared, gently moving himself to a seated position. Joshua frowned, knowing how much Alec had liked the name. But he thought carefully before speaking. They both had to like the name to agree. That was the problem from earlier. The names they'd come up with weren't just right. Names had to be just right, since they lasted a lifetime. His friends glanced at one another and he knew he did not miss the tiniest of nods that Max gave her husband, who frowned and rubbed at her hip.

The baby began to fuss a little and Max gave her full attention over to him, knowing that her husband was there to shelter and protect them, should the need arise. Not that it would with Joshua also there. Alec scooted a little towards the end of the bed and Joshua respectfully pulled his eyes away from Max and the baby completely. He might be a transhuman and their friend, but you still did not disrespect another's man's mate by staring at her in an intimate,... bonding moment, which was apparently what the baby wanted. Alec stood from the bed and moved to Joshua's side.

Joshua kept his eyes on Alec for several reasons, fully prepared to be gently ejected from the room. But his friend stopped to touch the baby book. And then glance up into Joshua's eyes. “One of her brother's that died early,” he spoke so softly, like it was an ill omen, “was named Jack.”

“Oh, right,” Joshua nodded and then frowned. “Sorry.” He pushed the book towards Alec. He wanted to offer to stay, to let them rest without fear of missing something the baby needed, but he knew it was still to soon for their instincts to let him that much further in. In a few days, as some instincts relaxed and others kicked in, he knew they'd broaden the circle. Just like the others. Maybe sooner with the baby's propensity for lack of sleepiness. He turned to go, but Max called him back.

“Wait!” she called softly and Joshua paused. “Joshua, you said Jonathan?”

“Uh huh,” he answered with a grunt, not staring. Did not need to see Max's ta ta's! He could hear her chuckle and Alec's as well.

“Nice blush there Josh,” he teased. Joshua quickly pulled his hand up to shield his peripheral vision and turned his head back to hiss unhappily at his friend.

“Don't need to see Max's goodies,” he grunted. “For Alec and the baby.”

“Sorry Joshua,” the both apologized at once, one sounding amused, the other contrite. It was Max that continued though. “There, I have a blanket. It's okay.”

Joshua sensed the air before consenting to put his hand down. Alec looked completely relaxed, so Max had done what she said and had given her permission. Perhaps baby sitting would come very soon.

Once his hand was lowered though, Max went on, still watching her son. “I think I like Jonathan. He is a gift after all.”

“Of course, my love,” Alec agreed lightly, but Joshua could see he was in a way, humoring her. It was more to see where she was going with this, he was sure. But then something seemed to click with the other male. “And it would be a way of remembering him, honoring him, if you like.”

“Yeah,” she agreed a little breathlessly. “You wouldn't mind?”

“Jonathan Alexander McDowell,” he tested it out. “Three, four, three. A good strong name with lots of syllables for you to lovingly yell out when the little guy's acting up.”

“Cause we both know he will,” she chuckled and then cooed back at the baby making some wild, erratic movements under the lightweight sheet she was holding over them. “I think he likes it too.”

“Hell, he's my kid, he don't care about a name at this particular moment,” Alec snorted in amusement, his eyes glowing. It didn't take them debate or hours, just a momentary recognition of what felt just right and their decision was made. A much easier prospect now, over what it had been between them in the past.

“Hallway linen closet, rolled up in the blue towel with the bleach stain,” Max announced and Joshua's eyebrows furrowed closer together. That was quite the subject change, but apparently Alec understood his wife much better than anyone could credit.

“On it,” he announced, nudging Joshua in the arm, for their friend to precede him.

“Bye Max,” he called softly over his shoulder. “Bye bye Jonathan. Uncle Joshua see you later.”

“Definitely,” Max called back as Alec was pulling the door shut behind them. “You little big man are gonna have so much fun with your uncle. But nappy nap first, right Jonathan? Now listen to my voice, cause I mean it this time. No more wakey, let your eyes drop...”

Alec chuckled and shook his head before his own yawn threatened to overtake his face. “Come on,” he muttered and Joshua obediently followed. They made it to the hall closet and quickly found the towel Max had been talking about. All was made clear as Alec unrolled it and found the registry paper that she had hidden, letting Joshua understand too. With a little pomp and ceremony, Alec made it to the table to fill in that all important information. Signing his name to the bottom with a flourish, he settled some large objects at either end, to keep it from rolling up once more and sent his friend off with thanks and a promise that yes, Gods yes, Joshua would be babysitting Jonathan very, very soon.

*****

About ten years later

“Pass the ball man!” Cortlyn yelled, from one end of the yard. The black and white soccer ball was being dribbled forward by one of the other older kids who had been playing this game longer than the younger ones. But age didn't matter with this particular group of kids. They played hard and they played to win. After all, they were what made up the small inter transgenic soccer league.

Alec had to smile as he watched his son at the farthest away position from where he was currently seated, on the patio, a beer in one hand, chips in the other. Jonathon was in the position of goalie today. It wasn't his usual position, but today's game was technically just supposed to be for fun. After all, it was a party.

“How come they decided to switch it up today?” Ward, Tiggy's dad asked. His daughter had complained several times that she wasn't getting enough play time, yet she seemed perfectly content today. He reached froward to capture some dip on a chip.

“They look more like they're playing rugby than soccer,” another father chuckled, this one the honorable Soren Jensen, who worked in city hall with Alec. The years had wrought a lot of changes, in the city and the world and Alec and Max had been through it all, together for good and ill. Alec, working the public sector angle and Max the strategic of Terminal city and their denizens.

“They do, don't they?” Alec nodded. Soren's daughter was here as well, of course, but the girl had elected to stay on the sidelines with a few other kids who didn't want to get knocked down in the fracas. “That's why we have our own league,” he explained easily. It wasn't anything too new, since they'd all gone through the learning curve with their kids. “It helps the kids to focus their strength and aggression through sports and academics. But it's also not fair to ordinary kids who don't have their advantages.”

“Yeah, but didn't you guys play East Middle School last week?” Soren wondered. Alec took a sip off his beer and nodded.

“There's always some coach that wants to test his kids off ours,” Alec agreed. “Middle was one of them.”

“And you trounced them, if I remember correctly,” Soren chuckled. Alec grinned a little.

“But they did it on skill,” Alec pointed out.

“We've got a very strict regimen when it comes to our kids playing those games,” Mole explained as Soren turned to him. The man had been around enough that he no longer instinctively flinched when the lizard like transhuman spoke. “Any player caught playing what any other coach would consider as too rough, faces removal from the game. Or worse.”

“Worse?” Soren demanded lightly, his eyebrows going up.

“A week's suspension from the team,” Alec offered, “if another kid gets hurt.”

Soren whistled lightly. “Sounds harsh.”

“But that's the way the world works,” Mole shrugged. “You think an adult can just merrily go on their way if they hurt another adult? I know they do, what with crime statistics being what they are. But we're trying to teach the kids very real consequences to life actions.”

“Listen to him now,” Max giggled, as she approached with Mary, Soren's wife. They were both carrying some platters of food, more geared towards the adult's appetites.

“I know,” Mary grinned her agreement as Liana, Joshua's new friend, brought up the rear. “I remember those gloom and doom speeches of his.”

“Rants were more like it,” Mole teased her. For some reason, they had a strange friendship. Mostly, it seemed to the others, it only worked because Mary Jensen refused to put up with Mole's bullshit and he respected her for that.

“What do you think?” Max asked as she leaned slightly against her husband after setting the plate she'd held down on the table. “Are they about ready for burgers and cake?”

“Probably soon,” Alec answered as he wrapped his arm loosely around her waist and looked up at her. The time had barely touched her features. The only change since he had met her was the filling out of her face, breasts and hips since giving birth to their son had marked her forever. That and the change in hairstyles. She didn't normally care, but at some point or another every few years, she would lop off the appropriate amount that she was annoyed with and start again. That had been a while ago, this last cycle and her hair brushed his arm as she turned to wave at someone across the expanse of yard.

“Cindy's here,” she smiled and Alec twisted in his seat to see Max's oldest and dearest friend.

“Awesome,” he grinned.

“Give them fifteen more minutes and then call them in to wash up please,” she directed and leaned down to press a kiss against his lips. Alec smirked up at her and then nodded, pulling her close just one more time before he released her to let her go greet their friend.

“How long a drive did Cindy and Anne have to make?” Mary wondered as she took a seat between her husband and Mole.

“About forty-five minutes,” Alec answered. “They've been working non-stop on that house. Cindy figures they'll have it done in a few more weeks.”

“I am just in love with what they did with our country house,” Mary nodded as she sighed softly. “Cindy has quite an eye for the urban eclectic.”

“And Anne balances it out with her rustic homey feeling,” Liana offered. “Just like the pair of them.”

“Jack! Jack! Get it!” they heard one of the kid's yell out then and Alec's head turned to regard the children playing. He saw his son make a dive that would seem impossible for a normal child, but his boy made it with ease. It wasn't the fact that he drove one knee into the ground though that had Alec wincing. It was the look on his son's face when he came up with the ball he'd kept from going into the goal as the boy's eyes searched instantly for his mother.

As did Alec.

But Max, who had been determinedly marching over to greet Cindy and Cindy's wife, simply paused to wave at her son and give him a thumbs up before she moved on. Alec saw Jonathon relax and then and only then, accept the congratulations of his teammates before the game got underway again.

“Problem?” Soren asked wisely, used to the troubled look on Alec's face when family matter's were bothering him.

“Nothing,” Alec frowned. “It's nothing.”

“Max not like Jack for nickname,” Joshua provided softly.

“Didn't she have a brother named Jack?” Liana wondered aloud and both Joshua and Alec nodded.

“Yeah,” Alec sighed. “He died when he was a kid. But that's not so unusual given the givens.”

“Oh, that must have been rough,” Mary sympathized. “And I can see now why she always insisted upon Jonathon.”

“Yeah,” Alec murmured again, leaning back in his seat. His eyes watched his son, who still seemed a little apprehensive as his eyes flicked to his mother repeatedly. “She used to have a meltdown every time someone tried to shorten it.” He grinned momentarily and rubbed at his ear. “She doesn't like Johnny either. But some of the kids at school have been calling him Jack. Which I know Jonathon doesn't mind, because it sounds tougher and just because he's my son, doesn't mean that he doesn't have to prove himself with the older kids every now and then.”

“I guess fitting in with your peers no matter your abilities is always gonna be rough,” Soren nodded. They quieted then as Max returned with Cindy and Anne in tow.

“What are we all discussing?” Max asked with amusement at the sudden quieting at the table. She gestured to her friends behind her as Cindy and Anne pulled up two more chairs. “Everyone, you all remember Cindy, Anne?”

There were nods and greetings. But it was easy for the newcomers to see that they were stepping into something heavy. Max didn't sit, as she was carrying the gift that her son's godmother had brought for the boy.

“The boys were just surprised you were so calm about Jonathon,” Mary announced, deciding, as she was wont to do, though only in a private conversation and not public, such as attending a political event with her husband, to just cut through the bull.

“What about him?” Max wondered, seeming truly puzzled. “Is he hurt?” she asked calmly of her husband.

“Doesn't seem to be,” Alec offered and then cringed a little as another of the kid's used the dreaded appellation once more.

“Oh, that,” Max chuckled in realization, obviously hearing it too. She rubbed one hand across her husband's shoulders and back and then stilled it for a moment as she included everyone at the table in her glance. “It's no big deal.”

“Yeah?” Cindy scoffed, easily picking up the matter, since her ears worked just as well as another's. And these kids were being anything but quiet. “You sayin' that now girl, but is Alec gonna be getting' an earful after da party be done?”

“No,” Max chuckled. She glanced over at her son and beamed. “I assume Alec filled you in.”

“About your brother?” Soren asked a little delicately and Max nodded to him. “A little.”

“Yeah, well, the other day, I realized that today, Jonathon would do something my brother Jack never did,” she offered.

“What's that babe?” Alec wondered. Her hand slid again and squeezed at the shoulder closest to her. His hand stole up to cover it.

“He made it to ten,” Max offered, just the slightest bit tremulous. “And I knew, hey, if he can make it ten, he'll make another ten and ten more after that.”

“Kind of like a curse that was lifted or something, huh?” Mole grunted and Max's smile returned.

“I don't think he was actually cursed in the first place,” she pointed out wryly, “but yeah, something like that. If he likes the nickname, then whatever. I know who he is and he knows. He's the one that has to live with it the rest of his life.”

“You sure babe?” Alec pressed, needing to be sure, since it would literally kill him for Max to hurt in any way shape or form.

“I'm sure,” Max nodded and then turned to lift her hand to cup it around her mouth. “Jack!” she yelled, certain to be heard across the expanse. “Call the game, Jack! It's time to eat!”

Alec swiveled around to see his son's astonishment and then grin, just like his own, before the boy called out some instructions to his teammates and the ball was dropped in position and the stampede of hungry mini transgenics was on. “Christ,” he muttered. “I hope Emily's ready for them.”

“She is,” Max nodded. “I'm just going to put this with the rest of the presents and get my plate.”

“You sure you wanna brave that mob?” Ward piped up and shook his head.

“Don't have to,” Max supplied cheekily. “Emily put a plate together for me before any of the kids went in. She and I arranged that already. After all, she agrees that I shouldn't wait to eat when I'm hungry.”

“Well, no,” Alec agreed slowly, confused, because his wife of over a decade had had a propensity to making sure that everyone else was taken care of first, before she'd look to herself. Sometimes that had narrowed to be just he and Jonathon and he'd never much liked it. So seeing her acceding to previously stated admonitions was sort of... “What's up babe?”

“Please, don't you remember what my appetite was like before?” she teased and then turned to her oldest friend, who had gasped in recognition. She shifted Cindy and Anne's present to her hip and rubbed one hand over her stomach. “But we're definitely naming this one Evelyn.”

“Evelyn?” Alec repeated dumbly, as he stared up at his wife. “Max? Wha-!”

“Hey! You said!” she protested good naturedly. “Remember? If you got Jack, then I got to name out next one? Just took me a while to get to it.”

Alec's eyes widened in realization of what she was saying and his eyes darted to her stomach. “Evelyn?” he choked out again.

“Seriously Alec!” Mole scoffed with a bark of laughter. “You didn't notice the mellow out? We haven't seen that in what Max, ten years, plus eight months?”

“Exactly,” Max giggled. The lizard transhuman rose from his seat and skirted the table.

“Lemme take that in and you resuscitate your husband before he expires from the shock,” he decided, taking the present from her as Alec scooted his chair back to pull Max down to his lap while he kissed her soundly. Even the sound of their son calling from the back door of the house for them didn't interrupt their private moment of joy.

“Mom! Dad!” he called plaintively. “Mo-om! Emily wants to know if Aunty Gem is back with the cupcakes yet. C'mon Dad! Gross!”

There were chuckles from all over as Mole reached the boy and clapped one hand to his shoulder. “Don't worry about it kid, just avert your eyes like the rest of us do.”

“Right,” Jack scoffed. “You don't have to live with them.”

“Yeah, well, your mom was just spreading a little good news,” Mole supplied as he herded the boy back into the house.”

“Oh yeah, what?” the sandy haired mini version of Alec asked.

“Remember what you asked Santa Mole for last year?” the lizard man prompted and Jack's eyes grew a little distant before he glanced up at the man.

“Yeah,” he said carefully and then his eyes widened as he took in the news. “Seriously?” he demanded and Mole just smirked. He couldn't contain the kid as he tore off again.

The boy burst out of the house, making a beeline straight for his parents. Alec who was still in a slight amount of shock for not having noticed any symptoms yet and Max teasing him about her reasoning as to why this one was a girl. Much more considerate of her mother. But just as ravenous as her brother. They clammed up as the boy reached them and skidded to a halt by the patio table.

“Is it true?” he demanded, not the least bit out of breath.

“Is what true, kiddo?” Alec grunted as he leaned around his wife to see his son.

“Are you pregnant, Mom?” Jack demanded with all the seriousness he could muster. Max raised a single eyebrow and when she felt Alec's soothing hand on her back, knowing that he was leaving it up to her to tell him now if she wanted, she relaxed.

“Yeah Jack, I am,” she nodded, smiling slightly, although slightly careful. “What do you think?”

“You called me Jack,” he reminded her and she smiled widely and reached to cup his cheek.

“I know.”

“And you're havin' a baby?” he went on. She nodded and the smirk that he gave her was so adorable that she just wanted to smother his face in kisses, kind of like she did to his father when she was in the right mood to deal with Alec's cockiness.

“What's the verdict, kid?” Alec wondered, watching his son carefully as well and couldn't help but burst out laughing at Jack's succinct proclamation.

“Best.... birthday.... ever!”

From AtZ Round 2- Kill