Title: Break

Author: Vona

Rating: PG, possibly PG-13.  Depends on my mood:P

Pairing: Hmm…Let me think.  M/A maybe?  Of course.

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Show: Set at the beginning of Harbor Lights.

Genre: Angst, Romance, Adventure

Summary: What if Max did take a little vacation after Borrowed Time, like she'd planned in Harbor Lights, except the only way she could leave was if she let someone come with her.

Break

Chapter One

Leave

            Max Guevera stood in line for gas.  The truck had been there an hour and a half and her biggest fear was she wouldn't get any gas.  She wanted to leave town.  She needed to leave town.  She'd come back.  Seattle was her home now.  She just needed to separate herself from Logan for a while.  As cheesy as it sounded, she needed to find herself.  She needed the chance to think without him there, without him beeping her to save the world again.  He hadn't called her in a week, of course.  Not since he'd said he loved her.  Apparently that was acceptable in the world.  Blurt something like that out and then disappear.  Well, it was her turn to disappear. 

"Truck's tapped!  Go HOME!" 

Max groaned, as did the rest of the line.  She'd been waiting forever and now she wouldn't even get gas.  How was she supposed to leave town now?  Peddle her way on her Jam Pony bike?  Walk on foot?  Yeah, that'd be great.  She stared in a stupor for a moment, unwilling to believe she would be stuck in Seattle. 

"You look mad, Maxie."

Her brown eyes focused on the overly-confident transgenic standing in front of her.
"Alec?  What are you doing here?"

"Getting some gas.  Like you are.  Or at least were." He stressed the last word, a small smirk appearing on her face.

"That'd make sense except for the fact that you have nothing that runs on gasoline.  Get some kind of sick pleasure out of stealing gas from people who actually need it?"
"I'm 'borrowing' a motorcycle.  To get out of town."  His green eyes flickered a bit at the mention of escaping the city.

"Why are you leaving?"

He raised his eyebrows, a surprised look on his face.  Like she didn't know.

"Three guesses."

Max didn't reply, just longingly watched the silver can he held.  The wheels started to turn in her head, and though she knew she would regret it, this was the only way she'd be able to leave.

"I'll make a deal with you, Alec.  I was going to leave Seattle for a week.  I need gas to leave town.  You need a motorcycle to leave town.  How about we share?"

"You'll help me steal a motorcycle for a half-gallon of gas?"

"No.  I'll let you ride on the back of my motorcycle and use the whole gallon."

The smirk appeared again, his stance irritating her.  Everything he did irritated her, though neither of them quite understood why.

"You want me to tag-along on your little road trip?  Won't the Log get mad?"

"The Log?"  Max muttered in disgust.  She continued, "He's not coming.  I'm taking a break from people."

"I'm not just people to you, Maxie?  I'm touched."
"You don't count as anything, Alec.  You're just Alec."

"Well, you've got me convinced with your warm heart and kind invitation, " he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.'

"Great. Give me the can."

"Yeah, right.  You'd blur away, pour it in your bike and leave before I had a chance to hop on the back.  I'll be keeping the can for insurance."

"Whatever."

She stalked away from him, heading towards Jam Pony where her motorcycle was locked up.  Alec strolled after her, in no hurry.  It's not like Max could get anywhere without him anyway.

            They were at the last sector point they'd have to go through in Seattle.  Alec had called Normal, to let him know that he wouldn't be in for a week.

"Family emergency, Normal.  I've gotta get home and help out." 

Alec gave Max a small smile when she whipped her head around, a surprised look covering her face. Great, now she was going to have to explain to Normal why they were both gone at the same time and why she didn't call in sick or whatever.

"Well, I'll just have everyone else work double-shifts for you."

"Thanks, Normal.   Maxie won't be in, either." 

Max hadn't expected him to include her in the phone call.  And how could Alec use the family emergency thing anyway?  Didn't it say on his application that he had no family?  Hers did.

"And why won't Missy-Miss be in?  You have the respect to call in and let me know.  She disappears without a word and expects me to hold her job for her."

"She's here with me, Normal.  Max and I have known each other for a while, remember?  Family emergency includes her."

"She's not part of your family."

"But she's needed at home, too.  Come on, Normal.  Loosen up a bit.  We'll both be back in a week."

"Fine.  But make sure she knows the only reason I'm holding her job is because of you."

"Oh, don't worry.  I'll make sure she knows.  I deserve some respect from her.  Of course, she has a problem showing respect."

"Don't I know it.  I hope everything turns out okay at home.  Packages need delivering, Golden Boy.  I'll see you in exactly one week."

Alec hung up the phone, a self-assured grin on his face.

"You have me to thank for the job that's still waiting for you at home."

"Oh, I don't think I'll be able to contain myself.  I'm so grateful I'll still be able to work at that dump."

Alec rolled his eyes before tucking his phone into his pocket.

"How can you use the family emergency excuse, anyway?  You didn't say you had family on your application, did you?  Because you don't."
"One, just because I was made in a test tube, doesn't mean I can't use the good ol' family emergency excuse.  Everyone else uses it.  My turn.  And second, if I counted family the way you do, I have plenty of brothers and sisters."

Max glared at him, regret for bringing him along already welling up inside of her.  She showed her Jam Pony badge at the checkpoint, as did Alec, and they were waved on through. 

"You know what I've decided would be a good plan?"

"What?  I'm sure it's great."

"You don't talk.  At all.  All week long.  No conversation between us.  Does that work for you?"
Alec shrugged nonchalantly and put the helmet on.  Max was driving.  And she was ticked off at him.  He knew it was a strong possibility he could end up being thrown on the other end of the road and run over multiple times if he ticked her off too badly.  Max twisted her hair up into her helmet and revved the engine.  They were off.