A/N: Before you start reading I should probably warn you. I'm not a native speaker, so this could sound a little weird, although I tried my best. Hope you can enjoy reading.

Summary:Alec wants to thank Max. So he's on a mission, trying to find a cure for the virus. But will she be pleased with him doing something extremely stupid again? Is she going to save his little ass once more? Perhaps she'll eventually appreciate his gift.
There will be a lot of hurt/Alec in later chapters with comforting/Max and Joshua. But pairings are mostly Max/Logan. Hints of Alec/Max.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Angel. Dark Angel, its characters and situations belong to James Cameron, Charles H. Eglee and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. No infringement on, or challenge to their status is intended. This piece of fiction was written for my entertainment and I am gaining no form of compensation for it.


Fear and Loathing in Seattle


CHAPTER I: Don't touch


Blue light of numerous computers enlightened the small room. The continuous humming of machines filling the air, she watched him quietly, trying her best not to disturb him. Logan kept working and searching the web for more information on their new case. When suddenly his eyes met hers, she flinched and quickly looked the other way. She could not let him know, what she was feeling right now, that she observed every single move he made with nostalgia.

Logan started hesitantly: "That's really a lot to do. All these observations…maybe Alec…"

She frowned and her eyes darkened. "Yeah, of course. You really wanna trust him with this?"
Max got furious. "You know, I can do it, there's no problem with doing it on my own!" Her eyes glittered with anger as she crossed her arms in front of her.

But Logan interrupted: "Hey, I know, but you could give him some chance. He wants to help. He wants to assimilate and be part of your family. And, by the way,…" he smiled mildly "he could do all of the boring stuff."

Max sighed. His smirk was so adorable and completely compelling. Nobody could ever escape him. She reconsidered his advice.
Maybe he was right. And she hated those observations, sitting in the dark for hours with nothing to do, nothing happening at all.
"Okay", she finally gave in. „Maybe you're right. " Silently she walked around the room, looking out of the window into the dark night.

He turned away from his desk, looking at her. So eventually he had found a crack in her walls. Carefully he tried to go further. "So, you'll have a good deal more free time for having dinner with me. I'll cook your favourite."

Within seconds her dark eyes widened with shock. Slowly she shook her head, dark hair curling around her shoulders.

"Max, it's only dinner!" He wanted to stand up and shake her, bring her to terms and barely succeeded in holding himself back.

„Logan…", she tried but couldn't find any words. She didn't want to explain her fear again. Didn't he remember the last time and what had happened when they forgot the threat of him being killed by this nasty virus? Although she missed him painfully and she hated being cruel, always spoiling his hope, she could not let this happen again. She had to disappoint him.
At the same time she wanted so badly to feel him close to her. She needed his warmth and his hands softly touching her skin. But all she could feel was fear, her last chances gone because of…
him…
Alec…She tried to calm her anger and swallowed hard, shaking her head faster this time.

"No. You know what happened the last time we tried being a common couple. We shouldn't push our luck. Not again."

"We could be more cautious this time. I want to see you. We can't allow fear to take control of our lives completely." Logan shrugged.

She avoided his glance by looking to the ground and then turned around with a sudden movement. "I'll ask Alec." were her last words before her slender shape disappeared through his wooden door, leaving his question without an answer.

He was left alone in this dark room, feeling suddenly exhausted. Her smell still lingered in there, making him even sadder. Rubbing his nose he tried to go back to work.


She knew that they couldn't continue this. She couldn't escape her feelings for him. And she couldn't always get away without giving an answer. But there just was none. No answer. No solution. She tried not to think about it any more, speeding away with her ninja, enjoying the sound of her beloved bike. The night kept fading into day, but she still had some more time before work. And she still had some time to go to Alec and ask him to help her with the observations, like Logan had suggested. Give him one more chance.

Several minutes later, she still stood in front of his apartment. All her efforts of making him open his door had been unsuccessful. She knocked again, even harder this time. Nothing happened.

"Come on, Alec. Move your stupid, little ass. I'm sure you don't want me to come in and help you."

She tried to be patient, but when there still wasn't any reaction at all, she decided to simply ignore the fact that his door was closed.

"I'm coming in now. I really hope that at least you are fully dressed by now."