Title: Believe in something not your own

Summery: Asha is severely beaten, as her sympathy for the transgenic becomes known after she writes a newspaper piece. However, this may lead to a friendship with Max and a relationship with Alec

Spoilers: season 2

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Cameron and Eglee

Notes: this was written in ten minutes with no planning so any of the comments I received for this fic were greatly appreciated.

The door opened a fraction, paused then opened fully. Despite her training, despite what she had witnessed growing up Max still struggled to control her expression... Asha's face had been completely transformed. The normal soft white skin was blemished with bruises and cuts. The left hand side of her face sported a huge gash obviously by a knife.

"You got stitches for that?"

Asha shook her head; her throat was black and blue too. Her chin was extended and swollen.

"Can't go the hospital"

Max understood her point, as an S1W member she was someone whose personal details could not be disclosed.

"Well you want me to do it?" Max didn't wait for an answer as she swept past Asha into her apartment. "I was really good at stuff like this back at Manticore." She assured the blonde.

"No it's okay" Asha managed to talk around her swollen neck and jaw.

"How did you know how to find me?"

"Logan was worried when you didn't call him back after a job. Sent me to come look for you and then I saw the newspeice"

"I'm fine" Asha insisted moving to the couch and gently dabbing a cloth against the gaping wound on her forehead.

"I can see" Max replied dryly.

Finding the medical kit, Max sat opposite the blonde-haired woman. She was willing to let go of her animosity to this girl. For a long time she had been an invaluable ally and had clearly regretted her remark about 'furry little friends.' Her crush on Logan had cooled off, on that basis and the fact that she had been jumped upon and still had defended the transgenic cause Max felt that she had earned respect and possibly friendship.

"The furry little friend club thanks you" Max grinned and Asha smiled back.

"I can have Alec come round later if you want"

Asha tensed slightly

"It's okay," she murmured. "Alec's a great guy but…"

"Not exactly mister reliable" Max finished.

Asha grinned. "Not really"

""You two seemed to be getting on at Crash last night," the X5 observed.

"Oh yeah, but I don't know, I think he may like a girl who's more…"

"More then Human". Max finished. That was the crux of any transgenic/ordinary relationship one she hoped she and Logan were well past.

Now all they had to worry about was this damn virus.

For a moment, Max wondered whether Logan had doubts about her, ever wondered if she wanted something more. She never did, she loved Logan, and he was all she wanted. Too bad life through a brick in every chance they got.

"Well you'll never know until you ask him what he wants will you."

Asha winced as Max finished her sewing, tidying away the medical supplies

"Sometimes it's better not to know"

"You're call" Max said getting up,

"Just figure you wouldn't want to waste as much time as Logan and me. Alec has kept around; you guys hang out a lot," she added, she understood this stage well. It had seemed such an improbable jump from friends to lovers.

"We're friends" Asha sighed deeply. "I like that, I haven't had a friend for a long time and something tells me Alec hasn't either. I'm not interested in the dating crap."

She stood with Max, showing her to the door. As Max, left she put her arm on the other woman's, something she wouldn't have dared to do months beforehand.

"Thanks for coming by"

"No big dealio" the dark haired woman assured her easily. "Glad to have another addition to the club"

"I'm gonna by a T-Shirt" Asha grinned back.

"Make sure that you do" Max grabbed the handlebars of her bike.

"See ya around"