Logan leaned back in his chair and taking off his glasses rubbed his tired eyes. He had spent the last six hours searching the net for specialists in the fields, of virology, gene splicing and DNA manipulation. He had a list of names; how promising they were he had no idea. He had learned more about DNA and viruses and genes in the last month than he had ever wanted to know and he felt like he was more confused than when he had started.
"Pretty intense stuff there. Didn't know you were some kind of medical geek." Logan started at the unwelcome voice and spun around in his chair.
"What do you want?" His tone was not exactly friendly and the look in his eyes was anything but welcoming.
"Just happened to be in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drop by and see if Max was around." Alec threw his hands up in mock defense as he lounged back against the doorway.
"She isn't, thanks in no small part to you, and I happen to be busy. So if that's all, you'll excuse me if I don't walk you to the door." Logan turned his back dismissively on Max's "brother" for want of a better word. Next thing he knew Alec was next to him scanning down the list of names on the screen.
"That one's dead, so is that one. He won't be able to help you – his specialty is more in protein analysis; that one is a possibility and so are those two…" Alec was rapidly going down the list narrowing the possibilities.
"How would you know?" Logan asked sarcastically.
"We all had to have a good grounding in genetic theory and techniques. In the event of biological warfare using viruses as carriers." Logan shrugged but he had made mental notes of the names Alec had picked out. Since it was next to impossible to get Max to come around these days he didn't have the benefit of her advice.
"So what's with you and Max? "
"What do you think? She's terrified that if she's around she might accidentally touch me and reinfect me so she doesn't come around much."
"Bummer. Look, I'm…sorry I screwed things up with that Tec. But hey, get hold of one of these guys and I'm sure they can fix your little problem in no time. Then you and Max can get back to kicking it."
"Max and I weren't 'kicking it' as you put it." Logan's voice was icy as he regarded Alec.
"Coulda fooled me. The way she reacted about the whole breeding partner thing you would have thought you two had taken lifetime vows or something."
"The breeding partner thing?" Logan gave Alec a look that boded ill for him. Alec again threw up his hands.
"Chill. Nothing happened. Manticore had this brilliant idea about breeding the X series after your little raid on the DNA lab. I was assigned to Max but she made it clear she wasn't having any of it. Being the easy going guy that I am I didn't argue the point."
Logan just stared at him and Alec shifted uneasily.
"Look I said I was sorry. You and Max don't take apologies too well do you? Anyway I was kind of bored and hoping she could direct me to some action."
"Tired of two bit hookers and the dregs of the town?" Logan asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, and I'm sort of running low on cash. Keeping a low profile means it isn't as easy to rake in the dollars. Thought Max might be able to help me hook up with a job. Since she isn't really speaking to me I thought you might put in a good word with her."
"So now the real purpose of this visit comes out." Logan considered a minute then reached for his cel phone. "I'd tell you where to go but I'm afraid if I do you'll just do something stupid and bring White and his crew back down on you. In that case, angry as she might be, Max would probably feel obligated to save your sorry ass and I don't want her taking those kind of risks." Logan punched in a few numbers and closed the phone.
"What was that?" Alec asked.
"Paged Max. When she calls I'll see if I can get her over here. I don't want to talk about you over the phone, chances are she'd hang up if she hears your name." Alec nodded. and the two remained in silence for a few minutes regarding each other.
Logan looked at the handsome X5 and couldn't help but think about his disability. True he could get around with the exoskeleton but he was in no way a physical match for the young soldier standing in front of him. Get over it. Max doesn't care; you know that for a fact.
Alec on the other hand studied the man in front of him with interest. The guy certainly had looks he had to give him that. And from what he could see he was smart too. Brought up to look down on norms Alec was having to adjust his thinking. Max was about the toughest X5 he had met (not that he was going to let her know that) and she not only respected this guy she seemed to really depend on him. Hell the guy had managed to bring down Manticore with Max's help. Always on the lookout for his own interest Alec decided that Logan was someone to have on his side.
"Got any food in this place?" he asked as his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten in hours.
"Why does it not surprise me to hear you ask that?" Logan sighed. Rising from his chair he was pleased to note that he was taller than Alec but quickly banished that thought as petty. "Come on. Lucky for you I keep food on hand for Max. What, is there something in your genes that all of you have to consume 5000 calories a day to keep going?"
"We're high energy. Need to consume the grub to maintain those levels I guess."
"I guess." By now they had entered the kitchen and Logan indicated the refrigerator.
"Help yourself. Should be enough in there." He moved away leaving Alec to find himself
something to eat. Pouring himself a glass of water Logan sat at his counter and watched
Alec bring over the food he had selected. There was silence as Alec made himself a sandwich and began to consume it.
"Hey Logan? What's the fire…" Max's words trailed off as she entered the room and saw Alec sitting with Logan. "What is he doing here?" Her face clouded over and she shot Logan a look. Alec tried one of his patented smiles.
"Just stopped in for a friendly visit and your boyfriend was good enough to offer me some food. Want some? " He held out a bowl of fruit which Max ignored. Alec's use of the word boyfriend and Max's tacit acceptance of it momentarily distracted Logan.
"Yeah right. And White is my new best friend having seen the error of his ways. Give me one good reason I shouldn't kick your ass from here to Gillette?" Turning to Logan she continued "And you can give me one good reason I shouldn't kick your ass back into that chair. You know what he did to us. How can you sit here fraternizing with him?"
"Because if we kick him out of here he'll go out and bring White back down on your head?" Logan suggested calmly, shooting Max a look designed to make her melt. Max felt her heart do a quick leap but still refused to crack a smile.
"Point taken but I still go on record as not liking this one bit. He turned on us once, why wouldn't he do it again?" Max shot a quick glance at Logan as he turned to consider Alec, drinking in the sight of him, a sight she had missed the last few days.
"Because he may be a selfish bastard but I don't think he's stupid enough to think White is going to do anything but kill him if he gets his hands on him again." Logan turned his gaze back to Max and for a moment their eyes met and unspoken feelings coursed between them.
Alec had remained silent through this exchange taking in the currents flowing between the two. Yeah there was definitely some heavy-duty stuff going on. He filed it away thinking that sometime he might find some use for it.
Max broke the eye contact with Logan and reached out for an apple. She bit down on it and sighed as the sweet taste filled her mouth.
"Logan, where do you manage to find this stuff? Last apple I scored was mushy and sour. This is heaven." Logan smiled as she used her tongue to lick the juice from her lips.
"I have my connections. So, Max, Alec needs a job." Max raised an eyebrow as she looked at Alec.
"A job? As in an honest days work? What is this world coming to?"
"C'mon Max, I'm not that bad." Alec protested.
"Whatever." she shrugged. "So why page me about this Logan? If he's you r new best friend why don't you set him up?"
"Because I think it would be best for all if we set him up somewhere we can keep an eye on him."
"Oh no. You can't mean. No way, Logan." Max instantly got his drift and started to protest.
"Max, if we leave him on his own I'm afraid of what will happen. Set him up at Jam Pony and between Normal and you I have confidence he'll be too busy to get into trouble."
"You don't have to talk about me like I'm some teenage juvenile delinquent." Alec interjected only to have them both say simultaneously
"Don't we?" Alec subsided and went back to eating his sandwich while Max looked at Logan for a minute considering. Then she smiled devilishly,
"Yeah I think Normal would be good for this guy. Okay Alec I'll give you the address you meet me tomorrow at 8:30 sharp. Don't be late."
Logan had busied himself during the conversation fixing a sandwich and slid it over to Max. She reached for it and for a moment their hands were inches apart, separated only by the thin china plate. After a brief hesitation Logan pulled back his hand and Max smiled sadly.
"Okay, I'm out of here." Alec broke the tension as he rose from his place.
"Don't be late." Max reminded him and he gave her a mock salute.
"Yes Ma'am." Max just rolled her eyes as he sauntered from the room leaving her with Logan.