Disclaimer: James Cameron, Charles Eglee and Fox own Dark Angel. Not me. I won't receive any money to play with their characters.

A/N: This is my first fiction in English. English is not my first language, in fact: it's my most recent acquisition. I really hope that won't bother you too much for reading. (And feel free to let me a comment about my English or some judicious observations: I'm expecting that, and that will provide next chapters more readable).

Summary: This is my opinion about what would have happened if Max had seen Lydecker's "gift" to Logan. (Episode Pollo Loco: Lydecker had given some pictures of the children when they have killed a prisoner)

Setting: I started that in the middle of "I and I Am A Camera" and it should end at the beginning of Meow.

Lydecker's Perfidy

Chapter 1 : Tension

The penthouse was cleared from all underlying tension when the door closed behind Max and Logan was finally able to release his breath. She had left without any word and he couldn't help thinking it was better this way; how could he agree to see her this evening? Not with these pictures, not as he still feel absolutely unable to reach the truth about his mixed emotions and his boundless questioning.

Once again, for the nth time since the last evening, he lifted the blank pages to glance on Max's pictures. How could he names that? What should he thinks about it? The now familiar amazing thoughts busted through his mind:

A picture of victory…

A glint of Lydecker's success..

An obvious demonstration of 'genetically enhanced engineering killing machine'… A proof of Max's skills…

Through that three sounding unforgettable words: Coldly… efficiently… and happily… disturbing his thoughts with the slow, persuasive and hissing voice of Lydecker.

Overwhelmed Logan, deeply plunged in a darkness mood, swallowed heavily and tried to push away the last thought…

Her victorious killer look…?

Needing to clear his mind, he managed to take some deep breaths, knowing that he could reach the madness's edge. Staring at the picture, he looked at the haunted brown eyes, the pale face, the stiffness of her shoulders and, again, the blood trail. Not her own. How could he not understand…?

It was about time to see her for what she was. It was about time to wake up of his hopeless dream.

Another kind of thoughts came within him to defend her. Her age, her particular upbringing, the unavoidable constant and clearly intended training… But Eyes Only rose up merciless: she should have known.

Suddenly, the tension was back. A loud gasp escaped him and his hands became moist.

"Max!"

Just behind him. A breath away…

As his brain started another round of frantic thoughts, Logan forgot all trust he had always place on Max and felt the urge to face what had just become… a threat. Unable to collect his mind, scared about what he could find, he unlocked his brakes and made the quickest turn he ever made.

But she was not there. At the exact moment he was looking at her, seeing her eyes fixed on the picture, Logan knew she was over there. He stayed quiet, not in a hurry to be reminded, just watching and barely relieved.

Max came to senses and leaned to grab the pictures. Logan's instinctive retreat froze her at once, carrying her deep brown eyes at him she cautiously straightened, full aware of his anxiety.

" I have been hoping this would never happen, is this called 'fooling myself'? " Max's voice raced when she reluctantly crossed his narrowed glance "you had managed to push away the 'killer's machine' part of the genetically engineered thing, don't you? But it has finally come back in a flash, hasn't it?" She said in a neutral tone "I didn't want you to see me like that, never wanted you to look at me as a freak. I'm sorry, Logan… so much sorry. She backed out as far as she could get of Logan's desk. " Is this far away to make you feel safer? " She added in a tiny harder tone

"Max.." Logan began, not quite sure of what he could say to dismiss her suspicion, but knowing he shouldn't let her read his mind. God! How many times had she said how weakness showing emotions is!

Max took one last look at his expressionless face and, again, headed for the red door. Don't even think this stubborn guy will hear you out, not likes I have any hint of what I should tell, anyway."Max muttered "I haven't got a ghost of a chance to bring down his walls" She ended, tapping the elevator's call button.

When the doors slid, she rushed herself in, and pressed the down's button before reaching the back wall. Lost in her mind, she re-played each time he had rejected her.

The first, of course, was in front of the mirror, when he had been playing her, only interested by her skills, Eyes-Only and the mission. He had been avoiding the kiss to check her neck, and had been walking away. "I wasn't hurt that time, he wasn't the first trying to play me, I hadn't learned yet how incredible to be care for is … It was my pride that had been scratched … "

When she came back, after the surgery, embarrassed to make the first move, not willing to tell him she had been around the hospital, in concern. He had been so distant, cold and reserved. He had refused letting her apologized. "The first time, I had found it so difficult to stay nonchalant, this time I had started the tough-guy thing. Did he knows that I'm acting like that just around him? Usually I don't have to, I had never met people who's intimidated me like him. "

Then another memory brought up in her mind: 'we don't have this king of relationship' he had said. "Why did I always forget it? Common girl, is this wasn't clear enough? You are the cat burgar, the legs-worker. He told you that, but you didn't listen.

Swamped by her thoughts, she closed her eyes in order to drive back her emotions, missing the small ad of the elevator indicating the first floor.

At the vision of the sorrowful face in front of him, Bling's heart dropped in concern. He wasn't used to see her in this state, even when she was obviously hurt, she has never loose her blank face nor her casual features. For as long as he could remember she has merely showed a small coerced smirk. First seconds was wasted while he collect his senses, some others used to weight which move he should made, but before he showed up with, she opened her eyes and tried to balance herself.

"How is he?" was all Bling could barely voiced with a lump in his throat.

At first, Max didn't seem to be able to move or answer. "Scared" was finally her short reply.

"About?" he said with a sharp glance, already on his guard.

"Me"

She left the elevator and reached the entry, followed by the suddenly stunned glance from Bling.

" These two have managed another fight out of my reach! Why did she told me he's frightened, no, she said: scared…?!" Standing in the elevator on its way up to the penthouse, Bling juggled with the thought of staying of their battle, but once he had entering and found his friend in front of the window, lost in his too expected brooding mood, he couldn't pretended anymore being able to. He firmly closed the door behind him, took a deep breath and moved straight to Logan.

TBC……