Disclaimer: Dark Angel was created and is owned by James Cameron, 'Chick' Eglee and Fox. I only dive and swim amongst them for the pleasure and enjoyment of being with Max, Logan and all the others.
A/N: Thanks to Kasman and Alaidh for the betas and their attempts to make me a better writer. Thanks to Kyre and Denise for answering my questions. Thanks again to those who have read and those who have reviewed. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. This is to remind me that volunteering can be good. Thanks to Shywr1ter for suggesting a reason for Bling to Scuba dive.
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Chapter 2 Intermediate-00000000000
The Elevator/Hallway:
Max stood at one end of the elevator. She was as far as she could get from Logan's chair as she could be in the small space. She held her back straight, her lips pressed into a straight line, and her eyes narrowed, hiding the slowly seething anger just below the surface, and concentrated on the floor buttons in front of her.
"Max?"
"Logan?" she replied cuttingly.
"I need—"
"What you need to do is apologize to Bling. He's not your servant, ya know," she interrupted, turning to face Logan with a glare. The anger she felt blazed in her eyes.
Logan leant back with a blink and a cock of his head, took a breath then slowly let it out. "You're right…I was wrong," he said slowly.
"Yeah, so you better make it right…Logan, what was that all about?"
At that moment, the elevator reached the penthouse floor and opened. Max eased out, followed by Logan, who pushed himself towards his front door.
"Logan?"
Logan turned in his chair irritably. "Look, I said I'm sorry, so drop it, will you?" he said, his tone pissy.
"Yeah, I'll drop it, and when you wanna be polite, I'll be back," Max retorted, turning towards the elevator.
"Max, wait…I'm really sorry, okay…seeing the diving gear just brought up some memories and…"
"Logan…'k." Max turned around and walked to the door of the apartment, opened it, and was waved in by Logan, who followed her inside.
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The Apartment:
Logan headed for the computer room, as Max slowly sauntered behind him, a thoughtful look on her face. Were the memories good or bad, Logan? They sure put you in a mood.
"I was hoping Bling would find that board. The brown outs have been playing havoc with the computers and the building generator is out again - needs some part," he said by way of a semi apology.
"Yeah, I can see how that would upset Eyes Only," Max replied with a touch of sarcasm, although a faint smile twitched on her lips in recognition of his lame attempt at making an excuse for his attitude.
As Logan looked back at her, he saw the faint smile of understanding on her lips, despite the sarcasm. "Right. Are you up to a little B&E this evening?"
"Sure. What do I get in return?"
"Well, I was planning on offering you some dinner…and this," Logan said as he picked up a file from his desk and handed it to Max.
Max opened the file, looked at the contents, and smiled. "How did you get this?" she asked, holding up the sheet of paper. It was a list of four names.
"It wasn't easy, and I'm still working on it, but those are the names of four women who were admitted to local area institutions around the time we can assume you were born. I'm still running a trace. It might not go anywhere, Max," he finished cautiously.
"But it's a start…right?" Max's initial enthusiasm was now dampened by the realization that after all these years there may be no light left at the end of the tunnel.
Logan looked up into the suddenly sad brown eyes. "It's a start, and I wanted you to know that we will find her, Max, and the others…I made a promise."
As he looked at her he saw her watching him closely. The moment stretched, the brown eyes remaining locked on the green ones, drawing each into the other. Unconsciously, their bodies leaned towards each other.
"Hey, Logan, couldn't find that board," Bling suddenly called from the hallway, shattering the moment.
As he walked into the computer room, he noticed the sudden drawing apart and the embarrassed looks on the faces of the two people who had come to mean more than client and friend to him, and something more to each other, as well, though they were still unwilling to admit it. I think this Scuba diving idea will be good for the both of you. "Logan, do you mind if I take that diving gear and get it serviced?" With a quick glance at Max, "I might want to take it up again if I can find a buddy, and if you don't mind lending it to me." he added.
"Sure, knock yourself out. I won't be needing it. Sorry about earlier, by the way. There's no excuse for the way I acted."
"No problem, Logan…I understand. I'd be pissed, too, if a weapons dealer were using a legit business to run arms, especially when he's endangering innocent people who trust him to keep them safe."
With a grunt, Logan turned to his computer, missing the look between Max and Bling and the quick nod from Bling. "I'll see you tomorrow for your session…and thanks for the loan of the gear, Logan. Max." Bling waved and headed for the door without waiting for a reply.
Max walked over to the office chair and sat down, her outward emotions back in control. "So where do you want me to go and what is it you want me to look for?" What nearly happened there? Love? I can't be in love with Logan. What do I know about love? Besides, for him to love somebody like me - that's a joke…it was just the moment. The feeling of gratitude for what he's done so far…still…still nothing, Max. You help Logan with Eyes Only; he helps find your family - end of story…still…
"Max, can we focus here?" Logan said, a touch of his previous testiness coming through as he noticed Max's distracted look. What nearly happened there? I wanted to take you in my arms and tell you it'd be all right…that I would always be there for you…get real, Logan. Why would Max need you…
"Hey, told you I can multi-process…ya want me to check out the waterfront end of our suspect's business, see what he's got at the building, see if I can find any evidence of his real business," Max replied with a faint smile. Still, having some free time with Logan with no Eyes Only and no Manticore might be nice one day.
"Hmmm, he has to be storing those weapons somewhere…you sure there was nothing in his place uptown?" Logan asked, leaning back slightly in his chair to watch Max. What are you multi-processing?
"Yeah, I'm sure. Just scuba gear and stuff like that, unless he's an arms dealer in spear guns," she ended sarcastically, which caused Logan to lift an eyebrow in response.
"I'm missing something…something important," Logan mused as he swung back and faced his computer.
"Logan, this guy may be legit. Maybe your source got it wrong…wouldn't be the first time," Max finished softly.
As his neck reddened in embarrassment, Logan tightened his jaw. "You don't wanna help with this, fine, I understand," he said around clenched teeth as he avoided looking at Max.
"Logan…" Bronck still rankles him. That's why he is so determined to get this guy - to prove that he knows what he's doing.
Logan turned to face Max again. "Sorry, Max…" My source then seemed so sure.
"It's okay, Logan. I wanna help. You know me and guns - the less on the street the better."
"Different source this time, and thanks - both personally and as Eyes Only."
"No big. A girls gotta have something to keep her occupied in the evening. Besides, I get dinner from a friend, right? What more can I ask for?" Max said with a grin. There's a lot more I would love to ask for…what's with you tonight, Max?
"Right, B&E, dinner and friendship - a real winning combination," Logan responded with a grin of his own. I want to give you so much more, Max…hold it right there, Logan. There's nothing else you can offer her…except a place to feel safe from the hunters for a while.Once again, the contrasting yet similarly expressive eyes locked, drawing their owners together. "Gotta blaze if I wanna get ready for tonight's merriment," Max said suddenly, standing up and heading for the open partition. She paused in the doorway and looked back at Logan. She noticed a slight frown creasing his brow. "Ya know, I might offer to be Bling's new buddy. From what I've heard, it sounds like fun," she added with a broad smile and walked off.
Logan sat there, a bemused look on his face, then shrugged and turned back to his computer feeling somewhat wistful. And you get to meet new people. Guess my offer isn't such a winning combination after all. "Be careful, Max," he murmured.
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Sector 9 Marina just after 9 p.m.:
A light drizzle fell, a change from the heavy downpour the week before. The water in the air made the reflections of the remaining security lamps along the marina jetties seem brighter than they actually were. Near the small building on the shore behind the main jetty, a shadow shifted then stopped by the security system circuit box for a long moment, then moved swiftly to the back entrance, and after a slight pause disappeared inside.
Max moved effortlessly through the darkened shop, searching boxes, crates, and behind the equipment on display. Logan's so sure this guy Krane is dirty…hell, I want this guy to be dirty so Logan can get outta his latest funk. Max stopped, cocked her head, and listened, her intensified hearing on full, then moved swiftly and ducked behind the final rack of drysuits in the line just as the front door opened and somebody switched on a light.
"The security system's off line again," a gruff voice stated, annoyed.
"All theses brown outs have probably fried something in the backup, too. Happened last year," another voice answered walking in front of Max's hiding place behind the suits.
"Well, ya betta check it out,"
"Later, man. We gotta prep the gear for the retrieval in two weeks, and you know Krane ain't gonna be happy if it breaks down again. The trip coming up, he's taking a bunch a cripples, so it better work - got a double load."
"Hate it when we got wheels on board, but they're better cover than regular divers - adds to the confusion, but means there's less space to store the stuff,"
"Here, give me a hand," the first voice said as he began to shift the rack Max was hiding behind.
Taking the initiative, Max stepped out. "Don't seem to have my size, fellas," she said as she shoved the heavy suits at the two startled men, knocking them aside, and raced for the still open front door, just as a third man walked in.
"Hey, where you going little girl?" the big man yelled, making a grab for her.
Just as his hand touched her, Max twisted through the narrow gap, turned, and with a kick, shoved him through the open door into the other two as they yelled, "Stop!"
"Get her!"
By the time the three men untangled themselves and reached the doorway, there was no sign of the intruder. "Better call Krane and tell him."
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Logan's Apartment twenty minutes later:
"Hey, Logan, dinner ready? Because it sure smells good."
Logan came out of the kitchen into the living room and looked at Max, a little surprised. "You're early. What happened?" he asked, a note of worry creeping into his voice.
"No big, just som'a Krane's crew showed up," Max replied as she walked over to the window and stood there watching the rain, which had now increased from a drizzle. They called people in chairs 'Wheels'... the contempt in their voices. Is that what people think when they see Logan…is that what he sees?
"And?" Logan asked, pushing himself beside her and setting his brakes softly.
"Didn't manage to finish my search, but they were talking and mentioned that in two weeks they have a trip on and need some equipment working properly…" Max looked down at Logan and she smiled weakly. "They're taking some folks out diving and are gonna use them for cover to pick up something."
"They're using divers to cover their activities…two weeks," Logan said, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
"Yeah, two weeks," Max repeated, looking back out the picture window at the lights in the other buildings.
"If you're serious about learning to dive, I could see if Bling could set up some training. I can see if I can get you a place on the trip. It may get us closer to finding out how Krane's smuggling the weapons," Logan said, following Max's gaze out the window.
"No good, Logan…they…they're taking disabled divers, said they were better cover."
"Damn, we'll have to figure something else out," Logan said as he unlocked his brakes and began to turn towards the kitchen.
"Logan…this could work," Max turned her gaze to Logan, catching his eyes and holding him in place with the intensity of her look.
Locking his brakes again he stared at her. "You don't know what you're suggesting, Max…no…no."
"Well there's no other way, this is gonna get done. I've checked the shops and the boat and came up empty—"
"Which you can check again by yourself, you don't need me along for that," Logan interrupted in irritation.
"Hey, you're the one who wants to get this guy…personally I wouldn't mind either, but unless ya get something from the informant net, I just thought, why not learn a new skill while taking out a bad guy and have some fun along the way," Max retorted. She pointed towards the computers in the office with her hand, but then turned it into a dismissive gesture. "But I guess you feel safer locked up in your tower."
"I go out…I play basketball, I shop…Max, it has nothing to do with being safe…being on a boat, now…not my idea fun." As Max opened her mouth to reply, Logan interrupted, "I wish you would just drop it. I'll find another way," Logan snapped. Unlocking his brakes, he swiveled towards the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."
Max stood and watched Logan's back for a moment, then walked towards the front door.
Logan lifted the pot of chili off the stove, placed it on the heat resistant mat he had on his lap and looked around just as the door closed.
"Damn. Damn." Logan pushed himself angrily towards the sink and tossed the pot in.
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TBC