"Now." Zack said sternly. "Now we wait on your miracle drug, then we get Shade stable and after that." Zack shrugged. "Who knows?"
"I presume you'll be staying here?" Logan turned back to Zack.
"You presume correct unless it becomes some sort of inconvenience." Zack made a sour face as he repeated the word presume.
"I don't mind for now. I figured you'd be staying here until Shade recovered." Logan nodded.
Max's pager went off and she swore. "Damn Normal don't you know I have today and tomorrow off?" She questioned the air.
"He's probably calling to chastise you about disappearing on Friday." Logan answered.
"Well in that case he can wait until Monday to yell at me when I clock in. I'll just tell him I had a family emergency."
"He's going to start wondering why you have so many of them." Logan joked.
Max's pager went off again and she swore. "Well at least I know it isn't you trying to blow up my pager." She winked at Logan. "Doesn't Normal ever give up?"
"I'm actually surprised he waited this long." Logan spoke up.
"That man's almost as annoying as Lydecker but in a more subdued way." Zack put in his two cents.
Max actually glanced down at her pager. "Oh, it's Original Cindy! Logan can I use your phone?"
"It's at your disposal Max." Logan answered thinking that so was he same as always.
"Thanks." Max dialed her home number and the phone was answered on the first ring.
"Max?" Original Cindy sounded panicked.
"Hey Original Cindy." Max smiled.
"Where ya bin Boo? My hopes are you didn't answer my pages because you were shacked up somewheres with Wheel-boy but I was worried that those black helicopter guys got a hold of ya since you disappeared and all. So what's up?"
"Well I had a bit of a family emergency."
"God Boo what happened?"
"I found my little sister and Zack came back."
"Sam? Zack? Whoever he is that boys a pain in the ass always bringing trouble. But I thought you were the youngest?"
"I was of our group but this is different. I might stop by with her tomorrow if she's feeling up to it."
"That sounds nice. Hey listen I wasn't the only one who flipped when you disappeared. Normal went nuts too."
"So I'll have to beg for my job back on Monday. No big dealio. It's not like I haven't done it before."
"True, true. Listen Boo Original Cindy's just glad to hear you're in one piece. Tell the sibs and Logan hi from me. My booty's gotta get back to work but maybe you'll feel up to kicking it at Crash tonight."
"Maybe Cindy I'll have to see it all depends on how the little ones doing."
"See ya."
"Late Boo." Max hung up the phone and turned away from the window.
Zack scowled at Max. "You plan on parading her around?"
"No I plan on introducing her to my extended family she already knows the two most important people in my life. If she's going to stay with me she's going to meet them eventually.""
Zack growled. "You are incorrigible Maxie."
"They made me that way!" Max snapped.
Zack couldn't hide his smirk. "Right Max just blame it on your screwed up genetics."
Max laughed. "I don't make excuses; excuses cover up weakness Zack. It's just the way things are."
Zack nodded. "Like Manticore being evil."
"Or my being trapped." Logan tapped lightly on the arms of his chair.
"Right." Max said so softly even Zack could barely hear her.
"This is a mess." Logan stated.
"Everything associated with Manticore usually is." Zack added.
"She's a good kid." Max added in defense.
Zack nodded in agreement. "So are you going to join Original Cindy and the gang at Crash tonight?"
Max smirked. Zack's question was his way of telling her he'd overheard the entire conversation she and Cindy had. "Only if Shade's feeling better by then."
"I could baby-sit." Logan offered.
"I'm not a baby." Shade protested rubbing her eyes with balled up fists. She stood in the hallway shaking softly and was extremely pale. "I haven't had a watcher for almost three years."
Max turned and scooped her up and laid her down on to the couch. "You need to rest Shade." She may have sounded stern but she was very glad to see the child conscious again. Max turned to Zack. "Maybe if her medication gets here by a reasonable time we can all go down to Crash tonight."
"I have alot of work to catch up on. Logan gracefully turned down the invitation appreciating that the three might need some 'Family' time alone tonight.
"I wouldn't be welcomed." Zack bristled and turned away aware of his ex-co-workers feelings towards him from what he'd overheard.
"Don't be silly Zack, sure you are. Infact I'm sure Sketchy would just love another chance to lose to you in a bike stunt contest."
Zack hid a grin. "I don't know Maxie."
"Come on big brother I want to go." Shade pleaded.
"Where?" Zack smirked not being able to help himself.
"To wherever you and Max are going to go. That Crash place." She nodded blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from her vision and winched a hand flying to her side. She began another coughing fit and when it was over she pleaded. "Please Zack?" She batted her eyes maybe she was just tying to clear her vision but either way it worked on Zack.
"Alright." Zack grinned. It seemed he'd do anything to see these girls happy. "Only if your medicine comes and you're not too tired."
"I'm like Krit I don't sleep alot." Shade nodded.
"Maybe tonight but not all the time." Zack nodded.
"Why not?" Shade asked.
"Because litt-"Logan cleared his throat and started again. "Kids your age usually don't go out too late."
"And we still need you to keep a low profile." Zack said.
"Why?" Shade asked.
"Think of it as a covert mission. Normal people can't know what we are or they-" Max started.
"Or we'd be in big trouble." Zack interrupted.
Shade nodded that made some sort of sense they didn't want to be attacked or become science experiments by people who were scared and didn't know what they were doing like Manticore had.
