CHAPTER FOUR

"I said I'd help you, Logan. Now can you let me work?" Alec replied coldly, for the third time in the last hour.

"But you know something about Max, don't you?" Logan pestered, almost to the point of whinging. If he hadn't meant so much to Max, he would have punched him by now. Still, the thought of decorating Logan's face with a little blood was awfully tempting.

"I told you, I don't know. But if I see her, I'll let her know you are concerned. If you want, I'll ask her to call you," Alec told the fidgeting, four-eyed man, who couldn't seem to sit still. When the look of thought and consideration crossed Logan's features, Alec regretted his words.

"Logan, don't page her or call her cell. She's probably sleeping and you don't want to wake her up." Inwardly, Alec sighed in relief as Logan's face showed his acceptance. He often wondered if it was just his specialised Manticore training, or whether he was just that obvious. But then, Eyes Only wouldn't survive if Logan couldn't lie or play dumb, so it was probably the former.

"Right… You're right, of course." Logan admitted, slowly.

"But don't tell her to call me. I know he well enough to know she won't… just make sure she is taken care of, okay? Hopefully she will be in here tomorrow." He paused as he looked the transgenic over, before finishing off his little spiel.

"You will meet me tonight, right?"

-

"He what?" Original Cindy finally choked out, finding herself speechless for the first time in a long time. This was the last thing she had expected. Her boo was knocked up? Alec and Max… She knew there was something between them, but she had always figured that they would work that out before he got her pregnant. It was never supposed to go in this order.

"Manticore would be proud." Max muttered, dropping onto the couch, her gaze remaining on the misty brown contents of the mug in her hand. Original Cindy took a deep breath, and sat down beside her friend.

"Does he know?" She asked softly. Max looked up.

"Who?"

"Alec," She stayed as calm as she could, bottling up the shock for later.

"Yeah, he took it well." Max resumed staring at the swirling liquid.

"Logan?" Original Cindy noticed her friend tighten slightly, answering the question before she managed to open her mouth.

"You have to tell him, boo." Max knew it was true; it was the decent thing to do. Logan deserved to know the truth… but then, would he be better off not knowing? Max wondered if it would be best leaving out the finer details, but he'd still know she was pregnant, and he was more than capable of counting.

"I can't face him… And Alec doesn't know…" Max whispered, ignoring the tears starting to trail down her face. OC slung an arm around her boo, as she sighed.

"You were in heat, right? He knows it happens; he isn't going to be mad. You guys can work through this." The words had the opposite effect to what Cindy was going for, she realised, as Max started to cry harder.

"It would be easier if he hated me." She whispered, between muffled sobs as she cried into her best friends shoulder.

"And we can't work this out! He can't touch me, and chances are he can't touch the baby either. He'll be watching from the sidelines as I have a baby with another man!" Max continued to cry, knowing Original Cindy would always be there for her. It was nice having a friend like that.

"Alec isn't going to sit this out. Logan will want to stick by me, if not play Daddy, but he can't even touch me…"

So much for the 'you'll work it out, it'll be okay' line. Time for a different tack.

"You know, boo, we could screw men entirely and raise this baby together. How about it: No Daddies and two Mummies… sounds just perfect to me!" Original Cindy joked, finally eliciting a smile from her friend. The crying started to dissipate, slowly.

--

It was late, but earlier than expected when Alec finally finished the day's work. The command centre was mostly empty, as he entered it, locking his office behind him. Locks didn't mean much to the residents of TC, and Logan, the resident ordinary, knew how to pick them, but they stood as a warning nonetheless.

Noticing Max's office door, and knowing there was plenty of time before he needed to meet Logan, he decided to surprise her.

Half an hour later, Original Cindy opened her apartment door to find 'pretty boy' standing on her doorstep.

"She's asleep." She informed the transgenic, moving aside to allow him entry.

"Do you think she'd rather wake up here, or in TC?" Alec asked quietly, as he admired the sleeping woman on the tattered couch.

"Take her home. Just make sure she has coffee in the morning." Original Cindy smiled, pulling a small tin from one of the shelves.

"Take it. I have more, and she'll need it." Alec took the small container of coffee, sliding it into his back pack before moving towards Max. Gently, he picked her up; cradling her small frame in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Moving towards the door, he nodded goodbye to the Nubian princess, as she held the door open for him.

"Tell her I'll come check on my boo tomorrow, 'kay?" She put a hand on his shoulder, and looked him in the eye.

"You take care of her, Alec. You take good care of them." He nodded, as he started to walk into the hall.

"You know I will."

--

Kite sat in the med unit, fiddling away with various bits of equipment. There was a tension in the quiet of the MU, as the young blonde admired a small sample under a microscope. She carefully added a clear droplet to the petri dish, observing with all her suped-up transgenic senses. Suddenly, Kite swore.

"Oh, god."

A/N- Hope you like it!! Cupcakes for all reviewers, and, because I'm feeling so kind, there's some juice too. ^_^