Chapter 21

On the flight to DC was a solemn time for the guys. Logan was in a deep depression leaving Max behind. He never thought he would be leaving. He had thought it would be the other way around, her having to leave to save her life. It was really ironic. Bling was the same way. On the other hand, Tony didn't know what to think. He looked absent-mindedly out his window staring, but not seeing. His mind was on Jondy. . . her looks, eyes, it just confused him even more. Yes, he had had experience with women even married once like his little cousin and two engagements, but nothing in this world prepared him for Jondy. She had come into his life like a whirl wind turning him around and around so much, he didn't know whether or not he was coming or going. His mind was trying to remember a similar situation in his past but none was forth-coming, except when he came to Seattle that time to try and solve a case envolving Bling and a few Navy Seals. And that was, Max. And at the time was a mystery in itself, until she had mistakenly revealed her barcode then all the pieces started to fall into place. Logan had told him that Max had come into his life like a breath of fresh air taking his breath away from him... I guess Jondy did the same thing, but more like a fist punch to the gut. I like that... I couldn't breathe, it seemed like for hours ... it was a dizzing feeling to have that beauty so close and not to mention her mind ... my gosh, I never seen anyone look so beautiful consentrating on a situation as her. I felt an attraction from the beginning at Logan's apartment... that take over stance and voice, the glimmer in her eyes without any light... gosh, it was so intriguing. He thought as they were finally desending onto the runway.

At Tony's apartment, the three found everything they would need to make themselves reasonably comfortable. Both Tony and Logan longed for the sisters and Bling longed for his Sarah, which made the guys grumpy.

"It's really ironic but Max made a comment that once you had a transgenic, you can never go back; I guess that's true. I miss her smile, her laugh, sparkle in her eyes, I... I just miss her, Tony. I didn't think that would ever happen to me especially, you know, the wheelchair." Logan let out a deep sigh at the thought of being so far away from his Max. "I don't want anyone especially now that I have had one; that is." Logan smiled at that.

Tony smiled. "That night ... I asked for a demonstration of what could happen if we got together and ... it was mind blowing. Never had I experienced such emotion, love, and aggression in one womanl. Wow, it was more than exhilarating and truthfully exhausting," he said, shaking his head. "Um, does Max purr when ... never mind."

"I don't know if that makes me hornier or what, but I do love it about Max," Logan said, smiling at the memory of his Max. "Um, shall we change the subject?" He laughed at his situation.

"I can't believe that we're just talking about it ... I mean, it's weird. Here I was talking to you about what all you could do with your hands and now this. It's so mind blowing. Max was right we can't go back to ... normal girls."

Coming into the room, Bling noticed the cousins deep in conversation. "Sorry to interrupt guys, but there are two cats on the phone," Bling said, laughing at the two cousins trying to move as quickly as they could. Logan looked at Tony and vice versa then, Logan got to the phone first and said, "Max, is that you?"

"Yeah, Big Boy. It's me. Why are you out of breath? How is it going in DC? I mean ... I mean I miss you."

"I miss you too, Angel. Cuz and I were fighting to see who would get to the phone first. How's Seattle? Well, as far as DC goes... Tony is trying to recruit me into NCIS, would you believe it?" Logan said as if it were a shock at Tony trying to recruit him. Even though he tried his best while back in Seattle. "Tony's trying to take the phone away from me so ... I guess; I'll let him have the phone for a minute," Logan said teasingly to his cousin.

"Jondy? Max, is Jondy near by?" Tony asked anxiously

"Yeah, but you'd better let me talk to Logan before this is all over or I'll ...." Max was cut off all of a sudden by another voice.

"Hey! Cool it Little Sis. Is that Tony on the line? Why are you being so rude? I thought I raised you better than that," Jondy said good naturedly.

"Yeah, well. I didn't get to talk to my man, so you'd better be nice to me," Max pouted.

"Poor baby. Come on Max, we don't have that much time. Well, can you be here say, this weekend, maybe Tony?" Jondy was out of breath as if fighting physically with Max over the phone.

"Uh, yeah. Sure. Are you sure ... I mean, it's been what three, four weeks? Other than, you know ... we can try and come, Tony said hesitantly.

"Well. Well, bring plenty of you know, booze." A purr slipped out without Jondy's intention.

Max began to giggle and took the phone away from Jondy. "Sis needs her catnip." Max giggled in the phone. "Come on Tony, let me speak to Logan, okay? We've got to go on duty and I want ..."

"On duty? Where?" Asked Tony.

"Uh. On the docks, why?" Max said annoyed.

"What are you still looking at the docks? You know you two may get hurt. Don't go!" Tony said upset.

"We're big girls, Tony. We'll be careful ... just take care of Logan for me, k? Listen tell him ... tell him I miss him... Gotta blaze," Max said sadly and hung up the phone.

"Let me see the phone Cuz. I want to talk to Max," Logan said, wheeling back and forth, anxiously waiting to speak to Max.

"She hung up Cuz. Said something about going on duty or something. Sorry," Tony said sadly.

"What!? You didn't let me talk to her? Thanks a lot, Tony!" He was exasperated. "What do you mean they're going on duty?"

"It has something to do with the docks, you know, that George character. Oh, by the way, we found out about him and his connection with Mr. Diamond!" Tony had almost forgotten about the news when he came into his apartment.

"Yeah, I know all that. What's the deal with the Navy though?" Logan was annoyed with his cousin for not letting him speak to Max. All he had wanted that day was to at least talk to Max to let his life be bearable. But no such luck, at least not now. He thought to himself that he would call later that night if nothing else.

As the evening progressed and things were done Bling noticed Logan getting antsy. "Hey what's seems to be the matter? We've only been gone a few weeks. It's not like you have a life with Max, yet." He spoke bluntly.

"I don't know what it is Bling. It's just a feeling I've got. Maybe that transfusion, I don't know. I think I'll call and talk to Max. I just have this weird feeling, other than me missing her so much. I at least saw her every other day since she came back from Manticore. There were times when I pissed her off or something and she didn't come around but this is different."

At 1:00 in the morning, Logan couldn't wait any longer. He called TC and was waiting for someone to answer the phone. "Hiya," came from the phone on the other line.

"Joshua, is that you? How's it going? Are the girls around?" Logan fired his question to his canine friend.

Joshua tried to cover up the earphone but failed miserably. He said to someone, "It's Logan, what do I say?"

"Joshua give me the phone." There was a growl on the other end of the phone and a few choice words. "Hey, man. How's it hangin', Logan? Um, Max isn't here." Alec was annoyed at Joshua and taking it out on the phone.

"What's going on, Alec? Where are Max and Jondy? Haven't they come back from the surveillance of the dock yet?" Logan asked concerned.

"You know about that? Well, no, apparently they're putting some overtime in with some of the other guys. Don't worry, I'll have'em call you when I see them, okay? Gotta go, Logan. Bye." Alec hung up before Logan had a chance to comment on what Alec had just told him. He was angry now. Something was wrong he just knew it, but as far as he thought, he couldn't do anything except muddle around feeling sorry for himself.

"Sebastian. That's who I'll call. Yeah!" Logan said to himself.

"What's going on Cuz?" Tony said as he came in the living room.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just going to call Sebastian. I haven't talk to him since I've been here, that's all," Logan said trying to hide his worry.

"At this hour Logan? My gosh, it's after three there! Don't you think people sleep?" Tony was irritated at his cousin.

"Yeah, but Sebastian doesn't need that much sleep nor do I. He's always up at this hour. We get our best work done, you know, for Eyes Only, at this time of night. Go back to bed Tony," Logan said defending himself to his cousin.

"Well, all right then. I'll see you in the morning, then, or in a few hours" Tony said, yawning and shaking his head and turned to go back to his room.

Picking up the phone, Logan dialed a familiar number. "Hey Sebastian. You weren't asleep were you?" Logan inquired.

"No. Just about though. I haven't heard from you and so I thought everything was going smooth. What's up?" Sebastian's mechanical voice said.

"Do you by chance still have the surveillance on the dock where I was trying to bust that guy?" Logan asked with excitement in his voice.

"Well. Yeah. I never had it taken down, why? Did you catch that guy or what? I haven't heard anything since the house fire. I assumed it was connected to that mafia guy. How's Max by the way?"

"Johnny Diamond. That's his name. Tony, my cousin, found out who he was and he's using the Navy as his personal shipping fleet somehow." Logan said.

"That's big. And you don't know how he's doing it, huh? That's interesting. The Navy keeps such a close eye on the goings on, I can't imagine who is doing it except one of the higher ups. What do you need Logan. I'll send my tapes your way as soon as I can get it uploaded to you. What day do you want to start? Did you not hear me ask about Max? How is she doing without that poison in her system?" Sebastian said.

"Well, she was doing fine. I haven't seen her in three or four weeks but I've talked to her. See, I'm in D.C. right now because of that rat bastard George. The one I was trying to bust. That's why the NCIS is involved. My cousin works for them. I told you, remember?" Logan said, trying to avoid his feelings about Max and Jondy.

"So, why are you so interested in the last few weeks then? Has it got something to do with Max? Is she in trouble Logan?" Sebastian asked knowing it was something to do with Max. Logan wouldn't call in the middle of the night to shoot the bull like this. He knew something was up by the urgency of Logan's voice.

"I'm sorry, Seb. It's just a feeling I've got. I tried tonight to call her and she wasn't there. At least, that's what Alec said. I don't know. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Send those tapes though, please. Can you send tonight and go backward from here. So I can see what's happened tonight?" Logan asked excited about getting a glimpse of his Max.

"Sure. I'm on it. You'll let me know if I can help, right? She is my favorite super girl." Sebastian said teasingly.

"Sure. Yeah, well there is more than Max now. She has some sisters. And they're at TC," Logan added smugly.

"Oh, really? Hum. I'll have to look into that. Well, bye, Logan. Call if you need anything."

"Okay. Will do. Thanks Sebastian. Bye." Logan was satisfied that he was doing something now. Logan hooked up his laptop and got ready to download the tapes when he received them. Got a pot of coffee on and sat waiting by the picture window for the emails from Sebastian.

He started phasing out thinking about the time spent with Max before he had to leave. Her brilliant smile, her chocolate brown eyes, and her sinuous lips. Oh, man. Get your mind back to the here and now or you'll go nuts Cale, he thought. About that time, a ding came over his computer. He wheeled to the computer and opened the first email from Sebastian.

It read: There was something going on tonight with all those Land Rovers. Check it out. Seb.