Posted on June 22, 2014

Outside of the house, Alec and Max sat next to one another on the top step of the porch. It was past 9:00 by then, the rain had finally stopped, and the temperature had dropped significantly, the air chilly. They both looked out toward the wet, empty street. They had been this way, sitting quietly, for quite some time as Will and Logan spoke inside. Both trained soldiers were on high alert, aware of all the movement that took place up and down the street, although there hadn't been any activity in a while. Alec had been on patrol at the front of the house all day, watching and waiting. Their location had not been compromised, no police arrived to cart Logan off to jail, and their escape plan had worked.

Max finally spoke, "Thanks. For today…" She let her sentence trail off, not needed to go into detail about what Alec had done for her and her family earlier.

"Whoa. Are you actually thanking me?" Alec glanced sideways at Max. "Never thought I'd see the day…" He rubbed his hands together to try and warm them as he spoke.

Max elbowed him in the side. "Oh, shut up. Just take it, will ya?"

"I will. And….you're welcome." Alec shuddered. "Ack. That feels strange to say."

Max shook her head and smirked, "You're a real piece of work, Alec…"

"So I've been told." He said, his tone flat.

Alec leaned out and nudged Max's shoulder and she smiled, feeling the old rapport she had with Alec so many years before. He had been the closest thing to an annoying brother she had, and though it was difficult to admit, she did miss him during the time he was gone. She was genuinely thankful for him being there when she needed an extra set of hands.

Alec looked out toward the street again. "It's gonna be okay, ya know, Max."

"Of course…" She affirmed with confidence.

Alec went on, "Logan's a good guy. You two are an…interesting…combination, but it works." He chuckled.

"Whoa. Are you actually giving a compliment?" Max mocked him with a smile.

Alec grinned and shook his head, "Seriously, Max, you're different now but in a good way." He cleared his throat, preparing himself. "I see the way you are with the kids, with Logan, and…it's good. You did good." He turned to Max, and not even a hint of irony or sarcasm was apparent on his face.

Alec meant what he said and Max was touched; he was not one to talk about emotions or give compliments or even have a real conversation about anything deeper than what was visible on the surface. He wasn't vulnerable, or emotional, and having him give Max his opinion was new but welcomed. Max appreciated it more than she would ever like to admit to herself.

Max smiled. "I'd like to think so." She nodded and looked away to the street, contemplative.

She didn't speak right away, but she turned to Alec, her expression fixed. "He's done with it, Alec. With Eyes Only." Max's voice was low as she told him. She hadn't said the words aloud since Logan had told her his decision, and actually saying them was surreal.

Alec's eyebrows rose and he tilted his head, as he considered what Max said. He was quiet for a moment, then shrugged. "Good. He's getting too old for all that anyway…" Alec answered accordingly, in true form.

Max hauled off and punched him in the shoulder. "He's not too old!" She said through a laugh. She turned and crossed her arms. "You're an ass." Max smiled and shook her head.

Alec laughed and crossed his arms, warming his hands. They were quiet again as they watched the surrounding area.

"What's your plan, Max? You guys can't stay in the city. They'll be looking for Logan, and you. You know that." Alec's tone turned more serious.

Max nodded. "Yeah. Logan's got someone in Reno. He thinks we can hang there for now, and then figure it out."

"Whatever you need, whatever all of you need, I'll help. We'll get you guys outta here tomorrow. Okay?" Alec offered and turned to look at Max.

She gave him an understanding nod. "Thanks."

Alec stood up and stepped onto the porch. "I've got it covered out here. Go see your old man, feed the guy or something…" He gestured toward the front door.

Max also stood and reached out for the door handle. "I think I will. 'Night." She opened the front door and stepped in, feeling as though she and Alec had a breakthrough. He wasn't such a punk after all. Underneath all his armor and sarcasm was indeed a beating heart.

Max walked into the house to find it dark. She could see enough to know that Will was on the couch in the living room, one arm draped over his face, one leg on and one off of the couch. He was snoring slightly. She looked to the kitchen table and saw the two empty glasses sitting around the empty bottle of liquor, and she knew they must have finished it together.

Logan was nowhere to be seen. As Max turned and went down the hallway in search, a sliver of light shone underneath the single bedroom door. She knocked softly and heard Logan clear his throat on the other side.

"Yeah. Come in." He said quietly.

Max entered and closed the door behind her. Logan was reaching into the top drawer of the dresser, pulled out a fresh shirt, and turned to Max. He had on clean pants and his shoes sat neatly on the floor next to the bedside table.

"Hey…" She moved to sit on the edge of the bed and watched him.

"Hey." Logan gave a small smile and pushed toward her, holding the fresh shirt in his lap. He stopped at the edge of the bed and reached slowly to pull the dirty shirt he still wore over his head. His undershirt lifted and Max caught a glimpse of the abrasions and bruises on his side. She knew he wouldn't complain outright about the pain, it was so typical of him to push through it. Logan grimaced as he pulled the new shirt on, a comfortable gray long sleeve t-shirt, and tossed the dirty one onto the floor.

"Come on…" Max nodded toward the bed as she peeled off her jacket and kicked off both of her shoes.

She slid herself across the bed, giving him room, and waited until he was lying beside her before scooting right next to him. Logan reached out and let Max into the crook of his arm, holding her there. She laid her cheek on his chest and began to relax. They both sighed contentedly at the same time.

"What, you have a busy day or somethin'?" Max teased.

"Or something…" Logan titled his head down to kiss her forehead.

They lie in silence for a while, just satisfied with being close and quiet, both reflecting on the past day.

"Max…." Logan murmured finally.

"Hmm…" Her voice was soft.

"We'll be okay. You have my word." He squeezed Max to his side as he spoke into her hair quietly.

Max closed her eyes. "I know."

"You up?" Max asked as she poked her head into the bedroom early the next morning as the sun was starting to rise.

"Yeah. I'm up." Logan replied as he lay on the firm mattress of the bed. He reached up and ran a hand over his face, he hadn't gotten much sleep.

"Kids are asking about you…" Max stepped further into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

She and Alec left to retrieve the kids from Original Cindy's before dawn, and brought them back safely. Using the same method to avoid the sector cops that she did the night before, Max let Alec drive through the two sector checkpoints between the safe house and Original Cindy's apartment and met him on the other side of each, sneaking her way through unseen. They picked up Jaden and Atley without incident.

Max had a talk with Original Cindy and Grace, and explained that she and Logan and the kids were leaving town for a while. If either woman was questioned, Max asked that they say they hadn't seen her or Logan or the kids since the night of bombings, and the morning after. Without going into too much detail with Grace, she said she would be in touch and not to worry that their apartment was in shambles, it would be taken care of; Max insisted that they would be okay.

In private, Max told Original Cindy the whole story as best as she could. She hugged Original Cindy and promised she'd touch base soon. The two best friends both had tears in their eyes as Max left with the kids after the goodbyes were made. In the car, Alec used the fake sector passes and ID's for the kids on the drive back and waited for Max to make her way through. The retrieval was a success, and the kids were happy to be back with their mother, although Jaden questioned Max about Logan immediately, wondering where he was. She assured Jaden that Logan was a little banged up, but he was okay. Alec drove them to the safe house where Max explained Logan was, and Jaden didn't ask any more questions.

"Are we sure they need to see this?" Logan asked as he gestured to his face, which was even more swollen and bruised, and the bandage on his eyebrow was barely holding.

"They need to know that you're safe…" Max's voice was soft as she sat down beside him.

Logan nodded and began to sit up. Max reached out and grabbed his forearm, gently pulling to aid his effort. He let out a groan as he sat up fully and lifted his legs over the edge of the bed.

"How ya feelin'?" Max asked as she gave him the once over.

"Like hell." Logan let out a chuckle and turned to her. She reached out and squeezed his hand that lay on his lap.

"I'll give you a few minutes…" Max stood and left the room.

Logan sat on the edge of the bed with his head hung and he tried to push past the discomfort of his stiff body. He heard footsteps approach the bedroom door and looked up to see Jaden opening the door. He took a deep breath, attempting to conceal his pain, and forced a smile.

"Hey, Jay." He said.

"Dad!" Jaden ran to Logan and launched herself into his arms.

Logan bit back a groan as he hugged her; his ribs still sore from the previous day.

"Are you okay?" She asked when she pulled away and took a look at his bruised and bandaged face.

"Totally fine." He nodded and ran his hand across Jaden's forehead.

"Mom told me you hurt your head because you fell…" She ran her eyes over his injuries curiously, not seeming to be scared at all.

"Yeah, I did…but I'm alright now. Promise." He went along with Max's explanation, and it wasn't entirely untrue.

"Does it hurt?" Jaden asked him quietly.

"Not really…" He shook his head, and had to lie.

"I'm so happy to see you, sweetheart." Logan gave her a comforting smile.

Jaden's worry washed away in an instant. He pulled her into another hug, and she squeezed him tight, burying her face into his shoulder as he held her.

"Someone else wants to see you, too…." Max stood in the doorway carrying Atley on her hip.

"Da da da…" Atley babbled.

Max walked over to the bed and Atley reached out to Logan, who took him, concealing his discomfort once more.

"Hey, big guy. How are ya?" Logan kissed Atley's forehead.

"Ow!" Atley pointed to Logan's bandaged eyebrow.

"Yeah, ow," Logan let out a small laugh at their son's observance. "I'm okay." Logan nodded and held Atley with one arm and pulled Jaden closer with the other.

He looked up at Max and a small smile spread across his face.