UMBRELLA

Max scowled at the rain through the open doorway.

She didn't like getting wet at the best of times. Sure she'd do it for a mission or in a worst case scenario, but given the choice she would stay in the dry and wait for the weather to do its thang. Especially when she was done up to the nines and already in a bad mood because of it.

She'd spent three frustrating hours schmoozing at City Hall, dodging old men who wanted to grope her and bitter women who were jealous of her youth and looks, none of whom wanted to talk about Terminal City or its needs – the reasons why she was trussed up like a prize turkey attending some totally fake glamour event whose sole purpose was for people to be seen with the right People. And apparently, the Leader of Terminal City was a Person of the moment. Just great...

She'd escaped – good bless Manticore's earlier training; a sentiment she never thought she'd ever have – only to be thwarted by these heavy clouds, merrily lightening their load. Anyone would think she lived in Seattle...! Her car for the night was so close she could practically smell the driver's pungent cologne.

The sound of an umbrella going up behind her made Max turn, surprise made her jaw drop.

"Wouldn't want your pretty dress getting ruined..." Ames White said pleasantly.

Max continued to gape – she hadn't seen him since he fled Terminal City after intercepting a bullet that would have killed her. And suddenly here he was, nonchalant and relaxed; as though nothing remarkable had happened, as though they were just two people with no history.

"Where's your suit?" she managed to choke, desperately seizing the mundane subject of his casual attire, to give her time to regroup.

"I'm not a guest," he answered, with a maddeningly laid-back attitude.

"I figured," she snapped, "Or you would have been in there." she jerked her head toward the Council Room where the noise of a party still in full-swing floated up the hall toward them. "Thought you guys didn't go anywhere without NSA dress-code approved cheap suits..." she snarked, trying to get her tough-chick self-defence back online for protection.

"I'm not on the clock tonight."

He was being cagey, strangely she didn't want to pry. It was weird enough him being friendly after he'd avoided talking to her for so long in Terminal City – a feat that was quite impressive seeing as he'd been with them for several days while the Medics tried to keep his insides inside. If they spoke for much longer the conversation would have to go there and then he'd probably run off again without explaining himself.

Not that he had to, being alive was a good enough reward, thank you – it would just be nice to know what had changed his mind so fundamentally.

She tore her gaze away from him, she didn't like how her thoughts were so often about him recently. She could try to kid herself that it was only because of him saving her life but Max knew she was lying – and doing a bad job of it too.

She sighed. The rain wasn't getting any better but if she wasn't going to raise the subject she had better get out of here before the silence turned to tension and things got nasty.

"You want me to walk you out?" he asked, startling her with the similarity to her private decision.

Not trusting her voice she cocked her head to gage his sincerity.

He smiled and she wondered why she couldn't breathe for a moment. Only a moment, but it was enough to give her plenty to keep her awake later tonight.

"My car is just outside," she manage a fairly stable tone but inside she was a roiling mass, like storm tossed waves.

He held out his arm. Silently she placed a hand above his wrist, trying not to feel the blood moving beneath his skin, trying not to count the beats of his pulse for some indication of what was going on behind those inscrutable dark eyes

They stepped out of the porch, Max shivered as the chill of the night cut through the light fabric of her dress. She felt him tense as though to speak but he said nothing, moved his arm out from under her hand to hold her against his side, secure as they went down the rain-slick steps.

She pointed their way across the parking lot and he opened the door for her when they reached her car, the driver snoozing, oblivious in the front.

White chuckled. "Some security he is," he jerked a thumb at the offending party. "Anyone could have come over here and planted something nasty."

About to enter the car, Max paused, suddenly hearing the truth in White's words.

She stepped back, bit her lip and found the courage to look at him when she admitted, "How am I going to get home?"

White inhaled, as he realised his chance comment was actually pertinent and he had effectively stranded her in the middle of town. He glanced her way; and in an impractical outfit too.

"I could drive you?" he offered.

Max nodded, and then thinking he might have missed her agreement, opened her mouth to confirm but he was already guiding her further from the building, with a hand in the small of her back. She tried to feel annoyed at his proprietary gesture but the warmth of his touch was comforting with the night growing steadily worse as an experience.

They didn't speak again as they reached his car, or during the drive, or when he had pulled to a stop in one of the concealed access points.

Max reached for the door handle and felt his hand on her arm. She sat back, turning to face him, held his troubled gaze as he searched for the words.

"I couldn't let you die," he announced. She wisely said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"You're going to be important. Not just because you can find my son. But apparently for humanity too. And I've decided they deserve to be saved.

"I bet your Conclave aren't very happy about that." she murmured.

He nodded, expression thoughtful and, was that regret she saw?

"I was at City Hall tonight, officially disowning my son, so that he could have a better life without me and the chaos I seem to inspire."

Max shivered at the dull tone of his revelation. This was a broken man before her, the only thing keeping him upright and breathing was either habit or the stubborn streak in his soul that prevented him showing any weakness to her.

"I'm sorry..." she breathed, meaning it with her whole heart. Despite it being Logan's idea in the first place, and White having set the circumstances for them, Max felt responsible for it all. And consequently, for the state of the man in the car with her.

Although, she scolded) herself, it wasn't like she asked him to jump that day. She was truly grateful for his action, but she hadn't requested it. So why did she feel like she should try to fix it? Fix him...?

Max sighed. It was turning into one hell of a night. Why not make sure it went down in history...

"Do you want to come in?" she asked. "We could talk," she frowned, that was so lame! "We... I..."

"I'd like that." he interrupted quietly, saving her from further embarrassing rambling.

"Okay..." she nodded, and reached for the door again.

"Will they mind?"

Max shrugged. "You saved my life. I think they can cut you a break at least once."

He grinned. "Just once?"