Kevin walked out into the parking garage, heading towards his car. It had been a long shift and he was looking forwards to a nice relaxing evening with Jenna. His car was at the very end of the level and as he was halfway across he noticed that there was someone leaning against it.

Heart rate increasing he considered heading back into the hospital and getting an SF to accompany him, but realized that if the person wished him harm they would have acted all ready. But that still didn't assuage his fears.

Footsteps echoing in the almost-empty level, Kevin continued towards his car. When he was near enough Pierce saw that the person in question was Lorne. "Colonel this is a surprise." he said unlocking his car. "Something I can do for you?"

"Yeah you could say that." Evan replied casually, unfolding himself and standing. "You can leave Max alone."

"I'm sorry?" Kevin asked, raising an eyebrow and wondering what Evan was talking about.

"You heard me." Evan said, scowling. "We were happy until you came back and decided to screw with everything." Lorne moved closer towards Kevin and said in a low voice, "If I somehow find out that you've been seeing her after this I can't guarantee that I'll keep my temper. So I'll tell you one last time; Leave. Max. Alone."

Kevin was stunned.

Obviously Evan had the wrong idea about them but before he could explain Evan had hopped into his car and sped off. Numbly he watched the tail lights disappear until he was left alone again.

--

Max heard the door close and called out, "Evan?"

"Yeah?" he called out, taking off his jacket. He had just gotten back from his visit with Kevin and was debating his next move. Obviously she required a gentler touch than Kevin did.

Walking into the foyer she scowled, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"What?" he asked, having no idea what he had done to make her like this. Well...he did it's just that he had hoped that Pierce would make up some excuse and leave out the fact that Evan had 'persuaded' him on the course of action.

Apparently he was wrong.

"I just got a call from Kevin. He said that you threatened to hurt him if he saw me again." Max folded her arms onto her chest and raised an eyebrow. "Tell me why it would possess you to do something like that."

"Because he needed to know what I'd do if I caught him with you again." Evan replied, realizing he'd finally learn why she had been seeing someone else. "I have to admit that you hid it pretty good, I didn't even know about it until last week."

"Hiding what?" Max asked confused and wondering what he was talking about.

"Your affair with Kevin."

Max raised an eyebrow and looked at Evan like he'd just told her that dolphins could fly. "My affair?" she echoed.

"I saw you two at the coffee shop holding hands." Evan said, feeling his blood boil at the mention of what he had seen then.

Max's eyes went wide as she realized what he meant. "You're kidding right?"

"Unfortunately no. " Evan stated, looking at Max. "What I want to know is why?"

"First of all, I haven't been having an affair-" Max started to reply but Evan cut her off.

"Then what do you call it?" he yelled, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it Max, I know that you haven't been happy with the hours I've been keeping but to go and screw around with some other guy just because we haven't had time for each other is frickin' crazy."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? I'm not having an affair with Kevin." Max snapped, starting to get angry herself. "He's just a friend. A friend, Evan. We meet for coffee a couple times a week and talk. It's harmless, I swear."

"If it's harmless then how come you didn't tell me about it?"

Max sighed and fought the urge to roll her eyes, "I didn't tell you because first of all you're never home and second of all I didn't think you'd care."

"Well I do. Is there anything else you've been hiding from me?"

"So you still don't trust me is that it? God Evan, I thought we'd put that behind us years ago."

"We had until you started sneaking around."

"I was not sneaking around." Max snapped.

"So if I ask Anglia and Devon where you've been going what are they going to say?" Evan asked, folding his arms while looking at Max. "That they know about your time with Kevin or that you simply disappear for a few hours?"

Max was silent and avoided his gaze, knowing that the answer she'd give would make it seem like she really was sneaking about. "I wasn't sneaking." She repeated softly, eyes filling with tears.

Her silence spoke volumes to Evan and that only confirmed what he had already known. Letting out a frustrated sigh he asked, "Then what was it?"

"I told you, just coffee between friends. Look at me Evan." She said, taking his hands and staring straight into his eyes. "Look at me and see if I'm lying."

He stared into her eyes and saw that she was telling the truth, but that still didn't ease the hurt that he felt. "Why?"

"Because you're never around. We hardly see you anymore and it's like I have an invisible husband." Blinking back tears she continued, "Kevin was there for me; he was the first person to visit me after having Jack and David and made me feel like an adult and not just the person who is around all day taking care of the house and kids while cleaning up messes."

"You think I like being stuck at the mountain when I'd rather be at home with my family?" Evan asked, pulling his hands from her grasp. "It's not like I can just go and ask General Ames to cut back my missions or to reschedule the alien invasion so it fits perfectly with our life." He snapped, picking up his jacket and putting it back on. "And don't make me choose Max. Not again."

Not waiting for a response Evan stormed out of the house and towards his bike.

Max had been stunned by Evan's last statement and watched him drive away, wondering how they were going to fix things this time.

--

"You still here Colonel?"

Evan looked up from the pile of paperwork he was trying to make a dent in and saw General Ames in the doorway. "Yes sir." He said, starting to stand.

Ames dismissed the movement with a wave, "Thought you decided to leave early today."

"Had a lot of paperwork, sir." Evan replied, sitting back down as the General sat down in the chair across from his desk. "Though I'd try to wade through it."

Ames just nodded his head and smiled, knowing the real reason Lorne was in his office. He'd gotten into plenty of fights with his wife over the years and almost every time he walked out of the house angry he'd always end up back at the office, using that anger to get through paperwork. "I have some good news for you Colonel."

"Really sir?" Evan asked, raising an eyebrow while wondering what it could be.

"I do. Tried to tell you the other week when something came up on your side and then we got so busy around here I forgot about it until now. I was going to leave you a note but since you're here I might as well tell you in person."

--

Evan pulled into the driveway and cut the engine, while still trying to process the news that Ames had given him. He still wasn't quite sure if it was good or bad news…he guessed that it all depended on how you looked at it.

Closing the door he spotted bags by the door and swallowed hard. "Max?"

No one answered him and a quick search of the main level revealed that he was alone. "Anyone home?" he called out after clearing his throat. This time he was rewarded with the sound of feet thudding towards the stairs and he reached the foot in time to see Anglia coming down. "Where's mom?" he asked, looking past her.

"Upstairs. Where've you been?" Anglia asked, brushing back her hair and pulling it into a ponytail.

"Work." Evan replied slightly distracted, moving past Anglia and up the stairs. But he wasn't so distracted that he missed the flash of color on her skin. "Whoa, what's that?" Lorne asked, looking at the image and raising an eyebrow. "Is that a tattoo?"

"Relax it's a henna." Anglia said, smirking. "You know, 'cause you won't let me get a real one."

"Uhuh…we'll talk later." Evan said, moving up the stairs and towards their room. Seeing Max putting things in a suitcase, his heart thudded. She turned around just as he walked up to her and he kissed her hard, not wanting her to leave.

To say that Max was surprised would be an understatement. She was absolutely stunned when Evan suddenly appeared behind her and kissed her for all that he was worth. "Mmm…what's that for?" She asked, gently pushing Evan away.

"I don't want you to leave." Evan said, looking into her eyes. "I feel horrible that I haven't been there for you and the kids. That'll change from now on. Just...don't leave."

Max looked at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.

Evan was confused; he hadn't been expecting the kind of reaction that he was getting. "What's funny?" he asked, scratching his head.

Max just laughed some more and sat on the bed, shaking her head. Finally the laughter subsided enough that she could talk. "You thought…with the bags…oh Evan you're hopeless."

"Uh…thank you?"

Max took a deep breath and slowly let it out, lips still twisted into a smile, "I am leaving. But I'll be back."

"You will?" Evan asked, becoming even more confused with this recent revelation.

"Yup." Max supplied, standing and resuming her packing. "I'm flying out to see Lydia and Alex, remember?"

The light switch flipped on in Evan's mind and he felt like a fool for forgetting. "Oh." Evan said, feeling his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "That's right."

"Ang is gonna drive me and Devon's watching the twins and Miranda's across the street playing. I left everything you might need to know on the table and Angila promised that she'd help you out so don't let her leave you in a bind." Max replied, stuffing the last of the clothes into the bag and closing it. "That's it."

"Here I got it." Evan got up and grasped the handle before Max could.

As they walked down the stairs Max asked, "What did you mean by 'that'll change from now on'?"

"Well…I got some news from General Ames." Evan stated calmly, setting the suitcase down and turning to look at Max.

"And…"

"How do you feel about Wales?"

"Why?" Max asked looking at Evan strangely. Something wasn't quite right but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Evan ran a hand through his hair suddenly uncomfortable, "Well…I'm being transferred there."

Max gaped at Evan, trying to comprehend the news that he had just given her. "What?" she asked, sitting down sharply on the stairs.

Evan opened his mouth to explain everything but then Anglia yelled, "Mom! Time go or you'll miss your flight!"

Sighing, he helped Max to her feet and said, "I'll call you later and explain everything."

"Like hell you are." Max said, stopping and folding her arms while looking at Evan. "I'm not going anywher until you explain everything. And I mean everything."

Evan sighed, he knew that there wasn't enough time to tell her everything and still have her make her flight. "Fine," he said, picking up her bag with one hand and taking her hand with the other. "I'll drive you to the airport."