Maria, forgot to mention I love you in the last chapter. I swear to god I searched through the transcripts when I started this and I couldn't find their names.

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Chapter 37

Missing

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Episode: Hit A Sista Back

The pants draped across the chair reminded her of one thing when she woke up. It was time to leave. She had decided early on that when the pants were snug she would leave. Their fit snugger than the rest of her other pants, she had never been interested in the perfect snug fit, she wanted comfort. She could no longer button the top button, well not without a deep breath and crushing her waist.

The pants had been there for four days now. Screaming at her that she should be throwing her things into a bag and taking off. She kept talking herself out of it; she knew he was still completely oblivious. Her waist may have thickened the slightest bit, but she didn't look pregnant.

He was still preoccupied with Cale Industries. All of the suits in his closet had been worn; new ones had been bought since he went to the office everyday. No new articles were being researched and Eyes Only was suffering. All he'd told her was his uncle had gotten the company in some trouble.

It was odd to see him in suits, to walk into his apartment and find him still dressed in slacks, tie loosened and top button undone generally with a drink next to him as he went over files and reports. She didn't know why he felt so responsible; he didn't appear to be alone though. Worry was etched around Bennett's eyes as he'd come over one day to drop off some papers. She'd gone over another day to find Logan and his cousin, Mark poring over files on the dining room table. They'd gone quiet when they realized she was in the apartment and Mark had quickly made his excuses and left as Logan gathered up the papers.

Max was starting to guess that whatever trouble Old Uncle Jonas had gotten the family business in, it wasn't the legal kind.

She took a deep breath. Get it over with Max, she ordered herself. What are you doing? Staying until he finds out? Do you want to hurt him even more than you're already going to? She went into her closet and grabbed the black bag from the bottom. She took a deep breath as she started rifling through her closet for what clothing would work for her the longest her fingers lingered over the dress he'd bought for her. As much as she wanted to she couldn't take it, she needed the space for things she'd actually be able to use. Not to mention if Lydecker ever caught that in her closet it would be pretty easy to trace her back to Seattle and Logan.

With her bag packed, the clothing she would wear today laid out she made her way into the shower. Shower, breakfast, Logan's, hopefully he wouldn't have left for the office by then. She thought about just leaving him a letter or maybe calling him, but she realized as hard as it was going to be on her, he deserved it in person. Not to mention, she wanted one final look, she was a glutton for pain.

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She was exhausted, it was almost midnight and she hadn't slept in days. She was so tired she was pretty sure she could sleep for a week. Tinga was gone, gone just like Brin. Case had almost ended up in Manticore and it reminded her how unsafe the world would always be for her baby. She had to go, she promised Zack she'd go with him. She didn't tell him why she'd go with him now; she didn't want to listen to the speech, not yet. She'd just heard the one he'd given to her about Tinga and making herself vulnerable and told her she was heading down the same path. The last thing he needed to know right now was she was completely on the same path. If he stuck around with her long enough, he'd figure it out for himself.

So here she was now standing in front of Logan's door, her bag strapped across her back, she might feel safe enough to leaving her precious bike unguarded in his garage, not her belongings. Charlie and Case had been taken by Pete to a safe house until Logan finished procuring everything they'd need to make it to Canada. Zack had given her an hour to meet up with him at the rail yards. So here she was entering his place once more all in black.

He turned as he heard her approach and she watched the smile quickly fall off his face as he realized what was going on. "You're going?" he asked

She nodded, suddenly unable to speak; it wasn't supposed to be this hard.

"Zack talked you into it?" He said grimly.

"Zack's right, it's for the best. Lydecker's too close, he knows I'm in Seattle, he knows I haven't left. He's going to be back for me really soon."

"So go tomorrow." He shook his head walking to her, "Go next week, just not today. Not like this."

" Logan" her voice was unsteady as he came upon her.

"Don't go Max" he said raising a hand up to her cheek, "Not like this."

She shook her head, trying to find the words to fight him. She didn't want to though, she was so tired. So tired of everything…

He smiled gently with his hand still on her face, "You'll fall off your bike if you try to go tonight. You need sleep Max. Lydecker isn't that bright Max, he won't be here tomorrow."

She nodded. Her head was moving on its own accord. The next thing she knew he was lifting her bag off her and leading her to his bed where he helped her undress. She slid in between the sheets and he soon followed her, just holding her as she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Yea this is just a short chapter story. Don't know why, it just is.