Chapter Five: Home
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh, Dark Angel's not mine! But I own Brandon and Alex, so if you take them, I'm going to have to kill you.
Spoilers: Minor ones for all up to 'Hit A Sista Back'. And let's pretend that Max's transfusion cured Logan with no side effects, ok? Also, nothing after HASB happened :-)
Author's Notes: *ducks to avoid flying objects* Yes, I know I've been absolutely HORRIBLE with updates (more than a month… yikes!). But starting with the next chapter, the chapters are gonna be a bit shorter, so 1) it's easier for my beta's to edit 2) it's easier for me to revise 3) and I'll result in more frequent updates! Geez, I hope you guys haven't forgotten the whole storyline already!!
Special thanks to lareina_Selena and PreciousJax for a superb beta-ing job!!
* * * *
Max and Jondy walked quietly into their home and Max whispered, " You hear anything?"
Jondy shook her head and Max came to the conclusion that Alex had finished her conversation with Brandon.
" Alex?"
" In here!" Alex called back from the kitchen.
" Hey," Max said. She sniffed the air and grinned. " Thank God one of us can cook."
" It's in the genes," Alex quipped back. " That and living with Logan for so long."
" How did your call with Brandon go?"
" Eah," Alex shrugged.
" That's a stupid answer," Max retorted.
" Well, you deserved a stupid answer to a stupid question!" she exclaimed. " Of course it went well, what else did you think?"
" Ok, fine, I deserved that," Max rolled her eyes. " You talk to Logan?"
" Another stupid question," Alex said, pointing her knife at Max. Max took a step back and Alex looked down at her hand, " Oh, sorry," she apologized, putting the knife down.
" Why is it so stupid for me to ask if you talked to Logan?"
" Because we both know that my big brother is overly protective." Alex stated matter-of-factly.
" Very true," Max nodded.
" Said he misses you," Alex said. She stopped dicing the vegetables for a second to check Max's reaction.
Max broke out in a full-blown smile but didn't say anything.
" Phone him right now," Alex suggested, seeing how happy she was just to hear that Logan missed her. " Dinner's not going to be ready for at least another half hour."
Max shook her head. " Nah, it's ok. He and Bling are probably out drinking or something."
Jondy gave a mock look of surprise. " Max, you're actually agreeing to not phoning Logan?" She put her hand on Max's forehead. " Nope, she doesn't have a fever," she said to Alex. " Who are you and what have you done to my sister?" Jondy demanded.
Max laughed and brushed her hair away from her face. " I just want to give Logan some space."
" Does this have to do with a certain someone who's staying at his place right now?" Alex asked innocently.
Max shot Alex a dirty look and Jondy asked, " What? Who's staying there?"
Max glared at Alex again and said sarcastically, " Thanks a lot sis."
Alex merely flashed her award winning smile and Jondy asked again, " Who's staying there?"
" His ex is staying there for a while," Max answered as calmly as she could.
" And you're ok with it?" Jondy asked incredulously. " I don't think I could ever be that big of a person."
" Of course I'm not ok with it," Max said patiently. " But I trust Logan."
* * * *
~~ 3 weeks later ~~
" Jondy!" Max yelled out. " You ready yet?"
" Yeah Jond!" Zach called out impatiently. " We're all waiting for you!"
Jondy came barreling down the stairs, busy tying up her hair. " Yeah, yeah, yeah," Jondy replied. " I'm ready."
Zach rolled his eyes. " I swear, if we had enough money to get another car, I wouldn't even think of driving you guys to work." They had all agreed not to do anything out of ordinary during their stay in Canada, which basically meant no stealing and no stunts.
" Well we could have taken the bus."
Max snorted. " Speak for yourself. Hell is going to freeze over before I get on that bus. Zach, why won't you let me get a motorcycle while we're here?" Max complained. " That way, you won't have to wait for me and Jondy in the morning." Jondy was now working with Max at Starbucks; she said she preferred the hustle and bustle of it over the quietness at the grocery where she was previously employed.
" I've told you time and time again Max, it'd draw too much attention. Now can we please go?"
They all got into the car and Zach said. " Now, I gotta work late tonight, so you three are going to have to take the bus." Zach smirked at Max through the rearview mirror. " Looks like the people down below are strapping on their skis."
Max groaned, " Ugh, I hate you."
Zach pulled into the Starbucks parking lot 10 minutes later and Max groaned, " Oh God no. Chris is already in."
Jondy put a sympathetic hand on Max's shoulder. " Sorry babe."
" Jesus Christ, that guy never stops trying! You would think he'd get a hint after a knee or two to the groin!"
" Want me to knock some sense into him?" Zach offered.
" It'll draw attention," Max reminded him.
" Play your engagement ring card," Alex suggested.
Max wrinkled her nose. " I don't want to wear it to work. I mean, if I get caught, then the ring is a surefire way for Lydecker to find out I'm emotionally attached. He'll find Logan, torture him, discover he's Eyes Only and then use him as a way to get me back to Manticore."
" You don't have to wear it to show you're engaged. Just say you are," Jondy shrugged.
Max laughed, " Yeah, he'll believe THAT. Don't forget Jondy, the pulse hasn't really affected Canada. People here can afford to buy engagement rings. Bye you guys," Max said to Alex and Zach.
The second Jondy and Max stepped foot in the coffee shop, Chris approached them. " Morning ladies," Chris grinned flirtatiously. " Hello Kate," he said a little too closely to her ear. Kate was Max's alias while she was in Canada.
Max was about to backhand Chris when Jondy whispered, " Be nice. We gotta stay low key."
Max gritted her teeth. " Good morning," she replied.
Chris smirked and answered, " Well, well, well, it's about time you showed interest in me honey. How about you and me in the back room during lunch hour?"
Max whirled around, " All I said was good morning because I happen to be in a very good mood today since I talked to my *fiancé* last night."
" Well, baby," Chris leaned in closer, " Most engaged women have a ring to show that they're spoken for. Unless my eyes are ripped out of their sockets-"
" I can arrange that," Max growled.
Chris merely gave her a smile and continued, " I happen to NOT see a ring on that beautiful ring finger of yours, so therefore, I've come to the conclusion that either you're lying or your boyfriend is just cheap," He raised an eyebrow. " But hey, my offer for the backroom still stands," he winked at her and moved away to serve customers.
Max lunged at him and would have beaten the shit out of him, but Jondy held her back. " Max," she said in a warning tone.
" He insulted me! He thinks I'm some whore who'll just kick it with him!" Max raged. She struggled to break free from her sister's hold on her, but held on firmly.
" Max, stay calm. Think about Logan. His eyes, his voice, his kiss, whatever. Keep your mind off of Chris and onto Logan. We got customers to serve."
Max took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and she sighed, " Ok. I'm ready."
" Good," Jondy smiled at her.
" How may I help you?" Max asked the next customer.
The woman whipped off her sunglasses and replied, " Yeah, I'd like 3 grande café lattes; 2 tall iced coffee frappucinos and 4 coffees, 2 venti black, 1 grande with non-fat milk and decaf, 1 venti decaf."
Max groaned inwardly. This was going to be a long day.
* * * *
Max's cell phone rang during her lunch break and she answered it breathlessly, " Hello?"
" Hey baby. Why are you out of breath?"
" Hi. Morning rush just passed." Max balanced the phone on one shoulder and washed her hands.
" Must have sucked."
" Very much so. Remember that guy Chris, that I told you about?"
" Yeah. The one that keeps hitting on you," Logan frowned.
" Right. It's taking all I got in me to keep from snapping his scrawny little neck." Max went outside to take a walk and to clear her head.
Logan laughed. " Max, baby, remember, ya gotta keep a low profile."
" I know; that's what Jondy keeps on telling me. Think you can come up here and defend my honor?" Max teased.
" I tried that once and as I recall, it didn't work out too well."
Max chuckled. " I thought it was adorable. You trying to protect a bio-engineered superwoman."
" Ok, we can stop picking on poor defenseless Logan now."
" You're far from defenseless. So how's having the apartment to yourself once again? Valerie's gone, right?"
" Um, actually Max, that's what I called to tell you about."
Max stopped walking around. " That bitch is *still* there?" she said in a low, dangerous tone.
" Max, I swear, one more week, she'll definitely be out of here."
" That's what you said last time," Max said bitterly.
" Max, you know I love you. You got nothing to worry about. I've been phoning you everyday, haven't I?"
" I'm not saying you're cheating on me. I never said that. I just don't trust Valerie and the sooner she's out of there, the easier I'll breathe."
" Well, I got something that'll make you breathe easier. Guess what it is."
" Let's see… the Valerie thing was all a hoax, which, by the way, if it was, I'll come back and drop kick your ass all the way to China."
" Nope."
" You're coming up here and we're going to make love all night long," Max said seductively.
" I would love that more than anything, but you're wrong."
" Zach likes you?"
" Honey, I don't think that's ever going to be possible."
Max laughed. " Well, you know it's something that'll make me breathe easier!! Ok, tell me, I'm through with guessing."
" The search is called off." Logan heard something fall and he asked, " Max? You ok?"
A moment later, Max's voice came back on the line. " Yeah, I'm ok, sorry, I just dropped the phone. I can come back home now?" She asked with disbelief.
Logan laughed. " You dropped the phone?"
" Yes. Now answer me! Can I come home now?"
Logan smiled at her impatience. " You gotta give me a week Max, just so I can find out the reason why they called the search off and to make sure the coast is clear for you guys. I don't want you running into any danger."
" This is great! I never would've thought Lydecker would call off a search after only a month!!" Max was suddenly assaulted with a thought //Why DID Lydecker call off the search so soon?// She quickly shook that thought away, concentrating on being home and in Logan's arms once again.
* * * *
A/N: Yes I know, more boring crap, but I swear, it'll get more exciting soon. In the mean time, PLEASE, read and review!
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh, Dark Angel's not mine! But I own Brandon and Alex, so if you take them, I'm going to have to kill you.
Spoilers: Minor ones for all up to 'Hit A Sista Back'. And let's pretend that Max's transfusion cured Logan with no side effects, ok? Also, nothing after HASB happened :-)
Author's Notes: *ducks to avoid flying objects* Yes, I know I've been absolutely HORRIBLE with updates (more than a month… yikes!). But starting with the next chapter, the chapters are gonna be a bit shorter, so 1) it's easier for my beta's to edit 2) it's easier for me to revise 3) and I'll result in more frequent updates! Geez, I hope you guys haven't forgotten the whole storyline already!!
Special thanks to lareina_Selena and PreciousJax for a superb beta-ing job!!
* * * *
Max and Jondy walked quietly into their home and Max whispered, " You hear anything?"
Jondy shook her head and Max came to the conclusion that Alex had finished her conversation with Brandon.
" Alex?"
" In here!" Alex called back from the kitchen.
" Hey," Max said. She sniffed the air and grinned. " Thank God one of us can cook."
" It's in the genes," Alex quipped back. " That and living with Logan for so long."
" How did your call with Brandon go?"
" Eah," Alex shrugged.
" That's a stupid answer," Max retorted.
" Well, you deserved a stupid answer to a stupid question!" she exclaimed. " Of course it went well, what else did you think?"
" Ok, fine, I deserved that," Max rolled her eyes. " You talk to Logan?"
" Another stupid question," Alex said, pointing her knife at Max. Max took a step back and Alex looked down at her hand, " Oh, sorry," she apologized, putting the knife down.
" Why is it so stupid for me to ask if you talked to Logan?"
" Because we both know that my big brother is overly protective." Alex stated matter-of-factly.
" Very true," Max nodded.
" Said he misses you," Alex said. She stopped dicing the vegetables for a second to check Max's reaction.
Max broke out in a full-blown smile but didn't say anything.
" Phone him right now," Alex suggested, seeing how happy she was just to hear that Logan missed her. " Dinner's not going to be ready for at least another half hour."
Max shook her head. " Nah, it's ok. He and Bling are probably out drinking or something."
Jondy gave a mock look of surprise. " Max, you're actually agreeing to not phoning Logan?" She put her hand on Max's forehead. " Nope, she doesn't have a fever," she said to Alex. " Who are you and what have you done to my sister?" Jondy demanded.
Max laughed and brushed her hair away from her face. " I just want to give Logan some space."
" Does this have to do with a certain someone who's staying at his place right now?" Alex asked innocently.
Max shot Alex a dirty look and Jondy asked, " What? Who's staying there?"
Max glared at Alex again and said sarcastically, " Thanks a lot sis."
Alex merely flashed her award winning smile and Jondy asked again, " Who's staying there?"
" His ex is staying there for a while," Max answered as calmly as she could.
" And you're ok with it?" Jondy asked incredulously. " I don't think I could ever be that big of a person."
" Of course I'm not ok with it," Max said patiently. " But I trust Logan."
* * * *
~~ 3 weeks later ~~
" Jondy!" Max yelled out. " You ready yet?"
" Yeah Jond!" Zach called out impatiently. " We're all waiting for you!"
Jondy came barreling down the stairs, busy tying up her hair. " Yeah, yeah, yeah," Jondy replied. " I'm ready."
Zach rolled his eyes. " I swear, if we had enough money to get another car, I wouldn't even think of driving you guys to work." They had all agreed not to do anything out of ordinary during their stay in Canada, which basically meant no stealing and no stunts.
" Well we could have taken the bus."
Max snorted. " Speak for yourself. Hell is going to freeze over before I get on that bus. Zach, why won't you let me get a motorcycle while we're here?" Max complained. " That way, you won't have to wait for me and Jondy in the morning." Jondy was now working with Max at Starbucks; she said she preferred the hustle and bustle of it over the quietness at the grocery where she was previously employed.
" I've told you time and time again Max, it'd draw too much attention. Now can we please go?"
They all got into the car and Zach said. " Now, I gotta work late tonight, so you three are going to have to take the bus." Zach smirked at Max through the rearview mirror. " Looks like the people down below are strapping on their skis."
Max groaned, " Ugh, I hate you."
Zach pulled into the Starbucks parking lot 10 minutes later and Max groaned, " Oh God no. Chris is already in."
Jondy put a sympathetic hand on Max's shoulder. " Sorry babe."
" Jesus Christ, that guy never stops trying! You would think he'd get a hint after a knee or two to the groin!"
" Want me to knock some sense into him?" Zach offered.
" It'll draw attention," Max reminded him.
" Play your engagement ring card," Alex suggested.
Max wrinkled her nose. " I don't want to wear it to work. I mean, if I get caught, then the ring is a surefire way for Lydecker to find out I'm emotionally attached. He'll find Logan, torture him, discover he's Eyes Only and then use him as a way to get me back to Manticore."
" You don't have to wear it to show you're engaged. Just say you are," Jondy shrugged.
Max laughed, " Yeah, he'll believe THAT. Don't forget Jondy, the pulse hasn't really affected Canada. People here can afford to buy engagement rings. Bye you guys," Max said to Alex and Zach.
The second Jondy and Max stepped foot in the coffee shop, Chris approached them. " Morning ladies," Chris grinned flirtatiously. " Hello Kate," he said a little too closely to her ear. Kate was Max's alias while she was in Canada.
Max was about to backhand Chris when Jondy whispered, " Be nice. We gotta stay low key."
Max gritted her teeth. " Good morning," she replied.
Chris smirked and answered, " Well, well, well, it's about time you showed interest in me honey. How about you and me in the back room during lunch hour?"
Max whirled around, " All I said was good morning because I happen to be in a very good mood today since I talked to my *fiancé* last night."
" Well, baby," Chris leaned in closer, " Most engaged women have a ring to show that they're spoken for. Unless my eyes are ripped out of their sockets-"
" I can arrange that," Max growled.
Chris merely gave her a smile and continued, " I happen to NOT see a ring on that beautiful ring finger of yours, so therefore, I've come to the conclusion that either you're lying or your boyfriend is just cheap," He raised an eyebrow. " But hey, my offer for the backroom still stands," he winked at her and moved away to serve customers.
Max lunged at him and would have beaten the shit out of him, but Jondy held her back. " Max," she said in a warning tone.
" He insulted me! He thinks I'm some whore who'll just kick it with him!" Max raged. She struggled to break free from her sister's hold on her, but held on firmly.
" Max, stay calm. Think about Logan. His eyes, his voice, his kiss, whatever. Keep your mind off of Chris and onto Logan. We got customers to serve."
Max took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and she sighed, " Ok. I'm ready."
" Good," Jondy smiled at her.
" How may I help you?" Max asked the next customer.
The woman whipped off her sunglasses and replied, " Yeah, I'd like 3 grande café lattes; 2 tall iced coffee frappucinos and 4 coffees, 2 venti black, 1 grande with non-fat milk and decaf, 1 venti decaf."
Max groaned inwardly. This was going to be a long day.
* * * *
Max's cell phone rang during her lunch break and she answered it breathlessly, " Hello?"
" Hey baby. Why are you out of breath?"
" Hi. Morning rush just passed." Max balanced the phone on one shoulder and washed her hands.
" Must have sucked."
" Very much so. Remember that guy Chris, that I told you about?"
" Yeah. The one that keeps hitting on you," Logan frowned.
" Right. It's taking all I got in me to keep from snapping his scrawny little neck." Max went outside to take a walk and to clear her head.
Logan laughed. " Max, baby, remember, ya gotta keep a low profile."
" I know; that's what Jondy keeps on telling me. Think you can come up here and defend my honor?" Max teased.
" I tried that once and as I recall, it didn't work out too well."
Max chuckled. " I thought it was adorable. You trying to protect a bio-engineered superwoman."
" Ok, we can stop picking on poor defenseless Logan now."
" You're far from defenseless. So how's having the apartment to yourself once again? Valerie's gone, right?"
" Um, actually Max, that's what I called to tell you about."
Max stopped walking around. " That bitch is *still* there?" she said in a low, dangerous tone.
" Max, I swear, one more week, she'll definitely be out of here."
" That's what you said last time," Max said bitterly.
" Max, you know I love you. You got nothing to worry about. I've been phoning you everyday, haven't I?"
" I'm not saying you're cheating on me. I never said that. I just don't trust Valerie and the sooner she's out of there, the easier I'll breathe."
" Well, I got something that'll make you breathe easier. Guess what it is."
" Let's see… the Valerie thing was all a hoax, which, by the way, if it was, I'll come back and drop kick your ass all the way to China."
" Nope."
" You're coming up here and we're going to make love all night long," Max said seductively.
" I would love that more than anything, but you're wrong."
" Zach likes you?"
" Honey, I don't think that's ever going to be possible."
Max laughed. " Well, you know it's something that'll make me breathe easier!! Ok, tell me, I'm through with guessing."
" The search is called off." Logan heard something fall and he asked, " Max? You ok?"
A moment later, Max's voice came back on the line. " Yeah, I'm ok, sorry, I just dropped the phone. I can come back home now?" She asked with disbelief.
Logan laughed. " You dropped the phone?"
" Yes. Now answer me! Can I come home now?"
Logan smiled at her impatience. " You gotta give me a week Max, just so I can find out the reason why they called the search off and to make sure the coast is clear for you guys. I don't want you running into any danger."
" This is great! I never would've thought Lydecker would call off a search after only a month!!" Max was suddenly assaulted with a thought //Why DID Lydecker call off the search so soon?// She quickly shook that thought away, concentrating on being home and in Logan's arms once again.
* * * *
A/N: Yes I know, more boring crap, but I swear, it'll get more exciting soon. In the mean time, PLEASE, read and review!