Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel. If I did, the show would be a hell lot more shippery and smutty.
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: I know I've been horrible with updates, even though I said that I should be updating more often now (note the "should"). But things have been a little crazy lately, so I never had the sufficient amount of time to sit down and type this up. Please forgive me!!
As always, a million and one thanks to lareina_Selena and PreciousJax!
" Alex?" Max called out. She fine-tuned her hearing to detect any movement or sounds in the house, but there was nothing. She cursed under her breath. " Dammit, she's not home yet!"
Jondy grinned at her disappointment. " Max, Alex will be home soon. Why don't you go take a shower first?" she offered.
" Thanks. I feel so disgusting; Chris kept giving my body a once over all day!" Max shuddered at the thought and headed into the bathroom.
Alex chose that particular moment to come home. " Hey Jondy. Where's Max?"
" In the shower, washing off the grime caused by that sleazebag Chris," she quipped.
" Seems like that's all she's been doing lately," Alex joked.
" Wanna know the latest thing that happened?"
" Very much so."
Jondy relayed the story play by play, missing no detail. Just as she finished, Max emerged from the bathroom. " Ok, I am now officially clean, if that's even possible after the day I've had," she declared. Catching sight of Alex, she stopped in her tracks. " Alex, you're home!" she exclaimed.
" Yes I am!" Alex exclaimed with mock enthusiasm.
" Guess what?" She said excitedly.
" What?"
" No, seriously, guess!"
Alex stared blandly. " Maxie, honey, I worked for 10 hours straight. I don't have your shark DNA, so I DO need sleep. I am NOT in the mood for guessing games."
" Someone's grumpy," Max commented.
" Sorry," Alex apologized. " Rough day at work. What's the news?"
" We're going home."
" Hello?" Val asked. It was the first time she answered the phone since she stayed at Logan's place; he was usually home to answer it.
" Uh, hi," Max's voice floated through the receiver. " Is Logan there?"
" No, actually, he's not. May I ask who's calling?"
" It's Max," she answered, giving Alex a puzzled look.
" Logan's not home?" Alex whispered. " That's weird, he usually is- especially when he thinks you might call."
" Oh, hi Max," Valerie said with a slight frown. " May I take a message?"
" No, that's ok, I'll just phone his cell. Thanks though."
Max was about to hang up when Valerie's voice intercepted her. " Actually, Logan has requested that no one call his cell phone."
" Really?" Max asked in a surprised tone. " Well, I doubt he'd really mind. Do you know where he went?"
" He went to this gourmet store. Said he wanted to buy some things for dinner," Valerie said smoothly, hoping Max would assume she meant it would be for that night.
Obviously, it worked because Max's next line was, " A gourmet store? For your dinner?"
" Yeah. He said he had some surprise planned. He even got these really expensive candles."
" He what?" Max asked, fighting to keep her voice calm but failing miserably.
Noticing her discomfort, Valerie let a smug smile cross her face. " He got them for dinner. We used those candles last night too and it really creates a romantic glow."
" Um- well- Valerie, I have to go now. Tell Logan I called."
" Will do," Val said just a little too sweetly.
Max hung up the phone and immediately collapsed on the bed. " Logan's cheating on me," she announced, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"WHAT?" Alex exclaimed, startled. "Logan would never do that!" she insisted, dropping onto the bed beside Max.
" He went to a gourmet store to get things for dinner- THEIR dinner," Max told her glumly. " He also got candles, which according to Valerie 'created a romantic glow'. I heard it straight from her mouth."
Alex snorted in disbelief. " You're trusting VALERIE on this? The biggest bitch and liar in the world? Max, you told me yourself, you don't trust Val, what makes you believe her this time?"
Max gave a weak chuckle. " Yeah, you got a good point Alex."
Alex gave a triumphant smile. " Of course I do! Besides, why in the WORLD would you even believe Logan would cheat on you?? He loves and adores you and worships the ground you walk on!"
Max shrugged. " Maybe because I've been away from him for so long."
" Oh Max," Alex said softly. " You really miss him don't you?"
" Yeah," she nodded miserably. " I can't stand the fact that I'm so far away from him and Valerie's so close to him."
" Max, you gotta believe me, Logan would never, ever, ever, in a million years, cheat on you. You two are soul mates for crying out loud! I have never seen him as happy as he is now. You're his ray of light. Now," she changed her voice into an authoritative tone, " You march that butt of yours over to that phone and call that brother of mine!"
Max gave a small laugh and a mock salute. " Yes ma'am!"
A/N: Next chapter will probably be about the phone conversation… so until then, read and review!!