Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, etc. etc.
Feedback: Please, no silent readers-post feedback!
Timing: This scene takes place immediately following Part 4.
Dangerous Games 5: Breakfast
//Time to wake up Max.//
Logan wheeled himself back into the bedroom, only to find the bed empty. He looked towards the window and was relieved to find it closed and unbroken. She hadn't used that route of escape, then. In the bathroom, he heard the sudden gush of water from the tap.
//Shower. She's in the shower. I could... You could control your raging hormones and go make breakfast, Cale. Unless she needs towels. Get her some towels.//
Logan rummaged through a closet, wondering when the laundry had last been done. Finally locating a couple of clean towels, he moved back towards the bathroom, only to meet Max coming out, hair wet, wearing her clothes from the night before. She grabbed a towel from his lap and began drying her hair. "Sorry if I used up all your hot water. But after you make me breakfast, I'll barely have enough time to run home for my biking clothes and get to work."
//Looks like he was on his way in. Damn, maybe I should have taken a little longer in the shower... Control yourself, Max.//
Logan raised an eyebrow. "After making you breakfast? So I guess you really do only come around here for the free food. Or is it just part of the standard male-female morning-after ritual?" Max blushed. Logan stared.
//Max blushed? I must be imagining things. Max is probably genetically engineered against blushing.//
Max recovered. "Morning after what?" she asked sweetly. Logan's jaw dropped for a second, until he realized she was kidding. Unfortunately, it was too late for a comeback.
"Finish drying your hair," he said. "I'll see what I can put together for breakfast."
//So Max is feeling a little self-conscious. Like she doesn't have a smart enough mouth as it is. No problem, I can work with that.//
Logan made coffee and pulled out cereal and rolls. As jumpy as he was around Max this morning, he didn't trust himself with eggs, much less stove burners. Max headed straight for the coffee and sat down to eat, not commenting on the less-than-stellar meal. "So what are you up to today?" she asked. "Hope it's nothing important, since you didn't get much sleep last night."
//Why do I keep saying things like that? Am I trying to embarrass myself even more?//
Logan noticed her discomfort. "That case they called about last night," he said. "There's a meeting set up for tomorrow. Gives me some time to do research, I haven't had a chance yet." Max nodded.
//He'd better not be blaming me for not getting his work done. And as for that stupid morning-after comment...//
"I got a bit more sleep last night than I normally do, myself," she countered. "Something about your company tends to do that to me. Put me to sleep, I mean."
Logan choked and spit out his coffee. Max bit back a smile and offered him a napkin.
//Got you.//
"You OK? Need me to pound on your back or something?" she asked.
"No, thanks," he replied. "I think my back has suffered enough trauma for one year."
//Got you back.//
"Right," she said thoughtfully. "Us genetically engineered killing machines can do one hell of a chiropractic job. Comes with the bar code." Logan was beginning to wish he'd never used that phrase.
//Watch what you call her from now on, Cale. It's hardly a term of endearment. And women never forget things like that. Ever.//
Logan made an effort to discuss his new case. But as he found himself unable to concentrate, his mind wandering back to besotted thoughts of Max and the night before, he let the conversation trail off. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Max was starting to look uncomfortable again.
//God she's cute when she's feeling awkward. I wonder if I can embarrass her again.//
"You know, that bar code isn't your only identifying mark," Logan said, reflecting. "There's that mole shaped like the state of Florida. The one right below your left hip."
//Handle that one.//
Max's eyes narrowed and she nodded. "Right," she said pleasantly. "And by the way, have you been shaving the hair on your back for long?" Logan almost choked again.
//I guess she handled it.//
"I don't shave any of my hair," he sputtered. "Well, except for the hair on my face. I mean, I don't have any hair on my back, it's just that in some places..." Logan's voice trailed off as Max laughed.
"I think that's my cue to exit," she said, getting up from the table. "So page me when you're ready for my help with Mr. Bad-Guy-Of-The-Week."
//If you know what's good for you, you'll give me a better reason to come back than saving the world.//
"I will," Logan replied. "Unless you want to come by for dinner. I won't even talk about work. Well, not much."
//That was the lousiest invitation I've ever issued. And if she says no, I'll drown myself in what's left of my coffee.//
Max thought about it. For less than a second, but she counted to ten before responding. "As you mentioned, I can't resist free food."
//That's the best he can do? OK, I can deal.//
"So, around eight?" Logan asked. "Make it nine," Max answered. "I have to meet up with Kendra, we had plans last night. I hadn't really meant to stay out all night, but you were so desperate, what could I do?"
//It was a really lousy invitation. I can't let him off the hook completely.//
"True," Logan said. "Of course, you could have left earlier. I meant to tell you so around 5 AM, but you had me...occupied and I couldn't get the words out."
//Occupied is an understatement.//
"I didn't hear you complaining," Max said.
//Like you had anything to complain about.//
"As I said, I didn't have the time," Logan replied. "Or the breathing space."
//Like I would complain. Try "beg."//
She nodded. "You normal types need to breathe. I'll have to remember that in the future."
//Hopefully as often as possible.//
"So...until tonight, then?" Logan asked. "Right," Max answered. "Page me if you need me to bring anything." "Will do," he said. Max grabbed her pager from the table.
//Awake for almost an hour and he hasn't as much as touched me. So what do I do? Shake his hand? Pat him on the top of his head?//
Max watched him for a moment, waiting for him to make a move. He didn't. She considered walking out the door. Or kicking him.
//Oh, what the hell.//
Max leaned down, grabbed his shoulders, and kissed him. Hard. And when Logan kissed her back, it didn't end until both were gasping for breath.
//And I can hold my breath for four minutes. Impressive.//
Straightening up, Max walked away with a swing in her stride. Reaching the door, she turned back to Logan with an unholy grin. "See you later."
Feedback: Please, no silent readers-post feedback!
Timing: This scene takes place immediately following Part 4.
Dangerous Games 5: Breakfast
//Time to wake up Max.//
Logan wheeled himself back into the bedroom, only to find the bed empty. He looked towards the window and was relieved to find it closed and unbroken. She hadn't used that route of escape, then. In the bathroom, he heard the sudden gush of water from the tap.
//Shower. She's in the shower. I could... You could control your raging hormones and go make breakfast, Cale. Unless she needs towels. Get her some towels.//
Logan rummaged through a closet, wondering when the laundry had last been done. Finally locating a couple of clean towels, he moved back towards the bathroom, only to meet Max coming out, hair wet, wearing her clothes from the night before. She grabbed a towel from his lap and began drying her hair. "Sorry if I used up all your hot water. But after you make me breakfast, I'll barely have enough time to run home for my biking clothes and get to work."
//Looks like he was on his way in. Damn, maybe I should have taken a little longer in the shower... Control yourself, Max.//
Logan raised an eyebrow. "After making you breakfast? So I guess you really do only come around here for the free food. Or is it just part of the standard male-female morning-after ritual?" Max blushed. Logan stared.
//Max blushed? I must be imagining things. Max is probably genetically engineered against blushing.//
Max recovered. "Morning after what?" she asked sweetly. Logan's jaw dropped for a second, until he realized she was kidding. Unfortunately, it was too late for a comeback.
"Finish drying your hair," he said. "I'll see what I can put together for breakfast."
//So Max is feeling a little self-conscious. Like she doesn't have a smart enough mouth as it is. No problem, I can work with that.//
Logan made coffee and pulled out cereal and rolls. As jumpy as he was around Max this morning, he didn't trust himself with eggs, much less stove burners. Max headed straight for the coffee and sat down to eat, not commenting on the less-than-stellar meal. "So what are you up to today?" she asked. "Hope it's nothing important, since you didn't get much sleep last night."
//Why do I keep saying things like that? Am I trying to embarrass myself even more?//
Logan noticed her discomfort. "That case they called about last night," he said. "There's a meeting set up for tomorrow. Gives me some time to do research, I haven't had a chance yet." Max nodded.
//He'd better not be blaming me for not getting his work done. And as for that stupid morning-after comment...//
"I got a bit more sleep last night than I normally do, myself," she countered. "Something about your company tends to do that to me. Put me to sleep, I mean."
Logan choked and spit out his coffee. Max bit back a smile and offered him a napkin.
//Got you.//
"You OK? Need me to pound on your back or something?" she asked.
"No, thanks," he replied. "I think my back has suffered enough trauma for one year."
//Got you back.//
"Right," she said thoughtfully. "Us genetically engineered killing machines can do one hell of a chiropractic job. Comes with the bar code." Logan was beginning to wish he'd never used that phrase.
//Watch what you call her from now on, Cale. It's hardly a term of endearment. And women never forget things like that. Ever.//
Logan made an effort to discuss his new case. But as he found himself unable to concentrate, his mind wandering back to besotted thoughts of Max and the night before, he let the conversation trail off. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Max was starting to look uncomfortable again.
//God she's cute when she's feeling awkward. I wonder if I can embarrass her again.//
"You know, that bar code isn't your only identifying mark," Logan said, reflecting. "There's that mole shaped like the state of Florida. The one right below your left hip."
//Handle that one.//
Max's eyes narrowed and she nodded. "Right," she said pleasantly. "And by the way, have you been shaving the hair on your back for long?" Logan almost choked again.
//I guess she handled it.//
"I don't shave any of my hair," he sputtered. "Well, except for the hair on my face. I mean, I don't have any hair on my back, it's just that in some places..." Logan's voice trailed off as Max laughed.
"I think that's my cue to exit," she said, getting up from the table. "So page me when you're ready for my help with Mr. Bad-Guy-Of-The-Week."
//If you know what's good for you, you'll give me a better reason to come back than saving the world.//
"I will," Logan replied. "Unless you want to come by for dinner. I won't even talk about work. Well, not much."
//That was the lousiest invitation I've ever issued. And if she says no, I'll drown myself in what's left of my coffee.//
Max thought about it. For less than a second, but she counted to ten before responding. "As you mentioned, I can't resist free food."
//That's the best he can do? OK, I can deal.//
"So, around eight?" Logan asked. "Make it nine," Max answered. "I have to meet up with Kendra, we had plans last night. I hadn't really meant to stay out all night, but you were so desperate, what could I do?"
//It was a really lousy invitation. I can't let him off the hook completely.//
"True," Logan said. "Of course, you could have left earlier. I meant to tell you so around 5 AM, but you had me...occupied and I couldn't get the words out."
//Occupied is an understatement.//
"I didn't hear you complaining," Max said.
//Like you had anything to complain about.//
"As I said, I didn't have the time," Logan replied. "Or the breathing space."
//Like I would complain. Try "beg."//
She nodded. "You normal types need to breathe. I'll have to remember that in the future."
//Hopefully as often as possible.//
"So...until tonight, then?" Logan asked. "Right," Max answered. "Page me if you need me to bring anything." "Will do," he said. Max grabbed her pager from the table.
//Awake for almost an hour and he hasn't as much as touched me. So what do I do? Shake his hand? Pat him on the top of his head?//
Max watched him for a moment, waiting for him to make a move. He didn't. She considered walking out the door. Or kicking him.
//Oh, what the hell.//
Max leaned down, grabbed his shoulders, and kissed him. Hard. And when Logan kissed her back, it didn't end until both were gasping for breath.
//And I can hold my breath for four minutes. Impressive.//
Straightening up, Max walked away with a swing in her stride. Reaching the door, she turned back to Logan with an unholy grin. "See you later."