Author's Note: Okay kids; our favorite show was in reruns last week, and is preempted this week. But never fear, Queen Gwen is here! Here's a little interlude for ya, set right after my last story. Enjoy! As always, not all songs and characters are mine. I do not own em, never will, only borrow em for my own writing purposes and for the pleasure of others. Thanks to LadyCallie for beta-ing this. :)
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Max felt warm. She smiled.

As she emerged into wakefulness, Max took in the sensations around her. A warm blanket covered her body, which was nearly bare except for a flimsy tank top and a pair of loose boxer shorts. She could hear a crackling fire and smell the fragrant wood as it burned. Dimly, she wondered where she was; but for some reason, the unfamiliarity of her location did not alarm her. Languorously, Max stretched her long, smooth legs and felt them brush up against warm flesh. Startled, Max's eyes flew open and she discovered that she was not alone in the unfamiliar bed. Logan was next to her. He was on his side, pressed against her, one arm under her neck, the other across her exposed belly.

Max's initial urge was bolt out of bed, but she denied it. She liked watching Logan sleep. He looked peaceful. His hair was even more disheveled than usual, and his constant five o'clock shadow looked a bit fuller. His long lashed eyes fluttered slightly in sleep, and his mouth curved up in a small smile. Max wondered what he was dreaming about. She turned slowly, as not to wake him, and positioned herself on her side, facing him. She could feel his warm breath on her face and she smiled.

Mischievously, Max reached out and traced the lines of his jaw. She ran her fingertips lightly over his mouth, feeling the softness of his lips. She remembered that softness from their kiss, outside the cabin, when she and Zack had been on the run. How she had wished Logan wanted to come with her. Then, Max realized that's where they were. His family cabin. Their intended vacation destination. Chuckling, realizing somewhere that this was another of their shared dreams, Max drew in air and blew it gently onto Logan's face.

She giggled when his eyes twitched and his mouth scrunched up in confusion. Sighing in his sleep, Logan pulled Max closer to him, cradling her to his chest. She laid her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. Thump thump. Thump thump. It was a nice sound. Calming, soothing. She traced patterns lightly across his skin, running her fingers up his chest and neck. As much as she enjoyed watching him sleep, Max did not want Logan to sleep their dream away.

"Logan," she whispered, her mouth close to his ear. "Wake up Logan."

Max's breath tickled Logan skin and he thought about the dream he was having. It was one of the most realistic he had ever had. He could practically feel Max in his arms, her fingers teasing the skin on his chest. He could practically hear her voice, music in his ear. Moaning slightly, Logan inhaled deeply and smelt the wood in the fire, and the scent of Max's hair.

Max?!

Gasping, Logan's eyes flew open, and were greeted by the sight of Max. In shock, Logan bolted out of bed, standing, in awe, staring at her and she lay in the bed he had just been in, propped up on one elbow, eyes dancing, lips smiling. "What the-?" he began.

"Logan," Max said, sliding across the bed so that she was on the side he had just been on. "Look. You're standing."

Looking down in disbelief, Logan saw that indeed he was standing. What in hell was going on? The last thing he remembered he and Max had been in the tow truck coming back from Cape Haven. Now, they were in his family cabin, and he once again had full use of his legs. Max was lying in her pajamas on the pullout sleep sofa in the living room, stretched across the spot he had moments before shared with her. Completely overwhelmed, Logan sank to the bed beside Max. She wrapped her body around his sitting form, burrowing her head underneath his right arm. She tickled the skin on his thighs and giggled, "Good morning to you too."

He released the breath he didn't know he had been holding and chuckled. "Where are we?" he asked.

Max looked around nonchalantly, "As far as I can tell, we're at the cabin."

He rolled his eyes, "I know that Max. What I meant was, how in hell did we get here?"

"Well," she began, sitting beside him. "I figure we're dreaming."

"Is this your dream or mine?" Logan asked, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.

Max shrugged, "Beats the hell out of me. All I know is that we're here, you can walk, and, if my hunch is correct." She bounded out of bed and scampered across the room, rummaging through the pantry cabinets. She yelped in delight when she discovered her quarry and spun to show him. In her hands, she held a bag of marshmallows, a package of chocolate bars, and a box of graham crackers. "Everything we need to make some kick ass s'mores."

Logan smiled and he rose out of bed. Even if this was a dream, he was going to enjoy every moment of it. "Well then," he said, walking towards her, noticing she was wearing a pair of his shorts. *That's definitely my part of the dream* he thought, bemused. "What do you want to do first?"

Her eyes sparkled, "Well, if I remember correctly, you promised me a hike."

He nodded, "Alright. How about some breakfast first?" He began burrowing around inside the refrigerator. Pulling out some eggs, cheese, cream, some spices, and various other ingredients, he asked, "How about eggs benedict?"

Max grinned, "Sounds nice. I'm gonna take a shower while you whip up another Logan Cale culinary miracle."

Logan nodded and set to work making their food. "Hey Max," he called over his shoulder.

She spun on her heel.

"Let me know if you need any help washing your back."

He couldn't believe he'd just said that. But before he could mentally kick himself, he saw Max smile before disappearing into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later she emerged, hair damply hanging around her shoulders, barefoot, dressed in slim fitting jeans and a black long sleeved T-shirt that hugged her curves a little too well. She snuck up behind him as he cooked and grabbed him around his bare waist. She tickled his stomach and he spun around, laughing. Before she knew what was happening, Logan had her pinned against the counter, his body trapping hers. He stared deeply into her eyes, his face so close to her own. Max found herself holding her breath.

Then, Logan grinned devilishly and murmured huskily, "Wanna eat breakfast?"

Max nodded, her heart pounding in her chest, "Uh-huh."

Logan stepped out of her way and indicated that she seat herself at the table. He brought the food to her and they ate in a comfortable silence. When they had finished, Logan cleared the table and said, "Just let me go change." Then he paused, "Where did you get the clothes?"

She shrugged, "It's the dreamscape. You just think about what you want to wear and boom, there they are." To demonstrate, Max thought herself up a pair of wool socks, hiking boots, and a jacket.

Logan nodded and headed for the bedroom, wondering in amusement if the boxers she had been wearing were of her own creation. Five minutes later he emerged, dressed in jeans, boots, a button down shirt and dark colored turtleneck. In his hands was a backpack. Max rose off the couch, which she had remade, and asked, "What's in there?" Smiling, Logan pulled out a map, two bottles of water, a few snacks, two towels, and two bathing suits, one for him and one for her. Max arched an eyebrow.

He chuckled, "There are hot springs up in mountain. I figured we could take a dip."

Suspiciously, Max snatched the suit from his hands. She tried to ignore the shier that ran through her as their fingers brushed. Examining the suit, she discovered that it was in fact her size.

"Guess you've had time to get familiar with my measurements, huh?" she asked ruefully.

*Not as familiar as I'd like to* he thought, and merely shrugged in response.

Max suppressed a chuckle. She had to give him credit. At least the thing was one piece, black, and sleek; she wondered if Logan was trying to drive himself crazy. She knew the way he looked at her. She even suspected what he felt. She knew what she felt. When she had been in his arms, she had felt so safe. And apparently, he liked the feeling of having her in his arms. She thought it felt natural to him, considering how he had acted when she was in his arms. Handing the suit back to Logan, Max watched as he stuffed it in the backpack. Then, he held out his hand. With a smile, she took it, and they were on their way out the door.

An hour later, they were nearing the springs. Max was leaps and bounds ahead of Logan, even though she had no idea where she was going. He smiled as he leaned against a boulder, watching the muscles in her body as she climbed. For most of the hike, she had stayed by his side. For some of the way, they had even held hands. But as they neared the springs, Logan saw a child-like excitement and exuberance overwhelm Max as she raced ahead of him. Now, however, she had stopped, kindly waiting for him. As he reached her, slightly out of breath, Logan remarked, "This may be a dream where I have use of my legs Max, but you're still the superhero."

She rewarded him with a smile and grabbed her hand, "Come on, sidekick, there's a spring waiting for us." Laughing like children, they raced toward the springs, leaping over rocks and fallen tree limbs, breathing in the fresh country air. It was different in the mountains. Here they could forget that the Pulse ever happened. Here they could forget that she worked a dead end job for a type A asshole and he was confined to a wheelchair and felt cursed by his birth. Here they could forget that a man named Lydecker was constantly on Max's tail and a bullet from a hired gun was constantly in Logan's spine.

When they reached the springs, Max gasped, "Logan, it's beautiful!"

"You're not so bad yourself," he replied without thinking. Then, seeing her amused look of shock, he scrambled to cover. "I may have embellished its beauty."

She grinned and took the pack from him, "Dreamscape poetic license." Handing him his suit, she pointed, "There's some nice trees. Go change and meet me in there."

He mock-saluted, "Yes ma'am."

Five minutes later Logan dashed out from behind his changing trees, his clothing in hand. The air was frigid and sent gooseflesh rippling across his skin. Looking to the springs, he saw Max already submerged. Her hair was wet and it clung to her scalp. Her skin was rosy from the heat and moisture beaded on her exposed flesh. She grinned at him, "Come on in, the water's fine." Smiling, Logan dropped his clothes next to hers and jumped in the water, splashing her. Max shrieked slightly and splashed him back when he came up from under the water. They proceeded the water fight for several minutes, laughing and yelling, drenching each other, before the match became significantly more physical. They began to pounce on each other, as if trying to sink the other. Logan remembered playing games like this with his cousins when they were children. But he realized that the game he was playing with Max had far higher stakes. They were playing for keeps, not for laughs. Eventually, the realization dawned on Max as well and she stopped laughing. They stared at each other, their arms firmly wrapped around each other's waists, their chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath. Logan tenderly brushed some hair out of Max's face.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice breathy.

He smiled, "No problem." The tension was too great and Logan broke contact, moving to the other side of the spring. He sat on a rather large rock near the edge and held his hand out to her. "Come here." When she crossed her arms and arched a brow he sighed. "I'm not gonna bite you, I promise. Now come here. I want to do something for you."

There was something in Logan's voice that made Max melt. Slowly, she crossed the pool. Logan motioned her to sit on the rock between his legs. Taking a deep breath, Max did as he asked. Her body stiffened when she felt him place his large hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Relax," he murmured in her ear, his breath tingling against her skin. "You've been through a lot in the last couple of days."

"So have you," she interjected.

He nodded, "Even still, this is my treat to you. It will help you de-stress."

She smiled, "I like the sound of that. Work away, Mr. Cale."

He smiled at her grant of permission and began working the kinks and knots out of her skin. He began at the small of her back, holding her hips and side and working his thumbs expertly at the base of her spin. Slowly, he started to move his way up he back along her spine, threading his fingers to grab her flesh and massage her back. Every so often, his fingers would find rather large knots and he would press gently, until he felt the fibrous wad give in. At some point during the massage, Max surrendered, her head lulling back against his chest. Ever so often, a soft groan would escape her lips as his hands found a particular area of stress and tension. Logan's fingers came to the base of her neck and he gently pushed her head forward, bowing it, so he could work on her neck. The feel of his fingers on that sensitive skin nearly made her shudder. Finally, Logan took one of her hands in his and began massaging the palm, making small circular movements with his fingers. When he finished, he took her fingers and massaged them as well. Then he moved to the other hand and repeated his actions.

Max sighed when she felt the massage end. She felt his fingers brush lightly up and down her arms, bringing the warm water up over her cooling skin. "Thanks," she whispered. "That was great."

"Anytime." His voice was deep and husky.

After a time, she asked, "Well, what do you want to do now?"

*If you only knew* he thought. "That's kind of a loaded question, don't you think?"

She smiled and faced him, instantly missing the contact with his body. "I meant about the hike."

"Oh," he chuckled. "Well," he began, looking around. "By where the sun is, I'd day the dreamtime is about three. It's only about another hour to the summit. Once we get there, it should only take us two hours to get back. As long as we're back to the cabin before sundown, we'll be all set."

Her eyes sparkled, "You forget. I have night vision."

"But I don't," he retorted.

A slightly frown marred her face, "But our clothes and towels are over there, out there, where it's a bit cold, and we're in here, where it's so h-er, not cold." Max slightly blushed, hoping he wouldn't be able to tell against the flush of the warm water.

Logan could have sworn he saw her blush. He reached out and grabbed a rather sizeable branch that was lying on the ground. He used it to fetch their towels. Shaking the leaves from them, he handed one to her, being careful not to get it in the water. After she had wrapped it around herself, he did the same with his own. Stepping out of the water, he pulled her out after him, then briskly rubbed her arms. "Better?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said. She averted her gaze, "Now, let's get dressed and continue this hike."

They reached the summit around four thirty and shared the snacks and water. As they made their way back down the mountain, they chatted idylly or not at all, because each was trying to forget that eventually this dream would end and they would have to go back to the real world. By the time they reached the cabin, the sunset was nearly complete. Logan opened the door to the cabin, but Max stayed on the porch. "Aren't you coming inside?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I want to watch the sun set the rest of the way," she said quietly, as if not to disturb the sun.

He stood behind her, placing his hands lightly on her hips, "Mind if I join you?"

Max shook her head, relishing the feel on his hands on her body. She knew they had to be dreaming, because she never felt this safe in the real world. She never allowed herself to be this vulnerable, not even with Logan. Here, standing with him on the dream-porch at the dream-cabin watching the dream-sunset, she almost felt like a remotely normal girl. Max closed her eyes and rested her head against Logan's chest, feeling his heartbeat. It sounded like music.

Logan rested his chin on top of Max's head, pleasantly surprised that she hadn't stiffened up or tried to bolt when he touched her. He released a breath he didn't know he had been holding and watched the sunset with her. He didn't want to go back. He loved that here they could be so poem with each other, and display their feelings so much more readily. He loved that here he could stand, walk, hold her to his chest, feel the full weight of her body against his. He tightened his hold on her slightly and felt her body move rhythmically as she breathed in the fresh dream-mountain air.

After the sun set, the night brought cool air into the valley. Although they had remained on the porch after the sun had gone down, Logan felt Max shiver slightly as the cooler breezes brushed over her. He suppressed a shiver himself and lightly rubbed her arms to warm her. Nevertheless, neither of them made any protests of standing together out in the cold. That is, until a strange noise filled the air. Max and Logan both stood a little straighter, trying to figure out where the noise had come form. They heard it again and Logan started chuckling. Max frowned and turned to look at him. Giggling, he pointed to her stomach.

"I think you're trying to tell me to make dinner," he said, his eyes shining.

She grinned in returned, "Then cook away, Chef Cale." Max followed him into the house and removed her jacket and boots. She tossed the damp bathing suits and towels into a bin by the fireplace and thought them up a roaring fire. Curling up on the sofa, tucking her toes underneath her body, Max watched as Logan prepared them a dinner of sliced marinated steak, Caesar salad, rice pilaf, and red wine. He brought her the meal so that they could eat it in front of the fire and sat next to her on the couch. They ate in relative silence, again, not wanting to spoil the time they were spending with each other by voicing their concerns and displeasure of the inevitable-returning to the real world.

When they'd finished dinner, Max cleared the dishes while Logan cleaned up the pans and bowls and put the ingredients away. They swapped small smiles and idyll conversation. Logan told her about family vacations he had spent at the cabin when he was younger. He told her about the time he and Bennett had "borrowed" Jonas and Margo's boat to go fishing on the lake, without taking notice of the level of fuel. They had run out and were stranded on the lake for six hours before someone was able to get a refuel boat to them. Both Logan and Bennett had been grounded for weeks after that.

Max smiled, trying not to be envious of his happy childhood stories. The only childhood memories she had were of brutal training, physical and emotional torture, horrific seizures, and beatings at the hand of her foster father after the escape. She didn't have the summer vacation memories or the home movies or the (arguably) loving family the way Logan did.

He noticed her thousand year stare and took her hand, "Hey. Where'd you go?"

Max smiled half-heartedly and jumped off the counter she had been sitting on. Logan followed her into the living room and they sat on the couch once more. She shrugged, "Just feeling a bit of the green-eyed monster that I didn't have the happy childhood. Don't worry. I was having a moment. I've made my peace with it. No big dealio."

But Logan could tell by the look in her big eyes that it was 'a big dealio'. "Max," he said gently, lightly touching her cheek with his fingertips. He threaded his hands into her thick hair and moved closer to her. "You don't have to be strong with me. You don't have to pretend."

She nodded, fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. "I know Logan. But what can I say? I'm a creature of habit."

"Some habits can be broken," he said tenderly, forcing her to look into his eyes. Slowly, he rested his forehead against hers and held his arms open, hoping she would accept his invitation. Gingerly, Max moved into his arms, allowing herself to be protected, for once, instead of protecting or running or hiding. Logan smoothed her hair and held her, and Max let him.

Eventually, she pulled away and looked up at him, "Thank you Logan." He wanted to thank her, for dropping her guard, for showing how much she trusted him.

"Don't mention it," he replied. Just then, a pain shot through his back and he winced.

"What's wrong?" she asked, slightly alarmed. Logan groaned and changed his sitting position. He tried to avoid her eyes. The stiffness in his back was a reminder that their dreamtime was quickly ending. "Nothing," he said quickly. But he knew Max wasn't buying it, and he felt somewhat hypocritical hiding from her after telling her not to hide from him. "I guess," he said slowly. "My body didn't like the way I was sitting."

Max jumped off the couch and asked him to get off. Rather quickly, she converted the couch back into a bed and motioned him to lie down on it. Logan arched a brow, "Max, what are you doing?"

She grinned devilishly, "Take off your shirt."

"Excuse me?"

"Relax, Logan. It's my turn to return the massage favor." Her voice was very matter-of-fact. Slowly, Logan did as she had asked, removing his glasses and placing them on an end table. He draped his shirt over the arm of the couch and lay down on his stomach. Turning his head to one side, Logan felt Max kneel next to him as she placed slender hands on his shoulders. "Take deep breaths, Logan," she instructed. She remembered reading in one of Kendra's magazines that guys tended to get excited, and not relaxed, by massages. Deep breathing supposedly calmed them to the female touch. Slowly, Max worked the tired flesh of Logan's shoulders and neck. She used her thumbs and fingers to work out the tension before slowly working her way down his back. She noted the musculature, and tautness and firmness of his back muscles, and knew all those months in a wheel chair had greatly improved his upper body strength. Finally, Max's hands found their way to his lower back, where most of his pain was. It was also where his initial injury had been.

A soft groan passed his lips as Logan felt Max's hands touch the point on his spine where he had been injured. Suddenly, he felt her stop and he turned his head to look at her.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "Did I hurt you?"

"No," he said, smiling gently. "You just found where most of my pain is back in the real world, and when you touched it, it didn't hurt as much."

Max's eyes sparkled. "Well, then, screw the blood transfusions. Maybe I should do this for you when we get back."

"Maybe," Logan replied, before turning his head again and letting her finish the massage.

"Logan," Max said in a small voice as she neared the end of the back rub.

"Yes Max?" he replied, remaining on his stomach, even though he felt her come to the end of the massage. Despite the fact they were no longer ministering to him, her hands remained on the small of his back, and he felt the warmth of her skin against his.

"I don't want to go back," she said quietly.

Immediately, Logan sat up and knelt beside her. He touched her face and looked into her eyes, "I don't either Max, but-"

"I know," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "We have to. You have widows and stray dogs to save. And I've got packages to deliver and army bastards to keep off my tail."

"Blah blah woof woof," he said wryly, hoping it would make her laugh. He felt her chuckle bitterly and sighed. "Max," Logan said, tipping her chin with his forefinger. "Things don't have to change when we go back."

Sighing, Max sat back away from him, pulling her knees to her chest, "Yes they do, Logan. I may have to run at any time, and you can't come with me because you have a country to try to save. We don't know how close Lydecker is to finding me, and I can't risk endangering your life, or anyone else's. It's pretty dangerous knowing me, Logan." Her voice was filled with sadness.

Logan crawled closer to her and put his arm around her, "Max, even though I am going to have to go back to a world that's imperfect and hurtful where I'm in a wheelchair, I would go without reservation as long as I knew you were going to be there, safe. It's my choice to know you, to be friends with you. I don't want you to feel like you're a burden." He thought for a moment. "If anything, Max, *I* am the burden in this relationship."

"Stop!" she said, tears filling her eyes. "Don't ever say that. Not ever!"

Logan sighed and took her hand. "Okay Max, I'm sorry. I won't say it again." He stopped. "Looks like the real world's starting to intrude on us again huh?"

Max nodded. "Logan, when we get back, promise me you're gonna be okay. If I have to run, promise me you'll be okay." *Promise me you'll come with me* her mind yearned to add, but she would not let it.

He smiled for her sake, "I promise Max. But what's all this about having to run? Did something happen that you haven't told me about?"

Max hung her head slightly, "No Logan. Just that thing with Jace a few weeks ago. But Lydecker's not going to stop. Something big is coming Logan, I can feel it." The fear in her voice was apparent and so thick it frightened him.

"Whatever it is," he said. "I'll be there for you. I'll help you anyway I can." His promise was sincere, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. Their faces were mere inches apart and Max yearned to move the few extra centimeters and kiss him. Even if they were dreaming, it would still be a kiss. A kiss with Logan.

But then a knock was heard on the door. Max and Logan sighed in unison and reluctantly broke apart. The real world was coming to get them. Together, they got off the bed and made it back into a normal couch. Within thought, they extinguished the fire, made all the clothes and backpacks, and thought up dream things disappear. Looking at each other, they were back in the clothes they had worn to Cape Haven. Only, Logan was still standing. He looked down at his legs and knew that his time with them was ending. Max offered him a supportive smile and held out her hand. Gratefully, he took it and they walked, hand in hand, toward the door. Mustering up all their resolve, Logan reached out with his other hand, and pulled it open...


..."Mr. Cale!"

"Mr. Cale!"

"Miss?"

"Mr. Cale, we're here." The voice of the truck driver woke Max and Logan from their slumber. Looking around, they realized they were back in Seattle. It was nearly dawn, and the tow truck driver was looking expectantly at them. Shaking the kinks out of their neck, Max and Logan sat up. Logan handed the driver his credit card while Max jumped out of the truck, finding her feet still a bit unsteady, and went to the back of the truck to get Logan's wheelchair. It hurt her to get it for him, not because she was physically in pain, but because of what they had just experienced. She waited for Logan to make arrangements for his shot up Aztec with the tow truck driver. Then she helped him out of the cab and into the chair. Silently, they headed for the entrance to his building. At the door, they stopped.

Max looked down at Logan, "I should probably be getting home. Cindy probably wants to know all about my vacation."

"Why don't you come up," Logan said quietly. "You've still got another day left in your vacation from Jam Pony."

Sadly, Max shook her head, "Nah, you need your rest. So do I, actually. I'm still not feeling a hundred percent."

"You going to be okay getting home?" he asked with concern. "Wait a few hours and I can have Bling take you."

"Logan," Max said. "I'll be fine, I promise."

He sighed, "Okay Max. See you later then?"

She nodded, "See you later."

They began to move away from each other, Max walking up the street toward where she had stashed her bike, Logan wheeling toward the handicapped ramp that would get him into Foggle Towers. Max turned on her heel and watched him. "Hey Logan!" she called.

He turned around and looked at her expectantly.

"Thanks for a great vacation. I had a lot of fun." The meaning behind her words was obvious.

"So did I," he replied with a small, mischievous smile.

Max rolled her eyes, "Good night Logan." She turned a corner and moments later went roaring past him on her bike. She waved fleetingly before disappearing around another corner. He listened until he could not longer hear the motorcycle.

"Good morning Max," Logan said quietly, watching as a new day dawned on Seattle.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Well, will that tide you all over until we get a new episode next week? Woo-hoo! I'm on vacation as of now, so expect more frequently updated stories. We're talking another "Sight Unseen" chapter for the upcoming DA episode "Diamond's Back", or whatever they ended up calling it. We're also talking another chapter to "The Air That I Breathe", cuz I know ya'll want to know what the hell Lydecker was doing there. I'm also debating whether or not to write some other TV fics that are non DA...hey, sorry guys, but I didn't start as a DA writer....it's just become by latest Muse. May the Muse never be cancelled, only, at worst, put into summer reruns.