Max arrived at Jam Pony in time to hear Normal's "Where the fire truck is..."

"Max." She poked her head around the corner. "You rang?"

"Let's learn a new word today...it's punc-tu-al-i-ty...as in get to work on time." He tossed a package at her. "152 Elm."

"Whatever," Max said, as she put the package under her arm and headed to her locker. There was no way she was rushing for him today. Original Cindy was at her locker waiting for.

"Aiight boo, what's the dealio with stealin' a sista's music and not tellin' her nothin' about it?"

(The CD...I forgot...) "Sorry...must have spaced. I left it at Logan's last night."

"Well, you had betta get it back. That's music at it's finest." She thought for a minute and looked at Max, "Unless you and Mr. Wonder Wheels have been using it to go a few rounds...that I might overlook."

Max rolled her eyes and shut her locker. "No." She said firmly and then sighed. "It's not like that and I wish you would drop it."

"Come on boo, Original Cindy's seen the looks between the two of you...ya'll just need a little push..."

"No, I don't need a push! What's with everyone. I can think for myself, I'm a big girl. Now leave me alone!"

"Aiight, but you'd better be takin' a look in the mirror Sugah cuz you don't seem right. Original Cindy ain't talkin' bout no outside ugliness neither. You can yell at a sista all ya want but it ain't gonna change how it is."

Max leaned her head against her locker. She was tired and it probably showed but she knew it wasn't physical. (So had Original Cindy.) Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, if she believed in that, she was drained. (Some revved up female I am...feel like I've been revved into a wall...)

She didn't know why the morning's discussion had bothered her but it had. Listening to all of their stories, even the bad ones, made her feel so alone and notice all of the things that were missing in her life. The secret that she carried around with her was not some small secret but a deadly one. Talking about Manticore could mean not only her life or Logan's, but the life of every other X-5 as well. What scared her the most was how much she had wanted to tell Greg and Amaliya her story...to tell them everything. (Lydecker's voice rang in her head, "A good soldier trusts no one.") Hadn't she already broken that with Logan? Or had she? She trusted him with so much and yet there were still parts of her hidden that she never revealed to anyone.

There had been a moment, sitting in that kitchen, when she had actually felt like she was part of something. There were others who had suffered too. Maybe not the same way she had but it had affected their lives and the lives of their children. They just might accept her. Then again, they just might reject her too. She was a genetically enhanced freak. They didn't have feline DNA and have to worry about the side-effects that went along with it. Maybe it would be better if she just went away...

She heard the footsteps approaching from behind her but she didn't look up. There wasn't anyone that she wanted to talk to right now. Then, she felt the hand on her arm.

"Max?" The voice said. It was Allan. She had almost forgotten that he worked there. The few days since she had Met Cassi seemed like an eternity. "Max, are you okay?"

She turned and looked at him, too tired to try to hide behind her usually flippant attitude. "Yeah. I'm fine."

His brown eyes studied hers for a moment. "I don't have to have my wife's gift to see that you are not telling the truth."

"So?"

"So, I want to let you know that we are here for you."

Max looked at him, eyes opened wide, "What did Logan..."

Allan held his hand up. "No, Logan didn't tell us anything about you. You don't have to either. You could walk out that door and never see us again...forget we exist...but that won't make you feel any less alone."

Max looked at him suspiciously, "If no one has told you anything about me, how did you know to say that?" (Logan must have said something...)

Allan patted her arm. "I told you before that my daughter likes to bring home strays. Each one of them has been a homeless orphan, frightened, and looking like they've been through a battle, both mentally and physically. It may not have been noticeable to me but Cassi knew from the first day she met you that you fit that description. I'm just catching on."

He started to walk away and then remembered something. "I came over to tell you that Logan offered to watch Cassi tonight. The way you took off, we thought you might need a break. He said to tell you that you are welcome to come by."

Max bristled. So that was it. After two days, she had been replaced. Why should she be surprised? Who would want an unknown loose canon watching their child? (And they didn't even know what she was really like...)

"Good choice. Logan will make a much better babysitter." Even as she said it, she could feel the disappointment in her stomach. She was really getting attached to Cassi.

Allan turned just long enough to raise an eyebrow. "Oh, he's not a replacing you...just filling in until you feel up to it. I hope you will consider watching her again for us. Personally, I don't think Logan will make it through the night."

As she walked away, Max grinned. It probably would be quite a sight to see...