Disclaimer: I'm putting the disclaimer here because I forgot to put it on the first chapter. Whoops! I don't own any Dark Angel characters or the show. This story is purely made up for my own enjoyment and if any of this comes true…well…the writer's are looking at this story and I would be extremely happy.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who replied. I don't think the reviews will really have an effect on me because I'll write it even if no one reviews it! But thanks to everyone who has reviewed it.
Walking on Eggshells
Part 2
Max stomped into her apartment and flopped down onto a chair in the living room.
Original Cindy's voice came drifting out her bedroom. "That you, Max?"
"Yeah." Max quickly got up and went to the doorway of Cindy's bedroom. "Want to go to Crash tonight? I feel like getting majorly shit-faced."
Cindy turned mid-Yoga position and stared at Max. "What's wrong, boo?" Max knew that there was no reason to explain that nothing was wrong because Cindy already had her assumptions. Cindy grinned and tilted her head. "What up with you and Roller boy?"
Max rolled her eyes and went back to the kitchen. God, even my friends are on my case. She grabbed a glass of water out of the refrigerator. "Are you going to come to Crash tonight or not?"
Cindy came out of her bedroom and sat on the counter. "Sure. What about Sketchy and Herbal?"
Max shrugged. "I dunno. I just feel like getting drunk. Let's go." She grabbed Cindy's hand and they left the apartment.
Two hours later, Cindy was sitting with her head in her hands and watching Max down another bottle of beer. "What's your dealio?"
Max looked at her through heavy eyelids. "Whaddaya mean?" She slurred her words heavily.
"I mean that you've had a total of three whole pitchers of beer…by yourself! Whatch you trying to erase from your mind?" Cindy took Max's now empty glass and gave her a stern look.
"I…am just fine!" Max looked over at the bar and spotted Sketchy and Herbal. "Guys! Hey!" She stood up and waved, but stumbled. They made their way over to their table and sat down next to the girls.
"Max, what is with you?" Sketchy asked with a concerned look, before laughing when Max stuck her tongue out. "She's drunk, isn't she?"
"Piss drunk." Cindy nodded. "I think I'd better take my home-girl home." She took Max's arm and lifted her out of her seat.
"Hey! I don't want to go home! I want…" Max trailed off and tripped over her chair.
"What? Where do you want to go?" Cindy helped her out the door. A smile played on her lips. "You want to go to Roller Boy's?"
Max pouted. "He's not Roller Boy anymore!" She wailed. Cindy sat her down on her bike, then kneeled down beside her. "He's up walking on his own two feet and now he doesn't need me anymore!" The stricken look on her face was replaced with surprise. "Uh, I don't feel so good…"
Cindy put her on the front of the bike and sat down behind her, starting the bike and they headed to Logan's.
There was a loud knocking on the door and Bling got up to get it. He pulled open the door and jumped backwards as Cindy burst into the apartment and plopped Max down on the couch. "What happened?" Bling came to the side of the couch and Cindy turned to face him.
"Is Roller Boy here or not? cause I gotta get home and catch some z's before reporting to Sergeant Screwball at work." Cindy began to walk to the door when Bling stopped her.
"Uh, no. He's not at home, but I guess I can wait with her until he gets back." He looked back at Max, who had passed out on the couch. "She's drunk, isn't she?"
Cindy gave him a look which told him that she was. "Thanks, boo. If I was into guys, you'd definitely be my type!"
"I'll take that as a compliment." Bling closed the door after her.
Logan returned to the apartment much later and walked into the living room. He felt his heart stop when he saw Max lying on his couch. Oh god. What happened? He knelt down beside her and felt for a pulse. Oh thank the Lord, she's not dead. He breathed a sigh of relief and stroked her forehead.
"She passed out on the couch when you were out taking a walk." Logan whipped around and saw Bling sitting in a chair opposite him and looking like he didn't get much sleep. "She seemed upset about something and she kept mumbling something about 'Roller Boy'. I'm guessing that's her little nickname for you." Bling got up and patted Logan on the shoulder. "I'm getting tired. I'll see you tomorrow." He walked out of the living room and out of the apartment.
Logan turned back to Max and saw her eyes were open. "Hey…"
"Hey."
"You okay?" She nodded weakly, but a look spread across her face and she shook her head. "Don't throw up on me!" He grinned and she frowned. He picked her up off the couch and took her into the bathroom.
Max woke up hours later feeling a bit better, but having a pounding headache. She opened her eyes and winced as the pounding in her head worsened. She noticed she was lying in Logan's bed and wondered where he was. Then she saw him sleeping in a chair beside the bed. She smiled, touched that he cared enough to stay by her side. 'Cause he obviously doesn't care enough to take our relationship to the next level. She stepped out of the bed and went into the washroom.
Logan woke up to the sound of the shower running. He turned to see the bed was empty and he decided to get up and make some breakfast. He turned and smiled when Max walked into the kitchen. "Feeling any better?"
"A bit. My head hurts like a bitch." She sat down at the table and looked up at him. "Thank you, though." She sipped the cup of coffee he put in front of her.
"It was no problem." He smiled.
God, I hate how he does that. He waves it off like it was nothing, and then gives me this smile that makes me melt. Max sighed, frustrated. "I have to go to work. Normal's going to kill me."
"After you saved his ass from those art thieves? I don't think so." Logan sat down next to her and gave her a half-smile.
Max got up from the table and went to the door. "I'll see you later." She said as he got up from the table to let her out. "Besides, it was you who saved him."
"And which one of us is the genetically enhanced killing machine?"
She smiled and walked out the door.
"Hey, Boo. How was your night at Logan's?" Cindy raised an eyebrow suggestively.
"Believe me, nothing happened." Max went to her locker and put on a pair of running shoes.
"But you wanted something to happen, didn't you? Girl, I can tell when two people have got the hots for each other and you and your man are burning up! You have got to do something about your sitch." Cindy nodded to herself as Max tilted her head, unbelieving.
"Max! Get a move on, there's a package here for 567 Hunts Street. Move it!" Normal's voice echoed from behind the desk.
"You're delusional, Cindy." Max jumped up and grabbed the package before heading out the door with her bike.
Logan sat in his computer room, researching Manticore. It seemed that they had other projects on tap other than the X5 group. He managed to gain access to most of the restricted documents that told of a project called "Zoomorph 8 Group". He was scanning through the material when he heard a knock on the door. "It's open, Bling."
A few minutes later, a hand came down on his shoulder and a voice hissed in his ear. "Where is she?"
Logan turned around and saw Zack looming over him. "What the hell? I thought you had gotten yourself out of Seattle?"
"I realized that Max was in danger and I knew I couldn't sit by and watch her get taken by Lydecker, so I came back to get her." Zack narrowed his eyes at Logan.
"Don't you think that's her decision? You can't just come here and take her away. One of her friends knows about her. If Lydecker found out she knew, she could be killed. Don't you think Max wants to prevent that from happening?"
Zack paced, getting more frustrated by the minute. "Where is she? I have to convince her that staying here isn't safe."
"That's her decision!" Logan stood up and faced Zack.
Zack pushed Logan accusingly. "You're just saying that to convince yourself that she's staying because of you! Face it, man. She's staying because she feels sorry for you. You were in a wheelchair. She'll see now that there's no reason for her to stay and come with me because we were meant to be together."
Logan passed him and opened the apartment door. "Get out."
"But I just got here." Max said as she walked into his apartment. She then saw Zack and stopped. "What are you doing here?"
"You have to get out of Seattle." Zack walked up to her and took her hand. She yanked it out of his grasp.
"Zack, I told you that I couldn't. There are too many people who need me here."
Zack pointed at Logan. "He doesn't need you any more. He can walk. He couldn't care for you like I do. Get out of Seattle and come with me!"
Max looked from Zack to Logan. Oh god, what do I do?
Heh heh, I thought I would leave you in suspense!