Chapter 4


Sky's eyes opened wide as the door slid open. Get a hold of yourself she thought as she
stepped out and slowly scanned the apartment for any sign of life. She stopped short as
she passed by one of many screens. There he was...plucking away at his computer.
Things hadn't changed much. Logan still chased after his causes. She watched him for a
moment; a smile crossed her face.

Logan sighed. He had been sitting at his computer all night trying to scrounge up more
information about Max's attackers. His contact had proved helpful, but, he sighed…how
could Max fight someone who feels no pain? Logan recalled Max's last encounter with
the three men. They had beaten her badly. He remembered the look on Max's face after
he had finally driven a safe distance from the courthouse. He had been so intent on
getting her away from the Reds that he hadn't had a chance to turn his gaze from the
windshield when Max first jumped in the van. Everything had been a rush of motion. He
had shot them; it was all he knew to do. When he finally turned around, he looked over
Max. Her lip was cut; her eye bruised...who knew what else was damaged. "Are you ok?"
He had asked softly. Idiot..of course she's not ok Max had looked at him, and shrugged
in that "no-big-dealio" way of hers, then climbed over the seat and sat next to him. Logan
could tell by the tender way she had moved that indeed, she was not okay.

That had always annoyed him. Why couldn't she just admit that she was shaken up, that
she needed someone to hold her, to take of her? Why couldn't she admit she needed him?
And then his well-guarded truth was out. He cared about her; he hadn't wanted to...it just
happened, without his permission, and considering his current luck with women, he
wasn't sure whether this newfound attraction was a good thing. Every time he thought
about what it would be like, to step over the boundary of partners, over the boundary of
friendship, he stopped and pulled back his unleashed hopes. Zach's words echoed
through his mind. What would he do if Max got hurt because of him? He didn't want to
be the object of her rescue missions. He sighed. Why was everything so complicated?

Tired of thinking and getting nowhere Logan turned his chair around. His thoughts were
on that leftover pasta in the fridge. Suddenly he halted. Could it be...was it..he adjusted
his glasses.

Sky tried to muster a smile, but something caught her eye. The chair. She hadn't
known.He hadn't told her. "Logan...what happened?" Her voice was milked with
concern and perhaps even a hint of hurt.

Logan broke from his trance. Sky. He hadn't seen her in years. She was still as beautiful
as ever. He had always understood his brother's attraction to her. His recollection was
broken by Sky's words. Her voice was smooth and rich, the true sign of an incredible
talent. He looked down clumsily. "I...uh...well.." he let his lips curve
upward, revealing his charming smile. "I got shot a few months ago...it's a long story."
Sky nodded. There he goes...covering up, as though she couldn't handle it. Then again
maybe he was afraid she would ask to be apart of his operation. Again. Last time she had
inquired, he said he needed to work in solitude. Ya right she thought. Sometimes Sky
wondered if he thought her to be weak, a liability. He had always treated her in an
overprotective manner. It made her feel like a child. Still, she would let it go for now, no
need to rehash old arguments.