Disclaimer: They all belong to messr's Cameroan and Eglee but it's fun to borrow them to play with them.
A/N: There will be more action soon – just had to get some of this out of the way to set the stage so to speak.
Next morning found Logan hard at work on his computer system. He felt energized and more ready to tackle Eyes Only work than he had in months. While he had been immersed in Manticore and then the hunt for the virus cure, Eyes Only had taken a back seat. But now that Manticore was gone and Sebastian was running with the virus work, it was time for Eyes Only to get back to business. The informant net had been busy and so far Logan was only about half way through reading the tips that had come in in the last month. As he read he either deleted them as useless or outdated, sent them to a file marked "Investigation Needed" or starred them and filed them as "Immediate Attention" The latter was always the smallest group but the one he put the most emphasis on. So far he had about 10 items in that group and he would go back when he finished the first review and pick out the one that would be the next Eyes Only project.
As he worked his email icon began flashing and he stopped to check to see what it was. Seeing that it was from Sebastian he opened it up and eagerly read the contents.
"My Tec's have reviewed the notes you sent and say they see where this guy was headed. Need the blood sample from Max ASAP so they can work on the reengineering. They tell me they should have an answer within a week."
Logan felt himself breaking out into a grin and couldn't help exclaiming "Yes!" as he read. Deciding now was as good a time as any for a break he pulled out his cell phone intending to call Max and to ask her to get the sample over to Sebastian that day. He had just finished leaving her a page when his door opened and he turned his chair and wheeled out to his entrance hallway.
"Max…" he began only to stop short at the sight of Asha closing the door behind her. She paused and gave him a smile.
"Hey Logan."
"Oh. Hey Asha." He wished he had never given her the key to his place. At the time, before Max's return, with Bling gone, it had seemed a good idea for someone else to be able to get in here if needed. Now he was uncomfortable that she walked in whenever she wanted but he felt awkward asking for the key back. Asha had made herself at home, seemingly unaware of his hesitation. Logan knew Max was unhappy about Asha having free run of his place and the last thing he wanted was to have her get his page and walk in while Asha was here.
"Do you have any Eyes Only assignments for S1W? It's been kind of quiet lately so I thought I'd stop by to see if he gave you anything for us." As she spoke she had wandered over to his computer and was looking curiously at the screen. Logan remembered he had left the email from Sebastian open and quickly headed that way.
Too late Asha had obviously read it because she straightened up and looked at him. "So it looks like you and Max may have your cure soon." Her words were flat and Logan couldn't detect what she was thinking. Before Max had returned he had paid little attention to Asha other than as a comrade in arms but Max had made it pretty clear that she thought Asha had a personal interest in him.
"Yeah." was all he could come up with. She hesitated then walked over to his chair and knelt down on the floor next to him.
"Logan, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure" he had a feeling this was going somewhere he really did not want to go but didn't know how to get out of it. Now he was praying Max would show up.
"What do I do wrong? I mean what is there about this…girl…that you find more attractive to you than me? She isn't even really human." At her words Logan felt a cold anger rise up inside of him and it was reflected in the tone of his voice as he answered.
"Max is more human than a lot of people I know. She's a caring, loving person who happens to have some transgenic DNA thrown into her mix. There are more than a few people I can think of who have 100% human DNA that I wouldn't even consider fit to clean her shoes. I can't believe you said that Asha, I thought better of you than that."
Asha paused, chastised then continued " I'm sorry, Logan. It's just that for years I've hoped you'd notice me. First there was Valerie. After her you wouldn't let anyone close but I thought if I waited you'd finally see me. But then you met her. And now you can't see anyone else but her. Why haven't you ever been able to see me?" Tears were running down her face and the last was a forlorn cry. Logan felt a wave of sympathy and guilt as he looked at her.
"Asha, I'm sorry. I don't know what it is with Max and me, I've never known. It's just something that's been there from the day I met her. We have a connection and no matter what happens I don't think that will ever be broken. You need to find someone else, someone who can give you what you need. Even if this virus is never cured I could never give you what you want from me."
Awkwardly he reached out and placed a hand on her bent head, not knowing what else to do. At that moment he heard a throat clearing and looked up to see Alec standing there watching the two of them. Relieved that it wasn't Max he sent Alec a look begging him to help. Asha had turned her head and was surreptitiously wiping her face as she rose.
"Asha why don't you get a drink while I pull out the Eyes Only stuff for S1W? Hey, Alec what can I help you with?" Logan was floundering and sighed in relief as Asha headed out to his kitchen. Alec just stood there with his eyebrow cocked regarding Logan with a smile.
"Don't think Max would have appreciated that little scene too much."
"That's an understatement. For once I can say I'm actually glad to see you." Logan wheeled over to his desk and pulled out a file he had printed out for investigation. Flipping through it he decided he might as well let S1W do some recon for him on it. Alec followed him and stood looking over his shoulder as he went through the file.
Asha returned and Logan handed her the file. "Eyes Only wanted you to do some preliminary recon on this guy. He's a major supplier of Androstemine but we need to find out more about his organization before Eyes Only can move on it. Asha nodded and made a point of staring at the file, ignoring Alec. Alec was having none of that though and moved to look over her shoulder. Asha finally looked at him,
"Do you mind? This isn't really any of your business." Alec just smiled at her undeterred by her tone or by the dismissal he had received from her the night before at Crash.
"Thought you might need some help with this. A little extra protection. These guys play rough."
"And how would you know that?" Asha wasn't giving an inch.
"One of the guys at the messenger service got beat up by them for being in the wrong place at the wrong time." Alec deliberately left out that he had had a certain delivery with him. Logan quietly left the room relieved that Alec was distracting Asha and wondering when Max would show up. His question was answered a moment later as she breezed through the open door.
"Hey." She smiled at him as she tossed down her pack.
"Hey yourself." Logan returned, their familiar greeting ritual.
"Why'd you page?" In answer Logan handed her Sebastian's email and watched as she read it. Finished she looked up at him and their eyes met in hope and excitement.
"Wow. I'll head right over, soon as I leave here.'K?" Max said. Logan just smiled back at her. Neither was aware of the interested audience watching from Logan's computer room. Asha turned away as she saw the by-play and Alec regarded her for a moment before breaking in,
"Any chance of you having some food around her?" Max started and turned realizing for the first time that she and Logan were not alone.
"Why are you here? I seem to remember your schedule had you over in Sector 2 this morning?"
"Finished my runs, thought I'd stop in to see Logan. What, does he have to get approval from you for his visitors?"
"Oh give it up Alec and get a life."
"I have a life sweetheart. And it isn't subject to approval from you." Max made a disgusted face and turned away from Alec, heading for the kitchen.
"Since we're all here we might as well have some lunch." Logan interposed, inwardly groaning at the thought of sharing a meal with Alec and Max glaring at each other and Asha sulking. His hope that Alec and Asha would leave was dashed when they both proceeded to make themselves at home in his kitchen. Suddenly Logan was struck by inspiration. Looking at the clock he exclaimed.
"Damn, I forgot I'm supposed to be at Sebastian's in 20 minutes. Max you might as well come too – do you have time?" Max stared at him for a second then caught on.
"We need to leave now or Normal'll have my ass."
"Just let me put on the exo and we can go." Logan headed to his bedroom while Alec just raised an eyebrow and continued making his sandwich. Asha started to open her mouth but he forestalled her by picking up a grape and popping it in so she had no choice but to chew it or choke. Max chuckled and headed to the elevator where Logan joined her in minutes.
"Hey Asha, lock up when you and Alec leave, ok?" he called out and as the elevator doors opened he and Max jumped in. Max collapsed back against the wall laughing as the doors closed and Logan smiled at her mirth.
"Smooth move Logan but I think Asha wants to kill you about now."
"Alec will handle her. I'm not worried. After all I have two genetically engineered killing machines on my side." Max grinned at him and just shook her head as the elevator headed down. Logan looked to see if she was wearing her gloves and seeing that she was he reached over and took her hand. Max looked up at him and as the elevator descended the two stood there, holding hands, content for the moment.
