Disclaimer: Same as always

A/N: I'm sticking with the PG rating on this one. I may put up a more adult oriented chapter separately later but for now I'll leave the details to the readers imagination.

For long moments they danced together, keeping perfect time to the music that both heard so clearly playing in their heads. Finally, they slowed and stood gently swaying together as Logan's arms tightened around Max and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I dreamed of dancing with you, you know." Logan murmured to her huskily.

"Me too."

"Not the dream in the hospital," he clarified, noting her intake of breath as she processed his words.

"You had the dream in the hospital?" Max lifted her head at that and looked at him.

"Yeah." he confirmed looking deep into her eyes. "But I dreamed it again. While you were gone and since you've been back. Holding you like this and dancing with you."

"I dreamed of you while I was at Manticore. You were what kept me going, kept me Me. Renfro knew that, I think that's one of the reasons she hated you so much. Because of you I would never be completely hers like Brin."

"Max." Logan felt an overwhelming wave of tenderness at her words, at the thought that he had been her anchor during those long months away and his arms tightened even more. As she looked up at him he lowered his head and their lips met. This kiss quickly progressed beyond their earlier ones. Finally they ended the kiss and Logan stepped back, releasing her. He held his hand out to her, a question in his eyes. Max smiled at him and placing her hand in his let him lead her to his bedroom.

************

Alec sat at the bar in Crash checking out the available females. The redhead at the end of the bar looked promising as he made eye contact with her. She smiled back and he was about to walk down to join her when his cell phone began to ring. Pulling it out he looked at the incoming number but didn't recognize it so quickly answered.

"Alec here. This better be good."

"Alec?" it was a faintly familiar female voice. "It's Asha. I need your help." Alec rolled his eyes noting that the redhead had now been approached and was in conversation with someone else.

"Why don't you call Logan?"

"I tried. He isn't answering." There were sounds in the background.

"Where are you?"

"Sector 4" Alec groaned to himself.

"Let me guess you went back after your steelhead contact and got yourself caught."

"Well not exactly caught but I need some help getting out of here."

"And you want me to save your ass again?" Alec was already outside climbing on to his bike. There was a brief hesitation and a sigh on the other end followed by more noises.

"Yeah. How fast can you get here?" Asha's voice was softer than before.

"On my way. But babe this is going to cost you. You just made me blow a sweet hookup with a hot redhead." the noises in the background were getting louder.

"Just get here." Asha hissed into the phone.

"Tell me where here is. Contrary to popular belief mind reading isn't one of the skills they gave us." Asha complied in a low voice as Alec raced towards sector 4. Reaching the checkpoint, which was mercifully clear of traffic, he pulled out his sector pass and flashed it at the guard.

"Jam Pony Messenger" The guard glanced at it and with a bored wave he was through and heading to the market area.

"Alec?" There were voices in the background of Asha's phone and then it went dead. Alec sent the bike careening around the corner to the marketplace and up ahead saw two male figures who appeared to be dragging a third between them. He hit the gas and roared up to them. Hearing the bike the two dropped the arms of the third and turned to face him reaching into their pockets as they did so. Alec pulled the bike in a hard turn reaching out with his leg as he did so and sweeping the men's legs from under them. The back tire caught the support pole of one of the rickety stands and sent it flying along with the canvas roof and sides, tangling the two in it as it collapsed.

Alec was still on his bike and he reached down for the person on the ground, pulling her up in front of him, draped across the bike. Confirming that it was indeed Asha he quickly righted the bike and hightailed it away before the two thugs could free themselves from the remnants of the stand. He headed away from the market and it was not until they were several blocks away that he stopped the bike and pulled Asha upright. She was unconscious and his attempts to rouse her were useless. Swearing he thought about what to do with her. He wasn't about to bring her back to his place; he didn't trust her enough for that, not with her knowing what he was. He could take her to her place but he wasn't about to baby-sit her for the rest of the night. An idea occurred to him and he grinned wickedly. Securing Asha in front of him he restarted the bike and headed off.

Shortly thereafter he was again swearing in frustration at Max's empty apartment. This was killing his night and Asha was still unconscious. He briefly debated leaving her there for Max to find and take care of whenever she got home but the new conscience he seemed to be developing stopped him. Sighing he decided that there was one last place to try.

The ride to Foggle Towers was mercifully short and in no time Alec had his bike parked in the garage and was heading up the elevator. There were no other passengers to question the sight of him, an unconscious Asha draped across his arms and soon enough they reached Logan's floor. Alec grinned to himself at the thought of Logan's face when he dumped Asha here but hey, the guy was probably just fooling around with his computer or something. And she had gotten herself into this doing her little reconnaissance for him. There was no answer to the bell so grumbling, he lowered her to the floor and made short work of Logan's lock.

When he entered the apartment it was dark lit only by the blue glow of the computer monitors that were always running. Shit. Now what was he supposed to do with her? Alec picked her up and carried her over to the couch and deposited her there. She murmured and her eyes fluttered briefly open.

"Asha. Wake up" He lightly slapped her face and she turned away still muttering. Alec shrugged and headed out to the kitchen to get a cold cloth for her head. As he moved through the hallway he sensed a figure moving towards him from the darkened bedroom. Next thing he knew he was flat on his back with Max's hands on his throat.

"Alec?! What the hell are you doing creeping around Logan's apartment?" Alec took in her attire, which appeared to consist of a man's oversize t-shirt and nothing else as far as he could tell.

"I'd ask you the same but judging from your clothes I'd guess the good doctor's cure worked."

"Max? Who is it?" Logan emerged from the bedroom in his wheelchair wearing a pair of low slung sweatpants and nothing else. Alec grinned and raised his eyebrows.

"Oh yeah it worked."

"Shutup." Max snapped and turned to Logan. "It's Alec." The disgust in Max's voice was clear, "breaking in here for some warped reason."

"Max? Now that you know it's me would you mind letting me up off the floor?" Alec requested mildly. Max glared at him as she rose, going over to stand next to Logan who reached up for her hand.

"I should use you to wipe the floor. What the hell do you want?" Alec opened his mouth to explain but was cut off by,

"Alec? What happened? Where are we?" Asha's voice calling from the other room.

Max glared at Alec who simply grinned back with raised eyebrows.

"Didn't know where else to take her after she got herself into trouble doing her little errand for Logan." Logan sighed as he headed for the living room followed by Max, who hissed at Alec,

"Why didn't you take her to her place? What, you like to ruin my life?"

"Max, I was just following your sterling example. She was unconscious - I was supposed to dump her and leave her all alone? What if she had a concussion or something?" Alec's tone was pure innocence but his eyes were laughing.

"You could have stayed with her." Max flung back. By now Logan was next to Asha who was conscious but disoriented. He had quickly run his fingers over her head searching for bumps but found nothing.

"Looks like they gave her something to knock her out. Her pupils are dilated but I don't see any signs of head trauma." Logan told them. Asha turned her head from Logan and focused in on the others. When her gaze fell on Max, standing there in Logan's t-shirt she inhaled sharply and looked back at Logan noting his state of undress as well. She closed her eyes and looked away.

Alec was surprised at the feeling of pity he felt for her in that moment. He guessed it couldn't be too easy seeing firsthand that the guy she wanted was most definitely taken. Before he could stop himself he said,

"Look I brought her here. I'll take care of her until I can get her home. You guys might as well go back to …well to whatever you were doing." Max glared at him again but Logan pulled her away before she could respond. She reminded him of a cat about ready to spit and attack and he chuckled to himself at the thought of putting some of that energy to better uses than arguing with Alec.

"We'll take you up on that offer, Alec. You know where things are in the kitchen and extra bathroom. Come on Max." Logan's finger was circling suggestively on her palm and when she looked down at him his eyes were dark with promise. Max melted and with one last dagger look at Alec promising retribution and more she left the room with Logan.