A/N This is just kind of a fun chapter – they all wanted a break from the usual tension of their lives and being the good author I am I'm giving it to them. As for Cindy she wanted a piece of the action so who am I to deny her?

"Are you sure you really want to do this, Max?" Logan stalled. The thought of hanging at Crash was not the most attractive one in the world to him at this moment.

"Logan, we're not going to solve anything tonight and I need to kick back and relax a little." Max's tone left little room for maneuvering.

"I wouldn't mind if you went without me," he tried anyway.

"No way. You're not getting out of this." Followed by his leather jacket landing in his lap. Logan sighed and rose to his feet pulling on the jacket as he did so. "I really should work on finding Deck. We need to know what he knows about White and about your DNA."

"Logan, the trail is already cold. A couple of hours aren't going to make that big of a difference." As Max spoke the elevator doors opened and they entered together. Giving in to the inevitable Logan reached over and pulled her to him, draping his arm around her shoulders. He was rewarded by a quick smile from Max as the elevator made its descent to the parking garage.

****

Crash was noisy and crowded. Max led the way down the steps, Logan following more cautiously due to the constraints of the exoskeleton. He expected Max to head for the table where he could see her friends from Jam Pony congregated but instead she went to the bar and sat on a stool. Neal, the bartender quickly came over to take her order and the guys already seated there turned to look her over.

"…whatever's on tap." Logan heard her telling Neal as he approached. Neal finished drawing Max's beer and handed it to her, then spotted Logan standing behind Max.

"Hey Logan. Where's Asha?" he greeted him already drawing him a beer. Logan was caught off guard by his question and it took him a minute to respond. Before he could answer Max reached back and grabbing his hands pulled them to rest around her waist. She leaned back against his chest, shooting Logan a look over her shoulder that promised all kinds of interesting things. Neal's eyes widened as Logan dropped a kiss on Max's head and pulled her back closer to him.

Logan for his part wasn't sure of what Max's game was but if she wanted to play he wasn't going to say no. He tightened his arms around her and teasingly let his fingers slide up beneath the sweater she wore, lightly tickling her stomach. Remembering Neal had asked him a question he tried to regain his focus and figure out what it had been.

"Oh…Asha…I have no idea where she is? Why would I?" he asked genuinely puzzled.

Neal was busily polishing a glass. "Oh no reason…I just thought you two were… I mean Asha kind of implied…" He broke off as a customer called for another round and hurried away from the two of them. Logan looked consideringly at Max who gave him a look of pure innocence in return. He was about to say something to her when they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Aiight Boo you too good for your peeps these days?" Logan turned his head to face Original Cindy who gave him a knowing look at the sight of his arms wrapped around Max.

"We were on our way over. Just had to take care of some business here." Max gave Cindy a look and Logan saw satisfaction cross her face as she nodded in return. Shrugging he let his hands drop as Max slid off the stool and handed him his glass of beer. He followed her to the table where her friends were gathered, admiring the gentle sway of her hips and her easy stride as she made her way through the crowd. He couldn't help a swelling of pure male pride at the looks she garnered along the way. The others could look all they wanted, he was the one she'd be going home with tonight, at least if he had any say in it. One thing was certain; if she wasn't with him she wouldn't be with anyone else. She might be off riding her baby to work off excess energy or climbing the Space Needle but in the end she'd return. He didn't know how he was so sure but in the last few days the inevitability of their being together had become a given to him.

The rest of the evening passed quickly. Pitchers of beer were ordered and quickly drunk, Games of foosball and pool were played and people came and went from the table. Unless one or the other was involved in a game of pool or foosball, Max and Logan were clearly together; chairs pulled close, his arm draped casually over her shoulders, her hand resting just as casually on his thigh. In the lull between games, when the others had wandered off and they were temporarily alone, Logan looked at Max. "So mission accomplished here tonight?" he asked her.

She smiled at him, "What are you talking about?" He chuckled and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face.

"C'mon Max. It was obvious you wanted to make it clear we were together. The question is why?" She just smiled refusing to respond. As he opened his mouth to tease her further the smile turned to a frown and she groaned. Logan looked up and saw Alec heading towards their table.

"Logan. Max." he greeted them. Max rolled her eyes and returned the greeting less than enthusiastically. Logan nodded as Alec pulled up a chair. Finding a clean glass he poured himself some beer and settled back to check out the action.

"Didn't think I'd see you two here tonight." He observed. "Whoa now there's a fine looking woman over there…" his gaze had drifted off to a shapely blonde several tables away. Catching her eye he smiled but she turned away in clear dismissal. Max had been watching and choked back a laugh, only to be rewarded by a dagger look from Alec.

"She doesn't swing your way Alec." Max explained. "Cindy used to date her. Looks are nice but personality of a limp dishrag according to my boo." Alec sipped his beer clearly disgruntled and ignored Max. Logan had had enough of Crash and was about to say so to Max when he felt her stiffen. He followed the line of her gaze and saw several men coming down the steps. Their table was set out of the way and out of their sight and the men scarcely glanced their way as they headed to the bar.

"Alec." Max hissed and when he looked at her jerked her head in the direction of the bar.

"White's goons." Alec confirmed.

"Think they're here looking for us?" Logan asked. Max and Alec studied the men then Max shook her head.

"They're not looking for anyone. Probably got the night off and decided to hit the town." Alec nodded in agreement. "I don't like them hanging here." Max stated.

"Max if you take them out you just call attention that you come here." Logan cautioned.

"Not if they don't know who it is." She replied. Alec nodded. "Alec are you in?"

Logan frowned but realized there wasn't much he could do to stop whatever Max was planning.

"Don't feel like finding another place to hang. I'm in, Maxie." Alec's words were lazy but Logan could see the anticipation building in him He recognized the taut readiness as something he had often seen in Max just before a mission. The two reminded him of sleek predators who had sighted their prey and were anticipating the kill.

Max nodded in satisfaction. "Logan, can you get the car and be waiting at the end of the alleyway? Alec and I are going to need to make a quick getaway."

"I'll be there." Logan's words were calm and sure and Max smiled at the under layers of meaning. Logan was always there for her, no matter what and she realized how she had come to depend on that fact. She looked around for Cindy and signaled her to come to the table as Logan left to get the car. As he made his way out of the bar the three were deep in conversation. Logan didn't envy the men at the bar – he had a feeling their evening was going to end not so pleasantly.

Shortly after the two men were interrupted by a seductive female voice.

"You are just two fine figures if I say so myself." Cindy's voice oozed sex. Neal looked at her strangely but kept his mouth shut. He didn't like the looks of those two and if OC and her friends had something planned to get rid of them he wasn't about to jam them up.

"What's it to you sweetheart?" One of the two asked looking her over appraisingly.

"My friend and I are in need of a couple of fine specimens such as yourselves to complete our evening." Cindy sidled closer letting him get a glimpse of her décolletage. The two exchanged glances.

"Where's your friend?" Cindy pointed to where Max could be seen heading out the door, hips swaying suggestively, dark hair flowing down her back.

"She's shy – doesn't like the pickup scene so she's waiting outside. You two interested or should I look around for some other studs?"

"Babe, you ain't gonna find no other studs who can compare to us." The taller of the two slid an arm around Cindy's waist and she played along with him running a hand down his arm.

"Let's go then boo, my friend might get tired of waiting." Allowing him to keep his arm around her Cindy pulled him along with her to the club exit. The second man threw some currency down on the bar and followed eagerly leaving Neal to stand shaking his head. In moments they were in the back alley behind Crash.

"Where's your friend?" demanded the second.

"Waiting over there." Cindy pointed and headed towards the alley entrance. The two followed as she laughed to herself over their stupidity. As they reached the darkest point of the alley two figures dropped down behind the men and they could feel what felt like the muzzles of guns pressed into their backs.

"What the hell?"

"Shut up. What did I tell you bitch about going out on your own?" the voice growled at Cindy who cowered back.

"I waan't… I mean I was just showing them the way out…"

"Shut up bitch. I ought to kill you two now. Everyone knows this one and her partner are part of my stable. You want time with them you come to me. What are you stupid?"

"Look we're new in town. We didn't know." The taller one protested.

"So now you do. I'm gonna do you a favor this time – I'll let you live. But if you show your faces here again you're dead men. You got that?" The two nodded hastily. "You get back inside and wait for me." This last to Cindy who nodded and quickly left.

At that Alec and Max made short work of the two men, leaving them unconscious in the alley and running to Logan's waiting car. They piled in and collapsed laughing as he drove away.

"That was too easy." Max proclaimed. Logan looked at her having already figured out the basic outline of their plan.

"What's to stop them from coming back? They don't seem like the type to be fazed by a few threats. "

"I don't think they're going to show their faces again at Crash." Max was laughing too hard to continue so Alec picked up.

"We left them strung up naked outside the doorway – they won't be in any hurry to come back once they come to and the whole bar is standing laughing at them. Cindy's going to make sure of that." Logan laughed at the thought and the three drove on in an almost companionable silence.

"Where can I drop you? " he asked Alec. Alec hesitated then looked at Max.

"I thought I'd stop in and see a friend." He stopped. "You know what, just drop me off here. I'll walk the rest of the way." Logan glanced in the rear view mirror.

"I can take you there if you want." Alec shook his head. Shrugging Logan pulled over and Alec climbed out.

"It's been fun."

Max smiled at him more in charity with him than she had been before. "Yeah Alec it was ok. See you around." He waved and then turned and headed down the street as they drove off. Alone in the car Max looked at Logan. "Who do you think he was going to see?"

Logan hesitated then answered. "Asha lives about 2 blocks from here."

Max stared at him. "Alec… and Asha? No way." Logan shrugged.

"Maybe, maybe not. Coming back to my place for a while?" His words were casual but Max caught the husky undertones. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You bet." She answered simply and there was silence in the car as they headed across the dark city.