Title: The Professional

Disclaimer: I own pretty much nothing. Dark Angel and its characters fit into the 'Nothing' category.

Setting: A totally AU version to Max, Alec and Ben. Pollo Loco

Summary: AU. You've got problems when the girl you love thinks you're her brother.

Chapter 3: "Ben...ain't that the cutest name?"

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Max sauntered into Jam Pony, half an hour late. As expected, Normal swooped down on her like an enraged hen.

"Late again, Missy Miss. You know those contraptions that were invented to tell the time? They're called clocks! Learn to use 'em! Bip bip bip!"

Max blatantly ignored his clucking and strolled towards her locker, where OC stood smiling as though she had a delicious secret.

"Hey, Boo. Did you see our hot new co-worker?"

Max looked around but saw nobody out of the ordinary.

"Where?"

OC sighed in exaggerated exasperation.

"Well, if you'd make a little more effort to get to work on time, you would've seen him. He must've already left. And, girl, you would've loved the sight."

She whistled in appreciation.

"I may bat for the other team, but he's almost enough to make me switch sides!"

Max was amused at her friend's confession.

"No kidding! So where is this mysterious hunk that has you so wound up?"

"He's out learning the routes and I said 'almost', Suga. He might be the cutest thang to walk through that entrance, but Original Cindy ain't so far gone that she's gonna degrade herself into falling for a male."

"Right...wouldn't wanna stoop to my level."

OC shrugged.

"It's not like you've even got a boy, Boo. Sure, you've got Logan..."

"We're not like that."

"So you keep saying. So, why don't you check out the new hot boy? You never know..."

OC's voice trailed off, knowing that the rest didn't need to be said.

"We'll see. What's his name anyway?"

"Ben."

"Ben?" echoed Max. 'Could it be?'

"Ain't that the cutest name? It's so innocent and sweet. But judging by the wink he gave half the female population at this joint, I'm guessing he's not so innocent. Anyways, Original Cindy figured that the two of you might get along, so she took the liberty to invite him to Crash tonight."

OC had a really wicked grin on her face. It reminded Max of the Cheshire cat in the story 'Alice in Wonderland'. Max was, in all honesty, intrigued. There were very few men that Original Cindy would give a second glance to, and when they chilled out at Crash, it was usually very exclusive to the two of them and Sketchy unless someone had a date. Yet OC was impressed enough with this new guy's assets to invite him to hang with them.

"What's he look like?"

Original Cindy had obviously been plotting her answer to this inevitable question in advance.

"He's got sandy colored hair that begs you to play with it. He's got these incredible green eyes that are just burstin' with secrets and he's got a mouth that..."

"OC, STOP! You sound worse than Kendra. If he turns you on so much, maybe you should try him out."

"Sorry, Boo. I've made a vow to the sisterhood. I'm just trying to get you interested, that's all. My Boo needs a guy. I mean, when was the last time you had a real date?"

"OK, so I've been out of the love ring for a while. And you think that this Ben is the guy to rope me back in for another round?"

"I think we finally got a guy who can take you on. Apart from the fact that he's got a gorgeous face, he's got a build to match. I could make that out even with the t-shirt he had on. At the very least, you'd make a great-looking couple."

'At the very least, you'd get some.' she added mentally.

Max thought about the description OC had given her: Sandy hair. Green eyes. Ben. Her mind flashed to the boy who'd entertain her throughout her sleepless nights. He had such gentle green eyes.

'Co-incidence?' she wondered.

"Sorry, OC. You better hope he's not who I hope he is."

"Who's that?"

"My brother."

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From a nearby roof, he'd watched as she entered the premises like she owned the place. There was no question that she was the rogue whom he targeted. He could match each of her pretty features to the photo of the nine-year old. He'd had the odious task of searching the entire city of Seattle for a nineteen-year old brunette female with brown eyes. It had taken him months of careful sifting before arriving to the conclusion that the woman who'd breezed into Jam Pony a few seconds ago was his target. He was thankful that she'd, rather stupidly, retained her name of 'Max'. At the back of 494's mind, was a tiny bubble of grudging respect for X5-599 - Zack - who'd combed through America and found all the escapees single-handedly. No easy feat.

At the front of his mind, were thoughts about his social meeting with the rogue and her friends that night. The Cindy-person had obviously been hinting at a romantic involvement between 452 and himself, and had his orders been different, he might have had to use that route as a way of gaining her trust. As it was, he was instructed to play the part of her beloved 'brother'. That automatically threw romance out the window and into the street. Besides...after the disaster that was the Berrisford Agenda, 494 had little wish to romantically involve himself with a target ever again.

Ever again.

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I'm back...

After my last chapter, I had pretty much abandoned this story to concentrate on the "Discovering her Destiny" trilogy. But since it's holiday time here in sunny S.A. I have lots and lots of free time. It's not like I have a life or anything...

:)

So, I decided to attempt Ch3. Tell me what you think. Please!