What a Broken Heart Can Bear

Chapter 4: Breaking Point

~ OK, again I apologize for this taking so long to get up but I had mind-terms so I had to get those outta the way first.  To all of you who I didn't get a chance to talk to yet about this story and where it's headed: Please rest assured that I'm not gonna go crazy and crush all your hopes and dreams for out couple here. I do have a plan and I hope that you give me the chance to write it for you.  All I ask is that you trust me. :o)
~ Alrighty, I'm still interested in your favorite DA oriented songs …so if you have one let me know.
~ Kat, what would I do without you? Thanks for all the help with this…if I didn't have you to bounce ideas off of I dunno what I'd do. My stories would be a jumbled mess. You're the best and I luv ya! Kimmy, you're awesome! And I finally read chapter 1! So let me say… You Rock! SO everyone go read anything and everything by katerpillar and iluvaqt cause they are both kick-ass writers. So, go read and review them! GO on go…. Teehee.

~Ummmm, ok….I think that's all for now, so here we go. OH yeah please remember to tell me what you think. Ok, now I'm done.
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        "They can't keep ignoring each other like this. Nothing will ever get solved. And you know as well as I do that if its up to them, neither one will do anything about it. I guess it's up to us." Adriann was lying upside down with her head hanging over the edge of her bed as she talked to Original Cindy on the phone the next evening. She couldn't help but laugh at the endless banter between her friend and Normal who was on her back about using the "company phone".

        "Listen little missy, if you don't get off of that phone this minute you aren't gonna have a job to complain about in the morning!" Normal bellowed, his voice carrying through to Adriann.

        "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Promises, promises." She muttered returning to her conversation. "Listen suga, Original Cindy's gotta bounce, but we'll hook up our two love birds up in the 'castle in the sky' tomorrow night at 8."

"Thanks Cindy." She replied flipping onto her stomach.
"No big dealio. Later."

Punching the off button on the phone Adriann sighed and rolled off her bed. "Well, now all we've got to do is get them in a room together and make them talk."

Adriann walked to the kitchen and went directly to the refrigerator in search of something appealing, but found nothing but the empty back of the appliance. 'I really have to get him cooking again. I can't deal with this.' Shutting the door to the refrigerator, she resorted to the last of her own personal stash, a pint of Hot Tin Roof Sunday ice cream. Grabbing a spoon from the drawer, Adriann turned back towards her room after taking a detour to check on Logan.        

Somehow, she had managed to talk him into doing some form of work, which ended up being a routine computer defrag. Even the great Eyes Only's computer had to be cleaned out every once and a while, and when is it better than when he's on a break?

'He hasn't moved an inch…he looks like hell too. But I guess that happens when you hardly sleep for a few days and only shower once…yeah I should make him shower.' Scooping out a large spoon full of the ice cream Adriann made the short trip back to her bedroom. 'It's not like Logan to avoid his work. He normally throws himself into it when he's hurting. I'm really worried. And Max is as distant as ever…retreating into soldier mode. This is such a mess.' Adriann shut the door behind her and flopped back down onto her bed. Shoving another heap of ice cream in her mouth Adriann grabbed the phone and punched Max's speed dial number. 'I'll make her feel guilty for not coming to see me and then Cindy can finish the job. We can just spring the whole thing on Logan. That way, he can't try to get out of it.'

"Yeah." Max answered, pulling Adriann from her thoughts.

"So, I'm sitting her alone in my room wondering why my FAVORITE sister never comes to visit me? Especially since I now live a mere 10 minutes away." Adriann told her feigning a hurt confusion.

"You've only been here for three days." Max laughed

"True, but neither one of us sleep all that much. I mean you can't even drop in to lift something of mine to fence. Max I am truly hurt." She joked, laying a hand over her heart.

"You know I only steal from bad guys now."

"Cause the have it comin'."

"Pretty much."

"Yeah, so when you gonna visit me? I'm starting to feel abandoned." She pushed.

"Dre…" Max trailed as she searched her mind for an excuse her sister wouldn't see through.

"Max…" she echoed.

"I can't." Max mumbled defeated.

"Look, this apartment is just as much mine as it is Logan's. Except he pays the rent and he owns all the good stuff in it, but that's not the point. I miss you Maxie. I want some quality girl time with you and I can't get that at Crash. And if Logan's presence really bothers you, we can stay in my room the whole time, or if you're feeling especially crazy we can lock him in his bedroom. Just please come see me." Adriann asked completely heartfelt.

"If it means that much…I guess I could maybe drop by sometime." Max said reluctantly.

"Thanks Maxie. You're the best."
        "If you say so. Later."

"Bye." Dropping the phone by her side, Adriann returned her attention to her ice cream with a smile. "At least it wasn't a no." 'Sure she made be mad at me for a while, but she'll get over it when she sees it's all for the best. Max and Logan really need to talk as painful as it may be. But they belong together; it doesn't take a genius to see that. I just wish that they weren't so blind to it. And I don't even know if I'm going about this the right way. That sixth sense sure would come in handy right about now. But no, that would make things too simple. As if I don't have enough going on, I can never be sure when the little 'psychic' switch will be flipped. That screws with a girls head. Adriann focus! This is about Max and Logan, not your Manticore made mind. Okay, all I've got to do is get two of the most stubborn people in the world to not be themselves.  How in the world am I gonna do that?'

*_*

A few hours later Adriann was about to jump out of her skin as she paced the length of her room. 'I've gotta go do something I can't stand being in here and having nothing to do. Logan's still in his 'office' do some mindless grunt work and listening to "Valse triste" by Sibelius on repeat. And I can only take so much of that. I can't sleep when I'm like this…and sitting still is out of the question. I've just got too much energy. It's my own fault. I haven't done anything remotely exerting in the past three days. Crash! I'll go to Crash and check up on some friends.' Adriann began to rifle through her bare walk in closet in search of something to wear. 'I am in desperate need of a shopping trip. This is pathetic. What sort of girl has a closet like this and doesn't even attempt to fill it? Not this one that's for sure.' 

Twenty minutes later, after berating herself for her pathetic excuse for a wardrobe, Adriann emerged from her room in a fitted black top with splatters of dark blue and silver metallic paint, a pair of fitted acid wash jeans and her leather jacket.

"Logan, I'm going out!" She called over his music as she grabbed her leather boots from the hall closet.

"Really?" He asked coming out of his office and turning down his stereo.

"Yeah. Why not?" She replied, sitting down on the arm of the chair and pulling on her left boot before looking up at Logan.

"No reason. Have fun." Logan said coolly, but when Adriann looked up at him, his eyes gave him away.

"I will. Thanks." Pulling on her right boot, Adriann bounced to her feet. "I shouldn't be too late, but don't wait up." She added with a smile and a suggestive rise of her eyebrows. "And no, Max won't be there."

"I wasn't…" Logan sputtered.

"Yes you were." She told him flatly. "But she is gonna stop by sometime soon." 'Maybe a little warning would be a good idea.'

"Adriann…" he warned, making sure she knew exactly how he felt about her little plan.

"Hey – She's coming to see me. You can't monopolize all her time, you know." Adriann said decisively. "But, I just might let you talk to her." She added as she gently poked him for emphasis.

"Gee, thanks." He moped.

"You've got to talk to her eventually. So why not get it over with as soon as possible." Adriann asked suddenly serious.

"I know." Logan sighed. "And I will, eventually." He admitted sighing once more. " But enough about me, that's all we've talked about for the past 72 hours." He said dismissively. "Go have fun."

"Okay." Adriann said watching Logan carefully. "I want no pity parties while I'm gone." She ordered giving him a quick hug.

"Alright." He chuckled.
         "Later!" she called walking into the small hallway on her way to the door. "Sure you don't wanna come?" She asked sticking her head around the corner.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Logan laughed.

*_*

        Adriann casually walked into Crash; one of the most popular hangouts in the sector. After quickly scanning the crowd for any familiar - or unwelcome faces for that matter – she sat down at the bar.

        "Hey, haven't seen you here in a while." The bar tender said with a genuine smile.

        "Hey Mike." She replied happily.

        "It's Adriann right?" he asked, unsure of how reliable his memory was.

        "Yep." She laughed. "How've you been?"

        "I'm survivin'." Mike shrugged. "But where did you disappear to?" he asked leaning forward onto the bar.

        "I moved actually. But I might be staying in the area for a while now."

        "Well, either way it's good to see you back." He said sincerely. "What can I get ya?"  Mike asked returning to his bartender mode.

        "Just a Coke would be great." Mike nodded and went to get her order. 'I wonder if anything interesting is going at the pool table, cause I'm not feelin' this DJ. Maybe there's some poor sap I talk into playing me. I could earn some money for my shopping spree.'

Thanking Mike again, Adriann took her glass and began to weave through the sea of people. When she was nearly there she saw the back of a familiar dark blonde playing a game of pool against himself. 'Ben? It can't be.' Pushing her way through the crowd Adriann's heart was racing. As the man rounded the corner of the table Adriann broke through the last of the people and saw the face she never thought she'd see again.

        "Ben." She gasped. Silently she moved behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. Quickly the young man spun around ready to defend himself.

        "Ben?" Adriann asked with tears in her eyes, and threw her arms around him not waiting for an answer.

        "Uhh…hey…whoa. Easy there girlie." He said gently prying her off of him. "I hate to tell you this, I really do," he paused taking a long look at the beauty before him with a smirk, "but the names not Ben. But that can be changed."

        "But, you…I'm sorry." Adriann shook her head slightly as she took a step back. "You'd think that after my brother's been dead for a year I'd know that I wouldn't find him playing pool." She scoffed sadly.

        "Hey, you're not the first to make that mistake. I'm Alec." He said holding out his hand.

        "Alec?" Adriann asked ignoring his gesture. "As in the Alec who feels the need to make my sister's life a hell of a lot more difficult than it needs to be on a daily basis? The idiot Alec who nearly got his brain blow to pieces and needed the five-grad that would have changed my sister's life forever to save his pathetic excuse for a life? The Alec who is always such a smart-ass that he was named after it? That Alec or is that a different sleaze ball who just happens to have the same name as you and deserves an ass beating from yours truly?" Adriann fired her demeanor changing immediately.

        "Yeah, I guess that would be me. But I think your impression of me is a little bias. And you are…?" Alec trailed waiting for her name.

        "Adriann." She finished, disgust overwhelming her face.

        "Yeah, I've heard of you. Max said you're Ben's twin." He stopped short as the realization hit him. "Which would make you…?" he said slowly.

"Your unfortunate twin sister." Alec grunted at his new found sister's comment and returned to his game of pool.

        "Well, it's a family reunion." He said crassly, as he leaned down to aim for his next shot. Rolling her eyes, Adriann took a step forward and leaned on the side of the table directly across from him and looked down at his perspective shot and back at Alec.

        "What? Are you disappointed that I didn't take over the throne of shame for you?"

        "Move." Alec ordered looking up at her.

        "Why? You not gonna make that shot whether I do or not."

        "It's an easy shot. All I have to do is tape the 9-ball on the left and it's sunk in the corner pocket. It's not rocket science." He informed Adriann, his features showing none of the irritation that his eyes did.

        "Fine. Do what you want, but I would go for the 2-ball in the corner pocket. But that's just me."

        "Just move." He growled. Shrugging Adriann turned and began walking back towards the bar, as Alec returned his concentration back to the table.

        "Alec?" Adriann called from the top of the stairs.

        "What!?" he spat. Adriann glared at him, but as usual she couldn't hold contempt in her eyes for long.

        "I was gonna say, it's nice to have finally met you. But I could be wrong." Turning on her heel, she walked up to the bar, said her goodbyes to Mike and  continued out the door.

        "Great." Alec said to himself as he watched Adriann leave. "Just what I need, another revved up super sister pissed at me." Shaking his head, Alec returned to his shot. "All it takes is a bad hair day for them to get their panties in a bunch." Alec hit the cue ball with precision skill and sent it rolling towards the 9. However he didn't get the result he had hoped for. Instead, as Adriann predicted, the 9-ball rolled off in a diagonal line past the pocket that the cue ball ended up in.

        "Damn it!" he hissed throwing down his cue and glaring at the exit door where Adriann had just been.

*_*

        Adriann sat in the drivers seat of her car calming down after her encounter with Alec. She glanced down at the dash clock – 9:45.

AN: Okay, here's the deal. I'm splitting this into 2 different 'realities', like in the movie Sliding Doors if you've seen it. Some things will happen no matter what is done others will not. You'll know when I'm switching between them when you see something like this…but I promise you'll know. Hope you like it.

"It's still early." Adriann sighed. "But I don't feel like driving around aimlessly. Gas is too hard to come by these days. So it looks like I'm going home." Taking a deep breath, Adriann turned the key and her car came to life. Within seconds she was on the road home.

        "It's only 9:45, there is no way I can go back home. It's too early." Adriann drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she tried to think of something to do. "Well, it's been a while since I've seen the city at night. And Lord knows that I could use some time to think…air out my thoughts." Taking a deep breath, Adriann turned the key and her car came to life. Within seconds she was on the road headed for the Seattle Space Needle.

~Ok guys, there it is. Chapter 4. From now on each chapter will split into the 2 scenarios…and they'll be in the same order each time. The one I began the split with will be the one at the beginning of each chapter and so forth. I'm hoping to come up with a name or something for each of the 2 parts, so it would be easier to identify them.
~As always, any thoughts, criticisms, ideas, opinions… are more than welcome: luvvbug101@hotmail.com    But please let me know what you think…Thanks for reading!