Title: Separated

Disclaimer: I don't own any Dark Angel characters…unfortunately.

Rating: PG-13 (language)

Summary: Set after Hello, Goodbye. My version of life after Max and Logan split. M/A or M/L?…read and find out!

A/N: Thanks everyone for all your reviews. They send me on major highs! I didn't really like Chapter 3, but your kind words really cheered me up. I got many reviews (well, by my standards, anyway) so, as promised, here is Chapter 4. Enjoy!

Dedication: To everyone's who has reviewed/are going to review *wink wink*

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Asha's voice trailed off at the sight of Alec and Max. She shifted uncomfortably and adjusted her towel. Her eyes rested on Alec a split second longer than necessary. Alec blinked nervously. Logan had probably told her all about their confrontation.

"Asha's just been evicted from her apartment," Logan explained, glancing purposefully at Max.

Asha pulled a face.

"Totally sucked. Got back this morning, and there it was, that dreaded pink piece of paper." She smiled weakly. "I'm going to go get changed now." She went back to the bathroom, sliding the door behind her. There was a pause.

"Max, about this morning," Logan began.

Max managed a small smile.

"You don't have to explain," she said softly, looking down at the ground. "It's your life. I was out of line this morning. I'm sorry."

Because she was looking down, Max missed the look of sorrow and sadness Logan shot her. Alec, however, caught it. He swallowed a lump in his throat.

"So you said you had some information?" Logan prompted gently.

Max finally looked up, tucking a stray hand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah." She passed the portfolio to him.

Logan flipped through it quickly, eyes widening as he did so.

"I guess Manticore was more prepared than you gave them credit for."

"Guess so," Max said shortly. The bathroom door opened once more, and this time it was a fully clothed Asha that stepped out. She picked up her jacket and backpack off the back of a chair.

"I've gotta go," she called out as she shrugged her jacket on. "S1W meeting." She made her way to the front door.

"Feel better soon," Asha called out before leaving. Max frowned. What did that mean?

Logan raised a hand to wave, not even realizing Asha was already gone. He massaged his temples gently.

"This is fascinating," he murmured as he flipped through more sheets of paper. "Absolutely fascinating." He looked up as Max stood abruptly. At his questioning glance, she said, "Bathroom."

As the bathroom door closed behind her, Alec realized uneasily that he and Logan were alone. He tensed unconsciously, half-expecting Logan to whip out a handgun and shoot him right there and then. Instead, Logan leaned forward, portfolio resting on his lap.

"Alec."

Alec was surprised. The guy had barely acknowledged his existence since he'd entered the apartment.

"Yeah?"

"About earlier," Logan began. "I'm sorry. I wasn't myself. I guess I'd just had a little too much to drink…" He trailed off.

Alec shook off the apology.

"Already forgotten," he insisted.

Logan looked at Alec.

"So we OK?"

Alec smiled.

"You betcha, buddy."

Logan smiled.

"You're a good guy, Alec. Max's life is her life. She's lucky to have you."

As Alec tried to puzzle out the meaning of Logan's statement, Max stepped out of the bathroom.

"So how are we going to do this?" she asked briskly, taking her seat next to Alec.

"Well, destroying this second Manticore will be much harder," Logan said. "You can't very well burn down an orphanage." He stood up, taking the portfolio with him and sat himself down before a computer.

"I'll take a look at this floppys," he continued. "Right now, I'm thinking you're going to have to infiltrate this facility and find out all you can."

Max's eyes twinkled.

"What, we're going to go undercover?" She smiled. "It'll be like Charlie's Angels.

"It won't be the usual bust-the-joint kinda gig," Logan added. "You're going to need patience to work your way in." He looked at Alec. "You're also going to need Alec's help on this, Max."

Alec smirked.

"I'll be James Bond, and you can be one of those female spies," he said. "You know, the ones always wearing those skimpy little bikinis."

Max slapped Alec.

"Grow up," she snapped. Alec pulled a face. Logan watched the whole thing with interest. It could just be wishful thinking, but he couldn't detect a relationship between the two. Maybe he still had a chance after all…

He shook himself free of his daydreams. If he was right, then that would mean Max had lied to him. She wouldn't do that…would she? He blinked, clearing his mind. Only time would tell. He noticed Max and Alec staring curiously at him, no doubt trying to figure out what he was thinking. He cleared his throat.

"You two better get back to work. I'll call you when I get more information."

Alec looked at Max, smirk set firmly in place.

"That reminds me. Normal told me to tell you if you don't haul ass back to Jam Pony he's going to fire you."

Max stood up, shooting Alec a death stare.

"You sit around for hours doing nothing everyday and I spend five minutes trying to save the world, and my ass is the one's that's gonna be fired?!"

Alec stood up as well, holding his hands in front of him in defence.

"Whoa, don't shoot the messager!" he said, smirking. He followed Max out the door, leaving Logan alone with his thoughts and fantasies.

~*~*~*~

Later that night, Max and Alec found themselves once again at Logan's apartment, courtesy of an urgent phone call. The two sat down on the couch, watching as Logan typed furiously on his keyboard.

"Whatcha got for us?" Alec prodded curiously.

Logan waved him silent, concentrating heavily on the content on his computer screen.

"Geesh, what's up with technoboy over there?" Alec asked Max.

Max shrugged.

"Busy, I s'pose," she answered. She stood up from her place on the couch and sauntered over to the kitchen. Alec followed suit. Max opened the fridge and stuck her head inside, taking in the contents. She finally settled on making herself a sandwich. Alec grabbed an apple and propped himself up on the kitchen counter.

"So you and Logan are…" he began.

Max hushed him, shooting a nervous glance in Logan's direction.

"Keep your voice down," she hissed. "I don't know. We're good." She took out two slices of bread and began to spread butter on them. "We're friends."

Alec took a large bite out of his apple and chewed thoughtfully.

"He shed shumfin really-" A slap from Max cut him off.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder. "What was that for?"

Max rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

Alec stuck out his tongue at her.

"Yes, muther." He finished chewing. "As I was saying," he continued, "Logan said something really weird today."

Max carefully placed two slices of ham on top of her greens.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Alec decided to leave out the whole gun incident that morning. It'd only freak Max out.

"He told me you were lucky to have me in your life. And while I can't really disagree, it was still a strange thing to say. Almost like he was suggesting we were together or something."

Alec was expecting Max to snort and slap him and say something like "In your dreams", but instead she visibly paled, obviously caught off guard. She tried to regain her composure and forced a laugh.

"Really? That is a strange thing to say."

Alec frowned. Something was definitely off. Something which might explain the whole Logan-kill-Alec thing. His genetically-enhanced brain quickly put the pieces together.

"Tell me you didn't do what I think you did!" he whispered urgently, glancing in Logan's direction.

Max offered a weak smile in response.

"Depends on what you think I did," she joked weakly. Alec didn't crack a smile.

"Max!" he hissed angrily. "How could you do something like that?"

"It wasn't my fault," she protested, waving her hands in front of her in a defensive gesture. "Somehow Logan got it into his head that we were together…" She trailed off.

"And you didn't do anything to suggest otherwise?" Alec's face was a mask of anger. He had been used. He was an idiot. He was a fool.

"No," Max answered meekly. "Look, I'm sorry, Alec. It was wrong, but it was the only way I could…I could push him away." She turned away from him and looked out the window. "Please don't tell him. It's better…safer this way."

Alec shook his head. He'd been used. His emotions had been used against him. Max didn't care about him. She just used him whenever and however she wanted, and he obeyed her every command. He made himself sick. What was worse, she still had that hold on him, even after he had figured out her little game. He ran a hand through his hair.

"I won't tell him, Max." Max turned to face him, obviously surprised.

"You won't?"

Alec sighed.

"No."

"Why?"

Before Alec could answer, Logan called for the two of them. Max picked up her sandwich and headed into the main area with Alec.

"OK, guys, it's just as I thought," Logan began. "The only way you guys can bring Manticore down is to penetrate this orphanage." He tapped his monitor screen for emphasis. I downloaded the plans from the floppys, and I also did some research on the Internet." He grabbed a pile of printouts.

"There are nearly 2000 orphanages at this place," Logan continued. "The last time an orphan was adopted was months ago. I'm guessing the first few adoptions were just for show, a way to get into the Government's good books."

Max swallowed a bite of her sandwich.

"And just how do you expect us to get into this place? We're a bit old to be orphans."

Logan smiled.

"Thought you'd never ask. Seems like we're in luck. The orphanage is currently looking for teachers and tutors in all subjects." He opened a drawer and took out three folders, each containing a large bundle of paper. He handed one to Max, another to Alec and kept the third for himself. Max read the title on her folder.

"Resumé of Jasmine Rodell," she read. She looked at Logan. "Jasmine?!"

Logan shrugged apologetically.

"It was the best I could come up with on short notice."

Alec looked up.

"Don't complain, Max. You're lucky you not stuck with "Scott Wilson".

Max smothered a laugh and continued flipping through her resume.

"I'm gonna be a teacher of Art History?" She stared at Logan.

Logan shrugged again.

"Sure. You seemed to know your art."

Max put down her resumé.

"What have you got?" she asked Alec.

Alec smiled.

"I'm a PE teacher." He peered over at Logan's folder.

"Logan Cale, IT lecturer." He frowned. "How come you get to keep your real name?"

Max interrupted before Logan could answer.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" she exclaimed. "You're not coming with us, Logan. It's too dangerous."

Logan placed his folder down.

"I'm heading for my interview tomorrow," he said, pointedly ignoring Max. "You guys will attend your interviews the day after tomorrow." He distributed fake IDs and sector passes.

"Where are we going to stay?" Alec asked.

"All accommodation is provided for," Logan said. "I'm thinking you and Max will be college friends, and I will be someone you meet and decide to move in with."

Alec stood up.

"What if we don't get the job?"

Logan smiled.

"Trust me, you will. Each of our resumés is bit and pieces from the best teachers around."

Alec stood up.

"That's it then." He was half-expecting Max to follow him out, but when she didn't move, he sadly recognized the need for Logan and her to be alone. "I'll see you guys later."

As the door shut behind Alec, Logan looked at Max.

"Max, you don't have to be worried. I know what I'm doing."

Max shook her head, hair flying around her face.

"It's dangerous, OK? I don't want to see you get hurt." She stared down at her half-eaten sandwich. Her appetite had evaporated.

Logan longed to embrace her, to convince her it really would be alright. Instead, he cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"So how are you and Alec?" he asked softly.

Max continued to look at her sandwich.

"We're…good," she finally said. Obviously feeling awkward, she stood up and grabbed her jacket. "Good luck with your interview. I'll see you there."

Logan walked her to the door, and reached to unlock it for her just as Max's fingers scrambled to do the same. She gasped in horror as she felt her fingers brush Logan…

A/N2: Please R/R!