Glory Days by Star24
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property and copyright Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.
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Chapter Nine
The Steinlitz Hotel
Logan pulled the Aztek up to the valet station in front of the Steinlitz and a uniformed valet opened the door for Max. She slid gracefully out of the car while Logan was getting a parking ticket from the other valet. She ran her hands lightly down her dress, smoothing it down; oblivious to the admiring looks she was receiving from the valet and others around her.
"Let me see." Logan's voice recalled her from her abstraction, and she turned slowly to face him. His eyes traveled down her figure and then came back to rest on her face as a slow smile spread over his. "Wow."
"Is that all you have to say?" Max demanded.
"You clean up nice?" he teased.
Max smiled at his reminder of that last dress-up event they had attended together. She took a minute to look at him as he stood there in front of her in his tuxedo. "I forgot how good you look in a tux." she said. "Not to mention clean shaven."
Logan grinned "Since when have you ever seen me clean shaven?"
Max was at a loss for words. "I must have sometime."
Logan smiled. "Sometime. Shall we?" He held out an arm for Max and she laced hers through it as they proceeded through the hotel entrance, and to the elevators leading to the party.
* * * * * * *
The reunion was being held in the ballroom that was located on the top floor of the hotel, and the elevators were crowded with guests heading up to it. Max and Logan squeezed into one that was about to leave and Max found herself pressed close against him by the surrounding people.
"Logan Cale." A female voice said and Logan turned his head slightly left, in the direction it had come from.
"Hey, Maria."
"I didn't think we'd be seeing you here." The voice's owner said. She was attractive in a plump way with a friendly face and pleasant voice. "The mystery man of the class makes an appearance. That'll cause a stir."
Logan shrugged. "No mystery. Just busy trying to get by in this crazy world. Doesn't leave a lot of time for socializing."
The elevator opened and the occupants piled out. Logan held back with Max, waiting for Maria and her escort. "Max this is Maria Cortes, one of my journalism cronies from high school. Maria this is Max Guevara."
"Hi, Max. Nice to meet you. This is my husband, Jimmy."
The men shook hands and the two women sized each other up. Max decided she liked Maria. She had a warmth and openness that she hadn't expected from one of Logan's society classmates.
"You two have anyone special to sit with?" Maria was asking Logan.
"I don't even know who's going to be here. Besides Gavin Vandeminer."
"Then you can sit with us. Unless you want to hook up with the good old Prom court that is." Maria said.
"Why would I want to do that?" Logan asked.
"Because you were one of the hot jocks back in the day?" Maria teased.
"Maybe, but that was more for my dad than for me. You know that journalism was always my first love."
Logan and Maria went on to exchange reminiscences about their high school days and Max listened intently, fascinated by what she was learning about Logan. They had reached the ballroom and as they entered, heads turned and a murmur swept the room.
"Told you, Logan." Maria smiled smugly. "You're the center of all eyes."
Logan laughed, "They aren't looking at me. They're looking at my fabulous date." He smiled down at Max who felt a rush of warmth at the look he was giving her. Maria exchanged knowing glances with her husband and shot a quick glance at Max's left hand.
The foursome made their way to an open table and settled into seats. Logan reached over and casually took Max's hand, as he chatted with Maria, and with others who began to come by to talk to him. Waiters poured champagne into tall flutes set at each place, and a band played in the background.
"Mind if I sit here?" a familiar voice said to Max. She turned to see Gavin standing next to her. Logan was involved in a conversation about basketball so she shrugged.
"Seat's open."
"Haven't seen you in a few days, Max." Gavin's statement was more of a question, with undertones that Max didn't like.
"Logan's been busy. I've been busy. You know how it goes."
"And you had that scare the other day as well."
Max looked at him in confusion.
"The dress shop situation. I was surprised Logan left you alone that night. I imagine you must have been pretty shaken up by it."
"I was okay. I didn't want him to neglect his guest to hold my hand."
"Yeah, well Logan never has been the best at emotional stuff. Some people can't really connect you know. You don't have to excuse him to me. I know how he is. Nice guy on the surface, but not really one for serious relationships."
"Is there a point to this, Gavin?" Max said.
"I like you, Max and I don't want to see you get hurt. Logan wouldn't mean to do it, but he gets focused on his crusades. When he does, people get forgotten."
Just then Logan turned and saw Gavin sitting there. A brief frown crossed his face. "Hey, Gavin."
"Hey, Logan. I was just telling Max how beautiful she looks. Too beautiful for you."
Maria heard the comment and laughed. "Max, watch out for this guy. I remember how he loved to try to steal Logan's girls in high school. It doesn't sound like he's changed. How are you Gavin?" With that she launched into a conversation with Gavin.
Logan seized the opportunity, "Max?" He stood holding out a hand. "Dance with me?"
He led her onto the dance floor where a slow ballad was playing. He pulled Max into his arms and began to lead her expertly in the steps. There was a silence for a moment as the two moved smoothly across the floor.
"What was he saying to you?" Logan broke the mood.
"Nothing, Logan." She hedged.
"Didn't sound like nothing to me."
"If you heard why are you asking?"
"Max, I…"
The music stopped and Logan dropped his hands from her. A woman came to a microphone on the stage and began to make announcements about the reunion. Max sighed as they walked back to their table.
Dinner was served and conversation was light during it. Another woman had joined them, along with a couple who seemed to be close friends with Maria and her husband, and there was no more opportunity for private conversations with either Gavin or Logan. Logan was attentive to Max throughout the meal, but she felt an increasing unease. Gavin seemed to be watching them closely, and she was picking up a sense of hostility radiating from him.
After the dinner the dancing began again. Logan sat out the faster numbers which Max understood, given the fact that he was dependent on the exo-skeleton. But then the band launched into a slow number and he looked over at her with a smile. She smiled back and the two made their way onto the dance floor.
"You look beautiful tonight, Max." Logan said to her as they began to dance.
"You look pretty hot yourself," she teased. "That must be why all those ex-cheerleaders or whatever they are, keep coming over to say hi to you."
Logan shrugged, "I hadn't noticed."
There was a silence as their eyes locked and they let the music take them. Logan's hands rested lightly on Max's back holding her close as they swayed to the music. She could feel the heat through the thin silk of her dress. Neither one of them noticed the venomous looks that Gavin was sending their way. When they got back to the table, he was gone.
"What happened to Gavin?" Logan asked Maria.
"He had a plane to catch. He said to tell you he'd be in touch about that matter you and he had discussed." Maria answered.
Logan frowned for a minute but then shrugged. The rest of the evening passed in a pleasant blur for Max. Logan was attentive and charming and stayed by her side, a complete reversal from his cousin's wedding. When the party was over and it was time to leave, Maria smiled at her.
"We'd love to get together with you and Logan some time, Max. I'll call him to set it up."
"Sure." Max smiled back at her, feeling that she'd made a new friend in an unlikely place.
"Ready ?" Logan was waiting, and they said their goodbyes and made their way down to the lobby.
When they were in the car, Logan turned to her, "Come home with me?" His eyes were intense.
Max felt a tingle of butterflies in her stomach but she ruthlessly suppressed them. "Sure."
Without another word Logan headed the car towards Fogle Towers.
Fogle Towers
"So Logan, that wasn't so bad after all, was it?" Max teased as they entered his apartment.
"Did you hear enough dirt on me to satisfy that feline curiosity of yours?" Logan responded laughingly.
Before she could answer, Max slumped to the floor from a blow to the back of her head. Gavin stepped out from behind the door. "If she didn't, I have plenty more I can tell her."
"What...Gavin?" Logan stammered in surprise. "I thought you left." He dropped down to the floor to where Max lay in a heap. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I would have left if you'd listened to me about Max. But you didn't. So you leave me no choice." His hand came out from behind his back holding Logan's gun. "She'll be fine. Just a little headache when she comes to. This is for you."
"For what?"
Gavin pointed the gun at Logan. "You know what. Your suicide will be a sad tragedy for everyone who knows you. Now get up, and stand away from her."
"No one will believe it, Gavin." Logan didn't move from Max's side.
"Yes they will. Tonight I made sure everyone knew how distraught you were about Carly, and I was careful to point out Max's resemblance to her. Your suicide note will make it very clear that your guilt over her death finally became too much for you to take."
"Nice story but I'm not playing, Gavin. I can't imagine why you think I would."
Gavin ignored Logan and rambled on. "Before tonight I thought the fact that I knew about you and your involvement with Eyes Only would be enough. I planned on using it to make sure you stayed away from Max."
"You searched my apartment while I was out?"
Gavin shrugged. "I saw how you looked at Max the other night. I knew I had to find something to make you see the light. But I could see tonight that that isn't going to happen. I can't trust you to give her up. You can't have her, Logan. You destroyed my sister. Why should you move on to someone else? You don't deserve that."
Gavin waved the gun at Max. "You have two choices. You can do what I say, and she doesn't get hurt. Or you don't, and I shoot both of you. Won't be quite as neat, but a lover's quarrel and a murder suicide could work for me too. What'll it be, Logan? Both of you or you alone? How much do you care for her? Enough to die to save her life?"
"You're crazy, Gavin." Logan came to his feet.
Gavin's face contorted and he spun and aimed the gun at Logan. "Don't call me crazy. Don't ever call me crazy…" his voice was raised in hysteria. Logan stood there staring at him. Gavin's finger began to tighten on the trigger. Before he could fire, there was a blur of motion. The gun flew from his hand and landed across the room. Max stood in front of him, between him and Logan.
"Game's over, Gavin. You aren't going to hurt Logan or me tonight. I know the truth about your sister."
"You don't know anything. You can't." Gavin stared at Max.
"I know about Forest Glen."
"No. You can't," he repeated. His shoulders slumped as he saw the truth in Max's face. "How did you find out?"
Max looked at him. "It wasn't hard once I started looking in the right places."
Gavin looked from her to Logan. "You're going to tell him aren't you?"
"He deserves to know the truth." Max moved to stand next to Logan.
Gavin stared at her for a moment longer. Then, in a sudden move that caught them off guard, he whirled and ran. Straight toward the plate glass window. He reached it and turned slightly, driving his shoulder into the glass. The window shattered and Gavin was gone. The curtains blew softly in the cool wind that streamed through the broken window.
End of Chapter Nine