Disclaimer: Dark Angel belongs to SIR James Cameron (I think he should be knighted by the queen for directing such a good t.v. show), and Charles Eglee and a whole lot of other people whose names I don't know. Meaning, Dark Angel doesn't belong to me.

Thick And Thin

Chapter 6

As Max and Alexis both smiled lightly at the companionship of Jondy and Scott, they became aware of each other and Max caught Lexy's eyes, smiling a knowing smile. Max looked back to the two, wondering how they didn't realise they were being watched, Jondy normally completely picked up on these things. As Max was deep in thought, she didn't realise she herself was being watched.

*****

Logan watched Max, smiling gently as he watched her soft lips curl into a smile, and she grinned at Jondy's friend, he hadn't remembered her name. As he watched, Max remained oblivious to his eyes, searching every part of her face, taking into care every detail. It was one of his favourite pastimes, had been for over a year and a half, and he never tired of it. He wondered whether his obsession with Max could be classified as stalking, and he smiled at the though, but then dismissed it; he couldn't help it, he was in love, it wasn't like he followed her around or anything.

His smile froze as she turned to look at him, her mouth open slightly. She licked her lips, and he felt himself unconsciously do the same. She was so radiant, the light flooded to her when she entered a room, it was impossible for him to take his eyes off her. He couldn't figure out how she remained so oblivious to the fact that she was beautiful. Max was such a great human being. She had a tough exterior, but she'd go to the ends of the earth for people she cared about. She was surprising, and ever so gorgeous, and when she looked at you with those deep brown eyes you couldn't help but feel drawn to her. It was like, Logan looked at her, love shining through his eyes, and he knew in his heart that she was feeling exactly the same. But his brain could never process it. His logic told him it would never happen. Still, he could dream.

Logan forced an uncomfortable smile and watched disappointedly as she raised the corners of her mouth slightly, then turned away.

*****

'How is it that man can make your legs feel like jelly, your stomach turn upside down, and your entire body want to run to him and collapse into his arms?' Max asked herself disgustedly. She'd accepted that she couldn't be with Logan, and that was it. Or, at least she'd tried to accept that she couldn't be with Logan. He was off limits, she'd promised herself awhile ago to never step within two metres of the man. Of course that hadn't deterred Max from joining him for dinner on countless occasions, where they would sit quietly in front of an old fireplace in a lost library in Terminal City, rebuilding their friendship as Max tried helplessly not to get to close.

Max glanced at Logan, forcing a smile, her mind being too distracted to include her eyes in the smile. She turned away, trying to remember what she'd been thinking about previously. Jondy. Her cute guy friend. Max smiled brightly as Jondy jogged over to her, embracing her tightly after a slight hesitation.

"Hey." Max smiled.

"Hiya Maxie. What's my lil' sis thinking about? She looks distracted."

"Thinking about you, actually. Cute friend. Is he anything more?"

"Than a friend? Scooter? Yeah, right."

"It's so obvious you like him!" Max exclaimed teasingly as Jondy's eyes had wandered back to Scott talking easily to Alec and Joshua.

Jondy's eyes snapped back to meet Max's. "It is?"

"Only to me."

Jondy breathed a sigh of relief. "Well we're just good friends anyway."

"Haven't you watch T.V? All great couples are friends first!"

"Well then, you and Logan are definitely soul mates, Maxie."

Max set her jaw, hard. "Don't change the subject, Jonnie!"

Jondy's mouth flew open in mock insult. "Rude!"

Max shrugged. "Stop with the Maxie."

"Can't sorry, it was drilled into my childhood." She smiled wryly at the pun.

"Ha ha." Max replied dryly, clearly not amused.

"Only telling the truth!" Jondy retorted.

Max smiled weakly then slumped against the wall she had been leaning on and sank to the ground.

"You okay? You look tired." Jondy asked comfortingly, kneeling protectively in front of her little sister.

Max opened her mouth to reply.

Jondy began talking before Max had a chance. "I get it. Logan. What's the deal with you two? You like him, he seems to like you."

"Maybe I don't like Logan."

"Maybe you won't admit that you do like Logan."

"Maybe." Max sighed. "I feel like such a manipulative bitch when I'm around him. I feel like I played him."

"That must suck." Jondy sympathised.

"Yeah." Max agreed half-heartedly. She turned to look at Logan, watching him type furiously at the computer, his built-up muscles rippling gently through the tights shirt he was wearing. Max groaned, tilting her head on Jondy's shoulder.

"Sup with you?"

"I've screwed up."

"No shit."

"Serious. Even with the virus, there was still always the off chance that Logan and I could cure it, y'know? And then we'd be together. There was always the possibility. But I screwed that when I lied to him about Alec. Okay, so I didn't exactly lie, I mean, I just, didn't tell the whole truth." Max spoke unconvincingly to herself.

"I am sooooo not gonna even pretend to know what you're talking about."

"I dunno. It's just. . . Logan. . . "

"He could do with some company. Go to him."

"Logan? No? I can't, I'll kill him eventually."

Jondy raised her eyebrows critically at Max, then sprung to a standing position, dusting herself off and walking away. Max stared after her for a minute. Somehow, even though she'd only been reunited with Jondy for a couple of hours, they had fallen into a comfortable pattern. It was as though since the other seemed to know what they were feeling, they didn't need to fill in the blanks or explain the absences. It didn't matter, they were together, as true as sisters could be and Max would be damned if anyone was gonna make her big sis go away. Jondy was here for three weeks, and they had plenty of time to catch up. The familiar bonding was enough, for now Max had to go talk to Logan.

*****

Alec strolled past the hot looking normal that Max's sister had brought in with her. He stopped on the other side, greeting her with a 'hey'.

"Hey." Was the adamant reply. This one wasn't giving any leeway.

"So, you're, uh, Jondy's friend?"

"Looks like. Who're you?"

"Alec, Max's frie- uh, acquaintance I guess."

The girl nodded, chuckling at Alec's hasty change of the description of his and Max's relationship.

"So, Alec, Max's acquaintance, you're Manticore?"

"X5."

"Yeah, same as Jondy, obviously."

"Obviously."

"So what do you do for fun around here?" Lexy asked, shooting Alec a sharp look.

Alec gave her a look of mock insult. "We play pool." He said cheekily, leading her to the Rec Centre, not waiting for her to follow; he knew she would.

Four short games later, Alec and Lexy were chatting much more companionably than they had been just an hour ago. The score was two games all, but in the midst of their jokes Lexy had playfully cheated, relishing victory of half of the games. Alec had good-sportingly played along, and he was glad to admit he was having a good time.

"Haven't I seen you someplace before?" He asked, leaning against the table and pretending to hit on her as she broke, concentrating on not laughing.

Lexy shot two balls in, wiggling her eyebrows provocatively at her new friend and matching his teasing with a 'Sure, that's why I don't go there any more!'

Alec grinned and awaited his turn by buying them two glasses of beer from the resident transgenic bar.

"Not bad-looking for a normal." He heard the bartender say and laughed. She may look sweet and innocent, but she could cheat like the devil. He stole the pool cue off of her gently, holding it up where she couldn't reach it, enjoying the soft torture as she jumped up and down impatiently, giggling as she tried unsuccessfully to pull it out of his grasp.

"Come on then, you're getting bored. You can show me around." Lexy decided, grabbing the glasses of beer and stalking off as Alec chuckled and followed to catch up to her.

*****

Logan looked up, a mask of surprise on his face as Max sat awkwardly next to him.

"Hey." She started breathlessly.

"Hey yourself." He answered automatically. Logan took his eyes away from the computer screen and stole a glance at Max, just as she raised her head to meet his eyes with a sheepish smile. They both laughed uncomfortably. "So. Jondy's nice." He tilted his head to the side, a true Logan act, waiting for Max's answer.

"Logan." She pleaded.

"Don't, Max." His voice was soft.

She nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks for your help, with the thing before."

"It's okay. That's what I'm here for, right?" He turned in his chair and looked around at all the transgenics, trying to avoid Max's gaze.

"No. That's not the only reason you're here. You're here cos."

"Max!"

They both turned sharply at the sound of Alec's voice.

"Your boyfriend wants you." Logan attempted to sound nonchalant but the bitter edge to his voice gave him away.

"About that, um."

"Max!" This time it was more urgent.

"I'm coming Alec!" She yelled sharply. Logan turned his head to her as she continued, not quite meeting his eyes the way he wasn't meeting hers. "I've gotta jet, y'know?"

"Yeah. Yeah I do."

Max quickly picked up her head, appearing indifferent. "Later." She called almost cheerfully over her shoulder.

*****

"What is it Alec?"

"We're outta carrot. The mess hall needs some more supplies."

"You called me away from Logan to tell me we're out of carrot!" Max yelled, her voice getting higher with each word until she was screeching the last word.

"I like carrot!" Alec complained, almost offended.

"Ugh! Next time, make sure it's serious Alec!"

Max turned on her heel, walking back to where Logan had been, but was now nowhere to be seen. She craned her head, looking for him anywhere, but he had disappeared from her sight. Max sighed, and walked out of the command centre to go looking for him.

*****

"Logan!" He heard a call and looked back as he saw Jondy jogging lightly toward him. "Did you talk to Max?"

"Not for long." Came the suspicious answer. "Alec needed to talk to her." He tried to say it as though he didn't care.

Jondy nodded. "So, what's there to do for fun around here?"

Logan looked up, a small smile on his face. "You know how to play pool?"

Jondy shrugged casually, returning the smile. "A bit."

Logan nodded the lead her to the rec centre. "It you're anywhere as good as Max, you might almost beat me."

Jondy laughed as she followed Logan into the rec centre.