by Kirsten Tapp
Disclaimer: Dark Angel doesn't belong to the author, but to James Cameron, etc. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: What went on between I and I am a Camera and Hit a Sista Back.
Spoilers: I and I am a Camera, Hit a Sista Back
Rating: PG - some graphical violence
Category: Drama, Romance
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Logan sat staring at the exo-skelton for what seemed like forever. This was another chance for him to walk again. His first task would be finding out what was wrong with it. If Phil was standing there at that moment, Logan probably would have kissed him he was so grateful for the exo-skelton.
He decided the best place to start would be by downloading the blueprints for the exo-skelton. At least once he saw what the machine was supposed to contain, he would have an idea what parts he would need.
Remembering that Max was the reason that he wanted to be walking again, Logan decided to keep the exo-skelton a surprise. It had almost been a year since they had first met. Getting the exo-skelton working could be like an anniversary gift for both of them.
The toughest part would be keeping the exo-skelton hidden from Max. With her having feline DNA, Max's curiosity level was always high. She had come to respect a certain amount of his privacy though.
Looking back over the past week, Logan couldn't believe that he had almost let his fear push Max away. She was the best thing that had happened to him all year. She hadn't asked to be created instead of born. Instead of having Barbie Dolls to play with as a child, Max only had guns and various other weapons.
Getting back to the task at hand, Logan contacted Sebastian. His friend would know where to start looking for the exo-skelton blueprints. An hour later he felt a step closer to walking again. Sebastian had suggested a couple of places that would have the blueprints in their system.
Checking his watch, Logan realized how late it was getting. Max would be there soon wanting dinner. If there was one thing about Max he could be sure of, it was she didn't like being kept waiting when she was hungry.
When Max arrived, the usual delicious smelling aromas of Logan's latest culinary miracle were floating through the apartment. Now that Logan was no longer rich, she wondered if the delicious dinners would cease. Of course she could always pick up the ingredients herself and just get Logan to perform his magic in the kitchen.
"Hey. How long before you feed me." Max was relieved to find that Logan wasn't acting so nervous around her anymore. She wasn't sure what had snapped him back to his usual behavior, but she was glad to have the old Logan back.
"Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes." Logan handed her a glass of wine. "Enjoy this while it lasts."
"You know, I can always pick up a bottle of wine on the way over here." Max sipped her wine. "Since you're so picky about what wine we have with our meal, you'll just have to tell me which one to get."
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Why do I get the feeling when you say you'll pick up the wine, you really mean steal the wine. Don't tell me, you know a local vineyard that's on the way to my apartment." He joked.
"No." Max rolled her eyes. "I'll buy the wine. I'll just steal something to sell so that I can buy the wine." It made perfect sense to her. Besides, she only stole off of bad people so it wasn't really like stealing.
Logan chuckled as he shook his head. "I still have a few bottles stashed away yet. No sense in you committing a felony for a bottle of wine."
"Not yet anyway." Max teased. At that moment the timer went off on the oven. "Dinner's ready."
Logan stared at Max for a moment before turning his wheelchair and beginning to dish out the meal. He was touched that Max had offered to bring the wine so that they could still enjoy dinner together. But he wasn't broke yet.
They ate dinner in a comfortable silence, then played a couple of games of chess before Max went home. It occurred to Logan once she had gone, that he could cope without all of the luxuries he had gotten used to, as long as he still had Max in his life.
He cleaned away the dishes and settled back in front of his computer. Logan hacked into the systems of the companies that Sebastian had suggested. It didn't take long to find what he was looking for. However it was going to take a while to download the blueprints while ensuring he couldn't be traced.
Getting hold of the blueprints was one thing. Figuring out what was wrong with the exo-skelton was another thing all together. After attempting a couple of alterations which didn't seem to make any difference to the exo-skelton working properly, Logan decided to get some sleep and start fresh in the morning.
On top of the space needle Max thought about Logan's family. They were so cut throat that it made Max appreciate her test tube siblings even more. She hadn't thought twice about leaping into Logan's car to get him out of harms way from the hoverdrone. Logan's Uncle hadn't been the least bit concerned of the danger he was putting his nephew in and it had lost him his own life.
Max had never been one to scare easily, but she had never felt such an uncontrollable fear as she did when the hoverdrone targeted Logan. Next to Original Cindy, Logan was her best friend in the world.
She still couldn't believe how easily Logan had thrown away his wealth to do the right thing. Max didn't know of anyone else that would have done that. Logan was certainly one in a million. Max grinned to herself at that thought before climbing down off of the space needle.
Logan was back up at the crack of dawn attempting to find out what was wrong with the exo-skelton. Finally he called Sebastian and explained what the problem was. Although he knew that a bullet had hit the exo-skelton while Phil was wearing it, Logan had no idea what used to be in the place that the bullet hole now was.
Sebastian listened patiently, realizing that Logan was getting frustrated. He also understood his friend's need to get out of his wheelchair. Unfortunately, Sebastian would never get out of his wheelchair even if he got hold of a working exo-skelton.
He was right in the middle of trying to encourage a discouraged Logan, when Max entered Logan's apartment and bellowed his name.
Logan bid Sebastian a quick goodbye before going out to Max before she could come looking for him. He knew as soon as he saw the look on Max's face that something was wrong. Somehow he knew it had something to do with one of her siblings.
