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 Hit a Sista Back and Meow.
Spoilers: Hit a Sista Back, Meow
Rating: PG - some graphical violence
Category: Drama, Romance
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First Brin and now Tinga. Manticore was taking them back one by one. At least Charlie and Case would be safe, that was one conciliation. Max looked up from where she was sitting on Logan's sofa to find him watching her with a concerned look on his face. "I can't believe I have a nephew. When we left Manticore, we weren't even sure that children would be a possibility. Now Tinga has a son and Jace has a baby on the way." She spoke mainly to break the silence. "We're going to get Tina back. I promised Case we would."
"I know." Logan had watched helplessly as Max found and lost her siblings one by one. He was terrified that Manticore would take Max next and he couldn't bare the thought of losing her. "You know I'll do what I can to help."
Max smiled at Logan. "Thanks." It was good to know she had Logan for support. It was also a little strange. The only person she had been able to depend on most of her life had been herself. "Zack's going to try and find out where in Manticore they have Tinga. Then we can decide what move to make next. Waiting has never been my strong point."
"Yeah, but it will be worth it when you get Tinga back." Logan tired to reassure Max, although he could only imagine what Manticore would do to Tinga.
"Thanks for saying when not if." Max stood and gave Logan a hug before heading for the door. "I'll catch ya later." She needed time to think and she couldn't do that with Logan so close. It was becoming harder and harder to fight her true feelings for Logan. She was actually finding herself staring at him as if she had only just noticed how hot he was.
Almost as soon as the apartment door closed, Logan spun the wheelchair around and headed for the exo-skelton. He needed the machine working if he was going to help Max get her sister back. A certain amount of competitiveness had flared up in him at the mention of Zack's name. The X5 male would see him as a threat to Max's safety no matter what. At least up and about with the use of the exo- skelton it gave Zack one less excuse to use against him. As Logan dialed Sebastian up on the computer, he realized how empty his apartment seemed without Max there.
What had started out as a struggle to get Max to eat dinner with him, had become a routine for them both. Most of the time Max would simply show up and demand Logan feed her. Except for a few minor details, or at least now they seemed minor, they were just like an ordinary couple that had been dating.
"Logan." Sebastian's mechanical voice jerked Logan back from his train of thought. "What planet did you just come back from?" The faintest smile touched Sebastian's face.
"One where the exo-skelton works." Logan joked. What he was really thinking was 'One where Max is Queen and I get to worship her perfect body in every way known to man.' He focused back on the task at hand. "So I was thinking maybe the exo-skelton just needs re-wiring." That idea went flying straight out the window when half an hour later the exo-skelton shorted out again. "Or maybe not."
Logan was running out of time. He wanted the machine working in time for his and Max's anniversary. "I guess it's back to the drawing board. Again."
"Let me have a look at the blue prints again and I'll get back to you." Sebastian suggested. "It's probably something simple that's why we keep over looking it."
"I guess." Logan wasn't so sure. "Thanks for the help." He said good bye and cut the connection.
Original Cindy looked up as Max entered the apartment. "Hey Boo. I thought you'd be having dinner with your Suga."
Max rolled her eyes. "He's not my Suga. I did have dinner with Logan. He had the food all ready when I got there. It just needed heating up." She frowned slightly. "Actually, he's been doing that a lot lately. This past week, every time I break into his apartment dinner ready and waiting."
"You know, you could use his door bell." Original Cindy chuckled at the ease with which Max announced breaking into Logan's apartment.
"Nah." Max grinned. "If I did that he'd think something was wrong with me. He must be busy writing a new saving the day article for some magazine." She shrugged her shoulders. "Guess he needs the money."
"Doesn't stop him from playing Chef obviously." Original Cindy reminded her. "Feel free to bring me home a doggie bag anytime."
Max giggled. "Sorry. The foods that good there's never any left to bring back. I'll try and save you some next time."
Original Cindy watched her friend suspiciously. "So you don't mind that Logan basically feeds you and kicks you out the door."
"It's not like that." Max protested. "He doesn't kick me out. I get up and leave. Besides, sometimes he asks me to stay and play Chess."
"Chess." Original Cindy raised an eyebrow. "Is that some funky way of Logan asking you to Bang the Gong?"
"Argh. I'm going to bed." Max held back her laughter until she got into her own room. Still, she couldn't pretend that she wasn't a little bothered that she was getting home early just lately. It used to be that she would be over at Logan's until the early hours of the morning. The last few nights, she had walked in the door before midnight.
The sound of someone climbing in her bedroom window had Max assuming a fighting stance. Relief and annoyance flowed over her when she saw Zack climbing in the window. "You know, we have a door."
"Somebody could be watching it." Zack shrugged his shoulders before getting down to business. "They didn't take Tinga back to Manticore. I figure I'll keep an eye on Lydecker and see if he can lead us to her."
Max shook her head. "I don't think Lydecker knows any more than we do."
"No, but I bet he knows who does know what's going on." He climbed back out of the window. "I'll let you know when I find Tinga."
"Be careful Zack." Max called out into the night.
The following night Sebastian had the answer to why the exo-skelton wasn't working and a plan on how to get the chip needed. Logan wondered if the powers that be were working in his favor for once when Max arrived right on cue.
