Wow...chapter 7. Thanks for the reviews so far and we'd love to hear from any and all of you who are reading. This isn't your traditional DA story...it's a bit more AU, but keep your mind open and your imagination free...

The Girls

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Max stood in the street looking up at Logan's apartment. It had been a hard week for both of them. Life had seemed to turn sideways when her Ninja got snatched up and what followedwell, it was like a Greek tragedy with ex-wives on the take, brothers showing up and disappearing, deatheven Herbal being fired and rehired seemed to be part of the elaborate tapestry of crap that had fallen down on her head in the past few days.

But Bling had asked her to come over, asked her to be there for Logan. That had to mean something, didn't it?

Question was, would she help him if she went up there? And why was she going up therewas it because she had caused his pain to begin with by telling him about Valerie's deceit? Was it because she wanted to help himno, needed to help him? Or maybe, was it because she was his friend?

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Max got off the elevator and headed for Logan's door. She rang the bell and waited. It was quiet inside, but she'd seen his lights on from downstairs, so he was definitely home.

There was a crack of lightning and an accompanying roll of thunder. Max quickly jimmied the lock and slipped into the apartment.

"Doorbell's broken," she said as she walked into the living room where Logan sat.

He looked up at her, his face blank. "No. I was just ignoring it."

She crossed the room to the sofa and sat down. She turned to face him, slipping him a small smile. "So, do you hate me now?"

"Oh, I was pissed off at you for ten minutes maybe. You know... kill the messenger," Logan answered.

"Or in this case, the nosy messenger... rooting around in stuff that's none of her business," Max apologized.

"First time Val played me, ended our marriage and it was shame on her. This time, it's shame on me. Well, at least she's sober. Now, she's really got to live with herself. The truth is, it's more embarrassing than anything else. Having to face the fact that I keep wanting to believe in something that was never there in the first place," Logan admitted quietly. He turned away from Max and wheeled over to the window.

"I know the feeling. Hooked up with Zack."

Logan turned back to face her, a look of surprise on his face. "Sounds like it didn't turn out the way you wanted."

"After all these years of waiting and wondering I guess I expected-- I don't know...that finding Zack would change everything. My life would finally make sense. Pretty stupid of me, huh? I just wanted somebody that was like me. Someone I can connect with."

"Basic human impulse-- not wanting to be alone," Logan answered, his voice serious.

"According to Zack, it's phony sentimentality. We're soldiers. This is enemy territory. We're constantly on the move. That's one way to live your life. I just don't know if I want to do that anymore. But maybe he's right. Maybe I don't have a choice," Max responded, resigned.

The room filled with light as lightning crossed the sky again.

"There's some food in the kitchen if you're hungry," Logan offered, pointing toward the kitchen.

"Not really."

"Me neither. What time is it?" Logan asked.

"Late," Max answered.

"You can crash here if you want. In the guest room," Logan jerked his head, indicating the therapy room.

"Not tired," Max answered. That was a guest room?

"Me neither. Feel like going for a spin in the park?" he asked.

"It's raining."

"I don't mind."

"Me neither."

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Max followed Logan out of the building and onto the sidewalk. He had slipped a blue rain jacket on and pulled up the hood once they got outside. It made it hard to talk to him, so Max simply followed him.

He looked good. Damned good and so carefree. It was like their lives had gotten to a point that was so depressing that they needed to just forget what had happened and take a break.

She needed a break.

Max followed Logan down the street to the corner where he wheeled down the curb cut and then across the street to the entrance to the park. She waited as Logan stopped at the curb and seemed to throw himself back in the chair with his hands gripping the wheels of this chair.

"Shit!" she heard him exclaim. He pivoted the chair and faced her.

"Still can't get up these stupid things," he said, looking frustrated.

Max smiled. "No problem." She grabbed the back of his chair and popped the wheels up over the edge of the curb.

Logan shot her a look, wanting to be mad.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. You just need to keep working on it. Let's go."

Logan didn't respond, but instead followed her into the park. The rain had now slowed to a slight sprinkle and he pushed the hood back off his head.

"So, you want to race?" Max asked, challenging him with a wink.

"I was thinking puddle jumping, actually," Logan returned as he sped past her in his chair. Max ran to catch up as Logan spun his wheels in a puddle and sprayed her with rain water.

"Not fair!" Max exclaimed as she brushed the water from her face.

"Hey, life ain't fair, Maxie," Logan answered as he laughed at her.

"Careful, I could hurt you, Logan Cale," she responded, lightly punching his shoulder.

"You might want to know that I've been working out, lifting weights."

"Ooh, I'm scared," Max said as she danced out of Logan's reach.

"Better beI'm a mean, wild, wheelchair fighting machine."

Max stopped and looked at him. "We're a pair, aren't we?"

Logan nodded. "Yeah, strangely suited for one another."

They were quiet for a moment, then Logan broke the silence.

"So, hot chocolate? Ice cream? Shower?"

"For two?" Max teased.

"I don't mind sharing my hot water," Logan responded.

Max stared at him and then laughed. "I meant hot chocolate for two."

Logan nodded. "I see," then spun his wheels to head toward home. "But I'm getting in the shower first."

Max stood there for a moment, considering her options, then ran to catch up.

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When Max got to the Towers, Logan had already gone up the elevator. She waited for a moment, then headed for the steps. By the time she reached the penthouse, he had gone in, leaving the front door open for her.

As she walked into the apartment and closed the door, she could hear the shower running in Logan's bathroom.

It was now or never. She walked down the hallway, dropping pieces of her wet, muddy clothing with each step. By the time she reached his bedroom, she was naked.

She paused at the door, but it was open. As she walked in, she saw where Logan had dropped his own wet, muddy things. His chair sat empty next to the shower stall. She stood there for a moment, not sure what to do.

"You waiting for an engraved invitation?" his voice came from behind the shower door.

Max smiled and reached for the door. As she opened it, a cloud of steam came out and filled the bathroom around her.

"Get in here, it's cold out there," Logan ordered.

She stepped into the shower and the hot water immediately began beating down on her back, across her breasts and down her body. She looked down where Logan sat on a bench built into the shower.

"Plenty big enough for two, don't you think?" he asked.

Max nodded.

Logan handed her a bar of soap and a cloth. She worked the soap into the cloth and then began washing herself. She rubbed the cloth down her arms, then along her legs and finally up her body and around her neck.

When she finished, she looked down to see that Logan's legs were still muddy from their adventure. She began to work the soap into the cloth again and this time, reached for his leg instead of her own.

She picked his right leg up and braced it against the inside of her thigh. With the cloth, she moved up and down the slender limb, rubbing against the muscles that no longer worked under his control. His thigh twitched slightly and she tightened her grip to keep it in place.

When she finished with the right leg, she switched and began working on the left. With the cloth filled with soap, she washed his foot, noting how smooth and soft it was.

Setting his foot back down, she moved so she was standing with her legs on either side of his. She moved closer until her knees were touching the bench, then bracing her hands on the wall behind him, moved even closer until she was up against his body

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The car honked as it whizzed past her, missing her by mere inches.

"Max?" Logan called to her.

"Fine. I'm fine," she responded and then followed him inside to get rid of their muddy clothes and share some hot chocolate.

To be continued