The Moon is Not Enough by ThePekingNoodle

AN: I'm sorry it's been so long, gentle readers. My vacation was extended a day or two and when I did come back Real Life grabbed me big time (not to mention shaking me pretty hard). Guess you could say I was a pretty limp noodle for a while! Eek! But I'm back to writing and I already have five new chapters of this ready to go. I'll be posting one daily, unless you all are tired of me…

PN

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Chapter Twenty: Circling Cats

In which our heroine and Jondy agree to a tentative truce…

After Logan left the room with Jondy's hair, the two girls sat staring at each other for a few minutes. Jondy finally broke the impasse.

"What happened to you after the escape, Max? Za…um my contact said he couldn't ever locate you. We thought you didn't make it."

Max smiled and answered cautiously. "I was picked up on the highway outside of Gillette by a couple who were passing through the area. They ended up adopting me and raising me as their child. I lived with them until they were killed in an accident a few months ago."

"How did you meet Logan? He said he's known you since you were sixteen."

He was a family friend. We met a few times, but we didn't really get to know each other until after my parents died." Max smiled softly, "then…just say that things happened pretty fast, and so here we are."

Jondy looked at her closely. She was well aware that Max wasn't telling her any details that might be used against her or Logan. "I'm really okay, Max."

Max smiled at her, "You can understand why Logan and I have to be careful, Jondy. Just like I understand why you should be careful with us as well."

"Yeah." Jondy's answering smile had some sadness in it. "Let's make a deal. I don't ask you for any dangerous info and you don't ask me for any. At least until we both feel comfortable."

"Sounds good to me." Max paused. "Do you still do any kind of workout routine? I've kept mine up just to stay in shape."

Jondy laughed. "You better believe I do."

"Want to join me? I like to do it outside whenever I can."

Jondy grinned, "Sounds like a plan. Do you ever spar?"

Max shook her head. "I can't risk it with anyone who doesn't know what I am. Not to mention, it wouldn't be much of a challenge."

"I don't get to do it much, but I do get in a match once or twice a year when…"Jondy stopped. "Whenever I can. Do you want to spar a little after we run through the routine?"

Max's eyes lit up. "You better believe it. Come on, I'll find you something to wear."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While the two girls renewed their acquaintance, Logan was busy on his laptop. He quickly established communication with Sebastian and let him know what he needed from him. After arranging for Sebastian to expedite the DNA analysis he wanted done on Jondy's hair, he snapped the laptop closed. The hair was already in a sealed plastic bag and he slipped it into an envelope, which he addressed to the lab Sebastian wanted to use. Then he grabbed his car keys and jacket and strolled outside. Max and Jondy were still going through their warm ups and he paused to watch for a minute with a smile on his face. Jondy moved with the same feline grace that Max did. She was the only other person Logan had ever seen do so. Zack was smooth and fast, but his movements were somehow heavier, lacking the quicksilver lightness that the two girls displayed.

Logan would have liked to stay and watch, but time was critical if he wanted to catch the mail pickup for the day, so he simply waved to them and called out, "I'm heading in to town to pick up a few supplies. Anything you want while I'm there?"

"Stop at that little bakery and bring us back something sweet." Max replied. "Preferably chocolate."

"Jondy? Anything for you?" Logan asked.

Jondy shook her head. "I'm good."

"I won't be long. We'll have lunch when I get back?" Logan asked.

"Definitely a plan." Max suddenly sprinted over to him and pulled him in for a quick kiss.

Logan was happy to respond, but he shot her a quizzical look.

"Be careful. Until we know…" Max whispered in his ear as she pretended to nuzzle his neck.

Logan smiled, "I've got my cell phone with me. If anything comes up I'll let you know. You do the same."

He turned and walked quickly to the car, leaving Max to return to Jondy and resume their workout.

End of Chapter Twenty