AS208 Pong Chapter Eleven, a dark angel fanfic

AS 2.08 Pong by Star 24

Chapter Eleven

Fogle Towers

As soon as they arrived at Logan's penthouse, he headed straight for his computers. Max took Mina to the guestroom and settled her in. She found an old sweatshirt of Logan's that Mina could use and made sure she had plenty of towels and shampoo, and then left her to shower and sleep.

"What do you have?" she asked softly, walking up behind Logan, who sat engrossed in the screen in front of him.

Logan jumped slightly at Max's soft words. He had been so involved in what he was reading that he hadn't heard her come up behind him. He supposed that was okay when Max was around, but he made a note to be more careful when he was alone in the apartment. He swiveled his chair and found himself looking up at Max, who was standing close enough for his knees to brush against her legs.

Their eyes met and held. Logan froze as all thoughts of the box and their present mission fled his mind.

Max's eyes reflected the same pain and confusion, mixed with something else, that he felt himself. He wondered if she could read his feelings as easily as he could hers.

Logan started to reach out to her. "Max." To his surprise his voice was hoarse.

Max stood frozen as she felt Logan's knees brush against her legs. He was looking up at her, his face carefully void of emotion, but his eyes spoke volumes. She could see the pain and confusion he was experiencing, but along with it she saw something else. Something she was afraid to identify.

Logan lifted his hand as if he was going to touch her and spoke her name in a hoarse voice. Max held her breath, fighting against the hope that was beating inside of her, trying to get out. Before Logan could continue, the computer behind him began to beep, signaling an incoming email.

Logan sighed, so softly that Max wouldn't have caught it if she didn't have enhanced hearing. His hand briefly brushed hers and then he turned his chair back to his computer and grabbed the mouse. With a click of the mouse he had the email open on the screen in front of him.

Max leaned in over his shoulder greedily breathing in his familiar fragrance, and read the email along with him.

The email was from the sender of the message that had started her on the hunt for the steel box that now sat in the middle of Logan's living room, VisionWA.

Received and forwarded your information about the location of the package and am advised there will be a pickup at 0400 hours today. Due to the value the package will be given top priority handling.

"What do you make of that?" Logan looked up at her with a slight smile on his face.

"You think Vision is a plant of Lydecker's?" Max answered his question with one of her own.

"I know he is. I ran a trace on the original email while you were settling Mina in. Deck's good but I'm better. It came from Manticore, no doubt about it." Logan had a satisfied look on his face.

For a moment Max forgot about the very real issues between them and she reached out and lightly smacked him on the shoulder. "Do I detect a bit of smugness here?" she teased.

Logan raised his eyebrows. "And why not?"

Their eyes met once again as they smiled at each other tentatively. But then Max frowned breaking the moment. "Wait a minute the box is here. You didn't."

"Would I do something that dumb? It's here for now. Remember the meeting I told you about - the trap they set for me? That's the address I gave Vision."

"So our perpetrators instead of dealing with a lone journalist, are going to have a surprise visit from a Manticore Tac team. Nice." Max approved.

"I thought so. Gets the stuff off of our hands safely and I have a feeling that whoever is behind this is no friend of Lydecker's. So." Logan smiled wickedly.

"Let the bad guys fight it out amongst themselves. I like it. Now all I have to do is drop off the box."

"We have to drop off the box." Logan corrected. "You're not going alone, not when we still don't know exactly who these guys are, and not with a Manticore Tac team on its way."

"I didn't think you cared." Max said softly but with an underlying challenge to her words. She held her breath wondering if she should have pushed Logan so soon.

Logan regarded her levelly. "We really do need to have that talk, Max." His mask was back in place, his feelings hidden once again.

Max supposed she should be happy that at least he didn't seem to be as furious at her as he had been, and he did want to talk, but she felt herself growing impatient. She wanted the talk now not later. Somehow she managed to keep her face impassive and her tone casual as she shrugged. "Whenever you want, Logan."

Logan gave her a narrow look but he let it drop. "The pickup time is in four hours. There's one more twist I didn't tell you."

"And that is?"

"There's the reward for the box. How do you feel about taking a bit of money off of our bad guys? Mina could use a college fund when she starts her new life, don't you think?"

Max smiled in approval. "That's perfect. What's the plan?"

"I was thinking a beautiful but dumb blonde um ah." Logan hesitated not quite sure about the next part.

"Ho? Hooker?" Max supplied bluntly. "And would the blonde part be natural or blonde as in a blonde wig? 'Cause I ain't dying my hair, not even for Mina."

Logan ignored her and continued on, "Anyway, you just happened to obtain this box and are delivering it for the offered reward. You drop it off, collect the money and then we get out of there before the party starts."

Max pouted. "No kickin' ass?" she said in mock disappointment.

"Not unless you plan on a reunion with your favorite Colonel. Dazzling them with your, ahem, smile will have to do." Logan tossed back.

"What's your part in this?"

"I'm your pimp. I deliver you to the pickup spot and wait while you get the money." Logan said.

"Not in what you call a car." Max said. "That'll blow it right there. No self-respecting pimp would be caught dead in that."

"Already taken care of. I set that up while you were busy with Mina." Logan informed her.

"Mina. We can't leave her here alone." Max said.

Logan frowned. "You're right. That wouldn't be smart."

It was Max's turn to smile. "I'll get OC to come over to keep an eye on things while we're gone."

Logan started to say something but stopped. For the first time that night he had a look of real worry on his face.

"She won't kick your ass tonight." Max said cheerfully. "I won't let her. But that's only because I want to do this for Mina."

Logan started to answer but then decided he'd be better off letting it drop. "Fine. Get her over here and then you need to get dressed for the meet. I'll put your clothes out in my bedroom while you call Original Cindy."

Max grinned as she flipped open her cell phone and walked to the other room to call her friend, leaving Logan to finalize the arrangements.

End of Chapter Eleven