Triangle

Disclaimer: I don't own them coz if I did, then there would be a third season! Rating: PG Summary: Max, Logan and Alec – join the dots Pairing: M/L/A Author's note: I'm not particularly good at writing fanfics but I enjoy them, so why the heck not hey? This is my third DA fic but the first one I'm putting on the net, so please read and review!!!!

Chapter Eight

Max dumped her stuff in her locker with a thud and slammed it shut.

"So, I take it you're still angry?" Max turned around to look up at Alec, who for once didn't have a sarcastic grin plastered across his face.

"Gee Alec, I wonder what gave that away?"

Turning back away from Alec, she picked up her leather jacket and started to put it on.

"So where you headin'?" he asked.

"Crash, I think it's time to get drunk," she said walking passed him. Alec reflexively grabbed her wrist before she could get any further.

"What?" she spat out.

"Getting drunk doesn't help," he said sincerely.

"Oh and I suppose you know what does?" Max said getting more irritated by the minute.

"Come on," he said tugging her as he moved forward but Max stood firmly in place. Alec looked back at her, "just trust me ok, this is better than getting drunk."

He studied Max's face as a moment of indecision crossed her features, "well at least tell me where we're going?"

"You'll see," Alec winked.

Max rolled her eyes as she jerked herself free from Alec's grip. "You better not be messing with me," she muttered as she followed Alec out of the building to their waiting motorbikes.

"How much further?" moaned Max as they both sped their way along what seemed a never ending road surrounded by forest. They were at least a couple of kilometres out of Seattle and Max although somewhat intrigued was also prepared to beat the crap out of Alec if this turned out to be some stupid joke of his.

"Ok, ok stop up there," Alec finally spoke, as he motioned to the side of the road. Both motorbikes came to a halt and the now switched off engines helped to amplify the silence that captured the area.

"What now?" whispered Max.

"Why you whispering?" Alec whispered back.

"You are too," Max whispered again.

"Ok, whatever," Alec said his voice gaining a little volume, "just follow me."

Max sighed as she followed him into the dark forest, 'he better know where he's going,' she prayed silently. She did not want to get lost in the forest with Alec. That would be her worst nightmare. 'Would it?' Shit! Max nearly swore out loud as she was struck by her thought. 'Course it would!' she reassured herself, 'right?' Just as she was about to start another argument with her inner self, Alec interrupted her.

"Here we are," he smiled proudly.

"What!" Max yelled. "The middle of a forest? This is what you wanted to show me?" If she had been angry before, she was more like an erupting volcano now.

Alec laughed, "Yeah, coz I actually like seeing you mad." His laugh died to a sigh, "No of course not."

"Then what?" Max asked softening her tone.

"See this tree here."

Max looked up at the tree Alec was standing against, "yeah, what about it?"

"Honestly Max," he smirked, "look at all the other ones."

"Yeah, so they're all trees, and the point is?" she said as she spun around quickly on the spot.

"Ok Max, look at the branches."

Max looked up to look at the branches, not that it was particularly easy, even with the moon shining directly above them. "So they're all high branches on very tall trees," she said not at all getting Alec's point.

"Exactly," he said.

"What?" Max asked even more confused.

"All the trees have tall trunks with high branches, except this one," he said patting the tree he was standing up against.

Max, now that she looked more carefully, noticed he was right. The branches were low and curved round, setting itself apart from the rest of them. "So?" she asked far more intrigued although she wouldn't let him know that.

"So," Alec said as he got one foot up onto the branch and reached up and grabbed a higher branch, "you can climb it." Kicking off from the ground, Alec swung up onto the tree.

Max laughed, "so we're here to climb a tree?"

"Not any old tree, Maxie. You're gonna have to get up here and see for yourself."

"Can I just say that this is incredibly stupid," Max muttered as she swung herself up onto the branches.

"Don't diss it, till you've seen it," Alec said, as he sat down on a much higher branch. "Are you sure this can hold us both?" Max asked as she finally climbed up onto the higher branches.

"Max, I don't think you're that heavy."

"Yeah but you . . ." Max stopped halfway through her sentence as she sat herself down and looked in the direction of Alec's gaze.

"Wow," was the only word that escaped her lips. Alec's smile widened.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

For acres in front of them were tall, luscious deciduous trees. Max's eyes swept across the sea of trees below them, and her eyes finally came to rest on the glacier topped mountains that lined the horizon. The moonlight and starlight shining above them caused the tops of the mountains to sparkle and illuminated the sheer magnitude of the now silvery landscape before them. "You should see it at sunrise," Alec whispered.

"Can we?" Max asked turning to look at him in profile.

"Hey you don't have to ask me."

"So how comes you knew about this place?"

Alec looked down into his lap and then back towards the horizon. "After," his voice was so quiet, Max wasn't sure she had heard him, "after Rachel died . . . I just needed to get away and think."

Max felt her chest constrict as she watched Alec's moonlit features form a solemn expression.

"I couldn't use Space Needle, well it's your space, so I just went for a ride and ended up here," he shrugged, his arms still holding onto the branch.

"I'm sorry," Max said, the words sounding awfully empty.

"Well anyway," Alec started, his voice louder, "I'm supposed to be helping you get over your anger."

"Oh yeah, I'm definitely calm now," Max said, once again taking in the breathtaking view.

"You know, maybe Logan really did forget."

Max sighed, "Maybe."

"All I can say is, is it really worth risking your own happiness on one stupid mistake?" The look on Alec's face was entirely serious but amongst the depth of his eyes lingered a sense of insurmountable sadness.

"Since when did you get this wise?"

"I always was Max, I just never let you know."

"Thanks"

"Well I didn't want another reason for you to get mad at me."

"No, I mean . . . thanks for . . . this." Max said, knowing there was no word to describe how she was feeling at this very moment.

Alec turned to look at her, before smiling very genuinely. "It was the least I could do."

"But still, thank you."

Alec nodded as Max's words still hung in the air. Max felt almost weightless sitting up in the sky. The rare genuine smile, she had received from Alec, together with the turmoil of emotions inside her, just added to the very pleasant phenomenon. Both transgenics sat in utter silence for the next few hours, as they waited patiently for the arrival of the new day.

A/N 2 - Ok, I have absolutely no idea where the tree idea came from but let me know what you thought! Can I also say a massive thank you to all my reviewers so far and unless you haven't guessed so far, this will turn out M/A!