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 Nine

"And what time do you call this?"

Original Cindy had been watching Max in the light of dawn, as she crept into the apartment with all the stealth of a cat.

Max flushed at being caught red handed and smiled apologetically towards Cindy, who was leaned up against the doorway.

"I just went for a ride," Max answered, knowing that she wasn't exactly lying.

"Uh huh," Cindy nodded, obviously not believing her. She knew her girl far too well when it came to telling the truth. Walking into the room, she sat herself down on the sofa and patted the seat next to her, "spill."

Max reluctantly took the seat Cindy had offered and sat fiddling with her jacket.

"So come on the truth girl, where were you?"

Max had two options, either make up some crap and force Cindy to believe it or just tell her the truth,

"I was up in a tree."

Max kept her face as straight as she possibly could as she watched with amusement the look on Cindy's face.

"Up in a tree?"

Max nodded.

"Now that's a new one Max!"

"Well you asked where I was."

Cindy was silent for a while. "You're serious?"

"Yes," Max smiled, "can I go now?"

"Wait a minute, aren't cats supposed to get stuck up in trees?"

Max laughed.

"So you were all by yourself in a tree?"

Cindy ever the perceptive one noticed the brief tensing of Max's jaw and instantly knew the answer to the question, "who?"

"Alec," Max sighed.

There was another bout of silence.

"You were up in a tree with golden boy?" Cindy was having a hard time believing her ears, "Is he still alive?"

Max rolled her eyes, "You know contrary to popular belief, I do not beat the crap out of Alec at every opportunity I get. He's very capable of looking after himself."

"I'll let the fact that you just complimented Alec slip, if you tell me what the hell you were both doing up in a tree for a whole night?"

Taking a big breath, Max tried to give a short explanation, "I went over to see Logan, I was angry at Logan coz apparently he just forgot about dinner yesterday, I wanted to go get myself drunk, Alec had a better idea, we drove to the middle of nowhere, climbed a tree, admired the view, watched a sunrise and then, I got some sleep!" Max said, looking longingly in the direction of her bedroom.

If Cindy had got any of that, she would have laughed, "Girl, could you repeat that slowly?" "Logan got caught up with some S1W business and the dinner party completely slipped his mind."

"So you were angry?"

Max nodded.

"Where does Alec fit in all this?"

"Well I was fuming basically, and thought it would be a good idea to drown myself in alcohol but Alec told me it wouldn't help."

"This coming from a guy who practically lives at the bar?"

Max nodded again, "Anyway he said he had a better idea."

"This was the whole climbing a tree thing?"

"Yeah, like Space Needle's my sanctuary, this was his, especially after Rachel."

Cindy nodded, finally starting to take it seriously. Max temporarily forgot her desire to go crashing into bed as she began to recount what she could only describe as an intense and magical experience, that she would be damned not to go through again.

"Wow," was all Cindy could say as she listened to Max's descriptions. Her superb memory allowing everything she had seen to form a clear and vivid picture in her mind.

". . . so here I am," Max finished.

OC was silent again as she began debating with her inner self.

"What?" Max asked as she watched Cindy's thinking face.

"It's just I've never heard of Alec do anything that sweet before."

Max started to fell uncomfortable under Cindy's watchful eyes, "uh yeah."

"It's just the whole thing sounds so . . . romantic."

Max tried to fight her blushing cheeks, "it wasn't romantic!" she said nonchalantly.

"Honey, a sunrise over mountains is nothing but romantic."

"He was trying to be friend that's all."

"He likes you," she said all of a sudden.

"What!"

"It's obvious!"

"Cindy you're talking a load of crap. We have a very antagonistic relationship: you of all people should know that!"

"That's coz he likes you Max, more than just a friend, and I'm willing to go a leap here and say you like him too."

"Ok Cindy, you've completely lost your mind! So, maybe his less self-centred behaviour has made him slightly more amiable but me having a thing for Alec! That's just ridiculous! Need I remind you, I'm with Logan at the moment?"

"Even so Boo, it doesn't mean you can't have the hots for other guys too."

Max shook her head vigorously, attempting furiously to get some words out of her mouth but Cindy wasn't going to give her the chance. Getting up, she walked back towards her bedroom, "You mark my words Max, you'll figure it out sooner or later."

With that, Max was left alone still completely tongue tied. Make that brain tied as well. Cindy was usually right about these sorts of things but she certainly wasn't right about this! No way.

A/N 2- Thank you to all my reviewers for the last chapter. I'm glad you all liked it!