Author's Note: I'm sorry that some of you feel that there isn't enough Max/Logan interaction in my story, but I have to remind you that this story really focuses on Alec and Kris. However, the timing of the comments was interesting since I had already written this chapter before I read them, and this chapter and a couple chapters afterwards are filled with Max/Logan goodness. So, I hope this story keeps both the Alec/Kris fans and Max/Logan fans happy. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review! Thanks!

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"Normal, sir, I was wondering...oh my God!" Kris said, alarmed, looking the cover of what Normal was reading.

He jumped, looked at the cover, and understood. "Yeah, isn't it disgusting? These damned monsters are running all over Seattle. They call them transgenetics...man made," Normal explained.

Kris just stared at the picture of Joshua, a million questions whizzing through her mind. It had been four months since the Sean incident and she was doing well. Eventually, she found peace with the situation, but it took a lot of work and a lot of time. But now, something was terribly wrong.

People knew about Joshua, and it was only a matter of time before they knew about the X-series, putting Max and Alec at risk.

"I don't think they're real, sir," Kris said confidently.

"What? This dog-looking one has been spotted snooping around at night more than once. He's probably looking for little children to eat or something," Normal replied contemptuously.

Kris wanted to yell back that Joshua would never do such a thing. He was a considerate, generous person. She liked Joshua a lot; he had made macaroni and hot dogs for her and Alec a couple of times.

"Don't dogs like kibble, sir?" was all she could think to say.

Normal thought about it and asked, "Don't you have any packages to deliver?"

"Yes, sir," Kris said, grabbing a package to deliver with Alec.

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"Alec, this is really freaky," Kris said as they passed a newsstand with Joshua's picture plastered on every tabloid.

"Yeah, Max is trying to find out how this happened," Alec said, trying to hide his nerves.

"The domino effect might come into play. Soon, they may know about the X-series and..."

"Don't worry about it," Alec said casually.

"Alec, I'm serious."

"I know, but just...we'll just have to wait and see," Alec said more seriously.

"They could get to you," Kris said softly.

Alec wrapped an arm around her shoulders, knowing full well that they could get to him. "They aren't gonna get to me. I'm an intelligent, gorgeous, desirable..." he started cockily before Kris nudged him in the ribs.

"Uh huh..." Kris replied incredulously.

"What? You don't think I'm all of those things?" he asked her.

"Oh, you know I do," she said casually as they strolled back into Jam Pony.

"Aw, say it with some feeling," he teased, his arm still around her shoulders.

"Don't make me barf..." Kris replied.

Alec reached down and pinched her side, making her squirm.

"You dork!" she laughed out as he tickled her. She got away and started running around Jam Pony. Alec chased her.

"Hey, kids, take it outside!" Normal said, annoyed.

They didn't listen. Alec still ran after and tickled Kris and she still laughed like crazy.

"Hey!! Lovebirds!! Take it outside!" Normal yelled so everyone at Jam Pony could hear.

Alec and Kris finally stopped after Kris punched him in the arm hard for tickling her for so long. Everyone in Jam Pony was looking at them with a weird expression on their faces.

"We created a scene," Kris said, panting.

"I guess so," Alec commented.

Kris walked over to Normal as if nothing happened. "Here's the receipt, sir," she said, handing him a paper and reaching for another package.

Normal looked at her curiously. "Good work," he said.

"Thanks," Alec said proudly, standing next to Kris.

Kris rolled her eyes and messed up his hair.

"Hey!" Alec said, annoyed. "Not the hair!"

Kris smiled mischievously and ran out the door, package at hand.

"Oh, you are gonna get it..." Alec playfully threatened, running out the door to catch her.

Normal sighed and continued reading the tabloid.

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"They say some of these mutants look just like regular people," Sketchy gossiped to Max, Logan, O.C., Alec, and Kris at The Crash a few weeks later. Since Logan perfected the exoskeleton model, he had been joining them for drinks whenever possible. Kris liked Logan's company, he always gave a different perspective on things. On the days he didn't come to The Crash, Kris wondered what he did. Apparently, he worked for Eyes Only.

Everyone looked at each other uneasily, all knowing about the transgenetics.

"Boo, I think yo head is screwed on backwards," O.C. said after a while.

"No, I'm serious. They can be lurking around anywhere. I mean, they could be in here! I could know some of these monsters!" Sketch said, scared.

"Do you know anyone who might be a monster?" Kris asked him.

Sketchy thought about it. "Well, no..."

"Then you shouldn't have a problem, Sketch," Logan asserted. Max gave him an appreciative smile.

Sketchy thought about it for a while, momentarily convinced he would not have his head eaten by a transgenetic who looked like a normal person.

"Let's go play," Alec said to Kris.

Once they were out of hearing range, Kris said worriedly, "I told you people would find out eventually."

"Relax, no one knows that we exist for sure."

"Thus creating a massive hysteria! Alec, don't you think you and Max should get out of here?" she whispered. It hurt her to ask such a think, but it was for Alec's best interest.

"What?" Alec asked angrily.

"It's not safe here! I don't want something happening to you," she explained.

"I'm not leaving," Alec stated firmly.

"But, Alec..."

"No, Kris," Alec said, cutting her off.

She sighed but wouldn't press the issue further, at least not today. When they finished playing, Kris hopped onto the pool table to face him, her legs dangling, gently kicking Alec's shins..

"So, later, my place or yours?" Kris asked Alec later that day at The Crash, referring to the pizza he owed her and where they would eat it.

"Well, you're moving fast..." Alec teased as he stood in front of her.

She rolled her eyes, and kicked Alec a little harder.

"Hey," he complained.

"Hello, Kris," a voice said behind her.

Alec looked over to see an Asian man about twenty five years of age standing on the other side of the pool table dressed in a gray silk sweater and black pants.

Kris tentatively turned around and her eyes lit up. "Jacob!" she exclaimed happily, walking on top of the pool table to leap into his arms.

"Hey," the man said while hugging her.

"Oh my God, what are you doing here?" she asked him excitedly once he released her. He looked different to her. He no longer wore glasses, probably replaced them with contacts, and his hair was cut short and clean.

"I came to see you. You're a hard girl to find," he said.

"Wow, oh geez, I'm sorry, I hafta introduce you to my friends," she said, leading him over to the table. "Jacob, this is Max, Logan, O.C., Sketchy, and Alec. Guys, this is Jacob, my friend from L.A.," Kris said as Jacob shook everyone's hands.

When Jacob and Alec shook hands, Jacob asked him, "Are you Kris' boyfriend?"

As much as Alec wanted to say yes, he shook his head. "No, we're friends."

"So, Jacob, what brings you to Seattle?" Logan asked, trying to make polite conversation.

Jacob sat down and said, "Well, Kris left without a trace almost a year ago. It took me this long to find out she was in Seattle. I just wanted to make sure she was alright," he said.

"An expensive expedition," Logan commented protectively. He wasn't sure if this man could be trusted, considering the last man from Kris' past was a Familiar.

"My father owns a successful medical company that has licenses with the government; we're comfortable enough so I could afford the trip. In addition, I had to attend a conference here today," Jacob replied.

Logan looked at Max, briefly catching her eye. "What kind of medicine?" Logan asked innocently.

"Oh, well, mostly vaccines for soldiers and government officials," Jacob answered.

"Like vaccines for viruses?" Max asked, catching on to what Logan was hinting at.

"Well, yes, we supply the AIDS vaccine, for example, to people traveling overseas."

Kris looked at Max and Logan curiously. "How long are you going to be here?" Kris asked Jacob.

"For a week."

"Do you have a place to stay?" she asked.

"I was going to get a place at the motel down the street," Jacob asked.

"Don't you have enough money for the Marriott?" Alec asked suspiciously.

Kris frowned at him. "Stay with me. It's not much, but it'll be better than the motel," she said quickly.

Alec scowled. He wouldn't be able to crash on her couch for a week. Alec grew jealous. Jacob would be sleeping on the couch and not the bed, right?

"Okay, that would be great," Jacob said. "I came from New York from a previous conference. I'm sort of tired right now," he said.

"Oh, okay, we'll get you settled in then," she said getting up.

"It was a pleasure meeting all of you," Jacob said politely.

"We'll reschedule," Kris whispered to Alec. Alec nodded sadly.

They all said their goodbyes and Jacob and Kris left.

"I don't like him," Alec stated.

"You wouldn't, would you," Max said vaguely, possibilities swirling in her mind. Logan was silent with thoughts.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alec asked defensively.

"Just that you're jealous of him and the fact that he's wealthy," O.C. explained.

It was true, but Alec replied, "Whatever."

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"So, seriously, Jacob, why are you here? I mean, you were never one for staying at a place once the conference is over," Kris asked once he was settled on her couch.

"I told you. I wanted to find you. Kris, when you left so abruptly, I...I was devastated," he replied. "And besides, I had no one to help me out with my research," he added facetiously.

Kris laughed. "Gimme a break, you're the one with the college education. But I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I mean, you helped me out so much, I didn't want to depend on your family anymore," she said.

"Are you kidding me? My father adores you," Jacob said.

Kris smiled. "Well, the feeling is mutual."

"I missed you," he confessed. "I didn't know where you went or if you were even alive."

She looked down. "I'm sorry, I just thought it would be better if I severed all ties to L.A."

"I understood that, but I didn't like it," he replied.

She smiled. "It's really good to see you though."

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"Okisawa is his last name. He's my friend, Alec," Kris said the next day, slightly annoyed because Alec was giving her the third degree regarding Jacob.

"I know that much. But what does he want? Were you guys involved...?"

"No, no, Alec. Geez, no. It was never like that. After Sean died, I was a wreck. Jacob's dad and my dad were high school friends. My parents died in that car crash when I was sixteen and then Sean died a couple years later. And so, there I was, almost twenty years old and a mess. So, Jacob's family took me in, and I lived in their house for three months. It was more like a mansion. But anyway, I realized that I didn't want to be in L.A. anymore so I left a note thanking them profusely for their help and love and left. I eventually made it here," she explain.

Alec thought about it. They never talked much about Kris' past. He knew her parents died a few months before she met Sean, but Kris never mentioned Jacob.

"How come you never talked about Jacob?" he asked.

"Cause I didn't like talking about my past, period. You know that," she said.

"Yeah, well, your past is talking to Normal," Alec commented dryly.

"What?" she said, looking at Normal. Sure enough, Jacob was there talking with her boss.

"Hey," Jacob said, kissing her on the cheek. Alec sneered, she never let him kiss her on the cheek. Then again, he never asked.

"Hi, you were sleeping, I didn't wanna wake you," she said.

"Yeah, thanks. Listen, Normal says that you could have the day off. We could spend that time together," Jacob said.

"Oh, cool, thanks a lot, Normal, sir," Kris said respectfully.

"Sure thing," Normal said. Normal liked Kris practically as much as he liked Alec, which was saying a lot.

Alec watched Kris leave with Jacob, his hand on her back. What gave him the right to touch her like that? Probably the fact that he was rich and sophisticated...what girl wouldn't want that? Alec sighed. He was a poor transgenetic who got drunk and slept around. There was no way he could compete.

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"Wow," Kris said. In front of her eyes was a white stretch limo waiting for them.

"You like it?" Jacob asked.

"Uh, you could say that," she replied. While she stayed with Jacob's family she never went out and so therefore had never been in a limo before.

"Get in, get in," he urged.

She listened and got in. The seats were so cushioned and it was wonderfully spacious.

"Have something to drink," he suggested, giving her a glass of champagne.

She took it hesitantly. Well, one glass wouldn't get her drunk.

"So, um, do you like it here?" Jacob asked Kris.

"Yes, I do," she said.

"But it's so rainy," Jacob said, looking out the tinted window at the dreary skyline.

"That's alright," she replied. "So, where are we going?"

"Art museum," Jacob said.

"Oh, great. I've never been there."

"I figured," he said quietly.

"What?"

"Well, it's just that your friends don't seem very interested in something like art," he explained quickly.

She frowned. "That's a little quick to judge, don't you think?" she asked, a little touchy. Joshua was a wonderful artist, but then again, she wasn't about to get into a conversation about a man with canine DNA painting beautiful expressionist pieces.

Jacob didn't respond.

"What are you studying now?" she asked him, hoping find a nicer topic to discuss.

"Well, biowarfare, actually," Jacob replied.

"What?" Kris asked, startled.

"Don't get all riled up. We're trying to find vaccines to them, not actually create them," Jacob said.

"Still," Kris started warily. "It's dangerous. You could be creating a whole new agent or you could get hurt, or sick, or die," she rambled.

Jacob smiled. "Nice to know you care," he commented sincerely.

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"Jacob Okisawa, that's what Alec said his name was," Max said, barging into Logan's apartment after work.

Logan typed the name into his computer and tapped his fingers on the table anxiously as he waited for the information to come up. "Got it," he said quickly, scanning the documents on the screen.

Max hurried over to him, careful not to touch his skin, though she desperately wanted to.

"Dr. Jacob Okisawa born in Burbank, California. He's twenty-six years old and graduated from Stanford University at the age of seventeen with a degree in biochemistry. Then got his doctorate from Stanford as well. Currently he works at his father's company, Medex, doing research, but it doesn't say what kind of research it is," Logan said.

"Child genius?" Max asked jokingly.

Logan laughed. "Appears that way..." he trailed off, scrolling down the information. "His record is flawless, not even a speeding ticket."

"Well, I'm not surprised, he doesn't drive," Max commented wryly.

"Huh?"

"He's got a chauffer. Drove up to Jam Pony today in a limo and whisked Kris off her feet," Max explained.

"Hmm."

"What?"

"I can't quite imagine Kris being whisked by a limo. She's too down-too-earth," Logan commented absently.

"Well, she was definitely shocked."

"Were they ever together romantically?" Logan asked, curious.

"Kris and Jacob? No, at least that's what Alec says, but he's not sure."

"Kris doesn't lie," Logan said. "Alec's just feeling insecure."

Mac scoffed. "Right. Whatever." She had no interest in thinking about Alec just then.

"Anyway, I don't like it," Logan concluded, once he scanned Jacob's file.

"What do you mean?"

"Jacob's too perfect. Too smart, too good of a citizen, it's just strange," Logan explained.

"You think he's a Familiar?" Max asked incredulously.

"No, of course not. But, I dunno, this seems too risky," Logan said warily.

Max paced around the living room area of Logan's apartment. "And here I thought you'd be happy!" she said angrily.

"Max, calm down..."

"No, I won't. Damn it, Logan, this is our chance! And you don't even want to pursue it cuz the guy's a nerd who doesn't know how to drive? Please, gimme a break! It's like you don't want to even try," Max said passionately.

"How can you say that?" Logan said, his temper flaring as well.

"Well, it certainly seems that way," Max retorted.

"I'm just thinking about the big picture, that's all. We'd have to explain to Jacob about this virus. You just can't go up to him and say 'hey, I have this virus that's linked to a specific person's DNA and if I touch him, I kill him.' Does Kris even know about the virus?" Logan asked.

"I never told her specifically what happened. She just knows that we aren't together," Max said.

"Exactly, so we'd be bringing in Kris as well. And if something goes wrong, and Kris is involved, how do you think that would make her feel? She's already gone through enough crap to last ten lifetimes. And then the fact that Medex is tied directly to the federal government, the same federal government that might find out about the existence of transgenetics any second, doesn't help the situation either. What happens if Jacob tells someone about this and they come for you? I'd rather you be alive and I can't touch you versus the idea of you locked up in some testing facility," Logan concluded, clearly worried.

Max was speechless. Logan's concern for her made her want to kiss him even more, which didn't help the situation.

"Why don't we ask Kris to come over, see if she thinks Jacob would be willing to help?" Max suggested after a long silence.

Logan sighed. "Alright. We'll take it from there," he said.

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