Disclaimer: Right, so me and Charlie sat down last night and had a long, but serious, discussion. We came to the diplomatic conclusion that I would be insane to think that I own this no longer existent show. (though it exists in our hearts)

Rating: PG-13 for language and violence

Timeframe: Post AJBAC

A/N: Next chapter in a week? Is that what I said? Yeah…I think I lied. L. Sorry about that. But you're still gonna keep reading right?

You'll never stand alone, I'll be standin by

I'll keep you from the cold; I'll hold you when you cry

I'll be there to be strong when you can't find the strength inside

And you, you'll always have a home, in these arms of mine

You'll never stand alone, love is standin by…

--"You'll Never Stand Alone" Whitney Houston

Chapter 9

It's All Coming Back To Me

Max sat on the soft bed, propped up against the backboard by the down pillows. A million thoughts ran through her head, and none of them seemed to make any sense. And those that did make sense didn't have any type of order. Max wanted to regain her memory, but she knew that it was putting a strain on the relationship she had with Logan….whatever that may have been. She promised herself she would ask him later.

All the thinking made her head hurt, and in the end, she resolved to lying herself down again, and taking a short nap.

Logan's eyes were trained on his laptop, his fingers hit the keys, his hand controlled the mouse, but nothing he did was at any sort of conscious level. It was as though his entire body had retained muscle memory and was acting on auto pilot. His mind was on one thing and one thing only. Max.

Everything she had said to him made total sense. He should have gone with her. God knows he wanted to. She could have protected him. In fact, Logan was pretty sure she would have given her life for him, and he considered that a step in the right direction for someone who was genetically engineered to be an emotionless killing machine. If he hadn't been so caught up in his bubble of dejection, he would've noticed that she had wanted him to come. But back then, he was so sure that she was only asking him out of politeness. That thought quickly escalated into the feeling that she thought he couldn't handle living on his own…being in the chair and all. So he brushed off her invitation with some lame excuse about work. Right…I'm sure that makes a girl feel wanted.

It was difficult for Logan to think objectively about something that had happened so many months ago, and so he decided to get his mind off the subject. He pulled away from his computer, and subconsciously headed towards his room.

When he opened the door, he was hit with the sight of Max, asleep soundly in his bed. It worried the journalist a little to see someone who usually needed so little sleep dream the day away, but maybe she was just making up for lost time. He quietly crossed the room to her side, and pulled the sheets up over her. Maybe she'll feel better when she wakes up. Logan pulled a sheet of paper from the top drawer of his bedside night table, and wrote Max a quick note.

Max,

Ran to the store to grab some things for dinner. Help yourself to anything you need. Be back soon.

Logan

He put it on the night table, and taking a last glance at Max, left the room.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max's head was filled with misty memories and doubtful dreams. Her lack of recollection only served to further hinder her from distinguishing between the two. In her sleep, she tossed and turned, a thin sheet of sweat covered her forehead. Try though she might, she couldn't wake up…

Running…running through the dark…being chased…faster…they were after her…she'd never go back…a thunderous crack as the ice broke…wind knocked out…can't breathe…icy grave…

Her dress fit like a glove…the setting was perfect…he was perfect…nothing mattered more than their being together…dancing to music that only they could hear…Sibelius…it's so sad…

Standing at attention for hours on end…State your designation!...My name is Max!...can't stand up…need food, need water…need help…Logan where are you…

Max sat straight up in bed, her breathing slightly erratic. "What the hell was that?" she gasped.

-------------------------------------------------

Logan juggled the grocery bags in his arms as he searched his pockets for the keys to his penthouse apartment. He finally located them and made his way into the abode, pushing the door closed with his foot. He made a pit stop in the kitchen to drop off the groceries before deciding to check on Max.

Peeking his head through the door, he took note that the bed was empty, but that the door to his bathroom was shut, and the muffled sound of running water could be heard. She must be in the shower. Logan quickly turned and left, wanting to avoid any awkward situations that might arise if she came out and caught him at his door. Returning to the kitchen, he made a spur of the moment decision on an early dinner and decided to get started.

Cindy would be there soon, and he could only imagine the 'smackdown' that would ensue, following his rushed explanation of Max's memory loss of course.

---------------------------------------------------

Renfro stared at the screen of the television before her. The clear, crisp blue eyes hiding behind the mask of red, white and blue mocking her.

Damn you, Eyes Only…I will find out who you are, and when I do, I promise, there will be hell to pay. She flicked the TV off, and turned quickly in her chair at the knock on her door. For one split second, she almost thought it might be her old commissary Lydecker, but that dream evaporated in smoke when she came back to reality. Deck would have to be the biggest idiot in the world to walk right back into her lap after everything that had happened. The director knew finding him would prove to be a challenge, but it was one worthy of her direct attention.

It took her a moment, after she snapped from her reverie, to realize that whoever was behind her door had been knocking incessantly for the past thirty seconds or so.

"For God's sake, come in already!" she spat.

The door opened, and in walked a guard. He saluted her.

"Ma'am, we have report from the border of Washington. Colonel Lydecker has been spotted."

Renfro's face immediately erupted into a smile. "Well, that's the best news I've heard all day."

-------------------------------------------------------

Lydecker sat waiting patiently behind the steering wheel of the Durango, watching as the guard spoke into his walkie and threw looks at him here and there. If he focused his hearing, he could listen to what was going on…

"Negative," he heard Renfro's voice, "let him pass."

Let me pass? She probably thinks she's locking me in a smaller area. Doesn't she know that I could lose myself in the state of Washington just as easily as I could the rest of the United States

The soldier finally approached him, ignoring the relentless honking of the cars in the line which had grown behind him.

"Sorry about that sir, you're free to go," he said, handing Deck his pass back.

"It's okay son," the older man addressed him with an air of understanding. "You were just following orders." With that, he pulled off and quickly headed toward Seattle. This is it…no more foul-ups…if Manticore doesn't go down, we're all going to die trying.

--------------------------------------------------------

Max and Logan sat through dinner with light conversation, and no interruptions. He thought that they might actually be able to get through the night with no problems when the door to his apartment banged open.

"Where's my Boo?" came a loud voice through the kitchen.

A wave of panic hit Logan when he realized he had forgotten all about Original Cindy. That smackdown that he had been contemplating earlier was closer to the horizon than it had ever been. He knew he ought to intercept. So he got up from the table, ignoring the bewildered look that crossed Max's face, and headed into the kitchen.

Cindy was barreling her way through on the way to the dining room. Logan held out a hand to stop her.

"Where's Max?" Cindy asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

"She's in the dining room. We were having dinner."

"Oh, did I interrupt something?" she asked with a knowing smile on her face.

Yeah, right. I wish… "No, it's just, there's something I think you oughta know before you go see her."

The tough girl eyed him with suspicion, waiting for him to continue.

He took a deep breath and started. "Max doesn't—"

And of course, the X5 spoken of chose that moment to come into the room to see what all the commotion was about.

"Max!" Cindy exclaimed.

Max's eyes widened a little in recognition. "Cindy," she whispered. Max's best friend dropped her bag on the floor, and crossed the room in two seconds flat to wrap her in a big, bear hug.

Logan stood and watched the scene before him with interest…oh, and pain.

"Max," he whispered. "You remember her?"

Max looked at him with a little smile, not fully understanding the implications of what she was about to say to him. "She's my best friend."

He stood speechless. Every word cut through him like a warm knife through butter. "I see," he whispered.

OC looked back and forth between the two. "Is there somethin' ya'll wanna share with Original Cindy, cuz right now, she's feelin' like she's in the middle of the Twilight Zone."

"Max has temporary amnesia." Logan answered her. "Well we hope it's temporary anyway." His voice was a monotonous drone, that wouldn't allow any of the hurt he was experiencing to show through.

"But she remembered me…" Cindy cut herself off, knowing she was going down the wrong path.

"Obviously." He turned and left the room without another word.

"What's eatin him?" Max finally spoke up.

Her best friend turned to look at her. "You don't remember Logan?" she asked her seriously.

The transgenic shook her head. "I thought he might be my brother, but after the way he kissed me, that was definitely out." Original Cindy raised an eyebrow at that. "Then I thought he might be my husband, but neither of us is wearing any wedding rings. I don't know what to think. Why isn't he happy that I remembered you? He's been dying for me to remember something since I woke up."

"I'm sure he is happy, Boo," Cindy answered her, putting an arm around her shoulder and leading her to the empty couch in the living room. "It's just…you and Logan were kinda close. And I think maybe he's a little disappointed that you remembered me, and not him."

It suddenly dawned on Max, and her face gave recognition of it, then showed a hint of anger. "Yeah, but that's not my fault. I didn't ask not to remember him." She sighed. "How close exactly were we?"

Cindy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Boo, the only people who know that are you two…well, I guess just him now that you don't remember."

Max's face fell.

"Don't let it discourage you though. He says it's just temporary, so we'll just have to hope that you remember before the man drives himself crazy." Seeing her best friend smile a little at that, she decided to change the subject, and held out her fist. "So, we still cool?"

The young girl smiled at her, and bumped Cindy's fist with her own. "Like the other side of the pillow."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan sat sulking in his computer chair for what felt like the zillionth time since Max woke up. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he just be happy knowing that something had brought Max happiness? Maybe because he was being selfish. Maybe because he had wanted that 'something that brought Max happiness' to be him. Fate had determined that it wasn't going to work out that way. Go figure. So now he sat, staring at his computer screen, trying desperately to drown out the sound of Max and Cindy's laughter which floated through the door to him from the living room.

It wasn't until he his train of thought had led him down the track to the realization that he hadn't exactly told Cindy that he didn't want her revealing any secrets to Max. That being Eyes Only, Manticore, or otherwise. Right, whatever you have to tell yourself to convince you that you're not just jealous and disappointed that Max remembered Cindy and not you…Logan sat up straight in his chair, trying to figure out a way to get Cindy out of the apartment, without causing too much trouble. He didn't want to kick her out; she was still a friend after all, but Logan didn't want her scaring Max. Wow…scaring Max…that's the biggest oxymoron I've ever heard. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his doorbell, and he quickly sprung to his feet, wondering who could be visiting.

He strolled through his apartment, not necessarily avoiding Cindy and Max, but not looking at them as he passed either, before throwing the door open.

Before him stood Bling, a smile plastered on his face.

"Hey buddy," he said, pushing past Logan softly to get in the house. "Came by to check on the status of our patient. How's she doing?"

Logan made a motion towards the living room where Cindy and Max sat watching the two men.

"Hey Cindy, hey Max, how you doing?" the therapist greeted them.

"I'm okay," she replied. "Cindy just came by to visit."

"Yeah, but I was just bout to leave," OC spoke up, disregarding the look of surprise that Max gave her. "These two need to talk," she addressed Bling.

Logan who had been standing, watching silently finally spoke up. "Cindy, that's not necessary. You don't have to leave."

"Oh, yes I do. And so does Bling." She turned and began to pull him by his shirt towards the door. "Let's go Bling."

"But I just got here…" he protested.

"Will you guys at least come by for lunch tomorrow?" Logan asked quickly. "I thought we could all sit down together. You know, just relax."

"Yeah, we'll be there," Max's best friend answered for both of them, while still tugging a grumbling Bling out the penthouse door. She stopped before exiting, and turned to her two friends. "Ya'll two better work this out, otherwise, Ima lay a 100 original smackdown on your collective asses. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Got it?"

They nodded numbly, and Original Cindy and Bling left the apartment.

Logan turned towards Max, hardly able to believe that they'd been left alone again in the apartment. For some reason, it was different this time. Awkward. Neither he nor Max looked at the other for a few minutes before they both decided to start simultaneously.

"Logan—"

"Max—"

They laughed a little, and it seemed to ease the tension. Logan sat down on the couch, near, but not too close to her. "You first," he suggested.

She smiled at him. "Was it always like this?" she wondered tilting her head at an angle.

Logan knitted his eyebrows. "How?"

"Awkward."

He seemed to think on that for a while. "No," he finally replied. "Not always."

Max laughed a little, before sobering once again. "You know, I really am sorry that I don't remember you. I wish I could. I don't know, I just have this feeling…" she trailed off.

"What feeling?" he wondered aloud.

She looked him in the eye. "That you're very important to me."

Logan didn't reply, but instead raised his hand to rest on her cheek. "I know what you mean," he whispered back after a moment of silence. He leaned forward, only slightly, not wanting to startle her, and to his pleasant surprise, she did also.

His touch was like electricity on her skin, and Max found herself being able to think of nothing other than the intense blue of his eyes, and the soft male scent that emanated off him. They drew closer, neither wanting to rush, but both feeling a sense of impatience at the agonizingly slow progress towards the long awaited contact.

Max could almost feel his lips on hers. They were centimeters away. His breath was warm and accelerated, and she knew hers was too. How had he made her feel this way before they'd even made contact? Her eyes started to droop. They were close…so close…

"It's good to see you up and about, baby sister."

Damn it. The magic of the moment broken, Logan sat up straight and kept his eyes closed for a moment longer before turning to his intruders. When he opened them, the two X5s were gazing at him and Max with something like amusement in their eyes.

"Krit, Syl." Of course…Manticore always finds a way to ruin the perfect moment. Purposely or not.

Max watched the young girl and boy before her. They couldn't have been much older than her. Yet, they were looking at her as though they knew her. Do I know them? She watched them closely, trying at the same time to seem as though she wasn't staring. It hit her full blast…

Training…in the snow, in the rain, in the sun…in the light, in the dark…solo…as a team.

Run, run, run, as fast as you can…you'll never get away from Manticore…seizures… Jack…can't hold breath any longer, lungs are gonna burst, they won't let us up… Jack, Tinga, Ben, Zane, Zack, Krit, Syl, Jondy…Eva…death surrounding her, as she fought her icy grave, all the while her mind repeating the same mantra- 'I knew splitting up was a bad idea…'

Max approached her brother and sister slowly, before wrapping them in a hug. "Are you guys okay?" she stared at them with concern. "I haven't seen you in forever. Zack wouldn't give me the contact number."

Syl raised an eyebrow. "Max we've only been gone—" she cut herself off when out of the corner of her eye, she caught Logan shaking his head vigorously. Ok, what the hell is going on? She didn't however elaborate on what she had been thinking. Logan on the other hand, interrupted before she could get another word out.

"Max, what do you remember?" he held his breath, waiting for the answer. His knife had been stabbed through for the second time that night. Max had memories triggered by the sight of both her best friend, and then her brother and sister. But seeing him had no affect on her. He let out his breath when Max's answer finally registered in his brain.

"I remember Manticore."

Post: I just wanna thank all my readers and reviewers…you're wonderful. If I could email a hug, I would…but the electrical impulses might not display it the way I want…so we'll just stick to words. You guys rock!

Oh, and get this. Guess what I've decided to be for Halloween? An X5! Fatigues, barcode and all. It's always more expensive than it sounds…