AS209 Much Ado About Something Chapter One, a dark angel fanfic

AS2.09 Much Ado About Something by Star24 and Lelu2

A/N : The inspiration for the feel of this episode are the classic Nick and Nora Charles movies of the 1940's, only with our own Max and Logan filling in for them! And we want to emphasize that this story is a collaboration - we won't tell you who wrote what, but it is most definitely a two person effort!! Star & Lelu

Chapter 1

Logan looked up at Max. Take it slow, he thought, this is all new to Max. He looked at the curve of her cheek and followed the curve to her beautiful full lips.

"Logan...earth to Logan" Max said smiling at him. She noticed the look he gave her and it made her stomach flutter. Whoa girl, save it for later, she thought. "I was asking what time for dinner 'cause I'm gonna be starved. Normal's on a rampage."

"Oh yeah dinner... eight o'clock?" Logan replied. "Want anything special?"

"Chicken tartare sounds good." Max said with a laugh.

Just as Logan was about to retort, the phone rang. Annoyed he looked at the caller ID and quickly said. "Yeah, what have you got for me?"

Max watched as he quickly switched to Eyes Only mode. Sometimes he amazed her with his ability to change his concentration. Watching as his hands flew across the keyboard, her thoughts drifted to what else those hands were capable of doing.

"Max," Logan said startling Max out of her thoughts. "You okay...you kinda zoned out on me?"

"I'm fine... I was thinking about getting back to work." Oh god how lame is that, she thought as she moved to grab her backpack.

"That's good, I need to take a shower and get going."

"Oh yeah, where you going?" Max asked, instantly curious.

Logan looked at Max, amused. "I'm going to talk to an informant if you must know."

"Someone you know?" Max asked disingenuously.

"No Max, I've never met him, but he has information I need."

"I don't think you should go. It could be dangerous," she replied flatly.

Logan stared at Max flabbergasted. "Max, I can take care of myself. I've been taking care of myself for a while now." He was clearly irritated.

"Logan, you don't know this guy, it could be a setup. What time's the meet? I'll back you up."

"I don't need back up. I can do this without assistance and he specifically asked to meet me alone." Logan's face was red and the vein that stood out when he was angry was very prominent.

"It's just that I don't want you to get hurt. I still remember how the last meet went down." Max said quietly looking down at her hands.

Logan's anger dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. "Max, I'll be okay, really." He smiled at her. "Dinner at eight, okay."

Max looked up at Logan grinned and said, "Sure catch you then, eight sharp." She left as quickly as she had arrived.

Logan looked after her smiled and turned to head for the shower. She's going to follow me, he thought.

Logan Cale, if you think you're taking that meet without me you've lost it. Max thought as she rode the elevator to the lobby.

~~~~

Logan dressed in nondescript clothing and left his building surreptitiously, looking around as he left. He didn't see Max, but he knew she was here; he could feel it. Cats aren't the only ones with a sixth sense, he thought. He put on an olive drab baseball cap, slung a backpack over his shoulder, and started to walk down the street.

From her vantage point Max saw Logan come out of his building, look around, and then head down the street. She grinned and licked her lips, Logan, if you want to play cat and mouse; you picked the wrong cat to play with. Max slipped from the shadow of the building and followed her prey.

Max watched as Logan strolled, seemingly oblivious to the fact he was being followed. She followed easily, staying a distance away on the opposite side of the street. Logan stopped, looking at the wares the street vendors proffered. He'd seen Max and was aware he she was following. He popped into a battered storefront and headed for the back door. When he went through, he quickly changed directions, shifted his backpack to the other shoulder and kept walking.

Max followed him through the shop and out the other side. She looked and saw Logan quickly walking back in the direction he had come from. He crossed the street and slid around a corner. She followed quickly. She was getting irritated; Come on Logan, a child could follow you. God, you do need a caretaker. She continued to follow Logan as he drifted along the street totally oblivious to her.

Logan sauntered along, occasionally stopping and looking into windows. The crowds were picking up and he started to mix more with them as he moved along. He stopped in a doorway and pulled another baseball cap from his backpack, this one a dark blue to replace the olive drab. He also took off his jacket and stepped back into the stream of people. He crossed the street and went into another building.

Max lost him in the crowd, but just for a moment. She picked him up again as he crossed the street. Think you can lose me that quick, think again. She grinned as she got into the game. You can't win Logan, she thought as she waited in the doorway.

Logan grinned as he made Max; he then looked at his watch. Game up, Max, He pulled out his cell phone and made a call. Five minutes later he was walking down the street mixing with the crowds. He began moving faster, trying to lose himself in the crowds.

Max followed, easily trailing Logan and never losing sight of him. Suddenly she heard her name being called. "Max, hey Max wait up." She turned to see Sketchy barreling toward her.

"Not now, Sketchy! I'm busy." Max said distractedly as she continued to survey the crowd. She could still see Logan, but he was getting further away.

She started to follow but was stopped by Sketchy. "Max," he said insistently "I've got a package for you."

"Give it to me and get lost. I'm doing something." Max said snatching the package from him and then taking off down the street looking for signs of Logan. She spotted the dark blue ball cap and started after it. The cap turned down a side street and she followed quickly.

Logan saw her dart down the side street, smiled and pulled the olive drab cap out of his pack, stepping out of the doorway he had slipped into while Sketchy distracted Max. He resumed walking quickly toward his destination.

Max saw the man in the dark blue cap stop and go into a shop. When he came out, Max saw that he wasn't Logan. Furious, she turned to go the way she had come; then she realized that Logan had eluded her. She stood there thinking. You're a dead man Logan Cale.

She looked down at the forgotten envelope in her hand. Frowning she opened it. 'Dinner at eight' in clear handwriting was the only thing on the paper. Max reddened, crumbled the offending paper, and threw it on the ground. She stalked off with thoughts of murder running through her head.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Logan walked down increasingly uninhabited streets. He looked around to make sure he wasn't being tailed. Seeing no one suspicious, he turned into a dingy alleyway. He made his way carefully down the alley, glancing around frequently until he reached his destination. He rapped on a doorway and waited. He heard steps and a voice said through the slatted door "Whatta you want?"

Logan said in a low voice, "I'm looking for Bill Hudson."

The door swung open and to his surprise a spectacular blond stood there and said, "I'm Bill Hudson."

Logan held his surprise well. "You don't look like I expected," he said.

"What did you expect?" she said.

"I expected a man, for one thing." Logan replied dryly.

"Computers are wonderful things, aren't they? Do you have my money?" she asked brusquely, all business.

"Do you have my information?" He countered.

She handed him a set of 3 mini discs. "I think you'll find the information useful. My money?"

"As was specified, half now, half later."

"Agreed. If you want to scan the discs now, I have a computer you can use."

"Actually that won't be necessary, I have one with me." Logan pulled a laptop out of his backpack and booted it up. He quickly scanned the discs. When he was satisfied he turned off the computer. "Everything seems to be in order." Logan put the discs and his computer back in the backpack. He stood and handed an envelope to the woman. "When you get me the other information, I'll have your other half."

"How will I contact you?" She asked.

"The usual way," With that Logan left, leaving the woman standing in the dingy room.

End of Chapter One