Balance

A/N: Many, many thanks to Alaidh for patiently enduring my pestering and handing me a great beta.

Logan had no clue why he was even there. "There" was currently at the side of a sick girl – woman – girl, doing absolutely nothing but sitting and staring. He couldn't do anything else for her but sit there, as Max had asked. Hell, even if she hadn't asked him, he would have done it.

But he still didn't know why.

Ever since that late night they had met, he was doing strange things for unknown reasons. It used to be he could wake up, get coffee, save the world, eat dinner, and maybe take in a basketball game before going to bed and starting the process over. Simple, right?

Ha.

Nope, instead he was skipping dinner, forgetting the coffee, watching someone else save the world, oversleeping in the morning, and lying awake at night, trying to figure out the exact moment his life got so damned complicated.

Max stirred, her face tensing up briefly. He quickly reached over and stroked her hair, trying to calm her. Her face relaxed ever so slightly.

Funny thing was, he already knew the exact moment his life got so damned complicated – when he met her. She should simply have been what she'd said she was - a burglar, a thief, a girl, trying to make a living. Then she had to go jump through a window and ruin it all.

Logan touched her again, even though she hadn't moved.

She took a deep, restless breath. He watched her, motionless, as she took a second deep breath, and finally seemed to settle once more. His hand stilled, and he frowned as he continued thinking.

His curiosity had been piqued, and he searched for answers. His search led to more questions, ones that could only be answered by her. He called her out, left a little "present," and waited.

She didn't disappoint. She reappeared, just as quietly – and somehow just as loudly – as that first meeting. He had figured that, with her being so beautiful, he could seduce information out of her, as he had other beautiful women. He hadn't exactly counted on her seducing him right back. They both knew it was a game – he had no doubts about that. He just managed to call gin, and gain the upper hand.

So he thought.

Before he could do much following up, cars crashed, bullets flew, a child was ripped from his arms, and his life changed forever. Time went by. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Just when he'd almost picked up the stupid phone, deciding that his "silent" calling out was a failure, she reappeared. No explanations or excuses. She was just there.

This time there was no flirtation, no trying to get the upper hand. It was just Max and Logan. Logan and Max. Girl and guy.

But what did that make them?

They really didn't have a title, as far as he could tell. They were more than friends, and certainly less than a couple. He couldn't shoehorn them into any possible slot. Max came and went from his life at sheer will, and possibly based on wind direction – he was still testing that theory – but he really couldn't complain. Logan never told her not to show up, or call first, or even use the damn door. He just let her be.

And he figured that was all he could do. Just sit. Watch. Wait.

Just be.

And look forward to the heck of a ride that was sure to be coming.