Chapter 3: Back to Normal?

Original Cindy set her coffee cup in the sink on her way into her bedroom. It had been a year since Logan had come with the news of Max's death, and Cindy still couldn't get use to how quite the apartment was at night.A couple of months back she had even taken in another roommate.

Sylvia had been, how to put it, "A little to weird even for Original Cindy's taste." Still, Cindy had kept her around, until she had tried to sell the Ninja to pay for some "medical nessesities." More like street crack. Unfortuanatly, the girl just wouldn't give up. Syl just kept coming back.

It was this reason that OC turned back around to lock the door, muttering, "No one messes with Max's bike."

Logan had a huge smile on his face as he washed the dishes. Asha had just left, and overall, he felt that the night had been a huge success.

Logan's thought slowly started to drift towards Max, but he stopped himself. Max was the past, and Asha was the future. As much as he had loved Max, Logan still knew that the past can't stand in the way of the future.

OC snaped awake. Glancing at the clock she realized it was 3:15. She's only slept for just over 2 hours! She listened into the darkness for a sound. Afterall, something had to have woke her up. She listened, but didn't hear anything.

Flustered, Cindy sat up in bed, swinging her legs so that they touched the floor. She didn't have time to be waking up in the middle of the night, she had to work in the morning. Suddenly, a loud noise.

It was Max's bike starting up! Then a female's voice came, yelling over the roar. "Isn't she a beaut? All black and shiny, and fast! Worth every penny."

It had to be Syl! Trying to sell Max's bike in the middle of the night. Original Cindy grabbed a bat from against the wall, and swinging it over her sholder stormed into the living room. "Hey!" she yelled, ready to take Syl on, but something wasn't right.

Sylvia had short blond hair. This girl, who's back was to OC, had long brown hair. The guy standing next to her, who was facing OC, had short blondish brown hair, it was hard to tell in the light. Either way though, Cindy didn't know him.

The strange girl reach over, and cut the bike's ignition. Smileing she turned. "Hey OC!"

Cindy dropped her jaw and bat. Max! It wasn't possible! "You're alive?" she whispered.

"Unfortunatley," the guy beside her said, rolling his eyes. At the same time that Cindy shot him a death glare, Max smaked him on the head.

"Meet my fellow transgenic Alec." This Alec guy looked shocked. "Don't worry, she already knows."

Cindy just shook her head. This was just all so unbelievable. Finally she reach out, and grabbed Max in a big hug. "So where ya been this whole time boo?" she asked.

"Where else but good ol' Manticore. I'd still be there except that me and Alec here found the oportune moment to escape."

"When?"

"Earlier tonight, they were trying to torch the place."

Cindy was confused. "If ya'll're so valuable, why would they do that?"

Max shrugged, "Got me, the location probably leaked."

"So I guess, that Eyes Only broadcast was right about that 'veteran's hospital'."

Alec was bored at this point, and began wandering the room, looking around, but surprised, Max exclaimed, "Wow, I guess Eyes Only really is a pain in my ass!"

It was Cindy's turn to be surprised. Logan had told her about his being Eyes Only shortly after Max's "supposed" death. "So I guess that means that Logan doesn't know ya back."

Max scrunched up her face in a smirk of confusion, "Who's Logan?"

Who's Logan? Only the suga daddy Max use to spend all her time with. Cindy was confused and wanted to know what game Max was running. "Look, I don't know what your beef is wit him, but that boy was beat up when he thought you died."

Max shrugged, letting OC's words roll off like water. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."

Cindy gave her an inquiring look. She wanted to push it further, but this was a happy time and she didn't need Max starming away. "Fine boo, whatever, if you don't want Logan told, far be it for me to tell him. You have my silence."

"Yeah, good," Max nodded, not really sure what she was agreeing to.

"What I still don't understand is... well you see Log...," Cindy stopped after seeing Max's annoyed face (more annoyed that she didn't know this person) and decided to rephrase her comment. "Well, somebody told me that ya took a bullet to the chest. They said that you died in their arms."

Relaxed again, Max just shrugged, "Not much memory of it ya know, tramatic experience and all. All I know is that I woke up a couple of days after the shooting with a new heart, and the scar to prove it. Although strange enough, the last couple of weeks, the scar has been fading fast."

Original Cindy just sat there nodding her head. "Wow, deep."

There was a deep silence in the room, as everyone seemed to be caught in their own thoughts. However, a huge yawn from Alec, on the other side of the room, seemed to snap Max back to the real world. "Look Cindy," she said, "I understand that you've probably moved on in the last year, but do you think that there's a place for Alec and me to stay tonight?"

Original Cindy let out a laugh, then grabed Max by the sholders, "Boo, this is your apartment. There's a permanent spot for you. Your room's still open, and your clothes are in a box in my room, and as for Alec, he can sleep on the couch, and we'll pick him up some clothes on the way tomorrow."

Max smiled, then inquired, "On our way where?"

"To work of course."

"OC I'm not going back there."

"Sure ya are."

"I've been gone over a year, what would I say?"

"Just leave that to me."

"Hey everybody, Max is back."

Surprisingly, nobody looked up, except for Normal, who came scrambling out from behind the desk. "This is a place of buisness young lady," he said running to block Max's way to the desk," "What are you doing?"

After shooting Alec a 'Can you believe this?' look, she responded. "I'm here to work."

"Look missy, in all my years, I have never heard an excuse good enough to get anybody out of a year of work. Let alone that they had died!"

"Well, what can I say? The rumors of my death were vastley exaggerated." Normal just stared at her then walked back behind the desk. Max angled herself so that only Normal could see her face, let alone alone hear her. "Look I was in a Motorcyle accident. I recieved a heart transplant, but was in a coma until about a week ago."

"Yeah, and do you have any proof? A doctor's note maybe?"

Max rolled her eyes, and then lifted her shirt giving him, and only him, a full chest shot. Normal's jaw dropped. After max pulled her shirt down, and Normal gasped for air, he seemed to recover enough to speak. "Yeah, well get to work, I think Cindy saved you your locket. But who's he?" he asked pointing to Alec.

"Just a bum looking for a job," she smiled.

"We're not hiring."

Max made a fake pouty face. "But he's so fast, and he shares your love for boxing."

Normal rolled his eyes and turned away, "Fine, he's hired. Just have him fill out an application, and get to work! He can ride with you today while you show him the ropes. Now move! BIP BIP BIP!"

Max groaned as she turned to Alec, "See what I get for helping you out."

A/N:

All I can say is WOW! I never ever ever expected that many reviews! I'm almost afraid to put of this chapter, in fear that it doesn't measure up! Well keep up the reviews, and I'll keep the chapters coming! Onto the reviewers.

lucy76: I have to agree, that was very hard for him to do. I hope you keep reading. Max should be meeting up with Logan within the next chapter, two at the most!

huntress k: I don't really like Asha that much either, but she will serve her purposes. I hope ya keep reading, and reviewing!

lady love: I hope I updated it for you fast enough! I'm trying my best here!

teh Kae: I updated again! I really hope you liked this chapter, and that you'll stick around. Max and Logan meet coming up soon!

annie: I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you still do!

Nina 26: I like it to, (but i did write it) I mean, it only makes sense that they would take her to phy-ops right?

VietAngel: I have no idea how you think it'll turn out, but I can promise you this, it will be very very interesting.

Gabbie760: I'm soooo happy that you love it. I hope yous till love it, or at least like it. Please feel free to review again.

Alana84: I'm glad you like it, but like I said I don't like to give out pairings, I think it takes the suspence out of the story. I hopw ya stick around ;-)

darkangel494: Glad you liked it, and I updated too. Yay for both of us!

mel11: :-) Lot's of smiley faces...I really like! I hope you enjoyed this update as well, and please review again! ;-)

nexus432: I always keep writing, you never have to worry about that. Glad you liked the chapter, and I hope that the wait wasn't to long.

Well guys 'til later keep up the good work and review some more!

Jess