Okay there's still a reader for this story so it gets an update. Here it goes...


Chapter Eight

Déjà Vu


"Hey Max isn't that your Sugar Daddy?" Sketch called out.

Max turned to see Logan walking towards her, she'd been here before…

Logan was walking towards her in a brown leather coat, a white button down, chinos and heavy brown boots. All color drained from her face.

"So, this guy walks into the bar and says…"

"We didn't get a chance to finish our conversation the other night"

"Hey are you alright?" he asked placing his hand on her arm

"New coat?" she nodded, amazed she could get the words out of her dry throat.

"No I got it a few weeks back, it's spring, can't keep walking around in black. You sure you're okay?" he asked tilting her head up to look him in the eye.

She shook her head, "Yea it's just-"

"Holy shit," Original Cindy cut her off walking up to them, eying Logan's vertical position, "Max I knew you were good, but not that good."

Logan gave a half smile/half smirk, "I think it would be the other way around, if she managed to put me in the chair."

"I've gotta go," Max said pushing her way past them.

"What'd I say?" Original Cindy asked as they both watched in shock as Max ran up the stairs.

-o-o-o-

"Hey," he found her outside, slumped up against the building, "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, "Just bad memories."

He walked closer and took her in his arms, "Tinga?"

She shook her head and looked up at him through eyes that had become glassy, "You."

"You have bad memories involving me?" he softly teased

"Last time I saw you in Crash, you walked towards me in almost the exact same outfit. Your boots were lighter though, tan instead of brown and your shirt was more of a tee-shirt and it only buttoned at the top."

He looked down even though he couldn't see his outfit and inwardly groaned, he hadn't even remembered what he'd been wearing that day and now he felt incredibly guilty because of it, he tried to soothe her, "Hey did seeing me again really turn out so bad?"

"You're only walking now because of the exo."

"Max, me being paralyzed is my own stupid fault, not yours, never yours. You know that."

"I let you down," her old insecurities had reared their ugly head.

"You didn't even know me," he looked down. "Max this year and knowing you," he shook his head looking for the words, "I wouldn't change anything about it. It's what got us here."

"I hate feeling so weak," she admitted out of the blue.

He pulled her in tight again, "It's okay to be weak sometimes. You've got me and you've got your friends to watch your back."

"We should probably go back in," she said brushing away her tears.

He nodded and started to follow her, being led by her hand, he suddenly stopped and she jerked back and turned to face him. "You're not going to lose any of us Max. Me, Original Cindy, hell even Zack…We're not going anywhere," he said knowing what it was that made her weak, her love for them.

"Zack hates me," she said with a shake of her head.

Logan laughed, "Zack definitely doesn't hate you," he shook his head, "His problem is he loves you a little too much. I'm never going to let you go though, even though he could probably kill me with a flick of his thumb."

"Don't worry," she said with a smile, "I took him once to get back to you. I'll take him again to keep you safe."

He looked down at her perplexed.

"No one was going to keep me from you when you were in the hospital. So I had to put Zack in his place."

"Remind me to stay on your good side," he grinned. "So do I still get to ply you with booze and take advantage of you?"

"Oh booze is definitely the game plan for tonight," she laughed.