My Brother's Keeper

SUMMARY: In SAR, Max had to choose between Logan and Zack. In this story she chooses Zack. This is going to be a dark, disturbing angst filled tale. You've been warned.

RATED: R (Mature Themes, Violence, Language, Sexuality)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dark Angel.

Breaking the News

Original Cindy quietly let herself into her apartment. Her lickety chick from the night before had to be at work at dawn so O.C. left with her. The sun was just starting to come up by the time Original Cindy made it to her apartment.

"Hey boo." O.C. yawned not surprised to see her roommate in the kitchen sipping coffee this early. She was halfway to the bathroom when it registered that Max hadn't answered her back. Spinning around immediately she took a closer look at her friend. "You okay, Max?"

Max was pulled from her thoughts of last night by a feminine voice. "Oh, hey O.C. What's up?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I ain't never seen you this spacey before Boo. Something wrong?" Original Cindy took a step closer to her friend when she noticed the flash of deep emotion in her doe brown eyes. But then it was gone and replaced with a smile.

"Everything's great, O.C. Morning Zack." Max said in one breath.

"Morning." Zack answered from behind Original Cindy who once again spun around abruptly and nearly screamed in surprise. She hadn't heard the blonde X5 sneak up on her. Zack gave a curt nod to the startled woman before moving over to Max, taking her in his arms and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Ugh…wh…huh?" O.C. articulated.

"Oh sorry OC." Max cut an embarrassed look to her roommate before looking back at her brother. "Zack we have to chill cause Original Cindy is not too big on PDA. Sides I have to get ready for work." Max pulled away from Zack and darted over to OC and grabbed her hand pulling her towards the bathroom.

"OC wanna show me where you hid my loofa."

"Can't say I'm surprised. Alec said six dollar man had a thing for you. Just didn't know it was mutual." Original Cindy commented once the bathroom door was shut.

"It's complicated." Max sighed after turning on the shower.

"You got that right. He's Sam. He's Zack. He's dead. He's alive. He's your brother now he's your lov—

"I know." Max cut in.

"Sorry, sugah. Original Cindy can tell you ain't got this all figured out.

Can I just ask you one question though?" Max stopped fidgeting with her robe and looked at the other woman. She then nodded and Original Cindy asked the dreaded question.

"What about Logan?"

It's better this way. We can't touch. It's for his own good. Those were the words she had said to Original Cindy and the words she kept repeating in her head as she made the journey to Logan's front door.

"Hey Max." Logan beamed as he wheeled into the living room. He was in the kitchen when he heard the tell tale clinking of his lock being picked.

"Exo damaged?"

"Ugh no." Logan shook his head. "My body just needs a break from it every now and then."

"Right."

For some reason his being in the chair made what she had to tell him even harder. She always said being in the wheelchair didn't matter to her. But that wasn't exactly true. If she hadn't been so self involved and indifferent to the troubles of others she could have been there for him. She could have prevented that bullet from hitting him. She could have saved him. Seeing the result of that day over a year ago served as a constant reminder. Even though she could always hear the gears of the exoskeleton, seeing him walking around like when they first met lessened the guilt considerably.

"So everything okay with Zack."

"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

Max turned away from the innocent curiosity in Logan's blue eyes and walked towards the window. She wasn't sure if she could look at him when she said this. The tears were already gathering and if she was going to do this she had to do it right. She had to convince Logan that a life with Zack was what she wanted and that from now on a distant friendship was all they could have between them.

Max took a deep breath and then turned back around.

She made it down five flights of steps before dropping heavily onto one. Tears streaming down her face and small frame convulsing near violently were her body's visible show of the grief and sadness she was feeling. She didn't make a sound though. She learned at an early age how to cry silently. But nothing in Manticore had prepared her for this battle. The devastation on Logan's face was almost more than she could take.

It's better this way. We can't touch. It's for his own good. Again those words repeated in Max's head. After the fifth time she actually started to believe them again. They gave her the strength to wipe her eyes and stand. By the time she made it to the ground floor her mask of indifference was back in place.

"What are you doing here Zack?" Max asked surprised to see him standing in front of Fogle Towers.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing." Max cut off her engine and looked sharply at Zack a little startled by hisbrusque tone of voice.

"Logan paged me earlier. Needed to talk to me about something." She mumbled.

"Ever heard of a phone."

"Zack, seriously, what are you doing here? Did you follow me?"

"Sorry. I was bored." Zack shrugged. He then gently cupped her cheek. "I worry about you Maxie. I just want you safe and I feel better when I know where you are."

"That's sweet Zack." Max smiled briefly beforepulling away and restarting the engine. "But I'm fine really. I can take careof myself. Come on. If you're bored I think I can find something for you to do."

"Oh really." Zack smirked.

"Down boy. Nothing like that. I just gotta stop by work first."

"So, how's the dream coming?" Alec asked after coming up behind Max and Zack when he saw Normal had walked away.

"What are you talking about?" Max asked irritated.

"Well you're here, with Zack, I assume it's to get him a job." Alec gestured in Normal's direction. "Remember last night at Crash, we talked about what to do with bionic boy, no offense." Alec's last two words were directed at Zack.
"Oh." Max nodded then shook her head. "No. He can't work here. Normal won't have it. They kinda have history." She explained.

"What?" Alec raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Long story. I'll tell you later. Anyways, I know of another place in Sector 6 that's hiring." Max looked up at Zack. "You up for trying to find a job somewhere else."

"Sounds good." Zack smiled.

"Let's blaze." Max said and then headed for the exit with Zack following. Alec and Original Cindy watched Sketchy nearly crash into the two transgenics as he came barreling in on his bike. Alec burst out laughing only to have it die in his throat when he saw Zack's hand slip into Max's after he pulled her out of Sketchy's path. Zack then kissed Max on the cheek before leading her out of Jam Pony with their hands still joined.

"Okay what the hell did I just see?"

"Yep. Soldier boy and my boo been getting down."

"Zack and Max doing the nasty!" Sketchy exclaimed when he joined his two friends. Alec clenched his jaw as he continued to stare at the spot where Max and Zack had stood moments before. Original Cindy watched Alec in surprise.

Max and Alec had always bickered like school children. She wasn't the only one that thought that there was more to it, foreplay and such. But Alec was always catting around with so many girls, O.C. thought maybe that's just how transgenics acted towards one another, no hidden lust involved. But now seeing what could easily be called jealousy as he watched Zack caress Max's face, OC wasn't so sure she had been wrong in her first assumptions.

"Since when?" Sketchy continued.

"Don't know the when exactly just the what." OC answered.

"Yeah, well, Zack's a brave man taking on our Maxie." Alec smirked but Original Cindy didn't miss how his quip was devoid of its usual teasing tone. "I wish him good luck."

With that, Alec grabbed a package from Normal's desk and quickly exited Jam Pony.

TBC