Chapter 2

Author's note: I don't know if it was clear, but Logan is still in the chair. Original Cindy knows that Max helps Logan with investigations but doesn't know that he is Eyes Only. Even though Logan has asked Max to move in with him, as of right now Max still lives in her apartment.

-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-

Logan pulls Max into the office. "Matt's pretty sure he found Brian's maternal grandmother."

Max feels her stomach getting upset. "How sure is he?"

"Found a birth certificate for Brian and matched it with a birth certificate for Judy. He also found her death certificate. He gave me the information so we can talk to her. She lives just outside of Ellisville, about an hour away."

"When can we see her?"

"After you get off work. Do you think you can get Original Cindy to come over and hang with Brian?"

"I'll ask her. Speaking of work, I better bounce." Max puts her arms around Logan's neck and sits in his lap. They kiss long, slow and deep. They're interrupted by Max's pager going off.

"That's Original Cindy-her reminder page so I get to work sorta on time."

"You can come here for lunch."

"I'll stop by on my break, but I'm gonna work through lunch so I can get off early."

"When you stop by I'll have something packed for you." Logan gives her another quick kiss.

"Knew you would. Love you." Max gets up and gives Logan one more kiss and strokes his face.

"Love you," Logan replies.

They go back to the kitchen. Brian has finished his breakfast and is building a tower out of paper cups that Bling found for him.

"Heading out?" Bling asks.

"Yeah," Max replies. "Don't want to get fired before I can quit." She goes over to Brian. "What a cool building! Great job kiddo." She ruffles his hair.

"It's your house," Brian informs her.

"I gotta go to work, Brian," Max says.

Brian looks up at her startled, and gets that pouty, just on the verge of crying a look. "You're going away?"

Max pulls him into her arms. "I'm just going to my job. Logan's gonna take care of you till I get back and Bling will hang out for a while too. I'll check on you on my break and I'll call you. Okay?" Brian nods his head. "I need something from you before I can good work."

"What?" Brian asks softly.

"I need the biggest, tightest hug squeeze you can give me so I know how much you're gonna miss me. Can you do that?"

"Yes." Brian wraps his arms and legs around Max and holds tight.

"Oh boy that was the best hug ever!" Brian is smiling now. "Now I've got to give you a million kisses say you know how much I'm gonna miss you." She kisses him all over his face till he starts laughing then Max kisses him some more and blows a raspberry on his cheek. They're both laughing hard. "Will that hold you until I get back?"

"One more," Brian replies, still laughing. Max complies.

Logan and Bling have been watching from the kitchen. Bling notes the resemblance between Max and Brian as well as between Logan and Brian. He smiles.

Logan interrupts so Max can go to work. "Hey Brian- wanna go for a ride? I can do a wheelie." Logan pops the chair into a wheelie.

"Cool!" Brian runs and gets into Logan's lap.

"Say 'later Max'."

"Later Max," Brian mimics.

"Later guys." Max grabs her bike and leaves.

-o-o-o-o-

At work Max updates Original Cindy on the Brian situation and asks if she'll come over. Original Cindy notices a different look about Max, but doesn't mention it to her.

"You know me Boo. Anything for my girl," Original Cindy replies. I wanna see who's got my Boo all sprung, she thinks to herself.

After work Max and Original Cindy arrive at the penthouse. Brian comes running and Max picks him up. She notices that he is wearing new clothes.

"Did you miss me?" Brian nods his head quickly. "How much?" He's squeezes her tight and blows on her cheek. Max laughs. "Guess how much I missed you?" She kisses Brian's all over his face and blows on this neck and belly until he is laughing hysterically.

Original Cindy is thoughtfully observing them and smiling. Funny how she took forever to deal with her emotions with Logan, but one little kid has her as loose and free as I've ever seen her.

Max and Brian stop laughing and catch their breath. Max turns to OC. "This is my best friend of Original Cindy. This is my new friend Brian. Say 'hello Original Cindy'."

"Hello Original Cindy," Brian says bashfully.

"Hey little man. You and only you may call me Cindy."

"Original Cindy is having dinner with us. Speaking of, I don't smell anything."

Logan comes in and Max bends down for a kiss. "Hey Original Cindy-help yourself to something to drink, but we're going out to dinner."

Max puts Brian down. "Let me go get changed." Logan follows her to the bedroom. "What's up?" she asks as she begins pulling off work clothes.

"I was thinking ..." Logan gets distracted by the sight of her smooth golden skin. "... uh ... I was thinking ..."

"You gonna share?" as Max steps into a pair black jeans she notices the way he looks at her then looks away. God I love this man, she thinks. Better give him a break and put my shirt on.

"I was thinking we could find a place near the grandmother's house for dinner, and if everything goes okay we could bring Brian over to meet her. If not we'll have had a nice time out. "

"Isn't that a bit fast?" Max questions, trying to ignore the sensation of knives twisting in her stomach.

"If she can take him, he'll be with family. I know how you are about family. "

Max runs a brush through her hair. "Yeah," She sounds distracted when she replies. "Let's hit it."

Out front, Brian is showing O.C. the new clothes that Logan and Bling got him and the puzzle he was working on. Max hands Brian his jacket. "Let's roll gang."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

At dinner Brian is very animated telling Max about his day: Logan and Bling taking him shopping and to the park and he had a bubble bath in the big tub. Max replies and smiles at him, but Logan and OC can tell she's preoccupied and Logan notices her appetite is less than usual.

Logan interrupts. "Max-"

"Okay. Brian, Logan and I have a quick appointment. You and Original Cindy can stay here and get some ice cream and we'll be right back." She gives him a hug and kiss.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Max blows on his cheek.

"Have fun." Logan gives OC money for dessert and video games. "Page or call us if you need us."

"Go do your thing. Original Cindy's got this."

As Max and Logan approach to grandmother's house, Max is holding her hand over her stomach trying to calm herself.

"May I help you?" The words are spoken by a middle-aged woman with salt and pepper hair, walking with a cane and wearing oxygen tubing around her face. She sounds out of breath.

Logan asks, "Are you Deborah Margolis?"

"Yes," the woman replies.

"Do you have a daughter named Judith Margolis?" Logan continues.

Deborah's eyes get wide. "Yes. Are you the police? Is she in trouble?"

"No, Ma'am. I'm Logan, this is Max and we're investigators. May we come inside?"

"Sure. Be careful you don't trip on the oxygen tubing." Deborah sits in her rocking chair, and gestures to Max to sit on the sofa.

"When did you last talk to Judith?" Logan resumes his questions.

"About six years ago," Deborah replies. "She'd been seeing this guy I didn't like after her father died, wanted the attention I guess. We had it out one night and I told her if she didn't like the rules she could leave. Haven't seen or heard from her since. Has something happened to her?"

"She must have been pregnant or gotten pregnant soon after, she has a 5 and 1/2 year-old son," Logan tells her.

"I have a grandson?"

Max finally speaks up. "His name is Brian and he's adorable."

"Does Judy need money?"

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," Logan takes a breath before continuing, "but Judith died a few months ago." Deborah gasps and gets tears in her eyes. "The death certificate said complications from pneumonia."

Max goes and kneels beside Deborah and holds her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"Now I'll never get to patch things up with her!" She cries for a while then wipes her eyes. "What happens to Brian?" Deborah is struggling to breathe.

"That is why we're here," Logan answers. "We were trying to find him a home. You're the only relative we've found and we have no information on the father or his side of the family."

Deborah waves her hand dismissively. "Trust me, that's a good thing-they're all a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholics, if any are even alive."

"You legally have the right to take Brian," Logan tells her.

At those words, Max feels like the knives are twisting further in.

Deborah starts crying again. "I would love to take him, but my health is too bad. Couldn't take care of him the way he deserves... where is he now?"

"He's been with us since we found him," Max informs her. "Then the detective found you."

"Since you are investigators, can't you find him a good home, maybe even one close by so I could visit?" Deborah pleads.

"I'll discuss it with the detective and our lawyer and get back to you," Logan replies. "Would you like to meet Brian?"

"0h yes." Deborah starts to look a little less sad. "Thank you."

"We'll go get him." Logan starts moving toward the door.

Max gets up and notices a picture with a younger girl sitting on a swing. "Is that Judith?"

"That's her, before the teen rebellion set in."

"We'll be right back."

... Max and Logan return with Brian and Original Cindy. Brian holds tight to Max's hand while Original Cindy is introduced to Deborah.

Max bends down to Brian's level. "Brian this is your mom's mother, Deborah, your grandmother."

"Hello Brian," Deborah says gently. "You sure look like your mama."

Brian leans closer to Max. "Mommy said you had a fight with her."

"That's true," Deborah admits. "After I calmed down, I wanted to apologize to her, but I didn't know where she was."

"Mommy said she wanted to apologize, but she was afraid you would still be mad."

"I'm not mad at her anymore." She holds out a picture from her table. "This is an old picture of us together." Brian takes it. "You can look in her old room if you want to."

Max and Original Cindy take Brian to go look at the room. Deborah talks to Logan.

"If there's any way for me to stay in contact with him ... please ... I don't want to lose my only family again."

Logan rubs her hand. "I promise I'll do my best."

Max, Brian and Original Cindy return.

"Ready to go?" Logan asks.

Max nods her head and turns to Brian. "Can you tell your grandmother 'thank you'?"

"Thank you," Brian answers softly.

Deborah smiles at him. "Thank you for coming to see me. I hope you'll come again soon." Brian looks at Max and doesn't say anything.

"Thanks again," Max tells Deborah and she shakes her hand.

"Please come by any time."

They leave Deborah's house and head back to Seattle. Max and Logan take Original Cindy home and then go to the penthouse. Brian is asleep when they arrive and Max carries him to the guestroom.

"I got him some pajamas if you wanna get him out of the play clothes," Logan informs her and points to a pile of clothes on the dresser.

Max smiles. "Looks like someone had a little spree."

"He needed clothes. There's nothing frivolous here." Logan removes Brian's sneakers.

"And I suppose the sneakers with the lights were the only ones available in his size?" Max smiles wider, knowing she has Logan over a barrel.

They both get Brian changed and into bed. Logan ruffles his hair when they tuck him in and Max kisses him before leaving the room. They go to the bedroom and get ready for bed.

"What's wrong Max?"

"What?"

"Something's been on your mind on night. Spill it. "

"I don't think that I can let him go Logan. There's a reason we found him." Max sits on the end of the bed.

"He can have a good home and never be in foster care. I'm sure I could even get him on the farm with Maria or with Jude, not to mention I have other contacts. He would be happy and safe."

Max covers her face with her hands. "I can't explain it Logan, but just the thought of Brian leaving is giving me physical pain. I love him." Tears start falling down her face. "Jude and Maria didn't affect me like this. But letting him go feels wrong."

Logan moves his chair closer to her and puts his hand on her knee. "How could you pull it off Max? Lydecker's not going away."

"I know. I know it doesn't make any sense. But maybe it's like you once told me, 'love doesn't always make sense'."

I hate being the devil's advocate but here goes. "Let's be practical. You can't keep him at your apartment; for that matter you and Original Cindy shouldn't even be there. You work so you need someone to watch him, and money to pay that person, and you definitely need to curtail the Eyes Only after-hours activities. He can't afford to lose someone else."

Max wipes her face and looks at Logan. She bites her lip as she debates her next statement. "We could do it," she says softly.

"What do you mean?"

"We-You and me together-could do it-take care of Brian," she explains, looking at her lap.

"How? You don't even live here despite my asking."

"Is that offer still open?"

"Always is ... but do you want to start life together with an instant family?"

"He's 5 and 1/2, and not a baby that needs constant 24/7 care. He'll start school soon, so he won't need a sitter. I can arrange my hours to be the same as the time he's in school. You have a whole informant net so you don't need me all the time. " She pauses. "This might also be the answer to our biology problem that we discussed."

Logan allows what she said to sink in for a moment. "What if Zack or another sibling needs you-are you just going to leave him?"

"No! I can't-I won't leave him!"

"Maria is only an hour and a half from here by car; you can get there faster on the Ninja. You could see Brian almost daily if he was there. "

Max rolls her eyes. "Are you telling me no?" she sighs dejectedly.

Logan takes both of her hands in his. "No, but I'd suggest you sleep on it. Nothing is gonna happen before breakfast anyway. Please think carefully and if you still want Brian to live with us, it will be okay."

"Thank you Logan." Max kisses him gently on the mouth. "Come to bed."

While they're in bed lying in each others arms, Max starts wondering about things. "Did you ever think about having kids when you were married?"

"I did. At first, we decided to wait a few years then when Val started drinking, I knew I wasn't going to bring a child into that mess. What about you? Ever think of having kids?"

"Not until I saw Tinga with Case. I spent so long hiding, always living on the run, looking over my shoulder. Heck, I never thought about love at all … never dreamed I would find someone that could accept me … until you." They kiss.

They're interrupted by yelling from the guestroom. "Mommy! Mommy!"

Max jumps up from bed. "Brian!" She grabs a robe runs to his room. Brian is crying in his sleep and tossing restlessly. Max tries to grab his flailing arms. "Wake-up Brian wake up!" Brian continues struggling then wakes up, focuses on Max, and climbs on her. She sits down on the bed and holds him and kisses him. "It's OK. I've got you. You're safe." She keeps talking to him softly and rocking him.

"I saw the men take Mommy away in the amlance and she was all covered over like this-" he pulls the covers over his head and face, then puts them down and holds on to Max. "I miss my mommy!" Brian starts crying harder.

Max is fighting her own tears. "I know sweetie, I know." She continues rocking him and rubbing his back. Brian slows from hard crying down to soft whimpering. She picks up a music box from the nightstand and winds it up. Max continues rocking him and sings along with Hushabye Mountain. As she sings she notices his breathing slows down and evens out and she figures he's asleep.

Logan comes to check on them since she's been gone a while. He watches Max holding and comforting Brian and listens as she sings to him. I didn't know she could sing. He notes the look on her face as she lays Brian in bed, tucks him in, sits next to him and continues rubbing his back. They do belong together. I want to let her have her way-I'm just worried about how to keep them safe. She'd never admit to it, but she'd have enough trouble with just me. And now, a cripple and a kid? Might as well tie her up and paint a bull's-eye on her ... but I can't deny her, she asks for so little. And he is a sweet kid; I see how she can't resist him. I'll see what I can find out in the morning. He wheels himself back to the bedroom.

Max goes back to their room after she is sure Brian is asleep. She gets into bed and puts her arm around a sleeping Logan and lies there thinking. Am I being selfish? Can I keep him safe, all of us safe? Maybe we should leave Seattle. Then I'd have to upset Logan's life again and he doesn't have money to burn like he used to. I'd have to leave OC and my other friends. God, every question leads to more questions-what should I do?

In the morning, Logan wakes up and finds Max pacing. "Did to get any rest?"

"I slept yesterday. I'm good. "

Logan transfers himself to a wheelchair. "Come to any conclusions?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

To be continued

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Author's note: I'm sorry for the little cliffhanger ending, but it takes me a long time to type my handwritten story. I figured you'd want an update sooner rather than later. Stay tuned-I promise it will be worth the wait. Please R and R.