Disclaimer: I don't own it, neither do I own the rights to it…phooey…there goes my money-making, paying-for-college plan.

A/N: Okay, so, my plan didn't quite work. I was going to make this fic nine chapters long---give credit to the cat in the transgenic DNA cocktail. But I like how this works out much better than how I was trying to finish it. I hope you enjoy it, too. Please review and let me know what you think.

Funeral for That Which Never Was

Chapter 8: A Eulogy and Life After Death

Driving away from the wreck of the day and it's finally quiet in my head

Driving alone, finally on my way home to the comfort of my bed.

Max re-entered Jam Pony to find several sets of eyes on her. Most turned back to whatever they were doing. Others whispered among themselves. As Max approached Normal at the dispatch desk, the man smirked at her.

"So, girly-girl. Looks like your rich boyfriend wasn't all he seemed to be, was he?" It was the closest thing to an I-told-you-so that Max would get from anyone.

"Do you really want to hear about it?" Max was still riled from having to deal with Logan, so her voice came out harsher than she intended.

"I have a feeling you'd tell me even if I didn't want to hear it." Normal looked down at his clipboard, pushing a stack of packages in her direction. When he looked up expectantly to hear Max rant about her dead-beat boyfriend, she was gone. Normal only shrugged and yelled at a passing messenger, throwing a package at his head.

-----

Alec discarded Logan to the ground, like an unidentifiable piece of trash. The man had merely passed out, hadn't even given the transgenic the satisfaction of a single punch to the face. "You're pathetic," he muttered to the older man, stepping over his unconscious form.

-----

Max didn't want to talk to anyone. She didn't want to have to think. She took the stack of packages and left. As she exited the main door with her bike, Max found an unconscious Logan crumpled on the ground. She walked past his body unconcernedly. Whatever Alec had done to him, he had deserved it. The transgenic in question was nowhere to be seen.

Max jogged a bit then jumped on her bike, heading to her next run. As Max unconsciously peddled her way around the city, narrowly dodging cars with the skill and agility of a well-practiced bike competitor, her thoughts ran circles. The playing field had totally changed. She knew her relationship with Alec was in foreign territory—certainly not behind enemy lines, just in a minefield of confusion.

There was definitely something there. And now that Logan had finally taken his cue, however against his will it was, she was free to live her own life without him breathing down her neck. Now the only question remained: where did she want her life to take her, or who with?

Max turned as she left an alley and encountered a truck backing up into her path. She almost groaned as she flipped over the handle bars of her bike. A similar thing had happened to her a little over a year ago. With the same truck, though in obvious better condition now.

Max shouted from her back, "Rafer! That's twice in less than two years. Are you trying to kill me, or something?" She grumbled as she tried to sit up.

"Max! Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Rafer jumped out of the cab and rounded the back of the truck toward her. "I honestly didn't see you there. But, jeez. You automatically blame me? And what were you doing?" He reached out a hand to help her up. She was fine, and would probably put up a good fight proving it if he protested and tried to examine the extent of her injuries. He was more than aware of her special abilities and wisely ducked any excuse for her to physically teach him a lesson. Since the news broadcast about her surfing with a hover-drone hit almost eight months ago, most of Seattle had some idea of what a 'special little one' she was. "Off visiting your wandering thoughts again? Where'd they go this time—space," he commented dryly.

Max shoved at his shoulders, propelling him away from her. "You're a jackass." But she smiled at him anyway. Ever since she came back from Manticore, Rafer had tried to be a real friend to her.

A man came around the corner approaching them, wheeling a bike at his side. "And here I thought that was my name."

Max looked up surprised, but quickly masked it, stepping into her normal banter with him. "No Alec, you're just an ass," she said laughingly.

Rafer shook his head apologetically at Alec. "Down-graded. Man, I'm sorry."

But Alec was too distracted to respond to the joke other than give his trademark smirk. "Aw, sweet ride, Rafer!"

"Thanks, man. Being a paramedic pays off sometimes."

Max frowned. "How did being a paramedic help you get this car?" She was already skeptical—maybe Alec and Rafer were too similar.

"Car accident. One of the guys that died owned this car. It was nearly totaled. But I got it, and was able to fix her up."

"Nice." Alec circled the truck, examining the detailed bodywork.

Max raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get tinted glass in this economy?"

Rafer flitted a glance to Alec before offering a hurried explanation. "I know a guy who knows a guy."

"Mmm-hmm. Some guy." Max looked over at Alec, who had conveniently knelt to gaze at the styling on the door, avoiding eye contact.

"Men." Max raised her eyes to the sky. She shrugged giving it up as hopeless. She looked between her two friends. "Women and cars. With you two, it's always about the body." She rounded the truck and lifted the hood.

Rafer didn't even try to hide his disbelief. "Oh, come on Max. You can't say that you are not attracted by a good looking body."

"Now, are you referring to cars, or guys?" Max leaned around the front of the truck to look at Rafer. "If it's cars, I'm partial to certain body styles—specifically motorcycles—but honestly, if the thing runs I'm happy, then I can do with it what I will." She shut the hood, nodding her approval, admitting the engine was good too. "Speaking of which, where did Rafer get the tinted windows--Alec?"

"Off a gang leader's car." Alec answered matter of factly. "He was gunned down in a turf dispute a few weeks ago, I merely borrowed the keys and rescued the suburban from police impound. Then I helped Rafer do some detail work. It's all kosher Maxie. Bad guys and karma…neither like the other."

Max grinned. She had taught him well. Max walked over to her bike to salvage what she could of the twisted front wheel. "And, to answer the other half of the question, as far as guys go—Only one catches my eye. But he refuses to talk about it." She glared pointedly at Alec, who raised a hand to scratch the back of his head. "I think its denial, but I can't read minds…"

"Ha, I was so right." Rafer restrained a laugh at the look Max shot his way.

"Shut it, Rafer." Alec glared at his friend. Rafer feigned ignorance and headed for the refuge of the cab of his truck. "Max, you don't know what I think—" Alec stared hard at the ground, giving away the fact that he knew it was him she was referring to, as well as the fact that the situation had been on his mind as well.

"Then tell me. You seem so bent on not saying anything about it, no wonder I'm left in the dark as to what your thoughts are. God, Alec, we're supposed to be friends. We are, aren't we?" In a moment of uncertainty, Max doubted Alec's perspective on their relationship. The fear that sprung from this thought made her stomach constrict in apprehension.

"That's the thing, Max. I don't think I ever wanted you to be my friend." Alec looked up at her.

Max swallowed hard at his confession. Somehow she suspected as much, but it didn't make the hurt any less painful. She could feel the raw emotion start to ebb and flow in her heart between depression and numbness.

"I mean, just my friend," he hurried on, noticing her reaction to his words. "Having you as a friend is probably one of the best things that's ever happened to me. God knows I don't deserve being treated well, especially with all the crap I put you through… But, I don't know, somehow I always thought there was something else out there." Alec took cautious steps toward her. "Something more."

She stood merely blinking for several seconds, trying to bring herself out of the shock of having realized the opposite of her expectations. Max felt like she had taken a crash course in immediate hypothermia, then shoved straight into a tub of warm water.

When Max was able to breath normally again, she looked him in the eye. "You know something? You're like a bath."

Alec couldn't keep from laughing. "Really?"

Max frowned at him and he controlled his laughter. She really did love the sound of his laughter, but she needed to say this.

"And how did you come to this?" He prompted her. He couldn't wait to hear this explanation.

"I step in, and you're all comfort. No expectations. No demands. No disappointment. Just acceptance."

Alec wrapped his arms around her. "If you want to think of me as a bath, Maxie, then go right ahead. I'll do my best to wash all the pain away."

Max smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Alec pulled her closer to him.

A cat call whistle came from the cab of the truck. Both transgenics turned to see Rafer leaning out the window, a large satisfied grin stretched his face. "See, told you I was right."

A/N: Just cuz I'm a stickler for happy endings…well, endings that have Max and Alec together…aawwww. Please review and let me know what you think.