See part one for Disclaimer.

How is Tony going to explain everything?

Part 3

Gibbs began to walk to the guard, but Tony was faster. "Jerry, it's okay. Max, you can come in." he said to the woman next to him. It was unbelievable to see her again.

"Logan, finally I have found you. I was looking for you everywhere. Thank god." Max went down the stairs and stopped a few feet in front of Tony. He couldn't stop looking at her.

"Max, good to see you again. You look great." He went to her and hugged her. He just had to kiss her.

"Logan, please don't. You know what will happen." She said and went backwards.

"Trust me, nothing will happen." Tony said and kissed her finally. And he was right. Nothing happened at least nothing like him dying.

"Max, why don't we go to a conference room where we can speak?" Tony led Max to one of the conference rooms and the rest of the team were following them close.

"Max, I want you to meet my co-workers Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Special Agent Caitlin Todd. We are working on a case of murder on two X5. I told Gibbs and Todd a bit about you and Manticore. I hope it's okay with you."

"Yes, Logan. I'm happy you got the case. Do you know one of them? Some of my friends are missing since several weeks."

"One of them was Alec. I didn't recognize the girl. She was pregnant and both were drugged."

"Alec was missing for longer time, at least two months. How did they die?"

"They drown." Kate said. "I'm sorry about your friends."

"Max, how many are missing?" Tony asked never letting her hand go.

"I don't know for sure but I think at least ten, five of each gender. Can I see the woman?"

Tony took her to Ducky, where Max had a look on the female body. "Her name was Claire. You freed her this night. Since than she had tried to have a normal life like most of us. I hadn't had the time to care for her, Logan."

"Max, don't do this to you. You are not responsible for this. You did the best you could. You gave all of them the freedom. It's their own doing what they are now."

"I know, but if I hadn't been there to destroy Manticore they would still be alive."

"Yeah, alive at Manticore. Do you really want your friends back there?" He smiled, knowing perfect well how much she hated this place.

"You are right, like always. I'm not the reason for their death. But I would love to know the real reason for it."

"Not only you. NCIS is on this case."

"You will find the murderer, won't you? I don't think they attempted suicide. Alec wasn't the guy for drugs."

"I know. Let's go back to the others."

So they went up to the others, who were still digesting the news. Tony didn't believe they would get any leads today. "Boss, can I call it a day? Max needs to find a place to stay."

"Okay, but I will you here tomorrow bright and early. You got that DiNozzo?"

Tony smiled back one of his charming smiles. "Yes Boss. See you." And they left.

"So Max, where are you staying?"

"Nowhere. I just came to the city in the morning. I wasn't even sure I would find you. You hid well."

"I thought if you are going to look for me, you will find me everywhere. Would you like to stay at my place? Nothing like the penthouse but a nice apartment."

Max just nodded. So Tony brought her to his apartment down in Georgetown, the best part of the city. Here he lived in a three-story house on the top two floors. It was a big apartment with too much space for a single person. But he like it, used to remember him on Seattle.

He let Max enter first. "Whow! Nothing like the penthouse? The penthouse was a nutshell comparing to this."

"Glad you like it. So now sit down and tell me about the last two years. How are Original Cindy and Sketchy and all the others? How have you been?"

Max sat silently for a few moments before she started to speak. "Cindy is great. She had helped me a lot after you left and she is very angry with you for leaving me. So pay some caution the next time you see her. Herbal and Sketchy are just the old. We are still working for Normal, being the same pain-in-the-ass like ever. For some time I tried to live in Terminal City, but I felt that I didn't belong there. So I went back to Cindy. I went out with some guys but it wasn't the same as with you. I missed you terrible and I think I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. The last two years were the worst I have had. Don't leave me again, Logan."

"Oh Max, I just feel the same, had ever felt it back in Seattle, but you had to be sure about your feelings. And speaking of Normal, I shall tell you, you are fired." He grinned. Normal told his employees about twice a day that they were fired.

"You spoke to him?"

Tony nodded. "Yes, and with Cindy. I had to find you, telling you about Alec. It's so good to see you again. Exactly two years after I left you."

"You know I ever had a perfect timing. Won't you get out of the exoskeleton? I can remember you told me once it is rather uncomfortable. Shall I get the wheelchair?"

"No need to. I haven't used both of them for about one and a half year. A friend of mine was able to repair the damage and she was also able to find an anti-serum for your super-virus. I'm just like the one you met first."

"Not really the same. Your glasses are missing and your hair is different, not so disordered."

The young man grinned. "I had to do this because of the job. You are not allowed to work there if you have any medical problems. So I wear contact lenses. None of them know about the glasses. And they don't know a bit about my time in Seattle or that I had to use a wheelchair for some time. I'm not sure, if they will ever learn about it. Are you hungry?" Tony asked, knowing exactly well that Max couldn't resist one of the famous Cale meals. So he went to the kitchen and started cooking. At dinner they talked, avoiding personal topics the best they could. Then they went to the living room and sat down on the sofa to watch some TV. Max snuggled against Tony…

What will happen next? Stay tuned and please review, so I know if you like it so far.