Disclaimer: The series "Dark Angel" does in no way shape or form belong to me and, quite frankly, I'm glad that I don't have to live with being hated by every teenage girl from here (Pittsburgh) to Tokyo for starting Jessica Alba's career.

Setting: Fogle Towers, Logan's living room.

Max sighed and proceeded to capture Logan's rook with her pawn. They were playing their third game of chess as they tried to figure out what to do with their day. Max's mind wasn't really on the game. She was too busy pouting. Logan moved his queen forward three spaces diagonally to the right. Then he sat up.

"Checkmate," he announced, more surprised than triumphant. Max snapped back into focus and studied the board. Then she looked up at him in astonishment. He was staring back at her, concerned.

"Max, are you okay? You seem," Logan paused, searching for the right word. "Twitchy."

"Twitchy?"

"Yes," he laughed. "Twitchy."

"I'm distracted is all," Max assured him.

"Penny for your thoughts," the amusement in Logan's face had died out, now replaced once again with concern. Max, however, remained silent. Logan sighed.

"So," he began, his voice revealing his disappointment. "Have you thought of anything else to do, or are you going to give up and let me finish my work?"

"Your work is never finished, Logan. You need to take a break once in a while." Logan rolled his eyes and looked away, having heard this numerous times. This hurt Max, for though she'd seem him do this to Bling often, he'd never done it to her.

"Fine," she spat. "Go back to work. I'll get out of your way." It took an enormous amount of effort, but she managed to make her voice sound nonchalant, as if she could care less what he did. She stood up and walked away, grabbing her jacket off of the floor where she'd tossed it the night before. Logan grimaced as he realized that he'd pissed her off again.

"Max," he called after her in his most persuasive, cajoling voice. It took every ounce of effort, but Max managed to ignore the draw of his tone and walk out the door. She didn't slam the door behind her this time; that would've been expressing emotion. When he heard the door click shut silently behind her, Logan sighed and rubbed his temples. Then, having nothing better to do, he wheeled to his computer and picked up where he'd left of the night before.

To Be Continued...

NEXT TIME: More Max/Original Cindy & Logan/Bling