Title: The End of a Savior Complex

Author: Dark Roswellian Angel

Elizabeth McDowell

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. If I did, Alec would have been treated much better. In fact, if I owned "Dark Angel" I'd be treating him better right now instead of just writing about him ; P

Copying/Downloading/Posting: Please let me know first, and let me know where my work will be posted as I would love to come visit it. Make sure that it is put under my name, as I would love to hear how others feel about it. Thanks ;)

Rating: T

Synopsis: When Alec finds out that Max has been hurt, he reacts unexpectedly.

A/N: And here is the second chapter- in one day, too :)

Let me know what you think (please, pretty please with chocolate-covered Jensen on top?)

In the Palm of His Hand

It was about 45 minutes later, and Logan was getting bored. He was still able to feel a slight buzz from his earlier combination of euphoria and adrenaline, but he was getting really tired of just sitting here watching his girlfriend's best friend treat her wounds. After all, it wasn't like they were even going to be bothering her in a couple of days- why worry so much about them now? Maybe if she were an Ordin-no, human- then he would have worried about infections setting in or something like that, but she was lucky enough to have been vaccinated by Manticore against pretty much everything and her stem cells weren't going to let her stay down for long. So, really, there was no reason for so much fuss. For what felt like the millionth time in the past ten minutes, he looked down at the thing he was fiddling with. Really, I could be home working on mission details. I wonder just how much longer I should really hang around here before splitting.

As Original Cindy carefully placed a pillow under Max's wrapped ankle, she could hear her girl hiss in pain. Damn, she is seriously screwed with. I wonder why the man couldn'ta just let Alec in on it a little- maybe Hot Boy really is onta somethin'. I'm gonna be pissed if it turns out that she's this bad off 'cause Mr. EO is all bent on savin' her so no one else gets the glory. "Better?"

Max looked up at her friend and saw the worry in her eyes. I wish they'd just leave me alone to heal. This is just so major awkward- I mean, I'm gonna be fine, well mostly, in a week or so. It's just weird to have someone else wrapping me up like this. In an attempt to reassure her best friend, she answered, "Better. Thanks."

She looked back into her friend's eyes and could tell that she was fronting, and suddenly OC realized that Alec had been right. Max had needed help, and Alec could've given it to her, and damn if he hadn't proven time and time again that he was willin' to drop whatever was goin' on ta help her girl with whateva she needed help on. No way he wouldn'ta been willin' to get her outta that place, and he woulda been able to without raisin' a sweat. And more to the point- without her boo havin' to raise a sweat. She turned to the man and wondered if Alec's earlier behavior had accurately pointed to why the man had left him out of the loop. Her eyes narrowed as the suspicions that she'd had about Logan since before Max had even gone missing for those eternal months came back to her. In her own OC way she decided to prod, "I know you saved my girl and all, but couldn't you have brought her back in better condition than this?"

Max's eyes widened in shock. Here was her best friend actually calling her boyfriend to task for the way he'd saved her. After all, it's not like anyone else had been willing to help her out, "O.C.!"

OC immediately turned towards her friend, feigned innocence in her eyes, "What? You have a hole in your stomach, you got a sprained ankle, coupla cracked ribs, not to mention all the cuts and bruises all over the damn place." She realized unhappily that Max had yet to come to any of the suspicions that she and Hot Boy had already agreed on. She looked over at the man in question. Not for the first time she wondered what it was about this guy that was so good at keepin' her boo's head spun so that she didn't see the truth preppin' to step up and slap her upside the head. She tried to keep the venom out of her voice as she spoke to him, hoping that her words might actually be able to open Max's eyes a little, "Do me a favor. CDC ever lock me down in quarantine, leave me there."

They all chuckled, though no one's laugh actually seemed sincere. Max couldn't help but wonder why the atmosphere was so tense. Was there something she was missing?

As Logan skillfully hid his reaction behind a falsely cheerful snicker, his own eyes narrowed as he looked down on the dark princess. She was one of his main nemeses- of all the people in Max's life, she was the one that seemed most capable of keeping Max at the level she was at instead of letting him raise her to a higher quality. Therefore, it was with no small amount of truthful intention that he responded, "Consider it done." Without a second thought.

OC hadn't missed the malicious glare he'd sent her way, but for Max's benefit, she pretended to. Still, she couldn't help but respond with an obviously fake smile, "Just so long as we understand each other."

Noticing just how well the other two room occupants weren't getting along, Max attempted to switch the focus. "Hey, do we have any more of that soup left? I'm kinda hungry."

Her attention was immediately switched back to her friend, "I'll go heat some up for you." As she stood up, she looked back at the man who was still staring at her. She decided that from now on, she was going to agree with pretty much everything that Alec thought of this guy. Besides, if I hafta spend one more minute around this self-centered, pious, self-reverencin', fake-spiky-haired, tryin'-ta-look-younger-n-he-is, thinkin'-he's-foolin'-someun, fool, I'm goin' ta lose my lunch, and that was some fine a-- grub. Without another look, she went to the kitchen.

As soon as she was gone, Max's attention was back on Logan. She gave him a gentle smile, not knowing what to say. It had been so long since they'd been in the same room, except for when she'd been in the hospital, that she couldn't help feeling awkward. But she wanted to make the best of the moment- who knew when he'd come around again? She didn't want to waste this chance to talk to him. Especially since there were some really important things she wanted to say. But just as she was about to open her mouth, he stood up and started walking towards her and her breath caught in her throat. She knew that look- she'd seen it before. It was one of his you're-amazing, I-care-so-much-about-you, we're-destined-to-be-together looks. Her eyes warmed a little.

As soon as the irritating girl left the room, Logan had stood up. With every intention of walking over to Max's side, dropping next to her on the couch (well as close as he could), and reconfirming his feelings for her, he had begun his approach. He could tell from the look on her face that she was going to welcome it. But, just before he'd reached her, he'd flashed back to the look on Alec's face as he'd told him that she was better than he was and that one day she'd realize it. His eyes narrowed just a little as he assessed the possibility of her ever coming to the conclusion. Better not risk it. If I keep her guessing and wanting more, then her mind will never go in that inaccurate direction. So he quickly drew himself up to a stop and smiled ingratiatingly at her, "Well, looks like you're in pretty good hands."

Max couldn't help the feeling of rejection that hit her once more as she realized that she had been wrong about him coming over to her. The feeling quickly turned to confusion as she wondered if he had just smiled for a second there at her pain-filled reaction. In a small voice, she said, "Looks like." For a second, she just looked at him wondering what was going on in his head.

Logan tried to hide a second smile at how lost she sounded. And needy. And whiny. And vulnerable. After all, he was sure he'd been too quick for her to notice his smile at her initial reaction, but he wasn't sure if he'd be quick enough the second time. Better take no chances. After all, this day was just turning out better and better for him. First, Alec had proven that he had her right where he wanted her, and now she was proving how much she wanted and needed him. Just as soon as she was up and about- ah, give her 36 hours or so, 48 if I'm feeling especially generous, he could start calling her on their next EO mission. And after the way he'd rescued her, risking his own life and limb, he was sure she wouldn't try to get out of it for at least a few months. He realized that he was in danger of letting out another smile and decided that he'd better get going- after all, if she was going to be running missions for him nonstop, he wanted to have a nice long list of missions for her to accomplish. "I got some Eyes Only stuff that I gotta take care of, so..."

No way. Is that really his I'm-going-to-ask-you, no strike that guilt-you-into-a-mission-within-the-next-36-hours-look? I've just been shot and beaten up twice. There's no way I'm getting off this couch for at least a couple of days. Still, she wished he would stay for a while. She really, really needed to talk to him- whether he wanted to hear it or not. "Hey."

As he heard the needy tone in her voice, he couldn't help but smile. He turned back to her- so maybe he was willing to listen to her tell him how much she cared about him and needed him and… "What?"

Suddenly, she wasn't so willing to talk. Maybe it was because of the fact that OC was just in the next room and what she wanted to say was private. Maybe it was because those words were going to be so very, very hard for her to get out of her mouth. Maybe because of how much emotion was rushing up into her throat as she thought about what she wanted to say. Maybe it was because of what she was pretty sure his reaction would be. Whatever it was, Max could feel herself chickening out, "Thanks. For..." she gracefully gestured towards her ankle, "...you know." She smiled gratefully up at him.

Logan waited for a couple of seconds before smiling encouragingly at her. Maybe she needed more prompting to continue, "Yeah." Wait, so that's it? Whatever. "Take care of yourself, Max." He might have started doubting himself- might have even brought up what Alec had done to him- if he hadn't seen her smile fade as he turned around to leave. As he opened and closed her door, he couldn't help the smile, Yep, I've got her right where I want her.