A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I really appreciate it. Onto the next chapter!

Chapter 5

"You love me but you don't know who I am,
I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand."

- 3 Doors Down, Let Me Go

"Max, hey."

She smiled at the warm greeting, moved by the blunt happiness that Logan always showed at her presence. She wished she had come here just to see him, since that was obviously enough of a reason for him, but she had things she needed to do.

"Hey, Logan." Then, not wanting to feel rude, she added, "How you been?"

"Alright, just working hard. Haven't been able to come up with another scheme to get Debourgh yet, but I'll let you know when I do," Logan replied, referring to the man that they had tried to trap during Max and Alec's botched undercover mission. Then he focused completely on her. "How about you? You look a little tired."

She was tired. She didn't usually sleep much, but she had been missing out on those one or two hours for the last few days. Worry, frustration, anger, or some combination of the three was probably the cause, although she didn't want to explore her psyche any further to find out.

"Just busy lately," she answered blithely. If she didn't want to delve into her emotional state, herself, she certainly didn't want to discuss it with Logan.

"I've noticed. You haven't stopped by in a while."

That statement brought two thoughts to Max's mind, neither of which was pleasant. One, that she had barely noticed Logan's absence over the past few days, and two, that he had very obviously noticed hers. His affection for her ran deep; he might love her more completely than anyone ever had. And yet, unlike his love, which seemed to her like an endless, flowing river, hers felt like the shallow pools left on the beach after the tide went out. Deep and cool at first, but eventually they turned stagnant and evaporated.

Was there something wrong with her? Was there a reason that her feelings for him, which had been so strong and encompassing a few months ago, were barely glimmers now?

Or perhaps she had changed after being recaptured by Manticore. Maybe her views had shifted. Before then, Logan's love had seemed like a soft and often-worn sweater; it made her feel safe and comforted, like nothing from her old life could touch her. He lived in a tower in the sky, safely tucked away from the struggle even though he fought against it every day.

She had thought there was a place for her in his ivory tower, that she could be safe there, too. She had realized all too soon, however, that he could never offer her protection from her past. Her enemies had reclaimed her with frightening ease, and they had invaded and infected her body with a disease to kill the man she loved. She couldn't feel the way she did before when she would walk into his apartment and forget her problems for those few short hours. They followed her now, choking her in the elevator and swirling around her in his apartment.

"Max?"

She was jarred out of her thoughts by his voice, which was smoothly concerned. She glanced up at him.

"You looked…sad," he said, blue eyes studying her face closely. She was suddenly afraid that her thoughts were written on her skin. "You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," Max said, a little curtly. She decided to broach the topic that she'd come here to discuss, as much to get on with it as to change the subject. "It's Alec."

The change in Logan was slight, but noticeable. His eyes dimmed slightly and his lips thinned. She could read the displeasure clearly, but she wasn't entirely sure what it meant.

"What about him?" he asked, voice deceptively normal.

"I think he's in trouble."

Now Logan's thoughts were scribbled across his face, and she could read them easily. He wanted her to forget about it and let the rogue transgenic deal with his own problems.

"I know something's going down and I want to help," she said, perhaps a touch firmer than necessary.

"I understand that," Logan said, sounding patient and almost indulgent, "but eventually Alec is going to have to take responsibility for himself. He puts himself in these situations, so he should have to deal with them." After a short pause, Logan added, "It's not your job to save him, Max."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Max snapped, before she'd considered the wisdom of her words. She took a deep breath. "Look, I get your point, but I can't just leave him. You know that."

"No, actually I don't," Logan said, blue eyes flashing like ice now that he was angry. "I have no idea why you keep letting him back into your life. Think of the things he's done to you, Max! He nearly killed you! And then he lost us the cure to the Virus, and all you ever do is complain about him anyway—"

He said more, but the rest of it was lost in Max's sudden and startling realization. Logan was jealous. Instead of convincing her to give up on Alec, his angry, heated jabs only served to illustrate the burning emotion behind them, and Max could do nothing but stare at Logan in stunned silence.

Why on earth would he be jealous of Alec?

She wanted to ask, was nearly shaking with the desire to question him about it, but she didn't want to confront him, and she certainly didn't want to cause further damage to their already precarious relationship.

Logan had stopped by then, and was staring at her with blatant expectancy. But what did he expect, she wondered? An argument? Or an agreement? If it had been about anything else, she wasn't even sure of the way she'd react. But on this subject she was immovable.

"Listen carefully," Max said calmly, although her voice shook a little. "You don't have to understand why I'm doing this. The fact is, I'll figure it out with or without you—I'll just figure it out a little quicker if you help me."

She chanced a look at his face and saw that he looked resigned. The ice in his eyes had melted, pooling into a softer, sadder emotion. "Can you at least tell me why?"

She sincerely thought about how to put her feelings into words. She thought about Ben and Alec and Manticore, and she gradually realized that it didn't matter how long she spoke or how many words she said.

"I would, but I just don't think you'd understand," she answered honestly, her voice echoing the regret in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Logan nodded slowly, his eyes moving away from her. Then they flicked back, and he ventured a wan smile. "What do you need?"

She returned the smile. It took effort, but she figured she owed that much to him. "Information on a couple people. Thomas and Elizabeth Dawson, to be exact."

Logan's eyebrows furrowed, and she knew that he recognized the names. Because he had seen the guest list for the party, she wondered, or because he had grown up in the upper-class society? Either way, he looked suspicious. "Why?"

Max hesitated, and then decided to tell him the truth. It couldn't hurt. Max didn't even know if the couple had anything to do with Alec's rapid change. She was well aware that she was clutching at straws. "They were at the party, and we talked to them right before Alec took off. I think they might have triggered his reaction."

Logan digested the information, his face thoughtful. "You think he knows them?"

Max paused again and then admitted, "No, I don't think so. He didn't act any different when they walked up, and they didn't recognize him at all. I just… don't have anything else to go on."

"What, Alec won't talk to you?"

It was there, albeit barely. She could just hear the bitterness and slight mockery in the question. Still, it was enough.

"No," Max said shortly, her expression shuttering.

Logan seemed to have realized that he made a mistake. He opened his mouth and seemed on the verge of speaking for a moment, but then he closed it and focused on the screen. After typing the names into the computer, he waited for the information to appear.

"I don't see anything helpful," he said after a moment, eyes on the computer. The glow from the screen was reflected in his glasses. "No weird connections, no interest in genetics or the military."

Max thought for a moment. She hadn't expected much, but perhaps it was worth looking into, anyway. Alec was a brick wall for all the information he was giving her, and this was at least a way to move forward, even if it might be leading her in the entirely wrong direction. "Can you give me the address?"

Logan looked at her, something hardening in his face. Then he nodded and printed out the information. She carefully took the paper from him, making sure they didn't make contact.

"Thanks," Max said, already reading over his findings.

"No problem," Logan replied. "Just be careful, okay? You have no idea what Alec could be into."

One last warning, one last attempt to pull her away from the troubled transgenic. Max shook her head and ignored it, waving at Logan as she walked out of the room.

Sneaking into the vast grounds was slightly difficult, considering the security cameras and the eight-foot fence that covered the area. Still, Max had no trouble breaching the place, and she settled in the shadows to watch the house. With nothing to look for and no leads to follow, she could do little more than watch and hope to see something strange.

She didn't get her wish. After a few hours of surveillance, she had seen nothing odder than a gardener, a maid, and a group of security personal. While the security may have seemed strange before the Pulse, they were now a normal addition to nearly every expensive home. Crime had become a way of life for the poor and desperate, and these mansions were prime targets.

She hadn't once seen the owners of the house, although she had no real way to survey the entire place. If she could get into the feed from the cameras she would be able to see everything, but she had no hope of getting past security. Not even her abilities extended that far.

Finally she caught sight of the couple whom she and Alec had met at the party. They were standing by the window directly in front of Max, and they were dressed more casually but no less expensively than they had been that night. Aside from their wealth, which seemed impossible to Max, there was nothing weird about them.

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head. She had known this was a long shot, but it was still disappointing to realize she'd wasted a whole night for nothing. She took one last look at the house and then snuck to the fence, which she leapt over with ease.

Just then, the gate opened. Max tensed and looked for cover, but the side of the road was clear of any bushes or trees. She sunk back into the shadows and hoped whoever was leaving the house didn't see her. She spotted him a moment later, and felt a vague stirring of recognition. He was older, with gray hair and a sharp gaze. A gaze which swung towards her.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

Max placed a bland smile on her face and stepped forward, wracking her brains for an excuse. He was looking at her expectantly, and she realized where she had seen him before. He had attended the party as well. Elizabeth and her friend had excused themselves to talk to him.

"Hi," Max said, holding out her hand and praying he didn't recognize her. They had never spoken, and she and Alec had left just after that. The man returned her gesture and they shook hands.

"Is there something you needed?" he asked politely, his shrewd eyes seeming to take in her dark sweater and jeans.

"Yeah," Max said, searching wildly for an excuse. "A signature."

"Sorry?"

"I delivered a package here last night," Max said quickly, smiling in embarrassment. "I forgot to get a signature and now my boss is out for my head. Only he sent me over here after my shift ended, and I just realized I forgot my clipboard."

She had no idea if he believed her story, but he didn't question her. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure if you return tomorrow Mr. Dawson would be more than willing to sign for you."

"That's fine," Max said quickly, backing away. Her motorcycle was parked in the opposite direction, and she'd have to double back. She didn't mind, though, as long as she escaped this conversation without him suspecting her. "I'll come back."

A sleek black car pulled up, and the man reached for the door handle. Before getting into the car, however, he turned back to her. "Good luck with your boss."

Max's grimace was real as she thought of Normal. "Thanks. I'll need it."

The man smiled and slid into the backseat, and the vehicle sped off down the hill. Max breathed a deep sigh of relief and waited for it to disappear from view completely. Then she shook her head and moved towards her motorcycle.