A/N I finally finished! I hope it was worth waiting for... Please let me
know if you like the story, and those of you who have already reviewed,
thanks for your kind words and encouragement - they really help keep me
motivated! If I get enough I may just get moving on the sequel I am working
on (bribe? or threat?).
Chapter 8
Logan sat on the edge of the bed in boxers and a T-shirt, reading the message from Sebastian on the laptop. In one of the few moments he spent last night not concentrating on Max, Logan had plugged in the computer and sent a message to Sebastian bringing him up to date on events. All the rest of the evening had been devoted to Max and exploring their new relationship, and Logan felt happier this morning than he had in a very long time.
Max stirred and stretched under the covers, her big brown eyes opening and focusing on Logan. "Hey," she said with a warm smile.
"Hey yourself," said Logan, leaning over and kissing her.
"What time is it?" she asked, peering at the bedside clock, "Oh no – its after
eight! What happened to our wake-up call?" The others will have eaten breakfast already! We are never going to hear the end of this, Logan!" She sat bolt upright, pulling the sheet up over the front of her nude body.
"It's okay, Max," Logan replied with a grin, pulling her into a close hug, "For this, I can put up with a little more teasing. Besides, I'm getting used to getting a hard time from your sibs." He closed his eyes in enjoyment of the feel of her smooth skin under his hands, and for several moments the two just sat there holding each other, until Max pulled away.
"What's wrong with this picture?" she asked, plucking at his T-shirt.
"Hmm, I see your point," Logan said, "But we probably should get dressed and join the others before they come looking for us."
"They wouldn't dare," Max predicted, "I need a shower – join me?" She let the sheet slip down.
Logan took several deep breaths, trying to gain control of his libido. "Max, if you want to meet the others for breakfast we'd better not – last night we used up all the hot water for the hotel when we showered together." Max looked disappointed, but slipped out of bed and into the bathroom without protest. Logan went back to reading Sebastian's email, but his mind kept wandering in the direction of the bathroom. He gave it up when he heard Max get into the shower, sent a quick message of thanks to Sebastian and shut down the computer. "I've got Max and the car keys," he thought as he stripped off his shirt and entered the bathroom, "The others can wait."
Max and Logan entered the diner a couple of hours later and slipped into the booth where Alec, Syl and Krit were lingering over danish and coffee. "Thought you guys would be done eating by now," commented Logan, slipping his arm around Max's shoulders.
"We figured there was no hurry, so we took our time and had a late breakfast. Guess the clerk forgot about the wake-up call, but then we didn't hear anything from your room and we knew you guys needed your rest after such a big day." said Alec innocently.
"By the way," said Krit, "Anyone else have trouble getting hot water last night? I had to have a cold shower – really ticked me off." Max and Logan looked a little red, and Syl grinned.
"I guess some people really enjoy long hot showers," Syl said thoughtfully, "Really long ones, with lots of soap and bubbles, shampoo and conditioner, scrubbing and massaging in the body lotion, or maybe oils – ow!" She broke off as Max kicked her under the table. Krit and Alec got the hint and the subject turned towards a plan of action.
"Most of the cops in this area are more than happy to accept bribes, so we can stick to the main roads and we shouldn't have any real problems until we get to Northwest Washington. Sebastian said he would have someone meet us at a rest stop outside of Spokane tomorrow with all the passes and papers we will need to get back to Seattle. We'll deal with whatever happens there when we get there," Logan said. The others had no problem with this plan and breakfast was finished in a leisurely manner and the five headed back to the hotel to pack up.
Krit finished stowing the last of the bags in the back of the van and jiggled the keys in his hand thoughtfully, looking at Logan who was reading a map he had laid out on the top of a car near them. Krit tossed the keys right at Logan before calling out, "Cale – you drive first!" Logan snatched the keys out of the air as they neared his head without even looking up, then looked very surprised. Krit started laughing at his expression.
"Thought so – you got amped up reflexes now too! We'll have to teach you to use them – in your line of work they could come in handy." Krit piled into the van along with Syl, and Alec. Max sat in the front passenger seat next to Logan and they hit the road.
"So what are you going to do when you get back to Seattle, Logan?" asked Alec curiously, "I mean, you can't exactly just waltz back into your home – White's gonna be looking for you."
"I'll think of something. Actually, Sebastian already is working on some possibilities for me," Logan said, "Thanks for caring. And I do mean that seriously – thanks to all of you for coming to help me, I don't think I would have made it out of there alive."
"Hey, what are families for?" said Alec, "You are related to us now – and not just because you're with Max."
"Right – he's sort of a shirttail relative now," added Krit.
"And becoming more so every day," Syl joined in, "He may become more of one of us than we are ourselves." They all took a moment to untangle that statement.
"But you didn't know about our blood relationship until after you broke me out of the hospital," Logan pointed out, "so my thanks stand. But does this mean I get to call on you for help more often now?" A pointed silence met this question. Logan grinned.
"Are you and Krit going to stay in Seattle?" Max asked Syl.
"Just until things are settled. We figure that two and a half X- series soldiers in one town is enough," Krit replied, "Besides, we've got things going on in other towns."
"I'll bet," Max said, "But Normal will be heartbroken."
The trip across Idaho went smoothly, as they headed west, then north to the main interstate. Logan's presence and the happy ending to the mission kept the squabbling to a minimum, and, as he predicted, the guards at the checkpoints were more than happy to accept money in place of valid passes. They stopped for the night again at an inn on the edge of Coeur d'Alene and spent the evening at a bar, drinking beer and playing pool. Logan restrained Alec and Krit from fleecing the locals too much – the last thing he wanted was a bar fight and police attention.
The next morning the group only had to drive for about an hour before they came to the rest stop where Sebastian's contact was to meet them. The place was deserted at that hour, so Krit started teaching Logan to fight, Manticore style.
"No, no – hold your arms like so -," Krit demonstrated, "Don't lock you knees and stand on the balls of your feet – don't dance, just wait! Now, watch my chest – that's where movement will start. Good!" he praised, as Logan successfully blocked the blow Krit threw at him. They repeated the exercise several more times, with Alec, Max and Syl cheering and critiquing. Then Alec caught Krit's eye and smiled. Krit began showing Logan a new move as Alec moved behind him (Max frowned, but did not interfere). As Alec reached to grab Logan around the neck, Logan grabbed Alec's arm and threw him over his shoulder. Alec automatically hung on to Logan's arm, pulling him downwards too, then Alec planted a foot in Logan's stomach and flipped him onto his back too. Alec sprang up instantly and stood over Logan, extending a hand to help him up.
"Very good, Cale!" Alec said, "Damn impressive even. You've definitely got the reflexes – maybe not quite as fast as us, but way better than a norm now. But not our strength and stamina. I wonder if those will come."
"No way to know yet," said Logan, catching his breath, "But I do know I'm gonna feel this." He rubbed his lower back – being stiff and sore still beat feeling nothing there anyday, he thought.
A car pulled up slowly, then parked next to the van. Asha stepped out and surveyed the group impassively, then smiled warmly at Logan. Max walked deliberately over to Logan and cuddled up to his side, smiling falsely at Asha. Logan was confused by Max's actions, but not slow to put his arm around her.
"I see your trip was successful on more than one account," Asha said to Max before turning to Alec, "And what happened to your little speech about not mixing with "norms"? Is that policy to be selectively enforced?"
"Oh, Logan's one of the family now," replied Alec cheerfully, not in the least fazed by Asha's coldness.
"Hi, Asha. How are you doing? Did Sebastian send you?" Logan interjected hastily, "How is he?"
"Hey, Logan, good to see you in one piece!" said Asha with considerably more friendliness than she had shown Alec or Max, "Yeah, Sebastian gave me the papers for you all. He's fine – still happily poking around in his computers all day and night." She handed over a bundle of sector passes and other papers to Logan. "I needed to get out of town for a couple of days, so I volunteered to bring them down here."
"So does that mean you are not going back to Seattle today?" Alec asked, with a hint of suggestiveness in his voice.
"No, going to meet some people in Portland for a couple of days. This was a bit out of the way, but I'm not in a hurry. Besides, Logan is a friend," she said pointedly. Asha gave Logan a quick hug, nodded goodbye to Syl and Krit and walked back to her car.
"Okay, see you in a few days, then," Alec called after her impudently.
"Smooth, Alec, real smooth," Max said sarcastically.
"Oh, don't worry – she can't resist me," Alec smirked, "It's all in the genes."
He nudged Logan in the ribs with his elbow and received a pained look in return.
"Let's go – we've got a long drive ahead of us," Logan ordered, "You drive, loverboy." He tossed the keys to Alec.
Curfew was nearly on them by the time they hit Seattle, so they dropped Alec, Syl and Krit off at Joshua's before heading to Sebastian's. Sebastian was thrilled to see Logan not only alive, but walking again. Max called Original Cindy while Logan told Sebastian the whole story and started going over the information that Sebastian had dug up on the breeding cult. The three stayed up late that night talking and brainstorming about the implications of what they had found out. Max reluctantly left for work the next morning, but she unwilling to risk loosing her job – she now had to support Logan since he could not go home until the heat was permanently off him.
Normal was pleasantly surprised to see Max, Alec, Syl and Krit all show up for work, and showed it by sending them all on runs to the worst parts of town. "You saved these up for us?" Max asked him with her trademark sarcasm.
"Bip, bip, bip," Normal chided her, "You want a job where you can sit on your butts all day, I got a friend who needs people to stuff and lick envelopes in his basement. Doesn't pay as well and no fresh air or interesting people."
"Does he say 'bip, bip, bip' all day?"
"No, but he stands over you while eating burritos with extra jalapenos."
Max took the package and rode out of the office. The day was a busy one, and fortunately the weather stayed clear. She checked in with Logan periodically throughout the day – he was always busy and pleased with the progress he was making, so at the end of the day she decided to go out to Crash with Cindy and the others. The bar was hopping and Max had a good time, but after a few hours she started to get a bad feeling she couldn't shake. She knew something was up with Logan, so Max decided to go to Sebastian's and see what he and Logan were up to. Sebastian buzzed her in and unlocked the apartment door for her. Max was surprised that Logan was not there to meet her. "Where is he, Sebastian?" she asked.
"Max, I don't know how to tell you this – he told me not to call you," Sebastian said pleadingly.
"We had this conversation already, now didn't we?" Max said ominously, "Don't remember ever saying that our previous agreement was not in effect either. So?"
Sebastian gave in with what grace he could muster. "Logan set up a meet with White at a restaurant – he thinks he has enough to keep White off his back and your family's."
"With White!?! Is he nuts? Don't answer that – I already know!" Max started pacing, thinking rapidly. "Okay, he's figuring no assassination in a public place, but once he leaves it's open season. Which restaurant?" Sebastian gave her the name of a trendy place near Lake Union. "Gotta blaze – later!" Max ran out and jumped on her motorcycle and headed back to Crash.
"Okay, guys – I need someone to come with me to pull Logan's bacon out of the fire again," she announced when she got to the table where Cindy, Alec, Syl and Krit were sitting.
Alec groaned. "What's Miracle Boy up to now?"
"He's meeting with White at a restaurant. I figure he's okay as long as he is in the building, but once he leaves they'll take him out."
"So we need to station ourselves to cover his exit," Krit said, "Preferably where we can watch the meet too – I see all of us being needed."
"I'm in," said Syl.
"Me too," Alec said, graciously hiding his irritation, "But Max, tell your boy toy to try and stay out of trouble for at least one day after this – we could all use a break." Max whacked him on the back of the head.
"What can Original Cindy do?" Cindy asked.
"Hold our table and swear we were here all night if this goes wrong," Max said succinctly.
"You got it, Boo."
Three silenced sniper rifles, a pair of walkie-talkies and four pairs of binoculars were quickly picked up from Joshua's and the X5's sped over to the Lake Union area and scouted out vantage points. Syl and Krit picked a rooftop with a clear view of the restaurant entrance and parking lot, Max and Alec took up positions where they could see into the restaurant windows. Using the binoculars Max could see Logan and White almost as well as if she was seated at the table with them.
"At least he had the sense to sit with his back to the wall," she commented to Alec, "I'm gonna guess White has some of his guys in there too."
"He's a murdering, lying S.O.B., but no one has ever said he was stupid," agreed Alec taking careful aim at White, "Any idea what they are talking about?"
"I think Logan is trying to blackmail White into letting all of us alone. I'm trying to read lips here, but I am pretty much out of practice. Too many other conversations to try and listen to them." Alec let Max concentrate for several minutes, until she started laughing softly and he demanded to know what was going on. "He may just pull this off! He told White that he knew the Falconers of Detroit personally – you know, Falconer's Manufacturing Company – and they would never let that statue that was on display at the town hall out of the family, so he knows damn well that they was something fishy with Mitch Falconer's will and probably his death. And, he says, that's just for starts – he could give the press the names of several other prominent citizens whose deaths could bear looking into. Plus, he has compiled a list of marriages between wealthy and influential people and Familiars based on the info we took out of White's office. White is looking really pissed!"
"Let me guess the next part – he has made copies of all this information and if anything happens to him, it will go directly to the press!" Alec said grinning.
"Right in one!" Max never took her eyes off the men at the table. "Logan also says he had pictures and videos of the cult rituals – I wonder if that is true? He told White to get himself reassigned and destroy all his notes and information about him and us – actually we already did that. White just told him that, and now he says that he will have to talk to the Conclave. Ready all – they are getting ready to leave!" Max spoke into the walkie-talkie as Logan and White stood up. White strode out of the restaurant without a backwards glance. Logan paused to toss some cash on the table before he left. Max and Alec scurried over to the other end of the building that looked over the far edge of the parking lot. Max scanned the area with her binoculars and caught a glint of metal leaning out window across the parking lot.
"Alec – straight on, third floor window."
"Got it. Go ahead?" Alec held his fire, waiting for Max to confirm the target. Max watched the man until she saw the finger on the trigger began to tighten as Logan emerged from the restaurant door, then whispered, "Go." Alec squeezed off a shot and the man and rifle fell back into the window. White emerged from the building, looked casually around the parking lot, nodded slightly, got in his car and drove away.
Max caught a glimpse of a dark figure emerging from the far side of the restaurant building with a magazine casually held in one, hand watched him carefully as Logan walked towards the van. She alerted Syl and Krit when the man brought his other hand out of his pocket and covered it with the magazine as he walked towards Logan. "Come on, Max – give us some credit here – we were at Manticore too," Syl said in disgust as Krit dropped the man. Logan heard the man fall and looked around in alarm; with his enhanced vision he was able to see the X5s on the rooftops and grinned at them. He got in the van and started it up. An SUV parked in the same lot started up a moment later and followed Logan's van towards the parking lot exit. Max and the others watched as the windows started to roll down in the SUV, then Alec, Syl and Krit shot out the tires and the four left their rooftop perches.
Max dug her motorcycle keys out of her pocket and tossed them to Alec as they reached the sidewalk. "I'm gonna catch a lift home – take my baby back to my place, 'K?" she said to Alec, "And Alec – if there is so much as a scratch on her, I'll take it out of your hide – hear?"
"Max, trust me! No," he said throwing up his hands to stop her, amazed that Max would even consider letting him drive her bike, "Rhetorical comment only! But someday you will see me for the honest and trustworthy guy I am."
Max snorted in response, but hurried off to catch up with Logan, who had stopped at a light a few blocks away. He opened the passenger side door for her. "Hey, pretty lady – need a lift?"
"Hey handsome," she replied with a challenging look as she got in, "Need a brain?"
"Oh! Is this the part where I get chewed out for not telling you where I was going?" Logan said with a remarkable lack of repentance.
"Yep. Sebastian may want a piece of you too for having to try and cover for your stupidity. What were you thinking!?!" Max raged, "Did you really think White would play it fair? Because he is such an honorable guy?"
Logan unzipped his jacket and pulled off the bulletproof vest he had on underneath.
"That won't protect you from head-shots," Max said, slightly mollified.
"They aren't X series soldiers," Logan said calmly, "Have a little faith in me, Max – like I said, I've been doing this for a while."
"You still should have told us what you were planning – it concerns us too! We could have set it up better! Do you think it will work? Yeah – I was reading your lips so I know what you are blackmailing him with." Max waited anxiously for his reply.
Logan smiled reassuringly at her. "If they don't leave us alone – at least for now – I will release the information we have on them and then they'll be too busy fending off reporters and investigators to bother us. And White and the Conclave know it – shooting at me back there was just a last ditch attempt by White to get revenge."
"So you can go home?"
"We can go home, Max," Logan said, "And Alec, and Syl and Krit. I've got your back, you know."
"I know. And I've got yours."
"And your front and your sides and your arms and legs…" Logan continued until Max slid over into his lap and let him hold what he had mentioned. Their lips came together in a deep and passionate kiss, as Logan's hands roamed over the territory he laid claim to. He had covered some very interesting ground when a bright light lit the interior of the van and a sharp knock came at the window.
"Hey, kids – move on!" a rough voice ordered. Logan unrolled the window as Max tugged her shirt down and scooted back to her seat. The sector cop's flashlight shone on Logan for a moment, then on Max for a longer moment. "Not that I blame you son, but get a room. Fine lady like that deserves someplace more comfortable." He waved them on, so Logan put the van in drive and drove home.
(A/N Postscript - the ending may be a bit neat, but I had to find a way that Max and Logan can stay in Seattle without the Familiars coming after them and this was all I could come up with.)
Chapter 8
Logan sat on the edge of the bed in boxers and a T-shirt, reading the message from Sebastian on the laptop. In one of the few moments he spent last night not concentrating on Max, Logan had plugged in the computer and sent a message to Sebastian bringing him up to date on events. All the rest of the evening had been devoted to Max and exploring their new relationship, and Logan felt happier this morning than he had in a very long time.
Max stirred and stretched under the covers, her big brown eyes opening and focusing on Logan. "Hey," she said with a warm smile.
"Hey yourself," said Logan, leaning over and kissing her.
"What time is it?" she asked, peering at the bedside clock, "Oh no – its after
eight! What happened to our wake-up call?" The others will have eaten breakfast already! We are never going to hear the end of this, Logan!" She sat bolt upright, pulling the sheet up over the front of her nude body.
"It's okay, Max," Logan replied with a grin, pulling her into a close hug, "For this, I can put up with a little more teasing. Besides, I'm getting used to getting a hard time from your sibs." He closed his eyes in enjoyment of the feel of her smooth skin under his hands, and for several moments the two just sat there holding each other, until Max pulled away.
"What's wrong with this picture?" she asked, plucking at his T-shirt.
"Hmm, I see your point," Logan said, "But we probably should get dressed and join the others before they come looking for us."
"They wouldn't dare," Max predicted, "I need a shower – join me?" She let the sheet slip down.
Logan took several deep breaths, trying to gain control of his libido. "Max, if you want to meet the others for breakfast we'd better not – last night we used up all the hot water for the hotel when we showered together." Max looked disappointed, but slipped out of bed and into the bathroom without protest. Logan went back to reading Sebastian's email, but his mind kept wandering in the direction of the bathroom. He gave it up when he heard Max get into the shower, sent a quick message of thanks to Sebastian and shut down the computer. "I've got Max and the car keys," he thought as he stripped off his shirt and entered the bathroom, "The others can wait."
Max and Logan entered the diner a couple of hours later and slipped into the booth where Alec, Syl and Krit were lingering over danish and coffee. "Thought you guys would be done eating by now," commented Logan, slipping his arm around Max's shoulders.
"We figured there was no hurry, so we took our time and had a late breakfast. Guess the clerk forgot about the wake-up call, but then we didn't hear anything from your room and we knew you guys needed your rest after such a big day." said Alec innocently.
"By the way," said Krit, "Anyone else have trouble getting hot water last night? I had to have a cold shower – really ticked me off." Max and Logan looked a little red, and Syl grinned.
"I guess some people really enjoy long hot showers," Syl said thoughtfully, "Really long ones, with lots of soap and bubbles, shampoo and conditioner, scrubbing and massaging in the body lotion, or maybe oils – ow!" She broke off as Max kicked her under the table. Krit and Alec got the hint and the subject turned towards a plan of action.
"Most of the cops in this area are more than happy to accept bribes, so we can stick to the main roads and we shouldn't have any real problems until we get to Northwest Washington. Sebastian said he would have someone meet us at a rest stop outside of Spokane tomorrow with all the passes and papers we will need to get back to Seattle. We'll deal with whatever happens there when we get there," Logan said. The others had no problem with this plan and breakfast was finished in a leisurely manner and the five headed back to the hotel to pack up.
Krit finished stowing the last of the bags in the back of the van and jiggled the keys in his hand thoughtfully, looking at Logan who was reading a map he had laid out on the top of a car near them. Krit tossed the keys right at Logan before calling out, "Cale – you drive first!" Logan snatched the keys out of the air as they neared his head without even looking up, then looked very surprised. Krit started laughing at his expression.
"Thought so – you got amped up reflexes now too! We'll have to teach you to use them – in your line of work they could come in handy." Krit piled into the van along with Syl, and Alec. Max sat in the front passenger seat next to Logan and they hit the road.
"So what are you going to do when you get back to Seattle, Logan?" asked Alec curiously, "I mean, you can't exactly just waltz back into your home – White's gonna be looking for you."
"I'll think of something. Actually, Sebastian already is working on some possibilities for me," Logan said, "Thanks for caring. And I do mean that seriously – thanks to all of you for coming to help me, I don't think I would have made it out of there alive."
"Hey, what are families for?" said Alec, "You are related to us now – and not just because you're with Max."
"Right – he's sort of a shirttail relative now," added Krit.
"And becoming more so every day," Syl joined in, "He may become more of one of us than we are ourselves." They all took a moment to untangle that statement.
"But you didn't know about our blood relationship until after you broke me out of the hospital," Logan pointed out, "so my thanks stand. But does this mean I get to call on you for help more often now?" A pointed silence met this question. Logan grinned.
"Are you and Krit going to stay in Seattle?" Max asked Syl.
"Just until things are settled. We figure that two and a half X- series soldiers in one town is enough," Krit replied, "Besides, we've got things going on in other towns."
"I'll bet," Max said, "But Normal will be heartbroken."
The trip across Idaho went smoothly, as they headed west, then north to the main interstate. Logan's presence and the happy ending to the mission kept the squabbling to a minimum, and, as he predicted, the guards at the checkpoints were more than happy to accept money in place of valid passes. They stopped for the night again at an inn on the edge of Coeur d'Alene and spent the evening at a bar, drinking beer and playing pool. Logan restrained Alec and Krit from fleecing the locals too much – the last thing he wanted was a bar fight and police attention.
The next morning the group only had to drive for about an hour before they came to the rest stop where Sebastian's contact was to meet them. The place was deserted at that hour, so Krit started teaching Logan to fight, Manticore style.
"No, no – hold your arms like so -," Krit demonstrated, "Don't lock you knees and stand on the balls of your feet – don't dance, just wait! Now, watch my chest – that's where movement will start. Good!" he praised, as Logan successfully blocked the blow Krit threw at him. They repeated the exercise several more times, with Alec, Max and Syl cheering and critiquing. Then Alec caught Krit's eye and smiled. Krit began showing Logan a new move as Alec moved behind him (Max frowned, but did not interfere). As Alec reached to grab Logan around the neck, Logan grabbed Alec's arm and threw him over his shoulder. Alec automatically hung on to Logan's arm, pulling him downwards too, then Alec planted a foot in Logan's stomach and flipped him onto his back too. Alec sprang up instantly and stood over Logan, extending a hand to help him up.
"Very good, Cale!" Alec said, "Damn impressive even. You've definitely got the reflexes – maybe not quite as fast as us, but way better than a norm now. But not our strength and stamina. I wonder if those will come."
"No way to know yet," said Logan, catching his breath, "But I do know I'm gonna feel this." He rubbed his lower back – being stiff and sore still beat feeling nothing there anyday, he thought.
A car pulled up slowly, then parked next to the van. Asha stepped out and surveyed the group impassively, then smiled warmly at Logan. Max walked deliberately over to Logan and cuddled up to his side, smiling falsely at Asha. Logan was confused by Max's actions, but not slow to put his arm around her.
"I see your trip was successful on more than one account," Asha said to Max before turning to Alec, "And what happened to your little speech about not mixing with "norms"? Is that policy to be selectively enforced?"
"Oh, Logan's one of the family now," replied Alec cheerfully, not in the least fazed by Asha's coldness.
"Hi, Asha. How are you doing? Did Sebastian send you?" Logan interjected hastily, "How is he?"
"Hey, Logan, good to see you in one piece!" said Asha with considerably more friendliness than she had shown Alec or Max, "Yeah, Sebastian gave me the papers for you all. He's fine – still happily poking around in his computers all day and night." She handed over a bundle of sector passes and other papers to Logan. "I needed to get out of town for a couple of days, so I volunteered to bring them down here."
"So does that mean you are not going back to Seattle today?" Alec asked, with a hint of suggestiveness in his voice.
"No, going to meet some people in Portland for a couple of days. This was a bit out of the way, but I'm not in a hurry. Besides, Logan is a friend," she said pointedly. Asha gave Logan a quick hug, nodded goodbye to Syl and Krit and walked back to her car.
"Okay, see you in a few days, then," Alec called after her impudently.
"Smooth, Alec, real smooth," Max said sarcastically.
"Oh, don't worry – she can't resist me," Alec smirked, "It's all in the genes."
He nudged Logan in the ribs with his elbow and received a pained look in return.
"Let's go – we've got a long drive ahead of us," Logan ordered, "You drive, loverboy." He tossed the keys to Alec.
Curfew was nearly on them by the time they hit Seattle, so they dropped Alec, Syl and Krit off at Joshua's before heading to Sebastian's. Sebastian was thrilled to see Logan not only alive, but walking again. Max called Original Cindy while Logan told Sebastian the whole story and started going over the information that Sebastian had dug up on the breeding cult. The three stayed up late that night talking and brainstorming about the implications of what they had found out. Max reluctantly left for work the next morning, but she unwilling to risk loosing her job – she now had to support Logan since he could not go home until the heat was permanently off him.
Normal was pleasantly surprised to see Max, Alec, Syl and Krit all show up for work, and showed it by sending them all on runs to the worst parts of town. "You saved these up for us?" Max asked him with her trademark sarcasm.
"Bip, bip, bip," Normal chided her, "You want a job where you can sit on your butts all day, I got a friend who needs people to stuff and lick envelopes in his basement. Doesn't pay as well and no fresh air or interesting people."
"Does he say 'bip, bip, bip' all day?"
"No, but he stands over you while eating burritos with extra jalapenos."
Max took the package and rode out of the office. The day was a busy one, and fortunately the weather stayed clear. She checked in with Logan periodically throughout the day – he was always busy and pleased with the progress he was making, so at the end of the day she decided to go out to Crash with Cindy and the others. The bar was hopping and Max had a good time, but after a few hours she started to get a bad feeling she couldn't shake. She knew something was up with Logan, so Max decided to go to Sebastian's and see what he and Logan were up to. Sebastian buzzed her in and unlocked the apartment door for her. Max was surprised that Logan was not there to meet her. "Where is he, Sebastian?" she asked.
"Max, I don't know how to tell you this – he told me not to call you," Sebastian said pleadingly.
"We had this conversation already, now didn't we?" Max said ominously, "Don't remember ever saying that our previous agreement was not in effect either. So?"
Sebastian gave in with what grace he could muster. "Logan set up a meet with White at a restaurant – he thinks he has enough to keep White off his back and your family's."
"With White!?! Is he nuts? Don't answer that – I already know!" Max started pacing, thinking rapidly. "Okay, he's figuring no assassination in a public place, but once he leaves it's open season. Which restaurant?" Sebastian gave her the name of a trendy place near Lake Union. "Gotta blaze – later!" Max ran out and jumped on her motorcycle and headed back to Crash.
"Okay, guys – I need someone to come with me to pull Logan's bacon out of the fire again," she announced when she got to the table where Cindy, Alec, Syl and Krit were sitting.
Alec groaned. "What's Miracle Boy up to now?"
"He's meeting with White at a restaurant. I figure he's okay as long as he is in the building, but once he leaves they'll take him out."
"So we need to station ourselves to cover his exit," Krit said, "Preferably where we can watch the meet too – I see all of us being needed."
"I'm in," said Syl.
"Me too," Alec said, graciously hiding his irritation, "But Max, tell your boy toy to try and stay out of trouble for at least one day after this – we could all use a break." Max whacked him on the back of the head.
"What can Original Cindy do?" Cindy asked.
"Hold our table and swear we were here all night if this goes wrong," Max said succinctly.
"You got it, Boo."
Three silenced sniper rifles, a pair of walkie-talkies and four pairs of binoculars were quickly picked up from Joshua's and the X5's sped over to the Lake Union area and scouted out vantage points. Syl and Krit picked a rooftop with a clear view of the restaurant entrance and parking lot, Max and Alec took up positions where they could see into the restaurant windows. Using the binoculars Max could see Logan and White almost as well as if she was seated at the table with them.
"At least he had the sense to sit with his back to the wall," she commented to Alec, "I'm gonna guess White has some of his guys in there too."
"He's a murdering, lying S.O.B., but no one has ever said he was stupid," agreed Alec taking careful aim at White, "Any idea what they are talking about?"
"I think Logan is trying to blackmail White into letting all of us alone. I'm trying to read lips here, but I am pretty much out of practice. Too many other conversations to try and listen to them." Alec let Max concentrate for several minutes, until she started laughing softly and he demanded to know what was going on. "He may just pull this off! He told White that he knew the Falconers of Detroit personally – you know, Falconer's Manufacturing Company – and they would never let that statue that was on display at the town hall out of the family, so he knows damn well that they was something fishy with Mitch Falconer's will and probably his death. And, he says, that's just for starts – he could give the press the names of several other prominent citizens whose deaths could bear looking into. Plus, he has compiled a list of marriages between wealthy and influential people and Familiars based on the info we took out of White's office. White is looking really pissed!"
"Let me guess the next part – he has made copies of all this information and if anything happens to him, it will go directly to the press!" Alec said grinning.
"Right in one!" Max never took her eyes off the men at the table. "Logan also says he had pictures and videos of the cult rituals – I wonder if that is true? He told White to get himself reassigned and destroy all his notes and information about him and us – actually we already did that. White just told him that, and now he says that he will have to talk to the Conclave. Ready all – they are getting ready to leave!" Max spoke into the walkie-talkie as Logan and White stood up. White strode out of the restaurant without a backwards glance. Logan paused to toss some cash on the table before he left. Max and Alec scurried over to the other end of the building that looked over the far edge of the parking lot. Max scanned the area with her binoculars and caught a glint of metal leaning out window across the parking lot.
"Alec – straight on, third floor window."
"Got it. Go ahead?" Alec held his fire, waiting for Max to confirm the target. Max watched the man until she saw the finger on the trigger began to tighten as Logan emerged from the restaurant door, then whispered, "Go." Alec squeezed off a shot and the man and rifle fell back into the window. White emerged from the building, looked casually around the parking lot, nodded slightly, got in his car and drove away.
Max caught a glimpse of a dark figure emerging from the far side of the restaurant building with a magazine casually held in one, hand watched him carefully as Logan walked towards the van. She alerted Syl and Krit when the man brought his other hand out of his pocket and covered it with the magazine as he walked towards Logan. "Come on, Max – give us some credit here – we were at Manticore too," Syl said in disgust as Krit dropped the man. Logan heard the man fall and looked around in alarm; with his enhanced vision he was able to see the X5s on the rooftops and grinned at them. He got in the van and started it up. An SUV parked in the same lot started up a moment later and followed Logan's van towards the parking lot exit. Max and the others watched as the windows started to roll down in the SUV, then Alec, Syl and Krit shot out the tires and the four left their rooftop perches.
Max dug her motorcycle keys out of her pocket and tossed them to Alec as they reached the sidewalk. "I'm gonna catch a lift home – take my baby back to my place, 'K?" she said to Alec, "And Alec – if there is so much as a scratch on her, I'll take it out of your hide – hear?"
"Max, trust me! No," he said throwing up his hands to stop her, amazed that Max would even consider letting him drive her bike, "Rhetorical comment only! But someday you will see me for the honest and trustworthy guy I am."
Max snorted in response, but hurried off to catch up with Logan, who had stopped at a light a few blocks away. He opened the passenger side door for her. "Hey, pretty lady – need a lift?"
"Hey handsome," she replied with a challenging look as she got in, "Need a brain?"
"Oh! Is this the part where I get chewed out for not telling you where I was going?" Logan said with a remarkable lack of repentance.
"Yep. Sebastian may want a piece of you too for having to try and cover for your stupidity. What were you thinking!?!" Max raged, "Did you really think White would play it fair? Because he is such an honorable guy?"
Logan unzipped his jacket and pulled off the bulletproof vest he had on underneath.
"That won't protect you from head-shots," Max said, slightly mollified.
"They aren't X series soldiers," Logan said calmly, "Have a little faith in me, Max – like I said, I've been doing this for a while."
"You still should have told us what you were planning – it concerns us too! We could have set it up better! Do you think it will work? Yeah – I was reading your lips so I know what you are blackmailing him with." Max waited anxiously for his reply.
Logan smiled reassuringly at her. "If they don't leave us alone – at least for now – I will release the information we have on them and then they'll be too busy fending off reporters and investigators to bother us. And White and the Conclave know it – shooting at me back there was just a last ditch attempt by White to get revenge."
"So you can go home?"
"We can go home, Max," Logan said, "And Alec, and Syl and Krit. I've got your back, you know."
"I know. And I've got yours."
"And your front and your sides and your arms and legs…" Logan continued until Max slid over into his lap and let him hold what he had mentioned. Their lips came together in a deep and passionate kiss, as Logan's hands roamed over the territory he laid claim to. He had covered some very interesting ground when a bright light lit the interior of the van and a sharp knock came at the window.
"Hey, kids – move on!" a rough voice ordered. Logan unrolled the window as Max tugged her shirt down and scooted back to her seat. The sector cop's flashlight shone on Logan for a moment, then on Max for a longer moment. "Not that I blame you son, but get a room. Fine lady like that deserves someplace more comfortable." He waved them on, so Logan put the van in drive and drove home.
(A/N Postscript - the ending may be a bit neat, but I had to find a way that Max and Logan can stay in Seattle without the Familiars coming after them and this was all I could come up with.)