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PAGE 2

*****

4:02 p.m.

Max dismounted her Ninja, placing her yellow tinted glasses

atop her head. After she finished at Jam Pony she went home

to change. Logan had not been there, which was just as well,

because she wasn't in the mood to see him right now.

She walked up to the Strip for the second time that day.

As she neared the market place she caught site of Logan's

Aztec parked by a booth. /What did you expect? you

told him to come/ She mentally flipped off her conscious

and headed to where Bilone set up shop.

Logan appeared out of the shadows "You're late, you said four."

his eyes were teasing slightly, trying to break the tension.

Max was not in the mood "Spare me the lectures."

He held up his hand "I'm sorry."

"Whatever." she muttered under her breath.

"I mean about before." he said going after her when she

walked off. "I didn't mean what I said." /why does this

situation seem so familiar?/

"Like I said spare me another one of your lame ass excuses."

she kept walking.

"It's not an excuse." Logan said, catching her by the arm. "It's

an apology."

She stopped then and turned to face him "Why did you say it?"

"I don't know." he answered honestly. "My mouth sometimes shoots

off before my brain has time to process." he spun her around to

face him completely. "I may not get this urge that you have, but

that doesn't excuse my behavior. You and Jess are the most

wonderful things that happened to me, regardless if we went

in reverse and conceived before tying the not."

"So you didn't just marry me out of obligation?"

Logan was shocked that she would even think that. /you

really fucked up this time man/ "No." his response

was fierce. He held her face in his hands. "I love

you Max. I've always loved you. Jess is living

proof of that. I never in anyway felt that it was

expected of me to marry you. I am old fashioned in

a lot of ways, but not in this. The only 'obligation'

I fulfilled when I proposed is making sure that

the woman that I loved didn't slip out of my reach

another time."

Max looked at him sadly, tears brimming in her eyes

"Sorry I hit you." she noted the redness that was still

evident on his face.

"I deserved it." Logan interjected. "I was an ass."

"Yes you were." she said hugging him.

He hugged her back strongly. "Are we okay?" he asked, unsure.

"Yea." she responded, pulling back "As good as any couple who

lost their baby." one tear fell from her eye that had been

forming there.

Logan wiped it away with the back of his hand "Let's

see if we can do something about that last part."

She nodded, and together they continued to their

destination.

"Hey J.J., like a word with ya." Max said standing in front

of his business. She wiped off her eyes, and placed a hard

expression on her face.

Bilone looked to her gaze, obviously pleased that she was

there. "Hey girl, what can J.J. do for your sexy thang

this afternoon?"

"This girl's 'thang' is well taken care of." Max shot

back with a glance at Logan. "My *husband* and I just

need a little of your time."

J.J. became disappointed at the word "husband." He

shot an unreadable look at Logan. "what is it?"

he suddenly felt the need to be business like.

"My girl Ju-Yin told me of a big sale you made to a High

Class lady the other day." Max replied.

"The medicine woman speaks the truth." J.J. responded,

leaning back in the folding chair he was sitting at.

"It was a twenty-two Smith and Wesson."

"How much did the transaction cost?" Logan asked

"Five hundred." Bilone responded

"Cash up front?" Max inquired

"Only kind of money J.J. accepts." he responded. "Cause what's

a man in my kinda work gonna do with some travelers check or

shit like that? There aren't any cash deposit boxes on this

strip last time I checked."

"Didn't seem odd to you that someone had that much cash on

them?" Logan asked suddenly.

Bilone looked at him "How much are you packin' right now

dude? Youz obviously from the same stock."

"Which is why I asked." Logan said. "The 'stock' you claim

I associate with are a lot more paranoid then the locals

here. They like to make sure their money is safely tucked

away someplace steel and locked."

"I didn't ask." J.J. answered finally. "As long as my

customers hand me the green I don't give a damn if it

came from hell." he paused.

"Did she mention anything about a baby?" Max asked

"Yea, chick mentioned something about 'protecting' her

kid, or some crap like that." he responded. "But I

didn't see no kid."

"Where did she go?" Logan asked.

"Do I look like the travel buereau?" Bilone shot back. "I

handed her the iron and she slinked away like a cat, uppity

bitch."

"Didn't like her?" Max asked of his last statement.

"She kept acting like she was Grade A prime rib or somethin'"

J.J. sneered. "Not that she didn't have a nice package on her,

but way she was advertisin' you'd think that gold came out

of her center."

"What she pay you in?" Max asked suddenly, "Large or small

bills?"

"Small." Bilone responded. "All in twenties."

"Let me see them."

Bilone blew her off "Why? so you can rip me off?"

Max reached out and grabbed him by his gold chain "What

part of 'let me see it' didn't you understand?" she

growled.

Bilone broke free from her grip "Aiight girl, just take

it easy." he yanked out his stash of bills, shoving a

twenty at her. "That's one of them there."

Max took it from him, scanning the bill with her keen

eye. Like the door knob, there were no finger prints,

but that's not what she was looking at. "I appreciate

it." she remarked when she was finished, giving him back

the money.

"Are we done here?" J.J. asked "'cause I gotz payin'

customers to attend too."

"We'z done aiight." Max spoke in the same ghetto fashion

as Bilone. She walked over to her bike, Logan following

her.

"You wanna tell me what just went down?" he asked as she

mounted her Ninja.

"Not here." she said using the same cryptic reply as earlier.

"Max-" Logan started in.

"Just trust my intuition on this 'kay?" she looked up at him

with a piercing gaze.

Logan sighed briefly "Okay."

"Meet me at the nineteenth precinct." she said, lowering her

glasses back over her eyes. She started the engine and sped

down the road.

Logan climbed back in his car. /Truthfully when HAS her urges

ever let me down?/ He headed down the street with that thought

in his mind.

*****

Seattle PD

19th Precinct

5:30 p.m.

"Max, Logan." I was just about to call you." Matt said when

the pair entered the lighted room. He gestured for them

to sit.

Logan took the chair on the right, and Max took the one

on the left, mirroring her earlier position by flipping

the chair around.

Once they were seated Matt opened a file. "I found hair

on that picture you gave me of Jesse." he addressed Max.

"Our guys are running it now."

"How long will that take?" Logan asked.

"About two days." Matt responded "It takes a little time

to break down the DNA of the strand."

"Forget that." Max interrupted "I have something now."

Matt gave her his full attention. "What is it?"

"I know a woman who works the Strip," Max began "And she

said that there was some chick that ranked up in the

Hierarchy who bought a weapon from J.J. Bilone."

"As in Mr. Seattle NRA?" Matt asked breaking in.

She nodded "Me and Logan paid a visit to Bilone this

afternoon, and he had in fact made 500 on an 22 S&W to

a lady claiming that she had to protect her baby with it."

"And you think she might have something to do with

this?" Matt was slightly confused.

Max nodded "How many rich women go shopping on the

strip in daylight, carrying a wad of twenties?"

"I agree with you Max, but there aren't many hover

cams in that part of town, which is one of the

reasons people like to set up shop there. So we won't

be able to get a clear idea of what the woman looked

liked."

"But Andrew could tell us." Max took in the two men's

confused faces, before going on. "I got J.J. to let

me look at some of the green. The bill was crisp, almost

new, which means that she had to have made a withdrawal

that afternoon, otherwise the money would have gotten bent

or something."

"Yes, but that still doesn't help us." Matt interjected

again. "A lot of banks carry new money."

"But not the ones that don't need it Detective." Max stated.

"When the bank runs low, the Feds send an armored truck

and hooks them up with more cash. That bill was almost

*brand* new, it had to have come from a shipment that

morning."

"And how many banks in Seattle had cash shipments that

morning." Logan replied, suddenly realizing where Max

was going with this. "Do you know?" he asked, looking

at his detective friend.

"I could check." Matt replied "But it's still a long

shot, there are hundreds of people in Seattle, and

who knows how many of them made withdrawals." he

picked up his phone. "Hey Joey, it's Matt I need

the listings for all the armored car services in

Seattle."

"But how many yanked five hundred in all twenties?"

Max asked.

"Thanks." Matt said hanging up. "I've got someone

faxing it to me."

A few minutes later Matt's fax machine came alive.

"Damn, there's twenty-one services in this city."

He took a pencil and drew two lines on the fax print

out, and then ripped it into three separate sections.

He handed one to Max, and the other to Logan. "It'll

go a lot faster then doing it myself."

They wordlessly took them from him. Matt sat

back down at his desk, and dialed the first number

on his list. While he waited, he scribbled down

two badge numbers on his blotting pad. "They

were two former partners of mine who got killed

on duty. I doubt they would mind if I used their

badge numbers to help this go along more smoothly."

Max just smiled her thanks, as Matt's call came

thorough "Yes this is Detective Matt Sung of the

Seattle PD, I'm calling in regards to your delivery

hours.."

*****

thirty minutes later.

Both Logan and Matt had no luck with the services they

called. None of them delivered any new bills on that

day. They sat back in their chairs, defeated.

Matt had wisely moved their little escapade into

an interrogation room, knowing that 'civilians'

could not use false identification.

Max had just hung up on her line. "I'm really racking

up the free vacation points on this cell."

"Is that all?" Matt asked

"I still have one left." Max said punching the number

into the key pad. "Hello this is Officer Mendez of

the Seattle PD." "My badge number?" "JTT038632."

Max no longer needed to look at the paper, her

photo graphic brain having long ago processed the

information. "I'm calling in regards to-what?"

"Yes they have female cops down here." she became

annoyed. "I need information on-NO I don't want

to strip search you idiot." "Disrespecting an officer

is a federal offense." "You don't want to know where

I plan to aim my gun." her tone had become a low

growl. "Now I need to know if your company made

any shipments of cash to any banks on April fifteenth

between the hours of nine and three." "Uh-huh, yea,

I'm getting it, Cradock Marine twelfth street branch."

"Thank you." she disconnected before he said anything

else.

She then dialed the number the moron from earlier

gave her. "This is Officer Mendez of the Seattle PD,

badge number JTT038632." she cut to the chase.

"I need some information on a shipment of money that

was delivered to your bank by Truman Armored Car Service

on April fifteenth."

The bank transferred her to account information.

"How can we help you officer?" the manager of the section

asked.

"I need to know how many people made a withdrawl from

the bank after the armored car service you deal with

delivered your new shipment of bills."

"There were quite a few officer Mendez is it?" the man

on the other end responded "About one hundred."

"Can you narrow that down by just giving me the names

of women who withdrew money sometime before three o'

clock p.m.?"

There was clicking of computer keys at the other end

before he responded "I have it listed here that

there were fifteen women making a transaction that

time of day."

"Now even further." Max said into the phone "Give

me only the ones who took out at least five hundred

dollars all in new twenties." she could feel them

closing in.

This time the list was considerably shorter. "I have

it listed here that a Valerie Stylinder withdrew

650 dollars at 2:15 that afternoon."

Max paused to catch the breath that suddenly left

her. "Thank you." she hung up.

"What did you find out?" Matt asked

Max turned to face him "Valerie Stylinder made the

withdrawal from Cradock Marine that afternoon."

Logan turned to face her "As in my ex Valerie?"

"The one and only." Max replied "Guess she decided

to hang around after all."

"Oh god the key." Logan groaned, dropping his head

to his hand. He looked back up to Max "Now I know

why the door was unlocked that day, she still had

that key I gave her."

"That would explain how she got in and out in such

short time." He looked to Max as well "looks like your

intuition paid off."

"I am so dumb." Logan be-rated himself.

"No your not baby." Max interjected, with a hand on his

shoulder "You didn't know that she would pull something

like this."

He whipped back up to face her "The one time I *wasn't*

paranoid, and looked what happened."

Max rubbed her husband's shoulder "It wasn't your fault.

The world is just fucked up."

Logan reached for her hand that was on his shoulder

"Not all of it."

Max caught his hidden meaning, and kissed him gently.

Matt had been typing up Val's file, who had numerous

DUI arrests. He printed out her picture and handed

it to Logan. "I think it's about time for an Eyes Only

Bulletin."

*****

Crash

6:15 p.m.

"It seems so quiet without my boo here." Cindy stated

to the others seated around the table.

"I know." Herbal agreed "But after what the woman

went through she probably be visiting far away places

by now."

"Unless Logan apologized." Kendra put in her two cents,

and took a healthy drink of her beer.

"He better have." Cindy shot back "otherwise I'm gonna

send him back to that wheel chair."

"Can I watch if you do?" Sketchy asked.

Cindy shot him a 'whatever' look, and sipped her margarita.

"..Do Not attempt to adjust your set, This is a Streaming

Freedom Bulletin. It will run approximately sixty seconds,

It cannot be stopped, it cannot be traced, and it is the

only free voice left in this city." Valerie's picture

appeared on the screen. "This is Valerie Stylinder, who

lived a relatively quiet life until April fifteenth when

she kidnapped this child <Jesse's picture replaces Val's>

"Two month old Jesse Trevon Cale."

This drew their attention "Eyes Only knows who took our

boy?" Cindy gazed intently at the screen.

"Her whereabouts are unknown." the broadcast went on

"But it is imperative that there are. She has recently

purchased a .22 Smith and Wesson. Children and guns

are not a good scenario, and this is true now. If there

is anyone who knows where this woman is at, call

Detective Sung immediately at the Seattle 19th precinct."

the message faded as fast as it came.

"Some psycho with a gun has Jess?" Kendra said in

disbelief.

"I think I'm gonna do like Max suggested." Cindy

began "And kill the little bitch who's responsible

for this." she finished the rest of her margerita

in one slam.

*****

Unknown Location

Nicholis Mercde watched as the TV finished it's broadcast.

He did not speak english very well, so he really did not

understand what it was about. The little switch board

contraption lit up on Room number 23.

Nicholis sighed, it was that woman again. She had done

this at least twelve times in the last hour. Since he

was the only person who worked there he went to see

what she wanted. He climbed the stairs to the second

floor and made his way down to room 23.

"Senora?" he rapped on the door "Que es?"

The door opened and Val looked at the short little

spanish man. "There's no running water in here."

she pointed out.

Nicholis didn't understand her. "Que?"

Val then made a big show of slowing down her english,

thinking that this would help her translation. "There

is NO..no..<what's spanish for 'water?'> ..AGUA, no

agua, sen-ior."

"Ah." Nicholis got the gist of what she was trying to

say. "Lo siento Senora, pero los gentes son trabajado

en el agua." seeing that she didn't get it he held

up a notice that was posted on the door that told

of the water problem. "Mira senora."

Val signed /that's just great, this place is a rat hole/

"Never mind." she shut the door in his face, just as

Nicholis realized that she was the same woman from

the TV broadcast.

He pounded on the door. "SENORA! Necessito hablar con tu,

SENORA!"

"Go away." Val cried flopping back down on the bed beside

Jesse. /Well at least he stopped crying/ She stroked the

baby's face with the cool metal of her gun. Jesse looked

up at her.

"You like that huh?" she smiled, her hand fumbled on the

trigger slightly and the gun went off..

Into the wall. She had been touching Jess's face with

the handle, not the barrel.

"These clips aren't for you, there for mommy." she

smiled, wiping the tears of the baby who became alive

with wailing after the gun went off.

*****

Foggle Towers

Logan had completed the broadcast, and now sat

back on the couch. Max was curled up beside him

her head resting on his shoulder.

"Do you think anyone will call?" she asked

"I don't know baby." he replied honestly, his hand

rubbing the skin of her belly. "I hope that there

are still a few decent people in the world."

She sighed a little at his contact. "Why would

your ex do something like this?"

"I don't know." he answered again. "Val was always

one to be unpredictable. During our honeymoon she didn't

want to have sex every night, she wanted it ALL the time.

And she video taped us doing it so we could watch WHILE

we did it for real."

"Are you sure that wasn't something that you enjoyed?" she

asked, recalling their own honeymoon. "As I remember it, we

never did get much of a chance to see the 'nature' you said

was beautiful at your parents cabin."

Logan chuckled slightly. "What about that night by the

lake?"

"I wasn't focused on the great outdoors." she responded

huskily, remembering how they had come out to take a little

break from their 'excertions' and taken each other again

on the sands of the shore. She could still recall the

way the waves lapped at her back, and the feel of the

sand on her skin.

She shuddered. "The scenery WAS beautiful." she remarked

her hand beginning to travel lower in Logan's lap.

He caught her hand in his own. "So was my view." his

eyes suddenly dilated ten times their size. He kissed

her once on the forehead, then on each eye, and finally

claiming her lucious mouth.

Max wound her arms around his neck and deepened their

contact. She nibbled his lower lip to get him to open

his mouth, and when he did she assaulted him with her

tongue, claiming the places she knew so well now.

Logan pushed her down gently with his weight so that she

was lying underneath him. He lifted up her green sweater

with his teeth, yanking it up over her head, and then

proceeded to blaze a trail of kisses from her juglar vein

to the valley in between her breasts.

She moaned against him while working to rid him of his

sweater. After the barrier was gone she moved her hands

lower, feeling him hardening through his jeans. She

teased his head with the tip of one finger, and he

groaned, even through the hard demin fabric. She rolled

him onto his back, which giving the narrow width of the

couch sent them both onto the floor.

Logan groaned again, and Max laughed "Sorry baby." She

straddled his waist and proceeded to place searing kisses

all over his exposed chest. His hands slid up her bare

back, caressing the silky skin there. He pulled her closer

and gently bit down on the tendons of her neck. This

was an action that he discovered drove her crazy. While

his mouth was occupied he reached one hand under the

waist band of her pants and her satin underwear. He teased

her wet core with elegant fingers.

She arched against him with a deep moan, her hands

moving lower to unbutton the brass button of his

jeans. Freeing the ring from the hole, she slid down

the zipper. Logan's hand caught her wrist, halting

her actions. "I hate to ruin the moment angel, but

we need some contraception. You're still breast feeding."

He immediately saw how his statement broke the mood by the

cloud that rolled over her eyes. He stroked her long

curls softly, and drew her face down towards for a kiss.

A few tears splashed on his neck and rolled down his

muscular chest.

The phone at Logan's desk began to ring. "That could

be Matt." Logan said, suddenly becoming serious.

Max's mood changed as well. She moved off of Logan

so he could get up.

Logan walked over to the phone, and picked it up.

"Hello?" "What is it?" "Yea?"  he paused, in

disbelief "Are you sure?" "Okay" "Thanks, we're

on our way." He hung up and turned towards Max.

"They found that a Valerie Styinder checked into

a rundown hotel on West Ave. on April fifteenth

at five o'clock."

"Did she have Jess with her?" Max asked, yanking

her sweater back on her head.

"The manager of the hotel had really broken english

so Matt said it was hard to tell." Logan caught

his sweater when she threw it at him, and pulled it

on, and added to that his leather jacket.

"Let's take my Ninja." Max announced pulling on her

leather ridding gloves. "We can make it there faster

without worrying about traffic."

Logan nodded, grabbing their sector passes, and followed

her out the door.

In the hallway Mrs. Culverson stopped them "Mr. and Mrs.

Cale."

Max and Logan turned to face her.

"Did they find Jesse yet?"

"They have a lead on the person." Logan replied.

"Oh I am so glad." the elderly woman replied. "I hope he

is all right. I have been at my wits end, worrying about

what happened, because I fell asleep that day."

"It wasn't your fault." Max responded, using the same

phrase Logan had used when this nightmare started.

"You had no way of knowing."

Mrs. Culverson smiled "You are a very forgiving soul

dear. That baby couldn't have a better mother."

Max smiled softly. "Thanks." they began to leave, when Mrs.

Culverson called out again. "I'm glad to see that you still

managed to try and do normal things inspite of this mess."

Logan was confused. "What is she talking about?"

he whispered to Max.

She couldn't help but snort at the woman's remark.

"Sweetie, you need to zip up your pants before we hit

the street."

Logan realized his state of dress, and pulled the

metal clasp back up to full mast. He laughed slightly

as the pair made their way too the elevator.

*****

West Ave.

Outside 'Siesta Hotel'

Matt was standing by the entrance of the building,

along with another officer, when Max and Logan

pulled up on the Ninja.

Max killed the motor, and she and Logan dismounted.

"Is she in there?" Max asked turning to face Sung.

"I'll bet my pay check on it." Matt said, turning

to look at her. He then addressed the other officer.

"Jonson, this is Max and Logan Cale, the parents

of the child."

They exchanged greetings, before heading into the

building. In the lobby there was no one except

for a small spanish man behind a desk.

"Sir" Officer Jonson began pulling out his badge

"We're with the Seattle PD, we are under the suspicion

that a Valerie Stylinder is registered here."

Nicholas again looked confused. "Que?"

"Great." Jonson complained. "One of the only guys who

can lead us to our suspect, and he can't speak the

english lingo."

"Senior." Max began pulling out the picture of Val

that Matt had printed up "Estamos buscando a esta mujer."

She shoved the printout in his face. "Su nombre es 'Valerie

Sylinder'. Ella aqui de Abril el decimo quinto."

"Si." Nicholas began exasperated "Esa es esa mujer loca!" he

gestured to a small box on his desk. "Ella suena mi senal sonora

cada quince minuites y se queja. Si ella no deseo permanecer en

un agujero de la rata, ella no debe haber venido a esta cara de

la cuidad!" he pounded on the rickety table with both fists.

"La tiene contolo hacia fuera todaia?" Max asked, putting the

printout back in her pocket.

"No ella todavia esta aqui, ganadome y reganado toda la

hora maltida."

"Ella tenia un bebe con ella cuando vino?"

"Si Si." Nicholas replied shaking his head. "Ella dijo que

era su hijo."

"What is he saying?" Jonson demanded of Max.

She turned to him. "He says that a woman named Valerie did

check in here with a baby two days ago."

"Did he say what room number?" Logan asked.

"I'll find out in a second." Max responded addressing Nicholas

again. "Que numero de habitacion?"

The man suddenly leered at her "Como sobre usted deje la ley aqui,

podria mostrarle los accomidations." he ran his eyes over her body.

Max suddenly seized him by his collar and dragged his upper body

across the counter "O como me rompo alredor el pene por la mitad

con mi zapato!" her voice was full of rage. "Ahora en donde esta

en ella?"

"23." Nicholas squeaked out "habitacion numero veinte y tres.

Segundo suelo."

"Gracias." she let him go abruptly so his fell back on the floor.

"He says she's staying in room twenty-three, second floor."

Max informed.

"What else did he say?" Logan asked sensing there was more to

it then that.

"Just that he wanted to show me a good time. I threatened to

dismember his balls." she said this all in a low growl.

"Okay then lets go." Jonson said removing his weapon from

it's holster. He looked to Max and Logan "You two would be

better off outside."

"Like hell I would." Max shot out, heading over to the

stair case. Jonson caught her by the arm, which she snapped

back in one fast maneuver. "You wanna help me or not?"

"It isn't safe for you up there Max, you are inexperienced-"

Max snorted at this remark. "There's a lot you don't know

about me Officer." she moved away from him, taking the stairs

in twos.

"Max!" Jonson called out to her. He looked back towards

Matt. "Cover me at this level in case she tries to run

for it." He then cast a glance a Logan "That wife of

yours is a piece of work." he sprinted up the stairs

as well.

*****

Max had made it to the second floor long before Jonson

ever did. She moved silently through the halls, looking

for room 23.

When she found it, she pressed herself flat against the

wall. In one maneuver she picked the lock, and entered

the room.

There was no one there. She prowled over to the bed, and

saw the empty bottle of scotch. And in the waist basket

there was one dirty diaper. She also checked the dingy

bathroom, but it two was empty. She moved to exit the

bathroom, when the door, caught her in the forehead,

and she fell back against the sink.

She recovered from the blow in time to hear the catch

of a gun's safety being released. "Hello there."

Max stared into the face of Logan's ex, who was holding

her son with one hand, and the S&W with the other.

Max made a move to come forward, but Val moved the gun

from her to Jess. "Uh uh." She actually let Jess play

with the cool metal of the barrel. "He is a handsome

baby Max." Val spoke in a calm voice, walking over

to the bed and sitting down. "He must get that from

Logan."

Max decided to play along with her game. She didn't want

to do anything that would hurt her baby. "Why did you take

him from us?"

Val laughed slightly. "I don't know. It seemed like such

fun. I debated on taking him or-" she broke off to look

at Max "you, but I decided that this would hurt more then

if I took you."

"Why do you want to hurt me?"

"Lots of reasons." Val shot back. "I just happen to think you're

a bitch."

Max looked at her with a 'say what?' gaze. "You think *I* am

a bitch after what you did, and what your still doing?"

"Don't you get it Max?" Val came back looking at her with

a scowl. "What I do is not half of what you do. You have

given Logan everything he wanted. You are his counterpart.

The strength I lacked. He can be rough with you because

he knows that you can take it. I was ALWAYS the fucking

delicate flower, something to be guarded."

"That ain't my fault." Max retorted, trying to keep her

anger low, but finding it harder and harder to do.

"I can help the way I live my life."

Val smiled cynically, pointing the gun at her. "But I

can help the way it ends-"

Jonson broke though the door "DROP THE WEAPON!" he shouted

at Val. "DROP IT NOW!"

Val raised her hand in a surrendering gesture, but then

at the last moment made a dash for the hall.

Max chased after her with Jonson right behind. They made it

out to the rail. Val stopped suddenly, and aimed the gun

at Jesse's head. "Don't even think about it!" she screamed.

"VAL PUT THE GUN DOWN!" it was the voice of Logan from the

bottom of the stairs.

"Hey lover." she called out to him "Wanna see what this

delicate flower can do?"

Her face was turned away, so Max took the advantage, and kicked

the gun out of her hand. It skitted by her feet and she hastily

pushed it up to her hand by kicking it. "Guns are dangerous

around babies."

"So are ledges." Val stated, placing Jesse over the edge

and dropping him off.

Max's heart stopped "NO!" she screamed dropping the gun.

She took a dive over the rail, going after her son.

She held her posture in a vertical position to give her

body more weight so she could get under him. Her hands

managed to grab her baby's small body seconds before

they both crash landed into a wooden table.

"MAX!" Logan screamed hurrying to where they landed.

She was on her back, both arms firmly grasping Jesse

who was still crying historically. Her eyes were closed,

and a thin trickle of blood flowed from her forehead,

and she wasn't moving.

"Max, can you hear me?" Logan shook her gently, worriedly,

vaguely aware of Matt calling for an ambulance.

Logan locked two hateful eyes on Val, who in the midst

of Max's fall had lost her upper hand, and Jonson had

gained his. He soon had her handcuffed.

"I could kill you!" he shouted hatefully. "Why did you

have to do this!"

During his tirade, Max's eyes fluttered open "Logan?"

He turned immediately to the sound of her voice. "I'm

here Max. Jess is here too, and he's fine."

She gave a small smile, groaning slightly.

"Where does it hurt baby?" he asked, brushing a hand over

her pained filled features.

"Just in my leg." she answered, and much to Logan's surprise

she sat up. She winced as she reached out to touch it

gently, cradling Jess with her other hand. She held him

tightly to her, reveling in the feeling of having her baby

back in her arms. "Mommy missed you sweetheart." she said,

tears leaking out of her eyes.

Logan ran a hand along both her legs. Although there were

a few bruised areas on her right leg along with a gash

that ran the length of the same thigh, he couldn't feel

the telltale protrusions of any broken bones.

"I think I just sprained my ankle or something." Max diagnosed.

"I had one of my legs slightly twisted when I moved

to catch Jess and it unbalanced my weight when I landed,

which is why I fell."

"We'll let a doctor decide that sweetheart." Logan stated.

He moved to pick her up off the floor.

Matt saw what he was doing, and moved to help by taking

Jess out of Max's arms. "I'll give him back at the

hospital." he reassured.

Max looked slightly pained to have him taken away from her.

"You better." she announced, resting a head against Logan's

shoulder.

The paramedics had arrived, and wheeled a stretcher into

the building.

Val was being brought down, just as Logan and the EMS crew

met halfway in the center of the room. He laid her down

carefully on the stretcher, relaying what he saw happen

to the two paramedics.

Janis, one of the EMS medics was impressed. "You took a

big risk, jumping off that ledge Mrs. Cale." she inserted

an IV into Max's arm, while her partner taped gauze over the

gash in her leg. Janis taped the needle in place and added

"You could have been killed."

Max looked over to Val, as she was being led to the cruiser.

"That's just the way I am." She winced slightly as Janis

taped gauze over the small superficial cut that marred her

forehead. As a precaution the medics also immobilized her

lower leg and placed a cervical collar around her neck.

They wheeled her out of the building, with Logan close

in tow. As he climbed into the ambulance he turned back

to Matt, who was close behind him "I'll take him now."

Matt didn't argue, and gently handed Logan back his infant

son. A smile played across his lips as he saw the faint

trace of tears in Logan's eyes as he looked down at the

baby.

"Now I know you took a lot of rides in the last few days

Jess." Logan addressed his baby in a gentle tone "But this

time you and me are gonna take a ride with mommy to make

sure she's okay and that you are too." He kissed Jess's

little forehead, and reached out one hand to grasp Max's

as doors of the ambulance closed.

*****

Crash

7:45 p.m.

"Damn" Cindy cursed, ending the call. She was getting no

answer at the penthouse, or on Max's cell.

"No luck?" Kendra asked, coming back from her 'bathroom

break'

"No" Cindy replied facing her and taking in her friends

disheveled appearance. "Obviously you had some."

Kendra nodded with a sly smile.

Cindy shook her head, and tried one more time, this

go around dialing Logan's cell.

"I just hope that he hasn't gone and shot off that

mouth of his again." she stated as she waited for

the call to go through. After a few rings it did.

"Logan" Cindy began, her tone set for a reprimand

"Where the hell have you been-" she broke off

as she heard Logan's explanation of the events that

just went down. "What did you do to her?" Her tone

changed when he corrected her on her thinking "Is

she okay?" She listened intently to the rest of the

conversation "I'm coming down there."

"What is it?" Kendra asked "Did they find him?"

"Yea they did." Cindy responded, turning to face

her "But he and my boo had to take a spin to

Metro."

"Oh my god. What happened?" Kendra wanted to know.

"Logan didn't say much over the phone." Cindy pulled

her jacket over her green halter top. "I just know I'z

gotta get down there."

Kendra nodded at her statement "I'll handle the tabs.

Just let us know what you find out." her voice and

expression were full of worry.

"I will suga." Cindy responded and left the dimly lit

bar in a hurry.

*****

Metro Mercy

Waiting Room 1-b

8:15 p.m.

Logan sat slumped over in the blue chair. Around him people

bustled in and out. This city was full of crime and accident

prone people, judging by the number of gurneys that came through

the halls, among them were Max and Jess.

When the ambulance pulled up she was unloaded from the back

and brought into the ER bay. Like a swarm of ants, doctors

and nurses approached them, asking questions and running tests.

It reminded him of his own accident a year and a half ago.

All those doctors and their cold, sterile hands. But now

it hurt even more then it did back then. Because he had to

watch someone he loved being prodded like meat.

He was told that he had to wait while she was being examined

in the ER. Also Jess was taken from him for observation.

So now he sat alone, not knowing what to do with himself.

He had paced for the last twenty minuites, drank bad hospital

coffee and watched the clock as a dog watches a bone.

"So what's the dealio?"

Logan snapped up from his hunched position to look into

the face of Cindy, who had sat next to him without his

noticing.

"No one will tell me what's going on." Cindy went on.

"Me neither." Logan admitted to her. "The doctors say

they just need to be 'examined." he leaned back against

the chair.

Cindy turned in to face him "What exactly went down today?"

"I found something else that's wrong with my ex." Logan

said, not moving from his position. "Alcoholism wasn't

good enough for her, she had to add kidnapping and

attempted murder to the list."

Cindy adapted a stunned look on her face "That Valerie

chick is your ex wife?"

Logan nodded, solemnly "We found her with Jess in some

shit filled motel, and she had this gun." His eyes bore

a look of rage. "She just aimed the damn thing point

black at Jess's head." his words matched his expression

"Max kicked it out of her hand," he could see the

'that's my girl' look from Cindy at this statement "but

then Val simply dropped Jess over the rail from two

stories up, and Max went after him. She wasn't in the

best position or something because they both fell into

the only decent piece of oak furniture in that crappy

lobby."

Cindy was stunned. "What's wrong with that bitch?"

she was of course referring to Val.

"I don't know." Logan answered, standing up again.

He turned to face the wall and lowered his head

against the painted white surface. He stayed

that way, lost in his own thoughts.

"Logan?"

He turned at the sound of that voice, and saw Max

coming towards him on two wooden crutches. He

hurried over to her as well, meeting her half way

in a fierce hug. He reveled in the feeling of her

warm body against his.

She hugged him back just as tightly, dropping the

crutches on the floor so she could wrap her arms

around him. "I'm okay baby." she reassured pulling

back to look into his eyes "It was just a sprain

like I thought." she looked down at her foot

wrapped in an ace bandage, and then back up to

her husband "nothing broken"

Cindy approached the pair "Your man isn't the only

one who wants some sugar." she kissed her cheek

and embraced her. "Glad it wasn't any worse."

"Me too." Max agreed and pulled back. "Just a sprained

ankle, and fifteen stitches. five here." she pointed to

her head "And ten here." she pointed to the small

sterile bandage that adorned her calf.

"All that came from landing into a table?" Cindy

asked in slight disbelief.

"It was oak girl." Max informed "That's hard shit,

I'm just glad it was me and not Jess." She turned

to Logan then "Where is he?"

"They had to take him in for observation Max." Logan

stated "Just to make sure he didn't sustain any injuries

during the fall or prior."

Max whirled on him then, not even considering that until

this moment "You don't think she did anything-"

"I don't know." he interrupted "He seemed fine in the

ambulance. I think it's just a precaution."

"Mr. Cale?" a doctors voice interrupted their conversation.

Logan handed Max back the crutches and the trio made their

way over to where the doctor was.

"I'm Dr. Rodell. I work in the PICU. I just finished

examining your son."

"Why is Jess in intensive care?" Max broke in "I thought

he was just brought in for observation."

"Doctor, this is my wife Max." Logan introduced her to the

other woman.

Rodell turned towards Max "It's better we place him in

PIC-U for this Mrs. Cale. In case something were to happen,

we're equipped to deal with it more in there then a ER made

for adults." she paused and addressed both Max and Logan

"But I'm glad to report that aside from minor diaper rash

your son is physically fine."

There was a collective sigh of relief "Thank god." Cindy

said from behind them. Logan rubbed Max's shoulders and

she intern leaned against him, a huge weight lifted off

her.

"I want to see him." Max stated. It was not a request.

"The nurses are giving him a bath at the moment-" Rodell began

"I'll wait  until their done." Max interrupted. After three

days away from her child she wasn't about to stand not seeing

him for even five more minuites.

Dr. Rodell sighed defeated "PICU is on the second floor."

Max gave a slight nod and began limping her way over to

the elevator.

Logan and Cindy caught up with her as she waited for the

doors to open. Once they did the trio stepped into the

elevator car, and rode in silence to the second floor.

*****

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Waiting room 6-A

15 minuites later

"Suga you need to sit down, your wearing a hole in the

carpet." Cindy advised Max from her seat in a wooden chair.

When they had reached the PIC-U department the head nurse

informed them that Jesse would be brought back out in ten

minuites. Max had not sat down that entire time, pacing

back and forth on her crutches and looking at the white

door which lead to the room where the newborns were bathed

about every thirty seconds.

"It's been fifteen damn minuites." Max muttered under her

breath. "What's taking so long?"

"Girl it's only been five minuites longer then they said

it would be." Cindy reassured her friend "Just calm down."

At that same moment the glass door opened as Logan re-entered

the room. He had made a trip down to the hospital cafeteria

to get coffee, or the hospitals equivalent to it. He handed

one of them to Cindy "Maybe there's a reason they keep the

cafeteria so close to the ER and the ICU wards." he stated,

trying to break the tension with a little humor.

Cindy sipped her 'coffee' and scowled at the taste "You

got that right."

Logan laughed softly, and turned to look at Max "Baby

come and sit down, you look tired."

"I don't get tired Logan." Max informed "It's not in

my genes." she never once broke her train of movement.

"Yea well regardless of what your DNA was programmed

for, you look worn out, and you need to sit down

before you fall down."

"He's right suga." Cindy agreed "You look like you

need a break."

Max sighed, and came over to where he and Cindy were

seated. She removed the crutches from under her arms

and fell back into one of the chairs.

Logan took the crutches from her and placed them

to the side. He drew her close to him with one

arm. "He's just in for a bath."

"I know." Max admitted softly "It's just-I miss him."

"Me too." Logan agreed gently, kissing her hair.

The white door opened and a nurse stepped out.

"I think someone here wants to see mom and dad."

Max shot up from her position, taking in the sight

of the nurse carrying Jesse, who was dressed in

fresh hospital baby clothes.

She moved to stand up, but the nurse held up her hand

"I'll bring him to you Ma'am, you should stay off your

ankle." she walked over to them. "Look sweetie." she

was addressing Jess "it's mommy." she placed him in

Max's waiting arms.

Max's eyes teared up as she gazed down at her son "Hey

there." She stroked his face softly. "It's been a while

kiddo." A tear broke and traveled slowly down her face.

She looked up at Logan and saw that his eyes were wet

as well.

He kissed her softly and gazed down at their son "It

was to quiet around the house without you Jess." Logan

began "We missed our early morning symphony."

Max laughed through her tears, and Cindy came up and

knelt beside them. "Auntie missed her boy too." she

kissed his little forehead softly.

Max broke from this scene to look up at the nurse

"Has he been fed?" Though she had pumped regularly

since Jess was taken, her breasts were still heavy.

She shook her head "I figured you would handle that."

Max looked at her with gratitude as she left. She

wasn't wearing a nursing bra, or one that clasped

in the front, so she began to reach around to

her back. Logan saw what she was trying to do and

lifted up her sweater and freed the little clasps

for her.

She thanked him with a smile, and lifted up one side

of her sweater and positioned her son so he could eat.

He latched onto her immediately and began to nurse. She

reveled in the sensation of his warm baby's breath on

her exposed skin. She had gone without it for far to

long. Logan pulled her back to him, wrapping both arms

around her waist.

"This is amazing." Cindy stated out of the blue. "I

thought that Original Cindy had done it all. Lived

through the Pulse, met my first and true love who's

lovin' me from heaven now." she smiled skyward at

that last remark. "But seeing my suga feedin' her son,

that's one that tops them all."

Max smiled softly, stroking her baby's soft brown hair.

Jess continued to suckle well into to the five minute

mark. Cindy had since gotten on Max's cell and had called

Kendra.

"...yea our girl's okay. Just a few scraps and a sprained

ankle."  She could hear Kendra relay the good news to the

people who were listening by the phone. "Is de baby all right?"

Herbal's Jamaican accented voice asked in the background.

"Suga tell everyone that my boy'z all good." Cindy stated

"He's alert, awake-"

"And hungry." Max broke in loudly for the benefit of her

friends on the other line. She sucked in a breath as Jess

worked harder in getting himself fed. He even placed both

tiny hands on either side of his mother's breast to keep

his position.

Logan had to laugh at the greediness his son was showing.

But then again, this was probably the first time he ate

something decent in days. He leaned down towards Jesse

and kissed his head. Then he placed another kiss on the

skin of Max's full round breast.

"I know you're hungry Jess," Logan began in a gentle

reprimanding tone "But you gotta let mommy have some

left in reserve."

Max laughed at her husband's choice of words "Reserve

baby? What do you think the 'well' is gonna be tapped

dry?" her voice was full of lighthearted teasing.

"Considering how much our son has been eating, and how

little you have, it's a possibility." he put more emphasis

on the second part of his statement. She had hardly eaten

anything in the last few days, save for some coffee and

half of a club sandwich he had originally made for himself.

Her body had a very high metabolic rate, so she needed to

constantly replenish it. And not eating wasn't helping any.

"You're right about that." she stated in agreement. "I am

*starving*. I never did get to eat my 'specially requested'

dinner."

"I kinda got cheated out of that as well." Cindy added, having

since ended her call with Kendra "But it's excusable this time."

A few seconds later Bling came through the glass doors, totally

unaware of the foreshadowing conversation that went on before

he arrived. "Who's in the mood for a little pasta?" He held

a paper bag in his hand. "Logan here asked me to swing by his

house and pick up this." he revealed the corningware container

of fetuchini al pesto.

"Since we missed out first dinner engagement." Logan began,

carefully moving out from under his wife and helping Bling

with the contents of the bag "I thought we could have it

now."

Cindy cocked an eyebrow "In a hospital waiting room?"

Logan offered her a smile "It's something different.

I'm not doing it because I think my food is bad."

He served up his culinary art on the paper plates

he asked Bling to pick up.

"Not bad." Cindy remarked in-between bites. "You got

skills in the kitchen boy."

Logan grinned at her from his position beside Max

"Thanks."

They ate for a little while longer, then Bling chucked

his plate in the trash. His hand reached into the bag

again and pulled out a bottle of pre-post alcohol

"I'd like to propose a toast." He pulled the cork on

the bottle. "With this very tasteful bottle of dark

burgundy that Logan had stashed in his wine racks."

Max was about to object and remind him that she

couldn't drink, but silenced when he also produced

a bottle of sparkling water "And this, for my girl."

She smiled her thanks and took the paper cup from

him.

"I don't know if I should be upset that you went

through my wine racks, or happy that you didn't

bring that bottle of really cheap rose my uncle

bought for ten dollars in El Salvador." Logan

stated matter-of-factly.

"I have taste." Bling reminded, handing out the other

two cups to him and Cindy. He raised his cup in the air

"Here's to friendship, and the courage I've seen in the

last to days."

"To my girl." Cindy continued "For taking that woman

to school, and being a great mom to my boy."

They all laughed at that remark.

"To my son Jesse." Logan glanced at the infant in Max's arms.

"I am so glad that you are safe, and back where you belong.

And to my beautiful wife." He turned his eyes upwards to meet

Max's gaze "For the passion of not giving up, and for reminding

me each day of why I fell in love with you."

Max couldn't help it, she had to kiss him for that one.

"To Jess being here again with us, the way it should

be." she locked her eyes on Logan "To you baby, for

giving me this, and loving me despite was I was created

to be." Her eyes glistened with tears. Logan kissed

her again, and wiped them away with his hands. "I love

you for who you are, not what you were *suppose* to be."

he whispered.

They all drank to their toast. Max curled up beside

Logan, her arms still around Jesse. Her body ached

with fatigue from the sleepless nights of the past

few days. "Sorry about cutting the festivities short."

she remarked drowsily.

Logan gently kissed her hair "That's all right sweetheart.

It's early, but I think we all could use some sleep."

He carefully took Jess from her and handed him over to

Cindy. Then he scooped her up in his arms and stood up.

Bling snagged her crutches, and they maneuvered their

way to the door.

Max felt the warm comfort of Logan's body around her,

and she let it carry her away. There may be many more

battles to fight, but she was content in knowing that

she had won this one.

*****

19th Precinct

Seattle

9:15 p.m.

"Why did you do it Ms. Styinder?" Matt's hard voice

echoed off the walls of the small interrogation room.

Val stared blankly at him, casually smoking a cigarette

"You wouldn't understand." Smoke spewed from her mouth.

"What? How you kidnapped a small child from his crib, and

nearly killed him and his mother? What's hard to understand?"

his tone was cold, clipped. He did not get this woman.

She took another drag from the Morley. "There were worse

things that I could have done."  More smoke. "I did what

I had to do."

"That's not a reason Valerie." Matt stated, switching to

her first name. "You're looking at one year for kidnapping,

and another five for attempted murder. That's six years

of taking 'community showers' living in filthy cells,

and undergoing strip searches every hour. What rationalization

do you have to do something to wind up in a place like this?"

He stared at her long and hard, demanding an answer.

She snubbed her cigarette butt in the ash tray. "I guess I

wanted to show Logan that I wasn't a weak woman, that I could

be just as strong as *her*." she spat out the last word like

it was poison.

"Well if 'strong' is defined by taking a baby away from his

family, making his parents go through hell for the last two

days so you could lure the mother into a trap to try and kill

her, then yea Val, you have 'strength' nailed." Matt pointed

out sarcastically.

He motioned for Officer Jonson to come in from outside

the door.

"Take her back now." he ordered.

Jonson nodded, and hauled Val up from the chair. Her hands

remained handcuffed at her back. He led her out of the

room and closed the door. Jonson placed her back in her cell.

She sat on the cot, watching the woman in the next cell

lifting cinder blocks as weights.

"Trying to work up the arms to break outta here?"

The woman ceased in her actions and shot Val a chilling

look. "You wanna start something Richy bitch?"

Val backed off. She faced the wall, wishing for some

scotch or vodka to make this shitty place more bearable.

She didn't want to admit it, but these people scared her.

Suddenly all her tough bravado was gone. She wasn't as

hard as she thought she could be, and unfortunately she

had found that out too late.

*****

End 

This one took a couple of weeks to complete. I kept having

lapses of inspiration. I plan to my next one in this series

on Max and Zack going back to Manticore to rescue Tinga.

Tinga's son and husband re-enter the picture, and Max will

somehow wind up getting herself taken, I just haven't figured

out how. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

And also tell me what you think about this one.