Alec woke up, his head aching. He opened his eyes. The swelling had gone down, but the images were still a little blurry. He sat up quickly, remembering the events that had proceeded his sleep.

"Max?" Alec called into the darkness and then a second time and a third, until he was shouting.

Logan ran into the room. Alec was laid out on his couch, acutely aware that Max was no where to be seen.

"Alec, she's fine."

"Where is she?"

"In the bedroom."

Without a second thought to his own health, Alec sprang from the couch and followed Logan.

"Max?" Alec asked quietly, sitting down next to her on the mattress. "Is she okay?' Alec asked, looking up at Logan. He had the scared eyes of a child, the lost innocense of one too.

"She's going to be fine," Logan told him, relief in his own answer.

"Max?" Alec traced the shape of her face with his fingers, lightly running them through her hair and down her arm, much to the dismay of Logan, who coughed lightly in protest. "What's wrong with her?"

"We ran some tests. They all came back normal. When we found you on the side of the road, she was running a fever, but she seems to be fine now."

"Then why is she still asleep?" Alec asked concerned.

"I'm not really sure. Look Alec, I assure you she's going to be fine."

"What about White?" Alec flinched, forcing himself to ask. He had to know, what had happened to him, after they escaped.

"What about him?"

"Well, we can't stay here, White will find us, and I'm not letting him take Max, not after...I just won't."

"We'll talk about it later," Logan answered. He was exhausted. They had searched all night for the warehouse and circled several times, trying to come up with a plan. As the sun broke through the clouds however, they spotted Max and Alec passed out on the side of the road. Joshua helped load them into the car before they sped away back to Logan's place.

Alec bowed his head, lifted himself off the bed and turned to face Logan. "I'll just give you two some time."

"I'd appreciate that," Logan responded, unflinching.

Alec went to exit the room, and Logan took up the spot he had just occupied. Standing at the doorway, Alec noticed the curious way Logan interacted with Max. He was shy, hesitant and for reasons unknown to Alec, he felt sorry for the guy. Sorry because he knew exactly how he felt.

Logan picked up Max's delicate hand from where it rested on the cool sheets, and held it within his own. For months he had been unable to touch her and now he revelled in the feel of her, soft, strong, soothing.

"You really love her, don't you?" Alec spoke softly, from the doorframe, unsure why he had asked. It wasn't like he couldn't tell, it was apparent. But part of him wanted to hear it, he wanted to know Max was in good hands. Even if she wasn't interested in him, at least she had Logan to love.

"Yeah, yeah, I do," Logan answered, the hint of a smile in his response.

"I'm going to head back to my place," Alec told him. He couldn't stand to see them together. His stomach turned just watching him hold onto her.

"You're weak, Alec."

Alec scoffed to himself. If Logan only knew how weak he truly was, and he didn't mean physically. Alec would give anything to switch places with Logan, to be the man Max loved. But he knew it wasn't possible. What did he know about love and relationships anyhow? He was just some transgenic, born in a lab, with no real social skills to speak of. He knew how he felt though. No matter how much he tried to deny it, Max meant something to him. Never having relied on anyone his whole life, it bothered him that he could need her so much. But he did, he needed Max like he needed air.

"I'm fine," Alec finally managed to get out.

"You really should just rest for a while," Logan told him, never letting his eyes off of Max.

"Yeah, I guess. Is it okay if I just crash on the couch?"

"Go ahead," Logan said, basically brushing off Alec.

Alec left the quiet confines of Logan's bedroom at last, already feeling the ache, because another man had Max's heart.

Max tossed and turned, muttering nonsensical words in her sleep. Logan moved closer to her, lightly running his fingers through her hair. He moved in closer still, trying to make out any of her ramblings. Then clear as day she whispered quietly, "Alec."

Logan turned pale and stood up, pacing the room.