"Alec!" She repeated softly, gently stirring herself awake. She shook slightly as a cool breeze encompassed her from Logan's approaching figure.

Her eyes lurched open and she could make out a shape standing before her. "Alec!?"

"No Max, it's me, Logan," he told her, kneeling down so he was face to face with her, as she lay on his bed.

"Logan, I can't remember," she whispered frustrated.

"I know, honey," he told her gently, sweeping her damp hair from her face. "You'll remember soon."

"Alec!?"

"He's fine, Max. We found you both and you're safe, okay?"

"No, no, I need Alec," she told him, almost sadly as her eyes began to well with tears.

"I'm here. Whatever you need, I can get for you," Logan told her, trying not to get frustrated with her.

"Then get me Alec," She told him, hoarsely.

Logan gave an exasperated sigh. "If that's what you want..."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "But I don't know you and I feel safe with Alec."

That bit of information hit him hard and he felt as though she had ripped his heart out and done an Irish jig on it. "I understand," Logan said, trying to be convincing but didn't even believe himself.

Max threw the covers off of her long body, and swung her legs off the side of the bed, grasping her head at the unexpected feeling of dizziness.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked concerned, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine," She told him and pushed his hand away from her.

Max made a weak attempt to stand, but flopped back on the bed when she found her legs weak and unstable.

"Here, let me help you," Logan told her, giving her a helpful hand.

Max reluctantly took his hand, and tried again to stand, this time successful with Logan's extra support. Slowly but surely, they made their way down the hallway and into the living room, where Alec lay splayed out on the couch.

His breath was heavy underneath the thin sheet, and Max smiled as she approached him. Logan helped ease her down, so she could sit next to him.

"Alec!?" She coaxed gently, slowly lifting her hand to his battered face. Making contact with his puffy profile, Max shuttered at the feel of heated, bruised skin. "Alec, wake up."

Slowly and not very pleasantly Alec's hazel eyes flashed awake, then softened when he met the dark hue of Max's eyes.

"Max!?" She could only nod for fear her voice would give away her precious emotions that loomed so close to the surface, threatening to spill over.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm a little dizzy, but I'm okay. How about you, do you feel any better?"

"Don't worry about me Max, I always bounce right back," he told her, giving a weak attempt of a smile, instead of his usual exaggerated smirk.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I was worried," he told her gently, covering her hand with his.

"So was I."

Logan stood just behind them, but went unnoticed. This wasn't his world, it wasn't his adventure. He realized watching Max and Alec so intently that if her memory didn't come back soon, they would have an entirely new set of obstacles in their relationship

Gazing deep into Alec's eyes, Max realized how much he had done for her, and for all his smart ass comments, he was still a great friend.

"You need to rest now," Max told Alec, lightly running her fingers through his hair. It wasn't intentional, and she didn't even realize she was doing it, until she looked back at Alec, who was smilung widely.

"You just can't get enough of me." He laughed quietly, despite the sting it brought onto his lungs.

"I guess not," she smiled.

Then unexpectedly, she bent down and touched her lips to his cheek. It was light; a sweet, soothing gesture.

Alec looked at her incredulously and then spotted Logan looking on.

"What was that for?" he whispered.

"For saving my life," Max said sincerely, gratefully.

They pair of X-5's locked eyes, staring intently into the other. The spell was only broken as Logan cleared his throat.

"I've arranged for you two to stay at a house just outside the city limits. We'll leave at midnight."

"Alec can't go anywhere," Max protested, standing shakily. "He needs to rest, he's hurt."

"That's exactly why you must leave. If White finds this place, neither one of you are in any condition to defend yourselves. You'll lay low until I can come up with something."

"I don't want to run, I don't want to hide. You can't make us go." Max told him seething.

Alec gripped her hand and pulled her back down beside him. "Max, it's for the best. Logan's right, we're powerless like this. Besides a little time away from all this transgenic shit will do us some good."

Max looked between Alec and Logan, who just smiled at her reassuringly. "I guess." She shrugged her shoulders.

"That's my girl." Alec lightly chuckled.

Logan could only look on, slightly offended that Alec would endear Max as his girl.

"Midnight then," he told them, and then turned to leave the room.

TBC