Alec fell asleep or at least pretended to be asleep as they drove down the country road and headed back to the city. He didn't want to have to make small talk with Max or pretend to be interested in whatever Logan was rambling on about. Max looked out her window and her features visibly shrank as she left behind all the memories she had made with Alec.

Once back at Logan's Alec made up some excuse and left as fast as he could. Max sat uncomfortably as Logan moved closer to her and took her hand. "Max, don't you think we should talk?"

"Talk about what?"

"About us, of course." He laughed softly.

"Logan I ..."

"Max, I know what you're going to say, I know how scared you are, but the virus is gone and you'll get your memory back soon, then we can be together, like we always dreamed."

"Logan, we should focus on White right now."

"I know, and you're right, I'm just so excited."

"What's the plan? How are we going to get rid of White before Joshua finds him?"

"Well, I was thinking about it and what I've come up with is this," Logan told her, leading her to his computer and showing her a detailed map of the town Ray and his aunt were living. "Joshua would more than likely go to Ray's aunt's house and wait for White, so what we need to do is stop White at this point here." He pointed to a large field, where it would be easy to ambush an unsuspecting White. "We'll need Alec's help of course, but I think we can do it."

"But what if Joshua doesn't go to wait, what if Joshua goes straight for White. He was captured once, who's to say it can't happen again?"

"That is a possibility, but I'm betting he will wait." Logan smiled.

'You mean you're betting you'll be right, because aren't you always right,' she snapped in her head, then immediately scolded herself. Why was everything done according to the way Logan wanted it. Why were everyone else's opinions not worth as much as Logan's were? Why did Logan always make her question herself?

'Stop it Max, just stop it. You're just upset about Joshua and taking it out on Logan,' she rationalized.

Max's mind wondered again as Logan went over the plan. She couldn't help but wonder where Alec had gone, what he was doing, who he was with.

Alec walked into crash and sat down at a stool up close to the bar. He waved over the bartender and ordered a double-scotch, downed it and then ordered another. His throat burned by the time he drank the third down. He just wanted to feel numb. To forget Max and the way her body molded so perfectly against him. He had to shake his head to get the images out of his brain.

"Slow down boo!" OC said, coming to sit beside Alec.

Alec grunted a weak hello.

"Now, what is up wit you?"

"Nothing, I'm not very good company right now Cindy."

"Tell OC what's wrong boo, maybe she can help."

"You can't help," He murmured.

"Is this about Joshua? That boy just don't know when to stay outta trouble, kinda like you and my girl. Say, is Max here too?" Original Cindy asked, trying to get to the problem.

"No. She's with...her and Logan...she's with him," Alec managed to get out and then took another shot.

"Oh, OC sees what da problem is. You and my boo get a little cozy in da woods and now she's over there with him and you in here drinking away your problems. Isn't that right?"

Alec turned to face her and masked his hurt. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, I know you don't wanna sugga, but you goin' to."

Alec let a slow smirk consume his face. "You're sure of that are you?"

OC laughed in response. "Ain't no one able to hide their feelin's from Original Cindy, now spill the beans boy."

Alec shrugged grumpily and downed another scotch. "Things between me and Max are complicated. We sorta...well, when we were out in that cabin all alone, Max kinda went into heat....and I was there and....see what happened was...."

"You two hooked up," OC said, matter-of-factly. "And now your girl is trippin' over it?"

"Not exactly," Alec countered, running his fingers through his hair and rubbing the back of his neck. "There was another time after we uh ..went swimming. Then Logan came and that was the end of it," Alec finished, avoiding her gaze.

OC's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You really like her don't you. You care for her, huh boo?."

Alec swirled some of the amber liquid in his glass and ignored OC still.

"You really do. You love her don'tcha.?" Original Cindy concluded and didn't need his answer to know it was the truth.

"It doesn't matter how I feel, she's made her choice," Alec told her without looking at her.

Logan insisted on holding Max's hand as they walked into Crash. Scanning the crowd, Max could see Alec and OC talking. OC had her hand on his shoulder and appeared to be comforting him. Max closed her eyes, she knew he was upset and she knew he had every right to be. She just had to explain to him that she owed it to herself to give Logan a chance.

Max breathed deep, turning to look at Logan as he pulled her along over to Alec and Original Cindy.

Who was she kidding, she knew things were over with Logan before they ever began. She could never love him, not the way she loved Alec. Max sighed and realized they were standing right in front of Alec.

"...so that means we need your help, we have to leave now," Logan was telling Alec when Max finally zoned back into reality. She tried to catch Alec's attention, to make eye contact, but he wouldn't look up from his drink, and dammit, it hurt.

"Yeah, right. Let's get outta here." Alec eased his way off the stool and started toward the door when Cindy called him back.

"Hang on sugga."

"What?"

"You two wanna give me and the boy here a second to chat?"

"Yeah, yeah sure." Max said, heading toward the exit with her eyes on the floor.

"What OC? We have to go get White or save Joshua or whatever the fuck it was Logan was babbling about," Alec grumbled.

OC tilted his chin and looked into his dark green eyes. "It seems to me Max don't know what Max wants, but I'll tell you something else sugga, the way she was lookin' at you, isn't the way you look at someone you done wit. Know what I'm saying? I think there is still a few chapters to be written, so don't go around feelin' sorry for yourself 'til you know the end, that's where da truth comes in. Now get outta here and kick some ass!" OC laughed and shoved Alec softly and was granted a small smirk from Mr. Sarcastic himself.