TITLE: A NORMAL DAY

AUTHOR: SARGE

E-MAIL: SARGE2525@HOTMAIL.COM

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DARK ANGEL. JAMES CAMERON, FOX AND OTHER PEOPLE DO. 

AUTHORS NOTE: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HEAD TRAUMA IN REAL LIFE. EXCUSE UNEXPLAINABLE OR IRRATIONAL
COMMENTS.

"Very funny, Max," Logan told her as she sat up. "If I didn't know you better I'd almost be worried about that comment." 

"Well, at least you're not total strangers," Max said. "But honestly, who the heck are you people? Because I'm drawing a big
and total blank" 

"Shit," Bling said, which seemed to sum it all up very nicely. 

"This can't be happening," Zach told them. "Not to Max."

"Think of it as a blessing," Logan suggested. "Maybe when she gets her memory back Manticore won't be a part of it." 

"What's Manticore?" Max asked as she stood and stretched. "I have a memory. You and this Manticore are just not registering
on it."

"I told you we should have taken her to a doctor," Kendra snarled at Zach. "Now my roommate doesn't even remember that
she's my roommate."

"That's just silly, Kendra," Max told her. "Of course I would remember my roommate. Why wouldn't I? What time is it? Normal
is going to kill me if I'm late for work again." 

"Wait just a minute here," Zach said as he pointed at Kendra. "You remember her?" 

"Yeah, and I don't remember you. So I don't care how cute you are, back off or I'll make you," Max told him. "Come on,
Kendra, I want to get out of here." 

"How do you know you can fight?" Logan asked her. "If you know that then I could be wrong in the theory I'm developing." 

"Listen, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is, I don't care about your theory. All I know is that he doesn't look that strong. I have a fair
chance of beating him if he starts something. Just like Kendra would."

"Kendra wouldn't stand a chance," Zach told her. "You would. You're different." 

"Please tell me we've never dated," Max told him.

Logan had a hard time not laughing at the thought. When her memory had been complete, Max had clearly called the other
Manticore children her family. Zach looked a little upset by the comment though. Being told by a girl who didn't remember ever
meeting you before that you didn't appear to be dating material must do that to some people. 

"You're not dating him," Logan told her. "Trust me. You never have." 

Zach gave Logan an evil glare. If he had known this was going to happen he wouldn't have brought Max here. He knew all
about memory loss due to head injuries. Usually it came back, but before Max's did he could have gotten her out of Seattle and
at least tried to make her see reason. Now he didn't have a chance because Logan and Kendra would be watching her like a
hawk. 

"Thank goodness. Hate to break it to you, pal, but people are rarely as special as they think they are. I doubt that you're an
exception," Max told Zach. "If you guys really are my friends, I think I must have pretty bad judgement. Look, right now I
need to get back to work." 

"With what?" Zach asked as she started to leave. "We need to know how to get your memory back, Max. Trust me. You won't
last very long without it."

"What? I have a homicidal boyfriend after me? I'm wanted in three states for murder? What?" Max asked sarcastically. "I'll
take my chances." 

"Your bike was destroyed in the accident," Logan told her. "Do you have another one that you can use?"

"Sorry, Daddy Warbucks, but I'm not made of money," Max answered. "Normal has a couple extras. I'll make do with one of
those till my next paycheck." 

"Your could just use your motorcycle," Kendra told her. "At least until you get a new bike."

"A motorcycle? Somehow I don't see me having one of those," Max told her. "Let's go before I take a swing at Zach here for
being a pest."

"Try it, Max," Zach dared her as he stepped forward. 'Maybe it'll give you a memory flashback." 

Bling stepped between Zach and Max before either of them could do anything. He looked less than pleased with both of them.
His warning vibe washed over Max and she stepped back. Didn't seem like a good idea to upset her doctor.

"Memories do not come back because you push," Bling told them. "She needs to go back to her normal schedule. The everyday
routine might refresh her memory. That means going back to Jam Pony - if she promises to be careful - and working for Logan
on occasion." 

"She can't stay in Seattle if she has no idea what's going on," Zach protested. "Lydecker is out there, and he knows what she
looks like. If she's out on the street for very long, just walking around without her normal level of caution then she's dog
meat." 

"I am not dog meat," Max informed him sharply. "I resent the reference. If normal means working for Logan and Jam Pony
then normal it is. If I could handle it before then I can handle it now." 

Zach turned to Logan with an expression of disbelief on his face. "We need to talk." 

"Max needs to go home," Bling told them. "Talk to her tomorrow. Kendra, maybe give her an ice pack. Make sure she drinks
lots of water. If she passes out again, call me."

"I'm fine," Max told Bling. "I guess I'll be back tomorrow so I can find out what's going on in my crazy life. It'll have to be after
work though. Normal will go nuts if I miss it."

The three men watched as Kendra and Max walked out the door. Max still moved with the same catlike grace. Most of her
attitude seemed intact too. If it weren't for the fact that she didn't seem to recognize them, they would have believed that she
was fine. They all knew on some level, however, that Zach was at least partly justified in his concern. Without her memory
Max would be in trouble.

"You said you had a theory," Bling commented once Max and Kendra were gone. "What is it?" 

"What doesn't Max remember?" Logan asked rhetorically. "Us. You, me, Zach..." 

"Don't forget her motorcycle," Zach commented. "Though how she could forget the love of her life is beyond me."

"She can't be that attached to a machine," Bling told Zach. 

"You'd be surprised."

"She seems to have forgotten about Manticore, too," Logan said, trying to get them back on track. "I think that's what she
blocked out."

"That doesn't explain you or her motorcycle," Zach reminded him. "New theory time." 

"No, the theory still works," Logan explained. "Max met me because she broke into my house. She only stuck around because
I told her I'd help her find out more about Manticore. No memory of Manticore equals no need for Research Guy. She generally
only uses her motorcycle when she needs to make fast getaways, usually from places she's broken into while trying to dig up
dirt on Manticore. The rest of the time she just uses it to get away from the memories. If she doesn't need to escape the
memories now, she doesn't need the motorcycle. It all makes sense. She has blocked out everything that sets her apart and
makes her special. She only remembers all the 'normal' things in her life. That's why she remembers Kendra and Normal and
work."

"I wonder why she doesn't remember me as Sam then," Zach mused. "I worked with her for about a day, as a non-Manticore
thing. "

"Maybe you just didn't make much of an impression that day," Logan said. He grinned when Zach gave him an annoyed frown.

"So time will get her memory back?" Zach asked as he turned to Bling. "That's not good enough. She doesn't have time.
Lydecker is still looking for her."

"Lydecker won't come to Seattle yet," Logan predicted. "He probably figures that you're still too on-guard to venture out like
this."

"Don't be stupid," Zach snapped. "Max is going to draw attention to herself very easily. Tell me, what do you think Kendra is
going to do when Max breaks something? You do realize that she doesn't even know how strong she is right now?" 

"Maybe someone should watch her," Logan commented. "Not you though, Zach. She's made it very clear that she doesn't like
you much."

"Well that's too bad. I'm the only one who's going to recognize any of Lydecker's operatives and be able to get Max away from
them," Zach reminded. "Then I'm going to take her and walk. You're just going to have to deal with it."

'What right do you have to pull Max out of Seattle?" Logan asked tensely. "How's that going to be normal for her?"

"Logan's right. As much as you may think it's safer, it's not going to help Max in the long run."

"Fine, but I'm still watching out for her. Maybe I'll get lucky and she won't see me. Of course, she probably won't even be
looking for me," Zach said as he stood. "Guess I should go get to work. Wonder if her roommate made her go home?" 

"Knowing Max as we do, what do you think?" Logan asked, irritated that he couldn't be the one to watch Max. He would be
lying if he said he trusted Zach. Right now Zach wanted one thing: to keep Max safe and whether he believed it or not, Logan
highly doubted that dragging her out of Seattle would keep her safe. Max wasn't someone that would just follow anyone
blindly. Forcing her to go would only make her mad and she'd probably try to run away from Zach no matter how good his
intentions might be. 

"I think she'll be at work chewing on Sketchy," Zach said smiling. "Maybe she'll kick the crap out of him. If she doesn't I will."

"Zach, I don't think Max would be happy if you did that to any of her friends. She seems to like them," Bling commented.
"Now, we all have work to do, so I suggest we all get to it." 

"Yes, boss," Logan said dryly. "Zach, keep her safe. She means a lot to people. Don't let her get hurt because you're more
interested in getting Lydecker."

"You are not one to talk," Zach told him. "I'll do what's right, which is protecting Max. You need to shut up and deal with it." 

"One of these days, Hot Shot, she's going to kick your butt. I only hope I'm there to see it," Bling said as he watched Zach
walk out of the room. "I only hope Logan is too."

"What was that last bit?" Logan asked as he turned to wheel out of the room. "I think you just admitted that you dislike
Max's dear friend Zach."

"I understand that they come from the same project, but that boy is just downright unlikable. Must have gotten an extra dose
of the 'obnoxious gene' or something."

"So, you really think Max will get her memory back?" Logan asked Bling as he started typing in a search on head trauma. 

"We can hope so. It's sort of like you and walking, though; you just never know." 

"You couldn't have given me false hope?" Logan asked pleadingly. "I don't want to lose her, but if she can't remember us or
Manticore I doubt she's just going to stick around for the good of the underlings in Seattle. Plus there is the fact that it really
is dangerous for her. If she doesn't get the rest of her memory back at least Zach might be able to keep her safe."

"Don't give up on her," Bling advised. Then he shook his head. "Someday we are just going to have a normal day." 



* * * 

end Part Two