Disclaimer: Belong to Fox, Charles and Cameron. Not I.

Author Note: This story started out as a bleak and depressing fic as I wasn't in the best of moods. After glancing it over, and considering some of my other works, I realised something. It needed a whole heap of shippery fluff attached to it in a crude and tasteless manner. So I have. Glance over this chap if you want. Kind of sets the mood, in the wrong direction mind. This story will include: A miracle cure, Nudity, and a discreet removal of Season 2, so discreet you'll hardly notice… Ha!

Tell me what you think.

I just want to be alone

Another fight over a near death incident had Max storming toward the door again in a fury of anger and great upset. She hated the way Logan seemingly so fragrantly disregarded his own safety around her, she hated the way Logan was just as easily dismissive of such occurrences with a flippant "Look, I'm still standing, nothing happened." But mainly she hated the way she felt ever since she had returned from Manticore and nearly killed him that night. Nothing felt normal anymore, not even Logan's place, which used to be her little fortress of solitude from the constant drain and repetitiveness of her old life. A life that now in retrospect was so perfectly hassle free and simple; when the burdens she carried would easily disappear as she stepped through the doors she was once again approaching, although only when approaching from the other side.

These days she felt so much removed from the rest of the world, which used to be a problem until she met Logan and shared her secret with him. About her life, constantly on the run, always looking over her shoulder. After his accident, she had found somewhere to run to, a place where looking over her shoulder wasn't required. It was completely safe and comfortable, and she no longer felt lonely in a world that was out to get her. That was then, and this is now. Now whenever Max is there, she is on eggshells and back to the dance that Logan and her had so successfully orchestrated for an entire year. Then there was a build of expectations, hope and sexual tension. Now there is a gap that grows each day, and in which their dance has turned to an artful dodging match that brings only angst, depression and loneliness with every interaction.

She watched spellbound as her hand extended to the handle, bringing back all the pain and distress she had felt when that same hand had nearly brushed against Logan's only minutes ago. Max rested her fingers on the handle and didn't move as she heard Logan's hurried approach.

'Max, don't go,' he sounded angry, but she knew he was just as upset as her with the whole situation. No, he probably was angry with her, and he had the right to be she quickly reminded herself. She was the only one running away from this, Logan was just trying to get back to the way things had been.

How could he though? It wasn't up to him to decide if he was going to die by her hand, sure it was his life, and he could do what he wanted, but there was no way she was going to let him die, or worse, kill him. Not a chance in hell.

'Max,' Logan said again, more desperately as he tried to wedge her away from the door by gradually placing himself between it and her.

This was the first time she had let him catch up with her. Usually she would have just shot off not giving him a chance to think about things, and then be out the door, and shortly afterwards on the Space Needle. Now, however, tired and strained to the bitter end she had had enough. She didn't want to get the feeling of unease that always seemed to arise when she was in his presence, or just thinking about him. Hell, she didn't like the feeling of unease that accompanied her around all day, at all times, now that she had more like her out there that she was responsible for.

Before there were only twelve of them, on the run from something simple and they all knew it. Things now weren't simple; there were freaks out there that had no idea of the harsh realities of post-pulse America and no idea what they were running from, or how to stay hidden.

And it was on her.

One hundred percent.

'Why do you always have to go Max?' Logan asked bitterly, moving as close as he dare to the girl who stood resolute in front of him. Max looked at him sadly, eyes imploring him to understand as she began to turn the handle and open the door, using it to gently push him out of the way. A less than pleased Logan allowed the tender power of Max to push him out of the way, resigning to defeat as he watched her slip away a little more each time they saw each other.

A strange concept, but he knew it was happening. The more they saw each other, the further they grew apart. Of course it wasn't either of their faults, not like last year. This time, they knew what they wanted, they wouldn't admit to it, but it was painfully obvious. Even from Max's arrival at his place after her brief three-month death. Their first action was almost Logan's last. A hurried and desperate kiss, full of longing and ultimate relief because they were where they should have been, with each other. Something both of them could do with at present, and something that they couldn't have.

Max held the door by a handle on either side, leaning her bowed head against the ridge. She let out a heavy sigh and her figure slumped more against the door.

'You know I have to go Logan,' her voice came quiet and drained, from behind a curtain of hair.

'So you want to be lonely?' Logan asked in an irrational and astringent manner, which both knew was due to all the stress they were enduring. He was merely venting anyway he could.

Max pulled back from the door to look at him, the deep scars of stress and overtiredness creasing her once genial face. A dark cloud of torment crossed Logan as he settled his gaze upon Max. He had never seen her so upset, so torn and tired, so pathetic and lost, so broken. Without thinking he reached out to stroke her face, such was the evocative nature of her discomposed and distraught features. Max saw his hand coming and was dieing for its tender and reassuring stroke, until she realised what it would mean. Her head nodded back only slightly, but it was enough to snap both of them from their dazed state, and Logan quickly dropped his arm.

Max looked at him again with her big round eyes that seemed to be glistening slightly, and spoke to him in a tone matching her broken features.

'I don't want to be lonely.' She let out another large sigh, and then shifted a little so she was now heading out the door.

'I just want to be alone.'