Title: Head Case
Name: Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
Rating: PG 13
The front door to Logan's penthouse swung open as Max strutted in wet and dirty. She was in desperate need of a shower since three years of dust seemed to be stuck to the dark beauty. Logan came in after her equally wet but not dusty. "Well, that was a bust," Max said with casual annoyance. "You would think men like that would get someone to dust."
"Tell me about. Though I've gotta admit, it wasn't unpleasant to watch you sweet talk the guard then knee him in the groin."
"Well, he called you crip. I hate that."
"Thanks Max…Hey why don't you use my bathroom? You can take a dip in the Jacuzzi."
Max made a face of surprise, "How is it that I have known you all this time and I didn't know you had a Jacuzzi hidden back there? I'll have to take advantage of this rare invitation."
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"Here are some towels. Under the sink I have some bath salts and even bubble bath. You've earned it," Logan said looking at her dirty state.
"You spoil me."
"I try -- when you let me."
Max ran the bath and de-robed so Logan could wash her clothes. He got an accidentally glimpse of her well-formed body in the bathroom mirror as she handed her clothes to him. //Amazing. She is gorgeous, every last inch of her…Take the clothes. Move away from the door and get the clothes washed…Shake it off. She's not going to let you see her naked anytime soon. //
Stepping into the bathtub, she allowed herself the luxury of the bath salts, finding them very relaxing. The steamy water soon covered her and she began to relax. //Logan looked so cute when he got my clothes. There is some boy left in that man. // She submerged her head under the water and lay beneath the surface for a few moments. She washed her hair and body before succumbing to the serene feeling of peace that began to surround her in the form of sleep.
"Max, honey, did you fall asleep in the tub again? You know how that scares me…" Logan said as he walked in to the bathroom completely unassisted.
"Logan, what the hell? Don't you knock? I know this is your place, but that doesn't give you the right to barge in on people," She yelled and pulled the curtain closed.
"Wow. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the tub, I see. I'll bring you your robe & I'll knock before entering."
Max got out of the tub and dried herself off. Logan knocked and handed her a terry robe from the other side of the door, which she quickly closed nearly taking off the tips of his fingers. //Honey? My robe? What is that about? // Suddenly, she realized as she dried her hair that it was about a foot longer than when she got into the bath. As she ran her fingers through her hair to make sure it was real, she noticed the two rings on her ring finger on her left hand. One was platinum filigree band -- a wedding band, and the other was a diamond engagement ring with platinum cathedral band. She took them both off to examine them more closely. On the inside of the engagement ring it said, "My love - Logan." She slipped the rings back on uncomfortably.
Max wandered out to Logan's bedroom, which was no longer his bedroom; it was most definitely their bedroom. There were pictures from trips and events of them together. One caught her attention; she was looking into Logan's eyes with such love that the sight of it scared her. The picture next to it was of them kissing -- why there was a picture of that, she couldn't fathom, but there it was. Panic began to creep into her as she went about the room seeing her clothes in the closet and dresser. A picture of Kendra & Cindy as bridesmaids in her wedding sat on what she presumed was her nightstand. //What the hell is going on here? //
She was so unnerved by what she saw; she didn't hear Logan approaching. He startled her and on instinct she kicked him to the ground knocking him a few feet and against the wall. "Max…Wha…What's wrong?" he asked not even mad. He just lay there as she kept her fight stance. Her eyes flitted about the room as she tried to comprehend what to do next.
// Where is Bling? Bling will tell me the truth. //
"I want to talk to Bling," Max said plainly. Logan stared at her a moment and slowly scrambled to his feet. She had her old caged animal look, so he backed away carefully.
"He'll be over for dinner in about 15 minutes. I can call him if you like?"
"No! I don't want you talking to him. I want to talk to him first."
"OK…Honey, I don't know what's wrong but I'm obviously part of what scared you, so I'm going to go into the kitchen and check on dinner," Logan said trying to remove himself from the immediate threat as well as what he perceived as the immediate threat to her.
"No. I want to keep an eye on you."
Max and Logan stood in the bedroom for a long while, until Bling yelled from the living room, "Hey Cales. What's the good word?"
"We're back here…Come on in. Max wants to talk to ya," Logan said trying not to sound too concerned.
Bling walked into the bedroom finding Max still in fight stance, wet and seeming to be ticked at Logan. "Man, what did you do? Get to close to one of your informants?"
"I don't know."
Max relaxed her postured and in a commanding tone spoke to Logan, "OK, now you can leave."
"OK, I guess I'm remanded to the kitchen."
Bling sat down with Max on the edge of the bed thankful her anger wasn't directed at him. "What's up Maxi? Not seen you this riled since I took Logan to that strip club for his bachelor party."
"Bachelor Party?" // What dimension did I wake up in? // "Bling, this isn't some elaborate trick Logan has set up is it?" Max asked pleading.
Bling wrinkled his forehead in question as Max continued to let her guard down. "Trick? I don't understand what you're asking."
"OK, don't think me a head case, just listen. My hair is a foot too long. I don't remember any of these pictures being taken. I don't know why my clothes are here. Logan is walking completely unassisted and I'm wearing as engagement ring & wedding band. All this stuff seems very wrong to me," Max said, exasperated.
"Max, what year is it?"
"What?"
"What year is it?"
"2020, why?"
Bling's face dropped, "Logan! Get in here now!"
"What? What's wrong?" Logan asked obviously concerned.
"She's had another blackout period."
"I've what?" Max asked, concerned herself.
Bling began to explain, "Blackout period. Three months ago, you miscarried your first pregnancy. For about a week, you didn't remember after 2016. At least this time you knew who we were and where you were. Last time, you drop kicked me across the room when I tried to examine your eyes."
"Wait. If you remember me, why were you so scared of me?" Logan addressed Max.
"I thought this was some kind of sadistic joke, that we were married," she responded looking at the floor.
"So you remember me but we weren't involved yet. It's gotta be about the same time we got together that your memory cut off… I guess that makes sense; 2016 was the year you lost your virginity."
"OK, that's just weird you know that. Maybe this is just a dream?" Max said still uncomfortable with the things she was being told.
"Did you feel it when you kicked me across the room?" Logan asked looking at her with one of his winning smiles that made her melt inwardly.
"Sorry…" she said returning to stare at the floor.
He came closer, saying, "It's not a dream. I'm going to have a nice big bruise in the middle of my chest again. Oh well, its part of getting to be with you." Max was mush in a few seconds because of the intimate way he spoke to her.
Bling piped up saying, "Why don't we let Max get dressed and we'll have dinner. You will probably survey the whole apartment again to make sure its real."
She looked at Logan before saying, "I'm hungry. What Cale cuisine are we having tonight?"
"Chicken parmagana with angel hair pasta," he replied.
"Can I just have the pasta? I really don't feel like eating anything else," Max asked. Bling and Logan stared at one another for a moment and then looked at Max. "What?"
"When you were pregnant, angel hair pasta was all you wanted to eat," Logan said quietly with sadness in his eyes.
"Oh…" Max said lowering her head. "I can't be…can I?"
"Well…you could be…. We did start trying again," Logan responded as he got on his knees in front of her. She was so scared. Bling moved off the bed allowing Logan to sit with Max. "May I?" Logan said putting his arms out to hold her. She nodded and began to cry on his shoulder. "We'll go see Dr. Kelvin tomorrow and find out. OK?"
"I'm sorry, Logan. I'm so sorry."
"For what?"
"For not remembering. You deserve to have your wife remember you," she said tearfully.
Logan smiled at her slightly, "You remember me. You just don't remember you're my wife. I'll live." He wiped the tears on her face with his finger, then kissed her lips lightly. Max left her eyes open, wanting to know every motion, every second. Her heart began to race as he came closer to her and touched her lips. She was awake; this wasn't a dream. He leaned his forehead to hers and said, "We'll be right outside if you need us." He was thinking she wouldn't want them around while she got ready for dinner.
"No. Don't let me go yet," Max pled. Logan motioned to Bling to leave as he laid himself and Max down on the bed. She wept for awhile as he held her to his chest. // It must be true because there is no way I'd let myself cry in front of Logan. //
Max did pull herself together and got ready for dinner while Logan talked to Bling about the situation. The three began dinner rather awkwardly. Soon enough Bling was entertaining Max with stories of Logan's recovery that he could now laugh at. Like the fact he was so pig headed he would move himself so far out in a room when he attempted to stand there was nothing to grab hold of, so he would end up doing a face plant. She giggled at the thought and the realization that she had helped Logan regain his legs.
Life was comfortable here; she belonged. Her husband openly gazed at her with great affection, not trying to conceal his emotions. Dinner winded down and Bling was leaving. Panic began to creep around Max again. // Logan and I are married… We'll be sharing a bed… What if he wants…? What am I going to do? Do I want…? Maybe I'll just stay up all night? //
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