Chapter Two
By
Teris Xenite
Authors note: This chapter is shorter than the last one. I ended
this one where I did because the next segment may contain things that would
be triggers for survivors. I appreciate all of the feedback I've
recieved. For the people who think I'm playing Max too meekly, that
will be adressed. There are stages to grief, and when she gets to
the anger stage. It will be a dozy.
He turned to face her and extended his hand, but he made no move towards
her. "Max, it's ok. It's ok for you to be scared or sad or angry.
Whatever it is that your feeling, it's ok." Her face softened almost imperceptibly
but she didn't move. "I meant what I said before about us taking this as
slowly as you need to. You can stop this at any time and go crash
in the guest room, and I promise that I won't get mad and I'll still love
you tomorrow." She nodded and took a tentative step towards him and
he held his breath hoping that she wouldn't run.
She made it halfway to him before she let out a strangled sob then turned
and ran toward the guest room. By the time he caught up to her the
door was tightly shut and he could hear her muffled sobs through the thick
wood. "Max?" The sobs quieted as she heard his voice and silence
descended. "Max? Are you alright?"
The tear stained voice of his beloved answered his query and the sadness
in her tone made his heart constrict in agony for her. "I'm sorry Logan.
I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm just too scared." The sobs started again
and Logan sighed cursing Lydecker and hating him for hurting her this way.
For turning the vibrant, strong woman he'd known up to this point into
this wounded angel simply by his presence at that genetic conference.
"Baby, it's alright. I'm so proud of you Max. You did so very
well. We made a lot of progress tonight. You are so very brave
sweetheart. I love you, and I'm very proud of you." Silence
once again ensued. Well the books said it would probably be one step
forward two steps back for a while. "Max, are you ok?"
He heard her sniffle and take a few deep breaths before she answered.
"Yeah, I'm ok."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Ok. There are pajamas in the dresser for you. You know
where I'll be if you need anything right?"
"Yeah, I know. And Logan?"
"Yes Max?"
"Thank you."
"You're very, very welcome sweetheart, goodnight."
"Goodnight." The both stood in silence with there heads leaning against
the door, the picture of two hurting hearts separated by circumstances
that they were powerless to change. He had to face the fact that
he couldn't sly all of her demons and that things weren't going to be like
a fairy tale, and she had to realize that she couldn't just ignore her
pain and that she couldn't hide from it and hope that it would go away.
After a few moments of silence she heard him walk away and she slid
down the door to her knees and sobbed. She wept for the childhood
that she had lost, she wept for the fact that she was flawed, she wept
for all that she had lost. And as she wept she hated herself for
her weakness.
Finally she crawled into the bed and curled up into a tiny ball, as
if making herself as small as possible would erase her pain and keep her
safe from horrendous memories long hidden. Finally as she lie there
aching from wounds that she'd thought she'd buried, sleep claimed her allowing
her it seemed a few moments peace.
Logan proceeded into the bedroom looking everything from the bed to
the lighting over, checking once more to make sure that the room was comfortable
and hopefully would feel safe to Max. He could hear her soft foot
falls behind him as he walked, and then he heard them stop a few paces
behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Max was frozen
at the door to his room. She met his eyes and the moment of recognizion
served to reassure him that she was cognizant and not trapped in her nightmares
again.
TBC (and this has to be the quickest I've posted on a story ever.
Thanks so much for the feedback, please keep it coming). If anyone want's
to email me off list my addy is terisxenite@hotmail.com.
