Chapter 2: Pleasant evening

Logan was sitting in front of the chessboard on the coffee table, one ear listening what was happening in the kitchen. Not that he didn't trust Max to do the clean-up, but he was always slightly nervous when she was there alone. He couldn't help it since the day she had broken a mug, some weeks ago.

And as some loud noises were reaching him from the kitchen at this moment, he couldn't help thinking that she was doing her best to keep him nervous, in purpose!

Logan still didn't understand how she had managed to drop this mug. When the mug had hit the floor, he had wheeled himself in the kitchen alerted by the sudden noise to find her standing in the middle of the place, motionless, the mug lying on the floor broken into parts. When he had asked what had happened, she had just winced and he had never gotten any answer from her. Memory of that day was still puzzling him.

Maybe tonight might be time to question her?

She was making her way in the living room with two, fortunately still unbroken, mugs as he has just finished to set down the chess game. Strangely, when she leaned towards the coffee table to put down the mugs, she glanced at him with a spark flashing in her eyes and Logan could swear that she knew exactly what he was thinking when she appeared.

It was enough for him to feel his cheeks blushing.

It was enough for Max to be sure that her intentional noises have been achieving their goal.

They shared one of their unfathomable smiles, knowing that, whatever would be discussed this evening, neither of them would mention that broken mug.

Not that Logan really thought that it could be possible, anyway. They had always managed to keep their relationship free of all kind of small talk like this. And he knew that he had been the first to give up on further explorations of their feelings for each other when she came back to him after his surgery. The fact that he was starting to regret bitterly his own decision now, didn't mean that Max was willing to change anything about their relationship.

However, he couldn't help but gently tease her.

"You need some help with your mug?"

Max, who had reached the couch and was now sitting in front of him, raised a mocking eyebrow and her smile grew some more.

"I will keep it in mind."

Logan stared at her in disbelieve, what was she saying? That she would ask him later? At this moment, he didn't feel being the teaser anymore and his cheeks regained their color right away.

Max looked down, half-happy, half-ashamed. Their little flirtations always ended with one of them slightly blushing or looking away.

As Logan had given her the white pieces, she leaned towards the table and took her knight to open the game.

"Hope you're on for another defeat." She smiled at him.

"I've never given up hope of winning, someday" Logan replied with another smile of his own.

"Yes, dream on" Murmured Max in answer. "You will have to find a way to distract me to do that, just ask if you don't have any idea how. I could help."

Logan's hand froze over the chessboard. She had not said anything really significant, but her tone was wrapped with warmth and just suggestive enough to make his heart miss a beat. He was weighting whether he should forge ahead or retreat safely into any other topic. A flash crossed his mind and he wondered if, after all, he was wrong about her desire to keep their relationship in its present state.

Still holding his pawn, Logan looked at Max questioningly, holding his breath. She had cocked her head and was biting her bottom lip nervously, afraid to have pushed too hard. Once again. Logan couldn't swear, but it seem that it was her turn to blush and, somewhere, it delighted him and his questioning look melted into a soft and warm glance.

Locked in a stare, they forgot the chess, letting their eyes share their most intimate wishes without words. No need of words when they were staring at each other like this; in these treasured moments their eyes were saying everything they couldn't say out loud.

If only they could learn to trust in the promises fluttering in their eyes…

Maybe it was the wine they had drunk with the meal, maybe it was the perfect evening they had shared since then, maybe it was the last words Max had just uttered or maybe it was just because her hand was lying beside the chessboard and because he was feeling so good to have her with him that night. Logan couldn't say. But he dropped his pawn somewhere between two squares of the chessboard and took her hand in his to squeeze it softly.

His touch sent tremors on Max's spinal cord.

Not that they had never touched before, but rarely without reason. As when they have to save each other from any threat, or when she was craving for him to comfort her when she was seizing. This time, It was a completely spontaneous gesture, seeking nothing else than a need to touch her, to reach out to her. Max felt it and, delighted by his gesture, she entwined their fingers softly.

Max's acceptance and happiness lighted a little flame within Logan. He pressed her hand slightly and gently caressed her with his fingertips.

Describe their feelings at this simple touch was barely possible.

Max had been frozen at first, then she had felt shivers along her arm reaching her core. Her heart had made a quick stop to restart in a new crazy beat. She was only aware of the small piece of skin of her hand in Logan's.

Logan had been holding his breath while taking Max's hand in his. Being so quickly and easily welcomed had raised the fever now running through his veins. All his thoughts were bewitched by his closeness with Max. He couldn't talk, he couldn't think, he was just left to feel. And the feeling was wonderful.

They could have stayed like that forever, neither of them ready to broke apart, to lose their closeness.

'I want to tell you, Max… I want to tell you so much...' Were saying Logan's eyes.

'Never give upon me Logan, never…' Were answering Max's.

Yes, they would have stayed like this forever… If it hadn't been the sight of Zack, appearing beside them at this moment

"Zack! What are you doing here?" Max stood up and looked at the sudden invader, embarrassed to have been caught in such a moment. Above all, by her big brother. She gave Logan an apologetic glance as she released her hand he was still holding, although she had risen. And she fell again in his eyes, losing herself once again, not surprise to read the annoyance laying there, deep down, and remorsful to share his annoyance.

"Don't you have something to tell me, Max? " Asked Zack sarcastically, annoyed that they weren't acknowledging his presence better.

Max tore her gaze from Logan to stare at Zack, puzzled by both his tone and his words.

"What do you mean?" She replied questioningly.

"The Implant" Zack shouted, angry that she was still trying to fool him.

Max and Logan shared a quick glance, astonished.

"How do you know that?" Logan uttered slowly, narrowing his eyes to stare at him. But Zack didn't bother to look at him, nor to answer, until Max raised an eyebrow.

"Lydecker. He can track down the implant."

Zack had tried to keep his voice low and as neutral as possible; this was only informations needing to be shared. He didn't want to let them see his concern. But he looked away just a bit too quickly when Max's eyes widened. He had thought that she would be able to take it coldly, but seeing that she was scared didn't allow him to remain angry at her anymore.

"We have to leave, Max. Now. " Zack urged her, his soldier manner gone through the window. His voice was almost begging.

The two siblings were staring at each other, and Logan could see the same old battle growing between Max and her CO. Supplication slipped away of Zack's eyes, pushed aside by the fury rising within him, once again, as she was unashamedly defying him. Max's fear quickly replaced by the stubborn gaze she showed every time Zack was trying to push her away of Seattle. They were standing in front of Logan, motionless, wordlessly fighting to get abdication from the other.

And Logan knew that neither would capitulate this time. However, Zack was right, if Lydecker had found a way to retrace her, she had to leave. She wouldn't agree with Zack if he didn't ask her to do. So, Logan wispered in the silent room:

"Max… we will find a way to bring you back. But for now, Zack is right, you have to follow him."

Logan couldn't say who was the most stunned of the two transgenics. Zack was looking like if he needed a pinch to believe what he had just heard and Max... Max was staring at him as if he had betrayed her, taking sides with Zack.

It was Max now, using a pleading tone. "Logan…" She began, but Logan cut her off as soon as she opened her mouth.

"No Max. No plead. It's dangerous here for you now. I will bring you to my uncle's cabin. It's our best move in such a little time."

Max bowed her head, suddenly very interested bye her shoes. Neither Logan, nor Zack, could see the deseperated flash crossing her eyes. She found her voice to breathe out in agreement:

"I should go to my place and pick my things."

Zack lifted a hand which was holding the pakage he was carrying

"Done." He said without further explanations.

Max saw his gesture but didn't utter a word as Logan simply nodded, relieved that he took care of this detail. Unlocking his breaks, he headed towards his office, throwing quick orders at them over his shoulder as they started to follow him.

"Max, go in the kitchen and take whatever you would need for a couple of days. There is an icebox in the closet you could use to keep perishable food. Zack, in my bathroom, you will find a bottle of Tryptophane under the sink and a first-aid kit. Take it and start packing the car. I have to check something on the Informant Net and call Bling to tell him what's happening."

Leaving them no room to discuss his orders, Logan dialed Bling's phone number while starting the computers. He could feel both of them still behind him and seeing their figures bolted to the ground mirrored in the dark screen of his computer, Logan sternly added:

"Hurry up, guys!"

Zack turned on his heels and headed towards Logan's bedroom, his pace showing he was shirty. But once in the room, realising how Logan had made it easy for him to achieve the second phase of his plan, he smiled and put himself at work while Max's hot temper was sounding through the penthouse.

A few minutes later, they were on their way down to the garage ready to get in the car.

Logan had thought that this trip to his uncle's cabin would be like the previous, filled of sorrow and pain to have to be separate from Max and unable to say nothing out loud because of Zack's presence on the back seat. But when he saw the big brother heading towards his own bike he wondered if, perhaps, without him sitting at the rear and peeping on their conversation he would say too much.

As convinced as he could be that Max's retreat would be temporary, Logan couldn't help but feel sadness overtaking him. For the second time in just a couple of weeks, he would have to leave her with Zack. One more chance for her brother to convince her to leave Seattle for good. What if she finally gave up and follows him in Canada this time? He couldn't restrain her. He couldn't. It was about her security, her freedom. Her life.

In the deepest part of his soul, he knew he could live with Max's departure if it was to keep her safe. But he also knew that his pain would be much worse than the first time. They had shared so much more things since she came back from the first time he dropped her at the cabin. They were now closer than ever, not because she had provided him with a life-saving blood transfusion, even if that was a kind of beginning, but more because of what he had realized when she had ran through the city to stop him to attempt his own life.

A reason to believe in life. A reason to keep figthing. For him. For her. For them?

He tossed the thought aside. Being more confident about his own value wasn't necessary meaning being also confident about her feelings. He still had to separate what was hope, wish and reality in their relationship before thinking further about it.

Don't go there, man. There is no time for this now.

Focusing himself on the task at hand was one of his most impressive skills.

Usually.

But in the middle of the waiting line for the last sector point with nothing else to do than checking in the mirror to see if Zack's bike was still following them wasn't exactly distractful enough to fill his mind.

And for obvious reasons, talking with Max as Zack was so near and able to hear them was enough to get him speechless.

A quick glance at Max, who was staring at Zack through the side mirror, let him know that she was probably thinking in the same way.

He was right.

Max was fighting with herself. Hard. Well aware of Zack's skills just behind the car, she had to put all her will to keep herself emotionless, knowing he could hear her breath as easily as she was listening to his.

Being caught by her brother in an emotional state once in a day was enough for her. No use to add that this brother was the one considering any emotions as a weakness. She didn't agree with him. But she had learned enough about him to know that he wouldn't change his mind. Never. Not for her. Not with Logan. It would have been such a surprising turnabout!

Should she dream on it?

Her brain was positive. No. But it wasn't her brain the problem. It was nothing about her brain at all. She had problem with her entire being, and she had to fight it mercilessly, unendingly…

Her brain having a hard time, standing alone the other side of the line, tormented by her heart, her soul, her desire, her quintessence…

How could she agree with Zack when she was realizing, day after day, that she might never feel stronger than with Logan around? It was scaring, of course. But wasn't she designed to face any kind of fear? And win?

The cop hitting on the driver's window with his stick made them jumped, engulfed as they were in their thoughts. Logan lowered the window and handed their sector passes. They stayed silent as the cops were checking the car, looking through the rear window to sneak on their luggages. When the cop came back with their laminated cards and started to question them about the trip, Logan blushed a little bit, annoyed to have forgoten to inform Max about the lie he had built to avoid being caught if Lydecker would have to interrogate the guards.

"We are going to see my parents in Wyoming…." Logan explained to the cop, trailing on his last words, wishing the cop wouldn't ask for more details.

When the idea had showed up in his mind, he was so engulfed in finding a way to trick Lydecker that he didn't think twice about it, but now he wasn't sure it was his best idea anymore. So, when he crossed the cop's inquiring glance, he felt his cheeks redden for good. If he changed his version at this moment, he knew the cop would hear the hesitation in his voice and was going to become suspicious. That wasn't the time to drag attention on them. Left to continue on his previous lead, he looked straight at his interlocutor's eyes and answered, cursing himself to have picked this lie through the milion he could have come up with.

"To introduce my girlfriend"

If Max wasn't already trying to keep each inner and outer part of herself as impassive as ever, she couldn't have succeeded to hide the jerk she was feeling inside. The quick blink of her eyes being the only indication of her stupefaction, the cop, who was now looking at her, didn't see nothing more than the faking shy smile she was showing him.

With a last glance at Logan, the cop motioned a hand towards the gate, a smirk curving his lips. He had noticed the wheelchair on the back seat and the special controls of the Azteck. Considering the youngness and beauty of that girl, the man should have plenty of money...

Logan pushed on the manual accelerator, allowing himself to throw a glance at Max. He was relieved that she was still looking through the mirror by her side, but the relief was shorted by Zack's glare when Logan lifted his head to look at him in the rearview, suddenly remembering the skill which had prevent any talk with Max since they had left the penthouse.

Zack was the first to break their glance, the cop requesting his attention, and Logan diverted his on the road. He was about to pass the gate when a soft and silky laughter reached him. The sound raised a shiver, as soft as the laughter had been itself, within Logan... and his curiosity!

"What was that about?" He asked gently.

"His answer to the officier." Answered Max as gently, still wandering about the 'girlfriend' thought.

"What did he say?"

"That he was following his sister to prevent her to make the most biggest mistake of her life!"

TBC...