Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Hey guys, here's another installment. I'm super duper SORRY about the delay… Short story my computer crashed everything was erased (I had to start everything from scratch), work, school, and family kept me busy. But as promised it's longer than usual chapters. I will be posting the other stories this week. I hope you guys are still bearing with me…? All grammatical errors are mine, no beta. Sorry. Enjoy!
This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. You all get a Logan or Dick life size cookie, depends on your preference. Thank you all for reviewing! You guys ROCK!!!
Chapter 6:
Mac wasn't going to let him run her life. She wasn't willing to live her life scared and covered by a dark shadow hanging over her head. She was going to fight and enjoy every minute of it instead.
The next morning, Mac woke up early, took a shower, and got dressed.
This time when she arrived at Neptune Memorial hospital, she entered the same bleach reeking place with dull white sterilized walls and floors, with her head held up high.
"Good morning Alana." Her voice was firm and decisive.
"Morning Cindy, here's your badge."
Before Mac could correct her, Alana picked up the phone that had been ringing and began talking to the person on the other line.
MaDi
Danielle was in her room resting after another excruciating session of chemotherapy.
Mac knocked on the door before entering, "Hi Danielle."
"Hello." She spoke very softly. Her skin was pale and her lips were chapped.
Mac didn't like seeing her so exhausted and sick. "Do you want to play chess?"
Danielle shook her head 'no.' "I'm…really…sleepy." She yawned and closed her eyes.
Seconds later she was fast asleep.
Mac left her room and went to do her rounds with the other patients she was assigned to.
MaDi
Logan and Wallace were in the living room playing "Gears of War 2" when Dick walked in the through the back door of the house.
"I got next." He said already getting comfortable at the far end of the couch.
"Well, hello to you too, buddy." Logan stated sarcastically without looking at him.
Dick just rolled his eyes.
This interaction didn't go unnoticed by Wallace. It was obvious something was plaguing Dick, who had seemed very distant the last couple of weeks.
Logan turned to his friends, "So, how many nurses have you hit on-"
Dick sent him a death glare.
"How's the community service going?" Wallace interjected.
Dick turned to Wallace, but really looked at him. He could tell he wasn't being sarcastic or a total jerk, just genuine. Something he hasn't seen in a while from anyone except Danielle. Although, to some degree he knew he served it for acting the way he had been lately, but he couldn't help it.
He felt like shit for what happened that night with her and didn't like pretending like everything was fine when it was killing him inside.
With all honesty and sincerity he could muster he answered the best he could, "Okay."
MaDi
"Great job Danielle!" Mac congratulated her for doing her homework correctly.
Danielle felt thrilled nobody really made her feel special besides Sabrina and some of the other hospital staff. Her cheeks turned bright red, "Thanks." She responded shyly.
"What do you want to do now to celebrate?" Mac asked putting everything away.
Danielle thought about it for a second before replying, "Can we please watch 'The Little Mermaid'?"
"Sure."
Danielle ran to the door full of excitement and waited for Mac to join her. Her hand was stretched out so she could hold it.
Mac walked over to her a little surprised, but grabbed her hand anyways. They made their way to the Media room to watch the movie.
MaDi
"Hey Papa bear." Veronica greeted as she entered the boys home.
"Hi V, how'd you on the exam?"
She sat down next to him on the couch and let out a sigh, "Fine. I wish we were done with finals already. I wan to be in New York already."
"I bet your dad is really excited about visiting the stadiums, huh?"
"Are you kidding me? He has it all planned out." They chuckled. "He is finishing and closing all the pending cases."
"I forgot to tell you that we'll be joining you guys for the holidays."
"Yay! How? When?-"
Wallace laughed at her antics, "Breathe supafly, breathe. Let's just say you have a guy head over heals for you."
"He didn't." She was completely shocked.
"Oh, but he did." He insisted.
"Wow…" Her heart swelled. "Where is he?" She asked looking at her BFF.
"He's out surfing. He should be coming back soon though." Wallace looked at the clock. "Hey, I would love to stay and chat, but I have class in fifteen minutes. See ya later."
MaDi
"Babe, where are you?" Logan called out to her.
"I'm in the kitchen." She yelled back.
Logan's eyes lit up when he saw her in front of him covered in flour. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
She walked over to him, hands behind her back, and a look Logan couldn't decipher.
He arched an eyebrow at her.
She stopped right in front of him placed her flour-covered hands on either side of his face and pulled him towards her. The kiss started out slow. It was tender and soft. It began gaining momentum. A bite here and a lick there, but it still held the tenderness. Their tongues for once weren't fighting for dominance, but twisting and twirling like one. Their rhythm was both steady and wild.
Something neither had ever experienced before. Their toes were curled, hearts beating fast against their chests, blood pumping, it was magical.
At that particular moment they were just so in synch. They had become just one, each completing the other. That kiss was filled with so much love; it was the only way to describe it, to tell each other what they meant for one another.
When the need for air became evident they finally pulled apart both breathless and gasping for air.
Logan was the first to speak, "Wow… what was that for? Not that I'm complaining." He looked at her.
"A realization. An epiphany. Something that I have known for a while…"
"Which is?"
"…But I was too afraid to admit." She reached up once more, but this time caressed his left cheek.
Logan immediately leaned into her touch and kissed her palm.
"I love you, Logan Echolls."
That was music to his ears. He had waited such a long time to hear those words come out of her mouth and now that he had he stood there glued to his spot unable to move. Unable to reply.
"I love you so much." She repeated. She got on her tip toes and kissed him again, her hands were around his neck pulling him closer to her. His hands were around her waist instantly.
After pulling apart, he still held her close to his chest, he spoke softly into her ear, "Say it again."
"I love you Logan."
MaDi
Veronica's head rested on top of Logan's bare chest. She was lightly tracing the muscles near his belly, giving him small pepper kisses on his stomach, a big smile tugging on her lips.
"Mmm…" He lazily ran a hand through her hair.
She nibbled on the spot of his neck that always drove him crazy, "Thank you."
"That's a response I've never received before." He put his hand underneath his head while continuing to stroke her hair with the other.
She smacked him lightly on the chest, "Not what I was talking about."
He quirked an eyebrow at her, "Then what are you talking about?"
"You are the bestest boyfriend ever. For being one of a kind. For knowing me better than anyone." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "For making the trip to New York even better by inviting Wallace and his family."
"He told you about that." He moved to rest his back against the headboard of the bed. "I-I only did it because I knew the holidays wouldn't be the same for you without your BFF."
She sat up as well and covered her bare chest, "Was that the only reason?"
He blushed and fidgeted with his hands, "Yes and no."
She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"The holidays mean so much to you. What better way than to spend it with everyone you love, with your family. Besides…" He looks at his hands, "It will give us some extra time to spend alone."
She couldn't help the smile that etched on her features, "Our family." She stated matter-of-factly before reaching over to capture his lips with hers.
MaDi
"Dick!" Danielle yelled excitedly from her place on the bed.
Sabrina was in there checking Danielle's blood pressure and writing the information on her charts. "Sweetie, remember you have to go to bed now because you have an early start tomorrow morning."
"A couple of more minutes please." She begged Sabrina, giving her best puppy eyes and pout.
Sabrina breathed out, "Only thirty more minutes."
"Thank you." She clapped her hands together in anticipation.
As Sabrina made her way towards the door she spoke to Dick quietly, "You made quit an impression on her. Great job!" She patted his shoulder.
Dick grinned. 'I'm finally doing something right.'
"Dick can you please continue the story from last time." She asked nervously, not sure if he would do it.
"Sure thing, kiddo." He walked over to her side of the bed, grabbed the chair, and sat down. "Let's see where did I leave off last time?"
"You said Princess Cindy had a great big white castle by the beach… I think it was Apple Kingdom?"
"That's right." He smiled. "Princess Cindy had a heart of gold. She was loved by those who surrounded her. Little did she know though that there was this really ugly and evil Wizard who was conjuring up a plan to take over Apple Kingdom…"
"Oh no!" She interrupted him.
"The evil Wizard had rotten yellow teeth because he never bothered to wash his teeth. He had short shaggy brown hair. His eyes were dark and disturbed; anything he looked down upon became tainted and lost. He was small, very thin, he seemed fragile, broken even, but he was dangerous.-"
"She can't be alone with him. She needs someone to protect her." She sounded both desperate and full of hope. "Please tell me there is a Prince?"
He sat there speechless for a couple of minutes. He had never really thought about this story at all, in all honesty he was making it up as he went, but that thought never occurred to him. 'Of course, fairytale stories always have a Prince and it's usually who you least expect it.'
"A Prince? Yeah, there was a Prince." He didn't have a name.
Her eyes lit up, "What's his name?"
"Its Malc- no Prince Natha-" It needed to sound realistic, worthy even.
Danielle shook her head no. The Prince had to have a nice name. A name that… "I got it!" She yelled happily.
Dick looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.
"Prince Richard." She smiled brightly.
"Wait, what?" Dick was completely taken by surprise. Out of all the names she could have chosen she chose his.
"The Prince for the story should be named Richard."
"Why Richard?" He asked unable to contain himself.
"It has a nice ring to it. Cindy and Richard. It just goes together like peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti and meatballs. You can't have one without the other."
She explained her argument in the simplest form.
He nodded his agreement, "The Prince's name was Richard."
"What did he look like?"
He was stumped once more. 'What did I get myself into?'
"I bet he was extremely handsome." She smiled. "He was probably tall, crystal blue eyes with blonde hair. Am I right?"
Dick couldn't deny her anything. She seemed too happy, too excited, and it was all because of him. He couldn't explain what he was feeling, but he sure as hell liked it. It was a nice change. Maybe this was a beginning, a way to mend things, a way for him to fix his mistakes even if it was a small step to the long road ahead of him.
He didn't even realize that she had just described him. "Yeah."
"I have a really good feeling about this story."
There was a knock on the door before he could continue on with the story and Sabrina stepped in, "Sorry sweetie, but it's time for you to go to sleep.-"
"A little long-"
"No can do young lady. You have an early chemo session tomorrow."
She nodded her head in understanding. "I'll see you tomorrow, right Dick?"
He looked at her hopeful eyes, "I'll be here tomorrow."
"Good night. Be careful." She said while Sabrina tucked her in.
"Nite."
MaDi
Dick wasn't sure what to think. He didn't know for certainty when things had shifted, when he felt the need to be there for that little girl. Maybe it was the day he found out the way her mother treated her. Maybe it was when she seemed to care.
He was turning the corner of the corridor lost in his thoughts when he heard someone yell his name, "Dick!"
He turned around to see Nurse Sabrina catching up to him, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
He shifted uncomfortably on his shoes, "Sure, what's up?"
"One of the morning volunteers called to say he wasn't going to make it tomorrow morning and I was wondering if you would mind filling in?"
"I-"
"We have- tomorrow is going to be a very hectic day. You would be able to do a couple of extra hours, if you don't have anything to do."
"Yeah, sounds fine."
MaDi
"Mac, Sebastian is cheating." Complained Danielle. "He keeps standing in front of the television so I can't see what buttons to press."
"Sebastian, I need you to sit down on the chair please." Mac said, pointing to the chair.
"Only if you play with us." He countered while handing her the microphone.
"Only if I get to choose the song." Piped out Danielle.
Mac and Sebastian shared a look before answering simultaneously, "Okay."
"How about 'When I'm gone' by 3 Doors Down?" Danielle suggested.
"I think I've heard it before." Added Sebastian.
"I like it." Verified Mac.
A small group of patients had former around them.
They began playing; Danielle started with the guitar, Sebastian with the drums, and Mac waited for the lyrics to appear.
There's another world inside of me
That you may never see
There're secrets in this life
That I can't hide
Somewhere in this darkness
There's a light that I can't find
Maybe it's too far away...
Or maybe I'm just blind...
Dick had just gotten to hospital and was making his way through the corridor looking for Danielle.
"They're in the game room." Confirmed an older nurse.
Or maybe I'm just blind...
Dick immediately recognized that voice, who would have thought Mac had a singing voice.
So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
Hold me when I'm scared
And love me when I'm gone
Everything I am
And everything in me
Wants to be the one
You wanted me to be
I'll never let you down
Even if I could
Dick stood there in the doorway just watching her, just watching them. Danielle was ripping it on the guitar, practice did make a difference. Sebastian was trying hard to keep up, and Mac sounded great.
I'd give up everything
If only for your good
So hold me when I'm here
Right me when I'm wrong
You can hold me when I'm scared
You won't always be there
So love me when I'm gone
Love me when I'm gone...
When your education X-Ray
Cannot see under my skin
I won't tell you a damn thing
That I could not tell my friends
Roaming through this darkness
I'm alive but I'm alone
Part of me is fighting this
But part of me is gone
'That is exactly how I feel. I wonder if that's how she feels too…' He thought to himself, noticing the change in her voice. Signaling that he might be right.
Or maybe I'm just blind...
Love me when I'm gone...
Love me when I'm gone
When I'm Gone
When I'm Gone
When I'm Gone
'I promise I will make things right.' Dick vowed to himself.
All the other patients clapped happily.
"My turn." Yelled a little boy in a wheelchair.
"Me too." A girl with red hair volunteered.
"Let's let them play. Danielle and Sebastian there is homework to be completed." Mac wiped a tear away from her cheek before the kids could see.
"Ah, do we have to?" Both kids complained.
"Yes, you do. Now, please go get your stuff from your cubby and meet me in the study room. I need to go get Charles and Elsie."
Dick quickly hid in one of the vacant hospital rooms down the hallway so Mac couldn't see him. He wasn't ready to see her. He needed to prepare himself and what he was going to say to her. He didn't want to disappoint or hurt her anymore than he had already done.
TBC...
Don't forget to review! I wasn't too sure of this chapter... Let me know if you love it? Hate it? Any suggestions? You guys are my inspiration (muses- if you will).