Posted January 30, 2014
A/N: Last time I updated this story was December 2005. That was 8 years ago. I revisited this story today and was inspired to add a little bit more. So, here it is. I hope to update more soon, but for now...here's this.
A short time later, Logan's cell phone started vibrating in his jacket pocket. He had wisely turned the ringer off to avoid any other unwanted disturbances. He reached for it and answered.
"Logan! It's almost been an hour. You're not here yet." It was Will on the phone line.
Logan sighed and spoke in a low voice. "Will, listen. I'm not coming down there." He looked over at Max who was who was stroking Jaden's hair while she slept in her lap.
"But you said to always contact you first before anyone else if the office was compromised..." Static on the line made the rest of Will's sentence inaudible.
Logan glanced around the warehouse and cleared his throat. "I know, but I'm not going to be able to come." Logan looked down at Atley sleeping in his lap.
"Oh," Will paused. "Well, the cops trashed the place before they left. Computers smashed, desks ripped apart, files spilled everywhere," Logan's staff member sounded shaken up.
"Did they take anything with them?" Logan winced as he asked the question.
"No, of course not. I mean, I don't think so anyway. They were called to a different location I guess. I overheard one guy talking on a radio." Will seemed to be calming down but Logan could hear rustling in the background. He knew Will must be trying to clean up.
"And here I thought we'd been set up and exposed." Logan said, his tone flat.
"Yeah, well..." Will's phone connection became filled with static again.
"Will? You there?" Logan asked.
"Uh huh." Will said.
"Look, I apologize for this. For you having to be there alone when this went down, for me not coming, but…" Logan stopped.
"Hey, it's fine, man. I mean, it would have been a different story if they had arrested my ass. It was just mayhem for a minute." Will sighed. Logan continued to hear background noise.
"Listen, I'll be in touch soon. Lock up. It's late. Just get home safe, alright? We can clean up later – leave things the way they are. I know you have already been through a lot." Logan said directly.
"Right, talk to you later, Logan." Will said.
"Yeah, later." Logan adjusted the phone on his hear before Will spoke again.
"Oh, and Logan?"
"Yes?" Logan replied.
Will hesitated. "Is Eyes Only going to be pissed off about this?"
"No... I don't think he will be." Logan said with a smirk.
Listening intently to their conversation, Max closed her eyes and smiled.
It was 3:56 a.m. on January 6, according to Logan's watch. He was patient as he waited at the guard stand in the lobby of Fogle Towers for the guard to return with an extra set of keys to the penthouse. Logan had left his own behind when he left a few months ago. When the guard returned, Logan took the keys and thanked him. He lifted his bag and computer case from the floor and set them on his lap.
He took his time wheeling towards the elevator as he was lost in thought. He knew Jaden, and probably even Max, were sleeping and although he wanted to see them, he would have to wait. The ride up to the 27th floor seemed to take longer than it had before. The metal doors opened, revealing the familiar hallway and front door. Another glance at his watch told him that it was 4:01 a.m. With silence, he reached into his coat pocket for the keys. Logan opened the door and pushed himself in, closing it behind him. He took the bags from his lap and set them down. The penthouse was dark, silent, and warm.
Logan turned down the hallway. He stopped at the open door of Jaden's room and peered inside. The bed was made, the room was clean. He frowned and continued to him and Max's room. Soundless, Logan opened the door and wheeled in to find both Max and Jaden in the bed, curled up together. Max's arms were wrapped around Jaden. Moonlight was illuminating the bedroom.
Logan was overcome when he saw them. So much time had passed. He pushed to the bed and reached out with a gentle hand to brush a strand of hair from Max's face. Her head turned to him slowly before opening her eyes and taking in Logan's unforgettable face.
"Hey." Logan whispered.
"Hey yourself." Max said with a slight smile.
Max unwrapped herself from Jaden and slipped out of the bed. Logan backed up a few feet, unsure of what her immediate reaction might be. Without either of them speaking, Max closed the distance between them as Logan looked up at her. She reached out her hand to touch his unshaven cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed; thankful for her gentle touch. Logan reached up and touched her hand on his face then brought it to his lips and kissed her palm over and over. She drew her hand back then leaned down to him, taking his face in her hands and kissing him. He drew his hands around the back of her neck, returning her kiss with more passion and emotion then he ever thought possible. Max pulled away long enough for a breath and turned sideways to sit on his lap. Logan still held her head in his hands and he brought her face close to his.
"I love you, Max. I will never be able to make up for…" Logan whispered to her.
"Shhh. Stop. Not now. You're here." Max touched her forehead to his and shook her head.
Logan studied her face.He knew had done wrong by leaving and could only hope Max would forgive him. Seeing both Max and Jaden then made him question how he could have left in the first place.
"I love you, Logan." Max whispered in the dark.
The morning light was drifting in to the penthouse through the large windows in the living room. Logan sat in his chair with his arms crossed in front of them and gazed out over the city. He decided that the penthouse hadn't changed much as he glanced around the space. Jaden's toys were strewn about the floor as usual but things were nice and tidy otherwise. He was surprised to see that the Christmas tree still stood in the corner, and even more surprising were the few gifts under the tree with a tags reading "To Logan". He smiled at the thought of having Christmas presents without Max having the guarantee that he would even be home with his family to celebrate the holiday.
The house was quiet as Max hadn't emerged from the bedroom since their reunion a few hours earlier.
A few moments later, Logan was pulled from his reflections as he heard soft, small footsteps behind him and as they got closer he heard a small gasp.
"Daddy...?" Jaden was surprised by seeing her father in front of the windows in the living room. She walked to him as he turned around with a smile.
"Hi, baby..." Logan said, his voice soft. He wheeled toward her and reached out with open arms. Jaden rushed forward, with a broad smile and giggled.
"I missed you so much, Jay." Logan said as Jaden scrambled up into his lap. Wrapping her in his arms and burying his face in her head of unruly curls, Logan smiled. Jaden sat on her knees on her father's lap with her arms hugged tight around his neck.
"My Daddy…" Jaden said smiling.
Logan hugged Jaden tight and nodded. "Yes, honey, I am here." He closed his eyes.
Watching the two from a distance, Max leaned against the corner of the wall and crossed her arms, a smile dancing on her lips.
That man, she thought as she shook her head.
Logan was back. He had been gone for three months and he was back. Max was angry because he left in the first place, but she loved him unconditionally.She knew he had his reasons for going. In time, she would forgive him for being away from home for so long. Logan had been gone for Jaden's third birthday. He missed her third Christmas. He had been away for three very important months of her life. He was home though, and they had their daughter and in that moment all was right Max's world.
Another hour passed in the warehouse.
"Hey, you awake?" Max whispered over to Logan. She held Jaden who was still fast asleep.
Logan's eyes opened as he turned his face her.
"Yeah." He whispered before clearing his throat. "Barely."
"I heard someone turn on a radio. They said that those who were evacuated can go home in the morning..." Max said.
"Yeah? Good," Logan nodded and yawned. Atley was asleep in Logan's arms and he whimpered when his father started to lean forward to stretch.
"Shhh, bud. It's okay. I've got you." Logan hugged Atley a little tighter and calmed him.
He whispered to Max. "Can you take him?"
She nodded and he pushed over to her. He lifted Atley over to Max, who settled him next to Jaden.
"I'll go see if I can find out anything else." Logan said.
Max nodded and watched him leave.
On the floor, Alec stirred and started to sit up. "Keep it down, over there. I'm trying to sleep." He growled.
"Oh, please, Alec…" Max replied, not in the mood for his remarks after such a long night.
"Good morning to you, too, Max." Alec slowly stood and shook out his limbs.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Max rolled her eyes and sighed.