Chapter 14

After saying good-bye to the people in the command center, Logan was approaching the men, he noticed they were deep in discussion. Logan said, "Bling, do you want to follow us or...." He began.

"No, I'll take my car, thanks anyway. I have work tomorrow. You know, my other patients." said Bling smiling.

"Well, then follow us to the cabin," Logan said with a sad smile. Putting his new car in gear, they proceeded out of Terminal City.

"Why such a long face, Cuz? She'll come with us to grandma's house; don't worry," Tony said with confidence.

"No, I'm losing her, Tony." Logan said glumly. "And I don't blame her. I would have given up on me, too. I put her through so much, Cuz. I don't think she'll ever forgive me," he said even sadder.

"Buck up, Cuz. You'll get her back. Just get those guys off her ass and yours. You'll get her back, seriously." Tony tried to sound convincing for Logan's sake.

They drove silently all the way to the cabin. As they were approaching the cabin, they saw a limo parked a few blocks away. "Is that who I think it is?" Tony asked.

"Yep, that's them," Logan confirmed who Tony thought it was. "Damn, how did they know about this place? I made sure that there was no record of the cabin. Damn it!" Logan was pissed now more than normal. The cabin had been in their family for generations and he felt violated.

"Now where, Cuz?" Tony spouted off.

They both said together, "Grandma Eastman's!!"

"No. No, that's not the answer, Tony," Logan calmly said after getting his nerves back on track. He drove calmly down the road to the nearest restaurant. He was watching the rearview mirror hoping Bling would follow them. He was relieved when he saw Bling pulling up beside his car. Transferring to his wheelchair, he spoke to Tony and Bling as they neared him. "We can stay here until we figure out our next move. I have friends here, you know, Tony. The Russells. Peggy and Bill Russell," Logan said with confidence.

"Yeah, didn't they have a cute girl about my age?" Tony said with a grin on his face.

Looking at Bling, Logan gave him a smug smile and said, "Just like my cousin to remember a girl was here." Bling just shook his head smiling at them.

"Well. I at least remembered them. So sue me." Tony said shrugging his shoulders.

The three men went into the cafe then seated themselves and Bling spoke up first. "What happened back there? You said that that cabin was not connected to you or any of your family. What happened?"

"I don't know Bling. I made sure there were no records of this place connecting the family with that property. Unless, they got to Aunt Margo. What do you think, Tony?" Logan said wondering. She knew she was upset with him from the hover drone incident but she didn't know the story surrounding it, though. "We definitely can't go to Grandma Eastman's. They may or may not know about grandma, but I'm not going to take the chance."

"Cuz, can I use your cell phone?" Tony asked, and then said when Logan gave it to him. "Excuse me," he said, then walked away for some privacy.

"Gibbs, this is Tony. Listen do you got a minute?" Tony said, smiling at hearing his boss's voice.

Yeah, you want to come back to work so soon?" Gibbs said, chuckling a little.

"Ha ha ha, very funny, Boss. No, I was calling to see if you could do a favor for me. Kinda on the QT, you know what I mean," Tony said with hesitation in his voice. He knew that was a big no-no, but he didn't know where else to turn.

"Maybe, what's this concerning, Tony?" Gibbs now sounded serious.

"It has to do with my little cousin," Tony sounded hopeful. "He's in trouble Boss, I need your help, please."

Gibbs remembered Tony talking about his cousin before and after the case a year ago. That he was in a wheelchair, but had managed to help with Tony's investigation and was very good with computers. So he couldn't understand what Tony was so upset about.

Tony proceeded to tell about the events, but not about Eyes Only. While he was discussing everything with Gibbs, Logan was talking to Bling quietly.

"Why did you look so down when you came out of TC, my friend? What happened?" Bling asked.

"It's nothing, Bling," said Logan. Yeah, right. It's just the worst day for me. The woman I love was crying when you left and she may never forgive you for you screwing it, but it's nothing. Yeah right, Cale! These thoughts were running around in Logan's head plus other things.

"The last time I saw you look like that was when Max had died in your arms, so spill, Logan. What happened when we left you two, huh?" Bling had been with Logan long enough to know him like a book. He knew his moods, his anger, his stubbornness, everything about his patient and friend.

Finally, Logan confessed that Max had more or less said they were over. They had both been hurt and Max was physically hurt as well from his blunder several times, and that she couldn't take it anymore. He told Bling sadly and then said, "I don't know what to do. Bling, she's my world, without her I don't know if I can go on," he said with sadness in his eyes and voice. "Eyes Only is nothing without Max, and I really don't want to continue it... with everyone getting hurt especially Max. I've got to end this. I can't keep putting people in danger any more." Logan said, determined more than ever to end this situation once and for all.

"Then, my friend, how are you going to stop the guys if you close Eyes Only down," Bling asked knowing full well that Logan Cale could not let Eyes Only fade away.

"Well, first of all, I've got to confront this guy face to face. That's the only way; I just have to figure out... what I'm going to do without Max for back-up." Logan said, sighing at the thought of Max not being there or may never.

Tony walked up just as Logan finished and said, "My cousin doesn't give up on a girl, since he's older that is." With a chuckle, he was remembering the past and the shy cousin. "Oh, when he was younger, he would let the girls slide out of his hands but now . . . I really don't think he'll let this lady slide out of his life easily as that, but in college that was another story. That's not my little cousin's style," he said with confidence in his close cousin. He knew he was hurting right now, and it was clouding his thought process but he knew he was determined to have Max forever. "I talked to Gibbs, and he's going to get the guys on finding out who and what this guy's up to. So, what have you come up with Cuz, anything? Oh, thanks for the phone by the way. I forgot I had mine all along," he spoke with a chipper voice now.

"You know. I'm strongly thinking; it wasn't a coincidence that Gail came over that day. I wonder if there is a connection, hum," Logan said now deep in thought. Aunt Margo was too something when I chewed her out. She didn't sound like her usual self at that. Her high airs in her voice . . . really didn't sound right, he considered to himself.

"Gail?" Tony inquired.

"Yeah, you remember I had a thing with her before Daphne. I was just infatuated with her, that's all. Nothing deep," Logan said, knowing that by the look on his cousin's face, he wanted to avoid all the questions about this person. "You remember, I told you about her, Cuz. Well, it's been a long time and . . . your memory may not be as good now as was back then," he said with a tease in his voice.

"Huh! Why you! I'm not that old, thank you very much! I can still kick your ass, Cuz," Tony said. trying to sound put out with his little cousin, but was smiling all the same. "Anyway, what's with the lady and Aunt Margo have to do with that mafia guy?" Tony was trying to get back on track at least for a little bit without bringing Logan down again.

"She must have found out I was involved in that hover drone mess. I don't know for sure, but . . . Lets talk about it somewhere else, Tony." Logan was getting an uneasy feeling.

Tony and Bling got up casually but none-the-less cautiously at Logan's words. Both guys had their hands on their side arms and placed Logan between them looking around. Paying for their drinks and heading out the door, Logan told Bling to head to Joshua's house. Bling had been there several times before Logan had gotten his apartment fixed after White destroyed it.

The men getting into their respective cars headed out. Bling heading in another direction than Logan. They had done this sort of tactic on other occasion for an Eyes Only mission.

"Okay, Cuz. You want to tell me what the hell is going on. Why do you suspect Aunt Margo is involved and what's this about a

... hover drone? There all over the place here." Tony was really getting worried now. There's too many irons in the fire for not any explanation now, Little Cuz. You'd better come clean this time or I am going to blow the whistle on you. He thought determined to get the straight on this whole situation.

"I can't prove it yet, but I've been thinking ever since that day that Gail dropped in and . . . the way I chewed Aunt Margo out . . . it just was weird Tony. Now that I think about she didn't go off half cocked about me chewing her out, you know what I mean? She wasn't taken back by my attitude towards her or nothing! And that's weird in itself." Logan was trying to get across to his cousin the weirdness their aunt had displayed with the conversation.

"Did you see the hover drone hack, Tony? Logan said, knowing his cover was blown with him being Eyes Only.

"Yeah, so? Uncle Jonas was selling stealth drones with fire power. Was it illegal or something?" Tony was putting the pieces of that hack together with the mafia guy, but no luck so far.

"Max's friend Herbal . . . his friend was killed by a hover drone made by Cale Industries at Uncle Jonas's order... let me start all over. Better yet, let me find out if there is any connection, okay?

"No, Cuz. You can connect the dots later. I want to know what really happened and possible why you think Aunt Margo is involved. I know she's not our favorite aunt but, Jesus, Logan, why would she want you killed?" Tony said, getting pissed.

Hearing his cousin's tone of voice Logan blurted out, "Because I inadvertently got Uncle Jonas killed!"

"Do what?!!" Tony exclaimed with a shock on his face. "No. How did you do that, Logan?"

"It's a long story, but I'll summarize it for you, okay?" Logan did not want to rehash the story of his not trusting Max, then about Phil, and the dreadful pictures that had been sent to him. "Convicts were being gunned down and Max . . . I found out how and spoke with Uncle Jonas about it. Apparently, he had spoken with his partner, sent a hover drone to kill me . . ."

"No, Uncle Jonas wouldn't do that, Cuz!" Tony was appalled at that accusation. "I know he doesn't like you or me for that matter very much but to kill you?"

Coming close to Joshua's house, Logan slowed the car down then said, "All I know is that after his call to me, to meet him at a certain warehouse on the docs . . . Max saved my life. Now whether it was Jonas or his partner, I don't know, Tony. Max found where they were tracking me and saved me. Then next thing I knew is Uncle Jonas had been killed by unknown persons or thing. This by all the bullets around it was a stealth drone that killed him. His partner was not around then, but later he was found dead also, by the same means.

And they were working with Renfro at Manticore, Tony." Logan summed up the nerve to conclude also, why he had pursued it.

Tony was taking all the information in when Logan mention Manticore then he froze. He knew then why Logan had pursued it so far. Criminals yeah, but this was about Max and her sibs, he thought.

Coming up beside an old weather beaten house, Tony looked at Logan. "Who lives here?" He asked.

"No one now. It was Sandeman's house. Joshua stayed here for a while . . . and I did too. When Ames White destroyed my apartment. That's another story," Logan didn't want to go into that. And hopeful he wouldn't have to. Great. I was on my feet then. Whether it was with the exo or my feet, I didn't use the wheelchair. Argh! He thought as he looked up the stairs to the old house. About that time, Bling drove up and got out. Slowly he came up to the two cousins.

"Okay. We can do this the easy way or the hard way; which do you want, Logan?" Bling said with a stern look at his patient now.

Logan downed his head and quietly said, "The easy way."

"Good. Tony, you want to bring Logan's chair," Bling said, lifting Logan up like a sack of potatoes but didn't throw him over his shoulder.

"Thanks, Bling," Logan said. "Tony thanks also." He looked at his cousin with a slight blush on his face.

"Anytime, Cuz." Tony spoke with a relaxed tone now.

As they came into the house, Logan gave a smile. "Oh, I nearly forgot. I need to call Max and tell her where we're at." Logan said with a bounce in his voice. Digging out his cell phone, he dialed TC, and waited for someone to answer. To Logan's shock, Max answered the phone. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Hello to you too," Max said with a come-back. "Why are you calling, Logan?" She asked, hoping he was calling to check on her.

"How are you doing, Angel?" Logan said as his heart leapt into his throat.

"Still a little bit soar but I'll be alright and you?" Max was trying to be calm with the voice on the other end of the line.

"Oh, we're doing fine. We're at Joshua's place," Logan said not thinking.

"What happened at the cabin?" Max asked.

Oh shit. Why did I say that? He thought. "Um, we wanted to be close to TC. Tony got hold of his boss," Logan said, trying to get Max off the cabin.

"Great. Does Tony know what the guy's problem is? What's wrong with the cabin, Logan?" Max was not in the mood to play twenty questions. "Listen Logan, I'm tired; what do you want?"

"Angel, are you all right? What's wrong?" Logan asked, concerned for the woman he loves no matter what.

"Um, I was shot, stuck, and poisoned; what could be wrong?" Max said sarcastically.

"Okay, okay. I get the hint. If you're still in bad shape why are you in the command center, may I ask?" Logan said trying to not push Max.

"I'm Uh, looking, how's everything going out there. Again I am asking; why did you call, Logan?" Max asked again annoyed at not receiving the answer.

"Sorry, Angel. I was just concerned about you and uh, that we decided to stay close to you. The cabins too far off." Logan was telling the truth about being concerned but lying about the cabin.

Max seemed to be content with that answer, so she didn't ask any further questions about the cabin. Logan sighed with relief at the next question she asked.

"Logan, do you think you can get these guys or guy without getting yourself killed?" Max asked worriedly. Because in all honesty she was in love with him no matter what had happened or will happen. This was Logan. And now Tony.

Chuckling, Logan said, "I'll do my best not to get killed for you, Angel. Just have faith in your computer nerd."

"You're not a . . . well, yes you are, but I love you anyway. Keep me informed and if there is anything I can do . . . let me know, okay?" Max hesitantly asked.

"No Max. This is my fight; I don't want you in it. You've been through enough, but thank you anyway." Logan said, smiling at that. After all this, she still wants to protect me and . . . we're not through, thank God. "Listen Angel, I love to talk to you, but I've got a couple sets of ears listening to every word I say, so I'll let you get back to bed and get better. I love you, Angel." He said grinning now from ear to ear.

"Kay," Max said and putting a hand over the mouth piece she said, "I love you too, Logan. Be careful and come back to me, promise?" She said blushing like a teenager with a crush and her parents are listening in. "Bye."

"I will; you can count on it. Bye Angel." Logan said blushing from the eyes upon him. Disconnecting from Max, he wheeled to the kitchen to see what was still here in the house. "Okay. We need to eat. We need to go to the grocery store."

"Oh, no you don't!" Both Tony and Bling said in unison.

Frustrated Logan said, "All right! Geez. Well, then Bling would you mind going to the market for me?"

Bling left and Tony looked around the house. "So, you stayed here? Nice, in a sorta old way. Could use a carpenter or two, but it will work. How many bedrooms, Cuz?" Tony said, trying to loosen up after the days events.

"Yeah, it still needs work but I lived here for over six months or so. There are four bedrooms and two baths. If you want to check it out go for it. I'm going to clean up the kitchen before I start cooking. Logan spoke, not knowing if his cousin wanted to help him clean up the house since it had been vacant and dusty.

"What's with the windows being painted black, Cuz?" Tony inquired.

"Oh, that. Well, I told you Joshua lived here first. Well he didn't want anyone peeking in and seeing him. You know, alerting the cops that there was a strange person in an abandoned house, you know."

"Oh. Okay. Is there a broom somewhere?" Tony was satisfied with that answer. The cousins' worked in silence until Bling came with the groceries. All three of them set into cleaning the spacious house and eating. Getting the much needed rest Bling, Tony and Logan settled in for the night. Logan after dinner set up the laptop and did the dishes then went to set up the bedroom with Bling's help downstairs. They would need their strength for what was to come.