A/N—Managed to get this chapter out a little earlier this week. There's so much craziness going on in the world right now, and I'm glad to have fiction to disappear into (whether it be reading or writing). Thank you for taking the time to read this!

A couple of notes that have nothing to do with the story. One, there is a Halloween challenge currently going on at the BTR Plot Adoption Forum. I was hoping to enter, but things have been so hectic over here that I don't think I'm going to find the time. If any of you are interested, please message me or winterschild11 for more information on how to get involved. I'm still planning to read the stories that are posted even if I can't write anything, and I hope to see people take part because it's a fun idea. :)

Two, for my American friends—please vote. Time is running out and if you haven't already, it's so so important to do it as early as possible. I know I rarely get political, and that's because I don't like to push my beliefs on others, but if you want to see change, this is the way to do it. No matter what your political stance, please vote.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Kendall wasn't okay. Logan discovered that the following evening when he arrived at Kendall's apartment and knocked, only to knock three more times before accepting that Kendall wasn't home. He played back the conversation in his head and yes, they'd agreed on five o'clock for dinner.

Logan looked at his watch. 4:58. Kendall knew he was always punctual.

With a sinking feeling, Logan set down the cooler filled with food he'd brought over to cook. He could just use his key to enter, but that felt intrusive without an invitation. He tried texting Kendall.

"Hey, I'm here."

A reply came back in under a minute. "Where?"

"At your apartment. Where are you?"

"I totally forgot we made dinner plans. I'm sorry, my head's been in the clouds since the whole Allen thing. Can we do it another night?"

Logan groaned. He thought he knew exactly where Kendall was. "Sure."

"Thanks, dude. I'll make it up to you."

"Yeah, you will," Logan said under his breath. "You're going to buy me a drink."

After a quick call to James to get the name of the restaurant, Logan made it to Fuego in thirty minutes. Sure enough, he found Kendall seated at the bar in a position where he could watch the door. At least Kendall had the decency to look ashamed when their eyes met.

"Don't start yelling at me," Kendall warned as Logan took the stool next to him. "I really did forget about dinner."

"And probably everything else. What happened to sleeping on it and waking up with a new attitude of optimism?"

"I never promised that."

"I guess you didn't." Logan nodded toward a basket of chips and salsa. "Pass that over. And buy me a drink. Something fruity or sweet so I don't taste the alcohol."

Kendall did both. He ordered a Midori sour, which tasted like candy to Logan. "This is good. So good I know not to order it again or I might keep drinking without realizing I'm getting drunk."

"That's the fun of drinking, Logan. It's great until it's not."

He took another sip before starting the hard conversation. "Why are you here, Kendall?"

"I'm not going to answer that because you'll just tell me to walk away."

"There's nothing to walk away from. It was probably just a one-time thing. You could waste your entire life sitting at this bar and miss out on a happy life with someone else."

"There is no one else. I told you."

"And I didn't believe you. Because you're wrong."

Kendall shook his head rather than come up with a reply.

"Hey. That guy in the corner. He keeps checking you out."

Kendall didn't even lift his head.

"I'm serious. There's a guy over there who is clearly interested and trying to get up the nerve to approach you."

"I don't care. Unless it's Allen, I don't want to know."

"Kendall, will you just—"

"You might as well leave, Logan. All that's gonna happen if you stay is a fight. And I value your friendship too much to see it dissolve over this."

"Is there really nothing I can say to convince you to let this one go? You're prepared to sit here every night in the mere hope that he shows up?"

"Yep."

"Okay." Logan huffed out a breath. It had come to this again. Now he just had to figure out a way to spike Kendall's beer with the serum he had hidden in his pocket, which wouldn't be easy with the dude in the corner furtively watching them every chance he got.

"So you'll back off?" Kendall asked now.

"I'll back off. Live your life, Kendall. If you want to spend it sitting at a bar lost in a dream, that's your choice."

"Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be right back."

"Wait, what? You're leaving?"

"Just to the bathroom. Relax."

Well, Logan's problem was half-fixed. Now if the other guy would just stop—

Oh. This is perfect.

He smiled as the shorter man got up to follow Kendall toward the bathroom. Good luck with that, bro. You'll need it.

It took a swift glance around the room to see that no one else was watching. Logan made quick work of pouring the serum into Kendall's half-full mug of beer. He swished it around a little before Kendall returned to slide onto the stool. Sure enough, the other dude came out soon after to reclaim his place.

"Hey," Logan whispered. "Did that guy try to talk to you in the bathroom?"

"Hmm? Who?" Kendall picked up his beer.

"That guy. At the corner of the bar. He followed you in."

Kendall took a swig before looking where Logan directed him to. "The short one?"

"Yeah."

"Uh...I think he said hi? Or..." Kendall thought back. "I was washing my hands. He came up next to me and washed his. That's about it. I think he said hey when our eyes met in the mirror. Oh, and he said 'excuse me' when I almost trampled him at the hand dryer."

"You realize he was trying to get your attention, right?"

"Told you, Logan. Don't really care."

"Fine. Shut up and drink your beer."

Kendall did, after tossing Logan a glare. Logan was nervous about this, as it was the first time he'd attempted the serum without a tranquilizer. Would Kendall notice it taking effect? Would he be confused as it worked through his system and to his brain? Would there be a sudden moment when it would become clear that it was a success? How long would it take?

"Hey."

Logan jumped slightly, having been lost in thought. "Yeah."

"That guy over in the corner."

"What about him?"

"I think he's checking me out."

Logan's gaze moved to the other guy and back to Kendall. "Really."

"Yeah. Is it just me?"

"Uh...no. No, I think you're right. You should go say hi."

"We already did, in the bathroom. I couldn't tell if he was flirting with me or not."

"One way to find out, you know. Go for it."

"No, I'm here with you. That's rude."

"We're not on a date, Kendall. Please. Go say hi."

Kendall wasn't to be swayed. "No. We came here for dinner, and we're going to eat dinner."

"Who says we can't invite him to join us?"

After a beat, Kendall replied, "That guy who just hugged him."

"What?" Logan looked over and sure enough, another man had arrived and was planting a kiss on the lips of the one they'd been discussing. "Well. Guess we read him wrong."

"Guess so. Too bad, he's cute."

Logan did a double take. "What did you say? You actually find a guy attractive?"

"Duh, Logan. I'm not dead."

The serum had definitely worked. Logan breathed a sigh of relief. "I know, but you're the one who always says 'I'll know if he's the one when I see him.'"

"That guy isn't the one."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. But he might be fun until I find the one. It really does suck that he's here with a date."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. Should we go?"

"No, I invited you here to try the tacos. Taylor might not have worked out, but the tacos are worth the drive any day."

"Taylor."

"Yes, Logan. Taylor. The guy I had dinner with last night? Remember, nice guy but there were no sparks?"

"Right. I know. I was just...okay, so...should we get a table?"

"Yeah, let's do that. I had both the chicken and the beef. Chicken were better."

"Good to know." Logan followed Kendall to a booth they were directed to. "Any other suggestions?"

"Nah. The beans were good. Rice was okay."

"Cool."

"You know what I'm really craving?"

"What's that?" Logan asked, digging his phone out of a pocket. It was incredible how quickly Kendall's mood had turned around the second he forgot about James.

"That baked chicken you make. You know, with the lemon and garlic marinade? You should come over tomorrow night and cook that up."

Logan couldn't keep a chuckle from erupting. "You know, it's funny you mention that. I just happen to have all the ingredients for it."

"Awesome! I can make Mom's pasta salad to go with it. Sound like a plan?"

"Sounds like a great plan." Logan typed out a text to James under the table. "I had to give him the serum. Don't you dare set foot in this restaurant ever again."

"Logan, really? Do you ever stop working?"

"Sorry," Logan said to Kendall. "Just a quick thing I forgot to tell my lab assistant last night. I'm done now."

"You'd better be, because here comes the server."

While Kendall was ordering, James texted back. "I swear. Is he okay?"

"He's great. Happier than I've seen him in a while."

"Good. That's all I want."

"I know. I'll call you later."

"Hug him for me. Even if he doesn't know it's from me."

"I will."

"Logan, put the phone away. This is our time."

"Right. Sorry. I'll have the chicken tacos. Side of beans, no rice."

Kendall's smile from across the table made everything they'd gone through worth it.

Logan walked Kendall to his car and hugged him before heading toward his own, which was on the other side of the restaurant's lot. He waved as Kendall drove by him, mind half on Kendall and half on whether or not the chicken in the cooler would still be safe to cook the following evening; how long had they been inside, anyway?

A glance at his watch told him they'd taken much more time over dinner than he'd realized; the tacos were good enough that they'd ordered another round. He'd most likely have to throw out tonight's chicken and pick up another tomorrow.

No big deal. Logan would stop on the way to Kendall's after work. Kendall seemed fine now, no memory of James at all; his mood had been ebullient once the serum took effect. Logan was, however, a little concerned that Kendall hadn't remembered their previous conversation about the guy checking him out. That talk had had nothing to do with James, yet after the dose, Kendall didn't recall that they'd already discussed the guy. Maybe it had been tainted in Kendall's mind because at the time, he wouldn't even consider anyone but James. Logan hoped so, since the alternative would be that the serum was beginning to cause more memory loss than it was supposed to. He hated to think that repeated use of it would lead to permanent damage.

Then again, it had never been created for repeated use. Logan had originally concocted it at the direction of his superiors, who wanted to use it during missions like the ones James went on. He hadn't declared it a success yet, so it hadn't been put into use outside of tests (like the one on himself and Pete). He'd lose his job if the CIA knew he'd been using it on Kendall.

But that was what you did for friends. When James came to him with the idea, he'd originally refused. It wasn't that he didn't feel it was safe, but it was unethical. How could he do something like that to one of his best friends? The last attempt on Kendall's life had changed his mind. The enemy had gotten too close then, and when James begged him again, Logan had given in. Was it right? No. Would it save Kendall's life? Most likely. Logan and James were in agreement that that was what mattered.

A sudden explosion of laughter interrupted Logan's mental ramblings. He glanced toward the restaurant's entrance as he passed it, noting that the shorter guy who'd been trying to get Kendall's attention had just walked out with the waiter who had served them dinner. Both were doubled over laughing.

So now he's hitting on the staff here? My my, this dude gets around.

"Stop it, you're gonna make me hurl!" the guy complained. "I ate too many tacos."

"I warned you, Carlos. After your sixth."

"Hey, I can't help it if Kevin knows just how I like them. It's his fault!"

"Don't blame my brother, asshole. You're the one who got him the job here."

Logan glanced back over his shoulder in time to see them laugh again. It really was too bad the guy was taken (and where was his date, anyway?), because Kendall could use some laughter in his life.

"Ugh, my stomach is killing me! I'm outta here, man."

Their conversation quieted down after that. Logan reached his car and opened the door. He looked back one more time.

Perhaps feeling eyes on him, the guy glanced over and met his gaze. The recognition was instantaneous; Logan smiled when it became obvious the guy (Carlos? Was that his name?) was hoping to see Kendall again. Finding Kendall nowhere around, he sighed while his shoulders dropped.

Sorry, dude. If you hadn't been here with a date...

It wasn't worth dwelling on. Logan nodded once at Carlos before settling into his car. He heard the waiter call out, "See you tomorrow, Carlos! Don't be late!" and then closed the door. Carlos shook his head, embarrassed at being caught searching for Kendall.

What had Kendall called him? Cute?

Eh, if you were into that sort of thing, maybe. Logan really wasn't.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Logan was worried about his friends. They had to figure something out, because what they were doing wasn't working and Logan was about to lose his mind. James had lost his more times than Logan could count, and even though Logan always smoothed things over with his precious serum, they kept returning to the same place. Over and over and over again.

The longest they'd been able to go without Kendall running into James was three months. Logan really thought it had finally worked, that they were done with the accidental meetings (which happened two more times after the disaster at Fuego), but three months to the day of the last time, it happened again.

And it wasn't like it was anything they could predict or avoid. It was random places. Once it was at the bank; they'd both had to go inside the building to correct an account issue and of course it just happened to be the same day, same time. Kendall had stood behind James in line, and when he caught a glimpse of James' profile, BAM! Sparks flew and he was captivated. James escaped quickly, before Kendall could get a word out, and after that James switched banks.

Another time it was at the dry cleaners. Kendall never went to the dry cleaners, because the only time he ever wore a suit was for a wedding. What happened this time? His mother had asked him to pick up her dress on the way to visit. Something so innocent, so simple, yet it led to another round of Kendall crying over the fact that he'd seen the perfect man (my soulmate, Logan!) only to have the guy spin on his heel and walk away.

Today had been the worst. James called Logan in a panic because Kendall was tailing him in a car. James had pulled up next to him at a red light. Kendall looked to his right, James to his left, and the magic flew when their eyes met. James admitted that this time he hadn't been able to avert his gaze immediately (he looked so good, Logan!), and when Kendall smiled...well. It was automatic. James smiled back. Logan was positive he had that lovesick expression on his face, too. Either way, the light changed, neither of them moved until they were honked at by the cars behind them, and James took off. Sanity returned.

Only to disappear when he realized three blocks later that Kendall was following him.

A phone conversation followed in which James and Logan screamed at each other for two minutes before James made enough unsafe maneuvers to lose Kendall. He'd arrived at Logan's lab in tears to find Logan on the phone consoling Kendall, who was also in tears.

This had to stop. It was tearing them both apart.

Logan still didn't believe in fate, but that conviction was disintegrating a tiny bit each day. How was it possible that they kept running into each other? Sure, they lived in the same city, but it was a huge city. Logan never ran into anyone he knew, no matter where he went. James wasn't even in the city for more than two days a week; he was usually out of town on work business. Still, they kept managing to end up in the same place at the same time and it was starting to make Logan doubt his theory about coincidence.

He'd finally calmed James down enough to send him home. After that, he'd driven to Kendall's (because of course Kendall had been so upset on the way to lunch that he hadn't returned to work) with food and a doctored drink. Over a meal, they'd discussed that Kendall was feeling alone and bored now that hockey season had ended. Summer was approaching, which meant that Kendall would be stuck at home every day for three months. Logan could only imagine how many more opportunities that might bring forth for Kendall to run into James again, since he'd want to get out of the house. He suggested that Kendall take a month-long vacation somewhere, maybe get out of town for a change. Kendall wouldn't hear of it, citing a lack of money and the desire to remain close to his family.

"And you," Kendall added. "I wouldn't want to be far away from you for that long."

Logan was touched, but also frustrated. He tried bringing up the online dating idea again; Kendall hadn't used it since his failed dinner with Taylor and was still opposed to giving it another chance.

Sitting next to Kendall on the sofa now, Logan had to accept that no matter what he or James did, Kendall and James were going to continue to cross paths. They'd tried everything and nothing worked to keep them apart.

Was it fate? Logan didn't want to consider that. All he knew was that something had to change.

"Are you bored? Do you want to watch something else?"

Logan jerked at Kendall's question. "What? Sorry, I was..."

"I know. If you're bored with this, I can put on something else."

"No, it's fine. It's not this, it's...work. I have a problem at work that I can't seem to solve and it's been driving me insane for over seven months."

Kendall clicked off the television and shifted on the couch to face Logan. "I know you can't talk about work, but if there's a way you can do that without breaking your contract, maybe I can help."

Logan almost laughed. Yeah, Kendall, you can definitely help. Stay the hell away from James! "I don't know. It's...it's like...there's a formula. A process. It always ends the same way, and I need it to...not."

"Like some theory you're trying to prove?"

"Uh...sort of? I...forget it."

"No, Logan, come on. Look, I sit here and whine to you almost every day about my own life and problems, and you never come to me with yours. Let me help for once! I want to help!''

"Okay, okay. It's just hard to explain without giving specifics."

"Try."

Logan exhaled loudly. "Um. Well, let's say that...there's an experiment. And every single time I try it, the thing I don't want to happen does. No matter what I do. And it ruins everything and I have to start over. It's taking a toll on the subjects. I don't want to damage them in any way, you know?"

"Are they...humans?"

"Uh...can't say."

"Okay, I'm just going to assume they're not because if they are, I don't want to know."

"Good call."

"So...what are you trying to make happen?"

"Nothing. I'm actually trying to not make anything happen. The experiment is supposed to stop something from happening, but it always happens anyway."

Kendall nodded slowly as he thought that over. "I'm assuming the thing that always happens is bad?"

"Well...I mean, it's not the desired outcome."

"And it's out of your control? The outcome?"

"I can only control so much myself. The rest is up to..."

"Whoa. Logan. Were you about to say fate?" Kendall teased. "You? I thought you didn't believe in that."

"Yeah, I'm almost starting to. And it scares me."

"It would, because that means things won't always make sense."

"Don't even joke about that."

They both chuckled, then Kendall grew serious again. "So you can't control the outcome."

"Not really."

"Can you control the subjects?"

"No, that's my point. I'm trying to, but that part is out of my hands."

"And they do the same thing every time?"

"Not exactly. Do you know what a control subject is?"

"Uh, let me think back to science class. Isn't that like the subject who isn't given whatever treatment the rest are?"

"Pretty much, yeah. So...one of my subjects is given the treatment. The other is not. And that subject tries to make it a success, but somehow the one with the treatment always ends up reacting the same way because the same stimuli appears when we don't want it to. Is this making any sense at all?"

"Sort of. Give me a second to think this through."

"Yeah, good luck. If you can figure out how to keep the same ending from happening over and over, I'm all ears." Logan stood up and stretched, then picked up their empty soda cans to take into the kitchen. He headed for the bathroom on the way back. When he came out, Kendall called his name.

"Yeah?"

"Come out here. Sit."

"Actually, I should probably get back to the lab. I'm in the middle of—"

"I might have a solution."

Logan froze upon entering the living room. "What?"

"You're the smart one so you'll probably just tell me you've tried this, but...if you can't keep the same ending from happening, you have to assume it's going to. Right?"

"At this point...yeah. I guess it's just going to keep happening." The thought of that filled Logan with dread.

"Then...you have to make that part of your experiment and find a way around it."

"No, Kendall, there is no way around it." Logan dropped onto the sofa again. "That's what I'm saying, we can't get around it."

"Because you're trying to keep it from happening."

"Exactly."

"So don't. Let it happen. And find a way to make it work for you."

Logan shook his head. "No, it can't work. There's no way to make it work because it ruins everything we've done up to that point."

"Then stop focusing on what you've done. Let it happen and go from there. Instead of trying to change the outcome, change what happens during the outcome. Or after."

"But...the treated subject always reacts the same way. There's never a change in that."

"Find a way to make it change. Are you telling me there's nothing you can do to make the subject react differently? Nothing?"

"No, Kendall, it..." Kendall just didn't get it. He was always going to fall in love with James, no matter what they did; it happened every single time.

"Logan, come on. You're a genius. Stop trying to change the outcome and instead change how the subject reacts to the outcome. Make a change during the experiment so that when that outcome happens, the reaction is different."

"But the reaction is always the same."

"Then change the treatment. Adjust it somehow."

"Kendall, I can't just—"

"Really? Because I thought Logan Mitchell could do anything he set his mind to. That's the scientist I know. He solves problems. If something isn't working, he changes his approach. There has to be a way for you to change the behavior of the subject."

Logan stared at Kendall. No, there wasn't. Kendall was always going to run into James. Kendall was always going to fall in love. There was no getting around that.

Was there any scenario at all where Kendall would fall in love with James and not want him? Not pursue him? No. Because when Kendall really wanted something, he'd do anything short of hurting someone to get it.

In Logan's brain, synapses started firing.

Anything short of hurting someone.

Mental gears shifted into place.

He won't hurt someone. No matter how badly he wants James, he would never hurt someone he cares about.

Make him care about someone.

But that was impossible. Logan had tried, and Kendall just wasn't open to the idea of dating. He hadn't liked any of the men they'd looked at. He'd never shown any interest in anyone but James.

"Too bad, he's cute."

The answer exploded in Logan's brain. "Kendall. You're a genius."

Kendall grinned, proud of himself. "See?"

"I think...I mean, it probably still won't work, but...I have an idea. You're right, I can't change the outcome. But I can change my subject's reaction. Maybe."

"There you go, then. And if you change that reaction, will that solve your problem? Or will you still have to start over?"

"I...uh...I guess I won't know until I try it. It might work. I think there's a good chance. Except...the treatment subject...he's really stubborn." It wasn't easy, but Logan managed to say this to Kendall with a straight face.

"I have faith in you. If anyone can make it work, you can."

And this was why Kendall was his best friend, why James had kept coming back even after swearing off Kendall repeatedly during their first year of dating. Kendall was a good guy, loyal to a fault. He deserved happiness.

Logan would find a way to give him that.