Title: Dinner Party (9/?)

Name: Joy

Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Buying a dress can be a hazardous thing

Setting: Logan's Apartment

Logan Cale was a man people noticed in life as a talented writer that gave it up, a handsome man who never seemed to have a partner, and a wealthy man that seemed only to care to give his money away. Therefore, to the circle by definition of class and privilege Logan belonged to, he was a paradox. True, he had given up writing to be an anonymous cyber journalist, his heart belonged to a woman who hereto didn't want to attend his circle, and he did give his money away hand over fist, but to Logan, his life made sense.

Logan was invited to a dinner party with "friends" who wanted contributions for a new art wing. His preparation to ask Max to attend with him left a lot to be desired. Bling found Logan in front of reflective surfaces all day asking them to attend the party. "Logan, you'll have no room for Max if you intend on bringing the large framed art piece, the computer, and the antique mirror in the car to the party," Bling said mocking his employer.

"She won't want to go, so I've to say it just right," Logan said with puppy dog eyes.

"You don't know. She may decide that it'd be cool to show your snotty friends how intelligent and sophisticated she can be. She may even say the classic girl line, 'I have nothing to wear.'"

"I don't even know why I care," Logan said glumly.

"Because it is a chance to step out with Max in a place you feel comfortable, see Max in a nice dress, and watch all other men envy you," Bling said with a smile.

"What's this 'bout me dressed up?" Max asked as she walked into the living room.

Logan looked sheepishly at Max and felt the frog in his throat. Somehow, this was worse than asking Bethany Danner to the 7th grade dance. "We've been invited to a fund raiser of sorts and I was hoping we could go," Logan mustered.

"To make the men envy you or to see me in a nice dress, I don't own yet?" Max replied.

Logan smiled brightly, "So, we'll go?"

"You didn't answer the question."

"Both."

"Done," Max began. "Now, I don't have anything to wear, so that will be the first hurtle. The next will be reviewing which forks to eat with at what point in the meal."

"We can go shopping," Logan was a rare male that didn't mind shopping, probably because his wealth afforded him great service.

"I don't shop."

"We'll have to come up with something."

"Maybe you can find me a dress you like again and I will just wear it," Max pleaded.

"Ah…No. Last time was a surprise. That would just feel way too much like you were an ornament for the evening. I like having you as a partner and that will require a team effort to get the dress."

"Bling," Max yelled. "Do you know anyone my size?"

"I don't know any size 3's. No offense Max, but I like a little more meat on women's bones. Sorry."

Max pouted. She really didn't want to go to a snooty store. "How about this?" Logan offered. "You tell me what you'd like in a dress and then I'll call around until we find a match."

"Or we could use your computer here. I'm sure there is some program out there to search for a dress," she stated.

"You really must not like going shopping if you want to play on my computer for help."

"Sales people are evil…Now, you need to tell me what you like," Max said.

"Ornament thing again," Logan said shaking his head.

"No relationship thing. I don't know what you like to see me in," Max stated. Logan tilted his head to the side and looked her up and down. "Don't give me that look…I just mean, do you like my hair up or down? I won't necessarily do what you say you like, but it's nice to know," Max explained.

"All right, I guess I can handle that. Now, to find the program," Logan said as he tapped away at his keyboard. "I guess, this will work well enough…Where do we start?" Logan asked.

"Sleeves."

"Sleeves?"

"Sleeves. You know short sleeves, long sleeves, spaghetti straps, sleeveless," Max stated.

Logan hemmed and hawed before finally saying, "I wouldn't mind seeing your shoulders."

"You like my shoulders?" Max smiled at Logan smugly.

"From what I have seen of them, I like them. I wouldn't mind seeing more of them."

"Well in that case," Max grabbed the mouse from Logan's hand and selected the back of the dress next, "maybe backless too." Logan bit his lower lip. "What were you thinking?"

"Oh, the prospect of a sleeveless, backless dress and then my mind wandered," Logan admitted.

"To?" Max asked.

"To what?"

"Exactly."

"What?" Logan asked.

"Where did your mind wander to?" Max said turning her face to Logan.

"Several aspects of the dress that could be less" Logan said wantonly.

"I couldn't go out like that, but I'm sure that someday we could find a reason for me to wear a sleeveless, backless, skirtless, topless dress. Don't you think?" Max asked, having Logan right where she wanted him.

Logan stared at the computer screen and closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths. "I had that coming. But hearing you say the words out loud, I can't help but thank God for every inch of you. So now, I'm going to take deep breaths until the blood returns to my brain."

"Where else has the blood been?" Max said seductively.

"Max, you're playing with fire right now," Logan warned Max.

"And if I'm interested in the heat?" Max said as she slid her hand down Logan's chest. Logan pulled Max into his chair, kissing her beyond passionately. They kissed and groped in such a frenzy that they fell backwards.

Bling appeared in the computer room in moments to find Max on top of Logan on the floor. Bling gave Logan the Dad look as Max giggled. "You OK?" Bling asked.

"Yes, fine and yourself?" Logan responded.

"Don't be a wise ass…Max, I'm going to take Logan in the room to examine his back. Why don't you finish looking at the dress program?"

"OK," Max responded. Having never had parents, Max was unaccustomed to the 'you're on a dangerous path' face. She began to mess with the program a little deciding a sleeveless, backless dress would be enough of a shock to Logan's system, for now.

Bling wheeled Logan into the exercise room without a word. They had discussed Logan pacing his intimate relationship with Max by his therapy. Max's extra abilities might do damage to Logan in a frenzied moment. The episode in the computer room only confirmed Bling's fears.

Logan began, "Bling, I don't want a lecture. I'm a grown man." Bling remained wordless and glared. Logan hopped up on the table and pulled his shirt off. "We were just being playful. Nothing was going to happen." Bling pushed Logan to lay on his stomach. "We just fell off balance, I promise," Logan whined. Bling applied muscle rub and ice packs to the affected areas of the back. "Say something…. Please."

"I told you what I thought before. I can't make you listen to me. I'm your employee. To chastise you would be unproductive," Bling said icily.

"Stop talking that way," Logan begged.

"What way?"

"Distant. Removed…Give me the lecture!" Logan stated.

"Logan, your spinal cord injury is tricky. The bullet migrated doing more damage. You have made such progress & you can't afford to do more traumas to your spine. Plus, there is the whole thing of we don't know why you can feel your legs when Max touches you," Bling explained.

In the other room, Max quickly found what she wanted. To Max, having a decision made was better then researching all the options. She printed off several matches at stores in the area. She gingerly approached the exercise room hoping to get Logan out of trouble, if need be. However, the conversation proved much to intriguing to interrupt.

"I know you love Max and you aren't at the complete intimacy phase, but when you are, you do have to clue her in. You are different now. The damage can be made worse," Bling stated plainly.

"What are you talking about?" asked Logan, who was utterly clueless.

"Plain English, for a long time you will need to be on top or sitting up during sex. Max should not hook her feet behind your back either. She is an exuberant girl and she could hurt you if she were on top of you. Max could also hook he legs around you and crush your back, not knowing her own strength. You might find all of a sudden the scare tissue growing and you sitting in that chair longer then you need to be."

//Bling has been thinking about my sex life with Logan. Ick… At least he is saying I can have a sex life with Logan… Logan on top would not be bad at all. //

Bling continued, "You have to think about these things. You have to talk to Max about these things. You got tons of books from the hospital after the accident. I'm sure there is stuff in them for partners."

Logan rolled his eyes, "I don't know if we're ready for the 'I'm a partner of a paraplegic' seminars. I'm working with her in therapy." Logan paused and closed his eyes. "I don't know why, but I have this weird fear that Max is going to wake up one morning and think 'I'm tied down to a cripple, when I could be off with Zach the WonderBoy.'"

Max nearly burst into the room at that one. Bling snapped at Logan, "Stop feeling sorry yourself. Max is aware that you're in a wheelchair. And if you don't remember, she left Zach to come back to you. She knows what she has gotten herself into."

//Thank you Bling! //

"Logan, you have to let her in. She loves you, even if she hasn't said it out loud. It's there," Bling said encouraging his friend.

"I'm afraid she'll leave," Logan said very quietly.

"Why? Because of Val?" Bling asked.

"And my mom and Fiona. I can't bear to loose Max too," Logan said pitifully.

//Who's Fiona? //

"You haven't lost Fiona," Bling stated.

"Yes, I have."

"We're not going to argue about this again…. Do you really think telling Max you love her and letting her be a part of your disability will drive her away?" Bling asked.

"I just don't think we're ready."

"You mean, you're not ready. That has nothing to do with Max…. Well, until you're ready, you're not allowed to sleep with Max or come anywhere near it by orders of your PT," Bling commanded.

Logan glared at him. Bling restated his position, "No partnership. No sex. Build the trust, bridge the gaps, drop the walls, only then can this work. Until then, you are doomed to mistrust and run from each other…Now, I'm sure your girl has found a dress."

Logan sat quietly before getting into his chair. "Bling, I know you're just looking out for me."

"Good. Now get a nice dress for Max and show those snobby friends of yours that chair or no chair you have the best of everything, including the best woman in the world." Max blushed at Bling's last statement and slunk back to the computer room before Logan returned.

//Insight into the male mind. It helps. //

"Find something you like?" Logan asked from behind her.

"Yeah, a few. It took so long to decide what I wanted. See sleeveless, backless fitted bodice and a long flared skirt. Like before this program, I knew what most of those things were." Max paused and then turned around to see Logan, "I was thinking that since you're progressing well, we should think about changing some of you're water therapy. I will need to get a book on SCI, so I can learn how to help better. Do you know of a good one?" Max asked.

Logan paused for a minute, then asked, "How long have you been done with this?"

Max smiled innocently, "Just now. Why?"

"Nothing."

****************************************************************************

Logan sat in his wheelchair in his suit for what seemed like an eternity for Max to get ready. He turned on some classical music in the background. Impatiently Logan yelled, "Come on Max. This is one area you don't have to be a normal female in."

"What is that?" Max said coyly from behind his bedroom door.

"Making us late!"

The door opened to relieve a ravishing Max. "Come on Eyes Only. I'm sure I'm worth the wait." The black dress Max had decided on fit her perfectly. Her olive skin looked amazing as she turned around to show that the make up she bought had covered her barcode so that she could wear her hair almost entirely up.

Logan just sat in awe of the beautiful creature before him with his mouth open and eyes blinking wildly. Bling stepped in with the first compliment to allow Logan to regain his composure, "Max, you are gorgeous. Logan likes it too."

Logan motioned for Max to come to him; "You look amazing." He pulled her into his lap and held her to him.

"I thought we were going to be late?" Max questioned.

"They can wait…Let's dance," Logan said smiling at Max. She put her arms around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes as he wheeled them around to the music.