Max was vaguely aware of several figures moving about the room, as she slipped into and out of unconsciousness. Often, gentle hands would apply a cool cloth to her forehead. Constantly trying to bring her fever down. Max fell into what seemed like a deep sleep, once again. Unconscious, she didn't notice when a car drove up the driveway. On the other hand, Zack and the others did notice, and they were instantly on the alert.

As Bling entered the cabin, he was immediately surrounded. Recognizing Zack, he relaxed somewhat. Zack also recognized Bling, and he motioned to the others to back off.

Looking around, Bling asked "Where's Max?"

Jondy stepped forward and said threateningly "Who wants to know?" But Zack pulled her back.

"She's in the bedroom." he said

Bling hesitated, then went in and shut the door behind him.

"Who's he, and what's he doing here? Why did you let him in with Max?" Tinga asked

"A friend" replied Zack

"Yeah, well, that doesn't answer the other two questions." Jondy said

"He is a friend of Max, and he will watch her while we go to Manticore."

"Speaking of which, what exactly will we be doing?" Tinga asked

Sitting down on the couch, Zack began telling them his plan.

--That night before they left, Zack pulled Bling aside. Handing him a gun, he said "You take of my baby sister." Bling just nodded. Then Zack said, "If we aren't back by morning, clear out, we won't be coming back. Got it?"

"Got it"

"Good." Zack finished as he hopped into the car, along with Tinga and Jondy.

Bling watched them drive off, then crossing his fingers, he went back inside.

{Cabin} still March 6th, into the 7th

Alternating between Max's bedside and the window, Bling anxiously awaited the return of Zack, Tinga, and Jondy. As dawn crept closer, Bling's anxiety rose, along with Max's temperature. When the sun inched over the horizon, Bling heard a rumble, and he tensed, looking out the window. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Logan's car coming up the road. Going outside the smile faded from his face when he saw Zack, beaten and bloody, carrying Logan. Holding the door open for them, Bling followed after. Tinga and Jondy were also bloody, so he went and gathered together some hot water and clean cloths. Zack set Logan down on the couch, and he winced, opening his eyes.

Coming back, Bling handed out the wet cloths and asked Logan "What did they do to you?" as he examined the many cuts and bruises all over Logan's body.

"Long story short" Logan replied weakly "Everything" "Where's Max?" he added

"Bedroom" Bling supplied. "And speaking of Max, did you get the anti-virus?" All eyes looked down at the floor. There was complete silence until Logan said

"I think I'd like to go see her"

"Sure" Bling said, then carefully lifted Logan, with the help of Zack, into the bedroom, setting him on a chair.

"We'll leave you two alone" Bling said, looking at Zack pointedly. Zack glared at him, but left slowly.

--Max had become accustomed to feeling and hearing people move in and out of her room, and in her weakened state, it didn't quite register when Logan pulled himself up onto the bed next to her.

"Hey there sunshine" he said, wringing out a wet cloth and placing it gently on her face.

Looking at her sleeping, Logan saw an innocence that she normally hid from the world. Softly brushing her lips he said "We didn't get the anti-virus Max. You have to keep fighting....you have to..." he stopped as he felt hot tears gather in his eyes. ((don't die on me, please Max...)) Continuing to apply the cool compress, Logan began to hum...the music from the dream that he and Max had shared. He concentrated on the rising and falling of her chest. Up, down, up, down. Only, this time, it stayed down.

"Max!" he cried passionately

From somewhere deep down inside, Max pulled herself up at the sound of the voice she had been longing to hear once again. Logan took a deep shuddering breath as Max did

the same. He let the tears fall freely, as he leaned onto the bed, soaking the sheet and mumbling, "Don't go Max, you can't leave me, you mean everything to me...."

--When Zack heard Logan call out to Max, he rushed to the door, as did everyone else. All standing in the doorway, they waited anxiously. When Max drew a shuddering breath, there was a collective sigh. As the rest moved away to give Logan time alone with her, Zack stayed, listening. His jealousy and rage growing by the minute, as he heard Logan practically spout sonnets.

Rushing into the room, Zack pushed Logan back, proclaiming "What good are you to her like that" he said, indicating Login's leg. Shocked, all Logan could do was gape.

"No one loves Max more then I do" Zack said, still trying to stare Logan down. When Logan finally looked away, Zack turned towards Max and sat beside her, gazing at her sleeping face.

"Why don't you leave now." Zack said, then added with the intention of cutting a little deeper "Oh, I forgot, you can't"

Logan no longer had the energy or will to fight back. Calling to Bling he continued to stare daggers at Zack's back.

When Bling walked in, he quickly took tabs on the situation. ((if looks could kill)) Helping Logan up, Bling totally supported him as he walked him out of the room. To Logan, Bling said "I'll rig up some way for you to get around this afternoon" then, glancing at Logan, he quickly stopped talking, as it was greeted by a steely gaze and firmly set chin.

"Alrighty then" Bling said beginning to set Logan down on the couch

"I would like to go upstairs please" Logan said, evenly and without emotion

Bling stopped and shrugged "Sure" and he helped Logan upstairs into a bedroom. After Bling had left, Logan crawled across the floor to the door, and locked it. Then creeping back to the bed, he lay down, and told himself ((Zack is right, what good am I to Max like this? I'm only an endangerment to her...Zack would be better for her...they were made for each other)) he laughed at his own Manticore wit. ((I really have nothing to live for but Max...but she has lots...and if that's taken away from me....I don't know what I'd do....)) mentally yelling at himself,

Logan hit the pillow in an effort to release pent up emotion and anger ((she told me she loved me! Doesn't that count for anything? Maybe she was just doing it out of the kindness of her heart...Zack can never have her, no matter what))