Ok, guys, here's the next bit! This one's going to be a little short; the conference today lasted about 45 minutes, and then I had a lot of work to do and catch up on, so this is all you'll get! I'll post more next week, ok? Promise! Muchas gracias to my readers, Rena and Beth, and to everyone who's read and reviewed this story. Honestly, I didn't think you guys were going to get so excited! Thanks; it means a lot. Ok, let's see what happens to Max!
Confessions, chapter 4
The next two days passed by in a haze for Logan. He spent all of his time with Max, giving her pills for the fever and Tryptophan when she seized. Original Cindy and Kendra spent every minute there when they weren't working; Bling used that time to force Logan to shower and eat. At night, he held Max in his arms and whispered to her, urging her to wake up, before falling asleep. He usually didn't get much sleep, though; every time Max turned or shifted in her sleep, Logan snapped awake, anticipating an emergency.
On the third day, Original Cindy stopped by on her way to Jam Pony. "Hey there, Whiteboy; how's my homegirl?" she asked as she entered the bedroom.
"She's still a little feverish, but just barely," Logan told her, laying his hand on Max's forehead. "She hasn't had a seizure since yesterday afternoon. I'm hoping she wakes up today. Did Normal give you any trouble over that doctor's note?"
"Nah, he just muttered somethin' 'bout how she better show up soon or she'll be out of a job – you know, the usual," Original Cindy shrugged. "He ain't gonna do nothin'; Max is his best rider, and he knows it. Later, Whiteboy!"
Logan managed a halfhearted wave as Cindy left, his attention returning to the woman in front of him. "Did you hear that, Max?" he asked. "I'm expecting you to wake up today. I'm cooking dinner for Bling and the girls tonight – you wouldn't want to miss my latest culinary miracle, would you?" The momentary smile dropped from his face. "You have to wake up, and be all right," he whispered. "Don't make me live without you – I can't do it."
At that point, the exhaustion of the last few days caught up with him; laying his head on his arm, Logan held tightly to Max's hand as he drifted off to sleep.
~~dream~~
Logan looked up with a start, and was surprised to find himself in a ballroom. The large room was decorated for a party, but there were no people. //This is the same ballroom Max and I danced in, back when . . .// Logan's thoughts trailed off as he remembered the dream they'd shared in the hospital, while Max was saving his life with her blood. Suddenly, he felt a touch on his arm and turned, knowing exactly what he would find.
"Hey." Max was wearing the same dress from their last dream; her hair was up, with just enough down in the back to hide her barcode. She smiled at him, and tugged on his arm. "Come on – enough thinking, let's dance."
"Max, what-" Logan began, but was cut off by a finger on his lips.
"Don't," she whispered. "Just dance with me."
Logan automatically obeyed, putting his arms around her and beginning a slow waltz to the music his mind subconsciously identified as Valse Triste. He gave himself over completely to the fantasy; closing his eyes, he danced with the woman he loved.
"Logan . . ." he heard her voice whisper. "Open your eyes."
"No . . ." He didn't want to; opening his eyes would ruin the fantasy.
"Logan, wake up!!" His eyes snapped open as he felt a slight tug on his hand. Lifting his head, he found himself staring into Max's tired, but still beautiful, chocolate eyes.
Ok, peeps, that's it! I'm leaving work in a minute; I'll try to post more over the weekend, but I don't know if I'll be able to. Please don't scream at me; just be patient!