Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters from Dark Angel. I do, on the other hand, take responsibility for creating J.C, Paws and any other Zoomorph 8 subjects that I decide to put into this wacked story. So, don't sue me… I don't have any money.
A.N: Thanks everyone for the replies. Sorry it's been so long since an update, but I've been busy and trying to think of a good way to continue this without getting people pissed at me! (like, for instance, trying not to kill Zack because he is an insensitive male bimbo)
Walking on Eggshells
Part 5
Logan's head slowly nodded towards his chest. He suddenly snapped back up and blinked to clear his vision. Oh god, how long have I been asleep? He glanced around and noticed that J.C. was nowhere in sight. Where the hell did she go? Maybe I can get out of here… He moved his ankle away from the chair, only to find it was duct-taped to the chair leg. Aw, shit. He sighed, frustrated.
His thoughts started drifting to Max. He knew Zack would try to convince her to get out of the country quickly, and, now that he was gone, the voice of reason had disappeared. He tried not to think about what Zack may have tried to do with Max after J.C. had taken him away.
A noise at the opposite side of the warehouse caught his attention. A large mountain lion stepped into the warehouse and Logan tensed up. His breathing quickened when the mountain lion sauntered towards him. Then a thought hit him. Hey, wait a sec… There aren't any mountain lions in Seattle! When he glanced back at the cougar, it had disappeared and J.C. had taken it's place.
"I hate to inform you, but the cougar isn't a jungle creature, as you are so aptly named, and there aren't any in Seattle, so don't you feel a little out of place?" Logan said dryly.
J.C. shook her head, laughing. "Ah, the expression on your face was priceless. I got some food for you, but since you're in an argumentative mood, I don't think I'll give you any." She sat down in a chair and pulled open the plastic bag that Logan had failed to notice earlier. "Mm, a yummy turkey sandwich… a carton of chocolate milk… and… my personal favourite… a bag of M & M's."
"Do all Manticore experiments have a sweet tooth?" Logan said, thinking of Max's love for chocolate.
J.C. just bit into a half of the turkey sandwich and Logan gulped. He hadn't eaten since the previous day, and even then it was only a small bowl of soup. J.C. stood up and walked over to him, still holding the half of the turkey sandwich. She dangled it in front of his face.
"You want the other half?" She said in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"What's the catch?" Logan asked, knowing she wouldn't give up food without getting something in return.
"Tell me where you found the girl."
Max and Zack crept up to the door of the warehouse.
"On three." Zack whispered. "One… two… three!"
They both kicked on the door and it flew open to bang on the wall behind it. Maz used her enhanced vision to glance around the dark warehouse.
It was empty.
"Shit! Wrong one!" Max stomped out of the door and back towards the car Zack had "borrowed". "How many more warehouses can there be in the immediate area?"
"We still haven't tried that warehouse on 36th." Zack muttered, climbing into the car. He resented being dragged around to various warehouses to rescue a guy that got on his nerves.
J.C. slapped Logan hard across the face. "Tell me where you met her! I'm not going to ask you again!"
Logan spit blood out of his mouth. "I thought your boss was coming."
She shrugged. "He decided I'm a better interrogator." She straddled his lap again. "I get what I want out of everybody."
"Get the fuck off me." Logan growled.
J.C. raised her eyebrows. "Have we forgotten who is tied up? Or do you not want your half of the turkey sandwich?" She dangled the sandwich in front of his face. "No?" She pouted. "Oh well. I guess I'll eat it!" She glanced at Logan before taking a large bite. "Mmm… it's soooo good." She watched as Logan gulped, then ran his tongue over his dry lips. "Is my sexy friend hungry?"
"Don't patronize me." Logan growled again, not realizing he hadn't taken his eyes off the sandwich.
A sudden noise caught both their attention. The door to the warehouse burst open and two teenagers walked in.
"Yo J.C! What up girl?" A dark-haired male yelled as he and another girl approached J.C. and Logan.
J.C. immediately jumped off Logan's lap and confronted the newcomers. "What are you doing here?" She hissed. "Did Lydecker send you? This guy is mine for questioning, so get out of here!"
"Chillax! We just came by to check up on you! See whether you'd gotten yourself into trouble yet." The dark-haired male said.
"I don't need your help, so go away!" J.C. turned back around and walked back towards Logan.
There was another noise and two figures jumped through the doorway to be lost in the shadows of the warehouse.
"Hey! This is private property! You're trespassing." J.C. yelled as the two figures moved along the wall, darting behind machinery and shelves.
"Last time I heard, this was a free country and this warehouse was abandoned." A deep voice resonated from somewhere in the shadows. Logan recognized that voice. It was Zack. What the hell is Zack doing here? I would've thought he'd be halfway across the country with Max by now.
Max and Zack leapt from the shadows and froze. They were confronted by a mountain lion, a black housecat and a Siberian tiger. Max looked past them at Logan. "Which one is the blonde bitch?"
Logan nodded his head toward the mountain lion and Max narrowed her eyes. "Alright, kitty. It's go time!" She pounced at the cougar and grabbed its neck.
J.C. leapt back, with Max hanging onto her neck. What the hell is this chick doing? Is she nuts? J.C. shook her head violently and Max flew into a nearby shelf. J.C. lunged at her and sunk her teeth into her shoulder.
"Aw, fuck!" Max yelled as J.C. bit her. She punched the cougar hard in the nose and it reared back, obviously shocked.
Meanwhile, Zack had decided to get Logan free. He had rationalized that there were three dangerous cats and only two humans. He quickly picked the locks on the cuffs and tore the tape from his ankles. "I'll take the tiger… think you can handle a housecat?" Zack said in a mocking tone.
Logan rolled his eyes and picked up the small black cat. It began to purr. "Yeah, I think so." He found a small box nearby and put the cat in it. He then placed a large paint can on top of it. "Sorry, kitty. Playtime's over." He could hear the cat hissing and spitting from inside.
He glanced around and saw Max leaning on a shelf, her shoulder was bleeding. J.C. had turned back into a human and was pacing back and forth in front of her. Logan walked over to them and put a hand on J.C's shoulder. She spun around and smiled.
"Silly man. How did you get out?" She raised an eyebrow. Logan noticed Max's eyes became hard and knew something bad was about to go down.
"Seems your friends have abandoned you." She said, standing up. J.C. glanced around in panic and caught a glimpse of the tiger and black housecat scampering out of the door.
"Those spineless rodents!" She turned back to face Max. "This isn't over, you know." She spit at her before turning back to Logan. "I will be watching you, my sexy friend." She grinned before kissing him harshly. He pushed her away and Max grabbed J.C's shoulders to spin her around. Max gave her a quick slap across the face that left J.C. sprawling on the floor. She scrambled to her feet and ran out the door.
Zack watched her leave and sighed in relief. "She'll be back, you know. Most likely with Lydecker and his goons."
Max wasn't listening. She had propelled herself into Logan's arms and they were both sent backwards into the chair he had been tied to. "I'm so glad you're alright."
He pulled away and looked at her shoulder. "I can't say the same for you. We should get you to a doctor. Maybe Bling could help."
Max shrugged. "It's not too deep and, remember, I'm a genetically enhanced killing machine. I have junk in my blood that helps me heal quickly." She grinned, then kissed him.
"Sorry to interrupt this little reunion, but they will come back, sooner or later. We should get out of here." Zack walked out the door and started up the car.
"He's right. Let's go home." Logan smiled before getting up. Max began to walk to the door when she heard a sharp intake of air and something fall behind her. She turned around and saw Logan lying on the ground. "Logan!" She ran to his side and helped him up, noting that he couldn't stand on his own. "Is it your legs?" He nodded and she put an arm around his waist to support him. "Come on, we're going to go home and find a way to help those pesky legs of yours." She grinned and led him out the door.