Author's Notes: I know, I know, I know...this took FOREVER and I profusely apologize. Three words: Writer's Block Sucks. Argh. Anywho, I think it's over now, at least, enough for me to write the birth chapter for you all. This is not the end of the series by any means. There's at least three more chapters stuck in my head somewhere. I hope that I'll be able to get them out faster than I did this one.
Author's Note 2: I was really hoping to write a Summer Series, a possible Season Two, but this damned writer's block held me up so much. I should have had the first four or five chapters done by now. So, to any of you who have been looking for it, I don't know if, by this point, since I'm moving to college in a month and a half, if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm sorry.
Author's Note 3: Thanks, as always, to my super patient and incredibly amazing beta boos, Lady Callie and Evil Twin. You girls are the best!
Disclaimer: None of it's mine (except the story line), all of it's Chic's and Cameron's, please don't sure, blah blah blah. This is an AU fic set anytime after "Female Trouble." I'm willing to allow "Shorties in Love" because it was Manticore-free. Logan kept the use of his legs, the whole Tinga-Charlie-Case thing never happened, Renfro doesn't exist and never did, and Manticore went down MY way (see chapter two).
Aiight, enough of my blabbering... enjoy!
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By the time Max, Logan, Original Cindy, and Zack made it to the hospital, Logan had fully recovered from his shock and was, like Max, surprisingly calm. It took fifteen minutes to get to the hospital, even the way Zack drove, and Max had another contraction en route. In the back seat of the car with her husband, she leaned against his chest and gripped the back of the car seat, breathing slowly and methodically, focusing on something other than the pain until it passed. Although she and Logan had never taken a formal Lamaze class, because of Lydecker's interference, they remembered what Bling had told them when Max had gone into false labor. In addition, Jace had given Logan a few helpful hints she and Victor-who had been mysteriously transferred out of Manticore during her sixth month-had used during the birth of Maxito.
Zack pulled up to the hospital entrance and Cindy flagged down an orderly, who brought a wheelchair over to the side of the car. Zack and Logan helped Max into it, and then Zack and Cindy followed Max and Logan inside. After registering Max under the name Hannah Raymond, a precautionary measure taken at Zack's advice just in case Lydecker had any overzealous minions who might be looking for her, Max and Logan were accompanied by a nurse up to the maternity ward, while Zack and Cindy hunted down pay phones.
"Who should we call?" Original Cindy asked.
Zack thought for a moment, "Her sisters will kill me if I don't call them and let them know what's going on. If they want to let the guys know, that's fine."
She nodded, "Original Cindy remembers reading a little something about it being good for a mama-to-be to be surrounded by the women in her life during the early parts of her labor. It's like a support thing, I guess."
Zack shrugged, "Couldn't hurt." He was about to dial when he was shocked to find himself thinking of Logan, "Think it applies for the fathers-to-be too?"
Original Cindy chuckled, wondering if Zack and Logan might finally start to get along after Lil Boo was born. "Tell ya what, junior. You call all your peeps and I'll call all ours, and we'll get the whole crew here to support Boo and Moneybags, aiight?"
Zack grinned in spite of himself, "Aiight."
And quickly, the phone chain commenced. Tinga, Brin, Jondy and Syl were having dinner together at Brin's place so it only took one call to inform them, while Jace had gone home to check on Maxito. Zane, Johnny, and Krit were playing poker at Zane's crib, and told Zack they'd swing by and pick up the girls before coming over. All the Manticore kids hated hospitals with an undying passion, because of what had been done to them as children. But they were willing to put their uneasiness aside to come and support their baby sister and her husband.
Kendra was delighted to find that Max was in labor. However, after discovering from Original Cindy that a woman's labor could last twenty-four hours or longer, said she'd swing by the hospital eventually. Original Cindy had chuckled and told her not to commit any crimes against nature with her man, and then hung up. A quick call to Crash tracked down Sketchy and Herbal, who extended their congratulations. However, since Normal was an ass and it was two in the morning, they decided not to come to the hospital in anticipation of a full workday that was coming in the morning, especially since they were to tell Normal that there was no way in hell Original Cindy was gonna come to work. She was gonna be there for her boo.
Original Cindy was eventually able to track down Bling as well. She figured that other than Max, he was Logan's best friend, and Moneybags was probably going to need the tall black brothah to kick his skinny white ass back into line.
"Is Logan freaking out?" Bling asked.
"He started to at the apartment," Cindy told him. "But no worries. Original Cindy showed her Boo's boo the error of his ways."
Bling chuckled, "I'll be there ASAP."
Original Cindy hung up the phone and turned to Zack, who had just finished his own round of calls. Zack leaned against the payphone, a worried expression on his face.
"Waz the matter, boo?' Original Cindy asked.
Zack shook his head, "I just have this feeling that something's not right."
"Lydecker?"
The CO shrugged, "I don't think so. He was definitely dead. And his niece is in jail, so I don't think that's it."
"Give Logan's friend, they guy with the computer voice, a call. He's more connected than Logan. Maybe he can find out if General Patton had any other peeps working for him," Cindy suggested. "You and your sibs are supercharged fighting machines. You tellin' me you guys can't just be a little on guard?"
Zack sighed, "It's just some feeling I have Cindy. Like something bad is going to happen. I just wish I knew what."
Original Cindy put her hand on his shoulder and said, "My boo's lucky to have you all in her life. All any of you want to do is protect her. You don't think between ya'll, Bling, Moneybags, and Original Cindy, Max won't be protected?"
Zack looked a Cindy and broke out into a lopsided smile, "I'll call Sebastian later. Let's go and see how my baby sister and her overprotective husband are doing."
Cindy chuckled, "Right on, baby."
Up in the maternity ward, nurses had helped Max change into a hospital gown, and gotten her hooked up to a fetal heart monitor, a device to measure her contractions, and an IV of nutrients and her neuro-supplements. They had her resting in an oversized adjustable bed. Logan's money and connections, with the help of Sebastian and Max's doctor, had assured Max a birthing suite. It was comfortable, and homey, yet full of the medical equipment necessary. It was somewhere between a hospital room and a hotel room. They had thought it would make Max more comfortable and at ease.
However, the only think Max wanted right now to make her comfortable and at ease was an epidural. "When do I get the drugs?" she asked after another contraction passed. They were between nine and eleven minutes apart, and she was already tired of the constant pain that radiated through her body. She had been right all those months ago; Manticore had definitely *not* engineered it's females to withstand this kind of pain. If she had time to think about it, Max would have found it humbling and oddly comforting that she didn't have a labor tolerance, because it made her more like normal, completely human women. However, all Max was thinking about were painkillers.
Her nurse smiled and said, "Soon, I promise. Your doctor has been called, and after she checks you out, I'm sure she'll order an anesthesiologist for you."
Max pouted, "But I want the drugs now."
Logan squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead, "You're doing great Max. I'm so proud of you."
Max glared at Logan, "Logan, darling, I love you with every fiber of my being but at this moment I'm not entirely pleased with you for putting me in this situation. So, for as proud as you are of me and as happy as knowing that makes me, I would advise you not to do too much talking until I am highly medicated and can't feel anything from the waist down."
Logan exchanged glances with the nurse and nodded to Max, indicating that he agreed to her terms.
"Is this your first?" the nurse asked.
Logan went to open his mouth, then remembered his agreement and looked at Max.
"Yes," his wife answered.
"The first is always the hardest," the nurse said as she took Max's vitals.
"How many do you have?" Max asked.
"Four," the nurse answered. "And I just found out that in six months I'll have five." She patted her stomach briefly before taking her stethoscope and listening to Max's heart.
Just then, another strong contraction hit Max and her entire body tensed as she began to breathe through the pain. Logan dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth and got some ice chips ready for her. He stroked the back of her hand and lightly rubbed her shoulders and she breathed through the contraction. When it had passed, the nurse checked her watch.
"Okay, we're definitely at nine minutes apart." She smiled, "I'll go check and see where your doctor is." She stopped at the door and turned. "You know," she said kindly. "Take it from an old pro. If you just let your body relax during the contractions, instead of trying to fight them or be strong through them, they're less painful. It helps is you have a focus object too."
"Thanks," Logan said quickly and smiled at the nurse. He gave Max the cup of ice chips and tentatively asked, "What do you want to use for a focus object?"
Max sucked on the ice and shrugged, "I dunno. That picture on the wall maybe?"
"I guess," Logan said. "Or we could use this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mother's locket.
Max gasped, "I always wondered what you did with that thing."
"My mother told me to give this to my wife when she had our first child," Logan told her, dangling the necklace for his wife to see. "I'm thinking this is kinda what she meant."
"It's perfect," Max said, tears filling her eyes. She watched as Logan got up and hung it in place of the picture across from her bed.
"How's the mama-to-be?" Bling booming voice filled the room.
"Bling!" Max cried.
"Hey Max," Bling said. "Hey man," he hugged Logan. "How you holding up?"
"He's fine, I'm a mess," Max replied, taking another ice chip.
"You look beautiful," Bling said.
"See?" Logan chided, laughing as he ducked the box of tissues Max threw at his head.
The doctor walked in and Bling said to Logan, "Why don't you and I go down to the vending machines and get something to drink. Give Max and the doctor some one on one time."
Logan looked at Max, "That okay with you?"
Max shrugged, "Yeah I guess. Don't come back, actually, for your own safety, until after I get the epidural."
The doctor, Bling, and Logan chuckled.
In the hall, Logan noticed a crowd of people in the waiting room. Curious, he walked down the hall, with Bling close behind, to investigate. To his surprise, he found the entire assembled group of X-5 rogues milling around the waiting area. "I didn't know this is where you'd plan the next class of '09 reunion," Logan said good-naturedly. Max's siblings jumped to their feet. He hugged her sisters and shook hands with her brothers, thanking them for coming.
"How's she doing?" Jondy asked.
"She's an X-5 female in excruciating pain, bedridden, attached to monitors, waiting for a specialist to come to give her painkillers," Logan replied. "How do you think she is?"
"Evil bitch monster of death?" Krit suggested, causing the assembled to laugh.
Original Cindy stepped forward, "I figured Boo could some sistahs power, so Zack and I called in the troops."
Logan gave her a quick hug, "Thanks." He looked up at Zack, "Thanks, man."
"No sweat," Zack replied.
"So when can we see her?" Syl asked.
"Wait until she gets the epidural," Logan suggested. "She'll be much more personable." Unconsciously, he wiggled his fingers and shook out his hand, willing feeling back into it. During several contractions, Max had squeezed it so hard he was sure it would break. Wisely, though, he kept his pain to himself.
Bling took vending machine orders, and then recruited two X-5s to help him carry the bundle of junk food and carbonated beverages. When he returned with Tinga and Zane ten minutes later, he murmured to Logan, "The anesthesiologist was just going into Max's room as we went by."
Logan glanced anxiously at the door or his wife's room. "Thanks man," he said, cracking the top of his soda can open. He munched thoughtfully on the potato chips Bling had brought him and waited with some appearance of patience until the doctor arrived to give him new information. He fought to keep a reign on his anxiousness when the doctor approached. Even though he wanted to jump to his feet, Logan calmly rose to his feet.
"How's she doing?"
The doctor was about to respond when she noticed that nearly everyone else in the waiting room was paying attention to their conversation. Among them, she noted a bald black man and a black woman wearing a shirt that said "I luv girls" on it. A young man who could have been her patient's twin was sitting with two blonde men and a blonde woman, a woman of Asian descent, a red head, and two women and a man of indiscernible ethnic background. The doctor glanced at Logan and said quietly, "Maybe we should speak somewhere more private."
A look of worry crossed Logan's face. Then he noticed the doctor eyeing Max's siblings and he chuckled. "It's all right," he told her. "This is my wife's family. Those are her brother's and sisters." He pointed to Krit, Zack, Johnny, Syl, Brin, Jondy, Jace, Tinga, and Zane. "That is my wife's best friend Cindy, and the other one is my friend Bling." The assembled nodded varying degrees of acknowledgement and greeting.
"Large family," the doctor remarked.
"You have no idea," Logan replied, looking over his shoulder at his in-laws.
"So, doc, what's the dealio with my boo?" Original Cindy asked, jumping to her feet.
"How's our sister?" Krit asked.
The doctor smiled, "She's resting comfortably. Her contractions are eight minutes apart, and she's 40% dilated and 35% effaced. Her labor could last anywhere from another twelve to twenty-four hours, depending on how she progresses. The baby's heartbeat is strong and steady. Everything's going normally." She could practically feel the collective sigh of release.
"Can we see her?" Jondy asked.
"She needs her rest," the doctor said. "But I don't see how some visitors could harm her. Not all of you at once though," she warned.
Tinga stepped up to Logan, "Take a few minutes with her, and then we'll be in." She took his can of soda from his hands and nudged him towards Max's room.
He knocked lightly and Max turned to face him. Her eyes struggled to focus a little, but when they did, she smiled. "Hey," she said, her voice light and airy.
"Hey yourself," he replied, sitting on a stool beside her bed. He smoothed her hair and kissed her damp forehead, "How are you feeling, beautiful?"
Max chuckled, "I can't feel anything from the chest down. It's great."
"What'd they do?" Logan asked.
Max fought the drug-induced haze and tried to speak with some semblance of coherence, "It's not just a quick injection to the back. It hurt like a bitch though. A needle with a tube attached to it was stuck between two of my vertebrae. I guess the tube, which feeds the anesthetic into the spinal column, was taped to the back." A drugged haze overtook Max again, "And then it was like, whooooooosh, no more pain." She tried snapping her fingers to emphasize her point, but she could not get her body to respond.
Logan chuckled to see his wife looped and he kissed the back of her hand, "You did great. The doctor said you're coming along normally and everything's fine."
"Good," Max said with a smile.
"You sisters are here to see you," Logan told her. "Original Cindy and Zack called them. Do you want to see them?"
"Yesh," Max replied. She frowned, "Yesh. Yeeeeeeesh." She looked at Logan, "I want to say yesh but I keep saying yesh."
He grinned, "You're a little hazy from the drug, I think. Do you want some water first?"
"No water," Max said, looking at him a bit devilishly. She reached up and pulled his face closer to hers, "This." Max craned her neck up and kissed him, hard. Surprised, but nevertheless pleased, Logan smiled and kissed back.
"Hey hey hey, enough of that you two," a voice said from the doorway. "That's what got you here in the first place."
Max and Logan broke apart and Max said, "Hey Syl."
"Hey baby sister," Syl replied. "Feel up to some visitors?"
"Sure," Max said as she watched Syl flag their sisters into the room.
Logan kissed Max lightly, "I'll give you time with them. I'll be in the waiting room if you need me."
"Okay," Max replied, and watched him leave the room. She looked at her sisters. Jondy had taken a seat on the foot of the bed, while Tinga sat beside Max. Syl was on the stool Logan had been sitting in, while Brin took a chair in the corner of the room. Jace stood in the doorway.
"How are you, baby sister?" Tinga asked, smoothing Max's hair.
"Tired," Max replied, smiling as Tinga swooped down and kissed her forehead. "Are you okay?" Max asked her.
Tinga looked around at her sisters, wondering if they were all wondering the same thing. Tinga smiled, blinking back tears, "Yeah Maxie girl, I'm all good. Your baby's going to be beautiful."
Jace smiled, "Maxito can't wait to meet his cousin. He's at home with Victor. When I left, they were betting whether it was going to be a boy or a girl."
"What do you think it's gonna be?" Jondy asked.
"Logan and I think it's gonna be a girl," Max replied.
"Not a boy?" Syl asked.
"What are you going to name it?" Brin asked, flinging one leg over the arm of her chair.
Max smiled, "Logan and I talked about it a little before all that crap with my seizures and Lydecker went down. If it's a girl, her name's going to be Jacqueline Eva Gabrielle Cale. If it's a boy, his name is going to be Evan Jackson Logan Cale."
Her sisters' eyes filled with tears. "You're naming them for Eva and Jack, either way," Jondy said.
Max nodded, "Gabrielle was Logan's mother's name." She smiled to herself and reached for the remote to prop the bed up higher. A serious tone settled on her face, 'I'm glad you're all here."
"We wouldn't be anywhere else," Jace said.
"I'm glad," Max began. "Not only because my girls are all here to support me, but also because... I need to talk to you."
"About?" Brin asked, sitting up straight.
Max sighed, "About Logan." She looked at each of her sisters. "I need you guys to promise me that if anything happens to me, you'll make sure he doesn't self destruct and you'll help him take care of the baby."
"Maxie," Tinga began.
"No!" Max said firmly. "Promise me." She looked straight into her sisters' eyes, begging and pleading with them not to fight her on this. "You guys know everything I've been through. This baby is strong, but my body isn't. If anything happens, it's more likely I'll be the one who won't survive."
"Have you talked to Logan about this?" Syl asked softly.
"Not yet," Max answered. "I need you all to promise me first." She went from sister to sister.
"Jondy?"
"I promise."
"Brin?"
"I promise."
"Jace?"
"I promise."
"Syl?"
"I promise Maxie."
"Tinga?"
Nothing. Tinga's eyes were squeezed tightly shut but Max could see the tears shining in the corners. She knew that this promise she was asking her oldest sister to make was especially hard for her because of the loss of her own child. Tinga alone knew the danger of childbirth better then Jace or Max.
"Tinga?"
"I promise." A hoarse whisper voiced Tinga's fear for her sister and her child.
Max smiled, "Thank you." She squeezed Tinga's hand. "Aiight ya'll, get out so I can get this bitch over with my husband." Her sister's took turns kissing her on the cheek and left. Logan came in a few minutes later. Max beckoned him to sit beside her on the bed. He dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth and chuckled.
"What?" Max asked.
"According to that monitor, you just had a severe contraction," he said, pointing to the read out. "If you hadn't been drugged, my hand would be crushed."
She swatted him playfully, "I wasn't squeezing that hard."
"I beg to differ." Logan held up his hand, "Look, I'm bruised."
Max brought his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. "There," she said, gazing into his eyes. "All better." She took a deep breath. She needed to tell him this while she had his attention and while she was still conscious. "Logan," she said carefully. "I need to talk to you."
He stroked the inside of her forearm, "About what, love?"
"I need you to promise me something," she began.
Logan saw the look of utter seriousness on her face and said cautiously, "Max-"
"Logan," she said firmly. "We need to talk about this. You know as well as I do that I might not survive the birth." Logan averted his gaze and she gripped his hand. "Logan, look at me." His blue eyes, full of tears, could not help but refocus on her. "Everything I've been through these past nine months has made my body weak. The supplements have kept my seizures under control and everything has been done to ensure that this baby will be born healthy and perfect. But it's taxed my body almost beyond my genetically enhanced limits. It'll be a miracle if I come through this birth unscathed."
Logan's tears fell down his cheeks. "Max, please," he begged. "Don't do this, not now."
She brushed his tears from his cheeks gently with her soft thumbs, "Logan, I'm being realistic. I'm going to be weak for longer than normal after this. I can feel it. If I-" Her voice caught. "If I die, I need you to promise me you won't self destruct. Promise me you'll take care of this baby."
"Max," Logan whispered fiercely. "This baby is going to have a mother. You. You're her mother. Stop talking like you're going away."
"I might," Max insisted. "And if I do, promise me you'll take care of her and protect her." Now she was crying too.
"You know I will Max," Logan vowed. "But we're going to take care of her and protect her together. You and me, Max. We're a team. We're family. We've been through so much. This baby is a blessing. I can't believe that such a blessing would kill you." He was weeping now, full force.
Max tugged on his arm and he laid down beside her, taking her in his arms. He ran his fingers through her hair and brushed the tips of his fingers over her barcode scar. Dipping down, he kissed it lightly and whispered in her ear, "Sleep, beloved. You need your strength."
Max yawned, "Okay." She closed her eyes, "Stay with me, please?"
"I'm right here," he replied, holding her tightly.
"You won't leave?" A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
Logan felt it too. He smoothed the hair on her forehead and whispered, "I'm not going anywhere." He rested his head on hers. "I promise." He shut his eyes and let the rhythm of her breathing lull him to sleep. He hadn't slept soundly in days, save for the time he had shared a dream with Max.
Max awoke two hours later, still feeling blissfully numb from the waist down. The drugs effects were still in full swing and she happily settled back down to sleep in the arms of her husband, knowing that moments like this were soon going to be few and far between. Three hours later she awoke once more. She looked up to see Original Cindy sitting in the chair opposite the bed, reading a magazine. Logan was still asleep. "Hey boo," Max whispered, as not to wake him.
Cindy smiled, "Hey." She kept her voice hushed. "How you feeling?"
"Like I'm about to make something the size of a watermelon come out something the size of a lemon," Max replied. Although she could not feel pain, she was finding she could still feel the weight of the baby pressing inside her.
Original Cindy smiled, "You're gonna be fine."
At that moment, Logan began to stir. Max turned and kissed his jaw. "Hey," she murmured.
"Hey yourself," he replied. Then, he became aware of Cindy's presence. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied.
"Hey," Logan said again, feeling uncomfortable for some reason.
"We did that already," Cindy chuckled.
Logan couldn't help but smile at the shared joke.
Just then, the doctor entered. "Mind if I take a look?" she asked.
"Go for it," Max said.
"I'm gonna go take a walk," Logan told her. He glanced at Cindy.
"I'll go too," she replied, seeing the look on Logan's face. She followed him out the door and watched as he walked a few doors down the hall, then rested dejectedly against the wall. "Wassup boo?" she asked. "Why the long face?"
Logan looked sadly at Original Cindy, "Before we fell asleep Max..." He took a deep breath. "She made me promise to look after the baby if she died."
"If Max died?" Cindy asked.
Logan nodded.
"Smart girl," Original Cindy said matter of factly.
Logan's eyes widened. "Cindy!" he exclaimed. "Max was talking about *dying*."
"I know," she replied. "She's not running from the reality of the situation." Original Cindy could see that Logan was still mortified and grief stricken. "Look," she said, taking his hand and leading him to a group of chairs. "Original Cindy's going to break it down for you. Max is one strong, smart woman. But she knows her body. She's been through hell, a hell that would've killed most women months ago. As it is, it's a miracle she carried Lil Boo to term. She's got true motherly instincts, Logan. She's willing to die for that child, and she knows she *might* die for that child. It sucks major, but it's a possibility. And nothing is going to come from ignoring the fact that her body might give out."
"I can't lose her Cindy," Logan said. "I've already lost her twice. And I just got her back. I can't lose her again. I don't know anything about kids. How am I going to be able to raise a child without her?"
Original Cindy took his hand, "You're going to do what you have to do. And at this moment, what you have to do is be there for Max. If she doesn't have any strength left then be her strength. If she needs to yell at you for knocking her up, then let her. If she needs you to hold her, then hold her and don't let go. But *don't* get all boo-hooey and *don't* break your promise to your wife."
"Mr. Cale!" A nurse came running down the hall.
"What?" Logan jumped up. "What's wrong with my wife?" The alarm was thick in his voice.
The nurse smiled, "Nothing's wrong. The doctor just wanted me to tell you that your wife has progressed rapidly. She's now 95% dilated and 100% effaced. It won't be long now. Her contractions are down to five minutes apart."
Logan's eyes widened and he felt Cindy shove him back in the direction of the room. He stepped inside and found Max sitting up in bed. By now, she had been in labor for ten hours. Logan wondered how much longer the epidural would last. "Hey gorgeous," he chimed.
Max sighed, "I feel fat and ugly. I can't wait for this baby to be out of me."
"Soon, love," he said, sitting beside her. "You ok?"
"I'm tired," she confessed. "The doctor said it won't be long now."
He kissed her hand.
"Logan, I'm scared," Max said honestly. He pulled her close to him and rocked her soothingly.
"It's going to be alright, Max, I promise," Logan said quietly, wishing more than anything that he was right.
"What if I can't do it?" she asked worriedly. "What if I don't have the strength?"
"Max," he said. "I've seen you take down South African supercharged psycho supersoldiers. You survived Manticore twice. What makes you think you can't handle this? You're the strongest woman I know." He kissed her on the cheek.
Zack knocked on the door, "Am I interrupting?"
Logan shook his head, "No." He caressed Max's cheek and stood. "I'm gonna hit the vending machine again. You two take some time and chat." He felt Max squeeze his hand before she released and allowed him to walk out of the room. As he walked by Zack, Logan felt his brother-in-law pat him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. Logan's brows rose in surprise, but he kept walking.
Max too raised a brow.
"What?" Zack asked innocently, sitting on the stool.
"That was different," she remarked. "Since when do you like my husband?"
"Logan?" Zack still feigned innocence. "I've always like Logan."
Max laughed, "That is such bullshit and you know it. First you hated him, saw him as a tactical disadvantage and a hindrance. Then, you tolerated him for my sake. What'd you two do, bond over my abduction?"
Zack seemed to consider this, "I guess. I dunno Maxie. I guess the more we worked together, the more I realized I couldn't hate him just because he was married to you." It was a blanket statement, one that did not directly reference Zack's long term wish that he was the one Max was in love with. He half suspected she knew. But she saw him as a big brother. She *did* love him, but as a sibling, and nothing else.
TBC....it was a loooong chapter, so I split it up. ;-)
Author's Note 2: I was really hoping to write a Summer Series, a possible Season Two, but this damned writer's block held me up so much. I should have had the first four or five chapters done by now. So, to any of you who have been looking for it, I don't know if, by this point, since I'm moving to college in a month and a half, if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm sorry.
Author's Note 3: Thanks, as always, to my super patient and incredibly amazing beta boos, Lady Callie and Evil Twin. You girls are the best!
Disclaimer: None of it's mine (except the story line), all of it's Chic's and Cameron's, please don't sure, blah blah blah. This is an AU fic set anytime after "Female Trouble." I'm willing to allow "Shorties in Love" because it was Manticore-free. Logan kept the use of his legs, the whole Tinga-Charlie-Case thing never happened, Renfro doesn't exist and never did, and Manticore went down MY way (see chapter two).
Aiight, enough of my blabbering... enjoy!
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By the time Max, Logan, Original Cindy, and Zack made it to the hospital, Logan had fully recovered from his shock and was, like Max, surprisingly calm. It took fifteen minutes to get to the hospital, even the way Zack drove, and Max had another contraction en route. In the back seat of the car with her husband, she leaned against his chest and gripped the back of the car seat, breathing slowly and methodically, focusing on something other than the pain until it passed. Although she and Logan had never taken a formal Lamaze class, because of Lydecker's interference, they remembered what Bling had told them when Max had gone into false labor. In addition, Jace had given Logan a few helpful hints she and Victor-who had been mysteriously transferred out of Manticore during her sixth month-had used during the birth of Maxito.
Zack pulled up to the hospital entrance and Cindy flagged down an orderly, who brought a wheelchair over to the side of the car. Zack and Logan helped Max into it, and then Zack and Cindy followed Max and Logan inside. After registering Max under the name Hannah Raymond, a precautionary measure taken at Zack's advice just in case Lydecker had any overzealous minions who might be looking for her, Max and Logan were accompanied by a nurse up to the maternity ward, while Zack and Cindy hunted down pay phones.
"Who should we call?" Original Cindy asked.
Zack thought for a moment, "Her sisters will kill me if I don't call them and let them know what's going on. If they want to let the guys know, that's fine."
She nodded, "Original Cindy remembers reading a little something about it being good for a mama-to-be to be surrounded by the women in her life during the early parts of her labor. It's like a support thing, I guess."
Zack shrugged, "Couldn't hurt." He was about to dial when he was shocked to find himself thinking of Logan, "Think it applies for the fathers-to-be too?"
Original Cindy chuckled, wondering if Zack and Logan might finally start to get along after Lil Boo was born. "Tell ya what, junior. You call all your peeps and I'll call all ours, and we'll get the whole crew here to support Boo and Moneybags, aiight?"
Zack grinned in spite of himself, "Aiight."
And quickly, the phone chain commenced. Tinga, Brin, Jondy and Syl were having dinner together at Brin's place so it only took one call to inform them, while Jace had gone home to check on Maxito. Zane, Johnny, and Krit were playing poker at Zane's crib, and told Zack they'd swing by and pick up the girls before coming over. All the Manticore kids hated hospitals with an undying passion, because of what had been done to them as children. But they were willing to put their uneasiness aside to come and support their baby sister and her husband.
Kendra was delighted to find that Max was in labor. However, after discovering from Original Cindy that a woman's labor could last twenty-four hours or longer, said she'd swing by the hospital eventually. Original Cindy had chuckled and told her not to commit any crimes against nature with her man, and then hung up. A quick call to Crash tracked down Sketchy and Herbal, who extended their congratulations. However, since Normal was an ass and it was two in the morning, they decided not to come to the hospital in anticipation of a full workday that was coming in the morning, especially since they were to tell Normal that there was no way in hell Original Cindy was gonna come to work. She was gonna be there for her boo.
Original Cindy was eventually able to track down Bling as well. She figured that other than Max, he was Logan's best friend, and Moneybags was probably going to need the tall black brothah to kick his skinny white ass back into line.
"Is Logan freaking out?" Bling asked.
"He started to at the apartment," Cindy told him. "But no worries. Original Cindy showed her Boo's boo the error of his ways."
Bling chuckled, "I'll be there ASAP."
Original Cindy hung up the phone and turned to Zack, who had just finished his own round of calls. Zack leaned against the payphone, a worried expression on his face.
"Waz the matter, boo?' Original Cindy asked.
Zack shook his head, "I just have this feeling that something's not right."
"Lydecker?"
The CO shrugged, "I don't think so. He was definitely dead. And his niece is in jail, so I don't think that's it."
"Give Logan's friend, they guy with the computer voice, a call. He's more connected than Logan. Maybe he can find out if General Patton had any other peeps working for him," Cindy suggested. "You and your sibs are supercharged fighting machines. You tellin' me you guys can't just be a little on guard?"
Zack sighed, "It's just some feeling I have Cindy. Like something bad is going to happen. I just wish I knew what."
Original Cindy put her hand on his shoulder and said, "My boo's lucky to have you all in her life. All any of you want to do is protect her. You don't think between ya'll, Bling, Moneybags, and Original Cindy, Max won't be protected?"
Zack looked a Cindy and broke out into a lopsided smile, "I'll call Sebastian later. Let's go and see how my baby sister and her overprotective husband are doing."
Cindy chuckled, "Right on, baby."
Up in the maternity ward, nurses had helped Max change into a hospital gown, and gotten her hooked up to a fetal heart monitor, a device to measure her contractions, and an IV of nutrients and her neuro-supplements. They had her resting in an oversized adjustable bed. Logan's money and connections, with the help of Sebastian and Max's doctor, had assured Max a birthing suite. It was comfortable, and homey, yet full of the medical equipment necessary. It was somewhere between a hospital room and a hotel room. They had thought it would make Max more comfortable and at ease.
However, the only think Max wanted right now to make her comfortable and at ease was an epidural. "When do I get the drugs?" she asked after another contraction passed. They were between nine and eleven minutes apart, and she was already tired of the constant pain that radiated through her body. She had been right all those months ago; Manticore had definitely *not* engineered it's females to withstand this kind of pain. If she had time to think about it, Max would have found it humbling and oddly comforting that she didn't have a labor tolerance, because it made her more like normal, completely human women. However, all Max was thinking about were painkillers.
Her nurse smiled and said, "Soon, I promise. Your doctor has been called, and after she checks you out, I'm sure she'll order an anesthesiologist for you."
Max pouted, "But I want the drugs now."
Logan squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead, "You're doing great Max. I'm so proud of you."
Max glared at Logan, "Logan, darling, I love you with every fiber of my being but at this moment I'm not entirely pleased with you for putting me in this situation. So, for as proud as you are of me and as happy as knowing that makes me, I would advise you not to do too much talking until I am highly medicated and can't feel anything from the waist down."
Logan exchanged glances with the nurse and nodded to Max, indicating that he agreed to her terms.
"Is this your first?" the nurse asked.
Logan went to open his mouth, then remembered his agreement and looked at Max.
"Yes," his wife answered.
"The first is always the hardest," the nurse said as she took Max's vitals.
"How many do you have?" Max asked.
"Four," the nurse answered. "And I just found out that in six months I'll have five." She patted her stomach briefly before taking her stethoscope and listening to Max's heart.
Just then, another strong contraction hit Max and her entire body tensed as she began to breathe through the pain. Logan dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth and got some ice chips ready for her. He stroked the back of her hand and lightly rubbed her shoulders and she breathed through the contraction. When it had passed, the nurse checked her watch.
"Okay, we're definitely at nine minutes apart." She smiled, "I'll go check and see where your doctor is." She stopped at the door and turned. "You know," she said kindly. "Take it from an old pro. If you just let your body relax during the contractions, instead of trying to fight them or be strong through them, they're less painful. It helps is you have a focus object too."
"Thanks," Logan said quickly and smiled at the nurse. He gave Max the cup of ice chips and tentatively asked, "What do you want to use for a focus object?"
Max sucked on the ice and shrugged, "I dunno. That picture on the wall maybe?"
"I guess," Logan said. "Or we could use this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mother's locket.
Max gasped, "I always wondered what you did with that thing."
"My mother told me to give this to my wife when she had our first child," Logan told her, dangling the necklace for his wife to see. "I'm thinking this is kinda what she meant."
"It's perfect," Max said, tears filling her eyes. She watched as Logan got up and hung it in place of the picture across from her bed.
"How's the mama-to-be?" Bling booming voice filled the room.
"Bling!" Max cried.
"Hey Max," Bling said. "Hey man," he hugged Logan. "How you holding up?"
"He's fine, I'm a mess," Max replied, taking another ice chip.
"You look beautiful," Bling said.
"See?" Logan chided, laughing as he ducked the box of tissues Max threw at his head.
The doctor walked in and Bling said to Logan, "Why don't you and I go down to the vending machines and get something to drink. Give Max and the doctor some one on one time."
Logan looked at Max, "That okay with you?"
Max shrugged, "Yeah I guess. Don't come back, actually, for your own safety, until after I get the epidural."
The doctor, Bling, and Logan chuckled.
In the hall, Logan noticed a crowd of people in the waiting room. Curious, he walked down the hall, with Bling close behind, to investigate. To his surprise, he found the entire assembled group of X-5 rogues milling around the waiting area. "I didn't know this is where you'd plan the next class of '09 reunion," Logan said good-naturedly. Max's siblings jumped to their feet. He hugged her sisters and shook hands with her brothers, thanking them for coming.
"How's she doing?" Jondy asked.
"She's an X-5 female in excruciating pain, bedridden, attached to monitors, waiting for a specialist to come to give her painkillers," Logan replied. "How do you think she is?"
"Evil bitch monster of death?" Krit suggested, causing the assembled to laugh.
Original Cindy stepped forward, "I figured Boo could some sistahs power, so Zack and I called in the troops."
Logan gave her a quick hug, "Thanks." He looked up at Zack, "Thanks, man."
"No sweat," Zack replied.
"So when can we see her?" Syl asked.
"Wait until she gets the epidural," Logan suggested. "She'll be much more personable." Unconsciously, he wiggled his fingers and shook out his hand, willing feeling back into it. During several contractions, Max had squeezed it so hard he was sure it would break. Wisely, though, he kept his pain to himself.
Bling took vending machine orders, and then recruited two X-5s to help him carry the bundle of junk food and carbonated beverages. When he returned with Tinga and Zane ten minutes later, he murmured to Logan, "The anesthesiologist was just going into Max's room as we went by."
Logan glanced anxiously at the door or his wife's room. "Thanks man," he said, cracking the top of his soda can open. He munched thoughtfully on the potato chips Bling had brought him and waited with some appearance of patience until the doctor arrived to give him new information. He fought to keep a reign on his anxiousness when the doctor approached. Even though he wanted to jump to his feet, Logan calmly rose to his feet.
"How's she doing?"
The doctor was about to respond when she noticed that nearly everyone else in the waiting room was paying attention to their conversation. Among them, she noted a bald black man and a black woman wearing a shirt that said "I luv girls" on it. A young man who could have been her patient's twin was sitting with two blonde men and a blonde woman, a woman of Asian descent, a red head, and two women and a man of indiscernible ethnic background. The doctor glanced at Logan and said quietly, "Maybe we should speak somewhere more private."
A look of worry crossed Logan's face. Then he noticed the doctor eyeing Max's siblings and he chuckled. "It's all right," he told her. "This is my wife's family. Those are her brother's and sisters." He pointed to Krit, Zack, Johnny, Syl, Brin, Jondy, Jace, Tinga, and Zane. "That is my wife's best friend Cindy, and the other one is my friend Bling." The assembled nodded varying degrees of acknowledgement and greeting.
"Large family," the doctor remarked.
"You have no idea," Logan replied, looking over his shoulder at his in-laws.
"So, doc, what's the dealio with my boo?" Original Cindy asked, jumping to her feet.
"How's our sister?" Krit asked.
The doctor smiled, "She's resting comfortably. Her contractions are eight minutes apart, and she's 40% dilated and 35% effaced. Her labor could last anywhere from another twelve to twenty-four hours, depending on how she progresses. The baby's heartbeat is strong and steady. Everything's going normally." She could practically feel the collective sigh of release.
"Can we see her?" Jondy asked.
"She needs her rest," the doctor said. "But I don't see how some visitors could harm her. Not all of you at once though," she warned.
Tinga stepped up to Logan, "Take a few minutes with her, and then we'll be in." She took his can of soda from his hands and nudged him towards Max's room.
He knocked lightly and Max turned to face him. Her eyes struggled to focus a little, but when they did, she smiled. "Hey," she said, her voice light and airy.
"Hey yourself," he replied, sitting on a stool beside her bed. He smoothed her hair and kissed her damp forehead, "How are you feeling, beautiful?"
Max chuckled, "I can't feel anything from the chest down. It's great."
"What'd they do?" Logan asked.
Max fought the drug-induced haze and tried to speak with some semblance of coherence, "It's not just a quick injection to the back. It hurt like a bitch though. A needle with a tube attached to it was stuck between two of my vertebrae. I guess the tube, which feeds the anesthetic into the spinal column, was taped to the back." A drugged haze overtook Max again, "And then it was like, whooooooosh, no more pain." She tried snapping her fingers to emphasize her point, but she could not get her body to respond.
Logan chuckled to see his wife looped and he kissed the back of her hand, "You did great. The doctor said you're coming along normally and everything's fine."
"Good," Max said with a smile.
"You sisters are here to see you," Logan told her. "Original Cindy and Zack called them. Do you want to see them?"
"Yesh," Max replied. She frowned, "Yesh. Yeeeeeeesh." She looked at Logan, "I want to say yesh but I keep saying yesh."
He grinned, "You're a little hazy from the drug, I think. Do you want some water first?"
"No water," Max said, looking at him a bit devilishly. She reached up and pulled his face closer to hers, "This." Max craned her neck up and kissed him, hard. Surprised, but nevertheless pleased, Logan smiled and kissed back.
"Hey hey hey, enough of that you two," a voice said from the doorway. "That's what got you here in the first place."
Max and Logan broke apart and Max said, "Hey Syl."
"Hey baby sister," Syl replied. "Feel up to some visitors?"
"Sure," Max said as she watched Syl flag their sisters into the room.
Logan kissed Max lightly, "I'll give you time with them. I'll be in the waiting room if you need me."
"Okay," Max replied, and watched him leave the room. She looked at her sisters. Jondy had taken a seat on the foot of the bed, while Tinga sat beside Max. Syl was on the stool Logan had been sitting in, while Brin took a chair in the corner of the room. Jace stood in the doorway.
"How are you, baby sister?" Tinga asked, smoothing Max's hair.
"Tired," Max replied, smiling as Tinga swooped down and kissed her forehead. "Are you okay?" Max asked her.
Tinga looked around at her sisters, wondering if they were all wondering the same thing. Tinga smiled, blinking back tears, "Yeah Maxie girl, I'm all good. Your baby's going to be beautiful."
Jace smiled, "Maxito can't wait to meet his cousin. He's at home with Victor. When I left, they were betting whether it was going to be a boy or a girl."
"What do you think it's gonna be?" Jondy asked.
"Logan and I think it's gonna be a girl," Max replied.
"Not a boy?" Syl asked.
"What are you going to name it?" Brin asked, flinging one leg over the arm of her chair.
Max smiled, "Logan and I talked about it a little before all that crap with my seizures and Lydecker went down. If it's a girl, her name's going to be Jacqueline Eva Gabrielle Cale. If it's a boy, his name is going to be Evan Jackson Logan Cale."
Her sisters' eyes filled with tears. "You're naming them for Eva and Jack, either way," Jondy said.
Max nodded, "Gabrielle was Logan's mother's name." She smiled to herself and reached for the remote to prop the bed up higher. A serious tone settled on her face, 'I'm glad you're all here."
"We wouldn't be anywhere else," Jace said.
"I'm glad," Max began. "Not only because my girls are all here to support me, but also because... I need to talk to you."
"About?" Brin asked, sitting up straight.
Max sighed, "About Logan." She looked at each of her sisters. "I need you guys to promise me that if anything happens to me, you'll make sure he doesn't self destruct and you'll help him take care of the baby."
"Maxie," Tinga began.
"No!" Max said firmly. "Promise me." She looked straight into her sisters' eyes, begging and pleading with them not to fight her on this. "You guys know everything I've been through. This baby is strong, but my body isn't. If anything happens, it's more likely I'll be the one who won't survive."
"Have you talked to Logan about this?" Syl asked softly.
"Not yet," Max answered. "I need you all to promise me first." She went from sister to sister.
"Jondy?"
"I promise."
"Brin?"
"I promise."
"Jace?"
"I promise."
"Syl?"
"I promise Maxie."
"Tinga?"
Nothing. Tinga's eyes were squeezed tightly shut but Max could see the tears shining in the corners. She knew that this promise she was asking her oldest sister to make was especially hard for her because of the loss of her own child. Tinga alone knew the danger of childbirth better then Jace or Max.
"Tinga?"
"I promise." A hoarse whisper voiced Tinga's fear for her sister and her child.
Max smiled, "Thank you." She squeezed Tinga's hand. "Aiight ya'll, get out so I can get this bitch over with my husband." Her sister's took turns kissing her on the cheek and left. Logan came in a few minutes later. Max beckoned him to sit beside her on the bed. He dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth and chuckled.
"What?" Max asked.
"According to that monitor, you just had a severe contraction," he said, pointing to the read out. "If you hadn't been drugged, my hand would be crushed."
She swatted him playfully, "I wasn't squeezing that hard."
"I beg to differ." Logan held up his hand, "Look, I'm bruised."
Max brought his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. "There," she said, gazing into his eyes. "All better." She took a deep breath. She needed to tell him this while she had his attention and while she was still conscious. "Logan," she said carefully. "I need to talk to you."
He stroked the inside of her forearm, "About what, love?"
"I need you to promise me something," she began.
Logan saw the look of utter seriousness on her face and said cautiously, "Max-"
"Logan," she said firmly. "We need to talk about this. You know as well as I do that I might not survive the birth." Logan averted his gaze and she gripped his hand. "Logan, look at me." His blue eyes, full of tears, could not help but refocus on her. "Everything I've been through these past nine months has made my body weak. The supplements have kept my seizures under control and everything has been done to ensure that this baby will be born healthy and perfect. But it's taxed my body almost beyond my genetically enhanced limits. It'll be a miracle if I come through this birth unscathed."
Logan's tears fell down his cheeks. "Max, please," he begged. "Don't do this, not now."
She brushed his tears from his cheeks gently with her soft thumbs, "Logan, I'm being realistic. I'm going to be weak for longer than normal after this. I can feel it. If I-" Her voice caught. "If I die, I need you to promise me you won't self destruct. Promise me you'll take care of this baby."
"Max," Logan whispered fiercely. "This baby is going to have a mother. You. You're her mother. Stop talking like you're going away."
"I might," Max insisted. "And if I do, promise me you'll take care of her and protect her." Now she was crying too.
"You know I will Max," Logan vowed. "But we're going to take care of her and protect her together. You and me, Max. We're a team. We're family. We've been through so much. This baby is a blessing. I can't believe that such a blessing would kill you." He was weeping now, full force.
Max tugged on his arm and he laid down beside her, taking her in his arms. He ran his fingers through her hair and brushed the tips of his fingers over her barcode scar. Dipping down, he kissed it lightly and whispered in her ear, "Sleep, beloved. You need your strength."
Max yawned, "Okay." She closed her eyes, "Stay with me, please?"
"I'm right here," he replied, holding her tightly.
"You won't leave?" A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
Logan felt it too. He smoothed the hair on her forehead and whispered, "I'm not going anywhere." He rested his head on hers. "I promise." He shut his eyes and let the rhythm of her breathing lull him to sleep. He hadn't slept soundly in days, save for the time he had shared a dream with Max.
Max awoke two hours later, still feeling blissfully numb from the waist down. The drugs effects were still in full swing and she happily settled back down to sleep in the arms of her husband, knowing that moments like this were soon going to be few and far between. Three hours later she awoke once more. She looked up to see Original Cindy sitting in the chair opposite the bed, reading a magazine. Logan was still asleep. "Hey boo," Max whispered, as not to wake him.
Cindy smiled, "Hey." She kept her voice hushed. "How you feeling?"
"Like I'm about to make something the size of a watermelon come out something the size of a lemon," Max replied. Although she could not feel pain, she was finding she could still feel the weight of the baby pressing inside her.
Original Cindy smiled, "You're gonna be fine."
At that moment, Logan began to stir. Max turned and kissed his jaw. "Hey," she murmured.
"Hey yourself," he replied. Then, he became aware of Cindy's presence. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied.
"Hey," Logan said again, feeling uncomfortable for some reason.
"We did that already," Cindy chuckled.
Logan couldn't help but smile at the shared joke.
Just then, the doctor entered. "Mind if I take a look?" she asked.
"Go for it," Max said.
"I'm gonna go take a walk," Logan told her. He glanced at Cindy.
"I'll go too," she replied, seeing the look on Logan's face. She followed him out the door and watched as he walked a few doors down the hall, then rested dejectedly against the wall. "Wassup boo?" she asked. "Why the long face?"
Logan looked sadly at Original Cindy, "Before we fell asleep Max..." He took a deep breath. "She made me promise to look after the baby if she died."
"If Max died?" Cindy asked.
Logan nodded.
"Smart girl," Original Cindy said matter of factly.
Logan's eyes widened. "Cindy!" he exclaimed. "Max was talking about *dying*."
"I know," she replied. "She's not running from the reality of the situation." Original Cindy could see that Logan was still mortified and grief stricken. "Look," she said, taking his hand and leading him to a group of chairs. "Original Cindy's going to break it down for you. Max is one strong, smart woman. But she knows her body. She's been through hell, a hell that would've killed most women months ago. As it is, it's a miracle she carried Lil Boo to term. She's got true motherly instincts, Logan. She's willing to die for that child, and she knows she *might* die for that child. It sucks major, but it's a possibility. And nothing is going to come from ignoring the fact that her body might give out."
"I can't lose her Cindy," Logan said. "I've already lost her twice. And I just got her back. I can't lose her again. I don't know anything about kids. How am I going to be able to raise a child without her?"
Original Cindy took his hand, "You're going to do what you have to do. And at this moment, what you have to do is be there for Max. If she doesn't have any strength left then be her strength. If she needs to yell at you for knocking her up, then let her. If she needs you to hold her, then hold her and don't let go. But *don't* get all boo-hooey and *don't* break your promise to your wife."
"Mr. Cale!" A nurse came running down the hall.
"What?" Logan jumped up. "What's wrong with my wife?" The alarm was thick in his voice.
The nurse smiled, "Nothing's wrong. The doctor just wanted me to tell you that your wife has progressed rapidly. She's now 95% dilated and 100% effaced. It won't be long now. Her contractions are down to five minutes apart."
Logan's eyes widened and he felt Cindy shove him back in the direction of the room. He stepped inside and found Max sitting up in bed. By now, she had been in labor for ten hours. Logan wondered how much longer the epidural would last. "Hey gorgeous," he chimed.
Max sighed, "I feel fat and ugly. I can't wait for this baby to be out of me."
"Soon, love," he said, sitting beside her. "You ok?"
"I'm tired," she confessed. "The doctor said it won't be long now."
He kissed her hand.
"Logan, I'm scared," Max said honestly. He pulled her close to him and rocked her soothingly.
"It's going to be alright, Max, I promise," Logan said quietly, wishing more than anything that he was right.
"What if I can't do it?" she asked worriedly. "What if I don't have the strength?"
"Max," he said. "I've seen you take down South African supercharged psycho supersoldiers. You survived Manticore twice. What makes you think you can't handle this? You're the strongest woman I know." He kissed her on the cheek.
Zack knocked on the door, "Am I interrupting?"
Logan shook his head, "No." He caressed Max's cheek and stood. "I'm gonna hit the vending machine again. You two take some time and chat." He felt Max squeeze his hand before she released and allowed him to walk out of the room. As he walked by Zack, Logan felt his brother-in-law pat him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. Logan's brows rose in surprise, but he kept walking.
Max too raised a brow.
"What?" Zack asked innocently, sitting on the stool.
"That was different," she remarked. "Since when do you like my husband?"
"Logan?" Zack still feigned innocence. "I've always like Logan."
Max laughed, "That is such bullshit and you know it. First you hated him, saw him as a tactical disadvantage and a hindrance. Then, you tolerated him for my sake. What'd you two do, bond over my abduction?"
Zack seemed to consider this, "I guess. I dunno Maxie. I guess the more we worked together, the more I realized I couldn't hate him just because he was married to you." It was a blanket statement, one that did not directly reference Zack's long term wish that he was the one Max was in love with. He half suspected she knew. But she saw him as a big brother. She *did* love him, but as a sibling, and nothing else.
TBC....it was a loooong chapter, so I split it up. ;-)