Chapter Three: Objects in the rear view mirror... (Going back)
//What the hell am I thinking?// That was the only question going through Max's head as she made her way down the streets of Seattle. The last few days had been a blur of travel and survival. It was only after skillfully getting around the city sector police that Max had even realized where she was. Seattle. //God I must be crazy.// She told herself. //This almost has to be a trap.// Yet she didn't turn from her path towards Metro Hospital.
He didn't look real. Lying there in that hospital bed, covered in cuts, burns and bruises and hooked up to machines doing god knows what. He was so pale and thin. Too thin. It was like he hadn't been looking after himself for a long time. Guilt flooded Max as she looked at him. Had she done this to him? Had her leaving made him do this to himself? But what choice had she had? She'd explained that in the note, hadn't she? She'd left for him, to protect him... It wasn't like she'd wanted to leave.
He looked so fragile, broken. His glasses sat beside him, on the small hospital cabinet. So did his wallet, empty of cash thanks to light-fingered hospital staff. Quietly, almost reverently, she stroked back a strand of his now long hair and ran a hand through his beard. It looked as though he hadn't shaved in a long, long time. She touched his cheek and still he didn't stir.
"I'm sorry," She whispered into the quiet of the room. "I am so sorry, Logan."
"He knows."
Max spun around to see Bling standing at the doorway. She suddenly felt trapped. She had only intended to give Logan a quick blood transfusion and then leave, but now Bling had seen her. She looked him in the eye and then turned back to Logan. She slid the needle out of his IV bag easily and into her arm. Slowly she returned her gaze to Bling.
"Don't try and make me stay." She whispered.
"Max," Bling said softly. He took a step towards her and then stopped. His eyes were soft and compassionate. Much how one would look at a stray cat that they wanted to help. Well maybe she was a stray? She was part alley cat after all. She felt like a stray at times, homeless, alone... And like all strays her first instinct was to run.
"He needs you Max."
"No," Max whispered. A single tear ran down her cheek. "I can't stay, it's too dangerous."
"Then take him with you." Bling replied as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Max looked up, not quite sure if he was being serious. "He wouldn't..."
"Only because he thinks you wouldn't really want him, because he thinks he'd just slow you down and put you in danger. Look at him Max, really look at him. Lydecker didn't do all of that to him. Lydecker didn't make him that thin, that pale," He said as he stepped closer. "He's broken Max. You are looking at a broken man. He let you under his skin, and you just ran away."
"I didn't, I, I had no choice..." Max stuttered.
"Don't tell me Max, I'm not the one that needs to hear it. Logan is. I'll be outside if you need me." Bling replied as he left.
Max just watched the door for a long time thinking about what Bling had said. She was still thinking about his words as the blood loss made her drowsy. Slowly she gave into sleep with Bling's words still spinning around in her head.
TBC...