Chapter 7

Chapter 25



Max leaned against the doorway, watching Logan type away at his computer, his eyebrows knitted in concentration. Probably working to save the latest bunch of helpless citizens like the idealistic "I can save the world" dreamer he was. Max let a half-smile play at her lips as she imagined the look in his eyes as he gently stroked her cheek. Mentally shaking herself for thinking decidedly feminine thoughts Max cleared her throat.

"Hey Max," he said with that charming smile that always made her melt.

They stared at each other. Their faces wearing identical expressions of fear, uncertainty and longing. Max began to fidget uncomfortably, a thousand things were on the tip of her tongue. What would Lydecker think? His billion-dolor creation reduced to a speechless lovesick fool at the sight of a human.

Logan started as the phone interrupted his tormented thoughts. Smiling apologetically at Max, Logan picked up the phone. "Logan Cale," he said.

"Logan?" a hesitant female voice asked.

"Yes?" he replied.

"It's Megan, Caitlin's friend. I'm at the hospital, Caitlin has collapsed," her voice was laced with uncertainty and fear.

"What happened?" he asked, ignoring Max's questioning gaze.

Megan proceeded to give the details to an increasingly worried Logan. After she had finished Logan said,"My Aunt is out of town but I'll be there in five." The worried clearly evident in his voice.

Logan slammed the phone down angrily, before turning to face Max.

"Caitlin at the hospital, I'm going over there now, Can you contact Dr. Carter? I hate to trust him but he's the only one who can help her."

Max nodded, her eyes hard.



Dr. Carter was putting the finishing touches on his latest report for the hospital when the doorbell rang; he ignored it, as was his custom when writing reports. He let out a frustrated sigh, clearly this person wasn't going to go away because they wouldn't stop ringing. Carefully saving the report he got up and when to the door.

Opening the door, he came face to face with an angry X5, not a good position to be in. Before he could speak the dark-haired X5 shoved him unceremoniously into the room, away from witnesses he observed nervously.

"What wrong with her?" Max snapped.

"The girl?" Chris asked.

"Yes "the girl". Caitlin is unconscious, care to explain why a month after you "cured" her, Cat is still suffering side effects?" She asked coldly.

Chris swallowed the sudden lamp in his throat. He knew his life could depend on the answer he gave, still is tried to maintain his composure. "Without examining the patient, I can only concluded that the drugs administrated to her caused a depletion in vital chemicals but I would need to examine her to get a clearer idea of her semitones."

"It can be arranged."

"What can be arranged?" Dr Carter asked.

"Follow me," was the only reply.



Doctors and patients alike exchanged curious glances as Dr. Carter and raven-haired girl strolled through the hospital- that in its self was not unusual it was the statement on the usually composed doctor's face that evoked such curiosity. His face was lined with worry and confusion as he marched up to the nurse's station and requested the file and location of Caitlin Cale.




Logan looked up startled as the door of the relatively secluded hospital room swung open. He immediately relaxed as Max's beloved face appeared in the doorway followed closely by Doctor Carter.

Chris struggled to maintain his masked of indifference. He had become adept at hiding his reactions to situations, you had to if you expected to survive at Manticore. He could still remember treating the wounded children for any number of injuries; no child should have to endure what they went through. Without a word he walked over to the bed and cheeked Caitlin's vitals, he didn't even bother to enforce his policy of working alone.

After 15 minutes of silence Dr. Carter looked up, his face grave. Walking around the bed he came to stand be Logan and Max. Chris felt a surge of jealousy as he watched them draw silent strength from each other.

Max shoved him against the wall. "What's wrong with her?" she hissed.

"She has a depletion in a particular chemical. It's gradually killing her," the doctor replied. He winced and grunted in pain as the X5's vice like grip increased.

"How do we stop it?" her voice trembled with anger.

"She needs a X5s blood transfusion, the blood of the X5s has a particular gene that enables the body to carry the chemical it is the only way to restore the chemical fast enough," he gasped.

"Well you've got two X5s to chose from what are you waiting for?" Max snapped rolling up her sleeve.

"It's not the simple, the particular gene was only installed in a select few of the X5 series. It was decided that the gene served no purpose in the creation of soldiers and that aspect of the project was terminated," he draw a ragged breath as Max released him.

"Which of us has the gene?" she asked.

"The first five born to the X5 series."

Max smiled ironically, "Zack," she murmured.



Jondy strolled into her father's room, he had just returned from a business trip. Michael smiled as Jondy entered the room; he had never seen his daughter so happy.

"Hi sweetheart!" he said, walking over and embracing her tightly, "How goes the family reunion?" Michel felt his daughter sigh into his chest.

"My brother and sister have got to be the two most obstinate people in existence!" she declared, pulling back and beginning a restless pace.

"Still no luck getting them to deal with their feelings huh? Michel asked.

"It's so frustrating, at first I thought Maxie would do okay, I mean she not on Zack's "Manticore is the only way to live" bandwagon. As soon as Zack began to voice his "We are unworthy" and "It's better if we stay away" crap she did this whole backtrack," she ended with a sigh.

"Has it ever occurred to you that the Cale children are not their intended soulmates? " He smiled softly "I love you my daughter but you tend to be a bit of a revved up cupid," he winced as his daughter whacked him on the arm.

"Anybody who can sit through Zack's "Manicore monologues" and Maxi's denial speeches and still love them is ether A) insane or B) totally, completely, every romantic cliche in the book in love with them," she maintained.

"The key is to get them to realize emotions are not weak," her father commented.

"It took me long enough," Jondy said grinning softly.

Michel nodded in acknowledgement. Remembering vividly his many battles with Jondy's Manticore mentality.

"How was your trip?" Jondy asked.

Michel was about to reply when Jondy's cell phone rang loudly. Michel watched as a curious mix of emotions played across his daughter's face, fear, concern and finally determination.

After pocketing her phone Jondy turned to her expectant father, "Sorry Dad, but I need to nock some sense into my brother," she apologized.




Bang!

Bang!

The methodical punching echoed in the abandoned wheelhouse. Zack barely noticed the red stains or the ache in his bloodied hands. All he saw was images of Cat, lying helplessly as he watched. Just like Tate and Jack his inner demon mocked.

Bang!

"Well this is productive," said a dry voice behind him.

Zack whirled around. His youngest sibling standing in the doorway.

"What do you want Jondy?" he asked wearily.

"Here's the deal, Caitlin needs X5 blood, you're going to give her that blood okay? She asked her eyes shone dangerously.

"Why can't you or Maxi give this blood?" Zack was careful to mask any traces of emotion from his voice.

"Because you are the one with this special gene," Jondy explained hurriedly, "Lets go."

"No."

Jondy whirled around her eyes wide with shock, "What?" she practically screamed.





"I can't go, Manticore can easily trace blood transfusions and hospital records." he said with detachment he did not feel.

"You really are a cold-hearted son of bitch!" Jondy screamed lunching at her emotionless brother.

Zack easily avoided her and quickly vaulted to the top floor of the wheelhouse. With a final glance at his irate sister he leapt out the window.



OUTSIDE Hospital 11pm

From his perch in the tall tree Zack could see directly into Caitlin's room. Minutes earlier he had seen a reluctant Max and Logan leave her side. Now was his chance. He knew from careful observation that the next nurse wouldn't be coming for 15 minutes. Leaping silently Zack landed with cat-like accuracy on the balcony. Blending into the twisting shadows, Zack took a moment observe his sleeping beloved, before moving to her side.

"I'm so sorry Cat," He whispered in a broken voice as he gently pulled out her IV. Having done this he expertly pushed the needle into his arm. He watched as his life-giving blood made its methodical journey up the IV tracked.

Soon he began to feel queasy. Double-checking that Cat enough blood, he proceeds to pull the needle out before staggering over to the window.

He left as silently as he had come.