Chapter 7

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Chapter 26



Unbeknownst to Zack the moon was not the only witness to his act of sacrifice. Max emerged from the shadows, clutching a streaming cup of coffee, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had just witnessed her brother, the embodiment of emotionless control, acting as lost and scared as a defenseless child. Is this what love did to people? Made them vulnerable and weak? Could she afford to love like that? Her dark inner torment was interrupted by a sharp beeping sound. A team of doctors streamed into the room. All of them are murmuring excitedly about the apparent miracle.

Max slipped out before they could question her. On her way down the brightly lit hallway. The annoying little voice in her head once again voiced its opinion.

"Look at what love did to big strong Zack, What will it do to you little Maxie?" it silently tormented. Max staggered into a nearby abandoned lab, images of Manticore swirled around her. How long would she and Logan get to play happy family before her past caught up with them? As much as she tried to deny her past and ignore Zack, she knew she could only live her happily ever after for a short while. Besides, it would be better for Logan to love somebody who deserved him, not some freak show. With those thoughts Max stood up and resolutely strolled back to Caitlin's hospital room, where Logan was conferring with the doctors.

"Logan can I talk to you?" she asked, struggling to control her trembling voice. A frown crossed Logan's face at Max's uncharacteristic meekness. After quickly finishing his conversation with the doctors he led Max to a private office. "Cat's doing better they estimate. She'll probably be awake in a couple of days." Logan said as he shut the door.

"I know Zack couldn't let her die, not matter how much it violated his training." she whispered softly remembering vividly when she was in the same position.

"What wrong Max?" Logan asked sensing her obvious sadness.

"Look there is no easily was to say this... so I'm just gonna say it," she said taking a deep breath and gazing into his apprehensive eyes. "What's happening between us can't happen, I'm a genetically enhanced killing machine supposable incapable of feeling... boy did they stuff up with that personality quirk," she quipped dryly, "I feel too much for you... God I feel so much...." Here she broke off and began to pace the small confines of the office. Logan had a thousand things he wanted to say but he knew from experience that she wouldn't listen until she had said everything she needed to say.

"It's better this way Logan. You might not see it now but you'll see it eventually," she whispered brokenly, preparing to leave.

"We can make this work... Please don't go Max." he cried desperately.

"For how long my love? A week? A month? It doesn't matter they will find us." She murmured sadly, "'sides you deserve the whole picket fence and 5 kids thing not some screwed up science project." she said as she slipped out the door, leaving a stunned Logan in her wake.



Abandoned Wheelhouse Unknown location

"X5-345 ready for orders sir." Max barked out emotionlessly.

Zack looked up from his 60th pushup, raising a skeptical eyebrow at his sister uncharacteristic compliance. Her face was cool mask but Zack knew better, "At ease solider," he said, "Is it done?"

"Yes," Max replied her control wavering "I have terminated my ties of weakness as recommended," She snapped suddenly unable to maintain the facade she collapsed to the floor, sobbing soundlessly. Zack watched her silently.

Max looked up, "Isn't this the part where you tell me how weak I am? How I should just forget about him and become your perfect little solider?" She asked harshly, her choked words becoming more and more illegible as her chaotic emotions battled for control.

"No, I would be just a tad hypocritical if I did that wouldn't I? I can only tell you that you did the right thing." her brother replied.

"The right thing huh? If it's so right why does it hurt so much?"

Zack crouched down beside her and pulled Max into a gentle embrace as he had done when they were children. "I know it hurts Maxie... God I know... but we can get through this," he murmured into her hair. "If not for ourselves then for them," he continued gently stroking a raven lock behind her ear.

"I think you were easier to deal with when you were a cold-hearted pain in the ass brother." Max whispered into his jacket.

Zack laughed softly, "I try."

Max sat up and with a soft sigh she lent against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"How's Cat?" Zack asked, trying without much success to make his voice neutral.

"She's good bro, guess our revved up blood has benefits huh?" Zack nodded letting a relived smile played at her lips.

Max stood up. Running an agitated hand through her hair. "We did the right thing? She asked.

"Absolutely."

"I mean they don't need us screwing up their lives."

"Totally."

Max flopped down beside him, "I can get over this, I mean I have to be prepared to leave anytime. Getting romantically involved would totally screw up my judgement." She continued.

"And I have responsibilities to the others." Zack broke in.

"Not for the next month or so," Max degreed, "Jondy "borrowed" your mailbox and hacked it. She found the latest contact numbers. Everybody's fine for now."

Zack sprung up, eyes blazing, "What is her problem? Her obsession with making us see the light is really going too far. Do you have any idea the security risk that little stunt could have entailed?"

"I know Zack, but the bottom line is she has every right to kick your ass if you try to leave on account of a "family emergency"." Max stated despondently.

"I'm going to kill her. " Zack swore vehemently.



Local Hospital 5pm

Logan jerked awake, startled by the soft moaning coming from the bed. Coming fully awake, he reached out and gently cupped her pale hand in his. "Cat, can you hear me honey?" he asked softly.

"Cuz?" she asked hoarsely struggling to focus on his blurring almost indistinguishable features.

"How do you feel?" Logan asked, grinning broadly with relief.

"Like I've been run over by a truck," Cat confessed, wincing as she attempted to sit up. "What the hell happened?" she groaned.

Logan explained what had transpired, hesitating slightly before mentioning Zack's name. Logan watched as a myriad of emotions sort to control Caitlin's statement, she finally settled on a cool expressionless mask. Logan inwardly shuddered at seeing this. It was the same mask Zack frequently used. "He loves me," she whispered softly.



2 Days Later 11pm Hospital

The shadows were barely disturbed as a lone figure silently entered the room via the window. Zack leant against the wall watching the sleeping form in the bed. It had become his custom to watch her sleep for a couple of hours each night. He winced as he caught sight of the scar running down the side of her face and forking behind her left ear lope. It was a content reminder of the pain he had directly and indirectly caused her. He heard the footsteps of the night nurse, "must be a change in schedule," he thought turning to leave, when a soft voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Do I really look that bad?"

Zack whirled around, Cat was sitting up in bed her pale form was surrounded by moonlight. Her green eyes were sharp and piercing.

"You're awake." he stated softly.

"Yep, was last night too." She replied.

"How do you feel?" he asked coming back into the room.

"Like I've fought you for six hours," she said with a rueful smile, before becoming serious, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving my life."

"No problem."

Caitlin gazed at his studiously blank face, he meet her gaze evenly. "So tell me the truth, do I really look that ugly?" she asked running a hand through her hair self-consciously.

"Of course not," his reply was emphatic and firm as he came to stand at the foot of the bed.

"Then why do you only visit me in the dead of night?"

"I'm doing what's best for you Cat, please try to understand that," he whispered brokenly.

"Don't you think I should be the judge of that?"

"You have no idea who or what I am and that's all the better for you," he stated harshly, "Go and live the life you deserve Cat, I must have no part in it." he finished resolutely.

Caitlin shoved back the hospital blankets and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Ignoring the protests of weakened muscles, she attempted to stand. Inwardly wincing at every step she staggered towards Zack. "Damn it Zack! I love you! Why can't you accept that?" she yelled hoarsely.

Zack prepared to slip out with the words, "Get some sleep."

"So that it the X5 solution to everything- escape and evade," Cat challenged, taking a faulting step forward.

Zack whirled around, suddenly furious, all his pent up emotions was battling for control. Nobody could provoke emotions in him like Cat. He surged forward roughly grabbing Cat, ignore her soft gasp of pain.
"What do you want from me?" he asked roughly, "A declaration of undying love?" He shoved her against the bed. "I am the strongest of the strong, I can have no weaknesses. I am the emotionless one everybody hates. Don't you see Cat? I would do anything for you. You are my weakness," He whispered softly.

Cat, who had crumpled to the floor, looked up, "So what happens now?" she asked, ignoring the tears that threatened to fall.

"I don't know," he replied.

Caitlin cursed her weakness as she began to sob quietly. Zack turn and lent down, picking her up as if she was a child. "Sleep," he murmured gently placing her in the bed.

"Stay with me?" she pleaded.

Zack gently stroked her hair, kneeling by the bed he kept his silent vigil of her as she fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Careful brother, scenes like this might actually give the impression your not the cold-hearted son of bitch you try so hard to maintain."

Zack froze. "Jondy," he sighed wearily.