Chapter 7

Chapter 28


"Miss Cale?"

Caitlin opened her eyes, squinting at the blurry figure standing over her. It was her regular nurse Mille. Groaning softly Caitlin sat up, gazing at the cheerful face expectantly.

"Good news, Doctor Carter has put in an immediate referral for your release." Mille grinned broadly as the raven-haired girl's face lit up.

"How long?" she asked eagerly.

"One more night for observation and then you're home free." Although it was in violation of hospital protocol, Mille handed Caitlin a tub of her favorite ice cream (Double Chocolate Fudge), and if possible her eyes lit up further.

"Enjoy." Mille said before departing to continue her rounds.


Caitlin was thoroughly enjoying her forbidden treat when a familiar voce spoke from the doorway.

"You know Cat, your obsession with ice-cream is going to get you into trouble one day."

Caitlin looked up a slow smile played at her chocolate smudged lips as she saw who it was. "Logan!" she exclaimed happily, "Did you hear?"

"Yep." Logan grinned broadly as he entered, producing a bouquet of roses and handing them to his delighted cousin.

Caitlin's initial pleased smile faded instantly, as she was able to read Logan's statement more clearly. Logan's normally intensely passionate, driven eyes were dull and he carried an air of a defeated man.

"What's wrong?" she asked, more sharply then she had intended.

"What makes you think anything's wrong?" he asked evasively, placing the flowers on the stand next to her bed before coming to sit in the now familiar chair at her bedside.

"Don't your dare lie to me Logan Cale... you never could, don't start now." she command.

"Don't worry about me Cat... let's just focus on you getting better." Logan hoped that would appease his stubborn cousin. He really didn't want to talk about what had transpired between himself and the X5.

Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed thoughtfully but much to Logan's relief Cat inhered to his wishes.

"So how's it going with you and GI Joe?" he asked attempting to lighten the mood. Logan ducked away playfully as Caitlin attempted to whack him with a covenant pillow. "Is he good to you? Does he treat you right?" he asked, taking on a more somber tone.

Caitlin rolled her eyes, "Between you and my mother I'm going to end up marrying some guy who treats me like porcelain doll."

"I'm just trying to watch out for you," Logan said slightly offend by her tone. "Zack is not the easiest person to like.... let alone fall in love with."

"Normally I would yell and hurl stuff at you but I don't have the strength," She reached out and ran a gentle hand down his cheek, "I know what I'm getting into trust me."

Logan sighed, in many ways his earlier comparison of Max and Cat had been accurate. They both refused to back down once they had made their mind. "Did you absolutely have to chose him as your soulmate?"

"Why don't you like Zack, Logan?"

"It's a long story."

"It's not like I can go anywhere." she retorted.









Local Park, 5pm



Logan swung gently on the rusted swing. He knew he must look very odd to people passing by. After several hours of explaining the origin of his animosity towards Zack, Logan had been firmly told that visiting hours were over and Caitlin needed her rest. He had wandered the streets aimlessly, knowing that going back to work in his present state of mind would be an exercise in futility. Without the pleasant distraction of his cousin, he was forced to relive the events of the previous evening. Swings had always been a comfort to him, a cling to comfort from his all too brief days of childhood.

"Need a push little boy?" an all too familiar voice asked sarcastically.

Logan's head snapped around as Max's shadowy figure emerged from behind one of the tall trees surrounding the park. As always Logan's heart skipped a few beats in her presence. He frowned slightly as the X5 proceed to occupy the swing next to his.

"So..."

"So..."

Max turned to face Logan trying desperately not to appear as nervous as she felt.

"Okay here's the thing, I've spent the afternoon listening to Jondy go on and on about the virtues of emotions," she sighed, "I swear Jondy was created by Cupid incarnate," she smirked, "She has threatened to personally kick me from here to Brazil if I don't deal with my feelings for you."

Logan's frown deepened, "So your here because of your sister?" he asked.

Max shook her head, lightly kicking the sand beneath the swing, "I would have come on my own eventually but Jondy gave me the extra push."

Taking a deep breath she began to outline her fears and doubts, Logan listened attentively towards the end he began to smile sadly. "You think you're the only one who has doubts?" he asked, "I mean think of the cripple falling in love with the perfect human," he commented with a self-mocking, humorless laugh.

"Don't talk about yourself like that." Max challenged fiercely. " 'Sides you're not in a wheelchair anymore."

"Stop calling yourself a freak show or screwed up science project." he shot back.

Max sighed, "Okay we're both guiltily." She lent forward and cocked her head curiously. "You deserve somebody who can for one thing cook without burning down the house," she said slipping into her monologue of self-doubt.

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Okay." She said eager to comply.