TITLE: State of Mind
WRITTEN BY: Drea Jackman
EMAIL: DreaJackman@Literati.co.uk
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: When Logan & Max are drawing closer by the day, what could fate possibly throw
at them next?
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters involved. They belong to Cameron/Eglee
Producions :(
ARCHIVE: If I've said yes before I'll say it again, otherwise email me 'n' lemme know.
FEEDBACK: Don't make me beg, please? ...D'OH!
A/N: Again, these lil cliffhanger endings tend to be going down a little better than my usual drawing to a close method, lol. Maybe I'll hafta remember to end ALL chapters on not quite so fuzzy notes and more of the "omg what's happened?" thing. Nah, I'm only kidding. Wouldn't put you through all that stress. Okay folks, this is chapter 3, written in a spare hour I had going. I don't know when the next will be up, so you'll just have to bear with me :) Patience is a virtue y'know.
___________________________________________________________
Staring round at the dimly lit apartment Max lost herself in thought for long moments. How could all this be happening? Why Logan and why now? Raising the phone again she flipped onto speed dial and called another familiar number. Patiently waiting out the ring tones she drummed her fingers on the back of the small plastic covering and glared at one of Logan's deactivated computer screens.
"Yeah?" the voice on the other end of the phone answered sounding somewhat cheerful.
"Bling?" The relief in her voice was almost tangible as the air around her filled with the sound of her desperate tones.
"Max? Everything okay?"
"Logan's sick." She began sounding a little calmer. "The servo gave out on the suit and he hit his head real bad. He's already been sick and he's still completely out of it. I'm trying to bring his temp down but I don't know what else to do."
Her explanation finished, Max took brief shallow breaths to steady her nerves. She'd been around people when they'd been sick and it'd never bothered her before, but the fact that it was Logan lying there helpless on the bed looking for her to help him almost terrified her. What probably made it worse was the fact that steady as she'd appeared to be, she was all out of options. She wasn't a doctor and most certainly didn't know what extent he was really hurt to. All she could do was hope that whatever she did could bring some comfort until she could get help.
"He's been conscious then?" Bling asked, his voice slipping into command mode.
"Yeah, but he's not coherent at all."
"And you say he vomited?"
"Yeah we already covered that," she replied, her voice clearly allowing her frustration to shine through.
"Temperature too?"
"Yeah Bling, the works. I don't know what to do here."
"Listen, I'm gonna head over right now. With the brownout it'll take me a while to clear the sector points, but what I need for you to do is keep him comfortable," he ordered calmly, managing to maintain his cool alot easier than Max was at that point.
"Bling?" Her voice was suddenly soft and gentle, almost childlike.
"Max?"
"Is he gonna be okay?" she asked still dreading the answer.
"I'll be over as soon as I can," he answered, skimming over her previous question to allow it to go unanswered.
Max knew exactly what he meant. He hadn't wanted to give the answer he knew to be true, the one he knew might destroy her at the thought. Better to keep her in the dark and let her treat Logan as best she could unhindered. But, what Bling didn't take into account was the fact that Max was already there, picturing every awful scene she could come up with. It was like an unending nightmare playing over with different scenarios inside her head, but they all had the same kind of outcome. One she wasn't ashamed to admit terrified her.
Not answering him, Max hung up the phone and held it to her chest again looking down at the darkened hardwood floor beneath her feet. Finally getting it together she carried the phone off to Logan's room where she peered around the door not wanting to disturb him anymore than she had to. He was lying much the same was she'd left him. His cheeks were flushed and his brow ruffled as he slowly shifted around in the bed. His immobile legs remained stretched out before him, eyes closed tight to block out the dull glow of the surrounding candles. He looked so fragile, like at that moment anything could've broken him for good.
Max couldn't remember a time when she'd ever thought that about him, not Logan. When she'd met him he'd been the slightly irritating rich guy playing superhero with his secret identity complete with mask and cyber hacks. A little later he'd been an employer, someone she maintained a deal with, their quid pro quo being mutually beneficial to their needs. She became his new legs on the job and he dug up the information she sought on her family. Now he was a close friend, in truth her best friend. He knew her better than anyone ever had, never shying away from even the darkest of her secrets as they'd been revealed to him.
Something in the back of her mind persisted and made her realize in that instant, watching over him from afar, that it didn't stop there. It went far beyond all definition. They'd never actually said it, but they did care about each other, probably more than they should, even Max knew that. What's more, now that she knew exactly how she felt, it wasn't going to go unsaid for much longer. He was strength to draw on to keep her going.
And yet why was it now she couldn't see anything past his vulnerability? The chair hadn't made him appear weak or vulnerable to her, despite how she knew Logan had thought that at least in some small degree, not giving her the credit she deserved for caring about him, even as a friend. Now it wasn't weakness to admit it, or weakness she saw in the man lying on the bed before her. Right now, much as she hated to admit it, he was helpless. Actually relying on her being there to lend some comfort.
"Mmm," Logan's audible mumble drifted back to her and her eyes came back to focus on him. Moving to him slowly she laid the phone quietly on the night stand closest to her.
"Logan?" she asked softly, slipping onto the bed to sit by him. Slowly she slid her hand out towards his forehead again, taking the now barely damp face cloth away. It had been cool and wet before, but now it just felt warm and icky. Worst of all, his forehead was still hot to the touch and her efforts appeared to be in vain. Sighing softly to herself she looked down at him thoughtfully, trying to think of what to do next. Her hand slid across his forehead and down the left side of his face. She let it settle over his stubbled cheek gently as her thumb continued to stroke over his underlying cheekbone. 'What am I going to do with you?' she thought to herself.
As if on cue Logan's eyes fluttered open slightly to look up at her, albeit rather dazed and with much effort on his part. His lips parted and moved, but no words came out. Max lowered her head towards, turning her ear towards him in a silent gesture for him to repeat it.
"I'm sorry," The words were pushed past his lips as little more than a warm breath as his eyes fell closed again.
"For what?" she asked turning towards him again, but refusing to back off anymore.
Logan's eyes opened again and he looked visibly drained. The usually bright blue of his cerulean eyes was almost covered by his vastly dilated pupils. The black abyss that threatened to take the glow from his eyes only made her want to give up more than half her Manticore given strength to help him get better. His tongue slowly slipped out to wet his drying lips a little before he attempted an answer.
"For this," he began slowly, his voice barely a whisper. "Tonight was supposed to be special. I'm sorry I ruined it."
"There'll be plenty more nights like tonight, anyplace, anytime we want them," she reassured him as the hand that had been on his cheek slipped down and settled comfortably on his chest. "Right now I just wanna see you get better."
There was a brief pause in which Logan managed to open his eyes again, some of the dazed haze slipping from them, leaving him a little less hindered. His words were at least coming out sounding a little more coherent now, much to Max's relief, but she wouldn't feel better, not till Bling was there and Logan was back to normal. Logan lifted his head a little to look down at his predicament. With a tired sigh he let his head fall back onto the pillows again as he returned his attention to Max.
"I do feel a little like I've been hit by a freight train." His voice sounded a little stronger than before.
"I don't know about trains, but you definitely hit the kitchen counter harder than it's ever been hit I'm sure." Her own voice was taking on a slightly more relieved tone as coherence appeared to return to him. It could only be a good thing, right?
"But I took it right?" he offered her a weak smile.
"Yeah, it's not gonna take you on again in a hurry."
"Good," he said sounding a little pleased with himself as he shuffled a little more in bed. It was then that he realized he couldn't move below the waist. The effort made him realize just how fatigued he really was.
"What's wrong?" Max asked noticing the slight frown slipping over his flushed features.
"Just a little tired, that's all."
"You should get some sleep, consider it an order from your acting Commanding Officer. Eyes Only is off active duty as of this moment."
"It's too hot," Logan replied, nodding very slightly at her suggestion of rest.
"Bling's coming over, I don't know what else to do for you right now," Max answered grudgingly. She hated to have to admit it, especially to him, but it was true.
Logan understood the reluctance in her voice. It meant more to him than even he'd have thought at that moment. She wanted to help him, really be there for him when he needed her. How could she not see that she was already going beyond everything he really needed from her at that moment. He wasn't alone and he was with her. That was all he needed.
Sighing he raised his left arm and shifted it aside making a space for Max beside him. Understanding the gesture, she smiled a little and slid in beside him. He was still a little warmer than she'd have liked, but she was really doing all she could. There was cold water and everything else she needed nearby, there'd be no harm in following his request. Sick or not, Max found it especially touching that being close to her was still something he valued even at moments like the one upon them now. Gently snuggling up beside him she felt his arm drop down behind her, closing round to hold her close. It felt nice, just being there for him...with him.
"See, all better," Logan whispered, again his voice dropping to his usual whisper-soft tonnes. Fatigue was plainly evident in his voice now and his speech wasn't quite as sharp as it had been only moments before. Max knew it wasn't over and that there was still a way to go to get out of the woods, but at least he was conscious. Stopping as she noted his suddenly even breathing, Max raised her head to look at him again. His eyes were closed, his features serene at least for now.
"All better," she echoed in a soft whisper. Laying her head back down gently on his chest Max took pleasure in the steady beating of his heart beneath her and prepared for the next stage in the operation.
WRITTEN BY: Drea Jackman
EMAIL: DreaJackman@Literati.co.uk
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: When Logan & Max are drawing closer by the day, what could fate possibly throw
at them next?
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters involved. They belong to Cameron/Eglee
Producions :(
ARCHIVE: If I've said yes before I'll say it again, otherwise email me 'n' lemme know.
FEEDBACK: Don't make me beg, please? ...D'OH!
A/N: Again, these lil cliffhanger endings tend to be going down a little better than my usual drawing to a close method, lol. Maybe I'll hafta remember to end ALL chapters on not quite so fuzzy notes and more of the "omg what's happened?" thing. Nah, I'm only kidding. Wouldn't put you through all that stress. Okay folks, this is chapter 3, written in a spare hour I had going. I don't know when the next will be up, so you'll just have to bear with me :) Patience is a virtue y'know.
___________________________________________________________
Staring round at the dimly lit apartment Max lost herself in thought for long moments. How could all this be happening? Why Logan and why now? Raising the phone again she flipped onto speed dial and called another familiar number. Patiently waiting out the ring tones she drummed her fingers on the back of the small plastic covering and glared at one of Logan's deactivated computer screens.
"Yeah?" the voice on the other end of the phone answered sounding somewhat cheerful.
"Bling?" The relief in her voice was almost tangible as the air around her filled with the sound of her desperate tones.
"Max? Everything okay?"
"Logan's sick." She began sounding a little calmer. "The servo gave out on the suit and he hit his head real bad. He's already been sick and he's still completely out of it. I'm trying to bring his temp down but I don't know what else to do."
Her explanation finished, Max took brief shallow breaths to steady her nerves. She'd been around people when they'd been sick and it'd never bothered her before, but the fact that it was Logan lying there helpless on the bed looking for her to help him almost terrified her. What probably made it worse was the fact that steady as she'd appeared to be, she was all out of options. She wasn't a doctor and most certainly didn't know what extent he was really hurt to. All she could do was hope that whatever she did could bring some comfort until she could get help.
"He's been conscious then?" Bling asked, his voice slipping into command mode.
"Yeah, but he's not coherent at all."
"And you say he vomited?"
"Yeah we already covered that," she replied, her voice clearly allowing her frustration to shine through.
"Temperature too?"
"Yeah Bling, the works. I don't know what to do here."
"Listen, I'm gonna head over right now. With the brownout it'll take me a while to clear the sector points, but what I need for you to do is keep him comfortable," he ordered calmly, managing to maintain his cool alot easier than Max was at that point.
"Bling?" Her voice was suddenly soft and gentle, almost childlike.
"Max?"
"Is he gonna be okay?" she asked still dreading the answer.
"I'll be over as soon as I can," he answered, skimming over her previous question to allow it to go unanswered.
Max knew exactly what he meant. He hadn't wanted to give the answer he knew to be true, the one he knew might destroy her at the thought. Better to keep her in the dark and let her treat Logan as best she could unhindered. But, what Bling didn't take into account was the fact that Max was already there, picturing every awful scene she could come up with. It was like an unending nightmare playing over with different scenarios inside her head, but they all had the same kind of outcome. One she wasn't ashamed to admit terrified her.
Not answering him, Max hung up the phone and held it to her chest again looking down at the darkened hardwood floor beneath her feet. Finally getting it together she carried the phone off to Logan's room where she peered around the door not wanting to disturb him anymore than she had to. He was lying much the same was she'd left him. His cheeks were flushed and his brow ruffled as he slowly shifted around in the bed. His immobile legs remained stretched out before him, eyes closed tight to block out the dull glow of the surrounding candles. He looked so fragile, like at that moment anything could've broken him for good.
Max couldn't remember a time when she'd ever thought that about him, not Logan. When she'd met him he'd been the slightly irritating rich guy playing superhero with his secret identity complete with mask and cyber hacks. A little later he'd been an employer, someone she maintained a deal with, their quid pro quo being mutually beneficial to their needs. She became his new legs on the job and he dug up the information she sought on her family. Now he was a close friend, in truth her best friend. He knew her better than anyone ever had, never shying away from even the darkest of her secrets as they'd been revealed to him.
Something in the back of her mind persisted and made her realize in that instant, watching over him from afar, that it didn't stop there. It went far beyond all definition. They'd never actually said it, but they did care about each other, probably more than they should, even Max knew that. What's more, now that she knew exactly how she felt, it wasn't going to go unsaid for much longer. He was strength to draw on to keep her going.
And yet why was it now she couldn't see anything past his vulnerability? The chair hadn't made him appear weak or vulnerable to her, despite how she knew Logan had thought that at least in some small degree, not giving her the credit she deserved for caring about him, even as a friend. Now it wasn't weakness to admit it, or weakness she saw in the man lying on the bed before her. Right now, much as she hated to admit it, he was helpless. Actually relying on her being there to lend some comfort.
"Mmm," Logan's audible mumble drifted back to her and her eyes came back to focus on him. Moving to him slowly she laid the phone quietly on the night stand closest to her.
"Logan?" she asked softly, slipping onto the bed to sit by him. Slowly she slid her hand out towards his forehead again, taking the now barely damp face cloth away. It had been cool and wet before, but now it just felt warm and icky. Worst of all, his forehead was still hot to the touch and her efforts appeared to be in vain. Sighing softly to herself she looked down at him thoughtfully, trying to think of what to do next. Her hand slid across his forehead and down the left side of his face. She let it settle over his stubbled cheek gently as her thumb continued to stroke over his underlying cheekbone. 'What am I going to do with you?' she thought to herself.
As if on cue Logan's eyes fluttered open slightly to look up at her, albeit rather dazed and with much effort on his part. His lips parted and moved, but no words came out. Max lowered her head towards, turning her ear towards him in a silent gesture for him to repeat it.
"I'm sorry," The words were pushed past his lips as little more than a warm breath as his eyes fell closed again.
"For what?" she asked turning towards him again, but refusing to back off anymore.
Logan's eyes opened again and he looked visibly drained. The usually bright blue of his cerulean eyes was almost covered by his vastly dilated pupils. The black abyss that threatened to take the glow from his eyes only made her want to give up more than half her Manticore given strength to help him get better. His tongue slowly slipped out to wet his drying lips a little before he attempted an answer.
"For this," he began slowly, his voice barely a whisper. "Tonight was supposed to be special. I'm sorry I ruined it."
"There'll be plenty more nights like tonight, anyplace, anytime we want them," she reassured him as the hand that had been on his cheek slipped down and settled comfortably on his chest. "Right now I just wanna see you get better."
There was a brief pause in which Logan managed to open his eyes again, some of the dazed haze slipping from them, leaving him a little less hindered. His words were at least coming out sounding a little more coherent now, much to Max's relief, but she wouldn't feel better, not till Bling was there and Logan was back to normal. Logan lifted his head a little to look down at his predicament. With a tired sigh he let his head fall back onto the pillows again as he returned his attention to Max.
"I do feel a little like I've been hit by a freight train." His voice sounded a little stronger than before.
"I don't know about trains, but you definitely hit the kitchen counter harder than it's ever been hit I'm sure." Her own voice was taking on a slightly more relieved tone as coherence appeared to return to him. It could only be a good thing, right?
"But I took it right?" he offered her a weak smile.
"Yeah, it's not gonna take you on again in a hurry."
"Good," he said sounding a little pleased with himself as he shuffled a little more in bed. It was then that he realized he couldn't move below the waist. The effort made him realize just how fatigued he really was.
"What's wrong?" Max asked noticing the slight frown slipping over his flushed features.
"Just a little tired, that's all."
"You should get some sleep, consider it an order from your acting Commanding Officer. Eyes Only is off active duty as of this moment."
"It's too hot," Logan replied, nodding very slightly at her suggestion of rest.
"Bling's coming over, I don't know what else to do for you right now," Max answered grudgingly. She hated to have to admit it, especially to him, but it was true.
Logan understood the reluctance in her voice. It meant more to him than even he'd have thought at that moment. She wanted to help him, really be there for him when he needed her. How could she not see that she was already going beyond everything he really needed from her at that moment. He wasn't alone and he was with her. That was all he needed.
Sighing he raised his left arm and shifted it aside making a space for Max beside him. Understanding the gesture, she smiled a little and slid in beside him. He was still a little warmer than she'd have liked, but she was really doing all she could. There was cold water and everything else she needed nearby, there'd be no harm in following his request. Sick or not, Max found it especially touching that being close to her was still something he valued even at moments like the one upon them now. Gently snuggling up beside him she felt his arm drop down behind her, closing round to hold her close. It felt nice, just being there for him...with him.
"See, all better," Logan whispered, again his voice dropping to his usual whisper-soft tonnes. Fatigue was plainly evident in his voice now and his speech wasn't quite as sharp as it had been only moments before. Max knew it wasn't over and that there was still a way to go to get out of the woods, but at least he was conscious. Stopping as she noted his suddenly even breathing, Max raised her head to look at him again. His eyes were closed, his features serene at least for now.
"All better," she echoed in a soft whisper. Laying her head back down gently on his chest Max took pleasure in the steady beating of his heart beneath her and prepared for the next stage in the operation.
