Chapter 16

AN: its just easier to do it as separate chapters…r  u bored with this story yet? Tell me if you are…Maybe its just me but it's feeling kinda slow…maybe it's cause I'd rather be writing new stuff then transferring the old stuff to my computer…(Christmas list please Santa bring me a laptop…yeah right) 

Max woke up in Logan's arms.  Feelings of warmth flooded her system and she snuggled closer in his protective embrace.  Well feelings of warmth flooded her until she realized exactly where she was, until her brain wrapped around the enormity of the situation.  What had she done?

Remembering the previous night's conversation she mentally kicked herself.  She'd never meant to let him that close.  She'd never planned on letting anyone that close.  But that was the problem with Logan.  All plans flew out the window when he touched her.  All carefully erected walls were torn down with inhumane speed when he held her.  And she found herself pouring out her soul when he whispered in her ear.

But it was too much, too fast, and Max found herself sinking and spinning out of control as she fought against it.  She'd never felt so safe, happy, lonely, scared and confused in one moment.  Max had never been schooled in emotions and now with so many threatening to strangle her; she had to break the surface somewhere.

Detangling his arms from around her she tried to move out of his reach but found that as soon as she moved one arm the other would make it's way back, holding her tight.

Logan by now was fully awake, only pretending sleep so he could hold her longer.  He wasn't stupid.  He knew that as soon as his eyes opened it would all be over for them both.  Max was no longer content and comfortable in his arms with no darkness to shroud her.  He could feel the tension building in her as the seconds passed.

"Roll over and let me clean your back." He whispered in her ear, his breath tickling, his stubble scratching the sensitive skin on her neck and sending sparks through her system, electricity coursing down her spine.

 Obediently she rolled on to her stomach.

Max didn't understand why she trusted him so deeply. 

Carefully he pulled up her shirt to expose the blood soaked bandage.  Removing it expecting the worst, Logan was amazed to find her wound almost completely healed.   Logan let his hand rest on her disfigured skin eliciting a small moan from Max.

"Sorry." He muttered pulling his hand away quickly as if her skin burned him.  Max's face flushed in embarrassment, he hadn't hurt her.  In fact she foolishly wished he'd put his hand back, maybe even try putting his lips there too.

Why did she keep having these thoughts?  What was it about him?  It aggravated her beyond belief.

"I'll be back in a second." Logan spit out quickly and rushed out of the room before he could do something they'd regret and before she could see the effect she was having on him.  Max let out a sigh of relief, she didn't know how much longer she could stay here with the tension both of them seemed to love playing with, until the other couldn't stand it anymore, building at the rate that it was.

Coming back five minutes later with some fresh sheets and a bowl of warm soapy water, Logan sat down on the edge of the bed next to Max.

Max closed her eyes and bit her lip to prevent any further sounds from escaping as Logan started his ministrations.  His hands moved slowly, marveling at the miracle occurring on her back.

"It's almost gone isn't it?" Max finally worked up the nerve to question.

"You're amazing Max." Logan answered his voice full of awe as he pulled away from her.

"No just have a good warrantee that's all." She answered flippantly brushing his comment away as she sat up to face him.

"I'm leaving today." She informed him abruptly.

"Stay…at least until you…" Logan broke off knowing his words were futile.

"Logan, we both know I'm capable of taking care of myself." Logan nodded.

"I'll go make some breakfast."  Max gave him a quick smile and tousled his hair for his good sportsmanship.

"I'm going to take a quick shower." Part of her wanted to stay and part of her wanted to ask Logan to join her but she knew she couldn't.  She had a mission, an obligation, a duty.  She couldn't afford to fail this time.

Logan wasn't blind, he saw the inner turmoil, it was clear as day in the depths of her dark eyes.  And he found he couldn't hide the longing in his eyes any easier then she could hide her feelings from her eyes.

It would be better when she left.  Both of them could finally go back to life as normal; whatever that meant.  Logan had a feeling however that life would never be normal again, and looking over at Max he noticed that her eyes confirmed his feeling.

Walls had broken down last night.  Max was still trying desperately to rebuild hers, but Logan knew it was only a matter of time before she realized just how useless her task was.  He'd already given up on his walls.  It hadn't been easy and he had fought it every step of the way.  But recognizing the uselessness and the wasted energy it took, he had closed his eyes and taken that jump.  He only hoped that when he landed, for land he must, that she would be there to catch him.

It was then Max knew she couldn't kill Logan.  Somewhere she'd known it all along. Maybe it was then that she decided to stop fighting it.  As he left the room she bit back tears.  What other choice did she have?  Screw Manticore.  Why did things have to be so complicated?  Why did Logan have to be so intense?  Was he in love with her?  Better question, was she in love with him?

Nothing made sense anymore, but in an odd way, Max found she sort of liked it like that.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Alec asked as he spied on Max and Logan from a building across the street with Zack.

"Look, I know Max. You know Max.  It's the only way." Zack said shortly.

"If you say so, but remember it was I who found her at that bar." Alec offered trying to joke but finding it not entirely possible.  What they were about to do would hurt more then just this Logan Cale, if Zack was right it would hurt Max too.  And neither of them wanted to hurt her.  Alec wished she'd taken their advice and run when she had the chance.

"Get ready." Zack ordered. Alec only nodded.

"So this is it." Logan stated plainly.  Breakfast had been eaten, the kitchen had been cleaned, and they'd played cat and mouse until Logan was sure they held the world record for longest game played.

"This is it." Max repeated humbly.

"You were a great houseguest, attitude and all."

"I don't hate you anymore just severely dislike." Max offered not knowing what to say.

"Visit me once in awhile?" Logan questioned

"I will."  They both knew she was lying.  Max had made up her mind to blow town that afternoon before Zack came looking.

"I…I …I don't want to." Max blurted out suddenly.

"Stay." Logan begged. "The guestroom isn't as nice as my room but…" he started but broke off when he couldn't talk anymore.

The connection between them was too strong.

Max flung herself into Logan's arms almost causing him to fly out the window behind him.

"Logan." She cried and started showering his face with kisses. 

"Max." he begged following suit.

"Logan, I can't." kissing his nose.

"Then don't." kissing her cheek.

"I have to you don't understand." At her words, Logan pulled away and held her back by cupping her jaw in his hands.

"Are they after you?" he asked lightly, fighting the urge to continue kissing her.

"Logan, I didn't run away.  I was sent…to kill you…Eyes Only…I couldn't.  I can't.  I'm sorry." Tears started to roll down her cheeks.  "Logan I…" he pulled her to him and silenced her with a kiss.  Breaking away gasping for air he once more cupped her chin.

"Max…I don't care…It's okay…It will be alright… Max, I need you." Here he hesitated. But finding courage somewhere he forged on. "Last night you talked about fate…People destined to be together…Max…I…" Logan didn't get to finish.

A gunshot cut his words off and he crumpled in her arms broken.

"Logan. No!" There was so much blood.  It stained her hands, the floor, everything and it continued to puddle. "No please." She willed it to stop spilling from his body. By now she was openly sobbing.  "Logan, look at me." She demanded.  When his eyes found hers she thought maybe he had a chance but his eyes were clouded and glassy from shock.  She knew there were things she could do to help him but all her training flew out the little hole the bullet left in his glass window.

"Max." Damn it she needed her walls.

"Shhh." He couldn't talk now.  Later when he was better then he could tell her anything and she'd listen.   Why couldn't he understand now was not the time for these things?

"Max, I love you." Then his eyes closed.

Max didn't hear Alec sneak up behind her.  She didn't hear him grab a lamp or his hesitation.  All she knew was that suddenly her world joined Logan's in darkness.