"So." Logan and Max said simultaneously, then stopped as they remembered the last time they had sat at this same counter, saying that same word. Max began to rise.
"I should go."
"Don't." Logan's voice was soft and the look in his eyes cut her to the quick.
"At least finish your sandwich. You won't have time to grab anything else now that I dragged you over here on your lunch hour." Max shrugged and picked up the sandwich taking a bite. There was silence for a few moments as Max ate and Logan was content to sit and watch her, drinking in her presence.
"I miss you, you know." he finally said softly. Max looked at him not knowing what to say so he continued.
"I thought you were dead. I wished I were dead. But you came back and I had you back for all of 2 minutes. Now you're gone again and it's worse than when you were dead because I know you're here but you won't come see me."
"Logan, I…" Max began.
"Max don't you get it? I can wait to touch you. I'm happy for now just being in the same room with you, talking to you, watching you. That's so much more than I thought I'd ever have again."
"I almost killed you. Twice. I'm just so afraid that if I'm around you I'll do something stupid again like the spoon in the sauce. I'm afraid, Logan."
"You're killing me just the same. Staying away from me is killing me." Max stared at him torn between her fears and his pain.
"Maybe you should just forget about me, Maybe I shouldn't have come back and should have just let you think I was dead. I'm nothing but trouble Logan. I'm danger to everyone I care about. I almost got Cindy killed, and I almost got you killed. Zack's dead because of me, Tinga's dead, Brin's missing." Moved by the anguish in her words, Logan wanted nothing more than to go to her and pull her into his arms and comfort her. Instead all he had were words and he prayed they would be enough.
"Max, it's not your fault. You never asked to be what you are; you never asked Manticore to come after you and your siblings. You've done nothing but try to overcome what they did to you. You made sure Cindy and I didn't die and you gave Brin her own choice. Zack and Tinga made their own choices too. Aside from that, you've saved my life over and over whenever I got into trouble from my own actions. You can't take on total responsibility for the world. If you continue to do what you're doing Manticore wins, Max." Max nodded but Logan couldn't tell if he had gotten through to her.
"Look all I'm asking is that you don't shut me out. Hell if you want I'll try to find a biohazard suit and I'll wear it when you come over. That way you can't do anything to infect me." Max smiled at the thought of Logan suited up like a haz mat crew member and Logan grinned back at her.
"Look Logan just let me think about things for a few days. Now I really do have to blaze, Normal is going to have my ass for this." She carefully picked up the remnants of her sandwich and brought them to the sink where she proceeded to put them down the disposal as Logan watched her. Taking her plate she ran it under steaming hot water then rinsed it with soap and placed it in his dishwasher.
"If he does I'll just have to kill him. No one touches my girl but me." Max looked at him startled by his words and the underlying seriousness despite his light tone. Logan met her gaze steadily refusing to give ground. Finally Max smiled and, grabbing her backpack from the floor where she had dropped it when she came in, headed for the door. "Call me tomorrow and let me know how it's going with our problem child." Logan reminded her. She grimaced.
"You are going to pay one day for sticking me with him you know."
"I can't wait," he teased back. His words and their underlying meaning had her catching her breath once more and she quickly turned to leave but not before he caught her reaction. Satisfied, Logan smiled to himself and turned to go back to his computer room, determined to track down someone who could help the two of them find a solution to the virus.
* * * * * * * * *
Next evening Logan had just put the finishing touches on his dinner when he heard the door open. Smiling he turned words of welcome for Max on his tongue, only to stop as he saw Alec walk in.
"Max said to tell you she had to spend some time with Cindy. Seems her latest chick dumped her big time and Max thought she needed a friend tonight. What's with that anyway? "
"What's with what?" Logan sighed; disappointed that it wasn't Max. He had been hoping but wasn't altogether surprised. She was going to need some time; he only hoped he could make some progress on finding a cure quickly.
"Cindy. Why in hell would a chick as hot as her want to play that game?"
"Didn't succumb to your charming self I take it? " Logan observed dryly.
Alec shrugged and Logan chuckled to himself picturing Cindy letting Alec know the facts of life. He had to admit that Alec was entertaining to have around and in some small way his smart-ass comments reminded Logan of Max.
"Thanks for the info. I take it you didn't make the trip all the way here just to tell me that?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I said I did. Max asked me to drop this off to you " Alec pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Logan. Unwilling to open it in front of Alec's frankly curious stare Logan slipped it into his shirt pocket.
"Well then, thanks." He turned and headed for the kitchen leaving Alec to let himself out. Alec however refused to take the hint and followed him, picking up a pot lid and sniffing appreciatively.
"Max said you were a gourmet cook." Logan sighed and pulled out another plate.
"I'm obviously not getting rid of you until I feed you. What else did Max say to you about me?" Alec smiled to himself pleased at his progress. Logan was definitely going to be a useful ally to have and all he had to do was feed the guy some tidbits about Max.
"She doesn't talk about you much. But if your name happens to come up she goes all female if you know what I mean." Logan waited for him to elaborate. "She's got it bad for you. Not something we were trained for at Manticore that's for sure. Guess those 10 years in the world screwed up her emotional conditioning big time."
"Guess so." Logan said dryly. Alec was silent for a moment realizing his faux pas then shrugged and tried again.
"So, made any progress on the docs?" Alec asked.
"Tracked down a couple you picked out. One of them sounds pretty promising and he's supposed to be in Seattle next week for a medical conference. I'll try to get some credentials and get in to talk to him."
"Want some company?"
"Why exactly would I want that?" Logan asked him.
"Never know who's going to turn up at these things. Touchy subject genetic engineering. Might attract some unsavory government types if you know what I mean."
"And your point is?"
"Max can't really go to ride shotgun, I mean not with the way things are right now, so I thought I'd offer my services. For my sister's sake of course."
"Of course. Forgive me if I don't quite get all of this."
Alec regarded him innocently. "All of what?"
"You're suddenly my best friend? I don't buy it Alec. You're an opportunistic bastard who's out for his own best interest."
"I admit I have to look out for myself. It's a cold world Logan. You know that better than anyone. But that doesn't mean I don't need friends too. You and Max are the only ones who know what I am. Look I know I screwed up but you seem like a fair guy. Give me a chance. If you do, Max will."
Logan had no illusions about Alec's trustworthiness. As he figured it he was completely untrustworthy. But the fact was that Alec did have a point about the conference and it wouldn't hurt to keep him in sight.
"Look I'll see if I can get us both credentials. One condition. Max isn't to know anything about this." Logan gave Alec a hard look and Alec nodded.
"Your call. Let me know the time and place and I'll be there. Thanks for the food." Rising from the table he started for the door.
"No problem. Look do me a favor, Max is having a hard time right now. Don't make it any harder for her, okay? You owe her that much at the very least." The last a pointed reference to Max's actions in saving Alec's life. Alec flinched slightly at the reminder, which Logan was happy to see.
"Sure, whatever." With that Alec was out the door leaving Logan to open the envelope Max had sent him. A folded note fell out and he smiled as he read its contents.
Logan,
Sorry I couldn't make it tonight but my boo is in need. I know you understand that I have to be there for her. I've been thinking about what you said and I'm working on things. Don't give up on me yet. BTW don't let Alec put anything over on you. He'll probably con you into dinner but watch your wallet with him. Hit me tomorrow, K.
Max
He carefully refolded the note and put it back in his pocket. Trust Max to be to the point. At least she had sent him a note; he had to regard that as a step in the right direction. He would definitely "hit her tomorrow". Hearing her voice kept him going. Still smiling he headed out to clean up the remnants of dinner before going back to work.
