Logan had never felt more useless before in his life. All he could do was watch as Max shielded the girl with her own body, landing on her back her eyes blankly staring at the ceiling. What was she doing? Why would she risk her life for anything that was Manticore let alone a prototype who just tried to kill her? Both Bling and himself watched as the scene was coming to a close. Zack was at Max's side in the blink of an eye, stroking her hair and mumbling something. He applied pressure to the wound, trying to stop the blood which was now pooling beneath her. Kat sat up against the wall, gun still in hand, hugging her knees and slowly rocking back and forth.
The black haired girl stood there as if in shock, maybe because Kat had actually shot at her, or maybe because Max's actions confused her as much as it did Logan and Bling. She signaled something too fast for Logan to see, and the boy picked up Lydecker throwing the still limp body over his shoulder, blood staining his shirt. After adjusting the body he ducked out the window and jumped.
Video became reality as he landed in front of the car, giving them a quick once over then sprinting away down the alley. His movements were not awkward despite the man slung on his shoulders, a testimony to the X-6's true power. A few seconds later, the girl landed before them. Landing so gracefully, she did even have to pause before she sprinted off after the boy.
*****
The boy picked up Lydecker at her command and jumped out the window. She turned to do the same, but could not resist one look back. Max lay on the floor, the blood growing noticeably beneath. There was no tactical advantage to that act; there was no rational purpose for that course of action. It was a useless gesture, and she could not understand it. These adversaries confused her. Turning, she leaped out the window to follow her brother to the rally point.
*****
After what seemed an eternity Kat lifted her head and looked at what she had done. Her voice was weak when she spoke, "Zack, I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright, Kat," his voice was tender, "She'll live, we just need to give her some blood."
"Why did she..."
"Who knows why Max does what she does?" Zack cut her off when he heard her voice quiver for he knew if she began to cry he might be tempted to do so as well. He knew why Max did it. She was trying to save the girl because it was her daughter. Their daughter. He didn't want to admit it but deep down inside he didn't want Kat to pull the trigger either. As he fought his son he had an odd sense of pride. These two were of his own flesh and he would rather see them as soldiers for Manticore then die. That thought alone was difficult to wrap his head around.
Max had lost a lot of blood by now, her face was pale as death. He was not confident in his own promise to Kat that she would live. But at least the pool of blood had stopped growing.
"We gotta go," he said as he gathered up Max's seemingly lifeless body in his arms. "I will not let you die," he whispered into her ear as he cradled her closer to jump out the window, "I will not let you leave me."
*****
The sterile walls of the hospital offered no comfort. Kat stood by her side stroking back her hair. Max's face was so pale, emphasizing the bruises and cuts that much more. The doctors had fished out the bullet, and stitched her up nicely. No questions were asked thanks to Logan's connections. He was downstairs getting some food and Bling was in the car with Cole. Zack was currently in the other room donating blood, it would be her turn soon. But for now she was alone with Max, and the tears clouded her vision. Max saved her life time and again and she repaid her with a bullet.
"Max, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. My reaction wasn't fast enough..." She truly believed it was all her fault and no one could convince her otherwise. Not just because it was her finger that pulled the trigger, but because she was to blame for this whole situation. If she hadn't seduced Zack that night… Zack thought it was simple pheromones, which it was, but his reaction would not have been so strong had she not locked herself in her room, closing every vent to trap the natural perfume. Foolishly she thought that if he spent the night in her arms he would understand how he made her feel. "Please don't die. I've found you again and I don't want to lose you."
"Hey, Kat they're ready for you." Zack stepped in flexing the arm they had just drained blood from. Kat kissed Max's forehead and left, rolling up her sleeve.
Zack waited patiently for her footsteps to turn the corner before approaching the bed. "I know we're supposed to be doing this according to the book but it's taking too long," Zack confessed, pulling out some blood transfusion equipment. He pierced his vein as he talked, "I told them I could give more, but the lady didn't believe me, I had already given a quart more than usual…" His blood flowed down the tube into Max's thirsty veins. "Max you can't leave me," he tenderly whispered, gently stroking her pale cheek with the back of his fingers, "I know what Kat told you. I heard everything. Max, you will not die. I won't let it happen."
*****
"Logan."
Logan slowed and turned to find Dr. Carr following. "Hello, Doctor. Thanks for this by the way. It's important to her that no one knows where she is."
"Someone you're housing for your... boss?" Dr. Carr knew about as much as any informants Logan contacted.
"Uh, yeah... We shouldn't be long. She's a fast healer."
"She got shot and lost a lot of blood Logan," Dr. Carr was concerned, "It was damn coincidence those other two donors were here, but she will not heal in a day."
"We have to get her out of here to a secure place. There are equipment and doctors waiting." Logan turned and began to wheel away slowly.
"If she's that important..." Dr. Carr followed.
"She is."
There was a moment of silence before the doctor started up again. "I have something I want to run past you, Logan."
Logan slowed, looking at the doctor. His tone suggested he was about to propose something that Logan just didn't want to hear. The doctor smiled, confirming Logan's suspicions. Pushing at his wheels he sped up so that the doctor had to quicken his stride to keep pace.
"No."
"Just hear me out, Logan. It could change your life."
Logan did not slow. "You were the one, good doctor, who told me that I would never walk. Then you told me about a study being preformed on quadriplegics. Then you told me it was a failure. More research, more failures. I don't want to hear it."
"This one is promising Logan."
To that Logan came to a jarring stop. "Like the ones before it?" He did not try to hide the menace in his voice. The good doctor had taken it upon himself to bring Logan's hopes up just to let them come crashing down and Logan wasn't about to let that happen again. The room that held Max was just down the hall and he just wanted to be by her side, he didn't want to put up with this.
"Logan. You want to walk right? Then you have to try everything."
"I want to walk but I also have to be realistic. I will not walk again."
"The tests for this highly experimental surgery has an eighty percent success rate on lab mice and a seventy percent success rate on primates. Logan," he paused to make sure Logan heard what he was saying, "of the three people who have undergone this surgery, three are now on their own two feet."
"And what does that mean for me?"
"You will be walking by the end of the week."
*****
The blood had already drained from Zack's face when he finally pulled out the needle. That was all he could give for now. The rest he donated, which the nurse insisted on purifying, and the amount Kat was giving as well would bring Max back to health in two days or less. He watched her face, more peaceful now, as she slept. He would conquer hell if it meant she were safe. But she never needed him. If Max was born first she would have probably been the one Lydecker had designated to be leader.
Everything Kat had said was true, though he had never wanted to admit it. Him, having feelings? And of love? Of all the years he had roamed the cities of America he had seen the endless parade of couples, holding and touching and kissing each other. It angered him every time. Didn't they know that by showing these displays of affection they were endangering their partners? Couldn't they understand they were forcing their own enemies onto their mates. But now Zack realized why he hated to watch these couples as they paraded their love about. He wanted something like that. He wanted someone to hold. Someone to show the affection that he was denied all his life.
When Max was around he couldn't explain how he felt. That morning when he saw her come out of Logan's room, he had never felt more rage or jealousy before in his hate filled life. It wasn't just professional admiration or a need to protect her like the others. She frustrated him with her stubbornness. No one ever treated him like she did. Max never backed down, nor bent to his will. She was a challenge. And he always loved a good challenge.
"I..." his voice faltered just for a moment, but he knew he would only be able to say this to her when she could not respond and crush him with her rejection, "...I love you" He leaned down until his face was only inches from hers, stroking back her hair, he lay a soft kiss upon her lips, now full and red with his blood. As he pulled away she let out a soft moan, her eyebrows furrowing as though she was sleeping beauty awakening from sweet slumber.
He was wrong. She could hurt him with a word, even if she was in this half state of consciousness. And that one word escaped the lips he had just kissed, her voice full of longing, "Logan..."
*****
Logan had a battle in his mind, nearly running into at least four people on his way back to Max's room. What if what the doctor said was true and he could be walking? But his more cynical side would always take hold. Why should he believe the doctor this time? Sure it sounded good but so did the other experiments. But then why would he pass this up? Three paraplegics just like him had their legs back. That was so far a hundred percent success rate. So far a hundred percent, but he would be that inevitable failure that reduced that rate.
The arguments went back and forth in his head. Every time any glimmer of hope shined down on his miserable life it would disappear again. He was now at the door, when he saw Zack standing over her. Logan didn't know why but he didn't want to interrupt, so he waited just outside. Through the slightly ajar door he could see Zack remove something from his arm. Probably a needle, giving her blood just as Max had done those weeks ago. Silently he watched as Zack stood there not speaking a word. After a minute or so something did leave his lips, but it was so quiet Logan could not hear. Then jealousy rose in Logan's throat as he saw Zack lean over and kiss Max.
Max was not some thing, some trophy to be won, but Logan felt the urge to go in there and claim what was his. But he stopped himself, he was a better man than that. Max would choose her own fate, it was what she always did.
Seconds later he heard a voice that sounded like Max. Whatever word was spoken seemed to have frozen Zack in his place. And only moments after that Zack burst out of the room. It was apparent that he was the last person Zack wanted to see, and his gaze shot icicles, but there was something else behind those eyes. Past the rage, and beyond the hatred Zack seemed to be asking him a question. Knowing Zack, it was more like an ultimatum: Take care of her or I will kill you.
Logan held his ground Zack passed, and then made his way to Max's bed. She lay there with a peaceful look on her face, maybe she had finally found that tranquil state she had always been searching for. "Hey you," he quietly greeted, as though he might wake her from her much needed sleep. "You kinda scared us there... You scared me Max..."
He reached for her hand and held it tight. "I don't know what it is... I don't know what you're doing to me. But, well, I do know that," he fumbled with the words, smiling as he laughed at himself, "God, look at me, I can talk to millions of people to try and avenge the world… What I'm trying to say is. I think I love you. And I just hope you know that I will always be here. Ever since the day I saw you, you have awakened something in my soul and if you die…I don't think I could fill that void."
He tried to touch her face, but his sitting position wouldn't allow him to reach her. He had never hated anything more in his life then he hated his paralysis now.
The black haired girl stood there as if in shock, maybe because Kat had actually shot at her, or maybe because Max's actions confused her as much as it did Logan and Bling. She signaled something too fast for Logan to see, and the boy picked up Lydecker throwing the still limp body over his shoulder, blood staining his shirt. After adjusting the body he ducked out the window and jumped.
Video became reality as he landed in front of the car, giving them a quick once over then sprinting away down the alley. His movements were not awkward despite the man slung on his shoulders, a testimony to the X-6's true power. A few seconds later, the girl landed before them. Landing so gracefully, she did even have to pause before she sprinted off after the boy.
*****
The boy picked up Lydecker at her command and jumped out the window. She turned to do the same, but could not resist one look back. Max lay on the floor, the blood growing noticeably beneath. There was no tactical advantage to that act; there was no rational purpose for that course of action. It was a useless gesture, and she could not understand it. These adversaries confused her. Turning, she leaped out the window to follow her brother to the rally point.
*****
After what seemed an eternity Kat lifted her head and looked at what she had done. Her voice was weak when she spoke, "Zack, I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright, Kat," his voice was tender, "She'll live, we just need to give her some blood."
"Why did she..."
"Who knows why Max does what she does?" Zack cut her off when he heard her voice quiver for he knew if she began to cry he might be tempted to do so as well. He knew why Max did it. She was trying to save the girl because it was her daughter. Their daughter. He didn't want to admit it but deep down inside he didn't want Kat to pull the trigger either. As he fought his son he had an odd sense of pride. These two were of his own flesh and he would rather see them as soldiers for Manticore then die. That thought alone was difficult to wrap his head around.
Max had lost a lot of blood by now, her face was pale as death. He was not confident in his own promise to Kat that she would live. But at least the pool of blood had stopped growing.
"We gotta go," he said as he gathered up Max's seemingly lifeless body in his arms. "I will not let you die," he whispered into her ear as he cradled her closer to jump out the window, "I will not let you leave me."
*****
The sterile walls of the hospital offered no comfort. Kat stood by her side stroking back her hair. Max's face was so pale, emphasizing the bruises and cuts that much more. The doctors had fished out the bullet, and stitched her up nicely. No questions were asked thanks to Logan's connections. He was downstairs getting some food and Bling was in the car with Cole. Zack was currently in the other room donating blood, it would be her turn soon. But for now she was alone with Max, and the tears clouded her vision. Max saved her life time and again and she repaid her with a bullet.
"Max, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. My reaction wasn't fast enough..." She truly believed it was all her fault and no one could convince her otherwise. Not just because it was her finger that pulled the trigger, but because she was to blame for this whole situation. If she hadn't seduced Zack that night… Zack thought it was simple pheromones, which it was, but his reaction would not have been so strong had she not locked herself in her room, closing every vent to trap the natural perfume. Foolishly she thought that if he spent the night in her arms he would understand how he made her feel. "Please don't die. I've found you again and I don't want to lose you."
"Hey, Kat they're ready for you." Zack stepped in flexing the arm they had just drained blood from. Kat kissed Max's forehead and left, rolling up her sleeve.
Zack waited patiently for her footsteps to turn the corner before approaching the bed. "I know we're supposed to be doing this according to the book but it's taking too long," Zack confessed, pulling out some blood transfusion equipment. He pierced his vein as he talked, "I told them I could give more, but the lady didn't believe me, I had already given a quart more than usual…" His blood flowed down the tube into Max's thirsty veins. "Max you can't leave me," he tenderly whispered, gently stroking her pale cheek with the back of his fingers, "I know what Kat told you. I heard everything. Max, you will not die. I won't let it happen."
*****
"Logan."
Logan slowed and turned to find Dr. Carr following. "Hello, Doctor. Thanks for this by the way. It's important to her that no one knows where she is."
"Someone you're housing for your... boss?" Dr. Carr knew about as much as any informants Logan contacted.
"Uh, yeah... We shouldn't be long. She's a fast healer."
"She got shot and lost a lot of blood Logan," Dr. Carr was concerned, "It was damn coincidence those other two donors were here, but she will not heal in a day."
"We have to get her out of here to a secure place. There are equipment and doctors waiting." Logan turned and began to wheel away slowly.
"If she's that important..." Dr. Carr followed.
"She is."
There was a moment of silence before the doctor started up again. "I have something I want to run past you, Logan."
Logan slowed, looking at the doctor. His tone suggested he was about to propose something that Logan just didn't want to hear. The doctor smiled, confirming Logan's suspicions. Pushing at his wheels he sped up so that the doctor had to quicken his stride to keep pace.
"No."
"Just hear me out, Logan. It could change your life."
Logan did not slow. "You were the one, good doctor, who told me that I would never walk. Then you told me about a study being preformed on quadriplegics. Then you told me it was a failure. More research, more failures. I don't want to hear it."
"This one is promising Logan."
To that Logan came to a jarring stop. "Like the ones before it?" He did not try to hide the menace in his voice. The good doctor had taken it upon himself to bring Logan's hopes up just to let them come crashing down and Logan wasn't about to let that happen again. The room that held Max was just down the hall and he just wanted to be by her side, he didn't want to put up with this.
"Logan. You want to walk right? Then you have to try everything."
"I want to walk but I also have to be realistic. I will not walk again."
"The tests for this highly experimental surgery has an eighty percent success rate on lab mice and a seventy percent success rate on primates. Logan," he paused to make sure Logan heard what he was saying, "of the three people who have undergone this surgery, three are now on their own two feet."
"And what does that mean for me?"
"You will be walking by the end of the week."
*****
The blood had already drained from Zack's face when he finally pulled out the needle. That was all he could give for now. The rest he donated, which the nurse insisted on purifying, and the amount Kat was giving as well would bring Max back to health in two days or less. He watched her face, more peaceful now, as she slept. He would conquer hell if it meant she were safe. But she never needed him. If Max was born first she would have probably been the one Lydecker had designated to be leader.
Everything Kat had said was true, though he had never wanted to admit it. Him, having feelings? And of love? Of all the years he had roamed the cities of America he had seen the endless parade of couples, holding and touching and kissing each other. It angered him every time. Didn't they know that by showing these displays of affection they were endangering their partners? Couldn't they understand they were forcing their own enemies onto their mates. But now Zack realized why he hated to watch these couples as they paraded their love about. He wanted something like that. He wanted someone to hold. Someone to show the affection that he was denied all his life.
When Max was around he couldn't explain how he felt. That morning when he saw her come out of Logan's room, he had never felt more rage or jealousy before in his hate filled life. It wasn't just professional admiration or a need to protect her like the others. She frustrated him with her stubbornness. No one ever treated him like she did. Max never backed down, nor bent to his will. She was a challenge. And he always loved a good challenge.
"I..." his voice faltered just for a moment, but he knew he would only be able to say this to her when she could not respond and crush him with her rejection, "...I love you" He leaned down until his face was only inches from hers, stroking back her hair, he lay a soft kiss upon her lips, now full and red with his blood. As he pulled away she let out a soft moan, her eyebrows furrowing as though she was sleeping beauty awakening from sweet slumber.
He was wrong. She could hurt him with a word, even if she was in this half state of consciousness. And that one word escaped the lips he had just kissed, her voice full of longing, "Logan..."
*****
Logan had a battle in his mind, nearly running into at least four people on his way back to Max's room. What if what the doctor said was true and he could be walking? But his more cynical side would always take hold. Why should he believe the doctor this time? Sure it sounded good but so did the other experiments. But then why would he pass this up? Three paraplegics just like him had their legs back. That was so far a hundred percent success rate. So far a hundred percent, but he would be that inevitable failure that reduced that rate.
The arguments went back and forth in his head. Every time any glimmer of hope shined down on his miserable life it would disappear again. He was now at the door, when he saw Zack standing over her. Logan didn't know why but he didn't want to interrupt, so he waited just outside. Through the slightly ajar door he could see Zack remove something from his arm. Probably a needle, giving her blood just as Max had done those weeks ago. Silently he watched as Zack stood there not speaking a word. After a minute or so something did leave his lips, but it was so quiet Logan could not hear. Then jealousy rose in Logan's throat as he saw Zack lean over and kiss Max.
Max was not some thing, some trophy to be won, but Logan felt the urge to go in there and claim what was his. But he stopped himself, he was a better man than that. Max would choose her own fate, it was what she always did.
Seconds later he heard a voice that sounded like Max. Whatever word was spoken seemed to have frozen Zack in his place. And only moments after that Zack burst out of the room. It was apparent that he was the last person Zack wanted to see, and his gaze shot icicles, but there was something else behind those eyes. Past the rage, and beyond the hatred Zack seemed to be asking him a question. Knowing Zack, it was more like an ultimatum: Take care of her or I will kill you.
Logan held his ground Zack passed, and then made his way to Max's bed. She lay there with a peaceful look on her face, maybe she had finally found that tranquil state she had always been searching for. "Hey you," he quietly greeted, as though he might wake her from her much needed sleep. "You kinda scared us there... You scared me Max..."
He reached for her hand and held it tight. "I don't know what it is... I don't know what you're doing to me. But, well, I do know that," he fumbled with the words, smiling as he laughed at himself, "God, look at me, I can talk to millions of people to try and avenge the world… What I'm trying to say is. I think I love you. And I just hope you know that I will always be here. Ever since the day I saw you, you have awakened something in my soul and if you die…I don't think I could fill that void."
He tried to touch her face, but his sitting position wouldn't allow him to reach her. He had never hated anything more in his life then he hated his paralysis now.