One Catch

Winking Tiger • Mblab6@aol.com

Author's Notes: I'm finally making right on my promise.  This is it: a super deluxe, extra large, gigantic portion (10 pages!), last and final, of "One Catch".

I really hate publishing anything lesser than I know is my very best.  But, in order to get this thing over with, I have to.  I'm terribly sorry, and I hope that somewhere along the way you've stayed on with this mess and enjoyed it at least some.

No matter what, I'm always open for reviews, suggestions, comments, and e-mails!  And I want to thank everyone who's ever reviewed this, a reader or a beta (though they've been long gone).  And I want to thank everyone who's read this, even if you didn't leave a review!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

If it helps any, this changes POVs - I'll indicate which is where.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Fox's.  But I do own Arlyn, and the O'Briens (including Colom).

Chapter 18 – THE END

Chapter 18

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*Shelly's*

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[MAX]

So, I finally made it.  Let's go see who Colom's mysterious friend is.  And since it's not like I've forgotten my Manticore skills, this should be easy enough.

Perfect, the roof's just what I needed.  Nice, sturdy, some-what clean, and it's got a great vantage point-to see what's going below me, maybe more like who though.

Where are they?  Far corner's clear.  So is the left side corner.  The center's clear, they've gotta be…

Front right.  That's gotta be Colom.  Let's take a little looky at who this "friend" is.  Slide over a little, perfect.  Just turn your head, then I can see your face … oh god!

Logan!?!  No, I've got to be seeing things.  It's not Logan, he's got to have another friend, that looks just like him.  They say everyone's got a twin, somewhere out there.

Wait, lemme listen on them, then that'll just prove it.

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"Calm down!  Don't you think we've got enough rain and water already?  Do you really need to add some more?"

"I'm nervous, I can't help it.  You think this is going to work?  I know Max, she's not stupid, and she won't fall for this.  I don't want her to …"

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No!  I know that voice.  I've dreamt of that voice, and those eyes, and that man.  It can't be.  But I know, it's him.  Agh, Logan!?!

Forget it, I'm just gonna ditch 'em all.  Exist roof left…

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"Did you hear something?"

"What?"

"I heard something.  From-"

*☼║▲*~!* CRASH *!~*▲║☼*

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Chapter 19

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*Unspecified Location* - Waiting Room/Hallway

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[LOGAN]

Small grain lines follow the path of imaginary designs.  Each one flowing through another, bending to avoid a cut

in the section, and continuing to its undetermined and unseen final destination.  One line found and followed to its end.  Another following its own path, uniquely its own.  It should be tedious following all these grain lines, but it's somehow comforting to watch and follow something so solid and attainable.  Those lines, even when they end, still remain.  Each line has a starting point and an ending point, and remains on the board.  Continuing, more boards and more lines on each.  Walk along one until its resting place is discovered. You'd think I was right out of an Orson Scott Card book, following these grains.  But it's getting the task done.  Why meddle with something that's working?  So just keep going.  Another finished and thoroughly followed.  Now keep on going.  Can't hurt much, getting exercise while keeping my mind busy.  

Following grain lines just isn't what it used to be.  Its appeal and ability to distract my mind, and all its thoughts, aren't so great anymore.  But along the walls, there's something special.  There's something oddly attracting, drawing my attention to them.  They're lined with fading and peeling paper.  Glue only receding at various edges, here and there--revealing the bare walls beneath, the yellow of old glue, and the distinct style only found in locations such as this.  Couldn't they be original? 

The floor below and the room around me--both have a very odd design. It may be the design of the area.  Maybe it's the way my mind is seeing anything and everything.  Or it could look that way because of the serious wear it's recently received.  Right about now everything and nothing is possible.  Who am I to question the interior design of anything? 

"Sinto muito, mas... senhor, não havia nada... que pudéssemos...Sinto muito." [I'm sorry, but...sir-there was nothing...we couldn't...I'm sorry.]  That's all it took.  Suddenly, everything else faded and then blacked out.  I wasn't in a hospital, horribly vulnerable to everything, or hearing the doctor tell me the horrible truth-his words and the woman I lost.  I wasn't on the edge of sanity, or questioning it.  No, all there was was this terrible void, and threatening black--threatening to swallow me whole and never let me see the light of day or the joys of life again.   

"Não havia muito que pudéssemos fazer. Sinto muito. Mas ela ainda está viva." [There wasn't much we could do, I'm sorry.  But she is still alive.]  And then suddenly there might be some light in this raging storm of sorrow and pain. 

I'm not just the regular guy off the street; some may even call me a regular James Bond.  That's who I was, who I immersed myself in, who I made myself think I was.  But there's more to me, and I've found who I am, really.  Life's been hell along the way, but some things do have silver linings, barely visible or not.  Mine did; at least to me it did.  Not the perfect or ideal story, but it's the only one I have.  So you take what you get and deal the best you can.  Dealing may not be my strongest suit, but I've found my way. 

And now everything I've known, everything I've had to live by, goes against what my heart is making me do now.  It wasn't supposed to be this way.  Nothing was.  But life is real funny that way; nothing really goes the way it's supposed to.  There's always at least one microscopic default or hitch, in anything and everything.  Most of the time you never even know about it; nothing comes back to haunt you.  But the other times, that tiny, miniscule problem just expands into a colossal problem. 

I should feel bad about going against everything I've known.  I should turn around and do what I'm supposed to do.  But here I am, going against it anyway.  I'm going against what instinct should drive one to do in the face of danger.  And I don't just mean physical danger; I'm leaving myself wide open for some more emotional damage as well.  There's one driving force to everything.  That's what's making me do this.  That's my one small catch.  And my one small catch is now biting me in the ass with all its teeth.

Max - the love of my life.  The woman who's condition I waited hours to find out.  The woman who made me collect myself -- after seeing, and hearing, her fall.  That I tried and mustered up everything I had in me to find suitable resources.  I needed to find a doctor who could treat her, with proper care, but who'd keep her secret safe.  Someone we could trust.  In a land I hadn't been since childhood, surrounded by friends and foe all at once, I was expected and counting on creating a miracle.

Some how after her fall, Ar took her and all my work began. 

The guys that were after her, there had to be guys - why else would she have fallen like she did (Must've been an escape of some type) – after her, weren't on our trail.  Hopefully, we were all safe, at least for the time being. 

And though I really shouldn't have done anything that I've done, I'm still here.  Being Eyes Only, and hearing Max's techniques and skills haven't done nothing.  I know some strategies.  And all of them would, if followed, lead me in the most straight and direct route away from here.  Avoid danger - either from Max or her goons.  There's got to be an attack going on, by the remnants of Manticore - the men that went after Max, just a little while ago. 

Only, as soon as I could, I gave up the fight I was fighting, for her (for the time being), and came here.  Vacation was supposed to do me good.    But I just can't.   Maybe, just maybe, I can get things to work out right.

I came to her, after she'd made it clear she didn't want me.  There should only be so much a person can take.  I've gone through my share, but if she can make it through what she did, I can do just about anything.  And all I really want right now is for her to be okay.  So I'm going against what I've tried to teach myself, what'd keep me safe.  Funny how so much danger isn't what I'm afraid of.  More like what she'll do if she sees me.

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"Hey!  Logan, you in there?"

"Huh?"  There goes my quiet moments, and times of thought and decision.

"Did you hear the man?"

"The doctor?"

"Yeah, that man."

"I heard him.  And thanks to classes my mother made me take as a kid, 'You must know what's around you.  Learn how others' speak!' I even knew what he said too-guess it came in handy."

"Good."

Ah, once more, my good friend silence.  Where are pain and the rest of his buddies?

"Logan."

"Yeah?"

"She's gonna make it.  Talked to the tech guy, over there, and he said that the Doc was over doing things.  She's not that bad, she'll be fine-give it some time and she'll be like brand new."

"Brand new?  What does 'brand new' get me when the 'brand old' was her leaving me-fleeing and getting to you?"

"Me, right."  More silence, he's been doing his job way too well.  "Shit, Max!" He looks as if he's realizing that the woman we've just been talking about was Max.  And that's brought him to come to some sudden realization.  Just what it is, is what I want to know.

"What?"

"She's going to kill me.  You don't understand.  Right before … before, I know why she wasn't at work, or answering.  I'd forgotten, right before, I – I phoned her."

"What exactly did you say?"

"I do believe my exact words were along the lines of: 'I came up with a cure.  You interested?  You know, just in case?' "

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Chapter 20

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*Unspecified Location* - Max's Room

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[ARYLN / COLOM]

He just froze after I told him that.  Maybe it was too much for him.  But after realizing where we were, I knew he'd be fine. So I'm taking advantage of the time I have, and I'm going to visit Max.

Here goes nothing, *KNOCK*

"Hello?"

"Hey"

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"You sure about that.  Don't need to put the tough guy exterior out for me, you know.  The plain and simple truth works just fine for me."

"Yeah I know.  I'm fine, really, I'm – not amazing but I'll live, or so the doc said."

"Okay, if that's what you say.  Though why you'd have taken a fall like that I'm baffled."

"I was playing my little spy role well.  Saw the two of you, finally saw his face, made a mad dash to get off the roof and away, and the slick roof did a little trick of it's own.  It stayed slippery, even for me, and with the shock of seeing Logan, I … let's just say for once my training went out and wasn't even working."

"Ah, that might just explain…"

"If I'm hurt at all, it's not physically."

"How so?"

"I ran away from him.  And now he's here.  And beyond that fact, I want to know why he's here with you."

"Oh."

"Something more than 'oh' would be great, thanks."

"I knew Logan as a kid.  Long story short, which will be a story you'll tell your kids one day, I brought him over here with the concept that if he did come, besides a vacation, I'd tell him where you were."

"So you played both sides?"

"Yeah, only, he never knew, still doesn't-probably."

"But, now he's here, I'm cured, and he's out of the loop on everything but the first?"

"Sounds about right."

"Great."

Oh no, she's got a look on her.  She's up to something.  Which is something in and on itself, her plotting while sitting in a hospital bed.

"I'm just going to leave you alone.  Maybe have your someone come in?"

"No!  I want to do something first.  Don't tell him that it's gone, that I'm cured.  He's put me through all this crap, let's see how far he really would've gone.  But that's just not enough.  I know Logan, he's got no idea what happened -- what really happened.  Leave him in the dark there; let his imagination ruin him.  My words don't have to."

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*Unspecified Location* - Waiting Room/Hallway

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[ARYLN / COLOM]

"Logan?"

Great, he's asleep.  I hope this doesn't go bad.  Or at least, let me not burst out laughing.

"Logan, buddy, wake up."

"Huh?  Max?  What?"  The eyes open, "Agh!"

Here's taking matters into my own hands, again. "Logan, I don't know how to say this …"

"Ar, oh no, what is it?"

"The doctor just took some more tests, on Max, and … they weren't really good.  He's not sure…"

"No!"  And off he goes on a mad dash.  Max better keep up the act, just listen, with closed eyes, and see if you get enough payment.

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Chapter 21

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*Unspecified Location* - Max's Room

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[MAX]

Slowly, after trying to sleep, like that'd really happen, I heard a noise.  More like someone coming into my room.  I was just about to think of something smart to say to Colom when I realized it wasn't him.  It was … Logan. 

Let's give this a shot, keep the eyes closed, and just listen.

"Max, oh god, Max!"  This may be hard.  Come on, stay still and just shut up!  "You look so … Max!  I'm so sorry, about everything!  I know it's been hard, and maybe I didn't do a good enough job, but I love you Max."  Really quietly, to the pint even I had to strain to hear him, he said, " I love you more than I ever thought possible."

"You think you're emotionally defunct, what about me.  I don't do it well either.  This is so hard, even when you can't hear me.  But it's got to be worse than you, I know it is.  Just, no matter what, you've got to wake up.  You've got to wake up and get better.  Even if it's not for me, get up for Ar, you may not realize it, but he loves you.  You've made an impact on his life, too."

"You mean so much, we've been through too much.  Just wake up and let me be able to move on.  Even if it's without you, I need to know that you're okay.  I don't think I could go on, at all, if you weren't.  Please, Max!"

And for the first time I can ever remember, he cried.  I suppose he'd cried while I'd layed in his arms in the forest.  But everything had happened so fast, so much, I couldn't process that.  All I knew was that he was there, holding me.

But, now, he balled and wailed, and when he'd cried so much, I assume – having done this once or twice - over big things too, his chest hurt he went on with quiet sobs.  He looked like he was in so much pain, I couldn't take it anymore.  No matter what he'd done, what I'd done, he didn't deserve what he was going through now-not from me.

"Logan.  Shhhh.  Logan?"

"Oh god, Max!"

Maybe I showed some fear, or something.  Because instead of seeking my comfort, or at least some comforting words, he jumped back.

"Max, don't be mad.  I'm so sorry. I couldn't help it, please.  When Ar told me he'd found you, how could I not?  Please don't be made.  I'll … I'll just leave you, now."

"No!  Logan, come back."

"Max?"  He asked my questioningly.

"Come here.  Please.  Stay with me?"

"Max?"

I held out a hand, for him.  There's plenty of ways this could have happened, him finding out about the cure, this has got to be one of the least romantic ones out there.  But it still happened, because I just can't go on without him.  Without his touch, without him.

"Don't make me explain now.  But, I'm-we're cured.  Please, don't leave me, come here?  Stay with me?"

"Max!  I'll stay, I'd never leave for the world."

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Epilogue

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*Unspecified Location* - Max's Room

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[MAX]

We stayed like that for a while.  I couldn't really tell you how long, I just knew how much I truly enjoyed it.

But, finally, we were brought back into the real world by a gentle knocking on the door.  Of course, it was Colom.

"Hey, you two, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Ar?"

"What Logan?"

"Thank you."

"Wait, Logan.  Why do you call Colom Ar?"

"Ah, well, we knew each other as kids.  From his actions we gave him the nickname Arlyn, "pledge", since he'd basically pledged his loyalty to me.  So I've called him Ar, ever since.  Though, it's been so long, Colom's his real name, I'm rather sure."

"Sounds about right."

After a little while, I had to ask. "Logan?"

"Huh?"

"What happens now?"

"Now?"

"After I get out."

"Well, I don't know.  I suppose, I use my … skill and contacts to find somewhere safe for you, go into hiding from those men."

"Men?"

"The guys that made you fall, that'd chased after you."

My cheeks have got to be on fire, because they're as red as flames! "There were no men.  I was … getting back into the 'cat burglar' routine and seeing whom Colom's 'friend' was.  After seeing it was you, I well, don't you dare laugh!  I, fell, I slipped."

"Oh………"

"Yeah."

"So after now doesn't include those bad guys?"

"Only unless I'm going to stay away from you."

"Ah, then I've got the perfect solution."

"Which is?"

"Something amazing."

"Give me a clue?"

"It's the last thing anyone ever looking to find you would think of."

"Going off and doing same old same old.  You know, Eyes Only, his cat burglar, the downtrodden, blah blah woof woof."

"Nah, last thing they'd expect would be that Mrs. Cale was residing in this beautiful town in dreary Ireland.  At least until there's enough money to get you out of here, and to somewhere else-somewhere that's safe, if you wanted to move."

Where'd that come from! "Hmm, let me think about it.  Staying here, Mrs. Cale – right? – and being with you.  I don't know."

"Really, we could always visit the gang back home.  But I think I'd need to go back and see who could take over the poor widows and defenseless children out there.  Any better now?"  Better?  It's still a yes.  Care to add any more to make me want to say yes more?

"No, I don't know."  Yeah, right, he doesn't need to know.  Or at least, he doesn't seem to mind playing dumb, he's enjoying himself.

"I've got just the thing to make you decide," and with that he kissed me.  As if I hadn't already made up my mind.  Yes, of course!

THE END

So the bunch of poor words, paragraphs, and concepts I call my writing, "One Catch", is finished.  I'm sorry if I made the end a sap scene.  I don't think I write fluff, or mush, whatever-really well.  I'm terribly sorry about that.  And looking back at it, again, I'm not sure if I like the way I ended it.  But that's all I can get out, I pushed myself to just get this done and over with. 

But I hope you enjoyed at least something of the whole thing.  Please, let me know.  No matter how bad or good this was, I want to know, need to know, now that this is over, what everyone thinks!

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