Disclaimer: See previous chapters
A/N: Sorry for the long delay… life has been crazy. I am actually adding some plot (gasp) and I am kind of working on another story too… but I'm actually going to get most of it written before I post… Anyway thanks for the nice feedback, please keep it coming, as it is really the driving force behind my writing. And all my peeps from Atomic, please review!!!
"Logan! Logan! Wake up!" Max urged in a pained whisper.
He thrashed his arms as he tried to roll in his sleep.
"No dammit! No!" he cried out his words perfectly clear.
"Logan, it's a dream! You're OK! Please wake up!" Max begged her voice louder this time.
The claws of the dream refused to release Logan, tears began to fall from his closed eyes as he tolled his head from side to side. His voice was hoarse and broken as he continued to cry out, "No… No".
Frantically Max grabbed his shoulders and shook, his obvious distress tearing at her.
"Logan Please wake up!" She pleaded, tears forming in her own eyes as well.
Logan woke up in a cold sweat, his eyes wild and filled with panic as they darted around the room. Recognizing his surroundings he let out a long held breath. Max released his shoulders, propped her head with one hand as the other strayed to his chest, covering his still rapidly beating heart. Logan met her eyes, drowning in the love and concern reflected there.
"Sorry" he grinned sheepishly.
"There's nothing to be sorry for… We all have our nightmares." Max admonished in a soft voice.
"The thing is, it's not really a nightmare, at least not in the normal sense, it's more like a …"
"Flashback?" Max finished for him.
"Yeah, I guess that probably fits better than anything else…"
"The shooting?" She asked.
"Yeah." He said uneasily, he still wasn't particularly comfortable discussing the incident with anyone, not even Max.
"I understand… I have a few of those "flashbacks" myself… When Eva was shot… The night we escaped…" Max faded off.
Logan felt the drop of a tear fall to his bare chest. Gently he reached for Max, his strong capable hands cradling her head as he pulled her to his chest. Silently they commiserated, offering compassion and understanding through their touch. Gradually the nature of their shared embrace changed, fed by the mutual need to banish the horrid scenes so clear in their minds, as well as the ever present physical desire they had so recently acknowledged.
Logan crushed her in a tight embrace as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you." He said as he inhaled the scent that was uniquely Max.
The aftereffects of their lovemaking left them both spent and awestruck. The anxiety of earlier forgotten, they clung to each other, refusing to let go. Slowly the darkness faded as the sun made its presence known. Reluctantly Logan jostled Max awake.
"Time to get up, sweetheart." He called softly as he nuzzled her neck.
Languidly Max rolled off of Logan's chest, stretching as she did so.
"You going to join me in the shower?" She inquired as she got to her feet and crossed to the dresser.
"As good as that sounds, I think I'll have to pass. I have breakfast to make for a certain dark haired beauty. Her boss is really an ogre. He gets a tad nasty when she's late." Logan quipped. "While your up" a pair of boxers landed in his lap, "grab me some shorts." Logan finished lamely as Max flashed a knowing grin.
Max paraded across the room in all her splendid glory, unabashed at flaunting her nudity, the sight literally took Logan's breath away. Logan glanced from Max, back to the spot on the bed she'd so recently vacated. Checking the clock he tried to determine if they had enough time for another round. Max was already missing his touch, as she checked the time. Their eyes met and they both laughed, what they were thinking was clearly written across both of their faces.
"Better not" Logan laughed.
"I could be late or even sick, I look awfully pale, don't ya think?" Max asked at the same time, causing another fit of laughter.
"Well… I wouldn't mind the company." Logan grinned boyishly as he pivoted his chair from side to side.
"Oh God… Normal would kill me…" Max groaned contemplation clear in her voice.
"Fire you is more like it… I do have a bunch of Eyes Only work to catch up on… and Lord knows I can never concentrate with you around… especially now… Maybe it's for the best"
"True and we do need that sector pass, so getting fired is not an option… GGRRRR…. Ok… I'm getting ready. You go cook breakfast!" Max moped as she headed for the shower.
Logan took one last look at the recently emptied bed, savoring the memories and rolled off to the kitchen. Mentally he checked off the contents, deciding on what to make for breakfast. Ham… Cheese… Mushrooms… Eggs… Onions… Omelets, he decided with satisfaction. As Logan retrieved the ingredients his mind was clouded with thoughts of Max, in the shower… lathering down her firm body… the water droplets beading on her skin… Oh God! Come on Cale, get it together. As Logan sliced and diced he narrowly missed adding a finger or two to the mix. Trying to focus Logan began to sauté the fillings, his mind still wandering to more pleasurable fields. Grabbing a bowl Logan cracked some eggs, whipping them to a frothy liquid. The smell of cooking eggs filled the kitchen as he poured them into a well oiled pan, watching them closely. Gingerly he added the ham and mushroom mixture, topping it off with the cheese, and perfectly folding the omelet. Sliding it onto a plate with perfect precision Logan topped the omelet with even more cheese before he set it in the oven to warm and begin on the second omelet.
Max entered the room, her hair still damp, clothed in a pair of cropped khakis and a snug baby blue shirt.
"Hey! Logan, something's burning!"
"Shit!" Logan exclaimed, coming back to earth in an instant.
Quickly he grabbed his wooden spatula and began to loosen the burning egg from the bottom of the pan, just barely saving his breakfast.
Max stood back, grinning with a knowing smirk," anything I can get?" she asked innocently.
Logan growled in response, "Just get some juice out, will ya?"
Backing away from the stove he opened the oven, grabbing Max's plate with a hot pad.
As Logan got ready to place the plate in his lap, Max screeched "Logan, what the hell are you doing?"
Logan looked at her, confusion clear in his face. It seemed obvious to him, he was serving her breakfast.
"Logan, those plates hot… and where you were going to place it… let's just say that's way to valuable an asset to be blistering. Sheesh, where is your mind this morning?" Max asked as she came over and retrieved the plates, placing them on a tray she carried them to the waiting table.
"So, what's up with the uninterrupted weekend? No widows, orphans or lost dogs to take care of this weekend?" Max asked as she sat down at the table.
"I had Bling keep an eye on things… with instruction to contact me only in an emergency… figured the world could take care of itself for a bit." Logan replied as he took a bite of his omelet. "I called him while you were in the shower, nothing earth shattering going on… just some stuff from a new informant on that new company buying out Seattle electric… Not sure what it all amounts to… I'll look into it this afternoon." He finished between bites.
Max as usual was tearing into her omelet with her usual gusto. It seemed everything she did, she did with a passion, Logan thought as he watched her.
"You'll let me know, if anything turns up? Right?" Max inquired as she finished swallowing.
"Of course!"
"I'm serious Logan, just cuz we… well… ya know… doesn't mean I'm going to stop the Eyes Only stuff." Max said sternly, a flush rising to her cheeks at the reminder of all that had occurred this weekend.
"I'll let you know" Logan replied noncommittally.
"Dammit, I'm serious! I don't trust anyone else to do it… they'll just screw up… they'll leave a trail back to you… I know it… and I just couldn't handle that." She added beseechingly.
Max got off her chair and kneeled at Logan's feet. "Now that I've finally found you, I just couldn't handle anything happening to you. I've lost so many people already… I can't lose you too… It would kill me…" Tears were glistening in her eyes as she finished.
Logan was moved beyond words, grapping her hands he pulled her to his lap, and hugged her hard. "I promise, I'll let you know what's going on as soon as I find out." He whispered into her sweetly scented curls.
They remained in each others arms for a short time before Max jumped up, "Shit, I have to go… If I don't blaze now I will be late for sure!"
Max ran out of the room to collect her backpack. Logan looked at his watch and realized she was right. Grabbing the paper bag he had prepared earlier he hurried to the front door, just barely catching her.
"Here," he said as he handed her the sack. "Its lunch should be enough for you and Original Cindy both. I'm sure she'll have tons of questions for you." Logan stated a knowing gleam in his eyes.
"Logan" she said as she leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on his lips, "you're the greatest. I love you!"
"I love you too, sweetheart" Logan responded, as he grasped her chin. "Here's a thought to keep throughout the day." Logan tilted her head and ran his tongue along her jaw line, ending at her ear. Breathing softly into her ear his tongue gently caressed her lobe. Max's knees turned to jelly at the caress. Gently Logan swatted her behind.
"You better get going… and Max… be careful… K?"
"I always am." She replied with a cocky grin as she turned and headed out the door.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay… life has been crazy. I am actually adding some plot (gasp) and I am kind of working on another story too… but I'm actually going to get most of it written before I post… Anyway thanks for the nice feedback, please keep it coming, as it is really the driving force behind my writing. And all my peeps from Atomic, please review!!!
"Logan! Logan! Wake up!" Max urged in a pained whisper.
He thrashed his arms as he tried to roll in his sleep.
"No dammit! No!" he cried out his words perfectly clear.
"Logan, it's a dream! You're OK! Please wake up!" Max begged her voice louder this time.
The claws of the dream refused to release Logan, tears began to fall from his closed eyes as he tolled his head from side to side. His voice was hoarse and broken as he continued to cry out, "No… No".
Frantically Max grabbed his shoulders and shook, his obvious distress tearing at her.
"Logan Please wake up!" She pleaded, tears forming in her own eyes as well.
Logan woke up in a cold sweat, his eyes wild and filled with panic as they darted around the room. Recognizing his surroundings he let out a long held breath. Max released his shoulders, propped her head with one hand as the other strayed to his chest, covering his still rapidly beating heart. Logan met her eyes, drowning in the love and concern reflected there.
"Sorry" he grinned sheepishly.
"There's nothing to be sorry for… We all have our nightmares." Max admonished in a soft voice.
"The thing is, it's not really a nightmare, at least not in the normal sense, it's more like a …"
"Flashback?" Max finished for him.
"Yeah, I guess that probably fits better than anything else…"
"The shooting?" She asked.
"Yeah." He said uneasily, he still wasn't particularly comfortable discussing the incident with anyone, not even Max.
"I understand… I have a few of those "flashbacks" myself… When Eva was shot… The night we escaped…" Max faded off.
Logan felt the drop of a tear fall to his bare chest. Gently he reached for Max, his strong capable hands cradling her head as he pulled her to his chest. Silently they commiserated, offering compassion and understanding through their touch. Gradually the nature of their shared embrace changed, fed by the mutual need to banish the horrid scenes so clear in their minds, as well as the ever present physical desire they had so recently acknowledged.
Logan crushed her in a tight embrace as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you." He said as he inhaled the scent that was uniquely Max.
The aftereffects of their lovemaking left them both spent and awestruck. The anxiety of earlier forgotten, they clung to each other, refusing to let go. Slowly the darkness faded as the sun made its presence known. Reluctantly Logan jostled Max awake.
"Time to get up, sweetheart." He called softly as he nuzzled her neck.
Languidly Max rolled off of Logan's chest, stretching as she did so.
"You going to join me in the shower?" She inquired as she got to her feet and crossed to the dresser.
"As good as that sounds, I think I'll have to pass. I have breakfast to make for a certain dark haired beauty. Her boss is really an ogre. He gets a tad nasty when she's late." Logan quipped. "While your up" a pair of boxers landed in his lap, "grab me some shorts." Logan finished lamely as Max flashed a knowing grin.
Max paraded across the room in all her splendid glory, unabashed at flaunting her nudity, the sight literally took Logan's breath away. Logan glanced from Max, back to the spot on the bed she'd so recently vacated. Checking the clock he tried to determine if they had enough time for another round. Max was already missing his touch, as she checked the time. Their eyes met and they both laughed, what they were thinking was clearly written across both of their faces.
"Better not" Logan laughed.
"I could be late or even sick, I look awfully pale, don't ya think?" Max asked at the same time, causing another fit of laughter.
"Well… I wouldn't mind the company." Logan grinned boyishly as he pivoted his chair from side to side.
"Oh God… Normal would kill me…" Max groaned contemplation clear in her voice.
"Fire you is more like it… I do have a bunch of Eyes Only work to catch up on… and Lord knows I can never concentrate with you around… especially now… Maybe it's for the best"
"True and we do need that sector pass, so getting fired is not an option… GGRRRR…. Ok… I'm getting ready. You go cook breakfast!" Max moped as she headed for the shower.
Logan took one last look at the recently emptied bed, savoring the memories and rolled off to the kitchen. Mentally he checked off the contents, deciding on what to make for breakfast. Ham… Cheese… Mushrooms… Eggs… Onions… Omelets, he decided with satisfaction. As Logan retrieved the ingredients his mind was clouded with thoughts of Max, in the shower… lathering down her firm body… the water droplets beading on her skin… Oh God! Come on Cale, get it together. As Logan sliced and diced he narrowly missed adding a finger or two to the mix. Trying to focus Logan began to sauté the fillings, his mind still wandering to more pleasurable fields. Grabbing a bowl Logan cracked some eggs, whipping them to a frothy liquid. The smell of cooking eggs filled the kitchen as he poured them into a well oiled pan, watching them closely. Gingerly he added the ham and mushroom mixture, topping it off with the cheese, and perfectly folding the omelet. Sliding it onto a plate with perfect precision Logan topped the omelet with even more cheese before he set it in the oven to warm and begin on the second omelet.
Max entered the room, her hair still damp, clothed in a pair of cropped khakis and a snug baby blue shirt.
"Hey! Logan, something's burning!"
"Shit!" Logan exclaimed, coming back to earth in an instant.
Quickly he grabbed his wooden spatula and began to loosen the burning egg from the bottom of the pan, just barely saving his breakfast.
Max stood back, grinning with a knowing smirk," anything I can get?" she asked innocently.
Logan growled in response, "Just get some juice out, will ya?"
Backing away from the stove he opened the oven, grabbing Max's plate with a hot pad.
As Logan got ready to place the plate in his lap, Max screeched "Logan, what the hell are you doing?"
Logan looked at her, confusion clear in his face. It seemed obvious to him, he was serving her breakfast.
"Logan, those plates hot… and where you were going to place it… let's just say that's way to valuable an asset to be blistering. Sheesh, where is your mind this morning?" Max asked as she came over and retrieved the plates, placing them on a tray she carried them to the waiting table.
"So, what's up with the uninterrupted weekend? No widows, orphans or lost dogs to take care of this weekend?" Max asked as she sat down at the table.
"I had Bling keep an eye on things… with instruction to contact me only in an emergency… figured the world could take care of itself for a bit." Logan replied as he took a bite of his omelet. "I called him while you were in the shower, nothing earth shattering going on… just some stuff from a new informant on that new company buying out Seattle electric… Not sure what it all amounts to… I'll look into it this afternoon." He finished between bites.
Max as usual was tearing into her omelet with her usual gusto. It seemed everything she did, she did with a passion, Logan thought as he watched her.
"You'll let me know, if anything turns up? Right?" Max inquired as she finished swallowing.
"Of course!"
"I'm serious Logan, just cuz we… well… ya know… doesn't mean I'm going to stop the Eyes Only stuff." Max said sternly, a flush rising to her cheeks at the reminder of all that had occurred this weekend.
"I'll let you know" Logan replied noncommittally.
"Dammit, I'm serious! I don't trust anyone else to do it… they'll just screw up… they'll leave a trail back to you… I know it… and I just couldn't handle that." She added beseechingly.
Max got off her chair and kneeled at Logan's feet. "Now that I've finally found you, I just couldn't handle anything happening to you. I've lost so many people already… I can't lose you too… It would kill me…" Tears were glistening in her eyes as she finished.
Logan was moved beyond words, grapping her hands he pulled her to his lap, and hugged her hard. "I promise, I'll let you know what's going on as soon as I find out." He whispered into her sweetly scented curls.
They remained in each others arms for a short time before Max jumped up, "Shit, I have to go… If I don't blaze now I will be late for sure!"
Max ran out of the room to collect her backpack. Logan looked at his watch and realized she was right. Grabbing the paper bag he had prepared earlier he hurried to the front door, just barely catching her.
"Here," he said as he handed her the sack. "Its lunch should be enough for you and Original Cindy both. I'm sure she'll have tons of questions for you." Logan stated a knowing gleam in his eyes.
"Logan" she said as she leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on his lips, "you're the greatest. I love you!"
"I love you too, sweetheart" Logan responded, as he grasped her chin. "Here's a thought to keep throughout the day." Logan tilted her head and ran his tongue along her jaw line, ending at her ear. Breathing softly into her ear his tongue gently caressed her lobe. Max's knees turned to jelly at the caress. Gently Logan swatted her behind.
"You better get going… and Max… be careful… K?"
"I always am." She replied with a cocky grin as she turned and headed out the door.