Asha's Arrival
by pari106
pari106@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/pari106/damain.html
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters, etc., herein belong to the fine folks down at FOX. And to Cameron and Eglee,
of course – the daddies of this particular brainchild.
A/N: Sorry if this was a little long in coming. Been distracted. September 11 and all that. Plus various
other, unrelated tragedies down here in TX. I think my focus is still a little off. So I hope I did okay with
this. Let me know! Thanks for having patience with me and checking in for this update.
Chapter 7
Logan's POV
From the moment I realized Asha Copeland had come back into my life, she became my responsibility. It
wasn't something I thought about, really. There wasn't much to think about. Asha is, by some rights,
every bit a part of my family as Max's fellow Manticore soldiers had been a part of hers. She's more than
just another day's work as Eyes Only, looking out for the downtrodden. Though, if anyone has ever
embodied the term "downtrodden", Asha does so now. It's like the world has beaten her into the ground
and walked right over her. I know the feeling. And I won't rest until I'm certain she's pulled herself back
up again.
Asha is Mike's little sister. She's an old friend. I realize that she may be my chance at reconnecting with
my past. But she's more than that, too.
I don't know exactly what she is to me. But if nothing else, I know she has become a focus in my life that
has been missing for entirely too long.
The morning after she arrived, I arranged everything she could possibly need. I got a doctor who could see
her here at the penthouse, and I had a store downtown send over some packages. The clothing is nowhere
near the same quality the Copelands used to lavish upon their daughter ten years ago, but I dare say they're
a good step up from the makeshift rope Asha'd used to drop back into my life. And I did all this before
Bling even showed up for the day.
When he did, I didn't mention the traumatized redhead sleeping in the guestroom. Not right away. I guess
Asha and Mike and Park were kind of my little secret over the years. My past. I don't talk about it now –
those years of my youth, high school, Yale. Not because they were bad times – in fact, they were probably
the best times of my life. Except for the times when I had Max by my side. I guess I just never talked
about them because talking about them here, in this place, in this life as Eyes Only…would be kind of like
bringing them into this life. And of connecting the two. I didn't want that. I wanted to be able to view my
life before Eyes Only, and my life after, as two totally separate experiences. I love my work. As much as I
hate it, resent it, I love it. And it's more than that – I need it. I need to help people. But I also need to
remember a time when all I was, was just another person. Just for times when Eyes Only seems less like a
job and more like a sentence. Particularly now since Max has been gone.
I didn't mention Asha right away. First out of habit, then out of uncertainty. How do you tell someone you
have a woman possibly on the verge of a nervous breakdown camping out in the back room? How do I tell
Bling? I knew he would wonder about her. About where she came from, how I knew her. I knew he
would wonder why I'd never mentioned her before. Especially to him. We've never said as much before,
but Bling knows I consider him to be the closest thing I have to a brother. Like Mike and Asha and Park
were, Bling is my family now. I'd feel silly admitting it, but that's how I think of him. I have ever since
that last night on the Space Needle, when Max looked at me and told me I was a part of her family. Ever
since my parents' deaths I've looked for that. For a family. That family I lost when I lost contact with my
friends, and lost when I lost my mom and dad. I looked for it with Valerie, and that didn't work. But
somehow I'd found it with Max. And doing so made me look at family in a totally different way. Made
me look at the people in my life in a different way. So, yeah, Bling is my family. And I knew he'd wonder
what was so important about this woman that I wouldn't mention her even to him.
I didn't know if I could give him the explanation.
But I had to tell him something. I could only steer him away from the guestroom for so long before he'd
become suspicious of my motives. Besides, this is Bling we're talking about. It suddenly felt silly to be
keeping anything from him.
We'd done a little remodeling here in the penthouse over the months since we lost Max. My computers
and files are now located in a little room you can only enter through a hidden entry point in my closet. I
remember, the day after we set it up, I couldn't even go in there. Mostly because I was picturing in my
head how Max would react if she were there. She'd probably smirk at me and make some crack about
secrecy and super heroes with their hidden lairs. I couldn't go in the room because it hurt so badly that she
wasn't there to tease me about it.
Anyhow, when I told Bling about Asha we were in the computer room, going over a case. I found myself
becoming more and more distracted by thoughts of my new charge, and I kept zoning out of the
conversation Bling was trying to have with me. Eventually, Bling caught me in the middle of a reverie, and
snapped me out of it by turning my computer off.
I blinked.
"What…"
"So, are you gonna tell me now? Or are you gonna sit there, not listening to me, and not talking, until I
beat it out of you?"
I had to smile. That's Bling for you.
"Wanna try?"
Okay, I'll admit it. Since I've been back on my feet I've gotten cocky. Or maybe it's just that, since I lost
Max, I simply don't give a shit anymore. But after I learned how to use the braces to walk, I wanted to
learn how to use them in other ways, as well. Bling's been teaching me self-defense. Karate and Judo and
all of that. I've found the lessons to be not only helpful, but therapeutic. Particularly at times when Bling
is being particularly protective. 'You need to get out more, Logan.' He's said so many times. 'You
haven't been eating well. What, did you forget how to cook?' Then, of course, there's this one: 'You need
to talk about her Logan. About Max. It'll help.' Like hell, it would help. But sparring with Bling does
help a little.
I know he could kick my ass if he wanted to…
But it still helps.
However, right then I was just pulling his leg, stalling for time, and Bling knew it. He rolled his eyes.
"Something's come up…" I finally admitted, slowly. "It's a…sensitive matter. I didn't know quite how to
tell you." I felt like an idiot.
Bling frowned, irritation being replaced by concern on his face. I maneuvered my chair out of the
computer room – I wasn't wearing my braces that day, nor am I today – and Bling followed.
"Hey, man, you know you can tell me anything."
We reached the guestroom and I stopped at the door, my hand on the doorknob.
"Yeah, Bling. I know," I told him sincerely.
"So…what is it?" he asked.
I suing the door open. His eyes went into the room and widened in surprise when he saw the occupant
within. I kept my eyes on his face till he turned back to me.
"Not 'what'," I said. "Who."
Then I, too, looked in on Asha, who was still sleeping soundly in my guest bed.
**** ****
"Just like that?" Bling asked, after I'd finished my long explanation. I've told him all about my friendship
with the Copelands and with Parker back at Yale. Then I told him about how I found Asha last night. Or
rather, how she found me. How she'd shown up after ten years, unannounced. Yeah, just like that.
I just raised a brow. I know it's a little peculiar. After all this time, Asha Copeland just happens to drop
into my penthouse? And she just happens to arrive on mine and Max's anniversary? And her appearance
just happens to coincide with a time when any number of people could have been creeping through that
skylight. Not one of which would have done so with anything but murderous intentions.
But then, life has become peculiar these last couple of years.
"So what now?" Bling asked. I appreciate his not questioning my reasons for never having mentioned Ash
before. I wonder if he just instinctively senses why. He knows me so well.
"Now she stays here till she's up on her feet. It's the least I can do," I said. And it's true. To be honest, I
feel guilty. Asha and Mike's parents passed away a few years ago. They were both well up in age when
they'd finally decided to have children, and I'd heard that Mrs. Copeland had been diagnosed with cancer.
Not that the proud, aging socialite would ever have wanted sympathy for that fact. But I should have gone
to their funeral. I should have been there for Mike and Asha, even if they hadn't been close to their
parents. Even if I never saw them at my own parents' funeral. I had my work to sustain me once mom and
dad were gone. Who knows if Mike or Asha had the same? But at the time of the funeral, Eyes Only was
in the middle of a volatile case that couldn't be postponed. I sent my condolences, and rang the florists in
San Francisco, but I have no way of knowing whether Mike and Asha received either.
"Once she's feeling a little better, I'll see if I can get her to talk about why she came here," I said then,
snapping out of my reverie. "About what happened. And why she's not with Mike."
That worries me. Asha and Mike were both very close. If something had happened, why wouldn't she
have gone to Mike? Unless something had happened to Mike?
That worries me a lot. I'm hoping my worries are unfounded, but I dread that they are not. I have an
uneasy feeling that I'm about to learn the worst. And I've lost so many people that were close to me. My
parents, Nathan, Peter. My Uncle Jonas, though I have no idea how I really feel about that. Max. Now
losing her…I know how I feel about that. But I try not to think about it unless I'm alone or drunk. Or
asleep, dreaming. Or any combination of the three.
Anyhow, I've lost people that were close to me before, so I guess I should just feel numb at the prospect.
That's usually how I end up after a night of dreaming of or drinking to forget Max. Numb. Empty. But
mostly, thinking that something might have happened to Mike, I just feel…surreal, I guess. I've lost people
before, but not Mike or Asha or Park. Not from before Eyes Only. I guess that was another reason I cut
myself off from them. What you don't know…right? As long as I had this image in my head of what we'd
been like, back then, studying or avoiding studying or just goofing off…it was like a part of us would
always remain that way.
Only now I know we didn't all remain that way. I'm certainly not the man I was in college. And Asha
isn't herself. What about Mike and Park?
Bling and I looked up as there was a sudden ring at the door. It was the doctor.
"I'll get it," Bling offered, and I nodded.
The doctor looked Asha over without her ever waking up. That worried me, as well, but the doctor said
sleep was probably the best thing she could do right now and that we should let her be. He told me she
should come around with time and that he would check back in to make sure. He also recommended I
contact a therapist. Considering the state Asha was in when she dropped in here, it would be wise. But
then, I've been told the same thing myself. But I'll be damned if I'll include any more doctors in my life
than I have to. The last two years have just been an endless procession of doctors and treatments. I'll let
Asha decide who she wants to share her problems with, once she comes around and is able to consider the
issue. I don't even know what's happened to her. I can't involve anyone else in her affairs until I do.
It's now been a couple of days that Asha's been here. She's waken up from time to time, but we haven't
talked much. The first few times she awoke, it was just to look around and take in her surroundings.
Perhaps to remind herself of where she was and who she was with? I've managed to get her to eat
something. Besides Bling's little smirks and the occasional "Hey, there's an idea. Next time I want to get
you to eat I'll just spoon-feed you" I've been satisfied with the speed of her recovery.
Today she's even ventured out of the guestroom. I've been in the computer room all morning, but now I
wheel out and there she is. Asha. Standing by the window, looking out at Seattle. She's wearing one of
the outfits I'd had sent here for her.
She's gorgeous. Just as beautiful as I remember her. But so fragile.
For a moment I'm just…struck. By how long it's been and how much has happened. In both our lives,
obviously. And by how the bond is still there after all this time. The bond of friendship; that
protectiveness over the "runt" of our bunch, Mike's kid sis. Though Asha has hardly ever been a runt. And
though I'm not quite sure my protective instincts are still based on the fact that Ash is Mike's little sister…
For a moment, I just sit there staring at her. Then I make a decision.
I'm going to cook for her. God only knows why that's the first thing that comes to my mind, but it is. I
haven't cooked a full meal since…well, since Max died. But tonight I'm going to cook for Asha.
And, I swear, if Bling ribs me about this… I'm going to change all the locks around here.
by pari106
pari106@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/pari106/damain.html
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters, etc., herein belong to the fine folks down at FOX. And to Cameron and Eglee,
of course – the daddies of this particular brainchild.
A/N: Sorry if this was a little long in coming. Been distracted. September 11 and all that. Plus various
other, unrelated tragedies down here in TX. I think my focus is still a little off. So I hope I did okay with
this. Let me know! Thanks for having patience with me and checking in for this update.
Chapter 7
Logan's POV
From the moment I realized Asha Copeland had come back into my life, she became my responsibility. It
wasn't something I thought about, really. There wasn't much to think about. Asha is, by some rights,
every bit a part of my family as Max's fellow Manticore soldiers had been a part of hers. She's more than
just another day's work as Eyes Only, looking out for the downtrodden. Though, if anyone has ever
embodied the term "downtrodden", Asha does so now. It's like the world has beaten her into the ground
and walked right over her. I know the feeling. And I won't rest until I'm certain she's pulled herself back
up again.
Asha is Mike's little sister. She's an old friend. I realize that she may be my chance at reconnecting with
my past. But she's more than that, too.
I don't know exactly what she is to me. But if nothing else, I know she has become a focus in my life that
has been missing for entirely too long.
The morning after she arrived, I arranged everything she could possibly need. I got a doctor who could see
her here at the penthouse, and I had a store downtown send over some packages. The clothing is nowhere
near the same quality the Copelands used to lavish upon their daughter ten years ago, but I dare say they're
a good step up from the makeshift rope Asha'd used to drop back into my life. And I did all this before
Bling even showed up for the day.
When he did, I didn't mention the traumatized redhead sleeping in the guestroom. Not right away. I guess
Asha and Mike and Park were kind of my little secret over the years. My past. I don't talk about it now –
those years of my youth, high school, Yale. Not because they were bad times – in fact, they were probably
the best times of my life. Except for the times when I had Max by my side. I guess I just never talked
about them because talking about them here, in this place, in this life as Eyes Only…would be kind of like
bringing them into this life. And of connecting the two. I didn't want that. I wanted to be able to view my
life before Eyes Only, and my life after, as two totally separate experiences. I love my work. As much as I
hate it, resent it, I love it. And it's more than that – I need it. I need to help people. But I also need to
remember a time when all I was, was just another person. Just for times when Eyes Only seems less like a
job and more like a sentence. Particularly now since Max has been gone.
I didn't mention Asha right away. First out of habit, then out of uncertainty. How do you tell someone you
have a woman possibly on the verge of a nervous breakdown camping out in the back room? How do I tell
Bling? I knew he would wonder about her. About where she came from, how I knew her. I knew he
would wonder why I'd never mentioned her before. Especially to him. We've never said as much before,
but Bling knows I consider him to be the closest thing I have to a brother. Like Mike and Asha and Park
were, Bling is my family now. I'd feel silly admitting it, but that's how I think of him. I have ever since
that last night on the Space Needle, when Max looked at me and told me I was a part of her family. Ever
since my parents' deaths I've looked for that. For a family. That family I lost when I lost contact with my
friends, and lost when I lost my mom and dad. I looked for it with Valerie, and that didn't work. But
somehow I'd found it with Max. And doing so made me look at family in a totally different way. Made
me look at the people in my life in a different way. So, yeah, Bling is my family. And I knew he'd wonder
what was so important about this woman that I wouldn't mention her even to him.
I didn't know if I could give him the explanation.
But I had to tell him something. I could only steer him away from the guestroom for so long before he'd
become suspicious of my motives. Besides, this is Bling we're talking about. It suddenly felt silly to be
keeping anything from him.
We'd done a little remodeling here in the penthouse over the months since we lost Max. My computers
and files are now located in a little room you can only enter through a hidden entry point in my closet. I
remember, the day after we set it up, I couldn't even go in there. Mostly because I was picturing in my
head how Max would react if she were there. She'd probably smirk at me and make some crack about
secrecy and super heroes with their hidden lairs. I couldn't go in the room because it hurt so badly that she
wasn't there to tease me about it.
Anyhow, when I told Bling about Asha we were in the computer room, going over a case. I found myself
becoming more and more distracted by thoughts of my new charge, and I kept zoning out of the
conversation Bling was trying to have with me. Eventually, Bling caught me in the middle of a reverie, and
snapped me out of it by turning my computer off.
I blinked.
"What…"
"So, are you gonna tell me now? Or are you gonna sit there, not listening to me, and not talking, until I
beat it out of you?"
I had to smile. That's Bling for you.
"Wanna try?"
Okay, I'll admit it. Since I've been back on my feet I've gotten cocky. Or maybe it's just that, since I lost
Max, I simply don't give a shit anymore. But after I learned how to use the braces to walk, I wanted to
learn how to use them in other ways, as well. Bling's been teaching me self-defense. Karate and Judo and
all of that. I've found the lessons to be not only helpful, but therapeutic. Particularly at times when Bling
is being particularly protective. 'You need to get out more, Logan.' He's said so many times. 'You
haven't been eating well. What, did you forget how to cook?' Then, of course, there's this one: 'You need
to talk about her Logan. About Max. It'll help.' Like hell, it would help. But sparring with Bling does
help a little.
I know he could kick my ass if he wanted to…
But it still helps.
However, right then I was just pulling his leg, stalling for time, and Bling knew it. He rolled his eyes.
"Something's come up…" I finally admitted, slowly. "It's a…sensitive matter. I didn't know quite how to
tell you." I felt like an idiot.
Bling frowned, irritation being replaced by concern on his face. I maneuvered my chair out of the
computer room – I wasn't wearing my braces that day, nor am I today – and Bling followed.
"Hey, man, you know you can tell me anything."
We reached the guestroom and I stopped at the door, my hand on the doorknob.
"Yeah, Bling. I know," I told him sincerely.
"So…what is it?" he asked.
I suing the door open. His eyes went into the room and widened in surprise when he saw the occupant
within. I kept my eyes on his face till he turned back to me.
"Not 'what'," I said. "Who."
Then I, too, looked in on Asha, who was still sleeping soundly in my guest bed.
**** ****
"Just like that?" Bling asked, after I'd finished my long explanation. I've told him all about my friendship
with the Copelands and with Parker back at Yale. Then I told him about how I found Asha last night. Or
rather, how she found me. How she'd shown up after ten years, unannounced. Yeah, just like that.
I just raised a brow. I know it's a little peculiar. After all this time, Asha Copeland just happens to drop
into my penthouse? And she just happens to arrive on mine and Max's anniversary? And her appearance
just happens to coincide with a time when any number of people could have been creeping through that
skylight. Not one of which would have done so with anything but murderous intentions.
But then, life has become peculiar these last couple of years.
"So what now?" Bling asked. I appreciate his not questioning my reasons for never having mentioned Ash
before. I wonder if he just instinctively senses why. He knows me so well.
"Now she stays here till she's up on her feet. It's the least I can do," I said. And it's true. To be honest, I
feel guilty. Asha and Mike's parents passed away a few years ago. They were both well up in age when
they'd finally decided to have children, and I'd heard that Mrs. Copeland had been diagnosed with cancer.
Not that the proud, aging socialite would ever have wanted sympathy for that fact. But I should have gone
to their funeral. I should have been there for Mike and Asha, even if they hadn't been close to their
parents. Even if I never saw them at my own parents' funeral. I had my work to sustain me once mom and
dad were gone. Who knows if Mike or Asha had the same? But at the time of the funeral, Eyes Only was
in the middle of a volatile case that couldn't be postponed. I sent my condolences, and rang the florists in
San Francisco, but I have no way of knowing whether Mike and Asha received either.
"Once she's feeling a little better, I'll see if I can get her to talk about why she came here," I said then,
snapping out of my reverie. "About what happened. And why she's not with Mike."
That worries me. Asha and Mike were both very close. If something had happened, why wouldn't she
have gone to Mike? Unless something had happened to Mike?
That worries me a lot. I'm hoping my worries are unfounded, but I dread that they are not. I have an
uneasy feeling that I'm about to learn the worst. And I've lost so many people that were close to me. My
parents, Nathan, Peter. My Uncle Jonas, though I have no idea how I really feel about that. Max. Now
losing her…I know how I feel about that. But I try not to think about it unless I'm alone or drunk. Or
asleep, dreaming. Or any combination of the three.
Anyhow, I've lost people that were close to me before, so I guess I should just feel numb at the prospect.
That's usually how I end up after a night of dreaming of or drinking to forget Max. Numb. Empty. But
mostly, thinking that something might have happened to Mike, I just feel…surreal, I guess. I've lost people
before, but not Mike or Asha or Park. Not from before Eyes Only. I guess that was another reason I cut
myself off from them. What you don't know…right? As long as I had this image in my head of what we'd
been like, back then, studying or avoiding studying or just goofing off…it was like a part of us would
always remain that way.
Only now I know we didn't all remain that way. I'm certainly not the man I was in college. And Asha
isn't herself. What about Mike and Park?
Bling and I looked up as there was a sudden ring at the door. It was the doctor.
"I'll get it," Bling offered, and I nodded.
The doctor looked Asha over without her ever waking up. That worried me, as well, but the doctor said
sleep was probably the best thing she could do right now and that we should let her be. He told me she
should come around with time and that he would check back in to make sure. He also recommended I
contact a therapist. Considering the state Asha was in when she dropped in here, it would be wise. But
then, I've been told the same thing myself. But I'll be damned if I'll include any more doctors in my life
than I have to. The last two years have just been an endless procession of doctors and treatments. I'll let
Asha decide who she wants to share her problems with, once she comes around and is able to consider the
issue. I don't even know what's happened to her. I can't involve anyone else in her affairs until I do.
It's now been a couple of days that Asha's been here. She's waken up from time to time, but we haven't
talked much. The first few times she awoke, it was just to look around and take in her surroundings.
Perhaps to remind herself of where she was and who she was with? I've managed to get her to eat
something. Besides Bling's little smirks and the occasional "Hey, there's an idea. Next time I want to get
you to eat I'll just spoon-feed you" I've been satisfied with the speed of her recovery.
Today she's even ventured out of the guestroom. I've been in the computer room all morning, but now I
wheel out and there she is. Asha. Standing by the window, looking out at Seattle. She's wearing one of
the outfits I'd had sent here for her.
She's gorgeous. Just as beautiful as I remember her. But so fragile.
For a moment I'm just…struck. By how long it's been and how much has happened. In both our lives,
obviously. And by how the bond is still there after all this time. The bond of friendship; that
protectiveness over the "runt" of our bunch, Mike's kid sis. Though Asha has hardly ever been a runt. And
though I'm not quite sure my protective instincts are still based on the fact that Ash is Mike's little sister…
For a moment, I just sit there staring at her. Then I make a decision.
I'm going to cook for her. God only knows why that's the first thing that comes to my mind, but it is. I
haven't cooked a full meal since…well, since Max died. But tonight I'm going to cook for Asha.
And, I swear, if Bling ribs me about this… I'm going to change all the locks around here.