All Fairytales End – Chapter Nine

I have to be strong. For his sake, I have to be strong. Oh God, please why this, why Logan? I mean he's just one man right? What kind of sick individual could do this? Sam's convinced that someone had to have cooked this up. I mean really how else is it possible that Logan has this virus that's only lethal to him? It all doesn't make any sense. Despite what the test results said, Sam's got this place still sealed up tighter than tin can. I'm so glad I refused to wear that stupid protective suit. I would have only made Logan feel more isolated then he already must feel. I looked at Logan lying in that bed and I just couldn't do it. What did I have to protect myself from anyway? I would die before I'd let him suffer like this and I would do it willingly.

"Asha." His voice is raspy, barely a whisper.

I go directly to his side uttering useless comforting blabber, half of which I don't even believe myself. I recheck his IV, it's still properly attached but the bag's almost empty.

"Asha," he says again.

It's almost as if he wants to say something more but can't. Maybe he's hoping I can guess what he wants. I kneel down by the bed and take his hand in mine, squeezing it encouragingly I ask him to try me again. "I'm listening Logan."

His head rolls slowly to the side and his eyes open for the first time in hours. They're bloodshot and so raw it's painful for me to look at. His lips form shapes but no sound comes out. I'm relieved when he closes his eyes again. Even the low light in the room must be too harsh for him.

After gently touching his rough cheek, I get back up. I rest his hand back on the covers and smooth the sweat matted hair from his forehead. As my fingers brush his skin, I feel the heart radiate from him. It scares me, this is definitely not a good sign. I dash to the bathroom getting water and a washcloth. Pulling off the loose bedcovers, I begin bathing him. I repeat this process over and over till it becomes mechanical for me. Then one word stops everything.

It was her name that he whispered in the night hours, months ago. Her name that left his lips, that was playing in his mind, she who is written in his heart and probably always would be. Footsteps treading softly down the passage break my silent reverie. They're headed in our direction and still the shivers in my hands. I clasp them tightly together and I'm tempted to sit on them for good measure. It's a bad habit I suffer, stupid nerves. Sometimes I struggle to string a coherent sentence together when I am really nervous, it's pathetic. A few figures enter the room casting more dark shadows on the walls; I don't recognize any of them at first. I'm only expecting Sam, maybe the nice lady doctor from before but that doesn't amount to four figures lingering in the doorway. I close my tired eyes for a moment before looking up again. It seems I only focus on one face and believe me in that instance I lose all sanity. I only see red.


When Asha flew at Max, everyone else just got out of the way. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Bling couldn't stop the laugh from escaping. Original Cindy shot him a murderous glare before making a move toward the women fighting in the passage. Max had the upper hand from the moment Asha dove into her but you could tell she wasn't putting in a lot of effort, Asha was sloppy and she was mad. Sam grabbed Original Cindy by the arm and held her back.

"Let them sort it out," he said calmly.

Original Cindy just gave him an incredulous look. Did he honestly think there would be a civilized end to the beat down that was taking place right now? If he did then the good doctor just wasn't as smart as she initially thought. "Come on now, break it up." She yelled.

Max had Asha up against the wall, one hand firmly locked around the other woman's neck, unchecked anger plainly written on her face. Original Cindy signed inwardly, she called it, now how were they going to stop a pissed off super soldier.

No one saw it coming. Asha brought her knee up hard, hitting Max in the pelvis. It certainly didn't have the excruciating effect that it would have had for a guy but the pain was certainly there. The reaction bought her enough time to throw a good punch square to Max's face. That sent her a few steps back, giving Asha room to breathe.

"Get out!" Asha screeched. She was past angry, she was positively fuming. The nerves she had been feeling earlier had been replaced with uncontrollable rage. How dare she show up here. What did she want? Did she think that good ol' Asha would just walk away and let her come on over? No way, not this time. "You had your chance, Max. You blew it big time. You're not getting near him, over my dead body."

Max was stunned more than pained. Her face stung and her abdomen was throbbing a little but what cut deeper then anything else was the total loathing and anger on Asha's face. She really hated her. Pure and simple. It wasn't just jealousy or envy, it was a murderous hate. They'd never really gotten on but Asha had never been malicious towards her. This was new. No matter, she hadn't traveled thousands of miles in a cramped cabin, then several more latched to the bottom of a van, to be kicked out on her butt now. "Asha…" She started carefully.

"I said get out, I won't ask again. Bling?" Asha kept her distance this time and threw a look in Bling's direction. She was surprised when he made no move at all to take Max to the front door.

"She has a right to be here too, Asha." Bling folding his arms calmly, ignoring the pain that crossed both women's faces. Whether it was a comfortable situation or not, wasn't the issue. A man was dying in the room behind them and the people closest needed to be there for him. Past aside, Bling knew that Logan would want Max to stay.

Asha's shoulders slumped in defeat. She wouldn't cry, nor would she run away and hide. This was where she wanted to be and no beautiful, genetically engineered haughty female was going to threaten her off. If anything, she'd like to be there when Logan finally came to. Maybe he'd realize that after all they'd been through, she was the woman who'd always be there. Not some flighty pretty face.

The others filed slowly into the dimly lit room, leaving Bling and Asha alone in the passage. She turned on him accusingly, "You told her didn't you, you probably even picked her up." His silence spoke volumes and Asha bit her lip to stop the string of curses ready to leave her mouth. So what if he told Max what was happening to Logan. Who cared if he went out of Seattle just to give her a ride, it seemed everyone was under her spell. 'Perfect Max' it seemed, could do no wrong. The telephone's shrill tone broke through everyone's tightly controlled composure. No one made a move to answer it.

"Is someone going to get that?" Sam asked.

"I will," Asha rushed to the kitchen before anyone decided to object. The portable was right where she'd left it on the counter. "Hello?"

"Hi, it's Josie calling. Dr Josie Lu, could I speak to Sam?"

After answering, Asha had wondered back in the direction of the main bedroom. She mouthed, 'for you' and shrugged as she handed him the phone. When she had listened to Josie's voice, she'd tried to gauge it if was good or bad news. From one sentence it was kind of hard to tell.

"Uh ha. Yes. Yeah she's here. Okay, one second." Sam looked over to Max before passing her the line. "A man called Dean is asking for you."

It took less then a second for Max to string the memories together. The moment she heard his voice it just cemented the identity in her mind. Dean Baxter, what could he possibly want? Hang on, if he was in prison, how could he with the doctor who was supposed to be working on a cure? For a moment her whole world froze and the breath caught in her chest. Sam sent her a worried look, she mentally scolded herself and brought the chaos assaulting her mind to a grinding halt. Just listen, and then decide what do to. Lydecker's words returned to taunt her, "Never underestimate your enemy, but never calculate an attack until you've assessed the situation." She hadn't even figured out what Dean wanted yet, the doctor obviously didn't sound threatened. Besides, Tash still seemed to trust him, she went on about the guy enough. "This is Max."

She could hear the audible relief in his voice at her name. "I need your help, Max. Tash and Alec are in trouble. White's onto them and I have to get to the VA hospital outside Seattle fast."

As his desperate plea seeped into her receptive brain, Max looked hopelessly at Logan. She was torn completely in two. How could she choose? Logan could die while she was gone, what if the doctor didn't find a cure? What if he regained consciousness, it might be the only chance she got to say that she was sorry.

"Boo, you gotta go. I'll watch him for you, I promise, we all will. He'll still be breath'n when you get back, even if I have do CPR rescue myself."

Max quirked a brief grin. "You even know how to do that?" she asked curiously with an arched eyebrow.

"Of course I do. Signed up for it that one time I quit Jam Pony, haven't used my skills yet but hey, there's always a first." She gave Max a firm hug before shoving her towards the door. "Now go and save those two before they get in real trouble."

Max was one step out the doorway before she turned, Asha held a look that was a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. Original Cindy stood with her hands on her hips waiting for her to beat it. "How did you know?"

"Girl, when aren't those two in a jam?" Original Cindy rolled her eyes. "I heard, now go."