What a Broken Heart Can Bear
Chapter 7: The Way Things Are Going…
~ Well I'm back with yet another chapter of my lil fic…and to be honest I have no idea how the majority of you feel about it. Because either you aren't reviewing or you just aren't reading it all together. I don't know. But I am actually quite insecure when it comes to 'Broken' because I am all too aware that many of you may not be too pleased with the idea of the story and its possibilities. So if you do read this could you do me a HUGE favor and somehow review….even if it's just a rank of 1-5 or something just to let me know that you read it. I know I'm not the only author out there who feels this way…so please for the sanity of all the fan fic authors out there… Be cool – review….ok so I'm a dork (no Kat, not a dork) I never said I wasn't.
~Ok, just a quick AN: In the first paragraph Adriann makes a comment about her age, then says well sort of…that refers back to "Adriann" and how she isn't really the age that she appears to be because of Lydecker cloning her and transferring her memories, which resulted in her accelerated aging…thus the sort of… Got it? :o)
~Oh yeah, one more AN: Now seeing as how I am the author of this lil story, I think I'm allowed to play with the passage of time…so let's just say that the discoveries of the public…like transgenics in general, then the fat that there are transgenics who look just like them, exist…still happen, just on a bit of a different time scale…I'll let you know what's going – promise – so keep an eye out for the info in any ANs…k?
~Alright, I've babbled enough, now on with the show…
~~*~~ Too Slow To Ride~~*~~
'I should have seen this coming.' Adriann pulled her knees up to her chest a bit further as another wave of seizures hit her. The cold bathroom floor wouldn't have been her first choice to battle any bout with her seizures, but this morning they had hit so fast and so hard that she had hardly had a chance to sit down before losing her strength. 'Why else would I have felt like hell yesterday? Really Dre, you should have noticed…all the signs were there. You were tired, weak, you felt queasy, and dizzy…What did you think was goin' on…morning sickness? Not likely…impossible really. You should know this by now! You're almost 22 years old…well, sort of.'
Once the latest wave had died down somewhat, Adriann tried to drag herself to her feet and get her medication from the cabinet. 'Oh…damn it! Son of a…' Just as she reached her full height another wave hit her fast and hard, instantly draining what little strength her legs had managed to find. Adriann crumbled to the ground with a loud thud, narrowly missing the sink with her head. 'So much for keeping Logan out of the loop on this one.' Just as she was finishing the thought Logan burst into the bathroom, unconcerned with the possibility that she was fine or anything but decent. He knew that she had originally gone in there to shower, and most people tend to not wear their clothes while they're in there.
"Dre! My God. Adriann, are you ok?" He asked dropping to his knees and cradled her head in his lap.
"Tryp – tryp- tryptophane." Adriann sputtered. Shaking violently, Adriann watched as Logan sprung to his feet and gently pushed some pills into her mouth.
"Why didn't you call me?" He whispered, sitting down on the floor with his back against the door and pulling Adriann into his arms.
"Didn't...want...to…wor…worry...you." She said, grabbing his arm tightly to stabilize herself. Logan sighed adjusting his legs so that they could help hold Dre's convulsing relatively still.
"It's bad today isn't it?" Logan asked, already knowing the answer.
Temporarily unable to speak, Adriann nodded. Exhausted from her seizures, Dre gave up fighting them and just let go and let them run their course. Logan had been around for a few of Max's seizures, but most of his experience came from living with Adriann. She didn't have them very often, but when she did, they came with little to no warning and made sure to wreak havoc in her body for as along as possible.
Twenty minutes later the tryptophane began to take an obvious effect, allowing Adriann to slowly walk to the couch with Logan's help.
"Lay down, get yourself comfortable, and I'll make you some chicken soup." He told her gently laying a blanket over her and brushing the hair from her sweat soaked forehead.
"The kind in the can?" She asked weakly. Logan smiled sadly, she always sounded so small and young after her seizures.
"The kind in the can."
Adriann smiled as she settled down into the couch. For the first time in hours she could sit back and breathe. 'You'd think the mad scientists back at Manticore could come up with a way to fix the wiring up there. But no…make 'em suffer. It will ensure loyalty and make us strong…blah blah blah…insert Manticore psychobabble here…blah blah blah…I bet they never thought it would piss us off…or dare to try and make it on our own. But we did. How you like them apples Deck? Hmmm? I hope you all choke on your damn apples.'
"Here you go Hun." Logan said as he walked into the living room, carefully balancing a tray with Adriann's soup on it.
"Thanks Logan." She said sitting up a bit.
"Not a problem. I'm just glad I could do something." Logan said sitting down beside her curled up legs.
A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence as Adriann ate her soup. When she had finished Logan put the try on the coffee table and readjusted his position to face Dre more.
"So, how'd last night go?" She asked pulling her knees to her chest and leaning sideways on the back of the couch so it acted as a pillow for her head.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to ask." Logan chuckled, adjusting the blanket once again covering her toes.
"You are so retarded. I'm not gonna die if my toe isn't covered by the blanket." Adriann joked, sticking her foot out from underneath the blanket.
"I don't want you to get chilled. You already broke out in a cold sweat earlier." Logan informed.
"Yeah but I was on the bathroom floor seizing. I think this is a little different." She countered.
"Dre, please. Just stay covered up...for me?" Logan asked, his concern for her well being obvious.
"Fine." She sighed, "But I want details mister." Adriann ordered covering her foot.
"Thank you." Logan smiled. "It was nice. We had dinner and desert – thanks again by the way, Max loved it. The tension that we had become so accustomed to having between us was barely there. We didn't have to worry about keeping a 10 foot radius between us, all we had to do, was avoid any direct contact. Dre, we talked for hours last night. I can't tell you what time Max left...we'd been talking for so long. I wanted to continue to too, but being just a plain ole human got the better of me and I started to doze off. Max finally insisted that she go home and let me get some sleep, and of course refused my offer for her to stay the night. It was almost like the old days. Almost." Logan sighed, with a content yet slightly sad smile.
"It was after 2 am, I can tell you that much." Adriann offered, with a knowing smile.
"How would you know? You came home after I went to bed." He told her.
"Not really. I came home at about 2...after dragging my feet for an hour and a half trying to kill some time. I was really quiet...cat like." Adriann added with a smile seeing Logan's look of confusion. "I was trained to make sure no one would know that I was around. I never said that some of Manticore's training wasn't practical for everyday life."
"Uh-huh."
"I'm glad it went well. I really am, even though someone needs to look up the definition of details." Adriann smiled, genuinely happy for Logan.
"Thanks." Logan paused for a moment and looked at Adriann, as if he were questioning whether or not he should say something.
"Oh just say it." She grumbled, knowing what was coming.
"Tell me about Alec. And remember, you promised you'd spill last night." Logan reminded her.
"Well, there's really not much to it...I mean Alec is my brother – for the most part anyway. I would love to have the relationship with Alec that I did with Ben, but that's not possible because he's not Ben. Like I said last night, Alec is an ass, probably always will be, but that doesn't mean that I don't want him in my life. Cause in the end, he is still my brother. And oddly enough, I think he knows that, and might actually understand it. But I'll just have to wait and see. Cause as I'm sure you've figured out, the psychic chip isn't working too well lately." Adriann said tapping her temple.
"Why do I have the feeling you're making this seem a lot less important to you than it really is?" Logan said, calling Dre on her BS.
"Because you know me far too well?" Adriann asked raising her eyebrows. Logan mirrored her expression, obviously not happy with her answer. "Or because I am?" she conceded and sat up.
"Why not just admit the fact that you want a brother again...or that you want your brother back, even though it's not Ben? Really Adriann, this is me you're talking to. If you can admit it to anyone, I would hope it'd be to me." Logan said with a sigh, hurt by her lack of openness with him.
"I don't even know if I can admit it to myself yet Logan, let alone say it out loud to anyone else...it's just that, he looks so much like Ben and sometimes he'll do something and it reminds me so much of Ben, that for a second I'll think it really is him. I'm just worried that I'll be expecting too much from him, or expect what I would of Ben...or start to think of him as Ben..." Adriann sighed deeply, "I just don't want to be unfair to him. He means too much to me to ruin any chance of a friendship."
"But Dre, it's got to be like – "
"Getting my brother back from the dead?" She finished for him. "Yeah, it is...and that's part of it too. I guess I'm afraid of getting too close and losing him all over again."
"Dre," Logan began leaning forward and taking her face in his hands and looked at her intently, "You are not doomed to lose everyone in your life that you love. And just because Ben died, doesn't mean that the same thing is going to happen with Alec...or anyone else for that matter. You have the right to be happy just as much as anyone else in this world, and I'll be damned if I stand by and watch it pass you over."
"If you say so." Adriann smiled and leaned forward resting her forehead on Logan's chest. "I'm tired." She murmured, as Logan wrapped his arms around her.
"You should be...you've had a rough morning. Why don't you try and get some sleep. Let your body recover from this morning's exertion." He told her, smoothing her hair.
Logan gently lay the half asleep Adriann down on the couch, pulled the blanket up from its current place on the floor and softly kissed her forehead.
"Sweet dreams." He whispered before standing up and walking over towards the kitchen, dirty dishes in hand.
~~*~~*~~*~~
Max crept into Logan's apartment later that afternoon, deciding to cut out from work early. She had had enough of Normal for one day. Hearing Logan quietly humming to the symphony he had playing in the kitchen, Max soundlessly sat down on a bar stool and watched Logan continue to clean the already spotless counter top. However, the sight of Adriann passed out on the couch hadn't failed to escape her attention. Leaning forward onto the counter, Max rested her chin in her hands and waited to see how long it would take Logan to notice she was there.
"I really am flattered that you're staring at my ass and all, but I don't want you to drool on my nice, clean counter top." Logan said playfully with his back still turned to her.
"I am not drooling...yet." Max shot back with a grin as he turned around to face her.
"Hey." Logan said walking up beside her, and leaning back on the counter.
"Hey." Max smiled up at him for a moment before her thoughts drifted to Adriann. "What's wrong with Dre?" She asked, concern written in her features.
"Well," Logan said sighing and running a hand through his already disheveled hair, "She had a really nasty bout of seizures this morning – on the bathroom floor. She collapsed in there; almost hit her head on the sink. It was bad Max. She ended up being so exhausted that she just gave up trying to keep her convulsions under control and went limp in my arms. Max, I don't think I've ever seen one that bad." Logan looked down and rolled his neck from side to side, trying to work out the kinks.
"How is she now?" Max asked looking towards her sister.
"Tired - Exhausted. But okay. I think." Logan said with a sigh of relief.
Max nodded, equally relieved. Shifting nervously, Max turned to look at Logan and calmed her nerves.
"I had a lot of fun last night." She told him quietly.
"Me too. Though I wish I could have kissed you goodnight." Logan said to her, his voice dropping both in volume and tone.
"At least a kiss." Max said with a devious twinkle in her eyes.
"At least." He echoed suggestively. "But we did get to talk...and have some contact." Logan reminded, resisting the urge to brush a stray strand of hair from her eyes and settled for resting his hand on her sleeved arm. Max closed her eyes and smiled at the contact. It was something that had become impossible and now it was something she cherished.
"We'll figure something out Max. It will just take some...time."
"But how much time?" Max asked, her face taking on the innocence of a child.
"Not much longer. I can promise you that." Adriann said softly while slowly and carefully walking into the kitchen.
"How you feeling?" Both Max and Logan asked in perfect time with each other.
"I've felt better, but I'm alive so who can complain?" She told them dismissively. "But, I can promise you that things won't be like this much longer. Everything is going to be okay."
"Dre, what are you talking about?" Max asked gently.
"I'm gonna go shower and change, then Logan, I'm gonna have to borrow Max for a little while." Adriann said ignoring Max's question and Logan's questioning gaze.
"You mind if I ask why?" Logan said eying her carefully.
"Yeah." She replied shortly, turning on her heel and heading for the bathroom. Pausing for just a moment, Adriann looked back at Max silently telling her that everything was okay and not to worry. That this was a good thing.
"Adriann." Logan called, his voice taking on a parental quality.
"Don't worry Logan. I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'm not gonna over exert myself. I'm not gonna think too hard. I'm not gonna run a mile or fight some big bad-ass bad guys or even go into heat. I just need to borrow her for a few hours and then I'll bring her right back, unharmed, exactly as she left." Adriann told him, knowing exactly what he was going to say, as if she were a teenager speaking to her parents. Max fought to stifle to her laugh, but it was a losing battle. She burst out laughing at the verbal jousting taking place between her boyfriend and sister. It was entertainment that she didn't often get to witness, though she knew as often as it did between Alec and herself…Only it wasn't has hostile.
"Logan. Let her shower and get ready. I'll make sure that nothing happens, and if by chance something does, who better than an X5 to take care of another X5?" Max said, as Adriann continued to the bathroom.
"I know. It's just…I worry about her sometimes; Especially when she gets hit as hard as she did this morning by yet another seizure. I don't ever want to know what life would be like without her, Max. She's my best friend. I mean look what she did for us, and all the other transgenics…I don't ever want to lose her." Logan confessed shyly, because he didn't want Max to think that he loved her any less.
"I know Logan. I'm just as scared as you are about losing her. But if I have anything to do with it, Dre will be here forever." Max told him, laying her hand on his arm.
"I love you." Logan said looking into her eyes.
"I love you too." Max whispered.
~~*~~*~~*~~
"How did you find this guy?" Max asked with a grin so large that it almost looked painted on.
"A friend of a friend…or something like that." Adriann laughed. 'It's great seeing her this happy. I haven't in a long time – if ever.'
"Okay, so here's the plan," Wyatt said walking back into the room Carrying a tray with three vials, a syringe, and a petrie dish, "I'm going to test the serum on a sample of Max and Logan's blood, then if everything goes as planned – which it will – I'll give Max the injection and within two hours…all will be well and life will be good." He finished setting the tray down onto the lab table.
"How did you come up with a cure for this thing?" Max asked, watching Wyatt introduce her blood sample to the serum.
"Reprogrammed the virus to lay dormant until exposed to a rare genetic disorder called Turners Syndrome – which Logan doesn't have - Until then it just sits in your system harmless to all." Wyatt said distractedly. "Yep…there it is…yes…we're good to go…"
"His grandfather, father and brother were all involved in creating biochemical diseases and other weapons for bio-warfare…and since the virus is based on Zycihor, I figured who better to work on a bio-warfare agent than the guy who makes 'em?" Adriann whispered to Max, while Wyatt was busy filling the syringe with the proper amount of the life changing serum.
"This is going to work right?" Max asked for about the hundredth time, afraid to get her hopes up to once again have them shattered into a million pieces.
"I'd bet my life on it." Adriann said taking Max's hand and giving it a squeeze. 'God, if you're there and you're listening…please, let this work. These two deserve something to go right for them. Please…just let this work.'
"Ready?" Wyatt asked Max, looking at her for the first time as a real person and not just a lab rat.
"As I'll ever be." Max sighed and closed her eyes. It wasn't that the needle bothered her, or that the idea of getting a shot did…it was everything that the serum held within it that made her nervous. Too much was riding on one little serum.
"It's going to be fine." Adriann whispered in Max's ear. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Max turned to face her sister and slowly nodded in agreement.
~~*~~*~~*~~
'Who would have thought that in a matter of hours, two peoples lives could do a complete 180? I mean it's virtually unthinkable…but it happened just the same. But when you think about it, our lives, are virtually unthinkable…the fact that we're here, alive at all…yet here we are living our lives the best we can.' Adriann sat on the top of the Space Needle later on that night. She had given Max and Logan the apartment for the night, knowing that they'd make good use of it. 'Wyatt was right…life is going to be good, and Max is truly going to be happy for the first time in her life. The virus is cured, she knows Logan loves her and she loves him, granted things on the Manticore front aren't particularly calm, but it could be worse. Renfro…burn in hell. You do not screw with my family and not pay for it.'
'But now that things are looking up for Max and Logan, it looks like I'm gonna have to start taking care of Adriann. Alec…I should go talk to Alec. That's what a smart person would do. And I have been told that I am a smart person…but I don't wanna…well yeah I do, but…Just admit it Adriann. You. Are. Scared.' Sighing, Adriann leaned back on her hands. 'I'm scared. I'm scared as hell, actually. But I've got a choice…either have a brother or don't. He's not Ben and never will be…but, Alec is your brother just the same. Hell, he probably even has good aspects to him………I'm gonna go talk to him. If Max and Logan could survive the last few months and finally find a solution…then damn it, I can talk to Alec and actually start building a relationship.'
Adriann stood up, and looked out over the city she considered home, and laughed to herself. 'It looks like we really could have a happy ending here for everyone. Who would have thought? Manticore kids getting happy endings…seems impossible…but it's not. For the first time, I really think that everything is going to work out for us…Everything's going to be okay.'
Walking back to the small room at the top of the Space Needle Adriann laughed and ran a hand through her long brown hair with a smile. 'Logan would kill me if he knew I was up here after this morning. Oh well, what he doesn't know can't hurt him. Hmmmmm…I wonder what would be a good time to go back home tomorrow morning? Cause, as much as I love Logan…I don't want to be scarred for life after seeing…….oh God…eww….ewww…gross.'
~~*~~Got Me Down~~*~~
"So tell me again why little miss attitude isn't here…AGAIN." Normal asked agitatedly.
"I already told you," She began, sounding as sweet as she could, "Max had a family emergency and she had to go to be with them." Adriann had been at the Jam Pony Headquarters all morning sucking up and trying to talk Normal into letting her take Max's place for as long as she's gone, despite the fact that Logan had told her repeatedly that there was no need for her to get a job. But, besides the fact that Adriann felt like all she did was take up his hot water and eat all his food, she wanted to make sure that Max had a job to come back to when she decided to return – 'that is if Normal caves.'
"And where is here family?"
"Canada."
"And what would this emergency be?" He asked glancing at her over his glasses.
"Her brother is sick."
"The flu doesn't count."
"Does Cancer?" Adriann shot back forgetting the 'be nice' portion of her plan momentarily. "Come on Normal." Adriann sighed exasperated. "You don't want to be down a messenger do you?"
"I'm down one idiot slacker who doesn't care about her job – not a messenger." Normal clarified as he handed a young man a package. "Don't forget a signature!" He called after him.
"But you see Normal, unlike these other miscreants that you happen to employ here, I am a dedicated and devoted employee. I value my job and employer a great deal." Adriann shot an apologetic glance to those who had gathered around to witness the rare amusement.
"I highly doubt that." Normal muttered.
"You know what Normal, let me put it this way: Until you give me this job, I will be your shadow. I'll be at the door waiting for you to open every morning and I'll be here with you when you close. Hell, I might even stay for dinner or hang out with you after hours, you know hit some clubs. Who knows? So until you let me hold Max's position for her, I might as well be your Siamese twin, because you won't be able to get rid of me." Adriann explained, leaning forward onto the counter and slightly lowering her voice with a smile. Normal's face paled at the thought of never being rid of her.
"Fine." He conceded, swallowing past a large lump in his throat. "But don't expect any special treatment."
"I wouldn't dream of it Normal, not in a million years." Adriann said happily. "But, Thank you, Normal. Really." She added a bit more subdued, getting a roll of his eyes in response. 'Well what did you expect Dre? An 'Oh you are so welcome. You're my new favorite messenger and I can hardily wait to cater to your every whim.'? Please. This is Normal we're talking about.'
"Cindy!" Adriann called seeing her friend walk up to her locker.
"Hey Suga." Cindy replied, entering the combination on her lock.
"I was hoping that I could stop by your place and…pick up some of Max's stuff. Maybe clear out her room a bit, so if you need to get a new roommate…and maybe get some answers in the process." Adriann said leaning up against the adjacent locker.
"Aiight. Just don't go throwin' out any of my Boo's things. She might…" Cindy lowered her head a bit and sighed. "Never mind. I know you'll do right by Max. If you don't, Original Cindy is gonna have to lay the smack down on your ass. But, I keep thinking that she's gonna waltz in like she owns the place some night just like nothing's wrong."
"I know…I think we all do, Cindy." Adriann consoled. "Just remember, that if you need anything, to talk, a shopping buddy, or a date approval, I'm here."
"What are you, Transgenic Counselor Extraordinaire or something?" Cindy joked, blinking back unshed tears. "But, Thanks Lil' Boo. I'll keep that in mind." Adriann smiled gently. 'She's trying so hard to be strong, to not let this get to her. But she's dying inside just like Logan, and I, and probably Alec are. She lost her sister just as much as I did. I just wish that there was something I could do for her. I feel so helpless.'
"So, it's okay if I…"Adriann ventured.
"Yeah Suga, go right ahead. But, could you get that hot black number with the slit sleeves for me. Max promised I could wear it for this date I have coming up, and never gave it to me. I won't look as fine as she did in it, but I'll look sexy as hell, that's for sure." Original Cindy said with some of her usual flare returning.
"You got it." Adriann chuckled.
"Hey, I'll see you later, cause I gotta get movin' before Normal blows an artery or something." Cindy said slamming her locker and rolling her eyes.
"Okay. Later." Adriann laughed walking towards the exit. "Bye Normal." She called with a wave as she passed the front desk.
"You start tomorrow Missy! 9AM sharp! Don't be late!" Normal bellowed as she walked out the door. "Come on people let's get a move on! Bip! Bip! Bip!"
~~*~~*~~*~~
Adriann rifled through Max's closet packing most it contents into the large box that she had brought with her. 'Wow…this is a great shirt.' She smiled tossing the shirt onto the dresser so she wouldn't forget to give it to Cindy. Taking a step back to see what was on the shelf, Adriann tilted her head to the side in confusion. 'Okay, I get the tape, rope, harness, and climbing gear, but a shoebox? Why the hell is there a shoe box up there? And why the hell do I have to be the shortest person in the family? When you're 5'3" you can't even reach the shelves in your own freakin' closet.' Gracefully jumping up to pick up the box off the shelf, Adriann's curiosity grew. 'What's in here?' Setting the box down beside her on the bed, Adriann carefully removed the lid to reveal its secrets. 'Oh…my…God…' Quietly, she reached down and picked up a small stack of photos. 'Kendra…Cindy…all three of the girls…Sketchy…Herbal…Bling…me...Zack. Where in the world did she find a picture of Zack that wasn't in a line up?' Adriann sighed and slowly flipped through the pictures again before setting them aside. 'Tinga's wedding ring.' Adriann stared at the small diamond ring as she held it between her thumb and index finger. 'Maxie had always planned on giving this back to Charlie…but she never got the chance to I guess.' Adriann squeezed her eyes shut and fought back tears as she put the ring down. 'Zack's ID bracelet. The last time that he was actually Zack, or at least knew he was. I should check up on him when I get a chance. He didn't even know that I was alive, so if he sees me, he should be okay…as long as he doesn't see my barcode.' Adriann set down the flimsy plastic hospital issue tag with a sigh. 'Just remember his name is Adam now…' Turning her attention back to the box, Adriann's expression could be described as nothing but pained. 'Brin.' She lifted out a delicate gold chain from the box and held it out in front of her gaze, as scenes from the last time she had seen Brin blurred with the image of the necklace.
** Adriann shot up and ran towards Brin, ignoring the fact that she was losing the feeling in her legs. It took only seconds for Dre to close the distance between herself and Brin, but it seemed like forever.
{{You know that talking will only piss her off so just take her down. Ahhh, no, no....stay focused!!}}
Dre lunged at Brin who hadn't noticed Adriann's presence until she hit her. The two girls crashed through the pent house sky light fighting the entire way down.
"Dre!" Bling screamed as he jumped up and ran for the stairs.
"What the hell?" Logan said when he heard the crash from his bedroom where Max was cleaning the red scar that had formed in place of the incision. Logan and the three X5's rushed to the hall where the crash came from.
"Dre!" Max screamed.
"Brin!" Syl and Krit yelled. This was the first time that they had seen their sister since the escape.
"What's going on?" Logan asked Bling when he came through the door.
"Brin came for Max." he answered feeling helpless as he watched Dre fight Brin when she actually fighting for her life.
Adriann was nearly out matched this time. Brin had had the upper hand since they hit the floor. Knocking Adriann on her back Brin took the split second Dre was down to go for Max.
{{No you don't!}}
Jumping up Adriann ran towards Brin and grabbed her arm just when she was within reach of their baby sister. Logan put himself in front of Max in attempts of protecting her, but he would be no match for Brin. Adriann pulled Brin back towards her with a hard yank that dislocated her shoulder.
"Ahhh!" Brin yelped in pain.
"What? Brin are you showing weakness?" Dre asked dropping Brin to the ground. Catching her off guard Brin knocked Adriann's feet out from under her and planted a hard kick in her stomach before heading for Max again.
"Dre?" Bling called out worried by Brin's latest blow.
{{Ohh God. Fight it. You've got to fight it.}}
"Brin!" Adriann screamed from the ground. Dre pushed up off the ground as she continued talking.
"Stay away from her!" Dre screamed launching herself forward to grab Brin by her bad arm, when she turned to throw a spinning back hand. Using the momentum of Brin's attack, Dre picked her up and threw her former sister over her shoulder, sending Brin crashing through Logan's high rise window. Adriann turned in one fluid movement with the throw to face the window ending in her fighting stance. Everyone remained frozen in place as they stared at the window broken by Brin.
"Maxie, you alright." Dre asked without moving.
"Yeah." Max sighed in response. Logan turned to see for himself that Max was unharmed, while Krit and Syl walked to the window.
"I don't think she'll be back." Krit said when Syl quickly turned from the gruesome sight on the street below. **
'It had to be done. You know that as much as anybody. It was either that…or stand by and watch Brin drag Max back to Manticore or be killed. It couldn't be avoided…you know that. It was either her or Maxie…and you weren't about to let Maxie die, especially when Brin wasn't the sister we used to know.' Placing the necklace with the other items, Adriann turned back to the box and its two remaining items. Her outstretched hand froze in mid-air when she realized what she had found. 'Ben.' Adriann smiled sadly picking up the necklace she had made for her brother when they were kids. 'I was wondering what happened to this. He wasn't wearing it when I found him that afternoon.' Her tears finally spilled over onto her cheeks as she slipped the necklace over her head. 'I'll wear yours now Ben…they took mine away when I…I never got mine back after I died…So I'll take care of this for you.'
Adriann picked up the final object with peaked interest; a small book with nearly all empty pages; All but three. 'It's Max's handwriting, but since when does Max have a journal?' Quickly scanning what her sister had written, she learned that it was mainly just random, unorganized thoughts on life, love and Manticore. Apparently she had gotten the idea from Logan's poem book. 'What….Max wrote a poem? No way…yes. Max wrote a poem…a really good poem. Who knew she had it in her?'
My heart is hurting beyond words,
The pain is tearing up my soul.
These days have seen my spirit die,
My life propelled out of control.
My wounds lay naked to the world,
My depth of suffering exposed.
This damaged past can never heal,
Until this nightmare book is closed.
My heart is hurting beyond words,
The pain is tearing up my soul.
Please tell me how can I retrieve,
The life that all this sadness stole.
'You really managed to capture the way that we all feel Maxie. Or at least the way I do. Granted you've had it worse then the rest of us at times, but… I never knew you could write like that. God Maxie, why didn't you just come talk to me about this, or Cindy, someone…Maybe things could have been different. Or maybe they would be exactly the same, but at least you would have tried.' Adriann closed the small book and quietly replaced all the box's items and set the cover on top. 'The only question now is do I show Logan the journal or not? I wish I had the answer…I show him he goes back into his funk, I don't he finds out I didn't tell him and he goes back into his funk and hates me for all time. Can't I have a third option here?'
Shaking her head, Adriann rose to her feet and returned to packing Max's things into her box, making sure to include the shoebox that held much of Max's life within its cardboard walls. She had known that one box would have more than enough room for all of her sister's things; when you have to be able to drop everything and run on a moments notice, you tend to only keep the necessitates. Setting the now full box down in the living room, Adriann tried to remain as detached as possible as she brought Max's shirt into Original Cindy's bedroom. 'This place is gonna seem so empty now. I don't know how Cindy does it…let alone still be able to smile when the day is over. She's stronger than I am.' Tossing the shirt on the bed, Adriann returned to the main area of the small apartment and picked the box up off the floor with ease. With a sigh, Dre took one last look around the room to make sure that she had gotten everything, her eyes eventually falling on the empty place the Ninja once sat. 'What was I thinking when I decided to do this? I must have been out of my mind.'
"You okay?" Alec said gently, as he took a few steps closer to his newfound sister.
"What?!" Adriann asked startled, spinning on her heal to face the owner of the voice. 'Alec.' "Oh, Alec. Hi." Her mind raced as she looked at him. Adriann hadn't seen Alec since that night at Crash that seemed like years ago. Strangely, all the irritation she expected to feel the next time she saw him, was nowhere to be found.
"You alright?" He asked again, just as gently as the first time, his eyes searching hers for the real answer.
"Yeah, I guess. I…I just stopped by to pick up some of Max's things, clear out the room for Cindy. Save her the heartache. It's got to be bad enough living in an empty apartment, why make her clear out her best friends room?" She explained. 'I just never expected it to be this hard…why d I have to keep reminding myself that she's not dead?'
"I had actually planned on doing the same thing. I guess you beat me to it though." Alec told her, glancing towards Max's room.
"Yeah, guess so." Adriann muttered, her gaze drifting back to where the Ninja should have been.
"Hey, look, I…uhh…I'm sorry for being such an ass the other night. I just didn't expect…who am I kidding? I'm a pain in the ass by nature. I mean I got my name because of it. Look, do you think that we could start over or something." Alec sighed, finally getting that off his chest. I had been bothering him since he watched Adriann walk out the front door of Crash, and he didn't know why, and didn't much care. He was just glad that he felt better now, after putting the idea out there.
"I know…I'm sorry too. I'm not normally such a…" Adriann searched for the proper word.
"Bitch?" Alec offered.
"Yeah, that works too. I was gonna go for domineering, but…" She laughed. "You're probably gonna think that I'm crazy for saying this, but, I'd really like to have some semblance of a brother sister type relationship here. I know that you're not Ben…as much as I would like to pretend that you are. But, Alec you're my brother, my twin brother, and…" Adriann trailed off, unable to express what she was trying to say.
"So, is that a yes?" Alec asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess it is." Adriann said laughing at herself.
"Let me get that." Alec said, reaching for the oversized box in Adriann's arms, when she took a step towards the door.
"Nah, I got it." She said dismissively.
"Please." Alec said taking hold of the end nearest him.
"Thanks." She said, handing over the box to his waiting arms, 'It's a box. He's trying to be nice and carry it for you. Not a big deal…Just let him do it,' and followed him to her car.
~~*~~*~~*~~
Adriann walked into the penthouse clumsily; just fitting the large box though the door. Walking directly to her bedroom in the back to drop off Max's belongings, Adriann took the chance to change into her black fleece pants and black tan top. 'That's much more comfortable.' Bare foot, Adriann padded across the central area of the apartment following the sound of the TV and computer. She paused, in the door frame of the office to see what Logan had on the TV and her heart sank. Yet another moron was claiming to know that all the transgenics were, were soulless monsters. 'It was only a matter of time Adriann, and you saw this coming a long time ago. A long time ago. Just wait till they find out that some of us look just like they do…and that a lot of us are what's keeping our little parts of the world together.'
"Hey." Adriann said, pulling her hair up into a ponytail as she walked the rest of the way into Logan's office. This was the only place she knew she was truly safe and didn't have to worry about anyone seeing her barcode, and Adriann treasured every chance she got to wear her hair up.
"Hey." Logan looked up from the computer screen and smiled. "How'd it go with Normal?" He asked, turning to face her once she had taken her usual perch on his desk.
"Well, I got it." She told him with a grin. "Granted I had to threaten to come over for dinner, go out clubbing with him – assuming Normal has a social life – basically be his shadow for all time. But, I got it. I start tomorrow." Adriann confessed with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"I still don't see the need for you to get a job." Logan muttered.
"Logan, if it bothers you that much that I am now employed, by someone other than you or Eyes Only, think of it this way…I'm doing it for me. I'd drive myself crazy not having anything that I had to do. I have to work Logan; it's in my DNA. I can't help that." She explained looking down at his worried expression. "And I won't be gone that much. Don't worry; I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you…I'm staying right here. It's just a job Logan. Nothing more."
Logan nodded, slowly understanding her need for a job. As the silence between them hung in the air, the idiot on the TV news program suddenly seemed much louder and his words caught Logan's attention.
"These…these…THINGS…they aren't human, they aren't animals. They don't belong anywhere, because they aren't a natural creation! They don't deserve to be on this Earth…God never intended for them to exist. It's our job to wipe them out and reclaim the planet for all of God's creations."
"Stupid son of a bitch" Logan spat, pushing himself over to his Eyes Only equipment and prepared for a hack.
"Logan." Adriann said sternly. " Don't. Now is not the time."
"Like hell it isn't! This idiot is going to have half the country on their porch or door step with a shot gun, ready to shoot the first thing that moves!" Logan fired back at her. "I will not let him get away with that…I won't let innocent people be killed because of some ass wipe's twisted view of morality!"
"And why would they believe you on this one? You know as well as I do that this was just a matter of time. Sooner or later the world was gonna find out about me and mine. People do and say dumb things when they're scared. Don't stoop to their level out of anger. Wait for the right time to bring Eyes Only into this again. If you're not careful, you'll get yourself killed…tension is unbelievably high right now, and people will do rash things, not giving a damn about the consequences." She told him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Please, Logan, forget him right now. People are going to believe what they want whether you do the hack or not."
Logan leaned back in his chair and sighed. Taking off his glasses, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, noticeably trying to calm himself down.
"I hate the way that he's talking about you…and Joshua…and Alec…and…Max, like you, like have no souls…no hearts. He has no idea how wrong he is. Never have I met anyone with as much compassion as you. And Adriann, you are the epitome of scientific success. They haven't been able to replicate the results since." Logan said finally looking over at her.
"I know…but now is not the time to take on this war, and the battle is not ready to be fought." Adriann slid down off the desk and knelt beside Logan's chair, ignoring the painful truth in his statement of her past. "But the time will come for the battle to be fought and everything will work out for the best." She added placing a calming hand on his knee.
"How can you say that? How can you be so…so…You're the one he's talking about, and you're telling me it's gonna be okay and calming me down." Logan said in astonishment, as he did every time Adriann did or said something so incredibly selfless.
"Because it's true." She smiled softly. "Come on, let's watch a movie or something…forget the screwed up world for a couple hours. Whadda say?"
"As long as you don't make me watch the Breakfast Club AGAIN." Logan groaned, as she pulled him to his feet and dragged him into the living room.
"Okay…deal. But I don't see your problem with that movie, it's soooo good." Adriann said flopping down on the couch. "But, I'll let you pick the movie." She sighed dramatically.
"Oh sure…let me pick the movie so you can take the whole couch for yourself." Logan whined putting on an old pre pulse horror movie.
"Oh stop whining. You know I always let you on the couch anyway." Adriann said throwing a pillow at him playfully. "So, what movie we watching?" She asked sitting up for Logan to sit down at the end of the couch.
"Scream. It's an pre-pulse horror movie." He told her as he stretched out his legs, resting his feet on the coffee table. "People loved it back then…it's been forever since I've seen it." Adriann grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and snuggled into Logan's arms, resting her head on the inside of his shoulder.
"Oh this should be good." Adriann stifled a laugh.
"What?" Logan asked confused.
"This will probably the most pathetic excuse for fear that I will ever see." Adriann explained. "'Oh no! The killer is chasing me…I think I'll run into a closet and hide to make it easier for me to die!'" Adriann mocked a young victim in the typical horror flick.
"Well, not all of us grew up in a psychopathic military facility. So we aren't used to seeing this stuff…and we sure as hell aren't smart enough to get out the town when the killer shows up." Logan laughed.
"True." Adriann laughed along with her friend.
"You comfy?" Logan asked draping his arm around her shoulders as the last of his laughter died out.
"Yep."
"This is a lot like the good ole days isn't it?" Logan asked looking down at his best friend.
"That it is." She replied, sighing contently.
"Hey Logan…?" Adriann asked a moment later.
"Yeah?"
"Everything's gonna be okay. I promise." Adriann looked up at him intently, watching his reaction.
"I wouldn't believe it if it came from anyone else." Logan said meeting her gaze, and smiling. With a smile Adriann reached up and gave Logan a quick peck on the cheek, before settling back into his arms.
'I'll give the journal to Logan one day…just not now…it's not time. Everything is still too raw and would more than likely do more harm that good. He's just not ready yet, especially to read what she wrote about him. That would just break his heart to know all that and know that she left despite of it all. One day…just not now. But the way things are going…I think we're gonna be ok.'
~Well there you have it folks, Chapter 7 of 'What A Broken Heart Can Bear'….I hope you enjoyed it. So please let me know what you though…if you liked it tell me….you hated it yell at me…tell me what you'd like to see, or not see….Talk to me people! Feel free to email me and give me your opinions or thoughts or just to say hi. You can reach me at luvvbug101@hotmail.com
~The poem that Max wrote actually is from Xena: A Bitter Suit…so all the credit goes to them for that one.
~And Adriann's flash back to her last encounter with Brin, is from 'Adriann'
~Kat, what can I say to the best beta ever? I love the little comments…always make me laugh…thanks for everything – you're the greatest. And because she's the greatest I think that you all need to go read SUMMER MAGIC by Katerpillar….cause well, I said so and it's a great lil story she's got going there…and it gets better…go read it…go on go…