Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't make any money from them etc etc…
A/N: The muse has returned and it looks like I will be finishing this after all.
* * * *
Max yawned and stretched, automatically reaching out for Logan, only to find an empty bed where he should have been. She sat up and listened carefully, and was rewarded by the sound of his voice speaking in the other room. Figuring he was on the phone with an informant she climbed out of bed and headed in to make use of his shower. Her leg was still slightly sore from taking a bullet, but in another day or two there would be no trace of the wound. She had to admit that Asha did seem to know what she was doing; at least as far as field medicine went.
"Thanks, Sebastian. I can't say this is good news but we'll have to deal with it. Give me a call when you're ready." Logan disconnected his phone, a grim look on his face. Sebastian had finished with Lydecker's disk and had confirmed everything that the Colonel had told them the day before. He had his technicians at work already, synthesizing the bio-toxin from instructions on the disk. According to the disk, the next step was to infect Max with it, in order to create antibodies that could be used in a vaccine. The last part was what had caused Logan's grim expression. Sebastian was reasonably sure Max would be okay, but he had been honest in telling Logan that there was no way to guarantee it.
"Hey, sunshine. What's a girl gotta do to get fed around here?" Max came up behind him and teasingly dropped a kiss on the top of his head.
Logan took a breath, and tried to give her a smile. Hers faded as she took in the look in his eyes.
"You look like you just got word that the world was coming to an end at midnight. Spill it," she demanded.
Logan sighed, "Sebastian confirmed everything Lydecker told us. Including the part about you being the carrier of the antibodies. He's synthesizing the toxin as we speak."
"So? We go over, I get a shot, my revved up blood kicks butt and we're done with it. No biggie."
"Max. It isn't that simple and you know it. What if Sandeman's wrong, what if you aren't immune? It could kill you."
"Logan, I have to do it, you know I do."
"Max, I can't lose you again."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Logan turned and wheeled himself into the kitchen without replying. Max stood there staring after him, at a loss for words.
* * * *
Alec was whistling as he poured himself a cup of coffee in Asha's small kitchen. Asha was asleep in the other room after what had been a long night. Alec had been surprised at the heat that he had felt with her, it was…different from anything he had felt before. Different, even from Rachel. He pushed that thought aside, feeling somehow disloyal. His brow furrowed, and he decided that he wasn't quite ready to face Asha in the cold light of day. Good mood vanished, he dumped the empty cup into the sink and grabbed his jacket from the sofa where he had tossed it the night before.
"Escape and evade, Alec?" Too late. Asha's voice cut into his thoughts.
"Oh, hey, Asha. You were asleep and I've got an early meeting. Didn't want to disturb you is all." He thought he did pretty well with the light tone.
"Right. And of course you planned on calling me later." She wasn't fooled.
"Absolutely." He needed to get out of there before he suffocated. "Look I really do have to blaze. Max and Logan are waiting for me. We are in kind of a crisis."
"Oh yeah, I know transgenics dying in the streets and all. Don't sweat it. I've got S1W stuff to do today anyway. I'm going to take a shower – let yourself out." To his surprise she turned and walked into her bathroom, and he heard the sound of the water coming on.
Alec stood there, torn between wanting to get out quickly and wanting to go into that bathroom and do...what? Make her admit that last night had been something special, something different in her experience not just in his? He steeled himself. No strings. Fun and games that was all it was. All it ever could be for him. Before he could change his mind he pulled on his jacket and was out the door.
Asha leaned against the bathroom door, waiting. When she heard the slam of the front door she sighed and reached into the shower and shut off the water. She splashed her face with cold water and quickly brushed her teeth, then headed to the kitchen to start her day.
* * * *
When Alec arrived at Logan's, it was to find Max sitting in the living room while Logan was busy at his computers. There was a tension in the air that he could feel, thick and heavy.
"What's the word from Sebastian, the wonder boy?" He tried to lighten the mood.
"Hey, Alec." Logan turned from his computers. "He confirmed what Lydecker told us."
"And?" Alec waited.
"And he's making up the toxin so Max can be infected with it in order to create the antibodies." Logan's voice was low and his tone was grim.
Alec took in the situation at once. "And you don't want her to do it?"
"Would you if you were in my place?"
"Damn," was all Alec could come up with. "So it's safe right? She'll be okay."
"According to Sandeman, who we know next to nothing about. For all we know he could have gone back to this program of his when he left Manticore. This could simply be a way to get rid of Max."
"I'm doing it, Logan." Max came to join the two of them. "How can you even think of my not? You're the one who told me that each one of us has to do something to try to fix this broken down mess of a world. How can you tell me not to?"
"Max…" Logan trailed off helplessly. His eyes met hers, and she sighed at the pain she saw reflected there. She dropped down and put her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. Logan pulled her close, closing his eyes and leaning his head on hers. They stayed that way in silence for several moments. Alec turned away, embarrassed at being a witness to their private pain.
"We better get going." Logan raised his head. Max climbed to her feet and tried for a cocky smile. It faded as she met his eyes.
In silence, the three of them left the apartment. Alec noticed that they stood close to each other in the elevator, and that Max clung to Logan's hand as if she were drowning and he were her only hope.
* * * *
"That's it?" Max asked Sebastian looking at the small vial in the rack on the table in front of him.
"That's it, Max." Sebastian's metallic voice grated back at her.
"So when do we get this bitch over with?" Max began to roll up her sleeve.
"Hold on a minute. Don't you need to run blood tests or something first? See if Max's blood can produce the antibodies?" Logan interjected.
"We had some of Max's blood from the virus cure, Logan. We've already run all the tests we could on it. The only thing left to do is the actual infection."
"Can I have a moment alone with Max?"
Sebastian nodded and left the room with Alec trailing behind.
* * * *
"Logan, we've talked about this already. I'm not changing my mind."
"I know. I just need to hold you first. Max, I love you." Logan's voice was hoarse as he pulled her close to him. Max came willingly and for long minutes they stood there just holding each other.
"Logan, no matter what happens, at least we had some time together. I love you."
He lowered his head to hers and their lips met in a gentle kiss.
Finally, Max pulled back."Let's get this over with so I can go home and you can cook me a gourmet dinner."
"Anything you want." Logan smiled back and she ignored the wetness in his eyes, as well as the feel of tears that stung hers.
* * * *
"Sebastian what's happening?" Logan's voice was almost frantic as he looked down at Max, lying small and helpless in the hospital bed. Her body was covered in welts, and sweat poured down her face. She was delirious and unaware of their presence. Alec stood silently in the corner, watching.
"The toxin is virulent, Logan."
"But you said hours ago that her body had produced the antibodies. You said you were going to be able to create the vaccine from them."
"She did and we are. But she's weak. She's producing the antibodies, but her body is having a hard time fighting off the infection. Sandeman probably never planned on her going through the physical abuse she's been through in the last six months. Her resistance isn't as strong as it should be."
"Can't you do something to bolster her resistance? To help her fight this off?"
Sebastian sat lost in thought as Logan stared at him desperately.
"Transfuse her." Alec's voice interrupted the two of them.
"What?" Logan looked at him in confusion.
"Lydecker said all of us were immune. Transfuse her with some of my blood. Maybe it'll help her fight this off."
Logan looked at Sebastian who slowly nodded. "It's worth a try."
Within moments a second cot had been wheeled next to Max's bed and Alec was lying on it. Technicians efficiently inserted tubing into his arm and into Max's. As the red blood began to flow between the two of them, Logan sat on the other side of Max, holding onto her hand as if he could keep her with him by doing so.
"She's going to make it, buddy." Alec said softly.
Logan looked up at him with pain filled eyes, but didn't reply. As he lie there, Alec could only think that if Max didn't make it, he was going to have his hands full keeping Logan from doing something stupid. When the technicians returned and stopped the transfusion, Alec hesitated before leaving the room.
Max had quieted but she hadn't returned to consciousness and she was white as the sheets that covered her. Logan had dozed off and his head was on her chest as he still clutched her hand. Alec reached down and gently touched their clasped hands.
"It'll be okay. I promise." He didn't know where that had come from, but as he left the room he knew that he meant it. Somehow things were going to come right and he would make sure of it.