Title: Autumn, Cold Autumn
Disc: Dark Angel belongs to Cameron/Eglee Productions and blah, blah, blah.. This fic is for entertainment purposes only. Please don't sue me...
A/N: This is another short chapter… Thank you for the reviews! You guys give me the guts to keep on writing ^_______^ And about beta-reading... I think I'll skip it for this fic (since I don't spend much time online...Mom makes me pay the internet bills *__*) So, just please bear with me~
P/S: Reviews, ideas are welcomed and flames are welcomed to my inbox.
// ... // = Thoughts
~* ... *~ = Flashback/ voice over
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CHAPTER IV == 'Bittersweet'
"I must warn you. It wasn't a pleasant memory."
". . .Spill."
Logan was about to open his mouth when someone knocked the door. Both of the turned their heads as the door creaked open. A tall, thin doctor with a pair of frameless spectacles stepped in. "Good evening, Mr. Cale, Ms. Guevara," the doctor greeted as he flashed them a pleasant smile. Logan took a little glance over his nametag. "Good evening, Doctor Wayne."
"I hope I'm not interrupting something."
Max shook her head. "It's okay. Mr. Cale here was going to tell me about---Mmph!!" Logan covered her mouth with his hand before she could finish her sentence. Startled, she shot him a what-the-hell-is-that-for look which he ignored as he shot her a don't-mention-anything glare in return. He decided maybe it's best if he speaks to the doctor instead of Max. "It's nothing, actually. Can we help you with anything?" He asked, his hand still on her mouth.
"I appreciate if you'd hand me the file you got there, Ms. Guevara."
"Oh, sure!"
Dr. Wayne went through the report thoroughly and nodded several times with a glint in his eyes. Max wondered how could a doctor who saw death everyday could be so cool. "Well," he began, closing the file; "I think I have a good news for you."
"Good news?" Logan and Max echoed.
"Ms. Guevara's healing very fast. It's pretty extraordinary but I'm sure she'll be in control of her right arm completely by the end of the week. Honestly, I never met anyone who heals this fast. It must be a gift of God."
// Must be the stem cells // Logan thought silently. "So, are you trying to tell us that she can go home soon?"
"Yes, she can go home tomorrow."
// Thank God! // "Is there anything else?"
"Let me see... She has to come here next Sunday for her follow-up and then on Monday, she has to come here for her MRI. After that, we'll inform you the date for another follow-up by phone. Other than that, everything's perfect." Dr. Wayne wrote something on the file as he told them so, emphasizing the word 'perfect'. Then he undid the bandage on Max's head (revealing a little nasty cut) and checked her up a bit more before finally saying goodbye to her and Logan.
"The doctor must be nuts," Max grumbled as the doctor left. "What did he mean by 'perfect'? I can't even remember anything and he said I'm perfect? He's ridiculous!" Then she turned to Logan and spit, "You too!" into his face.
"What about me?" He asked, startled.
"Why did you cover my mouth?"
"To shut you up and prevent you from talking too much. Besides, with all the people in this hospital, I don't think it's safe to talk."
"Why isn't it safe?"
"It's dangerous if someone overhear us. With your present condition, it's obvious that your enemies would spring into action and take advantage to capture you. I can't risk that to happen."
"My enemies? Wow,wow,wow, hold on there, Locke! You make it sounds like I'm a convicted murderer on the run or something."
"You're right for 'on the run' part but for the 'convicted murderer', you're definitely not."
"Oh... Whatever~ I think I'm glad to be able to get out of this place soon. I don't know why but I really think I hate this place."
"Sure thing. You hate hospitals."
"I do?"
"Yes, you do."
"Why is that?"
"I'm not telling you now."
They were in the middle of conversation when an attendant brought in a tray of food. "Oh, good! I'm hungry!" Max squeaked, her left hand reaching for the tray. Somehow, Logan reached the tray before her and put it out of her reach. "Hey!" She growled as he pulled a boyish grin.
The next thirty minutes, they spent time laughing with Logan feeding her as she had her right hand bandaged . . .
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== The next day
== Foggle Towers
== 11.25 a.m
"Oh, wow! Amazing place you got here!" Max said in amazement as she stalked around Logan's penthouse. He could just smile at her childish act as he wheeled himself to the kitchen. He felt really, really sick at the sight of Max not remembering his place. Original Cindy nearly kicked him when he told her Max was staying at his place until she recovers. He insisted keeping her there to make sure of her safety. Plus, he knows Max's past more than Cindy. At the time being, he just prayed Zack wouldn't turn up. Logan had the feeling that Zack was going to kill him on the spot once he found out what exactly happened.
He thought it was the best time to start cooking lunch. Meanwhile, Max was enjoying the view, thinking how exactly did she make friend with a rich guy like Logan (or Locke). Alas, she came across the mirror Logan showed her face at when they first met. Of course she didn't remember it but she felt something familiar about the mirror. A very familiar presence... For a moment, she thought she heard voices...
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~* American, neoclassic gold leaf detail, late 1800s. I could probably fence it for two or three grand *~
~* No, I meant this...probably the most singularly beautiful face I've ever seen *~
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She stepped closer to the mirror and touched it.
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~* Expensive gifts, surprise late-night visits, over-the-top flattery. Do you always come on this strong? *~
~* Only when I meet someone I have to know everything about *~
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Something was trying to pop out of her head as she continued staring into her reflection. Mixed voices echoed at the back of her head. // Something must have happened…// She thought curiously. Somewhere inside her aching head, she felt like flashes of scenes being displayed randomly, but not clearly. Hand still touching the mirror, she leaned her forehead against the glass and closed her eyes. She opened them back almost immediately as she thought she saw an image of Logan standing behind her in front of that very same mirror.
Her heart started racing. With a mixture of shocked and confused, she stepped back, hands trembling. Cold sweat began cascading down her cheek. Without a second thought, she ran as fast as she could to the kitchen screaming, "LOCKE!! LOCKE!!" Logan almost cut himself as she screamed hysterically. "What is it, Max? Is something wrong?" He put the knife down and looked at her, puzzled. She settled herself on the counter and calmed herself down. "Locke… How could you be on that wheelchair?"
// Now what drives her to ask me this? // "Why do you ask?"
"I think… I think I remember something…"
Her words sent a glimmer of hope into his heart. Deep inside, he thought he'd made a right decision by bringing her to his house. "What do you remember?" // Does she know already that my name isn't 'Locke'? //
"I think… I mean I *THINK* I remember being with you here, in front of the mirror but… You were standing…" It took a minute for him to digest her words. Smiling, he wheeled himself closer to her and looked at her in the eye. "That was a long time ago… Not so long, actually. It happened when you and I were leading our totally different ways. I could stand on my feet back then. I was a… Well, a toffee-nosed guy, I admit it now. A short while after that, this guy named Bruno Anselmo who worked for Edgar Sonrisa, shot me. Due to the spinal cord injury, I became a paraplegic."
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be. It's so not you to be. Besides, I'm grateful for the accident, though…"
"You insane? How could you be??"
"After the accident, it's true that I lost my legs. But I got a very special something in return."
"What is it?"
"You." His smile grew wilder.
Her face turned bright red and she tried to hide it by looking away. // It must be a pain for him to see me like this, not remembering him when we used to be a good friend… // She thought bitterly. // The least I could do now is to try to get my memories back, remember the times we spent together… //
"Max," he squeezed her hand to draw her attention. "Why don't you go watch TV or get some sleep while I make lunch?" "Umm, okay~ I'll be—Wait, you *COOK* ??" "Yep, you used to say I'm the best chef in the world," he joked.
"That's great! Can you teach me? I can try to cook when my arm recovers, can I?"
"I don't know. The last time you tried to cook, I thought my kitchen was on fire."
"What?!"
"Kidding!"
"You're a jerk~"
"Aww, you hurt me~"
"C'mon, Locke! Get started and tell me what you know about me after lunch."
"Hoo—kay, ma'am~"
********** To Be Continued ***********
Chapter V == Reminiscence – I
P.SA short fourth chapter… I'm experiencing another headache today. I hope this chapter goes well ^__^ About the MRI thingy, I put it in because when I write this, I just came home from my MRI appointment in the hospital~ (I hate hospitals…) Newayz, R&R please! Reviews, ideas are welcomed and flames are welcomed to my inbox.