Title:
Autumn, Cold Autumn [6/7?]
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: There goes a short fifth chapter. Sorry for the delay. My health
kept me busy. I think I'm ending this fic soon before I start my M/L AltFic. As
usual, reviews, ideas and flames are welcomed!! Sorry for the delay. I was busy with my websites lately. I was
trying to re-design my Cardcaptor Sakura site and move my collective to a new
server. Plus, the countdown to my exam result is making me kinda psychotic! The
Seth and Needle idea came from Dark Angel: Before The Dawn ^_^ I'll post the
next chapter when I got back from my family trip to Penang next week ^_^
// ... // = Thoughts
~* ... *~ = Flashback/ voice over
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CHAPTER VI --------------
Something Sad
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"I remember what happened at this cabin sometimes ago."
His smile faded away at once. "Oh…"
"I remember once, something big happened and I have to leave Seattle with this guy. I… I couldn't remember who he is, though."
"He's your brother Zack."
"Right, Zack then… There's this time when the bad guys were tracking me down. You and Zack rescued me. Then you drove us to this cabin. Is that right?"
He nodded with a smile.
"We had a little chat, and I left the car. But then I turned back to you and…" She paused, blushing. His smile grew wider. "I'm listening," he mocked. She hesitated for a moment and her cheek turned even redder. Drawing a deep breath, she spoke in a barely audible voice. "… and I kissed you." Logan was trying hard to contain his laughter that was dying to burst at the sight of the stammering Max. Her cheek was as red as a tomato as she looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Logan seemed to notice it when he said, "It's okay, Max. We already talked about it." // Without being honest though…// Still flushed, she turned to look at him. "We did?" "Yep." "Um, okay then. Now where was I? Oh, yeah! After that, you left. Zack and I had a little conversation later that night. I can't really remember what we talked about but it's like he was advising me. Then all I remember is that I was rushing to the hospital the next morning. I can't remember the other things. Does that ring a bell to you?"
That surgery… Should he mention it to her? Ahh, though she couldn't remember, she was still Max! "Er… That was the day I had my surgery. You came back despite the danger awaiting you and transfused your blood to me. If it weren't you, I would have died." // But that way you won't lose your memories…//.
She frowned. She never thought there were bitter memories between them. // It must have been painful. I wonder how he could survive the day. This guy must be very tough.// She thought bitterly. Obvious to Logan, she was starting to get suspicious. She could sense he was hiding something but couldn't make it out. They sat together in silence, watching the flame danced merrily. Max closed her eyes, trying to remember what else happened.
"What are you thinking about?" Logan asked, half smiling but of course she couldn't see it. "Just about things." She could hear him chuckle. "What?" "You know, your favourite thinking spot is top of Space Needle. You told me you always go there to think."
"Really? Did I tell you why?"
"No."
"Oh… Can I go there?"
"Sure! I'll bring you there when we get back but I have to tell you first. I'm not following you up there."
"Why is that?"
"Reason number one, I'm on this wheelchair."
"That doesn't matter!"
"Doesn't matter if you want to see me falling down. Reason number two, I'm afraid of heights."
"YOU ARE??? But your penthouse is…Is…"
"I don't look down so it's okay."
"Funny! You seemed too tough to me to be afraid of heights."
"Don't make fun of me!"
"Sorry, I'm trying to get used to it. You? Afraid of heights? Ha,ha!!"
"Hey! Now you're laughing at me?"
"Ha,ha,ha!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week had passed and they were back. Max was standing on top of Space Needle, looking around. Fragment of memories started drifting back into her mind. Without realising, a silent tear trickled down her cheek. //Why am I crying?// She wondered as she wiped it away. As she sat down and closed her eyes, a dreadful image invaded her mind. A guy with military-short brownish hair; narrow angular face, green eyes… Falling off the tower.
Her head felt like it was on fire. She clutched it with both hands and closed her eyes tighter. More memories drifted back in. Gunshots… Screams… Blood… Opening her eyes, she ran down to the observation deck. Everything was a mess there. Shattered glasses were everywhere. She remembered now. She remembered what happened there not so long ago. It was the reason why she kept coming back to the tower.
*********************************
~* Sorry, Max *~
*********************************
It was a terrible yet sacred place, she remembered. Her brother died here, she knew. She came back not only to think but also to be with her dead brother… // Seth…// Wiping away her tears, she took the elevator down and got back to where Logan awaited her in his car. He wondered what made her so grim looking. "Max, are you okay?" His overpowering concern for her urged him to ask as soon as she settled down on the seat beside him. Max nodded and tried to form a smile but to no avail. The sky turned dark and soon, rain began wetting the soil. "Let's go home. I don't feel very good."
Logan
agreed wholeheartedly and drove them back to his penthouse. He loved it when
Max said 'home'. Later on, Max stood watching the rain from the penthouse
window. Night was approaching and the temperature was dropping dramatically. //
It rained like this when the tragedy struck.// She thought, remembering.
Logan eyed her worriedly and wheeled
towards her. "What invaded your mind?" He asked softly. "… I watched him die.."
"What?" "I watched him die… There, up the observation deck at Needle." Logan
was lost. "Who?" "My brother, Seth."
At the mention of Seth's name,
Logan's stomach did a ten-point swan dive. His face went pale. "You… You said
you watched him die there? How?" His voice was shaky. Logan strongly hoped she
didn't notice it. If he wasn't a paraplegic, he was sure his feet would be
shaking by now. Max sighed. She walked to the sofa and settled down. Logan sat
on his wheelchair before her, looking into her dark eyes.
"I was after these bad guys, Jarred Sterling and Kafelnikov. I wanted to take vengeance for my friends. I went to Space Needle after finding out they were having a deal with the Koreans. On my way up, I met Seth. He said what was going on up there was the only chance for him to run away from Manticore forever. He even invited me to come with him. I didn't trust him at first so we argued. Then he rushed upstairs before me and I followed. Seth was already fighting with the bad guys. I only joined the fight when I saw one of Sterling's guards pointing his gun to Seth. To cut the story short, he got shot several times by that damn Kafelnikov and was fighting over the briefcase with Sterling." She paused for a while. "Are you sure you want to hear this?"
Logan nodded. "It's okay. Go on."
"Sterling slipped on the wet cement and they both pitched over the edge. I whipped the rope I have to Seth and he was hanging on to it. His other hand held the briefcase, where Sterling was hanging. I was going to pull him up when Kafelnikov distracted me. I had to fight him and I got him off the tower. Then I went over to pull Seth up. Suddenly, the trio of elevators dinged at once. We both knew Lydecker and the TAC team were there. I looked down at Seth and saw what he was up to at once. He…" Her voice broke.
"He… He was wounded and couldn't escape. He didn't want to go back to Manticore so he.. He.. He let go of the rope and… And…" She couldn't say anything more as she broke down. Logan held her in his arms as she cried her heart out. Fascinating enough for her to remember such bitter memories in details. Logan got the answer to a few of his unanswered questions now. He decided when she recovers; it was time to tell her everything. Yes, EVERYTHING. For now, he had to comfort her. A few moments later, he felt her body shook. Wait, she had stopped crying so why… // Oh, no! This isn't good.// "Max?" Her body started shaking more violently. "W-w—What's –wr—wrong w-with—me??" She stammered, even her voice shook.
Logan
panicked. // Damn it! She's having a seizure! //
------- TO BE CONTINUED --------
Chapter VII == Logan
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Cale ++
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