Max and Logan exchanged glances and both got worried. If Laster whom had seemed really posotive about this said that they would doubt, then it had to be serious. Logan looked away from Max and looked at Laster and asked what he was talking about. Laster sighed, shaking the liquid cure once more. "This is strong stuff, even for one as Max. One small dosis of this would propably kill a normal human being like you and me Logan. Max'll take it but this stuff will lterally posion your every cell and it will place you into great pain..." Max shook her shoulders, reaching for the liquid but he jerked it away. "Max....you'll be into about 36 hours of constant pain. It will not only sting, it will feel as if though someone killed you slowly, like a thousan of scorpio sticks at the same time...and once injected it cannot be taken out at any way, so that's why Im asking you to reconsider. Do you remeber the 'Persers' the used on you at interigation that hurt like hell? Multiple tat with about hundred...."

Logan and Max was shocked by the unexpected news and as Logan saw Max looking down at the floor lost in memories he saw that she was hesitating. and is tough Max was hesitating this was some tough shit. As he envisioned a Max lying on a bunk, wretching herself in pain his hesitating came to an end. There was no way he would let Max put herself into this torture! Even of the outcome would indeed be wonderfull, 36 and even perhaps 72 horus of pain was too much! And even if Max someway would maage to take the pain he propably couldn't take the pain of seeing her being practicly tormented, knwing that itt was his fault, partly.

" No way. Im not putting Max into that torment. Forget it. " Max looked at Logan whos eemed to have spoken for her and that angered her. didn't he think that she was capable of talking by herself ? it should be her desicion it would be herself that would be in that god forsaken pain. she did remember the 'Persers' and the pain of them. they actually were only allowed to be used at them at 15 minutes at the tops because of the pain the it would create inside of the young X5's. But as Max thought about what it would mean she would gladly offer 72 hours of pain for a lifetime of pleasure afterwards...

" I'll do it." Laster nodded and began to pour some of the curing liquid into a needle but Logan stopped him from continuing. "No way! You will not set yourself out forthat kind of pain on the behalf of me!" max got more angry than before. This wasn't is decision at all! he should just shut up and let her do it! Laster, feeling the tention inbetween the two smiled a fake smile at them. " I'll go into the other room for 5 minutes so you can decide. Then when i come back you've gotta have decided..." And without a sound he moved into the other room, taking his case wiht him and seemed to prepare the stuff for actually doing it, which made Logan a bit angry as he thought that Laster took it for granted. He shoudln't do that! Not as long as Logan had anything to say about it, that was...

"How dare you decide for me? it's my decision if I want to put myself through that bitch, allright?" Logan shook his head getting more and more angry. Why couldn't she understand that..."No it's not! This is about me, too...i don't think you should do it, 'cause..." As Max heard that his voice softened and actually trembled her face softened as she got a hinch about what he was about to say..."...I couldn't take you go through that pain. i would almost feel thr same pain and i don't deserve that from you. you shouldn't put yourself through that pain for my sake..." He looked into Maxs' eyes with a sibcerity that made Max' heart soften much more than before and she was that it was honest concern that shone fromm them. he meant every word he had just said and she finally understood. " Oh, Logan...But Im doing this for you! For us..." As they shared one of those tender moments together that nowadays was limited to eyes only, Laster suddenly entered the room, holding a needle filled with that green cure in it and he looked between the two and showed them the needle. logan looked away...although the thing inside that needle held the possibilty of pleasure for the rest of his life he still disliked needles...

Max looked at Logan who shook his head and then at Laster. She nodded to him, then lowering her eyes just realizing what she would be getting herself into. Logan sighed, placing his gloved hand on her shoulder. He met her eyes and she mouthed the words 'trust mme' to him and he nodded to her. "Always" he told her and she smilde vaguely at him...and for the first time since yesterday she felt that familiar feelng of hope and promises of intimacy, warmth and love creep up onto her. And it felt great.

" I think it's for the best if you stay here after I have injected you. It'll start working after onl five minutes and since the pain you'll be feeling'll be severe it's better if i tie you to the bunk. I've got Manticore straps here, X5 safe...." Max nodded to him and took of her jacket. sshe would propably get warm as ina desert when feeling the pain so she figured she wouldn't be needing it. and she hopped up onto the bunk as Laster walked over with the cure at her....he looked into her eyes and then she nodded. a few seconfs after that he inserted the needle in her and began injecting the cure and then Max turned her eyes to logans instead. she was touched once again when she was concern in them but smiled at him once more, telling him it would be OK in her own special way. and although Logan undeerstood perfectly clear what she meant, he would worry...

As Max layed down on the bunk and Laster strapped her onto it, Logan walkedd over and placed one of his hands in her one hand and forced a smile. He was worried sick but hehad to stay strong for her. Max squeezed back and it sent feelings throughout both of their bodies and as Logan thought about what the thing she was putting herself into meant to him, he was overwhelmed.

As the minutes passed, logan got a chair and sat beside max all the time not speaking a word. Laster was wokring some things on monitors and then tunred to the pair at the bunk and said " The pain'll kick in any minute now....hold on, 'cause it's gonna be a bumby ride. im gonna be around here in the room and just tell me if it's anything you neeed..." Logan thanked him but then immediatly tunred his attention back to Max and saw whathe had fearded all along; the pain had kicked in.

Max closed her eyes and struggled for something to fokus on, but the pain was too much to bear. She wanted to scream, but instead grabbed a hold of the end of the bunks as hard as she could as she began sweating at once. She almost couldn't think, she had never been in this kind of pain before....it was horrible!

Logan saw everything and looked at her wide eyed as he realized the amount of pain that maxhad to be in. he wanted to stop it alhtough he knew there were no way to do it. he felt all worked up inside as he worried for her and he wanted fot the apin to stop right now...he patted her forehad and talked soft words into her ear for her to focus on and he hoped it helped her somewhat..."shh...it's gonna be OK....it'll be over soon....take it easy, try to relax...."

6th Chapter: "Hopefull Pain" - Max struggle continues as Logan keeps watching her. They go through memorys together as the time rounds up for the end of the cure...