A/N: Thank you for continually reviewing the story. I love reading your reviews (even the threatening ones : p ) The beginning starts off really slow, but it picks up. I'm just not sure how well written this chapter is so your honest constructive criticisms are welcomed at raydyan@yahoo.ca. Thanks : )
To Laura, Kat and Sydney, you ladies are the best! : ) Thanks for the beta.
PROMISES
**Part 14**
Asha surveyed the contents of her luggage and mentally kicked herself for not having the foresight to bring some night wear. Oh well, she was sure that Logan wouldn't mind if she borrowed one of his oversized shirts. Sitting on the edge of the bed in Logan's guest bedroom, Asha pondered on the reasons why she was in Seattle at Logan's request. Too bad it wasn't under the circumstance that she once fancied, one that involved her staying long-term to pursue a relationship that Logan denied from her. No, the current reality was definitely quite different.
Asha had just come from a trial when she received a disturbing phone call from Logan. Everything from their initial phone conversation to her arrival at the airport happened so fast that Asha was totally at a loss when Logan finally met up with her. After demanding some explanations, Logan obliged and told her the entire story about a secret government agency.
Apparently, one hack after another brought the staff of EO to get a clearer picture of what the government was involved in. A facility, of yet unknown location, called Manticore was secretly receiving obscene amount of money from the US government. The project appeared to have started five years ago and its existence was closely tied to the Pentagon and the military. The words 'transgenics', 'gene splicing', 'human embryo' and 'super soldiers' appeared frequently on the confidential files they'd gained access to. Unfortunately, all they had was a bunch of papers that could have easily been forged. Logan needed solid evidence, an address, so he could go forth and expose Manticore. He gathered all his resources and Asha was one of the people whom Logan implored help from. After all, she worked for a federal law firm that operated in Washington.
The World Humane Science would also be very interested in hearing about the government's secret project. WHS was an international organization that made sure cloning and genetic engineering was regulated by ethical standards with respect for life, may it be that of a sheep or an extinct animal. But most of all, it made sure that such technology was not used on humans. Never on humans.
During the car ride to Logan's penthouse, Asha also learned that Max's uncle, Donald Lydecker, was instrumental in the current mess Logan was in. He had supplied them with all the information up until the final point where he refused to tell them Manticore's location. Actually, Lydecker was willing to do so if Max went back to Greece, but Logan did not even want to consider that prospect. As a result, he was trying to find the address himself so Max would never have to leave him again. There was a moment when Asha would have preferred ignorance but Logan held such a soft spot in her heart that there was nothing she could do but help him - even if that meant the possibility of losing him forever.
Feeling dejected, Asha started putting away her clothes but was interrupted when she heard a light tap on the door. Turning around, she saw Logan standing by the doorway with an overnight bag dangling from his shoulder.
"Are you all settled in?" Logan asked, his fatigue evident in the way he spoke as he mechanically went through the motions of how a good host was supposed to act.
Asha smiled sympathetically as she took in Logan's appearance. He looked liked a man whose reason for living had been taken away. A pensive state now seemed to have taken residence on his otherwise spirited form, "Almost."
"Great. Just make yourself at home." Trying to think of something else he might have forgotten, Logan checked his mental list and added, "The towels are in the cabinet beside the sink and there's food in the fridge. I've also left an extra set of keys by the door so you can use them tomorrow." Lastly, he handed Asha a map of Seattle, "You just need to take the 401 and exit on Avenue Road to get to Biotech. It's a big building, you won't miss it."
Asha walked towards Logan and took the map, "Don't worry Logan, I'll be fine."
Logan nodded. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke with much sincerity, "I really appreciate you helping me out Asha. I'm sure Sebastian could use your contacts to track down some leads." Leads that would take them to the doorstep of Manticore.
"You're welcome. You know I'm always here for you." Asha stepped up closer to Logan, the underlying meaning of her words evident in her intimate stance.
Logan wasn't a complete idiot that he couldn't read what Asha implied, "Thank you. Finding that address is really important to me."
Asha closed the distance between her and Logan as she looked into his eyes and saw an intense love for the woman who wasn't her, "I suppose Max doesn't know about your meeting with her uncle."
"No, not yet. I was going to tell her once I knew for sure she wouldn't have to go back." Logan slowly backed away, "Get a good night sleep, I'll see you in the morning."
Asha eyed Logan's overnight bag, the evidence that he was planning to spend the whole night working, "You need to sleep too."
"I need Max more." Logan stated simply and walked away.
"Logan, wait!" Asha hurried after Logan and caught his arm. Her heart felt heavy for declaring what she knew was the truth, "Max is a lucky woman to have you." She stared at Logan as he looked back at her.
"Asha." Logan said her name in a way that made Asha know that she and Logan would never be. He said her name as a substitute for an apology.
Asha smiled sadly, realizing how cruel fate could be. After her unexpected encounter with Logan in Florida, Asha thought that she and Logan had been given a second chance on romance after their brief affair many years ago. She was so obviously wrong. She never had Logan's heart then and she would never have it now. It belonged to someone else, "It's okay Logan, I understand." Asha stepped back.
Logan took Asha's hand and kissed her lightly on the lips. One final kiss to end any hopes of love, "Goodnight Asha." And with that Logan left.
***
Max's motorcycle ride gave her plenty of time to contemplate the reasons as to why she was heading to Logan's place. She wanted to know what was going on between them. They were certainly friends, but were they more? It was hard to pin down her emotions when she didn't know where to place them. Or more precisely, whether her emotions would be welcomed once she did place them into a particular man's hands.
Max sped up so that the headlights from cars going to the opposite direction made her necklace shimmer in the night. Her peripheral vision would catch it from time to time and Max often found herself reaching up to let her thumb trace the pattern on the locket. It was a gift from Logan and she hadn't taken it off since the night he so gently secured it around her neck. It really had meant nothing but it felt like it meant everything as well. He simply said "Happy Birthday Max." and that was that. There were no words of kindness or affection. No promises of 'wants' and 'loves'. There had never been such things between her and Logan. She had never wanted such things. But why, all of a sudden, had she wanted them now?
Because she was tired. Exhausted from pretending she didn't care because bloody hell, she did. She cared about Logan. She didn't know when and how but somewhere along the way he broke through the barriers she had built around herself. And now, now her life would never be the same without him.
Max craved for the sight of Logan's eyes as they sparkled every time she entered the room. Oh, but more than that. She loved the way the side of his mouth crooked up when he caught her staring at him for no other reason than she liked to; she found him to possess the most beautiful face. She also loved the way he said her name. "Max" He caressed the sound as it slipped from his lips. She just loved to be with him, period. Just to know her eyes would find his when she raised her head and searched the room for him. It made her feel secure. It made her feel that she wasn't all alone.
What did that mean? Max didn't know. Was that love? She couldn't really tell. But if it was, then that was just fine for she no longer found the thought repulsive as she once did. No it wasn't just fine. Her body's reaction to the possibility of love betrayed her impassivity to the core.
Well, one thing was for sure, Max loved Logan's presence. Happiness dwelled within her when he was around. It wasn't anything in particular that drew her to him. She just was. And the thought of being drawn to Logan forever appealed to Max. Forever being in his company. Forever sharing a meal. Forever of exchanging fun banter and wits. Forever of drinking wine and watching the rain fall down. Forever of drifting off to sleep in his arms. Forever of being drawn in his embrace as they danced. Forever of feeling his lips on hers. Forever. It sounded wonderful. It sounded scary. Was there such a thing? For the first time in a long time, Max let herself believe. Maybe there was. For her. And for Logan. For the two of them.
What about Logan? Was he just as drawn to her as she was to him? Max didn't know, although everything he did and said made her feel that he was. One way or another, she was about to find out. No more running away. No more living with the status quo. Tonight they would know. And tomorrow they would live with the consequences of what tonight would reveal.
So with every intention of confronting Logan, Max made her way up to Logan's apartment. She knocked on his door. Once. Twice. There was no answer but she could hear the water running from the bathroom. Max stood with one hand on her hip as the other knocked again, louder this time.
Giving up, Max turned the knob and found it locked. She swung her backpack to the front and fumbled with its contents for a minute until she finally came across a hair pin. With the ease of an expert cat burglar, Max picked open the lock and she let herself in. A playful smile curled on her lips as she surveyed all the valuable art work in Logan's living room. The man's place was a haven for thieves. If she was one, she would definitely start off with the Bast statue and work her way up to his modernist paintings. Too bad she wasn't, that would have been fun though. Oh well, perhaps in another lifetime. Or another universe.
"Logan!" Max called out as she headed for the kitchen. But a small frown creased her brows when she realized that the sound of running water was coming from the guest bedroom. That was odd.
Taking the familiar path to the bedroom she now called hers, Max was shocked when she saw articles of clothing lying around the room. Women's clothing. Not hers. Then who the freaking hell did they belong to? Possessiveness surge through Max at the thought of someone else taking over *her* space. She scanned the room and saw a passport on top of the suitcase that rested on the floor beside the bed. Max walked over and flipped the passport open.
"Asha."
Well, well, well. It looked like Max's wish had finally come true.
"It's now or never Maxie." A small voice taunted Max, the image of Asha drowning in her bath made a pleasant picture in her mind.
"That b!tch!" Anger fueled Max's every step towards the bathroom. Then she stopped dead on her tracks.
A small sob escaped Max's lips when realization dawned on her. Logan cancelled dinner to be with Asha. Max felt her heart tearing into a million pieces, she could almost feel it bleeding with pain. How could that be? Max caught her breath as the whole room spun around her. She clutched her fingers close to her chest and leaned over the vanity table for support, only to knock the vase over and send it shattering on the floor.
Asha turned the shower off when she heard something break in the other room. "Logan?"
Stepping outside the stall, Asha wrapped a towel around her to investigate what had happened. Panic immediately struck her with the thought of an intruder when she saw that the vase had broken into unsalvageable pieces. Asha was grabbing for the phone to call 911 when her eyes caught a female figure escaping through the front door.
The figure resembled Max. A lot.
No. The figure was Max.
Oh dear.
Asha sighed and cursed her parents for raising her right.
If only Logan didn't love Max so much.
Before she could change her mind, Asha reached for the phone to call Logan and give him the heads up.
***
Some people liked the water. They liked watching the waves as they lulled along the shoreline; receding back to the core of the earth at one time then reaching up to the moon the next. Others liked the rain. The magic of nature as it recycled the very substance where life began. But not Max. Max liked to watch the city from her window at night. She liked to look at her world from a distance, a way of disconnecting herself when everything started to overwhelm her. Like now. Although now she couldn't see the city. In fact, Max couldn't see a damn thing, her tears prevented that.
Max didn't know she had these many tears left to cry.
It hurt so much.
How could she had been so stupid? How could she had let her emotions rule her again? She just never learned.
Max angrily wiped some tears that escaped away.
Damn Logan. Damn him for making her care again. Damn her for letting him. Damn Asha for taking Logan away from her.
But Asha couldn't take away anything she didn't have. And Max never had Logan. He was never hers.
He was never hers and she wanted him to be. But now it was too late.
Max's thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name being called out, "Max!"
"Max, come on, open the door." Max heard the pleading tone in Logan's voice. As hard as it was, she ignored it.
"Please Max." For the lack of a better thing to do, Max continued to stare out into the night, her stoic expression unflinching even as she heard Logan's desperation growing with each call.
"Max, let me explain. It's not what you think." Logan caught Max's attention with that line.
Slowly, Max made her way to the door and opened it. With a blank expression on her porcelain face, she declared, "Don't insult my intelligence Logan. I can put two and two together. Just save us both your heart breaking speech and go away."
Max then turned her back without bothering to close the door. She knew Logan wouldn't let her and she didn't have the energy to fight with him. She started picking up magazines and whatever odd thing that happened to be on her way. It didn't take a long time for her living room to look immaculately clean yet she could still feel Logan's gaze fixated on her back. He was still there. Watching her as she moved.
She faced Logan again, "I said go away."
Logan smiled, as if he had just learned for the first time that life didn't suck all the time, "You care about
me."
Max didn't expect that response at all, "I'd care for you to leave."
Logan tried to wipe the happiness off his face when he realized how hurt Max must had been to see Asha staying at his place. He knew the kind of raw emotion that was brewing behind her cold facade. It was an emotion that was too familiar to him. Logan felt it every time he thought about losing Max. It was like a needle prick on a sensitive spot. It hurt you. It haunted you. It wouldn't let you go, "I won't, not until you hear me out."
Max crossed her arms in defiance. Her message was clear. Don't you dare take me for a fool, "Talk."
And so Logan explained. The EO hacks. Lydecker's role in it. Manticore. The search for its location. Asha's role in that search. His meeting with her uncle that afternoon. Logan told Max everything except for the exchange that Lydecker wanted.
Max grew quiet, and for a long time silence reigned over them. Logan wearily waited for Max's response. He sat uncomfortably opposite her, unable to gauge her emotions.
Max tried to digest everything Logan said but her comprehension was stuck on the fact that Asha was not with Logan. They weren't together. She was wrong to assume that they were. She took a deep breath. What did that mean? Max stole a glance to Logan's direction and saw concern and something more in his eyes. She was afraid to call it love for fear that she was wrong. Finally she said, "My uncle would give you that address if I went back to Greece, you know."
Logan wanted to deny this fact but the certainty in Max's voice gave away the fact that Max knew her uncle very well, "You won't have to Max, I'm working on it. I'll get the address and you'll never have to leave Seattle again."
Max tilted her head and played Logan's words over in her head. She was having a hard time deciphering his intent. No. She was afraid because his intent was so obvious as she became the object of his intense and honest gaze. Logan came closer to her, so close that she could smell his deep masculine scent. He reached up to her and grazed his knuckles across her tear-stained cheek, "Logan?"
"No Max. You'll never leave me again." Logan said as he continued caressing Max's features, "I know what it was like to not have you around Max, remember? I'll take anything else except for that."
"My uncle is a dangerous man, Logan. Look at the elaborate scheme he'd pulled just to get me back. I won't let you get hurt because of me." Max said this even as she instinctively closed her eyes to feel every stroke of Logan's touch.
Logan drew Max in his arms and kissed the top of her head. He then cupped her face and saw her beautiful brown eyes looking up at him expectantly, "Lydecker won't hurt me. Or you. I'll keep you with me forever Max, if that's what you want. I'll never let you go."
Max was almost afraid to ask. Logan was saying all the right words that maybe this was all just a dream, "Is that what you want?"
No more games. No more pretending. No more dancing around, "I want you Max, I never stopped. Since you came back, I always have. I don't expect anything you can't give me. I'll take anything I can get." Logan brushed away a tear with his thumb. "As long as you're here, that'll be enough to make me happy."
"I want to stay Logan. I want to be with you." Max felt free as soon as she revealed her heart's desires. Happiness sparkled in her eyes.
Logan laughed, a mixture of relief and disbelief, as he pressed a kiss on Max's forehead. On her brow. On the tip of her nose. Then finally on her lips. On sweet full lips that parted on his demand. That responded to his lips' caress, "Max."
For a long time they held each other in a warm embrace. Time passed by as both swayed around the room in tune to an invisible music. The only sound that mattered was the beating of the other's heart. The only thought that counted was the knowledge that they wanted each other. That they always had. And they always would. It was putting a name to something that they both deeply knew though doubted at times.
Softly, Max whispered, "Stay with me tonight Logan." It wasn't a request. It wasn't a demand. It was merely voicing out what they both wanted done.
To Laura, Kat and Sydney, you ladies are the best! : ) Thanks for the beta.
PROMISES
**Part 14**
Asha surveyed the contents of her luggage and mentally kicked herself for not having the foresight to bring some night wear. Oh well, she was sure that Logan wouldn't mind if she borrowed one of his oversized shirts. Sitting on the edge of the bed in Logan's guest bedroom, Asha pondered on the reasons why she was in Seattle at Logan's request. Too bad it wasn't under the circumstance that she once fancied, one that involved her staying long-term to pursue a relationship that Logan denied from her. No, the current reality was definitely quite different.
Asha had just come from a trial when she received a disturbing phone call from Logan. Everything from their initial phone conversation to her arrival at the airport happened so fast that Asha was totally at a loss when Logan finally met up with her. After demanding some explanations, Logan obliged and told her the entire story about a secret government agency.
Apparently, one hack after another brought the staff of EO to get a clearer picture of what the government was involved in. A facility, of yet unknown location, called Manticore was secretly receiving obscene amount of money from the US government. The project appeared to have started five years ago and its existence was closely tied to the Pentagon and the military. The words 'transgenics', 'gene splicing', 'human embryo' and 'super soldiers' appeared frequently on the confidential files they'd gained access to. Unfortunately, all they had was a bunch of papers that could have easily been forged. Logan needed solid evidence, an address, so he could go forth and expose Manticore. He gathered all his resources and Asha was one of the people whom Logan implored help from. After all, she worked for a federal law firm that operated in Washington.
The World Humane Science would also be very interested in hearing about the government's secret project. WHS was an international organization that made sure cloning and genetic engineering was regulated by ethical standards with respect for life, may it be that of a sheep or an extinct animal. But most of all, it made sure that such technology was not used on humans. Never on humans.
During the car ride to Logan's penthouse, Asha also learned that Max's uncle, Donald Lydecker, was instrumental in the current mess Logan was in. He had supplied them with all the information up until the final point where he refused to tell them Manticore's location. Actually, Lydecker was willing to do so if Max went back to Greece, but Logan did not even want to consider that prospect. As a result, he was trying to find the address himself so Max would never have to leave him again. There was a moment when Asha would have preferred ignorance but Logan held such a soft spot in her heart that there was nothing she could do but help him - even if that meant the possibility of losing him forever.
Feeling dejected, Asha started putting away her clothes but was interrupted when she heard a light tap on the door. Turning around, she saw Logan standing by the doorway with an overnight bag dangling from his shoulder.
"Are you all settled in?" Logan asked, his fatigue evident in the way he spoke as he mechanically went through the motions of how a good host was supposed to act.
Asha smiled sympathetically as she took in Logan's appearance. He looked liked a man whose reason for living had been taken away. A pensive state now seemed to have taken residence on his otherwise spirited form, "Almost."
"Great. Just make yourself at home." Trying to think of something else he might have forgotten, Logan checked his mental list and added, "The towels are in the cabinet beside the sink and there's food in the fridge. I've also left an extra set of keys by the door so you can use them tomorrow." Lastly, he handed Asha a map of Seattle, "You just need to take the 401 and exit on Avenue Road to get to Biotech. It's a big building, you won't miss it."
Asha walked towards Logan and took the map, "Don't worry Logan, I'll be fine."
Logan nodded. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke with much sincerity, "I really appreciate you helping me out Asha. I'm sure Sebastian could use your contacts to track down some leads." Leads that would take them to the doorstep of Manticore.
"You're welcome. You know I'm always here for you." Asha stepped up closer to Logan, the underlying meaning of her words evident in her intimate stance.
Logan wasn't a complete idiot that he couldn't read what Asha implied, "Thank you. Finding that address is really important to me."
Asha closed the distance between her and Logan as she looked into his eyes and saw an intense love for the woman who wasn't her, "I suppose Max doesn't know about your meeting with her uncle."
"No, not yet. I was going to tell her once I knew for sure she wouldn't have to go back." Logan slowly backed away, "Get a good night sleep, I'll see you in the morning."
Asha eyed Logan's overnight bag, the evidence that he was planning to spend the whole night working, "You need to sleep too."
"I need Max more." Logan stated simply and walked away.
"Logan, wait!" Asha hurried after Logan and caught his arm. Her heart felt heavy for declaring what she knew was the truth, "Max is a lucky woman to have you." She stared at Logan as he looked back at her.
"Asha." Logan said her name in a way that made Asha know that she and Logan would never be. He said her name as a substitute for an apology.
Asha smiled sadly, realizing how cruel fate could be. After her unexpected encounter with Logan in Florida, Asha thought that she and Logan had been given a second chance on romance after their brief affair many years ago. She was so obviously wrong. She never had Logan's heart then and she would never have it now. It belonged to someone else, "It's okay Logan, I understand." Asha stepped back.
Logan took Asha's hand and kissed her lightly on the lips. One final kiss to end any hopes of love, "Goodnight Asha." And with that Logan left.
***
Max's motorcycle ride gave her plenty of time to contemplate the reasons as to why she was heading to Logan's place. She wanted to know what was going on between them. They were certainly friends, but were they more? It was hard to pin down her emotions when she didn't know where to place them. Or more precisely, whether her emotions would be welcomed once she did place them into a particular man's hands.
Max sped up so that the headlights from cars going to the opposite direction made her necklace shimmer in the night. Her peripheral vision would catch it from time to time and Max often found herself reaching up to let her thumb trace the pattern on the locket. It was a gift from Logan and she hadn't taken it off since the night he so gently secured it around her neck. It really had meant nothing but it felt like it meant everything as well. He simply said "Happy Birthday Max." and that was that. There were no words of kindness or affection. No promises of 'wants' and 'loves'. There had never been such things between her and Logan. She had never wanted such things. But why, all of a sudden, had she wanted them now?
Because she was tired. Exhausted from pretending she didn't care because bloody hell, she did. She cared about Logan. She didn't know when and how but somewhere along the way he broke through the barriers she had built around herself. And now, now her life would never be the same without him.
Max craved for the sight of Logan's eyes as they sparkled every time she entered the room. Oh, but more than that. She loved the way the side of his mouth crooked up when he caught her staring at him for no other reason than she liked to; she found him to possess the most beautiful face. She also loved the way he said her name. "Max" He caressed the sound as it slipped from his lips. She just loved to be with him, period. Just to know her eyes would find his when she raised her head and searched the room for him. It made her feel secure. It made her feel that she wasn't all alone.
What did that mean? Max didn't know. Was that love? She couldn't really tell. But if it was, then that was just fine for she no longer found the thought repulsive as she once did. No it wasn't just fine. Her body's reaction to the possibility of love betrayed her impassivity to the core.
Well, one thing was for sure, Max loved Logan's presence. Happiness dwelled within her when he was around. It wasn't anything in particular that drew her to him. She just was. And the thought of being drawn to Logan forever appealed to Max. Forever being in his company. Forever sharing a meal. Forever of exchanging fun banter and wits. Forever of drinking wine and watching the rain fall down. Forever of drifting off to sleep in his arms. Forever of being drawn in his embrace as they danced. Forever of feeling his lips on hers. Forever. It sounded wonderful. It sounded scary. Was there such a thing? For the first time in a long time, Max let herself believe. Maybe there was. For her. And for Logan. For the two of them.
What about Logan? Was he just as drawn to her as she was to him? Max didn't know, although everything he did and said made her feel that he was. One way or another, she was about to find out. No more running away. No more living with the status quo. Tonight they would know. And tomorrow they would live with the consequences of what tonight would reveal.
So with every intention of confronting Logan, Max made her way up to Logan's apartment. She knocked on his door. Once. Twice. There was no answer but she could hear the water running from the bathroom. Max stood with one hand on her hip as the other knocked again, louder this time.
Giving up, Max turned the knob and found it locked. She swung her backpack to the front and fumbled with its contents for a minute until she finally came across a hair pin. With the ease of an expert cat burglar, Max picked open the lock and she let herself in. A playful smile curled on her lips as she surveyed all the valuable art work in Logan's living room. The man's place was a haven for thieves. If she was one, she would definitely start off with the Bast statue and work her way up to his modernist paintings. Too bad she wasn't, that would have been fun though. Oh well, perhaps in another lifetime. Or another universe.
"Logan!" Max called out as she headed for the kitchen. But a small frown creased her brows when she realized that the sound of running water was coming from the guest bedroom. That was odd.
Taking the familiar path to the bedroom she now called hers, Max was shocked when she saw articles of clothing lying around the room. Women's clothing. Not hers. Then who the freaking hell did they belong to? Possessiveness surge through Max at the thought of someone else taking over *her* space. She scanned the room and saw a passport on top of the suitcase that rested on the floor beside the bed. Max walked over and flipped the passport open.
"Asha."
Well, well, well. It looked like Max's wish had finally come true.
"It's now or never Maxie." A small voice taunted Max, the image of Asha drowning in her bath made a pleasant picture in her mind.
"That b!tch!" Anger fueled Max's every step towards the bathroom. Then she stopped dead on her tracks.
A small sob escaped Max's lips when realization dawned on her. Logan cancelled dinner to be with Asha. Max felt her heart tearing into a million pieces, she could almost feel it bleeding with pain. How could that be? Max caught her breath as the whole room spun around her. She clutched her fingers close to her chest and leaned over the vanity table for support, only to knock the vase over and send it shattering on the floor.
Asha turned the shower off when she heard something break in the other room. "Logan?"
Stepping outside the stall, Asha wrapped a towel around her to investigate what had happened. Panic immediately struck her with the thought of an intruder when she saw that the vase had broken into unsalvageable pieces. Asha was grabbing for the phone to call 911 when her eyes caught a female figure escaping through the front door.
The figure resembled Max. A lot.
No. The figure was Max.
Oh dear.
Asha sighed and cursed her parents for raising her right.
If only Logan didn't love Max so much.
Before she could change her mind, Asha reached for the phone to call Logan and give him the heads up.
***
Some people liked the water. They liked watching the waves as they lulled along the shoreline; receding back to the core of the earth at one time then reaching up to the moon the next. Others liked the rain. The magic of nature as it recycled the very substance where life began. But not Max. Max liked to watch the city from her window at night. She liked to look at her world from a distance, a way of disconnecting herself when everything started to overwhelm her. Like now. Although now she couldn't see the city. In fact, Max couldn't see a damn thing, her tears prevented that.
Max didn't know she had these many tears left to cry.
It hurt so much.
How could she had been so stupid? How could she had let her emotions rule her again? She just never learned.
Max angrily wiped some tears that escaped away.
Damn Logan. Damn him for making her care again. Damn her for letting him. Damn Asha for taking Logan away from her.
But Asha couldn't take away anything she didn't have. And Max never had Logan. He was never hers.
He was never hers and she wanted him to be. But now it was too late.
Max's thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name being called out, "Max!"
"Max, come on, open the door." Max heard the pleading tone in Logan's voice. As hard as it was, she ignored it.
"Please Max." For the lack of a better thing to do, Max continued to stare out into the night, her stoic expression unflinching even as she heard Logan's desperation growing with each call.
"Max, let me explain. It's not what you think." Logan caught Max's attention with that line.
Slowly, Max made her way to the door and opened it. With a blank expression on her porcelain face, she declared, "Don't insult my intelligence Logan. I can put two and two together. Just save us both your heart breaking speech and go away."
Max then turned her back without bothering to close the door. She knew Logan wouldn't let her and she didn't have the energy to fight with him. She started picking up magazines and whatever odd thing that happened to be on her way. It didn't take a long time for her living room to look immaculately clean yet she could still feel Logan's gaze fixated on her back. He was still there. Watching her as she moved.
She faced Logan again, "I said go away."
Logan smiled, as if he had just learned for the first time that life didn't suck all the time, "You care about
me."
Max didn't expect that response at all, "I'd care for you to leave."
Logan tried to wipe the happiness off his face when he realized how hurt Max must had been to see Asha staying at his place. He knew the kind of raw emotion that was brewing behind her cold facade. It was an emotion that was too familiar to him. Logan felt it every time he thought about losing Max. It was like a needle prick on a sensitive spot. It hurt you. It haunted you. It wouldn't let you go, "I won't, not until you hear me out."
Max crossed her arms in defiance. Her message was clear. Don't you dare take me for a fool, "Talk."
And so Logan explained. The EO hacks. Lydecker's role in it. Manticore. The search for its location. Asha's role in that search. His meeting with her uncle that afternoon. Logan told Max everything except for the exchange that Lydecker wanted.
Max grew quiet, and for a long time silence reigned over them. Logan wearily waited for Max's response. He sat uncomfortably opposite her, unable to gauge her emotions.
Max tried to digest everything Logan said but her comprehension was stuck on the fact that Asha was not with Logan. They weren't together. She was wrong to assume that they were. She took a deep breath. What did that mean? Max stole a glance to Logan's direction and saw concern and something more in his eyes. She was afraid to call it love for fear that she was wrong. Finally she said, "My uncle would give you that address if I went back to Greece, you know."
Logan wanted to deny this fact but the certainty in Max's voice gave away the fact that Max knew her uncle very well, "You won't have to Max, I'm working on it. I'll get the address and you'll never have to leave Seattle again."
Max tilted her head and played Logan's words over in her head. She was having a hard time deciphering his intent. No. She was afraid because his intent was so obvious as she became the object of his intense and honest gaze. Logan came closer to her, so close that she could smell his deep masculine scent. He reached up to her and grazed his knuckles across her tear-stained cheek, "Logan?"
"No Max. You'll never leave me again." Logan said as he continued caressing Max's features, "I know what it was like to not have you around Max, remember? I'll take anything else except for that."
"My uncle is a dangerous man, Logan. Look at the elaborate scheme he'd pulled just to get me back. I won't let you get hurt because of me." Max said this even as she instinctively closed her eyes to feel every stroke of Logan's touch.
Logan drew Max in his arms and kissed the top of her head. He then cupped her face and saw her beautiful brown eyes looking up at him expectantly, "Lydecker won't hurt me. Or you. I'll keep you with me forever Max, if that's what you want. I'll never let you go."
Max was almost afraid to ask. Logan was saying all the right words that maybe this was all just a dream, "Is that what you want?"
No more games. No more pretending. No more dancing around, "I want you Max, I never stopped. Since you came back, I always have. I don't expect anything you can't give me. I'll take anything I can get." Logan brushed away a tear with his thumb. "As long as you're here, that'll be enough to make me happy."
"I want to stay Logan. I want to be with you." Max felt free as soon as she revealed her heart's desires. Happiness sparkled in her eyes.
Logan laughed, a mixture of relief and disbelief, as he pressed a kiss on Max's forehead. On her brow. On the tip of her nose. Then finally on her lips. On sweet full lips that parted on his demand. That responded to his lips' caress, "Max."
For a long time they held each other in a warm embrace. Time passed by as both swayed around the room in tune to an invisible music. The only sound that mattered was the beating of the other's heart. The only thought that counted was the knowledge that they wanted each other. That they always had. And they always would. It was putting a name to something that they both deeply knew though doubted at times.
Softly, Max whispered, "Stay with me tonight Logan." It wasn't a request. It wasn't a demand. It was merely voicing out what they both wanted done.