Glory Days by  Star24

Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property and copyright Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.

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Chapter Seven

Fogle Towers, That Evening

When Logan returned from dropping Max off, the apartment was empty.  He looked in the guest room, but Gavin had evidently gone out. Logan was just as glad, since it gave him the opportunity to catch up on some Eyes Only work that he had been putting off while Gavin was around.

Several hours later the elevator chimed and he heard Gavin's footsteps entering the apartment. He had just finished up with the Informant Net, so he closed the files and left the screen display open to an unfinished article he had been working on for one of the local newspapers.

"Hey, Logan." Gavin greeted him jovially, glancing casually at the screen.

"Hi, Gavin."

"Is Max alright?" Gavin asked. "You ran out of here in an awful hurry."

"She got caught up in that hostage thing today with Original Cindy. But she's fine. I dropped her off at home."

"Scary thing for her. She didn't mind being alone after that?"

"Max is tough. She'll be fine." Logan was reluctant to discuss Max with Gavin, especially after what she had told him that afternoon. "Are you hungry? I can make some dinner for us."

"I thought I'd take you out tonight. You being good enough to have me here and all."

Logan looked at Gavin thoughtfully. "Sure, why not. Let me grab a jacket."

* * * * *

Several hours later the two men walked into Logan's apartment. Logan had taken Gavin to a restaurant that served a decent steak, and the two had taken their time over their meals and drinks. Talk had centered on their high school and college days, and neither Carly nor Max's names had come into the conversation.

"You want anything to drink, Gavin?" Logan asked him when they came in.

Gavin dropped down onto the couch. "I'll take a scotch, if you don't mind."

Logan went over to the bar and came back with two drinks in hand. He dropped into a chair opposite Gavin. The two sipped their drinks in silence for a moment.

"How did she die?" Logan abruptly broke the silence.

Gavin gave him a level look. "I was wondering if you were ever going to ask."

"So…?"

"She killed herself in August of 2009." Gavin said flatly.

Logan looked at him in disbelief. "Why didn't you let me know? I thought the other night… that it had just happened recently… that …"

"Why didn't I let you know? Because I think if I had seen you back then, I might have tried to kill you." Gavin's eyes were hard as he stared at Logan.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"C'mon Logan, don't play the dumb innocent with me. I know."

"Know what?"

"The same thing you do."

"You've officially lost me here. The only thing I know is that Carly and I broke up in June of 2009, a few days before the Pulse hit. Next thing I knew your entire family had moved away from Seattle, and I had no forwarding address or phone. I never spoke to Carly again. Eleven years later you show up here and drop this news on me."

"She was pregnant. Three guesses with whose baby." Gavin's voice was flat and cold.

Logan stared at him. "No way. She would have told me."

"She said she did tell you. That you told her to get rid of it. That you offered to pay for the abortion."

"If she really said that, it was a lie."

Gavin jumped to his feet and lunged at Logan. "Don't call my sister a liar. You got her pregnant and then abandoned her. She died because she was afraid to tell my parents. She was alone and afraid. She loved you and you killed her."

Logan had risen as well, and he put his hands out to fend Gavin off.  "Gavin listen to me.  I didn't know. She never told me. If she had I would have…"

"Would have what? Married her?"

Logan didn't answer immediately. "I honestly don't know. That was eleven years ago, I can't be sure now, what I would have done. But I do know I wouldn't have abandoned her. If she was pregnant that was my child as well as hers. Do you really believe that I would have walked away from her knowing that? Do you?" Logan's eyes were intense as he stared at Gavin.

Gavin dropped his head into his hands. His shoulders shook. After a moment he looked up at Logan.  "I don't want to think that. But she left me a note." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. It was clearly old; the paper was worn and yellowed. He handed it to Logan.

Logan opened it carefully and read it. When he finished he looked up at Gavin, anguish in his face. "Gavin, I did tell her we were over and I didn't want to see her again. That much is true. But she never told me about the baby. I didn't know. Believe me."

"You should have known. You had to know something was wrong, by the way she was acting. You told her you loved her. Why didn't you make her tell you what was wrong? She would have told you if you pushed. She worshipped the ground you walked on. Everyone knew that. Everyone."

Logan turned away to look out the window. The note dropped from his hand. "I'm sorry, Gavin. Maybe you're right. Maybe I should have pushed her. But I was young." He stopped for a minute and then continued. "I loved Carly, you know that. She was my first love. I've never forgotten her." There was a catch in his voice.

"I don't know what to think, Logan. I just know that my sister is dead, and that you could have prevented it but you didn't."

Gavin turned and left the room. Logan stood staring into the blackness of the Seattle night.

Sector  Six: 9th Street Luncheonette, Next day

Max dropped down into a seat opposite Original Cindy. The two were sitting in a booth at a small luncheonette. The table was covered in cheap plastic Formica that was worn and scratched, and the seats were covered in stiff plastic. A harried waitress slapped a menu that consisted of a single typewritten sheet encased in grimy plastic, in front of each of them.

Max sighed. "This place almost makes Jam Pony's break area look high class."

"It's cheap and it was close to our runs. You just spoiled by your boy's gourmet lunches for two at the penthouse." Original Cindy teased her.

Max smiled, "You gotta admit he's a genius in the kitchen, and you can't beat the price."

"Like you really go over there just for the food."

"What else?" Max said with an innocent look.

"It wouldn't happen to be for his scruffy beard and those cute little glasses that make him look all… what?"

Max had reached over and lightly slapped Cindy's hand. "Not fair. I wasn't myself when I told you that stuff."

"Boo, if that's what you gotta tell yourself." She shook her head.

Before Max could respond, the waitress was back to take their orders for sandwiches and drinks.  Max ordered first and while Cindy questioned the waitress about the origins of the tuna salad, she pulled out her pager and examined it closely. When she finished with the pager she checked out her cell phone. She put them both back in her pockets and looked up to see Original Cindy regarding her quizzically.

"Something wrong?"

"Just checking my batteries."

"Because…?"

"It's 12:30 and Logan hasn't blown up my pager or my cell phone yet today." Cindy looked at her. "It's weird is all. By now I normally have at least one page or call from him."

"Maybe he's out with his friend. Takin' in the sights for old time's sake." Cindy offered.

"Maybe." Max didn't sound convinced.

"You think he's in trouble?"

"Nah. It's just…not like him is all. He said he'd give me a call today."

"So call him," said Cindy ever practical.

"I tried. All I got was his machine."

"Like I said he went out with his friend. Chill, sugah. Your boy's fine I'm sure."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

The waitress brought their food and the two dug into it. Original Cindy entertained Max with the story of how Sketchy had been all over her that morning, wanting to know about what it was like to be on television. When they finished their lunches, they headed off in opposite directions for their afternoon runs.

Fogle Towers 

Logan sat and listened to his answering machine.

"You have reached the number you have reached. I'm not here right now. Leave a message."

"Logan? You around? It's me. Pick up…" There was a pause. "Give me a call when you get this."

When he heard the click of Max hanging up, he reached over and pushed the button to stop the playback.

A beautiful dark eyed girl lay in his arms looking up at him adoringly. She ran a finger over his chest and then rested her hand on his cheek.

"I love you, Logan. I'd do anything for you."

"I love you too, Carly."

"Don't ever leave me. I don't know what I'd do if you did."

"Why would I leave you?"

Her eyes were troubled, "Just promise me you'll be here for me. For always. No matter what."

"Carly, you know I will be."

"You always keep your promises. Promise me. Please."

"I promise."

The phone rang once more. Logan hesitated, but then he picked it up. "Hello?"

"Logan? It's me, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You didn't call."

"I've been…busy."

"Logan are you sure everything's okay?"

"It's fine. Look I really am busy."

"Mind if I stop by later?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. I'll give you a call when I get a chance. I really do need to go now though. Bye." He hung up the phone without waiting for Max's reply.

Unnoticed by Logan, Gavin stood just around the corner listening. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

End of Chapter Seven