Glory Days by Star24
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property and copyright TwentiethCentury Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.
A/N: This epilogue took slightly forever to get to where it is now. It wouldn't be there without the help of orchidee and Lelu. Thanks for the moral support and great suggestions. ~~~ Star ~~~
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Epilogue
Forest Glen, The next day
Logan pulled the Aztek into the curving driveway of a large two-story mansion. The building had seen better days, but it was still impressive. Massive oak trees shaded the driveway and ivy climbed up the sides of the brick building. The extensive greenery created the illusion that it was set in a peaceful forest far from the turbulence of the outside world, which in reality was only hundreds of yards removed.
Max had been silent on the way over, refusing to tell him what they were going to find.
He pulled the car to a halt and came around it as Max climbed out. They walked up the steps and she reached out and rang the bell. A pleasant faced woman opened it. "May I help you?" she asked calmly.
Logan remained silent, letting Max take the lead.
"I'm Max Guevara and this is Logan Cale. We have an appointment."
"Ah, yes. We've been expecting you. Come this way please." The woman led them into a small sitting room. "Wait here, please." She left the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
"Max?" Logan looked at her in inquiry.
She shrugged, "I'm not exactly sure what we're going to find, Logan."
They waited in silence. The door opened and a middle-aged woman wearing a tailored suit came into the room.
"Miss Guevara? I'm Doctor Matheson."
"Thank you for seeing us, Doctor. This is Logan Cale."
The doctor turned and looked Logan over. "Mr. Cale."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor."
She gestured with her hand. "If you two will come with me."
Logan looked at Max with a question in his eyes, but she avoided his gaze. The doctor led them down a hallway and it became clear that the mansion was some type of nursing facility. Doorways opened into pleasant rooms. Some had everyday furniture but others were furnished with hospital beds and various pieces of medical equipment.
"What is this place?" Logan asked.
"This is a private care facility for those who are unable to live on their own. We take pride in the care we give to our guests." Doctor Matheson said. "Here we are. She's having a good day today."
The doctor stopped at a doorway. The room inside was decorated in shades of pale blue. The color scheme created an effect that was calm and somehow soothing. A young woman stood looking out the window. Her shining dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. She was similar to Max in height and build, but she was thin, almost to the point of emaciation
The girl turned at the sound of their entrance, and her resemblance to Max was even more obvious. Her skin was lighter, but her dark eyes were large in her face and her lips were only slightly less full than Max's. When Max looked closely, she could see faint scars running up the insides of her forearms. The greatest difference between the two was in the girl's expression. It was open and somehow childlike in its innocence.
"Carly, you have company." The doctor said gently. "I'll be back shortly." She left the room.
Max heard Logan suck in a breath next to her. She hadn't been aware he was holding her hand, and she jumped slightly as he squeezed it hard. Logan didn't even notice when she gently pulled her hand away.
"Carly?" he whispered hoarsely.
"Who are you?" the girl asked bluntly. Her voice was young, that of a child, despite the fact that she appeared to be in her late twenties.
"Don't you know me?
"No." Carly said simply. Her large dark eyes were calm. She showed no indication at all of recognizing Logan.
"I'm Logan. We knew each other a long time ago." Logan shot a helpless glance at Max.
Carly wrinkled her brow. "I don't remember a Logan. Are you friends with my brother?"
Logan was silent, but then he answered slowly, "Yes. Yes, I am."
Carly smiled at that, the innocent smile of a young girl.
Max turned and left the two of them alone in the room.
Fogle Towers, that night
Logan had been quiet since their return from Forest Glen. Max had put together some plates of food from leftovers she had found in his refrigerator and nuked in his microwave. Now they sat at the table. Logan pushed the food around his plate, not interested in eating it, but he sipped at the wine Max had poured.
He finally looked at Max. "How did you find her?"
"The same way you would've. The whole death story Gavin gave you didn't make much sense. At first I was looking to find out the 411 on how she died. But when I couldn't find any death records, I decided to try the medical records and those led me to Forest Glen."
"Why?"
"Gavin creeped me out. I was just watching your back." Max shrugged it off.
"Doctor Matheson said she tried to commit suicide twelve years ago. That she took sleeping pills and was in a coma for weeks. When she came out of it she didn't remember anything. She's like a twelve-year old child. That's all she'll ever be." He spoke in a low emotionless monotone. It was as if he was speaking of a stranger.
Max answered his unspoken words. "It's not your fault, Logan."
"She was pregnant with my child and I walked away from her." Logan's eyes betrayed his emotion, even though his voice remained calm and controlled.
Max stared at him, clearly shocked by the revelation. "Are you sure? I didn't see that in the records."
"Gavin told me, and Doctor Matheson confirmed it. It was kept out of the records at the family's request. That's the reason she tried to kill herself. Instead, she lost the baby and ended up where she is now. That's her life, Max. Living in that place until she dies. She'll never have anything else."
"Did the Doctor tell you that Carly tried to commit suicide when she was thirteen, and again when she was fifteen?" Logan looked at her in surprise, and she continued gently, "There's a history of mental illness in their family. Gavin has been under psychiatric care for depression for the last five years. It's all there in that file I gave to you." Max glanced at an unopened manila folder lying on the table next to Logan.
"But those other times weren't because of me." Logan was clearly struggling for control.
"You didn't know she was unstable. You had a relationship with her, and you broke up with her. It happens every day."
"I should have known something was wrong. Should have done something. Instead she's in an asylum, and Gavin's dead."
Max started to reach a hand out to him, but he turned away. She said to him slowly, "You didn't push Gavin out that window, and you didn't force those pills down Carly's throat. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time is all, Logan."
When he didn't respond, she tried once again to reach him, "Logan Cale aka Eyes Only isn't some all powerful deity. People make their own choices. You aren't responsible for the world."
"Is that how you justify it, Max?" Logan lifted his head, his eyes blazing with anger. "Being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Making so called choices? Should I take it one step further and put her out of her misery? Send my assassin girlfriend over there to snap her neck?"
Max turned white. "How long have you known?
"That you killed Ben?" The name hung in the air between them, an accusation. "I suspected it at the time. Information in your Manticore files confirmed it."
A stricken look came into her eyes. She stood and walked over to the windows. She looked small and defeated, standing there silhouetted against them.
Logan sat there for a moment staring at her back. Slowly he stood and walked over to stand behind her. He put a hand gently on her shoulder and she flinched. She turned to look at him. Her eyes were glittering with moisture.
"Oh god, I didn't mean it. Max, I'm sorry." Logan reached out with both hands. "I'm so sorry." She let him pull her into his arms. "Max…" For long moments they clung to each other.
There was a silence.
"I thought I left all my demons and ghosts behind me when you came back," he finally managed.
"Seems like they always catch up. No matter how fast or far you run." Max observed quietly.
Logan sighed, "When did it all get so hard?"
Max looked at him, "The night I tried to rob you?"
Logan's eyes met hers, "That's the night I was saved."
Max looked into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. "Me too." she whispered finally.
Logan wrapped his arms around her waist as she turned to look out the window once more. Max leaned back into him, placing her hands on top of his, and he rested his chin on the top of her head. They stared out at the dark city in silence, their reflection in the window hinting at the tears that streaked both of their faces.
End of Glory Days
AN: There will be another AS2 story coming soon. But here's my question to the readers. So far I've posted these in small pieces on fanfiction.net. I'm considering posting them on my site in larger chunks or even in their entirety instead. How do you all prefer to read them? Serially as I've been doing or waiting until the end and reading straight through? If most people prefer the latter I'll probably go to the site option. Saves the hassles that are created by fanfiction.net. Let me know what you'd prefer. My email is starbeee624@aol.com.
~~~ Star ~~~
Coming Soon: AS2.05 Viridae
A mysterious virus is sweeping Seattle and when Max and Eyes Only begin to investigate they find themselves trapped in the web of a former Manticore doctor who has his own deadly agenda…