Disclaimer: Didn't I already say I don't own them?
AN: I am so sorry about not letting anonymous reviewers leave messages. Stupid me forgot to uncheck that box. Sorry about that y'all, and thanks so much for all the encouragement to continue with this story. I am a big time procrastinator so you might have to start leaving threatening email, and just let me warn you I have a lot of papers to write before next week so give me awhile on the next chapter. I basically have the dialogue written, it's just going to take some time putting in description. Thanks and have a great Turkey day.
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"Logan, what the hell is wrong with you?" She asked the room, as she shut the folder and placed it back on the desk. Max swiveled around in the chair and flicked on the computer, hurriedly accessing the MedNet for Metro Hospital. She easily hacked into Logan's personal medical records. Shouldn't have taught me all those neat little tricks if you didn't want to get caught, Babe, she thought as she pulled up the doctor's notes and related research. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. Okay that's a mouthful, now what is it?
"Hey Max?" Logan called as he entered the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
"Oh shit," Max whispered. "No time to shut you down," she said as she switched to a search engine and began researching the going rate for a statue of Bast.
"Hey, what are you doing in here?" Logan asked her, looking slightly puzzled.
Max spun around in the chair to look at him. He looks almost yellow, why didn't I notice that before? 'Cause now you have an idea of what you're looking for stupid. "Oh nothing, just doing a little research on Egyptian mythology. I gotta keep you guessing after all."
"You always do," Logan replied as he glanced at the folder on the table, then back to Max. "Want some lunch?"
"Um, yeah," Max answered getting up from her chair. "How was your appointment with Sam?"
"Fine. Do you want something heavy or light?" He asked her as they entered the kitchen.
Nice subject change, "How about something light?"
"Chef salad with a vinaigrette dressing?" He suggested as he handed her some plates and silverware.
"Sounds great," Max replied as she quickly set the table and walked back into the kitchen.
Logan handed her some vegetables along with a boiled egg and some ham. "Okay, here you chop these up while I make the dressing."
Wow, look at me I turned into a domestic, Max mused while she chopped the vegetables. Logan's sick. Logan is dying. Logan is sick and probably dying and he hasn't even told me yet. Damn! I am standing in Logan's kitchen chopping vegetables for a salad and pretending like everything is normal. It's not normal and it's not fine.
"Um, Max," Logan interrupted with a chuckle and removed the knife from Max's hand. "I said chop not puree the vegetables. Hey you okay?" he asked noticing her dazed look.
"Oh yeah," Max said as she shook her head a little, "I'm just in my female fog bank."
"You sure?"
"Positive," she replied looking down at the remains of the vegetables on the cutting board. "Got anything else that needs to be liquefied?"
Moving to the refrigerator, Logan pulled some more ingredients and set them before Max. "Let's try for chunks this time."
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Okay, time to assess the situation. Logan has Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. First task is to find out what the hell that is, Max thought irritably as she sat on the couch in her living room. At least I made it through dinner with him tonight without killing him for not telling me about all of this sooner. Why does he have to be so stubborn all the time? Would it really kill him to admit that he needs someone? Just because he's Eyes Only doesn't mean he has to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Hey boo, how was lunch with Roller Boy?" Cindy asked as she flopped down on the couch beside of Max. "Boo?" She asked again as she waved her hand in front of Max's face. "Me? I had a great day. Knocked off Normal. Had a threesome with Herbal and Sketchy. Oh, and some guys from Manticore stopped by, I told them to come back around six for ya."
He makes me so mad, thinking he can just keep everything to himself when it doesn't just concern him anymore. Second thing I have to do is hit Logan upside the head for not telling me about any of this. How dare he keep something like this from me? I care about him, hell I even l… "What?" Max questioned as re-entered the real world.
"Damn boo, what's up wit you?"
"Just spacin'," Max replied as she stood up and walked towards the door. "Look I gotta bounce, back in a few."
"Late," Cindy said belatedly as she watched the door shut.
***Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is a rare blood disorder affecting 1 in 100,000 people. It is genetically linked, not inherited, and activates when the defective PIG-A gene is exposed to any kind of environmental mutagen. I thought it fit since Seattle now possesses a place called Terminal City. Budd-Chiari Syndrome is a liver disease affecting 1 in 40,000 people, sometimes PNH patients develop the disorder as a side effect of their medications. Ironic isn't that their medications sometimes make them sicker? Both diseases have become an integral part of my family, my father was diagnosed with PNH seven years ago, and the onset of Budd-Chiari came two years ago.