Disclaimer:  If I owned them we would still be watching the show, because I would never have let the evil FOX bureaucrats sink my ship.

AN:  Sorry I've been away so long y'all, like I said…FINALS.  I'm so incredibly happy, no more Gender-bending Science Fiction, Fantasy and Utopia class!  Whoo-hoo!  (Mal does a little happy dance).  Oh and before you read, I so apologize for the crappiness of this chapter.  I think I'm struggling with a little bit of writer's block and I'm also in the process of phasing out the scholarly diction I've been employing for the last week. 

Chapter Four

Logan watched as Max walked ahead of him into the living room and proceeded to flop onto his couch.  "Hmmm…too full to move, huh?"

"Oh please, you're not that lucky, Mr. Cale," Max grinned as she watched him transfer to the opposite end of the couch.  You're so strong, Logan.  God, you must be the strongest person I know, Max thought as she twisted her body around to face him.  But I have to make you see you don't have to be strong alone.  "Explain it to me."

"So I'm not going to get out of this one just because I fed you, huh?"  Logan joked.  "Okay, so I'm guessing from that look we have a definite no," he said in response to Max's glare.

"You may be one hell of a cook, Logan, but you ain't that good."

Sighing in defeat, Logan turned his gaze away from her, and looking down at his lap began.  "I was working on a case awhile back, doing a story on nuclear science.  It was a long time ago, before I met you, even before I started Eyes Only.  Anyway, I got exposed to some high levels of radiation, which triggered this defective gene in my body.  So you see you're not the only lemon," Logan explained with an air of self-deprecation, "my genes are defective too.  About a year later, I started getting sick.  I thought I had the flu or something because I just felt rundown.  So I went to my doctor and he referred me to Sam when he didn't like the results of my CBC.  I've had PNH for about four years now.  I never told anyone about it until now."  Letting out a deep sigh as he finished, Logan sunk back into the couch and closed his eyes for a minute. 

Max stood up and walked towards the window in an effort to hide the tears forming in her eyes.  Biting her lip, she stared at him through the reflection in the glass, willing her tears to stop.  "But you're having surgery Thursday."

"Budd Chiari," Logan replied flatly, opening his eyes.  "I'm in liver failure; this will be my second surgery."

"This'll fix it though right?" She asked as she turned to face him.

"Honestly, no.  Not completely.  It'll help with my decreasing liver functions, though."  If she wants the truth, I may as well go all the way with her, Logan thought miserably.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Max asked as she returned to the couch.

"I didn't want to be even more of a lost cause."  Way to go genius.  How much more pathetic can you possibly sound tonight, Logan thought bitterly. 

Sensing his turmoil, Max placed her hand on top of his, "You're not a lost cause Logan."

"Oh yeah, who could ask for more?"  Radiating sarcasm he continued his tirade, "I'm stuck in a wheelchair, and I have an incurable disease.  No, of course I'm not a lost cause.  I'm the freaking poster child of health and prosperity."

"Stop, Logan, just stop," Max interrupted.  "I will not listen to you berate yourself.  You are so many things that I don't even know where to begin.  You are smart, you're funny, you're brave, and you're my best friend.  You are not broken, Logan," Max said as a tear fell from her eye.  "You're not broken."  I won't let you be broken. 

"Thanks."

"I didn't say it to get a thank you."

"I know," he replied quietly, capturing her hand and giving it a squeeze. 

Slipping back into her tough as nails façade, Max stood up and began walking towards the door.  "I'm gonna knock off early tomorrow.  Come over, make sure you get some rest."

 "I don't need a babysitter Max," he called after her retreating figure, but she was already out the door.

Max leaned against the closed door and thought about his final remark.  "You may not need a babysitter Logan, but I might."

*~*~*~*~*

NEXT DAY @ JAM PONY

            Max was standing at the base of the ramp surveying the building when Original Cindy walked over to her.  "Hey boo, you didn't come home till late last night and then you bounced out early this morning.  Where you been?"

"Thinkin'" Max replied absently, as she spotted the object of her search.  "Hey Normal, me and you need to conference," she commanded as she followed Normal to his office, leaving a puzzle Cindy in her wake.

Stopping in the middle of the doorway, he turned around to face her.  "No you can't have the day off.  Now get back to work."

"But one of my friends—"

"Bip, bip, bip," Normal interrupted, "I'm your boss, not Barney.  I don't love everyone."

"He has PNH," Max stated, not that she thought he would understand.  "He's dying, so fire my ass if you want to, I really don't care anymore!" 

As she was turning to walk away, Normal halted her by placing a hand on her arm, "PNH?"

Glancing down at the hand with disgust Max replied, "Yeah, it's a—"

"Yeah, I know what it is," Normal stopped her again and removed his hand.  "My dad had it.  Take all the time you need and tell Logan I'll light a candle for him."

            Wow he really is a person, Max thought.  "Thanks, Normal."

"Now get out of my sight," he said stepping into his office and slamming the door in her face. 

"Well, so much for that whole 'he is a person' thought," Max muttered as she walked over to the lockers.

*~*~*~*~*

LOGAN'S PLACE

"Knock, Knock," Max called as she entered the apartment.

"You know I think maybe it's time you got a key," Logan said as he came out of the office.  "Locks are expensive you know."

"Not the kind you buy," Max retorted leaning against the wall.  "I swear anyone could walk in here and steal anything they wanted."

            "Oh really?"

"Well, you know…commerce.  So how're you doing?"

"Want to eat?"

"Subtle, Logan," Max called as she watched him roll into the kitchen.

"Food, then conversation," he called over his shoulder.

"Fine.  You win for now," she answered, pushing away from the wall and following him into the kitchen. 

***Ya know, I wouldn't be the least bit upset if someone offered to read the next chapter for me before I posted it.  Just a suggestion.