Disclaimer: Mallory lying in the floor beating her hands on the carpet and screaming, "I want them. I'll be good to them, I promise." Darn, my temper tantrum didn't work 'cause they still ain't mine.
AN: A big shout out to Vix for being such an awesome friend and reviewing this chapter for me instead of completing a lab for Biology. (Procrastinators of the world unite). Seriously, thanks Vix. And a BIG thank you to all of you who have been leaving reviews.
~*~*~Chapter Five: Today's the Day~*~*~Never taking his eyes off Max, Logan directed his question towards Sam. "So I should be out in about five hours?"
"Under optimal circumstances the surgery should last about five hours, yes." Sam told Logan as he checked his IV. Turning to Max he smiled softly, "Someone will call you about every two hours to give you an update on him."
Never taking her eyes off Logan, Max nodded, "Thank you."
Feeling uncomfortable about intruding on a private moment between the two, Sam hurriedly finished his pre-surgery examination. "I'll give you two a few minutes alone," he muttered as he backed away from the bed and left the room.
Seeing her hand laying beside his on the bed, Logan reached for it. "I'll be okay," he said trying to reassure her while he stroked her hand.
"Yeah, you will be. I mean everything will go fine," Max said hurriedly. "So they have enough blood?" Suddenly Max heard Cindy invading her thoughts, What's up wit you gurl? Your man is about to go under the knife and you can't even form a sentence. She smiled weakly at Logan seeing his confused expression. Humph, first my conscious sounds like Logan and now it's like Cindy, when do I get to hear myself? Giving her head a little shake to clear her thoughts she forced herself to answer Logan's unasked question. "Well, I mean that is why I transfused you the last time, you know."
"Sam said they had everything covered," he said as Max nodded her head trying to hide a tear. "Hey," he let go of her hand and reached up to stroke her cheek, "I'll be fine," he tried to reassure her, though the words seemed to almost be more of a reassurance to himself than the woman next to him.
"I know, it's just…damn it!" She began to shout, the tears running down her cheeks as her tone rose. "I…Logan, I can't lose you," she cried, her angry tone having been replaced by fear. She cried openly, "God Logan, I can't lose you," and in her tears allowed one of her walls to fall. Her actions were in direct opposition to her years of training, she was emotionally exposed and for a moment she was terrified of that but she realized she was more afraid of losing Logan.
Logan brushed the tears away from her face, as he looked at her in awe. "I've never seen you cry before," he whispered.
She smiled through her tears, "I cry all the time," she assured him. "I just don't do it in front of anyone," Max confessed. "You'd be amazed at what dark shadows can hide."
"You won't lose me," Logan told her as he drew her close for a hug, "I'll see you in a few hours."
Slightly surprised by the sudden action her immediate response was to fight back, but then she told herself this was Logan and she could relax. She snuggled deeper into his embrace and buried her face in the crook of the neck, inhaling his scent. "You promise?"
"I promise," Logan said as he stroked her hair. Logan was desperately searching his mind for something that would help ease her apprehension, and a few seconds later began to smile as he thought of her favorite threat. "'Cause if I don't you'll kick my ass, right?"
Maneuvering a little so that she could look at him, while still remaining physically connected, she smiled at him. "Right," Max confirmed giving a weak laugh, "'cause girls kick ass, says so on the shirt."
Logan nodded his head in response, and tried to forget about another notion that had just entered his head. He couldn't help it, he always had to be prepared for the worst, and he hated laying this on Max, but he just had to tell her. "But just in case…in the third drawer, left side of my desk—my will. Just follow the instructions."
Max drew away from him sharply, "You said you'd be fine."
He tried not to look hurt by her withdrawal, to be strong, but damn it he needed her. "Just in case," he said as he reached for her hand again.
"You promised."
"I know and I haven't broken any of my promises to you yet," he said in an effort to comfort her.
The door opened as the nurse walked into the room, startling the pair. "Hello Mr. Cale," the woman smiled at him.
Max couldn't help her feelings of contempt and annoyance as the nurse proceeded with her routine so nonchalantly. Doesn't this person realize that I could lose my whole life in just a few minutes? Whoa, where did that come from? Max wondered, When did Logan become my life, and why does it take almost losing him for me to realize that? Glaring at the nurse again Max thought, Can't you just leave? You are so obviously not helping the situation and you're taking away from my time with Logan.
As the nurse entered codes into the blood pressure monitor she addressed Max, "And you must be Mrs. Cale. I'll leave you two alone after I check his blood pressure and get a pulse. The orderlies will be here in about fifteen minutes to take you down to surgery," she concluded as the cuff deflated. "Good luck with your surgery Mr. Cale," she said as she made a note in his chart and left the room.
As the door closed Logan squeeze Max's hand, "I see you didn't correct her."
"Yeah, well…I have been called worse." I guess Miss Nurse was aiight, she thought. I kinda like being mistaken for Mrs. Cale—I am after all a definite improvement over Valerie, she smugly told herself.
"Been called better?" his blue eyes danced, as he teased her.
Okay, maybe she wasn't so helpful. "Fifteen minutes," Max spoke avoiding the question, "and I don't get to see you for five hours. I'm going to go crazy Logan."
"I brought my laptop, play some BlasterBall, see if you can beat my top score. And don't change the subject."
"I learn from the best," she replied.
"Well, the Master is waiting," he grinned arrogantly.
"No, not in a long time," she said honestly.
"What?"
"I said, I haven't been called better in a long time."
"Is that a compliment?" he asked seeing Max's smile.
"Knock, knock," a burly orderly called out as he walked into the room followed by another man wheeling a smaller gurney. "Mr. Cale, we're going to transfer you to pre-op." As the other man aided Logan in transferring to the bed, he glanced at Max and noticed her bereft look at the loss of Logan's hand, "Ma'am you can ride down and wait with him for a while. Then someone will take you to the waiting room."
"Thank you," Max replied as she picked up her backpack and Logan's laptop from the bedside chair.
She followed closely behind them as they walked towards the elevators and came to a halt in front of the doors, allowing her stand next to Logan. She looked down at him and brushed a tear away from the corner of her. Seeing her actions, Logan reached for her hand and held tightly as they continued to the surgery holding room.
~*~*~*RIGHT BEFORE SURGERY~*~*~*
Max looked down at Logan, as he fought sleep. She stared around the room taking in her surroundings and watching the people in the other cubicles. Some were young, some were old, some were mothers, and some were fathers. She couldn't help but notice the fact that she was only person in the room unaccompanied by another family member. She was pulled from her reverie when she heard Logan's quiet voice.
"Be here when I wake up?" Logan slurred as his medications began to take effect.
"I'll try, but I'll definitely be in your dreams," Max promised stroking his forehead as his eyes closed.
"You always are," he whispered so quietly that even her heightened hearing almost couldn't make the words out. As he fell asleep, Max was left alone save the sound of the persistent beeping of Logan's heart monitor.