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.
Chapter Five Fogle TowersAfter Max had left the previous night, Logan wasted no time in settling Melanie into the guestroom. He tried calling her parents to let them know she was safe with him, but there was no answer. He briefly debated going to bed himself, but knew that there was no way he was going to sleep. Cursing fate and sixteen-year-old cousins, he had settled for pulling out his journal and spending time writing in it. He was seated in a chair that faced the window, with a view of the Space Needle. The moonlight cast shadows on its dark metal surface and he consoled himself by deciding that one of them was Max, sitting up there looking down on Seattle, and on his lights.
At some point he had dozed off, only to wake near dawn. He dragged himself groggily into his room, and after stripping off the exo-skeleton, he fell heavily into bed and into a restless sleep.
* * * * *
"Good morning, Logan." Melanie's cheerful voice roused him from sleep. He grunted, and rolled over to face the doorway to his bedroom. Melanie stood there smiling cheerily at him.
"What time is it?" he asked blearily.
"Close to ten o'clock."
"Damn." He sat bolt upright and the sheet fell to his waist. Melanie's eyes widened and he belatedly remembered that he hadn't bothered with a shirt, or anything else for that matter, when he fell into bed. Max's words about sixteen year old girls resonated in his head and he flushed in annoyance. "Out. I'll be there to make you some food in a few minutes," he said gruffly.
Melanie ran a last glance over his naked torso, and left the room closing the door behind her. Logan ran a hand through his hair, cursing himself for his carelessness, and the female sex on general principles.
When he emerged from his room twenty minutes later, he was showered and fully dressed. Melanie was in the computer room, idly looking at his equipment, and Logan was suddenly glad that he had shut it all down last night in preparation for Max's visit.
"You hungry?" he asked.
Melanie jumped at his words. She turned to face him with a guilty look on her face. Logan wondered what she had been up to, but decided that with his systems shut down, there wasn't really anything damaging that she could have seen.
"Sure." She smiled at him.
The next hour was spent with Logan making breakfast for the two of them. After they finished eating, he reached for the phone.
"You're calling my parents, aren't you?" Melanie said, giving him a sad look.
"Mel, they're probably worried to death about you. I have to call them and let them know that you're safe." Logan said, phone in hand.
"They probably never even noticed I left. They never notice me."
Logan looked at her sympathetically, "They do notice, Mel. They're just…"
"Screwed up?" Her voice was bitter. "Don't I know it." She shrugged, trying to act uncaring. "Hey, it doesn't matter. Leaves me free to get out and explore life, instead of being locked up like some of my friends, who can't even go to a movie without the third degree." Despite her defiant words, there was an air of sadness about her.
Logan reached over and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Life's not always what we want it to be. But my mom used to tell me something, that I still tell myself when things don't go the way I want them to."
Melanie looked at him with interest. "You mean like with your…legs?" She asked hesitantly.
Logan sighed. "Yeah. That and other things."
"What did she say?"
"The universe is on schedule." Logan said simply.
Melanie looked at him for a minute. "Oh." Her face was blank and it was clear she didn't understand.
Logan chuckled, "I didn't get it either when I was younger. Look, I have to call your mom. What if I tell her that I'll get you home for dinner tonight? I have to go out for a while, but when I come back, I'll drive you home."
Melanie sighed. "I guess. Do you mind if I watch some of your movies while you're gone? You have some cool Pre-Pulse stuff."
Logan smiled at her. "Go for it. I'm going to call, and then I'm out of here for a few hours."
Melanie wandered off into the living room and began to sift through Logan's DVD collection. He headed into the privacy of his bedroom to make his calls, one to his cousin, and one to Max, to arrange to meet her for lunch.
Janine answered the phone. Logan felt a surge of anger when it became clear that she didn't even know Melanie was gone. He resolved to give her a piece of his mind when he had the chance, and after making arrangements to drop Melanie off that evening, he hit Max's number.
"Hey, it's me. Leave a message." Max's voice announced, after her cell phone rang a half dozen times.
"I don't want to leave a message. I want to see you, and I don't want to wait until tonight. Meet me for lunch at the coffee shop on Broad and 12th." Logan said into the phone and then snapped it closed. He thought for a moment, and then hit the number for Max's pager. As soon as he heard it beeping, he punched in some numbers. Then he grabbed a jacket from a chair and headed out of the apartment.
End of Chapter Five
