AS2.06: Paper Caper by Star24

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.

 

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Epilogue

Fogle Towers

Max smiled to herself as she pushed the doorbell to Logan's apartment. Ringing the bell was getting to be a habit, but it was one she kind of liked.  The door opened and Logan stood there smiling down at her, freshly shaven and smelling of aftershave.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey, yourself."  She smiled back at him.

He laid a hand lightly on her waist as she walked into the apartment, guiding her to the dining room which glowed softly with candlelight. Classical music played in the background, and enticing aromas teased Max's nostrils.

"It smells delicious. Someone sure pulled out all of the stops." Max looked up at him.

Logan reminded himself to breathe. She was dressed simply in an off the shoulder black top and jeans, but she still managed to take his breath away.  Unable to help himself, he leaned in and kissed her. For a moment she responded, but then she pulled away.

"Dinner first and then, Logan Cale, you owe me an explanation." She strolled away with a deliberate sway of her hips, and seated herself at the table.

Logan seated himself. "An explanation?" He tried giving her an innocent look.

"About that oh so precious and rare manuscript." Max helped herself to some of the food. She wasn't buying his innocent act for a minute.

"What about it?"  Logan passed her another dish. "Try this."

"I expected it to be at least a first draft of, oh I don't know, the Declaration of Independence or something." Max took a bite of the entrée and sighed as it slid down her throat. "Mmm. You've outdone yourself."

"Thanks. Want some wine?" Logan poured a glass and handed it to her.

"But that does not let you off the hook." Max set down her fork and gave him a hard stare. "You had me let that slime ball put his hands all over me, not to mention slip me a drugged drink, and then I break into the offices of Sky Blue to get you back a script from the X-Files?"

Logan flushed. "Max. It's an original script of Paper Clip, signed by all of the original cast members, the writers, and by Chris Carter. It's worth a small fortune, not to mention the sentimental value to me."

"Logan, it's a script from a television show." Max clearly didn't get it.

"One of the best television shows ever made. And that episode is arguably the best episode ever done. That's why collectors will do anything to get their hands on an original of the script."

Max just looked at him, unconvinced. "It was a television show," she repeated slowly.

"Max, it had everything. Secret government conspiracies, suspense, mystery, humor, UST…"

"US what? You lost me there. Not to mention, that I don't exactly find the idea of secret government conspiracies entertaining." Max rolled her eyes.

"UST is Unresolved Sexual Tension. X-Files knew how to do it right between their two leads. Trust me, the show was amazing. I didn't see it first run, but it was still in re-runs when I was a kid. Fox Mulder was my idol. And Dana Scully was just plain hot."

Max shook her head. "Logan, sometimes I don't understand you at all."

He smiled at her. "So am I forgiven?"

"I'll let you know about that later."

The rest of their dinner passed in quiet conversation interspersed with long looks. The mood was one of anticipation, but they were unhurried, both knowing that the rest of the night was theirs. Finally Logan stood and pushed his chair in.  He slid Max's chair back for her and she rose and turned into his arms.

They kissed for a long time. Finally Logan lifted his head and looked at her. "I think this is where we were when we were so rudely interrupted by my cousin the other night."

"Actually, I think we were on our way to your bedroom." Max said, her voice husky.

"Shall we?" Logan pulled her along with him to his room. Once they were inside Max looked around. Logan had placed candles all around the room and he walked over and began to light them.

"Do you mind if I brush my teeth? Dinner was delicious, but I seem to have a strong taste of garlic in my mouth," she asked, feeling a sudden need for a minute alone.

"Go ahead." Logan laughed. "That'll teach me to overuse the garlic when I'm cooking for my girlfriend, with seduction being the ultimate goal."

"Thanks," Max said and walked into his bathroom, leaving him to finish up the candles. When she emerged she had stripped out of her jeans and top. She stood in the doorway, wearing only her white lace lingerie set, and looked around for Logan.

"Max…" his voice came out in a strangled whisper as he turned and saw her outlined in the candlelight. 

She laughed nervously, "That bad huh?"

"You're beautiful." His voice was low and husky and the look in his eyes was scorching. Max let her eyes run over him. He had taken off his shirt and stood there wearing only his khakis which rode low on his slim waist. His bare chest gleamed softly in the low light.

"So are you," Max whispered.

Logan started to take a step toward her. He gasped as his legs gave out from under him, sending him to the floor. Max was at his side in an instant.

"Logan, what happened? Is it the exo again?"

His face was contorted in pain. "No. The exo is fine. It's my back. It…ahhh…" he groaned in pain as his back spasmed.

"Ok, let me get you into the bed, and then I'm calling Sam."

"No, I'll be fine. I probably just overdid it today. This is our night, Max. I'm not gonna ruin it again."

As he spoke, Max had managed to help him to a standing position with him leaning heavily on her. She supported him to the bed and then gently removed his pants and the exo-skeleton, leaving him clad in only a pair of boxers. Logan managed to swing his legs onto the bed and leaned back against the pillows Max arranged for him.

"I have pain killers and muscle relaxant in the medicine cabinet. Just get those for me and I should be fine in a little while."

Max looked at him skeptically but complied. Once he had taken his pills, she smiled at him. "Why don't I clean up the table while you let those work?"

"'K," Logan murmured tiredly as the pills quickly started to take effect. Max slipped into her red robe and walked out of the room.

She walked into the computer room and picked up Logan's phone, hitting the Menu button. When she found Sam Carr's number she punched it and waited impatiently for him to pick up.

"Hello?" Sam sounded tired but awake.

"Sam? It's Max. I'm at Logan Cale's."

Sam was instantly alert. "Is Logan all right? What happened?" To Max's chagrin he didn't sound surprised that she was calling.

"His legs gave out even with the exo-skeleton, and he's having back spasms. He's in a lot of pain," she said slowly.

"How much has he been using that thing?" Sam demanded.

"A lot I think."

Sam's sigh was audible. "I warned him not to overdo it. I only hope he hasn't done anything irreversible."

Max felt a sense of panic. "What do you mean? He shouldn't be using the exo?"

"Max, his lower spinal column is still fragile from the shooting. The exo puts a lot of pressure on the areas that were injured, and overuse of it could cause more damage. He has no sensation in his legs and lower back, so he can't feel the pain or fatigue that comes from overuse. The fact that he's having spasms and feeling pain above the injury point isn't good. I'm going to need to get him into the hospital and take a look."

Max sucked in her breath. "What could it mean?"

Sam was slow to answer. "At best, little or no further use of the exo-skeleton. At worst…well let's not go there. Did he take a muscle relaxant?"

"Yeah and a pain killer."

"He should be okay for tonight. I want him at Metro Medical first thing tomorrow." Sam paused, "Max, he's going to feel okay once the medicine kicks in. But I need you to do me a favor tonight. For his sake." He stopped.

"Sam?" Max prompted.

"Max, no sexual activities tonight. None. I need to examine his back before you two resume your sex life."

Max felt herself blushing at Sam's assumptions, but she couldn't bring herself to correct them. "I'll take care of him, Sam."

"I know you will."

"Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If something isn't done to fix Logan's injury, it's only going to get worse over time, isn't it?"

"Yes." Sam's voice was quiet. "But unfortunately spinal chord injury research in this country pretty much ended after the Pulse. I don't know if anything can be done. Logan knows that, and I think you need to know it as well. "

"Thanks for telling me the truth, Sam. I'll have him there first thing tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Max."

Max closed the phone and stood lost in thought.  She walked back to Logan's bedroom and glanced in. He was fast asleep. She returned to the computer room and sat down at the desk. She pulled up Logan's email program and began typing. When she finished she sat back and read what she had written.

Deck,

Much as it kills me to say it, I need your help. Manticore has something I need. You help me out and I help you out. Quid pro quo. Contact me soonest. You know how.

Max

She hit the send button and then shut down the computers. She walked around the apartment extinguishing the candles that still burned, and then walked slowly back to Logan's bedroom.

"Max?" he murmured sleepily as she shed her robe and slipped into the bed next to him.

"Shhh. I'm here. Sleep." She curled into his arms and listened to his heartbeat as he dropped back into sleep. "I'm here and I'm gonna do whatever I have to, to fix things for you. This time I won't screw it up. I promise you that," she whispered more to herself than to him, as she lay in Logan's arms, watching the moon rise outside of his window.

End of Paper Caper