A/N: I'm updating all my stories today after…well, it feels like forever and a week…so here goes!

            Disclaimer: If it was mine, would I have killed it?  No?  Didn't think so…

************************************3rd Person POV *************************************

            Max and the others flew outside, still cautious.  She barely noticed as Luke and Mole led Normal to where Asha was standing with a few of her 'colleagues' in the S1W.  All she could see was Logan, lying in a pool of his own blood on the ground.  She moved toward him with determined speed, recoiling when Alec grabbed her from behind, locking his arms around her own.

            "Alec, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

            "I *think* I'm protecting him!  If you go over there, you'll forget about the virus and start touching him…holding his hand, touching his hair…maybe you'll take off his glasses and your hand'll bump his nose?  Do you really want him to die because you did something that careless?"

            "I'll wear gloves."  She fought against his reasoning.  "Alec, I'll feel worse if he dies and I'm not with him…I can't lose him…please, let me see him.  Please!"

            "There *are* no gloves…but I'll go with you, watch your back."  By now the S1W had arranged a trauma center around Logan, making use of all the medical supplies they had brought.

            A man who looked like he could be Asha's brother looked up when Max and Alec walked over.  "He's bleeding out through his chest….think the bullet nicked an artery.  That's why the damn wire got destroyed."  He paused, pressing his fingers over the wound to stop the bleeding while someone found a more permanent dressing.

            "The shooter?"  Max's voice was like venom; the compassionate woman she had become was replaced by a cold, grieving soldier who knew nothing but loss.

            "Taken down by one of your guys.  Looked like hired muscle to me."

            Max nodded, stretching her hand out toward Logan, but drawing it back under Alec's reproachful gaze.  She noticed wryly that Logan was already wearing gloves…That Boy Scout thing kickin' in again.

            She gripped his hand gratefully, staring at his face with its peaceful expression.  "You die on me, I kick your ass, remember?"  She whispered, rubbing her thumb in circles across his hand.

            Jason glanced up at her when they prepared to move him to the van, to take him to Harbor Lights.  "Max, you need to step back."

            "I want to…can't I…let me stay with him."  She knew she was being crazy, but she had to try.

            "No…from what I heard, it's dangerous for you two to be close together…and anyway, there's only room for one extra to ride with us…Asha?"

            Max cursed under her breath, all the emotions she had denied herself catching up in a rush.  She turned her face into Alec's chest, suppressing tears.  "I can't lose him, Alec….I love him.  I won't lose him!  Promise me…promise me it'll be okay.  Promise."

            Alec kissed her head, smoothing back her hair.  "I wish I could, Maxie."  He stared after the departing ambulance with a fearful gaze.

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Will Logan live?  What happens if he does?  What do you think?  Review!