Disclaimer: The usual

A/N: This is gonna be the end of this story. I hope you guys enjoyed the ride.

**

Betrayal

*

Logan was breathing hard, his shirt was sweat-soaked and the panic he felt rose with each passing minute. How was he supposed to find her? Some of the warehouses could be ruled out because they were obviously used, others were all locked up and he could only hope that there were no hidden back entrances he couldn't find.

He looked over his shoulder when his movement was suddenly halted abruptly. "Watch out!"

"Sorry, I…" He looked up into the tanned, bearded face of a harbour worker who just let go off Logan's shoulder.

"What's a guy like you doing here anyway?"

Logan couldn't quite figure out if, by a guy like you, the guy was talking about the wheelchair or Logan's general appearance. He was going to give him the benefit of the doubt as he didn't seemed to be intimidated by the chair.

"I'm looking for a friend. Seen a dark-haired girl, wearing black on a motorcycle?"

"She your girlfriend? Man, you must have messed up pretty bad if she ran away to a place like this."

Logan sighed. "I guess I did. Have you seen her?"

"I didn't, but my pal mentioned a fata morgana. – Hey Dan! There was that girl some minutes ago, right?" he yelled across the road and a blond, equally tall and bully guy looked up. "Now you're believin' me? I told ya, she entered that warehouse over there!"

That was all Logan needed. He quickly backed up and manoeuvred around the other man. "Thanks!"

"Good luck pal!"

**

Max enjoyed the tight embrace and leaned her head against Tom's muscular chest when she suddenly felt a stinging pain against her shoulder. "Ouch! What the hell…?" She straightened and looked up. "Tom?"

There was nothing left of the gentleness and love in his dark eyes he had shown her earlier. "Sorry, Max. It's nothing personal."

"I've heard that before," she mumbled. The fight with Logan suddenly shot through her head. This was just what he had told her about Tom, wasn't it? Had he been right? And she had yelled at him! Suddenly she felt very dizzy. The whole place was spinning and she couldn't keep herself standing. She weakly sank against Tom who lowered her to the ground and bound her hands and legs together.

Max was still conscious but completely powerless to fight the man. Logan still was in her head and she couldn't help but feel ashamed and embarrassed. He had never lied to her, always been there for her, and then she had betrayed him for a guy she had known for a few days. He would probably never talk to her again- if she would ever see him again.

She felt herself being lifted up and roughly shoved into the back of the van. Now she was wavering between consciousness and unconsciousness when she suddenly heard someone scream her name. She only made the voice out through fog that threatened to engulf her completely, but it somehow sounded familiar and she could feel herself relax a little. She was not alone, whoever this voice belonged to was there for her, protecting her.

"Stay awake!" Logan! What was he doing here? This was dangerous for him, he couldn't be here. She had yelled at him to go to hell, the words were echoing in her mind. Why was he here?

She had to help him, he had no chance to fight Tom alone.

She gathered all her remaining strength and kicked both of her feet into Tom's stomach. Then everything went black.

*

Logan shoved the heavy gate open, his actions marked by a panicked urgency. He had a bad feeling about this. He had considered calling Original Cindy but then decided that he didn't have the time for it. She would probably take too long to come here anyway. Finally the gate was open wide enough for him to enter.

He immediately saw the van towards the other end of the warehouse and that Tom-guy lifting a motionless person into it.

He didn't think about what he was going to do, if he put himself into danger, if he even had a chance against that guy, all he felt, saw and thought was that his Max was in danger. He wheeled closer, the adrenaline pumping through his entire body; he could hear his heart hammering as he completely focussed on saving Max.

He could see her opening his eyes for a moment and he yelled at her to stay awake, and from somewhere she took the strength to kick her opponent. When he stumbled back, Logan saw his chance, probably the only one he would get.

He threw himself at the other man. His only thought was to get him down on his level, so he slipped off to the ground and yanked his arms around Tom's knees to make him stumble. At first it seemed like Tom would be able to avoid the fall, but eventually he lost his balance and stumbled to the dusty floor.

By now, Tom had realized that things had gone somewhat wrong and was able to fight back.

He recognized Logan's face. Hell, that was the wheelchair guy he had met at the bike messenger place – the wheelchair guy! He grinned. It would be a piece of cake. What the hell was this jerk thinking?

Logan was underestimated again. The adrenaline coursing through his body, the fear for Max's life and the upper body strength he had built up while pushing the wheelchair combined to make the fight almost even.

Tom connected with the other man's jaw successfully a few times and managed to trap Logan's torso between his legs, leaving him almost completely powerless to fight. He furiously put both of his hands around Logan's throat and strangled him.

Logan fought for air, desperately tried to relieve the deathly grip, but he also felt himself weaken significantly. The lack of oxygen robbed him of what strength he had left after the exhausting chase and fight.

His hand was desperately groping for anything he could use to fight his opponent off. Logan groaned, feeling the darkness closing in. God, if only he could use his legs to fight Tom! He had to protect Max! Spots started to dance in front of his eyes as he used all his remaining power to try one last desperate time to break free. There was no use.

When he was finally willing to give up, after realizing that he had lost the fight, he suddenly felt a heavy weight sink down on him, at the same time the tight grip around his throat was releasing. He panted and coughed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Eventually the weight was lifted off his trembling body and he could open his eyes, but saw nothing but stars dancing in front of them.

"You okay, man?"

Logan finally tried to sit up, but his arms were too weak to support him. "What?" And then remembrance returned with a vengeance. "Max!"

"That your girlfriend?"

Now Logan recognized the form bending down over him as the bully worker he had met outside some minutes ago. "Thank you," he managed in a hoarse voice. His throat felt like sandpaper.

"No big deal." The other man carefully helped him sit up. "Here." He offered a plastic bottle of water and Logan accepted it gratefully, almost failing on opening it because his hands were shaking so badly.

"Where is Max?" He asked after taking a sip and handing the open bottle back to his rescuer. His throat felt a lot better already.

"There is a girl lying in the van. She seems pretty out of it." The guy frowned. "I guess we should call the ambulance."

"No, it's okay." Logan said quickly. "Can you…ahem, can you just help me over?"

For once he didn't care about how pathetic he seemed. All that mattered to him was Max.

"Sure." He was easily lifted off the dusty floor and moments later placed in the open hatch next to Max's unconscious form. He gratefully leaned against the side to support himself and gently brushed a trembling hand through Max's dark and curly hair.

"Ahem…I'll check on our buddy here and make sure he won't wake up too soon." The tall and heavy worker obviously felt uncomfortable about witnessing this scene.

Logan didn't even react

*

"Logan! What…?? Max!!" Cindy stormed towards the couple. "You okay?" She panted, frowning at Logan's bruised face and throat.

"Yeah."

"Max?"

"She's still unconscious, but her pulse is strong and she is breathing normally." She smiled relieved. "We should get her out of here quickly, before the police arrives."

"I'll get your car." Original Cindy didn't hesitate.

*

When Cindy returned, she and the worker, who had introduced himself as Chuck gently lifted Max into the backseat and while Cindy stored away Logan's chair, Chuck helped him into the passenger seat.

Logan had already asked Chuck to wait for Det. Matt Sung and not tell anybody else about what had been going on. Without asking further questions, the heavy guy had agreed.

They waved their goodbyes and Original Cindy quickly drove towards the main street leading them back to Logan's apartment.

**

The End

There is gonna be an epilogue though! Check out for it!

Hope you enjoyed the story.