Chapter 6
Disclaimer: See other chapters.
A/N: I'm sorry it took me a little longer, but the past few days were crazy.
Thanks so much to somebody's angel for her betaing!
**
Chapter 6
*
Logan slammed the palm of his hand on the steering wheel in frustration. The queue at the checkpoint was much longer than usual and he didn't have the patience to wait right now.
Max had out her feet on the dashboard and eyed him carefully. "You sure wanna go there?"
"Yes. Why?" His eyes were fixed on the truck in front of him.
"Because I don't think you're up for it," Max stated. Usually she wouldn't have been that direct when Logan was concerned. But right now she couldn't think of another way to make her point than to call him on it.
"Don't worry about me," he snapped. "I'm a big boy."
"Whatever you say," she shrugged, realizing that he might as well take it the wrong way. But what the hell? She was tired of tiptoeing around his delicate male ego.
He turned his head to look at her accusingly. "Max," he finally said, sounding almost defeated all of a sudden. "I want to be there for Brad when he finds out. He might need someone to comfort him."
"Why does it have to be you?"
"There is nobody else."
"But…"
"Max, I know what it's like to be alone when someone drops a bomb over your head. I don't want him to go through it alone, too."
Max swallowed, suddenly feeling guilty. She hadn't had the guts to show up at the hospital – at least not while Logan was conscious. Did he blame her for it? She didn't think so, she hoped he didn't. Logan wasn't like that, was he?
"Finally!" He drove to the checkpoint and moodily held out his papers to the policeman on duty. Max's chance to ask the question that had been bouncing around in her head for months was over. She actually was glad about it. She doubted she wouldn't have been brave enough to ask it anyway.
**
Ten minutes later Logan parked the car in front of the hospital. After transferring he checked his watch. The timer for the broadcast was set for 10 am exactly. That was in two minutes. He wouldn't make it upstairs in time- Max probably could, but not him, not like that, trapped in that damn chair. Still, he wondered if Max had been right and it was better that way. Regardless, if she had been right, he would never admit it, not to her.
Max strolled into the lobby next to him. She always hated entering hospitals, she immediately felt trapped. And she knew Logan felt the same way. In silence they crossed the busy hall to reach the elevators when suddenly a familiar picture appeared on the TV set in the corner, high above their heads.
"Do not attempt to adjust your sets…"
"Let's go!" Logan whispered harshly when an elevator opened. He impatiently waited until the staff member had manoeuvred the empty bed out of it and then wheeled himself inside. He pushed the button even before Max had entered and before the door closed he caught a glimpse of his own eyes. That was it. Now it was decided. He had played God, decided about life and death.
No need to see the broadcast.
Eyes Only had blown up an entire ring of organ traders, but at the same time Logan Cale had sacrificed the live of a friend. He couldn't watch it.
**
"Brad?" Logan entered Randy's room, his heart hammering. Max had stayed back in the hallway, squeezing Logan's shoulder encouragingly before he had turned to face Randy.
The young man sat on a chair next to his brother's bed, his face buried in his hands.
"What happened?" Logan felt like he was betraying the brothers, like everybody could read his thoughts.
"I can't believe it," Brad mumbled. "This can't be real."
"What's going on?"
"Haven't you seen it?" Brad jumped up. "This broadcast! This son of a b**** has blown up Randy's last chance. He- Eyes Only…there was this stupid broadcast…I can't believe it!!"
"I'm sorry," Logan offered honestly, his eyes cast down.
"Why now? Why not next week?"
"Brad…"
"How did he find out?" Brad suddenly glanced at Logan furiously, his eyes wide. "Did you talk? You were the only one I told about it."
"Brad, you're not making sense here," Logan tried, his voice almost betraying him.
"Yeah?" He moved toward Logan, and it seemed like he was going to attack the man in the wheelchair. But at the last moment he stopped and stormed out of the room instead.
Logan stayed back, sitting in the room motionlessly, trying to keep his composure.
**
Max saw Brad burst past her and slowly stood up to enter Randy's room.
"How did he take it?" she asked with concern.
Logan shrugged. "Not too well, but that was to be expected."
They both turned their attention towards the man lying in the bed as his eyes fluttered open and a low moan escaped his lips.
"Hey," Logan had quickly spun around and was smiling down at his old friend.
"Hey," Randy's voice was barely a whisper. "Where's Brad?"
"He needed some fresh air, he'll be back soon." Logan leaned closer.
Randy's gaze wandered to Max who was shyly standing behind Logan, shifting her feet. "Hi."
"Hi, I'm Max." She stepped closer and without hesitation reached for the hand he could barely lift from where it lay on the bedding, her other hand came to rest on Logan's shoulder so that she could lean close enough without losing her balance.
"You're Logan's girl?"
"We're not like that," they replied in unison and grinned at each other, slightly embarrassed and Max quickly took her hand off Logan's shoulder.
"Whatever you say." Randy looked slightly surprised. Then he sank back and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to find some more energy.
"Did he…did he tell ya 'bout that liver?" Randy coughed. He was white as a sheet, sweat standing on his forehead.
"Yeah, he did." Logan could almost hear his heart drop to the floor. Not again, he couldn't go through the same conversation again!
"Listen, I know he means well, but please, don't let him do it. This stinks. I don't want anybody else to die for me. I'll wait for my turn."
Logan nodded. "I'll talk to him." He didn't want to elaborate on the Eyes Only hack and all the consequences. But he felt incredibly relieved Randy thought the same way.
"Thanks." Randy's lips moved slightly in order to form a smile. "Would you mind talking about something different? I'm tired of having to elaborate my condition."
"Sure, I understand." Logan agreed sympathetically.
"You remember how we drove all the way down to Florida that first summer? With my grandpa's old car? Man, I'll never forget that trip!"
**
When Randy had turned his attention to Logan, Max had silently snuck out of the room, not wanting to intrude on the two friends catching up.
"Hey!" she called out, surprised to see familiar face about to walk past her.
"Hello, Max. How are you?"
"Fine, I guess. What about you?" Max noticed the forced smile on Juna's strained face.
"My husband's having surgery today," she explained, her voice cracking.
"I'm sure it's gonna work out," Max offered, unsure of what else to say.
"I hope it does."
"Where's Mackenzie?"
"She's sleeping in the nurse's room. She had nightmares all night long."
"Do you need to be somewhere, cause I don't want to…" Max trailed off, feeling a little insecure.
"No, I'm just trying to distract myself."
Max decided to go for it then. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Can we sit down?" Max asked, gesturing toward a comfortable-looking couch towards the end of the hallway beneath a big window.
"What is it?" Juna smiled, glad she could focus on something other than the risky surgery her husband was presently undergoing.
"I'm gonna be straight. There's no other way to talk about this anyway."
"Shoot."
"Does the name Manticore ring a bell?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Juna said in an even voice, but her eyes betrayed her. No matter how well trained she probably was when it came to hiding her true thoughts and feelings, this had been a completely unexpected attack, too unexpected to prepare for it. Max instantly knew she had been right all along.
"I know who you are. X3-217, right?"
"What the hell? Are you crazy or something?" Juna pulled her upper body away from Max's in an attempt to convince the X5 that she really didn't know what the other woman was talking about.
"Juna, I don't mean any harm, and I sure won't tell anybody. I just needed to know."
Max covered Juna's hand with hers but the other woman quickly brushed it off.
"I think this conversation is over." She furiously stood up and turned to walk away, straightening.
"Don't you want to know what happened to those who stayed back? Cora, Silas, Beck?" Max watched her retreating form intently as she stopped, her shoulders sinking.
"I always wonder, every day," she whispered, loud enough for Max's X5 hearing to pick up, but too soft for any ordinary to hear.
"They were killed," the X-5 stated emotionlessly. "They weren't good enough." Now bitterness revealed that she did care. "We were the ones holding their hopes up."
"You're an X-4?" Juna turned to face Max again.
"X-5."
Two doctors walked by and Juna nervously glanced after them. Then she stepped towards Max again and explained in a rushed, soft tone: "I've left the past behind me. It's not a part of my life anymore."
"It's part of who you are," Max disagreed.
"Three days after we'd escaped, Jean, Lenny, Fran and me- we made a pact. We'd go our separate ways and never use the strength they had bred us with again and never look back. I intend to stick to that pact, and nothing you can do or say will make me change my mind."
"Mrs Walsh, your daughter woke up." A nurse gently smiled at the two women, obviously feeling a little self-conscious about having interrupted the conversation.
"Excuse-me." Juna shot one last look at Max, and then followed the nurse, leaving a confused Max behind. She had never considered denying her 'powers' - not in front of herself anyway. She used them constantly; they were the only thing she had left. The only good thing that had come out of Manticore. She had always felt like she had every right to make use of them- after all she had been through.
Deep in thoughts she returned to her position on the plastic chair next to Randy's room.
*
To Be Continued
PS: I'd like to know what you guys think!
Disclaimer: See other chapters.
A/N: I'm sorry it took me a little longer, but the past few days were crazy.
Thanks so much to somebody's angel for her betaing!
**
Chapter 6
*
Logan slammed the palm of his hand on the steering wheel in frustration. The queue at the checkpoint was much longer than usual and he didn't have the patience to wait right now.
Max had out her feet on the dashboard and eyed him carefully. "You sure wanna go there?"
"Yes. Why?" His eyes were fixed on the truck in front of him.
"Because I don't think you're up for it," Max stated. Usually she wouldn't have been that direct when Logan was concerned. But right now she couldn't think of another way to make her point than to call him on it.
"Don't worry about me," he snapped. "I'm a big boy."
"Whatever you say," she shrugged, realizing that he might as well take it the wrong way. But what the hell? She was tired of tiptoeing around his delicate male ego.
He turned his head to look at her accusingly. "Max," he finally said, sounding almost defeated all of a sudden. "I want to be there for Brad when he finds out. He might need someone to comfort him."
"Why does it have to be you?"
"There is nobody else."
"But…"
"Max, I know what it's like to be alone when someone drops a bomb over your head. I don't want him to go through it alone, too."
Max swallowed, suddenly feeling guilty. She hadn't had the guts to show up at the hospital – at least not while Logan was conscious. Did he blame her for it? She didn't think so, she hoped he didn't. Logan wasn't like that, was he?
"Finally!" He drove to the checkpoint and moodily held out his papers to the policeman on duty. Max's chance to ask the question that had been bouncing around in her head for months was over. She actually was glad about it. She doubted she wouldn't have been brave enough to ask it anyway.
**
Ten minutes later Logan parked the car in front of the hospital. After transferring he checked his watch. The timer for the broadcast was set for 10 am exactly. That was in two minutes. He wouldn't make it upstairs in time- Max probably could, but not him, not like that, trapped in that damn chair. Still, he wondered if Max had been right and it was better that way. Regardless, if she had been right, he would never admit it, not to her.
Max strolled into the lobby next to him. She always hated entering hospitals, she immediately felt trapped. And she knew Logan felt the same way. In silence they crossed the busy hall to reach the elevators when suddenly a familiar picture appeared on the TV set in the corner, high above their heads.
"Do not attempt to adjust your sets…"
"Let's go!" Logan whispered harshly when an elevator opened. He impatiently waited until the staff member had manoeuvred the empty bed out of it and then wheeled himself inside. He pushed the button even before Max had entered and before the door closed he caught a glimpse of his own eyes. That was it. Now it was decided. He had played God, decided about life and death.
No need to see the broadcast.
Eyes Only had blown up an entire ring of organ traders, but at the same time Logan Cale had sacrificed the live of a friend. He couldn't watch it.
**
"Brad?" Logan entered Randy's room, his heart hammering. Max had stayed back in the hallway, squeezing Logan's shoulder encouragingly before he had turned to face Randy.
The young man sat on a chair next to his brother's bed, his face buried in his hands.
"What happened?" Logan felt like he was betraying the brothers, like everybody could read his thoughts.
"I can't believe it," Brad mumbled. "This can't be real."
"What's going on?"
"Haven't you seen it?" Brad jumped up. "This broadcast! This son of a b**** has blown up Randy's last chance. He- Eyes Only…there was this stupid broadcast…I can't believe it!!"
"I'm sorry," Logan offered honestly, his eyes cast down.
"Why now? Why not next week?"
"Brad…"
"How did he find out?" Brad suddenly glanced at Logan furiously, his eyes wide. "Did you talk? You were the only one I told about it."
"Brad, you're not making sense here," Logan tried, his voice almost betraying him.
"Yeah?" He moved toward Logan, and it seemed like he was going to attack the man in the wheelchair. But at the last moment he stopped and stormed out of the room instead.
Logan stayed back, sitting in the room motionlessly, trying to keep his composure.
**
Max saw Brad burst past her and slowly stood up to enter Randy's room.
"How did he take it?" she asked with concern.
Logan shrugged. "Not too well, but that was to be expected."
They both turned their attention towards the man lying in the bed as his eyes fluttered open and a low moan escaped his lips.
"Hey," Logan had quickly spun around and was smiling down at his old friend.
"Hey," Randy's voice was barely a whisper. "Where's Brad?"
"He needed some fresh air, he'll be back soon." Logan leaned closer.
Randy's gaze wandered to Max who was shyly standing behind Logan, shifting her feet. "Hi."
"Hi, I'm Max." She stepped closer and without hesitation reached for the hand he could barely lift from where it lay on the bedding, her other hand came to rest on Logan's shoulder so that she could lean close enough without losing her balance.
"You're Logan's girl?"
"We're not like that," they replied in unison and grinned at each other, slightly embarrassed and Max quickly took her hand off Logan's shoulder.
"Whatever you say." Randy looked slightly surprised. Then he sank back and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to find some more energy.
"Did he…did he tell ya 'bout that liver?" Randy coughed. He was white as a sheet, sweat standing on his forehead.
"Yeah, he did." Logan could almost hear his heart drop to the floor. Not again, he couldn't go through the same conversation again!
"Listen, I know he means well, but please, don't let him do it. This stinks. I don't want anybody else to die for me. I'll wait for my turn."
Logan nodded. "I'll talk to him." He didn't want to elaborate on the Eyes Only hack and all the consequences. But he felt incredibly relieved Randy thought the same way.
"Thanks." Randy's lips moved slightly in order to form a smile. "Would you mind talking about something different? I'm tired of having to elaborate my condition."
"Sure, I understand." Logan agreed sympathetically.
"You remember how we drove all the way down to Florida that first summer? With my grandpa's old car? Man, I'll never forget that trip!"
**
When Randy had turned his attention to Logan, Max had silently snuck out of the room, not wanting to intrude on the two friends catching up.
"Hey!" she called out, surprised to see familiar face about to walk past her.
"Hello, Max. How are you?"
"Fine, I guess. What about you?" Max noticed the forced smile on Juna's strained face.
"My husband's having surgery today," she explained, her voice cracking.
"I'm sure it's gonna work out," Max offered, unsure of what else to say.
"I hope it does."
"Where's Mackenzie?"
"She's sleeping in the nurse's room. She had nightmares all night long."
"Do you need to be somewhere, cause I don't want to…" Max trailed off, feeling a little insecure.
"No, I'm just trying to distract myself."
Max decided to go for it then. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Can we sit down?" Max asked, gesturing toward a comfortable-looking couch towards the end of the hallway beneath a big window.
"What is it?" Juna smiled, glad she could focus on something other than the risky surgery her husband was presently undergoing.
"I'm gonna be straight. There's no other way to talk about this anyway."
"Shoot."
"Does the name Manticore ring a bell?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Juna said in an even voice, but her eyes betrayed her. No matter how well trained she probably was when it came to hiding her true thoughts and feelings, this had been a completely unexpected attack, too unexpected to prepare for it. Max instantly knew she had been right all along.
"I know who you are. X3-217, right?"
"What the hell? Are you crazy or something?" Juna pulled her upper body away from Max's in an attempt to convince the X5 that she really didn't know what the other woman was talking about.
"Juna, I don't mean any harm, and I sure won't tell anybody. I just needed to know."
Max covered Juna's hand with hers but the other woman quickly brushed it off.
"I think this conversation is over." She furiously stood up and turned to walk away, straightening.
"Don't you want to know what happened to those who stayed back? Cora, Silas, Beck?" Max watched her retreating form intently as she stopped, her shoulders sinking.
"I always wonder, every day," she whispered, loud enough for Max's X5 hearing to pick up, but too soft for any ordinary to hear.
"They were killed," the X-5 stated emotionlessly. "They weren't good enough." Now bitterness revealed that she did care. "We were the ones holding their hopes up."
"You're an X-4?" Juna turned to face Max again.
"X-5."
Two doctors walked by and Juna nervously glanced after them. Then she stepped towards Max again and explained in a rushed, soft tone: "I've left the past behind me. It's not a part of my life anymore."
"It's part of who you are," Max disagreed.
"Three days after we'd escaped, Jean, Lenny, Fran and me- we made a pact. We'd go our separate ways and never use the strength they had bred us with again and never look back. I intend to stick to that pact, and nothing you can do or say will make me change my mind."
"Mrs Walsh, your daughter woke up." A nurse gently smiled at the two women, obviously feeling a little self-conscious about having interrupted the conversation.
"Excuse-me." Juna shot one last look at Max, and then followed the nurse, leaving a confused Max behind. She had never considered denying her 'powers' - not in front of herself anyway. She used them constantly; they were the only thing she had left. The only good thing that had come out of Manticore. She had always felt like she had every right to make use of them- after all she had been through.
Deep in thoughts she returned to her position on the plastic chair next to Randy's room.
*
To Be Continued
PS: I'd like to know what you guys think!