Disclaimer: see previous chapters
A/N: So here comes the next chapter, thanks to our beta, reviews very welcome-as always!!!! Enjoy !
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Revelations
--------------
Max pushed Logan alongside the small road that had brought them there. Logan had given up complaining about being pushed around, as his arm clearly told him that it was best to give it some rest.
"There's a small park across the road there," he said, motioning towards a small almost hidden path that seemed to lead into the shrubs. Then he rested his hands in his lap, not really sure where else to put them.
Max crossed the road and was surprised by what unfolded in front of her. She inhaled the fresh air and could smell the scent of the first spring flowers along the path.
"Your grandmother is real nice," Max said while they were making their way along the small, sandy path. "Do you think she bought your story about Alcatraz?"
"I don't know, but she won't press. She believes what she wants to believe and that's it." Logan chuckled.
"She probably won't go for the 'business partner' part though, don't you think?" Max asked.
Logan raised his eyebrows. "Why not? That's what we are, right?"
Max frowned. "You think that's what the others see in us? Never talked to Bling?"
"About us?" Logan played dumb.
Max sighed, not sure if she should really explain that to him. "You know, Original Cindy always thought there was something going on. Actually, she said that from the first time we met." She was glad she was walking behind him and didn't have to look at him. She could feel her face get red.
Logan drew a smile. "Really?" he asked, the old cockiness filling his voice.
Max let out a short laugh. "Really." She bit her lip, then continued. "You know, I kept on telling Original Cindy she got it all wrong. But she can be pretty stubborn, you know ."
Logan thought back to the evening when he had prepared dinner for Max and Bling had started this stupid conversation. He had kept on saying things like 'The gun is loaded' and 'now that you're up and walking again anything could happen...' He felt his face flush at the thought and, for the first time he was glad that Max was behind him, pushing the chair."Well, I guess Bling broached the subject once or twice as well..." he admitted.Max silently smiled to herself. "You know, when you said that thing about us being business partners, were you serious?" Max asked trying to sound indifferent.
Logan thought about that for a while. "We ARE business partners, right? So much is true. But otherwise, I don't know..." Logan put his hands on the wheels of the chair to stop Max. He turned around to look at her, an unspoken challenge in his expression.
"I mean, most people would say we are friends-probably good friends. ...And for what I know, when I first saw you, it was clearly not my intention to just be your 'friend'. But now?" he sighed and turned back, unable to look at her. "You tell me, Max. What are we?"
Max stood silent for a minute, then slowly walked around the chair. She looked straight into his eyes for a long moment that felt like an eternity before she knelt down, not breaking her gaze, she slowly leaned in closer. "You really want to know what I think?" she whispered.
Logan looked up at her, puzzled then watched her kneel down in front of him. His head was clouded by the rush that was going through his body, with Max' face so near his own. He had to remind himself to breathe, still waiting for an answer, a rational, logical answer to his question. Of course they were just friends, his mind kept telling him. There was no way they would ever be more than that, or was there?
Max leaned even closer and softly brushed his lips with her own. She let them linger there for a short moment before breaking the contact and standing up in a rush, suddenly no longer sure that she had done the right thing. Logan just stared back at her, at a loss of words. Max wiped her fingers across her lips and blushed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered embarrassed, shaking her head. "Don't know what came over me. Won't happen again," she mumbled almost mechanically. Her eyes sought his, though, desperately looking for a reaction.
Logan sat there motionless, not able to believe what had just happened. As if in slow motion he saw Max get up again and heard her say something. He didn't understand what she was saying, but he could feel the discomfort in her voice. Just when Max was about to escape the situation by turning her head and going back around the chair to keep on walking, Logan found the will to act. He grabbed her arm in a gentle but determined grip.
"Don't do that, Max," he pleaded quietly. "Don't leave me like that."
Max looked at him, searching his face for the meaning behind his words. Hadn't she just made the biggest mistake she could possibly have made? Hadn't she just destroyed the best relationship she'd ever had?
Logan held her gaze for a couple of seconds, then lowered his eyes. His hand was still holding onto her arm. He let loose a little and Max slowly drew her arm out of his grip. But Logan took hold of her hand before she could slip away. They stayed like that for some time, both of them at a loss of words.
Finally, Logan spoke. "Don't run again, Max," he begged, his voice cracking a little. He looked up at Max, his eyes trying to convince her.
Max shuddered invisibly at his words as truth hit her. He was right. They had both been running from each other ever since he had come back from hospital after the shooting.
They had spent so much time together and been through so much, still always denying what had grown between them and brushing off every close moment, blaming it on sentimentality.
Running was easier than facing one's feelings, Max realised now. She felt drawn towards Logan by such a strong force, but still she was scared and confused. She had been unable for so long to let down her guard and let her feelings guide her. And it had probably been the same with Logan.
How should she forget about what she'd been taught all her life, just like that?
'Feelings are bad, they are your worst enemy. They take control over your mind and your body. Feelings can hurt you, more deeply than weapons.'
Max just stood there, trying to figure out what to do now that she stepped over that line she had never intended to cross.
She felt her heart beat in her throat and her hands get wet. Her first impulse was to run away. However, something glued her feet to the ground and made her stay.
"Don't run again", Logan's words were echoing in her ears.
Max looked down at the man in front of her and saw him as clearly as she had never before. The sadness in his eyes stung her while he was still silently begging her to stay.
After some more time of inner turmoil, Max felt a little tug on her hand and wordlessly let Logan draw her forward, until her feet were touching the footrest of his chair. Her eyes wandered down towards the floor and up again, to meet his gaze again, which made the last barriers she had tried to maintain crumble. She asked a silent question and when he nodded almost invisibly, she gently sat down on his lap and flung her arms around him firmly, like she had done back at his apartment, coming back from Dr. Verities' office, anticipating the worst
Logan closed his arms around her. For a long time, they just sat there, none of them dared to move. After all the drama and confusion of the past weeks they were finally enjoying the closeness and the touch they had secretly longed for for so long Max could feel Logan's breath on the sensitive skin of her neck. Logan could smell Max's unique scent like peach soap and sandalwood. As the minutes passed by, they could feel all the tension melt away and relaxed into a peaceful embrace.
Finally, after what seemed like, Max leaned back and looked at Logan. "Logan," she whispered. "I don't know... I mean, ...where is this going?..." she faltered.
Logan brought his finger to her lips to stop her, and looked at her seriously. "I don't know where this is going either, Max.... But I know it's what I've dreamed of for a long time. He traced his fingers along her cheek and placed a soft kiss on the bare skin of her shoulder, where her shirt granted some access. "Let's just take it from here. One day at a time. No need to hurry"
"Thanks Logan." Max shyly smiled at him. Then she shifted her weight, suddenly feeling uncomfortable again . She quickly changed the subject. "Do you want to go back home?"
"Yes. Dinner should be ready soon," he said, trying to break the awkwardness between them. Shouldn't this just feel right and perfect? Instead, he felt like a stupid little boy who was at a loss for words after his first kiss ever. Now that they had crossed the line, he didn't know how to behave. It didn't feel bad at all, but strange and confusing. And all new.
Max could sense that Logan was just as tense as she was. She was glad they had finally admitted their feelings, but she was too inexperienced and scared to just let go and enjoy. There were still too many unanswered questions, but she was sure they would eventually find answers; they just had to be patient.
So she slowly stood up and started to push Logan back the way they had just come.
They walked back the entire way in silence, both lost in their thoughts.
Before they rang the bell, Logan asked Max. "So, now...what? You want to tell her what happened. Set the record straight?" he joked insecurely.
"You know, I kind of had the feeling she never believed that story of yours anyway." Max grinned. "But you can still tell her if you want to."
Logan grinned back and shook his head. "She'll notice anyway."
"Aiight, so let's eat. I'm starving." Max rang the bell and laid a hand on Logan's shoulder, not sure if it was the right thing to do.
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TBC.......
A/N: So here comes the next chapter, thanks to our beta, reviews very welcome-as always!!!! Enjoy !
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Revelations
--------------
Max pushed Logan alongside the small road that had brought them there. Logan had given up complaining about being pushed around, as his arm clearly told him that it was best to give it some rest.
"There's a small park across the road there," he said, motioning towards a small almost hidden path that seemed to lead into the shrubs. Then he rested his hands in his lap, not really sure where else to put them.
Max crossed the road and was surprised by what unfolded in front of her. She inhaled the fresh air and could smell the scent of the first spring flowers along the path.
"Your grandmother is real nice," Max said while they were making their way along the small, sandy path. "Do you think she bought your story about Alcatraz?"
"I don't know, but she won't press. She believes what she wants to believe and that's it." Logan chuckled.
"She probably won't go for the 'business partner' part though, don't you think?" Max asked.
Logan raised his eyebrows. "Why not? That's what we are, right?"
Max frowned. "You think that's what the others see in us? Never talked to Bling?"
"About us?" Logan played dumb.
Max sighed, not sure if she should really explain that to him. "You know, Original Cindy always thought there was something going on. Actually, she said that from the first time we met." She was glad she was walking behind him and didn't have to look at him. She could feel her face get red.
Logan drew a smile. "Really?" he asked, the old cockiness filling his voice.
Max let out a short laugh. "Really." She bit her lip, then continued. "You know, I kept on telling Original Cindy she got it all wrong. But she can be pretty stubborn, you know ."
Logan thought back to the evening when he had prepared dinner for Max and Bling had started this stupid conversation. He had kept on saying things like 'The gun is loaded' and 'now that you're up and walking again anything could happen...' He felt his face flush at the thought and, for the first time he was glad that Max was behind him, pushing the chair."Well, I guess Bling broached the subject once or twice as well..." he admitted.Max silently smiled to herself. "You know, when you said that thing about us being business partners, were you serious?" Max asked trying to sound indifferent.
Logan thought about that for a while. "We ARE business partners, right? So much is true. But otherwise, I don't know..." Logan put his hands on the wheels of the chair to stop Max. He turned around to look at her, an unspoken challenge in his expression.
"I mean, most people would say we are friends-probably good friends. ...And for what I know, when I first saw you, it was clearly not my intention to just be your 'friend'. But now?" he sighed and turned back, unable to look at her. "You tell me, Max. What are we?"
Max stood silent for a minute, then slowly walked around the chair. She looked straight into his eyes for a long moment that felt like an eternity before she knelt down, not breaking her gaze, she slowly leaned in closer. "You really want to know what I think?" she whispered.
Logan looked up at her, puzzled then watched her kneel down in front of him. His head was clouded by the rush that was going through his body, with Max' face so near his own. He had to remind himself to breathe, still waiting for an answer, a rational, logical answer to his question. Of course they were just friends, his mind kept telling him. There was no way they would ever be more than that, or was there?
Max leaned even closer and softly brushed his lips with her own. She let them linger there for a short moment before breaking the contact and standing up in a rush, suddenly no longer sure that she had done the right thing. Logan just stared back at her, at a loss of words. Max wiped her fingers across her lips and blushed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered embarrassed, shaking her head. "Don't know what came over me. Won't happen again," she mumbled almost mechanically. Her eyes sought his, though, desperately looking for a reaction.
Logan sat there motionless, not able to believe what had just happened. As if in slow motion he saw Max get up again and heard her say something. He didn't understand what she was saying, but he could feel the discomfort in her voice. Just when Max was about to escape the situation by turning her head and going back around the chair to keep on walking, Logan found the will to act. He grabbed her arm in a gentle but determined grip.
"Don't do that, Max," he pleaded quietly. "Don't leave me like that."
Max looked at him, searching his face for the meaning behind his words. Hadn't she just made the biggest mistake she could possibly have made? Hadn't she just destroyed the best relationship she'd ever had?
Logan held her gaze for a couple of seconds, then lowered his eyes. His hand was still holding onto her arm. He let loose a little and Max slowly drew her arm out of his grip. But Logan took hold of her hand before she could slip away. They stayed like that for some time, both of them at a loss of words.
Finally, Logan spoke. "Don't run again, Max," he begged, his voice cracking a little. He looked up at Max, his eyes trying to convince her.
Max shuddered invisibly at his words as truth hit her. He was right. They had both been running from each other ever since he had come back from hospital after the shooting.
They had spent so much time together and been through so much, still always denying what had grown between them and brushing off every close moment, blaming it on sentimentality.
Running was easier than facing one's feelings, Max realised now. She felt drawn towards Logan by such a strong force, but still she was scared and confused. She had been unable for so long to let down her guard and let her feelings guide her. And it had probably been the same with Logan.
How should she forget about what she'd been taught all her life, just like that?
'Feelings are bad, they are your worst enemy. They take control over your mind and your body. Feelings can hurt you, more deeply than weapons.'
Max just stood there, trying to figure out what to do now that she stepped over that line she had never intended to cross.
She felt her heart beat in her throat and her hands get wet. Her first impulse was to run away. However, something glued her feet to the ground and made her stay.
"Don't run again", Logan's words were echoing in her ears.
Max looked down at the man in front of her and saw him as clearly as she had never before. The sadness in his eyes stung her while he was still silently begging her to stay.
After some more time of inner turmoil, Max felt a little tug on her hand and wordlessly let Logan draw her forward, until her feet were touching the footrest of his chair. Her eyes wandered down towards the floor and up again, to meet his gaze again, which made the last barriers she had tried to maintain crumble. She asked a silent question and when he nodded almost invisibly, she gently sat down on his lap and flung her arms around him firmly, like she had done back at his apartment, coming back from Dr. Verities' office, anticipating the worst
Logan closed his arms around her. For a long time, they just sat there, none of them dared to move. After all the drama and confusion of the past weeks they were finally enjoying the closeness and the touch they had secretly longed for for so long Max could feel Logan's breath on the sensitive skin of her neck. Logan could smell Max's unique scent like peach soap and sandalwood. As the minutes passed by, they could feel all the tension melt away and relaxed into a peaceful embrace.
Finally, after what seemed like, Max leaned back and looked at Logan. "Logan," she whispered. "I don't know... I mean, ...where is this going?..." she faltered.
Logan brought his finger to her lips to stop her, and looked at her seriously. "I don't know where this is going either, Max.... But I know it's what I've dreamed of for a long time. He traced his fingers along her cheek and placed a soft kiss on the bare skin of her shoulder, where her shirt granted some access. "Let's just take it from here. One day at a time. No need to hurry"
"Thanks Logan." Max shyly smiled at him. Then she shifted her weight, suddenly feeling uncomfortable again . She quickly changed the subject. "Do you want to go back home?"
"Yes. Dinner should be ready soon," he said, trying to break the awkwardness between them. Shouldn't this just feel right and perfect? Instead, he felt like a stupid little boy who was at a loss for words after his first kiss ever. Now that they had crossed the line, he didn't know how to behave. It didn't feel bad at all, but strange and confusing. And all new.
Max could sense that Logan was just as tense as she was. She was glad they had finally admitted their feelings, but she was too inexperienced and scared to just let go and enjoy. There were still too many unanswered questions, but she was sure they would eventually find answers; they just had to be patient.
So she slowly stood up and started to push Logan back the way they had just come.
They walked back the entire way in silence, both lost in their thoughts.
Before they rang the bell, Logan asked Max. "So, now...what? You want to tell her what happened. Set the record straight?" he joked insecurely.
"You know, I kind of had the feeling she never believed that story of yours anyway." Max grinned. "But you can still tell her if you want to."
Logan grinned back and shook his head. "She'll notice anyway."
"Aiight, so let's eat. I'm starving." Max rang the bell and laid a hand on Logan's shoulder, not sure if it was the right thing to do.
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TBC.......