I've Got You'R' Back
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
A/N: Thanks always to Kasman for the betas, It's hard work to correct my grammar and keep me on the correct path. Thanks again to those who have read and to those who have reviewed. We are nearing the end now.
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Chapter 16 Dinner Can Wait
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Terminal City - Original Cindy's and Max's quarters:
"You and Logan are having what? Sounds like a date to me."
"It's not a date...we've been here before, haven't we?" Max says, with a smile. "But this is still not a date. Were only eating in the mess hall."
Nodding, Original Cindy reaches for a small manicure set. "Well, if that's what you have to tell yourself boo. Still let me do your nails and this dead straight hair thing - lets sort that out."
"Do the nails if you must, but the hair stays the way it is. I don't want to be attracting too much attention," Max says, a slightly sour look on her face. Not only will Logan notice, but every other person in there if I go in with my hair done in one of OC's creations...still it would be nice.
"You sure, boo? Because men notice these sorts of things, ya know."
Lost in her thoughts, "Yeah, he does," Max answers, not realizing that her face is now wreathed in delight at the thought of Logan's response to the perfume.
Seeing the look on Max's face, Original Cindy smiles to herself. Not a date, and not wanting to be noticed, he smelt the perfume and mentioned it. Girl, you still got it bad for Logan. I just hope there's a cure out there, otherwise you two are going to explode. Reaching for one of Max's hands, Original Cindy starts to file the nails and apply polish.
--- --- --- --- ---
A street near the Mess Hall:
Max has the hots for me? Sketchy was drunk, he wouldn't know anything about that, he was just fishing, although it was in her eyes if only for an instant in the infirmary. But what he said about Alec trying to hook up with somebody else? Did I see it wrong that day? Did Max lie to me, but why?
»»»»»»
Flashback, Logan's Apartment Kitchen:
Laughing at Logan's story about the Mayor. "Where'd you hear this touching story?" Max asks.
"I have my sources. Stir that for me, will you?" Indicating to a pot of sauce on the stove
"All right," she answers, walking over to the stove. "So this is what the Eyes Only Informant Net has been reduced to, huh? Trading information about crooked politicians' sex lives?"
"Well, you know, you can only fight corruption and injustice so many hours in the day. Every once in a while you gotta kick back."
Stirring the sauce, Max uses the spoon to taste it, "Mmm. This is great," and puts the spoon back into it.
"Thanks. It's a family—"
Turning around Logan sees what she has done. She notices his look and turns to look at the sauce.
"I can't believe I just did that."
"You know, it's okay, because if you just turn up the flame, heat kills pretty much anything," Logan says trying to reassure Max
Angrily dumping the sauce in the sink, "Salmonella, maybe, but not a Frankenstein virus targeted specifically to your DNA." Turning, Max looks at Logan. "You know, it's bad enough they made it so we can't touch. Now we can't even have dinner."
"You can still have some."
"I'm gonna go."
"Wait. We have bread; we have salad. I'm sure I can rustle something else up. Please," Logan says, trying to stop her.
"I can't do this. It's too hard," Max says, then walks out of the kitchen.
"Max!" Logan cries out, then chops the knife into the counter in frustration.
In the other room, Max is heading for the door but turns around. "My jacket." Going to pick up her jacket from the computer desk she sees Logan standing on the other side of the frosted, touching it. She touches the Perspex where his hand is, then turns and leaves. Logan sighs.
»»»»»»
It's this damn virus; she lied to me because of the damn virus. There was never anything between her and Alec. He knows she lied...he's tried to tell me but I've been so blind - I wouldn't listen and I couldn't see it. Dammit, Max, you didn't have to lie to me. We would've managed. Looking at the bottle of wine in his hand, Logan shakes his head.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
The table is set with candles and there is a bottle of pre-Pulse white wine from the Mosel sitting in a cooler. The delicious smell of cooking wafts through the apartment.
Max walks in and goes straight over to the couch. She sits down on the backrest, her hands clasped, a look of desperation and fear written on her face as she bites her lower lip.
"Hey you, thought we'd have a chicken in celebration...skip the sauces for awhile," Logan says trying to make light of the previous night's painful incident and near ending of their relationship. Hearing no answer he walks into the living room and sees Max's posture and the look on her face. A look of apprehension crosses his face. "What happened, Max?"
"I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, No matter what I do, Manticore finds a way to get back at me," Max says, still not looking at Logan.
"What happened, Max?" he repeats, stepping towards Max.
Jumping off the couch, Max starts to pace the room, keeping her distance from Logan. "I had to save...I couldn't let the bomb blow his fool head off, could I? Even though he tried to kill Joshua and me."
"Max, stop! Who tried to kill you and Joshua and why did they have a bomb in their head, and who did you save?" Logan asks, holding up his hands as if about to grab Max and stop her.
Seeing his gesture, Max stops her pacing and walks back to the couch, sitting back in her previous position. "White put a mini explosive in Alec's neck and had him hunting transgenics. He had to take their barcodes to prove he'd done it. He wanted to take Joshua's but he doesn't have one..." Seeing Logan's questioning look, she shrugs. "Something to do with him being first. Anyway, he attacked me but he couldn't do it. I don't know why." Taking a deep breath and letting it out Max finally looks Logan fully in the face. "I took him to the Manticore tech. He took out the explosive for the rest of the money and split town."
Logan stands there looking at Max, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Logan, say something, anything."
Sighing, Logan continues to stare at Max. "So, we don't have the cure, you want, that I want too, you know..." almost throwing back at her the words she had spoken to him.
"Logan...I had to I couldn't let him die...not like that. Don't think I'm ever getting over his costing us our last chance. I'll never forgive him, Logan, never." The passion in Max's last statement causes Logan to nod grimly.
"I better blaze." I've gotta work tomorrow. I'm sorry, Logan." Pausing as she passes Logan, who hasn't moved, "Joshua said that since Sandeman made us he could cure this virus. Funny thing is Renfro said something similar maybe there is hope."
As she continues to walk towards the door, Logan turns. "Max, we still have a dinner to eat and a lovely pre-Pulse wine, so stay...please."
»»»»»»
How could I have forgotten that tone and the look in your eyes? A small part of me felt sorry for Alec. And then I let one night take away our hope in finding a cure. It's out there and we're going to find it. Tonight, we're going to plan how we're going to do that. You're going to admit the lie, Max. I'm certain now you lied about Alec. I should be angry - I'm angry, but angry at the situation that made you have to lie. Logan smiles grimly to himself and starts to walk towards the Mess hall.
--- --- --- --- ---
A street in Terminal City:
OC did a nice job on my nails. She nearly got me to have the hair done too, but that can wait. At least I got it washed. Smiling to herself, Max continues to walk, passing a few other X5s and other transgenics. She doesn't notice the glances from the men. Logan called to say he hoped to get a surprise for our meal. I wonder what he found. What could he find in here? I've no idea, but he seemed pretty sure he'd get whatever it was.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Max is sitting on the arm of the couch staring at the water running down the window from the falling rain.
Logan joins her. "You're not going to make me eat dinner all by myself, are you?"
"Do you think we did the right thing, Logan...by letting him take her back there?"
"You took her out of a bad situation, and you let her choose for herself."
"Yeah, I guess."
"How'd you leave it with Zack?"
With a sad half smile, "He grunted something that sounded like goodbye and then disappeared into the night," Max replies
"Well, you should cut him some slack. He probably had a rotten childhood."
"Worst part is he swung with Lydecker's ride. Tinted windows, class two armor...I could have fenced it for a fortune," she says, looking at Logan with a smile, then looking away. "He probably drove it off a bridge into the water somewhere so it couldn't be dusted for prints. He obsesses."
Max looks back at Logan quickly as he tells her, "You need to be more careful yourself, you know...'cause now Lydecker knows what you look like."
As they continue to look at each other Logan, smiles slightly. "So, are you hungry? I managed to get that surprise for dessert."
Smiling back, Max stands up. "So what is it?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it."
Rolling her eyes, Max walks into the dinning room, "So lets eat so I can taste the surprise," she says with a saucy grin on her face.
»»»»»»
Where you found fresh strawberries I'll never know, but they were fantastic. A small smile tugs at the corners of Max's full lips as she continues to walk but gradually the smile vanishes to be replaced by a sadly thoughtful look in her dark brown eyes. Most of our dinners have had some surprise, mostly good but some have ended really badly. It's the dinners that we've cancelled that have been the bitch. I've wondered why you got the idea that Alec and I were...the night at Crash you walked up and saw us arguing and grabbed my arm. Was that also why you came to my place and ended up seeing Alec leaving? The damn heat, if I hadn't cancelled that night...
»»»»»»
Flashback Max's and Original Cindy's Crib:
Max is pacing the apartment while Original Cindy is sitting on the couch watching her in concern.
"You gonna call him and cancel?"
"If I cancel, I'll have to explain why, and I'm not sure he can deal with that now, after my messing up the virus cure."
"Just tell him, he'll understand. You told him what happens and now with this bitch virus - he'll just have to deal with it."
"Thing is, OC, how do I deal with it? Logan and me, we've had our ups and downs. He walked away after we missed our chance recently..."
Original Cindy snorts in disgust at Logan's treatment of Max over the weeks after the temporary cure, and even though he rescued her from White at the hospital, it still didn't make up for dissing her home girl, because he walked away again when she needed him.
Holding up her hand at Original Cindy's reaction, Max continues, "But we've started to come to an understanding. Tonight was supposed to be the night we start planning on how to really deal with this virus and not forgetting White. Rescuing Ray proved we can still work together." Pausing for a moment in her pacing, Max stares out of the window as if remembering something. Turning, she begins to pace again. "After what Mia told us, we really want to find a permanent cure...this would have to be the night I go into heat...you've got to help me, OC, I don't want anything to happen," Max says, pleading with her friend even as she continues to pace, the fire of her condition burning in her.
The sudden ringing of the phone startles them both. Max is the first to recover and grabs the phone.
"Hello," she answers, her voice sultry.
"Hey you," she hears Logan say.
"Hey," she purrs, a heavy sexual undercurrent in that one word.
"I've managed to get a chicken, and I found a recipe for a really great stuffing, along with a bottle of pre–Pulse wine. That should get us in the right frame of mind to figure out how we are going to deal with White, and more importantly finding a cure."
"Logan..." Max says, shaking herself as she looks over at Original Cindy, who has gotten up and walked towards her.
"We're still on, right?"
"Logan, I've gone into heat...I can't come over it'll be too dangerous—"
"Max, I can handle it—"
"No, you can't, Logan, if I come over...I can't, okay!" Max shouts and slams the phone down. She walks over and sits down. Original Cindy sits back down and puts an arm around her friend as she begins to cry, her whole body shaking with the sobs and the suppressed tension.
»»»»»»
What could I've done? I needed to protect you. You never asked what happened - I never thought you'd even think I'd gone with Alec. OC made sure I stayed put that night...she never told me where she hid the spark plugs for my baby. She went through hell that night. I owe her big time for that. I guess Alec saving your life earlier made you change your mind about hating him. I'm glad, I owe him as well, so I guess it's time I 'fess up to my lie. I just hope you don't walk away, Logan, because I really need you. We need to find a cure - before I have to lie again...no, I'll never do that to you, it hurts too much.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Terminal City Mess Hall:
Walking in, Logan looks around for Max. Not seeing her, he is about to step outside again to wait for her when he notices Mole talking to a mixed group of transgenics, Wish I had an X5's hearing now. I wonder what he is planning?
Sensing Logan's stare, Mole looks over at him and stares back a challenge to come over or run.
If I walk out this door now, he'll think I'm running. Turning, Logan heads for the food queue, the bottle of wine held protectively in his hand in a grip that would have shattered a glass.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Outside the Mess Hall:
Max reaches the entrance and turns away from the door and back again, then hesitates, her hand half way to the handle.
Why is meeting Logan for dinner, even if it's only in the mess hall, making me so nervous? Shouldn't be - genetically engineered killing machines don't get nervous...we aren't supposed to fall in love either, if that's what this is. Not that I've ever been...in love. Hmmm, that sounds nice. Yeah, and you can still kill him. Turn around and walk away, Max, this is not going to end well. Turning from the door, Max then turns back. You've got to do this. There's no getting out of it, not if we're going to try and figure out how to find a cure...anyway, dinner sounds good. I'm hungry. Opening the door, Max walks in. I wonder how my baby is doing. I miss having her around. I really need to feel some speed at the moment. Another thing to add to the to do list – get bike for stress relief.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Inside Mess Hall:
Looking around the room, Max sees Alec standing off to one side watching the door and Logan, and in a corner Mole, with a mixed group of transgenics in deep conversation. Planning on how you can use my earlier collapse to your advantage Mole? Well, keep planning because the bitch is back on her feet and you're not getting what you want when I'm around. Nodding to Alec, who returns it, Max walks towards Logan who is standing in the food queue, a tray in one hand a bottle of wine clutched tightly in the other. You found wine in this place? You amaze me, Logan, you really do. Standing in front of Logan is a beautiful blonde X5. What the hell is going on here? Jealousy and anger well up in Max as she sees the blonde, with a sensual turn, begin to talk to Logan.
With his back to he door, a puzzled frown on his brow, Logan is unaware that Max has walked in. Despite his trying to watch for her entrance, this woman in front of him has somehow distracted him. She's pretty, but nothing on Max, but where is Max?
"So you're the ordinary that rescued Mole and the others at Jam Pony. That's very impressive. I like a man who's strong, brave and smart...you're rather handsome too. My name's Selina."
"Well, it wasn't me alone, Max was—"
Looking at Logan. "You mean 452? I heard she was the one that cocked things up in the first place and got Mole and Joshua trapped and CeCe killed. Heard you were the one who saved her." Selina slowly runs her tongue over her lips, then lasciviously runs her eyes over his tall body.
Logan seems oblivious to what is happening around him but all the male X5s are suddenly looking in their direction, and some of the females as well. No, it was Max who got us out, Where's Max? Has she bailed? Maybe Selina would like some wine...what's up with me?
Max heads for Logan and stops beside him and Selina. "Logan, you don't have to wait in line, you're part of the command center, you can go to the front." Her voice barely conceals her emotions. Logan what's up with you? What's wrong with me?
"Uh...Max, what did you say?"
Looking at Logan and rolling her eyes, "I said, you don't have to wait in line." Her voice now holds a note of exasperation as she tries to suppress her jealousy.
"It's okay; I have nothing pressing. Oh this is Selina, Selina, Max."
As the two women glare at each other, a subtle change takes place in their stances. Around them the tension in the mess hall goes up another notch. Realization hits Max at what's happening.
"Yes, I've heard about you, 452," Selina says, contempt coloring every word.
"It's Max, and if you don't mind, I have to speak with Logan privately."
"And what if I do?"
"Well, tough, you can just go find somebody else to scratch your itch with...this one's mine." Jeez, did I just say that? Logan doesn't realize this bitch is in heat...he's never experienced it. God, Logan, This is what it does to us - it makes us into animals. Come with me now, before something happens.
As Selina tenses to spring at Max, Alec steps between them, facing Selina.
"Hey, Sel. remember me?"
Instantly she refocuses her attention onto Alec. "Yeah I remember you, 494, I remember you very well. How you been?"
"Not bad. See you're keeping well." Behind his back, he signals to Max to get Logan and go.
"Well, a girl tries even in these times. You want some company?"
"Sure, Sel. Just name the time and place."
Max meanwhile has grabbed Logan by the sleeve with her gloved hand and pulled him out of the queue, putting a finger up to her lips to silence him, and out the door.
"How about now?" Selina asks, her tone even more sensual.
Looking around with a slight grin. "This is a little public for me, lets go to my place;" Alec answers, taking Selina by the arm and leading her in the opposite direction.
The tension in the mess hall drops and the volume level rises as the transgenics start talking at the same time about what just happened.
Mole standing off to one side shakes his head in disgust, while a thoughtful look comes over his face. Spitting out the stub of his cigar, he pulls out a fresh one and lights it.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Outside the Mess Hall:
Max is leaning against the wall, holding her sides and looking at the floor.
"Are you okay, Max, is it the runes?" concern evident in Logan's question.
Max shakes her head without answering.
"If it's not the runes, is it what just happened in there...in fact, what did just happen in there?"
Slowly Max raises her face to him, her eyes full of pain and shock, making them look like dead pools of brown. Her whole face has a look of devastation. Logan starts to step towards her. She stops him with a shake of her head.
"Logan...she...she was in heat...that's what it does to us...does to me...we can't control ourselves...we become animals," Max says, her voice an emotionless whisper.
Logan stands looking at Max, saying nothing, his face blank.
"Say something, Logan." A note of pleading creeping into her voice, Max continues to look up at him.
"What can I say Max? I know what you are, where you came from...but you've never let me see this side of you. I had no knowledge of what was going on—"
"How could I let you see this...this thing I become because I was cooked up in a lab?"
Shaking his head, "Because of what you become? Max, this is a part of you...if you and Alec hadn't shown up, I might've done something I'd have regretted, all because you are afraid of what you are," Logan says, regret at the fact that Max had not trusted him with this, mixed with anger at himself for doing something he had not wanted to. Why couldn't you trust me with this, Max...Why couldn't I have waited outside for you?
Max misses the regret, only hearing the anger in his voice, "So now it's my fault she was coming onto you, and you were responding," Max replies angrily, fury in her stance as she straightens from leaning against the wall.
"In a way, Max, you never let me have the chance—"
Max interrupts sarcastically with an undercurrent of sorrow. "Chance to what? Hump me when I'd no control...well, I'm sorry to have disappointed you. Maybe if you catch up with Alec and Selina, you can get a piece of the action." With that, she walks past Logan before he can answer.
"Max—" That's not what I was going to say or thinking. If you'd come to me the night of our anniversary, it would've been something we both wanted...the chance to be with someone who really loves you. I would've known what was happening now. Dammit, Max, I'd never have treated you like you think I would have. Others have learnt that you are the only one that matters to me. Shaking his head sadly. Logan walks away down the street the bottle of wine still held in his hand, any thoughts of dinner forgotten.
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TBC
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
A/N: Thanks always to Kasman for the betas, It's hard work to correct my grammar and keep me on the correct path. Thanks again to those who have read and to those who have reviewed. We are nearing the end now.
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Chapter 16 Dinner Can Wait
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Terminal City - Original Cindy's and Max's quarters:
"You and Logan are having what? Sounds like a date to me."
"It's not a date...we've been here before, haven't we?" Max says, with a smile. "But this is still not a date. Were only eating in the mess hall."
Nodding, Original Cindy reaches for a small manicure set. "Well, if that's what you have to tell yourself boo. Still let me do your nails and this dead straight hair thing - lets sort that out."
"Do the nails if you must, but the hair stays the way it is. I don't want to be attracting too much attention," Max says, a slightly sour look on her face. Not only will Logan notice, but every other person in there if I go in with my hair done in one of OC's creations...still it would be nice.
"You sure, boo? Because men notice these sorts of things, ya know."
Lost in her thoughts, "Yeah, he does," Max answers, not realizing that her face is now wreathed in delight at the thought of Logan's response to the perfume.
Seeing the look on Max's face, Original Cindy smiles to herself. Not a date, and not wanting to be noticed, he smelt the perfume and mentioned it. Girl, you still got it bad for Logan. I just hope there's a cure out there, otherwise you two are going to explode. Reaching for one of Max's hands, Original Cindy starts to file the nails and apply polish.
--- --- --- --- ---
A street near the Mess Hall:
Max has the hots for me? Sketchy was drunk, he wouldn't know anything about that, he was just fishing, although it was in her eyes if only for an instant in the infirmary. But what he said about Alec trying to hook up with somebody else? Did I see it wrong that day? Did Max lie to me, but why?
»»»»»»
Flashback, Logan's Apartment Kitchen:
Laughing at Logan's story about the Mayor. "Where'd you hear this touching story?" Max asks.
"I have my sources. Stir that for me, will you?" Indicating to a pot of sauce on the stove
"All right," she answers, walking over to the stove. "So this is what the Eyes Only Informant Net has been reduced to, huh? Trading information about crooked politicians' sex lives?"
"Well, you know, you can only fight corruption and injustice so many hours in the day. Every once in a while you gotta kick back."
Stirring the sauce, Max uses the spoon to taste it, "Mmm. This is great," and puts the spoon back into it.
"Thanks. It's a family—"
Turning around Logan sees what she has done. She notices his look and turns to look at the sauce.
"I can't believe I just did that."
"You know, it's okay, because if you just turn up the flame, heat kills pretty much anything," Logan says trying to reassure Max
Angrily dumping the sauce in the sink, "Salmonella, maybe, but not a Frankenstein virus targeted specifically to your DNA." Turning, Max looks at Logan. "You know, it's bad enough they made it so we can't touch. Now we can't even have dinner."
"You can still have some."
"I'm gonna go."
"Wait. We have bread; we have salad. I'm sure I can rustle something else up. Please," Logan says, trying to stop her.
"I can't do this. It's too hard," Max says, then walks out of the kitchen.
"Max!" Logan cries out, then chops the knife into the counter in frustration.
In the other room, Max is heading for the door but turns around. "My jacket." Going to pick up her jacket from the computer desk she sees Logan standing on the other side of the frosted, touching it. She touches the Perspex where his hand is, then turns and leaves. Logan sighs.
»»»»»»
It's this damn virus; she lied to me because of the damn virus. There was never anything between her and Alec. He knows she lied...he's tried to tell me but I've been so blind - I wouldn't listen and I couldn't see it. Dammit, Max, you didn't have to lie to me. We would've managed. Looking at the bottle of wine in his hand, Logan shakes his head.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
The table is set with candles and there is a bottle of pre-Pulse white wine from the Mosel sitting in a cooler. The delicious smell of cooking wafts through the apartment.
Max walks in and goes straight over to the couch. She sits down on the backrest, her hands clasped, a look of desperation and fear written on her face as she bites her lower lip.
"Hey you, thought we'd have a chicken in celebration...skip the sauces for awhile," Logan says trying to make light of the previous night's painful incident and near ending of their relationship. Hearing no answer he walks into the living room and sees Max's posture and the look on her face. A look of apprehension crosses his face. "What happened, Max?"
"I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, No matter what I do, Manticore finds a way to get back at me," Max says, still not looking at Logan.
"What happened, Max?" he repeats, stepping towards Max.
Jumping off the couch, Max starts to pace the room, keeping her distance from Logan. "I had to save...I couldn't let the bomb blow his fool head off, could I? Even though he tried to kill Joshua and me."
"Max, stop! Who tried to kill you and Joshua and why did they have a bomb in their head, and who did you save?" Logan asks, holding up his hands as if about to grab Max and stop her.
Seeing his gesture, Max stops her pacing and walks back to the couch, sitting back in her previous position. "White put a mini explosive in Alec's neck and had him hunting transgenics. He had to take their barcodes to prove he'd done it. He wanted to take Joshua's but he doesn't have one..." Seeing Logan's questioning look, she shrugs. "Something to do with him being first. Anyway, he attacked me but he couldn't do it. I don't know why." Taking a deep breath and letting it out Max finally looks Logan fully in the face. "I took him to the Manticore tech. He took out the explosive for the rest of the money and split town."
Logan stands there looking at Max, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Logan, say something, anything."
Sighing, Logan continues to stare at Max. "So, we don't have the cure, you want, that I want too, you know..." almost throwing back at her the words she had spoken to him.
"Logan...I had to I couldn't let him die...not like that. Don't think I'm ever getting over his costing us our last chance. I'll never forgive him, Logan, never." The passion in Max's last statement causes Logan to nod grimly.
"I better blaze." I've gotta work tomorrow. I'm sorry, Logan." Pausing as she passes Logan, who hasn't moved, "Joshua said that since Sandeman made us he could cure this virus. Funny thing is Renfro said something similar maybe there is hope."
As she continues to walk towards the door, Logan turns. "Max, we still have a dinner to eat and a lovely pre-Pulse wine, so stay...please."
»»»»»»
How could I have forgotten that tone and the look in your eyes? A small part of me felt sorry for Alec. And then I let one night take away our hope in finding a cure. It's out there and we're going to find it. Tonight, we're going to plan how we're going to do that. You're going to admit the lie, Max. I'm certain now you lied about Alec. I should be angry - I'm angry, but angry at the situation that made you have to lie. Logan smiles grimly to himself and starts to walk towards the Mess hall.
--- --- --- --- ---
A street in Terminal City:
OC did a nice job on my nails. She nearly got me to have the hair done too, but that can wait. At least I got it washed. Smiling to herself, Max continues to walk, passing a few other X5s and other transgenics. She doesn't notice the glances from the men. Logan called to say he hoped to get a surprise for our meal. I wonder what he found. What could he find in here? I've no idea, but he seemed pretty sure he'd get whatever it was.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Max is sitting on the arm of the couch staring at the water running down the window from the falling rain.
Logan joins her. "You're not going to make me eat dinner all by myself, are you?"
"Do you think we did the right thing, Logan...by letting him take her back there?"
"You took her out of a bad situation, and you let her choose for herself."
"Yeah, I guess."
"How'd you leave it with Zack?"
With a sad half smile, "He grunted something that sounded like goodbye and then disappeared into the night," Max replies
"Well, you should cut him some slack. He probably had a rotten childhood."
"Worst part is he swung with Lydecker's ride. Tinted windows, class two armor...I could have fenced it for a fortune," she says, looking at Logan with a smile, then looking away. "He probably drove it off a bridge into the water somewhere so it couldn't be dusted for prints. He obsesses."
Max looks back at Logan quickly as he tells her, "You need to be more careful yourself, you know...'cause now Lydecker knows what you look like."
As they continue to look at each other Logan, smiles slightly. "So, are you hungry? I managed to get that surprise for dessert."
Smiling back, Max stands up. "So what is it?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it."
Rolling her eyes, Max walks into the dinning room, "So lets eat so I can taste the surprise," she says with a saucy grin on her face.
»»»»»»
Where you found fresh strawberries I'll never know, but they were fantastic. A small smile tugs at the corners of Max's full lips as she continues to walk but gradually the smile vanishes to be replaced by a sadly thoughtful look in her dark brown eyes. Most of our dinners have had some surprise, mostly good but some have ended really badly. It's the dinners that we've cancelled that have been the bitch. I've wondered why you got the idea that Alec and I were...the night at Crash you walked up and saw us arguing and grabbed my arm. Was that also why you came to my place and ended up seeing Alec leaving? The damn heat, if I hadn't cancelled that night...
»»»»»»
Flashback Max's and Original Cindy's Crib:
Max is pacing the apartment while Original Cindy is sitting on the couch watching her in concern.
"You gonna call him and cancel?"
"If I cancel, I'll have to explain why, and I'm not sure he can deal with that now, after my messing up the virus cure."
"Just tell him, he'll understand. You told him what happens and now with this bitch virus - he'll just have to deal with it."
"Thing is, OC, how do I deal with it? Logan and me, we've had our ups and downs. He walked away after we missed our chance recently..."
Original Cindy snorts in disgust at Logan's treatment of Max over the weeks after the temporary cure, and even though he rescued her from White at the hospital, it still didn't make up for dissing her home girl, because he walked away again when she needed him.
Holding up her hand at Original Cindy's reaction, Max continues, "But we've started to come to an understanding. Tonight was supposed to be the night we start planning on how to really deal with this virus and not forgetting White. Rescuing Ray proved we can still work together." Pausing for a moment in her pacing, Max stares out of the window as if remembering something. Turning, she begins to pace again. "After what Mia told us, we really want to find a permanent cure...this would have to be the night I go into heat...you've got to help me, OC, I don't want anything to happen," Max says, pleading with her friend even as she continues to pace, the fire of her condition burning in her.
The sudden ringing of the phone startles them both. Max is the first to recover and grabs the phone.
"Hello," she answers, her voice sultry.
"Hey you," she hears Logan say.
"Hey," she purrs, a heavy sexual undercurrent in that one word.
"I've managed to get a chicken, and I found a recipe for a really great stuffing, along with a bottle of pre–Pulse wine. That should get us in the right frame of mind to figure out how we are going to deal with White, and more importantly finding a cure."
"Logan..." Max says, shaking herself as she looks over at Original Cindy, who has gotten up and walked towards her.
"We're still on, right?"
"Logan, I've gone into heat...I can't come over it'll be too dangerous—"
"Max, I can handle it—"
"No, you can't, Logan, if I come over...I can't, okay!" Max shouts and slams the phone down. She walks over and sits down. Original Cindy sits back down and puts an arm around her friend as she begins to cry, her whole body shaking with the sobs and the suppressed tension.
»»»»»»
What could I've done? I needed to protect you. You never asked what happened - I never thought you'd even think I'd gone with Alec. OC made sure I stayed put that night...she never told me where she hid the spark plugs for my baby. She went through hell that night. I owe her big time for that. I guess Alec saving your life earlier made you change your mind about hating him. I'm glad, I owe him as well, so I guess it's time I 'fess up to my lie. I just hope you don't walk away, Logan, because I really need you. We need to find a cure - before I have to lie again...no, I'll never do that to you, it hurts too much.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Terminal City Mess Hall:
Walking in, Logan looks around for Max. Not seeing her, he is about to step outside again to wait for her when he notices Mole talking to a mixed group of transgenics, Wish I had an X5's hearing now. I wonder what he is planning?
Sensing Logan's stare, Mole looks over at him and stares back a challenge to come over or run.
If I walk out this door now, he'll think I'm running. Turning, Logan heads for the food queue, the bottle of wine held protectively in his hand in a grip that would have shattered a glass.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Outside the Mess Hall:
Max reaches the entrance and turns away from the door and back again, then hesitates, her hand half way to the handle.
Why is meeting Logan for dinner, even if it's only in the mess hall, making me so nervous? Shouldn't be - genetically engineered killing machines don't get nervous...we aren't supposed to fall in love either, if that's what this is. Not that I've ever been...in love. Hmmm, that sounds nice. Yeah, and you can still kill him. Turn around and walk away, Max, this is not going to end well. Turning from the door, Max then turns back. You've got to do this. There's no getting out of it, not if we're going to try and figure out how to find a cure...anyway, dinner sounds good. I'm hungry. Opening the door, Max walks in. I wonder how my baby is doing. I miss having her around. I really need to feel some speed at the moment. Another thing to add to the to do list – get bike for stress relief.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Inside Mess Hall:
Looking around the room, Max sees Alec standing off to one side watching the door and Logan, and in a corner Mole, with a mixed group of transgenics in deep conversation. Planning on how you can use my earlier collapse to your advantage Mole? Well, keep planning because the bitch is back on her feet and you're not getting what you want when I'm around. Nodding to Alec, who returns it, Max walks towards Logan who is standing in the food queue, a tray in one hand a bottle of wine clutched tightly in the other. You found wine in this place? You amaze me, Logan, you really do. Standing in front of Logan is a beautiful blonde X5. What the hell is going on here? Jealousy and anger well up in Max as she sees the blonde, with a sensual turn, begin to talk to Logan.
With his back to he door, a puzzled frown on his brow, Logan is unaware that Max has walked in. Despite his trying to watch for her entrance, this woman in front of him has somehow distracted him. She's pretty, but nothing on Max, but where is Max?
"So you're the ordinary that rescued Mole and the others at Jam Pony. That's very impressive. I like a man who's strong, brave and smart...you're rather handsome too. My name's Selina."
"Well, it wasn't me alone, Max was—"
Looking at Logan. "You mean 452? I heard she was the one that cocked things up in the first place and got Mole and Joshua trapped and CeCe killed. Heard you were the one who saved her." Selina slowly runs her tongue over her lips, then lasciviously runs her eyes over his tall body.
Logan seems oblivious to what is happening around him but all the male X5s are suddenly looking in their direction, and some of the females as well. No, it was Max who got us out, Where's Max? Has she bailed? Maybe Selina would like some wine...what's up with me?
Max heads for Logan and stops beside him and Selina. "Logan, you don't have to wait in line, you're part of the command center, you can go to the front." Her voice barely conceals her emotions. Logan what's up with you? What's wrong with me?
"Uh...Max, what did you say?"
Looking at Logan and rolling her eyes, "I said, you don't have to wait in line." Her voice now holds a note of exasperation as she tries to suppress her jealousy.
"It's okay; I have nothing pressing. Oh this is Selina, Selina, Max."
As the two women glare at each other, a subtle change takes place in their stances. Around them the tension in the mess hall goes up another notch. Realization hits Max at what's happening.
"Yes, I've heard about you, 452," Selina says, contempt coloring every word.
"It's Max, and if you don't mind, I have to speak with Logan privately."
"And what if I do?"
"Well, tough, you can just go find somebody else to scratch your itch with...this one's mine." Jeez, did I just say that? Logan doesn't realize this bitch is in heat...he's never experienced it. God, Logan, This is what it does to us - it makes us into animals. Come with me now, before something happens.
As Selina tenses to spring at Max, Alec steps between them, facing Selina.
"Hey, Sel. remember me?"
Instantly she refocuses her attention onto Alec. "Yeah I remember you, 494, I remember you very well. How you been?"
"Not bad. See you're keeping well." Behind his back, he signals to Max to get Logan and go.
"Well, a girl tries even in these times. You want some company?"
"Sure, Sel. Just name the time and place."
Max meanwhile has grabbed Logan by the sleeve with her gloved hand and pulled him out of the queue, putting a finger up to her lips to silence him, and out the door.
"How about now?" Selina asks, her tone even more sensual.
Looking around with a slight grin. "This is a little public for me, lets go to my place;" Alec answers, taking Selina by the arm and leading her in the opposite direction.
The tension in the mess hall drops and the volume level rises as the transgenics start talking at the same time about what just happened.
Mole standing off to one side shakes his head in disgust, while a thoughtful look comes over his face. Spitting out the stub of his cigar, he pulls out a fresh one and lights it.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Outside the Mess Hall:
Max is leaning against the wall, holding her sides and looking at the floor.
"Are you okay, Max, is it the runes?" concern evident in Logan's question.
Max shakes her head without answering.
"If it's not the runes, is it what just happened in there...in fact, what did just happen in there?"
Slowly Max raises her face to him, her eyes full of pain and shock, making them look like dead pools of brown. Her whole face has a look of devastation. Logan starts to step towards her. She stops him with a shake of her head.
"Logan...she...she was in heat...that's what it does to us...does to me...we can't control ourselves...we become animals," Max says, her voice an emotionless whisper.
Logan stands looking at Max, saying nothing, his face blank.
"Say something, Logan." A note of pleading creeping into her voice, Max continues to look up at him.
"What can I say Max? I know what you are, where you came from...but you've never let me see this side of you. I had no knowledge of what was going on—"
"How could I let you see this...this thing I become because I was cooked up in a lab?"
Shaking his head, "Because of what you become? Max, this is a part of you...if you and Alec hadn't shown up, I might've done something I'd have regretted, all because you are afraid of what you are," Logan says, regret at the fact that Max had not trusted him with this, mixed with anger at himself for doing something he had not wanted to. Why couldn't you trust me with this, Max...Why couldn't I have waited outside for you?
Max misses the regret, only hearing the anger in his voice, "So now it's my fault she was coming onto you, and you were responding," Max replies angrily, fury in her stance as she straightens from leaning against the wall.
"In a way, Max, you never let me have the chance—"
Max interrupts sarcastically with an undercurrent of sorrow. "Chance to what? Hump me when I'd no control...well, I'm sorry to have disappointed you. Maybe if you catch up with Alec and Selina, you can get a piece of the action." With that, she walks past Logan before he can answer.
"Max—" That's not what I was going to say or thinking. If you'd come to me the night of our anniversary, it would've been something we both wanted...the chance to be with someone who really loves you. I would've known what was happening now. Dammit, Max, I'd never have treated you like you think I would have. Others have learnt that you are the only one that matters to me. Shaking his head sadly. Logan walks away down the street the bottle of wine still held in his hand, any thoughts of dinner forgotten.
--------------------
TBC