Chapter 5: It's all About Her

"Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in this city. I realise that this is the first you have heard from me in along time and for this I apologise. Unfortunately this is not a return to arms for Eyes Only; tonight I address one particular young woman. I will not use names, she know who she is. Please, if you are listening, come home…I need to see you. At the very least let me know that you are ok. I want you to know that I miss you and that I…well I want you back. Thank you for listening, peace out."

That was it; Logan had played his last card. He hadn't wanted to broadcast his plea across the nation, but his network of contacts had so far not even found the slightest trace of Max's whereabouts. Lounging back in his leather chair, Logan knew he had done the right thing. What else could he do? His mind and body were withering away as he put himself through daily rituals of torment, obsessing over Max and the fact that he didn't even know if she was alive let alone where she was. This was his last hope; hopefully Max had seen the message and would contact him in the next few days. If not then he would be done, he knew he couldn't take the pain of another failure. The end was near, one way or another.

Logan turned his computer off and, with a bottle of scotch in hand, staggered across to a battered brown armchair that sat next to a large Victorian style fireplace. The fire was dying and so Logan reached across and grabbed a log from a wicker basket that sat next to a second armchair across from his. He placed the log on the remaining embers and the flames immediately came to life, licking and curling around the log's mass. Feeling a warm glow on his face, Logan sat back and closed his eyes. She must have seen it, he thought, that broadcast had gone out to the entire nation. Anyone who had been watching TV at the time would have had their viewing pleasure interrupted for the sake of his troubled heart. That didn't matter to Logan of course, finding Max was all he cared about now. He took a sip of his scotch and felt the liquid burn as it washed down his throat.

Reaching into the pocket of his unwashed cream trousers, Logan fished out a worn photograph. Leaning forward he stared at it intently. There she was right in front of him, like a ghost from his past staring right back into his sad eyes. A solitary tear ran down his cheek, splashing on the wooden floor as it fell to earth. "I love you", he said quietly. Logan finished his scotch and wiped his eyes before falling back into the chair letting it engulf his aching body. He clutched the picture of Max tightly to his chest. There was no sound except for the gentle crackling of the fire and the heavy sound of his breathing. "I love you Max", he said again before finally his mind gave in and he drifted off to sleep.

"Logan", a gentle voice snaked into his head. "Logan are you ok?"

"What?" he murmured back, still half asleep. He then felt an arm on his shoulder, gently shaking him, encouraging him to wake. Opening his eyes, he saw the slim figure of Asha standing in front of him.

"Hey, the door was open so I let myself in."

"What time is it?" Logan stifled a yawn, his body still trying to catch up to the fact that it was awake.

"It's just gone past ten", Asha replied before sitting in the opposite armchair. Logan slowly sat up, feeling a stinging pain crawl up his side; an unfortunate side effect of being shot twice. Rubbing his eyes clean of the remnants of sleep, Logan looked across at Asha. She was sitting forward, her hands clasped in front of her. She had dresses casual as usual, wearing a red hooded top and black combat trousers that were worn at the bottom from dragging on the floor. Her hair was longer, now reaching down to her shoulders, and it seemed to be paler. Her face hadn't changed though, still quietly innocent in its beauty.

"So what can I do for you?" He asked. Looking at her feet, Asha seemed reluctant, as if she had a secret she wasn't willing to share.

"Asha?" Logan tried to encourage her. She looked up, her eyes catching his.

"Its more what I can do for you", she said at last.

"What do you mean?"

"It's about Max."

The sound of her name caused Logan to jolt upright, the glass that had been resting in his lap now spilling onto the floor. It didn't break, just landing with a thud before rolling toward the fireplace, which was now providing the only light as night had set in. Logan tried to calm himself before he spoke:

"What about Max?"

"I know where she is."

Logan's mind suddenly came alive at this news, every sense now awake and alert eager to obtain the knowledge he craved day in and day out. His face now deeply interested in what she had to say; Asha decided to continue.

"She's currently living in a small town called Greenough, its just south of the Canadian border."

"How do you know this?" Logan inquired, now desperately trying to stop hope from taking over completely. He was just too used to things going wrong and would not allow himself to be exposed to the pain of disappointment again.

"Alec phoned me…"

"Alec?" Logan interrupted, a little confused.

"Yeah Alec's known where Max has been since they left Terminal City." This news caused a swell of anger in Logan and a little jealousy bubbled up with it.

"The why the hell didn't he say something earlier!" he cried.

"Because he thought you were dead", Asha replied calmly anticipating this response. "I'm sorry Logan, but they all thought you were dead…even Max. Why do you think she hasn't contacted you yet? Alec said she's been living like a recluse under the false belief that everyone she cares about is either gone or…dead."

Logan ran a hand through his thick hair. Max thought he was dead. Max thought he was dead; he ran the thought through his head once more. He had always considered this as a possibility, he even sometimes thought he was dead, but to hear it out loud made it a matter of fact. He let out a long, deep sigh.

"Look it doesn't matter now. Fact is, Alec knows where Max is and he's going to bring her home." Asha said, trying to ease Logan's mind.

"Well if Alec thought I was dead, why did he call you? Fishing for a date?" Asha let out a small laugh.

"No he wanted to know whether you were in fact dead."

"Why?" Logan was confused again.

"He's found a doctor, well scientist, who can cure Max of the virus that's bugged you guys for so long. He wanted to make sure you were alive before he told Max you know."

This news caused another surge inside Logan. Not only did he know where Max was, but the main obstacle that had kept them apart for so long could now be removed. It was as if god had finally taken notice and answered all of Logan's prayers. Feelings his body begin to tremble, Logan dropped out of the chair and onto his knees. Letting out the odd laugh, tears began to pour from his eyes in one continuous stream of relief and gratitude. It was as if all the pain from the past year was being vented from his body, his wounds releasing all the misery that had haunted him for so long. There was nothing now but the sheer euphoria cursing violently through his veins.

Asha dropped down next to Logan and placed a hand tenderly on his shoulder.

"Are you ok?" she asked softly. Logan began to laugh, his eyes bleary and bloodshot. He wrapped his arms tightly around Asha's frail frame, burying his head in her shoulder. She welcomed him and slowly rubbed his back in an attempt to comfort him.

This was the one place that Asha wanted to be; in Logan's arms. She loved him, but she knew his heart had always and would always belong to Max. Despite this, she had always maintained hope that maybe one day they would end up together. Some divine intervention driving him away from his beloved Max and into her waiting arms. Asha had thought that with Max gone, Logan would grow to love her. However after this past year, that hope had become a distant dream as she watched Logan become swallowed by despair. She had seen the full extent of what losing Max would do to him. Now, sitting in his arms, Asha realised that for Logan it was all about Max. She knew now that his heart and his soul belonged to one person and that no force on this earth would ever change that.

Alec had actually called Asha two weeks ago and so would probably already be with Max sharing the good news. This meant that it was entirely possible that they would arrive back in Seattle the next day. Asha decided not to share this fact with Logan, knowing full well that he would hate her for not putting him out of his misery when she first had the chance. She had wanted to tell him sooner but that part of her that struggled to maintain hope for herself and Logan had convinced her not to. Asha had finally given in though; she loved him enough to let him go.

After a few minutes, Logan pulled away from Asha. He felt a little foolish now, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Sorry I…I just couldn't hold it in." His throat felt dry and the words seemed to stutter.

"It's ok…I understand." Asha offered a false smile to disguise the pain that her own realisation had brought.

"So, do you know when they are coming back?" Logan spoke quickly, eager to leave his moment of weakness trailing in the past.

"Possibly tomorrow or maybe the day after."

Logan's heart skipped a beat. One more night and that would be it. He didn't know what the future held for Max and himself; whether they would be together, but at least he could see her again. For one bright moment he could feel like a whole person, he could be complete.

"God I feel stupid now", Logan said, raising his eyebrow and letting a smile spread across his tired face.

"Don't be. I won't pretend that I know what you've been through this past year, but I …I know how you feel about Max and I understand."

Logan looked at Asha, "Thank you", he said placing his hand on hers. Again Asha felt the pain of unrequited love.

"It's ok", she lied, desperately trying to hold back the tears that were now building in her eyes. She knew she had to get out of here and away from Logan otherwise she was going to burst.

"Well I better be off." Asha rose to her feet and Logan followed suit.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm tired and there's stuff I should take care of." She moved to the door before turning back to look at Logan.

"I'm sure you two will be very happy together…god knows you deserve it."

"Thank you Asha", Logan smiled at her grateful for her support. She smiled back before opening the door and stepping out into the cold night air.

Suddenly her mobile rang. Reaching into her bag she grabbed it and answered:  "hello."

"Hey Asha", it was Alec.

"Alec…hey"

"Well did you tell him?" he asked.

"Yeah…"

"How did he take? Did he jump for joy, do a little dance and you know…make an arse of himself?"

Asha let out a sigh of regret, "he started crying." Alec began to laugh.

"Oh god are you shitting me that must have been priceless!"

"Don't be such an asshole", Asha said, angered that Alec was trivialising the pain Logan had been through.

"I'm sorry it's just…never mind. Look I should arrive at Max's in the next four or five hours so we should be back tomorrow night as planned."

"Ok."

"Yeah, so tell lover boy that he should have something special waiting for our Max. I have a feeling that tomorrow may be the best day of their lives." Alec laughed again before hanging up.

Letting her heart and her arm drop, Asha spoke out loud: "Yeah, you're probably right." With that she trudged slowly into the night.

She had not been walking for more than ten minutes, when Asha felt an uneasiness creep over her. There was still a fair distance until she reached her flat and she was annoyed that paranoia had sunk in so early. It would be a horrendous journey back through the dark, litter strewn streets as anything and everything would now be a potential danger to Asha. Shaking herself down in an attempt to re-assure herself that she was just being silly, Asha proceeded onwards at a brisk pace.

After another couple of minutes, she again felt an icy chill on the back of her neck. She could swear that someone was watching her but all she had to go on was the feeling of their eyes on her body. Looking around, Asha noticed she was in a rather nasty looking alley. During the day it seemed nice enough but now, shrouded in darkness, it was extremely foreboding. Covered in grime, the path was narrow with two high rise warehouses on either side. There was the odd puddle here and there and a gentle layer of steam drifted a few feet above the ground.

Like a tunnel of doom, Asha thought to herself as she grudgingly walked forward. She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Shocked, she spun around ready to defend herself from her attacker. When her eye's focused, she was relieved to see a young blonde woman and not the bald-headed, knife wielding, drooling maniac she had expected.

"Jesus, you scared me!" Asha's voice revealed her apparent relief.

"Well yes…that was the idea", the young woman replied giving her a quick smile. Asha's face tightened in confusion.

"What?" she said shaking her head. The reply Asha got was not what she had expected: the petit blonde struck her across the jaw, tearing her lip open, releasing a casual stream of blood as Asha's head snapped back. Sprawling on the ground, Asha looked up as her unlikely attacker leapt on top of her and peered into her face.

"You know bitch, you might just be what we're looking for." The woman smile again before driving her fist once more into Asha's face. This time the lights went out completely.

Back in his small house, Logan was pacing up and down with a new bounce in his step. He stopped and looked at the bottle of scotch lying next to the chair. He picked it up and smiled before putting it in the bin. The dark chapter of his life would soon be over and the next one would be a new beginning. Tomorrow he would see Max again and could tell her all the things he had wanted to say for so long. He would let her know that she was what held his soul, his entire being together and that he would never let her out of his life again. This thought filled Logan with hope. Somehow he felt that from now on, everything was going to be ok.