Hormones

By: lfbrox

Rating: R

Timeframe: A couple of month after Freak Nation. Logan can of course walk.

AN: Alrighty. One week as promised. Thanks to the guys who reviewed and everybody else who read the last chapter. I hope you like this one. Again not beta-read, cause my incredible beta is still trying to get smarter. So study on my friend. Now on with it:

Reposting

This time it is the beta-read version. Thanks to my wonderful beta Sammi, who came back from the dead to help me finish this story with style.

Chapter 19: And the plot thickens

He sat there for a long time debating in his head what to do. Then finally something seemed to snap in him. He dug inside the pocket of his coat and retrieved the scrambling device, attached it to his cell phone and dialed the only number he could think of dialing.

Safe house, New Westminster

They still sat there in silence. Still naked. Still intimately joined. Still perplexed. Neither could find words. But what were they to say? Whoops. My bad. Let's wait and see what happens? Shit! Fuck! What?

After long minutes Logan placed his hands on Max's hips and squeezed gently to get her attention.

"Max?" Logan tried after not getting a reaction from her.

"What?" Max whispered, but she still seemed preoccupied.

"Ahm. I don't know what to say." Logan finally said. "What do you think?"

"I'm thinking that it's the worst timing ever. But I don't think that the timing would ever be right. I'm the leader of Terminal City and currently I can't even go there to do my job because I have a secret government agency on my ass trying to kill me. And if we get back someday then I'll still be the leader of a toxic sector full of transgenics. And you. Well. I don't think it was on your life's agenda to impregnate a genetically engineered killing machine." Max spoke, her gaze still fixed on the wall. "This sucks so much Logan."

"Max, hey. Look at me." Logan said and sat up to face her. "Baby. We're not even sure that you are pregnant and if you are then we will find a way. We don't have to stay in Terminal City. Someone else can take over the job." Logan reasoned.

"Logan. I'm the one who let them out. I'm responsible for them and for their actions. Just because I've found something better in life doesn't mean that I can just let them fight for themselves." Max interrupted Logan.

"Something better, huh?" Logan asked, a smile appearing on his face the first time since they started talking. "You mean having a baby with me and leaving Terminal City with me to start a family? I like how you think." Logan teased, wrapping his arms around her.

"Yes it would be better. I never dared to think about it. Dared to think that I could live a normal life, have my own family and live happily ever after and such crap. I never dared to dream about all that because it would have been a waste of time anyways. I cannot have a normal life. I can't turn my back on where I'm from and who I am and what I did. It's just not gonna happen Logan. And as much as I wished it could be that way, we just can't have the Disney version." Max explained and hugged him back so he wouldn't see the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"Max. Shhh baby. It's gonna be okay." Logan soothed her and rubbed her back. "We're gonna find a way." He pushed her back a little to look at her face. When he saw the tears that were running down her face he leaned forward and gently kissed them away, all the while whispering to her that everything was gonna be alright. When she stopped crying he let her hug him again. He nuzzled his nose in her neck and moved his mouth to her ear, kissing her neck gently as he went this way.

"I love you Max. Just a few days ago when you left me alone to get ice I lay in bed thinking about how perfect this is, what we have. Maybe not in a conventional kina way, but for us it is perfect. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and you aren't there and I'm scared for a second that it might have all been the best dream I have ever had and now I've woken up. Every time I see you, you take my breath away. You are the most beautiful person that I have ever met - on the inside and outside – and I can't believe that I'm the lucky guy who gets to hold you, kiss you, help you and be there for you. I don't want to lose that."

This time it was Max who pushed him back a little to look at him. "Logan Cale. Please tell me you are not proposing to me?" Max asked in shock. After listening to Logan's speech she wasn't sure where this would lead and she wasn't sure what she was going to say if he actually proposed to her.

"Ahm. I didn't plan to. But if that's what you want, I mean now with the baby and all…." Logan stuttered, not sure if she wanted him to or if she was trying to stop him from asking.

"No. No Logan. I don't want you to propose to me right now. And especially not because of the baby…."

"Max. I wouldn't do it because of the baby." Logan interrupted her, needing to make it clear to her that he wanted to stay with her forever – baby or not.

"I know Logan. I just think we have a lot on our plate already. Bad guys, baby, some more bad guys. I don't think we have time to plan a wedding. Besides. If - no -when you propose to me I want it a little more romantic than this." Max admitted and pointed to their naked, sweaty bodies.

"Are you going all girly on me?" Logan teased and leaned in for a long kiss that reminded him of something.

"Ahm Max." He breathed against her mouth, his hands roaming her body. "Now that the damage is done. You think we could finish what we stared earlier?"

"If you're up for it." Max grinned and wiggled her hips, noticing that Logan was indeed way up for it.

TerminalCity Headquarters:

After Jesse dropped off Clemente's wife and kids at the safe house, he had rushed back to TC to help Dix and his hacker team in finding out where Alec, Syl, Clemente and Mole would enter the US.

"Anything?" He asked Dix as he ran up the stairs to the communication terminal.

"Sung said they have the borders under special surveillance, also the airport and the harbor. If they have taken a plane then I suppose they would be here already. We know that they have rented a car, but that might have been just to trick everybody into believing they took the car to cross the border. So my guess is they took a boat before the Manticore guys started searching every ship." Dix replied while trying to find out what ships had left in the past 12 hours and which one of them was heading to Seattle.

"Good. Then I guess we get a team together and head for the harbour. Never know when they gonna get there and how many Manticore guys are already waiting for them." Jesse said and looked around to see who of the 'normal' looking transgenics would volunteer to come along.

On the boat:

"Would you watch were you put your big feet." Alec hissed at Mole who was constantly stepping on his foot or 'accidentally' ramming his elbow in his ribcage.

After some looking around they found a box that was easy to open and just big enough to fit them all. But after 1 hour of waiting in there the space seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.

"If you hadn't insisted on this box then we would have already been unloaded and on our way back to TC." Mole growled back. They had argued a little whether to take a box that was so far in the back of the ship, but in the end had decided, that it would be safer so they could see if the boxes were being checked by Manticore goons or not.

"Would you guys shut up already? Let's just be quiet and wait till we're on the dock." Syl ordered and tried to find a spot that was more comfortable. I'm so glad once we're back in TC. I guess it'll be a while till I want to hang out with those guys again. Syl thought and closed her eyes only to snap them back open when she felt the box being grabbed by a crane that lifted their box off the ship.

Warehouse outside of Seattle

"I don't know Vic. There's really not so much digging around I can do without being detected." Agent Otto Gottlieb answered.

"But you work for Agent White and the NSA, Otto. Director Renfro mentioned him a couple of times, saying what a failure he was in capturing 452. So I thought there might be a link. Renfro said something about 452's genetic code that was important to her and a special, secret project called "Project Unicorn". And that they didn't try to capture her at the Jam Pony hostage crisis to resolve the Terminal City situation, but to enter a new stage in their project. White was there too, and he specifically tried to capture 452. There must be a link." Victor replied with a little desperation in his voice. Otto Gottlieb, an old friend and NSA agent, was the only one he could think of calling without getting himself killed.

"Why do you wanna know that anyway Vic? So what if you find out that they want 452 for a secret Manticore Project?" Otto asked, not sure why Victor was so interested in this and trying not to get into too much trouble.

"I don't know. I just have the feeling that something bad is going to happen. Something really bad. And a lot more lives are at stake than ours if they find us digging up some info. And if we find something out and can show evidences then maybe we will be able to stop this." Victor answered truthfully.

"Stop what?" Otto asked, not sure if he wanted to believe in Victors conspiracy theory.

"That's what we have to find out Otto. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Something strange is going on, and Renfro and White are involved. It's a step further from the stuff Manticore used to do. Do me a favor and try to find out as much as you can. I have the bad feeling that this is a global thing here." Victor said, trying to convince Otto.

"I'll see what I can do but I cannot promise you anything. If something is really going on, we have to be extremely careful. If they find out that we're on to them then we're dead faster than we can say 'no sir'. I'll do my best." Victor explained, now concerned himself.

"I appreciate it Otto. But I have the feeling that we don't have that much time left. Thanks. Call me on a secure line once you've found out something." Vic said and cut the connection. He took a deep breath contemplating if he did the right thing calling Otto. But what was he supposed to do? Sit, watch and wait till something unstoppable is going to happen? He stuffed the cell phone and the 'borrowed' scrambling device in his pocket and opened the door of his car and moved with quick steps back to the command center.

Safe house, New Westminster

Max lay in Logan's arms, sweat slicked and trying to regain her breathing. Logan was beyond bliss, holding Max and listening to two hearts calming down from their raging beating.

"Can we still do that once you are this big?" Logan asked, still out of breath and pretending to embrace a pregnant Max.

"Don't know. Why don't we find out?" Max replied and snuggled a little closer to Logan. She was more than happy. She was delirious. She's never been happier in her life. But of course she wouldn't say that to anybody. Logan still wanted her. And their baby. Our baby, Max thought smiling to herself.

"Can I ask you something?" Logan asked and ripped her out of her pleasant thoughts.

"Mmmh." Max answered sleepily.

"How come you can run for miles, or kick an army's ass without breaking a sweat and without having trouble breathing and here you are, exhausted, sweaty and catching your breath after – and I have to say – amazing sex. How come?" Logan asked, pride and amusement in his voice.

Max didn't expect that question and had never actually spend a thought on that herself. She shifted a little in his embrace so she was able to look at him, suddenly not so sleepy anymore.

"Huh. I don't know. I never really thought about that." Max started. "I guess we weren't designed for this kind of exercise. At Manticore they weren't big on the sex front. You know, breeding and all. It was purely for reproductive purposes."

Logan heard the sadness creep into Max's voice and hugged her closer. "That doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Good thing you met me." He joked to lighten the mood. Max gently reached for his head and pulled him in a long kiss.

"Yeah. A very good thing."

Seattle Harbor

"Around here." Syl mouthed to the group behind her and signaled to the huge boxes that were lined up on the docks. Mole, who was right behind her, Clemente and finally Alec nodded and ducked down to sneak through the boxes and get away from the docks.

Jesse and a group of 'normal' looking transgenics were waiting a mile away from the dock looking out for their guys or any form of military presence.

"You see anything?" The young X4 asked Jesse.

"The boat is still unloading. It came from Vancouver, but they could be in any or the boxes – if they actually are on a ship." Jesse answered and used his enhanced eyesight to zoom in to the docks. "I don't see Manticore anywhere either. Let's just hope that's luck and not that they have found them. We better check in with Dix." Jesse said and grabbed the cell phone.

Warehouse outside of Seattle

Victor sat in his chair, sensing that Renfro would be out any second to get an update. Thing was, there was no real update. All Manticore teams that were available, or were made available with Renfro's threatening, were on the search for one person. And the more time passed, the less likely it was to ever capture her. But Renfro wouldn't hear any of that, so he continued monitoring the troops, changing some plans here and there if need be.

Since his phone call with Otto he had been too nervous to focus on anything but Renfro's secret project and the search for 452. He hoped that he could still trust Otto and that no one would find out about their private investigations. He was so lost in thought that he almost jumped off his chair when his pager got off. He didn't need to check who it was. He didn't have friends or family who could page him on his private pager, so it could only be Otto. He hadn't expected him to answer so quickly, so either the project wasn't so secret at the NSA or things had gone sideways.

But Victor didn't have a lot of time to worry about things because he saw the doors slide open and Renfro roll out. Great. Just Great. Calm down Victor. He told himself and pretended to be calm and in control.

"Director Renfro, Ma'am." Victor said and stood at attention.

"At ease. Give me an update." Renfro said and stopped a few feet away from him, so she didn't have to look up to Victor – something Renfro wouldn't do.

"All troops are on the move, ma'am. They're circling the target areas inward. So far no sightings. Airports, harbors and border-crossings are under surveillance. They have no chance to leave Canada. Ma'am." Victor reported and waited eagerly for a response. Maybe he should try to get some more information from Renfro about 'project unicorn' but he didn't want to push it and appear suspicious.

"Damn. They've got to be somewhere. Keep on searching. I don't think I have to tell YOU how important that is." Renfro said, and without waiting for an answer – which doubtlessly would have been a 'Yes ma'am' – returned to her quarters.

Victor let out a breath, grabbed his jacket and without excusing himself left the command center.

Seattle harbor:

"Mole, get down." Syl hissed and pulled on his sleeve to get him to duck again.

"Was just checking." Mole said in defense. "No Manticore troops as far as I can tell."

"I bet they still think we're in Canada. Now it probably wouldn't be so easy to get on a boat in Vancouver." Clemente explained, now a little bit more at ease, so close from home.

"We just make it behind that warehouse over there and find a payphone. Then we call Terminal City and will soon be on our way to a hot shower, clean clothes and a cold drink." Alec suggested with one of his typical smirks.

"Sounds great." Mole said and bumped fists with Alec. But as soon as they realized that they were in the middle of a fight they turned away from one another, slightly embarrassed.

Syl rolled her eyes at this immature gesture. "Believe me guys. I need a drink myself after those past days with you." Syl said and started to sneak towards the warehouse.

AN: There you go. Another update. So. Did you like it? Hate it? Lemme know. Next Thursday I'll be back.

Lfbrox