Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!
For lack of a better title:
CHRISTMAS
"Hey!" Max dropped her wet jacket on one of the high island counters in Logan's kitchen, ignoring the disapproving glance he sent her. "What are you doing? Getting ready for Christmas?"
Logan shrugged, his eyes still on the sandwich he was just preparing. Wasn't it quite obvious he tried to ignore the holiday season? There was no tree, no decoration, no lights, no…Christmas related stuff anywhere in his apartment. "Not much into it," he explained, trying to sound indifferent.
Max raised her eyebrows. To her Christmas had never been a big deal, Manticore hadn't exactly been huge on those traditions and besides, she had never had a family or any people close enough to celebrate it with. She only had an idea of what she had missed out on, nothing that hurt too bad. But Logan? He had grown up in a normal family, she was sure his parents had loved him. He had sure had wonderful Christmases as a kid. But who was she to push him? He would only pull up his guards; and pissy Logan was something she didn't want to deal with- not on Christmas. "Me neither."
Logan looked up, staring into the distance, caught in memories. "When I was a kid it used to be special. We'd go out to get a tree on Christmas Eve, it as the only day my dad wouldn't go to work, decorate it together, have dinner and the next morning there would be present under the tree." He smiled. "I always woke my parents at the break of dawn so I could open them."
"Sounds nice." She offered, feeling a little insecure about Logan getting all sentimental.
"It's been a long time ago." His eyes focused again and his jaw tightened.
Max took a step towards him, for a moment she had felt the need to hug him, to offer him some solace- he had seemed so lost. When she had reached him, the feeling was gone. Instead, she peered over his shoulder at the sandwiches that disappeared into a big brown bag. "Why did you beep me anyway?"
"I need you do me a favour."
"Heard that one before…," she mumbled good-humouredly.
"Anyway," Logan continued. "I need you, as a Jam Pony Messenger to take this to one of my safe houses."
"Fancy Christmas dinner for the downtrodden, I see."
"Max!"
"No big dealio, I'll drop it off right away." She grabbed the bag. "Mind if I take one? Just one, you know, not like I can have a regular lunch break now that I need to…"
"Here." He held out another bag. "Enough for you and your friends."
"Cool." Max grinned at him gratefully.
"And, uhm, Max. If you don't have any plans for tonight…"
"I'll be here at seven. See ya!"
Logan watched as she disappeared around the corner, leaning back in his chair. She truly was the only thing that made his days worth living them. The world just seemed so much brighter the moment she showed up.
ooooxxxxoooo
2 hours later
"Have you seen the occupants of your safe house?" Max leaned against the desk, her hands on her hips.
"Excuse-me?"
"Do you know who is there?"
"Of course I do." Logan looked at her in confusion then back at his screen. "Joshua, Jason and Amy Littrell. They need to go into witness protection, but their parents have yet to be heard at court. They are in police custody until then- they had no place for their kids to go and be safe."
"Have you seen the kids?"
"No. Why?"
"It's Christmas." Max stated.
"I know." He still didn't get her point.
"Logan, those kids are trapped in an almost empty apartment without their parents on Christmas. They are scared to death, have no tree, no warm food, no presents. Do you get the picture?"
"Okay, Max. But this is an extreme situation. Of course it's not perfect timing, but we don't have much of a choice here."
"Remember what you told me earlier today? About your memories? Those kids will only have bad memories- and believe me, that's not fun."
"I know, but…" Logan pivoted his chair slightly and looked up at Max in helplessness.
"Would you like to have a Christmas like it used to be?" Her eyes glinted.
"What do you mean?"
"I have the rest of the day off. We leave now, pick up the kids, get a tree, decorate it, have dinner- the whole deal."
"We can't do that, Max."
"Why not?"
"Because." He raised his eyebrows as if he was stating the obvious. Of course, he felt sorry for the kids, but this was not his responsibility.
"Give me one good reason."
"We are strangers to them."
"They already know me, and we got along great. What else?"
"It's dangerous! We're hiding them so they can get away with their lives! I can't just go there, take them to the market and have a merry Christmas with them! I promised their parents to take care of them!" He swallowed. "I can't break that promise again." He looked down, his fingers playing with the rims of his wheelchair. "I can't."
Max bit her lip and then sank down so she was on eye level with him. "Logan, the kids are safe here. Nobody knows they are even in Seattle. And I'm here, I promise that nothing's gonna happen to them."
"I don't know, Max."
"Okay, tell you what. We forget about picking out a tree together. I'll take care of that. And then we will go over and spend the evening there."
"Doesn't work either." Logan gave back and at Max's questioning look he elaborated. "You were there. Remember the at least six flights of stairs? No elevator."
"So we will bring them here. It's just one sector, no big deal. We'll wait till it's dark."
Logan looked at her for a long moment, contemplating. He was the one responsible for the safety of the kids, but Max was right. She was the perfect bodyguard, nobody knew the kids were here, and he also knew how it felt to be without parents on Christmas. He had been there.
Max waited patiently, she knew this was his decision to make, and she promised herself she would accept no matter what he said.
"Okay, but you need to stay the night as well. Just to be on the save side." Logan sighed. "I hope we're doing the right thing."
"We are!" Max hugged him out of an impulse. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Logan stuttered. It wasn't the first time she had hugged him, but every single time it set his whole heart on fire and he lost all common sense. He wanted to take her into a tight embrace and never let her go. He missed human touch, ever since the accident there weren't many people around, and affection wasn't something he was comfortable with. But Max…she was different. Somehow he thought she might accept or even understand all his insecurities- if only he could muster up the courage to tell her. He knew he sometimes reacted cold and pushed her away, and every single time he wished he could make it undone. She didn't deserve it. And still he couldn't help himself. It was just a reaction, based on all his shortcomings and fears.
"Logan? Come on! Let's go. We need to get a tree!" Max had waved her hand in front of his eyes without getting a reaction. Only when she put her hand on his shoulder, he returned to the here and now.
"What?"
"Come on," Max laughed. "You've been day dreaming!"
"Sorry. Just let me grab my jacket," he mumbled, flushing and hoping Max didn't notice.