"We are going to give it a shot."

"I expected that. Want to begin right away?"

"There's no time like the present." Logan forced a smile on his face and followed Dr. Shawn to an empty room.

Max couldn't help but wach him walk. She felt so sorry for him, knowing how hard that was. Being able to walk meant almost everything to him, the ony thing that mattered more was her.

Logan sat down and watched Dr Shawn prepare everything.

"I'm going to clean your blood by sending it through this machine. He held up a small box, not much bigger than a walkman. To be on the safe side we'll wash it twice, so the procedure might take about six to seven hours. As for the paralysis, I honestly don't know hat's going to happen."

"That's Ok, it's my problem." Logan was pale and Max could barely resist the urge to bend down and hold him tight. Instead she grabbed his gloved hand.

Dr. Shawn came over. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Together they watched the darkred blood run through the tube.

"You might start to feel tired and dizzy as you will constantly lack about one and a half litres of blood. Let me know when you start to feel really sick, then we'll slow things down a bit."

"OK."

Logan grew pale and closed his eyes more and more often until he finally fell into a restless sleep. And all Max could do was sit there and watch. He was doing that for her, he was giving up th most important thing in his life for her and she couldn't even reach out and comfort him with her touch.

"I'll leave you alone, if any changes occur, call me." David left the room.

"I love you Logan. Forever."

**
Seven hours later, Dr. Shawn took him off the machine. "How do you feel?"

"Dizzy, a little nauseous, but basically OK." He looked at Max. "Can we touch?"

"I'd let some more time pass, we don't want to risk anything. Just try to get some sleep Logan."

As he was incredibly tired, he agreed. But before he drifted he glanced at Max. "Luv ya."

**
"David! He's in pain!" Dr Shawn followed Max to where Logan tossed on the bed.

"Oh god, it hurts." His features were twisted in pain and sweat was pouring from every pore of his body.

Max helplessly watched, not daring to move too close as his trashing arms might easily come in touch with her. She felled her eyes fill with tears.

"Where does the pain come from?"

"Back..." Logan gasped.

"I'm going to turn you on your back, I will try to massage it out.Ok? It's a spasm."

"No, don't..." He was afraid of being moved over, but the doctor did not show reluctance. He knew what he was doing.

"Ok, easy there. Concentrate on breathing, not on the pain. Just breathe calmly...Good..OK."

A couple of minutes later Logan visibly relaxed. "Ok, it's better. Thanks."

"Do you think you can get up?"

Logan carefully sat up, then stood. His legs trembled under the weight, but he managed to walk to the door and back.

"Feels like my legs are on fire."

"Ok, lay back down." The doc put a comforting hand on Logan's shoulder. "We'll try again in a few hours."
The older man left and Max moved close, sitting down on a chair, watching Logan. They didn't speak, there was no need to.

**
"Max, could you leave me alone for a few minutes.?" He'd fought the tears that threatened to fall for the past two hours, and now he felt like he couldn't hold back much longer, the panic and pain were about to overwhelm him. But he didn't want Max to see him cry.

"Sure." Max knew what was going on, she'd seen him swallow hard and fight back the water in his eyes for hours, but she understood his need to be alone with that. There would be lots of times in the future when she would not allow him to lock her out, but for now this was the right thing to do.

Logan sat up and leaned against the headboard, then he brought his knees to his chest with some effort. He wanted to concentrate on the sensation, knowing he would soon be without again.

Finally, he stood up again, now he needed to support himself by leaning against the wal. He carefully took two steps before his egs went numb , in that very moment he was a paraplegic again, and it scared the hell out of him.
Screaming, he fell flat on his face as there was nothing he could hold on to.

"Logan!" Max and David almost instantly entered the room .

"Oh my god, what happened?" Max helplessly watched as Dr. Shawn bent down to help Logan back to the bed.
But Logan reacted like he always had, by shoving the doctor away. Through gritted teeth he spoke. "I can do it."
He praid to whatever God was willing to listen that the feeling that had returned to his legs as fast as it had dissapeared, would last until he was back in the bed.
He crawled acroos the floor, sweat standing on his forehead. Groaning, he used the bedframe to lever himself up enough to sit down on the mattress.

"Damn it!Leave!" Dr Shawn did so, but Max stayed, looking down at him.

"Max...I..." She wanted nothing more than embrace the hurting man who needed comfort so badly.
Carefully she stepped closer, something deep inside told her it would be Ok to touch him. So she stretched out a hand and wiped a tear away.

Logan looked up at her, holding his breath, his pupils dilated from shock and pain.
And nothing happened. They waited for a minute, neither of them saying a word. Only then Max dared to move closer. Slowly she sat down next to him and embraced him.
"It's Ok, I'm here, and I will never leave you. We're gonna pull through together." She smiled as he cuddled closer, desperately needing the comfort her arms brought. And she simply held him, enjoying the closeness.

Max had no idea how much time had passed when Logan spoke up. "Max, dance with me."

"Logan, you probably should rest..."

"Max, this might be the last time I can do this on my own. Please."

Swallowing hard, and fighting the tears that threatened to fall, she helped him stand. He leaned on her heavily as they slowly moved to imaginary music.

They only stopped when his legs gave out completely and not even Max could hold him upright.

She carried him back to the cot and laid down next to him, their lips coming close. But Max turned away. "We shouldn't risk that just now. We have all the time in the world."
Instead she brushed a hand through his spiky hair, still not quite believing she could do it. "Try to sleep now."

"I can't." His voice trembled. "I'm too afraid that all feeling will be gone when I wake up."

Max understood. "Then keep holding me."
With her foor she caressed his legs, then they entangled them, still moving, enjoying the sensations. But Max could tell that Logan lost strength throughout the hours that followed.

Secretly she tried to imagine what it would be like to be in his position, knowing those were the last few hours of having control over her legs. But it must be even worse for him, he already knew what it was going to be like. She was incredibly sorry for what Logan had to go through.And all because she was a genetically engineered freak who could kill him otherwise.