A/N: Yet another chapter, with some much awaited Logan bashing…

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Chapter twenty: Afraid

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Sketchy: What, are you kidding? Back when he was a Jam Pony hump, this generous man showed me some tight shortcuts through downtown.  Helped me shave hours off my workday.

Max: Giving you extra time to nap and get high.

Sketchy: Precisely.

-Max and Sketchy about Zack (Some Assembly Required)

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'Well hey do you do Judo when they surround you?

A little mental yoga- will they disappear?

It's grim but never dubious as motives go

No matter what it takes- she promises a show'

-Tori Amos (Purple People)

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It happened when Erin was having some fun with Sketchy and Dalton.  Sketchy was trying to teach the kid how to do some skateboarding tricks.  Erin was stood back laughing silently at Sketchy's attempts at basic moves.  Dalton had already mastered the basics easily after guessing what Sketchy was trying to do.  He was now stood beside Erin laughing at Sketchy making an ass of himself.  He grinned as Sketchy tried to do a basic flip on the board and nearly tripped over his own feet.    He should really trick to bike tricks.  Erin patted him on the back and shook her head.

"I can do it!" Sketchy picked up the upside down skateboard "man, I'm just not havin' a good day…"

Dalton shook his head after he stopped laughing "Dude, you just don't want to be shown up! Don't try so hard!"

Erin grinned.  Dalton was even picking up the way they spoke.

"Really? Well, I haven't seen Erin do anything else yet" Sketchy pointed out "for all we know, she could easily be as bad as me."  HE looked at Erin who continued to grin.  "Why don't you show us what you can do on the blades Hotshot?"

Erin shrugged and took her board from Sketchy, performed the flip he'd been trying to do and handed Dalton the board.  Dalton and Sketchy looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"Got the blades from the same skate park that I got the board from.  Figured I'd put them to better use than the passed out stoners they previously belonged too."  She took off her trainers, tied them together with the laces and dumped them on the floor before putting on the blades.  "If I'm not in one of my classes, band practice or doin' homework, I'm skatin'."

She stood up easily with a small smile on her face as Sketchy and Dalton looked at her expectantly.

That was when Logan decided to make an appearance.  "Hey guys" he nodded in greeting.  The guys nodded in silence and he turned to Erin who stood with her arms folded. 

"Erin" he smiled much too brightly and stuck his hand in his pocket.  "I was wondering if I could take a sample of you blood?" He pulled a small needle from his pocket "Just to see if there's something unusual about it that might give us a clue at to why White wants you."

The guys exchanged confused glances.  What would be different about her blood?  Erin was just an Ordinary.  This wasn't right.

Erin's eyes were on the needle, no smile on her face now and her arms were rigid by her sides.  Shed gone even paler than she normally looked and she swallowed and shook her head.  How the hell did he manage to hit on one of the things she feared the most?

"But it might help, Erin" Logan took a step closer and Erin rolled backwards slightly, her eyes still on the needle.  Logan was getting impatient "Erin, you told us you've got nothing to hide, if you do this, it'll prove it to me."

Erin shook her head but Logan reached out to grab her arm anyway.

"Logan, man, I don't think you should do that" Sketchy said quietly, no amusement on his face.  He looked very unSketchy-like.  "She doesn't like it."

Logan ignore him "It's only a needle.  It won't hurt."

"Logan, I think you shouldn't do that" Dalton spoke up now.  He saw the fear in Erin's eyes and he could smell it too.  "Alec won't like you touchin' her."

Logan grunted in response but showed no other sign of hearing either of them.

Erin was struggling now while trying to remain on her feet, shaking her head wildly.  Logan wouldn't let go and he brought the needle up so he could pull the protective cap off with his teeth.  He spat it out and brought the needle down but was too slow to stop Erin from reacting.

She spun inwards, her blades making her turn quicker.  With her back to his stomach, she was closer to him.  Her right foot slid between his legs in the same movement and she gripped the hand that was still gripping her upper arm.  He'd leave bruises afterwards.  Dalton's advanced eyesight caught Erin's movements and he grinned.  She dropped her knee ending up in a crouch, her momentum and his grip on her arm, flipping Logan over her shoulder to land on his back painfully, the needle clattering to the ground further away.

"Oops" Sketchy said as he stood on it, his eyes still on Logan.

Logan was busy glaring at Erin.  "You little Bitch!" he growled, painfully getting to his feet.  But Erin was already moving.

She sped away, grabbing her trainers without stopping.  Logan followed, his exoskeleton helping him keep up and Dalton and Sketchy following him, not knowing what to do.  The chase was on.

Other transgenics turned to watch, wondering what was going on but Erin wasn't paying attention.  She was only focused on one thing- getting away.  She could hear her friends shouting for both Logan and her to stop but she ignored them.  Her eyes darted about as she made split second decisions, twisting and turning through wreckage, crowds and make-shift camps.  She barely managed to keep track of her position.  Erin knew that some steps would be coming up in a few seconds if she stayed on her course.  Chances were she'd trip if she tried to jump them.  They were too narrow and too steep.  Logan knew this too- he thought she'd stop.  Erin heard him slow down slightly and she gritted her teeth.  It was too late for her to turn back, she was going too fast; good job there was a metal railing.

Erin jumped up into the air just before she hit the steps.  Her blades connecting with the railing, she grinded all the way down and landed on her feet.  Erin carried on.

There was no way she could stay here now.  They wouldn't trust her and she didn't trust Logan one bit.  He might try it again.  She heard Logan land behind her, his exoskeleton making mechanical noises as he hit the floor running.  Just her luck- the damn thing had suspension.  The thought was fleeting as she dodged people, barely controlling herself from shouting out.  Luckily, they heard her coming thanks to Logan shouting insults and Dalton and Sketchy shouting for them to stop.

Erin realised where she was a little bit sooner this time.  There was only one way to get to the exit, a ramp off to her far left with the wreck of a car covering part it.  In front of her, the concrete ended suddenly to drop 2 metres- the garage was on layers.  If she went to the ramp, Logan could easily catch up to her.  So without really thinking about it too much, Erin did the only thing possible.  She jumped the ledge.

She didn't even register that she'd just jumped over a table of six transgenics playing cards at a large table made out if crates.  Or that they knew her.  It was Mole, Dix, Zane, Krit, Alec and Tawney.  Max was in a bad mood and they were trying to keep out of the way.

They stood up in shock as they saw Erin land in a half crouch, straighten and carry on without stopping.  Luckily, her head start on the jump made her land a little better- she hadn't broken anything.

Logan stopped at the edge of the ledge, Dalton and then Sketchy catching up with him.  Everyone stared between Alec, Logan and the direction that Erin had gone in.

Something flashed across Alec's face as Sketchy glared at Logan "Now look what you did!"

Logan glared defiantly back "It was only an injection! There was no need for her to assault me and the run!"  He met Alec's eyes and flinched.

Alec did not look happy.  "We'll talk about this later" he took off after Erin.

Alec made it outside just in time to see Erin sneak through the same part of the perimeter fence where she had gotten in before.  She'd left her roller blades by the fence and put on her trainers so she could run.  Alec swore loudly and ran after her, making sure he had his gun hidden beneath his jacket.  He blurred outside and into an alley before walking out casually so he didn't attract any attention.  He walked along the busy streets, keeping his head down and looking for Erin.

Next chapter: Where The Fear Resides…

"Erin, we need to talk about this.  If not now, then back at base." Erin froze, not at his words but because there were two Sector cops walking across the street headed directly for them.  They'd been spotted…

A/N:  Tramps-Like-Us: Max and Pancake fa.. Damnit dude!  You're a bad bad person!  He is NO WAY a pancake face!  *calms down* Back to the nekkid chapter.  Okay, I told ya before; I don't know if I'd seriously be able to write a serious nekkid chapter.  I'd just go all giggly and girly and it'd start to sound like one of those Mills and Boon thingies.  *shudders* Not gonna happen.

Sara: That is SO not fair!  We've got rain, snow and more rain!  And it's COLD! I hate the cold! Oh well… Think or a drenched Alec…*big grin*

Messymissy: This has only a ickle bit of violence in it.  Sorry, but you're gonna love the sequel to this story.  Let's just say, Erin's gonna have an increase in attitude and erm…her abilities.  Ask no questions, I'm saying no more.

Fallinorange: Well, here ya go- a little bit of Logan bashing.  Literally.  Max is gonna be a little bit annoyed with him methinks.

Elin: Erin won't talk for a whole yet but give it time.  Oh, and Max and Zack? *grins*

Moonlight: Woohoo! Another fan! Thanks for reviewing!