Author's Note: Here's another chapter for you guys. I'm kinda proud of myself for getting out two in one day. I know this chapter is a little shorter than some, but I needed this in here before I can move ahead. Please let me know what you think of this so far. Thanks. Hope this helps to make up for my previous delay. Enjoy.

Chapter 4

While Logan is getting dressed I call Sam and let him know that we're on our way over to the hospital. No sooner do I hang up the phone than Logan comes walking down the hall toward me. His khaki pants and clean grey sweater make him look very pulled together and suddenly I am acutely aware that I've been wearing my current outfit since the night before last. There's no way I'm gonna take the time to swing by my apartment and change so I decide it doesn't matter that much.

We take the elevator down to the garage and the short ride seems to drag on forever. I stand in the opposite corner of the small space away from Logan. I catch the hurt look on his face but it is quickly replaced by understanding. He knows how much it hurts me to have to pull away from him, but soon I won't have to, hopefully. We can both live off that for a while.

I walk around my motorcycle to climb into the passenger seat of the Aztek. Logan gets settled in the driver's seat. The engine starts filling the quiet garage with sound and we slowly pull out of the parking space. In a moment the concrete over our heads is replaced by the early morning Seattle sky.

I'm looking out my window at the passing buildings trying to let my tired mind take a break from heavy thoughts when Logan's voice breaks the comfortable silence in car. "What's the first thing you want to do once this is over?" he asks.

I turn my head to look at him. He's still got that smile on his face. It reminds me of the look that was on his face when he came to pick me up at Jam Pony for his cousin's wedding last year and I came out in that red dress. I could get use to that look. "I can think of a few things." I say slyly.

"Oh really. And what pray tell would that include?" His eyebrows go up when he speaks this time. The movement makes his glasses move ever so slightly and I find it absolutely adorable. Okay Max, since when do you use words like adorable? I don't think I'll ever admit that one out loud, but obviously loving Logan has brought that inner girly-girl that Original Cindy's always wanting me to find.

"That's something you're just gonna have to wait to find out. Girl's gotta have some surprises left. But I guess it's okay to mention they involve various well thought-out scenarios." It feels nice to trade banter like this with him again. We've talked since I've been back a bit, but not ever really like we used to.

"Now I'm really intrigued."

I turn to look back out the window. My arm is lying on the door and I lean my chin over onto my right hand. A moment of silence follows his reply until I speak again. The pitch of my voice is quieter now and a more serious mood fills the car. "A walk would be nice. Doesn't matter where, just, somewhere outside. A walk where I could hold your hand."

With a tinge of that forlorn, indefinable emotion only those unlucky in love have ever felt creeping into his voice Logan says, "I think a walk would be perfect."

A second later I feel a hand wrap around my leather-covered left hand. I nearly jump out of my skin at the contact. I knew he had a hand free since he was wearing the exo and could use the Aztek's pedals, but last time I looked over his hand had been resting on the gearshift. I can't believe this. I've been so careful not to touch him. We're this close to actually being able to touch and he goes and does this. I practically rip my hand from his grip as I turn to face him.

"Logan! What are you doing?" I demand.

He holds up the hand that he just used to hold mine. It's then that I notice the at least two layers of latex gloves he's wearing. "It's okay Max. CDC basic biohazard procedure. I looked it up a while back. I knew at some point I might have to be able to touch you in an emergency and I think as much as I want to touch you right now qualifies."

I nod as a response to his explanation not trusting my voice. I feel a stab of pain and anger at basically being called a biohazard, but I know that's not how he meant it. I cast aside the feelings and file them away as just another thing I can blame Manticore for. I reach over and intertwine my fingers with his and we ride the rest of the way to the hospital like that, neither of us having to say a word.