PART VIII: Opening Your Eyes (Only)

Sebastian had tracked the signal to the Warehouse and within an hour Max, Asha and Alec were scouting outside waiting impatiently for Detective Sung to arrive with backup.

Getting fed up, Max announced, "I'm going in."

"Max wait," Asha said, but she was already off. Swearing, she loaded her gun and took off after her.

Alec hesitated for a moment then rolled his eyes and followed.

"Women," he grumbled. "I coulda gone to the Night Owl. Gotten to know some the lovely ladies there and be enjoying myself right now. But noooo – I had to spend my evening chasing after two psycho-chicks trying to rescue mankind's self-appointed saviour!"

Getting in had been remarkably easy: no guards or alarms. However both Max and Alec could hear various cries of pain and torture. They split up to carry out a more effective search. Seeing no one about, Max began kicking open. Most of the rooms were empty, but some had people clearly in pain. She reassured each of them that help was on the way and continued her search. After several hits and misses, her instincts led her to the one she sought.

Meanwhile the Detail Man was watching all this from a safe distance.

"That's her," Higgs yelled, pointing at the security monitor. "That's the psycho-bitch who tried to kill me!"

"Indeed," the Detail Man said. Pity she didn't succeed, he thought unprofessionally. "Mr. Hergstrand, invite the young lady and her friends to join us."

"Sir," Mr. Hergstrand said, indicating another monitor. "We have a problem."

It revealed that outside the police were massing outside.

Oh dear, thought the Detail Man. This could be problematic.

Higgs on the other hand, was beginning to panic. "Oh God, oh God, oh God. I can't be caught here! I have to get away. How do I get out of here? What are we going to do!"

"As a they say on the streets," the Detail Man droned. " 'It's time to cover our asses'. Mr. Hergstrand."

The muscle-bound suit pulled out a gun and promptly shot Councilman Higgs in the head. He then placed the gun in Higgs' hand.

"Very good, Mr. Hergstand," said the Detail Man. "Now institute full evacuation procedure. I want all are people out of here before the police reach the holding cells."

"What about the prisoners?"

"Leave them. If we need them, we can always collect them later. Now get everybody out of here, yourself included."

"Yes sir."

Max stood there staring at the man she'd thought she would never see again. Just hanging there like something out of a bad sword and sorcery movie. Seeing he didn't have his exoskeleton, Max deduced the chains holding him were more to prop him up than restrain him. However she wouldn't have put it past his big brain to devise some daring plan of escape involving him crawling to freedom.

Max unconsciously walked toward him taking an inventory of his injuries. His face had so many bruises his eyes were swollen shut; his lips were bloody and cracked; his arms and torso were covered with ugly black burns; and she didn't want to guess how many bones were broken.

The blood was pounding so hard in her ears, her senses couldn't tell if Logan was alive or not. So many things needed to be said. Things she didn't know how to put into words. Well, she did but they just didn't sound right. Things she wanted him to hear just to know how he felt. Her gloved hand reached out and gently touched the side of his face.

"Logan," she whispered.

"Max," he wheezed, causing her to jump. (She was grateful Alec wasn't here. He'd never have let her live it down no matter how many times she beat him up.)

"Max," Logan repeated in a dry voice, trying to open one of his swollen eyes. "Knew … knew you'd … find me … knew you'd find me … Just … had to … wait … another hour … Just … one more hour … hold on … just another hour …"

Max grabbed hold of Logan's manacles and with her enhanced strength (mixed with rage, pain and relief) ripped them off. Catching him as he fell, Max was careful that their skin didn't touch. She was wearing her full-body cat suit and gloves, but her face and hair were uncovered. If so much as a strand of hair came into contact with him, he was a dead man. She gently lowered him to the ground, resting his head on her lap.

"Knew you'd … find me … Just had to … hold on … a little longer …"

"Shhhh," Max cooed softly, stroking his hair. "It's okay. It'll be all right now."

BANG!

Max looked behind her to see Asha standing over a prone thug holding a smoking gun.

A part of Max actually growled. That primal part of her DNA the scientists hadn't been able to screen out, of the tigress confronting a rival for a mate. Fortunately it wasn't loud enough to hear.

"Oh my God – Logan," Asha exclaimed, rushing up to them.

"Help me get him up," Max said taking his arm. "I don't suppose you noticed his exo-skeleton lying around anywhere?"

Asha shook her head. "No."

"Didn't think so."

Asha put Logan's arm around her shoulders while Max awkwardly lifted him by his left arm. The two of them began the arduous task of carrying his dead weight to safety.

"Where the hell is Alec?" Max cursed.

"Probably took off when he heard the police sirens."

Actually Alec had run into a trio of bruisers and was in the process of wiping the floor with them. So far, since Cale had gotten himself into this mess, he'd had his nose broken, roughed up by a psycho-cybernetic twin and lost out on a raunchy night and he was desperate to take it out on someone.

Alec surveyed his handiwork. All three bruisers were on the floor in various states of pain and unconsciousness, accomplished in less than fifteen minutes. Let's see Gimp Only do that, he thought smugly, right before the taser bolt him. His whole body went ridged then collapsed to the floor, flapping his arms and legs uncontrollably. The shock wasn't enough to knock him out, but it would be a good three minutes before he regained control of his body. Alec saw somebody in a cheap suit with a ventriloquist's dummy's face step out of the shadows and disappear down a service elevator.

Max and Asha continued to struggle with Logan down the hallway. Asha trying to carry him and Max trying to support him without touching him. Eventually they gave up and decided to give him a rest. They eased him as gently as they could to the floor. As Asha made Logan comfortable, Max resisted the urge to break her fingers.

"I'll go scout ahead."

"Right," Asha replied, continuing to fuss over Logan.

Max hesitated before setting off into the dark.

Asha did her best to make to Logan comfortable, doing her best to ignore his semi-nudity. God how pathetic is that, Asha thought. And the worst part is, this is probably about as close to him as I'll ever get.

"Logan," Asha said, lightly slapping him. "Logan stay with we."

"Asha," Logan wheezed, sounding surprised. "What're you doing here?"

"We came to get you out."

"You and Max? Working together," Logan laughed hysterically. "Now that's funny."

He's getting delirious. She grabbed the sides of his head, forcing him to look at her. "Logan! Logan, focus. Stay with me!" she contemplated kissing him, if his lips weren't cracked and bloodied.

Max returned shortly with Alec in tow. "Look who I found, shivering on the floor."

Alec shot Max a dirty look. "I was tasered, okay."

"So basically, you're saying an ordinary got the drop on you."

"Will you two shut up and help me with him." Asha snapped.

Reluctantly, Alec looped Logan's left arm over his shoulder, while Asha supported his right and Max took point. They weaved their way through the winding corridors evading police and thugs alike. Eventually they made it outside, only to be confronted by a squad of Sector Cops.

Upon seeing them, the Sector Cops lowered their weapons and the sergeant stepped forward, saying, "Asha, everything all right?"

"Everything's perfect, Jack," Asha said. "Stan, Allan give me a hand. And somebody contact Dr. Carr."

Two "cops" came forward to take Logan and bundled him into the back of a police van, Asha not far behind.

Must be S1W, Max thought.

"You coming," Asha asked.

"S'Okay," Max said, cutting off Alec. "We got our own ride."

Asha held Max's gaze for a beat. "Right. Let's roll people."

"We still on for Friday," Alec asked.

Asha ignored him and closed the door as the van drove off.

Max grabbed Alec by his shoulder and dragged him off. "Let's go, Romeo."

MERCY MEDICAL HOSPITAL

Three Weeks Later …

Logan awoke for the first time to no pain. The swelling had gone down sufficiently so he could see with both eyes and a variety of oils and dermal patches had his burns on the mend. He looked around to unexpectedly see Asha sitting at his bedside.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she replied. "How're you feeling?"

"Pretty awful," he said, trying to sit up. "But considering how I was feeling, I'd say that's an improvement."

Asha gently placed a hand on Logan's chest and said softly. "You shouldn't try to move around so much yet. The dermal patches haven't quite finished."

Asha's hand rested on Logan's chest a little longer than was probably necessary before saying, "Just so you know, we found you're legs."

"What?" Logan said, uncomprehending.

"Your exo-skeleton. We found it tucked away in the warehouse. Apparently whoever it was who grabbed you was trying to figure out what the heck it did. Sebastian says he should have it up and running by the time you get out of here."

"Good to know. Any sign of the Detail Man?"

"Who?"

Logan quickly filled her in on all he knew about one of Seattle's most elusive mastermind's – which wasn't much. As a member of the city's elite he had heard rumours about him, but nothing substantial until he'd become his prisoner. Asha told him all they found were a lot of scared victims.

Acting impulsively for the first time in a long time, Asha leaned down and kissed Logan on the lips. He didn't encourage her, but neither did he push her away.

"Asha - " Logan began.

But she placed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "I know."

She left the hospital room fighting back tears.

Logan lay alone in his hospital bed, contemplating what had just happened. He confessed the thought of hooking up with Asha had never not occurred to him. Those months when he thought Max was dead, him and Asha had worked together closely and successfully on many Eyes Only missions. At the time, he'd been so driven, so focused (some would say obsessed) with taking down Manticore, nothing else mattered. But he wasn't completely blind to those around him. They shared similar interests and goals. She was just more proactive that he was. He had at least once, considered that when he succeeded and Max was avenged, maybe …

But Max wasn't dead, and the walls between them they'd so painstakingly knocked down had been replaced this time with more tangible ones. It was so maddening to be so close to the woman he desired, but forced to keep his distance because she was now literally poison to him.

Logan must have dozed off, because suddenly it was night – and he wasn't alone.

"Hey," came a familiar voice.

"Hey yourself." Logan's face broke into a wide grin as Max melted out of the shadows.

"How you feeling?"

"Better now. Been here long?"

He has such a nice smile, Max thought. He should show it off more often. "You wish."

"I do actually," he said, his voice dropping a note.

Max ignored the implication. "I'd have come by sooner, but Normal's got me working extra hours. That and I've been dodging Rafer all day. The boy can't take a hint."

"Try breaking a few bones. That usually works."

"I'll do that."

A very long moment of agonizing silence followed.

"I should get going," Max said finally.

"Max wait," Logan grabbed her hand, but Max just let her glove slip off and kept on for the door, ignoring Logan's pleas after her.

Max made it to the end of the hallway, where she collapsed against the wall and slid to the floor, sobbing. Ever since she first met Logan all she could do was feel. Some feelings she wanted to get lost in, while others she wanted to cut out of her with a dull butter knife. But how long could she be with the man she loved without actually being with him. These feelings constantly threatened to overwhelm her. Alec would tell her to cut Logan out of her life if she knew what was good for her, but she didn't want to cut him out. But that was quickly becoming the only option left to her to ensure Logan's safety. she'd been trained to make tough decisions, but not like this. She just wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.

THE END (For Now…)