A/N: Plz review everyone!
As dawn broke, things in T.C. were finally settling down somewhat. Thankfully most of the injuries hadn't been serious, and those that had been were healed by Maxwell. Unfortunately, Max's condition was something he couldn't just heal. She was in serious condition, and as every hour passed, everyone in Terminal City grew more worried for their leader. Max's family visited regularly, as did Joshua, Alec, the slayers and the Roswell gang, but so far her state hadn't changed. She still stayed unconscious, her body healing itself but something was holding her back from awakening.
Zack sat at her bedside where he hadn't moved from for hours. His hands were folded on her stomach and his head rested on them. He was vaguely aware of someone entering the room then laying a hand on his shoulder. He lifted his head slowly and turned around.
Faith stood behind him with a tray of food and water. She put it down on the table beside Max's bed.
"You need to eat," she told him gently. "You must be hungry, big brother."
Zack shook his head. "I'm fine," he said adamantly.
"Stop being so stubborn," Faith said. "Max wouldn't want you to destroy yourself. Now, go and take a shower then rest for a little bit."
"I already had a shower when Alec practically threw me into one," Zack said. "I'm fine, just leave me alone."
Faith picked up a sandwich she had brought. "At least eat a little. Deteriorating is not going to help bring her back. Besides, Max will kick all of our asses when she finds out that we let you become a zombie. Because she will, Zack. Max is going to come back and she is going to give you one hell of a mouthful. I'll be surprised if I don't see your body flying across the training grounds later on."
At that, Zack let out a small chuckle and Faith smiled, pleased at making progress. "Now eat," she ordered. "Don't make me sic some vampires on you."
Zack threw his hands up into the air in surrender. "All right. Sheesh, Manticore just had to make all my baby sisters headstrong and bossy, didn't they?"
Faith grinned. "Since you've come out of your shell I won't hurt you for that comment." She flexed her fingers. "I do have powers for a reason you know. To kick ass. And I will kick your white one all the way to China if you don't eat and rest a little."
She mock glared at him then grinned and walked out.
Zack shook his head as he picked up his sandwich and started eating. "Violent women," he muttered.
Logan awoke in his apartment, head hurting and feeling like he was going to throw up.
"Bad hangover, mate?" a voice asked.
Logan whipped his head around to where the voice came from, but instantly regretted it because it made his head hurt even more. He eventually found the owner of the voice sitting in an armchair in the corner of his room.
"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously.
"Name's Spike," the guy replied. "But you might want to ask what am I." He grinned and bared his teeth. Logan felt a shiver go through him.
"Um, I'm assuming that you're one of the newcomers," Logan said. He knew that Max had come back with not only her family but some other people too. The thing is, he hadn't met any of them formally due to some Eyes Only work he had to do and didn't know about their… differences.
"Yeah. Part of the slayer crew," he said.
"Slayer?" Logan asked quizzically.
"Yeah, slayer. You know, people who slay vampires and demons and such."
Logan paled. "There aren't seriously things like vampires. They're just a legend."
"Oh really?" Spike said. He walked closer until he was almost nose to nose with Logan. "Bit funny then. 'Cause you're talking to one right now." He grinned.
Logan stepped back, tripping over some shoes that he had thrown onto the floor the night before. He fell and started pushing himself back, away from the vampire.
"Relax, mate. I'm not gonna hurtcha." Spike stopped to think. "Well, not unless you give me a reason to."
"I-I won't," Logan stuttered out.
"Glad we understand each other," Spike said. He kneeled down in front of Logan. "Now I suggest you stop your bad drinking habit."
Logan nodded. "Yes, I know. I will."
"Good boy," Spike said, gently patting him on the cheek. "We'll get along just fine. But let's get one thing straight. I don't like people who think they are superior to others just because they're fully human. Because the fact is, if anything, we're the ones who are superior because we have powers and you mere mortals don't. So if you ever act all high and mighty like you're better than any one of us, slayers, vampires, transgenics or aliens, you really will be eyes only. Because that'll be all that's left of ya."
Logan's eyes went wide at several of the things Spike had said.
"Aliens?" he choked out. "There are aliens here? Wait a minute, how do you know I'm Eyes Only?"
Spike smirked. "Liz who is Max's sister happens to have some alien powers and her boyfriend and friends are aliens from outer space. And I know you're Eyes Only because you're a blithering idiot like he is and because your eyes are exactly the same."
Logan raised his chin. "Eyes Only is an important asset to society and he rights the wrongs in the world," he said indignantly. "He does things out of the kindness of his heart and you shouldn't speak about him that way."
Spike got in his face. "Remember what I said about being high and mighty?" he asked dangerously. Logan gulped, then nodded.
"Right. Sorry."
Spike got up. "Well then, seeing as you're awake and apparently fine which is proven by your idiocy, I'll be going."
He walked to the door, smiled dangerously and walked out.
Logan wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Aliens, vampires and slayers. What the hell is the world coming to?"
Spike heard the comment from outside and chuckled. "Oh, I'm going to have fun with him." Then he started walking towards his and Buffy's apartment with a spring in his step.
The Asian woman from the night before woke up in the dumpy motel she had stayed in. She sat up in her bed and checked the watch she was wearing. She got out of bed, took a shower and tried her best to look neat. She then picked up her backpack and stared at herself in the mirror. An oval face, with a clear complexion, perfect features and almond-shaped eyes stared back at her. Her hair was in a loose ponytail. She took a deep breath then climbed out the fire escape so she wouldn't have to pay for the room. Off in the far distance, she could make out T.C. and if she zoomed in, could see the sentries on duty. She closed her eyes and silently prayed. Please, let them forgive me for everything I've done. Then she jumped down and started making her way towards the building.
Jesse and Isabel sat in a little café shop in downtown Seattle.
"I feel bad for Liz," Jesse said. "Her sister's in a really bad state."
"Yeah," Isabel agreed. She shuddered. "I'd hate it if something like that happened to any one of you guys."
Jesse stirred his coffee. Isabel looked up suddenly.
"Jesse?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yeah?" he replied.
She fiddled with her spoon. "Do you ever… I mean, do you…"
"Spit it out, Iz," Jesse said.
"Do you ever regret having a girlfriend who puts you in danger all the time? Whose life is so screwed up she doesn't know what's going to happen next? To have people after her all the time that she's constantly running away? Don't you ever wish you could just settle down with a normal girl and not worry about my problems?" she asked hurriedly.
Jesse's face softened. He leaned across the table and hugged her. When he pulled back he lifted her head slightly to meet his eyes, to let her know that she didn't have to be embarrassed.
"Iz, that never mattered to me," he said. "So what if you've got people after you? It's not like you asked for it. It's something you just can't help. Besides, if I didn't want to be in danger I wouldn't be with you. But I am and that's because I love you. I'd rather risk it than not be able to be with you, don't you understand that?"
She smiled at him. "You have a way with words."
He grinned. "I read, I watch soap operas, I learn. All in a day's work."
She laughed. "Let's get out of here." They paid the bill and walked back towards T.C.
Logan made his way towards where Max was in med bay. He had thought a lot about that kiss she shared with Zack and decided it was probably an accident, she didn't mean it, or he forced her into it. Either way, he would forgive her and they would go on together as if nothing had happened. After all, it couldn't have meant anything. She only cared about Zack as a brother and besides, who would choose Zack over him?
Zack dutifully stayed at his position beside Max when Krit's words came back to him.
She needs to have the will to recover, or else she won't.
"The will," Zack whispered. He moved closer to Max and stroked her sweating face. "Maxie, come back, please. We all need you. Our family needs you, Joshua and Alec do, hell all of T.C. does. They need their leader." He rested his head on her chest. "I need you," he whispered. "Really badly Maxie. You can't leave me. Come back to me. Please, Maxie. I'll do anything if you just come back to me. I love you Maxie, more than anything. You can't die; I need to have the chance to tell you that. Please, come back. We're all worried about you. You need to wake up so you can kick my ass for not doing anything except mope. Come on Maxie. Alec's even offered to let you kick his ass." He sighed when he got no reaction from her. "At least I tried."
In Max's mind, some of the words penetrated through her brain. Max was running down a seemingly endless hall. She knew someone was chasing her, she could feel it. She tried every door, but none would open. They were getting closer, closing in on her. It was dark; everywhere she turned there was darkness. But suddenly she heard something to lift her spirits. A voice, a voice that brought some light to wherever she was. The more she ran the more the voice got louder. She recognized it now. It belonged to Zack. "Come back to me, Maxie," Zack's voice called. She kept running toward the door at the end of the hall, where it was shining with light. She struggled as she felt the people chasing her come closer and closer. "I need you Maxie," Zack's voice said again. "Wake up." 'I'm trying,' she thought. 'I'm trying, I need help.' She kept running, pushing her legs to go faster. The door was coming closer…
Logan burst through the door of med bay and ran into Max's room. Zack scowled at the interruption but didn't say anything to him. Logan walked over to Max's other side and reached out as if to touch her ace, but remembered he couldn't. He pulled his hand back with a sigh. Zack grinned inwardly. 'That's right, don't touch her. It'll kill you Loggie boy. Not that I mind. But for some unknown reason you're important to Max so unfortunately I can't get my wish.' Zack reached out and held Max's hand, trying to block out the fact that Logan was there with them. Zack just wanted his time alone with Max.
Logan glared at Zack as he held her hand. 'That bastard can touch her but I can't. It's not fair. He doesn't have the right to touch her.'
"I know you forced Max to kiss you yesterday," Logan sneered. "Well guess what, it was mistake and she didn't mean it."
Zack laughed. "I didn't kiss her. It was the other way around."
Logan blanched. "Sure."
"You can lie to yourself all you want Logan, I don't care. I'm just trying to get your facts straight," Zack said.
"She would never kiss you," Logan said. "She thinks of you as her brother."
Zack shrugged. "How am I supposed to know what she thinks?" He gently caressed her face, making Logan glower. 'Logan's not right, is he Maxie? You didn't think that kiss was a mistake, did you?'
Logan slapped Zack's hand away and Zack was barely able to restrain his anger.
"Max," Logan said. "I know you want to come back to me. I know you love my cooking, and my looks, and you want nothing more than for me to hold you but I can't because of the virus. I know sweetie, it's killing me too, but you gotta hang tight and come back to me."
Zack thought he was going to puke when he heard Logan call her sweetie and start rambling on about a bunch of bullshit.
"Come on Maxie," Zack whispered under his breath. "Come back so you can kick this fool's ass."
Max kept running toward the door, she was almost there. But so were the people chasing her. Zack's voice came back. "Come on Maxie," he said. "Come back." Max leaped at the door and turned the knob. She found herself in the light once again.
Max's head moved and both Logan and Zack watched with growing hope as her eyes slowly fluttered open. Logan put on a big smile to greet her but her next words turned his smile into a look of fury.
"Zack," she moaned. "Zack?" She looked around somewhat frantically. "Zack," she called out.
"Right here," he said. He smirked when he saw the look on Logan's face. She relaxed when she saw him and held out her arms like a baby asking to be carried. He leaned forward and hugged her tightly. "You had us worried, Maxie. Glad to have you back," he murmured.
"Feels good to be back," she said. He pulled back and she gave him a 100 watt smile. She turned her head slightly and saw Logan.
"Hey Logan," she greeted warmly. He just stared at her for a moment with a look of betrayal across his face then he stood up and walked out.
Max turned to Zack with a look of confusion and hurt in her eyes. "What's wrong with him?"
"It's nothing Maxie," Zack soothed. "He's happy you're back. He's just having a hard time with Eyes Only."
Max nodded and hugged him again. Zack closed his eyes and they just stayed there for a moment.
"Sorry to interrupt. Did we crash a private moment?" Alec teased. Zack pulled back quickly and Max blushed.
"Nice to see you're awake Maxie Max," Alec said.
Max rolled her eyes. "Well, the offer to kick your ass was just too hard to resist."
Alec paled. "I offered that? Really? 'Cause I don't remember…"
Zane laughed and punched Alec in the arm. "You're screwed man."
"Hey guys, look who I found," Coco said, pulling someone out from behind her. An Asian woman walked into the room and everyone went silent.
"Brin," Max breathed.
A/N: Haha, bet all of you guys saw that coming. I hope you liked this, please review everyone!
Thanks so very much to –
Claire – Thanks so much for reviewing! LOL Glad you liked the whole dressing up people according to their name or eye colour. It's great to have a new reviewer!
shygirl1 – Thanks so much for reviewing! Yes, you were right, it was Brin. Max and Zack will officially hook up soon I think. I wanted to make it a little longer off from now to put in a little flirting and stuff, but now I'm not sure if I will or not. Either way, they'll get together soon enough. We'll see. As for White, he's going to get an ass-kicking soon.
Doza – Thanks so much for reviewing! Don't worry, there'll be a lot of Logan bashing in the future. And if you have any ideas for some, I'll be happy to consider putting them in my fic.
screaminheathen69 – Thanks so much for reviewing! LOL You're right about Dawn whipping up a portal to send Logan of somewhere. I have a favour to ask though. I haven't really watched much of BTVS, if you don't mind, do you mind giving an idea on the type of powers Dawn, Buffy, Faith, Willow, etc. have? Only if you can find the time, thanks:)
Tarzo – Thanks so much for reviewing! It's great to have a new reviewer!
Thanks for reviewing everyone! Please keep reviewing and I hope you're liking this so far! electronic kisses aod78