Facing Death
By: lfbrox
Story: Set in early second season. Logan can walk (just because I like him to). And lots of transgenics are on the run and the other X-series are all out too. Lydecker, Renfro and White are the enemies – as a team this time.
Rating: R (or more for later chapters)
AN : Sorry guys. Took a little longer. I had to update hormones first. So I'm writing this chapter and am excited to post it, but ff.net probably thought it would be fun to keep me from updating. But other guys could update – I'm confused! They starting some selective posting now??? Anyway. As soon as it is posted I await your reviews. Don't want anybody to kick my ass – hey I was trying. On with it…..
Chapter 5: Someone has to pay
………..'Kiss me Logan' was the only thought present in her head as she leaned forward to meet him.
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When their faces were so close together that the only air they were breathing was the other ones breath and they could almost feel the other ones lips on their own Logan jerked his head back, let out a frustrated growl and ran both of his hands through is spiky hair in frustration. So close but he could not do it.
Max eyes opened in shock and she quickly moved to the other side of the couch. 'I can't believe I almost did that' she thought and in her mind kicked her ass good. She lifted a shivering hand to brush a strand of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry Logan. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know how this could happen. We were,….I was so careful during all that time and now so close to the end I almost blew it." Max apologized and got up from the couch to distance herself even more from Logan – physically as well as emotionally.
"Max. This is as much my fault as it is yours. Maybe even more so. I mean I started the whole banter-thing. It was just the most natural thing to do." Logan finished trying to calm his raging hormones and a raging Max.
"Not for us Logan. We were never like that before the virus. We have to stop doing this Logan. Before we know for sure that the virus is gone, we shouldn't be seeing each other anymore." Max pretty much ordered and went to get her jacket.
Now it was Logan's turn to rage. "Are you starting with this bullshit again Max. Yes. Maybe it was close just now. But what are you going to do if we don't cure the virus now? Are you gonna run away again? Are you gonna decide all on your own again what is best for me? What is best for us? Are you gonna shut me out and avoid me for my own sake? It's not going to be that easy Max and you know it. You….."
"What am I suppose to do Logan? Stay around and hope for the best that nothing happens? One day we will accidentally touch and then there will be nothing left I or the doctors can do to save you. I rather have you healthy and alive than knowing I was responsible for your death." Max yelled back interrupting Logan's outburst.
"Oh shut up Max. That is such a load of crap. Do you think I want to die? Hell no. I hope to stick around for a long time. And I intend to spend that time with you. Touching or no touching Max. I need you in my life one way or the other. And eventually we find a way to beat that virus. God, I thought you genetically engineered super humans had great stamina. And you want to run away at the first sign of trouble. Take that damn jacket off and sit back down here. I feel like kicking your ass. And as I can't do that physically – yet – I just have to do it over a game of chess." With that he turned around to go get the chess board.
Max smiled a little and shrugged her jacket back off. She still thought she was right to hold the distance, but she had to admit, that he made his point pretty clear. No need to go home and sulk in self-pity, when she could play chess with Logan over a glass of wine and some friendly competition – she just needed to keep her distance and not let her raging passion for him take over.
She sat down on the chair deciding that the couch table was enough distance for them, and refilled their wine glasses. When Logan returned to the living room he was relieved to see Max sitting there sipping wine and waiting for him. He hoped that she would stay but he actually thought he would come back and find her gone.
"Glad you stayed," Logan said while setting up their game.
"Yeah. I guess" Max answered shyly avoiding his gaze while intently watching the liquid in her wine glass.
Logan just smiled and continued working with the figures on the board. No matter how much Max opened up to him in their more intimate moments – she was still Max. Once her internal defense-system was back up she would rather choke than to admit she was wrong or sorry. But that was her. And as much as it drove him crazy it was also something he loved about her – even found to be cute, even though he would rather choke himself than tell here something she did was cute.
"Ready to get your ass kicked?" Logan asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Bring it on hotshot. Give it a try." Max replied and visibly relaxed as they started their not so physical fight.
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At the same time Cindy, Sketchy, Herbal, Alec and Zack gathered around a table at Crash staring helplessly at the 3 empty pitchers and the 5 almost empty mugs on their table. They had pretty much spent all their evenings at Crash lately – thus running out of money quickly.
Cindy had no other option but hanging out with her co-workers and friends. No lickety-chick to spend cozy and cheap evenings with, and no home-girl to stay at home and indulge in some manicure and girl-talk.
Sketchy, who spent a week courting a girl with expensive gifts remained single and frustrated which lead him to drinking even more than usual – therefore spending all of his lousy salary and even lousier tips on the good stuff.
Herbals wife was out of town, so after drinking the night away with his friends, he went home, turned up his reggae-loaded busted up CD-player and lit one or two not-so innocent cigarettes. Leaving him spiritually speaking closer to the almighty, but worldly speaking broke and itching for more.
Alec, who had been hitting pretty much on every pretty, or not so pretty girl at crash, in order to get a free drink or a good romp, was out of luck this week. No fresh meat at Crash – as he put it. So he didn't even try to hook up with one of his old 'flames' and could not rely on is good looks and charm to get his drink on for free and a cozy bed to sleep in. Even he had to go the old fashioned way and buy his drinks for once.
Zack was also broke. Not due to his excessive drinking or spending, but due to the fact that he had to live of his salary – and only his salary. If you wanted to put it nicely you would say, that Zack wasn't the most friendly, polite or charismatic type. And for him his job meant to deliver packages. No friendliness involved. Package for you – sign here. Those were the only words he muttered during his shifts. That behavior reflected itself in the amount of tips he got – next to nothing. But he didn't mind that much. He didn't need to drink. Hell, he didn't even need to go out and 'socialize'. He only did it because Max and Alec did it and he figured it'd be the safest way to fit in and not to look strange and odd.
"Aiight peeps. We ran out of liquid. What's the dealio. How much cash you got on you" OC asked and looked in her pockets for some change or a bill she'd maybe overseen. But she came out empty handed.
They all searched their pockets but the lousy result was some nickels and some buttons and something from Sketchy's pocket nobody was too eager to investigate any further.
"Damn. That is really lousy," Cindy stated. After a few seconds where she seemed to go deep inward to find a way out of their misery she slapped Alec's shoulder lightly to get his attention. "Give me your phone."
"What?" Alec asked while fishing his cell out of his jacket and handed it to her. "Who are you calling?"
Cindy didn't bother to answer and dialed a number that was by now as familiar to her as her own. "Logan? Listen up boo. Why don't you and my home girl come over to Crash. We have a little party going on and all that's missing is you guys," Cindy screamed into the phone so Logan could understand her with all the background noise.
"Oh. So we're the only thing missing?" Logan asked, sensing something else might be the motivation behind Cindy's invite.
"Yep. You, my boo and …..well, some pitchers of beer couldn't hurt. So what do you say?" Cindy asked.
"Hang on," Logan said and removed the phone from his ear. "Max. It's Cindy. She wants to know if we wanted to come to Crash. It seems like they miss our company. Especially as we are supposed to buy the beer."
"Oh, I feel so loved. You wanne go?" she asked him, surprised that he even considered going and not just blew Cindy off right away.
"Why not. Doesn't seem like I'm winning tonight anyway," he gestured to the chess board. "Plus. I think I'm too wired up to sleep now anyway. Let's go."
"Geat. Lets." Max beamed and got off the chair to walk into the bathroom and change into her hopefully dried cloth while Logan finished the phone call with OC and headed to get changed himself.
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30 minutes later Max opened the door to an overcrowded Crash. Logan followed with a little distance behind her. He frowned when he saw the crowd they had to fight their way through and decided to fall back even a little more before some drunken idiot pushed him or Max and the would accidentally bump into each other.
After long minutes Max finally reached the table and plopped down in one of the empty chairs. OC pulled her into a hug and Max returned it.
"Hey boo. Seems like I haven't seen you in ages," OC smiled at Max and looked around to greet Logan, who apparently hadn't followed Max to the table. "Where's your squeeze boo?" OC asked figuring Logan bailed out again.
"I don't know. He just was behind me," Max said and got up to look around the crowd when she saw Logan approaching with 2 pitchers of beer and 2 extra glasses.
The table saw him coming. Max smiled at his gesture and the rest of the table howled which cheer and padded Logan's back expressing their gratefulness that he was here. Logan smiled and sat down, knowing that it was mostly the free beer they were happy to see, but shook it off with a shrug after seeing Max smile at him lovingly.
They began pouring beer, drinking and chatting, trying to catch up with Max and Logan about all the new and funny stuff that happened while Max and Logan were 'on their own love planet' as OC put it.
After a few more pitchers of beer and a few games of pool, the crowd cleared and the band packed up their stuff – or what was left intact. Logan yawned and stretched his soar muscles. It was late, and even though he used to work late – even worked better when it was late – it was unusual for him to spend an entire evening with nothing but fun. So he was tired.
They finished their beer and Logan offered to drive OC and Max back to their place. She still had her bike at Logan's' but didn't want to cycle all the way back in the middle of the night and decided to take her ninja in the morning and go pick up her bicycle then. Cindy was grateful that she didn't have to walk all the way home in the light rain and her high heels.
Max was also secretly grateful for the fact that this would be the end of an emotionally straining night. With OC in the car, there would not be any more heavy talk and the good-bye would be rather quick, avoiding and ignoring the tension and electricity between them.
Alec sped off on his 'borrowed' motorcycle and was gone, leaving a slightly drunk Herbal and the unaffected Zack to drag home Sketchy's drunken ass. As Logan pulled out of the back alley they saw Sketchy hauled over a small wall puking his guts out, while Herbal tried to keep him from falling while trying to keep his own balance. Zack just stood there and watched in disgust. That sight even made Logan laugh but he decided not to stop and ending up driving a puking Sketchy home. So he just waved at them and sped off, which caused Max and OC resolve in a fit of giggles.
After only a few minutes Logan stopped his Aztec in front of Max and OC's building. OC was already half asleep and mumbled a thank you and opened the door, got out and lightly swayed towards the front door. Max turned to Logan and smiled. That's not how she planned it. She was supposed to go in with OC avoiding the awkwardness.
"So," Max sight and looked after OC, then turned and looked in Logans baby blues that rested on her. "Guess I better go and make sure Original Cindy makes it to the right apartment."
"Yeah. Guess so," Logan replied and shifted in his seat. "You wanne come up for breakfast tomorrow morning when you come and pick up your bicycle?" He asked.
"Nah, better not. It's late already, and I need to go to work early. You look tired. Get some sleep. No need for you to get up so early." She said. "But thanks anyway."
"No problem. So I see you tomorrow?" He asked and hoped she would not go through with her plan she had earlier that night to avoid seeing him.
"Sure. Why not. Night Logan," with that she opened the door and quickly followed OC in the house.
Logan waited until Max was inside. "Night Max," he whispered and started the engine to finally make it home and get some rest.
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After splitting from Herbal and Sketchy, Zack turned around and quickly made his way back to where he came from. Back at Crash he pulled out his black motorcycle from behind a dumpster and sped away into the night, careful as not to be detected by anyone.
AN: There you go. Finally was able to post it. My job is done here. Now please read and review.