Disclaimer: I still don't own Dark Angel, Logan or Bling. They belong to Cameron, Eglee + Co.

A/N: Wish you a happy christmas season! Hopefully I can get at least another chapter up in december. Thanks for the follows, and please review! Enjoy.

7. Chapter - Sports

A coliseum somewhere in Seattle, Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, shortly after 6 pm

Hesitantly and with effort Logan pulled the heavy entrance door open with one hand, while steadying the wheelchair with the other hand. They didn't think of handicapped people as they built coliseums or sporting places. Logan sighed shortly. Architects probably didn't even know that sports for disabled existed at all. Bling had dropped him off outside the building, but had to drive on to an appointment with another client. Anyway, Logan managed to open and pass through the door, but then he was inert again. Being here felt to him a little bit like a defeat. The second he started playing rugby instead of basketball, he would accept his further limitations. For rugby far less motor function was needed than for basketball, and it was playable even with a much higher spine damage. Logan permitted himself a short mournful memory flashback at his basketball-buddies. He loved to be the goalgetter of the team, he had been good at it, he was quick and adept, and his team appreciated and accepted him. Logan sighed again. Right, no way back. This was another team he had to prove worthy for. With a determined expression, he continued to enter the heart of the coliseum.

He silently entered the playing the gym. The team was already in the middle of the training session, Logan saw 6 players fighting for the ball. One of the men at the margin came directly towards him. He was about 60 years old and also sitting in a wheelchair, dressed in a trainings outfit. Logan started the communication: "Hello, I'm Logan Cale. I called earlier, because I want to join." - The other man smiled warmly. "Yes, I remember. I am Neal, the trainer. Welcome!" He reached out his hand to shake Logan's. Logan noticed his warm and strong grip and felt instantly better and more at ease. Neal watched Logan's wheelchair. „But I am afraid, to join us, you need another chair." Logan did come with his basketball chair, although he perfectly knew that they used another kind of chair. But what could he do? He shrugged and said: "Can't bring what I don't have." - Neal nodded. "Right. So, if you just want to try out, I am sure, one of the boys will lend you one. Are you familiar with the rules?" In spite of the fact that Logan nodded again, Neal just went on to explain the rules. He talked and explained everything he could think of, then he called one of the players to them. The other guy agreed to change the wheelchairs to let Logan try out a little bit. And then Logan felt already again awkward, because they needed a helper to perform the change. And sure enough, there were at least three people sitting on the bench at the margin, ready to help. Apparently they were with some of the players. As they had played basketball, there rarely was a 'walker' around, usually they played on their own. The other guy who lent Logan his chair – his name was Bill, as Logan learned soon – was sat down at the bench at the margin, then Logan could enter the other specially constructed rugby wheelchair and after that, Bill could enter Logan's basketball-chair. But as he finally sat inside it, fixed with belts for safety and had his hands wrapped in something rubber-like to easier push the wheel (at wheelchair Rugby, you don't grab the rim, you just push with the whole hand the wheel directly, which is solid and has no spokes), Logan already felt better. And as he more and more became a part of the game, Logan experienced genuine joy. It had been too long for him since he last played basketball or other team sports. Yes, again he could pass balls to teammates, together they could choreograph offensive moves, and just to be at the right position in the right time became an asset. This was a profoundly tactical game, and Logan loved the challenge both of the mind and his body in combination with team spirit, in spite of the lack of attempts shooting a ball through the high basket. He would definitely order himself such a rugby chair as soon as he was at home!

Since he was only lending the chair from Bill, he could not stay inside his chair until the end of the training session. Too soon for his taste they switched again, and Logan had to watch from his position at the margin. But that was also interesting. Like this he could learn a lot about tactics and he saw a lot of small tricks, the others were performing. And they trained several special moves. He could get a feeling for this kind of game.

Soon enough, the training was over and everybody headed to the changing rooms. Since Bling didn't show up yet, Logan followed, glad to have some utensils to freshen himself up afterwards in his backpack. As he joined the others, everybody was curious about him. Logan told them about his basketball experiences and mentioned shortly that the state of his spine had gotten worse. But then he quickly changed the subject and asked a lot of questions concerning the tactics and the game in general, and a pleasant conversation spun out. In between the conversation several of the players vanished – always one at the time – towards the showers. Logan guessed, that there were not so many accessible showers and they had to take turns. He didn't shower, after all, he was not that bad soaked from his short experience and it would have been too much of a hassle. Especially since he didn't know how the showers would look like and without someone to help he could forget it. And what he definitely didn't want was asking one of the helpers of the other players. Finally, Bling showed up to drive him home.

Bling started to drive, Logan at the passenger seat, since they were in Bling's car. After a couple of comfortably silent minutes, where both were deep in reflection about the last hours, since Bling had had problems with his client and Logan had a lot of impressions to process, Bling began to ask Logan: "So. You liked it?" He smiled mildly, knowing already the answer to his question of Logan's expression as he fetched him. Logan, ripped out of his thoughts, answered: "Uhm.. yeah! I mean, yeah, it was ok..." - He glanced sideways toward Bling now and continued: "Think you can bring me next week again, and then perhaps stay a little bit?" - Bling nodded slowly. "Thought already that you would ask me that. See, the problem is this other client I have. He is not an easy case and needs my full attention...and I don't know if I can switch the appointments with him...hm.. I try to figure that out, but I cannot promise anything." - Logan nodded, "Thanks, Bling. I would appreciate it, but if not, it's also ok." Inwardly already thinking about, whom he might ask instead of Bling. Max was out of question, since she had to stay with the baby. But he would figure it out, that was for sure.