Disclaimer: I still don't own anyone, except for Ben.

A/N: Sorry you had to wait this long! I try to get better at uploading, but I can't promise anything. But don't worry, there are still a lot of chapters left and I don't plan to abandon this story. Thanks a million for the reviews and helpful comments! Enjoy...

Reference: The Flashback in Logan's thoughts happened in the Virtual Season 3, Episode 8 "Brothers in Arms" (page 16).

Chapter 9 – Doc's appointment

Fogle Towers, Parking Garage – Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 7.30 AM

The elevator door binged. Logan gave a short sigh as Max yawned heartily. She felt that she decidedly had too less coffee this morning. It was partly her fault, because she had had a hard time to get out of bed this morning. Like this there had been less time to prepare the coffee and drink it. Reluctantly she followed Logan out of the elevator into the parking garage of the Fogle Towers, pushing Ben's baby stroller towards Logan's car. She was quite fond of the stroller, because it could be broken down into two pieces. The frame with the tires could be left behind and collapsed into a small package that a carrying bag for the baby was left over. At the car Max put the baby carrier bag with Ben inside cautiously onto the back seat of the Aztec and fixed it there. Ben was soundly asleep, Max envied him so much at this point, but anyway... with a sigh, she popped herself out of the back side of the car and rounded the car to get to help Logan, who in the meantime had dragged himself with a lot of effort already into the driver's seat.

Logan hated it, but he already needed help to sit properly in the car. They had invented a fixation for him to be able to sit balanced, without the fear of toppling over in the middle of a driving manoeuver, which would be quite dangerous for everybody. Now they used to have two additional belts, which glued Logan's back to the car backrest. This measurement provided him free hands for the drive. In return, it diminished his acting range. The car seats were too thick for him to reach around, so Max had to help him with the fixing belts and she took his wheelchair and stuffed it into the back of the car and laid it beneath the baby stroller frame. Since there was enough space, there was no need to break it down now. Like this, she could easily fetch it afterwards when needed and loose no time to set it up again. Logan wasn't particularly fond not to be able to drive alone anymore and to be dependent on somebody to help him get into and out of the car, but he was determined to drive the car by himself as long as it was possible. Even if Max was annoyed by her tiredness and the fact that they were really really late for the doctor's appointment with Ben, Logan enjoyed being in charge to get them there as fast as it safely was possible. It was a challenge, that spiced his life. So he was very proud to arrive at the Metro Medical nearly 4 minutes before the scheduled time. Max smiled shortly at him as she helped him out of the car into his wheelchair and stated: "Logan Cale, defender of the downtrodden, fighter for the good cause – is breaking nearly all existing traffic rules for selfish reasons!" Her smile grew wider, and Logan reciprocated. "Hey, it was an emergency! At least, our destination was a hospital..." - "Yeah yeah... can you lock the car?", Max answered. She had already fetched out the stand of the stroller and fixed the baby bag on top of it. Logan quickly responded. As they sped off to the pedestrian floor, Logan thought to himself: 'Thank god we already know which room we are heading to'. They arrived exactly 4 minutes too late, which turned out to be no problem at all. The nurse in charge complimented them to the waiting room, where they had to wait at least 20 minutes. When they were finally called in to the doctor, Max was steaming with anger. All this stress for nothing! 20 minutes would have been even enough to drink the coffee properly. Logan grinned to himself, well aware of the fact that it would provoke even more anger if Max saw his inner amusement about the situation. At least, Ben seemed to sleep through this all, until they entered the doctor's room.

Metro Medical Hospital, Cafeteria – Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 12.30 PM

It was a noisy big room, where dishes clattered and many voices mixed with each other. Ben didn't like that high level of sounds, that, compared to their apartment, he was not used to.

Logan tried to distract and sooth him. They had occupied a table at the margin near the broad window front. Ben was laying in his carrier bag, which was put onto a chair next to Logan, so that he could comfortably reach him and look him into the eyes. Max had the opinion that it was important for Ben to be able to see one of his parents all the time when he was in a new surrounding, to have a feeling of safety. Logan agreed to that. Beneath them was a pile with their other stuff. Max was gone to get something to eat and drink. Logan was quite fond of how the day went until now. The doctors had given him a vaccination and checked up Ben. Everything was just fine and he was developed properly for his age.

Now they grabbed something to eat and then was Logan's appointment to Sam Carr. His doctor wanted to try a new medication and run some tests with him. This provided at least a little bit of hope. Sam didn't give up yet, that was a good sign. Distractedly he rubbed his numb pinky finger. He still could move it a little bit, but that was already limited. Soon it would be totally lost to him. High time for Sam to find a cure!

Max came back with a tray full of food and water to drink. As she ate with good appetite, her annoyance vanished. She smiled at Logan: "God, I could eat a whole bear!" - Logan lifted his eyebrows. "Can you tell me something new?", he grinned. Max shook her head: "Nope" and with that, she applied herself completely to the meal. Logan watched her tenderly while she finished up everything left on the plate. He could not eat half the amount. But then, his metabolism was completely different. As everything was finished and Max's mood cheered up, Logan seized the opportunity to start a conversation he wanted to have already since the morning. "Max, I just thought about everything. We are quite lucky that everything is fine with Ben. Don't you think?" - Max looked suspiciously at him. "What are you up to, Logan Cale?", she asked intrigued. Logan leaned back and gave her a winning smile. "Oh, I just wondered... how about we celebrate our healthy family life this weekend? How about getting out of Seattle for a change?" - Max beamed at him. She purred nearly not audible given the noise level around: "Oh, Logan! If you thought about something in particular, I am game!" She took his hand on the other side of the table and pressed it shortly. He pressed her hand back before Max gathered the dirty dishes to put them away and Logan prepared Ben and his bag to be picked up to the stroller.

Metro Medical Hospital, Sam Carr's office – Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 16.15 PM

Logan glanced at his watch. Already past 4 o' clock! Gladly all the medical tests were behind him. Max was waiting outside with Ben, breastfeeding him. Sam was now installing himself on top of his loaded desk, fingering with a radiograph and apparently searching for something. Logan watched him calmly.

He pondered about how often he already dwelled in this place and remembered painfully the day Sam had first diagnosed him as he was sitting at the same place he was sitting now. Only at the time he still had the use of his exoskeleton and most of his leg functions.

Flashback: 25th August 2021

Sam stared at the scans for a moment and then turned to Logan, his face creased with concern.

ʺI wish I had better news, Logan.ʺ

Loganʹs head slipped into his hands. After a moment, he looked back up at the neurologist.

ʺSo the virus is back.ʺ

Sam pulled over a stool and sat down, facing Logan. ʺIt doesnʹt appear to be the virus, actually. Your blood work is all quite good. I can see evidence of the antibodies, but no active virus. But both the CT scan and the blood work showed something else. There are other antibodies at work.ʺ

ʺAnd theyʹre doing what?ʺ

ʺItʹs what happened before. You have more immunity this time, but without intervention, those antibodies are going to slowly rob you of your ability to walk.ʺ

...

'Yes', Logan grimly thought to himself. If only Sam's prognosis would have been right and it would have stopped after his ability to walk was robbed off him... But since then, he has come a long way up to now.

Finally Sam found what he was searching for - a package of pills - and began: "Ok, Logan. I want you to take one of these every second day in the morning. I am not sure if it helps, but it's worth a try." After Sam had explained what the pills are scheduled to do inside his body, Logan smiled askew. "Yep, let's try it. Can hardly do more harm."

Sam got back onto this pointed remark. He said: "Look, I know it's not the last word on the subject, but it's a step. We don't have many precedents. But it might become an issue, when all the other blood donations take their tolls on the people who got them. Our only means in this case are trial and error. But you know as well, that I'll try all I can for you. So please trust me, we'll find something. I just can't promise when."

Logan gave Sam's words a thought, then answered bitterly: "Yeah, but that's the point, see? I don't have all the time in the world!" He shrugged sadly. As he lifted his head again, Sam was looking sheepishly at the floor. Logan spoke anew: "Hey, thank you Sam. I appreciate your work. It's good to know, someone is fighting for you." - Sam smiled weakly: "See, now you know how people feel when Eyes Only is fighting for them." Logan warmly smiled back. "And the fight will not be in vain!" Sam hugged Logan as they bade farewell. Now they were on the same page and it was good to have a real friend throughout the years of changes.