Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or the characters and don't intend to use them to gain money out of it.

A/N: I was deeply inspired to write on with the story, even if it's obviously not yet Logan's birthday. Which takes place by the way on 11th November. But since I already wrote it, I thought, I could as well publish it now. This is only the first part of his birthday, the second part will be in another chapter. I thoroughly appreciate reviews! Thank you all for your interest.

For this chapter I owe special thanks to cherithcutestory2, since she helped me a lot with 'Seattle'-questions! Thanks, Cherith! And now please enjoy.

Far

published 1. September 2014

13. Dinner with Be(n)ne(t)fits - Part I

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Space Needle, Sector 3, 10th November 2024, late evening

Max was sitting at her favourite spot on the space needle. She needed the personal space to gather her thoughts, knowing that Logan would take good care of Ben while she was away. This was all so overwhelming emotionally and she had no clue how to deal with it. Nobody taught her about emotionally getting involved with beloved ones and relatives in her childhood. It turned out as an actual handicap for her, not knowing how to deal with family related issues. And besides, her emotions were not just 'bad' emotions. No, it was more complicated. They were totally mixed up. It all happened too fast for her taste in the last weeks.

Max pondered about it all to try to sort it out. First, Logan's fingers slowly turned more and more stiff, and it bothered him a lot, she knew it. Even if he wasn't ready to admit it. Normal everyday tasks became sometimes a real issue and he now needed help or a large deal of patience for things he just flipped in an eye wink before. This was emotionally incriminating, presumably for both of them. Then, as things seemed to really go down the loo, Sam Carr had come up with a totally new idea of treatment, which brought up a good deal of hopeful and happy feelings. But then, as she saw the list of what Logan could not eat or drink anymore, Max got directly sober. It was like the menu of a combined Mormon and Tibetian monk's prison. Hell, he was not even allowed milk! No animal albumen, no coffee, no alcohol, no sugar, not a lot of other things, no fun, it seemed to her. But a crazy amount of ginger, onions and oranges. It was a real challenge to get them on a daily base. What was Sam thinking? Logan was already skinny, the man had to eat! At this point an inner voice said to her: "Stop it! Perhaps this is a weird kind of 'mother hen' instinct turning out?"

But the worst was that tomorrow on Logan's birthday she now could not make him the present she wanted: Since long she had planned out to bake Logan a real nice cake with the help from Original Cindy. They had mused over recipes for weeks, until they found something appropriate. Four days ago, Max had bought all the missing ingredients and brought everything to Original Cindy's kitchen, when she could disguise it well with a work-run for Jam Pony. They had been ready to cook, and then Sam Carr came up with his stupid diet treatment! Why now? Why not, say 5 days after Logan's birthday?! Max's inner feelings were torn. On the one hand she knew Logan had no time and if this worked to stop the process, the earlier the better. But on the other hand... She knew, those were perhaps selfish thoughts, but she couldn't help it.

And she had no idea what to offer him to his birthday. Max glanced at the watch of her mobile phone. Which would be in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Damned! She had to come up with something quickly!

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Fogle Towers, Penthouse, Sector 9, 11th November 2024, early morning

Unlike the day before, Logan awoke early and without the 'help' of either the alarm clock or the noises of his son Ben. He just awoke as the shimmering sun began to lift in a fulvous glow into its daily course. Suddenly he had a strong urge to open a window or to go outside. The air must be completely fresh and new, how appropriate, since this was not only a new day in his life, but also the beginning of a new year of his lifetime. And, since there was new hope for his treatment, Logan hoped it would be a good year of his lifetime. Anyway, he couldn't stay in bed anymore, even if this was a ridiculous early time of the day.

Cautiously, as not to wake up Max, he slowly proceeded to turn around. But all precautions were in vain. Max was not there. Logan became agitated. As quick as he could master, he sat himself up, leaning at the headboard of the bed, and fulfilled automatically all the movements involved to get into his wheelchair with the help of the additional transfer bar, he now needed badly. It took a good amount of time. Simultaneously his thoughts spinned around Max. He tried to remember if she went to bed with him last night. He couldn't tell, anyway, he did sleep quite fast, because he had been exhausted. At least his body was not yet used to the lack of protein, sugar and a lot of other things slightly pushing his circulation. So since he had started with Sam's diet, he just felt weak and sleepy. But that seemed to be normal. Sam told him that already stopping to drink coffee would make anybody a little bit sleepy for a few days until your body gets used to it, let alone all the other things. Interestingly this morning he was just awake and he felt no inner urge to drink coffee or anything else to begin the day with. Probably he was over the 'sleepy phase'. It would not be a bad moment for that. But that didn't solve the enigma where the heck Max was. At least this was his birthday. He wanted her to be with him at least today!

As he had hauled and strapped himself into the wheelchair, which took a lot more effort and time lately - he dreaded the moment who would come soon when he wouldn't be able to do this on his own anymore, he went quickly to the living room to have a look. But it was empty, as well as the kitchen. No Max. He didn't dare to open Ben's room door, since he seemed to sleep peacefully. No point in making things complicated and wake him.

Logan gave up, he persuaded himself, that he couldn't do anything about it now and Max hopefully would soon appear. So he thought, 'first things first' and headed to his bathroom to begin with his morning routine as far as he could still do it on his own. During the last days, he had several times problems to cath himself, because his fingers didn't work anymore as smoothly as they should. It was so embarrassing to need Max to do it for him. And now that she wasn't even here... he stopped himself in this train of thoughts. 'First things first', he reminded himself. Which would be in this case medications. Anyway, he would try out if today he would manage ok.

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Pike Place Market, Waterfront, Sector 5, 11th November 2024, 9.18 am

The elk hide leather felt smooth and in a way pagan in her fingers. Max was considering of buying Logan a handcrafted leather journal. His old journal with all the poetry in it was kind of full, and she knew that in 'normal' times, he would be quite fond of that. But these times were far away from being 'normal', even if slowly institutions and facilities like the Pike Place Market reopened gradually.

From a personal point of view, she simply could not give Logan the presents she wanted, even if it were simple things like a cake or a journal to write his thoughts into. That was because Logan's life was not simple enough anymore so that he could use such simple items. With his fingers fading away, the journal would be of no real use for him, and it would probably remind him even more of the loss he had. So the journal was no option, as nice as this handcraft was.

She ran out of time. By now Logan would be wide awake and she was not there to say 'Happy Birthday' to him. Max became desperate. She would find something for Logan now! She simply had to! Perhaps Rachel the golden pig would inspire her...

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Fogle Towers, Penthouse, Sector 9, 11th November 2024, 10.04 am

The door fell close with a soft clicking. But Logan heard it anyway. Thank god, Max was back. He already had cared for himself and Ben as good as he was able to, but he needed her urgently for a couple of errands he couldn't accomplish on his own, including the changing of Ben's diaper and helping him with his bowel management. It felt so humiliating to depend on someone for such simple tasks, but he was as well a little bit angry. Max knew exactly that they needed her, and she just deliberately ignored that fact and went away on his birthday! What was she thinking?, Logan mused as he headed towards the entrance door.

But as he saw her standing there, all conscious of guilt, shattered in tears like a picture of misery, his anger vanished. He quickly rolled up to her and stretched out his arms. Max sunk into his lap, tears now flowing silently, speaking with a rough voice: "Oh Logan, I... sorry I wasn't there!" She interrupted the hug to sneeze her nose loudly, then returned into his arms and pressing her cheek to his. Softly she whispered: "I wanted to give you a special present for your birthday, but... oh.. sorry, I haven't said it yet, have I?" With even more guilt she pulled away from him, wiped off the remaining tears from her cheek and cleared her throat, before she as steady as she could said: "Happy birthday, my beloved male!" - Logan smiled crookedly and pulled her towards him once again. "Come here. We do the birthday business later on. First tell me what happened." He soothed "Shhh.. it's all good now..." Max broke down once more in his hug. Then she softly began: "Oh Logan, I planned it out so well, you know, first I wanted to bake you a cake." With that, Logan pushed Max away a bit to be able to look in her face. "You wanted to bake a cake for me." He repeated incredulously and with a suppressed grin, which Max apparently didn't notice. She went on: "Yes, I had all prepared with Cindy. And then this stupid doctor came up with this stupid diet plan!" - Now Logan grinned openly. This was so sweet of Max, and so typical in a way. He loved her for her lovely indignation. Logan answered: "Ok, I see. And then ?" Max sniffed "Then I had only a short time to find something else. I found a real nice item, but you wouldn't be able to..." - "Max!" Logan cut her short, feeling that this was going into a direction he didn't want to think, at least not today. "It's ok, you don't need to make a big present for my birthday. The best present is if you are here with me. Right?" Max linked her big eyes deeply with his and nodded slowly. "Ok. But what if I have already something else to give you as a present? Would you take it anyway?" she asked meekly. Logan smiled widely. "Sure I would take it. I just wanted to emphasize that you didn't have to. I am fond of whatever you give me, because it is from you. But what I would be really fond of is if you'd change Ben's diaper. He badly needs it!"

Max rose guiltily off Logan's lap and put the shopping bags on the kitchen table. "Will do", she gave quickly back and vanished in the direction of Ben's room, as Logan sighed of relief.