Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel and have no intention do gain money out of it.

AN:

It's been a long time! But finally we can celebrate again Logan's birthday! :) I thought it would be appropriate to post this today, since it's a birthday fic. Happy Birthday, Logan Cale!

Hopefully, the next chapters will come in "real time", only 10 years too early. :)

Thanks for everybody who's still interested in DA! Enjoy the day!

Far

14. Dinner with Be(n)ne(t)fits - Part II

Fogle Towers, Penthouse, Sector 9, Monday, 11th November 2024, late afternoon

Max's cheek was slightly reddened. Together with her full lips she looked like the archetype of the pulsing life, as she was standing in the damping kitchen, drying dishes and storing them away. Logan had problems to turn his gaze away from his beloved healthy and cheery wife. He had to concentrate on his cooking issues, since the first party guests would arrive anytime soon. But his mind wandered off towards the nice sunny afternoon they had had in the Kinnear Park, time and again.

When they were there in midst the sunglowing trees with a distant view of the ships in the docks and the water leaping at the bay, Max had eventually offered him her present. Logan was stunned and really surprised about that. After all they had lived through, Max did actually remember how fond he had been of ancient artefacts with a meaning. The night they met for the first time, as she had tried to steal his ancient sculpture of Bast - the Egyptian goddess - seemed to be ages away. Logan smiled as he saw that the item she gave him was a turtle carved out of natural turquoise. As Max handed it to him, she told him that it was a totem figure of the Zuni, which stands for the Mother Earth and goddess energy. The turtle is said to guard the door to the fairy realm and no one may pass unless she approves. She inspires creativity and helps to tap into earth energy for strength. And energy was something he really needed at the moment. Logan sighed. He was so grateful for that tactile symbol of Max's affection. The female strength behind it he felt helped him mentally for his healing a good deal. He wished that he could just keep the turtle between his fingers for the rest of the day, it felt so warm and at the same time elementary to him. But since there was work to be done, a meal to prepare and Ben to be tended to, Logan had to put it away regretfully. As they had arrived back at the penthouse, he had fetched an empty wooden box which was padded inside and carefully placed the totem turtle inside. He could caress and marvel at it later. 'First things first!', Logan thought as he mentally considered the preparations yet to be done.

Soon, their helpers for the evening - Original Cindy, Gem and Joshua arrived. With Joshua taking care of Ben and the two quite adept women to help with everything else, they were soon ready for the big party dinner and all was set. A little bit too soon, but it is always hard to estimate things like that in advance. So they all sat down to rest for a moment in the living room where Joshua and Ben already were adsorbed in their play with building monuments out of bricks. After they had watched the play for a short while, Original Cindy asked: "Now, so, will my Boo's tell me who's gonna come down t'night or shall OC be surprised all by herself?" Gem looked - as well curious - towards Max and Logan, who sat as near together as possible - Max on the outer side of the couch, touching Logan's wheelchair with her knees.

Max and Logan exchanged a glance, then Logan took absently Max's hand between his hands and answered smilingly: "It will be a lot of nice folks, plus my cousin and his wife." Just as he wanted to elaborate about the invited guests, the phone rang. Logan sighed and said, as he loosened the brakes to start toward his desk where the telephone sat: "Sorry, be right back!" He rushed toward the phone as fast as he could, then stopped himself and took delicately the receiver with his right hand and listened attentively. It was Neil, his Rugby mate, who just wanted to let him know, that this week's rugby training had to shift from Wednesday to Tuesday - same time of day, due to a collision of dates within the gym hall. Logan thanked him for the information and sighed, as he ended the call. Such a short notice would mean a completely new organization of how he would get there, who would care for Ben and who would help him out at the gym hall. It was hard enough to get those kind of things organized with a long period planning on a weekly base, but one day in advance was nearly not manageable. And he intently WANTED to get there! The rugby training was one of the things he still COULD do, and it gave him a lot of pleasure to have the bodily exhaustion in combination with the community of his mates plus his ability to plan out tactics in his mind.

Logan returned with slightly dampened enthusiasm to join the others. In the meantime, Alec had arrived through the opening of the roof light. His comment on that manoeuvre was that he had to stay in shape and taking the roof path to Logan's penthouse was always a good exercise. That sobered Logan even more. Max sensed that something was going on, so she asked quickly who called. Logan told her that the rugby training was newly scheduled for the following day, and Max sighed instantly loudly to hear for the others, who exchanged clueless glances. "Now, why would it be a problem to have rugby training on a Tuesday and not on a Wednesday?" Gem asked, "Is there some sort of bad karma to do it on Tuesdays?" Logan shook his head. "No. The problem is not the date. The problem is to organize it, that I can get there." Gem lifted her shoulders, with an even more clueless facial expression. But before Logan could continue, Max burst out: "Damned! This week everything turned out so smoothly, so far! She shortly knocked onto the couch out of anger. Then Alec began to speak: "Wow wow wow! Easy, Max! Now please would you cool down and explain what on earth the problem is?" Max exchanged sad glances with Logan, and as he slightly nodded, she began: "Look, life isn't as simple anymore for us as it used to be. If you are severely handicapped and have a toddler to tend to, you have to plan out things. And this last minute-shit doesn't help a bit!" She sighed again and continued: "Logan needs help to get there and to be there. But Ben can't be left alone at the flat and I can't take him there, it is not a good place for him to be. And sometimes work interferes additionally. My problem is, I can't help Logan out there and be at the same time with Ben at home. This has to be organized. You see the problem? And this week, we just had everything managed!" Logan's face had reddened, while Max spoke. He didn't want the others to know the extension and details of his problems, but then, sooner or later everybody would know the exact dimension of his helplessness. Alec exchanged glances with Cindy and Gem and asked surprised: "But why didn't you just told us? We are your friends, we'll help, that's no question!" Alec shook his head while saying that. OC joined in: "Max, if you ever need Original Cindy to watch Ben, just say it! What are Boo's for?"

Logan cleared his throat and began with his still reddened face: "I didn't want to bother you with all the details of my incapability..." he faded out, the last word quite softly spoken. Gem said, still astonished: "And I thought, we are over all these self-deprecating issues! Goddamn, Logan, WE are your friends, and we'll help, no matter in which state you are. Do you finally get it? Now, who goes with Logan tomorrow afternoon?" Alec volunteered, and so this was settled.

Shortly after that the doorbell began repeatedly to ring and the guests arrived. At the first ringing of the doorbell, Max sprinted towards the door to get it. Logan didn't even try to head towards it, he just leisurely followed, knowing that Max would cover the rest. The others remained chatting in the living room. Max opened the Penthouse door and there stood Bennett next to Marian, holding a little bit awkwardly a big bunch of flowers. Bennett cleared his throat and began "ahmm... hmm Max...", he exchanged an annoyed glance with Marian. "Sorry, we didn't think of... ahmm. Is Logan anywhere?" He tried to peak around the entrance, obviously searching for Logan. Max stepped directly in front of him and smiled a disarming bright smile: "Sure, I get Logan, come on in! Shall I take the flowers?" Now Marian coughed nervously and answered: "No they are for Logan. Sorry, we didn't think to bring something for you as well. How rude from us!"

Max now smiled openly. "Hey, no probs! Come in, I'll get Logan!" But as Max turned to head towards the living area, Logan came already along the hallway, so that he could directly welcome Bennett and Marian. Just as Max wanted to close the door, the elevator pinged and Asha stepped outside. Max and she hugged each other shortly and then entered the flat to join the others.

Original Cindy and Gem were already preparing the champagne as a welcome drink. Joshua had put Ben into his playpen and left him with some toys inside. As everybody held his or her champagne glass in the hands, Logan spoke a toast into the circle of friends which had formed itself around him. Deeply moved of the moment and the friendship gathered in his home he stated: "Once I heard something like: 'Sometimes life makes the hardest decisions for you, but it's always your decision how to live with it.' A couple of years ago I wouldn't know the meaning of these words, but now - and thanks to you - things are very different. I am glad that you are all here and may it be a wonderful evening for us all. Cheers."

As everybody nipped at their glasses, OC asked casually: "Logan, where is Bling? I mean, ain't he belong with us?" - Logan raised his head towards her and responded: "Well, yeah, normally he belongs here. But tonight he has more important things to do. He told me to greet you all on his behalf!" Logan added cheerfully: "Now would you please mind to settle down on the table to get ready for the great dinner à la Cale."

Everybody took a seat, Asha settled near Alec, while Max and Cindy fetched the hot bowls and dishes out of the kitchen and Logan parked his wheelchair at the top of the table. Joshua glanced suspiciously at his carefully laid out plates, fork, spoons and knife. He took the fork, lifted it in front of his face and turned it slowly like a researcher for foreign items. Bennett and Marian watched bewildered Joshua's apparent lack of knowledge, concerning this important area of daily life. Alec glanced at the looks of Bennett and Marian and finally smiled broadly: "Joshua, buddy. Just put the fork down. You are frightening Logan's family if you continue." Marian reddened as she heard Alec's words. Joshua snapped feistily back: "But Joshua terrified also. Joshua will get it all confused and then Logan be angry. So Joshua has to find out about dishes and all." Before Logan could react, Bennett began to speak: "Look, nobody has to be terrified to confuse silverware. This evening is meant to be recreational for everybody. So just eat as you normally do and everybody will feel comfortable." Several people had problems to hold back their chuckles as they heard Bennett's words and thought about the way Joshua used to eat 'normally' on a daily base. Logan, who tried as well to keep a steady face as best as he could, cleared his throat and said: "Right! Just enjoy you meal everybody, and Joshua, I am never angry about such things! Only please try to keep it on the table. Now don't hesitate to help yourself, we have more in the kitchen."

All began to eat Logan's deliciousnesses in silence. Only disturbed by a random comment or a plea to reach for a plate or a bowl. After the first appetite was sated, Bennett began a conversation with Joshua, who valiantly indeed had succeeded to eat with his fork and knife. Bennett was curious, he rarely had the occasion to meet a visible transgenic. They lingered normally just simply not in his circles of acquaintances. Max and Alec were a different story, since they could easily fit in and had not this air of exotic strangeness. So Bennett tried to use the chance and find out more about this kind of people.

Joshua was very pleased with the honest interest Logan's relative showed towards him. He was especially fond to tell Bennett about his paintings and what inspired his artistic muse. While Bennett was totally surprised about the fact that Joshua was an artist, this fascinated him even more. And so the two were soon within a profound discussion about arts, culture and values in general. They rarely noticed the others around them, who had more mundane subjects of discussion. While they all ate their dessert - a pear-banana cream with chocolate rasps and a nut cake as foundation - all were enjoying themselves in friendly discussions. Suddenly a shrill let them freeze. Max, Alex and Gem automatically switched into their combat mode and began to sweep with their eyes for the source of sound. Only instants later, they heard another sound, just more muffled, and then Zack came through the doorway. Instantly all transgenics relaxed at his sight. "Zack! Couldn't you ring the doorbell? You startled the most of the guests here!", Max exclaimed. Zack lifted his hands up in an apologetic gesture. "Sorry, I took the roof entrance at the guest bedroom, but never thought it would be so rusty." Alec smiled: "Yeah, that's why you always have to take the roof light at the corridor. That is just nicely greased and makes no sound at all!" Logan, whose facial expression was a mixture between irritated and amused, threw in: "Seriously, you're not discussing in front of me, which roof path is the best!" The transgenics exchanged sheepish glances. Logan shook his head and continued: "I would strongly advise and really appreciate it, if ANYONE would use the entrance door of the penthouse and - in the best case - ring the bell IN ADVANCE of getting in. Now, welcome Zack and please sit down and eat something. There is much of the main course left in the kitchen, OC could you please..." - Cindy jumped up and quickly responded smilingly: "I got it!", before she left.