Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel and its original figures. Just imagining them living on.

A/N:

Yeah, I managed the "real time" challenge so far, we'll see if I can keep this up... ;)

Just to remind you in advance of Logan's physical state at this point: His hand functions are affected. His index fingers and thumbs function normally, his middle and ring fingers are already a little bit numb, but that depends on the daily well-being. His pinky fingers are already completely numb and useless. Transfers from and to the wheelchair without help are mostly too exhausting to do it alone at this point. He can still drive the car, but with alterations, since he needs something to lean his back on securely while driving.

Sorry, if the story has gotten so angsty and cranky, but I can't help it right now to turn it out like this. But since it's my first story, I still have hope that the next stories will be better. Until then enjoy this already...

For the Crossover-Story with Covert Affairs: I'll keep on posting soon, promise! Most of the following chapter is already written...

Now, have a good 20th November - or the rest of it,

Far

15. First check up or why Wednesdays sometimes are annoying.

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Metro Medical Hospital, Patient Lab Room – Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 11.35 AM

The sting startled and hurt Logan. It was like an electrical impulse that flooded quickly through all of his body - well that part of his body that was still sensible. A dry thought occurred to him and passed as quickly as he came: That he should be grateful to be still able to feel the sting. Logan clenched his teeth and managed to concentrate on the procedure the nurse was performing. After she put a small flexible hose as a drainage into his arm, she alternately filled a stunning amount of tiny bulbs with his blood. Logan sighed. This was ridiculous. They couldn't earnestly need all this blood, this wasn't a f*** vampire party he was donating for. He had already come into this room in bad temper, since the first tests he had to do had been muscular and sensational measurements. Soon it had been obvious, that he had lost again some inches, but he couldn't speak about it with Sam yet, that would be after all the tests, which left Logan a little bit frustrated.

Just as he prepared to complain about it, the nurse smiled a professional plastic smile at him and said - just a hint too loudly, as apparently normally she was dealing with elderly folks: "Now, Mr. Cale - we are done. Please press this bandage into your armpit for about 3 minutes. Do you need help to get out and into the waiting area?" Logan looked daggers at her. What was she thinking? That he was another 90something half-demented grandfather? He couldn't help but shrug at this as only answer, as the nurse already loosened his breaks and manoeuvered him outside into the hallway, while he was still pressing the bandage. This treatment left him speechless. He would surely complain about it at Sam's office, as soon as he got into it.

At the waiting area, Max jumped up and was in two steps with him. She scrutinized his facial expression and softly asked: "What's going on? They only took your blood, didn't they?" Logan answered with another shrug and a non-pronounciated "grmpf" sound, turned towards the elevators, while saying: "Come on, I have to talk to Sam!" Now it was Max's turn to shrug. She gave back: "Whatever" and followed him.

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Metro Medical Hospital, Sam Carr's office – Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 12.05 PM

Inside the familiar and chaotic office Logan gave a short glance of pity toward the poorly tended plants that had survived on the windowsill. "You should really considering to water your plants, Sam", Logan said pensively. Sam looked irritated up towards Logan. Then he admitted absently: "Plants? Oh, yeah, you're right...now let's see. I must say that your muscular and sensory tests were not that bad as you just described them to me. Sure, you lost again some, but if we compare the amount of loss, it was less than the last time within the same time range. I must say, that I am a little bit thrilled. Ok, we have to wait for the chemical analysis of the bloodwork, but as far as I see it might work the way we wanted." Logan looked up surprised: "Wait, are you saying, you let me change my diet completely and all that hassle for nearly nothing?" Logan glanced suspiciously at Sam. Sam straightened up and gave back: "No, Logan. It's just that the effects take longer to be really visible. Wait another 2 weeks and you'll see what I mean, if I am right and the blood analysis confirms it." Logan looked blank. "That means - what exactly? Has it stopped? No! So?..." Sam smiled at Logan and answered: "I believe Bling has a proverb for this - 'patience in all things', right?" Logan sighed annoyed. "Yep, he might say that from time to time." Sam's smile broadened. "See?" I'll call you when I got the analysis. And see you in two weeks. Good bye Logan."

Fogle Towers, Car Park, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, early afternoon

Logan sighed for the umptieth time today. He had lost count. A couple of metallic noises came from the back of the car. Alec was carelessly cramming his wheelchair into the trunk beneath the special rugby-wheelchair. His everyday wheelchair had new alterations, including a neck-rest. He didn't need it yet, but it was more a question of feeling safe if he strained himself that he had the possibility to rest his head, just in case. He only used it once actually, but it rendered the whole item again slightly bulkier to put into a car trunk, and 'normal' people would have just taken off the neck rest to gain more space, likewise the footrest. But regrettably Alec, like all the other transgenics were NOT 'normal people', which meant that they sometimes just didn't think through their actions. Like right now. Logan was already strapped into the driver's seat and looked into the rear view mirror. "Alec, be careful! I need them both later on as well!" - Alec smiled his untroubled boyish smile and said patiently: "I know Logan, and I won't throw them away. Promise. Now, got it!" With these words, he slammed the trunk door shut, opened the side door, slit in and looked expectantly at Logan. Logan shook his head and started the car.

While he was driving, Logan had to think of the rugby-training of the last week, which took place on Tuesday as an exception. That was the first time Alec had accompanied him. Logan unvoluntarily smiled as his mind jumped back in time. Alec was such a rogue! He had been the source of many didoes and had cheered up the whole training company. At first, Logan had been a bit shy about the fact that Alec had accompanied him and had to help him out with so many small things, and so many intimate small things. But all in all it had turned out to be totally ok. And Alec was quickly accepted by his teammates as the funny guy Logan brought along. Besides, Alec was fascinated with the tactics behind this sport and he had tried out to wheel in a rugby chair and play with the others. But Alec lacked the coordination to handle the ball and the wheelchair at the same time. This was something Manticore didn't learn them, and Logan had watched amused from the side bench - leaning with his back at the wall - Alec's idle attempts to keep up with the pace of the others. Afterwards Alec blamed his abuse of alcohol and the lack of sleep because of Logan's party, but Logan knew better about the small amount of sleep an X-5 actually needed, and how much alcohol he could drain without any big side effects.