A/N:Today I provide you with another chapter. Random funfact: Just after I had written the rugby match, a friend of mine told me their team (soccer) had an experience the same way. Now we are getting nearer towards the end of the story. Until then: Enjoy the bonny springtime.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Dark Angel and the concept and don't intend to make money of it.

Please review!

Far

.

17. Rugby - or how (not) to be a booze buddy

.
A gym hall in Portland, Oregon - Saturday, March 14th, 2026 - about 3.20 p.m.

The noise of the small crowd in the gym hall was increasing. It would be only a couple of minutes to go, then the match would be over. Both teams had given a hard fight, each team had had an advantage, but now the score was equaled once again. Most of the supporters were from the home team, Portland. Logan's team could bring only a few helpers - mostly relatives of the players. Just at that minute, the Portland team scored again, after a hard push-through of one of their players. Now they needed all the more to score, and quickly. Logan and his comrades performed a couple of quick passes, but were blocked out everytime they reached the Portland defense. They did a razzle-dazzle and Logan managed to surround the Portland defense to get the ball into the lap of his comrade Ian. He scored. The general noise abated, but the Seattle fangroup got even louder in their tiny spot. Now both teams were evened once again. And only a short time to go! It seemed to be possible now to mark another score and turn the match. Then a hard fight from one of the chunkier types of the Portland team left Bill's wheelchair turned over, so they were one man down for the short time it took to help him up again. It was just a tiny distraction, but it was sufficient for Portland to quickly mark the score within a blink of an eye, at least so it seemed. Shortly after that, the match ended. All the Seattle team was shocked and outraged. It was so unfair! The emotions cooked up. Neil, the experienced team leader spun off to negotiate with the referees, but to no avail. The game was over and Portland won. Defeated, Logan and most of his comrades rolled slowly towards their folks. Nobody spoke a word, and all together headed very quietly towards the showers. It was so unfair! To loose was one thing. But to loose due to unfairness was hard to bear. For consolence, all of the team treated themselves for ice cream as they made a stop on the way back at a touristic rest stop near the junction for the road to Mount St. Helens.

.

Metro Medical Hospital - tuesday, 17 march 2026 - late afternoon

Logan was sitting – again – at Sam Carr's office to hear the news of his intermediate results. This time, Alec had accompanied him and helped him to get through the hassle of all the blood and muscular tests, spinal radiography and all the different rooms with different medical equipment they had to show up. Logan was just glad that for today everything was over. He was really tired.

Now Sam grinned enthusiastically at Logan. "Your spine-degrad slowed at least down for a good amount, but there is still a degradation. I spare you the medical and chemical speech. So I would say, at least, we bought you a lot of more time with that measurements." - Logan smiled back. Alec was with him and slapped Logan slightly on his back. "Told you it will work.", he attributed. Logan grinned up to him. "Yes, you did, indeed." At this point, Logan felt relief. Finally some good news. It had been worth all the inconveniences with the medical tests today. Sam regained the attention. "So, I would say, just follow the path we started at least for half a year, then we decide again. See you in 4 weeks, Logan." With a content feeling inside, Logan unleashed his brakes and wheeled out of the door Alec was holding for him. Just as he was rolling outside he gave back: "See ya." - As they reached the car, Alec helped Logan into the passenger seat. Since Logan lost a big part of his handfunctions, driving with hand controls only was out of question. The impact of not being able to drive anymore hit Logan hard. Now he could never go out on his own anymore. He always needed somebody to be with him, a big loss of freedom. On the other hand, he had more company than before. Alec broke down the wheelchair, stuffed it into the back of the car and climbed to the driver's seat. Before he started the car, he glanced at Logan full of expectation: "And now we get a drink at Crash?" - Logan shook his head, smirking. "Always the same Alec! No, I am supposed NOT to have any alcohol, remember? And YOU have to drive..." - Alec looked boyish with a bold smile. "Could have tried."

As he started the car, Alex made another attempt to buddy up with Logan. "We could go anyway to play darts and see who's there... You know what? today is St. Patrick's day! You have to come!"

.

An Irish Pub in Seattle - tuesday, 18. march 2026 - around 2 a.m.

Logan's brain felt dulled. Anyhow, it was hard to grasp a clear thought. Although he didn't drink a drop of alcohol! How was that even possible? The only thing he drank all night had been non-alcoholic Guinness that Max had obtained for him at the black market. Thoughts came and went, they floaded around him, passed slowly by, but he couldn't grasp ahold of them and keep them. This state felt weird, for sure, but he was too lazy to analyze his situation. But one thing he knew for sure: Max had won. As usual at those things. They sat inmidst the crowd of an irish pub on St. Patrick's day - enjoying themselves in spite of - or because of everything. He was not too sure about that.

And this time, they had been two against him. Max had the support of Alec. So, together they had convinced him that he absolutely had to go out to celebrate! At least there was more reason than just St. Patrick's day! His body behaved lately, and that was a huge reason! Plus, Max had obtained the Guinness just for him. Logan eventually gave in, knowing that they would never stop to ask him all night long.

Now here he was - people dancing wildly around him to various types of folk music - unvoluntarily touching and bugging him. Logan hated crowds, especially crowds in combination with alcohol! He tried to make a note to himself in his mind to thorougly avoid corwds in the future, but it was so difficult to keep his thoughts by himself at all. It was obviously not the right moment to create a memo to himself...

Splash - In that moment Max put another pint of non-alcoholic Guinness in front of Logan with a loud "klonk", so that the liquid swapped over the rim.

Logan grunted "And how do you think shall my belly not be sick after all this cold beer?", he fixated her with his oceangreen eyes and added with a mocking undertone: "Do you have any idea how much I have to pee after that?" - Max smiled knowingly at him and whispered into his ear: "But you have a plumbing for this." Logan's face had been already red because of the heated atmosphere and his exaggeration, but now it went even redder. He whispered back: "Yes, but even my plumbing has its limits..."