Disclaimer: James Cameron et al. not mine no infrigement intended no money being made.

Rating: PG 13

Today 'They' Won the Battle Part 14

By Rhasa

Max begged Logan to tell her everything.

He was reluctant at first, fearing she wouldn't be strong enough to handle the truth, but in the end she manage to persuade him, stopping just short of threatening him, with her claims that it was better to know the truth and face facts that not to know.

"I saw newscasts of the attack on Terminal City up in Canada," he told her. "Details were sketchy. The slant on the story was that the transgenics were responsible for the outbreak of shooting-"

"That's not true," Max sighed.

"Yeah, I know. But you wouldn't expect anything else would you?"

"No," Max admitted. "They still hate us."

"'They' as in the media?"

"'They' as in the general public," she sighed.

Logan nodded softly. "It took me a full two days to make it across the border and down into Seattle. I didn't quite receive the welcome I had hoped," he joked.................................................

"You came this close to getting' your head blown off!" Luke had yelled at him, holding his thumb and finger a mere inch apart. "Anything that moves out there, whether it is cop, cat, rat, snake, or human is currently a target. You have no idea of just how lucky you are."

Logan had approached Terminal City from the South, already knowing that he couldn't use the tunnels to get inside. He had no plan other than to walk straight up to the perimeter fence and hope that someone he knew would recognise him and somehow escort him in. Which is exactly, what happened, kind of – a bullet had whizzed so close past him, he wondered if it had left a permanent part in his hair. Now he stood on what remained of the loading docks, getting a dressing down from Luke.

"Hey, you guys don't exactly have a door bell," he said in his defense.

"You gotta understand," Mole said stepping out of the shadows. "They're just a little on edge," Mole told Logan, hinting towards the half dozen heavily armed, sentries that stood before him. "A little trigger happy. They're also extremely tired, hungry and....." he looked at his 'men' again focusing on two of the youngest that couldn't be more than twelve years old, "maybe even a little scared. Given what's happened and all."

"I understand," Logan said apologetically. "I'm sorry. But I couldn't think of another way. Last time I tried, comms were still down."

"I'm working on that," Dix said.

"I thought these might help," Logan said, as he reached into the backpack he was carrying and threw some circuitry towards Dix.

Dix caught it. "Thanks. Can't hurt." He said after inspecting the technology.

"You always come this prepared?" Mole asked, eyeing Logan with suspicion.

Logan shrugged. "It's not much. Just a few things I could quickly lay my hands on during my journey down here. I've also got a box of morphine, Novocain, bandages, a few other basics. I thought they might come in use," he said as he fished out some more packages and offered them to Mole.

"Yeah, especially for-"Luke began. Before Mole cut him off.

"I'm sure Kyra will appreciate them." Mole replied handing the supplies to one of the younger transgenics who took them and immediately ran off towards the infirmary.

"What we would also appreciate is any word from the street. What's the story out there?" Mole asked.

"The story is that you guys, for no reason, attacked the PD patrol. They returned fire and brought in reinforcements resulting in further, and I quote 'small squirmishes that have now been brought under control' end quote."

"That's bullshit!" Luke yelled.

"Squirmishes, hey? That's rich," Mole scoffed. "They nearly annihilate us with RPGs and it's considered a small squirmish."

"Yeah, well don't believe everything you read in the newspapers," Logan tried to return the humor.

"So, you planning on staying long or is this a flying visit?" Mole asked bluntly.

'That depends," Logan replied.

"On?" Mole pressed.

"On what he's doing here," Alec said as he entered the dock.

Logan nodded. "Hey Alec, long time no see."

"Logan," Alec nodded solemnly in return. "I see you made it pass the perimeter fence. You're lucky to be alive."

"If it wasn't for Dix recognising me on the security camera-"

"On one of only two security cameras still working after the attack," Dix clarified.

"Yeah, well if it wasn't for that, I'd probably be dead."

"A big risk to take," Alec told him.

"Yeah, but worth it," Logan replied softly. "I came to see how things were."

"How things were?" Alec questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I saw the attack, well, some footage before they stopped airing it. But I have my sources and they got word to me. They said that things were pretty bad."

"Things are pretty bad," Alec admitted, casually, while folding in arms in front of him, in a definite defensive stand.

Logan couldn't help but notice the younger man's tired and drawn out features. He had aged a lot since they last laid eyes on one another. The seriousness of his body language confirmed Logan's suspicions that TC was hurting more than anyone was letting on. "So I see from the look of this place from the outside."

"Nothing a coat of paint won't fix," Dix joked.

Logan looked at Alec in near disbelief. "So you're all staying? No plans to evacuate?" he asked.

"You've seen this place," Alec said. "How can we get everyone out without further bloodshed?"

"How can you stay?" Logan challenged.

Alec sighed, "Well we're working on that."

Logan almost imperceptibly shook his head. He knew how strongly many of the transgenics, Max and Alec included, felt about Terminal City. Things would have to be pretty bad for them to abandon the place. But a part of him had hoped that they would see sense. He guessed they weren't ready to consider other options – at least not yet. Not wanting to get into the debate here and now with Alec, Logan did the only thing he could do.

"Like I said, I'm here to help," he offered.

"Just to help?" Alec asked, knowing Logan too well.

"To help...... and to see Max, make sure she's okay."

Alec nodded and hung his head.

"I was worried," Logan said, suddenly feeling as if he should explain himself further. "I take it she's off organising everything?" he asked looking around to indicate his surprise that she wasn't there to greet him.

"No," Alec replied tiredly.

"No?" Logan asked trying to read Alec's eyes. "Look Alec, let's not beat around the bush any longer. It's killing me standing here waiting for someone to tell me where she is. I just need to see her. I was worried. I am worried."

"You have good reason to be."

"Why?"

"She was hurt."

A muscle twitched in Logan's jaw. "Hurt? Bad?"

"About as bad as it gets," Alec told him.

"Can I see her?

"Yeah," Alec said uncomfortably, before recovering himself. "Come on, she's in the infirmary."

Alec stood back, looking as awkward as he felt, as Kyra filled Logan in on Max's condition. A part of him felt sorry for Logan. The man had visibly paled when he first caught sight of Max lying all broken before him. At least Alec had had a few days to come to grips with the seriousness of Max's condition; for Logan it was obviously a shock.

Alec could hear Kyra and Logan's hushed tones.

"She's too weak to move. Internal damage. There's no way we can tell how bad it is," Kyra was telling him.

He wasn't surprised when Logan started to argue that they should get Max to a real hospital. It was nothing that Alec, Kyra, Mole, Dix, and a number of other trusted transgenics hadn't debated before.

To her credit, Kyra took the time to once again patiently explain why attempting to move Max could potentially kill her and that the best option, despite the lack of medicines and equipment, was to keep Max here.

"I believe we've stabilised her blood loss," she told him. "All we can do now is leave the healing up to her and just......wait." Kyra placed a hand on Logan's shoulder, a sign of compassion and understanding, before returning to her other patients.

Alec watched uncomfortably. "She's strong, Logan," he said.

Logan nodded, softly.

Alec didn't know what else to say, so he hung his head and leaned against the wall, intending to give Logan all the time he needed to take all of it in, but for some reason not wanting to give him complete privacy and time alone with Max.

Logan stood still looking at Max for what seemed to Alec like an eternity, before moving towards the cot, bending, and placing a soft lingering kiss on Max's lips.

"Max," he whispered softly on a breath. "Come back to me."

A physical pain shot through Alec's chest. He was caught by complete surprise and took a step forward before stopping himself. "You found a cure," he said.

"Yes."

"When?" Alec asked.

"About six weeks ago. I wasn't sure if it would work though. We only had a limited supply of Max's blood to test vaccines on. We ran out of that about three months ago. We went on the data we had from initial tests, but...... well, we still weren't sure."

"And yet you kissed her," Alec said softly. "Quite a risk."

"I must be feeling a little reckless today," Logan shrugged, while taking hold of Max's hand. "That's the second big risk I've taken."

Alec looked at Logan's hand clutching Max's own. His heart was beating furiously fast and a sickening feeling was rising up inside of him. He didn't want the older man to touch her. A possessiveness took over him that was rapidly leading to anger.

"She looks older," Logan said, his words breaking Alec's thoughts.

"She is," Alec informed him. "It's been a while."

"I guess it has," Logan softly chuckled. "Although it seems like yesterday. I still remember being by her side like it was yesterday."

"A lot has happened since then," Alec said, hoping that Logan would push the issue. Perhaps it was time to lay it all on the line.

"You know I worried.... When I first left Terminal City...... I knew it would probably be a long time before I found a cure and I worried that I might.....well, that things might change.....that my feelings for Max might change because of the distance and the time that would be between us." Logan turned to look at Alec directly. "But hearing about the attack, fearing for her safety, and now seeing her lying here, I now realise that I needn't have worried."

And there it was, Logan's declaration. He was still in love with Max. Despite the promises that they made to each other when he left Terminal City – that they would move on, for their own good – despite their understanding that time heals all wounds and love fades, he still loved her. Alec knew he had to put things straight. He had to tell him how he felt about Max, so there wouldn't be any misunderstanding. "Logan, there's something you should know-" he began, but was interrupted by Luke bursting into the infirmary.

"Alec, you had better come quick," he called.

"What is it?" Alec asked immediately stepping forward.

"We've received a message from White. Jed and Joshua's alive.".......................................................................

"White wants his son, Max" Logan told her. He feared he had let her know too much already, but he knew he must also tell the rest of the horrible truth. She was bound to find out.

"Ray?"

"Yes. And he's using Jed to get him back," he told her, carefully watching her reaction. "Alec suggested a trade," he added softly. "Him for Jed."

"What? Why?" Max cried.

"To buy some time. He knew we didn't know where Ray was and he knew that giving Ray back to his father was not an option. White's threatened to kill Jed if he didn't get his son back."

"But it would be a trap! White would never hand Jed over like that!"

"Alec knew that."

"Then why? Why would he do something so stupid?" she asked her voice strained.

Logan shrugged. "Because he loves his son. He's changed a lot since I last saw him. I was surprised to find out he had a son. But he loves him and he knew that White would trick him or most likely be setting a trap. It didn't matter, he felt he might be able to so something.... Arrange an escape..... something.... If he was there. He couldn't sit by and just do nothing. He said he'd never forgive himself. He and Mole took off before anyone could convince them to wait."

"White didn't honor the deal, did he?"

"Did you really expect him to?"

"No."

"Alec was captured. Jed hasn't been released. We've heard nothing from Mole."

"Well then how......," Max began trying to think it all through. "You said Mole and Alec took off?"

"Yes."

"Just the two of them?"

Logan nodded. "They left while the others and I were discussing options."

"And if we haven't heard.... Then how do we know White has him? He might have-"

Logan shook his head. "White has him."

Max sat up a bit straighter. "He could have-"

"No Max," Logan said insistently. "Listen to me. White has him. We know for sure."

"How?" she asked, her brow wrinkled with worry.

Logan looked down, "Because......"he hesitated.

"How Logan?" Max insisted.

"Because, White sent us a tape. A video tape."

"Of what?"

"Of Alec's torture."

TBC

Okay.....Hmmm I don't know what to say after that. I hope the flash back wasn't too confusing. Logan was telling Max what happened when she was in a coma.

I would love to hear from you guys. I loved your reactions to when I brought Logan back (for real this time). All I ask is that you have a little faith – there's an important role for Logan. A few of you have picked up that things that happened in earlier chapters were prophetic. Well there's lots of clues back there of where this is going with a couple more twists and turns to come. I hope you're enjoying it. Please let me know.

Til next time Sarah