Apologies that this took so long to get out. I've been having problems uploading all day, and finally found a way around it! So I apologize if I missed any mistakes.
Thanks to Insane Troll Logic for looking this over, and calling out some of my inconsistancies. This chapter is actually almost a complete re-work of the one I originally wrote. Hence another reason it took me so long.
I'd like to thank everyone who gave me reviews. Kisses and hugs and all that good stuff. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! You guys have really made me want to get in and finish this story (Which will probably take a while, considering I'm estimating at least 15 chapters.) I will try to update sooner next time.
As always reviews are greatly appreciated and I will try to answer any of your questions you have along the way!
Chapter 4 - Whirlwind Changes
OOO
Max had taken just enough time to find a pair of blue jeans that weren't too dirty and a gray V-necked tee that had seen better days. Her hair was tucked in her baseball cap as she grabbed her driving glasses. She had barely remembered her jacket as she pushed her bike out of the apartment. Alec stood in her doorway and whistled to her holding the jacket in his hand as she moved quickly toward the elevator. As she retrieved it he shot her a knowing smirk, but had the brains to avoid saying anything.
She left Alec at her apartment because the police were still looking for him in connection to the murders, the murders that Ben had committed. He had tried to cajole her into letting him follow along until she said point blank that she was not bailing him out of prison again.
The ride there had been little more then a blur of passing buildings and traffic. Her motorcycle had flown through the traffic like it hadn't existed. She had been able to make it through the only sector checkpoint between her apartment and the hospital without too much of a delay, even though the five minute wait felt more like an hour. Screaming into the hospital parking lot, she barely took the time to make sure the bike was parked and secured.
Max ran full tilt into a security guard as she entered the hospital. She had knocked him headlong into the wall as she ran past. The portly man looked slightly flustered, but a quick glance assured her that he was trying to play it off, and avoid looking embarrassed.
"Where can I find Logan Cale?" she asked running to the registration desk after quickly assessing that the guard would not be an issue.
"I'm sorry. How can I help you?" a softly English accented voice replied.
Max took her in quickly. She had short brown hair and brown eyes, and she looked more bored then actually helpful. Max took a quick breath to avoid screaming. "I asked where I can find Logan Cale. C - A - L - E."
"And you are?" the woman gave a disapproving look at Max's disheveled appearance.
"I'm five seconds away from ripping you across the desk," Max retorted.
"I'll call security and have them escort you out." the woman replied as she picked up the phone.
"Just tell me where I can find my friend! He was brought in here last night." Max said clenching her fists. She glanced behind herself to see the guard look up hesitantly at the conversation from the other end of the lobby. She was pretty sure he was not in the mood to find out how strong she really was.
The mousy haired woman looked up and noticed the guard's hesitancy as well. Her gaze shifted back to Max with an icy glare. "Are you family? If you aren't you have to be on the list to get in. If not you can't visit!"
"Lady, he was fucking unconscious! I doubt his big worry was making up a list of visitors!" Max seethed, she had reached her end with this woman.
"Max!" Original Cindy's voice interrupted the fight about to occur.
Max threw all thoughts of the ignorant woman aside as she spun to see Original Cindy. "OC, what the hell is going on? Is Logan alright? Please tell me he's okay." Max didn't care that her voice had taken on a pleading tone. She needed to know.
"He's awake and breathin, if that's what you're askin. Glad I came down to grab a bite to eat when I did." Original Cindy replied, looking between Max and the receptionist. Her tone sharpened. "If you would have called I would have let you know what is going on with the man!"
"Cindy, what's with the urgent message then?" Max said mirroring her friend's tone.
"Excuse me, is there a problem?" the portly guard seemed to finally work up the courage to approach the two women. He regarded both warily as he approached.
"No!" the duo spat in his direction.
"Ladies, you can't make this kind of noise in the hospital." the guard said trying to stand straighter. "If you want to fight, you need to leave or I'll call the sector police and have you arrested."
Max had enough and she hadn't even gotten through the lobby. "Look mister, my friend was brought in here unconscious and dying. I want to know that he is alright!" She spat the end at the guard and hoped that he was bluffing.
"Ma'am, I'll take into consideration your situation, but you need to stop yelling, understood." the guard looked at her.
Max could see him about to flinch, and almost smiled. Her training slid back into place and told her that she had control over the current situation, but wouldn't if more guards arrived. She decided not to push her luck. She nodded in the guard's direction and he returned to his post.
Max swung her gaze back to her friend and continued with a quieter tone, "So what's with all the phone calls if he's alive and awake?"
"Boo, you were needed here like eight hours ago or maybe you should have stayed instead of running from all your baggage!" Original Cindy said.
"I was doing what I thought was right!" Max said "What was I supposed to do? Kiss him and kill him? That would be some fairy tale ending!" she hissed.
Original Cindy sighed. "And they say lesbo's are big with the drama! Girl you got one up on the whole transgender world sometimes."
Max sighed and slowly resigned herself to the truth of Original Cindy's words. She looked up at her best friend, "Please tell me he's okay."
"That all depends on your definition of okay." Original Cindy said, a frown marring her face. She cut Max off before she could begin another agitated rant. "C'mon, let's go up and you can see for yourself."
Max nodded and began to follow Original Cindy toward the elevator.
"Excuse me!" the receptionist yelled as the two began to walk down the hallway. "You still don't have a Visitor's Pass!"
Original Cindy turned with a death glare toward the annoying woman and looked at Max. "Boo, take mine; I'll handle the Mighty Mouse wannabe! Wait by the elevators, and I'll give you the D/L on what is goin down."
Max felt slightly impatient, but tuned her hearing to Original Cindy's words toward the receptionist and smiled. "Lady, you have no idea who you just pissed off." Max said whistling as she walked toward the elevators.
Max had been bouncing on the balls of her feet waiting for Original Cindy to walk down the hall. She felt like a child waiting impatiently, but as she stood there a sudden nervousness overtook her. You shouldn't be here, an inner voice chided. He's alive and that's more then he'll be if you touch him, it continued. She didn't know how to tell him that she couldn't be near him. Hell, she was still trying to figure out what was wrong with Logan and why Original Cindy hadn't just come out and told her initially.
She didn't know what to say to Logan… the thought bothered her… it was funny because they almost always had something to say to each other. Too much had changed and she was only a danger to him now.
The more she thought about going upstairs, the more she realized that she was doing exactly what she had sworn against doing when she had left here last night. She was about to run out of the hospital by the time Original Cindy had caught up to her, which hadn't been more then a few minutes. Trying for more time, she decided to try and talk Original Cindy into taking the stairs up to the fifth floor.
"No, Max."
"Why not, OC?"
"Because you're only trying to delay the inevitable."
"OC, c'mon, its good exercise."
"There is no way that Original Cindy is walking up five flights of steps so that her boo can delay this any more." Original Cindy gave Max a pointed look.
"Well can you at least tell me what's going on?" Max finally gave in under her friend's tired, but agitated gaze.
"Let Original Cindy give her boo, the long ass night in the Reader's Digest version. She's tired and has been up all freaking night with Logan, who woke up almost seven hours after collapsing at Crash." Original Cindy walked over to the elevator and pushed the up arrow shooting Max a satisfied smirk when the elevator automatically dinged and the doors opened. She stepped inside and patiently waited for Max to follow.
"Aiight, you win." Max's voice drawled as she conceded to the elevator and stepped in. Her gaze turned thoughtful as she reconsidered her friend's words. The sudden urge to leave was quelled as she considered the possibilities of complications for Logan. "Why did it take Logan so long to wake up? I thought the transfusion went well. Will you tell me what's wrong? Who's with him?" she stopped herself before her questions became more rapid fire.
"Boo, Logan took a bad blow to the head when he fell. The doc seems to think he has some sort of amnesia. Original Cindy's been trying to explain the past two years of his life to him with a half-missing book of cliff notes." Original Cindy sighed and leaned into the wall of the elevator, then looked into Max's panicked eyes. "Boo, he doesn't remember anything from after the time he was shot."
Max silently listened to Original Cindy's words as they reverberated in the confining space of the elevator. Thoughts of the Logan from so long ago flashed before her eyes. The first time she visited him after the shooting, their shared smiles and meals, the long nights of sitting together and talking about everything and nothing at all. She remembered her dream from last night and briefly wondered if it had any meaning to what had happened.
The chiming of the elevator as it reached the fifth floor startled Max out of her thoughts.
"C'mon, boo." Original Cindy said tugging on Max's arm.
She must have noticed the dumbfounded look that Max felt because she pulled her to an empty family room at the side of the hall. Max looked at the furniture in the room before her gaze landed on an old vinyl chair in the corner.
"Max, I tried to explain as much as I could, but you gotta tell that boy what happened with his life. He deserves that much."
Max finally broke her gaze at a fascinating split in the vinyl upholstered chair and met Original Cindy's eyes. Her voice sounded almost childish, and for the thousandth time she was thankful to have a best friend like Original Cindy. "I don't know if I can."
Original Cindy looked into her friend's eyes. "The doc wants you to be there for him. He's gonna need someone to help catch him up on the Eye's Only stuff from the past two years." Original Cindy sighed, "The doc will be able to explain everything better then me anyway, c'mon let's go."
Max's hand stopped her. "What aren't you telling me? Is there something else?"
Original Cindy put her hand on Max's and gave it a gentle squeeze, "I'm not sure, boo. Original Cindy was just told to get you here." She seemed to consider something before continuing, her voice softer. "I do know that you could just try and be there for the boy, you know, talk to him. You still love him, boo, I know that much, and maybe there will be a way to work this whole virus thing out."
Max only nodded slightly in response, trying to repress the conflicting feelings attempting to overwhelm her.
"Listen, Logan's in having his test's done now. The doc is by the station down the hall, she told me to have you talk to her first. She wants to see you. She wants to know what you are willing to do."
"It's not like I can move in with him! Hello, remember, I just about killed him less then twelve hours ago!"
"That's why she wants to talk to you, Max. And don't forget who has been here all night trying to deal with this mess! I know your confused and scared, but do not go taking out all of your frustrations and hetro-angst on Original Cindy. If you do, you know I'm gonna put the smack-down on your ass!" Original Cindy said raising her hand with a grin. "Oh and by the way, Doggie-dog's home, in case you were concerned! The doc helped to sneak him out through the basement during shift change."
Max looked into her best friends eyes and gave a half-hearted grin. Max pulled her best friend into a tight hug. "Thanks, OC."
"You know I'll always be here for you, boo." Original Cindy said as she moved away from the embrace, "Now don't go gettin all up on me. There are some fine sisters in this establishment and I don't want them thinking that I've got some messed-up love thing going on!"
Max did smile that time. Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to the nurse's station and saw Beverly standing on the side looking over a chart. As Max approached, Beverly glanced up and gave her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Max, I'm so glad you're here." The doctor reached out and shook Max's hand.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner, Beverly," Max said sincerely, "Original Cindy filled me in on some of what is happening with Logan. I'm not sure I'll be able to help though." Max was proud that her voice didn't wobble. The conflicting emotions were still at a high tension within her. A new thought was also creeping up though; she might let Logan down, yet again.
"Why don't we go into the office and talk about what is going on first before you start to completely doubt your usefulness." Beverly said walking toward an empty office down the hall way.
Max glanced to see if Original Cindy was following only to find her in an avid conversation with one of the nurses. Max shook her head and hoped that if Original Cindy scored a date, that she would be a little less mad at her. Turning she walked into the office behind Beverly and closed the door.
Instead of sitting behind the desk, Beverly was sitting on a hard looking couch against the wall, and motioning for Max to join her before looking down at some pictures and notes in her hands.
"Okay doc, tell me the bad. Is this really serious or will it pass?" Max said breaking the tentative silence.
Beverly looked up at her from the paperwork with a frown. "These are the test results that I've gotten on Logan so far." She leaned the photo images and x-rays in Max's direction, "See that dark spot there, on the back of his head."
"Yeah," Max said noticing the discoloration. "What's that mean?"
"He has a small intracranial bleed, and probably a concussion when he was brought in here, but we were so focused on the virus that we missed it." Beverly's voice held an air of self-recrimination. "It's my fault. I should have checked right away when they told me that he hit his head, but I was so worried about the virus that it didn't even occur to me until Logan wasn't waking up as quickly as I expected. However, I'm surprised that Joshua's blood didn't fix that problem too. Then again, it could have been much larger originally and the transfusion is healing it. I don't have any before and after pictures to compare it so I can only proceed from here." Beverly finished with a sigh.
"Well, I hate to be like this, but what good am I gonna do?" Max asked, "Bev, you know I can't even touch him."
"I guess Original Cindy told you that Logan only remembers things from two years ago?" Beverly asked and continued at Max's nod. "Logan wants to know about the past two years. What he and Eyes Only have done and what he did with his life." She paused again before looking Max straight in the face. "Max, he's just had to relive the knowledge that he can't walk."
"Oh, no, no… Bev, it almost killed him before!" Max stood up and began to pace the confined room, trying to burn off some of her anguish, only to find it following her. "Besides it's not like I can help him like Bling! I can't even touch him! How am I going to be of any use to him?"
Beverly remained seated while Max paced the room agitatedly. "Max, you're going to need to help him and Eyes Only. I'm going to see about a therapist to aid him. It's a shame that Bling moved to Ohio," Beverly's tone held a wistful note only fueling Max's agitation.
"Bev, he can't have just anyone. He's an important legman for Eyes Only. I mean, not just anyone can be privileged to that information." Max tried to focus on solution for Logan's problem. "I can't just up and quit my job," her thoughts strayed to Joshua, Alec and the other Transgenics, "and I've got a lot of other stuff going on right now."
"Well I don't have a solution for a virus, but I have a good friend in Costa Rica that is a virologist. I've spoken with him recently and brought up the hypothetical situation of your virus," Beverly said her tone lighter. "He said he would love to look at it. He has been working with different virulent strains for years, and I think he might be able to help."
Max could only push the feelings of hope down, she didn't want to give to much merit to the idea. She had seen too many failures already. "I'm not going to get my hopes up. The guy who cooked this up seems to be the only guy to have any clue how to get rid of this bitch."
"Well, it won't hurt to have him look. I'll do everything anonymously and that way there is no way to trace it back to you. And because he isn't in the States he won't have any contact with the CDC, so there won't any problems there."
Max felt her face soften toward the doctor who had done so much for Logan, and was now trying to help them. She pushed thoughts of touching Logan out of her head and looked over at Beverly again. "So what do I do now?" Max said plopping back on the couch next to Beverly.
"For right now, we will let Logan know that he is by no means to touch you. Maybe you can spend some time with him and see if you can jog his memory?" Beverly paused, "When I say that, I mean see if phrases or faces catch his name. You can tell him facts only. The memories can't be distorted by your view… He's going to be confused for a while. In his mind he's just been shot and Sonrisa is still trying to kill him and the informants."
"Oh man," Max sighed. "I guess me keeping my distance from him is going to be tough."
Beverly laughed softly, "Max, I know you can do this." She reached out and held Max's hand for a moment and Max took a small measure of comfort from the gesture. "C'mon, Logan should be back from his testing by now. I need to discharge him soon or he's going to figure a way out of this hospital if he has to wheel the bed by himself." she smiled softly, "We'll go talk to him together and get the ground rules straight in his mind."
With that Beverly stood and Max watched her for a moment before getting up and following the doctor out of the room. Thoughts of what kind of a new beginning this was for them crowded her mind. Again the words she remembered last night haunted her… That year we wasted, dancing around each other, afraid of actually admitting how we felt... If I had that time back, I would do that so differently. Now she could only wonder how different it would be.
I look forward to knowing if you thought this chapter was a total waste of your time or not. Please R&R!
I need to apologize for no M/L in this chapter, but I needed to set it up for a good scene. If you have any questions about the OC speak, let me know and I'll give you an answer!