Chapter 3: Touch and Go
"Max. oh, God Max."
Logan dragged himself over to where Max's lifeless body lay.
Oh God, please let her be alive. Please let her be okay.
Carefully Logan pulled Max onto his lap.
"My God." Logan whispered in shock when he saw the large gunshot wound in Max's side. Reaching over to check for a pulse Logan feared of what he may find. There it was, weak but it was there. Good she's breathing too. Logan pulled Max a little closer.
"Max. Max, sweetie, can you hear me? Come on Max wake up, it's me Logan." he coaxed trying not to cry. "Why did you do that? Are you high or something?" he asked thinking back to one of their first conversations.
I have to get her out of here and back to my place. But how? Why didn't I bring my cell phone? Ugh. My main priority is getting Max back to my apartment where she'll be safe.
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"Thanks again Sam." Logan said shaking hands with the only doctor he trusted with Max. He met Sam back when he first learned of his paralysis, and he had stuck with him since then. Logan knew that Sam wouldn't ask too many questions about Max and her situation and would cover up any odd test results if need be.
"Logan, if you need anything just give me a call, okay?" Sam gave Logan a pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah." Logan turned to the small fragile Max lying in his bed unconscious. Bling led Sam to the door thanking him once again and returned to find Logan sitting at the foot of his bed looking at the pale frame of Max.
"You're lucky Sketchy came by and let you use his cell. How did you explain...?
"He didn't see her. I had pulled my chair over so I could climb back in and get help, but I didn't want to leave her. So as I was sitting there fighting the battle in my head Sketchy saw me and said 'hey'. I asked to borrow his cell and Sketchy being Sketchy just threw it at me and said to return it later because he had some fine girl waiting for him or something. That's when I called you."
Bling simply nodded try to not look amused at Sketchy's hormone driven actions.
"How's she doing?" he asked sitting down beside his boss and friend.
"Sam said she lost a lot of blood, but no organs were damaged thank God. I guess she touch and go." Logan let out a shaky sigh and turn to Bling looking him in the eye.
"She could die Bling and it's all my fault." His eyes fells and turned to Max once again.
"Logan, this isn't your fault, you can't blame yourself. You didn't pull the trigger or drag her into that alley." he said resting a reassuring hand on Logan's shoulder. Logan just shook his head not believing his innocence.
"If I didn't go to see, her I wouldn't have gotten jumped and she wouldn't have gotten shot trying to save my crippled ass."
"Stop right there. Don't you dare blame this on the chair. Walking or not you couldn't have done a thing. And Max would have come to save your walking ass too. It's not your fault." Bling said trying to make Logan understand that he had no fault in this what so ever, except for not paying attention to where he was going. But we all do that.
"I can't lose her Bling." Feeling helpless Bling offered a kind smile.
"If you need anything call me. No matter what. OK?" Logan nodded.
"Max is a fighter, she'll pull through." turning as he reached the door he added "Even if it's just to kick that guy's ass." Bling thought that he saw a smile cross Logans face when he walked out the bedroom door.
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She looks so fragile, so innocent. Logan thought as he moved up on the bed so her could reach her hand. Max I love you. I so sorry I let this happen. She's so tiny he thought lacing his fingers through hers.
He would never have believed that this small girl was the same strong woman that broke into his high security penthouse so many months ago. Seeing her so weak and vulnerable made it hard to believe that she was created to be a super soldier. Logan gently brushed away a stray piece of hair, but his hand lingered at the side of her pale face.
"Max, I don't hear me or not, but if you can, hell even if you can't, I'm so sorry I got you into this. Sometimes I think you'd be better off if we never met. Anyone I've ever cared about always gets hurt somehow. Look at Peter, he's dead now, because of me. Valorie's a drunk because I cared more about my work than our marriage. Daphne's a lesbian and I'm sure I had something to do with her 'discovery'. My parents are gone, Uncle Jonas...." he trailed off.
"But we did meet on that fateful night you broke in to steal Bast. I have to admit I originally went looking for you because you were gorgeous, and you still are. Even now, as you're lying here, fighting for your life." His voce cracked.
"But as I learned more about you, raiding your apartment - which I still feel awful about by the way -finding you at Crash, and discovering your past, I was hooked. I missed you as soon as you walked out the door or jumped out the window. I couldn't wait to find some new scum just so I could page you and have you come for 'business'. As I got to know the real you, as you began to trust me and open up, I missed you when you were in the other room. Max I'm this happened. It's all my fault. You can blame me for this and everything else that's happened to you, I don't care. Just wake up. Please. You can't leave me Max. You can't." Logans tears began falling freely now some landing on their entwined hands.
"You saved my life more than once, then you gave it back to me. You gave me something to live for. You're the reason I pull my sorry butt out of bed in the morning. I would do anything to take back the last few hours so I could somehow protect you from this. Max I need you." Logans tears turned to sobs as he looked down on his dying angel. With his strength gone Logan laid down with Max so his head was near her ear and his arms wrapped around her.
"I'm not going to leave you until you wake up Max. I'll be right here. You're not alone, not anymore."
*"You're all I want. You're all I need, Max. You're everything to me Max. I love you. I'll always love you. No matter what. I love you." he whispered in her ear as he cried himself to sleep holding her the entire time.
*Thanks to Lifehouse of the tiny bit of lyrics(12 on cd)
