Author's Note: This is part 4 of my Prisoner series, which is a
sequel to my Beautiful Angel series. I hope you like the way I take this... just
wait til the next few parts :) hehehehe...... ::coughs::... sorrie, let me try
again.... Muwhahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's better :)
Prisoner part 4: To Protect Or To Trust
"I'm back!" Logan announced from the doorway. He shifted the two brown
paper bags he carried and shut the door with his foot.
Max got off the couch and ran to the main hallway. "What'd ya bring
me?" She hopped around him like a four year old, and followed him into the
kitchen.
"I don't think you should be running around like that," he said,
putting the bags down.
Max looked down at her slightly bulging stomach. "I'm not THAT big, yet.
The doctor just said to stay away from 'strenuous activities' aka no fighting
for 5 more months."
"That's fine with me." He finished putting away everything from the
first bag and was halfway done with the second bag.
"So, did you bring me anything?" Max flashed him a big smile as if it
could convince him to give it to her.
"Maybe." He got to the bottom of the bag. "A little something for
you and Max or Logan junior."
"Before you give it to me, know our child will not be named junior."
"Got it." He pulled out a medium sized chocolate bar. Max's eyes lit
up. "They're not easy to find these days."
Max ran around the island and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank
you!"
"It's so easy to please you."
"Really." Max leaned back to get a good look at Logan's smiling face.
"Yes, really." Max smiled and he kissed her softly. Until someone
knocked on the door. Max pulled away and asked, "Are we having
company?"
"Not that I know of. I'll go get it. You just sit here and eat your
chocolate."
"Gladly." Max sat on one of the stools and Logan went to the door.
Logan opened the door and as soon as he saw their visitor, his eyes went cold.
"What do you want?"
Max got up when she heard Logan's anger. Chocolate bar forgotten, she went to
the door, standing beside Logan. Her expression turned to anger when she saw the
person at the door.
Brin looked up from her place outside her sister's Penthouse. "Please help
me," she whispered.
"Why should we help you?" asked Logan vehemently.
"Logan," Max said softly, putting a hand on his arm.
"Max, this woman tried to kill us..."
"This woman is my sister."
Logan took a deep breath and turned back to Brin. "How do we know you won't
stab us in the back?"
"You don't. All I can say to convince you is that I was brainwashed, like
when we were kids. I broke away late last night and came here. I have nowhere
else to go."
"Then I'll give you some cash and you can go find a place..."
"No!" Max exclaimed. She grabbed Logan's arm and turned him to her.
"She's staying with us."
Logan took her further away from the door. "How can you trust her so
completely after a few words?"
Max started to tear up. "Because she's my family. You know, one of the
people I've been looking for, for so long?"
"But what if this is just one of Renfro's plans? You'd not only be putting
yourself in danger, but you'd be putting our child in danger, too."
"You don't have to remind me," she hissed. "You don't think I
know I have to take care of our baby? I would never put him or her in
danger."
"But what if this..."
"I don't want to hear any more, Logan." She stared him down. Brown
eyes stared into crystal blue ones. "I can't believe you don't trust
me," she whispered.
Logan softened a bit. "I do trust you. I just want to protect you and our
baby."
"I know. And I love you for that. I can't turn my back on my family if they
need my help."
Logan, against what everything inside of him screamed, nodded and gave in.
"Okay. But after tonight, nothing's promised."
Max kissed him quickly. "Thank you." She went back over to Brin and
pulled her into the Penthouse then into a hug. "I've missed you, Brin."
"I've missed you, too, Maxie." She and Max pulled apart and she looked
up at Logan, who still didn't look happy. "Thank you," she said.
"I know you just want to protect Max and your child."
"That's right."
Brin watched him for a few more seconds then said, "Thanks for watchin' out
for my sister and niece or nephew. Even from me."
Logan just nodded.
That night, Max showed Brin to the extra bedroom and gave her a pair of her
pajama pants and tanktops.
"Thanks again," Brin said quietly.
"You're welcome. I'll see you in the morning. Good night."
"Goodnight, Maxie." Max left and went into the master bedroom. Logan
was already in bed, waiting for her.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Yeah. Thank you for trusting me and letting her stay." Max climbed
into bed and laid in Logan's arms.
"I know what your family means to you. I guess I just over reacted. I also
didn't want to sleep on the couch tonight." Max laughed a little and put
her head on his chest. "But I'm still worried. It's not going away."
"I know. But you can't lock me in a tower and wait for our child to be born
and then lock him or her in the tower."
Logan put a hand on her head and started to stoke her hair. "But I want to.
There's something inside me that is screaming to keep you away from everyone. To
hide you from the world. But I know that if I do that, if I actually succeeded,
I'd be killing one of the things I love about you the most. You're independence
and free spirit."
Max propped herself up so she was looking Logan in the eyes. "I love you so
much." She leaned in and kissed him slowly and they fell asleep soundly in
each other's arms.
Logan jerked awake almost four hours later. Max lay beside him, still asleep. He
wasn't sure what exactly made him wake up, but his thoughts went right back to
Brin and how afraid he was.
He reached over to his bedside table and picked up his journal. He pulled out
the pen he kept with it and went to the first blank page and started to write:
To Protect Or To Trust
I have a responsibility to protect you,
I have a responsibility to our child, too.
To protect or to trust,
I don't know which to do.
Since the day we met I've felt something new,
I've never trusted or loved anyone like I do for you.
To protect or to trust,
I don't know which to do.
I'm at a crossroads now, with what I have to choose,
As I watch you sleep, I don't know what to do.
To protect or to trust,
I don't know which to do.
To protect, I would have to say "no" to you,
To protect, you would think I don't trust you.
To protect or to trust,
I don't know which to do.
To trust, I risk not being able to protect to you,
To trust, I risk not being able to protect our child, too.
To protect or to trust,
I don't know which to do.
He started into another 'verse', but stopped when he heard something in the
living room. He got out of bed, being sure not to wake Max in the process. He
slipped his robe on and pulled on his slippers.
As he started out the door, Max stirred and sat up. "Where're you going,
Logan?"
Before he could answer, the sounds of a fight got louder. Max jumped out of bed
and moved toward the door. "You're staying in here," Logan said.
"No," Max said, almost offended. She pushed past him and they both
went into the living room.
One man lay unconscious or dead on the floor and Brin was in the process of
taking out the second one. She kicked the soldier a few more times and he went
down.
"What the hell?" Logan yelled.
Brin walked over to them. "I heard something weird and came to check it
out. These two were snoopin' around. They're Manticore special ops."
"If you hadn't been here..." Max started.
Logan finished for her by saying, "If she hadn't been here, the soldiers
would never have invaded our home."
"There's no guarantee to that, Logan. They could have been after me just as
much as Brin. She saved us."
"We could have taken them," Logan said.
"I'm sure," Brin interjected. "But those two are likely to wake
up soon, so, Logan, if you'd be so kind as to help me get them out of
here..."
"Yeah, sure. Max, wait here, please." Tired of disagreeing with him,
Max agreed and watched Logan and Brin drag the two men out of their Penthouse.
Max went back into the kitchen and saw the chocolate bar Logan had brought her.
She sat down on one of the stools and took a bite of the heavenly candy.
*********
Hehehe.... Sorrie the ending wasn't really clif-hangerish, but I'm getting to
it. I hope you liked this next part... let me know. The next part should be up
soon. Also, like the other poems I've put in my stories (unless otherwise noted)
"To Protect Or To Trust" is mine. Thanx. *Princess
