Epilogue: Reunited

Logan started awake from a nightmare of blood and gunfire. He blinked heavily as the adrenaline rush to his system waned and he realized just where he was. He was home and in his own bed. He sighed in relief. Then he realized he wasn't alone… he refocused on the slim body lying next to him in his bed. Recent events rushed back into he mind making him both anxious and happy, Max was back in his life. His arm was still draped over her, he hadn't even relinquished it as he had slept, fearful that she would disappear and make this morning nothing but a dream.

He lay there for long moments taking the reality of her presence in, smiling to himself. He closed his eyes again and drew in a long breath savoring the smell of her, a smell that he had dearly missed in the four years that she had been absent from his life. He opened his eyes yet again lifting a hand and reaching to stroke her dark wavy hair lovingly. She stirred lightly in her sleep, and Logan paused, not willing to rouse her from a much-needed rest after her ordeal. A pang hit him as he realized how much he had missed her.

Cautiously he got up continuing to watch her sleeping form as he dressed and stepped out into the hall. He was still upset about the loss of their child, hoping that it would not drive a wedge into their historically caustic relationship. That was a worry that would wait for later, when the recent events were dulled by the passage of time. Not now, and not in the near future.

Groggily he moved down the hall to the kitchen intent on having some tea. He passed by the living room noticing it was littered with the members of the rescue team all still sleeping soundly. He smiled at the sight of it, it looked as if a bomb went off in there strewing bodies over every available piece of furniture in the place. Logan shook his head and moved on, he set the kettle on the stove to boil and slowly lowered himself onto one of the barstools near it. His whole body, every muscle from his scalp to his toes ached, that had been more of a workout than anything he had done, ever. He would be glad for some privacy and a nice hot bath. But he was not an ungracious host… he owed this group a lot, more than he could probably repay… ever. But he could at least offer them brunch, to start.

Logan looked up as his radar told him that someone was up and about. He watched silently as Kito entered the kitchen and seated himself at another stool near Logan.

"Mornin'." Logan said quietly.

Kito nodded, "How's Max?"

Logan nodded his mouth thin, "Pretty banged up, but I think she'll pull through it. She's been beat up worse," Logan looked up at Kito, "How about you? You took a pretty good beating yourself."

Self-consciously Kito's hand went to his face, "I hurt like hell," Kito said honestly, "But nothing permanent."

One corner of Logan's mouth quirked up as he began picking at a nail not looking at Kito, "I want to thank you," Logan started, "For getting what you knew about Max to Tima. You don't know how much I appreciate what you did… what you sacrificed in exchange for that info. 'Thank you' doesn't even express my gratitude."

Kito just shrugged, "I couldn't leave her like that… something in me just wouldn't let it happen," Kito went silent again for a moment and Logan could tell that there was something on his mind, "How… How'd you know… I mean how do you know when something is about to happen?" It had been a question that had been eating at him since Logan's first display of that unusual ability.

Logan smiled broadly this time, "I told you… sixth sense," Kito looked confused by the concept. Logan leaned forward, "When Max's DNA started to rewrite mine it gave me a gift of… well I guess you'd call it a danger sense or radar," He shrugged.

"You were a Norm once?" Kito interrupted.

Logan laughed out loud that time, leaning back again and crossing his arms, "Oh yeah… was even paraplegic at one time."

"Huh?" Kito said incredulously.

Logan waved it away, not really in the mood to tell the story yet again, "It's a long story… I'll tell you about it but not right now… All I want is a cup of tea and a bit of something to eat," Logan got up as the tea kettle started to whistle taking it from the fire and pouring hot water over the Earl Gray in his cup.

"So if you've been trying to keep your ability a secret for so long… how is it that Zach knows?"

He stopped a second and looked at Kito, "We… worked together at one point shortly after Max was taken. We had never really gotten along, got into a knock down drag out even about Max, that was how he found out about the Manticore abilities. We were forced by necessity to cooperate. My ability to sense danger slipped out during the job. I saved his life with it, not once but twice," Logan smiled a tight smile, "Since then we've had a strained but friendlier relationship," Logan shrugged again and then headed to the refrigerator opening it and looking through the contents of the appliance. He looked back at Kito, "Would you like some Eggs Benedict?"

"Um, not to sound stupid but what is it?"

Logan laughed again, "Sorry, I forgot…" He said turning back to grab the eggs. He brought it back to the island, a pan in the other hand, and as he started to cook he said, "I'd like to apologize for my suspicion when Tima introduced us. I tend to be wary of strangers, especially lately… What I said about the timing… had to do with the fact that Max had been 'dead' four years exactly when she told me what you had to say. It was too convenient."

"I understand," Kito said. Logan was finished shortly and slid a plate over to him, looking apprehensive Kito took a bite and his eyebrows raised. He looked back up at Logan, "Damn, this is good."

Logan smiled broadly, "Just another small Logan Cale Culinary Miracle."

Logan sat back down with his own plate and a lightly sugared cup of tea, only to get interrupted by the rest of Logan Cale's Brigade.

"You got anymore of that?" Tima said sleepily, "I'm famished."

Logan could only shake his head and smile, it was the first time in a long time that the smile was heartfelt, his world was nearly whole again.

THE END!!

Will there be a sequel? Maybe… A prequel, definitely! A little something about the whole Zach/Logan tiff and partnership. Be patient… don't have the details yet just a general idea! Give me about two weeks… I'll try not to disappoint!

Darwin