Just a random drabble I came up with while watching an old favorite Disney movie.

Song;Sound the Bugle;Bryan Adams. Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack.

Don't own Dark Angel

Max fell into her bunk, exhausted. She wasn't tired, didn't get tired anymore. She was numb, part of her; most of her was giving up. She felt empty.

Sound the bugle now... play it just for me
As the seasons change... remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on...I can't even start
I've got nothing left... just an empty heart.

The memory of the silly movie she had watched with Original Cindy and her little cousin came back. She closed her eyes, wishing she were back with them. And not at Manticore.

I'm a soldier... wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me... lead me away
Or leave me lying here

She was wounded, she thought as she gave into the sleep that rarely came her way.

Her nightmare was dark, she was cold and she was hurting incredibly bad.

Sound the bugle now... tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know that leads to anywhere
Without a light, I fear that I will stumble in the dark
Lay right down and decide not to go on

She stumbled and fell. She lay quietly in the mud around her. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted to die, to give in to the endless pain. As she lay there she heard her name.

Then from on high, somewhere in the distance There's a voice that calls,
"Remember who you are... if you lose yourself,
Your courage soon will follow,
So be strong tonight... remember who you are"

Logan walked out of the dark and pulled her to her feet. Whispering words of comfort and holding her to his chest.

"It's going to be okay." He promised. "Max you have to fight."

"I can't," she sobbed. "I can't fight any more, I'm not strong enough."

"Yes you can, you are strong enough, fight for me." He begged. She looked into those eyes. Eyes that the world saw but only she could read the happiness in them, or the sadness. Right now they shone with love and pleading, begging her, to fight, to be strong. She took a breath and nodded.

"I love you," she breathed into his chest as she hugged him tightly.

"I love you too," he whispered into her hair. She looked at him.

"You can do it," he said. "Be strong, for me." She nodded and he kissed her. It was warm and sweet. She looked at him gently and traced her fingertips over his face. He smiled and held her hand tightly, kissing her palm.

"Goodbye." She said and the dream faded, returning once more to the darkness of her cell at Manticore. She opened her eyes and looked at her cell. She was reawakening, she could do this.

During the training session the next day she remembered the next lines of the song as she was thrown down by another X-5.

Yeah, your a soldier now,
Fighting in a battle,
To be free once more.
Yeah, that's worth fighting for

Yeah, she thought as she jackknifed to her feet and Logan's face flashed in her mind.

My Freedom is something to fight for.

Love it? Hate it? Reviews are always appreciated. I might do more if anybody wants it.