AN: Well, it was a little more than three weeks, but at least it's still July! Merry Christmas in July, peeps! As always, many thanks to the usual suspects from DAR, and as advertised, this chappie was not sanitized by Shywr1ter, so any and all SNAFU's are solely my responsibility.

Chapter 12 – Logan again.

Los Angeles, April 8 2022 9.30 PM

The usual Friday night crowd filled the place, the mix of music and a hundred different conversations soothing Logan.

After so much time in Terminal City he still felt uncomfortable spending too much time alone. He thought back to his years as Eyes Only, how he had isolated himself from the world he tried to fix, how he had convinced himself that he was alright on his own. He probably had been, in a way. After his divorce he had retreated to his penthouse, had shunned human company as much as possible. One of the things that he had mulled about in the months he though Max was dead, and many times again as he struggled to salvage their relationship since her return was that he didn't want to be alone. It was safer, yes, but he hadn't wanted to be alone since Max crashed into his neat, tightly controlled life. She had made him feel alive again, part of the world outside; at first living it vicariously through stories of her daily life, then with her. Truth was, he couldn't stand to be alone anymore. He needed the noise, the heat of the crowd pressing around him to feel alive. He would rotate places, but he went out every night, escaping the stark reality of his apartment.

He had never been to this bar before, it was right across town from his home, but he was just walking by when he saw a group of young people laughing as they went in, and felt compelled to follow them, to try and share the almost forgotten feeling of being young and carefree.

Logan had managed to get a stool by the bar, close to the exit, and proceeded to get drunk. He was nursing his third scotch when he noticed the arrival of a new bartender, a young blonde girl. There was something about her that drew his attention, but he couldn't quite get what it was. She was beautiful, yes, with long wavy hair gathered in a single ponytail reaching half down her back, her features soft yet remarkable, like her eyes: they were a strange sight, seemingly changing from green to light blue as the lights played across her face. She was petite, about 5'6", a little shorter than Max, but still a breathtaking sight. Thinking of Max - comparing the two women - he realized that this was the first time since he had left Seattle that he had done so. It surprised him, and he felt a mix of joy and sadness: joy that perhaps he was starting to let go, that he might actually find a way to be happy without her, and sadness...well, for exactly the same reason.

It wasn't until she was standing in front of her, holding the bottle of scotch that he realized he had zoned out. Probably been staring at her, too.

"Uh, sorry?"

"I said, do you want a refill? You've been staring at me for a while now, so I thought you might be ready for another one." There was a small, playful smile dancing on her lips. He had been staring, then. She probably was used to it by now. At least, she didn't seem offended...

"Yeah, I could use another one. Care to join me?"

The blonde lifted an eyebrow, regarding him appraisingly. Logan guessed he seemed harmless enough, as she smiled at him and produced a second glass.

"Sure." She splashed a generous amount of the amber liquid on each glass before raising her glass in his direction. "Cheers. So what's your story?"

"My story? What do you mean?"

"Well, you're alone, drinking hard liquor instead of beer, on a Friday night. Not the usual crowd in this joint."

"I just...like the company. The noise. It helps me relax. I'm Stephen, by the way"

"Jenny. Don't remember seeing you here before."

"First time. I was just passing by, and felt like drinking. No real mystery here, sorry."

Logan was enjoying himself, he found it easy to talk to Jenny. He guessed it was mostly because she was behind the bar, it made it easy for him to just talk to the idea of the bartender rather than the actual person. But there was something about her, something familiar, soothing. Or maybe he was just a little drunk. Either way, he wasn't going to over-think it. Downing his drink he motioned for a refill.

"What's your story? What are you doing here? Besides the obvious. "

"Are you seriously asking what's a girl like me doing in a place like this?"

Logan laughed at that. It did sound stupid. 'Hmm, I guess I'm really losing my touch'

"Well, in a way I am." Ignoring her amused snort he continued with a smile. "You don't seem the type to do bar-tending, or waitress for that matter. And no, I don't mean 'you're too beautiful to be here'. Although you are. Beautiful, that is. But you knew that. And I'm rambling. Anyway, my point is that you carry yourself with too much confidence and grace to just settle for a job like this." Logan was starting to get nervous. He was out of his depth and he knew it. He wanted to keep talking to Jenny, he liked her sense of humor, her no-nonsense attitude. Again, it reminded him of Max, and while he wasn't ready to dwell on that just yet he didn't want her to go either.

"I'm sorry, I'm not making much sense, am I? Tell you what, let's start again. Hi, my name is Ste..."

"Logan? I thought you were dead!"

Logan stiffened, his hand clenching on the glass. He closed his eyes a moment, trying to calm his racing heart. After a moment, he turned and looked at the woman standing a few feet to his left, a look of confusion marring her pretty face. He catches a glimpse of Jenny, her smile suddenly gone, leaving an expressionless mask behind.

'Ah, of course. I sure know how to pick them...'

'Yeah, no kiddin. And to think all that time and money Lydecker spent, all he needed was to let you loose across the country...'

'Shut up.'

"Logan? What are you doing here? We caught your...show, and then we saw the news, first the posters, and then the...thing...with the Sector Police. We saw the pictures, and then read your obit. We tried reaching you, but all your numbers were disconnected, and the email account you gave me was deleted. I thought they had finally caught you." She smiled, suddenly. "God, I'm glad to see you!"

Next thing he knew, she was hugging him. His first reaction was to return it. It had been a long time since anyone had touched him like this, and he missed it. But then everything that had happened in the last year and half came crashing on him. Despite everything they had gone through together, all the help they had given each other, she was still her sister. Her family.

'Not mine. Never mine.'

Sighing sadly, he pulled away from her, gently but firm. He knew he wouldn't be able to help himself if he stayed there. She had helped him, saved his life, and it would be all to easy to fall back into the same routine. And he knew that this time he wouldn't make it. He couldn't stay near her without thinking about Max. And that way led to madness.

"I'm sorry. You have me confused with someone else. My name is Stephen."

"What...? What's wrong, Logan?"

"Logan Cale died five months ago. He's dead and buried. And he should stay that way."

Logan stepped away from the bar and walked toward the door. Struggling with himself he stopped, and turned sideways to look at her again. There was anger, confusion and hurt in her eyes. She looked so much like her sister... Nodding to himself, he made a decision.

"She's still alive, you know? Both of them are. Take care of yourself Syl. Goodbye."

Logan's Apartment, April 9 2022 1.30 AM

Logan was angry.

He had started drinking as soon as he got home. He just sat there in the dark with a bottle of Glenfiddich, absently stroking Sasha's head, resting on his lap. Of the many things that could have gone wrong, this was one of the worse. Not only had his new identity been compromised, he had gone and told Syl where to find Max. The last thing he wanted was to be back on Terminal City's radar. Not that anyone there would actually want to find him...

'Bullshit. You want her to find you. You want her to want to find you.'

'Yeah, well...I don't see that happening.'

He cursed his stupidity once again. He should've kept his mouth shut; Syl probably would have found about Max sooner or later. He didn't need to send her.

'So why didja?'

'I don't know...'

'Liar.'

Logan sighed tiredly. Yes, he did know. He wanted Max to be happy. And her sister would make her happy. And Syl had been there for him when he had needed help. Had saved his life. She deserved the truth. Deserved to see her sister again.

Suddenly, he felt Sasha stirring, growling low at something behind him. Logan petted her trying to calm her, but Sasha remained stiff and alert. Then he felt something, a familiar presence in the room. Without turning on the lights, Logan shifted his body, sitting sideways in the couch, his right leg tucked in, right arm over the couch's backrest. Facing the window he addressed the person he knew would be there.

"Hello Syl. What brings you here at this time? "

"Cut the bullshit, Cale. You wanna play the mystery man? Fine. Just answer me a couple of questions and I'll let you to your booze. What did you mean, 'she's alive'?"

"It means exactly what you think it does. She didn't actually die that night. The X-7 took her inside, she got a heart transplant and was sent to Psi Ops for re-indoctrination. She escaped about three months later, when I was about to make my final broadcast." Logan paused, as his mind was assaulted by a flood of memories and emotions. "Long story short. they were exposed and decided to cauterize the place. When she came in I kissed her, and then we discovered that she'd been injected with a genetically engineered retrovirus, keyed to my DNA. It almost killed me. And then there was him. Her breeding partner."

"Her WHAT?"

"After you blew the DNA lab the new director decided to replenish her ranks in the old fashioned way, assigning most X5 and some x6 to the breeding program, ordering them to have sex every night until every female got pregnant. And your sister showed up at my apartment with his breeding partner in tow, with orders to drag me back to Manticore if she wanted the antigen. I guess she didn't like to be played like that, because she kicked his ass and sent the broadcast. Then she went back and got the antigen. I didn't die. Yay me."

Syl was shaken by all the information. Her sister was alive. And she had a virus that would kill Logan if they touched. Add to that the guy she had to fuck in Manticore, who not only was still alive but hanging around...as much as her sister loved the man sprawled in front of her, and as much as Syl knew Logan loved Max, she understood what could have happened. While Syl would've never submitted willingly, and she didn't think Max would've either, if her breeding partner was still around and breathing meant one of two things: Max either was coerced or convinced that it was the best option, or she fought it tooth and nail and the guy was still hanging around out of self protection, attaching himself to a X-5 with the necessary skills to survive outside, and maybe trying to get himself some. In any case, she had the feeling that Logan was keeping a lot from her; he wasn't lying, that much was obvious, as was his pain, but he was holding something back.

"So what happened? Why are you here? I caught a few of your hacks, and you were pretty vocal in your defense of transgenics. What changed?"

"Nothing. Everything. It doesn't matter. She still has the virus, she's with him, won't talk to me, refuses to be in the same room with me unless it concerns work. So when I was exposed and became number two in the NSA's Most Wanted list I decided it was time to worry about my own hide for a change. I arranged for my 'death', a very public one, and left Seattle. I'm trying to make a fresh star here, Syl. I'm through with Seattle...and her. That said, I remember what you did for me, and I'm not going to forget it any time soon - but I'll try. I owe you, and if you or your siblings ever need my help, you have only to ask. But I need you to promise me, you won't tell anyone where I am."

"Anyone? Or Max?"

"You know the answer to that. She pushed me away, used me, and tossed me aside when she was done. I'm not interested in being under her thumb again."

Syl cocked an eyebrow, intrigued. For someone that didn't want anything to do with transgenics he was leaving himself wide open. He was smart, resourceful and very capable. A good ally, and a dangerous enemy. She wondered what exactly had happened between him and Max to make him so angry and bitter.

"So what, now you hate my sister?"

"Hate her? No, not now. I did hate her for a while, but that went away. I still love her, though. I never stopped loving her, and never will. But I don't trust her, either. She used me, cheated on me, and I just can't take it anymore. I won't. I'll help you and the rest of your siblings as best a I can, but I've had enough of X5-452."

"Logan...she loves you."

"Maybe she did, once. I'm not so sure about that. But she made it very clear to me that she doesn't love me now. Not for a long while. She can barely stomach my presence." Logan sighed tiredly." Syl...I'm sorry, but she's not the person you saw two years ago. Whatever they did at Manticore changed her. She's...colder, harder. Not the woman I fell in love with. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you. But I'm sure she will be happy to see you, she's spent the last thirteen years searching for you, she'll be happy to see you."

"Where is she? How can I contact her?"

"I'll tell you, on one condition. You never tell her where I am, or that you got this intel from me. Deal?"

Syl looked at him. She could see Logan perfectly in the darkened room. He looked like shit. Older, harder. It hurt her to see him like this. Max had considered him family, and so did she.

Syl remembered the frenzied, determined look on his eyes as he decided to take the fight to Manticore, and seeing him so defeated made her want to comfort him. But she knew him well enough to realize that the last thing he wanted now was to feel pitied. He kept the lights off knowing that she could see him, but also because that way he could pretend he was alone. She didn't know what to do to help him, so decided to leave Logan to figure things out for himself, and get her answers from Max.

Even if her sister didn't want anything to do with him, she had no intention of letting Logan wallowing in self pity. She didn't let him kill himself before, she damn well wasn't going to let him do it now. If not for Max, then for the rest of her family. He had risked his neck to warn them, had fought beside them against Manticore, and had given Krit and her access to his resources and contacts to locate the rest of her family after Zack was captured. It had taken them almost two years to find them all, but with Johndy here in L.A. the family was again in contact, and considering the current situation they had gathered in one place for safety. She had decided to go to Seattle for a while, visit with Logan and Original Cindy, to be near the people Maxie had loved so much. But after the information Logan had given her, the things he had said and the things he didn't, she was reluctant to take the whole unit there.

Considering the tension in Seattle caused by Terminal City's inhabitants, she decided to search for Max alone, or maybe with Johndy, talk to her and then make up her mind. Maxie was SiC, so unless Zack was around she was in charge. And she wasn't ready to put all their lives in her hands before talking to her. Then something Logan had said earlier flashed back in her mind.

Zack.

Logan had said 'both of them are'. Maybe he had meant that Zack was also out there? And then another thought sneaked in. They all knew Zack had less than brotherly feelings for Maxie. Maybe...if they both were at Manticore when the Breeding Program started, it made sense to pair them up, being the top two of their class. It put everything in a new perspective. She hated to ask, but she needed to know.

"Logan?"

"Hmm?"

"You said 'both of them are'. What did you mean? It's Zack, isn't it."

She saw Logan's face fall at that.

"Yeah...yes, Zack's alive. After they harvested his organs-"

"What!"

"Oh...I didn't tell you that before, huh...OK, let me start from the beginning."

Half an hour later Syl was sitting across from Logan. The room was bathed in soft, warm light, from a lamp that sat beside the couch. She knew that it had taken Logan a great deal of effort to turn it on, abandoning the safety of darkness to face her. She was still reeling from the enormity of everything that had happened her siblings in the last two years. She wasn't sure what was more unbelievable, Zack as an amnesiac cyborg or a evil cult bent on world domination...

"OK. OK...Let's say I'm buying all this. Are you sure Max is still in Terminal City?"

"As sure as I can be without going back there to check. She and her boyfriend were in charge. And Zack was still at the farm six months ago. What, if anything, changed since then, I don't know."

"Well, can you check?"

"No. I'm dead, remember? I'll give you the phone number and address, you can call them and check yourself. Tell them I left instructions for you to check; they know me and Max, know his name, and that he's Max's brother. As for Max...I've had the Informant Net scouring the country for any piece of information on you and your brothers and sisters, so I can send in a report through about a sighting, and let them make first contact. Or you can just show up and ask for refuge there."

"Logan...you should come. Try and talk to her. I know it's hard, not one of us has had a good track on relationships. But you loved her, and I know she loved you. You should try-"

"No. I tried, and I tried. I tried loving her, and she gave up. Cheated on me and dumped me when I found out. I tried to be her friend, and she pushed me away. I tried being her ally, and she abused my trust. I love her, and I don't think I'll ever get over her, but I don't trust her. No, it's best for everyone if I stay dead."

"Is it? This is what's best for you? Hiding away, drinking in the dark? What a bout your mission?"

Logan leaned back as if slapped. He blinked a few times, letting the words sink in, then drained his glass in one long pull, slamming it down on the side table.

"I mean, are you happy leaving it in someone else's hands?"

"I didn't."

"What?"

"I didn't leave it in someone else's hands. I deleted the Informant Net. Destroyed everything. And still it's up and running after four months. Someone rebuilt it from the ground up, and it's doing my work. Better than I ever did. So you see, I'm not needed in Seattle, by anyone. Let me be, Syl. Please."

Syl leaned back. While she had spent a short amount of time with Logan, she had come to know him. She had been surprised and confused by the intensity of the older man, the fire in his eyes matching the strength of his character, his belief in justice above everything else. He wasn't blind or deluded, he knew that the world was a huge gray area; he just refused to accept it without a fight. She had read about men like this, righteous, honorable men that put heir ideals and beliefs above themselves.

Logan was a fucking hero. A living, breathing hero. Something she had thought impossible to find in these days. She had been taught that people were stupid and selfish, weak and morally corrupt. And all she had seen in the years since she had escaped had shown her that it was pretty much true, with a few exceptions. But Logan...he was something else altogether. After the attack on Manticore she had spent may nights talking with Logan and Original Cindy, asking questions about her sister. Logan told her of their missions, their dinners and conversations. Original Cindy painted quite a different picture of Max, a tough, wild girl who didn't let anyone rule her life...until Logan came along. When Logan revealed his identity to Cindy, a lot of the stories she had told them made sense: how Max would drop everything when he paged her, all her late night visits and all the confusion and anger that she showed to her best friend. Cindy never quite understood why Max would put up with all the drama and trouble she did for an arrogant, rich white boy...but being the main enforcer for Eyes Only...that was another matter. That, as much as their shared pain over Max's death, bonded Cindy and Logan over the first few months.

So Syl wasn't ready to just give up and leave Logan, not like this. She had stopped him from killing himself in grief, and she intended to see him get through heartbreak as well. No matter what he thought at the moment, he was family. And she had lost enough of them.

"OK, Logan. I'll drop it, for now. But I want you to promise me you won't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

Logan snorted, and poured himself another drink. He emptied in one long swallow before answering.

"I'm not going to kill myself, Syl. Well, not again. I came here to start a new life, and I intend to do just that. You and your siblings are always welcome, as long as we understand each other: I'll do whatever I can for you, but you leave me out of your 'reunion' with her. Agreed?"

Syl huffed, annoyed. She felt his pain, it was real, but there were many things that went unsaid, and she didn't have the time to drag them out of him. He was a stubborn man, after all. She would talk to Max first, get the other side of the story, and then she would talk to him again.

"Agreed. Just give me the numbers and I'll take care of the rest."

Logan took a small note pad from his desk and scribbled a couple of phone numbers and addresses, and directions to Buddy's farm. As he gave them to Syl he hesitated, unsure of what to say.

"I was wondering...just out of curiosity, who was that at the bar? She's X5, that much is clear. Is she one of yours?"

"Yeah, that's Johndy, the last one. It took us a long time to find her, she'd moved a couple of times but after losing contact with Zack she came back to her former job."

"Johndy, huh? Ma- she always talked about her, how Johndy was the one closest to her at Manticore. Zack paired them up the night of the escape... Anyway, here you go. Good luck with her. I meant what I said earlier, she's not the same person. Be careful."

"I always am. See you in a few weeks, Logan."

She turned to leave, and it was only her enhanced hearing that allowed her to catch his whispered response, as he turned off the lights and kept drinking in the dark.

"Yeah, sure..."

Syl jumped off from the balcony to the street below, signaling to Johndy to follow her.

"Who the hell is he? How does he know so much about us?"

"Come on Jon, I know you heard everything. He was Maxie's boyfriend, as much as both denied it. She defied Zack and stayed behind in Seattle three times, for him. Besides we owe him. You owe him. He was the one who alerted us when Lydecker was on our trail."

"What? You mean that drunk there was Eyes Only?"

"Don't judge him, Jon. You don't know what he's been through. Now go to your apartment to pack, I'll meet you there in an hour. We're going to Seattle.

Terminal City, April 10 2022 08.45 AM

Max strode purposefully through the city towards the Command Center, her mind set on the task ahead. Cindy had set her straight again, forced her to see what was in front of her, instead of what she wished it to be. As much as she hated the idea, Logan had trusted her to take care of the X6, and she had fucked it up. So she would go there, talk to the little bitch and make sure she was taken care of, and then she would ask nicely about Logan. She would. Once.

Max entered the main building of the Command Center, and walked towards the main bank of computer terminals and monitors that was the nerve center of the city's communication and surveillance systems. The transgenics on duty glanced at her and gave her a respectful nod before going back to their duties. Max smiled, pleased that she had finally broken most of the transgenics from the custom of standing to attention and saluting every time she came into the room.

Walking past them, she eyed the small room that served as her office, and next to it Alec's. Both were empty.

Frowning, she turned back to the transgenic on watch.

"Hey Stig. Do you know where Alec is?"

"Yes, he left word for you that he would be at the infirmary with the new girl, the X-6. Somethin' about a checkup."

"Thanks."

Max steadied her breathing as she made her way to the infirmary. It did make sense to have Miri check her out, see how Jessica was doing, make sure the baby was OK, yet Max couldn't suppress a flash of annoyance as she thought about the young girl.

'Well, at least it's not murdering rage anymore...'

Max sighed again, and steeled herself as she stood in the doorway to the Infirmary. Squaring her shoulders, she opened the door. As she enter the room Alec, Miri and Jessica looked up to her. Miri's eyes were gentle as usual, and Alec gave her a level, scrutinizing gaze, gauging her temper. But Max had only eyes for the slight, graceful X-6 sitting on a gurney.

Jessica returned her glare, jutting up her chin. Max could see her struggling to hold her glaze, trying to defy her authority; and for a few moment, she did. When Jessica finally dropped her eyes Max heard Alec and Miri relax. The tension in the room was palpable, and Max had to force herself to relax. She was still pissed at the girl, but was honest enough to acknowledge that all her animosity and dislike of her stemmed from Jessica's bond with Logan, and not anything she had done or said.

Max still hated the thought of the little slut touching her man, but Original Cindy was right; when in heat, all bets were off. Max had resisted most of her heath phases, but the first three had been a terrifying, grueling time for her. The first time she thought she'd die. She'd been all alone, just like Jessica. And she had let herself go, given in to her lust-fueled urges. She had been no better than Jessica. She was being unfair to the young girl.

'Yeah, whatever...'

Tearing her attention from her, Max turned to Miri and Alec, letting her anger bleed out.

"OK, talk to me. How is she?"

"Well, she's alright, although I would prefer to give her the usual dose of pre-natal vitamins and diet, just to be sure. Someone took good care of her so far, so I don't foresee any problems..." Miri's voice trailed off as she saw Max's eyes hardening with anger. She glanced at Alec in confusion, sensing a problem. "Max...?"

Max huffed, letting go of the hurt and anger. Of course Logan took care of Jessica, he was always doing that kind of shit.

A memory flashed through her mind then...his hand on hers, his cool, soft fingers caressing her fevered brow, smoothing back his sweat matted hair from her face as he promised not to leave her, Max relaxing for the first time in her short life, and letting his deep, melodious voice lull her into sleep as the tryptophan eased her seizures...

Cursing herself for her weakness, Max focused her attention back on Miri and Alec. Catching his eyes, she motioned with her head for him to follow and stepped outside. Of course, it was just an illusion of privacy; both knew that Jessica and Miri could hear them perfectly well, but Max needed the physical distance.

"Well? What did she tell you?"

Alec rolled his eyes in annoyance, crossed his arms and leaned back in the wall. He seemed reluctant to talk.

"Look Max, you have to understand something. Jessica has spent a lot of time outside, having a real life. Not as much as you or your 'family', but she was on assignment, which means she never had to run, or hide. She was allowed to fit in, to a degree. She knows a lot more, is much more confident in what and who she is than anyone else here, except for you. Her first heat shattered that, but she's still a far cry from the usual refuges and stragglers we still get on occasion. She understands a lot about her feelings, and right now she has one thing very clear in her mind: Logan is her friend, and we, and by that I mean you and me, are not. She has seen him, spent time with him and has spoken with him at length, and as far as she's concerned, we are the bad guys."

"That's ridiculous! She doesn't know anything about me, about Logan and me!"

"Yes she does, Max. Logan told her."

"What? Why would he tell her anything? It makes no sense."

Alec rubbed his face tiredly. Even after all that had happened, all the tears and pain Max was still fucking blind when it came to Logan. Stepping away from the door, he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him.

"Max! Listen to what I'm saying. Of course Logan talked to her! He was in pain, alone and angry. You never wanted to talk about your feelings. Logan never had that problem, in fact he always tried to talk with you, tried to explain what he felt for you! So when he found someone who understood what it all meant, who was willing to listen, he told her everything. Everything, Maxie."

Max's breath caught in her lungs, felt the bitter, burning taste of bile in her throat as a cold panic seized her. Until now the full story was something only Alec and Original Cindy knew, and she still had not told them everything. She still hid some details from her closest friends, in shame and regret. Things only Logan knew. She had told Alec and O.C. about the night she had lied to Logan, but never given them any details. Never voiced out loud the pain in his eyes, the way his voice broke as he begged her to reassure him, to tell him that his fears were unfounded. Her heart broke again as she remembered that night.

She had made Eyes Only beg. Made him cry. She had broken a man that had stood tall against Manticore, against the Reds, had risked his life for her, had killed for her.

Max reined in her emotions, and with a heavy sigh turned back to Alec.

"Do you...do you know what he told her?"

"Not the specifics, but enough. Enough that she was reluctant to come. Enough that she would've never told us anything about him, had we not found out. Enough for her to hate you, and loathe me. Enough for Logan to have her loyalty." Alec shock his head and let and annoyed snort. "And I still don't know what the fuck you all see in him."

Max smiled at last. She knew what she had to do. She would have to earn every ounce of respect and trust from Jessica. Show her that what she did, she did out of love and concern for him, that no matter how badly she had fucked things up she really did love Logan, and had always done what she thought best for him. She blinked, shocked once more at the enormity of her mistake. It had made so much sense, then. It had seemed like the best and only option to ensure Logan's safety. She just wished she had devoted as much time, energy and ingenuity in finding solution, instead of dwelling on the problem. Taking a deep, calming breath she stepped back into the room.

TBC...(soonish)