"One Night"
Chapter 12
 

Disclaimer: I don't have ownership of any of these characters. They belong to their respective creators, including Cameron/Eglee Productions and 20th Century Fox Studios. The story is not for sale or resale it is written solely for Dark Angel fans. No money is being made from the use of these characters.
Summary: Logan goes to a Manticore doctor for help.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Occurs after "Designate This".
Rating: R
A/N: Hahahaha she's got nothing to say. Did I freak you out with the last chapter? That last chapter was really weird, I'm not sure where that came from. Maybe it was cause I was on one to many Strepsils. They did say only one every two hours…

If you don't remember, this is my first fanfic. How's it so far? Feel free to write me anytime, I will reply.

*****

Max watched over Eva as she slept. No doubt, she would be asleep for quite sometime yet. Three hours had passed since Eva had been moved to ICU. Max watched the slightest movement of Eva's eyes. A single tear escaped the tight lids and rolled aimlessly down one smooth creamy cheek. She got up out of her seat and gently brushed the moisture away.

Eva felt a feather light touch brush her skin. Where was she? Was she in heaven, did heaven even exist for experiments like her? She never saw herself as human, no matter how much she might look like one. Human's didn't have weird urges or get resurrected like she had. She blinked and let her eyes focus, Max was standing above her, with a solemn look on her face. Eva bolted upright. Adrenalin coursing through her body. "Where is she?"

"Eva, calm down." Max pushed her gently back. She checked that her IV was still in place. It was a wonder she hadn't ripped it out. "How did you know it's a she?" Max scanned Eva's face for some kind of response. Eva just lay there staring blankly at the wall.

So, it was all just a bad dream. Funny, they always happened at night. What frightened her so much was that this one had seemed all too real. "In my dream, Lydecker took our baby. We couldn't protect her because I got Zack and myself killed."

Max squeezed Eva's hand, "It was just a dream. Besides, Lydecker doesn't work for Manticore anymore. He helped blow the genetics lab. They want his ass just as bad as they want ours." Max gave a small grin at the thought. Her smile faded quickly upon remembering all of their loss. "How do you feel?"

Eva ran a tentative hand over her chest. She winced when her fingertips ran over the wound. "It's healing fast but it's still a little tender." She looked up into Max's sad brown eyes. Max had smiled before but it never reached her eyes. "Tell me what happened?" She couldn't recall much beyond the point when she'd punched her assailant in the leg to stop him shooting anyone else. But she could have sworn that Zack had been there, she heard him speaking to her. What he said, she couldn't quite remember.

"You had two beautiful babies. A boy and a girl, there were so tiny, Eva." When Max saw Eva's eyes begin to water, she couldn't stop her own. It started all over again and they fell freely down her face. "The little boy is dead. They aren't sure what happened yet. Logan's with the doctor now."

"Thanks for coming, Max. I think we all would have died if you hadn't have come." She must have been out for several hours because now as she sat up again. She still felt weak and a little light-headed. "I want to see them, Max."

Max nodded and helped Eva stand. Taking the drip stand with them, they slowly made their way to the Neonatal Unit.

******
"Sorry we forgot about you boy." Zack ruffled the Alaskan's coat. In their haste and panic, they'd forgotten all about Snuffy. Who'd just waited patiently in the hospital car park, anticipating someone's return.

After witnessing his son die, Zack couldn't face them all. He doubted if he even able to see Eva. After what he'd been thinking? In a way, hadn't he wished the babies to die? He hated himself for that. "We have to get rid of it." He had said those words and meant them. Now fate had answered his wish. Zack smirked, good thing he didn't know it was twins. Or now he'd be childless. He wanted that baby girl, as badly as he needed his next breath. He knew that now but he just couldn't find the words to express his feelings. Whatever was to happen, he knew that if Eva heard the words he had said, she would never forgive him.

"Thought you'd be here." Logan rounded the back of the van to find Zack and Snuffy sitting together on the cold tarmac.

"So what happened?" Zack tried to sound indifferent but his voice came out slightly husky. "I meant about the kid."

"His blood vessels collapsed, causing mass bruising. He was bleeding beneath the skin. They're saying that he was veins and capillaries never properly developed. Doc says it's a wonder be even took his first breath." Since Zack was playing it cool and unfeeling, Logan thought he would join in. "You got your wish," Logan said icily.

Zack's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't even try to hang that on me." He got to his feet and brushed off his pants. "You know what, Cale, don't stick it where it's not wanted."

Logan wasn't letting Zack get off lightly. There was way too much water under the bridge for him to just walk away. "You've still got another kid, Zack. Yeah, I know that they're yours." Zack had stopped walking but he hadn't turned around. "How can you walk out on her?"

Little did Logan know his statement held more than one meaning for Zack. He had left Eva in Seattle after spending the night with her, now he was contemplating the same action.

Logan remained silent. He had said all he wanted to say. There was nothing more that he could come up with to persuade Zack to do the right thing. Snuffy sat beside him looking lost, it was almost as if he was confused. Who should he follow, stay with Logan or go with Zack. Still he sat looking between the two.

Instead of walking out into the early morning darkness, Zack turned at walked back toward the hospital entrance. He wouldn't leave without talking to Eva first. He owed her that much. Maybe a lot more…but it was a start.

******
Eva and Max stood at the window looking at the little baby on the other side. They had come from seeing Dr. Collins and baby Jed. Jedidiah, 'Jed' for short. The baby they had lost. The good doctor had smiled when Eva told him the baby needed a name. He assured them both that it was a good idea.

As Eva stared at her little girl, she was amazed at how accurately she had pictured her. Her arm shivered involuntarily and Max gave her a worried look.

"You okay?" Max gently squeezed Eva's hand. Her other arm was supporting her around the waist.

"In my dream she looked just like this. She's so perfect. Her name is Zara. She'll be my little princess." Eva put her hand on the glass window. As if a connection could made between mother and daughter through any separation. "Max, I want to leave now."

"But you just had major surgery."

"I know but I don't want to stick around. Those guys can't be far off and I have my baby to look out for now." As she spoke, Eva quietly slipped into the room and was carefully lifting her daughter out of the crib. Wrapping her warmly, Eva crept out of the room just as stealthily as she went in.

"I hope you know what your doing. Cause I won't be responsible for anyone getting hurt."

Eva knew what she was implying--her catching pneumonia or little Zara dieing, too. "We'll be fine, as soon as we get as far away from Alaska as possible. Max, you go find Logan and meet me outside." Eva watched as her sister hurried down the hall in the opposite direction. "Max…" Max turned around before she reached the bend. "I love you."

"Everything will be okay, Eva, I promise." That said she turned the corner and disappeared.

"Well, baby girl, mommy's going to stick to her rules this time. We don't hurt those we love. And mommy's big trouble for her family. We'll be fine, you and me." Eva bent and kissed Zara's smooth soft forehead. Shifting the baby in her arms, she detached her IV. She would have to find something warmer than hospital scrubs too or they wouldn't be getting very far. She still felt a little weak but in a few hours, she'd be back to her old self again. She just needed a good rest, it would happen just as soon as they were both safely out of Alaska.

******
"Logan. I've been looking all over for you." Max opened the van door and got in. Logan was sitting behind the wheel. Looking pleased with himself. "What's got you all cheerful?"

"Oh nothing. Just that this is all going to turn out okay."

Max smiled, she couldn't help it. His grin was always infectious. "What makes you say that?"

"Zack decided to talk to Eva."

"Zack? I forgot all about Zack. Wait here."

"Max…" Logan spoke to thin air. Max had slammed the door and was hurrying back toward the hospital. "Just great. All these supercharged transgenics. They don't realize that us average humans move a little slower. Yep, I'll just wait here and twiddle my thumbs till you get back." He thumped the wheel in frustration. Why did he always feel like he was being left behind? Just as he was about the get out to follow Max, he noticed something lingering in a second story window. He saw a figure dressed in baggy clothing with a bundle strapped to their chest. As he watched, the person jumped from the sill and landed on their feet in the snow. "Here we go." Getting out of the van he headed over as fast as his new legs would carry him.

Eva had dropped gracefully from the small height to her freedom. She had raided the staff change rooms and found suitable cold weather gear to wear. Just as she was about to take off someone grabbed her from behind. Instinctively she threw her elbow into her attacker's stomach. He groaned.

"Eva. It's me, Logan." He managed to choke out, he was still holding his abdomen.

Eva's hands flew to her mouth. "I'm sorry, you shouldn't grab people like that." Moving in close she pulled his hands way, softly she prodded his stomach. "Does it hurt bad?"

Logan flinched and pulled away. "I'll live. Where were you going? No, tell you what, come with me." He didn't wait for her to answer. He just grabbed her hand and dragged her along to the van.

"Logan, I'm doing this for everyone. I can't say with you guys, not in Seattle. I'll be fine, just as soon as I get out of here." In the cold morning air, each breath produced as warm mist. Her nose and cheeks were turning a dusty pink.

"Eva, you're a smart woman. How far did you think you'd get out here?" Logan raised an eyebrow when she remained quiet. "Did you even consider telling Zack that you were planning on doing a disappearing act? What about Max?"

Eva looked at her sleeping baby, huddled in her warm makeshift pouch of woollen blankets. "I didn't know he was here."

Zack and Max came running out of the hospital towards them. As they approached, Eva silently pleaded with Logan, "Don't tell them. Promise?" She looked into his honest blue eyes.

"I'll never say a word."

"We thought you'd gone." Max said accusingly. "After I found Logan in the van alone, I remembered what you said. I love you. Almost like goodbye." She threw her arms around her sister and hugged her, minding not to squeeze the baby. "Promise me you'll never pull something like that."

Zack stood to the side watching his siblings. Two women, he loved them both. Now how did a man manage that? Part of him would always love Max, even though she would never be his. But Eva, she gave her heart and soul to him and what could he offer her.

"Zack?" Eva went to him. She searched his eyes for some indication of his feelings. She found nothing, it was silly of her to think that she would. He was always the best at conquering interrogation. He buried everything so deep that he could almost forget he ever knew or cared for anything. "Zack, you have a daughter, Zara." She pulled part of the blanket open to revel their sleeping child.

"Will you forgive me, Eva?"

A flash of sadness crossed his eyes and Eva reached to pull him close. "You've never done anything that needs forgiving. Zack, you didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any promises and I'm not expecting any now." When she pulled him into a hug, he didn't pull away but a few moments passed before he returned her embrace.

"I want to be with you, Eva. I do need you, maybe I should have said that before. I just don't believe in making promises I can't keep." He drew her even closer till their foreheads touched. Looking deep into her eyes he spoke with all the feeling he held inside. "I'll be there for both of you. Always."

Eva's broken heart was starting to mend. After that nasty nightmare, her heart had shattered into a thousand pieces. She had concluded that the only way she would survive was to leave her family behind. To protect them she would have to leave them. She certainly never wanted Zack to feel pressured into being committed to her, that was the final pushing point. Never in her wildest imagination did she ever believe Zack would care for her. Maybe it wasn't love, like she loved him but at least he needed her.

Zack ran a finger down Eva's cheek and across her rosy red lips. She looked so pretty with her pink cheeks and her messy curls framing her face. When she smiled, a million images of her flashed across his mind; Eva in Crash about to seduce a poor unsuspecting fool, in Logan's baggy shorts, after they just made love. Did he call it that? No, but he felt it now. And Eva, as he cradled her in his arms, thinking he was going to lose her. He looked down at her beautiful face; her perfectly shaped nose, kissable luscious lips, big clear brown eyes, and full of love for him. "We'll work this out."

"I know we will."

In the cold morning mist, above their sleeping child's head, they sealed their love for each other.

~*~*~The End~*~*~

~~~ A/N: I finished it...hooray…if I didn't finish this chapter today. Who knows when this story would have ended? Cause it's back to work Monday and I wouldn't have to time to even think about writing. Thanks to those who stuck with me, I hope you loved the story.