What They Don't See

Chapter 31 - Touchy feelies

Kate sat on the floor against a white wall in a brightly lit hallway, listening as people walked by her. Some wore nurse uniforms, others wore white coats, and still, others wore everyday clothes. But all of them rushed up and down the hallway with a destination.

Across the hallway, leaning against the opposite wall, Marcos watched her.

This went on for almost three hours, yet neither of them moved even an inch. And it would have continued like that for even longer, if Logan's doctor didn't come rushing past them and into the waiting room, probably in search of his family. Kate raced after him, praying there was finally some good news.

A few minutes later Kate sat with Max, Sara, and Tom in Logan's room, quietly listening to the slow, steady beep of the heart monitor, confirming that he was alive.

Max had been the one to realize that Logan was still alive back at the hotel.

~

"His heart's still beating!" he yelled from his spot with his head on his brother's chest. Suddenly everyone sprung into action. Kate had raced to her boyfriend's body and ripped her jacket off, pressing it against the gunshot wound just under his shoulder.

Kate suddenly realized that Tristan had missed his mark. It seemed impossible, given his marksman skills, but Kate didn't have time to think about why or how he missed.

She continued to hold her jacket against the wound as she yelled instructions.

"Jac call Marcos, see how far they are. If it's more than three minutes call an ambulance next. Andrew, make sure the men are all dead. Have Mason deal with the civilians and get them out of here. Once he's done he can help you collect all the bodies. We can't have them around if an ambulance is coming."

No replies were given, but everyone got to work doing exactly what she had instructed. Max remind frozen by his brother's side, never wavering. Kate didn't comment on it or give him any instructions. She knew he wouldn't leave his brother's side.

Thankfully, Marcos arrived with his team two minutes later.

"Too late to help kill those bastards, but not too late to save a life," he remarked as they carried Logan to the car.

~

And now, almost five hours later, Kate still hadn't said a thing. She simply sat there, clutching Logan's hand like it was a lifeline.

Not just his, but hers.

Eventually, Tom cleared his throat.

"Are either of you going to fill us in on what happened?" he asked, glancing between Max and Kate, neither of whom had dared to take their eyes off Logan.

"Max?" Sara murmured, finally catching her son's attention. He blinked for a moment, glanced at Kate, and then turned to his parents.

"There was a robbery at the hotel. Logan, being the hero he is, interfered and ended up getting shot," Max explained, staring at Logan the whole time. But Tom wasn't having it.

"Enough lies, Max! For the last few years, all you've done is lie to your mother and me! We thought you were done with all that lying from when you guys were in high school. I don't know what's been going on, but enough is enough!" Tom yelled. He had sprung up from his seat and stood facing Max head-on.

"Dad... I don't know what you're talking about-" Max tried, still not looking his father in the eye.

"Tell them," Kate murmured, staring at Logan's face.

"What? Are you sure...?" Max asked, looking over at her with a worried look.

"I said. Tell them." Kate commanded in a tone that left no room for questioning. "They have a right to know," she added in a gentler tone. Max nodded and began explaining everything that happened from his perspective. But it quickly became clear that there were some holes in his story.

"So, why did that guy shoot Logan?" Sara asked as she tried to make sense of the information her son had just given them.

"To hurt me. He shot Logan because he wanted me to hurt. He just shot him in the shoulder because he wanted me to remember that he had the opportunity to kill my love, but he didn't. His final act was a power move," Kate announced. For a moment, the room was still. Sara moved across the room and stood behind Kate, gently rubbing her back.

"Are you telling me, that my son was shot as a power move?!" Tom exclaimed, receiving a glare from his wife for it.

"No, Tom. He was shot because I made the mistake of including him in my life. He was shot because I love him," Kate said with a sigh. Her eyes never left Logan's hand, even as Sara gasped behind her.

"It's about time you admitted it," Logan croaked.

"Logan!" everyone exclaimed.

"Hi everyone," Logan replied with a chuckle, attempting to sit up as his mother rushed forward and embraced him fiercely, tears streaking her face. His brother and father followed quickly with hugs of their own.

"Oh, Logan we were so worried. Are you alright? Should we call the doctor?" Sara rambled, twisting her hands nervously.

"No mum, I'm fine," he replied with a gentle smile.

"Your not fine boy. You got shot for crying out loud. And for what? A power move? Because this stranger loves you? Psh," Tom rumbled, shaking his head.

"Well, this stranger's love is definitely worth getting shot for dad," Logan replied, squeezing Kate's hand as he said it. He glanced down at Kate and found her still staring at their intertwined hands.

"Hey," he murmured, tugging at her hand gently to get her attention. When she finally looked up at him, Logan sighed when he saw the tears running down her face.

"I'm so sorry about what I said in that burn..." he began.

"It doesn't matter anymore Logan-" Kate interrupted, shaking her head.

"It does matter Kate. All you were doing was protecting Max and saving him when I couldn't. I just got upset because saving Max has been my job for so long, I forgot that he's an adult capable of making his own decisions. And I'm so sorry I took it out on you. You didn't deserve it," Logan explained, staring right at those bright green orbs he loved so much.

"I love you, Kate. When Tristan was aiming that gun at me all I could think about was the fact that I hadn't told you that I love you, and how much I regretted not saying it when I had the chance," Logan added before Kate could say anything. 

In a sobbing mess of tears, Kate reached up and kissed Logan for all she was worth. Not caring that his family stood right behind her.