It's Only Logical

Chapter Eight: Grafting Lessons and Warnings

Patton hummed happily to himself as he locked the doors, finishing the closing process for Minny's Garden. Logan had done the impossible and given Val a showstopper of a garden within the two-day limit. Patton was very impressed, could scarcely believe how much work the man had done. Thomas had been thrilled that Doctor Plant had made a second appearance, and had talked of little else since meeting him. It would seem his son was just a taken with Logan as he was, which was a huge relief.

Today had been busy, and he hadn't had time to really talk with Logan yet. He'd wanted to talk to Logan that night when they'd acknowledged there was something more between them, but between the phone call from Logan's friend (who was apparently the same guy Roman had been after for years) and an ill-timed interruption from Valerie, that hadn't happened. The next day, Logan hadn't been in the shop at all because he'd been working at Val's until well past dark finishing his masterpiece. The next two weeks had been a comedy of errors. Every time they tried to find a moment to talk, something came up. Well, not anymore!

Thomas was spending the night at Uncle Roman's, and Patton was determined to track Logan down and finally figure this thing between them out. He found Logan in the private greenhouse, down at the far end at a worktable with a stack of five-inch pots, several cacti as stock plants, and a tray of rooting medium. He noted the clothespins, rubber bands, raffia, and the jar of denatured alcohol.

"What do you use on the Christmas cactus?" Patton asked curiously. He'd never seen one of these done before, and Logan seemed to be doing it expertly. Logan didn't answer, using his knife to cut a shoot from the joint of the scion plant. He had beautiful hands, Patton noted. Long, artistic fingers. Perfect for this kind of precise work. He made a vertical slit into the vascular bundle, and Patton leaned forward, utterly fascinated.

"I'm only asking because-" He put his hand on Logan's shoulder, and when he jumped and let out a muffled shout, Patton rammed his back into the table behind him.

"Shit!" Logan dropped his knife and stuck the thumb it had nicked in his mouth. "Shit!" he said again, around his thumb, yanking his headphones off with his free hand.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't see the headphones. Are you hurt? Here, let me see!"

"It's just a scratch. Not like the near-fatal HEART ATTACK you just gave me!" Logan wiped his hand absently on his pants, which were presently smeared with soil.

"Let me see that thumb." He grabbed Logan's hand. "You've got dirt in it now."

He saw Patton's gaze slide towards the alcohol and ripped his hand away. "Don't even think about it!"

"Well, it has to be cleaned. And I really am sorry. I thought you'd heard me." Logan shrugged and smiled, adjusting his glasses.

"It's quite alright, Patton. No true harm done." Patton picked up the swinging headphones, holding one side to his ear. "Is that Melodie Gardot?"

"Yes. I find jazz soothing, particularly when I'm doing fine work like this."

"Well, um...the shop's closed up for the night. I was asking about the graft you were doing? I've never seen a Christmas cactus one before."

"Oh...would...would you like to try one? I could...teach you...if you'd like?" And oh, that shy smile, the way Logan's eyes lit up, if Patton hadn't already wanted to stay, that would have sold him.

"I would love to! Thomas is having a sleepover at Uncle Roman's tonight, so I don't have to be home at any particular time." Patton didn't miss the way Logan's eyes softened at the mention of his son's name, and it warmed his heart to see it.

"How is Thomas, by the way? Sufficiently recovered from his time as my assistant?"

"Already asking when he can come to work and see Doctor Plant again." Logan chuckled at that, stepping back from the worktable and gesturing Patton to take his place.