Based on a true story

As many of you readers of mine might remember, back in 2013 i was in an accident. I fell in a ditch in the winter, broke my left leg (the bone snapped clearly through and was nearly protruding from the flesh), fractured my left ankle, and severely dislocated it. I had to have 2 surgeries to repair the damage and months of physical therapy to learn how to walk again. The result is forever metal in my leg and a mild limp. One of my readers had recommended a while ago that i turn the ordeal into a story - well nearly two and a half years later i've done just that. Of course for the sake of the story some things have to be dramatically elongated and changed to kinda coincide with Batman Beyond so you guys don't get bored *cough cough*. i was surprised by how hard it actually was for me to write this chapter, struggling with the memory of the fear i felt that day. So please bear with me! Anyways, to everyone out there who wished me well in my recovery back then, thank you. And to the man who found me - wherever you are - thank you. You literally saved my life. :')

Hope you all enjoy. Look out for the future chapters to this - also be expecting next week a new one shot.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!

The Ditch

Chapter One

Disbelief

"I'm serious Max! I refuse to enable you – you've got to take responsibility and get your shit together!" Max winced angrily in remembrance of her mother's cold words as the girl pounded her feet against the snow covered pavement in heavy frustration. Enabled? Enabled?! Last Max checked neither parents nor sibling enabled the youngest Gibson since that messy ass divorce when she was a kid. Max was seventeen now, and with her sister off traveling for work constantly Gibson had learned exceptionally well how to put the ducks in a row. Between her textbook brilliance, street genius, and "experience" with being alone the majority of the time Max was beyond capable in getting her "shit together" – in fact, the teen brain was rather convinced that she was smarter than her family put together! Annoyed with her mother's blind arrogance, Max had stormed out of the apartment and decided to take a calming walk – although the more she walked the more pissed she wound up becoming in the solo quiet that steadily repeated the argument they'd just had back perfectly – along with all the things she could have said in rebuke. But she supposed it was a good thing she hadn't said 20% of the thoughts that went racing through the girl's mind. No matter how strained things were between them, Max steadily exercised caution when disagreeing with her parents – as wise cracking as she was, the girl did not find the back of a hand upside the head a favorable sacrifice for sharing her opinion. Max narrowed her brows: then again, giving the off parameters of where her family was since the divorce, who's to say Max wouldn't swing a hand back? See? Avoiding those risks was the better choice to make. Max could feel the frustration between the both of them growing too near to a physical explosion and took off.

But what had started the shouting match between the Gibson women? All the girl did was ask her mother for a hundred credits so she could attend a science convention in Metropolis next month! It's not like her father was without money – and like the mother hadn't milked him for it in the divorce. Max's cell buzzed and the girl reached into her pocket and placed it to an ear and answered without even bothering to look at the caller ID. "Yeah."

"Grumpy much?" responded Terry McGinnis. She could almost hear his playful smile. "Things not work out with your mom?" A faint echo of his voice resonated through the phone – along with whispery inhuman screeches. She knew automatically where he was calling from: the cave.

Max huffed, raising her shoulders against an immediate icy blast. So wrapped up in her burning rage the girl had forgotten about the bitter winter that had engulfed Gotham in shades of whites and greys and muddy browns. The only time Max enjoyed winter in Gotham was when the snow was fresh and new, pure and untainted by the bustle and filth the city devoured it with within 24 hours of arriving. By then, winter was just like every other Gotham day: ass. "She refuses to be a mother for once," growled Max as her feet slid a little on black ice upon the pavement, earning a bountiful curse from her and snicker from McGinnis. "HAS THIS PLACE EVER HEARD OF SALT?!" Terry's snicker turned into a guffaw and Max's irritation was fed. "Fuck you, Ter. Some job you're doing in this city!"

"Heeey!" Terry whined, sounding almost hurt by her declaration. "I stop criminals. Salt enforcement is NOT in my job description. Don't take your attitude out on me." McGinnis zipped up his backpack and prepared to sling it over his shoulder after giving the old man a departing wave. "Where are you anyway?" he asks, picking up what sounded like passing by cars. But that couldn't be right; it had to be the television or something because there was no way that Maxine Gibson was out in this-.

"Walking."

The blue eyed bad boy paused and narrowed his brows. "Pause. Max, this weather is absolute shit. Why are you walking? It's like…I don't know, ten degrees or some shiz! I've got a heated suit and I STILL don't wanna be out in this crap saving the day." He ignored the disapproving cough from Bruce in the background.

Max grit her teeth, jumping back a little as a speeding car whizzes by and sprays the air with brown melted snow – barely missing her. Her blue jacket seemed to constrict tight around her body as she was grateful that she ran off in her grey sweat suit rather than something less…comforting. She looked down at her new black army boots and groaned. Well these would definitely be destroyed by the time she got back. "I needed to clear my head. There was no way that I'd just sit there and let her talk down on me like that." Max inhaled sharply as heat seared through her abundant chest. "You should have heard the shit she was spewing Ter! She totally passed me off as some kind of lazy child solely reliant on her existence for everything. I could never rely on her before – what makes her even fathom that I ever would is just – UGH!" Terry grunted his agreement and Max shook her head in disbelief before continuing, "I've been an excellent daughter given the circumstances – and she flips out over a hundred creds to pay for my stay at a hotel. I bought my flight, I paid for admission to the convention – and those tickets aren't cheap! I've been saving up for this convention for two damn years, Terry! – I'm covering all the extra costs like food and cab fare or souvenirs and crap – why does she have to be so, so…her?! ALL OF THEM! Responsibility? HA! My family doesn't even know the meaning of the word. I hate how they can come off so high and mighty and just put everyone else down. I'm nothing like them in that way. I don't ever want to be like that! I try to take advantage of so many opportunities all on my own without their support but still I'm condemned-!"

"Max." Terry had stood there at the bottom of the steps leading back up to the mansion, listening to her rant, hearing the pissed tone shift to rage and confusion; but it was when her voice cracked on that last word that the Batman of the future could hear the misunderstanding, loneliness, and pain take over. He knew everything she was trying to do – and applauded the girl greatly for it in secret. But it was times like this when Terry really felt like a sham and not a best friend. She hardly every expressed emotions like this – for the longest time he'd simply thought the girl had a perfect life…until he witnessed her desperation while under Spellbinder's influence. That was when McGinnis got a true glimpse into the silent turmoil Max faced, and realized just how shallow he was and how the boy never seemed to be there to help her through it. Every time she allowed him to see this side of her it broke the teen to his core. Terry was done never being at the right place at the right moment for her. He'd sworn that he would always find a way. "Head inside somewhere, I'll come pick you up."

Max felt her stomach ripple in anticipation. Terrence always made things better, simpler. It had gotten to the point that the two were so attuned to one another that only each other's company could calm them in the midst of distress. Of course such unity did bring about its problems: the romantic feelings as a primary example. Having his shoulders to lean on more and more now was making it harder for Max to push back the interest – their friendship was literally the most important thing to her and she didn't want to jeopardize that. As badly as Gibson wanted him to come and sweep her off her feet like her Dark Knight in a technologically advanced batsuit, she figured it best not to do that. "It's alright Ter. I'm practically home now."

She wanted distance. McGinnis surely didn't want to give it to her but would oblige (against his better judgment). "Well you want me to pick you up to go to Chelsea's?" Nash, Chelsea, Max, Terry and Dana were supposed to meet up at Cunningham's for a study session in an hour or two.

Gibson looked down an alley between two nearby buildings and thought briefly. If she kept heading to the main bus top it might take her about 45 minutes to get home with the wait and constant stops (she had no idea that in her anger she'd walked so far). But if she took the back way – this way – that led to the rear of her apartment building she'd be on the elevator in half that time. Plus the sooner she got home the greater the chance of getting in and out before her mother and sister returned from their planned spa day. The genius didn't want to see either of them right now: they had way more in common than Max could handle. "Nah. I'll call a cab."

The vigilante obviously wasn't pleased with his best friend's answer, but knew arguing with Max was out of the question. One did not simply hope to debate against Maxine Gibson. "Fine. I'll see you soon." Terry paused, pressing the phone tight against his face before adding casually yet with a hint of something much more meaningful, "Love ya." Saying those words had become far more natural to him – and over the course of time began to inquire a greater definition to the usual way he spoke them concerning her. There was something about his Max-.

The smile couldn't be faltered at the soft spoken hum of his voice and words melting into her ear – her heart galloped in what it hoped to have picked up in his tone. "Love you too…dreg." Terry's hushed chuckle turned her knees to butter and Max hung up before turning and heading down the alley. As lovely as the memory of his declaration was, Max slapped herself back to reality. The alley was large and darkened, almost ominous even though it bordered a rather busy block. She supposed darkness had to reside everywhere. It was lined with litter and trash and flooded potholes. Passing a couple of homeless bodies seeking shelter near blazing dumpsters and trash bins, Max jammed her fists inside her jacket pocket avoiding eye contact. The genius teen wasn't worried per say completely for her safety, but was knowledgeable of the Jokerz who sometimes met in places like this, or congregated to take advantage of the ever abundant homeless residents – sometimes to steal the little they had, to harass them, rape them…or worse…for kicks. Her mother had warned her many times not to take this path – but Max for years never listened. Though she was sure if Terry knew where she was heading that he'd shit bataraangs.

Finally having reached the end of the alley she stepped into an opening, a road. Across from it were metal structures and beams spread about an enormous land plot. Some high end corporation was building a couple strip malls and townhouses here (so Max had heard); but started construction a tad late and had to halt production once winter hit. The empty buildings Max had passed between were to be demolished in the spring to create easier access for residents and shoppers – it would also push out the local Jokerz gang, which everyone in the area approved. Max walked along the edge of the road cautiously. There was no sidewalk along this road, and the grass was at least calve deep with snow – there was also the deep channels that were spread out every other block or so – water runoffs.

An explosion of icy air whipped through her and Max shivered as a sudden honking sound crashed aloud from behind as a truck, filled to the brim with painted face youths, came flying down the road – almost urging the girl further along the edge as she looked over her shoulder with aroused fear. In just a matter of seconds what had started out as a good idea, a shortcut, had transformed into a moment of sheer terror. Jokerz! And they had her in their sights. The truck swerved on the edge for her, the sound of the engine accelerating making her skin grow pale before she bolted – the running only fueling the maddened teens' games. It was swiftly approaching, and there was nowhere for Max for go. She stepped on a warning curb and dropped out of nowhere as the horrendous laughter and strong fumes from the bad conditioned vehicle raced by…but Max…

Her left heel slipped on the ice covered curb and buckled beneath her as girl's footing was thrown and her right leg extended forward. "Ah!" she cried out as her heart raced and felt her left heel touch her buttocks. There was a sharp snap, a pop, an unusual pulling. Max plummeted down into the ground and rolled, hitting her head against something while the world spun uncontrollably around her and grew, for just a brief moment, darkened.

And then? Silence.

Silence enveloped for mere seconds but seemed like hours before her dark eyes opened; nothing initially seemed to register with the girl's brain until reality slowly made its way back to her. She was on her back – she was coherent to that at least. She was conscious – that had to be good, right? The top floors of the building in front of her were visible, so that meant she wasn't dead – definitely good. But everything else was blocked out by hills of surrounding white. Why couldn't she see the ground? Or the street anymore? Max blinked and looked over to find a metal tunnel protruding from the ground and it became clear: she was in a runoff – a ditch. The Jokerz had drove her into it. She'd stepped on something before her leg had gave way-. Her leg! The pop sensation she had felt during the fall jolted her remembrance and warily Max looked down to her extended left leg surrounded by snow before inhaling sharply – in absolute terror. "AIIIIEEEEEEEEE!"

Through her sweatpants she could see it – an entity out of alignment with the rest of the leg, pushing up against the fabric as her foot dangled completely, unnaturally, on its side. Immediately it was apparent: her leg was broken. Oh God. Her LEG (and possibly ankle too) was BROKEN! "HELP!" Max screamed out feverishly into the white and dull sky, for it was all she could see, and the only thing watching back. "SOMEONE!"

There was no answer, of course – only the sound of traffic on the busy main road that she'd foolishly abandoned. Max Gibson felt overwhelming panic consume her being with the knowledge that she was alone in the snow with night not far off, trapped in a ditch on a back road that no one knew about! No one knew where she was! There was a faint vibrating sound coming from somewhere above and Max frantically slapped at the jacket pockets only for her eyes to burn and wails to grow more maddened as the air in her chest seemed to diminish. Her phone…it had fallen out! Up THERE! How would anyone know what happened? Or where to find her? Max threw a hand up, trying to feel around but her stinging bare fingers couldn't even reach the top of the ditch. She wasn't even visible from the road! N…No – NO! A guttural scream flew forth from the girl's full lips as the severity of her situation began to press on her fully now that general options for rescue were pretty much void under these bizarre results. There was no way out. "SOMEONE HELP ME! PLEEEEEEASE!"

The phone, partially buried beneath the disturbed frost, lit up with an incoming call. The screen read: Terry.

To Be Continued…