Long Lost Friend
Disclaimer; I do not own Timecop. Wish I did, though.
Author's Notes; What if Fielding wasn't the only Timecop to have survived with McComb's disappearance? The movie didn't go into detail but I think this'll help.
Sighing as he arrives at TEC HQ, Max Walker can only grin upon remembering what Melissa told him the previous night. His grin quickly becomes an amused smile threatening to expel laughter.
'It's only been less than a day and my life's changed so much from before.' Exiting his automated car and walking away from it, his smile then becomes a frown before he sighs again. "Lyle."
"What is it, Max?" At the query from behind, Max's eyes go wide before he turns around. Upon seeing the Caucasian man who he had last seen being sent to die during the Great Depression, he smiles widely and hugs him in a brotherly way. "Max?"
"I missed you so much, Lyle Atwood."
"I missed you too, man." Reaching around as best he can, Lyle manages to pat Max's flanks before chuckling. "But we just had lunch two days ago before I had to intervene in the '40s." A stunned Max ends the hug and Lyle can only gaze concernedly at him. "You okay?" Blinking, Max gives a soft chuckle.
"Yeah. Never better. Especially since we're having another kid." Lyle smiles widely at that.
"That's great news." His smile then becomes a pensive expression. "But you're overworking yourself, Max. You shouldn't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
"I know, but it always seems to wind up there anyway." Max and Lyle both share a chuckle before a throat being cleared sounds. Both turn and smile sheepishly at seeing their Commissioner.
"Atwood has a point, Max. You've got time off accrued. Use it to take your family on vacation. Quite frankly, you can use the rest." Matuzak's words get Max to nod upon remembering what Matuzak had said to him the day prior.
"Alright. When I get back, I won't act like I'm out of my head." Mentally, he adds, 'Hopefully, anyway.' Checking his watch, he nods before saying, "I'll just straighten out some paperwork and submit a request before heading out."
"Sounds good. Soon as you submit your request, I'll sign off on it." Max nods at Matuzak again and gently claps Lyle on his shoulder before walking on. Leaving Lyle blinking behind him. With Matuzak noticing. "What is it, Atwood?"
"Max wasn't… exactly himself today, sir."
"He was like that yesterday." Snorting softly, he adds, "When he got back from the '90s, he asked about Senator McComb." That gets Lyle to blink in bemusement.
"The Senator that up and vanished?" At Matuzak's nod, Lyle can only shrug. "I'd say he's long overdue for a vacation with Melissa, Max Jr and their incoming kid." Matuzak guffaws at that, Lyle right behind.
