Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Max Steel characters, ideas, or any of the mentioned labels, or any other copyrighted materials in this story. I'm getting no money for this folks.

Chapter 1

Ne Me Quitte Pas

(Don't Leave Me)

Location: Del Oro Courthouse

Time: 3:15pm

Rachel Leeds ran out of the huge Del Oro courthouse and down a number of stone stairs. She then ran down the street towards her vehicle. She made it there made it just in time to see a cop ride away from her car on a motorcycle. A parking ticket lay in wait on her windshield.

"Darn it," Rachel snapped.

She walked over and picked the piece of paper up. She looked at it calmly and then jammed it into in her pants pocket. Then she climbed into her car.

"What have I done to deserve this day," she asked tiredly, her face turned upwards toward heaven.

Nothing.

She sighed.

"Yeah exactly what I thought," she agreed with the silence.

She had just spent the last three hours trying to explain that she was not eligible for jury duty. The whole three hours had been a total waste of time and energy. Apparently, these idiots hadn't heard about the two week grueling mission she had just got back from, or the dumping from her fed-up boyfriend she had heard on her machine when she got home, or the doctor's appointment she had to be at in less then an hour that she didn't want to go to.

"Yep," she announced, "This is definitely turning out to be a good day.

Location: Mrs. Nez's House

Time: 3:15pm

"Jakey!"

Jake Nez sighed and walked up to the house.

"Hey Mom," he called half-heartedly.

"Jakey, Jakey, come in," urged his Mother as she happily pulled him inside.

Jake allowed himself to be pulled into the house.

"Sit down Jakey," ordered his overly zealous mother, "I'll get some tea."

The little woman smiled brightly and then departed to the kitchen to get the tea.

Jake walked over to the plastic covered couch. He started to sit down.

"Jake! Don't you dare sit on that couch," called his mother from the kitchen.

Jake couldn't help but smile.

"Ok Mom," he yelled back.

He went over to one of the chairs he knew he was "allowed" to sit in, and sat down.

A few minutes later, his bubbly mother came bustling in with a pot of tea and a plate of cookies.

"Here you go sweetie," she said sweetly.

She poured tea into Jake's teacup and put two cookies on a napkin.

"Now eat up," she instructed, "Growing boys need to eat."

Jake smiled at her.

"Thanks Mom."

"Now Jakey," began Mrs. Nez slyly, "Tell me, when are you going to settle down so I can have me grand babies," asked the woman sweetly.

Jake choked on the cookie that was in his mouth.

"Mom come on, isn't it a little early to start this conversation. I haven't even finished tea yet," he pointed out.

"Well I'm sorry Jakey but I want me some grand babies."

"Ok give me a couple bucks I'll go get you some," respond Jake sarcastically.

"Jake I'm serious," snapped his mother, "I want you to get married. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy Mom," Jake said a little tightly.

His mother scoffed.

"Please, you don't even have a girlfriend. Why don't you have a girlfriend?!"

"Oh God, here we go again!"

"You are a nice handsome young man," his mother pointed out. "You should have a girlfriend!"

Jake sighed irritably and got up. He walked over to the window and peeked out at the street.

Mrs. Nez sighed.

"Well what about that nice girl you were dating awhile back? What was her name? Rachel something…Rachel Leeds that's it."

Jake stiffened.

"Mom, I don't want to have this conversation right now," Jake said calmly.

His mother thought to keep going anyways but she could tell he was already pretty angry.

She sighed again.

"Alright Jakey, let's just go get those trunks I wanted you to bring down from the attic," she suggested.

Jake nodded and the two of them headed for the stairs.

Location: Rachel's House

Time: 9:28pm

Later that night, Rachel sat on her couch "listening to music". Mentally her thoughts were far away. She was thinking about her recent break-up, or rather her resent dumping. She couldn't quite understand it. She hadn't been able to keep a steady boyfriend since she broke up with Nez.

It was as if she just couldn't commit fully to anyone. Something always held her back. She sighed dejectedly. The music to one of her favorite songs began to play. She snapped out of her trance and listen to the sad notes play. The words soon followed. All in French.

"Ne Me Quitte Pas," she said quietly.

A sudden sadness rushed over her. This song had been playing on the radio the night she broke up with Nez. She had always thought it ironic.

She could still see the pain in his eyes whenever she thought about the break-up, and it always made her hurt inside. He had begged her not to go. But she had. All because she believed that she was in love with someone else. But she had been wrong. It had been a lie.

Just another lie told to her by her foolish heart. A heart that was afraid to get too close to anyone or anything. Nez had never lost his love for her. That much she knew. He took any opportunity to show that. It was often shown in some of the more "intense" missions.

The ones where her life had been threatened, the ones when she was hurt. Nevertheless, each time he had reached out to her she turned him away. She wanted to go to him, but the same fears always stopped her.

Fear, fear had caused her to lose the most important man in her life, the man that she loved. Now it seemed as if that part of her soul that loved him would be dead forever. "Unless…."

Rachel quickly shook the thought out of her head. Begging was not an option. Or was it…?

Location: Jake's House

Time: 9:28pm

Jake sighed crossly. He was looking for some old papers his Mom wanted him to bring her. She needed them for some "secret project" she was working on. And he knew well enough to know she wouldn't let him get an ounce of sleep until he got them for her.

He wasn't sure what he had done with the papers. But he had a good idea. The box he was presently going through held most of his important letters, and papers, and such. So far, however he had only found a couple old mission reports and an old telephone bill.

He wearily pulled out papers trying to find what he needed. He suddenly spotted a picture of himself and Rachel amongst all the bills and stray papers. He gently picked it up and surveyed it affectionately. It had been taken just a few weeks before they had "broken up."

He still hadn't recovered from that. He had tried to get over Rachel time and time again. Each time he failed miserably. He felt ashamed. He had practically begged her not to leave him. He had done everything he could to get her back.

He knew he was just making a fool out of himself, but he just loved her so much…

He lovingly stroked the picture with his soft fingers. He gradually came to a decision. Maybe he was a fool for chasing Rachel. But maybe some things were worth fighting for….

Location: Jake Ness's House

Time: 9:47pm

Rachel sighed nervously and walked up to Ness's door.

"Here's hoping," she said quietly.

She reached up and knocked on the door.

Location: Rachel Leeds House

Time: 9:47pm

Jake sighed nervously and walked up to Rachel's door.

"Here's hoping," he said quietly.

He reached up and knocked on the door….

(Sniff). I cannot believe I am doing a non-Josh and Rachel story! Lol. This is a short story so there will probably be only one or two more chapters. I just too lazy to write the whole thing right now! :-) Read & Review!