**Thank you for all of the feedback, it is greatly appreciated. I am loving Nathan and Maxie lately on the show, and this is my way of telling a story that has so many scenarios.**
Chapter Two:
Maxie stepped into the cabin behind Levi. She could not believe what she had walked into! She had married a man she barely knew; a man who would have been deported if it wasn't for her. Why? Levi walked farther into the darkened cabin leaving Maxie alone that is what Maxie had felt-alone.
Suddenly there was light into the cabin and Maxie felt the light herself. She replayed the moments in her head only six hours ago when Nathan had asked her, begged, her to wait for him. He wouldn't tell her why she had to wait, just to wait for him. Wait another forty-eight hours for him, why? She knew that he had feelings for her, but he wouldn't admit it. What would another forty-eight hours prove? She could tell in Nathan's eyes that his heart was broken when she told him no. She was going to go through with another marriage for all the wrong reasons.
"Maxie, earth to Maxie," Levi announced waving his hand in front of her. "Would you like me to start a fire?"
"Sure, that's fine, Levi," she replied walking farther into the cabin. To the right there were two doors then the small kitchen, and to the left was the living area with the couch and fireplace. It was a very rustic cabin that had not been used in months by the pile of dust piled upon the furniture.
Maxie opened the first door to reveal the smallest bathroom she had ever seen, but it at least had a tub she could soak in. She closed the door and opened the next door where the bedroom was with its full size bed. Suddenly she got chills remembering that she would have to sleep next to Levi, the man she had just married. She couldn't understand why she was beginning to feel creepy out by the man she had been sleeping with the past few months.
"I'll go out and get some firewood," Levi stated leaving Maxie alone in the cabin.
Maxie stood in the doorway between the living area and the bedroom and her mind drifted to the times of Nathan standing before her shirtless. She could not stop thinking of the time Nathan and her were handcuffed together and she fell asleep on his shoulder.
"Nathan," she whispered.
She did not notice Levi standing behind her or the look of disgust on his face. He would make her forget her former roommate if it was the last thing he did. Maxie walked into the darkened bedroom rubbing her hand across the comforter covering the bed. She thought for a moment what it would be like to be in bed with Nathan. She couldn't believe she was thinking of Nathan rescuing her from Levi. What had Levi done to her to make her doubt him? Was Nathan right when it came to Levi?
In Port Charles, Nathan was finishing his second beer ordering a third one, when his cell phone rang interrupting him.
"Detective West," Nathan answered without the spark in his voice that he the past few months being close to Maxie.
"Nathan, its Mac. Where's Maxie," Mac asked with urgency in his voice.
"It's too late, Mac, she left a couple of hours ago after marrying Dunkelman."
"It's never too late. We are only a couple of hours from landing in Port Charles. We found the evidence to prove that Levi is after more than a green card."
"She hasn't been seen since she left for the courthouse. I don't know what to do," Nathan stated nodding his head no to the bartender.
Nathan heard Mac overlay the message to someone else then a breath and suddenly a voice he didn't recognize.
"Go to the Commissioner and tell her we need a ping off the cell tower of Maxie's location. We should be able to locate her that way," the male voice ordered. "Don't waste another moment, Detective; Maxie's life is in danger."
Nathan shook his head trying to focus and sober up at the same time. He knew now that Maxie needed him. He disconnected the phone call, put a few bucks down for the beers, and turned away from the bar.
"Nathan, what's going on," Dante wondered.
"Mac got the evidence and its worse than I thought; Maxie could lose her life, if I don't find her in time."
"Let's go," Dante responded instantly seeing the disapproval in Nathan's face.
"I can't ask you to help me."
"You're not asking, I'm volunteering. You have to remember Maxie gave me Rocco, and she's Lulu's best friend. I owe her," he explained also throwing some money on the counter of the bar and following Nathan out of the Floating Rib.
It only took Nathan and Dante eight minutes to get back to the station and locate their boss, Commissioner Anna Devane. Nathan explained the situation with Maxie and how Mac went to Damien Spinelli for help.
"Why should I help you, Detective," Anna questioned knowing the answer but hoping Nathan would finally admit his true feelings.
"Maxie has been through enough the past year, Commissioner. She doesn't deserve Dunkelman hurting her because I could not get to her in time," Nathan stated, "plus she is part of your family, ma'am."
"Yes, but what is she too you," Anna asked standing up from her desk. "I can't go using police equipment on a whim. We have to have a valid reason."
"Ma'am, please," Dante responded trying to help the situation. "We could be wasting valuable time."
"Yes, we could, Detective Falconeri," Anna stated walking around the desk to stand in front of Nathan. "You came in here not very long ago, claiming that Doctor Silas Gray tried to kill your sister, and you were wrong. What if you are wrong about Mr. Dunkelman?"
"If I am wrong, then…," Nathan stammered for seconds. "I will turn in my badge. If I am right though, Maxie can be rid of this cetin for good."
"Which will send Maxie to your arms, right," Anna quietly said to Detective West. "I need a valid reason."
"Commissioner, Maxie is my friend and former roommate. I would give my life for her if that is what it takes to bring Dunkelman down."
"I am ordering you to tell me why Maxie is so important to you," Anna demanded.
Nathan took in a deep breath closing his eyes for a second then letting out the breath and opening his eyes to stare directly at his superior.
"Because I love her, ma'am," he admitted.
"That is what I thought, Detective. Now let's go find Ms. Jones and this Dunkelman character."
The three of them left her office heading towards the technology office where they could triangulate Maxie's last location.