(Ch 3)

Max opened her eyes and felt arms around her, so she turned to see Terry sleeping soundly with a smile on his face. 'What am I his blanket?' She tried to move out of his embrace, but he only held tighter. She sighed in frustration. 'Well it looks like I'm not going anywhere. I might as well check his wound.' She lifted his shirt as carefully as she could to see the wrapping she had done hadn't caused the wound to bleed out. 'Good.'

Max took the time to look closely at his features. She had to admit to herself that he was handsome. 'Great now I'm like all those girls.' She suddenly had the urge to caress his cheek and move a few strands of his hair out of his face. 'No no! This can't happen. I can't have feelings for him.' She didn't realize she let out a sigh, waking up her friend. 'It just would never work so bury it deep down Max.'

"Max."

She felt him let go of her, and she felt strangely cold. She smiled at him.

"Hey Terry, are you ok?"

"Yeah just a little dizzy and thanks for patching me up." He smiled as he sat up next to her.

"It's no big deal McGinnis."

"It's a big deal to me Max. I've realized I've taken you for granted, and I'm sorry."

"Where did this come from all of a sudden?"

"It's always been in the back of my mind."

"Well thanks McGinnis I appreciate it." She winced.

"Max?"

"It's just my bruise. I'm fine. I'm in better shape then you were last night anyway. So what happened? I saw the news."

"I confronted him about what he was doing going through your locker, and he wouldn't answer. All of a sudden he went into this rage and started attacking me."

"How did he get away?"

"Well he swung this sword he had with him and he got me. I passed out and when I was able to get conscience he was gone. What I can't figure out is how he was so skillful with a sword?"

"His father was a professional swordsmen, and he taught James everything he knew about the sport."

"Did he ever—

"Use it on me. No, he said it was only for sport. He'd only hurt me with his hands." She couldn't look at him as tears ran down her face. She tried to wipe them away, but Terry took her into his arms before she could.

"It's ok Max. He can't hurt you anymore. I won't let him."

She sniffled. "Don't you mean Batman?"

"No."

She was curious by his answer, but she decided she didn't want to get in to anything heavy at the moment. When he let go, his serious, blue eyes faced her. She wanted to kiss him so badly and that's when she knew. "You should go Terry. Your mom's probably wondering where you are, and you should check in with Bruce." She got up off the bed and realized Terry had grabbed her arm. They were close, their eyes on each other.

"Max I—Suddenly Alyssa came bursting through the door with surprise on her face.

"Why am I not surprised?" She smiled. "I'll just leave you two alone."

"No! It's not what it look like."

"Oh, so what does it look like?"

Max turned to Terry. "You better go. I'll meet you at school." He nodded as he made his way out the window and quickly out of sight.

"All I have to say is that you're lucky mom or dad didn't come here instead of me."

"What are you doing just barging into my room anyway?"

"You have class today, so I thought I'd wake you up."

"Uh huh. Why am I not buying it?"

"You'll be late if I don't drive you." Alyssa pulled up in the high school parking lot and smiled. "I had some great memories."

"Well I'm happy for you," said Max as she got out of the car. "Thanks for dropping me off."

"We need to talk later Max. I thought we could have dinner tonight just the two of us." She smiled. "My treat."

"Well in that case I accept." She smiled.

Max made her way quickly to her locker, got her books, and made it to her first class just before the bell rang. She sighed in relief as she leaned back in her seat. Throughout first period Max couldn't help but feel someone's eyes on her as she was taking notes. 'Hmm that's weird. Who would be staring at me?' She lifted her head, looking over the desks to see Terry quickly turn his head away. Suddenly her heart started to beat really fast. 'Just great things couldn't be more complicated lets just add one more thing to my plate.'

By last period Max had grown tense and she was happy to have gym last period of the day. She changed into her gym clothes and joined her class at the track. During her run she felt a stabbing pain where her bruise was but she ran through it. When she came to the end, she started to cramp up on her other leg. She winced. 'I really should have stretched.' She hobbled over to the bleachers, sat down, and rubbed her leg.

The coach called her in, but Max said she needed a few minutes. A few minutes turned into 30 minutes as the rain came into the picture. "Just perfect." She tried to stand up and walk but the shooting pain from her leg was just too much. She sat back down, closed her eyes. 'I—I don't want to cry anymore. I don't.'

"MAX!" She managed to turn her head to see Terry and Alyssa coming towards her. "What happened?"

"No biggie just a cramp in my leg. I was just sitting it out." She couldn't look at him. She felt instant warmth as he carried her in his arms with Alyssa holding an umbrella over her sister with a wicked smile on her lips.

Max risked a glance at her best friend, who was only looking ahead. His face was serious with a look of deep concern in his eyes. She didn't realize she had stared for so long when Terry helped Alyssa lean Max on her, so she could walk her into the locker room to get changed into fresh clothes.

Max turned to Terry before she disappeared into the locker room. "Thanks Terry."

Max insisted Alyssa wait outside while she showered and changed. Alyssa made her way into the deserted hall to see Terry leaning on the wall with his arms crossed deep in thought. She smiled as she leaned on the opposite wall. "I know you care about her Terry. Why don't you just admit it to me?"

"She's my friend of course I care about her."

"You know what I mean so why kid ourselves?"

"You're still the same Alyssa butting in where it doesn't belong."

"Yeah that maybe true but you've certainly changed since I saw you last."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Always the evasive one." She smiled. "Anyway there's definitely something there between you two." Her smile became sad. " Now I know my sister's proud and stubborn so she'll never admit that she's lonely but deep down I think she wants to be loved."

Terry is surprised to hear this from Max's sister, but he had seen the look in Max's eyes of loneliness. Every time he'd ask her about it, she'd avoid the subject and move on to another subject. He hadn't pressed her at the time because he was afraid he would lose her friendship. He couldn't survive life without her. He smiled. "She is really stubborn."

Alyssa laughed. "Yeah but I can admire that. Sometimes I think her stubbornness stems from her passion. That's why I think she needs a man. She needs to redirect all her good qualities to someone special."

"She deserves someone special."

"And why couldn't that someone be you?"

"It's complicated."

"Now we're getting somewhere." She smirked.

"What are you talking about?"

"You just admitted you have feelings for Max."

"When?"

"You just said it's complicated, which means you want to be with her in a romantic way, but there are circumstances in your life that are in the way of giving yourself fully to her."

"You get all that from me saying it's complicated?"

"What can I say I'm good at reading people?"

Max walked towards the door, as she was about to turn the knob out of the locker room, she heard a voice that chilled her to the bone. "Maxine." She was frozen even though her mind was telling her to open the door quickly and get out.

"James."

"You're not escaping me this time." He walked closer to her as she backed up against the door. A gun is pointed at her. "No one else can have you I thought I made that clear."

Terry heard the sound and knocked. "Max, is everything ok in there?"

Her hand was on the knob and as it turned, she quickly got on the other side of the door where her sister and Terry were before shots were fired.

"We have to get out of here fast," said Max. "James is on the other side of the door."

Max took Alyssa by the hand and ran as Terry went another way, nodding at her, and they both understood why he wasn't coming with them. Alyssa was confused.

Max could hear shots coming from behind them as she and Alyssa ran around the corner. Alyssa sighed in relief until she saw blood coming from her sister. "Max, you've been shot." She watches as her sister looked down at the wound, and her eyes widened. "Where did Terry go?" As soon as she asked, Batman came and attacked James. Alyssa peered around the corner to see Batman dodging the bullets. She looked over at her sister, who was losing consciousness fast. "Oh damn it hang on Max," she put her arm around her, so Max could use her as support. "I'm getting you to the hospital if it's the last thing I do." She peered around the corner one more time to see Gotham's hero and James were fighting each other and then looked towards the door. She looked back to her sister once more. "I'm going to need your help Max. You have to walk with me to the door.

Max nodded. "Ok."

Alyssa and Max rushed to the door, but James and his gun pointed straight at them stopping them in their tracks. "You didn't think you two were getting away that easy did you?"

"Let them go James," said Batman.

"Batman, she's been shot. I have to get her to a hospital."

Terry was in panic under the bat suit but remained calm on the outside. He turned to James. "You heard her James. Now I know you don't want Max to die. You obviously care a lot about her."

"She cares more about you Batman and so you all must die." Before he could continue with his plan, police sirens were heard outside the school. "The cops, you brought the cops into this. How noble of you Batman but they can't stop me."

"Wanna bet?"

He pointed the gun at Batman and then moved it to Max. "You can't have her Batman and if I can't have her, then she dies."

Batman came towards him as the bullets came at him. They did no damage as Batman knocked him down with a kick to his stomach. James was down and unconscious as he heard Alyssa take Max outside to the ambulance. The police came in and handcuffed James, taking him away. Batman was nowhere in sight.

As the ambulance drove away with Alyssa and Max, Alyssa looked out the window of the door to see Batman following close behind. She sighed in relief as she took Max's hand. "It's going to be ok Max. It's over. James can't hurt you anymore." A smile came on Max's face as she took her sister's hand before she slipped into unconsciousness.

When Max woke up, she noticed the room she was laying in was full of birds of paradise flowers, her favorite. The only person who knew that was, "McGinnis." She smiled.

"I thought you were in love with Batman. Girl you're confusing me." She smiled.

"Alyssa, I am not—

"I know I know you're not in love with Terry or Batman." A serious look came to her face. "I just don't want you to be alone. I worry about you."

"I'm fine Alyssa. Why can't you trust that?"

"Maybe because I want you to have the kind of happiness I have with Brandon."

"Did someone call my name?" He kissed Alyssa on the cheek.

Max smiled at the lovely couple. "I'm really happy for you two."

"Thanks Max. It means a lot to me that you think so," said Brandon. "So how are you feeling?"

"Like I want to get out of here." She shifted in bed and winced."

"Take it easy sis. The doctor will be here soon."

Max frowned and knew her next question would get a comment from Alyssa. "Have you seen Terry?"

"He's in the hall Max. Their only letting in family for now." She saw the look of disappointment on her face and smiled. "Why are you so worried about him? You're the one in the hospital bed."

In the hall Terry had a serious look on the outside but inside he was going crazy. He knew Max was all right, but it didn't stop him from wondering what would have happened if she got hurt or worse. He couldn't even think about it. It was too much. His cell phone rang, bringing him out from his thoughts. "Hello."

"Terry."

"Dana, what are you—

"I left him Terry. I was stupid to think he was the one for me, and I shouldn't have cheated. I'm sorry, and I still love you. Please think about us Terry. We're so good together. Just take some time to think about it. Bye."

Terry knew what usually happened next. He would come back to her, and in this situation he would forgive her. They'd be together and be happy for a while until the next time Bruce called for Batman. Dana would get fed up with him and then they'd break up. It was an endless cycle and truthfully he didn't see the relationship going anywhere. Nonetheless he would take the time to really think about his decision this time. He didn't want to make the decision based on him settling and loneliness. He smiled. Being Batman had him consider a situation before he rushed right into it without thinking. He had to admit Max was a big part to this. 'Max.' he sighed. 'I have to figure out what my feelings for her are.' He sat down in one of the seats. 'So much has changed and it's starting to scare me.' Terry's phone rang for the second time today. "Hello."

"How is she?"

"She's fine Bruce." He smirked. Even when Bruce tried to act like he wasn't worried, it always came through. He liked to think Bruce thought of Max as his daughter even though he would never admit it.

"Then why are you still there?"

"I want to see Max before I head home."

"You said she was all right."

"I know Bruce." What did he want from him? It was like he was trying to get him to admit to something he wasn't ready to admit to.

"Why don't you just tell her McGinnis?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I have to go. See you later." He hung up and got off his chair, pacing back and forth before he moved to lean against the door to Max's room.

Alyssa and Brandon came out of the room arm in arm. She smiled at Terry. "You can go in now Terry."

"Uh thanks Alyssa." He wondered what her smile was about but dismissed it as he walked into Max's room.

"Hey Max." He smiled. "You ready to get out of here or what?"

She leaned her head back against the pillow. "Desperately, I hate hospitals." She smiled. "Oh and by the way thanks for the flowers. I didn't know you were so concerned."

"I wanted you to have something pretty to look at when you woke up."

"McGinnis." Her voice wasn't buying his excuse even though the flowers were a lovely touch to her room.

"I don't know Max. I think there's something going on between us that's about to change our friendship."

"You've noticed that to huh." She couldn't look at him as her hands gripped the bed sheets in front of her. The loud beating of her heart wouldn't let her.

"There's just something I have to figure out before we can talk about this."

"I understand Terry. You need to figure out if you still want to be with Dana."

"How did you know?"

"In case you didn't know McGinnis I'm smart." He looked at her with a look that said I don't buy that answer. "Oh all right Dana called me and told me she was thinking about getting you back. She asked me what I thought."

"What did you say?"

"I'm your friend as well as hers. I said you owe it to each other to find out if you two can work on your relationship." Terry smiled. "What?"

"You've always been there for me Max. I don't know if I can ever repay you for everything you've done for me." He took her hand in his.

"Well," she smirked, "when you come by tomorrow, bring me a juicy burger."

"Sure thing Max." He realized something. "Wait there not letting you go tonight?"

"Nope I'm here until tomorrow morning for observation."

"That sucks."

"You're telling me."

"Visiting hours are over young man," said the nurse that came into the room.

"You'd better go Ter. I'll see you tomorrow."

He opened his arms up to her, and she came into them. The warmth of his body was enough to make her slip into slumber. She smiled as he let her go. "Good night Max."

"Good night Terry."

When he left the room, she realized she was alone again. She sat back against her pillow once more and sighed. "I'll never get used to this." She faced towards the TV in her room, clicked it on, and let the fantasy world take her in.

Alyssa found her asleep when she came into her room. She sat by her sister, took the remote out of her hand, and covered her with the blanket. When Max stirred, Alyssa smiled. "Alyssa."

"Hey Max. I thought you might like company. Mom and dad are coming tomorrow." She sighed sadly. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right Alyssa. I'm used to it by now."

"There's something more important on your mind it looks like."

"I—I think Terry might take Dana back." She swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Oh sweetie. Wait a minute I thought you didn't care about Terry like that?"

Max gave her a look that said otherwise. "I'll just have to wait and see."

Terry crashed on his bed and fell asleep instantly. His mother walked by and smiled sadly at the site. She came in and covered him before she left down the hall to check on her other sleeping son.

It was dark with no way out for him until he saw a light, which he ran towards. Terry saw the outline of a woman and the closer he got the, more distance she put between them. "Who are you?"

"Aw yes that always seems to be the question but it is one that does not need answering now."

"What are you talking about? Why are you in my dreams?"

"That would be the right question McGinnis."

"How did you—?"

"For another time young man." The shadow came closer but still no light would show her. "This is about your life now and the decision you make that could affect your future."

"There always seems to be one of those situations."

"This is different Terry. This decision is one of the heart."

"I'm having a hard time believing my life can change so drastically because of love."

"You are still young McGinnis, and you have a lot to learn about love, but that doesn't mean you're not open to it."

"Who-?"

"Don't even ask again kid. Anyway you have a decision to make tomorrow."

"Dana."

"Yes and you don't know what kind of future you'll have with her if you choose her to be with."

"It's been a roller coaster with her ever since I became Batman. It was always in the back of my mind to tell her, but I can't."

"Then what kind of future can you have with her? Even if she knew, what's to say down the line she can't handle it anymore or she wants you to quit Batman for her?"

"I couldn't do it. Batman's a big part of who I am and if she couldn't see that, then she's not the one for me." He thought he saw a smile through the dark, female shadow.

"And there's the realization."

"Thanks. Uh will I ever see you again?"

"It's a possibility but things have a way of changing."

"Too bad that I don't know if it's good or bad change." Terry smiled. He swore the shadow smiled again. "What?"

"You're a very lucky young man. You don't realize it yet."

"I think I'm beginning to."