Greetings once more readers. I am lucky to be able to post this chapter. I am in the middle of helping my family to celebrate my sister's birthday, but I could not stray from my chapter a day quota. As promised, here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy, and please do review afterwards for me.
"Tell me Max." Baird said as he set his tools down and looked towards her.
"She told me the reason why you're so interested in my information Damon." Max said as Baird cringed at the use of his first name again.
"Oh, and what's the reason?" Baird questioned, kind of interested in hearing what Sam had told the Sergeant.
"Pretty interesting reason actually." Max said as Baird glared at her.
"Then tell me what's the reason." Baird growled at her as their eyes locked.
"You're falling for me." Max stated as Baird's eyes widened for a moment before he got control over himself.
"What're you talking about?" Baird questioned as he leaned back against the Armadillo, breaking his eye contact with Maxine.
"The constant checking me out apparently, trying to get me in bed, trying to get your tongue into my mouth. Sam told me that was the reason why." Max said as Baird felt his anger rise towards Sam, getting up quickly. "Where do you think you're going?" Maxine asked as he moved towards the door.
"To shoot Sam." Baird growled before he felt Max's hand grab him by the hip, just then noticing that she had gotten up to follow him.
"Just tell me if it's true or not." Max stated as Baird glared at her for bringing this up. He knew he couldn't have her, and now she was going to tease him for wanting her? This women was evil, and he knew it.
"Why?" Baird questioned as he saw a spark of anger in Max's eyes before she let go of him. "What do you care about their little fucked up rumors?" Baird asked as Max glared at him.
"Fine just forget it then Damon. Want to be a jackass again, fine." Max growled before walking past him to leave. Oh no, Baird wasn't going to let her get away that quick, especially after breaking the don't use his first name rule.
"Tell me why you care if there is or isn't something between us then Maxine." Baird snapped as she stopped at the door.
"Why fucking bother, go back to trying to fix up your god damned Armadillo Corporal Baird." Sergeant Prescott snapped back before walking out, leaving Baird obviously confused before he went to follow after the women.
"Maxine." Baird called after her as he walked out of the garage after her. He received a fierce glare from her before she turned to walk the other way from him. "Max!" Baird snapped at her as he followed her until they were outside.
"Quit following me Corporal Baird." Max growled angrily at the mechanic.
"Then stop fucking running away from me." I growled back at her as I noticed the gears around the area watching us. "What the fuck are you all looking at?" I snapped angrily at them before they turned to return to their business.
"No get the fuck out of my sight Corporal. I try and have a serious conversation but you throw a god damn fit so fuck it." Max growled as she turned to walk away, but Baird grabbed her by the waist and dragged her into the nearest door to talk.
"The fuck just happened?" Marcus questioned at the sudden outbursts of the two techy team members, having been outside working with Anya on a new plan for Anvil Gate.
"I have no idea." Anya stated before returning to the paper that had their plan written out on it so far.
"Let go of me!" Max growled at Baird before her knee collided with his groin, making the man groan in pain, but he refused to double over gasping for air. He held tight to her.
"No you're going to tell me why the fuck you care about what Sam told you. So what. What does it matter if there is or isn't something between us? Not like anything's going to happen!" Baird snapped at her, telling the truth most of anything. He knew there wouldn't be anything between them because of her late fiance, and he knew she probably knew it too.
"Let go of me now Corporal." Max snapped as her knee tried to get his weak zone once more, but he flipped her around so her back was to him, holding her like he would a downed grub that he wanted to use as a meat shield.
"Then fucking answer me Prescott!" Baird barked at her before she finally managed to get free from him, though he didn't know how.
"Not before you tell me if it's true what Sam told me." Max snapped back at him as Sam and Cole hid around the corner to listen to the two, keeping out of sight.
"Yes god dammit! You fucking happy?" Baird barked at her, furious that she managed to get his confession of infatuation out of him. Her eyes had softened from her rage, but were full of shock now. Baird looked away at her silence, before skulking off, not wanting to wait for her answer to his question.
"Baird." Max called after him but he wouldn't stop. He kept walking until we was at the beach of Azura, walking down to the shore and sitting down, burying his face in his hands. She'd broken him, his tough guy, smart-ass exterior had been broken. She knew now that he did indeed care for her. She knew the hard-headed man had a weakness now.
Max groaned as she leaned against the wall behind her, her hands going over her face. She hadn't expected the answer he gave. She expected a no, he was her friend and he was just having fun with her. She hadn't thought her own assumption would have been correct about the Corporal.
"Well are you going to go after him?" Sam asked as she leaned against the wall opposite her, a bit ways down the hall though.
"Fuck off. You're the cause for this. There wouldn't have been a problem if you people wouldn't butt in on things." Max snapped at Sam before Cole opened his mouth to answer, but her rage silenced the man.
"I was only trying..." Max cut Sam off before she could continue.
"To fuck up a friendship? Because you people have your little bets?" Max questioned as their eyes widened, not knowing she knew of the bet. "Yeah, I knew about the god damn bet about us. I hear things. I'm not stupid. Now why don't you fucking morons just butt the fuck out of things for once!" Max snapped furiously before walking off in a rage, not caring about the crowd that had formed.
"Oh Marcus is going to be mad." Sam said as she looked towards Cole.
"Marcus? Think about Hoffman. He's gonna be furious that Delta squad's getting fucked up." Cole stated as he hoped that Colonel Hoffman hadn't already heard or seen the big fight between the Sergeant and Corporal.
Max had walked until she came to the harbor of Azura, considering if it would be a better idea to head on out to Anvil Gate alone now. "Better than being stuck with the fucked up Delta." Max muttered to herself before hearing someone clear their throat. She turned to see Colonel Hoffman behind her. Fuck, of course he heard me.
"Sergeant Prescott." Colonel Hoffman greeted as he walked past her, examining some of their newer warships.
"Colonel Hoffman." Maxine greeted back before the man turned to her.
"You enjoy getting yourself into trouble, don't you Maxine?" Hoffman questioned as Max turned away from him.
"Not me sir, your precious Delta squad enjoys causing it." Maxine said as the Colonel sighed at her response. He motioned for her to follow him, the Sergeant already knowing a speech was coming.
Baird groaned as he rubbed his hand over his face, having been sitting on the beach for probably near three hours now. "Baird." Marcus called as he walked down the beach towards him.
"Fuck off Marcus. I'm pissed off and if you start something with me I'll snap even more." Baird growled as he kept his eyes on the water in front of him.
Sergeant Fenix said nothing before sitting down beside him, offering a cold beer to the mechanic. He didn't take it. "She's leaving you know." Marcus stated to Baird, which got him to look towards him.
"What do you mean?" Baird questioned as Marcus took a few gulps from his own beer.
"Maxine talked to Hoffman about an hour and a half ago. She's heading out to Char after the Anvil Gate mission's done." Marcus stated as Baird turned back to the water.
"Of course she is." Baird growled before accepting the beer now, taking it and chugging it down quickly. She'd do anything to get away from me now probably.
"She's going because Hoffman said he doesn't want her causing anymore trouble, and she agreed." Marcus stated as Baird's eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"How much of our fighting did you hear?" Baird questioned Fenix as he leaned back in the sand.
"Enough." Marcus said as he watched a Raven take off from the Raven's nest. "Enough to know that you shouldn't have walked off." Marcus stated as Baird scoffed at his statement.
"And be attacked by her? No thanks." Baird growled as Marcus chuckled at him, which caught him off guard and angered him.
"Doubt she would have done that." Marcus said before finishing his own beer.
"Oh? What's the all-mighty Fenix know now that I don't? Huh?" Baird questioned with his normal mean sarcastic tone.
"That she had called after you to stop you, but you didn't. And that she yelled at Sam and Cole for causing that." Marcus stated as Baird shook his head at him.
"That bitch is like a ticking time bomb ready to go anytime." Baird stated as Marcus let out a rare laugh.
"She's not the only one." Anya stated as she walked down to them.
"Oh yeah, Marcus is too. I forgot. It's been so long since he's yelled at a Locust." Baird said with a smirk as Marcus shook his head at him this time.
"You're the one who'd snap at the women you've fallen for." Marcus stated as Baird glared at him furiously.
"Fuck off Fenix." Baird snapped as he moved to get up, but Anya stopped him.
"Baird, just to tell you a little something, we're all pretty sure she likes you back. You just gotta prove you're not a pervert." Anya stated as Baird glared at her, getting up and walking off.
"Like hell that that bitch likes me." Baird growled before he looked at the watch post, noticing the familiar raven haired women shooting targets with her Long shot from it.
"Hey baby, you feel like a drink?" Cole asked as he walked over to Baird.
"I feel like a Dizzy size drink." Baird stated as Cole smirked at him before the two left.
"He hates me." Max grumbled as she let her finger pull the trigger.
Bam, down it went.
"He wants me to fuck him." Max grumbled as she shot at another target and missed, almost hitting a boat. "He wants to drive me insane." Max muttered as she shot again, this time hitting the target.
"Damn, nice shot!" A gear down by the targets called, but she ignored him.
"He wants me to move on." Max muttered quietly, no longer talking about the mechanic as she shot the target and it shattered.
"Holy shit!" The same gear yelped before moving to get away.
"He took a wall falling on him for me." Max muttered as she felt her chest tightening, unaware that she had a visitor standing a few feet behind her. She pulled out her Snub Pistol and began using it.
Damn, so close.
"He wants to get away from me." Max growled as she fired again, hitting the target and splitting it in half.
Anya kept silent as she watched the final Prescott, remembering her mental battles over how she felt about Marcus.
"He's falling for me but doesn't want to." Prescott growled before she dropped the Snub, leaning back in her chair.
"He's drinking right now till he feels nothing." Anya put in as Max jumped up from her seat, turning around angrily.
"How long have you..." Anya cut her off.
"Long enough. Max, you should talk with Baird before the mission tomorrow." Anya stated as the raven haired women scoffed before turning around.
"I'm not talking to that little pansy. He can go get shot for all I care." Max growled before picking her Snub back up and firing.
"Max, please just listen to me and go talk to him. I'm not Sam, I'm not trying to push you into something you don't want to do. I'm just saying, you'd regret it if you keep pushing him away." Anya said as Max looked down at the targets, many of them having been shot down by her. Anya then walked away to let Max have some more time alone.
Baird grunted as he set down his shot glass, having done almost twenty shots now. "Baird I think you've had enough. It's only a little past five. It's still too early to drink like this." Cole stated as Baird leaned back in his chair.
"I'm fine. Set me up again." Baird said as he held his shot glass out to the bartender for another fill. He did so silently and immediately Baird downed it.
"You'll be blowing chunks before seven blonde." Sam stated as Baird ignored her, still furious with her.
"Oh fuck. That's a gear there." Baird mumbled as he looked at a calendar the bartender had behind the counter, seeing the women holding up her lancer and wearing loose armor, giving a flirty look to the camera. Somehow though Baird could see Maxine doing such a pose, only an angry look, not flirty.
"He's gonna be long gone here soon." Dizzy stated with a chuckle at the mechanic.
Max walked into the bar to find Dizzy, not noticing the blond at the counter. "Dizzy, I need another keg for my quarters." Max stated to him as Baird's ears perked up at her voice.
"Fuck, I just gave you that one two weeks ago. I'll be back." Dizzy said as he got up to go get Max her keg.
"Another, now." Baird growled at the bartender, which he quickly obliged. He downed it quickly and held out his glass again.
"Baird that's enough now." Cole said as he moved to take the glass, but Baird pushed him off.
"Like hell if it's enough. Ain't enough until I'm out like a light." Baird snapped at the man as Max finally noticed him, seeing the already drunken mechanic doing shots at the counter.
"The hell?" Max wondered aloud as she watched Baird and Cole bicker over Baird wanting more shots.
"He's had almost twenty-four now." Sam stated to Max as she noticed Baird get off the stool and stumble a bit.
"No I'm gonna go do it." Baird slurred at Cole as he turned around and went over to the large keg Dizzy had placed in the bar. He got a mug and filled it. "I can handle my liquor." Baird said cockily before downing it, before spitting most of it back up a minute later.
"God damn it." Max growled as she walked over and snatched the mug from his hands, re-filling it and downing it herself. "You cant drink Dizzy's special blend Baird." Max snapped at the man as he leaned against the counter, his eyes not on hers but her chest.
"I think I can take your special blend." Baird growled huskily as Max filled her mug again, chugging it quickly.
"Cole get him out of the bar. He cant handle his liquor like a man." Maxine stated as Baird moved over towards her.
"I can handle a women like a man if she'd let me." Baird growled as he let a hand rest on the Sergeant's hip, making a red come to her face.
"The fuck did you just say to me?" Max questioned as she turned to him, but he snatched the mug from her lips and replaced it with his own lips.
"Alright that's enough. Come on Baird now." Cole said as he and Sam tried to get the man away from Prescott, but he wasn't ready to budge.
"You fuckin' broke me Prescott." Baird growled as their eyes locked, Max finally seeing the pain in his eyes.
"Get him out of here." The bartender finally spoke up as he finished cleaning up the liquor he'd spat back out.
"You don't even care that you did either. You don't give a damn bout me." Baird snarled as he threw his arms up into the air in frustration as Max watched silently.
"Come on Damon." Sam said as she and Cole kept trying to get him to move, but he wasn't done with his drunken confessions.
"All you care about is you, not me, you. Or your fiance who isn't coming..." Baird was cut short by Max's fist colliding with his jaw. He stared at her a bit shocked before getting back up.
"You'd better get him out of here now or I'll get Hoffman." The bartender snarled as Max moved to leave, Baird following.
"No I'm not...done with you yet Prescott." Baird growled as he followed her outside.
"Baird come on buddy." Cole said as he tried to get a hold on Baird, but the man wouldn't hold still.
"You fucking broke me and don't care! You hurt me on the mission, I let it go. You hurt me again Max." Baird groaned as their eyes locked before Baird tripped over a cart that had been in the hall and fell to the floor.
Max looked down at him sadly as he tried to get back up but needed Cole and Sam's help. "Get him out of here." Max stated before Baird began groaning, looking ready to be sick. "Aw fuck, here we go." Max growled before grabbing a bucket off the cart and shoving it in front of Baird before he threw back up the alcohol.
"We need to get him to bed." Cole stated as the mechanic stopped finally.
"Take him up to my quarters. Hoffman's gonna make me work as medic, fine. I'll start with him again." Max growled before leading them towards the elevator.
"You don't care about me, you never did." Baird groaned sadly as Max looked back at him, seeing the depression in his eyes and feeling her chest tighten again.
"I'll take him you two. Just go do whatever." Max stated to Cole and Sam as she took Baird by the shoulders, making sure to keep him balanced.
"Uh uh baby. I don't think it would be a good idea..." Max cut Baird off with her furious glare.
"I've got him, just go." Max growled before they got on the elevator, going back up to her floor.
"Why're you doing this to me?" Baird questioned drunkenly as Max kicked her door open and led him over to the bed he's been using, having him lay down before going and getting a bucket to make sure if he vomited, it wouldn't be on her floor.
"Because you're not going to leave me alone anyways." Max growled as she started searching through a box before pulling out a small vial. She walked over to Baird as he watched her hips.
"You don't care about me so just leave me alone." Baird growled before Max grabbed him by the jaw and opened his mouth, pouring the liquid in the vile into his mouth before hitting his throat to make him swallow. "Oh god that's awful!" Baird yelped after she let go of him.
"So are you but I'm not complaining." Max said before Baird pulled her down to eye level with her, connecting their lips.
"You're a fucking bitch, and I hate that I feel this way about you." Baird groaned as Max sighed from the sadness in his eyes.
"Just shut up and go to sleep." Max said before trying to pull from his grip, but he wouldn't allow that.
"Why? Why cant you feel this way back?" Baird asked drunkenly as Dizzy walked in with the new keg, only to see the two. "Why?" Baird asked again before letting her go and rolling over, letting the alcohol out of his system and into the bucket beside the bed.
"Uh how did he get up here?" Dizzy asked as Max stood up.
"I dragged his drunken ass up here. I gave him some of that medicine shit you gave me." Max said as Dizzy put the keg in the corner of her room.
"Better hope he don't try and mount you Prescott. That boy can be bad when drunk." Dizzy said as Max rolled her eyes at him.
"I think I'll be fine Dizzy. Thanks for the keg though." Max said as he nodded before leaving.
"What did your fiance have that I don't?" Baird spoke up as Max winced her chest tightening once more in pain. She looked down at the blond gear before walking away. "Maxine." Baird called after her as she closed the bathroom door behind her.
She took in a few deep breaths quickly to try and calm herself. You need to move on from him. He's dead! Nothing more to do. "He'll be fine soon and be able to leave." Max assured herself before going back into the main room, only to see Baird had passed out finally.
It was about an hour and a half again before Baird woke up, throwing up again into the bucket. "Oh my stomach." Baird whined as Max watched him from her chair.
"You'll be fine soon." Max said as Baird looked up, remembering everything he said, everything he did when so drunk.
"What did you give me?" Baird questioned the Sergeant.
"It dulls the effects of the alcohol and makes you expel it from your system." Max stated as Baird rolled onto his back.
"Why did you bring me up here? You hate me." Baird groaned as Max watched him sadly.
"You weren't going to leave me alone anyways. And I don't hate you." Max stated as Baird sat up to try and get up, but knew he wouldn't be able to. His head was pounding too badly, and his stomach doing somersaults to try and expel what had been in it.
"Yeah, right. That's the worst shit I've ever heard." Baird growled as Max walked over to him, sitting beside him silently.
Maxine looked over the hungover man, mind traveling to the fact that she had caused this. She had put him in such pain that he went and drank himself sick. His confessions of infatuation for her, though most of it drunk, were true and she knew it. She sighed as Baird tried to move away from her, but her hand pinned him down. "Baird, we need to talk." Max said as the Corporal glared at her.
"No, you need to fuck off and let me leave." Baird growled as he sat up, this time ignoring the pounding in his head and want to vomit again.
"How's about you stop acting like a child and sit and be quiet." Max growled back at him as they both held glares for one another.
"No because you're just going to try and knock me out." Baird snarled as their eyes locked accidentally. He turned away quickly, though both could easily see the anger, and sadness in each others eyes.
"No, I'm not. Knock you out one time and you hold it against me forever." Max growled as she turned away from Baird as well for a moment before turning back. "Baird I wanted to talk to you about what you told me when you were drunk." Max stated as Baird tried to get up, but she wasn't going to allow that. She pinned him to the bed by sitting on his legs.
"Get off of me!" Baird snapped angrily at her.
"No because you're going to talk to me whether you like it or not." Max snarled, her frustration with the man growing but she knew she had to listen to Anya's words. She had to try and make things right.
"No I don't have to do..." Baird was silenced by Maxine's lips crushing into his, making the mechanic's eyes widen in shock, before trying to get her off.
"Will you just shut up and listen!" Max snapped as their lips parted. "I'm sorry, okay?" Max barked at him as she moved off of him and away.
Baird looked at her silently, wondering what was running through this woman's mind.
"I never told you to run off, I never told you to go drink till you spewed your heart out on the floor." Max growled as she looked out the window silently. "I definitely never told you to hurt yourself for me." Max stated as she looked back towards him, the blond easily seeing the sorrow in the final Prescott's eyes.
Baird growled before moving to stand up. "Max..." Maxine wasn't ready to let Baird have the next word yet.
"I never yelled at you for confessing to me Damon. You ran off on your own." Max growled as she walked over to him. "You're the reason you're upset right now, not me." Max growled as she poked him on his armored chest accusingly, looking into his eyes with frustration.
Baird kept silent this time, knowing he'd be silenced again anyways if he were to speak up. But Max went silent, taking a few steps back. "Max." Baird said before letting out a sigh at his actions in the bar, over his drunken confessions of infatuation, over how he could see he put so much stress on this Sergeant.
"How long?" Max questioned finally as Baird raised an eyebrow at her confused.
"What?" Baird asked as Max glared at him like he should have known what she meant.
"This infatuation towards me? How long?" Maxine questioned as Baird opened his mouth to answer, but he had to think about it at first.
"The mission it started." Baird stated as he looked down at what bruises he had left, which wasn't many. They had all faded. Like he had hoped his affection for Sergeant Prescott would have.
"Damn." Max growled as she leaned against the wall behind her. Max was about to retreat when Baird moved closer to her, blocking her on the wall, but resisted. She knew this conversation had to happen. She wouldn't allow herself to make any more mistakes.
"Why did you want to know so badly? Know if what Sam told you was true?" Baird questioned as he looked down at the gear women.
Max kept silent, not exactly knowing herself why she had wanted to know so badly She just wanted to, and she found out. She was brought back out of her thoughts by Baird's strong hand nudging her. "I don't know." Max stated truthfully as Baird looked at her.
"That's not a good enough answer Prescott." Baird stated as his hands rested on the wall on either side of her.
"Well what do you want me to see? Because I don't know the answer." Max growled in frustration as Baird sighed. He wanted to know her reason so bad, but even Max didn't know.
"What is it because you may feel something towards me?" Baird questioned before noticing a slight pink rise to the Sergeants cheeks, which made his eyes widen slightly. "You do, don't you Sergeant?" Baird questioned, the hope in his voice obvious.
"Shut up Corporal." Max growled as she moved to get away, but he wasn't going to let her, not now.
"That's why you brought me back up here. You couldn't stand to see me down in the bar like that. You're infatuated with me." Baird stated knowingly as Max tried harder to escape from the man.
"I don't and I cant." Max growled as Baird just held his knowing smile on her longer.
"Max, you can. I'm sure he'd want for you to move on as well." Baird stated as Max's chest tightened at the mention.
Max was about to reply, but Damon silenced her once more by connecting their lips gently.
Ah so much happened. I do hope you all enjoyed the chapter though. It was so much fun to write it, so I love to hear that you all enjoy it. Please remember to review for me. Next chapter will be back up as soon as possible.
