AN: Sorry for the huge delay. I promise I will finish this story before the end of summer. Reviews are appreciated =)

"How in the world did I let Terry talk me into this?" Max wondered as she sat in the mansion's library feeling restless.

It had been three days since she had been released from the hospital and while she appreciated Bruce Wayne's hospitality, she was quickly growing frustrated at having to sit on the sidelines slowly healing instead of helping Terry find the missing doctor. If there was one thing that drove the pink haired girl absolutely insane, it was laying around while all the action in Gotham was taking place with out her. She knew that she belonged at her apartment providing back ground intel to Terry who was working as Batman out in the field instead of hanging out in a library that was big and dark and starting to give her the creeps. Sighing softly, she silently mused over the fact that no matter how hard she had pleaded with Terry to let her help him with the investigation, he had adamantly refused, insisting that she needed to focus all of her attention on getting better.

Taking a break from wallowing in her misery, Max decided to go check in on the two little girls who had been put down for a nap an hour and a half ago. Grabbing her crutches, she moaned softly as her left leg began to throb painfully as she attempted to move it. She knew that it was fractured pretty badly, and that she would have to take it easy in order for it to heal properly. Moving gingerly, she placed the crutches underneath her arm pits before making her way towards the door. As she went to exit the library, the sound of giggling blew in with the breeze that came from a window of the south end of the library causing her to falter in her steps.

Curiously, the pink haired girl gingerly made her way towards the window and stared down at the long stretch of land filled with plush green grass searching for the source of the laughter. There were a variety of exotic beautiful plants and flowers in one section of the huge back yard and on the other side were beautifully carved marble sculptures. As her gaze fell near the large grand fountain in the middle of the yard, she smiled amused as she watched the two twin sisters played with Ace's who was chasing a ball back and forth, while Bruce sat at a distance watching the playful activity with a rare smile on his wrinkled face. For the first time since the accident, Max felt as if she was actually able to stop and just relax without the fear of anything bad happening.

Slowly moving away from the windows, she made her way over to the leather chair in the corner and cautiously lowered herself down onto the piece of furniture. After taking some pills for her pain, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes feeling slightly drowsy. She was internally debating whether or not to take a light cat nap, when she heard the door to the library. Looking up, she grinned eagerly as she watched Terry breeze into the room with arms loaded with bags of food.

"Hey, Max. How are you feeling today?" he asked curiously as he placed the bags on a nearby table.

As he laid out several boxes of delicious Chinese food in front of her, Max felt her stomach growl in anticipation. For the past couple of hours, the only thing she had been capable of holding down was water and soup.

"I feel much better now that you have bought me some food I can actually enjoy," she said, her voice filled with relief.

"I bought your favorite from Mr. Kimshi's restaurant. Bruce warned us both that it's not a good idea to take those pills on an empty stomach so I got Beef and Broccoli with a side of chicken fried rice. I also bought you and the girls some ice cream, but you will only get it after you finish dinner," he said with a grin.

"Seriously, Ter. You are awesome," Max muttered as she shoveled a fork full of beef into her mouth.

Terry watched amused as his best friend's face light up in delight and happiness as she inhaled lunch hungrily. Placing her cup of soda on the table next to her, he couldn't help but frown at the sight of cuts and bruises still littered across her body. He hated the fact that she was hurt and there was nothing that he could do to ease any of her pain. Despite the brutal condition of her body, Max seemed to have a huge appetite and was in high spirits as she polished off her lunch and afternoon treat. After she had finished eating, they sat in a comfortable silence for awhile before Terry struck up a conversation.

"So how have things been going with your current living arraignment?" he asked with a curious smile.

As expected, Max sighed exasperated and rolled her eyes. If she had her way, she rather still be in the hospital. She rather suffer eating disgusting jello served from the hospital's cafeteria rather then endure one more moment of Bruce Wayne's dark residence. She didn't know why, but the place gave her the creeps.

"Why didn't you ever mention that besides being Batman back in the day that Wayne had also added being a prison guard to his resume'?" she asked wryly causing Terry to laugh.

"I know that you feel that you are in a lockdown, but by the end of week you will be out of this dungeon. I promise," he reassured.

Max smirked.

"It might be sooner then that" she muttered.

Terry raised an eye brow curiously.

"What makes you say that?" he inquired.

"The old man got in touch with my parents. Apparently they suppose to arrive here in Gotham by tomorrow night," she sighed softly.

Terry stared at her confused. He thought Max would be overjoyed at the fact her parents would be home soon, but he was getting the distinct impression that Max was less then satisfied. In fact, she looked and acted as if she was downright displeased. He didn't know what was making Max act so weird, but narrowing his eyes, he knew he was determined to get to the bottom of whatever it was that was troubling her.

"So excuse me if I am wrong, but I thought having your parents back here in Gotham with you would be good news. Why do you look so bummed out?" he asked curiously.

Max sighed heavily.

"Because, I know my parents. They will make some excuse as to why my sister's life is too important for her to be here and how disappointed they will be for me doing something so reckless. It's going to be an ass chewing fiesta rather then "I'm so proud of you" reunion," she muttered darkly.

"C'mon, Max. You're over exaggerating. It won't be so bad," he tried.

Max wanted to snort rudely and tell Terry that he was out of his mind, but she knew that he was only trying to be a good friend, so she reluctantly held her tongue. Despite how hard Terry seemed to try, he would and could never possibly understand the relationship she had with her parents. While there had been a time in her life where she wanted her parents present in her life, she no longer cared whether or not they made her a priority. Ever since she had learned Terry's secret, she felt that the void that her parent's had left behind had somehow been filled with assisting Terry with protecting Gotham on a nightly basis. Unlike her mom and dad, she felt as if Terry needed her.

Noticing the grim expression on Max's face, Terry suddenly became concerned. He didn't know why Max was the way she was with her family. Sometimes he could tell by her attitude and behavior that she truly missed her family, and then other time she seemed completely detached. He knew that she had a pretty complicated life, most of which she never really open up to him about, but he never thought that things were so bad. Not wanting to see her in such a depressed mood, he decided to change the subject.

"Maybe this will cheer you up. I found some new leads on the missing doctor and the girl's mother," he started.

Almost immediately, Max's dark eyebrows shot up intrigued and she leaned in a bit closer to hear Terry's revelation.

"Well don't keep a sista in suspense. What did you find out?" she inquired curiously.

Terry couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle softly.

"Barbra had some under cover cops who picked up chatter in the streets about an exchanged going down later tomorrow night at the docs. Apparently the crooks got some perfected chemical formula and are planning to sell to the highest buyer. It sounds like the sellers are the same guys who were behind the kidnapping of the doctor so I told Gordon that I would check it out," he informed.

"Any idea of who the high roller purchasing the formula is?" Max asked, her dark almond shape eyes wide with curiosity.

Terry shook his head.

"I plan on putting in extra late hours tonight in hope that I might some more leads that would prove helpful to me before tomorrow's raid," he informed.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked hopefully.

Terry narrowed his eyes at her warningly.

"You promise me that you would take it easy and not waste your energy trying to help solve this case," he chided glaring at her playfully.

Max sighed defeated.

"Ok, fine. I won't. Besides, with everything that has taken place over the past two days we hadn't really been able to catch up the way we usually do. How is things going with Dana?" she asked curiously.

Terry forced a smile.

"Let's just say things are kind of on ice at the moment. I think I managed to lodge my foot in my mouth again, and I don't think that there is any possibility of repairing the damage I've caused," he said sounding almost remorseful.

Ever since the accident, he hadn't really had a chance to think about Dana. After their huge argument, he hadn't bothered calling her, or responding to her many phone calls to him. He knew that he had hurt her feelings that night with some of the things he said, and he knew that he owed it to Dana to apologize, but there was something he had to do first. Terry had to figure out what exactly was the nature of his relationship with his best friend, Max. After he had almost lost her in the tragic car action, he realized that he there was something more then friendship between them. The fact that they had nearly shared a kiss and that he was conflicted about it, made him realize that things with his girlfriend had finally come to an end. As much as he cared about the raven haired beauty, he couldn't in good conscience go on dating Dana knowing that he may have feelings for their mutual friend. Dana was a wonderful girl and she deserved to be happy, but so did he.

Starring at his pink haired best friend, Terry realize that he truly felt comfortable with her. There weren't any secrets between them, and he could truly allow his identity and alter ego to collide as one being around Max. She understood him and she never turned her back on him. More important then anything he trusted her.

As Terry sat quietly contemplating his complicated situation, Max watched stared at him feeling completely stunned. She couldn't imagine what could have possibly happen to put such a big strain between the couple, but whatever it was had to be huge. While a part of her was reeling from this revelation, another part of her was genuinely saddened over the disintegration of the relationship between two of her best friends. She was starting to speak, when Terry's gaze suddenly met hers, and Max's was surprised to find his handsome face clouded with apprehension and confusion.

"Listen, Ter. You know that I'm here if you ever need to talk," she offered quietly.

Terry smiled appreciatively.

"Actually, there's something I need to tell you, " he started uneasily as he shoved his hands in his pocket.

As Max waited patiently for him to continue, she was both taken back and stunned to see that there was an look desire lurking on the surface of his brilliant blue eyes. The way he was staring at her was the way he had looked at her once a very long time ago, but back then she had thought she had imagined it. Now she was standing in that moment and she realized that there was definitely something unspoken between them.

"Terry?" she pressed softly, as she gently bit down on her lower lip.

Terry exhaled sharply as he combed his slender fingers through his lengthy raven black hair feeling slightly uneasy.

"I don't know exactly how to say this, so I'm just going to just be straight forward. Ever since the accident I keep having these feelings...for you... that I don't understand," he said helplessly.

"I know. I feel it too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

A ghost of a smile crossed Terry's lips. He couldn't help but feel the surge of excitement and sudden intense desire sizzling through the atmosphere between them. The feeling that he had in the ambulance was quickly began to surface again, and this time there was no chance of anything interrupting them. As he slowly moved closer to her, he could hear a sharp soft gasp escape her lips as she was suddenly overwhelmed by his nearness. His light cologne mingled with his delicious smelling aftershave was making Maxine slightly light headed with lust and she was finding it hard to breathe. Instinctively, she went to take a step back, when she realized that she was backed against the wall. Swallowing deeply, she met his gaze flustered and was surprised to find he was starring down at her with an amused smirk on his lips.

"What?" she mumbled defensively, as she shifted uneasy under his piercing blue eyes filled with a look she had never seen before.

"You can't possibly imagine how it takes everything in me to have to fight the urge to kiss you every time I'm around you," he murmured flushing deeply.

His words completely took Maxine off guard. She wanted to believe that what he was saying was coming from a genuine place, but with everything that has happened lately, she couldn't be sure that he wasn't just reacting off of emotions still lingering from the horrible car accident. Seeing the doubt in Max's eyes, Terry knew that he was going to have to do something quick to convince her before he lost his nerve.

Impulsively he moved his face closer to hers and kissed her abruptly, causing her to moan in surprise. As their tongues clashed together for their initial meeting, Terry couldn't help but enjoy just how soft and sweet Max's lips were. As their kiss began to grow more passionate, he planted his hands firmly on her shapely hips drawing her closer to his torso. Feeling light headed with pleasure, Max wrapped her arms around him to keep her balance. Moaning softly, she shifted slightly against him, blushing as she felt her breast firmly against his hard muscular chest. While her instincts were urging her to pull away from Terry out of respect for her friendship with Dana, she couldn't. Her body was selfishly molding itself to Terry's, and truth be told, Max knew that even if she had the will power to resist Terry and her desire, she wouldn't. The surge of chemistry that was passing between them was so intense that they could barely catch their breath in between kisses.

Pulling back slightly, Terry looked down into her gorgeous eyes glazed over with lust. The look on her face turned him on so much that he could barely contain himself, but he knew that needed to exercise some restraint. He didn't want things to move too fast before they both had the chance to figure out their feelings completely. As Max stared back at him with her dark eyes wide, and her soft thick lips slightly parted, she felt her body quiver dangerously as she suddenly became aware of the honesty that was filling the silence in that moment. The expression on Terry's face told her that he wanted her, and she wanted him, so what the hell was she waiting for?

Terry was opening his mouth to say something, when his phone went off loudly. Reaching inside of his leather brown jacket, he pulled out his phone and his smile faded when he saw Dana's name come across the screen. Suddenly he began to feel a strong overwhelming sense of guilt wash over him as he realized that he had kissed Max without giving Dana closure. Sighing heavily, he quickly realized how complicated things were becoming and if he didn't get a handle on the situation soon, people were going to get hurt. The last thing that Terry wanted to do was to hurt Dana, but starring across the room at Max, he couldn't deny that there was something intense happening between them, and he wasn't going to stand back and just ignore it.

"Terry, what's wrong?" Max asked concerned.

He stared down at her and smiled faintly. He knew that if he told Max the truth, that she would start on the same guilt trip that he was currently on, and he knew that she already had enough to deal with.

"It was my alarm reminding me to head out on patrol. I'll swing in and check in on you later tonight," he promised softly before disappearing out of the library.

As she watched him leave, Max couldn't deny the huge relief she felt at his exit. Even though she had enjoyed the kiss she had shared with Terry, she had to admit that the after effects left her feeling a little bit more then uneasy and guilty. Things between her and her best friend had always been simple and platonic and now all of that was starting to change. While a part of her wanted to embrace the new feelings surfacing between them, another part of her wasn't sure if she was ready for things to change. She wasn't sure if she wanted to trade in being Terry's best friend and sidekick in order to play the part of being his romantic interest. While Max was confused about a lot of things, one thing was for certain. There was no way she could be both, and she had the feeling that she would eventually have to chose.