Sam and Max AU: Prelude to Their Nightmare
"Daddy, do you really have to go?" Samantha asked from her bed which was next to Maxine's.
"Sorry, kiddo," Max said walking over and sitting next to his little girl while Sam came in and did the same thing. "There's something me and Sam have to take care of, but don't you worry. After tonight, we will have fewer problems."
"What are you guys doing anyway?" Maxine asked.
"That is classified, my dear," Sam said.
"Why?" Sammy asked.
"That is classified, too," Sam said. "But if everything goes according to plan, your daddy and I will tell you the brief version of what went down."
"With all the good stuff redacted I bet," Sammy said crossing her arms.
"What does that mean, Choco?" Maxine asked.
"That means there are things they still won't tell us," Sammy replied.
"That's not fair."
"No, it isn't. We're not babies."
"You two really are too smart for your own good," Sam said. "Look, we can't tell you because we don't want you to get hurt. How about that? Is that an acceptable reason?"
"I suppose," Sammy said.
"But you have to tell us everything when we're older," Maxine said. "And spare no details."
"Good Lord, you're sassier than we are," Max said as he walked in between their beds and scooped both girls into side hugs. "You two make me so proud. Oh, before I forget, there's something I got for you. Well, mostly for Sammy…"
Max pulled out a large book from his hiding spot. It was a volume of classic children's stories.
"What's this?" Sammy asked reading the title in disappointment while Max dropped it on her lap. "I don't like children's stories, Daddy. They're so babyish."
"These ain't normal children stories, darlin'," Max said opening the book up. "Most kids' stories nowadays are for pussies who want to be as inoffensive as possible. Way back when, people didn't care about that. They just wanted to write a good story that kids and adults could enjoy with all the offensiveness their hearts desired. Check this one out."
Sammy looked in, read, and said, "Tom Sawyer? No way! They use the N word, Daddy!"
"I told ya," Max said.
"I wanna see," Maxine said climbing over.
"Na ah," Sam said pulling his daughter back into her bed. "You two can read it later. You have school in the morning and we have to get to work. Go to sleep, ladies."
"Fine," Sammy said yawning while she moved the book over to the side.
"Give me a hug, Maxine," Sam said opening up his arms. "We're heading out."
"I love you, Daddy," Maxine said as she stood up and hugged him. "Be careful and don't let anything bad happen to Uncle Max."
"Don't worry about it," Sam said wrapping her tightly next to his heart. "We'll be fine. I love you, too. Be good for Sybil. Alright?"
"Alright, squirt," Max said opening his arms up, too. "You're turn. Time to be parental."
Sammy stood up, but instead of giving her daddy a hug, she started praying out loud, "O Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe…"
"Just a hug would be fine," Max said. "You don't have to…"
"Watch over all policeman and law enforcement officers everywhere…"
"Are you Catholic now? What gives?"
"Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to stop crime, robbery, riots and violence…"
"You are going to keep this up all night? Aren't you?"
"We pray, help them keep our streets and homes safe, day and night."
"I appreciate the help, but cut it out, squirt."
"We commend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous."
Max froze at the words and didn't interrupt her again.
"Grant them strength and courage in their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave men. Grant them your almighty protection. Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended."
Sammy made the sign of the cross over Max and said, "Please, God, grant us this wish. There, now, you'll be safe."
Max smiled, teared up a little unintentionally, and wrapped his daughter in a warm hug.
"You're too good for this world, Sammy," Max said. "I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy," Sammy said. "I asked God to protect you, so you should be safe but you could still mess up everything by being stupid. Don't be stupid. Alright."
"I don't have to worry about that, sweetheart. That's why I have Sam."
"It's funny because it's true," Sam said as Max finally let go of his little girl. "Goodnight, ladies! Remember. Listen to Sybil, and if anything goes wrong, you know where the weapons storage closet is."
"Goodnight!" both girls said at once before turning over to sleep in their beds.
Max shut the door behind him while Sam went over to talk to Sybil.
"Thanks again for doing this, Sybil!" Sam said. "The girls are asleep now, so all you have to do is make sure no one in his right mind or otherwise comes near them."
"No problem," Sybil said quietly. "I just don't want you two to have to worry about anything while catching those monsters who tried to sell Sammy. Be sure you give them what they deserve."
"I never would have pegged you as the violently vengeful type," Sam replied.
"I like it," Max said looking at the girls' door in preparation.
"You change when you become a parent," Sybil explained. "You think you're peaceful and calm, but the moment someone tries to hurt your child all that goes out the window and you're filled with absolute rage. I can't understand how those people could do what they did to their own child."
"I know what you mean, Sybil," Sam replied. "I flew into a blind rage when someone stole Max's brain. I can't imagine what I would do if anyone hurt Maxine."
"Imagine it, Sam," Max said turning around and walking over in uncharacteristic anger and happiness.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Imagine the worst possible things you would do to them. That is what we're going to do to those bastards I call cousins. We're gonna do all of it tonight without killing them. I've never been more excited in my life."
"I have never seen you this worked up, little pal."
"You should have seen me when they stole your brain."
"What?" Sybil asked.
"It's a long story," Sam said.
"We could talk about it or we could put in motion the most satisfying, holy revenge we've ever been a part of," Max said walking out the door with his luger in his hand. "Let's go, Sam!"
"I've never seen him that passionate about a mission before," Sybil said. "Sammy has really influenced him."
"She and Maxine both have," Sam said. "It's true what they say about women having the ability to change a man's heart. I understand more now why the Almighty saw fit to create them."
"Ignoring that slightly sexist comment," Sybil said while Sam was walking to the door. "Good luck, you guys! Be careful."
"We make no promises," Max yelled from the outside while Sam walked out and shut the door.