Chapter 10

Bruce was monitoring the rest of the fights of the young heroes. He wasn't going to admit but he was impressed by their skill. He saw that Max was calling Terry's cell phone. He routed the call to the cave.

"Max," Bruce answered.

Max sniffed, "Oh. Hey, Bruce. Terry… working?"

He could hear it in her voice. She had been crying. She was a little hoarse, as well; she had been screaming. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

She scoffed. "Should've known. What gave me away?"

"What didn't. Are you okay?"

She fell silent for a while. "No. Bruce, I'm not okay."

Max wasn't one to openly admit things like that. This was serious. "Can I help at all?" Bruce asked.

Max gave a small smirk. "You just showed me how a father is supposed to care. That was plenty."

Bruce almost questioned the validity of what he heard. His track record as a father figure was far from stellar so that alone was a surprise. "Max, listen…"

"I won't burden you with this, Bruce. I know you're busy. Can you have Terry call as soon as he's done? It doesn't matter how late. I have a feeling this is a no-sleep kind of night."

"Aren't they all?"

She giggled. "You'd know. Didn't you invent them?"

He smirked, taking her joke as a good sign. "More or less. He'll call. I promise."

"Thanks."

"And just so we're clear: you're not a burden."

"Thank you, Bruce. I… I needed that."

"I'll have Terry call you as soon as he can."

"No rush. I'll be waiting for him. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

She ended the call.

Bruce sat back, scratching his chin. He figured what happened without even half trying. Anyone who even remotely was close to the situation knew that something happened with her father. Bruce interlocked his fingers, 'I'm really starting to not like this man.'

At Mel and Eddy's house, Sally called Max again. It went to the voicemail after a few rings, causing Sally to groan. "Max, it's me again. C'mon, baby girl, I'm your friend. I'm leaving my phone on. Period. Call me as soon as you get this. I love you, sis. Bye." She ended the call. She set the phone down on the coffee table, leaned back on the couch, and exhaled.

Mel walked in and stared at her. "No luck?"

"No." Sally rubbed her head. "Hey, sorry for keeping you up. I know I've overstayed this welcome. I'm gonna call a cab and get home. I'm gonna be up all night worrying anyway."

Mel smiled. "Actually, I just fixed up the guest room for you."

Sally was surprised.

"I was coming to ask you if wanted to talk here or in there."

"Mel…"

"Don't you start, Sally. You're welcome in this house. You're family. You're as much Max's sister as me." Mel paused. "Maybe even more."

"Hey, whoa! Wait a sec!"

Mel walked over to her, "No, let me get this out." Mel sat down next to her then, suddenly, pulled Sally into a hug. Sally looked around in shock. "Thank you for being there for my sister."

"I, uh…" Sally said, "I was just trying to be the friend to her that she's been to me."

"You've done way more than that." She released the hug. "You were there for her… when my parents weren't." She paused. "When I wasn't."

"Mel, I wasn't…"

"Trying to take my place? Of course, you weren't. You're not a messy person like that. You were being a good friend."

"Couldn't agree more," Eddy walked in. "Bedroom's already, Lady Sally. If you feel like staying."

Sally looked at the kind Simmons couple then smiled. "Do… you guys like pancakes? I don't mind making some. Ya know… to… pay you back."

"Can you make them with blueberries?" Eddy asked.

"Babe!" Mel chided.

"What? She offered!"

Sally giggled. "You got it!" Her phone buzzed and looked down at it. It was a text from Max.

I'm fine, it read. Called Terry, gonna see him. Sorry I left like that.

Sally text her back, No one blames you. Be safe. Tell Terry I said hi and take care of you. Love ya, kid.

LOL. Love you, Sal.

Sally smiled and exhaled. "She's fine."

Mel nodded. "Good. Now, how about some tea?"

"That sounds awesome."

"I like honey in mine," Eddy declared.

"Make it yourself," Mel smiled.

"You used to like doing things for me."

"Then you put a ring on it. I achieved my goal."

Eddy stared at she walked way, a smile forming on his face, while Sally erupted into laughter.

Over an hour and a half later, Batman and Nightrunner were dealing the last set of thugs for the night. Batman was rounding up the last criminal, chaining them to their getaway truck.

"Well," Runner landed on the top of the truck. "That was fun."

"Tell me about it." Batman stared at them. "I think that's all of them, right?"

"Close enough. We'll get whoever's left in time."

"Damn right."

"Terry," Bruce said, through the comlink.

Batman pressed his fingers to his ear, "Yeah?"

"You need to go see Max."

Batman jerked his head back. "Say what?"

Runner looked up at that, hearing the conversation.

"I mean it. Something's wrong. She's upset about something. Basem, you handle things for a while. Terry, get going."

"What's wrong?"

"All I can tell is that she needs you. I don't know what happened but she does. And, since things have settled down, now's a good time."

"And you're telling me to go. Yeah, that's bad. I'm going." Batman looked at Runner, "You good on your own?"

Runner nodded, "Yeah, go. I got you covered."

"Thanks. I'm sorry I keep doing this to you."

"Hey. I got your back. Go."

"Thanks, brother." Batman extended his wings and flew off.

"Huh." Runner got his com and contacted Bruce, "So, what's going on?"

"Max called Terry and I routed it to me and she's distressed," Bruce replied. "She was crying or had been recently. Something's wrong."

"Think it has to do with her father?"

"Yes."

Runner sighed, "Oh, mon Dieu."

"You can say that again."

Runner rubbed the back of his head. "Want me to pay him a visit?"

Bruce was silent for a second. "Can you make it look like an accident?"

Runner's eyes grew wide. "Dammit, I was kidding!"

Bruce grunted. "I think I was."

Inside the Batmobile, Batman was flying through the sky and called Max.

She answered, sniffling. "Hey, baby."

A feeling of dread came over him as he slowly moved from feeling like Batman to feeling like Terry. "Max? What's wrong?"

"I need to see you. Please. Even if it's just for a few minutes…"

"Bruce gave me the rest of the night."

"What?"

"He told me that you were upset and to go see you."

"He… he did?"

"Where are you?"

"At the library. Our spot."

"On my way. I'll be there soon."

"Okay."

"I love you, Max."

"I love you, too."

He ended the call and throttled the engine to get to his love.

About a half hour later and out of uniform, Terry walked around the fifth floor of the University Library until he found Max, sitting on their favorite bench. She was looking down and sniffling.

He walked toward her and stopped in front of her. "Hey."

She looked up at him and, immediately, jumped up and threw her arms around him.

He hugged her back. "What's wrong?"

"I had a fight with him."

"Who?"

"Joe."

"What about?"

She let him go and looked at him. "You."

He jerked his head back. "Me? What did I do?"

"Nothing!" She grabbed his arms. "And need to know that I know that! You didn't do anything wrong, okay? Not once, Terry. You've been nothing but the best man I've ever known!"

"Max, calm down. It's okay."

"No, it's not! He tried to put the fact that he's a lousy human being on you."

"What do you mean?"

"He went berserk saying that don't love me, that this is only a fling for you, that you can't be loyal and all kinds of slag like that! He even said that he looked up your record and went on and on about all of that!" She sighed. "It was everything I could do to keep from hitting him."

Terry wasn't one to get mad at people or what they thought about him but that angered him, more than he knew it should have. It showed on his face.

She could see it. "Terry…"

He tried to wave it off. "I'm alright, Max."

She knew better. She always knew better. "No, you're not."

He shook his head. "It just… pisses me off, that's all."

"I know. You know I don't believe any of that."

"Yeah, I know." He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm just mad! It reminds of all the time that I spent being called a piece of slag. I've made something of myself, Max. I just don't like being looked at like I didn't."

"I know, baby. I know. I know you've made something of yourself. You've done everything you can to change who you used to be. And you did. I've seen it. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen."

He exhaled. "Thanks."

They sat down on the bench and looked at the rows of books.

Max, suddenly, smirked and giggled.

Terry looked at her. "What?"

"Remember after we first started dating and Sal found us in here making out?"

He laughed. "Oh, yeah." He smirked. "She probably stopped us from going further."

She smiled. "You wanted to?"

"It's you. When do I not?"

She laughed. She exhaled, became somber, and leaned on him. "I just can't believe him."

He leaned back. "I know."

"You know what's twisted? I think that he thinks that he was honestly trying to help me."

"Maybe he does. People get like that. They don't see what they did or what they're doing but they can clearly point out what everyone else is doing wrong."

"And you just summed up Joe Gibson in less than 15 seconds. Well done."

"I'm supposed to read people."

Max stared into space, "I don't want him here anymore."

"Don't do anything you might regret."

She looked at him, "Why aren't you angrier?"

"If I get that way, I'll do something about it. And we both know what can and, probably, will happen if I do."

"And that's a bad thing?"

He looked at her, indignantly.

"I'm serious."

"So, am I. It's not gonna happen."

"Maybe it should. Ya know, I wouldn't blame you if you hit him, right?"

He smirked. "Even if you didn't, it would put a real damper on the wedding planning."

"No, Mom, Sally, and Mel would be happier."

He scoffed. "I'll get over it, Max. I'm not gonna change how he feels." He looked at her. "As long as you know how I feel."

"I do. And I'll never forget." She placed her hand on his cheek. "I love you, Terry. Nothing will change about that."

"I love you, too."

"He can't stop that. No one can stop that."

After another round of treatment, Ket was back in his cell. He was lying on the ground, shaking and breathing hard. He roared as a massive wave of pain shot through him.

A knock came to the door. "How are you feeling, Mr. Gold?" Hogan's voice came from the other side.

Ket seethed, "Really, really wanting to kill you!"

"Ah, good! Then, the project is working!"

Ket looked up at the viewing window of the door. "What the hell are you doing to me, you damned sadist?!"

"I told you: you're going to be the next Big Time." Hogan laughed.

"I've pulled off my share of cons, Doc. I know it's more than that. What the hell is in me right?!"

Hogan laughed. "Well, aren't you a smart little shit?"

"Answer me!"

"It's not a lot. Just trying to enhance on a little project left behind by Kobra."

"What project?"

"One of their leaders tried to throw a coup d'état on the human race. In truth, it isn't all that different from a series of splicing experiments for one Dr. Cuvier. There are some fascinating experiments out there."

"So, what are you doing?"

"Creating something… wondrous." Hogan laughed. "But, using it on you…" he laughed again.

Ket growled.

"Don't you see, boy? Your life will finally mean something. If we succeed with you, we will be able to create soldiers that will ensure national security."

"And how much money do you make off this deal?"

"No, no, you're looking at this from the wrong angle. Look at you! You're the test pilot for the future! Consider it! Such a noble experiment! Some would say that it is actually wasted on a… fiend like you."

Ket seethed, silently, at that.

"Oh, well. The price of science, I imagine. The true trial begins soon. Let's up hope you're strong enough for it." Hogan walked away, laughing as he went.

Simmering, Ket got up and slammed his fists against the metal door. He did so over and over again. After a few minute, he realized something interesting. He didn't feel any pain. After hitting the door over and over again, he didn't feel pain in his fists. He pulled his hand back and looked at his hands. He exhaled and let his fury burn.

A/N: So, things are shaping up to be a bit... interesting. What's next for Max and Terry? What's Joe gonna do from here? What's Ket becoming? And, most important of all, how good of a cook is Sally?

Sorry, had to throw in that last bit of humor.

Things are shaping up and we are not even close to the wedding yet! I hope you guys are enjoying this! REVIEWS, please!