Peak
"Are you sure you didn't get a vision about this?" Max asked for the dozenth time since we arrived to our latest hiding place deep in the Rocky Mountain peaks. He'd been hounding Liz ever since our near capture by the FBI two days ago and it was quickly wearing on my nerves.
"No, Max," she admitted quietly, sighing wearily as long ebony tresses slid over her slumped shoulders, masking the misery etched on her face.
"But you're usually so on top of this, Liz, I don't understand how you didn't get a vision," Max spluttered, pacing back and forth as I feel her crawl deeper into herself, shielding herself from the pain and defeat of failure. Not that I needed the bond to tell me that.
"Maybe you got one and just didn't understand…" Max continued patiently as if he were speaking to a willful five-year-old child opposed to an adult woman who has a complete grasp over her powers. I swear, he gets more pompous and condescending every day.
"Jesus, Maxwell!" I finally cut in with irritation, drowning in the waves of self-defeat and worthlessness coming off of Liz. If he didn't stop his tirade, I was going to kill him myself. "She said she didn't get a premonition! Stop treating her like a trained monkey and drop it!"
Max whipped his head up, annoyed frustration creasing his face. "I'm just trying to understand where things went wrong, Michael."
"There is nothing to understand!" I growled, my protective instincts going into overdrive as I watch this vibrant woman turn into a pale shadow of her former self. "She didn't get one! End of story! Do us all a favor and stop belaboring a moot point!"
"But…" Max stuttered, unable to grasp why one of the tools in his arsenal had failed. His arrogance never ceases to amaze me.
"But nothing!" I bellowed, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to rein in my rapidly slipping patience. Lifting my head and fixing him with a pointed glare, I gestured to the woman cowering near the lake, her body curling into herself as if she was trying to disappear from sight. "Did you even notice how this has affected her? She's beating herself up enough over it; she doesn't need you to add to it!"
Snapping his head to Liz, he shook his head imperceptibly in denial, always oblivious to his actions. "I didn't mean…."
"Yeah, we know, Max. You never mean it and yet some how it always happens. Screw this!" I griped. Striding over to Liz determinedly, I lean down, clasping her hand in mine, giving a gentle tug and pull her to her feet, tucking her firmly into my side. "Come on, Parker, we're going for a walk."
Breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't resist, I realized she must have been hurting more than she let on and was blocking me. It's not going to work
Max's disapproving eyes bore a hole into my back as I lead her from the site. Like I care. I had reached my peak and if Maxwell wasn't careful, he'd be short two significant members of his little army because I'll be damned if I watch her wither away under his negligent care.