Max sat at her desk, with one hand in her head and the other resting on the open page of her textbook. She should have been studying for her test, but she hadn't been able to focus much the last few days.

"Max, did you hear me?"

Max turned. "No, sorry Kate. What were you saying?"

Kate frowned. "It's not important. Are you okay Max?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I think you should really consider talking to - "

"No," Max answered tersely.

"Max, please, you -"

"I SAID NO, KATE!" Max shouted.

Kate stepped back with eyes widened at the outburst. "Max - "

"NO!" Max shouted again. "I'm NOT interested. Stop pushing it!"

"I'm sorry, Max," Kate answered sheepishly, "I just want to help."

"Well, don't," Max snapped. "I don't want your help."

Kate looked hurt. Max mentally cursed herself. She knew she was being unreasonable, but right now she was blinded by a fury of emotions - fear, anger, sadness - and lashing out was the only way she could cope.

Poor Kate shouldn't have been the victim of her rage.

Kate spun and left Max's bedroom.

"Kate - " Max called out, beginning to feel remorse washing over her. But she heard the apartment door close.

"Fuck," she muttered. She slammed her fist on her desk. "FUCK!" She roared.

Her rage took over. She swept all of the items off her desk, and they crashed onto the floor. She picked up her chair and threw it across the room. She shoved her shelf - full of books and dvd's and the odd assortment of items - and knocked it over. She flipped her mattress, and then the bed frame. She picked up the box that was under her bed intending to hurl it across the room, but froze when she saw what was inside - Chloe's old phone, the one they decorated together years ago. She set the box down and picked the phone up with trembling hands.

"Chloe…"

She crumpled to the floor and sobbed as she clutched the phone tightly to her chest.

Friday, October 26th, 2018

Timeline 2

Mad Max, Noir and Blue Shift

"Do you think you'll be up for that?" Chloe asked.

Max nodded. "I will be. I'm already starting to get around more on my feet. Short walks. I'm not about to run any marathons, though. With Mad's help, I think we should be able to get that bridge open." With a grunt, Max pushed herself up in her bed. "Actually, I'd like to go for a walk right now. Join me?"

"Of course," Chloe answered. She stood from her chair. FBI-branded sweatpants and a hoodie sat in a neatly folded stack on the empty bed across from Max's. Chloe picked up the stack and handed them to Max, then drew the curtain across for privacy. With a grunt, Max stood, wincing in pain from the movement. Chloe helped pull the hospital gown off and away from her body. Max felt Chloe's eyes on her back, as the blonde folded the gown and dropped it on the bed. She turned to face Chloe, standing before her, completely bare. Chloe's eyes wandered to the small, circular scar on Max's abdomen from where the bullet exited, and the long, stitched scar beside it - that was where the doctors had opened her up to probe and repair any internal damage.

"Do I look okay?" Max asked, when she noticed Chloe's gaze had settled on the scars. What if her partner found them...unattractive? She knew that was ridiculous, but that didn't stop a small part of her mind from worrying.

Chloe grinned. She stepped forward to place a hand on Max's bare hip, while the other cupped the side of Max's face. Chloe planted a kiss on the crown of her head. "More than okay. You look like a sexy, badass chick. I'm hella turned on right now!"

Max giggled, feeling relieved. She unfolded the clothes Chloe handed her, and gingerly pulled them over her naked skin. Chloe gently held her for support, ensuring that Max didn't topple when she pulled one, then two legs into the pants.

"Don't get too excited, now," Max chuckled. "I can't get involved in any...strenuous activities. Doctor's orders. Let's walk, shall we?"

"I'll bring the wheelchair, just in case you get tired mid-marathon," Chloe told her with that signature impish grin. That grin always made Max's heart melt.

Chloe offered her arm, and Max gladly accepted it. Together they left the medical center. Max clung to Chloe's right arm, while the blonde pushed the wheelchair with her left.

They took the elevator down to ground level and walked outside. There was a pleasant little garden area between buildings, with a little pond, a wooden gazebo, flowers and bushes. They slowly walked to one of the benches under the gazebo and sat looking at the pond. Brightly colored leaves - in various shades of red, orange and yellow - formed circles under the trees from which they had fallen. The autumn colors presented a beautiful display before them. Max always did love October.

Max nestled her head onto Chloe's shoulder, and sighed when she felt Chloe's arms wrap around her and hold her close.

"Chloe, I need to ask you something. Something serious."

Chloe glanced down at her, somewhat surprised and nervous. "What is it?"

"What are we going to do if we can't get Che out of there alive? I hate to even think it, but it's something we need to consider."

Chloe was silent for a minute. "I don't know, Max. I don't want to think about it either, but I know it's a possibility. Especially in Che's current condition."

"How is she?"

"She's gotten worse."

Max exhaled. "If we can't save her, then Max - Mad Max - won't...I don't think …"

"I know."

Max closed her eyes.

"We could switch places."

Chloe looked at her and frowned. "What?"

"I could go back to her timeline, and she could stay here with you."

Chloe pulled her arm away from Max, and brought her elbows to her knees. She leaned forward to think.

"It could work," Max continued.

Chloe shook her head. "You'd probably never see me again. And I'd never see you again, either."

"I could live happily knowing that she is happy and that you're alive. In this timeline. And you would be seeing me. Just another version of me."

Chloe sat up. "It wouldn't be the same. I love you, Max. I love her, too, but not in the same way. I haven't spent the past five years with her. The happiest years of my life."

Max sighed. "I know."

"Max...I really don't want to say this - think this even...but if Che doesn't survive...I don't think she will, either. No matter what we do to help her."

Max closed her eyes. "I'm scared you might be right."

"Then there's only one thing we can do," Chloe said. "Make sure Che survives. I...I can't believe...I can't believe that Mad tried to..."

Max nodded somberly. She remembered the moment, as well as the conversation that Mad and Chloe had. Those memories, even if they weren't her own, were seared into her mind.

"Max...when Berry and Andrews first got us...you said something. I didn't think much of it at the time, but after Mad told me about...about her suicide attempt...you said you hated yourself. Is that true?"

Max remained silent for a moment. "I...I did. I still do, sometimes."

"Why didn't you tell me? We agreed to be open with each other for these things, right? You were always open about everything else. You told me you always felt guilty...but you never told me that you hated yourself for it."

Max sighed. "I...I guess I didn't want to add to your problems, Chloe. You always insisted that I shouldn't feel guilty - "

"And you always insisted that I shouldn't either," Chloe interjected with a heartless chuckle.

Max smiled sadly. "I did. It wasn't your fault, Chloe."

"It wasn't yours, either. Neither of us were at fault."

"You're right," Max admitted. She sat up. "You're right."

As she repeated the words, she felt a burden lift from her shoulders. It wasn't her fault. It wasn't Chloe's fault. This wasn't something that either was at fault for - they were victims, too. Victims of the Prescotts' greed, as were the countless others who's lives were destroyed by the storm.

After five years of despair, rage, and self-hatred, Max accepted this realization. For the first time in a very long time, she knew peace in her soul.

"Just...tell me one thing Max. Have you...have you ever considered...ending it all?"

"It had crossed my mind a few times. But I always knew I couldn't. I couldn't do that to you, Chloe. You needed me. Just as I needed you."

Chloe put her arm around Max's shoulder, pulling her in tightly once more. "Promise me...promise me that you'll let me know if you ever feel that way, again. And I promise that whatever you have to face, you won't have to face it alone. I promise that for now on, I'm going to pay more attention to what you're feeling."

Max nodded. "I promise, Chloe. But please...please don't feel guilty that I hid my feelings from you. That's my fault, not yours. I may have hated myself...but you kept me looking forward. You were my strength."

Timeline 3

Chloe Surviving

Chloe had attempted to eat, but was met with the same reaction - she vomited it up. Her breaths came in wheezes, and she hardly had the energy to hold her head up. She felt as though she were freezing, but she could feel heat radiating off of her body at the same time, and was drenched in sweat.

She pulled the edge of her sleeping bag a little higher.

Blue?

I'm here.

I don't think I'm going to make it to Monday.

Yes you will. You have to.

I can't eat. I have little enough food as it is. And I don't have any energy left.

Just keep up with the water, Blue instructed. That will hold you 'til we can get you on Monday. You're so close, Che. You've been holding out for five years. You can make it the next few days. Then you will be going home with Max.

Max...I'm so glad I got to see her again. Even if she was in Maxine's body.

Next time you see her, she'll be in her own body.

Chloe sighed. With great effort, she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Seeing that that fire was getting down, she turned to get a log from the log pile and put it on the fire. She had moved herself between the fire pit and the log pile earlier, to minimize the effort she would need to add fuel to the flames.

So, when are you going to ask her to marry you?

Chloe could feel Blue's surprise. Shit...I don't know. With all of this going on, it's not really been at the front of my mind, you know? I guess once this is all settled down.

Do it soon.

I will.

Do me a favor? Chloe requested.

Sure.

Tell Max I love her. And if I don't make it...tell her that the week we had, five years ago, was the happiest of my life. And that the few minutes I had with her in the bunker was amazing.

I'll tell her. But I'm going to make sure you get to tell her yourself, alright?

Chloe could only hope. Okay, she replied to Blue.

Chloe silently stared into the rising flames. Exhaustion threatened to pull her back into darkness.

I'm scared, Blue.

She could feel Blue's sympathy reaching out to her. I know.

I don't want to die like this.

I know. You won't.

Chloe pulled the blanket a little tighter around herself. Her eyes began to burn with tears.

Please don't cry, Blue asked softly. We're going to get you out. This isn't how it ends, alright? You're going to see Max again. Positive mental attitude, okay?

You sound like David, Chloe replied. She couldn't help but giggle weakly.

Heh, I guess I do. But hey, step-douche wasn't totally wrong about everything. Only most things.

Chloe smiled weakly. When I get out, do you think I could get into college? Study engineering?

Hella yeah! I might even be able to help you with exams and stuff. Wait, would that be considered cheating?

Maybe. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, I guess, Chloe responded. Do you think I could learn to build robots and stuff?

Pffft, I did. That was my first internship. No reason you couldn't, too. They have a great engineering program at Max's school - our school.

But she'll be done when I'm halfway through my degree. What if she gets a job far away?

She might get one close, Blue reasoned. Like you said, you can cross that bridge when you get to it. And you will get to it.

Chloe believed her. Yeah, I think I will.

I wish there was a doctor or something to treat you. We can give you advice, but that can only go so far.

Chloe frowned. What if I went to the hospital? There won't be any doctors there, but maybe I can find some supplies - medicine even - that could help me.

I don't know...you're in really tough shape right now. I don't think you have the energy to make it that far.

I have more energy now than I will in a day or so. What if this is my best shot?

She felt Blue's hesitation. I don't like it...but maybe you're right.

The hospital is far, and with me feeling this sick, I probably won't reach it until late night.

Are you sure this is a good idea?

No. But I can die on the way or die here. I'd rather die trying to do something than just letting it happen.

Timeline 2

Mad Max, Noir and Blue Shift

Max shut the door behind her as she entered the conference room. She glanced around - Andrews, Chloe, other Max, and the two Kates were gathered there. They looked concerned. Max didn't like it.

If you don't like it, why not smear those looks off their faces? Or cut them off. Got a knife?

"You wanted to see me?" She asked, ignoring Maxine's sick thought.

"It's Che. She's taken a turn for the worse," Chloe answered. Max slightly shook her head to make the blood that was smeared across the blonde's face vanish.

"Shit," Max muttered. She wasn't sure if she was responding to the hallucination or Chloe's words.

"We have an idea," Red Kate said.

"But you won't like it," her own Kate chimed in.

Max pulled a chair away from the conference table and sat in it.

Ooooh, this will be interesting, Maxine thought.

"Tell me."

Everyone exchanged glances. "We thought…" Noir started.

Kate with the crucifix continued the sentence. "We thought that maybe you could have Maxine bring her to the hospital..." She began to fiddle with her necklace as she spoke. Max's thoughts briefly went to the necklace she wore herself, still concealed under her shirt. She resisted the urge to reach for it.

"Then you could jump in," Chloe finished, "and give her treatment. With whatever is still left there to help her. If anything."

"I can tell you what things will help her," Red Kate said. "What medicines and such will help."

Well, I'm assuming you're not going to let me have any fun with her. Not that you could stop me. But what's in it for me if I do it?

"What's in it for you..." Max started in a low growl. She didn't even realize she spoke aloud. "...is that I don't have Chloe draw a picture, jump over, and slice my own fucking throat. Are we clear?"

She glanced up and noted the mixed levels of horror on everyone's face. She said nothing.

Fine. I'll do it. But I'm not close. It will take me some time. Even Maxine seemed taken aback by the threat. Maybe I can get something for this face of mine. I don't like the color that this cut has turned.

Tell you what, Max began, when I jump over to help Che, I'll find something to help with that. Sounds like you have infection building up. I can find some antibiotics or something. But, you have to promise me something - you WON'T harm Che in any way.

Maxine was momentarily silent.

Done, she finally agreed.

And you have to stop with the hallucinations.

She felt Maxine's ire rise.

Or you could do nothing and wait for the infection to set in, eat away at your face, and spread through your body until it kills you.

Fine, Maxine conceded. But how do I know that once you've done what you need for Che, that you just won't kill me then?

What if that kills me too? I'll do whatever it takes to protect Chloe, but that doesn't mean I want to die. But don't misunderstand, I WILL go that far to protect her, if necessary.

Fine. I'll do it. I'm with Kate right now; it will take me some time to get there. I'll make some sort of a sled to pull her with.

Max sighed in relief. "She'll do it, but she's not close"

Chloe nodded. "Che is on the road heading toward the hospital. That should close the distance some. She's not moving very fast, though."

Max frowned. "Do you think that's a good idea? She should probably wait by the fire and save her energy."

Chloe sighed. "I told her that. She said if she's going to die, she doesn't want to die laying down and doing nothing."

Max said nothing and instead thought to Maxine.

I swear, if you hurt her in any way, I will make you miserable, do you hear? And if you don't get her to the hospital in time, I will jump over there and kill you.

Deal.