Backslide

The warm sunlight fell softly down on Max, waking her so peacefully that she believed it to be heaven in her sleepy state. Slowly, she came to recall the previous events and knew that heaven was not anywhere near. Blinking her eyes, she looked around, as if mentally checking to make sure she wasn't back in Manticore.

To her amazement, she had cuddled up with Zack in the middle of the night. He was still sleeping, so Max didn't want to disturb him. Yet, the fact that he hadn't pushed her away both confused and astonished her. She would've assumed that he wanted to be left alone. Guess not, she thought and rose quietly to her feet.

The burns on her skin were feeling better. She wanted nothing more than to go back home and change her clothes. Perhaps even sit down with a cup of cocoa, curled up in the tub with tons of bubbles. This thought brought a smile to her lips. Bliss, going home would be just that.

She walked slowly down to the creek and brought some of the icy water to her mouth and drank. The water refreshed her parched throat and almost made life bearable at that point. Lowering herself to a sitting position, she removed her shoes and dipped her feet in. With the sun overhead scattering such warm rays, the cool water washing over her feet, and her freedom gained, Max was content with life.

There was movement behind her and she turned to see Zack struggling to rise. It was obvious the pain in his leg made it hard for him to do too much. Standing on both feet, his left leg gave out and he toppled to the ground with a curse.

Instinctively, Max hurried over to him, wanting to help. "Zack!" she cried. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he bit and tried to push himself up in a crude push-up. Unfortunately, he couldn't get any balance with his left leg and fell, eating the dirt again. Max scrambled to his side and grabbed his shoulder, trying to help him.

"I said I was fine. Leave me alone," he snapped. Max recoiled, hurt and snake-bitten. She wanted to help him and give back for all the times he had helped her. Zack wouldn't accept help. Never had and it was obvious he wasn't about to start then.

With a groan, Zack pushed himself back into a sitting position and sat, staring angrily at Max.

"Sorry," she apologized meekly and turned back to the rushing stream. Zack sighed from behind her and attempted to rise again.

"No, look, Maxie, you shouldn't be sorry." She turned back to look at him and he was standing, clutching a tree branch with white knuckles just so he didn't topple over again.

"We need to get back to Seattle. Get to a hospital or something," she reasoned.

"True, but I don't think we're going very far." He shrugged absentmindedly. "I mean, you can, but I'm gonna have to stay here."

"Let me help you."

"I don't need help."

"Yes you do. Zack, you can't even walk. How the hell do you think you're going to survive out here?"

"I'll be fine."

"I said, 'let me help you'. We can make it back to Seattle together." Zack turned away from her and looked into the forest. He didn't want to have her help him and prove that he wasn't as strong as everyone claimed him to be. But, on the other hand, she did make a valid point-there was no way he could survive out in the forest like a cripple. He looked back at her.

Max extended her arm, offering him her hand. Tentatively, Zack grasped onto her hand and nearly fell into her as his leg weakened again. "Here," Max offered and slipped his arm around her shoulders so that he had more support.

Zack flinched upon taking the first step, but didn't say anything. She was so patient with him, never making any cruel comments about him and he didn't know how he could thank her enough.

Turning to look at his face, Max smiled inside. See Zack, she said to herself, it's not so hard is it? Not so hard to actually let someone help you.