*~*~Friends Incorporated~*~*
*Chapter Four~

GENRE: A Batman Beyond fanfic.
PAIRING IF ANY: Terry McGinnis/Max Gilbson.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Set after "Curse of the Kobra". I happen to be very Pro-Terry/Max and I don't like Dana much. (She seems too possessive and jealous. Sorry.) Anyway, I've noticed Dana hasn't been in a lot of the new episodes and Max has been getting a larger role (which finally resulted in the episode introducing Zeta [I'm convinced that was a prologue to "The Zeta Project"] and "The Curse of the Kobra" 2-parter.) with each new episode. Forgive me for the overall weirdness of this. *&.^*
DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'em. Short enough for ya?
SIDE NOTE: This will be written from Max's POV and I'm not sure if the entire fanfic should be - tell me and I might change it to third person [if and when I do that, I'll give ya'll ample warning]. I think the martial arts sensei's name was Kyri Inaga, buuuuuuuuuut…it probably isn't. ;} On another note, this fanfic isn't of excellent quality. (No, I don't have low self-esteem. I just practice reverse psychology with surprisingly good results. *giggles*)

ADDITIONAL NOTES v2.0: This fanfic is now going to be split evenly (or almost evenly) between third person and first person. Whenever it's first person, it's Max's POV. Remember, this is rated PG-13 for a reason.

****

The syringe pressed against the flesh of Terry's arm, the needle forming a tiny hole as it was thrust into the vein, injecting an antidote of sorts. The calm fluid smoothly flowed into his bloodstream, almost immediately calming the teenager. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead and, once the crazed, silent laughter subsided, he began crying slowly. "Oh God, oh God, oh God," he chanted softly, weeping and clenching his fingers around the flimsy hospital covers.

"You should be all right soon, kid," Commissioner Gordon told him from where she was carefully cleaning the syringe, "We managed to get you the antidote before the poison invaded your neural paths." She paused, face grimly set. "If we'd been only two minutes off, you'd be a dead kid."

[["TERRY!!"]]

"Maybe I'd have been better off that way," he said quietly, wiping tears off his cheeks with the back of his hand.

Barbara sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, briefly resting a wrinkled hand on his shoulder.

"There wasn't much you could do. You and Max were caught off guard and you let your emotions get the best of you."

He tensed, knuckles turning white and the fabric of the sheet tearing slightly under the wrenching pressure.

"You've been Batma-"

He snapped. "I don't need some damned lecture about 'Batman' and how I could've saved Max if I'd been 'Batman' instead of slow, deprived Terence McGinnis. I get the frickin' picture, Commish," he snarled, closing his eyes tightly.

Barbara smiled half-heartedly. "You know, you're a lot more like him than you want to admit," she spoke gently.

Terry opened one ice blue eye. "What do you mean?" His voice was wary as well as weary.

"Bruce can be the most stubborn, self-beating egotist in the world when he's worried about someone close to him. Can't count the times he almost got killed saving Nightwing or Robin. Or me." Her smile was absent.

He snorted. "Really. Is this some kind of subverted plot to get me back in the lousy suit? 'Cause if it is, you really need to brush up on your 'subtle' tactics."

Sighing in defeat, she stood up, feeling in her pocket. "Whatever you say, kid. Here. When I went with the crew to investigate Max's apartment for any clues, we found this." She tossed a framed picture at him. "Thought you might like it."

As she left the room, closing the door soundlessly behind her, he glanced down at the picture. Max was holding him in a headlock, beaming energetically at the camera as he struggled.

A lopsided smile formed on Terry's overcast face.

Maybe it was worth it.

^

I open my eyes slowly and bury a scream behind a bit lip and a wince. My hand is bloody and I can see bone at a few intervals. Nausea rises in my throat. Funny. I've seen other people bleed and I've never felt like keeling over and expelling my stomach contents. I go to move my leg and I'm unable to stifle the scream resulting from the pain.

I was wrong. Not funny.

I can't see where I am. Everything's covered with nightfall, black, still, and utterly unnerving. A single shaft of moonlight breaks through a crack in the roof. By the smell of it, I'm somewhere where either a lot of animals make their home or Splicers have free reign. In all honesty, I'd prefer the first.

"Where am I?" My voice is weak and trembling. Not to mention that's one of the downright stupidest questions I've ever asked a room that's completely empty aside from me.

I amaze myself.

I can feel the clotted blood clinging to my chin and hip. I can't tell if my chest has been 'scabbed' yet; the cloth is sticky and damp, plastered to my skin.

Deep, burning pain echoes through my body each time I breath. I feel dizzy, almost like being dehydrated.

Too much blood loss.

Of course, dehydration could be part of it.

Voices are beginning to become louder and nearer, I can hear them through the shambles of a door.

"Is she awake yet?" Haunts. I grit my teeth angrily.

"Dunno, boss." Unnamed lug; if I were to go by the depth of his voice, he's easily taller than normal. Joy. Rapture. I'm deliriously happy.

Shit. No more feeling in my legs. That is NOT good.

"Well, have you checked, you stupid idiot?"

"Uhhh…no?"

Good God. He's dumber than Terry, the lumbering ox.

Terry…I blink back sudden, fierce tears. God, please, please, oh PLEASE let him be all right.

The door is suddenly thrown open and bright neon lights blaze in my eyes.

Well, damn.

"Well, well, well. Sleeping Ugly finally awakes." What's-her-name smirks at me, pointing a large gun at me and pulling the trigger. I close my eyes instantly, awaiting impact.

"Bang." I peek from under my eyelashes. There's a tiny red flag poking out of it with large white letters gaudily painted on it. 'BANG!'

Haunts appears in the doorway, leering at me.

Terry, where are you?

~TBC~

End AN: Yes, I know it was short. I'm rushing! I've got three other fics to work on…but don't worry, Terry/Max fans! I'll never abandon this baby. I must spread Terry/Max-ism. (Hey, I'm always for weird and/or unusual couples! Yeah!)

And, yes, I'll eventually get around to a long chapter. Wait…next chapter'll be ten to eleven Word pages, 'kay? That's usually about twenty-four KB, which generally makes a nice read. *&.^* Thanks a million for reading (and reviewing if you do)!