Episode 4

Making preparations

A shiver at the thought shot down Max's spine "I know, That's why I need you to show me, Between that and hopefully being able to slow things down a little it might be just enough, And also I want to make sure I get this right first time. That gun HAS to go off" Max replied and emphasizing the word HAS.

David looked at her unsure of what she meant by that and seeing his confusion Max continued on "You heard the gunshot didn't you" She said firmly while looking at David, David's body went rigid as he nodded in confirmation. Max gently nodded towards David "Then that gunshot HAS to happen, But I don't fancy getting shot and it would be pointless going back just to see Chloe..." She trailed off as the image of Chloe laying on the floor sprung into her mind. "I understand," David said as he saw the pain in Max's expression "what's the plan" He tacked on to the end.

Max smiled a little for the first time in days "Well first" She turned to Joyce still smirking a little "Can I be a pain and get another coffee, It's pretty much the only keeping me going at this point" Joyce let out a chuckle "Of course Max she replied as she walked towards the kitchen she passed the Dining table and glanced at the pad before continuing on to the kitchen to make a fresh batch of coffee "Uh Max" She said as she was pouring the liquid into the mugs "huh" Max replied momentarily spacing out. "I was just wondering can you take things with you, I was just thinking that maybe...You just take a gun and shoot that little asshole first" Joyce finished her sentence with a sharp tone. Max and David both looked at Joyce both a little shocked. "Joyce you can't..." David began but Max cut him off "It's ok David," She said as she looked at Joyce who was now bringing the coffee over the red welts on her face a clear indication she had been crying. "Before I told you everything I was very much ready to do just that, And yes I can take things with me. But Nathan needs to pay and the best way for that and to tie up everything is for Nathan to get caught red handed with that gun, And just like in this timeline everything should just fall into place" Max continued in a unusually calm and controlled voice, Masking well that her emotions were screaming the opposite.

Max took a mug of coffee out of Joyce's hands took a mouthful and set the mug down before grabbing the Pad off the table and flipped the pages stopping at the words that Joyce had written earlier "You will fly again Chloe I swear" Max thought to herself as she turned the page picked up the pen and did a rough drawing of the layout of the bathroom and adding the position of her, Chloe and Nathan along with rough estimates of the distance between her and Nathan tore the page from the pad and handed it to David.

David studied the picture for a few moments before disappearing into the garage and returning with a small firearm. "Where did he have the gun before he drew it" Max's eyes were firmly fixed on the firearm as an image of Chloe shot to the forefront of her mind causing her to miss Davids question completely. David Followed Max's gaze to the gun in his hand. "It's not loaded Max, Now where did he have the gun". Max forced the image from her mind and thought for a moment "He had is down the back of his Jeans" she replied. "Hmm like this" David muttered as he tucked it down the back of his trouser.

He turned around and stood a few feet away from Max, "Now Max" he said. "Stop me" as he said it he drew the gun and turned to face Max, Without even thinking Max lunged forwards and made a dive for Davids' hand holding the gun but within a few seconds Max found herself on the floor with the gun pointed at her chest and heard a subtle click as David pulled the trigger on the empty weapon, Maxes heart skipped a beat. David looked down at where the gun was pointing "Not bad, Good instincts but bad execution" he said as he helped Max back to her feet

"Shit Max that was terrible" Max berated herself as she returned to her spot "David do you have to be so rough" Joyce pleaded "It's ok Joyce" Max replied quickly, "To be honest I've had far worse and could end up receiving far worse with what I'm going to attempt" She finished Just as David took his position and as he began to move his arm Max lunged at him again, David's military training kicked in and he had Max on the floor again significantly rougher than before the gun lower on her body down to the side of her kidney. He looked down at the gun and smiled a little, "Not fatal" he said as once again he got up and helped a slightly winded Max to her feet. "You can't hold back David, Nathan won't not in the heat of the moment," Max said feeling a little more confident. "I wasn't," David said glancing at Joyce with an approving look. Joyce sighed as she picked up the pen and pad and began writing. Max took her position and prepped to try again.

After what seemed like hours of being thrown down like a ragdoll and David showing her the best way to wrestle a firearm off someone as well how to use a larger opponents body weight against them. And each time Max tried she got a little bit better but David was just too fast. Max took her place again "He's just too fast" She told herself as she closed her eyes for a moment prepping herself, every muscle in her body ached and she felt bruised and battered "He really isn't holding back" Her thought continued, "your doing good Max, Just a little bit quicker" Dave said with encouragement.

"How can I even when I give it everything I have and it's still not enough" Max thought to herself as she clenched her first. Just then an Image fluttered into focus, A small butterfly it's wings a deep royal blue"Hello Chloe" Max thought " She watched as the butterfly flew towards her landing on her hand, It's wings slowing down to almost a complete stop.

Max's eyes shot open. "You ready Max," David asked noticing her composure. "I get it now, Thankyou Chloe," she thought to herself nodding to David she felt a surge rush through her as she felt the weight of the last several days lift off her "Let's do this," She said to David. David looked at Max and saw a new energy in her eyes, A bit taken back he turned around and readied himself, "Whatever just happened there She looks different" He thought to himself. "3,2,1 GO" David said in a raised firm voice.

Max launched herself forwards "Ok Max this is it, not much but just a little, just enough" She thought to herself as the whole room around her started to slow down, She could see everything happening, Joyce was still writing on the pad having gone through several sheets of paper already the remnants a pile of ash in the fireplace with small explosions in the coal as it crackled, A spider running along the skirting board towards the kitchen and David. His arm was still reaching for the gun, She moved forwards and reached out her hands, Just as David gripped the gun and went to remove it from his jeans Max placed one hand under Davids cupping the base of the gun and the other hand in the joint of his elbow forcing it down and she pulled the other hand with the gun up into Davids back. With a forceful kick to the back of Davids' leg, he collapsed to the floor his gun arm in the air and Max now using her weight as she leaning into his shoulder forcing him down as she squeezed her hand around his, squeezing the trigger as she let time resume its normal speed.

CLICK, The sound of the empty gun went off, Joyce gasped as she dropped her pen and looked at the two of them bewildered. Max released Davids' arm and backed off to give the man some room to get up hoping she didn't hurt him too much. David brought his gun arm down and rested it on his knee and let out a chuckle. Max panted slightly as she felt a small throb in the back of her head, Instinctively she brought her sleeve up to her nose and wiped the small trickle of blood away.

"Max" David said as he got up straightened himself out, "I have no idea how you did that, And to be honest it would probably just hurt trying to think about it" He let out a chuckle" But that was flawless, Nathan doesn't stand a chance" He let a grin show through his hard exterior. Max breathed in and replied, "You're too fast for me David there was so much going on, so I had to just slow things down a bit, In reality.." She let out a small chuckle that word had a whole new meaning for her from a week ago. "In reality slowing things down is much less taxing than a full on rewind, And I only have to be faster than Nathan, Unlike you, he's not trained or as strong".

David stood for a moment his expression a mix of confusion and the look of someone that felt cheated in some way. "Your time voodoo," He said with an enquiring look. "Guilty as charged" Max replied blushing slightly but with a grin from ear to ear. David made his way over to the couch and sat down with a groan, "I'm not one to normally complain but I think you have hurt my shoulder little miss time magician" He chuckled again as he sat back groaning slightly giving himself a rest.

Max wondered over to the table and picked up her coffee now only mildly warm and took a mouthful. "Well if it's any consolation one way or another you won't be hurting when we meet next," She said to David in a positive tone. David turned on the couch to face the table and looked at Max, "I hope the next time there won't be any hurting at all" He said as he cast his gaze to a picture of Chloe on the mantle place of the fire. Max followed his gaze and her heart skipped a beat "How had I missed that" she thought to herself, She looked back to David "Over my dead body" she replied without really thinking. "Let's hope not" He replied.

Not 100% sure about this one, The basic idea is there but having read it a dozen times im not sure, It feel's like its missing somthing.