Episode 5
A favor
There was a knock at the door, "I'll get it" David said as he got off the couch and made his way to the door. Max was still at the table drinking her coffee. "Max you dork better wording next time," She thought to herself. "Then again the wording reflected perfectly how she felt."Thank you sam" Max heard Davids voice from down the hall as he closed the door and walked back into the dining room "Hey miss magician, Is this what you're after," David said as he approached Max and handed her envelope. Max reached out to take the envelope her hand shaking as she took it from David and pulled the photo out, she held a breath as she turned the picture over.
Her heart jumped into her throat as a wave of emotion hit her like a truck and tears started rolling down her cheeks. "Max," David and Joyce both said in unison racing to her side "Whats wrong Max is it the wrong one" David replied as he looked at the back of the photo Max was holding in her shaking hand. Max shook her head "it's the right one" she said letting out a watery smile as she turned the picture over to reveal a perfect Royal blue butterfly clinging to the side of a mop bucket. "I can save her, I can bring her back" She shouted gleefully amidst the tears rolling down her cheeks. Max was only vaguely aware but both David and Joyce were squeezing her shoulder from either side, As she looked up at them both she saw both of them smiling and at the same time tears running down their cheeks. They stood there for a few minutes until Joyce released Max and walked over to the table.
"Max" Joyce's voice came a little shaky as she walked back to Max clutching an envelope with the name Chloe written on the front. "Joyce I don't know if that's" Joyce shook her head cutting Max off. "I know I won't remember any of this and thankfully neither will Chloe or anyone, But you will Max. You've got a dozen realities buzzing around in your head and the things you have seen and done will be with you forever, Not only are you going to need Chloe your going to need her to understand just how much you have been through for her, because if I know you, Maxwell Caulfield, you will only tell her what you need to" She finished her sentence with a smile while looking at Max knowingly.
"If you want to tell her and you find it difficult..." Joyce handed Max the letter "Give her this, Heck even if you do manage to tell her everything, give it to her anyway, It's not every day one gets to send a letter to their parted knowing it will actually get there" She finished with a gentle sob. Max looked at Joyce as she took the letter, "I understand and I will make sure she reads it" She replied.
David let out a sigh "Max can I ask a small favor too" he said a little begrudgingly. Max looked at David a little amused as she looked up at him it, It suddenly dawned on her what he was going to ask. "After what you have done for me, Sure" She replied with a small grin.
David took a breath "Can you tell me to tell Chloe how I feel, To write it down and actually give it to her" He finished his sentence looking a little coy. Max and Joyce looked at each other and let out a small giggle. "Me bossing around a military man, That should be interesting. But I'll do it" Max replied with a grin.
Max walked over to the Dining table and picked up her mug and downed the last bit of cold coffee before turning to Joyce and David while pocketing the letter in her back pocket. "Ok it's time to go be a hero," She said as she placed the picture on the table and placed a hand either side. "Err Max" Joyce said softly "Why not wait till tomorrow after a good nights sleep" She continued. Max let out half a laugh, "If only I could sleep Joyce, Truth is I've slept maybe 9 hours in the last week and besides the longer the trip back the longer it takes for me to get my bearings. She looked up at Joyce and David and let out a smile, "Good luck Max, And.." Joyce trailed off seeing Max's pained expression. "I know, and don't worry I will" Max replied. David put his arm around Joyce looking from her to Max, "We know" he said with a half smile and nodding to Max. "One more time, And this time I'm playing for keeps," Max said as she looked down at the picture and focused.
A very short one, But this one I think deserved its own chapter and it didn't really fit in the chapters either side. But this sets up a few things for future chapters.
As usual, Comments and critique welcome.