Chapter 18

Unsung hero's

Chloe blinked as the flash went off, It took a few seconds for her eyes to re-adjust as she notice several things change all at once, First Max's arms slumping to the ground with her camera in hand, as her whole body went rigid, the second was Max had blood coming out of her nose again, And the last was that Max's gaze had gone into a glassy trance. "Err Max," Chloe said firmly as she gently shook the younger girls shoulder, Max inhaled deeply as she seemed to snap out of her trance and turned to face Chloe throwing her arms around her sobbing gently, "Oh thank god it worked, I didn't think I had, didn't think.." She didn't get to finish her sentence, As Chloe felt Max slump on her, a dead weight, As she passed out. "Ok, now what," she thought to herself.

Back home Chloe had managed to, with difficulty get Max into the house and on the sofa. Looking at her, Chloe noticed the bandage on Max's hand was the same one she had put on the night before after breaking into the school. "Better change that I guess," she thought setting about finding the first aid kit in the kitchen, As she set about removing the old bandage she felt a mix of confusion and relief, Where the wound had been was just a light red line as though the injury was weeks old, "ok that's weird," she thought as set about cleaning up Max's face, "Why would you need to photo jump," she thought to herself as she finished up, Deciding there was nothing better to do she ran upstairs and grabbed a pair of blankets returning to the living room covering Max up before sitting herself next to the sofa and wrapping herself up in the other blanket and gently nodding off to sleep.

Chloe woke the next morning to the smell of something, whatever it was it smelt good and her stomach let her know it, She opened her eyes momentarily confused until the night before came back to her, "MAX," she thought as she looked up at the sofa where Max was, Only to find she wasn't there. With the smell from the kitchen was driving her crazy, along with her ass feeling asleep she reluctantly got up off the floor giving a stretch and stumbled her way to the kitchen. "Morning sleepy, ya hungry?" Max said cheerily without turning away from the stove. "morning," Chloe replied groggily as she grabbed a carton of orange juice from the fridge and took a mouthful before grabbing a pair of glasses and setting them down on the table in the dining room and taking a seat. Max followed through a few seconds later with two plates of waffles, one with bacon giving the latter to the bluenette and sitting down next to her.

"Max," Chloe said softly looking at her, But before she could say anything else Max turned to her with puffy eyes, "I,.I almost lost you, Chloe," she muttered, "Tried to save a few that didn't get out, Had to keep rewinding, retrying, But you..." She broke off as she threw her arms around Chloe sobbing gently. "I bloody knew it," Chloe muttered as she wrapped her arms gently around the brunette, "I knew you would try and save everyone," Chloe let out a huff, "Even if it damn near kill's you," Chloe pulled away placing her hands on Max's shoulders, resting her head on her's, "Max you don't owe anyone anything, Not a damn thing," she finished gently. Max gave a little nod and took a breath, "I know Chloe, and I knew you'd say that," she forced her eye's up to meet Chloe's, "But I'm the only one who can, And for that reason alone, I have to try," she gives a weak smile, "Besides I KNOW I can do this, But.." an unpleasant feeling began to form in her gut, "You are so not going to like this," Max thought to herself "But what Max," Chloe replied worryingly, suddenly feeling a knot in her stomach. Max Looked up into the punks eyes as she took a deep breath and let out a sigh, "I..I have to do this alone," she said without letting her gaze leave the bluenette's eyes, Chloe's eyes widened, She felt like someone had slugged her in the gut.

Chloe stared at the brunette slowly shaking her head, "Max, I ain't, no, NO FUCKING WAY," She was practically shouting at the brunette, "You've done so much on your own, been throu..," silenced by a single finger to her lips the punk stopped and looked at her, Max had her eyes shut as she calmly spoke, "Chloe, I know how you feel, And you're right, I have been through a lot," Max opened her eyes looking straight into her own, there was fire in her eyes a determined fire that made her realize, Nothing she could say was going to change her mind, "And I would do it all again ten fold and be perfectly happy to still end up sitting here having this conversation with you, But I can not,..I WILL not put you in harms way, Not if I can help it," She paused for a moment a let a small smile hang on her lips, "Besides, I move faster on my own, And I know you want to help,... in fact I'm counting on it," Max gave a half smile as she turned to the table and grabbed a tourist map of the bay that was propped up against a vase with a dead plant in it and pen that was sitting on the table and started writing something.

Chloe sat there for a moment trying to process what Max had just said "She'd it all again, REALLY," She thought to herself letting a small grin appear on her face, "Max whatever's driving you can I have some," she muttered, as Max gave her the tourist map and turned to start eating. Taking the map, Chloe looked down examining it, It looked just like every other one she had seen accept one thing, On the coast at the end of the road a building was circled with a time written next to it, 3:14. "Max, what's this," she said. "mm," Max mumbled as she chewed down her food and swallowed, "There's a lady in there, poor thing is terrified, Her husband goes to get the car,...Let's just say he doesn't get back in time," She finishes with a glum tone. Chloe frowns, "Why doesn't she just go with him," she asks confused. Max ponders for a moment while chewing before answering. "Hmm, Well an E75 tornado for one, waiting for her husband, oh and she's very VERY pregnant," She replied a matter of factly giving a little shrug, "If it wasn't for that I'd say just knock her out and carry her out, Hell you even asked if you could," Max let out a chuckle at the last part, Chloe let her mouth hang open in mild shock, "I'd never suggest.." she started but Max interrupted her, "She was being REALLY stubborn, And I was at my limit," Max stopped as a tear traced its way down her cheek, Chloe glanced over noticing and spoke slowly, " Ok, I'm assuming they won't leave before the tornado appears," Max nodded, "They just think it's a normal storm, Give yourself half hour to get her out, "

Chloe was chasing a bit of bacon around her plate with her fork before she looked to Max who had almost finished her plate, "So err," Chloe began but trailed off unsure how to say what she was going to say. Max looked at her with a knowing grin, "You want to know how it happened this time," She said in questioning tone, Chloe gave a shrug, "Just thought I'd start keeping a record, Never know I could make the Guinness world records or somin." replying with a slight enthusiasm as she shrugged. Max rolled her eyes, "Right, most amount of times being a damsel in distress, Or how many times you've had a hipster save your bacon," With that Max stabbed the last bit of bacon off Chloe's plate and shoved it in her mouth with a grin, Chloe looked at her with a mock scorned look, Max shrugged, "Besides this one don't count," she continued as she swallowed, "You saved me this time, You saw it coming before I did and threw me out the window, third story no less," She finished with a mild approval in her voice. Chloe winced slightly at the thought, "ouch,...sorry," she muttered. Max nodded, "Ouch is correct, the car broke my fall, But I'm pretty sure I broke a few bones, It took me five minutes to realize there was only one way out, Good thing we took that selfie, mm, speaking of which," She reached down in her camera bag and pulled out her camera and snapped a quick selfie, flicking it and putting it in her back pocket. "Just in case," she smiled at Chloe who had now gotten up and made her way over to the glass door lighting a cigarette as she opened the door and leaned against the doorframe as she inhaled a drag. Max got up and followed her over leaning her head against Chloe's arm, "Fireball, The storm threw a tanker into the building," she sighed. Chloe let out a chuckle, "Crispy Chloe," Max gave her a jab in the arm, "It's not funny, I gotta remember it," she snipped. Chloe let her shoulders hang, "I know, I know, But ya gotta laugh otherwise it's depressing," she sighed bringing her arm up to Max's shoulder giving it a squeeze, "Look, your not allowed to feel bad until you can't undo it ok, Until then,...Use whatever it is that's been keeping you going," she said giving Max a sideways smile. Max let out a small sigh bringing her arm around Chloe's waist giving it a small squeeze, "I'll try, Hopefully, after today I can finally see Saturday.

Heavy raindrops hammered Chloe's old truck as smaller bits of debris like for sale signs, bits of fence and the odd roof tile could be seen being tossed around in the wind as though they were nothing, Max had spent the morning jotting down times and references on her arm while Chloe was packing the truck ready for the trip up to Seattle after they were done, A few drinks and some light food, along with mementoes that couldn't be replaced like pictures and a few odd's and ends. After Chloe had dropped Max off at her desired location she was heading to the house marked on the map via the back route past Blackwell as per Max's instruction to avoid the seafront as much as possible as it was going to get pretty dire pretty fast and the last thing they needed was there ride getting stuck or worse. "This plan stinks Caulfield," Chloe thought to herself as she took a drag on her cigarette jumping as a large piece of wood slammed into the side of her truck, "pfft that the best ya got," she muttered as she put her foot on the gas speeding down the empty street, As though answering her challenge a large billboard smashed into the road ahead of her falling flat as she drove over it. "Fuck, I'm half a mile from the coast and it's like this, You better be careful Max," She thought as she swerved to miss yet another trash can as it blew across the street.

Pulling up across the street from her destination Chloe got a clear view of the stretch of beach and the building wall of wind and water as the tornado grew closer towards the town which already looked like a bomb had gone off as various roofs and parts of the less sturdy buildings began getting ripped from their perspective buildings. "Ok Caulfield, Backroads equal good plan," she thought to herself as she surveyed destruction and watched as a large section of wall was thrown into the front of the two whales a few hundred feet down the road, Glancing at her watch she let out a groan as the time read 3:04, "So much for half hour," she thought to herself as she pushed the door against the harsh wind to get out of the truck and made her way across the street getting soaked before she was even halfway.

Reaching the door Chloe banged on it with her first while trying to shout over the noise, "Hey lady, you in there", No response, "ugh, no fucking time for this," she muttered to herself as she backed up and kicked the door several times with the heel of her boot the door giving in under protest on the fourth attempt and she bolted in and up the stairs to the third floor, Upon reaching the landing she could make out a gentle sobbing coming from the end room and burst in without giving it much thought, "Hey lady no time but we gotta, Whaaa," Chloe stopped short seeing a woman about her height, curled up the best she could on a sofa with arms protectively cradling her massively bloated belly. "Ok that's VERY pregnant," Chloe mumbled to herself. "Wh..who are you where's John," the woman's voice came across shaky as she sat there visibly shaking. "Err Chloe, Gonna take you to John, I assume that's ya husband, he went to get the car correct," Chloe replied walking across the living room offering out her hand. The woman recoiled slightly shaking her head, "Not leaving without him," she muttered. Chloe rolled her eyes, "Stubborn is right," she thought as she let out a sigh, "Hay,...I know you, you're the girl from the news," the woman spoke looking at her in slight surprise. "New's," Chloe replied frowning slightly. "you and that other girl,...you saved another from jumping," The woman added her voice calming a little, "er, yeah, Max and Kate, that's me, Look can we chat about this later we got," Chloe looked at her watch 3:10 and groaned, "We got 4 minutes to get outta here or were all dead, me, you AND YOUR BABY," Chloe said the last part in an emphasising voice as she pointed to the woman's bloated stomach and held her hand out again. Gingerly the woman reached out with her hand as Chloe made a grab for hers and firmly hoisted her off the sofa.

"But what about," the woman spoke but Chloe was already dragging her towards the stairs, "We'll find him, but let's just get out of here first," she replied urgency heavy on her voice as they started making their way down the stairs. About half way down Chloe felt the air around her get colder as she suddenly felt a hand firmly grip her shoulder as Max suddenly appeared in front of them with her other arm on the other woman's shoulder. Chloe stood a little shocked to see the brunette, soaked through with dirt and what looked like oil on her shirt, a fresh scratch across her cheek and blood smeared across her cheek from her nose, She could also see a rip in Max's shirt on her shoulder as was positive she could see blood coming from that also, "Hi," Max grinned looking up at her panting heavily, Before Chloe could even reply Max shoved both herself and the woman into sitting positions on the stairs shouting "Down" as she did so, A split second later a massive I-beam came crashing through the wall and embedded itself in the opposite side of the stairs bearly an inch from where they were stood. Max took a quick glance behind her letting out a sigh of relief as she turned to Chloe still wearing a faint smile and glancing at her watch over the bluenette's shoulder, "two minutes Chloe, Lighthouse," she said and then she was gone.

"Wh,...who was that," The woman said sounding a little frightened as Chloe got to her feet and glanced at the metal beam that would have skewered them both. Chloe let out a humph, "That would be Max, Saving my bacon as usual," she replied helping the woman up with a grin as she lead her under the obstacle now blocking there path kicking a few random bricks out of the way. "How,..Where did she go," The woman stammered as the realization struck her that someone just popped up in front of them and then vanished. "Way to go, Max, how do I explain this," Chloe thought to herself sighing as they made their way down the stairs towards the door. "It's err..complicated, All you need to know is she's pretty much a real life superhero, doesn't want recognition, praise or anything,...she's just,...special," she said as she ushered the woman out the door into the windstorm of rain and debris and across the road, As they reached the other side a green SUV came racing around the corner pulling up behind Chloe's slightly more beaten truck that had clearly taken a few more hits judging by the dents near the door and bonnet.

Chloe glanced down at her watch as it ticked over to 3:14, "GET DOWN," she yelled pulling the woman down behind her truck as a loud explosion shook the air around them sending broken glass and bricks flying in all directions several pelting the tailgate of her truck which they hid behind. Chloe and the woman slowly stood up peering over the truck at the building they were just in now engulfed in flames, "That was too close," Chloe let out a long sigh as she felt the woman hugging her muttering a thank you, "Amy,...Oh my god are you ok," A young man mid-twenties by Chloe's guess, shouted over the wind as he got out of the SUV and headed towards them. The woman Chloe assumed was Amy let go of Chloe and stumbled towards, Chloe assumed, was John throwing her arms around him sobbing. John hugged his wife back looking at Chloe, "Thankyou, Thankyou so much," he said his voice holding back what sounded like tears. Chloe felt a warm sensation fill her despite the bitter weather surrounding them, she let out a small humph, "I guess I know why you do it now Max," She thought to herself smiling, "Don't mention it, Look after those two," nodding to Amy and her belly, "Now get the fuck outta here, This place is going to hell," She said urgently and she turned to get into her truck. "Chloe," Amy's voice came over her shoulder making Chloe turn her head to face the woman while holding the truck door open, "Thankyou, And tell her thank you as well, from all of us," Amy shouted above the howling winds with a smile, Chloe simply nodded and started getting into the truck, "And Chloe," Chloe stuck her head out of the truck looking back, "Her secrets safe with me," Amy finished giving a nod as her husband hurried her into the SUV, Chloe had a genuine smile on her face as she nodded to the couple waving them off as they turned around and disappeared out of view. "Now I guess it's time to watch the grand finale," she thought to herself as she started the truck and made her way to the base of the cliff.

Ok so I know I kinda sorta promised this would be the big one buuuut..no

I decided the last bit should have its own chapter even if it's not a long one, But don't fret it won't be the last I already have a few idea's in mind as Max FINALLY see's a Saturday hazzar.

I will admit the last 2-3 chapters have been odd to write, I didn't want to do massive time skips because this week has a fair amount that has happened in it and I didn't want to cheapen the story with time skips. I will be trying to go into a little more detail on things like surroundings etc from here on out.

Oh, be warned lots o feels in the next one, either find and kill the person chopping the onions or bring tissues, You have been warned. eta Possibly before Christmas DEFFINATLY before New year.

Have a good Christmas if I don't see you before.

Comments and critique very welcome.