Chapter Eight: Falling

Disclaimer 1: I do not own teen titans or the teen titan's characters – though I do wish I did.

Disclaimer 2: I do though own Max Steeler. She is a character of my original thought and design. Steal and die.

Max wandered aimlessly, seemingly going nowhere. She had an idea, of course, more of an impulse really. It was almost as if some higher powere was drawing her to this place. She traveled through the dark, damp corridors with ease, like she had them her whole life.

Eventually, the tunnels opened into a vast, open space. Max swallowed hard. She had sworn she'd never come here. Yet here she was, five feet away from the one thing that haunted her most. She crept forward at a snail's pace. Ten feet separated them, then five, then two, and there it was. Her face paled.

Her eyes rested on the plaque which rested against the stone. Forgiveness - such a beautiful gift. Max judged herself unworthy of such a luxury, and yet here she stood. She cautiously lifted her head to face those cold eyes. So lifeless, yet full of it just the same. Instinctively, Max buried her hands in her pockets, shivering. She breathed in a comforting breath, but still felt unnerved. She began speaking to the lifeless slab of stone.

"I remember when we first met," Max began, "I should have stopped it then and there, should have but didn't. I could have showed you his true nature - who he really is, but I was selfish. You didn't know you were his next apprentice, I did, and I should have stopped him, or at least tried to."

Staring downward, Max allowed her mind to drift, becoming lost to her thoughts and words. "You were my only friend, but I apparently didn't treasure our friendship. You made one mistake and I turned my back on you," she scoffed at herself, "Some friend I turned out to be."

Tears filled her eyes and she struggled to contain them. Then, all at once, it didn't matter, not anymore. She collapsed at the statue's base and grasped its legs with her arms. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and onto the statue. The stone greedily drank up the tears as the continued to descend. "..I'm so…so sorry…"

The changeling didn't know what to make of the scene. Part of him wanted to lurch forward screaming and stop this horrendous display. Yet, something stronger compelled him to stand back and simply observe within the safety of the shadows. Who was this girl? What was she talking about? Such deep affection signified a certain closeness. How could this girl know his Terra? So many questions. So few answers.

Releasing her anxieties, her fears and her guilt, Max continued to grieve. That's all she could do for her sister now. Simply grieve. Without warning, the statue shifted beneath her grasp. When Max realized what was happening her heart leapt to her throat. Terra was falling! Slowly and steadily her feet were releasing themselves from their base. Panic overtook Max. She couldn't let Terra fall, not again. Without thought , Max maneuvered around the statue's base, catching Terra soundly within her arms. Heat pulsated throughout her body upon contact. The overwhelming rush of energy caused her body to tremble.

Beastboy lurched forward as bitter tears formed in his eyes. He blinked them away and pressed onward, running with all his might toward the two figures. She was doing something to Terra! He had to stop her! But just as the thought crossed hiss mind, Beastboy skidded to a stop. His mouth dropped wide in disbelief. He rubbed his eyes furiously, opening them only to find things unchanged. This couldn't be happening. It was…it was impossible.

Max's shivered intensely. She was losing control. She wasn't used to this feeling of insecurity. Not knowing what was happening. Not having the capability of controlling her own actions. Her eyes started glowing vibrantly. Stone began seeping from Terra's body, like water, dripping to the floor. A mass of blue and yellow light enveloped them and exploded outwardly displaying an exuberant and radiant flash of light. Then, just as quickly as it had come it vanished and there was nothing.

Max could here her breath echoing off of the tavern's walls. She welcomed the silence, her eyes like saucers and her heart racing. It was then that Max saw Beastboy. She stood like a deer caught in headlights. She couldn't move, think, or breath. Beastboy's mouth lay agape as he continued to step closer, eyes focused on Terra's limp body. She followed his stare until her eyes reached the lifeless form within her arms. Her lip quivered. A tremor overtook her body. What was happening?

Beastboy approached closer still, his hand outstretched toward Terra. Carefully he wrapped his arms around Terra and took her from Max. He cradled her within his arms, whispering words of sentiment. Max still couldn't move. Her mind screamed at her, telling her to run, but her legs remained unresponsive. She swallowed the spittle that had collected in her mouth and stared at Beastboy. Stared at the way he was holding her sister, running his hand through her hair wishing someone would hold her. His eyes shifted from Terra to Max. It was a look of confusion, of gratefulness and sternness all at once. Both love and hate.

Conflicting emotions churned within Beastboy's heart. This girl was evil, but hadn't she just now saved Terra? Revived his love from her stone prison? He was lost in confusion and it showed outwardly.

"She needs help," Max stuttered, breaking the unbearable silence. "Medical help."

It dawned on Beastboy. "Then let's take us back to the tower. We…"

Max stopped him, "We? There's no we here. You can take her back to the tower, but not me. I'm not going back there."

"You have to. You may have brought Terra back, but you're still a criminal."

Max shook her head, "Criminal? What have I done to deserve that name? I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If that's crime, then I'm a criminal mastermind."

Beastboy sighed, "You're coming back. Whether you choose to go willingly or by force is up to you."

"Force?" Max almost laughed at the statement, "You and what army?"

At her own words Max felt a sharp pain at the back of her skull. Resisting the urge to collapse she fought to stay conscious, but proved unsuccessful. She dropped to the ground, her body flaccid.

"How'd you know where to find us?" Beastboy asked in wonder.

"You're titans communicator," Cyborg said simply.

"Oh…right…"

"She lied to us," Raven growled.

"You're surprised?" Robin replied back.

"Friends, I can see that this girl has hid things from us, but does not mean she has told us untruths."

"She lied Star. Criminals lie." Robin pocketed his bird rang and gestured for them to leave. All turned to leave.

"She saved Terra."

Everyone stopped and eyed the figure in Beastboy's arms.

"We need to learn more about this girl before we do anything hasty. We'll lock her up in the tower. The safe room we built for Raven should work."

"Robin, she has powers," Raven voiced.

"It alright Rae," Cyborg intervened, "I built that room. We can tweak the settings to where it will cancel out her powers."

They all nodded in agreement. Cyborg knelt to the ground and lifted Max into his arms. They left in unison, leaving this room behind them. Before exiting, Beastboy glanced at the room once more, planting it in his memory. He remember this moment forever. The day Terra had returned and was his once more. He would never let her fall. Not again.

An unexplained silence hovered over the titans upon their return to the tower. There was so much and so little to be said all at once, so that in return they said nothing, hoping that the silence would heal the newly inflicted wounds. Beastboy carried Terra to the recovery room, tenderly placing her on the bed. With Robin's help, he hooked monitors and breathing apparatuses up to her in hopes that they would help her heal more quickly.

Raven, on the other hand, veered away from that room avoiding it at all costs. True, Terra had saved the city, but hadn't she placed in in jeopardy to begin with? The rest of them had forgiven her, but that was there business. It would still take time for her. Healing takes time as does forgiveness. Inwardly Raven also felt anger. Anger toward this new girl. She'd lied, hadn't she? She had been vague obviously leaving out major details, but that was still lying right?

Raven shook her head and stared in at her green friend. He loved Terra didn't he. A small smile spread across her lips. He looked so happy, so peaceful sitting there beside her. Raven shook her head. What was she thinking? Hastily, she made her way up to her room, closing the door behind her. She had a few things to figure out, and she had to figure them out soon.

Heading to the safe room, Cyborg still held Max within his arms. Starfire strolled beside him, keeping with his own pace fairly well. Starfire was a bit baffled - to say the least.

"But friend, I do not understand. How could this girl Max bring our friend Terra back to life?"

"Well Star, she obviously has powers, but maybe there's more to this then what we think. I'm gonna run tests on both of them and see if that brings some things to light."

"She must have the hungriness. She appears as if she has not eaten in days."

Cyborg looked at the girl in his arms more carefully trying to see deeper into her. "She's weak, I can tell that much without machinery." He chuckled slightly, "She looks so peaceful right now. I wonder what she's thinking right now." He shrugged apathetically and turned to Star, "Maybe we should make her something to eat."

"Oh yes!" Starfire exclaimed joyfully, "I can make her some of my borgusberry pie!"

Cyborg opened a door and carefully tossed Max inside, "Actually Star, I was thinking more along the lines of waffles."

Starfire nodded, "Waffles are a wondrous idea as well."

The pair continued walking down the hall, headed to the kitchen. Max was safely locked within the safe room, but her mind drifted far from the tower. In her mind she was in the place she had always known. The world she had grown to love and hate, fear and cherish. A place she had once called home.

Max shivered violently and beads of sweat gathered on her body. She managed to push herself off the ground and onto her feet. Everything was dark, pitch black, but that's not what scared her. It was the voice that reverberated all around her. It was his voice. She cringed in sheer terror.

"What do you think you're doing?" the voice growled, "Trying to become a goodie goodie are we?" The voice then laughed wickedly, Max could only stand petrified, listening to him. "You will never belong. You have far to dark a past. You have done things that will never be forgotten."

"I can try," Max spoke timidly.

"YOU BELONG TO ME!" The voice screamed in rage, "And nothing, do you hear me, NOTHING will ever change that!"

"I don't belong to anyone or anything," Max said shaking her head, "You lied to me. You said you would always be there for me. You said we would be family. You say you're father, but you have done nothing that a father is supposed to do."

"I gave you a home."

"You gave me no such thing. A home is a place of warmth, of happiness. I'm through with you Slade. I'm never coming back!"

"There is no place that you can run or hide from me. I will find you and when I do, you're going to wish that you had never been born. You will turn on your so called "friends" because they truly aren't your friends. You have no friends my dear girl. You have no family, no home, you have nothing except for me. And you will trained to destroy, just like me."

"NO!" Max screamed, "I will never be like you! NEVER!"

Her eyes flashed open, welcoming her to strange surroundings. They had locked her up that much was certain. Max lifted herself up off the floor, wiping the sweat off her forehead. She was safe here, or at least she hoped. Her eyes searched the walls around her. There had to be some way out of here! She felt like a caged animal fighting for its freedom. She closed her eyes, focusing all her energy into on last attempt. When she tried to use her powers, her mind suddenly became clouded and she was thrown back against the wall.

"You're powers are useless her," a voice shot out.

Max turned, finding Raven had entered.

"It's you," was the only thing Max could think to say.

"You neglected to mention you had powers.."

"What powers?" Max asked innocently.

"Don't play dumb with me. I know more than you think I do. But while we're at it, anything else you lied about? Hmmm?"

"I didn't lie," Max stated bluntly but paused a moment to calm herself. "I've never told anyone that I have powers. I haven't told anyone lots of things. Never had the chance or the courage." She looked up at Raven, "Did really help the whole trust thing did I?"

Raven glared at her and Max gulped fearfully. "Can I see Terra?"

"That's another thing. How do you know Terra?"

Max started to say something, but shook her head. "I can't tell you that. I would if I could, but I just can't." Max sighed hoping Raven would understand how hard this was for her, but it was no use.

"When you care stop hiding things from us, we'll be ready. But we're going to find those things out whether you tell us or not."

"I would tell you if I could but…"

"I know…you "can't", but that's just it! You can, but you don't want to. You're afraid that if you tell us you'll be locked up like you deserve to be. Open up your eyes. You're already in a prison. What more do you have to lose?"

"More than you think," Max whispered.

Raven stormed out of the room angrily, colliding with Cyborg and Robin.

"You okay Rae?" Cyborg questions.

"Dandy," Raven said bitterly. "Any progress on this girl?"

"We took the test of both Terra and Max and compared them and guess what?"

"The suspense is killing me," Raven's sarcasm kicked in.

"They're related. We don't know how yet, but they definitely have the same genetics."

"We're hoping Terra can clear up some things when she recovers," Robin jumped in.

"Right…" Raven whispered to herself, "…Terra"

Well that was certainly a longer chapter. Hope ya'll like. Sorry about the long delay, but many things have happened that delayed this from coming to ya'll sooner. But I don't want to get into that. Read and Review as always.