Stranded: Chapter 4

A/N: Hey Guys! Sorry About The Long Wait, I Hope You All Had A Very Merry Christmas!!

Sweeney's eyes shot open. What the bloody hell happened last night? He sat up slowly and stared around his room. How did I get here? He thought. His head spinning in a dizzying whirl. The last thing he remembered was getting the Gin, talking to his strange visitor and…the kiss… he shook his head, trying to dispel the feelings that stirred when he thought about his new friend.

He stood up and stumbled over to his chair, sat down and stared at his paint flecked ceiling. After a few moments of compete silence, Sweeney stood up and stalked out of his room. He slowly descended the stairs and stopped at the bottom. He took one look at the bench and table and all the memories of the previous night came flooding back. Sweeney blushed a deep red and debated just going back upstairs and not coming back down. Ever.

He sadly came to the conclusion that he had to go through with formulating some kind of a plan with his visitor. Strange as he may be, he did think in a way that could prove useful in disposing of Judge Turpin. He silently creped into the back parlor and had to suppress a smile.

Montanna Max was still sleeping on the couch, his arms thrown out around him, his hair was a disgruntled mess and Sweeney could swear that he was mumbling war strategies under his breath. Sweeney walked up and tapped lightly on Montanna Max's shoulder. The Major only slightly stirred, half opening one of his eyes before turning over and falling back asleep.

Sweeney scowled and pushed The Major's shoulder with the palm of his hand, a lot harder than the last time. Before Sweeney could even contemplate what was happening, he was pinned down onto the couch, with Montanna Max on top of him, squeezing his windpipe to the point of shattering.

"I vant to make something very clear," He hissed, "You are never to vake me up again, do you understand?" In another moment, Sweeney elbowed Montanna Max in the chest, and took his opportunity to move away. The Major groaned and clutched at his side, Sweeney then took his next opportunity to pin Montanna Max under him, holding his legs down with his own. With one hand, Sweeney held down The Major's wrists and the other hand grabbed a handful if his hair. Montanna Max looked up at him innocently,

"You know, I think you have control issues…"

"SHUT UP!" Sweeney snarled, roughly tugging on The Major's hair. Montanna Max drew in a sharp intake of breath and for a moment, Sweeney was positive that he saw signs of a blush on his cheeks. Is he…enjoying this? Sweeney thought before letting all of his anger out in a single yell:

"WELL AT LEAST I DON'T GO ABOUT GETTING SMASHED AND KISSING RANDOM PEOPLE…" He trailed off, the room suddenly becoming very quiet. Sweeney stood up and began pacing the short length of the room, not able to look at The Major any longer. The silence was broken a few moments later.

"You liked it, didn't you?"

"What?!" Sweeney spun around, his eyes, flaming orbs of outrage, meeting Montanna Max's taunting liquid gold ones.

"That's vhy you're acting the vay you are, you're masking your pleasure vith anger." Sweeney simply growled in response and stalked out of the parlor and into the shop, sitting down and cradling his face in his hands. Montanna Max however, simply put his hands behind his head and crossed his feet at the ankles.

Sweeney was so close to tears but held back when he heard the front door to the shop open, and was greeted by an all too familiar voice:

"Oh! Hello Mista T! I didn't see ya there! Wait…whatchya doing out here? Don't you got customers to 'take care of?'

Sweeney just grumbled and ran a hand though his hair.

"No, I've closed the shop for today…" Mrs. Lovett was about to scold him for shirking his duties so lightly when she noticed his slightly blotchy face.

"Mista T? Have you been crying? Your face is all…" She made a gesture like a circle around her face but gave up.

"What?! Of course not you infernal woman, I'm just…sick…" Mrs. Lovett eyed him cautiously, speaking slowly.

"Of course…well in that case, why don't I fix you up something to work on that?" Sweeney nodded dismissively. "Alright then!" she chirped, back to her normal disposition. "Toby dear, why don't you show Mr.T the books that we picked up from the library?" Toby smiled obediently and heaved a rather large bag of books onto the table. As he did so, it released an immense cloud of dust that spread out from the shop to the back parlor. Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett and Toby all coughed for a brief moment but silenced themselves when they heard light sneezing coming from the back parlor. Sweeney stood up,

"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'd like you to meet someone…" He briskly strolled into the parlor and grabbed Montanna Max up by the collar of his shirt, throwing him out through the doorway. He landed with a dull "Thud" on the cold floor. When he did, a small white cloud of flour mushroomed up from below him and surrounded his face.

Montanna Max crinkled his nose and started off on another sneezing fit. When he finished, he looked up angrily at Sweeney.

"Vhat the hell is wrong* vith you?!" A/N: should be "V" but…*

"Oh whatever do you mean?" Sweeney asked with a smug grin.

"I have allergies!!"

"…what are those?"

Montanna Max sighed,

"It means that…certain things…make me sneeze."

"Oh…Sorry…"

The Major stood up, brushing himself off and leaned against the counter casually.

"So, is there a reason that I vas dragged out here against mein own free vill?"

"Yes. Max, I would like you to meet Mrs. Lovett." Montanna Max leaned off the counter, put a hand over his heart and bowed low to the ground.

"Guten Tag Fräulein."

Mrs. Lovett blushed profusely and put a hand to her chest.

"Oh Mista T!! Where did you find this man?"

"…It's a long story…don't ask." After a long pause, he spoke up again. "I think that he and I should go over the books that young Toby brought for us." He flashed Toby a smile that to Montanna Max, seemed more malicious than it did endearing. It must have scared the boy as well, for he winced and ran out of the shop.

"Erm…sure, they're mostly books on justice and laws but that one there," She pointed to a slightly thinner book on the table, "Is strictly about what happens when you kill a…" She trailed off, a horrified look on her face. Her eyes darted from Sweeney to The Major.

"Relax woman, he's not going to inform the police, he's…" He paused. "He's on our side…" Mrs. Lovett let out an incredible sigh of relief and leaned against a chair for support.

"Oh what a relief! For a moment there, I thought we was done for!"

Montanna Max chuckled,

"Oh no Fräulein, I assure you that your secrets are safe vith me." He smiled at her and she blushed a deep red again.

"I-If you say so…"

"Oh, I do…" and with that, he seated himself down at the book covered table. He picked up the book of interest.

"Now, vhat exactly does this book detail?" he asked. Mrs. Lovett stepped over to Sweeney's side, and looked at him for approval. When he gave her a curt nod, she continued.

"Well, it's all about what happens when a Judge dies or is murdered…"

"…Really? Hm…how interesting…Sweeney?" Sweeney looked up at the sound of his name. "Vould the Judge in question happen to be your illusive Judge Turpin?" Sweeney nodded.

"Well boys," Mrs. Lovett chirped, "I'll just leave you to your scheming, I have to go find out where Toby ran off too…" With that, she left the shop, humming a song under her breath.

Sweeney grabbed a chair and sat down at the table, grabbing the book and opening it in front of him. Montanna Max made a small frustrated noise.

"Sweeneeeeey!" He said, dragging out his name like an upset child who was denied his toy. "I can't see the book!"

"Hm. Well…that's just too bad for you now isn't it?"

"Not really."

"…why's that?"

"Because," Montanna Max said smugly. "I can just do this," He scooted his chair across the floor till both of their chairs were touching. Montanna Max leaned over and rested his head on Sweeney's shoulder.

"There." He said happily, "Now I can see."

Sweeney pushed Max's head away and moved the book over to the middle of the table.

"Are you happy now?" He asked, brushing his shoulder primly.

"Yes and no…" Montanna Max said quietly. Sweeney opened the book to a random page and pointed to a paragraph.

"Hmm, look at this…apparently when a judge dies before his time…"

"All the most recent people that vere arrested are turned loose!" The Major finished for him. He slammed his fist down on the table, making a loud rattling noise. "Ve could get Dok out!"

"Well Max," Sweeney said calmly, tenting his fingers, "It seems that we're going to have to work together on this…" Montanna Max cocked his head to the side,

"How?"

"Simple." Sweeney said, a smile forming on his lips, "If you help me to dispose of the judge, I will help you get your friend back." Montanna Max leaned back in his chair and held out his hand.

"Vell Mr. Todd, it vould seem that ve have a deal."

Sweeney lifted his hand, and smiled, shaking hands with The Major.

"Let the games begin…"

A/N: Well, that's it! I hope you all liked it. BTW: I typed this out when I was very tired so they're may be a few spelling mistakes, please don't be angry XD