Ch 3

Max woke up from a pleasant sleep as she sat up, realizing she was at Barbara Gordon's place. Getting up, she saw her clothes folded at her bedside. After she took a shower and dressed, she came downstairs to see Barbara about to head out the door.

"Max?"

"I should really head home but thanks for your hospitality."

"It's not safe for you out there."

"I can't stay here Barbara. My sister is probably wondering where I am, and—

"He's still out there but maybe you could stay with Terry, then—

"I don't want to put his family in danger. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to them."

"So you're going back home then? I'll drop you off."

"Thank you Commissioner Gordon."

Pulling up in front of Max's place, Barbara parked. "How are you holding up?"

"I just want this all to be over."

"Max I think you should know that I overheard your conversation with your uncle before I got to you."

Max's widened. "You won't tell anyone what you heard. Please, I—she felt Barbara's hand on her shoulder. "We will catch this guy."

Max got out of the car and went inside. Opening the door with her keys, she walked right into the arms of her sister. "Alyssa, sorry I meant to tell you—

"Terry told us what happened. I'm just glad commissioner Gordon was there when she was. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine just a little shaken, so you said Terry told you what happened?"

"Yeah he came by a few hours ago. He seemed pretty upset about it and very on edge. I mean the guy is practically acting like your boyfriend now. You might as well make it official."

"Alyssa we're not having this conversation again."

"All right fine," smiled Alyssa. "You should get some rest. Everything will be ok."

"I am kind of beat," said Max as she disappeared to her room.

Getting into her own bed, she sighed as she looked into the darkness of her room. She didn't feel safe, she felt alone and cold. The tears ran down her face as she turned in bed. She had friends and family that cared about her, but she still felt lonely. It was then that a certain pair of baby blues came to her mind and a smile that made her believe everything would be ok.

Terry walked out of school. It was the last day of school before graduation, and he knew what his present and future held. Batman. Honestly he hadn't thought about applying for college because he knew his family needed him here as well as Gotham.

His mind shifted to Max, and he felt an ache in his chest. He knew she had to leave Gotham for better things. She deserved a good life and staying in Gotham wouldn't offer that to her. He just hoped she was happy wherever she was. Suddenly his phone rang breaking Terry from his thoughts. "Hello."

"I thought you'd like to know I dropped Max off at her place today."

"Thanks commish," he said before he felt something wasn't right. "Everything ok?"

"Any leads on George Gibson?"

"No, he's like a ghost. With his record I guess it's understandable but I'm not giving up. Why, do you know something I don't."

"He needs to be found soon McGinnis."

"What aren't you telling me Barbara?"

"You have to talk to her Terry. It's not my place."

"We will find him Barbara. I promise," Terry said as Barbara hung up on him.

Getting on his motorcycle, he raced to Max's place. Parking on the curb, he turned his bike off, got up, and made his way to Max's door. Knocking on the door, he stood back to see Alyssa's smile looking back at him. "What?"

"I knew it was only a matter a time before you came back," she said as she let Terry in. "Max is resting, but you can stay and wait for her to wake up if you want."

"Thanks," said Terry as he sat on the couch. "How is she?"

"Well she looks better but I'm not sure what's going on in her head," she sighed. "I hope the police catch my uncle fast. I don't think Max will feel completely safe until he's caught."

"Was your uncle around when you and Max were growing up?"

"He'd come by every once in a while to see us, but we never suspected that he was a murderer. He was so nice, but I guess you really never know a person."

"I guess not."

"I'm really glad she has you Terry. I don't think I've thanked you all these years for being there for her. It wasn't easy when mom and dad left. I just followed soon after, and I'm sorry I did."

"You don't have to thank me Alyssa. She's my best friend, of course I'd be there for her like she's been there for me."

"You're a good guy Terry McGinnis. I think you'd make a great boyfriend to my sister."

"Alyssa!" he exclaimed as she laughed at his blushed face.

Max woke up to her phone ringing. Getting out of bed, she went to answer the phone. Answering the call she knew the voice right away and dropped to the chair at her desk. "Where are you?" demanded Max.

"Now is that any way to talk to your dear uncle?"

"The police and Batman are after you. You're not getting away."

"I'm not trying to get away until you come with me Max," said George.

Max opened her laptop immediately trying to track where his phone was coming from, and she knew she had to keep him talking no matter how much she didn't like it. "I have to know why the interest in me, from the beginning you always were close to me."

"I thought that was obvious by now. I'm in love with you Max."

Max felt the strong urge to vomit but held it in. "I'm your niece, didn't that raise any red flags to you?"

"In the beginning yes but I couldn't resist you. My feelings got stronger every time I saw you."

"And you had to show your love by hurting me?"

"I was showing you how much I love you Maxine. I never meant to hurt you."

"Just like you never meant to stab that family to death?"

"The guy owned me money and didn't pay up. It's as simple as that, so I took the lives of his family first before I ended his miserable life."

"You're a monster!" Max yelled as she concentrated on the screen.

"If you come with me, I promise to leave my life of crime behind me, no one will get hurt. I''ll give you until the day after graduation for you to decide. Bye for now Max," he said and then the line went dead.

Looking to her screen, a message popped up, location blocked. "What! That doesn't even make sense. How can a location be blocked?" she sighed in frustration.

Sitting back on her bed, she held her head in her hands and cried. She didn't know what she was going to do. She felt helpless, and she didn't like to feel that way. She was always in control and now she felt her life was pinning out of control.

Taking another shower, she hoped she could relax and shift her mind to something else not so negative. She thought about her best friend Terry and shook her head. 'I can't even think about going down that road,' she thought but her mind started to linger on forbidden thoughts of him hugging her, kissing her, and loving her. 'This will only lead to trouble Max. You have to stop thinking about him that way. He's your friend.'

Shutting off the water, she got of the shower, wrapped her body in a towel, and walked back into her room. She had suddenly wondered what if Terry saw her like this, and she felt herself become nervous. She knew she was blushing, and she could feel her heart racing as she placed her hand on her chest. 'This is just too much right now. I need to focus on getting my uncle off the streets.'

Max came out of her room to see Terry asleep on the couch, a blanket over his body. Walking into the kitchen, she saw her sister cooking while Derek set the table for lunch. The couple looked at Max and smiled.

"Alyssa, what's Terry doing here?"

"He was worried like a boyfriend should be," she smiled.

"He is not my boy—

"I know, but it's fun to mess with you. Anyway he wanted to wait for you so I said he could stay. I was surprised when he fell asleep. Just what does Mr. Wayne have him doing?"

"Don't ask me I have no idea," lied Max.

"Well," she smiled, "go wake up prince charming and we can all eat."

"I really hate you right now," Max said as she go up and went into the living room.

She almost couldn't bare to wake him up. He looked so content sleeping on her couch, but she knew this routine all too well. Sitting on the arm rest of the couch, her hand touched his shoulder and she felt a spark. Taking her hand away in alarm, she sighed as she rested her hand on his shoulder once again and shook him. "Terry."

Terry opened his eyes to stare into the two gorgeous eyes of his best friend. "Max," he said as he sat up.

"Hey sleepy head," she smiled as she stood up. "My sister made lunch, so we should—she felt him grab her wrist as he stood up. "We can talk after lunch McGinnis. I'm starving."

Lunch was over as Derek and Alyssa had some errands to run, leaving Terry and Max in the living room.

"I got a call from my uncle an hour ago. I tried tracking his phone, but I got a dead end."

"What did he want Max?"

"He wanted me to come with him wherever he's planning to go. He promised he wouldn't harm anyone if I went with him. He's giving me until the day after graduation day to make a decision."

"He's crazy Max. You're not going with him. If what he said is true, he won't be too far from Hamilton Hill High the day of graduation. If we let the cops know, he'll be suspicious but if they are dressed in civilian clothes, then he hopefully they can spread out and find him before he tries to leave."

"It's worth a shot."

"There's something else, isn't there Max. You didn't just see your uncle kill a family. Something else happened, didn't it?"

"Barbara told you, didn't she?"

"No. You just did Max."