Ch 12
Max was at dinner with her family. Her sister was going to make her announcement about her pregnancy. Looking at Alyssa, she could tell she was happy and nervous at the same time. When her sister smiled at Derek, Max saw him squeeze her hand in support and it made Max feel good that her sister was with a good man.
"Um anyway there's a very special reason that Derek and I wanted you all her tonight. We have some good news," said Alyssa as she smiled. "Derek and I are pregnant!"
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Macy. "I'm going to be a grandmother. Oh honey I'm so excited for the both of you," she said as Albert held her hand.
"This is great news," said Allen. "I'm finally going to have a grandchild to spoil," he said as he felt Angela's hand on his back in support.
"We told Derek's parents before they left on their cruise. Well I hope you will all be there for our child this time around mom and dad," said Alyssa.
"I promise Alyssa," said Macy. "Him or her will get more love then it knows what to do with."
"I agree with your mother," said Allen.
"Do you happen to know the gender of the baby?" asked Angela.
"No. We want to be surprised. We know there's a lot of technology out there now that can tell us the gender of the baby at this stage, but we love surprises," Alyssa said as she smiled at her husband.
"You're going to be an aunt Max. That must be exciting," said Albert.
"Yeah, I can't wait to babysit the little squirt," Max smiled.
"What about you Max? Do you ever think of settling down?" asked Derek.
"I don't know," said Max. "I'm only 17. I have my whole life ahead of me, and it's something I don't really think about."
"Not even with McGinnis?" asked Alyssa.
"Wait a minute are you talking about Terry McGinnis?" asked Allen. "Are you seeing him?"
"You didn't tell our parents yet?" asked Alyssa.
"No. I didn't honestly think they were staying in Gotham, so I figured there was nothing to tell."
"Young lady answer me," demanded Allen.
"Yes dad Terry and I are seeing each other and you have no say about it," said Max.
"I am your father Maxine."
"You could have fooled me with not being here for most of the years of my life," said Max as she shot from the table and looked at her sister. "I'm sorry Alyssa," she said before she left.
Max got to her car, got in, and closed the door behind her. She texted her sister letting her know that she was heading back to campus, and she was sorry for ruining her night. She got a text back, and she smiled. Her sister was so understanding. Starting the car, she pulled off the curb and into traffic.
She tried to relax on the way back to the university, but she couldn't help but think that she ran away from her family tonight instead of dealing with their opinions. She didn't want to hear what they thought about her relationship with Terry. Before she could think anymore about the subject, her phone rang. Stopping at the stoplight, she saw the number on her phone was unfamiliar to her. She didn't see the harm in answering when she pressed the speaker on her phone. "Hello?"
"Maxine."
Fear filled her as she recognized the voice, but she took a breath in and then out. "Where are you?"
"You'll see me soon enough, but I'm not happy about other men touching you. Perhaps I should let my men deal with that McGinnis guy."
"You wouldn't dare. If you hurt him, I'll—
"There won't be a reason to unless you end your relationship with him. If you come with me, then no one will get hurt. That's the deal Max."
"I have a life and education here in Gotham. I can't just pick up and leave with you. My friends and family will notice."
"I don't care about Maxine. I just care about—
"You DON'T care about me, or you wouldn't have done to me what you did for years. I have no feelings for you whatsoever. You need serious mental help and the only way that can happen is is if you turn yourself in."
"You know I can't. We'll never be together otherwise."
"I don't love you. You're my uncle, and it's wrong. We'll never be together like you want, even if you manage to kidnap me. If there's some part of you that knows this is wrong, you need to go back to jail."
"I'll give you a week Maxine and then coming for you whether you like it nor not."
The phone disconnected, and Max ended the call. She could feel her body trembling the whole way to the university. She was afraid, but she was sick of being afraid. She didn't want him to control her anymore. 'It's not like I can kill him. Bruce and Ter have told me too many times that road leads to nothing but despair. It could change me for the worst, and I'm not like him but what can I do?' she thought.
Parking in the parking lot near her dorm room, she got out, closed the door, and locked it as she made her way inside. When she turned the corner, she saw Bruce waiting for her. Looking at Bruce's face, she saw nothing. "Ok, what's going on?"
"Max, it's your sister. She was taken," said Bruce as silence filled the hallway. "I believe your uncle had his men kidnap her and wants to make a trade, you for her."
"Wh—where?" asked Max.
"Max, you need to let Batman handle this."
"Where is my sister? I won't ask again."
"We don't know yet, but Batman is following a lead."
Max took out her phone. "I know how to find him," she said as she pressed redial and waited for the other voice on the line that made her anxious.
"Maxine."
"Where is my sister you sick bas—
"There's no need for that language. I've changed my mind. You will come willing to me or else I will have my men take care of her."
"Fine, where are you?" asked Max.
"Not so fast you won't tell anyone where you're going or the same threat is in place. Do you understand?"
"I understand," she said as he gave her the address and then she hung up. "I have to go."
"Max."
"I have no choice Bruce. He's going to have my sister killed if I don't go alone."
Max rushed to her car, got in, and started the car. All she was thinking about was her sister. She hoped she was all right. Max knew very well what this would mean for her life, but she hoped more than anything that she could think of something to get out of this situation with her and Alyssa alive.
She was anxious and tried to think of something to calm her down. Terry came to mind but then she thought about how she would be leaving him behind, and it pained her. He was the first person who saw her for who she really was, and he had always been there for her when she needed him. Tears ran down her face, but she wiped them away. She couldn't think about this anymore, she had to think about what would happen once she got to her destination.
It felt like forever to get where she needed to be, and she could feel her nerves getting to her. She took deep breaths in and out to prevent herself from hyperventilating. She thought about Terry again and how it would have been nice to have him here with her to support her. She sighed. 'I have to stop thinking about him right now. It's just going to make me emotional.'
The lights seemed to lessen the further she drove, and it made her uneasy. She knew this part of town was far from upstanding, but she continued to drive through her fear. Nothing mattered now but the safety of her sister and her unborn child.
A run down building came into view and as she got closer, she saw the number on the building and knew she was in the right place. Parking on the curb, she got out, shutting the door behind her and then locked it. Walking up the steps, she saw two guards at the door. Once they saw her, they opened the door, telling her where she needed to go. When the door closed behind her, she could feel her heart race.
"Maxine."
Max came face to face with George and then saw her sister tied to a chair with two men on each side of her. "If you hurt her, I—
"She has not be harmed," said George smiled. "I'm glad you decided to come."
"Well I didn't have much of a choice," said Max. "You took my sister," she said as one of the men untied Alyssa and helped her stand up.
"Max," said Alyssa as she hugged her.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm not hurt just pissed off. What are you doing here?" asked Alyssa.
"I'm here to save your life," said Max. "You have to go now," said Max as she handed Alyssa her keys. "It's my life for yours. It's the only way he'd tell me where you were."
"Max, no! You can't."
"You have a family to think about, and I'll be fine. My car's outside Alyssa. You need to go now," she said as the two men walked her sister out of the building.
Max watched from the window as Alyssa made it to the car safely. Once she got in, she looked at Max with tears in her eyes before she drove away. Max wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to George. "Are you happy now?" yelled Max. "You got everything you wanted."
"I didn't want to take your sister, but you left me no choice. Everyone you love and care for are safe. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Yes, but I don't want this. I don't want you. You're wasting your time with me."
"I'm a patient man Maxine. You will feel differently eventually," said George.
"You're wrong."
His bodyguards grabbed her by the arms, and they followed George out the back door where a car was waiting for them. Forcing her inside the car, a bodyguard closed it behind him. When the car took off, Max knew it was over but she wouldn't cry. When she felt George's arm around her, she tried to shove him away.
"You can't fight this Maxine. You might as well get comfortable," he said as his arm found its way around her waist. "You really have grown into a fine young woman."
"N—no!" she yelled as she tried to escape him by unbuckling her seatbelt. When she did, she fell onto the floor of the car and was met with George on top of her. "Ge—get off me!" she screamed.
"Stop fighting. There's no one here that can help you now," said George and the suddenly the roof was ripped off the car, revealing a black bat.
"B—Batman," said Max as she smiled. "Oh God I'm so glad to see you," she said as the car came to a halt and sirens could be heard in the background.
After Max talked to the police, she was let go to go home. Walking out of the police station, she saw Terry waiting for her and relief passed through her as he came up to her, wrapping his arms around her. She tried to be strong, but she couldn't any longer as she cried in her boyfriend's arms. She buried her face in his arm chest as she felt his arms tighten around her. It felt good.
"I've got you Max. He can't hurt you anymore."
Max looked up to him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for getting to me. I—
"There's no way I was going to let him take you Max, over my dead body," he said passionately.
Max grabbed his face and kissed him roughly on the lips, and Terry recovered from the surprise and kissed her back, his arms never leaving her waist. When their lips separated to breathe, they smiled at each other.
The drive was silent on the way to Alyssa's house, and Max found it amusing that Terry's hand hadn't left hers the whole drive as his other hand was on the wheel.
"I'm not going to disappear Ter if you let go of my hand."
"I know," he said as he squeezed her hand.
"So, you're not going to let go?"
Terry smiled, his eyes to the road ahead. "Nope, I'm never letting go Max."
Max knew he was trying to make light of a situation that scared him. She was touched by his words as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Looking out the window, she smiled. "I was scared to Terry. It was hard to think that I'd never see my family and friends again but the thought of never seeing you again hurt so much," she said as she felt the car stop and looked outside to see her sister's place.
Terry brought his face towards hers and smiled before his lips met hers once again. It wasn't a rough kiss like before but a soft and loving kiss. "I love you Max."
"I love you to McGinnis."
Getting out of the car, they walked the path to the front door. Terry watched as Max knocked on the door. When Alyssa's eyes met Max's, she cried as she wrapped her arms around her little sister.
"Are—are you all right?" asked Alyssa.
"Yeah, Batman saved me and George is back in jail where he belongs," said Max.
"You're staying over, right?" asked Alyssa. "Your boyfriend can stay to," she smiled.
"Well I guess I can't say no," said Max as Terry's hand found hers again and a warm feeling came over her body.
Max had never been more relieved in her life. Her sister was all right, and she would be able to be with Terry.