Hey guys. I realize that this is the second time that I have said I post and didn't, but in my defense the internet freaked out again. So now I am at my friends and I can finally post this. It's late where I am at so sorry if it's late for you too, or early, but it's the only time I could. This chapter starts right where we left off too. And I'm giving you guys the last warning here and now. My OC's always have a dark past. And they always go bad before they get good again... If they get good...

And this chapter might be short.. I don't know how long I'm going for it.

I hope you guys like it and forgive me.

-Line break-

POV MAX

She woke up, trying desperately to breathe. The pain coming from her back, forced her to take slow shallow breaths. They were inflamed and stinging and it was spreading like wild fire. She wanted to call out, but bit her lip hard, drawing blood, when her vision became blurry.

They all have to be open. That has to be the only answer for this kind of pain.

She forced herself to calm down. She had to get up to see the damage. She sprung to a sitting position then quickly guided her feet down to the cold wood floor. Standing she reached out to grab something,the world spinning around in front of her. Her legs were wobbly. She felt sick to her stomach, but ignored the taste of bile and glanced at her bed.

And there's the proof. They are all open.

The amount of blood covering the sheets looked as if she committed murder. She became aware then of the hot sticky feeling that was slowly trickling down from her shirt, that clung to her back.

How the hell am I going to explain this!?

A knock at her door made her head snap up, which she regretted instantly.

"Max? It's time to go. Are you coming?"

She gnawed her already busted bottom lip, such a terrible habit to pick up. Sherlock and Max had to be at the morgue with John to finish this case.

"I'll be there later on. Not quite feeling up to it."

She said quickly.

"Are you alright? What's wrong? Is that... is that blood I smell.?"

There was silence as Max tried desperately to think of something to say, she took far too long. And then the doorknob began to twist furiously, Sherlock pounding on the door.

"Max! Let me in! Are you hurt!"

Max cursed repeatedly in her head.

"Sherlock I'm fine. Now go, or you'll be late."

"Max, please let me in-"

"Go Sherlock! I can take care of myself!"

Her hands flew to her mouth, covering the gasp that followed.

Oh crap. What did I just do!? He was being nice, he was caring. And I yelled at him! ...He was caring... he was showing emotion... a-and I yelled at him... Sherlock I'm sorry.

There was nothing, but silence. Her eyes were watering up, she couldn't believe the words she said.

"I'll call later to check on you."

Came his soft reply. She heard him turn and his footstep going down the stairs. She wanted to run after him and say she was sorry. But she couldn't, if she let go of the desk she would fall. And he couldn't see the blood on her. He would flip and she couldn't handle it. She doesn't want him to change. When she heard his farewell to Ms. Hudson and the front door close, she forced herself to reach the window and draw back the curtain slightly, to peak out at him as the cab pulled away. She stayed there, long after it disappeared, only moving away when she heard Ms. Hudson at her door.

"Max? Are you okay dear? I heard you weren't feeling well. Is that what I think it is? Are the nightmares back?"

Max smiled slightly at the sweet/worried tone of Ms. Hudson. Max was forced to tell Ms. Hudson about her... issue, when she walked into Max's room while Sherlock was away on a case. She watched as Max's back began to cover in blood and she screamed. Max woke up instantly, seeing the terrified look in Ms. Hudson's eyes, she jumped up and calmed her down.

Max stumbled her way to her door and promoted it open a crack, to talk to the landlady.

"Yes, they're back. But you don't want to come in. It's pretty bad."

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I'm coming in. I need to check on you."

The older woman pushed the door up and gaped at the sight of the bed. She saw Max begin to sway and she rushes to her side. She helps the girl down the stairs to Sherlock's living room. Ms. Hudson pries the shirt off the girl's back and gasp.

"Max, the wrap isn't going to cover this. You need to go get stitches. We need to call John. I bet John can help us-"

"No. He's with Sherlock too much. He's a terrible liar. They can't know."

"Well I can't take you to the hospital, you'll throw a fit, and I can't do it myself. Max I'm sorry, but we need to call John. He can clean these and make sure they will heal nicely. Max, dear, please. Please let him help you."

"He'll pity me."

"You don't know that."

Max sat there for a minute then sighed.

"Hand me my phone of Sherlock's desk."

-Line break-

(Phone call)

POV John

(Italics are going to be Max's side of the conversation.)

Hello?

John? It's Max. Don't say my name, don't look concerned, just don't get Sherlock's attention. I need you to come to Baker street, with your medical supplies. Everything you need to stitch and clean wounds. Ms. Hudson and I are fine. Please do this quickly And do not, under any circumstance, let Sherlock come too. Got it? Get Molly to distract him with a body or something. I'll explain when you get here. Please, will you do this for me?

Of course I'm on my way.

(End)

"I have to go Sherlock. Stay here with Molly. I should be back before you leave."

He glance over at him as he put his phone back in his pocket. And of course, Sherlock gave no sign that he had heard John.

"Molly, can you tell him when he comes back to life? And kind of keep him occupied for me."

Molly nodded with a smile and John thanked her quickly and left without another word. All sorts of senior running through his head.

-Line Break-

POV MAX

John sat quietly behind Max, working on closing the scars. The cleaning process done with, the hissing sounds coming from Max was hard on both John and Ms. Hudson when the peroxide hit her back. Max told him, while he stitched her up, of the story of how they appeared. When he finished her was throwing his stuff back in his bag, looking peeved.

"They did that to you?"

"Yes."

"How many kids?"

"An unbelievable amount. We had five floors filled. Each holding thirty rooms for beds, and the amount of kids crammed in each room varied."

John started to pace the room, he finally sat down.

"Did they get away with it?"

Max started into his eyes. Knowing he wasn't going to like her answer, she stayed quite.

"Did they get away with it? Max answer me."

She sighed and leaned back a little, not touching the back of the couch.

"Some of the scientist were caught, majority of the guards, and a couple of the head directors, but yes some did get away."

"The punisher, was he caught?"

When she didn't answer again, he shouted.

"Was he caught?!"

Ms. Hudson jumped at his voice, but Max refused an moment, not even a blink.

"No, he wasn't caught."

"Are you telling me that that bastard is still out there?"

"No. He's not out there."

John looked at her, his mouth hanging open slightly.

"But you just said he wasn't caught."

"He wasn't, not officially. I found him a couple years later. He was trying to rob a bank. I caught him and he thought he could scare me away if he brought up the past. I told him if he ran I would shoot."

John looked confused as he tilted his head to the side slightly.

"I did warn him. He should have believe me. It didn't really help his case that he brought up the past. In all honesty it helped more than anything."

John looked at her and then down at the ground. He was ticked and sadden by this.

"Why didn't you tell me, us? I thought you trusted us."

Max rolled her eyes and sat up.

"John please don't act like that."

"Like what?"

"Like that. Like I just ran over your puppy. I just didn't want anyone to know, okay? I don't like being pitted John."

John shook his head. The, his face was full of understanding as he made 'o' shape with his mouth.

"It makes sense now. You have to tell Sherlock. Every time he sees a scratch he always says not deep enough, or too thin, or too fat. I thought he had lost it, but he's been looking for something that matches yours. When did he see them?"

"The first night I was here. My shirt hung off my shoulders a bit on one side and he just saw the marks leading over the bone."

"He needs to know. It's killing him."

"John, no. I'm not telling him."

"Why Max? You're a bloody hero! Why are you ashamed of this?"

"I'm not ashamed of what I have done. I'm proud of what I've done. But I am not telling him.

"Why!?"

"Because I'm not being pitied John! It happen every time someone finds out. They treat me different. They don't treat normally. They think I need to help with every little task. They think I need to go to and talk to someone about it, be put in a hospital so when the attacks come I have immediate help. I don't want tat John. So, no we aren't telling Okay? End of discussion."

The door banged open and slammed shut as the sound of feet pounded on the stairs, traveling up.

"Max you missed a great case! It was brilliant! He-"

Sherlock stopped when he noticed Max and John standing toe to toe with each other and Ms. Hudson scambling past him and down the stairs."

"John what are you don't here? Max are you alright?"

"Ms. Hudson made me call John to see what was wrong with me. John says I should be good for now though."

Sherlock looked at Max then to John. Max could see the walls going up in those beautiful eyes. She wanted to go to him and hug him, but she forced herself to stay still.

"Alright. What was the problem John?"

John looked up first to Max then to Sherlock. He was frozen and hesitant. He stumbled on his words.

"Just a s-stomach bug is all."

"Oh. You're better though right Max?"

When Sherlock looked at Max again, she felt like shattering. She forced the feeling down,

"Yes I'm okay now."

Sherlock nodded as she turned away from him.

"Thank you John."

"You're welcome. I better be headed out now. Max I'll... I'll talk to you tomorrow to see how you're doing and for a check up."

Sherlock watched John leave and when the door was shut and the cab pulled away he looked at Max.

"Stomach bug?"

Max stood up flinching a little as the stitches stretched out. Knowing Sherlock wouldn't believe it. She sighed as she realized she'd have to help John out with this.

"Sherlock it really is just nothing. Just an old thing that came up. Its okay now."

Sherlock nodded his head and proceed to his seat. He flipped open his laptop and began to type away. Max took her seat across from him and opened her book, reading where she left off. After a few hours of silence Sherlock looked up this time and made it noticeable. He had been studying her and from the way she had been sitting she refused to lean back, even though she really wanted to. Her eyes only moving ever now and then and other times it was as if she was day dreaming. Sherlock knew it was on her back, something was irritating her. He only saw just a bit of the few scars she had from her shoulder, but they were way up there they couldn't be affecting her whole back could they? Or are they all over? That seemed more reliable. But why would they be all over her back? Max shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Max looked up at him.

"Yes Sherlock? Did you lose something over here?"

"Why is your back hurting you?"

Max sat there for a minute looking at him. Then she shut her book sat it on the table. She walked toward the door and up the stair, before Sherlock grabbed her.

"Hey it was just a question. Is it really something that bad that I can't know?"

Max didn't turn to face him.

"Let go of my shoulder Sherlock. Please."

Sherlock took his hand away quickly. He heard the slightest bit of strain in her voice. It was covered so well that he wasn't sure he even heard it. No one else could have heard it, unless you knew what to listen for.

She walked up the steps and at the top she looked back.

"I won't lie to you Sherlock, but I won't tell you either. So drop it. Please for me? Just drop it."

The door was closed before Sherlock even blinked.

-Line break-

POV MAX

Okay. On the count of three

Max looked at herself in the mirror. She placed her hand on the shoulder of her shirt.

One... two... three!

She lifted her shirt as quickly and gently as she could, but it was no use. It was caught at the bottom.

Knock*Knock*

"Max? Would you like your covers dear?"

Max let her shirt fall back on her. She opened the door for Ms. Hudson. Max opened the door wide and smiled at the woman shyly.

"I need some help. My shirt is caught at the bottom."

"Oh not a problem dear."

Max proceeded to pull the shirt up as Ms. Hudson helped guide the way. When the shirt was completely gone she checked the stitches to make sure they were still intact.

"You're good to go. John said you need to sleep on your stomach for a while. The stitches may come out if you don't."

Max nodded and put the biggest shirt she could find on.

"Thank you Ms. Hudson. I'll fix the bed. You go on and get some sleep, alright? Goodnight."

"Goodnight dear."

She laid on the bed for hours, but sleep refused to come. Flashes of those days kept coming into mind and she knew it was going to be like this for a couple of weeks. When one o'clock came and passed she got up. She grabbed her clothes and headed for the shower.

When she was done she went to the couch and laid down once more. She looked at the clock, it read two thirty. She groaned quietly and buried her face in a couch cushion. She heard someone make a humph noise behind her. She peaked through her hair to see Sherlock smiling.

"Can't sleep?"

Max sat up as fast as she could and shook her head softly.

"Neither can I." Sherlock looked around and then back at her. "Do you mind if I play the violin?"

Max shook her head again and smiled. She had heard him once and she loved the sound of it. He was good, no more than good, he was brilliant.

When he began to play she closed her eyes. The soft rhythm meat her ears and she slowly let her back fall to the couch. She smiled as she listened to him. After a few minutes of him playing she was close to sleep. She opened her eyes a tired smile still placed on her lips.

"Its beautiful. Your sound."

"You think so?"

She noticed he sound tired as well.

"I know so. Thank you for that. For helping me."

"What are you talking about? I was helping myself."

She laughed softly and smiled at him fondly.

"No you weren't. You were asleep when I came down here and when Ms. Hudson came to check on you. Don't try to lie. Now take my compliment and go to bed."

He smiled at her and walked over to where she was laying down. Eyes closed he placed his lips on her forehead.

"Your welcome. Goodnight."

He walked off to his room falling asleep smiling at the picture he had in his head of the tired smile that he found adorable.

-Line Break-

So that's the end of another chapter. I gave some fluff at the end.

And what do you guys think?

I'd seriously love to hear from you guys. I really would. And also, I'm gonna need an opinion from you guys. I have two ending to this story. (No, this is not ending soon. Trust me. We've only cracked the surface of where I went with this story. I think on goggle docs it's thirty four or forty two pages long, depending on the ending you want that I'll explain later and the next chapter starts on page 20.)

Basically what I am saying is, eventually I'm going to need you guys to give me some reviews of answer me to help me out. If you guys want the good or bad ending, or if you want me to post both. I don't care. But I need some help.

Anyway thank you guys a lot for reading this, and giving me your time. I appreciate it as always. And I'll see you guys next time.

Night night.

-Maxy