Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: Neither show represented in this fiction belongs to me. Dark Angel is the product of Cameron/Eglee and Fox, whereas Supernatural is the product of Kripke and The CW. No profits are made from this fiction and it is intended for private enjoyment only.
Rating: PG-13- NC-17
Genre: Crossover
Type: Romance
Pairing: Max/ Guevara/ Sam Winchester
Summary: What if... Max had been having a different dream?
Spoilers/ Timeline: This starts when Max is thirteen and going into heat for the very first time.
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first please.
A/N: This story, while being in the same universe as When It Changes, does not actually occur within that storyline. This fiction is just an off-shoot of what might have happened.
Chapter Thirteen
And Have You Been Naughty Or Nice?
"No," Max sighed as she reached the last shirt on the rack and gave it a disgusted toss against the rest of the shirts hanging there.
"Oh come on," Dean snorted. "You've got almost a month, do we really have to do this right now?" John frowned and shook his head, but Max had already rounded on her brother.
"Yes! I have to do this now! In case you've forgotten, we're clear across the country and it does take some time to ship things!"
"All right, all right, I'm sorry," Dean held his hands up in defeat. "I'm just sayin', you've looked in just about every store here and you still haven't come up with anything. Why don't you give yourself a break? Think about it some more and then come back tomorrow?"
Max pursed her lips and slowly uncrossed her arms. Dean was right. She'd dragged them through almost every inch of the mall with not one drop of inspiration hitting her. It was time to pack it in, for the day at least. She gave in and nodded, following them out to the car.
Feeling just a little dejected, she barely paid attention to the conversation swirling over her head. As she was climbing into the back seat of the Impala, she heard a shriek and snapped her head around, looking for the source. But it was only a woman, being hefted off her feet and swung around by her exuberant male companion. She smiled softly, looking forward to the time when it would be she and Sam like that. Young and in love, carefree, but most of all, together. It wouldn't be long now, but knowing that made the days go by even slower it seemed. The couple moved out of her eyeliner and Max found herself looking at the store that was kitty corner to the mall.
Not just a store, it was a photography studio. She grinned suddenly. Why hadn't she thought of that before? Sam was always saying that he wished he had a nice photo of her. And she'd always meant to send him one. But somehow she'd never had the time or a camera handy. She looked carefully, zooming in her eyesight to see clearly what the studio hours were and then noticed another sign that announced that the photographer offered private session for erotic images. Her lips curved up at the corners. Did she dare? Could she work up the nerve? And then she realized that Dean was speaking to her.
"What?" she asked distractedly.
"I said," he announced exaggeratedly, a grin hovering on his lips, "that I'm sure you'll find something great that Sammy'll love, tomorrow."
"Yeah," she murmured her agreement, "I probably will."
*****
Her enthusiasm was starting to waver and give way to nervousness the closer she came to the photography studio. She'd called first thing in the morning and was able, thanks to someone else's cancellation, to arrange a session for that afternoon. She was told to bring her identification, since minors weren't allowed, any clothing she might want to pose in and any props she might want to use, even though there were some choices in the studio itself. Only having a vague idea about clothing and props, Max had packed her new bathing suit, since Sam had been intrigued when she had described it to him. But she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted for a picture. Thinking that maybe she'd get some inspiration at the mall, she'd left early to do a little shopping for herself. She told John and Dean that they'd suffered enough shopping with her and that she'd go alone this time. It didn't escape her, the looks of utter relief on their faces.
Wandering through the mall, she'd stopped in a women's boutique, but everything she saw just wasn't her style. Luckily, a sympathetic saleslady was helpful and when Max revealed that she needed something to pose in, she asked where Max was having the photos done. Max told her and the woman smiled knowingly. It turned out that she'd done the same thing for her husband a few years ago. She had directed Max to the back of the store, to some sexy yet tasteful negligees. With the woman's help, Max picked out a long midnight blue gown trimmed with black lace.
But now, new bag in hand, Max wondered if this was something she could really do. Unfortunately, she just didn't have any other ideas. Steeling herself, she pulled open the door and walked into the studio. She was greeted as she approached the counter, by a middled-aged woman with shortly cropped gray hair.
"Hi," Max smiled. "I've got a one o'clock appointment."
"You're Max Winchester?" the woman confirmed and Max nodded. The woman offered her hand.
"I'm Erin Griffith, I'll be manning the camera."
"Okay," Max smiled. The woman seemed fairly easy going and comfortable with what she did.
"I hope you don't mind," Erin continued, "but my shop girl isn't back from lunch yet."
"Oh that's no problem," Max sighed.
"If you like, you can look through my portfolio book for ideas, unless of course, you have something specific in mind."
"Well," Max spoke as she followed Erin to a leather sofa on the far side of the room, with a coffee table before it. "A saleslady said that she'd posed a few years ago... um, on a bed, in a... gown?"
Erin smiled as she gestured for Max to sit. "That pose is definitely a standard one," she explained. "It's usually what women go for, their first time doing this."
Max nodded slowly. "Do a lot of women... come back?"
"Oh yes," Erin laughed, her head tilting back with her mirth. "Some people get a certain thrill and sense of excitement doing it. I even on occasion, get their boyfriends or husbands."
Max felt absurdly relieved when she heard that. "That's why I'm doing this," she explained. "My boyfriend is in college. I'm moving out there next month, but I uh..."
"Wanted to give him something to look forward too?" Erin asked archly. Max nodded shyly. "Well then, let's get started. We can always do the bed shot, but it's always fun to add a personal touch. Is there anything that you and your boyfriend are crazy about?"
Max thought about it for a moment and then said with an impish grin, "riding my motorcycle."
"Oh? Like a Harley?" Erin asked, seeming surprised.
"No, it's a Ninja," Max corrected her and Erin laughed.
"I'm sorry, I know next to nothing about them. A Harley is what I think of when I hear 'motorcycle'."
"Oh well, unlike the Harley, my baby is low and sleek," Max enthused. "Riding her is like my soul riding the wind."
"You didn't happen to bring it with you, did you?"
"Of course I did," Max grinned.
"I'll tell you what," Erin mused thoughtfully, tapping one finger against her pursed lips. "As soon as Kathy gets back from lunch, we'll go out and look at your bike. I think we may have found out first shot."
*****
The three hour session had seemed to fly by once Max had loosened up. Erin had helped, constantly cracking jokes and witty remarks. And Max had loved cuddling with the kittens that Kathy had retrieved from the pet store in the mall. It turned out that Erin did the store's calendars at cost and in return, was allowed occasionally to use the animals as props. And it just got better from there.
On a whim, Max headed back to the mall. She'd seen a great frame that would be useful if Sam wanted to put one of the pictures in it. And there had been a shirt that really would look great on him. And the more she'd thought on it, there were a few other things she could pick up that he would enjoy.
She breezed back into the motel, laden with several bags, that she'd barely managed to secure to her bike. Dean let out a low whistle as he took in the results of her shopping spree. He picked up the frame that had slipped out of its bag. "Uh, I assume there's supposed to be more to this?" he teased. Max grinned.
"There will be once I get my portraits back," she assured him.
"You had your portrait done?" John clarified and Max nodded again.
"It was so cute. Erin, the photographer, she had all these kittens. They were so sweet and adorable."
"Now don't be gettin' any ideas about pets," Dean teased and Max stuck her tongue out at him.
"But anyways, I got what I wanted to get," Max sighed happily. "Erin said that the pictures will be ready next week, so I'll have to come back and pick them up."
"That'll be fine," John allowed, even as Dean perked up.
"Pictures?" he noted, stressing the plural form. "As in more than one?"
Max, her back to them, frowned and squeezed her eyes shut as she realized her mistake and forced herself to casually explain. "Erin and Kathy, her assistant, loved my Ninja. Actually, Kathy was complaining about how here husband was really into Harley's and she wasn't allowed anywhere near his collection. Anyway, she asked if she could get a shot of her sitting on my bike so that he could have that, instead of all his um... calendars." Both men grinned wryly at that. "And then Erin said that if Kathy had a picture of my Ninja, then I should have one too, so we took it into the studio and fooled around with it for a while and got a pretty nice shot, so in all, it turned out pretty well." Both men blinked at her rapid explanation and sunny smile, but mentally shrugged with relief. As long as they weren't getting dragged around for more foot pounding through the malls, they didn't care. Also relieved, Max set about removing the wrapping paper she'd bought and turned to wrapping the gifts currently in her possession, save for the frame. That she would wait on.
*****
Sam didn't hear his phone ringing. It was only when someone close to the kitchen yelled at him that the noise was brought to his attention. "Hey! Quiet down guys!" he yelped as he moved through the prone bodies scattered about his living room as he rushed to answer. His cordless was lost and the battery probably had gone dead, which explained not hearing the phone ringing.
"Sam, I can't find that book," a blond called out as he passed by her at the book case. He couldn't remember her name.
"Try the bottom shelf," he instructed as he turned into the kitchen and grabbed the receiver off the wall. "Hello?" he asked, just slightly out of breath.
"Hey handsome," a teasing voice greeted and he brightened.
"Hey Max, hang on a second." He pulled at the long dangling telephone cord that always seemed to get snarled up and moved further into the kitchen, away from the noise. "What's up sweetie?" he asked, relaxing against the counter.
"Oh, I just wanted to call and tell you that I-!"
"Oh wait," Sam interrupted as the blond poked her head into the kitchen, holding up a book.
"Was this the one?" she asked and Sam shook his head in the negative.
"No, but we might need it."
"Okay, sorry," she grinned, looking as if she weren't sorry at all for interrupting and then retreated. Sam returned the receiver to his mouth.
"Sorry about that," he muttered.
"It's okay," Max said. "Sounds busy over there."
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "It was supposed to be a study group for finals, but Dale brought take-out."
"Ah, fun,' Max teased. "Turning into a party, huh?"
"It wouldn't be so bad if I knew who half these people were," Sam complained quietly. "But you were saying?"
"I was just letting you know that I mailed your Christmas gifts. You can expect them early next week," she informed him.
"Thank you," Sam smiled and then huffed out, "that reminds me, I meant to call and ask you. Did you want me to send yours to the post office box, or were you guy's going out to Bobby's?"
"We decided-!"
"Yo! Sam the man!" Chuck yelled from the living room. "Get your big brain out here. We need you!" Sam moved to the doorway and held up one finger.
"Sorry Maxie, what was that?"
"No big dealio," she chuckled. "I said we're going to Bobby's. Dad decided yesterday."
"Okay, I'll send your stuff there."
"All right," Max agreed, but whatever else she said was lost as a small crash sounded and a collective groan issued from the other room at his end. Sam closed his eyes and took a deep breath and slowly counted to ten while Max laughed.
"Your study group sounds like a real wild bunch," she mused.
"Oh my God," Sam sighed. "You don't know how much I miss you right now."
"As much as I miss you?" she asked softly. "But I suppose I better let you go. It sounds like the circus animals need their ringmaster."
"And that's exactly how it feels," Sam grinned.
"I love you," Max whispered longingly.
"I-!" Sam was about to echo the sentiment, but was startled as that increasingly annoying blond woman limped into the kitchen. "Me too," he told Max hastily. "Bye." He hung up the phone, concerned when he saw blood dripping from the girl's foot. "What happened?" he demanded, a little harsher than he had intended. The girl had been flirting with him and dogging him all night, right from the moment she had shown up, uninvited on his doorstep. "Here, sit down," he directed, pulling out a chair from the table.
The girl sank down into it, her lips forming that barest grimace. It looked more like a pout. "Mm, someone broke a glass on the floor and I stepped in it," she winced.
"Okay, let me get my first aid kit," Sam muttered as he turned around and headed to the cupboard where he kept it, grimacing to himself. Hadn't she been wearing shoes a few minutes ago?
"Here, I got it Sam," another voice announced and Sam turned to see that Jess had suddenly appeared in the kitchen. "Chuck needs your help," she told him. Sam fought back a smile as he handed her the kit. Trust Jessica Moore to run interference for him. She was a very good friend.
"Thanks Jess," he nodded at her, truly meaning it. She gave him a knowing smile and he went back to the living room. Allison had picked up the larger pieces of glass and was carrying them to the kitchen to dispose of.
"You'll have to sweep," she informed him as she passed him. "Got a broom?"
"Yeah, it's in the closet," he said, switching directions, but she waved him away.
"I'll get it."
Sam nodded and resumed his seat. Dale and Chuck, his two closest male friends shared a look.
"Hm, Sam's looking a little flushed," Dale announced.
"Sam's lookin' frustrated," Chuck corrected. "Must have been a call from his..."
"Mystery girl!" they chorused together.
"All right," Sam sighed. "Can we please get back to studying?"
"I don't know man," Dale grinned, "how you've managed to maintain a long distance relationship as long as you have, and not go insane."
"Who says I'm sane," Sam laughed. There were some nights when he thought he would go crazy, he longed for her so badly. Everyone who knew the situation laughed along with him.
"No, seriously man," Dale cajoled.
Sam shrugged. "Max is just worth it."
"And it won't be that much longer, will it?" Allison asked as she returned, having obviously heard the conversation while she was in the kitchen.
"No it won't," Sam smiled and confirmed, "just after New Year,"
"And then we'll never see him," Dale moaned. "He'll be too busy makin' up for all those years of-!"
"Leave him alone, you guys!" Jess called from the kitchen doorway. "Hey, Ronnie's not feeling so well," she continued, gesturing to the other blond woman behind her. "Can someone give her a ride home?" Immediately Mike, or Mark, Sam wasn't sure which, raised his hand. It seemed fitting, since he'd been the one to bring Ronnie. The guy followed after Sam as he was retrieving their coats from the bedroom and once inside, hastily apologized about her.
"Sorry man, she was there when Dale asked if I wanted to study and she just... glommed onto me," he explained. "Seein' how she acted tonight, I see now why she wanted to come so badly."
"Don't worry about it man," Sam shrugged. "You're not responsible for her behavior."
"Thanks man," the guy sighed with relief, but his face tensed again. "Uh, I hate to ask, but... would you mind if I came back after? I could really use the help." Sam was already nodding his head. After all, he wasn't the one disrupting the group.
"Sure," he agreed. "No problem. Maybe by the time you get back, I'll have the inmates settled down in there."
"Yeah, good luck with that."
It wasn't all that difficult. Sam endured some more good-natured ribbing about Ronnie's obvious infatuation with him. He announced that the guy, Mark as it turned out, was coming back and they decided to wait for him so that he wouldn't miss anything. It only took Mark twenty minutes and once he was back, the group seriously got down to business.
*****
Max glanced at the clock again for the umpteenth time. Sam was supposed to call her after he got out of his last final exam, which should have been done half an hour ago. She took a deep breath. Maybe the exam ran late, she told herself again. Or maybe he and his classmates were going over the test, discussing what they though they got or missed. There could be any number of reasons of non-negative things that was keeping him from calling. She fretted and worried through another fifteen minutes of silence before she finally gave in and reached for her cell phone. He picked up after the second ring.
"Hey Maxie? What's up?" Sam greeted cheerfully enough.
"Hey," Max let out a breath of relief that was soon followed by annoyance. "Did you forget you were going to call me? Let me know how exams went?" Max was just a little peeved. This last week, he'd been so busy and distracted that she'd backed off on calling him constantly. Since his schedule was so different because of the exams, she had no clue when he was free, so she had suggested that he call her. He'd done so, once. And they'd only talked for a few minutes. But he had promised that he'd call today.
"Oh sorry," Sam apologized contritely. "I didn't forget exactly. I just got caught up doing something."
Max's eyes narrowed at the evasion, but before she could ask, she heard a feminine voice addressing him that quickly became muffled as Sam obviously put one hand over the receiver.
"Hey, sorry about that," Sam mumbled after a moment.
"Who was that?"Max asked as casually as she could, even though her guts were twisting with suspicion.
"Oh... that's just my professor," Sam explained quickly. "We're just going over the courses I'm taking next semester."
"Oh, okay," Max spoke softly.
"Look," Sam chewed at his lower lip and then said quickly, "I really need to finish up here. How about I call you back tonight? I promise."
"O-okay," Max whispered. "I love you."
"Me too. Bye." He disconnected, snapped his cell phone shut and replaced it in his pocket as he turned to the woman next to him. "Sorry Donna," he smiled tersely. "That was my girlfriend."
"It's no problem," she shrugged. "Shall we get back to business?" she asked as she led him to the bedroom.
*****
"Everything okay?" John asked Max from the doorway, startling her. She glanced up at him and then back down at her cell phone.
"Yeah," she lied, her voice husky. "He was busy. He's gonna call tonight."
"Okay," John straightened up. "Feel like playing some cards with the old geezers?"
Max swallowed heavily. "Sure," she agreed as she stood up. Anything to distract her from the fact that Sam had just lied to her. She knew perfectly well that all his professors this term, were men.
*****
Eleven o'clock and he still hadn't called. Max laid on the bed that she always used while they stayed at Bobby's house. She was alternating between dejection and anger. She'd been quiet all evening and knew the guys were getting concerned. She'd finally said goodnight to them an hour ago and had escaped to the bedroom. But she had laid here that whole time, trying to figure out why Sm had lied to her. She thought about asking Dean for advice. But without any hard evidence supporting her fears, she didn't want Dean to worry either. But even had she asked, she knew what Dean would tell her. Call Sam and ask him, point blank. Deal with it instead of working herself into a snit.
She just wasn't sure that she could handle it if he were to tell her... Bracing her nerves, telling herself again that it probably wasn't what she thought, she reached for her cell phone. As before, he picked up almost immediately.
"Hey sweetheart!" he greeted her enthusiastically. "I was just looking for some place quiet to call you."
"You're not at home?" she asked carefully, because she could hear a lot of background noise.
"No," Sam smiled as he moved through the crowd. "The gang wanted to blow off some post-finals steam and they dragged me along with them."
"Oh," Max muttered. "Sounds fun."
"Not really," Sam chuckled as he finally found a quiet corner. "I'd much rather be at home, thinking of you, in my bed."
"Uh huh," she murmured breathily after a moment.
"God," he groaned. "I am so hard, thinking about you right now baby."
"Sam?" she asked in a small voice.
"Yeah sweetheart?" he murmured throatily.
"Are you drunk?"
He laughed at the bemusement in her voice. "Maybe just a little," he admitted. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you're in public," she giggled, "and talking to me like that. What else am I supposed to think?"
"That I miss you desperately," he retorted instantly. "And that the moment I get my hands on you, you're not leaving my bed for a week."
"You know what I think," Max uttered lowly and Sam felt his pulse quicken and his body begin to throb.
"What baby?"
"I think... you should really find someone sober to drive you home."
Sam blinked and then grinned ruefully. "All right," he conceded. "I'll just have to spend another lonely night without you."
"I know, I'm sorry," she sympathized. "But... if you need any inspiration when you get there... you should know that I just bought a new nightgown." Sam held his breath. "It's long and slinky."
"Blue?" he whispered hopefully.
"Of course," she murmured. "With black lace and a slit that runs clear up to my thigh."
"Oh God," he groaned again, his head thunking softly back against the wall behind him. "You're killing me here Maxie. Did you really?"
"You'll just have to wait and see," she told him impishly. "For now, get home safe, okay?"
"Okay," he agreed. "I love you."
"Love you too sweetie. Bye."
Sam whispered his own goodbye and waited until he heard her disconnect before he pulled the phone away from his ear.
"So it's another night with Rosy Palmer and her five slick sisters, huh?" Sam turned to see Dale standing a few feet away, grinning wickedly.
"Shut up," he groaned, pushing away from the wall, just slightly unsteady on his feet. Dale clapped him on the back and steered him back out into the crowd again. "Alli's ready to go. We can drop you off if you want." Sam nodded, suddenly tired. "I just don't know how you do it man," Dale mused again. At that point, Sam had no clue either.
*****
The clock ticked steadily onward. Max was trying to graciously allow Sam some sleep. At least she hoped he was sleeping. It was after eight in the morning his time and he hadn't called her yet. Everyone at Bobby's had been up for a while. They'd opened gifts and eaten breakfast. And now Max was hiding away in the bedroom, debating another phone call.
In between movies the night before, she'd tried calling him at home, but there'd been no answer. She'd wondered about it, but firmly told herself that he was just at a party. It was the season for them after all. Fidgeting nervously, she reached up to play with the pendant around her neck. Chewing the corner of her lip, she finally decided. It was Christmas, she was allowed to be excited and to call her boyfriend. She dialed his number, but it took several rings before he picked up.
Sam mumbled a groggy, "'llo?"
"Merry Christmas, sleepyhead," Max greeted him softly. "Did I wake you up?"
"Max? What time is it?"
"After eight, your time," she informed him.
"Oh yeah," he yawned. "Sorry. I was at a party last night. I didn't get home until three."
"Oh sorry," Max frowned. "I can call back later."
"No, no," Sam hastily assured her and she could hear him moving around. "Just let me get some coffee. And maybe some aspirin," he mumbled as an afterthought.
"Are you okay?" Max asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Sam muttered. "Just have a headache from lack of sleep and the amount of second hand smoke last night."
"Ah," she murmured. "Well I also wanted to thank you for everything you got me. Especially the necklace." She fingered the silver and diamond heart that was nestled in the valley between her breasts. "Its perfect."
"Oh, so you do like it," Sam sounded relieved. "I'm glad."
"I love it," Max grinned. "It's beautiful. And it actually goes great with the clothes that Dad bought me."
"Dad bought you clothes?" Sam repeated doubtfully and Max laughed.
"Well, the plan was that he would, but he was a little lost. So I showed him all the stuff I liked and he picked out what he liked for me out of those things."
"Okay," Sam grinned. "That sounds more like Dad."
"So I take it, that since I woke you up, you haven't gotten into your gifts yet?"
Sam could hear the enthusiasm in her voice. He poured himself a cup of coffee that had brewed automatically this morning and smiled at her impatience.
"I was just on my way to do that. So, anything I should open first?" he asked teasingly. He carried his coffee into the living room and set it on the coffee table, next to the pile of presents waiting to be opened.
"It's up to you," Max chuckled. "Just have at it."
Sam grinned as he reached for the smallest gift first. It was a cd and Sam was shocked to see that it was the very same cd that he had considered for Max, but decided to wait, since he wasn't sure if she'd like it. He told her that and they laughed over it, great minds and all. He laughed over the t-shirts she'd picked out, all with funny, witty sayings on them. The book was one he'd been meaning to get and read. He found out that she'd already read it and loved it. He was sure he would as well. Finally he was down to the last gift. He pulled it closer, but opted quickly for another sip of coffee, wishing the aspirin he'd taken would kick in.
The box he held was rectangular and not too big. Sam unwrapped it where it lay, the phone cradled between his head and his shoulder. When he got it open, the picture on the box made him smile. "A frame? Max, did you...?"
"Finally send you a picture?" she finished for him. "Yeah. What do you think?" Working on extracting the frame from the box, Sam missed how her voice had softened, the trepidation in it. He finally worked the frame free and pulled the bubble wrap that protected it free. In his hands was a studio portrait of Max, on her motorcycle, her hair draped over one shoulder as she leaned forward, smiling into the camera.
"Oh Max," he sighed. "This is nice."
"So you like them?" This time he heard the relief in her voice.
"Yeah, they're all great." He paused and tilted the frame, admiring the work. "I see you let the red dye grow out. Or did you dye it back?" he mused.
"Oh," she sounded a little startled. "Yeah. I let it grow out a while ago." Sam was about to ask how she'd convinced the photographer to let her bring the bike into the studio, when he head a knock at his door. He set the frame down and stood.
"Hang on a sec Max," he told her. "There's someone at the door."
"Oh? Where you expecting anyone?"
"Honestly, no," Sam muttered as he ambled to the door.
"Okay," Max sighed. "Why don't you call me back later? Love you."
"Love you too Max," Sam whispered as he pulled the door open.
"Hey sweetie!" an overly cheerful voice greeted.
"Hey," Sam smiled.
*****
Max stared at the phone that had just been disconnected, pain etched in every inch of her face. She felt like she couldn't breath. She heard the knock at the bedroom door, but couldn't answer. Dean poked his head in after a moment.
"Hey Maxie? Did you get ahold of Sammy?" She turned haunted eyes in his direction and Dean noted it with a momentary alarm. "Max? Is everything okay?" Slowly, she forced herself to shake her head in the negative. "Is Sam okay?" A broken sob escaped her.
"You'll have to ask his new girlfriend that," she choked out a little hysterically as the tears began to flow.
"What?" Dean hissed as he slipped into the room and pushed the door shut behind him. "Sam told you...? No! No, he wouldn't do that to you," he denied as he knelt by the bed beside her and rubbed her shoulder.
"He didn't have to tell me anything. I heard her," she hiccuped.
"Heard her where?" Dean asked, confused.
"At the apartment. She came over wh-when I was talking to him."
Dean felt a little relieved and he half-smiled. "It could have been a neighbor, you know," he pointed out.
"She called him sweetie, Dean," Max sobbed.
"Or a really... close friend?" he tried again. "Look Max, I'm sure it's not what you think. Sammy's just not the strayin' kind."
"It's not just today," Max argued, gulping in air. "I've heard her before. At the apartment and when he's out with 'friends'."
"So what?" Dean tried to joke. "He's not allowed to have any female friends?"
"It's not that," Max whispered. "He lied to me about her." She rushed on when Dean would have interrupted her. "He was with her and he told me that it was his professor. But they're all men. And that's not all. He barely tells me he loves me anymore. He's always busy doing other stuff. The other night, he was drunk. And those pictures I sent him? He thought they were 'nice'. He was more excited over the book I gave him!"
"Well," Dean began uncomfortably, feeling helpless under the onslaught of accusations against his brother. "Those pictures were nice and I'm sure he had good reason for... maybe the woman was a substitute. And you said he's been busy. It's normal to get a little distracted when things are stressful. Just because he doesn't say it all the time, doesn't mean he's stooped loving you."
Max stared at him and then shook her head mournfully. "I think I just want to be alone now please." Without bothering to wait for an answer, she scooted backwards on the bed and rolled away from him. With a sigh, Dean stood. He was sure that there had to be an explanation for all this. He left Max's room and grabbed his cell phone. There was only one way to get this sorted out.
"Hey, Merry Christmas Dean," Sam greeted as he answered the phone.
"I'd say the same," Dean grunted, "but it's not feelin' very merry here."
"What's wrong?"
"Well, Max is a little upset about a certain visitor that you had this morning. One who was calling you sweetie?"
"You mean Jess?" Sam asked with alarm. "She heard that?"
"Obviously."
"No Dean," Sam protested. "Jess is just a friend. She calls everyone sweetie. She was just here to ask me again to come to her parents place. She didn't think I should spend the day alone."
"All right," Dean accepted. "And is Jess who you were with when you told Max you were meeting with your professor, who is supposed to be a male, by the way?"
"What?" Sam scowled, trying to figure out what Dean was referring to. "Oh wait... Donna?"
"Uh huh," Dean muttered dryly.
"No Dean," Sam warned again. "She was helping me with Max's birthday gift."
"And you couldn't have just told Max that?" Dean groaned, exasperated.
"Well I was trying to keep it a surprise for her. That part at least," Sam explained. "I mailed one part of it, so she'd actually have something on her actual birthday."
"Okay," Dean grinned. "I'll make sure we get it. Oh, but speaking of gifts, she was a little put out that you didn't go nuts over those pictures she sent you."
"Pictures?" Sam questioned. "No, there was just one. Her and her motorcycle."
"Oh there you go," Dean laughed. "There was another one, with kittens. A little too cutesy for my taste. But you might like it."
"I must have missed it," Sam fretted, moving over to the coffee table where he'd left everything. He picked up the frame box, but it was empty. He noticed that nestled underneath it was a manila envelope. "Got it," he announced, picking it up. A business card from the photography studio was stapled to the outside and Sam glanced over it. "Hey, I was going to ask you Dean, have you guys figured out when Max is coming? Last time I asked, she said that you guys still haven't figured out an exact date." He pulled out several sheets and as Dean had said, the one on top was Max, seated on the floor with a lap full of kittens, while the one that she held was nuzzling at her chin. She was wrinkling her nose and smiling widely. "Ah," Sam sighed. "That is so adorable!"
"Uh huh. What'd I tell you?" Dean chuckled. "Anyway, it won't be the first, since Dad and I have plans for her birthday. And we'll need some time to drive down, so..." Sam let his brother ramble as he flipped through to the next picture and gaped a little before smiling. There was his girl, posing on the beach. It looked like she was half undressed to get ready for swimming. Her shirt already off, revealing a silky black bikini top. She was pushing off her jean cut-offs, the high strap of the bottoms just visible.
"Excellent!" Sam breathed out.
"Oh, you think so?" Dean asked. "I thought you'd be disappointed."
"What's to be disappointed about?" Sam grinned, his eyes raking over his girlfriend's sun-kissed flesh.
"Oh well great," Dean replied happily. "I thought you wanted her there sooner, but if you're willing to wait until after my birthday, that's terrific!"
"What!" Sam snapped upright. "Dean I never said-!" He was cut off by his brother's laughter.
"That'll teach you to not pay attention," he snorted and Sam sighed and relaxed.
"So what did you say?"
"I said the fourth, is that okay?"
"Ugh," Sam groaned. "I wish she was here right now!"
Another chuckle. "Easy there tiger. Although you might want to let her know that. She's not really feelin' the love."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I figure it's cause you're such a candy ass when it comes to the PDA's," Dean teased. "But you could try telling her a little more often dude."
"I tell her I love her," Sam protested.
"Apparently you haven't as much, lately."
Sam furrowed his brow, trying to remember. "Well maybe there've been a few times I haven't said it. But that doesn't mean that I don't."
"I know."
"I mean, geeze Dean, I've literally been counting down the seconds until she gets here. It's..." he trailed off as he flipped to the next picture. The blue nightgown. Max in the nightgown, on a bed, turned toward him, her leg visible to the thigh as she stared intently at the camera. "Oh my God. I love her so much!" He laughed, a little shocked at what he was seeing, but thrilled all the same. "She is so awesome," he spoke more to himself and was startled when Dean groaned disgustedly.
"Yeah, I'm fully aware of the amazingness of Max. I don't need to hear it again."
"Sorry Dean," he offered contritely. There was one more picture left and Sam slid the sultry photo aside, only to be greeted with one that had his jaw dropping, his heart pounding and his cock throbbing. There was Max, in a shower stall... nude. True, she had her arms up, pressed against the wall and she was covered and the picture was from the hips up, but he could still see the bottom swell of her breasts. Her gaze was heavy lidded, looking... Sam inhaled harshly as he grabbed the manila envelope and looked over the card again. Donald Griffith, owner and proprietor, he read and for the first time in his life, saw red through a dangerously green haze. "Dean. Put Max on the phone!"
"Well," Dean hesitated. "I should probably talk to her first and-!"
"No! Right now!" Sam's voice was strangled and could barely form the words. Dean was obviously surprised by his brother's tone as he agreed. Sam heard a muffled conversation that took several minutes. It didn't help as he stared at the picture, Max looking as though she'd been thoroughly... satisfied.
"Sam?" her voice was breathy and hesitant and it did absolutely nothing to help his body's agitated state.
"I don't know whether I should handcuff you to my bed," he informed her heatedly, "or spank the daylights out of you. I'm tempted to do both!"
"Sam? What-?"
"When I asked you for a picture, that's what I meant," Sam growled. "I didn't mean for you to go parading around half-naked in front of some creep who was probably-!"
"Sam! What are you talking about?"
"These pictures you sent me," he grunted.
"You mean the ones that Erin took?" she clarified.
"Aaron?" Sam cried out. "There were two of them?" The jealousy boiled in him as he seethed.
"Two what?" Max wondered, mystified at his anger.
"Two men!" Sam snapped. "Oh my God! Who else has seen these?"
"Sam, I don't... wait, no! Erin, as in E-R-I-N. A woman!"
"But the card said..." Sam trailed off.
"Wait, you thought...? Oh no Sam. Donald is Erin's brother. He owns the actual store, but the studio is Erin's. She does all the photography."
Sam felt his anger deflate slightly. "Maxie, I'm sorry baby," he sighed. "It's... just the thought of some guy..."
"You were jealous?" she cried out, sounding astonished.
"Of course I was," Sam spoke rapidly. "I mean, you're gorgeous Max. And there you are, traveling around, meeting new people all the time and I..."
"But it's not like I'd ever get a chance to get to know them, even if I wanted to," she defended. "Not like you."
Sam felt something melting inside of him. "Max, there is not one person I've met here, let alone a woman, that can hold a candle to you sweetheart."
"And you've had my heart for so long that there wouldn't be any part of it left for anybody else," she countered.
"God Max," Sam groaned, looking again at the shower scene picture, now able to enjoy it for what it was meant as. "I feel like I'm gonna burn up, I want you so badly. The fourth can't come soon enough."
"Oh? Is that what was decided on?" Max asked archly.
"Dean didn't tell you?"
"No," Max chuckled softly. "He was busy telling me that I had nothing to worry about."
"You don't, you know," Sam reassured her. "I mean, honestly, and I'm not telling you this to make you jealous, but there've been a few women who were... uh..."
"Pursuing you?" Max asked, somewhat bemused.
"Yeah and if they wouldn't back off, then my friends would chase them off."
"Really?" Max giggled. "Why would they do that?"
"Well, they're so interested in my 'mystery woman', that they don't want anything to happen to us before they get a chance to meet you," Sam explained with a broad smile.
"Well, those are some nice friends," Max grinned. "I just hope they won't be too disappointed when they finally do meet me."
"Oh no," Sam denied. "They're gonna love you. In fact, I think they already do, in a way. Man, with the way they're always teasing me about you."
"Oh no," Max giggled again. "What do they say?" she asked as she made herself comfortable on the bed. Dean, completely forgotten by his siblings, watched for a moment before leaving, smiling wistfully. They were already too busy reconfirming what he already knew. However rocky their start, these two were just made for each other.
RTD14- A Cordial Cowboy
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