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 Sixteen
Getting To Know You
The phone chirped again as he picked it up and he noted that he'd missed several calls and that there were two voice mails. He retrieved them and waited, a smile on his face, until he heard his brother's panicked voice. Fear clenched at his heart and his gut. 'Please God,' he silently chanted to himself, hoping that the second message would tell him that everything was well. But it inly scared him worse. The time index indicated that the second call had been awhile ago. What the hell had Dean been muttering about? He dialed Dean's number, his mind whirling with a spate of confused questions.
"Hey Sammy," Dean greeted as he answered his phone. The cheerfulness of his brother's tone eased the fear just a fraction.
"Dean! Is Max-!"
"She's okay," his brother hastened to assure him. "She's worn out and emotional, but otherwise, okay."
Sam sagged against the counter as relief poured through him. "Dean, what the hell happened? I couldn't make anything out of your messages."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Dean gave an apologetic and rueful chuckle. "This morning has been screwed to hell and back. How come you didn't call me back until now?"
"Tower problems," Sam answered tersely. "I just got service back."
"You didn't answer the other phone either."
"I haven't been home most of the morning," Sam sighed. "And when I was, I had the music on while I was working. I um, probably didn't hear it."
"So it was just bad timing, huh?"
"I guess," Sam shrugged. "Dean, you said that Max is here. Where exactly?"
"Uh, currently at a motel," Dean replied evasively. Sam's eyes fluttered shut.
"Dean? What happened?" He heard his brother sigh and then he launched into a swift explanation of what had occurred An explanation that had Sam sweating under his breath. When his brother finished, he whispered, "she doesn't trust me."
"Dude!" Dean complained. "Look at it from Max's point of view. Jess was there, ion a nightgown, and that girl told me herself, she was down right nasty. Max told me when I first talked to her that she was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but Jess pretty much blew her out of the water. Plus there's the fact that you have lied to her in the past. Like that other woman, uh..."
"Donna," Sam supplied bitterly. "About her Dean..."
"Don't worry," Dean soothed. "Jess explained your little project to me."
"She did?" Sam asked with alarm.
"Yeah, she wanted to still try and keep it a surprise for Max. So she told me so that I could help her cover."
"Oh, okay," Sam nodded slowly. "So, uh, what do you think of it?"
"Dude," Dean snorted. "She's gonna go nuts. She'll love it."
"I hope so," Sam smiled.
"I know so," Dean countered. Sam pursed his lips in contemplation. Once again, his brother had helped him see the light. He supposed he really couldn't blame Max for thinking as she did. He knew Jess. She was a very intense and passionate person when it came to defending something she believed in.
"You're right Dean," he gave in.
"Of course I am," Dean snorted and then paused. "About what?"
Sam laughed. "It's not Max's fault," he began, but Dean interrupted
"It's no one's fault," he stressed. "Just a situation where a few wires got crossed. But we're straightening things out now. And as soon as they're done, we'll head your way and you two can have the Hallmark card reunion you've been dreaming of."
"Oh no!" Sam started. "No Dean, I've still got stuff to do! Can't you stall her?"
"Sam, she won't care. It's the thought that counts, right?"
"Please Dean," Sam begged. "I just want things to be perfect. It won't take long." He glanced up at the wall clock, mentally calculating. "Can you give me until two?"
Dean quickly mulled it over. "All right," he conceded. "We'll see you at two this afternoon."
*****
"So, uh..." Jess fidgeted as she stood, just inside the door to the motel room. "We didn't really, uh, get off on the right foot this morning." The glare that Max threw her way was so scornful and scathing that Jess edged backwards, just a little. She swallowed convulsively and tried to gather her courage. "I don't suppose there's any way that we could just forget what happened this morning and start over, is there?" Max glanced away, her arms crossing, her body tense. She hadn't promised Dean anything and she was not about to make any of this easy for the other woman. "So, I'm Jess," she introduced herself.
"Well great," Max snorted and tossed her hair back over her shoulder. "Now that we're no a first name basis, we can get together and have pajama parties and braid each others hair and share all our secrets!"
Jess flinched, but saw her opening. "That's the thing though. This morning, I thought you were someone else."
"Oh my God,' Max groaned, her eyes rolling up a little. "How many girls-!"
"Oh that didn't come out right," Jess grunted. "Okay, let me make this clear. Sam has never cheated on you. Not with me, or any other girl."
"So the reason you felt compelled to convince me that he had, was what? You're a drama major and your teacher won't pass you until you prove that you can make your audience really feel it? Well bravo," Max clapper her hands and then held up both thumbs. "A plus performance."
"Okay, I deserve that," Jess sighed. "But if you knew the girl that I thought you were, then I think you'd think that it was... justifiable."
"And just who is this other woman you keep referring to?" Max demanded.
"Monique Fournier," Jess answered promptly. Max arched an eyebrow.
"And she is?"
"A real pain in the ass," Jess grinned, since Max seemed to have relaxed her grip on her anger slightly. "Let me start at the beginning," Hess sighed. "Monique started here last fall semester. And instantly, she started going after Sam. But he wasn't interested," Jess hastened to assure Max. "He never has been. I mean, there wasn't just Monique." She winced at how bad this was seeming, but bravely continued on anyways. "So, trying to get him, she pulled about every trick you can think of. But Sam... well, he was polite and all, but he tried to make it clear to her that he really didn't want anything to do with her. But Monique, unlike the others, never lost interest. The more he pushed her away, or avoided her, pretty much anything he did, just made her chase him all the harder."
Max chewed on her lower lip, her eyes darkening. "Why didn't he tell me?" Jess shrugged.
"Well at first, there was nothing to tell. Maybe he figured that she'd find somebody else to harass. And later, well he told me that he didn't want to upset you. But anyways, it was getting so bad that somebody would always hang out with him, whenever he went out, just to run interference, to keep her away from him or provide an excuse so that he could leave. But then, there was another girl, she's been in our study group a few times, Ronnie. Well, she started a rumor that Sam and I were dating secretly. That we weren't public for a lot of reasons. I don't know if she was trying to help Sam because she liked him, or if she was trying to get rid of Monique or what. Sam and I were kind of the last to know, you know?"
Max just shook her head helplessly. "Why didn't he just tell her about me?"
"He did!" Jess exclaimed. "Over and over again. But the thing was Max, there were rumor going around about you too."
"About me?" Max gasped, startled. Jess nodded and moved to take a seat on the bed.
"See, Sam did talk about you. Not much at first. I mean, I know now that he's a pretty private person. But when no one ever saw you and you never visited him, well some people thought that he'd just made you up."
"Made me up?" Max echoed incredulously. Jess nodded once.
"Yeah. Everyone used to tease him about his 'mystery woman'. I mean, we still do, but its all in fun."
Max glanced down at herself. "Gotta say, Sam has got one hell of an imagination." Jessica laughed and the tension finally seemed to melt away. "So you thought I was Monique this morning?" Max clarified for herself and Jess nodded. "But how did you get us mixed up?"
"Well, I've only ever seen Monique from quite a distance," Jess explained. "You two look quite a bit alike. Plus, there's the fact that Sam said you were a redhead."
"I was," Max chuckled wryly. "The last time he saw me, that is. I let it grow out a while ago."
"So you see," Jess made a face, "I thought I was doing you a favor. I thought I could capitalize on that rumor about Sam and I and scare her off for at least long enough for you to get here and settle in and be warned about her before you had to deal with her."
"Okay, duly warned then," Max smiled. "And believe me, I will not forget about her."
"Good, I'm glad," Jess smiled as well. "I really don't like her!" Max laughed at the ferociousness the other girl put into her statement.
"Okay," Max sobered up slightly. "That explains this morning, but it begs the question-!"
"What was I doing there so early and in my nightgown?" Jess concluded swiftly and Max nodded. "Well, I had gone to my parents house for Christmas. And that was me, by the way, Christmas day? I had invited Sam to come with me. I didn't like the idea of him spending the day alone. I stopped by again to see if he'd changed his mind. But he hadn't. Anyway, when I got back to my apartment, I found a notice on my door that our floor was scheduled to be fumigated, starting on the twenty-seventh."
"That's not a lot of notice," Max wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"That's what I thought," Jess crowed. "And then I found out that my roommate forgot," she made air quotes, "to tell me when we got our first notice. I would have gone back to my parents, but it's too long of a commute fr me to get to work."
"So Sam offered to let you stay?"
"Like the sweetheart that he is." They both smiled at that.
"Sam always says that I'm too impatient for my own good," Max informed her impishly.
"But you can see why I didn't let you in this morning? If Monique had seen the blankets on the couch, then she'd have known for sure that Sam and I weren't dating."
Max shook her head in amusement and then sighed. "I wonder why Sam never showed you my picture."
"Sam has pictures of you?" Jess shrieked softly. "That brat! He always said that you were extremely camera shy! We used to beg to see pictures of you."
"Oh well," Max shrugged. "I just sent these this past Christmas. And they were pretty... personal. Some of them."
Jess' eyes widened as she caught the implication. "Oh, he must keep them in the bedroom... or something." They laughed again. "I really am sorry about this morning," Jess whispered a little shyly.
"Well, you were trying to protect my turf, so, apology accepted."
"Shall we try it again?" Jess impishly held out her hand. "Jessica Moore, student, bodyguard and hopeful friend."
"Max Guevara, girlfriend, send me a resume and I think you've got a deal." The two shook hands solemnly and then collapsed on the bed, laughing.
Dean found them that way a moment later, his eyes softening as he beheld the massive turnaround in his sister's mood."So I take it that you two got everything worked out?" he asked happily. Max nodded and sat up.
"Yeah. For once you aggressive, confrontational manner came in very handy."
"Yeah, I do have my uses," Dean agreed, with his eyes twinkling. "Many and varied."
"But you're mostly a pain in the ass," Max teased.
"Hey," Dean pouted mockingly. "And after I broke into Sam's and defended your honor, you still say that?"
Max's eyes grew large. "Oh Dean! You didn't?"
"He did," Jess confirmed with a grin. "Scared me enough that I was about to call the police. Until I figured out who he was, of course. And that reminds me. How did you both get in so easily? The building's supposed to be secure." Dean and Max exchanged glances.
"Walk fast and act like you belong," Max quipped. "Some guy was just coming out the door when I got there. You know, I still had my bike keys in my hand. That guy probably figured they were apartment keys and that I was okay, that I lived there too." Dean laughed and the girls' eyes swung to him.
"That's pretty much how I got in too. So much for that security." Jess goggled at them.
"I'm sorry," she gasped and then giggled. "Sam told me that early on, Monique got into the building when e was at class."
"Oh no," Max groaned.
"Yeah," Jess nodded. "She convinced the apartment manager that she had to deliver a package that was for Sam, except he wasn't home. SO he let her in. Unfortunately for her, he followed her up to Sam's apartment. According to the manager, she tried to convince him to let her into Sam's apartment, but he wouldn't allow it. He took the box she had and said that he'd see to it that Sam got it. And then he sent her on her way."
"Well thank goodness some people have some common sense around there," Max chuckled.
"What was in the box?" Dean asked, equally amused. Jess pursed her lips, her eyes dancing.
"A slinky nightgown, some candles. You know. Everything she'd need to plan a seductive evening."
"Oh no she didn't," Max growled, her face tightening. "I can see why you were talking harassment charges."
"I wonder why Sam never did," Dean mused.
"Well," Jess interjected, "he had our friend Diane take the box back to Monique and tell her not to try anything like that again. She got the message. Every time after that, she had a legitimate seeming excuse to be around Sam."
"You're gonna have to watch out for this one Max," Dean teased his sister and then turned to Jessica. "I'm sure she's up to the challenge though. I have never met a more devious mind than hers."
"Yeah," Max teased right back. "I've already devised seven scenarios in which to happily and permanently remove this woman from Sam's life."
"And how many of those include murder?" Dean asked cheekily as Max looked surprised.
"All of them," she snorted with a grin. "I said permanently, didn't I?" Dean and Jess laughed as Max wiggled her eyebrows at them.
"No, but seriously Max," Jess sighed, "I really don't think that Monique will be a problem. She can only get between you and Sam if you guys let her."
"So just don't let her," Dean finished.
"Yes," Max agreed mildly. "And now speaking of going and getting and Sam... can we please?" She made to move to the door, but Dean stalled her.
"Hold up," he warned. "I just talked to Sammy and h's not ready yet." Max made a face. "I mean, his surprise isn't ready yet," he amended.
"I don't care about that," Max huffed. "I just want to see him."
"See, I told him that you'd say that," Dean pointed out reasonably. "But Max, he's been working on this surprise for a while and he really wants everything to be perfect... for you. Do you really want to ruin that?" Max stared at him, indecisiveness flickering over her face.
"No!" she finally burst out. "Argh!"
"Okay," Dean grinned, "so here's what I figure. Sammy only needs a few more hours. And since I was so cruelly denied breakfast this morning, i am just starving. So I was wondering if you two lovely ladies would like to join me for lunch?" He held out his hand to help Jess up from the bed and Max had to smother a grin. Now that her angst hour was over, Dean was certainly back to spreading the cheer, just like Sam had said.
"I know a little diner, not far from here," Jess informed him with a sunny smile on her face. "If you don't mind."
"As long as it's edible, then anything is fine with me," Dean assured her with a wink. Max couldn't hide her grin that time. None of Sam's single friends of the female persuasion were safe with his big brother in town. She wondered if she should say something to Jess. Maybe if it looked like anything was developing. Otherwise, Jess was a big girl, she could handle herself.
Dean went out to the Impala to grab his duffel bag and returned swiftly, stowing it just inside the door. He then led the girls back out to the car. He artfully got Jess, who had opted to sit in the backseat, to talk about herself and the college courses she was taking. For one reason, it saved him from answering questions about this life that he'd rather not divulge. And for the other reason, it made him look like a great listener, which chicks really dug. Jess directed them to the diner and led them in as Dean held the door open for them. They picked out a table and seated themselves. A waitress came over and greeted Jess by name.
"Hey Alli," Jess grinned. "I didn't know you were working today."
"Just some extra shifts over winter break," the woman explained. "Never too early to start paying off the Christmas shopping spree credit card madness."
Jess nodded and then gestured to Alli. "Guys, this is Allison Michaels, also a friend of Sam's." Max recognized the name and grinned up at the woman. "Alli, this is Sam's brother, Dean. And this, is Max."
Allison's eyes grew wide and she squealed softly. "Sam's Max?" she clarified and Max nodded. She was about to stand up and offer her hand to the woman, but Allison threw herself over and hugged max. "Oh it's so great to meet you finally!" she exclaimed and then straightened up. "We didn't think you were getting here until tomorrow. Oh Sam's been so excited!"
"And he's apparently not the only one," Dean commented with a wry grin and Allison blushed.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's nice to meet you as well. It's just that lately, all Sam ever talks about is Max."
"Boy, I'm really feeling the love here," Dean pouted. All three women laughed at him.
"Face it Dean," Max taunted, "it's 'cause I'm prettier."
"Yeah, yeah," Dean groused. "But just wait until you get settled here and everyone figures out what a brat you are. Then talk will turn to Sam's dashing, mysterious, older brother."
"And who would that be?" Max retorted instantly. "John have some illegitimate sons running around out there?"
"Bite your tongue missy miss!" Dean grunted. "Oh, speaking of Dad, I should call him."
"And tell him what?" Max puzzled. "Thanks to your successful efforts to subvert me from my mission, I'm not settled yet. And besides, he's probably still busy helping Caleb with whatever it was he needed."
Dean debated that for a moment, before returning his phone to his coat. "You're right, I'll call him later. So Allison? What would you recommend?"
They spent a long lunch, regaling each other with funny and sometimes embarrassing tales of their youth. And Max had any worried about Jess and Dean relieved. Towards the end of the meal, Dean excused himself from the table. Jess leaned towards Max as they watched him for a moment.
"Dean's quite the flirt, isn't he?" Jess whispered conspiratorially.
"I'd say it was second nature for him, but it's not," Max sighed. " He was born that way."
Jess giggled and then sighed. "I've seen his type before. Way too many times. Great to have fun with, but just not in it for the long haul. Too bad though. He's really cute."
"I don't know," Max drawled, consideringly. "He's always just been Butt-head to me." They laughed and then Max asked, "So I know Dean figured out pretty quickly that you're not seeing anyone. But, and I'm getting personal here, would you be interested in the long haul?"
"Some days," Jess shrugged, "not really. Other days yeah. I guess it just depends on my mood. I know every time I hear Sam talk about you, I keep thinking, I want a love like that."
"What's so great about Sam and I?" Max frowned. "We're just a normal couple."
"Right," Jess rolled her eyes. "Do you know, you and Sam are the only surviving long distance relationship in our year?" It's true," Jess continued when Max exhibited surprise. "You guys are like, the relationship standard around here." Max laughed and Jess looked on indulgently.
"What's so funny?" Dean asked as he returned to is seat.
"I was just trying to educate Max on the ind and outs of campus romances." Dean frowned as Max shook her head.
"I'm sorry," she directed to Jess, "but all this... whatever... over Sam and I? It just seems so... so..."
"Soap operish?" Jess grinned. "No it's worse. There's no drama here. Just melodrama baby," she snorted. "And sadly, by my actions this morning, I too have succumbed." She bowed her head mockingly, sending Max off into gale of laughter again.
"Well, if you drama queens are ready," Dean teased as he reached for the bill, "it's time for the last act."
That announcement galvanized Max into action. She grabbed her coat and jumped up from her seat. She went to say goodbye to Alli, for now, while Dean paid the bill. She clambered into the car and fidgeted while Jess and Dean settled themselves in. Once Dean got going, it took Max a few blocks to realize that they were headed in the wrong direction.
"Uh Dean?" she gestured out the window. "The apartment is that way."
"I know."
"Well shouldn't we go that way?"
"If that's where your surprise was, we would. But it's not."
"So where are we going?"
"That's a good question," Dean nodded and caught Jess' eye in the rear view mirror. Max completely missed the wink.
"You don't know where you're going?" she demanded shrilly.
"Calm down Max," Jess chuckled, taking pity on the girl. "That's what I'm here for."
"Oh, okay," Max replied sheepishly and then took a deep breath. "Oh! Oh, I should have something for him!" she exclaimed.
"Like what?" Dean squawked indignantly.
"I don't know," Max mumbled. "Flowers or chocolates or... something."
"Hey Max," Dean reached over to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "Remember, this is the rest of your birthday gift. You don't need to have anything for Sam. Besides, I'm sure that all he wants is you."
Max smiled and squeezed back. "You're right," she sighed. "Sorry. I'm just so nervous. It's been so long..."
"And it's just a few blocks more," Jess added happily. "You'll want to take the next right Dean."
He complied and Max noted that they'd entered another suburb. Was Sam throwing her a party at someone's house? Or maybe this was the way out to the lake, she wasn't sure. Dean made a quick left and they found themselves on a car lined street, full of small one-level homes. Dean slowed and Max felt her heartbeat pick up.
"There!" Hess said excitedly, pointing to the right. Dean pulled in at the curb and shut the vehicle off. They were parked behind a small blue Honda Civic. Max turned to ask Dean what was going on, but he was smiling and waving at someone out the window. With an excited gasp, Max whirled in her seat and saw Sam, seated on the steps of the porch of the house, in front of which they were parked. He stood up even as she pushed the door open and climbed out.
The door was left to hand open as she rushed up the walk into his open arms. Sam was so exuberant to have her there at last, that he swung her around. When her feet landed on the ground, Max tilted her chin up, her ands around his neck as he bent to meet her, his hands at her waist, pulling her as close to him as physically possible as they greeted one another after the longest of absences.
The pair in the car watched all of this, mesmerized by the long anticipated reunion. It did not disappoint. There was a sniffle and then, "awww!"
"You know," Jess chuckled, "for all your macho man charisma Dean, I think you're just a big old softie."
"I am not," Dean scoffed.
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not! But, you know, who could resist the...," he gestured at the lovers.
"No one," Jess agreed solemnly, her eyes still glued to Sam and Max and the picture they made.
"I mean, my little brother and Max and the... awww!"
"Told you so," Jess chuckled.
"Okay fine!" Dean snorted and then grinned cockily back at her when she looked at him. "But if you say a word, I will deny it to my dying day!"
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
RTD17- Reunited
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