Unexpected

Part 11: Hello Again

"Wow...that's rough." Looking left, Max smiles as he finds her standing next to him, arms crossed and a slight grin on her face. "You know, despite your idiotic ideas- there is a bit of chivalry behind them sometimes."

"Georgia..." He smiles widely and hugs her as tight as he can.

"I would've thought you'd learn not to step in front of guns after the numerous victims that come into your hospital." She teases as therms stare at Reynolds performing surgery on him.

"I never was a fast learner."

"Now we both know that's not true." From the observation deck, they watch all the nurses and surgeons work together. Machines beep, but it doesn't bother Max. "You have a pretty good team down there."

"The best."

"Deflated lung. Knicked left ventricle. Your luck just never fully runs out. Does it?"

"Well...it was worth it." He says as the watch Reynolds move about his chest cavity.

"Was it? What about Luna?"

"Luna doesn't want me. She's better off with your parents." Georgia wraps an arm around his and rests her head on his shoulder.

"What about her?" Georgia nods down to the window of the sanitizing room- where Helen impatiently waits with tears in her eyes and her hands just covering her mouth.

"She doesn't want me either. She's better off with Cassian."

"Oh Max...you really are a slow learner." Georgia sighs and pulls from him. Sitting on the windowsill- her back to the glass, she looks at him longingly. "She loves you- you idiot. She's always loved you and you her."

He looks down- ashamed of the truth.

"You don't need to hide it- I'm glad you found someone who is on the same page as you and who will push you to better yourself and not just the hospital. I could never do that. So it's okay, Max."

"I just...I keep failing."

"You're not failing. Your just frustrating her with your inability to make up your mind."

"My...mind?"

"You said to me a while ago you were letting me go...but you never did. Max, look at me- I'm here because you have a choice you have to make. A big choice and it doesn't involve choosing all of the above."

"I don't understand."

"You have two options here. Stay...with me. Or go with her. Right now, Reynolds is nearly ready to throw in the towel on you. You're giving him nothing to work with. If you love her. Truly love her and Luna- then go and fight for them...but if you're tired and you don't think you can do it—then stay with me. But Max- you're losing time and once that happens- you won't have a choice any more." Georgia rubs her hands up and down his shoulders and smiles at him. "You aren't a quitter, Max. Never were. So why start now?"

"But what if I'm not enough? What if I..."

"You are enough." Turning away from the window, Max finds his little sister- as she was on her last happy day- sitting in a chair looking at him.

"L...Luna..."

"Hi, Max. I just thought I'd say hi before you go."

"But what if I stay? What if I stay with you and Georgia and we..."

"Big brother....you know you can't."

"B...but I miss you and it's better for them if I..."

"Are you insane?" Adele come scootering in towards them and he smiles warmly. "You have so much left to give- Max. So much left to do to rebuild the system."