MaxNeil Oneshots

To protect her

Inspired by two true stories

Contains death

No P.O.V.

David was busy cutting wood for the fireplace, it was Christmas Eve night, and Max was inside playing with Hazel and Alexin by the already blazing flame. Neil, unfortunately, was forced to work that night, his boss not very liberal considering the holidays. He was however sure to spend the early hours with his fiancé and daughter. Their dinner was finished, left out as neither bothered to wash the dishes, both Max and David wanting to spend time together by a warm fire and play games with the newest member of their family. Max let Hazel outside to keep David company as he headed upstairs to his old bedroom to change Lexi's diaper and put her into some pjs. The red head pet their dog and continued his work, a bright smile on his face as he reminisced on how thankful he was for his family. Today was truly a perfect day for him. Suddenly though, that illusion was about to be harshly ripped away by the unfair jaws of uncertainty.

Max ran out of the house quickly, soot covering his face and hands. "DAVID!" He yelled, "CALL THE POLICE! THERE WAS AN INTRUDER AND HE STARTED A FIRE! LEXI'S STILL IN THERE!" David went pale and ran as fast as he could back into the house, fishing out his phone to call 911 with Max close behind. The stairs were completely engulfed in flames as the man tried to make his way up them; it was too hot though, and they were yanked out of the building as soon as firefighters arrived. The blaze was taken care of fairly easily, having only affected a small section of the house. David was overwhelmed with relief as they pulled out a crying bundle. She continued to wail as she was checked over by medics. The child was lucky to only suffer nothing more than 2nd degree burns. David could see the fear in the infant's eyes as he held her, a medic handing her over once they were certain there were no life threatening injuries, still crying in pain.

"I'm so glad you're both are safe," he sighed, gazing back at the house and then Alexin. "Shh shh baby girl it will be okay." Hazel laid at David's feet, a small whine escaping her throat. David patted her head gaining a hesitant tail wag before looking back at his son and expression turning warm. "You handled that great Max, I'm really proud of you." Max shrugged one shoulder and fiddled with his hands, looking at the house, "I just wanted to make sure she was safe." "And you did a very good job. You'll make a wonderful parent Max. I know you will." The teen tucked some hair behind his ear thoughtfully, looking down, and nodded, "Really?" His father nodded back, "Yes. In fact, I think you already are." He tried to shush the baby once more to no avail. Poor girl, he thought, she must be so confused right now. He knew she would be okay though, and it was a miracle they'd all made it out in one piece.

"David," one of the officers called the red head over, so he handed the baby over to Max, who finally started to calm down as he cooed and cradled her in his arms. David gave a thankful smile at them for a moment, unconditionally grateful they were both safe. It didn't take a doctor to realize that if Max hadn't gotten him at that moment, Lexi wouldn't have survived. The ravenette returned it with a small reminiscently somber one. He made his way over, looking at all the burnt belongings that had been pulled out of the singed home. Max's smiled faded as he watched him go. "What is it? Did you find who did this?" He asked. "I'm afraid it's something much worse," the officer replied, "David...it's Max. He was found burnt to death laying over the baby. He apparently placed a wet cloth over her and shielded her body from the fire. If not for those actions, she definitely would have died." The cop's expression was strained and full of pity.

"What-?" David deadpanned, "no that's impossible!!" A stretcher was rolled out by paramedics beside David...on it was Max's badly charred body; completely lifeless. "B-but Max-he was-" the man exclaimed, turning around gesturing to where Max previously sat, seeing Alexin sleeping in one of her baby pillows, set securely on top of the picnic table in David's front yard. He was in pure shock at the sight. "No-No! He was the reason I called! He told me about the fire! I-I don't understand..." he stared blankly as the body was loaded into an ambulance. David felt like he was loosing his mind. He shakily walked back to his granddaughter, picking up the pillow carefully as to not disturb her. He dreaded the call he was going to have to make to Neil, telling him that Max was...no longer alive.

Speaking of phones, David felt his pockets; where could it have gone? He'd just had it! At that moment, a loud ringtone blasted from across the street. It was the ringtone David had saved for Max's calls. A man hurriedly tried to find the phone to turn it off. "H-HEY!" David yelled as the mysterious man started to run from the unwanted attention. He was easily caught by law enforcement at the scene though, and was discovered to be covered in soot, gasoline, as well as defensive marks on his face from the nails of an alleged assailed. The suspect later confessed to setting the fire so he could escape the home when Max discovered him. David always questioned how the man had gotten ahold of his phone, when he had been nowhere near the red head. Even if it was possible for the intruder to snag it, Max's phone was found destroyed among the rubble, broken beyond repair and unusable. So how did the ringtone even be able to play?