Sam and max stories

Tears and Fears

Art by not_a_brony_aka_ponygirlmlp on instagram

Max woke up again.

He sat up straight, in a cold sweat, like almost every other night.
Ever since he found his way to this timeline almost three weeks ago, he had been having recurring nightmares. All the same, looking up into the sky and seeing that star...

Most nights, Max would just look down to the lower bunk, panicked, to see if Sam was still there, and he always was, curled up and sleeping soundly. Max would then smile in relief and calm down enough to fall back asleep.

But this time was different. When Max woke up and sat up, he accidentally banged his head on the ceiling with a loud thunk. "OWW!" he rubs his head. The thunk and yelling woke up Sam, who quickly sat up and got out of bed. "Max?" he looked up at Max, who was still rubbing his head. "Oops, sorry, I guess I sat up too fast, hehe." Max smiles. Sam winces. "Ouch, Do you need ice, or a Tylenol or something?" Sam asks. Max shakes his head. "Nah, I didn't hit it that hard." Sam nods. "Okay, if you say so." he started to get back in his bunk. Max thinks for a little bit. "Wait..." Sam pauses and looks at him. Max carefully gets up and slides down the rope, looking at sam. "Can... Can I sleep with you tonight?" Sam smiles gently. "Sure." Sam gets back into bed, max following. He snuggles up to Sam gently. Sam puts an arm around him, kissing his head. "Night little buddy." max smiles and blushes. "Night sam." Sam falls back asleep. Max takes in the situation, with Sam holding him so gently, he feels warm and safe. He falls back asleep and remains so for the rest of the night.

A few nights later, Max asks to sleep with him again, hoping that he'll stay asleep the whole night. Sam of course agrees and they fall asleep in each other's arms again.

Unfortunately this didn't work.

Max wakes up again, sitting up. This also wakes up Sam, who sit's up as well. "Woah, max, what's wrong?" Max just looks at him, shaking, before hugging him tightly. Sam holds him gently. "Max...?"
Max remains clinging to him like a magnet to a fridge, just breathing shakily. Sam keeps holding him, until he hears sniffling, looking down. Max was crying.
Max weeps gently into him. Sam holds him tighter. "Oh, little buddy..." he says gently. Max remains in Sam's arms, crying gently, and Sam keeps comforting him.

Once Max calms down enough, he looks Sam in the eyes. "Max.. what's wrong?" Sam says softly. Max takes his hands gently. "I... I have nightmares... about you..." he tears up again, falling back into his arms "I-" he sniffles. "D-don't, Wanna say it..." Sam gasps. "Oh..." then he nods, understanding. He holds Max gently, comforting him. "Shhh... it's okay max.. I'm right here... I'm alive..." he kisses max's head. Max nods gently. "I-I know.." he said through more sniffles.

Once Max calms down enough to speak again, he looks at Sam with a little smile. Sam strokes his head. "Sometimes I have nightmares too..." Max's eyes widened. "Y-you do?" he was surprised at that, ever since max found him, he seemed just like normal... Sam nodded. "Yeah... sometimes I'm standing, looking at lady liberty, all alone for eternity..." he hugs him gently. "I'm so glad you came back, max...I was so scared... I thought I was never gonna see you again..." he started to tear up as well. "I felt like such a failure..." Max gently took his face in his hands.

"You aren't a failure Sam... in my eyes, you are the opposite." Max smiles brightly. Sam smiles back gently, hugging him. "I love you max... so much..." Max smiled gently. "I love you too Sam, and nothing can ever make me stop." Sam nuzzles him. "Thank you..." Max pulls back, tilting his head to kiss him softly on the lips. Sam kisses back, holding his waist gently and lying back down. Max pulls back after a bit, looking in his eyes. "Goodnight Sam..." Sam strokes his cheek gently. "Sleep well little buddy." The two fall back asleep in each other's arms and sleep peacefully, not a nightmare in sight.