Sam and max stories

I still love you

(art by me) 

Something weird has been going on with Max lately. Ever since he came to this timeline, he hadn't been the same... He still loved to shoot stuff and they still shared witty banter on cases, but whenever Sam tried to be affectionate, Max just shrugged him off, mildly threatening him. Even Sam calling him "little buddy" got him agitated. At first, Sam just thought him and the other Sam just weren't as close as he and Max were. And he accepted that, thinking maybe he could change that. But, again, anytime he tried to get close to max, he just glared at him. It was tough on Sam not to have a limitless supply of snuggles and kisses like he used to, but he respected Max's personal space. He just had to cuddle a pillow at night. It went on like this for a few weeks, and everything seemed like it was semi fine and dandy.

But then one night... max just... snapped.

It started like any other night, they had just gotten back from a long case and were watching tv on the couch. Sam looked over at Max, who was transfixed by the tv. He scooted a little closer, and Max didn't notice. Sam smiled a little, slowly putting his arm around max. Max didn't seem bothered by it at all, he even scooted a little closer. Sam smiled more.

But his fatal mistake was letting out a contented sigh.

The noise snapped Max out of his tv daze, and he noticed Sam's arm was around his shoulder, gasping "Don't Touch me!" Max growled, yanking Sam's arm off him. Scared, Sam jumps and immediately puts his arm back. "Right.. Sorry." Max looked at sam. "Hmmph." he looked back at the tv. Sam sighs again, but this time in defeat. "Why do you never let me hold you anymore little buddy?"

The pet name causes Max to suddenly jolt, as if his heart had suddenly stopped. He slowly got off the couch. In a low voice, he said "Don't call me that." Sam gets up too. "W-why? I thought you liked being called little buddy!" Max growled. "I said, don't call me that!" His eyes looked like they were actual lava craters. Sam gets up too. "Max, please, you aren't yourself! Where's the max I know and love?" Max looks at him for a moment, then jumps and hits Sam in the chest. "He's dead." he says in that same low voice Sam tears up. "What..?" max growls more, looking him deep in the eyes.

"I hate you."

Sam's heart felt like it was physically shattering. He steps back. "W-why? What did I do?!" Max growled, his eyes metaphorically boring a hole through sam. "I HATE YOU, BECAUSE WE BOTH KNOW THIS IS JUST A SCAM!" Max yells louder, stamping his foot. Sam's voice was shaky. "S-scam..? what-"

"THE MAX YOU LOVED IS DEAD! JUST LIKE THE SAM I LOVED" " he yells, starting to cry angry/sad tears.

Suddenly, everything made sense to sam.

"Little b-buddy, i-i" "DON'T CALL ME THAT! I AM NOT YOUR MAX, AND AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT MY SAM! SO JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" he grits his teeth, hitting Sam again. Sam steps back more, tears running down his face. Max yelled one final time.

"I HATE YOU FAKE SAM! I! HATE! YOU!"

After Max finishes yelling, he closes his eyes and wipes his face with the back of his arm in an attempt to stop crying. Neither said anything more.

Sam, after what seemed like an hour of heartbroken silence, with a heavy heart, nodded. "Okay..." he said quietly. He wipes his eyes and slowly turns to leave, walking towards the door. He kept walking until he heard Max sniffling, and whispering something very quietly.

"I still love you..."

Hearing this, Sam stopped, slowly turning back to him. Max, still crying, slowly stepped forward.

"Sam.... I... I'm.... sorry..." he whispers, slowly. Sam slowly stepped forward as well. Max kept looking at the floor. "I'm sorry that... I haven't been more honest with you... about my feelings..." Sam nodded, finally speaking. "Yea...?" Max put a hand over his eyes. "And.. that I've been lying to myself... ever since we reunited..." Sam slowly tilted his head. "Lying to yourself?"

Max slowly nodded. "I... I kept telling myself that you aren't my Sam, and we didn't belong together..." he admits. Sam gasps. "Why...?" Max sighs shakily. "Because... I thought it was the truth...that I didn't want to admit, but I knew I'd have to eventually..."

Max smiles a little bit.. "But.. now, I realize that..." he slowly looks up to Sam, "it's not true at all..." he holds out his hands for Sam to take. Sam does slowly, kneeling. Max slowly presses his nose to sams. "The truth is that... even though we're from different timelines... we're still Sam and max, right?" Sam slowly nodded. "Right..." Max leans on Sam's shoulder. "And... Sam and Max are always meant to be together..." Sam nuzzles his head. Max smiles more. "And... even though we aren't each others, old partners..." he nuzzles Sam's cheek. "We're supposed to be each other's new partners, and..." he looks down again. "I kinda shrugged that off..." he hugs Sam tightly. "I should have realized sooner that... having you is better than having no partner..." Sam hugs back gently and nods. "I agree... having a little buddy by my side is much better than working alone."

(art by alicecirilla on instagram) 

Max pulls back to look in his eyes, his smile fading. "Sam, I, I'm so sorry I said those awful things to you, and hit you..." he tears up again. "I-I'm such a d*ckhead..." Sam stifled a sigh. "No, max, I understand." He takes Max by the chin gently, looking deeply into his eyes. "We both lost the one that we loved more than anything... but, you're right..." he smiled. "We can love each other now." Max nods, tearing up again.

"I love you Sam... I love you so much." Sam smiled. "I love you too max. You are my one and only little buddy." he brings Max into a deep kiss, holding him tightly. Max melts into it, wrapping his arms tightly around Sam's neck. It seemed to last for eternity.

Sam pulls back, looking deeply into Max's beautiful, sparkling eyes. "God, I've missed that." Max smiles his signature grin. "right back at ya big guy..."