Back to Fan Fictionby Rachael
Fran: Mr. Sheffield, Mr. Sheffield. Are you all right?
Max opens his eyes, his world is spinning around him. Fran looks worried. He tries to get up but his whole body aches. Fran has a towel held at his side. There is blood on the floor.
Max: Wh-What's going on?
Fran: You fainted and your stitches came loose, but it's nothing to worry about.
Max: Noth-ing to worry about? I'm bloody bleeding Miss Fine!
Fran: He's back.
He could hear the distant wail of a siren as it approached. His head ached. The paramedics run in and start to take off his shirt.
Paramedic: Ma'am could you move please?
Fran: Nah, I want to stay here for this.
Max looks at her with a "get out" look and she immediately leaves. The paramedics clean up and leave. Max gets up, but his head is pounding wildly. His wallet had fallen out of his pocket and as he bent down to pick it up, a picture fell out. It was a picture of Gracie, Maggie, Brighton and he at their first Christmas w/o Sarah. He picked it up, walked outside where there would be peace and quiet, and sat down on the stoop. His tears hit the picture slowly at first and then harder. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
Fran: Hey.
Max turned around and tried to smile.
Fran sits down beside him.
Max: I just keep thinking about that night at the movies. It rolls over again and again in my head. I think about the phone call and the shot.
Fran: Shot, what shot?!
Max (getting choked up): Right before the assailant hung up I heard someone shoot a gun. I can't help but think that it was aimed at one of my babies.
Fran looks into Max's eyes and grabs his hand.
Fran: My mother always said that you have to keep your head up high no matter what happens. She also said that snow only fell when everything was all right. Shows how much she knows. Kids dying in Somalia but it's snowing in New York, suddenly the world is singing We are Family.
Max smiles.
Fran: Hey, a smile.
Max: Yeah.
He grabs her hand tighter. He had been so numb and her hand was like a reassuring sign. Suddenly without warning she gives him a hug. He hugs her back and begins to cry into her shoulder.
Fran: Don't worry Mr. Sheffield, we'll find them.
She rubs his back and they sit hugging and comforting each other. Max never lets the picture drop out of his hands.
THE NEXT DAY...
"Ring Ring."
Niles awakens to the sound of the phone.
Niles: Who could it be this early in the morning? It's probably C.C., there was a full moon last night. Hello?-Yes. I understand.-Don't hurt the children please.-All right.
He hangs up the phone and dashes into Max's room.
Niles: Sir. Sir. Wake up!
Max: You know you're more bloody irritating than my alarm clock.
Niles: I try sir. That man just called back.
Max jumps out of bed and groans at the pain that shoots through his side and arm.
Max: What did he say?
Niles: He wants 3 million by 3:00pm today or the kids are...
He trails off.
Max: Did he give you a rendezvous?
Niles: No he said he'd call back. Also if there is any police involvement the deal's off.
Max: 3 million dollars? We better be off to the bank.
Niles: The bank is going to be suspicious if you just suddenly take out 3,000,000 dollars, don't you think?
Max: Yes, you're right it's far too risky.
Niles: What shall we do?
Max scratches his head. Then he snaps his fingers.
Max: I've got it!!!
He whispers into Niles' ear.
Two hours later.
Max: Hello-
Guy: You got my message?
Max: Yes I did.
Guy: Good. I want you to hear something
Gracie: Daddy?
Max: Sweetheart, are you all right, is anyone hurt?
Gracie: No not ye-
Guy: That's enough. If you want to ever see your kids again do as I say. Go down to the Donna Karen store. Go to the pay phone. Come with that "maid" of yours. She is beautiful! Hehe. I'll let you know what to do from there.
Max is shaking and the phone goes dead.
Max: Miss Fine!
Fran is coming down the stairs in one of her looking good outfits but he didn't have time to think of her right now.
Max: We have to go out.
Fran: He called didn't he?
Max grabs her arm and his briefcase.
Fran: Where are we-
He yanks her out the door.
They are in the Porsche.
Fran is trying to put her lipstick on, but is not succeeding.
Fran: Ya know those speed bumps are a killer when your putting make up on. Where are we going anyway?
Max: He called, told us to meet at the pay phone in front of Donna Karen.
Fran's jaw drops.
Max: Don't even think about it. Close your mouth, you're letting flies in.
They pull up at the pay phone just as it begins to ring.
Max jumps out of the car with Fran not too far behind.
Max: Hello?
Guy: Good. I almost hung up and we wouldn't want that would we?
Max: No.
Guy: Go to Central Park. South West entrance. There is a bench there. Sit on it and wait. You got the money?
Max: Yes.
Guy: Good. Now get moving. Time's a tickin. Hehehehehehehe!
'click'
Fran: Well?
Max: We have to hurry up and get to central park.
Fran: Central Park? Which entrance?
Max: South West. Now stop asking me so many questions and get in the car.
Max banged his cast against the car door an moaned. He had totally forgotten it was even there until now. They drove to Central Park and sat down on the bench together and acted like nothing was wrong. Max was trying to stay calm but every part of his body wanted to run. He had never been in this kind of situation before and never wanted to be again.
They were there for about 5 min. when a man in an oversized trench coat, dark glasses, a ski mask, and a hat came up. Nothing out of the ordinary for Central Park, actually this was close to normal.
The man came up to Max.
Guy: Are you Maxwell Sheffield?
Max: Yes.
Guy: I have something that belongs to you.
He turns around and motions to the driver of the truck that had been parked to bring them out. Max remembered that truck vividly. It was the same one from the night of the movies. Maxwell looked around but this part of the park was deserted. As he turned he felt something in his pocket. It was a 3 Musketeers bar. These must be Niles' pants, he thought to himself. He pulled the candy bar out of his pocket and shoved it under his coat. Just then he saw them. Brighton, Gracie and Maggie all three gagged and tied up but unharmed. The man turned back around to Max.
Guy: It's a shame you'll never see them again.
He pulled a gun out of his pocket. Max pushed the candy bar through his jacket which made it look like a gun.
Guy: Show me the money.
Fran: Oh that's real original.
Guy: SHUT UP!
He aims the gun at Fran.
Max: Don't even try it.
The man notices the bulge in Max's jacket and thinking it is a gun, he doesn't move. Fran shoves the suitcase at the guy. The man puts his gun down and nods at the driver. He unties the kids and they run toward their father. He gets down on bended knee and holds them close. Closer than he ever had before. "I love you daddy," is all he heard over and over again. This wasn't over yet.
Guy: Hey, there's nothing in here but newspapers!!!!
Just as he is about to pick up the gun and fire, 3 squad cars come racing around the corner and into the park.
Cop: Put your hands up. You have the right to remain silent.
Max stood there in astonishment.
Max: How did the cops know we were here?
Fran: All I have to say is don't bite into that candy bar you'll break a tooth!
Max suspiciously looks at Fran and breaks open the candy bar. Inside is a wireless mike also known as a bug and a tracer.
Max: Miss Fine!
She thought he was going to yell at her but instead he picked her up and flung her around.
Max: Thank you.
Fran: Don't just thank me. Niles had to give up his pants for you.
Max: True.
He smiles at her and then he is all over his kids again.
Max: I will never let you out of my sight again.
Maggie: There goes my social life.
Max: We'll talk about that when we get home.
Brighton: And mine too.
Maggie: You don't have one, dork breath.
Brighton: Big Bird.
Max leans over to Fran.
Max: Well, it's nice to see nothing's changed.
He rolls his eyes at Fran, puts his good arm around her and walks away with the kids as the man is wrestled to the ground.
1 week later...
The kids are playing chess while Niles, Max, and Fran are talking.
Max: I thought those pants were a little big, but I figured maybe I was just losing weight and then when I saw the Musketeer's bar I knew they were yours.
Niles: Thank you sir for that vote of confidence. Why don't you just stab me through the heart and... Miss Fine, don't let your mother come over here anymore.
Fran: Ah Hah.
Niles leaves the room.
Max walks into his office with Fran close behind.
Max: Thank you again, for saving my children. I can never repay you.
Fran: I can think of one way..nah Niles is in listening distance.
Max kisses Fran passionately. They hug.
Maggie from the other room: BRIGHTON STOP CHEATING.
Max: I think as long as your here everything will be all right. Come on let's go see what all the commotion is about.
He puts his arm around Fran and they walk over to the kids.
Fran looks up. Maybe Ma isn't so stupid after all, she thought to herself. Outside the first flurries of snow had begun to fall.
THE END
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