Maxine Vanes

Sam listened silently as she spoke, following her lead when it came to looking out at the water. She knew an audience made saying it out loud worse. All Sam could think was how much of a shit deal that was. How much of a shit deal being called back was. “I used to think I’d lose my mind if I ever got taken off of missions. Which I mean I mostly have I guess.” She tried to roll the words around in her mouth. “Ray was training me to take over for him, but that’s all down the drain. So I’ve spent my entire adult striving for this thing that I’m never going to get. I-” She felt her frustration at Ray growing again and rubbed her heel into the sand. ”Were you ever disappointed that you were pulled off from what you were initially supposed to do? I mean obviously it’s worked out for you, but-”

“Nick doesn’t care except about the people he wants to. The people who he’s deemed worthy of a shot.” The bitterness that leaked into her voice surprised herself. “Not really. I was hoping for some blueprint for becoming a head that bypassed Nick not knowing you existed. I’m sorry he was so shitty to you, though.” Sam cleared her throat and again dodged her eyes to lake. “You know my story, I’m assuming, I get it.” She let out a long sigh and shrugged off her jacket. “I fear I’m going to be a footnote on Jax’s career if I stay here. But I want to be with him, and I know if I leave he’s never going to follow.” The whole train of thought just blurted out and instantly Sam thought it might be better to keel over rather than have to live knowing anyone knew those thoughts. “Jesus fucking Christ. Did I actually just say that out loud?”

“I swear half the time I’m actively looking for something to do. The boredom alone is enough to drive anyone crazy.“ Max agreed. “If it’s something that you truly want, Sam, go for it. ‘Cuse my language but fuck Ray. I love him but fuck him. Nick has been practically begging Ray to take over as second but Ray always uses BOND as an excuse. If you want it, show them that you can handle it and don’t take no for an answer.“ Max sucked her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course I was but I made the best of a situation. What else was I supposed to do? The last thing anyone needed was for me to roll over and take it. I wouldn’t have gotten this far.“

Jalissa shook her head “I promise you there is nothing to envy, Max. If you want practice though you and Jim are always welcome to babysit.” She cheered “You and Jim made it official?!?!?! That’s perfect, I’m so happy for you. The year is still young so who knows what may happen.”

“We’ll pass,“ she said quickly, having heard of nonstop talking and smart remarks from Kya and Lila constantly wondering away from her babysitters. “Yeah. For the most part. We haven’t outright announced it to the entire clan but we’re not hiding it either.“

   “I got their names; Megan and Angela. I didn’t get the name of their mentor unfortunately but I caught that they do a lot of training in a building downtown, the report has the address. I sat out there for a week before I got this stuff.”

“That’s great. Louis is probably going to kiss you.“ Max joked. “Do you plan on pursuing it or are you staying on the shop?“

   “It feels great. And I honestly can’t remember it either.”

“What have you been up to outside of BOND and GOLD?“

Jim’s phone dinged with the file Jax sent over and he scrolled through, looking for any possible matches. Handing it over, he showed her the list. “Anyone on here?” Jim grunted and held his tongue. “That’s why we have teams, so that the information one does have is shared to everyone.”

He stared at her for the last comment. “Oh I’m sure.”

Max scrolled the list shaking her head. “No.” Max continued to look at the list but frowned. “No. All teams knows things. You can’t ask someone from NERVOUS or BALL something about SKIN and expect them to know. Just like you can’t expect me to know that human shifters being able to shift genders isn’t common knowledge. You think people know everything and every team that’s not there own? You’re sorely mistaken. Even as liaison, some need to know information has been kept from me on the principle that someone thought I already knew.”

“Got it.” The obstinate part of Sam won out over the part that hated the beach and she decided to stay, if nothing else to get information from someone who was not Ray or an Idris. “So I’ve never asked, but how did you get to be 2nd of BOND? Did you ever do fieldwork or was it through your Liaison position?” There was just curiosity in her voice, she knew members of BOND who questioned it, but it was never anything of interest to her before.

“You’re one of the only heads who isn’t in Nick’s graces all the time. I remember that much from before. So how did that all work?”

Max stared at Sam for a second before looking away and out towards the water. “I was in BOND and... I rebelled. Clan Rat used to be the only animal clan without a liaison. Usually the team leads acted like liaison to each species. Which really wasn’t much. One day after a mission, I ran into the other liaison having brunch and they invited me to join. It kept joining them and telling Nick to fuck off  and eventually other team leads started asking me to take care of business or bring things up at our lunch dates. One day Nick and Ben gave me the position as liaison.” She paused and shrugged but continued. “I think it was only meant to take the load off of the other team leaders. I kept doing BOND mission but every time I came back I would have a load of things needing to be done. I kinda refused to leave BOND and eventually was grandfathered in to take over all liaison projects including BOND... Making me second. Ray and I thought it would be easier if we divided BOND down the middle. Him taking care of all international mission and I staying local and in the US. Being the overachiever he is Ray wanted to continue training everyone which explains why I wasn’t physically there for yours, Jaxson and Conrad’s training. Instead, I was behind the scenes. Mapping out your training, coming up with your test and all that. So, BOND never really see me on the fronts and most of the older members never talk about it. Everyone under 60 wouldn’t know I ran missions too or that I’m the one who writes up their training and approves all missions ran in the US... I like it that way.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Almost, but if he wakes up Micah takes care of it.” She nodded “Yeah, maybe during the summer. So Max, how’s life? Anything new happening?” 

“I never thought about having kids. Still now, I can’t imagine it but the both of you make it envious.“ Max sighed longingly. “Besides having to put up with the men in our lives? Nothing at all. The Underground incident and Jim and I coming out about our relationship is about as eventful as my year can get.“

Ray looked around at anyone to give an answer. “I would think that they’d expect SKIN to give up something else if we wanted them as a mediator. Is there anything that could be considered? Or information on them we can use to help strong arm them into helping us?” He agains looked at Max asking for an answer.

“Moving away from SKIN, I can’t speak for Jim or Jaxson on that matter, but as the local liaison, I know that Vincent will be willing to hear us out and task only those he believe will remain neutral to both parties to mediate. It’s worth a try. If not, I can contact Sam Thompson and talk about reserving a room at the Fields Hotel.“ Max eyes were hard and staring deeply at Ray as she spoke. Hoping that she didn’t dig her grave any deeper.

“I thought communication was our problem, but I communicated and now everything just seems worse.”

“There’s something more than communication or is the communication worse than you initially thought?“

“Must have been.” She agreed quietly, staring out over the lake. “Maybe I was with Jalissa and the babies.”

“That would be an understatement.” Her marriage problems came tumbling forward and not for the first time that week Jo felt the air pushed out of her lungs. “I feel like there’s no solution to anything other than me having a lobotomy to rid me of emotions. Or I don’t know something that wipes my memories clean.”

“Maybe,“ Max replied. “Is it that bad? You still haven’t told me what happened.“

Sam nodded vaguely remembering the horror show. She still hated shopping to the day and could imagine the awkward silence that must have happened that day. “Yeah, but that’s not really alone.” She finally decided to sit primly on the beach chair, making great attempts to avoid the sand getting stuck anywhere. “So what’s up? I can’t imagine you would just invite me out here to bond.” Especially when they never bonded before.

Max resisted the urge to roll her eyes and kept a small smile on her face. “You couldn’t? Because we know each other so well, you couldn’t?” Max asked, already knowing the answer. “I had already planned a beach day but my normal attendees all changed plans last minute. It was supposed to be a all girls outing but then there were 2.”

Jim grabbed the keys, pausing at her words briefly before getting into the car. As he sat down, Jim ran his hand around the car, checking for bugs in the places Churchill put them before. Once he was somewhat satisfied, he turned on music and leaned in closely towards Max to keep their voices under the sound of the music. “Churchill has a female face? Can you describe it?” He shot off a text to Jax, asking him to send him an unknown females they’d been tracking. “We never had confirmation on that. It was suspected, but we weren’t sure where the limitations fell.” He ran a hand through his hair, his blood rushing at the possibilities he saw with Max’s personal knowledge. “Which face did you meet when you met with Vincent?”

Max sat patiently in the passenger side while she waiting for Jim to catch over the rental. The color drained from Max face when Jim asked her about Churchill’s female face. “Yes,” she nodded. “African American female, about 5′2 in height, late 20s or early 30s with light-skin, dark eyes and shoulder length dreads.” Max voice was automatic and she was waiting for Jim to snap or lose his temper. “Shit. Jim, I’m sorry. I thought everyone knew... ”

“My guess would be September, maybe October.” Jo laid back and let the sound and breeze of the lake relax her. 

“So there are really no ulterior motives for getting me out here?” She teased while sipping her drink.

“I don’t think I came with you back then. I was working with Sarah’s daughter Shannon on a project of hers.“ Max picked up a book sitting next to her and started read. She was always good at multitasking. “I think the last time we were out here had to have been July. A few days after the 4th. It was filthy and the Jackals were doing a beach clean up.“

“Have we ever hung out like this one on one?” Sam wasn’t exactly one for the outdoors, but her curiosity over Max’s invitation got the better of her.

“Not since you were in your teens. I think Jo and I tried to take you shopping together. It was when you first got here. You seemed overwhelmed, so I volunteered to take you one on one the next day.“ Max forced a smile, she bonded with nearly everyone in the pack but her and Sam never really got the chance. “I think there were a few other times but usually Jo, Jax or Conrad tagged along.“

At the mention of SKIN by Max, Ray glared at Jim, remembering the other bombshell dropped on him. “Is that new found connection really strong enough to ask for such a favor?”

Max eyes narrowed in on Ray, daring him to make a scene, especially here and now. She would give it back ten folds. Sitting back in her chair she opt to keeping her mouth shut and letting them figure out the bullshit they’ve place that pack in.

“It feels so nice out here.” 

“I don’t think we’ve truly hung out since Noah was born. I definitely needed a break but now I can’t stop thinking about bringing the kids here.” Jalissa laughed

“Let’s enjoy it while it last. I think it’s calling for flurries next weekend.“