Chapter Text
Sam wasn’t crying.
He wasn’t sure exactly how long he’d been standing there, staring out over the statue of Lady Liberty, and frankly he didn’t care. It could have been minutes or hours or, heck, if he wasn’t even acutely aware of the passage of time, it could have been days. It didn’t matter.
Because Max was gone.
And this time he wasn’t coming back.
Those last two sentences seemed to repeat endlessly in Sam’s mind, each repetition sending him deeper into a state of mind he didn’t want to be in. He should have worked harder, done more. He should have stopped Charlie Ho-Tep or broken free from his control. He should have worked quicker to cut that tumor out. It should never have gotten as bad as it did.
As he continued mentally berating himself, Sam’s gaze didn’t break from the looming statue in the distance, though he wasn’t really looking at it. His head was racing at a million miles an hour, all with negative and self-deprecating thoughts, and yet…he wasn’t crying.
If Sam could go back, he wouldn’t let Max anywhere near those stupid toys. He would have taken them and destroyed them or hidden them or something, just so long as Max had stayed away from them. Because then he would be safe instead of…
Sam finally came slightly to his senses. He blinked and refocused on the Statue of Liberty in her splendor. He found it a lot less impressive now. Merely the sight of the green statue made him sick to his stomach. The last place Max was…himself.
Sam and Max had never been a serious duo, despite some of the serious circumstances they found themselves in, in which they could have died or worse. They never worried because they had always thought of a way through it. They’d always pulled through together. And they’d always had each other’s backs. Always full of jokes and good humor and even better company. They loved going out on cases and serving up justice, no matter the danger. They always got through it. But this time was different.
Because Max was gone.
And this time he wasn’t coming back.
There were only a handful of times Sam recalled that he had been genuinely worried about Max’s safety, and probably half of those occurred in the last few weeks. Max always bounced back no matter the situation, so there wasn’t really a call for worry. Little guy was damn near indestructible it seemed. But when Sam found his partner without his brain, or when he had taken that fall on the statue, or when he was transformed into…
Sam shook his head. He shouldn’t be here. It reminded him too much of Max, and not in any positive manner. But where was he going to go? Back to the office, alone, with all of those reminders? Sybil’s, which he wasn’t even sure existed anymore? Stinky’s? Bosco Tech? He couldn’t bear seeing anyone else right now. Not yet. Their looks of pity were the last thing he wanted or needed. He wanted to be left alone. Maybe lie down and just disappear for a while.
But before he walked back, Sam took one more look at Lady Liberty. He didn’t want to hold out for a miracle, but he did. If by some one in a million or one in a billion chance Max just popped up again like he always did and things went back to normal, Sam wouldn’t even question it. He would accept it, thank whatever higher power heard his plights, and be the happiest dog in the world.
A moment passed. Then another. Only the lap of the tides against the rocky shore below met his ears. And with each passing second, Sam’s hopes continued to evaporate. No miracle would be granted today.
Sam solemnly placed his hat back on his head, and slowly turned and walked away from the edge of the ocean. Back home. Alone.
He could have commented on the destruction of the city, or the people walking the streets cleaning up, or the giant robots left standing, but he didn’t. He’d seen it all already. What was he supposed to say? He simply stared at the ground as he placed one foot in front of the other, invisible weights tied to his legs making walking difficult and slow.
As he rounded the corner of Straight & Narrow, Sam looked up at his office window. The same window he’d looked out hundreds of thousands of times before. Faded and ripped yellow tape adorned the front door of the building, but that didn’t stop him from simply ducking under it and walking in. That door couldn’t even lock.
The destruction of the building was immediately prominent, half of the stairwell had crumbled into the tunnels below. Sam counted himself lucky that the office was still intact. Part of him wondered if the building was structurally sound enough for him to be climbing around in it, but he quickly decided he didn’t care and walked up what remained of the stairs, testing each step gingerly before putting his weight on it.
As he approached the door to the office, his breath hitched slightly. ‘Sam & Max: Freelance Police’ still adorned the frosted glass in goofy font. Despite the hitch in his breath, he wasn’t as phased as he thought he would be. He gulped down whatever sound about came out of him and walked in.
It was…quiet. The office was so quiet, if it weren’t for the miscellaneous objects still strewn about the room, Sam wouldn’t have even recognized it as his own. Dust had managed to cake every surface of the room since the last time he’d been here. It did no favor to his allergies, but that was hardly the first thing on his mind right now.
Sam stepped into the office, the only light fluttering in was through the windows from the lazy, late afternoon sun, as the power was still cut. He quietly observed a few of their possessions as he passed them. The dartboard, the phone and answering machine, their plant, Sam’s large desk and Max’s small one. It was like nothing had even happened. Like they’d just been gone for a while and were getting back from a vacation they had never taken.
Sam looked to the couch in the corner of the office. It was the same lumpy mess it had been the day they found it in the dumpster after Max “accidentally” scorched their old one. Sam shook his head to clear it. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down and brushed some of the dust off the cushions. The particles floated softly in the air and whisked away to different surfaces to cling to. He removed his hat and gently placed it on the ground at the foot of the couch.
He took a deep breath while lying down. He was a bit too tall for the lumpy furniture, so his head rested uncomfortably on the arm rest and a spring dug into his back, but he didn’t care. He folded his hands together on his stomach and stared at the ceiling.
Realistically, this was no different than staring out at the Statue of Liberty, but he felt slightly more at peace here. Usually Sam couldn’t stand it when it got too quiet (that’s what Max was for), but in this moment, he didn’t mind. It was almost peaceful. Like a calm after a storm. Sam theorized that that analogy was a bit too accurate for comfort.
So he laid there and thought and grieved. He didn’t cry, which still kind of surprised him. In fact, it made him feel worse. He knew that he was never one for serious emotions, Max wasn’t either, but with all that was going through his mind and all he had gone through in the last few weeks, he felt he deserved a good cry. Tears pecking the corners of his vision, at least. But he didn’t. So he just felt more miserable instead.
And that is how he stayed for a while. He didn’t know how long. His mind felt like it was moving a thousand miles an hour and yet was completely silent at the same time. Both racing and paused. Still. Silent. And with that, Sam drifted off into a sad, dreamless sleep.
It only occurred to Sam that time had passed when he noticed that it was almost as dark with his eyes open as it was when they were closed. And he only noticed this and snapped back to reality because of an inconsistent clicking noise. It sounded like a tap or a pop. He blinked and rubbed a hand over his face as another light clink met his ears.
He continued trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness. He looked over to the window, the only light source in the room, as a bit of light streaming in from the street lamp outside illuminated a small section of the floor. Sam sat up and felt the ground for his hat when another clink met his ears. He straightened up quickly and focused his attention back towards the window, the source of the noise.
Another moment passed and Sam didn’t move. Finally, another clink met his ears and he noticed a quick movement of something smacking the window. He stood up and slowly made his way over to it.
Sam opened the window and looked out it. Down below on the street, Mama Bosco was holding a rock, arm back and ready to throw. The window opening made her stop.
“Sam?” She called, dropping the rock. “Holy-Is that you? Where have you been? Come down!”
Sam didn’t answer, but poked his head out just enough so she could see him and confirm he was there.
He really didn’t want to see anyone right now. Especially one of those most involved with Max’s-…he let out a breath. Well, she wasn’t going to go away on her own. He felt his way to the door and opened it. He wasn’t sure if he could face her right now or talk to her about anything, but he wasn’t left with much choice after she’d already seen him.
It took him a while to navigate his way down the stairs. As it turns out being in a half demolished building with no power in the middle of the night wasn’t the best idea. Shocker. Eventually, though, he managed to make his way to the front door and opened it, ducking back under the caution tape and meeting Mama Bosco on the street.
Immediately the woman grabbed him and hugged him. He didn’t hug back. Neither Sam nor Max were used to any kind of physical contact that didn’t involve violence in some capacity. Not that he was necessarily complaining about the hug. It just made him uncomfortable.
“Thank goodness I found you!” Mama Bosco exclaimed as she removed herself from him and held his arms, looking in his eyes under the shadow of his hat. “We were getting worried when you didn’t come back to the lab.”
Sam wasn’t sure if she was expecting an answer or an explanation of some kind, but he wasn’t prepared to share…not that there was much to say anyway. The air grew awkward due to his silence.
“Right, well, come on. You’re not stayin’ here and we want you back where it’s safe.” Mama Bosco let Sam go and motioned for him to follow her. He didn’t move. It took her a moment to notice. “Sam?”
He shook his head a bit and looked at her. “I…can’t go back there.” He mumbled. The first thing he said since the cloning failure.
“Well, you can’t stay here.” Mama Bosco put on hand on her hip and leaned forward, other arm motioning to the office building. “It’s half destroyed with no power. Besides, I think it’d be best if you weren’t off all by your lonesome right now. You’ll only end up makin’ yourself feel worse.”
While Sam knew she was right, it didn’t make him any more willing. Perhaps he was just stubborn, but the idea of living at Bosco Tech with everyone giving him that look and talking about him like he was helpless and sad…that definitely wouldn’t help either.
“Come on, Sam.” She urged. “It’s late enough and I think we all need a bit of rest.”
Sam still didn’t move.
Mama Bosco sighed in frustration. “Look, just one night, okay?” She took a step towards him and grabbed his hand. “Just for tonight come back to the lab and we’ll talk more tomorrow? Please, Sam, I don’t want you stayin’ here all alone.” She patted his hand with her free one.
Sam looked down and removed his hand from her grasp, placing it and his other in the pockets of his trousers. “…Fine.” He sighed. “Just for tonight.”
Mama Bosco gave him a smile that he didn’t look up to see. “Thank you, Sam. That makes me feel a whole lot better.” This time, when she turned and led the way back to the lab, Sam followed her.
They would have been able to make it to the lab in a matter of minutes if Sam still had the DeSoto. Unfortunately, he lost that when Max… Stop thinking about it, Sam. He thought. Don’t think about that right now.
Mama Bosco didn’t have a car, or, at least not one that the tags weren’t severely expired on. She hadn’t really needed it as a ghost. So they walked, turning a short trip into a long one.
It was strange. The city itself seemed quiet. Unusually quiet. It seemed that the city that couldn’t sleep finally was finally getting some much needed rest. Sam desperately wished to hear the standard hub-bub of the streets, though. He wanted some semblance of normal as they crossed giant craters and demolished buildings. Something that could take his mind off of how screwed up and twisted everything became.
“How’d you know I was at the office?” He found himself asking. His voice sounding unfamiliar to him.
Mama Bosco didn’t turn to look at him as she answered with a shrug. “Didn’t, really. Just hypothesized it as a possibility.” She turned her head and looked at him. “I almost gave up after the tenth rock, figurin’ it was pointless. Glad you were there.”
Sam wasn’t sure how to react to that, so he just gave a hum of understanding. “Who else is out…looking for me?” He struggled a bit finishing that question, partly because it made him feel even guiltier.
“Just Detective Paper and that Papierwaite guy.” Mama Bosco answered before stopping abruptly. “Oh, that’s right. I should radio ‘em and tell ‘em I found you.”
Sam watched as she pulled out a radio he failed to notice was strapped to her hip and pushed the button, causing a *beep* noise from the device, along with a little green light near the antenna.
“This is Bad Momma, I’ve got Sam and am headed back to the lab.” She spoke into the device before releasing the button and holding it a little closer to her ear.
Sam heard a muffled and static response as the light on the radio turned red. “Rocky S, hear ya loud and clear Bad Momma. Headed back.” Sam didn’t need to see him to know Flint Paper’s unmistakable voice. Knowing Flint was spending his time looking for him didn’t help Sam’s emotional state any.
“Magic Man, uh, reporting in.” Anton Papierwaite’s voice met Sam’s ears. “I will be heading back to the museum if you don’t mind. I have a lot of cleaning up to do.”
Magic Man? Sam thought. Rocky S? Bad Momma? He decided not to voice his confusion about the names out loud.
“10-4 Magic Man. Thanks. Bad Momma out.” Mama Bosco clicked off the radio and strapped it back to her waist. She turned to Sam and nodded but paused when she saw his confused expression. “What?”
“Er, nothing.” He replied.
“Good.” She said and continued walking.
Sam took another second before following. He was partly glad Sybil wasn’t out looking, especially in her condition. Was she in labor now? Had she had her child already? He was curious but, at the same time, didn’t…really care. It felt awful to admit that but he held a sudden bout of apathy towards the woman of endless professions and her freak-of-nature child. What did it matter to him how she was? If it weren’t for that baby they’d have gotten that tumor out and saved Max. Sam shook his head to clear his mind.
The rest of the walk continued in strained silence. Mama Bosco figured Sam didn’t want to engage in any small talk. She was right. He didn’t. And Sam didn’t have anything else to add either. So it was quiet. Silent. The sounds of their footsteps on the sidewalk being the loudest thing in their ears.
“Ah, here we are.” Mama Bosco said as she approached the door to Bosco Tech. She paused a moment before opening it and turned to Sam. “Listen, Sam.”
Sam stopped when she did and looked up at her. He brought himself out of his thoughts just enough to acknowledge her.
“Now, I don’t want you gettin’ your hopes up or anythin’, but…” Mama Bosco scratched her check with a gloved hand. “I think I want to try the clonin’ thing again. Maybe if I can alter the machine’s input a bit, it could still work.” She gave him a small smile. A pitiful smile.
In all honesty, her words didn’t completely register with Sam. Even if they did, he wasn’t sure how excited he would have been. Maybe a few hours ago he would’ve been more thankful. But now, he just shrugged a bit and said, “Okay.”
Mama Bosco smile was replaced with a look of disappointment. She tried again. “I know it seems like a big maybe, but I really think I could do it.” She proclaimed, hoping to cheer the dog up a bit.
Sam wasn’t having it. He didn’t need her pity or her hypotheticals or her clones or anything. Besides, even if she did…bring him back, so to speak…It wouldn’t be Max. It would look like him and maybe talk like him, but it wouldn’t be Max, just like how the Samulacra weren’t him. It just wouldn’t be the same.
Mama Bosco must have noticed his lack of change as she dropped her newly acquired fake smile. “Yeah, okay. Come on, I’ll take you to one of the apartments I’ve got here for the night.” She said as she opened the door and stepped in.
The room was fine. Like a standard apartment. Sam was, admittedly, kind of surprised to see it fully furnished. He figured the condemned building would have at least been ransacked before Mama Bosco moved in. The idea that the scientist furnished it herself seemed unlikely, she hadn’t even had a body until just recently. When would she have had the time to go furniture shopping? Sam supposed it didn’t really matter.
“Okay, here you are.” Mama Bosco announced. “I’ll leave you to it for tonight. Remember to come check with me if you need somethin’.” She walked to the door and held the knob in her hand. “And don’t even think about leavin’ tomorrow mornin’ before we chat. Got it?” She looked over her shoulder at the dog.
Sam simply nodded. And with that, she closed the door, leaving Sam to himself once again.
Sam let out a breath as soon as the scientist left. He wasn’t even really aware he was holding it. He took another look around the room. It was generic and plain. No pictures, portraits, or paintings. No home touches or decorations, just standard tables and chairs. There was a slightly lumpy blue couch in front of a modest television in the living area, but Sam didn’t bother. Mainstream news was probably the last thing he needed right now. To his right there was a small kitchenette with an even smaller pantry. He didn’t bother checking if there was any food: the very thought of eating made him feel nauseous. To his left was a small hall with three doors.
Sam walked down the barren hall. The left door contained a bathroom with everything needed for any bathroom activity he could think of. The middle door at the end was simply a towel closet, fit with built in hamper. The right door was a small bedroom, fit with bed, nightstand-which had a phone and a table lamp on it, dresser, and closet. The bed was even made with fresh sheets. Had Mama Bosco gotten them for him? Or maybe she just washed them? Sam wasn’t sure.
He walked in the bedroom, not even bothering switching the lights on, and sat on the side of the bed. He ran the soft fabrics through his fingers. It was slightly calming. He wasn’t sure if he’d actually sleep, maybe he’d just sit here and think. With the way his mind wandered, though, he wasn’t super keen on the idea. Sleep was probably what he needed.
Sam took his hat off and placed it on the nightstand. He didn’t get under the covers and didn’t change out of his suit. He didn’t care enough to. The bed was soft and very comfortable. Still, all he could do was stare up in the ceiling, just as he had in the office, waiting for sleep to take hold of him as his brain raced in circles.
He tried to keep his mind somewhat clear and avoided any thoughts of Max or any of the events they’d been going through recently. Now that things had calmed a little, maybe he could get a bit of a better grasp on everything.
Aside from the obvious, some things at the very least were somewhat normal. Sybil was probably in the hospital. Mama Bosco, Flint Paper, even Anton Papeirwaite and Yog Soggoth were accounted for and moving forward with their work. Sam wondered if Stinky was back in the diner, only to recall that his brain got transferred to that of one of the space gorillas. Now that would be a great story. What about Girl Stinky? Whatever happened to her? Sam only pondered this for a moment before realizing that he didn’t actually really care where that overcooked batch of fish sticks was.
The dog sighed and closed his eyes. Everyone else was just…going on with their lives. Granted, Sybil kind of had to, and most of the others were also looking out for him, but still. They were still…functioning normally. Like they weren’t completely lost and alone now that Max was gone.
Great. Just what he wanted to avoid thinking about. Not that he could really help it. It felt like half of himself had just been ripped from him. More than half, maybe. What was he without Max? When was the last time he’d gone solo? Sam tried to think.
Well, there was the time Max got himself kidnapped by one of the local mafia. While initially concerned, as Max didn’t usually have a tendency to wander off without word (he was kind of obsessed with attention like that), Sam didn’t think too much of it. It wasn’t until the commissioner called to have him investigate said mafia that Sam managed to put two and two together. Kinda strange the commissioner knew about Max’s whereabouts before Sam did, but he knew never to question the commissioner. It wasn’t long before Max was back at his side, blasting mafia goons away and locking them up with a smile.
He had been concerned, but not overly so. He didn’t feel he had completely lost his sense of purpose in the time Max was gone. Though, he supposed, at that time he knew he would be getting him back.
Regardless, Sam smiled at the memory. They had so many grand adventures and brushes with death, but always got through relatively unscathed. Sam supposed that it was so standard that they’d never really planned for any kind of alternative. How would you go about planning something like that anyway?
Great, he got himself worked up and feeling upset again. Sam ran his hands down his face and sighed. “What am I supposed to do without ya’, little buddy?” He asked quietly to the empty room before closing his eyes and trying to sleep.
Whatever sleep Sam was trying to get was suddenly interrupted by a loud ring. He startled awake and looked around, slightly panicked. He noticed the phone by the bed ring again. He grabbed it without really thinking about who could possibly be calling at this time or how they got the number. Mostly just to make that horrible ringing stop.
“Hullo?” Sam mumbled groggily.
“Sam?!” Came a surprised reply.
Sam startled to full alertness. No mistaking the voice on the other end. “Max?!”
“Oh wow, cool! Hey, Sam! How’s it goin’?” Max asked in a bubbly tone over the phone, his cheeriness shocking Sam into silence.
“Uh, I…” Sam couldn’t formulate his words properly to respond, the sudden shock of hearing Max’s voice was a tad overwhelming. How was he speaking? Where was he? Was this some kind of prank? Questions circled endlessly in the dog’s mind. He could barely process it when Max spoke again.
“Yeah, cool. I’m good, too. Great now, though!” Max’s replied. “Real good to hear from ya again.”
Sam finally managed to overcome his initial shock, worried that this was some form of goodbye. “Wait! Uh, are you okay? Where are you?” His voice oozed with the panic he felt internally, but he didn’t notice or care.
“I already answered that first one, Sam. You should really look into an ear cleaning regime.” Max teased. “As for where I am, I’m actually at-“suddenly, Max’s voice cut out.
“Max?” Sam whined. “Max, please say you’re okay…Or just say anything.” He held the phone close to his ear for any sign from his little pal.
“I’m peachy, Sam!” Max’s voice returned to his ears once again and Sam gave a sigh of relief. Though, something sounded slightly off. It wasn’t the voice itself, but there was a definite tone shift. Max continued speaking before Sam could fully piece it together. “And I just remembered where I am!” Max spoke with glee.
“Where?” Sam pleaded. “Where can I find you?” He already forgot the thing he was just worried about a second ago.
“Why, I’m at the Statue of Liberty, right where you abandoned me!” The cheerful voice exclaimed.
Suddenly, the walls around Sam crumbled and fell, the phone disappearing out of his hand. He was back. Back on that blasted statue with that horrible marionette. He looked up with horror as he witnessed, for the second time, Max falling onto Lady Liberty’s crown. Sam willed himself to climb up to his friend as he called for him, but he couldn’t move. His limbs were tied down with what felt like invisible rope, a heavy weight ensuring he couldn’t break free. And when Sam called, it wasn’t his own voice or his own words, but rather those of that infernal puppet who was out of Sam’s field of view. “Oh, poor Max!” The voice mocked. “He got aaaaaall tuckered out from our little battle!” It laughed.
Sam struggled even harder to move and break free. To go help. The voice continued its mockery of Max. “And to think your ultimate downfall was all because of the one you trust the most!” Sam felt eyes staring at him as he struggled to break free, but he couldn’t see who was watching him or from where. “Little Sammy here is soooo helpless that you just had to save him and got yourself ruined for it! HehehehahahAHAHAHAHAHA!!” The voice continued to laugh and taunt.
Suddenly, Sam could move. He stood almost too quickly. He took a deep breath and jumped up the crown of Lady Liberty to find Max, sprawled out and unresponsive, scrapes and bruises all along his small body.
“Max?” Sam called, his own voice returning to him, frightfully small and timid. “L-little buddy?” He gingerly reached out and grabbed Max’s small form. It was light and cold.
“Max?!” Sam echoed again, louder, looking for some sign of response as panic further wracked his body. “Max, come on! Get up!” He clutched the rabbit tightly and lightly shook him. The lagomorph’s head only fell limply to the side.
“No…” Sam whispered as he held his friend tightly. “No. No. NO.”
“Nngh…S-…Sam?”
Sam’s eyes blinked open and he looked at Max with awe. “Max! You’re-“
“S-Sam, I-*COUGH COUGH*” Max hacked. Sam shushed him quickly.
“Shhh, no, no. It’s okay. I got you. You’re fine now.” He whispered and held Max closer, ignoring the fact that the rabbit had just said cough loudly instead of actually coughing.
“No, Sam I need to…” the rabbit wheezed, as if every word caused him immense pain. “I n-need you to…know something…”
“It can wait, Max. You should rest.” Sam insisted, continuing to huddle over the lagomorph.
“Sam…” Max pushed himself away so he could look the dog in the eye, “I…RIIIIING RIIIIIING RIIIIIING
Sam instantly startled awake, his limbs cold and clammy and a tangled mess in the sheets, his body stricken with a cold sweat. He greedily gasped for breath as another ring from the phone next to the bed startled him again.
He blinked a few times, reached over, and grabbed the phone. “Huh…Hello?” He managed to breathe out.
The voice of the commissioner met his ears, letting Sam know that he should take it easy for a while and he shouldn’t have to worry about another case for the time being. Surprisingly, the commissioner even mentioned his condolences for Max. Sam was still bitter and didn’t want to be pitied, but he thanked him the same, and agreed that it was probably best to take a break from police work for now.
As he hung the phone up, still catching his breath, Sam wiped his brow and tried to regain his composure. He counted backwards from 10, breathing deeply each time until he felt almost normal again.
The room was now deathly quiet after the click of the phone hitting the receiver and Sam’s breathing shallowing out. Sam only heard his slowing heart beating in his ears. He buried his face in his hands at his horrible dream and sat there until morning. Unmoving. And yet…
Sam wasn’t crying.