Chapter Text
Max steps inside the hopital, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She's nervous, but she feels like she has to do this. For Chloe. And she's curious and wants to talk to him.
The place inside is clean and looks it has been been tried to decorate with some plants and art, but honestly, it just looks sad. There's doors with numbers on them and people shuffling around. She asks the room number from receptionist behind the desk who gives it to her, looking surprised. Max feels her curious eyes follow her down the hallway.
She goes past what appears to be living room of some kind, with couch and armchairs and TV. There's more people watching some kind of comedy, but nobody is laughing except for woman who appears to be one of the nurses.
She reaches the room where he is and takes a deep breath. She hopes this doesn't go badly...
She knocks.
There's sounds from inside the room and then the room opens and there he is.
Nathan Prescott.
--
Nathan doesn't expect anyone to visit him. Victoria was there yesterday and his family has pretty much dumped him into the hospital, only visiting once to bring his stuff. So he's surpised when the somebody tentatively knocks. He blinks.
Maybe it's one of the nurses?
He gets up from his bed and opens the door. And almost gasps out loud.
Max Caulfield is standing outside his hospital room.
--
She stands there, feeling awkward as he gapes at her.
"Ummmmm.... Can I come in?" She asks finally when he doesn't seem to say anything anytime soon.
He only nods stiffly, still gaping. He steps aside to let her in and she looks around the room. It's filled with stuff, though furniture is scarce. There's bed, nightstand, closet and chair by the window but also half-opened boxes and plastic bags about to burst littered on the floor. The nightstand has books and glass half-filled with water. The bed is unmade.
He sits on the bed and Max goes to the chair. There's silence again. Nathan is looking at his hands, he looks tired. There's dark bruises under his eyes. He looks resigned, somehow.
"How are you?" She asks gently and he looks up, looking surprised.
He studies her intently, like he's trying to figure her out. Finally he says, "Why are you asking me that?"
She blinks. "Because I want to know?"
"But why?"
She opens her mouth then closes it. Why is she asking him? Why is she even here? Would Chloe hate her for this?
Maybe, but she's dead. And Max wants to understand Nathan. She knows it's not all his fault, that Jefferson manipulated him. And in that another timeline, in his voice mail, he seemed so sad and scared and... sorry.
She simply shrugs.
"'If you're just trying to be nice before you torture me, cut it off and get on with it," he says.
She shakes her head quickly. She understand why he thinks that, but it still makes her sad.
"I'm not here to do that," she says gently.
"Why the fuck not? I...." His voice cracks. "I deserve that much."
"I don't think you do."
"Why don't you hate me? I'm a bad person, a fucking monster!" His voice is rising and he's getting agitated, running his fingers thorough his hair. "I killed her. And Kate... Rachel... Everything I did..." He sniffs.
She stays silent and watches while tears start slowly drip from his eyes. Finally he looks at her.
"You're good, Max. So good. I don't deserve to be around somebody like you. I..." He slides from the bed to the floor in front of her.
"I'm s-so sorry, Max... I'm so sorry." He's full on sobbing now, red in face and snotty nose. He's curled up in a ball by her feet and looks so small. It reminds her of the time Warren beat him up, when he just laid there and sobbed. Except now he's on his stomach, knees tucked underneath him and arms crossed. He looks like he's praying, like he's praying to her. Like she's Goddness.
He's mumbling to himself but he quiets down when she reaches her hand towards him. He flinches and closes his eyes. He looks like he's preparing himself. Steeling himself. She doesn't know how many times he's had to do that.
She puts her hand through his hair and strokes. He opens his eyes and turns his head up to her, in surprise. Tears are still flowing from his eyes. She smiles to him, sadly. "It's okay," she says. "I forgive you."