Title: Ghost
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. We all know that.
Couples: Mi/L
Rating: Mature/Adult
Summary: This is a challenge by Polar goddess that I really wanted to try out. It's the first time I'd be writing Michael and Liz so bear with me guys.
Challenge: This would be an alternative timeline where Liz died that day at the Crashdown because Michael was successful in stopping Max. Liz finds out that Max was supposed to heal her and Michael stopped him. Angry that she didn't have to die that day and she missed out on a relationship with Max she haunts Michael. Michael is the only one who sees her.
Requirements:
- a cynical ghost Liz
- Michael being caught talking to Liz in public, everyone else sees him talking to no one, and getting weird looks.
- Michael threatening to exorcise Liz.
- Michael/Liz romance
“Maxwell, remind me again why I’m sitting here with you while you gawk at some random chick?” Michael asked as his best friend stared at the small brunette.
“She’s not some random chick Michael.” Max said picking up a Tabasco covered French fry.
Michael watched in amusement as Max aimed for his mouth but smeared Tabasco on his cheek missing his mouth completely. Shaking his head he picked up his burger and took a bite. His eyes wandered to the brunette; her stupid alien antenna springing around as she held out a small picture to some customers. Michael had no idea why his friend saw in this girl. She was pretty sure but not drop dead gorgeous, average to Michael.
He looked over at Max who didn’t seem to notice or care that he still had Tabasco on his cheek. Oh, well Michael wasn’t about to tell him. He seemed to be entranced anyway. Well, as long as he didn’t get too serious about her Michael was fine with it. There was no harm in watching. The petite girl put the small picture away and started to walk to the kitchen. She glanced over at their table and smiled at Max. Max quickly lowered his eyes so she wouldn’t know he had been watching.
“She smiled at me Michael. God she’s beautiful.” Max said looking up quickly to see that she had headed for the kitchen.
Michael nodded. “Well, she was probably wondering what that big red spot on your face was.”
Max’s eyes widened in horror and he grabbed a napkin from Michael and wiped his mouth and cheek.
“Come on. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough for one day.” Michael said dropping money on the table and getting up.
“WHERE”S MY MONEY!”
Michael turned his head to see a man stand up angrily knocking his food off the table. His eyes widened when the guy pulled out a gun and shot. The sound like a small explosion left a ringing in Michael’s ears. The man ran out the door before anyone could stop him. They had to get out of there; the Sheriff would probably arrive any minute. He turned to get Max and for the first time noticed the brunette lying on the floor. Shit. He looked at Max and quickly grabbed his arm before he did anything stupid that would reveal their true identities.
Max struggled for a second wanting to go to her but Michael managed to pull him out. They couldn’t afford to attract attention to themselves. They ran out of the Crashdown and into Max’s jeep. They watched as the Sheriff’s car and an ambulance arrived in front of the diner. A while later two EMT came out with a closed body bag on a cot. Michael knew Max wasn’t in a state to be driving so he got into the driver’s seat and started the car quickly. Michael stepped on the gas and drove as fast as he could away from the commotion.
***
“So, are there really aliens here?”
Liz looked seriously at the two customers. She looked around before nodding her head slowly.
“If I show you something. Do you promise you wont tell anyone?” She said in a low voice.
They looked at her excitedly and nodded. She pulled out a small black and white photograph of a tiny alien.
“This picture was taken after the 1947 crash.”
“Oh my god.” They said in awe. “How did you get it?”
“My father accidentally got a hold of this picture when two FBI agents came to have breakfast here one time, he found it while he was sweeping. They must have dropped it.” Liz tried to keep the smile from her face.
“Wow.”
Liz nodded. “I know. That’s why you have to keep quiet. We wouldn’t want the FBI coming here and finding out we have this picture.”
The customers nodded. “We understand.”
“I’ll be right back with that coffee.” Liz said tucking the picture in her alien shaped apron.
Once she turned she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. People where so gullible. She felt someone looking at her and glanced at the table in the corner. Max Evans and his friend Liz couldn’t really remember his name where looking at her. She smiled shyly at Max before walking into the kitchen. Someday she was gonna muster up the courage and talk to that boy.
“I can’t believe you told that stupid alien story to another one of our customers.” Maria said shaking her head disapprovingly at Liz.
Liz looked innocently at Maria. “What?”
“Liz. Those people actually believe you.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “It’s just a story Maria. Something they can tell their friends when they get back to wherever they’re from. It’s interesting and it brings in more customers.”
“Whatever.”
Liz grabbed the coffee pot and walked back outside.
“WHERE”S MY MONEY!”
She looked over to the table in the middle of the room and watched in horror as a man pulled a gun from his pants. As if in slow motion she saw the gun go off. The loud sound was the last thing she heard before everything went black.
***
After a while of driving Michael looked over at Max. He seemed to be in a state of shock.
“Maxwell?”
Max didn’t move or say anything. Sighing Michael slowed down and pulled over at the side of the road.
“I was going to heal her Michael.” Max said quietly still not looking at him.
Michael looked at him shocked. Exhaling loudly he shook his head.
“You would’ve exposed us. We made a pact remember? It’s only you Isabel and me, no one else. If you tried to save that girl who knows what would’ve happened.”
Max didn’t say anything. He stared out into the dessert lost in thought.
“Look. I’m sorry. I know how you felt about this girl.”
“Liz. Her name was Liz.” Max held his tears at bay. “We’re going to Roswell Memorial.”
Michael nodded. He started the car and turned around heading for the hospital. He felt bad about Liz but there was nothing they could’ve done. Trying to save her would’ve exposed them all and protecting Max and Isabel was his first priority. Besides, that Liz girl would’ve handed them into the Sheriff as soon as she found out what they were anyway. It was better this way.
***
Liz looked around. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was talking to those customers about the picture of the alien she had at the Crashdown. Now she seemed to be in some white room. The room was empty except for a wall at the far end of the room full of what looked like metal drawers. Confused she walked over to the door at the corner but before she could turn the knob a man walked in.
“Excuse me. I’m sorry but I don’t know exactly how I got here. Can you tell me where I am?”
The man ignored her and walked over to the back of the room where the metal drawers were. He pulled one and Liz gasped. It didn’t hold documents like she thought. It held a body. She knew where she was. A morgue. She started to walk towards the doctor when she caught sight of the body on the table. Her body. She stopped her breath coming out sharply.
“Oh my God.” She whispered.
She walked slowly to the side of the table. She looked down at herself; her eyes were closed and her hair was combed back off away from her face. She could’ve been sleeping, though Liz knew she wasn’t because the white sheet that covered her wasn’t moving like it would if she were breathing. She was dead.
Suddenly it all came back to her. She had gone to the kitchen to get some coffee for her customers. Two men were arguing. One pulled out a gun and . . . he must have shot her. Dead.
Not able to look at herself anymore she ran to the door. When she reached to open the door her hand went right through the knob. She waved her hand over the knob but it was like if she were a hologram. She couldn’t hold on to it. Sticking her hand out it went through the door also. Shrugging she stepped out and ended up on the other side.
She walked around recognizing the hospital, Roswell Memorial. People walked right by her without so much as a glance her way. Apparently along with being able to walk through doors she was also invisible. She continued to walk towards the exit when she heard her name.
“Look, I don’t think you should be here Maxwell.”
“I just need to see her Michael. I need to see Liz one more time.”
Liz turned to the voices and was surprised to see Max and the boy who’s name she just learned standing in a secluded corner. She walked closer to them. A wave of sadness went through her. She never got the chance to strike up the courage and talk to Max.
“Maxwell. Looking at her isn’t going to change anything.” Michael said sympathetically.
Max sighed. “I know. If you would’ve let me try to heal her than maybe-“
“What? Maybe she would’ve thanked you right before she called the Sheriff and turned us in? Max if you would’ve used your powers we’d probably be strapped to a table right now, our chests cut open while they examined our guts, okay. We couldn’t have risked it.”
Max looked away pain in his eyes. “What’s the point of being an alien that can heal if I can’t use my powers to save the people I love?”
Liz stopped listening after that. Max was an alien? He was going to heal her? He loved her? She could see how hurt he was. He had wanted to save her but his friend stopped him. She turned angry eyes at Michael. She could’ve been alive right now; she could’ve been with Max. He loved her. This was all his fault!
“Come one Maxwell. Let’s go.” Michael said pulling Max’s arm.
Liz watched them leave anger radiating through her. She didn’t see the woman coming towards her with a small cart until it was too late.
“Wait!” She yelled.
The woman continued to walk passing right through Liz. Rolling her eyes Liz shook her head. She had forgotten. She stood there watching Max and Michael wait for the elevator. An idea suddenly came to her head making her smile. If she was dead and she was a ghost then she was going to do what ghosts do best. She was going to haunt. Operation Haunt Michael commencing.
A/N: What do you guys think?
Thanks to: