EYA Part 11
Liz flopped back on her bed with a frustrated sigh. Her damp hair fanned around her shoulders as she squirmed restlessly. She’d been just fine, really, until Maria had left after her mom called her home for dinner. Alone, she’d unpacked her clothes and straightened her room tidily. She knew she should muster up the energy to do the homework she’d been assigned before they’d cut their last class to fly to Vegas, but she couldn’t make herself sit still. She was even grateful for the distraction when her mom called out that dinner was ready.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
She remained unusually quiet throughout dinner, surreptitiously watching her parents to see how they interacted with each other. Max had given her a lot to think about. Maybe it wasn’t something that she should punish her mother for. Obviously, her parents were very much in love. But did Jeff even know that Liz was not his real daughter? Would it make a difference in how he looked at her if he did?
“What a beautiful ring!” Nancy exclaimed suddenly, breaking into Liz’s thoughts. “Where did you get it?”
“Oh, well I found a really nice jewelry shop when we had some free time last night,” Liz improvised quickly. She couldn’t meet her mother’s eyes. She’d bet money that she was the world’s worst liar. Her eyes always gave her away, they were like windows to the truth.
“That’s great, honey, I’ve been looking for a ring like that to match my new outfit. Do you think I could borrow it sometime?”
“No!” Liz couldn’t help the spontaneous outburst, or the need to hide her ring hand under the table. No matter what finger she wore it on it was still her wedding ring. The rational part of her mind knew that her mother would never have asked if she’d known what significance the ring held for her, but she hardly felt rational at the moment. Actually, she just felt hot.
“That’ll do, Lizzie,” her dad admonished softly.
Nancy looked crestfallen. She’d always imagined that when her little girl grew up they’d share make-up and jewelry. Talk about boys and school. Be best friends. So far it wasn’t working out that way. At all.
“May I be excused?” Liz implored her father, standing up abruptly and begging with her eyes to be released.
“You’ve hardly touched your food, honey. Why don’t you…?” Nancy was cut off by an impatient Liz.
“Why don’t you just leave me alone! Do you think I can’t tell when I’m hungry or not? I’ve got a ton of schoolwork to catch up on for tomorrow and all I want is to be left in peace long enough to get it done! Is that all right with you?” Liz’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“Honey, are you feeling all right? You look really flushed.” Nancy reached out and placed her hands on either side of Liz’s face. “Oh, Liz! You’re burning up! Why don’t you go lay down and I’ll bring you….”
“I don’t need anything from you right now but to be left alone! Can you do that?” Liz glared at her mother again before stomping away to her room.
Nancy sank back into her seat in defeat. “Oh, Jeff! When did I lose her?” Jeff rose and put his arms around Nancy and held her while she cried.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Now two hours later Liz was staring at her ceiling feeling remorseful over the scene she had created. What is wrong with me? She’d never been so openly rude to her mom before, and she still hurt from the disappointment in her father’s eyes. Everything seemed heightened today. All of her emotions were swirling through her and she felt like she couldn’t settle them down. She rolled over on the bed restlessly.
Where is Max? If only he would come over, he could help her feel better. Help? What a joke! She needed him to hold her, she physically ached for his arms to be around her, and her mom was right, she did have a fever. And it was getting worse.
She’d always laughed at the idea of a cold shower, never taking the concept literally. Tonight she’d been so hot and achy for Max that the thought of a cold shower had actually been tempting, so she’d tried it. The water had washed over her and cooled her temporarily. Maybe there is something to this! She’d smiled softly to herself, proud to have solved her dilemma. Proud, that is, until she’d lathered a sponge with soap and began rubbing it over her body. Her eyes had closed and her neck had arched back, a low growl escaping her lips. The sponge took long, slow strokes down her body and her breathing quickened, imagining Max was holding it.
She’d moved the cleanser slowly over her breasts, circling the sensitive nipples until they peaked rigidly under her ministrations. Her eyes opened and she’d looked down at herself. Ahhhhh! What is wrong with me? Can’t I survive one night without him? She’d turned angrily then in the shower and quickly scrubbed and shaved her body. She realized that even the cold shower hadn’t lessened her temperature.
So now as she rolled onto her back again to stare at the ceiling she only had one thought. Max! Where are you?
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max chuckled conspiratorially with Isabel and his dad as they all secretly disposed of the shrimp flauta flambé in marmalade sauce that his mother had fixed especially for her children’s return. It had become a game between the three of them to find the most creative ways to hide the evidence of Diane’s culinary disasters. Isabel won tonight, no contest. While her mother was distracted by a comment from her husband, Isabel removed a baggie from her pocket and smoothly transferred the contents from her plate. She had intended to hide it down her boot and then suggest a walk with Max after dinner to dispose of the evidence, but Diane ducked under the table just then to pick up a dropped fork. Looking helplessly at her father and brother, the evidence in her hand, she thought quickly and dropped it down her shirt. Max almost choked on his water at the expression on Isabel’s face and her dad couldn’t hold back a loud chuckle.
“What’d I miss?” Diane glanced from father to son, eyebrows raised in inquiry.
”Nothing, Mom,” Isabel interjected quickly. “Dinner was a masterpiece, as usual! Excuse me for a moment and then I’ll come back and help you clean up okay?”
Diane nodded, still looking suspiciously at the two men in her life. They thought she didn’t know what they did each evening when she tried out a new recipe. How could she not know? She had to eat it too! One day they’d break down and tell her the truth about her cooking, but until then, well…this was too much fun! The look on Isabel’s face! Priceless!! She hoped briefly that the baggie didn’t leak, laundry was not her favorite chore.
“Okay, guys, you clear the table and I’ll get the dishes started. Isabel can dry when she gets back.”
The guys stood up, eager for dinner to be over, they’d be raiding the kitchen later for something edible.
Max swayed when he stood and had to grip the table hard.
“Are you all right?” Diane asked with concern. Circling the table to reach for him.
“Um, yeah, Mom. I must of stood up too fast.” Max stood straighter and tried to laugh it off.
“Oh, well just be careful.” Diane gave him one more worried glance before moving into the kitchen.
“Okay, Mom.” Max took several deep breaths. His temperature was rising fast. He could feel his skin flushing and beads of sweat at his hairline. The dizziness passed momentarily and he helped to clear the table as quickly as he could.
“There you go, Mom. Do you need anything else before I get to my homework?”
“You still have homework? You’d better get busy! Tell Isabel that she doesn’t have to help clean up tonight, I’d rather you two get your work done.”
“I’ll tell her. I think I’ll just go to bed when I’m finished. That trip really wiped me out.”
Diane looked at her son more closely. He did look wiped out, his skin was flushed and his eyes were glazed.
“You’re not coming down with something are you?” She tried to remember the last time he’d been sick and couldn’t.
“No, no, Mom. I think I’m just tired, need some rest.”
“All right, good night honey,” she leaned in to give him a kiss, surprised when he backed away.
As he made his way to his room his steps grew heavier and heavier. Something was not right.
“Max! You look awful! What’s going on?” Isabel grabbed his arm and steered him to her room. He sat down heavily on her bed. “You’re burning up, Max! What’s happening to you?”
“I don’t know, Is,” he tried to clear his head so he could figure out what was happening. He felt so restless and …and horny?
“Something like this happened in Vegas too, right before we left. Liz and I both ran a fever and ….”
“And what? How’d you get rid of it?” Isabel was growing increasingly concerned, remembering when Michael had been so sick. She ran her hands over Max’s forehead and cheeks. So hot!
“I …we…well, um…” Max squirmed uncomfortably and leaned back out of reach of Isabel’s hands. He really didn’t want to talk about this with his sister!
“Out with it already! Tell me what we need to do for you!” Isabel threw up her hands in exasperation. Nothing like this had happened since Michael got so sick last year. Maybe she should call Michael to go get the healing stones.
“We made love.” Max couldn’t meet her eyes.
Isabel sat back in stunned surprise before smacking him across the back with a pillow from her bed.
“Are you telling me that I was worried sick over you because you’re horny? Go! Go!!! Get out of my room!” She grabbed his arm and hauled him to her door, closing it firmly behind him. “I really did not need to know that about my brother,” she muttered to herself.
Max closed his bedroom door and leaned back against it briefly, catching his breath. It was just getting worse. He peeled off his shirt and pants and pulled on some shorts. He was so restless that he decided to start his nightly workout a little early. He began a series of push ups and sit ups, before moving to the door to install the bar he used for chin ups. Just as he moved to place the bar in its brackets he realized that maybe he was not the only one suffering. Maybe Liz was passed out on her floor and needed him again or maybe….
He grabbed a T-shirt and leaped out his window. Jumping in the Jeep all he could think about was Liz and being with her. Hang on, baby, I’m on my way!
Taking the fire escape to her balcony, he leaped over the rail and ran to her window. The closer he got to her, the more he knew he had made the right decision. Liz needed him just as much as he needed her. He felt it strongly.
His powers unlocked her window and he practically fell through the opening. Liz sat up in bed quickly, a breathtaking sight in just a tank top and underwear.
“You came,” she breathed out contentedly already reaching out for him.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Ten minutes later
Michael screeched his motorcycle to a stop outside Liz’s balcony and wiped his brow. Something strange was going on and he didn’t know why he had felt compelled to come here. The fever that had gradually come over him for the last hour seemed to be lessening. He shook his head, maybe he just needed to take a drive on his motorcycle. He turned back around and drove through the streets of Roswell for a while, cooling off.
TBC
Everything You Are (CC,M/L, Mature) AN PG 15 5/3/07 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
EYA Part 12
Max moved naturally into Liz’s arms as if in a trance. Their eyes locked together and she immediately began pulling at the edges of his shirt, pulling it up over his heated skin. He raised his arms helpfully while she pulled it over his head and then ran his hands down her sides gather up the thin material of her tank top and return the favor. Their lips met and immediately began to move urgently deeper, tongues dueled for dominance and Liz pulled Max over the top of her as she lay back on her bed.
Max’s hands worked busily to remove her underwear as he kissed his way down her belly, pausing to lick and suck her sweet skin. Liz moaned out loud and her body bucked up eagerly in invitation.
Knock, knock, knock.
Without raising his head from his task, Max immediately lifted his hand to the door and locked it firmly with his powers, just as the knob began to rattle.
“Liz, honey? Why is this door locked?” Nancy rattled it again to see if it was just stuck.
“I’m not wearing any clothes right now, Mother, I just got out of the shower!” True enough, Liz thought, and tried to restrain a groan as Max’s thumbs flicked over her nipples.
“Well I thought I heard you moan or something, are you in pain? Is it that fever? Do you have a headache? I’ll call the doctor…”
“NO, Mom!” Liz called out desperately, “I don’t need the doctor. I’m just really frustrated right now!” Max bit the sensitive skin at her navel before licking into it with short, greedy laps of his tongue, and she jumped, letting out a small, needy gasp as she threaded her fingers helplessly through his hair.
“I could help you with your homework if that’s what’s bothering you,” Nancy offered hopefully. Why were teenagers so difficult? Liz needed to learn to accept her mother’s help!
“This is something that I have to figure out for myself, Mom, but thanks for offering.” Why couldn’t she take a hint and just be gone already?
“All right, but you be sure to go straight to bed when you’re finished with your homework. I don’t want you getting sick and missing school.” Nancy sighed and started back down the hall.
“I promise I’ll go right to bed. Night, Mom!” Liz muffled a giggle as the vibrations of Max’s laughter tickled the skin of her inner thighs. They could hear Nancy’s footsteps fading down the hall. At least she hadn’t really lied to her, she was frustrated and definitely needed to go straight to bed. Her breath rasped in through her lungs as Max’s tongue stroked at her most sensitive bundle of nerves. Her fingers curled in his hair and she was so ready for him that she exploded immediately with a shocked moan.
Max licked and suckled his way back up her body to reclaim her mouth in a deep kiss. “I can’t wait any longer,” he gasped out before taking possession of her lips again. He couldn’t get enough!
“Me either,” she responded eagerly as she spread her legs further and reached between them to guide him inside of her. The first plunge wrought sighs of satisfaction from both of them and as Max set a desperate rhythm Liz matched his pace, urging him faster, harder, deeper.
As their tongues and bodies mated wildly, Liz ran her hands over the sweat slick skin of her mate. He had to be the sexiest man alive. She was so lucky he had chosen her. Married her. Wow! Just that one thought sent her over the edge again and he quickly followed. As their bodies arched together in pleasure, they abruptly shared another vision.
The man was running to the cave with a box cradled protectively in his hands. Entering the cave he placed the healing stones in their matching slots in the cave wall and tapped out a rapid sequence against them. A hole slid open and he inserted the box and quickly removed the stones. The hole slid closed and the man turned. It was Jeffrey Parker.
Max and Liz gasped at the images as they flashed before them. Max rolled off Liz to the side keeping her close.
“What could that mean?” he questioned aloud, more worried than he wanted to acknowledge. He could feel Liz’s fear and confusion.
“I have no idea! Our visions have always been of true past or future events. But I can’t imagine what my father had to do with all of you! I can’t exactly just go right up and ask him either.” Liz was despondent. Was her father keeping secrets from her too?
“We’ll tell everyone in the meeting tomorrow after school, and then I think we should take a trip out to the cave and see what’s in the box,” Max decided firmly. It was good to have a plan.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Liz adjusted herself more comfortably against his lean length. She ran her hands down his chest, just because she could, and it gave her just as much pleasure as it did him. They could both use the distraction from what they had just seen. “What are you doing here, Max? How did you know….?” She let the question trail off and glanced up at him inquisitively.
“It was the same as last night. I got a fever and needed to be with you. It was impossible to ignore. I was drawn to you, and then I started to think that maybe you were being affected just as much.”
Liz kissed him to erase the worried frown that marred his face.
“I had a fever too,” she revealed softly, “and all I could think about was you. Touching you. Being with you. Making love with you.” She punctuated each remark with a kiss to his shoulder, neck, chest.
“What does all this mean? Have I transferred something to you that’s addictive? Or are we just being typical teenagers? We’ve obviously both never been with anyone else, is this what happens to everyone? Will it fade away over time or…?”
“I don’t know, Max. I don’t think it’s typical teenage hormones though. It’s too strong. I hope it does fade, but just because it would be nicer for us to be able to choose the time and place of our joining, not be pushed together out of necessity. Future Max never said anything about this, or that it was harmful or anything, you’d think he would have mentioned it, right?” She looked at Max hopefully.
“I think I would have told you if I had harmed you in any way. And he did say we were happy for fourteen years, right?” Liz nodded.
“So it won’t kill us. Maybe we should just track it for awhile and see if the severity lessens over time.”
Liz agreed, already planning a chart in her mind. Maybe color coding….
“I love you,” Max interrupted her musings, “but I’ve still got to get my schoolwork done tonight, and then maybe I’ll be able to sleep.”
The way he said it concerned Liz.
“Why wouldn’t you be able to sleep?”
“Sometimes I have insomnia is all.” He picked at the bedspread, avoiding her eyes.
She took his chin in her hand. “That’s not all, is it?” she questioned sharply, not letting him look away.
“Well,” he squirmed in discomfort at the topic, “sometimes I still have nightmares, but I’m dealing with it.” God! She doesn’t need to know this!
“Nightmares? About what?” Max looked down again and pulled away to reach for his clothes, feeling too exposed. “Oh.” She murmured softly as she realized intuitively what it was. The White Room. He hadn’t been able to let it go yet. She reached out her arms to him and pulled him into a hug. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I…I…can’t. Right now, I mean. I just…it’s…Not right now, okay?” His eyes pleaded with her to accept his response even as his body pulled away from her embrace.
The look he gave her broke her heart. “Of course. Anytime you want to. Whenever you’re ready, Max. I’m here, okay?” She wanted to keep holding him close, but it was clear that wasn’t what he needed at the moment.
Max nodded and hurriedly pulled on the rest of his clothes. He leaned down impulsively and gave her one more kiss to last the night.
“See you tomorrow. I’ll pick you up for school, okay?” He made his way back through her window as she nodded her agreement, thinking, Tomorrow is so far away!
But it came sooner than they thought.
TBC
Max moved naturally into Liz’s arms as if in a trance. Their eyes locked together and she immediately began pulling at the edges of his shirt, pulling it up over his heated skin. He raised his arms helpfully while she pulled it over his head and then ran his hands down her sides gather up the thin material of her tank top and return the favor. Their lips met and immediately began to move urgently deeper, tongues dueled for dominance and Liz pulled Max over the top of her as she lay back on her bed.
Max’s hands worked busily to remove her underwear as he kissed his way down her belly, pausing to lick and suck her sweet skin. Liz moaned out loud and her body bucked up eagerly in invitation.
Knock, knock, knock.
Without raising his head from his task, Max immediately lifted his hand to the door and locked it firmly with his powers, just as the knob began to rattle.
“Liz, honey? Why is this door locked?” Nancy rattled it again to see if it was just stuck.
“I’m not wearing any clothes right now, Mother, I just got out of the shower!” True enough, Liz thought, and tried to restrain a groan as Max’s thumbs flicked over her nipples.
“Well I thought I heard you moan or something, are you in pain? Is it that fever? Do you have a headache? I’ll call the doctor…”
“NO, Mom!” Liz called out desperately, “I don’t need the doctor. I’m just really frustrated right now!” Max bit the sensitive skin at her navel before licking into it with short, greedy laps of his tongue, and she jumped, letting out a small, needy gasp as she threaded her fingers helplessly through his hair.
“I could help you with your homework if that’s what’s bothering you,” Nancy offered hopefully. Why were teenagers so difficult? Liz needed to learn to accept her mother’s help!
“This is something that I have to figure out for myself, Mom, but thanks for offering.” Why couldn’t she take a hint and just be gone already?
“All right, but you be sure to go straight to bed when you’re finished with your homework. I don’t want you getting sick and missing school.” Nancy sighed and started back down the hall.
“I promise I’ll go right to bed. Night, Mom!” Liz muffled a giggle as the vibrations of Max’s laughter tickled the skin of her inner thighs. They could hear Nancy’s footsteps fading down the hall. At least she hadn’t really lied to her, she was frustrated and definitely needed to go straight to bed. Her breath rasped in through her lungs as Max’s tongue stroked at her most sensitive bundle of nerves. Her fingers curled in his hair and she was so ready for him that she exploded immediately with a shocked moan.
Max licked and suckled his way back up her body to reclaim her mouth in a deep kiss. “I can’t wait any longer,” he gasped out before taking possession of her lips again. He couldn’t get enough!
“Me either,” she responded eagerly as she spread her legs further and reached between them to guide him inside of her. The first plunge wrought sighs of satisfaction from both of them and as Max set a desperate rhythm Liz matched his pace, urging him faster, harder, deeper.
As their tongues and bodies mated wildly, Liz ran her hands over the sweat slick skin of her mate. He had to be the sexiest man alive. She was so lucky he had chosen her. Married her. Wow! Just that one thought sent her over the edge again and he quickly followed. As their bodies arched together in pleasure, they abruptly shared another vision.
The man was running to the cave with a box cradled protectively in his hands. Entering the cave he placed the healing stones in their matching slots in the cave wall and tapped out a rapid sequence against them. A hole slid open and he inserted the box and quickly removed the stones. The hole slid closed and the man turned. It was Jeffrey Parker.
Max and Liz gasped at the images as they flashed before them. Max rolled off Liz to the side keeping her close.
“What could that mean?” he questioned aloud, more worried than he wanted to acknowledge. He could feel Liz’s fear and confusion.
“I have no idea! Our visions have always been of true past or future events. But I can’t imagine what my father had to do with all of you! I can’t exactly just go right up and ask him either.” Liz was despondent. Was her father keeping secrets from her too?
“We’ll tell everyone in the meeting tomorrow after school, and then I think we should take a trip out to the cave and see what’s in the box,” Max decided firmly. It was good to have a plan.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Liz adjusted herself more comfortably against his lean length. She ran her hands down his chest, just because she could, and it gave her just as much pleasure as it did him. They could both use the distraction from what they had just seen. “What are you doing here, Max? How did you know….?” She let the question trail off and glanced up at him inquisitively.
“It was the same as last night. I got a fever and needed to be with you. It was impossible to ignore. I was drawn to you, and then I started to think that maybe you were being affected just as much.”
Liz kissed him to erase the worried frown that marred his face.
“I had a fever too,” she revealed softly, “and all I could think about was you. Touching you. Being with you. Making love with you.” She punctuated each remark with a kiss to his shoulder, neck, chest.
“What does all this mean? Have I transferred something to you that’s addictive? Or are we just being typical teenagers? We’ve obviously both never been with anyone else, is this what happens to everyone? Will it fade away over time or…?”
“I don’t know, Max. I don’t think it’s typical teenage hormones though. It’s too strong. I hope it does fade, but just because it would be nicer for us to be able to choose the time and place of our joining, not be pushed together out of necessity. Future Max never said anything about this, or that it was harmful or anything, you’d think he would have mentioned it, right?” She looked at Max hopefully.
“I think I would have told you if I had harmed you in any way. And he did say we were happy for fourteen years, right?” Liz nodded.
“So it won’t kill us. Maybe we should just track it for awhile and see if the severity lessens over time.”
Liz agreed, already planning a chart in her mind. Maybe color coding….
“I love you,” Max interrupted her musings, “but I’ve still got to get my schoolwork done tonight, and then maybe I’ll be able to sleep.”
The way he said it concerned Liz.
“Why wouldn’t you be able to sleep?”
“Sometimes I have insomnia is all.” He picked at the bedspread, avoiding her eyes.
She took his chin in her hand. “That’s not all, is it?” she questioned sharply, not letting him look away.
“Well,” he squirmed in discomfort at the topic, “sometimes I still have nightmares, but I’m dealing with it.” God! She doesn’t need to know this!
“Nightmares? About what?” Max looked down again and pulled away to reach for his clothes, feeling too exposed. “Oh.” She murmured softly as she realized intuitively what it was. The White Room. He hadn’t been able to let it go yet. She reached out her arms to him and pulled him into a hug. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I…I…can’t. Right now, I mean. I just…it’s…Not right now, okay?” His eyes pleaded with her to accept his response even as his body pulled away from her embrace.
The look he gave her broke her heart. “Of course. Anytime you want to. Whenever you’re ready, Max. I’m here, okay?” She wanted to keep holding him close, but it was clear that wasn’t what he needed at the moment.
Max nodded and hurriedly pulled on the rest of his clothes. He leaned down impulsively and gave her one more kiss to last the night.
“See you tomorrow. I’ll pick you up for school, okay?” He made his way back through her window as she nodded her agreement, thinking, Tomorrow is so far away!
But it came sooner than they thought.
TBC
Authors Warning: This section contains scenes that involve torture and non-consensual sexual contact between two males. If you are offended by such things please skip this section.
EYA Part 13
Run, run, run!
Liz bolted up in her bed, not knowing what had awakened her, but feeling her heart pounding heavy in her chest. She put a protective hand over her chest, feeling the wild thumping through the thin material of her tank top. Taking deep even breaths she squinted at the clock, it was still dark, there was no reason she should be wide awake at…4:47am! She kicked off her covers, feeling restless. She had an almost overwhelming desire to go…running? She shook her head and tried to relax back into her pillows, but it was impossible. The compulsion to get moving would not leave her. Reluctantly she crawled from the comfort of her bed and stumbled into the bathroom, resigning herself to a morning run.
Run, go, run!!
Liz gasped in a breath, almost stumbling into the sink. What is happening to me? She shook her head and stared at herself in the mirror, white-knuckling the edge of the sink. She looked wide-eyed and panicked. The impulse to get out grew stronger and she began to move faster, not thinking, barely taking time to brush her teeth, she dragged her hair back into a ponytail and pulled on a pair of form fitting running pants. Leaving her red tank top on she grabbed a sweatshirt and wrapped it around her waist as she stuffed her feet into her running shoes, not bothering with socks. Exiting through her window she went quickly down the fire escape and took off running through the streets of Roswell.
She set a steady rhythm for herself, already feeling a rush of relief. She had begun running last year when it seemed that she was doing so much of it to save her life. It seemed like a useful skill to have, considering her circle of friends. It also gave her time to think and sift through the mess that her life had become since last May when she had learned Max=s destiny and had forced herself to walk away from him so that he could be free to fulfill it. Step, step, step. Usually she ran at the track after school on the days she didn’t have to go straight to work, and she had never had this urge to run through the dark streets of Roswell before dawn.
Her feet seemed to know where to take her and she ran steadily and strongly into one of the nicer neighborhoods.
Never again! Never again!
The voice broke her rhythm and she stumbled on the smooth sidewalk. What is happening to me? Liz couldn’t make herself stop. What did this voice in her head mean? Never again what? The voice was familiar but not at the same time. It sounded almost scared, definitely focused, and vaguely harsh. It sounded like…Max! Max was in trouble! She ran faster, he must need her if he was reaching out through their new connection like that! Her feet led her around one final corner just as Max raced by her from another direction. He hadn’t even seen her! She sprinted to catch up with him and reached her hand out and grabbed his shoulder.
“Ma…ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Her query ended in a scream as Max turned and flung her back eight feet into a neighbor’s rose bush.
“I said no!” He yelled out harshly as his arm came up protectively in front of him, the green glow of his shield casting an eerie glow in the pre-dawn light.
“Max…it’s me. Liz!” And she could see the moment recognition dawned over his face and his shield came down. He was by her side the next instant, helping her to her feet, the apologies flowing almost faster than he could say them.
“Oh my God! Liz! I thought you were…I didn’t…I…I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you! Did I hurt you? I don=t know what…”
“I’m fine, Max! I’m okay! Just tell me what’s going on here. Why are you out here running alone in the dark? Is someone after you? Do we need to get the rest of the group?” Liz brushed grass out of her hair and tried not to wince as her wrist protested at the sudden movement.
“No. No! I’m fine. I do this every morning. I mean, not this,” he waved his hand to her disheveled state, “but I run. It…it helps sometimes. Please, Liz tell me I didn’t hurt you!” His hands were running over her skull tenderly picking out grass and twigs, wincing as he found a rose thorn and freed it from her hair.
“It’s just a few scratches, Max. I’m fine.” Liz hated the panicked guilt in his expression.
Let me see He gently took her arms and assessed the long ugly scratches that the thorny rosebush had gouged into her delicate skin. “Oh, Liz! Let me…”
“No! Max, we’re right out in the open, anyone could see! Let’s go back to your house and you are going to tell me exactly what is going on with you!” She tugged her arms free and took off running toward his house knowing he would follow.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Diane Evans was having a terrible time getting back to sleep. She had thought she heard a noise almost an hour ago and hadn’t slept since. Finally she gave in to the urge to get up and check on her children. First she peeked in on Isabel since her room was the closest. Seeing her daughter curled safely on her side and tucked securely under the covers she quietly closed the door and proceeded to Max’s room. Max, what is going on with you?
She didn’t know what to do with him anymore. She knew that something was bothering him, but he would never talk about it with her. She had tried to be understanding and patient, had even sent him to a therapist thinking that maybe it would be easier for him to share things with a stranger, but nothing seemed to really help. He was always so tired looking in the mornings and it seemed like he had to make an effort to act normal around everyone, like it was forced.
She shook her head as she slowly turned the knob of his bedroom door. Just as she had the door open a couple inches she was shocked to see him crawling in his bedroom window. Her shock was compounded when he turned back to the window and helped…Liz Parker?…in over the sill after him.
“Okay, Max tell me what is going on with you!” Liz demanded softly.
Diane inhaled sharply. That was exactly the question she had wanted the answer to for almost a year! She swallowed back her unease at the thought of eavesdropping on her child and leaned closer to listen to his response.
“Liz, first just let me…” he took her arms in his hands and Liz could feel him gathering his energy to heal her scratches. He ran his glowing hands over her arms carefully and the scrapes and newly forming bruises disappeared instantly.
Diane’s eyes widened, her son had just healed Liz Parker!
Max kissed Liz’s right wrist. “You didn’t tell me it was sprained,” he admonished gently.
“It wasn’t that bad…I’m fine now. Thank you, Max.” She slipped her hand around to thread her fingers through his. “Now please, please tell me what is going on with you, Max!” Liz implored him urgently.
“Liz, this isn’t something easy. It’s not…I don’t know how to talk about it and you don=t need to hear all the ugly…” Max wouldn’t meet her eyes and the hitch in his voice almost brought her to tears. She had to do something. Say something. She could see clearly that if he didn’t let this out it would tear him apart. It already was.
“Max! I am your wife! For better or worse and I meant that when we spoke our vows! It’s you and me, together now…for everything, not just the easy stuff! If something is upsetting you to the point that you don’t even recognize me then I need to know what it is!”
Max flinched at her statement, rubbing one hand over his eyes before raking it through his hair. He sighed deeply, obviously thinking before he spoke.
“Sit down, Liz.” He gestured to the disordered bed.
Liz arranged the pillows against the wall and leaned back against them drawing Max down to sit beside her. She watched his face in profile as he picked at the bedspread restlessly.
“This is about the White Room isn’t it?” Max=s pained expression gave her the answer, even before he nodded mutely, still staring at the bedspread. “Are you saying that you haven’t ever talked to Isabel or Michael or…or Tess about what happened to you? How could you keep that kind of thing bottled up inside you for almost a year?”
“I kept thinking that I should get over it eventually, I mean…it’s over, right? And we’ve had so much going on and I had to be strong. Be a king!” He snorted derisively at that. “They needed to look up to me, not see me as some scared, weak little…” His voice trailed off in misery.
Liz hurt inside, watching his pain, witnessing his helpless admission. “When you were seeing that therapist last fall did you ever try to tell him what was going on inside you?”
“No! Liz, what was I going to say? ‘Gee, Mr. Therapist I’m the King alien from a planet far, far away and I’m having trouble working through my issues since the Alien Hunting Unit of the FBI captured me and tortured me for two days last May just before I discovered my destiny is to lead my alien squad to save Earth and my home planet from evil aliens who have been doing their best to kill us for the last few months. Oh yeah, and I have woken up every night since with terrible nightmares of the White Room and what he did…’”
“Okay! I get it! You could never tell him stuff like that. You’ve had nightmares every night?” She caressed his cheek tenderly, looking into his anguished eyes.
He slowly nodded, head down. “I keep thinking, if I had only been faster, stronger, then they would never have caught me! And every night I work out until I=m exhausted enough to sleep thinking maybe tonight it won’t happen again, maybe I’ll get to wake up like a normal person and not have fear choking me, and every night I wake up trying to swallow back the screams so my family doesn’t find out what a mess I am, and I force myself to be brave enough to go out in the dark alone and run. I just keep running faster and faster and I just chant in my head Never again! Never again! Because I will not go back there again! It would kill me, I know it, and I’d rather be dead than go through that again!” He finished on a sob, still unable to meet her eyes, and Liz gathered him close so she could cradle his head to her chest.
“You need to show me what happened to you there.” Max began to shake in her arms.
“Believe me, you don't want to see it, and I don't want to expose you to…”
“Show me,” She insisted emphatically. This hurt him so badly. She thought she had known, had an idea at least, of what had happened. She didn’t want to make him relive it, but he had to let it out. Let it go.
He reached out his trembling hand for hers and when they had made the connection he struggled to open that part of himself that he kept locked away, that only came out when his guard was down in sleep. “I told him…I said no, Liz. I did, I swear it.” He closed his eyes in concentration and buried his head against her body. He could not look at her while these memories were pouring over him.
Liz gasped in surprise. The intensity of their connection combined with the strength of Max’s memories to cause an actual image to appear in front of her in the room. It played beside them like a sick movie.
Max running from the FBI agents until they overcame him, slamming his face into the glass in the House of Mirrors, watching Liz take off with the false version of himself, not knowing if she was safe.
The sharp prick of a needle in his arm and the sudden sense of disorientation and weakness that swept over him as his vision blurred and his powers dulled to nothing.
Being forced face down on a gurney, held down by the back of his neck until breathing became a real issue, and transported seemingly endless miles in a van to an unknown location.
The sharp, bitter taste of fear in his mouth as they wheeled him down the long corridor into the White Room that would haunt his nightmares.
The utter confusion when they left him huddled there against the wall with fear building on fear as the minutes passed with no clue of what was to come.
His futile, useless struggle against the three men who came in and stripped him of his clothes.
He was so weak, so weak!
They hauled him up naked onto a narrow bed and strapped his wrists to the sides and his ankles to the bottom corners, forcing his legs apart. His powers didn’t work and his body wasn’t strong enough! His fear built by leaping degrees when another man came in. This one was in a full decontamination suit and Max blinked through his dizziness, but still couldn’t see who it was.
The man wore surgical gloves and moved around him purposefully. Something about him…was familiar. The man was silent at first when he took a razor and scraped skin from Max’s shoulder and inner thigh. The drugs dulled his power, but did nothing for the pain as Max arched up off the mattress and screamed out loud as patches of his skin were abraded and removed. Sweat beaded his body while his mouth was pried open and a thick tube suctioned out saliva efficiently. Max gagged when the tube was pushed to the back of his throat and he heard the man chuckle evilly, “Don’t worry, we’ll work on that.” He turned to pick up a large needle and expertly extracted two vials of blood. The man moved around to stand out of Max’s line of sight, and Max could feel the sweat pooling under him as his fear ricocheted off the charts wondering what was going to happen next.
The man moved back into Max’s field of vision and Max almost wished he couldn’t see what was coming. “Wh-what do you want from me?” Max moaned out, eyes fixated on the electrical prod that the man was wielding so comfortably. The man paused, as if considering. “Well, right now I just want to take a sample of your sweat, so I thought I’d get you to make some for me.” And with that, he stepped forward and poked the prod at Max’s inner thighs causing his back to arch up in a bow and another scream to be ripped from his lungs. When the prod was finally taken away the man stroked a soothing hand down Max’s side and over his heaving chest. “Good boy. I think I’ve got enough now.” Pierce held up another collection cup, filled with yellow fluid. “You even pissed yourself! I guess we can skip the catheter for now,” he added almost regretfully. The man walked away with the filled specimen jars on a tray.
Max slumped back in relief. Maybe he would be left alone now. Maybe the man had what he came for and Max could rest long enough to recover his strength, his powers. His chest heaved under his exertions and the drugs and raw fear were making his stomach heave, but he tried to force back the panic and just breathe. He watched with a wary eye as the man walked out through the concealed door, not quite shutting it behind him. Had he just forgotten? Or did this mean he was coming right back? Max tested his bonds and found them to be more than secure. They had almost no give, and he could feel the circulation slowing in his hands and feet. He lay his head back and stared at the white ceiling. So far these were all things that Max expected. They had all imagined the worst if one of them should be captured. He thought he knew what to expect, but what came next had never even entered his worst nightmares.
“Max, you're going to love this!” The man’s soft, taunting voice was vaguely familiar and he only later realized that it was Agent Pierce. Pierce took a wet washcloth and bathed it over Max’s skin. “Don’t want to contaminate the next samples,” he explained as he scrubbed the cloth over Max’s chest and abdomen, washing over his flaccid cock and balls, before moving to his inner thighs. Max’s entire body trembled with fear through the entire process and his eyes widened in horrified comprehension when Pierce removed the glove from his right hand and stroked it slowly down Max’s hip to rest at his inner thigh. Max leaped up as far as he could in his restraints. “NO!!!!”
“Now, Max, relax, you’re really going to enjoy this and it’s the only way to get the other samples I need! Now lay back like a good alien and let me do this or I’ll call the other men back in here to hold you down and watch. Who knows, maybe they’d like to play too.” Pierce’s tone started out soft and reasonable and ended on a menacing note.
Max just stared up at him in horror and knew that Pierce would get what he wanted. Max was utterly powerless and paralyzed by the drugs and his fear. He lay back and shuddered when he felt Pierce wrap his bare hand around his cock and stroke it with practiced ease.
He tried to make his mind retreat back so that he wouldn’t be conscious of what was happening to his body, but Pierce kept up a running stream of conversation about how much he was going to enjoy this and how responsive Max’s body was to his touch. The sound of his voice kept pulling Max back from his retreat and he was ashamed and disgusted with himself when his body betrayed him with its natural reaction to a direct stimulus. “That’s better, Maxie boy, I was beginning to wonder about you. You can pretend I’m your pretty girlfriend Liz if you want,” Pierce intoned gently while stroking Max roughly and beginning to probe behind his ball sac with his gloved hand.
“You animal!! Don’t you ever say her name!” Max surged up off the table in rage and renewed fear until his restrained wrists pulled him short.
“I’ll call in my men if you don’t lay back right now!” Pierce threatened, tightening his grip painfully over Max’s cock as it shriveled in his fist.
Max lay back down, weak from the energy he had expended with his protest. Pierce shook his head, muttering at having to start over as he fisted Max’s cock again. His gloved hand poked behind Max’s balls again and lower until Max’s spread thighs trembled and he whispered, “No. Please no. You don’t have to do this…” He was begging for mercy and he didn’t care, but it didn’t stop Pierce from inserting his dry, gloved finger up Max’s ass and wriggling it around until he located Max’s prostate. “Might as well get a stool sample too, eh, Max?” He bumped his finger repeatedly over the sensitive gland until Max’s cock stood at attention again. “You are such a slut, Max Evans. I had no idea you would love this so much…” As Pierce continued the manipulation of his body Max realized that there were things worse than death and he gave up and actively willed himself to die. But even that was out of his control and Max’s seed finally erupted into a specimen jar that Pierce held ready.
As he felt himself spilling his seed Max could not stop the sob in his throat or the tears from pouring down his face.
“Interesting, it’s almost like you have human emotions,” Pierce noted clinically. He casually picked up another specimen jar and took a sample of the tears.
Max took a deep breath and promised himself that he would not voluntarily give up any more of himself to this monster. That promise was immediately broken at Pierce’s next statement.
Running his bare hand casually down Max’s chest and leaning close to his ear, he softly pinched a nipple and whispered intimately, “I told you that you’d like it, and you’re going to be here for years. The nights are long and you’ve got a hell of a lot more to learn!”
Max gagged and began to choke on his vomit. Pierce immediately pushed him to a sitting position and slid his hand tenderly up Max’s back to support his neck, his other hand holding a basin to contain the mess. When the retching subsided he gently eased Max onto his back again and tenderly cleaned his face with a soft cloth. He beamed at Max approvingly. “I didn’t think we’d get a vomit sample until we really got started!”
They hadn’t even started yet? They’d raped his body and soul. What more could they take from him? He was about to find out.
Pierce left him there naked and strapped to the bed for what seemed like hours. Max knew that this was just to humiliate and degrade him and it worked. He was almost pitifully grateful when a man came in later and released him from the restraints after giving him another shot and then handed him some scrubs to put on. He leaped into the clothes faster than he thought he was capable of.
“You’ve seen most of the rest,” Max whispered to Liz in a tone devoid of any real emotion.
He allowed the images of the torture that followed to flow quickly through the connection in quick flashes.
The electric shock, the endless interrogation, the ice baths, the drugs, the restraints.
And all through this Liz could sense that he had hung on to her. His image of her and the purity of their love had given him strength to persevere and the will to survive. He endured everything that came after for the promise of being with her, of being cleansed by her and loved by her. He had to be strong to be worthy of her.
Shaken by all that she had seen Liz let out a shuddering breath and broke the connection. The images that had flooded the room were gone abruptly and Liz slumped back with relief. Guilt rushed through her as she realized that she had walked away from him right after the rescue, right after he had learned his destiny, when he had needed her the most.
“I’ve only had two nights without the nightmares since it happened. One was the night you rescued me and I slept in your arms, and the other was the night before last when you married me and we made love and I fell asleep wrapped up in you. I…I had hoped that maybe now that we are together that the nightmares were gone, but last night…”
He still couldn’t meet her eyes. He felt dirtied again after reliving the memories. It was no wonder Liz had walked away from him after he’d been…after what he’d done. Liz gently took his face in her hands and turned him to look at her. Tears streamed down both of their faces and she gently began placing soft kisses over his cheeks and eyes murmuring her love and reassurance over and over.
Max groaned and pulled her in closer. His lips sought hers hungrily and his tongue gently sought entrance. Her love and acceptance bathed over him in clean waves, and he knew it was real! She really didn’t think of him as weak and shameful, but as beautiful and strong. Max tried to let go of his guilt and rage and poured all of his love and hope into their kiss. His hands pulled at the hem of her tank her top as hers moved to strip him of his shirt.
Diane gently eased the door closed and leaned back against the wall weakly. She had collapsed to her knees at the images that had assailed her. There was so much to process! Max! Her little boy was an alien? Not only that but he was a king? And all those times he had been missing last year he had been in mortal danger, and even tortured and abused and…and assaulted and she had never known! Guilt washed over her. Shouldn’t she have tried harder to figure out what was wrong with her son? He had carried that around alone for so long! And what was this about he and Liz being married! My God! Her son was a married man and she hadn’t even known they were dating! He was in his room right now making love to his wife! Diane got up on shaky legs when she began to hear soft moans through the door. She vaguely felt that she should stop what was happening, but after what she had just seen, what her son had survived without aid or comfort, how could she ever deny him the only comfort and solace he had been able to find for the last year?
Plans for how to let him know that she knew and how to keep Liz close to Max so the nightmares would stop began rushing through her head as she started down the hall on shaky legs to her room.
TBC
EYA Part 13
Run, run, run!
Liz bolted up in her bed, not knowing what had awakened her, but feeling her heart pounding heavy in her chest. She put a protective hand over her chest, feeling the wild thumping through the thin material of her tank top. Taking deep even breaths she squinted at the clock, it was still dark, there was no reason she should be wide awake at…4:47am! She kicked off her covers, feeling restless. She had an almost overwhelming desire to go…running? She shook her head and tried to relax back into her pillows, but it was impossible. The compulsion to get moving would not leave her. Reluctantly she crawled from the comfort of her bed and stumbled into the bathroom, resigning herself to a morning run.
Run, go, run!!
Liz gasped in a breath, almost stumbling into the sink. What is happening to me? She shook her head and stared at herself in the mirror, white-knuckling the edge of the sink. She looked wide-eyed and panicked. The impulse to get out grew stronger and she began to move faster, not thinking, barely taking time to brush her teeth, she dragged her hair back into a ponytail and pulled on a pair of form fitting running pants. Leaving her red tank top on she grabbed a sweatshirt and wrapped it around her waist as she stuffed her feet into her running shoes, not bothering with socks. Exiting through her window she went quickly down the fire escape and took off running through the streets of Roswell.
She set a steady rhythm for herself, already feeling a rush of relief. She had begun running last year when it seemed that she was doing so much of it to save her life. It seemed like a useful skill to have, considering her circle of friends. It also gave her time to think and sift through the mess that her life had become since last May when she had learned Max=s destiny and had forced herself to walk away from him so that he could be free to fulfill it. Step, step, step. Usually she ran at the track after school on the days she didn’t have to go straight to work, and she had never had this urge to run through the dark streets of Roswell before dawn.
Her feet seemed to know where to take her and she ran steadily and strongly into one of the nicer neighborhoods.
Never again! Never again!
The voice broke her rhythm and she stumbled on the smooth sidewalk. What is happening to me? Liz couldn’t make herself stop. What did this voice in her head mean? Never again what? The voice was familiar but not at the same time. It sounded almost scared, definitely focused, and vaguely harsh. It sounded like…Max! Max was in trouble! She ran faster, he must need her if he was reaching out through their new connection like that! Her feet led her around one final corner just as Max raced by her from another direction. He hadn’t even seen her! She sprinted to catch up with him and reached her hand out and grabbed his shoulder.
“Ma…ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Her query ended in a scream as Max turned and flung her back eight feet into a neighbor’s rose bush.
“I said no!” He yelled out harshly as his arm came up protectively in front of him, the green glow of his shield casting an eerie glow in the pre-dawn light.
“Max…it’s me. Liz!” And she could see the moment recognition dawned over his face and his shield came down. He was by her side the next instant, helping her to her feet, the apologies flowing almost faster than he could say them.
“Oh my God! Liz! I thought you were…I didn’t…I…I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you! Did I hurt you? I don=t know what…”
“I’m fine, Max! I’m okay! Just tell me what’s going on here. Why are you out here running alone in the dark? Is someone after you? Do we need to get the rest of the group?” Liz brushed grass out of her hair and tried not to wince as her wrist protested at the sudden movement.
“No. No! I’m fine. I do this every morning. I mean, not this,” he waved his hand to her disheveled state, “but I run. It…it helps sometimes. Please, Liz tell me I didn’t hurt you!” His hands were running over her skull tenderly picking out grass and twigs, wincing as he found a rose thorn and freed it from her hair.
“It’s just a few scratches, Max. I’m fine.” Liz hated the panicked guilt in his expression.
Let me see He gently took her arms and assessed the long ugly scratches that the thorny rosebush had gouged into her delicate skin. “Oh, Liz! Let me…”
“No! Max, we’re right out in the open, anyone could see! Let’s go back to your house and you are going to tell me exactly what is going on with you!” She tugged her arms free and took off running toward his house knowing he would follow.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Diane Evans was having a terrible time getting back to sleep. She had thought she heard a noise almost an hour ago and hadn’t slept since. Finally she gave in to the urge to get up and check on her children. First she peeked in on Isabel since her room was the closest. Seeing her daughter curled safely on her side and tucked securely under the covers she quietly closed the door and proceeded to Max’s room. Max, what is going on with you?
She didn’t know what to do with him anymore. She knew that something was bothering him, but he would never talk about it with her. She had tried to be understanding and patient, had even sent him to a therapist thinking that maybe it would be easier for him to share things with a stranger, but nothing seemed to really help. He was always so tired looking in the mornings and it seemed like he had to make an effort to act normal around everyone, like it was forced.
She shook her head as she slowly turned the knob of his bedroom door. Just as she had the door open a couple inches she was shocked to see him crawling in his bedroom window. Her shock was compounded when he turned back to the window and helped…Liz Parker?…in over the sill after him.
“Okay, Max tell me what is going on with you!” Liz demanded softly.
Diane inhaled sharply. That was exactly the question she had wanted the answer to for almost a year! She swallowed back her unease at the thought of eavesdropping on her child and leaned closer to listen to his response.
“Liz, first just let me…” he took her arms in his hands and Liz could feel him gathering his energy to heal her scratches. He ran his glowing hands over her arms carefully and the scrapes and newly forming bruises disappeared instantly.
Diane’s eyes widened, her son had just healed Liz Parker!
Max kissed Liz’s right wrist. “You didn’t tell me it was sprained,” he admonished gently.
“It wasn’t that bad…I’m fine now. Thank you, Max.” She slipped her hand around to thread her fingers through his. “Now please, please tell me what is going on with you, Max!” Liz implored him urgently.
“Liz, this isn’t something easy. It’s not…I don’t know how to talk about it and you don=t need to hear all the ugly…” Max wouldn’t meet her eyes and the hitch in his voice almost brought her to tears. She had to do something. Say something. She could see clearly that if he didn’t let this out it would tear him apart. It already was.
“Max! I am your wife! For better or worse and I meant that when we spoke our vows! It’s you and me, together now…for everything, not just the easy stuff! If something is upsetting you to the point that you don’t even recognize me then I need to know what it is!”
Max flinched at her statement, rubbing one hand over his eyes before raking it through his hair. He sighed deeply, obviously thinking before he spoke.
“Sit down, Liz.” He gestured to the disordered bed.
Liz arranged the pillows against the wall and leaned back against them drawing Max down to sit beside her. She watched his face in profile as he picked at the bedspread restlessly.
“This is about the White Room isn’t it?” Max=s pained expression gave her the answer, even before he nodded mutely, still staring at the bedspread. “Are you saying that you haven’t ever talked to Isabel or Michael or…or Tess about what happened to you? How could you keep that kind of thing bottled up inside you for almost a year?”
“I kept thinking that I should get over it eventually, I mean…it’s over, right? And we’ve had so much going on and I had to be strong. Be a king!” He snorted derisively at that. “They needed to look up to me, not see me as some scared, weak little…” His voice trailed off in misery.
Liz hurt inside, watching his pain, witnessing his helpless admission. “When you were seeing that therapist last fall did you ever try to tell him what was going on inside you?”
“No! Liz, what was I going to say? ‘Gee, Mr. Therapist I’m the King alien from a planet far, far away and I’m having trouble working through my issues since the Alien Hunting Unit of the FBI captured me and tortured me for two days last May just before I discovered my destiny is to lead my alien squad to save Earth and my home planet from evil aliens who have been doing their best to kill us for the last few months. Oh yeah, and I have woken up every night since with terrible nightmares of the White Room and what he did…’”
“Okay! I get it! You could never tell him stuff like that. You’ve had nightmares every night?” She caressed his cheek tenderly, looking into his anguished eyes.
He slowly nodded, head down. “I keep thinking, if I had only been faster, stronger, then they would never have caught me! And every night I work out until I=m exhausted enough to sleep thinking maybe tonight it won’t happen again, maybe I’ll get to wake up like a normal person and not have fear choking me, and every night I wake up trying to swallow back the screams so my family doesn’t find out what a mess I am, and I force myself to be brave enough to go out in the dark alone and run. I just keep running faster and faster and I just chant in my head Never again! Never again! Because I will not go back there again! It would kill me, I know it, and I’d rather be dead than go through that again!” He finished on a sob, still unable to meet her eyes, and Liz gathered him close so she could cradle his head to her chest.
“You need to show me what happened to you there.” Max began to shake in her arms.
“Believe me, you don't want to see it, and I don't want to expose you to…”
“Show me,” She insisted emphatically. This hurt him so badly. She thought she had known, had an idea at least, of what had happened. She didn’t want to make him relive it, but he had to let it out. Let it go.
He reached out his trembling hand for hers and when they had made the connection he struggled to open that part of himself that he kept locked away, that only came out when his guard was down in sleep. “I told him…I said no, Liz. I did, I swear it.” He closed his eyes in concentration and buried his head against her body. He could not look at her while these memories were pouring over him.
Liz gasped in surprise. The intensity of their connection combined with the strength of Max’s memories to cause an actual image to appear in front of her in the room. It played beside them like a sick movie.
Max running from the FBI agents until they overcame him, slamming his face into the glass in the House of Mirrors, watching Liz take off with the false version of himself, not knowing if she was safe.
The sharp prick of a needle in his arm and the sudden sense of disorientation and weakness that swept over him as his vision blurred and his powers dulled to nothing.
Being forced face down on a gurney, held down by the back of his neck until breathing became a real issue, and transported seemingly endless miles in a van to an unknown location.
The sharp, bitter taste of fear in his mouth as they wheeled him down the long corridor into the White Room that would haunt his nightmares.
The utter confusion when they left him huddled there against the wall with fear building on fear as the minutes passed with no clue of what was to come.
His futile, useless struggle against the three men who came in and stripped him of his clothes.
He was so weak, so weak!
They hauled him up naked onto a narrow bed and strapped his wrists to the sides and his ankles to the bottom corners, forcing his legs apart. His powers didn’t work and his body wasn’t strong enough! His fear built by leaping degrees when another man came in. This one was in a full decontamination suit and Max blinked through his dizziness, but still couldn’t see who it was.
The man wore surgical gloves and moved around him purposefully. Something about him…was familiar. The man was silent at first when he took a razor and scraped skin from Max’s shoulder and inner thigh. The drugs dulled his power, but did nothing for the pain as Max arched up off the mattress and screamed out loud as patches of his skin were abraded and removed. Sweat beaded his body while his mouth was pried open and a thick tube suctioned out saliva efficiently. Max gagged when the tube was pushed to the back of his throat and he heard the man chuckle evilly, “Don’t worry, we’ll work on that.” He turned to pick up a large needle and expertly extracted two vials of blood. The man moved around to stand out of Max’s line of sight, and Max could feel the sweat pooling under him as his fear ricocheted off the charts wondering what was going to happen next.
The man moved back into Max’s field of vision and Max almost wished he couldn’t see what was coming. “Wh-what do you want from me?” Max moaned out, eyes fixated on the electrical prod that the man was wielding so comfortably. The man paused, as if considering. “Well, right now I just want to take a sample of your sweat, so I thought I’d get you to make some for me.” And with that, he stepped forward and poked the prod at Max’s inner thighs causing his back to arch up in a bow and another scream to be ripped from his lungs. When the prod was finally taken away the man stroked a soothing hand down Max’s side and over his heaving chest. “Good boy. I think I’ve got enough now.” Pierce held up another collection cup, filled with yellow fluid. “You even pissed yourself! I guess we can skip the catheter for now,” he added almost regretfully. The man walked away with the filled specimen jars on a tray.
Max slumped back in relief. Maybe he would be left alone now. Maybe the man had what he came for and Max could rest long enough to recover his strength, his powers. His chest heaved under his exertions and the drugs and raw fear were making his stomach heave, but he tried to force back the panic and just breathe. He watched with a wary eye as the man walked out through the concealed door, not quite shutting it behind him. Had he just forgotten? Or did this mean he was coming right back? Max tested his bonds and found them to be more than secure. They had almost no give, and he could feel the circulation slowing in his hands and feet. He lay his head back and stared at the white ceiling. So far these were all things that Max expected. They had all imagined the worst if one of them should be captured. He thought he knew what to expect, but what came next had never even entered his worst nightmares.
“Max, you're going to love this!” The man’s soft, taunting voice was vaguely familiar and he only later realized that it was Agent Pierce. Pierce took a wet washcloth and bathed it over Max’s skin. “Don’t want to contaminate the next samples,” he explained as he scrubbed the cloth over Max’s chest and abdomen, washing over his flaccid cock and balls, before moving to his inner thighs. Max’s entire body trembled with fear through the entire process and his eyes widened in horrified comprehension when Pierce removed the glove from his right hand and stroked it slowly down Max’s hip to rest at his inner thigh. Max leaped up as far as he could in his restraints. “NO!!!!”
“Now, Max, relax, you’re really going to enjoy this and it’s the only way to get the other samples I need! Now lay back like a good alien and let me do this or I’ll call the other men back in here to hold you down and watch. Who knows, maybe they’d like to play too.” Pierce’s tone started out soft and reasonable and ended on a menacing note.
Max just stared up at him in horror and knew that Pierce would get what he wanted. Max was utterly powerless and paralyzed by the drugs and his fear. He lay back and shuddered when he felt Pierce wrap his bare hand around his cock and stroke it with practiced ease.
He tried to make his mind retreat back so that he wouldn’t be conscious of what was happening to his body, but Pierce kept up a running stream of conversation about how much he was going to enjoy this and how responsive Max’s body was to his touch. The sound of his voice kept pulling Max back from his retreat and he was ashamed and disgusted with himself when his body betrayed him with its natural reaction to a direct stimulus. “That’s better, Maxie boy, I was beginning to wonder about you. You can pretend I’m your pretty girlfriend Liz if you want,” Pierce intoned gently while stroking Max roughly and beginning to probe behind his ball sac with his gloved hand.
“You animal!! Don’t you ever say her name!” Max surged up off the table in rage and renewed fear until his restrained wrists pulled him short.
“I’ll call in my men if you don’t lay back right now!” Pierce threatened, tightening his grip painfully over Max’s cock as it shriveled in his fist.
Max lay back down, weak from the energy he had expended with his protest. Pierce shook his head, muttering at having to start over as he fisted Max’s cock again. His gloved hand poked behind Max’s balls again and lower until Max’s spread thighs trembled and he whispered, “No. Please no. You don’t have to do this…” He was begging for mercy and he didn’t care, but it didn’t stop Pierce from inserting his dry, gloved finger up Max’s ass and wriggling it around until he located Max’s prostate. “Might as well get a stool sample too, eh, Max?” He bumped his finger repeatedly over the sensitive gland until Max’s cock stood at attention again. “You are such a slut, Max Evans. I had no idea you would love this so much…” As Pierce continued the manipulation of his body Max realized that there were things worse than death and he gave up and actively willed himself to die. But even that was out of his control and Max’s seed finally erupted into a specimen jar that Pierce held ready.
As he felt himself spilling his seed Max could not stop the sob in his throat or the tears from pouring down his face.
“Interesting, it’s almost like you have human emotions,” Pierce noted clinically. He casually picked up another specimen jar and took a sample of the tears.
Max took a deep breath and promised himself that he would not voluntarily give up any more of himself to this monster. That promise was immediately broken at Pierce’s next statement.
Running his bare hand casually down Max’s chest and leaning close to his ear, he softly pinched a nipple and whispered intimately, “I told you that you’d like it, and you’re going to be here for years. The nights are long and you’ve got a hell of a lot more to learn!”
Max gagged and began to choke on his vomit. Pierce immediately pushed him to a sitting position and slid his hand tenderly up Max’s back to support his neck, his other hand holding a basin to contain the mess. When the retching subsided he gently eased Max onto his back again and tenderly cleaned his face with a soft cloth. He beamed at Max approvingly. “I didn’t think we’d get a vomit sample until we really got started!”
They hadn’t even started yet? They’d raped his body and soul. What more could they take from him? He was about to find out.
Pierce left him there naked and strapped to the bed for what seemed like hours. Max knew that this was just to humiliate and degrade him and it worked. He was almost pitifully grateful when a man came in later and released him from the restraints after giving him another shot and then handed him some scrubs to put on. He leaped into the clothes faster than he thought he was capable of.
“You’ve seen most of the rest,” Max whispered to Liz in a tone devoid of any real emotion.
He allowed the images of the torture that followed to flow quickly through the connection in quick flashes.
The electric shock, the endless interrogation, the ice baths, the drugs, the restraints.
And all through this Liz could sense that he had hung on to her. His image of her and the purity of their love had given him strength to persevere and the will to survive. He endured everything that came after for the promise of being with her, of being cleansed by her and loved by her. He had to be strong to be worthy of her.
Shaken by all that she had seen Liz let out a shuddering breath and broke the connection. The images that had flooded the room were gone abruptly and Liz slumped back with relief. Guilt rushed through her as she realized that she had walked away from him right after the rescue, right after he had learned his destiny, when he had needed her the most.
“I’ve only had two nights without the nightmares since it happened. One was the night you rescued me and I slept in your arms, and the other was the night before last when you married me and we made love and I fell asleep wrapped up in you. I…I had hoped that maybe now that we are together that the nightmares were gone, but last night…”
He still couldn’t meet her eyes. He felt dirtied again after reliving the memories. It was no wonder Liz had walked away from him after he’d been…after what he’d done. Liz gently took his face in her hands and turned him to look at her. Tears streamed down both of their faces and she gently began placing soft kisses over his cheeks and eyes murmuring her love and reassurance over and over.
Max groaned and pulled her in closer. His lips sought hers hungrily and his tongue gently sought entrance. Her love and acceptance bathed over him in clean waves, and he knew it was real! She really didn’t think of him as weak and shameful, but as beautiful and strong. Max tried to let go of his guilt and rage and poured all of his love and hope into their kiss. His hands pulled at the hem of her tank her top as hers moved to strip him of his shirt.
Diane gently eased the door closed and leaned back against the wall weakly. She had collapsed to her knees at the images that had assailed her. There was so much to process! Max! Her little boy was an alien? Not only that but he was a king? And all those times he had been missing last year he had been in mortal danger, and even tortured and abused and…and assaulted and she had never known! Guilt washed over her. Shouldn’t she have tried harder to figure out what was wrong with her son? He had carried that around alone for so long! And what was this about he and Liz being married! My God! Her son was a married man and she hadn’t even known they were dating! He was in his room right now making love to his wife! Diane got up on shaky legs when she began to hear soft moans through the door. She vaguely felt that she should stop what was happening, but after what she had just seen, what her son had survived without aid or comfort, how could she ever deny him the only comfort and solace he had been able to find for the last year?
Plans for how to let him know that she knew and how to keep Liz close to Max so the nightmares would stop began rushing through her head as she started down the hall on shaky legs to her room.
TBC
Last edited by javagin on Mon May 26, 2003 11:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
EYA Part 14
They moved together slowly, each touch an affirmation of love, each caress a promise to always be there. They shared long slow kisses and murmured words of love and passion. And when their bodies joined, the connection spiraled around them expanding to bind body, heart, and soul.
When their breathing slowed, they lay twined in each other’s arms, wrecked from the avalanche of emotions and exertion they had endured that morning. Liz cradled Max’s head to her chest when slow tears trailed down his cheeks and she rocked him gently back and forth. His grief and pain were released from the bond they shared as her support and comforting love rushed through to buoy him. Never had he felt such complete acceptance from anyone for him. The awesome amount of shame and guilt that he had carried for so long, alone and scared, seemed so much lighter. The past was over, never to be repeated, and he lay in the loving arms of his future.
Isabel walked by Max’s door on her way to the kitchen and thought she heard muffled crying. Concerned, she eased the door open and stood paralyzed with shock at the sight that greeted her eyes. Liz’s head was bent over Max, her lips in his hair, as she gently rocked his crying form. Both were completely unclothed and absolutely oblivious to her interruption. Isabel was washed over with the wave of emotions that reverberated through the room. She had interrupted an intensely private moment and she eased the door closed again quickly.
What is wrong with Max? Something had to be really wrong for cool-headed Max to take a chance of getting caught like that in their own house. What if their mother had walked in? Isabel quickened her pace to distract her mother away from Max’s room in case she had any plans on waking him early.
“Good morning, Mom! You’re up pretty early. Is that a new robe? What’re you doing awake at this hour?” Isabel inquired too brightly. Tone it down a notch, girl, she thought to herself, you’ll make her suspicious for sure!
Diane turned at her daughter’s voice and caught her daughter in a fierce hug, distracted enough by her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Isabel’s flustered tone.
“Gee, Mom! It’s nice to see you too!” Isabel eased back a bit so she could breathe better. “Is something wrong?” Now worried for a new reason, Isabel stepped back from her mother to look at her face. Diane appeared strained and preoccupied. Had she found Max and Liz together and not said anything? No. Her mom would have booted Liz out in a heartbeat and made Max apologize to the Parkers for corrupting their precious daughter. Maybe she knew the reason for Max’s grief.
“Did someone die or something?” she asked hesitantly, all of a sudden fearful of the answer.
“Oh no, dear!” Diane exclaimed, thinking fast. “I just really missed the two of you while you were out of town and I got all sentimental thinking about next year being your last year of school and then you’ll both be gone to college. You two are growing up so fast!” Diane was improvising, but her words were all too true. Her children were growing up faster than they should.
As Diane looked at her daughter she was struck for the first time by the thought that maybe Isabel was an alien too! How is this possible? Diane stroked her hands down Isabel’s cheeks and looked at her with new eyes. All those times it seemed that Isabel wanted to tell her something, all the evasions about Max and Isabel’s origins before they were found together along and naked out on the road. It all came together that these two had never felt they could share their unique heritage with her. And it hurt that they felt they needed to keep it a secret. She stood up straighter. She knew now, and maybe she could have Isabel help her with her plan to aid Max.
“Honey, what are you doing after school today? I thought maybe we could spend some time together.”
“Well, right after school a group of us are meeting over at Michael’s for awhile, and I’m not sure how long we’ll be. Can we get together later?”
“Sure, honey, after dinner sometime?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure we’ll grab some dinner before we come home.” Isabel tried not to make it obvious that they preferred to eat elsewhere.
“Will Max and Liz be over there with you?”
Isabel looked up sharply at her mother, making Diane realize that she wasn’t supposed to know that Max and Liz were back together and she should not have paired their names like that.
“And Maria, Alex, Kyle, and Tess?” she tacked on quickly.
Isabel still looked a little suspicious, but answered anyway.
“No. Kyle and Tess are grounded for the week and I think that Alex has some computer project he’s researching today, but the rest of us will be there. So what’s for breakfast?” Isabel opened the fridge and hoped her mom would accept the change of subject.
“Well, I haven’t really decided yet. I was thinking maybe papaya kiwi pancakes with a lemon-salsa syrup. I saw a recipe on the cooking channel the other day and I think I remember how to do it.”
Isabel missed the twinkle in her mother’s eyes and tried not to gag at the thought of that disgusting combination.
“That sounds, uh…exotic, but you know, I’ve got a little extra time this morning, why don’t you sit down and drink your coffee and I’ll fix you some waffles for breakfast, Mom?”
“Oh, if it isn’t any trouble, dear, that would be lovely.”
“Believe me, Mom, it’s no trouble at all!” She began rooting through the cupboards, thinking that she was saving both Max from discovery, and herself from food poisoning at the same time.
Her mom sat and wrapped her cold hands around her coffee cup while she watched her daughter moving through the kitchen. They would definitely get a few things straight after dinner.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max sat up slowly, it felt odd to leave Liz’s arms after the intimacy and magnitude of what he had shared with her.
“What time is it?” He inquired, looking around for the alarm clock he hadn’t really needed for the last year and thinking that the room was awfully bright.
“It’s almost seven,” Liz answered after locating the clock. “We need to get ready for school, and I need to get back home right away.”
“Liz…I….Thank you!” Max looked in her eyes and saw only understanding and love. Liz reached out and embraced him tightly one last time. Each moved away reluctantly to search out their clothes, moving quicker when they heard cupboards banging closed in the kitchen.
Liz stopped with one leg over the window sill and turned back to blow Max a kiss.
“I’ll just meet you in school okay?”
“Yeah. Oh! That reminds me! I stopped by Michael’s last night after I left you and Maria to discuss the Tess situation and we came up with a temporary plan. I’ll talk to Isabel this morning and Michael will talk to Maria before school. Everyone is going to be on the lookout for Tess for the next little while to figure out what her plan is and to distract her away from us. We’ll take rotations monitoring her and report back together with any unusual activity. We’ve compared everyone’s schedules so we know who’ll take what shifts while we’re in school, and they’ll make sure they warn us if she’s coming our way when we’re together.”
“That sounds like a good plan you two came up with.” Liz was surprised they’d had another chance to talk the night before, and she was grateful that they seemed to be working together again.
“Actually, Michael thought up most of it,” Max admitted proudly.
“Good, let’s see how it works today and we can fine tune any kinks at our meeting after school.”
“It’s going to seem like such a long day if I can’t touch you or hold you like I want to.” Max’s eyes were sad at the thought.
“It’s just for a while, and then we can be together whenever we want!” Liz reassured both him and herself, hoping it was true.
Max took her hand and kissed her wedding ring.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
TBC
They moved together slowly, each touch an affirmation of love, each caress a promise to always be there. They shared long slow kisses and murmured words of love and passion. And when their bodies joined, the connection spiraled around them expanding to bind body, heart, and soul.
When their breathing slowed, they lay twined in each other’s arms, wrecked from the avalanche of emotions and exertion they had endured that morning. Liz cradled Max’s head to her chest when slow tears trailed down his cheeks and she rocked him gently back and forth. His grief and pain were released from the bond they shared as her support and comforting love rushed through to buoy him. Never had he felt such complete acceptance from anyone for him. The awesome amount of shame and guilt that he had carried for so long, alone and scared, seemed so much lighter. The past was over, never to be repeated, and he lay in the loving arms of his future.
Isabel walked by Max’s door on her way to the kitchen and thought she heard muffled crying. Concerned, she eased the door open and stood paralyzed with shock at the sight that greeted her eyes. Liz’s head was bent over Max, her lips in his hair, as she gently rocked his crying form. Both were completely unclothed and absolutely oblivious to her interruption. Isabel was washed over with the wave of emotions that reverberated through the room. She had interrupted an intensely private moment and she eased the door closed again quickly.
What is wrong with Max? Something had to be really wrong for cool-headed Max to take a chance of getting caught like that in their own house. What if their mother had walked in? Isabel quickened her pace to distract her mother away from Max’s room in case she had any plans on waking him early.
“Good morning, Mom! You’re up pretty early. Is that a new robe? What’re you doing awake at this hour?” Isabel inquired too brightly. Tone it down a notch, girl, she thought to herself, you’ll make her suspicious for sure!
Diane turned at her daughter’s voice and caught her daughter in a fierce hug, distracted enough by her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Isabel’s flustered tone.
“Gee, Mom! It’s nice to see you too!” Isabel eased back a bit so she could breathe better. “Is something wrong?” Now worried for a new reason, Isabel stepped back from her mother to look at her face. Diane appeared strained and preoccupied. Had she found Max and Liz together and not said anything? No. Her mom would have booted Liz out in a heartbeat and made Max apologize to the Parkers for corrupting their precious daughter. Maybe she knew the reason for Max’s grief.
“Did someone die or something?” she asked hesitantly, all of a sudden fearful of the answer.
“Oh no, dear!” Diane exclaimed, thinking fast. “I just really missed the two of you while you were out of town and I got all sentimental thinking about next year being your last year of school and then you’ll both be gone to college. You two are growing up so fast!” Diane was improvising, but her words were all too true. Her children were growing up faster than they should.
As Diane looked at her daughter she was struck for the first time by the thought that maybe Isabel was an alien too! How is this possible? Diane stroked her hands down Isabel’s cheeks and looked at her with new eyes. All those times it seemed that Isabel wanted to tell her something, all the evasions about Max and Isabel’s origins before they were found together along and naked out on the road. It all came together that these two had never felt they could share their unique heritage with her. And it hurt that they felt they needed to keep it a secret. She stood up straighter. She knew now, and maybe she could have Isabel help her with her plan to aid Max.
“Honey, what are you doing after school today? I thought maybe we could spend some time together.”
“Well, right after school a group of us are meeting over at Michael’s for awhile, and I’m not sure how long we’ll be. Can we get together later?”
“Sure, honey, after dinner sometime?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure we’ll grab some dinner before we come home.” Isabel tried not to make it obvious that they preferred to eat elsewhere.
“Will Max and Liz be over there with you?”
Isabel looked up sharply at her mother, making Diane realize that she wasn’t supposed to know that Max and Liz were back together and she should not have paired their names like that.
“And Maria, Alex, Kyle, and Tess?” she tacked on quickly.
Isabel still looked a little suspicious, but answered anyway.
“No. Kyle and Tess are grounded for the week and I think that Alex has some computer project he’s researching today, but the rest of us will be there. So what’s for breakfast?” Isabel opened the fridge and hoped her mom would accept the change of subject.
“Well, I haven’t really decided yet. I was thinking maybe papaya kiwi pancakes with a lemon-salsa syrup. I saw a recipe on the cooking channel the other day and I think I remember how to do it.”
Isabel missed the twinkle in her mother’s eyes and tried not to gag at the thought of that disgusting combination.
“That sounds, uh…exotic, but you know, I’ve got a little extra time this morning, why don’t you sit down and drink your coffee and I’ll fix you some waffles for breakfast, Mom?”
“Oh, if it isn’t any trouble, dear, that would be lovely.”
“Believe me, Mom, it’s no trouble at all!” She began rooting through the cupboards, thinking that she was saving both Max from discovery, and herself from food poisoning at the same time.
Her mom sat and wrapped her cold hands around her coffee cup while she watched her daughter moving through the kitchen. They would definitely get a few things straight after dinner.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max sat up slowly, it felt odd to leave Liz’s arms after the intimacy and magnitude of what he had shared with her.
“What time is it?” He inquired, looking around for the alarm clock he hadn’t really needed for the last year and thinking that the room was awfully bright.
“It’s almost seven,” Liz answered after locating the clock. “We need to get ready for school, and I need to get back home right away.”
“Liz…I….Thank you!” Max looked in her eyes and saw only understanding and love. Liz reached out and embraced him tightly one last time. Each moved away reluctantly to search out their clothes, moving quicker when they heard cupboards banging closed in the kitchen.
Liz stopped with one leg over the window sill and turned back to blow Max a kiss.
“I’ll just meet you in school okay?”
“Yeah. Oh! That reminds me! I stopped by Michael’s last night after I left you and Maria to discuss the Tess situation and we came up with a temporary plan. I’ll talk to Isabel this morning and Michael will talk to Maria before school. Everyone is going to be on the lookout for Tess for the next little while to figure out what her plan is and to distract her away from us. We’ll take rotations monitoring her and report back together with any unusual activity. We’ve compared everyone’s schedules so we know who’ll take what shifts while we’re in school, and they’ll make sure they warn us if she’s coming our way when we’re together.”
“That sounds like a good plan you two came up with.” Liz was surprised they’d had another chance to talk the night before, and she was grateful that they seemed to be working together again.
“Actually, Michael thought up most of it,” Max admitted proudly.
“Good, let’s see how it works today and we can fine tune any kinks at our meeting after school.”
“It’s going to seem like such a long day if I can’t touch you or hold you like I want to.” Max’s eyes were sad at the thought.
“It’s just for a while, and then we can be together whenever we want!” Liz reassured both him and herself, hoping it was true.
Max took her hand and kissed her wedding ring.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
TBC
EYA Part 15
Max entered the kitchen grinning. Fresh from his shower, he felt cleansed and lighter of spirit than he had in ages.
“Mmm...something smells good!” he complimented, as the smell of waffles drifted over to him. He walked to where Isabel stood by the sink. “You cook this?” He asked under his breath, thinking he’d better check before he committed to staying for breakfast. At Isabel’s quick nod he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “We need to talk on the way to school,” he whispered for only her ears.
“Yes we do,” Isabel agreed, staring at her brother with puzzlement. How had he gone from abject misery to joyful happiness in so short a span of time?
Max took the plate Isabel had prepared for him and went to the table. Diane had been unable to take her eyes off her son. Looking at him now, so happy and carefree, made what she had seen before seem surreal. How had he been able to endure alone in silence for so long? Diane knew exactly who was responsible for his high spirits this morning and it only strengthened her resolve to make sure Liz became a permanent part of his everyday life.
Max leaned down to give his mom a good morning kiss as well. He was surprised when she abruptly stood and grabbed him in a fierce hug, reluctant to let him go. He hugged her back, wondering what was wrong. He shot a look over Diane’s shoulder to Isabel, who was walking over toward them.
“Mom’s started thinking that we’re growing up too fast and leaving the nest soon,” she clarified for Max.
He kissed his mom’s cheek again and held her back from him. “You still have us for another year and a half! You’re sure to be sick of us before then,” he joked.
“I will always love you and want what’s best for you, you know that, right?” Diane startled both of her children with the intensity of her question.
“Of course we know that, Mom,” Isabel answered first.
“We love you, too,” Max added, his smile dimming, as he suspected that something else was wrong.
Diane realized that she was over the top with her reactions this morning and forced herself to step away from Max with a smile.
“Oh, listen to me! I’m acting like such a mother hen today. Eat! Eat! You two need to get ready for school. I’ll start cleaning up.” She busied herself around the kitchen, restraining herself from too many furtive glances at Max.
Max and Isabel quickly ate and finished getting ready for school.
In the Jeep, on the way to school, Max filled Isabel in on the plan to keep track of Tess.
“You have her in first and third period, so just pay attention to what she says and does, and let us know if anything seems unusual. Also, if you see her coming when Liz and I are together, try to give us a warning so we don’t appear too close.”
“Speaking of too close, just what was Liz doing in your room this morning, Max? You need to be way more careful than that! What if Mom had been the one to walk in this morning instead of me?”
“You…you walked in on us this morning? What did you see?” Max couldn’t even look at her and gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. His face flushed red with embarrassment at any of the possibilities of what she could have witnessed.
“Don’t worry, Max, I wasn’t traumatized for life or anything, although I think it’s pretty obvious what you had been doing. I just saw Liz holding you and both of you were crying. Is there something wrong that I should know about?” She held her breath, truly hoping he would share it with her.
“That’s kinda private, Is, between Liz and me for now, okay?” A wave of relief rushed through him, until he realized that neither he nor Liz had been wearing any clothes at the time his sister had walked in. A new flush stained his face. He may never be able to look her in the eye again!
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Michael woke up groggy, feeling like he hadn’t gotten any rest. Strange dreams had plagued him, but now seemed just out of reach. It felt like he’d been running all night. He stretched and got reluctantly out of bed to head for the shower. He needed to get ready fast if he wanted to see Maria before school. His steps quickened at the thought of seeing her. She always got his blood pumping, in both frustration and desire. At least she was never boring. He always had a hard time trying to reason out his feelings for her. In a way he knew it was dangerous to get too close, but he had to fight himself to remain aloof. At least Maria seemed to understand his conflict. Most of the time.
He revved his motorcycle and took off for Maria’s. He pulled in behind her with a squeal of tires just as she was backing out of her driveway. She hit the brakes, barely missing a collision.
Maria slammed out of her car and stalked over to Michael, getting right in his face. “Just what was that stunt all about? Don’t you think I have enough trouble keeping Mom’s car in one piece without you endangering your life with a stunt like that?”
Ahh…sweet, Maria! He couldn’t suppress the small grin before she saw it, causing the predictable smack to his upper arm. Ow! The girl has a swing on her, that’s for sure! He decided he’d better get down to business before she worked herself up too much. “We need to discuss our plan regarding Tess.” He crossed his arms in front of him and barked it out like a challenge.
“Would it have been to much trouble to call to say you were coming over? Is this going to make us late to class, because some of us are trying to graduate eventually you know.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm dripping from her tone, it came so naturally in conversation with Michael, and really, he wouldn’t expect any less of her.
“I just wanted to fill you in on what Max and I came up with last night.” He arched an eyebrow and stared disinterestedly at the sky, waiting for a reaction.
“Oh, now you and Max are having secret meetings and making plans for all the rest of us?” Maria really hated being out of the loop.
“No! We are not having secret meetings. Max just came over to talk and we thought it would be a good idea to have a plan before we all went to school, but if you’re not interested then we’ll just leave you out of it.” He turned as if to leave, and tried not to smirk when Maria spun him back around.
Those were fighting words, of course. “There is no way you are leaving me out of anything, Michael Guerin! Now tell me the plan, maybe I can make it better.”
Rolling his eyes, he told her what they had come up with.
“You have Tess in 6th and 7th period, so that’s your assignment, and keep a lookout for Tess when you’re with Liz and Max together, so they don’t do anything stupid in front of her,” he finished with another roll of his eyes.
“Yeah, they seem a little out of control when they’re together. Maybe it’s just euphoria from finally getting together.” Maria practically hummed remembering the small details she had managed to wring out of a reluctant Liz the night before.
“Yeah, they seem to be pretty close. Did Liz share the good stuff last night?” Maria and him had always been able to talk comfortably about their friends lives.
“She didn’t want to get into it too much, but I pried a few things out of her. Apparently it was pretty explosive!”
“Seriously? Not literally I hope, because if that happened…”
“No, Michael, of course not!” Maria snorted. “But I wouldn’t put it past them,” she added upon further reflection. “Wanna follow me to school? We can walk in together,” Maria asked, trying not to act like she cared what his answer was either way.
“Sure.”
Her heart made a tiny leap as she got back into her car.
TBC
Max entered the kitchen grinning. Fresh from his shower, he felt cleansed and lighter of spirit than he had in ages.
“Mmm...something smells good!” he complimented, as the smell of waffles drifted over to him. He walked to where Isabel stood by the sink. “You cook this?” He asked under his breath, thinking he’d better check before he committed to staying for breakfast. At Isabel’s quick nod he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “We need to talk on the way to school,” he whispered for only her ears.
“Yes we do,” Isabel agreed, staring at her brother with puzzlement. How had he gone from abject misery to joyful happiness in so short a span of time?
Max took the plate Isabel had prepared for him and went to the table. Diane had been unable to take her eyes off her son. Looking at him now, so happy and carefree, made what she had seen before seem surreal. How had he been able to endure alone in silence for so long? Diane knew exactly who was responsible for his high spirits this morning and it only strengthened her resolve to make sure Liz became a permanent part of his everyday life.
Max leaned down to give his mom a good morning kiss as well. He was surprised when she abruptly stood and grabbed him in a fierce hug, reluctant to let him go. He hugged her back, wondering what was wrong. He shot a look over Diane’s shoulder to Isabel, who was walking over toward them.
“Mom’s started thinking that we’re growing up too fast and leaving the nest soon,” she clarified for Max.
He kissed his mom’s cheek again and held her back from him. “You still have us for another year and a half! You’re sure to be sick of us before then,” he joked.
“I will always love you and want what’s best for you, you know that, right?” Diane startled both of her children with the intensity of her question.
“Of course we know that, Mom,” Isabel answered first.
“We love you, too,” Max added, his smile dimming, as he suspected that something else was wrong.
Diane realized that she was over the top with her reactions this morning and forced herself to step away from Max with a smile.
“Oh, listen to me! I’m acting like such a mother hen today. Eat! Eat! You two need to get ready for school. I’ll start cleaning up.” She busied herself around the kitchen, restraining herself from too many furtive glances at Max.
Max and Isabel quickly ate and finished getting ready for school.
In the Jeep, on the way to school, Max filled Isabel in on the plan to keep track of Tess.
“You have her in first and third period, so just pay attention to what she says and does, and let us know if anything seems unusual. Also, if you see her coming when Liz and I are together, try to give us a warning so we don’t appear too close.”
“Speaking of too close, just what was Liz doing in your room this morning, Max? You need to be way more careful than that! What if Mom had been the one to walk in this morning instead of me?”
“You…you walked in on us this morning? What did you see?” Max couldn’t even look at her and gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. His face flushed red with embarrassment at any of the possibilities of what she could have witnessed.
“Don’t worry, Max, I wasn’t traumatized for life or anything, although I think it’s pretty obvious what you had been doing. I just saw Liz holding you and both of you were crying. Is there something wrong that I should know about?” She held her breath, truly hoping he would share it with her.
“That’s kinda private, Is, between Liz and me for now, okay?” A wave of relief rushed through him, until he realized that neither he nor Liz had been wearing any clothes at the time his sister had walked in. A new flush stained his face. He may never be able to look her in the eye again!
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Michael woke up groggy, feeling like he hadn’t gotten any rest. Strange dreams had plagued him, but now seemed just out of reach. It felt like he’d been running all night. He stretched and got reluctantly out of bed to head for the shower. He needed to get ready fast if he wanted to see Maria before school. His steps quickened at the thought of seeing her. She always got his blood pumping, in both frustration and desire. At least she was never boring. He always had a hard time trying to reason out his feelings for her. In a way he knew it was dangerous to get too close, but he had to fight himself to remain aloof. At least Maria seemed to understand his conflict. Most of the time.
He revved his motorcycle and took off for Maria’s. He pulled in behind her with a squeal of tires just as she was backing out of her driveway. She hit the brakes, barely missing a collision.
Maria slammed out of her car and stalked over to Michael, getting right in his face. “Just what was that stunt all about? Don’t you think I have enough trouble keeping Mom’s car in one piece without you endangering your life with a stunt like that?”
Ahh…sweet, Maria! He couldn’t suppress the small grin before she saw it, causing the predictable smack to his upper arm. Ow! The girl has a swing on her, that’s for sure! He decided he’d better get down to business before she worked herself up too much. “We need to discuss our plan regarding Tess.” He crossed his arms in front of him and barked it out like a challenge.
“Would it have been to much trouble to call to say you were coming over? Is this going to make us late to class, because some of us are trying to graduate eventually you know.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm dripping from her tone, it came so naturally in conversation with Michael, and really, he wouldn’t expect any less of her.
“I just wanted to fill you in on what Max and I came up with last night.” He arched an eyebrow and stared disinterestedly at the sky, waiting for a reaction.
“Oh, now you and Max are having secret meetings and making plans for all the rest of us?” Maria really hated being out of the loop.
“No! We are not having secret meetings. Max just came over to talk and we thought it would be a good idea to have a plan before we all went to school, but if you’re not interested then we’ll just leave you out of it.” He turned as if to leave, and tried not to smirk when Maria spun him back around.
Those were fighting words, of course. “There is no way you are leaving me out of anything, Michael Guerin! Now tell me the plan, maybe I can make it better.”
Rolling his eyes, he told her what they had come up with.
“You have Tess in 6th and 7th period, so that’s your assignment, and keep a lookout for Tess when you’re with Liz and Max together, so they don’t do anything stupid in front of her,” he finished with another roll of his eyes.
“Yeah, they seem a little out of control when they’re together. Maybe it’s just euphoria from finally getting together.” Maria practically hummed remembering the small details she had managed to wring out of a reluctant Liz the night before.
“Yeah, they seem to be pretty close. Did Liz share the good stuff last night?” Maria and him had always been able to talk comfortably about their friends lives.
“She didn’t want to get into it too much, but I pried a few things out of her. Apparently it was pretty explosive!”
“Seriously? Not literally I hope, because if that happened…”
“No, Michael, of course not!” Maria snorted. “But I wouldn’t put it past them,” she added upon further reflection. “Wanna follow me to school? We can walk in together,” Maria asked, trying not to act like she cared what his answer was either way.
“Sure.”
Her heart made a tiny leap as she got back into her car.
TBC
EYA Part 16
Max and Isabel walked toward Liz’s locker, hoping to meet up with her before class. Max paused watching Michael and Maria with their heads together, coming toward them down the hall. They snapped apart, looking slightly guilty, when Maria looked up and spotted Max. Her face flushed lightly and Michael regarded Max with a new respect. Maria had shared with him all the details that she had been able to pry out of Liz and, while not graphic, they made him look at Max in a new way.
“Hey, Max, how’s it going?” Maria asked with interest. “Where’s Liz?” She looked behind him, as if expecting Liz would pop out any second.
“We’re heading to her locker to see her now,” Max answered with an amused grin. He could only imagine what Liz had told her the night before.
“Well aren’t you cheerful this morning!” Maria was happy to see the smile on Max’s face.
“Max! Max! Wait up!” Tess wound her way through the throngs of teenagers milling in the halls.
Everyone looked at each other and unconsciously straightened their posture. The battle was about to begin, ready or not.
“Oh. Hi, everyone.” Tess finally noticed the others surrounding Max. She turned her back to them and took his arm. “You would not believe what we were put through last night! Jim made us work until way after dark, but we finally convinced him to let us stop long enough to eat, and then I just charmed him into letting us off the hook for the rest of the night!” She flashed him a bright smile and tried to lead him away from the others.
“Yeah, I heard you were grounded for the whole week, that’s too bad.” Max tried to act appropriately sympathetic while he attempted to subtly disengage his arms from Tess’ grasping fingers.
“We’ll see about that,” Tess muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Max to hear.
Max felt a tingle in his connection to Liz and knew she was approaching. He steered Tess back to the group.
“Liz!” Maria exclaimed when she caught sight of her friend, “How’s it going? You feeling okay today?”
“Yeah,” Liz answered with a small smile for Max, “I feel great.” Liz turned to Maria and tried not to look at Max again. Tess was clinging to his arm and staring at her strangely and she didn’t want to make her suspicious this early in the game.
“So… did you get your homework done?” Maria asked innocently, trying to fill the awkward gap of silence that had fallen over the group.
“Most of it. I think I better finish up my science paper in the library before class starts.” She opened her locker and stuffed in her backpack, removing the items she needed for her science paper and first period. “Well, I guess I’ll just go…”
“See you later, Liz,” Tess sang out. “So, Max, I was thinking that maybe you and I could get together after class to work on your memory retrieval, what do you think? Three o’clock at your place?”
“I thought you were grounded, Tess. And I’ve already made plans with Michael after school, so some other time okay?” Max removed his arm from her grip again, trying to make it look like he had to adjust his backpack. “Well, I’ve got to finish up some homework too, so I guess I’ll get going.”
“I can help you with that!” Tess piped up, already trailing after him down the hall.
“It’s AP Chemistry, Tess, so I’m on my own. See you, everyone!” He made his escape in the opposite direction that Liz had taken. The gang all noted Tess’ dejected posture as she stared after him.
Maria tried to chat with Tess, an almost impossible task given her intense dislike for the girl. Isabel noted her bumbling attempt at small talk and stepped in smoothly to assist.
“I can’t believe Jim is treating you and Kyle like that! We all did it. You really got the raw end of the deal, Tess.”
“Tell me about it! I’ve never had to work so hard in my life! I’m actually sore from building that damn room! Not that it won’t be nice to have my own room and quit having to listen to Kyle gripe about sleeping on the couch!” Isabel steered Tess down the hall toward her locker.
Maria turned to Michael. “That girl is so…so…ohhh, I can’t stand her! Did you see the way she was all over Max? ‘I can help you, Maxie-poo.’ I mean really, what that girl knows about chemistry could fit in a thimble. It’s like she thinks she owns him or something! Disgusting!!” She shivered with distaste. “Michael, I think we’re going to have to count on you and Is to distract her, because I honestly can’t think of two civil words to say to her!”
“You’ll do just fine, Maria, you can always think of something to say,” Michael noted dryly.
“Hey, guys, how’s it going?” Alex walked up appearing tired.
“We’re fine, Alex, you look tired though. Didn’t you get any sleep last night?” Maria asked with concern.
“Yeah, I haven’t felt really rested for awhile though. Maybe I’ll let Max work his whammy on me.”
“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”
“Yes, Mom!” Alex joked, “I’ll go to Dr. Max right after school, okay?”
“Max has plans after school,” Michael broke in shooting Maria a look.
“Yeah, but maybe later tonight he can give you a call or come over to your house.” Maria, Michael, and Alex walked together toward her first class.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Hey, baby, how’s it going?” Max leaned over Liz’s chair from behind to give her a sweet kiss on the cheek. She had chosen a table that gave them some privacy from curious eyes.
“Better now. I didn’t expect to see Tess all over you this early in the morning.”
He slipped into the seat beside her. “You know I didn’t want anything to do with her, right?”
“Oh course not, Max! I still don’t like to see it.”
“I know. I think she’s trying to make sure that you and I didn’t bond over our Vegas experience.”
“I’d say she’s too late to avoid that.” Liz twined her fingers through Max’s and enjoyed the warm jolt of their connection flaring to life between them. Love and happiness flowed through her from Max and she thrilled to the joy that his fragile new happiness brought to her.
They sat that way until the bell rang, finally jolting them away from the incredible experience of being together.
“We’ll meet for lunch in the quad, okay?” Max whispered in her ear as they stood and embraced. She nodded and their arms fell away from each other.
“I’ll miss you.” Her voice was filled with longing that matched the expression on his face.
“Me too.”
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
It was difficult to wait for the first class that Max shared with her, 4th period AP History, but at last the time arrived. The only problem was that Tess shared the class with them as well. Liz walked into the room with equal amounts of expectation and trepidation. Scanning around she immediately found Max, who offered her a dazzling smile. She walked toward him eagerly until his expression dimmed when Tess pushed past her rudely and cozied up to Max.
“Hey. How’s it going? I thought maybe we could go somewhere to have lunch today and talk about when we can meet for more training sessions.” She glanced smugly over her shoulder at Liz, who had turned away and quickly found her seat.
“Um, well, I told the gang that we’d meet for lunch in the quad. You can join us if you’d like.”
“Of course I will!” Tess settled into a seat beside Max.
Throughout the period Max consciously tried to keep his eyes away from Liz’s stiff figure in a chair one row up and to the right of him. When the bell rang, she sprang up out of her seat and left quickly.
“See ya, Tess! I gotta grab my lunch. I’ll meet you in the quad!” Max ran off after Liz.
“What the hell is going on with him,” Tess muttered, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Max slowed his pace as he saw Liz disappearing into the eraser room. He grinned and glanced around before slipping into the room behind her. Locking the door he whirled around to press the front of his body to the length of hers until Liz was backed into the wall and crushed her with a searing kiss. His lips nipped over hers and his tongue urgently demanded entrance to her mouth. Liz responded eagerly, parting her lips and running her fingers through his hair. Max’s hands crept to the edge of her short top and explored the bare skin he revealed as he eased his hands up. Liz’s moans only encouraged him further and when his hand cupped her breast fully, thumbing her stiff nipple, she went wild. She kissed him with renewed urgency and when his other arm went around her waist she lifted both legs to encircle his hips.
Their connection was wide open and each could feel the others giddy happiness at being together as well as their frustration over the morning’s events. Their emotions swirled around them as their hands roamed each other’s bodies. Liz began rhythmically grinding her center against Max’s jeans clad arousal until he groaned in frustration at the clothes between them.
He moved his hands to her zipper as she clung to him with her arms and legs. He lowered it quickly and set her down. When her feet touched the floor, she grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, running her hands down his sleek chest. He began to smooth his hands down her sides, inserting them into her waistband and began to lower her jeans over her hips.
A loud knocking sounded on the door and they froze in place.
“Oh course it’s them! Who else would it be? Knock again, Michael!” Maria instructed like a drill sergeant. Another loud knocking sounded through the small room.
“Maxwell, you’d better be decent, because we’re coming in!” Michael warned as he unlocked the door with his powers. The door swung open to reveal a disordered Max and Liz.
“Well! I can see we got here just in time!” Maria swept in, closing the door behind her. “Do we need to worry about you two setting off the fire alarms?”
“Maria! What’re you doing here?” Liz turned, face flaming with embarrassment, and zipped up her pants. Both she and Max were trying to regulate their breathing, and Max was searching the floor for his shirt.
Michael helpfully handed Max the shirt and Max pulled it over his head.
“I think we need to set some ground rules here. If we’re going to be your early warning system for Tess alerts, then the least you can do is try not to have sex in the middle of a school day.” Michael glared at Max. For a man so famous for his self-control, Max was sure blowing it lately with Liz.
“We weren’t… we were just…okay, that’s probably a good rule,” Liz agreed, flustered, not able to look at her friends.
“Michael, watch it!” Max glared back at his friend as he exited the small room behind Liz. Of course, they ran right into Tess, who’s mouth was working open and closed like a fish until she saw Michael and Maria come out of the room too.
“Was there some special meeting I didn’t know about?” She asked Max caustically, standing with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
“No, we just ran into each other and…so when did you want to work on that mind retrieval?” Max couldn’t think of a decent excuse for the Eraser Room meeting, and tried to distract her with the only thing she seemed to be interested in lately.
“Oh, well I thought we could start to have sessions at your place after school every day.” She tucked her arm through his and walked him down the hall.
“Michael…do something!” Maria exclaimed, pushing Michael after them.
“Poor Max!” Liz burst out laughing.
Maria looked at her like she was crazy. “Why are you laughing?”
“Sometimes when his emotions are running high and we’re close in proximity, I can feel what he’s feeling. Right now he’s so mad and frustrated by what almost…well, let’s just say he’s not satisfied with the way this just turned out. It’s kind of good to know for a fact that he wants me and not Tess. That’s not bad, is it, Maria?”
“Are you kidding me? A blind woman could see that you’re the only one for Max. So you can really feel what he feels, know what he wants, huh? Does that still apply when you’re in the middle of…you know?”
“Oh yeah,” Liz sighed dreamily, before she realized that she had answered aloud. “Maria! Stop it!”
Laughing, they made their way to the quad for lunch.
Tess practically sat on Max’s lap, she was so close to him, and Max talked her into waiting until after she wasn’t grounded to start the retrieval sessions.
“I think I should sit in on them with you,” Isabel volunteered. “I want to know our history too.”
“It takes really intense concentrations, Is, I’d be happy to work with you separately if you’d like.” Tess wasn’t ready to give up her chance for time alone with Max.
“Are you sure it wouldn’t be better if we all worked together?”
“I’m very sure. We need to meditate together and really connect, you know?”
“If you say so…”
Liz and Maria rolled their eyes out of Tess’ view.
The rest of the day passed fairly normally, and as the last class ended they all made their way to Michael’s for the strategy meeting.
TBC
Max and Isabel walked toward Liz’s locker, hoping to meet up with her before class. Max paused watching Michael and Maria with their heads together, coming toward them down the hall. They snapped apart, looking slightly guilty, when Maria looked up and spotted Max. Her face flushed lightly and Michael regarded Max with a new respect. Maria had shared with him all the details that she had been able to pry out of Liz and, while not graphic, they made him look at Max in a new way.
“Hey, Max, how’s it going?” Maria asked with interest. “Where’s Liz?” She looked behind him, as if expecting Liz would pop out any second.
“We’re heading to her locker to see her now,” Max answered with an amused grin. He could only imagine what Liz had told her the night before.
“Well aren’t you cheerful this morning!” Maria was happy to see the smile on Max’s face.
“Max! Max! Wait up!” Tess wound her way through the throngs of teenagers milling in the halls.
Everyone looked at each other and unconsciously straightened their posture. The battle was about to begin, ready or not.
“Oh. Hi, everyone.” Tess finally noticed the others surrounding Max. She turned her back to them and took his arm. “You would not believe what we were put through last night! Jim made us work until way after dark, but we finally convinced him to let us stop long enough to eat, and then I just charmed him into letting us off the hook for the rest of the night!” She flashed him a bright smile and tried to lead him away from the others.
“Yeah, I heard you were grounded for the whole week, that’s too bad.” Max tried to act appropriately sympathetic while he attempted to subtly disengage his arms from Tess’ grasping fingers.
“We’ll see about that,” Tess muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Max to hear.
Max felt a tingle in his connection to Liz and knew she was approaching. He steered Tess back to the group.
“Liz!” Maria exclaimed when she caught sight of her friend, “How’s it going? You feeling okay today?”
“Yeah,” Liz answered with a small smile for Max, “I feel great.” Liz turned to Maria and tried not to look at Max again. Tess was clinging to his arm and staring at her strangely and she didn’t want to make her suspicious this early in the game.
“So… did you get your homework done?” Maria asked innocently, trying to fill the awkward gap of silence that had fallen over the group.
“Most of it. I think I better finish up my science paper in the library before class starts.” She opened her locker and stuffed in her backpack, removing the items she needed for her science paper and first period. “Well, I guess I’ll just go…”
“See you later, Liz,” Tess sang out. “So, Max, I was thinking that maybe you and I could get together after class to work on your memory retrieval, what do you think? Three o’clock at your place?”
“I thought you were grounded, Tess. And I’ve already made plans with Michael after school, so some other time okay?” Max removed his arm from her grip again, trying to make it look like he had to adjust his backpack. “Well, I’ve got to finish up some homework too, so I guess I’ll get going.”
“I can help you with that!” Tess piped up, already trailing after him down the hall.
“It’s AP Chemistry, Tess, so I’m on my own. See you, everyone!” He made his escape in the opposite direction that Liz had taken. The gang all noted Tess’ dejected posture as she stared after him.
Maria tried to chat with Tess, an almost impossible task given her intense dislike for the girl. Isabel noted her bumbling attempt at small talk and stepped in smoothly to assist.
“I can’t believe Jim is treating you and Kyle like that! We all did it. You really got the raw end of the deal, Tess.”
“Tell me about it! I’ve never had to work so hard in my life! I’m actually sore from building that damn room! Not that it won’t be nice to have my own room and quit having to listen to Kyle gripe about sleeping on the couch!” Isabel steered Tess down the hall toward her locker.
Maria turned to Michael. “That girl is so…so…ohhh, I can’t stand her! Did you see the way she was all over Max? ‘I can help you, Maxie-poo.’ I mean really, what that girl knows about chemistry could fit in a thimble. It’s like she thinks she owns him or something! Disgusting!!” She shivered with distaste. “Michael, I think we’re going to have to count on you and Is to distract her, because I honestly can’t think of two civil words to say to her!”
“You’ll do just fine, Maria, you can always think of something to say,” Michael noted dryly.
“Hey, guys, how’s it going?” Alex walked up appearing tired.
“We’re fine, Alex, you look tired though. Didn’t you get any sleep last night?” Maria asked with concern.
“Yeah, I haven’t felt really rested for awhile though. Maybe I’ll let Max work his whammy on me.”
“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”
“Yes, Mom!” Alex joked, “I’ll go to Dr. Max right after school, okay?”
“Max has plans after school,” Michael broke in shooting Maria a look.
“Yeah, but maybe later tonight he can give you a call or come over to your house.” Maria, Michael, and Alex walked together toward her first class.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Hey, baby, how’s it going?” Max leaned over Liz’s chair from behind to give her a sweet kiss on the cheek. She had chosen a table that gave them some privacy from curious eyes.
“Better now. I didn’t expect to see Tess all over you this early in the morning.”
He slipped into the seat beside her. “You know I didn’t want anything to do with her, right?”
“Oh course not, Max! I still don’t like to see it.”
“I know. I think she’s trying to make sure that you and I didn’t bond over our Vegas experience.”
“I’d say she’s too late to avoid that.” Liz twined her fingers through Max’s and enjoyed the warm jolt of their connection flaring to life between them. Love and happiness flowed through her from Max and she thrilled to the joy that his fragile new happiness brought to her.
They sat that way until the bell rang, finally jolting them away from the incredible experience of being together.
“We’ll meet for lunch in the quad, okay?” Max whispered in her ear as they stood and embraced. She nodded and their arms fell away from each other.
“I’ll miss you.” Her voice was filled with longing that matched the expression on his face.
“Me too.”
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
It was difficult to wait for the first class that Max shared with her, 4th period AP History, but at last the time arrived. The only problem was that Tess shared the class with them as well. Liz walked into the room with equal amounts of expectation and trepidation. Scanning around she immediately found Max, who offered her a dazzling smile. She walked toward him eagerly until his expression dimmed when Tess pushed past her rudely and cozied up to Max.
“Hey. How’s it going? I thought maybe we could go somewhere to have lunch today and talk about when we can meet for more training sessions.” She glanced smugly over her shoulder at Liz, who had turned away and quickly found her seat.
“Um, well, I told the gang that we’d meet for lunch in the quad. You can join us if you’d like.”
“Of course I will!” Tess settled into a seat beside Max.
Throughout the period Max consciously tried to keep his eyes away from Liz’s stiff figure in a chair one row up and to the right of him. When the bell rang, she sprang up out of her seat and left quickly.
“See ya, Tess! I gotta grab my lunch. I’ll meet you in the quad!” Max ran off after Liz.
“What the hell is going on with him,” Tess muttered, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Max slowed his pace as he saw Liz disappearing into the eraser room. He grinned and glanced around before slipping into the room behind her. Locking the door he whirled around to press the front of his body to the length of hers until Liz was backed into the wall and crushed her with a searing kiss. His lips nipped over hers and his tongue urgently demanded entrance to her mouth. Liz responded eagerly, parting her lips and running her fingers through his hair. Max’s hands crept to the edge of her short top and explored the bare skin he revealed as he eased his hands up. Liz’s moans only encouraged him further and when his hand cupped her breast fully, thumbing her stiff nipple, she went wild. She kissed him with renewed urgency and when his other arm went around her waist she lifted both legs to encircle his hips.
Their connection was wide open and each could feel the others giddy happiness at being together as well as their frustration over the morning’s events. Their emotions swirled around them as their hands roamed each other’s bodies. Liz began rhythmically grinding her center against Max’s jeans clad arousal until he groaned in frustration at the clothes between them.
He moved his hands to her zipper as she clung to him with her arms and legs. He lowered it quickly and set her down. When her feet touched the floor, she grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, running her hands down his sleek chest. He began to smooth his hands down her sides, inserting them into her waistband and began to lower her jeans over her hips.
A loud knocking sounded on the door and they froze in place.
“Oh course it’s them! Who else would it be? Knock again, Michael!” Maria instructed like a drill sergeant. Another loud knocking sounded through the small room.
“Maxwell, you’d better be decent, because we’re coming in!” Michael warned as he unlocked the door with his powers. The door swung open to reveal a disordered Max and Liz.
“Well! I can see we got here just in time!” Maria swept in, closing the door behind her. “Do we need to worry about you two setting off the fire alarms?”
“Maria! What’re you doing here?” Liz turned, face flaming with embarrassment, and zipped up her pants. Both she and Max were trying to regulate their breathing, and Max was searching the floor for his shirt.
Michael helpfully handed Max the shirt and Max pulled it over his head.
“I think we need to set some ground rules here. If we’re going to be your early warning system for Tess alerts, then the least you can do is try not to have sex in the middle of a school day.” Michael glared at Max. For a man so famous for his self-control, Max was sure blowing it lately with Liz.
“We weren’t… we were just…okay, that’s probably a good rule,” Liz agreed, flustered, not able to look at her friends.
“Michael, watch it!” Max glared back at his friend as he exited the small room behind Liz. Of course, they ran right into Tess, who’s mouth was working open and closed like a fish until she saw Michael and Maria come out of the room too.
“Was there some special meeting I didn’t know about?” She asked Max caustically, standing with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
“No, we just ran into each other and…so when did you want to work on that mind retrieval?” Max couldn’t think of a decent excuse for the Eraser Room meeting, and tried to distract her with the only thing she seemed to be interested in lately.
“Oh, well I thought we could start to have sessions at your place after school every day.” She tucked her arm through his and walked him down the hall.
“Michael…do something!” Maria exclaimed, pushing Michael after them.
“Poor Max!” Liz burst out laughing.
Maria looked at her like she was crazy. “Why are you laughing?”
“Sometimes when his emotions are running high and we’re close in proximity, I can feel what he’s feeling. Right now he’s so mad and frustrated by what almost…well, let’s just say he’s not satisfied with the way this just turned out. It’s kind of good to know for a fact that he wants me and not Tess. That’s not bad, is it, Maria?”
“Are you kidding me? A blind woman could see that you’re the only one for Max. So you can really feel what he feels, know what he wants, huh? Does that still apply when you’re in the middle of…you know?”
“Oh yeah,” Liz sighed dreamily, before she realized that she had answered aloud. “Maria! Stop it!”
Laughing, they made their way to the quad for lunch.
Tess practically sat on Max’s lap, she was so close to him, and Max talked her into waiting until after she wasn’t grounded to start the retrieval sessions.
“I think I should sit in on them with you,” Isabel volunteered. “I want to know our history too.”
“It takes really intense concentrations, Is, I’d be happy to work with you separately if you’d like.” Tess wasn’t ready to give up her chance for time alone with Max.
“Are you sure it wouldn’t be better if we all worked together?”
“I’m very sure. We need to meditate together and really connect, you know?”
“If you say so…”
Liz and Maria rolled their eyes out of Tess’ view.
The rest of the day passed fairly normally, and as the last class ended they all made their way to Michael’s for the strategy meeting.
TBC
EYA Part 17
“Alone at last!” Maria quipped with a smirk as she slammed the apartment door closed behind them. They were the first to arrive, and she didn’t want to waste a moment. Turning into his arms she lifted her face for a long awaited kiss. Michael was more than happy to oblige.
Maria was often conflicted about Michael, but one thing that he always had going for him was that he was a great kisser. He really had ruined her for other guys. Were all aliens this talented? From Liz’s dazed expression yesterday and today, she guessed that they were. She angled her head and deepened the kiss, but just as it started to get really heated, Michael groaned and pulled back.
“Liz is here,” he announced out of the blue, already crossing the room to open the door. Maria stared after him in confusion, slightly dazed from their kiss.
“I didn’t hear any…” Just then a knock sounded on the door and Michael pulled it open.
“Hey, Liz. How’s it goin’? Come in and sit down. Can I get you anything?” Maria’s brow furrowed in total confusion as she continued to watch Michael. How had he known Liz was at the door? And what was with all this hospitality he was suddenly dripping all over? He never asked if she needed anything. Her confusion compounded when Liz didn’t even seem to notice that she had taken Michael’s arm as he led her to a chair. He sat Liz down and got her a drink, somehow knowing what she wanted.
“Where’s Max?” Maria asked, still watching Michael and Liz closely.
Liz curled up in the large armchair and told them Max and Isabel were right behind her.
They all sat and made small talk waiting for Max and Isabel to arrive. Maria noticed that Liz was starting for the door even before Max knocked. Maybe it was an alien thing. Max and Liz embraced as if they had not seen each other for weeks, not minutes. They walked hand in hand back to the over-stuffed chair and Max sat down, pulling Liz into his lap.
“Why don’t you ask Max and Isabel if they’d like a drink, Michael?” Maria prodded.
“They know where the kitchen is, Maria, let them get it themselves.” Michael was charming as ever.
Maria started to get up to serve the gang when Isabel waved her back down. “I can get it, Maria, thanks.”
She came back with juice for everyone and the aliens took turns passing around the Tabasco.
“So what’s the feeling about Tess?” Max started out. “Am I being paranoid, or did anyone else notice that she was extra clingy and wanted to get me alone for the memory retrieval sessions?”
“Yeah, I noticed that too,” Liz seconded, massaging Max’s palm absently.
“It was kinda hard to miss,” Maria interjected, “I mean, the girl clearly can’t stay away from you. She’s like the definition of ‘clueless’.”
“Do you think we’re all being over-critical here, guys? I mean we have no proof that she’s evil. All we have to go on is that she snapped and made us all forget a big event. Maybe she was just shocked and reversed it right away. You didn’t say that you saw anything after that, right, Max? I mean, we don’t even know if all the visions are real,” Isabel inserted hopefully.
“No, nothing but Alex collapsing in a heap. She could have killed him!” Maria was incensed over the thought of harm coming to one of her closest friends.
“What are you talking about, Maria? Is there something you guys were holding back from me?” Isabel was instantly alert and worried about Alex. “What do you mean Alex collapsed?”
“Nice going, Maria! I didn’t tell you that so you could turn around and blab to Isabel.” Michael shook his head and faced Isabel. “Look, they did see Alex collapsing, but we didn’t see a reason to worry you. Max is going to see if he can scan Alex for any health problem that may have contributed to his collapse and fix it before anything happens, okay?”
“No.” Isabel rose from her seat, shaking her head. “This is not okay. You guys need to tell me everything, no secrets. I am not going to fall apart here, and I have the right to know if one of my friends could get hurt! I need to know what to look for, what the signs are. I could have missed something important because you hadn’t told me!” She glared around the room.
“You’re right, Is, we should have told you.” Max looked right at his sister. “We just didn’t want to add to your worries, but we should have let you know.” Looking around the group he added, “It’s important that we all tell each other everything, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, if it has something to do with our situation, okay?” Everyone nodded.
“We had Tess covered all day, except for the one class that no one shares with her, did anyone talk to her?”
“I did,” Isabel volunteered, sitting back down. “She was asking me about prom coming up and not so subtly asking if you had a date yet.”
Max cringed. “I do have a date.” Liz was pulled back against his chest. “So she can put that thought out of her head.”
“Don’t you think that would be like a glaring sign that you two are back together?” Michael noted sarcastically, being the realist for once.
“I can’t stand the thought of going with Tess. I’ll just say that we’re going as friends because Liz is uncomfortable around other guys after what happened in Vegas. She might buy it.”
“That could work, but Tess is not stupid. You guys would have to restrain yourselves from gazing into each other’s eyes and groping each other in public places! What? Don’t act like you two don’t know exactly what I’m talking about!” Maria huffed at the wide-eyed innocent expressions on Max and Liz’s faces. “I have two words for you, ‘Eraser Room’,” she ended triumphantly, as Max and Liz blushed hotly.
“What? You guys were making out in the Eraser Room today? Didn’t you get enough this morning?” Isabel crossed her arms uncomfortably. She knew entirely too much about her brother’s sex life.
Now Max and Liz were on fire with embarrassment.
“What?! Liz, you never said a word! Best friends are supposed to share these things!” Maria was getting indignant again.
“Mariaaaa!” Liz turned her face into Max’s chest, while Max buried a hand in the soft cloud of her hair.
“I think we’re getting off the subject here. Max, Liz, do you think you can realistically pull it off?” Michael questioned.
“It’s like, weeks away, we should be able to control ourselves by then. We’ll have plenty of practice before then so…” Max answered for them both, stroking Liz’s silky hair comfortingly. “What?” Everyone was grinning at them. He reviewed what he had said and flushed again. “Plenty of practice at staying apart in front of Tess! Get your minds out of the gutter!” They all shared a laugh.
“Okay, so we know Tess is angling to get Max to the prom and we solved that, so anything else?” Michael continued.
“Not really, she did ask me if Max said anything about what happened in Vegas after we left,” Isabel replied.
“What did you tell her?”
“I just said that he had to stay to handle all of the legal stuff and that Max had told me that he and Liz had decided they could be friends.”
“Did she believe you?”
“She seemed to.”
“That means that she’s already suspicious, do you think that’s why she wants to get me alone for the memory retrievals?” Max asked the group.
“I don’t think you should be alone with her!” Michael replied grimly.
“Liz and I worked that out during gym,” Maria stated smugly. “We’re going to be outside his window whenever the Bountiful Bitch is there and I’ll be the lookout while Liz watches Max. She’s the only one who seems to be able to see through her tricks.”
“Bountiful Bitch? Catty much, Maria?” Michael grinned, secretly liking the new nick-name. “That actually sounds like it could work, we’ll just need to make sure Max always tells you when she’ll be there and make sure Liz is free at the same time!”
“We’ll share our work schedules ahead of time so we’ll know when it’s all right to schedule BB to come over.” Max solved that dilemma with a grin. “Anything else before we move on?” He looked around and everyone shook their heads.
“Okay, same drill for tomorrow. Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious. I’m going to call Alex after our meeting to see if I can go over and find out what’s wrong with him. Is, do you want to come with me?” Isabel shook her head regretfully. “I’m meeting Mom later, she wants to bond after dinner. Girls night, I guess.” She really wished she could be there for Alex. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him yet, but she wanted to be free to explore the possibilities, and she certainly didn’t want him to be hurt because he was her friend!
“I guess the next thing is that Liz and I have had another flash of the man in the cave at the reservation hiding something. We think we need to go out there and see what it is. This flash was even clearer than the last one, so we know exactly where to look. Does anyone want to go with Liz and I after school tomorrow?”
“I have to work,” Maria declined reluctantly.
“I’ll go,” Isabel and Michael chorused together, intensely curious as to what they would find.
“Okay, so let’s plan to leave by 3:30 after school. Should we all meet here?” Michael and Liz nodded. “Good, I’ll drive.”
Max stood up with Liz and stretched. “Well, we’ll see you guys later then.” They exited together quickly.
“I wonder what they’ll be doing?” Maria put out facetiously.
“Maria!” Michael grabbed her around the waist and swung her around, touching his forehead to hers.
“Hey! I’m still here! Hello?” Isabel waved her hands in front of them. “I hate to break up your party. Well, actually I don’t,” she smiled at the pair in front of her. “but I think Max forgot he was my ride, so Maria could you take me home?”
“Sure, Is, no problem. Bye, Michael!” Maria gave him a flirty wink and walked out with Isabel.
“Women!” Michael huffed, left standing alone.
TBC
“Alone at last!” Maria quipped with a smirk as she slammed the apartment door closed behind them. They were the first to arrive, and she didn’t want to waste a moment. Turning into his arms she lifted her face for a long awaited kiss. Michael was more than happy to oblige.
Maria was often conflicted about Michael, but one thing that he always had going for him was that he was a great kisser. He really had ruined her for other guys. Were all aliens this talented? From Liz’s dazed expression yesterday and today, she guessed that they were. She angled her head and deepened the kiss, but just as it started to get really heated, Michael groaned and pulled back.
“Liz is here,” he announced out of the blue, already crossing the room to open the door. Maria stared after him in confusion, slightly dazed from their kiss.
“I didn’t hear any…” Just then a knock sounded on the door and Michael pulled it open.
“Hey, Liz. How’s it goin’? Come in and sit down. Can I get you anything?” Maria’s brow furrowed in total confusion as she continued to watch Michael. How had he known Liz was at the door? And what was with all this hospitality he was suddenly dripping all over? He never asked if she needed anything. Her confusion compounded when Liz didn’t even seem to notice that she had taken Michael’s arm as he led her to a chair. He sat Liz down and got her a drink, somehow knowing what she wanted.
“Where’s Max?” Maria asked, still watching Michael and Liz closely.
Liz curled up in the large armchair and told them Max and Isabel were right behind her.
They all sat and made small talk waiting for Max and Isabel to arrive. Maria noticed that Liz was starting for the door even before Max knocked. Maybe it was an alien thing. Max and Liz embraced as if they had not seen each other for weeks, not minutes. They walked hand in hand back to the over-stuffed chair and Max sat down, pulling Liz into his lap.
“Why don’t you ask Max and Isabel if they’d like a drink, Michael?” Maria prodded.
“They know where the kitchen is, Maria, let them get it themselves.” Michael was charming as ever.
Maria started to get up to serve the gang when Isabel waved her back down. “I can get it, Maria, thanks.”
She came back with juice for everyone and the aliens took turns passing around the Tabasco.
“So what’s the feeling about Tess?” Max started out. “Am I being paranoid, or did anyone else notice that she was extra clingy and wanted to get me alone for the memory retrieval sessions?”
“Yeah, I noticed that too,” Liz seconded, massaging Max’s palm absently.
“It was kinda hard to miss,” Maria interjected, “I mean, the girl clearly can’t stay away from you. She’s like the definition of ‘clueless’.”
“Do you think we’re all being over-critical here, guys? I mean we have no proof that she’s evil. All we have to go on is that she snapped and made us all forget a big event. Maybe she was just shocked and reversed it right away. You didn’t say that you saw anything after that, right, Max? I mean, we don’t even know if all the visions are real,” Isabel inserted hopefully.
“No, nothing but Alex collapsing in a heap. She could have killed him!” Maria was incensed over the thought of harm coming to one of her closest friends.
“What are you talking about, Maria? Is there something you guys were holding back from me?” Isabel was instantly alert and worried about Alex. “What do you mean Alex collapsed?”
“Nice going, Maria! I didn’t tell you that so you could turn around and blab to Isabel.” Michael shook his head and faced Isabel. “Look, they did see Alex collapsing, but we didn’t see a reason to worry you. Max is going to see if he can scan Alex for any health problem that may have contributed to his collapse and fix it before anything happens, okay?”
“No.” Isabel rose from her seat, shaking her head. “This is not okay. You guys need to tell me everything, no secrets. I am not going to fall apart here, and I have the right to know if one of my friends could get hurt! I need to know what to look for, what the signs are. I could have missed something important because you hadn’t told me!” She glared around the room.
“You’re right, Is, we should have told you.” Max looked right at his sister. “We just didn’t want to add to your worries, but we should have let you know.” Looking around the group he added, “It’s important that we all tell each other everything, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, if it has something to do with our situation, okay?” Everyone nodded.
“We had Tess covered all day, except for the one class that no one shares with her, did anyone talk to her?”
“I did,” Isabel volunteered, sitting back down. “She was asking me about prom coming up and not so subtly asking if you had a date yet.”
Max cringed. “I do have a date.” Liz was pulled back against his chest. “So she can put that thought out of her head.”
“Don’t you think that would be like a glaring sign that you two are back together?” Michael noted sarcastically, being the realist for once.
“I can’t stand the thought of going with Tess. I’ll just say that we’re going as friends because Liz is uncomfortable around other guys after what happened in Vegas. She might buy it.”
“That could work, but Tess is not stupid. You guys would have to restrain yourselves from gazing into each other’s eyes and groping each other in public places! What? Don’t act like you two don’t know exactly what I’m talking about!” Maria huffed at the wide-eyed innocent expressions on Max and Liz’s faces. “I have two words for you, ‘Eraser Room’,” she ended triumphantly, as Max and Liz blushed hotly.
“What? You guys were making out in the Eraser Room today? Didn’t you get enough this morning?” Isabel crossed her arms uncomfortably. She knew entirely too much about her brother’s sex life.
Now Max and Liz were on fire with embarrassment.
“What?! Liz, you never said a word! Best friends are supposed to share these things!” Maria was getting indignant again.
“Mariaaaa!” Liz turned her face into Max’s chest, while Max buried a hand in the soft cloud of her hair.
“I think we’re getting off the subject here. Max, Liz, do you think you can realistically pull it off?” Michael questioned.
“It’s like, weeks away, we should be able to control ourselves by then. We’ll have plenty of practice before then so…” Max answered for them both, stroking Liz’s silky hair comfortingly. “What?” Everyone was grinning at them. He reviewed what he had said and flushed again. “Plenty of practice at staying apart in front of Tess! Get your minds out of the gutter!” They all shared a laugh.
“Okay, so we know Tess is angling to get Max to the prom and we solved that, so anything else?” Michael continued.
“Not really, she did ask me if Max said anything about what happened in Vegas after we left,” Isabel replied.
“What did you tell her?”
“I just said that he had to stay to handle all of the legal stuff and that Max had told me that he and Liz had decided they could be friends.”
“Did she believe you?”
“She seemed to.”
“That means that she’s already suspicious, do you think that’s why she wants to get me alone for the memory retrievals?” Max asked the group.
“I don’t think you should be alone with her!” Michael replied grimly.
“Liz and I worked that out during gym,” Maria stated smugly. “We’re going to be outside his window whenever the Bountiful Bitch is there and I’ll be the lookout while Liz watches Max. She’s the only one who seems to be able to see through her tricks.”
“Bountiful Bitch? Catty much, Maria?” Michael grinned, secretly liking the new nick-name. “That actually sounds like it could work, we’ll just need to make sure Max always tells you when she’ll be there and make sure Liz is free at the same time!”
“We’ll share our work schedules ahead of time so we’ll know when it’s all right to schedule BB to come over.” Max solved that dilemma with a grin. “Anything else before we move on?” He looked around and everyone shook their heads.
“Okay, same drill for tomorrow. Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious. I’m going to call Alex after our meeting to see if I can go over and find out what’s wrong with him. Is, do you want to come with me?” Isabel shook her head regretfully. “I’m meeting Mom later, she wants to bond after dinner. Girls night, I guess.” She really wished she could be there for Alex. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him yet, but she wanted to be free to explore the possibilities, and she certainly didn’t want him to be hurt because he was her friend!
“I guess the next thing is that Liz and I have had another flash of the man in the cave at the reservation hiding something. We think we need to go out there and see what it is. This flash was even clearer than the last one, so we know exactly where to look. Does anyone want to go with Liz and I after school tomorrow?”
“I have to work,” Maria declined reluctantly.
“I’ll go,” Isabel and Michael chorused together, intensely curious as to what they would find.
“Okay, so let’s plan to leave by 3:30 after school. Should we all meet here?” Michael and Liz nodded. “Good, I’ll drive.”
Max stood up with Liz and stretched. “Well, we’ll see you guys later then.” They exited together quickly.
“I wonder what they’ll be doing?” Maria put out facetiously.
“Maria!” Michael grabbed her around the waist and swung her around, touching his forehead to hers.
“Hey! I’m still here! Hello?” Isabel waved her hands in front of them. “I hate to break up your party. Well, actually I don’t,” she smiled at the pair in front of her. “but I think Max forgot he was my ride, so Maria could you take me home?”
“Sure, Is, no problem. Bye, Michael!” Maria gave him a flirty wink and walked out with Isabel.
“Women!” Michael huffed, left standing alone.
TBC
EYA Part 18
“Hello? Anybody home?” Max called, glancing right and left as he ushered Liz into his house. His voice echoed hollowly and no one answered. With a wicked grin Max turned to Liz just as she threw herself into his arms. Their lips met in a hungry kiss, eager to finish what they had started in the Eraser Room earlier. Max moved his fingers over her back, moving them up and down in a needy rhythm.
“Ma…maybe we should go to your room, Max,” Liz gasped out against his neck. He obliged her by picking her up by the hips and wrapping her long legs around him. Still kissing, Max began walking them down the hall to his room. He lowered them both onto the bed and framed her face with his palms. “I love you so much,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to think that this is something we always have to do just because we’re here alone together.” His concerned tone stirred her heart.
“I want you, I can’t help it. I know you love me, and I don’t feel like I’m being pressured in any way, okay?” She brushed small, reassuring kisses over his face. He groaned at the limited contact, longing for a deeper touch. She grinned and accommodated him by pressing her lips fully to his. His parted instantly and their tongues began a leisurely exploration. Without the fevers their loving was slower, more controlled. Their hands roamed, fingers exploring, reacquainting themselves with each other’s touch. They slowly removed each other’s shirts and let their fingers wander over the newly exposed skin.
Max’s lips followed the trail of his fingers and Liz gasped out her approval. He teasingly circled her nipples with short laps of his tongue, still not giving her the satisfaction she craved. He waited until she was writhing beneath him, her hand clutching his hair, before he gave in and gave them both what they wanted. She cried out her pleasure and held his mouth to her firmly.
“MAX!” Isabel’s voice rang through the house and they heard the front door slam loudly, freezing them in place. “You better be decent, because I’m coming in!” Both scrambled to replace their tops and were still in a serious state of disarray when Isabel slammed into the room.
“Liz, what a surprise to find you here,” she started in a falsely sweet tone before addressing her brother. “Max, did you forget that you were supposed to give me a ride home? I know that you two are newlyweds and all, but you’d think that you could still remember your sister! I had to ask Maria for a ride home today! I just sat through ten minutes of incessant chatter! That girl can natter on about anything!” She flung herself down on the bed between them, truly enjoying the way her interruption was turning out. Let’s see if Max forgets me again! “So what were you doing?” She swung her leg lazily and tried to act innocent.
“That’s not going to work, Is. I think you’ve got a pretty good idea of what we were doing, and we don’t appreciate the interruption. I’m sorry I forgot to give you a ride, and that Maria traumatized you, but you seem pretty resourceful, and you don’t look any worse for wear. Liz and I have a lot of new things going on right now that we need to discuss, so if you don’t mind?” Max stood and tried to usher her out the door.
“Anything I should know?” Isabel was instantly on the alert that they were still keeping things from her.
“You know the highlights, and I’ll fill you in on the rest on the way to the cave tomorrow. Please, Is?” Max gave her his patented ‘puppy dog eyes’ and she let herself cave.
“All right. I should warn you that Mom’s coming home any minute and if you don’t have other plans, she’ll be cooking you dinner.” Her duty done, she exited the room.
Max turned to Liz and he lowered his forehead to touch hers. “Later?” He questioned. Liz mustered up a tiny smile and nodded.
“Are our friends conspiring against us?”
“I know it seems that way. Between Michael, Maria, and Isabel we don’t seem to be able to enjoy a single moment alone.”
“Maybe we should take this as a sign and really talk about some of the stuff that’s been happening lately.” Liz tried to sound enthusiastic about it.
“What did you want to talk about?” Max gave in and sat down with her, side by side on the bed.
“Well, we should try to figure out what’s going on with our fevers. We seem to get really out of control in the middle of one. Is that normal for aliens or should we be concerned? I mean, I don’t think we could’ve stopped just now if we had been in the middle of one, even if Isabel stood right over us. That’s been bothering me. And how do we know how long they’ll go on like that. Is this permanent? Can we predict when the next one will hit us? I think I’ll start a chart.” Liz cut off her musings at Max’s amused expression.
“What? I’m just trying to be constructive here!” Liz ducked her head.
“I’m not laughing at you. I just haven’t given this as much thought as you clearly have. Do you really think we need a chart?”
“Well, it would be nice to know if there’s a pattern here or something. Have any of the rest of you experienced anything like this?”
“Not that I know of. But I think that I’m the only one of us who has truly been sexually active, so it’s hard to say if this is normal for us.”
“I just don’t want to be embarrassed in front of family or friends one day.”
This was a new and disturbing thought for Max. This whole thing could get really complicated. “Why don’t you go ahead and do that chart thingy and we’ll take a look at it in a week or so. So far we know that you and me seem to have the same symptoms, simultaneously, and that the only way we can relieve the fever is to be together. I wonder what would happen if we resisted, you know, if we weren’t together?”
Liz shuddered. She knew how she felt in the middle of one and knew that she couldn’t make herself resist.
“I don’t think that’s really an option, Max. Do you honestly think you could resist?” She locked her eyes with his to gauge how he felt.
“No.” His simple honesty washed through her.
“No, me either.” She gave him a hug, massaging his neck with her strong fingers. Their breathing quickened, and they started to lean in for a kiss.
They pulled back and sat apart simultaneously, sharing the thought that now was not the time to finish what they had started earlier.
“Maybe I should call Alex now,” Max piped up, needing something to distract himself. He stood and took her hand.
“That’s a great idea,” Liz seconded with enthusiasm.
They walked out of the room hand in hand. Max called Alex and arranged to meet in an hour at his place. As he hung up, Diane walked in, greeting them both with a smile. She hugged Max, and surprisingly Liz too.
“Hi, Mrs. Evans. How was work today?” Liz inquired politely.
“It was completely hectic! Our practice is getting so busy! Philip is working on a case out of town for the rest of the week, and I’m trying to hold the rest of it together by myself!” Diane did look like she’d had a crazy day.
“Can you kids stay for dinner?” She inquired hopefully.
“No, I’m heading over to the Crashdown to grab a bite with Liz before she starts her shift,” Max quickly put in.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Liz, how do you like working at the Crashdown?”
“It’s all right. I’m just helping out my parents tonight. I’ve been looking for something with a little more professional tone to it since my job ended with Senator Whittaker’s office.”
“Really?” Diane looked at her speculatively. This could be a golden opportunity. “Have you ever considered working for a lawyer?”
“A lawyer? I’ve never really…oh! Did you mean your firm?” Liz’s eyes widened, considering the possibilities.
“Of course, dear. I’m really swamped right now. Most of it is just paperwork and typing. It could really be done from the house here if you wanted, of course it would mean long hours. You do have computer experience, don’t you?”
Liz nodded eagerly.
“Would you mind helping me out?” Diane tried not to sound overly anxious.
“I think I’d love it!” Liz raised shining eyes to Max. He hugged her close and thanked his mom with his smile.
This was working out better than any of them could have thought.
“When can you start?”
“How’s next Monday?” Liz enthused.
“Perfect. Come over after school and I’ll leave out your work assignments.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Thank you! I don’t think you realize how much we need you.” Diane was truly sincere.
TBC
“Hello? Anybody home?” Max called, glancing right and left as he ushered Liz into his house. His voice echoed hollowly and no one answered. With a wicked grin Max turned to Liz just as she threw herself into his arms. Their lips met in a hungry kiss, eager to finish what they had started in the Eraser Room earlier. Max moved his fingers over her back, moving them up and down in a needy rhythm.
“Ma…maybe we should go to your room, Max,” Liz gasped out against his neck. He obliged her by picking her up by the hips and wrapping her long legs around him. Still kissing, Max began walking them down the hall to his room. He lowered them both onto the bed and framed her face with his palms. “I love you so much,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to think that this is something we always have to do just because we’re here alone together.” His concerned tone stirred her heart.
“I want you, I can’t help it. I know you love me, and I don’t feel like I’m being pressured in any way, okay?” She brushed small, reassuring kisses over his face. He groaned at the limited contact, longing for a deeper touch. She grinned and accommodated him by pressing her lips fully to his. His parted instantly and their tongues began a leisurely exploration. Without the fevers their loving was slower, more controlled. Their hands roamed, fingers exploring, reacquainting themselves with each other’s touch. They slowly removed each other’s shirts and let their fingers wander over the newly exposed skin.
Max’s lips followed the trail of his fingers and Liz gasped out her approval. He teasingly circled her nipples with short laps of his tongue, still not giving her the satisfaction she craved. He waited until she was writhing beneath him, her hand clutching his hair, before he gave in and gave them both what they wanted. She cried out her pleasure and held his mouth to her firmly.
“MAX!” Isabel’s voice rang through the house and they heard the front door slam loudly, freezing them in place. “You better be decent, because I’m coming in!” Both scrambled to replace their tops and were still in a serious state of disarray when Isabel slammed into the room.
“Liz, what a surprise to find you here,” she started in a falsely sweet tone before addressing her brother. “Max, did you forget that you were supposed to give me a ride home? I know that you two are newlyweds and all, but you’d think that you could still remember your sister! I had to ask Maria for a ride home today! I just sat through ten minutes of incessant chatter! That girl can natter on about anything!” She flung herself down on the bed between them, truly enjoying the way her interruption was turning out. Let’s see if Max forgets me again! “So what were you doing?” She swung her leg lazily and tried to act innocent.
“That’s not going to work, Is. I think you’ve got a pretty good idea of what we were doing, and we don’t appreciate the interruption. I’m sorry I forgot to give you a ride, and that Maria traumatized you, but you seem pretty resourceful, and you don’t look any worse for wear. Liz and I have a lot of new things going on right now that we need to discuss, so if you don’t mind?” Max stood and tried to usher her out the door.
“Anything I should know?” Isabel was instantly on the alert that they were still keeping things from her.
“You know the highlights, and I’ll fill you in on the rest on the way to the cave tomorrow. Please, Is?” Max gave her his patented ‘puppy dog eyes’ and she let herself cave.
“All right. I should warn you that Mom’s coming home any minute and if you don’t have other plans, she’ll be cooking you dinner.” Her duty done, she exited the room.
Max turned to Liz and he lowered his forehead to touch hers. “Later?” He questioned. Liz mustered up a tiny smile and nodded.
“Are our friends conspiring against us?”
“I know it seems that way. Between Michael, Maria, and Isabel we don’t seem to be able to enjoy a single moment alone.”
“Maybe we should take this as a sign and really talk about some of the stuff that’s been happening lately.” Liz tried to sound enthusiastic about it.
“What did you want to talk about?” Max gave in and sat down with her, side by side on the bed.
“Well, we should try to figure out what’s going on with our fevers. We seem to get really out of control in the middle of one. Is that normal for aliens or should we be concerned? I mean, I don’t think we could’ve stopped just now if we had been in the middle of one, even if Isabel stood right over us. That’s been bothering me. And how do we know how long they’ll go on like that. Is this permanent? Can we predict when the next one will hit us? I think I’ll start a chart.” Liz cut off her musings at Max’s amused expression.
“What? I’m just trying to be constructive here!” Liz ducked her head.
“I’m not laughing at you. I just haven’t given this as much thought as you clearly have. Do you really think we need a chart?”
“Well, it would be nice to know if there’s a pattern here or something. Have any of the rest of you experienced anything like this?”
“Not that I know of. But I think that I’m the only one of us who has truly been sexually active, so it’s hard to say if this is normal for us.”
“I just don’t want to be embarrassed in front of family or friends one day.”
This was a new and disturbing thought for Max. This whole thing could get really complicated. “Why don’t you go ahead and do that chart thingy and we’ll take a look at it in a week or so. So far we know that you and me seem to have the same symptoms, simultaneously, and that the only way we can relieve the fever is to be together. I wonder what would happen if we resisted, you know, if we weren’t together?”
Liz shuddered. She knew how she felt in the middle of one and knew that she couldn’t make herself resist.
“I don’t think that’s really an option, Max. Do you honestly think you could resist?” She locked her eyes with his to gauge how he felt.
“No.” His simple honesty washed through her.
“No, me either.” She gave him a hug, massaging his neck with her strong fingers. Their breathing quickened, and they started to lean in for a kiss.
They pulled back and sat apart simultaneously, sharing the thought that now was not the time to finish what they had started earlier.
“Maybe I should call Alex now,” Max piped up, needing something to distract himself. He stood and took her hand.
“That’s a great idea,” Liz seconded with enthusiasm.
They walked out of the room hand in hand. Max called Alex and arranged to meet in an hour at his place. As he hung up, Diane walked in, greeting them both with a smile. She hugged Max, and surprisingly Liz too.
“Hi, Mrs. Evans. How was work today?” Liz inquired politely.
“It was completely hectic! Our practice is getting so busy! Philip is working on a case out of town for the rest of the week, and I’m trying to hold the rest of it together by myself!” Diane did look like she’d had a crazy day.
“Can you kids stay for dinner?” She inquired hopefully.
“No, I’m heading over to the Crashdown to grab a bite with Liz before she starts her shift,” Max quickly put in.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Liz, how do you like working at the Crashdown?”
“It’s all right. I’m just helping out my parents tonight. I’ve been looking for something with a little more professional tone to it since my job ended with Senator Whittaker’s office.”
“Really?” Diane looked at her speculatively. This could be a golden opportunity. “Have you ever considered working for a lawyer?”
“A lawyer? I’ve never really…oh! Did you mean your firm?” Liz’s eyes widened, considering the possibilities.
“Of course, dear. I’m really swamped right now. Most of it is just paperwork and typing. It could really be done from the house here if you wanted, of course it would mean long hours. You do have computer experience, don’t you?”
Liz nodded eagerly.
“Would you mind helping me out?” Diane tried not to sound overly anxious.
“I think I’d love it!” Liz raised shining eyes to Max. He hugged her close and thanked his mom with his smile.
This was working out better than any of them could have thought.
“When can you start?”
“How’s next Monday?” Liz enthused.
“Perfect. Come over after school and I’ll leave out your work assignments.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Thank you! I don’t think you realize how much we need you.” Diane was truly sincere.
TBC
EYA Part 19
Max left Liz at the Crashdown to start her shift after they had eaten dinner together. It was nice to get to talk about something normal for a change and they had chattered on about the possibilities of her new job. Liz thought it would look great on her applications for college and both were excited by the idea that Liz would get to work right in Max’s home so they wouldn’t have to constantly be coming up with excuses about why she was visiting. Liz made it clear though, that once she was on the clock she had to apply herself to her job. Max understood completely, but with the thought in the back of his head that every job had to include breaks!
Max waited outside Alex’s house after he had rung the door bell. It seemed to be taking a long time and he started to wonder if Alex had gone out for some reason. He knocked again and considered using his gifts to unlock the door in case something was wrong. Alex finally answered after several moments and leaned heavily against the doorframe, looking exhausted.
“It looks like I came just in time,” Max commented as he walked into the house. He was only half joking.
“Ha, ha, Evans,” Alex returned. “I don’t think there’s anything serious going on here, but if you can get rid of my exhaustion and headaches you will be a godsend!”
“I’ll do what I can. Where’re your parents?”
“They went out to dinner, I told them I had homework and to go ahead without me. To tell you the truth, I haven’t had the energy to do my homework since I got back from Sweden. That’s part of the reason I wanted to give this a try. I’m kinda concerned about my GPA.” Alex led the way into the living room. Looking around, he turned in confusion before leading Max back to his bedroom.
“This’ll be better. How long do you think it’ll take?” Alex asked, scratching the back of his neck and staring longingly at his bed. Maybe just a short nap first…
“I’m not really sure,” Max answered, closing and locking the door behind him. “I don’t really know if this will even work. I do want to thank you for letting me try this with you.”
“Uh, sure. This isn’t going to be painful or change me into an alien or anything, is it?” Alex asked seriously. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being an alien, mind you, I just’ve gotten kinda used to being one of the only all human members left in our little club. I’m thinking of asking Maria if she wants to start a support group or something. We could have a cool logo like ‘Don’t mess with us, we’ve been abducted’,” Alex laughed at himself, shaking his head. “Wow, that sounded way cooler in my head. Sorry about that. So where do you want me?” He gestured vaguely around his room.
Max looked around. “The bed, I guess. You’ll be more comfortable. I don’t want you to worry that this will change you in any way. I think it only does that if I bring you back from death’s door. You know, like with Liz and Kyle. They each had a mortal wound, they would have died within moments if I hadn’t, you know,” Max wiggled his fingers. “You should just lie down and relax.”
“Relax, yeah I could do that,” Alex stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes. His breathing became deep and regular almost immediately.
“Alex.” Max shook his shoulder. “Alex!” Alex came awake with a start.
“What’s that? Oh sorry. Did I mention I’m exhausted?” Alex tried to sit up a little to keep himself awake.
“I just need you to look at me right at the beginning. I need to make the initial connection. You can sleep after that if you want and I’ll just do what I can, okay?” Max was more concerned than he had been before.
“Sure,” Alex raised his heavy eyes to Max.
Max framed Alex’s face with his hands and locked eyes with his friend. The connection was made quickly; Alex had no strength to resist. Max was nearly swept over with a wave of pure exhaustion. He worked around that and fought to stay focused. He removed his hands from Alex’s temples and lowered them down to his stomach. He felt the exact moment when Alex fell back to sleep, and it relieved some of the pressure of the exhaustion he had been fighting against. With renewed strength Max began to concentrate his energies into exploring Alex for the source of his collapse in their vision. He scanned through all the vital organs and blood vessels, checking for weakness or structural anomalies. His talent was innate, he just knew what was right and what felt wrong in a person. He didn’t question his instincts, and they had never led him wrong.
He was beginning to feel frustrated when he made his final sweep. He reached one hand up to the side of Alex’s head again and made one last attempt. Reaching deeper he began to sense a barrier, something false, something that should never be there. He pressed in deeper, being slow and careful to heal any damage that he caused by pushing into his mind. Pushing through the final resistance, Max was assaulted by an influx of images. Scenes that were at first confusing, but at the same time explained so much.
When the images faded Max concentrated on removing the anomalous block that was like a shadow over Alex’s brain. Because of the flash, Max understood that Tess had carefully constructed a shield over Alex’s memories to protect herself from the backlash of her heinous actions. He felt his temperature rise and held back his anger to finish fixing the weaknesses that had been draining his friend’s strength for weeks. Alex would remember everything. Max knew he could never forget either.
Some time later, when the reconstruction was completed, Max fell back until he was sitting on the floor. He went ahead and lay down, since he was sitting there anyway. He was drenched in sweat and breathing like he’d just run ten miles.
Alex sat up, staring at his friend.
“How is this possible? How could she have used me like that? I never went to Sweden! I spent two months sweating out the secrets of her damn book so that she could figure out how to get you all home! I… I don’t even know where to start.” Alex started to really notice that Max was barely registering what he was saying. “Max, buddy, are you all right?” He climbed down off the bed and sat beside Max.
Max tried to sit up and needed Alex’s assistance. He scooted around until his back was to the bed and pulled his knees up to his chest. He crossed his arms over his knees and laid his head on them, trying to recover.
“I had no idea, Alex, I need you to know that.” Max felt responsible as always for the actions of someone he had trusted.
“I know that, Max.” Alex’s gaze turned inward as he began to piece together more of what had happened to him. “I gave her the translation, but only part of it.” Alex began to grin. “I don’t think she knows that the disk I gave her was only a partial translation of the entire book. I gave her the part that would activate the Granolith to send her home, but I wouldn’t give her the rest. I didn’t give her the part that talked about the tremendous power that the Granolith contains and the different ways to use it. As a weapon, and for time travel! Max! I hid the other disk, I put it in my backpack and it’s been sitting in the back of my closet this whole time!”
“Do you know what this means, Alex? We have the knowledge we have always needed, we could even…go home.” His voice trailed off as he realized the implications of Alex’s announcement.
Alex was already rooting through his closet. “Aha! I knew it! Here it is!” He waved the disk triumphantly in the air. “Take it. It belongs to you.” He handed the diskette over to Max. He was reluctant to touch it, now that he knew what he had gone through to make it.
“Are you all right, Max? Can I get you some water or something?” Alex hovered over Max, starting to get concerned. Max was sweating all over and was having a hard time catching his breath. “Does this always happen after you…you know?” He glanced at the clock and was surprised that they had been in his room for almost three hours. “Whoa! No wonder you’re exhausted. I didn’t realize these things took so much time!”
“They don’t, usually. I’ve never really done anything like this before, I guess it just really drained me.” Max was starting to get concerned for himself as well. He usually felt drained, but he recovered quickly. This is just getting worse, it almost feels like…
“No! I’ve got to get to Liz!” Max exclaimed, stumbling to his feet and almost falling to the floor again.
“I think maybe you should sit down before you fall down, Max!” Alex tried to steady his friend.
“I’ll be fine, Alex. Right now I’ve really got to go!” Max made his way out to his car as quickly as he could.
“I could give you a ride!” Alex called after him.
“I’ll be fine!” Max climbed into his car and started the engine. “Hang on, Liz!” He mumbled under his breath.
TBC
Max left Liz at the Crashdown to start her shift after they had eaten dinner together. It was nice to get to talk about something normal for a change and they had chattered on about the possibilities of her new job. Liz thought it would look great on her applications for college and both were excited by the idea that Liz would get to work right in Max’s home so they wouldn’t have to constantly be coming up with excuses about why she was visiting. Liz made it clear though, that once she was on the clock she had to apply herself to her job. Max understood completely, but with the thought in the back of his head that every job had to include breaks!
Max waited outside Alex’s house after he had rung the door bell. It seemed to be taking a long time and he started to wonder if Alex had gone out for some reason. He knocked again and considered using his gifts to unlock the door in case something was wrong. Alex finally answered after several moments and leaned heavily against the doorframe, looking exhausted.
“It looks like I came just in time,” Max commented as he walked into the house. He was only half joking.
“Ha, ha, Evans,” Alex returned. “I don’t think there’s anything serious going on here, but if you can get rid of my exhaustion and headaches you will be a godsend!”
“I’ll do what I can. Where’re your parents?”
“They went out to dinner, I told them I had homework and to go ahead without me. To tell you the truth, I haven’t had the energy to do my homework since I got back from Sweden. That’s part of the reason I wanted to give this a try. I’m kinda concerned about my GPA.” Alex led the way into the living room. Looking around, he turned in confusion before leading Max back to his bedroom.
“This’ll be better. How long do you think it’ll take?” Alex asked, scratching the back of his neck and staring longingly at his bed. Maybe just a short nap first…
“I’m not really sure,” Max answered, closing and locking the door behind him. “I don’t really know if this will even work. I do want to thank you for letting me try this with you.”
“Uh, sure. This isn’t going to be painful or change me into an alien or anything, is it?” Alex asked seriously. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being an alien, mind you, I just’ve gotten kinda used to being one of the only all human members left in our little club. I’m thinking of asking Maria if she wants to start a support group or something. We could have a cool logo like ‘Don’t mess with us, we’ve been abducted’,” Alex laughed at himself, shaking his head. “Wow, that sounded way cooler in my head. Sorry about that. So where do you want me?” He gestured vaguely around his room.
Max looked around. “The bed, I guess. You’ll be more comfortable. I don’t want you to worry that this will change you in any way. I think it only does that if I bring you back from death’s door. You know, like with Liz and Kyle. They each had a mortal wound, they would have died within moments if I hadn’t, you know,” Max wiggled his fingers. “You should just lie down and relax.”
“Relax, yeah I could do that,” Alex stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes. His breathing became deep and regular almost immediately.
“Alex.” Max shook his shoulder. “Alex!” Alex came awake with a start.
“What’s that? Oh sorry. Did I mention I’m exhausted?” Alex tried to sit up a little to keep himself awake.
“I just need you to look at me right at the beginning. I need to make the initial connection. You can sleep after that if you want and I’ll just do what I can, okay?” Max was more concerned than he had been before.
“Sure,” Alex raised his heavy eyes to Max.
Max framed Alex’s face with his hands and locked eyes with his friend. The connection was made quickly; Alex had no strength to resist. Max was nearly swept over with a wave of pure exhaustion. He worked around that and fought to stay focused. He removed his hands from Alex’s temples and lowered them down to his stomach. He felt the exact moment when Alex fell back to sleep, and it relieved some of the pressure of the exhaustion he had been fighting against. With renewed strength Max began to concentrate his energies into exploring Alex for the source of his collapse in their vision. He scanned through all the vital organs and blood vessels, checking for weakness or structural anomalies. His talent was innate, he just knew what was right and what felt wrong in a person. He didn’t question his instincts, and they had never led him wrong.
He was beginning to feel frustrated when he made his final sweep. He reached one hand up to the side of Alex’s head again and made one last attempt. Reaching deeper he began to sense a barrier, something false, something that should never be there. He pressed in deeper, being slow and careful to heal any damage that he caused by pushing into his mind. Pushing through the final resistance, Max was assaulted by an influx of images. Scenes that were at first confusing, but at the same time explained so much.
When the images faded Max concentrated on removing the anomalous block that was like a shadow over Alex’s brain. Because of the flash, Max understood that Tess had carefully constructed a shield over Alex’s memories to protect herself from the backlash of her heinous actions. He felt his temperature rise and held back his anger to finish fixing the weaknesses that had been draining his friend’s strength for weeks. Alex would remember everything. Max knew he could never forget either.
Some time later, when the reconstruction was completed, Max fell back until he was sitting on the floor. He went ahead and lay down, since he was sitting there anyway. He was drenched in sweat and breathing like he’d just run ten miles.
Alex sat up, staring at his friend.
“How is this possible? How could she have used me like that? I never went to Sweden! I spent two months sweating out the secrets of her damn book so that she could figure out how to get you all home! I… I don’t even know where to start.” Alex started to really notice that Max was barely registering what he was saying. “Max, buddy, are you all right?” He climbed down off the bed and sat beside Max.
Max tried to sit up and needed Alex’s assistance. He scooted around until his back was to the bed and pulled his knees up to his chest. He crossed his arms over his knees and laid his head on them, trying to recover.
“I had no idea, Alex, I need you to know that.” Max felt responsible as always for the actions of someone he had trusted.
“I know that, Max.” Alex’s gaze turned inward as he began to piece together more of what had happened to him. “I gave her the translation, but only part of it.” Alex began to grin. “I don’t think she knows that the disk I gave her was only a partial translation of the entire book. I gave her the part that would activate the Granolith to send her home, but I wouldn’t give her the rest. I didn’t give her the part that talked about the tremendous power that the Granolith contains and the different ways to use it. As a weapon, and for time travel! Max! I hid the other disk, I put it in my backpack and it’s been sitting in the back of my closet this whole time!”
“Do you know what this means, Alex? We have the knowledge we have always needed, we could even…go home.” His voice trailed off as he realized the implications of Alex’s announcement.
Alex was already rooting through his closet. “Aha! I knew it! Here it is!” He waved the disk triumphantly in the air. “Take it. It belongs to you.” He handed the diskette over to Max. He was reluctant to touch it, now that he knew what he had gone through to make it.
“Are you all right, Max? Can I get you some water or something?” Alex hovered over Max, starting to get concerned. Max was sweating all over and was having a hard time catching his breath. “Does this always happen after you…you know?” He glanced at the clock and was surprised that they had been in his room for almost three hours. “Whoa! No wonder you’re exhausted. I didn’t realize these things took so much time!”
“They don’t, usually. I’ve never really done anything like this before, I guess it just really drained me.” Max was starting to get concerned for himself as well. He usually felt drained, but he recovered quickly. This is just getting worse, it almost feels like…
“No! I’ve got to get to Liz!” Max exclaimed, stumbling to his feet and almost falling to the floor again.
“I think maybe you should sit down before you fall down, Max!” Alex tried to steady his friend.
“I’ll be fine, Alex. Right now I’ve really got to go!” Max made his way out to his car as quickly as he could.
“I could give you a ride!” Alex called after him.
“I’ll be fine!” Max climbed into his car and started the engine. “Hang on, Liz!” He mumbled under his breath.
TBC
EYA Part 20
Liz leaned against the pick-up window and blew her hair out of her eyes. She had been on her shift for two hours and it had been a crazy rush the whole time. She looked at the clock, eight o’clock, one hour to closing and then she could put her feet up. Her heart rate quickened with anticipation at the thought of starting a new job next week. No more running around, taking people’s orders and trying to act pleasant to rude patrons. Yea!
“Michael, it looks like it’s finally slowing down. I’m going to go ahead and send Agnes home, okay?” Liz peered through the window as Michael finished scraping the grill after the last round of burgers.
“Yeah, we can handle it on our own from here. It’s mostly the dessert crowd now anyway.” Michael picked up a clean towel and flicked it at her through the window. Liz jumped back laughing.
“You’re aim is still off, Michael,” she teased. “Thanks for filling in tonight. My parents left for Albuquerque to be with my aunt Julie while she has her baby, and then Jose called in sick!” Liz was truly grateful that Michael didn’t have any other plans for the evening.
“No problem, I could use the extra cash,” Michael tried to brush off his good deed and turned back to cleaning his spotless kitchen. He was a remarkably tidy person for someone who had grown up as he had, Liz reflected. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so mysterious, maybe it was Michael’s way of finding order in life, taking control of his surroundings. In any case, it was a nice habit to have and it served him well here at the Crashdown, her dad was a stickler for cleanliness.
Twenty minutes later, Liz was wiping down the last of the tables when she a sudden wave of dizziness made her grab the sides of the table for balance and sit down hard. Breathing deeply she sat for another moment, glad that the restaurant was almost empty. Maybe she should have concentrated more on dinner than on Max earlier! She stood up slowly, moderating her breathing, and made her way over to the pick-up window again.
“Hey, Michael? Can you get me half a sandwich? I don’t think I ate enough at dinner.” She leaned heavily on the counter for a moment, promising to take better care of herself.
“Let me guess why!” Michael glanced over to tease her, but when he saw her wan expression he grew instantly concerned. “You all right? You look kinda pale.”
“Yeah, I just need to get something in my stomach, I think. And maybe I’ll have a soda.” She poured ice into a tall glass and filled it with Sprite. Taking a long drink she did feel better.
Michael set out a turkey sandwich for her with instructions to sit down and eat it.
“I’ll watch the front while you’re eating.” Michael left the kitchen and moved to sit beside her at the stools. Liz ate slowly, feeling marginally better. After taking another long drink, she set down her cup and fished out an ice cube. She ran the ice over her wrists and then moved it over her neck, arching her head back and enjoying the coolness against her suddenly overheated skin.
“Is it getting warm in here, Michael?” She took another ice cube and sucked on it, trying to cool off.
“No, it’s actually cool in here.” Michael watched her eat and try to cool down with increasing concern. This was not like Liz to be so weak, and he couldn’t remember the last time she had sat down in the middle of a shift. Michael rose to cashier for the last customers in the restaurant and made a split second decision to close the restaurant after they left.
Hearing the lock click, Liz turned questioning eyes to Michael.
“Hey, Michael, it’s not time to close for another twenty minutes!” She stood up and staggered under another wave of dizziness.
Michael rushed to her side just in time to stop her from falling. “I think you need to go up and lay down. You might be coming down with something.” Michael steered her toward the stairs to her apartment.
Liz shrugged out of his hold. “Don’t be ridiculous, Michael! I’m perfectly fine, I just didn’t eat enough and then worked on my feet for the rest of the night!” Her hands went to her hips as she glared at him.
“Uh huh, is that why you’re dripping sweat and can’t seem to stand up without tilting over?” He asked her sarcastically.
Liz wiped her brow and realized that she was very hot. Fevered really. Oh. My. God! Not now! This is absolutely not the right time for this! Max! Where is Max? She realized all at once that Max was helping Alex and there was no way she was going to interrupt him. She shuddered at the thought that she would soon have to find out if resisting their fevers was an option.
“Maybe you’re right, Michael. I think I’ll just head on upstairs…” she turned and started up the steps, and had to grab the rail when another wave of dizziness overcame her. She felt herself being caught up in strong arms and seemed to float up the stairs. Her eyes fluttered closed as darkness fell around her.
“What the…” Michael swooped in to catch Liz just before she fell. Picking her up effortlessly, he wasted no time carrying her straight to her room. Should he call the doctor? Was it even safe for Liz to see a doctor? What if Max had changed her too much and now that she was developing her powers she was too alien to pass for human? Why would she pass out like this if she was an alien? They didn’t get sick. Michael suddenly remembered that he had been sick. Once. With a terrible fever that had almost killed him.
Making a quick decision, Michael ripped open the snaps of Liz’s uniform and stripped it from her overheated body. Carrying her into her bathroom, he cradled her in his arms and used a washcloth to bathe her face as he filled the bathtub with tepid water. He’d read somewhere that it was a good way to lower core body temperature. When the tub had filled about halfway, he carefully lowered her into the water.
Liz’s eyes flew open at the abrupt shock of the cool water on her heated skin. With a gasp she sat straight up and tried to lunge out of the tub. Michael restrained her as best he could, struggling to keep her in the water.
“What the hell are you doing, Michael?” Liz screeched in shock. Michael’s hands slipped over her wet skin and grazed her side. Liz gasped in renewed horror as she realized that she was sitting in front of Michael in her bra and underwear. She ceased her struggle with him and used her arms to shield her body from his sight.
“I just…I needed to…You were burning up! You passed out, and I read that this is a good way to cool people off,” Michael sputtered. He was soaked to the waist and getting angrier by the second. Did he need this kind of aggravation? Where the hell was Max? He stripped off his wet shirt and used it to wipe the sweat off his face. “Look, I didn’t know what else to do, okay?”
“Okay! Just please, get out now all right?” Liz was desperate. No one had ever seen her like this except Max. Even her swimsuits were modest one-piece items. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea if I left right now, Liz.” Liz shot him a glare. “What? I’m serious! What if you passed out in the tub or something? I’m not going to be responsible for that, so get over it! I don’t think of you like that anyway!” Michael was torn between the instinct to protect her and the overpowering urge to flee.
“Of course you don’t…I didn’t mean…This is just really awkward, okay?” Liz was mortified and at the same time she was touched that he was concerned for her. “Could you just…turn around or something?”
Michael turned his back to her and listened to the soft splash of water against the sides of the tub.
“I didn’t know if we should call the doctor or not,” he threw out over his shoulder. “Have you been feeling like you’re coming down with something?”
“Michael…I know what this is. There’s nothing you can do, so you really should just go.” Liz was mortified that Michael might have to know what was really happening with her.
“You know what’s going on here?” Michael turned around again and began to grill her. “Why didn’t you tell me? Has this happened before? If this is some kind of female thing, Liz, I swear I’ll…” He let the threat trail off as Liz glared up at him. There was more going on here than she was telling him.
“Talk to me, Liz,” his softened tone caught her off guard. He did have a right to know after all he had done to help her tonight, Liz thought.
“It’s happened a couple times before. Max experienced the same symptoms as I did at the same time. There was only one way we’ve found to make it stop.” Liz couldn’t finish.
“Are you saying that Max could be having this fever and may be passed out somewhere right now?” Michael stood and paced around the small area. Concern for his friend distorted his features, but he couldn’t make himself leave Liz’s side. There was just something about her. “Is Max at home right now or still over at Alex’s?” He questioned.
“I don’t know. I think he would have called or come over if he was done.” Liz tried to climb out of the tub, but she was getting so weak. Michael helped her to step over the edge and wrapped her in a towel.
“You need to lay down,” he led her to the bed, stumbling himself just as they reached it. He held his hand to his head and shook it. “Wait! You said you found a way to make this stop. Why haven’t you done it? Do you need me to get you something?” He sounded out of breath.
“Michael we…wemadelove,” she said superfast under her breath, turning her head into her pillow.
“What was that? I didn’t understand what you said.” Michael used his shirt again to mop his brow. It really was getting hot in here, maybe he should open the window.
He stumbled across the room and wedged the window open.
Liz decided it would be easier to say it to his back. “We made love,” she said again, very clearly this time. Michael spun back around to stare at her.
“Look, Michael, I’m sorry that you got in the middle of this. Max and I are still trying to figure it out for ourselves. It started in Vegas after the first time we…were together. Max and I both developed a fever, and I passed out that time too. Max hasn’t ever passed out from this though, he may be okay tonight,” she rushed to explain to him.
“Are you telling me this is about sex?” Michael was incredulous.
“No! It’s probably some alien thing. None of you has had sex yet have you?” Liz turned the tables on Michael.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business, but no, we haven’t.” Michael was uncomfortable with this turn in the conversation. “I feel very hot all of a sudden.” Michael lay down beside Liz.
“Do you have a fever?” Liz rolled to her side, the towel coming undone without her realizing it. She reached out her hand and tested his forehead. At the first touch of her fingers, the mood shifted. Her hand trailed down the side of his cheek and he turned his face into it, gently placing an open mouthed kiss on her palm. Liz shivered in response and Michael moved closer.
The creaking of the bedsprings jolted them to their senses. Liz grabbed her towel and Michael jumped off the bed.
“I…I’m sorry! I don’t know why I did that! I swear, Liz…I never…!” Michael was shaking his head and raking his trembling fingers through the tangled mess of his hair. He backed away from the bed, out of what he felt was the danger zone. “I don’t know what came over me!”
“I know that, Michael. It was nothing. I need…I need Max.” Liz moaned and turned into her pillow, rocking softly back and forth, utterly miserable and confused by her bodies needs. She was burning for Max.
“I’m gonna call him.” Michael grabbed the phone by her bed and started dialing. He whirled around at a noise from the open window.
“Liz,” Max’s strained voice reached her from her window. He crawled through and closed the distance separating them.
“Max,” Liz breathed his name and reached for him. He clutched her into his arms and devoured her with his kiss. Their connection flared to life between them, almost visible with the force of their hunger He dragged the towel from her body as her shaking hands worked at getting his buttons undone. Her movements were frantic, she needed his skin against hers like she needed her next breath. The buttons popped free at last, some of them rolling to the floor. Max raked his lips down over her body, tasting every inch of her heated skin. Liz moaned out her approval, writhing on the bed beneath him. Max shrugged out of the remnants of his shirt and released the clasp of her bra. Her breasts sprang free of their encumbrance and Max moved to suckle each one frantically into his mouth, the occasional bite of his teeth only heightening her response. Her hunger crashed through him in waves through their link and increased his urgency. Liz panted louder and worked to free him of his jeans. Max helped her, his breath releasing loudly into the room, and leaned away just far enough to slide his jeans and boxers over his lean hips, kicking them off impatiently. Free from his garments at last he slid his hands into the waistband of her damp underwear and removed the last barrier between them.
Liz closed her legs around his hips and urged him to enter her immediately. He could wait no longer and plunged into her eagerly, unable to stop the frantic motions of his hips. He held her face in his hands and ravaged her mouth urgently, his tongue tasting hers, his teeth nipping over her lips, before moving down over her neck to leave love bites where he sucked and bit. Liz’s hands pulled desperately at his arching back to settle over his straining buttocks, urging him to go faster, harder. Their pleasure built in cresting keening waves and release came powerfully to the two desperate lovers.
Max collapsed on top of her and rolled quickly to the side. Breathing was hard enough without her having to support his weight too. He stroked his hands over her sweat dampened sides and back, soothing her in the only way he could. His eyes roamed over her to check for damage. He had been so rough! He felt like a rutting animal that he had taken her so carelessly! How would she forgive him? Liz’s liquid eyes raised to meet his gaze and he understood. In one flash he could see that her urgency had been as great as his own. That she had needed him as much as he did her.
“Oh, Max, what are we going to do?” Liz breathed out in a husky cry of despair. They both understood they were out of control.
“I don’t know.” Max was sorry not to have a better answer. They’d just have to hope it eventually went away.
Liz bolted upright in bed all of a sudden, looking frantically around her room.
“What?!” Max got up on his knees, preparing for danger.
“Michael! He was in here when you came in! He must have seen…where is he?” Liz was once again mortified that the strength of her compulsion to be with Max could be so strong that she couldn’t even remember if someone else was in the room with them or not.
“I’ll see if he’s still in the house,” Max volunteered. He grabbed his jeans and dragged them back on. Leaning over he gave her a soft kiss. “I’ll be right back. It’ll be okay,” he reassured her as he left the room.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Michael closed the bedroom door behind him and leaned against it for support. His breathing was still erratic, although now he couldn’t tell if it was because he was fevered or because of what he had witnessed. When Max had come through the window Michael had been prepared to greet him. Until he saw Max’s eyes. They were practically glowing with a strange light and so obviously focused only on Liz. He hadn’t even noticed that Michael was in the room! When Max moved to Liz’s side and they touched, it was explosive and mesmerizing, the strength of the connection flowing around them. Each movement led naturally into the next, everything urgent and perfect, as it should be. Michael had been unable to pull himself away until Max had removed Liz’s last garment. The shock of what he was doing, just standing there voyeuristically watching his friends make love, rolled through him and he stumbled out the door.
Taking deep breaths to ease his labored lungs, Michael used the walls to support him as he made his way into the living room. Hell yeah, he had always been curious about alien sex, but really, he’d never expected to witness a demonstration. He sank down onto the couch and just stared at the ceiling, willing away his bodies reaction to what he had seen. Moments later he felt his body cool down dramatically. He sat up and stared down at himself. He felt normal again, like nothing had ever happened. What was going on with him?
The bedroom door opened and Michael’s gaze shot up to meet his friend. Max stared at him sheepishly and moved hesitantly to sit beside him on the couch.
“I guess there’re a few things we didn’t tell you about what happened in Vegas,” Max started, already shifting uncomfortably.
“No kidding,” Michael retorted. “Care to explain what just happened here, Max?” Michael’s eyes widened when he took in the bloody scratch marks down Max’s arms and across his back. Max’s hand lifted to his shoulder when he realized what Michael was seeing, and then dropped helplessly back to his side. What was the use of hiding it now? They’d been seen.
“We don’t really know why this started. I have a couple theories. It…it could just be a by-product of mating with an alien, or it could be caused by the changes Liz is going through with her new powers. Or maybe it’s some kind of heat that we go through, we really don’t know. We just start running a fever and are drawn to be together. It seems to hit Liz harder than me. I don’t know if that’s because she’s human or female or what. I’m sorry that you had to see that.” Max angled an amber gaze up to Michael. “Just how…how much did you see?”
Michael squirmed uncomfortably. “Enough. Suffice it to say that I got out of there just in time.”
Now it was Max’s turn to squirm. “Sorry, man. We just can’t seem to stop ourselves when the fever hits.” He looked around the room, as if finally realizing where they were, and whispered, “Where are Liz’s parents?”
“Liz’s aunt is having a baby in Albuquerque and they’re spending a couple nights over there to help her out,” Michael responded.
Max let out a relieved breath. “Can we talk about all this later, Michael? I’m really beat.”
Max did look totally wiped out. “Did everything go okay with Whitman?”
“Yeah, that’s another thing we need to talk about tomorrow. Can I tell my parents that I’m spending the night at your place tonight?”
Michael nodded and was hit with his own wave of exhaustion. He got up to leave, he needed to go home and process what had happened.
After Michael left, Max called home to his mom and she agreed to let him stay over at Michael’s for the night.
Max went back into the bedroom to find Liz sleeping. He smiled softly and pulled his jeans off again. Naked, he crawled back into bed with her and spooned his body against her back. She sighed sleepily and automatically adjusted herself to fit perfectly against him. Max nuzzled his face into her hair and breathed deeply with contentment. There would be no nightmares tonight.
TBC
Liz leaned against the pick-up window and blew her hair out of her eyes. She had been on her shift for two hours and it had been a crazy rush the whole time. She looked at the clock, eight o’clock, one hour to closing and then she could put her feet up. Her heart rate quickened with anticipation at the thought of starting a new job next week. No more running around, taking people’s orders and trying to act pleasant to rude patrons. Yea!
“Michael, it looks like it’s finally slowing down. I’m going to go ahead and send Agnes home, okay?” Liz peered through the window as Michael finished scraping the grill after the last round of burgers.
“Yeah, we can handle it on our own from here. It’s mostly the dessert crowd now anyway.” Michael picked up a clean towel and flicked it at her through the window. Liz jumped back laughing.
“You’re aim is still off, Michael,” she teased. “Thanks for filling in tonight. My parents left for Albuquerque to be with my aunt Julie while she has her baby, and then Jose called in sick!” Liz was truly grateful that Michael didn’t have any other plans for the evening.
“No problem, I could use the extra cash,” Michael tried to brush off his good deed and turned back to cleaning his spotless kitchen. He was a remarkably tidy person for someone who had grown up as he had, Liz reflected. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so mysterious, maybe it was Michael’s way of finding order in life, taking control of his surroundings. In any case, it was a nice habit to have and it served him well here at the Crashdown, her dad was a stickler for cleanliness.
Twenty minutes later, Liz was wiping down the last of the tables when she a sudden wave of dizziness made her grab the sides of the table for balance and sit down hard. Breathing deeply she sat for another moment, glad that the restaurant was almost empty. Maybe she should have concentrated more on dinner than on Max earlier! She stood up slowly, moderating her breathing, and made her way over to the pick-up window again.
“Hey, Michael? Can you get me half a sandwich? I don’t think I ate enough at dinner.” She leaned heavily on the counter for a moment, promising to take better care of herself.
“Let me guess why!” Michael glanced over to tease her, but when he saw her wan expression he grew instantly concerned. “You all right? You look kinda pale.”
“Yeah, I just need to get something in my stomach, I think. And maybe I’ll have a soda.” She poured ice into a tall glass and filled it with Sprite. Taking a long drink she did feel better.
Michael set out a turkey sandwich for her with instructions to sit down and eat it.
“I’ll watch the front while you’re eating.” Michael left the kitchen and moved to sit beside her at the stools. Liz ate slowly, feeling marginally better. After taking another long drink, she set down her cup and fished out an ice cube. She ran the ice over her wrists and then moved it over her neck, arching her head back and enjoying the coolness against her suddenly overheated skin.
“Is it getting warm in here, Michael?” She took another ice cube and sucked on it, trying to cool off.
“No, it’s actually cool in here.” Michael watched her eat and try to cool down with increasing concern. This was not like Liz to be so weak, and he couldn’t remember the last time she had sat down in the middle of a shift. Michael rose to cashier for the last customers in the restaurant and made a split second decision to close the restaurant after they left.
Hearing the lock click, Liz turned questioning eyes to Michael.
“Hey, Michael, it’s not time to close for another twenty minutes!” She stood up and staggered under another wave of dizziness.
Michael rushed to her side just in time to stop her from falling. “I think you need to go up and lay down. You might be coming down with something.” Michael steered her toward the stairs to her apartment.
Liz shrugged out of his hold. “Don’t be ridiculous, Michael! I’m perfectly fine, I just didn’t eat enough and then worked on my feet for the rest of the night!” Her hands went to her hips as she glared at him.
“Uh huh, is that why you’re dripping sweat and can’t seem to stand up without tilting over?” He asked her sarcastically.
Liz wiped her brow and realized that she was very hot. Fevered really. Oh. My. God! Not now! This is absolutely not the right time for this! Max! Where is Max? She realized all at once that Max was helping Alex and there was no way she was going to interrupt him. She shuddered at the thought that she would soon have to find out if resisting their fevers was an option.
“Maybe you’re right, Michael. I think I’ll just head on upstairs…” she turned and started up the steps, and had to grab the rail when another wave of dizziness overcame her. She felt herself being caught up in strong arms and seemed to float up the stairs. Her eyes fluttered closed as darkness fell around her.
“What the…” Michael swooped in to catch Liz just before she fell. Picking her up effortlessly, he wasted no time carrying her straight to her room. Should he call the doctor? Was it even safe for Liz to see a doctor? What if Max had changed her too much and now that she was developing her powers she was too alien to pass for human? Why would she pass out like this if she was an alien? They didn’t get sick. Michael suddenly remembered that he had been sick. Once. With a terrible fever that had almost killed him.
Making a quick decision, Michael ripped open the snaps of Liz’s uniform and stripped it from her overheated body. Carrying her into her bathroom, he cradled her in his arms and used a washcloth to bathe her face as he filled the bathtub with tepid water. He’d read somewhere that it was a good way to lower core body temperature. When the tub had filled about halfway, he carefully lowered her into the water.
Liz’s eyes flew open at the abrupt shock of the cool water on her heated skin. With a gasp she sat straight up and tried to lunge out of the tub. Michael restrained her as best he could, struggling to keep her in the water.
“What the hell are you doing, Michael?” Liz screeched in shock. Michael’s hands slipped over her wet skin and grazed her side. Liz gasped in renewed horror as she realized that she was sitting in front of Michael in her bra and underwear. She ceased her struggle with him and used her arms to shield her body from his sight.
“I just…I needed to…You were burning up! You passed out, and I read that this is a good way to cool people off,” Michael sputtered. He was soaked to the waist and getting angrier by the second. Did he need this kind of aggravation? Where the hell was Max? He stripped off his wet shirt and used it to wipe the sweat off his face. “Look, I didn’t know what else to do, okay?”
“Okay! Just please, get out now all right?” Liz was desperate. No one had ever seen her like this except Max. Even her swimsuits were modest one-piece items. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea if I left right now, Liz.” Liz shot him a glare. “What? I’m serious! What if you passed out in the tub or something? I’m not going to be responsible for that, so get over it! I don’t think of you like that anyway!” Michael was torn between the instinct to protect her and the overpowering urge to flee.
“Of course you don’t…I didn’t mean…This is just really awkward, okay?” Liz was mortified and at the same time she was touched that he was concerned for her. “Could you just…turn around or something?”
Michael turned his back to her and listened to the soft splash of water against the sides of the tub.
“I didn’t know if we should call the doctor or not,” he threw out over his shoulder. “Have you been feeling like you’re coming down with something?”
“Michael…I know what this is. There’s nothing you can do, so you really should just go.” Liz was mortified that Michael might have to know what was really happening with her.
“You know what’s going on here?” Michael turned around again and began to grill her. “Why didn’t you tell me? Has this happened before? If this is some kind of female thing, Liz, I swear I’ll…” He let the threat trail off as Liz glared up at him. There was more going on here than she was telling him.
“Talk to me, Liz,” his softened tone caught her off guard. He did have a right to know after all he had done to help her tonight, Liz thought.
“It’s happened a couple times before. Max experienced the same symptoms as I did at the same time. There was only one way we’ve found to make it stop.” Liz couldn’t finish.
“Are you saying that Max could be having this fever and may be passed out somewhere right now?” Michael stood and paced around the small area. Concern for his friend distorted his features, but he couldn’t make himself leave Liz’s side. There was just something about her. “Is Max at home right now or still over at Alex’s?” He questioned.
“I don’t know. I think he would have called or come over if he was done.” Liz tried to climb out of the tub, but she was getting so weak. Michael helped her to step over the edge and wrapped her in a towel.
“You need to lay down,” he led her to the bed, stumbling himself just as they reached it. He held his hand to his head and shook it. “Wait! You said you found a way to make this stop. Why haven’t you done it? Do you need me to get you something?” He sounded out of breath.
“Michael we…wemadelove,” she said superfast under her breath, turning her head into her pillow.
“What was that? I didn’t understand what you said.” Michael used his shirt again to mop his brow. It really was getting hot in here, maybe he should open the window.
He stumbled across the room and wedged the window open.
Liz decided it would be easier to say it to his back. “We made love,” she said again, very clearly this time. Michael spun back around to stare at her.
“Look, Michael, I’m sorry that you got in the middle of this. Max and I are still trying to figure it out for ourselves. It started in Vegas after the first time we…were together. Max and I both developed a fever, and I passed out that time too. Max hasn’t ever passed out from this though, he may be okay tonight,” she rushed to explain to him.
“Are you telling me this is about sex?” Michael was incredulous.
“No! It’s probably some alien thing. None of you has had sex yet have you?” Liz turned the tables on Michael.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business, but no, we haven’t.” Michael was uncomfortable with this turn in the conversation. “I feel very hot all of a sudden.” Michael lay down beside Liz.
“Do you have a fever?” Liz rolled to her side, the towel coming undone without her realizing it. She reached out her hand and tested his forehead. At the first touch of her fingers, the mood shifted. Her hand trailed down the side of his cheek and he turned his face into it, gently placing an open mouthed kiss on her palm. Liz shivered in response and Michael moved closer.
The creaking of the bedsprings jolted them to their senses. Liz grabbed her towel and Michael jumped off the bed.
“I…I’m sorry! I don’t know why I did that! I swear, Liz…I never…!” Michael was shaking his head and raking his trembling fingers through the tangled mess of his hair. He backed away from the bed, out of what he felt was the danger zone. “I don’t know what came over me!”
“I know that, Michael. It was nothing. I need…I need Max.” Liz moaned and turned into her pillow, rocking softly back and forth, utterly miserable and confused by her bodies needs. She was burning for Max.
“I’m gonna call him.” Michael grabbed the phone by her bed and started dialing. He whirled around at a noise from the open window.
“Liz,” Max’s strained voice reached her from her window. He crawled through and closed the distance separating them.
“Max,” Liz breathed his name and reached for him. He clutched her into his arms and devoured her with his kiss. Their connection flared to life between them, almost visible with the force of their hunger He dragged the towel from her body as her shaking hands worked at getting his buttons undone. Her movements were frantic, she needed his skin against hers like she needed her next breath. The buttons popped free at last, some of them rolling to the floor. Max raked his lips down over her body, tasting every inch of her heated skin. Liz moaned out her approval, writhing on the bed beneath him. Max shrugged out of the remnants of his shirt and released the clasp of her bra. Her breasts sprang free of their encumbrance and Max moved to suckle each one frantically into his mouth, the occasional bite of his teeth only heightening her response. Her hunger crashed through him in waves through their link and increased his urgency. Liz panted louder and worked to free him of his jeans. Max helped her, his breath releasing loudly into the room, and leaned away just far enough to slide his jeans and boxers over his lean hips, kicking them off impatiently. Free from his garments at last he slid his hands into the waistband of her damp underwear and removed the last barrier between them.
Liz closed her legs around his hips and urged him to enter her immediately. He could wait no longer and plunged into her eagerly, unable to stop the frantic motions of his hips. He held her face in his hands and ravaged her mouth urgently, his tongue tasting hers, his teeth nipping over her lips, before moving down over her neck to leave love bites where he sucked and bit. Liz’s hands pulled desperately at his arching back to settle over his straining buttocks, urging him to go faster, harder. Their pleasure built in cresting keening waves and release came powerfully to the two desperate lovers.
Max collapsed on top of her and rolled quickly to the side. Breathing was hard enough without her having to support his weight too. He stroked his hands over her sweat dampened sides and back, soothing her in the only way he could. His eyes roamed over her to check for damage. He had been so rough! He felt like a rutting animal that he had taken her so carelessly! How would she forgive him? Liz’s liquid eyes raised to meet his gaze and he understood. In one flash he could see that her urgency had been as great as his own. That she had needed him as much as he did her.
“Oh, Max, what are we going to do?” Liz breathed out in a husky cry of despair. They both understood they were out of control.
“I don’t know.” Max was sorry not to have a better answer. They’d just have to hope it eventually went away.
Liz bolted upright in bed all of a sudden, looking frantically around her room.
“What?!” Max got up on his knees, preparing for danger.
“Michael! He was in here when you came in! He must have seen…where is he?” Liz was once again mortified that the strength of her compulsion to be with Max could be so strong that she couldn’t even remember if someone else was in the room with them or not.
“I’ll see if he’s still in the house,” Max volunteered. He grabbed his jeans and dragged them back on. Leaning over he gave her a soft kiss. “I’ll be right back. It’ll be okay,” he reassured her as he left the room.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Michael closed the bedroom door behind him and leaned against it for support. His breathing was still erratic, although now he couldn’t tell if it was because he was fevered or because of what he had witnessed. When Max had come through the window Michael had been prepared to greet him. Until he saw Max’s eyes. They were practically glowing with a strange light and so obviously focused only on Liz. He hadn’t even noticed that Michael was in the room! When Max moved to Liz’s side and they touched, it was explosive and mesmerizing, the strength of the connection flowing around them. Each movement led naturally into the next, everything urgent and perfect, as it should be. Michael had been unable to pull himself away until Max had removed Liz’s last garment. The shock of what he was doing, just standing there voyeuristically watching his friends make love, rolled through him and he stumbled out the door.
Taking deep breaths to ease his labored lungs, Michael used the walls to support him as he made his way into the living room. Hell yeah, he had always been curious about alien sex, but really, he’d never expected to witness a demonstration. He sank down onto the couch and just stared at the ceiling, willing away his bodies reaction to what he had seen. Moments later he felt his body cool down dramatically. He sat up and stared down at himself. He felt normal again, like nothing had ever happened. What was going on with him?
The bedroom door opened and Michael’s gaze shot up to meet his friend. Max stared at him sheepishly and moved hesitantly to sit beside him on the couch.
“I guess there’re a few things we didn’t tell you about what happened in Vegas,” Max started, already shifting uncomfortably.
“No kidding,” Michael retorted. “Care to explain what just happened here, Max?” Michael’s eyes widened when he took in the bloody scratch marks down Max’s arms and across his back. Max’s hand lifted to his shoulder when he realized what Michael was seeing, and then dropped helplessly back to his side. What was the use of hiding it now? They’d been seen.
“We don’t really know why this started. I have a couple theories. It…it could just be a by-product of mating with an alien, or it could be caused by the changes Liz is going through with her new powers. Or maybe it’s some kind of heat that we go through, we really don’t know. We just start running a fever and are drawn to be together. It seems to hit Liz harder than me. I don’t know if that’s because she’s human or female or what. I’m sorry that you had to see that.” Max angled an amber gaze up to Michael. “Just how…how much did you see?”
Michael squirmed uncomfortably. “Enough. Suffice it to say that I got out of there just in time.”
Now it was Max’s turn to squirm. “Sorry, man. We just can’t seem to stop ourselves when the fever hits.” He looked around the room, as if finally realizing where they were, and whispered, “Where are Liz’s parents?”
“Liz’s aunt is having a baby in Albuquerque and they’re spending a couple nights over there to help her out,” Michael responded.
Max let out a relieved breath. “Can we talk about all this later, Michael? I’m really beat.”
Max did look totally wiped out. “Did everything go okay with Whitman?”
“Yeah, that’s another thing we need to talk about tomorrow. Can I tell my parents that I’m spending the night at your place tonight?”
Michael nodded and was hit with his own wave of exhaustion. He got up to leave, he needed to go home and process what had happened.
After Michael left, Max called home to his mom and she agreed to let him stay over at Michael’s for the night.
Max went back into the bedroom to find Liz sleeping. He smiled softly and pulled his jeans off again. Naked, he crawled back into bed with her and spooned his body against her back. She sighed sleepily and automatically adjusted herself to fit perfectly against him. Max nuzzled his face into her hair and breathed deeply with contentment. There would be no nightmares tonight.
TBC